Thanks to Medusa Sparrow-Descouedres for the beta-read.

1. Marishka

Transylvania 1539

In an old barn at the edge of the town, a blacksmith lives with his young daughter of twenty-two years. The beloved wife and mother of Klaus and Marishka De Hurst is now in the ground, and the young woman, growing up to look like her mother, has the responsibility of looking after the household and taking care of her father. She lives a life of pain and the family is shrouded in secrets and cannot let go of the past. A creature of the night who has made a deal with the devil himself hungers for more than eternal life can give him…

The man kneeled in front of the tomb, silent, as he laid the bouquet of roses on the ground beneath the stone epitaph, upon which were the words, 'Here lies Jane De Hurst, beloved wife and mother. May she Rest In Peace. A thousand suns cannot compare to the beauty of one so dear. Klaus De Hurst." He bowed his head, reading the words on the epitaph, when he heard a rustling sound behind him. He spun around, his eyes widening in fear, his heart beating wildly.

"Should a man be out at night, all alone in the shadows?"

Klaus gasped, looking up, and saw a tall man hovering in front of him, wearing a long black cloak, with his long hair tied back at the top of his head.

"The devil himself!" Klaus stood up hurriedly and stumbled back, his eyes rolling in fear, showing white.

"Some may call me the devil, but others call me by a different name." The man's feet touched the ground as he walked towards Klaus.

"I beg of you, do not kill me!" Klaus pleaded.

"Food does not talk." The man smiled, showing translucent white fangs.

Klaus shuddered. He now knew who the man was.

A creature that walks in the shadow of the night, bringing death and torment, and a sorrowful plight. A man by day with deceiving charade, a demon by night and a drinker of blood.

"Now now, I would not describe myself as a 'demon'." The man chuckled.

Klaus froze, his body turning into ice.

The devil knew what he was thinking.

The devil knew –

Unable to bear it anymore, Klaus spun and ran blindly, wanting away from the demon creature. But suddenly he stopped and looked up, a whimper escaping from his throat.

The demon thing was in front of him.

"I do not know how you could hope to outrun me." The creature told him.

"And I grow tired of the trivialities. Come."

Klaus drew in a shuddering breath. "No."

The man's eyes darkened. "Klaus De Hurst. I have not fed in many a day, and I hunger. You will come or I will call you to me."

"N-no." Klaus whimpered, his fear rooting him to the ground.

A smile passed across the demon's face. "Then I will take your daughter."

"NO!" The cry burst from Klaus's throat. "Not my daughter, I beg of you! I shall come willingly, anything but -"

"You should not have defied me, foolish mortal, but you did." The devil growled. "And now you will pay a price for you foolishness."

The man transformed into a large man-like bat and wheeled off into the night sky. Without hesitating, Klaus raced home, anxious to see his daughter. He burst into his house and looked around.

"Marishka!" He called. "MARISHKA!"

But there was no one there to answer him.

Klaus sighed and fell to the floor, sobs wracking his body.

He remembered his daughter, with her sparkling eyes and golden hair. Never had a day gone by had he not been in her company. But now she was gone, lost to him forever.

Count Dracula wheeled above the town, his eyes searching for the right house. He came across an old barn and entered silently, transforming back into a man.

"Papa -" the young woman walked out of the kitchen, beaming, when her smile slipped as she saw the man in the black cloak. He smiled, walking towards her, and the next thing she saw was his hand reaching out to her before darkness ate away at her vision.

"My love." Marishka awoke to see the man sitting besides her on the elaborately furnished divan. He had taken off the cloak and was now wearing a black tunic underneath. She blinked, confused. There was something wrong with her vision; all the colours came out sharp and defined, with a dark glow to it. Her senses were assailed, and she felt different.

"Papa! What have you done to my papa?" Marishka demanded.

The man laid his hand over hers and Marishka felt a thrill run through her. So warm... his hand burned.

"You cannot see him again. He is lost to you, as you are to him." The man told her.

Marishka's eyes widened. No…

"Who are you? What have you done to me?" She sprang away from him, terrified, hissing.

The man stared at her levelly. "Given you eternal life."

Vampire.

The tales her father had told her of a blood-drinking demon.

A creature that walks in the shadow of the night, bringing death and torment, and a sorrowful plight. A man by day with deceiving charade, a demon by night and a drinker of blood.

"My darling, my love, is it not a good gift I have given you?" The man's eyes were burning flames. "I know I have no heart, but I hunger for more than this eternal life can give me. With you by my side we can build an empire of our kind, and feast in the blood of the humans. With you, my life can again have purpose. Will you not stay with me?"

Marishka stared at him, finally understanding. "You made me a vampire."

"Marishka." His eyes didn't just burn now; they blazed. "Be my bride, my love, my partner in every meaning. Be mine. I shall give you whatever you wish, everything you wish. It is all yours to ask."

"I only wish my father to be safe." Marishka told him.

"For the rest of his life nothing shall harm him." The Count promised.

Marishka smiled. "Then I am yours."

Forever.