A Vampire's Life Book 5

Chapter 17

I was in the garden when I overheard the conversation between Jonah and one of the security guards. They were on the other side of the wall; Jonah had obviously been returning to the residence when he was stopped by one of the guards.

"Your highness, I must speak with you urgently."

"Of course, what is the problem?"

"The guards on night duty, they are telling me things, things I would not think true."

"Oh?"

"Of a cloaked figure, roaming the land outside the compound."

I tried to stifle my gasp, they had seen a figure.

"Rogue?"

"No your highness, they have seen this figure disappear."

"Vampire then."

"Yes your highness."

"Could it be a staff member?"

"Who could scale such a height?"

"It is possible, with the right breeding, the right vampiric lineage, such heights are not impossible. Anything noteworthy about the figure?"

I gripped the tree, hoping and praying that their information would be of no use.

"The figure, they said is of thin frame, the cloak billowed as it jumped from the top of the wall. Pants, top, boots. Nothing of any distinction."

"And the cloak, standard vampire cloak?"

"No your highness. The men said it looked like it glistened in the moonlight."

"Glistened? You mean like crushed velvet?"

"I have not seen the figure."

A few seconds had passed before he called a man over.

"Tell his highness of what you saw."

"Yes sir. Your highness... I saw the figure last night, long black hooded cloak, the clothes underneath was tight to the body, almost like leather. When they hit the ground, the person started taking down rogues."

"Rogues?"

"Yes, they have started hanging around near the entrance."

"Why was I not informed?"

"I was of the understanding that you were told, my apologies but I know not of the reasons why the security chief would not tell you."

"Never mind, carry on."

"Bow and arrows, stakes, anything that doesn't make a sound, this person has it. Every night for the past week it has been the same, the person goes out, takes down every single rogue and returns to the compound. In the morning the bodies litter the ground, well those that haven't been eaten by the animals."

"How many?"

"We estimate thirty to forty a night, the numbers have been dwindling in recent nights, almost like they have left or are no more."

My eyes flick to the top of our residence, the secret that it holds.

"And what of the security cameras?"

"We can show you, your highness, but it would be of no benefit, it is as we have explained."

"Where does the figure jump the wall?"

"Not far from here."

"I see. And the cloak? You said it glistened in the moonlight."

"Yes."