Once Upon a Story [ HIATUS ]

Not Castlevania

Great title, right? Anyway, a little Castlevania-inspired story for vous. Part 2 coming soon! Generator used —> Mirabelle Dalos is made up by moi.

Word count: 1455
════════════════════════════

"What have you done!? Father!" A man wept on his knees, holding a woman in his arms, cold and lifeless. "Why would you do this?"

"What reason does a man need to satisfy his thirst?"

"You killed my wife!"

"Oh, Hendrik," his father chuckled darkly, licking the blood from his lips. "You could have prevented this. If you truly loved her, you would've turned her long ago."

***

Hendrik was born at the dawn of summer, as the first sun rays peeked past the horizon. Hidden inside, living beneath the ruins of an abandoned castle, the boy would never see the light of day. Born the son of a pure-blood Vampiri, he lived in the shadows.

But just like every other curious child, he always found a way to leave his home, sneaking into the surrounding towns and villages. Wearing a thick cloak and gloves, he explored the world in the sun, eager to discover new things. He did this for years until his gentle nature turned against him.

It was after harvest when the markets were full of produce. Hendrik was walking along the stands, looking at all the new stock, when he spotted a child: a young girl struggling to reach an apple. He frowned. She was dressed in a sack, barely something you could call clothes, with a bony physique and matted hair.

He approached the stand, took the apple, and handed it to the girl. She thanked him, holding the apple like a precious gem. 

"Would you like some more for your family?" He asked her. She eagerly nodded, and Hendrik gave her more, sending her on her way.

"You better be able to pay for that."

He turned. A man, maybe thrice his age with a greasy face, held out his hand.

"Excuse me?" Hendrik replied.

"Money. Pay up for that girl, or else."

Hendrik sighed. He often travelled empty-handed. And today was no different.

"I don't have any coins on me," he explained. "But I can get some from my home. It won't take long."

The man let out a boisterous laugh. "You think this is charity work? You're not leaving until you pay, kid."

"I understand, sir, but if you'd allow me—!"

Hendrik jumped back, tightly holding his cloak. "Please refrain from pulling at it. My albinism requires that I stay out of the sun."

"A vampire, eh."

Hendrik hid his surprise and smiled. "People do tend to assume."

"So you don't mind taking it off then." The man motioned to the cloak, smirking with his arms crossed. "A second won't hurt unless you're one of them, dark creatures. Take it off, and I'll let you go, free of charge."

All activity around him stopped. Everyone was eager to see what would happen. Hendrik took a moment, checked his best exit route and removed his hood. Smoke immediately rose from his sizzling skin.

At the first scream, he ran, tightly holding his hood. Hendrik entered his cold home, hissing as his skin recovered from the burns. His mother entered his room and scolded him.