by A. Q. Owen
Between the vampires and the bandits, I had plenty of reason to keep my horse moving at a steady pace, only letting him stop to rest and drink now and then from the creek that ran alongside the road.
My heart was heavy with guilt and worry. I wondered if Darius was okay. Maybe he’d meet me in the city and help me find Diggs.
Then again, maybe he was dead.
I shook off the thought and urged Billy ahead.
It took nearly two hours to reach the bottom of the mountain. By the time the road leveled off, I was almost falling asleep on the horse’s back. My eyes grew heavier and heavier, and I had to ward off the need to sleep by smacking my cheeks several times, an act that I think might have baffled Billy.
Ten minutes after reaching the bottom of the mountain, I saw a light up ahead. I knew there was a tavern next to the little river that wound through the valley. I’d seen it on my last venture into the city. I’d never gone in, though, and wondered if they’d have a vacancy for the night. I also wondered how I was going to pay for it.
“That look like a good place to stop for the night, boy?” I whispered into Billy’s ear.
He snorted and reared his head up and down as if to say yes.
“Yeah, I think it’s the best we can do considering the circumstances.”
The horse trotted ahead until we reached the modest gray building. Candles flickered in the windows, and I could hear the songs of drunken revelers in the bar. The office was off to the left.
I hitched Billy to a post outside the front porch and walked into the inn’s office. There was a short, stumpy man with a thick, bushy beard behind the counter. In the corner to my right, three men sat on barstools, sipping whiskey and mugs of beer. A couple of them were smoking hand-rolled cigarettes that billowed small clouds of grayish smoke into the air.
The innkeeper was busy reading a book and barely looked up over the pages when I arrived.
“May I help you?” he asked.
“I need a room for the night.”
“We have two rooms tonight. How will you be paying?”
I didn’t have an answer for that yet, but I figured surely I had something of value in my bag.
I pulled open the zipper and reached inside. It didn’t take long before I felt something smooth, soft, and unfamiliar.
“What in the world?” I said to myself in a whisper.
I looked in the bag to see what anomaly I’d discovered and saw a small cloth pouch. It wasn’t mine, so I wondered for a second where it came from. Then I realized Darius must have put it there without my knowing.
“One second,” I said and turned around to check the contents of the bag. I made quick work of the drawstring around the top and pulled it open. Inside, shiny metal glimmered in the light. I had to lean in to have a closer look to make sure I wasn’t crazy.
I took a deep breath and pressed the pouch against my chest. It was full of miniature gold and silver bars—the last currency one could spend anywhere in the realm.
Precious metals were extremely rare. Most of the planet’s mines had been stripped bare a few years before the fall. Some wondered if that was part of the reason for the global collapse of society.
The fact that Darius had somehow procured any amount of gold and silver was surprising, and I couldn’t help but wonder how he’d come by it.
“Miss? You want the room or not?” The innkeeper interrupted my thoughts with his gruff voice.
I lifted one of the pieces of silver out of the pouch then shoved the little bag back into the larger one. The last thing I wanted was the rest of the people in the inn knowing I had a bunch of precious metals on me. Might as well put a bull’s eye on my back.
I turned around and placed the piece of silver on the counter and stood back to see what the guy would say.
He raised a curious eyebrow and then looked me in the eyes with stern suspicion. “Where did you get this?”
“My family,” I lied. “They used to stock up on things like this before the fall. I guess we haven’t spent it all yet.”
His eyes narrowed. “Where did you come from?”
“The mountains,” I said, doing my best to sound vague.
Then he eyed the sword at my side. “I suppose your family gave you that blade, too?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sort of odd, don’t you think, a young girl like yourself carrying around a weapon like that.”
He was probing too much now, and I didn’t like where the conversation was going. “Look, are you going to give me a room or not? That piece of silver should be worth at least a week’s stay, maybe more. I only need a room for one night. Or maybe you’d prefer I go to another inn.”
I was bluffing, but I hoped he couldn’t see that. Truth was, I didn’t know if there was another inn close by or not. There were several buildings in the little village. It was certainly possible that someone else had rooms for rent, though I didn’t feel like venturing back out into the night.
His expression changed to one of concern, and he held up a dismissive hand. “Hold on there just a second, little lady. Don’t get upset. I was just trying to make sure you were okay. Not usual for a young woman like yourself to be wandering around at night, especially here in the outlands. It can be dangerous. All manner of criminals, vandals, and bandits lurking about in the shadows.”
“I appreciate your concern.”
“No problem. Here,” he said, twisting around to grab one of the keys on the wall behind him. “Room 311.”
He placed the key on the counter and pulled back the silver. Then he twitched his head to the right, motioning to the staircase on the other side of the desk.
“Up the stairs, to the right when you reach the third floor.”
“Thank you.”
I walked around the counter and started up the steps, giving one last glance toward the bar in the far corner of the room. The same patrons were still there, heads hovering over their drinks amid a cloud of tobacco smoke.
My legs were burning by the time I reached the third floor. The inn had originally been a proper hotel. That much was clear. Time and a lack of care, however, had turned it into a dingy, sketchy place to stay.
I meandered down the hall until I found a weathered sign that matched the number on my key. I unlocked the door, stepped inside, and set down my bag before resetting the lock and chain.
The room was small with one bed, a single window, and a dresser. There was a bathroom to the left of the entryway and candles fixed to the wall and sitting on the counter in the bathroom.
I stepped to the sink and turned on the faucet. The spout sputtered, and a moment later clear water started flowing.
“At least they have running water,” I said.
It was one of the few amenities that had endured through the fall. We may have lost electricity, but we still knew plumbing.
I returned to my bag and dug into the front pouch, where I knew I could find some matches. A minute later, the room was bathed in the warm, flickering glow of candlelight.
I padded over to the window and looked outside. The moon peeked through the sparse clouds overhead, lighting up the small town.
A few windows were brightened by candles. Lamps burned along the sidewalks and cracked streets, casting light onto the husks of long-abandoned cars.
I returned to the bed and plopped down on the edge. “What am I doing?” I asked myself.
Was I being foolish to think my parents might still be alive?
I sighed and pushed up from the bed. I undressed and walked back to the bathroom, turned on the water, and propped my sword against the tub. I knew better than to leave my weapon too far away. It was one of the first things my father taught me before he…before he disappeared.
I shook off the thought and stepped into the shower. The water was cold though not freezing—due only to the fact that the weather had been warm lately. In the winter, showers would be remarkably short.
I let the water wash over me, sending shivers t
hrough my skin for a moment until I adjusted to the cool temperature, much like jumping into a creek. I ran my fingers through my hair and quickly applied some of the shampoo from the nearby rack.
I cleaned off as fast as I could and turned off the water. Then I grabbed a towel from the bar on the wall and patted my face and hair before stepping out. The room was eerily silent. It didn’t help that I was alone in a strange place. My nerves crouched, waiting to spring into action.
“Calm down, Eve,” I told myself. “You’re fine.”
I dried off and slipped into some clean clothes before returning to the bed.
The thick pillow felt so good under my head, and I twisted around just to embrace the softness. For a lousy, rundown old inn, at least the sheets were clean.
As I stared up at the ceiling, my mind started running on its own. Thoughts of Darius crept in, and with them came feelings of regret and sadness. Everything had happened so fast, I didn’t have a chance to think much less go against his command.
Guilt came next. I felt bad for leaving him to die at the hands of those…monsters. How could this be real? Vampires? Here in the realm? It made no sense. They were just something from myths and legends, fictional figments of some long-dead imaginations.
If I’d not seen them for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it.
Part of me wondered if I should warn the innkeeper and the rest of the village. I knew they wouldn’t believe me, though. Why would they? I was a stranger who’d just wandered into their town. If I started spouting off about vampires and werewolves, they’d lock me up and throw away the key.
No, it would be best if I kept moving. I’d get a little sleep and then head out early the next morning. The roads would be safer during the daylight hours, and I could move faster. Hopefully, with any luck I’d be in the city by dusk the next day.
I closed my eyes and forced out the thoughts about Darius, letting my brain drift to memories of my parents. I could see my father’s smile, feel my mother’s warm embrace. The smell of fresh biscuits wafted through my mind, the way she used to cook them every Sunday morning along with cream gravy and scrambled eggs.
Before I knew it, I was completely enveloped by the dreams of better days and bathing in the peace of exhausted sleep.
9
The bump roused me instantly from my slumber. My right hand shot over to the sword leaning against the nightstand, and within a second I’d ripped it from the sheath and held it out into the darkness.
The candles had burned out long ago. I squinted and blinked to adjust to the dark, which didn’t take long. Moonlight poured in through the window, casting its pale glow across the floor and onto part of the dresser.
What was that noise?
A clicking sound came from the door. That wasn’t what woke me. I realized in an instant exactly what was going on.
Someone was trying to break into my room.
My initial suspicion went to the innkeeper. Seeing me produce that silver had brought out the greed in him. Maybe he’d told some of his friends, and they’d agreed to rob me and split the loot.
Then there were the less scrupulous things. Mom and Dad had warned me about evil men out in the world and the horrible things they did to women. There was no way I’d let any of that happen without a fight.
The lock jiggled, and suddenly the latch turned. The door creaked open, but the chain caught it, keeping it mostly in place.
I swallowed, still holding my sword out in a defensive position, ready for whatever came through. A sliver of hope caused me to think maybe it was Darius, that he’d somehow escaped the vampire assault on my mountain home, but that thought was fleeting and vanished in a moment.
The door started closing again. Maybe the intruder figured there was no getting by the chain lock.
That theory was smashed to pieces as the door shuddered with a heavy thud. The chain tore free from the housing, and the door flung open as a muscular man with a huge gut burst through.
He breathed heavily, probably still worn out from the climb up the stairs. The second he laid eyes on me, however, his exhaustion vanished, and he grinned devilishly, showing off rotting, crooked teeth. Over his shoulder were two more men.
Their long hair was greasy and looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks, maybe more. I immediately realized they were the guys from the bar downstairs.
Had the bartender told them about the gold and silver in my bag? Or were they just here for something else? The second thought sent a chill through my body.
“What do you want?” I asked in a harsh tone.
The one in front snarled. “What do you think we want, missy? We’re here for your gold. And for you. If you don’t put up a fight, we’ll be quick. You might even like it.”
So the innkeeper did tell them about my pouch. That was one more person I’d have to kill.
“Put down that sword, little girl,” one of the men in the back said. “Before you hurt yourself.”
I twisted my body to the side, still keeping the blade at the ready. Then I smiled pleasantly.
“So, you boys are looking to have a little fun, eh?”
The one in front chuckled. I could smell the tobacco on them along with the stench of weeks of sweat and too much homemade booze. “You could say that,” he said.
I lowered the weapon and pulled off the shirt I’d worn to bed. Their eyes went wide, full of lust.
“You like what you see?”
The one in front nodded. One of his cronies in the doorway licked his lips.
“I thought you might.”
A quick check revealed knives in the hands of the guys in the back. The one in front had a sword tucked in its sheath.
“Why don’t you gentlemen show me what you’ve got?”
The thick one in front swallowed, suddenly less sure of himself. I could see the question in his eyes, whether or not he should do it.
“Oh, it’s okay,” I said in my most flirty voice. “Don’t be shy.”
His hands instantly went to his belt. He fumbled with the buckle for a moment, desperate to get it unhooked. He couldn’t take his pants off fast enough. The two behind him stepped into the room and lingered by the bathroom door, waiting their turn.
“Are you two going to just stand there and watch?”
They shook their heads rapidly and started unfastening their pants.
The second the fat man’s trousers hit the floor, I was tempted to slit his throat right then and there. I pushed the thought aside, opting to be patient until the other two had also disrobed.
“That’s better,” I said. I didn’t have much experience with men, but I’d read enough old magazines and books to know how to sound seductive.
The view was less than impressive, but that didn’t matter. Now I had the advantage.
“Come over here and sit on the bed,” I said to the first guy.
He shuffled his feet to the side until he felt the back of his legs touch the mattress, and then he collapsed onto the blanket, sitting upright and staring at me with desperate desire in his eyes.
“Aren’t you going to take off your underwear?” he asked.
I nodded slowly and leaned the sword against the wall. “Of course, silly.” I turned my head to the other two, who were watching anxiously. “Are you going to stand there and watch, or are you going to come over here?”
One started to move forward, but the other grabbed him by the shoulder. “Let Mel have a go. Wait your turn, Jim. She’s not going anywhere.”
Jim reluctantly nodded and stayed put.
It didn’t matter. I assumed they would keep close to the door to block the exit no matter how much they wanted to take part in their sinister sexual plot. My plan was already kicking in.
I took a step toward the pantless fat man and put my hand on his chest. He started to reach out to grab my breasts, but I shoved him back on the bed. His head hit the mattress and bounced a few times. He smiled.
“You like it rough, huh?” I said, more
a statement than a question.
He nodded eagerly.
“I thought you might.”
I took a step back, sensing the sword against the dresser and the wall. I lowered my eyes, taking in his disgusting figure one last time. Then my hand shot back and grabbed the sword’s hilt. I leaped through the air, covering the short distance to the mattress in a split second. My hands whipped the blade into the air and drove the tip down toward his pelvic region before he could even blink.
A sudden scream escaped his lips as the sword drove down through the top of his pubic area. I jerked the weapon back, slicing his member in half. Blood spurted from the stump, instantly soaking the white sheets and flowery blanket in a dark crimson.
The victim grabbed at the cut with both hands, but nothing he could do would stem the bleeding.
I spun off the bed and rushed the men in the doorway who were already doing their best to pull up their pants.
I reached the one on the right first, twisted to the side, and swiped the sword’s edge horizontally at his neck. He stumbled back, but it wasn’t far enough to avoid the blade that sliced easily through his neck. His body fell backward as the head toppled onto the floor.
The guy on the left had managed to buckle his pants and yanked out his own sword just in time to block a swing at his head.
He shoved me back and assumed an attacking position. He snarled angrily. “You bitch,” he said through clenched teeth.
He rushed forward, swinging the blade wildly in erratic, reckless arcs. What he lacked in technique he made up for with berserk aggression and brute strength. I blocked the strikes from his two-edged blade, but the force behind them drove me back toward the window.
His right foot came up to kick me in the gut, but I deftly knocked it down with my free hand and spun back toward the bed, putting him between me and the window. Full of rage, he lunged at me again, but this time his technique was sloppier than before.