The Beginning

HUMAN

A swift precise attack caught him off guard. He blinked then she was gone. He glance sideways and on his back even above him, but found no one. It happened, he knows. Every thing happened – a sound of blade on a flesh, arms wrestling, feet running and scraping amidst the damp ruined road, harsh cold wind. It happened, he felt it, heard it but he saw nothing, only her hair. He was not sure [if it’s a female] but it was a long silky black hair.


LEANDER

“He saw you” said Leander. Smiling and his eyes full of malice, trying his captive, distracting her. “Should I care? I got you. All of you.” She said in a cold indifferent tone.

Leander’s eyes glistened with fear, its malice gone instantly, the smirk he wore
turned into fake nervous smile. His sharp teeth bore against his dark scarlet lips. “That’s a lie. We’re alone in here. Don’t take me for a fool, lady!” She did not answer. “No! No!” Four men appeared one by one. They wore everything in black, including their hair but with ice-blue irises like her. Each of their hands held the heads of Leander’s men. “What do you want? Who are you?” He’s frightened. His men were the best and most skilled in his town. Until that moment, he didn’t know he’s capable of goose fleshing. From a distant street, he heard an explosion, screams and howling sirens of both policemen and fire fighters. It came to him instantly that they had burned their bodies - his last 8 loyal men.  Now, there’s no way he could revive them. A curly haired man hold him for the lady. Leander felt his grip and couldn’t help but to compare the strength of this one to the lady. She’s stronger. That means, she might be the leader. They stacked the heads at the farthest corner then pulled out a heavy iron chain. Two of them put the chain on his wrist and ankles while the other hooked it somewhere he couldn’t see. He tried to haul it, testing his own strength and their chain. He tried again but the chains were made tenaciously. Leander stopped what he’s doing when he realized they’re looking at him. The men mock him by their smiles and look. But the lady just stares at him expressionless. Her hair black as night was being caressed by the wind. It was long and silky. Her face is white, pale and almost translucent. She has huge eyes, its color reflects her stare – ice cold and expressionless. She looked like a doll with his small perfectly chiseled face, straight tiny nose and plump scarlet lips. She’s small with only 5’ or 5’1 in height but has svelte figure despite her clothing. Like the others she wore everything in black. Under her leather jacket with medieval embossed pattern she’s in a loose plain tank top and tight six-pocket jeans tucked in her elegant black military boots. “Who’s your master?” she asked commandingly. He was now lying on his back facing the sky. “Marion. My m-master is Marion!” Leander cried out of his fear. She then raised her eyebrows looking down at him. “He’s in an underground tomb of San Ignacio Church. He got less than 300 vampires in there. N-not a threat to you, they are undisciplined bunch of idiots. Spare me, lady! I’ll tell you everything, do everything, a-anything! Just spare me. O-or you can take me!” Leander pleaded. He’s bloody due to his sweat and tears. They asked more questions which he answered honestly and obligingly. He smelled the rising sun and death. An hour before sunrise, he knew it by heart. “Please!! I answered all your questions. I know everything about the underworld of this town. I can be of use to you!” He tried to break the chains but unsuccessful. She put his face next to Leander. “Why would I take you in my coven? Yes, you spilled everything. You bargained your master’s life to save yours. I have no craven in my coven.” The sky turned gray and any minute now the sun will rise in the east. “Who are you then? Why are you doing this? I deserve to know before I die!” Leander felt weaker. It was almost sunrise. “I am Victoria, daughter by blood of Queen Selene.” “Queen Selene?” he speaks incoherently. “Yes. Queen Selene - wife by consummation and maker by blood to late Michael Corvin, daughter of perished elder Victor by blood, daughter of Alexander Corvinus: The First Immortal by blood.” “You are her first bite… immortal blood…” Leander didn’t finish what he’s saying as he was consumed by fire, made by the sunlight. The decapitated heads turned to ashes same as Leander’s body.


ALEXANDRÉ

The night is particularly humid. Unexpected at the season of holidays were Victoria usually snuggles in her comfortable bed surrounded by her soft pillows. That night, she slept naked without extra sheets to cover her. She’s damped with her own sweat. Her door locked and the lights were out. She lay at the bed not moving, lessening the chance to sweat more. For a lady, it is unfitting that her room is a mess. Her books piled unorganized in every corner. Her vanity table did not only contain her powders and lotions but also some scratched papers, rubber bonds, paste container and old invitations. Adjacent to it was her soiled clothes piled up on floor. On the foot of her bed was her television, study table and computer stand, with notebooks and papers and compact discs stacked at random places. Alexandré could only stare at her. Many nights he’d visited her. Also many nights that he felt confused for no reason. That night would be the special night. He was at last given permission to talk to her. He stepped out of his concealment and put a light hand on Victoria’s lips. Despite the darkness inside the room, Alexandré could still see how her irises dilated. She did not move but he felt her stiffened. “Do not move. Do not be afraid. Do not speak.” Silence. “I am here to grant your yearning. I know what you want Victoria. What your heart wants.” Alexandré spoke so gentle and quietly. “Three nights from now I will come back. Think about what I can give you. Say it and it shall be yours.” Then his cold hands were out of her lips. He wanted to stay longer and touch her. But he would not dare.

Three nights later…

Victoria sat at her bed staring at her computer. This time she wore her favorite big tattered bed shirt nothing under except her underwear. “Are you there? I want to sleep already.” She whispered with annoyance. Alexandré chuckled and revealed his self. “Kings and queens lost many battles and war because of impatience, Mademoiselle” Victoria stare at him for a long time, hypnotized by his beauty. He knows she does not see him clearly. Her instinct incepted that he was a beauty. Therefore, her mind formed features she wanted so the outcome will be beautiful in her own taste. He’s like a blurred photo but thinking it is nice, so the perception said it is nice. In reality, his skin is pale as chalk and almost translucent; his eyes black and huge against his aristocratic nose, his lips are thin and scarlet. His hair is brown unruly with angelic curls that reached his ears and the back of his neck. He stood short at 5’6 but towered Victoria at her 5’1 height. “How do you do, Victoria?” He asked to break the silence. “I have a lot of questions.” She said not looking away from him. She was caught by his vampiric charms.

Alexandré regretted revealing his self with light’s on. He doesn’t want to influence her decision by distracting her with his charm and beauty. “Ask” he said as he turned off the light. “Why did you turned it off??” Victoria growled louder than expected. He ssh-ed her and whisper “It’ll be easier for both of us. Now, ask.” She slouched towards the bed. “Why me?” “Because you’re heart and mind are burning with desire and wit” bit of truth and a lie, he couldn’t say why. Even Alexandré doesn’t even know why. He’s just doing what Queen Selene commands. Victoria snorted. “How about my brother and his wife?” as she ask him, he felt agony in the air. He smelled sorrow in the room. Alexandré was not a stranger in that smell. He encountered it more than he could count but still, he didn’t liked it. “Whatever way you want. With or without body. The story will be the same. You are dead.”