It was the twilight hours of the morning; dawn would break anytime soon. I usually wasn't up this early but for some reason, I couldn't stay asleep. My thoughts kept drifting back to Lord Basset and pondering if he's doing well….. Which I'm sure was all nonsense. Lady Danbury assured me time and time again that his lordship had gone about the vast estate many times before and that this was standard practice. He had a lot more reason for concern about leaving me here alone at the manor than I fretting over his safety… I knew this perfectly well and it made sense to me, but….. My thumb drew up to my lips so to nibble its nail. But I couldn't help it. For some bizarre reason, I was anxious that Lord Basset should return soon so that I might see him well with my own eyes.
Of course that wouldn't be for some time. It was still dark out and the hours were dragging on- painfully so. I was worried and bored all at the same time. Sitting on the ground floor at a windowsill gazing out to the garden, I did nothing for quite a while. The trees and flower bushes were still and silent. The world was still asleep… Or at least my world was. I'm sure vampires would be finishing their dinners and getting ready for bed everywhere right now. Exhaling through the nose, the back of my head rested against the dark wooden window frame. While staring out into the black abyss of a garden outside, remembrances of my uncle and Lord Basset flashed in and out of my mind. I was honest with Lady Danbury when I said I missed Uncle earlier- I did miss him very dearly. But… I was also speaking the truth when I confirmed that I was happy here. I was happy here at Hastings Manor and wasn't in any hurry to leave soon. When Uncle comes to see me, it'll finally be perfect.
I shouldn't want for anything then.
Thinking of such a wonderful time approaching in the near future, my body perked up at the sight of movement out in the garden. It wasn't a vampire; it was too small for that. More like a small animal or something. Taking a good, hard look, my eyes widened in surprise and horror to discover a wounded fox struggling through the grass. Its back leg limped behind it, and it was bleeding from somewhere underneath. The poor thing looked to be in severe pain.
Instinct immediately took over as I rushed to the back door without even grabbing a shawl. It was only when my hand touched the doorknob did I hesitate. Should I… go out there alone? It's still dark out and his grace isn't home. I could wake Lady Danbury, but she went to bed early tonight due to fatigue. She's already pretty tired and the scent of fox blood might…. No, better not risk it. I best go out there and deal with the creature myself, only… My hand literally froze, grasping the handle in a clenched fist. I stared down at it thoughtfully, not moving an inch for a moment.
What would Lord Basset say?
What would he do if he found out that I went outdoors by myself? While it was dark out no less. He made it explicitly clear that I was forbidden to leave the manor unaccompanied. If I had one overarching rule to obey, that was it. But he wouldn't be home for some time and I was worried that the fox was short on time. I could scoop it up in my arms and carry it inside very quickly; then I could bandage up in the kitchen without notice. It would only take a minute- less than a minute. Surely nothing bad could happen. There was most likely no one out there anyway; I'd be all alone which was a good thing in this case. Realizing time was of the essence, I drew in deep breath and shut my eyes to mentally prepare myself. Ok, just in and out; I'll be very quick. You can do this! Everything will be alright- you can do this.
The injured animal spot me the moment my head popped outside of the door. After a quick look around just to make sure it was clear, I raced out to it shutting the door behind me. At first the fox hissed and tried to wriggle into a defensive position, but as I crutched down low to the ground and extended my bare hand out, it began to calm down. "Easy, easy, little fella. I'm not going to hurt you," my feet inched nearer and nearer until I was almost within arms-reach of it. Seeing how bad its leg was and how bringing a bleeding animal inside the manor where a vampire lived might not be the best idea, I started to consider the alternatives. As quickly as I could I tore a sizable strip off of the bottom of my nightgown. The fox cowered a little when I crawled toward it with the make-shift bandage in hand.
"Now this shouldn't hurt a bit," it gave a small welp as I began wrapping the cloth around its wound. My fingers moved as fast as they could, wrapping and tying at a rapid speed. When the leg was securely bandaged, the fox gave one look up at my face. Then it spun right around and retired into the concealment of the bushes. Knowing it had the right idea, I stood up and was about to head back inside until….
This sinister chuckling suddenly echoed all around me. I couldn't see anyone there at first but soon enough I glanced up. I looked up at the estate's wall, and I wish I hadn't… Staring back at me were a pair of glowing red eyes, sharp onto my figure. Absolutely predatory. I'd never seen that kind of expression from a vampire before. Well, perhaps that first time Lord Basset saw me while I was out in the garden, but even his eyes couldn't match the horror projected out of these. I wasn't able to see the man except for what the moonlight showed me, and it was terrifying.
The vampire- the man- wore battered, raggy clothes. A tattered long dark coat, a messy suit, and black round-tipped shoes. He must have either smelt the fox's blood- or me- and decided to climb over the wall to investigate. The look he was giving me said that he felt like he'd just won the lottery. And in all conceivable senses, he had. Here out in the middle of some landed-gentry's estate surrounded by forest was a human girl, completely alone and unprotected. Even if I did scream, it's likely that it wouldn't be loud enough to wake Lady Danbury up. And forget about making a run for it….. It was like a knife-wielding butcher cornering a lamb in a corral. You know what's going to happen to that lamb….
As such, I froze in pure terror. I was petrified, but ironically, I didn't feel anything consciously. Instead my mind went completely numb, unable to contemplate the horrific ordeal that was about to happen to me. I knew, though it didn't consciously register, that these breathes I was taking were my precious last few. This man- whoever he was- likely wouldn't last long either after he finished with me. Knowing my family and Lord Basset, a massive manhunt would be mounted to sniff him out. They'd find him and he'd be executed without a doubt for drinking the blood of a human he didn't legally possess. But he probably wasn't thinking about that outcome at the moment. He likely just had his full sights set on me, or rather my neck.
It seemed like an eternity but it all occurred in a matter of seconds. The man, seeing me, hopped over the wall he was mounting right into the garden. He landed some ten feet away from where I was now kneeling frozen solid. The smile he gave me was almost as horrendous as his eyes. While his stare was predatory, his lips were thirsty and very, very lustful. And his fangs….. His fangs.
I don't know why now of all times, but once he was standing in front of me, the voice of my hostess inexplicably rang through my head. I'd never seen one in-person before; only heard the rumours and stories. But from the instant I got a good look at him, I knew exactly who he was. Well, I didn't know "who" he was per se, but I knew of his profession. My lips slowly begun to part on their own accord. "There's reports of even more highway men roaming this side of the country again. They robbed two carriages last month alone. Those lowlife, thieving scoundrels. They'll steal anything that isn't chained down. Just imagine what they would do if they ever got their hands on cargo like you?" I knew just who and what he was….
The man took a step in my direction, his arms stiff at his sides like he was ready to pounce. His eyes couldn't have locked onto me harder. His long, slender tongue ran over his lips and the front of his teeth. "Well, well, well, what have we here?" Oh god, his voice! I'd never heard a more spine-chilling, licentious sound in my life. Pure, adulterated, overwhelming thirst….. His foot stepped ever closer to me. "I can't believe my eyes- a human, a real human. And here I thought your kind were a myth, fanciful wish fulfilment…" I remained silent and entirely still as he slithered closer and closer. His eyes narrowed onto me, turning completely red in the process. That look before a vampire bites into its target… "I've never seen one of you before; you are so rare, so exceedingly rare… And I understand now why." His mouth hung here for a second before continuing. "Vampires' most perfect creation- utter perfection. To think… that there does exist a creature who can quench our unending thirst, and she's right in front of me now…." His eyes locked onto mine, glistening brightly.
"And you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
As his hand extended out to reach me, a myriad of memories and thoughts flooded my brain. I thought of my uncle, brother, Lady Danbury, Lord Basset…. I wondered if it would hurt or how long I'd remain conscious for after the fact. But as his fingers inched closer, all attention drew back to his hand, his skin…. It was so very near mine and only then did uncontrollable physical panic set in. He almost had me and I knew….. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. Only one vampire before had ever laid a hand on me and that was my uncle. It was too dangerous for a vampire- even one I'm related to- to caress my skin with their bare flesh. Even with gloves on, it was still considered too risky. And this man had no gloves on…. All I could posit just then was his hand….
And how if he touched me, I would die.