Chapter I
The sound of the fire crackling jolted me awake from my deep sleep. The fire was in the center of my small wooden cabin and was about to go out. The final few sparks screamed for help. I unwrapped myself from the warm covers. I let out a yawn while stretching my back. Sparks started to pop and crackle. When I opened the door to my cabin, the sun was just beginning to rise. Going outside, I grab some firewood from the shelf next to the door.
The wind felt chilly against my bare skin as I closed the door. My chest is bandaged, and I am wearing arm warmers that barely keep me warm. I should’ve gotten a shirt. The logs crackle as they fall from my grasp and land on the fading sparks. I hugged myself tightly as I shivered. I put on a dark brown furry shirt from the tiny closet at the foot of my bed. The bright green of my pants makes the brown appear paler.
Marlow nodded off in his small bed. The snail was the only thing that made me feel less alone. His shell was a vibrant green, and he was quite large. With his breath, the gentle little bed shifted. Marlow means a lot to me, even though he’s a tiny snail. During the summer, I would accompany him on walks, and we would always discover new things to explore.
The new logs made the fire happily crackle. The orange glow from the fire illuminated my small home. Except for the bathroom, my cabin was essentially one room. My bed and closet are located on the left-hand wall. My tiny kitchen, which includes a small cooler and cabinets that hug the wall, is situated against the back wall. A door leads to the bathroom, and swords and knives hang on the right wall.
Swords and other weapons are used for work purposes. I began working for the village as a hunter a year ago. I was tasked with protecting the community from supernatural threats such as werewolves and vampires. I needed to make sure I was always armed with the best weapons, so I hung my swords and knives on the wall for easy access. The task was simple. I had the chance to explore and live in the woods. Yes, it was cold up here in the north, and the majority of the year was spent in the winter, but it was also quiet. Never had the hunt been so bad.
I break free from my work-related thoughts and go to the kitchen to get a pan. It seemed only natural to eat breakfast before heading out for the day. On the edge of the pan, I cracked some eggs and watched them gently fall. I grab the pan and sit down next to the fire on a small grill. I grabbed some spices that were nearby—salt and pepper, a basil leaf, and other small pieces of nature—and threw them on the eggs.
The fire hissed and chuckled. It felt cozy and warm. The aroma of the cooking eggs made my house feel more cozy. I gave Marlow some lettuce, which he munched on happily. My dark red hair fell in front of my face as I was flipping eggs on a pan. Cutting it had proven to be a chore. I tied it in a ponytail because it was long enough. I finished preparing my eggs by tying my hair up with a small elastic I found in the bathroom. Feeling the chill in the air, I knew today would be a good day to go outside and check my traps.
❄❄❄
I close my jacket buttons, practically sweating from the warmth my outdoor clothing has provided. I remove a scarf from a rack and wrap it around my neck, just high enough to cover my nose. It was a beautiful brown-striped scarf. It was a favorite of mine, which my mother had bought for me at a farmers’ market a few years ago.
I opened the door and let the chilly air hit me. I needed to check my traps for any type of animal. Regardless of how good eggs are, they taste even better with some meat. My belt was weighed down by a sword. It was better to be safe than sorry, even if it meant not having to hunt any creatures.
My boots crunched in the snow. The first two traps had been empty, and I was starting to lose hope. The cold was biting my cheeks as the sun set. I had a basket full of flowers and berries. If I’m not bringing back meat, I should bring some food and tea.
I approached the third trap cautiously. A dead rabbit was discovered stuck in the trap. Taking a deep breath, I quickly grabbed it and put it in the basket with the other items. I swapped out and reset my trap. My fingers were tying the strings freely. I pick up my basket and stand up as I make my way back to my cozy cabin. Under my weight, the snow flattened. The lack of sunlight made it difficult to see outside. The woodland was quiet, and the trees were silhouetted.
My senses were suddenly heightened. I could only be heard making walking noises. The world around me was dark, but the stars lit my way. My basket grew heavier, and I could almost hear my blade calling to me. My discomfort from the cold on my cheeks appeared to have subsided. I could only focus on the silence that was happening around me.
In the corner of my eye, I notice movement. I extend my left hand toward my sword. I let it fall into my hands. I carefully placed the rabbit and fruit-filled basket next to a tree. I grab my sword and carefully move onto the walkway. Crunch. My right side came to a stop. I quickly turned to look, and a lanky figure stood nearby. The arms were practically dragged across the snow-covered ground. The figure was tall, with very long limbs. My body became numb. My neck’s hair stood up, and a shiver ran down my spine. The figure slowly vanished behind a tree. I clenched the handle of my sword. My palms were sweating. The tall figure protrudes from a tree, its lanky fingers wrapping around the trunk. Only six feet separated me from the fingers. I take a step back slowly as my breath becomes labored. I watched as the figure exposed its face so I could see it.
Its mouth was unusually long, and its eyes were lowered. It was a human, albeit longer and stranger. It had messy, matted hair. Fangs protruded from its mouth. The creature was like a vampire, only worse—more mangled and evil. I slowly pointed the blade of my sword at the vampire. When the vampire emerged from the tree, I noticed that my breathing rate increased. The vampire lunged towards me with incredible speed, landing a powerful blow to my chest. I’m out of breath, and the snow hits my back hard. I slash the vampire in the chest with my sword as I swing it over myself. My face was delicately covered in blood. It raised its long claws and hissed at me. I make another attempt to swing my sword, but I am unsuccessful. The sword had been swung out of my hand by the vampire.
I lay there, trying to breathe. I attempted to get out from under the vampire, but was caught by its long legs. I’d been hunting for a year but had never been hunted. My arm was impaled underneath me. The vampire’s breath felt warm on my cheeks and smelled like hunger. I had to accept that I was going to be eaten by a vampire. I took a deep breath as I noticed the vampire’s head approaching my neck. The moonlight made its fangs glow. I turned my head away. All of my fight had left my body.
The vampire hissed painfully before turning to look behind it. It jumped off of me. I pulled myself up before the vampire could notice me again. When I turned my head, I noticed my blade gleam in the snow. My back was leaning against a tree trunk. I watched as the long-limbed vampire flailed around in reaction to something. No, it wasn’t something, but someone. A human-sized, short shadow was fighting it. The vampire was being stabbed by someone wielding a long sword. The blade pierced the vampire’s chest again, causing it to scream. The creature’s hand swung out, striking the person with its extended claws. I exhaled in surprise as the person flew away towards a nearby tree. A bright light with a pink hue fell from the tree. The human stood motionless after the light went out. The vampire stumbled, disoriented from its failed attempt to find its second victim. It took another step, but then collapsed.
I slowly stood up, making an effort to remain silent. I take a few steps forward, grab my sword, and approach the long-limbed beast and my savior.
The vampire remained still. In an attempt to detect signs of life, I pressed my palm against its neck. However, nothing was present. It had a wound on its back and was bleeding. The human’s sword remained lodged in its spine. I focus my attention away from the vampire and on the unconscious man. His light green jacket was covered in blood. It was ripped along four precisely angled lines. The vampire’s claws had made contact across the man’s chest and arms. I kneel down, my knees becoming cold in the snow once more. I place my hand on the man’s neck. A pulse was present. I stared in disbelief that the man in front of me was alive; he had lost a lot of blood.
One question lingered in my head: Was this man human?
After much deliberation, I decided to return him to my cabin. I couldn’t just let him die because he had saved my life. I lifted him, placing one hand under his shoulder and the other beneath his knees. My basket had slipped my mind, but it wasn’t important at the moment.
The man was extremely light. Carrying him was simple. Except for the fact that the blood on me and the man nearly made me vomit several times. As the snow crunched beneath me, I was exhausted by the shock of it all. The snow reflected the soft glow of light emanating from my cozy cabin.
I gently placed the man on my bed. He was very much alive. I quickly removed my winter clothes and put them in the laundry basket. I’d have to make every effort to get the blood out of my jacket tomorrow, but first, I needed to attend to the unconscious man.
I rush into the restroom and retrieve the first aid kit that a village woman had given me. I carefully took a seat on the bed where the man was lying; he was unresponsive. His skin on his face was patchy, which I overlooked in the dim light of the outdoors. His skin tone became noticeably darker from the bottom of his ear to his chin. These patches reached the tips of his ears. I gradually took off his coat and shirt. More patches of dark skin could be seen beneath the clothing. The man was very pale. His hair was dark and matched the color of the night sky. But the man’s numerous dark patches on his body were the strangest aspect of him. Some of the claw traces even went all the way through them.
I pulled out some thread and needles. The two biggest cuts required me to stitch them. The vampire’s fingers had cut the man’s arms deeply, almost reaching the bone. I started sewing the largest one, trying to keep the man from waking up. With a steady hand, I began slowly and carefully stitching the two pieces of flesh together. My first few stitches were rough, but I quickly realized that precision was required to ensure that the wounds left no visible scars.
