The Dark Messenger by Milo Spires

events in town, watched the finish
line of the London to Brighton bike race, and regularly hovered
over the Amex stadium. They could hardly remember what life had
been like before they had gotten it--their much-loved ‘eyes in the sky’ .
     
    For extra security Kaine had installed shiny
steel tubes, which went through the earth from the outside, opening
out into the traps rooms. In the middle of each tube were mirrors
and magnifying glasses which would increase the sun’s powers,
reflecting its powerful, deadly UV rays into the rooms. Kaine kept
those blocked at all times, because even with two sets of vampire
skin wraps on, the increased power of the UV light would kill them.
If ever they were attacked by their own kind though, they could go
down to the lower rooms and pull a lever, which locked the top exit
automatically. All the light tubes would open, and any vampires
inside would burn.
    -------------------------
     
    The local history of the area was rich in
superstition and folklore, some of which suggested that the valley
was in fact created by the devil himself.
     
    It was said that in the past Saint Cuthman of
Steyning, who was an Anglo-Saxon church builder, had tricked the
devil into leaving the local people of the weald, an area of
marshes and forests, alone forever. The story was that the area,
the last place to be converted to Christianity, had been the
devil’s last stronghold. The loss had driven him mad, and he had
decided that if the people would so easily turn their backs on him,
then he would drown them under the waters of the sea forever. One
night was all it would take for him to dig his way through the
hills, letting in the waters and sending them all to a watery
grave. He boasted as much to Saint Cuthman, who had no fear of the
devil because of his strong faith in God.
     
    He immediately started to devise a plan to
save the people of the weald. ‘What will you do,’ he asked the
devil, ‘if you can’t dig your way through in one night?’ The
devil’s reply was that he would leave Cuthman and the people alone
forever.
     
    Through the night, the local people quaked in
their beds, hearing the terrifying noise of the devil digging and
stamping his hooves outside their homes. The earth he flung aside
can still be seen today in the distance, in the forms of Cissbury
Ring, Mount Caburn and Firle Beacon. The devil got tired as he dug,
and seeing light begin to appear on the eastern hills and hearing a
morning cockerel crowing, he foolishly believed that he had failed
his task. The devil thought the night was over, and that he had not
finished digging as he had boasted he would. He then fled out to
sea, shamed with failure, and so caught up in his wretched feelings
that he didn’t realize that the sky all around him was still dark.
Nor that he had just past the laughing figures of Saint Cuthman and
Sister Ursula who was holding a brightly-lit candle and she
smoothing the ruffled feathers of a rooster who had helped to save
the weald. The dyke remained untouched forevermore as a lasting
symbol of good overcoming evil.
     
    -------------------------
     
    ‘What’s wrong?’ came a slightly muffled voice
from Regina’s side of the bed. Kaine smiled and returned to her,
lying down with his face close to hers.
     
    ‘Can’t you sleep, my darling?’ she asked.
Kaine felt his wife’s hand slide up onto his chest, warm from its
place under the sheets.
     
    He sighed, remembering the dream. ‘I am very
concerned, darling.’ he told her. ‘I have seen much trouble ahead
in a vision that I had last night. In it, I was in a meeting in
Rex’s coven with Hoidrious his second in command. The planet was
dying, and he had an evil plan to save it. This dream was no
dream--I must act upon what I have seen,’ he said with urgency in
his voice.
     
    Kaine loved her emphatically and to him she
gave meaning to life. She was its whole being, its purpose, its
color, and its clarity through vicious heinous