Escape the Vampire Hunter

Prologue

"Anna Wilson, my name is Magnus Haraldsson. Our...mutual friend, Rachel Vaughn, told me you would be able to help me and my family." I froze as Magnus said Rachel's name.

"Why should I help you? I don't know you.  How do you know Rachel?"

"But you will soon enough, Miss Wilson." I turned my head to see another guy standing near me. I hadn't even heard him walk up.

"Miss Wilson, this is my brother, Brynjulf Haraldsson."

"We know Rachel because of an...unfortunate incident," Brynjulf said, a vague smile on his face.  My eyes widened.

"What the hell did you do to her, you son of a bitch?"  I started for Brynjulf, but Magnus stopped me.

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I was sitting at an antique, wooden table with Magnus.  We were discussing how to kill Harald, his father.  The one who's been pursuing him.

"Like my family and I, Harald has only one weakness."

"And that is?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A white birch stake."  I snorted.

"A birch stake?  That thing would snap in half before it killed Harald."

"Normal birch, yes.  But white birch is stronger, especially when bound by magic."  I raised an eyebrow again.

"And...that's how you plan on killing him?  Why do you need me if that's your plan?"  Magnus looked right at me.

"I need you because he must be immobile when we kill him.  If you think Brynjulf, Rolf, Ingrid, Lars, or I are powerful, our father is much more so." My eyes widened slightly. "Add that physical strength to a brutal no-nonsense personality and he is virtually unstoppable. My siblings and I are all over a thousand years old and we are still subject to the whims of our parents, especially our father."

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"How dare you defy me? I am practically a god, compared to you, little witch!" Brynjulf bellowed at me. I was tempted to shrink back and look as afraid as I felt, but I forced myself to stand in front of him and look him in the eye.

"Because I know that you're a one-thousand-year-old spoiled brat who deserves to be told no!" I snapped. Brynjulf looked like his head was going to explode. I glanced at Magnus and saw him trying to hide a smile.

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"All it takes is a little bit of concentration, Anna.  You can do this," Astrid told me as she waved her hand toward a feather on the table in front of me.  "Start small and work your way up.  You are much more powerful than you give yourself credit for."  I sighed, shaking my head.

"I'm not, though, Astrid."  Astrid gently grabbed my shoulders, turning me to face her.

"You are.  Everyone else believes in you.  Now, you just need to believe in yourself."

I gasped as I woke up, the images still vaguely floating around in my head.  What was all of that?