The Writers' Circle

The great wooden doors burst open interrupting the feast that was taking place inside. A long dinning table was filled with food and set with gold placings. At the head was a tall thin man with graying dark brown hair. His light blue eyes were lined with thick black bags and shadows. He wore satin black robes and a gold band around his head. His ears were pointed and his nose long. His fingers were thin and bony with long sharp nails protruding out at the ends. "What is this nonsense? Can't you fools see that we are eating." the man shouted startling many of the dinner guests.  
"Our apologizes my Lord." the big burly bearman growled. "We have found Avery." he said gesturing to his men to bring her forward. Two bearmen drug the lifeless woman forward, her black hair covered with dirt and leaves.
"Is she alive?" the Lord ask with a look of disgust. 
"Barely sir. We found her tied to a tree facing the sun. Whoever did this wanted her dead." 
"Obviously, Buncombe." The man said rolling his eyes. "I sent her out myself to retrieve my Gwenevieve. I am guessing she was unsuccessful. Is it that hard to find her?" 
"No sir"
"It's not is it? Well then Buncombe, you shall go out and bring back Gwenevieve." 
"I will do my best Lord Valcan." Buncombe said turning to go.
"Oh, and Buncombe, you do know what happens if you do not succeed?" Valcan asked looking down at the bearman skin rug on the floor. Buncombe swallowed hard and nodded. The men dropped Avery to the floor and left the great feast. 
	Valcan got up from his red velvet chair and walked to where Avery lay. "Who could of done this to you my dear?" he whisper as he pulled leaves out of her hair. "Mel, Helga!" He shouted. Two woman came down the stairs dressed in rags and chained together at the wrist. The younger of the two had honey blonde hair kept back by a bandana and gray blue plain eyes. She was average height and rather plump. Helga on the other hand was tall and lean. She had a built upper body and came from a family who use to work the fields. Her oily dull brown hair was short and laid flat on her head. Huge black eyes took up the majority of her face consuming all of the attention. "Take Avery to her chambers and clean her up. I will be up shortly." he said sitting back at the table to finish his meal. 

	Mel and Helga drug the stiff body up the stair. They brushed out her hair and placed her in bed. Avery laid still as death in the sheets. Her arms were burnt from the exposure to the sun and her clothes smelt of rotting flesh. "She got what she deserves if you ask me."Helga said picking some of the burnt skin off of Avery's arm. "Helga...you best watch your tongue. I've heard that vampires can hear ever thing." 
"That is not true. Just some myth they tells you when they want you do what they want."
she replied still picking at Avery. 
"You better stop that. You are guna make her bleed." Mel said pulling on the chain that connects them. 
"Vampires don't bleed. Plus she is dead." Helga laughed."Man I sure am glad she didn't bring Gwen back."
"Me too." Mel said rubbing her now healing wounds. 
"Mel it'll be okay. If she never comes back then we won't never have to be beaten again."  She said comforting her friend.
"Get my herbs." Valcan commanded. The girls startled, whimpered and ran from the room tripping over each other. "My poor Avery...Ew. They picked at you." He said brushing the black skin from the crisp linen sheets. The girls came back in the room with a small chest in hand. They laid it at Valcan feet and turned to flee. "Not so fast my dears. Sit." He commanded grabbing hold of their chain. The two sat trembling with fear as Valcan open the chest. He pulled out several small bottles and began mixing them in a bowl. Steam rose up and a foul smell filled the air. Mel and Helga held onto each other tightly with fear. Valcan opened Avery's month and poured the thick brown mixture down her throat. With in seconds Avery's eyes fluttered open and she sat up on the bed. "TRADER!" She yelled throwing the sheets off of her causing black flakes of skin to fill the air.
"Now now my dear. Eat first." Valcan said glancing over at Mel and Helga sitting near the fire. Avery looked down at the two helpless girls and back to Valcan and smiled. "I will be in my chambers when you are through. I want to know who did this to you." With that he gathered up his chest and left the room. Screams for help followed him down the hall but were ignored.