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Description
Malcolm stood above me, his presence was unobtrusive and I could barely tell he was there. It was a wonderful feeling now that I think about it. The world would be a better place if people just calmed down. I slowly looked up at him and his warm brown eyes were just staring down on me. I leaned back and patted the stone floor next to me. He kneeled down then settled, leaning back before glancing over at me.

"You want to know if I'm alright," I said, he smiled slightly.

"You are a vampire gone insane, I already know you're not alright," Malcolm answered, I slowly looked over at him.

"Insane? I'm not insane," I murmured, he laughed lightly, sweetly.

"You practically shouted at the oldest living vampire on our world. Taylor is our ruler, the king of all vampires and you just went off on him. He could have killed you without even lifting a finger," Malcolm explained, I thought about this for a while. Taylor Ramel looked to be himself around 17 with just as much teen angst left over from when he died. It almost escaped me that he could be well up into being 2 thousand years old.

"Technically he's not living," I grinned.

"You know what I mean," Malcolm had a slight Irish accent and a rather well tone body, seemed like all the older vampires looked to be poster children for a dressy strip club.

"Yeah but what about me? Am I stuck to this room or this mansion?" I asked.

"This mansion. It was originally Taylor's before the elders managed to reach a higher level. He let the Elders rest here and then he built a secret castle somewhere in England," Malcolm answered.

Flashback

"Where are we?" I breathed, staring around the rich stone hallway, Cassidy sat there on that victorian love seat and looked up at me.

"We are in a castle in England not too far from your estate. It's beautiful, no? I love it here but then again, I love my family. This is your home now Alicia. You will not see this place for at least another 200 years but this is your home," Cassidy got up.

"What are you talking about? I'll be dead in half that time," I said.

"You are an immortal now. Time means nothing to you just like life. You are dead now and will be for the rest of eternity. You will never age and you will never get sick. You will never feel real physical, mortal pain again," Cassidy explained. Just an immortal ache that haunted my insides constantly, ever relentless. The pain of immortality, of living night after night, feeding on life and showing myself to be a monster.

"Sounds perfect," I looked out the stained glass window onto the dark courtyard below. A lone figure stood in the middle of it, I could barely make him out. The stain glass painted him a dark orange but I could tell he was blonde, he was looking up at me. Looking up at my window like he could see through it and see me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Let's get you to a bed," Malcolm stood up then held out his hand to help me up. I stared at the ivory hand then accepted it. He helped me up and wrapped his arm around mine, I could feel his muscles underneath the rich midnight blue crushed velvet costume. I looked up at him and he smiled lightly, I could almost believe he wasn't a monster like me. That he wasn't a vampire yet everything else, all my extra senses told me he was.

"I'll come to get you when night falls. I want to show you his library," Malcolm then turned and walked out after showing me a huge bedroom decorated in blues and purples. Like a gypsy palace with sheers and round pillows. Gold bangles and tassles dripped from everything and the walls depicted a bunch of gypsy belly dancers, dancing around the room. Each one looked almost like they could step out of the wall and start dancing to silent music. I pulled out the jeweled clip holding up my long hair and slid off my renaissance era cape. It's billowed silk dropped heavily onto an almost awkward looking chair by the door. I then opened the door to a similarly decorated bathing room. A frothing bath was already drawn and waiting for me. The tub was huge and a mermaid scene was painted on the bottom. I pulled off my brocade maroon corset and laid it on the expansive marble counter next to the sink then washed all the makeup off my face.

"You're not going to win me over by pampering me," I growled into the oval mirror with bronze merpeople framing it. I then turned and collapsed onto the bed, falling into my usual deep sleep that all of my kind surrender to.

"Rise and shine my little one," Cassidy called throwing open the heavy curtains and letting in the moon light. I groaned and slowly sat up then rubbed at my eyes.

"Cassidy," I whined, she laughed and dropped my suitcase at the foot of my bed. I sighed, so he was going to keep me here after all.

"Come on, Malcolm is waiting for you," Cassidy then disappeared out my door. I got up and started changing. Soon I was in a pair of white washed jeans and a hippie off white gauze shirt with flowing lace knit sleeves. I walked out and down the stairs where Malcolm was sitting in one of the many groupings of black leather couches. A wide screen tv was positioned near him and he watched it idly.

"Good evening," I greeted, he smiled and glanced up at me, my heart fluttered suddenly. I frowned and slowed down, okay, this was new. I haven't even been attracted to anyone in almost as long as I've been a vampire. I had other things to worry about like that whole self loathing, immortal pain problems. It sometimes played hell on my stomach. Now that my problems have tripled, I'm suddenly falling for a guy, irony can be a catchy thing.

"Let's start the history lesson then shall we?" Malcolm got up and led me to the back of the huge ball room and into another room. A huge library unfolded before me with sky high windows painted with all sorts of scenes.

"You could learn anything you wanted to in this library. It has almost every historical book in existence, well, every accurate history book. Mostly journals, first hand accounts and different instructional manuals. There's another library next to this one with all the fictional tomes. I brought you here to explain a couple things that Cassidy couldn't because she didn't have the resources to. Then…some things just can't be explained by a book," Malcolm shrugged and started down one of the massive aisles. I followed, still overawed. He pulled out a book and then sat them down on one of the tables where many comfortable looking chairs surrounded it.

"This will explain a few things," Malcolm said, pointed to a worn, well preserved hard bound book. I opened it and there was a card reading Taylon Rosencrantz- 1604 to 1804.

"I'm 200 years into my 6th organized reign over the vampires. Seems like they get more and more uninteresting…

I sat staring out my window onto the crashing waves. I was at an inn overlooking the English Channel. Seems like I'm always coming back to England, always back here. Kagleen was just awoken last night with Cleo put to rest the night before. Behind me a young maid slept soundly, half drained of her blood. I rarely kill anyone anymore. I just don't feel the need nor the inclination to waste a life. Dania was out with Malcolm again and like all of the Chosen they tend to have their own little bond with each other. The Chosen rarely rest because they are younger then us. They don't feel the weight of the world as we do.

I'm getting ahead of myself. The year is 1604, winter. I don't go much into human politics and right now I believe that my status as ruler is being challenged from the south. A young vampire from the Asian continent is coming north to see what there is to see. He is old as vampires go, almost an Elder but not quite. Most Asian vampires are usually around two hundred or so. Rarely are there any younger then that simply because the Asian culture is older then the Euro culture. I don't believe I have to explain that I'm older then Europe it's self. I came from the middle east, long before Egypt was blossoming I was a king among the savage beasts that paraded around as humans. Life was much simpler back then but I'm again getting off the subject.

"Taylon?" Dania opened the door and walked in. I looked over at her and smiled. She was my precious companion, her long honey gold hair shined in the dull firelight as she closed the door behind her. She was rather short and delicate with intense brown eyes. Her skin was a dark tan when I found her on Ireland. She was with one of the Celtic tribes, I believe she was in training to become one of the high priestesses.

"Evening my child," I murmured and put down my pen, she smiled, her full heart shaped lips drew up lightly.

"Malcolm said that the new Family will be here in a few days or that's what his contacts told him. I don't know what will happen. No one knows anything about this vampire," Dania sat on the bed next to the mortal and pulled back the light brown hair, caressing the silken waves.

"He'll try to destroy everything that we have built up here. He thinks that his people should rule all the world. That his culture is better then our culture. His powers are better then ours," I explained, she stared up at me.

"He will soon find out wrong," she breathed.

"He will soon find his death. He's picked up a couple of the Italian mortals to join his Family. Sisters, I have an interest in them and he knows this. That is why he snatched them up," I explained, she looked back down on the girl.

"What will happen to her?" Dania asked.

"We can't make the world vampire, Dania," I sighed and got up. I then scooped up the girl and carried her away. Dania always wanted to make more vampires. Each mortal that I didn't kill she wanted to give the immortal gift. I only relented a couple times but sometimes she does tend to go overboard. I gently laid the girl in another bed across the hall and covered her in the heavy comforter then turned and walked back to my room. Dania was already under the covers and sleeping. I closed the window and pulled the curtains closed before the early dawn could touch her. I stared at the golden waves as they peeked up above the pile of pillows and wondered what will become of her. She was different then all the rest of the Chosen. She wasn't as strong as the rest.

Dania lived on life, she loved mortals more then she even loved me. Her immortality was spent around them, constantly watching them and trying to interact with them. She hated it, death. She knew she was dead and that bothered her immensely sometimes. She never hunted alone and rarely went out by herself like she knew she wasn't strong enough to protect herself. A few night later I was sitting on a rooftop over looking the vast city when I felt him. A gentleman with a crush brown velvet suit stopped and looked up at me. It was him, Shin Young had come to me at last. He turned around and walked away. It was a silent challenge, a warning that he was here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He had stayed in England only a few days then went on to Venice. He wanted to travel, look around before engaging me in a dangerous fight. I let him, might as well let him see what he could see before his final death. He then finally returned to my main mansion. He just showed up, walked up to my front door and killed my guards. I was up on the top spire, watching him. He destroyed about ten of my family before I walked down to meet him.

"Fight me," He growled, his black almond shaped eyes looked dangerous, angry. His teeth on full display, I smiled slowly.

"Do you really want to fight me? I'm older then you, much older then you," I explained.

"I have better blood running through my veins, you have no idea," He pointed out.

"No you have no idea. You don't even know how old I really am. You're arrogant and selfish. You don't understand anything about life and yet you destroy it aimlessly. You'd rather have me dead then try to work with me. You know nothing so you are nothing. I have seen the world in a much different way then you and for that I'm thankful," I replied simply.

"You taunt me?" He looked incredulous like I was a stubborn child.

"You could look at it like that," I shrugged, he growled low in his throat and charged me. I effortlessly slashed my long nails across his face and stepped to the side. His clutched at the bleeding gashes and pulled out his katana with the other hand. I slid my broadsword out also.

"And here I was expecting one of those fencing swords," he growled.

"If you would like I could go get one," I offered, he instantly attacked. I slammed into him and he fell back, sprawled on the floor. The katana clattered against the far wall.

"You think you've beaten me but this is only the beginning," Shin got up and walked towards the door. Suddenly he grabbed Dania and ran. I ran after them but he was already in the carriage and down the road. I stared after them, both Shin's katana and my broadsword in my hands.

"Send a messenger to Kagleen, now," I shouted at one of the vampires near me, he hurried off. I frowned, this meant war.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure you want to kill him?" Kagleen asked, lounging on my couch in my office.

"Of course I do, he kidnapped my Chosen," I hissed, she shrugged and nodded.

"Let go then," she got up and we took a carriage to where I could feel Dania. She was in an abandoned castle far from anything. I walked in and looked up, there she was, barely alive. Her body nailed to a long post hanging between two collapsing towers.

"Shin Young you will die for this," I shouted. I could hear his laughter vibrating through out the stiff cold night.

"Are you so sure about that?" He walked out from behind one of the pillars towards me. "Pleasure to finally meet you Kagleen."

"I wish I could say the same," she replied. He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Couldn't kill me by yourself?" He turned back to me.

"I could but then the Elders would come after me for destroying you without just cause. You see there are rules even in death," I answered him, a half smile crawled along his face.

"I follow no rules," he pulled out a curved samurai blade.

"I can see that," Kagleen spoke up.

"But first I have business to attend to," He nodded and a second sharpened post flew forward and slammed into my Dania. She screamed roughly as she watched it fall towards her. I looked away before watching her die then back at my enemy.

"You will pay for that," I growled low then attacked. He dodged my broadsword and slashed at my stomach. It glanced against my side as I moved away from him. Then I just did something unexpected. I pulled back my blade and rammed it through him. It didn't go through his heart, I made sure of that. I then pinned him up, my blade stuck firmly in the stone behind him. I then pulled out the katana he had left and cut off his head.

"Taylon?" Kagleen breathed. I turned to her, blood all over me, I felt…different. I growled at her and turned back to the headless corpse. I pulled out my broadsword, dropped the katana and sheathed my own sword. I then turned and walked away from Kagleen, from them all.

"Where are you going? Taylon," Kagleen called after me. I walked off into the still young night and didn't look back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Veronica," I breathed, she appeared at my side.

"Yes?" She looked up at me.

"Are you sure you want to be my Chosen?" I asked, she looked down on her hands.

"You're different then when I first met you. You've killed so many people since Dania…so many people. I can still see the blood all over you. I cannot love you," Veronica answered.

"Who will? No one, I cannot keep living like this but I can't stop destroying lives. It brings peace, a different peace then any other I have ever known," I explained.

"A dangerous peace that will kill you. Kagleen has already threatened to wake up the rest of the elders. Find another peace, find someone to love you," Veronica ran her hand down my arm then turned and walked away. I had returned to England after Dania had died. I had killed most of the country side peasants and yet I went out to hunt more. That is when I met her.

I had killed the dark brunnette boy in the stable then moved on to the horses. Horses make an awful noise when you're ripping them apart. The father came out to investigate. He didn't have a chance. The mother was just inside the door. Another easy kill. I looked up, hearing the crying of two young girls. I walked up to their room and drained them of blood. Then I felt it, a calming presence. She was perfect standing in her door way to her room. Her large eyes stared up at me but no fear was evident just a calm acceptance that she was going to die. She didn't believe my calming words. She wasn't under my spell at all. She looked 17, the age I had died at. My own death flashed before my eyes. I had died with my wife in my arms, I woke up the next night and she didn't. I knew then that I couldn't live with out her but somehow I survived. I always survived. She had the same eyes, the same accepting eyes and then they turned angry.

"You killed them, how could you?" She demanded, I stopped. I could tell she was in shock, that her brain was just overflowing with the knowledge that she was only one left, the only one alive in the house.

"I…" I was a loss for words, the bullshit explanation I had fed to Veronica didn't cut it in the face of such…justice.

"You're a monster," she breathed, shaking her head. Her light brown hair flowed over her shoulders and her pale arms shook lightly with all the emotions running through her. She was perfect, I couldn't kill her, I could barely let her go. I wanted to make her stay with me forever. Even though she just called me a monster but I had deserved that.

"You will see my child, you will see who the monster is," I breathed and lifter her up. Her blood didn't satisfy me, I had to have more. It wasn't that she was human, it was the mind, the magic around her that satisfied me. I had to keep her by my side even if I was to be put to rest tomorrow night.

"Keep her safe then teach her as much as you know Cassidy," I said when I got back to my castle. She nodded, walking next to me.

"Is she going to be your Chosen?" Cassidy asked, I looked down on her.

"I believe so," I kicked open the door to a bedroom and walked in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I slammed the journal closed. I had almost read all of it but I couldn't go on. Of course there was more in it about his knight crusades and all the other things he did as a ruler of the vampires. I looked over to Malcolm and he smiled slowly.

"You are what you are, Alicia," he said, I looked down on the journal then got up.

"He's not going to keep me here," I hissed and walked off.

To be continued…

Description
Malcolm stood above me, his presence was unobtrusive and I could barely tell he was there. It was a wonderful feeling now that I think about it. The world would be a better place if people just calmed down. I slowly looked up at him and his warm brown eyes were just staring down on me. I leaned back and patted the stone floor next to me. He kneeled down then settled, leaning back before glancing over at me.

"You want to know if I'm alright," I said, he smiled slightly.

"You are a vampire gone insane, I already know you're not alright," Malcolm answered, I slowly looked over at him.

"Insane? I'm not insane," I murmured, he laughed lightly, sweetly.

"You practically shouted at the oldest living vampire on our world. Taylor is our ruler, the king of all vampires and you just went off on him. He could have killed you without even lifting a finger," Malcolm explained, I thought about this for a while. Taylor Ramel looked to be himself around 17 with just as much teen angst left over from when he died. It almost escaped me that he could be well up into being 2 thousand years old.

"Technically he's not living," I grinned.

"You know what I mean," Malcolm had a slight Irish accent and a rather well tone body, seemed like all the older vampires looked to be poster children for a dressy strip club.

"Yeah but what about me? Am I stuck to this room or this mansion?" I asked.

"This mansion. It was originally Taylor's before the elders managed to reach a higher level. He let the Elders rest here and then he built a secret castle somewhere in England," Malcolm answered.

Flashback

"Where are we?" I breathed, staring around the rich stone hallway, Cassidy sat there on that victorian love seat and looked up at me.

"We are in a castle in England not too far from your estate. It's beautiful, no? I love it here but then again, I love my family. This is your home now Alicia. You will not see this place for at least another 200 years but this is your home," Cassidy got up.

"What are you talking about? I'll be dead in half that time," I said.

"You are an immortal now. Time means nothing to you just like life. You are dead now and will be for the rest of eternity. You will never age and you will never get sick. You will never feel real physical, mortal pain again," Cassidy explained. Just an immortal ache that haunted my insides constantly, ever relentless. The pain of immortality, of living night after night, feeding on life and showing myself to be a monster.

"Sounds perfect," I looked out the stained glass window onto the dark courtyard below. A lone figure stood in the middle of it, I could barely make him out. The stain glass painted him a dark orange but I could tell he was blonde, he was looking up at me. Looking up at my window like he could see through it and see me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Let's get you to a bed," Malcolm stood up then held out his hand to help me up. I stared at the ivory hand then accepted it. He helped me up and wrapped his arm around mine, I could feel his muscles underneath the rich midnight blue crushed velvet costume. I looked up at him and he smiled lightly, I could almost believe he wasn't a monster like me. That he wasn't a vampire yet everything else, all my extra senses told me he was.

"I'll come to get you when night falls. I want to show you his library," Malcolm then turned and walked out after showing me a huge bedroom decorated in blues and purples. Like a gypsy palace with sheers and round pillows. Gold bangles and tassles dripped from everything and the walls depicted a bunch of gypsy belly dancers, dancing around the room. Each one looked almost like they could step out of the wall and start dancing to silent music. I pulled out the jeweled clip holding up my long hair and slid off my renaissance era cape. It's billowed silk dropped heavily onto an almost awkward looking chair by the door. I then opened the door to a similarly decorated bathing room. A frothing bath was already drawn and waiting for me. The tub was huge and a mermaid scene was painted on the bottom. I pulled off my brocade maroon corset and laid it on the expansive marble counter next to the sink then washed all the makeup off my face.

"You're not going to win me over by pampering me," I growled into the oval mirror with bronze merpeople framing it. I then turned and collapsed onto the bed, falling into my usual deep sleep that all of my kind surrender to.

"Rise and shine my little one," Cassidy called throwing open the heavy curtains and letting in the moon light. I groaned and slowly sat up then rubbed at my eyes.

"Cassidy," I whined, she laughed and dropped my suitcase at the foot of my bed. I sighed, so he was going to keep me here after all.

"Come on, Malcolm is waiting for you," Cassidy then disappeared out my door. I got up and started changing. Soon I was in a pair of white washed jeans and a hippie off white gauze shirt with flowing lace knit sleeves. I walked out and down the stairs where Malcolm was sitting in one of the many groupings of black leather couches. A wide screen tv was positioned near him and he watched it idly.

"Good evening," I greeted, he smiled and glanced up at me, my heart fluttered suddenly. I frowned and slowed down, okay, this was new. I haven't even been attracted to anyone in almost as long as I've been a vampire. I had other things to worry about like that whole self loathing, immortal pain problems. It sometimes played hell on my stomach. Now that my problems have tripled, I'm suddenly falling for a guy, irony can be a catchy thing.

"Let's start the history lesson then shall we?" Malcolm got up and led me to the back of the huge ball room and into another room. A huge library unfolded before me with sky high windows painted with all sorts of scenes.

"You could learn anything you wanted to in this library. It has almost every historical book in existence, well, every accurate history book. Mostly journals, first hand accounts and different instructional manuals. There's another library next to this one with all the fictional tomes. I brought you here to explain a couple things that Cassidy couldn't because she didn't have the resources to. Then…some things just can't be explained by a book," Malcolm shrugged and started down one of the massive aisles. I followed, still overawed. He pulled out a book and then sat them down on one of the tables where many comfortable looking chairs surrounded it.

"This will explain a few things," Malcolm said, pointed to a worn, well preserved hard bound book. I opened it and there was a card reading Taylon Rosencrantz- 1604 to 1804.

"I'm 200 years into my 6th organized reign over the vampires. Seems like they get more and more uninteresting…

I sat staring out my window onto the crashing waves. I was at an inn overlooking the English Channel. Seems like I'm always coming back to England, always back here. Kagleen was just awoken last night with Cleo put to rest the night before. Behind me a young maid slept soundly, half drained of her blood. I rarely kill anyone anymore. I just don't feel the need nor the inclination to waste a life. Dania was out with Malcolm again and like all of the Chosen they tend to have their own little bond with each other. The Chosen rarely rest because they are younger then us. They don't feel the weight of the world as we do.

I'm getting ahead of myself. The year is 1604, winter. I don't go much into human politics and right now I believe that my status as ruler is being challenged from the south. A young vampire from the Asian continent is coming north to see what there is to see. He is old as vampires go, almost an Elder but not quite. Most Asian vampires are usually around two hundred or so. Rarely are there any younger then that simply because the Asian culture is older then the Euro culture. I don't believe I have to explain that I'm older then Europe it's self. I came from the middle east, long before Egypt was blossoming I was a king among the savage beasts that paraded around as humans. Life was much simpler back then but I'm again getting off the subject.

"Taylon?" Dania opened the door and walked in. I looked over at her and smiled. She was my precious companion, her long honey gold hair shined in the dull firelight as she closed the door behind her. She was rather short and delicate with intense brown eyes. Her skin was a dark tan when I found her on Ireland. She was with one of the Celtic tribes, I believe she was in training to become one of the high priestesses.

"Evening my child," I murmured and put down my pen, she smiled, her full heart shaped lips drew up lightly.

"Malcolm said that the new Family will be here in a few days or that's what his contacts told him. I don't know what will happen. No one knows anything about this vampire," Dania sat on the bed next to the mortal and pulled back the light brown hair, caressing the silken waves.

"He'll try to destroy everything that we have built up here. He thinks that his people should rule all the world. That his culture is better then our culture. His powers are better then ours," I explained, she stared up at me.

"He will soon find out wrong," she breathed.

"He will soon find his death. He's picked up a couple of the Italian mortals to join his Family. Sisters, I have an interest in them and he knows this. That is why he snatched them up," I explained, she looked back down on the girl.

"What will happen to her?" Dania asked.

"We can't make the world vampire, Dania," I sighed and got up. I then scooped up the girl and carried her away. Dania always wanted to make more vampires. Each mortal that I didn't kill she wanted to give the immortal gift. I only relented a couple times but sometimes she does tend to go overboard. I gently laid the girl in another bed across the hall and covered her in the heavy comforter then turned and walked back to my room. Dania was already under the covers and sleeping. I closed the window and pulled the curtains closed before the early dawn could touch her. I stared at the golden waves as they peeked up above the pile of pillows and wondered what will become of her. She was different then all the rest of the Chosen. She wasn't as strong as the rest.

Dania lived on life, she loved mortals more then she even loved me. Her immortality was spent around them, constantly watching them and trying to interact with them. She hated it, death. She knew she was dead and that bothered her immensely sometimes. She never hunted alone and rarely went out by herself like she knew she wasn't strong enough to protect herself. A few night later I was sitting on a rooftop over looking the vast city when I felt him. A gentleman with a crush brown velvet suit stopped and looked up at me. It was him, Shin Young had come to me at last. He turned around and walked away. It was a silent challenge, a warning that he was here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He had stayed in England only a few days then went on to Venice. He wanted to travel, look around before engaging me in a dangerous fight. I let him, might as well let him see what he could see before his final death. He then finally returned to my main mansion. He just showed up, walked up to my front door and killed my guards. I was up on the top spire, watching him. He destroyed about ten of my family before I walked down to meet him.

"Fight me," He growled, his black almond shaped eyes looked dangerous, angry. His teeth on full display, I smiled slowly.

"Do you really want to fight me? I'm older then you, much older then you," I explained.

"I have better blood running through my veins, you have no idea," He pointed out.

"No you have no idea. You don't even know how old I really am. You're arrogant and selfish. You don't understand anything about life and yet you destroy it aimlessly. You'd rather have me dead then try to work with me. You know nothing so you are nothing. I have seen the world in a much different way then you and for that I'm thankful," I replied simply.

"You taunt me?" He looked incredulous like I was a stubborn child.

"You could look at it like that," I shrugged, he growled low in his throat and charged me. I effortlessly slashed my long nails across his face and stepped to the side. His clutched at the bleeding gashes and pulled out his katana with the other hand. I slid my broadsword out also.

"And here I was expecting one of those fencing swords," he growled.

"If you would like I could go get one," I offered, he instantly attacked. I slammed into him and he fell back, sprawled on the floor. The katana clattered against the far wall.

"You think you've beaten me but this is only the beginning," Shin got up and walked towards the door. Suddenly he grabbed Dania and ran. I ran after them but he was already in the carriage and down the road. I stared after them, both Shin's katana and my broadsword in my hands.

"Send a messenger to Kagleen, now," I shouted at one of the vampires near me, he hurried off. I frowned, this meant war.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure you want to kill him?" Kagleen asked, lounging on my couch in my office.

"Of course I do, he kidnapped my Chosen," I hissed, she shrugged and nodded.

"Let go then," she got up and we took a carriage to where I could feel Dania. She was in an abandoned castle far from anything. I walked in and looked up, there she was, barely alive. Her body nailed to a long post hanging between two collapsing towers.

"Shin Young you will die for this," I shouted. I could hear his laughter vibrating through out the stiff cold night.

"Are you so sure about that?" He walked out from behind one of the pillars towards me. "Pleasure to finally meet you Kagleen."

"I wish I could say the same," she replied. He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Couldn't kill me by yourself?" He turned back to me.

"I could but then the Elders would come after me for destroying you without just cause. You see there are rules even in death," I answered him, a half smile crawled along his face.

"I follow no rules," he pulled out a curved samurai blade.

"I can see that," Kagleen spoke up.

"But first I have business to attend to," He nodded and a second sharpened post flew forward and slammed into my Dania. She screamed roughly as she watched it fall towards her. I looked away before watching her die then back at my enemy.

"You will pay for that," I growled low then attacked. He dodged my broadsword and slashed at my stomach. It glanced against my side as I moved away from him. Then I just did something unexpected. I pulled back my blade and rammed it through him. It didn't go through his heart, I made sure of that. I then pinned him up, my blade stuck firmly in the stone behind him. I then pulled out the katana he had left and cut off his head.

"Taylon?" Kagleen breathed. I turned to her, blood all over me, I felt…different. I growled at her and turned back to the headless corpse. I pulled out my broadsword, dropped the katana and sheathed my own sword. I then turned and walked away from Kagleen, from them all.

"Where are you going? Taylon," Kagleen called after me. I walked off into the still young night and didn't look back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Veronica," I breathed, she appeared at my side.

"Yes?" She looked up at me.

"Are you sure you want to be my Chosen?" I asked, she looked down on her hands.

"You're different then when I first met you. You've killed so many people since Dania…so many people. I can still see the blood all over you. I cannot love you," Veronica answered.

"Who will? No one, I cannot keep living like this but I can't stop destroying lives. It brings peace, a different peace then any other I have ever known," I explained.

"A dangerous peace that will kill you. Kagleen has already threatened to wake up the rest of the elders. Find another peace, find someone to love you," Veronica ran her hand down my arm then turned and walked away. I had returned to England after Dania had died. I had killed most of the country side peasants and yet I went out to hunt more. That is when I met her.

I had killed the dark brunnette boy in the stable then moved on to the horses. Horses make an awful noise when you're ripping them apart. The father came out to investigate. He didn't have a chance. The mother was just inside the door. Another easy kill. I looked up, hearing the crying of two young girls. I walked up to their room and drained them of blood. Then I felt it, a calming presence. She was perfect standing in her door way to her room. Her large eyes stared up at me but no fear was evident just a calm acceptance that she was going to die. She didn't believe my calming words. She wasn't under my spell at all. She looked 17, the age I had died at. My own death flashed before my eyes. I had died with my wife in my arms, I woke up the next night and she didn't. I knew then that I couldn't live with out her but somehow I survived. I always survived. She had the same eyes, the same accepting eyes and then they turned angry.

"You killed them, how could you?" She demanded, I stopped. I could tell she was in shock, that her brain was just overflowing with the knowledge that she was only one left, the only one alive in the house.

"I…" I was a loss for words, the bullshit explanation I had fed to Veronica didn't cut it in the face of such…justice.

"You're a monster," she breathed, shaking her head. Her light brown hair flowed over her shoulders and her pale arms shook lightly with all the emotions running through her. She was perfect, I couldn't kill her, I could barely let her go. I wanted to make her stay with me forever. Even though she just called me a monster but I had deserved that.

"You will see my child, you will see who the monster is," I breathed and lifter her up. Her blood didn't satisfy me, I had to have more. It wasn't that she was human, it was the mind, the magic around her that satisfied me. I had to keep her by my side even if I was to be put to rest tomorrow night.

"Keep her safe then teach her as much as you know Cassidy," I said when I got back to my castle. She nodded, walking next to me.

"Is she going to be your Chosen?" Cassidy asked, I looked down on her.

"I believe so," I kicked open the door to a bedroom and walked in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I slammed the journal closed. I had almost read all of it but I couldn't go on. Of course there was more in it about his knight crusades and all the other things he did as a ruler of the vampires. I looked over to Malcolm and he smiled slowly.

"You are what you are, Alicia," he said, I looked down on the journal then got up.

"He's not going to keep me here," I hissed and walked off.

To be continued…