Septimus A Vampire's Tale

By C.L. Trewet

He had lived for centuries, but he never felt alive. He was a vampire, but not by choice. He was cursed by a witch who wanted to punish him for his arrogance and cruelty. She made him immortal, but with a terrible price: every 100 years, he had to kill seven people with seven different historical swords and drink a cup of their blood to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: First Edition
• Release date: Dec 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798869078278

C.L. Trewet

C.L. Trewet is an American author that writes books on the paranormal. She has done extensive research on the supernatural and has a unique way of incorporating good vrs. evil, the light vrs. the darkness in her story lines. When she's not out chasing ghosts, she enjoys hiking and restoring old furniture. She lives in California with her two dogs Sammy and George.

Book preview

Based on True Events

Septimus

A Vampire's

Tale

by C.L. Trewet

Prologue

He was a centurion, a Roman soldier, bound by orders. Cursed for eternity by a single act during a pivotal event, he is condemned to wander the earth forever. His immortality comes with a dire cost: every century, he must slay seven people with seven ancient swords and drink their blood to sustain his life, rejuvenating him for another hundred years. Failure would mean enduring unspeakable pain and suffering in hell.

Over the centuries, he has wielded many swords, both renowned and obscure. Excalibur, Zulfiqar, Tizona – he has used these legendary blades killing kings, soldiers, men, and women. Remorse, guilt, empathy – none existed within him. Survival was his only concern.

His existence took an unexpected turn upon meeting her. Could she be his Livia, reborn from two millennia past? A police detective, she was investigating the very murders he had committed. Intelligent, courageous, and strikingly beautiful, she embodied justice and compassion like no other. Her presence intrigued and challenged him, awakening feelings long dormant. He yearned to know her, be with her, love her.

Yet, he recognized her as his adversary. Relentlessly pursuing the truth, she was edging ever closer to unmasking him. Faced with a dilemma, he had to choose: continue his ritual and lose her forever, or forsake his curse and gamble with his life for her.

One last sword remained, one final victim to claim – the Sword of Goujian, an ancient Chinese blade over 2,500 years old, yet remarkably pristine. I will use you to cut off the dragon's head, my old friend, he whispered, kissing the blade. Lurking in the darkness, he eyed his target – a sleeping figure on the bed. You're getting off lucky, you beast, to be killed in your sleep, he muttered, readying the sword.

Suddenly, her voice shattered the silence. Freeze! Drop the weapon and put your hands up!

He spun around to face her. Gun drawn, badge displayed, her expression a mix of shock and anger.

It's you, she realized. You're the killer.

A bitter smile crossed his lips.

Hello, detective, he replied.

Chapter 1: First Kill

You could hear the clicking of his shoes echoing down the dark and abandoned alley as he searched for his first victim.

I was a centurion, a soldier of Rome, commander of 100 legionnaires. A man of honor! Just to become this creature of the night lurking in shadows.

Let me go! Screamed a woman.

Perfect, my first victim, said Septimus as he ran up on a man slapping a woman around.

This is none of your business Mr! You need to get the hell out of here unless you want some of this too! The man said as he threw the girl to the ground.

Septimus stood before him with a commanding presence, glaring at the man with red flaming eyes, growling.

What the hell are you? Asked the man trembling.

Septimus looked down at the girl lying on the ground, face all bloodied. She looked back at him with large dewy eyes that screamed desperation for help. Septimus turned his attention back to the man while drawing a Gladius sword from his jet-black London fog coat.

Septimus gave him an evil smile straight from the pits of hell as he pierced the man in the side causing the man to fall to his knees. Septimus then spun around lopping the man's head off.

As the lifeless corpse laid on the ground, Septimus pulled out a Lycurgus cup, filling it with blood.

Ahhh, the blood of my first kill, how nice, he said while holding the cup up to the heavens as if he was mocking God.

The ground started shaking violently as he drank the blood. He could feel his veins on fire as the blood ran through each and every one.

The woman let out a bone curdling scream as she ran off towards the main street.

Septimus laughed as he watched her running off. He continued to drink the blood, becoming this creature of the night once again, this monster, that he may survive another century. When he was finished, he laid the sword next to the corpse and headed back into the shadows from whence he came only to be stopped by the screaming sounds of sirens.

He ducked into the shadows as the blood dripped from his mouth, anticipating a certain doom if he is caught.

A police car came screeching into the back alley slamming on it's breaks. The two detectives noticed a body laying on the ground with it's head severed. They jumped out of the car to investigate.

Jesus Lizzy, what a bloody scene, said Detective Barnes.

I'm going to radio this in, said Lizzy walking back to the car. This is Detective Connors, we need the CSI crew and the coroner at the corner of 4th and Industrial Road in the back alley A-Sap.

Copy that detective.

What's that smell? Asked Lizzy as she walked back over to the body.

If I were to guess, burnt flesh, replied Barnes. I would know that smell anywhere from when I was a fire fighter.

Lizzy started looking around with an eerie feeling that she was being watched.

It can't be possible! Said Septimus aloud as he caught a glimpse of Detective Connors.

He stepped closer being careful not to be seen. As he gazed at her, he could clearly see that it was his Livia but yet it wasn't. He noticed how her black curly hair shaped around her dark bronze face.

He continued to glare at her in disbelief. How can this be? My Livia is long since gone yet here she stands with the same mannerism, the same curves, the same look, the same eyes. Eyes that could look right through me and see into my very soul. I could hide nothing from her. Could you possibly be my Livia returned back to me after all of these centuries?

Septimus took a deep breath of Lizzy, taking in her every smell. He was becoming very intrigued with this creature. His blood pulsating in his veins as he watched her. I need to know this woman, he thought to himself as he wiped the blood from his mouth.

Check this out Lizzy, said Barnes.

By this time, there were five squad cars on the scene and the crime scene unit. With all the commotion, Septimus decided it was a good time to flee the scene. He quietly made his way along the shadows of the dark alley.

I will see you again Lizzy Connors, Septimus said to himself as he vanished into the night.

What is it Barnes? Lizzy asked.

The killer left the weapon laying here next to the body.

Lizzy put on some gloves and bent down to pick it up.

This isn't just any weapon, she said as she held it up in the light admiring the blade, but a Gladius sword, and from the looks of it, a very old one."

How do you know?

My dad collected swords from all over the world when I was a kid, some of them very old. I learned to recognize some of the swords and the regions of which his swords came from, she replied.

You never told me that, said Barnes.

The subject never came up, said Lizzy.

You never cease to amaze me Miss Elizebeth Connors, said Barnes with a flirty grin.

Barnes was a ruggedly handsome man with thick, jet-black curly hair and strong Italian facial features. He carried a sense of protection for Lizzy due to her small physique. He knew that she was quite capable of taking care of herself as he had seen several times when she would take grown men to the ground. But he had this hidden love for her to protect her anyway.

Why would he leave it? Asked Barnes.

I don't know, this is a bizarre one, that's for sure, Lizzy said as she was waving Officer Williams over to her.

Williams was an older cop in his mid 50s. Tall and still handsome with gentle brown eyes, a fatherly looking type. He could have made detective several times over, but declined the position. Said he didn't want to get mixed up in all that damn paper work, but Lizzy always thought that it went deeper than that, but never wanted to pry. She figured a mans secrets are is own.

Take this sword to Billy in the lab to be analyzed, Lizzy said to Williams.

Well do, said Williams taking the sword from her.

Let's see who our victim is, said Barnes as he bent down pulling the wallet from his back pocket. It's a New York ID, says Justin Rogers.

Justin Rogers. Who are you and what were you doing in this back alley at this time of the night? Lizzy questioned aloud to herself.

Barnes started looking around the crime scene for other clues when he came upon a woman's bracelet.

Lizzy, over here. I Found something.

What is it Barnes? Lizzy asked walking towards him.

It's a woman's bracelet, replied Barnes. It must of fallen off during a struggle. Do you think our killer could be a woman?

Sure, if she was an amazon, said Lizzy jokingly. No, with the weight of the sword, and only a single blow to decapitate our victim, she continued saying. This had to be a man of great strength.

That means there was a woman here, a witness, said Barnes. Look, there's blood on the bracelet.

Here, let me see, said Lizzy as she took the bracelet from him. You're right. We need to check out our victim's hands for signs of a struggle.

The two detectives walked back over to the body.

Barnes lifted up the victim's hands. He noticed blood and bruising on the victim's right palm hand.

Looks like our victim was slapping around a girl and was interrupted by the killer, said Barnes.

Yep, more than likely this man was a pimp rough housing one of his girls, said Lizzy. We need to find this girl to see what she saw. Maybe she can identify our killer.

Barnes turned the body over.

Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing? Asked Barnes.

What is it? Asked Lizzy.

It's a Lycurgus Cup, said Barnes as he was putting on his gloves.

A what? Asked Lizzy.

A Roman Lycurgus Cup, said Barnes as he picked it up. I studied Roman History in college. These cups were used by centurions and legionnaires in the Roman army. What the hell is going on Lizzy?"

I don't know, replied Lizzy. One thing for sure though, if he was carrying a sword with him, then he was on the prowl for a victim tonight. Which makes this a premeditated murder. But why? And why so brutal of a killing?

Do you think this was some kind of ritual killing? Asked Barnes.

No, or he wouldn't have left the weapon, she said. It's something more. He's taunting us. It's almost as if this is a 'catch me if you can' game to him, which I truly hope is not the case.

Why's that? Asked Barnes.

Because, it would mean that this is only the beginning, explained Lizzy.

The reporters are going to have a field day with this one Lizzy. I can see the headlines now. 'Serial killer running loose in the city decapitating people with ancient swords.'

Doc started examining the body as the two detectives walked around the crime scene looking for more clues.

Looks like Doc is finishing up with the body, said Lizzy as the two detectives walked back over to the body. So what can you tell us Doc?

Doc was a short, stubby guy with a graspy voice. He smelt like he had bathed in a bottle of cheap cologne while always blowing his red Karl Malden nose with a hanky that he kept in his right pocket. He wore a dusty old trilby hat looking more like a private eye from a really bad B movie than a coroner. But Doc was the best coroner in the precinct. He could find a needle in a haystack. He has helped solve many cases that otherwise might not have been solved due to his keen eye.

He's dead, said Doc.

Ha ha, funny, said Barnes.

No, seriously Doc, I need to know everything. This one is already starting to haunt me, said Lizzy.

Relax Lizzy, chuckled Doc.

He liked missing with Lizzy. She was always so serious. He would enjoy getting a rise out of her. Barnes would tease Doc about having a school boy crush on Lizzy and why not. Lizzy was this tall, linky woman with jet-black, curly hair and large oval green eyes with a look that could pierce right through a person when she was angry. And with the way that her black curls framed her beautiful bronze face, it made it easy to like Lizzy.

It looks like your victim was pierced in the side first and then decapitated after he fell to his knees. Yep, looks like your typical slice and dice murder except for one small fact, Doc continued saying while taking his hat off, scratching his head.

Yeah, what's that? Asked Lizzy.

Look here where the head was severed from the neck, said Doc pointing at the victim's neck."

What am I looking at Doc? Asked Lizzy as she squatted down next to him.

The skin is cauterized around the neck as if the blade of the sword was red hot which makes no sense to me, replied Doc. How would he have been able to heat the blade to such a high temperature in order to cauterize the skin like this, the blade would have had to sit in a fire for several minutes and there's nothing around here that would suggest giving him the ability to heat the medal.

So then, what are we looking at Doc? Asked Barnes.

Your guess is as good as mine. I've never seen anything like this, said Doc.

If the neck was cauterized then where did all this blood come from? Asked Lizzy

From where your victim was pierced. The blade went all the way through, he bled out from the back, he replied. I will know more after the autopsy.

Around what time would you say he died? Asked Barnes.

By the temperature of his body, I would say, he was killed just a few minutes before you guys arrived, replied Doc. Your murderer might still be here, watching you two from that dark alley over there. He could be standing there right now and we wouldn't see him, said Doc with a morbid half smile.

Lizzy and Barnes looked at each other and pulled their guns while walking over to the dark alley looking in the shadows to see if there was any kind of movement. Clank! Barnes spun around and fired off a shot. A large rat took off running. Lizzy broke out laughing.

What's got you so trigger happy tonight Barnes? Asked Lizzy.

Nothing! He said embarrassed.

Come on, there's no one here. Let's go see if Billy had a chance to analyze the sword yet, said Lizzy.

Yeah, let's get the hell out of here. This place gives me the creeps, said Barnes.

Lizzy and Barnes started walking towards her car to head to the lab. Lizzy didn't want to admit it, but she was creeped out too. The feeling of eyes watching her from the shadows. A dark presence that sent chills down her spine.

Let me know what you find in the autopsy Doc, Lizzy said as she was getting into her car.

Will do, said Doc.

Lizzy remembered the cup.

Wait a sec Barnes, she said