Tainted Blood

Chapter 1

Time, a concept that Spencer has not felt in her life for hundreds of years. A concept that has plagued her mind on how the world was once governed by a concept so controllable as the prevention of growing weak and easy to be hunted by the Mono's. She still remembers their laughs and their attempts to draw her from her hiding place. She had not yet reached the age of 11 before her family had gone to retrieve supplies for the night, leaving her and her brother, Alistair to remain in the house and not linger near the doors or the windows. Her brother was the first to hear them coming, shoving her into the crevice between the stairs as he ran to try and protect us from their inevitable death. Their screams and laughs drew closer as they neared the stairs in which she crouched behind. A soft whimper escaping her lips as she saw the bloodied foot of the Mono walk past her face. It felt like hours before her father burst through the doors, his rifle in hand as he fired towards the intruders. The sounds of three bodies hitting the floor still rang through her brain years later. She still felt her father's arms envelope her shaking form as she lay there frozen. But that was years ago, now a wall separates her and the savages.

A breath escapes from Spencer's mouth as her eyes open, her head still on her silk pillow as the sheets that once surrounded her body was splayed across the floor. Her chest rises and falls rapidly as her nightmare runs throughout her mind. Sweat runs down her forehead as she pushes her weak body from the bed, her feet caressing the hard wood floor as her head falls into her hands. A knock at the door awoke her from her frantic trance as her breathing evened out.

"Hello?" She calls, her hands fiddling with her nightgown and her hair as she attempts to make herself presentable.

"Miss Mercer, your father is requesting your presence for breakfast," the maid calls as she begins to open the door. In her arms there laid a dress, the gold embroidery shimmering underneath the lights. She walks further into the rooms as Spencer stands from her position on the bed. The maid gently places the dress on the bed as she steps back, her eyes directed towards the ground as her hands are tightly grasped behind her back.

"Thank you," Spencer begins, "Could you please run a bath before I dress for the day?"

The maid nods her head and scurries towards the bathroom opposite the bed as Spencer begins to follow behind her. As her feet hit the cold tile, she slowly begins to slip the dress from her shoulders, the materials sliding down her body and hitting the floor. Slowly she steps each foot into the warm water, the sweet smell of lavender enveloping her as the tension in her muscles releases as does the pictures that are running through her mind. Her body sinks deeper into the water as the maid begins to wash the sweat from her body with the sponge. Spencer's eyes flutter closed as the maid places the sponge to the side and begins to walk to retrieve the robe from the hook. Spencer stands from the ceramic bath, the water droplets running back into the water as she steps across the bath and into the robe.

"Do you need help getting dressed, Miss Mercer?" she asks quietly.

"No, I will be fine to dress myself," Spencer answers as she turns towards the maid, "you may be dismissed."

She nods towards Spencer as she quickly exits from the bathroom. Spencer slowly walking back into her room as she looks to the gold dress. A deep breath escapes her lips as she walks towards her wardrobe, stepping in she places on her intimates before walking back outside towards the dress. She slowly slips the dress onto her body, smoothing out the soft fabric as she walks to the dresser. Slowly she brushes out her long, golden hair, the knots smoothing out as she runs the bristles through it. She places two golden leaves into her hair as she slips on her shoes and walks towards the door. She takes one deep breath before opening the door and descending towards the dining area.

"Ah, Spencer," her father gleams as she walks towards the large oak table, "so glad you could join us."

"Good morning father," Spencer answers as the kitchen staff pull out the chair and allow her to sit down, "Good morning Mother."