• The tale of the fourth king:
    Rain
    Chapter 3: seven long years of travel

    “It’s been so long since Mr. Rain and I first met, since the day he saved me from the fire.” Maria think’s to herself as she walks alongside Rain. “It’s been seven years since that day and I’ve been traveling with him ever since.” Her thoughts are then suddenly interrupted when Rain stops dead in his tracks, “What’s wrong?” Maria asks. Rain at first was silent as they stood on a dark path, then he spoke up “Some one’s been following us.” He says motioning to her to get behind him, without uttering another word she runs behind Rain. “Who’s there!” he bellows into the darkness, for a few minutes it is silent then the sound of a chuckle somewhere out in the distance shatters the quite of the night. “Hehehehe…I wondered how long it would take you to notice me vampire.” Says a voice.
    “Show yourself.” Rain orders in his all to familiar calm tone “Don’t be a coward.” The voice chuckles again “If that is what you wish.” It says. Then as if out of nowhere a tall slender man with dark matted hair and tattered clothing emerges from the darkness. “Is that a monster?” Maria asks her voice trembling. “No” says Rain “He’s a vampire like me, only he has no control over his bloodlust.” Maria’s eyes went wide “He’s a rough.” She mumbles under her breath. “State your business.” Rain demanded. The slender man looked down at the little girl that was hiding behind Rain. “That human you’re traveling with, she smells mighty tasty.” He snickered “Mind sharing a little?” Rain shielded Maria with his arm “I won’t let you touch her.” He growled “She’s a human not a snack.”
    The slender man’s eyes turned red with rage “If you won’t give her to me, I’ll just have to take her from you!.” He growled. He then lunged toward Rain and Maria, “Never bare your fangs at me.” Rain said pulling back his left hand. Rain’s eyes turned blood red and his nails grew longer, they were like blades protruding from his fingers. “To hell with you!” Rain shouted as he made an upwards strike towards the man’s lower jaw. Rain’s movements where so fast the slender man had no time to react before he was struck, sending him flying high into the night sky. Rain then jumped up and slammed his foot down on the man’s chest with as much force as possible before pummeling him into the ground, the man hit the ground so hard he ended up in a crater.
    Maria watched Rain with wide eyes, “He’s so strong and his speed is incredible.” She thought to herself “This is the first time I’ve ever seen him fight; it was both scary and amazing.” After he was sure the man wasn’t getting back up, Rain turned and headed back toward Maria “are you alright?” he asked her. Maria nodded “I’m fine.” She said. After that they continued their journey and Rain went on as if the fight never happened. “I’m ten years old now, and in all the time I’ve known Rain, he never once told me where we were going or even why he was traveling in the first place.” Maria constantly thought this as they traveled. Before long the sun was beginning to rise, what seemed like an endless night was finally over. Maria breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the sun rise, happy to know that she would not have to deal with roughs when the sun was up.
    Rain however despised sunlight; it hurt his pale skin and bothered his sensitive eyes. Once the sun was high enough he pulled up the hood on his cloak, shielding his pale face from the sun. Maria looked up at Rain and sighed “You look creepy like that.” She said “It’s hard to see your face when you have your hood up.” Rain stayed quite as they walked. For a while Maria and Rain where silent as they walked down the dirt path, then after hours of silence Maria spoke up “Mr. Rain?” she asked tugging on his cloak “Can we please stop and rest? I’m tired.” Rain looked down at the little girl as she spoke “When we find some place safe we’ll stop and rest.” He told her. Sometimes Rain would forget that Maria was human and often forgets that she needs to rest. After another hour of walking they came across a small Inn, it was the only house on the path.

    “We’ll stay here.” Rain said walking toward the little house like Inn, He walked up to the door and opened it slowly. “Why hello!” said a voice from the other side of the door, inside there was a small room with a check in counter. There was also a table and chairs in front of a small fire place, Rain walked in and approached the old man who was sitting in a chair near the fire place. “It’s been awhile since we’ve had travelers.” Said the old man as Rain walked up. “May we stay here for a while?” Rain asked “My friend here needs to rest, we’ve been traveling for quite some time.” The old man smiled “Why of course you can, stay as long as you like.” The old man then stood and made his way toward the check in counter “Let me get your room key and my granddaughter will show you to your room.” He told Rain and Maria. The old man reached under the counter and produced a small metal key, which he then handed to Rain.

    “Here you are.” He said handing Rain the key, the old man then made his way to an old looking stair case and stopped at the bottom. “Clara please come and show our guests to their room.” He called up the stairs. “I’ll be right down” a voice called back. A few minutes later a Younger girl came down the stairs, she had short brown hair that was just below her chin. She wore a black tube top and jean short shorts. She also wore brown fingerless gloves and had a cross bow strapped to her back. “It’s been so long since we’ve had guests.” She said as she came to the bottom of the stairs. When Clara came face to face with Rain she stopped dead in her tracks. “Vampire!” she shouted pulling the cross bow from her back “Grandpa! Why is there a vampire here!” she exclaimed.

    “Please.” Said Rain “I’m not anything like the roughs.” The old man then walked up and pushed Clara’s cross bow aside. “He’s right.” The old man said to his granddaughter “He even has a human girl with him.” Clara slowly lowered her cross bow. “How can I be sure you won’t try and kill me once my guards down.” She asked Rain. “Trust me.” He said “I have no reason to kill you.” Clara sighed and strapped her cross bow on her back once again. “Follow me.” She said still weary of Rain “I’ll show you to your room.” She led them up the stairs and down a hallway which had four rooms, “The last one is yours.” She said motioning toward the door at the end of the hall. “Thank you.” Rain said as he walked to the door, He opened the door and allowed Maria to enter first. He looked back at Clara who was still eyeing him from down the hall. Then without a word he closed the door and disappeared into the room. Later that night when Maria had fallen asleep Rain when out to the porch for some air. He stood leaning against the railing and looking up at the moon. He was thinking of his past, of the rebellion that he had started over one-thousand years ago. “Where did they bury you?” he asked himself. Just then his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Clara’s thick black boots on the wood planks. She walked up next to Rain and looked up at the moon. “It’s really bright to night.” She said trying to start a conversation. “I suppose so.” Said Rain awkwardly. They sat in silence for a moment, then Clara spoke “Look” she said “I’m sorry for earlier.” Rain looked down at her and smiled “It’s alright.” He said to her “I don’t blame you.”
    Clara sighed “I guess with the roughs being around I got a little paranoid.” She said looking off into the distance. “I understand that.” Rain said “If I was human I’d be paranoid too, all they ever think about is feeding on humans for pleasure.” Clara nodded agreeing with Rain “That’s why my parents became vampire hunters.” She told Rain “To protect us from the roughs, but they went out one day and never came back.” Rain looked down at Clara “I’m sorry.” He said with sympathy. “I don’t need your sympathy.” She said “I’m doing just fine without them.” Rain let out a slight chuckle “If you say so.” He said. He then turned to her “What vampire hunting clans do you and your parents hale from?” he asked her.

    ”The Cross blades.” Clara answered “Why do you ask?” She wondered. Rain looked over his shoulder before answering Clara’s question. “The little girl I have traveling with me hales from the Silver blades clan.” He told her “I was hoping since you were a vampire hunter you could tell me more about them.” “I see.” Said Clara. Rain continued on “Her parents were killed in a fire seven years ago, the people that lived in the town where Maria once lived said that they believed a rough was behind the fire.” Clara nodded listing to Rain’s words. “The only thing I can tell you, is the day my parents disappeared they were working alongside the Silver blades to take down a really strong rough named Karocses.” Clara told Rain. “I see.” Said Rain. Clara then looked up at Rain “Now I have a question for you.” She said. “And that would be?” Rain asked.

    “Why are you traveling?” she asked “Where is it your trying to go?” Rain sighed and looked out into the distance “I’m searching for something that was taken from me many years ago.” He said “I still have yet to find it.” “Oh.” Said Clara “ I really hope you find it then.” Rain smiled “so do I.” he said.