I feel as though I have been born, and reborn twice more. Born the first to this world, maybe a mortal, I am still seeking this existence. Reborn once at the jaws of the beast of the “twisted”, brought screaming over the brink of death and then held back, peering into the abyss, pulled back by the energy of the same beast gagging down my throat. I had become...what I am; and what I was.
Reborn a second time, not in energy or blood, but in body, not in terror but in pain and peace, all at once. Reborn by the guiding hands of Tok and Ba’an Afla. They were supposed to be my victims and instead they became my mentors, my friends, my family.
A young, stubborn female and a silly little old man, when I first encountered them on that windy, and packed dirt trail in the east foothills of “Ogre Mountain”; on vast ancient remains of the planet “Esquire”. The city near the mountains was in despair and I could not see any other place I would rather be. I still remember how shocked I was when the little old man so ably defended the female child from my attacks, the feel of his open palm striking me like a war hammer.
Tok did not strike to kill, which again showed his wisdom, for I am a difficult creature to destroy. I was defeated in single combat by a tiny little man, I who had slaughter soldiers armed with sword, shield and guns, I who had snapped the necks of muscled wrestlers and giants, and butchered the most formidable clowns in the path.
Taken as a slave, or so I thought at first; I struggled against them mightily in the first few years. Thank the “Guardian of wisdom” for their patients.
They held me at bay for a year or so, in the aide of a puzzling glowing orb. I was transfixed on the orb; I couldn’t get enough of its energy, and it burned me to my core, oddly giving nourishment, yet leaving me weak and unable to move.
Tok and Ba’an seemed to be in a strange ritual for three years of that time; trying to pull (some of) my spirit back from what they called the “twisted”.
Why they did this, in truth I still do not know; however even with their formidable abilities the powers of the twisted energy were immense, they simply could do no more. Once the “spirit ritual” was complete, I remained the vampire I was, yet no longer fully controlled by the rage, or so I thought.
In the days shortly after the “spirit ritual” Tok removed the orb from my presence; allowing me the freedom of movement. I was shocked to see that they were not afraid of me, nor that I did not strike out to kill, or even leave.
One thing I did notice, is my demeanor was not the same, everything was moving so fast I hardly could contain all the new sensations I was feeling.
Tok explained that I was once a human man that lost his way to what is still little known about; “the twisted path”. After nearly escaping with in an inch of his life, he obtained the orb, an old relic found in an expedition some 350 years ago. The orb took what was once a young strong magical “Via” and aged him beyond his years, but kept him alive, even till this day. Tok spent hundreds of years seeking out its purpose, and finally unlocked one vital clue; the orbs main task was to lead the holder to one of the “twisted first”.
Tok also spoke of a “naming ritual”, a ritual that would cleanse my senses, find me peace were turmoil brewed, tame the twisted beats within and begin the process of making me no longer the tile “Vampire”, but a true man of my own accord.
These words he spoke, had no meaning to me at all, until now. I did not care that my foes called me what I was, a “Vampire”, as that is what I called myself with in reason for many moons. I also did not understand what this “twisted first” was, and why this orb was connected to me, and why a man that had given so much of his youth to it did not destroy anything connected to the orb.
Contemplating on the matter; something I did not remember doing in the past before the “spirit ritual”, out of the corner of my mind, I noticed recalling (only) seeing Ba’an merely a female child; yet she was not.
I wondered how I could miss a detail such as this, with my finely tuned eyesight. I found myself in a place of clearer vision. Ba’an was a beautiful woman, a “se mystic” with great influence. Before the ritual took place I could not see through the clouded vision of the twisted rage, only the heighten awareness of the fear of my prey. The ritual itself had given me something beyond just seeing. It alone had given me the essence and power of true-sight.
Only a month later did Ba’an sense my new discovery of her, as she noticed my intense gazes toward her. Even though I was semi-liberated from the “twisted”, she did not seem hesitant to refine what she could of my physical spirit or need. Ba’an enjoyed escaping secretly away at night while Tok slept, taking pleasure in teaching me the ways of “se magic”. I had a feeling Tok turned a blind eye to our escapades, as if allowing it had some usefulness to him, other than a peaceful nights sleep.
I was of course “ever the willing pupil” and let her manipulate the strange sensations I was experiencing. She taught me the staples of seven different “se magic”. Every night I left her guidance with an ample understanding of the essence of her body, how to thrill, thrall and leave her shaking and trembling with great desire.
I was able to read the soul and spirit of friend or foe, how to control my twisted powers to taste and not touch, the art of “se seduction”, control and of the balance between sensitivity and brute confidence. I believe, in her attempts at finding some compassion in me through her teachings, she found a willing student. Though I do not believe she found the man she should have desired in the end.
In-between my rendezvous’ affair with Ba’an; I became fascinated with Tok’s philosophies and teachings, as handed down to him from his masters. One thing that I admit now I feared and was fascinated by the most was what he saw as he was pulling my spirit from the “nether ”. He said he saw what looked to be memories; I told him I had no memories, I have always been.
Tok went on to describe what he had saw; a glowing orb of fearsome energy, a woman laying on the ground bleeding, smoke and rain and dark eyes.
Be it that it may, I did not care to know of any “so called” past memories at that particular time. I found myself changed, needing to be apart of something more, constant, continuing to taste this new found existence with Tok and Ba’an.