((This thread takes place in the past, when Laetitia first became a vampire. This thread explains some of what she went through during this time, before the present day in the SOTE timeline. Blood and some violence is obviously to be expected here. Those looking to join in could be vampire hunters or others of dark nature that could try to befriend Laetitia and help her come to terms with her new life. If you do join in a vampire hunter character, only Leonel is to be slayed, as explained in my character's profile. Other than that, read on!))
A New Existence:
The night stars shone in a clear black sky, their lights twinkling from far away. The night was still, no breeze could be felt. In a darkened cave on the edges of Connloath however, a young girl slept peacefully. Or so it looked like it. In reality, she was undergoing a major change as her features became ever paler, her senses became more acute and her teeth grew into fangs as well as everything else that marked this life transformation. For the girl was becoming a vampire, turned by her sire, a dark, handsome vampire named Leonel Richardson. He stayed by her side as she underwent these long and dramatic changes. For two days and nights straight, he stayed by her side except to go hunt and feed when he needed to. And so the girl laid there in a deep slumber as her life slipped away into the realm of an undead existence.
Leonel smiled at her, pushing back a strand of her long, black hair. She would awaken soon. And when she did, he would make her his. It was five hours later, when the girl's eyes finally opened. She sat up quickly, her eyes darting this way and that before settling on Leonel. "Where am I? What happened? And who are you?" she asked him, a bit of fear showing in her gray eyes.
Leonel smiled at her with as much tenderness as could be expected of one such as him, and said to her,"My dear, welcome to the land of the living. Or should I say, the unliving. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, for I am known to many like yourself and I as Leonel Richardson. He stood up then, making a small bow before settling down by her side once more.
"What do you mean? Where am I? What did you do to me?" Laetitia shrieked, shying away from him as he reached out a hand toward her.
"My dear black beauty, we are in a cave at the outskirts of Connloath, in the Sirantil Valley. As for what I did to you, you are now one of us. A vampire. Embrace it, for there is no going back." he told her firmly.
Laetitia looked like she were going to say something but remained quiet. A couple seconds later, she replied with, "I...I feel....different...somehow. More....strong. More alive." she stated a bit uncertainly. "I can hear the crickets chirp with such clarity as never before. I can see in the darkness as though it were daylight. But most of all....I feel such a strange kind of longing. I can't describe it though."
Leonel chuckled at her and replied, "It is quite natural, dear Laetitia. I imagine you must be hungry. You are in luck for I brought you something to help with that longing you feel deep inside." And with that, he brought out a large flask of red liquid which he swiftly uncapped for her. "Drink. It will make you feel better, I promise."
Laetitia eyed the contents, unsure. "Is that....blood?" she asked, looking from the flask to Leonel and back again.
"Yes, it is. Now drink. I promise you'll love the taste."
Laetitia, after some moments of hesitation, gingerly took the flask and took a sip before she quickly downed the rest of the contents in one gulp. Blood now stained her lips and she had to admit she felt better after drinking it. She looked to him for more.
The vampire chuckled again. "There's always more where that came from. I shall have to teach you to acquire it for yourself. We have a lot to do." he explained, getting up and offering her his hand. Laetitia took his hand and the two creatures of the night headed outside into the darkness of nighttime. He would teach her how to fight, how to kill for she would need this knowledge if she were to survive for long. Leonel smiled inwardly behind her back. It was only the beginning. And with new beginnings, there came much delight and opportunities to excel in their many pursuits. He would make sure of it. For Laetitia would be his Queen, his monstrous beauty of the night. They would be a terror for many to come. And the vampire eagerly looked forward to all that would entail.
* * * * * * * *
Three weeks had passed. Leonel was not pleased however. His new Queen tried to reject her new life, and quite vehemently too. He sighed in frustration, once again before rounding on her in anger.
"As I have told you many times before, you are a vampire! There is nothing you can do to change that!Accept it!" He wanted to shake her, to knock some sense back into her. However Laetitia was having none of it.
"But I don't want to be a vampire!" she cried in remorse. "I can never forget the look on that old man's face when I...." she stopped and began to sob.
"He was weak." Leonel admonished her. "And was unworthy of life. Besides it was only a matter of time before the old man bit the dust anyway. We just helped to speed things up. And face it, you needed some nourishment in you. You were getting too weak to barely stand!" Her sire continued to chastise her in exasperation. "And why let an old blood bag like that go to waste. You did him a favor, I say."
Laetitia shook her head in denial. "He was not unworthy! He had a family! A wife and grands-" she was cut off by Leonel interrupting her.
"He was unworthy! And I could care less about his cursed family! Now, the sooner you accept your fate, the easier it will be for you. I am starting to lose my patience. And trust me, I have lots of patience." He sighed again, raking a hand through his sleek, dark hair.
He was quiet for a moment as Laetitia continued to sob for the old man she never knew. "I have to go out tonight for I have some....business to attend to. I want you to stay here in this cave until I get back, you hear?!" Leonel eyed her, looking for more signs that she would refuse to cooperate with his demands. Laetitia didn't answer, continuing to sob into her hands. "I shall return. And when I do, I expect you to be more cooperative." he warned, a steely look in his eyes. He then turned from her and made his exit, black cloak swishing in his wake as the vampire left the confines of the darkened cave. Laetitia was alone now. And she had a feeling she would be a alone for quite some time afterwards.
After an hour has passed, Laetitia started to grow restless and she thought about leaving, despite Leonel's orders to stay put. Surely, he would be back soon. she thought, chewing her lip in worry. Yet still he did not return. The minutes ticked past, like an agonizingly slow march of death. Still, there was no sign of him.
Finally, Laetitia decided to leave the cave, for she was both bored and worried now. While she may not particularly like Leonel and what he was forcing her to do, she also didn't want to see him hurt. Was it likely he could get hurt? Laetitia was uncertain about this. Yet, something propelled her feet out the cave entrance, into the woods outdoors. She was tired of sitting around with nothing to do. What she would do when she got outside, Laetitia did not know yet. She would cross that bridge when she came to it. For now, she just needed to get out and breathe some fresh air.
One more final hesitation and the vampire slipped outside into the night, a blood moon now viewable in the sky. An omen for sure, but right now Laetitia paid that little attention as she ventured out of the cave and looked around. Something was wrong. She could feel it. But the vampire did not know what. And so she tread onward, her feet barely making any sound of footsteps as she walked through the wilds, intent to find out something, anything at all.
A barely audible snap of a twig sounded somewhere close by. Laetitia turned her head, wary now with eyes searching the darkness around her. There was something, or someone here. And she didn't think it was Leonel.