Alcingeria

Chapter Fifteen: Further Plans

Chapter Fifteen Further Plans:

Wednesday June 23rd 1690

As we walked away from the town square, the crowds got thinner and thinner. We walked along on the sidewalk until there was almost no one around us. Macalister exhaled.

"I hate crowds."

Robert walked us into an alleyway between two shops and stopped. On either side of us was a grey stone wall. There were no windows that looked out onto the narrow passage. It was beginning to get dark.

"What's next?" I asked Robert.

"And what about the bag in the woods?" Macalister persisted.

"Well, I don't see anything we can do about the bag in the woods," Robert scratched his chin, giving Macalister an irritable look. "As for us, we could stay in Vulrock for a bit, it's been a while. We're a little short on cash, but we're experts in turning up a little of that, right lads?"

"You've got that right," I laughed.

"We'd better do something soon," Don yawned. "I'd like to get to an inn at a decent hour. The floor of that cellar did no favors for my back."

"I hear you," Robert nodded. "Starting tomorrow, I guess it's business as usual."

I knew that 'business as usual' meant that we would just resume our criminal activities here in Vulrock. We'd spent some time in the North, but we hadn't been this far South.

"Usual, right," Don drawled. "We'll need to watch our backs for witnesses as well as vampires."

"Right," Robert rubbed his neck.

"Oh, I meant to ask how are you two holding up?"

Robert pulled down the collar on his shirt to reveal the bite marks.

"How does it look?"

There were about seven marks in total. I shuddered.

"I hope for your sake they heal," I winced.

Robert nodded in understanding.

"How does it feel?" Asked our large friend. "To be bitten by a vampire, I mean."

Don and Robert looked to each other. They shrugged and Robert motioned for Don to explain.

"It feels like two white hot needles have impaled your neck, and then you feel the blood leaving your body," he began. "Then you get dizzy and you feel like you're going to pass out. The burning sensation doesn't stop for a few seconds, even after he's done."

His expression was sad as he reflected on his torment.

"Ouch."

"Ouch is right."

"Alright" I clapped, "it's almost nightfall, and I don't want to sleep in a gutter tonight. We should take care of our financial problems."

This earned grins from everyone. Macalister looked around.

"Who are we going to steal from?"

"We can't do a shop," Robert said thoughtfully. "It should be someone who's strayed from the crowds."

"Great," Don rubbed his hands together. "Where do we start?"

"The clients of the Ladies of the Night are usually good targets."

"I can't in good conscience interrupt the blossoming of love."