Page 7 of Theoden
CHAPTER THREE
The First Mission
“Are you nervous?” Ashur asked me as we sat upon our steeds.
I shook my head. “This blood drinker has been killing innocent people in Rome. I look forward to ending him.”
“Are we sure it is just one?” Samuel asked.
“That is what we must determine,” I replied as I halted my stallion and hopped off. We were at the tavern where our investigation was to start. Was I nervous? Yes. Why had I lied? Maybe it was because as a leader, I didn’t want to show fear around Ashur and Samuel. If I was afraid, then they would be afraid as a natural reaction. Truth was, I was terrified, but driven.
Samuel and Ashur both dismounted from their horses and followed me as I walked inside the tavern. It was my first time ever being inside such a den of inequity, as Father Quintus had called it. The smell of piss, bad breath, and body odor, along with vomit and sickness, assaulted my senses, which were stronger and more sensitive than most humans. I knew it was because I was special. I had abilities that made me stand out. I was quicker, stronger, and healed faster than the other boys in the church. But with those abilities came my one weakness. Lust.
I put all of that behind me and focused on completing the mission. Several pairs of eyes watched us as we walked through the tavern. I could somehow sense a few of these men’s desires for us, which was a bit distracting. I sat down at a table and Samuel and Ashur joined me. They were eighteen and I was seventeen, but we were men now.
A woman with red hair and pale skin came to our table, her clothes loose, one half of her toga hanging off her shoulder, exposing her right breast. She looked to be in her mid-twenties and there was a nasty looking wound on her top lip. She sat in Samuel’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“My cunt is wet and affordable,” she said.
Samuel opened his mouth, but no sound came out. That was how shocked he was. We had heard stories of forsaken women like her who sold their bodies for meager coin. They were disease-ridden and often killed their babies born from their many sexual acquaintances. These women were soulless and bound for hell unless they sought forgiveness for their sins.
“He is not here for your cunt, madam,” I said, coming to Samuel’s defense. “But there is something you could give us.” I was so damned nervous right then, but I had to stay to the mission, which meant I had to be direct. Aggressive, as the people in this bar were worldly enough to prey on men like us if we let them.
She leaned over, her breast dangling as she looked into my eyes. “Well, what have we here? A real beauty. No wonder the men are interested. You are almost as pretty as a woman,” she said to me.
That took me by surprise, nearly making me want to leave this horrible place. But I stood my ground. I reached into my purse, pulling out one denarii. “Information. It is yours if you provide it.”
“Depends on the information you are seeking,” she said, with a smile that revealed rotten teeth. Her breath was also foul, but I was sure the men who patronized this place didn’t care.
“Three men who once came here are dead. What happened to them?” I asked as I swirled the denarii with my finger on the table to tempt her.
Her blue eyes looked at the money I was offering, then back to me. “They were cursed.”
“Cursed how?” I asked, one eyebrow cocked.
“Blood drained from their very bodies. Only a monster or angry god would do such a thing,” she said, giving me the gossip.
“Where were they found?” I asked.
“In the alley behind this tavern.”
“Did they leave with anyone?”
She shrugged. “Did not notice.”
“Have you seen any one suspicious here?”
She chuckled. “Just you three.”
I gave her the coin because I didn’t think she could give me more information. She took the money and walked off to another table to peddle hercunt, as it were. Such vulgarity.
“This place is disgusting,” I said, and frowned again at the smell. “Spread about and ask questions.”
Samuel and Ashur did as I told them and I did the same, speaking to several men and women, many who wanted to “fuck” me. They all said the same thing. Men were found dead, drained of their blood, their necks savagely ripped open. At first, they thought it was an animal attack, but then they began to suspect a demon. I found it amazing that even though they were concerned, none stayed away from the tavern. We stayed for three hours, waiting to see if the blood drinker would make a presence.
“What does he look like?” Ashur asked. “How would we know if he enters?”
“I would know, I would sense his evil,” I said. Though I had never seen a blood drinker before, as God’s warrior, I knew I would know him if I saw or smelled him. I had a sense of smell that was more sensitive than that of any human, Father Lucinius had said. He was right. I could smell things the other boys couldn’t, like the fire burning in the kitchen of the rectory that early morning when all others were still sleeping. My keen senses had saved us all, proving just how special I was.
