The Secret of Spellshadow Manor 6 by Bella Forrest (books for men to read .TXT) 📕

many who are dear to us,” Mag said, covering for my sudden, awkward silence. “We followed her trail here. We have not found her, but we think those we fought today were her companions.”

“Hm,” said Dryleaf. “That may be. They have not been here long. Indeed, many in Lan Shui did not notice their arrival at all. I always keep a sharp ear out for the town’s news, and I only heard vague rumors of their presence—most of those through Pantu. But the town has been very different since they arrived.”

“Different?” I said. “Different how?”

“Well, for one thing, the trouble with the vampire only began after they arrived,” said Dryleaf, pursing his lips. “I have tried to point this out to some in the town, including Yue, but they ascribed it to coincidence.”

I frowned, suddenly doubtful. “I … cannot say that I blame them. I have never fought a vampire, and I know little about them. But they cannot be controlled by any human, that much is certain.”

“That is as may be,” said Dryleaf. “But still it makes me uneasy.”

“I am not overly interested in the vampire’s arrival in Lan Shui,” said Mag. “I am more interested in how we can kill it.”

Dryleaf was taken aback. “Kill it?”

“Yes,” I said. “We are pursuing the weremage, as we said, but we cannot with clear hearts leave Lan Shui in danger. We will help get rid of the vampire before we leave.”

The old man sighed, his shoulders drooping. I was surprised—I thought he would be happy to hear that we were going to help. But he seemed to have been overcome by some old sadness, something he had been able to forget but had suddenly been reminded of again. He overcame it quickly, though, seeming to marshal himself even as we watched.

“Well, I am grateful for your help, as I am sure many in the town are—or would be, if they knew of your aim. As for the vampire, I will tell you what I know. It has struck near the village, but so far it has not come within the walls. They prefer to attack victims who are alone and unaided.”

“Well, your words explain the abandoned farms we saw outside the town,” I said.

“Just so,” said Dryleaf. “The vampire seems to be watching Lan Shui. It was after the second attack—three weeks ago now—that we became certain of what we were facing. When we did, Yue sent a messenger to the Mystics in Bertram to request their help. But that messenger was discovered a few days later in the wilderness. Her body had been torn apart and drained of blood. We sent another, but he met the same fate. No one would go a third time—or rather, Yue would not send them.”

“But that seems almost intelligent,” said Mag. “I thought that vampires were like animals.”

Dryleaf shook his head. “In some ways, yes, but not entirely. They have no society or culture, the way that satyrs do, and they never work together. They are solitary hunters. No one is sure where they come from, since they do not seem to breed, or at least there have been no sightings of vampire young. But in any case, they are possessed of incredible cunning, and they will study the actions of their prey with a single-minded obsession. The vampire could easily have seen the messenger and known they were going to get help.”

Mag frowned. “That is ill news. I wonder how it keeps watch. It would be difficult to watch all the roads leading away from Lan Shui to other, larger towns and cities nearby.”

“To us, it does seem incredible,” said Dryleaf. “But vampires are possessed of astounding speed and agility, and they can see in the dark. Sunlight, on the other hand, is poisonous to them, and they hide from it. But the messengers stood no chance when the vampire stalked them in the night.”

“Well, it will not find me such easy prey,” said Mag. Then, glancing at me, she smiled. “And I shall ensure it does not eat Albern, either. Now, how do we find it, and how do we kill it?”

“The second question is more easily answered,” said Dryleaf. “Wood is poisonous to a vampire. Stab it with a steel blade, and it will only become enraged and kill you faster. But pierce it through with wood, and it will die as if it had drunk pure nightshade oil. A stab in the heart is best, for that will kill it instantly. You can also cut off the head, or burn them, though that is much harder to accomplish.”

“Easy enough,” said Mag.

“The much harder prospect is how to find them,” said Dryleaf. “The best advice I can give is what I have already told you: they avoid civilization, and sunlight burns them. Therefore they are forced to lurk near lairs where they can ensure no sunlight will reach them. That usually means caves, and Lan Shui lies at the very feet of the Greatrocks. Though I think you are more likely to find this beast somewhere in the western spur that lies between us and Bertram.”

“That was my thought,” I put in. “If this creature has found and stopped two messengers, we will not find it to the east.”

“You will find a home northwest of Lan Shui, on the lower slopes of the spur,” said Dryleaf. “It was attacked six days ago, and everyone who dwelled there was killed. The barman should be able to point it out to you upon a map.”

“Then our path is clear,” said Mag. “We head west, search the spur, find the vampire, and kill it.” She clapped her hands and stood.

“I only hope it is as easy as you make it sound,” said Dryleaf, a cloud of doubt passing across his expression.

“We will set out at once,” I said, rising to my feet. “If we hurry, we should be able to get there in plenty of time to stalk it to its lair and set