There were rumors within the local towns about a witch tribe taking residence in the woods surrounding. A small boy had been brave enough to bring along his friends, all of them foolishly laughing as they trudged over fallen trees. They didn't take the time to look at what had caused the tree to fall, if they had they would've seen hand prints and body indents in the trunks. The children were focused on following the three trails of smoke that had been burning endlessly. The fire is what created the rumors of a witch tribe camping in the woods since four months ago.

The small boy's heart was racing as he ducked low when the trees began to thin into a clearing. The other children followed closely, their eyes wide and trying to control their gasps of disgust. She could understand why they were so shocked, they had come to investigate at the most horrendous time.

It was feeding time.

The children could only watch as angelically beautiful creatures tore into the throats of screaming humans. There was blood in the sky as it splattered out of a torn vein, a vicious laugh following the red rain. A man ran from a tent, his arm bleeding with the indents of human teeth, but he didn't get far. A man with long curly blonde hair appeared from thin air, blood on his chin and dripping down his shirt. He gave the whimpering human a look of no remorse, his blood red eyes matching his mouth. She knew he was considering the best way to kill him - the children seemed to think he might let him go.

A little part of her was happy that the children didn't dare speak as the man smiled, so handsome, and put his fingers in the roof of the human's mouth. He struggled but the man was stronger, and with a quick jerk, the human's head was torn in half. The children needed to see no more - they scampered backwards and backtracked their footsteps, not daring to scream until they were closer to the town they lived in.

Astrid stayed crouched in her tree, listening to their footsteps hurry back. She turned her red gaze back to the curly haired man. He dropped the human's body and licked his fingers, turning to take in how the others in the camp were feeding. By now any human that had been brought was dead, laying on the floor as someone drank from any spot they could sink their teeth into. It wasn't long before he realized she was missing. His lips turned down and it upset her that he wasn't smiling.

With a leap and a push of speed, she was at his side in no time. His eyes trailed slowly down her body, his frown disappearing at the lack of blood, but staying in a tight lipped line. Seeing him smile was only meant for killing.

"Where were ya', doll?" He asked, his voice thick from his Southern upbringing.

Astrid knew that Major would be upset if she informed him of the children spying. He would tell her to kill them and their families to make sure that what they'd seen hadn't spread. She wasn't new, she had been reborn over five years ago, so she knew what was expected of her. But sometimes, she liked to play a part in someone surviving.

Major could feel her emotional turmoil and it wasn't making him happy. His top lip began to curl, showing red stained teeth, and she felt a spike of fear in her chest.

"What are ya' hidin' from me?" Major grabbed her forearm, stepping close enough so that their noses touched. If she had a heart, she knew it would be beating out of her chest like the children's had. Astrid wanted to hold back the truth but Major was playing with her emotions, making her trust what he would do. He knew what was right, she could always tell him what was troubling her.

"There were human children in the forest. I didn't . . ." She didn't have to finish her sentence as he was already gone.

She stood in the center of camp, watching as the second-in-command snarled at the fact his food had no more blood. Peter tossed the body into the fire, causing the flames to raise with their own new food. The others were finished shortly after and threw their waste into the fire as well, laughing and pushing their fellow vampires. Feeding time was the only time the entire camp got along. Astrid knew that in about four hours the jokes would subside, the snarling would return, and by night fall they'd loose at least two vampires to a fight.

Peter had his eyes trained on Astrid as he licked the blood off his lips. She knew he would be on her in seconds, demanding to know where Major had run off to. He despised it when others knew more than him. Before the brunette could catch her, she spun on her heels and raced back into the woods. It was silent, no sound of the Major or the children. She did smell blood, so much of it, that even she couldn't resist the urge to investigate. Astrid hadn't fed; she'd been so focused on the children that she had missed the newborns bringing in humans from the battle two hundred miles away.

Major had snapped all the children's necks. The four little bodies lay at his feet, eyes wide with fear and mouths open to scream for their mothers. Astrid knew he hadn't heard her, or he would've met her gaze when she entered the clearing. He felt her smidge of remorse, however, and spun to snarl at her. She could only prepare herself for impact as he grabbed her neck and squeezed so tight that she could hear it crack and felt the damage on her windpipes. He didn't stop even though he could feel her pain and terror.

"You are weak," He snarled, pressing her against a tree and it shook from their force. She didn't try to fight back. "You know the rules, you know that we kill if anyone sees us. Anyone!" He roared the last word, spit hitting her face. She tried to hide in the tree, cringing from his flamed gaze.

"I'm sorry, Major. So sorry. Please, forgive me." She whimpered. Her instincts were telling her to fight back, to claw at his hands and kick him away. Astrid knew better. Major was stronger than her, he had the advantage of controlling her feelings and she would be reduced to nothing but a trembling mass of fear if she even thought about trying to fight back. She'd seen it happen to many other vampires that thought they were brave enough to fight him.

His piercing gaze didn't relinquish hers. It was tense, his body was trembling with rage and she could feel his emotions becoming part of hers. She feared that this would be the last straw- she'd been reluctant in killing witnesses before but never had Major been angry at her like this. She didn't know how to get herself out of this one.

"You're sorry? And if they had gotten back, had told the town, and they actually believed their story? Would your apology be enough to save the rest of their lives?"

Astrid shook her head furiously, just wanting to make Major calm again. She hated doing something wrong but she couldn't bring herself to kill innocent children. Major had lost his humanity, he didn't care for who died at his hands. Astrid still clung to some part that said it wasn't right to kill.

Major looked back at the four dead bodies and released her. She barely had a moment of relief before he grabbed her by her dark red hair and shoved her face first into the ground. She caught herself and crouched low, keeping her dark eyes trained on him. He circled her, pointing at the bodies.

"Drink."

She didn't dare defy him. Astrid yanked the closest boy by the arm and dug her teeth into his neck. She was slightly repulsed by the dead taint his blood had, even if it had been minutes since his demise. No vampire preferred dead blood over a beating heart and the warm gush that a living body gave. But she drank. She stared into Major's eyes as she drank, and when she was finished with him, she grabbed the next. And continued until the last small body was diminished of blood and their bodies laid at her feet.

Astrid could tell that Major was not appeased like he had thought he would be. She stayed on the ground, letting him decide her fate. Astrid may have the ability to hide herself from others, but she could never do it from the Major. He always found her, no matter how hard she tried.

He was lost in thought on how to punish her, she could tell. She wanted to beg and apologize and grovel at his feet, but that annoyed him more than her silence. Astrid stared at her dirt covered hands and waited for her fate.

"Get up."

She stood and dared to meet his eyes. He was angry, still, but his body wasn't rigid anymore and the tension had slightly disappeared from their clearing. Major came closer, slowly at a human pace, and it made her feel like time was dragging just as slow as him. He didn't take his eyes off of her and soon enough they were toe to toe. Her body was vibrating from the fear that he was sending to her. She felt like this was the end - Major was finally going to kill her after five years of devotion to him.

He twined his bloodied hands into her locks and yanked her to him. Their bodies were touching and the fear slowly seeped away until she was still and felt in control of her emotions. She was still on edge, ready to fight for her life if need be. Astrid knew there was no chance to fighting him; she'd struggle and he'd let her, just to make it feel like she had a chance, and then at the last possible second he would turn the tables and kill her.

"There will be no next time, do you understand me?" He growled, his chest vibrating with the sound.

"Yes, sir."

He stared into her eyes and seemed to have found what he wanted. He released his grasp on her and she took two steps back, keeping eye contact with him. Major was fond of playing with his toys and she wasn't sure if she was one yet.

Major turned on his heel and walked back towards camp. Astrid stayed close, scared to piss him off again. She knew this was the last straw; she had to be on her best behavior now.

They entered the camp and all eyes turned to them. It wasn't rare that Major would disappear with a female from camp to have a romp in the woods and she seethed at what was running through their minds no doubt. After Major had his way with someone they usually went down the totem poll to the bottom of the soldiers. She could already feel the eyes on her back, no doubt taking note how she smelled of him and her hair was a mess. Now she understood the full punishment. He had taken away her dignity and power within the camp.

It was embarrassing and hurtful. She had fought so hard to survive the other newborns she'd been with. She'd clawed and torn her way to the top, to be seen by the Major and Maria. She'd left behind the orgies and bloodfests that the soldiers had, she'd entered the role of being involved in plans and meetings. Her food was brought to her just like Peter and Major. Now, she would have to get her own.

She felt like a child and acted as such, she knew. She crossed her arms and pouted her bottom lip and found a stump to perch herself on. No one came near her. Major entered his tent, ignoring the inquisitive look that Peter directed at him. She rubbed at her throat as Peter turned his attention to her. She snarled and dared him to say something - anything. Now she had to fight for her respect. Again.

That put her in an even worse mood.

Peter didn't bare her warning and sauntered over to her stump. He licked his red lips and crouched in front of her.

"So, a little quickie with our Major, eh?" He taunted. "Thought you were better than that, Astrid."

"Fuck off." She snarled.

He shrugged and put his hands in his torn pockets. He looked like a wild animal with his torn and bloodied clothes. She looked no better, her dress having been worn for months on end. It barely covered her butt anymore. She would have to steal clothes soon. Especially now.

Peter whistled tauntingly and walked away. She glowered at his back, wanting nothing more than to rip his head off and add it to the human pryer. But, if she even touched a hair on his stupid head, Major would surely kill her. She knew her place and it was below Peter. No matter how hard she fought.

So, she imagined killing him and that made her feel a tad better. She stayed on her stump, putting herself in her own isolation. She'd rather have her own company than her fellow soldiers; she could hear them whispering about her.

Her gaze landed on three newborns to her left. They were not dressed better than her and covered in dirt and grime. She couldn't distinguish their hair color even with her eyesight. They were already looking at her, eyes lit with challenge. Just as she had expected; they were going to prove to Major that they were better than his toy.

She was prepared when the three ran at her. She leaped off of her stump, using it to propel her higher, and she landed behind them. They were young and weren't in control of their strength like she was. The newborn turned quick but she was quicker. She leaped onto his shoulders, planting her feet on his shoulder blades, and wrapped her fingers under his chin. With an easy tug, his head came off and she angrily tossed it into the fire. His body fell and she walked over it, dodging an arm being flung at her head.

She ducked and grabbed his legs, yanking him so he lost his balance and fell onto his back. Astrid stomped her bare foot into his neck and she relished in the sound of breaking concrete as it crumbled beneath her strength. The last one standing, a cowering female, fell to her knees and bared her neck. A sign of defeat.

Astrid was angry though. Major had tossed her to the bottom to fight for his trust again and she was going to do exactly that. The newborn only had time to scream before Astrid tore her limb from limb, taking glee that the entire camp had stoped to watch. When the remains were tossed into the fire they continued on with whatever the hell they were doing.

Astrid looked at the tent but Major had not come out to see her fight. She scowled and returned to her stump, crossing her arms and daring another to challenge her.