Eternal Shadows

I wrote this short story as a prologue for the project I am currently working on and sincerely hope you will enjoy it.

Thank you for the opportunity and your time.

Eternal Shadows

Throughout the history of the human race there have always been stories of those who are other or more than they seem. Some believed, and were regarded as crazy while others turned a blind eye, no matter how many stories were circulated around campfires and told to children before bedtime.

In the beginning these suspicions were just that: suspicions and stories. If there is something human beings never lacked it is imagination and fear of the unknown. But somewhere things changed.

How witches and warlocks came into being remains an unsolved mystery, though those born with powers and the capabilities to cast spells had their theories, but those recorded were lost over time. All that remained was family spell books, traditions and the stories passed on from mother to daughter or the occasional son. They were the first known beings of the supernatural society.

How other supernatural creatures came into being all started with an egocentric, rich young man and a powerful witch who was only a girl at the time and worked as a servant in his home in the country.

James, for that was the young man's name, always got what he wanted, no one dared to say no to him. And why would they, he was attractive and could certainly be charming when he wanted to be, and those climbing the social ladder thought it better to be in his good graces. No one but the servants working in his household saw his aggression and occasional instability when it came to getting what he wanted; he finely kept this hidden from all social eyes and knowledge.

That was until he noticed Arianne.

At the mere age of seventeen she was beautiful and radiated pure goodness; she also knew what James was capable of, and he wanted her, no matter what. For weeks he pursued her. At first he was patient and charming, thinking she would give in, but at every twist and turn she turned him down. Slowly James became more and more agitated.

Later on he started threatening her and the short walk from his house to her home was no longer safe. Arianne had no other family but her grandmother that was past her prime and if not for that little integrity James had he would probably have used her to get to Arianne.

Some thought Arianne's refusal as stupidity, especially when it cost her life in the end, while others thought it was brave. But those knowing the history and the outcome of what truly happened knew it was destiny, the beginning of another cycle.

Late one night Arianne was gathering her things, finally making a decision to leave for once and for all. It was also the night James had had enough. Still packing with her back turned to the door she didn't see him enter her room and when she finally did turn around it was already too late.

The things he did to her was enough to break anyone's heart and it surely filled hers with dread. James had reached a breaking point and Arianne was his victim.

Back then powerful people could do whatever they wanted and from a political point of view there was nothing that Arianne could have done about what had occurred, for she was only a servant. It was her word against his.

James was about to leave as quietly as he came in, when Arianne started mumbling incoherently and as she went on it became stronger and louder. James noticed it was in a language he did not understand, but dismissed it immediately thinking she was on the verge of losing her mind, and when he wanted to leave again he found that he could not. He stood frozen, his eyes on Arianne where she lies, bloody on her bed, her eyes boring into his as though she could see deep into his soul, still chanting words he could not comprehend.

As suddenly as her words started it stopped and a sharp and powerful green light came from within Arianne and hit him in the core of his being. For a moment he could feel, hear and see nothing. When it passed he moved forward to Arianne, kneeling by her bed without consciously deciding to do so.

"You are now James Draco, King and the Father of a new race. You are cursed with eternal life and living off the Life which flows in others, and you will carry the burden of the insanity, pain and loneliness it brings." Her words were strong and whispered. She herself was pale and weak. "My presence will haunt you until the day you learn self control, humility and the true meaning of life. But I shall show you the mercy you refused to show me; you and your direct line of children with Draco blood will each have a Soulmate; consider the consequences of your decisions wisely." Her voice had become weaker and it took a lot out of her to keep breathing; he knew she was going to die, "You may ... have eternal life... but you are not invincible... you will die... painfully." Then the last spark of life in her eyes vanished.

Witches were only heard of in tales, so it never occurred to James in that moment of who and what Arianne really was. He also didn't understand the meaning and the implications of what he did and the toll it would take on his life. Still kneeling by the bed in front of the dead shell that was once Arianne, he felt fear like he never felt in the whole twenty years of his worthless life.

Finally able to move again James fled from the room, and now it was his turn to gather his most valuable belongings and mount his horse. When the sun rose the next morning the person now James Draco was miles away from his previous home, cursed with what is now known as vampirism, and facing a future he did not fully understand.

This event was the start of a new race that would impact and change many lives forever.

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Hi!!!

Thank you for reading, and please take your time and comment if you like. I enjoy good company and any feedback I can get.

Thanks again ;)