Chapter 24 – A Pain In The Behan
The first thing she saw was a divided room. Several patrons were grouped on one side of the room, Milt and Doc stood on the other. In the middle stood a very disheveled looking Sheriff Behan. He had not shaved for a number of days, nor had he combed his hair, which allowed her to see the large red marks that peppered his scalp. It looked to Alex like he had been pulling out his hair by the roots. He wore no jacket and his shirt and vest were wrinkled and dirty, as if he had not changed his clothing for a number of days. His collar was unbuttoned and it looked like he had started to tie his cravat but never finished the task. Her eyes traveled lower over his body and she saw he wore no socks with his shoes.
Alex had previously categorized the county sheriff as impeccably dressed, and socially well mannered but his appearance today was a stark contrast to his normal attire. Unknown to Doc and the others, she was well aware of Behan's previous request to procure her affections for the evening, so she surmised he had a well-hidden crude side to his personality, which probably had a negative impact on his liaison with Josephine Marcus. That relationship had obviously dissolved. She knew Wyatt would have it no other way. Could it be that Behan's arrival at the Oriental and disturbing appearance had to do with his loss of the beautiful actress?
She took a step further into the room. She was now only a few feet behind Doc when the smell oozing from Behan hit her. She immediately covered her mouth and nose with her hand. It was not his body odor that perfumed the room. She could only liken the smell to something rotting. When he turned his head to look around the room she could see his eyes where covered by an opaque film.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as cold dread raced through her body. She now knew what ailed the Sheriff.
"No worms will partake of my flesh. Can't you see that? Do you want to know why?" He cackled loudly and pointed a finger at Milt. "I will be in charge, not you. And certainly not you Holliday." He took a step closer to Doc and Alex saw him quickly rest his fingers on the handle of his gun.
"He said I could have it all. So, I've come to take back what was stolen from me! JOSIE!" He called loudly. "You belong to ME!" His hands pulled at his hair and Alex watched with horror as they came away with clumps of hair and bits of flesh attached.
He turned back toward Milt. "Get me a drink!" He ordered as he stumbled towards the bar.
"Mr. Behan, you don't look well at all sir. Perhaps you should go home and get some rest." Milt pleaded.
Behan stood in front of the bar slowly swaying back and forth. His mouth hung slightly open, as he appeared to be considering Milt's suggestion. "I can't. I can't sleep. Hour after hour I lay there, but I can't sleep. Where's my drink" His voice had taken on a whining tone.
Milt placed a glass of whiskey on the bar and quickly stepped back away from Behan's smell.
Doc went to move closer, but Alex reached for him first. He hadn't realized she was standing behind him and jumped, pulling his gun free of the holster. "I told you to stay in the kitchen." He whispered.
"Don't move any closer to him, please." She begged.
Their conversation had caught Behan's attention. "You." He screamed as he pointed a dirty finger at Alex. "He's coming for you." He walked towards them on visibly shaky legs.
"That's far enough." Doc had his gun aimed at Behan. "Get out of here now or I will send you out feet first in a pine box."
"Fuck you, Holliday." He laughed. "You can't hurt me. NOBODY CAN HURT ME NOW!" He screamed.
He took another step closer and Alex heard Doc thumb back the hammer on his gun.
"Your guns don't scare me, Holliday. Cause without them guns you're nothing but a skinny lunger."
"That may be so, but I can still send you to meet your maker Behan. I don't want to shoot an unarmed man, but I will if you don't leave now."
The patrons on the other side of the room had been watching in horrified silence. Alex now heard them push back against the tables to clear a path further away from Doc and Behan. Obviously, they expected gunfire to erupt any second.
Alex went to step around Doc, but he sidestepped in front of her. "Don't move." He hissed.
When Behan laughed again Alex almost gagged from the stench of his breath. "I want what's mine." He pointed at Alex. "And you are going to get what's yours."
From behind Doc's back Alex slowly raised the lavender and sage she had been holding until Behan could see what it was. His eyes widen with fright. He screamed as if in pain, and took a step back.
"Get out." She commanded and threw the herbs at him, hitting squarely in the chest.
He screamed again and fell backwards hitting the floor with a loud thud. The herbs were now sitting on the waistband of his pants and a small cloud of smoke was slowly rising from around the cluster. This time there was no doubt the herbs were causing him pain. Behan's screams were terrible. He rolled over onto his side, jumped to a standing position, turned, and ran out the door.
There was a commotion from the street as Behan passed several women who cried out when they saw him, and then he ran directly passed Wyatt and his two brothers as they made their way towards the front door of the saloon.
"What the hell was that all about?" Virgil yelled. "Doc, what happened?" He saw Doc had drawn his weapon and then he noticed the frightened customers as they cowered in one corner of the room.
"That gentlemen, was our illustrious county sheriff who is undoubtedly off his rocker." He holstered his gun and placed one arm around Alex who was visibly shivering from the encounter.
"What was wrong with him, other than the need for a bath? God, I can't believe the stink." Morgan covered his mouth as if Behan was still in the room.
"Who cares as long as he stays downwind." Doc replied as he hugged Alex close and placed a kiss on top of her head.
Milt looked over at his dazed customers. "Drinks are on the house folks. Sorry for the disturbance, but things are back to normal now."
Slowly they wandered over to the bar for their badly needed drink. Morgan was quickly picking up the furniture and moving the tables back to their original positions.
"Alex, are you all right?" Wyatt asked as he walked over to where Alex and Doc stood.
"I'm…" As glad as she was to see Wyatt and his brothers unharmed she was still deeply unsettled by Behan's visit. She turned her face towards Doc's shoulder unable to give Wyatt an answer.
"Come on Sweetheart, let's get you a large brandy." Doc whispered in her ear.
He sat her down on a nearby chair. Milt brought over a glass of brandy and handed it to Doc who then gave it to Alex. "Sip it slowly." He suggested. "How did you know lavender and sage would upset him like that?" He asked as he rolled two cigarettes, one for Alex and one for himself.
She shook her head. "It was the only thing I had in my hand."
"Well, somebody better go after him and lock him up before he hurts someone." Milt suggested as he went back to tend bar.
Alex suddenly jumped. "Oh, my God! Wyatt, he was looking for Josie. We have to go get her." She started to stand but Doc placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Stay put." He ordered. "Wyatt will find her." He turned toward his friend. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, you better stay here just in case he comes back." He was halfway to the front door with Virgil and Morgan walking right behind. "Virgil, I know just where she is." He said as they walked out.
Excerpt from Alex's Journal - September 1881 (Day 15 - Midday)
Finally, a moment to myself, and time to wash and change my clothes. So much has happened in the last few hours. I must write this down while events are fresh in my mind.
Things have progressively gotten worst. The Clantons and Johnny Ringo have been turned, which probably means that most of the Cowboy gang as been turned as well. And just when I thought things couldn't get worse, we had a visit from Sheriff Behan this morning that I won't soon forget. The renowned sheriff is on his way to becoming a member of the walking dead. Funny term if you think about it, but not so funny when you see it for yourself. I'm not sure if he had been a willing participant of Malachi's activities or if the poor man was forced to become involved. But at sometime during the last week, Malachi or one of the others has been feeding Behan vampire blood. I have personally never witness this supernatural transformation, but have only been instructed about it while in training. I was taught this is a form of control used on a human so the master vampire can have a daylight servant to be his eyes and ears. At first, the victim will feel exhilarated by the transfusion and willing drinks the second and third time from the host, but as the feeding progresses the body is slowly overcome by the demonic forces the blood contains and a fight ensues for control. The living flesh will slowly rot taking with it all mental and emotional sanity leaving behind a zombie. The vampire is able to then control this poor soul who is now trapped between two worlds. Once the zombie has fulfilled his purpose he or she is usually discarded.
The problem for a Guardian is a zombie is just as dangerous as a vampire because they are extremely volatile and unpredictable. Oh, and one more thing…they also smell like 3-day old road kill.
I managed to get rid of Behan and not blow my cover by tossing a cluster of lavender and sage on him. He screamed in pain and ran out the door. Now I must find him and put an end to his misery.
Other than wanting to see his lost love, I'm not exactly sure what Behan was looking for when he came into the saloon. My guess would be that he was looking for Doc to see if Malachi's bite was as detrimental as it was suppose to be. Knowing Malachi as I do, he would want to be thorough and make sure Doc was out of the picture. I am curious if Malachi considers Doc a greater threat then Wyatt and his brothers and that was why he struck at him in such a way. Or perhaps, my dear late husband intends to return tonight and finish the job. God help us, and me, if Doc Holliday is turned into a vampire. My heart would never survive the pain and loss. I must make sure his room is protected or that he is never left alone at night.
Hopefully, Malachi will not attempt to enter the saloon. If he does, it would mean an outright war and that he is more than ready to fight. Up till now, we have been playing cat and mouse games. He knows I'm here but he continues to hide. Where he is hidden is the key that will allow me to end this. The Clanton ranch is now my prime goal. I will look there as soon as I am able to get away from the saloon. My illusion is a blessing and a curse. I am able to move about and investigate in the open, but I am also watched and protected by Doc and the others. How ironic that they should feel I am the one who needs protection.
More than likely the Earps were expected at the Clanton ranch this afternoon. Thank God they decided to 'visit' during the day this time. Maybe Ike Clanton's encounter scared them enough to discourage them from wandering around in the dark.
One other note worthy item to mention: Behan delivered a message while he visited today. He told me Malachi would be coming for me. I think my illusion within the Oriental will soon come crashing down. When it does, I will not only be exposing my new friends to more danger, but will also lose my new lover as well. When Doc finds out I've been deceitful he will hate me for sure.
I wonder if it would help cushion the blow if he knew I loved him, or would it only make the betrayal worst for him later?