The Immortal's Curse

Chapter 1 - Oblivion

I still hadn't adjusted to the darkness that encompassed my crumpled body, or the concrete floors of the never-ending box that had permanently bruised my spine and limbs. Chains bit into my wrists and ankles, the metal laced with layers of my blood. A collar sat firmly against my throat, choking me back into submission if I dared to move. I didn't do much moving these days, didn't have the energy to fight anymore. The freezing burn of the silver on my skin had numbed weeks ago, perhaps the shackles had finally cut down to my bones. That's all I was now, a skeleton lying limp in an abyss.

They had fed me twice when I was in here, but I preferred it when they didn't. The scent of blood drove me to a frenzy, to lash out with spikes of energy that I didn't have. The first time they came they presented a cup of what smelt like rats blood – putrid and thin. It was gone in an instant, the ceramic crushed in my hands as soon as the last drop slid down my aching throat. It took me two days to calm those trembling hands, to will my mind back out of that crazed thirst. It hadn't been enough to sustain me, just enough to make me crave again, forcing me into an inescapable loop of hunger.

The second time they offered even less, and it had been drugged with something that pulled me into insanity. For weeks the drugs stayed in my system, and I lulled in and out of consciousness, not knowing the ceiling from the floor or my arms from my legs. I was either in agony or bliss, floating or sinking, blinded by piercing light or smothering darkness. But the worst part was the silence. There was nothing, not even a hint of a breeze to ruffle my clothes, or an insect to scratch across the floor. I was utterly alone, my mind desperately racing through music, memories, symbols – anything to act as a measure of passing time. That was months ago. Immortality had never been such a curse.

"Alive but dead, dead but breathing, breathing with no need for air, breathing for a heart that will never beat for you, but a heart that will need blood, nonetheless. A body without a soul, a mind fast but with no need for knowledge – the knowledge that will change, but you will not. You will be a fact, a state of life and death that is permanent, a blessing and a curse that will haunt and punish and reward. A creature that will live without the fear of death but will never truly live at all." The words of my past life relentlessly sang their bittersweet tune as I stared into nothing, a constant reminder of my sins. The sins and truths and lies which bound me to this prison as much as those burning chains did.

Alive but dead, dead but breathing.... I was dragged to the depths of oblivion once more.

~April, 1794 - New York~

It had been three days since I last hunted. I missed the thrill of it. Missed capturing the attention of a mortal, sensing their gaze track my every move with terror and exhilaration. And how fun it was to play with them. Tonight though, I wanted a different kind of pleasure, one that I didn't have to work for. It was raining, so most humans were inside tucked away in their beds. I really couldn't be bothered climbing up to an unlocked apartment window, especially not dressed in my favourite evening gown. Instead, I floated through the moonlight to an underground bar that I frequented, a smile already tugging at my lips as I imagined the joys that were awaiting me. I barely had one foot in the door before Andras, my lovely yellow-eyed demon, was at my side, escorting me through velvet curtains to the darker side of the tavern. His skin was a blazing flame against the ice of my bloodless shell, his lingering gaze sparking a different sort of ache in my throat. He gently shifted his hand in mine, assessing the strength of the blood flowing through my veins. It was weaker than I would have liked.

"Are you here for a drink tonight, my Lady?" he smiled, eyes flicking over my crimson attire. I would be lying if I said I detested his attention.

"That would be wonderful". We are all so civilised, us immortals. It is something we pride ourselves on. The mortals think of us as savages, innately evil and animalistic. It truly is an insult. He led me to a booth in the far corner, past masses of fairies, demons, werewolves, all dancing, drinking, laughing in this nightclub of monsters. Oh, the memories I had of this place. I knew who was in the booth before I saw them. There was a girl, probably no older than the age of sixteen, who was heavily intoxicated on fairy serum. There were two men, one slightly older than the other but neither seemed older than twenty-five. And there was a woman. She was young and... gods she was intoxicating. I knew what she was going to taste like from across the room – her scent smothered the air in a thick fog. My throat burned for her, filling with acid and elongating my teeth into tiny daggers, my muscles coiling to launch me over the floor and into the booth. Struggling to maintain a careless stride, I rearranged my features to somewhat resemble humanity, re-focussing my blackened eyes to a warmer amber. I couldn't let Andras know how desperately I craved her, I was lucid enough to know he would charge extra for my interest.

We arrived at the table as Andras began to explain the menu, but his words meant nothing to me. Shocked by the sight of her, I merely nodded along as he rambled about their ages, bloodlines, and prices. Impatient, I waved him off with a forced smile and grabbed at her waist, spinning her into my rhythm, feeling her heart leap at my touch. I ignored the gasp of the other mortals and twirled her into a waltz, watching her skin thaw red as I traced her arms, pulling her close. So close I could hear the dark river thundering under her skin of snow, taste the sweet scent of its waters. My mouth found hers, and those icy eyes fluttered closed as she explored the depths of the fire in my throat. She breathed me in, and I filled my lungs with the refreshment of youth. Our bodies melded into one, her flame spiralling into mine as I tasted her lips, jaw, neck. Her pulse beat at an exhilarating tempo, a result of pure euphoria which deafened me to the world. My teeth brushed against the snow, searing through its layers as I drew out the soothing warmth of her blood. Arms locked around my neck as I leant into her, she let me drink freely, drawing a whispered moan from her arched throat. My body didn't allow me to think, to breathe, to stop and see her burning light that I was draining. I couldn't slow for even a moment, couldn't pull back from the waterfall that poured from her into me, a cooling wave to dampen my fire. Her blood trickled down to mix with the red of my dress, her flames spluttering, the beating of her heart struggling against the force of my lust. Though her breaths were no more than the weakest of sighs, her body refused to pull away. The trickle eventually slowed, and I finally allowed my teeth to rip through her, tearing away the throat that had sung for me just seconds ago. Another flame carelessly reduced to flesh and bones by my hand.

It had all happened in mere moments, her first and last gasping breaths still echoing in my mind as her body hit the dance floor. Crashes, muttering, gasps, music - it all screamed through my ears as I relished the sweet bliss of fresh blood spreading through my body, warming my veins and quenching the never-ending thirst. Once the pounding in my head finally ceased and I regained control, I woefully glanced at her corpse - finally seeing her bright auburn hair, freckles now peppered with blood, her soft complexion now hardened. I cursed myself for getting carried away, she would have made a lovely long-term companion. Andras rushed to the floor, scowling at another ruined investment. I paid triple what she was worth before promptly leaving – murder was generally frowned upon at diners. Humming as I licked the remnants of her off my fingers, I danced out onto the street, delightfully continuing our burning waltz well into the night. 

I awakened to the freezing expanse of darkness. Clasping my knees to my chest, my feet barely shuffled as I relived that once-glorious dance, attempting a hoarse hum which crackled against the walls of my prison. Oh, how far I have fallen.