PROLOGUE

She was running through the woods laughing at the game she was playing, looking back every so often to see how far behind her sister was, and then she saw The Man.  She came to a halt, almost tripping over a tree branch in the process as her hair whipped forward and she stared at him.  He was dressed in nothing more than a simple gray t-shirt with blue pants and what appeared to just be regular boots.  He seemed like a harmless man, but the way he stared at her made her want to run and hide from him.

He was standing and staying still, breathing heavily, reeking of something that made her gag.  “Little girl,” he had slowly said to her.

His own voice startled him and made him gag when he smelled his own breath.  The man he had feasted on was drunk, so Thomas hadn’t the need to knock him out after drinking from him.  Clearly, the smell of his alcoholism had lingered on Thomas' breath along with the man’s blood as well.

But it only bugged Thomas for a moment as he saw the girl before him, described as her sister had said.

She had long red hair that was starting to turn brown, suggesting auburn hair in the future.  Her eyes so wide with fear were starting to dull from a blue to a brown, making them a dull hazel color for now.  Her sister had said that she would be six years old, but what Thomas saw was something completely different. He saw her for what she truly was.  A warrior ready to defend her family, ready for anything that was thrown at her and ready to defend whatever was necessary.  People only saw the six year old girl, the girl that loved playing outside, the girl that was still playing with Barbie dolls at home in her room.  But Thomas saw much more than that, he saw past her looks and into the future of what she was to become.

He saw his one and only love.

Finally, the girl seemed to remember what he said to her. She gulped before replying, “Mama doesn’t want me talking to strangers.”

He roared with laughter.  “Well,” he said.  “My name is Thomas.”  His laughter cut short and Thomas smiled mischievously.  “I guess we’re not strangers, although I do not yet know your name.”

“Tam-Tammy,” she stuttered.  In three long strides Thomas was in front of her.  Yes, the plan was working perfectly so far as Tammy’s sister had suggested.  Tammy shifted uncomfortably as he sank his nails into her shoulder where he was gripping her currently.

“Can you please let me go,” she asked nervously.  She squirmed a little and wished the man would let her go so she could go back to mama for sparklers; it was almost time to light them.  Annabeth would come looking for her soon, wouldn’t she?

“What’s the rush, kiddo?” he grinned at her.  He could feel her anxiety to get back home. Oh, wouldn’t they be surprised when she was suddenly ill for the next few days?  The transformation called for her to be sick as the venom would try to take over, but her body would try to fight it off like any other disease.

“Yes.  Can you let me go now so I can return back home and-” Tammy was cut off as he bit down onto her left shoulder instead of on her neck.  Tammy cried out in pain, and saw images she didn’t understand.  A woman with two different shades of eye color… a big man wearing a suit looking disturbed… two crying infants, and then toddlers chasing each other…

He then laid the six year old on the ground as she whimpered in pain and he breathed in her face a little until she was knocked out cold.  He stood up and wiped his mouth as his fangs retracted back into his mouth.  “Welcome Tammy, to the Vampire world,” he whispered.  He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as her hair started to transform colors more, making it now a visible auburn color.  He opened up her eyelids and saw that her eyes had now become a bright hazel color and he smiled to himself; the venom was winning the battle already.

A half hour later, her sister –Annabeth –found Tammy curled up into a ball crying.  She immediately went to her knees in front of her sister, “Tammy! Tammy, what happened baby?”  She gently pulled her sister's head into her lap and willed her to open her eyes soon.  Tammy stirred for a little more, moaning in her sleep before finally opening her eyes and making Annabeth gasp with shock at her eyes.

Her sister licked her lips and asked in a hoarse whisper, “Is the man gone, Annabeth?” 

Annabeth shivered; she knew what happened and she was prepared for this moment.

“What man honey?  All I see is you,” Annabeth replied.  She smelled the air and noticed the blood, and examined it more closely.  Already the wound was starting to heal at a rapid pace.  Annabeth picked up her sister with ease and said, “Come on baby girl.  Let’s get that cut cleaned up, okay?  Then we can light some sparklers for you.”  Tammy nodded and held out her arms for her sister, and Annabeth picked her up and headed home.