Ten

     With an exhilarated cry Shannon leaned forward and sank her fangs into the side of the massive neck of the elk, easily clinging to the beast with her talons dug in deep. The elk's crimson blood bubbled into her mouth, warm and hot. She swallowed and swallowed. Shannon clung to the beast and drank.

     Kevin slashed at the elk's hind legs, hamstringing it. With a bellow of pain and fear, the bull elk fell forward to its knees then toppled sideways. Shannon leaped from the animal and easily landed on her feet.

     “Yea!” She cried in triumph.

     The bull elk struggled on the ground, thrashing about in the long grass with wild flowers, all of which were shiny looking with jagged looking blades, leaves and petals. The rest of the elk herd kept on going with the coyote pack chasing after them. Soon enough they had slipped back into the forest. Shannon and Kevin had already stopped being interested in them.

     “Let's feast!” Shannon said, her mouth and face already streaked with the bull elk's blood. She dropped down to her knees beside the elk's head. The beast watched her from its fear filled eyes. It knew death was at hand.  Shannon took the elk's head into her hands to hold it in place and prevent it from shaking its mighty head. Her vampire strength was much greater than the elk's strength. Holding the elk's head still she sank her fangs into it's throat once again and picked up where she had left off with her feasting. She hungrily drank the elk's blood, enjoying its unique flavor.

    The elk struggled as much as it could, kicking out with the three legs that still functioned. Kevin found a place on the beast's great neck and sank his fangs in. He gave Shannon plenty of room, not crowding her. They did not have a close enough relationship to allow for crowding. Despite the elk's great size and strength it didn't have a chance of escaping or surviving the two vampire's attack on its life. Keeping it from even trying to rise and flee they drained it of its life blood. They were plenty satisfied when they were finished up with their meal.

     Back at the house, Glen, Jamie and the two grandkids stood and watched the fleeing elk herd and coyotes from a safe distance. The danger to them was over thanks to Shannon. They watched Shannon's wild ride on the elk's back and her and Kevin's bringing down the great beast to feast upon.

     “She saved Kelley and Shawn.” Glen said, a surge of emotion making his throat feel tight. He wasn't sure what the emotion was but it was powerful. As far as he was concerned, Shannon would always be part of his family. They were all here for each other in this new destroyed world and a savage one at that.

     “Yes she did. She led that crazed herd from us all.” Jamie said. Her voice was tearful. Her relief was overwhelming. She was so grateful for the vampires in their midst, first Shannon then Kevin. She had grown use to their shockingly white skin criss crossed with red and blue veins, their strange eyes and wicked looking fangs and talons. If it wasn't for them she doubted she, Glen and the grandkids would have survived.

     “I'm sorry Grandpa.” said Shawn, his voice teary with shame and regret. He now realized his desire to see the elk had put them all in danger.

     “Me too.” Kelley said in a tiny voice. She hung her head, unable to look directly at anyone. She felt very bad for what she had done. She knew it had been wrong.

     “They looked cool. I wasn't afraid.” Shawn added, trying to explain his actions now that he was feeling guilty.

     “You should have been. Both of you. Those elk would have trampled you all to death.” Jamie didn't want to scold them too much but she wasn't going to let them completely off. They needed to learn nothing was safe in this world until it was proven to be safe. There might come a day when there was no Shannon or Kevin to save them. Jamie tried to clear her throat. Her voice was rough sounding and raw from all the screaming she had been doing.

     “I'm sorry Grandma, Grandpa.” Shawn said, looking down now too. His shame only increasing. He vowed never to do anything so stupid again.

     Kelley looked at her brother and put her hand on his shoulder in comfort. “Don't feel sad. I ran out there too. Shannon saved us. I love her.”

    “I do too.” Shawn's voice was soft. He looked at his sister, a shy smile on his face now.

    “I'm glad we met her.” Kelley smiled back at him.

    “Me too.” Shawn said.

    “We'll have meat.” Glen said, not feeling any desire to yell at the grandkids anymore.

     “We need the meat.” Jamie said. They both knew that Shannon would bring them the dead elk once they were finished with it. They needed it. They needed all the food they could get.

     “Shannon feeds us too but we don't feed her.” Kelley pointed out.

     “Kelley!”scolded Jamie.”Shannon isn't going hungry!”

     “But what if she was? Would we feed her then?” Kelley asked.

     “Let's not talk about that.” Glen said.They all turned away from the sight of Shannon and Kevin fastened to the bull elk's neck feasting on it's life.

Reviews

[Craig2591]

This whole episode added some excitement to the story. It is a dangerous and frightening world in which they now live.

The death scene of the bull elk was a tad too graphic for my tastes, but that's just my opinion. (That also means it was well written.)

You introduced a verrrry intriguing question toward the end of this chapter. It will be interesting if you follow this thought.

[Tina Kline]

Thanks very much for your review.

[Coyote Poetry]

A more peaceful chapter. Kid getting lecture and vampires enjoying a good meal. Thank you for sharing the excellent chapter.
Coyote

[Coyote Song]

Good storytelling. We can see by reading this how this little family of humans and Blood Drinker's is evolving and becoming closer knit. They really are a family just trying to survive in this new world they find themselves in.

[Tina Kline]

Thanks so much!

[Star Wolf]

Yes, I can understand why Glen wanted to change the subject. I'm enjoying this second book in the series. Awesome really!

[Black Cat Fever]

Well done. Reading about how this little family of humans and vampire coming together is very enjoyable.

[Wolf's Dark Song]

Full of action in a world of our own yet now made alien. This is really outstanding work. Nothing boring or slow in this story.

[Eric Cox]

Excellent write. Nicely done! A vampire to the rescue!

Looking forward to reading & editing more.