Sneak Peek (New era)

A little sneak peek of what is still to come....

*Months ago*

Blood stained the ground. Bodies scattered, bodies dismembered, or with necks so brutalized it looked like a wild animal had attacked them.

But they weren't wild animals, it was you. Which perhaps didn't make much of a difference.

The others, both young and old, were scattered throughout the camp. You couldn't tell if these people were relatives, maybe they were, but you were more focused on feeding than observing their faces. Probably just friends trying to enjoy some time in the forest. Eleven of them, and none managed to escape. The one who had the most success in getting away was a young man, but he barely got far from the tents before one of you jumped on him and sank your fangs into his neck.

Only you, Silas's little sparrows, fed. And yet, you were still thirsty. The effect of having gone more than three weeks without the opportunity to feed made you too violent, irritable, anxious, to the point that at the slightest smell of a nearby human or animal, you killed. Without thinking, without hesitating. Not even Diego, who had gained much more control than you, held back. Perhaps that's why he's hidden behind a rock with his hands on his head, sobbing.

Guilt occurred to him. Maybe it had already affected the others beyond him and you, but they no longer showed it. They had become accustomed to it, and perhaps that was the worst part.

The violence, the brutality, the death... it no longer frightened as much as before. Maybe the first few times and a while after, but now? Now most were numb and ignorant about it. Even Cassie didn't seem to care anymore, just sitting on the ground, with her hands, from throat to torso, stained with blood... she just stared ahead, unblinking, silent.

The older vampires were five in total, and only approached when you had finished feeding. They took the bodies and burned them. Then you went to another place, to a gas station, where you also killed everyone there.

But they were not just any humans, they were hunters. They took crossbows, pistols, and even shotguns and swords, all using runic objects to enhance their physical attributes. The oldest among you helped to disarm, but the death, the blood, was all yours.

You did the job too well. From the six that were in the gas station's store, to the eight that were in its basement. A basement into which the elders entered, and took out folders, which seemed to be files, as well as small, dark boxes. None of you knew what was there, and none, except for You, seemed to pay more attention than necessary when they passed by you, some still feeding on the bodies.

It was not without consequence. Two of you died, three of the oldest and most loyal followers of Silas as well. Hunters might be just humans with magical objects, but they were not defenseless, and killing hungry vampires, both young and old, was an achievement that should be taken into account the next time they attacked one of their Hideouts.

Because that's what it was, wasn't it? A Hideout. In a simple gas station. It made you wonder how many of them are out there, and how well hidden they can be, just like other supernatural beings.

It wasn't the first place you entered that had hunters, and it wouldn't be the last.

The question is how many would remain when you reached the last one.