Prologue
For those of you who don't believe in vampires then think again. This is little knowledge of them in the human world they are long since forgotten but they are not lost. In the depth of you worst nightmares something stirs, outside the reality that you have grown accustomed to but never the less very real and deadly. It won't be long before vampires crawl out of the woodwork, monster awake from under the bed and the closet door between them you and them will be shattered and will never close again. Domination is the fate of humanity but how that will come about has not yet been foreseen.
Vampires are the alpha predator; the elite among centuries of inhuman evolution are the most powerful in this realm of fiends. People think of vampires as a myth, a story to scare children, with no truth or evidence. Have you ever wondered why there is no evidence? Dracula is a legend, staked, but his name lives on. Vampire's still follow in his stead, lead onwards by his example bloody glory. Van Helsing is in his grave and the bloodline of this great family, the Counts of Dracula has gradually increased.
Chapter 1
The ship was riding over the stormy sea as if some cursed madman captained it. It would not be long before the lashing wind and waves took their toll. A watery graved was in store for the company aboard. Strange, that how below this ripping wild surface a peaceful grave would form surrounded by the watery surge and swell. Towering about the sea mist stood an impenetrable fortress. The hale slated down on this solid grey rock as if it were rose petals. Though the wind howled around it the top of the spiralling tower stood far above the cry of the gale.
From the highest window of the tallest tower a figure was watching the ship in its desperate struggle to cling onto the rope of life. Hélène sighed in despair as the ship was slowly ripped apart and sank to the black depths. No ship, try as it might could ever reach the isles for they were protected. Not hidden from view but completely unreachable to those who where not welcome. This was not the first ship to be smashed on the rocks of Lilith. She turned away from the window, her face was as unreadable as the pane of glass it had faced seconds ago. This window was her only view of the outside world, like Rapunzal in her tower she waited to be rescued. "I have to get out of here," she murmured her thoughts turning to the far off places she wished to see, place names and descriptions that had been whispered and bandied round the school like gold. That she had collected throughout the long years of watching and waiting.
In the midst of these thoughts the bell rang shrilly breaking the silence in the tower. Light poured from the window as day began to break over the tops of the waves; which had calmed in to a spiritless whisper. Lifted from her thoughts Hélène scrambled out of the window seat and practically tumbled through the door to begin her descent down the long flight of stairs. The banister gleamed enticingly but it was too dangerous to risk sliding down it again. She could not afford any more reprimands this week.
She hurried into the bustling dining hall still thinking of the fate of the sailors. The hall that lay before her was not so much a dining hall as a cavern. A meaty aroma rose from one side of the room, which Hélène sniffed with delight. However there was a sinking feeling in her stomach as she glanced as the faces of the people within. There was one thing wrong in this vast cavern, one rather unusual detail. All of the inhabitants were girls, and all were devastatingly beautiful. Not just pretty, breathtakingly stunning all in different ways, but all had an unearthly gleam to their eyes. However no one knew this was odd, apart from Hélène. She knew what it was like on the outside beyond the sea. The last escapade had proved it. Coming back now after such an enlightening exploit took her breath away. In Athens the girls and women were dull, plain, ordinary (what you could normal), but these girls she thought were the sort to die for. Hair of all colours, glossily shining in the candlelight, eyes sparkled and all were tall and healthy. It was anything but normal and very disconcerting. Hélène stood in the entrance for a few seconds but it was long enough to be noted and she noticed with a shiver that Madame's eye had fallen on her for a moment too long to be safe. Hélène moved gracefully to the line to receiver her rations. After being scrutinized by the cook she carried her tray to the periphery of the rows of tables to eat and too observe. Although Hélène pretended not to notice, it was her that was truly being observed by all the students, the many eyes upon her made her knees quake she did not realise it but she surpassed them in beauty and in this world that was something to stare at. She could here them whispering her name like leaves being rustled by a breeze. Not that any of the other girls knew what that sounded like, only Hélène had ever seen trees.
Hélène Romarin had been at the Academy ever since she could remember - a continual nightmare of rules, regulations and Viewings. Her first and earliest memory was of a dark haired, sinister man looking at her eyes and teeth with a cold precision. Looking back she could still feel the tingle of his steely hands on her jaw. Not a pleasant memory for a five year old. None of the other girls could remember much other than their life at the Academy and no one knew anything of the man that so frequently haunted Hélène's dreams. Distracted from her musings, Hélène lifted her head to the crisp but sonorous voice of Madame. "As all of you know, all but one of course" as she said this her gaze fell on Hélène and her eyes glinted in the candlelight. "The date has been set for another Viewing, this one will be different from the others for He is coming." An involuntary gasp arose from her attentive yet vapid audience. She had the room's complete attention even Hélène was interested by this new development. "Girls this could be the most important day of your life so substantial preparations need to be made, see you tutors if you are unsure. If there is any riotous behaviour in the next few days there will be consequences." Backs straightened and the audience hushed immediately and retained their composure as if the devil himself was this very moment studying them. Hélène kept her face down, not wanting to show any feelings to mob. Madame turned as though to sit down, but as an after though turned again "I would like to see Hélène in my apartment after tutorials". A murmur resumed among the girls, all of them glancing her way. Hélène went red with embarrassment, she could brave any storm or even Madame but this group of unforgiving girls still terrified her, even now.
Hélène had only ever had one friend and that had not lasted long. She missed the comforting companionship given by a friend, the reassurance and backing, Myrtle had given her that, a kindred spirit they did everything together. However after their third escape they were separated and she had never seen Myrtle again. Those few months with her had been magical, secretly swimming in the sea and escaping to the mainland. As the deadline drew nearer Hélène's attempts to get out became more and more hopeless her thoughts often turned to Myrtle. Her quick laughter and disdain for the other girls would have been very welcome in the past lonely months.
After another solitary rambling over the castle gate Hélène came to a stop outside the gothic arched doorway. She did not have tutorial, deemed too precious or too dangerous to mix so intimately with the other girls. Hélène had the distinct impression that it was the latter reason (well she hoped it was). With dread, weighing down her feet and almost rooting her to the floor she made the monumental step into the interior rooms of Madame's apartment. She was sitting behind a heavy oak desk nonchalantly penning a letter, the room seemed to fit Madame exactly, sharp and harsh, like her features, with nothing remotely welcoming. Hélène stood at the very edge, right by the door, waiting for a signal to enter the room fully. Then finally Madame looked up, Hélène had a strange feeling in her stomach, as Madame's gaze, as always, seemed to go straight through her. She put down her pen "I think you know what I asked you here for", the silence that followed this was crushing, even her heartbeat was deafening. "No, not really" replied Hélène trying to seem as defiant as possible. "I imagine you have some romantic notion of another runaway, don't try to hide it" she was so sceptical of months of planning and effort that Hélène fought to control her emotions flushing her face scarlet. "Is He coming?" she asked cautiously, daring to look directly at Madame. "Yes, or his father, it makes no difference to you. Make sure you are prepared to depart when they arrive. Unless something truly terrible occurs you will leave us and go with Him." Hélène felt the tears well up in her eyes and turned to leave the room with a new plan and resolution to leave. Her fate was not yet sealed.