Hannah dashed into the kitchen and pulled a drawer open. The rotten box flew out and broke on the stone floor, scattering rusty cutlery. She dropped to her knees and searched for anything mildly offensive. Nothing. She continued to rummage through cabinets and crates.

“Ah!” A rat skittered between her legs, squeaking angrily as it scurried behind an old water pale. Hannah held her chest and caught her breath. The kitchen window darkened and drew her gaze. “You won’t come in, I shan’t invite you…vampire!”

Scratching noises from the walls taunted her. David’s voice called her to obey and leave the house.

She covered her ears and stumbled through the dining room–if one could call it that. The worn table was covered with cobwebs and a layer of dust so thick that walking by was enough to kick up clouds of grey. In the corner, sprouting from an old barrel was a green handle that looked like the hilt of a blade. She raced towards it, bumping the table with her hip, and drew the blade from the barrel.

“Hannah.” The voice echoed through the house.

Hannah inspected the sword, a cavalry sword, turning it over. She didn’t quite know if it was of decent quality. It was simple and half-length with a squared hand guard. It reminded her of an old painting in her house of a dragoon, he held this type of blade aloft as if signifying a charge. Ironic, she thought, perhaps she’d need to make such a stand.

She whipped the sword around a few times and made a thrusting motion. “I shall show this demon where I stand, should he like to come in.”

“I should like to!” The voice replied.

Hannah looked around and held the sword up threateningly, “I’ll run you through!” Her dander was up. She had resigned herself to a fight she’d probably lose. Now too tired to cry or panic all she had left was herself and the fabled rules of the vampire, prohibiting him from entry.

“Your courage is impressive.”

“Why do you hunt me? What did I do to you?”

“You are pure. The purest. Too pure for this place. The sweetest feed should always break the seal.”

She moved through the house, keeping the sword raised. Hannah had thought delaying the beast with conversation might buy her time for a rescue. “What seal?”

“None of your concern. I shall sprout wings of glory when you die in my arms!”

“You cannot enter this house!”

“Then, if you ask nicely, I shall find another to prey upon.”

Hannah paused. “If I beg, you would pick another?”

“Yes.”

“Another victim?”

“I speak clearly, girl.”

She licked her lower lip. A chance to escape. Though he might be lying.

“Well? What would you have me do?”

“I do not believe I command you!”

“You do so by your actions.”

Hannah closed her eyes and spoke softly. “I choose…I choose to remain your prey. I could not live with the knowledge that I set you upon another like an attack dog!” her eyes filled with tears.

“As I said, Hannah. You are the purest. All the other whores in this village would have tossed you to my feet to save themselves. The purest is always the sweetest.”

“I still will not open the door for you, beast!”

***

Elizabeth released Sylvester’s throat and let his limp body fall away, it folded up like an old sheet and thudded against the mortuary ground.

Simon picked up Sylvester and carried him away.

The fulfilling feed filled Elizabeth with pleasure and energy, though she could still not use it. Her body did not respond to her commands and she cursed Sylvester. “That rat,” she growled.

Simon returned and looked over her. “Can move?”

Elizabeth shook her head with an irritated grimace.

“No can move?”

“No, I cannot you halfwit!”

“Boss said put you in hole if no can move.”

“Wait, no! I might–”

Simon lifted her and carried her through the back room. It was wide with large stoned pillars running down the centre. The walls were lined with shelves that contained numerous jars and tubes.

“Let me go!” Elizabeth tried to wriggle but could only thrash her head from left to right. “Unhand me!”

“No, you go hole, Sylvester said.”

“I am in charge here, not Sylvester!”

Simon plodded on. His bare feet slapped against the cold floor of the mortuary until he reached a huge wooden door. “Ugh!” he kicked the open and walked inside, clonking Elizabeth's skull against the door frame as he passed through.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Ow! Fool!”

“Here hole.” Simon tilted Elizabeth enough to see where she’d be going. It was a well-sized hole built into the floor of the room. It was impossible to see how deep it ran, but the stench that wafted from its bowels was enough to tell Elizabeth it wasn’t for storing anything savoury.

“No!” Elizabeth kicked her legs.

The ghoul stopped.

“Do not put me in that hole, I command you!”

Simon tipped her upright and placed her down.

Elizabeth hadn’t noticed she was standing and slapped the Ghoul about the face several times until it dawned on her. “Ah, oh…the body is working!” She patted herself in disbelief and looked at Simon.

The ghoul nodded, “Sylvester said persuasion make body move.”

Elizabeth clenched her fists and considered shoving the ghoul down the hole. She thought better of it as he may have some use yet. “I’m sure he did,” she spoke through a clenched jaw. How she wished she had kept Sylvester alive long enough to punish him for his devious trick. “Go to the Manor house, Simon.”

“Yes.”

“Wait.”

Simon stopped.

“Tear the walls down.”

“Break walls.”

“Yes. It will soon be time.”

Simon plodded out slowly.

Elizabeth attempted to follow but she found walking somewhat trickier than standing still. Her steps were wobbly and she clung to the pillars for balance. “I must not give up,” she said to herself softly.

Esmeralda’s body had been revitalised by the blood she drank and she could feel the strength returning. She felt like an imposter. Fitting. Elizabeth staggered out into the room where the bare slab stood, covered in blood and bits of bone.

The stairs posed a challenge she wasn’t prepared for and instead opted to crawl on her hands and feet. Her arm skin was a deep bluey-green hue and sagged off the bone. Her wet palms and feet slapped against the steps as she hauled herself up, finally reaching the door.

Elizabeth fell through it and onto the grass. The cold mid-morning air stung her freshly awakened lungs and she coughed violently.

“If you fail, which you will…” Alius said, leaning against a tree as he watched Elizabeth struggle, “Would you go through this again?”

Elizabeth looked at Alius who was becoming more of a pest as judgement closed in on this village of sin. “Would you?”

Alius laughed, “Yes.”

“You would see the hurt befall upon your beloved wife for eternity? Perhaps I should torture myself before you in the woods.”

“Perhaps.”

“Why don’t you dangle from your tree? It’s what you do best.”

“How exactly is this ghoulish machination of yours going to stop a well-fed, David?”

Elizabeth looked over her body and back at Alius. “You always did prefer Esmeralda over me, didn’t you?”

Alius smirked, “Even if that were true, I never would have acted upon it.”

Elizabeth sneered and wobbled over to the mortuary gates that led onto the old path. She had started to find her footing now and her strength returned by the minute. “Well,” she said, pushing the gate aside and leaving, “we can’t all be perfect like you, Alius.”

“That’s sarcasm. I hate that.”

“Indeed, don’t try to stop me.”

“For me to consider such action, you’d need to convince me you were worth the effort.”

“Good.” Elizabeth waved her arms and stumbled down the path toward the village.

***

Hannah had enjoyed peace for some time, she thought the vampire had given up. Something smelt off though. She sniffed at the air. It was deep, a little choking. Fire! She raced from the living room into the kitchen and gasped. From outside the window arose flames, licking at the glass. “No, no!”

There was no water in the home. Smoke slipped through the cracks and started to fill the kitchen. A rock crashed through the glass and Hannah screamed, dropping the sword.

She ran back to the living room. David was waving at her through the window with a dark smile.

“I assure you. Burning hurts more than I do. Come out.”

“No!” Hannah looked back at the kitchen where smoke now billowed through. She ran back to pick up the cavalry sword and held it tightly in both hands. “I shan’t leave!”

David disappeared from the window and scratched at the walls.

Hannah waved her sword around. The smoke caught her throat and she coughed, her eyes stung and the heat began to build. The fire had spread to the side of the small house and would soon envelop it completely.

She tossed the table at the living room window to let air in and suck out the heat. “Monster!” she cried.

Hannah struggled to stay conscious from the smoke, her throat burned and the heat became unbearable. She gave in and broke out of the front door before the entire home was engulfed in flame.

David grabbed her by the wrist and twisted her arm.

“Ahhh!” Hannah raised her other arm and stabbed David through the chest with her sword.

David tossed her to the ground and growled. “Still fight in you!”

Hannah crawled away, coughing and retching.

“Ngh!” David took the hilt of the blade and slowly eased it from his chest. He inspected the edge and nodded. “Very nice.” he tossed it to the side and marched over to Hannah.

“Leave me alone!” she looked back at David.

“Up we go.” he grabbed her by the hair and forced her up before throwing her over his shoulder.

“What you doing?” She kicked her legs frantically and slapped at his back.

“I am going to demonstrate. I shall call upon the gifter of this curse to witness his new future.”

“Please…captain, think about what you’re doing!”

“You cannot comprehend what I think, girl.”

Hannah battered the vampire's back as he carried her back to the village. She screamed for help, looking around as villagers came out and stood at their doors to watch. “Help me! Don’t stand there, help!”

David dropped her down at the foot of the willow tree and held her by the hair. “See these putrid sinners, Hannah. You are too good for them. You’re above them. Each man and woman in this village will stand by and watch me do as I please.”

“Help!” Hannah’s scream turned into a cry.

“Ask them for help again, look at their faces.”

“Heeelp!” Hannah sobbed and looked at them through bleary eyes. They were all too scared to step forward.

“Let…her…go!” George cried. He crawled stumbled from a small house and limped toward them on a crutch. “Don’t you hurt her, vampire.”

David raised his eyebrows and offered a crooked, toothy smile. “I shall tell you what if you can reach me before I drain her…she can live.”

“Don’t do it George, it’s a trick!” Hannah said.

“Ah, she cares for you, George.”

George pushed himself out of the door and hobbled slowly on the crutch. The fresh wound was poorly bound in a bloodied cloth. He could barely stand. A misstep had George tumbling over and struggling to stand.

“Well, you can’t blame a man for trying, can you, Hannah?” David smiled down at her.

“Why do you do this?”

David lifted her from the ground and brought his arms around her tightly. “Your time starts now!” At that, David sank his teeth into her sutty neck and began to drink.

Hannah cried out. The pain was deep and burning, far worse than any fire set by a man. She reached out her arm towards George who wobbled to his feet using the shaking crutch. “G-George…” her voice faltered.