The Beast of Samhain

Start writIt’s the 28th day of October on a Parisian afternoon; the weather was cool. The Musketeers were out on patrol after getting into another spat of trouble with Red guards so Treville punished them with patrol duty which he knew they found boring, lacking excitement and adventure.

“This was your fault, you know!” Athos groans, looking at Porthos.

Porthos looks at the brooding Musketeer, “My fault?!” he grumbles, “I get into fights yeah, but this was his fault!” he gestures at Aramis.

“No, it wasn.t” Aramis complains, doing his best to appear innocent.

“Aramis, this is us...you’re not fooling anyone.” d’Artagnan mutters, “If you hadn’t been flirting with the barmaid, then...”

“Again. Don’t forget AGAIN!” Porthos growls, looking at d’Artagnan then glances at Aramis.

“Right. Again. If you hadn’t, this wouldn’t have happened.” d’Artagnan finishes, “Thank you, Porthos.”

“You’re welcome.” Porthos mocks sarcastically, receiving an unappreciative glare from the younger Musketeer; Porthos grins then shrugs.

Aramis removes his hat, combing his hair back. Looking at his feet he tried justifying his weakness for a beautiful woman, “How was I supposed to know she had relations with a red guard?”

“I’m guessing the fact he hit you was a pretty good indication.” d’Artagnan teased.

Aramis frowns. Feeling a tenderness along his jaw he muttered, “I just thought he didn’t like me.” he smiles.

“Whoa, hey...shh-shh!” Porthos hisses, placing his finger to his lips, “What’s that?”

Aramis, d’Artagnan and Athos look at him listening carefully then hear voices shouting from the nearby alley, “Oh, that doesn’t sound good.” Aramis adds.

“No, it does not.” Athos groans then walks ahead, leading the way down the alley where a crowd gathered around an older woman with graying hair that hung in her face and dressed it older dirty clothes; she relied on a walking stick to keep her balance, “What’s going on here?!” Athos’ voice boomed, grasping everyone’s attention.

A man from the crowd shouts, “This woman is spewing crazy slurs!”

“She’s insane!” another voice shouted.

“She needs help, she needs to be taken away!” a woman cries.

Athos frowns, hearing the pestering demands then shouts, “ENOUGH, enough damn you!” he looks around, watching as men and women standing closer to him backed away as his friends stepped closer to him, “Madam...” he approaches the older woman, “are you alright?” he tries to see her face but could not, “Madam...what are you saying that upsets everyone so?”

She combed her hair back off her face; her tired eyes looked at him, “It’s the Beast of Samhain...he’s come back, it’s his time to roam the streets and countryside!” she grabs onto his arm, “No one is safe, people will die!” her voice cracked, “Lock your doors and stay inside but if you do not, he will get you...he will get all of you!” she looked around; the crowd erupted into chaos, trying to swing their hands at her but the Musketeers encircled her, drawing their guns as they faced the crowd.

Athos grabbed hold of the woman’s shoulders, “Stop this now, I beg you...” he glances over his shoulder, hearing Aramis fire a warning shot into the air.

“The next one will not be aimed at the sky!” Aramis glares at the figures, waiting for them to argue.

“Just walk away, eh? It’s best for everyone!” Porthos growls, “If not, we’ll arrest you all!”

“On what charges?!” a woman shouted.

Porthos looks around, “Starting riots. Irritating Musketeers. Murdering the elderly!” he huffs, “I’m sure we can think of more, so go on huh...try somethin’ please!”

“You cannot arrest us for irritation!” a man complains.

“I can!” Porthos stepped forward.

“Porthos!” Athos’ voice demands, “That’s enough!” then he looks at the crowd, “This woman is sick minded, she’s lost and confused, and you are taking advantage of her rantings giving an excuse to attack her now if you don’t disperse, it won’t be my comrade you should fear...but myself!” he warned in a blunt cold tone.

Voices muttered that they didn’t need to listen to the woman’s crazy rantings; the crowd scattered in all directions while the Musketeers escorted the older woman away when suddenly there was a loud growl. A black and brown blur shot from the shadows; gunshots fired as Athos was knocked to the ground. The Musketeers drew their swords and pistols, trying to see what had occurred when they saw a large German Shepherd growling at one of the men that Athos had warned, a man that dared to attack them when their backs were turned. Momentarily lowering his weapons Aramis put things together; the man held a pistol and was going to shoot Athos in the back, but the Shepherd defended the Musketeer. The Musketeers watched as the canine gripped the man by the shoulder, not letting go; the man tried to fight back but his struggle ceased from the severe blood loss.

“Athos, you alright mate?!” Porthos rushed to him, helping him to his feet, “You hit?”

“No, I’m fine.” Athos groans, giving himself a brief inspection, “What the hell happened?” he was confused by the events that took place.

“That idiot over there fired a shot when your back was turned and...” Porthos gestured at the scene where the dog was thrashing the man around like a ragdoll, “that mutt pushed you down and went for the man. some Beast of Samhain, eh?” he grins.

“That’s not just a dog and that definitely isn’t the beast of Samhain.” Athos huffs, “That’s Phantom.”

“Wh... what?” Porthos takes a double take studying the dog’s markings that now looked familiar, “Now where the hell has, he been?”

“No idea but let’s get him off the man before he chews him apart.” Athos suggests then walks forward.

“Who’s Phantom?” d’Artagnan whispers.

“Athos’ furry friend.” Aramis smiles then steps forward, “Hello, Phantom...welcome home.” then he glances at the older woman who stood close to a nearby building, “d’Artagnan, get her somewhere safe and away from here, we don’t need her thinking this is the beast from her rants.” he nods.

d’Artagnan sheaths his swords and hooks his pistol back on his belt then turns to the older woman, gently speaking to her as he led her away and down the alley out of sight.

“Hel...help meeee!” the man cries for help, “What’re you standin’ around...for, shoooot the beassst!” he drags his words, “He’s tryin’ to killl meeee!” he tried reaching for his pistol, but it’s kicked away as Athos approached.

Athos kneels alongside the man looking down at him, “You have it the other way around, Sir...you were going to kill a King’s Musketeer.”

The man’s eyes grew wide, “N-no I wasn’t, I... swear I was just tryin’ to...” he grunts.

“Shoot him in the back, but luckily enough he stopped you.” Porthos huffs.

“You know this beast?!” the man cries.

“Yes, yes we do.” Athos grins.

“Get him off me then!” the man pleads, “Before he kills me, yeah?!”

“He won’t kill you.” Athos stands, leering down at the man.

“How do...know that?!” he grunts again.

“Because I trained him., we all did.” Athos mutters then walks around kneeling alongside the canine, “It’s alright now, Phantom...let him go, you’ve done your duty.” he orders firmly, “Now!” he commanded, watching as the canine releases his teeth from the man’s shoulder, slowly stepping toward him before laying before him, “That’s a good boy.”

“Porthos, take this man to the chatelet then ride to the garrison and tell Treville what happened.” Aramis adds.

“And what’re you gonna do?” Porthos looks at the marksman.

“d’Artagnan and I will talk with the woman, we should find out what she means by this...beast of Samhain. The last thing we need is for Paris and its people to panic in fear that no one is safe and will die.”

“Mmm, yeah...that’ll do it.” Porthos mocks sarcastically then turns reaching for the man, “Come ‘ere...” he pulls the man from the ground with one brute pull then pushes him forward, “Get movin’ or I’ll shoot you in the ass and I won’t hesitate!” he chuckles deeply but he would do it too.

“Aramis, Athos!” d’Artagnan calls from the alley, trying to calm the older woman that continued ranting on about the beast.

The Musketeers, including Porthos who dragged the injured man with him, ran forward listening to her lingering words, “He’s coming, just you wait...there will be blood and you will all die!” she backs away and raising her arms, there’s a large puff of smoke that blinded the Musketeers as they coughed and shut their eyes. Once the smoke cleared, the woman was gone.

“Where is she?!” d’Artagnan pondered, looking up and down the streets.

“Gone into thin air.” Aramis waved his hands.

“A witch.” Porthos muttered.

“There’s no such thing as witches...” Athos leers at the bulky Musketeer, “she’s just an old woman trying to scare people, you know how superstitious people get around this time of year.”

“Just an old woman, eh? Yeah, a bloody old woman that just disappeared in puff of smoke!” Porthos exaggerated, “Cause I certainly don’t see her scampering away!”

“Alright, let’s just...” Aramis stepped between his bickering friends, “assume this beast is a figment of her imagination and that there’s nothing to worry about.”

“She believed it well enough.” Porthos grumbles.

“He’s right, I saw it in her eyes and heard it in her voice.” d’Artagnan rasped softly, folding his arms.

“Like I said, she was just trying to scare everyone. We’ll go back to the garrison while the two of you take this man...” Athos instructs then looks at the man, “to the chatelet, I’m sure there’s a cell waiting for you.”

“Perhaps along the way, you can tell me about Phantom.” d’Artagnan pestered.

Athos grins, “Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice now do I?” he looks at the canine petting him on the head between the ears, “Back to the garrison, get!” he snapped, pointing in the garrison’s direction; the Shepherd barks then turns, leading them safely down the streets.