4 Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Other than a brief stop to feed and water the horses, we travelled through the night.

Now as the sun begins to rise in the distance, we approach our destination.

Thankfully I had the carriage to myself, it means I was able to be alone with my thoughts and it also means there are fewer people who know of my whereabouts.

In all the time I've been in this carriage, I haven't once thought to ask where we're headed, it looks like I'm about to find out.

As we reach the city gate, a guard greets us asks to see the coaches travel papers. After a few moments of rustling in his pocket, the driver presents the guard with a parchment. The guard inspects the parchment closely and then looks at the driver, then me. Satisfied, he signals for the gate to be raised. "Welcome to Avilin," he says.

Avilin. As in AVILIN?!!! What have I gotten myself into?

Avilin is our country's capital and despite being home to the king, darker creatures are living within his realm. Even in a town as small as ours, rumours of the creatures that dwell in Avilin reached us. Vampires. Vampires are said to have been around since the beginning of time and that it was them who built our towns and cities. We are their main source of sustenance, of course, they would build a pen for their livestock. However, through the years their numbers were thought to have dwindled. From what I've read, vampires can only be born, not created and female vampires are a rare thing in the vampire world. That would explain the lack of new vampires, but not them dying out, after all, they are supposed to be immortal. Perhaps, despite their heightened attributes, there are still things that can kill vampires.

Compared to vampires, we humans are weak...breakable. We are a food source, nothing more and their appetite can only be satiated by human blood…

Still, I can't help but feel empathy towards them, how lonely it must be to live an eternity, watching your species die out and not be able to do anything about it. Everything I know about vampires is from rumours and books, I wonder what they're really like- I hope I don't find out.

I'm pulled back from my thoughts as the gate rises and we begin to move.

Moving through the city, I see people setting up stalls, shops opening, taverns with candles still lit and in the distance, I can see the castle. I've never seen anything like Avilin. It's much bigger than my home town and the shops look a lot fancier. Even the stalls as they are set up look upscale. There's a world of difference to be seen here, and it seems that I am here to see it.

The driver stops once we reach the coach station. "Here we are Missy, Avilin Station".

"Thank you," I say, getting out of the coach. "I know this may sound odd, but please, if anyone asks you if you've seen me…" my voice trails off.

"No need to worry Missy, that was a one time journey for me, my route is normally to the south," he informs me.

I smile and nod a farewell.

Walking through the city, I notice there are a lot of people looking at me. I guess even in a city of vampires, there's no one with red hair.

The smell of freshly baked bread from a nearby bakery makes my stomach grumble. I'm pretty hungry, but I gave all of my money to the coachman, though I doubt what I gave him was enough to pay for this journey.

OK, Crimson, no one knows you here, in a city this big you're bound to find a job. I need to keep my spirits high.

By lunchtime, I've tried all of the wash houses and dry cleaners to no avail. Next on the agenda are stores and if that doesn't work out I'll try the taverns.

I enter a store called 'Beatrice's Boutique'. A plump lady with curly blonde hair and red cheeks greets me."Oh my" she flusters "hello there dearie, how can I help you today".

"Good day mam" I greet her "I was wondering if you have any positions available in your store, or maybe you know of somewhere hiring".

She looks me up and down. "Such a beautiful young woman," she says "those eyes, and that hair, I've never seen anything like it in all my years. It's like looking at a field of poppies in bloom, a pretty sight to behold ".

"Thank you" I blush, no one has ever complimented me before and never has my hair been referred to anything remotely resembling a compliment.

"I'm sorry dear, I'm fully staffed," she says, offering me a small shrug.

"A lot of the stores around here are family run businesses duckie, they're not often hiring".

I thank her "I appreciate your help, I need to keep looking through". I turn towards the exit, ready to leave when she speaks again.

"If I'm honest, women only seem to find work in brothels around here and a rare beauty like you, with such unique features would be snapped up in a heartbeat. However, I really think a girl like you can do much better." looking around to make sure no one is listening, she continues in a whisper "I'm sure if you ask at the castle, they'll have something for you".

I nod and walk out the door.

A beauty like me? I think the lady must need her eyes testing. So my options are to be a whore in a brothel or to look for work at the castle, probably as a whore…

Before I have to decide, I'll give the taverns a try first.

As the sun goes down and night sets in, I am famished. I haven't been this hungry in a while and running around Avilin looking for a job doesn't help with the hunger. Still, I have bigger problems.

Despite my best efforts, I've not been able to find a job. All of the taverns are fully staffed and it's not surprising in a city this busy, but it is disappointing nonetheless. Now I have to reconsider my options. I don't think I'd get on very well in a brothel, my reflexes for self-preservation are too strong, I'd probably get in trouble for hurting someone. I wouldn't mind working in the castle, as long as it's not as apart of some harem. I'd do well cleaning and cooking, perhaps even working in the garden...

I've gotten caught up in thought again. I sigh audibly. Looking at my surroundings, I realise that I've wandered away from the hustle and bustle of the city and down a dimly lit street. Shit, I think I'm lost. Unfortunately, there's no one around that I can ask for directions and all of the building are blacked out. I can probably retrace my steps. As I turn around and begin to head back the way I've come, I begin to hear muffled screams.