Krimson Mind: The Krimson Cycle Vol. 1

Chapter One:

A/N: This is a reposting of the original work. Due to my own incompetence, I deleted the entire book. So here goes. The whole book in one night. For those that have read this before, enjoy it again. The second one is coming. This is the time to get refreshed. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, please. Pull up a chair and read a spell... 

It was a few minutes after midnight when James Stockton fell into a dream filled slumber. He lay on top of the comforter in his favorite pair of gray sleep pants. He was clutching a very old; leather bound book to his naked chest as though he was afraid that it would be stolen for him.

The book was the diary of an eighteen-year-old British girl. James had read the journal every night before he fell asleep. He bought the book almost two years ago at a flea market. And after an entire year of this nightly ritual, he knew every word by heart. And it was the words of the journal that caused him to dream.

James walked over the slick, snow covered cobblestones. But he wasn't worried, despite his bare feet. He knew this was a dream. And he knew that whatever the dream held for him, he wouldn't be affected. James knew that he didn't want to be here. He knew what was about to transpire. And he didn't want to live through it all again.

A cold winter night had fallen on the tiny village of Oakdale, England. It would be the last night that some of the twenty-eight villagers would know. James heard the quiet footfalls of five people behind him. He didn't bother to move, even as four of them rushed past him. One man and three women moved into the village in absolute silence. They were vampires and they were on the hunt. They were here to slake their thirst for blood. James could hear doors being opened and the sounds of wet feasting going on in the darkness, as he walked through the village.

After what seemed an eternity, James finally stopped walking. He could finally see the fifth vampire. This vampire was working on capturing his meal. What he didn't know, was that his meal was working very hard on trying to stay alive. This vampire was about to earn his meal the hard way.

The vampire pushed on the wooden door again. He could hear a single person moving about in the small house. He could smell her sweat. But, mostly, he could smell her blood. He realized that she was probably going to fight. But that was okay. It would only make the kill that much sweeter.

The vampire was dressed as any hunter might be, considering the weather. He wore leather pants with knee-high laced up boots. A white tunic and a heavy woolen cloak topped that. There was a heavy sword on his waist. James wondered how often the vampire actually used his blade.

James watched as he took a few steps back from the iron bound, wooden door. The vampire rushed the door with a burst of speed that no human could duplicate. He drove his shoulder into the door, and it began to give with a resounding crack. James smiled as the vampire growled in frustration.

James calmly walked over and stood near the door. The vampire took a few steps back again. This time, the door shattered into pieces and the iron strips that had bound it fell into the darkened interior of the house. From deep inside the house, a crossbow twanged almost as loudly as the door's breaking. The projectile flashed silver in the light of the waxing half-moon. It embedded itself into the vampire's left shoulder. Smoke began to curl up from the wound. James watched as the vampire ripped the crossbow bolt out of the wound. The bolt fell to the ground with a harsh metallic noise. There was a second twang, and another flash of silver. This time, the shooter's aim was true. This bolt dug itself into the vampire's heart.

"You have broken thyne heart." The vampire said with a cultured English accent.

"You...live?" The girl's voice was full of shock as it drifted out of the darkened house. Her accent was rough and not as cultured as the vampire's.