Selan

All those still on the streets began rushing about, as darkness closed in on Selan. Before people would have been out lighting torches; inns would be filling up with patrons eager to discuss the days events. Change had forced itself upon the town, whether the citizens wanted it or not. Death now stalked the night. Even the few mercenaries that had responded had died, painfully, judging by the look on their faces. Fear had caught hold of Selan and showed no signs of letting go.

“Go ahead, post a notice for mercenaries, we have little left to lose anymore,” Mayor Ilyano said.

**** **** *****

“Here’s one,” Elora said, “looks like our kind of thing”

“It doesn’t give much information,” Shadowfox said.

“Just a location, an outline and the reward,” Sicbur added.

“Killing only at night, blood gone?” Elora asked.

“Likely a vampire, not a true blood though, they have more sense,” Sicbur said

“My guess, it’s one brought across and abandoned; I’ll ask Ty to look into it,” Elora said

“Normally they keep track of these things, maybe they are already aware of it and are letting it do this,” Shadow said.

“Or it is insane and isn’t aware of its true nature,” Sicbur said.

“Possibly all of the above,” Elora said, “either way we are still the best qualified to deal with it.

“Qualified or not, we will be looking into it,” Sicbur said, “we might as well enjoy the ride.”

“Realistically, what are our chances?” Shadowfox asked.

“Slim, as usual,” Sicbur replied with a grin.

“They’re not that bad, it just has to feed on me,” Elora said.

“Unless it sees us first you mean,” Sicbur said.

“Very good point.” Elora said.

“Which is why we made it,” Shadow said,.

“Xanix is close enough that I can send for you if it is more than I can handle, far enough away to keep you save.” Elora said, ignoring the protests.

“You can’t go into Selan alone,” Shadow protested.

“Zombies attack at night, it might be zombies not a vampire,” Sicbur added.

“All of us get to play then,” Shadow agreed.

“Because neither of you seem to have enough brains to attract them.”

“Cold, even for you, El,”

“Don’t blame the messenger, just calling it as I see it,” Elora said, casting the teleport spell before they could protest further.

“Exactly how long should we wait?” Shadow demanded.

“Four days,” Elora said, "go to the rendezvous point if you don’t hear from me by then,” she added. Giving her friends a brief wave she teleported again.

***** ***** *****

“Hello, you must be new here?” a voice asked, as she materialized in the middle of the Selan’s main street.

“Indeed I am, I heard there was a job here.”

“Job? What sort of job?”

“Killing some fool of a half breed vampire, stupid enough to think he could use his gifts to terrorize a town without consequences.”

“Like you could, I’m an immortal.”

“Me too,” Elora said

“No you’re not, I can sense my kind, and you aren’t a vampire.”

“Of course I’m not, I’m of the Qileri, Elora said. “Perhaps you have heard of us, Xavion?”

“Qileri? Can’t say I have,” Xavion said, springing forward.

“Really?” Elora asked, feeling his fangs bite into her neck, she allowed the creature to break through her skin. “Some prefer to know their enemy.”

“They always share their secrets with me, eventually.”

“Unless they are immortal, especially of my race, then we just kill you for the rudeness of trying to steal our blood,” Elora said. “Vampires, even pure bloods, really shouldn’t drink pure silver, I’m told it’s quite fatal.”

“Which would be useful if you had any silver for me to drink.”

“Xavion, have you ever fed so hard and had so little reward?”

“You’re bluffing,” Xavion said, even though his head screamed she wasn’t.

“Zygote of a zombie, have you had any visions, have you found out all my secrets that my blood should reveal?”

“A trick, you are trying to mess with my head.”

“Believe what you want,” Elora asked. “Can you honestly say you feel okay right now?”

“Don’t worry I’ll soon feel better,” Xavion said, biting down

Elora laughed, “by all means, do drink more it will speed the process up.”

Fury shone in Xavion’s eyes, he made to strike her but is limbs felt heavy.

“Go ahead, let the anger out, it quickens the blood, quickens your death.”

“Hopefully you will follow me soon, if what you say is true, of course.”

“I would love to, being a true immortal I never will though.”

“Justice will be served, my kind will never tolerate this. Kill me and it is war.”

"Leave him with us, we will see the body is disposed of,” a new voice said.

“My gods, Ty?”

“Nice to see you again, El,” Tyron said. “Obviously I would have preferred better circumstances.”

“Please, you are one of my kind, kill her.”


“Quit whining. Right now you’ve ruined the name of our kind, in very delicate negotiations that alone is enough to sentence you to death,” Tyron said.

“She has used magic on me,” Xavion said.

“The silver thing?”

“Unfortunately he left me no choice,” Elora said.

“Very well, I’ll see the council understands this,” Tylora said, picking Xavion up.

“With a final wave, Elora turned her back on the vampires and summoning her friends headed into Selan to report the danger was over.”

(Word count 910)