Prettiest Vampire

Chapter I: Demons

Chapter I: Demons

A small dark shadow, a shadow within the shadows, appeared on the castle tower.

"Is it her?" asked Ilinca, her voice betraying her excitement.

Daciana didn't reply immediately. She watched as the tiny figure crossed the tower, climbed to the top of the battlement, spread its arms wide – and leapt. The figure fell, its nightgown flapping frantically. It fell past the base of the tower, and into the Earth's deep rift below.

"Yes, it is her. It is Mirela," Daciana finally replied, as the tiny shadow halted halfway down the cliff, reversing its violent plunge and rising on the air currents.

"And tonight is the night!" said Ilinca, with an evil fire in her eyes. Daciana did not reply, but Ilinca needed to hear it. "This is the night, Daciana?"

Daciana regarded her sister. She beat her wings twice, so the two would remain level. Ilinca, her sister. So like Anna, and yet so different. Did she ever think of Anna? Did she even remember her? It had been so long, but Daciana could never forget...

Daciana and Ilinca were not like Mirela. Daciana and Ilinca were ancient, an evil from a time before anyone had thought to count time. They were true sisters, born of the same mother. They were once a human family, but so very long ago that names, if they even had any, were long forgotten. In times long past, faces would come to Daciana's mind from those ancient days, but not for a thousand years or more that she could remember.

Daciana was glad those times were faded from memory. Human life had been brutal. There had been constant cold, and hunger, and pain. Kindness, compassion, and sympathy were concepts unknown to the people of those days. The life of a hell demon was a definite improvement.

Although so many memories were lost, Daciana would never forget the night she was stolen. She had been so afraid, taken from her family, her tribe, her protectors. They were brutal, yes, but they were all she had. Then she was beyond their reach, out in the dark, held by strange hands, carried away from anything she knew or understood. Daciana had been terrified, and would have cried out if anyone had allowed her to do so.

Daciana did not know who or what had stolen her, but given the brutality of her own family and tribe she knew they meant her no good. She didn't see anything in the darkness of night until they stopped, releasing her within a circle under the bright light of the moon. Only then did the horror of the creatures that had taken her truly become apparent to Daciana. She only glimpsed them for a moment before they attacked her, biting at her neck and chest and arms, biting and tearing at each other as well, spattering her eyes and mouth with their own blood. It was too much for her to bear and Daciana fainted.

When she awoke the creatures were gone. To this day Daciana did not know why they had not finished her. Did they mean to sire a new demon into this world? Were they simply interrupted, possibly by something larger and more frightening than they themselves?

Whatever the reason, the circle of hell-spawned demons was gone and Daciana was alone. She stood, and for the first time realized she was no longer cold. She was not hungry. Childhood injuries that previously had nearly crippled her with constant pain were healed, gone forever.

But she was alone. Daciana did not yet know that she was a demon, forever condemned to walk this Earth. She thought what had happened to her was a miracle, and all she could think was to share it with her younger sister. Her sister, who she had loved and protected as she could from the indiscriminate cruelty of the others.

Daciana hid until night, finding the daylight too intense for her demon eyes and skin. Then when night fell she crept back to her home, and found her way to her sister's side. Ilinca startled awake, and made to cry out until Daciana persuaded her who she was. Ilinca was happy to follow her, especially with promises of an end to her cold and hunger. Daciana led her back to the clearing in the wood, under the bright moon, and they waited for the miracle to be repeated.