Chapter one Is the Mark noticable

"Run Alexis! run!"

"No mama, I can't leave you... they gonna kill you"

"Go away! I can't protect you if you are here... Your father is already dead, I can't loose you too"

"But I want to be with you mama"

"Am sorry baby but you can't be with me anymore, go ahead while I distract them. Make sure you survive, they mustn't kill you and be strong for mama and papa... we love you"

These voices keeps echoing in my head, those events recurring freshly. It's hurtful... so painful

"Hey! Hey! I heard a distinct voice, maybe it is closer but faint. a hand is stroking me continuously

"Come back here... stop running kid!" The husky voice shriek in my head. I can see a huge tall man with an ugly face chasing me. I can't let him catch me, mama said I should run... she said I should hide and escape from them... I must survive no matter what

"You are so stubborn kid, I finally got you hahaha" the man laughs out sarcastically as he scope my fragile body into his arm. The gripping is so tight, I feel like my bone will snap into two

"Let me go! Let me go!" I scream to the utmost, feeling like I will loose my voice due to the high pitch

"Nah, pretty... you are mine! am taking you home!" his voice is so annoying. I tried freeing myself from his grip but I can't, he is holding me so tight

I have to run, I have to escape just as mama said before those witches catches me... Mama said I shouldn't die, I should live

"I said let me go!" I whine loudly but the next thing I felt was a sharp pain on my neck, he just hits me and that spin my head making me to feel dizzy

"Let go of her!" that's the only voice I heard before darkness erupted me. The voice is so strong and menacing that I felt shiver down my spine

"wake up dear... you are sweating so bad, just let it go" I keep hearing that voice... a beautiful feminine voice

My eyes feels heavy, I tried opening them but it seems so hard... my head hurts so much.

I can hear a wobbling sound of a tapping feet, it is so vigorous... no, rather the sound is coming from me, it looks like am fighting over something I can't see and they are overpowering me... they want to take me down, they are forcing me into this darkness not letting me open my eyes

"She has been like this for a while now, it looks like she is battling with something" I heard the same beautiful feminine voice

I felt a strong arm trying to hold me down... I was able to calm down after some minutes.

It looks like I have overpower all those forces fighting against me in the dark

Slowly but steadily, I gently flap my eyes open meeting my blurry view, I blink back to clear my eyes and I got a clearer view in a second

"She is awake" the feminine voice said and the strong hand release me

My eyes caught the beautiful woman with a pale blue eyes, they are so beautiful and her face too.... pretty and smooth

I darted my eyes to the left and standing there is a tall young man having the same beautiful eyes as the woman and he is kinda handsome

"Attend to her Erin, master might seek her presence anytime soon" the man said before leaving the room which I noticed to be small and old

Erin, that's the beautiful woman's voice

"Hi" Erin whimpers with a bright smile on her lips

"Hi" i mumble but didn't return the smile, am not yet familiar with my environment and I don't know if they are my enemy or not. The last thing I remember is running away from the people that wants to kill me, they killed my parents and mama urges me to run... to save my life

I couldn't hold back the tears that threaten to fall down my cheeks, remembering how those monstrous witches and wizards killed my parents... It hurts so much, I watch them in that closed closet where I was hiding watching as they used their manipulative magical power to tear them apart

Mama asked me to run but I can't leave her all alone and when the witches were about to find us, mama hid me in the closet which has a secret door behind it. I saw as they killed mama, I wanted to scream but I hold myself back... they mustn't find me. It took all I got to calm myself but I allowed the tears to flow, it was so painful watching my parents die

I gather courage and escape through that secret door... Running without destination, just trying to save myself from those witches

but what I keep asking myself is why those witches wanted my parents death, and me also

we are just normal people living a normal and peaceful life until that fateful dark night, when those witches came and took away our peace, shredding it into pieces... killing my dear mama and papa

What will I do now, I have no one else except my parents and I love them so much, how can I live without them. I will never forgive those monsters that took them away from me

"Hey, don't cry dear" Erin voice is so polite and soothing, she gently wipe the tears that have fallen down my cheek. I stare at her, it looks like she is not bad and evil as those witches but I have to be on my toes cos I can't trust anyone yet

"You are safe here, we won't hurt you so don't be afraid" she add, I guess she noticed how uncomfortable I was and the little fear that has circled in my eyes

"Am Erin and you?"

I hesitate for a while before speaking up "Alexis"

"Wow! that's a beautiful name... you look young, how old are you"

"Thirteen" I mumble and she nods in affirmation

"Are you hungry... do you wanna eat something" she ask. She definitely know what I have in mind, am damn hungry

"Yes"

"Okay, I will be right back" she said taking the exist the tall man took a while ago not forgetting to give me an assuring smile before leaving

I took the opportunity of her absence to scrutinize the small room, though the room is small with old furniture, it still look neat, everything neatly arranged.

The windows are closed and the room a little bit dark, I wonder why the windows are closed instead of opening it to allow bright sunlight into the room to give more light

I remember the ugly man who was chasing after me when I escaped from those witches, he caught me but how did I end up here... did he brought me here

But I can also remember a voice " let go of her" the husky voice sounded in my head. Did the owner of the voice saved me from the ugly man

The door flap open and Erin walk in with a bowl of food, she held a smile on her face as she walk up to me. She gently drop it on the small wooden table beside the old bed which am lying on

"Here eat up, you can tell me if you need more" Erin said still beaming in smile. She looks like a cheerful person

Am already salivating to the food, am damn hungry. I quickly sit up from the bed and take the bowl into my palm, scooping in full spoon of the rice into my mouth, I don't know how they cooked the rice but it has a greenish colour and it is sweet, is not bad at all

I can feel Erin eyes on me as I eat, I didn't bother to take a glance... am too hungry to do that

"Eat slowly dear" Erin said when I choke on the food, I didn't realize I was eating so fast

"Here drink water" she add giving a cup of water to me, I collect it gulping down the whole content. I refilled my stomach with air, I haven't breath since I started eating... after that I continue with my eating and in less than two minutes, I cleared up all the rice packing them into my stomach

Erin filled the cup with water from the pitcher, she came in with the pitcher but I didn't notice it because all my attention was on the bowl of rice. I collect the water finishing the whole content as usual, I feel alive now filing my stomach with this food

"Thank you" I mumble

"You are welcome, Should I get more for you"

"No, am okay ... I don't think I can put more food into my stomach right now" I replied and she chuckle

"You can rest while I get your room ready... master wants you to be in a more comfortable room" she speaks up after few seconds silent.

Master? I also remember the tall man mentioned the name 'master'

She was about leaving with the empty bowl but my voice stops her

"Please what is this place and who is the master you are talking about?" I ask looking forward to get a straight answer, at least I need to know where I am and who they are before trusting them

I get it... she hasn't show any sign of danger and she is kind and sweet but I can't relax yet in a strange place

"This place is where vampires dwell, is the vampires coven. Master Douglas is our chief... he rules here" she explain.

what! Vampires? how did I end up with the vampires... I've heard stories about them, they are dangerous creatures. I was suddenly consumed with fear as I gulp down nervously and shift to the end of the bed

"You don't have to be afraid, master specifically saved you from the man that wants to kill you... he wouldn't do that if he wants you dead" she tries to be convincing

She is kinda right, so the so called master Douglas is the one that saved me but why? when did vampires started being kind

"So relax and take rest, I will be back" she add and gently touch my arm but her eyes flickers in shock, that was for a second. I quickly look down at my hand but I didn't see anything that might prompt such reflex action from her

"Is there are problem?" I ask muddled at her reaction

"Ehmm... is nothing... come on, take some rest while I get your room ready" she stutters and quickly left the room

What was that? Why is she acting that way

I wonder what she saw on my hand but I can't see anything

I glance at the close window, now I get the reason why the window is closed... I heard stories that vampires hate sun, they don't survive long in sun

*****

"I saw something on her"

A man claded in a black coat stands in front of the large window looking out through it, his long black hair fall down to his waist., he cross his hands backward standing tall like the almighty warrior he is

He is the only vampire that can withstand sunlight, the strongest of all vampires and the ruler of them all. Though some of his subordinates can withstand sunlight but not for long, they will have to give up at some point

He stares at the cloudy sky, the sun has set and the day is turning into night... very soon some vampires who can't withstand sunlight will start coming out for hunt.. they does that every night. They will leave their coven into the forest in search of food that is their prey

"You knew all along... the witches killed her parents and wanted to kill her too because of it... I mean the significance of what I saw on her" Erin speak up once again when the man refused to talk

"I thought she is just a minor little girl you saved... what do you plan on doing with her"

"To keep her... I don't want him to see her first" Douglas finally speak up after keeping Erin waiting for some minutes

"She belongs to him... you are calling for war master" Erin made sure not to sound rude

"Is the mark noticeable?" Douglas as ignoring Erin words

"No, it just flickered and that was for a second, my eyes was fast to see it... It is hidden in her"

"The witch won't give up, until they kill her" she add

"That will be if they see her" he pause and turn to face Erin, revealing his handsome charming pale face with his glistering dark green eyes

"Make sure she is protected" he add. Erin nodded obediently

"Where is she now?" he ask

"Still in the old room, I've told the maids to get her room ready. I will take her there after they are done" she replied

"Good, make sure she feels comfortable"

"Yes I will"

***

I don't know for how long I slept but when I wake up Erin is in the room, it looks like she is just walking in

"You are awake" she said with a smile moving towards the bed. I just nod rubbing my eyes

I remember how she acted strange a while ago, I wonder what happened

"Your room is ready, come on let's take you there"

I gently climb down the old bed, is old but not dirty... they kept it clean

She flash me a smile which I returned but mine is not so bright... I still don't know if I can trust her

She made to the door while I follows her quitely, we strides down a long pathway and some people I mean vampires we meets on our way bows slightly for Erin. It looks like she holds a high rank here

We finally arrive a big wooded door, she twist the door knob and click the door open, walking in while I follows

I look round the room, it is far better than the other room, it is beautiful and well arranged. The bed is big and neatly dressed, I guess I will be more comfortable in this room

"This will be your room .... I hope you like it?" she ask

"Yeah, I like it" besides this room is more big and beautiful than my own room back in our cottage but I was contented with it, so far I live with my parents... it is enough for me

It hurts so much, loosing my parents on the same day hurts so much. I cried so much that I don't think I have more tears left in my eyes. Even when I was running for my life, I couldn't hold back the tears... I will definitely find those that killed my parents and I will make them pay

"The closet is filled with beautiful dresses, you can choose one to put on after taking your bath" she add

"Why are you nice to me and why did your master saved me?" I've longed to ask her these questions. I don't know who they are or why that are helping me... I hope they won't ask for something in return

"My master is a kind and generous man, he likes helping people in danger and in need. He felt like helping you so he did. You need to relax, we are not bad people"

"Is just that I've heard stories about vampires and how vicious they can be''

"Well you heard wrong, we are not what you think... You can trust us" there is a stinge of sincerity in what she is saying maybe I should trust them as she said

Maybe vampires are not wicked as they are portrayed to be. The master saved me and Erin is kind to me in just this few hours I've known her

Besides I have no where else to go, if I decides to leave this place

"Freshen up, master wants to see you" that she said before leaving the room not forgetting to give me that assuring smile