Vampire in the Woods (Merlin's Hoods Book 2) by Carl Waters Page A

over his face and directly into his eyes. The creature screamed, making the very earth around them shake, and dropped to his knees.
    Angeline, going too fast to turn accurately, slid past him, avoiding his sword as best she could, though it bit into her side as she passed, and hit bone. She howled in pain but spun back toward the vampire.
    “What have you done?” he hissed, the skin already melting from the bones underneath. He held his hands up to his face, but seemed as though he was already weakening, his skin growing tighter somehow. More translucent.
    Suddenly he spun toward her. “I will end you!” he shouted, furious.
    Angeline didn’t wait for him to make a move. She was already running back toward him, her own sword extended. She swung as she passed him, and the sword bit into his neck, slicing cleanly and hewing the vampire’s head from his body. What was left of the creature aged and then exploded into dust, to be scattered by the wind.
    Angeline stood for a moment, shocked that it was over, and then collapsed, the world going black around her.

18
    A ngeline didn’t know how long it had been since she’d last seen the sky, but when she opened her eyes again, there were three new sets of eyes looking down on her. Her vision swam for a moment, her body attempting to regain its balance, and she quickly turned away.
    If she was about to be killed, she didn’t want to have to watch it.
    But nothing happened, and after a moment she cautiously opened her eyes again, to see … a familiar cottage. A table and chairs carefully cut and shaped from strong, solid wood, and a fireplace beyond that. A fireplace she’d seen before. She squinted, trying to remember where she’d seen this place, and suddenly her memory came rushing back.
    Piers. Geoffrey. She was in their cottage. Not dead. But …
    “Safe?” she asked wonderingly.
    Her eyes turned back to the people above her, and she realized that she was looking at friends: Piers, and Geoffrey, and Louis.
    “You found me?” she asked.
    Piers put a hand to her forehead, his own face creased with concern. “We did. We watched the fight and rushed out when we saw that … thing explode. But you’re badly wounded, and you must rest. I’m going to send Louis and Geoffrey for the healer. Angeline, you’re—”
    But suddenly her memory came rushing back, and she slowly sat up, interrupting him with a hand gesture. “I don’t have time for the healer, Piers. Thank you for bringing me in, truly, but I must get to my own cottage. The girls … I must see the girls. I have important things to talk to them about.”
    Yes, things to talk to them about. She’d been stalling for long enough, and now she knew for certain that Merlin was right. She had to name one of them the next Red Hood, and as quickly as possible. She’d been a fool not to do it long before, in fact. Though she was still strong and powerful, she was also mortal.
    And very vulnerable.
    Dying without naming an heir would be unacceptable. Unforgiveable. She needed to make a choice, no matter how painful, and allow nature to take its course. It was time for a new Red Hood. The only reason she was still alive was that the hood had accelerated her ability to heal. She couldn’t—she wouldn’t—take the chance again.
    “Please, I must get home to my girls,” she said, putting a hand out to stall Piers’ protests. She slowly got to her feet and, though she swayed, managed to keep them and head toward the door. “I will be back as soon as I am able. For now, however, there is business to attend to.”
    She cast a sudden, wary look at Piers and the boys. “You three must stay here. I’ve killed four vampires, but I don’t know how many more there might be, and I won’t have you putting yourselves in danger. Stay in the cottage, bar the door, and do not let anyone in until the sun begins to rise.”
    Louis looked as though he might argue with her, but she put up a hand. “Please, Louis. Now is not