CHAPTER ONE

Alex Nilsen was happy with life. 

He had a beautiful wife and a beautiful baby girl, he had everything he had ever wanted in life, he was at peace with himself.

He had lived for thousands of years, he had seen everything life had to offer but he had never experienced this kind of happiness.

The corner of his mouth lifted into a small smile as he watched his five year old daughter run around the grass happily.

"She's a darling isn't she?" He looked at Lucy. his wife, he leaned in to plant a kiss on her lip.

They both turned their attention towards Aya, his five year old daughter, as she continued running around the grass with their big German Shepherd dog yapping excitedly at her heels.

Alex smiled at the sight, he leaned in towards Lucy, planting another kiss on her lips.

"Ewwwww! Daddy and mommy are kissing!" Aya squealed excitedly.

Alex burst out laughing as he grabbed both his wife and daughter, pulling them into a big hug.

"Family hug!" Aya squealed again.

"Daddy don't forget pablo!" Aya squealed, pointing at the excited dog yapping at their feet.

"And don't forget grandma." Lucy's mother, Matilda called out, as she walked towards them smiling.

Alex laughed as he pulled them all into a big hug.

This was what he wanted.

This was all he wanted and he would do anything in his power to protect this family.

His family.

His own family.

*

***

Alex drove his old toyota slowly through New York, living as a normal human being was hard but if this was the cost to pay for him to keep his family then he was ready to do it.

His mind wavered back to his family,as a contented smile danced around his lip,

 his wife was probably home from work now and his daughter would also be home from school, his wife's mother Matilda would probably still be in her store, she always came back late at night.

As he drove through the crammed traffic, his mind raced back over the centuries he had lived and seen, he had tried to bury everything about his past but the dark past kept hunting him.

His vampire coven were hunting him and he could feel it, he knew that if they found him they would kill his family and he couldn't risk that.

He had never killed his fellow vampire but to protect his wife and his daughter, he was ready to hunt down the whole vampire coven if they dared touch his family.

He had been part of a brotherhood, they were six in numbers, a cult that housed the most gifted vampires the vampire world had ever known.

He had been second in command, his old friend Malcolm had been the leader of the cult.

They all possessed abilities that random vampires didn't possess and because of that, they had been picked by their coven as the brotherhood.

A cult group made to keep rogue vampires in check, they fought the vampires in check, they were like the police of the vampire world.

A loud car horn brought him back to reality as he stared around him, the traffic at his front had already cleared. He slowly eased his car into another lane, driving slowly as he turned into a side street.

He flexed his fangs, it had been years since he used them, years since he drank blood, his body was weak and his powers were faint but he would rather die than abandon his new found life and go back into being a vampire.

His own special ability had been wings, he couldn't even remember the last time he attempted to fly.

He and the other members of the brotherhood had taken an oath to serve the vampire coven and protect them from other rogue vampires, it had been a binding oath and they were bound till their death, none of them could leave the brotherhood. But he had escaped, he had met Lucy while on the run from his coven, he had fallen in love and decided to settle down.

He slowly brought the car to a stop as he turned down the last street, the hair on his neck stood straight.

Alex slowly walked out of the car, he had picked up another scent, a smell that he hadn't smelt in years.

A vampire's smell.

A vampire was near, The bells in Alex's head started to ring loudly, his family was in danger.

His wife and daughter were in danger.

Alex sprinted home at an inhumane speed, he didn't care if anyone saw him, the nearer he got, the stronger the smell got.

Alex burst through the door, panic written all over his face.

Relief flooded through him immediately as he saw his wife and daughter, laughing and playing around.

"Daddy! you're home!" Aya squealed as she ran into Alex's open hands.

Alex held her tight for a second before releasing her.

He looked at Lucy,

"Did anyone come here looking for me ?"

He asked, anticipation in his voice.

"Yeah…he just left."

"He said he knew you from high school." Lucy replied as she walked towards him, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Oh okay….I'll be back soon." Alex continued, 

"I forgot something." He said as he quickly rushed outside.

Alex sprinted as fast as he could, when he was out of sight he leaped into the air, bringing out his long gracious set of wings, this was the first time he was using them in years.

Alex flew through the air, scanning for the vampire, the smell was familiar but he couldn't pinpoint who it was exactly.

He dove through the low trees, landing perfectly, it had been years but he was still good at it.

It was almost dark but vampires could see ten times better in the dark.

"I knew you'd come." 

Alex spun around quickly as he heard the voice, right there standing in front of him was Stephan.

one of the most bloody and brutal vampire he has ever encountered.

"So…you locked me up for hundreds of years…then you abandon your job and run off to start a family?" Stephan spat coldly.

"I have to say….I expected more from you." Stephan continued.

"Mating with a measly mortal? having a mortal child.."

"I have to say, you did a good job at hiding 

your identity." Stephan hissed.

"What do you want?" Alex asked, gritting his teeth.

"How times have changed Alex.." Stephan croaked, laughing lightly.

" I remember when you used to hunt me down… you and Malcolm were the future of vampires." Stephan continued,

"But you ran, because you realized you were weak! and now I have been sent to hunt you!" Stephan hissed.

He smiled menacingly, bringing out a long silver rope.

"I don't want to fight you Stephan." Alex said, he clenched his fist as he tried to control himself.

"You don't want to fight me?" Stephan laughed.

"You will want to fight me when you realize what I have done." Stephan continued.

"And then I would kill you and take your carcass back to the coven."

"What have you done?" Alex asked, as a dreary realization slowly dawned on him.

"Your wife didn't tell you about the cake I brought?" Stephan laughed wickedly, the laughter bounced off the walls creating an evil echo.

"A cake filled with the most poisonous substance ever! your family must have eaten it already! if you get there fast enough you might be able to see them take their last breath." Stephan whispered, a wry smile tugging at his wet lips.

"No! Noo!" Alex took giant steps backwards as he leaped into the air, flying as fast as he could back home.