There were at least eight meteors still in the sky. Falling slow. They illuminated the night sky over the sea like it was day. Warriors in uniform were dashing across the docks.

“Join them,” Nessy said to Roland. “Find Edgar.”

Roland ran off.

Nessy turned to Coppertop. “Go back to your post.”

Coppertop didn’t take his eyes off the falling meteors. “What are they?”

“Get everyone inside.”

Copperpot blinked and looked at Nessy. “Aye.” With a glance at me, he ran off.

There were tiny dark splotches across the orange sky, almost like rising black static. It looked as though the sky was ripping apart.

Nessy glanced at me and then motioned for me to follow.

“What are the black spots?” I asked.

Nessy glanced, then looked back at me. “Bats. Follow me.”

The masses of the town were descending on the docks, where we had been, to get a look at the scene. We were headed in the opposite direction.

“Old town,” Nessy said, as we entered the shady district. I remembered it from my first arrival in town with Roland and Vite.

“Keep your head down,” she said.

There weren't many on the street tonight. After long, we entered a plain building with no window display or sign.

It appeared to be a home. It seemed empty. Nessy hung her coat and then laid on the couch, almost as if she were a patient of a shrink.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

She opened her eyes to look at me, then closed them again. “For god’s sake, sit.”

I took a seat on an uncomfortable oversized rocking chair that sat across from her

“I'm thinking,” she mumbled.

There was a knock at the door. I had fallen asleep. Nessy was still laying on the couch, eyes closed. I quietly got up and tried to wake her. She wouldn’t wake. I thought to check her pulse, but I decided against trying. I crept quietly to the door. No peep hole.

Another knock. This time, loud, fast.

“Who is it?” I said.

“Me,” said a soft female voice.

I opened the door. Alice rushed in.

“Close it, close it. Lock it,” she whispered.

“What happened?”

She paced around the room, arms wrapped around herself.

“Where’s Edgar?”

Alice shook her head and leaned against a wall, head down, crying.

I turned to Nessy. “Nessy!” I walked over to Nessy and shook her.

The doorknob shook. Someone was outside and trying to open the door.

“Hey!” a man’s voice on the other side of the door. Banging. “Mr. Putty? Mr. Putty!”

I glanced at Alice. She was rocking herself back and forth, eyes closed.

“Mr. Putty, that woman is a vampire!”

Who is Mr. Putty?

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Alice shook her head over and over and collapsed onto the floor crying silently.

“No, it’s fine,” I said to the door. “She’s a friend.”

“Hey,” spoke the voice, fainter than before. “Someone else is in there.”

I quietly crept over to Nessy and pushed her, trying to wake her. She was deep asleep. I prepared to slap her, but couldn’t bring myself to it. So I crept into the next room, a kitchen. I opened a drawer. A ton of teacups. Another drawer. Pile of spoons and a spatula. I opened a cupboard. Dozens of plates. Another cupboard. Jackpot; a bowl. Well, a strainer. I filled it with water and rushed back into the living room and dumped some drops of water onto Nessy’s head.

Nessy was now somewhat damp, and also asleep.

I shook her shoulders even stronger.

Suddenly, the floor above us creaked.

More hard knocking. “Mr. Putty, stand back!”

“No,” I murmured. Alice walked over and grabbed my wrist. The world changed colors. She hurriedly me to a corner. We crouched down.

Now there were sounds of people arguing outside the front door.

“I’m coming,” a man’s voice from above us. The floor above us was creaking with his every step.

I heard footsteps outside. Then I heard muttered chatter. Then silence.

Thud, thud, thud, thud footsteps, then whack! The door shot off the hinges and slammed onto the ground. A group of four men entered the house. One held a blacksmith hammer, another a large kitchen knife.

“That her?” the man holding a hammer whispered, pointing to Nessy asleep on the couch.

“Careful! Hey! Hey! Shh. Flank her,” the dingus holding the knife said.

The one with the hammer nodded and snuck around the couch, but tripped over a footstool and fell onto a lamp, toppling it over and shattering it.

Nessy’s eyes shot open.

“Stop,” said a man from the top of the stairs.

I could barely see him. Tall. Elderly.

Nessy sat up and eyed the men. Then she looked around the room, perhaps in search of me.

“The boy,” she muttered, now jolting to her feet.

The man with the hammer squinted and looked up the stairs. “Mr. Putty, she’s a vampire! I saw her fly in and enter your house!”

“A vampire?” asked Nessy.

Mr. Putty slowly walked down the stairs. We all watched and waited. When he got to the base he groaned. “I didn’t let in crap.”

I could see him better now. An old, grumpy-looking elf.

“She’s standing right there!” the one with the hammer said, motioning with his weapon.

“For hell’s sake, Loe, you broke my cedar door.”

“I’m saving your life!”

“Oh, bugger off, Loe. And go make us tea.”

“I know what I saw,” said Loe. “You dating a vampire now?”

“She’s my granddaughter, you cobweb. You're her godfather, for blasted sakes.”

“Vanessa?” Loe said softly, eyeing Nessy.

“I don’t remember you,” Nessy said.

“She grew up,” Mr. Putty said with a shrug.

“And got bit, it would seem.”

“I’m not a vampire, you dunce.”

“Tea, Loe. I’m going to have a headache.”

Loe dropped the blacksmith hammer on the carpet and went into the kitchen.

Mr. Putty slowly fumbled over to the rocking chair across from Nessy. Alice and I remained seated and hidden. One of the other three men left, the other two stuck around near the doorway. I think they still wanted to kill Alice.

Mr. Putty eventually became aware of them standing there. “Toot off!”

They glanced at each other and left. As they did, Alice released her grip on me. She looked strained and exhausted. Without overthinking it, I stood up, picked her up, and laid her on the couch next to Nessy.

“Huh?” Mr. Putty groaned, one eye squinting.

“Hi,” I said sheepishly.

Mr. Putty shook his head and groaned. “Loe! Just make a pot.”

I took a seat in the only empty chair next to Mr. Putty.

No one spoke. I think we were all too tired and confused. After a few minutes, Loe returned with a tray of teacups. He stopped in his tracks upon seeing me.

“Wh—”

“Sit,” barked Mr. Putty.

“Do you want tea?” Loe asked me.

“He doesn’t want tea,” said Nessy.

“Hey?” I said to Nessy.

“Fine, he wants tea,” said Nessy.

“Well, do you or don’t you?” Loe asked me.

“No,” I said.

Loe rolled his eyes and set the tea platter on the coffee table next to the hammer.

“Who is this girl?” Loe motioned to Alice asleep on the couch. “Was she here before?”

“She’s the vampire,” said Nessy.

You should have seen Loe’s eyes.

“Sit down, you idiot,” said Mr. Putty. “You’re too old and stupid to care this much. Drink.”

“Can Loe leave?” asked Nessy.

“He’s your godfather,” said Mr. Putty. “He’s family.”

Someone ran up to our door. It was one of the men from earlier. “Mr. Putty, the vampires are invading. Fire in town. Brody heard screams not far.”

Mr. Putty glanced at Alice and then Nessy.

“Sandro is asking if we can—”

“Go ahead,” said Mr. Putty.

The man ran off.

“You cause this?” Mr. Putty asked Nessy.

“I did,” I said.

Mr. Putty looked at me with sullen eyes.

“No,” said Nessy. “It’s Zalmora. And it isn’t an invasion.”

“What is it then?” asked Loe.

Alice coughed and slowly sat up.

“Easy,” said Nessy.

Alice sat up all the way and looked around the room.

“Alice,” said Nessy. “Where is Edgar?”

Alice shook her head. Tears rolled down her cheek.

“Can you walk?” Nessy asked her.

Alice blinked and nodded.

“We’re leaving,” said Nessy.

Nessy and I helped Alice stand and together we walked towards the door.

“To where?” I whispered.

Nessy didn’t answer.

“Nessy,” Mr. Putty called from behind us.

She stopped and turned back to face Mr. Putty.

“I’m an old elf,” he smiled and nodded. “I— These are confusing times for me.”

“I know,” said Nessy.

“I can’t give you practical advice for…” he turned and glanced out the window, “This. Whatever is happening here.”

“I know that,” said Nessy.

“But,” he raised a hand. “I have sense enough to know, or call it intuition, that this is the start of something important for you.”

Nessy was silent.

“A late bloomer. Like your mother,” he smiled. “Go fix this problem.”

Nessy nodded and led Alice and I outside.