The carriage with sculptures of golden vines rolled down the country road, entering a dense forest. Two coachmen ensured that the horses avoided the worst obstacles within the path. The convoy included eight guards on the horses, four in front of the carriage and front behind.
Within the carriage sat a young woman with her maid who was also her dear friend. The only person that listened to her woes.
They were behind the schedule and the sun was setting. There was an air of rush to get through the forest before the night sets properly. It was still a long journey ahead.
No one noticed when the guard at the very back started to fall behind as he looked around with suspicion. There was something between the trees. He couldn't see it yet but he could feel the burning on his back as he travelled. No one noticed when that something rushed from behind the trees and threw him off the horse in one swift motion, creating no noise as it happened. The guard was long dead by the time his companions noticed his absence. The convoy stopped as the guards started to look around for their missing friend. And that's when the attack happened.
The woman in the carriage looked out through the window pane with curiosity of the situation outside only to see the most dreadful image she could have imagined. A vampire was drinking the blood straight out of the broken neck of her guard. She locked the eyes with the monster, with his red eyes, very aware that it was going to be her turn soon.
"Ma'am." Her maid uttered in terror, looking back at the young woman.
"We must run. Now!" The young woman pushed the door open on the other side of the carriage and budged her maid out, running away as fast as she could. In the corner of her eye, she spotted a massacre unfolding of three vampires and nine dead bodies - seven guards and two coachmen.
The woman run beside her maid, pulling the maid through the brambles. She reached into her boot and took out a knife, prepared to fight for her life. Her maid fell, tripping the young woman up. The woman turned around on the muddy ground to find that red-eye vampire right behind her. He licked his lips at a sight of the bleeding scraped knee. One of his companions caught up with them and grabbed the poor maid while the red-eyed vampire attacked the woman.
Her desperation to live made her fight harder than ever as she tried to stab him in defence. The vampire pushed her arm with all his force, and the cold blade cut through her arm. He leaned in, holding her arm with one hand, and holding her head with another. He tried to push her head to the side to reach her neck.
"You cannot…" she uttered through her gritted teeth. She reached her free arm around and grabbed a stick, aiming it at the vampires eye. It worked. The vampire jolted back screaming in pain. It was a brilliant opportunity for a decent stab. The woman pushed the dagger into his neck, almost severing it. Her face twisted in disgust. She never once thought that she would be capable of killing but in that moment her need to survive and to save her friend was stronger than any of her morals or values. She turned around to go after her maid but instead she saw the vampire suck out the last drops of the blood out of her friend. With fury, she reached that vampire at an extraordinary pace, severing its head in a rugged motion. It was too late.
She embraced the empty and cold body of the maid that spend years in her company and sobbed the tears of the deepest sorrow she has ever felt. Through the blurry and teary eyes, she took the image around her in, realising that she was not safe yet. Much more was lurking in the dark forest. Many more monsters were hidden in the shadows. Many more vampires that were keen to drink her blood. She kissed her friend's forehead and closed her eyes, quietly saying the prayer. Once done, she picked the dagger up and run.
The forest was dark and dense, without a single source of light breaking through the tree crowns.
The woman was disoriented and was certain that she run in circles on a few occasions. She hoped that she will eventually find the edge of the woods or a path, which could lead her out of the dangerous place. She could hear her rapid breathing and breaking of the branches, but she was too afraid to stop and listen if she was being followed or chased. She didn't have the time to waste if she was to survive the night in the most dangerous place in the world.
She tripped again on an uneven surface, scratching her arms and legs on the many sharp thorns. The taste of blood filled her mouth after another fall. It was certainly not an appetising flavour, at least not to a human.
Her dress tore into shreds and the hems were torn off.
Her eyes caught a distant glare between the leaves, giving her hope that she was near a village. And from there, she could travel further. If she could only find shelter for the night. If she could only find humans.
She threw herself towards the light and fell onto the ground in a clear space. She tumbled a little and landed on her back seeing a clear starry night sky above her. Tears run down her face. She was alive!