Warning: mention of death

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<Roughly 300 years ago>

"Hello there." Romulus says, sitting up on a rock by the river. Vanessa looks at him. "Hello?" she says. "Forgive me, where are my manners? My name is Romulus." he says with a nod.
"Vanessa. It's a pleasure to meet you, Romulus." Vanessa says, smiling. "Are you alright?" Romulus asks. "Why wouldn't I be? It's a lovely day." Vanessa says. "Indeed, but something tells me you've been hurt." Romulus says, hopping off the rock.

"What, this? It's just a scratch; I get them all the time when I swim. But how'd you know?" Vanessa asks, tilting her head. "I wouldn't want to scare you off by telling you, now would I?" Romulus responds, smiling.
"You won't scare me." Vanessa tells him, crossing her arms. "Maybe that's true, maybe it's not. But I'll tell you; I smelled your blood, that's what drew me over." Romulus says. "Smelled my blood? Why, that's impossible unless you're an animal, Mr. Romulus."

"Ah, you're wrong there. All it takes is a keen nose. Though, I suppose humankind wasn't gifted with that ability, were they?" Romulus says. "You speak of humanity as though you're not a part of it. Why is that?" Vanessa asks.
"What if I told you that's because I'm not? Would you believe me?" Romulus asks her. Vanessa laughed quietly. "Obviously not, you look human to me." she says. "Looks can be deceiving, though, can't they? Why don't you have a bit of a closer look at me, and tell me if I still look human to you?"

Vanessa tilts her head and walked up to him. "Don't be shy." Romulus says, looking her in the eyes. "Your eyes.. I assumed it was the sun's doing, but they really are red, aren't they?" Vanessa asks. "Indeed they are."
"So.. If you could smell my blood.. With that eye color... Are- this is going to sound so very silly, but... Are you a vampire, by chance?" she asks. Romulus nods in response. "Of course, if you don't believe me, you can go ahead and touch my fangs if you so please. I promise I won't bite." he says, giving a small happy smirk.

"But, if you are a vampire, doesn't that mean you survive by drinking the blood of humans? Why should I trust you not to bite me?" Vanessa asks cautiously. "Believe me, if I really wished to bite you, I'd've done it already." Romulus says, letting her touch his fangs.

"They're real.." she whispered, a bit in awe. "And sharp, be careful. They are specifically designed to pierce through flesh, you know." Romulus tells her.

"So.. How old are you, exactly? If you're a vampire..?" Vanessa asks. "I'm 234 years old." Romulus tells her. "234?! I'm 16, you're much older than me!" she says. "Chronologically, yes. Though, I'm still in early teenage years for vampires, while you're in the middle teenage years for humans. So technically, were I a human like you, you'd be older." Romulus says.

"What would be considered a mid teen for you, then?" Vanessa asks. "Anywhere from 300-400 years of age. In other words, I'm currently roughly the equivalent of a 14 year old human boy." Romulus answers.
"I see.. Well, it's starting to get late; I really must get going.. Meet me here tomorrow?" Vanessa says. Romulus nods. "I'll see you, then. It was a pleasure meeting you." he says.

"Likewise."

~~~

"What are you doing?" Romulus asks one day, standing behind Vanessa. "I'm trying to find an herb for my mother." Vanessa tells him. "Which one? I'm quite familiar with plant life." Romulus says.
"Chamomile; she's been having a hard time getting to bed at night, and she said that herb is supposed to help.." Vanessa says. "Chamomile? The soil is too wet for it to grow here. I do, however, happen to know where some grows, if you'll follow me?"

"Follow you?" Vanessa asks. Romulus chuckles. "If you don't trust me, I'll just go grab it for you. I just figured you'd want to know, for future reference." he says. "Oh, alright. I'll follow you, stop your teasing."

Romulus took her hand and started walking. "By the way.. You dress and speak so formally, are you nobleblood?" Vanessa asks. "Not noble, royal. I'm heir to the throne in this areas vampire nest, which is basically an area where a group of vampires live, both hidden and among humankind." Romulus tells her.

"Heir to the throne? You're a prince, then?" Vanessa asks. "Soon to be king. One day, you might be queen beside me. That is, if I so wish you to be." Romulus says, smiling at her.

"Such a sly prince, aren't you?"

~~~

"You've been very sickly, dear.." Romulus says, kneeling next to Vanessa, who was laying in his bed. "I'm worried.. There's been a sickness that has a fairly high death rate going around, and you've only gotten worse by the day.." he continued.
"If you're so worried, why not turn me?" Vanessa asks, coughing a little. "Because you've said you aren't comfortable feeding on blood, my dear, I'm not going to force that on you.." Romulus says, looking at her.

"You're right, but.. I also don't exactly want to die, not like this.. Not this young.." she says. Romulus stayed quiet for a few moments before sighing softly.

"Then please, forgive me for this."

~~~

"Romulus, darling?" Vanessa says. "Yes, my dear? What troubles you?" Romulus responds. "I've'nt bleed in over a month." she says. Romulus looks at her. "What are you...?"
Vanessa put a hand over her stomach. Romulus looked down at her stomach then back up at her with realization. "You're- you think you're with child?" he asks, to which Vanessa nods.

"Which means I.. I'll do it, but only on animals. To keep our child alive, I'll do it.." She says. Romulus frowns, but nods.

~~~

"You're a strong little guy, aren't you?" Vanessa coos to one of the twins, Roman, who had a grip on her finger. Romulus smiles, holding the other twin, Remus.
"This one loves attention. He demands it when you put him down for even a moment." he says, chuckling softly and kissing Remus's forehead.

Roman started fussing. "Awe, is someone getting hungry? Here, go on." Vanessa says, giving Roman her hand. Roman grabbed onto her hand with his tiny little ones, biting into it.
"I didn't know vampires were born with fangs, you know." Vanessa says to Romulus, who nods. "We don't exactly have bottles of blood to feed our young." he answers, rocking Remus gently.

"I suppose that makes sense." Vanessa says, looking back at Roman. "You are making my hand go numb, little one. You act like you're starving." she says, giggling softly.
Roman made a small fussing sound against her hand and stayed attached. "That's alright, you are a little prince, after all." she says, smiling at him.

~~~

"Vanessa, please... You'll die if you don't eat soon..." Romulus says, frowning a bit. "I can't... Romulus, I'm sorry, but I just can't... It's too cruel for me..." Vanessa says, curled up on the bed.
"Please.. Your sons need you, I need you... They're only 5 years old.." Romulus begged, tearing up a little.

"Mommy..?" Remus said, going up to her. "Remus, baby, hi.." Vanessa whispers, smiling weakly at him. "Mommy, why haven't you gotten out of bed for a long time..?" Remus asks.
"Mommy's just a little unwell, hunny, it'll be okay." Vanessa says, stroking his small cheek gently. Romulus watched with a grim, knowing look. He knew he wouldn't be able to change her mind.

‘This is my punishment for falling in love with a human..’

~~~

"Daddy..? How did mommy die..? I thought we don't die.." Roman asks, a little teary-eyed. Romulus looks at him and frowns a little, kneeling down to his level. "Your mother got sick because she wasn't eating, Roman.."
"Why?" Roman asks. "... She.. Didn't want to." Romulus tells him. "Why?" Roman repeated, looking at him. Romulus sighs, frowning. "Because she was human, a very kind human girl.. She didn't want to hurt anyone.."

"Then why did you make her a vampire like us?" Roman asks. "... Ironically enough, to prevent her death... I see now that I only prolonged the inevitable.. But... Had I not turned her.. I wouldn't have you two." Romulus says.
"Are you sad, daddy..? I miss mommy..." Roman says. "I know, Roman, I do too... I miss her very much... Please, in the future, try not to fall in love with a human, okay..? I don't want to see you go through that.."

"And if I do..? Would you be mad at me, daddy..?" Roman asks, frowning a little. "No, Roman. I would never be mad at you for falling in love. But if it would happen to be a human, I would grow very worried.."

"Then... I won't, unless I know they won't die like mommy did... Deal?" Roman asks, holding his tiny hand out. Romulus looks at him, trying and failing to smile, but shook his hand regardless.

"Deal."