3 Old Legends

A/N: I really don't know anything about Pennsylvania other than what I've researched, so if what I write here is seriously wrong, I apologize.

I shouldn't even be writing today. It's the fifth time I've caught the Covid variant. It's not as hellish as the first time, but still, my throat is raw and sore, my head hurts, and I should be resting.

But as I am a good Samaritan, I decided to write for your sake. You are welcome.

Sorry that's a lie, I wrote it because I want head pats and compliments.

__________

Looking at the beautiful blue sky on the horizon, I sigh wearily as I sit on a rock in the same position as The Thinker statue.

You know, it wasn't that hard to get out of the crypt. The stone door simply shattered and crumbled to dust under my touch for some reason. After that, I had to squeeze my way out because it seemed that at some point, the ceiling caved in, leaving only a small gap to exit, which I luckily managed to use to escape.

I was all happy and silly, thinking that on the way out I would find myself in some very old cemetery in my city or something. The truth couldn't be more disappointing. When I finally had make it out, what I see is not a cemetery or a city, but a forest.

I looked around, and I realized that I was at the foot of a mountain and that the place I came out of actually led into a small passageway to inside it.

Yeah, no cemetery, no civilization, just me and nature. Did I mention that I'm completely naked? No? So let me say this, I'm naked. Not only naked, but I'm completely covered in dirt and grime, and I'm pretty sure my face is smeared with dried blood from my last 'meal'.

In short, I'm naked, completely covered in dirt and blood, and I'm lost in a forest who knows where. Great!

But you know, the really weird thing is that, as scared and confused as I am, I'm actually relatively calm, at least by the standards of a modern teenager. I'm sure I would be losing my mind right now, but I'm not. I think that's good, losing your head in such a situation would be very bad, even more so in an unknown forest.

Well, let's put it aside for now. First I need some answers.

How did I end up in a crypt inside a mountain?

How long have I been there?

Who did this to me?

Why am I naked?

I really don't remember anything after I went to sleep. Kidnapping maybe? I guess not, I lived on the top floor of a rich people's apartment building with very tight security, so the chances of kidnapping are pretty low. Besides, what kind of kidnapper would place a victim inside a coffin in an ancient crypt?

Hm. Perhaps instead of being sleep paralysis, this is something like a lucid dream? Nah, the pain I felt when I hit my head would have woken me up.

I spent some more time racking my brain, trying to figure out an answer. I could feel that there was only one piece of the puzzle missing, but I couldn't figure out what was it.

It was then that I remembered. Before going to sleep, I played with my cell phone. It was just a meaningless moment, not worth remembering. But in that insignificant moment, there was something different that had caught my attention.

The Character Sheet.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Pfft! Yes, of course, sure! As if that had anything to do with it! What a beautiful imagination A..."

"A..."

"A...?"

"Wait, what... Why can't I remember my name?"

"A....Av...Avr...R-Rosalie...? Wait, this is not my name...That's the name of...My...Character...," my voice shook as I finished saying those words. It was then that I realized something I hadn't noticed before, or rather, I just ignored it after leaving the crypt.

My body…wasn't the same as before. Before, I had short brunette hair, and I was relatively tall for my age, at 1.72m tall. My body was athletic and my skin was tanned.

Now, I have long hair that, no matter how dirty it is, it's hard to ignore its white color and its long length - I've even stepped on it a few times inside the cript. I also noticed that I am now smaller in size, at least half a foot less than my original size, and the lean muscles I built up during years of adventure and sport are gone, leaving a slim and delicate body. My skin, my beautiful tanned skin, is now completely pale as if I've never been in the sun in my life.

And last but not least, I could feel something in my mouth that had been bothering me from the beginning, that I knew was there, but I also had ignored it, until now.

I have fangs.

I HAVE FANGS!!

__________

I was hysterical for a while, but it didn't take long for me to calm down.

What? Indeed, it's not often that someone transforms into the character they created and wakes up in an ancient crypt, that's true, but what can I do about it?

Exactly, absolutely nothing! So there's no reason for me to freak out about it.

Now my concern is different. It's getting dark, and as much as I'm a vampire now, I feel weak as hell, so I really need to find somewhere to stay for the night.

Actually...Let's rewind this...I'm a vampire, right? So why am I scared of the night? I AM a creature of the night!

And also...

I am hungry...

I want to eat....!

__________

Pennsylvania / Renovo / Y1938

It was morning in the State of Pennsylvania, United States. And on this particular day, many were feeling happy and excited that hunting season was finally open! Many locals, tourists, and old hunters were waiting for this time of year.

And of those people, one family was especially excited.

The Andersons - a family that has a long legacy of being hunters since four hundred years ago.

And this same family was in a jeep on the way to some of the hunting spots in Sproul State Forest, the largest forest territory in the state of Pennsylvania.

"Dad, are we there yet?" David, the youngest of the Anderson family, asked with a bored sigh.

"No, David, we're not there yet, and you've asked this at least two hundred times. This is a trip for just the three of us, the men in the family. Could you please be patient?" Henry, his father, who is driving, replied in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Tsk, leave the kid alone. You were like that too when you were younger, if not worse! Ha!" Benjamin, Henry's father, and David's grandfather,responded to the side with a snort.

"Well, I can't deny it." Henry laughed. "Still, if he wants to be a hunter, David needs to learn patience, the same way I did."

"Heh, look at'chu, talking like an old hunter when you can't even catch a rabbit!" Benjamin laughed with sarcasm.

Henry rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, Dad. I'm still a hunter in my diapers, I know. You always say this to me every season when we go hunting."

"It's still true!" Benjamin responded with a shrug. Turning back to his grandson, Benjamin saw that he seemed completely uninterested in the hunt, which was normal as kids his age usually like other things.

But there was something that every child liked - old stories and tales.

Returning his gaze to the road, Benjamin began his plan.

"You know, I don't think I ever told you this, son, but these forests, especially these ones, carry with them an ancient and unholy legend."

"A legend..? No, I don't think you ever told me that." Henry raised his eyebrows in curiosity as he kept his eyes on the road.

"I never told you... Because it's dangerous." Benjamin said mysteriously. Looking out of the corner of his eye, Benjamin sees that his grandson has heard him, and seems to want to hear more.

"Dangerous? Come on, Dad. I'm too old to believe in superstitions," Henry replied with a laugh.

"Why is it dangerous, Grandpa?" out of nowhere, David appears behind Benjamin's seat.

"Ah...It's an old, very, very old Tale. A tale that has been passed down from generation to generation among the oldest residents of Renovo. The legend of Dracula!" Benjamin said with suspense.

David crosses his arms in clear disappointment. "Dracula? But I've seen Dracula in the movie!"

"Movie?" Benjamin then chuckled, trying to sound mysterious and scary. "I'm not talking about Dracula from films! But the real one!"

"Wasn't Dracula a Count named Vlad Drakul? I remember my history classes, Dad. Just because we live in Pennsylvania doesn't mean I'm going to believe in Dracula fairy tales." Henry laughed, finding his dad's attempts to scare them funny.

"Oh no, my son! The story I'm talking about is different. One much older than the Count. Actually, It is said that Count Dracula came from a family that worshiped Dracula!"

For a second, Henry almost told his dad to tell that story later, since he was paying attention to the road. But seeing his son so interested in this out of the corners of his eyes, he remained silent - but had a subtle smile on his face.

"Really?! So who was Dracula, Grandpa?" David asked excitedly.

"It's not who, but what, it was Dracula! Its origin is unknown, but according to the songs and ancient legends, Dracula was born from the night itself and from the stars, so in the legends, she is described as The First Daughter of the Night!" Benjamin narrated with fervor, making his grandson more and more interested.

"First Daughter?" David asked, confused. "Was Dracula a woman?"

"Hehe, not exactly, my grandson. The ancient natives who lived in these lands a long time ago described Dracula's appearance in their songs. There is no exact translation of the song, but it went something like this:

Daughter of the Night and the Stars, the First.

Hair and Body made of Stars.

Eyes of the color of life that devour the soul.

Have mercy, firstborn.

For in the night, we fall into your reign.

Your heart that bleeds for us.

And we bleed for you."

Benjamin finished the song and looked at his grandson, who had a confused expression. "Grandpa, this is really a bad song. It doesn't even rhyme!"

Benjamin hit David on his head and snorted. "You brat! I said that this song doesn't have an exact translation, besides it's a song that's not from our language! Of course, it won't rhyme!"

David massaged his head, muttering about his grandfather being an ugly idiot.

"Do you want to hear the rest of the story or not?"

Sullenly, David muttered, "Yes..."

"Where did I stop? Oh yes, about her appearance. As the song says, she looks like a woman, a woman of indescribable beauty, but she's not one. She is an entity, a creature of darkness."

"Like the bogeyman?"

"Exactly! Like the bogeyman!"This time, Benjamin stroked his grandson's head. "But the difference is that, unlike the bogeyman, Dracula was worshiped as a pagan deity, and they said that worshiping his name brought security at night against other creatures of darkness, because in his domains, not even the bogeyman dares to enter!"

Benjamin continued, "And according to the old natives, all these lands belonged to Dracula a long, long time ago. However, one day, Dracula simply disappeared!"

"She disappeared? Why?"

"That, my grandson, nobody knows. But they say she still prowls these forests in search of something. Maybe..."

"Maybe...?"

"Maybe she's looking for YOU!" Benjamin grabbed his grandson, who screamed in fright.

"Buhahahaha!" Benjamin burst out laughing, and Henry at his side too. "I got you good!"

"Not funny! Not funny at all!" David shouted, irritated with his grandfather.

"We've arrived," Henry commented. "And looks like we're the first ones."

David commemorated, happy to finally get out of the jeep and stretch his legs, and Benjamin picked up his rifle from his lap, ready for a good hunting season.