Roshan

To most, I am a myth; a horror story told to scare little children and send shivers down the spines of those old enough to know better. Only the minority believes in me and my kind. They are the people in your asylums, in the darkest corners of your bland human world. The ones who haven’t been found yet are plagued by nightmares, haunted by their belief in my world.

My name is Roshan. I am one hundred years old as of today.

I was nineteen when I crossed Darien’s path. At that time, he was two hundred and forty, but he looked no older than twenty. He looked at me with the strangest look in his eyes. I was intrigued by him. One hour and countless seductive words later, he had stolen both my virginity and my mortality. One bite, one tiny little bite, and I was one of the eternal damned: a vampire. I was amazed – but pleased – when my soft features became more defined, my black hair became more lustrous, my irises turned a stunning shade of purple. In life, I had been beautiful. In death, I was stunning.

When I first felt the thirst, I was terrified. Darien taught me to control it, to feed under the cover of darkness in deserted places. I found that I enjoyed the taste of blood. I quickly came to terms with killing what I had once been.

The light does not kill us as the humans believe. We simply prefer darkness. It is more agreeable. Nor will holy relics, wooden stakes or garlic harm us. In fact, yesterday Darien and I attended a Catholic mass prior to eating at an Italian restaurant.

Well, behind an Italian restaurant, at least. The meal was definitely Italian. I am fluent in the language, and I can say for certain that our meal did not like us. He cussed like only a native can.

You probably wonder why I am writing this. It is because Darien is gone. The Elders killed him when they found he was partaking of illicit blood. We are not meant to feed on children. But Darien did.

No vampire can live without her mate. That is why I write now. This is my eulogy. I am leaving; the Elders will have mercy.

Farewell, eternity.