1 Abandoned and Sent to a Foreign Land at Three Years Old

*Ana*

"You'll be happy in Nochten, Princess Anastasia."

The nursemaid repeats, but I'm too young to understand. She's crying. Big chubby tears strip down her wrinkled face. But she smiles down at me.

"You will be back with your kind."

My kind?

I shiver as a cold wind throws back my loose hair. It's silver- a hair color I haven't seen anyone else have. Father once called it special—proof of the love between himself and my deceased mother.

Ahead, the horse's nicker. They must be cold too. I realize it's too cold to be out, beast or man. Snow will soon fall. I can feel it in the air. It will be the first of this year in the Kingdom of Dawny.

I don't like this anymore. I decide.

I want to go back inside where it's warm- to go back to Papa.

"I don't wanna go," I look up.

"Please, I'll be good for Stepmother, "

My nose begins to run with a thin snot. I lick it away for more to drip down. I pull on my nursemaid's arm.

"Please, I swear-" But I grow afraid when she pulls us closer to the carriages.

"Don't make me go," I'm now crying as I am pulled forward. I scratch at her hand to see her wince, but she does not stop.

My shoes are scraping the ground as she goes on. Her grip is too firm, and I can't break free.

"Please-Ah!" I stumble over my feet, but she stops my fall. I'm yanked up to be dragged again.

"Why are you doing this!?" I yell between tears. They are as big and thick as her tears. But she won't look at me and continues to drag me closer.

The doorman jumps down to open the door.

Inside, I see it's full of blankets and pillows. It scares me even more than before.

"No!" I pull on her hand and bite her.

"Humph," The nursemaid swallows the pain and wipes her face. She smiles at me as I let go to see I've left a red crescent mark on her thin skin. I broke the skin, and she bleeds.

"- And they'll take care of you and love you." The nursemaid chokes as tears fall down her cheeks.

I look behind her. I see Papa and Stepmother standing inside. I see Papa stand tall as Stepmother moves her hands over her swollen belly.

I look to see my Papa look down at me, but it's wrong. A cold veil falls over his blue eyes. Papa looks back at me as a stranger.

"Daddy-" My voice is cut off as I see him turn away.

Did he leave? I stop breathing.

For a brief moment, I see Stepmother smile down at me.

"Papa?" I whisper and lose my strength. I stop pulling as large, heavy tears drip down my chin.

Ana gave no protest after that. The nursemaid guided her final steps toward the carriage. Ana was lifted to step inside.

The nursemaid repeats as she lifts me into the carriage. She shudders before throwing her arms around me. I don't have the strength to push her away or hug her.

She pulls away to look at me with a crumbling smile. Her eyes and cheeks glistened with tears. Yet, even in such a state, she looks at me with the warmth I am used to.

I keep my eyes on her as the door closes. Then in the tiny window, I see her turn back. The carriage jerks forward with the crack of the whip. We start moving, and I gradually lose sight of her.

It takes a week's ride to make it to Nocthen. But when the carriage slowed, I instinctively look through the window. We are nearing my mother's homeland- the empire of vampires.

"Nochten," I say.

I see an elaborate palace constructed of white stone with pointed gold domes. It's a sudden break of color against the yellow sand. And I keep my eyes on the window as we enter the entrance.

A large water fountain gushes, spraying life before the grand doorway. But I overlook it as something new catches my eye. There are people.

It's a heavy line of people standing in front. They must have come to welcome me.

I want to go back. I don't want to meet these people.

When the carriage stops, I close my eyes and vainly will it all away. This has to be a bad dream. If I just wish hard enough-

But the sound of the door opening makes me open my eyes. A wave of heat and foreign smells slap me in the face. It's noxious.

Go away. I want to cry again as the coachman climbs down to hold out his hand.

"Your Majesty?"

Behind the man, I see a group of three approaching—each with red hair and eyes.

The woman is the tallest. She holds hands with a portly, bald, and short man. The third is an eleven-year-old boy who looks the most handsome.

I take the coachman's hand and step down but keep his hand in mine.

"Your Empress?" He looks at me curiously, but I can't look at him because I suddenly feel screamed at.

"All praise to Empress Anastasia!" Everyone exclaims. They kneel with a hand over their heart.

I pull myself closer to the coachman, not wanting to let go.

"Greetings, your Empress." The tall woman begins with the others following after. They all stand up again. Immediately, I feel their strange eyes looking at me. Their gazes linger on my hair.

Please don't leave me. I look up at the coachman in desperation.

The coachman frowns. I nearly let out a cry as he shakes his head. He can't.

No, please!" I squeeze his hand tighter, but the tall woman clears her throat.

"Please- don't-" I reach out, but the coachman is moving. He climbs back to crack his whip. The horse starts up, and the carriage rolls on.

Don't leave… I watch helplessly. Suddenly watching the fragment of familiarity vanish and leave me alone with strangers in a strange land.

"Your Empress," The tall woman steps forward.

"I am Funda, your mother's sister. And this, your Uncle. And our son Mykhol, your cousin." Aunt Funda introduces everyone with a firm gesture.

I don't want to look but feel my head turn. I come to face this new 'family.' And just like the crowd, I see them stare at my hair. There is a quick look of disgust amongst them.

The same look seems to run amongst the crowd, but I don't understand.

Is there something in my hair? I move to touch it, but nothing feels out of the ordinary. But the expression doesn't go away, and I start to feel my shrink in place.

Why are you looking at me like that?

"Your uncle and I will act as regents for the empire until you're first blood and can reign as Empress." Aunt Funda takes another step but stops as if she isn't sure about touching me.

"Tomorrow will be the beginning of your lessons. Today, let us take you on a tour to help you navigate your new home."

Aunt Funda turns, her husband and son following, to lead back to the palace. Their footsteps move in sync as if rehearsed. They don't notice me just stand by.

"We will first take you to your room to wash. After that, you will be dressed in our Nochten gowns-" Aunt Funda goes on before she looks over her shoulder.

"Your Empress?"

"Your Empress, you need to follow me-" Aunt Funda begins with a quick flash of annoyance. She turns to backtrack for me.

"…take me back."

"What was that, your Empress?"

"Take me back!" I shout with tears and throw myself down. I fall onto hard little stones that cut my knees. It rips a louder cry out of me.

"I don't want to be here. I wanna go home." I cry to the sky.

"I want Daddy."

I don't want to be here. I want to go home. I don't like it here at all-, it's too hot. The people look mean.

Why was I sent here?

I continue wailing and crying on the ground as if it can do something, but the longer I go, the more I realize that no one is moving.

Aunt Funda remains still. She doesn't come to comfort me. Neither does her husband or son.

The nobles only shoot glances at each other before returning to watch the spectacle. They observe a pitiful child wailing on as if it were a performance.

No one wants to come over. And those who look at me sympathetically seem too scared to move. Finally, in the crowd, I make out one man, a human with a deep scar over his eyebrow. He looks upset as he watches me but doesn't move.

What's wrong with these people!? I am deeply disturbed. How can anyone just watch a child cry? What kind of monsters would do that?

That only makes me cry harder.

I cry until my eyes dry out and my throat burns. I never thought I could cry for that long- never had to before now. But there is nothing more I can give. I'm weak as I lift my head to the faces around me.

All these strangers stare back at me.

Does no one care? I feel the thought shake me. Surely, Aunt would-

I turn to expect her to come rushing over, but that dies like my voice. She looks at me so coldly that I'm unsure if I didn't turn into a bug or something. Her disgust is evident.

"Your Empress, let us freshen you up before the tour." Aunt Funda repeats with a polished smile that is hollow.

I nod slowly as I push myself up.

'My Kind,' she said. I remember my nursemaid's words.

Did she say I'd be happy here?

I roll my eyes over the crowd to see no gentle face among them.

Liar.

Without another word, I start to come over. My dress is dirty, and my hair feels sticky from the sweat on my forehead.

Again I can feel them staring. I can't understand the way they look at my hair, but it isn't good. I can see that.

I'm unsure why that was then, but I will soon learn. My silver hair- the hallmark symbol of the greatest taboo a vampire could commit.

This taboo will bring me years of isolation, pain, and betrayal. I will have everything I work so hard for break down before my eyes. I will be left with nothing.

But this same reason will save me and bring me what will be the love of my life.

But that will come much later when I'm all grown up.

Now I am a three-year-old, too tired to cry, and following my new family lead to my new home.