The Beginning

Iris POV.

Long ago,

The earth was vast and enriched with the finest of things and mostly dominated by three tribes. The werewolves who were the strongest and also known as shape shifters. The Vampires who are the fastest and also referred to as the night crawler or blood suckers because of their need to feed on it to survive and lastly, the third tribe who are the humans who are seen as the gods abomination because of their lack of strength or anything supernatural like their two counterparts.

The two stronger tribes lived in the upper part of the earth while the humans lived in Iko, the only human village.

Somewhere in the village lived two elderly couples, Edmund Monet and his wife Grace Monet. One night while they were eating their last supper, they were stunned when a female vampire came knocking at their door. Her hair was wild and untamed and her eyes were like the deep blue sea.

She was heavily pregnant and hurt. The meat of her neck tore into with blood gushing out of it. Edmund Monet and his wife gave her the best care they could offer and that same night helped her deliver a child.

However, the female vampire had lost too much blood and couldn’t be saved. She and her child shared only a moment before she passed on to another life. Edmund Monet and his wife was face with the biggest decision of their lives that night. To harbor a vampire child or give her up.

After many years of trying to have a child of their own and couldn’t, my birth that night was like a blessing from the gods they had been praying for even though it was an unlikely one and had to be protected at all cost.

This is the story my parent told me and even made me promise not to tell it to anyone or I will be lost to them forever.

I sighed deeply, pushing the thought towards the back of my mind. It was still early in the morning and all  I have to do is get out of bed before my mother come get me herself. I need to get ready and have breakfast before it all begins. 

After the werewolves took out the vampires, The King Alpha has made a new rule declaring himself ruler of the two remaining tribes and each two years, humans are required to give out slaves to them and today also happens to be the selection ceremony and it’s even worst to think that Prince Otis was overseeing the whole darn selection process himself.

In order to survive, humans are left with no choice but to give their young ones who are at the slavery age of eighteen to serve in their kingdom either as their human breeders for the female and laborers for the male.

It even crazier to think that my family are the ones in charge of  gathering everyone due for the selection and the one for this year is about to begin. 

The fact that Prince Otis was coming to do it himself has caused great panic among the people. The prince is said to be ruthless. A man with no heart, a beast walking in human form whose eyes can literally melt a human skin. I have heard horrible tales about that man which further confirm everyone’s dread to his coming. No one knows what to expect from someone of that status and can only hope to please him in every way necessary.

Pulling off the hair band in my wrist, I proceed to tying my hair into a loose ponytail with it before springing back on my feet and towards the bathroom. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I almost cringe at the face staring back at me. I look unrecognizable no doubt and this was as a result of last night mischievousness.

While everyone was asleep, i was out in the garden playing like a child even though i'm already twenty one years of age.

I took off the blue crystal necklace around my neck and had it placed against the stand before settling into the water tub after heating it up.

Fifteen minutes later, I was back in my room and brushing off the tangles in my hair while humming to whatever tone that came to mind. It looks like a good day to run around the garden but I doubt my parent would let that happen. I mean not while the evil Prince is likely to show up at anytime.

The fact that my window was facing the garden isn’t helping my desire to run in it right now. A little sigh slipped out my mouth as I continued to stare longingly out the window and into the sea of flowers. My eyes caught the red ones, bringing a sad smile to my lip, recalling how that particular roses have led me to meet a special someone who became very dear to me even though he has long being taken away from me.

Logan was his name and he was picked during the selection ceremony two years ago. Even though I saw it coming. I still spent the whole of that month crying my eyes out recalling the face I might never see again while trying to hold on to every single memory we ever had between us

Life has been hard without my best friend but i have learnt to let go and move on when I have to. It was the only way to survive in the world we live in even though we are constantly being reduced in numbers by those savages who think themselves to be gods among us.

I truly wished there was something I could do to change the slavery situation of my people but like my father used to say, it was better to try and stay alive than fight a war we are doomed to loose. My heart still breaks each time  the people I grew up to meet are being forced to leave their love ones behind never to be united ever again not to mentioned getting killed for those who tried to resist or run back to their family.

Even the weak ones were slaughtered for showing some signs of weakness which was unacceptable to them. A cold shiver snaked down my spine at the memory of that incident and once again forcing me to understand why my parents would go to any length just to keep me safe. They obviously doesn’t want the same fate to befall me but still the thought that they'd let other people children be taken away weighed heavy on my conscience time and time again.

‘’Iris.’’ I heard my mother’s voice, pulling me out of my train of thought and back to reality.

I quickly wiped my teary eyes, knowing it wouldn’t do any good if my mother saw the state i was in. The last thing i want is to cause her to be sad as well.

‘’In here, mother.’’ I called back with the same enthusiasm.

The door to my room opened to reveal my mother. A tall slim beauty with golden hair walked in and stood before me with a kind smile plastered on her face as she stared back at me.

Moving ever so gracefully, she came and stood beside me by the chair before she peered down at my face.

‘’You’ve been awake?’’ she questioned.

I answered with a small nod, “I had to get up and get ready” i said with a small smile that barely made it to my eyes.

My mother reached over and took hold of my hands and gave it a little squeeze with a smile of her own.

“You did well because breakfast is ready and about to be served’’ she said and I sighed.

‘’I’m not that hungry, mother.’’

The last thing on my mind at the moment is food. The thought of what is about to happen is making me have all these weird thoughts and feeling in my head. My mother arched a careful brow at me and I know exactly what is to come next.

‘’But why child? You have to eat something and be healthy’’ my mother chided with a frown.

‘’I just don’t feel like eating, mother” I let the words slip out of my mouth with a pout hoping it would be enough to get her off my back this once.

“I won’t allow you to skip breakfast my dear. You are becoming all bone and no flesh” She cried out and I was forced to bite down my next protest.

“okay fine. I will eat but first, I need to ask you something?’’ I said.

‘’Sure darling, what’s wrong?’’ she asked, her eyes narrowing back at me with concern.

I bite down at my lower lips in hesitation knowing the topic I’m about to venture into is but a sensitive topic. Counting from one to ten in my head, i let the words tumble out of my mouth, ‘’Why do the Alpha king and his people keep coming back to take more slaves from our village? Why can’t they just stop already?’’

I saw pain flashed through my mother’s eyes just as quickly before it was carefully replaced with her usual cheerful smile.

‘’There is no stopping them my child not when They see us humans as the gods' abomination because of our lack of strength to stand against them. We are what we have became, preys as they are the predators.’’ she said, her word sounding so light yet it weight hung heavy in the air like fog before my voice broke through it once again.

‘’Isn’t there someone who can stop them? I mean, there should be someone out there who can stop them right? We can’t keep living like this, like farm animals waiting to be slaughtered by its owners.’’ I said, the words spilling out of my mouth in sheer desperation and pain.

She shook her head slightly, ‘’I’m afraid there's nothing we can do. They are far too strong and dangerous for us. We humans have learnt to live with it for several years now. All we have to do is do everything they ask us to do including giving them slaves yearly as peace offering without questioning.’’

Even though my mother was trying to hide the pain and fright in her words, I could still see through it all as they also bring dread to my own spine. Was there really no way out of this misery till no one is left? Is that really it? Maybe it was it. Even though everyone has refused to see it, I was certain The Alpha king aren’t just taking humans from our village because they want them as slaves but simply doing it as a means to reduce the human population so we don’t grow to stand against them in our numbers. I mean, How else would they demand for only the strong while disposing the weak.

It's obvious they don’t want humans yet take them as precautions either way.

Relaying my thoughts to my mother in the same manner was one thing but getting her to see it the way I see it is another as she simply smiled at me before her hands came to cup both my cheeks with a look of pain in her eyes.

‘’I don’t think so dear but a legend has it that a human child will be mated to a royal bloodline before the next moon eclipse in order to bring balance to the world again.’’ she said, “and if that’s true then you my child might live to see a day where all will be free and equal even to the acclaimed gods” 

‘’Really? Mother? You think a day like that would come?’’ I asked with a wide grin that was fast spreading across my face and she nodded at me.

‘’Yes dear but first, you must eat to stay alive and witness such great day” She said finally with a chuckle before she start to pulled me back on my feet and towards the open door leading to the lower floor where the dinning area is located.

**

‘’Good morning Father.’’ I smiled as i kissed my father lightly on the cheek before pulling out a chair and sit on it.

‘’Good morning child, good to see you smiling” my father said looking away from his plate of food and back at me with a smile of his own.

Even though I am what I am, I have never tasted blood, my parent made sure of it early enough when they had a witch forge a necklace for me to prevent my taste and early transformation as well. The necklace is so powerful that I can walk under the sun just like everyone else and eat whatever the humans eat without reacting to it.

Once I had my plate filled with food, we held hands and said some prayers to the gods before getting ready to dig into our food. A plate of mashed potato and fruits with a glass of warm milk. One of my favorite I must say. Just about then, a sharp knock was heard on the front door startling us as all three of our heads turned to stare back at the closed door. My heart starting to thump in my chest a bit loudly. 

Being the village head, my father was used to receiving visitors on a regular basis and at odd times. But still, everyone was feeling uneasy especially with the coming selection and knowing the prince would be arriving anytime soon. It could be him or anyone from the palace.

‘’I’ll get it.’’ I offered and made to get the door but my father’s angry voice halted me in my next hasty steps.

‘’No, don’t do it. I’ll get it while you go to your room and stay there. Don’t come out unless i ask you to, understood? ,’’ my father instructed as always and I answered with a nod before hurrying up the stairs and towards the direction of my room.

Once my father was certain i was back in my room, he wiped his mouth clean before rising up to his feet. He hastily composed himself before he walked towards the main door. Upon opening it, he stood still with a neutral look, staring at the man at the other end of the door.

Peeping from the staircase, I couldn’t see his face but he was dressed in full regalia which indicated he was one of the rider in the company of the prince, meaning Prince Otis himself wasn’t far off either.

My father stood his ground as he face the prince messenger as always.

‘’Edmund Monet, what took you so long?.’’ he asked in a booming voice and I watched my father gulped down nervously before replying.

“I’m sorry but my wife and I were just breaking our fast”

“Prince Otis would be arriving soon and he wants everyone to be assembled before he get here or there will be consequences” He barked and my father bow respectfully.

 “Everything will be done swiftly and effectively. You have my word”

The rider spat suddenly as he took a step closer, towering over my dear father who already looked scared out of his wit, “Your words means nothing human, just fucking do your job”

“yes, yes, I will”

That was my cue to ran back to my room and I did and shut the door before letting out a breath.

Even though I was within the safety of my room, I still couldn’t  help but panic all the same as I began to pace up and down, not knowing what could be going on out there.

I was still pacing the length and breadth of my room when I heard a quiet knock against the door and startling me as well.

“open the door Iris, it’s me your mother” I heard my mother’s voice and let out a breath i didn’t realize I was holding in before stepping towards the door and unlocked it. Her arms quickly reached out as soon as she stepped in and pulled me into a quick embrace before pulling away slightly to look back at my face. Fright evident in her searching eyes.

“What is it mother, you look scared”

“I know child” She answered simply before cocking her head to the side to glance at my neck. I heard her gasped with wide eyes when she found my neck to be rather empty. “where is your necklace?”