Hunters

All the chessman in place

The Lufthansa flight to central Transylvania was long and uneventful.

Thad Sommers disembarked at the Aeroportul International Sibiu and quickly collected his single piece of luggage in baggage claim.

Once outside, he set his plain, Rolex to the European time zone then called the leader of his team on the Samsung Galaxy S8+.

"What's your twenty?"

"We're waiting in the van with the package. Would you like us to pick you up?" The gruff ,voice of Sam Curtis sounded back over the static free, transmission.

"Negative.
I'll meet you at  "Le Petite Chateaux instead."

The Chateaux was owned by a close mortal friend of the vampire Carlo Mancini and it was a six roomed, Inn located in the country side.

After renting a small Dacia Logan , outfitted with snow tires and a roadside emergency kit Thad set out for the Inn through the dark city.

The Chateaux was a small house made of white washed, brick and it was nestled between an impressive forest and a snow covered, barren field where a single tractor stood like a figment of imagination.

The headlights of the car washed the dirt driveway and tiny , courtyard in pale , yellow light as Thad parked next to a dark colored van and quickly grabbed his gear and exited the Dacia Logan.

Carlo's friend answered the door. He was an elderly, gentlemen with a bushy ,white beard tucked beneath the wide, leather belt of his twill pants.

The woolen shirt was a vivid, red with thick, brass buttons and his sharp, black eyes didn't miss anything.

"Hello, are you Thad Sommers?" He asked in broken English.

"Yes, I'm Thad Sommers."

"You may call me Peter." The old man said. "Please, come inside out of the cold."

Peter was taciturn by nature though he readily answered all of Thad's questions.

The three members of his team were waiting in the dining room.

"Tonight we serve the traditional Romanian dinner." Peter said. "Just for you and if not to your taste, we can prepare something else."

"Whatever you've made is fine with us". Thad said.

Peter's smile exposed blindingly , white, dentures while deepening the network of fine wrinkles around his black, eyes.

"Then you won't be disappointed.
My wife is an excellent cook." He promised.

"Where's the vampire?" was Thad's first question once he settled at the dining room table.

"Peter had us leave it in the cellar." Sam said and shuddered. "Sorry boss but you know how much I hate being near those.. those....things."

"Things?" Thad repeated, brows raised. "Well Carlo can say the same about us. However, he has too much class to do so and since we're going to be working with him I suggest that all of you show him the same respect."

James and Roger Blake nodded.

"Not a problem for us boss." James said. He and his younger brother Roger were powerfully built, and sandy haired with thick beards.

Sam styled his blackhair in carefully gelled, spikes and sported a ruby ring in his left eyebrow.

All three were dressed in nondescript, black clothing and military boots and they were the best trained of the Wulfric Agency and Thad trusted his team, without question.