Part three: Fear

I woke in the night to the sound of an eerie, undulating cry of a night creature that I was completely unfamiliar with, coming from a great manor that was filled with hustle and bustle by day and the comforting sounds of crickets and the soft whinnying of the horses by night. No such comfort greeted my ears tonight, as I opened my window and peeked out between the shutters to glimpse the full moon slicing through the cold dark like a sharp knife through butter. Once more, the unnatural call came to my ears from somewhere to the east of the inn…curious now, I made to climb through my window and out onto the long veranda that ran the length of the second-floor hall.

Without warning, a form dashed into the open, large and nearly indistinguishable from the trees' shadows around the outside of the building. Freezing all movement, I watched…and waited.

The figure halted abruptly, crouched on all fours looking for all the world as though a large canine out on the prowl for a mate...or prey. Watching as it lifted a face to the moon, I expected the creature to have the snout of a wolf the way it seemed to be sniffing the air for scent of spoor. Waving its head back and forth, it seemed to be looking for something. Scenting the air seemed to have a calming effect on the unfortunate creature, because it crouched low and dropped its desperate snuffling, sitting so still that it seemed to be merely dozing now, readying itself for that long winters sleep…

A soft humming came from the kitchen area and a young servant girl came out of the open door to throw out some dish water. The inhuman creature sharply collected himself and waited in the shadows…dancing lightly on his feet…waiting…waiting. I was temporarily distracted by the sound of her feet in the courtyard below, then…they were both gone. A moment later, an ungodly scream rent the silence in two before being abruptly cut off, and I knew…the gods help me, I knew that she was in mortal danger. It returned with her in its arms, mouth smeared with a viscous substance, and her throat gaping open with grievous wounds.

A scream threatened to make its way out of my throat, but instinct had me fighting it…however, sound must have escaped my lips, for the creature froze and its head snapped up…and we locked gazes for an eternal moment.

Stumbling away from the horror that assailed my eyes, I nearly fell to my knees twice in the attempt to crawl back through my window to escape the hideous tableau…

With a ghastly snarl, the beast flung the dead girl from his grasp and leapt nearly vertically to the second-floor balcony, only feet from where I stood, frozen with horror at what I had seen. Yet for all the terror I felt for that pitiful child, it was nothing compared to what I faced now on the other side of the glass…for the monster that stared me down wore a pallor akin to death, and its eyes…oh, dear god…its eyes shone like silver medallions in the reflection of the moonrise. The beast's gait was the stalking of predator closing in on his prey and, trying to escape fate, I slammed my window down…attempting in vain to lock it in the futile attempt to keep the monster at bay.

Frantic sobs burst forth from my mouth as I worked, cutting my tender flesh on the rusty bolt when he leaped through the glass pane, snarling like the wolf he resembled. Crying out in fear, I fell back, striking my head against the floor…hard enough to lose consciousness for a brief moment…coming to only when fetid breath washed over my face.

Gazing up into mad, malicious eyes, I waited for death.

Part Four: Salvation

It seemed an eternity passed as we lay frozen in our impasse, locked in an obscene parody of the marriage bed. My life, which heretofore had seemed to me short and mostly uneventful, now seemed to be stretching out before me as though on the canvas of some mad artist's rendering. Minute details called forth images and emotions I'd thought long dead and buried, my mother's death became as recent as the day before, rather than the many years which had now passed. My father's complete and utter rejection, likewise were another vise, squeezing my heart until I must break, or bleed from within. Grief, hot and thick, swelled within my bosom…threatening to choke the very life out of me before the beast could its way.

Unable to bear the weight of it any longer, break I did. With soul rending sobs that burst forth from the deepest well of sorrow, I…I gave in to despair and wished only for death. Perhaps then, at last, I would find the ultimate cessation of the pain and loneliness.

The creature must have sensed my acquiescence for it let loose a triumphant howl, and lunged in for the kill. Automatically stiffening in response, I closed my eyes and waited for the agony of those ripping, shredding teeth. Then, a horrifying snarl came from somewhere over my head, followed by an eerie hiss. To my astonishment, the snarl formed itself into words inside my mind, although no words were spoken aloud.

"Catch your own tasty treat Vladislav, this one is mine…"

Coldly amused, a rich baritone answered, "And what will you do to stop me, Dragos, hmmm? Attack?" the voice seemed to circle us, and I felt the beast tense in response. A whisper floated down above my head. "Do you really think you can defeat me, Dragos? How very amusing! Turn the human loose, my good friend, and let us begin!"

Goaded beyond all possible reasoning, the animal on top of me roared, blasting the room with a cacophony of noise that had me crying out and jerking my hands up over my ears to cover them. It leapt for the other and I flung myself to the side of the room and curled into a ball attempting to escape all notice. There were snarls, growls, and inhuman sounds ricocheting off the walls and around the room. Blood splattered, the warm droplets splashed onto my hand and I stared at them, transfixed and unable to look away while the battle raged on around me.

Quiet finally stole into the room after Vladislav destroyed the creature with a final, irreversible, break to its neck. Taking huge, deep breaths he tried to calm himself before he approached Evangeline…and approach her he must. She could be injured. He had wanted, desired to, put off this meeting until the morrow, when he could give her time and attention…after he had been able to feed. Even now, he knew that he should seek out some nourishment, just so she wouldn't tempt him so…

He shook his head, no time for that. They needed to be gone from this place right away. He strode quickly to her and crouched, taking in her, pale face, her fixed blank stare. Tenderly, he reached out an elegant hand and stroked her soft cheek, tucking a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear.

Wordlessly, he communicated, "Dragostea mea (1), we must go. Come, beloved…I will keep you safe. You will come to no harm while I am near. Forgive me for not coming to you in time to prevent this, dulceata (2)."

He rose, lifting her unresponsive form gently and silently stalked into the night.

1. My lovely one…

2. Sweet one