Meridith and the Demon

Written for a 300 word contest. Meridith investigates a wild claim.

Meridith motioned to the fresh blood on the tabletop. It was not easy projecting authority with her head tilted from the high ceiling of rough beams, but the tall, powerful Dwelf was still quite impressive. Her father's copper skin reflected the firelight, and her mother's vibrant blue hair shone with steam from the cold night air. "What happened here?"

Meridith's only weapons were her long knife and her vaunted strength; she did not believe either would be needed tonight. The two defiant women, the brunette was topless, waved bloody hands as they both tried to explain the deed.

"He was a demon. You could tell he was a Demon. He had to be killed." They gesticulated wildly.

"Where is the body?" Meridith asked calmly.

"He ran out the door before you got here!" The blonde woman screeched.

"There is no blood on the floor."

"He tore off my shirt and wrapped the wound."

Meridith motioned for the women to remain. She went back out the front door and looked in the snow. In front of the Tavern, it was trampled. She moved purposely where some fresh tracks led, right fingers feeling the bone handle of her favorite knife.

The light was gone from the sky with the passing of dark clouds: there would be more snow tonight. Her aurasight showed no living spirit in the alley. Unconsciously, her catlike eyes dilated, and her dimsight showed her what a normal Human could not see. In the moon and starlight, she could discern a body leaning against the far wall of the next building.

Stealthily, she moved towards the humanoid shape. One arm was holding its stomach. Was wounded. She drew her knife and approached. As she touched it, it fell over dead. It was a Demon; the women vindicated.