The Damphyr

Chapter One

"Get away from her!" The woman screams, cowering over a child, about 4 years old. The child's piercing blue eyes stares through her long dark hair, studying the dark figure approaching them.

"She is an abomination!" The man bellows, pushing the woman aside as he reaches for the child.

"Please don't hurt my baby . . . !"

"Oh I've got a much worse fate for likes of her." The man throws the child over his shoulder and carries her to the gated cart parked outside the house. He turns, takes one last look at the house before lighting a match and throwing it on the ground. The flame travels quickly up to the house and quickly engulfs it.

"Mamma"

TChapter One

"Wake up girl!" I feel a sharp kick in my ribs as I wakes up from the nightmare. Looking up, I see my tormentor, towering over me. His face hadn't changed a bit. He kicks me again, slamming me into the caged walls of the cart. I grunt softly, trying not to cry out as my ribs ache from the two kicks knowing he would beat me more if I cried.

"C'mon I don't have all day." He pulls me to a standing position. I'm dressed in a dirty gown, ragged and torn at the hem. 'What did I do to deserve this' I think as I'm forced from the cart and thrown next to the muddy creek.

"Get cleaned up, we have an investor to go see." He snarls, leaving me laying on the ground. I get up, strip and wade into the icy cold water. I wash quickly and can't help but notice my reflection in the water. My long black hair and blue eyes was the epitome of beauty. One that the old man definitely uses. A strange sensation washes over me and I can feel someone watching me. Looking across the water I see a figure moving quickly through the brush.

"Enough day dreaming girl. Get over here!" The old man snarls. I quickly dry off, putting on the clothes he had given me.

"Now don't go embarrassing me, you understand? This is an important meeting and I don't need you ruining it like you did the last time." I remember that night all too well. . . . I had endured a tremendous whipping. I'm pretty sure I would have died that night if it hadn't been for a mystery man intervening. We pass a sign. . . New Orleans. . . There was something different about this town . . . a strange, yet familiar presence. We pull into the hustle and bustle of the town and I'm enamored by all the strange sights and smells. People look on with curiosity as we pass by and the old man elbows me in the ribs.

"Don't be getting no ideas. You try anything and this time you'll wish you were dead." I nod my head and notice a peculiar group of females looking at us from across the street. Gathered in front of a shop name Jardin Gris, Voodoo shop. They stare at me intently and I look away quickly as we slow to a stop in front of what looks like a bar. The old man hops down, ties the horses up, and comes to my side. He yanks me down to the ground and I stumble, tripping momentarily.

"Get up!" He hisses yanking my arm even harder. A searing pain travels through my travel and I cry out in pain.

"Hey! Get your hands off her!" A female voice yells. I look up and see a pretty blonde running towards us.

"Mind your business!" He snarls. I look at her, pleading with her to just let it go.

"You ok?" She asks, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. I nod and she gives the old man an evil glare before walking away. I watch her intently and see her talking to a tall, dark gentlemen, worry written all over his face. He nods and picks up his cell phone but they are too far away from me to hear the conversation that takes place. We walk into the bar and he orders a drink. To my surprise the blonde female walks up to me while the old man is distracted. She grabs my arm and pulls me to back where the dark skinned man is standing there.

"So Cami here tells me she thinks you might be in trouble? That so?" He ask, crossing his hands in front of him, taking note of my knotted hair and multiple bruises. I swallow hard, looking to see where the old man has gone. He's still sitting at the bar, completely oblivious that I've gone anywhere. I shake my head . . . if only they knew what the old man was capable up.

"P. . . Please I have to get back. . . I . . . if he sees. . . I'm gone. ." They can hear the fear in my voice as they look at each other.

"Marcel . . . you have to do something!" She exclaims. Marcel holds his hands up in defeat.

"Cami, my hands are tied. If she doesn't want our help there's nothing I can do. Plus you know Klaus has control over the quarter now. I can't do anything without his say so. I don't think he'd react well if we created a brawl." Cami sighs in exasperation as I walk back into the bar, anxiously looking for the old man who has disappeared from sight. Fear strikes me as I look for him, knowing what he would do to me.

"Well hello love. I hear you are in a bit of trouble." A tall, blonde haired man is standing in front of me, hands crossed over his chest.

"Thank you for coming Klaus." Cami says from behind me. It's him . . . the man from the night many years ago . . . the one who saved me from certain death. I could never forget that face. Has he finally come back for me as he promised?

"You.. ." I whisper before being thrown tothe ground, hitting my head on the floor, everything going dark