Seneschal of Las Vegas
I was born quite some time ago... Where, exactly, and when
are irrelevant now, so let it suffice to say that I am
older than the girl I appear to be. I am what is known as
Kindred, Child of the Damned, Vampire...
My mother was a delicate, mousey woman who was released
from her harsh life upon the birth of her sixth daughter.
Some believed she died upon hearing her husband's scornful
words but, deep within, I know her death was an escape. It
freed her of his anger and violence and brought her solace
at last.
Father was a man who ceases to have a face in my dreams.
All I remember was that he towered over me, reeked of stale
sweat and was quick to bring pain. He had no love in his
heart for any of us. What my father desired was the one
thing my mother failed to deliver...a son.
At the age of 14, I was "married off"... Of course, there was no ceremony or fancy vows. No words were spoken, at all... In fact, I was removed from my bed, half-asleep, and handed over to a complete stranger; hustled off into the night... I never saw my father or sisters again.
My new "husband" was a silent, brooding man. He never once finalized my transition to womanhood by taking me to his bed... Such pursuits of the flesh held no interest for him... His desires were darker and far more carnal than I ever imagined.
There were 18 of us total...young women and girls. We were kept as cattle, as a herd. From the time of our "initiation," we were a flock of pretty birds, kept in gilded cages. Each of us wore, around her neck, a heavy iron collar and, with these, were were kept chained within the bowels of his home.
Upon my twentieth year, I was truely initiated into his dark world... Taken from the darkness of my cage and brought forth, screaming as the pain of light shot through my eyes like a thousand daggers. To this day, I still bear the scars of my captivity...the faint marks around my throat where the collar chaffed my skin...my eyes, so damaged by the years spent in complete darkness, that I can not tolerate the light... forever reminding me of my past.
While I was never starved, the feast laid before me was vast and tantalizing. I would like to say that I held out and refused to dine upon such delicacies but, truth be told, I fell upon them like a ravenous curr... I gorged myself upon the food and quickly downed the wine; hardly even noticing its thick, salty aftertaste.
I was then dragged before my dark master, still bound...
the chain handed to him as if I were nothing more than a
pet, changing hands. My master slowly wrapped the chain
around his wrist...pulling me closer and closer despite my
efforts to stand my ground. While 6 years in a pit had
done much to break my spirit, I was still defiant enough to
angrily look to his eyes.
It was at that moment that I lost my will...
The cracking blow was swift and unexpected, sending me to my knees with a cry of suprize. He wrapped his hand in my hair and yanked me to my feet in one smooth, fluid motion. Again, I turned tear-filled eyes to his and again, I felt the punishment... His hands cruely wound in my hair, he pulled me close and whispered in my ear that I had no right to look any man in the eye... It was a painful lesson that took many blows to learn but, eventually, I stood quietly with eyes downcast...
It was when I stood before him submissively that I found myself overcome with desire to please this man...to know him...to give myself to him. And only when I was overcome with this desire did he grant me the gift which is the ecstasy of the vampire's kiss.
And so I lived, for many, many years... a part of the dark man's herd. He fed from me regularily and often allowed his vampiric relations to use me in similar fashion. I ceased to dwell upon my past and forgot how much time had passed when events occured which changed my life... He gave me to a visitor in his home, one night... a dark artist, by the name of Caleb...
I had been used by many but only for the purposes of feeding... Yet, as this one took me to his room to feed, so he also took me to his bed. Strange to say, but true... decades old and still a virgin... until that night when Caleb's love-making, combined with the kiss, drove my passions to new heights.
The blooded sheets revealed the tale, later that evening and my dark master flew upon Caleb in a rage. He screamed that I had been tainted and cursed the one that had defiled me, driving the dark one out into the darkness.
My master led me to a chair where I sat, obediently, eyes downcast. He almost sounded regretful as he began to tell me what I was...a ghoul; some immortal creature that thrived so long as the vampiric blood was injested into my system.
"You've served me well, Anahlka," he said, "but it is only the blood of the innocent which I may consume."
I nodded dumbly, listening to his words as my eyes rested on his shoulder, daring to move no higher.
"I am no longer able to embrace or I might have made you my childe...but not now. And I fear that you have been ghouled for too long to survive out on your own." It was then that he took my chin and tilted my eyes up to his... They were cold, deep pits and yet, deep within...a small shimmer of...yes...regret.
"I'm sorry Anahlka, but you must be destroyed."
He then clapped his hands, his ever trusted servants entering as they were bidden... My leash was handed over to my would-be executioners as my dark master turned his back on me.. He left me to die... the beast, having served her purpose, was now to be put down.
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