The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

I lay on the ground exhausted from running. I could still feel the blood coating my back as the rain came down. The trees of the forest provided some protection from the weather. I did not know how long I had been running, but I could go no futher. My body was too weak from the lack of food and the pain that coursed through my body.
I closed my eyes praying for death to take me, and allow me to suffer no more. I repeated the prayer in my mind as I fell asleep, cold, wet, and bleeding, on the ground slightly coated with fallen leaves.
I heard something behind me. I was too weak to move so I could turn to see wht had made the sound. Secretly I wished it was a wolf or some kind of wild animal that would strike me down and end my misery. I closed my eyes, once again, waiting for whatever it was to strike.
When it didn't I opened my eyes. Through blurred vision I saw someone standing over me. Fear coursed though me thinking my tormentor had found me. I willed myself to run, but I could not move. I was too weak, and the pain seemed to paralyze me.
"I am here to help you, fair maiden." a male's voice said gently. I tried to speak but no words would come out. My throat was dry from not having something to drink most of the day. I wanted to protest, not knowing if the person speaking was telling the truth or if it was my tormentor speaking, but I could not.
Suddenly I was gently lifted off the ground. Pain coursed through me as if I had been set upon hot coals. He carefully cradled me against his chest. Strands of my long, now stringy wet hair, fell into my face. At that moment I did not care. I did not care about much. I still wanted to die rather being tortured again.
My prayers were left unanswered as I was carried through the forest. I do not know how far we had traveled. He carefully set my down on the ground in a clearing. There were others. Through my blurred vision I could not tell how many, but it by the sound of their voices I guessed perhaps six maybe more.
The rain had stopped and cold gripped me. I began shivering inside. I could not tell if my physical body was shaking as well, but as I could not move my guess it was not.
"I need linen and water." the man said as he sat behind me, propping me in an upright position. "It will be alright, my lady. We will take good care of you."
He slid my dress down my shoulders. I was able to lift my arms slightly holding on to the tattered fabric. It was a feeble attempt for I could not hold onto the fabric.
"Your wounds must be attened to." the man said. "They are quite sever. Who had done this to you?"
I remained quiet. Even if I could have spoken I would not have told him. In my mind he could be helping my tormentor and I was not going to tell him. It was only me to know what had happened and who had done this to me.
I could feel what was left of the back of my dress fall from my skin. He moved my hair over one shoulder. There was a slight burning sensation as he took the cloth down my exposed wounds. I felt every stroke he made, but I could not move in my weakened state.
My vision cleared and I saw another man knealing before me offering me a bowl of broth. I looked down at the ground refusing.
"You must drink some to regain your strength, my lady." he said lifting it to my lips. I drank the broth reluctantly. It warmed my cold body and quickly filled my empty belly. As if the man knew I could drink no more he stood and walked away with the almost empty bowl.
The man behind me dressed my wounds. I was grateful that some of the pain had subsided. He slid a muslin dress over my half naked body. A woman came to me and slid the rest of my tattered dress off. The clean dress slid down as she did. The woman then walked away with the dress I had been wearing previously. I am not sure what she had done with it, but I was grateful to be wearing a clean dress.
The man, who had cleaned my wounds, carried me into a make shift hut. He laid me gently onto a dry grass mat and covered me with a blanket to keep me warm. I hadn't realized how exhausted I was. I quickly slipped into sleep.
I didn't know what time I had awakened the following day. I didn't want to open my eyes just to find myself back in the dreaded cottage in which I had fled. I didn't want to open my eyes to only to see all that had happened last night was all a blissful dream.
Somehow I found the courage to open my eyes. I was still in the hut where I had fallen asleep. I could see the sun peering through the door like gold. I tried to move, but pain seared through my body like thousands of needs piercing my skin all at once.
"Good morning, my lady." a man's voice said. I turned my head to see the same man sitting behind me. A feeling of relief coursed through me. I felt safe for the first time in several years.
I tried to speak, but my throat was so dry, I could barely utter a slight whisper. I stared into the stranger's eyes, for a moment longer, seeing only kindness and compassion. I turned my head back facing the door of the hut. Even after seeing what I had seen in his eyes it was difficult for me to accept that there were others who could be that way.
Years of torture and abuse had created such fear within myself that I didn't trust anyone including myself. My tormentor had collapsed any hope I ever had at being truly happy once again. I thought I would die in that cottage knowing nothing more but pain, fear, and hopelessness.
Maybe this stranger was meant to find me. Maybe he was meant to heal my wounds, and show me the life I had known before I was taken cruelly away from it. I suddenly chastized myself for these thoughts. He may be showing kindness now, but what is to say he wouldn't turn on me like a rabid dog. Even if he is who I am seeing he could heal my physical wound, but could he ever understand my internal scars?
He stood up. I watched him walk out the door not knowing if he would be coming back. Within a couple of minutes he returned holding a cup. He sat next to me. He slowly helped me sit up. The bandages felt as if they were tearing the flesh from my back. I gritted my teeth as not to yell out in pain. He held the cup to my dry lips so I could drink. The water helped my parched throat as the cool liqiud went down. I was surprised that I had drank the whole cup.
When I had finished he set the cup on the ground next to him. He smiled at me. I hesitantly smiled back. I would have moved away from him if my body would have allowed me to. I was suddenly afraid he was going to hit me. I closed my eyes waiting. When he didn't I opened my eyes relieved. He was still smiling.
I looked at him with confusion in my eyes. He placed his hand on mine and I flinched and slowly removed my hand from his. His smile never waivered. I could see he was unsure of my reaction. I wanted to explain to him, but I couldn't bring myself to do so. Maybe one day I would be able to but it wasn't this day.
I tried to stand, but was I was unable to. I was still too to weak to. He helped to my feet and placed my arm around him and his around me for support. He moved slowly as I limped with his help outside.
He sat me down a soft, grassy area. The sun felt warm on my skin. I had forgotten how it felt to be in the sun enjoying it's rays. My surroundings was bright and beautiful to my eyes. It had been so long since I had seen such beauty. I could have spent eternity in nature and been happy. How I wished, at that moment, I could dance around in the golden light, and the warm breeze that blew lightly around us.
A woman with long, white hair brought me a bowl with broth in it. The man helped me drink it. The woman stood there until I had finished it, and it was handed back to her. She walked away with without saying a word.
He and I were once again alone. I wanted to ask where the others were. Why were there no laughter or talking, but I couldn't utter a single word. My voice was lost even to me, and i wasn't sure when I would speak my words or if I would be able to.
He moved behind me and slid the dress down my arms. I just allowed it. I knew what he was going to do. I felt something cool on my back. He then began to slowly remove the bandages. I felt very little pain. He laid the blood soaked bandages on the ground next to me.
I looked over at them. There was nothing left of the white fabric. The color turned from white to crimson. I couldn't believe that I had bled that much and could still be alive. He pour more water down my back. He gently wiped the wounds clean. Once he was done he put, what felt like, a thick paste on my back before putting clean bandages over it. The paste felt cold, but quickly warmed to my body. The smell was quite unpleasant and I scrunched my nose at the scent, but it lessened the pain.
As the days passed my strength slowly returned. Eventually I was able to walk around without assistance. I felt a sense of freedom I hadn't felt in a long time. I was no longer a prisoner and able to go where I wanted, although I was always accompanied by the man who saved my life. I was also able to eat on my own.
I may have begun getting better pysically, but mentally I was still afraid. I was afraid that my tormentor would find me and take me back. I knew if that was to happen he would eventually kill me since that was his intent in the first place. He just wanted to see me suffer. I was also afraid of my saviour. I was afraid to trust him only for him to turn on me as well.
The day I was able to be more independent was such a beautiful day. The sun was shining. The golden rays felt good on my skin. I took a deep breath. It was as if it I was taking my first breath of life. It felt wonderful. I promised myself that I would never take anything for granted from this day forward.
The stranger came up to me as I stood there basking in wonderous beauty I had finally found. I smiled at him and he smiled back. I fought back the fear that threatened to consume me. I knew I could no longer run, but I had to face whatever was thrown at me. I stood there forcing myself to remain in place although I felt like a scared rabbit inside.
"What is your name?" he asked for the first time since he found me. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I looked at him confused. I thought I was unable to speak because I had been so weak, but it seems as if I had truly lost my voice. I tried again and again nothing. He looked at me with understanding in his eyes. He smiled once again and said, "I know you will speak when you are ready."
We sat down in the grass. He talked to me about this place, and I sat there and listened to every word. He told me how they were nomads, and moved from place to place. He said it was because the world was so beautiful, and didn't want to take any of it for granted. He told me the places he had been, and about the people who have joined his little group. He told me how they were spread out with in a small circle in the forest, and that I would meet all of them. They were respecting me by staying away until I had gotten better.
He gathered me into his arms. I stiffened. He didn't let me go. I hestitantly laid my head on his shoulder. He smoothed my hair. "I wish I knew what happened to you. I hope you trust me enough to tell me one day." A tear slid down my cheek. It's been so long since someone had been so patient with me. It made me feel as if I had a new friend, but yet I was very cautious of this man even if he had save my life.
As the days passed my wounds had fully healed. I began waking up before him to gather wood for the fire, and boiling water. I wasn't sure what else I could do to be helpful.
As many questions I still had reeling though my head my mind kept returning to the man that spends his days and nights with me. It confounded me why is he was being so kind without asking for anything in return. I have never met a man like that. Even my husband who had passed a few years ago always expected something of me other than my love and loyalty. (I just couldn't see it at the time.)
That night as I lay in the man's arms I slowly dozed off. A noise suddenly woke me up. I looked outside and saw nothing. It was a dark night without stars yet the sky was clear. I heard the sound again. I didn't know what had made it, but and undescrible fear coursed through me. I suddenly ran into the forest without knowing why or where I was going.
I hadn't ran far when I noticed I didn't reconize where I was. I stopped looking around in the dark. I wanted to scream for help, but the words would not escape my lips. I was lost and frightened and didn't know what I was going to do. I just stood there wishing I hadn't run.
A hand grabbed my arm. I tried to scream, but once again nothing came out. "I finally found you." a familiar voice said. "You are once again mine."
It was the voice of my tormentor. He had somehow found me. I struggled but he wouldn't release his grasp. The more I tried the tighter his grip got. I knew if he got me back to his cottage I would be looking at another slow death. A death that could take days, months, or even years. I couldn't go back with him, but I wasn't strong enough to escape.
"You look pretty healthy for living out here for the past few weeks. Where are your friends? You should have died out here if you were on your own. Someone must have taken you in. You were too weak to survive on your own."
I couldn't say anything. I wouldn't have told him if I could have spoken. I would never put anyone in danger for my own actions if I could help it. I would protect my friends with my life if I had too.
"Still won't speak?" he asked. "Too bad. I have not heard your voice in over two years. It was such a beautiful defiant voice." He let out a gutteral laugh mocking me. He knew I was afraid and he was enjoying every moment of it.
He began walking, with me held tightly in his grasp, when a light came out of the darkness. We stopped. I looked up and saw the man and his small village heading in our direction. It didn't take them long to get to us. A small sense of relief came over me although I was still frightened.
"Let her go." the man said in a demanding voice.
"I will not. I am reclaiming what is rightfully mine." my tormentor said powerfully.
"She is no one's property. She escaped and no longer belongs to you."
"I found her once again so. Now she is mine." my tormentor said with a grin in his voice. "She is my property and I plan on keeping her."
"I said let her go. She is a free woman with us as she should be. She needs not be locked up and beaten."
"She is mine and I will do with her as I please. There is nothing you or your little group can do to stop me from taking her."
Out of no where I heard a light thud and something that sounded as if something had fallen to the ground next to my feet. My tormentor's grasped loosened enough I could escape. I ran to the group. Several surrounded me in a protective circle. A couple more thuds rang out. My tormentor fled uttering word I couldn't understand.
I ran to the man who had saved me and embraced him. He put his arms around me holding me tightly. Tears of happiness ran down my cheeks. I truly felt safe in this man's arms. For the first time in years I felt as if I could trust someone again.
"Ravyn. My name is Ravyn." I said looking into his eyes. I, then, laid my head on his shoulder and wept. He held me tighter.
The sun was just peeking on the horizon when we got back to the village. "I think we should move the village for everyone's safety." the man said. "It is difficult to say what else that man is capable of. We saw what he had done to Ravyn so I think it would be wise to move further into the woods or somewhere far from this place."
"Should we not stand our ground and protect what is ours?" a woman asked.
"This is no ordinary man we have encountered before, and we are unprepared. This was proven only moments ago. Our only option is to move."
I knew it was because of me they had to move. I felt bad for these people. They were living safely within these woods, and I had endangered them by not only running off, but just being there. I should have realized that he would come searching for me and eventually finding me.
We took down the huts. We packed up the frames and all we could carry. The sun had just fully risen as we finished. Although I wanted to ask where we were going I dared not to, because if it weren't for me they would not had to move. I had to bury the guilt within myself although all I wanted to do was to fall to my knees and beg for everyone's forgiveness.
I wasn't sure how far we had walked, but it was late in the afternoon when we stopped at another clearing within the forest. There was a lake that was visible nearby. The grass seemed greener than the previous. The man stopped us, and pointed. We place all that was in our hands, on our backs, and our sacks on the ground. The others began spreading out putting up the huts once again. I helped the man with his. Instead of thatch, as I had seen at the last camp, we foraged for large leaves for the roofs.
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as we finished camp. The lake reflected the oranges and other hues as the sun set. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen a very long time. I could imagine myself spending the rest of my life in that place. It was breath taking.
We sat, as a group, and ate some of the fruit we had brought with us. This was the first time since I had arrived that everyone sat together. I glanced around at the group that was made up of six women, including me, and at least ten men. The youngest of the group seemed to be around maybe twelve. She was a pretty girl. She sat next to a boy a few years older than herself. I thought that was her brother. They had some of the same facial features. The eldest was perhaps maybe thirty for I saw none with silver hair. I thought perhaps I was mistaken. It was difficult for me to guess age, but I decided not to ask.
I helped gather wood for the fire that was lit as night came upon us. The light of the flames reflected off the peaceful faces of the people. Still no one spoke including me. I looked up at the sky. The stars shined bright and a full moon lit up the dark. The stars seemed brighter on this night. The first thought that came to my mind was that I had begun appreciating the beauty of everything for the first time in a long time, and I finally felt at peace. These people and this place felt like home.
It wasn't long before everyone had gone in their huts leaving me and the man alone. He looked at me after puting another log on the fire. Although there was a slight chill in the air I didn't feel it. The warmth of the fire provided warming comfort. He smiled. I smiled back.
"Ravyn, is your name. It is a name I have never heard before. Was it your mother who gave you such a unique name?" he asked taking my hand.
"I believe so. I really do not know." I replied. My voice sounded so foreign to me.
"What about your father?"
"I never knew my father. I was told he was killed in battle. My mother rarely spoke of him so I do not know much about him."
I lowered my head as not to look into his eyes any longer than I had been. Even though he has been at my side for how long I am not sure any longer how long I felt uncomfortable looking directly at him. I had no longer kept track of time because I knew I no longer felt the need to.
He lifted my head so I was once again looking into his eyes. He gently moved my hair from my face. I smiled as I adverted my eyes. He placed his soft hand on my cheek.
"You have no need to look away. We are equals." he said.
"Man and woman cannot be equals." I stated looking at him.
"Who has told you that? Was it your captor?"
"I was brought up that way even though I never really thought that until my captivity."
"In this camp all are treated equally."
I could only smile because I had no words to express how uplifting this information was. As nice as it was it was hard for me to believe it. Nowhere I had ever known where men and women could ever be equal.
"I would like to know more about you." he said still looking into my eyes.
"I do not know why. There really is not much to tell. I am no one special." I said quietly.
"I would like know."
"Like what? There is not much to tell."
"Tell me about your mother. What was she like?"
"She was a good mother. She was a lady in Lord Donovan's castle. She was everything to me since it was only her and me." I said with a little saddness entering my voice.
"Did Lord Donovan treat you well?" he asked.
"He treated us very well. Only one thing that was disturbing about him which I did not find out why until I was older."
"I was promised to someone to marry when I had come to age. I was able to put it off until I reached the age of eighteen. She told me when I was fourteen that on my sixteenth birthday I would be wed to a man I had never met."
"Did you marry?" he asked.
"Eventually. My eighteenth birthday I ran away. I moved around staying with friends until one day Lord Donovan's men found me and forced me back to the castle. It only took his men ten days to find me. I was taken back with the threat of my mother's broken promise which if I had not returned she would be executed. I had no choice but to return with them."
"He threatened your mother you refused to marry? He does not seem like a person who could treat anyone well. No one should marry against their own will."
"Lord Donovan is a man that expects for people to keep their word when an agreement is made. He was not a man you made a fool of without concequences. I have witnessed a few be put in the dungeon or even put to death for not keeping their word."
"What was your husband like?"
"He was a very noble and caring man. He was a knight of Lord Donovan's court. I learned to love him. We traveled around the kingdom when he had the time. Lord Donovan was very demanding of his men so it we were unable to travel much." I replied letting saddness once again enter my voice.
"Why did he not protect you? That is a man's job is to keep his wife and love safe."
"He was executed by the very Lord he had served since he was old enough to wield a sword. He was accused of treason by the man who had held me captive."
"Why would the man do that?"
"He saved his life during a battle and he resented my husband for it, and wanted him to pay. At the time he could not get to me for his vengance. He wanted us both to suffer for my husband's decision. Please can we discuss more another time? I do not want to speak anymore of this."
"I understand." he said.
He pulled me against him. I laid my head on his should fighting back tears that threatened to spill. After a few moments I looked up at him. What I saw in his eyes was a gleam of something I haven't seen in his eyes since we met. It was as if he was seeing me for the first time. I have never known anyone to look at me that way before. Iwas confused.
He leaned his head down. He kissed me slowly and gently. I returned the kiss hestitantly at first then with an unexpected willingness. He lips felt soft on mine. It was as if I was kissing a man for the first time. It was the oddest feeling.