"I don't remember my mother, only how she held me crying as she screamed "Don't take him from me!" But I was still taken. I will be the twentieth sacrifice, I'm glad to have at least been an even number. I'm glad that I will keep my village safe for another century. I do not fear the death that will come to me. I am Blaise and I hope you will remember me."
I set down my pen and look over my note. It's a tradition to write your goodbye's to the village a week before your sacrificed.
one week, a whole week and I'd die. My caretakers started treating me better, the training stopped so I wouldn't have bruises. It was nice and peaceful. I was permitted to take more walks. I've always loved walking, I just needed to be accompanied. But with it being so late I had to sleep. Start to ready myself mentally.
Then there was a soft knock on my door. I go to open it.
"Blaise, I'm sorry but we have to rush. The headmaster got the dates wrong." Jaeden says
Jaeden was one of my caretakers, she was very gentle but her voice held panic.
"What?" I ask
"They're on their way we're dressing you, I-" she cuts herself off.
My eyes go wide
"Seriously?" I ask
She nods tears starting to stream down her cheeks.
I thought I'd have more time to prepare myself oh gosh. I get dressed in the traditional clothing of the sacrifice trying to avoid Jaeden's tears. It was comfy. Jaeden steps back to look at me. "Don't cry, I was born for this" I say softly she just nods and hugs me tightly. "I'll miss our walks" she says "I will too" I smile.
I was going to die, today. No week to say goodbye, No one last walk. I just put a small smile on my countenance and follow Jaeden. The people in the halls glanced at me before quickly looking away. Only Jaeden was crying. We walked until we met with two other people outside of a door. Jaeden stood in front of me.
"Jaeden..." one of them says.
"I- I don't want him to die..." she says
"We told you not to get attached" the other says
I hug Jaeden from behind
"It's fine" I say "Goodbye Jaeden, I'll remember you"
I hear her sob as she turns around to hug me again.
The door opens to reveal another person.
"They're here, bring him in" they says
Jaeden and I separate, I give her a small smile as one of the people takes me into the room.
It was dim, I could see figures on the other side. I couldn't see their faces clearly but from their aura it was obvious what they were. I felt my heartbeat quicken, I was afraid.
The person who brought me in forcefully pushed me towards them. I tripped on my clothes and fell to my knees with an audible thud. It hurt. "Get up" they say behind me. I stand as one of the figures approach me.
"A boy this century?" He asks as he stepped forward. He was pale with long silver hair, his face held no wrinkles. He took my face in his hands and examined me. I dared not make a sound.
"He was by far the most beautiful" they say behind me.
"Your heart beats faster than a dove's, are you scared?" He asks me
He could hear my heart? Well vampires probably need to. Did I have permission to answer? Should I ask?
"Are you not going to answer little dove?" He asks
"M-May I speak?" I ask quietly
He smiles, you could see his long fangs "A polite one too, yes you may speak" he says
"I am scared, but I will not shy away" I say with certainty.
His smile grows "what a good dove, being honest." He says. He takes my hand and intertwines our fingers, I let him. he lifts my hand to sniff my wrist. He pauses to sniff again.
"Is there an issue?" they ask behind me
"You wish to doom us don't you." He says, His soft tone now dark. He lets go of my hand.
"Father, what's wrong?" one of the other vampires asks. "Don't speak out of turn Augustine" the vampire next to me. "Sorry Father" Augustine replies.
"You want to topple us, so you don't have to repay your debt?" He says letting go of me. Did I do something wrong?
"I don't understand" They say behind me.
"You bred a Sunwalker!" He yells. "You bred a Sunwalker to destroy us all!"
I try to stay still to his yelling. A Sunwalker? What could that be?
"We don't know what that is, how could we have-"
"Silence! You dirty humans always thinking you can trick us, We can smell it on him." His yells turn soft and dark. I felt tears prick my eyes. Did I mess up? Am I not good enough?
"Thespis, they did not know" One of the other vampires says he snaps his head around.
"You have no right to say anything Eleanor" he snaps
"I always knew something was wrong with him." I hear someone behind me mutter.
I let out a shaky breath trying not to cry. His head snaps to glare at me I flinch. "What say you?" he says. His dark voice, made me feel tense. "Huh?" He asks when I don't answer.
"I-I didn't know sir, Did I do something wrong?" I ask. My voice cracked. Thespis seemed to soften slightly. "You do not know your blood?" He asks his tone back to the soft, kind type he had in the beginning. I shake my head no. "We can not take you" He says.
What? what did he mean? This was my only job and I couldn't even get it right? I hold back tears and silently nod to show I understood. "Kill the village, do not turn any" Thespis orders. Some vampires hesitate while others come forward. They'd kill everyone? Jaeden, the other caretakers? Tears slip down my cheeks. It couldn't be my fault, I couldn't let that happen.
"I'm sorry to speak out of place but please!" I say desperately, I cling to Thespis. "Please don't harm them! Do whatever you wish with me I'm sorry I failed!" I says to him. I swallow and glance away my hands still clinging to his sleeve. "I- I. I'm sorry, please don't harm them...please...I don't care what happens to me" I say much quieter. I glance back at him to see his bewildered face. More tears blurred my vision. He held up his other arm and the other Vampires halted. He turned to me.
"I can't do that, we can't sustain a human and if we were to turn you you'd kill us." He says
"Then kill me! I'm the sacrifice, That's my duty!" I say
His eyes seemed to hold a new emotion.
"Father, If I may." another vampire says
"Yes Gawain?" Thespis says turning to them.
"We should move him to a city before we destroy this village. He is obviously a pure one" Gawain says. But the rest of them.
"He would be corrupted, I doubt he'd be safe after being raised here" Thespis says.
"Please just don't hurt my village, they can find another sacrifice if I was not good enough" I say softly. I seem to be ignored until a third Vampire sighs.
"Father, I'll care for him, just end this madness." he says
"Hayden-"
"Father. I do nothing for our clan, you don't let me. I can care for a human, I have more control than my brothers and you know this" Hayden says.
Thespis sighs "Fine, I'll allow it because I trust you Hayden" he says
Hayden approaches me. He had pitch black hair that spilled onto his shoulders. his eyes seemed tired but kind. He extended a hand. I placed mine gently in his. He guided me towards the other Vampires. Holding one of my hands while his other rested on my hip. His touch was as gentle as his eyes.
"Kill those stupid enough to fight, If they run, let them live" Thespis orders "Kill any Sunwalkers"
They still planned to kill them?
"You can't! we had a deal!" the humans by the door says.
"We have the power though"
"I won't let you!"
Hayden leaned down to speak into my ear, there was no breath against my face as he did.
"Close your eyes" he whispers. I swallow and obey, closing them.
I heard screams of those by the door. The sound of them being attacked. I felt a wave of dread. Hayden's grip on my waist tightened slightly as if to say it was okay. I could smell the blood, I was physically shaking. "You're okay, I'll take you to the car, please don't worry" He whispers. He guides me. I kept my eyes tightly shut until a cool wind hit my face. "We're out of there now, you can open your eyes." Hayden says letting go of me. I open my eyes. I've never been to this area. There was a path down a hill to a road. Several cars were parked. Hayden looked to me. "I apologize for my father" he says "It's fine, This was just sudden I-" I cut myself off feeling as if I'd speak too much. "You don't need to hold your tongue" he says. I nod. "I just feel like I'm a failure of a sacrifice" I finish.
He pats my head. "Don't call yourself a sacrifice" he says calmly "Sorry." I say. He gave a small smile as he started down the path to the cars. I follow behind him.
"My name is Hayden, I didn't get yours" he says.
"I'm Blaise." I say
"I hope we'll get along"
I nod even though he wouldn't see it. We reach the cars, he opens the door of one of them. I pause. "Come" he says gently. I nod and move to get in.
"You're heart really does beat faster than a dove's" he comments.
"Sorry" I say.