By Neil Leckman (October/Bad Luck/Compass)
We had been hunting for the leader of the local coven for seven months. Finally it looked like we may have tracked him down, and we could put his evil to rest. It was all because of the specially crafted compass that had been handed down in the Von Helsing family for generations. It was crafted in fine silver, and when the sun set it glowed an eerie green color, until it was pointed towards a possible infestation of vampires. When that happened it changed from green to blood red, and throbbed, like a clockwork heartbeat. It was almost like it sensed what they lacked, blood, and a heartbeat. We loaded all of our equipment into the van, checking each item closely to ensure functionality at the critical moment. Then each item was placed in the racks designed for them in the van. Holy water vials, silver bullets, silver nitrate, ultraviolet headlamps, cross bow, wooden stakes and blessed crosses. Confetti bombs that burst into a cloud of tiny crosses, each one sprayed with a thin layer of silver nitrate.
Eric Von Helsing was the group leader, and had learned vampire hunting from special family training camps. There were twelve of them, each in different parts of the globe. Each taught special techniques that only the Von Helsing family members knew about. Vampires had learned how to counter almost every tactic that was common knowledge, so as the evolved so did the hunting techniques. The compass was one of those items that only certain members of the family understood how it functioned.
“Is everything ready?” Eric asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat. Turning he looked back at his team.
Claire, a dark haired beauty who came from Wisconsin, always quiet. She had once been thrall to one of the masters until Eric had killed him. Now she went were he went, and in the heat of battle her fierceness could not be matched. “Always ready for a good hunt.”
Alex, blond, adventurous, and at one time handsome, now the burn scars that ran down the right side of his face hid that. Received when he lit himself on fire rather than be turned, he took three vampires with him that night, and many more since then. He always wore his time worn cowboy hat pulled down low to leave his face in shadow. He looked up with those clear blues eyes of his and winked.
Robert, someone’s grandfather, old, quiet, and a mystery, he traveled silent as the night wind, there when you thought yourself alone and outnumbered. Everyone on the team owed their life to him for one reason or another. He just smiled and nodded.
Rachel, voluptuous Rachel, whose bright red hair reflected the fire that burned inside her, her striking green eyes almost always left people speechless when they tried to talk to her. She was dressed in a deep red silk jumpsuit with a leather vest that held an array of knives that formed a cross over her heart. “Party time boss!!” Even when they hunted she was dressed to kill.
Art, the technical member of their crew, sat in the navigator’s seat across from Eric. He had been a body builder until he was attacked by vampires at a rave he had gone to. Even with all his strength he was powerless to stop them from holding him down like a baby. Eric had arrived just in time to save him, but so many others had not been so lucky. Art had short dark hair, and was built like a line backer. He was always close to Eric, his guardian angel. Looking down at the compass he said, “Head north.”
Putting the van in gear they pull into the light traffic. It was still early, soon the streets would be filled with children, because it was October 31st and Halloween was in full swing. Ghouls, goblins, and all manner of hideous beast would be out walking the streets tonight. Art kept an eye on the compass and directed Eric as everyone sat anxiously in the back, psyching themselves up what lie ahead. Finally Art said, ‘This must be the place.”
Eric sat staring out the marquee out in front of the three story brick building stroking his chin in deep thought, “This might be a bit of bad luck,” he said as he turned and looked back at everyone. They all leaned forward and read the marquee.
In bold red letters across the lit marquee it read, “Tonight only we will have a special presentation on how to become a vegan vampire. Snacks will be provided afterwards.”
“Maybe we should just wait out here until they’re done,” he said as a group of small transformers walked by his window, each eagerly clutching a bag partially full of candy. One of them turned towards Eric, chocolate smeared around his mouth as he eagerly chewed on a candy bar. It reminded him of all the times he’d fought vampires, blood smeared around their mouths from the last victim, fangs flashing as the gnashed at him. He looked at the marquee again and though, “Maybe this is a good thing.”
We had been hunting for the leader of the local coven for seven months. Finally it looked like we may have tracked him down, and we could put his evil to rest. It was all because of the specially crafted compass that had been handed down in the Von Helsing family for generations. It was crafted in fine silver, and when the sun set it glowed an eerie green color, until it was pointed towards a possible infestation of vampires. When that happened it changed from green to blood red, and throbbed, like a clockwork heartbeat. It was almost like it sensed what they lacked, blood, and a heartbeat. We loaded all of our equipment into the van, checking each item closely to ensure functionality at the critical moment. Then each item was placed in the racks designed for them in the van. Holy water vials, silver bullets, silver nitrate, ultraviolet headlamps, cross bow, wooden stakes and blessed crosses. Confetti bombs that burst into a cloud of tiny crosses, each one sprayed with a thin layer of silver nitrate.
Eric Von Helsing was the group leader, and had learned vampire hunting from special family training camps. There were twelve of them, each in different parts of the globe. Each taught special techniques that only the Von Helsing family members knew about. Vampires had learned how to counter almost every tactic that was common knowledge, so as the evolved so did the hunting techniques. The compass was one of those items that only certain members of the family understood how it functioned.
“Is everything ready?” Eric asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat. Turning he looked back at his team.
Claire, a dark haired beauty who came from Wisconsin, always quiet. She had once been thrall to one of the masters until Eric had killed him. Now she went were he went, and in the heat of battle her fierceness could not be matched. “Always ready for a good hunt.”
Alex, blond, adventurous, and at one time handsome, now the burn scars that ran down the right side of his face hid that. Received when he lit himself on fire rather than be turned, he took three vampires with him that night, and many more since then. He always wore his time worn cowboy hat pulled down low to leave his face in shadow. He looked up with those clear blues eyes of his and winked.
Robert, someone’s grandfather, old, quiet, and a mystery, he traveled silent as the night wind, there when you thought yourself alone and outnumbered. Everyone on the team owed their life to him for one reason or another. He just smiled and nodded.
Rachel, voluptuous Rachel, whose bright red hair reflected the fire that burned inside her, her striking green eyes almost always left people speechless when they tried to talk to her. She was dressed in a deep red silk jumpsuit with a leather vest that held an array of knives that formed a cross over her heart. “Party time boss!!” Even when they hunted she was dressed to kill.
Art, the technical member of their crew, sat in the navigator’s seat across from Eric. He had been a body builder until he was attacked by vampires at a rave he had gone to. Even with all his strength he was powerless to stop them from holding him down like a baby. Eric had arrived just in time to save him, but so many others had not been so lucky. Art had short dark hair, and was built like a line backer. He was always close to Eric, his guardian angel. Looking down at the compass he said, “Head north.”
Putting the van in gear they pull into the light traffic. It was still early, soon the streets would be filled with children, because it was October 31st and Halloween was in full swing. Ghouls, goblins, and all manner of hideous beast would be out walking the streets tonight. Art kept an eye on the compass and directed Eric as everyone sat anxiously in the back, psyching themselves up what lie ahead. Finally Art said, ‘This must be the place.”
Eric sat staring out the marquee out in front of the three story brick building stroking his chin in deep thought, “This might be a bit of bad luck,” he said as he turned and looked back at everyone. They all leaned forward and read the marquee.
In bold red letters across the lit marquee it read, “Tonight only we will have a special presentation on how to become a vegan vampire. Snacks will be provided afterwards.”
“Maybe we should just wait out here until they’re done,” he said as a group of small transformers walked by his window, each eagerly clutching a bag partially full of candy. One of them turned towards Eric, chocolate smeared around his mouth as he eagerly chewed on a candy bar. It reminded him of all the times he’d fought vampires, blood smeared around their mouths from the last victim, fangs flashing as the gnashed at him. He looked at the marquee again and though, “Maybe this is a good thing.”
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