The Ties That Bind

Prologue

In the heart of Elderwood, where ancient trees whispered secrets and moonlight painted patterns on the forest floor, stood the grand Manor of Rhodanthe. Its ivy-clad walls and towering turrets loomed over the surrounding landscape, a testament to centuries past when magic and mystery intertwined with the mortal world.

Within the walls of this stately home resided the Wallgreen family, guardians of secrets old and new. Enoch Wallgreen, a born vampire of noble lineage, prowled the halls with an air of both grace and restraint. His black hair, touched with hints of silver, framed a face that bore the weight of centuries, yet his eyes—blue as the summer sky—sparkled with a gentle kindness reserved for his wife and daughter.

Beside him, in every sense of the word, was Desdemona Rhodanthe. A witch of formidable power, her presence in the manor was as integral as the spells that wove through its stones. Her long, straight black hair cascaded like a river of midnight down her back, harmonizing with her piercing black eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe. Desdemona moved with a fluidity that spoke of her command over magic, a force that danced through her veins and resonated in every spell she cast.

In this haven of ancient magic, their daughter Alma grew up amidst the whispers of enchantment and the gentle embrace of unconditional love. With her long wavy hair the color of chestnuts and eyes that held the warmth of a thousand sunsets, she was a child who saw the world through a lens of innocence and curiosity. Her days were filled with exploration of the sprawling grounds of Wallgreen Manor, where every corner held a new mystery waiting to be unraveled.

Desdemona, with her soothing voice tinged with the scent of herbs and ancient tomes, often regaled Alma with tales of love and destiny. Nestled under the covers of her canopy bed, the soft glow of fairy lights illuminating the room, Alma listened wide-eyed to stories of vampires and their soulmates, of how love transcended even the boundaries of immortality. Desdemona's tales always had a way of weaving magic into the air, captivating Alma's imagination and stirring her curiosity about the world beyond their Manor of Wallgreen.

"You see, my dear," Desdemona began, her eyes alight with the glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows on the walls, brushing a lock of hair from Alma's forehead. "Vampires are born of a rare union—when both parents are official vampires themselves. When this happens, a child is born as what we call an intermediate vampire." Alma nodded, absorbing her mother's words with rapt attention.

"These intermediate vampires," Desdemona continued, her voice taking on a soft, thoughtful cadence, "grow up naturally, much like you. They share the strength and resilience of their vampire lineage, yet if they do not consume human blood or are not bitten until their 21st birthday, they have a choice that vampires that were bitten do not."

Alma furrowed her brow, intrigued. "What choice, Mom?"

Desdemona smiled gently, a maternal warmth in her eyes. "On the night of their 21st birthday happens what we call the transitioning night. It is a pivotal moment when the dormant vampire blood within them stirs, urging them to embrace immortality fully. It's as if their vampire nature is calling to them."

Alma's eyes widened slightly, the weight of her mother's words sinking in. "What happens if they give in to the urge, Mom?"

"They become official vampires," Desdemona replied solemnly. "It means their destiny is sealed, and they must navigate the immortal world with its joys and challenges."

Alma leaned closer, captivated by the story unfolding before her.

"On their transitioning night, it's crucial that they resist the urge to bite to relinquish their vampire attributes," Desdemona added earnestly, "in the event their soulmate is not a vampire. Otherwise, they will become immortal and won't be able to spend their whole life with their soulmate. That's why official vampires and other mortal creatures cannot be together, and why the transitioning night is so important fo their union."