I didn’t think I’d reach the door that led outside to the gardens so quickly. My hand hovered over the doorknob for some time before I gathered the courage to finally open it. When I did open it, I slowly edged it open and peered around. The Sisters had lit small torches around the gardens in various places along the walk path. I gingerly stepped out onto the steps and glanced around. The roses were in full bloom of different shades to the left a tall willow tree stood towering over the small bench that was nestled under its branches. The wall enclosed the space to give it a cozy feeling and I slowly made my way over to the bench to sit. On my way to the bench, I stopped and looked up to the sky and gasped out loud at the bright stars glowing and flickering back at me.

For the first time I’ve been let outside to see the stars and they’re as magnificent as I expected them to be. The moon was nestled just over the branches of the willow tree, shining brightly. It was just as beautiful. I could see the gray coloring from the craters. It was so close and so full. I once was only able to see it out of the murky window. I took a few steps to sit on the bench and enjoy the stillness of the night. There were no birds chirping, a light breeze to rustle the leaves on the willow tree and the rose bushes. The entire garden was well lit with the candles and from the bright moon. I was personally glad they did this for me. I knew it probably wouldn’t be this quiet out in the world but I’d still enjoy it regardless.

My eyes had wandered across the expanse of the garden and drifted above the wall. Looking at the other trees when I noticed two red dots in the distance. My entire body went cold, I felt the numbness sink its way into my bones in fright. It looked like two red eyes were glaring at me from across the distance. I held my breath until I quickly let it out, shaking my head when I looked up again to the spot the red dots were, they were still there. And then they blinked. I gasped quietly. I was frozen out of fear and I didn’t dare move because my mind couldn’t believe what I was seeing on the other side of the wall. I glanced at the door, the way to safety and glanced back towards the eyes. They were gone.

My heart pounded inside my chest as I quickly stood and ran towards the door to enter my sanctuary. I twisted the knob and shuffled inside the entryway and as I glanced outside as the door was shutting, I saw the beast with red eyes inside the wall, close to where I was seated on the bench.

I felt my face pale even further and slammed the door shut completely, locking whatever it was outside. I turned and pressed my back against the door, my chest heaving from the fear ricocheting inside my chest.

“Sister Marjie! Sister!” I yelled down the quiet hall and ran towards her room.

Sister Marjie came out of her bedroom in her night clothes and her hair in a bun as I rounded the corner. Her smile slipped from her face as she caught my expression of fear.

“Little Raven! Whatever happened?” She asked me as she grasped my shoulders.

“There was a beast! Outside the garden walls with red eyes! And when I ran back inside just as I was shutting the door, it was inside the wall of the garden close to where I had been sitting on the bench under the willow! How could it move so fast?!” I was beginning to get hysterical, my hands kept shaking and my teeth were chattering.

Sister Marjie pulled me into her arms and hugged me close. “Sister Amarie, can you check outside in the garden to see if the creature is still there? Don’t fully go outside. It can’t come in unless we allow it entry. Be careful.”

I couldn’t focus on her words as Sister Amarie disappeared down the hall, I was too busy trying to calm down. Sister Marjie ushered me into her room and carefully laid me down on her bed, covering my body with her blanket.

“S-Sister, what is that thing? It had red eyes and I could feel the darkness coming from it. Please, you’d tell me something right? Is that why you’ve n-never allowed me outside at night?” I shivered underneath the blanket, trying to speak softly through my teeth still chattering.

Sister Marjie was making some hot tea to help settle my nerves as she stiffened, only slightly, but I still noticed her posture become so still it was very unlike her. She knew something.

“What is it? What haven’t you told me?” I sat up, holding the blanket to my chest. My eyes imploring her to tell me something, anything.

When she finally turned to face me, she kept her eyes downcast. “Little Raven, there’s a lot you don’t know and might not understand just yet, but when I say there's darkness in this world and you will bring forth the light, it wasn’t a metaphor. The creature you saw outside was one of myth, fantasy even. You’ve only been taught about the human aspect of things. The main reason why we had you train to defend yourself is from those types of creatures. There are many.” She said with sigh as she came over and sat beside me on her bed, handing me the tea.

I gratefully took the warmth and swallowed some, watching her. Hoping she’d tell me more.

Sister Marjie took a deep breath and lifted her gaze to meet mine. “This may seem a bit odd to you that we never told you about any of this, but we had hoped ever since you were brought to us, they wouldn’t find you so quickly once you turned of age. They are what humans call vampires. They are supernatural beings that -.”

I interrupted her quietly, “drink human blood and are immortal.”

She nodded slowly. “Well, yes to put it simply. Some ravaged humans to the point we humans had almost gone extinct. Until in the darkest times, what humans know to be the medieval times, they had created law and order among their race. They appointed a king to rule over them all. The King of vampires has ruled over his race with a firm hand and kept them all in check for hundreds of years. Humans came back from near extinction and have taken over the entire world, forgetting vampires even existed. They tell stories out of books that they think are fictional, some are true, others not so much. Garlic, crosses, and such do not harm them. But,” she gently touches the silver necklace hanging from my neck, “silver hurts them. It burns them, just like sunlight. It’s why we never allowed you to go outside during the night. This place is sacred, the indoors are at any rate. But if we allow them entry into this Holy space, they will ruin any sanctuary we have.” She reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Why didn’t you tell me about vampires? What else is out there? I don’t understand why that thing would be here.” I questioned with a frown.

Sister Marjie looked down at her hands for a moment before looking back at me. “I didn’t want to frighten you. The only beings I know about are vampires, werewolves, and fae. Each supernatural creature tends to keep to their own species. They’re all tucked away somewhere hidden in different parts of the world. None of them are close to living near here, they shouldn’t even know that this place exists. Unless…” She frowned looking at the wall across her room thoughtfully.

“Unless? Unless what, Sister?” I probed, stiffening slightly.

She turned to look at me again with a frown etched into her face. “Unless they’re looking for something, or someone.”

“Like who? You don’t think they’re looking for me do you? I’m just an orphan who was abandoned as a baby. I wasn’t wanted so they left me here.” My breathing becomes heavier with a slight panic.

“Don’t ever say you aren’t wanted, you know you’re always wanted here. Each of us have loved and cared for you as if you were our own. I’m not sure why they want you but it may have something to do with the note that was left with you in the basket.” She quickly stood and rummaged through her drawer in her night table and pulled out the note that was yellowing from age. It looked blank at first glance but when the light cast behind the paper it slowly showed words forming until she pulled it away.

“Wait, put it back over the candle.” I stood to step beside her as we watched the flame flicker behind the blank paper until the words started forming again.

Dearest Raven,

I’m sorry for leaving you. I had no other choice at this point in my life. I thought I was doing what was best for both you and myself. I hope that one day you’ll come to know I did it to protect you. They cannot find out about you but if they do, or when they do, you must protect yourself at all costs. I hope to live long enough to see you grow into the woman you’re meant to be. If I’m no longer walking this land, understand that I do love you, as only a mother can. A mother must always protect her child to the best of her ability and this was the only place I could think of that could truly protect your existence. You will have the ability to bring forth peace but only after a war has been won. A war that has been going on for centuries. Know this, you will be the greatest weapon any army could have. They will fight over you, they will fight for you, and they will die for you. There’s an evil out there that would use you to their advantage, you must not allow this to happen. I hope we meet again someday. I love you, my darling daughter.

With all my love and devotion,

Your mother, Alma.

My mother loved me. She left me to protect and hide me. She knew something about the darkness that lies within the realm of the supernatural. Something was wrong with me, I am not normal. Right?

Her name is Alma. I looked over at Sister Marjie and both of our expressions resembled the shock we were feeling inside. None of us thought to use a candle’s flame to make the ink come through on the paper.

“That’s why the creature is here. It’s here for me. My mother had me hidden here because she knew I’d be safe, but somehow they found me. It must be linked to my eighteenth birthday though. There has to be something wrong with me, for my mother to say that these creatures would fight over me and all.” I stressed to Sister Marjie. I couldn’t help feeling a little vulnerable with what just happened outside and then my mothers letter to me. I had always felt safe here until tonight, would I always feel like I had no place to go to feel safe?

Sister Marjie gripped my chin between her fingers and made me look at her. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. You will always be safe here, nothing will come inside and get to you. It may very well be linked to your birthday but this is not your fault, so do not feel like it is. You aren’t letting anyone down for being different, as I said before and I’ll say it again. You will bring light into the darkness. I know this to be true.” She dropped my chin and smiled softly at me. “Don’t ever doubt yourself, alright little Raven?”

I nodded and smiled softly at her in return. “Thank you, Sister. I appreciate everyone here for what they’ve done for me.”

“We know you do, now stay here. I’m going to go check on Sister Amarie. Drink your tea, it’ll calm your nerves.” She grabbed her robe and put it on. She opened her door and disappeared down the hallway after shutting it behind her.

****

After a while of waiting for Sister Marjie to return, I couldn’t sit still. I decided to go see what was taking so long. I took a tentative step out of her doorway and looked around the hallway for anyone but everything was quiet, almost too quiet. I frowned as I walked closer to the other corridor that leads to the gardens and I peeked around the corner. I watched as Sister Marjie and Sister Amarie were talking quietly behind the closed door. I leaned my back against the wall trying to listen in on their conversation.

“He said he was here for her, to protect her but I don’t trust the words that came out of his mouth at all. This creature had darkness pouring out of his skin, it was grotesque.” Sister Amarie said in a hurried voice.

“Keep your voice down. I don’t need little Raven hearing of this. What else did he tell you?” Sister Marjie asked quietly.

“The creature said he had been watching over her for quite some time, making sure it really is the one the King has been looking for. And since he finally found her the King is coming. He’s coming here! Oh Sister, what do we do?! We must protect Raven. Should we send her away?” Sister Amarie asked in a hushed whisper.

I walked around the corner and folded my hands together in front of me with my chin lifted. “If I must go, I will. I would do anything to protect you Sisters. For as long as you have protected me, I will do this for you.” I stated.

“How about since you’re protected inside this Sanctuary, you stay here until the King arrives and we find out exactly what he wants from you.” Sister Marjie smiled softly at me and gave a sharp glance at Sister Amarie.

“If that is what you wish, Sister, I will do so. I’m going to head to my room since it’s safe as can be right now, and go rest while we wait for the King to arrive. Good night Sisters.” I nodded to them and turned around to follow the corridor to my room and shut the door behind me with a long sigh.