CHAPTER 3

A man could be seen seated at a desk next to an office window with his back to the glass in the candlelight coming through the church windows. A woman’s dark form could be made out moving between the pews further into the building, but nothing else about her behavior could be made out. The pastor and his wife were working in the church cleaning and organizing the books in the late evening.

The stranger discovered the fresh meat he was looking for, however he couldn’t tell from the outside if anyone else was inside. When he moved to the back of the church, he saw that the pastor’s wife had left the door ajar. He carefully opened it and slid inside while remaining as silent as he could. After entering the back store room, he made his way to the altar’s entrance and entered the dim area where the candlelight couldn’t illuminate him. He focused on her task as he observed the pastor’s wife sweeping the area between the pews.

He needed to remain silent in order to prevent the pastor from going into the sanctuary. At least not yet. Initially, if possible, he intended to control his wife. The stranger realized the pastor was getting up from his desk when he heard a chair scuffing on the wooden floor. In order to better blend into the shadows, the stranger shoved himself into the corner and slid down.

As soon as he entered the main area, the pastor addressed his wife. The pastor replied, “I need to go home for a moment; I forgot some papers.” Will you manage without me for a little while?

The pastor’s wife answered, “Sure, I’ll be OK.

The pastor bowed before exiting the room and turning around. The outsider waited and watched until he heard the door close and saw the pastor leaving the church out the window. Relieved, the stranger got to his feet, emerged from the shadow, and slowly made his way to the pastor’s wife.

She didn’t yell or move when she saw him. She appeared to be waiting for him. She spoke calmly and said, “Who are you?

The stranger said, “Bohdan.” Bohdan Malko

Bohdan Malko, what can I do for you? The woman enquired. She started to quiver now that she was anxious.

Bohdan responded, “I come for your blood and the blood of your spouse.

The woman was still and unmoving. She undoubtedly recognized that, if Bohdan attacked, the broom she was holding would be of no use, so she held it at her side. She said, “I have kids.”

“I’ll come after them, too.”

Can I do anything to stop you, please?

Is there anything you can provide that I can’t obtain on my own?

The woman stood while reflecting. To save herself, her husband, and her kids, she had to devise a plan. She was running out of time and needed a response. She answered, “I can get you parishioners. I have access to everyone who attends this church.

Why am I unable to obtain them for myself? Why do you need me? Bohdan enquired.

“They’ll track you down and kill you. To keep them guessing, I can hand them to you one at a time. They will track you down and kill you if you attempt to take them on your own.

Bohdan paused to reflect. What assurance do I have that you won’t use them against me? “My children, you can have my children if I give you up,” I said.

It will already be too late by then. I don’t see how saving you would be beneficial. I have a strategy to eventually eliminate everyone in this town, and it doesn’t call for assistance from anyone. And you,” Bohdan retorted.

“What do you do? The pastor’s wife asked, “A vampire?”

Indeed, isn’t that clear-cut? Bohdan answered. For her to see, he displayed his fangs. “How can you be in here when this is a church? What crosses?

This is not a church; rather, it is a wooden structure used to house a group of hypocritical sinners. Similar to you and your husband.

Because my husband is a pastor, we are not sinners.

“Explain your reason for being here in the evening. What is your husband doing at night that he is unable to perform during the day? Bohdan enquired.

He’s working on books, she said.

Cooking the books would be more accurate than book work, certainly.

The wife of the pastor stood stunned, as if her secret had been revealed. “What are you discussing? One of my husband’s responsibilities is to maintain the books.

Is it true that there is a church board, as I presume? “Yes.”

Is it true that he displays his books to the board as well? “Yes.”

How much of the church is he stealing from? Bohdan enquired.

“How could you say that, my spouse is not reading the books off the shelf!”

My abilities are limited, yet I sense that something is off in this situation. You may try to deny it all you want, but you know it’s real. I would assume he’s taking a lot.

The pastor’s wife shook her head, appearing to be either in shock or to have accidentally gotten her hand in the cookie jar.

Bohdan remarked, “Neither of you will survive to see the dawn, so this is all moot anyhow. And I will benefit from it as well as the town.

Bohdan and the pastor’s wife were both startled when a door suddenly crashed open. The pastor was standing in the doorway with a revolver pointed at the vampire, backlit by the candlelight. The preacher walked between the pews and said, “I suppose you’ll be the one not seeing daybreak.”

A gun, how archaic, thought Bohdan. “Now days, everyone has one. Has that been yours since the war?

The priest answered, “Indeed it is, Eighth Regiment Kansas volunteer if you must know.” Ever killed someone? Bohdan enquired.

Oh my god, there were so many greybacks I couldn’t kill them all. I told your wife I was a vampire, did you hear that?

The priest grinned and replied, “No, but there are no vampires, unless you escaped from the state asylum.

Bohdan responded, “No, I didn’t; I was in the battle too. Johnnie Reb?

“Maybe, but it was ten years ago, and times have changed since then.”

You enter my church, accuse me of stealing, and I later learn that you are a confederate. …and a psycho too? How fortunate I am, the preacher exclaimed.

You do know I’m a vampire, I’ll say it again,” Bohdan added. What do you say about that, exactly?

“A bullet cannot kill a vampire.” The pastor answered, “I’d want to know.

“This is your home; do as you please. At least for the moment.

The minister moved a little closer to the altar before aiming the gun directly at Bohdan’s chest. He then heard from his wife. She questioned, “How will you explain it if you kill him?

He broke in, attempted to rob the church, and tried to kill us. I’m righteous,” the pastor retorted. The pastor’s spouse agreed by nodding her head.

A explosion and a puff of smoke filled the air as the pastor took careful aim and pulled the trigger of his forty-four caliber pistol to shoot Bohdan in the chest. The pastor observed that Bohdan was unaffected and maintained his position when the smoke cleared.

“At this point, believe me?” Bohdan enquired.

After turning to face Bohdan again and taking aim, the pastor fired two more rounds into his chest. One in the face followed. When the smoke cleared once more, it was clear that Bohdan was unharmed and that he had not sustained any injuries, either to his face or anyplace else he could see.

The pastor continued, “I know I shot you, I couldn’t miss from this distance. I told you I couldn’t be killed with a gun, yet you did shot me. So, how do I murder you?

Bohdan chuckled while shaking his head. “Are you serious? Do you really believe I’d tell you how to murder me? How ridiculous

The pastor asserted, “There must be a way.” He quickly processed his decision and sprinted over to an oil lamp that was positioned on the fireplace mantel. One of the main sources of light in the space, it was illuminated and glowing brightly. He returned to the spot where he had been standing before with the lamp in hand, but this time Bohdan was positioned behind the altar like the pastor.

“You’d destroy your church with fire?” Bohdan enquired. The priest responded, “I would if it meant saving my life.”

Interesting that you left out your wife from that sentence. I suppose that ultimately, saving your own life is what matters most.

The minister added, “I meant her too.”

“Great grab. Bohdan said, “Now put up or shut up, throw the lamp.

Only if necessary, if you attack, I’ll set fire to the church while you are inside. “How do you anticipate leaving? You cannot attend if I cannot.

The pastor answered, “I’ll find a way. Go out now before I light you up, I said.

“If you chuck the lamp, the only thing that will happen is that you’ll burn down the building. I’ll make it through this and return another day to complete what I started. In both cases, you lose.

What are you anticipating from me? Let you murder both of us?”

Bohdan commended him for including her this time. Before you entered, your wife was in the middle of making me an offer.

The pastor glanced at his wife before returning to Bohdan. Which offer? She promised to secure all the parishioners I requested.

“What for?”

“I wish you had returned sooner; I truly hate repeating myself. I’m a vampire, like I said,” Bohdan remarked, displaying his long, yellow fangs.

With God’s grace, the preacher affirmed.

Are you truly a pastor? Bohdan enquired. Or are you also defrauding the residents of this community with that?

“I’m a preacher just like anyone else,”

“I see, what were you doing prior to becoming a pastor?” “I told you I was in the army.”

Earlier than that,

I also did some work for the railroad and some farming. How did you act?

Bohdan responded, “I guess I was a bounty hunter; I sold slaves back to the south. But you claimed to be engaged in combat.

I wasn’t very interested in it before I went, and slave trades were profitable. A vampire who traded in slaves?

“I wasn’t a vampire forever. A slave, a vampire slave, converted me. The bastard was then put to death. Similar to a mosquito

The priest questioned, “How long have you been a vampire?”

Bohdan paused to reflect. “I guess it’s been around thirteen years now.”

“You’ve survived on human blood for thirteen years? Why haven’t I heard of you before?

“I’m really skilled at what I do; I enter a town, raze it to the ground, and then escape before I’m discovered. Except for that one instance, which has since passed. So, we need to talk about a transaction. Should I kill you both right away or should you send me other victims? I usually hunt alone, but I’m willing to try if you wish to obtain them for me.

The pastor responded, “Sure, we can get you as many as you need.

Bohdan continued, “You realize the moment you turn on me, the bargain is off and I take you both.

“We comprehend,”

“Well, I don’t honestly think you do. I believe I need some collateral.” The pastor enquired as to what you meant by it.

“Maybe collateral isn’t the proper phrase; what I need to show you is that I’ll fuck you back if you screw me over. Perhaps I should stop by your home and meet your children.

The pastor yelled, “No! You keep away from my kids!

Although Bohdan anticipated such response, he didn’t believe his argument was well-made. He required an illustration that would ensure the pastor and his wife would never turn against him. He only needed one of them; the other would have been more of a dismembered value dangling from the town square. In fact, that’s how they discovered the pastor’s wife, the

The following morning, white, motionless, and completely bloodless, hanging from the courthouse bell tower. Her intestines were lying in a heap on the ground, covered in flies that birds had eaten.