By One Drop of Blood

Part 2

Small insurrection groups have been spotted marauding through the countryside. Armed with military grade weapons of unknown origin. The sole purpose of these groups is to hunt down fled slaves. In addition to the hunt in itself the hunted people where not just brought back to the south but where slaughtered in the most gruesome ways. In some rare cases the lynching groups cross the states borders into northern states to full-fill their targets which under northern law is nothing more than murder. The authorities found bodies hanging from trees, without heads or burned beyond recognition. Slavery has been banned in every state. The only example mark the most southern states. These states justified the exceptional status by economic needs as well as the fear of racial revenge on the former slave masters to be. The south has the tradition of ruthless domination by the slave masters. Whips and brandings are not uncommon. Slaves who fled their masters to find rescue in the north are often times dismembered and injured. The problem got multiple layers to it. Not only are the slaves of one man killed but also are the slaves and in this sense the property of neighbouring plantations killed or disappearance. Sure the slaves could very well just escaped on their own, just as the one that ran into us but this does not explain the sucked-dry bodies of dead humans stuffed inside barrels of sewer systems. Vampires are not known in the new world. Over in Elysia they were able to take control over a whole nation. Below that they established strong structures that support them like dens in which they trap humans, tombs to sleep for decades and evade any persecution and connections to many influential persons. The first presumptions goes to Chupacabras, blood-sucking wolf-like creatures that usually just kill rabbits or chicken and only in the most extreme cases tend to kill humans. Those animals live in the southern region of the country and only rarely leave that proximity. Only on some rare occasions where vampires sighted. They enter the country on ships and are not often able to leave the coasts because of the thinned out population. Out here on the country side are basically not enough people to sustain them. But if they got access to the ever growing population of slaves they are pleased. Feasting of the lives that are valued only on cash. Vampires are banned by law and every citizen is allowed to hunt and kill every vampire on the ground of the States territory. The lands we are standing before are the property of a family of laurentian immigrants. Bringing the vast wealth over from the old world these immigrants were able to build a new dynasty of lordship over their new peasants. So we walk up to the entrance to the lands of the mansion. In front of the main gate three men step on the road to prevent us from entering.

"Good evening misters." I greet the small group.

"What ya want, eh?" Alright, so no polity talk this time. Every god damn time the people are so rude.

"We are on behalf of the United States Government to investigate the disappearance of several slaves." Better no talk about vampires and alike. The normal citizen is not prepared to be confronted with the near presence of a supernatural being.

"Non of y'all business." The man mumbles behind his mask.

"Is the owner of the plantation around?"

"The master's asleep."

Damn it southerners. Politeness really is a lie they tell down here. Only with shake-hands and kisses they laugh with you.

"Y'all should run back to the north."

I guess are break into the plantation. If we are to find a vampire on the property we got the right to enforce as far as we need. If there is no vampire we are in a bit of a stressed situation. As long as we are not seen on the plantation we are safe.

"Good day gentlemen" I tip my hat to the man I was talking to. We turn back and retreat into the dark of the young evening. We gather around the small outpost that we build with our tents. Sitting around the fire I present the men with my plan. The five men that follow me all make the same big eyes as I present them with my plan. First they protest as they should regarding what their mission is but after some back and forth they see my point and we decide to sneak into the mansion. Slaves are humans. Because they are humans they want to escape they captivators. To under-bind this desire guards are hired to over watch the slaves. These guards patrol the acres even by night. Clothed in long coats and facemasks these men carry man-catchers, torches and rifles. Security is tight due to the slaves escaping on the day before. We are not allowed to open the combat on these men because we only act on the suspicion of a vampire acting on this property. No innocents are to die by our hands, not even in the direst of situations. Even when the guards are hired by a vampire they could very well not know it. The vampire could have installed a middleman that regulates all the business by day. No one would take notice of their presence.