Prologue
The night was cold as the mist brushed against my tanned skin. I felt the condensation building up on my dress. It was a light pink dress with a tight top and a swishing bottom. It fell awkwardly against my lean body. You could see my ripped stocking underneath the bottom of the dress, it already being about two inches too short since I had recently been through a growth spurt. The sky was black and I had a bad feeling. I looked up at the sky only to see dark clouds covering the moon. I could hear the music coming from the inside of the boat where my entire family was gathered to celebrate my older sister, Elisa's, marriage. The party was in full swing but I had to leave to get some air when I started to feel nauseous. I stiffened as I heard someone walk up behind me; my senses were heightened as I braced myself, my knuckles growing white as my hands tightened around the railing.
I heard a soft chuckle and I relaxed instantly; I knew that laugh so well and I knew I had nothing to fear from my grandfather's guardian, Mitchell. I felt his arm wrap around me, picking me up and swinging me around. A small giggle escaped my mouth.
"My little flower, what on earth are you doing out here all by yourself?" He asked me growing serious suddenly.
"I wasn't feeling well, so I came to get some air," I responded in my small but confident girlish voice.
"What's got you troubled dearie? Are you upset that you won't be getting to see your sister much anymore?" He questioned me.
"I will miss her but I am very happy that she could find a good moroi man that still wants to be with her even though she is a Dhampir." I replied back.
I was born into a secret society of people, where there were three kinds of lives. There were the moroi. These were the highly privileged people who could control one of the elements, air, fire, earth, wind, or a newly found element: spirit. Then there were the dhampir who was the offspring of moroi and another dhampir. They were also known as the guardians, they were naturally stronger having all the strengths of a human and some advantages of the moroi. And then, there are the strigoi. The evil beings that could only be created through forcefully drinking all the blood out of anyone, or being drained of blood to the brink of death and re-fed strigoi blood.
Mitchell was one of the dampers, he was my grandfather's guardian and I had known him since I was born. As for me, I am and interesting case. My mother is a dhampir and my father is a moroi. Now you would think that I would be just another dhampir, destined to protect the people that populate my race, but no. My life could not just be simple.
I Rosemarie Hathaway am the most confusing and complicated thing you could ever imagine.
"For a little girl you sure are wise," he remarked thoughtfully.
"Thanks," I whispered, "but right now, I feel like something bad is going to happen." And as I uttered those words thee first screams began.
I stared up at Mitchell with wide eyes as glowing red eyes climbed up over the railing a few yards away from his back. My mouth hung open as the strigoi slowly made its way toward us relying more on his stealth and surprise to win the looming fight. I couldn't find my voice and I continued to listen to the frantic screams of the people I loved down stairs. Mitchell was holding my arms scanning the side of the boat.
"Shit," he muttered, "little flower I need you to listen to me." He began to say but I interrupted him.
"Behind you," I screamed. He whirled around just in time to meet his opponents attack. He caught the strigoi's fist halfway to his face and threw a right hook into the strigoi's face. For an old man he moved amazingly fast. I buried my face in my hands feeling the hot tears. Suddenly I felt hands on me and I struck out with everything I had until I heard Mitchel's voice telling me that it was okay. I shook my head frantically as I saw more red eyes climbing over the edge of the boat. Mitchel glanced over his shoulder cursing again. He grabbed my little chin in his ginormous hand and made me look up at his serious face.
"Listen to my little flower, I need you to listen to me," I nodded up at him, "When I say now I need you to hold your breath for as long as you can. Don't fight me, I'm going to take care of you, I promise." Then he grabbed me and pulled me up against his chest. I hid my face in his chest, I could feel him jogging and climbing.
"Okay little flower, now." Then the sensation hit me. We were falling. I hit something hard, but it was soft at the same time. The cold shocked me and I did what Mitchel told me to do, I held my breath.