Friday, August 20, 2004

Prologue- Black Roses
"Nana! Nana!" called a quivering voice, choked by sobs. Maryn spun around at the sound of her title to find a little girl tugging at the hem of her dress. The child's beautiful large eyes stared up at her, more tears threatening to spill over. Her face was swathed in tears and she emitted a hiccup every now and then.

"What is it, *leibchen? Why do you cry so? Hmm?" Maryn asked as she stooped down to wipe the little girl's face tenderly.

"I can't find my doll Marina. I looked everywhere in the house but i can't find her!" Once again, the child burst into sobs. Maryn's heart twisted with compassion and pity for the little girl. Everything seemed to be going wrong in her young life. Maryn had taken care and loved this little girl as is if she was her own daughter. As it were, the child's biological mother negelected her family duties and thought only of her own well being. So she, Maryn, was hired for the task. Selfish, rude, and arrogant, the mother acted like the child didn't even exist. Maryn even heard the mother utter a slanderous word or two about the little girl often hearing her say it was a mistake for her to even be born! But how could someone loathe such a intelligent, beautiful child? At age 6 it was apparent that the child inherited her mother's and father's blessed good looks and was often admired by others (much to the disdain of her mother). Maryn looked over her shoulder at the mansion looming behind her and shook her head, dasapproving of those who dwelled in it. The little girl's father was no less worse than the mother. He was always preoccupied with business and paperwork when he should have spent time with his daughter. Turning back, Maryn hugged the little girl close to her and rubbed her back in a soothing manner.

"Shhhh, hush, beloved, all is well. We will go find her together, ja? Now...when was the last time you saw her?" Maryn asked quietly. The little girl moved out of her embrace, deep in thought. She was still hiccuping but the crying subsided.

"Well...i had her this morning and during tea time, but then...but then she said she wanted to play and i took her to..." The little girl's eyes suddenly brightened and she had the air of excitement about her.
"I remember now! I left her in mommy's garden! Come on! Let's go get her!" Exclaimed the child and proceeded to pull Maryn's hand. They headed past the running fountains, past the gazebo of love, through the budding orchards, and finally stopped infront of the garden door. It was a heavy oak door, scarred and marked by time, with heavy Ivy and vines entangled on the walls surrounding it. The girl produced a key from her pocket and turned it in the lock. The click of success sounded and they pushed open the door. Maryn was amazed by the immense beauty and grandness of the garden. Every flower imagined seemed to be flourishing in the garden. A small waterfall gushed into a pond, complete with koi and turtles. Right next to the pond, heavily branched willow trees shivered in the warm breeze and roofed a tree stump, perfect for sitting. Stepping stones ran in all different directions, each leading to more splendor of different beauties. A deer and her fawn was grazing on the lush grass at the far side of the garden where the wall had crumbled down. Maryn turned to find something that made her speechless by it's magnificent being. Radiant and glowing white in the sunlight, an abadoned church stood proud. Doves and pigeons cooed their delight atop the well intacted steeple and after 35 years of misuse, the steps to the entrance still looked inviting. The beautiful stain glass windows were also still intact but were a little dusty. Maryn tried to take everything in but it was an overload for her senses. But all the little girl had eyes for was her doll, perched delicately on a swing supended from another sturdy tree. The wind made the swing sway slightly as the little girl raced to her beloved dollie.

"Marina! I found you! Don't do that again, ok? You know you're not supposed to do that! You could've.." The little girl continued to scold her dollie as she proceeded to walk back to the entrance of the garden but Maryn scarcely heard her. Maryn lightly touched the tree, looking up at it's crown. Several different species of birds made nests there and flew about busily while Maryn just smiled. A startled gasp snapped her out of her reverie. She turned sharply to find the little girl at the other end of the garden, standing beside a rose bush budding black roses. A dark liquid seemed to be dripping from one of the stems. The little girl was staring at her palm out stretched before her. It was then Maryn noticed it was bleeding. A bolt alarm shot through her and she panicked. The child must not taste her blood! She musn't! Maryn didn't want her to 'awaken' and become enslaved to her dormant darker nature. She must avoid becoming what her mother became! Maryn stood frozen, praying that the child wouldn't be overcome by curiosity, but...she did. The little girl seemed entranced and slowly lifted her palm to her lips. All of the sudden Maryn remembered she could move. She ran as fast as she could towards the child

"NO! DON'T YOU MUST!" MAryn called out but her warning came seconds too late. Maryn felt dipair flow over her and sunk to the ground in grief. The future for this child was now decided the moment the blood touched her lips. There was no going back. The child had tasted her blood and found it good. She began to drink.
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*Liebchen: German for "Sweetheart" or "Darling"

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