CHAPTER TWO
A fog had settled throughout Vesuvia.
Sara couldn’t even see the top of the taller buildings as she and Leon walked down the street. “Are the Turin worried about something?”
“No, probably practicing,” Leon answered. “It’s usually foggy or raining because of them.”
From among the crowd of Vesuvians in the streets, a female Orlok holding a small, covered basket ran up to Sara.
Leon rolled his eyes. “Here we go.”
Sara slightly tensed up, fighting the urge to gasp at the Orlok’s ugly appearance.
“What are you selling this time?” Leon asked.
“I have something for Sara,” the woman said. “Word on the street is she’s hungry.”
“How do you know?” Sara asked.
“Orloks, remember?” Leon said. “There isn’t much they don’t know. We’ve probably had one following us the entire time.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Sara said, crossing her fingers with high hopes. “What do you have?”
The woman held the basket toward Sara and pulled the cover to reveal a dead rat.
Almost fainting, Sara’s eyes went wide as she covered her mouth in disgust.
Leon laughed at the sight of the rat. “Nice going!”
“What?” the Orlok asked. “I’ve done the hard part and drained the blood.”
Sara tried to speak but instead shook her head.
“Humans are somewhat particular about what they eat,” Leon said.
The Orlok covered the basket and held it close to her chest. “Beggars can’t be choosers!”
Realizing that the woman meant well, Sara held her hand out. “I’m sorry…that was…rude of me. If I can’t find anything at the pub, I’m…not going to have much choice.”
The woman joyfully gave the basket to Sara. “That’ll be one shilling.”
“What?” Sara said in disbelief.
“Here!” Leon said, handing over a triangular piece of silver.
Kissing and waving the coin around, the Orlok cackled as she turned invisible and scampered away.
Sara and Leon continued on until finally reaching Neila’s Pub.
Inside it was just like any other pub, a very large one with Vesuvians.
“Stay close,” Leon said, trying to make his way to the bar.
Everyone was drinking, laughing, or in the middle of making fun of themselves.
Sara spotted a half-mutated Vesuvian. Everything seemed fine, except that his nose and lower jaw was like that of a bat. Straining for several seconds, the bat parts became normal, and with a single hiccup, he sprouted bat ears.
In an open area were two brawny females, sweating and stumbling. Each carried a three-hundred-pound stone and struggled to cross the finish line a few dozen feet away.
“Those girls are from the House of Remia, right?” Sara asked.
“Yup,” answered Leon. “What gave it away, the muscles or the deep voice?”
Knowing the Remians had incredible strength, Sara was confused. “They’re having an awful lot of trouble with those rocks.”
One suddenly dropped her stone and tripped over it.
Sara tried not to laugh. “Looks like alcohol is really bad for you.”
Leon caught a man about to fall and helped him into a nearby chair. “Yeah, and using up blood is one of the only ways of getting rid it.”
The bartender was a provocatively dressed woman with spiky red hair.
“Neila!” Leon called.
Handing a drink to a patron, Neila came over. “My favorite customer, what can I do for you?”
Leon was about to explain when two other men began to fight.
“Okay, you’re done!” Neila said, her eyes turning blood red.
The fighters immediately stopped, writhing in agony for a moment before they began vomiting their alcoholic blood, and then falling to the floor half unconscious.
Leon turned to Sara. “That’s the other way of getting rid of it.”
Neila’s eyes returned to normal. She grabbed two blood marbles from behind the counter and made them float over to the men.
Both men ate the blood marbles and got back up as though they had just crawled out of bed.
Neila gestured to the exit with her thumb. “You can come back when you learn to behave,” she said, then turning to Leon. “Who’s your friend?”
“I’m Sara,” she answered, shaking hands with Neila.
“What kind of food do you have here?” Leon asked.
Neila had a puzzled look on her face as she stared at Leon for several seconds. “Leon, I don’t serve food. How many humans do you think I get?”
“I was just asking,” Leon said, “Besides, I couldn’t think of anywhere else.”
Neila grabbed a drink for another customer. “No one is going to have anything.”
“Neila, please help us out here,” Leon pleaded.
Sara lowered her head and leaned against the bar. “I’m gonna die.”
“There’s only one thing I can think of,” Neila said. “Have you seen the river a few blocks north of here? You can catch fish, can’t you?”
“Yes!” Leon said. “Thanks, Neila. I owe you.”
“You can repay me by telling Caycee she better return my ring!” Neila demanded. “It was her. I know it.”
“She stole your blood ring?” Leon asked.
“It took forever to make, and besides that, I just used up a good bit of blood making those drunks stop.”
Leon stepped away. “No problem,” he said. “Thing is, she’s with the Khothu right now.”
“Just tell her when you see her,” Neila said. “I need that ring.”
Outside, Sara was practically dragging Leon by the arm. “It’s this way, right?”
They followed a trail between some buildings that led down to the river.
Sara dropped the basket with the rat and cradled her growling stomach. “Fishing rod…” she said, realizing she didn’t have one.
“Give me one second,” Leon said. He waded hip-deep into the water. For almost a minute he stood completely motionless before rapidly snatching four fish right out of the river.
Standing behind Sara, Chris and Delia laughed.
“What are you doing, Leon?” asked Chris.
“I’m getting some food for our friend here,” Leon answered.
Delia cringed. “Yuck! You’re actually going to eat that?”
“Yeah,” Sara said defensively.
“I’ve got to see this.” Chris said.
Delia whined. “Chris, that’s gross!”
“I’m gonna cook it, of course.” said Sara.
Leon walked by. “If you kids want a lesson in culture, follow us.”
Back at the house, while Leon prepped the fireplace, Chris and Delia watched Sara use a dagger to cut the heads off the fish.
“Is it a ritual to behead them?” Delia asked.
“You could call it that,” Sara said. “It’s more of a common practice to not eat the head.”
Delia covered her eyes as Sara began filleting the fish. Chris was transfixed by the whole thing.
Leon dumped some blood glaives off a metal tray and grabbed tongs to give to Sara.
Sara wiped the tray and set it in the fire. She used the tongs to handle the fish until it was done. Not waiting for the other fish, she wasted no time tearing off a piece and putting in her mouth.
The savory moment was awkwardly cut short as Sara turned to see Chris and Delia staring at her with wide-eyed shock.