Hi, everyone! I'm back just in time for Halloween with a brand-new story that was very loosely inspired by the Castlevania series on Netflix. Here we go!
Chapter 1
Vampires.
Most people think that vampires are mindless bloodthirsty monsters that can only survive by consuming human blood on a daily basis. This is only true of a small number of vampires, the selfish select few who live on the thrill of the hunt and think humans are beneath them. The truth is that, while human blood has its benefits, the blood of any living creature will suffice. Furthermore, vampires only needed to feed once every two weeks or so, those that fed more often doing so by choice.
But because of those few, the two races turned on one another in a gruesome war that lasted centuries. Despite the supernatural powers possessed by their foes, the humans were eventually victorious, and the few surviving vampires went into hiding. The humans were far from satisfied, though; with a bloodlust of their own, they sent out search parties bent on hunting the vampires to extinction. Some vampires fell to the Hunters' silver-plated weapons, which was one of their weaknesses. Others were dragged from the darkness of the caves in which they hid to be consumed by the unforgiving sunlight.
Finally, vampires were thought to have been eradicated once and for all. The hunting parties were given official government licenses to remain in their position of power, should the vampires ever return. Some vampires did manage to escape the Hunters' notices, though, and learned how to disguise themselves and blend into human society.
One Hunter wasn't like the others. He alone felt pity for the vampires and was regularly reprimanded because said pity stayed his hand from slaughtering his party's weeping victims.
After the gruesome demise of a seemingly young vampire couple, Edwin and Griselda Lubov, this Hunter by the name of Albert Reeds raided Castle Lubov for the rumored treasure inside. He split off from his group and entered a small room alone. Instead of the valuables he was expecting, the room he was in...was a nursery. Walking over to the intricately carved wooden cradle in one corner, Albert's breath caught in his throat as he gazed upon the face of a slumbering golden-haired vampire infant, a girl judging by her facial features. Because vampires are indistinguishable from humans, at least until they grow fangs, Albert only knew the child was a vampire because of the black birthmark on her left shoulder.
Every vampire had one somewhere on their body: a birthmark depicting two dragons entwined in a caduceus shape with their wings stretched out to either side. The Hunters called it the Sigil of the Vampire and used it to identify their victims.
Albert was torn. This was no monster, just a helpless baby. He couldn't just leave her to die, but if he revealed her to his comrades, they'd kill her for sure. Thinking fast, Albert spotted a wooden chest just big enough to hold the baby and a few blankets. The baby was so deeply asleep that she didn't even stir as he picked her up, wrapped a blanket around her small body, and placed her inside the chest, packing a few more blankets around her while making sure to leave her room to breathe. He closed and locked the lid before rejoining his party, claiming that the chest was filled with jewels and golden coins. The Hunters' "finders keepers" rule allowed him to smuggle the infant back to his home where he lived with his mother. With his mother's help, he raised the vampire girl as if she were his own daughter, giving her the name Rita.
...
Rita Reeds always knew that she was a vampire. Her father had decided early on to not keep any secrets from her regarding her heritage, and that included the identities of her biological parents. Her adoptive father and grandmother spared no expense to keep her safe: blackout shades covered the windows at all times, his silver Hunter's weapons and any silver jewelry was kept well out of her reach, and home-cooked meals were kept strictly garlic-free. Albert caught squirrels, rabbits, and field mice for her to feed off of when she needed blood.
When she was old enough to start going to school, Albert expertly forged medical documents to explain Rita's need for a sun umbrella and long, dark clothes, as well as excusing her from outdoor activities. As she grew up, she became something of a pastel Goth, her clothes combining black with hot pink in various patterns. She was known to the other students as the shy, introverted bookworm who kept to herself. She had very few friends, and people tended to avoid her.
During her late high school years, one adventurous young man thought she was very beautiful, and was determined to get to know her by any means. The problem was that he himself was fairly shy, and attempting to talk to any member of the opposite sex (aside from his own relatives) was very daunting to him. Nevertheless, he spent several days steeling himself for the experience before taking the leap one day at school during lunch. He walked up to the table where Rita was seated alone and cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Hi. May I sit with you?" he asked. She didn't say anything. Rather, she scooted over to make room for him. Taking this as an invitation, he sat down next to her and introduced himself. "My name is Lynn. What's yours?"
"Rita," she replied. The two ate in silence for a while, neither knowing how to start a conversation. Finally, Rita asked, "You're the first person since I started high school to sit with me voluntarily. Why?"
"I've had my eye on you for a while, and you always look so lonely," Lynn admitted. "I'd think someone as pretty as you would have more friends."
Blushing at the fact that Lynn had unknowingly called her pretty, Rita said, "I used to have friends, but they all left. They said if I wanted to stay friends with them, I needed to dress differently and be more outgoing. The thing is, as much as I want to, I can't."
"Why not?" Lynn found himself asking.
"I have a medical condition that makes me very, very sensitive to sunlight. I turn crispy as bacon in less than a minute, so I can't expose any skin," Rita lied automatically. It was an explanation that was very well-rehearsed, as she used it often.
"Oh. If that's the case, then friends like that aren't worth being around. If you want, I can be your new friend," Lynn suggested. Rita smiled happily.
"I'd like that very much. Thank you."
...
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Lynn and Rita got to know each other better and better, and during the opening week of their mutual first semester at their local Community College, Lynn built up the courage to ask Rita out on a date, to which she agreed. They both had a wonderful time, and Rita began to develop her own feelings for Lynn. The two explored their relationship further over the course of the semester, and just before Winter Break, Lynn asked Rita to be his girlfriend. Something dawned on her, and with a spark of fear, she told him that she needed time to think about it. It was then that she sought her father's counsel.
"Hey, Dad, can I ask you something?" she asked while they were sitting on the couch watching a movie. Rita's adoptive grandmother had died of a stroke just over a year prior, leaving the two of them alone in the house.
"Sure, sweet-pea. What's on your mind?"
Rita gulped and said, "There's this...boy I like. We met towards the end of high school, and we've been friends ever since. We've gone on a few dates over the course of the semester."
"Oh? And how's that working out?" Albert asked.
"He, um...he just asked me to be his girlfriend."
"Really? Congratulations!"
"But, uh, I haven't decided whether I want to be or not," Rita said.
"Why not? Are you nervous that he's not the one?"
"No, I'm nervous about how he'll react to the fact that I'm...you know..." Rita trailed off. Albert picked up the hint.
"I see. So you haven't told him yet?"
"No, but I was planning on it eventually."
"And you're sure that he's not one himself?"
"Very. He walks around in the sunlight and eats garlic bread without a second thought." Albert took a moment to choose his words carefully.
"I say see where it goes. Invite him over for dinner. If he seems like the type who will reject you after you tell him, I'll let you know, and you can make a decision from there. What did you say his name was?" he asked.
"Lynn. Lynn Loud." He smiled at that.
"One of my fellow Hunters is named Leonard Loud, and he's always singing his son's praises. If half of what I've heard is true, I think he's gonna be a good man for you."
"Thanks, Dad. You're the best," Rita said and gave Albert a hug. A hug that they both dragged out so long that she fell asleep in his arms. He carried her to her room bridal-style, tucked her into bed like he did when she was a little girl, kissed her forehead, and wished her sweet dreams.
