A/N: For Amanda; the sire who transformed me from a child to a fighter.

1: Tainted Vengenace (circa 1843)

The sun was beginning to set, throwing golden beams of light into the dining hall of the manor where Selene sat. She gazed dreamily at the dimming light, her slender fingers keeping her place in the Bible she'd been reading just moments before. As Selene watched the sun slowly falling behind the mountains, she stood up and walked to the bay window that was letting in all of the light. She looked across the expansive land that belonged to her father; stables just behind the house but before the acres of vineyard, the far-off servants' quarters, and the small lake that Selene and her older sister Dawn had splashed through hundreds of times, chasing after tadpoles or watching the birds.

Selene smiled, nostalgia taking over as she thought of the times she and her sister had shared. As children they had been practically inseparable, and even now Dawn had chosen to stay with her family rather than go with her husband Alexander on a business trip to Spain. Selene couldn't see how Dawn could stand to be away from her husband from a second. They were perfect for each other, and the happiest couple Selene had ever seen. The younger woman often found herself jealous of her sister, despite her knowledge that envy was one of the seven deadly sins. She couldn't help it when she caught Dawn and Alexander kissing in the hallways of the manor.

But even though Selene longed to be held by a man like Dawn was held by Alexander, the thought terrified her at the same time. Her cheeks flushed as she imagined a tall, dark, and handsome man wrapping his arms around her waist, pressing his mouth against hers, whispering into her ear…

A pleasant shudder went through Selene, her face now a bright crimson as she willed the thoughts away. Her father often chided her for getting lost in girlish fantasies, but it was another thing that Selene couldn't help. She turned quickly from the window, meaning to return to the Bible that lay on the table, but instead she noticed how golden the room had become. The sunlight bounced off of the white walls and crystal chandelier of the dining hall, and it made Selene think of the palaces she heard about in the stories her sister told her. Selene imagined grand balls taking place, men and women wearing masks and dancing around with each other, laughing and drinking merrily.

She twirled around slowly, as if she were waltzing, her simple white gown fluttering about her shapely legs. She danced to a tune that only she could hear, swaying this way and that, feeling light as air. Just then, Selene's twin nieces, Elaine and Adrienne, came rushing into the dining hall looking for their aunt. The two young girls stopped short when they saw Selene twirling in front of the window and gasped in awe. Elaine leaned close to Adrienne and whispered, "Auntie Selene looks like an angel!" Adrienne giggled at that, and Selene looked up.

If it had been anyone other than the children, Selene would have been embarrassed. But as it was, she smiled widely and held out her arms. "Will you dance with me?" she asked with a kind and gentle laugh. The twins ran to her, hugging her tightly. Selene knelt down and pulled them into her own embrace. "Let's play a game," she whispered into their ears. "We'll find your Mummy, take her outside, and push her into the mud, shall we?" They both giggled ecstatically and nodded. Selene stood up, taking their hands in her own, fully prepared to torment her older sister. But then Selene looked up and stopped.

Dawn stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, one eyebrow arched, trying to hide her smile. "And push me into the mud?" she asked teasingly. Selene grinned. "Really, my darling, and ruin this dress Alexander bought from Spain just yesterday?"

Selene smiled. "Yes." she said eagerly. Dawn rolled her eyes and flicked her dark hair over her shoulder. She walked elegantly into the dining hall and bent down to pick up Adrienne. Selene did the same with Elaine. Dawn leaned forward and kissed Selene's cheek, and Selene blinked in surprise. "What was that for?" she asked.

"Happy birthday," Dawn smiled. "Now come on, you've got to get ready for supper."

Selene had forgotten all about her birthday. As she followed her sister, she glanced over her shoulder at the sunset one last time and smiled to herself. Nothing could ruin this day. Absolutely nothing.

Selene's eyes shot open as she bolted upright in her bed. It was a moment or two before she realized what had startled her awake so suddenly. Then a noise reached her ears and she realized. Screams. She was hearing screams coming from just down the hallway, from her sister's bedroom.

Selene froze in fear. What was going on? Dawn was screaming for their mother. Slowly, because she felt as if she were petrified, Selene climbed out of her canopy bed and stepped toward her bedroom door, holding her hands in front of her in the darkness. She groped for the doorknob, found it, and turned it slowly. She looked out into the pitch black hallway, and heard a strange slurping noise mingling with Dawn's screams. Selene realized her breath was coming in shallow gasps and her heart was racing behind her ribcage. What in the name of God was going on?

She pulled the door open further, daring to step into the hallway. Suddenly, Dawn's screams stopped. Selene heard a sickening thud from her sister's bedroom, then silence. A single thought crossed Selene's mind in that quiet moment. The girls.

No longer paralyzed, Selene tore down the hallway the same instant that Elaine and Adrienne started to shriek in terror. Selene willed herself to run faster, but suddenly the hallway seemed so much longer than she remembered. It seemed as if she would never get to her nieces' bedroom. Adrienne's voice was halted, but Elaine continued to scream. Selene realized it was her own name the child was calling, crying out for help, and tears filled Selene's eyes.

Finally she reached the door, which was ajar. She slammed into it, throwing it open with all her might. "Adrienne!" she screamed. "Elaine!" But neither of the twins were yelling any longer. Moonlight spilled into the room, across the beds, and as Selene's eyes adjusted to the darkness, she felt as if she would retch.

Blood covered the room. It pooled beneath the girls' beds and was splattered against the walls like some horrific painting. Selene couldn't breathe. Slowly, very slowly, her eyes fell upon the crumpled shape in front of the window. After a second she realized that it was the body of Adrienne. A strangled sob managed to escape Selene's lips as she felt her stomach clench. Selene couldn't see the child's face, but she could see the crimson stains upon her cotton nightgown. Tears trickled down Selene's cheeks as she whispered, "Oh, God." Until then she had been clutching the doorframe, but her legs couldn't seem to hold her weight any longer, and she fell to her knees.

Don't look at Elaine, a voice in her head commanded. Don't look at her. Do not look at Elaine.

But Selene had always had such a problem with self-discipline. Her eyes darted to the younger twin's bed. Elaine was heaped on the bed, one arm hanging off of the side. But she seemed to be…she was…yes! The girl was still breathing. Her chest was rising and falling. Selene jerked to her feet instantly, dashing across the room and almost slipping on the freshly spilled (And still warm, she thought wildly) blood. Elaine was lying on her stomach and Selene reached down and grabbed the girl's shoulders, whirling her around. Even with all of the self-discipline in the world, Selene could not have stopped herself from screaming.

Several long, jagged gashes had ripped the child's body apart. Selene could see Elaine's insides, soaked with blood, writhing. Selene slapped a hand to her own mouth to stop herself from vomiting. Her eyes, still streaming with tears, flickered to her niece's face. Elaine was dead. There was no questioning it. Selene glanced at the gaping holes in the girl's torso and saw that the organs had stopped moving as well.

Selene stepped backward, her chest heaving. They were dead. Everyone in the house was dead, Selene knew. She was the only one left. An agonized wail escaped her throat as she doubled over, wracked by sobs. Again, she fell to her knees, and the blood on the floor soaked through her own cotton gown and to her bare legs.

Why, God, why? she thought desperately. They're just children!

Selene made a vow to herself then. If she ever found out who had so mercilessly destroyed her family, she would kill them. God hadn't protected her family in their hour of need, so Selene didn't give a damn if she broke His rules by committing murder. Angrily, she renounced God, blaming Him for her family's death. I will find out who did this, she thought hatefully, and I will kill them.

There was a rustling noise behind her, and Selene whirled around, her mind racing. She half-expected to see Satan himself standing behind her for her blasphemy just now. But she was met with no such sight. There was instead a tall, elderly man standing in the doorway of the room. His eyes were a brilliant blue color, and he wore regal-looking garb. There was a long, silvery sword in his hand. Selene stared up at him, tears still in her eyes. She held her breath. Who was this man? Had he done all of this? Of course not, Selene thought, he's just an old man.

The man glared down at Selene for several minutes. She was finally forced to look away. She began to breathe again, which made her chest hurt. She'd never felt pain like this before. "Oh, my child," someone said, and it took Selene a moment to realize it was the old man. She looked up at him again, terrified out of her wits. He was still looking at her, but the look had become much softer. The man leaned down and touched her face gently. His fingers were frigid. "My sweet child, do not be afraid."

A feeling of security overwhelmed Selene, and she threw her arms around the stranger's waist, sobbing into his clothes. He put a cold arm around her, softly offering words of assurance. Then he sheathed his sword and reached down to grab Selene's arm with surprising strength, and lifted her from the ground as if she weighed nothing. He looked into her face, but this time Selene didn't look away.

"What sort of demon would do this?" she whispered hoarsely.

Immediately, he replied, "Lycans."

Selene furrowed her brows. "Lycans?" she repeated.

"Lycanthropes. Werewolves, my child. I have been trailing this pack for days. I am sorry to see that an innocent home like this was caught up in the war. Your family…they did not deserve the pain they went through."

His words swam around Selene's muddled brain. She didn't understand. Werewolves? A war? The man must have seen her confusion and he tried again. "I am Viktor. What is your name?"

"Selene," she murmured.

The man called Viktor smiled, and Selene noticed a pair of fangs in his mouth. She gasped in shock. She wanted to run, but couldn't look away from his face. Viktor asked, softly, "Selene, do you want to avenge your family's death?" Without thinking, Selene nodded. "Then let me bring you into my family…" The fangs in his mouth elongated, and Selene's eyes turned wide with fear. But then she thought of Dawn, of little Adrienne and Elaine, and she closed her eyes, all traces of fear gone.

As Viktor plunged his fangs into the supple flesh of her neck, Selene swore again and again that she would avenge her family, even if it meant killing every last lycan on the face of the earth. Trying to ignore the pain Viktor's bite was inflicting, she looked out of the window and saw a full moon hanging high in the blackened sky. It was the blood moon, and Selene thought that it would be the symbol of her promise. It was the last thing that went through her mind before she fainted.