Boston, MA - 1975
It was a cool night, but compared to the stuffy bar, it was refreshing. I had just bid goodbye to my friends inside. They had tried to tell me to wait for them or at least call a cab. But I just needed to have my cigarette and it wasn't too far a walk to the bus. My heels clicked along the pavement as the wind swept through my hair. The whiskey I drank kept me warm so the breeze felt nice.
My thoughts began to wander, to the shopping I'd have to do, the filing at work in the morning. I should have been paying more attention, but when you've had a few drinks, things like safety aren't always on the top of your mind. I didn't notice the footsteps behind me, he must have been waiting in one of the alleys I passed. I felt the hit to the back of my head as I fell forward, everything going dark before I hit the ground.
I woke up with a headache and hazy eyes, looking around I couldn't see anything, my eyes grew huge, my heart started to beat faster. I HATED the dark, I was terrified of it even. It was something I never grew out of, if anything, it got worse with age. Panicking, my eyes darted back and forth, I could barely make out that I was In a room. It looked dingy and smelled dank. Backing myself up against the wall, I curled into a ball. I was hyperventilating, I couldn't focus, I didn't know where I was but it was just so dark, I couldn't think straight.
It felt like I was curled in that ball for hours before I could even think about standing. Just when I was about to, I heard noises. The door I hadn't seen at first pushed open. I shrunk back at the sound.
"Pretty little thing ain't she" a nasally voice spoke.
"Yeah, you did good on this one, she should move fast" a deeper voice spoke.
"Hey Princess, why don't you give us a nice look at that pretty face" the nasally voice said.
I couldn't move, my mind focusing on what they said, now even more fearful of my situation. I heard the footsteps as someone moved closer to me, their hand fell and yanked my hair back, pulling my head up. I screamed from the pain as my eyes took in the figure before me. He was tall and his face mostly shadowed from view In the dark.
"Even prettier than you said, good job indeed Steven. Blind fold her and take her to the van, best to get her there while she's still fresh" deep voice spoke as he walked away.
"Okay okay" Steven replied.
My mind stopped, my eyes wide, were they…talking about selling me? What..what was happening to me? I couldn't hold back the tears threatening to fall down my face. They were streaming as this so-called Steven crouched down in front of me.
"Hey don't cry those pretty eyes out, wouldn't want you to look puffy for them" he said with a smirk on his face. He looked every bit the rat that he sounded like. He pulled out some fabric, and that's when I remembered what the other man said, "blindfold her", blindfolds meant darkness, all consuming darkness. My mind went into overdrive.
"No no no NOO" I screamed as he wrapped the fabric around my eyes. My arms went up to push him away but he was able to hold them down with one hand, I really was a little thing. I felt him wrap some more fabric around my wrists, binding them together. He hoisted me over his shoulder, with his spare hand groping my ass.
He was just closing the door to the room behind us, when a crash could be heard from inside the room. His grip on me tensed, and he turned back around and shifted his weight to his other hip. It felt like he was grabbing something from his pocket, maybe a gun? He was still holding me as he shouted
"Who's there!" I could hear the slight panic in his voice.
"Mmm I knew I smelled something delicious in here" a silky voice purred.
"Who are you?!" Steven squeak shouted, he was starting to shake a little.
"No one to you child, you have nothing to worry about anymore" the silky voice whispered, before Steven could respond, I was on the floor, he had dropped me.
I could hear his scream as something was happening to him. It was the first comforting thing to happen to me through this nightmare. I shuffled to my knees, maybe I could still get out of this? Before I had moved much though, the silky voice spoke again
"Hmm now what do we have here?" The blindfold was pulled off my head and I was face to face with ruby red eyes, shining just like jewels.
"They weren't exaggerating, you really are quite stunning…for a human."
Human? What did he mean "for a human?" But he didn't give me much time to keep thinking about what he had said. He continued "you do smell quite sweet, but how can I drain such a little thing, immortality would surly suit you, and I have grown quite lonely lately." My eyes grew wide, what was he talking about, immortality? But my mind wasn't able to contemplate much more as I felt his breath on my neck, and then a sharp pain. I tried to scream as he clamped down, but as soon as he had started he was done. Losing consciousness, the last words I heard where
"We can properly meet when you wake up."
And then everything burned.
I was surrounded by darkness, burning alone in darkness. Was this my eternal hell? Forever to be consumed in what I feared the most? That was all my mind anchored to as I burned, the constant fear.
At some point my mind did stray, to a very annoying thumping noise, it was getting louder and faster. I wish it would shut up, at least let me have quiet. As soon as that thought happened, the thumping slowed until it finally stopped. But when it stopped, the burning receded as well, and I could finally open my eyes. I was met with sunlight trickling through trees, the brightest green trees I had ever seen. I could see every line on the leaves, the detail on the bark of the trunks. But then, the most intense burning in my throat hit me, like I hadn't drank anything in years. I shot to my feet, looking at my surroundings better. Standing with his back to me was a man, a tall man with sleek black hair. He was wearing jeans and a long black jacket from what I could tell. He turned to face me at the sound of a growl, was that me? I was still growling, crouching as well, when he spoke.
"Ah, little one, you're awake, I knew it would be soon. I was so correct that immortality would suit you! Now please calm down and tell me your name?"
I felt myself relax, I was confused, how had his words relaxed me when I was ready to attack? I must have looked confused as the man noticed it too.
"Oh you must be so confused little one, and your throat must burn as well, let's fix that before we speak to help settle your mind"
He reached his hand out and I felt oddly inclined to take it, I felt like he was safe for me, that he would protect me.
"Now, take a nice whiff of the air, and point where you want to go" he spoke
Not fully understanding what he meant but trusting him, I did as he said. Taking a deep breath, I smelled more than I could ever remember before, the trees, mud, animals, and the most mouthwatering scent I had ever experienced. Without looking I pointed west.
"Very good, now keep hold of my hand, but take us over there, show me" he commanded softly.
With a burst, we started sprinting, my mind only focusing on the scent, not even questioning how I could be moving this fast. We were shortly approaching tents, but before we were on top of them, the man stopped, causing me to jerk back.
"Now, don't want to rush in head first do we, tell me what you hear"
It was hard to focus, the smell was intoxicating, but I tried. I could hear 6 sounds, rhythmic thumping that only seemed to excite me further.
"I hear 6 thumping sounds" I replied quietly, my eyes not meeting his, too focused on the tents.
"Correct, now little one, you may go, you've earned it" he spoke softly. At his last word I charged at the closer tent, ripping open the fabric in one swift motion, biting the first thing I saw. I was rewarded with the sweetest fluid I had ever remembered tasting. I heard what sounded like screams but couldn't tell, I could barely focus, I just wanted more.
I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and grabbed it, sinking my teeth into it and tearing, more sweet nectar filled my mouth. I sprang from my position to the other tent, grabbing the moving thing, it felt smaller but tasted so much sweeter. I was on to the next quicker and quicker until I heard no more sound. I could finally open my eyes, and clearly see my surroundings. Red, all around me, at my feet looked like bits of flesh. Looking further around I saw the bodies of four children, and further away, a man and a woman. What….happened?
"Ah bravo little one, truly what one would expect out of a newborn" the man Jovially spoke as he snapped me out of my thoughts
"Was this….did I do this?" I shakily replied
"Why yes, if only you could see yourself, you look…RAVENOUS."
"What….am I?"
"Ah, the big question, well now that you've been fed we can get on with the questions, come along" he spoke while offering me his hand which I once again took.
He led us over to a fallen tree to sit on. He began the conversation that would change my life forever
"To simply start, we are vampires, I am your sire and we need blood to survive"
"Vampires are real? What is a sire?"
"Well yes, vampires are real as that is what we are, vampires have roamed for as long as there have been humans. A sire is the vampire that changes you with their bite. We will have a bond forever, it is why your body knew to trust me. It is my job to teach you our ways and help you survive."
"Why? Why me?"
"Well my dear, to put it simply again, I am a lonely and selfish creature. When I saw such beauty, I couldn't resist. I hope you won't be terribly mad at me for too long." He didn't sound upset over what he said.
But I couldn't find myself being terribly mad at him either. I don't remember much of who I was before waking up. I remember being terribly afraid, lonely and scared. I remember his silky voice and how he made the rat man scream. I liked when he screamed.
"I'm pretty?" Was all I could think to say. That seemed to amuse him immensely.
"Yes my dear, you are one of the most beautiful creatures I have come across in a century, you will be able to see soon once we clean you and your…mess…up" he chuckled.
My mess? My eyes grew wide, how had I already forgotten, the blood, the bodies, the children. But when I thought about them, I didn't feel remorse, only the burn in my throat reminding me that they had helped alleviate it. As we walked back over, the man started talking.
"Rule 1, and this is the MOST important rule we vampires live by, ALWAYS cover your tracks, humans cannot know we exist"
He began gathering everything into a pile, pouring the lighter fluid that was for a grill all over the stuff. He looked back at me
"Rule 2, be extremely careful with fire, it is our natural enemy." He finished by lighting a match and throwing it on the pile, with a bloom of flames, everything burned.
"How do we have rules? How can anyone even enforce them? Can we die? I thought we were immortal?" I shot off each question after another in a single breath.
"I will answer, but only after you finally properly Introduce yourself"
"My name is Sophie."
"Ah, lovely little Sophie, and I am Alistair."
Alistair, what a unique name. I hadn't noticed until now, but he has an accent, British maybe? I wonder how old he is?
"Now, back to your questions my little Sophie, the rules are in place by our government, the Volturi. They are based in Italy and keep watch over our world to ensure some semblance of order. They are feared by all and are not people you will want to cross or even attempt to fight. I'd rather not talk more about them than needed but maybe I'll tell you another time."
I didn't think Alistair would be afraid of anything, yet he seemed like he'd rather cut off his own arm than talk about them more than necessary.
"But, to your second question, yes, we can die. We are immortal, not impenetrable. The only way we can fully die is if our body is torn into pieces and then burned. Even if your body were ripped to shreds it could still eventually heal and reattach itself, the fire is needed to finish the job."
I nod my head at the new Info, hoping to never have to put it to use. Alistair begins speaking again
"So, do you remember much of your human life?"
Thinking, I shrug my shoulders "Besides my name, I just remember being terrified, terrified of the dark, the man that held me. Then happy when you made him scream, and then waking up"
"Interestingly, during the change you can lose a lot of your memories, you remember what you hold onto during the change the most, it can even lead to potential special powers."
I peeked up at that "powers? We can have powers?"
"Some, it usually relates to something about you or an experience in your human life."
"Can we find out if I have one?"
"Later, but remember, they are somewhat rare, not many who turn get one."
"Do you have a power?"
"Yes, I can track the approximate location of what I seek. I'll go into detail another time maybe. We should be moving, we have been here a few days and you should clean yourself up before we come upon others."
I was completely reminded how dirty I felt, I had dried and sticky blood all over me and then it reminded me of feeding.
"I killed a family, children, but I don't feel particularly bad, happy even that it helped my throat hurt a little less, why is that?"
"They are our food, just as humans eat animals with little regard, we do the same to humans."
"Are children meant to taste sweeter?"
"Yes, like humans with veal or lamb, children are sweeter to us. That brings me to another rule. Rule 3, no hunting children specifically, they're game if they're already with adults, but not exclusively. It would draw too much attention if too many went missing as they're not nearly as filling."
I can definitely live with that one, like a delicacy. I could never swear them off all together, they're too sweet.
"Now, let's head to a river so you can finally bathe the blood off. You will be more efficient with time." He plainly stated.
We ran until we reached a river, jumping in. I submerged myself in the cool water, rubbing away at my skin and ringing out my hair. When I finally felt clean I emerged, ringing out my clothes as best I could, though they didn't bother me much. I hardly felt cold anymore. Alistair reached into a pocket and pulled out a small mirror, one of his few possessions I suppose.
"Here, take a look, gorgeous." He said with a smirk.
Taking the mirror carefully in my hands, I was shocked at who I saw. I only vaguely remembered my appearance as a human and while I would have considered myself pretty I was never stunning, but now…
My long black hair shined, making my flawless white skin glow. My lips seemed fuller and had a natural pink hue to them. My bright red eyes stared back at me. They really enhanced my look, I was a vampire after all.
Angling the mirror down I could see my figure better, my hips a little fuller, waist a little thinner and bust a little bigger. I was still my tiny height of 5'2" that I could tell but otherwise I WAS HOT.
I handed the mirror back to Alistair.
"Done checking yourself out?" he chuckled.
"Yes, and I do concede, I am pretty gorgeous." I say with a hair flip.
"A little personality showing eh? Well we best be moving, I don't like to stay in one place for very long."
"Where are we anyways?"
"Vermont, I carried you here from Boston. It's best if we stay in the wilderness for a bit, you won't be able to control yourself anywhere near humans until AT LEAST the first year is over."
"Oh, why after just a year?"
"During your first year you are a newborn, your emotions are higher, thirst is barely tolerable, strength and speed are also better. After your first year everything mellows out more so to say."
Ah, that makes sense I think as I nod along.
"Well let's get going then, we'll head up to Canada for a bit. We have eternity to talk."
And with that, we head off to begin my new life.
Authors note:
went through a did some editing, but overall chapter is not much different.