"I'm not saying that I regret what happened. I am happy this way. I can do things I never thought I'd be able to do. And I can protect my loved ones. Like solusRaven. She is still mortal. Though she is special. She has special powers. But that is her story to tell, not mine. And she needs my help. Back to Mina. She made me into a vampire. That night I feasted as I had never before." She stops her story and looks at Wolfe, who is looking at her. He nods his head for her to go on. "Of course, this is before I knew what Wolfebaine really was, the protector of mortals. Oh well, better not to dwell on it. That night I did things I was never be able to do before. I could snap and make things appear. I could jump to hight places. I could fade into the mist and stand so close to people and they wouldn't know I was there. It was exhilirating. There was wonderment all around me.
And yet there was sadness tugging at my brain. I knew that I was falling in love with Wolfebaine, but I didn't know how to tell him what I had become. But I had to, because I knew that he was falling in love with me. So, I left Mina and went to him. I was scared. Scared that he wouldn't love me anymore. We were enemies now in a way. I approached his door and knocked. He opened and from the second he saw me he knew what I was now. 'Arianna, what happened to you?' he asked. 'I'm a vampire Wolfe. Mina made me one.' As I told him I began to cry. He pulled me inside and wrapped his arms around me, telling me it will be ok. 'Will it?' I asked him. 'Yes love it will.' I held onto him until I felt the hunger. He sensed it within me. 'You know I can't let you go out there and hunt don't you?' he asked me. 'I know. But I must, to survive.' He held onto me with one arm, and with the other he lowered the collar of his shirt and looked into my eyes. 'If you are to drink from anyone, it will be me.' I looked up at him and back to his neck. I had no choice. So, I lowered my lips onto his neck and drank. Afterwards, he held me in his arms. 'You'll be the death of me yet love', he said with a sigh. I left a bit on and returned to Mina. I told her what happened. My life had changed completely. A new found freedom was mine. I set off to find a home of my own. I thanked Mina for all she had done for me. I left her home because I had found this place. Wolfebaine came to live with me. We made this home a safehaven for people. solusRaven came here. She can't find her love. She's staying here until she finds out where he is." She stops her story, tired. "And that's my story. This is how I came to be. Do with the information what you will," she says. "Thank you very much LadyArianna. For taking me in and sharing your story. I must depart to my room to rest. I will be on my way tomorrow evening." You stand up to leave. Lady, Wolfe, and solus stand up to wish you goodnight. "Sweet dreams," LadyArianna says. You wish her goodnight and leave the sitting room. You enter your room, flopping down on the soft feather bed. You replay LadyArianna's story in your mind. Her soft voice lulls you to sleep.
(Back in the sitting room) solusRaven sits in her chair staring at the fire. I approach her. "Darling one, what troubles you?" "I need to go back. I need to find Maliki. He doesn't know where I am," she says with tears in her eyes. "solus, he's here. Within the house, waiting for you," I tell her with a smile on my face. She looked at me, a look of excitement on her face. "Where is he?" "He's in your room, go to him," I tell her. She flees out of the room. I am happy that she is happy once again. I go back to the couch. Wolfe opens his arms to me, and wraps me close to him. "All is right in my world," I tell him. He smiles, and says, "Yes it is." I lean back into the warm circle of his arms, and drift off to sleep for awhile. It was nearing dawn when I awoke. Wolfe was asleep. I kissed him softly before I retreated to my secret room deep inside the house. I passed my guests' room. Inside, they slept soundly. I kept walking, deeper into the house. Finally, I had reached the innermost part of it and went into the little room I had made for my slumber. It was totally dark inside. I bolted the door and fell onto the soft bed. My mind began to drift. I thought of my home in Panthea, my story of earlier bringing back things I hadn't thought of in a long time. I silently cry inside about the things I have lost. But I think of the things I have now. Wonderful friends, a love, and I'm still alive. But somehow that doesn't comfort me. I finally drift off to sleep.
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(dawn) You get up feeling refreshed. You stretch and gather your things together. You listen to the morning coming alive. Looking out the window you see the most beautiful sunrise you have ever seen. Walking out the door to your room, you head to the sitting room. It is empty. You take one last look around and then depart. You will remember these people. LadyArianna will stay in your mind for a long time to come. Her story will help you on your way.
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*A letter lays on the doorstep of LadyArianna's home. You pick it up and read:* To Whom It May Concern: This home is empty. After Wolfebaine left and solus left, I could not stay any longer. I travel sometimes with solusRaven, my mortal friend who has taken the powers of Mina, my sire who has passed, into herself. I know I know, tis complex. And please know, the only mortal I protect is solusRaven, or any friends who I gather with in the Theater Des Vampires, a tavern of sorts that I frequent. The rest of you mortals, take heed. You are fair game. So this means I am no longer the Protector. I am now LadyArianna, the Mysterious One. I have to be mysterious to save my heart and soul from pain, and to save the others from my sorrow. So for now, I bid thee farewell as I pull the black velvet cloak I've adopted over my red hair and fade into the shadows.....
LadyArianna, The Mysterious One