Chapter (Deep Dark Dungeon)
Angelo took the keys form the wall and walked over to the cage. A sense of new life surged through the prisoner. Holding the keys up to the dim light of the torch and looking for a label he felt very much like the little Italian lady who had first taken him in off the streets in what seemed like another lifetime.
“The gold one,” a raspy voice came from the cage, breaking Angelo's concentration. The voice was vastly renewed from the whisper that had begun their conversation.
Leaning to turn the lock Angelo noticed that a light blush had returned to the prisoner’s previously ghost white hair, making it only a shade beyond gray. There was a gleam in his eye that had not been there before as well, replacing the glazed look of someone pushed beyond their mental limits. Angelo turned the key and heard the heavy pins of the lock rise and fall.
With one hand still holding the key Angelo was hardly able to stop the cage door from slamming into his face. The prisoner sprung out at him like a jack in the box, putting far more force into his push than Angelo would have thought him capable of.
The current came instantly alive, electric with a sudden fire of furious emotion. The uneasy feel dropped away like a veil revealing a wave on onrushing energy. Every cell in Angelo's body burned in a pulse of embarrassed rage.
Before he could react, the man was on top of him. With his back pressed against the ground Angelo got his first clear view of the second prisoner. The slumped prisoner who had fallen when the other stood had a set of large red holes gored into their throat.
Looking back up towards his attacker Angelo noticed that he was now harboring fangs and an explanation for suddenly gaining ten times his previous strength. The prisoner snapped for Angelo's face, missing the tip of his nose by no more than a finger's width.
Angelo rolled backward tossing the fiend from his chest. As the creature leaned too far forward, snapping wildly at the pulse in his neck the Vicari's instincts kicked in. Using the vampire's momentum and a helpful knee to the groin he flung the lunatic clear.
The vampire hit the stone with a wet slap, and managed to suppress a howl as pain flared through its right side. Enraged and quickly back to its feet the vampire was again on the charge. This time however; Angelo was ready.
Seeing the figure charging upside down he kipped back to his feet and prepared to fight. This wouldn’t be the first vampire he’d slain nor would it be the last. It had however; had gotten the jump on him. Taking him off guard.
He hadn't recognized its weakened eddy in the current and it had nearly cost him his neck. Blinded by his urgency and the overwhelming concern for his poisoned brother he had deliberately suppressed the feeling. It wasn't a mistake he would make a second time.
Once again the vampire charged head first at him, hoping to have more success with its second attempt. But Angelo was not so easily fooled a second time. Breathing deeply he drew the current into himself, feeling its confident warmth even in the Horseman's dungeon.
Snarling savagely the deceitful prisoner charged. Angelo stood his ground his eyes focused, hard and clear. The vampire dove for him, and smashed head first into the out swinging cage door Angelo had manipulated into his direction with a focused flick of his hand.
The momentum of the charge slammed the cage door shut and stopped the lunging vampire cold. Angelo harden himself for the onslaught, anticipating the cretin’s next move and making no gesture towards his blade.
His gamble paid off. The foolish thing again charged straight in at him, lashing out at the Vicari in a primal fury. Angelo waited, holding his ground, knowing timing would be everything. The vampire leaped at him, more animal then man, driven to the brink of insanity by its veracious hunger.
Angelo side stepped and threw forth his hands, using the current to catch his opponent. Angelo's bottom hand caught the vampire's chin, pushing the head of his assailant away and negotiating around his primary weapons. The fingers of his top hand ensnared themselves in the ratty clump of hair that remained atop the vampire's head and pulled.
Perfect timing in conjunction with the shear momentum of the diving vampire not only broke its neck and severed the spine, but nearly removed the thing's head entirely, ripping large gaps in the weaken flesh where the shattered bone pierced through.
The vampire went immediately limp, all the fight fleeing from is limbs in a single sickening crack. A wet clunk against the cold stone followed by a hard slap of a soft body marked the end of the blood thirsty prisoner.
Angelo was again smeared with the black sticky blood of the undead, as was the wall behind him. His shoulders rose and fell with his rapid breaths. Satisfied, he wiped his hands as best he could on the stolen robe, the cloak that had gained him access to the accursed pit.
“It is only through quieting our own minds that we may hear the thoughts of the universe,” Angelo whispered to himself, repeating lessons he had yet still to fully learn. Wise words from a teacher Angelo wondered if he would ever see again.
Turning, his boots clacked against the stone, sending echoes through the 'infirmary' as he headed back toward the stairs. Whoever had locked that thing down there had done so to make sure it never left. Now thanks to Angelo it never would.
He had been caught off guard and the thought of such shook him up. Pressing onward he heightened his senses to their fullest. Doing his best to heed the current, and to take his mind off of the suffering of his brother.
