MUCH to her surprise, the town looked relatively the same as it did centuries ago. Of course, the architecture of the buildings were slightly more modern, and there were now concrete sidewalks instead of dirt trails; but the shops remained similar to the ones before. This was definitely her home.
Along the way, she had contemplated keeping her name or changing it. She had decided her name wouldn't draw suspicion, for she had kept her identity private all those years ago. No documents were signed in her name, no person alive at that time remained. She would go by Aurelia.
Aurelia Deveraux—her true name. Although it would be kept, she had to admit that her personality had changed. Instead of feeding on regular human delicacies, she now fed on humans. Not just any human, but on those who had tainted their own souls with crimes they got away with.
Her appetite wasn't the only thing different. She carried herself with more confidence, seeing her fair characteristics for what they were: beautiful. Her skin and hair were pale, yet her eyes were rich amber; the contrast was startling but captivating. It made her all the more ethereal—far too perfect.
Perhaps her appearance would be the only thing to draw attention her. Hell, it had back then. Men used to swoon over her contradicting beauty, determined to marry her to see if their children would possess those wonderful eyes or fair skin and hair; however, her father never allowed it.
Allowing her to be wed would mean allowing her to spoil her purity, and he wasn't ready for that, so he rejected every proposal—and they eventually stopped. But shortly after, she had met a man. At that time, she had thought it was fate. She learned it was not.
That man had not only spoiled her purity, but had taken her mortality. He had kept feeding her his blood, knowing she would one day cause her own fatality. She had, too. Although it had taken months, her death had been her fault. If only she stayed home that night.
A lovesick fool was what she was. She had convinced herself that the two of them were madly in love, and so, she had agreed to meet with him that night after her father had went to sleep. The choice had costed her life, along with her much-treasured mortality.