The birds chirped and the sun shown into her room on that cool October morning. Jade sat up in her bed and brushed her snow-white hair from her eyes as she took in the morning light. As much as she wanted to stay in bed, and in her room in general, she knew she had to get up and start on the morning chores before her parents had to tell her to start. Jade Leone, the slave, the peasant girl nobody wanted to be. That's who she was. Jade braided her long snow-white hair and made her way out to the garden. The feeling of the crisp October air on her face was heavenly, she loved being outside in the garden, to her it wasn't a chore, it was a small taste of what freedom could be if only she could get away. She dreamed of running away from that place, far away where they would never find her. Where she could be free to do as she wished and not be subjected to the abuse she had to endure at home. To be who she wanted to be and do what she wanted to do. She had so many dreams she wanted for herself, but alas, those dreams would be just that. "Jade!" she heard her father's voice bellowing as it pulled her from her thoughts. "Jade! Where the heck are you?! Your mother needs you!" he yelled with a booming voice that shook all around them. Jade gulped, anytime her mother, well stepmother, needed her it was never good. Jade took a deep breath and headed inside. "What took you so long?!" her stepmother yelled as she got in her face. "I'm sorry Loraine," Jade said quietly. "What was that?!" she growled. "I told you; you are to call me Mom not Loraine" she growled into her face. Jade clenched her fist. This woman was not her mother and never would be her mother. Marriage to her father meant nothing, that woman would never be her mother. "You are not my mother" Jade growled. Suddenly, her head snapped to the side and her cheek was burning. "How dare you speak to me like that?!" she yelled. "Jade!" her father's voice rang out from behind them. "Oh Oliver, our daughter has been so disrespectful to me, and for no reason at all" Loraine cried as she threw herself into Oliver's arms. "Jade! How dare you disrespect your mother like that!" her dad bellowed. "She is not my mother!" she cried cradling her sore cheek. "My mother died from cancer...and you didn't care enough to grieve for her! You married this...this gold digger months after she died!" Jade yelled. Suddenly, her head snapped to the side again, the burning feeling in her cheek intensifying. "Don't you ever talk about her like that again! After all Loraine has done for you and this family and that's how you treat her?!" her father yelled. "What has she done?! Besides leeching off you! I'm your blood, and you treat me like trash while you treat her and her son like precious jewels!" Jade yelled back. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "It's about time," her dad said as he pushed past Jade to answer the door. Jade watched as her dad answered the door for a man who was dressed in fancy attire. "Mr. Daniels, it is good to see you again" Oliver said. "Mr. Leone, it's time to complete our transaction" the mysterious man stated rather calmly. Transaction? Jade thought to herself. What transaction could they possibly be talking about? The mysterious man made his way into the house his eyes never leaving Jade. "Yes sir, this is my daughter Jade. She will serve you well" Oliver stated with no emotion behind his voice. Serve? What was he talking about? Jade thought. Mr. Robinson walked over to Jade and gently grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him. "She's gorgeous" he said smirking. Jade's eyes widened when she saw the glint of two sharp, pearly white fangs. Vampire! Jade thought panicked. "My Lord will be pleased with her" Mr. Robinson stated. "Sir....excuse me but, our agreement?" Oliver stated in a nervous tone. "Don't worry Mr. Leone, the money will be wired to you immediately" he stated. Money? What was going on? Jade thought frantically. "Dad! What's going on?!" Jade yelled. "Shut up girl! I'm finally doing something useful with you. Mr. Robinson here is going to be taking you to the prince where you will live out the rest of your days as a slave, or a blood bag, I could care less" Oliver spat. Jade felt a knot in her chest and slowly started backing away. "no....father please!" she pleaded. Oliver grabbed at her wrist yanking her towards the vampire. "Give me my money and take her out of my sight" he spat. Mr. Robinson handed him a suitcase that held his money and grabbed Jade's wrist. "Pleasure doing business with you Mr. Leone" he said as he led Jade out of the house. "No please stop!" Jade cried as she tried to pull her wrist free. It was no use she was no match for a vampire. Mr. Robinson opened up the car door and sat her down in the backseat shutting the door behind her. Jade watched with tears in her eyes as she was driven away from her home to whatever was to await her.