1692 Salem

"I am not a witch! It was not me! How could I possibly have done it!" I screamed. "Father please tell them!" He knew he had to, he had to believe that I did not do what they were accusing me of. But of course I was lying, was I a witch? I could not say, the tales they told of witches, how could I be one? But I had done what they had said, I saved the boy from the horses that had gotten free and stampeded through our village. Now I was to be punished for my act of kindness, my heroism, by being burned at the stake on the account of Witchcraft. My father would not look at me, my mother merely cried into his chest, how could she have a witch for a daughter? No one cared that I used my gift to save a small boy, only that I had a power which they did not understand. So to the flames I was sent.

Night was falling fast in our small village just off from Salem and the wood was piled ever more at my feet. Torches were lit, the flames dancing across the faces of those gathered, it made them seem eager for my death, for my screams as I burned alive. They had bound me to the stake, my pleas of innocence disregarded, I knew they would not believe me, my death was inevitable

As the stacks of wood were lit, the flames licking at my feet, I did not scream, I did not shout. "You should all burn for this! I am innocent and the gods shall know this!" As the wind blew and the smoke grew thicker, I began to cough as my lungs filled with the smoke. It was then I felt my bounds loosen, I would have froze, it had felt like someone had brushed past me, but I was weak, I could not breath. As my consciousness failed and I could feel the flames near me, a coldness gripped me, soothing and peaceful. The last thing I remember was a stinging, piercing sensation.

I woke to a flickering flame against a damp cave wall. Was this Hell? Was I indeed a witch and being punished for my sins? It was as I sat that I saw, really saw for the first time. The walls of the cave, rough, uneven as if created by rushing water over centuries. Every dimple, every ridge of the walls surface could be seen. The flickering flame drew my eyes then, the multitude of colours broke down for me to see. It was strange, wonderful, but frightening. What was happening to me? Why did things seem so clear, then there was the smells, different scents vying for my attention, some stronger than others, but each one, if I focused, I could pinpoint and mostly identify. Burning wood, freshly baked bread, the scent of -what was that? Bitter, yet mouth watering. My throat was burning, I had to have it. I moved faster than I thought and if it wasn't for that smell, I would have stopped to question it.

As I bounded down the hill, there it was a deer, grazing, I had no control. I was on it in a heartbeat, tackling it to the ground, my teeth sinking deep into flesh, finding the jugular. In a moment I had drained it dry. This need whatever it was, was not gone, but sated for now. I whirled around at the soft approach of feet.

"Ah, you did not go far my dear." I almost snarled at the man's voice, but caught myself; watching him closely. He was tall, broad shoulders with shoulder length auburn hair, his eyes though, his eyes were a startling crimson. "Do not fret, you are safe."

"Who are you...where am I? What have you done to me?" For this man seemed to know me, so he had to at least know what happened to me.

"I am Balthazar. You are just south from Salem, in my family's temporary home, the cave you just left." He sighed heavily. "You were to be burn at the stake, I- could not allow that. So we took you, but you were dying, so I turned you." I frowned, we? turned? I did not understand. Another stepped forward, a red headed woman, waist length fiery red hair, eyes to match, she was shorter, homely looking, like a mother.

"I am Gwen, when Balthazar says we, he means our- family. And you are a vampire petal. It was the only way to save you. Alexi and Felix saw you, saw what you did to save that boy, a talent such as yours should not be wasted. You should not be burned by humans that fear your gift." Her voice was honeyed, but I felt I could trust her.

"A vampire- so..." I trailed off, I had, after all, just fed from a deer, drained it of all its blood. At the thought of it, my throat seemed to burn even more.

"Oh there, there my sweet." Gwen moved to take my arm. "Its the thirst, for your first few years you will struggle with it, but as long as you feed regularly you should be alright. Felix and Alexi have gone to find someone for you to feed from, human blood is so much more satisfying than animal blood." She assured, leading me back towards the cave. As they began to tell me of what I was and what that meant, it was not long before the two men returned, each with a human. As soon as I smelt the blood beneath their skin, sweet, warm, delicious- I was moving snatching one of the men from the shorter of the two vampires grip. In my rush to feed I had snapped his neck, but it made no difference the blood was still warm, the most exquisite thing I had ever tasted.

The taller of the two vampires chuckled lightly as I moved to feed from the second human. letting the limp body fall from my hands, I realised they were men from my village, men who had condemned me, I smiled, they had deserved it after all.

"Finished are we?" The taller of the two males asked, a smirk in place as he looked me over. Running my tongue over my lips, I stood and looked them over in return. The taller of the two was like a giant easily more than a foot taller than my 5'5, his hair a shade darker than my chestnut hair. Like all of my new acquaintances he had red eyes, his shoulders broader than Balthazar's, he was built for power and for fighting. The other was shorter, broad of shoulders too, his hair was more black than brown and though muscled he was less so than the taller of the two.

"Yes I am. Which are you? Felix or Alexi?" I asked curiously.

"I am Felix, this is Alexi." The taller of the two spoke, offering a wink as the other Alexi merely bowed his head in greeting. "You had quite the hunger, though controlled." Alexi nodded his agreement.

"We trust you like our choice in food?"

"I did, thank you Alexi." I was far calmer about it all than I expected, but these people had saved me, fed me and were treating me with nothing but kindness since I awoke.

"You are apart of our family now Evangeline." Balthazar smiled. "Of course that is if you'll have us." I had nowhere to go and so much to learn, they had given me a new lease on life, how could I refuse?

"Of course I would be honoured."