The three women met at eight pm at the Salty Teat. It was the best ale house in town. It was also, the rowdiest. By the time Enid joined her daughters Hazel was five in and working on her sixth. Helen had given up on ale when the sun set and was instead sipping what appeared to be red wine. Enid knew for a fact it was coffee flavored synth-o. She also knew she was going to stick to the real stuff it was so much better. Hazel looked at her mother.

“Mom, what the hell? You picked a fight with the Lord’s wife.”

Enid blinked innocently at her and swept her dress up under her and sat down at the table. She motioned for an ale and looked at her daughter.

“Whatever do you mean? I have gone nowhere near the Governor’s wife.”

“You know damn well who I’m talking about!”

Hazel slammed her empty tankard down.

“Oh, the warthog. Well, she’s had it coming for four hundred years. I just didn’t have the sense of humor I have now to do it.”

Hazel grabbed another ale and looked at her mother.

“And how the hell did you get a brand new dress so fast?”

Enid shrugged.

“I know people.”

“You slept with that seamstress didn’t you!”

“Slept with? Goodness no. Not yet. That is later tonight.”

Hazel frowned.

“Mom, we’re here to hunt.”

She looked around and lowered her voice.

“Demons, why are you making out with the locals?”

“I was hungry she had what I needed.”

“You have synth-o for that. Like Helen.”

“Yes, but here I can have the real thing, and no one cares except for you. What crawled up your ass and died?”

“What about younger you?”

Enid took a gulp of her ale.

“She’s too busy stitching up her cunt.”

Helen blinked at her mother’s vulgarity. Hazel facepalmed again.

“Mom, you are like a teenager sometimes.”

“And you’re like a teenager all the time. Maybe you should go find someone to get out all that sexual frustration on hmm?”

Hazel glared at her mother and crossed her arms. Enid shrugged.

“Look, we are in a place where sex, blood and booze come easy. I am going to enjoy the hell out of it. You two can cross your legs if you want. I’m too old to worry about being prim and proper.”

“Mom, we’re your daughters.”

“And you’re both legally adults. I told you the rules, anything else goes.”

“What about you following the rules?”

“I’m the Empress, I make them up. Anyway, did either of you have any luck? I came up empty.”

Hazel muttered.

“Probably because you spent your whole day with your face between some trollop’s thighs.”

Enid sighed.

“If you must know I spent the whole day reminding myself where all the vampires are. I was planning on going to court in a few days to see if they’d seen anything.”

Hazel pointed at her mother.

“And that is going to alert the younger you to your presence.”

“Oh, no, that was me mouthing off to the warthog.”

“In daylight!”

Enid shrugged.

“My dad walked around in daylight. She’ll assume it’s a being an ancient thing at this point. Young me was kind of narrow minded. Even now. Now did you two find anything?”

Helen shook her head.

“Didn’t sense a thing mother.”

Enid looked at Hazel.

“Spirits were as helpful as ever. Something cryptic about they walk amongst you. Whatever the hell that was supposed to mean.”

Enid nodded.

“Did you two find lodgings yet?”

Helen nodded.

“We’re basing out of The Whaler.”

Enid nodded.

“Good place. Secure locks. Good good. I’m staying with a friend.”

Hazel frowned at her.

“Staying is what they call it now?”

Enid glanced up as she saw a few men walk in. She’d seen at least one of them before. He was Henry Tanner’s right hand man. They looked right at her. She held up her finger to Hazel.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes’ girls. Looks like the warthog’s response to my commentary has arrived.”

She grinned and stood up. She met them halfway across the bar. Helen looked at Hazel and then to her mother who met the thugs halfway across the bar. Helen went to stand up. Hazel held her arm. And shook her head.

“She brought this on herself.”

“But she was drinking ale, what if she’s mortal?”

“I think she’s what she wants to be now. Just relax. I want to see her get punched in the face.”

Helen blinked at Hazel.

“But she is our mother.”

“And she’s got a big mouth sometimes. Why should we get beat up for that? Besides she’ll probably just get pissed you messed with her fun. You saw that smile. Hell, I’d bet you she mocked the woman on purpose to pick a fight.”

“Why would she do that?”

“You tell me? For the fun of it? Free ride into this Tanner’s place.”

Helen looked back to her mother who had just approached the biggest one and smiled at him. Though it wasn’t a friendly smile. It was the one she’d seen her mother use when she was about to play with her food like a cat plays with a mouse. Enid looked up at the biggest of the lot. He was Andrew. She’d spared him last time, this time he wasn’t going to be so lucky.

“Hello, this doesn’t seem like your usual kind of place, tiny. It’s alright if I call you that right? You know how girls talk.”

He growled at her and clenched his fists.

“You are making things worse girl. You said some things today that Mrs. Tanner didn’t appreciate. And when Mrs. Tanner is unhappy, Mr. Tanner isn’t happy. So just come with us, take your licks and your dicks and we all move on, yea?”

Enid held up one finger in front of him.

“Just let me unpack that. You want me to lick your dicks, or my dick? Or do you want me to watch you licking each other’s dicks? I am disinclined to accept your invitation, however if you guys want to go do what you to do together, go for it, I don’t judge. I know how lonely it gets out at sea.”

He frowned and his eyes darkened.

“You’re a mouthy one ain’t ya? Come here I’ll shut you up real quick.”

Andrew tried to grab Enid but she just wasn’t there. Though some of her full ale mug sloshed on the floor. She smashed the tankard into his face he howled and tried to clear his eyes. Enid kicked him hard between the legs and when he reacted to that she smashed his head into her knee which to a human felt like it was made of solid steel. He fell down holding his manhood and whimpering. She’d probably done some damage to his ability to procreate. The other two blinked shocked by the sudden burst of violence from this wisp of a girl in a pretty dress. She left Andrew alive on purpose she wasn’t so sure about the rest she’d see how it went. They were planning on beating and raping her after all.

Enid decided the best approach was to let them learn a lesson and when they came at her she grabbed one and used him as a shield with her vampiric strength it was rather easy. She’d decided on not killing them, but she wanted to leave and impression. Not killing humans was rather difficult when involved in a hand-to-hand fight with them because one, she was basically bullet proof at the moment and probably strong enough to throw a train engine. She gently, for her, yanked the man’s shoulder out of its join and smashed her fist down on the other side breaking his collar bone cleanly. She dropped him and the next one she kicked for his thigh snapping his bone. He went down the last two looked a little less eager to get involved in a fight with this woman. Vampires were less well behaved here than most places so there were rumors of people who were stronger than ten men and those who went against them would suddenly vanish. Andrew spit out some blood and yelled at them.

“Get her! She’s just one girl.”

Enid spun around with a spinning kick hitting both men in the face with the back of her heel one after another. They went down spitting out broken teeth she stomped on one’s knee popping it out of it socket with ease and the other held up his hands defensively when she lifted her foot towards him Andrew had tried to catch her by surprise by standing up and grabbing her from behind. She could have easily avoided it but it amused her to let him think he had her. His strong arms a wrapped around her and he started to squeeze. He was rather unsuccessful because it was like trying to squeeze a bundle of rebar. She squirmed not even using a thousandth of her strength and she called out using her best damsel in distress imitation.

“Help! Help! This ugly ogre has me! Save me!”

Helen started to stand again but Hazel grabbed her arm and downed her ale.

“Don’t. She’s just playing with her food.”

Helen yanked her arm out of Hazel’s hand.

“If she was her vampire self, she’d break his arms. She’s in real trouble.”

Hazel shook her head.

“No, she’s just amusing herself and the crowd.”

Enid kicked and struggled feebly.

“Stop squirming bitch!”

“Put me down and I’ll show you squirming you oaf.”

“Not letting you free to smash me up worse. Nope. I’m going to get you there and we’ll chain you up and then we’ll have fun with you once Mrs. Tanner finishes whipping you enough to make herself happy.”

Enid snickered.

“So, Henry Tanner has finally let her cut off his balls and keep them in her purse then?”

“Lady, you need to show some respect to the real authority around here.”

“Who’s that Mrs. Tanner?”

He growled as he dragged her out of the Salty Teat. Helen tried to get up again and Hazel stopped her.

“Hazel she could be in real trouble.”

“She’s not. I saw her pull this exact same con in New Amazon. She was hired to kill a crime lord. She tracked down his wife who actually left the secure building to shop for clothes and party. She pissed her off enough made her afraid enough that the crime lord sent people to grab mom. Mom beat a few up let herself get captured and they walked her right in his front door so he could deal with her personally then she put her fist through his skull and mashed his brain so they couldn’t recover it. She knows exactly what she is doing.”

Helen looked at the door that just slammed shut from the wind off the ocean.

“Mother mashed someone’s skull with her fist? She seems more…civil then that.”

“Helen, you have her on this pedestal. But mom, she hunted vampires for two thousand years. She can be really good, but she can be really evil.”

Enid was being unceremoniously carried up the hill towards the Tanner’s estate. It used to belong to the old governor here. Her captor was struggling to keep her in his large arms.

“What are you part cat?”

Enid meowed.

“I swear lady I cannot wait to put you in your place.”

“I can’t wait to snap Fanny’s neck and feed her to her husband piece by piece.”

It seemed she hit a nerve and she was dropped. He punched her in the back of the head hard enough that she felt it which was saying something in her current condition. She heard his bones crack. He held his hand.

“What the fuck are you made out of girl? Stone?”

Enid saw the look of anger on his face and also anguish as he nursed his broken hand.

“Oh. Wait, you’re sweet on Fanny? Are you lifting her skirt up behind Henry’s back? Oh wait, wait. Do you pretend she’s prize pig, or prize cow when you’re doing her from behind?”

His face twisted in rage which was rather impotent at the moment as he sat there on his knees clutching his hand.

“Oh my God. You are fucking her. Oh, this is glorious. Does Henry not pay you enough for even the ugly prostitutes?”

“Girl I’m going to sew your mouth shut! You’re just making it worse for yourself.”

Enid looked down at the broken man.

“Oh, does Fanny like it rough then? Does that kind of talk work for her? She seems more like she’d be the one in control. I mean she’s big enough what’s a man going to do to resist that voracious cunt of hers? Or does she eat for you? Do you like watch her stuff that fat mouth of hers?”

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth of yours?”

“No, but I’d kiss your mother’s mouth with it.”

He grabbed her leg and tried to pull her down. She glanced down at him with a derisive grin.

“What big strong arms you have. I guess you’d need them if you’re trying to hold those hips of hers. I wonder what Henry would think if I told him you were fucking his wife. Would he be happy he didn’t have to, or would be jealous and castrate you? I can’t wait to see!”

“Girl I’m an inch from cutting that vicious tongue of yours right out of your mouth!”

“Would that get you off? I’m just curious really, what gets a man who would have sex with that blotchy, bloated warthog off? Is it the blotches? The bloat? Or the fact she looks like a farm animal?”

He seemed like he’d had enough and released her ankle and pulled a knife out of his boot and lunged at her which she evaded more for her dress’s sake than anything else. She grabbed his arm and twisted it enough that he dropped his knife which she caught with her free hand, and she swept his legs out from under him leaving him on the ground trying to figure out what had just happened. She spun the knife in her hand.

“Nice balance on this knife. Can I have it?”

“What the fuck are you?”

Enid stepped on his chest then swiftly kicked him in the ribs hard enough to bruise several of them. He cried out. People who were stumbling to their lodgings saw this going on but this being Port Royal minded their own business rather then get in between one of Tanner’s men and someone who seemed to have no respect for the crime lord. Andrew started like he was going to try and get up. Enid flipped the knife in her hand and threw it piercing one of his knees. Enid quirked her head to the side and sighed.

“So, I guess you’re not going to carry me to his house now, are you?”

She reached into her pack and pulled out a pair of hand cuffs and put them on his arms and grabbed the bar between them and started to drag him. She started to speak while he alternated between crying like a baby because of the pain he was in and cursing at her.

“You see, a few years ago your boss sent five of his best after me. I dropped five heads off on his desk. Today, I’m going to drop you on his desk. And behead you in front of him. So best get good with God. Though maybe I’ll just tell him what you’ve been up to with Fanny and see what happens. I really appreciate you giving me new and fun options. Murder and mayhem get really boring after a while, y’know?”

She dragged him through what would be red light district of Port Royal if such a thing existed, then through the nicer parts and up to the manor which she kicked the doors in breaking the bar that held it closed.

“Hmm, they must have seen me coming.”

A servant jumped out of her way, and she kicked in the door to Henry’s office and without any sense of mercy tossed Andrew on his desk. Henry had a woman sitting on the edge of the desk and was pounding away at her until the thud of his lieutenant on the desk caught his attention. His partner screamed and jumped away leaving Henry unfinished and in a very compromising position. Enid held up her finger to Henry and called out loud enough for it to echo throughout the manor.

“Fanny! I found your fuck boy!”

The silence reigned in the office besides the whimpering of the naked prostitute and the distant thud of multiple footsteps. Henry was staring at Enid who must have looked a bit on the crazy side with blood splattered on her face and the back of her hair where Andrew’s bloody nose had pressed up against her. He didn’t say a word. Soon Fanny arrived in her nightgown along with two more of Henry’s men. Fanny looked winded.

“Oh, there’s your cow of a wife.”

Enid looked into Fanny’s eyes and twisted the knife in Andrew’s knee which caused blood to seep out onto her hand and onto the desk. She watched Fanny’s face go from pure hatred to concern.

“Would you like me to stop twisting this knife, Mrs. Tanner?”

Fanny nodded.

“Say please.”

“Please stop twisting that knife.”

“So polite, of course.”

Enid ripped the knife out causing blood to leak out of the gaping wound. She flipped it in her hand and brought it down towards Andrew’s manhood the tip just piercing the leather. Andrew screamed.

“Just four questions Fanny, answer honestly and he gets to keep what’s left of his man parts… Why him? Was it he muscles or just because he was a moron? Are your daughters his, or your husbands? Does your husband know whose daughters they are?”

“They’re my husbands!”

Enid sighed and lifted the knife. Andrew was the one who broke first.

“They’re mine! She told me.”

Fanny gasped.

“Oh at least he knows the value of the truth, or his manhood, or both.”

Henry snapped out of whatever fugue the interruption had caused. He was still bare assed and everything was dangling out. His eyes went wide.

“You slut! And you Andrew! You were my best friend! You son of a bitch!”

Enid was shocked when her hit her hand with both palms forcing the knife straight into Andrew’s manhood. The man screeched in a way she’d rarely heard a man screech and lost consciousness. The noise brought the daughters who both started shrieking at the gory scene before them along with their half-naked father, or so they thought. The two guards that had joined Fanny were starting to edge away. Fanny stared at the knife then looked at Enid.

“Why…what…kind of monster are you to do this?”

Enid held up her hands one of them was blood covered. She stepped back.

“You brought this on yourself. You’re the one who sent five men to beat and rape me. I was going to leave most of him intact. I’m not cruel. Your husbands the one who went there.”

Enid took another step back.

“You know what I’m going to let you sort through your family issues here. Henry the rest of your men are at the Salty Teat, all alive, probably wish they were dead. And Fanny, Andrew told me how you took all five of them at once. You must be something in bed.”

She leaned down and grabbed the naked prostitute’s arm with her bloody hand and her dress with her clean one.

“Come on, hon. I’ll get you home safe. I think Henry’s going to be busy for a while tonight.”

The woman nodded. Enid stepped towards the door and Fanny stood there in front of her. Enid leaned close to her and said boo loudly. Fanny jumped a foot in the air and quickly scrambled out of her way. Henry spoke as the two guards moved out of her way.

“What are you doing? Don’t just let her leave!”

Enid offered the dress to the prostitute.

“Just get dressed and wait by the front door.”

She looked at the two guards who were now conflicted. Neither seemed to want to go up against the sociopath in their midst. One got close and she did a snap punch into his diaphragm. He collapsed gasping for breath, and she quirked an eyebrow while looking at his partner. After seeing his friend collapse with a single well-placed strike he held up his hands and stepped out of her way. She smiled sweetly at him. He spoke.

“Sorry boss, you don’t pay me enough to get in her way.”

“You’re fired! You’re both fired! Everyone’s fired! Fuck. You can’t even hire good help without them fucking your wife!”

Enid offered her hand to the one on the ground and helped him out of the house with his friend. The prostitute followed them, and Enid motioned for her to wait and turned to the two men who had just been fired. She bit her lower lip looking at the one who was still gasping for breath.

“Sorry, it was muscle memory. You’ll be okay. I just knocked the air out of you.”

He nodded while he sat on the grass. His partner offered his hand to Enid who looked down at her blood covered hand and wiped it on the grass several times then shook his hand.

“No hard feelings, umm….?”

“You were just doing your job. I’m Lady Sarah. Say if you want some work, come see me at the Salty Teat tomorrow after dark. That goes for all of you.”

She looked at all three of the people she’d rescued from the Tanner’s mansion. She pulled out a handful golden Spanish coins out of her pack and split them evenly between the prostitute and the two men.

“Sorry I cost you guys your jobs.”

The trio looked at the coins and her.

“Just a taste of what I have to offer my friends. My job offer only involves keeping an eye out around town. I don’t need muscle. I got my own. Anyway, have fun tonight. Maybe keep the whole…mess upstairs quiet? I mean I don’t love Henry Tanner, but his daughters don’t deserve to be gossiped about hmm?”

She hooked her arm in the prostitutes and glanced at her.

“So, where are you headed?”

“To the plains.”

Enid nodded.

“What a coincidence that is where I’m heading. What is your name?”

“Sally, milady. I uh, begging your pardon. Not that I like turning away paying work, but I just am not into other women.”

Enid smiled.

“Oh precious no. I’m staying with a friend in that area of town and my job offer was sincere. I’m looking for some people. I just need eyes on the lookout for anything strange. I will pay you each week you keep an eye out for me. And if you find who and what I’m looking for. I’ll pay enough to get passage off of this rock and to anywhere in the world and you will live like a queen.”

Sally walked beside her and after a few minutes nodded.

“I guess I can watch for stuff. What do I need to look for?”

“Anything out of the ordinary. Strange stories of…ghosts or such. I know it sounds odd, but I promise you the gold is real. And all you have to do is tell me or my associates about it. I’ll be in the Salty Teat on each Sunday during the evening.”

The prostitute parted ways with her shortly after they entered the place called the plains. It was the lowest part of Port Royal. Enid made her way to Rose’s home and knocked on the door. Rose opened her door and seemed shocked to see her. Enid had forgotten about the blood on her face and hands.

“Hello Rose.”

“I didn’t think you’d come.”

“You didn’t?”

“No after you cut into Fanny Tanner, I thought for sure you’d be keel-hauled.”

Rose seemed to notice the blood at his point. She’d been staring at Enid’s eyes.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, sorry I’m late, Fanny Tanner sent some thugs. May I come in?”

Rose bit her lower lip.

“You have to answer one question first.”

“What do you want to know? I’m an open book.”

“What’s your name?”

“Right now, Sarah.”

Rose stood aside and let Enid inside. Enid started getting out of her dress Rose closed the door and locked it. She turned around and leaned on the door and hands behind her butt and watched Enid disrobing. Rose caught herself.

“What do you mean right now?”

“I mean Sarah’s my name. I have another one but well I’m trying to keep a low profile.”

“What’s your other name?”

Enid shook her head.

“Maybe another time.”

“If you’re trying to keep a low-profile insulting Fanny Tanner is not a good way to do it.”

“Oh, pish I don’t care about mortals. It’s a vampire I’m trying to remain hidden from.”

“But they’ll hear too.”

“Yes, but this isn’t my real face dear. This is a perfectly sculpted body to hide my true self.”

“Will I ever see your true self?”

“Depends on whether the vampire leaves town or not.”

Enid dropped the last of her underclothes and leaving herself naked she walked over to the pump that was in the house and pumped out some water and washed her hands and face and dumped it out the window. Rose watched her walking around eyes never leaving Enid.

“Is Fanny going to send more people?”

Enid laughed.

“I doubt it. She screwed up.”

“What did you do?”

“Well, I defended my honor against a few of their thugs then I figured out Henry Tanner’s daughters are not his daughters.”

Rose gasped and her hands went to her mouth.

“Let’s not worry about talking about that the hag.”

Enid approached her and leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Rose’s lips lingered on Enid’s.

“How was the rest of your day, most beautiful Rose?”

Rose blushed at the look Enid gave her.

“Uh well you know people bought dresses. I had a woman come in with her sister they couldn’t have looked more different she was over six feet tall before I started measuring her, I would have sworn she was a man in a dress. I’ve never seen someone with so many muscles.”

Enid smiled kissed Rose’s cheek and tugged on her nightgown.

“I know her.”

“You do?”

Enid nodded and slid the shoulder down on Rose’s gown and started kissing her way up her neck. Rose bit her gasped and bit her lower lip her hand clutched the ledge of the counter that bordered her front door. Enid whispered into Rose’s ear.

“There is something wrong here.”

Rose was breathing heavily and spoke softly.

“What?”

Enid nibbled on the bottom of Rose’s ear while wrapping an arm around her.

“One of us has too many clothes on.”

Rose pulled her nightgown over her head and tossed it aside. The pair spun as their lips met and they spun across the floor and collapsed into Rose’s bed. Rose on top of Enid. Their chests pressed against each other, and Rose kept kissing Enid hungrily.

“Sarah, you make me feel young again like I’m sneaking out to the barn to see my teenage boyfriend!”

Sarah pulled one of Rose’s hands to her chest and cupped it around one of her breasts.

“You’re equating me to a teenage boy?”

Rose blushed as her hand slide off of Enid’s breast and down her side to her hips. Rose slid off and her fingers slipped between Enid’s legs. Enid grabbed Rose and kissed her again. Rose broke the kiss and looked down at Enid.

“How could someone like you…so perfect and… how could you be interested in me?”

Enid lifted her hand up and touched Rose’s cheek. Sharing her memories of watching her from afar and then their morning tryst. The rush of pure pleasure she received when drinking her arousal filled blood. Rose fell beside her bodying shuddering with an unexpected wave of pleasure. Enid kissed her again her hands sliding up to her chest. Rose took several minutes to recover enough to speak coherently.

“That was…so intense. What did you do to me?”

“Just shared what it felt like to be with you. What I feel when I see you.”

“I felt like I just lived through a hundred… oh wow. Is that what it feels like to be a vampire?”

“Only when you know what you’re doing.”

Enid kissed her.

“I wonder if that is what pure ecstasy feels like.”

Enid shrugged. Rose clutched her chest.

“I feel like I saw the face of God. I don’t think I’ll ever know the real you. Everything about you…”

“We barely know each other.”

Rose shuddered again as Enid’s fingers slid up her thighs.

“Rose, pray you never see my true form. It is terrible to behold.”

Rose shifted and wrapped her arm around Enid. Enid pulled the blanket over them, and Rose stared into Enid’s eyes.

“Do you like men too?”

Enid smiled.

“After thousands of years, I like anything that makes me feel good.”

Rose smiled at her.

“Have you ever been married?”

Enid laughed and started counting on her fingers.

“Six times.”

Rose let her head fall on her pillow.

“Oh. Are you married now?”

Enid shook her head.

“No, they all died. But I have children to remember them by.”

Rose traced a pattern on Enid’s abdomen under the blankets.

“But I thought vampires couldn’t.”

“I’m special. Those girls you met.. the big one and the small one?”

Rose nodded.

“They’re my daughters. Hazel by birth, Helen I adopted. Hazel’s the tall one.”

Rose blinked at her.

“Do they know about us?”

Enid shrugged.

“I mean, probably. Helen is a bit innocent to the ways of…well sex. Hazel not so much and I bet they both smelled it.”

Rose blushed a deep crimson. Enid kissed her.

“Get some sleep. Sweet Rose.”

Enid snuggled into her and let her mortal form take hold.