It had always been this way, for as long as the village had existed. The people had coincided with the vampire race peacefully thanks to a special treaty made long ago by the king of the realm. It was a simple, yet effective solution and both human and vampire were eager to make an alliance in this and stop the long years of war and death. However, it would require some form of sacrifice. Some saw this sacrifice as heart wrenching while others saw it as nothing more than another stage in life, but neither party saw it as unnecessary. Today the terms of the treaty would be enacted once again and the chosen would thus be delivered unto the the gates of the Vampire kingdom.
The walls were high, built long ago in the time of war. The sturdy concrete bricks were littered with traces of gunpowder, forever marking them as signs of great turmoil of the past events that plagued the two races. Only the top of a tower could be seen from the ground below. It was arched to a point, deep black in color, almost as if it were solid iron. That peek served as a grizzly reminder that the chosen would never get to see their loved ones again. Once crossing the threshold into the vampire kingdom, that was it. They would be forever cut off from the human race entirely. As a doll it was important to please your vampire master. Thus, the need to return and associate with ones former life was unneeded and eliminated.
Now, in vampire society, the sexes were split apart. Female and male vampires only came together under certian conditions such as the need to create children to increase their specially calculated numbers. Once the males reached a special age they were sent away to one of the many male sectors of the races wide kingdom, to which they would then receive a doll. This wall closed off one such sector. A male sector to be precise, thus male dolls were chosen by the village leader and now presented to the parishioner of the vampire kingdom. It was dolls that had become the solution to ending years of war. Dolls shared the long life span of the vampire they were bonded with, and a more resilient body thus enabling the vampire to have one source of food for their entire life, and not have to hunt multiple humans.
After a person was chosen to be worthy of being a doll, celebration took place for the next three days with plenty of food, dance, and alcohol. The chosen would say their goodbyes to their friends and loved ones before dressing in their best clothes and heading down to the great wall. This practice had become known as the parade of dolls. Some through praises at this time while others cried. It was believed by many of the villagers that to have someone of your family chosen was a great honor and would bring lots of luck and good fortune to those you left behind. Roderich however, did not see it this way. He saw it as a barbaric act that although very necessary for their time, was not something that should be celebrated but mourned.
He stood now, at the head of the crowd along with the other chosen facing the tall iron gates that would soon open bringing them into a whole new world. He sighed heavily and glanced behind him meeting the teary emerald eyes of the woman he had been content to someday marry. Her hands were folded under her chin as she stared at him with a mournful gaze, her lip quivering in sadness. She had been this way since the news came. The only one he knew that was as depressed about this decision as he. They spent all the time they could in each others arms since the letter was received and now, they would part forever. Roderich turned his attention back to the great gates before them. He couldn't bring himself to stare into those sad orbs any longer.
"Attention everyone," a deeply harsh voice rang out above the chatter. Everyone silenced as a well built male with shaggy blonde hair stepped in front of them. He wore a tight black jacket and black pants complete with thick boots built for the terrain of combat. His cold green eyes ran over the line of chosen standing in front of him. His face looked as if he had never learned to smile. Strong, and angular with a muscled jawline. Rodrick new this man well. His name was Vash and he was married to a tiny woman that used to live as a maid in the house of the Edelstein's for some time until she was cast out for an unknown reason. Vash took her in and quickly became enemies of Rodrick's family.
The brunette wondered if it was that reason that Vash took this particular job. Foreseeing the transfer of the chosen unto their vampire neighbors. It was this position that helped to influence the village leader. In his mind, Vash was solely to blame for him being here. Although Roderich new that there was no possible way he would ever figure out if that were in fact true or not. Still, the possibility of such a thought was enough for the condemned man to pass hasty judgment in order to calm his own fearful mind.
"We give thanks to our chosen," Vash bellowed loudly causing Roderich to flinch slightly. "For it is they who make the sacrifice and keep the peace between our great nations." He paused a moment to swallow. "We will forever honor your memory." With that he turned and paced over to the tall door. Raising a fist he knocked on a thin piece of wood, roughly the size of someone's hand. The wood quickly slid open and Vash said something inaudible to the crowed then he stepped back.
It was only a moment before a loud creak rang out through the still air. The great doors were opening. As the thick black pieces slowly slid apart a rush of stale air passed between the growing opening hitting the chosen directly. Roderich made a face and the fellow next to him made a sound of disgust and cursed. The brunet glanced over for a moment. It was Arthur. A blonde fellow with short messy hair, not exactly honored in the village. Roderich suspected his being there was just a way for the village to justify getting rid of him and frankly the Brunette couldn't really blame them. Arthur was a known thief from an early age, though recently he had been on a crusade to atone for his past misgivings. This went unheard by many in the village and Arthur continued to be pegged as someone to be wary of.
"Step forward," Vash boomed pulling Roderich from his thoughts. "Your new life awaits." He held out his arm as a motion and the two men stepped forward. This was it. Everything inside Roderich screamed to turn and run but his body knew he couldn't. Those that refused to enter were charged with treason and hanged. Still, he momentarily thought that death might be a better fate then what awaited he and his comrade just yonder. The only thing that stayed him on his course was the thought of his family and Elizabeta becoming shunned from the village for his actions. He couldn't let that happen. Especially not Liz. With another sigh he resigned to his fate and stepped through the giant doors.
A man clothed in black waited for them on the other side. He was tall and slender, yet through the thick jacket you could still make out the contours of his muscled frame. He gazed down at them through thin rimmed glasses, a solemn expression on his chiseled face. "Come," he said in a deeply thunderous voice and turned quickly exposing his strong back to them. Both men couldn't help but gulp slightly. The aura surrounding their guide was thick and menacing, almost like a densely chilled cloud of smoke that had engulfed them.
Arthur was the first to start moving his feet, albeit at a hesitant pace. Roderich on the other hand took a second to collect himself. If he was going to go through this he was going to do it with a sense of dignity about himself. He would not show them the weakness that was plaguing the other chosen. No, he would not give them that pleasure. Taking a heavy breath he trailed after them. Observing the shorter blonde's trembling figure gave him even more pride in himself. A pride that would falter only slightly when they came about a carriage. Two giant black steads stood, in a beautiful glory, straps and harness hooked in place to the painfully angular box with a single door and window.
The vampire stopped and opened the door standing aside. "Get in," he commanded, his eyes shooting daggers at the two men. To which they both complied rather quickly. The vampire closed the door and Roderich heard a click sound, as if a lock was being closed. Then, they began to move and he breathed deeply as he let go of himself allowing his head to fall into his hands. Arthur was sitting across from him and layed a hand on his shoulder. It was strongly comforting and the brunette took pleasure in its security.
Not a word was exchanged between the two until the carriage came to a halt. It was Arthur who spoke. "Look firm ol' chap," he breathed and allowed a confident smile to curve from his lips. Roderich looked at the smaller man. He looked through his false confidence to the trembling form that had walked with him down the street. He realized that his own pride had been a small rock for the gentleman and now he was once again trying to pull that same pride out of him. Roderich nodded straightening his form and nodding, still not thinking anything to speak. Words would only fail him right now.
The familiar click came then and the door to the carriage opened wide. "We have arrived," their guide's voice echoed and the new dolls stepped out into the moonlight. A towering building stood before them, it's doors open wide revealing a hall lit by torches. "Inside," the vampire commanded and pointed. Roderich held his head high. He didn't look back at Arthur but he could feel that the other was very close behind. Perhaps he was just as afraid as before, or perhaps like Roderich he was putting on a brave face. Either way, he knew that something painful was laying just beyond. Clearing his throat and giving a determined sigh, he lead the way into the fiery darkness.