pulled her saber from its scabbard, and tossed it aside, then started pushing her down the hallway. As they walked, Cora suddenly noticed that Boots had no smell. This close to the man, she should have been overwhelmed by his usual aroma of sweat, smoke, and alcohol, but all she could smell was the faint scent of the pine floorboards.
Boots opened a door at the end of the hall and shoved her inside. A whiff of rotting flesh greeted her as she stumbled and fell in the semi-darkness. Behind her, the door slammed shut. She picked herself up and turned to face her captor.
"I would apologize for the smell, but I rather like it," Boots said, his face invisible in the darkness. "I have faith that you come to love it as well, given enough time."
"I reckon I'll love it just fine when it's coming from your bloated corpse," Cora said. She tried to take stock of her surroundings. Her nose told her that something nearby had died recently, but she could only see gray shadows. The afternoon sun glowed around the boards covering the windows, but no beams of light cut through the darkness. Despite the stench, she took a deep breath to calm herself. She'd been cornered before and managed to work her way out of it. She could do it again. Besides, Ben would come looking for her once he'd told Mart Duggan about the vampires. All she had to do was sit tight until he showed up or Boots let his guard down.
"Still so unrefined, especially for a woman from the American South," Boots said. "Although, if you relish the scent of an enemy's death, this aroma should be to your liking. The corpse rotting in this room once belonged to a Mr Washington Jones, who I believe made your acquaintance recently."
"Wash Jones?" Cora asked. "You mean that upstart card player?"
"I can't speak for his gambling habits, but he certainly seemed to bear a grudge against you. One strong enough to encourage the sacrifice of his humanity to see it avenged."
"Seems you did the world a favor, then," Cora said. "That boy was fixing to be a bandit, so you just saved some lawman a lot of work by culling him early."
"I doubt the world of humanity has much to thank me for," Boots replied, "and the murder of Washington Jones certainly isn't in their interest."
"Then why'd you kill him for?" Cora asked.
"To turn him, of course." Footsteps echoed in the darkness. "Replacing fallen soldiers is always a difficult task for a general. Not that you would understand such harsh realities yourself. Life is simpler when you are alone."
A cold wave of dread washed over Cora as she put the pieces together. "You're the big bad that James was going on about."
"The word is nosferatu," Boots said, "and you are correct. Frankly, I'm disappointed it took you so long to realize it. Perhaps I've been too subtle."
"Or maybe you just ain't no good at being evil," Cora said. "Me and Ben already wiped out a full half-dozen of your boys without breaking a sweat, and I don't see no reason why we won't do the same to you."
"You and Ben, you say?" The bartender's voice took on an amused tone. "He has been of some use to you these past ten years, then?"
Cora blinked. "Why, sure. We've been riding together hunting the likes of you for a good long while now. Fine work for a man and wife, if you ask me, though some may find it unusual."
"Unusual indeed," Boots said. "Tell me, when was the last time you saw your husband?"
"Not thirty minutes ago, fresh from killing your vampires."
"Is that so?" There was a bright flash as Boots struck a match. The tiny flame sputtered in his hand as he reached over and lit a lantern. A warm glow filled the room, illuminating large crates covered with dust. Strange shadows danced across his round head as he approached her.
"You inquired earlier as to how I am able to wear the body of the former proprietor of this saloon, whom you so decisively killed." Boots stepped closer, and Cora backed away. "I don't suppose your illustrious scholar could enlighten you?" Cora shook her head. "I thought not. Such men pride themselves on their knowledge, but they are only grasping at shadows. Shadows that will one day devour them." His grin deepened at the thought. "I shall relish the taste of his blood, and I imagine he