when darkness falls (on hold)

when darkness falls

When Darkness falls: By Cheryl Napier

Dedication

To ma Gran who was the life and soul of the party and the family.

Missed but always loved.

Wrote in Feb 2010 by Cheryl Napier

Chapter 1

Scotland 1815,

Joley was only five year old when she discovered she was not like other little girls. She not only needs blood to survive but she was also one of the gifted of her kind. She always knew when she was being lied to.

"Everything's goona be fine Jo" her mother stated

"You just stay there and keep real quiet like a mouse" Jo's mother left her in the small hidden room in the cellar and walked up the stone steps to the main house.

"Where is she witch, the devils spawn you have" said a gruff voice. "What are you talking about sir" Jo's mum calmly asked the men. "Move you witch ill find e brat mesel" one man spat. Thump, Smash, Thud. "Where is it" the gruff man bellowed.

The house was turned upside down looking for little Jo, who was cowering in the hidden room in the cellar, hearing the men shout and throw things above stairs.

"Bitch tell us" one man said. Smack.

"I wont let you touch her you bastards" her mother panted. "When we find the brat she'll give us some good entertainment, till were bored o' her" said a young giddy man. Jo's mother lounged at the men then screamed as one of them stabbed her in the stomach with there sword.

"The brat aint here John, can't find it anywhere" said the giddy young man to the gruff voiced one. "Right men lets go" said John. The men left with a lot of hilarity about the witch and annoyance for not finding the child. They were also discussing what they would do with the girl if they found her. They were positive the witch had a 'brat'. They burnt the cottage down but they never knew the cellar was made with stone, so little Jo survived alone.

Joley was hidden in her little cave in the cellar for days. She eventually came out when a deer one night decided the cellar looked good for the night. Starved Joley leapt at the deer and out of pure instinct drained it dry. She then became a part of the forest, it was her home.

At the age of five Joley never knew she was half vampire from her father and half human from her mother.

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Scotland, 1830

In the forest surrounding the village of Bannockburn a not so little Joley roamed the forest. She has made the forest her home and feeds off of the animals and whatever else she can find. When she cannot find an animal to drain she will feed of the berries in the forest and when travellers sleep or are not looking she steals some of their food. Sometimes she watches the villagers at their daily tasks but never when the sun is at its highest, as she is at her weakest then. Living in the forest for fifteen years has made Joley wild. She has little and no people skills and lives and hides alone in her forest.

One evening Jo was roaming the forest as usual when she heard some men talking. She crept nearer there campsite." John its been fifteen years I think the brats dead by now, plus none of the villagers have seen here or have any bite marks." said a youngish voice. "Peter shut up I no it's out here I can feel it." snapped John.

Joley was taken back to a day fifteen years ago to the day her mother died, she recognised the name John and both voices of the men that were among those that killed her mother. Joley turned and ran through the forest for miles. It was close to dawn when Joley slowed her pace to a brisk walk. Her mind was elsewhere so she never heard the men ahead until she bumped into one. "oh. looky looky what we found" gloated a rough hairy looking man. " she's pretty thing aint she" slavered a young man. The men were looking at Jo with lust and cruelty in there eyes, she was in trouble now, its been hours since she had fed. " Erm i'll be on my way now sir's". she stammered " my mum i'll be worried" Jo said a little bolder. "Don't leave yet little lady, have a rest you look tired" leered the older man. " that's kind of you sir but id best be on ma way" she hedged walking slowly backward. She was only four steps away from the men and turning when one of them graped her hair and pulled her back, she stumbled and ended up on her ass on the floor. Jo went down with a thump and winded herself. Laughing the men pined her to the ground the older one was on top of her with a cheesy grin on his face. " now lets she whats under here" he started to undress her but Jo did not make it easy for him she wriggled tried to knee him hit him even head butted him but still he got her bodes undone. " you bastard I will eat your heart out" she promised. "ha, I don't think so honey your not doin nothing" he laughed. He was lifting her skirt up when suddenly the pressure on her arms was released and she heard a gasp, unnoticed by the man on top of her. Jo put all her strength into the punch she gave the man it was strong enough to knock him of his feet. Jo was getting the feeling in her legs back when she heard the man stand up, she tucked herself into a ball shut her eyes and waited, nothing happened. whoosh. Jo opened her eyes and there was no one there. "Hello" she whispered shakily.