Chapter three

"Let's check it out", Eleanor suggested. "Please mi ladies let's stick together, I'll be done with the wheel soon".

"We wouldn't take long", Eleanor said and turned towards the other ladies. "Let's take it as a test of courage, who wishes to chicken out could stay with the carriage man while I have the adventure of a life time. I heard rich greedy people hide their gold here", Eleanor grin. At the mention of gold the ladies eyes lit up, they hesitated but agreed to go along with her.

The ladies ventured into the woods, They walked for a distance before Nancy finally broke the silence.

"I think we should head back now, I'm feeling uncomfortable",

"Chicken", Eleanor chuckled.

"Is my imagination running wild... is that a cave?", a lady asked shivering. "Let's check it out, I also heard the rich hide gold in caves", Eleanor said gesturing them to enter.

"It's too dark here", "Here I found some old flammable woods", Eleanor did a flame spell and the woods end lit up. The other ladies held the torches.

They walked deeper into the cave until they stubbled upon something, a wooden Coffin laid before them.

Eleanor blew off the pile of dust on it with a quick spell. "There's a spell on it, bounding whatever is inside forever unless a black mage breaks it with their blood", Eleanor whispered as she traced the craved signs on the old coffin.

A wooden splinter pierced her finger, a drop of blood dropped on the coffin. "I don't think it's nice disturbing the dead one's sleep", Nancy said pulling Eleanor by her arm.

"The person is really greedy to be buried with treasures, the spell is binding valuable things", Eleanor explained.

"And also a powerful creature Eleanor", Nancy voice shook. Eleanor's voice caught on her throat, creaking sound echoed as the lit slowly opened.

The creature sat up.

Dried skin, bones and green veins visible. It eyes were barely open.

The eyes socket deep... hairless, skull showing.

"Ah finally, fresh air", It said savoring the sensation. "Now am hungry", Fangs elongate.

"You released an ancient vampire, quickly seal it", Nancy screamed in fear.

Eleanor started murmuring a spell.

Bony fingers wrapped around her neck. Fear apparent in my eyes. "Not so fast". It sank it fangs into her neck and it drank her blood hungrily.

The other ladies rushed away from the feeding vampire to find the exist.

"Please help us", Nancy breathe out as she saw the old carriage man at the entrance of the cave.

"Am sorry, I take orders directly from my lord", he said as he transformed into a younger man not older than twenty years.

"A shapeshifter, a creature of the night", Nancy breathe out shaken at the sudden change of event.

"We all are, especially my lord", he gave her a polite smile.

"Ah my guests, leaving so soon?", they turned to the direction the voice sounded from.

The dried and cracked skin peeling off to reveal a paler skin. Red eyes and blonde hair.

One hand held the head of Eleanor.

The ladies screamed at the sight. "How much I hate black mages", he spat out throwing the dripping head on the dirty ground.

"Grey, go wake my army", he instructed.

Grey caught hold of the lady closer to him and dragged her further into the cave. Her screams faded the deeper he dragged her into the cave.

****

"Do you think they loved the central empire so much that they eloped with their lovers, they haven't contacted us in two weeks". Kate said as they ate lunch.

That was the topic of the day.

"Eleanor has so much pride, she is not someone that would be so narrow minded", Jada replied munching on her meal.

"Fair point", Kate agreed.

"Jada, the tea is finished, go get some herbs", Senior Alanna pushed a basket in her arms.

"Hmm alright", She stood up.

"Can I accompany you?", "maybe next time", Jada said before walking out of the dining hall.

Kate sighs.

Standing up. She decided to check the nursery where she was to water the flowers.

Picking a watering can, she walked into the nursery. "Senior Kate, I just watered the plants" Stacy said.

"Oh! I never imagine you'll do my duty, I owe you one", Kate breathed out.

Jada knows how much she hates working. Stacy walked past her. Since she didn't have much to do, she decided to spend the remaining hours in her room.

She walked past Madam Amelia's room when she heard something crashed.

"What do you mean Lady Isabel was found dead and why am I getting this now?", Madam Amelia fumed.

The door was slightly opened. Kate took a peep into the room. Madam Amelia was pacing around the room, Senior Alanna stood at a corner. There were other people in the room, people Kate rarely see... Members of the higher ups.

Some seated while others stood.

"Don't you think we should run with vessel", A man said.

"If he sees us, he wouldn't spare anyone of us. Running away would be wise", An elderly suggested.

Madam Amelia sighed. "But not wise with a large number, let's split", She said.

"Where's she?", She turned to Alanna.

"She's not in the institution", she said with her head down.

"You fool!", Madam Amelia raised her hand to hit her but her hand was held mid air.

"I wouldn't stand you touching my lady in front of me, Amelia", A man growled.

Madam Amelia jerked her hand away. "Animals", she spat out.

She turned to her table picking some old scattered parchments. Senior Alanna suddenly walked towards the window. There was a commotion outside, people were running.

"They are here", She whispered which everyone caught.

Kate quickly backed out. The village was under attack she needs to find Jada before the others did. They could escape together. She ran through the back door.

Taking a secret portal a few ladies knew. She came out of an alley in the village.

There were dead bodies everywhere she looked at.

Fear creeped into her. "Please Jada be safe", She prayed silently. She ran in a distance people kept running away from men riding high horses. She bumped into someone, she breathed out as she saw it was Jada who was in one piece.

"Let's run out of this village, these men would kill anything on their way", She held her arm as they ran opposite direction, away from the crowd.

They followed another alley. Believing they would be out after a few turns but they got disappointed when they found themselves in the middle of the village.

"This place is under a spell, no one can get out", Kate gasped in realization.

"There's no such thing as magic", Jada said. She doesn't seem to understand what Kate meant by spell.

"Let's hurry. Hide the caster would surely remove it when there's no sign of a living thing. The caster would surely leave".

"Kate you are not making any sense...", Jada stopped mid sentence when they heard a sharp scream. They avert their gaze.