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A Heart


(The Dark Ages)
Long ago, in the dungeon of the most magnificent castle in the land, a baby girl named Erika was born on October 31. When she opened her eyes for the first time, all she saw was darkness. Erika lived in the dungeon with her mother, Leslie, and the only light they saw was when the guards came to feed them.

Erika (5 years old): “Mommy, why do we live in the darkness?” she asked. “Everyone else lives in the light.”

Leslie: “Pumpkin, It’s because you’re so beautiful, I’m afraid that someone will take you from me.” She lied.

Erika had never seen herself or her mother before, so she didn’t know what they looked like. As Erika grew, she still believed her mother. She didn’t know her mother had lied to her
.
One night (or day) they heard a sound coming from the other side of the door.

Guard: “I’m sorry but no one is aloud in the dungeon.”

Soldier1: “Sir, please step aside, By order of the King, I am to arrest Ms. Leslie Lamia for the act of witchcraft. Please step aside.”

Erika heard the doorknob turn.

Erika (8 years old): “Mommy, what’s going on?” she whimpered.

Leslie: “I don’t know.”

Soldier1: “Leslie Lamia, you are under arrest for the act of witchcraft, and are to be sentenced to death by order of the King.”

The soldier grabbed Leslie and herded her towards the door.

Leslie: “No! Please, I can’t leave my daughter alone! She needs me!” she cried.

Soldier2: “Your daughter will be put in possession of the King. She will be trained to work as a maid at the castle.”

Leslie: “Please! No!” she screamed.

They took Leslie away and slammed the door behind them.

Erika: “Mommy! Mommy! Come back!”

Shortly after, Erika was sent to the castle. She was assigned to work for the Queen and was worked very hard. After 2 years she’d had enough. She decided to run away to the woods farthest east of the kingdom. She made it to the woods by nightfall.

Erika (10 years old): “Phew! I finally made it!”

Erika searched the woods for hours for a place to sleep, but could find none. So she lay out under a tree and slowly drifted to sleep. She awoke the next morning to find she had been moved.

Erika: “Huh, I don’t remember coming here.”

Suddenly, a wolf popped out of the bushes.

Erika: “AAAAAHHHHHH!”

Wolf1:” It’s ok, I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to help.”

Erika: “How are you speaking? You’re a wolf!”

Another wolf came out of the bushes.

Wolf2: “Actually, were Werewolves, not wolves.”

Erika: “Oookkkay.”

Wolf1: “My names Aldora. I’m the Alfa Female of the pack.”

Wolf2: “My name is Barclay, I’m the Alfa Male of the pack.”

Erika: “Uh, my name is Erika. Erika Lamia.”

Barclay: “Ok, Erika Crow, what’s a young girl like you doing in the woods? Are you lost?”

Erika: “No, I’m a maid at the castle. Well, at least I was until I ran away.”

Aldora: “What did the king do to you?”

Erika: “He took my mother away from me. They said she was to be sentenced to death. She was burned alive on the stake.”

The wolves, too, despised the King. He sent soldiers into the forest and they killed almost half of their kind.

They took Erika back to their camp and she soon found a new home in the woods, living with the wolves. They taught her all the skills needed for survival like hunting and gathering. Erika learned to identify berries and other things that were safe to eat.

She was told about her enemies and who to avoid. Erika was especially interested in Vampires. She was told that the only creature who could hold their own against a Werewolf was a Vampire.

Erika (12 years old): “What makes them so powerful?” she asked.

Barclay: “They are the fastest running creatures to ever roam this
planet. Even though they’re not as strong as us, their speed more than makes up for It.” he explained.

Erika: “Wow!”

Aldora: “We try our best to stay out of the way of the vampires. If we don’t keep it that way it will lead to a battle.”

Life continued as normal until one day. On October 27, a war broke out between the Vampires and Werewolves. Aldora hid Erika in a safe place where she was to stay until the battle ended.

The battle turned into a war and lasted for five years. Erika did as she was told and stayed hidden the whole time.
After the war had ended, she decided to go in search of any survivors.

Erika (17 years old): “Aldora! Barclay! Where are you!

When she reached the battle field she stopped. All across the field were the remains of the wolves and pale bodies of the vampires.

Erika: “Hello?! Is anyone alive?”

She started walking towards one of the bodies. When she neared one of the bodies, she realized it was a vampire body. When she came little closer to the body she also noticed it was breathing!

Erika: “Uh, Hello? Are you okay?”

Erika reached out to touch its cold skin. Suddenly, the body jerked forward and bit Erika.

Erika: “No!”

Erika fell to the ground in pain. She screamed in agony while her hand gushed out blood.

The Vampire got up and ran over to Erika.

Vampire: “Are you alright?! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to bite you!” he apologized.

Erika: “AHHHHHHH! Make it stop! Please!” she shrieked.

Vampire: “Shhhhhh! Stop yelling the kings soldiers are coming!” he warned.

The Vampire picked Erika up and sprinted into the bushes. He set her down in a small clearing and left Erika screeching in pain. He soon came back with water which he poured over her wound. He ripped a strip of cloth of his shirt and wrapped it around her hand.

He stayed with Erika through her pain and suffering, and waited for the transformation to complete. One morning, Erika’s screaming stopped. She sat up and looked around.

Erika: “What’s going on?” she asked hoarsely.

Vampire: “I accidentally bit you.”

Erika turned around and saw the Vampire.

Erika: “AHHHH! Who are you, what are you?”

Vampire: “I’m a Vampire, my name is Elijah.”

There was a long silence.

Elijah: “What’s your name?” he asked.

Erika: “My name is Erika.”

Erika: “May I ask why you aren’t trying to kill me?”

Elijah: “Technically I have. I accidentally bite you. You’re a Vampire now.”

Erika: “What?! I’m a Vampire?!” she exclaimed.

Elijah explained to her how it happened.

Erika: “How can I turn back into a human?” she asked.

Elijah: “The only way to turn you back is to go to the Sorcerer and have him do it.”

Elijah and Erika discussed what they were going to do. They decided that they were going to travel together to find the Sorcerer.

Elijah: “Okay, so we’re going to set out at Dawn tomorrow.”

Erika: “Right.”

They waited in the clearing until they saw the sun begin to rise. They set out immediately.

They traveled far: through valleys, mountains, and rivers. They stayed out of sight of the villagers and civilization.

Every moment they traveled Elijah, started to like Erika even more.

Elijah: “We’re here.”

Erika saw a large tower over the hills they traveled.

Erika: “Finally, I can be human again!”

Elijah: “Yeah.”

They reached the tower quickly, and banged on the giant door.

Erika: “Hello! Anyone home?”

“Come in.” a deep voice boomed.

The two travelers stepped inside and the door shut behind them.

“Why have you come?” the voiced echoed.

Elijah: “Oh Mighty Sorcerer! We come because we need your help! This girl has been turned into a Vampire and we need you to change her back!”

Erika: “Please help me! I don’t want to be a Vampire! I want to be human again!” she pleaded.

“Alright, I will help you. But I need something from you in return!”

Erika and Elijah: “Anything!”

“I need… a heart!”

Erika: “A heart?”

“A heart!”
Elijah: “Where can we find one?”

“Go into town and ask the men for their heart! If you don’t find a man who is willing to give up his heart, I cannot help you!”

Elijah: “Alright! We’ll be back!”

The two ran out the tower door and towards town.

They asked every man, but all of them refused to give up his heart.
They went back to the castle slowly and banged on the door again.
“Who goes there?”

Elijah: “It is us!”

The door slowly opened and they walked inside.

“I see you have failed to find a heart!”

Erika: “Yes, we have Sir.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

Elijah stood and watched as Erika slowly walked to the door, tears welling up in her eyes.

Elijah: “Wait!”

Erika turned to look at Elijah.

Elijah: “If I give you my heart, will you change her back?” he asked.

Erika: “What?!”

Elijah: “I’ll give you my heart willingly.”

“Alright.”

Erika: “No Elijah! If you give him your heart you’ll die!”

Elijah: “I know. I’ve lived on this earth for thousands of years. I want you to have a happy, normal life.”

Suddenly a shock went through Elijah’s body and he fell to the floor, his pale skin turning even whiter.

Erika ran over to Elijah and knelt by his body.

Erika: “No! Why did you do this, why?”

Elijah: “Because…” he whispered.

Elijah: “Because…I love you.”

Elijah’s body went limp and she felt the color return to her skin.

Erika: “Thank You.”

Erika: “I love you too.” She whispered back.

Erika returned to her normal life, but she will always remember Elijah. She will always love him. Forever.

THE END