Day 13: Ancient Antagonist vs Modern Good Guy – Cain vs Gordon

FLESH AND LEFTOVERS was a zombie novel, but the zombies weren’t the build up for what was to come.  By the end of the book I had set up Cain to be the antagonist of the first trilogy.  The great thing about this character is that he is in essence completely immortal.  I wanted a man who was downright evil and bad with a small part of his humanity that made you sometimes cheer for him.

 

Imagine being the first person ever to have committed a major crime, and then not being forgiven for it.  Cain murdered Abel, but there were no

Depiction of Cain in the comic spinoff LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE. Artwork by JC Spence

ground rules per se.  He was punished by a higher power and had the “mark of God” placed upon him.  As the vampire lord his immortality stayed with him even in death.  Even his remorse for killing his brother did not rid him of this plague.  He had to watch his friends and loved ones die before completely switching over and giving in to his demonic nature.

 

If he couldn’t have freedom of humanity, then he would rid he world of humanity, and punish God in turn by taking away his precious creatures.  Their God would no longer control them, and instead they’d be Cain’s sheep like minions.  Through his journey we see Cain take on different characteristics and traits and despite apparent death, he is always there some how.  Perhaps he is given a second chance at some point, but was he misunderstood?  Was this all just a punishment set in place with predetermined results?

 

Bring in Gordon Lightcap.  He was a man whose family was torn from him at a young age.  Not once did he blame any higher power.  Instead he used this as a cause to prevent anyone else from suffering the same fate.  His experiences sent him on a borderline alcoholic binge, but he continued on.  Even when haunted by his memories of the past, he came through strong.

 

Battling against Cain is something that is built towards and their common love interest throws a whole other aspect into it.  You can see what happens as the books progress, but the bottom line is that you have two very similar people who took their experiences in opposite directions.  In other words Gordon is in a way a complete opposite version of Cain.  This rivalry is the focus of the first trilogy but not limited to there.

 

Follow the adventures of Cain and Gordon in the entire series or in individual installments: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING, BONES AT BREAKFAST, SOULS 4 SUPPER, DEVIL’S DESSERT, TECHNO FEAST and the comic spinoffs.