Nocturne screamed, trying desperately to avoid his master, who's sadistic grin only got wider.

“Don't try and run, my pet, it'll only make me angry.”

Nocturne pretended he couldn't hear the words, ignoring the burning in his lungs as he continued to run. Portrait lined walls became a blur, and he was beginning to trip up on the carpet as he rounded corners.

He should've been used to it all. Over a month should've had him used to Master Nael's sadistic nature. But Nocturne freaked whenever he saw his master's eyes gets that gleam, or he saw the long, thin knife.

Nocturne was so preoccupied with thinking that he ignored the voice in his head screaming “Don't go that way!” When you spend days memorizing the part of the castle you're confined to, ignoring voices such as those is a bad thing to do.

He had reached a dead end, and was now being backed into a shadowy corner, Nael less than four feet away.

Fuck.

The young vampire swallowed nervously, glancing at Nael's fangs -visible through the man's smirk- before looking at the ground. He tried to hide himself in th shadows, knowing fully well it wouldn't work, since Nael was currently about three feet away.

“What did I say about running, Nocturne?” Nael's tone was jagged ice, cutting into his younger as he grabbed onto the end a chain that fell around Nocturne's bruised neck.

Nocturne opened his mouth to reply, but a savage tug on the chain turned all thought out words into a pitiful whimper. He was pulled into the vampire's embrace. Nocturne breathing was still erratic, and he was trembling, more so than usual. The combination of mistreatment, and malnutrition he had suffered at one time left him small and shaking, with a quiet, defeated voice. And thus, Nocturne looked somewhere around age 13, despite the fact that he was 4 years older than his appearance. Well, technically he's immortal, but that doesn't count.

Shaggy black hair fell away from Nocturne's face as he looked up at his master. The older vampire's expression made him want nothing more than to retreat into a dark, shadowy place.

“Let me repeat the question. What did I say about running, Nocturne?” Nael's voice was deathly calm.

“Y-you said n-not to, s-sir.” Despite the fact that Nael was near a whisper, Nocturne's voice was quieter still.

“Exactly. Yet you continued to run, risking life and limb to avoid a few moment's pain.” Nael's hand tightened around the chain again, causing a low, almost pleasant throb in Nocturne's head. “What amazes me further, my stupid little pet, is that you know there's no escaping, and I assume you knew from the beginning that the consequences would be worse because you ran.”

Nocturne nodded, closing his eyes against it all. He felt sick. He felt angry at himself. He always did the stupid things.

“Come on then, my little wretched creature. We're going to leave you somewhere where you can think for a while, you look positively distraught.” Nael's tone abruptly changed, slicing through the thick atmosphere with an insincere grin.

With a not-so-gentle tug on the chain, the two began to walk at an almost leisurely pace, Nael strolling jauntily with Nocturne following close behind. They stopped a few times to talk to Nael's assistants, who glanced at Nocturne with a combination of pity and superiority before scurrying along.

As they seemingly wandered around the vast, maze like hallways, Nocturne wondered why. He wondered why Father chose him. Chose him to bear the tattoo, chose him to be the one that pent up frustration could be taken out on. Chose him to be the one given up to a sadistic vampire king in hopes of maintaining a temporary treaty between the two races.

He found no answer to the questions.

Nael stopped abruptly, and Nocturne barely managed to not stumble into him. Nocturne looked around, confused. He wasn't ever allowed to be in this part of the castle. The hallways were dark, and the air more humid, perhaps they were in a dungeon of sorts? The air quality made it clear that they were lower than normal, yet the lighting was still decent, the floors were still carpeted, and here were still normal servants and slaves walking around. The only two differences? There was no decoration, the walls were a barren white. And the hall was lined with doors.

“You seem confused, love.” Nael reached out, almost gently, and placed a hand a on Nocturne's shoulder.

Nocturne shook his head. He wouldn't admit to it. Nael thought him weak enough as it was.

Nael's hand -the one not placed on Nocturne's shoulder- was holding onto a doorknob. Nocturne watched the door being pulled slowly open, before a hand grasped onto his chin and tilted his head upwards.

Nael kissed him quickly, on the lips, before giving Nocturne a savage kick to the hip, causing the younger one to fall into the room. The door was quickly closed and bolted.

After groaning and clutching at his side for a moment, Nocturne took stock of his surroundings, trying to ignore the feeling of Nael's lips against his own. The room was small, about five feet sideways and eight feet deep. Everything was white. The walls were white, the back of the door was white, even the mattress, single sheet and lumpy pillow were white.

Nocturne instantly hated the room.

It was too perfect , too boring. He looked at the windowless walls, at the back of the perfectly flat door, and at the small, chipped white desk that sat in the corner. He felt like a mental patient.

He looked over at the bed, deciding he might as well lay down, and Nocturne's eyes immediately fell upon an envelope, with his name written on the back in what he instantly recognized as Nael's handwriting. He all but dove for the bundle of sealed papers.

Nocturne tore off the ribbon wrapped around the envelope, and the high-quality parchment Nael used for the envelope was torn to shreds. Unfolding the paper and turning it right-side-up, he began to read.

Dearest worthless Pet,

You're currently locked up in the white room, aren't you? Which means you finally did it. You finally convinced me that you're the right one.

Let me explain.

It's all been a test. Well, no, not really, I do enjoy causing pain. But a lot of it was overboard and for aforementioned test, and I apologize.

Now you're probably wondering, what was the testing and why am I being tested?

The testing was simple things, like me seeing how much I could hurt you until you got to the point where you simply wouldn't take it. You passed the test, congratulations.

Now, onto the next part :The reason why. You're being tested, pet, because I need a bodyguard. You're family was also involved with the test. The reason you have that tattoo on your back, as you know, is because you're going to get magical abilities, whether it be soon or not for another hundred years. And that little thing where I got possessive and carved “mine” into your chest, as well as going over the tattoo? That basically marked you as the one to be my body guard.

You probably had no idea this was coming, huh? Well, no matter if you have or not, you have some time to think.

You'll be in here for a while, love, so get comfy. Think about if you want to be my bodyguard or not.

If you do: You'll get sent back to your family to be trained for a few weeks. That includes finally getting your powers.

If you don't: You'll be killed. Sorry, but that's how it has to be.

Love from your one and only master,

Nael

P.S. There's a pendant in the envelope, you probably didn't see it in your haste to read this letter. Wear it only if you agree to guard me for the rest of your life.

The letter had Nocturne's mind reeling. Bodyguard? Test? Huh? Part of him was happy, happy that Nael needed him, that he wasn't “a worthless little pet”. Another part was nervous, if he agreed, he'd have to see his family again. The last part of him was angry. He'd been tricked and deceived the entire time. The letter said there was a necklace enclosed...

Nocturne looked over to where he had thrown the tattered ribbon and envelope, and saw the necklace. Extending his arm, Nocturne picked up the thing, holding it by it's simple yet obviously pricey chain. Knowing Nael, the whole thing was probably spelled to make sure it's wearer was entirely under control.

The pendant on the chain looked as if much work had been put into it. It was a complex metal design, almost like a group of knots made out of silver vines. They all entwined, leaving either end completely hidden. Nocturne realized it was almost an exact replica of the original tattoo on his back.

Should he or shouldn't he accept the offer? It was time for Nocturne to make the most important decision of his life.

AN: Yeah, yet another beginning of a story... Actually, everyone who's read it school thinks it's the middle of a story, BUT THEY'RE WRONG! I just like dramatic openings. Actually, the reason it's like this is because I hate how weak Nocturne is in the beginning, and he's actually worse in the previous chapters I had. So that part of the story'll be a prequel if I ever finish this. Read and review, you know the drill. Reviews get you your own pendant (with no strings attached), and a cookie.