(Revised): Lucius Whitethorne and the Veiled Legacy

My father was said to have been the most powerful Vampire ever known. Once, in a fit of rage, he obliterated his former planet and was relocated to Earth to survive. He was known as King Alaric the First. His reign was intended to be everlasting. He was meant to always be present, to always guide the vampire race.

That is... until he vanished. At least that is what others believe, but he told me what was going to happen and why he and my mother had to leave me behind. My mother, Lady Isabella, was a beautiful and compassionate woman. She had an air of elegance that was captivating, and she always knew how to comfort me, even during the darkest times.

One day, I remember my father and I standing in the dimly lit hall of our ancient castle. The heavy tapestries on the walls muffled our words as he spoke to me about the reasons for his departure.

"Lucius," he began, his voice deep and resonant. "There are forces at play that I cannot control. My duty calls me, and I must leave you here on Earth for you should not be burdened with my responsibilities. The Gods are angry about me abandoning my duties and demand I return once again to continue my duties."

My father turned out to be a deity, a God of the undead, yet living. Zombies, Vampires, Liches, he ruled them all. At least he did until he arrived on Earth and fell in love with my mother. He decided he was content here and abandoned all his responsibilities to live with us. It was not until I turned 12 years old that he was summoned back by the other Gods to fulfill his duties.

He wanted to refuse, but they threatened both me and my mother, leaving him no choice. He took my mother with him but left me behind. He told me it was far too perilous to accompany him and instructed me to live a contented life here on Earth.

"Perhaps one day," he said, his eyes filled with sorrow, "you will be prepared to ascend to other realms and reunite with us."

With those words, he departed, leaving me and all the other vampires.

As soon as he left, the Vampire community crumbled. Without the guidance and authority of King Alaric, chaos ensued, and wars for the throne commenced. Different factions and powerful vampires vied for control, tearing the once-unified vampire race apart. The violence was relentless, and the once-mighty vampire community dwindled in numbers as battles raged on.

In the midst of all this turmoil, I was soon forgotten. Nobody felt threatened by a young vampire like myself, so I managed to avoid the brunt of the conflict. While other vampires fought for power, I stayed out of the limelight, focusing on my own survival and growth. I knew I had to adapt and become stronger if I were to ever have a chance of reuniting with my parents.

Years passed, and the vampire community, once teeming with members, was now reduced to a mere shadow of its former glory. The wars had left a deep scar on our world, and the surviving vampires had become scattered and disorganized.

Despite the chaos and devastation, I held onto the hope that one day, I would ascend to the realms beyond and reunite with my family. Until then, I resolved to live a life true to myself and make the best of the situation I had been left in.

So that is that. Now, a little about myself. My name is Lucius Whitethorne. My mother named me after my father and left me here to grow and live as I desired. I have billions of dollars, everything I could ever want, I am handsome, I am strong, I am popular, and I am so very bored. That is why I decided to move to a normal public school in the US without revealing my wealth. I desired a quiet life with friends who cared for me not for my money but for who I was. Plus, it sounded like an entertaining adventure.

It was the fourth of February when I arrived at my new high school. I was certain I would stand out immediately. I was quite tall for my age, 16 if I have forgotten to mention that, standing at 5'10, with white hair, golden eyes, and a face that would make models envious. I was dressed in a white hoodie with white skinny jeans. I wore white Vans and carried a white Nike backpack. If it isn't obvious... white is by far my favorite color. I entered the school and saw no one in the open; I was late on my first day. A splendid start. I approached the office and requested a tardy slip from the student services window. The attendant gazed at my face for a few moments before turning around, signing a slip, and handing it to me.

"What a face you have. Planning to work as a model your whole life?" she inquired.

Sigh "I was cursed with these looks, I tell you. No matter where I go, I always get stared at. What an unfair life," I replied with a chuckle.

"Haha, head on to your class. You're already late," she said, returning to her previous task.

I exited the office and made my way to my class, which was on the upper level of the building. This school was both large and small at the same time. It had three sizable two-story buildings and around 100 classrooms. There were a football field, gymnasium, and most other typical school facilities. The school was said to have between 1,000 and 1,500 total students and had a good rating online, which is why I chose it.

As I arrived at my classroom, I tried to pull the door open, but it was locked. Having no choice, I knocked and saw a male teacher approaching the door through the window.

"Ah, Lucius, isn't it? I already marked you absent, so you better have a slip," he told me as he walked back to the front of the classroom and pointed at my desk.

"Yes, sir," I replied and walked in, only to see everyone staring at me. I chose to ignore them, placed the slip on his desk, and proceeded to my own desk in the far left corner of the room.

"Now, Lucius, I expect you to no longer be tardy and not cause a distraction anymore. Look at them; they can't stop staring at you," the teacher said, glancing at all the students.

The students instantly turned around to face the front of the room, but I still caught several girls blushing, having been caught staring by the teacher.

"The first day, wish me luck," I whispered quietly as I looked up at the ceiling with a smile.