Chapter Twelve

The Vampire District

The Northern Region.

The king's eyes were red with anger, his daughter was missing, and what is this he is hearing about her transforming back to human. Is that even possible?

He was pacing restlessly, his monstrous throne behind him.

Two guards walked in then each bearing a large spear with a sword sheathed around their waist.

"This better be good news"

The king said, his voice dangerously low.

"Sire, we searched everywhere but we couldn't find her. There is no trace of her anywhere"

One of them said, he was visibly shaking.

"Nonsense" The king shouted.

"My King" Martha came in, bowing her head slightly

"You need to calm down, she might turn up. She's at that age when she just wants to be free"

"I've given her enough freedom as she deserves. I was protecting her, she could get killed"

"Cherry has always been special, my king, I mean she was the only Vampire that started aging"

The king looked at her for a while, then turned towards the guards.

"Leave us"

When the door was shut behind them, he turned towards Martha.

"Is there anything you're not telling me?"

Martha took in a deep breath.

She saw Cherry escaping into the forest, but she couldn't say anything to anyone, Cherry needs freedom from this cage.

"I don't know anything my king, the day she left, I only tutored her, then she threw up, so I had to send her back to her room to rest. That's all I know"

The king resumed his pacing.

For several minutes, flickers of emotions were on his face till one particular one settled.

His face lit up.

"I think I know where she is headed"

"Where your highness?"

Martha's voice was so low. He knew that if he found her, he won't spare her.

"She's headed to her family, and I must get there before she does"

His eyes grew redder, his jaw set with anger.

Martha could only utter a prayer for Cherry.

^^^^^^^^

The morning came with dews falling calmly on the grasses. I rolled out of bed and stretched my slim body. I could hear voices coming from outside the house, I knew Ma was already up.

As I sat on the edge of the bed, the incident of yesterday was still flitting through my mind like a motion picture.

After those words Uncle made, he explained how the whole Vampire reign worked, every single detail, I think.

We sat in the sitting room listening to stories about the Vampire lord, the saviour, the light, the book, an amulet...

It was all so confusing.

Only those were not stories, they were my life now.

I asked Uncle about the woman with the grey eyes, he said she was the sorceress that gave them the powers they needed to defeat the Vampires.

No wonder she was creepy.

He also said she would be coming today to enlighten us further about the Vampires and tell us exactly how they can be defeated.

I sighed deeply placing my head in my hands. For the first time in a long while, I thought about Cherry.

There was a small knock on the door and Ma poked her head inside the small opening.

"You're up. Finally. Someone made an order for two dozen eggs..."

I groaned as she said that, without letting her finish. I already knew what would come next.

She gave me a look, then she rolled her eyes and continued

"Get dressed and go and collect the eggs"

She ended and left immediately without waiting for my response.

I groaned again into my pillow.

I hated egg picking. I was so afraid of birds. I always have this feeling that they would pluck out my eyes with their long beaks.

I guess it was just a phobia.

I stood up from the bed and went about my morning routine. Bree was still sound asleep when I was about leaving the room. I contemplated waking her up and pining the assignment on her. But I waved the idea off as soon as it formed in my mind.

I walked briskly to the kitchen and grabbed a basket.

The walk to the coop was a long one. It was on the other side of the ranch. By the time I got there the sun was already up and my face was damp with sweat. I tied my dark hair up in a messy bun above my head, and got ready to work. There were about sixteen coop lined side by side.

I put on a glove and stepped into the first one.

As soon as I steeped in, all the birds started flapping around, I screamed and ran out.

I heard someone laughing behind me, it sounded so deep.

I turned abruptly, almost snapping my neck in the process, to see a pair of black eyes watching me, amusement dancing in them.

"Hey Stranger"

His skin had a little bit of colour, it was not as pale as it was at the rodeo

I rolled my eyes

"What are you doing here?"

my voice was not exactly friendly. He looked like the type to always meddle into other people's business and I hated people who do that.

"You're picking my eggs"

He said casually

I made a face at him confusion etched in my expression.

When realization dawned, I rolled my eyes.

"So you're the one who ordered that large amount of eggs. Don't you know it's not good to consume too much eggs"

"Everyone needs protein to grow, and It's not like I'm eating everything at once"

He shrugged and ran his hands through his short curly dark hair.

His dark eyes were still watching me curiously.

"What is it?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest. His eyes followed my movement.

"I don't know your name"

He smiled

"You don't need to know my name. I won't be seeing you ever again after today"

I gave him a tight smile.

"I'm Arnold"

He said extending his hand for a handshake. I eyed it.

We stood in silence for a few seconds then he returned his hands to his jacket pocket his eyes still watching me.

"I just want to be nice, okay? I just want us to be friends. You don't have to be mean"

He said his eyes still watching me.

"You know it's very rude to stare at people for a long time"

I said feeling a pang of guilt at his words.

He shrugged again and laughed

I smiled.

"Since you want to be nice, why don't you help me pick out the eggs, then I might consider being friends"

Without waiting for his reply, I dumped the empty basket into his arms.

He smirked and moved towards the coop.

"You know animals can sense our emotions, if we're anxious, they get anxious too. You have to go in calmly"

He said walking gently into the coop.

I watched him for a while picking out the egg from under the each chicken.

He looked so calm.

"Arnold"

He looked up at me.

I smiled and said

"I'm Sasha"

^^^^^^^^

I moved out of the stable last night, the stench became unbearable, so I moved into what looked like a storage room waiting for the right opportunity to reveal myself.

The old woman said there was no time to waste, but I was freaking out.

Would they accept me?

Would they recognize me?

I looked out through the window in the shed and saw the large expanse of land, the main house was to my right.

"There is no time to waste"

The old woman's voice was back in my head.

I closed my eyes snd made a determination, that no matter what, I must reveal myself to them tonight.