Part eleven
They arrived at an old farmhouse about an hour later, a place the covered man – who'd finally introduced himself as Liam – declared to be safe. Why this would be any safer than the abandoned barn, he didn't elaborate on and Meryl was too tired to argue with him.
That didn't mean she was happy, though.
She sat at an old wooden table in the kitchen as Millie made herself right at home, preparing tea for the weary group. Alexis, lip stuck out in an irritated pout, was slumped down opposite her, flipping her stake idly in the air. Vash sat silent next to her, his face deliberately blank, tension practically radiating off of him.
Liam settled into a chair, carefully peeling off his outer layer of clothing. Meryl had been expecting an older man but was surprised to see a pale face a scant few years older than her own. He was handsome after a fashion, with a wide mouth, large brow, and short, brown hair spiked in a strangely familiar style. She briefly wondered if he and Vash visited the same barber. The outlaw himself just frowned at the other man, as though trying to solve some great puzzle.
Millie returned to the table with a tray full of teacups, which she quietly passed out to the four others without asking if they wanted any or not. When she finally sat down, Liam cleared his throat.
"Humans have long dominated the earth, both here and on their original world. But as long as there have been humans, there have been others, terrible beasts and monstrosities that have hidden and hunted among them, using the night to cover their evil."
His voice was surprisingly fit to storytelling and Meryl found herself unconsciously leaning forward, the words weaving a dry, eerie spell over her.
"Vampires are not so powerful as some but they are legion, able to pass themselves off as human and killing without compunction, without thought. Were it not for the Slayers, humanity would have been lost long ago.
"The Slayer has existed since time out of mind, almost as long as the demons themselves. She is always a girl, born with extraordinary strength and agility, her purpose to protect humanity from those who would destroy them. And should she be killed, another is Called, so one is always there to stand against the forces of darkness." He nodded towards Alexis. "Alexis is the Chosen One for this generation, a Slayer. I serve as her guardian and teacher."
No one spoke for a minute after he finished his brief narrative. Meryl did her best to wrap her mind around this new information, trying to realign her perception of reality to accommodate it. Psychotic killers with delusions of grandeur, okay, but honest-to-god undead creatures of the night? It all sounded so unreal, a dark fairy tale or bizarre joke without a punch line.
And then she recalled a thirty-foot tall boy with his mad scientist father and decided there were stranger things out there than vampires.
"Real vampires," she muttered. It still sounded weird.
"L-like Dracula," Millie nodded with a tremulous smile.
"Okay. Alright, I'm dealing, yes," Meryl took a deep breath, steadying herself. She was able, she was strong, and she was ready to have her first serious discussion about vampires. "So, what are they capable of? And why are we safe here? And what do they want?"
Liam gave her a half-smile, looking somewhat relieved that she could accept this so calmly. "They're near immortal – only sun, fire or a stake through the heart will kill them. And they're far stronger than humans. However, they can't get into a home they haven't been invited to." He swept his hand around. "We chose the barn because it was closer to town but the house is warded against them. As long as someone lives here, we're safe. As for what they want, I'm not sure. Alexis and I have tracked them for some time but why they came here in particular, I can't say. It's possible they just chose this town for its seclusion."
"I have a question."
Meryl jumped at the sound of Vash's voice. He'd been so abnormally quiet she'd almost forgotten he was there. The outlaw stared straight at Liam. "Why do you kill them?"
"What are you, stupid?" The outburst came from Alexis. Liam merely raised an eyebrow.
"We don't. We release them." Vash opened his mouth to argue but was halted by a raised hand from the other man. "When a human is turned into a vampire, a demon takes over. Heart function stops, their lungs cease drawing air, and they no longer eat anything except blood. The soul – whatever makes them human, their conscience, their choice – is pushed to the side and suppressed. All that's left is the demon animating dead flesh. Killing a vampire simply releases the soul and sends the demon back where it belongs."
"What happens if the soul takes over again?"
For the first time, Liam actually faltered, a crack showing through his calm exterior. Even Alexis looked faintly startled. Meryl couldn't help a small smile, which she hid behind her mug. Count on Vash to throw anyone off balance and for once, it wasn't her.
"There – it only happened once, hundreds of years ago," Liam answered haltingly. "It apparently was a – disastrous experience."
"But if it happened before, then-"
"No." The word was firm as Liam regained his equilibrium. "The means to accomplish that were lost with Earth. It's not an option."
Vash remained silent for a moment before responding in a quiet, even tone, "No one ever has the right to take the life of another."
And for a second time, Vash managed to disturb the stoic man. It was less pronounced than before but Meryl could still see his jaw tightening. Liam met the outlaw in the eye. "They aren't alive. You can't kill something that's already dead."
"No breath, no heartbeat, no life," Alexis added with a triumphant smirk. "Therefore, I can slay it."
"How can you-"
"This is *not* open for discussion," Liam cut him off firmly. "You're in a whole different league now, boy. And that means you have to play by my rules."
Meryl mimicked Vash's unhappy expression. It'd been quite some time since she'd seen someone argue quite so adamantly against Vash's beliefs. Calling the gunman "boy" (and from someone who couldn't be much older than him) just added insult to injury. She felt a little obligated to defend him.
"Why should we trust you on this?" she asked. "That girl attacked Vash last night without provocation."
"This 'girl' saved your hides *tonight,* " Alexis snapped. "Or did you forget that already?"
"Hush, Lex," Liam soothed, then turned to Meryl. "Look, I understand your caution. I'd do the same in your position. But, please, trust me enough to listen. I don't want any of you to get killed."
Meryl couldn't come up with a good counter-argument to that and Vash was still sulking. Abruptly, Millie stood up and crossed back to the stove. "Does anyone want some more tea?"
"Millie!"
"What?" Her partner blinked at Meryl's admonition. "Mister Liam just doesn't want us to get hurt. And since we won't be going anywhere for a while, we might as well relax and have tea and not worry about these problems until we've had some rest and are far more sensible."
A beat of silence and then, surprisingly, Alexis spoke. "I'd like another cup."
Millie beamed.
***
Shortly before dawn, a tattered, brown poster was slid underneath the door to the Sheriff's office.
An hour later, Buck arrived, noticed the piece of paper lying on the floor, and picked it up. His eyes widened as he saw what was on it.
"Son of a bitch."
End part eleven