Chapter 13

13

After Nova left, I found myself pacing with boredom. I glanced at Clover.

"Let's go somewhere." And I didn't mean Earth. Where could I go with my three-headed dog that wouldn't have people freaking? I mean, I guess we could have gone to a National Park or somewhere untouched, however, I had the ability to go anywhere so why not explore?

With Clover tucked to my side, I exited the cave and activated my talisman to bring us into the Continuum.

Hello, messovenata.

Given we're friends now, I'd prefer you call me Sadie.

Very well, Sadie. A pause. You can call me Fay.

I would have blinked in surprise if I had a body. Hi, Fay. It's nice to finally meet you.

A slight giggle preceded her next words. I am sorry for my previous reticence. It had been so long since I'd conversed with anyone that I forgot my manners.

I didn't point out she'd previously worried I'd know her name and think poorly of her. I was glad to see her showing me some trust.

Fay spoke again. How did your visit with the Regina go?

Well. Awkward. She apologized for her actions, which was good, I suppose.

I initially tried to keep her from you, but she proved insistent.

Yeah, she can be bossy. I'm going to assume you didn't send Nova somewhere weird when she left.

I should have. The sulky overtones shone through. She has a poor opinion of me, which is rude considering how beneath me she would have been had we both been alive at the same time.

She's just worried you're not a good spirit but a bad one.

If I were bad, no one would ever make it to their destination.

Her point is a few didn't.

It won't happen again. A promise I'd have to accept on voice value.

Listen, I want to take Clover for a run. I could use some fresh air and exercise too. Any chance we can go back to Topiia? The planet intrigued me. Not many people could say they'd set foot on an alien world.

There might be demons.

Good. I need to practice my combat skills.

Very well.

I suddenly found myself on the same path as before, the woods just as vividly colored, the sky and grass strange. But the air… I breathed deeply. It lacked the pollution of Earth and held a freshness to it that revived me. I glanced at Clover. "Wanna race?"

I lost handily to my dog. Like he literally ran circles around me. When we finally slowed down in a field of long grass with tufts of flowers swaying, I flopped on my back. Clover joined me and panted.

I almost fell asleep in the sunshine but startled abruptly when Clover emitted a low growl. I sat up to see Clover bristling with agitation.

"What is it, boy?" I rose to look in the direction he stared and saw the man I'd met and saved before. walking towards me, his gait stilted.

Oh no. Not again. The last time I'd come across people walking stiff legged they'd been possessed. The blood on his clothes made my heart almost stop as I recalled the faces of his wife and children.

I pulled out my scythe and extended it as he got close. Close enough I could see the blood came from a soaked bandage wrapped around his leg. The wound caused the limp.

Clover stopped growling and cocked his three heads.

The man raised his hands and gestured. "Xhisdgahgew."

I didn't understand a word but recognized the panic in his eyes.

"Come on Clover. I think we have someone in need of our assistance." Time to be a hero. My long strides—with admittedly short legs—brought me close enough to see the man's bloodshot eyes.

"Hjfsgsghssg." He sounded frantic.

"I don't understand what you're saying but I'm assuming you need my help. Let's go, show me where the trouble is." I gestured for him to lead.

He took off with his crooked gait towards the forest. We soon hit the path as he babbled, and I really wished I could understand what he said. Magic warmed me suddenly and…

"…took my oldest daughter. We don't know if she's dead or alive. I tried to fight it, but it gored my leg, and I couldn't chase."

My sudden understanding had me almost falling over. "Um, hi?"

He whirled and his eyes went wide. "You speak my language."

"Not really. Kind of?" I shrugged.

"I was pleased to hear of your return. When we prayed to the goddess of life, she showed me where to find you."

"What goddess?"

"There is only one goddess. She speaks to us sometimes in the mirror fragment we keep on the altar."

Curious, but it would have to wait until later.

"What took your child? Was it a demon?"

"Yes. But not the gray ones. This was an upir."

The word didn't translate. "What can you tell me about it?"

"It appears as a man and can fool the unwary. They speak. They pass as human. But they are evil. They drink blood and come out only at night."

"Wait, that sounds like a vampire."

"Yes, upir." Apparently, my spell translated vampire for him. Oddly it didn't do the same for me.

"Do you know where it's taken her?"

"No, but given its aversion to sunlight, there aren't many places it can take cover. There is a cave not far from our home. I usually check it every other moon to ensure nothing has chosen it as a den. Demons like dark places, you know."

I did know. "The demons I fought last time didn't seem to care about it being daylight."

"Those gray ones must have been hungry to venture out. It's how we were taken by surprise. Usually, we are safe in our casas before nightfall."

Made sense. Starvation would have made them desperate.

"How did this vampire kidnap your daughter if you're usually locked in at night?"

His scowl went with his growled, "She snuck out to meet her betrothed in the animal shed. I just happened to realize she'd gone and followed in time to see the upir attack her. It had already killed Joffrey. I tried to fight it, but it tore open my leg. It would have killed me if my daughter hadn't run, and it took chase."

"This happened last night?" I frowned. "Why wait so long to rescue her?"

"My wife begged me not to go and insisted we pray. She worried she'd lose me as well. Without me, she and the children would be defenseless." His lips turned down.

What a hard decision to make.

"But then the goddess showed us her champion in the mirror." He glanced at me. "I came as quickly as I could once I recognized the field you were in."

"I'll be honest, I've never fought a vampire before." When his shoulders slumped, I quickly added, "But I'm sure it's no worse than a demon."

"You must watch out for its gaze. They can mesmerize their prey."

We veered off the path into the woods, a thick and old section, the boughs heavy enough they blocked the sun, meaning plenty of shadow for things to hide in.

I might have worried about being pounced but for Clover happily trotting by my side. My dog would give me warning. I hoped.

When the man put a finger to his lips, I knew we neared, and cast a spell to hide any noise we made.

I whispered to the man, "Stay here. I'll handle this."

I thought he might argue, but he nodded. "As the champion wishes."

He had more faith than I did. I mean, a vampire? I mean yes, they existed on Earth, but few and far between. Their bloodlust usually had them quickly killed. The one we'd offered Fay had been caught by reapers at Nova's behest. It had been handed to me bound and head covered. Upon his rejection, Fay had him ejected somewhere sunny. All that to say, I knew of them, but had no idea how to fight one. Guess I'd be getting a hands-on lesson.

I emerged from the forest to find myself at the base of an escarpment. Lots of tumbled rocks and no clear path. It should be noted, I wasn't a climber. Never had been, but to be a hero, I didn't have a choice.

Funny enough, Clover had no issue billy-goating his way upward. I followed where his paws landed given his short legs could only hop and clamber short distances. My dog led us to the mouth of a cave from which wafted a strange scent.

Decay with something else. Something almost pleasant, sweet yet spicy.

I eyed Clover. "Ready?" I whispered despite still having a silencing spell in place,

Three lolling tongues indicated yes.

We entered, my steps slow and cautious. I didn't dare move too fast given I could see fuck all in the darkness and a light would be foolish. I'd rather surprise the vampire.

The cave was more like a tunnel that went a good twenty paces before turning. It was only as I passed out of sight of the entrance that I realized I could see a faint light ahead.

The smells of rot and perfume strengthened. Given I didn't know if it would harm me, I added a layer of protection that prevented me from inhaling it. Having read many fantasy and horror books, I knew some writers claimed vampires didn't mesmerize with their eyes alone but with pheromones, the kind meant to relax their victims into doing their bidding.

Before I stepped into the cave at the end of the tunnel, I added invisibility to my cloak.

I shouldn't have bothered. The moment I stepped into the light, a smooth and velvety male voice said, "Welcome. How kind of you to join me for dinner."