Red Doesn't Suit You

Chapter One Cynthia

I sit in my small room and wait patiently to be called. I stare at my dress. The dress I have been wearing for the last 110 years. Black silk Victorian style ballgown. I hadn't taken it off since Jadis gave it to me. It wasn't like I needed to sleep. My powers took the human thrill of being tired from me. I haven't aged a day since Jadis pulled me from that bag, since I felt her coldness rush through my bones. I am not a vampire. I am just immortal. I do not kill. I do not eat. I have no hunger, my powers took that also, along with thirst. The thing that my powers took from me that I missed most were my emotions. Now I think about it, I couldn't really miss them. Could I?

There was a knock on the door and I turn in my seat by the mirror, Sammael opened the door and smiled weakly at me, his right eye was hazed and pale from where I threw a glass at him 67 years ago. I nod curtly at him and stand. I am taller than the hunter by about a foot but he never seems intimidated by my height. He holds out a hand but I don't take it. I try not to touch people all that much for fear I might hurt them. My powers do have me that fear.

"Her Majesty would like you to grace her with your presence." He grins, showing stubby gums where teeth have rotted and fallen out. I try not to grimace and stalk ahead of him down the marble staircase. I glance at the bloodstains on the pure white but do not shiver as I once did, I'm used to the ragged screaming of children dying now. I'm used to the slaughterhouse which I live in.

I wave my hand and the large oak doors open to reveal Jadis lounging on a throne of dark obsidian. She smiles wickedly as I march up to her. The throne room is probably the most bloodstained room in the house. Dead bodies rot in the corners like naughty children with the dunce cap. Fresh blood drips from the arms of the throne and I avert my eyes.

"Cynthia, darling." Jadis laughs her wicked laugh. I try to permit myself a smile.

"You called, Jadis." I am the only one brave enough to call her by her full name. Her smile falters for a moment before returning to its usual evil self.

"Yes. As you know, Sammael is growing old and can't catch me more than a starving peasant boy anymore. But you," She looks pointedly at me, "You are the fastest creature I know, you are the strongest and most powerful creature in any reality! You could catch me that fellow, oh what's his name... Usain Bolt!!!" She snaps her fingers.

"You want me to hunt for you?" I look at her blood red eyes, willing her to look into my green ones.

"Exactly." I stiffen, I do not hunt, I do not kill. I am not a vampire.

"You have other hunters, do you not?" Jadis' smile disappears.

"I want you to go, the other hunters are no where near as talented as you."

"And if I don't go?" I could feel her anger growing.

"I will give you up to the village and I will happily watch you burn at the stake." Her hands were gripping the sides of the throne and her knuckles were even paler than the rest of her body. I stay emotionless as always and growl slightly. I don't want to become a hunter abut I don't want to be burnt at the stake. I then I realise that I don't have to kill, just capture. I can handle that. Can't I?

"Fine. I'll go." Jadis' anger dies down a bit and she releases her hands slightly.

"Good. Now there is a particular person I want you to capture, she lives on the other side of the village so you'll have to be quite on your way through. She has blonde hair and black eyes, she has a small scar underneath her left eye and she smells strongly of vanilla. It shouldn't be to hard to find her. Oh and you'll be needing these." She hands me a pile of clothes. I stare at them. "Well go get changed, it's almost midnight and I want my dinner before dawn." She shooes me out of the room and I climb back up the stairs to my room. Sammael is waiting for me.

"Is everything alright Miss?" He pushes open my door for me. I step inside and start to shut the door.

"Oh everything's fine Sammael, she just decided to inform me that I'll be replacing you." The hunter paled and U shut the door.

*

The clothes Jadis' gave me to wear are very modern, shiny, tight, black trousers, a sort of vest top thing that was also black and what is supposedly called a leather jacket, which also happens to be black and covered in 'zips'. I undo my long red hair and let it hang in front of my face. I almost look normal. Except for the long scar that started at my chin and ran down to my collar bone. I shake my thoughts away and pull on the clunky boots, that Sammael called Doc Martins, and slowly tied the laces into neat bows. I may work for a vampire queen but I still like to look precise. When I reach the bottom of the marble staircase Is we Sammael, accompanied by the other hunters, waiting with weapons that I refuse to take. I won't be needing weapons. I won't be harming anyone.

"Oh darling, you look wonderful." Jadis glided over to us in her long red dress and hugged me tight. I pull away and straighten my jacket. Jadis puts her hand on my shoulder. "I believe in you. You can do this." I nod and turn away. I am not one to talk a lot. Sammael opens the doors with a bang. I breathe in the night air and step forward into the world beyond the stone walls. This is it.

*

The village was small. When I was a child my sister and I would run from the Church at one end to Jon's Farmyard at the other in less than 10 minutes. Now I had my powers I could do it in less than 10 seconds. The night was silent. No men were walking home from late shifts at the farm. This was a different time. I could see metal shutters on windows, to keep out the hunters, to keep out me. Doors had offerings on the mats, tempting us elsewhere. I might have felt sorry if I'd only had emotions.

That's when it hits me. The beautiful scent of vanilla, drifting down the street. I stumble as the sickly smell tickles my nostrils. I spin on my heels and creep silently down the familiar road. This had been where the old sweet shop had been, where all the children would go after classes at the Church on a Friday evening. all the shops were closed now, metal bars placed across the doors, signs pulled from their hangings.

"Are you going to kill me?" I turn and suddenly I'm staring into two black eyes, like coals. The eyes drop and I look down to see a girl crouched on the floor, she'd obviously just swung down from the cracked sign above the abandoned shop. Her scent was overpowering and suddenly I was on the floor beside her. Pulling her to her feet. She was wearing orange trousers, similar to mine, but not shiny, And a pink top with a blue coat, strangely similar to what I used to wear over my dresses when I was human. Her hair was so blonde it was almost silver.
"Are you going to kill me?" She asks again.

"No." I think I surprised myself more than the girl with my answer. She sighs and starts to back away. "I can't let you go though." She widens her eyes.

"Why?" I sigh.

"She says she wants you and I have to bring you to her." Fear fills the girls eyes and she starts to run. I'm quicker though and soon I'm in front of her, blocking her way. Tears were flowing down her face now, she brings her hand up to push me away but I grab her wrist and pull her hand down. That's when I see the silver bangle glittering on her arm. I know that bangle. I gave my sister that bangle.