The car wound its way down old route seventeen just outside of the quaint village of Owego, New York. I took on the task of driving while the others dozed on and off. I thought it a pity that they were all slumbering and missing out on the beauty of the hillsides. The trees were blanketed with crimson reds and faded greens. I’d opened a window to enjoy the smell of fall but was unanimously outvoted and forced to close it again.I pulled the car aside to consult my map. It had been a considerable length of time since I’d traveled this route and my memory wasn’t serving me as well as I’d hoped. Construction and new building had only added to my confusion. I relaxed and smiled when I realized I was less than a mile from the village limits and the local hotels. The trip took longer than we’d anticipated and I was eager to get out and stretch my legs. I was grateful Shen had the foresight to remember to call ahead and reserve our room.I

 The peaceful days that followed did wonders to help settle everyone’s nerves.Bruce decided to treat us to some wild game for dinner and convinced Shen to join him in the hunt. The two were successful in shooting an enormous turkey.Shen hesitated joining Bruce at first. Having never hunted, he wasn’t sure he’d enjoy the experience; especially since he knew what it felt like to be the prey in a hunt. Much to his surprise, he found the experience invigorating and rewarding. He even managed to handle a rifle well enough to get off the lucky shot that bagged the wild turkey. There was something gratifying about supplying for your loved one’s needs in this way.They speculated about what type of a reaction their catch would receive from the women with jovial amusement for the majority of the walk back to the cabin. They’d reached the clearing around the cabin when I stepped out onto the porch.“Hey, hey! He walks!&rdq

 Osip paused to gaze at his reflection in the still waters of Lake Mead. Although it was barely visible, it was enough for him to make out that his eyes looked darker than usual and his hair was incredibly unkempt. he hardly recognized himself.Wrestling a comb out of his back pocket, he tackled his unruly curls and did his best to get them under control. He was in serious need of a haircut, but he was penniless. Plus, he wasn’t sure where to go that would be safe for him. He couldn’t attract undue attention to himself.He’d lived in the streets for over a month; sleeping behind dumpsters or in a park if he could get away with it. He’d eventually stumbled on a rundown motel that was storing old mattresses behind their building. He’d managed to make it his home for over a week; living on the rats that scurried amongst the garbage that accumulated daily. To his dismay, the city sanitation service came and cleaned it all up and he was ag

 Dragomir paced his father’s study. He dreaded telling the great Count Dracula that one of his sons disobeyed his orders. Being the oldest was such a difficult position to be in. He was expected to oversee his younger siblings in all matters. It was far too taxing a position with no real promise. After all, it wasn’t as if he’d ever really inherit their massive estate. Dracula was immortal. This made being the oldest son a burden more than a privilege.Doru had always been a little rebellious, especially when it came to defending Dracula’s bastard son, Wadim. Dragomir would have stopped him if he’d been privy to his plans. As with many matters of family, he was told too late. Doru confided in the youngest of their family, Cosmin, instead. When, after a few weeks passed and Cosmin heard nothing from Doru, he’d approached Dragomir with his concerns. So, now Dragomir stood awaiting his father. He was eager to get it over with but dreading

We stayed on the heels of Mei-Lien as she wove her way through the crowds on Fremont Street. Bruce and I each carried a case containing a crossbow and Shen carried one with a supply of arrows. We reached the novelty shop and sent Bruce inside to look around.Besides the surly faced clerk who forever had his face buried in a horror novel, there were only a few customers inside the store. Bruce stood in front of the door that led to Wadim’s den and looked back at the clerk and the few customers that were mulling around. Making certain he wasn’t being observed, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a small leather pouch. He held it in his hand and walked very slowly toward the door. He eased himself as close to the door as possible while doing his best to appear like a browsing shopper. When he was certain no one was looking, he tossed the pouch in the corner next to the door and watched in wonder while a barely visible grid slowly formed. Its color blended with th