Keeping a low profile was my motto as I weaved through the crowd. I had no idea where I was but so long as I got as far away from Arcaedia as I could, then where I was didn't matter. Where I was going was more important, I had to find a tunnel to hell and in an unknown city, it was a task that seemed near on impossible.
The most ideal choice for searching out a tunnel was finding a vampire. It was crazy but it was true. Vampires always had access points into hell so that they could pass through to other places during the day and avoid the sun. So I had to find either a vampire feeding hangout, a dynasty or clan that had been entrusted with an access gate. Not every vampire had a gate into the underworld, not every vampire had an easy life. I knew that the devil rarely handed out access gates and when he did, it was something to be revered.
Dynasties had gates in their family home as did a few of the clans, though they were few in their numbers. The devil was always careful of who he let into the world that was his home. Considering that he had three children and another on the way that he had to protect, I can't say as I blamed him. The devil and his children would have the most delicious tasting blood to a vampire and to have them walking around the underworld as they pleased must be a great strain upon him.
Scanning the street, I watched as the number of humans began to dwindle. Night was slowly consuming everything, shops were closing and people were going home. Finding a vampire was not going to be easy.
"Spare some change, ma'am?"
I turned to the old man who was sitting against the wall. With a frown I looked around and wondered why I hadn't seen him as I walked here. Everyone seemed to ignore him, walking around him and doing their damnedest to not look at him.
Walking over to him, I squatted beside him.
"I am sorry, I do not have any money on me. I can give you warmer clothes if you like. Here, take my jacket."
I pulled it off my body and wrapped it over his shoulders, the man smiled at me as if I'd made his day.
"Bless you dear angel, bless you."
He set the cup to one side, pulling the jacket across his chest.
"There is an apple in there if you want it."
"No my dear, you eat it."
He handed it to me, I looked at the red shine and realised how much I missed Brannon.
"You seem lost Emily, don't you know where you are?"
"No." I said sadly, sitting beside him. "I'm trying to get back to someone that I love but I know there is no point. I saw a photo of him and another girl, he has moved on."
"I have never liked photographs, they offer such little insight into reality."
I nodded with a heavy sigh.
"I am lost, I have nothing left now."
"Well of course you don't, not with that kind of attitude. Things that are lost are only waiting to be found. If you keep searching I am sure you will find everything that you need."
He pulled out a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag, unscrewing the lid. Just as he was going to take a sip, he offered it to me.
"Here, maybe this is what you need."
I looked at his dirty fingers that were wrapped around the green glass, the scent of something harsh floating out of the bottle.
"It's okay, you keep it to keep you warm. Isn't there a shelter you can go to?"
"I've got a place, don't fret for me. As for this, it does more that warm me."
He looked at the bottle with a frown and then offered it again.
"Good for what ails ya."
A smile was given as his sales pitch, below the white whiskers and chapped lips.
"Removes the scourge of the past, returning to the truth. Go on Emily, don't be frightened."
Setting the apple aside, I took the bottle and slid the brown paper bag down to look at the label on the bottle. It was nothing more than a whiskey yet it did not smell like a whiskey.
Glancing around the land, I wondered what these people thought of the young woman drinking with the homeless man. What did I care? I didn't, all I wanted was to be free of Arcaedia.
I gasped, remembering what I was supposed to be doing. Picking up the apple I felt such sorrow for being so rude to the kind man.
"I'm sorry, I must go."
The homeless man took his bottle back.
"I really have to find my friend, I know that he has moved on but I have to tell him that I didn't run away."
"I'm sure he will understand, so long as you look to him with honesty in your eyes."
He smiled at me, pointing at them with the hand that held the bottle.
"You've got great eyes, they are the prettiest shade of purple I've ever seen."
"Yeah, I've heard that a lot."
The homeless fellow chuckled as he gripped the bottle tighter.
"I'll bet you've got the pick of the bunch up there."
"Up where?" I asked curiously.
Then something dawned on me.
"You don't care that I've got purple eyes. How did you know my name?"
The man smiled at me as he stood to his feet, I looked up and felt a sense of dread creeping through me.
"How? I know everyone's name, that's how."
"Who are you?"
"Me? I'm just a lonely old man who likes to search for the goodness in this world."
I stood and kept a reasonable distance from him.
"I might pan handle but what I'm really doing is finding those who will help the less fortunate, they are worthy of my gratitude. And you my dear Emily, you gave the jacket off your back. I know you do not have any money on you, I knew that long before I asked it of you. All that I wanted to know was how much you were prepared to offer. To give what is important to you. This is not about warmth for an angel, this is about having a disguise from those who you run from. Even though it would expose the true you, you still gave something that you needed and for that, I am grateful. Come Emily, I have something for you."