The smells of grass and the gentle caress of the breeze soothed her. It was a much better alternative to the bloody nightmare that was her old home.
The young woman had turned a small tree into a horse and immediately started to embark on her journey.
She smiled when a village came into her view.
She stepped off her horse and picked up a piece of grass, she cover the blade in her hands before opening them to reveal an apple.
"Here you go, Tree," she gave the apple to her horse who neighed in response.
Yes, 'Tree' wasn't a very creative name but it meant something to her and that's all that mattered.
More blades of grass were picked up and turned into gold coins before she got back on her horse and continued the ride to the village. She was hoping to find some food so she could move on to the next village that hopefully had a library.
As soon as her horse crossed the threshold into the village she was met with curious stares. She dismounted Tree and started walking over to a fruit stall.
The stall held delicious fruits some that were even unfamiliar to her, she dropped down her coins and picked up the foreign fruit.
"This is a nice horse," a man spoke up, examing Tree.
She gave him a brief nod, "Yes, she is," she placed her produce in a sack she created an hour prior, "I'm so lucky to have her."
"I wonder how you came across such a beauty."
She narrowed her eyes at him, "Luck," she said simply before she got on her horse and made her way out of the village.
Y/N wondered what the man meant with his words. Was he implying that she stole the house? That she wasn't smart enough to get one herself?
She decided not to linger on the thought and continued on her journey. She was hoping to find a nice tree to sleep under.
She couldn't stand walls and roofs more so after the incident that recently happen.
A large tree greeted her. The tree was far from the road but it was in a small clearing, sturdy branches held inviting green leaves that provided wonderful shade.
Her feet left the stirrups one at a time and she ran over to the tree. Her loyal horse followed her footsteps and laid down beside her.
The young woman pulled out the book Dracula had gifted her and she continued reading, she eventually saw the drawing once more.
The picture was once again pulled closer to her face and she allowed her thoughts to wander.
Where is the boy in the photo?
Was he running around the castle rampant?
Had he joined his mother in the afterlife?
She didn't know and she doubted that she would ever.
The drawing was placed back in the book, serving as a bookmark. She placed the book back into her bag and took out a blanket from Tree's saddlebag. She leaned against Tree and threw the blanket over them both.
Now in a literal blanket of comfort, she fell asleep next to her new friend.
🧭
The chirping of birds and the soft breaths of Tree were enough to keep the young woman asleep for eternity. She hadn't felt so comfortable since Hector left.
Snap!
However, an ill-placed sound disturbed her slumber. E/C eyes blinked open to find the origin of the sound.
It may have only been a deer but with her luck, it was very unlikely.
Piercing blue eyes scrutinized her.
A large creature with mangled flesh and devilish wings crawled on all fours.
Her heart dropped when the creature sniffed the air and started to draw closer to her.
A shaky breath left her lips. She couldn't run because the thing would be faster, she couldn't hide because it would get her before she could even find a spot.
All of her attempts would be futile, the best thing she could do was wait and leave her life in its sharp claws.
The creature drew closer to her, its claws making indents in the dirt.
It smelled like rotten flesh.
Y/N closed her eyes and sighed a shaky breath with trembling lips when the creature leaned down. She could feel its breath on her cheek before a warm and wet sensation dragged from her neck to her cheek.
The creature snorted and then there was silence.
The young woman's eyes stayed closed, her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and sweat gathered on her brows.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The creature was gone and the only thing to say it was ever there was a snapped branch and a few claw marks.
The branch laid broken into two pieces.
For some reason, she felt bad for it. It had been snapped into two.
Y/N got up and walked over to the snapped tree branch. She picked it up and placed the parts together before making a fist over it, holding it together.
A green glow emitted from her hand and when she opened it the branch was in one piece.
Tree nudged her head before neighing at her.
She hugged the brown horse, "I know let's get out of here." She got on her horse after she packed her things.
The creature's eyes were glowing blue.
It was Hector's.
🧭
Heart-wrenching screams, blood, and monsters were all that were found in the next town.
After she had spent the day traveling she had come across a town. It looked like a scene out of a nightmare.
She slowly got off Tree and made her way into the village. Many of the creatures had left and she hoped to help at least one person.
Crimson liquid soaked her boots.
The roads were filled with puddles of blood and mangled bodies.
Y/N didn't know what was worse the smell or the sight.
"Mama! Mama!"
A child's scream cut through the ominous silence.
She picked up her speed and followed the heart-breaking yells.
Turning the corner greeted her with a horrid sight.
A blood-covered young boy was shaking his mother's mangled body.
Y/N slowly walked over to the young boy, "Are you hurt?"
The boy jumped before looking at her in surprise. He quickly broke into tears and started shaking the woman, "Those monsters," the boy sniffled, "they broke my Mama!"
Y/N sat down next to the boy, cringing when she felt blood seep into her clothes, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he looked down at his mother, "But it hurts right here." The boy pointed to his heart.
She dared to take a look at the boy's mother.
The woman's arms were angled strangely and her stomach was scratched with three deep wounds.
On the bright side, she wasn't as mangled as the rest of the townspeople.
She placed her head near the woman's heart, a faint beating sounded in her ears.
Y/N looked at the young boy, "I'm going to help your mother, but I need you to close your eyes," she watched as the young boy narrowed his eyes at her before he covered his eyes, "No peeking."
The young woman held her hands over the deep wounds, with a green glow the mother's skin started to repair itself. Y/N quickly healed the mother's arms and many bruises and scratches.
She turned to the young boy who still had his eyes closed and smiled at him, "You can open your eyes now."
The boy quickly uncovered his eyes and looked at his mother, "Is she better now?"
The mother groaned.
Y/N nodded, "Yes, she should be fine," she took some coins from her pocket and handed them to the boy, "I've done all I can. You need to look after your mother and make sure she gets a lot of rest."
The boy stared at the gold coins before looking up at her, "Are you a witch?"
Her eyes widened, "I... I am a witch," the boy leaned away from her, "But I am a good witch, most of us are."
"That's not what everyone says."
"People are scared of what they don't understand," she slowly stood up, "Many witches only want to help people."
"Thank you for saving my Mama."
"No problem, be safe."
Y/N spent the rest of her day searching the massacre for survivors. She helped hundreds of people and yet it still didn't feel like enough.
How many other villages fell to the same fate as this one?
Did Hector even realize the horrors he was casting on other people?
Either way, she had a new goal in mind.
She was going to find Hector and put a stop to this madness.