Davin

Calamity Jane stood and strapped her pistol to her side. She patted it and flung her fire red hair over her shoulder. She reached down and slipped the whip into the holder. She put her hat on and sighed. This town is so boring she said. She pulled her coat on and opened her door. The hotel was a good one for it being in Washington. She passed a bell hop who stared at her. She rolled her eyes. Did they really expect all women to bow around being like a servant? She was one of a kind. Her red hair trailed down to her waist pulled out over her coat. She stopped at the main counter and pulled out a gold piece. The concierge stood wide eyed and she gave him a funny look.
“Problem,” she said. He shook his head and handed her a note. She looked it over and rolled her eyes. She turned around and started toward the private parlor. She flung open the door and looked at her visitors. Mayor Duvall sat in the chair looking out onto Washington City. General Stone gave her a sharp look and then hid a frown behind a glass of bourbon. Senator Kelly smiled and motioned her to a chair. She shut the door but stayed standing.
“May I help you fine gentlemen,” she asked. Why do they bother me? She hated politicians. Even the general was one. He got his rank from trickery and not through his own recognition.
“Straight to business,” Kelly said nodding approvingly. She frowned. “We would like you to bring us a criminal.”
“Don’t do that anymore.”
“We can pay you handsomely. One hundred thousand dollars in gold.” She looked at him hoping her eyes were not on the floor. That was enough for her to buy her own country. Why give me that much for a criminal? “It does not matter if you bring him in dead or alive. Just bring him in.” She frowned again. Something is wrong.
“Why don’t you sick the army on this criminal?” The general did not hide this frown.
“The American Army is not for taking down filthy murderers.” She looked at him. She sighed. At least try it.
“Who is it?” The senator smiled. It made her shiver. Something is wrong with these men. Something not human some how.
“His name is Davin Cole.” She narrowed her eyes. That sounds familiar. But where had she heard that before. She nodded to the senator.
“I will try,” she said as she turned.
“If you try he will have your guts for garters,” the general said quietly. She shot him a dark look and opened the door. She closed it behind her. Why have me go after him? They must have others after him too. So I had better find a trail of him. She stepped out onto the porch.

Davin stood outside the Washington hotel and watched as a woman with fire red hair walked out. He saw the pistol strapped to her side and smiled. At least they all aren’t weak. He watched her all the way down the street. She was taller than he was but she was a pretty lioness. He looked back and through the window and saw the three men he was after. The general, mayor, and senator. Demons under it all. Getting to places of power to welcome the coming storm. He shook his head and shrugged feeling his sword on his back over his coat. He smiled. They probably don’t even know what I look like. He walked to the front entrance and opened the door and closed it quietly. He turned around and the three people there stared at him quietly.
“Excuse me, this is a private meeting,” the general said. Davin shook his head and drew his sword.
“I got new orders from the powers that be, as it were,” he said quietly. The men looked at him. The senator stood up looking rather upset.
“And what would those be hunter,” the mayor said for the first time. His voice was harsh and ragged as if he had a frog in his throat.
“Don’t have to take you alive,” Davin said moving closer. “Just execute you here instead of in the other World.” The general’s eyes went wide and he lunged for the door. Davin swung the sword and the general’s head rolled across the room where it bumped into the mayor’s leg. The senator sat down shaking. Davin lunged forward and stabbed him in the chest. It sank through into chair and the senator turned to green liquid. Davin yanked the sword back out and turned to the mayor.

Calamity looked at the newspaper in disgust. The man she was supposed to be hunting had killed two of the men that had hired her. Senator Kelly was not there but from what she could tell a green slime puddle was where he had been sitting. She shook her head. She was going to hunt this man down and get her money. This she would enjoy. She heard a voice something behind her. She looked up and saw a man looking down at her. She stood and realized he was shorter than she was. His face twisted into a half smile and he sat across from her.
“Sorry,” he said. “All the tables are full and I have to be at the bay in half an hour to get a boat to Europe.” He rolled his eyes.
“It’s no problem. I don’t often get company when I eat anyway.” His eyes ran over her. She started to feel insulted.
“I don’t see why. A pretty woman like you.” He smiled again and his eyes seemed to glimmer. She smiled back. “By the looks of you, you could probably smack me around a fair time or two.” She smiled again. A waiter walked up to him. “Just some coffee for now.” He turned back to her and looked at the newspaper. He rolled his eyes.
“Something wrong,” she asked looking at the paper.
“Just the press. Don’t know what side they are on any more.” She nodded but she was confused. “They was all against them two yesterday and when their dead they was saints.” He rolled his eyes and smiled again. She narrowed her eyes at him. Why did he look familiar? He took the cup of coffee from the waiter and leaned back in his chair and yawned. She saw a sword leaning against the table. A sword?
“Little old to be a knight of old,” she said sarcastically. He smiled and shrugged.
“Well, we can say I never grew up.” She nodded. Sometimes she wished that she had never grown up. He put the cup to his mouth and took one long drink. He put the cup down and stood slowly. He lifted the sword up by the hilt and turned to go. “It has been nice talking with you...” He stopped.
“Calamity Jane,” she said for him. He smiled.
“Davin Cole.” She felt her heart stop. It can’t be. She reached for her gun. He started to walk away. She pulled back the hammer and his sword flashed in the morning light. She felt her gun fly out of her hand and heard it break through the window next to her. She stared wide eyed at him as he put the sword back in his sheath.
“Kill me,” she said. He narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t kill humans.”
“Oh, and politicians are not human?” He looked at her again. Harder as if reading her mind. Then his brow raised and he shook his head smiling.
“They hired you,” he said. Her mouth fell open. “They are getting smarter.” He shook his head and turned to go. She stepped forward. “I would not follow if I were you. The world is more vast than you will ever know Miss Jane.” He stepped outside and she looked around. The restaurant was silent. They all stared wide eyed at her and at the door as if he was going to come back. She closed her own mouth and turned back to the table. She picked up her saddle bag and started for the door. She had faced fear when she looked into his eyes after he swung that sword. And she was going to kill him for it. If she can just get to the bay and find out exactly where he is going.


Davin looked around the opera house. Apparently what he was hunting had a love of the theater. He frowned. London was odd. Stories of sword fighters and what not had always come from Europe but now if you carried a sword then you were some kind of crazy person. He shifted the long coat putting his hand on the hilt. What he was after was in the private balcony. He saw the creature lean over and bite the woman it was with. He frowned but could not attack here in public. The Brits were awful about public executions these days unless they did it. And the fact he was American did not help in any way. In fact he had been hard pressed to find a place to stay for a couple of days. When this thing was gone, he had to head straight to Germany-France boarder. Some creature was luring men to the Rhine and then they would just disappear. He looked up again and saw the thing leave the balcony. He smiled. Maybe he can be off for France tonight. He left his place at the opera room door and walked to the stairs leading to the balconies. Sure enough the creature came down. There was blood still on its shirt. He frowned at it but passed it to the front door. He ducked down behind the stairs of the opera house and waited. The creature started down the street and Davin fell into behind it. He knew it would sense him and he wanted it to. He smiled as it ducked into an empty house. He pulled his coat off and laid it across his arm. He put his hand on the sword hilt and walked to the empty house. He knocked on the door. A pale woman with white hair answered. He smiled as nicely as he could.
“Excuse me,” he said. She nodded and batted her eyelashes at him. “Do you know the way to the Thames?” She nodded and motioned him inside. He followed and she turned suddenly and lunged at him. He threw the coat over her and slashed out with the sword. He cut out her head and she turned to dust. He looked at his poor coat and sighed. I can get another one. Something hit him in the back. He looked over his shoulder and a little boy was clinging onto him. He raised his elbow and slammed it into its face. It dropped off but something grabbed his sword. He looked forward and saw the man he had followed. It had grabbed the sword from him and stood back. The boy scrambled back up onto him and Davin backed up quickly to the wall. He felt the things finger nails dig into his side and neck. He elbowed it in the stomach. It fell off and Davin spun around and threw it into the fire place. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a match. He stroked it against his leg and threw it on the thing. It hit and lit quickly. He started to turn when something slammed into his face. He fell to his knees. He looked up and sighed. The thing raised his sword. A crack and the sword was out of its hand. Davin looked around but it was to dark. The thing standing over him turned to dust and ashes which fell over him. He closed his eyes but not his mouth in time. He opened his eyes and spit out as much of the foul stuff as he could. He looked through the dust cloud and saw a red haired figure. He stood and looked for a weapon. The figure stepped into the light. He sighed and turned back to the burning thing. It was still rolling on the floor screaming in pain. He looked back at Calamity and held up his hand. She threw him the sword and he brought it down on its neck. It fell to dust and he started for the door. The police would be here soon if the screaming had been heard. Calamity fell in beside him with her whip in hand.
“Go home,” he said. She snorted.
“You said to stay last time we met,” she said. “What makes you think I will now?” He rolled his eyes and looked up and down the street. He crossed the street and carried the sword carefully. He had left the sheath in the hotel room. He stopped when he realized the woman was still behind him. He turned his head and looked at her through the corner of his eye.
“Funny work you do,” she commented and kept walking. He followed her. Her red hair swayed as she strutted in front of him. He thought of something.
“You aren’t the real Calamity Jane are you,” he asked. She stopped dead and turned to face him. She looked at him and shook her head.
“How did you know,” she asked in a hushed tone. He shrugged.
“Stories I heard about her have her in the western territories. And she is not that pretty neither.” He walked past her and turned toward his hotel. He heard her run up next to him.
“You think I am pretty?” He smiled.
“I didn’t say that.” She looked at him and then looked down the street.
“My mom named me after her. So with that title I just automatically learned to fight and what not.” He looked at her side and saw the whip. Her hand rested on it. She followed him inside the hotel and up the stairs. He stopped at the door and looked at her.
“Where do you think you are going?” She straightened her face.
“I don’t have any place to go. I thought you could share your bed.” He rolled his eyes and opened the door. He motioned inside and she immediately took the bed. He sat down in front of his trunk and opened it. He pulled out the sheath and put the sword in it. He shuffled around through books and other things and pulled a bottle from it. He reached over to the wash stand and pulled the wash cloth to him. He pulled the cork out of the bottle and poured some on the cloth. He put it to the scratches. He turned his head to her. She sat looking at him and the trunk.
“What are you,” she asked quietly. He sighed.
“Lets just say I do something for someone very powerful. They want these things dead and he chose me to kill them.” He pulled the cloth away and felt them. The wounds were gone. He threw the cloth into the wash stand bowl and put the bottle back in the trunk. He let it slam shut. He turned his head to her. She was pulling off her coat. She unbuckled the gun belt and set the whip and gun on the bedside table. He sighed and sat down in the squashy chair next to the window. He closed his eyes.