Patreon LogoYour support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)

Tales of the Untamed ( Darkkitten9389 & CrimsonMaster )

The unknown priest looked around before walking away from the train. This was his first visit to El Paso. He'd been in America for sometime now. This priest was here for a special reason. He'd been chasing dark forces acrossed the world. These dark forces were now in America. The priest was sent to clean out the dark forces. The people of El Paso had no idea just how dangerous nighttime had become around their town. A vampire was now stalking the nighttime hours. He would soon show himself around town, but until he was ready. For now, the vampire was gathering much needed help. He knew the killer priest, the angel of death was tracking him. Hiding until his numbers grew was his best course of action.

The priest spotted Belle standing there. A young man was handing her the package she was waiting for. The priest decided she could help him. " Hello miss. " The priest spoke as he approached Belle. His accent told that he was British. " My name is Father Mathew Price.......i've come along way.......Could you show me the way towards your hotel?.....I'll be staying here a while and need a place to stay. " Father Price spoke with smiling at Belle. He was damn handsome for a priest. The type of man that could make women melt by just a look. Mathew then asked if he could help Belle with her package? He was a very nice man, but also the most dangerous man El Paso would ever see.
 
Belle watched the unknown priest for a little while yet until her observing was interrupted by a young man who brought her the package that she was waiting on. Turning to the young man, she smiled kindly and thanked him, signing the papers that she needed to and handing them back before taking her package. She was about to turn and head out of the train station when a voice spoke up. She recognized the accent from the gentleman who worked at the mining camp. He was a patron of her business on occasion and she usually enjoyed his visits. Not just for his money but his company as well.

Hearing the voice, she turned and saw that the very man she'd been watching was approaching her. She turned to face him completely as he introduced himself to her. As the man who called himself Father Mathew Price spoke, she gazed up at him and she felt her heart flutter a little while standing there before him. "Welcome to El Paso, Father." she softly said. "My name is Belle and it would my pleasure to show you to the hotel." When he offered to help with her package, she smiled gently and nodded. "Thank you. The offer is appreciated." she told him before carefully handing him the package.

She asked him to follow her and led the way out of the station. That day was one of the rare occasions that Belle wore a skirt around town. While she loved her pants and blouse, she did enjoy her more feminine clothes on occasion. So that day she looked every bit the lady that her mothers family had taught her to be. It was something that usually surprised some of the other towns people when they saw her. She was wearing a simple white blouse with a soft green skirt and boots while her long hair was partially pulled up. It was a simple outfit, but it helped show off her natural beauty. "So, Father Price, what bring you to our town of El Paso?" she asked him curiously.
 
Father Price took the package from Belle. He was glad to find someone who was so kind. Many people didn't speak highly of those who lived in the western half of the country. Such people could be found back east. Places like New York and Boston. The people who spoke this way were those who walked in high society. They saw westerners as little better then the savage Indians who also lived in the west. Mathew followed behind Belle as she moved ahead. Any normal man would have his eyes on Belle. Watching her body move as she walked. Mathew wasn't like those men. He was a priest above all else. A holy man devoted to the word of God. Mathew came from a special order of the priesthood. He dressed like any normal priest, and knew the bible from cover to cover. However, like normal priests. Mathew didn't marry people. He didn't give Sunday sermons and he didn't listen to confessions. The order of priests Mathew was part of, was known in the darker parts of the world as "The Angels of Death". Priests trained to fight and kill like warriors of days long past. Mathew, and those of his order, protected the world from dark forces. Creatures of the night who preyed on helpless humans.

Mathew looked around while he walked behind Belle. Her beauty wasn't totally lost on him, but his heart belonged to his work. Belle's question was one Mathew often heard. However, his answer wasn't entirely the truth. It also wasn't a lie. The church felt the general public wouldn't understand the real evil that lurked beyond the light. So priests such as Mathew were told to be vague about their business. " I'm here to do the work of the Lord. " Mathew spoke as they continued moving towards the hotel. Mathew's eyes spotted the church at the end of town. " I see you have a church here........Do you have a priest? " Mathew asked. He didn't have information on every town in America. Mathew didn't know which towns had Catholic Churches and which didn't.
 
The view that those back east had of those that lived out west was not unknown to Belle. After all, the young woman had lived out there for several years before she'd been brought back out west by the news of her family's deaths. When her aunts high society friends all heard that she'd once lived out west, they'd all tutted about it and looked at her with pity, as if she were some simpleton who needed their help. Boy were they surprised when she spoke just as well and eloquently as they did. She could out charm some of the best women who'd been raised by governesses back east, if she so chose to. It was part of how she drew her customers in. Those same ladies would probably be scandalized to learn that the once 'prim and proper' lady her aunt brought to tea was using those same skills to fuck many men a night and get paid to do so.

As Belle walked ahead of Matthew, some other men around the station did watch her, many admiring her form and thinking about what she looked like beneath the clothes she wore. Many of them having already seen her without clothes. However, Belle never did anything other then smile at them as she walked by. If anyone didn't know that she was a whore, they'd never be able to guess. But there was also something else about the woman. There was something about the way she moved. Sure, she was sexy in the way she moved, but there was an edge to her movements that only another dangerous person might be able to spot. Only a person who killed and had such skills would be able to tell that she was more dangerous then she first seemed. It was the same with Josiah. He had the same look to him that Belle did. A dangerous edge that came from having taken life in the past.

After she spoke and asked Mathew what brought him out to El Paso, she waited patiently until he spoke and she glanced at him curiously when he said that he was there to do the work of the lord. He certainly didn't seem the type to just preach on sundays. This made her all the more curious about this new comer. She was beginning to get very suspicious of new comers. After all, Raf was a snake in the grass, no doubt about it, and Reno had shown up to kill a person she loved dearly. When Mathew asked about if they had a priest, she shook her head. "No, sir." she said gently. "No Priest. But we do have a preacher. His name is Josiah. He's a good, kind man." She spoke with a smile upon her face and a fondness in her voice. She led the way over to the hotel and she stepped inside to get out of the sun for a moment, pleasantly greeting the person working behind the front desk at the hotel. "Well Father Price. This is the hotel. I shall leave you to your business and I wish you a pleasant day." she said with another smile before she turned to leave.
 
Mathew could spot those who had killed before. He'd been trained to do so. Mathew had also been trained in every fighting style known to man. All the priests of his order learned hand to hand combat skills. They learned how to use all weapons and even items one wouldn't think of as weapons. Fighting against creatures of darkness was far more dangerous then any human. The Angels of Death needed to be the best at all forms of combat. They were so good at killing. Those whom they hunted came to fear them. And no priest, no Angel of Death was more feared then Father Mathew Price. The members of his order, and even the highest within the Catholic Church praise Mathew as a gift from God. He was unique for a human. Mathew was born faster, stronger, more agile, and able to take more punishment then an average human. Everyone believed he was human. A human gifted by God to do the work he did now. Even Mathew thought he was human. However, he was much more then he or anyone knew. The truth wouldn't be revealed to Mathew for several more years. Not until he met the woman who would become his wife and mother of his children.

Mathew looked at the church when Belle spoke of the town having a preacher. He would have been happier to deal with a fellow priest, but a preacher would have to do. Mathew would pay a visit to this Josiah Belle spoke of. Since he was the servant of God in this town. Josiah needed to know what type of evil had fallen on El Paso. Once inside the hotel, Mathew thanked Belle for her help. He handed her the package he carried for her. Mathew spoke of his hope they would see each other again before he left town. He would be here until his work was complete. Mathew would then leave town. Where he would go next, depended on whether he killed all the vampires. If even one escaped. Mathew would continue his hunt. " May God bless you Belle........You are a kind and caring woman. " Mathew spoke before Belle left. The man behind the desk wore a slight smile after hearing Belle being blessed by the priest. He found it funny that a priest would bless a woman who sold her body for money.
 
Belle paused at the door of the hotel and looked back at Mathew when he spoke up and she smiled at him as he called her a kind and caring woman before blessing her. This made her nod her head slightly. "Thank you father." she softly said before glancing at the man behind the desk, seeing the slight smile he wore. She knew the man working behind the counter for he'd visited her establishment several times. Many men in the town had visited her establishment in the past and she was sure that while some of their wives knew about such visits, not all of them did. With one last look at the man, she turned and left the hotel without another backwards glance, her package firmly held in her arms.

Once she left the hotel, Belle continued on her way up the street, walking through town back to her business. Entering, she could hear the laughter of some of her girls as they worked on chores around the brothel. While she did employ a woman to help clean, she made sure that her girls did their own fair share during the day. With a smile to herself, she continued further into the building to drop off the new linens so they could be added to the inventory.
 
Belle would find more then her girls working hard to clean the place. She would also find Sally & Imala having a debate on what happened to Sally's friend. They were at a table, in the bar. Sally came in early with a book she found at Mr. Wells' store. It was a book most thought of as fiction. It told stories of vampires, werewolves and other dark creatures which haunt the night. Sally was convinced that a vampire had come to El Paso. She tried her best to talk Imala into believing such nonsense. However, Imala didn't believe in ghost stories. She didn't believe that vampires and werewolves were real. Like so many others. Imala thought such tales were just a huge load of bullshit. Nothing more then fairy tails made up from old legends and folklore. Once Sally spotted Belle, she started calling out to her. Imala sat back into her chair, shaking her head.

Once Father Price was settled in his room, he left and headed for the church. Normally Mathew would rather deal with a Catholic church. However, this town didn't have one. It had a church were all believers of God could come an worship. The church was run by Josiah. Since Josiah was the man of God for El Paso. Mathew would have to break rules and tell someone outside of his church the truth. Mathew entered the church. Josiah was seated at his desk, as normal. Josiah was surprised to see a Catholic Priest paying him a visit. His surprise would become greater once he learned the reason for Mathew's visit. Josiah welcomed Father Price to his church. The two men sat and started talking.
 
When she entered the brothel and moved through the place, she found Sally and Imala having a debate on what had happened to Sally's friend. Hearing them speaking, she paused in the doorway of the bar and listened to Sally speak, trying to convince Imala into believing such stories. As she listened to the two younger girls, Imala's skepticism reminded Belle that her sister didn't get to learn the same things she had from their fathers tribe and she sighed softly before Sally spotted her and called out to her.

With a small smile upon her face, she approached the two girls and she placed a hand upon her sisters shoulder and greeted the young women. "Now, what is it that had you two nattering?" she asked with a chuckle, watching with a fond smile, as her sister shook her head. While Belle was technically their boss, she was also Imalla's sister and she had become much like a surrogate mother figure to a number of her girls working for her. She was always there for her girls if and when they needed something or someone.
 
Imala hadn't heard all the stories Belle was told. She been fed stories of daring pirates, beautiful princess and brave knights. Imala was taught to believe vampires, werewolves and such creatures were just from the human imagination. Like fairies and leprechauns. Creatures made to thrill the human mind and nothing more. Such creatures certainly couldn't be real, not in the 19th century. However, this was the greatest cover such creatures had. The fact that most humans didn't believe in them. Even the Catholic Church helped to keep such creatures from in the darkness. The Pope believed it was best for the majority of the public to think vampires & werewolves were just folklore.

Imala was sure her sister wouldn't fall for such tales. After all, Belle was older and more worldly. She'd live back east for a time. Went to proper schools and was taught how to be a lady. Belle was highly educated and not one who would allow her mind to get caught up in such tall tales. Sally started talking about the book she bought from Mr. Wells's store. She handed the book over to Belle. Sally spoke of details in the book which fit what happened to her friend Jenny. She spoke of her belief that a vampire was lurking around after dark. Sally warned that they should hang garlic, around the doors and windows. She also spoke of hanging crosses around around the brothel. In the bar, near the front desk and in all the bedrooms. Imala could hold back her laughter. She spoke of being sorry for laughing, but she thought such actions would only keep customers away.
 
While waiting for Sally to speak up, Belle moved to one of the seats and she sat down while listening to Sally beginning to speak of a book she'd bought from Mr. Well's store. She was calm as she listened of the girl speaking of her belief of a vampire lurking around after dark and then warned of hanging garlic at the doors and windows, as well as crosses around the brothel. Within the bar, at the front desk and in the bedrooms. While the young woman spoke of this, Imala began laughing and Belle sent her sister a look which clearly spoke of her disproval of the other womans laughter.

"Once you're finished laughing, Imala." she softly said while shifting in her seat. She adjusted her skirts a bit before sighing. "I'm quite familiar with the legends of vampires." she informed the two younger women. "The stories are wide spread and well known all over. Many believe them to be myths. Simply stories to scare others, while others believe them to be true." Belle sat there with her hands folded in her lap, her shoulders back and her gaze steady while she spoke clearly. Unconsciously, she'd fallen into her teachings of being a proper lady and into her training of teaching others. After all, she'd been sent out East to learn to be both a lady and a governess.

She told her sister that it was her own belief that as wild as some of the myths may be, she believed that there was some grain of truth in all of them. "After all, there is no such thing as a coincidence." she told Imala. "I spent some time with our fathers tribe, and they taught me much. Even they had similar stories amongst them. I think that there are too many similar stories from all societies and groups of peoples for there not to be some kind of truth." She then looked at Sally and smiled kindly. "However, Imala is also correct. Doing as you are suggesting, would chase away customers. However, if you would like, I had been given a rosary by my aunt before I returned out west. She had it blessed for me to protect me on my travels. I shall give it to you to have until all this ends. I could also suggest you stop by the church and speak with Josiah on this. He's a very open minded man"
 
Imala listened as Belle spoke. While she hadn't be taught the things Belle learned. Imala held on to what she knew to be true. Until Imala saw a real vampire or werewolf in front of her. She couldn't believe such creatures were real. Imala couldn't take that leap until she saw some real proof. The fact that Jenny was found with marks on her neck, didn't mean a vampire was lurking around. Jenny could have been acted by almost anything. Even after she was dead. Belle did agree that garlic and crosses were a little to much. Such items wouldn't do their business any good. Sally nodded her head when Belle suggested she spoke with Josiah. Saying he was a very understanding man. While this was true. Josiah was currently speaking with Father Mathew Price. He was being told about the vampire Mathew was chasing. Josiah was also asked to keep this information as quiet as possible. Mathew said it was a rule of the church and something the Pope wanted to keep quiet. This meant Josiah couldn't reveal much about what was talked about. If he did talk about it. Josiah couldn't just talk to anyone.

Sally thanked Belle for listening and she accepted Belle offer for the rosary. She wasn't Catholic, but since it was blessed. Sally didn't think it would hurt. She would feel safer with the holy item. Once Sally had the rosary. She kissed Belle on the check before leaving the brothel. Sally did pay a visit to Josiah, later that day. He listened to her concerns and told her not to worry. Josiah said God would protect her from any harm. He didn't speak of Mathew Price, or that a priest was even in town. However, news that a priest was in town reached the brothel. Several of the girls wondered why a priest was here. Imala pointed out the obvious. She said he maybe here to open another church. The girls knew this was possible, but he was so handsome and unlike most priests the girls had seen before. Mathew was quite a good looking man and well built for being a priest. As night fell over El Paso. Mathew got ready for his night work to begin. In the long back case he carried from the train. Mathew had two specially made swords. These swords were a mix of steel and silver. Mathew slipped on a long leather overcoat. He slipped the twin swords onto his back. They were held in specially made sheaths built into his coat. Mathew then opened his black leather bag. He reached into the bag, pulling out silver stakes. These stakes were used by Mathew as throwing weapons. The silver stakes were placed inside his overcoat. Mathew had his holy water and a crucifix. Crossed didn't work on vampires. A crucifix was different because it held an image of Jesus on it.

The brothel was open for business. Currently, there were several strangers on El Paso. Some were visiting the brothel, looking for a good time. Sally was suspicious of each stranger who came into the brothel. She made sure to tell Belle & Imala about these men. Pointing out each man and even identifying which were foreigners. Sally said one man was Irish, one was possibly from Russia and one spoke with a German accent. Imala paid little attention to what Sally was saying. She didn't see these men as being anything more then customers.
 
Belle understood that Imala held strong to what she knew to be true and she didn't fault her. While they had both been raised by the same parents, Imala had remained behind while Belle went out East and learned more. She met people from many walks of life and learned a lot of things that her sister never had the chance to. But Belle also wasn't going to stand by and let her sister just laugh at Sally. If Sally wanted to believe the legends, it was her right to believe them. After Sally accepted her offer for the rosary, Belle smiled and nodded. Standing up, she retreated to her bedroom where she kept the rosary. It had been a gift from her aunt after they had been informed of her families murder and it was very dear to her.

Coming back out of the bedroom, she had a small pouch in her hand and she smiled at Sally. "This was given to me to protect me on my travels after I was informed of the murders of my family." she softly told the girl while opening the pouch. "I hope that it keeps you as safe as it's kept me." Tipping the pouch over, she poured the rosary into her own palm. The prayer beads were made of pearls while the metal holding it together was silver with an actual crucifix hanging off the end. At the time, it had been considered a pricey gift. Belle carefully placed it into Sally's palm and curled her fingers around the rosary. "Take care out there, Sally. And don't travel alone at night. Take one of our men who work here to escort you home or I'll even do it myself. Okay?" she softly asked. After the girl kissed her on the cheek, Belle watched her leave.

Later that night, Belle was relaxing in the bar enjoying a drink when she over heard some of the girls talking about the new priest in town and she looked over at them while sipping from her glass. However, she didn't speak of having met the man earlier that day. Though word of her being seen with him would surely get around soon enough. That night, she opened the brothel as she normally did and business was as usual. However, Sally made sure to tell Belle and Imala of the strangers who came into the brothel. Belle thanked her and told her not to worry so much. "You'll give yourself age lines, darling." she said lightly. However, she did tell Sally that she would keep an eye on things the best she could.
 
The evening at the brothel was uneventful. Customers came and went. Just as they did on any normal night. Sally knew Belle had told her not to worry, but she did. She saw every stranger as being a possible vampire. Then her mind started to think of other possibilities. They didn't know if the vampire was a stranger. The creature of the night could be someone they already knew. Sally soon realized the vampire could be any man in the brothel. She grew more suspicious of almost every man in the brothel. Sally spoke of her suspicions to Belle. Telling her how the vampire could be someone they knew. Sally said Belle should try and keep an eye on every man. Of course, Sally would help in this area. She knew Belle couldn't always be out in the bat. Belle had customers who paid for time with her. Imala never meant any harm when she laughed at Sally. It was a natural reaction to something she believed was BS. Imala did think that Sally was carrying this vampire stuff to far. Sally had good intentions, but she was now thinking every customer could be a vampire.

The evening passed without any troubles. All the girls were accounted for and none had any marks on their necks. Even Mathew had struck out during his search of the area. He found no signs of the vampire. However, Mathew believed the creature was here. He'd heard what happened to Jenny. Mathew had no doubts the vampire he was chasing was here. It would just take a little longer to find it. Mathew returned to his hotel room well after the brothel closed for the night. He was resting in bed when morning came. All appeared to be just another normal day. The early risers at the brothel were up and moving around. However, one girl, named Cathy, wasn't up at her normal time. This was odd for one of the girls who normally was a hard worker. Cathy was in fact laying in her bed. Looking as if she was still deeply sleeping. But, Cathy was dead. Two marks in her neck would be the only marks found.
 
As the night hours came and went, everything went along smoothly as they normally did any other night. Belle and the girls took their customers to their rooms and spent time with them, but Belle always checked in on the other girls between their customers and she checked on Sally. When the girl spoke of her new suspicions, Belle softly told her not to worry too much and she said that it was doubtful that it was any of the men that they knew from in town, reminding her that most of the men were always seen around town during the daylight hours. She didn't want to tell Sally that if there was such a thing as a vampire and it was in town, that it wasn't necessarily a man. That it could be a woman as well. Before she left Sally, Belle softly but firmly told the girl that she wasn't to treat any of the customers differently. "While I do not dismiss what you believe, I will also not allow the customers to be treated in anything less then a friendly, welcoming and respectful manner." she reminded the girl. "They are the ones who pay our bills, put food in our bellies and put clothes on our backs."

With that, she returned to her job of being with the men. At the end of the night, Belle had all her girls gather around and after she took a head count, she checked each girls neck carefully for any marks. Pleased that none had any marks, she sent them off to bed for the evening after she counted the money and took care of the books for the nights earnings. However, the next morning would be something completely different. Belle, as usual was one of the first awake and she was going over her finances and inventory. By the time she was finished, many of the girls were up but as she saw who was and wasn't up, she noted that Cathy, one of the early waking girls, wasn't up yet.

Seeing this, Belle frowned to herself and went upstairs to the girls bedroom. Knocking on the door, she softly called the girls name before opening the door. Looking in, she saw the girl in bed and she smiled to herself for a moment before noticing something was off. The room was completely still. Too still. This made her smile fade and she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her before she approached the bed. "Cathy." she said while approaching. Reaching out, she touched the girl briefly before snatching her hand away. She didn't have to check her pulse to know she was dead. Her skin was too cool. Reaching out again, her hand carefully brushed the girls hair from her neck and sure enough, there were two marks on her neck.

It was a grim looking Belle who stepped out of the bedroom moments later and she quickly tracked down one of the young men who worked for her. She pulled him aside and told him to get the sheriff and the doctor. "Quickly." she stressed. "It's an emergency."
 
Cathy looked fairly normal, as she laid there on her bed. Her skin was a little more pale then usual. Plus, she had two marks on her neck. Like fang marks. There was a little bit of blood around the wounds and two streaks down her neck. However, no trace of blood would be found anywhere else. Not even on the sheets. The young man nodded when Belle asked him to get the doctor and the marshal. His quick departure left Imala wondering what was up. Imala knew Belle had gone upstairs, though she didn't know why. However, Imala decided to go check on her older sister. She left the table, heading for the back stairs. These were the stairs which the girls took from the bar while taking customers up to the rooms. Imala climbed the steps, reaching the top. She turned into the hallway, spotting Belle standing outside of Cathy's room. " Belle?.........What's wrong? " Imala asked as she stood near the stairs.

The young man first stopped at the marshal's office. He told the marshal that Belle needed to see him. Marshal Clive Watkins left his office, going straight for the brothel. Doctor Emmitt Miller was also on his way. The young man was returning with the good doctor in tow. Marshal Watkins was the first to reach the brothel. He entered, looked around, then went up the main staircase. After reaching the top, Clive spotted Belle and Imala standing there. " What happened Belle? " Marshal Watkins asked. He could see the distress on the faces of the two sisters. Doctor Miller quickly entered the brothel and made his way up the steps. By now, the girls downstairs were wondering what was going on.
 
That one of her girls had been killed while the rest of them slept was upsetting to Belle. She looked after all her girls like a mother would, even if some of them were a little older then herself. After she sent the young man off to fetch who she asked for, Belle leaned against the wall just outside of Cathy's room and sighed while resting her head back against the wall. She wasn't alone for long before she heard steps on the stairs and looked over to see her sister. After Imala spoke, Belle glanced at the door next to where she stood and then back at Imala, a sad look in her eyes. "It's Cathy." she softly said. "I... I think she's dead."

It didn't take long before Marshal Watkins arrived. She was familiar with the man since he'd come into the brothel a couple of times in the past. When he climbed the steps and approached the two sisters, Belle moved towards him. "It's one of my girls, Marshal Watkins." she softly told him. "I believe she's dead. Just like that other girl. I've called on Doctor Miller to come as well to check." She shook her head while running her hand through her slightly messy hair. Shortly after, the doctor arrived and Belle looked to him and softly greeted him. "Thank you for coming Doctor Miller." she softly said. "She's in here."

She looked at Imala and asked her to keep the other girls downstairs and not to tell them anything for now. She told her sister that she'd tell them herself. For now, she didn't want to cause a panic with them. "Ask them to go about their day as the norm and I'll speak with them a little later." she told Imala before opening the bedroom door and showing the two men inside.
 
Marshal Watkins entered the bedroom after he spoke with Belle. Cathy did appear to be dead. When Doctor Miller arrived, he also entered the room. Imala was in shock that one of their own was dead. Cathy was such a wonderful girl. Two years older then Imala was. Cathy came from St. Louis after reading the ad Belle placed in the local paper. She was pretty, a hard worker and popular with the customers. Now she was dead. Her life taken long before it should have been. Doctor Miller examined the body. He found the marks on the neck. Pointing them out to Marshal Watkins. The marks were just like those left on Jenny's neck. Doctor Miller uncovered apart of Cathy's body. He made a small cut along a vein. Like with Jenny, there was no blood inside her body. Being a man of science, Doctor Miller had no answers for what was happening here. Doctor Miller covered Cathy's body with a sheet. He and Marshal Watkins left the room and spoke with Belle.

by this time, Imala had left her older sister. She went downstairs to do as Belle asked. Imala got the girls back to work. She said Belle would speak with them later, on what happened. Both Marshal Watkins & Doctor Miller were at a lose to explain what took Cathy's life. The marshal asked Belle for a list of customers who'd been with Cathy the night before. Belle had set up her books before opening up the brothel. Each girl had their own book, showing who they'd been with on each evening. Sally listed the names of each customer who paid for the girls. It wasn't long before Marshal Watkins & Doctor Miller were told of another body. The son of a local farmer was found dead that morning. Marshal Watkins told Belle he would pick up the list later on. He and Doctor Miller quickly left the brothel. There was nothing left to do with Cathy, other then having the undertaker come and pick her up. As the marshal & doctor were leaving in a hurry. They passed Josiah coming into the brothel. He was coming in for his normal morning visit. Josiah often stopped for breakfast with Belle & Imala. He encountered Imala who told him about Cathy. Josiah dashed upstairs and quickly found Belle. " Belle?.........I'm so sorry about Cathy........She's was a great young lady. " Josiah spoke softly as he approached Belle.
 
Entering the room, Belle stood to the side so the men could enter and she closed the door before waiting on them. She could hear their muffled voices from inside and she sighed while standing there in the hall. After a bit, the two men came back out and spoke with her. The marshal asked for a list of customers who had been with Cathy the night before and she nodded. "Of course." she softly said. It would be easy since she kept a book for each girl. Their conversation was cut short when they got word that there was another body discovered that morning. After Marshal Watkins told her that he would pick up the list later, she nodded. "Of course. I'll have it ready for you." she told him gently before watching the two men hurry off.

This left her all alone upstairs and she silently moved along the hall. There were still a couple of other women in bed because she knew them to be late risers and she looked in on them to check on them. Luckily they were all either merely sleeping or beginning to rise already. She was slowly making her way back along the hall when Josiah showed up. Hearing the quick footsteps on the stairs, she turned and saw him. "Oh Josiah." she breathed. "I can't believe she's gone. She was such a sweet girl." She shook her head while coming to stop near him. "I worry about the safety of my girls. I know that Sally is highly suspicious of any and all men who come into the brothel and this is just going to make her even more obsessive."
 
Josiah took Belle into his arms. Wrapping his around her body. Pulling her body close to his. He comforted Belle in her state of grief. Knowing she'd just suffered a great lose. Belle cared for all her girls. She was like a mother to them, even to those who were older. June was older then Belle, but she found her friend & madame was a great listener and often had some wisdom to share. Very much like a mother would do. Josiah looked around while holding Belle. He then reached out, opened one of the bedroom doors and slipped Belle inside. Josiah closed the door after he entered. " I have to warn you........Since this evil has came to the brothel. " Josiah spoke in a hushed tone. " I had a long talk with that priest.........Father Price.......He's here hunting a vampire. " Josiah continued. He said Mathew tracked a vampire to New Orleans from Europe. Once there, that vampire quickly created more like it. Mathew began hunting them when he arrived. Josiah said in the end, Mathew killed most, but one got away. Mathew then started tracking this vampire. Both ending up here in El Paso. Josiah said Mathew wouldn't return to Rome until he'd killed the monster and any others it created.

Josiah suggested that Belle close down for a few nights. She could always say it was a time of mourning for Cathy. This wouldn't be a lie, not since the young woman would be mourned. Josiah spoke of giving the killer priest time to work. He said vampirism spreads quickly. Starting with one, which becomes two. Two then make four, four make eight and so on. Jenny died, now Cathy and a young man were dead. That made four. By tomorrow night, there would be eight. Before long, El Paso would be swamped with the undead.
 
Belle moved into Josiah's arms and leaned into his chest as he pulled her close, comforting her in her grief over the loss of Cathy. The woman closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest with a sad sigh before she spoke. After she did, she noticed him look around before he guided her into a bedroom nearby and she looked up at him curiously after the door was shut behind them. When he began speaking in a hushed tone, she tensed a little at the mention of the evil having come to the brothel. The mention of Father Price also captured her entire attention as she listened to him.

The mention of the priest being there hunting a vampire made her gasp and she listened carefully as he explained that Price had tracked the vampire to New Orleans from Europe. He told her that it had quickly created more like it, but Price had destroyed them. All but one at least. It had escaped and he tracked it down to here in El Paso and Mathew Price wouldn't leave until it was destroyed. It and any others it had created.

She was advised to close down for a couple nights under the pretense that it was to mourn Cathy, which wouldn't be a lie. But at the same time, it would allow the priest time to do his work since the vampirism spreads quickly. "How do I protect my girls though, Josiah?" she softly asked. "Cathy hadn't been bitten when she went to sleep last night. I had checked all my girls and even the others who work here. And the window in her room was closed and locked. If this thing can get in despite that, how do I protect those under my care?" She was very worried about those who worked for her. She already decided to take care of the expenses for taking care of Cathy. The girl had moved out here to El Paso to work for her and she'd been one of her best. So she would do right by the young woman.
 
Josiah knew a little about the vampire legend. He knew vampires had strong mental powers. The ability to enter the minds of those with weak wills and make then do things. It was possible that the vampire used someone. Perhaps even used Cathy to let it in. The creature then did it's foul deed before slipping away into the night. The person used wouldn't even know what happened. It would all seem like a dream. Unless it was Cathy. Josiah explained his belief to Belle. He also spoke of helping her protect the girls. Josiah was part owner of the brothel. He was responsible for them safety of the girls as much as Belle was. Plus, Josiah didn't want to leave Belle & Imala on their own. He knew Belle could handle herself against most men and any other woman. However, vampires weren't like dealing with normal humans. They were far stronger and had powers beyond any human. Josiah didn't want either Belle or Imala to become one of the undead.

The choice of closing down was Belle's to make. Josiah only suggested what she should do. Belle would have to make her mind up soon. If she was open, customers would come. The vampire may come. The vampire may have been here last night. No one knew who the vampire was. Later that day. A rumor began spreading around the town. People were saying that Jenny's grave had been robbed, her body and coffin were gone. After hearing this, Josiah & Belle went to the town's cemetery. There they found the rumor was true. Jenny's grave had been dug up and the coffin was gone. The cemetery was behind the church and out of sight from the town itself. On their way back to town. Josiah & Belle ran into Lotsee, a young Comanche woman who came into town once in a while. She would often trade goods at the store Mr. Wells ran for supplies. She normally kept to herself, but came running towards Josiah when she saw him. Lotsee spoke broken English, but it was good enough to make her deals. She knew Josiah was some type of holy man. " Mupitsukup.........You must help........The Mukwooru has come......My people are dying and our medicine man is powerless against the evil. " Lotsee spoke. The name she called Josiah was Comanche for old owl. Meaning they saw his as being wise. The other name she used was Comanche for spirit taker. What Lotsee was saying added more worry to what had already been troubling. If the vampire had already started on the local Comanche. That could mean there was more vampires then anyone knew.
 
Belle worried greatly for the well being of her girls. They were all good women. Sure, many might think they bad people because of their occupation, but they offered comfort and company to lonely men and they drew the attention of less savory men away from the higher class women by being willing to fuck the men. Many of the women in her brothel attended church, though they kept to the back of the church so to not draw the attention and ire of the respectable women in town. The women all loved Josiah because he welcomed them into his church without judgement. Not only that, but they all knew that their madam was rather sweet on the man.

By the end of the day, Belle would make the decision to close the brothel for the next couple of days. She would post a sign to let her customers know that they would be open within a weeks time after they laid to rest Cathy and mourned her. Of course, she had the undertaker come and pick up Cathy's body before she gathered her girls to her and spoke to them of what had happened and of the closing of the brothel. "Just for a couple of days." she promised her girls. "We will be back up and running by this up coming weekend." She knew that by the end of the week, many men would be hornier then a dog sniffing after a bitch in heat and they'd make a good deal of money once they opened again.

Later that day, Belle accompanied Josiah out to the town's cemetery where they found that the rumor was true. When Belle learned that the grave had been dug up, she shook her head before they head back to town together. While walking back to town, they ran into a young Comanche woman named Lotsee. When he spoke to Josiah, the pair stopped as she asked Josiah for help. The mention of the Mukwooru caught Belle's attention. While she had been taught her fathers tribe's beliefs concerning vampires and others like them, she'd also learned about the names that other tribes had for the same beings and Mukwooru was one of them. "What are we going to do, Josiah?" she softly asked. Josiah would know that she was with him no matter what to help him in any and every way he needed her.
 
Josiah could only think of one thing when Belle spoke. Asking him what they should do. Josiah believed they needed to speak with Father Price. He should know the problems now facing the local Comanche tribe. Josiah said they would take Lotsee over to see Father Price. If anyone could help her, he could. Josiah told Lotsee that another, more powerful holy man was visiting El Paso. He held out his hand, asking Lotsee to come with him. Lotsee looked at Josiah, her eyes then shifted to where Belle stood. She'd seen Belle around town, but knew nothing about her. The Comanche didn't normally involve themselves in the affairs of the white people. The left El Paso and it's residents alone. As long as the white people stayed away from their lands. However, the local Comanche were being hunted at night by a creature. A creature who looked white, but was unlike any white man the Comanche had ever seen. Arrows, lances, tomahawks and knifes did nothing to this creature. Nothing the Comanche did could harm this predator of the night.

Lotsee took Josiah's hand. She, he and Belle went straight to the hotel. They went right up to Father Price's room. Mathew was of course, inside the room. He wasn't the type to wonder around the cities he visited. Mathew kept to himself when working, and he worked all the time. After knocking on the door. Josiah, Belle and Lotsee were invited inside. Mathew was told Lotsee had troubles which only he could help with. She then told Mathew what she had told Josiah. Being English, and not up on Native American language. Belle helped to explain what Lotsee was saying. She was half Apache and understood the Comanche people and their ways. The two tribes had a long history. Mathew remembered how helpful she was when he first came to town. Now, Belle was helping him again. " You are a remarkable woman Belle.......A true treasure in this frontier. " Mathew said while his mind was already working on what his next move was. He then asked Lotsee if he, Josiah and Belle could visit her village? Lotsee became thoughtful for a long moment. She looked around the room before finally nodding her head. Mathew asked about renting a horse. Josiah then said he would take care of that. Josiah asked Belle to go and change her clothes. He spoke of getting her horse saddled and having it waiting at the corral.
 
The history between the Comanche and Apache peoples was known to Belle, her grandfather having taught her much about the many native tribes of the land. Her grandfather was the Apache tribe her father came from. Her fathers people didn't welcome her with open arms because to them, she was a white woman while if the white locals knew of her parentage, they would consider her a halfblood. Luckily she looked more like her mother then her father, so at least she was openly welcome among the white people. However, during her time with her grandfather, aunts and uncles from her fathers side of the family, she had impressed many of them with her passion to learn of her people and their ways, as well as their methods of fighting, healing and hunting.

After she spoke of what they were to do, Lotsee focused on her and Belle met her gaze evenly while standing at Josiah's side. She and Josiah were partners in a number of ways. He had become her best friend, her lover and she considered him family. During one of their nights together, she had spoke of this to him. Josiah asked Lotsee to come with him to see Father Price and Belle nodded slightly. The three of them were soon heading straight to the hotel that Price was staying in and they went right up to his room.

Belle let Josiah lead the way to the hotel room, remaining quiet as they waited for Mathew to open the door and they were soon invited in. Once in the room, it soon became Belle's job to translate for Mathew and Lotsee. From the way that Belle smoothly spoke the language, it was obvious that she didn't just learn it in passing. She had been taught to speak these languages from the time she was a babe. It was one of the things her father had made sure to teach her. After she finished translating for Mathew, he called her a remarkable woman and a true treasure of the frontier. This made the woman blush a little and she smiled at him while softly thanking him. He asked Lotsee if the three of them could visit the village and after a long moment, the girl nodded.

Soon enough, Belle was sent on her way to change and she nodded. "I'll meet you shortly." she softly spoke. With a nod of her head to Father Price, Belle excused herself and head off to the brothel to change. While there, she told her sister that she was in charge while she was gone. "Josiah needs my aid out at the local Comanche village." she told her sister while heading into her bedroom. "I need you to stay here and make sure things are under control. Keep our girls safe. No one is to enter that we do not know and... make sure that the girls know to travel in groups if they have to leave after dark." She took the safety of her girls seriously and it was already known around town that she'd shut her brothel down for the next couple of day.

In her bedroom, she changed into her soft leather pants and her blouse. She attached her weapons as she usually did when traveling outside of the city. The woman pulled her long hair back in a long braid before grabbing her hat and she head out to meet the others.
 
Josiah got Belle's horse ready while she was putting on different clothes and getting her weapons. He also rented a horse for Father Price. Josiah then returned to his church long enough to grab his gun. He & Belle would be the only ones carrying weapons. Mathew didn't use guns and Lotsee didn't carry weapons. Once everyone was at the stables. They mounted their horses, and left town for the village. Lotsee was riding double with Belle. Josiah felt it would be better if Lotsee was seen riding with Belle. If the young woman had a mate. It may cause some trouble if she was seen riding with a man. The small group traveled south west of town, almost 10 miles before they reached the Comanche village. As they slowly rode into the village. All eyes watched them. Some of the warriors walked along with the riders. Lotsee guided them towards the teepee of the chief. She slipped down from Belle's horse. Lotsee then walked quickly over to speak with the older man.

Josiah, Belle and Mathew climbed down from their horses. Lotsee motioned for them to come closer. Many in the village knew who Josiah was. They knew he was a holy man for the white people. Belle, and the man in black with the white collar were new faces. Josiah greeted the chief, before introducing everyone. " Belle......Father Price.......This is Pots Nakwahip.......Known to the white man as Buffalo Hump......Chief of the local Comanche tribe. " Josiah spoke. He then introduced Buffalo Hump to Belle & Mathew. A woman carrying a gun and wearing man's clothing wasn't a common sight. Many men were eying her up. She had the curves every man wanted in a woman. But, she dressed and carried the wespons of a white man. Josiah could speak limited Comanche. Just enough to get by. He turned over the rest to Belle. Her grasp of their language much better. Mathew was introduced by her, as a powerful holy man from acrossed the long water.

A warrior named White Knife wasn't impressed with Belle's high talk of Mathew. " A white woman brings another white man to save us.........White Knife believes the white men are trying to take our land again........White Knife believes the white men is behind these attacks on our people.......We don't know this white woman or the powerful holy man. " White Knife spoke as he slowly walked around Belle & Mathew.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom