Prologue

“Important encounters are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other.”

Paulo Coelho

"She will be okay." The young vampire tells his Sire, as the older he places his swaddled newborn daughter in the younger one's arms. He looked over at the mother, who was barely holding on to what little life she had left. The mother holds her weak hand out.

"Let me see her, just this once please." She chokes out.  The younger vampire nods and walks over to where the Mother lay. He sets the baby in her arms and watches as she places a kiss on her newborn's forehead. "You have a wonderful path ahead of you." She looks adoringly at her daughter with tears streaming down her pale face.

"I love you my sweet baby girl, but I can't be with you right now. When the time comes, we will meet again. For now, I want you to be happy and live your life to the fullest. " She places a second more kiss on her forehead and sets her newborn daughter back in the younger vampire's embrace. He turns to walk out but she calls out to him.

"You need to understand something. Her life will not be an easy one, things will happen that will be out of our control, but the most important thing is to protect her and keep her away from the Elders. Don't let them find out about her. She is so very special." 

Her chocolate eyes filled with love and trust when she cast her gaze upon him holding her baby girl. A sense of peace and comfort came over her, seeing the baby sleeping and snuggled against the young man's chest.  "I will protect her with my life." The young vampire looked down at the beautiful baby and felt something stir in his chest. He wasn't sure what it was, but he did know that he couldn't leave this innocent girl helpless in a world full of so much evil, hate, and sadness. He decides he doesn't want such vileness to touch her pure soul; he would do anything in his power to keep her the way she in his arms. Innocent and pure.   

"She will never know fear with me." He tells her parents, his sire and her mother. They both look up with solemn faces as they are unsure of their only daughter's fate, but they knew the words that left the young's man were to be true. They have chosen wisely for their child's guardian. He would protect this little girl, his little girl, not only from the Elders but from all the evil of the world as well. He would save her. 

"You cannot stay with her; you will have to stay hidden in the Shadows." His Sire said with a sigh. "It's the only way to keep her safe."

The younger one knew better than to argue with his sire, so he bowed his head in submission. He saw the final tears fall from the grieving Mother's eyes and felt her sorrow. He remembers the time he watched his own mother cry at his funeral. He remembers the pain in her eyes, it was all too real. "I know she is in good hands with you; it's time to take her now." His sire hands him a manila envelope that has two names written upon it, the name of her adoptive family.  "These are all the documents the family will need for her. They are also expecting you." He nods his head and presses the baby girl closer to his chest, he would keep her safe if it was the last thing he did.