Kyla

Looking out into the crowd of vampires that had gathered for the event tonight, I can't believe how fast their numbers are growing. These evil creatures not only can turn their victims into one of their own, but they can reproduce just as humans can. Judging by the group before me tonight they have been getting busy. Enjoying themselves a little too much.

Unfortunately, this is the way of the world. The only world I have ever known anyway. Vampires have ruled this world for well over thousands of years now. I'm not entirely sure how it all began. Everyone has different stories to tell since I was a child, but to me it doesn't matter what truly happened. This is the world I was born into, the world I have lived for my entire eighteen years of life. Doesn't look as though anything will be changing anytime soon.

"I can't believe these hideous things." My cousin, Lucas, breaks into my thoughts.

Looking over to my right at the boy I have grown up with. The one that is no longer a boy in his nineteen years, but a boy to me all the same. The one that has always been more of a brother to me than anything. His curly blonde hair has grown well past his ears now, so he must keep moving it from being in front of his green eyes every time he moves his head. I really do try to hide my smirk from him, we have no time to be laughing at one another, but he makes it hard with his boyish charm.

"I know they reek of blood and death; I hate them with everything I am." Lilly says from beside him. Covering her button nose and small pink lips with her hand, trying to block out the smell. With her forehead scrunching into hard lines, her sky-blue eyes shooting daggers at the crowd of monsters below us.

My mood suddenly darkens; giving them a sad smile I know all too well how they both feel. We have all lost someone close to us by these evil creatures. Years ago, both Lucas and I, had lost our mothers. Lucas had been two years old at the time, and I a small girl that had just turned one year old two days before.

There was an attack on the cave we were staying in at the time. All hell had broken loose, and people were running in every direction. Some small children ran further into the cave, and our mothers ran after them. Being best friends and sisters-in-law, they always did everything together, fighting was no exception.

They got the children out, but they didn't make it. The vampires didn't even attempt to take them back for the auction, they just bit them right there. Sucking all their life supply from them. Blood was everywhere. Lucas' two older brothers witnessed it all, along with their father. They say they were both lucky being so young that they don't remember a thing.

Then there is Lilly, she lost her father only two months ago. Her older sister, Isabella, watched it all happen. There was nothing she could have done. She had to hold Lilly, keeping her quiet, and covering her eyes.

However, Lilly still talks about the screams she heard from her father. They didn't just kill him, they played with him before they took his life. For their own sick amusement. They both tell us they can still hear the one vampire, who was built like a wall, had hard light green eyes, and a scar that ran from his forehead to his chin. He just kept laughing and said that he loved to play with his food before he ate.

"Don't think about all that Kyla, focus!" I chastise myself. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, and to come back to the now. Hiding on a roof top of an old run-down building, within the shadows. Facing the stage waiting for the auction to begin.

There was a food outing, a small group had gone off for the expedition, and there was a vampire raid. Only one older man made it without being killed. He said the vampires were talking about killing the men and taking the women for this auction. They had enough men for the slave auction, but if they wanted to make a good bounty, they needed more women and girls. Isabella had been among the group, hence why we are here.

"So, here's what I think needs to happen. Lilly, you will stay here on this rooftop, shooting your arrows from your bow, for cover." I give her a look when it looks as though she wishes to argue with me. Showing just how serious I am.

Lilly wasn't supposed to be here. She overheard me and Lucas talking last night and decided to follow us. Now she's here so we have no choice but to allow her to help. I will be damned if I allow her off this roof top until it's time to run.

Looking into her blue eyes, I could see how much Lilly wants to fight me on this, but instead she just rolls her eyes, gives a puff, and purses her lips. Good enough for me.

"Lucas, you sharpened the swords last night, right?" When he nods his head yes, I continue with my instructions. "Good, need you to be the distraction, so I can make it through the crowd to the stage, and cut Isabella, and as many others I can reach loose. If it gets too bad, everyone has their stakes, right?" They both hold them up, with fire in their eyes. I know this will work if we just stick to our original plan.

"I'm going to put on some of the dead animal carcasses we gathered, to mask my scent. Then, I'm going to go down there, and as soon as we see her that's when I want you to start shooting the arrows. If anything goes wrong, you run, the both of you, and run fast. No looking back."

They look at me as though I have lost my mind. Knowing they want to argue, but before they can, I put my hand up. "No, I mean it. I don't care if I get caught. You know I've always been a little different than everyone else. I can manage myself."

"I am not leaving you, that's not even an option." Lucas says while crossing his arms over his chest.

"We don't have time to argue, they will be starting soon. Just please, I need to know you'll do this for me if anything happens." Looking into his green eyes, I plead with him with my own to do as I ask. After a few moments, which feels like hours, he concedes to my wishes.

Putting his arms down, and his head leaned to the side "Fine, but if something does happen to you, I will be back after I get them and the others to safety."

I want to argue with his reasoning, but he takes out his swords and jumps down from the roof before I can get a word out. I watch from above as he runs to the outskirts of where the vampires are gathered. Hiding among the other rundown buildings surrounding them. Knowing the entire time that he won't listen to reason. He is just too stubborn.

"You'll be alright though, won't you?" Looking over at Lilly, with her long blonde hair, as white as the snow, blowing in her face, I can't help but think how she looked so much older than her fifteen years. Walking over to where she stands, I give her a hug.

Holding her face in my hands for a moment, I look into her gorgeous sky-blue eyes and give her the best smile I can to reassure her. Then, I begin getting the animal skins on my body underneath my clothes. All the while Lilly gets her bow prepared for what's to come.

The truth is, I know this is a stupid mission we are on. There is a good chance we could fail and join Isabella and all the other humans. Or worse, we could be killed here tonight. It's a risk I am willing to take, for the people that I love.