Heir of Evergreen

'Slurp, slurp, slurp,' Sounds of someone drinking can be heard so explicitly, especially in this dark, damp, narrow alley, and even echo sometimes. Added to the fact that at the moment is halfway past 10 in the evening, people passing by can no longer be a crowd. Either they are drunk, people who are rushing home because it's way too late in the night, or just some who want to walk in peace. Some just want to enjoy the leisure of the night. The question is, these people who only want to take advantage of the dark, are they normal humans? Can they even be called humans? Maybe, maybe yes, maybe no. Who knows? Only the involved parties know. Verlyn, wearing a big black hoodie with the same color tight pants, was walking leisurely when she heard the sound. Sighed, and stopped at one of the darkest corners of the alley. She tried to slow her breathing, calm herself, and allow her heart to slowly beat. Blending with the dark becomes easier due to her dark outfit. The slurping sound continues. A tall, slender, broad-shouldered pale man with waist-long black hair can be seen at Verlyn's hiding place. Silky wine red, collared, long polo sleeves hugged his body tightly, which easily reflected the moonlight. From waist to bottom, it is covered by long to wide, very wide, black bell-bottom well-ironed trousers. Verlyn had one of her brows up at the sight of his trousers. She knows tight skinny jeans are going off of trend, and they are coming back. Who knows when tight skinny jeans will be back, and what they will be called? But what he's wearing doesn't need to be that wide, right? Verlyn sighed again in her mind, trying her best not to make any extra movement or big breaths. Another thing is, there's an extra pair of feet half-dangling, half kneeling in front of the man. Hands loosely hanging at his side. If not because of the slurping sound and dangling-looking lifeless hands and feet, Verlyn might have thought something funny, like some amorous meeting in the dark that couldn't wait. Unfortunately, she couldn't as she watched the skin of the person slowly turn wrinkly and gray as the slurping and gulping continued. 'Not again,' Verlyn thought. She closed her eyes and slowly opened them. Forcing herself to be as invisible as ever, she looked around. Slowly she backed away in the shade of the dark while making sure she wouldn't step into anything that could make a sound. With movements as silent as ever, she was able to get back to the main street while holding her breath. Back to the main street she acted like she saw nothing, and decided to go somewhere across the street before trying to go back. What can she do? That's the nearest and safest way to her home, according to her. The other routes are, sure, certainly wider and look safer. But, either the streetlights keep on blinking like in horror movies, or they are surrounded by trees and nothingness with only the moonlight and random passing cars as its light. Gives her the chills whenever she passes them. This alley might look dangerous, but at least it's in a residential area, near the main street, near everything. If something happens, shout or run, or do both. Whatever you need to do to call on other people's attention, forget the fact that you look crazy as long as you survive and be safe, right? Across the street, some dudes were sitting and smoking. She went to one of them. Anyway, they all knew each other in this random, small, packed town. She went directly to a guy lighting a cigarette and asked, "Hey, do you have an extra?" "Yeah, want some?" the guy asked back. "Of course, will I be asking if not?" Verlyn retorted with one brow raised. The guy smiled and handed her one. Verlyn took it and let the man light it. "What are you on tonight?" The guy who gave her the cigarette, Richmond, asked. "Nothing special, just the usual when some thirsty guests are around," Verlyn answered. "We have a guest?" A guy in a white, big, hoodie, James, joined them with a goofy grin. "Yeah, the guy seemed parched for a long time. Want to join me later?" Verlyn says. "Sure!" both guys answered in unison. Carrying on with their cigarettes in silence, they watch the people who are rushing home at this late hour of the night. Some humans, some shifters, some bloodsuckers, some maybe demons. Who knows and who cares as long as they don't disrupt the peace of the place, everyone or everything is welcome. This town sure has become a mix of everything. Back then it wasn't. Verlyn's eyes started to mist when she saw all the changes in the town. It was not like this when her adoptive parents were still around. As much as she wants to reminisce and contemplate some thoughts, it's not the right time for that. Dropping the remnants of her cigar, and stepping on it, she cleared her throat as she eyed James and Richmond. The guys understood as they followed, put out the fire of their cigarettes and stood up. Together they went back to the alley where she had just been earlier. There's no longer that slurping sound, you can only hear the squeaking and rustling of rats running around. They walked to where the light was not reflected, and slowly, but surely, they walked to where she saw the scene. The guy with his back on her is no longer there. There's only a lifeless, wrinkly, bloodless gray man lying on the ground. Some drops of blood here and there. James nearly gagged when he saw the scene. Richmond and Verlyn rolled their eyes at him. "What?" Asked James in a hush with popping eyes to them. "Please, is this your first time seeing something like this?" Richmond scoffed. "It's not my first time cleaning up some mess that was left out, but this is my first time seeing something like this. It does seem like the one who did it was thirsty for months, or years, or centuries?" James stated. "Shut up and help me instead," Verlyn interjected while putting on some gloves. "Yes, ma'am!" both said in unison as they gestured a show of salute. "Whatever," she uttered as she looked at them like fools. Both guys only smiled and chuckled at her. "The victim doesn't look like someone from here," Richmond says. "How sure are you?" James asked, looking at him. "He's on the country's wanted list actually," Richmond stated. "Wow, you can tell with all his wrinkly-bloodless state?" James asked again as he tried to recall who this person might be. "Yeah, come to dad's office one time. I will show you some lists, and you will see why," Richmond says. Verlyn went nearer the body and tried to flip it with her feet. There, easily done. Looked up to the boys as she says, "At least that one made us live with one less bad guy in the world." Richmond chuckled, "I believe that's the reason why you didn't choose to have a confrontation?" He asked, but more like a statement. "Nah, I don't think that does it. I believe it's because the guy may be having the hunger of his life. You had better not disturb a vamp in the middle of their meal, especially those types, you might end up their next victim." James says. "Whatever it is, I just hope that whoever it is they should have at least cleaned up, you know?" Verlyn said with annoyance. The two eyed her, chuckling while they looked around to see what they could use. James started to drag the body and Richmond was looking for a place to burn it to nothingness. Verlyn, with the cleaning of some spluttered blood while muttering, "All I do in life now is to clean up at home, at work, and on the way home. Seriously!" She looked up after to see James and Richmond freezing and in a stunt of ready to fight. Their faces are serious. Then that's the time there suddenly is a wind. With the wind brushing and caressing her face, she, too, began to tense. She isn't like them, a werewolf. She doesn't have wolf hearing and a wolf nose or anything that they have. Yet, she still was able to pick up the scent of a vampire and blood. That could only mean they are near and may attack them anytime. Verlyn's says a silent prayer that they don't. Unbeknownst to Verlyn, the moment she stepped into the alley earlier was the moment she started to get watched. "You heard the lady, dude. No matter how hungry you are next time, make sure to clean up the mess whenever you're done." A man almost identical to the vampire earlier spoke. "