Free Golden Erotic Tales (volume one) (episodes 1, 2, 3, and 4) by M.A. Thomas Page A

Father! Where are you?”
She stopped and listened. She heard
nothing. Not possible. Flinging the doors open to her father’s
bedroom, she yelled again, “Father! It’s Lela!”
He was not in his room. Sinking into a
chair, she pleaded with her mind to bring her answers. Something
awful must have happened to cause her father and the rest of the
people to leave. No wonder her father hadn’t come looking for her.
Whatever transpired must have occurred soon after she left, as soon
as that same night. Vampires!
Blood rushed to her brain; if she had not
been sitting, she would have fainted. Sitting still for a moment,
she let the dizzy spell pass. Then she dashed into the hall on her
way to the castle’s kitchen. She’d gather as much food as she could
carry, hustle back to the house, formulize a plan and wait for
Eldrich to rise from his sleep.
Scanning the kitchen, she held her nose.
The smell of rotting food so strong, she nearly hurled. Flies flew
about as if humans had gone extinct and it was now their time to
rule the land. Barrels of rotting vegetables and fruit sat on the
floor and on tables.
Quickly, she searched for any food that was
still edible. Ah, yes, the cooks always kept dried salted meat and
jars of preserved fruit in the pantry. She spilled a bag of grain
and then used the bag to collect as much meat and preserved fruit
as she could carry. Throwing the bag over her shoulder, she made
for the kitchen’s exit door and then walked through the short hall
which led to the animals’ pens.
But when she was outside she didn’t hear
any sounds coming from the enclosures. The animals were gone, too.
Madness!
If the people of the castle were in
immediate danger, her father would not have ordered they also take
the animals. But then she had been gone for two months and couldn’t
be sure when it was that her father and the rest of the people left
the castle. Nothing made sense. How was it possible that everyone,
including the animals, had simply vanished?
    Trying to understand what
could have happened, Lela thought of the gold she had seen in the
forest. Perhaps the golden ball had made it out of the sea and was
now searching for her. But, if the ball was once again following
her, why hadn’t the vampires come for her? Why would they have
attacked her father instead? Maybe vampires had nothing to do with
this. But who else could have gone after her father? Questions, nothing but questions and no bloody
answers!
“Lela!” a woman screamed.
Lela turned in the direction of the voice.
Coming out of the woods was a familiar face.
“Lady Rema, oh my beloved Lady Rema!” Lela
yelled, setting the bag of food down and running to meet her.
Crying and disheveled, Lady Rema embraced
her.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” Lady Rema said,
looking her up and down.
“What happened here?” Lela asked.
“You’re so skinny,” Lady Rema said, hugging
her again. “Oh Princess, I thought you were dead.”
“Focus, dear Lady Rema. Tell me what
happened. Where is my father?”
Lady Rema started to cry again. “They
disappeared.”
“How?” Lela asked, putting her hands on
Lady Rema’s shoulders and lightly shaking her. She wouldn’t
hesitate to slap her.
“The day you left...when the hours passed
and you still hadn’t returned, I went looking for you. I was afraid
the King would find out.”
“You went into the forest, alone?”
Lady Rema had never left the castle’s
grounds. Not that Lela was aware of anyway.
“I had to bring you back. You told me the
golden ball had made itself known to you. That meant vampires would
be coming after you,” she said, wringing her hands.
As much as she loved Lady Rema her reason
for going into the forest gave Lela doubt. She was the only one who
hadn’t vanished. Why? There was something Lady Rema wasn’t telling
her.
“I once asked you if you were an honest
woman,” Lela said.
Nodding, Lady Rema said, “I am.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
“I couldn’t find you. I