Alpha's Nala

Theo

Times had changed.

That's all I could think of as I watched the mortals mingled with my people, whom I should note were all creatures of the dark.

Back in the old days, humans feared our existence.

Only at the mention of our name, they would cower away from us and tightly locked their homes at night. For extra precaution, they always have garlic on their bedside table or bound around their necks. Funny thing.

Through the years, as the fear grew inside of them, resulting in clouding their minds, they started to fight back with stakes and crosses.

I chuckled at the idea.

Little did they know, those things have no effect on us.

Let alone, kill us...

For over a millennium, there's no vampires - nor witches-reported dead because of the above-mentioned weapons.

We are immune to all of it; Hollywood's movie version doesn't justify any of our weaknesses.

I don't even know if they know any of it...

Until a century ago, they started reciting stories.

By now, I could tell how perplexed you are about the idea of stories being our drawback...

It's unusual and a unique approach, to be honest, but it's the most effective weapon in human history that could actually harm us.

How?

Stories about our weakness, and coming from thy lips of a human, makes us mortal.

It could start off with someone saying that a stake could stop a vampire's heartbeat or holy water to burn a vampire's skin. When a new individual heard about it and told someone else, and that someone else delivered the same story to another, and so on, the tale about the disadvantages becomes true.

I don't know if it's the power in telling or the strong belief of the human heart that makes it real, but it's there.

It's fatal and dangerous, and it's destroying my race to no end...

So, I decided to hide my kind and learn to adapt.

It was a cowardly move, I admit that. Though, seeing how famous our fictions of weakness are and how powerful the humans' belief was at that time, I don't have much of a choice.

Patiently, I waited in the dark for the fantasies to die down until the mortals no longer believed in it - as we had never been real in the first place.

Thankfully, that's how a story works.

Humans stop telling them when they do not see the use of it any longer, or if they wanted to begin and create a new one.

Still, it took almost a decade and for another civilization to be established around the area...

Anyway, sensing no trouble anymore and discovering my people were suffering due to the lack of permanent residences and food, I started building my empire from scratch. It wasn't easy though...

I had to undergo a lot of transitions for the past years; had to watched different plagues sweep the world, and even observed technologies improved and ultimately thrive. However, shifting from one identity to another was the least of my favorite. It was one of those things that I cannot bear to do for I hated deceiving people.

I may be a Vampire that is known to do that, but I was raised well and with honor.

I value my virtue, particularly my honesty....

Still, the frauds and conspiracies were needed since I have to meet the same individual that was helping me construct my vision for my people.

The meetings occurred multiple times in a year and surely, they would question me at one point, since I never aged or look different by the passing of time. Worse of it all, and sadly as it can be, I had to watch them die in the process at a certain age.

I let out a sigh at the thought.

Clearly, this infinite gift of life was a curse rather than a blessing...

But do I have an option to escape this life?

I could not go back in time and tell my parents to find another one to love and marry.

Especially when they are destined REDs...

Presently, I am just grateful that I have provided my people's needs and performed what was expected of me.

That's all that matters to me... my people's contentment and well-being.

"I was beginning to believe that you were going to bail this out again like you always do." I heard a low and husky voice started, "But what really interests me now is your excuse on vill you be

the question of how long will

standing, by that stone pillar, and watch as your dark subjects find

their REDS?" he added.

Recognizing the owner of the voice, I instantly ignored him and remained still in my position.

Shortly, I heard a gust of wind and felt a presence beside me.

"You know it's rude to ignore a soul," he pointed out, making me scowl.

"When did you ever had a soul, Raul?" I asked and glanced at my foolish cousin.

Minding that, he gasped and quickly placed a hand on his chest. Then, he shot me a fake hurt expression.

"First of all, it's Cayden so please stop calling me by my middle name - which by the way, I hated so much. And two, you're being so

brutal for reminding me that net

I am

dead That's overkill already, your Majesty." he teased.

I only rolled my eyes at his drama.

"Well, that's the point. So what?”

He gasped loudly again.

"You are so cold."

I only shrug my shoulders and kept my eyes locked in the ballroom.

Feeling that I will not speak again, I heard Cayden let out a defeated sigh.

"Too devastated..." I heard him mumbled, "Maybe that's the reason why the gods above didn't grant you a second chance at a RED.”

My head snapped at him while a growl escaped my lips.

Cayden, unfazed, only rolled his eyes at me.

"Seriously speaking Theo," his face currently turns serious, "Casmine's gone for over a full decade now. You should learn to accept that reality and moved on." My jaw ticked but didn't say a word.

He was right.

It's been ten years since my last possession of a RED...

My first and last was named Casmine Harlow Ray.

She was like the sun the second she entered my life. She shone my darkest days and provided warmth to my cold, lifeless heart.

Despite our differences, Casmine

understood me in one go compared

to my parents and friends my whole life. She made me a better man then as she expressed her love and Cared for my well-being for years that came our way.

She simply completed me... Until the day arrived for her to leave me.

Casmine died due to natural causes. Mainly to old age and if I remember it correctly, she died at the age of ninety-nine.

She was human after all...

They say that if you lose your RED, you lose yourself. It doesn't matter what it was, for the pain was the only sense that you will feel at that point - may your heart be dead or alive.

Nothing else...

Healing would be possible for us, but it will take some time - A very, very long time. Till then, you just got to learn to accept the truth and well, move on.

Just like Cayden said...

Apparently, he doesn't know the truth and it may not seem obvious to me, but nowadays, I am very well and healed from the hurt, from the broken heart... From the loss.

Time truly helps a lot.

Regardless of the topic, the reactions I made whenever somebody talks about Casmine were more of a reflex action now rather than a normal response.

It does not go away...

Suddenly, the silence of the space brought me back to reality.

I looked around and discovered that I was alone... Cayden left me to my thoughts, AGAIN.

I let out another sigh, this time a heavy one. Then, thinking that I am not needed here anymore, I started to walk away only to be stopped when I heard clicks of heels on the stone floor.

I shifted my attention at the disturbance ahead of me and that's when I saw her.0000