One
It was the dawn of the Roman empire. Right in the center of Rome lived a high-ranking senator and his family. He had a total of five sons and one daughter. He was very thankful he has so many sons being put to intelligent work. But he wants his only daughter to be in a very good marriage because it’s his only chance at gaining new titles and prospects. This girl is me, Laelie and this is the story of how I became a vampire.
It truly starts when I was twelve. My brothers and father left the home every day to pursue education or work. My mother died in childbirth three years prior, and my father never remarried. Therefore, it was just me, alone, in a big house for most of the day. Father had many servants, so I never had to do housework. I was taught to read and write but that’s it for education. To sedate my boredom, I took up some hobbies such as drawing along the walls, making dolls, and dressing up. I especially enjoyed visiting the porticos which are gardens surrounded by pathways and sculptures and the only place women can go other than the baths.
I did love creating trouble though. I’d go to the baths nearly every day and steal people’s clothes. I watched their reactions as they realized they were completely stranded. It was priceless! Except for the day I was caught, taken to my father, and beaten. I haven’t done it since. Another thing I enjoyed doing was sneaking out to the rough part of Rome, where I wasn’t supposed to go. There I met lower class kids and played with them, I even stole vases from my house and gave it to them to sell. I was caught for that too and beaten. Lastly, I visited my neighbor, and she had a caged bird. I couldn’t help but sympathize for it. It’s painted with so many colors, orange, blue, white, green but stuck. Completely stuck in the confines of a cage. That night I crawled in through her window and let it free. That one I got away with.
Now you may be wondering, why am I starting at the age of fourteen. Other than some goofy tales it has nothing to do with a Vampire and this is the Vampires Tale after all. I’m starting here because it begins my transformation, not physical, but mental. The morning after I let the bird out of its cage, I woke up planning on not being bad for once in my life. I hated being bored but I hated being beaten more. Every morning my father would be visited by clients or other court members. Today I overheard he was getting a new apprentice. I was in the same room as he was, and I was spinning on poles. He used to try and stop it but gave up. My energy level was so high he knew that if he let me play, I wouldn’t be so reckless later.
A man walked in. He was tall, had brown skin, bright brown eyes, and short curly hair. My father starts speaking with his stern look, “So Marius, you’re seventeen am I correct.”
“Yes sir, I would like to become your apprentice.”
“I see you’re from the Subura.” The Subura is a lower-class part of Rome. Father told me to stay away from there because it’s filled with bad people, prostitutes, and sickness.
“Yes, but my father is a hard-working man, he started a farm from scratch, he died a few months back. My two older brothers have taken over the farm and now I want to pursue Court in dedication to my father.”
“Farmer you say, well that’s good, that’s good. Yes, you may be my apprentice. Now there is a lot of work to do boy and I don’t take anything other than respect, hard work, and quality.” My father gave him many instructions. Marius kept glancing over to me as he did so. On their way to court for the day Marius gave me a little smile.
More and more I grew fond of him even though I couldn’t talk to him. We would just smile back and forth every morning. I truly wish I could speak to him, but it was not allowed. My father noticed me and him glancing and smiling back and forth. He told me I wasn’t allowed to watch them anymore. Therefore, I had to eavesdrop instead. I stood behind a corner listening in on their conversation a few months later. “Sir, I was wondering if I could have Laelie’s hand in marriage.” I gasped. “You said I’m a hard worker and the best apprentice you’ve ever had. I’m a kind, respectable man. If that is what you value, then maybe that is what you want your daughter to marry.”
I heard silence then a cold voice, “I appreciate those traits, but I will never marry my daughter off to someone who was born in the Subaru. End of story.”
“Yes sir, I understand.” I hear him walk out. Marius would continue being my father’s apprentice for two years and in those two years he would ask for my hand in marriage eighteen times.
