I leaned forward, "What can you tell me about what happened to the others?" I watched as the blonde swept a tear from the corner of her eye, "They were all going through the woods for some reason or another. A few of the villagers live just on the other side of those woods. Nikola belongs to one of those families. Her dad owns land over there. Also all of the people that have come up missing were not of royal blood." Her lips trembled as she spoke. "Ok well I need to head out and see what I can find out from the other locals. Can you tell me the families that have had missing loved ones?" Dean watched quietly as I questioned his "friend". I knew he really had other plans before I came bursting in here and ruined them all. His friend quickly told me the names of the families and I stood up tall, "Dean I'm going to question some of these locals. Can you head back over to the castle and see what you can find out there. It's a little suspicious to me that none of them have been affected." Dean looked defeated, his eyes cut to the woman beside him and then back to me, "I'll head that way. Listen you be careful out there." I gave him a slight nod and headed out the door to my horse.
Deciding that I didn't want to waste time saddling him I swung back up onto him bareback and turned him in the direction of the woods. As I entered the now almost completely dark woods, the hair on the back of my neck prickled. I felt as if I were being watched from the dark shadows. I spurred the stallion on and he picked up the pace some. Halfway through the woods something broke a fallen branch nearby and my horse reared. I wasn't expecting it and because I had chosen to not saddle him I had nothing to keep me on besides the strength in my legs. I clamped my knees against the horse's sides but he was too frightened and it was too sudden. I felt myself sliding and knew the best thing I could do was make sure to get as far away from the beast as possible. I didn't want him falling over on me because I pulled on his head too much. Loosening my legs I slid from his back and landed so that I rolled from under his feet. By the time I sprang to my own feet, the horse was racing from the woods back in the direction of town.
Fighting the urge to curse, I looked down at my soiled clothes. I brushed at the debris that clung to my breeches and checked to see that my longsword had made the leap with me. It was still in my scabbard and the small dagger I had tucked into the sheath on the other side was there as well. I had a few leaves in my hair and quickly brushed those away. It was then that I noticed the sounds of the forest had ceased. I looked up, scanning the surrounding area on full alert. My nostrils flared as I tried to make use of all of my senses. Then I heard it but it was too late, something rushed me from behind and knocked me out. My world went black.
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I heard someone coming and I struggled with my restraints. I had been tied to a bed of some kind. It smelled of dust and somewhat like a barn. I had been trying to see my surroundings but it was too dark by the time I came to. I found that I could get off of the bed and had a little room to move but not very much. When I heard the shuffle of feet outside where I lay I got really still and closed my eyes so that I was just barely peeking through my lashes. I could see the outline of two people, one much taller than the other, through what must have been a door. I kept still and made sure not to move my eyes too much so that the movements beneath my lids would hopefully not be detected. The taller of the two figures head lolled to one side as if he were drunk or possibly groggy for some reason. The other person stayed in the shadows and I couldn't make out whether it was a man or woman. A shaft of light fleeted across the face of the taller person though and I realized that it was Sam! My breath caught in my throat when I realized it was him. Had he come looking for me and this thing got him too?
I watched as the smaller person tied Sam near where I was tied. He was propped against the wall just at the foot of my bed. I realized that I would be able to reach him if we were ever left alone in here. Then as quickly as the person had come in, they were gone. I waited a few breaths after the door was closed to make sure that they were gone for real before I opened my eyes fully or even thought about moving. When I was sure Sam and I were alone I slid from the bed and quietly walked over to where Sam sat, his hulking form leaning against the wall, head lolling to one side, hair falling across his eyes making him look vulnerable despite his size. I hesitated for a split second and then reached to place my hand on his shoulder. I shook him gently at first, "Sam. Sam wake up. Can you hear me?" Sam groaned and slowly raised his head. His hazel eyes were unfocused and his pupils were blown. "Sam it's me, Nikola. Sam can you hear me?", I was trying to be quiet. Sam's almond shaped eyes blinked slowly and he shook his head slightly, "Nikola?", he said huskily. My only answer was a small nod before I felt a tear trickle down my face.
Sam reached out to touch my face and it was then that he realized he was tied up. He was able to touch my cheek but the rope was tied tightly around his wrist. I suspected he would have a little freedom to move as I did. He was finally able to speak, "Are you ok? They haven't hurt you have they?" He began to look me over, inspecting me. When he saw the blood on the collar of my shirt he looked suddenly angry. Reaching out, he pulled my collar back to see the wound on my neck. It was not as bad as the blood looked but I had clearly been fed on. The tears slipped down my cheeks unchecked now, "What is that Sam?" His eyes looked to my face then and softened, "They're vampires. They haven't asked you to drink from them have they?" I shook my head, "They have only fed from me as far as I know. There were two of them. I heard them talking but I was too groggy to open my eyes to look at them." Sam tried to stand then and nearly fell. I reached out to try and steady him which probably looked really funny. Sliding up under his arm I placed my own arm around his waist as best I could with our restraints and helped him over to the bed.
Sam sat down hard on the bed, pulling me with him from the force. I quickly untangled myself from his ropes and sat up. Sam groaned as I turned toward him, "You're not doing so good. Why don't you rest?" Sam tried to protest and I shook my head, "No don't argue with me. We can't do anything. We're trapped here. Just lay back and rest for a little while. We'll share the bed." Finally Sam nodded, I could see his eyes soften in the near darkness and then he lay back. I lay down beside him and he pulled me into his arms, "I'm going to get us out of here. Dean knows I was coming to look for you so he'll be looking for us too. I'm sure he'll know I'm missing when my horse shows back up in the town without me." I fought back tears and snuggled into Sam's side. He pulled me close and we soon drifted off to sleep.