Cursed and the Damned

The Cursed and the Damned
Chapter 1: Four Centuries
By J. Plank

What? Four centuries? Do you think living that long was easy? Hey, don’t close the book. I’m sorry if I didn’t start off on the right foot. Let me try again…
I am Antonio. You will either hate me or love me, but don’t be too quick to decide. I had a long life to live with and it is still going. I have short, sandy-blonde hair; I had blue eyes, but are more violet now; I am one inch short of six feet; and I am as white as flour. Yeah, I know, it’s an odd description, but that’s how I look.
Getting back to earlier, I did have a long life. I spent most of it as the “family apprentice” of my creator. Are you lost? To put it in simpler terms, I’m a vampire. Yeah, now you see what the title stands for.
I was born in the year Fifteen-hundred and sixty on the streets of Berlin, Germany. I was turned into a vampire when I was eighteen, but I get to that in a bit. I was raised by a couple of petty thieves, who weren’t really my parents. I was found as a child after my real parents were murdered and I was left abandoned.
Being raised by theives has tought me to fend for myself and to never be able to be caught stealing for servival. I could have gotten away with murder because I was so good and stealthy amongst people. But, I never killed anyone during that time, because I knew of the concquences. Stealing could already send me to the gallows then, murder could send me through torture before being hanged. I was careful to never get caught, until my cover was blown...
It all started on a cold late autumn evening, Fifteen-hundred and seventy-eight. I was eighteen then and a professional thief for my age. Being my usual stealthy self in the market place, looking for some food to steal so I could eat.
Selecting the bread cart as a target, I took my cloak, cover myself, to hide my face, and went after my target. As I stood next to the bread cart, getting ready to may my getaway, I had the sudden feeling like was being watch by something. It was a cold feeling that would send a chill up your spine. I took a moment to look around to see if anyone has seen that I was about to steal food. Seeing that there was no one on the street watching me, I still couldn't shake off the feeling that I was still being watched.
Looking around, I had the wits to look up on the roofs, though I thought it would be ridiculous for anyone to be on a roof this time of night when there is no light to see. To my surprise, someone was on top of one roof who seem to be watching me. I couldn't really tell because one, it was dark, and that the person was wearing what looked like a cloak, covering his (or her) face.
Staring at the stranger for a moment, I started to realize that I couldn't move. Why I couldn't move I wasn't sure. Was the stranger forcing me not to move?
After a long time of staring at the stranger, I was able to blink again, but as soon as I did, the stranger disappeared! As soon as I was able to move I quickly grabbed a loaf of bread and started to run off when---
"Try to steal bread from me, will ya?!" cried the baker when he got ahold of my wrist that had the loaf of bread attached to it. "I'll teach to steal from me!" The baker took out a bread knife and I knew what that ment.
When the baker went to swing his knife to cut off my hand, I went and bit into the baker's hand that was holding my wrist. The baker released his grip when he felt the pain of my bite. I was free to run. I ran from the baker and his bread cart.
When I was safe, I slowed down and hid in between two houses. I soon realized I lost the loaf of bread to the baker, leaving me without dinner for that night. I couldn't believe I dropped my dinner! I thought of the stranger. The stranger made me miss out on eating my first dinner in three days! I thought.
Knowing it was too risky to go back, I headed back to my room that was above a small tavern on the edge of the city. I was at least welcomed there by the barkeeper.
"Back so soon?" said Hans, the barkeeper.
"Yes," I said. "I am not feeling well." I headed up the stairs to my room.
"Someone was looking for you," said Hans.
I paused on the stairs. "Why would anyone be looking for me?" I said.
"Some strange fellow I've never seen before. He looked sickly, but judging by his way of dressing, he also looked wealthy."
Who is wealthy and be looking for me? I thought as I walked up the stairs. Entering my room, I felt a cool breeze as I closed my door. Looking over at my window, I saw that it was open. Someone was in my was in my room. Who or why, I didn't know. I had the theory that it could have been the stranger Hans spoke of earlier.
As I closed the window shutters, the sound of galloping horse feet invaded my room. Looking outside, I looked up the beaten down main street to see the glow of a latern getting closer. Attached to the latern was a horse with a castle guard on its back.
Closing my shutters, I wondered what could bring a castle guard this far from the castle. I went to lay in my bed, but then I heard a knock at my door. "Who is it?" I said as walked over to my closed door.
"Open the door, Antonio," said Hans in a desperate tone of voice.
I wasn't sure to make of the situation. The passing thought of the castle guard came to mind. " Is everything all right?" I said as I opened the door.
To my shock, I find Hans being stranggled. It was the castle guard with a dagger at Hans throut. "Come with me," said the guard. "You are, under law, arrested for your petty crimes of theft."
Scared, I quickly closed the door and ran for my window. Openning the window, I realized I was going to have to jump out of the second floor window. As the guard opened the door, I quickly decided to jump out of the window, barely escaping the guard's grasp.
Nearly breaking my ankle, I made a run for it. I wasn't about to give up my freedom. I ran under the darkness of the deserted streets, hoping to not get caught. "Stop, you thief!" cried out the guard, as he was climbing onto his horse and chasing after me.
Knowing I wan't going to able out run a horse, I had to go through the narrow alleys, that way th horse couldn't fit through, or follow me. The guard was going to have to follow on foot.
I was able to stop to catch my breath when I saw that the guard was slowed down and couldn't find me right away. I was hidding in an abandoned inn, mainly because it collapsed in on itself a few months ago. I thought I was going to get away, but I was wrong.
When I saw the guard looking for me, he looked in every undraped windows. When he came to the windows of the inn, I made sure I was out of his sight. For that moment I couldn't breathe or move, afraid of being spotted. When I thought he passed by the inn, I left out a long sigh of relief. The next thing I knew, I saw a window break when a lighted latern was thrown through. In a matter of seconds, the inn was in a blaze and I was right in the middle of it. I had no way of escape, and if I did, I was going to die anyway. The guard was trying to smoke me out.
The remaining support beams soon started to collapse, and I was soon stuck underneth one that was ablaze. I was trapped, knowing that this was going to be the end of my short life.
The smoke was finally starting to sufficate me, and the embers were starting to burn my eyes. The burning support beam was weighing down my chest, enabling me to breathe.
I was starting to lose consciousness before I saw a figure emerging from the flames of the firing blaze, but I couldn't really tell because I was nearly blind from the embers. The last thing I could remember, before becoming uncoscious, was feeling the weight of the support beam being lifted off of my chest. Was I dreaming? Was this a sign that I was dead?
"You're finally awake," said a woman's voice. I look in the direction of the door. I saw a young woman servent standing there. She looked young, about the same age as me, though she did have a pale porclian appearence to her skin. She had raven black hair and the deepest set of green eyes I've ever seen. "I did not think you would be awake so soon," she said as she came aside the bed.
I felt uneasy around the woman. She seemed nice, but there was something mysterious behind the deep, green eyes that seemed rather suspisious. "How did I get here?" I said as I rubbed my eyes of soreness.
"The master brought you here a little over three nights ago," said the woman. "I have been watching over of you when the master isn't here to do so."
Threes nights? I thought. Was I really unconscious that long? "It didn't seem that long," I said.
"The master was worried you weren't going to make it through the first night," the woman said as she sat on the bed. "It was a good thing he saved you out of the fire before it was too late."
So I wasn't imagining the figure, I thought. "Why would anyone risk saving a petty thief's life?"
"W---"
"---Because I could," said a man's voice from the door.
Looking back at the door, I saw a man standing there with a grin. The man looked close to his thirties, but seems he could pass for someone who was a few years older than me. His hair was a long, thin, and brown. He was tall and had the pale porclian look like the woman. His eyes were dark, a dark that wasn't normal.
The man started walking over towards us. "I'll will take it from here Margret," the man said.
"Yes, Master,"said the woman, who was addressed as Margret. Margret quickly decended from the bed to the door and then disappeared behind the door.
The man came up aside the bed with an evil looking grin. "Well," he said, "I am glad to see you awake, finally."
I didn't know what to make of him. "You were the one who rescued me from the fire?" I said.
"Yes," said the man. "Why, would you rather have died?"
I nodded. "There isn't much for me to live for."
The man sat the bed. "What would you have expected if you died?"
"I don't know." Why was he asking a question like that?
The man nodded his head. "You want to die, but you don't know what would happen."
What was with this man? "Who are you?" I said.
The man suddenly made eye contact with me. "How rude of me for not introducing myself," said the man, "I am Jens." Jens then came very close to my face. "And you are Antonio, correct?"
I was pressed against the head board of the bed, because Jens was so close. "How do you know my name?" I said. "I only just met you and I never told you my name, but you know it anyway."
"I've had my eyes on you for some time now," said Jens. "I came to the tavern, which you were staying, but you weren't there then."
"What would one as wealthy as you want from me?"
Jens pulled away from my face. "I'm looking for someone who was capable of keeping a low profile to help my with my business," he said as he stood up and walked over to the balcony door windows. "I run most of the real estate in this city, and lately many of my tendents haven't been truely honest with me. I need you to assist me to get down to the the bottom of it."
"What use would it be to me?" I said.
"I would pay you dearly, feed you, clothe you, and provide you shelter."
"That is a lot to offer for such a petty job."
"I would hope you'd say yes to such an offer." Jens came back to the bed and came very close to my face again. "You can't really shun away such an offer like this. It could really turn your life around."
"And if I shunned it away?"
Jens put his lips to my ear. "Then, it would be as though I never saved you," he whispered. A sudden chill then just went up my spine. Would he really kill me if I refused his offer? I was left speechless with Jens's statement. "I'll take it as a yes?" said Jens as he pulled away from me.
I nodded as I loosened up from being pressed the bed headboard. "Do you always do that to assistents?" I said.
"It helps to be close to people," Jens said as he went over to a cupboard. "It creates a better understanding between the both of us." Jens opened the cupboard door and pulled out a set of clothes.
Oddly, it reminded me and I soon realized that I was bare. I wasn't wearing any clothes! Jens placed the set of clothes at the bottom of the bed. "Your other clothes were badly burnt," he said. "I had these made for you and there are pair of boots here as well. I am sure you'll find them quite comfortable."
"Thank you," I said.
Jens walked towards the bedroom door. "I'll have Margret bring you some dinner," he said. "You must hungry after three days."
"I haven't taken notice," I said as I brought my feet to the floor. I wrapped a sheet around my waist as I stood up. I felt light-headed after I was standing up straight.
"After your done I would like you meet me in my chembers," Jens said. "We can talk more then." Jens left the room.
I was finally alone in the room. Though I felt weak, I was still able to walk about. I put on the clothes that were left for me, as well as the boots. It wasn't long until Margret arrived back in my room, but this time, with a tray with dinner on it.
"The master really seems to like you," said Margret as she placed the tray on the bed.
"Is he always like that?" I asked as I pulled my hair back into a ponytail.
"Only when one doesn't refuse his offers. He doesn't like being denied."
"How often is that?"
"It's very rare. Those who refuse usually end up..." Margret made a gester that showed a throut being sliced. "It's best not to give him a reason to hurt you."
"What have happened to his other assistents?"
Margret stayed silent. "I can't really say," said Margret. "There are some things I don't know." Margret then walked up to me. "Some things I am not allowed to know." She touched my face with her hand. The hand felt cold. It was an abnormal kind of cold.
"Why are you so cold?" I said.
"Its cold out. I was out gathering wood for the fire." Margret gave me a look, a look that seemed unnatural for a woman. Margret seemed fiercer looking than earlier.
"Why didn't you go and warm yourself up by the fire?"
"Because I had chores to take care of. The master would be upset with me if I didn't do my duties."
"It doesn't mean you can't take a few moments to warm your hands."
"If the master would ever find me doing something like that, he would serve me with servere punishment."
"That's awful. He shouldn't do that to you for taking a moment to rest."
Margret stepped away from me. "You don't know the master," she said as she quickly left the room.
I didn't really understand Jen's priorites, but he should have considered on giving his servents some privite time to let them regain lost energy. I pondered the thought while I ate the food that was left for me ( which was deliscious and quite filling). Once I was finished I wondered over to the bedroom door.
The door was heavy, though watching Jens and Margret open it seemed light to them. When I opened the door, I looked out. It led to a very dark corridor. No lit candles anywhere to be seen. I slid out of the room and began to navigate through the corridors.
Though it was too dark to really see where I was going, I felt comfortable, in an odd way. I like walking around in the dark because I was so use to it.
After a few minutes of wondering around, I soon found a giant set of doors at the very end of the hallway. I was able to tell that they led to Jens' chembers because they the biggest set of doors on the entire floor.
When I was about to knock on the doors, I paused when I heard voices. I could them, but I couldn't understand a word they were saying. It was two men voices that were speaking a tongue that I never heard before and it sounded like they were arguing.
The door suddenly opened. A man in silk clothing took one glare at me, and then rudely shoved me as he walked passed. Jens soon followed and stoped at the entrence of his chambers. "Don't ever show up at my door, again!" Jens yelled at the man. It took a few moments for Jens to realize I was standing there, staring at him. "Ah, Antonio," he said with his usual evil grin . "I had the feeling you were out here." I didn't want say anything. "Well, come in." He then ushered me into his chembers.
The chembers were magnificently furnished. The floors were covered in a dark marble and the walls had tapristry embroiedered with gold and silver. Animal rugs covered most of the marbled floors and the windows were heavily drapped with beautiful satin curtains. "I never knew anyone to have such beautiful furnishings," I said.
"I have traveled to many places over the many years of my life," Jens as he guilded me into the main chember. "I'll have to give you a tour of the mansion, but not tonight. I have to discuss some things with you." I sat in a cushioned chair by the fire as Jens sat in another cushioned chair across from me. "There are a few things that I need to get clear with you." I sat waiting for what Jens had to say.
"First, I would like if you didn't talk to Margret when she isn't in your room. She needs to stick to her routines and not get distracted by conversation." Though I was ready to object, but I remained quiet. "Second, my chambers are off limits at all times, unless I tell you otherwise." That rule is understandable. "Lastly, I wish for no disturbances during the day. I am usually resting in here and/or dealing with business." Who would sleep during the day? I wondered.
"During the day, I'll have one of my servents tell you your day's objective," said Jens. "Once you completed you duties, you will patroling the grounds around the property, on horseback. There has been a problem with intruders recently.
"In the evening, when I emerge from my chambers, I've put time aside for us to do some studying...Can you read?"
"I can read a few words," I said embarressingly.
"More than what most people can, I hope," Jens said. "You'll catch on to it. You look like an intelligent boy." Jens then took out a pocket watch from his pocket. "Can you tell time?" I nodded. "Good," Jens said as he handed me the watch. "That will help you to stay on time. Take care of it." I marveled at the tiny watch as Jens continued with his speech. "You will be in your room at eight o'clock in the evening. No wondering out in the corridors after that time. I'd expect you to be asleep by nine." Jens looked at his watch that he had. "It is already very late," he said as he stood up. "I hope you understand what I've said."
"Yes, sir," I said.
"Do have anything to ask me?"
"No, sir."
Jens then towered over the chair I was sitting in, and came very close to me. "Do you I make you feel uncomfortible?" he said.
I didn't know what to say to that question. "Uh," I said.
Jens then placed his hand on my cheek. It had the same abnormal coldness as Margret's hands. "I'm sorry if I do, but I can't help it if I find you attactive."
I was left speechless. I mean, it was all right back then for a person to be attracted to the same gender, but I was more for the opposite sex then. Jens caught me off guard with that being said. "You find me attractive?" I finally said.
"Yes," Jens said before he bent down and kissed my cheek. His lips had the same coldness as his hands!
"It's so warm in here yet, your skin is as cold as ice," I said.
Jens pulled away from me. He stared at me, but not with his normal stare. This stare was more stern and angry. "I would like for you to leave now," he said as he pulled me to my feet. With a great force, Jens quickly ushered me out of his chambers. "You will raise from your slumber as soon as the sun appears at the horizion. My servents will tell you what to do when you are awake and dressed." Before I could say anything, Jens closed me out of his chember doors.
I couldn't really judge Jens about his actions. I bearly knew him and that I was in his home, so I had nothing to say about what Jens was doing to me. I just headed back to the room, where I have spent much of my time in.
I found it pointless to change out of my clothes, and laid in my bed. Taking off my shoes I couldn't shake off the thought that Jens found me attractive and that he kissed me. It left me with dark thoughts the rest of the night. Why me, of people? I still wish I could have been dead then being a wealthy man's lacky. There was something more that Jens wanted from me then to be his assisstant...

The sun was shining through me windows when I woke up. The fire has gone out, but the sun warmed up the room quite well too. I climbed out of my bed and headed over the balcony doors. Looking outside, I could see it was going to be nice day, despite the chilled autumn air.
It wasn't much longer until I heard a knock at my door. When I opened the door I was expecting Margret, but to my surprise, it was another woman. This worman was much older looking and had color and life to her skin. "Who are you?" the first words out of my mouth.
The woman stared at me. "I am Miss Mary," said the woman with a dull smile. She walked into my room. "I am Master Jens's second in charge. When the master isn't around I watch over the house and everything that goes in it.
"What happened to Margret?" I said.
Miss Mary glared at me. "Margret only does her chores at night," she said. "She has a disease that makes her sensitve to the sun. The master suffers from the same sickness."
"Oh," I said as I closed the door. It would explain the dull skin color, I thought.
"The master has left me instructions for you," said Miss Mary. "You are to go to the marketplace and meet with the baker..."
My heart jumped to my throut with the thought of having to go back to the baker, again. When he saw me approuching he was about to chase after me with his bread knif. "You have some nerve to show your face around here, again," the baker said when I came to his stand.
"I do apologize for the other night," I said. "I wasn't thinking straight."
"Don't be giving me that rubbish," said the baker. "I have seen you around, stealing off of other people's carts. It's no surprise you're wanted for your petty crimes."
"I realized that when I was almost killed in that building fire that night."
The baker stared at me for a moment. "Why did you come back here?" he said.
I took in a deep breath. "I was sent here by a man to pay you back for all the bread I have stolen from you."
"And I am suppose to believe that?" said the baker.
At that moment, I tossed him a pouch that spilt out gold coins. "I would hope so," I said.
The baker stared at the gold coins with stars in his eyes. "Your master is very generous," he said.
Master? "He is not my master," I said as I stormed away from the baker's sight. I was no one's slave.
As I started my walk back to the mansion, I couldn't resist but return to the small tavern, where I use to sleep in. Ithought it would be a good idea to return to gather for what ever of my belongings, and to tell Hans that I wasn't planning to stay there anymore.
'I thought you were dead," said Hans as soon as he laid eyes on me. "Those guards were searching everywhere for you."
"I got away," I said as I told Hans the story of how I got rescued. "... I just came back here to gather my belongings," I stated.
Hans looked at me as though I was crazy. "Why would a wealthy men, like this Jens character, want anything to do with a thief like you?" he said as he cleaned some shot glasses.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Your guess is about as good as mine," I said. "I don't know."
As our conversation came to an end, I started to head up stairs to the room I stayed in. Everything seemed the same as I entered the room. I was expecting it to be destroyed after the soldiers came.
I was quick to gather my belongs, which was just a few pieces of clothing and gold pendent necklece, that I've had all my life. Other then those things, I had nothing of value to me. Placing the items in a sack, I made my exit of the tavern, saying good-bye to Hans.

Returning to the mansion I wasn't expecting Miss Mary to be out, sweeping off the stone pathways in the entrence garden. "Good afternoon Miss Mary," I said as I approuched her.
She looked up from her sweeping. "Hello, Antonio," she said as she went back to her sweeping. "I see you retrieved your belongings."
"There are some things I can't part with."
"I see."
I moved on after Miss Mary hinted I was disrupting her chores. I headed back to my room. Back in my room I went through my belongings. Unsure of what to do with my self, I amused myself by looking at books in the book shelf.
Though I couldn't read the words I looked at, I was intrigued by them. Doing this activity took a great deal of the afternoon. The time went went buy very quickly, that it was near supper time. Before long, Miss Mary was calling from the hall for the serving dinner.
"So nice of you to join us, Antoino," said Jens as I entered the dinning room. "I take it that you settled everything in town?"
"Yes, sir," I said as I sat myself at the dinning table.
Jens chuckled. "You don't have to address me as Sir," he said. "Please, call me Jens."
"Yes, s-Jens," I said.
Jens stared at me for a very long moment. "It seems you're are still feeling uncomfortable with my presence, Anotonio," he said.
I wasn't surprised of what he said. "No, Jens, it's just that I'm not used to your lifestyle."
"That's understandible," said Jens. "I see that you're ways of petty theft have yet to render." Jens stood up form his chair. "There is nothing wrong with change, Antonio." Jens walked over to me, in a graceful kind of way. "A change is what you need to become comfortable with new things." Jens soon was in my face again. "Am I right?"
I was trapped in my chair. "Yes, Jens," I said. I felt the cold that Jens contained. I was getting goosebumps after Jens breathed on my neck.
"Are you afraid of change, Antonio?" Jens soon placed his cold lips on my neck.
The sudden contact made me pull away from Jens. "It depends on what the change brings with it," I said.
Jens smiled. His smile sent a chill down my spine. It was sharp, his two canine teeth were longer than normal. "There is nothing to be afraid of," he said as he moved away from me.
I felt frozen. I couldn't move because I was in a state of shock. "Don't look so surprised, Antonio," Jens said. There was sudden knock at the front door. "There are far worst things out there." Jens soon left the dinning room to attend to the front door.
Margret soon came into the dinning room with a tray of food. She seemed more flushed than the night before. It seemed like she was sick somehow. "Are you alright?" I said.
Margret looked at me. "I'm fine," she said sternly. "Don't talk to me."
I was taken back with shock. Was it something I said? Or was it Jens, telling her not to speak to me?
A sudden sound of a door slamming soon echoed throught the building. Jens was soon rushing into the dinning room. "Margret," Jens said sternly. "I want you to take Miss Mary and get out of here."
Margert didn't argue. She left the room very quickly, and that was the last that I saw her. Jens looked at me. "You're coming with me," he said as he grabbed me by my arm.
"What is going on?" I said as Jens was pulling me down the corridor to my room.
"You wouldn't understand if I told you," Jens said. Jens opened the door to my room. "Get what you need and be quick about it."
I went into my room and only grabbed my locket and went back out to Jens.
"I take it you like to travel light?" said Jens.
"I had to when I was stealing," I said. "Extra weight would slow me down."
The sould of breaking glass was soon heard. "Let us leave," Jens said, "we're not safe here." Jens took me by my arm and led me away.

Escaping through the back door of the mansion, Jens was leading me to the horse stable. "I hope you know how to ride a horse," said Jens.
"I'm not afraid to learn something new quickly," I said.
Jens stared at me, unconviced. "Never mind," Jens said. "I'd rather not see you get killed from falling off a horse."
The sound of dogs and raging men seem to have caught my attention as Jens was quickly sattleing up the biggest horse he had. Then, at a sudden moment, the mansion busted into flames. What was going on? "What has happened, Jens" I said.
Jens stared at the flame engulfed mansion. "They are after us," he said as he lefted me onto the horse, as though I weighed nothing.
Who was 'they'? The thought pondered my mind as Jens was hopping onto the horse and was riding out of the stable. "Just hang on," Jens said as he rode away from the mansion, away from 'they'.

I couldn't recall much of that time frame. I do remember sleeping a good deal of our trip, and arriving in a small village, outside of Berlin that I never visited. "Where are we?" I said when I opened my eyes.
"A safe haven," Jens whispered in my ear. "Go back to sleep."
Too tired to ask of anymore of Jens, I took his advice and went back to sleep.

I wasn't sure how long I actually slept, but I was sure it was near noon the day after. I woke up in a small bed in what seemed like a celler, with a small fireplace. I saw Jens sitting in a chair, by the fireplace, fast asleep. He was the last person I expected to see sleeping.
I sat up in bed and stretched before I climbed out of the bed. "There is some bread and fruit on the table if you're hungry," Jens said without opening his eyes. "And don't leave this room, you will regret it if you do."
It was the last thing I wanted to do. Being stuck in a room for a long time can screw with your mind, especially for someone like me. "You can't keep me in here all day, Jens," I stated.
"I am not letting you wonder the streets with them looking for us," said Jens. "They know you're with me."
"Who is 'they' you speak of?"
"Hunters...They want us dead."
"...Why?"
"Because we exist."
I wasn't sure how I got stuck in the middle of this conflict. Knowing I couldn't win an arguement against Jens, the only thing I could do was eat someting, and sleep.

"Wake up, boy," said Jens as he shook me awake.
"What is it?" I groaned.
"You wanted to get out, now is your chance." Jens soon grabbed my arm and pulled me out of bed.
As I got to my feet, Jens threw a cloak at me. "It is cold out," he said.
"Where are we going?" I asked as we exited the room.
Jens handed me a pouch full of coin money. "A tavern," he said. "I'm sure you can use a good drink."
I looked into Jens' eyes. They didn't have their normal darkness. They seem to have changed to a violet color. "Are you all right, Jens?" I said. "You look paler than normal"
"I'll be fine," Jens said. Jens led us out of the building through a set of stairs that led up to the surface. A blast of cold hit my face as Jens opened the door to the outside. I was glad to have the cloak to keep warm.
It was twilight when we emerged from the building. The start of the night, but I was soon going to find out it was going to be the start of a new change...
"I have some business to attend to," said Jens. "I'll join you afterwards, and please, try to enjoy yourself." Jens told me to head for the tavern, as he went the opposite way.
I headed for the tavern that Jens instructed me to go to. It wasn't like the ones in the city, but it seemed like a good place for a peaceful night in the small village.
I walked into tavern. The smell of smoke and whisky filled the air. Though it was still early in the evening, I did see few men all ready passed out at the bar. I glanced and saw a group of men gambling with coins and traded goods.
I wasn't sure what to do with myself then. I sat myself in a corner, away from everyone else, and just watched. There was a moment when a young waitress approuched me, asking me if I wanted anything. I told her some water sounded good and then she left.
I was bored. There was nothing exciting happening, except for the group of men , who were enjoying their gambling game. I soon came to realize that my life had no pupose to exsist.
A sudden scream soon brought me back to reality. I looked around and saw that one of the men that were gambling was harassing the young waitress. The waitress was screaming before the man was standing and grabbing the waitress wrongly as thought she was his.
If there was one thing I hated, it was the way some men treated women badly. I stood up and walked up to the man. Now, before I speak farther, this was a big man. I was a thin boy that who could have been snapped into pieces.
"Leave her alone, sir," I said as I approuched the man. "Can't you see that she doesn't except your behavior."
The man stared down at me. "Why don't you just stay out of my business, boy," said the man. "She is my prize and I'll do what I like." The man pushed me the floor. The man grabbed the waitress and started to drag her away to the tavern door.
I didn't know what it was, but I always respected women. The way the man was treating the waitress was pissing me off. I got back on my feet and followed the man out of the tavern.
Back outside, I watched as the man dragged the waitress awy from the main road and into the lightless backstreets of the village. I quickly followed him. I wasn't going to let that man get away with treating a woman like property.
I caught up to the man, but he was already ripping the waitress' clothes off. "Leave her alone!" I shouted as I ran at the man.
The man quickly swung his massive arm at me, once he heard me coming. "Leave, boy," he said as he knocked me down to the ground, "or you'll really feel some pain."
I got back to my feet. Once the man turned his back, I jumped onto his back. "She isn't an item!" I shouted as I wrapped my arms around the man's thick neck.
The man soon released his grip on the waitress, who quickly ran away. Soon, the man was reaching around and trying to get me off his back. He succeeded.
The man was quick to have me thrown to the ground. "You'll pay, you pathetic lowlife!" he threatened when he went to throw a punch into my face.
At that moment I closed my eyes, fearing the pain that was going to engulf me. The fear of death seemed to subsided, and I was ready to welcome it.
When I was ready to feel the pain, nothing came. I opened my eyes and saw that the man was off of me and was on the ground nearby, but I soon came to realize that we weren't the only ones present. There was someone else, who was completly cloaked standing between me and the man.
The man looked up. "Who in God's name are you?" he said to the cloaked figure.
I soon recognized the figure. He was the same one who was there the night I got caught stealing. "You..." I said as I sat up.
The figure looked over at me. The only visible part of the figure was his mouth. The figure soon smiled. His smile revealed fang-like canines before he turned his attention back to the man.
The man was already on his feet and swinging fists at the figure. The figure swiftly dodged each fist. The figure dodged one more fist before he disappeared and then reappear behind the man. "You make me sick," hissed the figure before he grabbed the man by the throut. The figure then brought the man into an arm lock.
In a quick, sudden movement, the figure used his free hand, ripped the collar of the man's shirt, revealing the man's bare neck, and bit into the man's neck with his fang-like teeth.
I watched in horror as the figure brought the man down. The man was in pain as the figure buried his fangs into the man's neck. Blood was spilling from the figure's lips as the man was sinking down to the ground.
Moments passed before the figure released the man from his deadly bite. The body of the man was dropped to the ground once the figure was finished with him. The figure used his thumb to remove the remaining blood from his chin. Putting the bloodied thumb near his mouth, the figure licked the remaining blood of the man off his thumb.
From what I witnessed that night, that figure was nothing, but a monster. I couldn't believe such a creature had the power to kill. "Stay away from me," I said as I got to my feet a backed off from the figure.
The figure faced me. "I can't do that," he said. "You seen too much, Antonio." The figure removed the hood of his cloak.
I gasp. "Jens?" I said.
Jens walked towards me. I took several steps back. "I don't understand... what it is that you are?"
Jens smiled. His teeth were still stained with the man's blood. "You'll find out soon enough, boy," he said as he walked closer to me.
I was scared of this creature. I didn't want to his next meal, so I ran. "Stay away from me!" I shouted as I ran.
"Don't think you can escape me, Antonio," Jens said as He suddenly appeared in front of me.
With the element of surprise, I fell back down to the ground. Jens reached down and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me back up to my feet. "Let go of me!" I yelled.
Jens soon placed a hand over my mouth to shut me up. "Yelling won't save you," he said.
I soon realized that we were back at the building, where Jens kept me all day. Jens quickly opened the door and threw me down the stairs. Hitting my head on one of the steps, Jens was already down the stairs, waiting for me to stand.
"There is so much you don't understand, boy," Jens said as he grabbed my throut and pinned me against the wall.
"Then why don't you just tell me so I do understand?" I said.
"That would be cheating, now wouldn't it?" Jens came within centimeters of my face. "Telling you would only cheat you from learning a lesson." His breath reaked of blood.
I soon punched him in the face to try to get him away from me. "What would I learn from you killing someone?" I stated as I was released from Jens' grasp.
A growl soon arose from Jens. "A way of life," hissed Jens. "I kill only to survive." Jens soon had a wide grin across his face. "You'll see what I mean when you taste your first blood."
Jens quickly took ahold of my cloak and ripped it off me. I was left confused at first. What did he mean by 'first blood'?
Grabbing both sides of my skull, Jens slammed me against the wall. I couldn't move. Jens was too strong. "Soon, everything will begin to make sense to you," Jens said before placing his cold lips on mine.
I'm still trying to forget that moment, but being kissed by another man can scar the mind for life...
Jens was getting in deep into my mouth, and I couldn't move. Jens' grip was keeping my head in place and I didn't have the strength to punch him off me.
I was able to taste the blood, that was leftover, on Jen's sharp teeth. It wasn't long until Jens grabbed ahold of my tongue with his teeth. A sudden pain soon erupted in my mouth when Jens bit into my tongue. I was soon tasting my own blood. It was flooding my mouth, and was being sucked into Jens' mouth.
Jens soon pulled away from the embrace. "Pure is what you are, Antonio," Jens said, licking my blood from his lips. "And pure is what you'll be." Jens put his lips on mine once more.
Jens was soon moving away from my lips, and followed the trail of access blood that left my mouth. His lips were soon kissing my neck when he found the end of the blood trail. Removing one of his hands, he only grasp my head by my hair.
Arching my neck, Jens continued kissing it as he ripped away the collar of my shirt, baring more of my neck. "Please, don't," I pleaed. "I don't--"
At that very moment, Jens sank his teeth into my flesh. The pain grew as my blood was being drained. "Please, stop!" I shouted in agony, trying to push Jens away.
Jens just growled at my actions, bitting deeper, gorging off my blood like the creature he is. My body was soon going numb. Coldness was soon setting in as Jens kept withdrawing blood. My body was at his mercy when I could no long lift my arms.
What felt like forever, Jens was finally finished feeding off me. Releasing me from his embrace, he left me fall to the floor, completely defenseless. A sudden thirst soon came over me before I slipped into unconsciousness.
"Stay awake, Antonio," said Jens as he shaked me awake. I was barely conscious, and I was inching closer to death.
Jens gathered me in his arms. I was like a ragdoll in his hands, unable to gain control of my limbs.
My mouth was soon swollen and going dry. "What did you do to me?" I said shallowy.
"I didn't do anything, yet," Jens said as he was loosening his collar. "Your body is starting to adjust to the change-over." My stomach was soon tightening from cramps. "I'm surprised your body is accepting it so easily." Jens uncovered his neck, and brought me up closer to it.
I was starting to gasp for air as the cramping got worst. Jens then used his thumb and sliced the flesh on his neck, letting blood spill out. "I want you to take it, Antonio," he said.
The smell of the blood was strong, and overwelming that it was horrifying to me. I never tasted blood, but my body wanted it, badly. "No," I gasp, turning my head from Jens.
"You'll have to give in some time, boy," Jens said, bring me closer to his neck. "The thirst will only grow."
The blood was soon dripping on my face, making the thirst go off the scale, but I was stubborn. "No!" I said sternly, trying to push away.
"You will take it, Antonio," hissed Jens, in a strange language that I somehow understood. Jens restrained me, grabbing my head, forcing my face into his neck.
I suddenly felt a sharpness in my mouth. Rolling my tongue across my teeth, I felt the abnormal growth of my canines. My mouth was extreamly dry, but now it was watering, wanting the blood, wanting me to bit into Jens' neck. "No!" I said, trying hard to pull away from Jens.
"Take it, Antonio," Jens said, keeping my head from moving. "Your body wants it. Take it, or I'll have to bleed you, again." The blood soon touched my lips, sending my nerves on a rampage. My mind was screaming at me to take the blood.
The blood touched my tastebuds, sending a sensation throughout my body. I couldn't turn back, now that the blood has got passed my lips, I was surrendering. Opening my mouth, the blood poured in, sending my body into a stage of relief.
Jens took my arms and placed them around his neck, allowing me to feed securely. "My blood will be coursing through your veins and you will have great power over the humans," said Jens, combing his fingers through my gold locks of hair. "Don't be afraid to bite, Antonio. Let the blood take over."
My body was yelling me to take in more blood. I soon used my newly grown fangs and bit into Jens' cold flesh, allowing even more blood to spill into my mouth. The blood itself had a bad taste, but it was soon tasting like wine that had been aged well. I was soon putting strength into the bite. I was using my hands to apply pressure on Jens' neck, so I could take in more blood.
"All right," said Jens, "you can stop." He was starting to feel the effects of the blood. He tried to get me off, but my body wasn't finished and just latched onto Jens. "I said stop!" Jens used all his strength and forced me to let go and fall to the floor.
The pain quickly took over my body the moment I let go of Jens. At that moment, I watched Jens disappear beyond the celler entrence, and blacked out...