He stood there, with his perfect posture, allowing himself to be fretted over. He could've been at a local tailor; he looked in every way the model.
"My eye-patch, if you don't mind, my love. It's gone a bit askew."
She rearranged the patch. "Are you warm enough? You can have my cloak back if you'd like."
"No, thank you. Though, a swallow of whiskey couldn't hurt."
She smirked. "Too bad I have none at the moment."
"I hate to admit it, but I miss the Lakestar. They had such wonderful service, and the most comfortable furnishings. Of course, your friend Edel had a lovely place himself. The bed in that apartment...."
She snuffed the fire with snow. "You must be soaked though."
Opal shrugged. “A bit.”
As they rounded the cluster of pines, Opal noticed several bodies lying in the snow. "What happened?"
"Oh, yes, that," Cameo sighed, as if thinking about the whole thing annoyed her. "It's that Jody Fitzrory and the other men from that tavern we visited yesterday. They wanted the bounty on your—Black Opal's—head mostly."
"And I ... I slept through that?"
"Yes."
"The tincture …."
"Yes."
They continued on in silence, until a thought struck him. "Did he have any money or alcohol on him?"
"Heh." Cameo chuckled to herself. That was all he was interested in? Well, of course he was. He was hoping she would give him more money. Was there any other reason for him being with her? She provided him with stuff, and he gladly held out a hand (or at this point, a paw) to take it. "Yes, he had a little money."
"I'm surprised none of that lot had any alcohol."
"The tavern didn't have any, so it doesn't really surprise me all that much."
"I suppose so."
They hadn't walked more than half a mile before they came across a black figure sitting in the snow off to one side of the footpath. At first Cameo reached for her pistol, but then the figure turned its face toward them, and she realized it was Jules.
"Oh, and I thought you had gone," Opal stated, an air of displeasure in his tone.
Jules got to his feet. "I'm compelled to follow."
"Of course you are," the dandy grumbled to himself.
Jules pulled his pack over his shoulder, and the front of his shirt flapped open, exposing his chest to the cold.
"What happened?"
Jules glanced down at the scars as if he hadn't fully gotten used to them being there yet. "That fop shot me."
“You should get your armor repaired,” Opal sniffed.
He grinned, looking down at the leather that Cameo had ripped open last night. “Does make me look more like a zombie, though.”
"You should stitch that back up," Cameo said.
"You have a needle and thread?"
"No."
Jules pulled his cloak around himself.
They began walking again, south toward Ponth. Black Opal fell into step behind Cameo and Jules. He had gone silent.
* * * * *
"Dog!" Carrington spun around. That black-and-brown dog was following him. "Get away from me."
Caith chuckled.
"This is your fault, Caith. You encouraged that mutt, and now he's following us."
Kyrian glanced back at the canine in question. "Maybe he likes you, Carrington."
"I'll bet that's it," Caith grinned at Kyrian. "You've found a friend, Carrington."
The young man pressed to the front of the group, trying to lose the dog in the crowd. "I have plenty of friends. I don't want that stupid dog following me around. Besides, he could get hurt where we're going. Doesn't he have an owner?"
Caith reached down and rumpled the dog's fur. "If he did, he's decided to travel with us now."
Carrington shook his head and moved toward the front where Gibson Reynard was leading them forward, toward Ponth. Carrington, however, inclined his head in Sage's direction, apparently preferring her conversation to the lieutenant's.
Kyrian readjusted his shoulder-pack. It was now weighed down with ample provisions with what they believed they would be needing: food, holy water, and symbols. He had packed himself some bedding, but he doubted Caith or Sage had. They were under the impression that destroying a vampire would take a day of work, but he was not so optimistic. He'd seen Haffef on a couple occasions. Haffef was a powerful vampire, probably ancient. Kyrian had been able to turn Edel fairly easily—just a few hours of meditation was needed to work that feat—but Haffef? He had once seen Haffef disappear through a floor, like a ghost. He was more resourceful, possibly magical.
Kyrian had already voiced these concerns to Sage, but they were dismissed by the rest of the party, so he had grown silent and decided to follow along obediently. It was the right thing to do—the only thing he could do to support them— and ridding the world of Haffef would certainly be for the greater good. Then, perhaps, the priesthood would still be within reach.
He felt a sudden pull leading off the trail and to the right, but before he could say anything, Sage and Caith were voicing that very same impression.
"The vampire is definitely that way," Sage said. "Through the forest right there."
"You're certain?"
Caith ignored Gibson and began to wander off the path and down a small embankment.
Kyrian followed him.
"It's this way, Lieutenant." Sage beckoned for him to follow as everyone else trudged through the snow away from him.
"Wait! I will walk ahead of you!" he called, but to himself muttered something, irritated about having to protect the acolytes.
The dog remained on the path and did not pursue them further.
* * * * *
"Hangingford," Cameo read aloud as the three of them looked around the sleepy, snow-covered town.
There were only a few shops: on the left, a doctor, a tavern, a general store, and further down a stable; on the right, a large shrine. The stained glass in the second story gleamed in the sunlight.
Cameo ran toward the shrine, but as she neared it, she felt herself weaken. The place had a horrible feeling about it. She stopped in her tracks, only a few feet from the front door, unable to mount the steps and knock on the door or walk inside. The assassin stood there at the end of the path that led to the door.
"A shrine. Do you think Kyrian's in there?" Black Opal mused. "Well, come on, love. Let's go see."
For a moment she wanted to warn him of what she felt, but Opal didn’t seem at all affected by the feeling of dread, and then it dawned on her, as she lifted her now-blue eyes to look at him, that he was human and therefore safe. Somehow, at some point, she had crossed the line that she'd been bordering for years, the one Edel had talked about when he had come into contact with Kyrian's amulet. He couldn't stand to look at it, but it hadn't bothered her in the least ... then.
"You go ahead."
"But how will I knock on the door?"
"I ... don't know."
He caught Jules' eyes for a moment. "Are you coming inside?"
"No, thanks."
Annoyed, but ever the optimist, Opal turned around, squared his shoulders, and walked to the door, choosing to kick it a couple times.
Cameo glanced down at the snow. There were very few footprints in the snow, just one set of tracks coming into town from somewhere else headed to the doctor and one well-worn trail on the other side of the street. However, directly in front of the shrine was a large set of prints that seemed to exit the shrine as a group and lead south out of town.
Jules glanced up from the tracks and into her eyes.
She nodded. "He's gone."
Just then the door opened and an older man with a dishrag in his hands stood in the doorway. "Yes? Hello, did you wish to come inside? No need to knock, the shrine is always open."
"Oh, yes, yes. I'd forgotten. It's been a while since I .... Well, I'm looking for my friend Kyrian MacRoom. Do you know him?"
"You're a friend of Kyrian? Yes, I know h
im. Lovely young man."
"Is he here?"
"Why don't you come inside? Get out of the cold ...." He noticed Cameo and Jules standing at the end of the walk. "Your friends are welcome, too."
Opal glanced over his shoulder. "Yes. Well, I've tried to tell them that, but apparently they'd rather not.
"Anyhow," the dandy faced the man once more, "is Kyrian here?"
"Uh, no. No, the whole group up and left last night."
"Left?"
"That's right, on their way to Ponth to do something ... important, I guess."
"Really? Kyrian's going to do something important? How uncharacteristic."
"I'm not a holy person myself, just looking after the place while they're gone," he smiled, "but I got the impression that it was something mystical."
"Oh, yes. Why didn't I see that one coming?" He flashed a rather charming smile, hiding his sarcasm as best he could. "Well then, thanks very much for your help, sir."
"You're welcome. Sure you don't want to come in, just to warm up?"
"No, thank you."
"All right then, good day."
Opal turned away as the man shut the door. "Lovely."
"He's not here!" Cameo called to him as he walked unsteadily back down the icy steps.
"He and some friends are traveling to Ponth to do something important."
"He's gone, with friends? That's interesting," Cameo remarked.
"Yes," Opal shivered, hugging himself with his arms. "Oh look, there's a tavern," he said, ignoring the two of them and walking toward it.
"Hangman's Noose," Jules read the sign above the door. "I feel safe here."
Cameo smirked as they followed Opal inside.
It was a proper inn. It actually reminded Cameo of the Tavern Pipe Inn, quite unlike the last one they'd visited. There was a large front room with a fire blazing in the hearth, tables, a bar toward the back, and a second floor, presumably with an extra room for rent. The whole place was olive green. Perhaps a color they were able to come by for cheap.
The tavern was nearly empty as they walked in.
"Hello, can I get you something to drink?" The innkeeper broke from a conversation he was having with a patron, the only other person in the place, to address them.
"Whiskey."
"And you two?"
"Same," Jules said, sitting down beside Cameo.
"Whiskey sounds wonderful, and a good bottle of wine."
"I've got that." He knelt down and pulled up a bottle of something red. "Charlotte, get this," he pointed to the bottle.
A pregnant barmaid set a dusty bottle down on the table before them, with three glasses. "Hello, Opal."
He startled.
"Oh my, what's happened?" she said, reaching for his hands.
He saw the red hair swept back from her face. "Charlotte?"
She smiled. "Where's Bellamy?"
"Uhh ... I don't know," he lied. "Probably moved to Shandow. I think that was his plan."
"Oh, I thought he might still be with you."
The dandy glanced down at her bulging belly, sadly. "No."
"I'll get that whiskey for you." She took a step away.
"Is Lorraine here?"
"She died in the fire. Didn't you know? When that lunatic torched the Tavern Pipe Inn. Mister Fipps and his wife, too."
"Who?"
"The innkeeper."
"Oh." He shot an accusing look at Jules who was avidly studying the tabletop. "I'm sorry to hear it."
"When they didn't rebuild ... well, I came to Hangingford. This place is pretty nice."
"You look good. That's the important thing."
She smiled at him. "Same old Opal."
"Yes. Well then, what are you going to name the baby? I'll bet you've a name for the baby whether it's a girl or boy, hmm? Bel or Belle," he flashed a smile.
"Opal, if it's a girl. "
"I beg your pardon."
"Bellamy isn't the father, and no offense, but I feel Opal is a girl’s name. It wouldn’t do for a boy.”
Cameo met his gaze quizzically.
"What? What do you mean? That's not possible."
She rolled her eyes. "It happened that time Bel was visiting at his sister's house for a wedding, and then he came down sick and was stuck in Lockenwood for a couple weeks."
Opal paled.
"See, yeah, look at him. He remembers," she smiled.
A grin spread across Jules' face.
"How about Frederick, or Francois?" Cameo offered.
"I dunno about that Francois name. Someone might think me in league with that Mond fellow."
Jules stifled a laugh.
Opal kicked him under the table.
"Can I get you anything, Opal? You're looking thin—"
"I'm not hungry."
"All right, then. I'll be here if you change your mind." With that, Charlotte walked away.
"What a good friend," said Cameo, her voice harsh.
Opal didn't look at her. "He wasn't in love with her."
"I expect not."
He met her eyes.
She was staring at him coldly.
"I didn't even know you at the time."
She plucked a clay pipe from a canister in the center of the table and set it before her, all the while watching him. "You're going to have a baby."
"No, I'm not. Charlotte is."
"Ideal father material," Jules hissed.
"Shut it!" Opal shouted at him.
Jules chuckled to himself.
"Shh," Cameo glanced over at Charlotte, whose attention was now on the three of them. "I'd rather the locals didn't get riled up on the account of our arrival."
Opal sat darkly.
"She knows who you are. Probably recognized me as well."
He glanced back at her—she was pouring the whiskey—and then shook his head. "It's Charlotte. She's known me for years. Why would she turn me in now?"
Cameo folded her arms. "I don't know. I can't think of any reason why she might need bounty money right about now, can you?"
"Here you are gents, and lady," Charlotte smiled as she set the drinks down. "Did you want lunch with that?"
"Yes, we'll have lunch."
For the first time, Charlotte actually looked at Cameo, something she had seemed to be avoiding up to this point. "Good ... good. I'll go and get it."
"She wouldn't do it," Opal stated as soon as the barmaid was out of earshot.
"Wanted for regicide around here, aren't you, Opal?" Jules sneered.
The dandy frowned, "I didn't kill Bainbridge."
"Is there anywhere you haven't killed a king?"
"Right now I'm just regretting that I didn't finish you off when I had the chance."
"I'll bet. Most people are easier to kill when they're tied up," Jules said bitterly.
"You were going to kill a girl."
Jules waved his hand, "Is that what you're so upset about? She came at me with her knife."
Cameo rested her head in her hands.
"You deserve to die."
"Oh, do I?" Jules' mocked. "Well, here I am. Kill me."
Opal chewed his lip angrily, lifting his hands as if he wanted to strangle Jules and then setting them back down on the table.
"Well, c'mon. Aren't you going to beat me to death with those useless—"
Charlotte set down three bowls of stew. "It's piping hot."
Cameo dropped some coin into her hand.
"Opal, it's been good to see you again. Are you going to be in town long? It would be nice talk more."
"Uh, yes ... well—"
"Of course we will," Cameo said, cutting across him.
"Oh, good. Good. Well, stop back in."
He nodded, uncertain of why he was doing so, then he looked directly at Cameo. "Why?"
"I just thought it might buy us a little more time. Perhaps she won't be so anxious to call the authorities or ... whatever she has in mind."
"Perhaps if you offered to give her some money f
or her baby ...."
"We need to eat and get out of here. Save your bickering for the walk to Ponth," Cameo snarled.
Black Opal stared down into the steaming bowl, the glass full of whiskey. "I need some of the tincture."
She slid over onto his side of the table and pressed the glass of whiskey to his lips, "When we leave."
He frowned, "I'm ready to go."
She set the glass down and offered him a spoonful of stew, all the while he stared at her, unhappy.
Jules finished, swallowing down the last swig of whiskey hastily, and left the table. "See you later."
“So, about Charlotte ....”
“I’m sorry.”
“It happened before you knew me, as you said earlier. The question is what are you going to do about it now?”
“Marry her?” he chuckled.
She tilted her head to one side, “I was wondering about that, yes.”
“What? No. Why would I? I’d never leave you—”
“You’re a human,” she said flatly. “I’m immortal ... nearly so.”
“Are you?”
“Yes, Opal. If you want to live a human life, now would not be a bad time to start. A newborn ... a family. I can never offer you that. Honestly, I don’t know what I can offer at all that is really any good for a human.”
“Don’t say that. I love you. Love is the only thing of importance.”
“Is it?” she mused. “How much more of loving me can you really take, my dear? Bounty hunters, vampires, death, and running. That’s all I have to give you.”
A pained expression crossed his face.
She dug into her pack and retrieved the flask of tincture. “Not much left, but I’ll carry you the rest of the way. It will be safest.”
“And most humiliating.”
“Your humiliation will soon be over. Once we find our old friend, you won’t depend on me to spoon you your meals anymore.”
He gifted her one wistful smile and swallowed down the drug.
Cameo went to the bar to get her flask refilled, leaving him alone to reflect on everything that had just transpired. When she returned, she stuffed the bottle of wine into her pack.
“Ready? Let’s get going.”
Cameo and the Vampire (Trilogy of Shadows Book 3) Page 10
