Adela Augusta Blood Famine

Chapter Seven

Adela

Adela kept to the shadows, but not to hide from the sun. The Dawn armor she wore and loved so much would keep her protected from that. She kept to the sidelines for a different reason, for she wanted no part in the events that were to come. She was no fan of murder and false accusations but who was she to argue with her father. If she could do that she wouldn't be here in the first place. Instead of presenting this victim to a fair trial, she was instead playing warden over a public execution. Of course, if the woman to be burned really was a witch then they probably were better off. She had never heard anything good about a witch of course she had never met one before either. So whether misery, grief, and despair were all that followed in one's wake was true she couldn't say for certain.

Some said they had no souls that they sold them for dark magic and power. Still, many said the same about vampires. At times she wondered if that was true. She definitely felt like she had a soul. Why else would she be standing here contemplating all this instead of actually paying attention to the duty she was assigned.

Adela glanced up from her feet where she had been staring. She had chosen an out of the way support beam underneath the balcony. The yard was set up with four such balconies facing inwards. In the center of the square was a small stage with a kindling pyre built on top of it. It was a perfect little nook in this small town for a spectacle such as this. The balcony's design allowed for more seating as well as better viewing for crazed masses. And if she wasn't mistaken this was a perfect spot for execution of this sort as the buildings allowed for efficient ventilation. Like a chimney, it would channel the smoldering remains up into the air and the cries.

Adela shook her head. She knew witches were dangerous but she hoped it really was one. Then she wouldn't feel so bad. Judging by the screams and slander of humans around her, they certainly believed whoever this girl was to be a witch. And though it did nothing to ease her mind, she knew this wasn't even her father's doing. The people themselves had rooted her out. The Augustan soldiers were only here to keep the peace. The roar of the populace picked up, and Adela knew it was time.

The crowd parted as an elderly woman with dark skin and greying hair was pushed into the center of the square. The sole vampire clad in all his armor was enough to tell Adela that the women he was escorting could hardly be dangerous. Surely a witch would have more guards. Her facial features were hard to make out from where Adela stood, not to mention that the vision her own Dawn armor granted her wasn't perfect. Still, the witch in question carried herself with composure. Either she was a woman courageous and full of integrity, or she was confident, a thought that worried her.

The vampire and the accused reached the top of the stage at last and he was now fastening her to the kindling. Adela tried to sort out all the noise, and zero in on what the two were saying if anything, but it was of no use. The screams and shouts of the villagers were too great. Then as if her kin had read her thoughts he silenced the crowd with a raise of his hand.

"Citizens of Reaghan village! You are gathered here today to bear witness to this witch's punishment. For her to atone for her crimes and sins." The vampire turned, torch in hand, from the ragtag group of farmers, merchants, and lower-class workers, to the women strapped to the pyre. "Have you anything to say, Witch, before you recompense?"

"Only that I'm sorry for the ignorance of all you fools."

"I beg your pardon?"

"The people are right in one thing. A curse is present in a kingdom but it is not ours. Illness is present in all, though not in the forms you realize. Death is the result. Your foolishness we'll be your own dooms. Get smart or get dead. Poor souls."

Adela uncrossed her arms and took a step closer. Could she be talking about the plague in Crichton? If she was guilty, why did she sound sincerely sorry?

The crowd erupted out into confusion, and accusations and the vampire turned his torch to the firewood, then froze. The voice of the crowd died down as one, as they all looked at the knife sticking out of the torches shaft.

"Wait just one moment." A man's voice spoke stepping out from the crowd. "I know this woman and she is no witch."

"Stupid boy, you'll get yourself killed along with me." The women said, hardly phased by the new development.

"You conspire with the witch?"

"She has a name! Diya is no witch! Perhaps if she was given a fair trial you'd know as much."

The guard looked to Adela who offered him no help but simply looked on as everyone else. He hesitated then spoke.

"Seize him."

Another guard appeared from the crowd and reached for the man, who nimbly ducked out of the way. "Yield!" the human yelled.

Instead, the vampire guard reached first for his sword, and then for his throat. He dropped to his knees writhing in pain. The wound wasn't fatal to a vampire, but the pain was still real.

"He was warned." The man said pointing the bloody tip of a knife at the vampire with the torch.

Now Adela recognized him. He was the human that had saved her life only days ago. "Wait!" She yelled but it was no use, the guard center stage issued another command simultaneously and her call was drowned out by his more commanding voice. Another guard appeared and charged the human, who managed to disarm his attacker and swipe his helmet. The vampire summoned the human blood he had gathered from his last hunt and produced a Twitch. With inhuman speed he burst through the crowd sending people toppling as he screamed, darting beneath the balcony, his face already steaming and scaring from the sun's rays.

Adela looked from her writhing associate to the man in the square, while the remaining guard glanced at her. The mysterious man was readying a defensive stance with his sword.

The guard sped off the stage, using the speed of his Twitch in an attempt to outmaneuver the human, but instead crashed into him. The vampire's speed placed his path right in that of his adversary's sword, the blade pierced right through the slits in his armor's eyes and the cloth blinding him. He crashed into the man who rolled to his feet and readied himself for another attack.

The crowd was a murmur of amazement, the spectacle making them forget why they had gathered there in the first place. One vampire laid face down in the dirt, another hissing in the shadows, his face scarred, and unable to return into the light of the square without protecting his head. A third gripped his throat crawling to his knees. The man turned and placed another knife with a well-aimed throw, and that vampire too dropped.

"Lady Adela." Her burnt associate warned, but she ignored him and the smell of his smoldering flesh.

Adela stepped out from under the balcony and into the light, ready to face this slayer of vampires.

**Author's Note**

Hello, welcome to the end, and welcome to Chaise and Adela's second meeting. Oddly enough more death and violence. How will these two react this time around to each other? Oh, and we can't forget about Diya. Witch or not herbal healer or hag? Does she burn or does she run free? Does Chaise try to slay Adela? Guess you'll have to wait to find out, but you can theorize amongst yourselves or good old me. See you in the next chapter.