Chapter 260 - The Hardship of the Hunt (2/2)

A few dock workers, a few business owners closing up for the day, a patrol of city guards - best to avoid there - a couple of stray dogs and cats, mice in abundance, a couple of women walking home and...oh, there was dinner.

The Shadow on the rooftop opened it's crimson eyes and dashed to the south, three buildings, six, ten buildings in an instant, then it paused, just above an alleyway peering down as the two young women approached the entrance from the main street.

There, directly below, with greasy, unwashed hair and a dagger beginning to rust clutched in his hand, stood dinner. Aegin curled up a lip in disgust. Just, delectable. The hunger urged him to go after the women instead. Aegin shook it off, lowering himself from the rooftop and dropping straight down into the alley. He landed but a metre behind the man, bending his knees to absorb the impact of dropping from a four storey building, then he rose slowly, his dark brown cotton falling into place over his cotton shirt. It was the only item of clothing Aegin could buy that had a hood. Aegin stepped up slowly behind the man. The man, yet to notice Aegin, went to take a step forward just as the two women came into view.

Aegin stepped forward with him, one hand taking the man's shoulder to yank him back and the other slamming over the man's mouth. The man let out a muffled shout of surprise as he was pulled back into the alley.

The women at the end of the alley paused.

”Did you hear something?”

”Come on, this doesn't feel right, let's go”.

The two hurried away.

Aegin turned his gaze to the man who struggled between him and the brick wall of the building, he gave a glance to the weapon that the man was attempting to move from where Aegin held his arm, then sighed.

”Such a lack of care for the weapon you wield. You can't hope for it to protect you if you let it rust,” Aegin huffed, ”Not that it would be much use against me. And it doesn't really matter now anyway. Try not to move too much, I'll gag enough from the scent of you, I don't need your filth following me home”.

Then Aegin forced the man's head to the side and opened his mouth, his fangs extending expectantly before he drove them into his meal's neck.