Fire Night

Ok yay, um...not sure what to say here cept read on hope you like. Please read my explanations before the story, it'll help you understand a few things and wont take too much time. Read, rate, review and I'll post the next chapter soon if I get good responses. This is just the prologue but it was long so I posted it solo. Hope you like!


Title of Master-Bloodlings and some low Changelings call their keepers Master, unless told otherwise.

Title of Lord-other powerful vampires or high standing Changelings may require this title, given in discretion by Master of said bloodling/changeling.

Changeling-weak vampire that was human, usually very young in vampire years, bound to the one who changed them.

Bloodling-below a changeling, a human that is bound to a superior vampire as ordered in the Agreement.

The Agreement-a written agreement or treaty between the civil vampires and the humans that live in such close proximity. Stated in this parchment is that the vampires will protect the humans of the valley against other less civil vampires but those saved by them are indebted to them unless told otherwise by the rescuer.




The Agreement
And so it shall come to pass that humans and vampires of the civil kind may live in harmony. Six laws shall bind us in lawful peace that will never shatter.

Vampires of the civil kind must protect those of the valley that live in close proximity. No other vampire may have the right to harm a human. Any harm done will be inexcusable and force the agreement to become forfeit.

Vampires of civil status must not kill any human unless given explicit permission by the council they are bound to. Any killing beyond the permission of the counsel shall forfeit the agreement

Vampires of civil status must suffer the requests of the counsel, compromise allowed under certain circumstances. All orders of the counsel are final; any directly disobeyed command will forfeit the agreement.

Any human directly saved by the hand of a civil vampire has an obligation to serve their rescuer unless set free by the word of the vampire. All in the presence and knowledge of the counsel.

Any human directly saved by the hand of a civil vampire loses the right to remain human when they come to age. The Master vampire may choose to, or not choose to change the human in their service at their discretion, alerting the counsel of the change

Any human directly saved by the hand of a civil vampire loses the right to remain with family following the time of their rescue be they any age. The master may choose to, or not choose to claim this right over those humans.

These laws bind any vampire who calls himself civil, who reside in the great mansion kept by great Lord Night and great Lord Mandagoran, their mates, their changelings, all those who are tied to them by blood or by fang must obey these laws to keep the peace created by the binding of the counsel and the civil vampire.



Prologue

Night was beginning to fall over the forest like a thick, cold blanket. Winter clouds blocked out the stars and what little light the thin sliver of the moon released. Saori tripped over a twisted root, taking her to the cold ground. Her long dark hair fell freely about her face as her hood fell. Tears welled in her eyes as she got back t her feet. She had to get home, her mother had told her not to go into the woods, but it had seemed like the perfect hiding place while playing seek and find with the other children. Her hands hurt, but she couldn’t see well enough in the growing darkness to tell if she were bleeding or not. She gripped the sides of her skirt to top the bleeding if there was any. She knew it was a terrible thing to bleed in the woods alone, and it was for fear of beasts far greater than wolves. That lone thought sent Saori into a run, she needed to get home, she wanted a warm fire and stew and to cling to her mother's clean white apron.

She stopped cold at the base of a large oak tree. It's long bare branches left gnarled shadows on the ground before her. She sucked in a hard breath, her heart pounding in her chest that she knew the shadow before her could hear far too well. From the short distance she could see his pale outline easily. Only only a torn and tattered pair of dark pants clothed his lean but muscular build. The cold didn't touch his pale, paper-thin skin as he stared at her from dark sunken eyes, he was hungry. His gaze held her still, like a mouse trapped by the gaze of a cobra. Saliva dripped from his dry, withered lips, but she wasn't afraid of that. His lower jaw was jutted out unnaturally as a long drawn growl rolled up his chest and past fangs protruding obscenely from behind his lips. His mouth took on the look of a rabid dog, which startled her when perfect speech reached her. It didn't look right coming from the beast before her.

"Has the little child cut herself? You smell divine."

Saori gripped her skirt tighter, hoping to snuff out the smell. The threat before her smiled wider, erasing any human features he had left. He moved towards her.

"You can't out run me, I'm a god little bloodling."

She stumbled back, and fell to the ground. Tears fell down her cheeks as she remembered pale cold bodies empty of blood and life. She was going to die. He moved so quickly her eyes couldn't follow; she didn't have time to scream before he was in front of her blocking out the night sky. His long fingers tangled in her hair painfully, retching her head back against her will. She cried out in pain, somewhat proud to have forced out a sound through her dry throat. His wide jaws snapped dangerously close to her throat followed by a sickening crunch she hoped wasn't her. A strong gust of hot breath fell against her face as his fingers relaxed in her hair. Saori opened her eyes; surprised to find that she had retched them closed in her moment of fear. Her once attacker laid lip on the ground, the back of his neck was bleeding, crushed bones protruded from his throat while his head fell back unnaturally close to his back.

"Are you all right?"

Saori jumped at the soft voice as if he had shouted at her, but she resisted the urge to run. The man before her was strangely beautiful, making her aware that he was a monster as well. It was a trademark of theirs she knew well, all of them were beautiful to their prey. But as she stared in shock she realized his jaw was normal, his fangs hidden, and he was fully clothed. A dark jacket hung loosely to his muscular frame, the collar of a white shirt standing up near his throat complimenting his pale skin. He wore fine black pants and shoes too nice to be walking in the woods in. His eyes held her for a moment in consideration, shining with a light red luster through strands of his long black hair that fell smoothly to his shoulders. His look was far from the black-pitted stare of the other dead beast, this vampire was well fed.

"How old are you?"

Saori met the cool gaze again, trying to remember how to form words. She found it easier to look away from the predators gaze.

"S-s-s-seven."

A shutter took hold of her, night had fully fallen onto her and she was freezing. Concern knit his brows together over his beautiful eyes but he made no move towards her.

"Are you afraid of vampires?"

Saori shook her head furiously, her hair whipping about with the effort.

"Y-y-you're Master Night! M-my mother says you're good!"

He smiled at her enthusiasm but was careful to keep his teeth covered.

"Do you live in the valley?"

Saori nodded, unable to answer clearly from her teeth chattering together. A few small flakes of snow fell against her face causing her to look up in curiosity. He took the opportunity to approach her; she didn't flinch away from him, as he had feared she would.

"May I touch you?"

Saori nodded, and was immediately thankful when he picked her up easily into his arms and wrapped her in his jacket against his hard chest. He was oddly warm for a being that was supposedly dead.

"Close your eyes and keep your face covered. You'll be home soon."

She obeyed his crystalline voice without question, burying her face against his chest and screwing her eyes firmly shut. It was only a few seconds before he lightly stroked her hair.

"It's all right now."

Saori looked about herself and found she was on a familiar street near her home. People were all around her, more than were usually out so late at night. She recognized the faces of the town council, relief visible in every gaze.

"Someone go tell Tamara we found her."

A young man darted towards her home, torch in hand as he went though the bleak dark.

"The girl is fine, I found her before harm could come to her, as are the terms of our peace."

A man Saori knew as Mr. Thom nodded sternly at her rescuer.

"It is our agreement Lord Night."

Her rescuer's arms were like iron around her small frame, he was refusing to let her go, not yet.

"Then you will understand my request to speak to her parents, without the presence of the council."

Mr. Thom's brows knit together in concern.

"Why do you need a private meeting with them?"

Lord Night's voice iced over, his arms holding Saori protectively to him.

"Good Mr. Thom, if you think I want to sate my thirst don't you think I would have devoured the girl already?" I assure you Sir, I'm well fed, no harm will come to the household."

Mr. Thom looked strained, as if fighting off his better judgment. He glanced at her, only a moment's pause before he sighed.

"I will allow you your private meeting. But I will only grant you ten minutes, after that you must leave or endure the presence of the council."

Lord Night smiled beautifully, softening a little but showing no intention of handing Saori over.

"You're a good man Mr. Thom, I'll be gone shortly."

He walked smoothly past concerned faces up to Saori's doorstep. Her father stood in the doorway gravely, his strong-arms about her mother's shoulders. The light of the warm little home shown around them, but it wasn't a happy rejoining. Her mother was crying softly and her father looked stern, like after she'd broken something of value to him.

"May I come in?"

Her father almost looked as if he would say no, but he withheld the angry urge and simply stepped aside, pulling her mother along with him protectively. Lord Night entered smoothly, but when Saori tried to wiggle free he gave her a pleading look and she stilled. She wanted to hug her mother and father and show them that she was well, but she decided ten minutes for the grown ups to talk would do no harm. Her holder sat easily on a large chair, letting her sit comfortably on his lap. It was normally her father's chair; he always sat there after meals and work. The vampire waited for her parents to compose themselves before he spoke. Her father stood next to their small couch while her mother sat across from him, a stern look on her face.

"I understand you saved her, and I'm aware of the treaty but you can't take-"

Lord Night's hand silenced her as he spoke calm and coolly.

"I'll not remove her from your care, she is far too young yet and I'm not a savage like my brother. But I do require something from her, as is necessary of our agreement. I hope you find my proposition…. agreeable."

Saori's father sat stiffly next to her mother.

"What do you ask?"

Lord Night finally released hold of her, sure now that they would listen and not try to take what was rightfully his. She went quickly to her mother's outstretched arms and stared back at the creature that had saved her. His jacket hung open, his shirt wrinkled from her squirming to look at everything and everyone. One hand rested in his lap while the other laid relaxed on the armrest. He looked almost comfortable.

"I ask for her services, as a house keeper and as company. It's quite lonely on the mountain. She'll live with you of course, but is required to come when I call her be it night or day. But when she comes of age, she belongs to me just as any blood bound human as written in the agreement."

She could feel the relief wash over her parents but she wasn't sure why, she wasn't even sure she understood what was going on.

"I'll give you a horse for her to ride to our keep. A small sum of money will be sent with her for her duties of course, to help house the animal. Are there any other terms you'd like to present before I take my leave? The head councilman wasn't so gracious as to give me a lot of time."

Saori looked to her mother as her parents locked gazes, there was something important there that passed but she didn't catch it.

"We ask that you care for her Lord Night. Protect her while she is with you from your blood hungry brother, make sure no injury comes to her while she carries out her duties. And please, please don't turn her while she is so young, I couldn't bare it."

Lord Night almost looked pained from the final request, it surprised him that they would think he would change her so young, when she was so fragile.

"That is understandable Ma'am. I had no intention to change her, not for a long time if at all. I will ask to grant her a small token of longevity if at all possible. She won't change; it's only a small effect our venom has in very small doses. She'll live longer, healthier, to serve me a while longer. She won't thirst as I do, only stay unchanged for a longer period than most normal humans."

Her father sat forward, his face tight with thought.

"She won't be a vampire if you do this?"

Lord Night shook his head lightly; he knew he was treading on thin ice.

"No sir, her body will simply age slower, but I'm afraid this only works a few times over before the body becomes immune to small doses. One dose will slow her aging process for nearly six months. But increase in quantity will surely change her if it was ever performed."

Her father looked to her mother for only a second, trying hard to avoid the gaze of his innocent and confused daughter while they bartered with her life.

"I'll allow this to happen only three times, and no more. I'll not have her changed."

Lord Night nodded his head in agreement and stood to take his leave.

"I'll accept those terms Sir, but I'll remind you, that after she comes of age, the choice to change her rests with me and me alone."

Saori watched him glide over to her, his hand resting lightly on her head as he spoke as kindly to her as she had ever heard from vampire lips.

"What's your name my dear one?"

Saori smiled, wanting so much to please her beautiful rescuer. She could only remember the wonderful things her mother had said about him, she felt special that he had called her his 'dear one'.

"Saori Ottomahen."

Lord Night smiled at her innocent eagerness, his hand falling away from her hair, letting the delicate strands slip through his fingers.

"I'll send for you soon Saori, for a visit to my keep and to meet my family."

He turned and headed for the door, her father following him to show him out. Saori stayed tightly held to her mother's lap who watched with anticipation as he went. He turned and smiled at her as her father opened the door for him, the winter cold rushing in along the floor.

"Take care Saori."

Her father closed the door behind him, shutting out the cold and his oddly warm smile. She found that she missed him already and didn't want him to go, but realized that her parents were far more relaxed with him gone. Her father sat wearily in his chair, his eyes closed as he breathed deeply through his mouth. When he looked at her again he was calm and ready it seemed for another battle.

"Come sit with me Saori, I have so much to explain."


Ok R&R please, let me know what you think. If you like I'll post the next chapter. See you all soon!