~=Darkest Yesterday=~

~=Darkest Yesterday - 1=~

CHAPTER ONE=~

A sudden, penetrating wind disturbed the leaves' slumber in the trees, hovering high above my head. The wildlife of the surrounding thicket paused in silence. I wasn't alone - that much I knew. But how many of them were accompanying me? The thought unnerved me. It was obviously them; nothing else could casue such tension in the forest. I glanced up to the ancient oak with its hollowed base. As the soft breath of the natural world continued to rustle the leaves of the grey, diminishing tree, it emitted an eery sense that made me uneasy.

Tucked away in the dying roots of the oak lay my personal items. Living in a tree had never annoyed me, considering that's what I had to do to live the way I intended to - independently; human. Still, I might as well have been one of them. I killed as often as they did. They kill guilty convicts, while I kill innocent beings. But perhaps, animals weren't as innocent as we seem to think. Either way, I dragged my game into the crowded cavity of the trunk. Acknowledging that I was being monitored, I kept my guard up, not once turning my back to the entrance. At last, my unwelcome keepers elected to reveal themselves.

"Surely, you do not truly live here," a male voice retorted, somewhat arrogant. Uncourteous as it was, his voice still rang as clear and full of undenyable beauty as a bell. The one it belonged to crouched, comfortably in the entrance, as if he were a welcomed guest, not sensing any danger from me. Why should he? I couldn't have so much as touched him, in my state. The gentle breeze brushed through his long, ashen hair as it glistened in the sunlight. Plainly, he was older than me, but still young to most eyes. But most eyes are easily deceived. A flash of bright silver focused my attention, as he glanced about my makeshift home.

"Please, fogive my brother," the other begged. She also appeared to be older than I, and her brother. "He's not as bad as he makes himself seem with first impressions."

"I get the feeling I won't live long enough to get a second," I told her, throwing false regret in my tone. The chocolate-haired girl simply smiled, her golden eyes burning.

"We'll soon know."

"So am I correct in thinking you'll force me back to the city?"

"Perhaps," the boy taunted. "Be polite, and we will wait till we are there to kill you," his lips curled up in delight.

"Please, Xane! Some respect toward our considerate hostess may be benificial. You know why we are here!" He only shrugged in response.

"Xane? You're the infamous son? That confirms it, then. And I suppose that means you're Aleera?" I turned to the girl.

"Yes, I am, but you misunderstand. My brother and I do not agree with the government's... Practices," she assured me.

"What makes you think I'm about to trust you? For years your kind has been tracking me, trying to convince me to consent to the change."

"And precisely how long do you expect those 'negotiations' will be peaceful," Xane queried, all manor of amusement, suddenly gone. He stood.

My gaze fell to the floor, as I answered. "They warned me that the next time they came..."

"Exactly. Now, will our 'considerate hostess' please honor us with her name?"

I hesitated. "Veronica."

"It's a pleasure," Aleera re-entered the conversation. Xane seated himself at the mouth of the cavern in the tree once more, and his step-sister joined him. I sighed, knowing it would be a challenge getting them to leave.

"Veronica," the silver-eyed male muttered to himself. "Father would have fun with that."

"What do you mean?" I questioned, confused.

"You clearly don't know as much about us as you originally assumed, or rather, what the government controls. And... Excuse me, but is that your supper?" He gestured toward the doe I had hunted not long before their arrival.

"Yes, and if you must criticize the way I live to stay away from your kind, you are most certainly welcome to leave."

"No, you insolent, little-" a deep breath. "The smell is driving me mad." Aleera quickly placed her hands on his shoulders to carefully restrain him. I watched his eyes as they danced up and down the length of the animal carcass.

"Veronica, please don't take it the wrong way. It's just been a few days since he last fed. Will you please allow him a few drops while it's still warm? We would rather he didn't make an attempt at a... Fresher target, is the best way to put it, I suppose." She eyed me, making sure I understood her emphasis. I could see the muscles in her arms beginning to tense as Xane tried to inch forward. Weakly nodding my approval, I slid away from the animal. Once I was settled, Aleera released her hold, and Xane sped toward his meal.

As I watched, the male's silver eyes turned crimson as his fangs pierced the neck of the motionless body. I looked away from the horrific scene, and glanced toward Aleera. She was doing her best to keep her own control. By this point, she wasn't breathing, an attempt - I assumed - to not smell the blood. The girl kept her full attention on Xane, but I was trying so hard to ignore him. The sound of the blood being drawn from the animal, the smell of the thick, red liquid - it was nauseating.

At last, Xane lifted his head. I looked to him, almost ready to vomit when I noted the remains of his dinner around his lips. He quickly wiped them away, excusing himself as he did so. The vampire returned to his place next to his comrad.

Still uneasy, I restarted the conversation in an attempt to distract my mind. "So, Xane, you were saying? Something about what the government controls?"

"Ah, yes. To put it simply, when a human is changed they are given a new, ' more proper', vampiric name. My father is the one who chooses this, for each newborn. Being a pureblood, of course, my name has always been what it is."

I let the information register, then turned toward Aleera. "And what about yours?"

She released a heavy breath. "Alysa. Normally he tries to make the new name sound like the o-" The two gazed out at - seemingly - nothing in the forest.

"What is-" I couldn't finish my question before Xane's hand covered my mouth. I attempted to push it away, but failed, crossing my arms over my chest instead.

"We must go," he whispered.

"Yes, I agree," Aleera answered him.

"Veronica," Xane addressed me, removing his hand. "If you truly intend on remaining as you are, you must come with us, and we will do all in our power to fulfill  your wish, but we must leave. Now."

I searched his crystal eyes, hoping to find a different solution behind them. I blinked, and began gathering my things as a silent consent.

They waited for me outside. I didn't bother asking why they suddenly wanted to leave. It was easy to assume; they were coming for me. I still didn't trust the two, but I would have rather been taken by them than the others.

"Forgive us, Veronica," Aleera began, "but if we go at your pace we will be discovered much sooner then if Xane or I carried you." I nodded in understanding.

I heard Xane scoff. "Ladies first, Aleera." She glared at him in return, but gave in. She allowed me to climb onto her back, piggy-back style, making sure I was in a position where I wouldn't slip.

We began the chase as we rushed past the trees, leaving the city, and my previous home far behind us.

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Hello again Readers (that I hope I'm not imagining)! I apologize for the short prologue, but I didn't want to begin the story with this chapter. Plus I wanted to add a flashforward in somewhere, and figured a prologue would be best. As usual, any comments on my story - grammar and anything needing to be changed - are appreciated! Also, if there's something you want to happen in the story somewhere along the line, let me know, and I'll see if I can make it work somehow! ^w^ Until the next chapter!~