The Four Horsemen

by Cheree Alsop

  “It’s worth a try,” Aleric said, his voice soft. With shaking fingers, he pulled the minky from his sling.

  The little winged cat’s purr turned to a hiss of fear when it saw the snake. The lacuda surged forward.

  “Uh, Dartan, it’s not working!” Aleric called over his shoulder as the creature closed the distance between them. The minky scrambled in an attempt to get free.

  Aleric could hear the vampire reciting the chant again. “If to the darkness you must go, take a minky for your foe, ensure that the gold eyes glow, and conquer the lacuda. Shine your lights in the snake’s eyes!” the vampire directed.

  All beams moved to the creature’s face. The snake continued forward.

  “The snake’s eyes are green, not gold,” Lilith said with fear in her voice.

  “Ling, your light!” Aleric shouted.

  Officer Ling tossed the flashlight to him. Aleric held the minky in his good hand. He couldn’t clear his arm from the sling fast enough. The flashlight would fly past him and strike the snake. The creature would be to him before he could do anything else. They would all become its next meal.

  Dartan’s hand shot out and caught the flashlight with lightning speed. He set it in Aleric’s palm just before the snake reached them. Aleric shone the light on the minky’s face. The kitten’s golden eyes reflected the beam.

  The lacuda stopped short. Its head lifted, then lowered so that it was at eye-level with Aleric and Diablo. Aleric could barely breathe. All it would take is one gulp to finish them and move on to the others. He had heard tales of the crushing power of the snake’s insides. They would all be dead within seconds.

  The kitten stopped hissing and its puffed out fur and wings settled. To Aleric’s surprise, Diablo began to purr again. The snake’s mouth closed. It pushed its nose forward until it touched the minky with the gentleness of a summer breeze.

  “Back up,” Dartan commanded in a whisper. “Move out of his way.”

  Aleric heard the officers scrambling to get clear. He took a hesitant step back. As soon as he was a foot away from the snake, the creature slithered forward to touch Diablo with its nose again. Its forked tongue grazed the minky’s fur. Diablo didn’t seem to mind.

  Aleric took another step back, then another. He was worried he would trip on the uneven footing the garbage created. With the flashlight in one hand and the kitten in the other, he wouldn’t be able to catch himself for fear of breaking contact with the lacuda.

  A hand touched his good shoulder, guiding him. “One step at a time,” Dartan said quietly.

  Confident he wouldn’t trip, Aleric continued backwards. The snake’s green eyes lost their sharpness as though the animal was hypnotized. Aleric reached the truck. He glanced back to see a huge rectangular storage box. It’s only opening was the massive back door that had been pushed up. The officers and Police Commissioner stood clear of the truck, their wide gazes on the lacuda.

  “I’m not sure this is a good idea,” Dartan said.

  “It’s our only option,” Aleric replied. He took a steeling breath, sat on the edge of the truck’s box, then rose to his knees and feet as smoothly as he was able. The snake followed, pushing its nose forward as Aleric made his way backwards.

  Aleric circled around when he reached the back so that he was at the door again. Several brave officers lifted the rest of the snake’s body inside with careful movements. With its nose on the minky, the creature didn’t seem to mind its coils being pressed into the small space until they could shut the door.

  “Climb down,” Dartan said.

  Aleric stepped onto the bumper. The lacuda moved forward as well. He walked back inside the truck and the snake backed up with him.

  “If I leave, it’s going to throw a fit,” Aleric said.

  “You can’t ride in the back of the truck,” Dartan replied.

  “I think I have to.”

  “Not happening,” the vampire argued. “That’s ridiculous.”

  Aleric glanced at his friend out of the corner of his eye. “More ridiculous than letting it smash out of this truck and eat everyone in sight? You and I both know it’s capable of that.”

  Silence fell between them.

  Aleric raised his voice. “Commissioner Oaks, please shut the door.”

  “I agree with the vampire,” the Commissioner said. “I think this is a horrible idea, Dr. Wolf. There’s got to be another way.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Aleric replied. “What we don’t need is for the lacuda to escape. I’ve got its attention. Let’s keep it that way.”

  When it was clear Aleric wasn’t going to budge, the Commissioner pulled on the strap. The metal door was caught by a pale hand before it closed. Dartan eased it shut so that the bang didn’t alarm the lacuda.

  “You better be alive when we get there,” Dartan called from outside the truck.

  “I’ll try my best,” Aleric whispered.

  Chapter Ten

  It was a tense, silent drive. By the time they reached the zoo, Aleric’s shoulder was so sore from the position that his hand shook and it took all of his concentration to keep the flashlight beam on the minky’s eyes. He was relieved when the truck stopped moving.

  Dartan immediately called out, “You still in one piece and that piece not in the snake’s belly?”

  “Hanging in here,” Aleric replied.

  There was relief in the vampire’s voice when he said, “Leave it to the werewolf to survive being trapped in a truck with a two thousand pound snake.”

  “I can’t believe he rode back there,” Aleric heard Lilian say. “Why would anyone do that?”

  “He’s survived his fair share of being stabbed, bitten, and sliced. I suppose a snake isn’t too bad compared to that,” Dartan answered.

  “I suppose,” Lilian replied, but there was doubt in her voice.

  A deep woman’s voice said, “Dr. Wolf, we’re going to slide the door up. The truck is backed up to a secure enclosure where the animal will be safe along with everyone else. We just need to get it in there.”

  “The lacuda will follow him,” Dartan said. “Can he get out through that door?”

  “Yes,” the woman replied. “As soon as it clears the truck, we’ll slide the bars shut. If Dr. Wolf can make it to the door, we can let him out and close it again. The snake will be secure.”

  “Lacuda,” Dartan repeated.

  “I don’t know what that is,” the woman said. “Commissioner Oaks said it’s a giant snake.”

  “Bigger than you can imagine,” the Commissioner’s deep voice replied.

  “At least the cage is big enough,” Lilian said, her words touched with worry.

  “It used to house our tigers before we built their new facility. We had a very escape-prone tiger, hence the bars across the top as well.”

  Aleric was starting to feel claustrophobic in the box. Given the length and width of the snake, there wasn’t much room for anything but standing in the corner. The flashlight he held flickered. The snake blinked, then its eyes locked on the minky once more. Aleric cleared his throat. “Can we postpone the discussion until later? I’d like to get out of here.”

  “Get him out of there,” Dartan repeated.

  “Quickly,” Lilian urged.

  “Dr. Wolf, we’ll have you cross the enclosure—”

  “I heard,” Aleric replied. The scent of the lacuda clogged his nose and filled his lungs with each breath. The inside of the moving truck was stifling. He felt nauseous. “I just need to get out of here.”

  The sound of the latch sliding open grated loudly inside the box. Someone pushed on the door from the outside.

  “It’s stuck,” a man called out.

  “I’ve got it,” Dartan said.

  The door slid up. Aleric sucked in a huge gulp of fresh air. A glance to each side showed police officers, zoo workers, Dartan, Lilian, and a thick-set woman with short brown hair. Her shirt said ‘Animals aren’t the problem’ across the front with a picture of a duckling
with a soda bottle on its head.

  “Hello Dr. Wolf. It’s an honor to meet you,” the woman said. “I am Regina Dalley, the director of the Edge City Zoo.”

  “It’s an honor to meet you as well,” Aleric replied. “I’d shake your hand, but….” He nodded toward Diablo and the flashlight.

  “It’s an unusual situation to be sure,” Regina replied. “I look forward to introducing the first fae creature into our zoo.”

  “Hopefully you’ll still feel that way in a moment,” Officer Ling said.

  “Step down carefully, Dr. Wolf,” Regina instructed, her gaze on the inside of the truck. “I’d like to see what we’re dealing with.”

  “Easy does it,” Dartan told him. “Take your time.”

  Aleric nodded. Careful to keep his focus on Diablo and the flashlight, he stepped backwards onto the bumper, then to the ground. A gasp sounded from the zoo workers when the lacuda’s head followed him out.

  “It’s magnificent,” Regina breathed.

  “I’ll meet you at the door,” Dartan said.

  Aleric took another step, then realized the snake wasn’t watching him. It was looking directly at Regina. A hiss sounded and its eyes narrowed. If it got angry before they could close the gate, there was the possibility the creature could escape beneath the truck if it could fit its body through. Aleric didn’t doubt a lacuda that size could also just shove the vehicle out of the way if it wanted.

  “It’s not watching the cat!” someone said.

  “Turn off the lights!” Lilian shouted. “There’s no reflection!”

  “Do it,” Regina ordered.

  The lights shut off. Aleric focused the flashlight on the minky’s face. With his werewolf eyesight, he saw the lacuda’s head turn and its eyes lock onto the winged kitten once more. Aleric could hear the stuttered breathing of the humans behind the bars. All they could see was the golden reflection of the kitten’s eyes.

  “Is it working?” Commissioner Oaks asked.

  “It is,” Aleric replied, grateful he could see in the dark.

  He took another step backwards and the snake followed. The sound of the gate opening at the other end of the enclosure was a welcome one. He drew steadily closer. As soon as the snake’s body cleared the truck, he called out, “Close the bars.”

  The snake didn’t so much as flinch when the bars slammed shut and a lock was placed on the gate with Regina’s steady fingers. Aleric had to give her credit for her composure in the darkness given the terror he could hear from the heartbeats and rapid breathing around him.

  “About here, Wolfie?” Dartan asked.

  “Just about,” Aleric replied.

  He stepped over the threshold and felt Dartan’s hand guide him through the gate. He maneuvered the minky and flashlight carefully to the right and the lacuda followed him from the other side of the bars. Dartan shut the gate far quieter than the other had been.

  “Done,” the vampire said with a breath of relief.

  Aleric kept the flashlight on. “Do you think it’ll hold?” he asked, glancing at the bars.

  Dartan pulled on one, then another to test their tightness. “They seem secure. There’s one way to know for sure.” He raised his voice. “Turn on the light.”

  The lights flipped on, breaking the connection with the minky.

  The snake’s massive head reared up. It surged around the cage, making a quick circuit of the huge enclosure. The zoo workers and officers stepped back from the bars.

  “At least it has more space than in that alley,” Officer Ling noted.

  Aleric nodded. The lacuda tested the cage in several areas as it made several more circuits. The knowledge that it couldn’t escape seemed to calm the creature. Its hectic movements slowed and it began a more thorough exploration of the area, around the massive logs in the middle, through the pond at one end, and ending up coiled near the far bars, its tongue sliding in and out as it tested the scents of the facility.

  “It’s just beautiful,” Regina said from behind Aleric. “Dr. Wolf, how do I thank you for bringing us such a specimen?”

  Aleric shook the hand she held out. “Just make sure it doesn’t get out. That’ll be thanks enough.”

  “Deal,” she said with a wide smile.

  Aleric eased his arm back into the sling as they walked to the waiting vehicles. Diablo climbed inside the sling and immediately fell asleep. Aleric wondered if the minky had kept focused on the lacuda to protect him. He felt a surge of gratitude for the small creature.

  “Thanks for the flashlight,” Aleric said. He tossed it back to Officer Ling.

  “I never thought it’d be used for something like that. Good thing the batteries didn’t die, right?” the officer replied.

  Dartan looked at Aleric with wide eyes as though the vampire hadn’t considered the possibility of that happening.

  “It flickered once,” Aleric said. “That was the longest second of darkness in my life.”

  Officer Ling chuckled. “You are a braver man than I.”

  “I doubt that,” Aleric replied. He shook the officer’s hand. “Catch you some other time. I’m sure the circumstances will be just as crazy.”

  “I’d be disappointed if they weren’t,” Officer Ling replied.

  “Have you ever seen someone as happy as that director at the sight of the lacuda?” Dartan asked with a tone that said he didn’t know how he felt about it.

  “You just gave people another reason to visit the zoo,” Commissioner Oaks said. “It’s a director’s dream come true.”

  “I’m just happy knowing we aren’t going to find it in an alley somewhere,” Lilian said. She unlocked her car and climbed in.

  “Me, too,” Aleric agreed. He shook hands with the Commissioner. “Thanks for your help.”

  “You did the hard work,” Commissioner Oaks replied. “All I know is when you say giant snake next time, I’m sending someone else.”

  Aleric laughed and slid onto the passenger seat of the car. He was about to pull the door shut when the Commissioner’s radio sounded.

  “There’s word of another break-in at the blood bank, Commissioner.”

  “Another one?” Aleric asked before the Commissioner could respond.

  The huge man glanced at him. “We get hit every couple of months. We don’t have any leads. Do you know who might be at fault?”

  Aleric looked at Dartan. The vampire’s expression was one of trepidation.

  “Possibly,” Aleric answered. “Mind if we tag along?”

  “Go right ahead,” the Commissioner answered.

  “Now we’re investigators. Nice!” Lilian said as she followed the row of police vehicles down the road. “I’ve always wanted to say I was busy on police business.”

  Dartan chuckled. “That does sound official.”

  They pulled up to the donation center to find reporters and television vans already out front.

  Aleric was worried the commotion would scare Diablo, so he slipped off his sling and set the sleeping kitten on the passenger seat.

  “We’ll be back soon,” Aleric said.

  Diablo raised her head for a moment, then lowered it again and closed her eyes, comfortably nestled in the folds of the sling.

  “Great,” Commissioner Oaks muttered as he led the way to the doors. “How do they always know? I swear they’re notified before I am.”

  A man with short gray hair hurried over to meet them. “How many bags of blood were taken this time, Commissioner?”

  “How many bags?” Dartan asked quietly.

  “That’s the problem,” the Commissioner said over his shoulder to them. “We’re losing hundreds of bags with each break-in. If it was a dozen or so, the media wouldn’t care, but with the amount stolen, we’re hard-pressed to keep up with the demand.”

  He turned back to the reporter. “I don’t have specifics at this time.”

  “Commissioner, do you feel that the break-ins are linked?” a woman Aleric recognized from the Capitol Building ga
rgoyle incident asked.

  “We don’t know for sure, Gayle. If we find a link, we’ll let you know.”

  Gayle’s gaze locked on Aleric and her eyes widened. “Dr. Wolf! What brings you to this investigation? Do they feel there may be a fae element involved with the break-ins?”

  Caught off-guard, Aleric looked at the Commissioner. The huge man lifted his shoulders in a barely perceptible shrug. Aleric turned back to the reporter. “Well, Gayle, as Commissioner Oaks said, we don’t have a lead yet, but if there is a fae involved, we’re prepared to offer one hundred percent support into reaching the bottom of this investigation.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Wolf,” she said.

  Other reporters had rushed over during the brief interview. Cell phones and hand-held recorders were shoved toward Aleric.

  “Dr. Wolf, do you feel this may be the act of more demons in Edge City?”

  “Dr. Wolf, what kind of fae requires so much blood?”

  “Dr. Wolf, does Edge City have reason to fear another fae entity?”

  Aleric could tell the Commissioner was about to call off the questioning, but the werewolf saw an opportunity to attempt to make a difference for Perry and the other fae caught on the other side of the Rift. He held up a hand and everyone quieted.

  “I don’t know who or what is behind the break-ins at the Edge City blood banks, but what I do know is that if it is fae related, there is a reason behind it. The fae who find themselves on the other side of the Rift between our worlds are often scared, sometimes injured, and the majority of them are just looking for a way back home.” He felt every camera fix on him. He hoped he looked far more composed then he felt at addressing a television audience. “Edge City is a huge, amazing place, but it can be scary at times.”

  Aleric saw several people nod out of the corner of his eye. He continued, “I’ve done and continue to do what I can to keep this city as safe as if it was my own home.” Smiles spread across the faces of a few reporters. “I love Edge City and the people here. I find myself growing fonder of your beautiful city with every new day, and I know there are fae who feel the same way. We don’t mean any harm to you and your loved ones, and if we can all find a way to live in peace, we can make this city even greater.” He smiled. “You’ve seen my willingness to sacrifice to protect you. Trust me when I say that this vigilance will continue. No matter what the source of fear in this city, I pledge to get to the bottom of it and ensure that Edge City is a safe place for your children to play and grow. Together, we can help Edge City rise to a new level of freedom and security.”