Vampire's Vow

Chapter 1

Amara

"Hey, that's mine! Give it back!"

"Let go, you filthy rat!"

"But I saw it first!"

"And yet it's in my hands!"

The familiar sounds of the slums of Veloris follow me as I make my way toward the fresh pile of trash that had been dumped here by the dark elves. The two men, human like me, are too busy fighting over some type of clothing to notice my skittish approach. Whatever it is must be out of style for those greedy elves to have thrown it away.

All we get are their leftovers, what they have labeled garbage. Just as they have labeled us.

"Get off!"

My eyes snap over to the two men, now engaged in a pathetic excuse of a brawl, and I take that as my chance to find anything valuable.

I rummage through the pile of discarded items, my fingers brushing against a cold, metallic surface. I pull out a ring, its silver band adorned with intricate designs and a large, oval-shaped gemstone that seems to glow with an inner light. I'm entranced by its beauty, wondering how anyone could throw such a treasure away.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I slip the ring onto my finger. A sudden surge of power courses through my body, and I stumble back, my heart pounding in my chest. The two men fighting nearby stop and turn to look at me, their expressions filled with concern.

"Hey, are you okay?" one of them asks, approaching me cautiously.

I brace myself for the usual insults and harassment, but instead, they help me up, their hands gentle on my arms. No one is kind in the slums of Veloris, especially not to me. But these men are treating me like I'm... valuable.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing down here? Are you lost?" the other wonders with what sounds like genuine concern.

As I regain my footing, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a pile of shattered glass. My eyes widen in disbelief as I see a beautiful woman staring back at me. The ring has transformed me into a more alluring and desirable version of myself, with radiant skin, flowing hair, and mesmerizing eyes.

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Is this really me? I touch my face, feeling the softness of my skin, and the reality of my new appearance begins to sink in. I'm not the same plain, average-looking girl I was just moments ago.

Instead of the dull brown shade of my hair, it looks long and lucious, like life has been breathed back into it. When it catches the sunrays, it nearly looks golden in the halo of light that surrounds me. My brown eyes are bright, captivating, looking like pools of honey that any woman would kill to have.

The two men are still watching me, their expressions a mix of awe and confusion. I can't help but feel a sense of power and confidence surging through me, a feeling I've never experienced before. I smile at them, and they smile back, their eyes filled with admiration.

For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a chance to make something of myself in this dark and dangerous city. And I'm not going to let it slip through my fingers.

"Sorry," I say, shocked once more at the sound of my seductive tone. "I lost my footing. Please, don't let me stop you from… well, whatever you call that."

I can't help but feel a rush of excitement as I make my way to the market, my newfound beauty drawing the eyes of everyone I pass. The rags I wear suddenly seem chic, clinging to my body in a way that makes me feel powerful and desirable.

As I approach the first merchant stall, the vendor's eyes widen in awe.

"Good morning," I approach. "I'm just browsing, I don't have the coin for anything so finely made…" I bat my eyelashes and give him my best attempt at doe eyes.

"P-Please, miss, take whatever you like," he stutters, gesturing to his wares. "No charge."

I can't believe my luck. I select a few items, feeling a thrill of satisfaction as I tuck them into my bag.

As I continue through the market, I receive more and more offers of free food and supplies. It's as if my beauty has cast a spell over everyone I encounter.

But there's one person I'm more interested in enchanting. My ex-boyfriend, Noa, who dumped me for another woman. Just like the elves, he threw me away like trash. Told me he dated me only out of pity.

As I approach his father's merchant stall, my heart races with anticipation. I can feel the weight of the silver ring on my finger, its power coursing through me. I keep my gaze forward, pretending not to notice him, but out of the corner of my eye, I see him frozen in place, his mouth agape.

"Amara?" he calls out, his voice filled with disbelief. He must be stunned by my transformation, the plain girl he once knew now replaced by a radiant beauty.

I continue walking, feigning indifference, but I can feel his eyes following me. Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me, and he's there, his hand reaching out to grab my arm. "Amara, wait!" he says, his voice desperate.

I stop and turn to face him, feigning surprise. "Oh, it's you," I say, my voice dripping with innocence. "I didn't notice you."

He looks taken aback, but quickly recovers, his eyes roaming over my body. "You look... amazing," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, really, you're... you're stunning."

I can see the desire in his eyes, the longing for what he once had and so carelessly threw away. But I won't let him have me so easily. Not now, not ever. Instead, I smile sweetly, my eyes filled with a cold, hard glint.

"Thank you, Noa," I say, my voice soft and seductive. "How is Ferra?"

"W-who?"

I laugh gently and his eyes drop to my lips. "You know, the second rate girl that you left me for?"

He grimaces, glancing around. "That, well, she was a mistake, you know. I don't know what I was thinking. I don't love her or anything, and we aren't serious. I… I've been thinking… Do you want to get back together, maybe?"

His rambling is both amusing and infuriating. He thinks he can just pretend nothing happened because I've changed?

"Oh, Noa. How cute. But I think I'll pass on your offer. After all, I would be dating you out of pity." And with that, I turn and walk away, leaving him standing there, his jaw slack with shock.

As I continue through the market, I feel a thrill of power coursing through me. And I know that I'm never going to give it up.