The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Mary dismounted and knelt beside me.

"What happened to you?" she asked, her gaze scanning over my injuries.

"Nothing. Take care of the children," I replied.

Mary took my hand and noticed the vampiric blood staining it. She retrieved a cloth from her saddle and wiped it away. As a vampire slayer, I wasn't safe from harm. The fair-haired girl named Ella was lifted onto the saddle of a soldier riding alongside Mary. Now at eye level, even in the dim morning light, the bite marks on Ella's neck were visible. Even for vampires, consuming child flesh was considered the epitome of depravity.

"What happened to you?" Mary inquired again.

"We just escaped from Malphas," I informed her.

Mary rolled up Ella's sleeve, her expression revealing her disgust, even to one whose eyes had grown accustomed to the horrors of vampires. She then shouted to the men, "Alright, we have our prize. We'll take the princess back to the keep. The children will come with us, and then we'll find a safe place for them. Expect contact with Malphas and his men. Renton, stay behind. Cover our tracks, then use your horse to make it appear as though we've headed in that direction before circling back to join us." She said pointing way from they way we indented to go.

A horse was provided for me, and I mounted it, cradling the sleeping body of Elle once again. She rode in front of me, her grip weak as she clung to my waist, using my chest as a pillow. We set off at a brisk pace, slowing down as dawn approached. It was evident that Mary had been strategizing during our journey.

"His Lordship is to be married to the Duchess," Mary announced.

"I heard," I said.

Mary looked at me. "You've got to understand, he was forced into an alliance by the council."

"We need to get back to the keep," said Mary. "I spied on the water pirates that caught you. They had spoken to a man in a long coat who belonged to the Duchess. I think she was behind your capture. I overheard them joking about knowing something that could stop the ceremony. They are keeping some secret from us. After I tortured the water pirates, they practically admitted the same thing but didn't know what it was. I gathered enough information to find you. We must return to the keep before the wedding begins and inform him of this intelligence."

I glanced at Mary. "What about Cub?" I asked.

"In the panic of your escape, she might have gotten out," Mary said. "I'll send Renton to search for her. He's good. Believe me we need to get back to the Black Keep."

"Why? he's marrying the Duchess." I said. 

"He's hoping that with you there may be he can stop it." Mary said. 

"You think he loves me? The really loves me ? " I asked.

Mary looked at me. "If you knew him like I do you would't be asking you would be on a fast horse to London."  

****

We rode on for a little while before stopping suddenly, and I doubled over, vomiting.

"How long has this been going on?" asked Mary, looking down at me and rubbing my back. She handed me a cloth.

"A few days," I told her, wiping my mouth. "The water in the camp is bad, and the food is worse."

"but only In the mornings?" asked Mary.

"Odd question," I said, feeling the strangeness of time with the vampires. "Yeah, in the mornings, now that I think of it. So what?"