The Light in the Dark
Prologue
Evening was approaching the town in the valley. With great mountains off in the distance and a safe place to call home, this still didn't leave everyone at peace. The countryside was lush despite the usual run-down-of-a- shack house. But in the heart of the valley was the town of Astonite. With it's lights on at night it was always bright enough for one to find their way.
Though some doors on the houses were locked and the windows shut, some of the town refused to give in to the night and its inhabitants and opened their doors to tourists and anyone passing by. The town bustled with people here and there and the streetlights as bright as can be. Soon the night would come.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Thank God fer Faterday!"
"It's Saturday you food-obsessed idiot, and it's Thank God for Friday!"
"Shame ting."
The drunkard lifted his mug for cheers and more beer while his companion grumbled with his head in his hands. The bar was actually a lively place despite the small population of the town. Every seat at the counter was taken and the bar tender was hurriedly getting orders and accepting tips. One man sat at the back of the room at a booth looking out the window. No one paid any mind to him.
"Well I just heard that farmer McHoland hired a crew of Werewolf Hunters who killed eight werewolves so far!" said the bartender.
"No kidding!? I'll drink to that!" one man said sitting at one of the tables next to the counter.
"Yeah," another man spoke up, "but with these werewolves dead that means less attacks on the outskirts of the village, and when the Vampires find out."
"Who cares! I'm sick and tired of worrying. When the Vamps find out, we'll just hire a crew of Vampire Hunters!"
All the men agreed to that with cheer and another chug of beer. The man sitting in the back of the room just continued looking out the window. With an inward sigh he slouched down and propped his feet up on the table, pulling his traveler hat just a little lower to shadow his face. The aloof figure soon caught the attention of one of the men sitting at a table.
"And what about you Stranger? Can I get ya a drink?"
D turned his head. "No thank you."
The other mans eyes wandered, taking in D's attire and the long weapon leaned against the wooden frame of the booth.
"So you're a Hunter, eh?"
And with a faint nod, D spoke, "That's right."
Surprisingly that was all that was spoken and honestly, D was waiting for the man to continue with his curiosity. The other men mingled on into the heavy hours of the night until the bar was more than half-empty. Soon, even the men at the counter had to return home, talking of how their wives would beat them with a stick if they came home any later.
"You're a Vampire Hunter, aren't you?" the bartender said, wiping out the inside of a mug with a cloth. His words were the only words that filled the bar now that his costumers had all gone home. Only two other men remained besides D and the bar tender and they were off in a corner talking in whispers.
D nodded.
The bar tender acknowledged that and looked down at his glass. He offered the man any drink, and even though it was on the house, D refused any.
"You're not from around these parts are you?"
The glass was starting to squeak under the cloth. He put the mug back up on the display rack behind him and leaned forward with his elbows on the counter.
"No. what Vampires live here?"
"Ooh." the bartender chuckled good-naturedly. "No one can really say for certain, but we know their there. Their creatures of the night attack our people and sometimes, not often, we find their victims. But we know their there."
D looked outside the window as his eyes fell on the crosses mounted upon everyone's rooftop.
The bar tender continued, "Some think it's the Countess Lily. I've heard tales of men who've ventured south of here into the deepest parts of the forest and sighted a castle. Tell me, why does it interest you?"
D remained silent.
"Ah, I see.
Well, I wish you the best of luck. If you're in any need of hospitality I can offer you a bed for the night and my wife cooks a great breakfast."
________________________________________________________
"Right this way." The bar tender walked down a hallway which was conveniently right above the bar. The wooden hallway creaked beneath their feet and to the left was two doors and to the right, one. They both stopped at the end of the hallway as the bar tender had his back to D and the sound of a key jangling was heard. The man opened the door for D.
"It's a little bit dusty, but not to bad." He said while trying to stifle a cough. D stepped inside and replayed a thank you.
"And if you need anything, my name's Bill." He smiled and nodded, then shut the door.
D looked around his surroundings with a calm look before setting his hat on a dresser and leaning his sword against the wall. He walked over to the other side of the room and looked out the window.
"Well, well, isn't this entertaining. Everyone just seems to open up to you, and they have no idea what you are!"
D didn't say anything.
"Really D, you should feel special. You barely have enough money to pay for a hotel room and you always manage to get around quiet nicely."
"Hush."
The irritating voice chuckled. "What? You are special you know. Not every man gets the honor of arguing with his hand!"
D gave a sigh before finally stretching and lying down on the bed. His cloak was a good enough blanket for him. Giving in to the human half of him, he fell asleep.
_________________________________________________
Sunlight soon crept in from the window and through the curtains to reveal a very interesting site. The door was open and a little girl about five or six was sitting in a chair staring at D.
The man sat up and calmly looked at the little girl, he didn't want to frighten her. Scaring Vampires was okay but only children screamed.
"And who might you be?" D asked in a polite voice.
"I'm Tressa. Are you dead?"
D shook his head no. The little girl just sat in her seat swinging her feet wildly and twisting some of her blonde hair. "My mom sent me up here, she says if you want any breakfast you should go downstairs before it gets cold."
The man stood up and reached for his hat and sword before following Tressa and heading downstairs. He towered over the child and D ignored her warning of 'your head might hit the ceiling'.
As soon as he arrived downstairs and into the bar/living room or whatever it was to the inhabitants, Tressa took her spot at the counter as a lady in an apron came out from a swooshing wooden door. She set a plate in front of her daughter and looked up at the mysterious man. "What'll you have?"
"I'm fine, miss."
She gave him a quizzical look but really didn't want to insist against his will. he definitely looked like someone you didn't want to piss off.
Just then Bill came down the stairs rubbing his hand against his freshly shaven chin. "Ah, I see you've met my Tressa!"
D gave a single nod.
"So, where ya headin'?" He asked, acknowledging D had all of his 'supplies' together.
"South."
Bill laughed. "You can't be serious.. Well, makes perfect sense. If you need a good steed, I can give you-"
D shook his head without an answer. An electronic snort and stomping of a hoof was heard outside.
"Well then." said Bill. "Best of luck to you, since you're leaving so early. It only gets worse as you head South, but be careful along your way on the outskirts."
"I will." D nodded and started heading for the door. "Thank you."
Bill and his wife just exchanged each other looks.
Around mid-day he was stocking up for a few supplies and figured his sword needed a good polish. He stayed around the village and the shops, almost all day before deciding to head out now.
He rode through the cobbled streets of the village before finally reaching the end and headed out into the countryside.
He rode through pastures and fields, passing ranches and farms and basically any small house that dotted the countryside. The outskirts stretched on for miles and by now he had slown his horse down to a steady pace. The sun was setting and evening once more was approaching. D noted that there were no Inns or hotels around for him to stay, so he would have to keep riding all night, to unsafe to rest.
He trotted down a lonely gravel road for a while. The sky was orange along the horizon with a purple atmosphere. A few houses along the way were illuminating a warm glow from their windows till the houses seemed farther and farther apart.
He continued down the road as the sun was setting more and more and was about to pass what he thought would be the last house for miles until an elderly lady came rushing up to him.
Eucalyptus trees were lined up along the road and the land was mostly wheat fields and grass for livestock. The two story house that the woman came out of looked larger compared to the other houses but no more richer. The man stopped his robotic horse as the woman caught up to him.
"Sir, if you need a place to stay you're welcomed to stay here!"
Prologue
Evening was approaching the town in the valley. With great mountains off in the distance and a safe place to call home, this still didn't leave everyone at peace. The countryside was lush despite the usual run-down-of-a- shack house. But in the heart of the valley was the town of Astonite. With it's lights on at night it was always bright enough for one to find their way.
Though some doors on the houses were locked and the windows shut, some of the town refused to give in to the night and its inhabitants and opened their doors to tourists and anyone passing by. The town bustled with people here and there and the streetlights as bright as can be. Soon the night would come.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Thank God fer Faterday!"
"It's Saturday you food-obsessed idiot, and it's Thank God for Friday!"
"Shame ting."
The drunkard lifted his mug for cheers and more beer while his companion grumbled with his head in his hands. The bar was actually a lively place despite the small population of the town. Every seat at the counter was taken and the bar tender was hurriedly getting orders and accepting tips. One man sat at the back of the room at a booth looking out the window. No one paid any mind to him.
"Well I just heard that farmer McHoland hired a crew of Werewolf Hunters who killed eight werewolves so far!" said the bartender.
"No kidding!? I'll drink to that!" one man said sitting at one of the tables next to the counter.
"Yeah," another man spoke up, "but with these werewolves dead that means less attacks on the outskirts of the village, and when the Vampires find out."
"Who cares! I'm sick and tired of worrying. When the Vamps find out, we'll just hire a crew of Vampire Hunters!"
All the men agreed to that with cheer and another chug of beer. The man sitting in the back of the room just continued looking out the window. With an inward sigh he slouched down and propped his feet up on the table, pulling his traveler hat just a little lower to shadow his face. The aloof figure soon caught the attention of one of the men sitting at a table.
"And what about you Stranger? Can I get ya a drink?"
D turned his head. "No thank you."
The other mans eyes wandered, taking in D's attire and the long weapon leaned against the wooden frame of the booth.
"So you're a Hunter, eh?"
And with a faint nod, D spoke, "That's right."
Surprisingly that was all that was spoken and honestly, D was waiting for the man to continue with his curiosity. The other men mingled on into the heavy hours of the night until the bar was more than half-empty. Soon, even the men at the counter had to return home, talking of how their wives would beat them with a stick if they came home any later.
"You're a Vampire Hunter, aren't you?" the bartender said, wiping out the inside of a mug with a cloth. His words were the only words that filled the bar now that his costumers had all gone home. Only two other men remained besides D and the bar tender and they were off in a corner talking in whispers.
D nodded.
The bar tender acknowledged that and looked down at his glass. He offered the man any drink, and even though it was on the house, D refused any.
"You're not from around these parts are you?"
The glass was starting to squeak under the cloth. He put the mug back up on the display rack behind him and leaned forward with his elbows on the counter.
"No. what Vampires live here?"
"Ooh." the bartender chuckled good-naturedly. "No one can really say for certain, but we know their there. Their creatures of the night attack our people and sometimes, not often, we find their victims. But we know their there."
D looked outside the window as his eyes fell on the crosses mounted upon everyone's rooftop.
The bar tender continued, "Some think it's the Countess Lily. I've heard tales of men who've ventured south of here into the deepest parts of the forest and sighted a castle. Tell me, why does it interest you?"
D remained silent.
"Ah, I see.
Well, I wish you the best of luck. If you're in any need of hospitality I can offer you a bed for the night and my wife cooks a great breakfast."
________________________________________________________
"Right this way." The bar tender walked down a hallway which was conveniently right above the bar. The wooden hallway creaked beneath their feet and to the left was two doors and to the right, one. They both stopped at the end of the hallway as the bar tender had his back to D and the sound of a key jangling was heard. The man opened the door for D.
"It's a little bit dusty, but not to bad." He said while trying to stifle a cough. D stepped inside and replayed a thank you.
"And if you need anything, my name's Bill." He smiled and nodded, then shut the door.
D looked around his surroundings with a calm look before setting his hat on a dresser and leaning his sword against the wall. He walked over to the other side of the room and looked out the window.
"Well, well, isn't this entertaining. Everyone just seems to open up to you, and they have no idea what you are!"
D didn't say anything.
"Really D, you should feel special. You barely have enough money to pay for a hotel room and you always manage to get around quiet nicely."
"Hush."
The irritating voice chuckled. "What? You are special you know. Not every man gets the honor of arguing with his hand!"
D gave a sigh before finally stretching and lying down on the bed. His cloak was a good enough blanket for him. Giving in to the human half of him, he fell asleep.
_________________________________________________
Sunlight soon crept in from the window and through the curtains to reveal a very interesting site. The door was open and a little girl about five or six was sitting in a chair staring at D.
The man sat up and calmly looked at the little girl, he didn't want to frighten her. Scaring Vampires was okay but only children screamed.
"And who might you be?" D asked in a polite voice.
"I'm Tressa. Are you dead?"
D shook his head no. The little girl just sat in her seat swinging her feet wildly and twisting some of her blonde hair. "My mom sent me up here, she says if you want any breakfast you should go downstairs before it gets cold."
The man stood up and reached for his hat and sword before following Tressa and heading downstairs. He towered over the child and D ignored her warning of 'your head might hit the ceiling'.
As soon as he arrived downstairs and into the bar/living room or whatever it was to the inhabitants, Tressa took her spot at the counter as a lady in an apron came out from a swooshing wooden door. She set a plate in front of her daughter and looked up at the mysterious man. "What'll you have?"
"I'm fine, miss."
She gave him a quizzical look but really didn't want to insist against his will. he definitely looked like someone you didn't want to piss off.
Just then Bill came down the stairs rubbing his hand against his freshly shaven chin. "Ah, I see you've met my Tressa!"
D gave a single nod.
"So, where ya headin'?" He asked, acknowledging D had all of his 'supplies' together.
"South."
Bill laughed. "You can't be serious.. Well, makes perfect sense. If you need a good steed, I can give you-"
D shook his head without an answer. An electronic snort and stomping of a hoof was heard outside.
"Well then." said Bill. "Best of luck to you, since you're leaving so early. It only gets worse as you head South, but be careful along your way on the outskirts."
"I will." D nodded and started heading for the door. "Thank you."
Bill and his wife just exchanged each other looks.
Around mid-day he was stocking up for a few supplies and figured his sword needed a good polish. He stayed around the village and the shops, almost all day before deciding to head out now.
He rode through the cobbled streets of the village before finally reaching the end and headed out into the countryside.
He rode through pastures and fields, passing ranches and farms and basically any small house that dotted the countryside. The outskirts stretched on for miles and by now he had slown his horse down to a steady pace. The sun was setting and evening once more was approaching. D noted that there were no Inns or hotels around for him to stay, so he would have to keep riding all night, to unsafe to rest.
He trotted down a lonely gravel road for a while. The sky was orange along the horizon with a purple atmosphere. A few houses along the way were illuminating a warm glow from their windows till the houses seemed farther and farther apart.
He continued down the road as the sun was setting more and more and was about to pass what he thought would be the last house for miles until an elderly lady came rushing up to him.
Eucalyptus trees were lined up along the road and the land was mostly wheat fields and grass for livestock. The two story house that the woman came out of looked larger compared to the other houses but no more richer. The man stopped his robotic horse as the woman caught up to him.
"Sir, if you need a place to stay you're welcomed to stay here!"