When the seventh person failed to return, Niles Gule finally noticed.
The vampire was seated at a dining table elegantly set with china and silver that clinked to the train’s gentle rock. An endless tableau of fields scrolled past in the darkness as the train chugged towards New Freedom. Conversation flowed as twenty passengers enjoyed a steak dinner – Niles’ favorite! – during a break in the entertainment. Hia Lo sat with him. The perky young lady was the eldest daughter of his boss, Sergeant Tan Lo of the Baltimore Police. When Hia’s date cancelled due to hepatitis, Niles agreed to fill in. He was a safe date. Lo knew he’d never touch his boss’s daughter.
We make quite the pair, Niles thought, nudging aside the vegetables on his plate. He was tall, blond and Nordic while Hia was tiny, dark and Asian. She was twenty-one, Niles one-hundred-fifty-eight, young for a vampire but ancient compared to Hia. She bubbled with personality. Niles suffered from typical vampiric reserve. A wise vampire kept his distance if he wanted to survive in human company and Niles was wise. Going vampire on people generally caused unpleasant results.
Hia was chattering about nursing school. Niles feigned interest but in truth he was bored. He’d agreed to accompany Hia only at Tan’s request. The man didn’t want his daughter wandering into another state alone. What did the Marylander think would happen? The people of Pennsylvania ate visitors? Not good for tourism.
While he listened to Hia with half an ear, Niles allowed his attention to drift. The Northern Central Railway had been modified for a special fundraising event, a mystery train ride and seated dinner. The theme was Abraham Lincoln’s funeral. The train followed the same path that the historical train had taken to carry Lincoln first to Gettysburg for his famous address and two years later his body after his assassination. Actors in period costume re-enacted Lincoln’s staff and family. The mystery involved which actor was an escaping rebel conspirator.
The actors retreated to the forward car, leaving the guests to enjoy their deserts. Most were women on a group tour having a whale of a time. Boisterous bursts of laughter periodically erupted from the various tables. More than once Niles caught the ladies shooting looks in his direction. Some were speculating about the odd pairing of youthful Asian and older, brooding Anglo. Others were admiring. Niles, like all his vampire brethren, attracted appreciative looks. He knew he could turn on his vampiric charm and lay waste to the entire train.
Or not. He had enough problems with the females he’d left in Baltimore.
“Where’s everyone going?” Brenda, the group leader, asked frowning. She’d begun to notice that the dining car was steadily emptying.
Niles gestured. “To the car behind us but they never come back. I think the restrooms are eating people.”
Brenda considered her flock of ladies, their safety apparently her primary concern. Niles saw her counting them. All accounted for. For now.
A lady named Gina placed her napkin on the table. “I for one need that restroom.”
Brenda continued to frown as she stood. She was worried. Why were people disappearing?
Niles felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise as his vampiric sixth sense warned something wasn’t right. He rose gracefully.
“Allow me to join you,” he said, proffering his most appealing smile.
It was devastating. Gina might have melted into the floor if Brenda hadn’t kept her upright.
Niles excused him to Hia then walked through the rail car. The sway played havoc on his towering height. The shorter Brenda followed directly in his wake while Gina took up the rear. At the conjunction of cars, Niles used his unusual strength to slide the door open, stepped across the divide then opened the door to the next car. Brenda stayed with him while Gina hesitated at the crossing. She was the smart one.
Niles stopped dead. Brenda plowed into him. He caught her with a backward sweep of his hand and held her with a grip that caused her to cry out until he softened it.
The reason for the disappearing people stood before them. Seven vampires had claimed the rail car and were killing anyone who entered. Blood spattered the seats and pooled on the floor, a terrible waste, Niles thought before he strangled his bloodthirsty instincts under control. Several bodies were scattered about as vampires fed on them.
The closest vampire hissed and flexed his fangs at the interlopers. Niles, not willing to reveal himself to Brenda, swallowed the impulse to bare his own. Not that it would have helped. After his latest trip to the dentist for a trimming he had no fangs to brandish.
Niles knew trying to turn these vampires to more peaceful dining would never work. Their sensitive noses would tell them he was a fellow vampire but one who hadn’t consumed human blood in years. He was the enemy. The renegade who thought his people should live in harmony with humans.
As a group they snarled “Traitor!” in Vanapir then leaped.
There were too many for Niles to fight. He pushed Brenda backwards until they were at the doors.
“Go back. See if you can lock the door!”
The brave blonde scuttled without question but couldn’t find a locking mechanism.
“What now?” she yelled over the sound of the train clanking.
Two vampires leaped on Niles. Another tried shoving a silver knife in him. He staggered backwards under the weight, spun himself around and threw them off. He knew he would lose this fight given their numbers. He needed an escape. A glance at the coupling gave him his answer.
“I’m uncoupling the cars!” he shouted at Brenda.
He crouched and reached for the lever.
“You’ll be left behind!” she exclaimed.
Niles knew he didn’t have a choice. The vampires wouldn’t stop. His hand fought frantically with the lever while another vampire jumped on his back, biting at his neck. When he bucked it off, it fell to the side and disappeared under the train.
The lever clicked. The forward car attached to the engine pulled away, leaving the vampire car behind.
“Jump!” Brenda yelled. She extended her hand, her long blond hair flying wildly.
It was a hell of a leap. No human could have made it. But Niles wasn’t human. He rid himself of another vampire, gathered himself and jumped. Brenda caught his hands but he fell short of the car. His feet dangled, knocked about by the concrete rail sleepers. Brenda groaned as his weight threatened to pull her down with him.
Then another hand appeared to grasp him around the wrist. Another clenched the collar of his jacket. And another had his lapels. As a unit four women hauled Niles up until he caught his feet on the coupling and pulled himself to safety.
Never one to allow himself to appear mussed, Niles hastily smoothed his hair and settled his Italian jacket. Then he considered the four women who stared at him in amazement. He was just as amazed at them.
“Did I see what I thought I saw?” Gina demanded.
Niles nodded. “Yes, I believe you did. Thank you, ladies, from the bottom of my heart.”
Brenda beamed, proud that her flock had come to the rescue.
Niles puckered his brow. “What are you ladies, wonder women?”
The entire group laughed.
“No!” Brenda chuckled. “But close. We’re widows!”
© 2017 Newmin