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The full moon was only a couple of nights past, but the last 48 hours felt like they'd taken a week to roll by. I suppose wandering around the darkness hunting something that is probably hunting you in turn will tend to make the terror-filled time go by slowly.
Imastious' initial instructions had simply been to gather whatever information they could, but the autopsy reports on the woman Geoffry killed had come back late last night and confirmed that she appeared to have been infected with a unusual strain of rabies. I wonder how Imastious ensured she was tested for the disease. I wouldn't think that would be normal procedure in a police autopsy.
However Imastious had effected the test, it had combined with the recent, high-profile vampire deaths to provide him with the evidence he'd needed to mobilize the other Elders. Venice has indicated they don't really know where the information came from, and they aren't cooperating on any kind of a large-scale basis, but the shadow war between them all seems to have disappeared overnight. There are supposedly large numbers of patrols out tonight looking for evidence of other werewolves. I guess we'll see whether that's really the case or not.
Venice tapped Geoffry on the shoulder and he realized he'd been woolgathering. At least I don't have to come out and face this all by myself.
Casting his thoughts out as widely as he was able, the vampire searched for any trace of werewolves. If they're out here, it should be easy to find them. Their very ability to absorb our powers should make that possible, but I can't find the slightest indication that there's anyone out here other than us and a few humans. Most people aren't convinced that a dramatic reduction in violence over the last twenty-four hours is sufficient evidence to believe that the night once again belongs to them.
Even that thought held no particular rancor for Geoffry. Their belief that human deaths are back down to a level considered normal in this city is apparently wrong if Venice is to be believed. Human deaths have dropped considerably from where they were last week, but it appears that missing person reports has increased dramatically. The werewolves are eating people or doing such a good job hiding the corpses that nobody is finding them. I envy their innocence.
Shrugging to indicate he hadn't found anything, Geoffry picked a direction at random and started walking. One way is as good as another.
Venice slipped her arm through his before the pair had made more than a couple of steps, presenting the illusion of a happy couple exploring the city despite the cold of the night. Geoffry thought about untangling his arm from hers, but decided the effort wasn't worth the ill will it would generate. Now that I don't have to worry about whether or not she's going to kill me in the next few days, I enjoy working with her. Unfortunately, she's back to pushing for more than I'm ready to give.
Geoffry sent his thoughts out, and once again found no hint of the alien presence he'd fought previously. Thirty seconds later a terrible howl split the night, and Venice and Geoffry broke into a sprint as he cast his thoughts ahead and found a werewolf where seconds before there hadn't been one.
Three blocks later the pair rounded a corner and found four vampires engaged against a beast that was even bigger than the one Geoffry had fought. The humanoid combatants moved back and forth with speed and grace that was impressive if slightly less than what Venice or Geoffry was capable of. The werewolf on the other hand moved with the same jerky motions as the smaller woman Geoffry had fought, but with even greater speed.
Normally, vampires reporting to different Elders, and even sometimes those working for the same master wouldn't help each other, but Geoffry and Venice didn't hesitate as they crossed the remaining distance to the conflict.
Reflex took over and Geoffry sent out questing thoughts in an effort to learn his opponents plans, only to find to his surprise that the absorption of his tendrils was weaker than he'd expected. I can almost sense its thoughts, alien though they are.
One of the other vampires went down to a lightning-fast swipe, and the power fighting Geoffry's probes suddenly strengthened dramatically. “Use your powers,” cried Geoffry in a panting, breathless voice, and suddenly the force holding him away from the werewolf's mind was overwhelmed.
The five vampires surrounded the werewolf and succeeded in forcing it into a more defensive stance, but its raw speed and power made if difficult to bring down and Geoffry's allies seemed to be tiring quickly.
We have to do something, or it will take another of us down. The rest will fall quickly once it's able to attack instead of defending.
Geoffry's blade licked out and impacted on the werewolf's upper thigh, but did little more than scratch the abnormally hard flesh.
Not good enough.
The alien thoughts before Geoffry suddenly seemed to morph and change into something nearly understandable, and without thinking about it the vampire responded to the course of action he thought the werewolf was about to take.
The beast lunged at Geoffry, flailing with both hands only to pull up in astonishment as the vampire wasn't where he was supposed to be. Geoffry completed his dive between the creature's legs and rolled to his feet in time to launch the most powerful blow he was capable of to the same spot he'd struck previously.
As in his last confrontation, Geoffry's weapon was nearly ripped from his hands, but he managed to hamstring his opponent, after which the vampires were able to finish the creature relatively quickly.
Looking around at the other vampires, Geoffry made a mental effort to stand straight and control his breathing. This isn't the time to appear weak, they outnumber Venice and I three to two, and there's no proof yet that this informal truce will hold.
The biggest of the vampires checked his fallen companion and then shook his head. “He's dead, that thing ripped him completely open.” Then looking at Venice and Geoffry, “it would have gotten all of us if you two hadn't shown up when you did.”
The vampire cocked his head and then extended his hand. “I don't know that I'd have done as you did on no more info than I had, but I thank you. My name is Alexander.”
Geoffry shook the offered hand, trying not to be surprised that the humanity of the gesture, and then released Alexander's hand so that Venice could shake it.
Should I tell him that I've already fought one of these things? No, no need to give away any information that I don't have to. He may seem friendly, but is he really any different from Imastious underneath it all?
One of the other living vampires, the smallest one, finished inspecting the dead werewolf, which now had the appearance of a human male. Looking up with something that was a close cousin to fear, the bearded vampire looked from Alexander to Geoffry and back again.
“Do you think that was the only one?”
Geoffry shook his head, “no, as powerful as that was, it couldn't have killed Byington and his men by itself. Either there are more of them, or there's one even stronger and faster still running around.”
Alexander looked at Geoffry appraisingly and then nodded. “Well then, things are probably going to get much uglier before this is all over.”