[Vorcla]

Author's note: adult content

He screamed.

The thing that had been Dylan Vorcla loosed a shivering wail of agony that clawed its way up the damp sides of the stone dungeon walls.

Nilos LaGory nodded fractionally. Dylan's new form boasted a broad chest and narrow waist, and his biceps seemed to be as big around as LaGory's thighs. A lethal predator now stood where a slender young man had been moments before. The Beast’s muscles were still expanding and thickening; flesh tore and bled and immediately healed as bones shifted position and ripped through the skin as they settled into a new shape. His entire body was covered with shaggy golden fur. Chains clanked as the creature trembled and moaned in excruciating pain.

And he was still growing; he was now over seven feet tall.

LaGory sensed a surge in the creature's aura as well. Its power had increased exponentially after the Change. If it could only be harnessed...

“My, you’re a big one,” LaGory said, chuckling. “Impressive – and a full transformation, of course. You’re powerless before the full moon and cannot help but fully transform. Your anger helped to trigger the Change. Once you learn to control the metamorphosis, you will be able to control the amount of your transformation. as well You will also be able to Change yourself into the shape of an ordinary wolf – albeit a rather large wolf. Somewhat less conspicuous than the hairy monster you’ve now become, however.”

A shudder rippled through the werewolf’s form. He slowly became aware of his surroundings. Raw, feral strength flooded through Dylan's massive frame from somewhere deep inside him. His muscles throbbed with power; barely-controlled rage threatened to explode from him. He glanced down at his new body in stunned disbelief.

"Your father was actually something of a mangy cur, but you are rather elegant, if I do say so, Dylan. The blonde fur is quite striking."

Liquid amber eyes glanced past the form of the vampire and fell on Melissa Westfall’s naked body, sedately arranged on the slab. LaGory followed the gaze and walked to the head of the altar. His grin was mocking as he stroked her coppery hair and let his fingers trail down over her cold, soft cheeks.

“Oh, so beautiful…and oh, so dead. You realize, of course, that this is all your fault? She’d still be alive if you hadn’t brought her here. Your selfish curiosity killed her. What would her parents say? You promised you would take care of her. You promised, Dylan! Remember? Of course, your bestial mind can’t remember that just now.”

LaGory raised his eyes to stare tauntingly at the huge creature and he froze.

There were silver tears streaming from the werewolf’s eyes. He threw back his massive head and unleashed a deep-chested, mournful howl of misery.

The vampire felt a shiver ripple down his spine. Impossible! Werewolves were mindless beasts, killing machines, during their first Change. Over time they would retain more and more memories of their human selves when they transformed, but for now, there was no way Dylan Vorcla should possibly have remembered Melissa’s death!

Unless…

His vampire heritage.

That had to be it! If the mental powers of his vampire blood were permitting his human memories, then Dylan could be a formidable ally indeed.

“You know, your affliction is often called the Curse of the Werewolf, Dylan,” LaGory carefully began. “I prefer to think of it more as a gift. Just imagine! You’ll stop aging when you hit twenty-five or so. You’ll live forever as long as you stay away from silver bullets and silver swords and daggers – oh, and silver nitrate IV drips.”

He chuckled. “Sounds like a better life than mine. You’re only inconvenienced four days a month, you can Change at will the rest of the time, you don’t have to sleep in a coffin during the day. And you can get a sun tan. A small price to pay for all that cunning and strength and power of the 'Wolf. As I said, a wonderful gift. I can show you how to use it.”

The 'Wolf still stared at Melissa’s corpse, snuffling as his tears flowed freely. He’d barely been listening.

LaGory bent down and tenderly kissed Melissa's lips. He stared up at the werewolf with a triumphant smile.

"I'll be the one crooning 'Melissa's Song' to her now, boy. When she awakens from her…sleep, she will be mine."

At the mention of the song Dylan had written for Melissa, the 'Wolf's great head whipped up, and his amber gaze raked LaGory like a searchlight. His eyes became glowing red coals, and his face twisted up into a savage snarl, exposing razor-sharp fangs. Thick fur bristled and stood on end. His elemental roar was louder and more ferocious than a lion’s. He lunged forward, but the heavy chains yanked him back.

LaGory involuntarily gave ground, taking half a step back. He could feel an icy fist clenching and unclenching in the pit of his churning stomach as his heart pounded in his chest. A strange sensation jangled his nerve endings, something he hadn't felt in over 600 years.

Fear.

This was wrong. Dylan was far too powerful. He would have to be controlled. The Wolf’s long, lethal claws flexed, and there was blood in his eyes. LaGory sensed that the creature would love to get those talons around his neck.

"Bad dog!" he snapped, trying to keep his tone flippant. But even he could hear the quaver in his own voice.

Then the werewolf flashed a toothy, predatory smile at him, and LaGory felt his skin crawl. The creature balled its paws into fists, flexing his wrist muscles, and the manacles shattered like papier mache. The vampire instinctively took the form of a hideous, grey-skinned bat creature with a six foot wingspan.

The two combatants locked gazes, and the Wolf tried to surge forward.

"Hold!" LaGory snarled.

The Beast willed his feet to propel him forward, but found his body paralyzed and unable to respond to the frantic signals from his brain. He raged impotently at his foe, roaring out his frustration. The psychic blast of pure animal hatred emanating from the werewolf nearly knocked the vampire off his feet. LaGory desperately fought back with every ounce of his own formidable mental powers just to hold his own. It occurred to him that the only creature capable of killing a vampire in one-on-one combat was another vampire.

Or a werewolf.

Finally he could feel Dylan weakening, mentally backing away from the onslaught.

"Easy, Dylan," the LaGory creature soothed. "Look at my eyes. That's it. Calm down. Much better."

Slowly the werewolf's struggles subsided. He relaxed; the scarlet glare fled from his eyes, and they assumed their soft golden hue again.

“Ah, yes…you can be controlled,” LaGory mused. “That is good – although it requires a good deal of effort on my part. But it is indeed possible.”

Suddenly the 'Wolf’s massive head came up. He glanced over LaGory’s shoulder in confusion.

“M-Melissa?” he snarled, his voice raw and gravelly.

LaGory’s eyes flew wide in astonishment. “Y-you can speak?”

“Melissa – you’re alive!”

The vampire turned.

He realized his mistake instantly. With LaGory’s concentration broken, Dylan was freed from his influence. He flung himself at his foe with an elated growl.

The two terrifying creatures went down in a snarling heap, and LaGory frantically dragged his claws across the 'Wolf’s chest, cutting into his thick hide. He howled in pain, but the pain only infuriated him further and stoked his rage. He sank his fangs into the vampire’s right shoulder and bit down with crushing force. His enemy screamed and twisted away, leaving chunks of flesh in the 'Wolf’s jaws.

LaGory desperately rolled out from beneath Dylan’s massive form. He had to get away from the werewolf; the Beast was bigger, stronger and faster than he was. He needed to flee – and now. He attempted to launch himself into the air.

Before he could leave the floor, however, searing pain tore through his right wing as Dylan ripped it to shreds. LaGory shrieked in agony, and the werewolf exulted in his screams. The creature pressed his advantage; deadly talons slashed downward through LaGory’s face and clawed him open down the front, nearly eviscerating him. The vampire’s wails of agony echoed in the cavernous cell, and he reverted to his human form as he collapsed to the floor in a puddle of his own blood. His mangled right arm hung limp and useless. Entrails glistened through the gory chasm that had been carved into his body. He glanced down at himself and gasped.

“You b-bastard!” LaGory raged. “You’ve nearly castrated me!” He managed to get to his feet and leaned heavily against the wall.

Dylan the 'Wolf loomed over him, his claws fully extended. His lupine face twisted into a mask of hatred.

“This is for Melissa, you son of a bitch!”

He lunged.

But LaGory summoned all of his remaining strength and sent a stream of mental energy at the charging werewolf. Dylan screamed and flew across the cell. He slammed into the wall and crumpled to the floor, stunned.

LaGory sobbed and panted as he slid down the wall, bleeding heavily. He needed to escape, to return to his coffin, where he could enter a healing trance. Already his wounds were starting to close a little, but he couldn’t remain here long enough for them to completely heal. That would take time; it was too dangerous.

And the Wolf was stirring.

“Damn y-you!” LaGory hissed. “Why can’t you just die?”

Somehow the vampire staggered to his feet. He would have to fly out of here, but he was too weak to assume the shape of the winged creature. He concentrated, trying to force down the pain, and turned into a large bat with a torn right wing. He flapped weakly upward in a crazy, broken-winged flight, fluttering toward the cell door far above.

Dylan shook his head to clear it. His keen ears picked up the whisper of wings, and he snarled when he saw the bat nearing the top of the chamber.

He leaped to his feet and raced right up the side of the curved wall, easily scaling it. He landed on a ledge by the door and started swiping at the bat.

And then LaGory played his trump card.

He shifted into a formless scarlet mist and drifted through the bars of the door as the Wolf howled in helpless rage. LaGory assumed human form on the other side and sagged in a bloody heap on the floor. He could hear his servants running down the hall toward him, and he breathed a sigh of relief. They would take him to the crypt, where he could initiate a regenerative trance.

He glanced up and gritted his teeth in fury.

The 'Wolf was snarling and gnashing his fangs, slamming his huge body against the heavy oaken door in futility. LaGory waited until the creature was glaring directly at him, then unleashed one last, lethal blast of mental energy at his foe.

The wave hit Dylan with the force of a battering ram and launched him out into open air. He fell with an unearthly, ear-splitting screech and crashed heavily on the stone floor far below. LaGory winced in agony and lurched to his feet. He was thoroughly drained now. He staggered to the door and peered through the window at the scene below.

He could see the body of the beautiful Melissa lying naked on the altar, and on the floor nearby was Dylan. He lay in a pool of blood and was reverting back to his human form.

“Sorry, Dylan, old chap, but you really pissed me off,” LaGory rasped.

He knew better than to think that Dylan Vorcla was dead. Even that deadly fall wasn't enough to kill him.The werewolf was immortal and virtually indestructible. By morning he would be as good as new.

His black-robed retainers had reached him and cried out in dismay when they saw his condition.

“Master, you’re injured!” a swarthy brute of a man with black curls cried.

LaGory fixed him with a withering glare.

“Your powers of observation never cease to amaze me, Leon,” he grated. “You think? Whatever gave you that idea? Of course I’m injured, you bloody idiot! All right – you and Frederick help me to the crypt. We'll have to go the back way, around the other side of the dungeon pit.”

As he hobbled down the corridor, gratefully leaning on his servants, Nilos LaGory seethed inwardly. His own arrogance had caused this debacle. The youth had fooled him with a B-movie trick and had nearly killed him. He would not make a stupid mistake like that again.

One thing was certain – Dylan Vorcla was too dangerous to live. He would begin to die tomorrow, slowly and horribly, silver nitrate dripping into his arm.

And Dylan would see Nilos LaGory raise his sweet Melissa to be his vampire bride, and they would make love while the youth was forced to watch.

The thought pleased him, and his lips twitched into a contented smile as his acolytes closed the casket lid over him…

To be continued...

['Ginnis]

Wonderful action sequence. Really, Rick. I'm envious. You bring the movement alive so vividly, I can feel it. It's great, know that I am truly envious.

A few little things in a sea of praise...

Once you learn to control the metamorphosis, you will be able to control the amount of your transformation. as well You will also be able to Change yourself into the shape of an ordinary wolf – albeit a rather large wolf.

Capitalize 'as' (told you...little!)

You referenced that Dylan had written a song for Mel at one point, though the reference was vague at best. That's something great that I would recommend playing with. Perhaps he sings it when his mind wanders, perhaps LaGory taunts with the refrain. Something needs to be done with it because the reference is almost too obscure else wise.

“You think?Whatever gave you that idea? Of course I’m injured, you twit!

Space after the question mark and the word twit is almost too mild, too immature. Given LaGory's sense of sarcasm and his current condition, I'm sure he could manage a more degrading insult.

Oh LaGory...how I adore thee (ew ew ew ew ew ew ew...I so did not just say that) Really, the cynicism is wonderful. Your depiction of Dylan's animalistic rage was also flawless. You managed to embody the beastly power while still keeping it human, which terrifies LaGory.

I think that's my favorite thing about your monsters, they always retain a human feel. Makes them so much more personable as well understandable. Great work.

[Vorcla]

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

Wonderful action sequence. Really, Rick. I'm envious. You bring the movement alive so vividly, I can feel it. It's great, know that I am truly envious.

Thank you, Kara. Action is one thing I've always felt I was able to do fairly well. Now, while we're in "mutual admiration society" mode, I've always envied the way you draw such realistic characters, and I especially envy your wonderful dialogue - "Satan, bring yor blood pen! You can have my soul if you let me write dialogue the way she does!" Believe it or not, I feel that I've learned a lot about characterization and dialogue and subtlety just by readng and studying your stories. I'm hoping that it's starting to show in my own writing. Thanks for that.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

Once you learn to control the metamorphosis, you will be able to control the amount of your transformation. as well You will also be able to Change yourself into the shape of an ordinary wolf – albeit a rather large wolf.

Thanks for the catch. Actually, "as well" was supposed to be deleted, and I missed it. Now I've got it.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

“You think?Whatever gave you that idea? Of course I’m injured, you twit!

Thanks for the catch, again. Dealt with both of them.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis;

You referenced that Dylan had written a song for Mel at one point, though the reference was vague at best. That's something great that I would recommend playing with. Perhaps he sings it when his mind wanders, perhaps LaGory taunts with the refrain. Something needs to be done with it because the reference is almost too obscure else wise.

Ah, yes. One of the problems with writing a multipart series is that there's an unavoidable time lag from post to post. I made a reference in part 1, which I've pasted below, for anyone who wants to review. I'm going to implement both of your suggestions, and you've given me a wonderful idea for a scene, which I'll run past you by PM or on MSN - don't want to post any spoilers.

Anyway, here's the reference:

"Oh, Dylan, you are such a flirt! You're laying it on a thick, dear. But I love it." She gave him a chaste peck on the cheek and hugged him. "You always know just what to say and do. I remember the night we met. You set me up, of course. My friends urged me to come see you at the Zodiac Coffeehouse. There you were, up on stage playing guitar, singing in that incredible voice..."

"Ah, yes." His smile broadened. "Then I sang that song I wrote for you. I introduced it by saying, 'Here's a song I wrote for someone very special to me,' and I saw your beautiful blue eyes get as big as dinner plates."

"Yes - 'My Sweet Melissa.' Of course, I turned into a puddle, and your conquest was made."

"That 'sensitive singer-songwriter schtick' works every time!"

Melissa punched him playfully in the arm. "You stinker! Well, it worked for me."

There it is.

Originally Posted by 'Ginnis

Oh LaGory...how I adore thee (ew ew ew ew ew ew ew...I so did not just say that) Really, the cynicism is wonderful. Your depiction of Dylan's animalistic rage was also flawless. You managed to embody the beastly power while still keeping it human, which terrifies LaGory.

I think that's my favorite thing about your monsters, they always retain a human feel. Makes them so much more personable as well understandable. Great work.

Thanks - you're giving me a big head. I always appreciate your comments, Kara. Some of my favorite bits are when the monsters drop their guard and reveal a brief glimpse of their former humanity. Dracula in the original Bela Lugosi movie: "To die - to be truly dead - it must be glorious!" Or when the vampire remembers something about their past life and for a brief moment actually reverts to the human he/she once was. High praise coming from you; thanks again!

[katofmystery]

Please write faster!

[Vorcla]

Hahahaha! "Faster" doesn't always mean "gooder!" I may try to do part 4 this weekend. Thanks, Kat.

[Jimbalaya]

I think I utterd "C'mon Vorc!" aloud while I was reading the fight scene. I was seriously drawn in to this chapter, Rick. You could have slapped me to get my attention away from it and I wouldn't have noticed. This is a very powerful piece of writing. Looking forward to the next one, man. Keep up the great work!

[Vorcla]

Thanks, Jim. Appreciate the comments. This was the first skirmish between Vorc and LaGory, but it won't be the last. And not just in this story, either...

[Venomous Vixen]

Another incredible part. I agree about the action here, brilliant and it takes a lot I think to paint a full picture in your readers mind but it was there for me. I mean from the colors to the moonlight on the ancient stone to the round shape leading upwards and out... ah and 'sweet Melissa' oh all hell is going to break loose when she wakes.

LaGory is a bastard, pure greed and evil, and you paint him so well. There is not an inkling of compassion for anything or anyone but himself and you never falter.

The silver tears was an especially excellent image.

I am with Kat, more please

[Vorcla]

Thank you, honey. I aim to please. I'll try for more this weekend.

Yes - some kind of rivalry for Melissa brewing between Vorc and LaGory. And it's a rivalry which, heartbreakingly, Dylan can't win. Glad you feel that way about LaGory. He's the personification of evil, but (hopefully) overlain with a veneer of charm.

Bri, you know how much your comments mean to me. Thanks again.

[Nupur]

Ooh this is going good. Brilliant action scene there. Awesome chracterization. I specially like LaGory. You're developing him nicely. And yes, I want more too!

[Vorcla]

Thanks, Nup! Always great to hear from you. Yeah, Kara and I want LaGory to be the "villain you love to hate." You'll be seeing a lot more of him. He has some dimension to him, I think. He kills one of his servants for screwing up and says something like, "Serves you right, you incompetent fool. Good evil minions are so hard to find these days!"

More is coming as soon as I can get to it. Thanks again.

[dearest]

You've outdone yourself; even better action scene than the last. I was completely riveted the entire time, and I don't even LIKE reading action. ^_^ Glad to see La Gory knocked down a peg, and can't wait to see what will happen when Mel wakes up. Nice job, rick. On to the next!

[Lubesh]

Man,this gets better. I hate to sound like a philastine, but just that alone, I'd loveto see etched on film. hence i don't watch cos there sint anything much out there or read it. (another compliment) I could be getting drunk now or worse or finishing my two books lol or working on mine. I am using these installemnts as i do...my sm treats as just that spots in my day or days and getting there.....will she read on?. No. see have to stop myself.lol

Epic stuff and what part 3????

A small thing irritated me a bit...

Even that deadly fall wasn't enough to kill him

We know the rules ie casues of their death vamps/werwolves. Just seemed a bit redundant.

Also, I come back to the IV thing and an end similar to his dad's..eventually I shall see, but given ur monumental capacity I think this is tame and a waste of my hero's (LeGory's) 'talent' and would it be 'satisfying enough? Maybe i am looking for to much 'blood' here.

Love him btw and the intervening as someone said rl life sardonic wit is great....here boy lol.