NOVPUB
Chapter 45: _ Come, Come, Bait
Fergus
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It didn’t take him a few walks to be awkwardly stared at by the wolves and fey. He knew he looked awful all covered in blood and oversized clothes.
He, however, had mastered the act of impersonating such that he could be anybody he wanted to be – not just by looks but by characterization too.
He began to jog ahead, acting like he was returning from the crime scene.
"You alright, mate?" A fairy asked him.
He nodded. "Yes, I’m fine. Barely scaled through the fight."
"Lucky you. You’d better get those bloody clothes changed." Said the fairy.
Fergus groaned, wishing he could snack on his left eye. "Sure, sure. Soon as I get home!"
"That your blood or..." The fairy trailed off.
Fergus understood that the fey don’t shed blood and currently, he was in the form of a fairy. "A vampire’s. But I didn’t do the killing. A wolf did."
"Phew! That’s a relief. You look like you really need a shower though. Tag along now." Said the fairy.
Fergus sighed. "And a good night’s sleep."
"Bye, my friend!"
With that, he headed to his destination. Fergus strode past wolf guards who seemed to be all around the streets. Their gazes lingered on his imposing form but offered no challenge. They had better things on their plates than a fairy in bloody clothing it seemed.
Relief washed over Fergus. He didn’t need any unnecessary complications, not now. He just needed to find his target. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
The target’s building, when he got there was eerily quiet. He could however hear the echoes of whispers.
"Lock the doors, we’ll be fine."
"I don’t want anyone out of the house until we are sure it’s safe!"
Voices of fathers and mothers warning their kids from behind the door flew to his ears. That sent soothe to Fergus. Even though the wolves and fey may have won, he and his group had managed to wreck tension in them.
The smell of fear hung heavy in the air, clinging to the cold corridors like a shroud. He smirked, picturing the residents huddled within their locked apartments, cowering from the perceived threat outside.
It made his job easier.
He navigated the corridors, guided by the faint scent of his target. The building was usually bustling with life every time he came to spy, but now, it felt eerily empty. The silence was only interrupted by the creak of his boots on the floor.
Right now, he felt like a predator hunting down his prey. Well, wasn’t that the case?
The thought that he’d feed again was already making his mouth water. He spread his hands, shut his eyes, and sniffed the fear in the air.
FEAR.
Yes. He needed to cause more of that.
Reaching the target’s apartment, he found the door closed and so, he knocked.
From within, he heard a muffled voice squeak, "Coming!"
A devious smirk crossed Fergus’s lips. Come, come the bait.
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a skinny boy with wide, clueless eyes. He couldn’t be more than ten, his face was pale and drawn. Fergus crouched down with a playful grin – or at least that’s what he aimed for.
"Well, hello there." He smiled at the boy who had this new terrified look on his face at the sight of the blood on Fergus’s clothes.
Fergus, enjoying the sight glanced down at his clothes. "Oh, you don’t like blood, do you?"
Stiffening, the boy nodded mutely.
Fergus shook his head. "Now, that’s unfortunate." He pulled his own shirt. "Because I think you’ll be seeing a lot of that later."
In response, the boy took a step backward.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, don’t you do that, young pup. Not especially to a man who is here to help you out. I bet you’d hate to live alone all miserable on your own, won’t you?" Fergus chuckled but the devilish glint never left his eyes.
This time, the boy took two more steps inside the house. Fergus stood and followed suit.
"Don’t be so ungrateful." He extended both of his palms. "I’m here to help."
Swallowing, "Who are you?" asked the boy.
Fergus’s grin widened, his facade of playful helpfulness melting away. "Who do you think, little pup? I’m the one who sent shivers down your street, the one who turned your safe haven into a nightmare," he purred, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "I’m the darkness they fear, the monster under your bed – I’m Fergus."
The boy’s eyes widened comically, his terrified whimper dying in his throat. He stumbled back, bumping into a table behind him.
Fergus stepped closer, relishing the fear radiating from the child.
"And you," he leaned in, his voice, a rasp, "you are something I need."
The boy shook his head frantically, clutching something unseen against his chest. "N-no! I don’t! Please, leave me alone!"
"You don’t have something I need. I said you are something I need." Fergus held his gaze icily, tasting the terror in the boy’s trembling lips.
And then, he burst out laughing, turned around, and covered his mouth. He saw confusion clouding the boy’s face.
"Come on, now! You know that question was dumb, don’t you?" He flapped his fairy wings. "Didn’t you see?" He pulled up his sleeve to show his skin. "That I’m a fairy?"
The boy was mute for a moment, thinking, and then finally, "I can see that you are a fairy but what do you want in my house?"
Fergus knew the problem now. Even though he wasn’t in his vampire form, when he wanted to be devilish, his menacing aura ways found a way to radiate.
"Well, I was with your brother at the Vientiane restaurant and then, we got attacked by vampires..."
The boy gasped and Fergus internally smirked. This was interesting.
"Your brother, he is hurt and he asked me to bring you."
The boy almost stumbled at that. He must have loved his dead brother so much. "Oh, my God. Is he alright?" He blinked back tears.
"I think he’ll be better when he sees you. Why don’t you come see for yourself?" He extended his hand and grinned broadly at the kid.
Yes, come to your doom; he thought.
