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Dhampir Hunter - Chapter Four
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Eve and Cirrus finally made it back into town after a full day of travel. Everything seemed silent, as if the already lax attitude of the townspeople had relaxed even further. Either that or something had happened.
"Seems quiet," murmured Cirrus, effectively stating the obvious. His eyes shifted from left to right, taking in the town. "Quieter than usual, I mean." He glanced around the deserted streets. "Where is everyone?"
As if in answer to the question, the sheriff, joined by Lawrence Thacker himself, strode out of the nearby Thacker home. Cirrus glanced from them to Eve, taking her actions as a guide. She wasn't moving so neither did he, letting the sheriff and Thacker come to them.
"The demon has been eliminated," stated Eve, when the two men reached them. She was careful to keep her words few in number and to the point. "We're here for the payment promised when we accepted the job."
Thacker didn't hesitate, withdrawing a black velvet pouch from his jacket pocket and handing it to Eve. She in turn gave the pouch to Cirrus, who tested the weight of the money in his hand and nodded. "It's all here."
Nodding, Eve turned and started back towards the vehicles that she and Cirrus had used to return to the town.
"Wait, hunter. We have another job for you, if you will accept it," blurted Thacker.
Eve stopped walking but kept her back to all three men, a blatant show if disrespect to Thacker and the sheriff. "What is it?"
"Shifter Damien Thacker was taken today from this town. He was captured by a female dhampir earlier in the day," explained the sheriff, crossing his arms over his chest.
"He's my only son," said Thacker, desperation in his voice.
"Why would a dhampir take him?" asked Eve, finally turning to face him with a look of mild interest.
"Since when does vampire scum need a reason for that they do?" Cirrus muttered under his breath. Judging from the sharp look he received from Eve, she'd heard him loud and clear.
"We think it was a retaliatory action on her part after we asked the dhampir to leave," explained the sheriff.
"Asked?" challenged Eve, taking a step closer to the man.
The sheriff nodded, but he was obviously uncomfortable under Eve's cold scrutiny. After a few seconds of silence, the sheriff finally gave in. "I may have been a bit forceful when making my request to her," he mumbled, trying to look nonplussed by the admission. "But I'm the law here. I have a responsibility to drive threats from this town."
"I'm sure you do, sheriff," commented Eve, shaking her head in dissapproval.
Cirrus could tell that Eve disapproved of the man's actions and Cirrus couldn't understand why. He didn't pretend to understand the working of his partner's mind, but she did seem to sympathize with the half-breeds. He didn't. His opinion on anything with vampiric or demonic blood was simple: Kill it. "You're right, sheriff. You should have just killed the filthy thing." That remark earned him yet another sharp look from Eve. He ignored it.
"So how much is this job worth to you?" asked Eve, pulling the topic of conversation back to business.
"Thiry thousand now and fifty thousand when you bring my son back," replied Thacker, once again reaching into his jacket pocked. He handed another pouch to Eve, though this one she slipped into her pocket. She offered them a nod before once again turning towards the vehicles.
Cirrus smiled. "Don't worry, she's the best when it comes to tracking vampires and I have an ingrained talent for exterminating them."
"So you will kill it then?" asked the sheriff, barely contained hope in his voice.
Cirrus grinned, genuine boyish pleasure on his face. "Don't worry. I don't hold to letting vampire spawn run free. The creature won't draw breath for long."
"Cirrus, lets go." The sound of a revving engine followed the command and Cirrus offered the men a quick salute before jogging over to his own motorbike. He glanced at Eve to find her staring at him.
"What?" he asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable under her steely blue gaze.
"You talk too much." Without another word she let out the throttle and rode out of the town, leaving Cirrus to catch up.
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