Chapter 1
“Are you ready?”
The sound of my mother’s voice woke me from my stupor.
I slowly took a deep breath in and released it.
Was I ready?
No. I was far from ready.
You couldn’t really prepare yourself for something like this.
“Jane?”
I looked at myself in the old, cracked mirror. My brown, empty eyes stared back at me.
I couldn't think of anything to say to her. Not a single word.
My mother comes to stand behind me and placed her hands gently on my shoulders. “Cat got your tongue?”
I knew what she was doing. God bless her. She was trying to make light of the situation I was currently in, but doing that wouldn't make me forget what today was all about. Nothing would draw my attention away from what was going to happen very shortly. She knew herself what was going to happen. She had gone through this before. She knew exactly how I was feeling, and the thoughts running through my head.
Today, I would be taken from her and begin a new life. As a blood servant. Forever.
I looked from myself up to my mother to see that her eyes were damp from crying. She had been crying all morning but had tried to hide it. She didn't fool anyone. She'd also tried to reassure me that everything would be alright, but I knew she was only saying it just to make me feel better.
The crying began on the day of my birthday. She smiled and wished me happy birthday, but I knew that she was devastated and wished that I wasn’t growing up. Last month was my twentieth birthday. Since then, she hadn't stopped crying.
I pulled the strap of the kaplan dress up over my shoulder and sighed. “You know the reason for my silence, mother.”
She wiped her eyes with her soaked sleeve. “Do not hold me responsible for this. You know that I do not wish for you to go.”
I slammed my hand against the worn dressing table. “Then, why let me go so easily!?”
Tears streamed down her face as she looked at me in pity. “Because it is your destiny. It is all of ours.”
What she says was true. It was everyone’s destiny to become blood servants. But it didn’t used to be.
For years, creatures have roamed the Earth. For years, they have walked alongside humans as equals. For years, they have lived together in peace until a rebellion occurred not so long ago. Humans who no longer wanted to live amongst the supernatural began a rebellion where their goal was to completely wipe out the supernatural, but they failed miserably. Thousands died and thousands suffered. The majority of them were human. The human race almost became extinct when they finally surrendered and agreed to a settlement. As punishment for the rebellion, all boys and girls of the age of twenty must attend an annual auction where they’ll be auctioned off and become a blood servant for the rest of their lives. Until of course the creatures no longer require your services.
I scoffed. “So, that’s it? I’m just supposed to leave my life here and become a servant to a vampire? I am your daughter! Your only child!”
She brings me up to my feet and turns me around to face her. “Jane! You have no other choice but to go. If you do not do as what is expected of you, you will be executed and your corpse will be given to the werewolves. That is what I do not wish for you.”
“And so you wish for me to serve a vampire? Feed it my blood? Or worse, give my body and soul to one? They hate our kind.” I spat.
She looked to the side and closed her eyes in defeat. “If you are chosen, then yes. Some might not be so lucky. I would much rather you serve a creature that hates us than you not being part of this world.”
I reached for her hand and hold it tightly in both of mine. “And what about you? You cannot live out here alone. You won’t survive when winter comes.”
She opened her eyes, trying her best to give me an encouraging smile. “I will not have you worrying about me. I will be fine.”
I gasped. “How can I not worry about you? You are my mother. I have not stopped worrying about you since father died.”
Mother cried. “Don’t, Jane…”
I cut her off. “On father’s deathbed, I made a vow to never leave your side.”
Her voice hardened at the mention of my father. “We knew this day would come, Jane. There is no avoiding today.”
I release her hand and faced away from her. “You’re not listening to me. You won’t be able to survive out here. Not without me."
“Jane…”
I cut her off again. “You are too weak to walk miles to collect water from the river. You are too kind hearted to hunt for food, and are too tired to gather wood for warmth. You won’t cope.”
She comes to stand before me and wipes away a tear from my eye. “I am grateful for everything you have done for me, but you must now live your life as a blood servant.”
But I do not wish to go!
I could not leave her. I refuse to go. The moment I leave her, I’ll never be able to return to her arms.
“But mother…” I pleaded.
She puts up her hand to stop me and rushes me towards the front door. “Go. Be on your way.”
What? No!
I dug my heels into the ground and whimpered. “Mother?”
“It is time.” Her voice quivered. "You must not be late."
I shook my head from side to side. “No! I won’t leave you mother. Please!”
Never!
“I’m afraid this is where you and I must part. You know that you must go, child.”
I twirled around, my face damp from the tears. “Let me stay.”
“You know that you can’t.”
“Then, when will I see you again?” I asked.
I knew she wouldn't answer me, but I wanted the reassurance that hopefully one day I would see her again.
She was all I had.
But she doesn’t reply. Just as I expected.
She instead wrapped her frail arms around me and crushed me to her chest.
“Mother?”
Her voice trembled. “We will reunite, my child. One day.”
I whimpered. “When, mother?”
She pulled back, her eyes welling up with tears. “One day.”
When will that be?
She gave me a long, hard kiss on my forehead and crushed me against her chest once again. “I love you so much.”
I wrapped my arms tightly around her. “And I you, mother.”
We slowly pull away from each other and shed a few tears together. Then, it was time to leave.
Just as I make my way to the door, she gasps and calls my name.
“Jane!”
I gasped and rushed back to her. “Yes, mother!?”
She reached up around her neck and removed what looked like a necklace. “I almost forgot. Give me your hand.”
I willingly gave her my palm and stared at the amethyst amulet she placed there. “What is this?”
She pushed my palm towards me. “Put it on.”
I frowned. “Now?”
She nodded repeatedly. “Now.”
I do as she says and clasped the necklace around my neck. It was a pretty little thing and expensive by the look of it, but I didn't know why she would give it to me. As far as I could remember, she’d worn it every single day and cherished it. Why would she give me this piece of jewellery?
What was the meaning of this?
“Listen, this necklace is never to be removed from your neck. Do you understand?”
What? Why?
I reached up and touched it. “I understand, but why must I keep it on? Why are you giving it away?”
She hesitated. “To...remind you of me.”
I looked away, hurt by her words. “How could you say such words? I’ll be thinking of you each and every day.”
She remained silent for a few seconds then looked towards the door. “And I you. Now go, otherwise you will be late.”
“Will you come with me? To the auction? Leaving you like this breaks my heart.”
Her face saddened as she shook her head. “No parent wishes to see their child sold right in front of their eyes. Alone you must go.”
I nodded in understanding as I reached for the doorknob, dread coursing through my body.
“And Jane?”
“Yes, mother?” I whispered.
“Be good.” She whispered back.
