In Our Darkest Hour •Zelink•

Introduction

Just beyond a small oak forest where the birds sang and the squirrels gathered food, a small village lay tucked away beside a flowing river. Across the river grew great fields of crops so the village could sell them to neighbouring towns. Beside those fields sat barns filled with sheep, cows, pigs, and goats along with several coops of chickens and one stable of horses. Further down south sat a tiny poor community with barely enough food to make it through each week. The community showed signs of dying and illness, all except one. Link was his name. He was a healthy man and many wondered how he got his share of food. His golden locks of hair all tied back and a short ponytail and his beautiful sea like blue eyes must've granted him some sort of social wealth. It wasn't social wealth nor looks that saved him. It was blood. No we aren't talking about the red liquid rushing through his veins. We are talking about the savoury red juice of his victims.

Every night a villager in the town goes missing or insane. Every night a creature quenches his thirst. Every day a girl's rage grows.

Vampires are on of the most feared creatures known to mankind and a village cannot protect themselves, unless a spy from a big city arrived to remove the problem.

Zelda was one of the top vampire hunters in the world although she disguised herself well as a spy. Little did she know she was the prey.
•\•\•\•

“Link could you spare us a bit of bread?” a young beggar asked the man as he exited his home.

Without batting an eye he grabbed a slice of bread out of his pocket and plopped it in the old lady's hand.

“You don't need to ask Lilith. My home is always open for the elderly,” he smiled and walked down the old dirt path.

With his eyes glued to the horizon he sauntered into the main part of town where he was praised for his overall beauty. Many wealthy women offered to take him in so he could live among the people he belonged with but he politely declined. He wasn't there for chitchat nor was he there for the pleasant food and hospitality of his many fans. He was there to snoop in something that didn't belong to him. He knew someone has arrived to hunt down his kind and he just couldn't have that happening in HIS town now could he?

Pushing past the wealthy people he made his way behind a small yet nicely designed house. This was the only house in town open for rent so he assumed this was where the hunter would be staying. As quick as the wind on a winter's night he slipped in through the first open window he saw. He could tell the room was dark but he could Aww clearly. The room hadn't been touched for a week at least. It was empty with the exceptions of a tiny stool in the corner just left of a wooden door. The room smelled of dust and mold yet Link didn't seem to care as he pushed the old door open with ease.

It was like an entrance to another world. A much cleaner world. Link sniffed the air slowly, trying to catch a scent. It smelled of bleach and old socks. The huntress wasn't here yet. He reached for a curtain covering a dusty window and held the fabric between his fingers. He dropped the silk and continued down the hall. A strange new iron smell pulled him into the bathroom. On the counter were several bloody bandages. In an instant Link snatched them up in his hands and held them close to his nose. His tongue darted out of his mouth and pressed itself against the cloth. The tangy flavour of the blood immediately recharged his senses and he found himself plunging into the darkness of the next room. (Ha I just hit 666 words right there)

Just then a loud bang and several footsteps fell on Link's ears. He was up and under the bed in an instant. He listened closely and caught two voices. One was feminine, which he assumed was the huntress, and the other was masculine.

“So ma'am you'll be accompanying the search crew tomorrow but for now these are your quarters,” that voice must have been the mayor.

“I see. So you'd like me to find this vampire and you know, kill it?”

“Indeed. I'll be leaving you to unpack. Feel free to meet the townsfolk.”

With that the house fell silent with the exception of some shuffling. Link held at still as a vampire could. As soon as the sun set he'd make his escape.

The light in the bedroom flickered on and Link scootched away from the door. His feet were pressed against the back frame of the bed and he was laying as still as a board.

Woof! Woof!

"What is it boy? You think a vampire's been in here?"

At that moment Link made eye contact with a tall Border Collie. It went ballistic and started trying to squeeze under the bed.

"Alex stop that!"

A face appeared on the left side and also made eye contact with Link. The girl jumped back and squealed. Link glared at the dog with firey red eyes and he immediately heeled. He crawled out from under the bed and shot into an explanation, "I was just finishing up the cleaning. I h-heard you coming and I panicked so I hid."

The girl was still stuck in a trance with her green eyes staring right into his blue ones.

"Uh I best be off madam. Save us."
•\•\•\•

Back at his old home Link found himself sketching the girl in his journal. Once he finished the image he shut his notebook and locked it.

"This huntress has confidence," he whispered to himself, "that's bad."