Chapter 107

Johnny

I reached into the glove compartment, and pulled out a blunt I’d already rolled for tonight. This was going to take a long time, and nothing might happen. The least I could do was get a little high and have a little fun while being bored out of my mind with this fucker.

Gods know he’d prayed about twice now. Once for my driving, and another for patience. To whom, I don’t know…. But probably not the Horned One.

“Do you mind?” Asked that prude Officer Gedlin.

He was a quiet man. His pale skin was almost as pale as a vampire’s, while he had those hellish red eyes put away. His whole thing is that he can change his appearance to hide his true face, since he’s not a minotaur…

He’s worse.

“I do. It’s My Car. My rules.” I lit my fat ass joint and blew the smoke out the window. I wasn’t a complete ass, but I wasn’t going to go to Nobody Den sober.

“At least you’re not hot boxing us.” He complained. “That low rank vampire holds low quality blood that didn’t pass their ritzy inspection.”

We watched the vampire almost drop the large cooler, which probably held about 10 pounds of fresh blood.

“They should be ashamed.” Hissed Gedlin.

“Yeah, but they’re going to get drunk. There’s wine in that blood.” I pointed. He also carried regular bottles of wine, likely to dilute it a little more.

I don’t like the stuff. It’s too metallic. It’s better for my cap than consumption. I’m not fond of eatin’ mortal meat either, since I like them.

They’re funny little creatures. They invent just as much as we do, and in a fraction of the lifetime. When my people made Atlantis, it was because we were weak, just like them…. But we weren’t when we flew on flying motorcycles mounted with laser cannons. Now those were the days.

Shame I never got to see it. My sister never shuts up though. She talks about how our bloodline would be dust if she hadn’t wanted to have her wedding in Africa, what’s now Keniya, I think. My folks had me in France after the treaty.

“Let’s follow the grunt and see where he goes.” I said having a hunch that nothing of note was going to happen with the small fry. They don’t usually give them anything important. Had I seen an officer… I might have been inclined to stay.

They spoke low in vampiric, and the half demon translated. I could barely make them out, but he casually leaned back, and spoke when the grunt did.

“His majesty wants you to bring the centerpiece at 1am, for the grand tasting.” Translated Gedlin. Gods, he gives me the willies. “They’re all  saying ‘yes sir’ now.”

“Alright.” I said waiting for the guy to pull off a bit before we did.

It was quiet while we went the backroads outside town…. Gedlin didn’t talk much… but there wasn’t much to talk about. Half demons give me the creeps…. All it takes is a high ranking demon to bend their will, should they already do the Horned One’s bidding…. After all, a half demon comes from both parents….. Both parents do the work, or hold his mark in some way, yet here he is, as pious as a saint.

But he doesn’t do anything to show he’d turn on me… It worries me that if I need him, he won’t be there. I don’t know if he can resist, just like Beck can’t if Rolland gets his claws on him.

“Thank you for letting me ride with you.” He said suddenly…. It sounded pretty genuine…

I won’t be a dick.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I asked.

“Because of what I am.” He said simply. “Just as Officer Jerald is hated, and shunned, so am I…. and we should be.”

“Eh, life’s what you make it. I don’t see people jumping for joy when they see my cap either.” I admitted. “With my people, we’re respected about as much as high class assassins. The respect is there, but there’s also suspicion, and hatred too. There’s many a good goblin stabbed in the back, and someone’s cap dyed to increase its color, disregarding the impact it puts on the community.”

The more corrupt ones around, the more bloodshed, and the more issue with our people… It’s how you get unicorn farmers, unfair gambling rings, and any other unsavory business, made more so because someone allowed their nature to get the better of them, and got too greedy.

“And with me…. I am expected to serve…. even now.” He said looking me briefly in the eye, and they glowed red for a second.

“I expect as much. You’re strong.” I said casually, playing off that his eyes didn’t freak me out. I’m not very good at magic, so I don’t really trust it. And that’s about as magical as it gets.

“My mother was a cultist…. You can imagine her joy when she birthed me, how surprised my father was when I would not leave with him…”

“Holy shit, I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah… He was impressive, mighty…Father was even kind, but that’s how their kind gets you….” He said looking out the window a little more. There was shame in those eyes, as they reflected in the passenger side window. “I refused to join his band when I turned 4, the age many demons start training…. I love this world the way it is…. I could join the master’s army, but it is not what I want… How can the grass grow if it’s smothered with dark magic?” he looked out the window, not sharing the other part of it.

A powerful demon could compel him, the same fate as Beck should he encounter someone like Rolland…. It makes me wonder why his father respected his wishes, but the Horned One wants willing followers as much as he wants soldiers.

“If I catch a whiff of demon before you do, I’m turning Beauty around.” I said feeling for the guy.

Damn it, I better not get soft. He’s a good guy, likeable kind of…. But at any moment he could turn on me. This shit is a little stressful.

“Trust me, I’ll sense it.” He mumbled.

“That’s not the way to their usual pick up.” I said slowing down. Awe shit…. How does that spell go?!  I regretted not bringing Mama Chop’s grimoire,… I rolled down the window, and stuck my head out. “Little leaves, little leaves flow in the wind, break free from your sap… Show me where the vampire goes, that I may stain my cap.”

I didn’t do it right, but it worked…

I could see a few leaves attach to his car, and with my magic, now I could take it easy unless he’s headed to a witch’s place or something.

“That was smart.” Said Gedlin.

“Thanks.” I said as we made our way down off streets and backways again. This time I saw where he went, though what surprised me was that there were ghouls lurking about. I wasn’t surprised that we ended up deep in the outskirts of town, way out in the boonies.

The old farmhouses out here didn’t look occupied, since I’m sure most of the families in them were eaten at some point…

The dilapidated shack looked like it was about to collapse any moment, though, that is partly an illusion, partly run down to deter curious humans. The gated two story home looked like it belonged in a horror movie, since I’m sure people say it’s haunted.

But it’s not often they deal with lower undead…. And that’s why they hid whatever it was here. No one suspected it. Even now, the king is at a party, the vampires got put on bomb duty, and the unicorns and werewolves are hunting a skin licker.

….And it makes me wonder was such a mindless beastly fae released as a distraction? Rolland and the local goblin cartel both have access to some pretty obscure, niche fae.

And like my sister says, ‘The urchins all benefit from bottom feeding….’

So we parked, and Gedlin translated again.

“You know you weren’t supposed to come.” Said Gedlin, pointing to the most dapper ghoul. “Lord Lucian said we weren’t to release this until after he gets back.”

“Well, Lord Rolland compels me, and if he comes himself you know what he’ll do to all of us. So hand it over.” He pointed at the vampire. “Give me the plans. The Mayor needs to sign it.”

“I’m glad I fed. I can think clearly.” Gedlin pointed at the ghoul. “If he signs anything after Eatign Goose Shit on the green, I fear Operation Blood Bank will fail, and it will make his majesty irate.”

“But we don’t know what the unicorns plan. I hear the new mayor is a quarter.” Gedlin pointed to the ghoul again, but the vampire shook his head no.

“So, he’s human. Corruptible.”

“Corruption Resistant, you old sack of rotten meat. Since his majesty left the care of this town in my maker’s hands, hand over the documents, or I will return with him, and fire.”

The ghoul handed over a thick brown packet of papers to sign… I knew what that operation was, and it isn’t illegal… no kings disbanded the ability to lay ruin to communities for their benefit. Victor certainly won’t… but now… now this town is going to decline in certain places… Now it will decay, making desperate masses who give their blood willingly, not knowing that those donations feed the greedy ticks that will leach this town of its finances and its vitality.

“I knew we should have run them out of town… but Equestos had his hands tied.” I growled.

“…. May the Light have mercy on them… It’s about to get hard on the mortals.” Gedlin mumbled, and I nodded.

So that’s how he counters his dark nature…. If the demons ever get their hands on Gedlin… they’re going to make a fucking example out of him and his father…

There is no benefit, there are no changing sides with demons, since the Light and Night have different makers, ones that won’t release a soul they made.

If the Horned One catches him, he might even end up in the Pit, the meat grinder for the soul. The End. Finality… The ultimate place of punishment for all who defy the gods…. And all for doing the right thing….

Shit…. At least the Lord and Lady of Beauty made my mug ugly as fuck, and left our people alone after that…They still watch over us, and bless us and stuff… I can live with that. They did so after my people chose to have something close, but not exactly a mate from the Moon Goddess. I don’t mind being hit with the proverbial unsightly brick… the demon brick is worse.

“Let’s go back and report what the vampires are up to… This is going to get bad.” I said feeling for the mortals, but I can’t interfere…. It’s not illegal… And now I know why the Chief put me with Gedlin…. Damn I feel for the guy.

It’s going to really suck when the Realm King wakes, and forces him to turn…