God Slayer

By Margaret A. Ellis

Prologue

He held on to Mina as her life began to slip away; her breathing was becoming more shallow and her flesh began to lose its warmth. The Count's clawed hands clutched her close to his undead heart; red tears ran from his eyes like crimson waterfalls. Until this moment, never since his Turning seven-hundred years ago, had he ever cried; not until this moment, when he realized he was going to lose what was most precious to him.

"Mina…" he choked on her name.

The young girl smiled as she looked up into the eyes of her best friend. "It's okay…it will…be…fine…"

Count Vlad shook his head, "No, Mina. What you ask…I can't bear to do. I'll ruin you."

"Count…I'm dying. I don't want to leave you and...Please. Save me."

"I von't be saving you Mina! You'll be damned. And you'll…hate me," the Count held on to Mina tighter, burying his face between her neck and collar bone. "I'll hate myself."

Mina coughed as more blood left her body, a trickle of it left her mouth. Her body was brutally beaten and her abdomen contained several stab wounds, she had lost a lot of blood and her face was as white as a sheet. She lifted a trembling hand to cup the Count's face, "Please, Vlad. I know it's selfish, but…I'm not ready…to go."

Count Vlad clenched his eyes shut and bit at his bottom lip. He felt Mina's hand go limp as it fell from his cheek; a sob shook his entire body as he opened his eyes. His Mina's eyes were closed and her eyelids looked bruised. He adjusted his right hand to cradle her head and arch her neck. Vlad hesitated as he placed his cold lips against the soft skin of her neck.

"Forgive me," he whispered. His fangs pierced and blood rushed to meet his tongue.