(01)
The night was cold and overcast, the ground newly covered with fresh sticky snow. The black coach roared down the crude road, its driver unconcerned about the slippery moisture churned up by the coach's wheels or the hooves of its two massive black chargers. The driver snapped his whip near the left-hand horse's ear, making it scream in anger. The coach cut through the sleeping village of Maidstone without slowing down before it ascended the circling road that wound around the small hill where Castle Isham lay.
The lord of the castle walked down the steps of the main keep, his eyes narrowed while the black coach blasted through the main gate and skidded to a stop mere inches from where he stood. Isham brushed stray snow from his black silk robe before the door of the coach swung open, followed by a slim feminine leg.
"Lady Darla," bowed Isham, taking the blonde girl's extended hand and holding it as she hopped to the powdery ground.
"My lord," nodded Darla, who was currently dressed in a red corset, tight black breeches, and boots. She wore a thin rapier at her belt. The girl's long golden hair fell loosely down her back, gleaming and curled.
"I have prepared a light meal for you," said Isham, guiding Darla up the stone steps to the beckoning doorway of his fortress.
"Are the preparations laid?"
"Yes, my lady, just as you commanded."
"Good. Soon nothing will stand in our way," smiled Darla wolfishly.
The couple walked down a spacious hallway adorned with rich tapestries and several golden candleholders. Vampire soldiers stood in niches along the walls, holding ready long swords in their gloved hands. Isham and his guest entered the audience hall of the castle, with its long dining tables and a raised dais near the far wall where the throne lay. To the left, a massive fireplace crackled with a shimmering blaze. Isham and Darla were the only occupants in the huge chamber, them and the meal that wriggled in her bonds atop the table nearest the throne. The vampires moved to either side of the female child who was still dressed in her white nightgown.
"A bit young, isn't she?" inquired Darla, running a finger down the girl's exposed bosom.
"I like them young and fresh," growled Isham, his eyes already glowing with hunger. "There are many such orphans in town. I've even built an orphanage to house and feed them."
"Very thoughtful of you," grinned Darla, her fangs extending in prelude to feeding. She lowered her head swiftly, like a striking snake.
The struggling girl groaned through the gag stuffed in her mouth, her neck falling numb as Darla sucked loudly on her flesh. Isham ripped open the girl's gown, caressing her barely forming breasts before planting his lips on the upper half of her left tit. Isham's fangs dug deeply into the moaning girl's breast, releasing a stream of her heart blood into his dry mouth. The sounds of the vampires' feeding echoed in the cavernous chamber, accompanied by the snapping of the dancing flames.
***
Bliss swore under her breath, sucking on the pinprick she had made on one of her fingertips. She reluctantly resumed her sewing, attempting to repair a shirt torn by one of the neighboring farmers.
"Pay more attention to your work," rebuked Bliss' mother, Leigh, as she finished washing the last of the lunch dishes.
"Yes, mother," sighed Bliss in resignation. She ran a hand through her wavy red hair, biting her lower lip as she tried to concentrate on her work.
"I'll be going out to the village tonight. Will you be alright by yourself? Do you want to stay with one of the neighbors?"
"I'll be fine, mother," smiled Bliss. "I'm more worried about you."
"The Lord has protected me so far," replied Leigh, returning her beautiful daughter's smile.
"But more women have been disappearing lately, especially the night walkers," murmured Bliss tentatively.
"Who told you that?" retorted Leigh sharply.
"Ertha."
"Hmph! You shouldn't spend time with that girl. She's too wild."
"She's the only girl who will talk to me."
"Then perhaps you should start talking to the boys, you are sixteen after all. You should be married and heavy with child by now."
"Mother…"
"Don't mother me. You can't wait forever."
"I haven't found the right boy yet."
"Nonsense! Several of the well-to-do merchants in town, as well as tradesmen, have expressed interest in you for their sons. You could be living in town in a nice house with lots of pretty clothes and food aplenty."
"I like it here on the farm, with you."
"Sweet child. You can't stay here for the rest of your life. I'll be gone someday and you'll have to live on your own. I want the best for you, a good husband and a well-stocked home."
"Yes, mother," sighed Bliss.
Leigh glanced back at her daughter, smiling in sympathy. She wiped her dripping hands on a wash towel before leaving the wash basin for her small room in the back of the cottage. She tied a bright red ribbon around auburn hair, then changed out of her work dress into a low-cut red blouse and a black skirt with slits up both sides. Leigh applied thick red lip paint to her sensuous mouth, followed by black eye dye around her large green eyes. Pursing her lips to even out her paint, Leigh adjusted her breasts to best advantage, returning to the living room where Bliss sat working on her mending.
"Another party tonight?" asked Bliss woodenly.
"Yes, Lord Isham wants all the serving women to attend."
"Be careful with the wolves."
"Don't stay up late," advised Leigh sternly before she left through the front door.
Bliss sighed to herself, focusing on her sewing until the shirt was repaired. She put her work on the dining table, putting out the fire in the hearth before rushing outside into the cool afternoon air. She wrapped a blue shawl around her thin shoulders, her red tresses billowing in the strong breeze. Bliss trudged through the thick snow until she reached the fence separating her family's section of land from Ertha's. Ertha sat on the top rung of the fence, chewing contentedly as she waited for her friend to arrive.
"Good day to you, Ertha," greeted Bliss as she stopped at her friend's side.
"To you as well," nodded Ertha, brushing her long ponytail of dark hair over her left shoulder.
"What are you eating?"
"Some strange foreign sweet, it's called chocolate. I tried to save you some, but I just had to eat it all, it makes my mouth all sticky and warm."
"Ertha!" blushed Bliss.
Ertha grinned at her friend's embarrassment, licking a lingering trace of dark candy from her lips.
"One of my customers gave it to me. He's been all over the world, trading fabric to the big textile guilds."
"Oh," replied Bliss, uncomfortable when Ertha mentioned her "night" job.
"Oh! I got a note today! Someone wants to see you at the Bier before sunset. Want me to come along?"
"Who's it from?"
"Don't know. Maybe a cute boy from the village!" giggled Ertha.
"I guess it can't hurt," shrugged Bliss, marching north through the crunching snow.
"Hey! Wait up!" exclaimed Ertha, jumping from her perch in pursuit of her friend.
The two girls reached the Bier by late afternoon, the sun beginning its descent along the horizon. The opening of the Bier beckoned the two girls, the interior dark and mysterious.
"It's not so bad, I met one of my customers here once," encouraged Ertha from behind Bliss.
"If I scream, come after me," shivered Bliss.
"I will," swore Ertha solemnly.
Bliss bent down to fit into the small entrance, the ceiling of the short passage rubbing against her back. She walked into a small square chamber that was bare except for a single glowing orb floating in the center of the room and a rune inscribed door on the right-hand wall. A robed monk sat on the floor facing the entrance, reading intently from a small book. When Bliss entered, the monk raised his head, gasping in surprise.
"Ah! You've come! Excellent!" said the monk, rising ungracefully to his feet.
"Who are you?" asked Bliss.
"Brother Camber, a scholar from the local monastery. Perhaps you've seen it?"
"I've heard of it, but it's a little too far away from the village for me. Why did you ask to see me?"
"It's a matter of the gravest importance. Dark forces are gathering here, and you must be prepared to face them," replied Camber sternly, his short silver hair shining in the orb glow.
"Why me? I'm just a farm girl," protested Bliss.
"No, you're more than that, you're the Chosen One."
"The who?"
"The Slayer, the one girl in all the world chosen to fight the vampires."
"Vampires…are real?" whispered Bliss, falling limply to her knees in shock.
***
The throne room of Castle Isham was filled with raucous laughter and merry-making. Young girls from Maidstone served wine and food dressed only in their panties and necklaces of gold. Lord Hardin sat near one of the long chamber's windows sipping wine and watching the sun set.
"Where hides our host, my lord?" chuckled a fat merchant prince, a slopping cup in hand while a girl sucked his cock slowly.
"He is a late riser, which is fortunate for you. I suggest you moderate your tone before he arrives, Lord Isham does not tolerate rudeness," replied Hardin, fingering the pommel of his sword meaningfully.
The fat merchant mumbled under his breath before pouring more wine into his gaping maw, placing his free hand behind the slurping girl's head and pushing her face roughly into his crotch. Hardin returned his eyes to the window just as the last weak ray of sunlight disappeared from view. A moment later, the double doors of the throne room were swung wide open, heralding the arrival of Lord Isham and his attractive female guest.
"You set a fine table, my lord," smiled Darla, eyeing the scantily clad girls and drunken men with equal hunger.
"Please, indulge yourself," offered Isham with a sweep of one strong arm.
Darla stalked across the room, evaluating each potential meal. She spotted the kneeling girl giving the fat merchant head. Darla purred softly, swaying over to the engaged couple. She reached the duo just as the merchant cummed all over the waiting girl's face. Darla grabbed the girl by her long hair, leaning down to lick the still warm semen from her lovely face. With cream plastered across her mouth and cheeks, Darla growled, baring her fangs before plunging them in the gasping girl's neck. The fat merchant shouted in fright, falling backwards off his chair while Darla drank deeply from the quivering girl's body. When the serving girl was pale blue with death, Darla dropped the corpse and pounced on the scuttling merchant. The fat man screamed before Darla ripped his throat out with her fangs, hot blood spurting across her face and the cleavage of her tight corset.
Lord Isham chuckled at his guest's brazen behavior, slowly traversing the room while watching the gruesome display. Isham's human guests backed away from the feeding Darla, unsure about fleeing in the presence of their lord.
"A new day is coming my friends. Soon all of you will have lands of your own, if you agree to serve me and provide me the bounty I require," said Isham loudly, wrapping his right arm around the slender waist of a serving girl. He kissed the girl tenderly on the cheek, then bit into her neck, his lips sucking every drop of sweet blood from her warm flesh. The girl shuddered, her mouth gaping before it became slack with death.
"Give me the blood I desire and everything you could ever dream of will be yours," swore Isham, discarding the dead girl like an empty cup.
Isham strode to his raised throne, sitting lightly upon it as he listened to his retainers softly discuss his offer. The vampire lord motioned his favorite serving wench with his right hand, ordering her to approach him.
"My lord," bowed Leigh respectfully, a golden chalice of blood resting on a small tray in her hand.
"Sit with me, my dear," bade Isham, patting his left thigh.
Leigh smiled with pleasure, sitting where she was told and holding up the chalice for her master. Isham took the cup, drinking deeply from its contents as his right hand slithered up her ebony skirt to fondle the front panel of her thin panties. Leigh moaned softly, biting her lower lip and gazing into her master's glowing red eyes.
***
"Bliss, it's late!" complained Ertha, sticking her head into the opening of the Bier.
"I'm coming!" replied Bliss, jumping up from her seat on the floor and brushing off her plain brown dress.
"Do you understand what I've told you? Do you realize your responsibility?" asked Camber sharply.
"I have to think about this. Me? A heroine? It's hard to believe," replied Bliss skeptically.
"Take this," offered Camber, presenting a silver cross on a necklace chain.
When Bliss hesitantly took the necklace, the monk gave her a sharpened wooden stake. Bliss placed the necklace over her head, hiding the cross within her dress. She accepted the stake, sliding it into her left boot.
"Tomorrow come to the monastery when you get a chance, we must begin your training immediately."
"I will if I have time, I have many chores to do," said Bliss as she backed away from the intense old monk. She exited the Bier quickly, grabbing Ertha's hand and running through the snow as soon as she was clear of the doorway.
Night had arrived while Camber had told her the history of the Slayers and her new claim to that title. Bliss tried to forget the things that the monk had told her, but the cold weight of the cross between her breasts kept her remindful. The girls reached Bliss' home without incident. Bliss grabbed some wood from the pile and carried it inside, using it to start a fire in her home's small hearth.
"I better go, I have to work," said Ertha from the doorway.
"Be careful," warned Bliss from the fireside.
"I always am," grinned Ertha, waving cheerfully before she disappeared outside.
Bliss fingered the shining cross, staring into the flames vacantly. She glanced at the closed door of the cottage, thoughts of vampires, demons, and other night feeders swimming in her brain. Suddenly fearful for her best friend, Bliss grabbed her steaming shawl and rushed out into the cold darkness.
***
"Looking for company tonight?" smiled Ertha, running a hand through her thick black hair.
"Aye, little girl. You look like a tasty young thing," growled the man before her, licking his dry lips in anticipation. "I'll have ye."
"This way," murmured Ertha, sauntering her hips while leading the man deep into a nearby alley. When they were far enough inside, Ertha reclined against one of the walls and pulled off her blouse, freeing her jutting tits into the cold air.
"Ten silver," panted Ertha, lowering her long skirt to the snow, clad only in her heavy cloak.
"Done," grinned the man, running a long tongue across his sharp upper incisors. He kissed Ertha roughly, his tongue a violent probe writhing inside the naked girl's throat.
Ertha pressed her small hands against the man's huge chest as he wrapped her left breast with his lips, his teeth sinking painfully through her pale white skin.
"Sir, no," moaned Ertha, her arms shaking while the man fondled her cunt, his fingers rubbing lewdly across her labia.
"Such a tasty little whore," grunted the man, leaving Ertha's bleeding tit for her throbbing neck. He licked the side of her throat, his breath hot on Ertha's cheek as he prepared to feed on her racing blood.
"Ertha!" shouted Bliss, charging into the vampire standing over her loose-limbed friend.
The vampire grunted in surprise as he flew through the air to fall heavily on the far side of the alley. Bliss stared in wonder, she had never hit anything in her short life, she hadn't imagined she possessed such strength. Ertha covered her exposed body with her cloak, her eyes large with fear and confusion as the vampire rose to his feet and hissed at Bliss.
"How dare you strike me, bitch! I'll bleed you slowly for such an insult!"
The vampire roared with hatred, running across the snow, hands extended for Bliss' neck. Bliss removed the cross from her dress, aiming it at the vampire. The undead male screamed in revulsion, blocking his eyes with his right arm. Bliss pushed against the vampire, knocking him onto his back. Moving instinctively, Bliss jumped on top of the prone man, removing the stake from her boot and ramming it into the vampire's heart. The vampire whimpered softly before his body exploded beneath Bliss into a cloud of billowing ash. Bliss knelt motionlessly in the snow, her charred stake still held tightly in her hand.
"Bliss? You killed him!" whispered Ertha loudly. "We better go!"
Bliss stood up dazedly, allowing Ertha to guide her out of the alley towards home.
-----
(02)
Moans and gasps filled Lord Isham's richly adorned bedchamber. Upon the huge square four poster bed, Leigh lay atop her master, sucking wetly upon his tall, quivering cock. Isham pried Leigh's firm buttocks apart, pressing his face over her moist pussy. He rubbed his tongue up and down her glistening slit, enjoying the taste of her flowing honey. Isham slapped Leigh's bare buttocks, making her moan softly while her head pumped over his saliva-coated pole. Leigh ran her tongue down the length of Isham's cock, rubbing her pert nose against his testicles. Isham gently bit Leigh's clit, taking the bit of flesh between his lips and pulling on it. Leigh groaned in ecstasy, rubbing her left cheek on the side of Isham's thick penis. She placed her mouth over the cock's head, sucking the dripping tip before sliding the shaft into her throat. Isham sucked deeply on Leigh's clit, thrusting two fingers into the naked woman's cunt, his digits sticky with her juices.
Leigh squeezed her lips tightly around her master's cock as she orgasmed, her body shuddering while a fresh stream of cum splattered over Isham's handsome face. Isham nuzzled his mouth within Leigh's pussy, enjoying the flavor of her honey as he drank his fill. When he was sated, Isham rolled Leigh off, leaving the disheveled bed to drape a purple silk robe over himself.
"Take me again, my lord," begged Leigh, brushing a strand of slick auburn hair away from her beautiful face.
"Later, I have business to attend to," smiled Isham, leaving the candle-lit bedroom for his brightly illuminated personal audience chamber.
"Are you done fucking your little whore?" snapped Darla, draining her cup of blood with one loud gulp.
"I find that a little love play helps me think better," chuckled Isham, walking to the bar to pour himself a cup of warm blood.
"For your sake I hope so. Do you know where the book is?" asked Darla, glaring at her partner.
"Aye. In the monastery near town," replied Isham, savoring a sip of his drink.
"I have my suspicions about those monks. This could get messy."
"I agree. They'll expect a night attack. I'm going to send Hardin and a squad of my best soldiers to retrieve the book tomorrow morning," said Isham, sitting down leisurely in a nearby cushioned chair.
"Hmm, a good plan. There may be hope for you, Isham," smiled Darla warmly.
***
The next morning after chores, Bliss returned to the Bier to meet with Camber again. The old monk waited outside the mound, a pile of weapons resting near his feet.
"What are those for?" inquired Bliss, pointing at the various swords, knives, and poles.
"You must be familiar with all weapons," replied Camber, throwing Bliss a short battle staff.
"Why? Aren't stakes the only weapon that can kill vampires?"
"Mostly, but vampires are under no such restriction in regards to you. You must be able to defend yourself against any kind of attack."
"Oh," sighed Bliss before she was attacked by Camber with another staff.
***
Hardin motioned for the soldier to break the door. The chainmail clad warrior hacked at the monastery portal with a large battleaxe, smashing the wood to tinder. Monks milled uncertainly inside, some running for weapons while others hoped to talk peace. The door collapsed to the floor, allowing several soldiers to rush inside with blades bared.
"Kill everyone, secure the library," ordered Hardin, his own long sword held tightly. He watched emotionlessly as the weaponless monks were hacked to the ground, blood spraying across the bare monastery walls.
A small group of monks blocked the passage to the library armed with long staffs. A short melee began, the monks remarkably skilled with their crude weapons. Hardin marched forward, shouldering past one of his men to impale a monk upon his polished blade. He traded blows with a second monk before slicing his stomach open. The dying monk fell just as Hardin hewed the head off a third guardian. Hardin wiped his sword on a dead monk's robe, waving his men forward. Several more monks were slain just inside the library, one monk casting a lightning bolt at one unfortunate soldier before his comrades chopped the monk to bits.
"Secure the rest of the monastery, I want to be left alone," commanded Hardin. The second nodded in acknowledgment, leaving one man to drag the bodies away while Hardin began his search for his master's prize.
***
Bliss bent down to clasp her knees, panting from heavy exertion. The sun had begun to set, turning the sky into a beautiful canvas of red and gold.
"You have done well today, Bliss. I'm impressed that you slew one vampire already without any training, this bodes well for you."
"I better…get home," gasped Bliss. "Mother will be worried."
"We'll meet at the Bier again tomorrow. You still have much to learn."
"Alright," nodded Bliss, staggering back towards home. When the girl entered the cottage, she found her dinner laid on the table already, her mother painting herself for another evening out.
"Where were you all day today?"
"Helping Ertha," replied Bliss hesitantly, sitting down to eat her meal.
"I have to stay out again tonight. Don't go wandering out, it's getting dangerous."
"I know," whispered Bliss before taking a bite from a chicken leg.
***
Camber spotted the flames before he recognized the blazing ruin that had once been the home of his order. The monk fell to the ground, grabbing a long sword from his weapons bundle.
He found two soldiers standing near the front entrance of the monastery, watching the building be consumed by fire. Camber rose to a crouch, quickly advancing behind the two men. He raised the blade in his right hand, swinging it with all his strength and anger. The soldier didn't even grunt when his head flew away from his shoulders. The second soldier hissed, baring his fangs as he brandished his own blade.
"Admiring your slaves' handiwork?" spat Camber, lashing out with his sword.
"Making sure none of your foul books survive, Watcher," smiled the vampire, parrying Camber's blows with ease.
"If your master knew that we were Watchers, why wait till now to attack us?"
"He required one of your books to perform a ritual at the Bier, he ordered us to destroy anything that threatened the rite, including your brethren and their works," replied the soldier, slicing a thin line across Camber's chest.
"Isham will pay with his life," swore Camber, stabbing several times at the vampire's stomach.
"I doubt you can slay him and Lady Darla," chuckled the soldier, knocking Camber's sword to the side in preparation of the killing stroke.
"We shall see, hellspawn!" snarled Camber, ducking under the vampire's lunge, slicing up with his own sword, decapitating the undead minion gracefully. Camber remained in his crouch as the vampire's ashes rained over him. Unbuckling the first soldier's belt, Camber sheathed his sword before rushing back to Bliss' farm.
***
"Well done," smiled Isham, taking the book from Hardin's offering hands.
"Do you have the sacrifices?" asked Darla from Isham's side.
"Yes, the last one should be arriving soon," replied Isham, leaning back into his throne, paging through the book idly. The doors to the audience hall opened, admitting Leigh draped in a long brown cloak.
"I have come as you commanded, my lord," said Leigh respectfully, bowing low.
"Excellent. Now we can begin."
***
Bliss started when someone pounded the door from outside. The farm girl grabbed a nearby stake, slowly approaching the shaking portal. She wrenched the bolt and pulled the door open, raising the stake to strike just as Camber prepared to pound the door again.
"Bliss! The monastery has been destroyed! We have to go to the Bier!"
"Why?" asked Bliss, letting Camber come in from the cold.
"Isham is a vampire! His men took one of our books to perform some unholy ritual at the Bier!"
"What do we do?"
"We have to kill Isham and retrieve the book!" replied Camber, taking Bliss' hand and dragging her outside.
***
The line of walkers slowly drew closer to the Bier. Isham led the way, dressed in a chainmail vest, black cloak, and armed with a sheathed sword. Darla followed last, dressed in her red corset and breeches, her rapier bare as she prodded the young girls in front of her. Hardin walked to the left of the line, holding up a crackling torch, dressed in chainmail and armed with a bared sword. Trailing behind Darla some distance away were several of Isham's vampire soldiers, watching to make sure the coming ritual was not disturbed.
Isham bent down to enter the small opening of the Bier, his eyes glowing red with expectation. The girls whimpered and murmured softly as they were shoved inside the Bier after the vampire lord.
"Stay out here and guard the entrance, make sure that no one disturbs us," snarled Darla, baring her fangs threateningly.
"Understood, my lady," nodded Hardin.
Darla entered the Bier, emerging into the entry room just as Isham was in the midst of the ritual of opening. He held a naked blonde girl against the room's rune-inscribed door, pressing her arms over her head as he rammed himself into her pussy. She moaned loudly, her breasts heaving while Isham's crotch slapped against hers. When the girl climaxed, Isham roared with hunger, biting deeply into the side of her neck. The blonde girl sighed as her hot blood gushed out to splash against the iron portal behind her. Isham threw the dead girl aside, backing away when the door began to glow with a glaring ruby light. The runes flashed with white fire, then the door melted away beneath the rock floor.
Isham reached out to grasp Ertha's left arm, dragging her inside the inner chamber of the Bier. The room was wide and circular, with a single crypt in the center of the floor. A pentagram was inscribed over the entire surface of the floor, other sigils adorned every inch of the walls. Isham drew a protesting Ertha to the crypt, which had a lid carved into the likeness of a gorgeous woman of nobility. Isham placed his struggling victim on top of the crypt, chanting one of the invocations from his stolen book of spells. The stone woman's eyes snapped open, she opened her hands, grasping Ertha's wrists and holding them at the girl's sides. Ertha screamed in terror while Isham ripped her dress from her body.
Darla held Leigh in a tight grip, licking her lips in excitement as she watched Isham remove his clothes and mount the screaming young girl.
Isham kissed Ertha briefly, spreading her thighs apart to accept his hardening spear. Isham chanted loudly, reciting the ancient magic over and over as he pushed his cock into Ertha's pussy, shoving deep into her warm vagina. The stone woman smiled with evil pleasure, her eyes burning with green light while she held Ertha in place.
"Exciting, isn't it?" whispered Darla into Leigh's left ear, reaching down with her right hand to fondle Leigh's crotch. Leigh gasped softly, her lips trembling while she stared at the erotic ritual unfolding before her.
"Why use Ertha?" panted Leigh softly.
"Why, to attract the Slayer, of course," grinned Darla while she continued to rub her prisoner's pussy over the woman's dress.
"Who is this Slayer?"
"Your daughter, Bliss," giggled Darla.
"How do you know?"
"When you've lived as long as I have, you learn to sense the blood of your opponents."
Ertha began to relax beneath the humping vampire lord, the chanting washed over her, clouding her mind. The naked girl's hips began to thrust forward, her cunt tightening around Isham's probing cock. Isham squeezed Ertha's smooth breasts, caressing the warm pale skin. He increased the power of his thrusts, jerking Ertha's naked body within her unyielding bonds. When Isham sensed Ertha's climax building, he clamped his mouth against the side of the girl's neck, penetrating her glistening skin with his sharp fangs. Ertha groaned loudly, her body writhed as her orgasm exploded inside her, making her blood pump hot and fast within her throbbing veins. The pentagram on the floor flared with blood-red light, it burned steadily as Isham drained Ertha, sucked every last drop of life from her frame. Ertha's shaking slowly ebbed, finally stopping altogether. Isham raised his face from Ertha's throat, his mouth wet with her blood. He climbed down from the crypt, removing his victim's dead body from the stone woman's open hands.
"Your turn now, dear," giggled Darla, stepping over the now dark pentagram, dragging Leigh towards the waiting tomb.
***
"Do you know what this ritual is about?" asked Bliss, her breath clouding in the frigid night air.
"The Bier is the resting place of a vampire, Lady Madilyne. She was one of the few vampires who discovered a way to walk in the sun. She murdered dozens of innocents before she was hunted down and destroyed here, near Maidstone. Her ashes were entombed in the Bier, and my order established a monastery here to watch over it. I didn't know for sure that Lord Isham was a vampire until his men destroyed my home and one of his minions admitted that he was involved. The vampire I killed also mentioned a Lady Darla. I've heard whispers about her, she's a very old vampire, she's murdered almost a dozen Slayers in her lifetime."
"And I have to fight her now? Before you've even completed my training?"
"I'm sorry, but there's no other way," replied Camber, offering a wan smile of apology.
Bliss sighed, then stiffened, crouching down as they approached the Bier. Three soldiers stood guard atop a nearby hillock, blades drawn and ready.
"Here we go," smiled Bliss, grasping her stake firmly.
"Go with God," wished Camber.
The two separated, with Bliss stalking right and Camber moving left. Bliss moved quickly in the leather breeches Camber had given her after leaving the cottage. She slithered up behind one of the soldiers and punched the stake into his back. The wooden shaft snapped against the vampire's chainmail, alerting the undead that he was under attack. The vampire roared, swinging his sword as he spun to face his foe. Bliss ducked the swipe, kicking the soldier in the stomach, then smashing his head towards the ground. She seized his blade from loose fingers and chopped down, severing the doubled over soldier's head.
As the vampire exploded into ash, Bliss parried the slash of a second soldier, her lessons still fresh in her mind as she drove the vampire backwards with her blade. Bliss caught Camber at the edge of her vision silently dispatching his opponent with a quick slice of his sword. The distraction proved untimely, the vampire Bliss fought slipped past her sword to stab her shallowly in the side. Bliss gasped in pain, beating the vampire back while clutching her bleeding green tunic.
"Bliss!" shouted Camber, raising his sword to strike at the vampire.
The vampire sensed Camber, he swung out with his left boot, smashing the monk in the chest. Camber coughed roughly, blade falling from limp fingers as the vampire spun and kicked him in the face with a sharp crunch. Bliss watched Camber fall with wide eyes, astonishment turning to rage as she swung her sword in a blur. The vampire was still turning towards Bliss when the blade caught his neck and detached his head from his body. Bliss blinked ash out of her eyes as she rushed to the prone monk's side.
"I'm alright, my nose is broken," wheezed Camber, his face a bloody mess.
"Let me help you up," said Bliss, tugging at her Watcher's left shoulder.
"Go into the Bier, you have to stop Isham and Darla," gasped Camber. "Hurry, before you're too late!"
"Alright," whispered Bliss, squeezing Camber's arm affectionately before picking her sword from the ground and running towards the dimly glowing mound of the Bier.
-----
(03)
Hardin drew his sword as soon as he saw Bliss racing towards the entrance of the Bier. He walked a short distance forward, crouching into a fighting stance when the panting girl got into melee range.
"Step aside! I have to enter the Bier!" exclaimed Bliss, raising her own sword to point at the warrior.
"No one may enter the Bier. Go now, girl, or you die."
Bliss lashed out with her blade, trying to disarm the stubborn guard in front of her. Hardin parried the blow without effort, retaliating with a quick slash that marred Bliss' left arm. Bliss hissed in pain, backing away a step before renewing her attack with greater ferocity. Swords rang across the countryside as the duelists fought, Bliss' arms starting to ache with the strain of prolonged combat. Hardin was breathing heavily, but otherwise appeared as strong as when the fight started.
"You have potential, girl. A pity you won't live long enough to develop it," smiled Hardin, stabbing at Bliss' heaving belly.
Bliss dodged aside, but not before the sharp edge of Hardin's sword cut a furrow across her stomach. Bliss ignored the wound, kicking upwards with her right leg, knocking Hardin's sword up as she rammed her own blade into the warrior's stomach. Hardin's eyes grew wide, then relaxed as death claimed him. Bliss raced past Hardin's falling corpse, anxious to enter the Bier and stop whatever dark ritual was occurring inside.
***
Leigh lay trapped atop the lid of the tomb, her wrists held at her sides by the stone hands of the engraved woman beneath her. Darla straddled Leigh's crotch, rubbing her naked pussy against her victim's. Darla leaned down to lick Leigh's nipples, her soft blonde hair falling across Leigh's shuddering breasts. The vampire woman sucked firmly on Leigh's left tit, her fangs scratching the soft flesh without breaking the skin. Darla placed her right hand against Leigh's cunt, rubbing the moist slit energetically, prying open the naked woman's labia to caress the warm pink flesh of Leigh's vagina. Leigh moaned loudly, her lips trembling as she felt the sensual ecstasy of Darla's manipulations. Darla slid forward to kiss Leigh on the mouth, her tongue a cold worm that wriggled obscenely inside the woman's slack jaws. The pentagram around the sarcophagus began to glow again, a deep pulsing blood red light that filled the entire circular chamber. Darla could feel the power of the dead vampire lady flow into her body, the dark magic that would allow her and Lord Isham to walk in the sunlight like the humans they fed upon. Darla closed her eyes, thrusting her pussy against Leigh's, her body burning as she absorbed more and more magic.
Lord Isham watched the display with amusement, until he caught a flicker of movement from the entry chamber behind him. Still naked from his own phase of the ritual, the vampire extended claws from his hands, his fangs dripping with saliva while he slowly strode into the dark entry room.
The flashing sword blade nearly took Isham's head off as it slashed down upon him. Isham dove aside, but the blade bit deeply into his right shoulder, releasing a gout of steaming black blood.
"Bitch!" snarled Isham, glaring at the red-haired maiden brandishing a sword before him.
"You killed my best friend, you monster!" spat Bliss, Ertha's dead body behind her on the stone floor.
"Necessary for the ritual. If it's any consolation she tasted delicious," chuckled the vampire maliciously.
Bliss screamed as she charged Isham, her blade held forward with both hands. Isham slid past the charge, smashing his right fist into the back of Bliss' neck. Bliss fell heavily to the floor, her sword clattering away into the darkness. Isham pounced on top of Bliss, rolling her onto her back, then slapping her across the face until she groaned with pain. He ripped off her clothes with his gleaming claws, scratching her breasts, then prying her legs open while she lay dazed beneath him.
"Let's see how much you can take, farm girl," hissed Isham, his eyes glowing red as he rammed his cock into Bliss' virgin pussy.
"No!" screamed Bliss, feeling her hymen tear under the piercing jab of the vampire's meat pole.
"Umm, nice and tight," growled Isham, thrusting violently into Bliss' cunt, his claws raking across her bent legs.
Bliss reached out with her left hand, trying desperately to reach her discarded cross on the floor. Isham detected Bliss' maneuver, he leaned over her, holding her wrists in place with his own large hands. He licked her throbbing neck, nibbling on her skin with his sharp teeth. Bliss' pussy burned painfully, blood dripped from her violated slit as she smashed her forehead against Isham's face. The vampire howled as he drew back, clutching his broken nose. Bliss reached out as far as she could, grasping the lower stem of the cross and bringing it up before Isham. The vampire screamed with revulsion, jumping off of the naked girl and slamming against one of the chamber walls. Bliss hopped to her feet, seizing her fallen blade and slashing it level with Isham's neck. Black blood splashed against the wall and across Bliss as Isham's head flew from his shoulders and plopped to the floor nearby. The vampire lord's headless body twitched once, then exploded into a cloud of thick ash.
Bliss turned quickly when a flash of red light came from the crypt entrance. Holding her sword warily, Bliss entered the inner chamber of the Bier, breathing sharply when she saw a naked blonde woman climb off the dead body of her mother.
"You killed Isham, eh? Too bad, he was rather handsome," shrugged Darla.
"Mother?" asked Bliss softly, her eyes locked on the two fang marks bleeding on her mother's neck.
"She's quite dead, my dear," smiled Darla coldly. "But she died for a good cause, now I can walk the daylit world."
"You'll never see the dawn," promised Bliss, fresh tears staining her cheeks while she approached the grinning vampire woman.
Darla giggled briefly, then dove at Bliss, claws flashing in the light of the fading pentagram. Bliss swung her sword, cutting a deep track across Darla's shoulder blades. Darla hit the floor and rolled to her feet, her tongue sliding out to lick her wet lips.
"First blood to you, final blood to me," grinned Darla, charging Bliss again, leaning low this time.
Bliss hacked down with her weapon, striking sparks on the floor as Darla sliced a painful series of furrows over Bliss' left side. Bliss clutched her bleeding wounds, the cuts throbbing with pain. Darla charged again without pausing, laughing with dark joy. Bliss grasped her blade with both hands, faking a slice to Darla's torso, then slashing up, catching the vampire's neck upon the razor sharp edge of her weapon.
Darla screamed just before her body exploded to ash. Bliss wiped her face, dropping her sword to approach her dead mother's body. She touched Leigh's cold cheek, then fell atop her mother's body, sobbing harshly. Bliss lay over her mother a long time in the dark cold heart of the Bier.
***
"Are you alright?" inquired Camber, adjusting the heavy satchel on his shoulder. "Do you want a few more days to yourself?"
"No, we've wasted enough time," replied Bliss, sliding on her leather backpack, then taking one last look at her childhood home. "We better go."
Bliss closed the door to the farm cottage, following Camber for awhile before stopping to glance back at the farm she had known all her life. The monk waited patiently, empathizing with his young charge.
"Good-bye, mother. I'm going to kill them all, for you," swore Bliss, turning away from her old life to begin her new one as the Slayer.
THE END
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