Crimson Desire- The October Heart Series

chapter 2

Maybe I should've eased you into my world of madness. Hopefully once you find out about me, about what I do and why, you will not judge me.

My name is/was October Heart. I didn't always hunt vampires, ghouls, goblins, shifters etc. I was a normal 10 year old girl who for the most part did normal 10 year old girl things, even though my first name screamed otherwise.

I was the only child of Stuart and Elizabeth Heart. My father, a doctor who had a good heart and warm smile did what he had to do for his family. He was a wise man who had the gift of healing...I guess that explains the profession he chose.

While my father was a doctor, my mother was a humanitarian. She was involved in several different charities that helped less fortunate people all over the world.

They were both amazing.

Unfortunately, it was the light in them that got them murdered in cold blood.

10 years ago

We were on a trip in France helping out after a huge earthquake had hit.

I could remember my mom being so focused as what seemed like an endless amount of people bombarded her truck for water. My father was busy tending to the sick and injured.

It was a scary sight, one that I had gotten use to. We spent several hours helping out before we all made our way to our tent that was set up.

My father didn't want the natives thinking we were any different than them.

As we sat in our tent my mother braided my hair in a French braid. "October Heart did I tell you I love you today?" she asked as my braid hung loosely down the middle of my back.

"You told me around 2'o'clock Mama," I said looking up at her.

"Well looks like you're overdue. I love you very much little girl...never forget that."

"I won't," I respond as she kisses my forehead. As she does I inhale her scent like I did plenty of times before. She had always smelled like warm vanilla.

"Hey Red come over here and help your father with this camera," he was holding up the device like he had never seen it. The name 'Red' was something he called me for my unusual hair. Both of my parents were blonde haired people with warm brown eyes. On the other hand, I had fiery red hair and icy green eyes. My dad said on some days they would sparkle brighter than any star he had ever seen.

"I'll never learn how to work this camera," he complained as I made my way over to him.

My mother and I brought it back in the states for his birthday and weeks later he was still confused.

Taking off the lens I laugh as he calls me a 'know-it-all'. "Okay gather around everyone," he smiled as if he were talking to a dozen people and not just two.

My mother and I got ready as my dad set the timer and ran over to us. I smiled as hard as possible with my buck teeth. This was one of the millions of moments that made me so thankful for my parents. We were close to a picture perfect family and it showed.

As soon as the flash went off there was a piercing scream right outside of our tent. The hairs on my arms raised at the bloodcurdling sound. What was going on?

"What in heavens name...stay here," my father said as more screams sounded.

"Stu don't go out there!" my mother warned in a hushed whisper.

"Someone needs my help, just stay put and stay quiet," he said putting his finger to his mouth.

I was so scared I was shaking like a leaf. "October listen to me...October!" my mother said grabbing my shoulders firmly.

I looked toward the direction my father had gone then back to her. "Everything is going to be okay, alright? I'm sure there is just a medical emergency..."

I knew that wasn't all that was happening here. It sounded like a war going on outside. A war that my father was now in the middle of.

I can clearly remember the next few moments being what changed my life forever. Out of every scream heard, only one made my heart seem as if it had stopped beating. It was my father's.