Sunday, April 19, 2015

Vampire Chronicles: Wolf's Blood







Vampire Chronicles: Wolf’s Blood
By Nomar Knight

     My vampire stalker, Lorraina Sandoval, bit me. The traumatizing event lived on in my recurring nightmares. On most nights I would wake feeling that my dreams were real. I’d gasped for breath and pant as if I had been running for my life. The sound of a chorus of nocturnal creatures hooting and singing, transferred to my conscious state. The noise echoed around me like a crowd cheering for a gladiator. I hugged myself, shivering from the cold.
     “Why is it so chilly tonight?” I mumbled.
     I couldn’t help but notice what a wuss I had become since moving from New York. I cringed at the thought of how my friends would tease me if they could see me shivering. The thermostat read a comfortable sixty-five degrees. The cool Caribbean breeze made my bones ache. My knees snapped, crackled and popped when I got out of bed.
     “I don’t know what you did to me, Lorraina, but I’m still human.”
     When my alleged fictional character had saved me from getting killed by a mugger, she revealed that Marie Sandoval, her twin sister, watched over me. 
     “I don’t believe you, you egotistical lunatic!”
     I waited to see if my insults would draw her out of the darkness. I hoped Lorraina would appear from nowhere and show me once again how vampires made love. Unfortunately, all I got was the continuing sounds of night, followed by dogs barking nearby.
     I slipped on a t-shirt, fetched a bottle of water, and sat on my sofa, wishing for my luck to improve. Sadness remained an unwanted companion. It appeared my most exciting characters had abandoned me.
     Halfway through the bottle, I noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere. I didn’t have the usual tightening in my stomach like when Lorraina would stop by. In fact, I couldn’t identify what was different, just that something had changed.
     I felt compelled to open the main door. I did and immediately wished I hadn’t. A black wolf growled, bared sharp fangs and drooled. Its red eyes froze me in place.
     “There are no wolves in Puerto Rico.”
My statement served to enrage the creature even more. It inched its way forward, ready to make a meal out of me. I thought about ordering it to be still, hoping that by displaying authority, it would stand down.
     “Sit!”
     The sucker leaped and knocked me flat on my back. It’s teeth lingered dangerously close to my throat.
     I remembered thinking that I was a goner for sure. A wild beast that was completely out of place would see to it that my latest vampire book, LOST IN DARKNESS, would never see publication.
     “Heel!”
     The wolf got off me and stood next to a dark shadow. When I managed to take my eyes off the creature, I spotted a pair of amazing legs encased in tight, black leather pants.
     “Lorraina?
     “Guess again.”
     Marie Sandoval sported a soft smile. Her eyes made me feel welcomed. It felt as if I had known the vampire my whole life, but alas, aside from dreams, we had never met.
     “Sorry about Thunder. He tends to be quite impatient.”
     Marie helped me off the floor. Her luscious red hair cascaded over athletic shoulders. Emerald eyes weakened my knees.
     “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”
     “I bet you said that to Lorraina too.” She grinned.
     I stepped away from her as she reached for me. The realization that Marie was a vampire put me in survival mode. The wolf growled.
     “Shush!” Marie scowled at the beast.
     The animal rested its head on the floor. Red eyes fixated on me.
     Marie’s eyes revealed compassion. She whispered, “I would never hurt you.”
     I couldn’t believe how different she was from her twin sister. Lorraina loved playing power games. Marie seemed human.
     One second she was standing, the next, she sat on the sofa.
     “I’m not human.”
     She flashed her fangs and patted the seat so I could sit next to her. A sudden urge to run to the bathroom eventually passed as she smiled, hiding her lethal incisors.
     “Why are you here?”
     She bit her wrist, blood trickled down her hand. “Drink my essence and you shall see.”
     I smiled and sat near her. “Will I become extraordinarily strong?”
     Marie giggled. “True Blood is fiction, baby. Drink and take the journey.”
     I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. She put her bloody arm to my lips and I sipped from the ancient vampire. My surroundings vanished. I no longer sat with Marie in my living room. Instead, I sprinted through trees and bushes in a dark forest with only a full moon providing illumination. My tank top ripped from thorny bushes.
     I heard voices closing in.
     “Don’t let him get away!”
     “No witnesses!” Shouted another.
     The sound of a firecracker exploded behind me. Something whizzed past my left ear and struck a nearby tree .
     Just minutes earlier, I had been hiking in the forest, clearing my head for the night,  when I had stumbled on to four men. I hid behind some greenery and saw one man exchange a bag of cash for what looked like packets. I had no idea if it was cocaine or heroin, but I figured it was illegal on account the guy counting the money got shot in the chest. The other man with him met the same fate.      He took two rounds to the chest and one to the head.
     Normally, my cellphone didn’t have a signal that deep in the woods, but as luck would have it, the damn thing made whistling sounds. I ran as fast as I could because my life depended on my past skills as a runner. Unfortunately, I was a sprinter, not a marathon man. Sharp pains nailed my ribs and stomach. Nausea threatened to make me stop running.
     I never saw the rock so I stumbled and fell. I crashed over more rocks and landed hard on the ground.
     The two gunmen caught up to me.
     “Shoot him!”
     A dark skinned man approached. Cold dark eyes revealed his intent. He pointed a nine millimeter pistol at my face. His finger was on the trigger, ready to end my existence. In a flash, I saw a black blur and the man was on the ground. A hairy beast silenced his cries. Gun shots rang. One of the rounds came within inches of my head as it took a piece of wood off the tree trunk. The second shooter screamed for a brief moment, but was silenced. The nocturnal creatures remained quiet. All I could hear was the sound of the beast gnawing at the dead man’s neck.
     My head throbbed in pain. Blood trickled down my face. The black beast with scary red eyes sauntered to me. The smell of death inched closer until all I saw was the soothing darkness.
     The gooey tongue of a canine shook me out of my stupor. When I glanced around my living room, I noticed that I was alone. Marie and her pet, Thunder, were gone.
I assumed she could still hear me so I said, “Lorraina wasn’t lying. Thank you for protecting me, Marie. I owe you one, Thunder.”
     Perhaps some day I would write about the wolf that had saved my life. I was  thankful to be alive and welcomed the cool Caribbean breeze with open arms.  




© Copyright Nomar Knight 2015. All rights reserved.
A Knight Chills Flash Fiction Presentation.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Share the Love by Ramon Flores





This poem is dedicated to all my students and a kind soul, Gladys Marie.

Share the Love
By Ramon Flores


I do the best I can
With what I have
At any given moment

Though it's usually
Never enough
I know I tried my best

"Always do your best."
"Let God do the rest."
My teacher said.

A lesson learned
And now I share
With a new generation

These kids
Have so many distractions
Detractors a plenty

Easy money lures
Material wealth shines
Happiness to buy

No way kids
Break through the myths
Don't believe the lies

Happiness can't be bought
Materials stay behind
Money means nothing

What counts
Is that you
Share the knowledge

Don't expect
Anything in return
Spread good vibes

Be happy
Take care of yourself
And share the love





© Copyright Ramon Flores 2015. All rights reserved.
Ramon Flores has granted Knight Chills non-exclusive rights to display this work.

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2015. All rights reserved.
A Knight Chills Guest Blogger Poetry Presentation.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Discrimination: America's Darkest Pastime




To be acutely aware of this world's frightening state, is to condemn your consciousness to a lifetime of horror. ~ Book of Tortured Souls

Discrimination: America’s Darkest Pastime
By Nomar Knight

     There’s another media frenzy where ignorant people are showcasing their discriminatory minds for all to see. It seems everywhere I turn, there are articles and interviews with people who not only are in favor of discriminating against gays, but they seem to illustrate pride in defending their position. Amazingly, the excuse used to openly deny the LGBT community’s basic rights is the hot topic of religion. For a country born on the concept of religious freedom, it seems ludicrous how some people are blind to the double standard they wield like a sword specifically designed to kill anyone who is not like them. I wonder, how can homophobia be so blinding? To illustrate my point, a florist in Georgia claimed that she would deny service to gay people but not adulterers because, “That’s a different kind of sin.”
     Obviously, logic and compassion are not required when practicing the latest darkest form of pastime. Thankfully, not all Americans agree with the growing number of bigots and are protesting with vigor. While one of the best things about what makes America great is the right to disagree and freedom of speech, it’s obvious to me that we still have not learned how to live with our differences.
     Perhaps there will come a time when education will prevail. Unfortunately, as long as there is a fundamental difference in how Christians view the world from within their own ranks, bigotry will remain a constant nuisance to society. I call for cooler heads to prevail. I hope that enlightenment will show that in spite of our differences, people just want a chance to live in peace, surrounded by love. Let’s eradicate hate from all walks of life, Christian or atheist. Let’s all get along.


Catch you on the dark side.



Nomar Knight




© Copyright Nomar Knight 2015. All rights reserved.
A Nomar Knight Presentation.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

A Touch of Magic





A Touch of Magic
By Nomar Knight


You are the life-force that drives me
The reason why I strive for greatness
When I take a giant leap and fall short
You pick me up and dust me off
The light you shine upon me lingers
Even when darkness threatens to consume me

You are the source of my desires
The modest wand of beauty you wave
Holding me in a wondrous spell
Full of magic and joy unmatched
A constant reminder of love's power
A blessing till the end of days

You are the epitome of hope incarnate
With a smile that tames the wildest of beasts
A tender touch which soothes the restless soul
Your kisses turn rusted iron into gold
By your side the promise of tomorrow is pure
Ensuring that spring remains eternal

I bask in the glory of knowing that you exist
You are the life-force that fills me
The love you wield transcends time
It shall remain with me wherever I go
You are my life
And I am forever yours



©2015 Nomar Knight. All rights reserved.
A Knight Chills poetic presentation.