Theo - Part 3

Startled by the approaching entity, daggers suddenly appeared in Theo's hands. The thing from the tunnel had been silent and somehow crept up on him, despite his proclivity to detect things that wanted to remain hidden. Whatever this thing was, it could certainly move with unnatural stealth. Theo lowered his posture as if to pounce at a moment’s notice. He did not call out or attempt to communicate with the thing, only prepared to defend himself.

A set of red eyes glowed from the darkness like ruby’s caught in the firelight, and Theo was surprised when a female voice called to him.

“The rats grow big down here,” the female voice said, the words sounded deep and smoky “and grow pointed ears.”

Theo refined his eyes and channelled all his focus on the intruder. He could see her now, smell her. She smelled of decaying flowers, musty and wet. Her hair was as black as pitch and so oily it looked likely to ignite if given to flame. The face was pale as milk but held an odd sort of beauty, and those eyes; Theo had never seen such eyes before and didn’t think he’d ever see a pair like them again, the way they glowed so brightly in the shadows.

Theo’s first thought at the presence of his intruder was: Silence her. She had caught him informing on the guild (was she a member?)

A dagger flew from his left hand with the speed and ferociousness to match an arrow. The woman was too slow, perhaps caught off guard by the sudden attack.

The dagger struck true. It hit the woman in the chest right where Theo had intended, penetrating the heart. The woman staggered backwards a few steps; dagger still embedded in her torso. Theo watched, and then felt his heart give a jolt of adrenaline so powerful, he thought it likely to explode.

The woman recovered and stood still, looking down at the dagger that pierced her chest, before slowly reaching to pull it free. No blood ran from the wound when the dagger was freed; a sinister grin stretched across her face.

The next thought that went through Theo’s mind was: Run, but where could he run too? In front was her, and he did not want to be any closer to whatever ‘she’ was. He took a step back and glanced over his shoulder swiftly to measure the distance between the iron bars. He would squeeze through and take his chances in the ocean. He looked back to ensure she hadn’t begun an attack……and she was right there. Breathing, no, smelling him; her face a mere inch from his. Her eyes still burned like scarlet torches and Theo thought they looked almost lustful as they gazed upon him.

Theo opened his mouth to gasp, or perhaps beg, but instead found the woman’s index finger press against his lips, they were as cold as the ocean water that swallowed his boots.

“Shh, shh,” she whispered “that’s a good boy”

Theo’s left leg was still extended out in front of him and he stiffened in fright when the woman suddenly mounted it. Theo felt her buttocks rest upon his thigh and the cold breath at his neck caused shivers to run down his spine. He froze, unable to move. This creature clearly outmatched him, whatever she was. So instead, Theo remained motionless, the same way a terrified hare might when it catches the scent of blood in the air.

Gripped by the fear that he was about to die at any moment, by a monster that took the appearance of a woman but moved as fast as the wind, he waited.

The woman remained mounted on his thigh, seemingly taking great pleasure in his scent, and then she began to moan softly in his ear. Theo suddenly felt her hips begin to grind on his leg and another shiver pulsed down his back when her lips brushed his neck. She was toying with him, enjoying him the same way you might enjoy a good toast before a meal. He felt her cold lips once again find his exposed neck, only this time it was joined by her tongue that tasted his skin.

He could feel the artery in his neck explode against the surface of the skin to meet the wet tongue that probed it. ‘Vampire’ he thought, and in a last attempt of survival, he attacked. Plunging the dagger in his right hand upwards to meet flesh, he was momentarily relieved when he felt it pierce deeply; the creature had disregarded his other weapon, too engrossed in its primal pleasure.

The woman recoiled at first, then let out a delightful groan instead of a scream at the penetration. Theo pulled the dagger free to go again but his wrist was seized in the vampires’ steel grip.

“Hopeless” the vampire lulled, rearing her head back as if it were on a mini swivel. Theo was trapped, restrained; and could do little else but watch the vampire’s fangs extend, sharp as needles.

“Who goes there,” said a voice down the tunnel suddenly. A harsh voice, but Theo could have kissed the man that spoke it.

The vampire looked startled and shrank slightly, Theo went to cry out but found the vampire's hand clasp around his neck, keeping her prey silent.

“I said, who goes there” the voice came again.

The vampire looked back at Theo, her eyes a fiery rage due to her meal being interrupted. Theo noticed a hint of fear as well. The vampire shoved him backwards, hard. Theo felt the wind get knocked out of him as he collided with the iron bars at his back. He looked up just long enough to see the female vampire melt away into the darkness.

Theo gasped for breath, clutching his chest tightly for air and was grateful when a torchlight illuminated him.

“Look at me elf,” said the voice that saved his life, and Theo complied. Looking up he was surprised to see the guilds cook, a menacing half-orc with arms as big as Theo’s waist. He had a torch in one hand and an axe in the other; from the looks of it, he looked ready to use it.

“It’s me” Theo said, but his voice came out raspy; he wondered if he had broken a rib or two. He didn’t know the half-orcs name but had accepted a few bowls of stew from him. Having just saved his life, Theo felt guilty.

The half-orc lifted Theo with the arm that carried the axe and helped him walk. Theo tried to tell the half-orc what happened but the pain of talking was too much. The half-orc silenced him when he tried.

“I'll get you back to the guild, and after the Doc tends to you, you can tell your story,” he said, his voice somehow softer than usual. “Came down here to get some rats for the stew and found an elf. Do you taste any better?” he added laughing.

Theo smiled and thought about what the vampire had said to him: how he was a rat with pointed ears. Theo grimaced at the knowledge he had came so close to death and was saved by a cook. He appreciated it of course but his appreciation soon dissolved when he was led into the guild’s infirmary. Sitting there awaiting him, was the vampire that tried to rip out his throat less than thirty minutes ago.