I was seven years old when I relieved myself of parental guidance, they had become so terrified that they were plotting to rid themselves of me. I had the ability to reach out and take the energy of the living and being so young I was amazed with them so I killed as often as possible. Walking down the street, at the market, in church I would push my energy out, wrap it around the energy of my victim, and extract all of the energy back to myself. It felt like a game. I foolishly told my parents one night about my ability and they were convinced I was a witch but that label never felt adequate. I overheard them one night fearfully whispering about exposing my powers to the town and burning me. Self preservation was far more important to me than any blood ties so I relieved them of their lives and took advantage of being an orphan to play on the town's sympathies.
I was ten years old when I left my town and arrived at a reasonably sized, trusting, town. I had exhausted the kindness and resources of the town I came from. The citizens of my birth town had become exhausted from my abuse. I was not well practiced with my powers yet so I killed more than I strategically should have. I decided I would learn from my follies and refrain from killing so often.
I made home in a recently "abandoned" cathedral, I cleaned it, repaired small things and lit the various candles all around the building every night when the sun went down. I would have preferred to satiate my hungers in the woods but decimating the animal population would grab far too much attention and the energy of animals was far less satisfying. The incredible range of emotion humans are able to tap into made their energy much more full.
I waited until I absolutely needed energetic satisfaction to mingle with the townspeople. The citizens were welcoming, who wouldn't help a beautiful child in need? This town was uncannily fond of children so having my way with them was as easy as blinking. I felt a minuscule need to justify my actions, I quickly outgrew that, I told myself if these people were so willing to advance on me they were deserving of their fate. I had lived on my own for over a year when I met a boy barely older than myself, he had raven black hair and mischievous brown eyes. "Do you live alone?" He asked me on my way home one day.
"Of course I do." I replied, hoping that a blunt answer would satisfy him enough to leave me be.
"Why do you live alone?" He was following me like a puppy, how aggravating.
"Why does it matter to you?" Irritation was permeating my words. Couldn't this boy tell that I wanted nothing to do with him? I could kill him in an instant, I should have killed him then.
"I could live with you." He said plainly.
I stopped. No. Absolutely not. No annoying boy would live with me. Never. I thought of something brilliant. "You can live with me if you kill your parents, as I did." I smiled at the boy. He would think I'm crazy and run off, any sensible person would.
"Okay." He said and calmly walked away. I let out a sigh of relief, I was finally rid of him.
Two days later it was raining heavily when I heard a knock on the large front doors. I opened them to the annoying boy, he was dripping wet with a large smile on his face. He walked inside as if he belonged, as if my home was his. "So where is my room?" He asked me.
I brushed warm brown hair out of my face and crossed my arms in front of me. "What are you talking about? You have no room here."
The boy took my hand and placed into it a golden necklace with a filigreed ruby pendant. He kissed my cheek. "It was my mother's, she won't be needing it anymore. My name is Nicholai."
I sighed, Nicholai thought he could win me over with his sweet gesture. Gesture or not a deal was a deal. "Turn the corner there and walk down a few doors to the right. You can have that room." I motioned for him to leave.
He grinned and walked around the corner. I watched him, what a strange boy. I smiled and clasped the necklace into place. Nicholai and I were unfortunately alike. We eventually grew closer and closer, we laughed together, played together and even killed together. We were great friends.