Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long since the last the update, school just started up again and our free time to write is very small now because of all the homework. But don't worry, we're trying our best to give you guys a chapter at least once or twice a month. Anyways enjoy!

"Please! Stop, I'll do anything. Just please stop." I pleaded, looking up at the group of elf boys holding large sticks, ready to swing them again.

"Anything?" One of them smirked and pulled me up by my hair. He raised the club over my head, but a familiar hand grabbed the boy's arm.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." I looked over to see Legolas glaring down at the puny elf boy.

"And why not?"

"Hmm...I could have you locked in the dungeons for a couple days."

They looked at him like he wouldn't do it. He then pulled out a set of keys for the cells. With that, the three of them scurried off to who knows where. Legolas hurried over and crouched down to my level. Ever since mother died, the three of them had been bullying me. Five years had passed since her death and they still blamed me for the murder of their beloved queen. Only Legolas had stood by my me throughout it all. He was the only one i could tell about that night when i was summoned by the king.

"Come in, Tamar." I heard as I approached the throne room's large doors. Heart pounding, I opened them and knelt before the king.

'Don't cry, don't show any weakness or emotion.' I thought as I waited for the king to speak.

"Have you heard the news, Tamar?" He spat my name, repulsed.

"W-what news, my king?" He looked down upon me with an angry expression. But his face softened as he spoke,

"My wife, my precious love, has died.

I fell to my knees. I prayed this was an awful dream that I would soon wake from. But I knew in my heart it was not.

"That cannot be true, I saw her only hours ago."

"It is true. She was killed by an unknown assassin."

I could not hold in my emotions and began to weep, there at the feet of the king. He was angry with me, I could tell he blamed me for her death. But I didn't care at that moment, because I too blamed myself. If I wasn't here she would still be alive now.

After what seemed like an eternity, I heard the king descend from his throne to stand in front of me. I quickly wiped my tears and stood, ready to face him.

"Yes, I do blame you for my wife's death. I will not deny it. Although she would not want me to cast you out because of my rage. You may stay here only until you are seen as fit to live on your own. That is all I will permit. However, if you take one step out of line, you will be banished and may never return as long as I live. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord." He nodded and dismissed me. I walked as calmly as I could out the doors and down the steps, but once in my room I locked the door and sobbed against it until I drifted off to sleep.

Everyday became harder without mother. There was now no one I could run to when I was scared or being bullied. No one to tell me great stories of old. No one, not even Legolas. It wasn't his fault, his father forbid him from speaking to me ever since the funeral. So I carried on alone, until one day I found myself back in the garden mother was so fond of. I didn't realize I had gone to the place of the attack when I saw drops of dried blood on the ground. Her blood. Then I knew I could not stay any longer. I might have been only ten years of human age, but being hated by everyone I couldn't stand it any longer. Today I would leave and start a new life on my own.

So I packed up my sparse belongings and hid my pack under my bed so no one would find it. Then I carried on with my day like nothing was different, planning my escape.

Night fell and I waited until everyone was asleep to leave. I carried a map in my hand where I had drawn my exact route of escape. I walked down the hall from my room, past the servants' quarters and down the steps to the wine cellar. I knew the guards down here were always drunk so it was no problem slipping past them and walking onto the barrel storage area. Right then I heard someone behind me.

"Tamar?" a familiar voice whispered.

I turned to see Legolas looking at me, puzzled.

"Why are you in the wine cellar so late at night? Have you lost something?"

"No, I have lost nothing but my strength to stay here any longer".

"You can't leave, you've lived here your whole life. You've never seen the outside. And what about all the memories you've made, we've...made?"

"I know, I don't want to leave but I cannot stay in a place where everyone thinks I killed your mother, their queen."

"Her death was not your fault, you have to know that. And maybe some blame you, but I would never blame you for her death. You are innocent, you have always been innocent."

"I am not innocent, I am a monster. A creature of the dark."

"What are you talking about?"

"I-I am not human nor elf, I am a creature of old. Our species was thought extinct many years ago, but some still live. I am a part of that species."

I made sure the guards were still out and began to change. My hair grew longer, my eyes turned red, and my fangs came down, ready to feed. Once he saw me he took a step back. I realized I had scared him. My only friend was afraid...of me. I couldn't do it, so I ran. I hit the lever and jumped into a barrel right before the floor opened up, dropping me into the river.

"Tamar!

I drifted down the river until I came to level ground, then looked over to see Legolas running to catch up. As he got closer to me he yelled,

"You're a vampire?!"

Suddenly the barrel tipped, then all went black.