She reached the town gate knowing very well that he was not there... Sluggishly she pounded on the door that was immediately brought back. The dark haired girl entered and glanced around quickly. This particular environment seemed inviting and friendly. The guard on the girl instantly fell and she walked on free of its power.
The tavern she entered was a small pub as well. A sly smile crossed her lips as she quickly made her way to the farthest table to the door. It was also the closest to a small fireplace. The girl sat and glanced around the pub at the multitude of drunks. Her gaze landed on the dark embers of the fire. Her blue eyes sparked and a strange glow came to them; almost as though they ,too, were on fire.
The tavern was a two story wood building. The lower half consisted of the pub. There were a few round tables, each topped with a lit candled lantern. The bar was rounded by benches and spittoons. The upper portion was the inn. Each room had two small cots separated by a drawer or desk. A few of the rooms had windows and actual beds. Each room had bed pans, and extra blankets... The owner of the tavern was a portly man with a red beard. His eyes were kind and he seemed rather jolly to most, but when a fight arouse he was stern and unfaltering in ideal punishment.
The girl fought back the few memories of her past that threatened to shroud her mind. She stood pushing the stool back. It fell with a clatter, silencing the drunks and drawing attention to the solitary girl. The bartender instantly left his post and approached the girl. She trembled, beads of sweat dripping from her chin.
"Madam...may I assist you?" the man asked taking her arm.
"One room please...no preferences..." the girl answered quickly without averting her attention from the candle's slight flicker.
A money pouch was exchanged for a gold key. The girl was escorted up the stairs and into a room. Quickly, without a word, she shut the door and locked it.
A single rotted tree sat on the hill before the town. In this tree stirred a being, Young Tyreth of Austria. He opened his eyes and stared at the town's borders. It was, indeed, a small town. Not worth looting or pillaging. The boy did not want to hurt anyone particularly...but his master had plans. And these plans, of course, had to be obeyed.
Tyreth, who had been sitting on the top branch, jumped down landing with a solid thud. He sighed and turned once more towards the sun as it set. The full harvest moon was rising and so was the power within Tyreth. Lazily he leaned against the graying tree and bit at a hangnail that had been driving him crazy lately. He wasn't really in any rush... He didn't have his master's lust for blood. Besides it wasn't night yet. He still had at least 30 minutes before he was at full strength.
The soul, of which Tyreth was to take, was young Amilia Graves. Her fate had been sealed long before her birth when her father, Nathaniel Graves, had sealed the "Master of Darkness". Now Tyreth was sent to find the child and either persuade her into joining the "Worshippers of Chaos" or kill her. He could easily force her into servitude but that was as unappealing to him as having to murder her. She had been completely innocent... at least that was all that he knew.
Another sigh escaped the boy as night covered the sky. He pushed off of the tree and began the descent towards the tiny town.
The girl sat on the single bed staring out the window. The outside world was black and she was unable to see anything but the moon. A crow flew by the window scaring the girl. She had not realized she was frightened until the remnants of a shriek echoed off the window.
Oddly no one had attempted entrance to the room in hopes of saving the girl. She had screamed, yet no one answered. Unease fell about the odd silence as realization crept into the girl's mind. HE had stopped time to find her. Surely that was it...that or the world truly was an evil place altogether where good men turn bitter with a few pints. None the less something was amiss.
Slowly the girl opened the window and stuck her head out looking back and forth into the night. It was impossible to see anything that was not directly below her. She could, of course, make out shadows of things from the help of the large moon. HE was not out there...but a strange stillness lay about.
A wind rose and brushed the brunette locks out of the girl's face. She glanced around once more before pulling herself back into the tiny room and shutting the window. She sat once more on the bed for a short moment before a thirst bit at the girl's throat. She stood and walked to the door picking up the lacey money bag as she went. Within it was the small golden key to her room.
The young girl reached out taking the glass door handle in her elegant hand. Slowly the knob turned and she pulled the door open. Horror streaked across her fair face as the blood within her froze.
"Hello, Amilia..."
Amilia let out a fearful shriek that was instantly cut short.
Tyreth had entered the tavern as any ordinary man. He had not found it particularly hard to find Amilia. She had a certain smell about her that he was very familiar with.
So the boy entered the tavern and walked up the stairs naturally. There he stood patiently waiting for the girl to open the door. He had not gone through the window as was accustomed. He had left it as an escape for the girl yet she had not chosen to leave.
Again there he stood. He was a great deal taller than the girl and more fair. His eyes were blood red and what had seemed like seconds his skin had produced a dark aura. Surprisingly, other than his frightening mask, he was very easy on the eyes. His jet black hair hung down over his eyes and curled slightly at his ears. His build was very muscular but most of his type came that was naturally.
Upon Amilia's screaming the man had impulsively cupped his hands over her mouth. Now the girl stood trembling with wide teary eyes. Tyreth exhaled slowly and took a step back releasing the girl.
"Please do not do that again," he said quietly.
He had the natural vampiric accent but his voice was full and clear none the less. In his state of fear his teeth had grown causing his jaw to jut out. The large incisors had receded and he was once again handsome.
Amilia looked him up and down before allowing a small escape of breath. He was not much older than her in appearance and he seemed quite intelligent. He was fretful, this she could tell, which gave her an advantage. Alas, if only she could calm her own nerves.
"What do you want with me?" the girl found herself asking although she was quite sure she knew.
The vampire looked down for a moment to stare at his black chain-buckled boots. He hesitated before once again glancing upon the beautiful girl. In his heart he knew she was strong willed and would never oblige. He had not expected the enemy to his people to be attractive as well. It pained him...
"My master asks something of you..." Tyreth answered
Amilia now noticed his eyes...they were no longer red but light and pale blue. He was a mysterious and beautiful beast, indeed. The girl found herself quite enticed by his charm. Naturally, she assumed he was hypnotizing her and she looked away.
"What does he ask then?" Amilia prodded
Tyreth could already feel himself failing. He truly wanted to spare this girl's life. Quickly he cleared his throat and glanced down at the girl's neckline. A slight gasp escaped his throat and Amilia took a step away. She could see the large black pupils of her attacker dilate. He had noticed a vein... one precious vein pulsing as blood ran through it; sweet, delicious blood. A smile curved at the man's lips and the sharp fangs began to grow.
'Oh sweet mouth watering blood, let me one taste...'
Amilia froze with fear. Her eyes widened and once more sweat droplets crowned her forehead. A sharp shock ran down the spinal cord of the girl and she was able to force another step mechanically away from the boy.
Tyreth faltered. Realizing what fear he had caused the beautiful girl he cried out and turned away hiding his face with his black leather gloved hands, trembling, again, as he had done as a swaddling infant. Quickly he regained composure and stood erect.
"Please accept my apology, Miss Graves," Tyreth whispered still refusing to make eye contact, "My master wishes to have your allegiance and servitude...and for my sake, please accept."
"I refuse to accept the latter of propositions..." Amilia stated after she, too, recomposed herself.
"Dearest Amilia, you must!" Tyreth cried out looking once again at the girl.
"I will not ally myself to a beast like your master who cannot come himself to ask of my servitude!" Amilia snapped stomping a foot down in defiance.
"Amilia, understand this, you truly must or face death!" Tyreth hissed in hopes to persuade the girl with fear.
Amilia took a step toward the boy tensely. Her fists, she found, were tightly bawled at her sides. Her teeth were clenched, brow furrowed, and eyes wide.
"I choose death."
Tyreth fell back in shock. He had hoped that by blatantly telling Amilia of the consequences, which was against regular procedure, she would agree to comply. He had not expected her to die willingly. Slowly his head fell and the fangs grew.
"Then...I must kill you..."
Amilia closed her eyes tightly expecting the worst sort of death ever. He would rip out her heart and eat it before her very eyes. She would fall limply as he finished devouring her petite body. Tears pushed their ways through the tightly shut eyes and the heart that would soon be eaten began to race a million times faster than when it was in initial fright. Suddenly a breeze swept back the brown curls and Amilia opened her large blue eyes. Tyreth was no longer before her and the window hung wide open. Slowly a thankful smile spread across the girl's face.
Tyreth sat in the tree watching Amilia with the blood red eyes. She was over a mile away but to him he could see her perfectly. The boy was invisible in the black night, with his black leather attire and all, save for his fair face and glowing eyes.
He had left moments before losing control of himself. Regretfully the need to feed had not escaped the appetite of the boy therefore he stole a shepherd boy's lamb. Truthfully, stealing was almost as sickening to Tyreth as killing, but he did not think it as sinful...
Angry with himself the boy looked down at the bleating sheep. Quickly he snapped its neck so as to not cause it suffering. With a boot knife the boy slit the flesh throat and watched as warm red blood ran through the white wool instantly darkening it. Tyreth grimaced, hating with all his heart who and what he was. Once more his stomach growled and with that...
...he began to feed...