Her Silent Tomorrow

The darkness had now fallen around me. I opened my eyes but could barely make out the few silhouettes of trees in front. My head ached and as I felt for the damp ground underneath me I heard the crunching of leaves. Wearily, I stood up to see my lantern in the short distance ahead at the foot of a tall tree. I took small and cautious steps towards it attempting to remember how I ended up on the floor. Then I picked up the light source and scanned around the area I stood in. My perfect vision couldn’t help me, the only thing I could detect was the forest circled around. Deep breaths sounded from behind me and my senses tingled. Blood. I longed for it and I could sense some fresh close by. Walking towards the spot I had heard the leaves and breathing I stretched out the arm I held the lantern in. Lighting a small region my deep red eyes met another pair. A figure, by which I assumed to be female due to her tall elegant build, stared back at me. She was crouched beside the outline of what I thought was an animal, her chin drenched in hot red liquid. 1

“How is your head?” she asked me softly. I touched it gently and replied. 2

“Who are you? Why does my head hurt? I can’t remember a thing.” She stood up swiftly and glided towards me. I took a cautious step back. 3

“No need to move away, I am one too.” I nodded and stepped back into my original place. 4

“As I said before, who are you?”5

“No need to repeat yourself sir, my hearing is faultless. My name is Nina. Aren’t you going to thank me?” Her long, black hair that rested on her shoulders moved slightly in the gentle night breeze. 6

“Thank you for what?” I replied looking into her striking scarlet eyes. 7

She told me how she has saved me from some creatures, she could have left me for dead as she was so desperately hungry but she didn’t. Images flashed through my mind, those of pain and terror. I began to remember what had happened a mere thirty minutes ago. 8

“My name is Havara, Havara Danordri.” She smiled revealing her long white canines and I returned that smile, “What were those creatures may I ask?”9

“Blodricks, they are common in these areas. Why were you alone? Don’t you know better than to venture into these forests on your own?” she asked; her tone was that of concern. I was somewhat drawn to Nina however, I couldn’t make up my as to whether it was her beauty or mysteriousness. 10

“It wasn’t my intentions to wander this forest at night. I’m looking for my parents.” I said sternly. 11

She asked me why I was looking for them. 12

“I don’t know who they are. I was left on the doorstep of an orphanage in England just a few days old. So now, I’ve come to look for them,” I was about to carry on but noticed Nina’s mind was elsewhere; I coughed.13

“Oh, sorry. What did you say?” She turned back to face me. 14

“I thought your hearing was faultless?”15

“It is; but there is not just your voice I hear in the shadows.” 16

“What voices, I hear no voices.” My mind, confused. 17

“You must leave now, it is me they’re after.” She flinched at the slightest sound. 18

“Who is after you? I don’t understand.” Part of me wanted to leave her but for some reason my feet would not move. I couldn’t leave her, she had saved me. 19

“You wouldn’t understand. Just keep heading north and you’ll soon find a way out of here. The danger is over for you.” She began to run in the opposite direction to me. 20

“Don’t go! I want to help, please let me help you!” I called out. Soon stifled voices could be heard. They seemed to be closing in on Nina and I. So I chased after her. I couldn’t just let her leave like this. After all, she had saved my life. Catching up with her took some time for she was so quick on her feet. She turned to me:21

“Fine, if you wish to help me then follow. I’ll explain later. Hurry!” Nina said in a hushed manor. 22

We ran together, I couldn’t tell you exactly how long for but it was well into the night. Every now and then we would stop for a breather and to quench our thirst. The moon shone brightly however this did not brighten the cold atmosphere. The dark was silent for the voices hadn’t been heard for miles. Although I had a gut feeling we hadn’t lost whoever was hunting down Nina. 23

“Can we not stop for a while?” I begged as cramp viciously stabbed my stomach. 24

“You’re a man; I am supposed to be the one in pain!” She laughed placing her hand on mine. For that split second, the pain vanished and her smile warmed my freezing limbs. It felt as though time had stopped, I had not a care in the world. I looked into her eyes but they were looking elsewhere. 25

Nina pointed to a house hidden behind the dark lifeless trees, “I think that’s the inn my father told me about once, should we go and in for a rest seen as you’re so unfit! I think we’ve lost them anyway.” I nodded not expressing my doubt as to whether we had lost whoever we were fleeing. 26

“You can then explain who is hunting you down if you please.” I reminded her. The inn from the outside looked very much like a rundown house of some sort. The shutter windows were closed however some of the light peeped out through the gaps in the slats. A rotted wooden sign stood above the shabby door and simply read: Tavern. There was also a small sign in the window which said vacancies available. A spider had spun a web across the archway of the door; it was safe to say the inn did not look very inviting from the outside. However the inside was a completely different story. The warmth instantly heated my icy body and the rowdiness of the drunken punters made it less intimidating. Directly in front of us was the crowded bar area stocked behind with bottles of alcohol and at both ends fires roared in the hearths. Various small wooden tables and stools were dotted about all over the place and a dusty piano stood in one corner with a gentleman in a black suit playing a lively tune. Nina and I sat down at a table in the corner; away from the commotion of those as drunk as a pig. 27

“I think it’s time you explained yourself?” I said to Nina. We both probably stood out and looked more suspicious being in tucked away in a corner whispering to each other like we were. She twiddled her thumbs and sighed. 28

“I’m what some people may call ‘special’.” How full of herself can she get I thought to myself, “My blood contains Liquidus Forem Vox. I am immortal, I can never be killed and any wounds I suffer vanish instantly. Well, there is just one way I can be killed.”29

“And that is...” My mind was suffering from a severe case of bewilderment. She then explained how a single vampire bite than drains her of her blood also drains her of her immortality and how whoever gives her the bite is then immortal.30

“Of course, it has its benefits but so many negatives it carries too. It is hard to trust people and then they found out.”31

“Who are ‘they’?”32

“A family from the area I live in. Nasty, cruel beings they are. Nasty cruel beings. They want me, they want my blood, and they want my immortality. So you must see why I am running and you must not accompany me. It is too dangerous; they will kill you in order to get to me.” A tear streamed down her cheek from her water filled eyes. So I rested my hand on her shoulder. Compared to my own broad muscular shoulders, hers were much weaker and tinier.33

“I understand but I would never forgive myself if I left you in such danger. You didn’t leave me so why should I leave you?” Nina sighed and wiped the tears from her delicate face. I found myself falling for this woman I had only just met. Is this what they meant by true love at first sight? I had forgotten all about my own journey and now was solely committed to helping her. I did not think of myself for once, just Nina.34

“Thank you Havara, you are too kind. But you mustn’t forget about your own venture. I am simply just getting in your way.” She looked helpless and alone as we sat in the quiet corner of the tavern, 35

“I have not forgotten; I will help you out of the forest. It is the least I can do. But why are you so scared? You are immortal.” I asked. 36

“Immortality does not conquer fear.” Nina wisely informed me. We sat silently; I held her hand in both of my own and watched the women dressed in long dark dresses dance around the smartly dressed men. The night seemed to last forever. It was hard to think just five hours ago I was wandering aimlessly through the forest on my own. I had almost forgotten about the hunters that were until the door of the inn was slammed open with such great force. The women screamed as a group of people, mainly men and dressed in all black filled the arch of the doorway. 37

“Where is she?” growled a tall thick man at the front of the gang. Some of the men carried lighted sticks, the flames licking up the sides of the wood. Nina slowly moved from her stool to crouch down behind me. 38

“Ok, calm down. Whoever you are after isn’t in here I can assure you.” Said the bartender moving from behind the bar. 39

“Shut it you!” The leader clicked his fingers and two other masked men took a hold of him. They slowly lowered the flame they held to his face. The bartender struggled, his grey waistcoat riding up. 40

“She is here.” Shouted Nina bravely. She stood up from behind me and the group’s attention turned to her. The masked men dropped their victim instantly, “Yes I am here, but you will never steal me of my blood.”41

“Your courage is your downfall.” snapped the leader. I stood up in front of Nina, though I wasn’t sure what good I thought this would do.42

“HA, got yourself a little bodyguard eh Nina?” laughed a women dressed in emerald green robes. I could feel my cheeks flushing. 43

“I don’t believe we have met, my name is Voluri.” The leader held out his hand for me to shake. Pulling his hand away from my own I punched his crooked nose. Voluri stared at his hands in disbelief; they were covered in his own blood. A few of the gang members proceeded towards me but he stopped them.44

“No, I will enjoy this!” he laughed. 45

“NINA RUN!” I shouted pushing her away. Voluri came steaming towards me, his face pale and his canines showing. He pushed me to the cold stone floor and stood over me. I must have appeared feeble as he towered over me. He had demonic eyes a darker shade of red. Nina hadn’t yet left. She stood in horror beside the door behind the bar, fixed to the ground.46

“HAVARA! BLOCK OUT ANY IMAGES YOU SEE IN YOUR HEAD. VOLURI HAS POWERS. HE CAN MAKE YOU SEE THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE. BLOCK THEM HAVARA!” Nina bellowed.47

“JUST GO!” I yelled back and with that she vanished from the tavern. Voluri grinned and my vision became blurred. It felt as though I was uncontrollably spinning out of the inn. Nina’s words ringing in my head. 48

When I woke I found myself in the familiar bed I had spent my childhood sleeping in. Opening my eyes I looked around the also familiar dormitory of the orphanage I grew up in. The long corridor was dimly lit, by only candles and the rows of rickety beds were occupied by sleeping boys. The silence in the room was broken by the screeching of a tall stern woman who had burst through the door. 49

“GET UP! THE FLOORS WON’T CLEAN THEMSELVES YOU GROUP OF RATS NOW UP!” she bellowed at us. In sync, we slumped out of bed and pulled our work clothes over our pyjamas and with that my sight became blurred.50

This time, I found myself in the forest where I seemed to remember I had only been in a couple of hours ago. I, just like before, was so very scared at the silence that had fallen around me. Just then, coming out of nowhere three creatures leapt out from the overgrown bushes in front of me. Their skin was scaly and dark and they made a terrible screaming sound. I fell to the floor in agony as they pounced upon me tearing at my clothes. But then I looked up and saw a female figure walking towards me. It was Nina. She shoed away the animals and held my head in her arms. Once again my vision became blurred and when I opened my eyes, I had returned to the tavern. 51

I was alone. Voluri and his gang had left me. Presuming they had gone to find Nina I slowly got to my feet to look around but I couldn’t. The pain was excruciating. I gazed down at my body, it was bruised and bleeding. I had gashes up my leg and across my chest. I pushed myself up and sat against the wall. The place was deserted. Tables and chairs were turned over and no longer were the men and women dancing. Instead I stood alone wondering whether Nina was safe. It was official (or at least in my mind) - I was in love with her. The thought was unbearable, of her in danger but my nerves soon calmed when she walked through the door of the tavern. Her face was that of guilt. She walked over to me and placed her hand on the wound on my chest. Her hand was covered in my own blood. 52

“This is all my fault.” she sobbed. I shook my head and explained what I had seen. I asked her why I was so badly hurt after seeing only visions. 53

“Voluri enjoys beating his victims whilst they’re in a trance...” she trailed off towards the end. By now the pain was getting worse and I had begun to lose feeling in my battered limbs. Nina was devastated because of the state I was in. From her pocket she pulled out a knife and carefully slashed her arm. 54

“What are you doing?” I asked shocked at what she had just done. The blood came flowing from her cut. 55

“Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you was beyond my control," She pushed the cut towards my mouth, “Take it please, I’ve lived my life and you will die from your injuries Havara.” She knew that, because of my vampire nature I would not be able to resist. I began to drain the blood from her caring body. I looked into her eyes, her blank face showed no sign of regret. My limbs became warm again and the pain left me. Her blood had brought life to my body. Nina didn’t look surprised as I sucked on the wound therefore slowly the life faded from her. I stood up to catch her as she fell to the floor. I didn’t want the beautiful angel that had saved my life twice to know the feeling of that cold hard floor. I carried her outside. Keeping my promise of getting her safely out the woods I held her all the way to the very edge of the forest. Placing her carefully on the floor under a silver birch I kissed her gently on the head. 56