Short Story - Chased by Chickens - Grant Eagar

pic of girl


Prompt: A boy chased by Chickens 
Several weeks later it was another full moon so Sheila thought she would try her hand at hunting again. Sheila had been waiting for the farmer to be alone so she could get a bit of his blood. Just a bit of feeding and she would be on her way. She slunk to the barn. When the farmer enters his barn to feed the chickens, she would have him. Better yet she would wait in the chicken coop and when he opened the gate, she would grab him.  She entered the coup and was attempting to close the door when she felt a peek on her leg then another and another. She ran out of the coup and the chickens followed her, pecking her legs as she went. She ran out of the barn and across a field and into a grove of beech trees. She quickly climbed a tree that had low lying branches. Not again. She gazed down at the ground, there they stood the eleven chickens, not ordinary yard birds, but chickens from the depths of hades.  She never realized chickens could be used as guard dogs or guard birds in this case. She regarded the red and yellow beasties.  Mayhap I could catch one of them and get a taste of their blood. Unfortunately, their blood is probably as vile as their temperament. A pox on the farmer, he’s the one to blame, I’m sure he trained the brood of feathered demons.  She sighed, I’ll never live this down, first treed by a pack of poodles and now treed by a flock of chickens. What kind of a self-respecting vampire allows a flock of chickens to tree her? Oh, the wretchedness of it all.  A ten-year-old girl ran up with a stick in her hand. “Shame on you chickens for leaving the pen, now git home or I’ll feed your mash to the pigs.” She waved the stick and the chickens scattered. Sheila hid as best she could, she closed her eyes. God, I know I don’t pray much, being a vampire and all, but please don’t let the girl see me. I will die of embarrassment if she finds me.  “Miss, ah what are you doing up in the tree?”  God, we’ll discuss this later. Sheila used her hair to hide her face. “I’m a tree nymph, this is my forest. So, you’ll be wise to leave it.” The girl giggled. “This is our grove, not some tree nymph’s. So, the chickens treed you?” Sheila closed her eyes and hung her head in shame. “Ah yes.” “You just have to get a big stick and show em you be the biggest, badest chicken. They’re an ornery bunch who’ll peck you to death if you let em. Do you need some help getting out of the tree?” “N- no, I’ll be fine, just ah go ahead and put the chickens back in the coup and I’ll be on my way.” She tried to climb down but she was stuck.  “Who are you talking to Rachel?” asked a tall gangly man with spectacles on. He limped up to the tree and put his hand to his eyes to see who was there.  The girl pointed up into the tree. “She claims to be a tree nymph, but I think she’s just a passerby whom the chickens treed.” “Ma’am, I’m sorry about the chickens, they are a hateful bunch. give me your hand and I’ll help you down.   Sheila took his hand and climbed down from the tree. The girl stared at her. “Look papa she’s the one on the wanted poster. This is Sheila the vampire. They’ll give us 3000 pounds fer her. Let’s turn her in.” The man regarded Sheila. How can she be a vamp standing out in the sun and all? She’s not suffering. Are you sure she’s the one on the poster?” Sheila went pale. “What poster are you referring to?” The girl grinned. “The notorious Sheila the Vampire treed by a flock of chickens I’ll be able to tell all my friends at school about it. The poster is in town at the town square with all the other wanted criminals. Are you a criminal miss?”  “I’m not some wanted criminal. You have me mistaken for someone else.” Sheila started walking briskly away from the pair. The man and the girl kept pace with her. The man said, “Don’t mind Rachel she has quite the imagination. I promise there’ll be no more talk of wanted vamps. Will there Rachel?  The girl looked at the ground and kicked at a stick. “Yes papa, but it’s a shame we couldn’t turn her in and become rich. I’ll go put the chickens away.” She then ran through the trees.  Sheila said, “I probably should be on my way; Thanks for your help getting me out of the tree.” “I’m sorry about the chickens, good day miss.” He turned to follow his daughter. Sheila looked around. There is no one about, I shouldn’t let food just walk away so easily. Sheila grabbed his arm and pulled him close pulling back his collar and biting into his shoulder. He attempted to get away but Sheila held him tight with her hand over his mouth.   "You know what your daughter said about me being a vamp and all? Well, she was right. You should listen to your daughter more. Your blood ain't bad, not bad at all."    "You witch from the depths of hell, I'll laugh when they stake you. You fiend from the infernal pits you will rue the day you messed with me. First I'm going to."  Stop the blathering, there is no need to be so hateful. After I'm done with you, you won't have any need for the spectacles and your limp will be gone. Show some gratitude." "What are you talking about?"  Sheila pulled out her fangs and began licking the wounds. "This is to heal the bites. I'm a halfling so when I bite you there is an unusual healing power that rejuvenates you. Now you’re good as new. Thank you kindly for the blood." She released him and took off running.  "I'll see again miss, at your staking . . .  hey, why can’t I see?" “Take the spectacles off you don’t need them anymore.” “Holy Saint Mathew, what have you done to me?”
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After Sheila left the farm she rummaged through her bag and found her veil and put it on. She made her way to the town square and noticed a wall of wanted posters. There were posters of thieves, murderers and several vampire clans with the usual reward being somewhere between one hundred and a thousand pounds. She saw a reproduction of a portrait which had been taken of her for her wedding and a reward of three thousand pounds for her capture.  Underneath it read: Rogue Vampire Wanted Extremely Dangerous Must be taken alive Last known as Sheila James
She studied the wanted poster. The corners of her mouth turned up. Rogue vampire, extremely dangerous. I don't know whether to be flattered or mortified. But why would someone be willing to pay such a high price to have me? I haven’t even bitten anyone yet, well there was the man trying to kill the bride. I didn't exactly bite him. I just accepted the gift of blood which was so freely offered. At least they’re insisting I be taken alive, which is something. Obviously, the bride ratted me out, and they tracked down the carriage I rode in.