An Evening in the Park

An Evening In The Park

By

Doug LeBlanc

Death waited in the shadows. Save that death was so much a part of life, it was hard to believe this evening. The spring air was still cool and refreshing, but bringing the promise of summer’s warmth. The sun had set, and the night settled its gentle darkness onto the flowers and shrubs of the park. Gaslights, only recently lit, held the darkness at bay in pools of golden, welcoming light.
Given the tepid, richly scented air and romantic setting, there were surprisingly few people in the park this night. One was an older man, enjoying the evening in all its fragrant splendour. He reckoned nothing of the recent reports of death and terror in this same park; but then, he was not someone given to fear. He was, in fact, a hunter himself, and the reports of vampires in the area did nothing to dissuade him from enjoying the end of a fine day.

The creature was not human. He scanned the shadows for prey, and had recently been quite successful. Of course, word of his activities served to frighten off other prey, but he still hoped for a meal or two. There were always those who felt danger was nothing to them.
Drifting easily on the warm, spring breeze, he floated above the tree tops, peering into the darkness, and sniffing the air for the smell of blood. Neither were common activities for bats; but then, he was far from being an ordinary bat. And he was hungry. Flying carefully, he caught a scent, and whirled about to find it. In a few moments, he saw him. And old man, and easy prey. He floated down, and melted into his true form in the shadows.

He drew a deep breath, and felt glad to be alive. The night felt soft and gentle, and reminded him of the days of his youth, so long ago. Yes, it was just such a night as this when he made his first kill. How long ago, it was, yet here, tonight, it seemed as if it were only yesterday.
As he stood reminiscing, a figure made its way toward him; a well-dressed man emerging from the shadows. He seemed a young man who wore a top hat and tails, and smiled warmly.
“Good evening, sir!” he said with a slight accent, and a tip of his hat. His dress and his manners were impeccable.
The old man nodded, and smiled in return. He, too, was well dressed. Both appeared to be men of wealth and breeding, out for an evening’s stroll. There was nothing to tell that either of them was anything other than what they appeared to be.
“Good evening!” the old man answered with a handsome smile. “A lovely evening it is, indeed! I do enjoy an after-dinner walk on such a night!” A slight breeze blew the perfume of new flowers across the new grass, and the trees swayed with gentle ease.
“Yes, it is a perfect evening for pleasant dalliance,” the suave young man answered with a quick smile. “However, many do not come here now. There have been a few incidents recently, or have you not heard?”
The old man nodded knowingly. “Of course, but I reckon little of such things. Men of breeding do not heed such warnings. So plebeian, of course.”
The man nodded in agreement. “Indeed, one could see you are a man of sterner stuff yourself. Still, there are deaths accredited to this very park, and at this very time of night. Caution might well be observed.”
The old man shrugged, and gave a charming smile. “I need not fear, but it is most courteous of you to be concerned, and I thank you. But what of yourself? Surely you could be a target for the common criminal, being a man of substance.”
The younger man smiled. “I believe I have nothing to fear. In fact, others might have something to fear from me. I have been known as a hunter of some skill these many years.”
“Indeed!” the old man answered with a barely concealed laugh. “I thought as much! I, too, fancy myself something of a hunter. Although prey is somewhat limited, I must say.”
The younger man smiled in amusement, and adjusted his cuffs. “What, then, is this prey you seek?”
The old man smiled, as well. “Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that,” he answered evasively. “And you? What prey do you seek on this fine night?”
The younger man’s smile grew, and you could plainly see the pointed teeth. “Why, humans, of course. Although, admittedly, they are growing scarce around here. Word of my activities precedes me, I believe.”
No sign of fear showed in the old man’s eyes. “Indeed. Word of your deeds has frightened away many humans. The park seems quite empty tonight.”
“And yet you chose to venture forth. Brave of you, I must say. Yet I sense no fear in you. Do you know what I am?”
The old man chuckled. “Of course! Did you think you have such secrecy? I knew you were a vampire from the moment you took your real form in the trees. You see, I’m not human, either.”
“Oh really?” the vampire said in surprise. “You certainly look human enough. Perhaps you are trying to fool me to try to protect yourself, though.”
The old man’s smile never wavered as he shrugged, and said “Perhaps.”
The vampire began to feel a trace of uncertainty. This charade had gone on long enough, he decided. “Look into my eyes, old man.”
“Ah, yes, the hypnotism! How delightful!”
The vampire moved toward his victim, but was becoming alarmed. Perhaps this was more than he expected.
He leaned forward to inflict his bite on the elder man’s neck, but instead he felt a stab in his chest. He was surprised, because the old man’s arms hadn’t moved. He stepped back, and saw with surprise a large sting protruding from beneath the old man’s coat. The sting was wet and glistening, and he could see his smile grow larger as he stared at him. A burning feeling came from the wound, and was soon spreading to all parts of his body. He felt a scream rising in his throat, but he found he couldn’t open his mouth.
“You see,” the old man said as he watched the vampire writhe in agony, “I’ve been hunting you for some time now. Fortunately, your recent activity has drawn me here, and I have finally found you. You didn’t even know you were being hunted, did you? Ah, poor, vampire! Well, this is goodbye, but I must say, you are looking quite delicious!”
The vampire watched in mounting horror as the pain spread throughout his body. He collapsed to the ground, and saw the old man’s mouth open wide. The tongue came out, and seemed incredibly long. When it was fully extended, it formed into a tube with a sharp point. He bent over, inserted it into the terrified vampire’s chest, and began to feed.

The darkness deepened in the night. No one could see the strange, beetle-like creature flying through the air in its continuing search for vampires to feed upon. Below him the wind blew in the deserted park. Whispering through the trees, breathing through the flowers, it stirred a strange, forlorn pile of dirt in the deep darkness of the manicured grass.



THE END

1,249 words