1 HUNTING

The sunlight hit the damp grass through the pine trees heating up the dark forest a little. The sleeping figure was almost gaining consciousness at the current time. She was thirsty but the sun have made it impossible for her to find a prey. Shea tried to force open her tired eyes fighting the rays hitting her directly. Pulling out her hands from shirt pocket, she pressed it on the green grass as if a support to lift her up on legs. Slowly she curled herself a little and stood up with a little jump. Carefully rubbing off the mud from her pale hands she walked forward.

It has almost become impossible for her to control her thirst since the past five years. She fled from her royal clan ten years ago and from then the things have been hard for her. Hiding herself from the higher vampires, Shea ran from places to places to find a safe spot. She couldnt simply roam around like a normal human because of her high urge to feed on human blood. The least she could do was to feed on animal blood but it really didnt help her thirst and hunger.

The loss of human blood have started to affect her body system and every moment she had to poke into her messed brain that she is becoming a blood sucking beast. The type of vampire she never wanted to be. Shea slowly started increasing her pace until she bolted in the speed of lightening through the woods. Moving in a zig-zag pattern avoiding the roots and bushes, she finally stopped at the top of the small hill she have been hiding the night.

Looking down at the black water which was almost hundred meters down the cliff, she tried to catch her breath. Keeping right hand over the chest, she massaged it in circular motion while her left hand swiftly moved the brown bangs away from her sharp grey eyes. She hesitated for a moment, she always hated heights even though she was a vampire. Hiding that fact was the most difficult task that she passed while living in her royal clan. A royal vampire who is afraid of heights is going to a joke and will certainly affect their prestigious family name. 'THE KANGS', one of the highest clan who decides the rules and laws of the vampire world.

She looked back one more time, to make sure no one have been watching her. Vampires are to be hidden from the human world but she lived among humans in disguise for quiet a long time but not anymore. The nerves around her neck started to tense around and she held her fist tight turning the knuckles white.

The wave of thoughts that flashed in front of her face had some unclear figures zooming in and out. Shea was strong, yet things were forcing her to breakdown and cry. Vampires do not die easily unless they really want to or until the Kangs orders for their death. Being a Kang herself, she would never get the second option so choosing her own death was the only thing left to be done.

Shutting her eyes tight, she took a few small steps forward until she felt her toes leave the ground. Standing on heels, Shea let out a small sigh.

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SHEA'S POV...

"Mom, I am really sorry for being so weak. I should have stayed back at home and taken over our royal clan obeying father" I could feel tear forming in my eyes.

Crying is something that I have been doing since the past five years and I hate myself for that. I feel only death could ease the pain that I have been going through at this moment. Everything will fade away when I disappear..the memories hunting me will finally fly off like dust into the thin air. The last option left ahead of me to be free from the pain is death. I have been trying to convience myself to die since some months and yesterday night literally added oil to my fire.

Fighting the wolves is the hardest when a vampire is alone. The wolves that come in packs scares me because no one is there to take my side or defend me. I ran for hours to escape from them and climbing up the pine tree was my only way to escape from the the pack of wolves without being torn into pieces. I hate the fact that I have to run for my life when I solely belong to a royal clan.

Slowly getting back into consciousness I jumped off the cliff in a jiffy. It was never easy for me to gain this courage but thats what was left in front of me. I was sure that my after life would be much better than the life that I have been living right now. The cold breeze started to hit me while i fell lifelessly into the water. My body hit the surface of water with a loud thud and it hurted me a little but that's not what is important as of now when I am literally about to die. Drowning slowly into the dark water, I tried to hold my breath.

I was afraid to open my eyes because it would provoke me to escape. So closing my eyes tight I led myself into unconciousness. The cold water cuddled me and soon I lost my senses.

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Shea woke up hearing loud noises. She rose up in an instant looking around her in utter disbelief. She couldnt believe that this is the place a person would go after dying or is it completely for vampires who die? She saw many people walking here and there with sacks and baskets shouting to each other. She felt cold as her body and hair was still from the lake water she jumped into earlier.

Wiping off the water from her face, she slowly tried to concentrate on the surroundings when a stinging smell flushed into her nostrils.

"What the..." she clunged her nose at the sight in front of her.