The Lady Knight

Chapter 2

"Alexandra! Alexandra! Where are you?! Get inside this instant before I come out and find you myself!"
Alex cringed at the sound of her mother's voice and hurried along towards servant's entrance leading into the kitchen. She knew not to test Lady Katherine when it came to threats; the woman wasn't afraid of anything when it came to her daughter. Unfortunately, Alex had learned that the hard way.
She stopped and hid in the suddenly comforting shadow of the Tower; she'd rather take down a hundred enemies in battle rather than face her mother's wrath. She took a deep breath, pushing down the nervous rock that settled in her stomach before continuing to where her mother stood, hands on hips.
"Alexandra!", Lady Katherine exclaimed, not bothering to hide her anger. She held a hand up to her heart, "You startled me! Where have you been?!"
"Nowhere," Alex grumbled as she pushed past her mother's fuming form and into the warm depths of the kitchen.
Lady Katherine let out a frustrated huff as her daughter stormed into the kitchen without looking back. She knew that Alex was never up to any good, always running off to observe the infected when they crawled out of their hole to hunt at night. Kate shuddered. Anyone could be next; villagers were taken from their beds late at night and when they came back, they weren't the same person anymore. Lady Katherine remembered when she came face-to-face with a newly infected.
          She knew it was late, but she had promised to visit her sister to help care for her ill child; Samantha had never been good with the sight of blood; it didn't matter if it was coming from her own child's mouth. It wasn't far, only a couple minutes on foot, but Lady Kate still felt that she should hurry.

Feeling her hair being lifted, she gasped and whipped around to see the empty path behind her. How strange, she thought to herself. Hackles now raised, she turned back only to stop in her tracks.

An elderly woman stood about 10 feet from Lady Katherine, dirt coating her hands and arms along with what Katherine believed was blood soaking her servant's uniform. Startled, Lady Katherine stopped in her tracks, heart pounding.

She could tell that something was off about this woman. She'd had scarlet eyes that observed her with a hunger that gave Kate a terrible feeling deep within her gut. Scanning her gaze over the woman's attire, Kate noticed dark splotches falling from crevices within her gown. Staring hard, Kate blanched and stepped back when she realized what she was looking at. Pieces of flesh were falling from her clothing. That's when she noticed the berry-like stains surrounding her mouth and lips.

"Can I help you?" Lady Kate called to the woman, holding her supplies to her chest as if they'd protect her from this savage creature.
The only response that she got in return was mumbling, scarlet eyes narrowing in warning.

"I beg your pardon? I didn't hear that." Even Kate could hear her voice shaking. She cautiously began to back away, her slender fingers wrapping around one of the few blades she had brought along.

The gnarled creature stood straight and lifted her crimson-coated face. Those haunting eyes stared at Lady Katherine, etching their image deep within her mind for many years to come . After what seemed like years, she cracked open her blood-crusted lips and gave a blackened grin.

"Hell is coming," her slimy voice growled, "Hell is coming."

Lady Katherine pushed the memory back from the depths of her mind and silently followed after Alex, securing the door behind her.