Chapter 1
Once upon a time, there was a world without vampires, but nobody remembers that world.
It’s been years since the vampires took over the land.
It’s been centuries.
Now there are very few human settlements left. The ones that remain are carefully guarded and are filled with people who are scared of everything from wild animals to horrible creatures to illnesses to everything in-between.
Except for me.
I’m not scared at all.
Even now, as I sit in the guard tower on the North side of Eagleton, I don’t feel scared. We had a tip from one of our scouts last week that there was a group of gentlemen prowling about in the woods. Since Eagleton is located dead center in the middle of a forest, we don’t often get unexpected visitors.
Apparently, that’s all about to change.
Not that I mind.
I mean, living in solitude isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened. Not by a long shot. The other humans are so nervous and uncomfortable that it’s not difficult for me to stay away from them. I’ve never really felt a connection to them.
Not the way that I have to the monsters...
Then again, it’s hard to say whether people in Eagleton are scared or jerks. They’re not exactly a friendly bunch. Although I came to live among the humans when I was a kid, I’ve always been sort of an outcast. Maybe that’s the real reason I like being a guard. Nobody bothers me when I’m in the tower. Nobody asks anything of me.
I shake my head and try to focus on my post. My job as a guard keeps me busy and requires my complete attention. I’m the one who’s responsible if anything goes wrong. If the world falls apart, it’s my ass on the line. Eagleton has remained a settlement for this long for one reason: no one has located us.
We’re tucked deep away, protected, and that’s the way we like it.
But s
omething tells me all of this is about to change. That’s the problem with getting comfortable somewhere: change becomes inevitable. It might come quietly at first, but it comes. Today, change comes in the form of strange and unexpected visitors.
I notice the tall man first. Pulling out my binoculars, I take a second look, and I’m surprised to see that he’s staring straight at me. My palms instantly go cold. I need to sound the alarm. That’s literally my job. This man isn’t from around here, and aside from his dark leather clothing, I’d say he looks quite human. He doesn’t look like a monster: not like one of the wild beasts I’ve heard stories about.
He looks...normal.
What was I expecting?
He’s standing against a tree, and he’s only a few hundred feet from the walls that surround Eagleton.
How did he get so close to us?
How did he find this place?
We’ve taken so many steps to make sure that our world stays hidden away and isolated. There are no children in Eagleton. There is almost no noise. We’re all as quiet as possible. This world is a silent one because we’re all afraid that vampires are attracted to noise, so we stay alone, and we stay quiet. In our minds, vampires are the most hated and feared creatures: worse than dwarves, worse than elves.
Is he a vampire?
My entire life, I’ve been told they’re these wild beasts. They’re untamable. They’re bloodthirsty and hungry and evil. This man doesn’t look like he wants to destroy my world, but he’s an outsider. That makes him dangerous, even if I don’t want to think that he is. He might not be a vampire, I think. Even as the thought passes through my mind, though, I realize I’m just fooling myself. This guy isn’t here for any sort of good reason.
I need to sound the alarm.
But then I see the second man. This one is shorter than the first, but he’s still a giant creature. He’s still tall. These men are much bigger than the men of Eagleton. This man’s long, blonde hair falls over his shoulders. He, too, seems to be looking right at me.
But how is that possible?
Oh, I’ve heard the rumors about these men.
I know what they do.