84 miles... .West.
Nothing was sceptical
Not a thing was recognizable.
I only pushed my weary foot through the dusty road.
My eyeballs were dim.
My strength drains out .
I could feel my heartbeat rising.
But my head was faced on one target... "WEST".
Edward Carnon POV
I walked both day and night, moving past towns, forests and broad lands with speed and agility without looking back. My breath became thickened. My throat became swollen.
Food hasn't even touched my lips and I couldn't even show mercy for my legs. As long as I could remember, it has been eight days since I left Sandroville after my rusty attack on the town. It was really a brutal day for the natives. All I knew was that I couldn't control myself. The urge ran through my veins and that was IT!.I wished I could go back to the love of my heart but that wouldn't be possible. The townsmen might have probably put a bounty on my head.
I am not quite brilliant that much but I know if I make an attempt to make a move to Sandroville ,I will be going to my grave. I am very sure the crying mothers and men must have dug my 6ft, patiently wanting for my head or body to be thrown in it.
I wanted to go back bit I rcluctantly forbid Sandroville. I looked up in the skies with tears of sorrow i cursed the ground and nature for giving me such a curse.
Sometimes,i even wonder, was this even a curse or a blessing?.
Was this a punishment for my sins or just another piece of shit in someone's frying pan?. I cursed the icon that made me this, a vampire, an automatic man-made killing machine.
Every sunrise and sunset, I battled with hunger and thirst. At first, I wanted to slow down a bit when I arrived at the city of Peachester. At a particular night, I closed my eyes, welcoming some sort of trance in my mind seeking of ideas and motive. I began to love this city.
It reminded me about a sercet spot in Sandroville near the beach where I and Natalia spend most of our time together. We could spend hours watching ships come and go from the docks, carrying fishes and spices from famous states like Cladus city and Penwort at the west but more importantly, the delicious grains from the famous North Lucia but all that was not the real deal.
The most sweetest part of our love spot was watching the sunset, 0dispatching slowly into the blue clouds, with the pleasant north wind swiftly blowing away and at that moment, we would kiss while the sun disappears into the clouds. I so much missed Natalia. I opened my eyes. My memories can't help me right now.
I needed to stay focused because I knew that some bloodlusting angry group of townsmen would be chasing me non-stop. With obsessed motivation, I quickly grap some essential items from the inn and disappeared into the woods, leaving no trace. I decided to continue my journey.
On the 9th day, after some hours after sunset, I took my map and began my race towards my objective. I have successfully crosses the borders of Peachester and Darvis. I could feel my target was close. I held my map in my hands, looking at directions:
"Ok... 72 miles... West. Heading to Romania", I read the map carefully while taking its readings as well. I folded my map into my bag.
I began my step towards my 72 miles journey. I was about to make a step when I heard a strange sound. it was quite noisy. I thought it was the birds in the trees so I took it as nothing. I carried my bag. I didn't know what was happening but I heard another sound from inside the woods. I looked around, suspicious but i listened closely.
I thought it was my head playing with me as it was just the wind moving through the tree. I smiled at my supidity. I shaked my head, leaning ahead my destination. I took another step but then, I heard a tree branch or a twig break in the woods. I looked back.
I dropped my bag on the floor. I looked west. I saw no one then I looked at the east. All I saw was the the moist soil from the rain last night. I knew at that moment that I wasn't the only soul out here.
"Hello!. Whoever is out there, can you kindly show yourself?", I shouted to signal the unknown individual hiding in those bushes.
I stood with complete steadfastness and focus. I thought my words would make the unknown indidvual shown himself but there was still no sign of anyone. Immediately, another twig broke again. I faced to the south and no one was there. I was shocked. I yelled out open again…
"Hey dude or whoever is out there, you better get your ass right out or there will be consequences. Mind you, I have a hell of a rep in killing people. No need to be scared, just giving you a heads up before our showdown. I don't t want you to say i cheated", I spoke out again.
I looked around again. It seems like the individual wouldn't come out. The forest sounded bit noisy though.
"Well, if anyone is out there, just to let you know. I don't want a fight. Maybe, I do but more importantly, It has been a terrible couple of weeks for me and I don't wanna break ya bones so it's best for you to come out right down", I shouted out again.
Maybe my head is playing tricks on me again. I picked up my bag and head out. I didn't walk too far enough when the unexpected happened. Out of no where, something punched on my back. I landed to the ground. This creature had distracted me.
I couldn't see a thing. I tried to defend myself but the creature was in total control. I had a visual then I paused a while. It was a man but something was indeed strange about this folk. As a point, I felt that my hands were free. Instantly, I made a fist to hit him. I tried to punch his face but to my surprise, he held my punch.sHe was quite as faster as me. That was rare and impossible.
My instinct about this man was building up. Then something strange happened... The violent man opened his mouth ajar. I could see his throat vividly but I could something strange in his oral structure. Four pointed teeth shot out. This only meant one omen to me:
He was a Vampire!
He was about to tear up my skin open but then, my strength moved all through my body. With my left hand, I punched him to a nearby tree. He felt defenceless. He was about to make a move. With my fast reflexes, I punched him hard on his rib cage. At that point,I knew he was out of the game. I continued to punch him at multiple locations until he was near death.
Soon, the powerless unknown man laid still on the ground, without any sign of energy in him. Something was off about him. His facial attubute was unknown to me. This wasn't the townsmen or any other men i have seen. It was bloody insane. More importantly, he was a vampire like me so it was certainly not the townsmen but more importantly, this was the first time I had seen a real vampire like me.
My first encounter with another vampire. I thought I was the only one!. I have never seen this man before in my life. I deduced to ask my attacker some questions. I held him by his collar:
"Dude, i know that when you trashed me out, you were hoping to win but you know, i gave you some advise and you bluntly refused. That's was so stupid of you. Now, I will have to carry your sorry ass to hell but firstly, i have a question to ask you. Who are you and why do you want my head? Tell me, how many more of us are out there?", i asked the strange Vampire killer while I hold his neck as I continued to interrogate him.
He looked at me, with his bleeding nose. I was expecting a quality answer but what he uttered was quite confusing and discomfortable to the core
"...The Ancient never forget... let ye bring forth self towards thee...", said the vampire in strange words I couldn't decipher. This went on repeatedly as he continued to say those words in sequence. At a point, I grew angry about this.
"Do I look like I am here for child's play? remember that I am holding your neck, not tapping your ass. Your life and death is in my hands, don't you get it? Give me answers, boy", I revolted to my killer but he wasn't down right helpful at all. He continued his strange words over and over again despite the fact I was about to strangle him to death:
"The ancient never forget..."
"I need answers!", I shouted at the top of my voice but he went on and on: "Let ye bring forth self towards thee..."
He continued to say this in sequence until suddenly, he brought out a knife and stab himself. He fell to the grounds, breathing his last breathe. Blood gusts out of his wound, staining the grass.
I quickly took my bag in horror trying to run away then, An initiative hit me. I want to the search dead body. I searched his pockets but I couldn't find a thing. I went on, opening his stained shirt. At the end of my mystery discover, all ,I saw was nothing but a strange symbol on his chest. It looked really weird, like a circle with numerous bending lines but what was written beneath gave me the creeps... THE ANCIENT NEVER FORGET.
I froze in horror. What was This? What the meaning of "the ancient one never forget"thWho is these people? Is this some sort of vampire cult?
A lot rolled through my mind. I was still frozen until I heard some girlish laugher in the woods. It drew more closer and closer.
I wanted to hid the body but no time was on my side. I quickly leaned forward for my bag and departed as quickly as possible, leaving my so called attacker for the beasts of the skies to descend justice to him...
Meanwhile in a far distance...
"My lord, He is still alive", shouted Sismon as he raced into the room iwith the latest report he had. "This can't be possible. Sebastian is currently on his trail", The unknown voiced replied.
"My Lord, was... was on his trail", responded Sismon as he adjusts his belt on his waist probably. He then stood majestically like a soldier he was in front of the door while he looks at his master whom was now totally confused. Simon's master asked: "What do you mean?"
"Sebastian is dead, Oracle", said Sismon as he bows his head down instantly whereas the sound of a broken cup was followed which came from inside the dark room.
"What?! That's impossible... he is blessed with the Akmoon tanvening....t hat's an impenetrable shield towards human and vampires alike", responded the unknown voice in the room.
"Yes, but he wasn't killed by Edward. He gave up his life for the Anicent, your Oracle. .I'm sorry, my lord but truly, it was a sorrowful death of a brave warrior. May he live long in the creeps of the underworld", replied Sismon to his master.
"His blood will not be a waste, not when I'm living. A new decision, I now give to you. Make sure every vampire and able bodied being capable of securing and hunting must be on the run for Edward. He who gets him shall be paid times two of what paid Sebastian. Send words to the entire corners of Darmich. He must not enter Cladus city alive, you hear me? he mustn't!", said the voice in the room in anger.
"Yes, My Oracle", Sismon responded thereby, he leaves the room of his master to execute his orders while he leaves his master talking to himself in the dark room: "He has pierced the Dragon with a spear. I will show him a spear Is nothing compared to a dragon's breath. Buckle up, brave men and women of the Troopers,we head to his destination at Once!"