Significance

Significance

- “Why do I matter so awful much? Why am I so important to the world? I haven’t done anything. I’m certainly nothing to get all excited about. Is it because I’m a Pureblood…? That is by far the silliest reason I have ever heard of for appraising someone. If not for my lineage I would be dead to the world. I know this to be true. For who would ever show interest in a mousy, clumsy girl such as myself? No one. And no one truly does, I believe. They don’t love the innocent, timid child. They love the “elegant Pureblood Queen-to-be”. I do not deserve to be loved. For aside from my name I am worthless, and nothing more than a killer.”-

In a beautiful mansion, isolated from most of the rest of the world, lives a prestigious family who are richer than most by far. A man and his wife wish to raise their child in peace. But they cannot be left alone no matter where they try to hide. They had always been pestered and threatened by those envious others, but now that they had a child, they wished to conceal this fact from the world at all costs. You see, the couple are of the few in a race of vampires who are highly sought after… the Purebloods. For a number of years they were allowed to love in privacy with their first born daughter, Crystalline. But on a cold December night, when their second daughter was born, word got out about their whereabouts. 12:00 Midnight, the night after she had been born, a knock came upon the door. Echoing through the empty stone hallways and reaching the highly alarmed and sensitive ears of Cher. A jolt of dead shock coursed through her veins as she rose from her seat beside the basinet where her baby lay. She raced down the staircase to the main room, and with eyes wide watched as her husband stood holding the large oak door open slightly, speaking quietly to some dark, mysterious man. “I’m sorry, but you seem to be mistaken sir…” he said in the most formal tone he could muster while still speaking coldly, with a million thoughts racing through his head. “ No one by that surname has ever resided here… and we have no children. Perhaps you are lost.” The cynical “man”, if you could call him that, merely grinned, not withholding his serrated teeth. The man knew it was clearly a lie, but politely bid him good evening and went on his way.

“Who on earth was it Damien??” his wife spoke softly from behind.

“I didn’t ask… You know there will be many more though, now that they have found us…” he said, looking sadly down. “Why couldn’t they just leave us in peace?” he thought.

“Did he say what he wanted?” she pressed.

“He wished to congratulate the DuBois on their new baby… and present a gift.”

Her eyes widened in horror. “Did you…?”

“No. Never you fear, Cher my dearest, no one from the outside world shall ever reach our children by any means.” He smirked then.

“So what did you do?”

“I sent him on his way.”
“And…?”

“Heh.” He chuckled softly, knowing his wife sensed it was more than just “sending him on his way”.

“Alright, nothing gets past you. I wiped clean his memory of why he came here and sent him to walk off the nearest cliff for his cynical thoughts.” He smiled softly down at her. Yes, it was a twisted way of protecting their children, manipulating the minds of others, but Cher wanted nothing more than for her children to be hidden from the world at all costs. Damien was more than obliged to serve the request of his love.

“My you sure are a cute little person.” Crystalline said softly as she peered cautiously over the rim of the basinet. Her little sister was still sleeping soundly. “Grow up well little sister… the world is very dangerous. Mother and Father have taught me so.” Then she kissed her on the forehead ever so lightly, it was almost like the kiss of an angel.

Four years later…

“Honey don’t be so paranoid… It took us four years to finally purge ourselves from those wretched monsters, but we did it. They’re gone forever I promise you.” Cher nodded, almost zombie like as she strained to listen to any sound…the slightest sound might set her off. She had been zoning out and only just realized how loud the clock was. No… was it a knock? “Cher, calm yourself. It’s only the clock dear.” Cher blinked a few times and cleared her head. “You’re right my darling, this is foolish of me to worry so much.” She looked away with an impish smile of embarrassment. “No. It is not foolish to worry my love… it is merely that excessive worrying may corrupt your mind and good health.” Damien gently grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. “Cher…” He gazed deep into her lavender eyes and spoke in a seductive tone now. “Never have I witnessed any being more gentle and caring than you… This is why I love you.” She brought her hands up to gently touch his face as well. “Damien…” He put a single finger to her lips. “Shh…put it out of your mind. They’re safe and always will be as long as we are here for them.” Cher nodded slowly and smiled. She wanted to believe him, but something was just nagging at the back of her mind, screaming at her to get out. “I’m going to check on the girls.” She said while trying to conceal the stress in her voice and Damien sighed in disappointment. “She worries too much…Those girls will be the death of her I swear…” He thought to himself as he sat there for a moment and decided finally to go see if she herself were truly alright.
“Crystalline dear, come away from that window please. You’re making me nervous.” Cher silently spoke from her daughters’ bedroom doorway. “You think I’ll fall? Mother, show a little more confidence in me please, I’m twelve years old now.” It was true, Cher had been way overprotective these past few years, and she wasn’t letting her guard down even after it was all seemingly over. “No, it’s just that… You might be seen… Someone could sense-” Damien cut her off, approaching her and scaring her when he spoke so suddenly, causing her to scream involuntarily. “No one would dare come near enough to spot her through that window. Is she pestering you again Crystalline? I’m sorry. Soon enough Cher, you’ll be the one she needs protecting from” he joked in a sarcastic tone. “But-! I’m not-!” Cher stuttered frantically. “Calm down…I’m only joking…” he said with a soft laugh. Crystalline walked over and silently shut the open window anyways. “There mother, see? I shut the window. Do I seem safer than I had a minute ago?”

Cher gave her daughter a wounded look and walked over to her sweet sleeping child on the bed across the room. “Sweetie you’re an angel. You don’t pick on me like your cruel father and sister do. I love you. I hope you don’t ever take after either of them when you grow up.” She said softly so as not to wake her, as she gently stroked back her soft dark hair from her face. “Cher-” started Damien in protest while Crystalline decided to intervene. “Oh mother, come off it. You know we were only playing, we meant no harm.” She gave her a stern, discerning look until her mother gave in. With a sigh, she finally did. “Perhaps you’re right Crystalline… I do overreact a bit sometimes…I’m sorry.” She shook her head and smiled sheepishly at her. Just then the sleeping child decided to wake. “Mama, it’s stuffy.” She said quietly in her four-year-old voice. Cher laughed slightly and Crystalline smirked, giving her a look of triumph. “Don’t worry sweetie, I’m sure your sister would be more than happy to open the window up for you… Wouldn’t you dear?” she rolled her eyes at her oldest daughter as she raised her eyebrows at her. “Oh I’d love to!” she said in a sarcastic tone as she swung open wide the small hinge doored windows in one quick, fluid movement. She leaned out as far as she could without falling and breathed deep the fresh air that the evening brought.
Several moments after their parents left the room, the girls began to talk. “Why didn’t Mama want you near the window?” Crystalline glared at her baby sister as she sat up in bed. “So, you were eavesdropping again? Well why don’t you take a wild guess…you little brat.” She said coldly. Yet it didn’t faze her. “She thinks that bad man will come back?” she said curiously. She didn’t sound scared, more intrigued. “No you idiot. She thinks they’ll all come back. All those evil, wretched men who tried to take us away and murder us before. There were much more than you know, regardless of what you remember…” Her little sister simply nodded in understanding.

“Mama worries too much.” She stated after a moments’ silence.

“You think father hasn’t tried many times over the years to convince her of that??” she snapped.

Her little sister pouted, she knew Crystalline wanted her to just shut up. At least about this topic of conversation. She didn’t want to though. “Why?” It was a simple question, nothing more…not about what they had just been discussing though.

“What?” Crystalline looked at her sister like she wanted to hit her. “What do you mean “Why?”?? You should know damn well why! He’s worried about her going crazy! Losing her wits! As am I and as should you be!”

She shook her head, she was misunderstood yet again. “No. Why do they want to kill us so much? Mother said one time that they want our blood. Are they mad? Vampires gone insane with the blood lust like in the old stories??”

“Some of them, yes. It’s because we’re Purebloods. We are vampires more important then they are and they loathe us for it. They’re jealous. They want to obtain the powers we possess by drinking our blood and leaving us for dead. Others may want us for ransoms, or simply to use us, bend and twist our wills. A lot of them just want us gone… and they don’t care how it’s done.” Her little sisters’ eyes were now widened in horror.

“Why??” she managed.
“I just told you why you stupid little girl!” Crystalline shouted.

“I’m not the stupid one! Don’t scream at me!”

“Oh, so I’m stupid? I just explained all this to you and what thanks do I get-”

“Shut up! I didn’t say that! They’re the stupid ones! They only want us cuz we’re Purebloods? We’re not special! Aren’t we just like any other vampires?”

“You don’t get it. We are special. We are nothing like them, we barely associate with them.”

“Well why not?”

“Because they can’t be trusted! None of them can!”

Much later when the Dubois had all gone to sleep and had a full days rest, shortly before she woke, her dreaming thoughts wandered…: Someone screaming… Who is it? I don’t know. Do I want to know? Do I dare imagine who it could possibly…? No. I’m too scared to think about it. What if it’s Mama or Daddy…? Or perhaps even…”Crystalline!!” Instantly the youngest daughter of the DuBois’ eyes shot open at the sound of her sisters’ name being screamed. “What’s happened?” she thought as she sat up in bed, and with a horrified expression glanced around the room… noticing she was alone. “…Cryssie…?” she whispered weakly, tears forming in her eyes. She had always been afraid of waking up alone in the dark… her sister was usually there for her when she woke. But now…where was she? “Cryssie!!” she screamed, as the darkness consumed her and the only comfort came from the blankets she clutched close, and the pale glowing moonlight streaming in through the open window. Open window…? Quick as she could she shot over and slammed the window doors shut without a second thought. “Why would she leave the windows open?” she thought while shaking slightly and gazing out the window. Slowly she turned and slid down against the wall where she stood. Hugging her knees, shivering, sobbing…this is how he found her when he entered the room.
“What’s the matter princess? Why are you crying?” she gasped and brought her head up to see who it was. A man… but he wasn’t her father, therefore she couldn’t trust him. “He must be one of them” she thought. Wide eyes she looked up at the man who was slowly walking towards her. “It is very unsightly for a Pureblood to cry in front of others… did you know, princess?” She sniffled and wiped her arm across her face. “No. I don’t care. Where’s Cryssie?” She made an attempt to look scary, but ended up looking more scared as the man drew closer and kneeled down in front of her. “Sorry, who?” His tone seemed somewhat cocky. She didn’t like it. “Crystalline. My sister.” She said defensively. “Ah, the eldest Pureblood princess. Don’t worry, she is safe. Come, do you want to see her?” Cautiously she reached out a little hand toward his strong, outstretched one. But she instantly drew back before they touched. He said Cryssie was alright but… “Don’t be afraid, I won’t harm you. Your sister’s downstairs waiting for you.” Slowly again she reached out, and this time grabbed his hand. When she did, several images shot through her mind, causing her immense pain for only that moment. Mostly because it portrayed the horrible events that had taken place before she woke… the memories of this horrible, horrible man.
“You… you’re from that time, aren’t you? I remember you. What did you do to Cryssie??” she demanded. He smirked cynically and began to laugh. “Oh, so you remember me princess! I’m so glad.” He said sarcastically, and a bit too loudly. “But I have yet to learn your name… May I hear it please…?” he gently chided. “No!” she screamed, shoving him away and running for the door. It slammed on its own, and she turned to face him with a powerfully angry expression. Then the glass in the windows directly behind him shattered, scaring him just enough to cause him to j ump. “Extraordinary…You did that??” he asked in surprise. Then he started clapped slowly, in an exaggerated manner. “Bravo. You truly are an amazing, gifted child. Will you please tell me you name? I must know.” She glared at him unrelentingly. “I can’t forgive you for what you did to Cryssie…Leave now.” Then with some unseen force, he was suddenly sent flying backwards and out the broken window. She walked slowly over and looked out the window… way down where the water met the sharp, jagged rocks… He was gone.
Hurriedly she ran downstairs to see how everyone was. “Mama…? Why are you sobbing?” She walked into the living room and over to where her mother sat with her face in her hands, and her father sitting next to her, trying to comfort her. Then she realized. “Oh yea… Crystalline…” she thought as she climbed into her lap. “I know… I saw what happened.” She spoke softly, and sadly. “You saw?” said her mother in surprise. “When I touched that mans’ hand… all his memories came streaming forth…everything that happened with Crystalline.” Cher looked at her daughter in sadness, this was the first time she’d ever heard her call her sister by her full name… and now she was gone.
“Did he harm you…?” asked Damien cautiously. “She’d been within the same room with that dreadful man yet again… it was a wonder she wasn’t yet traumatized.” he thought as he cursed him silently. “No…” Her words seemed to leave a cliffhanger. Yet no one dare to ask. Her safety was enough for them; her business was her own, as they had decided years ago. “He…wanted to know my name, very badly it seemed… I didn’t tell him though. I don’t like much, speaking with strangers…” Her parents were still on edge but sighed in relief. “That’s good that you didn’t dear. If anyone learns your name, it could make your thoughts easier to read.” said Cher. “Not to mention that getting your name out there could be seriously dangerous. More and more people will hear of you and want to find you… Trust me, tracing an infant Pureblood is no difficult task.” said Damien.
“Stop it dear, you’re scaring her.” Cher said sympathetically as her daughter cradled up in her lap. “Sweetie… do you want to tell us about Crystalline now?” Cher gently asked. “Mhm.” She muttered as she sniffled and wiped away a threatening tear. “Tell us everything you saw in that man’s mind dear, please, even thought it might seem hard…” She nodded in resolution. “Alright mama…Daddy… Here’s what I saw…”
- Inside the mind of the intruder: “I’m close, I can feel it. Yes… I’ve finally reached the DuBois’ residence once again. After all this time…fate has brought me here. Now…if only I could find that little Pureblood Princess who intrigues me so…” He entered slowly onto the property, it was just barely evening. Stealthily he made his way to the top floor of the girls’ room and gently pried the windows open. Silently he made his way over to Crystalline’s bedside. He did not notice the small form huddled under the covers on the other side of the room at that point in time. He studied her sleeping form momentarily, she looked so peaceful… so beautiful and elegant, with her thin, pale blonde hair lying all around her like a fan of radiance. “Tell me your name…princess.” he whispered softly into her ear, she was still asleep. “Mm…Crystalline.” She muttered with a sigh as she rolled over onto her side. “Crystalline… Crystalline DuBois… such a pretty name. Will you wake for me, child?” he said softly. Suddenly her eyes fluttered open. “Father…?” she asked sleepily as she rubbed her eyes with one hand and sat up slowly. But those golden locks and handsome features were not her father’s she realized as she gazed up at this man. “Who are you?” she said defensively as she pressed her back against the wall. “You don’t remember me? I’m disappointed in you… your ignorance saddens me.”

“You still didn’t answer my question.”

“And you’ll never know the answer Crystalline! Unless, that is, you can remember…”

“How do you know my name??”

“More questions… I grow tired of these games easily. You told it to me dear. Now, shall we go?”

“Go? Go where? I’m not going anywhere with you!”

“Crystalline please… let’s not make this difficult. You don’t want your parents dragged into t his now do you?”

“No!! Get away from me!!”

Then without a second thought he covered her mouth with one hand and restrained bother her own hands with his other… and quickly sank his fangs into her neck. After only a few seconds she passed out, and with blood still staining her pale neck, he lifted her and left the room. As he descended the stairway he sensed another presence at the bottom of the steps. “Ah, Damien… Long time no see. How is Cher doing?” he asked with a toothy grin. “Let go of my daughter you monster.” He demanded. “Mm… I don’t think I will. It’s taken me all this time to find her again… Can you really expect me to just let her go?” he asked, in a tone that begged sympathy. “Damien…? What’s going on?” came the voice of Cher entering into the room. “Go back to bed, Cher.” Her expression only became more worried. She hadn’t heard him so serious since… Her thoughts trailed off. “Maybe I should just listen to him…” she thought. “After all, my love does know best…” and that’s when the scent of blood reached her. Quickly she was at Damien’s sire, mouth gaping in horror. “Crystalline!!” she screamed. Damien held her back with one arm. “Quiet dear, you’ll wake her…” she gave him a distressed, puzzled look. Was he mad? Then he gave her a deadly serious look of his own before glancing up past the stairway and then back at her, willing her to understand. Of course...If their youngest daughter woke and wandered downstairs, she’d be in some serious danger. Neither of them wanted that. So she swallowed back the tears and screams threatening to burst forth for that moment. “I understand.” She nodded and they faced their attention back towards the smirking man. “I don’t like secrets.” He said tauntingly. The two simply glared back.
Damien was a step above him in the blink of eye. “Let go… of my daughter.” He said menacingly as he bared his fangs and his eyes began to turn a deep crimson. “Never.” Replied the man smoothly. Damien grabbed hold of his throat and the man gave him a long, sideways glance before easily slipping away and dashing towards the front door. Objects from all over the room came crashing down around him, yet he dodged them all. In a moment he was gone, and blowing the front door violently off its hinges, Damien chased after.
“That’s all I saw. What happened after that Daddy?” she said after explaining her vision. “I… couldn’t find him. She’s gone… I’m sorry.” He answered solemnly. “It’s not your fault Damien…” Cher said softly, putting her hand on his shoulder. Meanwhile their daughters eyes began to well up with tears as she bit back her lip and her face grew red. “It’s alright to cry dear…” Cher held her close as she began to let her tears fall freely. That’s when Damien finally made the decision that he and Cher had been mulling over for quite some time…
“Cher…” he spoke with her the next evening before their daughter woke. “We can’t protect our children on our own. Maybe we should look into getting some trusted maids or servants…who could assist in looking after her?”

“How could you even suggest such a thing Damien? I’ll have no stranger around my daughter…”

“They won’t be a stranger. We’ll find a well trusted vampire, whom we’ve had acquaintance with before. We’ll keep him under close watch and build up a close relationship before even letting him near her… Does that sound reasonable?”

”I suppose… but Damien, who has such qualities as those? You do realize we haven’t had any contact with anyone in years…?”

”Ah…therein lies the problem. If we can’t interact with the outside world… then who can we trust? No one. But surely we must be able to trust someone.”

Fiction: 03/31/10 | By: EzjCarmella | 0 comments | Tags: vampires