The City at Night

 

Ah, the city at night. It’s so peaceful, so quiet. Everyone’s safe and warm tucked up in their little flea infested beds, away from the dangers and horrors of the night; horrors like me.

From up here, I can see all the lights in the houses gradually going out as they all slip into slumber after the day’s activities. Just lately I’ve wondered why people insist on hiding from the night, as beautiful as it is. I look up and I can see the stars overhead, and the crescent moon breaking through the cloud. I can hear the crickets play their song and the birds and other animals of the night call to each other. I hear them call to me and I begin to understand what they are saying. I begin to understand a lot lately…

What was that? Oh, a lonely serving wench just finished her duties from the manor which I now crouch atop, on her way home through the deserted streets and shops to the safety of home. My eyes fix on her as she walks away, and I follow, leaping to the neighbouring building with effortless grace and landing on the roof without a sound. I feel the tingling of a distant memory as I watch her, a memory I was able to recall not long since and one I’m sure I will again soon, yet I am not sure I want to.

I leap again to a smaller building and she is still unaware of my presence as I close in on her as a hawk silently descends upon its unsuspecting prey. It’s too soon, too soon to strike yet. I must wait, must be patient until she reaches the slums where it is darker, where the shadows are deeper and the nights grip is stronger. I must wait… I must wait…

I drop down from the roof and land on the cobbled stone. There was no noise from my landing, but she stops and turns all the same. She senses something, something watching her but just out of sight. Yes, I see you, pretty girl in your bonnet so white, but you cannot see me can you? No. See? You turn and keep walking, but a little faster now. And I follow.

More footsteps! Someone else is about, coming towards us. I hear three men in boots – soldiers – who are intoxicated and heading back to the barracks to sleep after filling their bellies with drink. I can smell the stench of the ale on them before the girl hears their footsteps. I watch as they come into view. She tries to give them a wide berth, but to no avail.

“Well ello there luv, ‘owd you like to spend a night of passion wit one ov’t baron’s elite guards?”

“Aye I bet she’d enjoy that!”

“No, get lost I just want to get home.” They encircle her and she’s forced to stop. Poor thing, she looks like a lost lamb who’s stumbled upon a pack of wolves.

“Ooo rejection! Or are ye just playin’ ‘ard ta get?”

“I know what she wants! Ye’d like us all wun’t ya?"

“What? No! Leave me alone you pigs! Or I’ll scream!”

They grab at her, laughing at her futile attempts to fend them off. Suddenly I feel anger well up inside me. Again, half a memory stirs at the back of my mind.

“Ha! No one’s gonna ‘ere ya! Al’t shops are empty at night time missy!”

“Come on, get ‘er inta this ally…”

“Get off! GET OFF ME!” she screams as they drag her into the darkness.

“Ooof! She’s a feisty one!”

“HELP ME SOMEONE HELPMmmppff!”

“Shut up ye tart! Ye may as well enjoy…”

“What was that?”

“Who’s there?”

I rush at them and rip the nearest ones throat out by pure instinct, showering everywhere with his blood in a second. I get a taste of the man’s hot sickly life blood and any control I might have shown vanishes from my brain.

The girl screams, as does one of the men. The other lunges at me with his fists, having no time to draw his steel, and I almost feel his pummelling my face and arms. Almost. I fling him from me as one might swat a fly, and he crashes into the wall with a sickening thud and a crack, and as I’m turning away I see his limp body collapse upon the ground.

The remaining man has his sword drawn, but his body reeks of fear worse that it does of ale and I don’t need my senses to know he’s going to bolt and run. I don’t give him the chance, launching myself at him and he raises his sword to defend himself purely by reflex. I don’t even bother deflecting the blow and as the cold steel sinks into my side I crush his skull in my hands.

The body falls and I listen. The girl is sobbing against the wall. The crickets can still be heard beyond the walls of the building. Somewhere in a building quite close, a couple are in the throws of ecstasy; too preoccupied to heed the distant sounds outside. Other than that, there’s nothing.

She looks up as she sees me remove the blade from where it had sliced into my body, and sees the bloodless wound heal over without a trace.

“No, let me go,” she sobs.

I stroll over to her over the blooded stones and lift her to her feet, but her legs refused to support her any more, so I hold her upright myself.

“What… what…?” she manages to gasp.

“What am I?” I ask her “Or what am I going to do?”

I angle her so that her pretty head rolls onto her shoulder, exposing her neck. She offers no resistance. She’s barely breathing.

“Let me go…” she manages.

I almost feel sorry for her as I begin to feed. But I can’t let her live after what she’s seen, and, after all, a girl has to eat.

“No… no… n… yes... oh…”

Unlike her attackers, her death will come from pure pleasure.