Gunslingers, Vampires and Saviours, Pt. 7

Evening had set upon the small village, and the celebration continued. The villagers decided it was indeed time for a celebration of freedom from an oppressor. And Shani and Pania took center stage. The food was extravagant, the music loud and the laughter, well it was something that both elves had not seen in quite some time since their arrival on Earth.

As the sun began to set, Pania sat by the camp fire, her hands cupping a mug of cider, and she just listened to the sounds that surrounded her. It wasn't long before the lithe gunslinger joined her, taking up a patch of ground beside the bard as she sat cross legged on the ground. Pania smiled as Shani took her seat.

“Sorry 'bou' ye 'at,” Pania said with a small smile.

“Hell, I think I kin git a new one,” Shani replied with a sigh. “Losin' the hat's least o' my problems. 'Sides, I were too busy thinkin' 'bou' getting' outta thet place.” They both sat quietly and listened to the music, shook hands with the occasional villager and even accepted more cider. “Whoa!” Shani remarked as she took a sip. “Figger this stuff's fer special occasions, it's got a might good kick ta it." Pania laughed at the comment, then smiled as a small girl approached the two elves.

“I... I want to give you somethin',” she said rather timidly. Shani and Pania watched as the girl took out a hat from behind her back and handed it to Shani. Similar in style to her old Stetson, but much newer. She took the gift with a smile and inspected it carefully.

“Well thank ya, darlin',” she said with a grin. “I 'ppreciate this.” To emphasize her statement, she carefully plopped the hat on her head, brushing down the brim a bit. “Need ta work it in a bit, but thet'll be jist fine.” She smiled to the small girl, who stepped forward and gave both elves a hug before running off to join her friends.

Pania watched the girl a moment, then turned her attention to Shani. The lithe elf looked to Pania somewhat confused. Pania didn't have lusting eyes toward Shani this time. They were much more respectful. “We make a good team, ye know,” she finally said.

Shani smirked, reminded of the past two days that they spent together. “I reckon yer right 'bout thet,” she replied with a sigh, then turned her attention fully to Pania. “Shreveport, huh?”

*****

Captain Samuel Williams paced back and forth in the small room as he waited. He had been in Harrisburg for the past four days, and still nothing to report. No orders either. So all he had to do was wait. But four days was beginning to drag, he had a need to get back on the road and hunt down his quarry, Black Mask and now the gunslinger known as Pale Rider.

The door to his apartment opened as one of his men rushed in, carrying a letter with him. Williams stood straight as he waited for the soldier to read the message. “Good news, I hope,” he said in a calm voice. Inside, he was in knots.

“Received word from a few ranchers, Sir,” the soldier informed him. “There was some activity between here and Reading. And a few farmers said they saw a pair of riders heading south, toward West Virginia.”

Williams considered this information carefully before he finally gave a solemn nod. “Inform the other men to prepare their horses. We ride within the hour.” The soldier quickly saluted, rushing off to tend to his orders. Williams smiled as the soldier left.

Finally, they could pick up the trail again.

*****

Franklin, West Virginia

Marshal Martin Derringer sat back in the saddle and watched the sky carefully. Derringer wasn't a small man, standing at six foot eight inches tall. And his olive toned skin was not a common site among the settlers. His life was also a mystery to them. All that really mattered was he protected the area with a vengeance. As he looked to the sky, he knew that he would have to do so again.

The clouds seemed to rush across the sky, looking much like a group of hunters chasing after their prey. Derringer narrowed his eyes as he spoke in a low tone. “Huntsman. What is it you seek? What is it you want? And how is it that I can stop you for the second time in a millennium.”

The adventure continues...

Gunslingers, Vampires and Saviours, Pt. 6

Shani and Pania carefully traversed the narrow hallways that lead to the central tower. It was almost like they knew they would find their quarry there. So far, they hadn't seen hide nor hair of the elven vampire. And as they traveled, they discovered more information about the woman. A parchment discarded here and there as though someone carelessly took a journal and walked throughout the halls of the castle, randomly ripping pages out and discarding them without a care. They knew she was from their home world. She described sights that both Shani and Pania recognized. They knew she was ancient. Pania recognized things written that she'd read about as a child, some dating back to the Troubles. And they knew she'd come to Earth a long time ago. There were descriptions of her time in Europe, especially near the Balkan states, most often in Romania. And the description of her travels to America.

Each parchment, Pania carefully placed in her inside pocket of her duster. She would save them and piece them together later. If there was a later, that is.

Shani carefully opened a large oak door with the toe of her boot, surprised that it hung slightly ajar. The door mildly protested, but swung out slowly to reveal a large library. Row upon row of shelves revealed books. Some collected from the vampire's days before she found Earth, others since she arrived on Earth. Pania marveled at the titles and authors. Some of the books were written over six hundred years ago. The shelves seemed rather odd, built in this rather circular room. The outer shelves hugged the walls, but the next row seemed to begin to spiral inward, with a small break here and there to move easily through the stacks. The pair of gunslingers soon discovered why.

In the center of the spiral was a large circular map. Half of it was recognizable as Earth, the other half, their home world. Elven script provided a circular border around the map itself. And laying on the map seemed to be markings reminiscent of a summoning circle. Pania began to work right away as she carefully read the inscriptions as Shani watched the room for any movement.

“Whatcha got?” Shani finally spoke after Pania read half of the inscription. She had been writing it down as she was doing so, keeping a record of the find.

“Seem ta be the final stage o' a bindin' spell,” she said in a whisper as she completed writing the text down. “Need ta find the b'ginnin' o' it.”

“Great,” Shani remarked with a huff as she looked back to the books. “Let's jist hope thet vampire's got a catalog somewheres. Maybe she's all nice an' organized.” The lithe elf began looking over the books neatly piled on the closest shelves, smiling as she did so. “Seem she's got all the elven texts sittin' right here, nearest the circle.”

“'Ow convenient,” Pania smirked as she joined Shani and inspected the books. “There's a lo' 'ere tha' seem were stolen from ol' Magic Schools long since gone.” Her fingers ran quickly over the books, almost seeming to speed read the titles and catching an understanding of their content. “Good thin' the authors o' said books kept it simple when titlin' their work.” Shani smirked slightly and turned to look at the summoning circle.

That's when her keen elven senses picked something up. She turned quickly, and felt a force hitting her in the chest that sent her flying back against a stack of books. Like a domino effect, the stack toppled and crashed into the next stack, continuing the chain until the last stack slammed against the wall. Shani had a death grip on her Colts and raised them as she sneered toward the Vampire as she made her appearance.

“Figger y'all must be Ya'Row,” Shani said with a growl. The name they had also gleaned from the discarded parchments. “Bit messy leavin' yer diary all thrown 'bout like thet. Anyone could jist pick it up an' read it.”

“Perhaps something I will have to consider in the future,” the vampire replied as she made herself known to them. Her clothing suited the style of dress of Europeans, with a low cut top, knee high boots, tight leather slacks, all in black, naturally. Her eyes seemed to glow with a bright red tint, her lips seemed painted in a blood red, and her fangs were visible. Hungry, is what she seemed. Hungry, and angry. “A pair of trespassers. How unfortunate for you.” She looked to Pania, the elven bard had a pistol trained on the vampire, only causing Ya'Row to laugh in an eerie tone that would send chills down anyone's spine. “Put away that pop gun, love. You know that won't have any effect on me.” Ya'Row smiled seductively, causing Pania to shake just slightly as the vampire's hypnotic effect began to take hold.

Always make certain that both angles are covered.

Shani began firing right away, bullets hitting their mark easily. Ya'Row sneered and screamed as the silver bullets did their work. But she was still strong, and while the silver did work its magic, it was a great deal slower than it was with the brood. “Start the ritual!” Shani shouted out to Pania who seemed to snap awake and began pulling books off the shelves and flipping them open quickly. Shani fired one pistol as she reloaded the other, a difficult move but one she'd mastered over the years. Ya'Row on the other hand merely walked as though shrugging off each bullet. She grabbed Shani by the collar and slammed her up against a book shelf.

Shani's hat fell to the floor, her hair tussled and tossed, hung over her ears. And this made Ya'Row stop for a brief moment. Shani snickered as it allowed her some time. “Hi! Bet ya never thought ta see more elves. We was in the neighbourhood an' d'cided ta stop in, catch up.” Her quip gave her enough time to finish loading the Colt, and the chamber reloading sounded out clearly. Point blank, Shani lifted the pistol and pressed it to the vampire's forehead, firing without hesitation. Ya'Row tumbled back and screamed a hideous scream of pain.

What was more important, she had tumbled back into the summoning circle.

“I GO' IT!” Pania shouted and began to read the elven text aloud. The room began to shake as the text surrounding the summoning circle began to glow. This naturally only enraged Ya'Row. She seemed to growl and lunge for Pania, but the elven bard was ready as she fired her Smith and Wesson directly at the vampire, the bullet slamming into her chest and sending her stumbling back.

The realization that these were elves, adept with magic and able to read the elven language, had taken Ya'Row aback. She hadn't planned for this contingency on Earth. It was never even thought of. In her own smug way, she had never realized that if she could find the portal to Earth, then other elves probably could as well.

A bright shaft of magical light flowed from the circle, trapping Ya'Row inside. Pania had finished the inscription from the book and took out the paper she had written the text upon. Shani loaded her Colts again and drew Ya'Row's attention to her, firing upon the vampire. Each bullet became more and more painful than the last. And Pania read the inscription in a bold and loud voice.

The summoning circle began to change, the center of the circle seemed to open up, and a obelisk began to rise. Shackles hung lifelessly from the obelisk, an indication that this object had a special meaning in some twisted way to the elven vampire. Ya'Row tried to reach for Pania, grabbing in vain as Pania read the text. Black tendrils lifted themselves up from the circle, ensnaring Ya'Row. And then the chains came to life.

Like metal snakes they reached out for Ya'Row. Pania's voice grew louder as she began the last part of the ritual. This would be it, the end. At least for now. The chains violently grabbed Ya'Row and hauled her back to the obelisk, snaking around her body and holding her firm. Once in place, four large stones rose up from the floor, encasing the obelisk and the vampire inside. Pania's last words were nearly choked out by the screams from Ya'Row and the din created by the magic that rushed through the room. Both elves watched as a portal began to open underneath the stone crate, slowly, it lowered itself inside the portal. Where it's destination was, neither Pania nor Shani dared venture a guess.

Pania rushed to Shani's side, grabbing her arm and pulling her to cover as books began rattling off the shelves and flying toward the portal. It was as if a vortex had opened and was sucking everything into it. The air began to howl as the obelisk sunk deeper and deeper inside, books and papers following along with it. Pania clutched herself close to Shani as the two elves huddled together, waiting out the storm. As the obelisk disappeared inside the vortex, the air seemed to scream. Just when it was becoming the most unbearable, it simply stopped altogether.

Both elves stayed close to the floor, slowly looking up to ensure the coast was clear. Shani looked over to Pania with a somewhat annoyed look on her face. She leaned in close and whispered. “Why I git the feelin' y'all pulled me down jist ta cop a feel?”

Pania grinned jist slightly and shrugged. “Better tha' 'en getting' sucked up with the wave ta come.” She sighed and rose to her feet, holding out her hand as she offered Shani some help up. Shani looked around the room and took a deep breath, as though she'd put a lot of work in. The lithe gunslinger pressed a hand against her chest where Ya'Row had struck her, and winced just a bit.

“Thet's gonna hurt in the mornin',” Shani seemed to hiss out as she fought back the pain. She stood tall, stretching a bit to work out the kinks, but catching sight of the look Pania had. She studied the elven bard a moment, then realized that something was most definitely wrong. Pania seemed to be watching the room carefully, and listening. “What is it?”

“We're no' done yet,” Pania said quietly as she seemed to be listening. That was when the first tremor took place. The castle seemed to rock violently back and forth. Both elves looked around excitedly, trying to find a place to escape. “This way!” Pania directed as she pulled Shani toward a doorway. Shani followed without question, her feet moving quickly as she kept pace with the elven bard.

They didn't watch the walls or the fixtures as they raced through the building, they only searched for the doors out. Pillars shook and tumbled to the floor, weakening the ceiling above them. Large cracks formed in the floor, and still, the elves raced on. Pania almost dragged Shani along behind her at times as they drew closer and closer to the entrance they had come through. She prayed that it would still be open.

Light began to shine in through the windows. The sun was rising, and this only made the building shake that much more. “There! This way!” Pania shouted as she saw the caved in wall. Both had to dodge falling debris as they made their way to it. First Pania, and then Shani. They raced as fast as they could away from the building, feeling somewhat better as the first rays of dawn began to greet them.

“Git ta the horses,” Shani called out, still in a full run. “This buildin's gonna blow, an' ain't no way I'm stickin' 'roun' ta watch the fireworks. Pania only followed, panting heavily as she willed her legs to keep pumping faster. They raced into the small clearing they had made earlier, both horses were still there, but they were getting jittery and skittish. Shani grabbed the reins of her horse and mounted it quickly as Pania climbed into the saddle of her own. They didn't pause to watch the castle, they just high tailed it, racing the horses as fast as they could. Behind them, the building was already crumbling violently, fiery explosions causing even more damage.

They had to ride hard and fast.

*****

Frederick Van Bueren stood beside his son as they watched the road. The entire village was brought suddenly out of their beds by the distant explosions, followed by the tremors in the earth. Each person knew that the castle was destroyed, now they just had to hold out hope for the two that had gone to destroy the vampires.

They waited and waited. Not budging until someone might catch site of them.

“I fear they may have been killed,” suggested the vicar, a hint of sadness in his voice. “They sacrificed themselves, to save this village.” Some of the villagers bent their heads in solemn prayer, but Frederick kept watching the road. His eyes never left, even as some of the villagers began to return quietly to their homes.

Along the road, he saw movement. A pair of tiny dots seemed to travel slowly, but he smiled as they drew closer. His smile turned into a triumphant laugh as he recognized the two riders. They were not only successful, but they were also alive. The entire village heard his triumphant shout, and they turned to look. Many saw what he saw, and the smiles quickly spread on their faces.

Pania Alow and Shani Wennemein rode slowly into the village. They were tired, bruised, and beaten. But they were also victorious. Shani looked up and smiled as she saw the villagers. “Howdy y'all,” she said, a tired smile on her face. “Ain't it a nice day fer an early mornin' picnic. Y'all kin watch the sun rise.”

Both elves brought their mounts to a halt as Frederick and his son approached. “We had feared the worst,” he simply said. “But there is always hope.”

Shani grinned and shook her head as she took her first look back down the road. “Take a lot more 'n some castle blowin' itself sky high ta take out the likes o' us,” she said as she turned to smile down at Frederick and Dieter. “Ain't no worries 'bout thet.”

Gunslingers, Vampires and Saviours, Pt. 5

Shani grinned as she stepped easily into the room, hands held onto her gun belts as she looked about the room. Pania shot her a glance that simply said are ye feckin' crazy. Shani just shrugged and shouted out in her usual way. “YEEEEEHAW! Howdy boys!” The vampires stopped feeding for a moment, looking somewhat bewildered as to why someone so brazenly would enter their domain. One of them slowly rose to his feet, letting the lifeless form of the woman he feasted upon drop with a thud to the floor.

The young vampire snorted a laugh as he looked to the others of the clutch. “Look at this,” he said with a laugh as he wiped blood from his lips. “We have a regular gunslinger in our midst.” He turned to face Shani once again. “I suppose you happen to be the fasted gun this side of the Mississippi, too.”

“Hell no,” Shani said with a smirk as she seemed to rock back and forth on the heels of her boots. “I'm the best dang gunslinger this here country ever seen. 'R will ever see.” As an added exclamation point, she quickly drew pistols and started firing. Normally against the vampires, there would have been no effect, but these were taken by surprise by the silver bullets that ripped through the air toward them.

As Shani fired, Pania steeled herself and plunged forward, moving to stand at Shani's back. Pania wasn't as good a gunslinger as Shani was, but she was no slouch either. Her timing was impeccable. Just as Shani had run out of bullets, Pania began firing, allowing the lithe gunslinger time to reload. As soon as Shani was ready, Pania would be reloading her own. The vampires slowed down a great deal with each hit, the poison of the silver working its way through their bodies and slowing them down to a crawl.

One vampire drew to close to Pania, and she lashed out with a roundhouse, landing her boot square in the vampire's chest and knocking him back and off his balance slightly. This was followed with the report of her Smith and Wesson point blank at the vampire's head.

“Stakin' time,” Shani called out as she continued to fire. The small village had prepared them well, right down to some of the innovative weapons they themselves had managed to create. Which included the stake-bracers. A quick release on the bracers launched a stake out of a small sheath, shooting it out toward its target at a velocity much like a crossbow bolt. Shani was the first to demonstrate this as one vampire tried draping his arms around her. The stake shot out from the device attached to her wrist and drove itself through the creature's chest. It lurched back slightly, then fell over as it's body began to disintegrate into nothing.

Pania picked up the pace as she took out another vampire, using high kicks to distract it as she positioned herself to thrust a stake through the creature's heart. A second one felt the sting of a stake as it tried to advance, but the elven bard was too fast for it, it's body slowed by the silver poison's effect on it's system. A fourth one dropped as Shani let a stake fly point blank into it's chest. And then there was only one.

“Cut an' run 'r fight an' die,” Shani suggested to the lone vampire with a grin. “Choice is yers, either way y'all gonna be dead by dawn, I wager.” The vampire looked between Shani and Pania, hissing angrily, then bolted for the door. Shani moved quickly, cartwheeling over a chair and grabbing a stake out of an already dead vampire. As her feet landed she drove the stake through the vampire's back, letting the force of her body's momentum carry through and push the stake home. The vampire hissed in rage and pain as his body began to become more lifeless than it had before.

The five were dead, and Shani and Pania hadn't taken a scratch. This was almost too easy. Pania approached the couple cowering in the corner. “Ye alright?” she asked, knowing the answer as soon as she had spoken the words. They were physically fine, but mentally, it would take a while to forget. The woman just looked at Pania, her eyes wide with fright. Pania looked around the room for a moment, as Shani gathered the bodies of the fallen. She'd start the vampire bonfire soon enough.

“Here,” the elven gunslinger called out as she tossed a pair of stakes to Pania. The bard caught them easily and reloaded her bracers, then her pistols as she continued to look around the room. It was an old kitchen, and it seemed as though not much had been updated. Even the tapestries and mirrors on the walls looked well aged.

Well aged, but the mirrors still worked well enough. Pania stopped as she studied the mirror she spied carefully. “Odd 'ow a buncha vampires would keep these thin's, aye,” she commented as she continued to stare at the reflection. In the mirror, she could see a good portion of the room. Including the woman who remained on the floor.

But not the man.

Her ears perked up slightly and she twirled fast and hard, a stake already in her hand. It caught solid in the chest of the vampire, taking him completely by surprise. Pania looked into the vampire's eyes and smirked as his form began to wither. “Elven ears, lad,” she explained easily to the creature. “E'en with ye preternatural abilities, I can still 'ear a boot scuff on the stone floor.” She planted a boot in his chest and pushed back, sending the creature crashing to the ground. Pania looked over to the woman and sighed. Before they had a chance to act, the vampire had fed from her, killing her quickly. “She ne'er e'en 'ad a chance ta scream.”

“Hate ta say it,” Shani commented as she dragged the last body onto the pile. “But I'd rather not be draggin' victims 'long with us. I hate thet she died, but she's prolly in a better place now. Ain't no one able ta walk 'way from a scene like this an' be able ta act normal ever 'gain.” Pania only nodded. It was heartless, but it was true. The elven bard just watched as Shani lit a match and tossed it onto the pile of bodies. It was amazing how quickly the lit on fire, like kindling in a freshly dug fire pit. Pania's eyes studied the room again, until something caught her eye.

A piece of parchment lay by a wood burning stove. Nothing really out of the ordinary, but it had writing on it. Writing that Pania recognized. She bent down to pick it up, covering her nose and mouth as the flames licked higher. Shani grabbed her arm and lead her out of the room into the adjacent hallway. This afforded Pania time to study the parchment closer.

By this time, Shani took note of what Pania had found. “Whatcha got?”

“Foun' this on the floor,” Pania said in a slow voice as she furrowed her brow. “An' this mean we're no' the only wanderers.” Shani gave the elven bard a perplexed look, forcing Pania to explain. “'S written in elven.” The confusion was replaced with shock as Shani slide beside Pania to take a closer look. “Look like it taken from a journal,” Pania stated.

Indeed it was.

My needs are met on this plane, it would seem I have found a place worthy of my attention. No mages or knights to attempt to take me down. These humans are so easily fooled. Only the rare few know of my true nature, my true goals. Those usually find themselves turned, if worthy enough, to add to my army. When the time is right, I will indeed have my army, and we shall return home, using the portal. Unfortunate that the portal also happens to be the one thing to bind and trap me. Perhaps it is a good thing no one on this plane can read elven.

“So,” Shani said with a snort of a laugh. “Dealin' with an elven vampire. Jist great.” She sighed as she looked to the tapestries on the walls. “Guess we jist gotta find this bindin' portal 'en.”

“There's more,” Pania said pointing to the parchment. “Seem tha' this vampire 'as put it in a chamber, uses it like it's own private study an' bed chambers. We jus' 'ave ta find the room, an' then we find the text o' the ritual.”

“Figger this vampire'd keep thet information close at hand,” Shani replied, sounding more like a question than an actual statement.

“It's worth a shot,” Pania said with a shrug as she continued to study the parchment. The writing was very familiar in a way, Pania furrowed her brow as she continued to look over it. “I think I know this.” She looked to Shani, her brow furrowed slightly. “Coupla nigh's 'go, I 'ad this strange dream. A woman kept comin' ta me, callin' out ta me. I kept seein' pages from a book.” She held up the parchment so Shani could see it clearly. “All wit' this 'and writin'.”

“Female elven vampire. Jist great. This here world brings 'bout some o' the worst o' our world, don't it?” The question was rhetorical, the lithe gunslinger expecting no reply as she looked about the hallway they had stepped into. Shani let out a long sigh before she spoke. “So what's the plan 'en?”

“Plan?” Pania replied as she quickly stuffed the parchment into her duster coat. “We find this text fer the ritual an' bind 'er. Failin' tha'...” Pania said with a shrug as she checked her pistols again.

Shani followed suit, replacing spent cartridges, as she completed Pania's unfinished sentence. “Then we jist kill the bitch.”

Gunslingers, Vampires and Saviours, Pt. 4

Fifteen miles can be a long ride when you are willingly riding into hell. Shani and Pania left the small village shortly after the noon meal, and one last inspection of their gear. Food for two meals, water, although Shani would have demanded whiskey had Pania not given her a look of annoyance, ammunition for both pistols and crossbows. Even the metal worker in the village repaired any nicks to Pania's rapier, all the while commenting on the quality of craftsmanship that the blade had. Once they set out, an uneasy feeling settled over them, as though someone was watching them.

For ten miles, they never said a word. The sun slowly sunk toward the horizon as they let the horses plod along lazily. The trees seemed to become dead and lifeless as they drew closer and closer to their destination. As late afternoon creeped up, the mist began to form. Still, they pushed on.

Afternoon turned to evening, and the sky became a deathly black, as it was suddenly filled with clouds. There was a foreboding feeling that settled in. The air grew cooler, and lightning began to strike, as sharp bolts thundered from the heavens, making the area bright for a brief second before plunging the elven gunslingers into darkness yet again. They were certain they were getting closer as Pania looked to Shani, each giving the other a look of reassurance.

And then they saw it.

A bolt of lightning struck a tree not thirty yards from their location, the air become acrid and the roar of the thunder nearly deafening. As the area became brightly lit for a brief moment, the ominous shape of the castle revealed itself, looming high above them in the darkness like some vulture watching over it's prey.

“Best make camp,” Shani suggested as she looked for a secure spot. She began to guide her horse toward a clearing just off the road when Pania stopped her.

“No' there,” she cautioned.

Shani looked back to the elven bard as she furrowed her brow. “Why not, it's already cleared out.”

Pania studied the area, knowing exactly why that clearing was so pristine. “B'cause tha's a trap,” Pania simply said. “They made it, ta entice travelers ta rest, an' they'd be able ta take their prey.” She looked around the area, and found a small path that lead to an opening in the trees. They moved the horses to it and found it wasn't as clean as the other, but it would do. “We can leave the 'orses 'ere,” Pania suggested. “Ge' 'em in the mornin' when we done.”

“If...” Shani started.

“No' thinkin' 'bou' tha',” Pania said quickly, interrupting any negative thoughts from Shani. “Fer the sake o' the village, we cannu fail. We're goin' back after this is done.”

“Either ta celebrate,” Shani offered. “'R b'cause we been turned.”

*****

The short meal was eaten without a word. Both of them kept going mentally over the details that had been described. And still, they knew nothing of what was to come. They gathered the quarrels and crossbows, made sure their pistols were ready, and began to walk toward the castle. Strange how they could not see it through the brush when they first stopped to make camp, but now it seemed to welcome them. It looked so out of place in this land, not something they'd seen throughout most of the New England states that was built before it, but something that almost looked to have been carried direct from Europe.

It's spires seemed to reach into the sky, as granite gargoyles watched any and all who would approach the tall wooden gate. The stone that made the castle walls looked ancient, as brambles and vines creeped along it's surface. The blackened windows looked like hollow eyes in a decaying skull. The towers along the wall held the only light, as flames in sconces lapped hungrily in the night air. And the air grew even colder.

The pair of elves studied the wall for a moment, searching for an easy entrance to slip into unnoticed. It didn't take long as they found a break in the wall. A suspiciously convenient break in the wall, mind you. Shani looked to Pania with some skepticism. “Whyn't they jist put a sign up thet says 'Imminent doom, this way.'”

Pania studied the narrow arched windows above them, as the flames from several candles made the shadows dance against the walls. “Cannu use the grapple lines,” she stated with a touch of disappointment. “Windows've gotta be three stories up.” She looked back over to the felled wall and then back to Shani.

“Could scope out fer a door,” the lithe elf offered. “Maybe git lucky.”

“With our luck we'll pop inta the kitchen durin' the nightly vampire feast,” Pania said with a snort. “An' knockin's outta the question. Wha' do we say? 'Greetin's. We from the elven word an' we've go' some readin' material fer ye.'” Shani snorted a laugh at the comment, then took a quick look inside. There was no monstrous hands that reached out to grab her, rending her limb from limb, so it must have been safe. “Well, 'least we arna 'bou' ta ge' killed goin' in.”

“Nah, they leavin' thet fer when we git further inside.” They both entered with care and caution, eyes wide on the lookout for any bloodsuckers that might be within reach. The crack lead into a long hallway, which appeared to be for servants. Obviously, this castle was at one time in use before it was infected with vampires. Ragged tapestries hung from the walls, depicting battles from long ago. Faded paintings depicted people long since dead. Possibly the former family that occupied this castle. Perhaps, they were now the vampires. “No way this place jist been built here,” Shani suggested. “Figger there's some kinda magic at work. Place look like somethin' I seen 'bout Europe in the back o' the newspaper.”

“It definitely lacks a frontier feel ta it,” Pania said with agreement. The flames of the torches that lined the walls danced as the breeze passed over them, adding to the already uneasy feeling about the place. It was all too quiet, no sounds of people, even muffled. Only their footfalls gently echoes throughout the hallway, forcing them to move slower so they would not rouse the creatures that may have taken residence here.

Times like this was often when the beast would strike. Or at least send it's minions.

“I don't recall asking if someone would deliver food to us tonight,” the husky voice sounded in the hallway, causing Shani and Pania to stop literally in their tracks. No one else was in the hallway, but they both could feel a presence. Their eyes gradually explored the area, hoping they might see some evidence of their stalker. It came soon enough.

The mist that seemed to slip into the building began to swirl, gently at first, then rising into the air, and finally, taking form. Before them stood a handsome looking man, dressed casually in a frilled tunic, tight cotton slacks and knee high black jack boots. He leaned lazily on the rapier he held. “I suppose now is the time when you two will scream and start to run,” he said with a sickening smile as his fangs dripped from a fresh feed. “I had hoped dessert would be along shortly. So few people travel this road. Go ahead, run. You'll only make the drink that much sweeter.”

Pania and Shani looked to each other for a moment. The elven bard rolled her eyes and shook her head as Shani looked back to the vampire. “Ya must be a youngun.” Like a signal, both gunslingers drew their pistols and fired, repeatedly. They had perfect aim, the vampire had smuggly placed himself only a few paces away them. Each bullet ripped into him, and he felt it. All too late, he realized these two were more than prepared. He crumpled to the ground as he felt his body stiffening.

The elves slowly stepped forward, Pania placed a boot on the vampire's shoulder as she aimed her Smith and Wesson at his head. “Ye shouldna be so cocky, lad,” she said as she pulled back the trigger of the pistol, sending the vampire sprawling on the floor. Pania removed a wooden stake from her belt and tossed it to Shani who caught it expertly.

The lithe gunslinger knelt beside the vampire and spoke in a hushed tone as his body stiffened more. “Next time, don't git so uppity with new folks, huh.” Shani rested her arm on her knee as she considered this statement, gently twirling the stake as she did so. “I guess thet ain't really gonna matter now, is it.” She looked back to the vampire, who almost appeared to be pleading with his eyes for them to let him go. Shani shrugged, and then she struck. The stake went through his chest easily, and whatever undeath was in him slowly ebbed to nothing.

Shani stood fully as Pania completed the kill, making certain that his body would burn completely. The bard looked to Shani and sighed. “Better 'ope we've no' go' an army ta deal with.” Shani just nodded, as a sudden noise caught her attention. It sounded very much like...

Feasting.

The two elves slowly passed through a side door, as quiet as they could, and looked into the room. They then realized that they could have made as much noise as they wanted. The five vampires were too busy ravaging their current victims. Off in one corner, a man was protecting a woman, who was crying, tears of maddness and shrieks of terror.

Shani took a deep breath and steeled herself. Pania used the anger that welled up inside of her as an advantage. “Looks like we coulda made as much noise as we wanted ta,” Pania offered with a disgusted look on her face.

“Yeah,” Shani agreed with a sigh as she checked her pistol, reloading the spent bullets with fresh ones. The spun the chamber closed and twirled the pistols easily in her hands, finally cocking the hammers back. “Good thing thet they called in the exterminators,” she said in a dry tone. “B'cause, we gots a regular infestation on our hands.”

Gunslingers, Vampires an' Saviours, Pt. 3

Morning came quickly upon the small village. As the sun began to peek over the horizon, many of the townsfolk were already full into their chores for the day. They worked together as a community, ensuring that they would survive. Neighbours would help neighbours, keeping everyone sustained with all the essential necessities. All but two residents of the village were busy with the beginning of their day. The other two, happened to be a pair of elven gunslingers.

Shani pushed her hair out of her eyes and stretched as she yawned. The sound of a rooster crowing greeted her as she slowly opened her eyes. Pania was right, the nightshirt was comfortable, and the feather bed was a great deal more comfortable than the chair ever would have been. She rubbed her eyes and began to move, but heard a squeak of protest as she did so.

“Five more minutes,” the muffled voice of Pania sounded out. And then Shani realized something very, very strange. She looked down and furrowed her brow as she saw the tiny hands of the elven bard wrapped around her waist. Shani huffed slightly and rolled her eyes as she lay back down.

“Ya moved the pillows,” she stated matter of factly.

“Mhmm,” Pania replied in her muffled voice. Shani could tell that the small elf did not have her head buried in a pillow, but against her shoulder.

“An' the extra blanket.”

“Mhmm.”

“We never done nuthin' last night, did we?” Shani inquired in a mildly annoyed tone. “I never started drinkin' 'r nuthin', did I?”

“No,” Pania said as she sighed and moved her head to speak more clearly. She was smiling broadly as she gave Shani a squeeze.

“Cut thet out,” Shani remarked as she looked over her shoulder. Her nose came only a fraction of an inch from Shani's, and she could see the look in Pania's eyes. She quickly moved to look back at the door to the bedroom. “An' git thet thought outta yer head. C'mon, we gotta git up.” Pania reluctantly let Shani's waist go, stretching as she lay in the midst of the feather bed. Shani lazily walked over to the wash basin and ran water through her hair. “I smell breakfast bein' cooked. Two good meals in less 'n a day.”

“Cannu argue wit' tha',” Pania said with a smile as she rolled out of bed and waited for Shani to be finished with the washing basin. “Jus' wonder when we gotta go o'er the details o' the clutch.” Pania plopped down in a chair as she waited, watching Shani with some mild interest and smiling slight. Thoughts rushed through her mind, and she only sighed slightly. Give it time, she thought to herself. “An' I wonder wha' these 'orses are tha' they say they found,” she finally said as though trying to change the subject in her mind.

“Be nice if they were ours,” Shani said as she moved over to her clothes. She began to lift her nightshirt but stopped and looked toward Pania. “Y'all kin look the other way now,” she said as she arched an eyebrow. Pania sighed heavily and moved to the wash basin, busying herself with a quick morning clean up. Shani shook her head and rolled her eyes as she began to dress. The only thing she was thinking about was breakfast, that was enough. She had no interest in whatever filled Pania's mind.

*****

Breakfast was filling. Eggs, bacon, fresh bread, and a large bowl of oatmeal. Much heartier than they normally would have had. But the pair of elves found themselves much more lively because of it. They could easily settle down here and forget about home, their own families, and live out a peaceful life. But they really never would fit in. Elves, they were considered different without a word spoken. And gunslingers to boot.

But right now, gunslingers is what this village needed.

The elders had gathered in the village square as some of the younger men brought out two large chests. Shani and Pania just watched as they opened the chests revealing a large number of weapons. Frederick stood beside them, explaining what needed to be done.

“We'll prepare the weapons,” he said in a soft tone to the two elves as he watched the proceedings. “These weapons have been with many of the families for generations, brought with us from Europe. They hold a special meaning, and we believe if they are used they will give a greater deal of luck to both of you.”

“Magic o' this world,” Pania said quietly. Shani nodded wordlessly in understanding. While these people did not know of magic as the elves did, they still had a magic all their own. “May'aps this'll 'elp t'ward vanquishin' the evil foun' 'ere.”

Frederick looked over to Pania, his brow furrowed as he tried to understand her words. “Ya kin feel it,” Shani explained to him. “There's somethin' dark in the woods when ya ride. Jist like a naggin' feelin' at the back o' yer skull.” Frederick nodded slowly, understanding exactly what they meant. He'd felt that feeling many times before.

“The location of the clutch we know of all too well,” Fredrick explained. “Fifteen miles north of here, the forest grows dank and thick, and the mist rises. As you draw closer, you will suddenly see your goal. It is very rare for anyone to return alive from such a journey, but we have been fortunate to have one survivor.” Frederick bowed his head as though in prayer. “Even if it cost him his sight.” Those who had gathered remained silent as though any word spoken would be a travesty against this one man. Shani and Pania refrained from speaking during this time. Flip remarks and quick wit were not what they needed right now. Frederick looked back to the two elves as he spoke, changing the topic to their current goal instead of misfortunes of the past. “You two will head out on the road after the noon meal.”

“Um...” Shani said as she raised her hand slowly. “Whyn't we jist head out, I dunno, maybe now. Catch 'em durin' the day. Whiles theys all 'sleep in their coffins.” She looked to each person for some confirmation of the logic she tried to convey, but found no reassuring looks. “I'm gonna go out on a limb an' say thet's b'cause thet'd be easy.”

“Ye cannu see the castle durin' the day,” a voice called out. Slowly, a middle aged man hobbled forward, leaning his weight on a cane as a woman, more than likely his wife, assisted him. A blindfold was wrapped around his eyes. Both elves immediately knew that this man was the lone survivor spoken of earlier. “Only by the light of the moon, will the vampire's castle make itself known.”

“Great,” Shani huffed as she looked to Pania. “Why is it supernatural boogety boos always gotta make things hard.”

*****

Dieter opened the doors to the stable as quietly as he could. Behind him, Shani and Pania followed, carrying their new arsenal of weaponry. Adding to the pistols they wielded, and in Pania's case, a rapier, they each carried a crossbow and two quarrels of bolts. The weapons would help, no doubt, in particular, the two gun belts filled with silver bullets. Those would help immensely. But as the elves walked into the barn, it wasn't the weapons they were concerned with.

“Gipsum!” Shani called out with a smile and looked to Dieter. “Them two horses ya found musta been ours.” She raced over to the stall and inspected the horse carefully. Dieter motioned to Shani and directed her to a pile of gear, neatly packed away. Shani nearly giggled with glee as she found her satchel, still full of the cash from the bank job, all five thousand dollars were still intact as far as she could tell. She put her emotions in check for a moment and patted the satchel. “I'll leave this here,” she informed Dieter with a nod.

Dieter smiled and shook his head, but only assisted in preparing the horses. “Don't ride them hard,” he finally said with a helpful suggestion. “You'll need them fresh for the ride back. And fresh just in case you have to return riding hard and fast.”

“Aye,” Pania said with a sigh and a light nod. “I've go' a feelin' we may be needin' ta do so.” She looked over to Shani for some consolation. Shani smirked slightly as she picked up the saddle and walked over to her horse.

“C'mon,” the elven gunslinger simply said as she started saddling up the horse. “Sooner we git on the road, sooner we find this place.”

“Indeed,” Pania offered quietly as she followed Shani's example. As she finished saddling up her horse, she began stowing the extra weapons in easy to reach places, taking care to note where everything was. Once she was finished, she looked to Shani and spoke in a quiet, but even tone. “Inta the mouth o' 'ell we ride.”

Fly Like An Eagle

I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free
Oh, lord, through the revolution

That old Steve Miller song has a lot of truth to it. The freedom one can see from something as simple as a bird of prey as it glides on the wind currents. Such was the case today, as I spotted a hawk doing just that. Later in the morning I saw not one, but four that seemed to be playing on the air currents.

There have been a larger number of hawks, falcons and other buteos that I've seen this year in Saskatchewan. I am not sure the reason why, it could be a number of things. Better hunting grounds, destroyed traditional nesting grounds, changes in climate. There are a number of factors as to why birds and animals move to new locations. Saskatchewan is home to many different kinds of hawks. One of the first that I ever saw was the Red Tailed Hawk. The Red Tailed Hawk is one of the most commonly seen in Saskatchewan, especially in the aspen parkland ecoregion. A drive through the country would often result in spotting perhaps half a dozen of these buteos either soaring on the air currents, or sitting stoically on fence posts. Like many soaring hawks, the Red Tailed has very acute vision to be able to see prey from flight or even perched.

Other hawks that are common in Saskatchewan are the Swainson's Hawk and the Ferruginous Hawk, though the latter is greatly reduced in numbers.

Falcons also have a common place in the province, with both the American Kestrel and Merlin seen quite regularily. Even the more well known Peregrine Falcon has it's migratory patterns following through Saskatchewan. A fierce hunter, the population of Peregrines has dwindled due to heavy use of DDT in the past, placing the falcon on the endangered species list.

Take a close look around, you never know what you'll see. Especially if you look up.

Simply...

...keep 'em flyin'.

Gunslingers, Vampires an' Saviours, Pt. 2

While the young woman had given herself freely, a sacrifice to save the rest of the village, fear still welled up in her breast. The vampire, dressed in fine silks and only the best of leathers, approached her slowly, a sickening smile on his face. She thought she recognized the man from somewhere before. Could it have been a traveler, unfortunate enough to stumble upon the clutch? She didn't know, nor would she know. The only thing clear was this would be her last night on this earth.

The vampire reached out a hand, gently caressing the woman's cheek, cooing ever so softly as he did so. “Such soft skin, for one who lives in a community such as this,” he whispered as he slowly walked around her, pressing himself to her as he wrapped an arm around her waist, gently resting his hand on her belly. “Mmmm, and untouched as well. Only the finest, I see. This village has decided to offer me only their best.” His hot breath caressed her neck as he took in her scent, almost becoming aroused by it. Tonight would be a good night indeed.

A sudden crash pushed those thoughts back and a scowl formed on his face as he looked toward the doors of the church. “Who would dare interrupt my feeding?” he seemed to scream in anger.

“I would, ya varmint,” Shani Wennemein said as she held firm both pistols. Beside her, Pania gripped her rapier and aimed her pistol at the vampire. “Time ta send ya back ta the hells where ya b'long.”

A laugh, a mocking laugh was all that greeted the pair of elves. Obviously the vampire was highly amused. “You must be joking,” he scoffed as he pushed aside the young woman. She fell to the ground, but fear had gripped her as she only lay where she fell. “Oh, to the contrary. You will be the entrée,” he said pointing to Shani. “She will be the main course,” he pointed to the young woman. “And for dessert,” he said as his hollow eyes drifted to Pania.

“'Ope I make ye fat,” Pania hissed. The comment was almost like a signal, as Shani began firing. Pania took the cue and began to circle the vampire, taking a shot every so often to draw his attention from Shani. Bullets normally don't hurt a vampire. But silver, that is something different.

While they would not kill the vampire, they would slow him down. Silver has a paralyzing effect on vampires. Unlike werewolves, which can actually hurt and even kill, vampires are only slowed by the components in silver. And as the pair of elves unloaded, the vampire's movements became sluggish. He growled, knowing that each bullet strike was slowing him more and more.

“'Ow many rounds left?” Pania shouted out to Shani.

“Two. What 'bout you?”

“Last one!”

Shani gritted her teeth and ran forward, hoping the effect of the silver would be enough. She slammed her shoulder into his chest. While he was slowed, he still had his strength. He grabbed her and threw her violently to the ground, falling to straddle her as his fangs dripped venom. “Perhaps I should turn you, little bit. Hmmm? How would you like that?” His right hand reached out to grasp Shani's throat as he raised his free hand up in victory.

But it wasn't victory just yet. There were two elves, not one.

Pania drove the rapier through the vampire, just so it would exit his chest. The blade's appearance caused confusion, and maybe even a touch of pain in the vampire. His reaction was even slower than he would have liked. By now, he would have grabbed the person who had done this, and feed viciously upon them. Instead, he heard the familiar click of a hammer being pulled back, and then the violent report of the pistol as it fired the bullet point blank into the back of his skull.

Pania forcefully removed the rapier from the vampire as the creature slumped to the ground. He was slowed, but his body was still regenerating. Should he escape, he could recover easily from his wounds. But Pania had other ideas. Quickly, she jumped onto the vampire's body, wielding a wooden stake. Quickly, she drove it through the creature's chest, aiming for his heart. As the blood spurted forth from the wound, Pania's scream matched the death cry of the vampire.

“Burn in the 'ells, ye bastard!”

With that, it was over. Pania pushed herself off of the vampire as it twitched and writhed. Shani rose to her feet, coughing slightly as she was finally getting air into her lungs again. Even still, she took out a cigarillo, and lit it. The match she tossed onto the frills that decorated the vampire's silken shirt. It caught quickly, eventually engulfing the creature. Shani marched over to Pania and offered her a hand to her feet. Once standing, Pania just watched as the fire ate away at the remains.

Slowly, the streets filled, all watching the spectacle. No one had ever killed a vampire in the village before, but these two elves, these two strangers had succeeded where they had failed. Perhaps these two weren't demons, but in fact, saviours.

*****

Shani ripped off a piece of bread and used it to soak up some of her stew. It had been so long since she had a good meal like this. Her usual fare consisted of rations, whiskey, the odd rabbit, whiskey, and a sparrow or two. It was more than evident that Pania felt the same way, but the lithe elf figured that at least she got a meal or two from some of the tribes. Shani lifted a stein filled with cider and washed down some of her stew.

The two elves were the only ones seated at the long table in the rather spartan looking house. They had moved there after the townsfolk disposed of the vampire's remains, and the mother of the young woman offered the two a good, hot meal in reward. Although, she kept noting how thin Shani and Pania were.

“Thank ya kindly fer the meal,” Shani spoke up after finishing her stew. “Ain't had anythin' as fillin' as thet in a good long while.” Pania nodded in agreement as she drank down some cider. She was still finishing off her meal, proving that she could pack away the food when need be. Shani could only stare in amazement. “Y'all ate more 'n I did, ya gots a hollow leg 'r sumthin'.”

Pania stopped eating and looked to Shani for a moment, then heard the laughter from one of the smaller girls in the room. All told, there was twenty people just watching them eat. If it hadn't been for the fact that Shani and Pania had just saved the village from a vampire, the feeling would be rather unsettling.

“So, um...” Pania spoke up as she cleaned herself up. “Wha' 'appens now? We still dunna 'ave 'orses 'r any supplies.”

“All that will be taken care of,” one deep voice replied as the door to the humble house opened. “I believe we may have found two horses that could suit you. But we ask only one thing of you two.”

“Hell, we won't say a dang thing 'bout this village...” Shani started to say until she felt a sting on her shoulder as Pania gave her a swat. “Ow! Thet dang well hurt.”

Pania looked to the man, obviously Dieter's father by the similar features in his face. “Wha' 'xactly is it tha' ye be needin'?”

“That vampire was not the only one,” the man spoke softly as he took a seat at the table. “While you were eating, the village elders discussed something. It is evident we need assistance. And you look more than willing to be able to do this. We ask if you might be able to help us rid this curse which has befallen our community.”

“Well, we really ain't vampire hunters 'r nuthin', we's jist a pair o' gunsl...” Shani started until she felt another sting on her shoulder. “Ow! Dangit, girly girl, stop hittin' me.”

“Shani's righ',” Pania offered with a small sigh. “We're no' vampire 'unters, bu' we'd both be remiss if we turned our backs on this problem an' jus' rode 'way. We do 'ave some experience with the supernatural, bein' where we from.” Pania watched the group for some reaction, seeing their attention was riveted to her words. “We come from 'nother plane o' existence. Elves 're common place there, an' magic abounds. We 'appen ta be o' wanderin' 'earts, an' tha's why we wound up 'ere.” She sighed slightly as some of the people nodded in reply, attempting to understand, but Pania knew they never could. “As I said, we'd look more like scoundrels if we jus' walked 'way from ye.” She smirked slightly. “No' tha' it would give us any forgiveness with the United States government...” she said as she shrugged.

Frederick Van Bueren nodded with a smile, resting his large arms on the table. “For now, rest,” he said in a calm and even tone. “We'll prepare in the morning. We have weapons and extra bullets. But for now, just rest.”

*****

Pania was thankful of the linen nightshirt, it was warm and cozy. Even the feather bed was a comfort compared to the hard ground she'd been laying on as of late. She crawled into the bed, and then looked over at her new partner. Shani leaned back in a chair, still wearing her denims, chaps and cotton shirt, her hat tilted down over her eyes. “Ye know, they do 'ave a nice nightgown ye could wear, an' the feather bed's go' more 'n 'nough room.”

“No thank ya, I'm fine where I am,” Shani's muffled voice said from behind the brim of the hat.

“S'prised ye dunna ge' a back ache tha' way.” Pania grinned as she patted the bed next to her. “I could give ye a massage, work out the kinks.”

“No thank ya, I'm...” Shani stopped mid sentence as she realize just what it was Pania was saying. Slowly, she tilted the brim of her hat up with a finger tip and looked over to the elven bard. “I don't swing thet way!”

“Oh,” Pania seemed to whine just a bit. “C'mon, at leas' dunna sleep on a chair. I'd feel guilty if I took the bed an' ye 'adda stay there.”

“Then, how 'bout I take the bed an' you take the chair,” Shani offered in a deadpan tone. Pania was fluttering her eyes now, offering a tempting smile. “Stop thet,” Shani said gruffly as she lowered her hat.

“No' e'en jus' a wee bi' curious?”

Shani tilted the brim of the hat up slowly again, her brow furrowed as she studied the pale elf. There was that charming smile again. But, she had a point, the feather bed was a lot more comfortable than a hard, wooden chair. She smirked just a bit and rolled her eyes.

Gunslingers, Vampires an' Saviours, Pt. 1

The pair walked the moonlight road quietly. Who knew what lay in the forests along the path they walked. Each said very little, as they both wondered just who it was that might have taken their horses. Captain Williams wouldn't have done this, he'd have roused them from sleep and had them both in shackles by now. Pania took out a flask as she walked, pointing out a small bridge five hundred yards ahead.

“Village beyond tha',” she said as she took a swig and passed it to Shani.

“Maybe they seen the horses,” Shani remarked as she took a drink. The sudden rush of an unexpected liquid touched her tongue and she coughed heavily, grimacing as she pulled the flask away. “What the hell's this?”

“It's water,” Pania said casually and then grinned. “Expectin' whiskey?”

Shani just grumbled as she corked the flask and passed it back to Pania. The lithe elf had been walking just slightly ahead of Pania, so when she passed the flask back, she had a full view of the road they just traveled.

And she saw something.

Shani stared in wonderment, and slight fear as she whispered to Pania. “Bein' followed.”

“Huh?” Pania questioned as she turned to look where Shani was gazing. There, on the road, was a solitary figure. Slight of frame the figure seemed to be there, but not be there at the same time. And under the light of the full moon, he seemed to glow. “Oh gods,” Pania whispered as her hand reached for her rapier hilt. As her hand drew closer, the strangest and most terrifying thing happened. The figure was about one hundred yards behind them. In a blink of an eye, he was suddenly five yards away.

And this was when he bared his fangs.

“Jist run!” Shani shouted as she smacked Pania's shoulder. The action was enough to rouse the pale elf from a hypnosis of wonder. And then something else took her over. Fear. And a sudden need for survival. “Gods damn vampires! I thought here on Earth they was jist all legend an' myth.”

“Figure tha' isna so,” Pania replied as her feet carried her faster and faster. Still it felt like she was trudging through molasses in January. The covered bridge grew closer and closer, yet still seemed so very far away.

“Keep runnin', girly girl,” Shani tried to encourage. She didn't look back, but had a nagging feeling that Pania might have been attacked. But she wasn't sure. “We're almost at the bridge, then we git inta thet village b'yond.”

Pania kept pace with the lithe elf. Shani was fast, but Pania had run a race or two in her time. The pale elf could almost feel the hot breath on her neck as she ran, sending shivers up her spine. Not even the comforting sound of their boots on the wooden bridge eased her. The vampire was still behind them. Only the comfort of the village would finally allow them a chance to breath easily. “Try fer one o' the 'omes!” Pania suggested as she bolted for a door.

The street was wide, not the usual pioneering town the elven gunslingers had frequented before. They were in Pennsylvania Dutch territory. The buildings were practicle, the street wide enough to let three teams of horses pass with ease, and at the end of the street, almost like a beacon was the church. A Lutheran building, typical of the settlers of German ancestry that settled in this area of the States.

The elves tried each door they could, but found them locked, and empty. Or the residents ignored their cries for help. Pania saw shutters on windows closed quickly by hands inside. They both huddled in the centre of the street, fear creeping deeper and deeper into their bones. Desperately, they looked around the town, speaking in heavy breaths, hoping that the comfort of another would help ease their fear, difficult with the ghostly laughter that seemed to echo through the streets. The vampire was zeroing in, and two elves were in his sights.

"Theys all lock up tighter 'n Fort Knox,” Shani breathed. “I don't think they like strangers 'tall.”

“Wager ye righ',” Pania replied as she desperately searched the village for one house that might allow them entry. It was then that she realized the obvious. “The Church! C'mon!” She grabbed Shani's arm, nearly dragging her as she ran. The doors of the church might not be locked, and it was more than likely this place would be their only saving grace. Closer and closer the doors grew, all the while, screams and laugher of terror and madness grew louder behind them.

The vampire was closing in.

Just when they thought the inevitable would happen, the pair of elves burst through the doors, quickly slamming them shut as they leaned against the now strong wood. The vampire wouldn't enter these halls. Shani and Pania would be safe.

And they would have company.

As they breathed heavily, letting their hearts slow down from the fright they had just endured, they realized they weren't alone in this hallowed of places. Fifteen village residents had taken refuge inside the walls of the church. Obviously, they knew something was happening. Maybe this vampire had been here before.

The vicar stepped forward, studying the pair carefully. His brow furrowed as he caught sight of the guns slung low on their hips. “Outlaws,” he snorted. “You seek refuge inside this building? Yet you bring weapons inside.”

“Refuge,” Shani panted heavily as she tried to get her words out. “Vampire... outside... chasin' us... hadda run.”

“We're jus' wantin' the shelter from the storm,” Pania offered in a more complete sentence. “Please, we're no' 'ere ta 'urt anyone...” Her sentence was cut short as the vicar ripped her hat from her head, tilting her head to the side as he caught sight of something else. A delicate finger traced the long tips of her elven ears.

“Demons,” he snorted. “You could very well be working with the vampires.”

“Ya know,” Shani spat out quickly. “Gittin' kinda tired o' bein' equated ta demons. We're ELVES! Ya know! Like pixies, fairies, sprites an' the like. Fey folk.”

“Uh... Shani,” Pania cautioned her partner carefully as she tried to speak in an even tone while the vicar cupped her chin in his massive hand. The vicar was not a small man. “May'aps keep the roarin' ta a minimum in 'ere.” Pleading eyes looked up to the vicar. “Please. We're no' 'ere ta 'urt anyone. We jus' want shelter from wha's outside. It's all we ask.”

The vicar let go of Pania's chin and nodded slightly, but with no expression change on his stoic face. “You can stay here until mornin'. Then we expect you to go.”

Shani and Pania muttered their thanks then raced to the window, curiosity getting the best of them as they gazed out beyond the small graveyard in front of the church. They gasped as the pale face and deep, dark eyes looked back at them, the twisted smile only made worse by the prominent fangs seemed to grin at them. The elves jumped back with a cry and cowered against the wall beside the window. “Ye think 'e saw us?”

“I'm pretty sure,” Shani replied with a nervous nod.

*****

The vampire walked through the graves, just waiting, savouring the scent he had caught from the pair. Sweeter than anything he'd every smelled before. He would savour this hunt, even if it meant he would have to chase them all across this continent. Just feed along the way, and the elves would be his ultimate goal. It was like a high, a euphoric feeling. Their blood would be so sweet, so pure, so filling.

His thoughts drifted as he heard the click of a door latch. Turning to the sound, he saw a young woman stepping out from the door way. “Perhaps I will have no need of the gunslingers this night. My meal has been brought to me. How precious, how lovely. A perfect sample to satiate my lust.” He grinned as he slowly walked toward the woman. She was giving herself willingly, and while the chase often made the blood just as sweet, a willing victim was as exciting. Either way, he would feed this night.

*****

“'E still at the window?” Pania asked in a whisper. The pair had huddled together on the floor, and the closeness of each other seemed to draw some strength for both of them. Shani slowly rose to her feet, eyes peeking above the window sill.

"Holy crap!” she seemed to shout her whisper as she spied what was happening in the moonlight street.

“Shani!” Pania said in a warning voice. “We in a church.”

The lithe elf looked to Pania with a furrowed brow. “What? It ain't like I said dangit 'r nuthin'.” She looked out the window again, describing what she saw. “There's a woman in the street. Look like some kid. The vampire's walkin' over to her.”

“Wha'?” Pania said with shock and scrambled to her feet, gazing out the window. She saw the scene clearly, almost more clearly than she'd like to. "Tha' child's a goner," Pania gasped, stating the obvious.

Shani rose to her feet quickly, drawing both pistols. Those who huddled together in the church stared in disbelief, shocked that someone would draw a pistol in the confines of a holy place. The lithe elf looked to them for a moment, then spoke with reassuring words as Pania joined Shani in a weapons check. "I ain't one ta let bloodsuckers git 'way with such things like thet outside. Come hell 'r high water, I'm gonna take thet bastard down, 'r die tryin'."

"Then you'll need these," the voice of a young man spoke up. A muscular and tall man stepped forward and held out a small box to Shani. "Silver bullets."

Shani looked over the box a moment before accepting it with a nod. "I take it y'all been roughed up by this one b'fore."

"The clutch of vampires has ravaged our community for years," the vicar explained. "Once a fortnight they steal one person." He hung his head as he described the situation.

"They?" Pania remarked as she loaded her pistols with silver bullets. "So there's more 'n jus' the one. Ye tried fightin' back?"

"Yes," the vicar replied quietly. "But it is difficult. These are just the brood. They are lead by one much stronger."

"Well," Shani stated as she finished loading her Colts. "This'll be one less fer the brood. Thanks fer the bullets, kid," she said turning back to the young man.

"Dieter," he simply said with a smile. "Dieter Van Bueren."

"Shani," the lithe elf replied as she tipped her hat and smiled. "Thet there short one is Pania. Pleased ta meetcha." Shani turned to Pania and offered a grin. "Ya set?" Pania gave a wordless nod as one hand gripped a pistol, the other held her rapier. "All right then, let's go say hi ta tall, pale an' scary."

Between Raisin' Hell An' Amazin' Grace Pt. 6

Dieter Van Bueren held up a calming hand as he spied the two animals. He and his father had been on patrol around the small Dutch community. Always there were strangers and strange people coming to Reading at night. But this was the first time a pair of horses showed themselves.

Dieter's father stepped forward to study the horses. “They aren't work horses,” he mused. “They've been used for ridin'.” And then he saw the scabbards that held the rifles and shotguns. And then the satchel filled with cash. Frederick Van Bueren furrowed his brow. “Gunslingers,” he snorted.

“They gonna be comin' here, father?” Dieter inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

“If they are, they'll find these horses will be in the stables,” the elder Van Bueren replied. “They can take the horses, but they'll be told ta leave as soon as possible.” Frederick looked to the sky. Already the moon was rising, a brilliant full moon it was. “Come on. Best get back into town. It's close to the witching hour, and that's a hunter's moon.” Dieter nodded as he gently took the reigns of the horses, leading them back into the safe confines of the town.

*****

Pania struggled against the wind, eyes narrowed and hands held high to protect herself from the coming storm. She was positive this was a dream, but it felt so real, however, it was a matter of waking up. Which currently was extremely difficult. The faces that appeared before her were ghastly apparitions and she wondered if this might not be some warning of the days to come. She only received such images when closely tied to the weave, and never before on Earth. Something was extremely wrong, because she knew that just a few hours earlier she and Shani had bunked down along a trail that was not that far from a little town called Reading, Pennsylvania, just east of Harrisburg.

So what was this all about?

She never received an answer as she was quickly shaken awake. The elven gunslinger that had promised to help her was by her side.

“Wake up!” She was screaming and shaking the smaller elf's shoulders. Pania opened her eyes and started to wipe the cobwebs away as Shani let go of her shoulders. “Dangit! Take ya ferever ta wake up! We gots problems.”

“Huh?” Pania grunted, having only just woken up, that early form of verbal communication having slightly eluded her, even with Shani using large words like we and got. “Wha...?”

“Horses 're gone,” Shani informed her motioning with one arm to the very empty looking campsite as she moved over to her small pile of possessions. “Saddles, ev'rythin'. Only the stuff I had with me, an' the stuff you had with ya 're still here.” The lithe elf was more than just a bit pissed. She snorted as she picked up her belongings. “They even split with the satchel filled with alla the money from thet job in Harrisburg.”

“They? Wai', who, they?” Pania asked as she started to realize how dire the situation was.

“Hadda be more 'n one,” Shani seemed to hiss. “Gathered the stuff up, took the horses an' split.” She looked up to study the stars through a break in the canopy of the trees. “An' I figger it's gittin' on midnight. We ain't far from Readin', maybe we kin catch a break, see if they may 'ave found the horses.”

Pania sluggishly gathered her things together, still trying to piece together all the information she had received. It would be a long walk. “We're may'aps twenty miles from Readin'. Maybe get there by mid day.”

“I figger so,” Shani replied. “But we ain't gonna git anywheres sittin' here jawin' 'bout it. C'mon. Let's make tracks.” Shani started her trek along the path, as Pania quickly followed, even as difficult as it might have been for her. She had finally finished taking stock of her supplies but still seemed a bit groggy. They each had their guns, clothes, bedrolls, some cash and a few rations. Pania still had her rapier and a few personal items. Enough to get them to Reading. It would still be a long trip. As they walked, the silence of the night seemed to envelope the area. Fortunately for the elves, their eyes were good in the dark. But there were those who had even better vision.

A small rustle of leaves was the only sound as a lone figure stepped out of the shadows where Shani and Pania had been sleeping. His face contorted into a sick and twisted grin as he watched the pair, now some distance down the path. “That's right, my little jewels. Walk, get the blood pumping. It's so much better when the rush of adrenaline has been flowing through the veins. It makes the taste, so much sweeter.” He laughed quietly, a sickening sound and fell back into the shadows that enveloped the forest.

The end... for now

Between Raisin' Hell An' Amazin' Grace Pt. 5

They slowed their horses to a crawl. It had been a while since the last gunshot had sounded, more than likely the posse had given up the chase. At least the sheriff and his men would have, Captain Williams on the other hand, would find some way to continue. At least they had some breathing room again. They stopped their horses as they drew closer to a peaceful stream. Shani stretched in the saddle as Pania dismounted and guided her horse to the stream's edge. The pale elf set her duster hat down as she cupped some of the water in her hands, splashing it over her face.

“I'm gonna be 'eadin' ta Shreveport,” Pania stated as she ran her wet fingers through her hair. “If ye willin', I wouldna mind the company.” She rose to her feet, stretching slightly to work out the kinks in her body, and slowly turned around. No sooner was she facing Shani again, that she found herself falling to the ground. The lithe elf took a swing and connected with Pania's jaw, sending the smaller of the two crashing to the ground. She partially landed in the stream, and flailed her arms as the splash of water soaked her completely. As Pania's world began to clear again, she found herself staring down the business end of one of Shani's Colts. “Wha' the bloody 'ell?”

“Who are ya?” Shani shouted, her face sneering angrily. There was hate in those eyes, Shani suspected that this elf might have been paid to find her, and bring her back to her world.

“I already bloody tol' ye,” Pania shouted back with some desperation in her voice. “Pania Alow!”

“Yer the first dang elf I seen since I come here,” Shani said as she cocked the hammer back on the pistol. “Who sent ya after me? Were it my brother? Did Sywyn set ya up ta do this?”

“Sy... who? No!” Pania replied, somewhat confused. “I found a gate an' crossed o'er. More 'n likely the same as ye did. No one sent me, I'm no' searchin' fer ye. This is jus' a coincidence tha' we're meetin' 'ere.”

Shani huffed a few times and kept her pistol trained on Pania, but she considered the words, weighing them carefully. Slowly, she released the hammer of the pistol, gently putting it back in place so it wouldn't fire. With some reluctance, she twirled the pistol and holstered it, resting her hands on her hips as she studied Pania, who still lay on the ground. “Coincidence,” Shani said with some disbelief. “I ain't never been one ta prescribe ta fate, or coincidence. But I guess the world's big 'nough ta have it happen.” She sighed slightly as she reached out a hand to help Pania up. The pale elf graciously took it, lifting herself up and trying to wipe off any leaves and twigs that came up with her.

“Ye know, ye coulda jus' asked me tha' without the punchin' an' intimidatin',” she suggested to Shani. “I gladly woulda said the same thin'.”

“Take it from my perspective,” Shani replied as she tended to her horse. “I been runnin' from pretty near everyone wearin' a badge, an' everyone tryin' ta collect a bounty fer better part o' a year now. A person kin git a might twitchy after a while.” She removed the saddle from her horse and set it down on a fallen tree as she spoke. “Figger yer facin' the same thing.”

“Aye,” Pania said softly as she also tended to her horse. It was evident they needed a rest. The afternoon sun was beginning to shine through, and they'd be better off traveling at night. “I 'it caravans an' stagecoaches carryin' medical supplies. Take 'em ta the tribes so they can tend ta their sick.” She sighed as she sat down on a good sized rock by the stream's edge. “Ye know wha' they've gone through?” Pania asked Shani.

“I heard some,” Shani replied. “Heard tell 'bout a hunnerd years back 'bout Europeans givin' Injuns diseased blankets. Whole tribe wiped out from pox, jist b'cause some governor 'r some diplomat d'cided thet the land'd be great fer farmin', but didn't wanna buy from the Injuns.”

“Aye, there is tha',” Pania remarked, then looked to the satchels that Shani seemed to protect closely. “So... 'ittin' banks. Robbin' stagecoaches.”

“Yeah,” Shani smirked. “Partially do it fer the thrill, but I git rid o' most o' the money. This here job I pulled brought in maybe five 'r six thousand.”

“Good 'aul,” Pania replied with an impressive smile.

Shani shrugged at the compliment. To her, the money nor the amount was the goal, but just seeing if she could pull it off. “I give it 'way, mostly. Come 'cross a share cropper 'r some drifter needed some cash ta eat. Ev'n Injuns needin' ta git by long 'nough fer the next huntin' season. I jist keep 'nough ta git by. I kin make more playin' poker in some small town. There the law ain't so far reachin' as it is. An' ya gotta be quick with a pistol.”

“Know 'bout tha' all too well,” Pania said with a nod. “I rode in from the west a while back. 'Eard rumours o' an Underground Rail Road bringin' slaves up from the south. I were gonna be 'eadin' down ta Shreveport.”

“Been south b'fore,” Shani stated. “Never been much further west 'n Madison, Wisconsin. But Shreveport I been ta b'fore.”

Pania had taken out her bedroll as they talked, setting it up and using her duster as a pillow. She lay down on the soft grass as they spoke, the wind rustling the leaves in the trees and the babbling stream the only other noise. “I could use the 'elp. Someone who may know the area well 'nough.”

Shani chuckled softly as she set out her own bed roll. “Yeah, I know a few good places down there. Good saloon ta git in on a poker game 'r two.” She rolled up her long coat as a pillow and lay down. For a few moments, she studied the smaller elf, questions filling her mind. But instead of leaving them unspoken, she fired them off. “So, what's a bard like ya doin' out here?”

“Bard?” Pania snorted at the question. “'Ow ye figger tha'?”

Shani arched an eyebrow and smirked. “C'mon now.”

“Fine, fine,” Pania sighed with a smile. “Been 'ere b'fore. 'S no' me first trip 'ere. 'Bou' seventy five year back I come 'roun'. Most o' this place were still bein' settled at the time. I were curious, an' come walkin' through. Bu' this time were jus' fer the adventure. A want ta walk. Wha' 'bou' ye?”

Shani sighed as she made herself comfortable. She thought on the question for a time before finally answering. “I guess a lil from column A, an' a lil from column B. Some place diff'rent ta come ta. A place ta do things thet I wouldn't dare do back home. Things're a might diff'rent here, thet's fer sure.”

“Like the lack o' magic,” Pania offered.

“There is thet, yep,” Shani nodded with a sigh. “Ya kin feel it, can't ya? I mean, 'least the lack o' it.”

“Oh, it's there. Bu' no' as strong as back 'ome. It's like the 'umans dunna e'en b'lieve in it, so it's gone down ta a faint spark. Only mages 'ere 'r 'and magicians. Entertainin' fer the crowd.” Pania rolled over onto her side, propping herself up with her arm. “So, tell me. All tha' stuff on the wanted posters. It true?”

Shani laughed aloud at the question. “Jist a buncha bullshit, truth be tol'. I ain't killed no thirty nine people, thet's fer sure. 'R thirty seven 'r however many they say. An' I ain't stole more 'n fifty thousand dollars. Nowhere near close ta five hunnerd grand they sayin'. I will say, though, thet they got it right on my shootin' a pistol.”

“No ego there,” Pania said with a grin.

“I ain't gonna hold back, I am more 'n likely one o' the best gunslingers these parts ever seen.” Shani looked over to the elven bard with a grin. “Now what 'bout y'all? How 'bout yer wanted poster? Ya actually kill a U.S. Marshal?”

“Ye wanna talk 'bou' bullshite,” Pania scoffed lightly as she rolled her eyes. “I were tryin' ta save 'im from fallin' off a cliff. Couldna pull 'im up. 'E fell, they tacked 'is death ta me.” Pania shrugged lightly and sighed. “I'm a bit ticked 'bou' tha', bu' nuthin' I can do 'bou' it. 'Least the marshal knows the way it went down.”

“Yeah, ain't thet the truth.” Shani sighed as their conversation quieted. She suddenly realized just how tired she really was. A yawn from the pale elf told her that Pania was just as tired. A rest, a well deserved rest, and then back on the road.

*****

Evening came along quickly. The long days of summer were starting to wane, and the lengthening shadows of the evening only hearkened the coming of fall. For the two elves, they slept comfortably, at least as comfortably as one could on the ground. Not even the sounds of the forest brought them out of their slumber.

Nor the quiet clomping of hooves, as a pair of horses walked through and slowly disappeared down the rest of the trail. One other set of foot falls accompanied them, quiet as they were. And neither elf was any the wiser.