The Knights Of Blood. Vampire Eloim Book 4, part 6.
As night fell, Eloim awoke and climbed out of the root cellar to find the old woman again sat in front of the fire. As he walked over to her, she grabbed a small sack and stood up.
“Come on then vampire, everything is ready,” the old woman said.
“Not everything, I’ve not eaten in two days. I need to hunt.” Eloim said, feeling his hunger more than he should after a bad day’s sleep. The old woman looked at him and shrugged.
“There’s a tinker camped down by the Glem, he’ll be missed less than the farmer’s sheep he took for his dinner,” the old woman said as she turned her back. “Meet me on the hill when you’re done.”
“What’s the Glem?” Eloim asked, confused.
“The big river, just follow the brook back down to the stream and then follow the stream, he’s camped where it meets the River Glem.” With that, the old woman disappeared off into the trees heading up towards the village.
Eloim moved fast as he followed the stream, his senses focused to his hunt. He picked up the smell of smoke and cooking meat up ahead. Slowing down, he pinpointed a copse of trees next to where the stream flowed into the river and the slight glow of a small fire. Reaching the first of the trees, Eloim stopped as he checked to ensure no one was hidden in the shadows. Finally happy that the tinker sitting by his campfire was alone, Eloim started forward in silence.
“I LOVE WATCHING YOU HUNT,” Alexia whispered inside his mind.
Eloim stifled a gasp that escaped his mouth as he jumped. The tinker looked up from the fire and started to stand, drawing a knife from his belt.
“Damn it Alexia.” Eloim hissed as he sprang forward at the alerted tinker. The man was in his prime and heavily muscled and he lashed out with his knife as Eloim got within range. Easily avoiding the blade, Eloim cannoned into the tinker and both went down. Eloim sprang back up into a crouch, ready to leap forward again as the man came up onto his knees, his knife knocked from his hand. In the glow from the fire that was between them, Eloim smiled, revealing his fangs to his opponent. Watching as the man’s eyes widened, his fear plain to see, Eloim leaped forward, knocking the man to the ground. Despite the difference in size, Eloim pinned the man down and with a snarl, bit into his neck, feeling the warm blood flow into his mouth. The tinker’s struggles lessened as Eloim drank. As his victim’s heartbeat faltered and became erratic, Eloim sat back. With blood smeared around his mouth, Eloim looked around again to check he had not been observed. Finally, he looked down at the corpse of the tinker at his feet and smiled, his hunger satisfied.
“That was not funny Alexia; you scared the life out of me.” Eloim said and he heard Alexia’s voice chuckling within his head.
“BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT, THINK OF THE EXTRA FLAVOUR YOU GOT FROM THAT ADRENALINE BOOST AND HIS FEAR.” Alexia replied smugly.
“True, he was a really fine meal.” Eloim retrieved the tinker’s knife and quickly slit open his throat, destroying all evidence of his bite marks. Then with ease, he dragged the body down to the river and rolled it into the water. He doubted the current would be strong enough to take it away, but it should delay it being found. Picking up the man’s rucksack, he placed a couple of rocks into it and then threw it into the water after its owner. Without a backwards glance, he turned to head back upstream to the village.
As Eloim approached the hill to the east of the village, he was met by the old woman. Without a word, she turned and set off around the left side of the hill, going further from the village. Stopping between two ancient oak trees, she walked towards them mumbling under her breath with Eloim a step behind. Eloim experienced a moment of disorientation and found himself standing in a large round cavern. Bowls of burning oil gave a dim light, showing an ancient altar at the centre.
“I have made the preparations for your journey and found you a weapon, just in case it does come to a fight.” The old woman said and picked up a bundle from the altar.
Eloim took the bundle and unwound the costly silk to reveal a strange sword. The blade was about three feet in length with a long double-handed grip. Pulling the sword from its baldric, Eloim held it in one hand as he admired the balance and craft that had gone into its making.
“This sword was forged long ago in the time of the great priestesses of the Celts, before the coming of the Christians.” The old woman said as she stepped backwards and picked up the bag she had brought with her.
“You mean like that Excalibur sword? It’s not Excalibur is it?” Eloim asked excitedly.
The old woman looked at Eloim in disgust. “You think if I had the sword of the kings I would hand it over to a vampire? You really are a foolish creature.”
Eloim looked at the floor and couldn’t blank out the sound of Alexia’s chuckling in his head. Taking a loaf of bread out of her bag, the witch again spoke.
“I will lead you through the witches’ pathway to Baugh Park Manor, but I cannot stay for your return with my granddaughter. So you can find your way back, I will leave a trail of breadcrumbs for you to retrace your way back here.”
“What?” Eloim asked taken aback, “Breadcrumbs to guide us back, why can’t you wait for us?”
“The energy it takes to open the pathways and travel through them is very great. I am not as young as I used to be and I do not have the power to stay on the pathway for hours. The breadcrumbs dropped to the floor will mark the path and they will stay there while ever I keep this end of the pathway open. It is how we witches first learn to navigate the pathway. When you enter the pathway, it is like entering a great dark room, the breadcrumbs will mark the way for you to find your way back.” The old woman explained patiently.
“OK, well we’d better get started, the night won’t last forever.” Eloim said, fastening the sword’s belt around his waist.
“My granddaughter is being held in the top room on the right hand side of the big house, the Knights are in the other side of the house. There is also the family and their servants, as well as a few guards who sleep in the loft above the stables.” The old woman said as she walked over to a carved archway in the cavern wall. “You will come out of the pathway under a small stone bridge at the end of a little lake; the path that goes over the bridge will lead you to the front of the house. If you are careful, you should be able to reach my granddaughter without being seen as they do not expect anyone to be coming for her.”
Around the archway, Eloim saw a number of little recesses, each containing a small candle. The old woman carefully lit each one while again mumbling to herself. When all the candles were lit, she turned back to Eloim and indicated he should come over and stand with her. “Once we pass onto the pathway, we will not be able to talk. Just follow me and when we reach your destination, I will point to show you where to go. Bring back my granddaughter and I think I may have found the spell you require. I have most of the ingredients needed and will have the rest by the time you return. You must be quick as this pathway will only stay open until daybreak.”
With that, she pulled a chunk out of the loaf of bread she held and placed it in front of the archway.
“Seriously, I can’t believe you really use a trail of breadcrumbs.” Eloim said, almost laughing.
The old woman threw him a look of disapproval. “In witchcraft you use what works best rather than what looks best. The use of breadcrumbs is also a tradition. We have used the method to mark the pathway for centuries as a sign of respect for one of our order who was murdered by two youths who then stole her house.”
“Let me guess, were the youths Hansel and Gretel by any chance?” Eloim asked flippantly.
“You have heard of them?” The old woman said surprised. “I didn’t realise the story of Meliga’s murder would be remembered by those not of our craft.”
Without another word and before Eloim could say anything else, the witch step forward and disappeared through the cavern wall. After a moment and with Alexia chucking inside his head, Eloim followed.
So that's part 6 for you, thanks for reading.
All images are mine.
Part 1 is here:
https://steemit.com/writing/@alienbutt/the-knights-of-blood-vampire-eloim-book-4-part-1
Part 2:
https://steemit.com/writing/@alienbutt/the-knights-of-blood-vampire-eloim-book-4-part-2
Part 3.
https://steemit.com/writing/@alienbutt/the-knights-of-blood-vampire-eloim-book-4-part-3
Part 4.
https://steemit.com/writing/@alienbutt/the-knights-of-blood-vampire-eloim-book-4-part-4
Part 5.
https://steemit.com/writing/@alienbutt/the-knights-of-blood-vampire-eloim-book-4-part-5