The darkness was something that I could never understand. I sat alone in my room beneath the canopy of my bed; a shield, protection from the world that lied behind the door in this windowless room. I exhaled pulling my knees to my chest. Why am I here? I thought to myself. This thought wasn’t new to me; I was in the den of vampires. This mansion of darkness was the only home I’ve known for seventeen years. Seventeen long years. I shifted in the darkness. I can’t see. Lifting my hand in front of my face I frowned and squinted to try and see the familiar shape of my hand. Darkness was all that filled my vision. I dropped my hand onto the sheets. They said that the longer I spent in the dark the more I’d be able to see. As far as I could tell it was all just a lie. I had to follow others to the rooms where my lessons in language, literature, history, math, science and even more because I couldn’t even see the walls in front of me like all the other vampires. Tasteless food was brought to me and clothes mysteriously appearing in my drawers while I was away, I was never brought outside and left alone all the time, just like now; all because I couldn’t see in the dark, all because I was weak, I was human; I am human. I sat there as time began to slip by, thinking about nothing in particular. I had finished all the lessons for today now there was nothing left for me to do.

The wick standing above tall candles that adorned my wall caught fire only seconds before a tall man with shoulder length ash blonde hair entered the room. His face was long with sharp angles and piercing amethyst eyes. His collar bones peeked out of the cream coloured button down shirt that lay untucked, partially open and tight against his toned lengthy body.

 

"Valkyrie" he called softly as he made his way to sit on my bed closing the door behind him and drawing back the gauze that encased me. "You've grown thinner, and paler." He reached to touch my wispy white hair that cascaded down, framing my face and tickling my neck. "They expect you to be in the hall tonight" he brushed his hand lightly over my cheek and waited for my reply. I only closed my eyes. I can’t see in the dark, why should I see in the light? "Val, you are of the Simonis family, therefore it is essential you attend." I knew he had heard my thoughts, because of our pure blood ties, to him my thoughts are hard to ignore and being as useless as I am I lack the power to keep my thoughts to myself.

 

"It's not safe" it was only a whisper but in a room as silent as this one it could be heard as if it were a scream.

 

"Who told you that?" His voice was stern and demanding. As it should be, he was next in line to the head of the clan; he needed to be strong and commanding.

 

"I heard others speaking in the hall" It was true, I had heard them, not long after they shut me in my room after my last lesson, they didn’t need to lock the door as I was forbidden to leave as it was ‘too dangerous’ for me; it always is. I felt a sudden chill as his emotions shifted slightly, flowing into me. He was open with me, usually he'd hide all feelings away; they were a weakness. Yet as far as I knew only for me would he show compassion.

 

"I shall arrange for guards to keep an extra eye or two on you from afar. Should anything happen my personal guard will see to it appropriately. Now it's high time you prepared yourself Val" shifting topics he stood and turned his attention to a chest with clothes laid out on top. "Your attire has been set out for you it shouldn't take too much effort to slip into them now come along" to my surprise he gingerly lifted me from my place under the veil and set me up right in front of him. With a flourish of his arms he freed me of my sleeping gown and I stood naked before my brother. I shivered. Slowly I began pulling the decorative cloth around me, my brother only sighing, attempting to get me to rush. "I say Val, it's the middle of the night and yet you clothed yourself in your night dressings and continue to move so lethargically. Did you forget about the party? Come come" he pulled me closer adjusting the frilled cuffs, tailed black coat and tying a deep red ribbon around my neck. I smiled faintly at our closeness and inhaled deeply taking in his scent. "There that's done" I frowned slightly as he made his way to the door wishing that he hadn’t walked away from me, he paused when I had yet to follow. "Now hurry along, little brothers shouldn't keep their older ones waiting"

 

"Soren" I called his name as he smiled at me and I rushed out  the door following behind him as the light from the room began to fade leaving me in darkness again but this time my brothers presence was calming, allowing me to push my previous thoughts to the back of my mind.

 

The mansion was like that of a Victorian one. Elaborate boarders popped out at the joints of the high ceiling and the wall. Swirling marble and textured tile spread along the floor with statues that decorated the halls. Silver flower like candle holders jutted out from the wall that held their candles which were used to light the halls for me and the untrained eyes of the fresh vampires instead of light bulbs and not one single window graced the old black walls. This was a true house of vampires, one with no harsh or sunlight to be seen. As we reached a small room with an old fashioned couch, a coffee table and a few other smaller pieces of furniture, Soren turned to face me.

 

"Wait here for the guests to arrive alright?" I gave a nod, understanding his orders. "I won't enter the hall with you or speak with you at all during the party to make sure your identity is not revealed but I'll be there watching over you so don't worry" taking his leave he left me in the dimly lit room. It was only dark to me though. Everyone else in this house could see clearly in the darkness thanks to their vampiric abilities. I sighed and took a seat on the couch. A maid walked in and began to dust. Her face was void of all emotion and her eyes were empty of any personal thought. She was like an obedient dog to the house hold, enchanted by a vampire higher than herself. That's what happens to those who are bitten and changed by the lower class and thrown away. They become lowly creatures that are either controlled and lose their being, or monsters that torment those who wander the slums of a city at night running only on their insanity. On the other hand most of the nobles were born vampires, like me. Birth is difficult among the dead; vampires are born with a beating heart and are cared for and fed like that of a human child. In order for a vampire to be born the mothers heart must be beating so human mothers are common. A female vampire can also bare a child but her heart must also beat once again in order to carry the child. Mostly pure bred vampires are known to be able to accomplish this and It's a difficult and rare occurrence seeing as many pure bloods live past thousands of years compared to the hundreds of years of a noble. Not every female has a heart that is able to beat again, so those who do are considered precious and in high demand, although the only way to find out if she is able is if she gets pregnant. In saying that, the mother’s heart slowly comes to a painful stop once again after the birth and the chance of her being able to conceive yet another child is next to impossible.

 

The maid bumped an object to the ground then shuffled about. I couldn't see her clearly or the object she had dropped. I felt her move closer to me. I didn't move. My brother, Soren, had told me never to move in the darkness as I couldn't see and it was much more dangerous to run and flail about as I often did as a toddler. I sensed the maid passed me and left the room silently. Usually a maid wouldn't clean a room with anyone of higher rank than her in it as it would be rude; but seeing as my heart still beats her mind can only think of me as a human that mustn't be harmed. A pet or a meal of another vampire therefore lower than herself.

 

Voices could be heard just beyond the black space that I assumed was a door. I had gained quite the talent of guessing the identity of things in the dark. I guess that was what they meant by seeing better in the dark. Standing, I carefully shuffled my feet along the floor careful not to disturb any of my surroundings and silently fumbled my hand along the door searching for the handle. Finding what I was looking for I gently tugged it open and slipped into the hall that was illuminated by the moonlight. Vampires of all shapes and sizes adorned in expensive gowns and tight suites of all styles varying from medieval to modern, English to French were gathered on the large ballroom floor; on either side stairs crawled up to a balcony where I was sure my brother would soon be standing. I clung to the wall making my way to the spaces that weren't inhabited by the bubbling throng.

 

 I changed my position among the crowd every now and then as to not draw attention to myself by any one member. Most if not all of the vampires here didn’t know I was the second pure blood son of the infamous Simonis family; and they aren’t supposed to know either; whether I like it or not I am human and there is no way I could protect myself against the even the most unskilled vampire here and defiantly not the assassins of a rival clan. I would have to wait and hide until the day I also would become a vampire like my brother before me. On my way passing a table of sweets and refreshments I pulled a cup of rose tea and sipped at it carefully so I didn't burn myself. I wasn't a fan of rose tea but seeing as it was the only drink that didn't contain traces of blood I was content with occupying my time with the burden of sipping nasty tea. Red roses were symbolic to the vampires. In olden times vampires would drown their bodies in rose perfume as to mask the scent of the blood from their evening meal. This would fool anyone who passes by and many vampires still practice it today but more of a sign of power seeing as not every vampire now days can gorge on enough blood to make them reek of it. The thick smell of rose had already filled the room and the murmuring crowd were cooed into silence as a tall man became visible at the balcony that overlooked the hall. Soren made his way up one of the staircases that curled up to the wall joining in the middle at the platform to meet the man that had forced the people of the hall into submission with his mere presence. Our father.

 

"Good evening" his booming voice brought shivers to my skin as the power of his aura enveloped the crowd, asserting the force he held over them. The pure breeds were not to be messed with, as there were only a few handle full of them and most carried great powers with them. " I'd like to thank you all for coming" he spoke in an ancient vampiric language instead of English this time, everyone born a vampire and raised in a noble family was sure to know it, though some of the servants who still carried a conscience looked confused. "It gives me great pleasure to formally announce my oldest son, and direct heir, as an official candidate to the throne!" The people began to clap. My uncle, the head of the oldest and strongest clan of pure bloods, or king if you must, has been overseeing the affairs of all vampires for a long time, his influence and authority keeps the younger generation from wars and mindless killing. Now that our uncle is old and has yet to produce heirs the clan council has readied an election where members of pure breed families are chosen as candidates to be the next 'king' and the pervious head will Make the final decision. Of course this doesn't happen very often as many kings produce viable offspring therefore the requirements are crazy and rarely met, and even if you pass most kings wish to keep the royal tittle within their clan and choose their next of kin anyway. " now that the we have made his candidacy legitimate, please do enjoy the party and refreshments as the entertainment-"

 

"Refreshments will have to wait" there was a gasp from the crowd as pistol was raised to my father’s head. Not just any pistol but a Bloody Cross pistol. Bloody Cross was the name of the notorious demon hunters. They protected the humans from all mater of types of beast with their special made weapons and were well educated in the weaknesses of vampires. These people however carried these weapons illegally, seeing as these hunters weren't part of the Bloody Cross, I could tell by the malice and hatred the man held in his eyes. Though the bloody cross was to be feared they were a just and fair group, ones who made great assessments on situations and took the proper and sometimes gruesome action.

 

"What an unexpected surprise. We have a pact with the Bloody Cross for peace and we've already given notice of our gathering" my father spoke with great calmness and control, something that made me envy him.

 

There were crashes as several other members revealed themselves and burst through the moonlit windows to stand guard against any vampires that would dare to think of leaving. "We're not Bloody Cross, but we still have business with the likes of your kind" we couldn't do anything against the empty threat. If we made the first move the real Bloody Cross had the authority to kill all of us at their discretion; rumours said that they even take the more docile ones for scientific testing and make us slaves to them through drugs. "You will agree to our terms of course?" It was more of a rhetorical question but my father answered anyway.

 

"We try not to associate with the likes of you and your 'kind' and we most certainly will not accept any of your terms, no matter what" my father’s voice was unwavering as the man cocked his gun.

 

“Fine then, we'll speak to someone who is more cooperative" a single shot cracked through the air and chaos in sued. To the disbelief of the hunter, my father was able to dodge the bullet and launch his own counter attack beginning an official fight.

 

I can't fight. I know I can't I'm too weak compared to the others, I'm young and inexperienced I haven't fought anyone making me more useless than a hunter. Fear surrounded me and I backed myself up to the edge of the commotion watching the writhing bodies of vampires and hunters tossing and turning. Grotesque sounds of gurgling screams and the crunching of bones filled my ears as my knuckles turned white from clutching the tea cup so tightly. My eyes darted to my brother who was fighting on the balcony just above. As if by some instinct his determined eyes darted over to my frightened ones. He quickly finished the hunter off knocking him out, but by the looks of it I wasn't sure whether or not he'd be able to get up ever again.

 

Soren gestured to guards that were assisting in the fight on the other side of the hall and they quickly made their way through the mob of fighting bodies as if they understood some unspoken order. As I looked back to the spot where my brother had been, he was nowhere to be seen. I was suddenly jerked back into reality as two bodies crashed into me slamming my body into the wall sending the tea cup to the floor smashing into bits, its pink contents crawling its way about the floor. A vampire and a hunter scrambled in front of me as I slid down to the floor, my head aching from the sudden impact. The hunter gained the upper hand and decapitated her spilling blood into the air freckling my hair and face.

 

I froze. I couldn't move. A vampire, a girl, a breathing girl was killed right before my eyes. Her gaze drifted slightly upward with warmth that feigned life but her mouth was forever opened locked in a silent scream. I trembled. Why? Why would someone, anyone do this? I couldn't stop shaking as the hunter slowly brought is rough face up to look at mine.

 

"You" he paused as If confused “you’re still alive..." He hesitated and in that moment the two guards that Soren had gestured to only moments before arrived, hastily stealing me away. One guard half carried half dragged me and my shaking body along as the second pushed others away from us. Soon we were hidden in the dark hallways of the familiar mansion. I knew exactly where we were but my eyes failed me providing nothing but darkness, I couldn't even see the trembling of my own hands just as if I was back in my room. The three of us scampered along hearing faint calls of hunters who pursued us. Throwing ourselves into a nearby room the guard locked the door while the other gently placed me on the floor seeing as I couldn't stand.

 

"Valkyrie" he called softly "are you alright? Are you bleeding?" He touched the blood on my face that had begun to dry.

 

"No, yes I-I'm ok" my breath came in short gasps and I found it difficult to speak "it's not my blood"

 

"I know" I felt him smile; the room only held candles as a light source and now they remained unlit keeping me in darkness as the man I had only just met continued to wipe at my face with his fingers. He made cooing sounds, similar to those my brother made when I was young in efforts to calm me.

 

"Shhh" this came from the other guard who hovered near the door. I could hear them now too; muffled shouts and the pounding of their boots down the hall. A sliver of light appeared below the crack of the door and grew stronger illuminating the room just enough for me to see the figures of the two men who had brought me here. There was silence on the other side; the light was still and unmoving. I could only hear my heart beat in my ears unsteadily and the rasping of my breath as I tried to stay quiet. I'm sure that's all the other two could hear as well despite the heightened senses of a vampire.

 

With a bang the door burst into pieces knocking back the vampire that had been standing near and forcing the other to draw me into his body shielding my chest and head from any mortal injury seeing as something such as shrapnel would only maim him, but kill me. Harsh white light flooded into the room as three bodies came into the door frame the last one holding a large flashlight which produced the cold light. Quickly getting to his feet the vampire furthest away from me immediately began to attack only to be thrown back and a sickening crunch resonated from his direction. I began to tremble again, fear racking over my body.

 

"Stop!" The one who kneeled in front of me turned slightly to stare into the bright light. "We wish no harm leave us be!" He pleaded the offenders for mercy even lifting his hands up as much as he could as he shielded my body with his, obstructing most of my view. There was an eerie silence that surrounded us as the three decide our fate. The largest of the three figures raise his arm a threatening device clasped calmly in his hand.

 

"Why should we pity you?" The deep voice grumbled the rhetorical question, his voice dripping with malice. "Why should-"

 

“please I beg of you we are only hiding we do not wish to fight that is why-" two daggers plunged their way into his back and he faltered hissing at the pain. The third dagger which had been thrown by the one on the left ripped through my arm without grace tarring a loud cry from my throat as blood began to gush out. I squeezed my eyes shut, biting my lips to keep from screaming. I pressed my right hand to the wound on my upper left arm. I assumed the dagger had nicked a vein seeing as the blood refused to stop its flow despite my efforts.

 

"Silence while the commander speaks" it was a female but her voice was just as demanding as the other man’s and even held an air of authority to it.

 

"Calm your temper" the man she had referred to spoke again breaking the silence.

 

"Val, are you alright?" I heard the laboured breath of my companion as he tried to glance back at the body he tried to protect.

 

"I'm fine" my voice was slower my fear slowly leaking out of my body through the wound, calming me, nudging my conscious to follow my fear out.

 

"You" the shadowed man’s voice purred "you're human. Come with us and we'll save you from them" he reached towards me offering a cold hand. A whimper escaped my lips as my voice failed me. The vampire In front of me stiffened.

 

"No!" He shouted barring his fangs " he is one if us, one of us! You cannot take him!" Without hesitation the main man, the commander as the female referred to him as, drew his gun and shot the being In front of me. He collapsed in a heap, motionless. A blood curdling scream tore from my throat as the two that flanked the commander approached me, grasping my flailing body and dragging me upwards as I tried to run. My screams turned into yelps, gasps and whimpers as a wave of dizziness laid itself upon me, bringing black spots in my vision and weakening me considerably. They yanked my arms behind me tying them and I winced as the wound on my left arm continued to ooze blood. I was almost limp in their arms but I refused to stop wriggling and shouting whenever my energy permitted it. A bag of some sort was slipped over my head plunging me into a false darkness. They pulled me along and I stumbled, tripping over everything there was to trip on. I shrieked loudly as I stumbled into the person in front of me.

 

"Shut him up!" The man I ran into shouted and before I knew it something crashed into my head sending flashes of light to my eyes. My body gave out and I crumpled to the floor. Exhaling I began to close my eyes. The pain was fading away and everything was quiet and peaceful. A small part of me urged me to get up, wake up and run; but I couldn't. I lay there for what seemed like forever but in reality was mere seconds, until finally my eyelids came together, cutting off whatever image I could see. Soren I sent my thoughts out to him, then my mind went blank.

 

I awoke several times always in a different position. Once I was being carried, the next jostled around on a moving floor, most likely the floor of some vehicle. At last when I came to I was staring into a white ceiling surrounded by white walls. Streams of bright lights fell from above me burning my eyes, making them water and forcing me to squint. My head ached. My arm stung. I'm cold. I'm hungry. As my senses slowly came back I began to feel everything. Where am I? Painfully I turn my head ever so slightly to assess the wound on my left side. It was open and festering, as if it hadn't been treated yet. Just past my body a man dressed in the green attire of a human doctor finished preparing a needle and aimed it towards my arm.

 

My heart skipped a beat and adrenaline raced through my veins bringing my body back to life. My arm shot out knocking the needle from his hand as I hysterically screamed at him. Three others burst through the door and proceeded to grab at me, only to have their face kicked in by one of my flailing limbs that whipped around every which way catching not only other bodies but also the strange instruments that filled the room. I was panicking, I didn't want to scream and flail but there was nothing else I could do. Maybe, just maybe there was someone close by who was on my side that would hear me. Maybe my desperate flails could distract them just long enough for my comrades to arrive. They never did. The doctor gave out shouts to restrain me and they did. Laying themselves over my limbs and chest in an effort to keep me still. The doctor cooed at me trying to calm me as he drove the needle into my arm. This needle was different than one he had tried to prick me with before, its contents were blue instead of clear and I could clearly see the difference in size. Reality dragged my mind back as I started choking. I could taste vinegar and traces of disgusting spices that filled the back of my throat as if I was swallowing the concoction even though nothing entered my mouth. I squirmed one final time arching my back against the white table that held me above the floor. Tears filled my eyes, blurring my vision. As tears cascaded down my cheeks I looked to the doctor, starring him down with pleading eyes until I once again lost consciousness.

2: Chapter 2

My eyes slowly opened and began adjusting to the light. Thin cool blankets wrapped around me, enveloping me in a tight embrace as if trying to comfort me with its lifeless force. White walls surrounded me again bringing back memories from the last time I awoke. Sitting up with enough force to burn my aching body I looked around the room, not before pausing a moment for the dizziness to recede. Unlike the time before, this room was much more open, the bed rested against the back wall while the rest of the small but spacious room laid empty, void of any object save for the toilet in the corner. I glanced around the room that consisted of three white walls while the forth was covered by a large mirror that stretched from corner to corner, ceiling to floor. I stared at myself in the oversized mirror. It had been so long since I’d seen myself in such bright harsh light. My skin was beyond pale, almost blending into the walls behind me. My fair ivory hair was long and wild from tossing and turning in my slumber. Next I stared into my eyes which were red from stress and dry from sleep. Their moss green colour stood out against my face with a frightening, almost inhuman contrast.

 

The brightness of the room caused nothing but pain for my untrained eyes but as I reached up to rub them a throbbing pain in left arm drew my attention away from the ghost like figure in the mirror. Gently I poked at the wound through the thin blue dress like cover that draped over my meager body. I looked at my hand. I could see it. Finally I could see everything in front of me and suddenly all I wanted was darkness. Soren. I shoved the memories from the last night to the back of my head. I didn’t want to see that girls lifeless face ever again.

 

I rested my hands on my lap to keep them from shaking, as I did so, I noticed a small black band around my right wrist. Its sleek design made it almost impossible to feel. It was light and fit snuggly against my small wrist with no visible clasp to be seen. I could barely tell it was there; a faint blue light was visible only when I looked at it from a certain angle.

 

What is this place? I felt the fear begin to grow again and I looked around for an exit. Why hadn’t I done this in the first place? There were no windows like usual but on the wall just left of the floor length mirror there was a thick metal door with a window and no handles just a small slot. Pulling the blankets off me I swung my legs over the uncomfortable bed and stood, taking a step towards freedom from this bright box, but as soon as I lifted my foot my body gave way. I crashed to the floor with a sickening slap that echoed throughout the room. Cursing at myself I felt my legs tremble from the exertion and I had to force my eyes to open fighting against the urge to pass out.

 

I couldn’t tell how long I laid there trying to collect myself but it only seemed like a moment when a loud voice suddenly erupted behind the thick door and it thunked open. A woman dressed in a lab coat stomped through despite the calls form the men behind her. She stood with her arms on her hips and her long brown hair tied in a high ponytail swinging behind her. She stared down at me with dangerously curious eyes as the men rushed in after her shouting.

“Ma’am you can’t go in! It could be dangerous! We haven’t got the blood test back to determine-!” As soon as they saw me they ceased their shouting and immediately retreated back beyond the safety of the doorway. A moment passed before they deemed themselves far enough away from me to be safe and began talking again, although more than often they would glance at me to make sure I hadn’t moved. “Ma’am please reconsider. The subject has yet to be assessed, so we can’t possibly-”

 

“Oh shut it.” She snapped at them and approached me. “Look at him, he can barely stand.” Kneeling she wrapped her arm around my back helping me to sit up. Let go of me. I had meant to say it aloud but my body wouldn’t listen.

 

“It could be tricking you just like that werewolf did when he-”

 

“Oh would you stop?” The men were obviously annoying her. Who are these people? What is going on? I willed the part of my brain to stop shooting the obvious questions into my brain. Exhaustion, pain and fear were starting to wear my mind down and I didn’t need these thoughts pushing me over the edge of my sanity. I kept my head down avoiding her gaze as she hoisted me up so I was sitting on the bed; half slumped over and exhausted even though I had just woke up.

 

“Ma’am” The men tried once more before being shot down by the authoritarian woman who sat beside me with her arm firmly around my back.

 

“Boys please, quit your useless advances we are getting nowhere. Now unless you want the subject” she spat the word out in disgust “to die and have me blame it on you, go and get some food for him before he passes out.” She waited a moment before waving the two men off “oh and bring some variety we don’t know what he likes.” The other scientists paused for a moment before closing the door and locking it with a heavy clunk.

 

The woman and I sat in silence for a few seconds until she opened up her lab coat and produced a strange device.

 

“Alright now sit up straight.” I glared at the strange device and shifted away as far as I could, fear creeping its way into my veins again. “Calm down it’s alright, this only measures your blood pressure; it’s nothing sharp or bad.” She presented the device for me to inspect. A long moment passed as she waited patiently for me to allow her to touch me. Finally I took my eyes away from the device and looked away avoiding her face. Leave me alone. I just want to go back home, back to the darkness that welcomed me and never called me an “it” and ever ran away from me.

 

“Okay I just need your arm.” She lightly grabbed my arm and shuffled closer to me. With care she gently pushed my arm up, forcing me to sit up straighter. Slowly she wrapped the long thick strap around my upper right arm; a tube hung from the strap and ended with a small bulb that rested in her hand. “Alright you’re going to feel a bit of pressure.” She began pumping the bulb until the strap became tighter and tighter. My curiosity had made me turn to watch the process and soon the tightness began to hurt but she didn’t stop. I gasped and brought my other hand to the device and picked at it furiously. Take it off!

 

“Don’t touch it.” She smacked my hand away and I waited body tense. “Okay” She looked at her watch as my arm tingled under the weird device. Slowly the air began to seep out and the pressure dissipated. She sighed. “Just as I thought. No wonder you can’t even stand your blood pressure is so low.” She took the strap off and folded it into her lab coat once again. As soon as she took her hand away I immediately grasped the area where it had once been and rubbed it ignoring the throbbing in my left arm.

 

“Have you never had this done before?” She waited for a reply but I ignored her turning my head away once again. Sighing she unwrapped the stethoscope from around her neck and began listening to my heart beat from both my chest and my back. “So you know what this instrument is?” I ignored her but by reflex answered in my head. Of course. I read about it in the library. Even vampires use stethoscopes; although not very often for obvious reasons. “Where are those boys with your food? Honestly I don’t know how they got hired. Real scientists would jump at the chance of examining an unknown despite the possible danger.” An unknown? I looked at her. This was the first time our eyes met. Her brown eyes were still full of curiosity and knowledge just like they were when I saw her first. Who was she? Where am I? Why am I here? What will they do to me? The questions came flooding back to me and I looked away.

 

“Your eyes are beautiful.” She waited to see if I’d reply. When I refused she continued as she put away her stethoscope. Memories of reading the medical books in the library during my free time at home came back and I felt the sadness, that had been masked by the fear, begin to reveal itself. “Oh what I would give to have your eyes. Any who, it looks like you just need some food and a good rest and then you’ll be just fine. Just some fatigue and slight anemia.” She paused once again leaning back on the bed supporting herself with two arms behind her. “This is one of our nicer rooms you know? Well I guess you wouldn’t know. That mirror right there is a two way mirror. We can see you and, well all you can see is yourself.” I looked to the mirror. All I can see is myself. That was a terrifying thought. All I can hope for is to return to the darkness. “We will be able to see everything and even if there isn’t someone watching you there’s still a camera there so if you’re in trouble we’ll know and come help you right away.” Help? It’s more like observing me and my behaviour, I am not an imbecile. The camera was for their lunch break when they couldn’t be there just in case something interesting happened. I frowned yet she continued. “There’s a toilet in that corner; sorry about the lack of privacy though. Hey, why the frown?” I didn’t reply; only looked down. “Are you wondering why you’re here?” I looked at her again and for a moment she only stared back, until she in turn, frowned also. “Can you speak? Or even understand me?” I looked away. “You must.” She smiled again as I peeked at her.

 

“You were brought here by some pretty sketchy people.” Yet again I looked at her, surprised by her calmness despite my stubborn refusal to cooperate with her. The people who brought me here? Now I’m interested. This was something I needed to know and this time she was the one who didn’t look at me. “They are an underground group who works separate from the Bloody Cross or any other organizations really. They lie, steal, cheat and use violence to solve their problems whether if it’s for revenge or for greed. They believe all the supernatural races to be a fault for everything wrong in the world. It’s discrimination really. We were surprised when we got the call; usually they kill anyone they capture. Makes me wonder why they spared you.” Kill? That’s why so many died that night? The ones who protected me? The girl? The living breathing girl? The girl who had friends and a home and a family and a conscious? Just because her heart doesn’t beat you would take away the life she was most likely born into, one where she didn’t choose to be a vampire. She died because of hatred? Selfishness and loathing? It makes me angry that people could do that and regret nothing. I clenched my teeth and willed myself to not cry. I’m not a baby anymore I can’t keep crying, I’m almost seventeen.

 

“They said you appeared human but they weren’t sure. They wouldn’t kill a human so you’re lucky; well at least not an innocent human. They told us that the vampires protected you. That they died for you while screaming that you were one of them.” I remember. How could I have forgotten? I felt the tears come before they even fell. After the first only more came, falling one after the other. Soren! Where are you? I want to go home. I want to feel the darkness and see the smiling face of the girl who I barely knew who died in front of me. The one I never had the pleasure of meeting. The thoughts I had held came flooding into my mind all at once screaming over each other demanding attention. I squeezed my eyes shut and slumped forward my mouth locked open in a silent scream.

 

I couldn’t see the woman but I was sure she was watching me as I gasped and sobbed crying silently in the room but screaming in my head making my body tremble. I felt her hand rub my back gently as I continued.

 

When the tears finally decided to stop I breathed heavily, wiping away at my soak cheeks attempting to dry them. The woman stared at me with a look of sadness. I could tell she pitied me but there was something else, something in her eyes that told me deep down she really felt sorry for me. She reminds me of Soren. I laughed at the strange thought but it only came out as a choked cough. Sighing I stared at the floor.

 

“Why?” I whispered asking myself more than anybody else. Why am I here? Why can’t I leave? Why can’t I go home? Why won’t the darkness come? Why am I not dead? The questions still flowed into my head but calmer now, and much quieter.

 

“What did you say?” She looked me in the eyes as I brought my head up to gaze at her with tear stained eyes.

 

“Why.” It looked as if she was about to say something to me when one of the previous men opened the door and brought in a tray of food.

 

“Kelly I brought the things you asked for.” This time he walked more confidently into the room. Kelly. That was her name. Sighing she thanked him and he quickly made his exit. Taking the tray she stood and placed it beside me where she had only just been sitting.

 

“Looks like there’s fruit, bread, sausage, cheese and some sugar cubes here for you. Eat as much as you’d like ok? But you have to eat. I am a doctor and that’s what I say is right for you.” She stood and waited. A doctor? I thought she said she was a scientist. I took me a moment to realise she was waiting for me to eat. With a small glance at the food I looked up at her. “Look it’s not poisoned or anything, there’s no reason for us to kill you.” Maybe it would be better if they did kill me. Then no secrets from our clan could ever be spilt. “See? Harmless.” She chewed a piece of fruit and swallowed; anxiously waiting for me to do the same. When I started a staring contest with the food she groaned and took a piece of bread and shoved it forcefully into my mouth. Surprised I chewed and swallowed almost choking. As soon as the first bit entered my stomach I realized just how hungry I was. Gratefully I started to eat the fruit; it was full of much more flavour than any of the fruit I had tasted at home. I slowed my pace at eating and realized I was alone in the room. When had she left?

 

I only ate the bread and fruit, everything else I left alone. The sausage disgusted me, almost all meat did.  Meat reminded me of the way some of the nobles treated all humans. Food; something they could take advantage of and play with, even torture. Ever since their killings became more noticeable the vampires continue to get more annoyed every century. Hiding their instincts to kill and devour, just like the humans and their meat. Even some of the most trusted workers in the mansion who were aware of my heritage saw me this way. Just a meal that wasn’t theirs. They could only stare and lick their lips like most of the monsters that crawled in the streets unable to hold on to their sanity.

 

I pulled my knees up to my chest and curled myself into a ball shutting my eyes with the false hope that maybe when I opened them next, I’d be back in my room and unable to see the hands that now rested on my knees. Back in the searing heat of the gaze of those who wanted to devour me. Back to the warmth of standing in front of Soren. Back to the tasteless fruit. Back in the darkness. Back home.