✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻
Cloudbreaker and I quickly acquired our weapons and my new outfit. I would have liked to have put on the new clothes, but seeing that we had about 20 minutes to meet up with the others, I opted to wait until tomorrow to change.
On our way to the crime scene, I thought about the possibility of there being another vampire. I recalled Bal Vyr and Cloudbreaker saying they killed one. I was certain there was two.
“Um, you and Bal Vyr mentioned that you killed a vampire last night, right?”
“We did,” the Goliath confirmed
“Well, I think there’s another. I had woken up at one point and heard, whom I assumed to be, one of the vampires command another to find someone else for the ritual,” I felt a shiver run down my spine as I recalled what the vampire said to me, “that vampire called me his ‘little dove’,”
“Oh, I’m sure there was a vampire spawn we missed. That could very well be the second voice you heard,” Cloudbreaker responded.
“Are spawns intelligent?”
“As far as I know, yes.”
“Then perhaps that’s the case," I said, "I’ve never encountered vampires before. Hopefully whatever we find at the crime scene won't have anything to do with them. I suppose we’ll be finding that out right quick won't we?" Cloudbreaker gave a nod of his head.
"Yes, let us see if the Guard Captain is in the right to be frustrated with us.”
As we walked into the Commoner’s part of town, Bal Vyr called after us. He and Abu had just finished their errands and so it was we all made way to the home of the murdered family together.
When we approached, the guards there asked what we wanted. Bal Vyr quickly explained we were to investigate the scene to see if we truly were responsible for it. The guard asked if he was sure.
“Absolutely,” the Drow stated.
“And you ma’am? Are you sure?” the guard questioned me.
“I’ll be fine,” I simply replied.
We walked on past the guard into the pitifully small home. The place reeked of blood. It was no surprise either considering that every inch of the 15x15 foot home was covered in the crimson life source. In the middle of the home, laid side by side, were three bodies: Two parents and what looked to have been an 8 year old boy. They were pale, like myself, and not a drop of blood was on them.
My eyes locked on the boy. I thought about Joran, the boy Cortanna had accidentally killed. The image of Meryth’s dead body in the grave I made came to mind too. I wasn’t certain how long I stood there watching, but I snapped out of my trance as Bal Vyr and Abu crouched down to examine the bodies.
“There’s no bite wounds! Blood wasted and no bite marks?” Bal Vyr stated. The Drow turned on his heels and stormed out of the house.
Bal Vyr vehemently informed the guards that what we just saw was not done by the hands of a vampire. He asked if there was anyone in town well versed in the lore of vampires. The guard was under the assumption we were the experts. The Drow massaged his temples as he explained to the ignorant guard that there was a plethora of creatures capable of doing what we saw in the home. Abu added that vampires would not waste that much blood.
The Drow mentioned that it could very well be the work of a demon. He recommended getting someone well versed in cults to come to the site or perhaps someone from the Wizards Guild. Bal Vyr was certain it had something to do with blood magic. The guard suggested that we were more than welcome to go find assistance for the case.
Cloudbreaker was more interested in going back to the Guard Captain to get our reward now that we were certain what had happened to the family wasn’t at the hands of a vampire. Bal Vyr mused over the idea that the murder could very well be another source of income we could help the Captain out with.
So we headed back to the Captain of the Guard to inform him on our findings. He was less than persuaded by the evidence we presented. Bal Vyr pitched the idea that we’d help solve this problem for pay, but the Captain stated firmly that he would do no such thing until it was ruled out that no vampire was involved.
“Captain, we spoke to you last night about the cult we found with in the crypt. This looks to be the very works of that cult of Orcus, a message from them,” Cloudbreaker spoke, “Isn’t that proof enough?”
“If that’s the conclusion you are drawing from some tapestries you saw, then I’m afraid I’m going to need more evidence that this cult truly is up and running,” the Captain responded, “Prove to me that someone’s leading this cult. If it’s a vampire, kill it. If someone else, report them to me.”
Bal Vyr bickered some more with the Guard Captain to make sure that if we did find evidence that we’d be paid in addition to the contract we already fulfilled with the vampires. We were informed that such payment would be made if it turned out that the current problem wasn’t the result of a vampire.
We departed from the Guard house to which Bal Vyr suggested that Abu and I go to the Wizarding Guild to ask the wizards if they might know of what spells would cause what we saw. I was all for going, but once I turned around in the direction of the Guild, a knot in my stomach formed and I found myself unwilling to leave Bal Vyr and Cloudbreaker. I looked back at the guys, giving a nervous smile to Abu.
“Um,” I began, knowing I was about to sound unreasonable, “I- uh, I would rather go with one of you two,” I said, pointing at the Drow and Goliath. Bal Vyr rolled his eyes and scoffed, “Sorry. I just don’t feel comfortable going off with a guy I just met,” I quickly added (though Abu was one of those who had saved me...).
Bal Vyr placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me in the direction I ought to have been going with the cleric, stating, “Araja, focus here. We need you to do something. Now go and do it.”
“I can go alone if it’s a problem,” Abu began to say.
“Think about it,” Bal Vyr continued, “We just saved you from the bottom of the vampire’s crypt.”
“Yeah!” I snapped, looking at him in a way that I could only hope suggested that it was too soon for me to leave him or Cloudbreaker.
“All we’re asking is for you to go to the wizards guild, which is down the street. That’s it!” Bal Vyr attempted to persuade me, “And might I add, that there are very helpful wizards there available if you get into trouble.”
“No, I’ll go with Blackwing,” Cloudbreaker stated.
“No you won’t,” Bal Vyr ordered, “You don’t know jack about magic. I’d go but they’d know who I am,” the Drow then looked me in the eyes, “Please Araja- er, Blackwing, we need you to do this.”
My eyes felt wide and I could feel my heart work. I didn’t want to be a problem and I knew I was making a big deal about it. So I conceided.
“Okay,” I heard myself say.
“Abu, you said you were fine going on your own right?” Cloudbreaker asked.
“I did.”
“Then you go. Blackwing, come with us.”
“You do know we’re splitting up to canvas the neighborhood right?” Bal Vyr questioned. I nodded, but for me, at least both of them would be a little closer.
Abu took off for the Wizard’s Guild while the rest of us went back to the Commoner’s part of town. I stood around for a moment as Bal Vyr went back into the dead family’s home and while Cloudbreaker looked about the near by homes. As he looked at one of the houses, I figured I could ask the folks who lived inside if they’ve noticed anything unusual taking place last night.
“Blackwing, there’s blood on this house,” Cloudbreaker pointed out as I passed him.
“Well I was about to knock on the house door. We could ask about it,” I mentioned.
I went to the door, knocked upon it and heard the shifting of pots before footsteps coming to the door. A woman in her mid 40’s answered and eyed me and Cloudbreaker up before asking what was wanted. I asked if she knew about the blood on her roof. She looked very concerned yet upon me asking if I could investigate it, she asked us to leave her alone.
Cloudbreaker knelt down and pleaded with the woman if she had heard anything last night, in particular to something happening on her roof. The woman’s eyes grew wide as her jaw tightened. She shook her head and said she knew nothing. I placed a hand on the door to prevent her from shutting it. I could see she was terrified and that she knew something.
“Please. We want to end whatever terror is taking place here,” I said as gently as I could. The woman looked me in the eyes and pursed her lips together. She tried closing the door again, but to no avail.
“No!” she said defeated like, “It was a demon! Stay away from me!” the woman sputtered out. Cloudbreaker latched onto the first clue she gave us and prodded further, assuring her that we would protect her. The woman went on to state that nothing could save them from the dark, winged demon with glowing red eyes. As soon as she stated that I took my hand from the door. She closed it immediately while I slowly turned to face Cloudbreaker.
“Lash!” I barely stated in a whisper.
“That is not good...” Cloudbreaker said. He then knocked on the door and asked the woman if she heard the demon make any noise. The woman, through a crack in the door said she heard what sounded like nails on glass. That was the last thing I heard after Lash took off in her flight from the grave yard. Apparently Cloudbreaker had heard it too that night. The Goliath and I looked at each other and quickly retreated back to the crime scene where we last saw Bal Vyr puttering about.
“Bal Vyr!” Cloudbreaker called out. The Drow, who was coming out of the alley by the house, looked up expectantly, “It looks to be the work of Lash.”
“Really? Who was that?”
“The other female that traveled with us,” I reminded him.
“Oh yes, the one that died in the graveyard.”
Just then, Abu returned with another man following him. I was impressed with how quickly he found someone to come out to the scene.
“I have found someone,” Abu announced.
“We can see that,” Cloudbreaker replied, “Go on, introduce us.”
“Well...” the cleric began, looking at his companion, “I’ve actually forgotten his name,” he drawled. The wizard rolled his eyes before introducing himself in an exasperated tone.
“My name is Dunco from the Wizards Guild.”
We each introduced ourselves, Cloudbreaker being more formal by offering his hand. The mage politely shook hands with the Goliath, but wiped his hand afterwards.
I watched as Bal Vyr escorted Dunco to the house. The wizard, in his fine robes, had an air of haughtiness about him. In fact, there was something reminiscent about him and my once best friend’s father. Perhaps it was the way he held his nose in the air or the fact he daintily placed a hand to his nose as he opened the door to the crime scene. Without stepping in, Dunco leaned forward as he looked about. He then stepped back, closing the door once more.
The men began to pester the mage about what he knew. Dunco commented that it looked like something a friend or college of his would know. Someone named Leeland, who might know of the spell that would have caused it. The important part though was he agreed that there was magic at work there, which a vampire could have done, but likely a cultist or demon. So quickly we began to head back to the Guard Captain’s office with Dunco in tow.
Along the way, the wizard and Bal Vyr got into deep discussion about the situation. The Drow talked about the cult of Orcus as well as the tapestry and scrolls we found within the crypt. Dunco was too intrigued. I watched him interrogate Bal Vyr, who was running off with his mouth, and soon the conversation lead to our marks. Thankfully the Drow had half the mind to not state what they were and lied, stating they were magical tattoos for our mercenary group. “The only magic they possess,” Bal Vyr elaborated, “is to enable us with the ability to know if each other’s location.” I somehow managed to not laugh or scoff the whole time.
Anyways, listening to them talk, I had a very unnerving feeling that the information we were giving Dunco was not to our benefit. I felt that especially when he inquired about the magical scrolls. I placed a hand on the top of my haversack protectively even though it was never asked who had them.
We walked into the Guard Captain’s office and it was clear he was displeased to see us.
“For heaven sake! I told them not to send you up here!” the Captain fumed, “What could you possibly want now?”
“We have a wizard,” Bal Vyr stated.
“You don’t say...”
“We brought him along since we found the murders was not something done by a vampire. We assumed you’d prefer to hear it from someone else,” Abu calmly stated. I cocked an eye. I figured we had returned to once more try and persuade the Guard Captain that it was highly unlikely that a vampire had committed the murders.
“So have you ruled out the possibility that this could have been a vampire attack?” the Captain asked Dunco.
“No,” Dunco said flatly with an air of arrogance.
“You did rule out that it wasn’t a standard vampire though didn’t you?” Abu continued.
“That is correct. What I saw back there would indicate that if a vampire was involved it would need magical capabilities.”
“And the vampire we fought had no such capabilities,” Abu explained, “It and all it’s spawn, were bereft of magics.”
“Well the werewolf we fought was a mage of sorts,” Bal Vyr added.
“Yeah, he nearly killed us with that spell,” Cloudbreaker said.
“What spell?” I asked. The most I recalled from the werewolf was a skeleton being summoned.
“The one that just about killed you Blackwing,” Cloudbreaker answered.
“The woman cast that spell,” I reminded.
“Yeah, well, that woman was a disguise for a man who turned into a werewolf,” Bal Vyr explained, “Anyways,” the Drow continued on while my head worked the information of the woman being the werewolf, “We questioned a woman who had a very interesting story to tell.”
“By all means, do tell me,” the Captain said, though the tone of his voice would say he was finding amusement in our attempts to convince him.
Cloudbreaker gave the description of Lash’s new form that the woman saw, stating that she saw it in front of the victim's home before it took off and making a horrible screeching sound. Bal Vyr noted that she called it a demon.
“So one person said that they saw a winged, dark figure?” The Captain questioned, “And was there anyone else to confirm this as well?“ The silence that followed was painful. We were amature slueths. It was a pitiful attempt to get ourselves off the hook of this incident that wasn’t our fault. So it amused me greatly the response Bal Vyr gave.
“Nope, but we thought since you’re wasting our time with this quest that we’d waste some of yours.”
“Well, by all means, take your time with it. I’ll just be hanging onto your reward until you’ve taken care of this problem,” the Guard Captain simply responded. He stood up, walked around us, and opened the door to his office.
“I suppose if you can locate this ‘demon’ thing, then we can put this all to rest,” the Captain said as we began to leave. No one responded as we continued on our way.
✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻
No comments:
Post a Comment