“Evangeline!” Claudette called, running down the street of the Rosam downtown

“Claudette? What are you doing here?” She asked

“I had some errands to run myself so I thought you might enjoy the company” she grinned as she panted, out of breath

“When it’s you, I always enjoy the company” she laughed

“Where to first then?” Claudette asked

“The Garrison, the guard should know the finer details of the threat” She said as she pulled out a map to navigate the Rosam streets

“No need” claudette said taking the map “I have the town layout memorized” she winked. They walked together for some time, stopping when they discovered a familiar man being cornered by a group of ruffians

“You look loaded” one ruffian said

“Yeah, fancy coat, pretty hat, you got any pieces on ya?”

“None that I’m willing to surrender” the man replied. The man was Maxwell Blud, standing stoically against four muggers

“Stick’em!” one yelled. The tallest ruffian lunged at him but Blud caught his wrist and twisted it into a painful contortion.

“Sit” he said, twisting his arm forcing the mugger to the ground

“Get him!” the leader yelled as the other two attacked. Blud punched one in the throat and kicked in the other one’s leg, breaking his kneecap bending his leg into an unnatural position he jabbed the handicapped thief in sternum then kicked the other assailant in the stomach followed by an elbow to the back of the neck. With three of the four muggers lying on the ground in agony Maxwell threw a piercing glance at their leader who felt true unadulterated fear ripple through his spine

“I’m out of here!” he yelled scurrying down the alley

“Bothersome fly” Maxwell said as he walked in the direction of Evangeline

“Eager for a second dance it seems miss Church?” he said with a cordial bow “Though you didn’t need company, you are more than enough to satisfy”

“Hardly, I’m running errands” she replied with a scoff

“I see, how troublesome” he pouted “Perhaps you’ll believe in love at third sight, tata for now” he said disappearing into the busy mass of people

“What a weird guy” Evangeline said in puzzlement.

“The garrison is this way” Claudette said grabbing Evangeline’s arm “Let’s do our best to forget Mister Blud” She scoffed

“Of course” Evangeline replied as they moved towards the barracks of the garrison

“Claudette Ajora, Jonathan’s girl” a guard said, recognizing claudette “The man get another wench on his payroll?” he said gesturing towards Evangeline

“As if!” She yelled “I’m his apprentice”

“Good one” he laughed “I give you a week tops, no woman could survive Jonathan’s training” he laughed. Evangeline gritted her teeth

“Here is a summary of the research we compiled on this new ‘vampire’ threat and instructions on how to best prepare” she said handing him a bundle of papers

“I’ll be sure to thank Reginald when I see him” he said. Evangeline grunted and walked away

“What an ass” Evangeline said

“He’s kind enough he’s just… not very open minded”

“Well he’s still an ass”

“Somebody help!” a rugged looking man said, half hobbling toward Evangeline “You’ve got to help me! This crazy guy is chasing me, you’ve got to hide me!” he said, with a mouth full of blood and missing teeth, and walking towards them calmly with a terrified crowd parting around him was the ever recognizable Maxwell Blud.

“I’m sorry ladies, I could have sworn I broke his legs” he said as the stranger cowered

“This is going too far Blud!” Evangeline said “Pulverizing muggers is one thing, but this is predatory!” she yelled in outrage

“You really don’t realize?” he said grabbing the stranger and forcing his mouth open “See these?” he said exposing a pair of sharp fangs “He isn’t human” he said throwing the man to the ground “This is one of the beasts who escaped you last night” he said pulling out a saber and holding it to the man’s throat

“I need to survive, I want to live!” the man pleaded with tears in his eyes

“That isn’t a choice you get to make” he said plunging the saber through his throat, silencing him. He sheathed his blade

“Be careful you two, you never know who you can really trust”