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Chapter Text

                           Prologue
           Blood Bourne

OCTOBER 31st, 1891

Cathedral of Santa Eulalia
Barcelona, Spain

The streets of Barcelona were silent as the portal of the grand Cathedral tried to restrain the screams of utter agony from escaping into the night. 

To no avail. 

This was the first night of the Day of the Dead, the holiday of remembrance, spirit welcoming and whatnot. Most were cleaning their tables of a meal, some were taking vigil in the graveyard. 

None were anticipating the birth of an abomination.

How could the unsuspecting masses know? The terror that might descend upon them, striking down towards their neck? This was not a night for such to be birthed. 

Or was it?

A young woman shrieked with all that she had to give as nuns began to pray near her head, altar boys holding down the woman-barely- as her bulging womb began to rip apart.

The priest, Father Tonias, clutched his wooden crucifix in his calloused hands as he could do nothing but watch the events unfold.

Seconds, minutes then an hour unfulred and with it the monster clawing for freedom took its first breath in the world. Nuns took it away from its mother's womb and proceeded to bath it in holy water, to which when it did not burn at first touch, was found to be a girl.

It was the final night for the new mother in this mortal plane of life, as she could not survive such an event for long, but for all her trials and tribulations, she held on to meet her child.

The nuns were merciful to her as she soon cradled her newborn daughter in her arms, still lying down on a stone slab. A minute or two passed as mother and daughter bonded, one's heart beginning to slow in its pace.

"Alessandria Jol'vora. Debes augantar*."

 The words were heard by those present with the priest bowing his heads in prayer for the soul of Danllrea Jol'vora. 

Alessandria was branded with her mothers last words later in her childhood, for they would become a foundation to which she stood for everything. 

You must endure. 

Taken in by that same cathedral, Alessandria was of a quick mind and a sharp tounge as she grew, often punished by the nuns and priests. She became very proficent in fighting with equal marks in her academics, however this isn't an adaquate summary of her or the events in which led Alessandria Jol'vora to her fate.

This is not a story for the faint of heart and you read of your own will, nothing here shall compel you to do so. 

Now that you have been warned, read on. 

Chapter Text

.                   Chapter One

            Young Blood

Barcelona, Spain

Fall of 1904

 Time has worn on.

Spain thrived, trade preserved, and the season of Autumn begins its return once more as the people of the city rejoiced in refuge from the searing heat. 

Cathedral bells rang out over the rooftops, piercing through the silent streets, announcing the approaching dawn. A long standing tradition that not many enjoyed, a necessity nonetheless to begin the tasks of a new day. 

With this, two souls made haste through the maze of paths, striving to best the other no doubt. Coat ends fluttering in their wake they halted briskly at a street corner, panting, breathless. 

"Por Dios!" 

A chuckle was the reply to the exclamation, before they both lowered the cloths from where they had masked their faces, one male the other female. 

"I don't know why you even bother trying to out run me, Angel, you always lose."

The girl spoke in fluent English, words barely clipped by her lilting accent much to the chagrin of those that know her. She had el español as her native tongue, yet refused to speak it more than a few sparse words scattered in a conversation. Angel did not mind, with concern and curiosity lazing his next words however, 

"¿Estás haciendo algo?"

Brow raised, his companion met his gaze with a quick remark, "Me? No, por dios, how could you ever think I was up to anything nefarious?"

"Alessandria...." Angel attempted to sway the girl, but she was quick to stop him from continuing on. 

"I'll tell you later, Angel, I swear, but we should be returning to the Cathedral before Padre Tonias sends the entire Brotherhood for us." 

"Si, vamos a ir."

The two resumed their commute to the looming structure they called home...

 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- -|--

The daylight hours passed quickly, all manner of souls passing through the grand Cathedral portal. 

With dusk, the regular occupants of the night rose, with one in particular currently having a rather heated argument with Father Tonias. 

"I don't care how old it is, it needs to be killed before it can become too powerful!" 

Father Tonias was a patient man, to an extent, but he refused to listen to the tall stranger rampaging about his ward. 

"Tonias, that creature is a monster, who'll not hesitate to rip your heart from your chest." 

Fury igniting in his chest, the Father turned to the other man, "Is that not what you are as well? You've killed many of my flock, without a slight hint of remorse, with the audacity to enter this sacred place as if it were no better than a tavern or a whore's parted legs!" 

Sharp fangs flashed, caught in the soft light of the lit candles glinting with dark promise. 

"You should stop while you're ahead, Tonias. Where is the she-devil?" 

The locked door of the office splintered and exploded open as another man, with a panting altar boy trailing on his heels, rushed inside. 

"Padre! El joven se ha ido!" 

Shock was evident, but the stranger did not understand, barking out, "English?!" for clarification.  

Father Tonias didn't spare him a glance as he spoke to the newcomer, 

"¿Qué quieres decir con que se fue?"

It seemed that the Dhampir was spared from meeting this man, who would no doubt be eager to take her head from her shoulders. 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-- -|--

"You the Dhampir?" 

Alessandria stood warily under the scrutinizing gaze of the older woman, who didn't offer any hint to whether she cared about the outcome of this meeting either way it was chosen to end. Alessandria was oddly inspired by this woman, with how tall she stood among the men who had joined her here- weapons strapped to her frame to fight creatures of the night. Odd, but not completely surprising to Alessandria.

"Yes. Are you Jona?"

A stiff nod was the only answer the Dhampir got, Jona circling the young woman with a critical eye. How easy it was to feel like fallen prey to a vulture, but Alessandria wasn't one to be frightened.

"How old are ya?"

Jona was behind her now, which did not sit well with Alessandria. Every instinct she possessed told her to keep Jona to her front, but if the Dhampir wanted to leave Barcelona...she'd have to comply with this woman.

"Thirteen."

It was no doubt a shock to the others of this ragged group, with Alessandria looking far older than she was thanks to the vampire blood coursing through her veins.

"Ya fight?" Jona asks, still behind her. 

"Yes." Alessandria had spent most of her years alive being taught the art of combat with a wide range of weapons. In fact, the Dhampir had a short sword at her hip tucked neatly against the fabric of her coat, the same coat that hid the kurki blade buckled around her thigh. Mostly due to her own preference had she only taken these with her when she had escaped the confining Cathedral walls, common sense with her no matter how desperate she desired to be rid of her prison. 

"Ya go kill th' leech in th' grav'yard, if ya wanna join us." 

Leech? A vampire was in the cemetery? 

Alessandria's human heritage demanded she avoid any blood sucker, self preservation would dictate her to be a coward for the sake of saving her own skin. However, the darker taint that she possessed...promise of blood shed lured her far better than any siren's song. A melody of violent consequence. 

With a deep sigh, Alessandria straightened her shoulders and told the huntress flatly, 

"Deal." 

TRANSLATION CODEX:

Por Dios [My god]

el español  [Spanish]

¿Estás haciendo algo? [Are you up to something?]

Padre [father]

Si, vamos a ir [yes, let's get going]

El joven se ha ido [The young one is gone!]

¿Qué quieres decir con que se fue? [What do you mean she's gone?]