Chapter Four

Chapter 4:

“5 children dead, bodies dried of blood with two visible vampire marks”

“Elizabeth,” Professor Terrison asked. “Did you…”
“No!” I said in shock. “I didn’t have anything to do with this”
Professor sighed with relief but I couldn’t bring my self to be relieved. Who ever had done this, I will make them pay.

I stared wordlessly at the T.V while the newscaster reported this news on the Television.
“And the police said that there was a message in blood written nearby the bodies. The bodies were found in the nearby cemetery and it is unknown how the children were there. There is another one missing and it is hoped that she is still alive. It is believed to be revenge however the police never found out to whom. It had simply said, ‘We shall avenge our clan until the traitor shows up.’”

‘We shall avenge our clan until the traitor shows up’

The words echoed in my head. It had been my fault. It had been my fault all along. The fact that I acted foolishly and recklessly is what made these innocent kids lose their lives. The TV showed the parents crying and hugging their children’s limp bodies. I sank onto the floor.

“Elizabeth,” Professor Terrison said, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Don’t blame yourself.”
“How?’ I asked, shaking. I was shaking hard, shaking with fury and guilt. “It was my fault. Professor, lecture me! Kick me out! You know I was at wrong, why are you still comforting me?!”

“Because I believe that the Elizabeth that I took in will learn from her mistakes. You didn’t kill them in your hand.” He replied.

I stared a few minutes at the TV before standing up again.
“Please don’t wait for me,” I said, “I will cool myself down.”
“Elizabeth, where are you going?” Professor asked but I didn’t answer him. I took my backpack and coat.
I went to the kitchen and stashed food into my bag in case I find that girl. Finding that girl is my first priority for now.
I put on my boots and got ready to open the door when I heard Professor calling for me to wait. I stood there, my hands numbly holding the doorknob as he approached me.
“Elizabeth,” he said. I turned around.
“Take this,” Professor laid a syringe in my hand. “It’s full moon tonight and your hunger will be uncontrollable. If your hunger occurs, use this quickly. Also, please be careful Elizabeth.”
I forced myself to smile for him, closing my hand over the syringe. “Yes, Father.”

Ë

I had transformed on my own will into my vampire self and I was trudging across the cemetery. I was in killing range and I won’t give up until I finish off the clan that had killed those kids. I will save the missing child.

I stopped suddenly.

I heard sniffing somewhere nearby and I leaned my head, trying hard to sense where the sound was coming from. It sounded like someone was crying and realization hit me that it might be the missing girl.
I walked around silently, tracing the sound and I found myself in front of a crypt. I pushed the marble cover and I found a girl inside. She had long and straight dark brown hair and big brown eyes, which were swollen and red from crying. It was the missing kid.
She sat up in shock and looked at me in huge fear.

“Nooo!” she wailed, moving backwards in the large space in which there was a coffin nearby. I wondered how she could stay for quite a while in a crypt with a dead person. “Don’t kill me!”
I held out my hand and smiled warmly at her. She looked at me, staring petrified at my hand.
“I won’t hurt you,” I said to her in my best possible calm and soothing voice, “I promise. I also promise to avenge those monsters who killed your friends.”
She sniffed, slowly then took my hand and practically jumped at me. She threw her arms around me and cried her heart out. I patted her and soothed her like she was my own sister.

Ë

After a while, she calmed down. I fixed the marble cover back and I had her sit on it while I sat beside her and gave her some food from my bag. She wolfed them down hungrily. Then she started to eat slowly.

“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Christina” she answered. “But my parents used to call me Chrissie”
“I’m Eliza,” I said patting her on the head. She looked up at me.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked, looking at her. She shook her head and stared at my mouth.
“You are a vampire,” she said.
“You could say that,” I said shrugging nonchalantly, feeling better that I had found her and that she was safe.
“Why didn’t you kill me like those other vampires?” she asked, looking down at her sandwich.
“It’s…complicated,” I said. “I hate vampires, more than you do now.”
She stared at me in confusion as if I had just spoken German.
“That can’t be,” she said, “You’re a vampire yourself.”

“I also hate myself,” I told her. “I hate anything that has to do with vampires. They had taken something precious from me. They made my life a living hell.”
She smiled and laid her warm hand on mine and smiled up at me.
“You’re like Casper the friendly ghost,” she commented “You have a pure heart.”
I smiled.


After a while we were walking back out the cemetery when I decided to ask her.
“What happened last night?” I asked.
Chrissie was silent for a while before she spoke.

“They weren’t my friends,” she said. I looked at her silently.
“T-they tricked me into coming here to do a bet. All I wanted was to play with them. They told me that if I can get a piece of a dead person ‘s clothes, I would be able to play with them. But they locked me in there. I was so scared.”
“B-but I was more scared when I heard them screaming outside. I managed to open the tomb cover because they forgot to put it properly. There I saw…I saw…”
“Shh..That’s all I need to hear,” I said putting an arm around her and hugging her. She seemed to be only 8 years old and I felt sorry that she had witnessed such horrid scene at such a young age.

“Where are your parents and where do you live? I’ll take you there.”
She stopped and looked at me.
“I don’t have parents. I had my aunt taking care of me but…she kicked me out on the same day.”
I looked at Chrissie, who had started to shake again.
“I-I don’t know why all these bad stuff are happening to me…I tried being a good girl,” she wiped tears from her eyes. “I wish I was the one the vampires killed, so I could join mommy and daddy in heaven!”
I knelt in front of her.
“You shouldn’t say things like that!” I said shaking her hard. She stared shock.
“Just because you are given misfortune, it doesn’t serve as an excuse to give your life up!” I told her sternly. “I will help you!”
“W-why are you so kind to me?” she asked, holding back her tears.
“Because I don’t want another child to suffer,” I told her “Like I did!”

She jumped at me again and started to cry.
“I’m so happy!” she said. I smiled and patted her.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s see what we can do.”

We were walking and I learnt quite a few things from Chrissie. She was a cheerful girl, a complete opposite to her fragile, shaken and shocked state like when I first saw her.
“Then my aunt was so mad that she looked like a train!” Chrissie told me, giggling at the same time. I chuckled.
Then I traced some vampire scent so I stopped abruptly.

“Eliza…?” she asked and I put my hand on her mouth.
“Shh…” I said and we bent low in the bushes. We saw a couple of vampires from the same clan. Damn it, I thought I have wiped them out already!

“She’s ‘ere somewhere!” One of them said. “I’ll get that brat’s blood. Damn it, Scar, I thought there were only 5 kids? Why is there another one that escaped?!”
“Hey don’t blame me!” the other one said. “We should worry about our necks when our boss finds out. That vampire chick is in huge hell once we find her.”
“Yeah,” another one agreed. “Who knew she could wipe out the whole clan? I wonder who turned her eh? Doesn’t seem like a pure vampire.”

Chrissie looked at me through my hand and raised her eyebrows.

“Whatever,” said another one. “Let’s just focus on finding that brat and get over with it.”

“Whatever happens,” I whispered to her, releasing my hand “You have to stay here hidden.”
She gave a slight nod but before I can jump out and attack, I heard someone’s voice.
“Looking for something?” he asked and I moaned in annoyance. It was William and his clan.
I took out the rapier and the syringe, putting the syringe in my back pocket. Chrissie held my hand before I left and I looked at her. I gave her a pat in the head and smiled.
“Don’t worry,” I said. I sat there for a while, seeing where the battle was going to.

“Y’know,” William said, “I truly hate vampires like you.”

The vampires launched at William and the couple of slayer who were with him. For a while, the battle was going good however, one of the vampire slayers was keeping his guard down and he was going to be bitten by the vampire behind him. The other slayers were to busy fighting with the vampires to notice. I had to do something.

Before the fangs had touched the guy, I threw a rock at the vampire.
“Ah,” it said stopping its attack on its prey. “Boys, I think our kitten has returned.”
I jumped out of the bushes and held my rapier still.

“Eliza!!” said a Robbie from somewhere.
”Didn’t your mother’s tell you to not fight?” I said with sarcasm and they hissed at me.
Running towards them, I swiftly strike with the rapier, cutting down as much as I could. William had joined in and we were there, back to back as the vampires circled us.
“Hi” he said ever so casually, kicking and shooting arrows at the vampires.
“Great evening,” I said, slicing through the hearts of those that ran towards me.
“You know,” he said, killing a few more, spilling more ashes on to the ground “I think you’re a good fighter.”

“Thanks,” I said, spinning the rapier and stabbing as much as I could. They just keep reappearing!
“Will you join the SSS?” he asked suddenly, still shooting more arrows with his mechanical bow.
I killed the remaining vampires without answer, making myself bloody in the process, stabbing them in the middle and running the rapier down to their heart. They turned into ashes almost immediately.

There was silence and I looked around to see that the slayers were watching with awe. I admit, William and I really made a great team.
“So,” he asked, “Will you join us?”
I looked down at the rapier and sighed.
“I’m sorry,” I said, walking back when I suddenly remember Chrissie.
“Chrissie, come here!” I called out and the slayers looked around with confusion. I heard rustling and Chrissie came running towards me.
“Eliza!” she said, running to me and jumping on me again. “You were great!”
“It’s the missing kid!” the clan leader said.

“This is Christina. I found her alone in a grave,” I said to the leader. “I’ve already fed her and she needs a place to stay.”
“Eliza, I wanna stay with you!” she said, keeping her cling to me and I looked down at her.
“Stay with them for a night okay? I’ll pick you up tomorrow. I just need…” I paused “To take care of some things”
I couldn’t just suddenly bring her home; I mean what would prof say?
“Promise?” she asked, holding out her pinkie. I hooked my pinkie around hers.
“Promise,” I said.
“Don’t worry,” William said reappearing beside me with a smile. “I’ll take care of you”
I nodded. “I’ll be counting on you.”

Suddenly, I felt weird and I looked up at the moon. I suddenly remembered it was full moon and I gasped. My heart ached so suddenly. Chrissie looked up at me, worried.
“Eliza!” she cried, “what’s wrong?”
I pushed her towards William, who caught her.
“Oh shit,” William breathed. “It’s full moon. It’s when vampires are the hungriest.”

I dug my nails in my skin trying to fight it. I started to bleed.
“Girl, you can’t fight it! Give in! We will offer you our blood!” the leader said.
“NO!” I gasped in pain. “I’ll never drink…blood…”

I looked at William. I wanted to run to him, attack him, bite my nails into his flesh. I couldn’t fight it.
“NO,” I said, falling on my knees, weak with pain. My skin felt like it was tearing apart. I was thirsty like I hadn’t been drinking for years. I unconsciously stood up, incapable of controling my body.
“That’s it,” William said suddenly in a soothing voice, “Come here. You can bite me.”
I swayed, my vision getting blurry. I wanted to go to that voice. It was drawing me in, encouraging me.

“Eliza, I’ll let you drink it,” he said moving forward. “Come on, bite me”

I had to get the syringe but I just couldn’t control my hands. I couldn’t even control myself.
‘I’m sorry William’ I said, not being able to control it any longer.

“The moon’s full tonight”
-Prince Caden Skyright

Chapter Three

Chapter 3:

I woke up the next morning, my head aching and feeling weak. I had used all my energy to heal my wounds last night (I cant just heal them with a snap.) and I couldn’t stand up from bed. I fumbled to get the clock and saw that it was already 9 am. I was late!

I fell off my bed, with a thud, and rushed to get ready for school. I ran downstairs and quickly waved goodbye to my Nan and the Professor.
“Eliz- Violet! Wait, where are you going?” Nan said, running after me.

“To school!” I said, taking my bike out of the garage and putting my helmet on.
“But you look pale!” she said rushing to me and feeling my forehead.
“Nan, I’m fine.” I said. “I need to go. See you later”
She nodded and waved goodbye as I pedalled as fast as I could to school. The workers were cleaning the front lawn of the school as I put my bike in the bike rack along with the other bikes. I rushed into the hallway, where the French teacher (who had a free period) was walking along, to check the other class.

“Ah, Mademoiselle Terrison.” She said, in her heavy French accent, looking at me and smiling. I smiled uneasily.
“I’m sorry, Madame Bateaux” I said. She took out her clipboard and wrote something down.
“Here is your late pass. You give it to your subject teacher when you arrive. Go to your class now.” She said.

“Ah, Mademoiselle” she called out after me as I walked away from her. “S’il vous plait, try to visit the nurse. You look very pale.”

I nodded and hurried to my locker and took my books. Fighting the urge to faint due to feeling so weak, I knocked on the classroom door.
The current teacher, Mr. Pascal who taught us Literature was writing on the board, as I came in.
“Miss Terrison! What a pleasure of you to join us.” He said. I walked up to him and gave him the late pass. He read it and nodded to me and I took my seat.

Throughout the whole lesson I tried to concentrate, trying not to look very sick. At break, I lay on my desk, trying to take a rest.
“Violet.”
I looked up to find a pair of worried blue eyes and I saw myself looking at William’s face. Just great, I said to myself. How am I to get an excuse now?
“Oh, William” I said weakly, smiling. “What brings you here?”

He smiled back and took a seat next to me.

“Well, I take Literature, too.” He said. “I’ve been watching you all lesson and you really look sick, you shouldn’t have gone to school. What’s wrong anyway?”
I felt guilty because he just looked so worried. It’s obvious he’s not faking it. I know he wanted to be friends and I’m always avoiding him. I looked away, trying not to meet his blue eyes.

“I must’ve ate something bad last night.” I said, looking back at him straight in the eyes.
“Well, you should be careful then.” He said, grinning at me.
“Yes, I will.” I said.
“So, It’s been a day since I met you and I still don’t know a single thing about you. I’m sure you know a lot about me.” He said.

“Believe me, although word spreads fast but I don’t.” I told him, laughing weakly.
He laughed as well. Then he stopped, looked at me and said,“ Say, do you want to have coffee after school?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?” I said, raising my eyebrow at him.
“If that’s what you want.” He said, amusement in his eyes as he stood up and went back to his seat because the teacher had arrived. I watched him, speechless then turned back to my work.

At lunch, things would’ve revealed that not everything was going great. Not that William asking me out on a date was great. It was like half of me was telling me not to get close to him and the other half was telling me to avoid him. It was tearing me apart. I saw James looking grim outside the girl’s bathroom. He looked up and became relieved as he saw me.
“Violet!” he exclaimed as he saw me. I walked up at him and asked what was wrong.
“It’s Lila.” He said. “She had a huge fight with Rave because of another girl and she broke up with him.”
“Uh…what’s wrong with that?” I said as this were on of the normal things teens go through.
“She wants me to pretend to be her boyfriend so her ex will be jealous.” He said.
“Then why not go along with it?” I asked.
“Because there’s a girl I want to date!” he said running his hands through his hair. “But if I don’t go with it, Lila will get more angry at me. What should I do?”
“I’m sorry James but the only thing you can do is go along with Lila’s plan.” I told him with sympathy, patting his shoulder.

“Hey Violet.” I heard someone call and I turned to see William walking towards me. “The café la mer after school. See you then! ” Then he left without letting me do anything but stare after him again.

James raised his eyebrows at me.
“You didn’t tell me you knew him,” he said.
“I-I didn’t. I just met him yesterday when we bumped into each other” I said.
“Well that was a one kind of a bump.” James said. “He asked you on a date on the second day”

I shrugged trying not to blush.

“Who asked you on a date?” Lila asked, suddenly reappearing from the girl’s bathroom. James and I looked at each other. We knew Lila…she would set William and me up.
“Nobody!” we said in unison. She raised her eyebrows in suspicion then shrugged.
She hooked her arm around James and James shot me a pleading glance.
“Come on James, we have a fish to fry.” She said and dragged him away. “Bye Violet.”
I waved after them and sighed.

After school, when my last lesson had finished I thought of everyway to avoid going to the café. There was a part of me saying not to go and another part saying I should. I slammed my locker shut. I guess just this once on a date…nothing much can happen…right?

So I went to Café la mer and saw William already seated and waiting. He stood up when he saw me.
“Hey.” He said, smiling broadly. He pulled back a chair for me and I was taken aback by his gentlemanly manner. I mean, guys in my school are not like that. James is a gentleman, yes, but not always.

I sat down in the opposite of him and ordered a mocha side dished with a cheesecake.

“You know, I was thinking of where I’ve seen you before. I really don’t know why but I can’t recall you although I am sure I’ve seen you before.” He told me.
“Well,” I said. He was smarter than I thought. “I sure haven’t seen you before.”
“Oh well” he said dismissing the subject. “Let’s just talk about something else. Tell me, what do you like doing?”

“I like studying.” I said and William bursed out laughing. I tilted my head and raised my eyebrows.
”Ah, I see. So you are an intelligent girl I assume?” he asked, leaning over on the table and making his face close to mine. I moved back.

“Of course.” I said taking my coffee and sipping it. “Everyone is intelligent in their own ways”
I looked up and nearly choked as William was still looking at me, his bright blue eyes looking deep within me. To avoid blushing, I looked somewhere else and noticed the waiters who were walking around serving everyone.
“How about you?” I asked.
“I’m a slayer,” He said and I looked at him with raised eyebrows. Of how he can speak so freely about it is what I wondered yet, I envied that he can do so since telling people that you are a vampire isn’t really common.

“And I’m Sabrina, the teenage witch” I said in sarcasm.
“No, really,” he said. “I’m a slayer.”
”T-that’s an interesting occupation,” I said. I looked deep into my coffee. “You must really hate vampires…”

We were silent for some time.
“To tell you the truth that’s what I felt at first,” he told me, breaking the silence between us.
I didn’t speak, looking away. He had activated an emotion in me…I felt guilty that I was here being so pathetically fake when he was truthful. Why was he even telling me all this? Did he know? Was he testing me?
I was just about to make an excuse when my cell rang. I looked at the screen. James. I have to thank him for getting me out of a sticky situation.

“Excuse me,” I said and I stood up.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Vi! Get me outta here! I don’t like Barbie!”
I sighed.
“James I-” but the phone cut before I could say I’ll be on the way. I guess that wasn’t much help after all. I returned to my seat and William was looking at me in a peculiar way.
“Is he,” he said moving closer “your boyfriend?”
I was going to answer ‘what if he was?’ but I held my tongue. I didn’t want James to be in another hard situation like as he is now.
“No.” I said, and then I looked at him, as his expression seemed to relax. He kept his face close to mine, which had my heart racing furiously.
“William,” I said
“Yes?” he answered, his face getting closer. No way…he was going to kiss me!

I stood up quickly and left money on the table.
“Thanks for the coffee,” I said and I ran straight out the door. I ran until I reached the house and I locked myself in my room.
“Why?” I said to myself, hugging the pillow as tight as I could. “Why does life have to be so damn complicated?”

I held the pillow to my face and screamed my fury into it.

Sometime before dinner when I had cooled down, I heard banging on my door. I opened it to fined Professor Terrison, his face red.
“Elizabeth, you have to see this,” he said and I followed him down to the living room.
I saw the telly on with the evening news being shown. I gasped as the first headlines were being made.

“5 children dead, bodies dried of blood with two visible vampire marks”

“Vampires can be such hotties sometimes!”

- Cornelia Redwood

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

I looked at baby blue eyes, which were way lighter then mine, and I shivered again inside but he was a big threat. If he finds out that I was the vampire last night, it would spread around the school and the other vampires might find out and all the clans of the vampires of who I had slain (trust me, I have slain a lot) will go after me. So not only will I have a bad reputation, I would be chased by vampires all over the world, too.

What a threat.

I shook my head and went on my way.

“Hey, wait a second.” He said and I froze. Oh my bat, I think he knows! I slowly turned around, trying to put the most neutral expression I could master on my face.
“Have we met before? You look…familiar.” He told me.
“No, we haven’t met before” I said.
He looked a few more seconds trying to figure out where he had seen me and I laughed inside. No matter how long he stares at me, he couldn’t figure it out. He shook his head.

“Never mind, I might’ve mistaken you for someone else” he said and I nodded and started to walk back to my classroom.
“Hey, Can I know your name?” he called out to me.
“Violet!” I told him.
“I’m William.” He said and I smiled. Maybe he wasn’t that bad but I needed to be careful around him.

When I reached the class, I took my seat, which was right at the back of the classroom and started to study while the teacher wasn’t there yet.
“Hey, Violet!” I heard someone say and I looked up to find myself staring at 2 faces. The only friendly people in the whole school.
Best friends, Cornelia Redwood and James Yin. James was half Chinese but he looks a lot like his mother who was British. Cornelia (known as Lila) is a cheerleader and James is a jock and they had been the only people talking to me ever since I moved to their school since 2 years ago. Maybe you could call them friends but I don’t really tell them all about me.
“Stop being such a mega bookworm.” James said and Lila rolled her eyes. He was also a bookworm at home behind all his football and swimming training.

“Hey I like to study.” I said to them. Lila flipped her copper-red hair behind her and sat on my desk.
“Do you know that if you study like, for a lot of times, you will go bonkers?” she said with a smile.
I smiled back.
“Hey, Violet, why don’t you stop by my Cheering event later?” Lila said. Lila memorized my schedule so she knew when I was free or not so she could pull me to all her practices and I couldn’t make an excuse. I shrugged.

“No, Vi went to your practice last week. She’s going to come to my swimming practice this week.” James said.
“Well, duh, the cheerleaders will be cheering there so can attend both events at one time!” Lila pointed out. If you asked me, these two are a match but sadly, they don’t have that kind of interest and Lila already has a boyfriend.
They looked at me.
“I…uh…Oh okay then.” I sighed. They gave each other high-fives and then the teacher arrived so they sat to where they seated.

I listened absently to the teacher as I thought about William. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t take him out of my mind. I mean, it’s not possible. I shook the thought away and returned to my work.
When lunch came I sat alone in the classroom, since everyone else eats in the cafeteria, taking my vial (I avoided the anti-vampirism) first before my lunch. (I have to take them three times a day) Just as I was about to eat my sandwich, my two ‘friends’ Lila and James came in and dragged me out the classroom.
“You should eat with us! It’s been two years and you are still shy?” Lila exclaimed, her hand hooked around my left while James has my right and he’s holding my lunch in his other hand. “Come on Violet, we’re you’re friends! You can trust us!”
“Yeah!” James said as they dragged me around the corner towards the Cafeteria. I wasn’t comfortable hanging around cheerleaders and jocks so I told them this.
“Nonsense. We have our own table.” Lila said. We entered the cafeteria where the air was filled with excitement and fun and everyone was chatting. The teachers were on a long side table and laughing as well. One big family.
There was a small table in the center and we sat down there. James took his homemade lunch out while Lila went to order.
“Man, I hate having homemade lunch but my mom insists on having ‘safe’ food” he said, doing quotation marks with his fingers as he emphasized safe.
“Well, your homemade lunch are delicious anyway.” I pointed out, starting on my sandwich. James shrugged and ate his lunch. Lila came back with pizza, salad and yogurt with mineral water on her tray. The healthiest girl I have met.
“Hey, check this news out!” she said. “There’s a new student in school!”

I knew she was talking about William but I didn’t say that I knew him.
“His name is William and he’s a total hottie.” She said. James rolled his dark eyes.
“Girl talk.” He muttered, digging on his lunch. I smiled, silently agreeing with Lila.

“Well at least I have news.” Lila said, flipping her hair back again and picked up her pizza. I had finished my sandwich long ago and I was just drinking.
“I have news for you.” James said, trying to defend his pride. “It’s rumored that he’s a vampire slayer. He’s obsessed with finding vampires and killing them”

“That increases his hottie points.” Lila pointed out. Typical Lila.

“I think I have to go,” I said.

Before Lila could protest, a guy with spiked black hair and caramel eyes approached us with a smile. It was Rave Tyler, Lila’s boyfriend.
“Hey guys, mind if I crash in?” he asked. James nodded, giving him a high five. Lila gave him a quick peck on the cheek as he sat down and I felt a small pang of jealousy. At least they don’t have anything to hide and they forget all the troubles in the world. Unlike me, with a secret that I have to hide so deeply from everyone that I love.
“ Ah, Violet’s here.” Rave said, looking at me. “What took you so long join us?”
I shrugged with a smile.
“She didn’t join us.” Lila told him. “We forced her to. She’s just too shy.”
“Well, at least we’re complete eh?” he said, wrapping around an arm around Lila.
“As I was saying, I have to go now. I really have a lot of things to take care of.” I said, standing up.
“Aw, so soon?” James said. I nodded.
“I gotta work on our Science project remember?” I told him as a matter-of-factly.
So I apologized and said goodbye and went on my way to the library. I took out the metal chain necklace and looked at it to see which clan it was. The pendant had a bat with an open mouth and large fangs.

The Fanged Clan.

I searched it on the web and reached a site that introduces them. The fanged clan goes way back to the 18^th century. They are typical vampires who hunt for humans and won’t care about lying low. They are from the north and they have killed around 8,000 and turn 4,000 in a year. I raised my eyebrows. 8,000? Normal clans only kill 5,000 and turn 1,000. This clan was a strong one and I’m determined to stop them. I saw William enter the library and crossed out the site and stuffed the necklace back into my jean pocket. I stood up and went into the Arts section, which was way at the back of the Library and pretended to be busy in a book.

He couldn’t see me and he sat down on to one of the computers and started to type something in. I adjusted my vampire vision and looked at what he was searching on. He had typed in something, the page refreshed and I found myself staring at bold letters,
”Sacred Soul Slayers”

A slayer’s site and it might be his group too.

I returned to my normal vision because if I use the vampire vision, my eyes turn to steely grey and someone might see it as suspicious.

I put my book down and left the library before he could see me.

After school that day, I made my way to the school swimming pool and sat on one of the stands, watching Lila cheer with her team and James, as he walked out from the changing room in his trunks and did a warm up. I looked at all the members and noticed that one of them, with a black swimming trunk and black goggles, I didn’t know. Then, he looked right at me and there came the shivers again. He lifted his goggles and I saw that it was William. He gave a little wave and I waved back then looked away pretending to be busy watching Lila. What was he doing here?

When they got ready, James stood on the stands and prepared to jump in and when the whistle sounded, they jumped in and I watched as James swam in full speed but my eyes averted from him and I looked at William instead. William was faster and I couldn’t believe it either. It was as if he had fins and webbed feet. He was so fast. I noticed the slayer mark at his back, below the right shoulder. He was the winner for that race and I stood up. I had to go so I waved to Lila and James and went on my way. Anything to avoid William, I will do it.

It was already 6 when I got home and I went straight to my room. As I was finishing my report on Venus flytraps, I heard a knock on my door and I shouted, “Come in”
Professor Terrison came in and I smiled.
“Hi Prof!” I said. He raised his eyebrows at the mark on my neck.
“So, you’ve been out last night.” He commented, sitting on my bed. I smiled sheepishly and retold him the whole story of last night’s event.
He nodded and looked thoughtful after I had finished.
“I see. The SSS moved here yesterday. I think they followed the vampire clan that moved here from the north. I believe those two boys were from the SSS.” He said.

I showed him the necklace and he nodded.
“Yes, this is the clan.” He said.
“So how am I supposed to find them?” I asked.
“Elizabeth, promise me that you wont go hunting for them. I allow you to hunt vampires, yes but this is an exception. This clan is not just a clan, Elizabeth. They not only kill humans but also fellow vampires and once they find out that you have killed one of their members, they will go looking for you. It won’t be a while now that they will wonder where the vampire you killed is.” He told me sternly. My shoulders slumped as I looked at him with a pleading face for him to allow me to go hunting for them.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said. I hardened my expression and he sighed.
“Okay, you can go searching for them but once you find them, that’s it. Leave the work to be done by the vampire slayers.” He said.
I hugged him.
“Thank you professor!” I said.
“Elizabeth, I’m warning you. They are dangerous. I’m not speaking only as your professor but as your father.”

I nodded.
“I know, Father.” I told him. He nodded and gave me a pat on the head, his only show of affection ever since he adopted me.
“Dinner at 7.” He said. I nodded and he left the room. I jumped up and prepared a few things for my walk that night then I went down for dinner.
After dinner, I excused myself to have a walk in the park. Professor looked at me, giving me the ‘remember-what-I-told-you” look. I nodded and went back up to change my clothes, something to cover me and a scarf to hide myself. As I went out, the cold evening air greeted me and there were a few people walking on the street and I took my bag and sat down pretending to take a small rest.

After an hour, people started to decrease and I started my hunt. I took out notes on where they like to make their nest and I made a conclusion that maybe they were at the cemetery. If not, an underground tomb.

I made my way to the cemetery, which was now closed and climbed the gate.
The cemetery was at its usual quietness and I walked around the tombstones, sniffing for scent of a vampire. I could smell a faint trace of it and I realized with a huge disappointment that not the whole clan was here. I took out a rapier, an ancient sword which professor got from a museum that had closed down years ago. It had a nicely engraved handle with a tourmaline stone in the core and it still effective in killing vampires. As long as you clean it every time you slay vampires.

I walked into an old crypt; it was in the end of the cemetery and the death of the people there dated back to the year 1700s. I took my torch out and shone it around the crypt. It was dusty and filled with cobwebs and spiders crawling around. Not to mention, a lot of dead people.

I walked through the strong staircase that led to the main part of the crypt and I heard voices deep inside. Then I heard another voices, coming from somewhere and a lot of footsteps. People.

The slayers.

They had taken another entrance towards the crypt and were trying to push back a rusty metal gate. It managed to open with a creak and they started to come in. I switched of my torch and stood there in the darkness, watching them. There were at least 12 people, including brave William and his brother, Rob.

“Alright you lot,” a guy, who looked old enough to be my grandfather, told them in a hushed whisper. I heard the other vampires become quiet. They had heard them when the gate creaked and they knew. They knew someone had come for them and they were ready. I needed to help them just not right now.
“Remember, never underestimate a vampire. You,” he pointed to a guy in the front. “Keep a lookout. If you hear us scream, go for help. The rest come with me and remember, not a sound!”
They nodded solemnly, ready with their stake and garlic. I rolled my eyes. They are so old fashioned that they still used stakes when they can use swords and knives.

“Ready? On three.” The old guy, who seemed to be their leader, said. He counted to three and they rushed inside and there was a sound of huge hissing and that’s when the screaming began. I quickly turned into my vampire form and wore a cloak that could hide my whole body and face only letting them see my steely grey eyes.
I saw a huge scene of human vs. vampire whereas I belonged to neither group but I prefer to take sides with humans.

I looked to see that they had the vampires under control and I took a quick scan around the room and I realized that they weren’t all fighting. In the shadows, I could see another vampire standing in the shadows and none of the slayers could see him. They were too busy fighting with their vampire enemy. He was looking at the leader and I knew from his face that he was annoyed. He walked silently in the shadows towards the leader and I followed him, walking from the opposite direction.

Could these vampires be anymore stupid? They can smell (and perhaps see) that another vampire had entered their territory and they didn’t care.

“Hey.” I said and the vampire that was stalking towards the Slayer leader stopped. The slayer slain the vampire he was fighting with and it turned into dust. Then the Slayer looked at me in confusion.

“Who are you?” The vampire hissed, glaring at me. “This is our territory!”
“Seriously, you call this a house?” I scoffed.

Rob was the first to recognise me.
“Eliza!” he shouted and the vampires stopped and sniffed at me and looked at each other.
“Do you know who I am, girl?” the vampire said, walking towards me. “I am Dae, the leader of the Fangs Clan. I am one of the most powerful vampires in the world? Do you not fear me?”
“Fear is not in my vocabulary…sorry.” I said and I took out the rapier.
“You are one on the side of the slayers but you are not human.” Dae said, confused and angry that he had another enemy to deal with.
“That’s because I try to rid of monsters like you.” I sneered. Rob cheered from a corner and I could see William, along with the other slayers looking at me in bewilderment. They backed away.
“You dare defy me? I shall show you the true strength of Fangs!” he said and he moved back. “My brothers!” I looked around noticing all the vampires are guys. Such Feminists! “Get her.”
At first they laughed, as if fighting a girl was such a ridiculous thing to do. So they sent a weakling to go after me. He bared his fangs at me and I sliced my rapier in the air. He ran towards me, ready to bite me and I plunged the rapier into his heart. He turned into dust almost immediately. Then all of them were outraged and all started to ran at me at once, trying to rip me apart.
In less than a minute I was covered in mixed blood of vampires and mine, surrounded by a cloud of dust and some of the vampires who survived flee. There was a roar and I saw Dae, enraged and murderous charging towards me. He slashed at my face, missing me by an inch but slicing a part of the cloak that covered my face. It fell and my face was exposed to everyone in the room.

“See! I told you its Eliza!” Rob shouted triumphantly.

“You can’t be…” Dae said, speechless.
“What’s going on here?” The leader of the Slayer asked.
I smiled at Dae, letting him see my fangs.
“A vampire! You are a traitor!” he said, more enraged than ever and running towards me. I was about to try and fight him only I didn’t get there first.

William stepped in and droved the stake through Dae’s heart. Dae moaned and fell on the ground. William pushed the stake deeper and then Dae bursted into a cloud of dust leaving a crest, the same as the pendant necklace I got from the first vampire I’ve slain from the group.

“Holy Christ,” A guy said, breaking into the silence. “Did I just see what I saw?”
“Yeah, and that’s the first time I’ve seen a vampire in a right state of mind and killing her own kind.”

My hair prickled with anger as I heard them call me one of them. I picked up the rapier and went on back outside.
“Wait! Eliza!” William shouted but I went on and disappeared through the tombstones, taking a shortcut and hiding from them. I turned back into a human and watched as they looked around searching for me.

They spoke to William, still bewildered and he shrugged and turned away. He looked around one last time before they left. I took off my cloak and wrapped it around the rapier.

Sometimes, it’s better that you live in secret from other people so that the people you love cant be hurt.

Wait, what am I saying? I can’t possibly love William! I just met the guy and he’s a slayer. A very big threat. I sank beside a tombstone and groaned. Somehow, I never expected him to be a part of my life.





“For thy live in blood and side with fear”

- Fanged Clan

Chapter One

Chapter 1:

I woke up, sweaty and shaking. The moonlight streamed through my window, giving a brief silhouette of my room. It had always been like this, me unable to sleep straight because of a memory. It was the horrible memory that kept replaying in my dreams, keeping me awake these past 2 years. I couldn’t take it off my mind, no matter what I did because it was in my blood. A curse which I hated and would do anything to keep it away.

I was a vampire.

Okay so being a vampire seemed cool right? Well not really. Of course there’s exceptions like changing into a bat, which can be totally cool yes but let’s look on the negative side first.

Changing into a vampire is extremely painful. When I change, it’s as if my whole body is being torn apart. It’s that painful. My mouth will ache as my fangs push my teeth back. My eyes burn when they change colour and my nails break through my skin when I take out the sharp vampire nails.

The thing I want to call ‘the hunger’ is real. It’s when you wake up one night as a vampire and you have a sudden craving for blood. It’s horrible and once I nearly went into attack mode…at a deer of course. No way will I harm people…only it isn’t that easy. When I turn into a vampire, I couldn’t control myself and I fear waking up one day to find myself covered in blood. I shook the memory out of my mind and tried to think of other things.

I laughed of how I wanted to be so famous before in my old school. Elizabeth Laurens the girl who wanted to fit it. Now, that girl is dead. Instead, she’s been replaced by me, no wait, a monster.

Violet Terrison.

I only used Violet Terrison as an alias just so I could move into my new life. I didn’t want to go back to the horrible past.

I went to the washroom and looked at myself. I still looked normal, my brown hair, which used to be long, was cut very short just below my ears. My blue eyes staring back as if the old me was staring at me and accusing me of easily forgetting her. What happened that day I couldn’t forget.

I was tall and slender, whereas most girls in school were petite and cute and such. I basically stood out from all of them so to this point, I don’t have any real friends or such. My body tensed as a memory rises again.

I remembered running back home, bloody, to my dad. He had screamed in horror when he saw the bite marks and I realized he was afraid…of me. My little sister came down and I could remember her shocked little face. I remembered my dad shouting at me to get out and he called me a ‘monster.’ He had told my sister to go back and told me to leave. I refused to and he pushed me out in that snow. I ran away from that horrible place which I used to call home and cried for days, not eat or drinking.

I washed my face when I realized that I had started to cry. It was no use crying over the past. I was now adopted by a kind professor, who had spent all his life studying vampires. He had taken pity on me and raised me like his own daughter, creating a vial that could let me stay as me when I turn into a vampire and not be affected by the hunger. I had changed my name and started a new life, keeping my vampirism a secret. So far everything was fine in this past 2 years living with Prof. (He insists that I call him Dad outside while I call him Prof, short for professor when we’re alone) and with a wonderful nanny who is like my mother. They still call me Elizabeth even though the whole town recognizes me as Violet Terrison.

I looked at the bedtime watch that indicated that it was 11:50, just 10 minutes before turning midnight. I changed into my sweats and left my room, needing cool air. I quietly tiptoed down the stairs and went through the front door so quietly so I wouldn’t wake Prof up. It was a cool spring night and the moon emerged and receded through the fast moving clouds. The stars twinkled brightly and there was nobody about in the neighbourhood. I walked towards the park (although I prefer staying in the cemetery because it was more peaceful there, but that would arouse suspicion wouldn’t it?) and took a seat in the benches. I watched as the sprinklers, so late at night but still working, sprayed water on the grass. I remembered so much of my horrible past but I couldn’t remember all the good ones. I missed my sister. I remembered reading stories to her at night, being the mother, ever since mom died of unknown causes. I wouldn’t blame her if she were angry with me.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps and I became alert. I sniffed the air tracing a human scent. It might be a normal person who happened to pass by or something. I wasn’t afraid of rapists or muggers or such because I had my own vampire skills to outrun them anyway. The great strength and agility thing, where I can run very, very fast and can lift up a school bus. I’m serious. I try not to use them because in this world, if there are vampires then of course, there are vampire hunters. That’s what I’m careful about since they try to hide their scent and they are exceedingly good at it too. When the government had found out about vampires 10 years ago, they tried to do a court order to round up all of vampires only the vampires strike back, attacking people. The government laid back and left the vampires alone and the vampires left the humans alone…well some of them. That is what I’m determined to do…stop vampires biting people before they suffer like me. You could say I’m an outcast.

I sat on the bench, as if I was relaxing. Then I started to feel weird, nausea getting over me. I looked at my watch.

11: 59

I stood up, running to a tree and hiding. It was time to change into a vampire even if I didn’t want to. Since I am not a full-blooded vampire yet so I can still have a choice to turn into a vampire or not. However, there are always some damn exceptions such not being able to be a human in a full moon and turning into a vampire at midnight. I had taken a special vial invented by the professor so that if I become a vampire, I could still keep my mind and not be a ravaging monster that hunts for blood. It was time to change.

I heard some footsteps and I realized that someone had followed me. I looked at the tree I was hiding in and started to climb it. I tightened my grip on the branch as the changes started to take place. I bit my lip as my hair started to grow longer turning from brown to black, my eyes burning, as they became steely grey and as my fangs started to grow. My nails became long and sharp, as sharp as that damned vampire who had bitten me years ago. I kept my cling to the branch as the pain started to disappear. After a few minutes, it did disappear and I kept still, my vision adjusting to the darkness and looked around on who had followed me. It was a boy, around 14, with blond hair and baby blue eyes. He was just so cute but so young to be a vampire hunter. I saw the cross shaped stake on his neck when he turned around, the mark of vampire hunters. He knew I was here but if I stayed here long enough, he would leave. So that’s what I did. Only even when the time became 12:30, he still stood there on the same spot and I was growing weary.
’I have to show myself’ I thought to myself and then suddenly, the boy spoke.

“Wherever you are, freak, I know you are here. Face me!” he shouted out. So I did. I covered my head with my hood from the sweater, just so they can’t recognize me and then jumped out from the tree, startling him.
“Ouch, that hurt. We have feelings too you know.” I said to him. He recovered from his shock and glared at me.
“Prepare to die, vampire!” he said, taking out a bottle of holy water and I stood there, staring at him with a bored expression on my face. Holy water only affects vampire who are evil, a.k.a who drank human blood. Throughout the time that I was a vampire, I never drank human blood and so I wasn’t affected by holy water or going to a church or being in a sacred spot. He squirted the holy water at me and waited for my reaction, his expression was like he had already killed me. I walked towards him and he looked more shocked and suddenly scared. I realized that he was a rookie vampire hunter and he had only brought a holy water with him.

Very adorable.

I took the holy water from his hand and looked at him. He moved a step back.
“Aw, are you scared?” I asked.
“Get away from me, you evil freak! You killed my family!” he screamed, so scared that he was crying.

I looked at him with a pitiful expression.
“If I am evil, I would’ve killed you now. And besides, the other vampires killed your mother…not me. I don’t kill humans.” I said, shrugging.
“Lies!” he said. I grinned at him, making my fangs disappear.
“There, happy? One more thing, if I’m evil, the holy water should’ve affected me, right?” I pointed out and he gave a hesitant nod.

“What’s your name?” I asked.
“R-Rob.” He answered, still scared.
“Hi Rob, I’m Eliza.” I told him the name I used as a vampire and rolling my eyes at him being such a scaredy-cat. I opened my hand showing him my palm. I took my nails and scratched a cross on it. “See this cross? It’s a promise that I’m not evil and I won’t hurt you. Now, I think you should go back before a real evil vampire gets to you.”
I threw the holy water away from us and he stared at it, his mouth hanging open. I started to walk away from him when I smelled something else.

I stopped in my tracks and sniffed the air and I turned back to Rob. The boy was looking around to see what I have smelt. He couldn’t see it because he was human so he couldn’t see anything but I did. I saw another vampire, winged vampire to be exact and his eyes on Rob.
“Rob! Duck!” I shouted and he was on the ground just as the vampire’s hands reached out for him. The vampire landed, he hissed at me and I hissed back, my fangs returning. He reached out to scratch me but I moved aside. I ducked and avoided his every scratch.

“Rob, Go back! Run!” I shouted as I avoided the crazed vampire scratching at me. Rob run away and I sighed with relief. Then the other vampire managed to get my long black hair. I screamed out as he scratched me on the neck. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Rob running back to me.
“Eliza! Catch!” Rob said and he threw the holy water bottle at me. I took it and I pushed the vampire on the ground. I swiftly scratched him on where his heart is and I poured the holy water at his wound. The vampire screamed and shouted in agony but I watched him without remorse. Then the vampire gave a shudder and turned into sand, leaving a metal-chained necklace. I picked it up and I realized he was in one of the vampire clans from the north. Why did they move here?

“ROBBIE!” I heard someone shout and I saw a guy tall and lightly tanned, dirty blond hair and blue eyes. Very hot…too bad he’s a vampire hunter seeing that he was holding a mechanical bow and pointing it at me. I rolled my eyes again.

“Rob! Are you alright?” he asked Rob, staring at me with those blue eyes that made me shiver inside.

“William!” the boy said, “Meet Eliza! She’s a good vampire!”

“She’s lying.” William said. I guess they were brothers. They acted alike at their first time in seeing me.
“Then pour holy water on me and see if I become like him.” I pointed to the sand on the ground. William looked at the dust in disbelief.
“You killed a vampire? But…how? You’re also one of them..” He said.
“I am not one of these monsters!” I snapped at him. I looked at the moon and seeing it’s position, it’s about 1 am and I needed to get back. Clutching the metal necklace and touching my neck gingerly where the blood was oozing out, I made my way back out the park and back towards home.
“Hey, um, Eliza!” William called out uncertainly. I turned back to him. “Thank you.”

I gave him a little smile and walked back taking the long route so that anyone who’s following me will get lost. I entered the house and tied my long black hair and I stared into the mirror but I couldn’t see myself. That was because I didn’t have any reflections while I’m a vampire. I mended my scratch and healed it before sinking into my bed and falling asleep.

Ë

Elizabeth made her way through the streets, the neighbors looked at her with shock and surprise. She made her way to the familiar place, which she called home. She knocked on the door and her father opened it. He looked at Elizabeth and at once, his expression changed. He stared at her coldly and said, “What do you want?”
Elizabeth smiled weakly.
“Dad…I’m alright…these wounds hurt a little.” She went to the door, about to go inside when she felt her Father’s hand get her shoulders and Elizabeth screamed in pain.
“Dad! It hurts!” she exclaimed, crying.

“Get out of my house. I only have one daughter.” He told her coldly pushing her back.

“What are you saying dad? You have two daughters! It’s me, Elizabeth!” she said.
“I only have one daughter” he said. “Get away from us, monster!”
Elizabeth was taken aback at what her father said.

“Dad! Please…don’t!” she cried out, trying to get inside but he pushed her back and she fell on the snow. She stood up, ignoring her pain and went back up the steps.
“Please just let me say goodbye to Bethany!” she shouted.
Suddenly, a miniature Elizabeth came down, long brown hair and blue eyes, yawning.
She stopped and looked at Elizabeth.
“Lizzie?” she said aloud.
“Get back to your room.” Her father said. Bethany ignored their father and ran to Elizabeth.
“Lizzie! What happened to you?” she asked like an adult despite the fact that she was only twelve.
Elizabeth gave her a big hug and cried.
“Bethany, I’m going somewhere okay? I can’t live here anymore.” She said and Bethany was pulled back by her father.
”Come on, we’re going back in.” he said and carried a struggling Bethany back into the house.”

“Elizabeth!!” Bethany cried out and the door was closed in Elizabeth’s face.
Ë

I woke up again, this time because the alarm was ringing. I stretched myself and looked into the mirror. My reflection was back and I had changed back to the shorthaired blue-eyed girl. I washed my face, got ready for school and went down to breakfast.
Nan, my nanny, was already downstairs preparing pancakes. “Violet, dear!” she said looking at me. “The pancake’s nearly cooked.” I greeted her with a hug and she kissed my forehead. She was like the mother I never had and I was the daughter she never had. She didn’t have any daughters because she was widowed early.

I smiled and took a seat in my favourite chair. She also knew about my vampirism sickness and accepted it since her brother was turned into one, many years ago and now he’s disappeared.
“How were you last night? Did you take your vials?” she asked.

“I took the self-maintenance but not the anti-vampirism.” I said, smiling sheepishly. She shook her head.
“You are hopeless without me were you?” she asked. I nodded. Nan was on a week long vacation and I really needed her help. She placed a dish of pancake in front of me and took a vial and placed it next to my glass of juice.
“When did you arrive?” I asked, taking big bites out of my pancake.
“Just an hour ago.” She answered, taking a seat in front of me. I finished my pancake, took the vials and drank my orange juice. She squinted and then asked, “What happened to your neck?”
“Oh…” I told her everything that happened last night.
“I see. So…was the guy cute?” she asked, amusement in her eyes. I blushed.
“Nan!” I said. “He’s more younger than you!”
“I wasn’t talking about me.” She said, looking at me. I shook my head.
“Out of the question.” I said. “He’s a vampire hunter.”
”It’s still possible.” She said. But I shook my head and went back upstairs to change my t-shirt. I noticed that my wounds weren’t fully healed and there were still visible scratch marks on my neck so I wore my sleeveless black turtleneck instead. Then I went back downstairs and said good-bye to Nan and departed off to school.

When I got to school, Riverside Academy, I went straight to my locker to get my books. I wasn’t used to being in hallways and chatting with my friends because…I don’t have that much of friends. I’m sort of a loner.
As I was going to my first class, History and Geography, I bumped into someone.

“Whoa, are you alright?” he asked. I looked at him and gave a silent gasp as my stomach lurched in excitement and fear.

It was none other than the great William.

“Through the moonlight she strikes”

- Professor Terrison

Prologue

Prologue: Red snow

“Come on Lizzie!” the girls had said, pulling Elizabeth’s arm towards the mansion. Elizabeth Laurens gazed frightfully at the mansion. The 15-year-old pulled her arm away.
“I’m sorry…I can’t!” she said, backing away from the Victorian mansion that stood abandoned behind the immense gate, locked and the only way to go in. There was a large brick wall that surrounded the mansion grounds, covered in ivy. Elizabeth regretted saying yes to the dare. But it was the only way to be in the cool-girls group she had been dreaming to be in.
“If you back out now, you won’t be able to join our group. It’s only a simple dare. Take a pic and dash off.” The leader of the pack, Cindy said. The other girls sneered at her, as if knowing and telling everyone she was a coward all along.

Elizabeth gulped. Her long brown hair swayed with the cold winter wind and she shivered again. She didn’t want to believe in the stories. The one her mother used to tell her when she was a young girl. That a vampire lived in it and he used to grab everyone who would dare come in and kill them, slitting their throat in a second and sucking their blood raw, but that would only be a Halloween story. She closed her eyes, hiding the light azure iris that reflected her fright inside. She opened them again trying to be bolder. She had wanted to join in the group and she will.

“O-okay…” she said. They nodded to each other and gave her the camera. Elizabeth looked up at the gates and rubbed her gloved hand. Putting the camera inside her coat and started to climb it. The girls gave small cheers that gave her more courage. After reaching the other side of the gate. The girls gave her thumbs up and she nodded. Turning around, she took out the camera and gripped it, fear in every step she took forward towards the mansion.
The large coppiced doors with a rusty metallic knocker stood closed, as if a thousand years had passed them by and still hadn’t been opened. She opened it, pushing hard and trying not to make the hinges squeak. She gazed in awe at the inside, as if still in the Victorian times, all neatly polished. Nearly everything made of marble and wood and a magnificent chandelier in the ceiling. Elizabeth took a picture of every single thing in her surrounding, not forgetting even a tiny detail.

She moved on, picture after picture, hallway after hallway, room after room and nothing seemed to come to an end.

She reached a staircase leading to the upper floor, which lead to another hallway full of portraits. What Elizabeth found interesting was that they all had small smiles, not showing their teeth and their skin, pale as if they had never had any sunlight in their lifetime.
Then in the end of the bare hallway, which was only full of portraits, Elizabeth saw a door. She walked hurriedly to it, her curiosity getting stronger. She prepared her camera and she opened the door. It was a sitting room, a fireplace with a lit fire in the middle and a large comfortable armchair. In the corners were bookshelves filled with books and scrolls. She tossed her camera on the table and sat on the chair, warming her hands on the armchair. Then she stopped and froze as she realized that someone might be living in the house. Suddenly, a cold laughter filled the air and she spun around, finding herself face to face with a man. He seemed to be in his late 20s, his black hair neat and his grey eyes dancing. With coldness or amusement, Elizabeth couldn’t make out.

“I-I’m sorry.” She said. “I didn’t mean to intrude…” but she knew that she did intrude.
“Oh no problem at all.” The guy said, looking at her. “You don’t believe in myths, do you, girl?”
“N-no” she replied, her knees shaking. The room was getting colder and she didn’t know why since there was a fire.

“You better believe them.” He said. In a flash, his hand was around her neck and he smiled at her, baring his gleaming sharp white fangs to her. She tried to scream but only a squeak came out because he was holding her throat. He had her up in the air, like she was only a piece of doll. Then she felt sharpness piercing her skin and she manage to scream out loud. She heard screaming outside, as the other girls heard her and ran for their lives.
Elizabeth was thankful that she did believe in myths as she took out a small club of garlic and pushed it hard into his chest. There was a sizzling sound and he released her for a brief moment and in that brief moment, Elizabeth took her time, moving away. The vampire, now howling in pain, lashed out with his long nails and he managed to scratch Elizabeth from behind her. Elizabeth flinched in pain but managed to get the door open. She ran down the stairs and out of the large coppiced door.

She ran back to the gate and suddenly fell on her knees, as she suddenly felt strange. Her head throbbed in pain and she tried not to scream out. She felt something inside like she was being stabbed in from the inside and a monster was coming out. Then, as sudden as it came, it was all over. She was there on the snow, nothing changed. Her blood dropped on the snow, making it red. Something grabbed her from behind and throughout the whole village, a blood-curdling scream was heard.