Blank responses and confusion was new for me. I was now really interested in this case now. I decided to get this back on track. I cleared my throat and declared "I think that I get it now. Everyone who is infected should just stay together in one place so that we can guard them. That and we can go visit the Jewelbloods at some point tomorrow." The priest looked nervous. I asked what was wrong. "The Jewelbloods have said that they will not be disturbed or see anyone during the day. I don't think it will be wise to approach unannounced." I just shrugged my shoulders. "I will just have to meet them in the evening. Maybe showing my face after sunset will put them at ease." I replied. I could tell that they did not know how to respond to that idea. "There are over 30 people that are ill. Where will you put them all?" the priest asked me. I said "Maybe the bathhouse and hot springs. They can clean themselves and the water might improve their circulation a bit." It really did not matter where they were. All that mattered was that they all were where we could see them. If vampires came, we win.
It was the priest that sighed and said "Fine. You can keep the sick folk in the bathhouse at night. Just be careful. Some of them are really ill. If they keel over, I can't say I or anyone else can protect you from the backlash." It was a very passive aggressive statement. If this failed to get results, I would look foolish to everyone in town. If someone dies, I will be hated by everyone. I nodded my head and smiled. I could not let them know that I was affected by that. I asked them to show us the hot springs next. They led the 6 of us there. Pentora, Voxex and Wesez really were looking worse for wear. People were already hanging out there. It seemed like it could be a good way to socialize with the locals. If there really was a coven of vampires somewhere in town, they would need to trust us to take the charge. Otherwise they might turn on us. Part of the reason that this has been so bad for a town like them was that the victims were all loved ones that returned to victimize more people. It would be hard for a grieving, close-knit community to combat their undead in the very best of circumstances.
