Mother of Monsters

Monsters

"Aren't you a perceptive little thing?"

One instant, I am sitting behind you; the next I stand between the intruder and you, your sword pointed toward him. These vampires, Bad People, are dangerous, and you said we were lucky last time.

You have a brother to fight for and rescue. I cannot let you get hurt, can I?

"Stand back," you plead, "it's dangerous." I don't move, staring the huge vampire down. My head rings with the word danger.

The rooms fades into orange and red strokes, shards of dust glinting brighter as the shadows deepen.

The vampire stands straighter now, oozing ill-born confidence.

I can feel goosebumps on my skin, but not from fear. The curtains over the window flutter with a breeze. Another window must have been opened, causing an air flux. The light gradually lowers with the sun, as does the temperature. Maybe we could escape through the window?

The sword is nothing approaching well balanced, it tilts forward, trying to bring me with it, but it weights enough that you must have a hard time swinging it around freely. I tighten my grip, waiting for movement that does not want to come.

The vampire is not budging from his position.

He has no need to hurry. He stands between us and the exit. Only the window might allow our escape, but opening it and crawling through would take enough time that he could simply grab us when our backs are turned.

I am reminded of a long lost poem. Time stood still, it said, as two gods met for the first time, and they stared into the first of all sunsets. My blood sings and danger laughs.

"I see you're also a courageous kid. Cute," he dismisses, clearly convinced that I cannot or will not swing that sword at his neck the first chance I get.

I bare my teeth. It frightened you, earlier, maybe it would intimidate this predator as well? But he is barely looking at me. He spared a casual glance to your sword and my defensive stance before focusing back on you, an unreadable grin spread on his face.

It occurs to me that he must know something that I do not.

"You, bigger kid." I believe he is addressing you, because he is clearly not interested in me. "I've seen your face. There are people who would give me a lot of money for you, y'know?"

I stay focused on the threat, although it appears that he is not willing to attack us yet. You, however, flinch. I see it in the corner of my eye. Nothing of what you told me indicated that people were looking for you.

"I was hoping your clone would be there, too, but no luck. Convenient that you have the same face! Less wanted papers to print out for your parents, I suppose."

He tilts his head towards me. He would have the sun directly aimed to his face if he stepped forward, which must be why he is not, yet. Is he waiting for the sun to completely disappear behind the hill?

"Is that another runaway kid? If she doesn't have a bounty on her, I can let her go. Just be reasonable and come with me quietly."

At least he appears to be significantly less threatening than I expected. I consider lowering my sword, but I am afraid that this is a distraction. You seem to believe it, if it is. I will have to ask you a few more questions about what this bad person says, later.

"I'm sorry," you say after a long silence. "I can't go home yet. I need to find my brother."

The vampire raises an eyebrow. "I don't care. I get you home, I get the money. Your brother'll be found by someone else. Trust me, there are plenty of hunters on your..."