Book One; Chapter Two
Investigation Irritation
Things weren't looking so good. Flash has finally gotten a stable job as a detective and he already had a case that he couldn't solve. There were three bodies. One was drained of blood, one was bruised and had its horn ripped off, and the other, oh God, the other... was unrecognizable. Flash watched as a middle aged couple came in the crime scene to identify their son and the mare pointed to the mangled one.
"That's him! Oh goodness, that's him!" she sobbed. Confusion flickered in the back of Flash's mind. The other detective, Iona, placed a hand on the mare's back in comfort.
"Ah... how do you know...?" Flash asked awkwardly. The stallion glared at him.
"Excuse me!?"
"I mean,.. he's not looking... ah... presentable..." Flash shifted under the stallions' glare. The mare sniffed.
"I understand what you mean. Our boy always used to hang out with these idiots, peace be with them, and he would disappear for days at a time." The mare patted her graying bun and took a napkin out of her coat pocket. "Good day to you." The mare and the stallion left without a glance back. Iona cleared her throat. She was yellow with green curls that were always in a ponytail and purple eyes. She had on loose jeans and a navy blue uniform shirt topped with a thick, black winter coat.
"You really know how to charm." she said. Flash turned scarlet.
"I just wanted to know. He was freaking mutilated beyond recognition!" Flash exclaimed. Then, he shook his head. "Too bad we wont be able to solve this case, though."
"Oh? Why not?"
"Because these guys were killed by, you know, a vampire."
Blueblood was a food critic for three main reasons. One; he liked food, Two; he liked judging how well ponies could make food, Three; he liked getting paid to speak his mind (even if it was just about food). There were five contestants in the competition that day. The second-to-last contestant, a stallion, was shaking as he placed a covered tray in front of the cynical perfectionist.
Trying to seem scared in order to gain pity, huh?, Bueblood thought. He lifted up the tray cover. Veggie lasagna. His favorite dish. He wrinkled his nose. The crowd sat forward in anticipation.
"What is this?" The contestant froze.
"What?"
"This horrid smell. The dish looks alright." he stuck a fork in the pasta. "It feels alright, but what is that smell?"
"Onions, sir."
"Onions?" Blueblood gave him an odd look. "Why would you put onions in lasagna?"
"My preference, sir. I'm used to it... I forgot not to-"
"Aha! And that's your downfall! You would've gotten a ten but no... I give this... a five!" The crowd murmured in disapproval. The last contestant was up. It was a teenage filly. Blueblood inwardly sighed. If she did horrible, the audience would shake their heads in disappointment for being "mean" to a little girl. She placed a covered tray in front of him. He lifted the cover and almost threw up at the sight itself. The teen obviously knew nothing about cooking. It was a semi-burnt meat loaf. The outside was tough and the inside was dry and tasteless. It looked like dried liver.
"Ew, what is this!?" he exclaimed. "My mother can do a better job than this And she can't even boil water!"
"How hard can it be to boil water?" the teen asked, confused.
"Obviously, pretty hard because she burnt it." Blueblood sighed.
"How do you burn water!?" the teen scratched her head.
"Exactly. Six and a half points." Blueblood got up and rushed out to talk to the other critics who were laughing.
Caramel handed the costumer his martini, extra strong. The stallion grunted a thanks and returned to his lonely corner to sulk. Caramel would have talked to him but he was too busy. Too busy doing his job as a bartender and too busy waiting for somepony. He let his eyes wander once more. No sign of her. His chest tightened.
"Can I get another martini over here?" the already drunk stallion called. Caramel ignored him. He's found her. She was gliding towards him like some beautiful goddess.
"Bartender?" The mare had raven-black hair and emerald-green eyes. She was wearing a green sweater and a jeans skirt that went up to her knees. She flashed him a smile.
"Bartender-"
"Quiet." Caramel quickly passed him another drink and turned to his lady. He smiled. "Rashel."
"Caramel."
"What brings you here?"
"You. I was just plain nosy and I noticed you got a different job."
"What can I say? I'm a jack of all trades." Rashel laughed.
"I hear your looking for somepony, love." Caramel frowned.
"Yes. I'm worried about her."
"Her?"
"Yes?"
"Oh c'mon. I don't do jealous." Rashel flipped her long hair with a smirk.
"She's a vampire." Rashel's smile disappeared. "She almost killed me the other day. Three people turned up dead yesterday. I think she might have done it. She has white curls and white fur. Her eyes are silvery-brown...?"
"Maxii!?" Rashel jumped. Caramel stared at his lover.
"You know her? That's her name?"
"No. I mean, yes. But... she's right there...!" Caramel turned his head. There was the mare that had almost killed him just a few days before. And she was coming right at him.