Chapter 7: Twilight Tales III: Tales From Men
"..... We had just completed our daily mission in another village miles away and were about going home, a huge mistake made. On our way we heard cries of war from afar, it wasn't just an ordinary war but somehow unusual; Humans against beasts, Vampires. I totally was filled with shock upon seeing what was going on. One of my loyal men, Jude suggested we leave without interfering, but I refused knowing our fellow humans were in a battle. So without any further hesitations, I jumped forward into the battlefield" The man held his beer tightly with eyes remembering the incident.
"What happened next?, please don't keep us in suspense" a woman with locks of sparkling blonde hair told him and everyone around nodded agreeing totally.
"As I was saying," he continued,"I jumped forward into the battlefield, swinging my ax and also aiming towards a Vampire's head. It wasn't hard to detect vampires during moonlight, but also they were stronger, faster and more powerful and also looked more like darkness. I had to dodge so many punches, even with that I got various bruises. My men also joined the war after seeing I first started fighting. With me fighting these strange creatures, I couldn't make head nor tail of what we were fighting, they looked like vampires but also monsters in thick darkness. With a quick act, one of my men shot the creature behind me with a gun. Bullets flew with a speed of light through the creature's body, However it continued moving without being dead until the bullet penetrated into its chest. A heavy thud followed after that. Knowing their weak point, we started killing them easily and quickly. Then, I saw an old friend in the fight holding up the whip of flames before lashing the creature who screamed from the pain. With boiling rage in its eyes, the creature rushed towards him showing clawed sharp nails. Then at that very moment, I was a bit far and nowhere close to him and death I could see hovering about ready to take his life. A miracle or should I say an unexpected surprising miracle happened, I blinked my eyes without time counting to a second or half before an inhuman speed rushed passing me, a speed I had never seen any vampire use, a speed only a particular vampire could use…
Dracula.
I knew fully well it was him and fear became my food, Stuffing up every piece of me. The cold increased and I could feel goosebumps all over. The speeding red light which was a vampire destroyed, Yes! destroyed the very first approximately hundred creatures in a matter of seconds. Then it stopped right in front of me, I was right it truly was Dracula.
Not knowing what he would be doing here or why he hasn't killed me yet or just snapped my neck, I looked at those red eyes with trembling fear.
'Get out of here mortal before I bury your useless body alongside with the dead ones' The statement with icy cold tone made my blood pressure rise almost to a thousand. Quickly leaving, I assembled my men and also the rest and raced away. Looking back I saw his castle, just like in stories I've heard and drawings I've seen, this was real and more ancient. Questions again filled my mind about why he didn't kill me. Dracula knew full well I was a vampire hunter because he had encountered me before in London weeks ago during the darkest nights, and that time I threw a silver ax at him. To my surprise, he crushed the ax into a ball and threw it back to me with a force that left me flying to starless night before I landed with another yet painful force which broke my legs, shoulders, and also fractured lots of bones. Luckily, I escaped before he saw me….." the man was about to say more before being interrupted by another.
"Or you should just say he allowed you to escape"
"Something like that," the man took the last sip before continuing again, "that was how I escaped death that very day. With that incident stuck in my head, I climbed up on the horse which had been waiting to leave. Eyes staring back at the battlefield as the horse rode fronth, I could feel Dracula spared my life just because of the upcoming future, a future which comes in total destruction. And that is my story for today" he finally ended as everyone started bringing out topics to discuss from the story.
"He didn't say how handsome Dracula was, only fearful" a lady brought out a thoroughly unreasonable topic, funny as it may sound, almost all the women and girls started joining in.
"Please don't make me laugh, Dracula can't just allow you to live. He is the Vampire Lord not the kind Lord!" Another woman brought out an opinion which sounded sagacious. This however made the villagers wonder deeply as that was true.
Some men muttered words among themselves, while others simply finished their meal which was now warm.
Rose on the other hand brows furrowed at every word this man has been saying, he might have encountered Dracula but still something wasn't right, Entirely.
However, she also noticed someone who was standing in the darkness throughout the story. Wearing a black hood, Rose couldn't notice whether it was a male or female, but the behavior this person in the hood exhibited showed discomfort in every way.
Moving towards the unknown in the hood, Rose made sure not to lose this may be human from her sight. Unfortunately, the figure left swiftly through the back door. Chasing behind slightly with a lantern, Rose was only led outside to the pitch dark night.
"Rose come in, it's not safe to be out in the night" Maddie told her from inside.
"Oh…. I'm coming" she replied looking around but saw nothing. Moving inside and locking the door suspiciously, Rose knew fully well someone had entered into the village and into the village Hall.
Rose didn't again see the dark figure on a tall broad tree branch, with eyes waiting for darkness to fall deeper.
"Time is ticking".
*********
"Lady Rose," an old gray woman called unto her with smiles sincere to the soul, "thanks alot for giving us your delicious food again, we don't know how to show our gratitude"
"Please don't worry mam, your happy smile is my gratitude" Rose held the old woman's hands with a warm smile.
"Nonsense," a male voice startled her deeply, "don't say gibberish here, I have a son who is a man and who has a house in the town, and for your wonderful and generous act, I'm gifting you that house".
Rose was shocked by what she just heard, even if this may or may not be the 18th century, at least there was hope of surviving.
"Sir, I don't….."
"If you don't accept it, then my pride would crumble," he said with pain.
"Fine I'll, thanks alot for the gift" Rose thanked him with another broad smile.
"I love that girl, she will marry the most handsome man ever" a woman in her late thirties mumbled some prayers to Rose who didn't know a bit.
"But also, the town is known to have vampires and witches," the man who offered the gift told Rose, "But mainly Vampires, that's why there is lots of strange stuff always ongoing, but anyways I know you will be okay".
"Thanks a lot again, Dave let's get going '' Rose stretched out her hand to hold him.
"Okay" the boy happily took it and leaned on her leg with happiness.
"You are adopting him?" A curious young girl barely nine asked.
"Sure I'm" Rose replied as they both strolled towards the carriage leaving her in shock.
"Someone actually adopted him, that means the stories weren't true" the little girl muttered softly
The villagers waved goodbye to Dave and Rose before they left. The villagers had smiles plastered on their faces, sincere happy smiles.
The pixie however on the other hand, sat on a Willow leaf munching on a blackberry with a focused face….
"You don't know the journey and battle calling unto you Erica or should I say Rose, you don't know at all".
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone