Mireille's story.
"Well, I did live among elves for some time, if that's what you want to know." Mireille answered, her voice almost too quiet.
"You've lived with elves!" Seven couldn't control himself and shouted.
"No wonder," Zave murmured thinking, 'she's so pretty,'. "But if you lived among elves how come you're wandering, way out here in this forest no less." Zave asked, 'This doesn't make any sense, elves, those creatures, are not a race to be messed with they are so secretive that anyone who wanders into their lands disappears. So how is she alive and wandering around, aren't the elves afraid she'll reveal their hideout?'
"Heh." Alex let out a scoff, "She's lying, don't be deceived by her nuances."
"I'm not lying." Mireille tried to defend herself only to earn herself a glare from Alex silencing her.
Seven sighed, "Your life must have been very interesting then."
"Yeah, we want to know. What's it like living with elves?" Zave asked, showing great interest in elves.
Mireille raised an eyebrow, surprised by Zave's reaction, "It's a long story..."
"Oh, don't give us the 'it's a long story crap' just say what you have to say."
Of course, it was none other that White Head. 'Tsk, such impatience, and with that personality, tsk, tsk, tsk, I doubt he'd find a mate in this life.' Mireille wondered staring at Alex with pity, causing him to freeze, his purple eyes brimming with confusion, 'Is she silly? why is she looking at me like that.' Alex asked himself wondering if he had something on his face. When he could not determine the reason for her piercing gaze, he withdrew slightly, planting himself behind Zave.
"Speak." Lloyd commanded.
Mireille sighed, "Fine"
In a certain human village.
A place where the streets were damp, dirty and smelly, with rats scurrying around. In a certain dark alley, a little girl lay limp on a pile of hay. Her eyes were dull, her face sunken. Her limbs were as thin as matchsticks, and her tummy was so flat it seemed glued to her back. This figure was none other than the young Mireille.
For as long as Mireille could remember she had been tortured by hunger. At first she would be seen on the streets begging for a piece of bread, but after no one cast her a second glance, she tried stealing earning her a beating. So she turned to fighting over crumbs with rats and that's how she had got by.
There was a reason why Mireille ended up in that dump. Her parents were strange. no one in the village knew where they came from, they just appeared one rainy day both terribly injured. They left the child at the village gate hoping someone could adopt her then disappeared. The next day the villagers saw the child at the gate. As they discussed what to do with the child, they saw the priest, guarded by paladins, walk.toward them. When his eyes fell on the child he said something that made the villagers think twice about adopting the child. In the end everyone decided to leave it up to fate. "This child is not one of us. This child carries a shadow bound to her soul." These were the words of the priest.
One morning when Mireille opened her eyes she felt a stinging sensation on her neck. She brushed her hand over the area. When she did, she felt the place burned slightly, almost like whenever she was bit by an insect, but this one seemed more painful and less itchy than that.
"Huh? What bit me?" Before she could think more about it her body began to burn, heat flooding every vein. Her vision blurred. 'Water...' she croaked, her throat scorched as if she were trapped in a furnace. Tears streamed down her face vanishing into steam. Then darkness claimed her.
"It hurts." The first thing she felt when she woke up was the pain, it felt like her bones had been crushed and reformed. Asides the pain she felt after waking up, nothing else happened, everything progressed as usual until one full moon when everything changed.
That evening, Mireille sat in the dark alleyway, hungry as always. The scent first hit her, sweet, alluring, tempting her to have a bite. She imagined what it would feel like enjoying a meal of that fragrance. Sweetness filled her mouth, her stomach felt warm, comfortable. 'This is really good.' she became greedy not wanting to go back to her hungry self, she filled her stomach till bursting. She was so deep in her imagination that she forgot to pay attention to her surroundings.
"Aah! My son!" Someone screamed, bringing Mireille back to her senses.
"Monster!"
"She's one of them!"
"Those devils!"
"Dear Lord..."
Confused, Mireille looked at the horror filled faces before her 'it seems they're staring at me?' She didn't understand why they were glaring at her so much. "Huh? I feel... I'm not...hungry?" She patted her belly and lowered her head to look at it, but she froze midway.
At her feet lay a boy-skin so pale, lips drained of all colour. Mireille's hands shook violently, her breath catching as the truth clawed at her chest. No… it can't be. For the first time in her life, her stomach was full, but the taste of sweetness lingered on her tongue like poison. A vampire… I've become a vampire. The thought shattered her, and before she could move, a stone cracked against her forehead. Pain flared, warm blood sliding down her temple as the villagers' cries rose like a storm.
"Disappear devil!"
"Die!"
"You don't deserve to exist!"
"Perish!"
The cries blended into a storm of hatred. Stones and rotten fruit struck her from every side, each impact stoking the fire in her veins. Her vision bled red, the world narrowing to a blur of faces twisted in fear and rage.
Suddenly someone screamed. Mireille moved through the crowd, blood spraying where she had passed, she was like a harbinger of doom.
Unfortunately for her and fortunately for the villagers, the Paladins arrived, subduing her and carrying her away.
"You vile one, should not be allowed to exist in this world."
She struggled in their hold to no avail. She passed out after the effortless struggle.
Then from above, a vampire descended-mistaking her for one of his own. He snatched her from the soldiers and flew toward the vampire castle. But as he carried her, something unsettled him. The human scent clung to her skin. He dunked her in a river, thinking it was bloodstains. But the scent remained.
A half-breed.
Without a word, he abandoned her mid-flight, letting her fall into the forest below.
----
"I was found by the elves and raised by them. That's all I can tell you. As for the elves they were my only family." Mireille ended.
Silence.
Lloyd's jaw tightened. Alex's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Seven winced, muttering, "Damn."
"You were just a kid." Lloyd spoke, his voice low but firm.
Mireille nodded, her expression solemn.
Alex shifted uncomfortably, glancing away. Zave scratched the back of his neck, clearly unsure what to say. Seven looked like he wanted to ask a million questions but held back.
And Lloyd... Lloyd just watched her, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.
---------
After Mireille left.
"Wow, I never thought someone's life could be this tragic." Seven sighed exasperatedly.
"She's so pitiful." Zave had a solemn expression.
Even Alex couldn't help but feel a bit thoughtful.
As the days flew by with no news from the half-vamp, they grew restless wondering if something had happened.
"She still hasn't made a decision yet?" Lloyd asked.
Zave grunted, "Maybe she's smart enough to know this is a bad idea."
Alex rolled his eyes, "Or maybe she just doesn't want to deal with werewolves."
Seven walked close behind them, clearly anxious. He couldn't help but feel hopeful, "Maybe she's still deciding."
Lloyd cast a sidelong glance, "It's been a few days. How much longer does she need to think?"
Zave shrugged, "Maybe forever. Wouldn't blame her."
Alex gave a derisive snort, "Yeah, a half-blood vampire living among supernatural predators, what could possibly go wrong?"
Seven cringed at the skepticism in his voice. He knew Alex was still not fully accepting of the half-vampire joining the pack.
Lloyd's expression was inscrutable, "Enough, just let her take her time."
Zave glanced at him, eyebrow raised, "You're awfully generous all of a sudden?"
Lloyd shot him a look silencing any further comments. "Alex, lead the way. We're paying her a visit."
Alex grumbled, "Why do I have to go with you guys?"