Prologue: Promises

The petite woman screamed in pain and clutched the mattress as the pain gripped her. The sheets of the bed were bloody and an older woman bustled around quickly, getting everything prepared.

"Shush now dear. It's going to be over soon," she said in an old creaky voice.

The young woman whimpered but took deep breathes in an effort to calm down. She groaned again as another contraction swept through her body. She panted as the old woman bent down to check how things were going. She grinned at the young woman.

"It's time now dear. You have to push when I tell you to, all right?"

The woman nodded took a deep ragged breath in. "Yes," she said through clenched teeth. "I'm ready."

"Push!"

The labor lasted a long time. The young woman screamed and pushed with all her might and the old woman offered encouragement. Neither one noticed the growing storm clouds as they fought to bring another life into the world. Finally a child came into the world and the old woman bustled around to clean and dry off the baby.

"Look here dear! She's a gorgeous child. You should be proud."

The young woman wearily looked down at the little creature that had caused her so much pain and smiled faintly. She let the baby feed for a while then lay back completely exhausted. She was just drifting off to sleep when suddenly a sound like thunder sounded throughout the building. The young woman sat up instantly, fear in her eyes.

"Calm down dear. It's just thunder."

The young woman shook her head, visibly trembling. "No it's not," she whispered. She turned to the old woman, panic in her eyes. "Quick, you have to take Viviane away, far away. It's not safe for her here."

The old woman frowned. "He can't find you here dear. We made sure of that."

The young woman shook her head. "You don't understand. "He knows that Viviane has been born and he will come for her. He wants her to help him, but I won't allow it. You must take Viviane away to where it is safe and teach her everything she needs to know about her father, about her powers, about everything."

"And what about you dear. Surely you don't expect me to leave you here?"

"There is no other choice," the young woman said urgently as she stuffed things into a backpack for the old woman. "I'm not strong enough to run. I can stall him though long enough for you two to get away."

"You don't have to do this dear," the old woman said.

"Yes I do. Now can you do as I said?"

The old woman looked at the younger woman sadly, but nodded. "I'll do it."

The young woman smiled and helped the old woman put on the backpack. "Quickly now, before he comes. Take care of Viviane, and make sure she understands the danger. She isn't safe until she's eighteen and then she can make her own choices. Even in the demon world they let adults make up their own minds."

"Don't worry about us dear. Take care of yourself."

The young woman smiled sadly. "After today I won't have to. Now quickly, you must go."

The young woman shooed the older woman out the door then got a bundle of blankets and cradled it in her arms, planning on faking that the child was still with her. As the young woman prepared her performance the old woman moved as fast as she could through the forest.

The old woman could hear the sound of thunder behind her, but she knew instinctively that it wasn't thunder. She shivered and pushed onward, determined to get the child to safety. She had promised the girls mother, and she always kept her promises.

XXXX

12 Years Later

"So that's why I'm different, Nana?" 12-year-old Viviane wiped her tears away from her eyes, snuffling loudly.

"Yes dear, that's why you're different." The old woman said softly as she patted the child on the back. "But don't you fret. You're a beautiful, talented, good girl. Your mommy loved you very much, she was just trying to protect you."

Viviane sniffed again. "I don't like my daddy," she whispered.

"Don' you worry dear. I'll take care of you, and something happens to me you know what to do."

Viviane clutched at Nana's hand, panic in her eyes. "Don't say that Nana! I don't want anything to happen to you!"

Nana smiled gently at the child and brushed her hair back from her eyes. "Don't worry about it hon. It's just a precaution."

Viviane nodded and yawned, quickly covering it with her hand but the old woman saw it anyways. She smiled and tickled Viviane lightly.

"Come now dear. It's time for bed. If you get ready quickly I'll—" she was cut off by a sound like thunder crashing through the night air. Nana quickly stood up and pushed Viviane towards the door.

"Nana! What's happening?"

"What we prepared for. You know the drill. You have to run to the neighbor's and get help. Don't stop for anything, take your bike, you'll get there faster." Nana pulled the girl out the door and pushed her gently to her bike.

"But Nana! You said it was just a precaution," Viviane accused.

"Viv dear, listen to me. You need to go now. For me, for your mother. You need to get to safety. Can you do that?"

Viviane looked up at Nana with terrified eyes, but nodded. "For you," she whispered softly.

"Good girl. Now hurry, you must leave."

Viviane picked up her bike and quickly started down the road. They had done this drill many times and she knew exactly where to go and how fast she needed to go. As she pedaled fiercely away Nana wiped the tears from her own eyes and turned to face the growing darkness.

After a few minutes a tall man appeared. "Where is my daughter?" he hissed.

Nana quickly gathered her courage and pointed shakily towards the house, getting him off Viviane's trail. The man quickly stalked into the house and after a few more minutes came back, absolutely livid.

"Where is she human? Where is my daughter?"

"I told you. She's in the house." Nana's voice shook but she looked resolutely into the man's eyes.

"Don't lie to me human. I can tell when you're lying. Thrice I say and done. Where is she?"

Nana smirked at the man, knowing her time was coming to an end. "She's where she needs to be. Away from you."

With a roar of rage the man pointed a finger at Nana. Flames jumped from his finger and engulfed her with an unholy roar. Nana screamed with pain and rolled on the ground in an attempt to put out the flames, but they never even flickered. With one last thought Nana was burned to ashes. I keep my promises.

The man glared at the mound of ashes on the ground and with a deep breath disappeared, once again at the beginning of another search for his daughter. She couldn't be allowed to escape. He wanted her, and he always got what he wanted.