Chapter One

My memories of David have always been very vivid. Every since I was younger, David would let me bite him when my mother wasn't looking. He wanted me to see things like his training with my mother to become a death dealer and the things he'd encounter on his missions. I remember the first time he let me bite him. He said I was too nagging and asked too many questions so he stuck out his wrist and stated, "Here it will be faster if I just show you."

I saw his memories as if they were my own. The blood that coursed through my mother, through me, was the same that coursed through David after my mother gave it willingly to revive him: the blood of Alexander Corvinus. In turn there developed a bond between us. It was only natural of me to develop feelings for him. I kept them to myself. There was always that fear of being unreciprocated and the fact that he was hundreds of years older than me.

I remember the day my parents came to tell me we were leaving. David and I were sparring in the training room. He always was trying to teach me new moves. He'd always be smiling when I tried to best him. They walked into the room and my father coughed to get our attention. David probably already new what was happening because he excused himself and left the room. I stood there bewildered. When they told me I cried for a day. This was the only real home I've ever had. We set off for London the next week.

That was a long time ago though. It's been 10 years since I've seen David. I left his coven with my mother and father on the premise of my mother starting a school of combat to train young vampires who were like David at first, with no experience but a thirst to fight. Hundreds of them came to learn from my mother. Even I was enrolled.

I, of course, was always a lot stronger than all the other students so I mostly had one on one sessions with my mother and father. One year ago I graduated from this place. I took a job as a recruiter for my mother. This is why I am headed back to the place I once called my home, back to David, and his coven. I was anxious to see him again and this train ride seemed to be taking forever.

I arrived in Bucharest in the daytime. I saw him outside of my window as we approached the station and my heart started to pound faster. He looked good, the exact same really. I took my bag from the storage rack and exited the train. I walked right up to him. He had that same smile on his face when we used to spar. "Look at you!" he said still smiling. He took my bag from me and opened my arms wide as he said, "Look at how much you've grown!"

Technically, my age was 25 but my body stopped aging at 22. Since I am the first of my kind, I'm not really sure why. My father thinks it's because that's when my brain was fully developed. Always the doctor, my father. It's still uncertain if I'll stay at this developed age forever or not. I'm not too worried about it though.

I gave a nervous smile to David and replied, "You, however, look the exact same as when I left." "Yes, well, hopefully I'm a better fighter than when you left," he said with a wink. I laughed and replied, "I know I am." "Yes, we'll have to see about that sometime. Let's go. There's much to show you. Lots of things have changed in the 10 years you've been gone," he jerked his head to the right side signalling our leave and turned around.

I followed him out of the station trailing a little behind. I watched his back muscles move with every step he took. He had one of those tight form fitting long sleeve shirts he always used to wear. I guess I must have chuckled out loud because he turned around and asked, "What?" "I see your style hasn't improved any," I replied. He put his arm around me and brought me closer to him and said, "Oh I'm glad you're here. I missed that little humor of yours."