The Red Thirst
Authors: Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Mr Daniel Blood is the Dark Hunter.
People call him to fight evil demons,
vampires and ghosts.
Edgar and Mary help Mr Blood
with his work.
The three hunters need to be strong and
clever to survive...
The Coffin
Mr Blood, Mary and Edgar stood in a chapel.
There was a coffin behind them. A dead body lay in the coffin. The dead woman was called Ana.
The villagers had brought Ana's coffin to the chapel and then run away. Only the priest was still there with them.
Mr Blood turned to the priest.
“So, you think there is a vampire in the village. And it feeds on the blood of the dead. Are you quite sure of this?”
Mr Blood asked the priest.
“I saw it with my own eyes, sir,” said the priest.
The priest was looking at the floor, not at Mr Blood. He said, “I saw it drag a dead body out of the ground last week! That is why we sent for you.”
“Very well,” said Mr Blood. “Is there a key to the chapel door?”
“No, the key was lost. But there are bolts on the inside. They are very strong,” said the priest. “Your helpers must lock themselves inside the chapel. Then they will be safe.”
“They will do that,” said Mr Blood. “Now you must go, before it gets dark.”
The priest turned to leave. “Oh! There is one other thing,” he said.
“What is it?” asked Mr Blood.
“I have some food here for you.”
The priest handed a sack to Edgar, without looking at him. Then he limped away.
Stakes
Mary turned to Mr Blood. “Are you going to wait outside to catch the vampire?”
“Yes,” said Mr Blood.
“And we will wait in here on our own, with Ana's body?” said Edgar.
“Yes, that is my plan,” said Mr Blood.
“But, if this vampire feeds on the blood of the dead⦔ said Mary.
“And there is a dead body here with us in the chapel⦔ said Edgar.
“Yes?” Mr Blood snapped.
“Well, the vampire might come for Ana,” said Mary.
“Maybe it will,” Mr Blood said. “That is why I need you to wait here with the body. But you will be quite safe.”
“I hope you are right!” said Edgar.
“Of course you will be safe. That door is the only way into this chapel.” Mr Blood pointed at the huge oak door. “And you can bolt the door from inside.”
“But we can't lock the door with a key,” Edgar said.
Mr Blood ignored him. “You must not let anybody in, apart from me,” he said.
“Shouldn't we wait outside with you?” said Mary.
“No,” said Mr Blood. “You are safer in here.”
“But we want to help you hunt the vampire!” said Mary.
“No, we don't.
I
don't want to sit in a graveyard waiting for a vampire,” said Edgar.
“I want you to stay in here. But thank you for the offer, Mary,” said Mr Blood.
He gave each of them a large wooden stake. “Take these. Remember, don't let anyone in.”
“Yes, we know,” said Mary.
“Good,” said Mr Blood. “I will watch the graveyard. I will wait for this vampire to come for Ana. When it arrives, I will destroy it.”
“So why do we need these stakes?” asked Edgar.
“Just in case something goes wrong. I am being careful, that is all,” said Mr Blood.
He went out into the graveyard.
“Make sure you bolt this door behind me,” he said.
Edgar and Mary stood in the doorway with Ana's open coffin behind them.
Mr Blood looked among the gravestones for a place to hide.
