Читать книгу SYLVAN ELF CHRONICLES - Christianne Van Keuren - Страница 12

Chapter Six

VENTINA had time on her hands as she waited for the herbs she required for her potions to grow. She put the time to good use as she practiced her shape shifting to look similar to the comely barmaid. She finally felt confident enough to try it out, so one night she did. She snuck down to the local tavern to see how she would fair.

Ventina had found and fixed a dress with a low cut bodice to attract attention; or more correctly, distract. Sweet blossoms mixed with the right incantations produced a very alluring perfume. Pretty paint decorated her face to turn heads. Then and only then did she feel ready to go.

Darkness covered her tracks as she slunk along the back alleyways until she ended up behind the tavern. She hid in the shadows for a moment making sure no one saw her. When she felt comfortable enough she stepped out, smoothing the front of the dress as she sashayed towards the back door. She should have waited a couple of minutes longer as she didn’t see the man out behind the tool shed relieving himself after one too many pints. He had staggered out there prior to Ventina’s arrival in the alleyway. His fumbling with his trouser buttons, as well as an alcohol addled brain, occupied all of his drunken attention, that is until he saw the pretty young thing walking towards the back door. Hastily putting himself back together, most of the way anyway, he stumbled after her as he felt it was his unmistakable duty to partake of some liberties. Steal a kiss or two…more if she’d let him. Ventina saw him, unfortunately too late as he managed to position himself between her and the door. Ventina stopped dead in her tracks; his drunken leer spoke volumes causing her to take a step or two back away from him. She was going to turn around and leave when he spoke.

“Where ya runnin’ off to Missy?” He wiped his chin on the back of his hand as if it made him more presentable.

“I…I…I have to get back inside. Back with my friends.” Voice quivering slightly as she stuttered her reply. The frightened voice must have urged him on as he spoke again.

“Well whatcha doing out here in the first place all by yerself? Spying on me?” His face screwing up into a lopsided squint, before he lurched forwards at her. She backpedaled again as she caught a whiff of beer, sweat and urine. It was almost as foul as his behavior. She figured she could easily get away from him, but he surprised her by lunging forward again, grabbing both of her upper arms and roughly yanking her towards him.

Ventina was instantly angry and almost revealed herself by letting her anger control her attention. Her focus slipped for just a moment, barely keeping her from maintaining the image she wanted to be and revealing what she truly looked like. She caught herself just in time, but paid for it as he tightly pinned her in his arms. The smell was even worse up close and personal. Her struggling just seemed to egg him on.

“Sassy…little thing ain’t ya?”

“Leave me alone you big oaf.”

“Big oaf? That’ll cost ya even more. Now just give us a little kiss and we’ll both be on our merry way.” He grunted out with his struggling efforts to control her. He leaned his face towards her to kiss her, which was a bad mistake as she bared her teeth and bit his cheek drawing blood. He howled in pain. Spurned advances, too much to drink and the bite were more than he could handle as he drew back and gave her an open hand slap across the face, knocking her to the ground. Stunned, Ventina shook her head, eyes watering from the violent slap. Before she could move he pounced, pinning her to the ground under him.

“I’ll teach ya to bite me ya little Bitch.” As he forced himself on her trying to kiss her, one hand held her down as the other roughly groped at her skirts to try and lift them.

“Get off me!” She hissed.”

“Hold still and this will be over quicker.” He growled still missing his target.

“No! Leave me alone!” She screamed.

The backdoor of the tavern opened just at that point and she couldn’t have timed it any better if she had planned it. It was Billy. The noise and thrashing about instantly caught his attention. He recognized Harry, but didn’t know who was struggling under him.

“What the hell’s going on here Harry?” Billy said as he approached them.

“Leave us alone…we’re busy.” Harry grunted.

“Get him off me!” Ventina screamed again, fake fear tingeing the scream for sympathy, squirming violently beneath him. Billy didn’t waste any time as he hauled Harry up off of her by the back of his shirt. Harry’s suspenders being the only things keeping his pants from falling down around his ankles as Billy hauled him up onto his feet. Harry made a foolhardy decision to swing at Billy and it became his undoing as Billy planted a huge work hardened hand upside of his jaw putting him to sleep for a while. Billy just dusted off his hands before reaching one out to Ventina to help her up.

Harry had no idea that Billy just saved his life. Ventina was about to revert to true form and snap his neck. She would have just hidden the body until later. Harry would have made a couple of fine meals.

“The old fool. I don’t know what he was thinking.” Billy said looking at the unconscious form on the ground as Ventina carefully brushed at her skirts to try and get rid of the worst of the dirt. Turning his attention back to Ventina, Billy asked “Are you alright?”

Ventina, looking up at Billy, literally put her best face forward as she answered.

“I am now, thanks to you.”

Billy was silent for a moment as he stared at her face. Ventina reached up and brushed at her face as she asked, “Is something wrong? Do I have dirt or something on my face?”

Billy shook his head as if he was trying to shake something loose. “Ahhh…no it’s just that it’s I don’t know.”

She looked at him, a coy look on her face. “It’s just what?”

“I…you seem familiar, like I’ve met you someplace before.”

“I’ve always been around.” She wasn’t lying now. “We’ve probably passed one another in the street and nodded hello.” She was right about passing in the street, but not about nodding hello too often.

“You’re probably right Miss? I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Because I didn’t give it.”

“May I be so bold as to ask it?”

A smile plastered itself on her face. Ventina had to think quick as she almost answered the name she had given when she first came to the village. She sidestepped it as she slipped her arm through his, steering him back towards the tavern’s backdoor.

“I shall tell you my name over a much deserved drink, as you have earned it by coming to my rescue…Mr…?”

“Billy Lassiter.”

“Well Mr. Lassiter.”

“Oh please, it’s Billy. Just call me Billy.”

“Well Master Billy I do appreciate your assistance with my problem.”

“Then shall we discuss it over a drink?”

“Let’s.” And the two entered the backdoor of the pub. Billy took her over to the table he had occupied before he wandered outside. Catching the innkeeper’s eye he held up two fingers for two pints. The innkeeper himself walked the beer over so he could get a better look at Billy’s new companion. He had the same gut feeling that Billy had, but he knew it wasn’t from seeing her inside his establishment. He just couldn’t place it from where.

“And just who is this pretty lass Master Billy?”

“Well that’s one of the reasons we’re gracing your place.”

“And have you gotten your answer yet?”

Ventina gave him a cool, coy look as a name finally came to mind that was close enough to her own so she would respond to it when it was spoken.

“I was just going to when you came over.”

Leaning forward in his seat, Billy’s face was expectant, as was the barkeep; eyebrows raised on both faces as they waited.

“Vanessa.”

“Vanessa?” Billy asked, “Vanessa what?”

The coy look was replaced with a sly smile as she answered. “Just Vanessa…for now.”

Billy sat back in his chair with a small grunting laugh. “Well then, Miss Vanessa, I’d like to introduce you to…”

But Ventina spoke quickly, interrupting him. “Mr. Washburn.” Her face smug. “Just because I don’t wander in here, but rarely, doesn’t mean I don’t know who he is.”

Washburn’s eyes narrowed as he knew she had never crossed over his doorstep before, but he wasn’t going to call her a liar to her face in front of Billy. She turned her attention from Billy to him as if she suspected what was going through his mind. The look he got chilled him to the bone. He quickly set the glasses on the table, wiping his hands on his rag at his belt. He threw a thumb back to the bar.

“I…I need to get back, but it…it was…” Here Washburn coughed before he finished. “It was a pleasure.”

Her gaze was as icy as her reply. The small hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. She had raised the glass to her lips, but didn’t sip on it. Just peered over the rim at him.

“The pleasure was all mine.” Her voice betrayed her calm demeanor, making it obvious that she wished him gone from her presence. He could feel her eyes boring into his back making his chest tighten and his heart pound harder, almost to the point of pain. The sooner she was out of his place the happier he would feel.

Ventina’s eyes flicked back to Billy’s, the look changing from ice back to flirty. Judging from the look on his face, it had the desired effect on him. She even took a small sip of the; as she put it; bitter brew.

Ventina had purposefully picked this night as she knew the other girl was off and she would have Billy’s full attention. She had precious little of the hypnotic powder left and when he turned his head for a quick moment she managed to sneak a small amount into his beer. She hoped it still had enough oomph left in it to start the spell on it’s way. He looked back at her as he picked up his glass and downed half of it. He made a face, but drank again. With the second largest swallow Ventina began a low sing song voice as she chanted the spell for control. Billy’s eyes took on a glassy look almost vacant before he shook his head, clearing it slightly as he tried to focus on her face. It was then that he heard her low singing chant.

“What is that tune? I don’t recognize it.”

She smiled sweetly as she spoke “Oh…just some silly old lullaby my mother taught me to sing.” She tilted her head slightly as she continued. “Maybe I’ll teach it to you someday.”

“How about now?”

“No. It’s getting late and I have to get home.”

“I’ll walk you home then.” Billy said as he attempted to stand, but found wobbly legs not willing to support him.

Ventina put her hand over top of his. “No, there is no need. I’ll be fine. You stay and enjoy the rest of your night as I have something I must attend to.” The something was Harry.

“Alright.” He said, leaning back in his chair, the glassy look deepening to the point of appearing deep in his own cups from beer.

Ventina never moved her hand from his, her eyes looking deeply into his. She spoke her voice almost melodic. “Don’t worry Bill, we’ll be together soon.”

Billy blinked very slowly, “Uh huh.” His head nodded just as slowly. She backed away from him, leaving the same way she came in; the backdoor.

Ventina backed out of the door and stood in the alleyway for just a moment. She remained in the dark waiting to see if anyone else was around. When she was sure she was alone, Ventina began looking around for Harry. He wasn’t where Billy had dropped him with the punch. Harry had managed to revive himself enough to crawl over by the wood pile on the far corner wall. Harry wedged himself between the wood pile and the building wall before passing out again in a drunken stupor. Ventina finally spotted him and went over to him. She looked down at him with disdain before prodding him with her toe. He mumbled as he settled back tighter against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. Reaching out, Ventina grabbed a hold of his wrist and yanked. Up he came in a rush, as she effortlessly draped him over her shoulders. One arm held him in place as the other raised up her skirts. Ducking into the shadows she found an opening and on a dead run took off for her house. She was all the way out of town and entering the woods near her home when Harry began to stir. He began to struggle against being held like a bag of feed.

“Hold still you fool.” She growled.

“Wha…what the hell is going on?” Came Harry’s slurred question.

“Shut up.” Her voice reverted to her normally gravelly tone.

Harry was coming around and decided he had had enough as he struggled against her. His thrashing hampered her progress to the point of almost stumbling so she stopped. She dropped him heavily on the ground knocking the breath out of him in the process. This was when Harry finally got a good look at his abductor. Ventina had dropped the phony facade of the young woman and was in her wargi form. Harry tried shaking the drunken fog from his head as he recognized the dress, but not the contents. The dress hung slack over her bony, wargi frame. The face was definitely not the one that had caught his attention in the first place, it was ghastly. Harry managed to struggle to his feet, wobbly from drink and shock. The effect was quite sobering for Harry as his breath caught in his throat, blocked by the scream that wanted to escape. It was quickly followed by a violent gush of vomit. He was frozen where he stood for a moment before he started to backpedal away from her, unable to tear his eyes away. His heel caught on a root and he fell. Muscles froze with terror. Ventina pounced, seizing him by an ankle. With very little effort Ventina lifted him and swung him in a wide arc amongst the trees until his head smashed against the trunk of a large tree. She had swung so hard that his head exploded against the bark like a rotten tomato. His death was instantaneous as bone, brain and blood painted the area in a large swash of white and red. Bits of bone and hair were embedded in the tree trunk. Ventina dropped him so she could pull the now limp body up into a sitting position, blood weakly pumping from a dying heart into the barren cavity that had once housed who Harry was. Her nose twitched at the metallic, coppery smell of fresh blood, her mouth salivating. Ventina twisted what was left of Harry’s head down and around so that her long tongue could reach deep into the bony crevasses, licking out what remained of his brain. She smacked her lips at the delicacy and had to stop herself from tearing him apart right there and devouring him. She grabbed a large handful of dirt, grass and dead leaves, shoving and packing them into the empty cavity. It effectively stopped any more blood from dripping out and leaving a trail to her door.

Ventina hoisted his limp body up and slung it over her shoulders like a sack of feed. She started once again for her home. Even though he was now dead weight, the trip was much easier without him struggling. She would get the body home and come back to clean up as much of the bloody bony mess that had splattered about and stuck to the underbrush and tree trunk. She didn’t want anyone to come upon it accidentally. The news of a death in town would definitely mess with her plans for Billy.

Harry would provide her with more than a couple of meals as well as some much needed fresh blood for certain spells; one of them involving Billy. She finally reached her home and unceremoniously dropped the body outside the doorway as she went inside to strip off the dress and shrug on a baggy shroud. Ventina threw the dress in a bucket with cold water to keep the blood stains from setting. She walked back outside and grabbed the body by the collar and began dragging him towards the shed.

Once inside she tore off his boots and cut a slit in the back of each ankle. With ease she forced the hooks from a single tree into the space between the bones and Achilles tendons before hoisting the body up in the air to hang upside-down. She cut off the clothes, tossing them aside. Ventina placed a large basin under the body before grabbing a large, sharp knife from a small table. Grabbing a handful of remaining scalp, she pulled the mangled head up feeling for the axis joint in his neck. Finding it she wielded the knife and with one smooth swift motion she separated the remains of poor Harry’s head from the rest of him. Nonchalantly, Ventina threw it in the corner on top of the pile of clothes. She turned back to the body, placing a hand on the chest and spine she gave several tremendous compressions forcing any clotted blood from the neck veins and arteries. This allowed the remaining blood to drain from the body into the basin. She left the body to bleed out on it’s own.

Ventina left the shed to get a bucket of vinegar water and a brush as she headed back into the woods to the spot where she had smashed Harry’s head. She needed to clean up the kill site. Her biggest concern would be the tree, Ventina had to remove the blood and bone that had embedded itself into the bark from the impact with Harry’s head. She would clean up the majority of it making the rest look like an animal kill. It didn’t take long for her to find the spot as her sense of smell led her directly to it. What she wasn’t expecting was to find someone who beat her there. Right in the middle of all the gore stood a large female opossum licking up some of the remains. She had a pouch full of youngsters and the large piece of brain matter was a nourishing treat she wasn’t willing to give up easily. The opossum growled and hissed at Ventina, Ventina hissed back. Neither moved. Ventina decided to ignore the animal as she went about her appointed task of cleanup. The opossum decided it didn’t like sharing the space, grabbed the remaining lump of gore in her mouth and fled.

Ventina didn’t pay any attention as she attacked the bark with a wet brush. Most of the gook came off easily with the exception of the bone buried into the bark from the force of the impact itself. Using a small pick she painstakingly probed at the bark until she had gotten most of it out. She left the smallest pieces as it was getting late and the dawn would begin to lift the shroud of night. Satisfied with her work, Ventina took what was left in the bucket and flung the bloody water in the same arc she had spun poor Harry, soaking the underbrush with the bloody brew.

An evil smile twisted up her wretched mouth. “You’ll not only nourish me Harry, but your worthless self will fertilize the bushes and cover up your demise.”

Without another look she slunk back into the woods, heading back to tend to the rest of Harry.