I already missed my bed. Two days of nothing but walking had already been more than enough for me.

When I next awoke, I groaned at the new stiffness in my neck and back. I was reminded that I had settled down beneath a tall oak tree for the night. Roots and stones didn't make a comfortable place to sleep, but I hadn't had much other choice. I knew it was far too dangerous to sleep out in the open where anyone or anything could come by and slit my throat, so I had opted to traverse into the surrounding wood. I stretched as I recalled the night prior, remembering that I had walked until my feet ached, and I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I would have given anything to have been able to return home, but the mission I was on far outweighed any small comforts I had forsaken. Damn the cold, the ache in my joints, or the constant clattering of my teeth.

As I slowly erected my spine, my stomach gave a soft growl to remind me that there was more than just the cold or aches in my body to contend with. I was hungry. With a sniffle and as if to quiet my growling insides, I placed my palm flat against my belly. "I have to be mindful," I mumbled to myself, "Not too much or I won't have enough for the rest of the way." Would I even make it to my journey's end? Now that was the real question that I, unfortunately, didn't have the answer to.

With a huff, I pulled the bag that I had used as a makeshift pillow, to sit between my legs. For a small eternity, I rummaged around until I found a handful of dried goat meat. Silently, I munched on the tough, stringing meat, swallowing it with a grimace- missing the taste of warm porridge and jam. Father would have been awake by now, likely having seen that things were missing. He was likely furious with me- that was fine, I thought as I pulled out a map from the satchel as my tongue fished around in my mouth for bits of meat that had gotten caught between my teeth. At least he was alive.

When I finally managed to clamber to my feet, I didn't know exactly which way I was supposed to head. The map that I had pinched marked where Dracula's castle was rumored to sit, where the 'creature' was, but I had never been taught to read a map. As the eldest, and a girl, Father had imparted that knowledge onto Timothy- it wasn't proper for a lady to know such things, thus my ignorance.

I scoffed as I unfolded the map and tried to find a landmark I knew. This did me little good as I didn't even know where I was. What I did know for a fact was that if I continued along the main road, as I had done the previous night, I would eventually reach Lindenfeld. If I were lucky, one of the locals would be able to point me in the right direction.

A soft grumble escaped from between my lips as I forced myself to return the map to the leather bag- it was only causing me to burn valuable daylight. Once it had been replaced and the satchel slung over on my shoulders, I ambled clumsily out of the forest.

The somewhat familiar dirt path was a welcomed sight. The forest was beautiful during the daylight, but I was already lost enough, the road would keep me on the correct path. I needed to find Dracula's castle. No, I needed to find Katherine- getting more lost wasn't going to help, and time was of the essence.

Eventually, I grew bored. I liked my own company, but I missed being around the people I loved. What I would have given to hear the twins singing some nursery rhyme off-key or to hear Timothy complaining about some of the village boys and their silly games. I even missed father scolding me for not having found a husband yet- reminding me that if I didn't find someone, I'd become a spinster. My usual argument was that I didn't have time, and it was true! Who else was going to take care of the family and mind the house?

I walked for a while, well into the late afternoon before I stopped again to eat. I couldn't resist the ache in my stomach. Breakfast had only been enough to sate me for a few hours, and I decided that I needed a little more. Surely it wouldn't hurt, right? I reasoned that even if I ran out of supplies, Lindenfeld was a few days walk, and should I need to resupply, I'd be able to there. I had plenty of money

I stopped on the side of the road and fished out a small wedge of cheese and a piece of dry bread. It, again, wasn't much, but it was what I had on hand. Already on this journey, I learned that I did not like traveling like a vagabond. Worst still, I detested the outdoors. Being a merchant or a traveling actor was out of the question.

With lunch finished and my hunger at bay again, I resumed my journey, making it only perhaps a few miles before I stopped and squinted at something. In the distance, there were, what appeared to be, a group of people. They were too far for me to truly determine what they were up to, but I reasoned it was either one of two things: they were a group of friends out for a stroll, or it was a band of ruffians.

A hard lump formed in my throat at the thought of the latter, but I had to be brave- the worst that could happen was they would rape and kill me. Perhaps not in that order, but…

Steeling myself with a steadying breath, I marched forward. It would make no difference if the group were ruffians, friends, or the Devil and his brood- they were on the same road that I traversed. I had to walk past them no matter who they were. Perhaps, I thought with a wavering chuckle beneath my breath; I could simply walk by without so much as a sidelong glance?

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That wasn't going to be the case; I corrected myself when the figures began to take shape. As I drew nearer, I could see it was three men and a little old woman.

The first man was a short, lanky fellow with dirty blond hair and missing teeth. The second was imposing. He was heavily muscled and built like an ox, and I wondered if he tried to smile, whether his stony face would crack or not. The last man was unremarkable at most. He was dirty, with shaggy auburn hair and freckles dotting his cheeks. Smack dab in the middle of the three was a grandmotherly old woman with silvery hair piled high on her head, who was- smiling? While I should have found her smile comforting, it did the opposite.

Did she not understand the severity of her position?

"Give us yer fackin' money ol woman!" The blond man's shouted command caused me to cease my already slow stride.

"Else, we might just 'ave ta slit ya open like uh fish!" Grumbled the oxen-built man.

The thought alone made me shiver and consider turning back. Maybe I could wait until the ruffians did their business with the old woman, and I could resume my trek unnoticed?

"Hoho, would that not be a sight!" The old woman laughed with mirth that didn't quite fit the situation, "My corpse left out in the sun to rot, guts piled on my chest, for all who travel this road to see?"

Everyone, save for the grandmotherly woman, was frozen in place- myself included. I could only surmise that we all thought the same thing: was she mad?

"The money," the unremarkable man snarled through his teeth, the first to break free from his stupor, "now!"

"Sonny," she began with a slow shake of her head, "I'm not but a poor, old, blind woman out for a walk. Do I appear as if I have any amount of coin you're looking for?"

Her statement wasn't what any of the men had wanted to hear. That was evident by the way their faces twisted into a mask of disapproval.

I had to do something! If I didn't, God knew what would transpire! I had to stop them, but how?!

Gathering my courage, I planted my feet and shouted, "WAIT!"

As all of their eyes shifted to me, I felt my knees begin to quiver in my trousers, and my palms grow clammy. What the hell was I doing?! I was going to die!

"Who the fuck are you and why the hell should we?" The freckled man spat, pulling away from the group to walk up to me and poke me hard in the chest. "You gonna stop us?"

I swallowed hard and tried to find my voice, "Does-does it look like I can?" I returned, confident that they could see I was a nobody.

My comment caused the oxen man to bellow with a howl of laughter, "Not unless ya wanna die too."

I choked out a weak laugh, "I'm not-not keen on the i-idea b-but, how about uh-uh t-trade?

The blond snorted through the gaps of his missing teeth, "Unless ya got coin, we ain't interested in yer fackin' trade!"

"I-I do!" I blurted out with a squeak, "I'll-I'll pay yo-you to spare our l-lives- me a-and the old woman. All-all the money I have o-on me."

This caught their attention—even the old woman's. What's more, she was no longer smiling. Where I had found her smile unsettling, her lack thereof was far worse.

"Any day, girl!" The snapped command from the freckled man forced me to focus my attention back on him.

"R-Right! G-Give me-me just a moment."

I didn't waste a second more before I sank onto one knee and swung the satchel off of my shoulder to sit between the unremarkable ruffian and me. I frantically began to rummage around until I found the soft velvety bag that contained all of my coin. Withdrawing it, and sealing the satchel again, I jumped back onto my feet and offered the heavy purse.

"H-here, take it, p-please." I tried to offer with an inviting smile to show my good faith- "I-It's all y-yours!"

The shaggy-haired ruffian snatched the bag out of my hand quickly and snorted with a laugh. Greedily he rolled the purse around in his palm. "You're smart for a woman. Don't let us catch you on our road again. Understood? We might not be so generous the next time."

I wanted to snap back and remind the imbecile that the road was free for everyone to use, but I remained silent and nodded instead. Happily, I watched as the other two thugs departed from the old woman's side, falling in tow behind the auburn-haired man. Content when their figures grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

"If I had known my white knight come to save the day would be in the form of a young woman, I'd have put on a little rouge." The sound of the old woman's voice made me spin around quickly. I laughed in response, not entirely sure what to say.

"That was very brave of you child, far braver than even some hunters. Thank you."

Again I laughed, "It was my pleasure-"

"Pleasure? My, a thrill-seeker, are we? And here I guessed you a sweet, innocent village girl lost in the big, wide world."

"Y-You're not wrong, ma'am." How did she know?

The old woman hobbled over to where I stood and took my hand, patting it gently, "Don't worry, child, I've been around a very long time and seen much. It would take quite a bit to fool these old eyes." How had she known the thought that had filled my head? I quickly chalked it up to merely worldly knowledge.

"Tell me, child, where are you headed on this beautiful day? Home perhaps? Off to save some other damsel in distress from a terrible, bloodthirsty beasty?"

Lucky guess- apparently, I was as readable as an open book, even for a blind woman. She didn't need to know the gory details, though.

I shook my head despite knowing she could not see "Lindenfeld ma'am."

She nodded once, and her smile broadened, "I see, and might I ask what's there? Family perhaps? Passing through to resupply, maybe?"

"Just passing through." Despite not being able to see, whoever this old lady was, she was sharp as a tack.

Her smile faded just marginally before her wrinkly hand squeezed mine, "Well, if that's the case, young lady, I have got a mind to walk with you for a stint- so long as you'll have me. I certainly wouldn't want to bother you."

"No, no! Please, I'd welcome the company ma'am-"

"Ohh, stop with this 'ma'am' nonsense child- call me Bess."

I again nodded, the hint of a smile kicking up the corners of my mouth, "Yes ma- er, Bess."