A Single Black Rose

Prologue

It happened when I was seventeen. I was walking home from a late night party. I took the shortcut, the dark alley behind my best friend's apartment. The sights and sounds were all familiar to me; the drip drip from the leaky pipes, the hissing fog that issued from heat radiators. But there was a strange...presence that I could feel, one that was not comforting. Shadows became foreign swirling figures of nothingness, giving the alleyway a live pulse. Almost like a heartbeat. I kept my head down, trying to ignore the frightening images that were cast on the brick walls.

My cellphone rang. Relieved, I pulled it out of my purse quickly. Its hard plastic gave me comfort.

"Mom?" I cringed and held the phone at arms distance as I heard my mother scream into it. Where I have I been, she asked. She was a horrible mother, leaving me to be a know-it-all, to do whatever. So disappointed, knowing she'd failed at her job to a whore, a misfit. I yelled then. Told her I never wanted to speak to her again. Don’t bother coming home she shrieked. I hung up and threw a shoe against the wall. I bit my lip as a shard of broken glass sliced through my heel. Anger boiled my blood, my clean, untouched crimson liquid of life. I punched a protruding brick, busting open my knuckles.

Wind soft as a kiss brushed across my neck. I shivered and wrapped my arms around my shoulders, desperately trying to erase the cold that emitted from my heart more so than from my skin. I wept and slid down onto the chilly, damp asphalt. Footsteps echoed down the alley, approaching fast. I looked up and blinked through tears. Someone slunk hurriedly toward me, coat flapping around them.

I ran. The broken blade of glass became etched deeper into my foot, leaving a small trail of blood behind me. I fell and curled myself into a trembling ball. The footsteps had ceased to sound. I peered through my fingers. Someone stood over me; his long hair fell into his face. He knelt down beside me and gently pried the shard from my heel. I gripped his forearm and gritted my teeth. He stood and pulled me to my feet.

"You shouldn't be down here alone. Have you never heard the stories about young women who get cornered in an alleyway by a stalker or something?"

I smiled. "Well then I am able to assume that you are not a weirdo. Thanks for saving me. How can an appreciative damsel ever repay you?" I was trying to be witty to this mysterious shadow of night, but he didn't seem to react.

Then, in one swift movement, he grabbed my by the shoulders and pulled me toward him. Our lips crashed together and I felt an odd jolt flash through my veins. I jerked away from him and tried to break free, but he had my arms pinned to my sides. Through the darkness I stared at him. I gasped. Though no light shone from anywhere, I could see his eyes. His glowing, phosphorescent eyes. He kissed me again, more fervently. Weakly, I succumbed to his passion; my muscles relaxed and I was slowly pushed against the wall. He ran his fingers through my hair and brought my neck to his mouth. The moisture from his breath made me flinch. He hesitated, and filled the space. Then it happened.

At first I thought it was accidental, but as the pain grew more intense, I realized that I had gotten myself into something bad. This was the point of no return, all except that I didn't have a choice on my problem. I felt my strength leaving fast. I slumped forward and looked upward. I saw his triumphant smile, the river of blood that ran down his chin...

That was six years ago... Now I am a vampire. My turning wasn't a romantic one, nor was it that great. But I'm not here to tell you a fairytale. I'm here to tell you the truth, and nothing more.

Vampires are evil. They have taken everything from me, my life, my family. But there's one thing I will never forget- they murdered my heart. Another vampire wanted me for himself, jealous that I had fallen in love with a mortal. He stole away in the night and drank my love to his death. Now, silenced in his grave, he waits for my revenge. Yes, I am a vampire, but I will never agree to the monsters’ ways. I swear I will hunt down every one of them. I swear to you...