Chapter 13: On the Prowl
A steady evening rain fell to the streets on the edge of the Cloud District and the Forge District. Rainwater began to collect in the center of the awnings of the market stalls and store fronts. The plumes of smoke from the foundries and blacksmith shops seemed to add to the light gray rain clouds above. On the horizon a break in the clouds seemed to be on its way.
A poked her head outside the awning of a bookstore to see if the rain was beginning to let up. Much to her surprise the front passed over head into a sparse sprinkle. Enough to not cause her to fret over a drenched outfit.
In the dreary evening light, her plum colored hair shone a darker hue. Her head always poised forward. A small pair of round spectacles rested delicately on the bridge of her button nose. A pair of violet eyes rested behind them. Her skin was pale like that of a pearl. She wore a short white dress with short round ruffled sleeves. Underneath she wore a royal blue shift that extended down to her ankles. A pair of violet slippers graced her feet. A black ribbon band wrapped around her waist twice and tied into a bow in the back. Everywhere she went, she caught more than one man's eye. She didn't mind this. The attention was flattering. But only one man had her heart. And she was on her way to meet the man of her dreams.
She paced around the market with a soft gate. She stopped from stall to stall admiring the wares the gemcrafter's had procured. She stopped and admired the work of an extravagant ruby necklace. The likes of which were mesmerizing to the eye. Bright red, the size of a cherry, and cut into a square facet. Four gold claws clutched the gemstone in a tight fitting for a necklace. Her amber eyes reflected to beauty of the stone. It was perfect in every sense. Just like her.
The evening sun poked its setting rays through the rain clouds. Breaking the dreary looking overcast skies. Large layers of dark yellows and light oranges painted the horizon. With little business for the day, vendors of the market began to close their stalls. Packing up their wares and returning to their warm and dry homes.
"I was worried you weren't going to come." said a hearty voice from among the row of merchants. A man in a long green tunic with gold trim emerged from the stalls. A slim two pieced goatee smiled at the woman. On his belt, he wore a dark wood handled dirk knife. A swollen cloth coinpurse jingled next to it. The beauty returned the look. They shared a loving hug before the two locked arms and continued down the street.
"How was your day?" asked the man.
"It was a very slow day. This rain kept away all of my customers away."
"Indeed. The banks were the same way today. But a little peace and quiet can do wonders for the mind."
The woman noticed that when she walked with her beloved, all other commoners would step aside. Showing the two respect and their station in the society. This is what she loved about being with her suitor. For once she got to feel what it was like to be a noble. Soon after their rendezvous, the two were called upon by an eager voiced Halfling outside a flower shop waving at the couple.
"Madam Raine!" A florist greeted just switching the small placard from 'Open' to 'Closed'.
"Jenny, how have you been?" asked the plum haired beauty, leaning down to give the Halfling a hug.
"Fair. This drought is rough on business, but I manage. Today's rain might help keep me in business. Is this the suitor you spoke of?"
The woman blushed at the mention of the goateed man. He smiled and presented himself with a bow.
"Richard Rakkes, Madame." The man said with a bow.
The florist returned with a courtesy. Pinching the edges of her apron and dipping low. "Raine sure is a lucky girl to have a gentleman courting her." Smiled the halfling "Would you care for a bouquet?"
"Sure." The man said fishing out a few gold coins from his purse. "I'm sure this will be enough, and a little extra for the drought."
The halfling's hands shook as the coins were placed in her little cupped hands. "Oh my! Bless you, my lord! Bless you!"
Raine looked over the selection of flowers and decided upon a sweet smelling bouquet of purple lilies.
"You sure are an optimist." Laughed the woman. Leaning her head against her escort as they walked on.
"There is good locked away in everyone. Its only up to us to unlock that good and give some goodness to others."
Those optimistic words made the woman's heart flutter. Such kindness. Such a warm heart. It was truly a rare commodity in this world.
The nobleman guided his date through the most splendid parts to take in: picturesque cityscapes, a park in the Cloud District with the most beautiful water fountains carved in the North, and a wondrous view of the sunset setting against the city walls. It was perfect. They were perfect.
The warm aroma of fresh coffee made Raine's stomach growl. Her cheeks blushed with embarrassment from the inviting smells. The young lord smiled at his date. "Hungry are you? After this, why don't we get something to eat? I believe there is a restaurant still open."
"A meal would sound lovely." Raine laughed, clutching her stomach as it growled once more. "I'm embarrassed to say, but I'm famished."
"For you my dear, I will give you the most delicious meal you can imagine."
Raine's mouth watered at the thought of a succulent steak served rare. Rich and juicy. The inclement weather had put all business for the day at a stand-still. Shops closed early and the couple wandered about trying to find an open tavern.
As they walked, Raine heard the splash of someone stepping into a puddle. She turned her head backwards to look into the reflection of a passing window. In her reflection, she saw it. Her speculations were correct. They were being followed.
"Richard, there's someone following us." the beauty whispered, panic was etched on her lips
"Indeed. He's been following us since the park. If he doesn't leave us be, I will take action."
"Richard…" Raine ducked behind her suitor fearful of a would be altercation.
The heavy footsteps continued on. Following the couple at the same pace. The man's hand creeped towards his dagger. Pivoting on the balls of his feet, Richard drew forth his dagger.
"Be gone, brigand!" the nobleman demanded dagger poised ready to strike if need be.
The stranger paid no attention to the man. He stopped for a moment, kept his head down, and continued on his own path. Diverging from the sidewalk into the street and then back onto the street. The stranger walked on past the two, paying them no mind. His gaze fixed down at where he was walking.
Richard outstretched his arm to provide a protective reach towards his beloved. Once the pedestrian was past. Richard's gaze locked onto the man until he was far enough away.
He let out a sigh of relief and sheathed his dirk. "I'm so sorry my dear. I don't know what came over me just then."
"You are such a brave man." The woman smiled at the man. Her hand gently caressed his cheek. She leaned forward into a tight hug. Placing her head into the corner of the man's neck. The noble man raised his hands to hold her. She smelled sweet. Sweet like the lilies in her arms. Richard wished he could put this moment to memory so he could think of this as long as he lived. Her skin was so soft. Perfect like alabaster, yet cold as ice.
Raine rested her head against her escort's shoulder. She closed her eyes. Raine took a deep breath, opened, and clenched down onto the man's exposed neck. The noble man could feel her lips against his skin. His smile soon soured when he felt her lips part, and her sharp teeth bore down. Richard was stuck there, paralyzed in both fear and shock. Raine's teeth clenched into his Trapezius muscle. She jerked her head a bit to tear away a few pieces of the tender muscle.
The man stood in horror at what had just happened. He turned to look his beloved in the eye. To his surprise, they were not the warm and affectionate they were cold. Soulless. Haunting red eyes than sunk back into her skull. Her smooth pale skin shriveled and turned to a sickly green leather. Her teeth grew longer into a mouth full of sharp fangs.
Richard screamed and drew out his dagger again. The little blade shook in his hands "Raine? Raine! What happened to you?!"
With a hissed voice, the creature cackled in laughter. "I told you, my dear. I'm hungry."
As soft as a breeze, a crossbow bolt pierced the back of the woman's neck. The barbed tipped crossbow bolt protruded from the right side of her throat.
Warm and thick blood splattered against the top of Richards tunic. His mouth agape. Hyperventilating terror grasped him when Raine's hideous body went limp in his arms. He screamed in terror. Not just for the monstrosity that tried to kill him, but its sudden demise.
From the shadows the heavy boots returned. The stranger returned from the shadows. "Damn. Talk about a man-eater, am I right?" chuckled the man, twirling a pistol crossbow on one finger.
"W-w-w-what was that!"
The stranger nudged the beast's torso with his foot. "Ghoul I think. Or maybe an Alghoul? I don't know, these undead things look so much alike its hard to tell."
"Sir! Y-y-you saved me! I'm forever in your dept. tell me How can I repay you!?"
The man scratched at his beard. It made a rasping sound as he itched. "Ya got any gold?"
Richard tore the coinpurse from his belt and tossed it to the young man. "Take it! Take it all!" he said throwing the pouch at the stranger before running off. "T-thank you sir!
The ranger smiled as he bounced the pouch in his hand. The jingle of the coins inside was like sweet music to his ears. Tucked the purse into his doublet pocket and began to walk off whistling a joyous tune. The crack of joints popping made the ranger lower his head in disappointment. "Damn it! Undead...that's right. Why can't you freaks ever stay dead when I try to kill you, huh?"
The monster's joints popped more as it rose itself to stand on all four limbs. Its repugnant wormy skin wrinkled around its snarling lips. The beast bore its blood drenched fangs at the man. The bolt from his crossbow still embedded in the things skull. "I will eat your heart, human!" it croaked before lunging forward.
"How about you eat my ass!" remarked the ranger drawing out his bollock dagger.
The ranger a few steps forward so he had an alleyway to his side, so just in case he had to bolt, he had an exit strategy. The ranger twirled the dagger into reverse grip as the ghoul charged at him. Its claws clacking against the cobblestone street. Just as it pounced at him. He performed a pirouetted narrowly escaping a pair of claws almost grazing his throat. The creature landed and slid several feet before sliding and charging up for a second attack. The man chuckled as he gave the creature an flamboyant bow.
""Well my dear, if you wanted to dance, you could have just asked nicely."
The ghoul wiped the drooling saliva from the corner of its toothy grin.
"Such a gentleman." it hissed.
The unsettling cacophony of joints popping out and then into place. It wailed a blood curdling shriek as its fangs began to recede back into its jaws. The ghoul's skin shifted from its haggard leather look to its previous soft lively form. Now back in its human form, the monsteress smiled menacingly at the huntsman. Her one eye still retained its red bloodshot look. If it wasn't for the bolt still stuck in her throat, dripping thick blackened blood, Thaelin felt he would have been weakened by her charm.
"Neat trick." he scoffed dryly
The woman tugged at her stretched out dress as she circled back and forth. Her feet pattering against the cold street.
"If you think that's impressive, how about you and I go somewhere? I can show you some other ones." the beastly woman snickered, tossing her glasses aside.
"Sorry baby. As fun as that sounds, I have more self-respect than going around fucking a gold digging tramp like you."
"Gold digger?!" Raine snarled as she began to rush the man.
Expecting a slash from her claws or a bite from the monster's jaw's, Thaelin was caught off guard by a swift and painful kick to the crotch. The man fell to the ground wincing from the pain. The woman glared down at him, her red eyes glaring through his tearful gaze. The ghoul woman cocked her foot back again and struck the man in the chest so hard he flew backwards into the alleyway. The man was engulfed by the darkness. He rolled and tumbled as he slid across the dirty ground. Cursing with every bound until he crashed into a rotten rubbish pile.
"Fuck...shit...damn it..."
The man shook the dizziness from his head as the pitter-patter of the beast's feet echoed as she entered the darkness after her prey.
In a feeble attempt, Thaelin tried to duck low behind a couple of crates. He hoped the darkness around him and Lady Luck's blessing would aid him in hiding away.
Raine's lips smirked at the man's feeble attempt to try and hide from her. She could smell him. That delicious smell of fear. That savory marinade of sweat coating the delectable layer of skin. Just thinking about her next meal made the ghoul-woman's stomach growl. Raine's eyes glowed a soft red for an instant, a sign that she activated her Darkvision sense. Her silhouette from outside the alley, showed a monstrous form. Her fingers long and bony and the iris of her eyes shined with a faint red light.
The man peered from behind a crate, his foe was slowly making her way towards him. He could hear her sniffing the air. He witnessed the ghoul try to pull the bolt free from her neck, but as she pulled it clearly caused her pain. To the ranger, this was a good sign. Thaelin tried to imagine his best course of action. There had to be a way he could defeat such a beast without getting devoured or the complete shit beaten out of him by some undead monstrosity.
"Fuck it!" the ranger whispered while emerging from his hiding spot. "Hey bitch! "Did I say gold digger? I meant to say a cheap slut!""
The ghoul-woman opened her mouth and barred a set of many crooked and pointed fangs. "Eager to die already?"
"So I gotta ask, were you after that rich guy as a meal or was it cuz he was your Sugar Daddy?
Raine growled as she lunged for the man. Sparking the beast's ire was a dangerous ploy the man was sure could cause her to mess up, allowing for an opening he could use to slay the beast.
Thaelin moved in with his bollock dagger, swiping away at the beast, but only attacking air. The two exchanged a few blows before the beast used its supernatural strength against him. He received an iron-fisted punch to the chest, and felt a good rib or two crack. Raine clenched the ranger's head in her hand. The sharp points of her talons began to slowly dig into the man's flesh. He could feel a trail of blood begin to trail down from his temple. Rain smirked victoriously at her next meal. He was forced to drop his dagger from the pain. The deadly beauty leaned in and gave the ranger a slight kiss in the neck. His veins protruded as she widened her lips to take a bite.
The man squeezed his eyes shut from the pain at the corners of his head. "Okay, fuck this shit."
He flailed a free hand towards the monster's face trying to feel around for his last resort at staying alive. The woman laughed at his soft pats, thinking this was the point where his spirit was about to be finally broken before death. It was there that Thaelin took hold of the monster's arm that grappled him with his right arm. Using his left hand, the ranger swung a punch towards the elbow of the beast. The joint snapped like a twig. She wailed in pain and dropped her prey to gingerly cradle the broken arm. After the crippling strike, the ghoul tried to crawl into the shadows, away from the menacing man.
Finally, the beast loosened her grip on the man. The ranger rolled away to retrieve his dagger. In the darkness, the man fumbled around helplessly for his dagger.
Raine cowered in fear of the huntsman. She had underestimated him gravely. Here, he was the predator and she was his prey. As she tried to crawl away, she noticed something odd for the human when she looked at him with her Darkvision. His eyes. Those eerie blue eyes.
"Mercy!" the ghoul woman struggled to say with the bolt in her neck "Have mercy. Don't kill me please!"
Thaelin leaned in close. He looked the ghoul dead in the eye, and his blue eyes were made visible by a slight sliver of light from the street. On command, his blue eyes flashed a brief blue shimmer similar to how her own glowed previously before the tides of their battle were turned.
"W-what are you?"
"I'm a badass!" smirked the ranger as he head-butted the ghoul woman in the face. While she was stunned, Thaelin grabbed tightly around the triangular point of the crossbow bolt. In one forceful jerk, he freed the bolt from its place. The ranger heard Raine cry in pain as the bolt was torn from her neck. He spun the bolt around in his fingers and slammed the little arrow back into the eye of his attacker.
As a coup de gras for the monstrosity, Thaelin grabbed the undead monstrosity by her plum colored hair and dragged her through the alley to a nearby crate not damaged by his earlier fling into the debris. The man lifted her head to the edge and took a step away.
Tears fell down the monster's cheeks. She knew this was the end. Her hopes she had in her un-life were about to end. Once and for all. If it wasn't for her killer, she would have been happy. She could have an existence in peace she would never have had when she was alive.
"P-please, have mercy!" cried the ghoul-woman
Thaelin couldn't help but chuckle. She was such a viscous beast moment ago, but now, a pathetic creature begging for its life "Nah!"
The ranger slammed his foot down onto the back of the beast's head. He felt the creature's neck bones crack under his heel. He stomped a few more times trying to make sure that the beast was dead once and for all. After the third or fourth stomp, the beast's head was hanging on by a few sinewy veins struggling to stay connected. He kicked the head free from the beastly woman's shoulders and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"H-holy fucking shit." he laughed panting for breath "That had to be the most metal thing I've ever done. I'm such a badass!"