I'm hella handy in a fight, and have twenty years training and/or experience, and even I couldn't handle a vampire that quickly or easily. My early days were focused on dealing with them too, even down to hand to hand/melee tactics designed around the vagarities of the way they like to fight.

I am definitely wanting to know where this person got her training and how she did it.

Well, whatever Scarlet's trick was, you'd need a seance to ask her.

For the record, I probably wouldn't have been able to take the vampire bitch.


Shit, I really should finish this.

The building was covered in notices and yellow tape warning of condemnation, though the demolition date was from decades ago and nobody had gone through with it. Everywhere outside, I could hear ravens and crows flying about, cawing some warning generally left unheard by modern people.

The lock to the door was loose and had apparently been used at some point - Beth informed me that something dark had used this route a lot, and something dangerous lurked around.

So of course, I went straight in, machete in hand. I told Beth to stay outside and guard the door.

Nobody kidnaps my brother and gets away with it. Besides, we had a plan.

Sneaking my way down into the basement, I could definitely hear Milo sobbing in a way I haven't heard since he was 5. Echoing from downstairs, I heard the sound of metal being sharpened and something big stomping around, accompanied by a voice that made my blood run a bit cold


"That bloodsucker is going to bring your sister's corpse back in pieces, you twerp" said a gravelly voice, chuckling as I heard some banging metal, "And when she does, you can watch me slice her up and make a coat out of her before I make a morsel of you."

I was having second thoughts at this point - performance anxiety maybe - but I decided to stick to the plan.

So, I walked down those creaky old stairs.

The hobo from hell hadn't changed - he was still seven feet of ugly, his ugly coat stained with vomit, booze, and blood. He hovered over a table covered in butchery tools, not all of which were clean.

In the corner, I could see my brother huddled in a ball, crying as he stared at the boogeyman. His eyes lit up when he saw me - I had to gesture for him to stay quiet as I approached.

"Took you awhile to get her, parasite. What kept you?" The menace chuckled, assuming I was his vampire mercenary as he didn't even look at me.

"It took me awhile to find your white candy van." I said dryly, showing my hand. Briefly he froze, before grabbing something off of the table as I lunged at him.

He was faster than I remembered, managing to spin his bulk around, meat cleaver in hand. I already mid stride, though, and managed a wicked cut right across his goddamn arm, some black ichor that I assume was blood dripping from his arm. Angrily, he swung at me with his cleaver, nearly catching me as I leaped backwards, the shadows in the room dancing from the fire dancing between my finger tips.

I had been waiting 10 years to light this fucker up.

In a panic, the beast sneered as he reached into his pocket, drawing a large caliber pistol big enough for his massive hands. He didn't aim it at me though, but instead pointed at my quivering brother behind the bars of the cage.

"Take another step and I'll split him open like a pinata." He threatened, beady eyes peering at me.

Briefly, I saw movement in the rafters., looking back at the boogeyman as I stood my ground. Slowly, I lowered my hand, watching the boogeyman's widening smile appear in triumph, before fading just as quickly.

Scarlet dropped down from the ceiling knocking the gun out of his hand almost effortlessly before striking him behidn the head, knocking him towards me. Not wasting time, I reached out, grabbing his face and focusing every ounce, every drop of anger I had towards him for what he had done into that touch.

The thing went up like tinder, screaming as fire consumed him. Flailing as he tried to put himself out, Scarlet grabbed a cleaver off of the table, finishing the monster with several brutal, well placed blows.

His corpse fell to pieces as it hit the ground, a pile of charred rats all that remained.

Milo never told Mom what happened that night. Probably for the better since she'd never have let him out after dark ever again. He's still a bit shaken up over what happened, but I think he'll recover.

I always offer my professional services to society members and their families pro bono.

I'm not sure what pro bono means, but skeptic means well, and for some odd reason offers his services free of charge.

I'd offer tea, but I'm not sure where to deliver it to, or to whom I'd be listening.

I'll recommend a day of walking in Amaterasu's warm embrace and forcing yourselves to remember all that which is good in your lives. Never let them take the simple joy of living away from you, it's far too precious a gift to allow it to be stolen.

I'm not sure who this Amaratseu is, but a walk with someone you love is definitely good for sagging spirits.

I'd also suggest laying out in the sun for a while too.

Amaratsu? Isn't that a Shinto thing?

Pro bono means for free.

Amaterasu is the Shinto sun goddess and originator of the imperial line.

A place of learning indeed.