December 16, 1882, A Boat in London
It is truly a dangerous thing to walk the world half alive, without a soul, and knowing that by just a ray of sunlight your life could end. I suppose it really doesn't matter for my age anymore now that I've been bitten I will remain forever young. All I can tell you is that the disease started small and soon became uncontrollable. Well, people thought it was a disease. Day by day people disappeared into the unknown. Some were found dead and drained, others were never seen again. Tonight, while I watched my home rise up in flames, I was wiped from the living as well.
I don't know whether I should call it a curse or an act of kindness or both.
Prologue: A Boat in London
The streets were silent as if in a movie where nothing but black and white pictures could be seen. In the middle of the night a distant scream could be heard. There, in the middle of the perfect black and white, a flame could be seen. The flame grew brighter, hotter, and more dangerous by the second. More screams followed the first. Two figures ran out of the house. One was a little girl, her nightgown black and burnt as well as her skin. The other was a tall, noble gentleman, his clothes burnt and head bleeding. He set the girl down in a pile of grain sacks a little way away from the burning house, and started running back into the burning building.
Little Girl: Father, don't go!
Father: I have to your mother's still in there.
Little Girl: What if it collapses?
Father: I'll be back in no time, you'll see.
The gentleman ran back into the building, while the little girl waited and waited. More screams could be heard from the building. The girl was frightened as she tried to get up, but ached everywhere and couldn't feel her legs. Then, without any warning the roof collapsed. The screams were no longer heard, everything was quiet except for the burning of wood. The girl began to whimper and softly in fear, but out of the darkness something else could be heard. A voice, then another voice, then suddenly two dark and tall men stood next to her, but they hadn't noticed her for they were looking at the burning building.
First Man: They should be cooked by now.
Second Man: Nah, I guarantee you they're still going to be a little fresh. The blood's just going to be a little extra got that's all.
Out of nowhere they heard the girl's voice.
Little Girl: You can't have them!
They turned around at her in surprise.
First Man: Well look what we have here.
Second Man: A little girl lost and crying for her mother.
They descended on her like a cloud of darkness.
First Man: Don't worry little miss we can help you out with you pain.
Second Man: We'll add a little more to it, and then you'll go off to dreamland and never have to worry about this world again.
Third Man: Leave her alone!
Around the corner came another man. He stood behind the two men looking even gloomier then both of them.
Third Man: She's my prey. I saw her first.
As if threatened by his presence both of the men started to back away from the girl.
First Man: Do with her as you wish.
Third Man: Leave.
Both men backed off a few more steps still looking at the little girl with hungry eyes.
Third Man: I said leave!
They scurried away in a hurry as the tall man looked down on the little girl.
Third Man: Sorry about the two of them, they don't have very nice manners. I am Sir Bain Ibara from the eastern clan of the house of thorns.
The girl looked up at him, and the fear in her eyes left her. The man was smiling at her.
Little Girl: I-I'm De-Delilah.
Bain: It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Delilah. I see you're hurt.
He looked down at her burnt marks.
Delilah: Yes, I came running out of my room and a burning plank of wood must have fallen from the ceiling and landed on my back, then Father came and got me then ran back into the house and-
Delilah began to cry softly again not only because of the emotional loss of her family, but also because of the burnt marks on her skin.
Bain: Don't cry. You're family is in a better place now. You have three options. The first is that I can leave you here and hope that another human will find you, and then later you'll die because of your burns. The second option is that I can end your life right here, right now, and you'll never feel pain again. Last, your third option is that I can make you well and adopt you, and raise you as my own.
Delilah began to sniffle.
Delilah: I like the last option better than the others.
Bain looked her into the eyes.
Bain: This may hurt though, but it will be over before you know it.
His eyes locked onto hers as he gently brushed her long brown hair aside.
He whispered into her ear.
Bain: What is your age?
Delilah: Thirteen Sir.
Bain: Forget it, it wouldn't matter anymore.
Bain sunk his fangs into her small delicate neck as Delilah moaned in pain. The world seemed to fade in front of her eyes as the sky blurred. Her blood drained from her until her body was nothing but a shell, then something was pressed to her lips as a cool, metal tasting liquid ran into her mouth. She swallowed with what little strength she had left and began to feel power rising up inside of her. Her body went from a shell to being whole again. She opened her eyes and the sky seemed brighter than it ever was before, the starts shone from a million places.
Bain: How do you feel?
Delilah: Hungry.
Bain smiled at her, some of her blood still dripping down his fangs.
Bain: That's my girl. Now come, get up.
Delilah got up and followed him. They walked around the corner where a pair of horses stood black as ash in the cold December night. Bain looked across his shoulder and spoke to Delilah while helping her get on the first horse.
Bain: Forget your past child, you're my daughter now. I will raise you to become strong and powerful. I will return your soul to you so that you'll know right from wrong just like any child should, and just like I had my soul returned to me.
Delilah: You have a soul?
She looked at him with amazement.
Bain: That's why I gave you a choice. You will need a new name too because you are no longer the daughter of a lowly human. From now on your name will be Lady Isabelle Ibara from the eastern clan of thorns.
Bain mounted his horse.
Delilah: Where are we going Father?
Bain: There is no need to be proper with me, since you are no longer in the hands of an honorable gentleman. We're going to the western shores, from there we will board a ship called the Sailing Crow were you will have your soul returned to you.
Bain gave one last look at his new daughter, and they road off into the night, were they later boarded the ship. Delilah had her soul returned to her by the captain of the ship.
Then they set sail for the new world.
This is just the prologue. It turned out longer then I expected it to be, but there was a lot to be said. I don't know whether or not I am going to continue this story because quizilla already has a lot of vampire stories. Most of them are a little cliche though. Let me know what you guys think by voting in the poll above. If there are any errors in this part keep in mind that I wrote this late at night.
-Phantom
