Anyone who read my first effort, Forks Electrical Contractors, will find this story to be a bit different. And by a bit different I mean a lot different. That one was written for my wife, this I chose to write for myself. The chapters are much shorter for the most part, but there are a lot of them. That should make sense as we move along, but the hope is for something easy to read that moves along quickly. I'm going to try to stick to the weekly releases, and I'm way ahead of myself so it shouldn't dry up anytime soon. Anyway, lets begin...

Part 1 - Origin 1227-1245

Most life stories these days seem to follow the trend of beginning at the end, working backwards or jumping straight into the middle just to confuse you. Well I come from a more simple time and would like to pass on my story in the most simple way I can. To do this I must start at the beginning. For, you see, I haven't always been undead. That would be absurd. Of course I had to be human once or I couldn't possibly exist before you now, living, undead or otherwise.

My apologies, I tend to become carried away in my thoughts on occasion. Let us begin with my story.

My name is William Beaumont Castor. But please, get used to knowing me simply as Castor. The reason will become apparent later. I was born in 1227 in Warwick, a nice place in the middle of England. My middle name comes from our masters, the Beaumont family whom we served, living in Warwick Castle. My father was a huntsman and my mother a scullery maid, and they live ed together in a small dwelling near to the castle itself. I was raised as a stable boy, tending the horses and watching the lords and dukes as they would ride and practise their jousting skills. Often as a boy I would dream of joining them, pulling on my armour and riding into battle in far away lands.

This was merely a daydream though. The older I became, the more I realised I would never be anything more than a servant, helping to place food on the table of those fortunate enough to be born into the right family, or ensuring their horse was well tended. We didn't worry about rights or pay back then. A warm home and a warm meal were enough to keep us happy.

All of this changed when I was eighteen.

It was 1245, and our lives were in something of a turmoil. Ownership of the castle had changed a few times in the past year or so, and we found ourselves in the employ of the countess of Warwick, lady Margery. There had been many rumours about her parties and the company she was keeping. Many of the servants at the castle believed she was practising the occult, and there were whispers about a strange group of Italians visiting from rome.

Father had been having difficulties with his health for some time which had forced me away from the stables and into the woods. To begin with I never felt comfortable with the bow, but need drove me to perfect my art. One summer day I returned to the castle alone at dusk, my kills hanging from my shoulder and my bow swinging lazily from my right hand. And there she was, walking in the courtyard, lady Margery. Her beauty was stunning to me, and I was frozen solid as she approached.

"My, what an impressive feast we shall have, thanks to you, huntsman." She said, her voice was warm and comforting. Her striking features made it impossible for me to even speak. Her skin was white as milk and her eyes seemed to glow like fire. "Tell me, what is your name?" She asked.

"Castor m'lady." I blurted out. It seemed she had the ability to make me speak despite my crippling nerves.

She came closer still, encasing my hand in hers, the flesh was cold to the touch, like iron. She lead my to the growing shadows of the stables where I had spent so much of my youth, pulling my kills from my shoulder and setting them down on the ground beside my bow,

"Tell me Castor, do you dream of far away lands and the immortality of battle?" She had me deep within her spell with her voice, it was like warm honey.

"Of course m'lady." I replied, almost unable to stand, such was the intensity of her gaze.

"Then so it shall be." She whispered into my ear. The scent of her breath was almost enough to lift me from my boots. I was powerless to resist as she pulled open my clothing and sunk her teeth into my neck, drawing blood. The darkness quickly took me as I felt her powerful grip keeping me upright. Then blackness closed in on me and the stable was gone.

I do not recall anything from the days which followed. My parents told me later that I had a fever which burned hotter than the very fire in our stove. Then I was still for the longest time and they feared I had died.

Of course they were right, I had passed from the land of the living, but when I awoke I felt different. I could see the hairs on mothers face even though it had always been perfectly smooth before, and she was a considerable distance away. I could smell their sweat and their anxiety. When I sat upright they cheered with joy. Their son was alive and well. They should have noticed that I was different, but their elation hid the details from them.

After a day with my parents and them recounting the tale of my illness, a castle guard knocked on our door and summoned me to join him at the court of the Lady. I willingly followed, noticing that it was now quite dark, the sun having set some time previously. I had bid farewell to mother and father at the instruction of the guard and now was left to wonder what lay in store for me. Would I be executed for my actions? I had not told a sole, so I hoped this could not be.

I was brought into a chamber where the Lady sat, surrounded by pale faced people in robes. She was even more striking that before, and I found myself tongue tied.

"Good sir," she stated in a very authoritative voice, "I have bestowed upon you the position of knight. You will train to become part of my elite armed force. There is tell of a battle heading our way and we shall need all the force we can muster." There was a polite applause and I lifted my chin, now feeling my life was about to become something more than I had dreamed of. "But first, you must eat." As she spoke her voice became dark and there was a soft chuckling in the room.

A girl was brought into the chamber, perhaps a year or two my junior. She was bound and her eyes were wide with fear. The fear translated into a smell so overpowering that I found myself approaching her automatically. I could see the veins in her throat pumping her warm life blood. It's pace was fast, the thud of her heart like a drum in my ears. I felt like I was moving faster than I could before, and all around me I could hear murmurs of approval. Then I was upon her, my teeth piercing her flesh and her warm blood flowing into my mouth.

Never before had I tasted anything like this. My entire body tingled and I could feel her energy pass into me. Then she was limp and I dropped her to the stone floor, wiping the remains of her blood from my mouth like an animal. All around me were smiles of approval. Then the Lady stood.

"Welcome, Castor, to the elite."