Death Awaits

"Are you sure it's him?".

The younger man's brow furrowed but his nodding head was grave.

"I'm sure Father", he replied. "Medok is here".

Father Joseph McGregor sighed as he regarded Eyre Square in Galway. He knew the time would come, but had hoped it wouldn't be here. He wasn't sure he was ready.

"So, the usual fee?", Brendan Kelly, his informant asked.

"Yes, always the same", the priest said and sat back as the ginger haired man smiled and headed back to the same train station he had come from.

It was a crisp but reasonably warm early spring day in Ireland, but it gave the priest little comfort. For thirty years he'd hunted and slain vampires. He'd been hunted too and tonight would see and end. Father McGregor rose slowly and made his way back to his church.

The private number rang three times before being answered. That was normal, but nonetheless Father McGregor wasn't in the mood to wait.

"Yes?", the voice on the other end said simply.

"It's Father McGregor", he replied hastily. "I've found him".

"Where?".

"Right here, in Galway", the jaded priest said.

"Then you know what needs to be done".

Staring at the now silent phone in his hand, Joseph groaned.

He had all the relevant tools for the job, but Joseph realized he wasn't sure what needed to be done. Officially there was protocol, but three decades ago he'd been tempted. His mentor, Father Sterling, had been killed by Medok, shortly before offering Father McGregor the chance to join the undead. As he regarded his ashen, lined face in the bathroom mirror, he sighed before cleaning up himself and preparing.

Sunset arrived early in Galway that day, and with it a ferocious thirst for blood.

Once sated, Medok relaxed. The abandoned factory wasn't his best choice but he'd been waiting for this moment a long time. He would be in transit to the old country by dawn, but not without a prize.

"He knows? You're sure?", Medok asked his acolyte.

"I delivered the news this morning', Brendan Kelly replied, his tone respectful of his employer. "He believes".

"Hmmm", Medok replied dreamily. 

"Our...our deal Master?", Brendan stammered, his tongue thick and mouth drier than sandpaper.

"Oh?", Medok now seemed amused, although he betrayed no real emotions, nor did his body language change. "The deal, yes. Step forward!".

Nervously Brendan did so. He was in awe of the master vampire as much as he was terrified of him.

"You did well in helping. Here is your reward".

Brendan's momentary relief was quickly replaced with shock. He had been promised immortality, yet the slashing fingernails had torn straight through his throat in the blink of an eye.

"Thank you", Medok said, leaving Brendan to bleed out on the office floor.

The abandoned factory was in the east of Galway but Father McGregor had no problems finding it. In fact it seemed the perfect place, dilapidated and smothered in filth.

Gaining entry was too easy, which gave the priest cause for concern. Medok wasn't known for being careless.

Once inside, Joseph lit his torch and gave his eyes a moment to adjust. It was dusty and reeked of death. As he made his way into the factory floor, he noticed a body to his right. Someone whose throat had been ripped open. He stopped, realising it was Brendan Kelly.

"Death awaits you, priest!", Medok hissed from the shadows.

"Death awaits us all Medok, even you", Father McGregor replied before slowly turning in the direction of the voice.

A pale face, with vicious yellow eyes slowly came out of the shadows gloom.

Medok was tall yet slender and lithe. Rumoured to be over a thousand years old, his movements were that of a predatory adolescent, quiet yet sinister.

"Once more, padre, I offer you a deal", Medok said with a tilted head. "Join us, or die!".

Before Father McGregor could respond, Medok was at his back, one icy hand around the old priest's neck.

Father McGregor once again felt that ache inside him, that longing for immortality, his faith yet again tested. As Medok's teeth sank into his jugular, the blood splashing out, he gripped the stake and pulled away. Turning awkwardly he faced Medok one last time.

"What have you done?", he cried, before plunging the stake into Medok's heart.

"Too late!", was the last thing Medok said, before exploding into dust.

You may here tell of a vampire priest in Galway. One who wanders Eyre Square.

An old, broken shambles of a man this blood sucker, haunts the square nightly and it is said that although he got what he wanted, it is in fact the one thing that he least desired. 

Some say it was the priest who disappeared one early spring.......