Chapter 2: Life After Death

The sound of horse hooves rumbles the dirt path as they pull a small wagon. They had been traveling for quite some time since the morning. It was now closer to sunset. An older woman sat on the front seat, weaving a basket to pass the time while the older man beside her directed the horses.

"Do you think we should stop at the next village and rest for the night?" She spoke to him without looking up. "I'm sure there is a cottage inn."

The man sighed, wiping his hand over his face. "I suppose so. We have never been this far out of the kingdom." He flicked the ropes around the horses to pick up the pace.

"Tis your daughter whom wished to marry and move to the kingdom of Mobley." She added. "Did you ever receive another letter since some time ago?"

"Nay." He answered. He was worried that his daughter hadn't written a letter since some time now, six to seven months. He thought it was time to pay her a visit.

The woman turned around to look at the young girl sitting in the back of the wagon with their belongings. "Katerina, pass me the cloth map please." The young girl rummaged through a few things before hand the aunt a map.

She opened it and narrowed her eyes, "There should be a village just ahead." The uncle nodded and continued to hurry the horses forward. After passing through an open field, a thick wooded area surrounded the path. By this time it had passed sunset and the moon, crickets and owls accompanied them now.

"Aunt Annie I am growing tired." Katerina sat up straight and placed her small hands in her lap. She was a young English girl, just passing the age of of seventeen. Her legs were long and slender to give her an average womanly height like her mother. Although neither of her parents have it that she could remember, Katerina was blessed with the genes of ginger red hair. Her eyes were hazel like her father but she had small, slightly noticeable freckles covering her upper cheek bones and nose.

"We will be at the next village soon, dear." Aunt Annie turned to smile at her. The area seemed so much different once they entered the forested path. It was dark, a small fog and very silent.

The horses began to become spooked and slowly stopped in their tracks. "Cursed horses, move along!" Her uncle flicked the ropes but the horses were increasing in noise and stomped the ground.

"Uncle Kieran? What is going on?" Katerina stood up in the wagon, feeling a bit scared. Her aunt and uncle stepped down to calm the horses but they wouldn't.

Sudden noises came from the wooded area around them with twigs breaking and leaves rustling.

"Who's there?" Her uncle raised his voice.

"I believe you have wandered into the wrong kingdom." A voice hissed, someone flashing to stand in the middle of the path in front of them.

"W-who are you.." Annie was shaken with fear. She began to walk back to her niece but another flash appeared to grip the woman by her throat.

"Aunt Annie!" Katerina's eyes widened as she witnessed her aunt's neck snap. The Vampire then began to suck the very life from her until there was nothing left.

"Katerina, ru-" her uncle was cut off when his very heart was ripped from his torso.

Living in fear, Katerina stumbled out of the wagon and began to push her legs to run. Picking up her dress so she wouldn't fall.

One of the vampires chuckled in the distance but immediately appeared in front of her that forced her to fall backwards to the ground.

"Please! Spare me!" She stared at the monster, their eyes were pitch black and filled with hunger. Just as it was about to lunge at her, "Wait." The other spoke.

"What is it?!" It licked its lips, growling underneath it's breath.

The other vampire knelt down in front of her, caressing her cheek. With a smile forming on its lips, "I think we might have ourselves a little gem."