CHAPTER 1

               The fire blazed over the canopies, surrounding the castle walls with vicious flames. Women shrieked as knights in black armour galloped through the village, shouting and slashing their swords at anyone who came close. An evil laugh echoed off the castle's exterior as the flames engulfed the houses and market stalls, while bodies lay bathed in blood on the dusty path. The army of shadows edged closer and closer towards the castle gate until a figure stood firmly at the castle edge. The group of knights halted and gazed intently at the figure, armed with spears and swords that glimmered as the light from the fire behind them, reflected onto the blades.

                The figure was draped in a long black robe with a hood, which shrouded his face. He raised his arms in the air and thunder crackled from the clouds that began to form a mysterious mist. A pair of golden eyes appeared from under the hood and a set of gleaming white teeth smiled menacingly at the knights, as a trickle of water dropped on the forehead of the horse and trailed down its snout. Hundreds of raindrops pattered down onto the sandy floor, soaking the village while the flickers of flame attempted to fight back.

               A shimmer of blonde hair exposed itself as the man gently pulled away his hood. The rain licked at his pale skin and his hair lay drenched upon his head, which brushed past his eyebrows. The knights retreated back as quickly as they could, but he was already behind them. His canines were shard and long and he let out a fierce snarl as he slowly stepped in the direction of the knights.

               The blood trickled down his cheeks as his teeth sunk into the bodies and tore at the gristle and flesh. The men shrieked with fear as the vampire ripped off their arms and legs and buried his face in their necks. After draining their bodies he threw them to the floor and stared back at the massacre that had happened in his village. He sighed with a painful essence and whipped his head back towards the castle. An elegant woman appeared at the door, her auburn hair fell lustrous beyond her back in thick curls. A gold crown rested on top of her head. She nodded at the man and he nodded back, swiftly pulling his hood back on as he began to pile up the bodies that lay lifeless on the bloodstained floor.