Madison Heights

By Frank Sarabia

Tommy Martinez was a shy, awkward teen-aged boy preparing for his senior year at Madison Heights High School. He rode the bus with his best (or only) friend Jimmy where they met Michael Cross, a mysterious new-kid-in-town. After a close call with strange creatures at a football game, Michael revealed to the others that "There are vampires at Madison Heights High School." Michael explained how he learned all about vampires from his father and told the others how this dark species came to be.
In the fifteenth century, an Eastern European prince named Vlad Draculea was betrayed and imprisoned. Vlad prayed to God to every night to liberate him but Satan was the one who answered. Jealous of God’s ability to create life, he would have his revenge by creating an abomination of God’s favorite creation – Man. Angry at God for having not answered his prayers, Vlad, followed Satan’s instructions and escaped. He created an ark with thirteen seals to symbolize the covenant between him and the devil. This was the start of the evil creation.
Vlad returned to his homeland and using great speed and strength he received in his deal with the devil, he easily and mercilessly eradicated the threats to his rule. Discovering that Vlad was most powerful at night his enemies killed him in the daytime but left the Ark. The Pope dispatched his knights who returned the Ark to Rome, where the pope ordered it destroyed. Over the centuries, the Ark was forgotten and the thirteen seals were stolen and sold on the black antiquities market. Where a seal exists vampires can be created. One exists in Madison Heights.
Together, Michael and his friends embarked on a mission to discover the identity of all the vampires and most importantly, their leader. With the help of his new friends, Michael discovered that they needed God's help in order to combat this evil. On the night of the winter solstice (the most sacred night of the year for vampires,) they went into a church and were recruited into holy service by a local priest. With their new found knowledge and divine intervention, they headed off to try to rescue one of their own who was taken by the vampires and stop the vampire clan before they could reach their ultimate goal of immortality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frank Sarabia
• Release date: Nov 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311668394

Frank Sarabia

Frank Sarabia is 46 years old and has lived his entire life in South Texas. He has been a reading teacher and is currently an elementary school counselor. He lives at home with his wife Celinda and two school-aged daughters.

Book preview

Madison Heights

By Frank Sarabia

Copyright 2013 Frank Sarabia

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter One

The Big Date

Dusk was finally falling on what had been a long, hot, West Texas summer day. Bertha Gonzalez sat in front of a mirror in the corner of her room brushing her long, brown hair. On the bed next to her was her mother’s makeup bag. She had makeup of her own, but she only had very dark colors. She had snuck the makeup from her mother’s room earlier. This was not the first time she had snuck something from her mother. She had taken some liquor from her mother’s cabinet a few times before, being careful to take just a few ounces at a time so that it would not be noticed.

Bertha was so surprised when this boy had asked her out on a date. After all, he was one of the most popular boys in school and she was, well she was not exactly the type of girl he usually went out with. For this reason, she was not surprised when he had asked her to keep it a secret. That’s why she had to sneak the makeup. She couldn’t tell her mother that she had a date. She couldn’t tell her friends either. This should have been suspicious to her, but she was too excited about being asked out by such a handsome, popular boy. Plus she found his request strangely compelling. It was as if she was powerless to resist him.

Bertha applied some eye shadow and blush in her mother’s colors and style. She had been wearing makeup for some time now, but her style was very different from her mother’s. Bertha usually wore lots of dark eyeliner and very little dark eye shadow. She wanted to look more respectable this time because she was going on a date with someone from the in crowd. Although her mother did not let her date, she had gone out with a few guys before. She always told her mother she was going to a friend’s house, then the boy would pick her up there. This time was different. Sneaking around with such a popular, good-looking boy could do wonders for her. Perhaps she could prove herself worthy, and he would not feel the need to hide her from others later on. This would greatly improve her social status.

Well, this is as good as it gets. Bertha said to her reflection as she finished her makeup and hair.

She was wearing a very cute outfit she had gotten for her birthday a few months earlier that she had sworn she would never wear. She normally dressed all in black, mostly black jeans and black t-shirts. This sudden change in wardrobe and makeup would be hard to explain to her mother. She would have to think of a good excuse. Bertha walked down the stairs, trying not to draw attention to herself. She made it to the base of the steps into the living room of the modest three-bedroom house she lived in with her mother and younger brother. Her father had left them five years earlier, and it had been just the three of them ever since.

Where are you going looking so pretty? Bertha’s mother asked from the kitchen where she was preparing a dinner of her famous arroz con pollo, a Mexican dish made with chicken and rice.

Oh mom, Bertha said blushing. Don’t embarrass me, she continued. I’m just going over to Melanie’s house, that girl down the street, she is having a little dress-up party that’s all, nothing fancy.

Oh that’s wonderful dear. Bertha’s mother answered, not wanting to question something that would cause her daughter to wear anything that was not black. Do you need a ride over there?

NO, Bertha answered abruptly, remembering that she was supposed to meet her date a few blocks over, and nobody was to know. It’s just a few blocks Mom. I’ll be ok.

Ok Baby. Just be careful, her mother answered.

She didn’t want to argue with Bertha since she seemed to be in such a good mood. Bertha could get quite upset whenever her mother questioned her about anything.

Bye Mom, Bertha said as she walked out the front door.

The screen door creaked eerily as it closed behind her. Bertha made her way across the front porch, down the steps, and across the stone path to the sidewalk. Her mother watched her proudly and excitedly out the front window until she turned the corner.

Bertha walked nervously away from her house in the direction of the intersection where her date would pick her up. Her heart was pounding, and her hands were getting sweaty. She was excited but also a little scared. She had lied to her mother many times before, but she felt a little guilty this time. Then she remembered those eyes. She could not forget the intensity with which he had looked at her. There was such desire in his eyes like a hungry man looking at a piece of cake. Guys like him had never looked at her that way before.

As she walked down the tree-lined street, the waning sun of late afternoon created long shadows that took on strange shapes, and everything had an eerie amber glow. Bertha was rarely outside at this hour. She was usually at home on the phone with friends or on her computer at this time of the day. She could not help but notice how beautiful everything was. She also could not help but notice a strange feeling of dread.

I’m just excited about my date, Bertha tried to convince herself in order to shake off the bad feelings. It'll all be worth it once I’m with him.

Bertha got to the corner of Oak Street and Forest Avenue. This was not a heavily trafficked intersection, which helped decrease the possibility of anyone seeing her date pick her up. This was the perfect place to meet someone with whom you did not want to be seen. Bertha stood there anxiously waiting for her date. It was not long before she saw his car approaching.

A late-model red convertible sports car drove up. The top was up, and dark window film concealed the passenger compartment, making it really dark inside. The passenger window was rolling down as he stopped in front of her. She could see her date dressed all in black and wearing very dark sunglasses.

Get in, were the only words the mysterious boy said.

Bertha complied immediately. She opened the door and quickly poured herself into the front seat, closing the door behind her. The window was already on its way up as she closed the door.

I’m very excited about our date, Bertha said to the handsome young man. Where are we going?

Oh I have something special planned for us, he answered in a sweet-sounding, almost intoxicating voice. I hope you are up for it.

As the boy spoke these cryptic words, Bertha was entranced. She was so enchanted by him. His rugged good looks, his voice, and the commanding way in which he spoke had her charmed. She could not resist him. She would go along with anything he said.

Bertha’s date drove his sports car away from town on a secluded, seldom used farm road. He reached a private road and stopped the car at a gate.

Wait here, he commanded.

Bertha did as she was told and watched the boy swagger towards a rickety gate. A single padlock secured it. With his bare hands, and with greater strength than a normal seventeen-year-old boy should have, he pulled the lock open with a single thrust. The boy made his way back to the car and without a word, drove down the private road towards a beautiful pond. He parked the car and finally put the convertible top and windows down. The pair got out of the car and stood together facing away from it. They looked across the pond at the beautiful sunset.

The glare of the sunlight shone in their faces causing them to squint. Bertha noticed that her date’s face looked a bit pale, and he did not appear as strong or virile as he did when she had seen him before. She thought to herself that he must be feeling ill or something. The boy went back to the car and pulled a wicker basket out of the back seat. He brought it to the front of the car and placed it on the hood. He took a blanket out of the basket and laid it on the grass on one side of the car.

Have a seat, he said politely.

A picnic. How sweet, Bertha said, secretly thinking it was a little corny.

She sat down on one side of the blanket and watched as the boy produced two plates and two toasting flutes. He reached back in the basket and pulled out some containers and a bottle.

Don’t worry, he said. It’s non-alcoholic.

The young man finally sat across from her and poured some sparkling cider into each of the toasting flutes. As the sun set, Bertha noticed that his face was beginning to regain its color. He also appeared to have more energy than before, and his mood started to improve as well. He opened the containers and served some hors d'oeuvres on each of their plates very quickly, almost too quickly, it seemed to Bertha.

The food looks delicious, Bertha said, trying to be polite, as she had never seen food such as this.

So do you, the boy answered with a strange longing in his face.

Bertha could feel herself blushing. She had never received such a compliment from a boy before. The way he was looking at her was strange too. Nobody had ever looked at her like that. She’d caught boys looking at her before, but never like this. She simply started eating as a way to break the tension. He continued to stare at her, showing no interest in the food. He was clearly starting to show hunger in his stare. Bertha was starting to get a little uncomfortable, but she did not complain.

Aren’t you going to eat anything? Bertha asked him.

I’m not hungry, the boy stated. But I’m very thirsty, he continued in a more intense voice, while showing no interest in the cider either.

It was almost completely dark. Bertha noticed that the boy’s appearance continued to change. His face started to take on an intense, almost monstrous appearance. As he smiled, Bertha noticed that his teeth looked different. She had not noticed before that his canine teeth were so much longer than all the others, and they looked so sharp. His gaze became increasingly intense, and his eyes began to take on an eerie red glow. Bertha was afraid, but she could not look away. She wanted to get up and run away, but she could not move. She felt strangely mesmerized by his gaze.

The glow in the boy’s eyes became increasingly intense, as did his hold on her. Bertha wanted to scream, but she could not. The boy moved closer to her. She was completely terrified but powerless to move. He leaned in close to her face but did not move in for a kiss. As he approached her, he bared his teeth. Bertha could see that his canines had now grown into huge, terrifying fangs. His face passed hers as he brought his mouth to her neck. Bertha felt the pain of two terrible fangs penetrating her skin on the side of her neck. She felt her blood go cold, and then everything went black.

Chapter Two

Back to School

This was the day Tomas Martinez had been dreading all summer long. He lay in a deep, restful sleep as he’d done every morning during the past couple of months. He was in no hurry to wake up and greet the sun. He should have been excited because this was to be his senior year. However, he did not think this year would be different from any other. Suddenly, his sleep was broken by a sound he had not heard since the last day of school back in May.

Wake up Tommy, it’s time for school.

These were the words that Tommy’s mother called from the door of his room. She stood in the open doorway monitoring him to make sure he would actually do it. Tommy saw his mother standing there. He had learned from years of experience that it was futile to resist his mother’s will. He knew there was no fooling her, so he didn’t even try. Finally getting up the energy to leave his bed, Tommy got himself into an upright position, slipped on his moccasin-style slippers, and began to make his way out of his room. Satisfied that her son was not going to try to get back to bed, Lupe Martinez left her son’s door to make her way back to the kitchen. On her way, she passed by her other child’s room. Ruth was Tommy’s younger sister. Although she was only 9 year old, she was already up, dressed, and almost ready for school.

Did Tommy get up? asked Ricardo Martinez, sitting at the round breakfast table drinking his coffee and reading a newspaper.

Yes. He’s up and getting ready, answered Mrs. Martinez as she served two plates of bacon and eggs for her children.

She laid the plates down on the table each next to a glass of orange juice that she had previously poured, then sat down across from her husband. She added cream and sugar to her coffee and took the funnies section out of her husband’s newspaper.

You’re quiet this morning, said Ricardo looking up from behind his newspaper.

I’m ok, was all Lupe could bring herself to say.

She was both relieved that the school year was starting and worried as well. With everything that had been happening, it was difficult to know where her kids were safe. Just then, Ruth came in and sat at the table to eat her breakfast. Tommy, in typical fashion, emerged from the hallway still stuffing things into his backpack and appeared to be in a hurry.

Do you want breakfast? asked Mrs. Martinez.

Too nervous to eat Mom. I’ve got to go; I’ll miss my bus. With these words, Tommy darted out the front door.

Tommy made his way out of the house and onto the dirt path leading out of the property. His family lived in a small, three-bedroom house on the outskirts of town. They were definitely not rich. Tommy’s father was not educated but worked hard to provide for his family. He was proud that he could provide a decent living for them by the sweat of his brow.

Although Tommy did not expect his bus for a while, he did not want to sit down at the breakfast table and make small talk. It was not that he didn’t get along with his family, it was just that he did not seem to have much in common with them anymore. Tommy's father was very handy and could build or fix almost anything. When he was ten years old, his father still had hopes that Tommy would grow up to be like him. In the past few years though, Tommy always thought he could see disappointment in his father’s eyes. Back then, Tommy's father even built him a clubhouse in the back yard. The clubhouse was not very fancy but it was surprisingly large and very well built. In fact, Tommy spent much of his time in it over the summer. He would ordinarily spend most of the summer fishing, riding his bike, or other outdoor pursuits. This summer his Mom had not wanted him to go far from the house, especially at night. She never really told him why, but Tommy had his suspicions. He’d heard people talking about some strange things that had been going on.

Tommy stood by the rural road that led back into town and waited for the school bus. He wore a new pair of blue jeans, a striped t-shirt, and a new pair of canvas tennis shoes. The sun was rising and the coolness of early morning was in the air, but it would soon be much hotter as the cool morning gave way to another hot August day. It was not long before the school bus arrived. The brakes squealed and let out a hiss of air as the bus came to a stop. The door opened. Tommy always hated this part. Since he was among the last to be picked up, there was always a lot of kids already on the bus when he got on. He hoped that Jimmy was there. Tommy never knew where to sit unless Jimmy was on the bus.

Tommy was definitely not the most popular boy in school. He was kind of overweight and very shy. He was not involved in any clubs or organizations and did not have many friends. For the most part, Tommy kept to himself. He got on the bus and saw Jimmy in one of the seats close to the back. On his way back there he saw her.

Elizabeth Brooks, who just about everyone called Beth, was one of the prettiest girls in school and the sheriff’s daughter. Tommy had known Beth since they were in the third grade, and he’d liked her just about as long. Beth was nice to him, but Tommy didn’t think there could ever be hope for him to be anything more than friends with her. On his way by