Post by Eolith on Sept 4, 2005 22:12:57 GMT -5
Lame title, I know, but I'm not good with titles, and that one gets the main subject across, right? Anyway, this would probably be rated PG-13 for now... I'm seriously writing myself into a corner. I don't think I have the guts to go much farther with this story...
Lielia stepped into the darkness cautiously, every sense heightened with fear. She hated being outside in the night, but she had to check the barn, to ensure that the animals had enough feed and that their shelter was secure against the frigid winter air.
Once she had finished caring for the livestock, Lielia headed back to the house, eager to get back into the warmth and light. She stopped suddenly when she heard a faint crack. Her heart thumped against her ribs and her stomach twisted as she tried to discern what was out there. Finally, Lielia spotted a cloud of mist form as someone, or something exhaled.
Lielia broke free of the terror that had held her rooted to the spot and ran towards her house, only to be overcome by a stranger. He caught her in his arms, deftly muffling her cry as he spirited her away into the night. When they had gone far enough that no one would be able to hear her yell for help, the man scooped her into his arms, pinning her arms against her sides and her legs together.
She didn’t know what to say… if anything. ‘Let me go!’ would help nothing, and ‘What do you want with me?’ would probably be just as ineffective. But silence was too helpful for her kidnapper. It would mean she had given in, and she was far from doing that. Lielia began to writhe in his grip, twisting so that he had to let her down.
Even so, he kept a firm hold on her shoulders, staring at her with eyes so brown they seemed black in the darkness of the night. “Don’t struggle,” he hissed in a low tone, “it only makes things worse for you.”
“Why have you taken me?” She asked in the same soft tones. “What am I to you?”
He smiled. She screamed, jerking back against his hold, her eyes wide with horror. His teeth were unnatural… unnatural in the fact that two came to slender points. Visions of her corpse being found withered and white sprang into Lielia’s mind unbidden, crowding up until they overwhelmed her. Tears welled up and began to fall as she tried to cope with the though of death.
“Oh stop it,” the vampire scorned, picking her up again. “I don’t have the time to placate you.”
Lielia didn’t make a sound or move, but she did not try to stop the flow of tears either. They slid over her cheeks to drip onto the vampire’s upper arm, where her head rested. He was clothed in a fine grey velvet cloak, with a white tunic and black pants.
Finally they reached a road, lit by the moon so that it looked like a white ribbon. Lielia’s captor set her down, massaging his arms where they had grown most fatigued carrying her. He found the damp place on his arm and brushed at it disdainfully as though to somehow dust it off.
After he had taken a few drinks from a wineskin that had been attached to his belt, the vampire settled back against at tree, folding his arms. “It will be a bit of a wait.” He told Lielia. “Come here, I can see you shivering.”
She stayed where she was, clasping her shoulders in an effort to keep herself warmer.
“Come on.” He soothed, holding a hand out to her. “I won’t bite… for now.” He chuckled at his own joke before stepping forward to take her hand and pull her close, wrapping them both in the generous folds of his cloak.
Instantly, warmth began to seep into her again, making her feel much more secure and comfortable.
“You see?” He said with a touch of humor, slipping an arm about her waist. “I am just as warm as any other man.”
Lielia had the feeling that if she moved, his arm would become more of a iron band holding her in place than anything else. “Why?” She whispered.
“Why what? Why have I kept you alive? Why did I take you from your home? Be more specific, darling.”
“Both, really.” Lielia said timidly, trying to grasp the odd fact that he had called her ‘darling’.
“You’ll have to wait for those answers,” he replied. “For now we need to be silent. He will be here soon.”
*(~)*
‘Soon’ was far later than it would imply. Lielia was stiff from standing for so long when at last they heard the approach of a cart. The cart was pulled by two bay horses. When it reached them, the driver pulled the horses to a stop, looking down at Lielia with a fatherly smile. The effect his smile might have had on her however was wrecked by the fact that he too was a vampire.
“Get into the back, Rafael. The lady is waiting for you. I think she will be quite pleased to see the maid you have brought.”
Rafael, as she assumed his name was, lifted Lielia into the cart, climbing in beside her. Behind the simple canvas of the cart, there were piles of luxurious pillows and blankets, as well as a iron cauldron filled with softly glowing coals. Rafael seated himself opposite of her and reached out his hands to warm them over the embers.
“It won’t be long now.” The vampire promised her reassuringly.
When they reached their final destination, it was growing light. As Rafael helped her out of the cart and led her towards a manor, he didn’t seem at all bothered by the growing light.
Once inside the manor, Rafael took her upstairs and knocked on a door.
“Who is it?” Came the reply.
“Rafael. I have brought the maid.”
“Let her in, let her in, I want to see her.” The woman within said briskly.
Rafael opened the heavy door and nudged Lielia inside, closing it behind her.
Lielia stared wide-eyed at the luxurious room. It was filled with priceless silks, velvets and satins.
“Oh yes,” someone said, coming in from an adjacent room. “You are a fine one. Come, come.” She said, beckoning Lielia.
The girl approached warily, stopping a few steps away.
The lady closed the remaining distance and began to undo Lielia’s bodice. “We’ll get you fixed up in no time.” She promised kindly.
Lielia jerked away, shocked.
The woman frowned. “Hold still. You have nothing to hide. We are the same. You need to warm yourself by the fire.”
It took far more coaxing than that to get Lielia to undress, or allow the lady to do it for her. Eventually however, she was sitting on a soft stool by the hearth, her clothes a dirty pile in the corner. The lady sat on a chair behind her and unpinned Lielia’s hair before beginning to tame the snarls.
“I’m sure you are quite confused as to the reasons for your kidnapping.” The lady said as she worked. “Whilst the servants prepare your bath I will try to explain the reasons behind all of this.”
Lielia remained silent, afraid that if she interrupted the lady would change her mind.
“For centuries the vampires have shared a tradition that has helped to empower our kind. I was once in your position, a young human maid. I have gone through the very same ritual and now I am far more powerful. What is more I am immortal, and my son, Rafael, has been a darling.”
Lielia was confused, what was this lady talking about? Was she to go through this same ‘ritual’?
“Now you wonder what tradition it is that I speak of.” The lady predicted with uncanny accuracy. “You must hear me through now. If you interrupt or try to struggle there will be consequences. For a long time now our tradition has been to take a fair maid from her home the night before the Caria Comet passes every twenty years. We care for the maid and prepare her for the night to come throughout the day. It is a changing experience. You will loose your virginity, but there is so much more to gain. With the loss of your virginity you will receive a child in your womb and the same immortality I gained. You will be one of us.”
Lielia stared at the flames, petrified. A child? Immortality? She did not want these, not for anything they could ever offer her! She started to rise, but the lady had a firm hold on her hair.
“I know you dislike the idea of this, but you must trust me, child, you will not be harmed. It is frightening, I know, but it is just as scary for any other woman promised to a man. My Rafael would never think to hurt you. Is it not better to receive both the child and the immortality in one night? They are both hard to endure, but if you give yourself over to it they will not be near as painful. They will strengthen you.”
“I – I don’t want to be one of you… nor am I ready for a ch-child.” Lielia stammered. “Why must it be me?”
“It may seem unfair, but you were the most beautiful of your village. We do not take ugly maids into our blood. Our kind are bred to be striking… how else would we deceive any prey?”
Her words sickened Lielia. She never wanted a part of it… she would never kill one of her kind. She would rather be killed by one of them than become a vampire.
Lielia stepped into the darkness cautiously, every sense heightened with fear. She hated being outside in the night, but she had to check the barn, to ensure that the animals had enough feed and that their shelter was secure against the frigid winter air.
Once she had finished caring for the livestock, Lielia headed back to the house, eager to get back into the warmth and light. She stopped suddenly when she heard a faint crack. Her heart thumped against her ribs and her stomach twisted as she tried to discern what was out there. Finally, Lielia spotted a cloud of mist form as someone, or something exhaled.
Lielia broke free of the terror that had held her rooted to the spot and ran towards her house, only to be overcome by a stranger. He caught her in his arms, deftly muffling her cry as he spirited her away into the night. When they had gone far enough that no one would be able to hear her yell for help, the man scooped her into his arms, pinning her arms against her sides and her legs together.
She didn’t know what to say… if anything. ‘Let me go!’ would help nothing, and ‘What do you want with me?’ would probably be just as ineffective. But silence was too helpful for her kidnapper. It would mean she had given in, and she was far from doing that. Lielia began to writhe in his grip, twisting so that he had to let her down.
Even so, he kept a firm hold on her shoulders, staring at her with eyes so brown they seemed black in the darkness of the night. “Don’t struggle,” he hissed in a low tone, “it only makes things worse for you.”
“Why have you taken me?” She asked in the same soft tones. “What am I to you?”
He smiled. She screamed, jerking back against his hold, her eyes wide with horror. His teeth were unnatural… unnatural in the fact that two came to slender points. Visions of her corpse being found withered and white sprang into Lielia’s mind unbidden, crowding up until they overwhelmed her. Tears welled up and began to fall as she tried to cope with the though of death.
“Oh stop it,” the vampire scorned, picking her up again. “I don’t have the time to placate you.”
Lielia didn’t make a sound or move, but she did not try to stop the flow of tears either. They slid over her cheeks to drip onto the vampire’s upper arm, where her head rested. He was clothed in a fine grey velvet cloak, with a white tunic and black pants.
Finally they reached a road, lit by the moon so that it looked like a white ribbon. Lielia’s captor set her down, massaging his arms where they had grown most fatigued carrying her. He found the damp place on his arm and brushed at it disdainfully as though to somehow dust it off.
After he had taken a few drinks from a wineskin that had been attached to his belt, the vampire settled back against at tree, folding his arms. “It will be a bit of a wait.” He told Lielia. “Come here, I can see you shivering.”
She stayed where she was, clasping her shoulders in an effort to keep herself warmer.
“Come on.” He soothed, holding a hand out to her. “I won’t bite… for now.” He chuckled at his own joke before stepping forward to take her hand and pull her close, wrapping them both in the generous folds of his cloak.
Instantly, warmth began to seep into her again, making her feel much more secure and comfortable.
“You see?” He said with a touch of humor, slipping an arm about her waist. “I am just as warm as any other man.”
Lielia had the feeling that if she moved, his arm would become more of a iron band holding her in place than anything else. “Why?” She whispered.
“Why what? Why have I kept you alive? Why did I take you from your home? Be more specific, darling.”
“Both, really.” Lielia said timidly, trying to grasp the odd fact that he had called her ‘darling’.
“You’ll have to wait for those answers,” he replied. “For now we need to be silent. He will be here soon.”
*(~)*
‘Soon’ was far later than it would imply. Lielia was stiff from standing for so long when at last they heard the approach of a cart. The cart was pulled by two bay horses. When it reached them, the driver pulled the horses to a stop, looking down at Lielia with a fatherly smile. The effect his smile might have had on her however was wrecked by the fact that he too was a vampire.
“Get into the back, Rafael. The lady is waiting for you. I think she will be quite pleased to see the maid you have brought.”
Rafael, as she assumed his name was, lifted Lielia into the cart, climbing in beside her. Behind the simple canvas of the cart, there were piles of luxurious pillows and blankets, as well as a iron cauldron filled with softly glowing coals. Rafael seated himself opposite of her and reached out his hands to warm them over the embers.
“It won’t be long now.” The vampire promised her reassuringly.
When they reached their final destination, it was growing light. As Rafael helped her out of the cart and led her towards a manor, he didn’t seem at all bothered by the growing light.
Once inside the manor, Rafael took her upstairs and knocked on a door.
“Who is it?” Came the reply.
“Rafael. I have brought the maid.”
“Let her in, let her in, I want to see her.” The woman within said briskly.
Rafael opened the heavy door and nudged Lielia inside, closing it behind her.
Lielia stared wide-eyed at the luxurious room. It was filled with priceless silks, velvets and satins.
“Oh yes,” someone said, coming in from an adjacent room. “You are a fine one. Come, come.” She said, beckoning Lielia.
The girl approached warily, stopping a few steps away.
The lady closed the remaining distance and began to undo Lielia’s bodice. “We’ll get you fixed up in no time.” She promised kindly.
Lielia jerked away, shocked.
The woman frowned. “Hold still. You have nothing to hide. We are the same. You need to warm yourself by the fire.”
It took far more coaxing than that to get Lielia to undress, or allow the lady to do it for her. Eventually however, she was sitting on a soft stool by the hearth, her clothes a dirty pile in the corner. The lady sat on a chair behind her and unpinned Lielia’s hair before beginning to tame the snarls.
“I’m sure you are quite confused as to the reasons for your kidnapping.” The lady said as she worked. “Whilst the servants prepare your bath I will try to explain the reasons behind all of this.”
Lielia remained silent, afraid that if she interrupted the lady would change her mind.
“For centuries the vampires have shared a tradition that has helped to empower our kind. I was once in your position, a young human maid. I have gone through the very same ritual and now I am far more powerful. What is more I am immortal, and my son, Rafael, has been a darling.”
Lielia was confused, what was this lady talking about? Was she to go through this same ‘ritual’?
“Now you wonder what tradition it is that I speak of.” The lady predicted with uncanny accuracy. “You must hear me through now. If you interrupt or try to struggle there will be consequences. For a long time now our tradition has been to take a fair maid from her home the night before the Caria Comet passes every twenty years. We care for the maid and prepare her for the night to come throughout the day. It is a changing experience. You will loose your virginity, but there is so much more to gain. With the loss of your virginity you will receive a child in your womb and the same immortality I gained. You will be one of us.”
Lielia stared at the flames, petrified. A child? Immortality? She did not want these, not for anything they could ever offer her! She started to rise, but the lady had a firm hold on her hair.
“I know you dislike the idea of this, but you must trust me, child, you will not be harmed. It is frightening, I know, but it is just as scary for any other woman promised to a man. My Rafael would never think to hurt you. Is it not better to receive both the child and the immortality in one night? They are both hard to endure, but if you give yourself over to it they will not be near as painful. They will strengthen you.”
“I – I don’t want to be one of you… nor am I ready for a ch-child.” Lielia stammered. “Why must it be me?”
“It may seem unfair, but you were the most beautiful of your village. We do not take ugly maids into our blood. Our kind are bred to be striking… how else would we deceive any prey?”
Her words sickened Lielia. She never wanted a part of it… she would never kill one of her kind. She would rather be killed by one of them than become a vampire.