A Cursed Fate

It was a dark and stormy night, and she ran as fast as her legs were able to carry her.  Behind her came the village men with their crosses and torches at ready.  They were relentless in their chase as the thunder rumbled above.  The rain had yet to fall, but distant lightning that would frequently light up the sky foreshadowed its imminent approach.  The lightning also lit the path ahead up for her as she disappeared into the dense forest.  Still, they chased, but they could not move as fast as she could in the forest, for they could not see in the night as well as she could.  All she hoped for now was the rain to come quickly so that their torches might be doused, and they would give up on the chase.  Just as she was getting some distance, there was a particularly loud crack of thunder, and the sky was illuminated with an incredibly brilliant bolt of lightning.  That was the last thing she remembered as she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, and blacked out.1

Crackling, she could hear the sound of  a fire crackling.  Her eyes opened slowly, and she found herself in a humble bed.  It was made for two people, but no one was sharing it with her.  Remembering why it was she had been running in the first place as she thought about the bed, tears sprung to her eyes.  She blinked them back, and sat up slowly, moaning quietly at the pain in her neck.2

"So you're finally awake." came a male's voice as a man stepped into the doorway to the bedroom.  He was of medium build- not too skinny, not too fat.  He stood about 5'5" tall, with short black hair and the most gorgeous emerald green eyes.  His skin looked soft and olive, and it seemed to hold an inner glow.  He was wearing a silken blue shirt and black cotton pants with heavy black leather boots that sported buckles going halfway up his calf.  She noted also the dagger hilt on his left leg protruding from a boot.  He was armed and dangerous.3

"Yes, I am." she replied, the fear and trepidation evident in her voice.  "Who are you, and where am I?" she ventured to ask, her mystical violet gaze interlocking with his emerald one.  She couldn't look away.4

"I am Daisuke, welcome to my home.  What might your name be?" he asked in return, his voice smooth and warm.  He seemed very friendly, and like quite the gentleman.5

"My name is Kisha." she replied, smiling softly, her eyes seeming to sparkle in the soft light of the fire and candles; her long, jet black hair only enhancing this, along with the paleness of her skin.  "So how exactly did I get here, and why is there such pain in my neck?" she asked next.6

"You mean you do not remember?" he replied, a bit shaken by the question, but half expecting it as well.7

"No, I don't..." she said, almost sadly.8

"You were struck from behind by a branch that was hit by lightning.  I guess it knocked you out." he said, explaining it to her.9

"Oh I see..." she said as she mulled over this idea.10

"So mind telling me what you were doing out there anyways?" he asked, seating himself next to her on the bed.11

"It's a long story..." she said quietly, a saddened look coming to her eyes.12

"I have plenty of time to listen." he smiled encouragingly.13

"All right." she said, "It all started when I met this man..."14

------------------------------Flashing back------------------------------15

Kisha wandered into town, looking around.  The man she had met said he lived here, and she was keen on finding him.  He seemed so kind and gentle, even if he was a bit perverted.  She asked all of the townspeople if they knew his location, and after about an hour of searching she finally found someone who was able to tell her where he lived.  What she saw next though was a real shocker to the system.  She had been brought to the aristocratic side of town!  The man she adored was an aristocrat!  When she questioned the gentleman about how this was possible, she found out that the man she was about to see once more was a famous novelist.  She thanked the gentleman and then knocked on the door.  She was very nervous, and hoped that he remembered her.  When he opened the door, and his soft hazel eyes met her violet ones, she almost swooned.16

"Welcome to my home, Kisha.  Please, won't you come inside?" he said cordially, a smile on his face.17

"Oh!  You do remember me then, Gure!" she exclaimed happily as she went inside.18

For close to a year she stayed with Gure, and she was truly happy.  Kisha had fallen in love.  From what she could see, Gure loved her as well.  They were even married.  Being born what she was, Kisha had never expected to have anything like this.  it was a dream come true, however, all good dreams must end.19

One night, after shopping out in the market place, she came home to find Gure in bed with another man.  She wasn't against gay people, for she was bisexual herself, but this was her husband!20

She watched with horror stricken eyes as Gure got up from the bed in nothing but a loosely tied yukata, glaring at her.21

"Gure... what's going on here...?" she asked as tears threatened.  Was he having an affair?  What did this mean for her?  Did he truly love her as she loved him?  The thoughts rushed through her head as she tried to make sense of it all.22

"Leave Kisha.  It was never meant to be!" he said harshly.  The words were made even crueler by the crack of thunder overhead.23

"They know child; and Gure won't die for your sorry, unnatural ass." the other man said as he lit a cigarette.24

"Vampire!  it's over here!" Gure screamed as he threw the shocked girl out into the cold streets.25

When the men came after her with crosses and torches she wasn't sure what to do, until one got to her and pressed the cross into her arm and she felt the searing pain as it burned her.  That was when she ran, ran as fast as she could.  The storm immanent overhead as her feet carried her into the woods...26

------------------------------End flashback------------------------------27

She lay now against Daisuke's chest, bloody tears coming from only her right eye.  She softly fingered the burn on her arm, which she realized had been treated, but the scar would always remain as a constant reminder of all that had happened.  At least Daisuke had been kind enough to help, she thought to herself as she cried harder into the mans chest, her body heaving with the sobs.28

"It'll be okay Kisha.  You can stay here as long as you'd like." he said comfortingly to her as he held her in his arms.29

"Thanks," she sniffed, "I guess part of the vampire's curse is the inability to find love as well..." she said softly, hating herself a bit for what she was.  She never asked for this when she was born, she only wished to be more normal.  But no one would accept her as she was, and the other vampires scorned her for trying to blend in with humans.30

"I think you're a very sweet person." Daisuke said, and from that moment on their romance bloomed.  Kisha knew that he did understand, he truly did.  If he were lying, then this time she'd die for it.  But that was not to be.  For years to come they'd share each others company and truly be happy.  She had broken her curse and found true love at long last.31

---------------------------------The End---------------------------------32