Vampire Shift - By Tim O'Rourke Page 0,9

my head, I was startled by the sound of someone outside my bedroom door. Leaping from the bath, I wrapped a towel around me and went into the bedroom. Tiptoeing to the door, I listened to the rustling sound. Screwing up my eyes, I could see a shadow fleeting back and forth in the gap beneath my door.

Reaching out for the key that I’d left in the lock, I called out, “Who’s there?”

There was silence.

“What do you want?”

Then I heard the sound of footsteps rushing away. Holding the towel tight about me, I yanked open the door and peered along the landing. And as I did, I caught the last fleeting glimpse of a shadow disappearing down the stairs. My instincts told me to run after them, to find out who it had been. But with nothing on except the bath towel, I reluctantly stepped back into my room, and as I did, I noticed a small white envelope tacked to the door.

Removing it, I went back inside. Across the front of the envelope someone had scribbled ‘Kiera’. Sitting on my bed, I opened it and a small silver crucifix fell out into my hand. Placing it on the desk beside my bed, I went back to the envelope. Studying it, my heart skipped a beat, as I could see from looking at it, that the person I’d seen sitting in the bar with their face hidden behind the hood, was the person responsible for leaving me the crucifix.

Chapter Four

I woke early, just before six. I didn’t want to miss breakfast, like I’d missed dinner the night before. The owner of the Inn seemed particularly strict on the rules surrounding meal times.

As I pulled on a sweatshirt, jogging-bottoms, and trainers, my stomach groaned. It was then I realised I hadn’t eaten anything since before leaving my home in Havensfield the day before. As I made my way down to the dining area, I switched on my mobile phone. I scrolled through my contact list, until I came across ‘Sergeant Phillips’. I pressed the call button, but all I got back was an unobtainable tone. As I reached the dining area, I noticed the signal bar on my phone was red, indicating that it was unable to find a signal.

Putting the phone in my pocket, I was frustrated that I couldn’t get hold of Phillips. I wanted to ask if he couldn’t find me some better accommodations. The old woman that I’d spoken with the night before trundled over to my table, which had been laid with a bowl, plate, and a mug. Apart from me, the small eating area was deserted.

“Tea or coffee?” the old woman croaked, not looking up from a small pad she held in her liver-spotted hands.

“Good morning,” I smiled, hoping to get off on a better footing with her than I had the night before.

“Tea or coffee?” the woman asked again, and her eyes met mine with her glazed stare.

“Coffee, please,” I told her, trying to keep my smile.

“Bacon and eggs?” the woman asked, the pen poised over her note pad.

“Just toast please.” Although I was hungry, I wanted to go for a run and I didn’t want to be bloated out with a stomach full of greasy bacon and eggs.

“Toast,” the woman said, turning away and shuffling towards the kitchen. The dining area, like the bar, was decorated with cloves of garlic, but with one difference. Along the far wall was a small coffee table which was covered with a white lace cloth. On top were an arrangement of crucifixes and small bottles of water. With a black marker pen, someone had written across each bottle the words ‘Holy Water’.

Smiling to myself – I wasn’t superstitious at all – I got up from my seat and crossed over to the table. The crucifixes were identical to the one that had been left for me the night before. Picking up one of the tiny bottles of water, I heard the old woman speak to me as she shuffled towards my table with a plate of toast.

“They’re for sale, if you want one.” she said, placing the plate on the table.

Putting the little bottle of holy water back with the others, I crossed back to my table and sat down.

“Why would I want to buy a bottle of holy water?” I asked her, and took a bite of the toast.

“For protection,” she said, pouring a cup of coffee.

“Protection from what?” I asked, half smiling.

Glancing back over her