First Case, Part 1

First Case, Part 2

First Case, Part 3

Second Case, Part 1

Second Case, Part 2

Sheriff of InTween

Second Case, Part 3: Fangs for Nothing

Their bickering faded and now they could hear heavy breathing. Edwin turned slowly to look into the clearing, seeing a form prowl towards the cow. He had purposely stayed in the dark for a long time, letting his eyes get used to the moon lit night. He could barely make out outlines of the figure as it crawled closer. While it looked like it was trying to sneak up on the cow, the jerky movement betrayed how hungry it was. The breathing was getting deeper, soft snarls wet with drool.

“Okay,” Edwin whispered. “You three go back down the path and make a line, keep it from getting past you. Do not shoot unless-no Burke damn you!” He made a futile grasp at pulling the dwarf back. He was too late and the dwarf crawled to his feet, stomping towards the hunting shadow.

Burke had seen a flash of pale white eyes when the form had turned its head left and right. He felt vindication flood him as he opened the hooded lantern at his side, bathing the scene in bright lamp light. “Caught red fanged leech!” he crowed triumphantly. “I knew it…was…you?”

Bathed in bright light the figure was revealed. It was human in form but like Edwin had guessed, the hands ended in sharp claws. It walked slightly hunched over, skin pale as the moon. It was dressed in rags and it possessed flat white eyes like Phineas had. Unlike Phineas the mouth was a gaping maw, much longer and larger than a human should have. Incredibly large incisors shone wetly with saliva and a long whip like tongue lashed the air. The bestial vampire screamed, a hideous sound that made Torley and Malta squeal with fright.

Burke froze from fear and surprise, his own jaw gaping open and his beard limp. His lips moved soundlessly as the animalistic vampire rushed towards its new prey. Suddenly the vampire stopped in its track, head up and nostrils flaring. The tongue flicked out, tasting the air. The air was filled with a new scent. A heavy iron scent that spoke of life and death.

“That got your attention.” Edwin walked out into the clearing, away from Burke. He held an open bottle in his hand and he shook it so thick red-black drops spilled out. The drops splashed on plant and earth and each drop released more of that heavy scent. “Torley, Matla, grab Burke and form that line. Faster would be better.” Without watching to see them move he shook the bottle more, watching the vampire crawl towards him. “Got your favorite snack here, you sure want this doncha. You must be real hungry.”

He kept one eye on the vampire as he watched the man and the elf wrap their arms around the dwarf, pulling him away. Slowly the trio made their way away from the beast, far slower than Edwin would like. However he knew Burke would be slightly groggy from the enthrallment of the vampire’s gaze. Even feral, it still had some hypnotic qualities. “Just a little more…”

Not watching where he was going, Torley stumbled and fell. He and Burke fell heavily into the brush, breaking twigs on their way down and making a cacophony of noise. The vampire’s head whipped back towards them, jaw opening wide.

Edwin threw the bottle against a tree trunk beside him, the shattering glass and the explosion of blood attracting the beast’s attention again. This time the vampire charged towards the spilled blood, thick ropes of drool dripping down its fangs and tongue.

The Sheriff drew his revolver and led the target slightly before pulling the trigger. The gunshot was almost as loud as the breaking bottle, but neither were as harsh as the vampire’s scream of pain. The bullet knocked it aside and it rolled, scrabbling at its wound and hissing in pain. It rolled back onto its feet, its attention fully on Edwin now. The jaw opened fully and the beast charged straight at him.

I could fit my whole head in that hole, Edwin thought as he shot again and again. The first shot missed and the second winged the vampire’s arm, but its fury kept it from falling. With a blood-curdling screech the beast leapt and though Edwin dove to one side, the Sheriff grunted with pain as claws cut into his left shoulder. It was a glancing blow but strong enough to make him twirl before he hit the ground.

Edwin groaned as he rolled onto his stomach, looking up as the beast towered over him. The giant jaws sank towards him and he gagged on the foul smell of undeath that wafted from them. “Lightning in my grasp!” he incanted and he grabbed the vampire’s leg with a hand wreathed in blue light. Jolts of electricity flowed from his grasp and the vampire howled in pain as lightning flowed through it.

The Sheriff’s cry of triumph turned into a yelp as he felt his body rise from the ground. The spell broke with his grip broken by the vampire’s superhuman strength and he was lifted high into the air before the vampire threw him like he threw the bottle. A desperate twist mid flight spared his head from colliding with a tree, but his shoulder took the blow instead and Edwin felt something pop within. He hit the ground with a snort of pain, and his gun fell from his grip.

The vampire stalked closer, ready to bite and tear into the stunned Sheriff. Three heavy twangs rang out and the vampire shrieked as two crossbow bolts sank into its back and a third whizzed past. It turned and rushed towards the townsfolk who had fired at the feral vampire from the path.

Edwin groaned. “No!” he yelled as he tried to grab his gun. His hand moved like it was stuck in molasses and he knew he would not be able to pick it up and fire in time.

The tearing of paper was unheard due to the vampire’s growls but the flash of red and blue light did not escape notice. A shadowy figure appeared behind the trio, a hand wreathed in blue and red fire causing the feral vampire to slide to a stop and the three townsfolk turned in surprise. The form’s arm whipped forward and the alert card that Edwin had gave away a few days before flew straight at the vampire. It struck the beast in the chest and it shrieked at the impact, beating at the fire with its claws.

Phineas Sable charged at the feral beast and tackled it bodily. The two vampires rolled back and forth, dirt flew as the two punched and clawed at each other. Phineas was stronger than most humanoids and he fought well, not lost to primal instinct. For a moment he had the upper hand before the feral sank its claws into Phineas, throwing the smaller vampire to the ground.

It towered over the stunned vampire but before it could finish the job another gunshot was heard and another bullet slammed into the feral’s back. It turned, eyes wide with hate and lowered its body to rush back at the Sheriff.

Phineas kicked out, knocking the feral off balance. With it down on its knees, Phineas scrambled up and reached around with his arms, one hand gripped the lower jaw and the other held the upper jaw. With a roar of effort Phineas pulled his arms in opposite directions. The feral tried to resist but could not find purchase nor balance and with a wet ripping sound Phineas tore the top of the feral vampire’s head from the body.

The beast fell over, muscles twitching as it writhed on the ground before going still. Phineas stood over the foe panting heavily. With one last look at the now empty pale eyes he threw the half of head aside. “Well…that was disgusting,” he said wiping his viscera covered hands on his pants.

Edwin sighed with relief and subdued pain, settling against the tree and letting the gun slide to the ground. “Well Burke? What d’you got to say now?”

The next day Edwin winced as he carried a steaming cup back to his desk. He wanted nothing more than to be sleeping, considering he spent the rest of the night assisting Phineas in burning the feral vampire’s body and then waking the town’s doctor to reset his shoulder and bandage the claw wounds. By then the sun was up and the Sheriff resigned himself to relying on coffee to help him finish the paperwork.

A knock on the door broke the silence. “Come in,” he called as he finished the last of the report. The door opened and he smiled as he saw Phineas standing in the doorway, dressed in clean clothes and holding a sack. “Good to see you Mister Sable. Is somethin’ wrong?”

“Not at all,” the vampire replied stepping inside the office. “The train is still preparing to leave so I took the liberty to show you my appreciation.” He shook the bag gently and a rich savory smell filled the office. “I am told you are fond of these.”

“Fond of ‘em? I downright love ‘em. Thank you kindly.” Edwin gestured to another chair and eagerly accepted the bag of hand pies. He sighed happily at the sight and smell of them, taking one out and sinking his teeth into it. He chewed blissfully, mouth full of bacon and garlic, and washed the bite down with a gulp of coffee. “Delicious. Would you like one?”

“No thank you, I do not believe they will agree with me.” Phineas’ eyes sparkled with amusement. “They smell too much of butter. A little too rich for me.”

“Right, the butter.” Edwin took another massive bite. “Well I do appreciate your generosity.”

“It was the least I could do. You did help me with my task after all.”

“You know,” Edwin narrowed his eyes slightly, “you coulda told me that you were chasin’ the damn thing. Woulda made things easier. For the both of us.”

“I could have,” Phineas agreed. “However, I was not certain you would have helped me. A vampire coming to a small town, stating that they are hunting another vampire? Not exactly believable.”

Edwin nodded reluctantly with his mouth full.

“Still, now that I know of your character first hand, I can easily say I would try to obtain your aid sooner.” Phineas smiled to take the sting out of the words. “I do hope your wounds are not too painful.”

“Nah, I’ve had much worse. I heal fast anyhow.” He grinned as he grabbed another pie. “These will do me a world of good.”

“I am pleased to hear it.” A moment of silence settled between them, broken only by Edwin’s chewing. “I do not bother you, do I Sheriff?”

“Not really. I deal with more abrasive folk. Hell, you met Burke.”

“Not quite what I meant.” Phineas’ pale eyes settle on Edwin. “Vampires I mean. You do not seem to be disturbed overmuch by vampires.”

“Well, I’m not from around here. I’ve worked in a few different places, with different folks. Some of them were vampires. Got used to it pretty quick.”

“I wondered how you knew so much about vampires. In my experience the ones that possess that much knowledge either hunt vampires with different degrees of malice, or are one themselves. You seem to lack both malice and vampiric blood within you.”

“Thanks, I think. I just try to treat all people like I want to be treated is all. Precious few folk I actively dislike.” He smiled. “And I’m just your run of the mill human, nothin’ special about me.”

“Admirable qualities, the both of them.” The train blew its whistle, a clarion call that could be heard in all of InTween. “Well, that is my cue to go. Thank you again for your assistance Sheriff.” The vampire offered a hand.

Edwin shook it firmly. “Thanks for saving our hides, even if they won’t thank you themselves. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope it’ll be a while before you come back down here on business.”

Phineas chuckled. “And do not take this the wrong way, but I hope to not have to come to this place again for a long time either. However, next time I do, I know there is someone I can trust. Have a good day Sheriff.”

The vampire left, closing the door behind him and Edwin listened to his footsteps recede into the distance. A short time later the train’s whistle blew again and he listened as the engine huffed, it too growing quieter as it left the station.

He picked up another pie and bit into it, munching away doggedly. “Well, now that’s all done with.” He leaned back and set his legs on the table. “Now I gotta figure out how to pay Burke back for the headache he gave me.”