Chapter One: Freedom

I felt like my legs were going to drop out beneath me. It was the middle of the night, and I was still in the middle of nowhere. True, I was on a road, but what good is that? There are millions of roads where no civilization exists. I was tired, hungry, and ready to give up. If only-

Looking up, I finally saw what I desired most. As the cityscape appeared in front of me, I wanted to cry tears of joy. Finally, I’d made it. I was free from the oppression of my small room, and free to live my own life. That was, if I walked the rest of the way to the city. I groaned, and continued walking. So close, and yet so far.

It took until morning to get to the city. I was running of fake energy, so close to making it I could ignore the fatigue in my mind. I made it to city hall, where sims were bustling about. A blond male police officer crossed the threshold, and a young brunette politician sipped her coffee. I was overwhelmed, to say the least. I stood in awe, until I noticed people staring.

I looked odd, but… Okay, no buts. I looked odd. I avoided the gazes, searching for anything to help me. After what felt like eternity, I spotted a ‘FOR RENT’ board. I walked quickly, desperate to stop being noticed. As I looked at the board, no one was looking at me. The citizens had found something new to gawk at.

As I looked at the listings, I saw one in particular that caught my eye. A one bed one bath apartment was for rent. The address was 24 2^nd Avenue, Bridgeport. So that’s what city I was in. I headed over to a pay phone to call the Landlord.

Ring, Ring, Ring… “Hello?” A man’s voice answered the phone.

“Hello. Is this Mr. Clavier?”

“Yes, to whom am I speaking?”

“Ms. Adaire. Sir, I was interested in renting one of your apartments. How soon could I meet you?”

“How about now?”

“Now?”

“Now.”

“Ok. Um…where?”

“Come to my house, 1757 Memorial Parkway. See you there!” Click.

I was slightly taken aback by his manner, but pleased none the less. I headed out of city hall, and noticed an ad. “NEW SUBWAY SYSTEM. IT’LL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE. COURTESY OF MAYOR SMITHFIELD” Well, that settled how to get there. Walking in to the subway I had just spotted, I descended down the stairs, looking for something near Memorial Parkway.

***

As I finally found my way out of the dreadfully confusing subway system, I found the large apartment building with the correct address. I walked in and punched a few buttons on the call box.

“Hello?” I heard Mr. Clavier say for the second time today.

“It’s Ms. Adaire here for the meeting. Can I co-”

“Yes, yes, come up. The elevator should let you.” And just like that I was on my way to the interview.

I walked in his apartment, and observed his furnishings. He must have owned more than the apartment I was seeking, because he certainly had a nice place. Noticing me, he came over and shook my hand.

“Ah, hello! You must be Ms. Adaire, do tell me about yourself.” I stood still. Such an obvious question, yet I was dumbfounded at how to answer it. I hesitated for a moment, before my quick wits kicked it.

“I’m… Saffron,” I said. Even though I was smarter than most, I was having a hard time coming up with words to describe my life up to this point.

“I just moved here. I want to rent your ‘Civil Suites’ apartment. I like the color green and…” I trailed off. Smooth. Mr. Clavier shook off my abrupt halt, and began to talk.

“Well, that’s great. I like the color spiceberry. It’s a kind of a pinkish purple, and completely amazing. You should see it. Anyways, I’m glad you like the apartment. What do you say we look at the furniture catalog? I’ll let you pick out all new furniture, as a housewarming gift. Within a budget, course.”

I shocked at his words of kindness. Nodding enthusiastically, he grabbed a furniture magazine off his shelf. I got to pick the furniture, as well as colors. Mr. Clavier was not able to convince me to have a spiceberry sofa.

After making a few calls (and if I heard him correctly, bribes), my furniture was on its way to my new apartment. I invited Mr. Clavier over to my apartment to play chess. He agreed, but insisted I ‘call him Ebby’.

He hailed the taxi, and we managed to get back to the apartment without a lot of difficulty. I walked in first, and stood still shocked.

All my furniture had been set up. As I gazed upon the beauty, Ebby walked in, chatting away.

“…and that’s how I was almost eaten by a tiger. Oh, look! Charlie’s out done himself! So, are we going to play chess?” I nodded, still amazed. Only after he sat down at the new table did I follow him, preparing to win.

I didn’t realize how long it had been since I played until Ebby was thoroughly kicking my butt. I could barely remember the rules, much less how to win. Slowly, he walked me through the process until I slowly remembered how to play. At the end of the long game, he thanked me for renting the apartment and inviting him over, and left.

Only then did it truly sink that I had my own apartment, in a brand new city. Letting loose a loud cheer, I turned on my stereo. My favorite song ‘Savior’ by Rise Against was on, and I started dancing. I wasn’t very good, but I was alone in my apartment. Who cared?

When I finally headed to bed that night, I was exhausted. After putting on some new pajamas I had found in my dresser (Thanks Ebby!), I was fast asleep. Tonight, I wasn’t expecting the dream.

It started differently this time. It was the same concept, but now I was in my new pajamas, in my apartment. The mysterious man was sitting in my chair, reading a book. He came over, and shook my shoulder, waking me. Barely awake, my dream self wandered over to him, where he bit my wrist. Dream me screamed, all traces of sleepiness gone. But something was different about tonight.

Tonight, as the violet-eyed man turned to leave, I merged with my dream self, and took control. Chasing after him, I started to scream.

“You monster!” I screamed, anger building as I began to let loose what I had been unable to say. “You filthy creature! Your jagged teeth come pierce my skin night after night, and you think you can just walk out? Why?!?” The man tensed, shocked I had responded.

“You stupid girl. You think my act is unjustified? Think again. Your mother has been messing with the super natural world far too long. She would mock and insult us to no end, waving her magic in front of us. We could do nothing to her, because of the infernal queen.

“So after she went too far, I cursed you. You weren’t even born yet, but already I could sense your power. And I was right. Only the most powerful sorceresses have colorful hair. Your eyes were only a mark or the curse. The blanking out, the sharpness of thought, and keenness to night? All attributed to me.

“So you see my dear darling, it is you who should feel guilty. For it is not my fault this has happened to you, but your own. Now leave me be. I have said my piece. Now bother me no longer.”

The man vanished, and I could feel myself leaving my dream world and returning to reality. When I felt connected to my body again, I bolted up. Magic? The Queen? Curses? Could this be what mother was always worrying about?

So much made sense now. And yet, so much didn’t. What had he meant about my hair and eyes? And surely my intelligence was due to my studying, not a curse. I shuddered. This was too much information to process.

I tried to lie down, but something happened. I felt as if someone was kicking me in the gut. The more I fought it, the harder it came, until I was forced to stand up, almost doubling over. Reaching for anything I could hold on to, I suddenly felt like my world was spinning. Faster and faster, I felt like I was about to puke.

As I regained my balance, I felt one last wave coming. It was almost like I was floating, then the most amazing sensation. I was suddenly two different people. One was graceful, beautiful, and strong. The other was smart, clumsy, and confused. I felt the two merging together, until at once it stopped and I came to a deadly realization.

I was a vampire.

***

Did you love it? Hate it? Read it while you were eating cheese and bacon? Leave a comment!

Clavier

 

Prologue: Escape

I’ve always had a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even before my birth, I’ve always been places I shouldn’t have been. When my mother was pregnant with me, she did something that sealed my fate forever.

—————

“MOVE!” Aurelia screamed. The man, suddenly angered, stopped dead in his tracks.

“Are you deaf? MOVE!” The man refused to budge, and Aurelia became increasingly angry. Even her baby’s kicks against her stomach could not diminish her anger. Her hormones were preventing her from thinking clearly. The man glared at her.

“I would not anger me. I am quite powerful,” the man said in a low tone of voice. He was itching for a fight, and was anxious to do something to this ignorant woman.

“Powerful my ass. Now why don’t you be a good little dearie and MOVE!” The man had had it.

“May this be the last time you anger a powerful vampire.” The man started mumbling malicious words under his breath. The woman shoved past him, knocking him out of her way, but not stopping his speech. As the woman stormed off, he smiled maliciously.

“I can’t wait to see your baby, Ms. Aurelia” With that, he walked off in the other direction, calculating the days till he would see the child for the second part of the curse.

—————

I remember my first birthday, simply because the day was so extraordinarily crazy. Then again, I’ve always had a sharp memory. I was toddling around our small mansion, when my mother scooped me up in to her arms. Her eyes were closed as she talked quietly.

“You’re so big! Already you’re walking. But the queen said today was the day to check your eye color, since it should stay the same. No matter your hair, since it’s not in yet. Now we’re going to look on the count of three, okay? One…Two…Three!”

My mother almost dropped me. Setting me down at the last moment, she walked around ranting and raving.

“YELLOW EYES!” she screamed. “That’s not possible! Tybalt had blue eyes, and I have green. They were greenish yesterday. The only way this could have happened would have been…” Her voice dropped so low I could barely hear it… “A curse.” Again, she fumed.

“I’ve made enemies of no one! The queen respects me, as well as taking my magic, so surely no one would harm me then. No one bears me ill will, save for…” Again she trailed off. “The Vampire.”

After that day, my mother distanced herself from me. She still took care of me, but the hugs were few and far between. Soon, my father Tybalt came home from his business trip. He scooped me up and hugged me, but when he saw my eyes and had the same reaction as my mother. After ‘setting’ me down on the floor, he argued quietly with her. I heard only scads of the conversation.

“The eyes….cursed….” my mother explained.”How could you…….our future….what will the queen think…..” my father mumbled. They both looked up. I looked in to their eyes, mother’s filed with fear, and father’s filed with anger. I crawled away, anxious to avoid there gaze.

After that, I was ignored completely. Even Daddy seemed to avoid me. It was made even easier for them when my mother had my little brother, Tybalt Jr. We both grew hair in at the same time, despite the two and half year difference. His was golden honey blond. Mine was a deep emerald.

This horrified my mother to no end, leading to more mumbling about ‘magic’, ‘power’, and ‘curse’. At three, I was already dreaming of getting away. Still, life went on and I had my fifth birthday before I knew it. My hair was a curly mess, cut as short as my mother could stand (she has a thing about short hair… don’t ask). I had a small room now, with a desk for school, as well as a chess table. While I liked chess, there was one thing I desired greatly. While mother considered it a ‘servant’s toy’, she finally gave in to shut me up.

“Fine!” she screamed one day. “Have your stupid oven! But I better see top notch grades out of you!” I nodded hurriedly, and ran to my room before she could change her mind.

It arrived the next day. I spent the whole day playing with it, relishing the smell of the small pies, or how moist the baby blue berries were. Looking back, this is when I fell in love with cooking. I gave most of them to the kitchen, and the servants even served some of them at dessert some nights, and mother didn’t even notice.

On my fourteenth birthday, I disappeared from society. It was slowly at first. I would have breakfast in my room. Then, dinner. Lessons started being taught by mother, instead of my tutor. At last, I never left. Only mother even came in. Once a month I might see Daddy or Ty. I didn’t even realize I had been isolated until one of Ty’s visits.

He slipped in quietly, a grim look on his face until he saw mine. He then seemed relived, and smiled.

“Oh Saffron! You won’t believe what mother did!”

He explained how he been sworn to secrecy, and how he was supposed to be in ‘mourning’ by coming to my room. I didn’t understand. Apparently, Mother had faked my death. She had said I had burnt while assisting the servants in the kitchen. She had even had fake ashes. That’s why I never saw anyone anymore. They thought I was dead. I thanked Tybalt, hugged him, and he left.

I sat for hours that day thinking about why mother would do such a thing. She hadn’t been exactly fond my emerald hair and yellow eyes, but my faking my death? It seemed desperate. What was she trying to hide? It was after this, I threw myself in to my studies. I needed to be ready, if I wanted to escape as soon as possible.

———————————————————-

I woke up on my twenty-first birthday a three in the morning, sweating. I’d had the dream again, where a man with violet eyes had come in and bitten my wrist. Every night, I had the pleasure of watching my dream self slumber on as the violet-eyed man bit me, and I woke screaming in terror. The man’s eyes would glow, and then he would be gone.

Ever since that night, I’d noticed a small scratch on my neck. I must have just scraped myself, as I’m prone to do. Also, the dream man bit me on the wrist, so it had to be just that. A dream. I closed my eyes, and waited for the dream to arrive again.

When I awoke at 8 that morning, breakfast was already on the tray by my window. French Toast was my favorite, though I never told anyone. I was glad. Today was the last day I would ever be here, in this dreaded house. Tybalt slipped quietly in.

“Hey Sis,” he said softly. “Happy Birthday.” I hugged him, relishing that it might be the last one. He had to present a manly front, and couldn’t stay long. It had been so long since I’d seen him, given he was preparing to take over the family name. I was surprised he was here today.

“I love you,” I said while I held him close.

“I love you too,” he managed to say eventually, though he probably thought it cost him some pride. “I have to go, but I wanted to see you. Happy Birthday.” I released him from the embrace, and he slipped out my door and out of my life.

I spent the day pacing around my room, anxious for something to do. I couldn’t pack. All I could take was the clothes on my back. I couldn’t say good-bye to my family, my door was locked. All I could do was sit around and wait, pensive and frustrated. Thrice I considered leaving in broad day light, but I knew I couldn’t make it. Finally I lied back down to sleep to soothe my nerves.

When I woke up, the moon had fallen. I felt oddly powerful, but something was missing, like I was lacking a piece of the puzzle. My hand flew up the scratch on my neck. It stung, and for a moment, I was lost. Where was I? What was I doing? I puzzled for a few moments before it returned to me.

Donning my favorite dress, I slipped quietly out the window, grateful it was on the first floor. I walked quietly along the grass, before sprinting away, thanking the stars for great boots. I was going away from the place where I was supposed to be dead. I was going to a place where I could be somebody.