"So you're a slayer, huh?" Alin tried to make polite conversation as they trekked through the dense forest, following an uneven, snow-covered path.
Adriaan was starting to struggle, constantly tripping on rocks and branches or slipping on puddles of ice, his thick, heavy coat and tunic weighing him down and his large boots causing him to lose his balance. Alin, on the other hand, appeared to be having no trouble at all, shuffling along with his stick in front of him, fur cloak trailing behind and almost wiping away his tracks.
The trees either side of the pair loomed over them, leafless branches like hands ready to snatch them away, made all the more sinister by the dusk, which elongated and deepened the shadows, as well as spurred the imagination. It was a steep climb to the castle too and, if there had been time, one of them would have been able to climb a tree and catch sight of the village nestled snugly in the valley before the last rays of light disappeared behind the mountains.
"Have you always wanted to be one?" continued Alin. When he got no answer, he frowned through his scarf. "We're gonna be stuck out here for a good few hours so we might as well exchange in some phatic communication. It might be a good distraction from the cold."
Adriaan shot Alin a glare, though the latter didn't see it. "I don't do small talk."
"No kidding," Adriaan heard Alin give another snort and his eye twitched in annoyance.
"Do you have a family?' Alin tried again, once more getting no reply. "I had a family, far away and long ago. No one left now. All gone… What about a partner? I'm sure you're good-looking. Do you have a wife?"
"No."
"Husband?"
"No. There's no time or place for those in this sort of profession. Relationships are silly," Adriaan wrinkled his nose.
"So's that hairdo," Alin shot back.
"How do you know what my hair looks like?" demanded Adriaan.
"Overheard some of the locals talking about it," explained Alin, "apparently it's a source of amusement among the younger people; the older ones just think it means you're possessed by something." Adriaan somewhat self-consciously brushed his fingers against his light-brown hair.
"Oh, don't get them wrong," continued Alin, "they're not trying to be mean. It's just, well, strangers are rare here, what with it being an isolated place and all. They probably only tolerate you 'cause you're gonna get rid of the monsters and leave. They're probably hoping I die up here so I won't bother them. I get the feeling I've been bothering them since I got here."
"I wonder why they think that," Adriaan replied with the faintest hint of sarcasm. He hated that small pang of sympathy that crept into his chest at that last remark though, and sighed.
"I'm the oldest of three children," he told Alin, who perked up slightly, "my younger brother is away on an apprenticeship but my sister's back at home."
"And where exactly is 'home'?" questioned Alin.
"A small seaside village," Adriaan shut his eyes briefly to picture it, and tripped on a rock, "it's quiet and peaceful," he continued, "our houses are made out of stone and decorated with shells…" he paused, tightening his lips and wondering what had made him open up so suddenly; he never talked of home.
"So do you visit your sister at all?" asked Alin. Adriaan turned away, determined not to say anything more to this man about his family. "It's a simple question."
"No," he spat.
"Don't you like her?"
Nothing.
"Is she mad at you?"
Adriaan wouldn't give in.
"Is she ashamed of you?"
"Why would she be?" Adriaan cursed his weakness.
"I dunno," Alin shrugged, "just the whole going around killing people. Hardly something to be proud of, is it?"
"I kill monsters, not people."
"Have I struck a nerve?" Alin tilted his head slightly. Adriaan hated the smug, slow tone of his voice, and decided to ignore the young man from now on. "I'll take that as a yes," Alin hummed quietly to himself.
"You know when we get nearer to the castle you'll have to be silent?" that time couldn't come too soon for Adriaan.
"I'm aware. All the more reason to talk now then, huh?" Alin thought for a moment. "Well, since you're not contributing to this conversation, I'll just talk by myself. Arrived here about a month or so ago. Everyone was prepared to make me leave. What with all these killing sprees that have been happening of late, they weren't too keen on letting me stay among them. But a few took kindness on me. I mean, look at me! I can't see, and I'm so scrawny. Could you actually see me being a killer?"
Adriaan turned his head away, pretending not to listen.
"Rude!" cried Alin, mistaking his silence for agreement, "anyway, so everyone's civil now, but they still don't trust me. I spend a lot of time in the forest, to get away from them. That's why they agreed to let me guide you around here, because I know more about this place than most of the locals, and I'm less 'valuable'."
"Well, I appreciate your help," Adriaan admitted.
"Thanks, buddy!"
"Please don't start calling me that." Adriaan started to hope the vampire would eat Alin before he could kill it. Maybe he'd 'accidentally' hesitate before giving the final blow.
"Hey, do you know a guy from your village named Berwald?" continued Alin, deciding on a topic change, "now that I think of it, he was mentioned as living by the sea in a little coastal town. Tino, one of the villagers- great guy, told everyone to let me stay- trades animal fur and meat for fish and shells and stuff with him and the rest of his village. He has two sons apparently, raises them on his own."
"Peter and Lars," Adriaan replied instinctively, then hissed when he realised Alin had gotten another answer out of him. "Last time I saw them, they were little babies," well, he was already talking!
"Yeah! Those guys," Alin nodded, "apparently, from what Tino has told me, they're in some sort of romantic relationship. Tino and Berwald, not the two kids. It's sweet really, but kind of sad too, since they can't be together at any point in the near future because Tino's entire career revolves around hunting and trading parts of the animals he hunts, so he can't up and move in with Berwald and the boys, whilst Berwald's whole career revolves around fishing and the sea, plus it would be dangerous to attempt the journey here with two young children, what with the cold and mountains and wild animals. Plus, I don't think they're too keen on the idea of people of the same genders in relationships in this area." He paused, scratching his chin through his scarf, "but they are in your village, right?"
"Yes."
"Sounds nice."
"It's a nice village," Adriaan told him, "very tolerant and equal."
"Then how come you're such a piece of murderous scum?"
"I'm not a piece of murderous scum," growled Adriaan, "I just had my eyes opened, that's all. I was taught right from wrong from an early age. It's my job to rid the world of evil, something I have an extensive knowledge in, so don't insult me again."
"Well good luck with that." Adriaan was sure he didn't mean it, not that he particularly cared.
"So you're just told things and you believe them?" asked Alin, "that sounds stupid. Have you ever thought of thinking for yourself? You might be surprised at what you find rattling around in that massive head of yours. You know, like some kindness maybe."
"There is no place for kindness in my profession," Adriaan growled.
"Mine neither," muttered Alin, almost out of earshot.
"And that means?"
"Nothing that concerns you," the young man chirped.
Adriaan grunted in response and looked around. He wondered if his target was already awake and looking for prey. Maybe it was in the forest stalking them now, which meant he had to be especially vigilant, and silent. Alin opened his mouth to speak again but Adriaan shushed him harshly.
"Don't know why you're suddenly so jumpy," Alin drawled, "we're not in any danger, yet."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I just know, trust me," Alin waved a hand.
"You are the least trustworthy person I've met," Adriaan replied, "and that includes a demon con-artist with a gambling addiction."
"That sounds like an interesting story," Alin commented, "got time to tell it?"
"No."
"That's what I thought, shame really, and what about me is so untrustworthy, if you don't mind me asking? I've been nothing but honest with you!"
"You just look shifty," Adriaan narrowed his eyes, taking in his companion, "all covered up like you're hiding something."
"In case you haven't noticed," Alin shot back, "we're on a mountain in the snow. I don't know about you but I'm not too keen on catching my death out here."
"I'm not wearing nearly as much as you are and I'm perfectly fine," Adriaan commented, rolling his eyes and ducking under a branch, the pathway slowly becoming more treacherous and uncharted the higher they climbed.
"Well you're a big bastard! You're all insulated," Alin spat, "besides, I was born in one of the southern settlements, on the edge of a desert, to be precise , so I'm not as used to the cold as a fisherman like you."
"I'm a slayer, not a fisherman; also, I don't like how you act, how you move," continued Adriaan, "it's too graceful, too sure-footed for someone of your condition."
"What are you saying?" Alin slowed his pace, falling out of Adriaan's line of vision.
"That it's suspicious," Adriaan shrugged, "I'm struggling to believe you're really blind. You sometimes say things that make me doubt you are, little things I pick up every now and again."
"Is that so?" the tone of Alin's voice made the hairs on the back of Adriaan's neck stand up; it was different to his usual tenor, more malicious, more feral. Wheeling round, the first thing Adriaan noticed was Alin's scarf and blindfold, strewn across the snowy floor at his feet, abandoned. Eyes trailing up the other man's body, Adriaan realised in horror that Alin was glaring at him in hate with bright red eyes, the eyes of a monster, lips curled into a snarl and showing pointed, elongated fangs.
"I've been waiting for this moment, Adriaan Baeten," he growled, licking his lips.
"You're a… you're one of them?" he asked numbly, taking a step backwards and reaching into his coat.
Alin ignored him, instead throwing off his heavy cloak and lunging forward, aiming for Adriaan's throat.
…
About bloody time I got a second chapter up! Feel free to point out any mistakes, and just generally leave a comment, please?