Venom Roots
Sam never thought he would be in Europe, for this particular task. However, the pack seemed to be able to combine enough to save for this trip. He would love to sight see, but he was here on business. He had a pack of ten wolves and only three of them had imprinted, and the ones who have not were getting impatient. Some had been a wolf for four or five years and failed to imprint. So this vampire, Pricilla was a need for the pack.
Sam first sent Paul, the second wolf to transform and his most trusted beta. He should have figured that Paul would be the one who didn't see past her being blood sucker or think that she never heard of vampires drinking animal blood. His visit did give some information about this vampire, Pricilla. She was protected by those weirdo ancients that had visited the Cullens, and from what he got from them before she most likely hates the Volturi. She has the physical age of fifteen, and knows little English which is why he was studying the Hungarian-English dictionary. She also didn't seem to have a mate when Paul met her in front of her leaders. Their plane landed in the city of Sibiu. His first thought was for Emily's safety; he put her on a train to Medias, and rented a car going to the village of Sibu. Emily was suppose to find a café and when Sam texts her, she is suppose to put on a red hat. So when this vampire touched him, he will know if the description is right.
Sam was probably right to send Emily away, because as soon as he walked in a tiny ill lit inn he noticed at least ten vampires at the lounge hiding from the sun, Sam swore he needed an air mask or something to avoid the stanching odor. He wondered why this tiny village has yet to catch on to the high number of blood-suckers in their area, but then again he should of figured long ago that this Pricilla was popular, they are probably all in line hiding out for the day waiting until night to use her gift.
Sam first went to the inn keeper and tried to speak to him in Romanian, he must not of been very good before Sam could finished he called his daughter who looked to be sixteen coming down in an iPod and jeans to handle him.
"May, I help you sir?" The girl asked.
"Yes, I am looking for a room." Sam explained as he heard a choirs of vampires behind him, one was this large red head who had to be the largest blood sucker he has ever seen coming in with a short female that was at least a third his size, followed by two others an Asian and some kind of European that followed the large one's every move. Sam couldn't help but wonder why they praised this blond curly hair blood sucker when he came into the house.
"We have one free, but to warn you it may not be to your custom." The girl explained as the innkeeper grabbed his lugged and went upstairs to a small room at the end of the hall. He went to check his cell and realized he was out of calling area. Sam then pasted another creature, not a vampire but still had a foul stench. It was this muscular blonde woman who glanced towards him, then kept on walking as they led him to a tiny room at the end of the hall with a quilted bed, and lace currents as well as a lamp at the bed stand.
"The Lou is at the end of the hall, and we will get you hot water for the bathtub when you use it," She explained as the man sat his luggage down while Sam appeared at the window to see an old rusted car come up with three blood suckers park at the pottery shop across the street.
"Thank you," Sam said as she took out the maps and the girl left.
Sam quickly figured they were here to see her too, as he watched the three vampires come out; they seemed to have a lot of luggage unlike the other blood suckers coming into the area.
As soon as Sam got settled he went down to get something to eat, there he tried to figure his place in line. He looked over to the large coven. It seemed to have grown, Sam watched from a corner when he saw three vampires who he recognized coming in. It was the Cullen's friends, the other coven that drank animal blood, he only saw Tanya and Kate those, along with Garrett. He kept his distance considering the bitterness his pack had with them.
"Look who we found," Kate smiled coming in with a young red-eyed blood sucker that looked only to be sixteen. Sam watched as the coven glowed when he walked in, apparently he was a very welcomed guest of theirs. He spoke in German to them, as the laughed all very happy to see him. He notice Tanya and Kate surround him in a concerned manner like he was a nephew or something. He was able to get away from them, as he went to take the one they called Fred aside with a map. That was when Sam heard him talking in an American accent. They only had a short conversion at a very fast pace, so Sam couldn't catch on, then the sun set and they all wished him luck as he left.
"It isn't wise to pry," Sam heard a voice behind him, he looked over to see a skinny Chinese man with a round shaved head, pure white marble skin with golden eyes. He couldn't help but stair.
"You are a shape shifter, so it is wise to assume you seen my kind before." The man said, "You may sit down if you want."
"No thank you, I'm fine." He said unsure.
"I do not mean any harm, I know you shape-shifters think we are all like our enemies, but my eyes should be a sign I mean no harm." The man explained.
"You know?" Sam asked.
"I approached your kind before," The man explained. "May I introduced myself as Chongde, my good friend Malakia knows your kind well, she's is also a vampire, and a doctor, bet you never heard of that."
"I can believe it," Sam said calmly surprised by this man's easiness. He never knew there were other vegetarian vampires beside the Cullens and the Denali, he wondered if the Cullens would believe that there was another doctor as well.
"She treats shape shifters in Africa," He explained, "Lions, and Hyenas. I know shape shifters that turn into tigers, I give them tutoring so the boys can keep up with school and shape shifting. I take you're a wolf, those are the only ones I read in North America, I also heard of some turning into cougars, and others into crocodiles, but they wouldn't have the same accent. You are most likely surprised to see some so civil, after seeing the ones in the Americas. "
"I know some vampires in North America that don't drink human blood." Sam said as the man gave him a strange look. "That's impossible."
"Some are over there," he explained as Chongde looked over seeing Tanya, Kate and Garrett along with the rest of them. "I should introduce myself, later. But, I heard of the vampires of the new world and they are not as civil as the rest of us like to maintain. They do not have the same customs as we do when it comes to passing our venom."
"Just go ahead and say it, they are venom w*****," He heard a voice from behind him, he looked around to see the same tall muscular women with a strange scent, and that terrible but not in the same way vampires fouled the place. She had a rather different scent, she smelled like meat that has been around way too long.
"Holly, where did you hear such a word?" Chongde asked closing his books as the woman flipped back her hair.
"When I was visiting two of my brothers and a sister in Greece, you know them," She looked towards Chongde.
"Yes, they are good friends of mine," Chongde smiled.
"Anyway, their leaders say how the vampires there go around biting whatever human that comes along, and uses them for their benefits. Giving their venom in exchange for them doing their bidding, to the most random humans that just past them, without seeing if they are worthy of the great blessing. Some of them seriously sand out all night finding the most random human. They then get enough and lead them to attack each other, creating to kill. That's why my brothers can't go to their homeland, because their coven fears them. It's nothing but a war pit over there, like the ghetto of the vampire world."
"You sound Australian." Sam said confused, she didn't sound like she had Greek siblings.
"This is my friend, Holly," Chongde then bent over and whispered. "She is a moon child."
"And we generally refer to each other as brother and sister, since we are creatures of few." Holly explained. "I was on my way to visit two brothers, and a sister but I heard two members of the coven that has oppressed us is in there, and I just can't bring myself to be kind to their guest. Luckily, on my way back I ran into Chongde."
"As animal drinkers, we strive for peace, and as an animal drinker, it is an obligation to offer her shelter." Chongde explained. "I am on my way to see the matchmaker."
"Did you show that to them?" Sam looked over to see the young German vampire had caught their attention.
"Gisbert," Chongde smiled as he looked towards Holly and met her eyes. Sam notice Gisbert's eyes led to the coven he seemed to be with, Holly looked towards them.
"I am going to the shop across the street." She smiled giving Gisbert a thankful look.
"What is about this seeing the Romanians?" Chongde asked.
"Can I see what you have?" Gisbert asked.
"I heard she is rather feminine, so I brought this comb." He said taking out this beautiful jade comb with white porcine lilies.
"She'll love this, but you need the approval of her coven." Gisbert explained.
"Do you know where I can find the castle?" Sam asked him.
"Why would I tell someone whose designed to kill my kind?" Gisbert asked as Chongde look towards him. "He does have a point."
"Chongde," Holly rushed in. "The Volturi; there is four of them across the street, I don't want them to find me."
"The Romanians don't care if the law is broken, take shelter with them." Gisbert informed Holly as they quickly gathered their things.
"May, I join you?" Sam asked.
"Why would we take a shape shifter, did you not just hear what Gisbert said?" He gave him a serious expression, as Gisbert let out a laugh going back to the other vampires. Sam reminded himself he wasn't trusted amongst vampires. Chongde was no different from Carlisle, he was polite, but if it was the choice between him or another vampire, the answer was clear. He was designed to kill them, so there for any vegetarian would not reveal the location of a normal vampire, epically the three inside. He needed to find a vampire that would be naive enough to trust a shape-shifter; he went out to the inn and found the blonde curly hair vampire returning to the village. He was walking in the street light, with no scent whatsoever approaching him with an I-pod in his ear.
~X~
I couldn't help but listen to her, 'You're not good enough for him, you'll never be' she kept whispering to herself. I wondered for a moment what Heather was talking about. 'So what, you don't get knights in shining armors, he's the doctor's kid, and he's on the football team. He can have any girl he wants, why would he go for you.' She whispered quietly. I could not think past the strangeness of this, what was going on her head to utter such nonsense. I figured she was just dreaming, and so I shouldn't make anything of it as I went back to my letter.
'After the party, I went to Philomela's room so she could help me get the hair pieces I borrowed from her out of my hair, along with washing out the glitter and sparkles Sophia sprayed all over me. It was a rather quaint room, with light blue walls, and a lavender quilt bed along with two dressers, one of them having a giant mirror, which I assumed was Mela's and the other being a simple oak closet. She also had a poster of Mariza Koch along with all her Nisiotika albums, and Panos Gavalas.
"You want to see my book collection?" She said pulling out her trunk from under the bed. "I have an English copy of "Pride and Prejudice" signed by Jane Austin, I also have "Nancy Drew"; Nikki gave it to me for Christmas one year when he had my name. He said his sister read it, oh, did you hear, it turns out she received the great blessing. Anyway, after the first book, I got hooked.' She smiled sitting on the bed next to me that was when I notice her sepia wedding picture on the table stand sitting on white lace with a candle next to it. It was beautiful, her in a long white lace gown with a crown of flowers in her braided hair, and Hector with a traditional Greek clothes at that time.
"So I heard Monroe adopted Hector," I said out loud as I looked to see the dark skies slowly become a shade of light purple over the sea, I also notice Beyza walking back to the cottage with the cell phone Fred gave them. "Yes, cute little baby when I first saw him." She smiled as she took off her long hoop earrings and sat next to me.
"How did you two…." I asked.
"Became mates?" Philomela asked turning to see my nervous face. "You don't have to be embarrassed to ask me questions, we're best friends, remember."
"Yes," I nodded as she went to take off her shoes, and her dress then got into a small white robe and sat next to me.
"Well, I remember him at Monroe's wedding, with Charamaos. It was a rather quick ordeal; I don't think they were in love yet. She wanted Hector to have a normal childhood, and Charamaos agreed to help her. At some point in this they fell in love. After Matthias married them they went away, so he could have a normal human childhood." She said in that sweet happy voice of hers.
"If you call your mother never coming out in the sun normal, I guess you can say that." A voice came from behind us; it was Hector with a blood stain on his pants.
"I accidentally spilled some, Philly; did my one levis come out of the wash?" He asked.
"I set them right in the dresser; next to the white shirt I sewed you." Mela answered walking over as I turned; he quickly changed as I heard Mela leaving while he grabbed a rocking chair off to the side.
"What was it like growing up with vampire parents?" I asked curiously looking at the old photo album Mela left out.
"I didn't think much of it, I didn't know what they were until I was twelve but prior to it I notice some things were different about my parents then from my school mates but I still didn't think much of it. After Mom left, Dad got a job at an inn as a cook. They lived in Crete; the village of Armeni was where Dad got a job as a chief. I did have a normal childhood, when I was six my parents paid for me to go to a dimotika. They would take me there early in the morning, with my mother under an umbrella and my father in a cloak on a sunny day. I then notice the other children's parents; they weren't near as beautiful or attractive as my parents. I also noticed that they would describe the softness and warmth of their mothers. My parents had cold, hard skin but still just as comforting.
More of it I started noticing when I went to friends houses, they went out during the day. I also notice their mothers seemed to take a lot longer doing laundry, and getting the cleaning done. I would see my mother doing the domestics but it didn't take near as long, I also notice their fathers would come home tired, and sometimes sweating. Charamaos would be working all day but never show signs of being tired. The biggest, most promenade difference was when my friends had me for dinner….their parents ate. Mormo and Charamaos would make me food, but just sat around watching me eat. Another thing I notice when I went camping with my friends, their parents slept, they didn't go away out to shores or in the woods while one of them watched me, then the other one went. I also notice that, along with the eye changes. It still didn't bother me; I had a normal childhood, with parents who cared for me very much. I filled Monroe's pain, and she was protective of me.
I remember the events that led to this discovery quiet clear. I was twelve and I was visiting my friend, Damian's house, and his sister Litsa was misbehaving. They were superstitious people. The girl threw food at me, and their mother said, 'you had better stop right now, or I will call Monroe and she will come after you.' Litsa stopped immediately. I later asked my friend what was this Monroe about, and he said Monroe is vampire who drinks the blood of naughty children. He then told me about Limia, who steels the blood of children in revenge, Empusa who attacks travelers and Hecate the witch that leads them. It was shocking, because I would get gifts from women who had these names at Christmas and for my birthday.
One time when, Damian and I were camping with a group of boys, we were told about the vrykolakas and how to tell them. Besides the red eyes they matched my parents perfectly. Damian had a family of eight children, which wasn't uncommon at that time. I also questioned why my mother and father didn't have other children, along with these factors. I didn't want to admit the people who I grew up with and gave me nothing but loved were blood sucking creatures.
Then a subject came up, something well studied proudly among us today. You probably know what I am talking about, what is the one subject, if you ever study it you don't bring up with the Coven leaders?'
"Roman Mythology," I said instantly remembering the vampire tutors who were told those books would be burn if they came near the place, he smiled and answered, "For me it was Greek. I didn't think much of it as the teacher give us our books, first was Homer and 'The Odyssey' she sighed talking about her brothers, Marcus and Caius. When I studied Bibliotheca they kept silent, I notice Mormo rolled her eyes a couple of times as I read it. The worst was when my class studied 'Hymn of Demeter' and I mentioned Hades being the devil. That had hit it for her, she cursed Demeter calling her a lying bitch, and told me what they teach lies because she knows she met those of the underworld and as long as I am living under her roof I will not disrespect those who saved her, and saved me…..I pretty much figured it out. I was shocked, when they admitted to it. It shocked me even more when I found out they planned to changed me into one of them when I was older, I wondered what was the point of going to school if they were just going to keep me frozen once I reached twenty.
Then the family had to move, because they notice my parents weren't ageing. So my father took a job in Malia, and we moved to the city of Heraklion, one of the main reasons was because there was a fine Lyceum there. I didn't like it, it was just a bunch of stuck up punks; I wanted to be like my friends who were now training for their father's trade. There was another school there, that Mormo got a job at and came to admire the education. It was this all girl's school that gave the same education equal to the boys at that time. She wrote to Hecate about it, and suggested it would be good for Philomela.
She hadn't been to school for two centuries, and then it was only church school. Agatha went when I was little, and it was now my turn. She had received privet tutoring from all of them, and came off the boat excited to be going to school and learning how to be a lady. She came in the summer so Monroe can help her catch up. I remember her still finding it strange she was talking.'
'I thought she was beautiful, but I thought that was to her being a vampire. I had to escort her, because it was improper for a lady to show up unescorted. We would walk together, and we fell in love. I was surprised in how short of a time we fell in love. She became my life, and that was when I decided to be an immortal. I asked them to change me so I can be with her, and Monroe changed me, because she wanted to be the one to do it, considering I had brought such comfort into her life. Much similar to the way Gisbert filled the void for Beatrix when she changed him.
'Do you have a picture of his family?" I asked as he smiled.
"Yes," He then took a picture off his wall that was with a picture of the Irish, the Egyptians, the French, various groups of nomads, one I met the day before and the Japanese, along with various animal drinking covens. He took a picture frame from their collection and showed me a red-eyed coven huddled together with a large mountain scenery behind them, I recognized his sister Ilona, who stood next to a lean yet muscular blonde that had a lot of similar features to her. He stood there with his arm around a beautiful muscular female with long dark blond hair and shiny red eyes looking down towards Gisbert who was on the other side of her.
"Is that her?" I asked.
'Yes, she created him out of loneliness, I know when most nomads are looking for a non-romantic companion they generally change one of their own gender, but after what happened with her old coven. She decided that it would be easier to travel with sons over daughters. She would have ended up in your court if she hadn't made him; it is hard to describe the abandonment she suffered. She loves him very much." He let out a laugh. "Siobhan tells us how Beatrix use to annoy her in calming she has the most perfect son. She was the one who thought Beatrix should have a mate, and told her he needed a father figure."
"That's when he sent him to live with you." I realized as he nodded.
"Yes, we became best friends then," Hector sighed. "He was upset Beatrix sent him here, but she still wrote to him. Even though she was illiterate she would go to Ireland or France to have them write for her, give him updates, and inform him what is going on. That's what inspired him to let us teach him.'
"I got to talk to her," I smiled looking at her.
"He rarely tells his family about his previous girls.' Hector pointed out.
"What happened when she finally found him?" I asked curios.
"She sent for him, saying she plans to come and meet him, also informed Gisbert about having a sister as well." Hector answered. "I was there when he first met Kondrat. He is a family man, you know, he is the kind of vampire that if he had the choice he would have been human. He loves his daughter, but Gisbert figured he wanted more kids. The first thing Kondrat said when he met Gisbert, 'We have my daughter and your son. Now our coven is complete.' We go up there every other year. They live in a beautiful home, way up in the mountains. Amazing scenery, it takes your breath away. There was this one time, we found that old rusty car and took it home. Kondrat was very excited to help us work on it. He enjoys having Gisbert as a son." Hector said. "Gisbert went right to him, telling him about the car. It's all fixed now. They take good care of it. Kondrat and Ilona are from another coven, he will always choose them over us. They are considered extend family to their coven. The reason that one coven is letting Fred do this for us, is because Gisbert comes here so often."
"That's sweet of him," I said with a bit of guilt.
"I heard you met his sister," Hector went on.
"Yes, I did," I answered with a smile.
"She cares for him very much, she doesn't admit it, but if there is something going on with his coven, she is the first to call him. He likes to pick on her, but only because he can get her to laugh over it eventually." Hector explained as I smiled looking at the picture, hoping Gisbert will find the same happiness with the Volturi, if he decides to be my mate and join me that is of course.
Shortly after that, Mela came in. "I put it in the wash for you, it should come out." She smiled, coming up to him. She then gave Hector an enchanting gaze, that was so peaceful and filled with such grace. I knew I had to leave the room.
"Jane, Hecate wishes to see you," She said quickly, they shut the door as soon as I left.
"Felix," Jasper called.
"What?" I asked.
"What was the deal with your French friends, Alice had a vision of them taking Peter, Charlotte and Brian back with them." Jasper explained. "I got a question, why are they so….uppity?"
"What do you mean?" I questioned with confusion.
"When your friends left the one female said and I quote: It seems the Southern Wars have taken the class out of vampires, unquote. What the hell was that suppose to mean?" I remember Genève saying that, I notice all of the Cullens beamed at that, Jasper politely wished them well on their trip back to France while Louis rushed them out of there and he closed the door quickly.
"They are third most powerful coven in Europe." I explained.
"Third…?" Jasper looked over confused.
"They wouldn't get away with having three werewolves." I explained simply as he nodded. "They are an old coven, what's left of the coven of Mount Olympus, their leader Horus was created to help Athena after she was blinded by the Romanians. They still have that god stamina."
"Is she still alive?" Esme asked.
"No, she was in a building that was bombed during World War One." I answered.
"They do know that not all vampires act like gods," Jasper asked. "They are aware of the situation in the southern states."
"They are very aware of that, Jasper," I answered. "Like most ancients, they highly dislike vampires who create newborn armies due to the lack of control and misuse of immortality. Horus even called them venom trash when they stayed here. They claimed to be above them and their solders."
"That's what I have a problem with," Jasper said directly. "And what was with the venom lines?"
"It's like a vampire family tree; it has their creator, their creator's creator, and so on." I explained.
"Sounds scary for me," Jasper answered, I don't know what's so wrong with Carlisle. "When they were talking about this Pricilla, they said something about using her for trade? What was with that?"
"That is an old term, it is believe when a vampire is created, their creator has a right to them and no others, but if other coven needs their powers or wants to use their powers then they offer a trade, were the coven gives their coven something in return." I explained. Horus would drive Aro nuts because the power his coven possessed.
"So how did this Horus die?" Jasper asked.
"Well, after the bombing in World War One, the coven temporally moved to North America, that was when Horus found these three girls with potential. He called them 'Les Soeurs de temps' ….which means 'The Sisters of Time'. After the war, his family went back and he stayed waiting for the girls to become of age. Unfortunately, he ran into this nomad and one of the girl's blood attracted him, so he changed her, the vampire got mad and killed him, then he killed the girl in her transformation."
"After meeting his other creations, I can see why." Jasper muttered quietly, I debated on mentioning they think Alice is the missing creation. Instead, I just went back to my letter.
I don't think she expected me to come so early, because she and Matthias were still going through the islands on which is getting electricity. Basically everything, in the house is getting electricity, even the gynaikon which is getting a sewing machine. The cottage is getting internet because Fred showed a way for the Hales to keep track of the moon in different parts of the world. The storage houses are getting coolers, the bathhouse (which is technically an indoor pool) is getting rid of the fire lit heaters, and the boat house is getting a GPS signal. The only place not getting electricity is this tiny room carved into the cliff side of the ocean which is where Hecate took me. As the first created, it is her responsibility to tell her the history of my coven.
It is a very small mystical room, with tall white pillars going circular around the room that had a candle with ether a plate with a scene on it or an urn. Then in the center below an icon of the crucifix was an alter, that had a verity of objects, some ancient, some recently added and a large urn in front of it that was an ancient Greek funeral jar with a depiction of Hades and Persephone except unlike the ones in the museum, they were in a loving manner. There also was an alter and behind it was a large wall weaving with several names including mine, below Aro's name, as well as yours. I was also surprised to see Eleazar was under Didyme's with a rose beside hers under Aro's name. The Hales were also woven in with them but no lines.
"Let me explain the colors, the ones connecting with the blue are the creations, the ones with the red are the mates, the purple is the created mates, the arrows are at the end of them to show who created who. Like my name has an arrow to Matthias, Caius has an arrow going to Anthenodora, Hades has an arrow going to Persephone. The ones in green are those who we have not given our venom but our immortality. Like we all with Beyza, Alexander, Nikki and Aysun, none of them belong to a single one of my sisters, we all host them. There is a fine line between creating one and giving immortality, just like there is a difference between a vampire and an immortal. Giving a human immortality is like giving them life. It is more than just creating one, it is taking responsibility for them to live to the fullest and immortals despite their purpose do live to the fullest. They take a chance to see the world and know as much as possible. They are not afraid to learn, and see humans as more than a hunt. They are happy with who they are and see immortality as a blessing. Vampires do not, they are miserable and often don't think beyond the hunt. Creating one for them to serve is very selfish, taking no pride in the venom and do not see beyond the hunt, sometimes they wallow in misery wishing they were human. If one is created by such creatures, than turns to leave they have become immortal and the covens they find and host them have given them a chance to live and be immortal. That is why the Hales are in green.' She pointed out. "Now, think of your story, it is just a small part of you becoming a vampire, a chapter which we not only owe Aro for saving you, you were saved by Hades, Rhea, Gaea, Chaos, Gazini and these tiny leeches formed from long ago.
"It was a time long ago when we were in caves over fifty-five millenniums in the content known today as Africa, a hunter by the name of Gazini started a hunt that will change the fate of many. The world was very different then; parts of the world were still frozen but melting. At this time, humans were leaving branching out among the world. He was hunting and saw these tiny sparkly things swimming in the ocean. He went after it and got bitten becoming the first vampire. Over time he destroyed these leaches, and found what was once his own kind appealing.
One can't be alone; he created companions, around different parts of the world. One of them was Chaos, he also created many and had groups of us in certain areas, placing one in charge. These were called covens. One of the vampires he put in charge was Gaea. This was when they were discovering how devoted their kind is towards one single being, that was why Gaea created Uranus. They had their own coven called the Titans.
Soon Uranus became very jealous, because of their gifts. So he tried to destroy them, discovered using fire to take them down. He didn't get very far; he only took one named Coronus. This made Rhea, another creation become enrage with fury, more anger, than any immortal has ever felt before. They fled avoiding her wrath creating other covens. Rhea wanted to find away to complete them to make up for her lost.
She first bit a human named Zeus; then convinced him that he was given immortally through her, so he must do what she says. He could create lighting with his palms, she sent him to find others with talent. This was the time when humans were just settling, having their own homes and the writing system had just emerged. While Zeus was following Rhea's conquests he found a nomadic human that was painting in the wall caves. He noticed that this human had no smell, and was hard to be seen even with his advance vision. This is why he took Hades to Rhea. Over time, others were found, one was a man that he thought was strange the seas would calm to him, and it felt like the earth was shaking, Poseidon. One he thought was the most beautiful that ever came on the planet, Hera. Rhea was disappointed she had no talents, but decided to make use of her anyway. He found others, such as Demeter when they were settling and finding ways to farm, he felt coldness in her presence. Then finally, at Hera's request, Zeus got her natural sister Hestia to be changed. They say I was born with the Titans coven but that was actually thousands of years before my time.
Rhea was making plans to revenge Coronus, because at that time humans were few and the immortals were growing. It was then, a coven rose up and stored order for the vampires of Europe, stopping the Titan Coven and executing Rhea for creating war against them. But they showed mercy then, and let her creations go, Zeus took over as coven leader. It still left them bitter, watching their creator killed by the Romanians. Hades lived under them for a few centuries, they were at peace as the coven grew with more creations.
Now there are many things that make a vampire's life sweet, one of them is the 'Tragoudistis sas'. It is when a human is found with blood that is more precious than gold. It is something not to be taken right away, back then they wanted to wait to a time when blood is most plentiful to observe this gift. They have a strong attachment to these humans, viewing them as their own possession and their right. Vampires also find this with their mates, their other half even if one sees them as a human. They see their beauty as a longing desire and grow just as a firm attachment. When two vampire of the same coven find this, and it is the same human problems arise.
This is a vital part of your story; if this did not happen then you would not have come into creation. There was a girl, found in a local village not far from Mount Olympus. At a young age she caught the eyes of two vampires, for one she was what you say 'la tua cantante', or singer. Demeter found her so devours, she told everyone the blood belongs to her. Unknowingly, Hades found the same girl, and found his frozen heart become warm in her presence. He later appeared to her visible in the tiny hunter gather village she lived in, and she showed great kindness to him. It wasn't long before Hades figured out the singer Demeter wanted so much was the one he loved so much. Did Aro tell you of this?'
'Yes,' I answered, he read Hades mind, Persephone smelled beautiful to him as well.
Later when she became of age, he found Demeter's plan to finally drink her blood. He watched her with his shield and the first moment she was alone, Hades grabbed her and changed Persephone unexpectedly. Knowing Demeter's desire, he hid her in the caves to transform safely. Demeter heard her scream, and eventually found out when they returned to Mount Olympus. They were welcome, but Demeter was still bitter, eventually Persephone asked Hades if she could go back to the caves were they fell in love and start their own coven.
I was their first, she changed me. Later Hades found Marcus after being caught in the Trojan War; he was changed in hopes of being my mate. Persephone created Limia seeing how devoted she was to her. Hades created Caius when he found him on the battle field. Then he created Sulipica when he found her dying of poison. She was very lonely for a century of her immortal life, until she came across a field in Thebes. Back then, only coven leaders and their mates changed vampires. She found Aro, and her heart went for him. It scared her greatly when he caught leprosy, so Hades changed him for her. Then he changed you. So Aro wasn't the only one who saved your life, it was a great effort of thousands of years to give you immortality.' Hecate smiled finishing the coven history, my history. The roots of my venom, how the most powerful of vampire covens came from simple cave vampires, that were saved for being humble. The Romanians deserved what they got from harming them, and they shouldn't be allowed to create other vampires again. I became very proud of my roots, this was who I was and what made my venom. I admitted it then, even those a lot has changed with these vampires, I am proud to be one of them.
When I walked out, I found Matthias there, just observing the sun rise over the sea silently with a gentle, peaceful phase in his eyes; our uncle. He is very strange and very unlike the rest of them. He does not go on about how beautiful immortality is, nor does he constantly give tidbits of his life story. He is quiet, and reserved, keeping to himself most of the time. As quiet and reserve as Matthias is, he has had a lot of influence on this coven. He is the reason they became animal drinkers, Charamaos may have been drinking animal blood before them but he was the one who made the Greeks switch over, and he is very strict about that rule. He is also the one who makes them observe holidays like Christmas and Easter. He also has icons of either crucifixes, the nativity or a respected saint in each of their rooms, and he even put a cross above Hades and Persephone's ashes. Matthias also married all of them, including his own daughter, himself to Hecate and even the Hales he gave the ceremony.
"Matthias," I said as he looked over bowed his head for another moment, made the sign of the cross and looked back towards me.
"Yes, Jane," He asked in a respectful manner.
"Why don't you like to drink human blood?" I asked, hoping this will lead to the story. I wanted answers, very badly.
"I believe it is wrong to kill," He answered solemnly; I could tell he was trying hard not to pass judgment.
"But you kill animals?" I questioned.
"Genesis 1:26 'Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.'" Matthias answered. That would be a first time I ever heard a vampire give a bible quote.
"Humans don't respect life, why should vampires?" I asked with a hiss, reveling what really bothered me about him. "Humans don't respect helpless orphans taking shelter with a strange women offering to take them in, they burned children like that, claiming that bible demanded it."
I could tell he had compassion in his eyes after I said that. He tells me: "Mankind is corrupt, and when I say mankind, that is mortal and immortals are corrupt. We are capable of evil, and merciless towards each other. We are also good too; we are capable of being beyond loving and have a beauty about us that makes us pure. It is what we desire to be and how we let events affect us.
Jane, I believe you are a good person, despite what others say, you are capable of being very good. You and your brother did not deserve what the humans gave you. I apologize for them, when we set out to do good, sometimes we get lost in failing to see the good of others." He sat next to me, as the sun finish coming over the waters.
"Why are you apologizing?" I asked him as he looked towards me, staring at me straight in my eyes, straight to my face and answered, "When I was a human, I sent people to the stake."
"What?" I asked shocked as my heart came out of my chest, Matthias wasn't at all like the religious begetters that terrorized my family, blaming us for all the illnesses. He wasn't like those who turned my brother, sister and I after my parent's death saying it was God's punishment. He wasn't like those who would walk on the other side of the road, when the old widow women, the only one who showed us any kindness by taking us in, when she walked past them. "Why?"
"That will be hard for you to understand. Let me tell you my story, I was born in 1235 in Lesbos. We were devout people, my family was well off which meant as a sign of being blessed by the lord. We would go to church three hours every morning, make trips to the shrines and followed the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople with the highest faith. I don't think I can recall a time where my faith was put to the test; I was a believer, because my family being noble meant I was blessed. I was also the youngest, making me more of a blessing. So I thought I should return the favor by enrolling in a seminary. It was in Athens, and there I studied the church teachings and memorized the traditions, studied the lives of the saints and became ordained as a father for the church.
I was then assigned to the island of Samothrace. There I served to the people of Saint Spyridon parish. I always had a way of convincing people, even as a child my father did not drink when I was around, so as an adult those who listen to my sermons tended to live pious lives, the Venetians who ruled Samothrace at that time took notice to that, and had me ordained bishop.
Not long into my ministry I found not all of the Samothrace people followed the Greek Orthodox Church, and still followed the gods and goddess of their ancestors. This was a threat to us, and our laws. So I agreed with the religious leaders in purifying the island of those unholy. The biggest threat was the women who followed the cult of Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and the night. It surprised me; some of the women who seemed to be devout followers of the Theotokos were secretly practicing the rituals that were given in honor of Hecate by the night moon, along with The Great Mother. Back then, I only thought of her as the goddess of magic, and crossroads. I labeled those women witches and sentence them to be burn at the stake."
"Didn't you see her as your soul mate?" I asked shocked.
"No," Matthias answered. "She was the goddess of witchcraft, follower of Hades, the devil himself. I called her the devil woman and ordered her priestess to be burned in front of everyone. I pray every day for forgiveness of the innocent lives that was lost to my command.' I was shocked, beyond shocked. Matthias, the most peaceful vampire I have ever met, would have such a violent streak. I must tell you one thing though; Carlisle's record is ten times cleaner because of what Matthias done as a human. I wanted to hate him, but I couldn't help but remain in tune. Still respecting him as an elder.
"After I became a vampire, I befriended a man named Sukhmani in India he told me of a thing called Karma which I did not know as a human. I thought being holy, following God's word would protect me form what happened next. These girls were uneducated, they did not read of Hecate, they were told of her by those we thought were devout too. It turns out many of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons were followers of The Great Gods a brotherhood that still practiced rituals and believed in the gods. They were also very numerous, and had a great deal of weapons. This act had angered them a great deal, I was in my church offering incents when they came in and attacked, destroying the church and beating me down along with the other priests. I was left in the ruins of the church, with one of the pillars on my body when they left, finished getting revenge for what I had done.
You know how when a rumor of violence occurs the vampires come lurking. I remembered seeing the statue of Hecate before, so when I first saw my Hecate fear trembled over me. I saw her, with her red eyes coming towards me. I thought she was angry for what I had ordered to be done to her priestess. She wasn't even aware she still had followers, but she came to me with a black robe and red eyes glowing at my injured body. She removed the pillar, and gently flipped me over, holding my hand with eyes of mercy. I heard the others feeding off the parishioners as she touched my cheek. I yelled for her to leave, called her a demon and sentence her to hell. She just stared at me, with eyes of hope, nursing my injuries with tenderness. She then came to me, with her teeth showing. I thought it was the end, the goddess of death and darkness, goddess of crossroads, and magic, worshiped by witches was coming to me, going to my neck. I yelled for her to leave putting a cross in front of me as she….."
He was silent, as we glanced at the ocean mist with endless blue watching the seagulls fly by over the sun with grace and freedom. Before he spoke again: "You notice when we tell our stories we leave out a very significant part, it may only seem short for immortality but when you go through it doesn't seem liked that. I always asked this when I tell my story, because I am honest, as you just seen. I don't lie and say I felt love when I first saw my soul mate, and I don't lie saying I was always a follower of God's mercy. So I ask you this, what did you think of Aro during your three days? Please do not tell me you had good thoughts towards him.'
'Horus, a friend of the Volturi at that time would come and erase the memory of those three days." I said honestly
'That was very wise of Aro," Matthias agreed. "I ask everyone that, I asked Gisbert that, and he says he thought Beatrix was a crazy sadistic woman because of the way she smiled at his pain. I asked his sister, and wondered what kind of evil man would do this to his own daughter. I am going to give you a bit more of our history; part of the myth is not a lie. Persephone probably did scream when Hades approached her in that field, and for three days she most likely felt like she was in the land of the dead. Hecate didn't mention that she questioned why she was being punished for following Demeter. Limia never mentioned on her journey to her new found freedom she thought of them as captives, and cursed them. Dragomir was being stoned to death before the Romanians rushed in, he thought his body was being burned. I don't know how Samantio woke up thinking he was nothing different after that, Charalmos thought Poseidon was a madman, Philomela begged us to hand her back over to the pirates, Hector was a bit more prepared what he was getting into. Let me tell you something, when you are changed by someone who you are suppose to love by nature, it is a mixture of feelings. I hated Hecate before, and when she sunk her teeth into me, I hated her with a passion. At the same time, this growing desire for her sparked, I hated her as I fell in love with her.
I couldn't get past how she just watched me burn, she kept hushing me at any once of pain. She wouldn't leave me side, words came to my mind that I still don't say out loud. I felt my strength being tested as she watched me in pain. I didn't think she went through it before as she just watched me lie there, all I felt was anger. I then shouted for her to leave, I was sick of her face while I tried hard to fight out of the pain. I felt my insides clawing at me when she left. That added to my furiousness, as much as I wanted her to leave it angered me more when she left, as the pain simmered when Dragomir and Sitmantio came to change my clothes. She came back smiling as it simmered , I hated her more than, but I wanted her by my side, at the same time I hated her as the pain ended and she held my hand as I came out of the inferno she placed on me.
I was one of them now, she showed me the mirror and explained it as if it was something I was to be happy about. She did not understand that I spent my life stopping her kind, nor did I understand why I was to be happy when I just want through horrendous pain. I tried to attack her, for what she had done, but they stopped me, treating me as if I was a toddler with no control over my own mind. I wanted to hurt for what she done to me. Something about her had calmed me those, as soon as she assured me that everything will be find they took me out to hunt. They took me back to Samothrace were I found the men who attacked me holding their secret ceremonies, wanting them to be my first pry.
That was when I figured out what they wanted; she wanted me to kill her own followers. I then saw them hunt; it disgusted me so much the pit of my stomach cringed. So I left, and she went after me, caught me right before I was about to leave shore. She told me I couldn't go, I had much to learn and I don't have what it takes not to attack without going notice. I asked her why she did this, Hecate didn't know, she had a feeling about me, an attachment and asked me if I felt the same, if I loved her. I couldn't see it; she put me through pain, and made me a demon…for love. I called her a liar, and said I won't give into her evilness. She asked what made her evil; I could see the emotional burden I was causing her. I couldn't be with someone who had such a disregard for human life; I left her there, in hopes of finding ways to end me.
I tried to kill myself numerous times, but they all failed. It hurt me, for some reason thinking of Hecate's face when I told her I hated her, it burned in my memory and in my heart. I was surprised by the speed, I didn't get tired, nor did I drown in the sea. I found myself on the shores of Syria, still alive. I notice my skin sparkle I thought it was evil. I heard the smell of human blood, so I fled into the desert before the fishermen came out. I just fled, hoping to thirst or starve to death, I even tried going to a leopard colony and I just smelled blood. A few days later, I was in India still finding new ways to commit suicide.
I went to a tall cliff and jumped to the bottom landing in the water, not breathing but not dying either. I looked up and saw two sparkling shadows swimming down to me. I soon met Sukhmani and his mate Kripa with their amber eyes swimming down to with me. They took me to the lake's surface, and saw their daughter Nivriti next to the body of a tiger. I felt some hope, I didn't have to be a killer, they didn't know my language, nor I did theirs but they were more than happy to show the other option. I learned their language, and they taught me how to remain in control. I felt bad for not mentioning I was created by the sister of the ruling coven.
I remember when your coven sent guards after me. They were in uniform; I didn't know what they wanted until I saw Hecate with them. I thought seeing them would bring a great burden, but I felt happy, as she pointed me out to another woman a bit taller than her look towards me. I became extremely happy.
"Are you sure that's him, sister?" I saw a man who stood next to the woman making me happy.
"Yes, Marcus, that's him." Hecate said coming up to me as I hissed and he quickly stopped her.
"Wait," Marcus ordered as the woman stopped her quickly, and they both looked towards a man that stood on the other side of her.
"Eleazar," the woman glance towards a man on her other side, as the woman on the other side of him looked towards me.
"Don't worry; they have nothing that will cause any harm." Eleazar insured the woman.
"Greetings," Sukhmani finally spoke as I looked over to see the rest of his family shaking. "My coven has caused no trouble; may we ask what brings you here?"
"You have my newborn," Hecate explained, as if I was a possession.
"And we aren't leaving without him," Marcus said as he looked towards the woman next to Eleazar. "Chelsea."
I then slowly felt the friendship and loyalty I had made with Sukhmani and his coven slip. It seemed to unravel, as I started to see Hecate as a leader, not one I wanted to follow but felt obligated to be with her. I left with them, but I would not give the affection she gave me. I could not look past the fact that she killed humans; I couldn't love anyone who did that. Yet, I was still devoted to her, not for giving me this immortal life, but for some other strange reason.
We were on our way home, and they all stopped to go hunting in Jerusalem. Eleazar was left to watch me; that was when we saw these three vampire women who were seducing pilgrims. He looked at me, and told me if I concentrated long enough, I could get them to stop. I didn't believe it, but I tried. I put all my concentration and they stopped seeing the thirst for a lion traveling nearby. I realized it was me who did that, and if I could do that with them then I could do that with Hecate which would make me better able to love her back. I realized she was my destiny, there was nothing I could do to change my situation but I could still find purpose for this life and use it for good. I guess that is my advice, find purpose in this life.'
The bus stopped, as Heather woke up rubbing her soft graceful eyes.
"Alright, rest stop." Mrs. Collar said as Heather woke up from my arm.
"Nice sleep?" I asked her.
"Yes, had a strange dream," She answered rubbing her eyes.
"What?" I asked
"I was walking down this street, and you stopped me, and wouldn't let me pass you." She answered. "But I woke up before it was finished."
"Oh, that is strange." I said as I got up so she can move and head to the gas station the bus pulled into.
"God, I'm tired," Heather said as I helped her from the bus, offering her my hand like a fair lady back in my time.
"You seemed to be wide awake for three in the morning," She said letting out a yawn.
"I'm not a heavy sleeper," I explained as she nodded when we went across the lot of the gas station. "Figures, you're never tired, it's like you're a bat or something."