Letting my senses guide me, I came upon a small grouping of cabins that surrounded a lake, just like the sign promised. It was so far removed from where I’d turned off the main road that I couldn’t believe there could be a human out here. But there was.
I was slammed from behind and tumbled toward the ground but managed to land on my feet before spinning to face whatever had attacked me.
Before me crouched a vampire who appeared to have been feeding to the point of being blood crazed. He had no control over his instincts at this point and was consumed with the need to feed, and by the way he bared his teeth at me, he didn’t know any better than to try to feed on me. His face was partially hidden from view by the hood of his jacket, and what looked like a stocking hat pulled down low.
“Stand down, vampire, or I will end you.” I readied for his attack that I knew would come. He was far past caring about consequences and believe me, there would be consequences.
He snarled and attacked; grabbing my hair and running up the trunk of a tree, he ripped my head back. Twisting around, I tore myself from his grip and stood on his back as I pressed him into the snow.
“Get off me or you will die.” He fought, even though he knew he would not win. The madness that overtook him left him unreasonable to a point he would not be saved, and I grunted as he heaved me off him and against a tree.
He was up in a flash charging at me again. “Must feed,” he screamed, his hands curled into claws as he charged. I spun as he reached me and pulled the knife from my waistband. Though it only left him off balance for a split-second, it was enough to give me the advantage. When he attacked again, I spun the knife and plunged it into his heart. It wasn’t enough to destroy him, but it would injure him.
He screamed in pain before running off into the woods. Fuck, why did it always have to be so hard?