Page 54 of Only Human in Strangeville

“It’s okay,” I finally said. “I’ll carry Nimbus.”

He didn’t argue, which was certainly a point in his favor. But if he had been taken over by the enemy, slowing me down with Nimbus could be useful to him. I shook my head. If they’d somehow gained control of Katsuro, I was fucked anyway.

The vampire put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I think we can safely attempt to rejoin the others,” he said.

“You know where we’re at, right?”

He glanced around, then sighed. “I am not a werewolf with instinctive knowledge of my surroundings in the forest. I knew where you were because I could sense you and Nimbus specifically. I can sense settlements in a few directions, and I believe we need to go that way.” He pointed. “But I’m not positive.”

“Do you have your phone?”

“No signal.” He fished out his cell, unlocked the screen and handed it to me.

I fiddled with it one-handed for a bit before shrugging. “Well, let’s go then.”

Nimbus could have told us where to go, but Nimbus was unconscious, and I doubted he’d wake for a while.

So, we walked.

***

“Is it safe to talk?” I asked sometime later.

“I believe so.”

“Tell me about yourself?”

It was dark, but I saw him give me a measured look. I’d managed to use my power to enhance my vision again. Not as good as last time, but it made wandering around in the woods at night a lot easier. My arms ached from carrying Nimbus and I thought about turning him over to Katsuro but couldn’t quite make myself do it.

Finally, he answered. “As much as I’ve lived a long life, I don’t know how much of it is truly interesting. The history, maybe, but I’ve had to live so much of it in the darkness.” He sighed and remained silent for a while. “I used to enjoy sword work. I still do, I suppose. My father had fought in a war and one day I found his sword. He taught me a little when he had time and energy. We were farmers, and I was an only child. The rituals and customs of my people were quite rigid. I do not think you would like it very much, but the rituals had their beauty, too. This was long ago, of course. In Japan. I thought being a mere farmer was boring and desired more, hence the sword practice. It was my life’s ambition to go to war and be a hero.” He snorted. “Now I would give it all up to return to the farm of my youth.”

“All of it?”

“I rule Beechworth alongside Davin. We do our best to make it a sanctuary, as you know. But the weight of the years, and the responsibility for the lives I protect, does wear me down.” Katsuro glanced at me again. “Though, I must admit, you’ve brought a fresh breath of life to our town. Despite all this.” He gestured broadly, and I knew he was referring to the current conflict. “And truly, it is an honor to use the power I’ve amassed through the years to protect others. Please do not misunderstand. While it is within my ability to do so, I will protect the beings of Beechworth. That does not dispel the longings for my relatively carefree youth. I didn’t know it until much later, but we had great privilege. My father had chosen the life of the farmer after all the honor he had won in the wars. Even in a hard year, we never went without because of that privilege, and he always made sure the people of his village had what they needed, too. He was a good man.”

“What happened?” I hoped he didn’t mind me asking after he trailed off again. I could see it being a sensitive topic.

“Ahh, forgive me. Lost in memories. As with most stories like this, war happened. Eager for adventure, I answered the call. I never returned home.”

“Boohoo.”

We both started at the derisive voice.

“Never returned home. Didn’t end up in service to a powerful vampire lord. Didn’t amass his own power base. Don’t let this one fool you, human. Katsuro could buy a large country and have money left over. He’s not hurting for luxury after his departure from human life.” Someone stepped into view.

“I never said I was,” the vampire replied with quiet dignity, as he sheltered me with his body. “Simply that I now find the value my father did in a quiet life as a farmer.”

Belatedly, it seemed, some sense in the back of my mind lit up like an alarm bell and adrenalin shot through me. How had they snuck up on us?

“Well, your girlfriend cost us a lot of money and power. And unlike you, we don’t want to be no bleeding farmers.”

“On the contrary, that’s exactly what you were doing, farming blood,” Katsuro pointed out.

“Shut it.”

I didn’t recognize the voice, or the face, but I had noticed a weapon pointed in our direction before the vampire had stepped between us. Who the hell was this, and how had he snuck up on us?

I had to get Nimbus out of here. He was still out cold.

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