"What was that all about?" Grumbled Lefthand, breaking the silence D had begun to enjoy. "You're wasting our time. You know the people said that if we brought the boy back alive and unspoiled they'd give us a bonus. I don't know if you like having money, but I do, and we need to get a move on."
"Quiet." D said, still unsure if he was being followed or not. They continued on until the sun began to sink beneath the trees, and at last he reached the gates of the town. They were guarded and D dismounted and approached the door.
"Who goes there?" a voice called warily from atop the tall gate.
"D. The Dunpeal hunter. I'm here to find your lost young man." There was a shout from above to someone down below, and D went back and mounted his horse, and then rode it through the now open gate. Somehow D felt a solemn pride that these people did not think he was an untrustworthy beast. Of course some cowered; he did have vampire blood after all. But some he saw look relieved… Some even opened their doors and looked out upon him in the glow of the scarlet sinking sun. He rode to the center of town. There was a large crudely built cross erected there, built obviously to ward off more attacks, though D knew it would do little good. Beneath the cross stood a tall, middle-aged, brawny man with a thick neck and a straw hat. D dismounted and stood before him.
"You're the Sheriff of this town?" D asked quietly.
"Yes. My name's Retter. " He said, puffing out his chest, the gleam of a gold badge caught in the last rays of the sun.
"And do you have the money?" D asked slowly.
"That we do." He said, his chest deflating slightly, and suddenly the man seemed weaker and more vulnerable. "The boy." He said after a moment. "He's my son… James. I don't care what happens, but bring him back… Won't you? It doesn't matter how…I just…need to see him again."
His voice broke and he threw a burlap sack to D's feet.
"That's the first quarter of it…The rest will be paid in full if you can bring back James…And the head of that vampire who took him. We only know that she is called Ophelia…Three nights ago her and some others killed men and women in our town, and they took my boy in the fray.
Bring James back…alive…or not.…And proof that the one who took him is dead as well…I want my son back…but…if you can only kill the beast who took him…or if you can only find him and not the woman…you get half the bounty…And…as much as I want this Ophelia dead…I want James back even more…I don't know if he's changed…but…just…please try to bring him back one way or the other…"
D nodded. This was the case with many kidnappings. Often he'd find the body a few miles from town, mangled. Other times he'd find them in the other Vampire's keeping, changed, and after he killed them, they were returned. Sometimes the vampires would keep the long-dead body around their camp, just to see if they could attract some human blood trying to find it.
But D felt differently. He knew of this Ophelia. She was beautiful…and a temptress. She loved to make the victim (almost always male, and usually weak) beg to become one of them…Sometimes she would make them a vampire…and sometimes, she'd bite them, and then simply leave them to bleed in the forest, until wild animals picked their bones clean. D had dealt with her once before, but that was only for a rescue. He'd lost a bounty on her account, as the dry bones he found did not prove that the lost was dead, or that it was actually them. He'd wasted a good two weeks tracking… Partially why the bones were so sterile when he finally came to them. He'd be glad enough to have this Ophelia meet his sword and then be rid of her.
D picked up the bag. Inside were the money and a ragged photo of the boy. He was handsome enough for a boy of only seventeen or so. Sandy hair, fair skin, an innocent look about him. Probably something that Ophelia wished to take from him, along with his life.
"Oh, and I almost forgot." Said Retter, looking up at D. "There's another hunter you'll be competing with. We'll pay her a quarter too. Whoever brings back James and proof first will get the last three quarters. If one brings back my boy and the other the vamp, then you'll get to split the profits. Half for one Dunpeal, half for the other."
This caught D's attention.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked carefully, trying as well he could to mask the sudden curiosity in his voice.
"I mean," Said Retter,
"That I hired two Dunpeal hunters. I've heard only the best about their results in bringing in a bounty. She was right behind you during your travels I'm sure. Her name is Ziri. She'll be coming soon, but I've given you the head start. All I can tell you for tracking purposes is that they were on horseback. Ziri will be here any time, so get moving." He slapped the back flank of his horse and D took off into the night.