Pre-story:
I was already awake before Andrew crept into the room. I heard his soft footsteps walk over to my bed. Slowly, I got up and looked up at him. My eyes were still a bit groggy from sleep, and his form was blurred slightly, but I could make out his facial expression perfectly. It was a mixture of emotions playing on his face; grief, anger, confusion – but the most obvious one of all was fear.
"Andrew?" I wiped the sleep from my eyes as he perched his tall frame on the edge of my bed. His hand touched my face and his thumb stroked my jaw gently.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, his voice as gentle as his touch.
"Mm. No not really," too many thoughts were running through my mind for me to sleep. Although I was having a nice dream; I was on a beach, the sun shining down on a hot guy and me. He was leaning over my body, rubbing sunscreen on my skin…
"Me too." My eyes were starting to adjust to the darkness and I could begin to make out my brothers features. He had brown hair tousled around his head and pale, smooth skin. It was still too dark to see his eyes – and they were covered with the fringes of his bangs. His expression was still the same, bubbling his emotions to the surface. Something he wasn't very good at was hiding his feelings; Andrew was like an open book.
"What's wrong?" I reached up and touched his face – surprised to find him sweating, "Andrew?"
He dropped his hand from my face and shifted away from my touch, "it's nothing. I think I'm just getting a fever." Another thing he couldn't do very well was lie.
I swung my legs underneath me so I was kneeling on the bed, "Andrew, don't lie. If there's something wrong you can tell me. I'm your sister. You can trust me," I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
"How long can we keep running Rins?" he said after a long pause. The question took me off guard.
"I-I don't know." I thought about my answer again, "I know that they are looking for us. It could be anytime now," the thought of going back to that place grinded my gears. I clenched my teeth and dropped my hand from his shoulder. The castle was not a place I wanted to return to again.
What happened next was so fast. Andrew shot up from my bed, and ran to the tiny window in the small, wooden room. I didn't know what he saw, but he stumbled back several steps and began grabbing his sword. I shot up from the bed too at this point, racing to the window.
It was dark and foggy outside – impossible to see anything. I heard the trees being blown around; their leaves rustling in the winds touch and the horses were slightly stirred. Then I saw it – a shadow a couple of feet away from the small cottage. I gasped and turned away from the window, running to the door.
"Andrew their here!" I yelled. He was already behind me, his sword wrapped around his waist – not like he knew how to use the weapon.
We both bolted out of the room and towards the back door before we started to hear banging on the front door – the weak wood giving out under their strength. Just whom did the castle send?
Crouching down behind the back door, Andrew pulled my ear close to his mouth.
"Go to the horses and run. Get as far away from here as possible!"
"But what about –"
"Don't worry about me, just get out of here. I will be right behind you. Now go!" His command was like magic – and before I could argue he was already running towards the stranger.
I held back my tears and bolted out the door into the cold night. The fog was hard to see through, but I managed to make it to our two mares that we had tied to the post of the fence. Relief hit me when I ran up to them.
"Oh God!" I touched the light brown mares nose, she huffed before standing on her hind legs – letting out a loud neigh. When she landed she landed on my foot – even in the stir of the night I heard the bones crack under the pressure. Spasms attacked my body before I screamed in pain and toppled to the ground, reaching for my foot and squeezing it - as if I could glue the bones back together.
Then the black mare also began to get frightened, they both back away from me as far as possible – making horrible noises.
In a split second I realized what was going on. Castle guards were more professional about this kind of raid, they came and left without a trace – it was the way they were taught. I remember when they first came for us in this exact location – they were stealthy and planned. It wasn't the castle guards who were out here. It was Vampires. As soon as the thought registered I heard Andrew screaming from the house. It was loud and horrible and then just as quickly it gurgled to an end.
I listened more, trying to muffle my own screams from piercing into the night. It was silent except for the whispers of voices.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know"
"Find her!"
My breathing came out in fast, shivering pants, my heart racing in my chest. The horses pulled hard on the thin rope until it broke loose and they bolted into the dark woods.
I held onto my foot tighter, clenching my teeth together. Everything around me stirred and I was barely able to pick up the footsteps next to me. I looked up and to see a tall shadow standing over me.
"No!" I screamed and the figure reached down, pulling me up by my hair. This time I screamed from the pain that came from both my head and my foot. He pulled me up to his height, my feet barley touching the ground. I squeezed my eyes shut, getting only a glimpse of the man who was holding me. He had dark hair and eyes. His pale skin was covered in red blood and his large fangs probed over his bottom lip that was in a twisted smile.
I felt one last bolt of pain – his fangs ripped into my neck and bit down, tearing through a large chunk of my skin, then he jerked his head back, searing through my artery. The world around me turned black.
Chapter 1:
I was dreaming. I knew because I was with my older brother, Andrew – who has been dead for more then three years. Even in death he still had that admirable aura around him – pulling you in, automatically making you love him. His dark, always styled, yet scruffy brown hair was tousled around his head. Unlike me his skin was pale and he had wide, exotic emerald jade eyes.
Although, there was something different about his eyes from the way I remember them – bright and smiling – they were now dark and dangerous.
"Rinslet," his voice sent shivers up my spin. He took a step closer, his hand reaching up and cupping my face gently.
"You've grown," his thumb was gently stroking my jaw, just like when I was younger. His skin was ice cold, just like his words. Something about his touch made me twitch in anticipation. A strange feeling surrounded me as both of us stood on this plane of darkness clouded with streaks of purple and red blended together.
"And you haven't changed." I stated the obvious – a mistake on my behalf.
Andrew dropped his hand – his smile turning dark, "of course I haven't, Rinslet. I'm dead!" he laughed as if he had just made a joke, but I didn't find anything he was saying funny.
In an instant everything around him turned dark and cold. He looked up at me through his bangs, his face flashing dangerously, "and you should be too, Rinslet."
"Wha-"
"You should be here with me Rinslet,"
Then, suddenly it was like the earth burst open. As if on command, pale faces and bodies sprang up from everywhere – surrounding me – making my hair stand on end. They were all horrible – gaunt and skulls like faces – their skin translucent; their eyes and mouths were hollow and they all wore the same sad, sad facial expression. The black background disappeared – all I could see was this fog of white, sad faces with all of them opening and closing their mouths, but no sound was coming out.
My head began to pound, my skull feeling like it might explode. I clenched at it, closing my eyes but still not escaping those ghosts – they were in my head.
You should be here with me.
The pounding and ripping increased – as if the words were being drilled directly into my skull against my will.
You should be here with me.
The more the pain rung through me the more I recognized the faces. They were all very faint until I seen one that looked strangely familiar. Then I saw her. Saya. I hadn't known her for that long but she was a good friend. The only Maya Vampire I was willing to befriend. Then she had been murdered…
She looked the same as she did before she died. Dark haired. Beautiful. Regal. And like all the rest of the ghost she had the same sad look on her face. The blackness behind her grew bigger and bigger and she pointed to it, back at me, then back to the black hole.
Then realization shot through me. I didn't know how I knew, but I knew that had to be the entrance to Death – the place I had come back from. This must have been just the boarder.
Saya pointed back at me and then back, and Andrew joined her. He was now just as translucent as she was. They kept pointing to me and then back at the patch of darkness. I didn't need them to speak to understand what they were saying. You shouldn't have lived. You need to come back with us…
I started screaming. And screaming.
I woke up to Sven's handsome face hovering over my own, worry coloring his expression. My breathing was laboured; sitting up I ran a hand through my soaked hair and made a face.
"Gross," I groaned. Sven sat on the edge of my bed facing me; he reached up and placed his wrist on my forehead.
"Are you alright, your Highness?"
I pushed his arm away from me, "don't call me that."
Sven let out a long sigh and his face slipped into a smile, "you sure gave me quite the scare. His majesty sends me to awake you for school and I'm welcomed by you screaming and thrashing around in your sleep," he explained.
"My Father?" I scooted to the end of the bed, letting my feet dangle off the edge. Sven nodded and stood up, his green eye beaming down on me. He always wore a black eye patch on his right eye. I had only ever seen it once – his right eye was brown, a completely opposite colour of his natural eye. He never told me how he got it and whenever I brought it up he just smiled sincerely and tugged down on his hat.
"So, I suppose your not going to tell me what you were dreaming of," he cocked his head to the side, his bang fringes tilting to one side.
"It was nothing. Really," I shook my head, not wanting to recall memories of the nightmare. I hopped off the bed, straightening out my night attire – a pair of silky, baby blue boxer briefs and a matching slinky tank top.
Sven stared at me for a moment before blushing and turning around. A smile crept onto my face; I realized I couldn't let this opportunity pass.
On impulse, I sped towards him, filling the tiny bit of space between us fast – doing it slow would have gotten me caught. My hand automatically reached out, going in for his wrist. But I slipped up, my hands catching hold of his hand. In a split second he spun around, and grabbed me like I weighed nothing and threw me to the ground, pinning me there.
"Damnit," I puffed, as the pain began stabbing at me. Sven wasn't afraid to go easy on me – something I thanked him for often. How can you learn anything if they go easy on you?
"The battle cry sort of gave you away," I blushed unaware that I had yelled. My body was pressed tightly under Sven's.
I took the defeat with a smile – not letting something like this make me feel weak. He out weighed me considerably. Not to mention his strength – I knew better then to doubt him. He wasn't bulky, but his body had a lot of hard, lean muscle.
"Your too good!" I often told him that. It was true, he was good. He was amazing. I sometimes complain when we spar because of the major skill and strength difference – I guess there were some good points to having such a kick-ass mentor, I've found that it has made me a lot stronger; I can start fights and come out with a win.
He chuckled a nice, sweet tone, "Your getting better everyday Rinslet." I gazed up at him, a smile tugging at my lips.
Not only was he strong, he was undeniably handsome. One of the downfalls about him being half Vampire is that he doesn't age – or at least his appearance doesn't. He still looked very young even though he was 7 years older then I. He was also a very good advisor; he was lenient, calm and badass – never selling me out when I do something stupid, which is all the time. My last Chancellor, Creed, always snitched on me. He never let the leash loose for a second. Also, he was a little bit strange; I swear he sometimes took a first class trip to crazy Ville.
"You really think so?" I chewed on my lip sheepishly. Then, all of a sudden, it occurred to me that he was still holding me down. His fingers clutched my wrist – which was burning. I hadn't noticed his hat was off until I seen his green hair hanging over his face. And, oh God, did he ever smell good! I could barely breath, and not due to my lungs being nearly crushed.
"Of course. With more practise, in no time you'll be a pro." He answered honestly. On the surface he sounded normal, like the tingle of his touch or heat of his penetrating eyes were just pigments of my imagination. But I knew they weren't. His eyes lit up and I knew that right then and there – or maybe earlier – he noticed me, actually, noticed me. My mind swirled, his breath pooling over my face didn't help matters either. My brain scrambled for something to say – something professional.
Then I considered a thought for a moment; I imagined myself holding a gold stake and being feared by all Vampires. The tidal wave of happiness rolled through me, before it turned cold. Another thought arose itself; I would have to kill. My insides turned cold and painful, the memory of this morning's nightmare bubbled to the surface. All those mixed feelings rolled around in my stomach – anger, sadness, and fear – making it feel heavy.
"Rinslet?" his voice brought me out of my trance – bringing me back to my room. Sven stared at me calmly, his eye coloured with worry. I shook off the thick feelings.
"So…Umm…Got anymore moves to teach me?" Sven grinned widely – showing off his smooth, white teeth. My heart leaps, and I gnaw on my bottom lip. Sven was memorizing. All the dark feelings lifted; leaving behind the tingling joy he caused my body to shutter with.
Then we heard a knock on the door, and a maid calling Sven's name.
"Sven, His Majesty has called for you."
He shifted off me, leaning back on his heels and rose, "I'll be right there."
I scrambled up and rocked back on my heels, mentally kicking myself as Sven strode towards the door. I was crushing on my mentor – my Chancellor! Sure we had been close, and he was sweet and patient – but he was seven years older then me, not that that's much of a difference. But it changes things – it means he did things before me. Learning how to write, read before me. And then, with his good looks, he was kissing before me…
"Rinslet, get ready for school," he said; and with a quick, low bow, he turned around, the door now closed firmly between us.
I tried to take a bath in peace – with no reeling thoughts, tingling sensations or sensual comments. But it was all replaying in my head, when I know it shouldn't have been. Feelings like that didn't belong here. This was worst then…Well it was just bad.
The hot water against my skin soothed everything. My tired, sore body and my throbbing head. I sighed, letting the soap soak into my hair, not much I could do about the headaches. I drained the water and stood up, reaching for a towel before stepping out of the wet, slippery tub.
And then I saw it. A shadowy figure in the corner of the room – just standing there. I froze and gasped in, before it dashed across the small room – towards me. Screaming, my instincts kicked in and I stepped back to get out of the way but my feet hit the glass tub and I slipped backwards – my body smashing into the cold, hard metal. I kicked around for a while before pushing myself back up fumbling around on the floor before I pressed myself up against the wall – my chest was heaving and all my nerves were spiked.
My hand was laying flat against my forehead pushing back my bangs. I glanced around one more time, gripping the towel as tightly as I could. Soon the throbbing pain on my thigh took my attention away, I looked down at the skin now blotched red and swelling. I sighed loudly and pushed myself up, walking over to the mirror.
"This is so fu-" I gasped my hands flew to my mouth to muffle any screams that might escape. All my hairs were on end now, my head spinning and my stomach churning. Again, the dreams over-whelming feelings burst through me – but it's all intensified. Because this is real. This isn't something on the boarder of life and death. This was life.
In the mirror, I gazed wide-eyed at my reflection. My skin was flushed of all color and I looked sickly – but the image being shown back to me was even worst. She had some of the same features as me, the short, shoulder length hair that was slicked back and smooth skin. But, unlike me, Her eyes were red-ringed – her irises a sort of blue, or grey color. She had fangs that probed over her bottom lip, cutting in to it.
And her entire throat had been ripped out.
The inside of the throat looked pink and jelly-like. Blood stained that soft, porcelain white skin of hers and looked as though it ran down from beyond her neck.
She lunged towards me, I screamed falling backwards in the process the wall broke most of my fall on the cold, hard floor - but didn't help too much.
She's not you!
A voice screamed in my head.
I wanted to close my eyes and scream for Sven, get as far away rom here as possible, but I found myself slipping. It was as if I was holding onto a rope that controlled me - only I wasn't holding on to it anymore. My mind started to daze in and out.
Just be calm, alright? You can get through this.
The voice soothed my thoughts, speaking in a slow, hypnotic kind of way.
I lost track of the world, letting go of those reins that controlled me. Images swirled around in my head. The still picture of the vampire me, her eyes so evil, but so mezmorizing. And then everything dissapears.
I'm hurtling through a tunnel, pulled faster and faster by a force beyond my control. Selected clips played through my mind. I see the inside of a pub, flashing lights bouncing crazily off the walls, and me and Kyo sitting at the bar.
And theres a man on the other side. I don't know what it was, but he was captivating. His intense stare and mysterious aura - a burning rush scolded my body. I needed to know him, needed to be with him.
Dizzily, I fell back on my bedroom floor - waking me up from my lastest trance. I started to slowly come back around, the bath, the mirror, the shadow..It all came back to me and I jumped up running a hand through my hair.
"What the hell -" my eyes caught sight of something sitting on my windowsil. Cautiously, I walked towards it surprised to find a blue, velvet box sitting there.
Inside it, there was a pendant. it had a gold chain, and a small funny looking blue eye thing grounded in the middle of more gold. Picking up the box, I strode towards my bed and settled down in it, and a note slipped out of the underside of the box.
'Wear this.'
I made a face after reading it, trying to put the words together. But the more I read it, the more I felt compelled to do as it said. It was like the words wrapped around me. And without anymore hesitation I slipped the pendant around my neck, just as Sven knocked on the door.