Blood Debt

"As you said it was your dead father that you saw. What did you and your mother do?" Rose asked looking at Anika curiously.

Anika's face went blank. She was forcing herself not to cry.

"She told me to go home and get grandfather and the villagers. She went into the woods alone to follow father." Anika answered.

"And she didn't come back?" Cloud asked.

Anika clenched her fist hard. Tears are starting to fall from her eyes.

"We tried searching for her in the woods. But she or my son wasn't found." Caesar said.

It was silent for a while.

"Did something unusual happen 3 months before all of these happened?" Rose asked.

"Come to think of it..." Caesar was in deep thought.

"What is it?" Charles asked.

"Before all of this happened there was a beautiful woman that passed by our village." Caesar answered.

"A beautiful woman?" Cloud asked confused.

"Yes." Caesar said. "She said she was traveling in Greece searching for ruins and artifacts. She said she was an archeologist."

"An archeologist?" Rose was in deep thought. "Can you describe the woman to me?"

"She was a beautiful woman with long platinum blonde hair. If I remember correctly she was traveling with a tall well built black man in his late 20's and a young man maybe like the age of this young man here." Caesar answered and gestured at Cloud. "The woman was maybe in her mid 30's."

"She moves rather elegantly." Anika added. "When I saw her the first time I was amazed by her beauty. All the male villagers were drawn to her."

"Come to think of it, she was like you Ms. Rose. Your aura, demeanor and beauty are alike." Caesar said. "But she had pale skin while yours is rosy pink."

Rose was in deep thought.

"These visitors. Did they come in the night? Did they get out while the sun was up?" Charles asked.

"They arrived at night." Anika answered.

"They said that they didn't have a good sleep so they slept in the day. They just stayed one night and was on their way the next night." Caesar said. "Oh but the young man was able to wake up in the day. He also went out to take a walk."

"Thank you. That is very helpful to us." Rose said and smiled.

"Thank you for your cooperation Mr. Caesar." Charles shake his hand.

"Glad to help." Caesar replied. "You can take a rest at the rooms Anika prepared here. Ms. Rose you can sleep with Anika and the men can have one room for themselves."

"Thank you for your hospitality." Rose said.

"Right this way please. I'm sure your tired." Anika led the way.

Rose went with Anika in her room and Charles with Cloud went to their room.

"Ms. Rose what do you think of this phenomena happening in our village and nearby villages?" Anika asked when they were alone in the room.

"You can call me Rose." Rose smiled. "I'm not yet quite sure if this really is a supernatural thing. I'm sure there is a good explanation to this." Rose said. She can tell the child that her parents might be zombies now.

"We are an old race Rose. Supernatural things are not new to us." Anika said. She looked at Rose directly. "I just want to know if there is a chance that my parents, even only mother, can come back." Anika made a sad face.

Rose sighed. "If you really want to know my opinion. Then there is a little hope that your parents are alive."

Anika looked surprised for a second but got her composure back in no time.

"You're not really reporters. Are you?" Anika asked.

Rose looked at the little girl. 'She has great intuition.' She thought.

"What makes you say that?" Rose asked.

"My mother... my mother is a witch." Anika said hesitantly. "She has thought me much of witchcraft and stuff of the paranormal and supernatural."

Rose was stunned. She looked at the 14-year old girl more closely.

Anika has a long auburn red wavy hair and light green eyes. She had some freckles in her face. Looking at her she was still young but when she gets older Rose was sure she would be a beauty to be behold.

"The beautiful woman and her companions that passed here 3 months ago weren't humans." Anika said. "My mother also realized this but didn't tell anyone of fear."

"Did your mother tell you what they are?" Rose asked.

"They were vampires." Anika answered with a firm voice.