I don't quite know how I made it to the age of 21.
My life is something straight out of a gothic fairy tale. The vampire prince, with power above all others, destined to rule his people, to lead them towards glory. I learned quickly that fairy tales are exactly that: tales. Nothing to aspire to, and definitely not anything you can live your life by. I never wanted to be a vampire, I never wanted to be a slave to a lust for blood. It just happens that fate is a cruel master, and decided that the desk of cards that was my life was going to turn out any other way than the way I wanted it.
Typical really, when I think on it.
So … I ran. What else could I do? I was a child, I wasn't old enough to take on the responsibility that was expected of me. How would I know what to do? How would I know who I could trust and who I was to avoid? How would I be able to properly lead a species I wanted to distance myself from so very much? Running away was the only option I could think of at the time that would have had any effect. So, like I said, I ran. Don't think I've ever stopped running, if I'm honest.
I ran so far, and I end up in Budapest eventually. There's a war going on there, between the vampires and the werewolves and the hybrids. A long started war that doesn't look like it'll end anytime soon. Fortunately the vampires in Budapest were unaware of the change in power, due to the war preoccupying their time. It's understandable. The Slayers had gotten in on the war as well, killing anyone who even dared to look at them the wrong way.
… I never quite realised how thick blood was before, how red it was … how filling it was. I guess I'm more of a vampire than I ever feared I might be. Explains why I hate myself so much, really.
I came back to Stokley eventually, blood staining my fangs and my hands. I had to come back, I'd ran so far I had no where else to go but home. I was so very tired of constantly running. It came to me eventually that I was running from something that I couldn't run from, how can you run from what you were destined to me? I tried the screw destiny route, trust me, it doesn't work.
Stokley seems so much smaller now, so much more bland and duller than it did when I was younger. Maybe that's a good thing, a sign that I'm getting used to what I am. I suppose I am used to it in a way, fighting in a war that's not your own does that to you. I know that its not changed, I know that it's just me, but it's easier to think it's the town that's changed, to attempt to pretend that I still have normality in me, even if just for a little bit.
I found Robin again. Sitting up by the ruins at the hill up behind the castle. He's become worryingly thin. He didn't notice me, he wouldn't - I'm too good at keeping myself hidden now. He was sitting staring out at the castle, turning something over in his hands. I wish, I really really wish, that as good as vampire eyesight is, it would let me see something almost hidden to me. I smelt the blood before I saw anything.
In less than five seconds I was pulling him from the ground, throwing the blade away, and shaking him so much it seemed though his head might fall from his neck. I did mention he's got worrying thin didn't I?
"What the hell do you think you're fucking doing?! Nothing in life is so bad that you do completely stupid like this?! What the hell were you thinking? Where you even fucking thinking? Robin … what the hell!?"
He just looked up at me, his face blank. When he spoke, it was in the smallest voice I've ever heard, but at the same time it was the loudest thing in the world.
"… You came home."
