Vampires of Portlandia by Jason Tanamor

Author:Jason Tanamor [Tanamor, Jason]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Parliament House

Chapter Twenty-Three

The ghouls were feeding on homeless people, oftentimes befriending them and then cloning them to die naturally.

Many times, to gain the homeless person’s trust, the ghouls would purchase takeout meals and hand them over as a friendly gesture. The homeless were generally grateful for any help. It was a simple system, easy enough.

The breed didn’t have the power or strength that the vampires or viscera had; rather, the ghouls were a passive group of aswangs that survived, much like their contemporaries, by feeding on humans. They consumed their victims’ entire bodies, digesting them until they vomited an exact clone that had severe heart issues that would cause them to die of heart attacks.

The ghouls singled out the homeless population over residents and tourists, believing that by feeding on the lowest layer of society, the aswangs were providing a service to the community in which they lived. It was how they justified their killings, their existence.

The ghouls could feast on the homeless for years, as Portland became a harbor for those who wandered too far. But now that a small sect of ghouls had agreed to work with Arturo—all because the newly promoted viscera had promised them freedom—the ghouls who’d yet to be influenced had conspired with a group of werebeasts to put pressure on Percival. So, when the homeless and druggies were not enough to draw attention to the vampires, the ghouls knew they had to step up their game.

Thus, they added a new clientele to their repertoire, one who had also contributed very little to society—the elderly.

With the murders multiplying dramatically—the city now running out of residents—and with many shape-shifters joining the dark side, who knew what the city would become?

Detective Cyrus had his hands full.

He stood on the steps just outside the police department. He was informing the public through a news segment that a string of deaths had occurred in nursing homes. Elderly men and women alike—those on the cusp of death—were dying at a frantic pace, and nurses and doctors could not figure out why.

“Are there any questions?” The detective looked out into the crowd of news reporters, who were standing patiently with voice recorders in hand.

A reporter waved her hand. She stepped a foot toward Cyrus. “Detective, what can you disclose to the public about the rash of deaths that have shocked nursing homes?”

Cyrus pinched his lips, nodding. He was careful of which words to use. “I have spoken to officials, and each death has occurred naturally,” said the detective. “At this time, there is no evidence of foul play.”

“But it’s unusual that many are dying at the same time?”

“Unusual?” answered Cyrus, licking his lips. “Yes, I would say unusual. But that doesn’t mean something criminal is occurring.” He quickly turned his attention to another reporter. He pointed. “Next question.”

But instead of another reporter speaking out, the initial one asked a follow-up. “So, you’re saying that when it rains it pours?”

Cyrus, annoyed at the journalist, frowned. But to keep from antagonizing the reporter and to maintain a good relationship, he held back his frustration and offered a quip.

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