• Night. It was a completely full moon as the nightingale sang a song of repentance as the last of January 20th sat by. A light breeze scraped along the willows, as if a ghost walked right by. I was told a strong breeze momentarily grazed the peaceful evening as a little package was being delivered. And then: I was here. I don't really remember how I came about. Maybe I was born during a nightmare, or perhaps a storm...

    Then, a baby's cry; mine. There, perched atop the door steps of this elegant castle sat I, wrapped in a little black cape with a medallion: a skull. It was a cold, dark night, I do remember. And the only sound drowning out the nightingale was my helpless cry. Surely someone must have heard me, as I continue wailing on. Then, the castle door opened. A pair of feet stood before me, as the light from the torch he held. He bent over and looked at what I was that awoke him from his twilight slumber.

    A smile. He flashed a small smile as his two pearly-white fangs protruded. He sat the torch down on the cobblestone flooring, and picked me up. I'll never forget it: He had beautifully black, shoulder-length hair, and five-o-clock shadow. His skin was pasty, as mine, and he had a welcoming smile. I noted him looking at my medallion, and touched it, moving it for better view.

    "Blood Clan..." He whispered to himself in a recogniseable traditional Romanian accent. "Their newest arrival."

    I giggled, and clapped my hands together, causing the cape to come apart at my back, revealing a pair of stubby black raven wings. His eyes widened in awe.

    "So, what do we have here? Little wings." He said tickling them. I giggled more and flapped them in glee. "Well, then, we can't have you here all alone now can we?" He said as he pulled the cloak over my wings again. He then turned heel, picking up the torch again as he held me fatherly and he closed the door, causing the doorknocker to hit the door with a 'clank'!

    XxXxX

    "Ah! NO FAIR!" I yelled in defeat with a wooden sword. Training with my father was always fun, but he always cheated. It was like he liked seeing me mad and frustrated.

    His laugh revealed two pairs of large fangs that were perfectly white. The first in front were long, about three inches, and the second pair, about two inches shorter than the first. He chuckled a bit and twirled his sword. "You have to see when the enemy will strike first!" He said attacking my "sword" with his. Then, my wings burst out, and I jump up, flying above his head, and landing behind him in a crouched position.

    "Anika, that's not fair!"

    It was my turn to smile. "You have to see when the enemy will dodge first!" I said, my fangs glinting in the new dawn sunlight. The mist hadn't cleared yet, as the twilight was fading away to orange and pink hues. I was fifteen then, and I so far learned the concept of defeat was losing to my father, Count Dragomir, the last vampire in Romania. He was also the first and last vampire to tolerate the sunlight, which I have not learned of as yet.

    As soon as I felt the sun, my skin began to squirm and redden. I immediately dodged to a shade tree, and held my right arm. Father immediately became worried and rushed over.

    "Anika? Are you alright?" He said, looking at my arm. I nodded and pulled myself away from him. It always felt weird for him to be worried about me like that. Don't know why, but I guess I wasn't used to affection in that way.

    He smiled a bit and swung his sword over his right shoulder. "I think it's best we go in. You've yet to tolerate the sunlight."

    "Can too!" I said in defeat.

    He chuckled a bit. "Okay then, let's see how long before you burn up." He said playfully. I scowl and move into sunlight. With hands on my hips I try to look tough and undeterred. He leans up against the tree crossing his arms, and waits.

    And waits.

    And waits.

    ...until I jump and yell and move into the shade tree with father, trying to cover my burns from him. He merely chuckled again, and ruffled my hair. "You're too much of a vampire, Anika." He said. "Here, I'll show you." He said leading me into the light, his shadow protecting my skin.

    "Now close your eyes, and take a deep breath." He started, lifting my head by the chin. I do as he says, and he whispers in my ear. "Now find your place. The place where you feel whole. Stay there for a few moments."

    I sigh and think about what he said. Then I think about my special place at the graveyard, where all the elder vampires are buried...the ones slain.

    "Now imagine that it's dark. Imagine it's night," He continues. He waits a few moments before stepping aside, allowing the sunlight to pierce my tender pale skin. upon the feeling, I hiss in anguish and whip my eyes open.

    "No Anika! Keep your eyes closed!" He says, shielding my eyes. I take a deep breath, and pretend it's nighttime. He slowly takes his hands away, making my eyes squint through the closure of my eyelids. Oddly enough, my skin wasn't burning.

    I could hear the smile shining through his proud tone. "Now open your eyes."

    I open, and I couldn't believe my eyes! My skin wasn't burning. I whip around to meet his shining burnt orange eyes as he enveloped me into a hug. I think we stood there for an eternity...

    XxXxX

    That night, my father took me out to hunt. This was actually my third time hunting with my father. Usually, he'd kill, and I'd observe. Then afterwards, he'd ask me what I learned about his technique. This time, he gave me the chance to get some action. He said he was so proud of me tolerating the sunlight that morning, he wanted to see me in all my vampiratic glory.

    Usually, he was a nice man around mortals. It was only he only preyed on men, and never on women and children. He never wanted to kill a being that wasn't as strong as him. It just wasn't done. And as we stalked the quaint streets of Romania, we found, well, he found me a target. A tall, husky man somewhat in his mid-thirties in a black hat that obscured his face. He wore a dark cloak that ran to his feet. This man was in a hurry somewhere.

    On the rooftop, my father looked at me. "You know what to do, right Anika?". I smirked venomously, and spread my ebony wings open wide, ready for the kill. He put a hand in front of me, signaling for me to wait. He wasn't close enough yet.

    With his keen sight, he could see that man's face, even from four-hundred stories up on the cathedral where we were perched. I looked at the man like father was, and his mouth gave way to a venomous smile as I did.

    "Go." He whispered. At that, I jumped off soundlessly and dive-bombed at the man. My irises went blood red as my thirst gave way to my talons on both my feet and my hands. I opened my mouth wide with my fangs dripping saliva upwards from the g-force, ready to pierce his tender neck. I could've taste his blood in my mouth, and savouring his precious life draining away slowly...I knew my fangs grew an extra five inches from that moment of excitement.

    But then the man looked abruptly up, and brought up a crossbow. My eyes widened in horror as he aimed it at me. I swerved, but then a force from above pushes me down hard onto the cobblestone road, causing me to screech in fear.

    "NO!" I heard my father curse on top of me. "Van Helsing, not my DAUGHTER!"

    "Then what? Let her kill another innocent? I'm afraid I can't do that."

    I could sense my father's rage at the man's cockiness. "Remember your promise?! You said to grant me a favour the next time we met. Please, spare her life!"

    The man named Van Helsing laughed deviously. "Aah, but I crossed my fingers." He said as I heard his footsteps splash into a rain puddle. I didn't know what to do, but to move my head to see the man. Guessing that he saw me, he said, "She is a little treasure though. Her wings are simply exqusite." He said with a smirk.

    "She is from the Blood Clan. If you even think of touching her, you will face her clan's wrath!"

    He re-loaded his crossbow, and sighed. "Then I'll kill them too."

    I turned my head away, and grabbed his arm that was cradling my head. "Please, GO!" He whispered frantically in my ear. "Fly away!"

    "There would be no escape from this one, Count Dragomir. You and your little abomination will die." He said aiming it at me. Then my father got up, and pushed me away diving at Helsing in the process. Helsing, in shock pulled the trigger prematurely, and it hit my father in the left arm. He screamed in pain, but he lunged at Helsing, piercing his jugular vein, blood gushing out like a geyser. I gasp. I had never seen him in this state...his anger state.

    Usually when he attacks, he's swift, but silent. And maybe a bit dramatic in front of me. But this was different altogether. He didn't seem like himself. He pinned him to the cobblestone, and sank his teeth deeper into Helsing's flesh, causing him to scream in pain and sheer terror.

    I've heard of this man. He was sopposedly the best vampire slayer in all of Romania and elsewhere. But now, he seemed like a small child frightened to death. Though I saw my father hunt a couple of times, I couldn't bear to see my father impale this man. I turned away, and shielded my eyes.

    But my ears heard something else.

    "Helsing, you will pay for your ruthless spirit!" He snarled into his ear. This sent chills up my spine. This was the very man that spoke softly to me when I was found. I knew then that I didn't want to be in Helsing's shoes.

    After a few agonizing minutes of screaming and the dripping of blood, I slowly turned my head to face my fatigued father heaving next to the broken man's body. He slowly looked at me, and forced a weak smile. "It's okay, Anika. He's dead. We're safe."

    The only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my chest and my erratic breathing. This was way more than what I could bear. But, with my thirst over-riding my fear, I slowly crawled next to my father, and gently touched the wound in his arm. He looked down at me. "I'll be okay." He said motioning towards at what was the body of Van Helsing. "Drink. You need your strength." I nodded, and bent over, my lust for blood growing stronger with each passing second.

    xXxXx

    The next day, my father had to rest from the wound in his arm. He healed fast, considering that Helsing bore a pretty deep impression from his crossbow. But my father said he had worse before me.

    I came in to his room holding a pot of blood cabbage soup. It was a mixture of blood, and salted cabbage. He loved it, but I always hated it. "Here father," I said placing the wooden plane on his lap. He smiled weakly in acknoledgement, and accepted the mixture. Within a few moments, he was finished. I could never understand why he ate so fast, but I guess all vampires are different in that respect. I frowned when he coughed hoarsely. Honestly, I thought he was critically ill, and maybe near death. My father knew this and chuckled.

    "I will not die, I'm just weak. Anika, why do you worry so much?"

    I avoid his blood-shot eyes, and I look at my foot kicking the nonexstant dust on the highly-polished marble flooring.

    "Anika, please answer me." He says in more of his serious tone.

    I slowly look up. "Well...you kind of have a habit of getting yourself into trouble..."

    He slowly chuckled, and shook his head. "But I always come back alive, no?"

    I smirk. "Yes..." Sometimes his sense of humor was a bit dry, but that was him, of course.

    XxXxX

    Later in the day, I sat in my glamourously adorned room, writing in my journal. The sunlight gently peeped through the violet draperies. Before I learned to tolerate sunlight, I would leave them closed, and my world withdrawn. But they now became apart of my daily routine. As I jotted down my last thought, my door knocked. It was my father's most failful servant, Argos.

    "Come in," I say, closing and locking my journal.

    He comes in. "My lady, dinner awaits." He said graciously with a bow.

    "I'll be there momentarily," I smirk.

    He turns face, and closes my door. I sigh and place back my journal to its original place on the bookshelf.

    I enter into the dining hall, lightly lit with six or seven diamond and ruby chandaliers. The diamond ones gave off a heavenly aura, while the ruby ones gave off a ominous glow. My heels click against the marble flooring, rthyming evenly. Finally, I enter into the dining room, where my father started eating already. He was dressed as a nobleman, dark blue and gold trim. He slowly turns his head to acknoledge me. "Good evening Anika," He said with a slight smile.

    I approach the table, as his faithful servant pulls out my chair at the opposite end of the table. After I seated myself and settled, I begin eating.

    "Anika, I want to ask you a serious question," He says, lightly wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin before placing it before him.

    I look up, batting my eyes in surprise. "Yes?" I say, taking a sip of my ice water before me.

    Before speaking, he paused and drew in a deep breath. "Anika, will you remember all I've taught you?" He said with such seriousness.

    I knit my brow slightly and cocked my head. "Of course father! Why do you ask such a question?"

    He resumed to eating. Again, he paused, but this time he looked worried, something I've rarely seen from my father. "There was another killing in the village today." He said gloomily.

    "So? Aren't there killings there everyday for criminals?"

    "No, Anika. This is different. A vampire slayed," He said, almost muttering.

    I blink a few times, my eyes reflecting anger. This was very bad news. Whenever a vampire slayed a woman or child, the villagers automatically pointed the finger at my father, the last vampire in Romania and elsewhere. But it was against his policy to slay neither, only men and men alone.

    "But..." I trail off, not feeling very hungry at the moment for my rare slab of steak.

    He sighed, feeling the same way. "It wasn't me. There must be another vampire I am not aware of,"

    "But I thought...but I thought you were the last one, father."

    He looked up, and held his head up with his index finger against his temple. "I thought so too, Anika. I thought so too."

    I blink a few times. "Well, why don't you tell them it wasn't you? I know they'll believe you! I know it!"

    He smirked at my naiveness. "I wish it were that simple. But I'm afraid life doesn't work that way," He said, gulping. He continued to study me, deep in thought. "Anika..." He said, looking away from me. He paused briefly to say his thought clearly and effectively. "If...if I'm gone, will you promise to continue?" He said, barely a whisper. I bit my lip, knowing he was close to crying. Especially our ordeal the other night.

    I open my mouth to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. I tried again. "Y-yes, I promise."

    He looks back at me, this time his face was peaceful. "I suppose you are wondering why I asked you that," He said, returning to his usual self.

    I take another sip of my ice water. "In fact...I don't think I'm ready to hear," I say silently. He gently spins the wine in his wine glass and looks at me in surprise. I look back up, and smirk reassuringly. He returns the smirk, as we both continue to dine.

    XxXxX

    The past two weeks went by without hesitation, but I secretly feared for my father. I knew from a young age what the mortals did to vampires. They forced the cross upon their chest, and drove a stake into their heart, instaneously killing them. I shuddered at the thought, and tried not to imagine my father's place amongst the fallen vampires.

    But I honestly did wanted to know why my father asked me that question. If I'm gone, will you promise to continue? I run that question back and forth around my head endlessly for hours, attempting to decipher his meaning.

    Tonight my father and I were invited to a masquerade ball from one of his close mortal friends who didn't fear him. I was thrilled, my second ball I attended since I was six. For my father, this was one of many balls he attended from the past to this night. I pulled on my violet gown, as Argos laced my corset from behind. I sighed, and fixed myself in front of the mirrior.

    "You look exquisite tonight, Ms. Dragomir," He graciously said. I blush as my right eye twitched. I never was used to compliments from anyone else but my father.

    "Thank you, Argos. You're quite dashing yourself," I say with a playful wink. He smiles and continues with my corset, tying it off.

    "What are you going as?" He asked, getting on his knees and straightening out the hem of my gown. I shrug, looking myself in the mirrior.

    "I don't know, but I know I love the colour purple." I really wanted to wear a blood red, but father said crimson red denoted a vampire and usually attracts unwanted attention. So I settled for a deep violet.

    "You'll be the rose of the ball," He reassured me. I chuckle and ruffle his deep mohogany hair.

    "You don't need to keep reassuring me, Argos. But thank you," I say with a slight smile. He looks up.

    "You're beginning to act like your father day by day," He says sighing wistfully. I lip smile, hiding my blush.

    He finished with my gown, and handed me my mask. It was a deep violet with black lace layering the look. It was simple, no fancy flowers, none of that kind. I gently slipped it on, keeping sure not to mess with my hair as I secured it. I turned to Argos and asked, "How do I look?" Of course I knew what his answer would be.

    "Beautiful, Ms. Dragomir." He says, kissing the top of my head. I smile.

    "Do you recall that you can call me Anika? There's no need to be formal with me," I chuckled as he held open the door. He nods.

    "As you wish, Anika."

    I met up with my father in the entrance hall, clad in royal blue. He bowed and took my hand, spinning me around for better viewing of my gown. He didn't have his mask on yet, but he had it on hand. He smiled, making me blush and smile. Without a word, he lead me out the vast iron doors, and down the steps to his courtyard. I held his arm as he escorted me to his carriage, climbing in after me. Soonafter giving orders to the coach, we were off. We left his estate, and into the dark foggy woods.

    Halfway to the ball, we hear chanting. Slow and evil chanting. My father furrowed brow, and peeped out. "Damn," He huffed out. He immediately gave the coach different orders, and soon the carriage turned around. Immediately I became worried.

    "Father? What's going on? Is it the villagers again?" I ask followed by a gulp.

    He nods solumnly. I have never seen him in this state. Then with an inkling feeling, I knew that night would his last night alive. I bit my lip, and refrained from crying. I didn't want to worry father, but my attempt was merely in vain. My mascara runs with tears, and I quickly wipe them away from my father's sight. He turns to look at me, me not knowing he was looking. Then, I feel his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I buried my head in his shoulder, and I silently wept. I knew for sure now this would be the last I will ever see father again.

    "Kill the vampire! Kill the vampire! Kill the vampire!" Their chants drifted away into the breeze as we sped away from them, but they still ran after us, chanting the very same thing over and over again. "Kill the vampire! Kill the vampire!"

    "Sssh, it's okay." My father shushed me as he stroked my brownish black hair. I gripped his tear-stained shirt tighter in my fists.

    "I don't ever want to lose you," I silently wept. He buried his chin in my hair, and stroked my back. I knew he was crying too, as he didn't say anything. But he sufficed with the following words:

    "You'll see me again, someday. I promise." He said, then kissing the crown of my head. I gulped, and just tried to relax. I did somewhat, but not enough to resist the thought of my father's impending death.

    He pulled away, just to peep out the window for a status update. He quickly wiped small tears from his eyes, and narrowed. "We lost them." He muttered. My heart jumped just a bit. For the rest of the return trip, it was quiet. I held onto my father's hand for support. With my other hand, I fiddled with my unused mask, trailing my fingers along the black lacings across the front. I laid my head onto his shoulder, trying to calm myself and treasure him just being there. Just living. Just living while he was with me a little while longer.

    Then we heard them again.

    My head jumped up from his shoulder as I peeped out the window. "Oh no..." I whispered. My father did the same and growled.

    "Bastards..." He said, making sure I didn't hear him, but I did. And I didn't care. My heart sank into blackness again, shaking with fear and shock. I sat back down in my seat, setting my head down with tears threatning to come again. They were blocking the enterance to his estate.

    I felt the carrige run a few villagers over before we entered the pathway, leading to his castle. But they were everywhere. every villager, every man woman and child was there, with their torches and pitchforks, and any other sharp object they could find. I couldn't believe this was really happening. I couldn't believe I would lose my father to these animalistic mortals!

    I heard the banging of their crude weapons against our carriage. We made it as close to his enterance as possible, and he whipped open the door. The villagers rushed over, chanting obscene slurs at my father and I. Quickly, he turned to me. "Anika! Go in now! I'll fight them off!"

    I shook my head violently. "I'm not leaving you! I'll never leave you!" I shrieked, clinging to him. He pushed me away with pleading eyes.

    "You have a duty to fulfill! Go! Now!!" He pleaded again. I slowly stepped backwards.

    I...have a duty to fullfill? Father? What does that mean?

    "GO!" He bellowed as the villagers drew in closer. Out of fight for flight mode, I flew inside, a bloody hand lingering on the door inside.

    I frantically searched for Argos, but he was nowhere to be seen. I ran up the straircase to find his headless body in the main hall, blood everywhere.

    I looked to my left, there was blood. I looked to my right, there was blood. I couldn't believe my eyes. My mascara-stained face looked frantically searched for one of his maids, in hopes for comfort. Suddenly I heard a crash from the main enterance. I gasped when I peered down at a flood of villagers coming in. They pointed at me, and bombarded the staircase. I bit my lip, and looked around. My eyes steamed with tears, and I ran into one of the many rooms I would explore in when I was younger. I turned around and locked the door, and set a chair in place in front of the doorknob. That bought me some time, at least. I frantically searched around for a weapon of some sort, but found I was only in the main storage room. When I found that the villagers were closing in, I didn't have that much time to think. I flew open the windowsill, and my ebony wings flew open. I stole one last glance to the door, then ahead, diving out, and circling his estate.

    As I circled, I frantically searched for my father, and found a cluster of villagers surrounding something. I gasp, and my fangs grow even more. My eyes turn blood red, and I divebomb towards the group, my arms outstrech to grab my father. He looks up, his face bloodied and damaged managed to yell out, "NO! ANIKA! LEAVE! LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW!!" He screamed. They saw me, and began throwing arrows at me. I dodged them with quick ease, and snarl. But one of the arrows shot me through the arm, and I fell like killed game. I could hear my father scream, "NOOOO!!! ANIKAAAA!!!" Before he fell silent.

    A few moments passed, and I came to see my father's lifeless body, the image of the cross etched onto his chest, and a wooden stake in his heart. They turned to me, and came after chase. That was it. I wasn't taking any more.

    With a blood-curdling screech, I charged towards them, my mouth emitting a crimson red fog. They stopped in their tracks, and drew their bows and arrows. I quickly beheaded the first group with one swift move. The other group just was as easy. I tore their bodies in half, ripping off their tongues, then forcing them down their throats.

    Within one measly hour, I killed the whole village. There were no survivors.

    Heaving my chest to breathe, I slowly sat up, and walked towards my father's body, his costume soiled in blood. He lay on his stomach, the very tip of the stake protruding out his back. I bit my lip, my two pairs of fangs penetrating my lip making me bleed down my chin. I kneeled by his crumpled form, and turned him over into my arms. The red in my eyes faded to brown, and tears rolled down my cheeks as I brushed away the hair from his bloody face. I ripped the stake from his chest, and I threw it aside. My emotions cracked, and I buried my head in his bloody chest. I remember crying "No!! NO!!" over and over for what seemed like countless hours. I gripped his body tighter, and rocked back and forth, cradling him. But then his head moves, and I feel a hand over the back of my head. I shot up, looking straight into his bloodshot eyes.

    "An...ika," He groaned out. He groaned out tiredly. I bit my lip as I saw tears well up in his eyes. He blinked a few times before he opened his mouth to speak again. "P...please...carry on. Don't...don't look back," I leaned over and kissed his forehead.

    "It's okay," I said, tears slurring my speech. "You'll be fine, father." He merely painfully chuckled.

    "You'll see me again. I promise, Anika. I...prom...ise..." He said, his hand then dropping to the ground and his head turning to the side. With a shaky hand, I slowly closed his eyes, and held him closer to me than before.

    XxXxX

    After my father's death, I wasn't the same. It was merely hours after his death, and his most trusted mortal friend whom invited us that evening stood beside me above his grave. All I could do was stare at his tombstone: one name, two dates, and a line of text:

    "You'll see me again, Anika. I promise."

    He set his hand on my shoulder, tears also threatening to come. "I know he loved you, Anika." He whispered. I nodded, and hugged him. A few moments later, he pulled away, and lifted my chin. "You must fly away from this place. Leave this behind." I just stared up into his emerald eyes, and tried to understand what he was saying.

    "You have a duty to fulfill! Go! Now!!"

    "NO! ANIKA! LEAVE! LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW!!"

    I could still hear his scream echo within the depths of my mind. "...my...destiny?" I whispered. He merely lip smiled, and touched my cheek with his index finger. He slowly backed away, leaving me alone with father's grave.

    I watched as he left, and disappear within the fog. I breathed irratically, slowly looking back at his grave. Thunder sounded, and soon it began to rain. I ignored the rain, and continued staring at his final resting place.

    "My...destiny..." I whispered, then looking up. I grasped the skull necklace, the very one I was found with when I was born, and closed my eyes. I could distinctly hear my father's voice...

    "The wind talks to certain creatures. The key is to listen."

    "...listen..."

    "...listen..."

    "...listen..."

    I slowly opened my eyes, no longer the naive little girl I was earlier, but a strong warrior. I looked back down at his grave, and turned around, facing the rain. My eyes turned red, and my wings emerged from nowhere. My fangs protruded fiercely, as my courage rised. The future would hold a new chapter for me. I turned my head to his grave and whispered, "You'll see me again, father. I promise." I whispered. Then,

    "P...please...carry on. Don't...don't look back,"

    I took off to the sky, never looking back.

    "You'll see me again, Anika. I promise."