The Wanderer

six: voyage

The unusual trio of wolves and vampire began their journey through the deserted streets. Akire and Sam were walking on one side, hiding in shadows casted by what looked like abandoned buildings but were actually refuge to most surviving humans and other creatures that did not want to be seen in daylight. 

Alexis remained solitary on the opposite side of the street, looking like a lone wanderer oblivious to his surroundings but actually keeping a close lookout for any possible attacks. He made sure to tune his nose into the different scents in order to check for suspicious or dangerous individuals.

Akire realized she was glad Alexis was with her. She needed to think and try to figure out a lot of questions in her head. Alex might be reckless and sometimes too cocky for an Irish wolf but he was a good fighter and can keep the guard up while she thought a few things out. 

She looked down at the small child clinging on her trench coat. She could not help but marvel at how much the child quickly trusted her and how he had managed to worm his way into her empty heart in just a span of a couple of hours. Still, there were still questions left unanswered.

Who is Sam? Who killed his mother and how did she die? Why is Atkins having her followed? Why is he keeping her alive? How did the Paris wolf pack know about Sam and do they actually know how he looks like? Was there really a connection between vampires and wolves? Where are they actually headed? 

She shook her head in frustration. These were things she did not want to concern herself with but unfortunately, circumstances had lead her here. Despite her thirst for revenge, this little boy actually complicated things. But Akire had the deep sense that her instincts are somehow correct that Atkins and whatever this child was running from were interconnected. How, well, that remains to be answered.

She needed answers and in this town of desolates and creatures, there was only one person she knew who could give her what she sought for.

Alexis, we need to see the old woman...

They arrived at the makeshift tent that the old hag had been occupying for god knows how long. Akire did not want her to see Alexis or Sam but she still could not bring herself to trust the boy entirely alone with the wolf, no matter what her friend promised her. She told the child to remain hidden behind her while Alexis was patrolling the block. She called out to the old woman.

“You bring me presents, blind one?”

“Not really. I am here to get answers. Straightforward answers without any riddles of who I really am or the fate of this godforsaken world.”

“Are you really in the position to make demands, vampire? It seems that I have what you seek.”

The old woman cackled a bone chilling laugh. Akire had to cringe but she quickly hid her emotions. Weakness would make her fall prey to whatever nonsense the old woman might cook up. Nevertheless, she could not hide her surprise when the woman sat on the sidewalk in front of her and got her bowls and bones as well as the small knife she used to cut herself.

“Come out child, no need to fear Old Alna.”

Akire made a move to stop Sam from peeking out from behind her but it was too late. The child gave the old witch a toothy grin. She reached out but Sam had already ran past her and sat in front of the old woman who's name was actually Alna.

“You are far from home, aren't you? Oh but you are right where you need to be little prince... Yes, the bones says this to be right.”

Akire heard the rattling of the bones and she smelled blood only to realize that the witch had cut the little guy's finger. Her ears found out first before her olfactory senses. She heard him cry out then the smell of blood penetrated her senses. 

“What are you doing?” She cried at Alna. She snatched Sam away from the laughing old woman.

“You care for this child? Nice to find out you have more than revenge in your heart. Hmf... so much unlike your ancestors…"

Akire frowned. “What do you know of my ancestors? Oh never mind! Just tell me please where I can return this child to his father!”

There was silence and before Akire could even unsheathe her sword, the old woman's knife flew past her face, missing it by an inch and she heard a familiar expletive coming from Alexis. 

He cursed and as Akire turned to survey the scene with her senses, she realized the knife almost hit him between the eyes. If he did not have quick reflexes, he would have been dead meat.

“Return my knife mongrel. You think you can hide, crouch and attack old Alna, eh? Stupid mutt!”

She muttered a few more words that Akire could not really make out and then began rattling her bowl of bones and blood. 

Sam's blood.

Akire felt Alexis move past her to hand the old lady the knife. She simply grunted in response and was busy again, chanting. Akire felt the wind pick up and that the particles surrounding them were picking up energy, vibrating and rubbing at each other as if forming to open a portal. It was weird and she hated her heightened senses for allowing her to feel such things. 

“The little prince needs to head south and find a boat to cross the great ocean. Once this vessel finds land, you will seek a place where white flowers grow. Ah, but trouble follows you and tragedy welcomes you all.”

Alna clucked and then settled the bowl down on the dusty ground. If it had not been for the weird sensations she was feeling, Akire would have attacked the old hag for lying. However, it was a start and no matter how wild a goose chase this might lead to, at least they had a heading. She would just have to figure out the rest.

“Wait, you mentioned something about my ancestors...did you really know them?”

“Yes, I do. I am older than you think I am, Akire of the Shigure clan.” 

Sam tugged on Akire's coat. “Is she a witch?” 

The boy asked in a whisper that was loud enough to be heard by anybody close by.

Alna laughed and dug into her pockets. She produced a small amulet and handed it to the boy. Akire could make out the shape through the vibrations and recognized the pendant was shaped like a hexagon. She reached for the hilt of her sword and felt the same mark underneath it.

“Yes little boy, I am a witch. I hate to think that I am the last of my kind but I might as well be. The world is a different place, a much, much different place from before. I have done my share of curses and I hope that the last one I gave, so many years back will not fail me.” 

“What curse is that?” Alexis asked, speaking for the first time. 

He had not really talked to a witch before but he encountered many in Ireland but some were either parlor tricks or those who dabbled in magic and nothing more. He sensed that this old woman was made of deeper, more ancient magic; Somewhat connected to Druids.

Akire felt the old woman's stare directed at her. She asked why she was staring but the witch just laughed and turned around to go back into her lair. Akire called out but they only heard her voice from the dark enclosure. 

“Go with the boy and you will find what you seek. However, remember this blind one, the fate of the world rests on you. Who will you save?”

“That was freaky! The way she threw that knife, oy! I would have been dead or worse, blind!” Alex rambled as they continued down south to the port. He realized too late what he had said and began apologizing to Akire.

“Stop it! I don't really care. Why don't you just shut up and listen carefully, we are being followed!”

Alexis quickly fell silent and casually turned his head to look around. The street was not that deserted. They were probably in the middle of town with a few rusty and dusty establishments open. There was a small meat shop and some little stalls that sold an assortment of scarves, clothes and even some swords and sharp weapons. Another building had shutters for windows and boarded up but the front door was wide open with a sign that says "Blood for Sale".

There were a few people milling about but you could not see children playing like they used to on the street. Only the old adults and those who have seen enough terror were brave enough to stay out during the day. 

Yes, vampires do not attack during daylight unless they had enough shade to cover but again, the town was not a haven for any creature. It was too densely populated. Creatures of the night who strayed here would starve and die within a week for the lack of food.

“Where is it? How many?”

Alexis hissed at Akire. He did not sense anybody nor smelled anyone. If it were wolves, he would know right away. If it were the pack from Paris, he would hear them. 

He did not tell Akire that the reason why he was not able to really kill the wolf for leadership was because it was his sister's mate. He was surprised when she arrived at the scene. She was supposed to be dead.

“Surprisingly, he's alone. I think he has been trailing us since we left the Dojo. I'm not sure if he heard any of what Alna said. Although, in time, I'll find out. Just don't mind him- yet.”

Alexis shuddered. So, they were being tailed by a vampire. He was not usually afraid of vamps except when they try to get their venom in his system. No, he would not die but just suffer an agonizingly torturous hour, days or months- depending on the wolf's strength. Still, he would rather not experience it at all. 

“Why don't we just lure him out now and attack him? We can take him both if it's a lone vampire.”

Akire shook her head and stopped by one of the stalls. She wanted to get Sam a coat with a hood to hide his face so that nobody would recognize him. She felt through the stack of clothing until a girl offered to help her find what she wanted. Akire smiled and told her she was looking for. Alexis took this time to backtrack and split up in case there was an ambush.

As the girl began picking out a coat for Sam, Akire strained her ear and sniffed through the air. There it was, the scent that alerted her. 

He smelled fairly of what she smelled in her own vampire blood. She was not that surprised, only a little bit frustrated at herself. She had sniffed out his scent while she was with Haito but since he had made no move to attack or communicate, she let him be. Until the night of her attack, when the vampire told her of Atkins, she was able to put two and two together.

So, this was the one Charles Atkins had sent to tail her. He had been flitting in and out of her life ever since she left the old Japan and went to Europe with Haito. 

It was easy to remain calm and nonchalant, she had smelled some traces of Atkins' bloodline in all her journeys as a vampire. Some, she even had to attack or kill, trying to find answers but to no avail. Most of the ones she had sniffed as part of his bloodline were usually just mere victims or prey that he did not care to kill. 

She had asked Haito if she could smell the same things that she could. Haito had revealed that not all vampire could easily identify the distinction among the sired. She chalked it up to the fact that Akire was blind and had heightened most of her senses so it was possible she could detect them. It was not impossible but somehow, Akire knew it wasn't because she was sight impaired. No, something about her blood and Atkins' was making her alert to all of this.

Akire was distracted by the girl who handed her a soft, cotton jacket with a hood. The girl took the liberty of describing the color. No, she did not want green or red. It was too bright. She asked if they had a shade darker. 

The girl handed her a dark brown one and she fished into her small pouch to give her change. Akire hesitated when the girl offered her to some blood to buy. Then, relented. She would have to need strength if this rogue vampire was to attack.

Akire turned to Sam who was being obediently silent. He had never strayed from her side, always clinging to her jacket. 

“Here Sammy, I think you should wear this. You know it's important to hide, right? We can't let you continue wearing the same jacket that you had when you were with your mother.”

Sam nodded and took off the one he was wearing. Akire tossed it in the pile so that the girl can sell it to somebody else. He wiggled into the sweater and put up the hood. It was a little big for him but it was perfect for hiding his entire face.

Akire grabbed Sam's hand, the frozen bottle of blood from the girl and walked away towards the gate of the city. They needed to cross a short, barren rice field to get to the Port and find a boat. 

Akire did not know how much money Alexis had with him but they would find a way to hire a private ride if possible. Crossing the ocean required a huge ship but she could not risk Sam in a crowded vessel. The best she could do was find a smaller one that took in a small group of passengers.

Alexis met him at the gate. “There's no sign of him. Are you sure we have a tail? It could just be your paranoid nature taking over.”

“Stop joking around Alex! Let's just get to the Port as quickly as we can. We need to sail as soon as possible.”

Alexis sobered up and lead the way outside. Akire put Sam in front of her and steered him by the shoulders. 

If this vampire guy was following and trailing them from behind, Sam would be better off in front of her. She prayed for patience and calm. This was not the right place to lure out the other vampire. She did not want to kill him right away. She needed answers. 

If this vampire is as cunning and strong as he seems to be, then he would follow them on the ship. There, she would be able to corner him, get some answers and destroy him.