Shaun and Paddy came scampering up, wiggling into their clothes then shifted back into their human form. "The door is still there but it is still bricked up just the way we left it." Shaun said.
"Good. We will check the rest of the entrances when we return to the cavern but first something to eat."
"Yes Sir." We said quietly.
We spread out and went to different taverns to eat then out into the countryside.
We returned to the cavern after midnight the others were starting to stroll in also. All of us heard similar tales of people using a device to find mystical creatures.
"You mean to tell me those men are here?" Councilman Antonio sighed.
"It looks like it Sir." Quinn said.
"Shaun post some guards at the beach entrance just in case."
"Yes Sir." We all took turns guarding the entrance especially at night when some of us were sleeping.
A couple of days later Paddy, Pearl and I went to the marketplace to buy some food. There was a stall that had the creature tracker devices. We could hear Marcel trying to sell them to the crowd. Benoit was demonstrating the device.
"You put a drop of blood on the compass of the creature you want to track. For instance let us try a drop of vampire blood." Paddy gripped Pearl's and my hand. He was preparing to run. "Do not be a fool Sir." said a man in the crowd, "vampires only come out at night so they say." Paddy stood up tall. Stretching to see the man talking. He nodded. It was Franklin.
"Perhaps something that walks in the daylight." the rest of the crowd agreed. Marcel made a calming motion. "I will go to my supplies and see what I have." He turned his back to his audience. He named the vials of blood as he picked it up. "Werewolf. Ghoul. Specter. Oh dear they are all night creatures."
"You are just selling snake oil. None of that works." Franklin said.
Marcel turned back to the crowd. "Sir I have caught many of these creatures. This is how I am able to have their blood."
"You know Sir that sounds like you have a taste for blood yourself." Franklin said smiling. We could hear the crowd muttering to themselves. They were starting to turn against Marcel and Benoit.
"He is a night creature himself." said one man.
"Do not trust him." said another.
"It works. I can prove it to you." Marcel pleaded.
"How?" said a woman near the front.
"Meet me here tonight and I will show you that it works."
"My wife will not stand for such foolishness." Barkley said from the other side of the crowd.
"Nor mine." said another man.
"But are you not interested in finding vampires, werewolves and the like?" Marcel tried to change their mind.
Many of the people shook their heads and walked away. We walked away also. Franklin and Barkley followed us to one of the food stalls.
We spoke in quiet whispers. "Do you think that discouraged the crowd?" Franklin said. Paddy nodded. I picked up some vegetables as they talked.
"We have been doing this every time we come across them." Barkley told him.
"Good." Paddy said.
We left the marketplace with them.
"What brings you here?" Franklin asked.
"We are here visiting," Paddy smiled, "and you?"
"We have been following those men." Barkley nodded towards the marketplace. "We have been slowly putting them out of business."
