How could it have ended like that? What did I do wrong? I had everything neatly laid out: the plan, the ransom, and the get away point. Where had it gone wrong? Achroi pondered over this as she rode, crestfallen, back to the clearing. Everything was going according to her plan until that stupid wench interfered. If it weren't for her, she'd have the duke riding quietly and obediently behind her, with the faintest bit of hope that he could save his son. Achroi went back over the day's events as she tried to find that fatal flaw in her plan….
Stupid boy, Achroi thought as she quickly rode away from the clearing, doesn't he know that there are far more dangerous creatures out here than just mere "dangerous animals"? Clearly he isn't the brightest person. She rode swiftly through the forest, going over here plan one last time. Stalk him, knock him out, and capture him. Simple enough. She slowed into a walk as she neared the borders of the town; she didn't want to look suspicious.
She casually rode around the town, pausing to stop and look at the small stalls that were lining the street. She was about to stop and purchase a whip when she spotted him flitting through a side street, two bulky figures at his side. Must have increased security since his son disappeared, Achroi thought. A wicked smile played about her lips. Perfect, increased security means double the fun. This day just keeps getting better and better.
She followed them down the little side street and watched them come back onto a main street. They started heading towards the other borders; towards his home. She quickly followed and caught up with them. When they heard the sound of approaching hooves, all three men turned warily around to face her. She smiled angelically at them and dismounted. Achroi took a few short steps towards them and held out her hand. They all just stared at her.
Achroi just kept smiling and politely asked them if they knew where she could find a decent inn in where she could spend the night. They told her of the best inn and began to walk away. When they realised that she had not moved, they turned around to face her once again and walked back to her. Mistake number one.
"Do you need directions?" one of the bulky men asked.
"I'd prefer it if you would be so kind as to show me the way," Achroi answered sweetly.
"Very well," the duke said, resigned, "we will show you the way." Mistake number two. They led her back towards the town and onto the main street. They walked for a few blocks then took a short cut down a deserted ally. Mistake number three. Achroi stopped walking and pretended that her horse had lost one of his shoes. One of the bulky men turned around to help her. Mistake number four. Achroi lashed out and drew her dagger across his throat.
The mans eyes bulged as he choked and spluttered, blood pouring from his torn throat. The other bulky man turned around and quickly realised what had happened. He screamed for the duke to run and lunged at Achroi. She feinted to the right and lodged her dagger into the back of his head. He went down like a pile of rocks. She looked up to see the duke frozen in horror a few meters away.
Then he did an amazingly stupid thing: he ran towards her, screeching and waving a small jewel encrusted dagger. As he ran towards her he made a fatal mistake: he stumbled and fell. It would have been fatal for the old duke if the damned wind hadn't shifted direction. The smell of freshly spilled blood wafted back to her nose and her insides squirmed with need. She tried to shake the feeling off but it was overwhelming. She hadn't fed in such a long time.
She forgot all about the duke lying on the ground and lunged for the nearest carcass. She dipped her finger into the blood squirting from the mans head and licked it clean. That's when she snapped. She pulled the mans head back and sunk her teeth into his neck, groaning as the hot liquid poured into her mouth. She would've drained him clean if it wasn't for a certain voice that was screaming bloody murder. She forgot about the bodies and the lovely blood that was being wasted on the pavement and turned to face the woman that was screaming. As soon as she turned and the woman locked eyes with hers, Achroi knew that she had made a mistake; a big mistake.
The woman screamed again and turned and ran from the alley.
Achroi didn't blame her because she knew what she had seen. She had seen a young girl with feral crimson eyes and blood dripping from her chin looking at her; looking at her as though she were food. Achroi snapped out of her vision when she heard the woman screaming again. Screaming things that shouldn't be said or heard. Achroi started running after the woman, which only made things worse. She started screaming louder and shouted for help. Achroi gave up when people started to turn and look.
She quickly darted into the shadows and ran for the borders, her horse following obediently. Just as Achroi reached the safety of the forest, she heard the distant screams of the woman. "Demon! Demon in the alley! DEMON!!!"
Okay, so I at least know where I went wrong, Achroi thought as she approached the clearing, I let my hunger get to me and destroy everything. Just like it always does. She dismounted and was about to enter the clearing when one teeny tiny detail stopped her. How was she going to explain the lack of supplies? And better yet, how was she going to explain all the blood?