Chapter 1

Ever since she was a little girl she had heard the tales of old. Unwritten rules that the people of Romania must abide by to survive. Although she had never believed such foolish superstition, she would not outright criticize her grandmother for drilling them into her head. She knew that her grandmother lived and breathed by the old ways, and she would not be the one to destroy her beliefs.

"Natalie, would you please come in here?" spoke a hush voice from the sitting room.

Natalie stood up and sighed. Grandmother had been acting quite strange for the past few weeks. She had been looking at Natalie as if she couldn't get enough, as if she was never going to see her again. Natalie brushed that idea to the back of her mind, preposterous. Maybe her old age was starting to catch up to her? No, that couldn't be it. She was a sharp as a fox, and for sixty five years of age, was quite agile as well.

"Yes? Hold on one moment! I just have to finish dressing" shouted Natalie from her upstairs bedroom.

She quickly threw open her dresser drawer and grabbed whatever was at the top of the pile. As she threw on her black pants she realized that she had grabbed her mother's black and red corset. She had been looking for that for ages! It was one of the few things her mother had left behind when she disappeared all those years ago.

After lacing up her black boots she observed herself in the mirror. She brushed her unruly brown curly hair away from her face and sighed. She looked the corset over and wished to god that her mother would return to her someday. She was only able to have five years with her before she vanished out of thin air.

Natalie was thrust into a memory of when she had turned 18 years old just a few weeks ago. She was finally allowed to go into the local tavern to have a drink with most of the townsfolk. Natalie was sheltered for most of her life by her grandmother, kept in their family's castle for schooling and such. But not that day. Freedom was secured firmly in her grasp. As Natalie opened the door to the tavern the entire room fell into an eerie hushed silence.

The bartender looked up from cleaning his glass and gasped.

"Natalie? Is…..no it can't be?"

Natalie gracefully waltzed through the bar earning quite a few lustful glances from the men populating the tavern. As Natalie sat down the bartender immediately walked over.

"It has been quite some time since we have seen your face Natalie. How long has it been? You must have been at least 8 when I saw you last. No I do not expect you to remember me, but we all remember you."

Natalie took a shot of brandy from the mans glass seated next to her and smirked.

"The word overprotected comes to mind when I think of my grandmother. The old Romanian superstitions of these so called vampires still have her at her wits end. She believes that they still walk the earth, but I cannot say the same."

The bartender narrowed his eyes, "Your grandmother is wise to believe so, just because you have never seen a vampire Natalie does not mean that they never existed. It would be best for you to watch your back. Your grandmother fought them you know, Dra…"

He was cut off by a loud bang coming from the door. There stood Grandmother in all her glory. A deep rage penetrated her eyes, something Natalie had never seen before. The bartender tried to make light of this current awkward situation.

"Ah! Ms. Anna Valerious! We have not been graced with your presence for quite some time. Please take a seat, order whatever you like it's on the house."

Grandmother slowly walked over to the bar and stared deep into the barman's eyes.

"How dare you tell tales that are not yours to share? For eighteen years I have kept Natalie safe. Safe from my daughter's fate. I will NOT let my granddaughter come to harm. Natalie stand up, we're leaving."

She slowly stood up taking in her grandmothers words. Safe from my daughter's fate. What is that supposed to mean? It was nothing new to hear something cryptic coming from her grandmother's mouth. Natalie had been trying to secure answers about her mother's whereabouts for many years, but her grandmother had always brushed it aside with the age old comment, when you're older you shall understand.

She was quickly thrust back into reality when she heard her grandmother's voice.

"Natalie, would you please come down here before I develop any more grey hair?"

"Sorry! Coming!"

She quickly rushed downstairs. Running past the armory and the many pictures of past Valerious family members, she finally found her grandmother sitting in an old rocking chair looking as old and frail as she ever had. It scared Natalie a bit to see her grandmother, the great Anna Valerious in such a state.

"Natalie please sit down. I….I think it is time I owe you some answers. Last weeks little altercation at the tavern has made me realize what a fool I have been, keeping you in the dark for all these years."

Natalie titled her head to the side in curiosity. Was Grandmother….crying? No it cannot be. In her 18 years of life she had never once seen her cry. Not even when mom disappeared.

"I understand that you believe the old Romanian tales of monsters to be completely ridicules. Tales of monster hunters and vampires. Natalie, you must look at me directly as I tell you this."

Natalie slowly raised her eyes to match her grandmothers.

"They are completely and utterly real, they fill your past, and unfortunately I fear they fill your future. I have failed in protecting you Natalie, and for that I am sorry."

Daaaaaaaa dum. This is just the beginning. Just a little pre-story before the ball really gets rolling.

SO- Anna Valerious, yes Anna is alive and kicking and grew to be an old lady, we'll get to the how's and why's later ;D.

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and my muse is a tubby little fellow.

The more reviews I get, the faster I can crank out some more schtuff.

Although flames will be laughed at and used to warm up my cold winter hands. ;)

-Belle Soir