The night grew colder and colder by the minute. And the sobbing got louder and louder by the second. I cried too, but quietly. Screaming into the night would do nothing these silent tears couldn't. I cried out of anger, out of frustration, out of fear. Why did I have to be the one out here? Why wasn't skirting death once enough? Why did some women get special privileges? Was there any way to save my sister? And how come no man had sport white and offer their necks?

After a few tears had soaked the silk covering my eyes, I forced myself to think of other things, lighter things. I would get through this like I always did. And it would be the last time. Tomorrow morning, I would feel foolish for crying and I would move on with planning my wedding. My father might be annoyed with the match, but my mother would be pleased enough to pick greenery with me, my sister delighted to go to the dress shop to make sure everything was just right.

After the wedding, I would be the pretty prize for Sampson to show off. He would tell everyone how he convinced the pretty girl in the village to be his wife and they would all stare at him with blank acceptance that was afforded to the jarl's first-born son.

The first scream sounded, then another. They were here and moving fast.

I told myself that I would survive to see my wedding over and over again. I kept thinking about how happy my sister would be to see me tomorrow when I felt the sharp twinge near my collarbone. I focused on my breathing when I could hear the breathing of the other creature. I counted until I ran out of numbers when I started to feel dizzy.

Then the vampire was gone. My body melted with relief. I had been fed and I had survived. The vampires must have been returning home now. It must have been over.

Then I heard voices. Quiet, but distinctly male. There was only one species of man out here now.

"This one?" he asked.

"Yes."

"How can you be sure?" another asked.

"Pale as winter, hair white as snow. Does that sound like any other girl here?" the second challenged.

Me. It had to be me they were talking about. There were plenty of women in this village. Ones with honey brown eyes and wheat coloured hair. Fiery redheads with blue eyes that matched the morning sky. They were all stunning in their own way. But who they were describing was me.

I went deathly still. I wished that I wasn't wearing a stark white dress in a forest, wished I could have blended in with the foliage around me.

"Well, no, but--"

"He said this village and he gave the exact description. I don't see anyone else who even vaguely resembles her. You might want to return home empty handed, but I do not."

I held my breath as if that would make me disappear. I knew it was too late when I felt the binds wrapped around my chest slacken. My trembling hands jerked upwards to yank off the blindfold, my mind already made up. I would run, I would sprint and scream until I reached the village. I would face any punishment that came, but I would not face these monsters. I didn't know what they wanted from me, but I didn't have to have exact details to know it would be villainous.

"Let's not be so hasty," one of the men purred, his massive hand grabbing my wrist before I could even get through half the motion.

In one swift move, he had me spun around, using his body to press my front into the tree that my back had just been secured to.

"The blindfold--"

"Stays on. We don't want her getting any ideas," the one holding me ground out.

I feared my heart was going to burst out of my chest when thick rope circled both of my wrists.

"Please," I began, tears soaking the blindfold again. "Please, I don't understand. I--I did what was asked. I gave myself up for the Bloodletting."

"This isn't about the Bloodletting," he grunted, securing a knot to bind my wrists together behind my back.

"Please," I repeated. "I'm to be married very soon. Just in a few days. The man I am marrying has the means. He can get you anything you want. Money is not an issue. Whatever it is, we will get it sorted, I assure you. Just, please."

"Enough of your begging. It won't get you anywhere."

"I have done my service, you must release me," I tried, stronger this time.

"I said enough!" the man bellowed, his body so close I could feel his breath on my face.

I knew then that the time for being a soft, meek woman had passed. I was blindfolded and bound, but my legs were still free. I kicked blindly and when my boot made contact -- confirmed with a curse -- I began running.

I made it three strides before I was tackled.

"You're lucky you didn't get any further," a man snarled, yanking me out of the thin layer of snow and onto my feet. "You would have run yourself right into a pine tree. How on earth would I explain your cuts and bruises then?"

I was numb. My body working on its own accord while my mind raced. I was being dragged somewhere and I was so disoriented now, I couldn't tell if it was towards the village or away from it. I was being taken from my home, from my life, by the very thing that had almost killed me just weeks ago.

Now, I began to scream. I wanted to cry for my father, but knew he was not the best option, knew there was another man out there who would have more sway. I wailed my betrothed's name over and over again. I screamed it at the top of my lungs. I begged for anyone to come save me. I cried. I thrashed. I stumbled. I bellowed.

No one came for me. Not when I shuffled through the snow. Not when I was hoisted onto the bare back of a horse, strung over the animal like a hunted boar about to be paraded through the town. I was tied to the horse as if I were nothing more than a sack of flour.

Even the horse obeyed its masters as I screamed and pleaded for my life. The horse plodded along, unbothered by me.

I screamed until my throat was raw. I wiggled my fingers and my wrists until I was certain that the ropes could not be untied. I tried spurring the horse with kick's to it's side, tried clucking and kissing to it, in the hopes it might speed up or slow down or just listen to a single one of my commands. Nothing.

I didn't know how long we had gone on for. I just knew that I was still dizzy, that my heart was racing and I feared I was going to throw up when I was finally dragged off the back of the horse.

My feet hit solid ground and I would have been grateful had my knees not given out.

"Damn thing can't even stand on her own," one of the vampires hissed. His arms were wrapped around me to keep me upright. "Are you sure this is even a good idea?"

"Just untie her. We're almost there. What is the worst she's going to do?"

My hands were untied. I stayed perfectly still. The blindfold was removed. I blinked twice to adjust to the brightest. Night was passing, the morning sun rising and painting the sky blush. My feet were moving before my mind was. I was running.

Laughter stopped me.

"If I had known she was so eager, I wouldn't have wasted time strapping her to Penelope," one of the men boomed.

Loud rounds of chuckles thundered behind me. Three men sat on the backs of immaculate steeds. And beside them was one very fat pony. Presumably Penelope, the stubborn beast who wouldn't even trot no matter how much I kicked.

"Take me home," I demanded. I didn't know wat bargaining power I had, only knew that someone wanted me for something and they presumably didn't want me injured. "Or I will run into the woods and you will never find me."

"If you're trying to threaten us, maybe don't make it sound like a game," one of them warned, his dark lips curling back to reveal two sharp eye teeth. "Chasing a scent as strong as yours on these horses would be child's play. We would even give you a head start, just to make it more interesting.

I stared at them for a moment, then glanced around. I didn't recognize any of these trees, didn't see a pattern in the hills and valleys. There were no small cottages nearby, nothing I could identify. I had no idea which way was home and which was led to disaster.

"Grab her, Will. She'll ride with you since she isn't capable of taking care of herself anyway."

I was promptly scooped up and placed on the back of a horse with a man's body behind me. He reached around me to hold the reins of his steed.

"If you try anything stupid, I will tie you to this saddle."

I kept my mouth shut and my eyes forward. If I could not fight, then I would wait. Surely, they would slip up. Surely, I would have my chance before I was too far gone to undo what had been done.

~~~Question of the Day~~~

How many different books can you read at once?