I had been on the run for three years on my own, Karver, my father had dumped me in this fetal place and disappeared with an empty promise to return. I didn’t stay in cities for too long and always checked using two names at two different Inns. One of my own making and then my actual name, of course never sleeping in the bed that belonged to Karina as it was a trap for those who have set out to destroy me.

Click, click, click.

The heel of my boots fell against the cobblestone street. I didn’t watch the people that passed by me. I was in s sea of faces and only glanced up every so often. Two more blocks, take a left down the alley than a right to the other alley where the Inn is. Use the side do to check in. I repeated my plan over and over again, somehow it was slightly calming to have something planned out.

I always found a side entrance to both Inns that I would use because I tend to stick out like a sore thumb. I had a very feminine frame that tended to draw attention and if it wasn’t that it was my silky chocolate curls that cascaded down my back. The striking cheekbones and pouty red lips. I’m not conceited but as much as I tried someone always tried to talk to me and that is something I didn’t want.

I had an eerie feeling that the ancients were on my trail one poor woman that had used my bed to sleep in under my real name was stabbed to death. Poor girl was probably trying to get out of winter's chill. I learned from that mistake always to slip to the room place a sign on the door for no one to enter. I didn’t want anyone else to die at the cost of me.

“Damn you Karver,” I hissed as I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

I know cursing my father wasn’t something that would make my circumstances better but I was certain he had abandoned me and left me to die.

I quickly entered into the alley way, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched as I whipped my head around, it was only me in the alley though. Not a sound or a person was around. One more alley after this and you will be safe. I had already checked in as Karina Tayler at the Inn in the middle of town. Now I was making my way towards the outskirts to check in as Sarah Paxton.

The one thing Karver did right is he left me with a substantial amount of money. He was an ancient vampire himself so he had much of it. He did the one thing that ancients aren’t supposed to do. He met a human and fell in love.

They had me and it cost my mothers life and my freedom. The other ancients exiled my father and swore to kill the abomination, me. Another chill ran down my spine. Trust your senses, Karina. I could hear my father's voice say.

I quickened my pace and dipped into the next alley to the right of me. I was so close and just as I was about to be free for the night something slammed me into the brick wall. Me ears rang and my vision blurred, “what the fuck?” I hadn’t even seen who or what had attacked me. My head lulled slightly, I tried to get myself together but it was taking longer than I wanted.