It was strange, considering my circumstances, how talking about my encounter with the hulking, snake-eyed brute of a man, was a welcome relief.  Perhaps it dulled the pain of my recent loss?  Or possibly, I sought confirmation that it was due to the  loss of my parents, that the 'night-terror regular' had materialised in my waking life. I wasn't sure, but whatever it was, I took a deep breath, and described the events of the hilltop escapade.

Peter, though listening in his usual polite and sympathetic manner, still chomped his way through his dinner, while ,I in between mouthfuls, animatedly described the man which had terrified me to the point of running like a scared rabbit.  Kula picked at her food as she took in every detail.  Occasionally, she glanced at Peter, through her luxurious lashes.  Mostly however, her attention was directed at me.

After a moment's silence, Peter offered up an explanation.  "Maybe just a weird tourist with contacts."

Kula clucked her tongue at him and rolled her eyes.

   "Well, we get them all the time around here," he justified.

It seemed feasible enough, I thought.  But deep in the pit of my stomach, I knew otherwise.  Judging by the look on Kula's face, so did she.  Suddenly, I didn't think it was such a good idea discussing the subject anymore.  Kula's beliefs were steeped in a long line of spiritual heraldry.  Though she never claimed to be any sort of psychic or medium, nor discussed such things at length, I knew there was some sort of gift she possessed. Peter, admitedly,  had told and retold my parents and I about when he had met her and her family and he wasn't too reserved in talking about their "religions" or "beliefs".  Nothing too untoward or anything, but interesting yes.  Nonetheless, I now felt under scrutiny and exposed by the dark-skinned beauty.

I feigned tiredness and said I needed to lie down.  She nodded.  Picking up my plate to wash it, she laid a gentle hand on my wrist.  "No, sista, I see to dat.  You go rest now."

The forest was familiar, homely .  It was morning and the sun cast gentle shafts of light through the canopy above me.  The rays riccocheted off millions of dew drops nestled in the ferns and moss of the forest floor, giving rise to a gauze of misty little rainbows. The smell of pine, bluebells and dew-damp vegetation  wafted all around me on a soft, unobtrusive breeze.  I felt safe. 

The tranquility was suddenly violated by  the sound of thundering hooves, women shrieking and men and children shouting.  The forest was suddenly cloaked in darkness and an intense cold.  I felt things rushing past me, snarling, and for a moment I thought I heard the wail of an infant.  I was utterly disorientated.  Terrified.  The noise of unseen horses and rampaging masses was now deafening. I shrank down on my haunches, hugging my knees tightly to my chest.

Then I saw him.  Motionless, as he always was, he now seemed more real than was humanly possible.  This time, the  red serpent-like eyes pierced the darkness.  He was looking straight at me.  My eyes adjusted as I stared, dumb-struck at the menacing brute standing not fifty yards from where I crouched.  Then his lips parted in a slow, carnivorous smile.  My heart skipped a beat as I saw razor-sharp canines lengthen over his bottom lip.  Then the beast spoke.  His voice was like thunder, echoing between the trees.  "Vittorio!" he boomed.  "Vittorio! It is now! Find her!"

Once more, I found myself fleeing from the sound of snapping, snarling teeth and claws.  On through the forest I pressed at full throttle, not daring to scream or call out for fear of revealing my whereabouts to the terrors that hunted me.  My hair and clothes were suddenly being violently tugged and my speed was waining.  I was thrown forward.  Momentarily stunned, I slowly regained my feet, but they were covered in a black, thick and sticky liquid.  I stared with horror at my hands as I realised the substance wasn't black at all.  It was red. 

It was blood!

I could no longer stay my voice.  I emitted a terrified scream.  The sound ripped from my throat and drowned out all the other noises.  Finally it dwindled and drained from me.  Somehow, it had silenced everything around me.   Now, the silence was as deafening as the noise had been before. 

I heard a rustling in nearby bushes.  My pulse raced again.  Oh god no! Not him!  A hand grabbed my wrist.  I had no voice left to scream, and a pathetic husky wheeze came out of my mouth.  I glanced up, expecting the long fangs to start shredding me.  But it was the face of....an angel!  An olive-skinned angel.  He was beautiful.  Eyes like deep emerald pools.  The mouth, so sensuous, soft and inviting.  Then he smiled at me.  That mesmerising mouth, so tempting.........housed a pair of deadly sharp fangs.

I woke with a brutal jolt and instantly screamed as I saw a figure sitting in the rocking chair opposite my bed.

   "Calm thee down Sienna," Kula calmly but firmly.  "I is just watching over you."