Cities Of The Androscoggin: Out Of The Shadows

Chapter Two: The Fae Of The Wood

Monica sat at the computer browsing various on-line comics when she heard the front door open.  Then she heard Darius' tromping footsteps across the kitchen.  He entered her room, tossed his jacket onto a chair and sat down with a sigh.  He had developed his pictures and them came right home and had barely stopped shaking.

"Rough day at the office?"  She asked with a smirk.

"I just ran into something that really freaked the shit out of me."  He replied.

"You okay?"  She asked without looking from the computer screen.

"Yeah."  He said hoarsely.  "I'll be all right."

"Good."  Her smirk returned.  "Now stop whining, it makes you look like a wuss."

"I didn't get much from the crime scenes."  He said, ignoring her comment.

"That's okay."  She said.  "I've got the complete LPD file out on the table."

That washed away Darius' fatigue and spurred a new wave of energy and ambition.  He leaned forward in his chair.

"Really?"  He didn't bother to hide his excitement.  "I didn't expect that much."

"Neither did I,"  She responded.  "but Barnes is heading the investigation."

"Oh, you're my girl."

She scoffed slightly.

"In your dreams."

He stood to leave.

"I've got some photos for you to check out too."  He said.

"Okay, gimmie a minute.  I want to finish looking at this."

"Sure."  He started to leave but turned back.  "I'm hungry, you want anything?"

"Naw, I just had Luiggi's about an hour ago."

He made a slightly disgusted face.

"Ugh, Luiggi's?"

"Yeah, you bastard, you took the car and it was the only place in walking distance."

Darius left and prepared his supper.  Since he wasn't cooking for both of them he tossed a leftover bean burrito from Taco Bell in the microwave and ate a bachelor�s supper.

***

An excerpt from the hard to find text �The World In Shadow: The Truth Behind Real Supernatural Threats�, page 227:

Vampire (Undead/Nosferatu) or vampir, vampyre, vampyr

Thought by most to be a Hollywood legend and not a real threat vampires do, in fact, exist.  To not believe in them is dangerous if not suicidal, for these creatures do prowl this world by night, preying on humans for food.  They are vastly powerful, extremely deceptive and definitely not to be underestimated.  However, it is good to know that the powers and weaknesses of individual vampires vary little from one to another.

Unlike other undead, vampires appear like humans and most look as they did in life.  Some appear as twisted versions of humans with exaggerated or bestial traits but this condition is rare.  It is assumed that they appear as having very pale skin and dark hair due to lack of exposure to sunlight.

Vampire social structure is that of a territorial pack.  The leader or "alpha" maintains a psychic connection with all of its underlings.  When a vampire leaves it's pack to create its own it first finds a suitable locale, preferably one with a steady food source which tends to draw them to urban areas.  When an alpha has found a location it will first establish a lair, these tend to be subterranean like caves or sewers. 

When a lair has been found it will then create its pack.  This will take time as it must drain a victim's life essence and then wait for them to rise.  A victim will rise from the grave as a vampire in the autumn months so the alpha will usually stalk them in the spring and summer to allow time for gestation but not make the wait too long.  In rare cases when a pack is large enough, usually exceeding seventy-five or one hundred, the alpha will create a handful of "betas" which then control a number of groups within the pack.  Some refer to packs of this size as a "tribe".

All vampires are as strong as a dozen humans.  They have been known to tear through walls and overturn cars when they are hunting.  They also have the ability to quickly regenerate almost all types of damage, including gunshots and loss of limbs.  The only wound they cannot regenerate is total decapitation; this is the best method for killing one.  The popular stake through the heart is not without merit, it, however, does not kill.  When a hardwood stake, preferably oak, is driven through a vampire's heart it paralyses them for a time, this is the best time to kill them.

The only other method for killing a vampire is direct sunlight.  Exposure to direct rays of the sun will cause instant incineration of the flesh.  Reflection or ultraviolet lamps have no effect.  However, causing a vampire to first risk exposure is virtually impossible as they all psychically know exactly where the sun is and when it will rise or set, so naturally they avoid it.  The above mentioned method for destruction is recommended.

Holy symbols and relics, unfortunately, have little effect but to deter a vampire for their presence is uncomfortable but not repelling.  Holy ground, on the other hand, repels them completely and they are unable to step foot on it.  This seems to only apply to sites of Christian or Judaic power, older or pagan sites have little to no effect.  This phenomenon is not yet understood.  It is important to know that an exception to this rule is a burial ground at the time of a vampire's resurrection.  At this time they move directly to the lair to establish a connection with the alpha.

There are other stereotypes that deserve mention.  Garlic is one of the biggest misconceptions, like holy symbols it does not repel them.  It is, however, useful as a deterrent as it is very uncomfortable for them to be around but they can still come through an area covered in garlic.  Two that have no basis are that vampires are unable to cross moving water, they are unfazed and can cross it at will, the other is that a vampire casts no reflection in mirrors and other reflective surfaces, they cast a reflection like any other physical body.

Also vampires have the ability to completely dominate a human�s mind and bend it to their will.  They are also capable of rendering themselves completely invisible at will, it is likely that this is where the myth of no reflection comes from.  Vampires are completely immune to the effects of extreme temperature and thus fire as well.  As they do not breathe vampires are also immune to gasses and chemicals.

Probably the most fearsome ability vampires possess is the ability to shape shift.  Due to their kinship with wolves they can transform into one for short periods of time.  They may also transform partially, they can grow claws, the typical fangs, and they can also change their eyes to gain the ability to see in the dark.  The legend of a vampire's capability to transform into a kind of fog or mist has no basis in reality.

The most important thing to know is that vampires are one of the most common adversaries one is likely to face and they should not be taken lightly.  If they are to be faced than a hunter should be well informed and well prepared.  An encounter with a vampire is not something most people are likely to survive but someone can survive if it is done with intelligence and preparation.

***

Darius closed the book and set it down.  The World In Shadow was known to be wrong before but now it seemed so right.  The case file put the killings in black and white and everything matched.

He sighed.  This was too much.  He did not honestly believe he and Monica could destroy a vampire, especially if it was already four killings into a pack.  Even if they could destroy the alpha it would be hell come October.

Monica entered and sat opposite him.  She first saw the stack of supernatural and occult books with various bits of paper placed throughout them as markers.  Then she saw the police file open in front of him.  He looked exhausted and worried.

"Problem?"  She asked.

"Could be."  He said.

She paused and waited for an explanation.  When none came she spoke again.

"Do you have those photos?"  She asked.

"Yeah."  He said with a sigh.  "Some of 'em didn't come out."

"Figures."

He handed her a pack of photos.

"That's got most of the ones I took today."  He said.  "The one I was talking about is in the back, it didn't develop right or there wasn't enough light or something."

Monica opened the pack and started studying the double prints as Darius went back to the police file.

"Are these in any particular order?"  She asked.

"No."  He said.  "I haven't gotten that far yet."

She went back to the photos and studied each one with meticulous detail and he went back to reading about the crime scene at the mill.  It intrigued him, partially because he had not seen it, but mostly because of what it said probably happened there.  They were both silent for a bit until Darius finally spoke.

"Have you read this?"  He asked.

For a moment Monica appeared to not hear him as she poured over the photos, she was about three quarters of the way through the pack.  He was about to say it again when she answered him.

"Nope."  She said shaking her head.

"It says that all the victims were found with no visible wounds besides signs of a struggle but autopsies showed they were missing over seventy percent of their bodily fluids."

"Huh."  She said placing another photo in one of her organized piles.  "Sounds like a vampire."

"That's what I was thinking."  He said, not noticing her smirk.  "Everything points to it."  He shook his head.  "Damn."

Her smile faded as she realized he was serious.  She didn't know where he got an outrageous idea like that but he obviously believed it.  It was okay though, she had proven him wrong before.  He always seemed to believe most of the hoaxes and misconceptions that they had investigated.  That's not to say that the whole case didn't strike her as a bit off because something was definitely wrong.  The whole vampire story just struck her as way too Hollywood and this was, after all, reality and not some movie or gothic horror novel.

"What are these photos of?"  She said to get her mind off the creeping feeling that had just washed over her.

"Which ones?"  He said releasing another exhausted sigh.

"These ones."  She held out two dark and blurred photos from the back of the pack.

"Carpets."  He said like that explained it all.

She sat with a confused look on her face for a moment.  She hated the fact that when he got tired he spoke cryptically like there was a psychic connection between them to communicate the details.

"What?"

Her head was starting to hurt.

"Okay."  He began.  "I was over at the reservoir when I felt something watching me.  I went towards it and it moved back into Thorncrag, so, I followed.  It went in deep and before I knew it I came out at one of the farmsteads up there.  Well, the place was crawling with spirits and, get this, it was covered in carpets.  It was real fucked up.  It looked like Marden's went up there and dumped a bunch of scraps of carpets.  Like industrial carpeting, you know?"  She nodded.  "Then like someone went and spread 'em all out flat, like they were trying to carpet the clearing.  So I started snapping photos and then I got the distinct impression that I was not wanted so I took off.  Quickly."

"Wow."  She said, the creeping feeling back now only stronger.

She could feel the terror and panic rising in him again and did not want to imagine what he must have felt at the time.  She could feel that those spirits had chased him out and he had fallen to panic.  She looked away quickly so she would feel no more; she was frightened enough right now.  Afraid to ask more questions but needing to change the subject she lifted the stack of photos that were the graffiti from the crime scenes.

"What do you make of these?"  She asked, trying to sound as calm as possible.  "They're more your department, they don't look like much to me."

Darius took the photos and saw what they were.

"They're not much."  He answered, leafing through them quickly.  "It's just a bunch of anti-Catholic symbolism, typical callings to the Devil, there's some pagan, but just how it was interpreted by Christianity.  It's more pop culture Satanism than anything else."

"Like what high school kids would do."

He nodded.  "That was pretty much my take on it too."

She was glad it was something that she could easily wrap her mind around.  It was something simple and tangible not dark and chaotic.

"You know,"  He said, gesturing toward the file.  "according to this the victims all knew each other."

"Yeah, they were classmates, right?"

"There's a little more to it than that.  They were all friends, a real bunch of outcasts.  Nobody liked them, they were supposedly heavy into drugs, and they were flunking most of their classes.  One of them,"  He paused to read the file.  "Dominick Whitely, had been expelled for assaulting another student.  There's a hospital report in here too, the kid was really messed up. 

"Here's an interesting bit.  It says that he was the second one killed but the third one found because his mother never reported him missing.  I guess the state is bringing charges of criminal neglect and wrongful death against her."

"Good."  Monica said, this was helping her leave that creeping and panic behind her.

"Get this."  Darius said sitting up straighter in his chair.  Monica could feel the excitement well up within him.  "The only member of their little clique that is still alive is one Franklin Gagne.  He's being kept out of school until this whole thing blows over.  He is LPD's main suspect but they don't have enough evidence to hold him so they're just watching him real close.  I guess he's a real loon.  It's got a psych profile on him that says he's a bit of a sociopath."

"Bit of a sociopath?"  She repeated.  "That's like only getting kind of killed by a semi."

"Well, listen."  He continued quickly.  "It says that he has been is St. Mary's three times for psychiatric issues.  Once for trying to skin his neighbor's dog."

Monica made a face that transcended words.

Darius continued. 

"He spent nine months in the Maine Youth Center for that one.  He was also suspended from school once for terrorizing other students, it doesn't explain." 

He set the file down on the table. 

"If you ask me, these are just the kind of kids to start some kind of self-styled, satanic worship.  This Gagne kid is just the kind to be frighteningly serious about it too."

"Yeah,"  Monica said.  "it's always Satanism or D&D for kids like that."

The joke seemed lost on Darius so she dropped it and decided to gloss over it quickly.

"So why did this vampire, or whatever, hunt them?"  She asked sarcastically.

"Always the skeptic, huh?"  He scowled.  "According to the file there were at least five people at the mill the night Larry LaVoie was killed.  Forensic tests match DNA from the other victims with samples found at the mill.  The other unidentified person is thought to be Gagne.  The problem is that this person was sent through a wall at some point, apparently in a struggle with the killer.  Also, the victim was found naked and had engaged in what was, apparently, a willful sexual act prior to death.  Now, the killer is noted as wearing some kind of work boots, but the one who was sent through the wall, supposedly Gagne, was also naked, so were the other three."

"And you think this vampire was the mysterious sixth person?"

"Exactly."  She could feel excitement grow.  "I think that the vampire was either scouting a lair or already had one there and these kids were perfect to start a pack.

"The only one who knows what really happened down there is Gagne and he's not talking, besides, LPD has such a tight watch on him that it would be virtually impossible to get close enough to talk to him.  I think, though, that Detective Curtis figured out what was going on but this Cobain character got to him first, which is why I want to talk to him."

"I knew you'd want to so I looked him up."  She said.  "Unfortunately, he hung himself yesterday in his room at AMHI."

"Shit."

"So, I guess it's still our move, huh?"

"Yeah."  He said with a sigh.  "I guess it is."

"What now then?"

"Well, we gotta track this fucker down before he starts killing again."

"Do you want me to check the usual on-line sources?"

"Yeah, you might find something useful there."

"Okay."

They both stood to leave.

"I'm gonna go get some sleep now."  Darius said before letting out another sigh.

"You go do that."  Monica said.

Darius walked into his room, stripped, laid down, and was sleeping before Monica even started the computer.

***

An emergency council was called among the spirits of Bloody Hill, the hill that comprised the majority of the area of Thorncrag.  It did not seem odd to the nymph sisters that they be there to attend, all of the faeries were expected to be there, but the odd part was that they were needed within the court.

The nymphs were similar in appearance, both were very slight of build and they wore similar homespun smocks.  Both had curly hair but one was the color of maple bark and the other was the color of springtime sunshine.  They walked with a light gait, almost floating across the grass beneath their bare feet.

They followed the massive and noble troll honor guard from the trees into the peaceful, moonlit glade crowded with the spirits of the forest.  The crowd parted for the troll until they entered the center ring where there stood the massive stag and the gorgeous elf princess.

Her name was Princess Tori and she was the undisputed leader of the magical freehold.  She was elegant and playful looking.  She wore a long maroon dress that concealed her feet and brushed the ground.  Her skin was pale and lightly freckled.  Her hair hung long around her face and shoulders in small red and black braids.  She stood taller than the nymphs but not the stag.  The two nymphs stopped and bowed their heads before their liege.

"Thank you for coming Vixen and Pagoda."  She said softly.

"We would not fail to arrive when summoned, Princess."  Pagoda said humbly.

"As you know we have had an intruder within the veil."  Princess Tori began.  "Luckily it did not stay but we run the risk of it returning.  If it does we may very well lose many of our numbers in driving it off.  I would like to prevent that from happening.  I�m sure you know of the mystic named Darius."

"Yes Tori,"  Pagoda answered.  "we know he was chasing this creature when it passed through the veil.  Do you ask of us to assist him?"

"Yes I would, but do not cross the veil unless absolutely necessary.  Assist him any way you can in finding and destroying this creature before it turns on all of us."

"We will do that, Princess."

Vixen and Pagoda followed the troll from the clearing while the council continued and they discussed plans for defense.  Vixen and Pagoda knew the freehold would be well defended for many hard lessons had been learned only a few short years earlier.

***

Darius found himself again standing in those darkened woods devoid of color.  Silently things moved at the edge of his vision.  A pit of terror suddenly opened within him and he felt it focus, behind him.

Slowly he turned to see a wall of silver gray trees with a black archway in their center.  Behind the wall a giant stag head rose attached to a feral humanoid body over fifty feet tall.

He was frozen in terror at the sight of this fearsome demon.  Slowly it rolled its head around and opened its mouth to reveal rows upon rows of sharp, jagged teeth.  It�s sharply pointed tongue descended from its mouth and writhed around, dripping spittle.  As it turned its gaze toward him it�s sharp, knarled horns tangled themselves in one another and wound around its snout.

When its inhuman eyes met his, its message was delivered. 

'These woods are not for the presence of humans.  For your trespasses we will devour you.'

With the message an almost sub audible growl carried itself on the breeze.  All around him the bushes turned into clawed forms that lunged from the darkness at him.

Unaware that he was screaming he ran as fast as he could along the path that he found himself standing on.  It was the same path he had followed before.  Down the hill he ran and into the blinding white fog.  The mist reached clawed hands at him that tore and pulled at his jacket, quickly they took it from him.

Beyond the fog he could see the black, tree lined tunnel and the gray exit.  He ran harder and faster.  His lungs burned despite the chill in the air.  He bounded over a moss covered stone wall when one of the misty hands grabbed him firmly by the ankle.  He fell headlong into an enormous patch of writhing blackberry bushes.  The thorny branches quickly entangled him, biting deeply into his skin.  With a major force of will he stood and pulled himself from the thorny tangles.  The vines tightened and shredded his skin and flesh as he pulled free.  His shirt and pants hung in tatters from him and soaked themselves in shiny, black blood from the thousands of cuts and gashes in his skin.

Ahead of him he could still see the tunnel's exit.  This again he ran for.  Muted in the thick fog he could still hear savage growls coming from all around him.  Screaming again he ran harder in a blind panic.  At the edges of his vision he could see bestial, black shapes moving among the trees.  Something large and black lunged from the trees to his left and raked claws along his side as it passed.  He turned to see a twisted wolfen beast standing in the trail.  The thing stood upright on its hind legs and stared at him with almost glowing, yellow eyes.

Darius could feel no fear, only the ghastly heat from the terrible gash in his side.  He pressed his hands to it but it still poured black blood down his leg.  In the fog he could see shapes similar to his attacker circling them.  He then looked up at the beast growling before him, content to face death.  When he looked into it�s bestial yellow eyes and saw the sparkle of intelligence and sadistic glee he discovered he could still feel terror.

In a blinding instant the thing lunged and had it�s teeth in his throat.  In the moment before the blackness of death the other things howled to their dark god and loped over with their sparkling, yellow eyes.

***

Darius sat bolt upright in bed, soaked in sweat.  He wheezed in quick, shallow breaths.  He fumbled around on a small, bedside stand until he found his small, yellow inhaler.  After two quick puffs his breathing began to slow and the wheezing faded.  Eventually the breaths came easy and he replaced the inhaler.

He sat relaxing in the warm, sunlit bedroom.  He looked at the clock beside the bed and saw that it was only a little after eight in the morning.  He sighed.  Sleep was definitely not an option for him now regardless of how tired he was.

He decided to get up and get dressed for the day.  He might as well get an early start.  He neglected breakfast for two pots of coffee that he drank with heavy sugar and creamer.  After the two pots and about an hour of sitting and staring blankly he was finally awake.

He called Sarah on her cell-phone assuming she would already be at work.

"Hello?"

"Hey,"

"Do you know what time it is?"  She asked amazed.

"Yeah, it's about nine."  He answered.  "Why?"

"No reason, I'm just used to you getting up at the break of noon."

"I couldn't get any sleep so I decided to get an early start."

"You on a new case?"

"Yeah."  He said, starting another pot of coffee.  "Where are you right now, you at work yet?"

"No, but I'm almost there."

"Okay.  I need you to look at some files for me and tell me what you think."

"Were these files obtained legally?"

"Not really, so keep 'em low."

"Okay, give me about an hour and fax 'em to the office."

"Sure..."  His voice trailed off.

"What's wrong?"  She said softly.

He sighed.  "I think I'm gonna need my tome."

"Okay."  She was concerned about the worry she heard in her friend's voice.  "What's going on, Darius?  Does this have to do with these killings?"

"Yeah, it does."  He said, particularly pleased to be able to say it finally.  "I think it's a vampire but I might be wrong.  I want your opinion on it."

"All right, sure.  Send me the file and any notes you have and I'll check it out.  How about you come over after lunch and I'll tell you what I've got."

"Okay."  He said distantly.  "I'm gonna do some more reading, maybe try to take a nap later."

"You sound like you need some rest."  She said concerned.  "I'll see you in a few hours."

"Yeah, okay."

"Bye, Darius."

"See you in a bit."

She canceled the call and put her phone in her purse.  Darius had gotten worked up about cases before but now he sounded badly harried.  She was worried about her old friend.

She got out of her car.  She was chubby with dark hair, she had known Darius for years and still held many deep feelings for him.  She did not know how much he retained from their abruptly ended relationship.  She did know that he was still deeply haunted by those few days seven years ago.

She locked her car and walked into the Lewiston Public Library.  She was late for work now but she did not care given the current state of things.

***

Darius sent the fax an hour later but soon found himself dozing while he sat on the couch reading a book entitled 'A Comprehensive Account Of Modern Vampiric Hauntings'.  Written like an advanced mathematics textbook it was very difficult to read and understand.  Darius followed it relatively easily.  It also had the uncanny ability to put just about anyone asleep.

***

Again he was on that trail.  Wisps of fog hung low to the ground.  A large moon turned the world into a two-tone silver and black.  Behind him the growls of the canine things urged him forward, down the tunnel to freedom.

As he began to move toward the archway the shadows shifted to reveal two hunched figures, one over the other.  As he slowly approached them he saw that the figures were human and one appeared to be kissing or chewing on the other's neck.

The dominating figure stood, its back to Darius.  It lowered the other, limp body to the ground and he saw it clearly.  It was Monica.  A rage flared within him and he suddenly found himself holding his gun.  It was obviously male by its build and it must have stood at least six and a half feet tall.  An impossibly long and impossibly black trench coat hung from its shoulders and floated around it in the breeze.

It turned around to reveal a ghostly white face and bare chest.  Stringy black hair hung in its face and its legs almost disappeared into the void of its jacket.  Its chin was smeared with black blood creating a ghastly goatee.

Without a thought Darius leveled the Walther and let fly orange flame, hot brass and .380 slugs.   After what should have emptied the barking automatic Darius continued pulling the trigger and the gun continued firing reliably.

The vampire flailed backward but did not fall.  Its arms and head flew back, bearing its chest to the brunt of the assault.  Plumes of shiny black blood exploded from its white skin with each impact.

After nearly thirty shots Darius stopped shooting and the thunder of gunfire rolled away through the trees.  The pulp of the vampire's chest and stomach poured blood but it still stood.  It straightened its posture and leveled its eyes on Darius.  Its eyes began to glow a deep crimson and a low growl emanated from it.  It snarled and bared its blood stained teeth at Darius, who in turn, ran away up the path.  A guttural, screaming howl emerged from its mouth as it broke into a low run.

With a blur the vampire was on top of Darius.  In one swift blow it knocked him to the ground.  He rolled over and started to climb back to his feet when a delicate, young woman�s face entered his vision.

The first thing he noticed was the fact that her colors were not muted by the darkness.  She had vibrant and sparkling green eyes and creamy skin.  Her hair was light brown and hung about her head in thick curls.  Her cheeks and nose were speckled with light freckles that did nothing but make her cuter.  Her frame was light and very slim, she wore only a loose, green smock that looked homespun.

"Hi."  She said in a high, sweet voice.

She smiled making small dimples in her cheeks.  Darius was suddenly at peace, calmed of all fear and terror.  He could feel the warm sun on him.  He stood and saw that the girl was not alone.

Another girl was standing only a pace away.  She too was slim but shapelier.  She had wild hair that hung to her shoulders in blonde locks.  Her face too was cute and freckled.  She wore a similar smock only it was light brown in color.  She stood quietly with her hands together in front of her.

Darius took a moment to look around and realized he was on the same path, near the apple tree.  Everything was the vibrant green of the forest in springtime.  A soft breeze blew gently and the forest, even the apple tree, seemed warm and inviting.  At the top of the hill he could still see the archway he had entered his first night here only now it was shades of green.

Finally he looked back to the nymphs that stood before him, smiling patiently.

"Don't let this place haunt you."  The first one said still smiling her warm, cute smile.

Darius stammered, but was unable to find words.

"It's not what you think it is."  The second said in a very soft voice.

"Who are you?"  He eventually found.

The first one answered quickly.  "That's Vixen,"  She said gesturing to her companion.  "and I'm Pagoda.  I wish you could stay now, but you're wanted."

That only confused Darius.

"Hey Darius."  Vixen said without breaking her smile.

"What?"  He asked her.

"Someone's calling you."  Pagoda explained.

Darius did not understand.

"Hey."  Vixen said again, but her voice did not seem like her own, it seemed strangely familiar.

Darius looked to her, then back to Pagoda who was waving.

"Bye-bye."  She said, sparkling her eyes.

***

The next thing Darius saw was Monica leaning toward him, a hand outstretched.

"Wake up."  She said.  "You'll get a crick in you neck if you sleep like that."

She stood and walked into the kitchen.  He felt stiff and sore sitting on the couch.  He put aside his book and stretched.  Looking at his watch he saw that it was just after one.  He realized that he had been sleeping there for over three hours.

"Did you have a nice nap?"  Monica asked from the kitchen.

Darius sat up some and rubbed his face to wake up.  She returned a moment later with a tall glass of Diet Coke in one hand and a cold can of Mountain Dew in the other, which she passed to him.  He grunted and immediately opened the can and guzzled the contents.  The coldness of the liquid poured down into his stomach served to help wake him and bring him alert.  She flopped down next to him on the couch and sipped delicately on the glass of soda.

"So,"  He said finally.  "Did you find anything useful last night?"

"Nope."  She said simply.

They sat quietly for a moment, both still waking.

"I didn't even find anything interesting."  She continued.  "Well, one thing, I lied.  Apparently at the cliffs near Tall Pines there was a party a few years back and some kid took a header into the river.  It was January at the time so he punched through the ice and never came up."

"Huh."  Darius responded.

"Yeah, he was found a few days later pushed up against the dam.  That was in '94."

"Wow.  That was probably what was over there, the kid's ghost.  You think so?"

"I don't know, you're the expert."

"I think it could have been."

He looked at his watch and realized how late it was getting.

"I gotta go."  He said with a sigh.  "I'm supposed to meet Sarah soon."

"Okay, have fun.  I'm gonna take a shower."

"Is that an invite?"  He asked enthusiastically.

"You wish."

"I figured."

He laboriously stood, found his jacket, and left with a quick good-bye.

***

He left the apartment and decided to make the journey on foot.  He rounded the corner onto Pine Street and fifteen minutes later he was nearing the library.

The Lewiston Public Library was originally housed in a large, gray stone building constructed, like most of the older buildings in Lewiston and Auburn, in the pre-industrial, gothic style complete with the wide stone steps and pillars.

The Library had expanded into the large, brick, office building behind it and the two connected over the alley in between by a wide, glass walled sky bridge.  The entrances had both been moved to the first floor of the newer building.

Darius walked down to the smaller Pine Street entrance, as opposed the main entrance on Lisbon Street, and down the sloped corridor to the lobby.  To his far left were the long stacks of magazines, movies, and new books.  To his right was the circulation desk, behind which sat a large, late-middle aged woman with long dark hair and thick glasses perched on her pointed nose.

He walked straight to her.

"Hey, Corrine."  He said.

She looked up from her work and smiled.

"Oh, hi D."  She said.  "I didn't even see you come in.  What can I do for you honey?"

"Do you know where Sarah is?"

"She's upstairs, stocking shelves in Reference."

"Cool, thanks.  See ya."

"Bye."

When he turned and left she watched his ass until he was up the stairs and out of sight.  The stairs emptied out on the second floor next to the windows that lined the sky bridge and Darius had a superb view of the litter and graffiti in the alleyway below.

Next to the stairs were the tall rows of shelves that contained the reference books.  The stacks stretched back to the far wall of the building, which had no widows or outside light source.

It was there that he walked to and found Sarah standing beside a wheeled cart with a stack of books in her arms.  She turned and faced him as he approached.  He noted how elegantly she went about her tasks.  She smiled broadly, he did the same and then they kissed each other lightly.

"Hey,"  He said quickly. "what did you find out for me?"

"It's nice to see you too."  She said feigning offence as she turned to place more books on the shelf.

"Sorry.  I've been pretty worked up over this case."

"I'm worried about you Darius."  Her eyes looked deep into his and softened in that loving way that always made him melt.  "This isn't just a small time haunting scaring some old lady, this thing is killing people."

"I know."  He said softly.  "I'll be okay.  I've just got to get this thing before it gets me too."

"Well, take care of yourself and, if need be, just come out blastin'."

He smiled at her remark.  It wasn't funny when it was first said but now, after so long, it was cute.

"I always do.  I'm gonna need my tome."

"I know."

She reached over and pulled a cloth wrapped book, bound with string, from the books on the cart and handed it to him.  He took it and placed it into his satchel and patted it comfortingly.

"Thanks."  He said.

"No prob."  She said as she moved down the stack some before continuing, he followed.  "From what you told me and I read, this sounds like a vampire case and it doesn't."

His face twisted in confusion.

"What?"

She knew she would have to explain after his total confusion at that statement so she was ready.

"Well,"  She began.  "for starters there's the feeding style, it sounds similar, not exactly, but similar.  The whole thing just doesn't fit.  From what I've found, vampires are almost always very subtle, you probably wouldn't even notice one was around.  So, I don't know what this thing is, but I don't think it's a vampire."

He stood for a moment trying to fully understand her reasoning but couldn't quite make the connections.  He found her doing this quite frequently.

"You're gonna have to give me more than that, I'm still not following you."  He said finally.  "It sounds similar to me."

She stopped her job and turned to him to better focus her thoughts.

"It is similar but not exactly."  She repeated.  "Also, from what I've found, vampires, if they kill, will drain their victims completely and it's almost always blood.  I found a couple of reports from the Midwest where they had fed off cerebral fluid but that was an isolated case.  Anyway, in every single proven vampire case where the victim was killed they were drained completely, otherwise, the victim survived."

"The police report said these kids were drained between sixty and eighty percent."  Darius contemplated, mostly to himself.

"And that was of all bodily fluids, right?"

"Yeah, well, everything but waste products."

"See, vampires don't feed like that."  She said, making her point.  "Of course, about ninety percent of the so-called proven cases are complete bullshit.  I just hope I sifted out the right ones."

Darius rolled his eyes.

"Well that's reassuring."  He said jokingly.

The humor seemed lost on her as she stared at nothing and spoke softly.

"It's weird.  It's almost like they had their souls sucked out."

Darius lost all humor at what that made him think.

"Do you think they really summoned the Devil?"

Sarah softened and smiled, giving him a look both patronizing and adoring.  He didn't like it when she looked at him like that, Monica was at least blunt and told him when he said something stupid.

"No, sweetie."  She said softly, trying to let him down gently.  "If the Prince of Fallen Angels and Lord of All Things Evil and Profane were here, we'd have seen more effects of it by now."

"Okay."  He said, trying not to sound defeated.  "What about the carpets?"

"You know,"  She started.  "I was curious about that so I went to check it out on my lunch break.  It's definitely a high energy area but I think that's about it.  I think the thing you chased went through there to lose you, apparently it worked."

Darius gave it some thought.  "Yeah,"  He said.  "makes sense.  Well, I guess I'll see you around."

They kissed again.

"Bye D."  She said.  "You take care of yourself."

"I will."  He responded.  "I'll be okay, its still daytime and this thing is nocturnal."

Darius walked off and Sarah returned to her work.  He rounded a number of shelves but couldn�t seem to find his way out.  He stopped and looked around.  He knew that the reference section wasn�t that big.  He could see where he wanted to go so he walked that way.  He rounded another shelf and could no longer see the desks and computers next to the stairway down, only more shelves.

He could feel something wrong but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.  He listened and realized that he could not hear the sounds of the library, the quiet talking, typing.  The sounds were all gone.  He realized that he had somehow stepped into another realm separated from the rest of the world.  Then he felt a presence enter it with him.  He decided finding a way out would be the best idea.

He walked straight one way and began to hear the sounds of the library again.  He walked toward the sounds and didn't even notice the tall figure examining the shelf until he was on top of him.  The man was tall with a tight black ponytail and a long black trench coat.  Darius decided to walk past quickly.

Cobain turned and faced him as he tried to pass.  His pale face stared into Darius.  He knew instantly that this was the same creature he had chased at the reservoir.  It had the same psychotic emotion.  Darius was instantly terrified.

Cobain's lanky frame towered over him and he moved a little closer.

"I want you to drop this investigation immediately."  He said flatly.

Darius summoned up most of his willpower to steel himself against Cobain's supernatural presence.

"This isn't your city."  Darius' voice cracked some exposing his fear.

Cobain leaned closer and the terror in Darius rose.  It was not a clean fear like he had felt from the spirits in Thorncrag.  It was a deranged eminence, a psychotic killing emotion.  An unnatural terror of tiny screaming thoughts.

"It is now."  Cobain uttered.  "So stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong or more people are going to start dying.  I'll start with that hacker friend of yours or, better yet, how about I eat that librarian you're so sweet on?"

Darius steeled his will again and spoke out.  "You don't scare me."

Cobain stepped into Darius� face until he was practically nose to nose.  Now his presence was too much for Darius, he felt near collapse.  This thing definitely had him.

"I get stronger with every person I kill, so watch yourself, hunter."  He said before turning and walking away around one of the stacks.

Darius nearly fell to the floor.  He leaned heavily against one of the shelves and panted for a moment as he regained his composure.  He walked on shaky legs to the end of the stack and looked back and forth.  The thing was gone.  He then realized that he could now hear the sounds of the library again.  He waited until he felt a little better and then left, quickly.

***

Darius rushed back to the apartment and quickly closed the door behind him.  He could hear Monica on the computer in her room so that is where he went first.  She looked up when he poked his head in the door.

"We gotta go, the thing caught up to me at the library."  He said quickly.

Monica was confused for a moment.

"I thought you said it was a vampire."

"I thought it was but I was wrong.  We need to take a trip up to Thorncrag so I can ask the fae."

Monica shut down the program she was running, then the computer while Darius rummaged around in his room.  She walked over to his door and leaned against the door frame.

"You know I don't like it up there."

"I know but I need to get some answers and it's too dangerous to split up."

"Why?"

"It said it was going to come for you."

Monica instantly understood the feeling of urgency and fear that she felt from Darius.

"I'll go put my shoes on."  She said quietly.

Darius assembled many of his mystical supplies that he didn't already carry in his satchel and they left. 

***

Quietly they drove out Sabattus Street toward the main gate to Thorncrag near the large Hannaford supermarket.  Along the way Darius gave a more detailed story of what had happened at the library.

They arrived at the front entrance and parked on the side of Montello Street.  They entered the long tunnel of hardwood trees into the sanctuary and the sounds of the world behind them faded away and left only the sounds of birds, small animals and the wind in the trees.  It took them about ten minutes to trek to the top of the hill even though it seemed twice that long.

They entered into the clearing atop what was known in the pre-industrial era as Bloody Hill.  The clearing was dominated by a giant stone fireplace which occupied the east side of a large stone circle about thirty feet in diameter made up of three large benches at each of the other compass points.  The sun shone brightly and the air was warm with a springtime breeze.  Birds chirped pleasantly in the trees as the two entered the circle and sat for a moment to catch their breath from the climb.

The trees around them were dominated by massive birch and maple trees that were a vibrant green it the sunlight.  Behind the pleasant looking hardwoods the hillsides were covered with massive pine trees that cast dark foreboding shadows, warning travelers to not stray from the paths and designated areas.

Darius stood and walked over to the fireplace.

"Where do you want me?"  Monica asked him.

"Just back there is fine."  He said to her, she was sitting on the west bench opposite the fireplace.

"Let's get this over with, I don't want to be up here after it gets dark."

Monica shivered at the thought of the unseelie things that came out at night in these dark and misty woods.

"Me either."  Darius responded.

He lit some candles and placed them on the peak of the fireplace then he walked back to the center of the circle.  He sat down on the grass cross-legged and began to remove things from his bag.  First his book came out and was placed in front of him.  Then a sandalwood incense burner and a stick of Egyptian jasmine incense.  He lit this and let the scent relax him.  He then lit four green candles and placed them around him at each compass point.

He opened his book and began to read quietly to himself.  Monica felt herself get very drowsy.  Her eyelids began to grow heavy.  She decided that she would just nap until Darius was done.  She laid down sideways and curled up on the bench.  Quickly she entered a deep and peaceful sleep.

Darius continued his quiet chanting until he heard a very faint giggle and the distant tinkle of bells.  He looked up and saw three figures around the fireplace.  He instantly recognized the two sitting on either side of the fireplace as the forest nymphs Vixen and Pagoda.  The third was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.  She turned around and faced him.

She was elegant and playful looking.  Her skin was pale and freckled and her hair hung in long braids of black and red.  Something about her seemed oddly familiar to him.  She moved forward and the distant sound of giggles and bells followed her every step.

"Hello Darius."  She said in a light musical voice.

"Hi."  Darius choked out.

"I am Princess Tori."  She said with a slight bow.  "Vixen and Pagoda have kept me informed of your progress."

"Princess?"  Darius said astounded as he rose to his feet.

"You summon a faerie and your surprised when one shows up?"  She teased with a smile.

"I just didn't expect you."

"What affects the city affects us also."  She explained.  "Besides he came a little too close to us yesterday."

"Who?"

"Cobain."

"Is that its name?"

"Yes, it is."

"How did you know I was here to ask about him?"  He said with surprise.

"Magic."  She giggled.  "Why else would you be here, silly?"

Darius stood silent for a moment trying to collect his thoughts.  The whole situation was overwhelming him.  He took a few deep breaths and felt better.

"So what can I do for you handsome?"  She asked when he had collected himself.

"Um, well, what is he?"  He said finally.

"The answer is right where you can find it."

"And where's that."

"Behind you."

Darius turned around but saw only Monica sleeping on the bench.  He noted that she was very beautiful in her sleep state but he didn't see how that answered anything.  Tori giggled and he turned back to her.

"I don't understand."  He said.

"You humans are so literal."  She said with a playful smile.

"Okay,"  He realized this was not going to get him very far.  "how do we deal with him?"

"You have to find out what he is first."

"I've-"

Darius stopped when the breeze shifted and they were gone.  The breeze spoke softly into his ear in Pagoda's musical voice.

"Bye, bye."

It then blew lightly across his cheek.  He felt a longing that he could not drift away on the breeze with them but then forced himself to focus on the here and now.  He was not a fae and he could not afford to drift into the madness of their longing.  Silently he collected his things and he heard Monica stir.

She sat up and felt very rested as her strange dreams faded and drifted away from her.  She felt like she had slept all night but knew she could not have.

"What happened?"  She asked finally.

"We got our answers."  He said as he finished packing his things.

"That's good."  She said thoughtfully.  "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

***

They collected themselves and left the clearing.  On the walk down the sun speckled trail Darius told her of his conversation with Princess Tori.

"Do you think she meant history?"  She asked.

"I don't know what else it could be."

"I'll start checking as soon as we get back."

"Yeah, start with the crime scenes, especially the mill, and work out from there."

"That's what I was thinking."

They didn't speak for the rest of the walk down to the car.  They returned home and Monica instantly turned on the computer and got to work.