As I arrive to the camp sight and start moving quietly as I start to hear Salina and Dwalin conversing with one another. I decide to eavesdrop on their discussion

"They're late..." Salina grumbles.

"Yes, but for those two, on time is early and late is on time." Dwalin puffs from a pipe.

Silence falls over them for some time with only the crackling of the fire to is heard.

"I worry for Raskus," Salina sighs finally. "We haven't had any sign of his safety or return for a while."

"I know," Dwalin exhales as well. "I hope they haven't killed him on the spot."

"They didn't," I call to them from the darkness. I step forward into the light of the fire and they both jump slightly in shock.

"Are you okay?" Salina calls to me as I sit next to the fire.

I nod to her and then Dwalin speaks up, "Any news boy?"

"Yes," I breath as I turn to him. "You might find this very interesting."

After I have relayed the information I had gotten from the minotaurs, Dwalin looks upset.

"If reinforcements are truly on the way..." He points out. "Then we need to act fast."

"I hope Mitus and Matharon didn't run into them." Salina shakes her head.

"What are they doing?" I ask.

"We talked about it and they went to scout the main road ahead to the North. To see if anything was on it's way," She explains. "But I fear that they will run into them head first."

Thinking on that I fear it was foolish to go on a scouting expedition this late into the night... but they are rangers, I hope, they should be able to handle most of everything that get's thrown at them.

"So you need help training?" Salina asks me.

Nodding, I look to her. "Yes, it's the only way I can get used to my new abilities. And we must start immediately."

Looking both concerned and determined, she nods to me, "when shall we start?"

"Tonight, I've got little to no time, and I have to surpass the years I've lost."

"That's not safe Raskus." She protests.

"The mission is not safe," I'm quick to retort. "We don't have the options, nor the time to find a better way."

It takes a moment, but Salina finally nods.

"Might as well train here," Dwailin adds in. "More light, and more eyes watching the darkness."

Studying the area surrounding us, I agree. Salina then has me sit on the ground. As I roll up my sleeves,  I think now is the best time to bring up the markings.

"Salina," I call to her. "What are these?"

She looks over and gasps as she stares at them in awe.

"Well?" I speak interested. "Do you know them?"

"Those marks are symbols of the ancients!" She replies in a hoarse breath, "Those can only be passed down through blood. Those can give you more power than you realize!"

"Really?" I ask surprised.

"Those can help increase your strength, speed, magical power, and even your knowledge." She sits next to me and rubs her fingers over the design. "It's a very rare gift of our species. And you come from that blood line."

"Teach me what they can do, and how I can use them."  I command.

She sighs a resigned breath, "I can't show you everything, I barely know strength and even less knowledge."

"It will have to do," I reply. "We're out of options."

"Okay, first I will need to know the extent of your powers." She informs.

"How do I do that?" I inquire.

"There are only two ways, the first one is to help find mates, spouses. How ever you want to put it, and it's the fastest."

Time saving should be a priority, but I'm not really looking for a soul partner yet.

"What does that entail." I ask.

She blushes heavily and looks away. "You don't know?"

"No." I answer confused. "Why would I ask if I don't know."

"Raskus," She shakes her head fighting the urge off to say something, then she leans in and whispers, "Raskus... they have sex."

"How does that help reveal my power?" I ask incredulously.

I think about it for a minute... Salina is very attractive. And I wouldn't mind at all to maybe slipping into that part of the reproduction cycle.

But as my mind thinks into it, it snaps back to reality and I turn to her, "And that's the quickest way?!"

Her blushing reveals that I was not the only one thinking about that type of idea. "Yes it is." She smiles, but her mind snaps back to reality as well and she then states, "but it-it's not the only one!"

"What's the other way?" I ask her.

"First you need to sit still, and focus. Just like with the transformation, this is crucial!" She demands. Then she sighs. "Then you need to think of something infuriating. You must let that rage consume you. If you do it right, me and Dwalin will most likely need to hold you down, and restrain you."

"Why?" I gasp slightly.

"You will frenzy," She adds. "you will try to fight back as hard as you can. And if those markings are real! I fear we might not be enough to hold you back."

"Then add my strength to the effort!" We hear a voice call from the forest.

We turn to see a white haired, bearded, old man walk closer to us. I beam, as he is familiar to me.

"Satharcius!" I cry and go to embrace him. After holding each other we pull back and I smile. "What has brought you here?"

"I heard from a little bird that there was trouble brewing here," he answers.

Another ranger must have done a bit of reconnaissance reported back to him. He then pats my shoulder as we walk toward the fire to sit again. "If you need my assistance, then my support is what you will receive. So go ahead my son, show us your full power!"

As I sit a little ways back from the fire in a spot that would be easy to restrain me if necessary. I close my eyes, and think about a day that I have, loathed, and been hurt by for all these years. 

Living on the edge of Darkus Forest, I see myself playing with my father, the game being hide and seek and spring was well into the middle of its season. I loved hide and seek, it was my favorite, there was always a small chase to catch which ever one of us was hiding, it was my favorite part of the game. My mother had just come out of the kitchen's door, and stepped outside. I ran behind her as a sort of shield from dad. They would always laugh and have a kiss before mother would betray me and pick me up for my dad and her to embrace me together, I would laugh of course not minding the betrayal in the slightest. Normally we would retire into the house, or sit out in the garden and they would assist in calming me down enough for a nap. But this wasn't anything like those days, it was far, far from normal.

It was a little after they had picked me up that we heard the horses. They had put me down in curiosity, after they had I ran to the fence thinking that it was a parade of our leaders coming home from a summit or a battle, I used to laugh as the soldiers would make a quick stop and play with the first sign of home in the form of me... a small laughing ball of a child. The leader of our species loved stay a little and would sometimes bring gifts. Our homestead was the furthest away from the major city where the palace was located. So it was always a wonderful time. The other times horses would come was if our relatives were arriving. Never before where the sounds of horses a bad thing. But this was not like before. As I looked I saw a dozen men on horses start to round the corner weapons in hand, but swiftly my father scooped me up and took me inside. Mom was as terrified as my father lowered me into a small chamber under the floor. His only words was for me to stay silent.

Gritting my teeth, I'm slowly starting to take to rage, as this memory floods my mind... my power starts to gain strength.

I heard a crash of the door being knocked down, my mother and father yelling in rage and fear. I heard swords being unsheathed, and then the sound of steel piercing and cutting flesh and cloth. My father screaming in pain and then and my mother crying his name flood my ears. Then a thump of something heavy landing on the floor above me.

Tears roll down my face as I remember the scene, I feel several pairs of hands take ahold of me trying to keep forced down. But I can not let go of this rage, and guilt. This memory can not let me go.

I looked out a small hole in the floor to see men stealing our personal belongings, gold, and then finally starting to leave. Then I see my parents  on the floor, neither of them moving. Once all the men had left, I tried to open the floor but something heaving was blocking it. I sat in the musky compartment and started to cry, the only light coming through was the moonlight making its way into the home and through the cracks in the floor. I was alone and wanted my parents.

More and more I feel my rage wanting me to kill everything in my way. I heard voices calling to me, and the hands forcing me down onto my back on the ground. But I can't shake this memory, nor can I quell my anger.

Crying, I was crying. Longing for my parents to wake up and help me out of the hole... but no one came. The longer I waited the more the stinging, salty tears came down and dropped to the floor. Finally something red dropped from the floor above me. it landed on my face and rolled down into my mouth. It tasted sweet like a pie. I looked and saw more drip from the floor boards above my head. It was warm and delicious, but that only calmed my sorrows for but a moment. I wanted out, and I wanted my parents.

The voices calling to me are shrieking, but the memory controls my mind, and my emotion. I want blood. I want those who did that to my mother and father, to pay blood for blood. My strength will not yield, I want to hunt them down now! But the hands keep me restrained. The vision continues of that day long past.

I started to cry again, harder that time, and began thrashing at the trapdoor. I heard something heavy slide across the floor above me, then the trapdoor opened. I saw my mother with the red liquid staining her apron, no not staining, it was slowly flowing from her. But I was a youngling then... I was over joyed to see my mother's face, and didn't understand that she was bleeding. I climbed out and embraced her crying into her apron. She smiled at me and placed her hand on my head, moving it from the front of it to the back. It always helped me calm down. Her smile was always something that I recognize as everything being fine. That would make me calm from any tears I shed when I was but a child... now it haunts me with a longing to see it again. Not in  memory, nor in dreams... but in reality.

I struggle along the ground screaming the curses of the horsemen who took them away from me, writhing in the dirt as the hands struggled to keep me to the ground. I then started to curse myself for not understanding then what I came to understand much later. She was dying! My mother was dying and I did nothing. I would drink what I would come to realize later was her blood. Her own child drinking from her wound.

I kept crying into my mothers apron, as she cooed that it was going to be just fine, and everything was alright. Caring for me and not thinking for herself, still being able to calm her crying son, repeating that it was okay. But it wasn't okay. She died from her wounds! My father died trying to protect us! And I did nothing but just sit there!

"Raskus," I hear a smooth, and calming coo call to me.

My eyes finally open, the memory releases it's hold on me and fades back into the vaults of my mind. And through the tears my eyes have flowed through them, I see black. I recognize the warmth of flesh. I look up, worried that I'm going to see something else but my mother's face. Longing to see her just once more.

Staring into Salina's face, I see exhaustion and relief. I look around and see we are alone. I see my hand on her lap, touching a wet part of her dress, my tears had been accumulating in. My head was there as I cried. Her hand was still placed on my head as I look back up to her.

The compassion in her eyes is filled with the epiphany of my past. Her smile parts slightly as she says, "It's okay."

I close my eyes, embarrassed and enraged, "They killed her."

"I know..." She sighs as she does what she can to keep me calm.

"I was so bloody stupid!" I slam my fist onto the ground. "She worried about me instead of herself. If I hadn't been so weak!"

"You were a child." Salina is quick to respond. "You mustn't carry this blame, Raskus."

I calm down a little as she helps rest my head on her lap again, tears still streaming from my eyes. Exhaustion is taking hold of me.

"I thought it was a game." I sob. "I wanted desperately to believe it was. That they would've gotten back up smiling. But father never did... and mother put me to sleep."

Salina doesn't speak as she places her hand on my head moving it from front to back and repeating the movement over and over again.

"When I awoke... I saw Satharcius there smiling at me." I finish. "And then there was the blood... how could I have been so stupid as to not realize it was theirs... if I knew that when I was in that hole... I would have never taken another taste."

"Raskus," She calls to me, "please, you must stop beating yourself over this."

Yawning, I let out the breath trying to force myself to stay awake, but as I close my eyes I can only say, "I miss them, Salina.... I miss them more than anything in this world."

"We know.." She sighs. "We all wish that you hadn't been through that..."

Another yawn, fills my lunges with air and then I exhale, my eyes shutting. I can't fight it anymore. Sleep is taking me. I tried to fight these memories so much from resurfacing, that I barely slept. More nights than not, I would sit through them. Thinking of the "could have been" and "what if"s more than anything else. But it has taken me. Sleep had finally won out yet again.

I awaken staring up at the sky, day is fast approaching, I tilt my head up a little more to see Salina sleeping propped against a tree, my head is still in her lap.

Looking to her, I feel a sense of acceptance come over me as I remember releasing the anger I had bottled away for so long about my parents murder... this feeling does not last long. As I feel weaker for having expressed it in tears and cries in agony, instead of words that were calm and collected. I hear the fire crackling and turn to see Satharcius moving the logs and twigs around with a stick. Moving to sit with him, I smile to him when he looks to me his face performing the same.

"Enjoy your night's rest?"

"Much needed," I reply nodding.

Chuckling, he looks back to the fire playing with it a little more. "Those markings on you arm are the real deal, and according to Salina, your power was more than she imaged it would be."

"Really?" I ask surprised.

"Yes," he answers. He then looks to me, "you're training will start today. When she wakes up."

Looking toward Salina, I can't help but smile. She looks so peaceful as she rests.

"How long has she been asleep?" I ask slightly smiling at the sight.

"Not long." He replies looking to me, "she cares for you... you know that right?"

"What makes you say that?" I turn to him confused.

"When you were starting calm down you started speaking... of that day. She ordered both Dwalin and I to leave. Saying, 'This is something that he does not speak of often, I doubt he will want you to hear it like this'. So we left."

I don't respond. Looking to her I can't help but feel a slight spark of something, in my chest. It almost feels like heart is running to her... but I dash these feelings. I only just met her... and she me. How could she have any sort of feelings like that. Love at first sight doesn't exist, no one will tell you it does. Of course it is only natural for our species to assist on another in anyway they can. Maybe humans mistake it for love.

"She said she to change your past, she knows that she can't but she wishes that there was a way."

Choosing to act on my theory I respond. "Well of course, our species will always come to lend aid with one another-"

"That's not what I meant," he snaps. "She really cares for you deeply. More so than this 'species caring itself'. I've seen the look she gave you first hand... She loves you, Raskus."

Dumbfounded, I look back to her. Is that true? Why? Again we just met each other... I think back to when I first told her my name... though we had never met before, she recognized it instantly and her face was in shock that it was me. She knew about my living in the ranger house to be trained as one of them. Could she have heard rumor and had fantasies? That just sounds even more ridiculous than love at first sight! So does she actually love me. I know Satharcius is wise and has had much more experience in this world than I... but could he be wrong this once. He's never been wrong before... but what if he was about this.

Shaking my head, I quell these concerns and focus on my quest. It is the most important thing that I must focus on. It is while I'm thinking about this that I notice Dwalin is gone.

"Where is the dwarf?" I ask out loud.

"He went to see if he could assist Mitus and Matharon." Satharcius answers. "I wouldn't expect him for some time."

It seems just like him to do something like this, behind his gruff tone and rough attitude he cares about his comrades. That much is clear.

We turn to the sound of rustling, and see Salina waking up. She opens her eyes slowly then after seeing the sun she blinks quickly to remove the sleepiness from them. Her deep maroon eyes stare into my blood red ones. Moving toward the fire she rubs her left eye and starts to yawn. She tries to brush some hair away from her eyes, but to no avail. Dismissing this she looks to me again and smiles.

"Good morning," She calls to me.

"She loves you!" Satharcius' words echo in my thoughts.

Her beauty is something I'd not noticed before. Her black robes give the illusion that she's gliding across the ground, her face slightly shines when the sun dances upon it. She looks into my eyes.

"Should we start your training today?" She asks me.

"What?" I ask in return not thinking of my words, my eyes can't escape hers. They are lost in the depths of her gaze.

"Raskus?" She calls again.

Snapping of it I quickly blink my eyes and return my gaze to her cautious not to get caught in her stare again. "Er, uh, yes! Please let's."

Giggling she then speaks out. "The one thing you need to know is that is how to tap into the latent power you possess from your blood line. To do this you need to allow your strength to be guided by your instinct. And then let instinct control your actions as well. When the powers awaken you should be able to feel it. When you can isolate the feeling you can learn how to control it more and more. Allowing your mind to help guide your instincts."

Nodding, I understand what she's saying. If I can control the powers I can utilize them with the assistance of my mind. Instead of letting rash instinct drive them alone.

"Try to just let your body work without you thoughts guiding it. If you think too much into it before your able to tell the powers apart from your bodies natural ability then you won't be able to utilize them at all."

I walk over to a tree across from the camp and wrap my arms around it. I then picture myself lifting it out of the grounds with its roots giving away to my strength. With that in mind I take a breath clear my head and let my body work. Lifting as hard as I don't feel the old thing budge. I take another breath and try to clear my mind again. After so I lift and frustratingly the tree still doesn't move at all. I take a step back and shake my head. But I'm quick to compose myself and take a deeper breath, this time slowly letting the air leave my longue as I focus on my bodies movements. I walk back up to the trunk, wrap my arms around it, and heavy focusing on the strain in my muscles. Finally I see a blue glow come from the markings, a surge of power energies my arms, and the tree easily lifts from the ground. I stare at it completely astounded by my accomplishment and feeling of immense power I have. Letting the tree down where I picked it up from, I walk back towards Salina and Satharcius. The markings still alight.

"This feels exhilarating," I call to her.

She sees the sweat on my forehead and I'm breathing slightly heavy. The power feels incredible but the strain feels like weights on my arms.

"Nicely done," she laughs. "I take it you feel over done?"

Nodding I sit down and lean back onto my left arm, with my right across my right knee. "Yes."

"That will come to pass the more you use it." She smiles.

I look to my arms and then out toward the where the eastern gate is located. My minds snaps to last night, the girls. I need to bring food and water.

"Satharcius, could you take some food and water to the eastern-" I call to him.

He interjects me and smiles, "I've already delivered the supplies."

Nodding, I hide a sigh of relief, 'they're safe, thank the gods.'

Turning to the markings on my arm, the blue markings have faded back to red again. Suddenly I feel woozy, dizzy... and start to fall back my eyes closed, only to open them quickly too see I am in a dark, dank, musty cave. I see two men, on is standing on a circular platform raised with a stone table on it. He's holding an awe inspiring bow, the wood work looks ancient. The shaft is wooden, but it's craftsmanship is something to behold. The string looks as if it's glowing in the moonlight that shines through the mountain to the table, engulfing it and the man in light. His hood is hanging on his head, his face hidden by it's shadow. A ranger's garb but none i have yet seen. My senses feel this man's malice.

The other on close to the lowest step to the platform his brandishing his sword. Dawned in black mythril plate armor, black as the nights sky on moonless nights. A black cape fluttering slightly as the cave breaths when wind flows through it, a red color on the side facing my back, only really visible when the cape moves around a little, the thing driving me insane is the chain encircling me from my right shoulder down to the left. It must be decorative for I see no purpose in something like that... yet it looks very familiar.

My thoughts quickly snap back to the two men when the other me speaks.

"You do not know the power that bow possesses." My other self snaps to the hooded man.

"No," he leers, "It is you who does not understand. I didn't bring you here to receive the bow."

"That bow is needed by my people!" He snaps loudly.

"Vampires," The other man lets out a hollow, yet sinister, laugh. "Did you know that this bow belonged once to a dark vampire, your ancestor."

"If it is of my peoples making then why do you desire it?" My other self inquires.

The laugh we here next is much more sickening. "This bow's power is locked away by a blood line spell. When the power is unlocked then the wielder is granted power beyond his wildest dreams. He will be more powerful than anything in Patharsia. All will bow before me and this land will be mine to command, rule, destroy, and anything else I see fit to do with it!"

"Then you are out of luck!" My other calls to him. "If it needs every owner of the blood line then you will be saddened to hear on of them has started decaying. And all of their blood was drained and now most likely gone from this world."

"You fool..." The man takes a step toward him. "Who do you think it was that lead the attack on your homestead all those years ago?"

Both my other self and I glare at him out teeth gritting in rage.

"I've been going after the blood line for quite a while, so if you believe that your mother's blood was spared from my clutches then your wrong! Now that the bloodline is left to one owner alone, the spell has weakened. Some of its power has already been released... but the spell is not so weak that it can be broken with other spells, oh no...." He nods, "Satharin was a very clever man. He knew perfectly well what he was doing before I killed him."

"You killed my parents for some fantasy!" The other me screams in rage.

"Are you going to try and stop me boy?" His laughter is maniacal, he leans forward only a twisted smile is revealed next to his chaos filled eyes.

The man puts the bow on his back and then moves towards the other me, removing his sword from its sheath. I step forward my markings coming a light with the familiar blue hue as our swords clang, I feel myself getting sucked out of my vision the sight blurring heavily as I see the two swing a final time before the blurred sight becomes black.

"Raskus?" Salina calls to me.

My eyes filled with rage, open to see Salina sitting next to me, my markings glowing.

"Raskus is everything alright?" She asks me again.

"I-" start, then stop thinking about if I should continue, then finish with, "I'm fine."

My rage fades from my eyes, and the light disappears from the markings. I stand up and turn to her, "please come with me."

Nodding she stands up and follows me into the trees moving toward the monastery. Once I feel the distance is enough from the camp, I turn to her.

"I had a vision about my quest's end." I say softly for fear someone is listening in. "The quest is for Satharin's Bow."

"That's just legend, though. It doesn't really exist does it?" She asks just as softly.

I nod and continue, "I was at the  resting place of the bow in black plate armor. Raising my sword to some one holding the bow, he had revealed to me that my blood was needed to release the power Satharin sealed inside. I could not see who this stranger was, but his malice hung heavy throughout the chamber. Finally after revealing that he had killed my parents for my mothers portion of the blood, we clashed swords and then I awoke."

She stands their quietly. Then finally speaks. "Did you see if you were bested or victorious?"

Shaking my head she continues, "So the outcome is still uncertain."

"Do you believe this vision?" I ask.

Sighing, she replies, "Raskus, another vampire saw his death in a vision, yet many doubted it to be true. As it turns out, just like in his vision, a small war broke out and he died in the exact same way that he described in his vision, I do not doubt yours true as well."

We stop for a moment and then she finally perks up slightly, "you said you were wearing black plate armor?"

"Yes," I return.

"Did you have a cape?" Her eyes reveal a growing curiosity.

"Yes, it was black with a red under tone." I answer.

"Did you have a chain?" She starts to smile.

"Yes actually." I'm still confused.

"How was it placed on the armor?" She leaps towards me her look is both determined and yet curious.

"It came over my right shoulder and went down to my left side."

Beaming she walks back her hand trained to me as her finger points. "A general you shall be! Your future is looking very bright in our peoples army."

"How did you figure that out?" I ask curiously.

"The armor is worn only by the dark vampires, the cape represents authority, meaning an officer. The chain is only given to major leaders, like generals. They distinguish themselves from others by a number chains but its always, at least for a generals rank, from the right shoulder down to the left side." She explains. "You are a general... well not yet. But you will be."

A bit of pride fills me, "At least I know I'll get somewhere in life."

But the jokes leave and my mind fills with rage as I remember the vision, "And I know I'll get the chance to repay that man for my families murder."

Salina steps towards me and places her hand on my arm, "Raskus, please calm your rage, it is not needed here. Save it for the time when it will be needed most."

Nodding, I calm myself and watch her smile then starts to walk back to the camp, my eyes follow her as she disappears behind some trees. Perhaps one day... if we come to terms and feel deeply for one another... we could be together.

After putting those thoughts aside I walk toward the monastery. As I approach the church I hear a loud roar, "Where are they?!"

Walking in, I shut the door behind me and see three minotaurs, specifically the ones who were the first to greet me on my first visit here, smashing things as they furiously open doors and barrels and the like. Obviously looking for something.

"There were plenty! How could they all disappear!" Shouts a black one, the very same as the leader of the archers on the roof from last time. He looks up and spots me. Lumbering towards me he growls, "Where are they?"

"What are you on about?" I ask him in a bored tone. It's a mask I have to use to hide my concern for the women I've hidden from these beasts.

"The women!" He roars louder. "First you leave, then they disappear, it is the middle of mating season for us. What did you do with them."

I scoff as I crossing my arms glaring at them from under my hood. "I have no idea what in the world your screaming about."

He advances faster towards me and picks up a huge axe. As I draw my sword, I see the master of these beasts come from his chambers, seeing the chaos he shouts, "Bloodthorn, that are you doing?!"

But Bloodthorn is paying no mind, as the axe comes down toward my head, I swing my sword at its blade my markings come to alight once more. As my blade makes contact with his axe, I see the steel of the axes edge crack, then it shatters to tiny shards of steel. Moving behind him faster than they can see, then placing my blade to his throat.

"You minotaur fool," I sneer. "Did you really think you had a chance against me? With one twitch I could show the rest of your comrades what your disgusting blood looks like against these walls."

"Vampire!" The master calls to me. "you have proven yourself, let him go."

I remove my blade and put it back in it's sheath. Turning to him, I see Bloodthorn glare at me his rage only worsening, where as I remain calm.

"Watch what you do with that blade," He growls at me. "You may find it in your back someday."

"Spare me your words," I reply. "They are pathetic. And you have no idea what your up against, little calf."

I turn back to the leader and then start to march to him. His grin of satisfaction is irritating. Scowling, I bear a fang in his direction as we move into his chambers. Chucking he sits in his throne and stares at me. I wait for him to speak, but he just continues to study me.

"Well?" I snap irritated.

"Where did you go?" He asks.

"To train." I answer.

"With whom?" He asks again.

"The trainer I spoke of." I reply.

"Ah yes," He speaks with a wolfish grin. "And when will bring her here?"

"The training must be performed in solitude... she also has no intentions to reveal herself."

"Reveal herself in our terms or yours?" The leader teases.

I reach for my sword.

"I was only teasing, little vampire." He chuckles as he notices the gesture. "Besides, it is of no concern to me."

Scoffing, I roll my eyes. As he catches this he smiles, "When is the next training session? After a display like that, I'd love to see more."

"Tonight." I answer. "And that was nothing more than a taste of my training results."

"True vampire," He says to me. "I love it."

Glaring at him for a moment, I then turn and walk to the door.

"Little vampire." He calls to me.

I stop and reply from over my shoulder, "Yes?"

"The next time Bloodthorn attacks you," he requests. "Don't kill him. Put him in his place yes, but do not kill him. I need all the men I have."

Grinning wickedly I reply, "with pleasure."

I hear the leader chuckle to my response, but I also hear a shift from the other side of the door. To which I raise my leg and kick the door as hard as I can, it swings outward quickly, but suddenly swings toward me again after I hear a loud bang as it hit something. I open the door to see Bloodthorn falling back onto the floor unconscious. The leader walks up and smiles, "Yes just like that."

Shaking my head I leave the church and move back down to the eastern gate. As I approach I look to the sky, darkness is here. And the night holds many dangerous creatures.

"Raskus," I hear a woman call.

I turn to see Salina come to me. "How did it go?"

"It went well... but what are you-" I ask.

However I'm soon cut off as I hear a loud shout, "Vampire!"

We both turn to see Bloodthorn rushing toward us pointing to the sky. "Look at the moon!"

We turn to the sky and see that moon is a dim, red, full moon. The Blood Harvest. One creature comes out at this time to claim it's fill on blood. It is one of the most dangerous if not the most.

"Raskus," Salina stares at the sky, "It can't be tonight can it?"

"It is," Bloodthorn replies, now standing close to us. "Or I am a fool."

"As much as I could agree on the  fool aspect of that statement." I add. "You are right. The harvest is here and the riders are hunting."

The Dark Riders, were once human at their species origins, but through dark powers corrupting them, they have been changed for eternity. Through breeding and embracing the dark powers that had corrupted them, they have turned into one of the most feared creatures of this land. They only kill savagely one the night of the harvest. They desire flesh and blood when it comes to the harvest. Rumors have it they were raised by necromancers and hide their skeletal body with arms and hoods. And the last thing you see is the bright, red orbs they have for eyes as they cut you down. I know this to be different.

"We must retreat until the harvest is over." I call to them.

"Nay vampire," A dark hiss comes from behind us. "You'll miss the feast."

HEY GUYS THANKS AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS BOOK. I KNOW THE CHAPTER CAME SUPER LATE BUT I HOPE THE QUALITY MAKES UP FOR IT. AGAIN I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO CUPCAKE3313 AND KARLIEARNOLD. PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THEIR BOOKS AS WELL! YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. AGAIN I ASK THAT YOU LEAVE COMMENT'S ON WHAT YOU THINK I COULD IMPROVE ON. AND WHAT YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE CHAPTER WAS. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE COMMENTS!