Vampressssss...
It was a beautiful morning. The sun was out, birds were singing and everything seemed right in the world.
Well, mostly anyway. Above at the Jade palace, nothing seemed out of place. Everything was the way it was supposed to be. Down at the valley however was a very different story. Near the center of the small town, in one of the many houses sitting near the main footpath, there was an investigation that was taking place. A murder case.
This was a rare case in and of itself. This was the first murder to have taken place in the small town for decades. But even then, it wasn't the murder that the villagers had taken too much interest in, but rather the unusual way of how the victim had been killed. The front door had been picked open at the lock, and on the bed laid the victim himself. A young snake. A grey python with black spots who had been living in the valley of peace for a month. A cheerful fellow who mysteriously moved into the house and surprisingly won the heart of the only other snake in the valley. Now, he laid lifeless on the bed, white in the face with two small holes, suggesting that something had pierced his neck. The look of horror on his face did not make anybody who looked upon his corpse feel comfortable. It was serious enough to gain the Five's attention, as well as Po the dragon warrior. The only one who hadn't shown up was Viper herself, who upon hearing the news of her boyfriends death, asked if she could be alone for a moment. where everyone assumed she would be crying her eyes out.
So much for today being cheerful.
Hours went by, and none of the group were any closer to solving who the victim's killer was. Not even the style of how the victim had been killed made sense. There wasn't even a drop of blood produced, not even by the two holes in the side of the pythons neck. Half the day went by before the five and Po had had enough and left the investigation to whatever guards had been looking into the case before hand.
"So... I'm not the only one thinking this whole thing is strange, right"? Asked Crane, breaking the silence as the group climbed up the stairs leading to the Jade palace.
"You said it Cranester. This whole thing is odd with a capital O". Replied Po.
"Odd or not, the victims killer is still out there. We need to inform Master Shifu of this at once".
"Tigress is right. The sooner we inform Shifu, the better. He may have an understanding on what's going on". Spoke Monkey.
"What about Viper"? Asked Po.
"Well I imagine that she'll need some time alone". Spoke Mantis.
"Or maybe one of us should try speaking to her? You know, make her feel better"?
"You mean you"? Tigress asked, knowing full well the panda was talking about himself.
"Of course! Why not me"?
"Well Po". Crane began. "Considering the situation, Viper would need time to... sort herself out. And even after that, said person would need to be calm, quiet, understanding"-
"Basically everthing you're not". Mantis simply replied.
"... Yeah, exactly the point... Thanks Mantis"...
"But... I can be all those things"! Po argued.
"Po, the last time you were trusted with those sorts of things was when Master Chao made a formal visit to the Jade Palace. We all still remember the result of that day". Tigress tried reasoning.
"Oh come on Tigress! How was I meant to know that Chao woud be visiting while I was playing Kickball in the hall of heroes"?
"Maybe because Shifu reminded you of his visit the day before? Four times"?
"Pfft"... Was all Po gave as an answer. However, the looks ad glares of his fellow warriors persuaded him otherwise. "Alright, fine. I won't say anything to Viper. Yet"...
Three hours later
Po waited for as long as he could, but his concern for Vipers wellbeing eventually won over. The moment he could be sure he was alone, he headed to the Barracks where he was sure Viper was before walking through the front doors. For a moment, he looked at the front doors of Viper's room wondering if his friends were right. Maybe it was too soon to confront Viper. Still, it couldn't hurt to check up on her.
Po sighed and dragged his feet over to the front of Vipers door and was about to knock until he realised something. A certain smell coming from the kitchen. Noone else other than himself and supposedly Viper were meant to be in the barracks. The panda headed over and opened the dors to the kitchen to find Viper eating a bowl of noodles, covered in an unknown red sauce. The snake did not notice Po until she had finished slurping down a lone noodle string.
"Oh, hi Po". She spoke rather cheerfully, much to Po's confusion.
"Uh... hey there Viper... What's shaking"?
"Just having lunch is all".
"... Isn't it four in the afternoon"?
"... It's a late lunch"?
"Oh, fair point". Po chuckled. "You know, I used to do the same thing, just with second helpings... and thirds"...
Po smiled awkwardly, not too sure what else to talk about. At least until he thought he saw something strange.
"Hey, Viper"?
"Yeah Po"?
"Is it me... or do your teeth seem longer? I mean, from where I'm standing it kind of looks like you have fangs. Weird huh"?
Viper blinked before running the tip of her tail over her mouth, feeling the two teeth that were meant to support venom for most other green tree vipers. She shrugged it off.
"I don't quite know what you mean Po. They're still the same size they usually are"...
Po bought Vipers words. Though he did not seem to notice that she now began to hide her teeth with her lips afterwards.
Po gave a sigh. Despite feeling a little uncomfortable about what he was about to say next, he figured he would have to mention it sooner or later.
"Listen, Viper. The reason I came over in the first place is because"-
"Po".
Despite her voice being calm and barely audiable, it was enough to get Po to stop. He noticed that Vipers looked went from cheerful to glum. She continued.
"I know what you're going to say. And... yes. It's going to take me some time to move on. But, what's done is done now matter how much I wish the opposite. But that's... that is life I suppose. One moment it gives you many things, then time goes by and takes them away. One way or another"...
Again, the awkward silence reigned. Suddenly this turn of depressing conversation did not go the way Po had planned, and quickly planned to change the subject.
"So, Viper... That's, um... some interesting sauce you got there"...
"Oh, thanks". Viper smiled once more. "I picked it up last night".
Po walked over, with the intention to taste the sauce for himself and reached for a small bottle on the table filled with said sauce. "Mind if I gave it a tr"-
"NO"!
...
...
"I- I mean, no Po. You... won't like it. It's... spicy. Yeah! Really spicy".
Po stared at Viper, then back to the red sauce. He then shrugged.
"Eh, fair enough. I best be off. Me and the rest of the guys are heading into the bamboo forest to see if we can find the killer. Better hurry before they think I fell asleep again".
"Alright then Po. Good luck".
Po waved goodbye to his friend before leaving the kitchen and the barracks.
"You're going to need it"...
1 hour later
Viper sat happily down on her bed as she drunk the rest of the red "sauce" down her gullet. She was annoyed how close she had been to revealing her secret to her friend Po. If only she had kept her teeth in check. Not to mention her sudden loss of composure as Po nearly tried the red liquid for himself. If he had, her secret would have been out and only the Gods would know what happened next. Still, this wasn't her first rodeo so to speak. It didn't mean she could just wander around town making her guilt known to the entire world. After all it was rather unlikely that there was another monster so to speak skulking around in the darkness waiting to-
"WE GOT IT"!
Viper snapped from her thoughts as someone tapped on her door. Beofre she could answer, it opened from the oter side revealing a smiling panda.
"Viper we got it"!
"It"...?
"Yeah, turns out it's a monster, not a murderer! Kind of a freaky one too, ew"...
"I...". Viper begun. "I don't know what to say"...
"You can thank me later. Come on, let's go"!
Viper curiously followed Po out of the barracks and outside where the cloudy sky loomed overhead. Very rarely was there a sunny day at the Valley of peace. The two headed down into the valley of peace to find the supposed monster locked away in a cage made of iron, and was easily transportable.
The creature that dwelled within was certainly what Po described of it. Freaky. At first glance it looked like a monkey standing upright. It had long hair and was about the same height as Tigress. Only its face showed any sign of fur and it wore clothing unlike anything the valley had seen.
"What... is it"? Viper asked, facinated with such a... unique creature.
"No idea". Po shrugged. "But since noone knows what it is, I thought it fitting to call it... Silent Death... You know, since we had no idea about its victim until the morning after".
"For the seventh time already, my name is Ben! I'm a human"! The creature spoke, sounding way more annoyed than it was worried. "And seriously, What. The. Hell. What makes you think I'm responsible for killing someone"?!
"Maybe because you're a creepy slithery creep who we know nothing about and just so happened to be found lurking around in the forest like some... guy who's up to no good"? Po challenged.
"And that automatically makes me responsible for killing a guy? What kind of fucked up system do you have here"!? Snapped the frustrated creature.
"So you mean there's another creature responsible for draining out blood through a victims neck"? Mantis accused.
"...What, you mean like a vampire"? The creature, known as Ben answered.
Everyone looked at him.
"A vampire? Scary thing that comes out at night, feasts on the living, drinks blood? Any of this ringing a bell"?
Noone said a word. Not right away at least. Within seconds of hearing Bens words, most burst into laughter. The only ones not to were Tigress and Viper.
"Enough of this". Tigress spoke. "This thing is obviously responsible for killing the victim. I'll take him to Chorgom".
"Oh this is fucking bullshit". Ben fumed angrily as the cage he was in was loaded onto a cart and pulled away. "Not to mention slightly racist"...
Back at the Jade palace barracks, Viper and Po headed inside. Both relieved with the strange killer behind bars. Hopefully he would get what would be coming to him.
"Welp, glad that's over". Po smiled as he headed into the kitchen.
"Me too". Viper smiled.
"Kind of wierd, seeing that thing huh? Think it's some kind of demon"?
"Well we do live in a strange world Po. I suppose anything is possible".
"Yeah. Oh hey, what's that"?
Before Viper had the chance to notice, Po had already scooped some sort of red liquid off from the floor. A small amount, but enough for Vipers eye to widen in horror the second she noticed it.
"Looks like your spicy sauce".
"Well uh, let me deal with that Po. Okay"? Viper insisted.
"Ah, don't worry Viper, I got it. Besides, I've always wanted to try something spicy".
Viper could not object before Po tasted the sauce dabbed on his fingers. Knowing that there was nothing she could now do to prevent it, the snake sighed before slithering over and closing the kitchen doors, sealing the two in. Po, upon realising the taste, stood up in shock, trembling slightly.
"Viper... is- is that b-b-b-bl"-
"Yes Po. It is". Viper spoke cutting off the panda.
"Then... you're"-!
"Sorry Po. You're a good friend, but... noone can learn my litte old secret and live".
Vipers eye turned red.
"Noone"...
...
That's it, the last chapter. Wasn't easy to choose to make this chapter out of all the other ones I had planned. Oh well, it was fun to write all the same. Big thanks to Benjaman King for asking to add his OC onto the story.
Also, if you're wondering why Viper killed her boyfriend (Which actually happens to be my own OC in case you didn't notice ;) ) it's kind of partly based on the old Dracula legend, being a seducer of women, or in this case men, and then killing them, so yeah. Glad I got this over and done with since I had a few days to do this, and not in the time I said I had last chapter, but hey that's life I guess. Happy Halloween to everyone out there! Cheerio!
