A Change of Pace

Ethan watched the small group of vampires on the corner. Gone were the days when they were boisterous and gaming like a group of second sons from earlier times. Somber and hungry, he thought with a grimace thinking their demeanor was reflected in the night. The blood fountain remained broken, and he was seeing more of the younger ones starting to prowl the streets with each passing day. When the fountain was first destroyed, many citizens offered donations to the vampiric populace. Ethan knew the cycle of disasters: Lots of giving in the beginning, but the public quickly forgets. Now, the suffering was truly beginning for many. Ethan watched the once-charming playboys start to take on characteristics of starving predators.

Earlier, Ethan had discovered, one of the older ones asked Brit to write a letter asking Omega’s assistance in rebuilding the fountain. The vampire’s hunger was so great that Ethan’s daydreaming wife could sense his pain even though the vampire had remained restrained and courteous. Ethan knew how difficult it was to control the beast when starving. His grip tightened knowing that the other likely heard Brit’s innocent heart beating loudly in her body as if it were a dinner bell. At least, thought Ethan, most vampires had to rest during the day when he did, and he silently cursed those who did not as he felt they made the world more treacherous for his mortal wife in such trying times. “Will Omega assist with the re-building of the blood fountain, Brit?” he asked as he stroked a small piece of her hair.

“Of course, she will,” responded Brit who had not yet spoken to Omega, but Brit was positive that the lady would assist anyone in need. Ethan hinted a smile at her absolute belief in the goodness of all people. He doubted that Brit would be proven wrong in the case. It was in Omega’s best interest to have the fountain operational. Sensing someone observing them, Ethan glanced over his shoulder at the female vampire. The bewildered expression told him that this was another young one who was likely lured by the sound of a human heart. Ethan’s eyes flashed red warning the kindred, who wisely left. Watching her go, Ethan knew that, without changes, soon a warning glance would not be enough.

“The night grows late, princess,” whispered Ethan. In fact, the night had several hours left within it, but Ethan disliked the climate of the city tonight. He guided Brit to the door turning left. As they reached the corner, the sirens started to howl breaking the quiet of the night. Ethan turned expecting to see yet another beast having clawed its way from the sewers. Citizens were battling a creature that had crawled from the sea, and another came from the dead woods just south of where they stood. Tightening his arm around Brit, Ethan reached with his free hand and pulled out his pistol before practically dragging her toward their resting place. He kept their backs toward the acid-crumbled bricks when Brit gasped seeing a reaper rise from the street before them. People were pouring into the streets and shots were being fired recklessly. Feeling his arm take a hit from someone’s gun, he grimaced and turned so that his body protected Brit. As the reaper turned to attack a group that was shooting, Ethan took the moment to relocate the two of them a few meters away.

Something was closing in on them fast. Ethan turned quickly raising his pistol again while keeping Brit turned away from the street and ended up pressing it against a male neko’s chest. Both of the kitties squeaked as they were simply scampering for higher ground and were clearly not expecting to face down a pistol with the mayhem on the street. The male neko said nothing, but the female said, “There are at least five of them. Tree-like…froglike…that guy over there.” She gestured at the reaper.

The male recovered from the surprise enough to toss a bit of bravado. “Yeah, man. You might want to save your ammo. Streets are crawling with them.”

Ethan looked from one to the other. They looked pretty thin. Just young nekos with more guts than wisdom, he thought. Sparks flew off of the bricks behind him and he said to both kits, “Follow me.” He picked up Brit and went quickly through an alley. The neko couple struggled to keep up and they both seemed dedicated to getting away from where they had been.

The street nearest to the resting place was quiet but Ethan knew it was only a short matter of time before chaos would find it. He set Brit down in the entry way of a building. The nekos were nervous. Neither had any idea why they followed the odd man who was carrying a human girl. Ethan quickly wrote on the back of a card and handed it to the nekos. “Near the voodoo shop, you can find a man named Kylean. Give him this card.” The neko couple looked at each other and back to Ethan. Rising an eyebrow, Ethan said, “Do so, and return here just before sunrise and I will reward you.”

The girl neko peeked up at the boy neko after giving Brit another look. The male glanced from the girl to Brit as well. “What’s up with her?” he asked Ethan.

“She is not of your concern. Do as I ask,” Ethan replied. Gunfire and screams were getting closer. “Do so now…we have not much time,” Ethan added. The couple took the card and dashed down the street each thinking they had just left a human girl, who seemed dazed to them, to her demise. Ethan directed Brit upstairs and entered their resting place. He secured it with some arcane words before turning to Brit. “Pack, baby. We are leaving town at sundown tomorrow night.”

Brit heard the screams and shouts from outside along with guns and the sound of steel. “Where are we going, Ethan?” Suddenly, she felt fearful as the battle was obviously just outside. “Are we safe?”

Cocking a brow, Ethan said, “Indeed.” He looked toward the street before turning to her smiling comforting. “You are always safe with me, Brit.” She had turned on the small radio he had purchased for her. The DJ at the local station sounded frantic. It seemed the entire city was dying tonight. Ethan switched the device from radio to MP3 player. He brushed Brit’s hair and told her stories to keep her mind off of what was happening outside. His pistols were within reach while he spoke.

The neko couple kept to the rooftops and alleys dodging trouble as best they could. The male, Klaws, took a hard tumble as he tackled something that seemed to be going after the female, Binx, however, it was just someone else trying to run from trouble. “Yeah, sure,” meowed Binx. “Some dude name Kylean is just gonna appear near the VooDoo shop. We are so dead. And why didn’t he go himself? HUH? And you know he is gonna drink that girl until she ain’t nothing but a human husk.” Klaws decided he would worry about it another day. For now, this task took the two of them further from trouble.

Both kitties were surprised to see Kylean sitting near the fortune teller almost as if he was part of a script. Kylean read the card and told them, “Tell Ethan sundown tomorrow is satisfactory.” Binx turned to ask Kylean something, but he was not there causing her to ask Klaws where the man had gone.

Klaws grumbled, “The real question, Binx, why are we heading back to meet this Ethan? We don’t know this guy. And there is nothing but trouble over there.” Both kitties stood watching each other for a long time. Finally, both mouthed hopefully, “Money.” Nodding they dashed back to meet Ethan.

Ethan was waiting when they arrived. They gave him the message. Binx’s nose twitched seeing no sign of the human girl. Ethan gave Klaws an envelope which Klaws opened right then. As Klaws thumbed through the contents, Binx said, “Your name is Ethan right? That is what Kylean said.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Where’s your lady?” she demanded.

The corners of Ethan’s mouth tipped up in amusement at the boldness of female neko. Klaws put away the envelope and gave Binx a glare, which she ignored. Ethan replied coolly, “My wife is of no concern to you. Good day to you both.”

As Ethan turned away, he heard Klaws chide Binx while showing her the contents of the envelope. The sassy kit hushed for a moment, but then blurted out, “I didn’t know it was his WIFE, so SHUT UP. Besides….he might have just EATEN her up anyway.” Ethan glared in their direction but noticed the lightening of day break. More gunfire was heard and Ethan was very sure that getting out of town for a short while was a prudent plan.