Later, the men who escaped from Chloe White made it back to the castle carrying their two dead men. Informer Arne Faucheux was the first to greet them as Kennith Sheershider was already asleep.

“My huntsmen! What has happened to you! Did you not locate the woman of interest?!” Arne asked, seeing the dead carried by the living.

“We have, dear sir, but...well...she’s a vampire...” one of the three living men reported.

“She snuck up on us and killed first one of us, then another as we were trying to retreat!” a second huntsmen reported.

“We were not prepared for such a turn of events... You will be letting the prince know of our troubles, will you not?” the third huntsmen asked.

Arne Faucheux sighed and closed his eyes.

“Yes, of course... It is his fault our men have died... They will have a proper burial at first light,” Arne said.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Yes, sir!” the remaining huntsmen said.

“As for you who are still alive... Get some rest,” Arne said, turning his head briefly to glance at the men.

The huntsmen departed and the informer went about his business. It wasn’t long after the burial that Kennith Sheershider awoke.

“Your majesty, you may recall that I had a team assembled for you to search for your girl,” Arne began.

“I just woke up and yet you bring me news?” Kennith asked, raising an eyebrow before yawning sleepily.

“We have located where she is hiding,” Arne said.

“Oh! Good! Good!” Kennith said, grinning, then he stopped and asked, “So why is it that you look so sad?”

“Two of our men were brutally murdered by her. You forgot to mention that she was a vampire,” Arne said.

“Oh, no...” Kennith said, “I know she didn’t mean to!”

“But what has been done has been done. The men were buried just before you awoke. The three who are still alive await your decision,” Arne said.

“I don’t know anything about vampires... but I sure am glad she is relatively alright,” Kennith said, yawning again, “I suppose you could search the library for information...”

“Of course, your majesty... Your servants should be arriving shortly with your breakfast. Are you comfy?” Arne asked.

“Ah, yeah. I am feeling fine,” Kennith reported.

“Very well, then; I will leave,” Arne said, turning and leaving the room.

“I wonder if there is any way to save that girl...” Kennith wondered out loud to himself.