I followed the trail for almost a week. It led to a large wooden building across the plains in the west. It looked almost cottage-like, although it had four huge towers around it, and a high wooden wall. I ducked behind a boulder in the ground and watched as several guards, wearing uniforms like the ones I had fought in the cave passed by. I quickly darted across the small field to the wall and placed my back against it. I grabbed onto the wall with both my hands and lifted myself onto it, quickly climbing up. When I reached the top, I stayed still, just in case of any more passing patrols. When the coast was clear, I dropped silently to the ground. I ran quickly across the compound towards the cottage-like building, avoiding being seen by the guards in the four towers. When I arrived at the building, I noticed a thin door along its side. I placed my back on the wall and started inching my way towards the door. When I arrived I gave it a light shove, and it swung open. I pulled my sword from its sheath and entered the dark building. I navigated my way down a dark, thin corridor, that led into a large, open room. The room didn't appear to be in use. There was dusty wooden furniture everywhere, and a large circular table with a map of the area on it. I surveyed the room, and heard a muffled cry from beyond the room. I started moving across the room towards the noise, and I heard an angry shout and then a slap. I put my back to the wall again and moved toward the noise, to find another door in the wall, with firelight coming from beneath it. I felt around for a doorknob and found it. I stood before the door and opened it, to find a narrow room, with a young woman no older than eighteen, being held to the ground by an old, guard wearing a uniform like the younger guards outside. She writhed around under his grip and tried to scream again, but he told her to shut up and slapped her. I placed the tip of my sword's blade at the base of his neck, and he froze. "Let her go infidel." I said. The hood of my cloak covered the top half of my face, leaving only my chin and mouth exposed. He spun his head slowly towards me, and as I spoke, I showed my fangs. "Who are you?" He asked, obviously scared of this figure who had appeared from the dark and now threatened him. "You're worst nightmare." I said, putting an angry rasp into my voice. The young woman looked scared, but not so much as before I arrived. He stood cautiously, moving his hand towards the hilt of his sword. "Ah. Don't try it. Now step out of the room and leave the girl alone." I said. He backed out of the room, trying to move so that the tip of my blade wouldn't pierce his skin. "What do you want?" He asked. "Information." I said, still with the angry rasp in my voice. He started shivering, more in fear than the cold. "What do you want to know?" He asked, turning towards me. I kept the tip of my blade at his neck so he wouldn't try anything. "There was a vampire brought here. What happened to her?" I asked. "Vampire? The blonde?" He said, a smile creeping across his face. "Yes," I said, "now what happened to her?" "She came through here, but she was moved to a more secure facility for testing." He said. I grew furious at the thought of Kathleen being a lab rat for some kind of experiment. "What kind of testing?" I said, almost yelling in anger. "To find out what kills a vampire best." He said. I gritted my teeth in a snarl, and his cocky smile faded quickly. I turned my head to the young woman, who was lying in the fetal position in the room, crying. I could feel waves of fear and distress rolling off her, but not as bad as when I had first entered the room. "You go home. Quickly before any guards see you." I said to her, but she didn't move. I turned back to the guard. "Where is the facility?" I asked, pressing the tip of my blade harder against his neck. Blood trickled down from where I pressed. "To the south of here. They left yesterday. They had her on a horse-draw carriage." He said. I smiled, baring my teeth. "Are you going to kill me?" He asked. I just kept grinning, before I lunged forward and sank my fangs into his neck. I sucked every drop of blood from his body, and he sagged to the ground afterwards. The young woman ran at me and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. I stood silently and she pulled herself away. "Thank you so much!" she said, as her tears finally stopped. I wiped the blood away from my mouth with the back of my hand and smiled at her. "You're welcome." I said. She angrily kicked the dead old man, and smiled at me. I turned towards the exit, and I felt her hand on my shoulder. She turned me around and planted a kiss on my lips. When she had finished, she smiled at me. "I'm engaged." I said before turning towards the exit. I put my sword into its sheath and walked quickly to the door, through the narrow corridor, and pulled it open. I poked my head out the doorway and looked around. I felt a presence behind me, and knew the woman was following me out. I darted across the compound, and started searching for a door or gate in the wall, as I knew the woman wouldn't be able to jump over the wall like I could. I found one, and shoved it open wide. I exited first, with the woman right behind me. Once outside I looked south, and knew Kathleen was somewhere in that direction. "Will I see you again?" she asked. I turned towards her. "Probably not." I said. I hated sounding rude, but it was the honest truth. She looked almost saddened. She turned away and started heading home. I turned south and started running in the direction, hoping to cover some ground before dawn.