I'm awoken hours before the sun sets by the sounds of combat just a short distance away, igniting my blood-lust. The screams of men, bones crunching, muscles tearing, hearts pumping as arteries are severed and blood soaks uselessly into the earth. I want to be a part of it, clawing at flesh, blood, sweet, thick and hot dripping down my chin as I drink my fill. But instead of gorging myself, I'm stuck with an all consuming hunger, waiting in this dank fucking cave until the sun drops below the horizon.
The battle ended long before I could leave my temporary prison, finally emerging to find it had been snowing, the dead shrouded in a thick blanket made glittering by the moonlight. I don't linger long, I want a fresh meal, not this rotting and festering offal. The ravens have already arrived to pluck and prick at any exposed flesh, and If those carrion birds are here the wolves will soon follow, so I leave them to their feasting.
Instead I follow a trail through the trees, my boots crunching quietly in the snow with each step as the winter flowers dust me with pollen and a faintly spiced perfume. I've always loved the snow, the landscape transformed and given an almost ethereal quality and starlight making the very ground glisten.
The surviving soldiers had built an encampment a little way to the east, between a small copse of pines and the river, their bawdy revelry destroying the nights tranquility. I get lucky and find a suitable victim before I even have to enter the noisy camp. He's stumbling deeper into the wood towards me, looking I guess to relieve himself against some unfortunate tree. I've never liked feeding from drunks, they leave a bitter aftertaste and a cloudy head, but I haven't eaten in days so I cannot bring myself to care. At least he won't give up much of a fight and there is always the option go back later for something sweeter.
My skin prickles in anticipation before I attack him with a supernatural speed, my mouth clamping instantly to his neck, fangs sinking deep into his skin for that first quenching gush of blood. Small drops raining red onto the virgin snow.
It's not long before I drain the last of his lifeblood, letting the corpse drop heavily and unceremoniously to the ground. But the soft thud his body makes isn't enough to cover a startled gasp I hear from behind me. I turn to find a woman, wide eyed and trembling, peeking from behind a pine tree. She doesn't scream or cry out, just stands there, I suppose her shock at finding me keeping her ridged with fear, her blue eyes locked with my green. I don't know how long we could have stayed like that, if at that moment a wolf hadn't howled in the distance, rousing her to take flight.
She doesn't get far before I reach her, grabbing her throat to push her form firmly against the nearest tree. Her pulse thumps wildly beneath my fingers, setting a different kind of hunger burning.
"please don't kill me. " She stammers, and I just about contain the urge to roll my eyes, one of these nights it would be nice to hear an original plea for mercy.
"I'm not going to kill you. " I tell her, surprised as she to find that I actually mean it.
Now that I have her, I let myself study the woman's features. Deep red hair frames a pale, heart shaped face with delicate freckles sprinkled over soft cheekbones. My gaze moves downward to find a mole just below my thumb, marking her fluttering pulse point. I barely resist an intense pull to lean in and feel that steady rhythm against my lips. Looking further I notice another mole on the curve of her collarbone and yet another gracing the swell of her breast, gently rising and falling with each breath she takes. I lick my lips, wondering just how far this delicious trail leads. I close my eyes to try and calm my rising desire, but all it does it make me more aware of the blood pounding through her veins and her scent, an intoxicating mix of pine, sweet honey and cinnamon.
"what's your name?" I ask, trying to distract myself.
The question seemed to catch her off balance, her lips taking a few moment to form an answer before, in a breathy rush she says "Ava, my name's Ava. "
