The Seven Vampire Lords Of Sin

 ~HELEN~

Beads of sweat clung to my forehead, a quick rush of breath escaped my lips. Every part of me trembled with fear, but I didn't stop – I wouldn't stop, no matter what.

I jumped from roof to roof, my legs cracking beneath me, the sound echoing through the night. Perhaps it was this noise that awakened the guards of Welford.

"Quick!" I breathed, taking another leap. I crawled like a cat at times, desperate to avoid detection. If I paused for even a moment, the guards would catch me, and no matter how I pleaded, they would never let me go. And once caught...

I inhaled sharply. "You must not stop," I urged myself. "Never let them see you."

I took another jump, despite my feet shaking with intense fear. I managed to reach the other part of the roof, a distance much farther away from the scrutinizing guards.

Panting, I glanced back to behold two guards closing in on me. The moonlight illuminated their fair skin, and their dark eyes seemed to bore into me. Their hair was concealed beneath red helmets, and their suits were made entirely of dark steel. These humans were the most feared guards, inspiring terror despite being human themselves.

They are among the humans who have turned against their own kind. They are the same humans whose hearts have turned to stone, the only ones linked with the night creatures.

The night creatures are humanity's most feared enemies. Despite being hated by humans, they remain unstoppable, for humans are too weak to challenge them. With a mere snap of their fingers, the night creatures can silence any human. They will stop at nothing to ensure that humans remain powerless, forever trapped in fear – fear not only of the creatures themselves, but also of the very idea of their existence.

"Quick!" one of the guards yelled, his eyes narrowing at me as he took a longer leap, closing in on me. "Catch her before she escapes!"

My heart racing, I tightened my grip on the gold imagery. If caught, the noble's guards would show no mercy. But I had to try – for my family, for our future.

I quickly averted my gaze from their piercing eyes, for if I looked into those emotionless eyes, I might lose my footing and fall, hitting the ground with a loud thud that would leave me weak and vulnerable to the guards. Then everything I had worked for, everything I had sacrificed for this one night, would be in vain.

My gaze narrowed as I assessed the landscape before me – a vast mountain stretching wide and far, its peaks kissing the sky. I had reached the end of the roof; if I leaped forward, I might be lucky enough to catch hold of one of the rocky outcroppings adjoining the mountain. But if I fell horizontally, I would land face-to-face with the guards, who had surrounded the courtyard below.

"Ready your spears if she thinks to escape!" one guard yelled from below.

My eyes wavered with fear, but I refused to look down, too scared to see the rows of soldiers raising their spears up at me.

How had it come to this? I'd always been cautious, completing my missions discreetly without getting caught. But today, I'd taken a bigger risk by infiltrating a renowned noble's home. He exploited villagers, imposing heavy taxes that left them struggling. He filled his pockets with gold and enjoyed lavish feasts, his round belly proof of his greed.

I wouldn't have stolen from his home if not for a stronger motive. I had no interest in taking his food, but something drove me to take both the food and gold in large quantities. To me, it wasn't stealing; I was simply taking from those who had more than enough and giving back to those who had been robbed. The gold would also buy medicine for my sick mother.

My plan had a fatal flaw: no safe way to transport the goods. I couldn't hire a carriage, and no driver would help me. Humans were too afraid to assist, fearing it would attract the vampire lords' attention.

 Everyone was paralyzed by fear, choosing to live in misery rather than take risks. But I refused to accept that fate; I would rather die than endure this hardship and live belittled.

So, I devised a new plan: stealing something valuable, lightweight, and worth a good price from the noble's home. After infiltrating his mansion, I found a stash of jewelry, artifacts, and intricately carved items worth hundreds of gold coins.

My grip on the stolen golden imagery tightened, the very object that had triggered the chase. 

"No," I whispered, closing my eyes to take a deep breath and steady my racing heart. "I must not let them catch me." If they did, I'd face the noble's lash and, worse, the night creatures. My life would hang by a thread before the seven vampire lords of sin, who would put me on trial - a trial I couldn't win.

The night wind rushed in like cold ice, seeping into my body and intensifying the goosebumps covering me. My teeth gritted as the guards closed in. The mountains were my only escape.

Clouds of fog swirled around the mountains, limiting visibility even with the moonlight. But I spotted rocks jutting out, where I could place my feet if I jump. This was my only chance.

"Get her!" the guard's voice grew closer, making my skin prickle. "Don't let that thief escape!"

I was grateful for my black assassin robe, which covered my hair and face, leaving only my hazel eyes visible as I concentrated. If I escaped, they'd never identify me. They could search, but it would be tough to pick me out from the crowds of hungry humans.

"Alright, thief," one guard growled, leaping onto the roof next to mine. "Surrender now. You're outnumbered." His teeth were clenched in anger. "Return the stolen gold imagery, and we'll let you go."

As if that were going to happen...

I looked away from him, fear creeping in, but I refused to be fooled. Everyone knew the consequences of sin.

The guard, seeing my defiance, cursed under his breath and yelled down, "Ready your weapons! The thief might try to escape!"

I gasped loudly, but undeterred, I inched closer to the roof's edge.

"Oh, Father," I whispered through clenched teeth, my eyes stinging with tears that streamed down my cheeks. "What if I don't make it? I could die from their arrows or lose my footing."

Fear gripped me, but I refused to give in. I'd rather die and meet my ancestors than let those twisted night creatures control my life. If I failed, Mother would go without medicine, and our village would continue to suffer. The taxes had skyrocketed, leaving us barely enough to eat, let alone pay more.

I thought of Father, wondering what life would be like if he were still here. I wouldn't be stealing gold imagery; we wouldn't be struggling to survive. Father always provided, always put food on the table. But everything changed two years ago, when the night creatures...

I took a deep breath, fighting back tears and steeling myself. There was no time for weakness; I have to act now.

"Father, if you're watching," my gaze lifted to the moon, shining brightly tonight. Its light bathed me, and I felt a sense of comfort. It was as if Father's presence surrounded me, guiding and protecting me. My breathing slowed, and fear began to fade.

"I'll trust in your will," I whispered before taking the leap, my body growing numb as I began to fall, and arrows rained down around me like petals on the wind.