Path of the Vampire forum

Where Seren was for about the last two months before she returned to Harper Rock.

December 23rd, 2013

She hung her cellphone up as she moved towards the computer, it seemed that the local police department had surrounded the Moonlight Locus Cafe, someone had hacked into the police database and so they were now questioning everyone who was still inside. She had been called by one of her employees due to them wanting the camera feed that they believed would give them more information about who had hacked into their system. She had been more than willing to give them the information but only if it was Jarrett, Catherine, David or John.

They had not been to pleased when they questioned why she would be willing to give the feed to their department but not the police themselves, she had simply replied with if they truly wanted it, they could file the proper paperwork but seeing as there was a hacker they were searching for, who could say how long that information would be on their local servers. Yet a warrant would be more than acceptable to her if they wished to wait.

They had asked her to come down and she had informed them that would be rather impossible on her part due to her medical condition, it had only taken them a few moments to look into it, which likely meant they had googled the condition with how knowledgeable they became shortly afterward. She thanked them for their time and now she had to report it so that others would know it was unsafe at the cafe for the time being.
December 24th, 2013

She stared outside the window, it was Christmas Eve and while she did not celebrate Christmas she knew that many within her family and household would do just that. Yet what she had not expected was the letter to come in the mail so early in the morning, with the news that her Great Aunt was dying and requested to see her before she joined their ancestors. Inside had been a one way ticket to China... and it would leave within two hours, the sun would barely be done in the rest of the world even though here in this city it was usually very cloudy that the sun never seemed to reach the land itself.

Christmas would have to wait for her vampiric family, she would just have to hope they would understand that while the city itself was changing and demanding that they no longer have any contact with anyone of their past to the point that they were killing those who did, that she could not be fearful of such things. The Shi family had faced worst hardships in their long history in China, and she would have to face her own... when the time came she knew also that she would have to disappear and reappear at a later date, but she would have to find an heir who she could raise and handle carefully to assure that when the time came, she would once again have the power of her family... until she had to create another heir. She pushed those thoughts of her mind as she packed her things for the Taxi that would be there 45 minutess prior to takeoff and finally set a single letter on the table addressed to the Yue'Shi family.
December 26th, 2013

The trip had been easy enough, she had given the papers informing them of her issues with the sun and they had set up a fort of sort to assure that she would be perfectly fine, one of the attendants a Japanese woman had informed her that she had a younger brother who had the same condition, and it was always wonderful to meet another Child of the Night. She could only smile, the woman had no idea just how true it was that she was a Child of the Night. The only thing she could truly be blessed with on her trip was that she had her own ability to keep her blood up, to a point at least. She knew that she would not grow strong during her trip and fact she would have little difference between now and then but she could not worry about that now. It would only be for a couple of weeks, it should not be that long at all.

At least that's what she told herself. She would be there to see to her Great Aunt's final wishes, to see that she was placed among her sisters, brothers, her husband and children who had gone on before her to join their ancestors. Then she would take her leave, return to Harper Rock, to her family and friends.

She had rested the first night she had came to her family home, during the night She had not seen her Uncle and had no desire to do so regardless as she settled in her room for the night. She knew tomorrow she would come to her Great Aunt's side, and listen as the head of the Shi family, she had to be dressed properly, which meant her breast binders so that she would have the proper size for a woman who came from proper family.

So lost in her thoughts she had not heard the door slide open, yet when the arms wrapped around her and the smell of acholic hit her nose she had a hard time not gagging and her fear sweeped over her as her Uncle's voice seemed to echo off the walls. “I knew you would come.” A strong hand firmly covered her mouth as his other slide down her body. Fear, her mind was trapped back when she was nothing but a frail human girl who had just lost her parents, her grandparents and he had been there... as he had been there once before to try and force her farther to see reason for a marriage between him and his only daughter.

“Ming...” her Aunt's voice was just beyond the other side of the door as her uncle released her.

“I've already paid our respects to our niece.” His smile made her sick as she crawled to the otherside of the room, the door opening as her Aunt looked within, she smiled that sad smile of hers, and she knew deep down that her Aunt who was barren of child for all these years knew what he would like to do to 'their' niece.

“I see dear husband. Then we should let our dearest niece and heir to our family rest, she had travelled far to be here for our Respected Great Aunt.” she could tell the woman had grown some in the years, became less fearful, and she could not help but wonder why that was.

Still she slowly found her voice, trying to bury down her own fears of the man that still haunted her so, “Yes... I would very welcome a good nights rest. Though I would welcome one of my cousins, or aunts to join me here for the night.” she licked her lips, “The family home is large but even so, with so many coming to see our Respected Great Aunt in her final days, I would welcome them within my room to give more space for the rest of my aunts and cousins.”

Her aunt bowed her head “That is most kind of you, is that not husband? Ming has grown to be a very respectful heir to the Shi family.”

She didn't have to look at her Uncle to know he was not pleased with this at all. “As heir she is to have a room to herself. It would be dishonorable to force her to share a room.”

She tried not to shake as she lowered her head and her voice, “Honorable Uncle, I may be the heir to the family name, but it is the time for our Respected Great Aunt, and our family comfort comes before all, would you not agree?” She could feel his sharp eyes on her, boring into her as though he would reach out and smack her.

She had not doubt if had her Aunt's eyes not been on him as well that he would had done so. Though as she did not belong to him, he could not touch her, not yet. Yet if she was forced into his bed, then she would have no choice but to become his mistress, his second wife... and then she would not be able to return to her home.

Aunt, “Then it is as our niece requests. How many would you care to host within your chambers Ming?”

Her uncle pushed passed his wife, whispering something within her ear as he did so and she grew fearful for the woman who had been here, who had stopped her uncle. Still her Aunt smiled as though nothing was wrong.

“You must forgive your Uncle my husband. Our Respectful Great Aunt's illness weights heavy on his soul.”

She knew that would not be the case, but still, he was more tied to the woman that she was. After all her Great Aunt was the child born from her own Aunt's family and her own. One of many children that their families had created even though the woman before her and herself had no blood that flowed from them, it had not made their own families bonded so tightly together. She knew mentally that their families would had been bond tightly together had she truly married one of her cousins, one of the French father had proclaimed them sinners and would not have one of his sons marry such a sinner as herself.

Bowing her head once more, “Both our families feel her illness upon them.” lifting her head she looked around her chambers she would like to fill it to the rim to assure her Uncle could not sneak within and have his way with her, but she knew that would not be allowed, the size and her rank within the family, would only allow her three at the most to share the large chambers. “I will host three of my cousins and aunts within.” she turned towards her Aunt who bowed her head.

“As you request Shi, Ming Ai. I shall see to the arrangements myself. I bid you a good night though I wish I could welcome you home under better news.” with that she left her standing alone within the chambers.

December 27th, 2013 - 8:01 am

She rolled over in the large bed, when she could smell her flesh burning, she jumped back, starring at the sunburn that laid across her lower arm, it was not so bad, it was not likely to last to long, but still, she pulled the silk sleeve down and looked around. There was only one other young woman, a cousin of hers, she recalled berifly the name that was given to the young woman no more than 14 years of age. Shi, Tsui was her 5th cousin four times removed on her father's side, yet she would simply be referred to as her niece due to the gap between their ages.

She strained to hear where her Aunt was, though the woman was not truly her Aunt, but another cousin she was much older than herself and thus would have the honor of being known as Aunt Su, Jang-Sun. She had been born into the Shi family but had married outside, still she was related to their Great Aunt and thus had come without her husband to pay her respects.

Sighing softly, she had no choice but to wake the sleeping girl, “Tsui...” she shook the girl careful to not get caught within the sunbeams, “Tsui you must wake child.”

She watched as the girl eyes fluttered open, the yawn and then her mumbling “Yes Aunt Ming?”

“Please block the sun child, I have...” she mentally sighed knowing the girl would have no idea what she meant and thus would have to explain it and by then the sun would begin to crawl further into the bedchambers and then she would burn, and if she burned... she didn't want to think about having to keep herself burned for many nights to come to hide what she was. The idea did not comfort her in the least, “I mean to say I am a Child of the Night.” she said after a moment.

She watched as the girl blinked at her in confusion “Child of the Night? What is that Aunt Ming?”

She found herself mentally sighing as she slide a little further away from the beam of sunlight that was coming into her bed chambers. “It means that the sun will harm me and I must stay out of any direct sunlight or UV lights.. or else I shall find myself in death's embrace next...” that seemed to be all the girl needed, her eyes widen as she jumped and crawled over the bed and shut the currents, blocking the sun from the room.

As her Aunt Jang-Sun appeared in the door way she watched the woman frown, “It is no longer time for sleep Lady Ming.” she was quickly making her way to the window but Tsui held her arms out.

“No Aunt Jang-Sun, we must not open, or else Aunt Ming will be harmed. She said she was a Child of the Night...” Tsui dropped her voice but she could hear it as clear as day, “She says that the sun will quicken her death...”

Jang-Sun turned to her and lowered her head, “Forgive me Lady Ming, dearest Niece of my Father's and Mother Blood. I did not know.”

Bowing her head back she smiled, “All is fine Dear Aunt Jang-Sun, we have not had one in the family like me for many generations now.” Little did they know that she was thinking of her Nana Antigory when she spoke of like herself, it was of course better that they did not know. Still, it would make things a lot easier. “We must get ready to see our Great Aunt... if you could inform the house servants of what I told you I will get ready to see her.”

She watched the two women bow their heads, to take their leave, but she found herself stopping Tsui, "It may be best Tsui if you change first before running off to assure my safety, besides I am sure Aunt Jang-Sun will be able to handle the issue on her own." The young girl blushed before nodding her head. Smiling she slowly made her way to the closet she shared with the other two women and began to pull out the tradition Chinese clothing, their Great Aunt was traditional in every possible way of the word and would not be pleased if anyone in the home was dressed in modern clothing.

Making sure to keep the burn on her arm hidden she began to undress. 'I didn't want to come back here....' not because she didn't like this place but because here in China was where her Uncle lived, while her Great Aunt owned this family home on the family grounds, it was just one of many and this home would end up with her son. It was not the home of the main branch of the Shi... and that was a place she did not want to step in because there would be no way she would be able to keep herself safe from her Uncle.

'You are a vampire, you are stronger than a human being. He would be easily taken care of with a single blow if you wished it.'

She lowered her eyes, 'That may be true but even still, we are still physically weak compare to even our own kind... and humans in the past have been able to overcome us with ease.'

'That is because you always work your mind, there was a time you worked your body just as much as your mind. Those little bends and twists, will never be enough.' slowly she made her way to the mirror, she knew that Tsui would not see her reflection and so she would have to make it quick, but she found herself starring at that part of her soul that she tried ever so hard to keep hidden. 'You could still kill him though, you have the knowledge and the skills. Could bring him home to Harper Rock, he could be one of those who just disappear to never be heard from again... all the while being down in those special little rooms.'

She tried to pay more attention to the way the fabric laid, as she set to work with her hair and not so much at the annoyed expression that was playing across the other half of her soul, 'That as it may be, could happen but we can not and shall not be the ones to bring dishonor to the family...'

'You would not bring dishonor, you would assure that no dishonor happened' still she knew inside that even if her Uncle would force her, she would have no choice... she would not be able to kill him because it would only be her dishonor that would be known. She might be the heir but she was a female. Everything would fall to her future husband... one that she had no plans to have due to the slight issue of being a vampire... and those she would think of being with... it would be to hard to hide.

She turned and moved back towards Tsui who clearly was struggling with the tradition garments, "Let me help you Tsui..."