The dark and cold water enveloped me in a flash. That pier was not very busy, especially in the evening. It was almost impossible for anyone to see me. I let myself be lulled by the river as the weight of my dress carried me deeper and deeper.

My brothers were my only reason for living. I was supposed to live for Jonathan and Michael but Paul's sudden death was a blow to all of us. The older ones would surely have managed on their own and didn't need me anymore.

I closed my eyes and let myself be carried away. The air in my lungs was almost exhausted and my end was near, I was aware of it and it was okay. I had the feeling that someone or something was interrupting my peace.

The cold night air hit my wet skin, but my body was unwilling to respond.

«Coral, can you hear me?» someone was calling me, who was interrupting my peace?

«Damn it!» the voice continued.

My semi-conscious state allowed me to hear what was going on around me, but I was unable to interfere. I felt the heavy fabric of my dress being torn and the laces of my bodice being loosened.

My lungs suddenly filled with air and I opened my eyes. Bastian was there, also soaking wet, must have seen me and must have dived too.

But why did he save me?

Why hadn't he left me alone with my pain?

The man tried to hug me now that he had seen me open my eyes, but I dodged him.

«Why didn't you leave me alone?» I asked. «Why did you have to interfere?» I continued practically screaming. Tears mingled with the drops of water on my face.

«I couldn't let you do it» Bastian said. «I couldn't allow you to commit this act. I've been watching you for days to make sure you were safe» he admitted.

I realized only then that my dress had been practically torn apart and my bodice was almost completely unfastened. I turned, ignoring his words, and tried to cover myself with what was left of my dress.

Bastian handed me his coat, he must have taken it off before throwing himself into the Thames as it was completely dry. I gladly accepted and wrapped myself in the soft and warm fabric.

«I know you're scared of me, Miss Coral, but like I said, I don't want to hurt you» Bastian said.

«Then tell me, what are you? Why are your eyes like this? Why is your face always covered by this mask?» I was basically subjecting him to an interrogation, it was just like that.

I wanted answers, and I demanded them now. Bastian sighed, his gaze suggesting that he had realized he had no way out. I didn't let my feet get on my head easily, and when I wanted something, I got it.

«I'll tell you everything you want to know but not here, you need to dry off» he said in an almost apprehensive tone, he was still thinking about my well-being and safety. I had to accept, but the nearest house was mine and it was not the most suitable place.

«Don't worry Coral, I won't judge you for your house for sure. When I tell you you'll understand what I mean» he hinted before helping me up.

Still covered in his overcoat, we walked through the narrow alleys of the outskirts of London and reached my humble home. My siblings were at work so at least there was some privacy.

Bastian lit a fire in the small fireplace to warm the room and placed two chairs in front of it. I sat on one of them while he sat on the other. I was waiting for him to start talking, but he was focused on watching the flames.

He sighed loudly a couple of times, then began his story.

(Bastian POV)

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

«I think you've already figured something out about me, but I prefer to start from the real beginning of the story. Just promise me not to be too scared by what I'm about to tell you» I said, trying to reassure Coral.

I started from day one.

I was born too long ago, in 1625 here in London. That was also a very complex period characterized by multiple clashes. In that very year there was the change of the monarchy from the hands of James I Stuart to those of Charles I Stuart.

My family wasn't doing well. My parents were simple blacksmiths, and six mouths to feed excluding theirs were not an easy thing to manage. When the revolution broke out, I had just turned seventeen.

Our social class was already oppressed by the taxes that the King had imposed, now we were being asked to pay more to finance yet another war. I wasn't the youngest of my siblings, but I was certainly the one who was most eager to have a little freedom.

So I joined the revolutionary movement led by Oliver Cromwell. We fought and we lost, we fought and we won. The days were practically identical to each other for those like me who were in the middle.

Finally, after almost six years of constant struggle, we were beginning to see the end of this reign and the beginning of the new. At least that's what we all hoped for. A few days before the coronation of the new King, I was attacked.

None of us was armed anymore, the revolution had ceased and we had emerged victorious, but not everyone was of the same opinion. The sons of many of the great nobility did not agree with our victory and began to attack us by taking us individually. I was badly beaten, stabbed in the eye, and finally shot.

The blow hit me in the chest and I knew my time had come. I felt my life slipping away from me, and so I gave in to that call. I closed my eyes, knowing that I would never open them again, but that I had fought and won.

A few days later I woke up in a very luxurious villa, I had never seen so much wealth in one place. I tried to get up, but someone's hand made me stretch out again.

«Son, you're not fully healed yet» the dimly lit voice told me. «There are many things I'll have to explain to you, but the first is that you can't contact your family at all, for any reason» he continued.

«I'll take care of them and make sure they live well, in fact much better than they do now» he concluded. I was confused and shocked at the same time. I had a million questions in my head but I couldn't utter a word at the time.

«What the heck does it mean I can't contact my family? They will definitely be worried about me» I said in an almost hysterical voice. My emotions were in turmoil by now, they seemed almost amplified somehow.

The man identified himself as Mr. Sonil and it was he who saved me from certain death. He had found me in one of those alleys in the suburbs in a pool of blood. He had me loaded into his carriage and taken to his home where he had cared for me.

I still didn't know what he had treated me with, but it certainly had an effect.

When I found out what had done me, a baleful anger got the better of me. He starts breaking things and yelling at those who tried to stop me. My strength was far greater than I remembered, and the wound on my chest had already healed.

Mr. Sonil explained to me that he had cured me with his blood, the blood of a vampire. Now the choice was mine. I could become one too, or I could just let myself starve to death. I thought about it for a long time, I knew that if my choice fell on becoming a vampire it would no longer be possible for me to live as before and if I died my family would suffer.

I chose the first option, but on one condition. I would adopt my savior's surname and help my family live comfortably for as long as it needed. Mr. Sonil accepted my proposal, but made me promise to wear a mask so that I would not be recognized if I went out.

I couldn't spend too much time in the sunlight or there would be serious consequences. I had to cover up a lot every time I went out, and I wasn't allowed to feed on human blood. The first few years were the most difficult, but as time went on, I began to control my impulses better.

To quench my thirst I fell back on large animals, as my saviour's villa was isolated, and there was no danger of being discovered. I lost control only on one occasion. At the end of about 1790 I saw a man attacking a young girl in the street at night, the guy was definitely drunk but that didn't stop me.

With swift and nimble movements I struck him and dragged him with me into the night. I dug my canines into his neck until he was left without a drop of blood in his body. To get rid of the body, I waited for the wagons to pass by they were picking up the sick and I put him among them, then I disappeared as soon as I had arrived.

This is my story, I know you're scared of it and I know you'll probably want to stay away from me but, like I said, I'm not going to hurt you and I'm not going to let it happen to you.

(Coral POV)

I was completely speechless, I would never have imagined such a story. I couldn't believe it, but surely now many of his behaviors were explained.

«Why the mask?» I asked first. I was too upset to think of anything else.

«Oh, do you mean that?» replied Bastian with a half-smile. «It's just to cover the scar and avoid scaring people» he explained, «being born with different colored eyes, it's normal for people to feel intimidated or scared when they look at me» he elaborated.

We were silent until I fell asleep in the chair enveloped in the warmth of the fire and Bastian's coat.