CHASE

Chapter 29

     In an unexpected click, the vampire exposed his long fangs that made her shiver with extreme satisfaction. The iris turned to a scarlet glow. Skin tone changed to a dead gray. Darkened veins traced his robust torso. The head has changed to an anomalous structure. The ears grew a little in an elongated, pointed line. His hair and beard paled. The nose, superficially, flat, connected to the upper lip divided in a vertical fold that revealed, in addition to the canines, the remaining teeth sharper than before. Others might consider him a terrifying creature. However, Aurora worshiped a piece of art. A dark sculpture. Slender fingers that projected long claws groped her hot skin to the ridge of her body that vibrated with his chasing mouth. Coming thus to lay upon her like a serpent. The silence moaned around it with ambition. The exchanged glances burned. The pupils dilated. Mouths gasped. They offered themselves. They were received. They took on the movement of raging tides. Fiery waves. Angry waves. The desire sang the tune. The desire grew. The desire roared. Aurora was kissed more gently because Orsmund had no intention of hurting her with his sharp teeth. Without retreating a single inch, he marked her with his lips across her chin, jaw, and stopped at the curve of her left shoulder. Slowly, the young human turned her head to the opposite side. She extended her neck in permission. In response to the sweet purr that evolved inside the vampire's windpipe. Unexpectedly, she felt a brief grip where he had bitten her like a pinch. Automatically, she exhaled in pleasure after holding her breath. After the bite, his tongue applied numbness to that area. Finally, Orsmund lay down beside Aurora as the organism showed normality, far from mutations. She joined him as he absently massaged her nudity. As a result, Aurora allowed herself to be quenched by exhaustion. The Viking got up from the bed. He watched her once more, absorbing the serenity. He kissed her gently on the cheek and wrapped the sheet around her before leaving.

     With the change in the outside atmosphere, he allowed himself to be bombarded by predatory instincts. So, he found himself in front of Duarte's house. Now Orsmund knew a secret from him. He had done his meticulous investigation. The latter had bribed Aurora's father to earn his daughter. After the grand decision meeting, where they declared who would be worthy to receive Aurora, her father was murdered. A commissioned murder. No loose ends. The Viking's nervous system vibrated. So many possibilities... He sighed. Static was limited to a tightrope. A flashing memory of Aurora made him slacken the impulse. He turned his back short of new regrets.

     With the moon's witness, he threw himself from the tree and plunged into the murky waters of the lonely river. The goal centered on washing off any trail of Aurora to keep her safe. He died out among the timid water currents. He authorized them to touch him. Let them rock him across the bed. Let them flood you with ideas. Well, he needed those resources. He needed a scheme that would convince its creator to collaborate. No hints of suspicion. To his advantage he would have to gain Grerft's trust. He didn't have complete belief in humans for what would happen later. However, he feared that his plans would be revealed. So, this was why he didn't annihilate him alone. The team he was assembling would serve as a simple distraction. Without delay, he crossed the banks and left the stream without looking back. No regrets.

     He looked for his master after resorting to clean clothes. As he speculated, he would find him bent over a new victim. Indulging in a tasty, warm elixir of life.

     "What do you want now?"  Grerft savored the remains.  "I don't intend to share with you!"  His appearance lost its dark appearance to its usual humanized.

     "That's not it..."  He bent his torso with an apparent shyness.

     "In that case, what should I know?"

     "I found evidence of unknown vampires around here..."

     "It's normal, isn't it? If they travel, it is obvious that there are cross paths. If they settle in, their scent will come up in the air. Unless they become a threat..."  He smiled slyly.  "Since you're out there playing hide and seek, is there anything new I need to know?"  He repeated.

     "Yes. I heard them talking about us. They are not sure who we are, but they intend to attack us sooner than you can imagine. They declared us a threat!"

     "I see that."  He drummed his fingers on his arm thoughtfully.  "They won't be the ones to kick me out of this place! When Harmand arrives, we'll take care of them! If that's what you're afraid of..."  He laughed.  "Wait. Did you at least make sure how many there are?"

     "I think it was six."

     "You think? Anyway."  He huffed with impatience.  "The number is still strange. Probably, they suspected Harmand and followed him."

     "He's not such a perfect spy."  He dared to comment.

      "Yes. Shall we talk about perfection?"  He looked Orsmund up and down.  "Actually, it must be my fault since I was responsible for raising you. I will have to look for that imperfection in myself."

      "We can't wait for Harmand!"  The Viking shot as Grerft freed himself from the corpse.

      "And why not?"  Continued with the task.

      "The attack will be within a short time! Of that, I'm sure!"

     "Uncertain certainties..."  He spoke to the air.  "I don't want you hanging around there, then! I'll end up looking. When I call you, you'll know it's time for you to accompany me. You will tell me where that hiding place is."

     "Sure."  He walked away, slowly.

     The time for revenge was at hand. The hook had been cast and the bait had been bitten. From here Orsmund would take care of guiding all the exact conditions to the right fit.

     Next to the Fragqua cemetery, on a more secluded extension, only one house had been built. A simple and peaceful building. Inside, a woman was cooking a stew, the gravedigger's wife. This one who was still near the tombs ready to close the cemetery gates. A rather tall and thin man. He wore thick-soled, high-top boots resembling wellies over baggy dark, powdery slacks with a slightly frayed leather belt. He rolled up his pale flannel shirt, gradually deteriorated by bleached stains, and brushed the yellow dust that had settled on the floor after a long day heavy in the air. He huffed in fatigue. He leaned on the broom handle with his elbow. He lifted his brown beret with a plaid pattern of unkempt hair and ran the back of his hand over his sweaty forehead and scruffy beard. He felt thirsty and stopped to drink when a loud bang startled him. The noise came from the old catacomb that had fallen into disuse. This he believed without a doubt. He took the lamp that kept him company and moved among the first night shadows to find out. Inexplicably, the brick and cement wall that sealed off the catacomb had been breached from the inside. Immediately, he dropped the broom and bolted home.

     "Rosa! Rosa!"  He yelled as he took off his shoes.

     "What happened, man?"  Came with a recent greasy food stain on her apron.

     "I need a change of clothes!"  The two ran, he to wash his face and she to the bedroom.

     "You have it there!"  She indicated as she landed on the chair.  "What happened?"

     "As you heard, they asked us to be attentive to any abnormality."  He rinsed his face once more.  "Something or someone blew up the catacomb!"

     "What?"

    - Yes! You heard right! And I didn't think it was the work of an animal!"  He started by taking off the dirty clothes and changing them for the starched ones.  "I'll inform them of what happened, and I'll come to dinner!"

     "So, we really have the demon they talk about here! Did you see it?"  Worried.  "It could have hurt you!"

     "I'm fine."  He looked down.  "I'll be right back! Don't worry!"

     "Beware! He may come to you along the way!"  She walked him to the door.

     "And you stay in there! Don't go out!"  He hurried.