1-Nights at Draven Manor

Layla's POV:

It's a cold autumn night. I'm running as fast as I can through a thick forest. The moonlight that shines through the trees is bright and you can see the full moon through breaks in the leaves above me. My heart is racing as I look down at the dress and heels I am struggling to run in. As I look over my shoulder at the black figure chasing me I can hear the faint cry of a wolf in the distance. Who or what is chasing me? I gather more of my dress in my hands hoping to improve my speed. I hear the wolf's cry once more but closer this time. I'm out of breath but I can't stop. I must get as far away from the creature chasing me as I can.

I hear the sound of something running closely at my side. Instinctively I look towards the sound. An enormous wolf like creature comes into view and for a moment our eyes lock. The creature's eyes that are silver in color look almost human, but how can that be? The creature lunges over me sending my chaser crashing into a tree knocking him unconscious. I stop and turn towards the wolf-like creature. It approaches me standing on its hind legs. I look up at this incredibly terrifying creature but strangely I feel relieved. Our eyes meet once again and I reach out to caress the beasts cheek. I run my fingers through it's soft silver and black fur. I suddenly feel cold hands reach out from behind me and pull me violently back...

I shoot up startled as fear runs through my body. I quickly look around me and realize I'm back in my room. I flop down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling. It's been two weeks since I've moved into the Draven manor in the town of Draphend and each night is as sleepless as the one before. I was hired by Mr. Draven to be a live-in sitter for his youngest child, a 7 year old girl named Lorie. She's a relatively sweet and calm child. Very mature for her age but she often clings to me. She speaks often of her brother's Nicolae and Victor, neither of whom I have yet to meet. The same day I was hired Mr. Draven had to leave out on a business trip only telling me his son's would return home in a week or so.

I sigh aloud as I look at the clock on my bedside table. 4:00am. I guess I might as well get the day started, I say to myself as I get out of bed. I walk to the double glass doors that lead to the private balcony that connects mine and Nicolae's room. I slide open the door and step outside. I breathe in the crisp autumn night air as I take in the view of the Draven's garden. The manor is full of twists and turns and even after being shown around I still don't dare to explore on my own.

There are four rooms on the second floor, mine, Nicolae's, Victor's, and Lories. I haven't ventured to the third or fourth floors of the manor but can only assume that Mr. Draven's room is on one of those two floors. The night he showed me my room when he left me he went towards the third and fourth floor stairs. Lorie's room is down the hall across from Nicolae's room on the right with Victor's next to hers which leaves mine and Nicolae's side by side on the right.

I stretch and take in more of the cool night air when I notice a faint glow coming from the garden. The glow gets closer and closer and I realize it's Mrs. Draven's soul whom I have seen linger in the garden during previous nights. She smiles and nods her head to me. I smile and nod back before she vanishes into the night air. I wonder what happened to her, I ask myself. I only know that the soul belongs to Mrs. Draven because of the picture that was on Mr. Draven's desk the day I interviewed with him. Mr. Draven spoke of her briefly telling me she was no longer a part of our world and hadn't been for nearly seven years.

I don't dare ask any questions now. How do you explain to your employer you see souls and can see his deceased wife's soul hanging about among other things. Although I'm sure it wouldn't surprise the family a bit seeing as how the Draven's are a family of vampires, but I would still like to keep who I am, or what I am (whatever that may be) to myself.

I go back inside and walk into my private bathroom as everything starts to weigh on my mind. I'm human..I think..but I'm immortal. I can see and communicate with souls. I have visions of a past that I can't remember. I dream about this past often, if one can call it a dream because it feels so real down to every last detail. I see the same face of a man at least once in each vision though I have no clue who he is or what we have in common. I heal faster than a normal person. A wound takes hours to heal instead of days, I have several other things I am able to do and who knows what else I'm capable of. I don't know what I am or who I am. My thoughts get more mucked up as I shower and start to get ready for the day.

I joined a University here in Draphend to try and fit in as much as possible while I'm here. The university has some very interesting courses regarding myths, legends, and the supernatural. Maybe I can find out more about myself while I'm here. I have so many questions I need answers to. Once Mr. Draven informed me they were vampires I read as much as I could on the topic in their library downstairs. Mr. Draven assured me that I was safe as they no longer dined on humans but instead hunted animals to quench their thirst for blood. I assured him I felt in no danger but I still wanted to know everything I could and despite living their lives like normal humans would, there are a few small differences.