Chapter 1

The sun was shrinking fast behind the horizon and my lungs felt like they were on fire as I raced through the dimming forest. It was almost nightfall and I was still three miles out from the nearest safe house, and I knew time was running out.

Every slayer knows if you get caught in the dark you will never get home as danger lurks around every corner, hidden in the shadows ready to pounce.

Behind me I could hear the sound of footsteps slowly gaining on me. I spun round, ripping my stake out of its holder on my belt, and prepared to face my attacker.

With a flash of light the sun disappeared and the world around me was plunged into darkness, and as it did the vampire from my nightmares swooped down from the blackened sky to land before me with only the slightest thud.

From where I was standing he looked no older than 21, with a cute face and a tall muscled body clad in the traditional black jeans and blood red shirt. His cape surrounded him like smoke with a high collar and chain, and what looked like black velvet lining the inside of it.

Closer inspection of his face made me gasp and lose my grip on my stake. His fangs were glistening in the fading light, and there was a smudge of blood on his lips. His eyes were as dark as the night, and tousled hair looked so smooth I had to fight hard not to reach out and run my fingers through it.

"Who… Who are you? I've seen you before, in my dreams, but I never knew your name. You whispered my name told me it was almost time to stop running. What do you want from me?!"

My voice was barely a whisper but I knew he would be able to hear me, call it one of the perks of being eternally undead.

He looked deep into my eyes as I spoke and smiled slightly, his fangs seeming to grow longer before my eyes.

"What is a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone? Aren't you afraid of vampires?"

"People wouldn't pay me so well if I was scared of you; I'm trained to kill you for a living, remember?"

I said defiantly, locking eyes with him and trying desperately not to flinch when I saw how cold they were.

"Anyway, you didn't answer my question. Who are you?"

His grin widened as he replied. "You first, Slayer. What is your name?"

"My name is Crystal Vanhelsing, what's yours?"

He straightened up and said proudly: "Count Vladimir Dracula. Head of the vampire council and the Chosen One who will save the vampire race and restore it to its former glory."

I gasped and stumbled backwards. Before me was the most dangerous vampire on the planet. Long ago, a prophesy had been made that the chosen one would either bring piece or war to the world in order to save his race. When the time had come, he had tried to find a way for slayers and vampires to work together in order to keep the world a peaceful place. But shortly after the treaty was signed, a rogue slayer staked his father and sister as they slept, and the young Count had sworn to kill every last slayer.

Since then we had been staking during the day, and hiding in warehouses and cottages surrounded by UV lights at night.

Unfortunately for us, it had recently been revealed that vampires who were born half human did not have the same light restrictions, and were actually able to go out into the sun without turning to a pile of ash.

This had led to an increase of human men and women being kidnapped and used to create half and half children. Vladimir was the very first of these children but had been conceived 18 years before the knowledge had come to light, making him the oldest and strongest of this new breed.

He was watching me closely with a strange expression on his face in the instant that all of this passed through my mind. I was too shocked to move, despite all my instincts telling me to run as he moved so close to me I could feel his breath on my cheek.

His closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, leaning forward to brush his lips down my neck. His lips barely moved as he spoke, but they still sent shivers down my spine.

"There is something strange about you, but I cannot tell what. You seem so familiar to me yet I do not recognise your scent. However your name I could never forget"

He pulled back sharply, moving so fast I do not know what had happened until I was pinned against a tree with his dark eyes full of hatred staring straight back into mine.

"Vanhelsing was the name of the slayer who signed the treaty with my kind, and Vanhelsing was the name of the slayer that murdered my family. Jonno Vanhelsing was the man I swore I would kill to avenge my family. And by killing you, I will send a message to him that his time is running out. I would be able to tell the scent of his daughter anywhere"

I gasped, my eyes widening in terror. He knew who I was, and that was information I kept very close to my heart. It was hard enough living with a father who had betrayed his friend without everyone knowing about it.

But that wasn't the worst thing, if he carried on searching he might find out the things even my father doesn't know. Tears started running down my face as I realised that I would never actually see my father again, and as I watched I could see my death creeping closer.

He was just about to bite when suddenly his face transformed and instead of biting me, he kissed me.

For a second I was completely consumed by the kiss, unable to think of anything but the feel of his lips on mine. Then my brain kicked in again and within moments I was on my feet and running again.

I knew I didn't have long until he caught me again and this time I knew he wasn't going to let me live. But as I ran, I realised he wasn't following me. If he was I would be nothing more than an empty sack of skin on the floor after he had finished draining me by now.

I ran for what seemed like hours before I made it to the safe house, looking over my shoulder with my stake in my hand the whole way.

Suddenly out of what seemed like nowhere I was surrounded by slayers as the floodlights slammed on and I had a moment to quickly look into the eyes of my father before I collapsed on to the concrete.