Wind blew from every direction possible on this dark night. All the stars in the sky refused to shine, and the moon - a moon that was supposed to be full- seemed to hide behind every cloud possible. The howls of the wind would occasionally pick up and, be so strong and loud that one would feel as if they were surrounded by the souls of hundreds of crying ghost. The forest, which usually appeared enchanted by the daytime, took on now, a curse. The tree's limbs and bark rub against each other, creating a sound that mimicked a silent foot stepping across a rotted floor. And there was the lake, usually sparkling like a giant hole filled with glitter, was now just a black hole full of nothingness. It's silence promising that in it's depths, it held a dangerous mystery.
Because of this night, no one was in sight. No wood sprites that were usually by this time, watching for a poor passer-by to play a prank on. No water fairies who's lovely lullaby would soften even the hardest of hearts. No fox demons stalking cricking bugs (who were also silent on this night), not even dangerous beasts looking for a quick meal. No, on this night, every kind of species had one thing in common, they didn't want to be outside alone.
Everyone but Amaya. This young girl walked with her chin high and her back stiff. She was wary of the silence that surrounded her, for this night just screamed "disaster." This girl, however, was not the type to take the caution that God granted a rock. She was hard-headed and very full of herself. She was eager for a fight this night. Also, she had walked this path many times. She knew every rock and turn by heart. It was the same path she had been walking for two years now. From her small house inside a cave covered by a waterfall, to the tavern. It was a solitary life that moved like molasses.It had been for many years.
Finally, out of the forest , the tavern lay in front of her like the gates of Paradise. It's light warming her face and it's noise filling her heart with a buzz. She reached the front doors and pushed the old creaky door open, instantly greeted with the smell of hard liquor,smoke, and cheap perfume. The bartender glanced up and nodded his greeting to one of his favorite regulars. Amaya nodded back promptly and walked slowly towards the back of the bar. It was lit dimly and the smooth sound of a flute made it peaceful. Amaya glanced around for the player and saw a short, elven man with pointy ears playing his flute in front of the fire place.He was new here. On the couch was a female elf in a very revealing outfit, selfishly spread across the entire piece of furniture. One hand was on her perfectly flat stomach, while the other played with a piece of her flaming red hair. She was new here as well.
Amaya took a seat in a booth and stretched her legs so they were resting on the other side of the booth. Shortly, a bar maiden made her way to where Amaya was sitting. It was Iakia, the bartenders daughter. She had been working there ever since she could look over the counter, and every night she had broken at least one type of dish. Bless her soul, she was the sweetest girl you could ever meet. She had Amaya's drink already made for her and set it in front of Amaya's face.
"I'll add this one onto your tab." Iakia smiled her prettiest smile and moved a bang out of her face. Amaya had always loved Iakia's shiny blonde hair.
"Thank you Iakia. Having a good night?"
"I've broken two glasses already." She answered with a slight blush," Daddy said I better be thankful I'm his daughter, or he would have fired me a long time ago."
Amaya couldn't help but laugh as Iakia grinned and made her way to a dwarf who had just come in. There were a lot of regulars already passed out across the bar, plus the local whore's who had already found their victims and were luring them upstairs, towards the bedrooms. There were only a few new faces Amaya could spot. A teenage girl who shouldn't be drinking with very few clothes on, introducing herself to another new face, a man with great bird wings and horns.
Also, she noticed the man who was sitting right in front of her booth. He seemed lost in his own thoughts, scribbling things onto a pad of paper. He had a strange aura about him, and fangs showing from below his top lip. His hair was a pale white, almost silver, and his eyes were golden.
'He's beautiful...' Amaya cooed to herself,' but his soul is cursed. He walks now as a vampire.'
Amaya had only met one other vampire,but she had seen many of them. From the way they talked and acted, Amaya classified all vampires as stuck up jerks or bitches. They all thought they were better then demons,human, and all other creatures. This one though, was allowed to be cocky, if he was indeed like the others. His skin was pale and flawless, his arms were full of muscles, and his nails were as long as a woman's, and cleaner then any other nail she had ever seen.
His eyes suddenly looked up from the paper and met hers.
'Oh...I'm staring...Look away,look away!'
Amaya's face felt hot as she looked down at her table quickly. What an idiot! She could just hit herself.
Just then, she heard a scream from Iakia and quickly looked towards the door. A bandit accompanied by an ogre was making a fuss at the counter, and had pulled out a long sword.The sword was pointed directly at Iakia while her Father was crossing his hands in front of his face in a plea for mercy. Amaya stood and walked towards the counter.She felt the crowd's eyes on her as she calmly stepped in front of Iakia, the sword only inches from her stomach. Her eyes centered in on the bandits and she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Pardon me, is there a problem here?"
The bandit scowled and lowered his sword slightly.
"This bar maiden spilled my drink all over me, and still expects me to pay for another drink!"
Iakia whimpered in the background. "His monster of a friend scared the daylights out of me!That's the only reason I dropped the drink!"
Amaya turned towards the bandit."I suggest you pay for a new drink and apologize to my friend before I'm forced to slit your throat, tear out your friend's eyeballs, and make you eat them."
He seemed to think for a moment before laughing, his breath already smelling of sake.
"Who the hell do you think you are little girl? I bet you couldn't even hold up a sword!"
Amaya scowled and stepped-sided the point of the man's sword. He turned to follow her and was greeted by a swift kick in the stomach. He hunched over and dropped his sword, Amaya took that as an opportunity to enlace her hands in one giant fist and send it down on the top of the man's head. He fell with a thud. Amaya knew she had gotten lucky, since the man was weakened from drunkenness. She leaned down to retrieve his money pouch when she heard a young neko girl behind her yell,"Watch out!"
Amaya knew at once her mistake. 'The Ogre...'
She felt a giant hand wrap around her slender waist and lift her from the ground. Iakia screamed as her Father shooed her behind the counter.The Ogre -who's head almost bumped the ceiling- lifted Amaya and bumped her head against the rafter above. She let out a groan as he turned her to look as his monstrous face.He let out a chuckle, his breath filling Amaya's stomach with nausea instantly. She doubled over as much as she could in his hands,fighting that pass-out feeling.
A flash ran under the ogre's giant body and he let out a yelp, his breath hitting Amaya's face with full force. She couldn't take it, the pure smell of it made her gag.Another yelp and Amaya was flung from his hand and into the air. She felt cold arms catch her and then lightly set her on the floor. Her eyes closed when she felt warm liquid on her face. 'I'm bleeding...my head is bleeding...' Thoughts rushed in her head as she heard more grunts from the ogre.Her head pounded as if it was about to explode. Then, it all went black.