A/N: I have decided to just go ahead and post this story as my muse keeps poking me and saying I have to post it. It might tae me a few days to get the whole thing up but I will do it. One thing I beg you to eep in mind about my O.C., I find it nigh impossible to write a non-MarySue vampire that is older than eighty years. It is hard to write a vampire that doesn't seem to be perfect, i.e. they now multiple languages, are stunningly beautiful, can play any instrument. Mina is certainly not perfect, but she is damn close simply through experiance. I hope this doesn't put people off and that you are willing to give her a chance. Now, on to the story!
In the thousands of years I have walked the earth, I have seen empires rise and fall, kings come to power and be cut down by those they trusted the most. I have seen great artists doubt themselves, and then produce unbelievable works of ageless beauty. I have heard such beautiful music as to make the very mountains weep. In my long life, I have had many companions, friends, advisors, and lovers, but of them all, only one ever truly touched my heart. He was a genius, an artist and inventor, the truest definition of a renaissance man as I have ever seen. He was full of passion and life, though he was feared and hated by any who caught a glimpse of him. He was also the only man who would ever have the ability to leave me brokenhearted.
But this story does not begin with him, though he is such an integral part of the tale. This tale must begin with an introduction. My name is Mina. I have been Mina since about the 1830's. Before that I had many names; Helen, Rosalyn, Anna, Cassandra, Persephone, and Nefiri to name a few. This tale begins in 1864, in the city of Paris.
I had arrived in Paris with my sire, Korfus. Korfus and I were traveling the world, he in boredom, I in avid curiosity, and we were walking side by side down a busy street. As we rounded a corner, I looked up and saw my destiny. The massive building was draped in statuary that instantly reminded me of the temples of my childhood, and I halted in my tracks to gaze in wonder at this architectural beauty. Korfus had continued to walk down the path, but paused when he realized I had not followed him. He turned back to look up at the building with me.
"The Opera Populair. A fine building, don't you think?" he asked absently. I smiled slightly, feeling the mysterious tug from the building.
"A home of music and dance; an artist's paradise. I can feel the call." I replied. Korfus sighed. In all the centuries we had traveled together, Korfus had always indulged me my feelings. For a supernatural being, he didn't put much stock into the mystical world. I, on the other hand, had been raised with a healthy appreciation for the supernatural world, which only grew when I joined it.
"Do you wish to join the dancers, or the singers?" Korfus asked. I shook my head. As a dancer or even a singer, I would only be able to stay for a few short years before my unearthly grace and immortal beauty would be questioned.
"No, I would rather work behind the scenes. Perhaps as a healer?" I suggested. Korfus scoffed and turned to face me.
"I can arrange this, but you will be here alone. Do you understand this?" he asked, turning to me seriously. I nodded solemnly.
"This is something I must do on my own." I replied. During the Inquisition, our kind had decided that only one small clan could occupy a territory. Despite the Church's waning power, we were still careful.
"That's my girl. I will make the arrangements. You should find somewhere to keep most of your things. As a healer, you will not have room for some of the finer things you possess." he teased. Over the course of thirty-seven centuries, I had amassed quite the collection of artifacts. Most were hidden in burial chambers throughout the world, but there were a few things I always kept close by. While they were not overly large, they were definitely not the kinds of items a healer would have. Korfus and I parted, he to coerce the manager of the opera house to hire me, and I to put my things into hiding and prepare for my new life.
Before I continue my tale I should probably explain a few things to you, my readers. I am a vampire, but we are nothing like those mindless monsters in folk tales, nor are we ravenous sirens like some of the more modern tales say. Yes, we drink blood to survive, but no, we do not have to kill our food. Some vampires call the humans they regularly feed from donors, and I shall refer to them as such from here. We do not burn to ash at the touch of the sun's rays, indeed I enjoy walking through a park on a spring afternoon. We do not require sleep, but we do sleep at times, simply to dream. If we are badly injured, we will have to feed soon after, or we fall into what is known as the Sleep of the Dead. It is a way for our bodies to heal when we cannot feed. Some vampires can willingly enter the Sleep to jump through the years. Also, we can see our reflections in a mirror.
I was sitting at my little vanity brushing my hair when Korfus appeared in the doorway. I set the ornate silver brush down and turned to face him, my dark chocolate hair sliding over my arms as I did.
"You will start in three days. They know you as Mina Deveraux, the daughter of a Persian herbalist and a French explorer. I told them you were twenty-two, but that you had been training since you were eight. I will stay until you are settled in, and then I will leave Paris. You will have no more than fifteen years here before people start asking questions, perhaps longer if you wear a veil the first few years. Pretend you are simply used to your homelands traditions." he said. I stood and went into his arms, letting him hold me.
"I will miss you, but I feel this is where I need to be." I murmured. Korfus placed a paternal kiss to my forehead.
"I may not understand these spirits that whisper to you, but I understand. I will miss you as well." he said, holding me tightly.
Three days later, I had just put up my trunk in my new rooms when someone knocked on my door. I reached up to check that my headscarf was wrapped around my hair and covered the lower half of my face, revealing only my indigo eyes and tan skin. I opened the door and came face to face with a serious faced woman with light blue eyes and graying blond hair pulled back into a tight braid. She wore a simple black dress with no corset or petticoat, and carried a walking stick.
"I am the ballet mistress. You may call me Madame Giry. You are the new healer?" she asked. I placed my palms together before me and bowed slightly to her.
"I am honored to meet you Madame. Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked in return.
"One of my girls is abed with a fever and stomach pains. Will you come to see her?" she asked. I swiftly picked up my little bag and followed the ballet mistress to the dormitories where the girl in question was lying, surrounded by several other girls. One of them had a damp cloth and was wiping the girl's face. I came forward and laid the back of my hand to her feverish brow, only to pull back quickly.
"How long has her fever been this high?" I asked, opening my bag.
"Only today, Mademoiselle. Yesterday she was simply tired." one of the girls replied. I drew out a jar and opened it, releasing the strong odor of the poultice inside. The smell was enough to draw the girl from her sleep, and she opened her brown eyes to look up at me.
"Be at ease, child. I will care for you. Where is the pain?" I asked her gently. She wearily lifted one hand and laid it over her lower abdomen. I looked up at the girls surrounding us. Madame Giry caught on quickly and clapped her hands.
"Alright girls, we must give Mademoiselle Deveraux some privacy to take care of Annette. Back to rehearsals." she said. None of the girls dared to protest, and they hurried to obey their instructor. Once the room was cleared, I turned back to Annette.
"Annette, I must ask you something, and I do not mean to embarrass you, but when were your last courses?" I asked. Her eyes widened with fright, and I grabbed her arms gently to keep her in bed.
"It's alright, little one, I am not here to judge you for anything. Now, how long has it been?" I asked again. Annette slumped into her bed in defeat.
"Two months. I didn't want to let him, but he was so strong." she said hoarsely, tears streaking down her face. Cold fury washed through me at her words, but I held my emotions in check. I pulled the blanket down and gently felt along her belly. After my examination, I looked back up at Annette sadly.
"You are losing the child, Annette. The only thing I can do is ease the pain for you. Who did this to you?" I asked. She began to shake her head.
"I promised I wouldn't tell. He'll kill me." she whimpered. I drew a small bottle from my bag and bade her take a sip.
This will ease the pain and help you to sleep. I will take care of you, and I will make sure this does not happen again." I said, my voice at hypnotic levels. Within a few moments, I had procured the name of Annette's attacker, and she had drifted off to sleep. I closed my bag and returned to my rooms to plot against this kitchen boy who thought he could use that poor girl for his own desires. Little did the boy now, his days were numbered.
A/N: Okay, first chapter up! Please tell me what you think, I live for reviews!
