Free Dark Star by Patricia Blackraven

Prologue
     
    The full moon was shining over a local cemetery in Kno xville like a big bright lamp. The silence of the night was filled only  with the hooting of the owls. Three black crows were sitting on an angel made of stone, and observ ing the cemetery with their  black pearly eyes, but they flew away , crowing loudly, when  the y heard the sound of human footsteps.
    “Sid, my legs hurt… H ow far is it?”
    “Just a bit , Cleo. Be strong ”
    A young man named Sid and his girlfriend Cleo were walking through a b rick alley, holding their hands while flirting with each other. They were coming back from the birthday of the girl ’s friend. The night was too beautiful for Sid to miss an occasion to spend it in Cleo’s arms .   So when they passed the cemetery, the boy suddenly started pulling her there. She was n’t protest ing . She was too drunk to think rational, and so was he.
    Finally they arrived to the old part of the cemetery which was holding the unkept forgotten graves destroyed by the time and the vandalism. In this place the atmosphere became much more uncomfortable .
    “I don’t like this place, Sid ” Cleo whispered shaking and g rasping herself with her arms “ This darkness… Let’s go away from here. I want to go home ”
    “Hey ” Sid stopped suddenly and said “Calm down honey , I’m with you. It will be fun, you’ll see. Just relax…”
    He wrapped his arms aroun d her pulling her closer to him and started shower ing her face, neck and the neckline. At fi rst the girl felt uncomfortable but then she calmed down and started switching between giggling and moaning. Sid, feeling that she submitted to him, lied her on the marble plate of one of the graves. Still kissing her, he began unbutton ing her jacket slowly …
    “Sid! What the hell is this?”
    Surpris ed by this question, he looked at Cleo. She was looking on the inside of her left hand which was covered with black lightly shinning dust.
    “It’s just normal ash , dear” he calmed her “ Did you forget that the graves in this si de of the cemetery are unkept? Now relax because you’ll experience an unforgettable trip to the land of ecstasy …”
    As he said it he crouched and started fondling the belt of her trousers. Cleo looked at the moon hanging above both of them and took a few deep breaths. She lifted herself up on her elbows with the intentions of telling Sid to take her back home but suddenly a terrifying scream emanated from her throat . Sid, who just managed to unmingle her belt, turned his back and jumped as if he was burned.
    They saw a beautiful young woman with a snow-white skin, long honey-colo ured hair and dark blue eyes which seemed to be black in the darkness. The woman was dressed in a blood-colo ured dress which was fitting her so well and it seemed to be painted on her skin. Five hooded strangers were accompan ing the woman .
    “Who… who th e hell are you?” Sid screamed while Cleo was squeez ing his fingers tightly .
    He did n’t get an answer. The b londe got closer to him and Cleo, smiling friendly. At first she looked directly into the girl ’s eyes and then she moved her delicate hand across Cleo’s skin. Cleo for some reason felt a shiver of excitement and moaned slightly. But suddenly the moan turned into a scream when the woman grew the sharp fangs with which she cut her throat. Th e grave on which Cleo was lying was covered in blood .
    “Oh, s hit ! ” Sid screamed as he started running. The beautiful blond woman chased after him soon after getting satisfied with the young girl ’ s blood. She was walking slowly among the  graves, confident that she’ll catch him. Sid was running as fast as he could and look ing behind every few seconds. But when he just passed the large cross in the middle of the cemetery he tripped on one of the candles under it and fell on the ground.  He didn’t have the strength to run anymore. As he lifted his head up he noticed that all the crosses in