The sun began setting, the streets went dead, hardly anybody out, there's a cold air coming through from the northeast, slowly the darkness returned, and people hid indoors from the Drekker.
Hidden underneath a street lamp, the trio prepared looking for the nest, a difficult process, but Paul had hopes.
Like bats, once they find the perfect spot, the trio should see the Drekker emerge.
"This is ridiculous, Doctor!" Edgar decried slathering rosemary-infused lotion onto his face and skin at Paul's behest, rubbing it into his skin, feeling the coldness as he continued slathering it over his face.
Smelled like a woman's perfume, but Paul insisted that the rosemary-infused lotion will keep Edgar safe from the Ravens.
For whatever reason, Paul suspects possible allergies to it, considering that there are other scents that were far more potent, otherwise, the Ravens didn't care much about the scent of rosemary, but in a pinch and under the right circumstances, it'll keep them away from Edgar should he not be at prim health like he thinks he is, no disrespect, of course.
"Are these beasts, demons?" Edgar questioned the rosemary and Paul summed, "Quite. But also, angels to others."
Something to consider, these "beasts" as Edgar calls them, had no objectives or desire outside protecting their brood and feeding on the ill, unless someone outright provoked them, they generally lived amongst themselves in peace, lumbering wherever they roosted, but as their sordid history continued, the Drekker became an unwitting tool by powerful people.
Paul didn't have to go too far into details, but these tarry fiends had use for unsavory people throughout their known existence, once they figured out what the Drekker were capable of doing, but struggled to see past their noses that resulted in consequences.
Same story, these people attract the Drekker with the belief that once they annihilated whatever group perceived invalid in their eyes, they'll simply move on, but quickly realize their mistakes, when the killings continued, and the Drekker not only targeted those they perceived invalid, but those closer to home.
Some, had a different take on the Drekker, using them to rid rivals or anyone that chanced ousting them of crimes, ensuring that their targets became ridden with illness, enticing Drekker to hunt them.
Of course, a grand conspiracy at this stage always has a way of keeping the façade going, those higher in the chain of command, ensure that anyone left alive and aware, don't have second thoughts telling all about what they done.
Many attempts have taken place over the years since the Drekker's discovery, but though they've tried, the conspiracy continues, using ignorance to shield itself from the general populace.
Could it be practical reasons why the attempts failed, that if the world knows about the Drekker, that it'll result in chaos with heads rolling, perhaps, and that those aware of the Drekker know what happens should scared denizens attack them out of fear, it's hard to say.
"Trust me, Mr. Poe, you'll want to guise your scent as much as possible. You do not want them catching a whiff," Paul looks towards Edgar as he and Taylor covered themselves in the same lotion, spraying themselves down with a fragrant rosemary scent, further embedding the scent into their persons.
Having seen the bodies of their victims, Edgar opted to stifle his annoyance at the preparations, before he asked about the woman found in the closet, since Paul knew so much.
"The main reason for their appetite's because their bodies produce toxins that they then use their sharp claws to inject into any attacker that gets too close," Paul informed him, "due to their biology, they can only use this once at a time, hence why they continuously hunt."
The illnesses of their victims broke down and became a black toxin that weeps from their claws, a scratch's enough to cause a fatal reaction, but the whole lot's enough to send the unfortunate victim in a screaming, but brief, fit.
Looking over to Taylor as she rubbed lotion on her neck, a quick smile appears on Paul's face as he leans forward and rubbed away a dab of lotion left around her nose, as he then reminds Taylor to stay close to him.
"I trust your judgement, Doctor," Taylor uneasily replied, having heard enough about the Drekker, she wouldn't dare leave Paul's side, afraid of them coming too close for comfort, but Paul calms her nerves, reminding her that they won't come anywhere close.
If they remain calm and don't look them in the eyes, they should be fine.
Oh, another warning to Edgar by Paul.
Never look the "beast" in the eye, very crucial, difficult he knows, but Paul insists Edgar follow his instructions.
"Why?" Edgar questions this.
As he sprayed Edgar with the rosemary perfume, Paul tells him why, "He won't take it well."
Their conversation stopped when Paul prodded them to move with him through the looming nightfall, using Edgar's accounts, Paul got an idea where they can see where the Drekker were coming from, having them climb up to the rooftop of a grocery store close to the docks.
Making sure they were the only ones out, that they tracked every sound around them, the three kept their eyes and ears opened, the Drekker should be emerging soon.
"What if they moved on?" Taylor suggested to Paul as he carefully moved his head.
Shaking his head, Paul says to her, "I don't think so, my dear Taylor, still plenty of people here, still plenty sick individuals, some unaware of their sickness."
Unless they've already picked off every sick person present in Baltimore, the Drekker will remain until the Big One tells them.
"Big One?" Edgar overheard them.
A nod, Paul explains, "You'll see him, tonight. Where he goes, they go."
They silenced as they looked for any signs of the Drekker, the perfumed smell of rosemary carried in the wind, it's excessive, sure, but it's a lifesaver.
Edgar was about to call it quits, yell at Paul for making him smell like a brothel, until his hazel eyes spotted silent movement coming from one of the abandoned warehouses adjacent to them.
At first, he assumed scavengers trying to tear apart the abandoned warehouse for their own use, but that foul smell as the wind blew back on them, nearly made him hurl.
Heavens!
Nobody told him they smelled so foul!
Paul confirmed with a subtle nod that the Drekker smelled worse than they looked, a combination of blood from previous victims, their thick sweat, the only comfort Paul could give Edgar's that they typically washed themselves constantly, removing excess sweat, leaving behind the musky black tar that left a foul stench.
Good way of checking for their appearance, finding a pooling water source near abandoned buildings and forests, where the Drekker can wash away the excess sweat.
Like animals, they're good at keeping their washing habits away from their nests.
"They must've just washed, that's why the police hadn't said anything about the smell, right?" Taylor looked to Paul as he affirmed her assumption.
Clearly, it's been a while since their last wash, and if he knew anything, Paul suspects they're going for one.
"For creatures like these, why wouldn't endow themselves in a scent to hide themselves, too?" Edgar questioned Paul why the Drekker wouldn't do the same as them, cover their musky smell so it wouldn't alert their prey.
Slowly shaking his head, Paul tells him, "They don't have any need to hide it."
Preying on the sick, why bother covering up their musky stench, when their prey can't escape them.
Washing themselves was more maintenance for them, the excess sweat would make it difficult for them to part their wings.
As he watched the tall shadows emerge from an opening in an abandoned warehouse, Edgar sees one different than the others, much taller, his mind instantly recognizing it as what Paul described as, "the Big One."
In hush words, Paul tells him how the Big One was denoted by its height alone, none of the smaller ones will do anything without its approval.
As Paul warned him, Edgar quickly looked away from the tallest shadow, afraid of the Drekker catching him looking, but his curiosity got the better of him, figuring that since they're hidden by the darkness, and they stunk to high heavens from the rosemary, Edgar could sneak a glance.
In the corner of his hazel eyes, Edgar sees the tallest shadow leading the equally tall, but smaller shadows like a captain leading his men.
Walked slow, hunched over, in a way that showed purpose, it walked too close to a street lamp by mistake, but it's enough for Edgar to see its eyes.
Those human eyes.