Vaympyre	

Chapter One

by: Lazuli

<lazulidreamer@yahoo.com>



	Today there are many misconceptions of my kind. All call us unholy

killers. That we take others lives to feed our obsession with life after death. That

we kill without mercy and strive to increase our 'satanic numbers.' I will tell you 

a different tale. Of how our race truly is, and what we do to survive. I will tell you

of my life... as a vampire.



	I was born with the name Serenity, and that was the only part

of my past that I chose to keep. My last name I changed throughout the

centuries, as to not arouse any questions. I was of a solitary nature growing

up in my village, and did not converse much with many of the other girls

or boys my age. Our family was much outcasted anyways, for our beliefs.

This was the time when pagan beliefs were slowly vanishing, and the

Christian releigion was becoming dominant. Our family was one of the

few that did not convert in our village, but those who had, left, once the

Christians made life harsh for us. I was content in my life, though, until the

year I was nineteen.



	"Serenity! Are you feeling ill, daughter?" My mother felt my

forehead, and she frowned. "I wish you to stay at home. You feel warm."

I shrugged off her hand. I did not want her worrying about me. 

	'Tis a cold, mother. I shall be fine. Do not worry about me!" I 

walked off quickly, but I was soon to regret it. I was not aware of the 

fever that was circling our town, nor of the rumors connecting our

family to it. I was ignorant of it, but that was not to stay that way for

long. I fell ill from the fever, and was soon sucked into the same struggle

for life as many of the children were in my home.

	I was only dimly aware of time passing, of my mother leaning

over me, praying to our gods for help. She knew that there was little 

hope for us, or for many of our townsfolk. The sickness was a deadly

one, that no one could find a cure for. It swept through us like wildfire,

spreading as easy as a touch upon the hand. To catch it surely meant

death. I knew nothing of the other deaths, though, only struggling for

my own life. I had visions alot, and perhaps that was why I thought that

he was only a fever-dream at first. 

	He was tall, with dark hair and eyes, and he came close to me.

Close enough to touch... I reached out to him, not aware of what I was 

doing, only trying to reach something solid. I encountered a strong hand,

and I tried to pull away. I did not want to infect this man as well. As I had

mentioned before, even a single touch could spread the sickness. He

did not pull away though, but smoothed his hand upon my forehead, and

then smiled at me. That was the first time I encountered him, and the last

for quite some time. 



	I awoke the next morning, feeling as if I had never been ill. I

saw my mother beside my bedside, exhaustion lining every feature, 

and incased in protective circle. She had candles lined all around, and

I smiled. The healing she must have performed worked, but it had 

taken it's toll on her as well. I leaned up and touched my mother

gently, not fearing the deadly potency of the fever any longer. I knew that

it was gone from my body forever, and that a type of immunity had 

taken place. How I knew that at that time, I do not know, nor could

I ever tell you now. I just trusted in my instincts.

	"Serenity! You are well again! I do not believe this!" Her face

was haggard, and relief slowly spread through her features. 

	"How fare the others, Mother?" I asked. I knew I could not

be the only one ill. Her face grew serious. "All the others who had taken

ill died, Serenity. You are the only one who survived the fever." 

	I was in shock. I found out later that half of our town's 

population had been demolished by it. It was no wonder that my 

mother was attacked some weeks later... after the funerals and

the crying and grief had been over. The anger and suspicion set in,

and set in deep. My mother was confronted at the market, though

she could not defend herself, could not raise any words that would

erase the sadness and heartache of a grieving parent. All was lost

to us at that point.  My mother saw the end coming, but was not

prepared for what the fates had in store for us.



	"Mother! Mother!" I was terrified. I could hear the angry shouts,

and the 'rough music' that was being played, and that scared me. What

scared me more, though, and downright froze me to the spot, was the

sound and smell of thatch burning. Our roof....I looked up, and sure

enough, there was a bright fire burning through our roof. A few flames

licked at the corner of the house, and I knew it would not be long 

before we were surronded by flames. Even outside, there was no

chance of escape, for our fellow townspeople were waiting..to kill

us no doubt, if we even attempted to leave. We were dead either

way. 

	I wished that I could find my mother, but she was nowhere

to be found. I hoped that we could die together... but that was not to

be so. The fates had decided one path for me, and another for her. 

Just as I spotted her, I was ripped away from all that I knew, into a

terrifying flight of the night. My home was burning before me, and I

heard my mother's screams for me, and for her life. Those stayed 

with me forever.



	After my shock wore off, and my home was just ashes...

and my mother too, I was sure, I turned to my savior. I gasped,

for it was the same man who had saved me from my fever. I 

trembled in fear. Who was this man? Why had he done this to 

me, and what was he to have that type of power? I knew that

the gods had it, but why would he save me, and let so many

others die, when it would just rebound back on us, and bring

us down? Why save me again, and why leave my mother

screaming in agony? I asked so much of him.

	He smiled then, a smile that sent a shiver of fear

down my spine. Not because it was evil. It was far from that.

It spoke of something ancient...something far before my time

and something that could last far after. It held promise, and 

it held nothing at all. I never knew a smile could do that. I already

knew that the man before me was not human...but what he was

almost scared me.

	He spoke, and his voice was velvet...dangerous. His 

words still live within me to this very day, and he still repeats them 

to me every so often, to remind me.

	"I mark you as mine. I have chosen you. You could stay

with me, if you wish. Or, if you desire, you can be thrown back to

that pack of wolves you call friends. Which do you choose?"

	I was soundless with surprise, but then I did something

that he admits shocks him still, to this day. I turned around, away

from the village, away from him as well. 

	"I choose neither path, sir. Good night." I left him standing

there, alone, watching my departure.



There, minna! A new fic! I know that Mehg has a vampire fic out 

already, but this was going through my mind, and I NEEDED to 

write it!! This is only the first chapter. Please, feedback!!



Laz