“Where are we going, father? Didn’t you just get back?” Selena asked.

“Yes, but with your new information I figured we should run by that old ruin near here. Wouldn’t want that creature coming back within close proximity of Roguebourne.”

“Way ahead of you. I went there myself on the way back from Windmore. The vampire that captured me as a child is now dust.” Selena smirked, resisting the urge to tell him about the presence she had felt in the ruin prior to destroying the vampire as she was not sure if it was even worth mentioning.

Gabriel nodded in approval as he patted his daughter’s head, one of the few people allowed to do such a thing in Selena’s mind. “I always knew you were a smart girl. Then I guess I’ll try to compile a list of every place I hunted a vampire in and whenever I visit those areas, or when I go out to hunt in general, I’ll try to bring you along. You’ve proven yourself to be a more than capable hunter, and who knows? In time I might even convince the king to make you an official hunter.”

“I’m down with that! It would be quite an honor.” Selena replied almost instantly.

“Good. Now let’s--” It was then that Gabriel spotted Selena’s bite marks. “Selena, what happened when you were on the hunt?” Selena then told him about her first encounter with Alastair the night she arrived in Windmore and he sighed. “You really need to be more careful.”

“I know.” Selena lamented. “It was a careless move.”

“Though how could the bite still be there? If one is bitten by a vampire and survives, the bite and any resulting effects usually dissipates as soon as the vampire dies, or at least rendered inactive for awhile providing the victim isn’t a vampire already.”

“I think Alastair said that it’s different if one is bitten by a--what did he call it? Great Vampire.” Selena replied. “He claimed that the bite would take its course regardless.”

“Leave it to him to be that powerful.” Gabriel groaned. “I don’t know of any other way to heal a vampire bite outside of killing the infected, which I will never do, or the vampire, and Alastair’s as dead as can be.”

“So I just have to wait about to become one of those monsters?!” Selena shouted as the idea became ever more fearful.

“I hope not, but--hmmm.” Gabriel sat down and thought the matter over for a few minutes in complete silence. “I might know a priest in one of the southern territories who can help.”

“Might? That doesn’t sound reassuring.”

“No, but it may well be the only chance we’ve got.” He replied. “Though I imagine this won’t stop you from joining me on future hunts.”

“Are you kidding? I’m more invigorated than ever! If I’m going to become a vampire, I’m going to take as many demons down with me!”

Gabriel chuckled as he heard this. “I thought you might say that. Nothing is really available at the moment, but I can guarantee you that something will come up before the month is up.”

Selena beamed. “I’m looking forward to that. I’ll take my leave, then.”

“ Very well. Then I’ll probably see you over dinner.” Gabriel said.

Selena then left and, after a quick breakfast, remained in her chambers for the remainder of the day and started skimming through Erika’s book, falling asleep shortly before midnight with it lying open on her stomach.

She awoke early the next morning to the sound of someone knocking on her door. “Coming!” She yawned as she got out of bed and answered the door, seeing one of the family maids standing there who she knew was named Henriette. “Yes?”

“Sorry for disturbing you this early young mistress, but this was found addressed to you when we awoke.” Henriette explained as she handed an envelope to her.

Selena was puzzled as she looked the envelope over, not seeing any markings on it except for her name. “Any idea where this came from?”

The maid shook her head. “We think it was left behind in the middle of the night, but that’s the extent of our knowledge.”

“I see. Thank you very much for bringing this. I’ll take a look at it as soon as I can.”

“You’re welcome, mistress. I’ll take my leave of you now.” Henriette said, bowing before leaving to resume her duties.

Selena immediately opened the envelope and found a folded up piece of paper that she unfolded and placed on her desk as she sat down and started reading.

Good morrow, Selena. Or at least it should be by the time you read this.

Thank you for saving me the trouble of killing that despicable Alastair. You really did me and the world a favor. While there is only a single shred of a chance of his return to the mortal plane with the use of some extreme dark magic, I took the liberty of borrowing a broom from Windmore and using to sweep the dust outside, ensuring that it was scattered to all corners of the world and making that single shred practically nonexistent. With your skills and resourcefulness, you are certain to be a great demon hunter someday. I’m glad to see that my brother and his family have prospered in my absence and, judging from your seal, has produced a new raven. See all the stuff you miss when you leave the land for a decade or two?

I apologize for not stopping to talk to you in the woods. I was in a hurry to get to the watchtower before sunset since I didn’t know that Alastair was already dead, nor that you had just come from the watchtower. Not to mention I think I’ve heard of you during my travels in the east and I didn’t want to run the risk of you hunting me down. Not that you could anyway. You’ll find that a Ravenson vampire is difficult to catch. Though to be fair, I am the only one, at least for now if that bite is anything to go by, but that is a subject we can discuss at another time. I must stop now. I’m getting ready to depart to the lands in the northwest just before dawn and will be well on my way there by the time you read this. I am not expecting to be back for several months, though I do plan to write during that time. I hope we can meet in person after that if not sooner if you happen to end up where I’m headed.

In the meantime, if you wish to contact me for any reason, whether for advise or just to chat, feel free to do. I would love to have a correspondence with Gabriel’s youngest and for future reference just never call me “aunt,” please. It would just feel weird especially since you look a little older than me! I have a merchant friend who passes through Roguebourne at least once a week. Give him any letters you have for me and he’ll ensure that they’ll reach me safe and sound. He tells me that he usually sets up shop in an alley close the Ravenson house between mid-afternoon and late evening when he’s in town, so you probably won’t have any trouble finding him. Besides, there’s a chance he’ll seek you out on my behalf sooner or later and before you ask, no. He’s not a vampire. I would say he’s just a regular human, but that isn’t entirely true either. It’s complicated.

Anyway my niece, I’ll try to write back soon with some tips, both for monster hunting and being a vampire if and when you cross that bridge. It’s not as bad as you think, and actually makes the hunting game a bit easier.

With love from,

Erika Ravenson

P.S. Please don’t tell your father about this message just yet if you can help it, Your siblings too, or that I’m still alive for that matter. Well, can you call this alive? You know what I mean, though I plan on revealing myself to Gabriel soon enough. Until our next meeting.

“I’ll certainly keep this in mind.” Selena chuckled as she rolled the paper up and put it away in a desk drawer before heading down to the training grounds to get some weapons practice in. After all, one could never be too prepared especially where demons are concerned.

So ends the account of Selena’s first hunt.