seen from United States
seen from Austria
seen from Yemen
seen from Germany
seen from Switzerland
seen from Sweden
seen from Indonesia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Iraq
seen from Bosnia & Herzegovina
seen from China
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Australia
seen from China
seen from South Korea
seen from United States
seen from Albania
seen from United States
So, if I've finished already, why wait, right? :)
Max's POV has two versions, one if MC is Male or Non-binary, and another if MC is female.
The MC female version is 1,440 words. And the other version is 1,338 words.
All in all, it's the same scene, with just a few… differences :)
I'll leave the links to the posts.
Prologue - Max POV ~ MC Male/NB
Prologue - Max POV ~ MC Female
And one last warning. It kind of contains spoilers of Max's character.
Prologue - Max POV ~ MC Female
Keep it together.
I stare blankly as my brothers exit the room.
Keep it together. Hold your smile.
My eyes go to the woman on my right for a split second. The mere sight of her is enough for my slow heartbeat to almost stop. What the hell am I going to do?
Keep it together. Hold your smile. Don’t look at her.
Looking back at my brothers, I see all three have just stepped outside the room, all three pairs of eyes looking at us. Derek’s eyes, curiously enough, are set on the woman, no trace of frustration left in them. Since I’ve known him, his eyes have always said the truth that his mouth cannot. It may annoy him when I say it, but it’s a trait I’ve always admired of him. His honest eyes.
And speaking of eyes, Alex’s are the most insistent, demanding that I look at him. When I relent and gold meets gray, he pins me with his stare, promising to not let go until I answer his question. The way he stands, arms crossed and the tension on his shoulders, as well as the squint in his eyes as he examines my face. All of them are a clear sign of his worry and a vow to intervene if I so much as hesitate to answer him.
Do you want to do it?
He’ll do it. If I say no, hesitate, or show fear... he’ll take my place. And honestly, it’s a very tempting offer.
But with just one glance at Jere’s face, I know I can’t take Alex’s offer.
I can’t take away that joy from him, that excitement he feels knowing he has helped another person. It’s written all over his face. More so knowing his big brother has supported him, as always.
And I’ll first be stranded alone on the sea than take that away from him.
So, I will do the only thing I know. What I am best at.
I’ll hide behind a smile and lie.
Instantly, Alex’s stance relaxes, and his eyes soften. He believes me.
Just before Father closes the door, I see the teasing smile Alex shoots at Derek and how the latter, feeling Alex’s stare, avoids his eyes at all costs. And Jere’s bright smile as he’s lost in his thoughts, surely thinking about how he’s happy we got to help this person.
My smile gets easier to hold just by looking at them.
“Maximillian,” Father’s voice yanks me back to reality.
“Yes, Father,” my voice responds on its own.
“Do you remember the first step?”
“Giving her my blood.”
“Normally, yes,” he corrects me. “But in this case, given the state of her injuries, it will be best to clean and close those wounds.”
There’s a glass of water on Father’s desk. I take out my handkerchief, wet it on the water, and walk back to the woman.
Father stands a few steps behind me as I start cleaning the woman’s arms. And the more dirt I remove, the more cuts appear on her arms with only just a few bruises.
Looking closely at the cuts, it’s obvious they’re no mere accident. Someone did this. As for who, I’ve no the slightest idea. But nevertheless, I’m curious. Why would someone end up like this?
No, now that I think of it... I don’t care. It’s not my business.
When her arms are as clean as necessary, I lift up her shirt just enough to clean the deep cut on her belly.
Now, this is more serious...
I’m no expert, but I would bet she was stabbed. A quick thrust with a knife or dagger. But it’s strange, now that I look at it closely, it’s not that deep nor cutting anything important. Could she had survived if we had reached her sooner?
Would she be out of my life now if I had found her just a little bit sooner?
My eyes drift to her face. Unconsciously, I clean her cheeks and forehead.
This face. From now on, I’ll be seeing this face every day. Every single day.
Her eyes remain closed. What color could they be? I swear if she has those same wretched eyes...
“That should be enough.”
Father’s voice startles me. I spring back towards the desk, feigning that my intention was to clean my handkerchief with water.
When I turn back, Father’s kneeling beside her, most likely examining her injuries.
“Did you notice?” he asks.
“That those cuts don’t look accidental?”
“And what else?”
“And it looks like she was stabbed. The wound is not that deep, almost as if it was not meant to be lethal.”
“Perfect,” I smile a little at my father’s compliment. “What a mystery, don’t you think? To know what happened to this girl. But I am more worried at what this implies.”
I know what he means. “Someone is after her.”
He nods. “We cannot be sure until she confirms it, but it could be possible. I’ll give instructions to Alexandre to be alert until she wakes up, in any case. Better to be safe.”
I nod, take a breath, and walk towards them again. Father stands up and gestures for me to kneel beside the sofa.
“Close those wounds with your blood,” he says.
Trying not to think much, I rip open the skin of my index finger with my nail. My cold blood slips slowly from the cut.
“You will need more than that to close the bigger wound.”
I make another cut, deep and longer, on my palm. My blood flows more freely and constantly now. I place my palm on her arm, spreading my blood all over her skin. Then, the other. Lastly, I make a fist and let my blood fall over the cut on her belly.
When I open my hand again my wound has disappeared, as well as all her cuts.
“Your blood has come into contact with hers. Now, she has to drink your blood.”
I make another cut on my hand, letting my blood slip between her lips.
“That’s enough,” Father says, and I take back my hand. “It’s time you drink her blood. Do not take much, or else she won’t survive.”
I was dreading this moment.
Don’t think. Just do it.
I lean in, not daring to look at her face again, close my eyes, and bury my face on her neck. And before my head has a chance to think, I sink my teeth into her skin.
I barely took a sip before I was forced to back away.
“What was that?” I blurt out as I stand up and take a few steps back.
What the hell? That never happened before. That thrill, that feeling, that connection. It never happened before, not even when Father turned me into a vampire.
“That’s what a vampire feels when turning a human into their creation.”
No. I did it. No. No. No.
I fucking did it.
What am I gonna do? I’m stuck with her. For fucking eternity.
“You’re not alone, Maqueas.”
Father’s voice brings me back, his face full of worry. Damn, now I’ve made him worry. I’ve let my mask fall.
“We are with you. I am with you. You won’t be doing this alone.”
I nod and gulp, trying to forget the blasted taste of her blood. Why does her blood have to be so...
“I’m sorry, I’m fine. It’s just... It just dawned on me. All this.”
He doesn’t respond, blink, or look away.
With slow steps he walks to me, standing right in front of me. Before I can do anything, I feel his hand on top of my head.
Even though our skin is cold, my senses tell me his touch is warm. Warm, reassuring, and protective. He has always felt like this to me.
“I know you can do this, but that doesn’t mean you’re alone.”
My heartbeat returns to its slow and almost imperceptible rhythm. I didn’t even realize it was beating fast before.
When he’s sure I’m okay, he takes his hand back from my head and goes to the door. I walk towards the woman and carry her in my arms, just like Jere did before. I turn towards the door, and Father opens it.
Derek’s nowhere to be found. But Alex and Jere are standing there, waiting for us.
Seeing both of them calms my mind. Father is right. I have them. All of them.
I’ll be fine.
Looking at Jere’s smile, I know I can’t let him down. So, I have to be fine for them.
Even if I lie to myself.
Prologue ~ Derek's POV
How did I end up like this?
The others just left the library, leaving me alone with Father and that human. The pauses between each heartbeat are getting longer, a clear sign that they don’t have much time left.
“You know how to do it.”
It wasn’t a question but a fact coming from him. How am I supposed to be sure how to do it if I’ve never done it before?
“I do not know how,” I find my voice and tell him.
“You saw me turn the others into vampires.”
“Just because I saw you does not mean I know how to do it myself.”
“You have never needed to have things explained to you in order to do them.”
Have I had any other choice?
“I still believe this is not right,” I try to change the subject.
It would seem like my father didn’t hear me, but that’s not true. He only chooses to remain silent while taking out a handkerchief from his pocket and starting to clean the face of the human.
“Why is that seeing someone in this state doesn’t affect you one bit?” he asks me as he cleans dirt and blood from their face.
I’m not Jeremiah. I don’t have the immaturity to still see humans in an emotive or affective way. I can’t afford that.
Although, if I’m honest, even with myself, I would have to admit that even after all these years, I still haven’t gotten used to the fact that humans come and go. I would have to admit that one part of me, however small it is, freaks out seeing a person like this and screams for me to do something.
But I will not do it.
“And just because it affects me, I should turn them without knowing if this is what they want?”
“Is it better if they die?”
“Only they can answer that.”
Because I know there’s something worse. And is someone who’s suffering by their mere existence.
“Have you thought of the possibility of them ending up like Lady Madeleine?”
“And now you bring that up once again,” his voice sounds annoyed.
“How can we be sure that they can adapt as well as us?”
“You said that when I turned Alexandre and Jeremiah. And as far as I see, I think the results are obvious.”
“But Maxi-”
“Maximillian is also fine. He had a little more trouble getting used, but now he is as good as us.”
“And what if they have troubles, too? We know nothing about their situation and what they’ll be leaving behind when they wake up, and we tell them they can’t go back to their home. What if they don’t want to? Or if they can’t adapt to the night?”
“That’s what you will do for the rest of your existence?” his voice changes again, sounding like one scolding a disobedient child. “Will you never act for fear of the ending not being the one you want?”
“You were the one who taught me to think about the consequences of my actions before acting.”
“But not in letting your doubts control you. You will not always have all the time you want to act. If you keep like this, you’ll achieve nothing new because when you have decided, it will be too late. Time doesn’t wait for anyone, not even us.”
“And this is a case when I have to act first before thinking carefully?” I extend my hands towards the sofa, pointing at the person on it. “According to my criteria, this is a case when I have to think about what I’ll do. Because what I’ll choose to do won’t only affect me or our family but their life too. That person will carry the consequences of what I do today for the rest of their existence.”
“They will have a chance, and that is what matters most. When they wake up-”
“We aren’t even sure they’ll wake up.”
...
There’s a deathly silence after my words.
I don’t dare to look into my father’s eyes.
“You have your order. Do it already.”
He turns away sharply and walks to the door. He stops before opening it, sighs heavily, and exits the library, resuming his act in front of my brothers.
Again. I talked too much again.
I always have to keep talking. I can’t let things be as they are. If only I could remain silent for once...
A heartbeat interrupts my thoughts.
That’s right. Now I’m alone with the human.
I look at them. They’re still on the sofa, looking like they don’t have many heartbeats left. I have to acknowledge their tenacity for being alive as long as they have and with so little strength left.
If I’m going to do it, it has to be now, before...
May the Moon forgive me.
I walk over to them and pick up what my father was doing earlier. I start to clean the dirt that has gotten to their arms.
These cuts aren’t because of falls or hits. They’re too clean to be the reason.
Hits, bruises, cuts... What happened to you? Did someone do this to you?
...I hope that later you will like to tell me what happened.
When I finish cleaning their arms, I bring my thumb to my mouth and rip my skin open with my fang.
For us, vampires, to share our curse with humans, we must give our blood. We have to be the first blood they taste, and it also has to come into contact with theirs. Said human also has to give their blood, as it’s a reciprocal act. This is how both end up marked forever, sealing the pact with the most important thing we can give...
Blood.
I remember the words Lord Mond told us all those decades ago when we newly witnessed the world without human eyes.
I let the drops of blood fall from my finger to their arms. With this, it should close all those wounds.
Then, I cut open the palm of my hand with my nail, clenching my fist to draw more blood and let it fall onto their abdomen. With this, it should start to heal that deep cut.
I bring my hand closer to their mouth, letting my blood slip between their lips.
Will this be enough? Maybe just a little more...
After a few moments, I retire my hand and clean it with my handkerchief. When I look at my hand, there’s no hint of any wound in my palm or thumb. Also, I use the cloth to clean the stains my blood left on their arms, and once they’re clean, they don’t have any wounds at all.
There’s only one thing left. I clean the human’s hand and lean closer, bringing it to my lips.
Just a little bit. I can’t take too much blood for all they’ve already lost-
My fangs had barely pierced the skin, and the blood touched my lips when I jumped away with a start.
What was that? Why was it different?
I can’t find the words to explain what just happened. This is not the first time I have drunk blood from a human, but this time...
It’s because I turned them. I did it. What have I done? No...
Forgive me. I am truly sorry.
I’ve no idea when I opened the door and left the room. I walk without stopping towards my bedroom.
I have to do something, anything. I don’t want to think about what will happen if you open your eyes or even if you don’t.
The only thing I know is that if you happen to wake up, I’ll be the one who will take the blame for your mistakes and the one responsible for you. It’s the least I can do for you.
A sigh escapes my lips as soon as I enter my bedroom and close the door.
If you happen to wake up, you will surely hate me for what I just have done.
Prologue - Max POV ~ MC Male/NB
Keep it together.
I stare blankly as my brothers exit the room.
Keep it together. Hold your smile.
My eyes go to the person on my right for a split second, looking at the form laying on the sofa and trying to ignore the rising nervousness.
Looking back at my brothers, I see all three have just stepped outside the room, all three pairs of eyes looking at us. Derek’s eyes, curiously enough, are set on the person, no trace of frustration left in them. Since I’ve known him, his eyes have always said the truth that his mouth cannot. It may annoy him when I say it, but it’s a trait I’ve always admired of him. His honest eyes.
And speaking of eyes, Alex’s are the most insistent, demanding that I look at him. When I relent and gold meets gray, he pins me with his stare, promising to not let go until I answer his question. The way he stands, arms crossed and the tension on his shoulders, as well as the squint in his eyes as he examines my face. All of them are a clear sign of his worry and a vow to intervene if I so much as hesitate to answer him.
Do you want to do it?
He’ll do it. If I say no, hesitate, or show fear... he’ll take my place. A kind offer but unnecessary. With just one glance at Jere’s face, I know I can’t take Alex’s offer.
I can’t take away that joy from him, that excitement he feels knowing he has helped another person. It’s written all over his face. More so knowing his big brother has supported him, as always.
And I’ll first be stranded alone on the sea than take that away from him.
So, Alex can’t know I’m nervous to do this. And I will do the only thing I know. What I am best at.
I’ll hide behind a smile and lie.
Instantly, Alex’s stance relaxes, and his eyes soften. He believes me.
Just before Father closes the door, I see the teasing smile Alex shoots at Derek and how the latter, feeling Alex’s stare, avoids his eyes at all costs. And Jere’s bright smile as he’s lost in his thoughts, surely thinking about how he’s happy we got to help this person.
My smile turns genuine just by looking at them.
“Maximillian,” Father’s voice brings me back to reality.
“Yes, Father,” I reply.
“Do you remember the first step?”
“Giving them my blood.”
“Normally, yes,” he corrects me. “But in this case, given the state of their injuries, it will be best to clean and close those wounds.”
There’s a glass of water on Father’s desk. I take out my handkerchief, wet it on the water, and walk back to the human.
Father stands a few steps behind me as I start cleaning the person’s arms. And the more dirt I remove, the more cuts appear on their arms. Only just a few bruises.
Looking closely at the cuts, it’s obvious they’re no mere accident. Someone did this. As for who, I’ve no the slightest idea. But nevertheless, I’m curious. Why would someone end up like this?
When their arms are as clean as can be, I lift up their shirt just enough to clean the deep cut on their belly.
Now, this is more serious...
I’m no expert, but I would bet they were stabbed. A quick thrust with a knife or dagger. But it’s strange, now that I look at it closely, it’s not that deep nor cutting anything important. Could they had survived if we had reached them sooner?
My eyes drift to their face. Unconsciously, I clean their cheeks and forehead.
This face. From now on, I’ll be seeing this face every day.
“That should be enough.”
Father’s voice startles me. I stand straight and move to the side, letting Father pass. He kneels beside them, examining their injuries.
“Did you notice?” he asks.
“That those cuts don’t look accidental?”
“And what else?”
“And it looks like they were stabbed. The wound is not that deep, almost as if it was not meant to be lethal.”
“Perfect,” I smile a little at my father’s compliment. “What a mystery, don’t you think? To know what happened to this child. But I am more worried at what this implies.”
I know what he means. “Someone is after them.”
He nods. “We cannot be sure until they confirm it, but it could be possible. I’ll give instructions to Alexandre to be alert until they wake up, in any case. Better to be safe.”
I nod, and Father stands up, gesturing for me to kneel beside the sofa.
“Close those wounds with your blood,” he says.
I rip open the skin of my index finger with my nail. My cold blood slips slowly from the cut.
“You will need more than that to close the bigger wound.”
I make another cut, deep and longer, on my palm. My blood flows more freely and constantly now. I place my palm on their arm, spreading my blood all over their skin. Then, the other. Lastly, I make a fist and let my blood fall over the cut on their belly.
When I open my hand again my wound has disappeared, as well as all their cuts.
“Your blood has come into contact with theirs. Now, they have to drink your blood.”
I make another cut on my hand, letting my blood slip between their lips.
“That’s enough,” Father says, and I take back my hand. “It’s time you drink their blood. Do not take much, or else they won’t survive.”
I was nervous of this moment.
Okay, I can do this. Just a little sip.
I lean in, close my eyes, and bury my face on their neck. And before my head has a chance to think, I sink my teeth into their skin.
I barely took a sip before I was forced to back away.
“What was that?” I blurt out as I stand up and take a few steps back.
What the hell? That never happened before. That thrill, that feeling, that connection. It never happened before, not even when Father turned me into a vampire.
“That’s what a vampire feels when turning a human into their creation.”
No. I did it. No. No.
I fucking did it.
What am I gonna do? Now we’re stuck together. For all eternity. I don’t even know if this is something they wanted, if they approve, or if...
“You’re not alone, Maqueas.”
Father’s voice brings me back, his face full of worry. Damn, now I’ve made him worry. I’ve let my mask fall.
“We are with you. I am with you. You won’t be doing this alone.”
I nod and gulp, trying to forget the taste of their blood.
“I’m fine. It just dawned on me. All this.”
He doesn’t respond, blink, or look away.
With slow steps, he walks to me, standing right in front of me. Before I can do anything, I feel his hand on top of my head.
Even though our skin is cold, my senses tell me his touch is warm. Warm, reassuring, and protective. He has always felt like this to me.
“I know you can do this, but that doesn’t mean you’re alone.”
My heartbeat returns to its slow and almost imperceptible rhythm. I didn’t even realize it was beating fast before.
When he’s sure I’m okay, he takes his hand back from my head and goes to the door. I walk towards the person and carry them in my arms, just like Jere did before. I turn towards the door, and Father opens it.
Derek’s nowhere to be found. But Alex and Jere are standing there, waiting for us.
Seeing both of them calms my mind. Father is right. I have them. All of them.
I’ll be fine.
Looking at Jere’s smile, I know I can’t let him down. So, I have to be fine for them.
Well, I felt motivated and had just finished writing Derek's POV and was ready to send it to the queue, but then I thought, why wait?
The "short story" ended up with 1,343 words.
So, I mainly did this because I just noticed the game has reached more than 10k browser plays (in fact, it's almost 11k), which is pretty insane for me. Even more so, considering it's just the prologue that's been released.
And I just wanted to give you something as I finish chapter 1. And you wanted to know what happened after Father told one of the boys to turn MC, so…
By poll's results, Derek won so his POV is the first being published :) ✨
I'll eventually post the POV of the other three boys. Maybe I'll do another poll to know which one's the next.
Anyway, I'll leave the link to Derek's post 🌟
Hope you enjoy it and thank you for sticking around with me 💜❤️
Just a little note, the post is really long 😂
