Mags' harsh tone didn't receive much of a reaction out of her. Rather, she silently let the girl rant with a stone-cold expression, an almost hollow look in her gaze. " Your not wrong. I am pitiful. I'm stuck living in a manor of barbaric vampires, given to them by my parents. Furthermore, they are the sole reason I am alive- though I question if an early demise would have been better than this Hell." Her words were portrayed in a mix of ways- resentment and bitterness along with regret. " Those details are insignificant, however. You asked what's my life worth dying for? That's quite the question. Really I can give you no good answer... but I guess the best answer I can give is something that would at least help right some of my wrongs. " In the middle of her last sentence a bit of emotion returned to her eyes- the sadness and fear that had been there before.
" But based on your reaction to my earlier statements, I believe it's safe to assume you have seen numerous horrific events, especially if you are one of those 'Hunters' as I believe you are. I must admit though, I feel then we have both seen horrific things; just in drastically different ways." The female took in a deep breath before she began speaking. ''First things first- I'm not sure what you mean by 'a human like' me, but...I am much more unusual, as you may have seen last night. I am their trap-door spider, their wolf-in-sheep's-clothing, if you will. I suppose you could say this all began- at least I was told this was what happened, as my memories of my arrival to the manor are fragmented- when I was a wee little thing. It was after some...issues had arose that I was taken to the doctor's. There they ran many tests, and eventually I was diagnosed with a lethal disease that was swiftly deteriorating my health. My parents tried everything to find a cure, but their efforts were met with futility. Until, that is, they heard the rumor that the Nightingales were a family of vampires. Therefore they decided to give finding a cure one last shot, hoping that the rumors were true and, if so, the vampires would be able to keep their child alive. Well, the vampires had a cure, but it came at a price. They could keep me alive my a daily dose of their blood- but in exchange my parents had to leave me behind, and I was to be a part of their clan. "
Ophelia let the information settle in before continuing. "It didn't it seem so bad at first, besides having to...ingest, their blood. They kept me fed and entertained, purchasing a variety of clothing, books, and other odds and ins. But then there came a time where they started sending me out to town. They told me to find certain people, and gave me a photo so I'd find the right person. They said they just needed to talk to them. So they had me lure the people to the manor, and then told me to go up to my room.This was only on occasion, but as I aged they had be start going out more and more often. I never knew what was happen until I was around 13, and I walked in on the sight of the head-of-the-household feeding upon someone I had recently brought there, dropping their corpse to the ground below, glassy eyes staring right back at me...like they were staring right into my soul.." a solemn look crossed her face at the recollection of the memory. " Once I knew what was going on I tried to get out of it. I was old enough that I had knowledge of some of their weaknesses- namely, the sun. So I chose a sun-lit, cloudless day at noon-when the sun was highest- to run away. The attempt was futile, however, as they found me within an hour after the sun went down. I was scolded, but they didn't harm me, not physically anyways. Rather it was a firm reminder that I essentially owed them my life for taking me in and literally keeping me alive. Then, after the time one of them walked in to provide me my so-called 'medicine', he had bloodstains still on his shirt. I had been found of that poor soul. After that, I simply refused to take their blood, a protest against what they were doing to those poor, innocent people. Within a few days my condition began rapidly deteriorating again. I still refused to take their blood, but...they forced me to take it. One of them restrained my limbs, the other pried my jaw opened and shoved his wrist against my mouth. "
Her eyes had stayed glued to the top of the table, her left hand absent-mindlessly fidgeting with a leaf that had fallen from the tree branch above, it's leaves swaying in the gentle breeze. " On occasion they let me have a day to myself. But it's never truly to myself, and it is in no way enjoyable. I can't really linger around anyone too long, for fear their scent will linger on me. As you should know, vampires have the nose of a bloodhound. If a scent lingers on me and they catch and like it, they typically then track said person down during the night. Sometimes they will hunt the person themselves- other times they just find their identity and make me do the dirty work. But that's why I try to avoid people as much as possible... the last victim was a girl around my age. Sweet, innocent, and too naive for her own good. I was out on a day much like this one when she approached me. I gave her blunt, flat responses and she still insisted on befriending me. Eventually we became good friends, up until they caught her scent. I tried to push it off as long as possible, but then out of the blue she wanted to see where I lived- 'to have a sleepover!' she had said. I told her it wasn't a good idea, but the foolish girl was relentless. I half lured her back, half tried to get her to stay away. Mainly she followed me back to the manor, and...." her voice failed her at that point in the story, her nails digging harshly into the palms of her hand, nearly drawing blood.
It took her some time before she spoke again. " To be honest, most of the time I tried to avoid leading them back to the manor. Most of the time in futility. Though the end result was the same, I much preferred when they did their own hunting....then I could try to help the people that arrived here, if I could get to them in time. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact I can hear their cries for help, how they plead and beg for mercy. Their screams of pure agony, followed by the deathly silence later on.... sometimes I can't tell if their screaming hasn't ended or if it's just the sound of their screams replaying in my mind, haunting every waking minute of my pitiful existence....even now, when it's silent, it's like I can still hear their cries." she looked up at mags briefly with a haunted gaze before returning her eyes to the table.
" I didn't ask for this, you know. This burden came to me. Sometimes I truly believe death would have been better than this, but I am not suicidal. If I were to stop ingesting their blood I would spend what time I could trying to protect whomever I could, and if I could find an alternative cure. Or at least something that would slow its progression... but I do not wish for death. My suffering is nothing compared to what the victims and their families go through...I deserve every minute of it that I experience."
" That, however, is my story. Think of it what you will. If you should hate me I shall not blame you, and if you should desire my head on a platter I will accept my punishment without argument. I do not wish to bear witness to any more tragedy. "
Ophelia then switched topics, desiring to disclose no further information on her reason for being in the manor-not like there was much left to disclose anyways. " Nonetheless, I know by now you will not leave me be until you receive the answers you seek. If you have any further questions I will answer them to the best of my abilities, but I give you no promise I will have all the answers. "
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