The voyage to France was a rough one, constantly throwing up into a bucket was not how i planned to spend a little time on my own without a governess, but during the night the seasickness wasn't so bad, so I at least got to see the beautiful stars.
Being in Paris was amazing. All the boheimian sounds and colors everywhere. Sadly I couldn't stay long for the moment I left the ship, I was taken by a cariage that my parents payed to pick me up and make sure I arrive safely to Italy to meet Mr. Randolf. I shudder at the name. It takes two weeks to make it from Paris to Italy, it was a horrible bumpy ride and sometimes the driver made me sleep in the cariage, he didn't even stop at a hotel. that's why we made it in "record time."
This was the first thing that Mr. Randolf had said when he answered the door. He is a short stout man, probably only and inch or two taller than I am, and I'm only 5' 3'', he has a bit of a receeding hair line and he's starting to get wrinkles around his eyes, at least the man smiles a lot. He pulls me through the door and almost shuts out the driver with my bags. As soon as the driver shuts the door behind him leaving me and Mr. Randolf alone he smiles, which i guess is ok.
"Welcome to Volterra!" He booms with his arms spread wide. "How was your travels?"
"Fine thank you." I lie politely.
"Well, I will show you to your room, you won't be staying with me in my room until we are married, but don't worry in a weeks time you'll be Mrs. Chester Randolf." I grimace. Only a week more until I am married to this man.
He leeds me to small plain room with a small desk pushed up against the window, a smile at the memory of home. Mr. Randolf leaves me to unpack by myself. I push back the curtains to let in some light, and I must admit the city is beautiful. The sun is high above the tall squished buildings, I see the ocean and a few seagulls flying over it. Many people bustle about in the narrow streets, and the closest thing to my left, is a big square with a clock tower and a water fountain. The fountain is beautiful, but the tower...a little ominous. I push open the window and I can't help but smile. The warmth of the sun is on my skin, I can feel the light sea breaze and smell the salt. I have to admit, if it wasn't for marrying Mr. Randolf, I would love to be here.
A week, sadly passes quickly and I am standing at the church with my hands in Mr. Randolf's. The people in the audiance I do not even know, buisness men, friends, and family. just as I am about to say I do, I take on last look behind my shoulder, to she if he will come, but as always, he doesn't and I want to cry. But, this is the last time I hope, the last time I look and find nothing, I will no longer expect, just accept. I turn around and say a firm but still sad, I do. We're off to his home, no honeymoon because he has too much work, and I shiver at the thought of the wedding night.
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Five months have passed since I became Mrs. Chester Randolf, I have come to accept it and that it won't change and I guess you could say I am content...somewhat. I knit by the window that was once part of my room. It has become my favorite part of the house. Mr. Randolf was gone on buisness and I am left here alone like most times. I see little girls running just a bit too far from their mothers, just to see how far they can push them. How I wish to be that young again. Even though I am still young, it was much more care free. I see a middle class couple working at a shop that they must run together, when his wife isn't looking, he always takes a peek at her, and i can see it in his eyes that he loves her. Tears brim over my eyes. How I wish to be loved. I would have all my money taken away from me just to have what that couple has.
I get up, unable to sit in this stuffy room any longer, I wipe my tears and grab a hat to shield my face from the sun. I'm going out by myself and I know this is not wise, but just an hour would do me good. I go down the three steps that leads to the front door and breath deep. How wonderful it is to be out. I walk through the shops just browsing. There are flowers and food and clothing. It is all so much fun to be in the excitement of the market. I see a few glances towards me, surely they are thinking something mean about me because I am not with someone, but I do not care, I smile at them and they walk away. They don't want to be associated with such a disgracing girl. I laugh at it.
I'm in even higher spirits when I see a bright sparkle in the distance. Oooo a jewelry shop. No girl can resist. I walk a bit quicker, but when I get to where I thought was the shop, there is nothing but an ally. I could've sworn I saw something sparkle, like diamonds. I peak around the ally just to make sure for some odd reason that the shop would be back there, but there is nothing. Slightly dissapointed I start to walk away, but I am pulled by cold rough hands so quickly in to the allyway that there is no time to scream before a hand is put over my mouth.
Whoever these people are, they have taken me so far in the dark ally that I can no longer see. I shiver with fear as to what will happen to me here. everything was so happy and bright a second ago, but now it is dark and scary and I don't like it. The child is coming out in me. All i want to do is cry.
They lead me blindly through they ally when we finally stop. Where are they taking me? I hear a metal scraping against the ground and then a light thud. "Throw her down to me." A man's smooth voice says to the one holding on to me. I feel a him shove me down a hole. I scream and my skirts fly up over my head. The man that had gone before me catches me, but his hands are under my skirts. I squirm for him to release me, but all he does is laugh. He finally puts me down and they both grab my arms and try to lead me somewhere I do not know, and I don't tend to find out. I struggle against them, but I'm doing nothing except ruining my shoes for they are dragging against the stone floor.
There is enough of light in what I can only assume is Volterra's sewers that I can now see the men's faces. One is young, probably younger than me with black hair and small facial features. He's very pale and has scary red eyes, I quickly look away, but do not find comfort in the other man. He has blond hair with the same red eyes and also unusually pale. Who? better yet What are these men?
We reach a door and when it opens, it is so bright I must shield my eyes. It looks like a doctors office. But, this bright room doesn't comfort me I am shaking so hard with fear, i think my teeth will break. I am pushed through another door that leads to a hallway, I can see other people in a group, we soon join, but the men do not let go of me.
"Stragaler." He explains to an older man that eyes us suspciously. I know it is a lie so i open my mouth to speak, but one of them covers it. I look up with frightened eyes and he smiles seductively at me. I look away quickly.
We walk slowly to a huge wooden door and when it opens, we are brought into a big round room that looks like the inside of a castle touret. I scan the room and see many men and women in black robes. I do not know what to make of it. The door shuts behind us with a loud bang followed by silence. An old man comes over with a huge smile.
"Welcome my guests." We do not answer we are all in fear and awe. "You have been chosen to be a special sacrafice to us." My heart sinks into my stomach. What sacrafice? I don't want to die. The others start to panik and look around for a place to run, but there is none, the big door behind us is for sure locked, and I have a feeling that these people can accomplish more than the imaginable.
The men and women in black robes start to advance on us all. We do what we can. Run. I see that some are easily caught and I see with horror that a woman bends down on a boy maybe a year older than I and...drinks his blood?! I realize that these people...are not even people, they're vampires!? I scream with the others as they are devoured.
The one man that smiled at me seductively is following me playfully. I am sure that he could easily catch me, but he wants to make a game out of it. He runs after me at a normal pace.
"Come on deary, no need to make this more difficult then it has to be." He reaches for me and I dodge, I turn and run the other way. I see the big door open. I bit of hope that I might acctually escape. I sprint towards the door. It shuts when I'm still a bit away from it, but I'm running so fast that I can not slow down in time and I run into the door. I fall to the ground and bang on it. "Help!!!" I scream, but I know it will not help.
The man is advancing now, close, about five yards away. I am the last one of my kind left. Everyone is full and watching me with entertainment. I flatten up against the door and brace myself and hope for a quick death. He's right on top of me now, I look up at him with pleading eyes, but he is not looking at my face, he is looking at my throat and he his hungry, I can see it in his eyes. He bends down and I close my eyes, I hear a loud noise like two boulders hitting each other. I open my eyes and see that the man that was about to kill me is in a fist fight with another vampire.
I can not see they are going so fast. I then realize I do not wish to see. I bunch my knees to my face and I squeeze my eyes shut. I shake with fear, are these two men fighting over who gets me? There is then silence. I feel a cold hand on my arm, it reaches under my chin and lifts my head up. My eyes are still close, I refuse to look. I hear a laugh, somewhat fimiliar, but I can't place it.
"Always the child aren't we?"
My eyes snap open and I see one glimpse of Chase before I faint.