Xeranthemum (Discontinued)

Chapter 1

Xeranthemum- a flower which represents eternity, infinity, immortality.

~11 years later~
~Luna~

Roads are often linked to choices. They wind out forever in front of us, much like how our lives do. I looked at the road before me. It didn't take much more then a glance to tell you that this particular road was a bad life decision.

The road twisted and writhed like an angry black snake. I wondered what monsters awaited me at its head. What poison did this snake bear? How sharp were the fangs?

I let out a soft sigh, my breath misting in the cool evening wind then blowing away and dissipating. Another day, another job- I thought to myself as I brushed my long braid off my shoulder. There were bags under my eyes, just another job hazard. I didn't exactly hate my job. It was just something I'd always been good at. But the brutality of witnessing the monsters catches up to any sane person.

There was no use procrastinating. I could feel the weight of my blades in their sheeves. A small comfort. I took a reluctant step forward and then another. One reluctant step at a time, at least it was progress...

I sighed again. Let's just get this done I thought. I sped up my pace, still walking cautiously. Eventually I reached the large iron gates. I pushed them open and they shrieked in complaint from the effort. The gothic mansion loomed up ahead of me, sinister against the darkening skies.

I reached the steps as the door was thrown open. Out rushed a wild eyed girl, her face pale and her skin clammy looking. It was hard to say whether it was a good or bad sign. On the one hand an innocent girl's life was at risk, on the other it meant the monsters were deffinately home. I decided it was a good thing. It would have been inconvenient if the monsters weren't there.

The girl barely seemed to register the fact that I was even there. She stumbled, grabbing the air for non-existing support only to trip and fall down the stairs. I left her there, lying dazed and blood deprived on the ground. I could help her later when she wouldn't be in the way.

I breezed past her, barging my way through the large, intimidating doors. The inside of the mansion was dark and open. The door opened into a large foyer-type of room. There was a large staircase that seemed in need of a few rails. The cavernous space was finished with deep midnight blue carpets and the walls held several ambigous paintings.

I allowed my eyes to adjust to this dark, curtained off world. As they did I noticed a figure- tall and blonde with striking blue eyes. Of course the figure was only alluring in the way a cat is to a mouse- deadly beauty. The irony was never lost on me. I could tell imediately that the figure was the monster I was looking for.

Once you see past his beauty you noticed that the pupil's of his eyes were like slits and that he had sharp fangs. Even more aparant was the blood. Vampires are not clean eaters like you would often be led to believe. The fangs are to rip skin open, but they don't "suck up" blood.

"Come back for more?" He asked, clearly not noticing that I was a different person to the girl I had left outside. That was fine, that would allow me time to advance before he could do anything. I felt my blades at my sides, they were screaming for action.

In a single fluid motion, I pulled out a throwing blade and slung it through the air. Had it been seconds earlier and I would've nailed the vampire directly between his eyes. As it was I barely clipped the hair on the side of its head.

Suddenly, in a blur, arms wrapped around my neck. The sickly sweet smell of blood enveloping my senses as the figure pulled me towards his greedy fangs. I discreetly pulled out my second blade before slashing it violently towards the figures face causing him to drop his grip on my neck.

Blade still in hand, I advanced on the blonde vampire. I had never fought a vampire that had come that close to drinking my blood. A sense of respect grew in me. Of course this vampire had just fed and was stronger then the average vampire that i usually face.

The vampire's eyes were narrowed at me and he was crouched like a feral beast. He lunged at me suddenly, catching me off guard, and his fangs ripped into my wrist. He hissed and pulled me closer, his fangs burying deeper into my skin. Of course, in his greed, he didn't notice I still had a firm grip on my second blade. A common mistake that that would be both of our downfalls.

I brought the blade up, burying it into the vampire's perfect face. His eyes glowed brightly, full of blood lust and hatred. His dark black blood dripping down his face. I was fascinated by the trail of the blood.

Out of the knife slash...

Down his cheek like ruby tears...

Down to his mouth...

Before languidly mixing with the blood gushing from my wrist. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was those large hateful blue eyes.