Transylvania - Romania- 1996
The air was thick with smoke; the sky dark as the ash fell slowly from the fog. The vast land beyond the still burning town was empty, aside from a lone hooded figure, running gracefully through the darkness. She stops half way across the field and turns to look back. The glow of the distant blaze reflects off the tears in her eyes. She holds the bundle in her arms, closer to her chest.
'Forgive me, my love.' she whispers to the air, before turning on her heels and running towards the river on the edge of the land. She stops at the edge of the river. It's not deep, perhaps it would just about reach under her arms; but the reeds on the either bank are long and dense. On the other side of the water the circus tent is being taken down, readying itself to leave the country, leave the horror.
Her sharp ears pick up the sounds of footsteps behind her and she knows she doesn't have a lot of time. Holding her bundle close to her chest she parts the reeds and steps into the water. The cold hits her like a knife but she has felt worse pain in her long life and she knows there is more pain to come. Hidden by the reeds she waits for a moment as the mob finally catches up with her. They search for a while; guns, knives and fire in their hands. The girl sits quietly; her black hair hiding her from their gaze. Frustrated, the mob regroups and moves on into the forest further down the river.
Content that, for now, the danger had past, she slips from the reeds and wads her way to the other side of the river. Moving her way once again into the reeds, she finally manages to reach the bank and places the bundle on dry land. Her blue eyes soften as she hums a lullaby and reaches out a finger, letting the small hand grasp it. The babies eyes look up at her and meet her gaze; a look of knowing on its small chubby face. Her heart aches as though she were dying all over again.
Two figures emerge from the darkness, walking hand in hand along the bank, staring at the distant smoke trail. Both in their mid twenties; a well built man with jet black hair and a woman with soft red. These were the two she had been waiting for. As they draw closer she looks down once again at the babe; bringing her lips down to its forehead as the tears break from her eyes. Removing her finger from the tiny hand, she retreats into the water.
At the loss of contact, the baby begins to cry and the young couple hurry closer. The woman bends and retrieves the bundle. The man kneels beside her; an arm wrapped around her shoulder. They both look at each other before looking into the distance at the burning town. The woman coos the baby into sleep as they head back to the tent.
The eyes in the water take a final look before allowing the water the swallow them.
As they step into the light the man reaches out and touches the needle work on the edge of the damp blanket; reading out the name so lovingly written.
'Richard.'
A/N So a little different from my usual style, I usually try and stick as much to the original DC story as possible, however, this story has been a serious distraction for the last few months, so I needed to finally get it written down! After writing the first couple of chapters I decided I would upload it and see if you guys liked it. The Dracula I have based this story on is the TV series starting Johnathon Rhys Meyers. Here is the prologue, let me know in the reviews if you are intrigued and would like me to continue this story. Until next time, Karin xx