The lamp is set low but it’s just enough for me to read over the letter I have penned to my father.
Dearest father,
The weather is starting to turn here now. Days grow shorter and the nights colder. My English is coming along well as you can see. I am now able to read and write it fluently. I am still struggling with the been able to speak it, however. The town is doing well and we received your last shipment earlier than expected. I so wish I could join you in America. The sights you must be seeing whilst there. But I know it is my duty to stay here and look over the estate. That reminds me, I have exciting news father. Arianna is pregnant. The doctor said she is four months. I’m excited and nervous about becoming a father. I wish you were here for I could surely use your guidance. The other piece of news I must give you is of a more disturbing nature. It seems we have a killer in the town. Three bodies have turned up in the last two months. They were all torn to pieces and has strange marks as if they had been devoured. The watch is working tirelessly to bring this matter to a close as soon as possible. People in town have taken to calling this killer the beast as he eats his victims. Even claiming to have seen a large animal stalking that high moors. It is nothing but fear and superstition driving such nonsense. I have no doubt that it is a man we are searching for. A deranged man but a man just the same. I hope both you and mother are in good health and will return soon. You are sorely missed. Well anyway, father it is getting late and I must be rise early on the morrow to send this letter and continue the search for this killer.
Yours sincerely
Pierre
After reading over my letter for the final time I sprinkle some sand on it, before rolling it up and sealing it with wax and my seal. Placing the letter on my desk I stand up and stretch. Looking to my bed I feel a rush of love at the woman sleeping there. Walking over I sit down next to her and brush her blonde hair off her face. Even though I was gentle she still wakes and looks up at me.
“Pierre?”
“Yes, my love. I am sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep.”
“Will you be coming to bed.”
“Very soon my love. I just need to pack away my desk first.” With a smile, she closes her eyes and before too long her breathing becomes even again as she falls back to sleep. Walking back to my desk I quickly pack up my writing tools and prepare to myself for bed. As I’m about to close my draw I hear a sound that sends chills running up my spine. A deep howling sounds from outside followed by a woman’s scream. Pulling my pistol from the desk draw I start to walk towards the window. A shadow covers the window for a brief moment before it exploded inwards. Standing in the moonlight is a creature that I’ve never seen before. I raise my pistol and it roars and leaps at me.
-
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The thin blade pressed against my chest doesn’t really give me the safe feeling It should. Dressed in plain jeans, dress shoes, white tee and my fake leather jacket I feel nervous walking the city streets. I turn down a random alleyway and almost walk into a lady of the night.
“Sorry miss,” I mumble.
“That’s ok sweetie. Are you alone tonight? Care for a little company?”
As she speaks my senses seem to dull and I find myself walking towards her. She steps forward and I can smell her perfume and it just about overwhelms me. She embraces me and kisses the side of my neck. I feel a small intake of breath from her and I slip my right hand into my jacket.
“Could you do me one small favour before we start?” I whisper to her.
“What’s that honey?”
“Die.” I move fast before she can react. Grabbing her throat with my left hand I drive her back into the wall and pull the blade from my jacket. She opens her mouth to scream but before she can I drive the blade home into her heart. Light fills her mouth and she bursts into blue flame. Within seconds she’s gone. Not even leaving a scorch mark behind to know she was ever there. With a deep breath and shaking hands, I go to put the blade back into my jacket but I’m stopped by the sound of heels clicking further down the laneway. Looking towards the sound another lady comes into view. Wiping blood off her chin she looks directly at me.
“That was a mistake boy. I’m going to enjoy tearing you apart.” As she finishes she snarls and her fingernails become sharpened claws. Launching towards me she covers the ground quickly. It takes a split second for me to know there’s not enough time to dodge. Reaching I open myself up to the power inside me. Fangs replace two upper teeth and the darkness turns bright. I move swiftly and stop the first slash by catching her wrist. Looking into my face in surprise she wrenches her wrist free and leaps back.
“Dhampir scum.” She snarls. Taking another step back she leans forwards and then jerks backward. Wings explode from her back tearing her dress to pieces. Readying my blade I prepare to charge. A shot rings out and she looks in surprise at the hole in her chest. Silently screaming she bursts into blue flame. A man dressed in black walks through where she was standing. Holstering his revolver he turns and speaks in my direction.
“Hmm, I didn’t expect there to be two. Are you ok boy?” I don’t reply as I’m assaulted by energy. Turning around I can see and feel the life of the city flowing out in every direction. I hit the ground hard and lose my grip on the power. As it fades away I taste blood. Looking up I see the man slowly lowering his fist.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean…” Holding up his hand he cuts me off.
“It’s alright lad. Let’s go home.” Taking his offered hand I get to my feet and together we walk out the alleyway. We climb into a car parked around the corner and take off into the night.
-
The screaming had long since faded to silence as she climbs from her hiding place. Taking her first steps across the floor in what seemed like hours, she suddenly slips and falls hard. Landing in sticky wetness she rolls over and stares into the old ladies lifeless eyes. Covering her mouth, she tries desperately to stifle the scream rising in her throat. With a small sob, she gets to her feet. The stench of iron fills her nostrils and a cold breeze blows through a nearby opening g window chilling her to the bone. Carefully picking her way across the room she does t look down at the bodies that lie around, or at the blood dripping off the walls. Finally making her way through the open front door and onto the old wooden porch she begins to allow herself to grieve. Tears streaming down her face she makes her away around the porch. As reaches the other end a fist comes out of the darkness, striking her in the face. Falling to the ground, blood fills her mouth. Before she can even comprehend what’s going on, a boot catches her in the stomach and she gets thrown through the air landing heavily on the grass. Stepping down onto the ground he sits on the porch and brandishes a knife. Looking up at the blood dripping from it she gets to her feet and clears her mouth.
“Well now. I always knew you was a tough bitch girl, but damn, I put all my effort into that punch. Anywho, how you been? Van misses you so much he’d like to invite you back home. Seen as the people you was staying with all got dead I figure you’ll be accepting his courteous offer.” At his words, anger boils up inside her. From her feet and around her, wind starts to swirl. Within seconds it starts tearing up the ground near where she stands. Getting to his feet the man begins to laugh.
“Now now girl. We both know you ain’t gonna….” his words and laughter cut off as she begins to charge. The air around her begins to shimmer like a heat haze. From it, armour begins to appear and quickly covers her whole body. Moments later the wind stops. Standing in the middle of a burnt circle is the girl fully covered in armour. Looking like a metallic angel she lifts her hands and claws as sharp as knives flick out from her fingers with barely a whisper. Licking his lips nervously the man reaches behind his belt slowly and draws out a second knife. Not waiting for her to move he throws the first knife. Stepping to the side she dodges it easily. Panicking he hurls the second blade at her. Deflecting it she covers the ground to him in an instant, before he has a chance to reach for the gun strapped to his hip. With a snarl, she drives her hand through his chest. Wrenching her hand back she watches his heart feebly beating in her hand. Crushing it she shakes the blood off as his collapses on the ground behind her. With a flap of her wings, she takes to the skies, disappearing into the moonlit night within moments.
-
The wind rushing through my hair, and the giant wings flapping next to me, have a calming effect. Opening my eyes I tilt my head back and look past the saddle at the base of the neck and to the head of the dragon whose back I’m lying on. Turning his head to meet my eye he snorts and a small puff of smoke comes from his nostrils. Catching his mood I sit up and carefully climb back into my saddle.
“What’s the matter with you?” I ask him. Giving a low roar he shakes his head. Picking up his meaning I reply.
“I don’t want to go either Tal but this is required of us and you know it.” With another puff from his nostrils, he turns his head back to the front. With a sigh, I climb back out of my saddle and go back to laying on his back looking up at the clouds. There’s no place that feels more like home than this place here. His red bronze scales are warm underneath my hand and clothing. It’s thanks to this that I’m able to lay here without wearing my normal insulated armour. My name is Mirial Evonia and I am a dragon rider. And we are heading to the Drigtasser Assembly And everything I hate about being the daughter of a clan chief -
Hi guys,
I’d just like to start by saying welcome to my page. Here you will find various stories that I’ve written. For short stories, have a look through the Short Stories Category. For my more extensive works click on the Stories link in the navigation menu. I hope you enjoy your time here and don’t forget to leave me a message with your thoughts at the bottom of the post.
