To Be King

Part 1 - Prologue

"Now, child, do you know what this is?"

In a dark room with barely a sliver of light coming through the door from the hallway, the echo of dripping leaks is the only sound to accompany the barely audible whisper. The room is bare, save a poorly managed bed and a box next to it. The cold stones press into the bottom of a girl as she is slouched down, her caramel hair covering her face. She is inspecting something that has been placed into her hands. It's a dim luminescent dull green and it lights up her face for a moment before its light fades.

The little girl looks up at the man crouching in front of her, whispering back in awe, "A magic ring!" She holds up the ring to reach the faint light leaking through the window of the thick iron door to her room. It catches the light and reveals a carving of delicate curves and a masterful depiction of an owl. The face of the owl seems to stare into her soul and the wings wind around the expanse of the ring, the owl becoming one with the circular form.

"Yes, indeed. This ring is a gift from me. You must always wear it, it means we are good friends and we will meet again when you are bigger and stronger." The man smiles down at the girl. She can't be more than twelve but she has such beautiful silver eyes that shine with intelligent mirth. As if she knows a secret. She does indeed, for no one can know of this man's presence here in this dungeon-like room.

"It has very good magic that I took great care to craft. It is very hard to synthesize the symbolism of two things together, such as the owl and this precious stone represent."

With a sigh, the man settles closer to the girl on the floor. The smokey light illuminates his face to show a pair of bright red eyes, dark thick eyebrows and cheekbones that compliment the foxy slant of his eyes. His hair is a thick mess of black but it looks well kept. He grins down at the girl.

"Since we are friends," he drawls, "then it serves that you must know my name."

"Name?" the girl tilts her head sideways. Seeing this, the expression of her new friend takes a drastic turn and twists to something she has never seen before. It looks sour but still somewhat kind.

"Yes." He says with an undertone of anger. "A name is what you call a specific person by. It's a special title for one person. I am a vampire, but my title, my name, is Solomon." He reaches out his hand and the girl takes it, vaguely remembering the gesture being done in greeting by the people of her clan. His palm is firm, warm and calloused whereas hers are smooth and malleable. She felt like he could crush her hand if he squeezed it with his. Their hands draw apart and hers suddenly feels colder than it did before.

"I don't have a name. I am the blood but I am also a vampire. Is Blood my name?" She asks, hoping it is not. She does not want to be called by what she must give away to her clan. Blood.

Again, the man, Solomon, adopts the same kindly sour expression.

"I'm sure your name is not Blood. You are a vampire like me, but Blood is not suitable as a name." He taps his chin in thought before his gaze lands on the ring he handed to the girl just a while ago.

"How do you like the name 'Jade'? Jade stands for purity and protection. Harmony and inner balance." Solomon points at the jade ring and the girl looks down at it in wonder, feeling the weight of the cool stone against her skin. It feels reassuring and precious. If 'Jade' is the name of this ring, then she definitely wishes to adopt the same for herself.

"Yes! I like it." she squeals quietly. Her smile is infectious and Solomon smiles down at her darlingly. Will she be able to keep her smile as she grows up?

"Then, Jade, I am delighted to make your acquaintance." Once again he holds out his hand, "I hope, as the fortune of this ring ties us, we may meet again in the near future."

Jade reaches happily for his large hand, clasping the warmth and letting his firm shake jerk her whole arm up and down. Remembering her blissful smile from their last handshake, Solomon reaches out his other hand and puts it on top of Jade's, now cupping her small, cold hand inside his. Jade smiles as she feels the warmth seep into the bones of her fingers.

Just when Solomon was about to reach for her other hand and warm it up as well, the hallway clambers with voices that echo on the walls. There are vampires walking towards her door and Solomon sighs. His face sags and he lets go of Jade's hand, standing up quietly in the dark.

"It's been a delight, Jade." He whispers with a melancholy that Jade can only understand as regret. What could he regret? They've only just met. As Jade watches him with a blank stare, Solomon slowly disappears like wisps of smoke and dust. Soon, all that remains of his presence is the cold weight that still lies in her palm.

Jade looks down at the jade owl's face, thinking vaguely that this owl somewhat resembles Solomon. As the taps and clacks of steps near her door, Jade slips the ring under her mattress, afraid to wear the precious stone now, as vampires enter her dark and cold chamber for their next servings.

Like the ring, she wishes she could disappear underneath a soft weight like her mattress, but alas, she turns to face the adults who smile conniving toothy grins down at her, and their shadows overtake what little light shed through the door that was left ajar.

"You know what time it is, little bloodsucker."