Preface

This world was made for humans. They are the most intelligent creatures on this planet and when it was created, God gave them dominion over all the earth and its inhabitants, every creeping thing. Or so that is what they would have you believe.

1. VISITOR

It had been 15 years since Didyme had seen her brother. He was 22 when he disappeared and she was only five. His departure had ruined their family name. He had been engaged to the daughter of the town's wealthiest man, Cornelius. When he disappeared rumors spread that he did not find his bride attractive and would rather give up all his possessions and the dowry than to be tied to her. Cornelius was outraged and in revenge he made it so that Didyme's family lost their good standing in the community.

Didyme watched their family riches disappear as people refused to patron her father's business. Avram, her father, tried to console Cornelius by telling him that his son, Aro, would never do a thing like this if he had a choice. That he must be dead because anything short of that would never keep him away from Cornelius' lovely daughter. It did not matter to Cornelius, his heart had been hardened.

Didyme's mother, Phaedra, was so sorrowful that her only daughter had turned 20 and still had no suitors. This, of course, was due to their ruined reputation. Didyme was a lovely thing to look upon and she caught the eye of all the local men, but none of them dared to incur the wrath of Cornelius and risk being ruined the way Avram had been.

"Damn this town all the people in it!" Avram yelled one evening after returning from another unproductive day at work. "I swear, we'll just leave! We'll just pack everything and go to Athens. Get a fresh start; no one will know us there."

Didyme was used to hearing her father's rants; he had been talking about moving to Athens for several years now. Avram was not a man of action.

"Calm down, dear," Phaedra soothed him. "You know how you get when you're all worked up."

Avram sat down at their dilapidated dinner table. He had sold their fancy one a few years back and told his daughter that it was better to have a decrepit table with food on it than an elegant one to just stare at. She did not mind. Didyme was a generally happy person, riches or not, and her happiness was quite infectious.

"And what have you been up to today, child?" Avram asked his daughter although she was hardly a child at all.

"Mm, I've been working on a new piece," she shyly admitted.

"You should hear it Avram, it's quite wonderful," Phaedra bragged.

"After dinner then," he smiled at his daughter.

There wasn't much to eat so it didn't take long to get to Didyme's performance. They settled into the sitting room and her parents watched proudly as she used her bow to caress the violin and weave her delicate fingers over the strings. It was a sweet and gentle tune. Phaedra had taught her daughter how to play and years before had also taught her son the art. Watching Didyme play would often remind her of him and it would break her heart.

That night, Didyme sat in front of her mirror and brushed out her long chestnut hair. She studied her reflection in the mirror. She had brown eyes and soft features. She looked at her lips and wondered if anyone would ever kiss them. She put the brush down and handled the cross that hung from her neck. It was silver with red jewels imbedded in it. It was one of the last, fine possessions her family owned. When she had offered it to her father to sell it he refused. He still wanted her to feel as if she were a princess. It also had significant meaning for her family. They used to worship the Greek gods, Zeus, Hera, and the many others. It was only after Aro's disappearance that her family turned to Christianity. The red jeweled cross was a symbol of her devotion to the new religion.

She blew out the candle and laid herself into her bed. She began to drift as she imagined a life in Athens and falling in love with someone who did not care about her family's past. Her eyes flittered to a close and her consciousness was almost gone when she heard the creak in the floorboard. The lids of her eyes flew open.

"Who's there?" she whispered in a harsh tone. Her eyes searched the darkness but found no light.

"I'd forgotten about that board," an unfamiliar man's voice spoke, right next to her ear.

Fear shot through her and she sucked in a breath of air, ready to scream but before the sound could escape her lips ice cold fingers clamped over her mouth and held her still.

"Shhh," he whispered. "We don't want to wake up mother and father do we?" As instantly as he spoke a match flared in the darkness. He used his free hand to light the candle on her bed stand. She looked up at the intruders face and saw him for the first time. He had long black hair and pale skin. He was remarkably beautiful. He looked familiar but she couldn't remember where she had seen him before. Then it clicked, he looked like her father.

"If I move my hand, will you be a good girl and remain silent?" the stranger asked her. She nodded her head in agreement. He lifted his fingers and she did not scream.

"Who are you?" she asked quietly.

"Don't you recognize your big brother?" he smiled his razor sharp teeth at her.

Her mouth fell open and she studied his face for a second time. In the dim light she thought she saw red in his eyes but convinced herself that she was mistaken. "Aro?" she asked.

"You remembered," he smiled. "You were so young when I left. I wasn't sure if you even knew my name."

"Mother speaks of you often; she would never let me forget."

"Is that so?" Aro asked, pleased. He took Didyme's hand into his and pressed his palm against hers. He closed his eyes and seemed deep in thought.

"Aro?" Didyme asked, breaking his concentration. "What happened to you? Where did you go?" His leaving had practically destroyed her family, she felt she deserved an answer.

The corners of his mouth turned down just slightly as he answered, "Someone took me away a very long time ago and I didn't think I could ever come back. I never wanted to hurt any of you and it was safer for you if I stayed away."

Confusion filled her eyes as she tried to understand.

"But I'm here now, Didyme. There is no need to worry. I will make you safe."

"We have to tell mother and father!" she spoke with sudden excitement. "They'll be so pleased that you've returned!" She began to get out of bed but Aro held her in place.

"I haven't returned, Didyme," he said, all cheerfulness gone.

"What do you mean? Of course you have."

"I'm here to take you with me. I'm here to show you a life more wonderful than your human mind can possibly imagine. You will never know pain again. Age and disease will never take its hold on you. You will be as powerful as the gods."

Before she could respond Aro swooped her up into his arms and was out the window with her. He jumped from roof to tiled roof so fast that the world around her became a blur. She was getting dizzy so she buried her face into his marble hard chest. She was only clothed in her night gown and the cold night air was getting to her. She pressed herself against her brother but that only made it worse. When they had finally stopped moving she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She was in a cemetery. Aro walked her down into a sepulcher.

"What are we doing here?" Didyme asked, fear shaking her voice and silent tears streaking her face.

"Do you trust me?" Aro asked with conviction in his voice. She was still looking around the room when he pulled her chin so that she would only see him. "Do you trust me?" he repeated with his sweet breath in her face. She paused for a moment, and solemnly nodded yes.