Gordo
Lynke managed to get his staff halfway up before the creature collided into his chest. The impact nearly knocked him off his horse.
"Save Gordo master, please save Gordo!" screeched the creature as it clung tenaciously to Lynke's shoulder.
D heard Lynke give an exasperated sigh.
"Gordo, you whimpering little simp. What are you doing here?"
Gordo was a mutant of some sort. He had white fur, but it was so dirty it looked gray. He vaguely resembled a very shaggy monkey. Upright he might stand a foot and a half tall, but it was hard to tell due to the way he was clinging to Lynke. He had all the mannerisms of a small, impudent child. D wrinkled his nose in disgust at the scent of unwashed fur that assailed his nostrils.
"Gordo come look for food. Vampy-people want make Gordo be food. Save poor Gordo, Master Lynke. Please save poor Gordo."
As it spoke Gordo tried to look cute and innocent, making big baby eyes at Lynke. It failed utterly.
"Gordo, if you don't let go of me, I will cut every piece of meat off your disgusting body and cook you into a stew."
Gordo whimpered, but released Lynke and perched on the head of his horse.
"You eat, but you no make Gordo be vampy-person. Gordo don't want to be vampy-person. Master Lynke can eat, but please no make vampy-person."
"Vampy-person, you mean a vampire?"
"Drink blood, no think."
"Zombies. Are there vampy-people in the village?"
"No go there, Master Lynke" wailed the creature. "Come with Gordo, be very safe then."
D rode up alongside Lynke and glanced at the creature.
Lynke sighed and tried to get more information from him.
"Are there any people left. Not vampy-people, regular, normal humans."
"People left where?"
"In the village?" Lynke's patience was obviously growing thin.
"What in village?"
D suddenly grabbed the creature by the scruff of its neck and lifted it up to face him. It hissed and tried to scratch him, but after it saw his face it screamed and hid its eyes.
"Are-there-any-people-left-in-the-village?" D asked slowly enunciating every word, his voice carrying the threat of an unnamed, unthinkable terror that would ensue should Gordo refuse to answer.
"The church, the church. People hide in the church." D handed the terrified Gordo back to Lynke and rode towards the church.
"Go find some place to hide Gordo, this could be ugly."
Gordo scampered quickly for cover as Lynke caught up with D.
"What is that thing?"
"Gordo is-" Lynke paused trying to find a term to describe the little pest, "-Gordo."
The boy shrugged and tried to explain, "As far as I know he's the only creature of his kind. He's a scavenger, a scamp, a thief when he knows he can get away with it. He's annoying, but he sees and hears things that other people don't. If you can get it out of him he's a very good informant. He worked for my father, and I've run across him a time or two since my father left."
"With all the noise he made, they are certain to know we are here."
"Yes," agreed Lynke, dismounting and tying his horse to a tree. At his command the staff transformed into a glaive. D freed his sword from the scabbard and headed towards the church.
Almost instantly the zombies were on them. D's sword flashed, the reflection of the moonlight bouncing wildly, as it darted outward; three zombies fell to the ground in true death. Lynke swung his glaive wide and far, taking the heads off three of the five zombies advancing on him. His swing was too high to behead the fourth, a female which was shorter; instead he took the top of her head off-not enough to stop her, the fifth was a child. He leapt backwards and landed on a tombstone, as the zombies tried again to surround him.
A large number of zombies came pouring out of the church to join those which had waited in ambush. Wild bloodlust shone in their eyes.
D was caught up in a wild dance of furious sword thrusts. Swing, slash, right, left, turn to the rear and begin again.
"Double glaive."
Another blade extended from the opposite end of Lynke's staff. He leapt high, swinging the double-glaive in a wide arc as he descended, destroying several more zombies. He darted quickly back from an advancing zombie, striking backwards as he went, running through the one which had been sneaking up behind him.
Within moments the churchyard had been cleared of all undead creatures. D and Lynke stood crouched and ready, listening to the silence. D slowly straightened, but he kept his sword at the ready.
"Do you think we got them all?" asked Lynke.
"If there are still humans alive in the church, then one or two of the zombies may have escaped back into the church to try and get back to them."
"We'd better hurry then."
Without another word the two headed towards the church. The doors had been torn off their hinges, and the inside of the building had been wrecked; crosses demolished, scattered pages of the songbooks fluttered desolately about the room, and many of the pews scratched and shattered. A stairwell at the back of the church led up to the bell tower.
Lynke took the lead and headed for the stairs. He was only a few feet from the landing when a hidden door in the wall suddenly swung open and something leapt out at Lynke. Lynke pulled his glaive into action instinctively, swinging it in an arc towards his attacker. He brought it to a sudden stop inches away from the ten year old boy who stood in his path. The boy had scraggly blonde hair, his face was dirty and the trickle of dried blood from a wound that had not been cleaned well stood out against his pale skin, but there were no teeth marks in his skin.
"G-go away. I won't let you hurt my grandpa" although clearly frightened out of his wits the boy was determined to die fighting.
Lynke commanded his glaives to retract and knelt before the boy meeting his eyes, "We aren't here to hurt you. We were passing through and we want to help you if we can."
The boy glanced at him with distrust, "Why should I believe you? How do I know you're not vampires?"
Lynke laughed lightly and opened his mouth wide, running his tongue along the back of his flat teeth to draw the boys attention to them.
"I guess you're alright then," the boy murmured, looking away.
"Why don't you show us where your grandpa is?"
The boy nodded and headed up the stairs.
"Are you and your grandfather the only survivors?"
"My little sister is up there too."
As they proceeded up the stairs D kept his sword out and ready and constantly searched for any sign of danger. Soon they heard the sounds of scuffling coming from the landing above them.
"No! I won't let you have her."
"Grandpa!" They boy tried to dash up the stairs, but Lynke caught the scruff of his shirt and pulled him back as D swept past them. "Let me go."
Lynke released the boy and ran ahead of him up the stairwell. He reached the top step in time to watch D pull the attacking zombie off of an old man and cut it to bits.
Lynke knelt next to the old man and examined his wounds. The creature had bitten him and blood ran freely from the gaping wound in his throat. Lynke worked as best he could to stem the flow.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, are you allright?" The boy dropped to his knees next to the old man.
"Yes, Tommy I'll be fine. Is Sara safe?"
Tommy looked around and saw D kicking away the remnants of an old broken table. Huddled behind the wreckage was a tiny girl, her gritty blonde hair clinging to her skin. On seeing D she wailed and ran to her older brother.
D stalked to the window and climbed out to check for more zombies in the building.
"What is you're name young one?" the old one asked, studying Lynke with a questioning gaze.
"I'm Lynke Rojanski. My partner and I were traveling through the area when we heard the bells and came to help."
As he spoke Lynke poured water from his canteen into a cloth and added some herbs from a pouch.
"Your partner, he's a hunter, isn't he?"
"Yes. This might hurt a bit."
Lynke gently dabbed at the wound, the herbs would sting, but they would help close the wound. He knew some of the zombie's venom had to be in the wound, unfortunately Lynke did not know of any herbs that could counter it. They would simply have to wait and see if the old man was strong enough to survive.
The old man hissed at the pain, but regained his breath.
"What about you?"
"Me? I guess I'm a little bit of everything, a merchant, a rogue, a thief. Take your pick."
"You are a seeker. What are you seeking?"
Lynke studied the man in surprise at his perception.
"There is an old myth, that says that there is a kind of eternal life, a life of eternal joy and peace that lasts long after the mortal body is destroyed and in the grave. A joy that brings peace even to the troubled soul of a vampire. That is what I seek."
"I have heard of this legend." The old man whispered, "My family has passed down a book which supposedly contains the legend, although I could never find it. Can you read?"
"Yes."
"Then you may have it."
"What?"
"You have more use of it than we do, you may have it."
"Thank you."
Lynke reached for his staff as he heard a quiet footstep fall on the stairs, but relaxed as D strode into view, his sword carefully sheathed so as not to frighten the children.
"What happened here?" he questioned the old man.
"It all started two days ago…" Lynke finished binding the man's wounds and sat cross legged and listened as he told his tale. D leaned against the wall and watched out the window as the sun slowly rose.
The vampire had settled in an old abandoned warehouse two months before. It had not bothered anyone and most of the villagers had preferred to leave it alone and hope it went away, than risk making it angry. This method seemed to be working, until just a few days ago. There had been a brilliant flash in the sky a week ago, and the vampire had started attacking people. The first night it attacked just one villager, leaving him dead. But the count kept growing, and soon the vampire began making zombies. It seemed as though the creature was bent on destroying the town. Within four days the living population of the town cowered in their homes, praying they would not be found, while the undead population stalked the night. But there was no protection, if D and Lynke had not come along when they had…
************
Warm sunlight washed through the windows of the cottage, splashing over the sleeping children on the floor. Lynke sat in a chair just outside the bright light and watched over the old man as he struggled to hold on to life.
D had told Lynke that there was a safe cottage not far from the church where the old man could rest. The cottage was unscathed, but Lynke could smell death in this place. Perhaps where one of the first attacks had occurred. As near as he could tell the zombies had not touched it.
D had vanished shortly after helping Lynke move the old man, presumably to find some water, but Lynke had the sneaking suspicion that water was not the only thing D was hunting down.
The old man opened his eyes slowly, "How am I doing?" he whispered.
"You're going to be just fine sir." Lynke feared to tell him the truth.
"You shouldn't tell lies young one, it'll make you grow warts on your nose."
Despite the severity of the situation Lynke found himself laughing, after a few minutes he sobered up.
"I'm sorry sir. Most people can't tell when I'm lying."
"It's nearly impossible to fool a dying man into believing he's not dying."
Sara stirred and cried in her sleep, burying her head in her brother's arms she settled down again.
"You will make sure they're taken care of."
"Yes sir, I promise."
"Thank you. I want you to do something for me."
"Yes sir."
"The house at the far end of the lane is our house. On the mantle in the big room there is a big black book. When you leave, take it with you, it is yours."
"Yes sir."
He drifted slowly back to sleep.
D returned nearly an hour later with the water, waking Lynke from a light nap. He did not ask any questions, but the youth could smell the faint odor of decay on the hunter, he must have found the vampire.
"How is the old man?"
"He's not doing so well D. I don't think he'll make it," whispered Lynke.
"If he turns, I will have to kill him."
"I know," Lynke followed D's gaze to the sleeping children. "But I'll make sure they don't see."
The old man died a few hours later, minutes before the sun set.
Lynke gently led the children to the church and settled them in to sleep, afraid of what they would see as the sun settled in the west.
D did not join them. After sunrise Lynke looked out the window and was surprised to find D digging a new grave in the cemetery. He slipped out of the church to speak with him.
"Is it over? Is he dead now?"
"It's the strangest thing I ever saw Lynke. He died from a zombie's bite, and he didn't turn. I watched him all night. He's not undead."
Lynke sat silently on a tombstone contemplating this new twist. Maybe the old man had found the Eternal Truth after all.
"What of the children?"
"I know someone who will take care of them. It will take us a couple of days out of our way
though."
"I promised the old man I would make sure they were safe."
"They'll be safe."
"Good."
D looked searchingly at Lynke as though wondering if he should ask what was on his mind.
"You do know that vampires teeth are retractable. You can't trust someone just because you don't see fangs."
"I know. But the boy didn't."
D nodded apparently satisfied.
**********
Two days later D and Lynke, each with a child in the saddle in front of them, arrived at a large sprawling farm, teeming with life. Set almost on the edge of the wild woodlands it seemed to overlook the small farm community in the valley below.
They rode unchallenged to the farm house. The house was surrounded by typical hot fences to keep the night creatures out, but it was nearly noon, and they were not on. No one came out of the house to meet them. D approached the open screen door and peered into the house, it appeared that no one was home. He turned and motioned to Lynke.
"It doesn't look like anyone is here. The children are exhausted. See if you can settle them in. I'll see if I can find them."
Lynke led the children into the house and spread a blanket on the floor for them to sleep on. The ride had been long and hard and the two children quickly went to sleep.
Lynke studied the house carefully. You could tell a lot about people by the way they kept their houses. Whoever lived in this house was neat and organized, but also had a gentle heart.
Lynke did not know someone else was in the room until he heard the click of the hammer being cocked.
"Don't move."
The voice was female, but it was hard and cold. Lynke lifted his hands over his head and slowly turned to face the other person.
The woman was surprisingly tall. She appeared to be in her early forties, but her build was more muscular than most women in their twenties. Her face was hard, as if it had seen more sorrows than one lifetime could bear. Her cold blue eyes seemed to pin him to the wall. Unlike many women she dressed in pants.
The gun she held pointed at him with both hands was unlike any he had ever seen. The huge barrel would fire ten shots simultaneously, at this distance that would put a hole through his body big enough to stick his head through.
"It's loaded with silver, but at this distance, it will kill anyone. What are you doing in my house?"
"I'-I beg your pardon maam. We were looking for someone."
"Who?"
"I don't really know. A friend of mine sa-"
"Leila."
The woman turned as D appeared on her front step.
"D, it's been a while" she did not sound terribly happy to see him, but she lowered the gun.
"Not since the incident with Meier Link."
"Wait a minute," Lynke inserted slowly, edging slightly away from Leila. "You're not the same Leila who worked with the Marcus Brothers, are you?"
Leila simply smiled and put aside her firearm.
"You are! That's incredible. That took place almost fifty years ago."
"Yes, believe it or not, I'm only in my seventies. That business ages you so quickly."
"You don't look that old."
"Thank you, but I feel twice that age. What brings you here?"
D motioned to the children.
"Their families were killed?"
"Yes."
Leila glanced out the window at the noon sky.
"I'll take care of them. You should stay here until it cools off a little."
Neither of the travelers objected.
**********
"It's sad really, that so many people believe that God would protect them from vampires. It was a waste of energy for them to ring their bells in hopes God would help them."
"Are you sure. How do you know God didn't send you along at just the right moment?"
"Uhm."
Leila laughed, "So are you a hunter too?"
"No, D and I just wound up accidentally working together."
"Do you have family involved?"
"No, it's a working relationship, I don't have any personal ties."
The conversation between Leila and Lynke drifted gently into D's subconscious as he slowly awakened. He had borrowed Leila's couch and slept most of the afternoon. A familiar stench drifted through the air and he stood and walked outdoors.
The sun would be setting in about an hour. He strolled nonchalantly towards the corner of the house, as he passed a bush he reached behind it and pulled Gordo from his hiding place. The creature set up an immediate wail, drawing Lynke and Leila from the kitchen and Leila's husband, Jack, from the barn.
D tossed Gordo in Lynke's direction, "I thought you might want to keep an eye on your friend before he gets himself killed. He's been following us since we left Qycken."
"I guessed as much."
"Gordo hungryyyy Master. You feed Gordo?" the creature looked imploringly at Lynke.
Lynke sighed exasperatedly.
Leila knelt and examined the creature, wrinkling her nose as the stench reached her.
"I might have something for it to eat."
She stood and returned to the kitchen.
**********
^D, is that thing going to keep following us?^
^Apparently, be quiet!^
"Quiet Gordo."
"Gordo no want quiet. Gordo make all noise he wants."
Lynke and D had left Leila's as the sun set, and had been traveling straight for most of the night. Gordo had followed them relentlessly, making as much noise as possible.
"Gordo, silence," Lynke added to D's command, straining his ears against the night.
"But-"
"NOW!" something in Lynke's tone sent the creature scampering for cover.
Lynke glanced restlessly around the dark forests, the heavy cloud cover provided little light for the travelers, and too much cover for any night creature lurking about.
Without warning three cloaked creatures dropped from the trees and attacked.
Lynke used his staff to block the first blow thrown at him, but the second came under his guard. He barely had time to see the hand polymorph as it drove towards his face, the sharp claws digging into his flesh and tearing his eyes out as he was thrown off his horse to land with a thud on the forest floor.
