Long ago in a cold dark and dreary desert, a lone wolf’s howl pierces the still night air. A lifeless orb hangs in the sky bathing the world in a deathlike whitewash. The black shadows of long expired trees look like reaching fingers grabbing for any life they could find. A huge shadow floats swiftly across the ground.
Three of the king’s servants stand around a beautiful young girl, perched atop a rock. She is wearing a long white gown made of soft linen. The sleeves hang low over her shoulders to reveal her soft, smooth skin. When the shadow approaches, the servants pull the young maiden to her feet and place her in front of them. The shadow drifts silently and stops dead in front of her. This young maiden knows what is coming and is terrified of what has come to be, but even more so about what would have happened had she refused.
She closes her eyes and tears silently trickle down her cheeks. The servant steps up to her right side to take her chin in his fingers and pull her face towards him. She is trying to remain calm and not let her fear control her but she can’t help but flinch at the contact and her eyes burst open and she sees the servants deep wrinkled face looking at her with such sincere sympathy that she fights to hold back a sob. “My child this is an honor not a curse.” He wipes the tears away and whispers, “you must be strong, young one. You are not the first who has been through this and you won’t be the last.” She nods and turns her head back towards the shadow, but now it has become a three dimensional form. It resembles a human but it is still moving.
After a moment, it finally solidifies into a handsome man with chiseled features, dark hair and pale white skin. Somehow, his face has almost a boyish innocence, and his deep eyes are a crystal blue that remind her of the ocean. With his noble and regal demeanor, it is immediately obvious he is of great importance and strength. Taken aback by his sweet looking face, but still almost lost within his clear blue eyes, she can feel him almost sucking her in just by staring at them. His full crimson lips curve into a smile and two tiny white triangles sneak out. Her eyes travel down and lock onto them. Her eyes go wide and her mouth drops open. Her breathing comes in ragged gasps. He stops smiling immediately realizing what has happened. He bows and looks up at her “I am very sorry to frighten you, it was not my intent.”
The three servants fall to their knees and bow forward until their foreheads scrape the dirt upon the ground. The young woman swallows hard and takes a deep breath. She can feel tears welling up in her eyes again; she tries to fight them back and lowers herself into a deep curtsy. She straightens up and whispers “My Lord Kyon I offer you my love my loyalty and my lifeblood,” her voice breaking throughout the spoken ritual she had been taught just that morning. She nervously turns her head to the right and tilts it to the back revealing her soft pink flesh on the nape of her neck. Tears drip down her cheek on the right and from the left it trickles down her nose and off the tip.
The man takes his hand and gently wipes the tears from her cheek. He pulls her face forward so she is staring back into his eyes. His voice is silky smooth and flows softly as a brook. “My child, please do not fear me. I promise there is no pain, but I will give you a choice. My life is a curse and I will not push my curse onto you unless you choose it. You will be alive, in a way; you will not ever be able to step out into the sunlight again. You will be permitted to see your family and loved ones upon special occasions, if you so desire, you will be fed, well clothed, and be treated like a princess at my palace. However, as a vampire you must feed on blood, you will never know death and if after some time passes you wish to leave me I will let you be free. However, please be aware out beyond our city there are many view those who suffer my curse as demons who will destroy their happy lives and homes. Therefore, they will try to kill you, if you decide not to share my curse, I would not blame you, you will go to sleep and not wake up in this world again. You will still feel no pain.”
Her soft moist eyes look up at him hopefully, “you mean I am allowed to live? I thought I was chosen to die. I can live if I stay with you at your exquisite palace. Are there others who were chosen and remain with you?” He smiled slightly being careful not to show his fangs “yes at this time there is one, she was chosen one hundred years ago, and stays with me to this day. Her name is Faylinn but she is not very sociable with others. She generally speaks only to me when we are alone and to a few servants when there is need. She offered the same option as you are but times were different then. However young one time is short, please what do you choose?” Her head drops down doubtfully, then begins to nod slowly “if given a choice, I choose life even if it is a different form of life. As long as your promise holds true and there is no pain.” Her eyes look into his and she sees him nodding right before she slips into a darkness almost as if asleep but not yet in the world of dreams.
Reply
