the demon hunter volume 1

chapter 1 ava the vampire part 1

In the year 1823, Ava lived with her mother and father in their home. At 25 years old, she sat by her mirror brushing her hair, lost in thoughts of a man named Hero whom she had met some time ago. Her mother entered the room, informing her that dinner would be ready shortly. After the meal, Ava announced she was going for a walk and would be back soon. Her mother cautioned her to be careful, while her father reminded her to wear her shoes. Dressed in a white kimono, Ava set off down the Tokaido road.

As she walked, she heard a noise coming from the woods. Turning toward the sound, she saw what looked like a vampire emerging from the shadows. The creature lunged at her, sinking its teeth into her neck. Ava screamed in terror, a sound that reached her father’s ears back at the house. He rushed outside, shouting her name, and followed her cries until he found her lying on the road.

"Are you alright?" he asked, noticing her once dark blue eyes had turned a sickly yellow. "Father, I'm cold," Ava whispered before biting him on the neck. Confused and horrified, he staggered back to the house. His wife, upon seeing his yellow eyes, asked in alarm, "What happened to your eyes, dear?" Without a word, he bit her on the neck as well.

The next day, Hero was walking down the street when Ava appeared seemingly out of nowhere. "Hello," she greeted him, "It's been a while. Meet me tonight at the cemetery. Don't be late." Intrigued and a little uneasy, Hero agreed.

That night, as Hero arrived at the cemetery, he heard a woman laughing. "Ava, is that you?" he called out. Walking closer, he saw Ava sitting by a grave. "What are you doing out here so late?" he asked.

"I like to come here every night; it makes me feel so good," she replied. Sensing something was wrong, Hero said, "Ava, this doesn't feel right. I'm leaving."

Ava suddenly appeared behind him. "Leaving so soon? The night is still young," she purred. Her eyes gleamed with a sinister light. "What's wrong with your eyes, Ava?" he asked, backing away.

"There's nothing wrong, my dear. You look tired. Why don't you sit down?" She then pushed him against one of the headstones and bit him on the neck. The next morning, the locals found Hero's lifeless body, drained of blood. Horrified, they demanded answers and banded together to find the culprit.

Using dogs, they traced the trail back to Ava’s house and burned it to the ground. However, she was nowhere to be found. That night, the locals began to call her "The Blood Princess."

Ava’s mother asked her husband where they were going. "To America," he replied, their eyes reflecting the same eerie yellow glow.