I remember the old days, the days when my kind were treated as gods. Every city or major town had one and worshipped him to stay alive. No, those days weren't spent running for your lives or hiding to survive. They were peaceful and lush. There were no diseases that mankind has now a days. There were no murders or rapes. The only crimes were small, like stealing or back talking an elder.

I had my own city, though it was a secret city in the sands of Egypt. I was made there. Made by one of the First Born of Kayn, the first of my kind. My sire was his first fledgling, Amélathe. Her special power was to control those around her with a thought. She was a Manipulator, as I am now. I was her only fledgling before she killed herself.

My city, Ma'atla, was grand in every way. Secretive as it may have been, it had many treasures from distant lands that we traded with. There were no poor nor rich in my city. All men were treated as equals. If there was an affair that was too large for the humans to handle, I did it. I possessed the scrolls and tablets of all things that came to and from my city and had scribes write every word down that I said. My city was the wars came.

Two rival cities had been fighting for over a century and now things had gotten out of control. They forced other cities and towns to join in the fighting and soon it got close to me beautiful Ma'atla. One silent night as the city slept, warriors forced their way in and slaughtered men and women and children. Those that fought died with courage and those that ran came to me for protection.

I was awakened in my chamber by a faithful scribe who heard the commotion and let in the survivors. He told me the city had been attacked and the enemies would soon be at the palace, ready to burn it to the ground as they did the other homes. I quickly dressed in my robes of deep crimson and gold and ran into the grand hall of the palace. When my people saw me they dropped to their knees and prayed.

"To the shelters! All of you! I will handle this." I told them and they got up and ran.

When all were gone except my scribes and priests I sighed. "Go," I told them and they went.

I was alone for perhaps two more seconds when the mighty doors of my palace were forced open and in came a powerful looking man, followed by warriors so gruesome my nose flared. The leader, I saw, wore an outfit so great it seemed he should have been in a court instead of on the battlefield. He had hair as golden as the sun and eyes that were black, like mine. He was of my kind. He was the warriors' god. I stood my ground in my wondrous palace and he looked me over with a smile.

"So, this is the secretive city of Ma'atla, is it not? What a beautiful place. So much gold and beauty. Too bad I had to loot and burn everything." He said and smiled even bigger when a look of shock came over me.

"You," he went on. "You must be their goddess. What be your name my lady? My beautiful?"

"My name is of no concern to you, you barbarian!" I spat. "What gives you the idea of coming into my city and destroying it? What have we done to you?"

The man came up to me. He was too close for my liking. "You have done nothing, my lady. But I asked you your name. Now answer me."

"Fine then. My name is Rasha, fledgling of Amélathe." I told him with pride.

"Amélathe? The Manipulator?"

"Yes,"

"Well, well." He said to his men. "We have here the fledgling of one of the First Born of Kayn!" then to me he said, "Well, you have the honor of meeting Aries, another of the fledglings of the First Born. Now if you don't mine me asking, where are the people that ran from us?"

"You will not have them. They are mine!" I shouted.

"That's where you are wrong, my dear."

"I don't think so." I said and looked him right in the eyes. I was using my manipulation powers and could tell they were working. His eyes glazed over and he stumbled backwards.

Go back to where you came from you maggot! I commanded and he ran back to his warriors, who looked at their god in shock.

"No! You bitch!" he screamed.

I could feel the heat coming off me in waves as my power strengthened. My eyes turned red and he glared at me.

"This will not be the last time you see me Rasha!" he shouted and ran, his faithful worshippers running after him.

Years passed and he did not come back to my city. Homes were rebuilt and the wounded healed. Everything was back to normal, or so I thought. The troubles came with the new priestess. She was an average sized woman but seemed dainty and small because she rarely talked with others. Her hair was a golden color very much like those of Aries and her eyes; her eyes were what made her exotic. They were sea green and had navy around the irises. Her skin was not like ours. It was a very pale shade and seemed to have no pigment whatsoever. Her name was Aeravis and she was different.

She was a priestess yes, but not the kind of priestess I wanted in my city. She thought of my kind as unworthy to be called gods and tried to teach the people of Ma'atla that there was only one God and he was the only god they should worship. Whenever I walked into the market to meander with people I got hostile looks of fear and suspicion. She had gotten to my people and I did not like it one bit. The next day I called her into my chambers and told my guards to wait outside.

"What do you think you are doing?" I immediately started. "Telling my people that I am a false god and I should not be worshipped or loved. I am the only god in this city, my city! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't feed on your blood." My face had no warmth in it and my voice was like venom.

Aeravis looked boldly into my eyes and said with no fear, "One good reason? I'll give you more than one good reason. First, you are no true god. There is only one God and he is not a vile creature such as you."

"Vile!" I exclaimed.

"Second, I know what you truly are. A daughter of Satan! Third, I can see the future."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"I can see the future of your precious city. Do you want to know what it is I see?"

"Sure, why not."

"I see destruction, death, and decay. Your city will burn like it did once before and it will be no more." Aeravis's eyes had gone an eerie light blue at the time. It must have had something to do with her prophecy.

"That is what you see? And why should I listen to you?"

Her eyes went back to normal. "Because I fear for you Rasha. I may seem like some woman who wants to turn everyone against you, but."

"But what? Tell me!"

"But the truth is.I care for you."

"What?"

"I care for you and I feel sorry for you."

"Why?"

Aeravis turned around, "Because I saw you watching the destruction of your city and tears were streaming down your beautiful cheeks. You were heart- broken and I felt the pain."

Suddenly there was a loud crack of thunder and the sound of something crashing. I ran to the window and screamed. A shower of meteorites was crashing down on my beloved city, turning it to cinders with its fire and ash. People were running in all directions and some were even crushed by large rocks. I howled and ran down to the lobby of my palace and out the big golden doors. By now everything was almost completely destroyed as well as my palace. The meteorites stopped coming one at a time until none came. I fell to my knees and began rocking back and forth, holding my head and crying.

I felt a soft hand on my shoulder and looked up into the face of Aeravis. "I told you so." She said.

"I have nothing left. No one here to worship me. I must go into the dunes and be lost to all humanity."

"You do that." She said and started praying to her God.

"Goodbye Aeravis." I said faintly and disappeared completely.