Chapter Text
10 years before journeying to Oakhurst
In the years before I was a vampire. My life was peaceful, I lived a quiet life on the edge of the town I called home. My father was a woodsman, my mother was an apothecary. My sister was a seamstress and my brother became a woodsman like our father. Then we had a new lord arrive in our town. He seemed nice and friendly to the town’s folk at first… then suddenly he had disappeared when the sun came up or avoided seeing the town once the sun was high enough. Father thought he was strange and so did mother, I was intrigued. I should have stayed at home that night. I shouldn’t have let curiosity grab me. I remember entering the manor house and then a sharp screaming pain in my neck as a bloody hand grasped my mouth to cover the cry I let free. I remember the tears forming as the pain got worse and then eventually started to dull and I felt lightheaded, and my scream turned to whimpers and whines. Then nothing, darkness. I don't know how long I had been in that darkness but I remember waking up and the first thing I knew was my throat was burning, like I had swallowed hot coal. I remember the floor wasn’t cold under me, sounds were defined and my eyesight seems sharper. I pulled myself off the ground seeing I was on the floor of the manor in the entrance, the phantom sense of pain made me put my hand to my neck, the feeling of dried blood on my skin made me freeze. I ran to the closet mirror to see what had happened to me but when I got to the first mirror I found.
My reflection was gone.
Placing my hand on the surface it felt real, I knew I wasn’t imaging it, it was there. But me.. I wasn’t. Then the thought hit me, I needed to get home. I turned around and left the manor so fast I got home, but before I could touch the door handle it swung inwards and mother stood there looking angry but relieved, then her eyes went to my neck where the dried blood was.
“Kyran get inside, now” Mother said, her voice flat and a warning. Slowly I walked through the door, expecting resistance but nothing happened, I walked to the kitchen areas, where I sat on the wooden chair with my head down. I was expecting her to yell but I felt her clean the dried blood from my neck, her hand froze when she wiped it free. I knew what she saw, even if I couldn't see it myself. I knew, we both knew what I was now. There had been rumors of vampires going around for years. I looked up at my mother with tears in my eyes.
“I’m so sorry Momma” I remembered tears falling, and my fingers curling so tight on my pants they tore softly in the silence of the kitchen.
“Kyran, my sweet boy” mother caressed my cheek softly, her warmth heating my cold body, leaning into her touch I ignored the burning itch in my throat as the smell of mother blood rushing through her body began singing to me.
“Do you remember who did this to you?” mother asked me softly, I remember shaking my head
“I don’t remember, mother.” I whispered more tears began falling, the sound of footsteps approaching the kitchen, I remembered father walking in and seeing mother and I.
I remember the look he gave mother, the fear clear on his face when he realised what I had become. The pain I felt in my chest as he looked at me, and said those words. The words that killed me more.
“He isn't welcome around us anymore Meredith, get him out now” The tears fell faster as my voice cracked on my words
“F-father.. I-I’m sorry.. Please don’t, don't do this to me.. I can control it. I swear please. Papa.. Please don’t make me leave..” I remember sobbing watching his face, the disgust and betrayal, like I had asked to be turned. I remember feeling my heart shatter as my father turned and walked away, and then seeing both my brother and sister look away from me. I remember my emotions going cold after that, cold to my ‘father’, ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. My mother on the other hand glared at father and helped me get myself cleaned up and ready, as much as she clearly did not want to let me go. She could not fight my father, he was stronger, bigger and scarier.
“I wish to see you every few years Kyran, I want to know how you are doing. You will forever be my sweet boy” Mother had given me a satchel packed full of clothing and a knife to protect myself. I remember giving mother a kiss on the cheek and leaving the place I had called home for many years. I travelled for weeks, the constant thirst was my only companion. There to reminded me that I wasn’t human. I was a vampire, a non-human. Alone in a world that hated me. I remember worrying about how the world would see me. So I ran and hid in a town faraway. When I arrived at the gates of the town, the guards there stopped me and questioned me.
“Where are you coming from?” one of them asked me “Burberry Village" I replied softly and gripped my satchel tightly hoping they didn't poke further as I was barely holding back my hunger, after he looked me up and down let me by and I went to the first inn that would let me in.
I hid in that room for days.
And when I couldn’t hide anymore I ran. I ran for years.