The Voinico's Slayer

By Sallie Cochren

Now that Nicoleta knows her destiny is hunting vampires, she's encountering them in places where she never expected to find them. However, that may be the least of her concerns. When she and her best friend, Tatiana, return to Romania to attend college, they soon learn that the unimaginable has happened. A voinico has been turned! Desperate to save the person she loves, will Nicoleta ever find a way to cure them, or will her true calling as a vampire slayer be put to the ultimate test?

This is book 2 in The Vânător Vampire Hunters series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sallie Cochren
• Release date: Jul 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215270349

Sallie Cochren

Sallie Cochren has always loved a good story and enjoys stories in a variety of genres. She started writing short stories and skits as a child, thinking it was a great way to spend her free time. She always wanted to write a book of her own, but her teaching career kept her so busy that there was no time to write. When she resigned from her teaching job, she finally had time to start writing and fulfill her lifelong dream.Sallie is drawn to many genres. Her stories encompass a range of writing. She has written horror novels, science fiction, psychological thrillers and even Christian fantasy. She has also written a lighter read with her Alien Cats trilogy. She is currently working on a dystopian series as well as continuing her vampire hunter series.When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading and watching movies. She also loves animals and enjoys spending time with her cat.

Book preview

The Voinico’s Slayer

A Vânător Vampire Hunters Novel

By Sallie Cochren

Author’s note: All characters and events are strictly from the authors’ imagination and are not meant to resemble any person, living or dead.

To find more books by this author or to view book trailers, please go to http://www.salliecochren.com

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by mechanical or electronic means including storage and retrieval systems without the author’s permission. An exception will be made for reviewers. If leaving a review, you may quote a short excerpt. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Copyright Sallie Cochren May 2022

All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents

Foreword

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

Author’s Notes/Acknowledgements

Glossary of Vampire-Related Words

Works Cited

Foreword

Thank you so much for your interest in this book. This is the second book in The Vânător Vampire Hunters series. I have included a glossary that defines vampire-related terminology in the back of this book. If you would like to review it prior to reading the story, you can find the link to it on the Table of Contents page.

Chapter 1

Professor Cojori, the girl said. I was told that this would be a good time to see you.

The girl was young and beautiful with red hair, but Professor Cojori didn’t succumb to her beauty. He sensed that she wasn’t what she appeared to be. He had studied vampire legends for so long. He knew there was something off about the girl.

I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure, he said. May I get your name?

My name isn’t what’s important, the girl said. It’s what you can do for me that I’m interested in.

What I can do for you? Professor Cojori asked. Perhaps you had best explain.

The girl walked slowly around the room, running her hand silently over the chairs of the students’ desks.

You’ve taught at the university for a long time, no? she asked.

For almost forty years, Professor Cojori confirmed.

And vampire legends? How long have you taught them? the girl questioned.

Not so long, Professor Cojori answered. In fact, I just talked the department head into letting me teach them this year. Hopefully, I’ll be teaching vampiric legends until I retire. Maybe even after that.

To anyone who will listen? the girl asked.

Yes, I suppose so, Professor Cojori answered. The mythology is hard to forget. I’ve heard the legends since I was a small child. I’m afraid I often bore my friends by bringing them up. They call me a bit of a vampire fanatic. But tell me, why does this interest you? Are you a student here?

Yes, the girl replied.

At least, she had been a year ago. She wasn’t sure if she would be attending any classes in the coming year or not.

And you’d like to take my class? Professor Cojori asked.

I don’t know. Maybe eventually, the girl answered.

It would be a pleasure to have you in my class, Professor Cojori lied.

He was trying to sound confident and professional, but the girl could sense the fear in his voice. He knew she wasn’t a normal human, but he wouldn’t admit it.

Tell me, Professor, do you believe the legends? the girl asked.

You mean, do I believe in vampires? Professor Cojori rephrased her question.

Yes, I guess that’s what I’m asking, the girl answered.

I might ask you the same question, Professor Cojori replied. I’d like to hear your answer before I give you mine.

By now, the girl had walked around the room and had come to stand across from the professor on the other side of his desk.

Vampires, she said. Hmmm… It’s strange. Most people don’t believe in them anymore, although I suspect that a lot more people believed in them in the past.

And why is that? Professor Cojori inquired.

Don’t you think our ancestors were much more superstitious than the average person today? the girl asked.

Yes, I suppose they were, Professor Cojori answered. So, you’re saying that you don’t believe in vampires?

I don’t want to, the girl answered.

I don’t think that anyone wants to, Professor Cojori pointed out.

Yes, you’re right, of course, the girl said. Who would want to believe in monsters? And vampires would be monsters if they really existed. There wouldn’t be anything appealing or romantic about them despite what the movies want to make us believe.

I agree with you on that one hundred percent, Professor Cojori replied. But you still haven’t answered my question.

And you still haven’t answered mine, the girl countered.

Doesn’t the saying go, ‘Ladies first?’ Professor Cojori asked.

So, you’re being a gentleman? the girl questioned. And here I thought that you were just prying into my personal beliefs.

Isn’t that what you were doing also? Professor Cojori asked.

Yes, it was. I admit that I did start the conversation, the girl answered. But I really need to know if you believe in vampires. I’ll answer your question after you answer mine.

She leaned slightly over the desk. Professor Cojori was starting to shake visibly. He could sense that the girl, the creature, was smelling his blood. Surely, it called to her, but he had no choice but to play her game. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to get out of this alive.

Yes, I believe in vampires, he said, his voice trembling slightly.

The girl pulled back a bit, giving the professor a little room to feel safe. There was no need to upset him, at least not yet.

I see, she said.

And now it’s your turn to answer the same question, Professor Cojori prodded her.

Yes, it is, the girl replied. Since you told me you believe in vampires and I believe you, then I feel safe to answer the same. I do believe in vampires. I’ve seen things, things no one should see. I’ve done things that I could have never imagined doing. It was never my choice. How could I help what happened to me?

Professor Cojori couldn’t believe she was admitting to it, but he still needed to hear her say the words.

Are you saying that you’re a… he started to ask.

A vampire? the girl cut him off.

Yes, a vampire, Professor Cojori said.

Something happened to me that I’m still trying to understand, the girl avoided his question. I didn’t know who to turn to. I need someone who understands the legends to tell me what’s happening to me. I don’t want to kill you, but I’ve killed people before.

Professor Cojori swallowed a lump in his throat.

So, you are indeed a vampire, he said.

You think I’m a vampire. A monster. A creature of the night, the girl replied. Think of me however you want, although I do find that the term, ‘creatures of the night,’ isn’t quite accurate. Vampires come out during the day also.

You said you needed my help, the professor said. With what?

I was hoping you would have already figured it out, the girl replied.

No, Professor Cojori said. I can’t help you. People will hear you if you attack me.

If I were to attack you, don’t you think I’m fast enough to escape out the window? the girl asked.

It was a ridiculous thought that she would get caught. She could kill him quickly. No one would get to him in time, but that wasn’t why she had come to see him today. She really did need him to help her figure out what had happened to her.

"You will help me, Professor Cojori," she insisted.

No, I won’t, the professor replied.

The girl was annoyed.

She shouted at him, I won’t take no for an answer!

Professor Cojori knew the girl was right. Help would never get there in time.

Please, he begged. I don’t want to die!

****

Twelve days earlier

‘Ce mai faci? Nicoleta said.

I’m supposed to know what that means? Tatiana asked.

I told you before, Nicoleta replied. I’m asking how you are. It’s a simple phrase.

Sure, right, Tatiana said. For you, maybe. I think we’re just lucky that some of our classes are going to be in English and that English textbooks are available for the others.

Tatiana was Nicoleta’s best friend. It had been over a year since the two of them had taken a trip to Romania with their friends to celebrate graduating from high school. Now, they would be returning to Romania soon. But this time, they wouldn’t be tourists. They would be students, having both been accepted as international students at a university in Cluj-Napoca which was a large city in Transylvania. It was the first day of September. The university in Romania went by a different schedule than colleges in the States and classes wouldn’t start until October.

I suppose you’re right, Nicoleta replied. I wish I was as quick at picking up the Romanian language as I was with my training.

Bragging much? Tatiana teased.

Sorry, Nicoleta apologized. I didn’t mean to boast.

It’s okay. I was just giving you a hard time, Tatiana said. Honestly, you were amazing.

She avoided talking about the battle where she had seen Nicoleta fight. They were on a plane. They had been able to purchase some discounted tickets to Hawaii. Nicoleta had wanted to see her brother, Josh, before heading to Romania. He was attending college in Oahu.

Thanks, Nicoleta said. It means a lot coming from my best friend. I’m just glad that I was there for you.

You and me both, Tatiana replied, remembering what it had been like being Varujan’s prisoner and knowing that the vârcolac had intended to kill her.

Vârcolacs were fully-turned vampires.

Tatiana was very thankful that Nicoleta and the other vânătors had come to her rescue. Vânătors were vampire hunters.

I’ve never been to Hawaii, Tatiana added. It’s exciting. Thanks for inviting me.

I just figured that with everything we’ve both been through, we deserved to have a little fun before heading back to Romania, Nicoleta said. Things could get rough there.

She wasn’t just talking about their studies. She had no doubt that once she was back in Romania, her destiny would lead her to more vampires. She hoped that they would eventually find and kill Varujan and Antanasia. They were two of the most powerful and evil vampires. If only they hadn’t gotten away when the vânătors had battled them!

Yeah, I hear you, Tatiana replied. But seriously? Do we have to keep going through that Romanian-English dictionary you brought with us? How do we even know that you’re translating properly? Maybe they don’t say things exactly like we do.

What do you mean? Nicoleta asked.

Well, take Spanish for instance, Tatiana answered. If you’re describing something, the noun comes before the adjective. We wouldn’t say ‘dress red’ in English, but that’s literally how it translates in Spanish.

So, you’re saying I could be getting this all wrong and that’s why you don’t want to study? Nicoleta asked.

Sure, Tatiana said, grinning.

Good to know, Nicoleta replied. And here I was thinking that you just didn’t want to exert yourself.

Me? Never! Tatiana teased.

She looked out the window. The ocean was so beautiful. They had been flying a long time and were approaching the island of Oahu.

I see it! she exclaimed. Nicoleta, look. It’s Hawaii!

Nicoleta leaned over and looked out the window.

It’s about time, she said. My legs are getting restless from sitting in one place for so long.

I can’t wait to explore the island, Tatiana said. We’re going to have a blast!

I’m sure of it, Nicoleta agreed. And it’ll be really good to see Josh too. I can’t blame him for wanting to go to school in such a beautiful place, but I miss him.

Josh is a good guy, Tatiana replied. I always liked him.

Yeah, you did, Nicoleta said. I remember you had a crush on him in middle school.

I kind of did, didn’t I? Tatiana laughed. What can I say? I have good taste.

The pilot announced that they would be starting to make their descent. He instructed everyone to return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts.

I’m glad we’re doing this, Nikki, Tatiana said. And not just because we’re going to Hawaii. You’re like a sister to me. I can’t imagine anyone else who I would want to have these adventures with.

Yeah, well, let’s just hope this trip isn’t as adventurous as our last one, Nicoleta replied, referring to their trip to Romania a year ago.

Amen to that, Tatiana agreed.

They verified that they were buckled in. Both of them wanted to have a good vacation. It would be good to not have to think about vampires for a while. They would have plenty of time to do that when they returned to Romania.

****

Four days later

Amy and Katie were hiking on the island of Maui. They were on their summer vacation and were going to be taking a small plane back to the island of Oahu tomorrow where they would board their commercial airline jet to go back home to Colorado. As always, their vacation was going much too quickly.

They were hiking on a trail that didn’t get a lot of foot traffic in the late afternoon. It was approaching nightfall, and they were anxious to get back to the start of the trail, not knowing how easy it would be to find their way after it got completely dark.

I can’t believe Stan cheated on you. What a loser! Amy said.

If he’s the loser, why am I the one who’s feeling so lousy? Katie asked.

She was walking behind Amy.

You’ll find someone better than him. Trust me. It’s his loss, Amy replied.

Katie didn’t answer.

Really, please don’t be upset. You don’t deserve that, Amy said.

Still, there was no answer.

Katie? Amy asked.

Katie still didn’t say anything. Amy turned around. In shock, she noticed that her friend was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t heard anything.

Katie! she started calling frantically, but there was no answer.

Amy panicked. How could her friend just disappear? She ran to the trees and looked around, going a little further into the wooded area. She kept screaming her friend’s name, but Katie didn’t answer her. She began to hyperventilate. She couldn’t believe what was happening. People didn’t just disappear into thin air!

It so happened that a couple of guys were also hiking the trail. They heard Amy screaming. They came up to see what was wrong. Amy told them that her friend was missing. They told her they would help look for her.

But no one was going to find Katie. The vampire had grabbed her too quickly, so quickly that Amy didn’t even know he had been there.

When the vampire got Katie to a feeding place, he bent down to bite the girl. He had nicked her vein when he heard people unexpectedly approach. He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t sensed them earlier. That wasn’t like him, but he was more tired than usual. It had been too long since he had fed.

Now, he could hear the campers. They were too close. That didn’t bode well with him. He always made a clean kill. Kill one person when no one was around. Don’t let anyone spot him. He didn’t want to have to kill four people, seeing how there were three campers. If even one of them had a phone and could get a signal and go live, others would be alerted of his presence. Panicking, he dropped Katie and ran off, cursing the campers under his breath. Thanks to them, he was going to have to go find another meal somewhere else.

*****

Nicoleta was walking deep into the forest. She was back in Romania, hunting a vampire. She didn’t know who the vampire was, but she knew it was someone she was close to. She knew that when she killed the vampire, it would hurt deeply, yet she knew that killing it would be the only thing she could do. This was what she had always feared the most after learning that she was meant to hunt vampires, that someday, one of her loved ones would turn into a vampire and she would have to kill them.

It was dark outside. The sun had gone down several hours ago. She didn’t have backup. She didn’t know where Vanda and Skender were. They were her two best Romanian friends, vampire hunters like her. They had trained her to be a vânător.

She thought again about her previous trip to Romania. It hadn’t been anything like what Nicoleta had expected. Tatiana had been bitten by a vampire named Reveka. Had it not been for Nicoleta and Vanda getting to her in time, she would have been killed. Also, had they not helped her to keep from feeding for three days, Tatiana would have turned into a vampire. Instead, she had been kept in a cave for three days so that she couldn’t feed, so now she was a voinico. That meant that she had heightened senses, but she wasn’t as strong as a vânător. She also couldn’t hunt vampires since voinicos became weak around them, even to the point of becoming paralyzed around vârcolacs. The vârcolacs were the strongest of their species.

Nicoleta didn’t have Tatiana with her now. She was back home in Arizona. Nicoleta was glad she wasn’t here. She knew that she was about to face the hardest thing in her life. She didn’t want to have to worry about Tatiana’s safety also. She did wish that Vanda and Skender were with her, though. They had a lot of experience killing vampires. She would like the backup.

Nicoleta kept walking. She made almost no noise as she trekked through the forest. Soon, she could sense someone about fifty yards ahead of her to her right. She could hear a faint breath. She knew it didn’t belong to any animal. In fact, there was no sign of any animals anywhere. Surely, they had scattered when they sensed the vampire’s presence. While it was extremely rare for a vampire to attack an animal, they sometimes did so if they had a desire to harm them. Their blood wouldn’t do anything for them, though. Vampires needed human blood, so they usually left animals alone. Still, animals would know that a predator was nearby. They would run if they sensed a vampire.

Nicoleta felt her heart beating faster. She could feel the adrenaline rush she was getting. She braced herself and pulled out her knife that was coated in titanium, one of the weapons that could kill vampires. Silver-coated knives and wooden stakes also worked.

She came to a small clearing and stood in the middle of it. She was close to the vampire and could hear their breathing more clearly now. The vampire was behind a tree about fifteen feet away from her.

Nicoleta steadied her breathing, focusing on taking deep breaths slow and steady. She needed to be calm for what she was going to have to do. Slowly, she took a step toward the tree. And then another. And then another.

The vampire stepped out from behind the tree. Nicoleta gasped. No! Not her!

Nicoleta, the vampire said. I’m sorry we had to meet like this.

Mom, Nicoleta replied. How? Why?

You know how, Daciana answered.

But you’re a voinico, Nicoleta said. Voinicos can’t be turned.

We didn’t think so, Daciana replied. But there’s a lot we don’t know about the vampire legends.

Nicoleta felt a tear roll down her face.

You have to kill me, Nicoleta, Daciana said. I’m becoming too strong. I can’t bring myself to do it. I also can’t stop myself from feeding. I’ve killed people. I’m going to kill more if you don’t stop me. It’s your job. You’re a vânător. That’s what vânătors do.

I can’t, Nicoleta replied. I just can’t. Maybe there’s something we can do.

There’s nothing we can do! Daciana shouted angrily. Look at me! Look at what I’ve become! I’m a mijloc, Nicoleta, almost a vârcolac! Once I transition to a vârcolac, my conscience will be completely gone. I don’t want that! If you love me, then kill me! Stop me before I hurt anyone else!

But Mom! Nicoleta said.

She had never felt weaker in her life. So much for being the strong vampire hunter. She couldn’t force herself to do what needed to be done even though she knew that everything her mom was saying was true.

Nicoleta! I’m ashamed of you! Daciana shouted. I thought you understood your role as a vânător. You have no place among us if you can’t do this!

Daciana came toward Nicoleta. She stood a few feet away from her. Nicoleta had tears rolling down her face.

Please, Daciana said. I’m begging you. Just do it!

Nicoleta took a deep breath.

You’re right, she replied. I’m sorry I hesitated. It’s just that I love you. I don’t want to have to do this.

I know, baby, Daciana said. And I love you too. I know how much you love me. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to do what I’m asking. Now, please. Just get it over with.

Okay, Nicoleta replied, raising her knife. I’m sorry.

With that, she lunged toward Daciana, but Daciana ducked and avoided her knife. Nicoleta didn’t understand what was happening. Why had her mom ducked out of the way?

Daciana took the opportunity to attack Nicoleta from behind. She jumped on her back, laughing and trying to bite her neck.

Nicoleta was taken off guard, but she managed to flip her mom over her. Daciana landed hard on the ground. She looked up to Nicoleta, hissing at her. Nicoleta knew now that her mom had been trying to use trickery to get her to come close to her. Now, she had no doubt that her mom was too far gone to save. She had to end this. She had to kill her.

Again, Nicoleta lunged at Daciana. Again, Daciana ducked out of the way and jumped to her feet. The two women circled each other, Nicoleta’s knife poised in the air and ready to strike when the time was right.

They continued circling each other. Daciana laughed.

My daughter, a vampire hunter, she said. Who would have ever imagined that we’d be having this chance encounter one day? I’m kind of glad it was you who came. I don’t want any ties to my former life!

So, I guess you don’t love me, after all, Nicoleta replied.

Love you? Daciana asked. I’ll tell you who I love. Me! That’s who I care about. Look at you. Willing to kill your own mother! I’d say that makes you the monster, not me!

She lunged at Nicoleta. Nicoleta couldn’t get out of the way in time. Daciana pinned her to the ground. She lowered her mouth to Nicoleta’s neck and sank her fangs in. Nicoleta screamed.

But it was enough distraction that Daciana didn’t see the knife coming. Nicoleta raised it over Daciana’s back and plunged it into her skin, piercing her heart.

Daciana screamed and leaped off Nicoleta. Then, she collapsed to the ground. She looked at Nicoleta, and tears came to her eyes.

You’ve betrayed me, the words were slow and slurred. They were the final words she said before she closed her eyes and died.

Nicoleta lay on the ground, trembling. She put her hand to her neck. There was too much blood. She tried to put pressure on her wound. She had been bitten by a vampire. She had been told that vânătors couldn’t be turned, but she had also been told the same thing about voinicos. Nicoleta panicked, wondering if she was going to become a monster just like her mom.

As she looked at Daciana’s body lying on the ground, she was both sad and afraid. Sad at losing her mom. Terrified at what her own future might hold in store for her.

No! she shouted, tears fully coming now. No! I don’t want to be a vampire! I don’t want to be a vampire! I don’t want to be a vampire! I don’t want to be a vampire!

Nicoleta! Wake up! Tatiana shook her friend, trying to wake her up.

They were in their hotel room. Slowly, Nicoleta woke up. When she sat up, her eyes still looked frightened.

Wow! That must have been some nightmare! Tatiana said.

Oh, Tatiana! It was! Nicoleta burst out crying.

It’s okay, Nikki. It was just a dream, Tatiana tried to comfort her.

I know, Nicoleta said. But my dreams, sometimes they mean more. Sometimes, they’re more like premonitions.

We’ve been through a lot, Tatiana replied. It’s surely just a nightmare. What was it about?

My mom, Daciana, became a vampire, Nicoleta answered.

She clarified that it was about her biological mom and not her adopted mom, Daciana’s sister.

Well, then. Now, I know it was nothing more than a dream. Voinicos can’t be turned. Remember? Tatiana said.

Slowly, Nicoleta pulled herself together.

You’re right, she said. It had to just be a dream.

Exactly, Tatiana replied. Why don’t you get up and take a shower. It’ll help to clear your head. We need to meet Josh soon anyway.

That’s a good idea, Nicoleta agreed.

She tried to convince Tatiana that she was okay as she got up and headed to the shower. She wanted to believe that Tatiana was right about voinicos not being able to become vampires. It was what everyone had told her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling in the pit of her stomach that it had been more than just a nightmare.

****

It had been over a day since Katie had been bitten. The police had requested that Amy delay her flight back to the mainland while they investigated Katie’s disappearance. Honestly, she didn’t want to leave Hawaii without Katie anyway. She had gone back to the hotel and hoped to hear some news soon. Amy was afraid that they would never find Katie, though. She had disappeared without a trace.

Katie had taken a private flight to Oahu the next day. The pilot hadn’t realized that she had been missing, so he hadn’t alerted the authorities. Katie wanted to go back home. She didn’t belong here by herself in Hawaii. She was distraught over everything that had happened. She still couldn’t believe what she had done yesterday. What was wrong with her?

When she had been dropped to the ground, she had hit her head. Between the impact of the bump and the shock from having been bitten, she had passed out. Then, she had fallen asleep. She had woken up early yesterday morning with the strongest hunger pangs she had ever had in her life. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, and she knew that the only thing to stop the fire was to get herself some nourishment.

But the thought of eating made Katie want to throw up. It was nauseating to even think about food. She knew it would do nothing for her. It would just be empty calories. But if she was so hungry, why didn’t food appeal to her?

Then, she had caught the whiff of the camper who had gotten up before the others. The woman had wanted to stretch her legs, so she had gone a short way from the campsite, thinking nothing of it.

Katie had never smelled anything so desirable in her whole life. She knew that the woman had something she needed, something that could nourish her. At first, she wasn’t sure what it was. She wasn’t a cannibal, after all. Then, she remembered having been bitten last night. Blood. Was that what she needed? She suddenly realized that was exactly what she needed. But why? And how was she going to get it?

Katie was having a hard time coming to grips with what was happening. But as she began to realize that she needed blood and remembering that she had been bitten, she began to figure it out.

Vampire, she whispered under her breath, almost unable to believe it.

She started gasping for breath. It couldn’t be. Vampires didn’t exist!

But as she caught another whiff of the woman, she realized that was indeed what she was. She was in so much pain. She knew that the woman could make her pain go away. But was she supposed to bite her? Katie put her hand to her mouth and felt her teeth. No fangs. Did they just come out when she bit someone? She had no idea how anything worked, and it wasn’t exactly like she could experiment, not with the other campers in the tent nearby.

No, she couldn’t do it here. She had to get the woman away from the others. She looked to the tent. There was no sign of the other people being up yet. She looked around. There was a large rock on the ground. She picked it up. Then, she crept closer to the woman.

Taking the woman by surprise, she hit her on the head with the rock hard from behind. The woman made a startled noise before collapsing to the ground, but not nearly as much as Katie had anticipated. That was good. She didn’t want to alert the others. She knew she couldn’t feed here, though. It was too risky. She grabbed the woman’s arms and started dragging her, checking on her periodically to make sure she was still unconscious. Finally, she thought she had put enough distance between herself and the other campers.

She propped the woman down by a tree. The woman started to come to. Katie couldn’t have that. She flung the woman back against the tree, slamming her head into it. The woman passed out again.

Katie lowered the woman so that she was lying on the ground. Then, Katie leaned over her. She knew she had to take the woman’s blood. Taking a deep breath, she lowered her mouth to the woman’s neck and tried to bite her, but she wasn’t having much luck. She broke the skin, but without fangs, she couldn’t pierce the artery. Still, the few drops she got only made her that much thirstier. The woman started to stir.

Oh, no, you don’t! Katie said, slugging her and knocking her unconscious again. She knew she had to do something. She had to kill the woman, and fast. Then, she could find a way to get to that artery.

Looking around, Katie spotted a sharp stick. She knew what she had to do. She thrust the stick into the woman’s neck, piercing her artery. The blood began to spew. Katie withdrew the stick and lowered her mouth to the artery, letting the blood flow freely into her mouth.

She couldn’t believe how good it tasted. She kept drinking until finally, there was no more blood spilling out. What a disappointment. Katie felt like she could drink twice that much. She thought about going back for another camper, but it was too risky. She pulled away from the woman, trying to decide what to do.

She began walking away from the woman, needing to put distance between them. She had just murdered someone. She couldn’t be seen anywhere near the crime scene when the woman’s body was discovered.

She came across a stream. She rinsed the blood off her face and scrubbed it out of her clothes. When she finally felt clean, she also realized that she was no longer thirsty. In fact, she felt stronger than she had ever felt in her life. Stronger. Healthier. More powerful than ever.

Of course, having fed, she had now turned into a mijloc. While she felt strong, in reality she wasn’t that strong yet. The longer someone was a vampire, the stronger they became, at least until old age set in and they started to weaken. Soon, she would be a vârcolac. Once that happened, she would lose any remaining conscience. She did feel bad about what she had done. She didn’t want the woman to die. But how could she live with that kind of pain when she saw there was something that could alleviate it?

As she walked through the woods, though, it kept coming back to her.

You killed her. That woman didn’t do anything to you, yet you killed her like she was a nobody. What kind of monster are you?! she thought to herself.

Katie began to cry. She hadn’t asked for any of this. She didn’t want to kill people, yet she knew that she would have no choice. She knew that when the hunger hit again, she would have to find someone to feed on.

She felt so out of her element, and not just because she was a new vampire. She was also all by herself far away from home. She wanted nothing more than to go home and see her family. Would it be safe? Could she go see them and avoid feeding on them? She didn’t know, but she knew she had to try. If nothing more, she at least needed to see them one more time before she left them forever.

So, she went back to the hotel where she had left her things. She realized that Amy would have probably reported her missing by now. She didn’t want to talk to the authorities, not after what she had just done!

She listened at the door of the hotel room. There was no sound coming from inside the room. She didn’t know that Amy was even still on the island. Amy had stepped out to get some food. Katie looked around and didn’t see anyone. She tried the door, but it was locked. Making sure the coast was clear, she rammed the door and it opened. Wow! She could have never done something like that before. It was almost like she was pushing a piece of cardboard out of the way.

Katie was surprised to see that Amy’s things were still in the room. So, she hadn’t gone home yet. She thought about staying and waiting for Amy to return, but she decided against it. She was afraid of what she might do to her friend if she was alone with her. Despite her hunger, she didn’t want to harm Amy. She still cared about her.

She also knew she couldn’t let anyone know that she was there. What if the police found the remains of the woman who she had killed? What if they figured out that she had been the one to kill her? No, it was best to get back home on her own. Perhaps she couldn’t even spend much time with her family. See them. Say goodbye. Then, go off and find a place to live on her own off the radar. Perhaps that was the best she could hope for. It certainly wasn’t what she had always dreamed of. Thinking about what her new life was going to be like, a tear slipped down her face.

There was no time to feel sorry for herself, though. She looked under the bed. Her bag was still there. She had some cash in the bag as well as her airline ticket. Katie wished it would be so simple as to go to the airport and board a plane. But no, the airline ticket wouldn’t help her. She put it back in the bag and retrieved her cash. Realizing that she couldn’t leave any evidence of her having been in the room, she pushed the bag back under the bed. It needed to be there when Amy returned to the room.

Katie counted the cash. Two hundred dollars. It would surely be enough to hire a pilot to fly her to Oahu in a private plane. That way, she could avoid the authorities. After that, she wasn’t sure what she was going to do. She’d figure that out later. For now, she knew she needed to get to Oahu.

She found the pilot at a small airport. He agreed to fly her to Oahu for the cash she offered him. The airport that he flew her to wasn’t much bigger than the one where she had found him. By the time they got to Oahu, it was late afternoon. Katie would have to find her way to the main airport in order to go back to the mainland. But right now, all she could think about was getting more blood. It had been too long since she had fed, and she was starving. She knew there was no way she could try to stow away on a long flight to the mainland, not until she fed. She looked around. There were too many people. She couldn’t feed. Not here. She thanked the pilot and ducked out of the plane, sprinting across the runway.

The pilot watched her, thinking it was very odd. But he had gotten his money. That was all he cared about.

Now, Katie regretted that she hadn’t found a way to feed on the pilot yesterday. She hadn’t anticipated having so much trouble finding her next meal. She felt like she would die of hunger if she didn’t find someone to feed on soon. Still, she wasn’t confident enough to abduct someone in a crowd. Her best chance was the woods. Surely, on an island as popular as Oahu, she could find someone who was out enjoying nature who would be easy prey.

*****

Didn’t I tell you that this is the best place to hike? Josh asked. "There’s no place