Survive

Damiana's POV 22nd of September, 1542 year. 16th century. Who didn't like volvic smell of forest and soft noise from the river nearby. Mockingbirds songs and soft cracking of twigs under the feet that were in a leather. We, hunters, live in the forest day and night. It's our home in fact. Perhaps, that's why we are perfectly fine fighting the devils if they are in the town or nearby it. As I said, I am a huntress. Not for animals, obviously. I am a huntress for the evil. My name is Damiana Johanna Crosse, a huntress and a commander of the main army of Recherd Crosse, my father. He is a King's general and the first human who killed an evil. A vampire. My father is a ruthless slayer of the demonic race. He is our hero. I intend to go after his steps. Or maybe, someday, I will be greater than him and my name will be known everywhere. "Commander, we found his footprints. He went on the west. The marks are fresh, we can track him down." uttered John. My father's friend who keeps an eye on me, even though I no longer need his protection. I slightly rubbed the marks on the wet dirt and bit my lip as I do when I think. "It's been four days. General Crosse awaits me home." I muttered under my breathe before continuing, "You will track him down. Take Ernst and Willow with you. It's already sunset, vampires are hella good at night and werewolves kill worse. Do not stop till Western Camp of General Casmund. Take the wet trope...it will be quiter." I commanded in authorative tone that I inherited from my father. John bowed lowly and replied, "We better go the shorter trope even if it's noisier, Commander." I furrowed my eyebrows and this time harshly answered, "You want to go shorter but with chances of getting killed, huh? I am not risking my men, John. You take the wet road... it's a command." I exclaimed last words so that every other knight could hear it. "Yes, Commander." he nodded and went to his horse, calling Ernst and Willow with his head. "Rob, Lennox, we are going home." I happily announced to the knights in a shining silver. Every hunter is in the silver thus werewolves despise silver. Light-haired men grinned widely at eachother before fastly riding after me with their horses to the South, were we live. *** It was already dark but gladly we came near the wooden gates right before hearing howls of the werewolves. "Open!" I yelled to the archerer. "Commander? Welcome!" he finally opened the gates when I pulled my head back to look up. Welcome to the Southern England Camp of hunters. Home. Soft fire was showing the way. Familiar faces showed and I couldn't help but smile. Mesmerizing brown eyes and long light brown hair that run down her back. Petite body in the white cotton dress. My sister. "Magdalena!" I took off from the dark horse and run to hug my eldest sister. "Damiana! Sister! Oh, Lord, how I missed you!" she hugged me tightly even though she was petite comparing to me. Well, training did not go for nothing. "Wait..." she called out, looking behind me. "Where are Sir John and two other knights? Do not tell me they..." she widened her eyes in horror. "No, no! They went tracking the vampire. To the west. By now they should be not so far from the Western Camp." I assured her on what she exhaled. "Thank goodness. You are probably tired, let's go to the tent." she took me by the elbow and lead the way. "Where is our father?" I asked. My sister exhaled, frustrated, "He is on the meeting." We entered the huge tent that we shared and that's when I asked in confusion, "With whom? As far as I remember we should not have any guests." At least, I hoped that father would tell me. "King Henry and his son. It was unplanned visit." she replied annoyingly. I came to the bed and began taking off the leather that tightly hugged my body. "Come on. I will help you." offered Magdalena and came behind me, untying the leather. "I heard from one of the servants that King's son...Prince Eduard...he is..." stuttered my sister what always made me angry. "Spit it out, Magdalena!" "Fine, fine! The prince is in search of a wife." the words fell so easily from her mouth but how they made me terrified. I am a fearless huntress, a commander of the strongest army defense and this words hit me deeper than any silver dagger. "A wife..." I repeated, taking a deep breath. That can't happen. Father won't allow it. Will he? I drifted into my thoughts and tried to take a deep breath but...poorly. Of course, it didn't go unnoticed from my sister. "Don't worry, Damiana. I will never give you to any Prince nor Lord. We will marry hunters and live here in this camp together." she massaged my back that was sore from the tight leather and hard ground where we slept all four days. "Mhmph..." I always envied her feminine hands but then again, with feminine hands such as her's I wouldn't be able to hold a sword or shoot from a bow. Magdalena was head to toes feminine. She was a definition of woman and beauty. Every person that meets her always tries to propose her but she has a dream that you heard. And when she breaks the hearts of poor men, they come to my father to ask if he has another daughter such as my dearest sister. He disappoints them by saying that I am nothing like my sister. My father always knew, in a bad way, that my sister would become a perfect housewife while I would become a perfect warrior. He made us envy eachother by loving one for the trait other doesn't have. He made us believe that we are different and that we should do what we can. For example, if Magdalena is so beautiful and feminine, she should marry and if I am strong-willed and have strength, I should lead his army. It was easy for my father to have such daughters. Two polars that have different lives that he will create for us. "Mag, I am not scared for myself. We both know that father will offer you to the Prince, everyone knows that I will never be a wife! And you on the other hand..." I mutter with shattered heart and glass eyes. My sister's hands squeezed my shoulders before pulling me into a hug. "Oh, Damiana...I don't want to lose you." she murmurs with shaking voice. I hug her hands and reply, "Me either...but father's wish is our wish. You know that. We don't get to decide." I was on the edge of crying but I held the tears and tried to sound reasonable and brave. "We will still be together. You will live in the castle and I will come to you every three days. We will be alright, Mag. Promise you." I squeezed her hand and finally, took a deep breath. "I know. We will. After all, we are Crosse." she claimed, chuckling. "You are damn right. We are Crosse. Nothing can stop us from achieving what we want. Not demons, not people, not monarchs." I exclaimed, looking in her bright brown eyes. Mother's eyes. The only thing we were left from her. Are our eyes. "I love you, sister" she pronounced with her red as blood lips. "I love you more" And this was the truth. Hey, Guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Welcome to the new book! To the new world of fantasy! Comment, share and of course, love. xo.