The first

My eyes flutter open. I'm laying on couch in a sunlit room. The light floods in and brings a welcoming warmth. Where am I? I think really hard searching my mind but I have no idea. I have no memory. Who am I?

"She has risen" A raspy male voice addressed me. I look in the direction of the voice and I'm in awe of the man. No, not a man. An angel. He strides towards me confidently. long black hair, beautiful brown eyes with an emotion I'm not able to determine. A soft smile across his perfectly symmetrical face. My body feels like it might go up in flames. My eyes are not worthy to look at him.

I'm buzzing internally the closer he gets. My heart is pounding so hard, I fear it will burst out of my chest. "Who are you?" I muster out but my voice shakes with nerves. He takes my hand and lifts me to my feet. The contact of his skin on mine, gives me a pleasurable sensation. The feeling goes straight down between my legs.

He gives me a knowing smile. He lowers his head to mine, his lips are so close. "Breathe" He says to me and I release my breath I held. He laughs and gently touched his lips to mine and I feel explosive desire. I jump up into his arms. He catches me reflexively, like I am meant to be there.

He eventually let's me go and places me back on the floor. "Violetta, I've missed you" I look up at him confused. Is that my name? He laughs "Apologies you will not remember. That was your name the last time we... " He looks down saddened. "It's better if you have a seat. You are human, you might not take this well" He places me back on the couch.

"You and I go way back. I am your love, your husband and your king. I know this doesn't make sense but just listen" He takes a seat beside me "My name is Ka but over time became Cass. We've had many names. We've lived a very long time and we've died a lot of times too"

I look at him like he is speaking another language because he might as well be. He takes my hand in his and the sensations of his touch spreads all over me "There was a great fire. You were carrying our child" He takes a minute then composes himself. "I didn't make it to you on time. In my grief I wandered to any temple and plead to any god to return you to me"

I don't know why, but I'm drawn to comfort him. I wrap my arms around him. In my hold he visibley relaxes. "One day many years after. A god responded to me. He told me you'd come back to me and death wouldn't touch you again. I agreed and offered him the blood of an animal as a tribute. When you appeared before me in the temple. You were radiant and god like" Cass gets up and walks towards the window. "The problem was you were driven by an unatural lust for blood, death and destruction. He brought you back but as a monster. The first vampire. The god was known for tricks and in my ignorance and desperation for you, I ignored it."

I walk towards him again led by a desire to comfort him. He looks so distressed. "You weren't able to harm me, not that you'd want to. The god came to you, delighted with the entertainment you provided him. He granted you the gift of powers, a mark on your skin and the ability to change more people into creatures like you. You changed hundreds of thousands of men and woman and created and empire of your own. You could never change me though. I was stuck as a mortal. Upon the gods next visit. You asked him to allow my change, as I was growing old and weak. The god refused and told us that the cost of your life would be my life. You were immortal but you'd watch me die."

He places a soft kiss on my lips then stokes my face "After I died. You destroyed everything, many a civilisation brought down by your hands. Your grief was insatiable. You made a plea to the god again. You asked him to die. Instead, he allowed me to come back again as a reward. The same thing happened. I died and you'd rampage. Creating more of our kind destroying anything you could. This cycle went on for hundreds of years before a Goddess interviened. She allowed you my immotality for your eventual death. With this deal your mark faded over time"

I take a seat again because what he is saying is unbelievable. Madness! However, I trust him. Even if I've just met him... again ? He pours a drink then sits beside me. I do what feels natural and lay my head on his lap. His fingers slowly glide through my hair.

"You changed me, I became impervious like you. We ruled the kingdom you created. However, our people only had loyalty to you. You were the first. Their queen and maker. Due to your destruction and the rise to power. Other species became threatened. An attack came and a woman managed to stake you. The stake was from the goddess gardens. She shared her power and knowledge to women. These women became what we know now as witches. In turn what grew in her garden, could kill our kind. To both our shock and horror, you died instantly. Nothing could kill you prior nothing could penetrate your skin before"

The hand that was stroking my hair is now gripping my arm. His breath is coming out in a quiver. What he is saying is hurting him. I look up to his angelic face and his eyes are filled with grief.

"The God came before me furious. Enraged that his creation, his joy and entertainment was dead. He was unable to undo the will of the godess. However, this god knew a thing or two about loopholes. As long as I lived you would ressurect, I would always be able to find you and turn you"

He takes another sip and sighs. "Then what happened?" I ask. His fingers slide down my arm and back up. The movement is settling me. I think it's putting him at ease too."I'd find you when you were of age. I'd turn you. I could never resist. If I didn't turn you, I'd be in excruciating pain. The only thing that would cure it was turning you. Eventually the cycle of pain of watching you die over and over again broke me. I made a plea with the goddess. She seemed like the better option. I asked her to take it all away. Let us rest. Stop the agony. The goddess like the god, could not undo the will bestowed upon us. So I rested. In a death like state and this seemed to stop your return"

I sit up and look at his face, his beautiful face. "If what you say is true, then how are we both here?" I ask him staring into those big brown eyes. He places his hand over my heart "You know it's true. With my rest. The god decided to grant our kind the ability to reproduce during the season of the Gods. When the planets align. He wanted strong pureblooded vampires, one worthy to carry your mark. The mark gifted to you. The mark that faded and caused your death. The first female was born with the mark and all of our kind recognised her as Queen. Many years and many queens passed. The god grew bored until the serpents came. They were ruthless and did not care for what became law of our kind. The third serpentine queen was particularly cruel. The goddess interviened. She gave the queen a son, in an attempt to stop the line"

The door opens and a man in purple robes walks in and bows to us. Cass acknowledges his presence like and old friend. His gaze returns to me "That didn't stop the god. He placed himself in the boys body when the queen died in the hopes you would return"