She crawled along the floor pulling herself along using the vines that lay across the forest floor. She was so weak she could barely move and progress was painfully slow.

Exhausted she gave up and curled into a ball where she was. She was hungry but the thought of food repulsed her and she had no idea why. She had never had a problem with food before so why now? She was also incredibly thirsty but the thought of water filled her with inexplicable fear. She could not understand why she felt like this.

She had no recollection of events leading up to a few hours ago when she had woken up on the forest floor weak and unable to walk or even get up. But she had to find a safe place and soon for dawn was approaching. She tried to gather her thoughts, why was the dawn approaching a worry? She had no idea. She had watched many a sunrise in her life she remembered and had never felt like this. She shook her head trying to clear the fog in her mind. The things she could remember were fleeting glimpses of her past flashing through her mind like lightening, bearing only a split second view before it was gone again. She remembered her childhood, her parents and even times at school she remembered her first boyfriend and their dates and then nothing. Her mind was a closed book to her and no matter how hard she tried she could not remember a thing.

The effort of pulling herself along coupled with trying to concentrate on her memories proved too much for her and she passed out then.

Two vampires were heading home on their horses, they had been out all night hunting and now they were trying to get back before the dawn broke. They almost passed the unconscious figure on the floor when one of them noticed and pointed.

"Look! Over there."

Her companion reigned in his horse and looked to where she pointed. He dismounted and walked over to where the figure was laying still curled into a ball.

"She's a vampire, and very weak judging by the look of her."

"Bring her with us Palmar, we have no time to question why she is here now."

Palmar picked up the prone figure and carried her to his horse where he mounted and cradled her in one arm and used the other to steer his horse.

They arrived at their destination not a moment too soon. Just as they entered the building the sun broke the horizon bathing the land in its searing heat.

Palmar and his companion carried the vampire they had found and laid her on Palmar's bed.

"We should inform our lord of this immediately Koria."

"He will be resting Palmar it is daylight."

"Ah yes. What are we to do with her until nightfall?"

"She looks like she needs nourishment. I should send for fresh blood."

Palmar nodded and the required pitcher of fresh blood was brought. Koria knelt by the bed and held up the head of the unconscious vampire and held a goblet full to her lips. The blood touched her lips and began to flow down her throat and she stirred as the life-giving crimson fluid reached the places it was needed. As it did her eyes flickered and snapped open.

She felt the fluid flowing down her throat and welcomed it – that is until her eyes opened and she realised what it was that she was being given. She knocked the goblet away and scooted up the bed to cower against the headboard madly wiping away the blood on her lips and being utterly repulsed that she had just drunk blood.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Koria was shocked by this vampire's reaction to what would under normal circumstances be consumed without hesitation. Something was not right here and she knew the sooner their lord was told of this the better.

"Hush child." Koria soothed reaching forwards to stroke the other's cheek. The vampire on the bed drew back in alarm and fear.

"Stay back! Who are you?"

"My name is Koria and this is my partner and closest friend Palmar."

Palmar inclined his head to the frightened vampire all the while wondering what kind of vampire she was. He had never in all his 300 years ever known a vampire to knock a goblet of blood away when in a weakened state. It was a puzzle that was certain.

He drew Koria away to a corner of the room, all the while being watched by the one on the bed.

Palmar spoke in a low voice.

"Koria we must inform our lord as soon as possible of this. She is strange. I have never seen anything like it."

"I agree, I will go and find him and if I must I will rouse him. I feel he will want to know of this."

Palmar nodded and Koria left to find their lord. She made her way through the hallways to her lord's private chambers. Her fear built as she knew he was resting and would likely be in a foul temper to be woken from his rest. Gathering every ounce of her courage, Koria knocked on the huge door in front of her. There was silence for a few seconds before a voice inside was heard and as she suspected her lord sounded none too pleased at the disturbance.

"Yes what is it?"

"My lord it is I, Koria and I come to inform you of a new development that I feel needs your immediate attention."

There was silence for a few minutes and Koria waited.

She was just wondering if the vampire inside had decided to ignore her completely and continue his rest, when the door was opened to reveal the emperor of Nosgoth – Kain standing there looking tired but perfectly composed.

"This had better be good Koria, I dislike being disturbed from my rest." He growled.

Koria bowed low. "My apologies lord Kain but Palmar and I feel we need your guidance and assistance with a weak vampire we discovered on our way home this morning. She was unconscious and when I tried to feed her she knocked the goblet from my hand and is showing strong fear of us. My lord I have never seen anything like it. We felt you should be informed of this immediately."

"Very well you may bring me to this vampire and I will decide what is to be done."

Koria bowed again and led the way back to the rooms she shared with Palmar. They entered and Kain saw the vampire on the bed. He strode over to her.

She scrambled back as far as she could go up the bed utter terror written on her face.

She looked up at the one who had entered the room. This one was different to the other two. His skin had a greenish tinge and he had three talons on each hand and cleft feet. His long white hair was caught at the base with a gold band and his face was topped with a spiky structure that made him look like a demon. She cowered against the headboard her body shaking with her fear.

Kain approached her and sat on the bed.

"Please sir, don't hurt me." Her voice sounded small like a child's and she looked at Kain through eyes full of trepidation.

"Child tell me, why are you so fearful? You are among your own kind here. We shall not harm you."

"My own kind? Whatever do you mean sir?"

"Our kind, vampires. We are vampires and so are you."

"I'm a what? No! its impossible! I won't believe it!"

"Child you cannot deny what you are. Look at the colour of your skin, feel the fangs within your mouth, the thirst that must be sated with the blood of others. You are what you are."

"No I refuse to accept this! You are lying." She curled herself into a tight ball and closed her eyes to try and block out this nightmare she was in.

Kain rose from the bed and motioned to Palmar and Koria to follow him. Once just outside the room, Kain turned to face them.

"I do not understand her, she is not a fledgling. I would say she is at least 100 years old maybe 2. I cannot fathom why she won't accept what she is. Something has happened to her and we must discover what it is."

"Yes my lord we will try and find out as much as we can."

"And now I shall return to my rest for the day. You both should rest but take it in turns."

"Yes lord Kain we will do that."

Kain nodded and turning he strode off in the direction of his rooms.