24 October 2012
Vargulf silently ushered us into his flat. The area inside was large and open-plan and had the possibility of being a nice home, if it were relocated to a decent neighbourhood and refurbished, I thought. What the apartment was lacking in furniture it made up for in gym equipment and general untidiness; there were discarded blankets on the floor, washing-up piled in the kitchenette sink and small library's worth of books lay in piles around a battered sofa-bed. The worn coffee table was lying on one side and had three crossbow bolts embedded in the centre; it looked like someone had been using it for target practice. Vargulf perched on a cluttered kitchen counter, eyeing me suspiciously. There was something about him that I couldn't quite put my finger on, something not right, so much so that I broke out in goosebumps.
"Theo says you hunt lycanthropes," I said, looking around for a spot to sit down. The small sofa-bed was covered in dog hair and there didn't seem to be any other chairs in the room. I decided to remain standing.
"Yes," Vargulf replied, still staring at me in a most disconcerting way, "any therianthrope who causes trouble. Skin-walkers too, if they insist on eating people, but they're mainly wiccan-types who just want to 'commune' with nature or some shit. What's your story? Never seen you before."
"This is...Lili," Theo interrupted, "she's sort of a consultant - an expert in daemons, incubus and succubus. She's helping me with a daemon problem. I'm hoping you can help us too Vargulf."
I mouthed 'Lili?' to Theo, one eyebrow raised. He gave me a pleading look.
Vargulf shrugged dismissively, "I don't deal in daemons. That's your area."
"The daemon we are chasing is a Cacodaemon," Theo continued, ignoring Vargulf's rebuttal, "and they are vulnerable to silver."
"So it's arms you're after," Vargulf sighed, "and I thought you were here for my charming personality."
"Just a couple of silver swords," Theo started, but Vargulf held up one of his massive hands to silence him.
"Do you remember when I let you borrow my crossbow?" Vargulf frowned, "My favourite crossbow? Custom made, beautiful thing."
"That was an accident!" Theo exclaimed.
"And what about my ebony sword?" Vargulf threw me a sideways look, inviting me in to the game. Something in his eyes and the tone of his voice said he was teasing Theo, and enjoying every minute of it.
"That wasn't my fault," Theo folded his arms defensively, "I didn't think the daemon would eat it."
"Wait," I interjected, "you somehow let a daemon eat the sword you were trying to kill it with?"
"I mistranslated a text," Theo sighed dejectedly, "I thought ebony would kill it...turns out it was the one daemon that actually eats ebony."
I laughed out loud; I couldn't help myself.
"You are the worst daemon hunter I ever met," Vargulf laughed, his voice echoing loudly in the sparsely furnished apartment. "I wonder how you're still alive sometimes."
"Hey," Theo said, a little anger in his voice, "you weren't so cocky when I prised you out of the jaws of that great, black werewolf were you? I saved your life that time, Vargulf." Both men were silent for a moment, until finally Vargulf smiled and popped a cigarette into his mouth.
"Aye, that you did," Vargulf lit his cig with a scratched zippo. "And I'm grateful lad, I am. I'll help you."
"Thank you," I said, before Theo had a chance to change Vargulf's mind, "we both appreciate it."
"On one condition," Vargulf paused for effect, blowing a plume of noxious smoke into the air, "I'm coming with you."
"I thought you didn't 'do' daemons," I replied.
"I'm not going to let a boy and a vampire loose with two of my best swords," Vargulf smiled. A few of his teeth were chipped and one was missing.
"You knew?" Theo said, looking confused and downright irritated.
Vargulf nodded, "I can smell it all over her...no offence."
"None taken," I smiled, flashing my fangs, "it takes a beast to know one."
"And sometimes to kill one," Vargulf hopped down from the counter and shook my hand, his giant palm dwarfing mine.
"A werewolf who hunts other werewolves," I said, the irony of my own situation not lost on me, "now that's something."
"Ok," Theo interjected, "will one of you tell me what the hell is going on?"
Trick Or Treat - Part Seven • Opuss № I