The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Written in December 2005 through March 2006



Once A Mortal Child Now...

Chapter 2: The Next Step



I awaken confused at first. Eternal darkness surrounds this area. Sitting upon the bed where I last lay my head as Catherine Clare Soname, I remove the canopy drapes to see the rest of the room which I had yet to fully examine from the night before. Gasping I fall back and move fast to the other side of the bed. Standing there was the one who had brought me here, made me, killed, and destroyed my family.

“I thought you’d be awake. Come we must leave tonight there is still much you need to learn and understand as well.” he spoke to me first. “Oh and here.” he said lastly throwing some cloths at me and exiting through the doorway.

I change quietly and slowly take my time. I questioned within my mind to where we were going to go tonight. The cloths that I wore were expensive or so they seemed that way. A black with a blood crimson red tint in the corset along with a dense black jacket and pants to shadow yourself in the darkness.

I exit the room and shut the door behind me. I’d wonder where I was to go next. This place was huge and so I tried to remember last night which way he had gone to get me here. I decided I’d figure it out on my own. Walking down the stairs I went left of the corridor and I found myself in the same room where I was the night before with him. Books lined the walls thousands upon thousands of books had to be here.

“Just a little collection I have.” Came a voice behind me. Startled I fell over a chair and cut open my arm. No blood spilled from my wound nor did the wound appear. Staring at my arm I touch and felt no scar, no bruise, nothing was there. Lending out his pasty white hand to help me up I did nothing but stare at it. After zoning out for a bit I took his hand and he helped me up. I still kept my distance though I’m not sure why exactly.

“No need to fear me, your human emotions are still intact but those or most of them will leave you.” he said softly.

It was true I was in a bit of fear of him but I still wasn’t use to the idea of him and his ideas along with his kind. But I should get use to this his kind is my kind now. I can understand sot of but not fully. I just have trouble believing that this is my life now.

“Come the night is young and we have much to do tonight.” The doors seemed to open automatically when he said this.

The moon was bright and the stars were everywhere in the night sky. He was at the door way waiting for me to move. His tall figure cast a long shadow across the floor and past my feet. I was frozen I couldn’t move at all. It was as if the night’s sky had made me a statue. All he had to say was “Come Narcyssa.” and I obeyed.

We ventured into the unknown (or at least unknown to me at the time). Hey spoke to me nothing. It was quiet I didn’t really fancy it much though unless I was by myself. “Why do we have to walk in silence?” I drank my fear saying this.

“Well we don’t have to I just thought you wouldn’t want to speak with me until I told you what to do.” he responded “Well to be honest what are we to do?”

“You will learn the ways of the vampire race.” he seemed to understand why I kept asking so many questions. “Any other questions Nan?” he asked .

“Yes, why do you did you just call me that? And I’m sorry but I don’t remember your name.” I finally got use to talking to him it was as if all my emotions towards him were gone except I could still feel a few that stayed.

“Well your name first off is Narcyssa. I just call you Nan for short. And to refresh your memory my name is Monokno Stabanyo.” he answered these so casually as if he was expecting them.

“Wait when did you get the right to name me?” I spoke out. “Well I made you did I not? You simply were not born this way. I can tell you that much. Don’t you remember last night?”

Was this true? I have a very vague memories from the night before. Silence took over once again and Monokno kept staring at me.

“Well?” he said. “Oh sorry I don’t remember of anything to be quite honest.” well that was a lie in fact I remember every detail every emotion every feeling of pain emotionally and physically but that was none of his business for the moment.

“Well since you don’t remember I guess that can be a good thing but take this.” he pulled out an orb that did not glow nor do much at all. “What is this for?” I said confused.

“It will keep your memories. It’s similar to the mortal memory box only this has more of a magical potential than anything like a box.” he explained “Oh, interesting and how do you use this?” I kept asking questions.

“Well I couldn’t really explain it myself I’m not one to use such an item, but if you’d want to find out I could ask the inventor.” he told me this as though he seemed neither annoyed nor bothered by the questions.

“No, no don’t worry about that. I just wanted to know how to put my memories in this orb.” “Oh, sorry it just does it automatically.” he told me a little embarrassed. I understood a little before he told me. I could see that when a memory was important or had some significant to me, to life. It would glow then stop but the glow was so dim it didn’t look like it was working at all in the moon light.

I wanted to say thank you but it was hard yet... “ Ttthank... you” I told him. He seemed a little shocked as if he didn’t know what to say, as if no one had ever thanked him in his life. He smiled and we walked on. I believe when he smiles he actually has something warm flowing gently through his heart for one silent moment. I’ve never heard him be polite not once yet. We kept moving on and the silence was defiantly getting to me.

We arrived to a path leading to the forest. “No, don’t go on the path that will give our position away.” he said abruptly and in a soft tone. Stopping I obeyed and asked “Well then where are we going?” “Up.” he said simply pointing up at the tree tops that at least had to be two or three stories tall.

“Up? How are we suppose to do that?” Now I was really confused. “We jump.” he said

ordinarily. “I can’t up that high.” I argued just a small bit and completely forgetting who I was. He laughed when I said this. “You’ll learn quickly. Just jump okay?” he said softly. I was still confused but I did as I was told.

Standing in front of a tree I tried to jump with all the power I thought I had. I bent my knees and pushed off the ground. I went flying high into the air missing the branch about a few feet away. I fell about what I was guessing seven feet down. I closed my eyes thinking I was dead yet when I opened them I was on my feet with one hand touching the ground and with my knees bent at a exact ninety degree angle. “I landed?... what the...?” I said softly.

“Like I said quick.” he laughed “Go ahead like this.” he showed me. Running at an amazingly fast speed he moved straight for the tree and about five feet away he leaped off one foot and jumped several feet into the air landing on he branch gracefully. I was in aw. I couldn’t believe he had just jumped that high. “Come on Nan it’s your turn.” he called out soft yet I heard him loud and clear. I walked away about twenty feet from the same tree Monokno was in. Breathing slowly I turned around and I looked straight at the tree. Pushing off with my left food I ran faster than I have ever ran before. Around the same spot Monokno jumped off from I tried to do the same. I felt something like a sensation of flying come over me and I then I saw the branch appear before my eyes. I panicked at the last moment and closed my eyes.

“You can open your eyes now.” he said laughing. I opened them slowly and I realized that instead of landing on the branch I landed into Monokno’s arms. I blushed and tried to get out of his grasp. “Oh sorry sorry” I apologized quickly.

“Hey, hey I don’t think you’d want to do that.” he said looking down. “Huh?” I looked down. Screaming shortly (more of a gasp really) I grabbed onto Monokno’s collar. He laughed “Scared of heights are we?” “Yes what do you think?” I said in a high pitched voice. “Now if you could be so kind take your claws out of my shoulders or I’ll have to put mine into yours.” he said with mixed moods. Quickly I loosened my grip on him and looked at my fingers covered in blood. “Claws?” I thought to myself. “Next time trust me.” he said gazing back in to my eyes for the first time that I’ve ever looked back. “I’ll try and remember that next time.” I said quietly and he put me down.

“Come we must find them before they leave.” he said jumping to the next branch. “Come Nan just trust me you won’t fall I won’t let you.” he said to me about ten feet away. “Okay, I’ll try.” I said panicking. Gathering up all my fear once again I leaped from the branch. It felt as if I were flying through the air in slow motion yet surprisingly I found myself holding on to the branch and the ground next to Monokno. “Bravo Nan see I knew you’d learn quickly.” he said happily. For the first time he’s happy, it was weird. I thought it was kinda funny. I smiled sort of and stood up holding my balance perfectly.

“How about this lets see how fast and quiet you can be.” he said jumping ahead of me. He was making this into a game, and I wanted to win. Forgetting about everything I started and before I knew it I had caught his scent and caught up with his pace right next to him. “You’re a fast one for a newbie. Usually it takes a newbie a few months to master running this fast.” he said proudly as if we were related. It was odd. Everything around me was a blur though it was hard to really notice. I smiled back at him. In the end all that was in my mind was that I wanted to win. So I gathered up all my strength and pulled ahead. “Damn it.” I thought “ I am fast”

What I didn’t realize was that Monokno was right there next to me when I tried to pull ahead. He looked at me started to slow down. I did the same. It was as if I was obeying his commands through our minds. “Down there.” he said pointing down at a fire site. “See the one right there the young boy. He looks a little older than you but he’ll do.” he said to me softly. “Now listen up Nan this is going to be a test to see how well you can seduce and lead him away from the light of the fire.” he explained this to me as if I was suppose to kill that boy tonight. “Why?” I didn’t want the answer. “Lead him away from the light and do what any vampire would do to a human being. To kill them, drink their blood like liquid fire running down your throat giving you the life that you live now.” Pretty much I had to just lure him away from the camp fire some how or some way I thought of. It seemed easy enough.

Jumping down from the tree as quietly as I could I made my move and obeyed my orders. “Um...” the boy looked up and smiled. “You lost?” he asked. “Yes.. I think so I’m not sure any more.” I said faking that I was scared. “Well where yea headed? A delicate little thing like you shouldn’t be traveling alone in a forest such as this one.” the boy said with a sly smile. “Really why is that?” I seemed to be scared more now than when I first stared to fake it. While I was doing this I knew Monokno was watching my every move from the shadows. “Why there’s all sorts of creepy things out there. Vampires, werewolves you know the crazy creatures that are out there during the night.” he said trying to scare me more. “Well if these creatures are here then aren’t you afraid yourself?” I asked. “I ain’t afraid of nothing.” he said proudly.

“You know you can come closer to the fire.” he said patting a spot on the log next to him. I motioned to move forward. “No don’t go near the fire, he’ll see you and you’ll be found out.” came a voice in my head sounding like Monokno. I stepped back. “No.. I mean I can’t move I guess I’m to afraid.” I said covering my tracks and moving further away from the camp fire hoping he’d follow. And he did. He stood up and tried to hug me. “It’s okay here.” the boy smiled.

“Now” said Monokno. I hesitated as the boy held me but I obeyed. I didn’t and I couldn’t refuse an order. Slowly I opened my mouth unsheathing my razor sharp daggers and slowly sinking my fangs hard into the flesh of his neck. He gasped and tried to pull away but my grip on him was to strong for him to get out of. Monokno landed next to me as I feed for the first time on my own. “Good, good Narcyssa.” he congratulated me. I could feel the beat of his heart every time I took another intake of blood. I could feel him grow weaker and weaker until he was on his last few beats of life. “Narcyssa stop.” he ordered and I obeyed. Dropping the corpse to the ground I stared at it reminding myself of my once family. Dead, lifeless, nothing but a heap of flesh and bones. “Remember don’t take the last few beats of the heart or you’ll take n the death you bestowed upon this mortal boy.” he warned me. I looked at the dead corpse staring at the body, I felt my body crave more but I pushed it away. “Lets leave before they find the dead corpse here.” he said. I turned to Monokno and followed him into the trees again. “Where are we going now?” I asked like a child when confused. “You’ll see.” he said.

We traveled quickly to the end of the forest. Stopping at the end he pushed me behind him. There were gates up ahead but it looked as if they haven’t been opened in years. I wanted to know where we were going but I kept quiet. He hopped down from the tree and landed perfectly, me on the other hand fell and almost landed on my face. He didn’t notice and kept walking towards the gates. I got up and began to walk behind him. He made sure I kept my distance between him and the gates. He spoke loudly “I am Monokno Stabanyo. I am here with a newbie Narcyssa Raven Ayame. I command to let us in upon these lands of the Forbidden.” he stopped and pulled up his sleeve revealing a crest in the shape of an upside down “A” and a pentagram mixed into one together. The gates seemed to give off a deep red glow and slowly opened. “Narcyssa come.” he said sternly and I followed. I didn’t know why we were going through here the land was dead nothing was here.

Stepping through the gates it seems that everything changed the land that was dead was crowded with people in a city. Tall castles and stores where everywhere. People in cloaks, nothing looked normal. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped. “You’d better stay close Narcyssa you wouldn’t want to get lost in a place like this.” Monokno said with a sliver of happiness in his throat.

With Monokno standing behind me, he looked powerful compared to everyone else. I moved back a bit getting closer to him. We walked almost in unison with everyone else and no one spoke loudly it was almost quiet. “This way.” We turned from the big crowds and went down a more desolate road. “Um... don’t mean to be disrespectful but where are we going?” I asked softly not wanting to get hit. “You’ll see.” that’s all he said. I was growing impatient with him not telling me but the fear was still there so I kept my mouth shut. We came to a huge castle that was taller than any other of the other buildings and it seemed to be in the middle of the whole area.

Walking forward two guards took one look at Monokno and stood out of his way. Walking tall he and I walked through. The place was huge with stone, scrolls, a carpet it must be someone important that lives here. We stopped as I saw a man all in black come down the hall way. “Master Stabanyo good to see you again.” he said with a smile and a bow as he took his coat. Monokno placed a hand on him and smiled back. “As well as you good chap.” the gentlemen looked around Monokno at me and looked puzzled “Uh.. Sir...” he started off but Monokno held his hand up. “No need to question Joseph.” he smiled and brought me in front of him with his hands on my shoulders. “I am finally done with my search. This is Narcyssa Raven Ayame.” he said this with great pride. The man called Joseph look ecstatic and shook my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet to Ms. Ayame.” he said. I blushed and was speechless. “Go on Narcyssa say hello to Joseph.” he spoke in my ear. “Hello Joseph.” I said quietly. “Shy one isn’t she Master Stabanyo?” he chuckled. “Well I assume your home for a while?” he asked. “Yes me and Narcyssa are going to be here for a while.” Monokno said to Joseph. “Then I shall go message the others and prepare your rooms.” he said this bowed and left.

“He’s a really good man, taught me everything I know.” Monokno smiled. ‘He must have been like a father figure to him as a child.’ I thought. “He seemed nice.” I said silently. As soon as I finished talking he looked up and we both saw a group of about five people coming down the hallway. “So it is true what Joseph had said. You have returned and with a young girl.” said a women with a British accent and dressed like royalty in an ice blue dress that was lined with turquoise stones. She didn’t look amused at all but she seemed like Monokno powerful with her blonde hair pulled tightly back into a bun. She was staring right at me which made me very uncomfortable.

“Yes it is true Daiana. To the rest of you this is Narcyssa Raven Ayame.” I heard a voice in my head saying “Bow.” I obeyed and bowed deeply before all five of them. “Obedient. Good, she’ll have to be to fulfill out task at hand with... well you know.” And with that Daiana turned around and walked away.

One of the Elders smiled and looked at me saying “Don’t worry to much about Daiana. She’s a little jealous.” I didn’t smile but giggled in my head. “Come we must keep walking to the dinning room you’re just in time for lunch.” continued the old looking vampire with his long grey beard barley touching the ground. Monokno put his hands on the old man’s shoulder and smiled, yet looking back at me he spoke to me. “Come Narcyssa we mustn’t keep the others waiting.” With my legs feeling like bricks that were attached to my ankles and feet I followed slowly behind them.

Yet I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder holding me back. “Master Stabanyo.” Monokno looked back. Joseph had his hand on my shoulder. “Yes? Has she gotten into trouble already?” he said joking around. “Master Stabanyo surely you do not want Ms. Ayame to be in the drab clothing that she’s in, as well as yourself sir?” he looked at what he was wearing and said “Well this is true.” He chuckled. It’s funny I’ve never seen him so happy, so comfortable, but then again I’ve only known him for a couple of days. Though I did admit I did like him this way. “Why don’t I take Ms. Ayame to her room for some proper attire?” Joseph had suggested. “Yes that would be proper.” Monokno replied. “ I shall see you downstairs Narcyssa.” With that he turned and walked away.

Turning to Joseph he had already began up a large staircase made out of what looked like black stone of some sort. We ascended up 3 flights of stairs and by this time I’d thought lunch would have been over long ago. “Here we go. The Brujah Room.” Joseph had finally said. The door looked exactly like the other one that I had stayed in the night before. It opened the same ay as well. Yet inside was basically the same except for an extremely large armoire in the far distance. As I stood there in aw, I was yet confused. ‘What exactly am I to do or what do I have to wear?’ I thought to myself. Joseph walked in and over to the armoire looking through it to what he thought I should wear. Still standing in the doorway he turned around. “Here you go.” he spoke with a smile. “Well com on in this will be your room after all.” he spoke semi chuckling. Walking still in a bit of aw I looked at Joseph as he continued. “Here I think this would fit you quite well.” “This is gorgeous, I couldn’t.” I looked at the dress he had been holding.

A deep crimson color, laces lining the bottom and the shoulders. Sleeveless and it looked like the top was a corset. “No don’t fret it is after all yours.” “What?” I hesitated. “Yes Master Stabanyo picked it out for you, well before he found you that is.” he paused and went on. “I’ll send in Katria in for you.” He set the dress on the bed and for the first time left me alone. I couldn’t get this out of my mind. Monokno was treated like a king. And everything was changing so fast.

Just as I sat down next to the dress laying so gently upon the bed a short little women pudgy yet not fat walked through the doorway. “Oh my child.” she exclaimed. “A beautiful young lady as yourself shouldn’t be in such drabby clothing.” She said with one look at me. “Um... I didn’t know this was going to be so formal.” I said trying to make conversation. “Oh child don’t worry we’ll get that situated in time. My name is Katria or Kat for short. Now if you don’t mind Ms. Ayame please stand up and take off those ungodly cloths.” “Okay but if you don’t mind when its just you and me please call me by my first name Narcyssa.” I said with a tad of hesitation and wanting at least one friend. It was funny she reminded me so much of my mortal mother. Katria smiled. “Of course child.” I changed with the help of Kat and before I knew it I was ready. I couldn’t see what I looked like for there were no mirrors in this room.

Walking down the stairs carefully Katria had taught me very quickly how to act and speak while I’m in the presents of the others, which she mentioned to me were the 6 Gods and Goddesses of our race. Joseph had met up with us at the bottom of the staircase. “Well my child I shall be seeing you.” Kat bowed and went on her way to do what ever she was suppose to do.

“Come Ms. Ayame.” Joseph lead me into a huge dinning room. Yet dimly lit it looked as though from the roman times. Joseph stopped in the doorway with me behind him. He bowed and in a very obedient voice he said “Mistresses and Masters may I introduce to you all Ms. Narcyssa Raven Ayame.” He took one step to his side and I took one step forward and bowed with loyalty. Joseph lead me to my seat next to Monokno and Mistress Daiana. In front of everyone else was the same. A gold plat and goblet full up to the brim with of course what else but blood. Everyone was quiet and no one was looking at anyone else or eating. And as soon as I had arrived and had sat down I knew something was amiss.