The year 1893
The sun shone down brightly on the land of Nalish, drying the muddy ground and roads where carriages of the Elite rode.
Although the rain had stopped a few hours ago, the sky had begun to darken and that was clear evidence that the rain was going to pour down again.
A little girl could be seen picking small apples that had fallen down the tree that stood tall in the center of a huge Mansion.
"Beatrice darling, how many times does mummy have to tell you that picking the fallen apples is bad..do you want to be struck by lightning?" An older woman asked as she walked out of the house to see the little girl down on her knees as she picked them carefully.
"But mummy, the apples are fresh."
"Sweetie, this is food for the dead not for the living." Her mother said, and the little girl's eyes widened.
"But why do we have them here mummy, if they are for the dead..they should be kept in the cemetery." The little girl said as she discarded the fruits and stood up to meet her mother.
"Come here and let me make you a good pudding." Her mother said and carried her up.
"Mummy, will it rain again?" Beatrice asked.
"It will if little Beatrice does not take her bath quickly." Her mother said.
"Ma'am." The butler of the house gave a bow to the woman.
"What is wrong Pablo?" The woman asked, seeing the man crease his forehead out of worry.
"There was a little problem at the village and the congressmen sent a letter." The butler said, as he took the little girl in his arms and the woman collected the letter.
"What does it say Milady?" Asked the butler seeing the woman's face turns sour.
"Take Beatrice to her room, I'll be out to the council now." The elder woman said as she walked away.
Having lived in the mansion for years ever since the madam and sire had gotten married Pablo knew that something was wrong somewhere.
Although he knew his madam could take care of many things, her change of mood was never a good thing.
As a half-vampire, he could tell that something bad was going to happen.
"Pablo." The little girl called and he looked up at her shiny eyes.
"Hmm? What is wrong little miss?" He asked as he walked to her room.
"Is mummy alright? where is she going?" Beatrice asked.
"Mummy has an important place to be at the moment that's why she's in a hurry." He answered her questions, softly and carefully... clearing her curiosity.
As a little girl, Beatrice had grown to be very curious about everything and that was something he had to make sure he stopped at a tender age.
"I don't feel good, will mummy be alright?" She asked again, as he settled her on her bed.
Her eyes stared at him and he shook his head before pinching her nose.
"Silly girl, this grandpa would make sure you never be alone and mummy would come back home." He said and she smiled.
"Grandpa? It suits you though, Pablo." She giggled and he shook his head.
•
Hours passed and the sky had began to darken as night was on its way at a fast pace.
Beatrice stood by the patio, her hand on the pavement as she watched the huge gate.
Her red eyes blinked as the gate opened.
She sighed, as she saw the butler walk through the gate.
She walked out of her room, running down the stairs as she caught up with the butler.
"Pablo, where is mummy. it's past nine." She asked.
The older man sighed, not knowing how to pass the news.
She had already lost her father and now her mother had gone too.
Surely the little girl would not take it well.
"What happened to my mummy?" She asked, her red eyes shining due to the tears that had rested on them.
He should have known that she would have noticed the rush of his heartbeat and the sound it gave.
"Shhh.. don't cry little Beatrice. Uncle Pablo is here to protect you." He mumbled as a tear left her eyes.
"Mummy is gone." He added, and a scream filled the air.
A scream of a Twelve-year-old, as she wailed her eyes out for her lost mother.
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The next day had turned cold, colder than the cold room where slaves who disobeyed their Masters and mistresses were sent to learn their lesson.
"Little Beatrice." A woman called the little girl was quiet as she stared at her mother's corpse which was ready to be buried.
"Beatrice." The woman called again, a little louder but soft.
"Aunt Amelia." Beatrice turned to the older woman and tears prickled out of her eyes.
"Oh my little poor bunny, look how thin you have become in a few days." The woman muttered, wrapping her in her arms.
"Aunt Amelia, mummy..mummy left us." Little Beatrice cried as she hugged her only aunt.
The older woman sighed, as she cleaned the tears coming out of her sad red eyes.
"Aunt Amelia is here to take you home with her. Won't you come with Auntie now?"
Beatrice shook her head.
"I want to stay here with Grandpa Pablo."
The woman could only sigh.
The child was indeed a stubborn one, very stubborn to the core.
"How is the mansion faring now?" She turned to the man the little girl had referred to as Grandpa.
He was indeed a grandpa with white hair and all.
"We will have to move to the small Mansion at the Eastern border." The man said with a small smile.
The lands were divided into four different parts.
The Nalish, Naborta, Bathon, and the strongest of all...Viscoria.
Viscoria unlike the other lands was ruled by a cruel lord, Lord Wolfarine.
Little Beatrice looked up at her butler.
Even at a tender age, one knew who ruled the Eastern Border.
Rumors had flown around and those rumors were known to be true for how heartless and cruel the man had ruled for years.
"Grandpa Pablo, are we going there?" Little Beatrice asked as she watched the man drop their bags into the carriage.
"Hmm."
"But, they'll hit us and stake us." She said, blinking her red eyes.
"They stake witches, not vampires Beatrice." He answered and she shook her head.
"But Grandpa Pablo, the Eastern border is full of weird creatures..the wolves."
"Hmm."
"That is the only place that can guarantee your safety little Beatrice." The man said as he placed her on the seat of the carriage.
And off..the drove to a new Land.
TBC