Chapter 6

 

 They seemed to go on forever, stretching as far as the eye could see. Laqueta and Kaiden, crouching in the shadows high up in the rooftops above Old Town, watched the purposeful, if slightly tipsy, marching of the vast army of angry protesters, belching and slurring their way through the group chant and weaving a path through Old Town.

  "There’s so many of them!" Laqueta breathed, "what do they all want? Surely we haven’t upset them all?"

  "No," Kaiden sighed. "I guess that most of them have no real idea what they are actually upset about. Anger is regarded as something of an accessory to Old Town citizens." He shook his head in a gesture of despair.

Laqueta looked appalled.  "It is not something you can buy at any old corner shop or market stall," she replied indignantly.  "As if it can be used or worn on any occasion and discarded at will."

"Nevertheless, that is how they see it. More then half of this lot will have no idea what they are protesting to but have jumped at the chance to protest nevertheless. Now we must move on," he motioned Laqueta silently along and the pair continued cautiously along the rooftops, taking care to remain hidden from prying eyes below.

 They got home ahead of the drunken, swaying mob. Once they had reached the sanctuary of Mrs Mullins’ bedsit the pair were safe. The tiny building had the strength of a fort; it had been constructed to withstand great force and the protesters had long since ceased being sober enough to inflict any real damage. All they could really manage at the moment was to make a lot of noise and dent the front door slightly. 

 The neighbourhood got no peace that night but since almost all the local residents had joined in the ever expanding group of protesters no one was bothered. As night wore on the alcohol supplies ran down rapidly and eventually dried up altogether. That, combined with the cold, fresh-ish night air, began to have a sobering effect on the mob. As sunrise neared it began to dawn on some of the brighter members that they needed to rethink the plan of attack. The racket abruptly ceased with the arrival of the new day and Kaiden, watching from the attic window in Laqueta’s room, could see the self- elected group leaders in earnest discussion while the main body looked on, awaiting instruction. The debate continued for some time until Kaiden eventually lost interest and turned his attention to the girl instead. The ragged mob outside appeared to reach an agreement of sorts an hour or so later and anyone observing would have seen one of the ringleaders approach the heavy door of the bedsit alone while the gang hung back scowling and waving loud, scrawled banners.

 

 It happened over a makeshift breakfast. Laqueta had been fully dosed with tonic and, after a good rest, was looking a little better. The unlikely family were seated around a large oak table in the kitchen, near a welcoming fire, when a sharp, angry knock at the door echoed through the building breaking the silence. Kaiden went to open the door and saw that the man behind the knock had a rough weather-beaten look. He was one of those individuals that was most likely a lot more intelligent than he looked and the expression on his face clearly stated that it was not wise to attempt any misdirection or tricks. He regarded Kaiden with a look of undisguised contempt but the vampire noticed a brief flicker of fear in his dark green eyes as they focused on him. There was no suggestion of doubt in the voice however; he spoke with a firm steady tone that hinted briefly at forcefulness. "I do not wish to know what you are. We know you are not human and you are not welcome here, among our kind. You will leave the district by sundown."

  "I have no desire to argue friend," Kaiden replied firmly. "But I find myself disappointed by the ignorant prejudice your species exhibits. I have never caused harm to your kind and have lived in peace among you for many years. Why now am I considered such a threat? Simply because I am not like you?" His black eyes burned fiercely into those of the protester, warning him to choose his words carefully. 

  "There are many places in this city where you will be accepted, creature. This is not one of them." The mobster paused for awhile, apparently expecting a response. After an uncomfortable silence he spoke up again. "You have until sundown to comply peacefully. Your continued presence after that time will be considered an act of war." With that he turned away and signalled a retreat to the waiting mob. Kaiden watched them scatter, heading off in their own directions. No doubt most would go home to their own families and promptly forget the whole incident. The green eyed leader and a few of his immediate followers could prove more difficult. Kaiden thought it likely that the bedsit was even now under the surveillance of one of them, wanting to be sure that he complied with their demands and left the area. He would not be left to a peaceful life here any more, those few would see to that.

 Moving to another district would pose no real problem to Kaiden had he been alone. He had travelled about all his life and moved many times in the past. His solitary nature ensured that there was never the issue of leaving friends behind, all he had ever needed was Saquin and his few possessions. This time however he had Laqueta to consider. It was possible that she could fend for herself but Kaiden did not feel happy leaving her to her own devices just yet. She was just beginning to learn about her condition and he felt it was not safe to leave her to come to terms with it unsupervised, especially given the recent, lone ‘pilgrimage’ she had taken. It was best for all if she came with him, then, but that made finding a new district to settle in more difficult. Alone he could survive anywhere but she would have to be protected from the more unwholesome areas of the city for now. There was also the issue of a lack of ‘mother figure’. Mrs Mullins’ input to Laqueta’s upbringing had been invaluable over the years and Kaiden suspected that he would encounter significant problems when she was no longer available to offer the comfort and emotional support the girl needed. The landlady had spent her life in Old Town, born in the very house she now ran the bedsit from, and there was no question of her leaving with them but Kaiden realised now that he would miss her. She was the only person who had ever come close to being a real friend to him, beside Saquin. Devoid of the usual ugly traits that put Kaiden off most species and with a solitary nature like his own she understood his character and offered a simple, rough form of companionship that he only truly appreciated now. It would pass, Kaiden was a born survivor and it was rare that he allowed friendship to steal his thoughts and cloud his judgement for long. The little family was broken already, torn apart by the ignorance and narrow mindedness of the local residents. Survival came first, as it always had, over and above any sentimentality and he shook off the emotions, focusing his thoughts instead on where to go now. 

 

     "I don’t want to leave," Laqueta mumbled through the tears. "Everything in my life has been turned upside down and this place is the only stability I’ve ever had." They were still gathered in the kitchen and Kaiden had told the others of his decision. Laqueta was not happy about it. She knew, though, that Kaiden’s mind was made up and there was no point making too much of a fuss. He did not appreciate that kind of behaviour

 Mrs Mullins, too, was unusually quiet when Kaiden announced his intent. For a brief moment there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes and Laqueta thought she noticed a single tear hovering on her cheek. The landlady turned away to make a pot of tea and when she turned back her face had regained its usual blank expression.

  "We will leave in 3 hours time." Kaiden said, accepting the mug of herbal tea Mrs Mullins proffered. "It is best for all that we are well out of the district by sundown so you must be sure to be packed and ready by then." Laqueta merely nodded, blinking back the tears