Day 170 - When Vampires Attack!

I just had the scare of my life last night.  I was returning to town after an overnight trip to Riverwood (long story which included breaking up a love triangle and diving into a local barrow for some stolen goods) when vampires slipped through the gate behind me and attacked the city guards.  At first I wasn't sure what was going on – they looked so normal from afar – but when one jumped at me, I knew he wasn't right.  Those glowing red eyes and strange teeth scared me.

I drew my sword and smashed in his head….but not before he bit me.

The moment the city guard saw the bite mark, they all turned a sickly pale color.

"You best be getting yourself to the temple," one said.

"Why?  Am I going to get sick?  Am I going to look like one of those monsters?" I asked, my voice climbing with each word.

"There's a chance you might," one of them said, "but if you hurry, the priests in the temple might be able to fend it off.  Hurry now!  Run!"

I turned and dashed for the temple, mowing over any unfortunate soul standing between me and that building.  The lone priest on duty looked up as I ran in and paled at the sight of the bite.

"Hurry," he said, leading me to the shrine, "Lay your hands on the shrine and pray, my child.  I will be back in a moment with something to clean the wound."

Though I had never been religious before, I prayed like I really meant it tonight.  There was no way I would want to become a vampire.

A moment after I began to pray, the shrine began to glow and a bright, warm light encompassed me, invading every pore of my skin.  A feeling of total peace washed over me and I knew everything would be okay.

The priest came back as promised and cleaned the wound before slathering a good deal of sticky medicine on my hand.

"Stay here as long as you want, my child," he said, "Donations are taken at the door."

I stayed for another half hour before rising and heading home, dropping 10 septums in the donation bucket as I left the temple.  Even then, the sight of those red eyes haunted my dreams and made me toss and turn all night.

I really hope that priest was right and that I'm not going to turn into a vampire.  My mother would kill me!