Realm of the Rogues

Chapter LV

I smile a kind of sad smile, on one hand being sad that I don't have anyone left from before, that I would want to meet with again, and on the other hand excited to meet Alasdair, Farlan, and Harris, since they sound like good men.

We drive past a big sign indicating that we are now leaving Glasgow, so I jam the speed just a bit more, eager to get going.

"I believe it might only be half an hour at this speed before we arrive," Dom mentions, and I nod. I look over at him, still contemplating what might have happened in Wishaw, that he didn't tell me about. I can see that he tries to look unbothered, but it looks just forced enough to tell me, that it's all a rouse. I think about asking him something but decide that I would rather sit in silence if it was me in his shoes, so I give him the same grace.

"Turn here," Dom says after some time. A smaller sign welcomes us into Wishaw, and I lower the speed. 

"Huh," Dom says in a surprised voice. I look over at him and notice how he is looking around, searching for something.

"Nothing looks the same," he then states and I look out the windshield. It looks like any other ordinary city to me.

"Pull in here," he then commands, and I do as asked. I swing the car into a booth next to a supermarket of some sort and then step out of the car. On the other side, I see Dom get out and look around himself with furrowed brows. I lock the car and walk over to his side.

"Any idea where to start?" I ask, and he shakes his head, then shrugs in response.

"Well, we could always ask around," he then says before walking over to a lady with a pram on her way into the supermarket. I don't follow, so I can't hear what he says, but the lady turns back towards the road and starts giving hand signs, probably telling him somewhere to go. He then bows his head and comes back to me.

"She suggested that we go to the pub to look for them," he says before starting to walk the way the lady had pointed. I follow, still confused.

"So did you just ask her if she knew where we could find three vampires, or what?" I ask him, and he laughs in response.

"No, no, I asked her where I could find three big, broad, and handsome men like myself," he says, and I roll my eyes and puff him with my shoulder.

"Glad to see the ego is still as big as ever," I reply. He inhales in mock offense and puts his hand on his chest.

"Excuse me, it's the simple truth!" he replies in an old posh lady voice and as I giggle, he too chuckles with me.

We walk into an old-looking pub that smells strongly of beer. I hesitate at the entrance, looking around and adjusting to the dim lighting. Even though it's still before noon, a couple of men are sitting at the bar and shouting loudly at some game on the TV. I walk up beside Dom, who's leaning over the bar, talking to the bartender. 

I look hesitantly up at the big guy on my right, not having the best track score with strangers so far, but he just smiles down at me with kind eyes and offers me a sip of his beer. I kindly refuse and he laughs.

"You no like beer young lass?" he asks in a very thick accent, that I have to use an extra second to comprehend. I just smile and shake my head, not feeling like using my time on him, even though he seems nice.

"Ah leave 'er alone Cameron, no need to frighten the visitors," the man on the other side of Cameron barks, in just as thick an accent. Cameron makes a 'pff' sound and returns his gaze to the screen. I switch my focus to Dom, who must have finished his conversation with the bartender, as he turns around to leave before offering me his arm. I take it and we walk out, and for a second I have to stop to take a deep breath of air. I don't understand how those men can sit in that stagnant air for so long without passing out.

"So, did you learn something new?" I ask, squinting my eyes up at him against the sun.

"I'm not sure. The bartender couldn't recall anyone matching my description of any of my mates. But then again, they could look different from the last I saw them." He stands for a moment looking around, seemingly not knowing where to go from here.

"I don't think we're going to find them by asking around like this," he then continues, seeming a bit defeated. I stand for a moment, trying to figure out a solution, and then an idea hits me.

"You said that the vampires you knew, only drank blood from willing humans, right?" I start, and Dom nods a bit confused.

"Well if Alasdair, Harris, and Farlan only do that as well, then maybe we should seek out someone who has offered them blood?" I suggest, not entirely sure how we would go about doing that. Dom's face, however, lights up at my suggestion.

"Great idea, I didn't think about that!" he says and starts walking away in big strides making me have to jog to keep up. We walk down several streets until Dom stops in front of an old-looking shop. In the windows are glass balls and crystals on display along with various intricate-looking jewelry.

Dom opens the door and I walk in behind him. It smells old in here with a faint hint of that kind of sweetness that always accompanies old people. I wring my nose but quickly try to stop as an old man walks in from a door behind the counter. He jumps a little as he sees us.

"Oh sorry, I didn't hear ye come in! How can I help ye?" he asks and smiles.

"Do you know anyone interested in the occult?" Dom asks, and I'm surprised how his voice has taken on that accent as well, just not as heavily as the other people we have met so far. I guess it's to be expected if it's what he grew up with. The old man laughs in response to Dom's question.

"Well, I would dare say most who come here have some fascination for the occult. Why do ye ask?" the old man retorts. Dom then leans in over the counter and says to the man in a low voice,

"We are looking for some vampires and thought finding someone who donated blood to them would be the quickest way." The eyes of the old man widen, and then he nods first slowly, then more quickly.

"Ye're a vampire aren't ye?" the man then asks in just a low voice as Dom's had been. The question makes Dom retreat a little and look intrigued at the man.

"I am," he answers simply, and then the old man laughs a little, not looking the least scared, which puzzles me.

"Are ye looking for Alasdair and his lot?" he then asks, and Dom's face lights up with hope.

"I am," he answers once again. The man turns around and starts rummaging through some shelves at that, before pulling out a book covered in dust. He plops it down on the counter and blows the dust away, making me turn my head to not get it in my face. He opens the book up on its title page and pulls out a small note that had been tucked in there. Then he closes the book again and hands over the note to Dom.

"They left this here wi' me, with the instruction to give to a large fair-haired vampire if he ever came lookin'," he says with a sly smile. Dom takes the note and bows slightly to the old man.

"Thank ye, pal," Dom says before turning around and nodding to me as we exit the shop.