Chapter 1: The Hunt

The sounds of metal straining against metal rang through the quiet night air. A group of people clad in cloth armor, wielding swords and crossbows, and carrying bags on their backs pushed against the gate to trespass onto the castle grounds. The full moon above was their only source of light as they ran to the castle doors.

“Remember well, this may be a minor vampire lord, but he is still a lord nonetheless,” a gruff man with a large sword on his back told his companions. They ran along the stone path from the gates to the castle doors, flanked by decorative plants.

“He’ll go down all the same, and a new dawn will begin for that village,” a younger woman spoke resolutely. “Besides, haven’t you hunted over a dozen vampire lords, Baron?”

The man laughed. “Indeed, I have, Diana. However, it takes a great deal of skill to attain the rank of “lord.”

“And slaying one earns a promotion and a tidy pay packet,” a younger man with a spring in his step joked.

“Carter, take this seriously. You can lose everything in a single instance,” Baron warned him with a sharp glare.

The large and imposing castle loomed just ahead of them. There was no telling what sort of horrors awaited them. Death could leap from one of its many windows. Arrows could fly from the turrets. Diana’s heart pounded in her chest with fear and anxiety, but she pushed it all aside for the sake of her comrades and the victims who awaited salvation.

Diana and Baron pushed the large double doors open and forced their way inside the castle. Light stones lit the entryway, revealing a single maid standing firm at the head of a corridor, her hands clasped together in front of her lap. Diana quickly drew her sword and a brooch from her pocket and held it toward the maid. The stone at its center emitted a faint white glow.

“She’s human,” Diana reported.

“A thrall,” Baron observed. “She’s bewitched, or she’s been raised from young to trust the vampire.”

The maid appeared stoic, her black eyes betraying no emotion. She gently grabbed the sides of her black dress and offered a curt bow, her long, wavy red locks slightly spilling forward. “My master welcomes you,” she spoke in a calm voice. The maid stood up and continued. “Would you please state your business?”

“Yeah, we’ll state it loud and clear,” another hunter spat as she drew her crossbow.

“Juliet, maintain your position,” Baron warned her.

Diana glanced at Baron and calmly walked toward the maid. “We’re here for your master. He’s done terrible things, even if you don’t think they’re terrible,” she began. “We know about his victims in the village. We’re here to stop him once and for all.” She stood right in front of the stoic maid, hoping to gain her cooperation. “We’re monster hunters who specialize in slaying vampires. We’ll save you and your village, I promise. You’ll be free of your nightmares.” Diana wore a kind and gentle smile.

A group of knights suddenly appeared and surrounded the hunters. Diana drew her sword and rushed to their aid.

“Wait!” Baron commanded as she drew his sword. He gave her a sharp look, a silent order that she was hesitant to follow.

“Damn…” Diana drew her sword and ran away from the group to continue their mission alone. She chanced a look behind her, but none of the knights gave chase, and only the stoic maid cared enough to look at her. Her suspicions didn’t stop her advance. She would have the vampire lord’s head before sunrise.

Diana’s coat flapped behind her as she ran ahead. Shadows danced around her as she ran down the corridor, her footsteps muffled by the fine carpet that lined the floor. Diana was wary of the suits of armor that stood vigil, but none of them seemed to move as she targeted their master.

The large double doors that stood to defend their master were no match for Diana’s fierce kick. “Vampire lord! Your time is niigh!” Her voice boomed throughout the throne room. She took the first few confident steps inside and held her sword ready.

“Huh?” There was no vampire lord to be found. Rather, a woman sat on the throne, her mature figure wrapped in an elegant and form-fitting dress.

“Hmm?” The woman seemed just as confused. “Lord? What part of me looks like a lord?” She pushed her large bust up for emphasis, causing a shade of pink to overtake Diana’s otherwise tanned cheeks.

“E-enough of this shameless behavior!” Diana’s voice lost a bit of its strength. “I’ll have your master’s head and save the village from his blood-soaked tyranny!”

“Master? Wait, village? What are you talking about?” The woman rose from the throne.

Diana was certain the woman before her wasn’t a thrall. Her slit eyes, pointed ears, and fangs made it very clear she was speaking to her enemy. “Prepare yourself, fiend!” She charged forward, leapt high in the air, and swung her broadsword down on the vampire.

The woman caught her blade between two fingers with great ease, stunning Diana. She tried to pull her sword free, to no avail.

“How rude. You attack someone without even introducing yourself or asking for their name? Did your parents teach you nothing of proper manners?” the woman criticized her.

Diana felt embarrassed and angry. “I-I am Diana Townsend of the Newcastle Clan of hunters!” she declared. The woman raised an eyebrow, provoking Diana further. “W-what’s your name?”

The woman loosened her grip, allowing Diana to pull back. “I’m so glad you asked. My name is Rosaline de Clairmont.” She gave an elegant curtsy as though she were about to dance with her partner.

The hunter was thrown off once again. She hunted numerous vampires in the past, but none of them acted like the woman before her. “Yeah, n-nice to meet you.”

Rosaline briefly chuckled and summoned a sword from an empty suit of armor. “En garde, my lovely intruder~.”

Diana rushed forward and crossed blades with her enemy. It annoyed her that Rosaline seemed to be having fun, effortlessly blocking and parrying all of her strikes. She withdrew and tried to form a plan. She simply had to ignore Rosaline’s beauty and grace as she stood ready to continue.