Beneath the Sanguine Moon

Ch. 1: Welcome to Grimsmire

Rain had descended upon the outskirts of Grimsmire the minute Verena's stagecoach had crossed its borders. It was as if it could sense her presence and was warning her to turn back.

Three knocks came from the driver's box, and she knew that meant Jodie, her whipman, was pulling over until the storm passed. Moving her small bag of belongings aside, she made room on the seat Infront of her so that he could wait it out in the cabin. He had been in her employ for a while now and even after his health started to decline and she offered him the chance to retire, he'd passed it up, adamant that he would work until the day they put him in the ground. As much as she admired him for his loyalty, she feared that day would be sooner than later. A few times now, when he thought she wasn't watching, she'd see him sipping on elixirs, and coughing up blood into the same handkerchief she'd given him for Yule last year.

Settling back into her seat, she decided to allow herself a moment of rest. Just as she thought she might drift off to sleep the sound of something heavy hitting the roof jolted her upright.

"Jodie?" she called out, concerned that he'd not made it in yet. When he did not answer, she scrambled for the door.

Her heart fell into her stomach when it opened, and she saw what waited on the other side.

"Well, well" the creature cooed, lowering himself into the doorway. "It must be my lucky night."

To anyone else they would see a man, but Verena's eyes had been trained to see him for the monster he really was. The way his chest refused to rise and fall with breath, the effortless movements and most of all the gaze of a predator. He was a Vampire.

The cabin shook under its weight as she pushed herself against the door opposite the intruder. "Please," she pleaded, her hands frantically trying to find the latch. It wasn't budging.

"Don't worry sweetheart" A disgusting grin crossed his face. "We won't be long."

'We' she thought and just as she did the door that she was leaning against gave way and she fell into something cold and hard.

Another one.

By the time she shifted back to the center of the seat both Vampires were hovering in the exits. She had to think of something and do it quickly. Then, she remembered what her mother had told her a long time ago; 'the greatest weapon a witch has, is herself.'

She had an idea. Perhaps an entirely stupid one, but the dagger on her hip wouldn't do much and even if she managed to get away, they would hunt her down again. No, she needed something more effective- Craftier.

"This should teach that Royal prick not to cut our rations again." He sneered at his partner who only stood there, still and watching.

Verena's eyebrows drew together in suspicion. They were talking about the elders. Now that she thought about it, this kind of behavior, even for their kind, was odd. In all her studies, Verena knew that this society was keen on keeping their identity a secret at all costs... but this one, he seemed like a loose end waiting to come undone. He was lashing out and she was just collateral damage. He wanted a helpless victim, so that's what she intended to give him.

"Wait!" she yelled at him as he came near. She willed her body to shake and her eyes to fill with tears. "I'll let you drink from me."