Amelia's Journey

Chapter I: Reflections

The world I awoke to was infantly different to the world I left behind. When Viktor awoke me from my slumber I was both enthralled and appalled by the world I had inherited. Man had triumphed technologically; with iron clad sailing vessels capable of traversing entire oceans. Yet man was still the same savage animal it had always been, as their technological triumphs were little more than a more efficient way of slaughtering each other on a larger scale. This world was indeed confusing, I wanted nothing more than to just hide away from it, pretend it was just me and my kind. But this would not be possible, for I am an elder, I have to rule the great coven, take over where Viktor left off. Yet I knew I would be inheriting a war, Viktor despised the Lycans more than any of us, even Markus, a descendant of Corvinus did not have Viktor's contempt for the beast.

One hundred years is a long time, and I have seen much this century, and yet it has gone so quickly. I remember my awakening. The first flashes of thought Viktor placed in my mind, I despised the awakening process, your first sensations being a decayed corpse, unable to function without the artificial introduction of blood, most undignified. Of course Viktor was the only one I would allow to see me in that hideous form, which was also useful as it would give him a chance to explain how one should rule this new world. Apparently Kraven had grown in stature and power these last two centuries, and Viktor's girl, the pretty one…. Selene had become our best Death Dealer. Things were indeed different.

I remember the joy I felt when my youth had restored itself, I had my handmaidens dress me in a lavish gown, and for the first time in two centuries I was able to taste blood from another Vampire. My hand maiden Erika, a beautiful young thing and a favorite of Kraven's. As she stepped behind me to put my diamonds around my neck I caught her scent and knew that she had just fed. I dismissed my other handmaidens and asked Erika to sit with me. Her golden hair was pulled back tight, exposing every inch of her porcelain white face. I took her delicate arm in my hand and gently brought her wrist to my mouth, taking one last look at her young face, filled with anticipation and sank my teeth into her silky white flesh and tasted the sweet essence of flowing blood for the first time in two centuries. The girl tasted so sweet, I could hear her initial moans of discomfort which soon gave way to moans of ecstasy as the embrace took hold of her. I could tell she had not been a Vampire long as she tried to return the bite, but any Vampire knows a mere handmaiden may not taste an elder. I should have stopped her there, but it had been a long time. I released her wrist and allowed her to move closer to me, still breathing heavily she began to trace her tongue over my neck and then to my surprise she actually had the audacity to begin kissing me, though this was an extremely pleasant sensation I felt somewhat uncomfortable with it, as she was far beneath me. I had to stop her before she bit me, it wouldn't do for the coven to see me with bite marks now would it. I sent her away and made arrangements to speak with the whole coven.

That was a trying time, it was hard to keep the coven together. It appeared it was not just the human world that was changing, but ours as well. Many of our number believed that Budapest was no longer the center of our world, many wanted more, I was one of them. I felt troubled in the mansion, mainly because of Kraven, he was building a powerbase for himself, and many allies, dangerous allies. Soren was amongst them, a man who could skin a Lycan with a bull whip. It appeared that my actions with Erika had angered him. Erika was after all his chylde. I often wondered why he even bothered turning her, it was obvious that he wanted Selene, perhaps Erika was a substitute. Anyway Kraven's insolence and ambition were growing, and unlike Viktor conflict did not appeal to me. I was resolved the world was a big place and I had an eternity to see it. So I did what no other elder had done before. I split the great coven, taking almost half our number with me. We left Budapest in 1902, first for France and the next spring on to London. Ah London, I spent two years there, that's where I found Malachi, my pet, my most loyal protector, my Chylde, the only mortal I ever sired, maybe the only person I ever loved. Any way he is a story for another time. From London we traveled on a great sailing vessel to what I knew as the new world, but have since been forged into a nation, the United States of America. That is where I have ruled my coven ever since, for nine decades I have explored the new world and built a great house of my own. But now my time as leader is coming to an end, and it will soon be Markus's time to rule. My coven will unite with our kindred in Budapest once again. I have sent my envoy, Dimitri, to meet with Kraven and make preparations for my return. As I sit on this train, taking me back to the place I left ninety nine years ago, my only regret is th…..

"My lady I…" a young man stood in the doorway to Amelia's private carriage, he was tall, dressed in a black tail coat and all manor of black fineries, in his left hand he carried a walking cane, a unique instrument its handle was solid silver, shaped like a pedestal on top of which sat an angel. The shaft was made from jet black wood, however the cane did not appear to be a waling implement as the bottom of it was a solid silver spike. "My apologies my lady." He continued "I did not realize you were busy."

"Not at all Malachi." Smiled Amelia, placing her diary and pen on a glass table in font of her. "Won't you sit with me a while? Have a glass of wine perhaps?" She poured a glass and motioned for Malachi to join her. Placing his walking cane on a dresser he went to join her.

"Make sure that thing doesn't scratch my furniture!" she snapped at the vampire

"The Furniture will be fine my lady." Sighed Malachi as he sat down opposite Amelia. "Are you nervous?" he asked, as he took a glass of wine.

"About what?" Asked Amelia.

"Going to sleep and not seeing anyone for two hundred years?"

"No" Said Amelia "This will not be the first time I have slumbered, you do not notice the passing of time."

"Its just that…." Malachi hesitated, trying to find the right words, "I'm nervous …. You sired me ninety eight years ago and we've hardly spent a week apart since…. How am I supposed to live two hundred years separated from you?"

"Oh Malachi" pleaded Amelia as she moved around the table to comfort him, resting on the arm of his chair she embraced him "Though it will only feel like a moment from when I close my eyes to when Viktor will awaken me, it may as well be a millennia, for I will not be with you."

"I live only to serve you my lady" Whispered Malachi almost in a sob.

"And you have served me well." Amelia reassured him. She moved from the arm of the chair to kneel in front of him. She looked up into his dead brown eyes and remembered the boy she sired, she stroked his face. His pale white skin was flawless despite nine decades of time. She smiled at him and stroked his jet black hair "you have protected me from all my enemies, Lycan, human, even other Vampires. Your loyalty has brought me the only moments of true joy I've had in my life, and I have had a long life. I trust you above all others, even Markus and Viktor."

"Thank you my lady" Malachi responded with a genuine satisfaction "I just want you to know I will miss you every second you slumber."

Amelia smiled; Malachi had been her favorite ever since she first laid eyes on him. She knew this would be hard, but she actually felt overwhelmed. "Enough of this." She said briskly, trying to change the subject. "Two hundred years will fly by, and you have Nina, the two of you have spent everyday of the last decade together, she loves you deeply."

"And I her" returned Malachi "She's the only other person on this Earth that can offer me comfort."

"When will you send for her?" Amelia asked, obviously concerned that her chylde would have no one to comfort him when she was put to slumber.

"When everything's settled down, I'm not sure what Budapest is like, I'm not sure what Kraven's like. I want to make sure everything is safe."

There was an uneasy silence as the two looked at each other. "Why don't you go and make sure everything is on schedule." Suggested Amelia

"Of course my lady." Was Malachi's programmed response. He stood and walked back to the dresser on which he left his cane, he carried by the shaft so that the silver handle was not obscured. Before he left he turned and bowed his head to his mistress and sire, Amelia smiled and nodded in response. As he turned and left about his business Amelia's smile turned into an expression of pain and sorrow. She lashed out swinging her arm at the wine glasses in front of her, sending them flying into the wall, almost disintegrating on impact. Then she got up and calmly walked to the door, locking the entrance to her private carriage Amelia turned around, and leaning against the ornately carved door she sank to the floor and pulled her knees up close to her chest. Not caring that she was creasing her beautifully embroided gown she sank her head into her knees and did something she had not done for nearly a century. She Sobbed.