Chapter 1

My hands were bowed as was my head and I prayed for God to protect us, all of us, as we went out on this difficult expedition. We were searching, searching for those that went against the church and its beliefs. Being a priest myself, I knew the danger involved having been on many of these myself. Those filthy witches that stand before the might of God and who shout blasphemous words at Him. These half-human demons that live in the bowels of the streets must be found and burned at the stake to atone for their sins. I rose from my knees, turned to the crowd awaiting me, and spread my arms wide.

"We are God's hand reaching out to those who have sinned just as we are the retribution from those who have suffered. We must pursue with perseverance and without delay. Tonight is the night. The full moon is at hand. The witch hunt begins."

I stayed behind as the crowd before me exited through the front door to join the others waiting outside. I turned back to the statute of the Virgin Mary. I reached out and grasped the necklace that dangled from her feet. I pressed the rosary to my lips and kissed it softly. I felt a small hand close around mine. I turned to see my young wife standing behind me.

"Please Julius, be careful. Don't do anything bold or reckless. You don't have to be a hero. Just promise me that you'll come back safe and unharmed." She begged.

Her brown eyes soft and pleading as a solitary tear slipped down her cheek. I kissed it away as I pulled her close to hug her. I laid my head against her and waited. After a moment I felt her arms and slide around my waist. I leaned back and placed both hands on her shoulder and looked her in the eye.

"Selena, listen to me. This is something I must do. Something we all must do." I gestured to the anxious group lingering by the door. "This is the only way I can protect the town, the only way I can protect you, both of you." As I placed my hand on her rounding stomach she rested her head on my chest.

"Fine, if you must do this." She mumbled into my robe.

"I do." I replied.

She glanced up at me, "But know this, no matter what happens, I will always love you, Julius, always."

"As I love you, my dear." Taking my statement to heart she stood on her toes and placed a kiss on my lips, sighed against me, and let go. She took a step back and folded her hands behind her.

"Be strong, for yourself and the baby. I should be back sometime in the morning. Please don't worry yourself, love. I will come back." With that, I turned from her and walked past the pews and out the door to join the gathering citizens.

I let the door close behind me leaving her alone. I turned away from the doors and faced the fidgeting crowd. I noticed that many of them had torches. We may need them but I hope it wouldn't resort to that. I was hoping that these people that practice the dark arts would just come forward and repent. If not then they must be taught the hard way. I heard someone, near the back, yell out, "Where should we start first?"

I watched a woman near the front of the group turned and shout back, "Maybe we should try that old Alberich house, the one on the edge of town."

I saw that many men had begun to nod their heads even before she had finished talking.

"Onward Christian soldiers, we are about to step onto a battlefield like none of which any of us has ever seen. You mustn't let your guard down and you must be ready for anything. I know we have found any in the past but I have a good feeling about this year. As if God Himself were laying this on my heart. Try to communicate with them first. Don't attack blindly. We might be able to save them from their devious acts and lead on the path to righteousness." As I finished my speech the entire multitude of people spun around and began to march down the street.

No one said much on the trip to the house. It seemed that each kept his or her own thoughts to themselves.

I lead this group through the front gate and up to the porch. I glanced upward at the broken shutters and the high windows. The roof looked so steep it looked impossible to walk on. The one chimney that went all the way up both stories was billowing smoke. Someone was here. I stopped there unsure of what to do. I felt a breeze and froze as two people, men, ran past me, busted down the door and ran into the house. I remained frozen but only for a second.

"Wait!" I screamed after them while sprinting into the house. I had to protect them; it was my duty. Past the door was the living room. A shabby little room that held no furniture except a small soiled mattress and I stopped here. I was hesitant of where to start searching when I heard a yell and a grunt of pain coming from upstairs. I darted up the steps and came face to face with a closed door that blocked my passage into the room. I grasped the knob and turned it slowly but it wouldn't come. It was stuck.

"Hey, open this door. Let me in." I heard some scuffling noises inside and a very human shriek of agony.

I raised my fists and pounded on the door. I needed to get in there. Something crashed into wall inside hard and I heard the splintering of wood. I began to slowly back away. Something heavy collided with the door and it gave way completely. It hit me full in the chest knocking me down the rest of the steps. My head smacked against the floor with a resounding crack. I struggled to get up but stars exploded before my eyes. I had no more strength left. I couldn't move. The door was lying on top of me holding my down. I glimpsed a dark shadowy figure descending the staircase before I blacked out completely.

I awoke to find myself lying on the ground. I heard a small squeak and felt a rat run across my stomach. I gasped and sat up causing pain to lance through my head. I groaned and looked around trying to understand what happened. I remembered running into a house and then banging on a door. That when it all came rushing back to me with dizzying speed. The two men running into the house, going to help them, getting knocked down the stairs. I remembered everything. And here I had promised Selena I wouldn't do anything reckless. I looked around at my new surroundings. I was in a dungeon of some kind. The pillar in the center of a room was fixed with a bracket holding a single torch which was the only thing that gave off light. I made a great effort to stand only to be yanked back by my wrists. That's when realization hit me I was shackled to this wall with no way to get up. I reached to touch the back of my head. The hair there was wet and matted.

Suddenly six people were standing in front of me. I don't know how they got there without me seeing them enter the room. The one in the center stepped forward. His wavy brown hair stopped just below his waist. I noticed that all of them had long hair. He was tall as well, taller than me. He had on a black trench coat, as did them all. He was also wearing muddy black boots that were hidden slightly behind faded jeans. He asked me something in French. I just stared at him blankly not understanding. He then tried Spanish. Again I just stared at him blankly. Finally he said in English, "Why have you disturbed our rest?"

"I don't know who are or what you are but I demand that you let me go. In the name of God let me go. " I said growing bold. Again I struggled against the chains binding me.

He just smiled at me. He suddenly appeared inches from me. How did he move so fast? He grabbed me by my neck and lifted me as high as these chains would allow.

"I could crush you right now. You're in no position to make demands." He said as he let me go and I dropped heavily to the floor.

"What are you?" I screamed. I reached into my robe and grasped my cross. I raised it in front of me and began to pray.

"My father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom c-"

The man's smile just widened. It frightened me so much I stopped midsentence.

"There is no God here." He told me.

"I know what you are, you're all demons. You go against the church and you go against God. Stay away from me." I said tears beginning to spill from my eyes. I continued to hold up the cross hoping God would protect but it maybe it was just as the man said. There was no God here.

"Demons?" He asked. He seemed to be taunting me. His smile deepened even more when he saw my fear. That's when I saw them, his fangs glistening in the firelight. "Silly boy, we're not demons. We're vampires."