Chapter 2

Alistair POV

After we all caught up Carlisle said that we should all share our stories of how we became vampires. The very thought of having to talk about it made me tense up but Carlisle reassured me and told me I could go last, which I reluctantly agreed too. Carlisle went first explaining in great detail how his father was an Anglican pastor who dedicated most of his time killing off vampires, witches, and werewolves in London. Though most of the time these people were just innocent citizens. When his father grew older Carlisle took over but unlike his father he was able to come across a real coven of vampires in the sewers of London, he led the hunt and in the chaos he was bitten and that was how he became a vampire.

The others shared their stories and then it was my turn. I was so nervous if I could I would have been shaking. Jasper could sense my anxiety and very graciously sent a wave of calm to me. I nodded thanking him, took a deep breath and began.

"I grew up in England during the reign of King Edward II, who was considered one of the weakest of the Plantagenet Kings. My father was one of the barons who constantly fought against the King's attempts to limit the power of the British Peerage. Throughout my youth, my father and older brother were embroiled in conspiracy after conspiracy as they tried to protect the rights of aristocracy and to gain a place of preeminence over the other barons.

I lived quietly at our country estate with my mother and sisters. I had no interest in my father's schemes, preferred to hunt for sport and was considered the best hunter in the country. I was also an avid falconer and keeping many birds and training them being my favorite pursuit.

My father secretly formed an alliance with two other barons after the banishment of the king's favorite counselor. My brother was supposed to get a place in the counselor's position. However, after multiple betrayals on both sides, my brother was implicated in a plot to overthrow the king, and he and a few others were executed for treason. The charges were falsely created by another aristocrat with an agenda that differed from my father's.

My father became increasingly distrustful of the other barons and eventually became obsessed with vengeance and sought aid of the darkest forces of the occult while the rest of my family completely withdrew from society. I planned to take care of my sisters if they remained unmarried for my brother's fatal mistake. One night my father brought me into the secret tunnels of London, where many minor aristocrats were gathered. My father planned to set me on the throne of England and swore I would be the next Charlemagne. Shortly after explaining this plan, a man called Astaroth, whose real name was George, arrived. I didn't know that Astaroth was a vampire who had agreed to change me into a vampire under my father's wishes. After giving me a few pointers, he bit me.

When I woke up I slaughtered most of the peasants captured for me to feed on. After I was satiated my father entered the cellar to explain the upcoming steps of becoming a vampire, but I was too furious to listen and shoved him out of the way, accidentally killing him. I escaped the tunnels and ran back home, only to find my entire family gone. In a burst of insight, I realized that my father had given our family to Astaroth in exchange for my immortality. Totally devastated, I tried to seek comfort with my falcons, but they flew away in fear.

I left civilization that night and avoided all contact with humans, except when I hunted, and mistrusted everyone and everything that had to do with authority figures with a sense of paranoia."

I closed my eyes and sighed, I could feel their eyes staring at me with pity, but what was I to expect. We sat in silence before Carlisle spoke once more. "Alistair I had no idea…" he began but I raised my hand, hoping he would take the hint and change the topic. He did thankfully, but I was tired and had much to think about. Like that beautiful girl in the forest today so I went up to the attic and hung out there till about noon the next day when I heard the doorbell ring.