The Unknowns(The Genesis)

Chapter 1 - Somewhere in a small town in Seattle

1975

Lucas POV

I'd not had an easy life, at least not me. To onlookers, I was the perfect Lucas Stockhelm. I looked like the stereotype of a runway model, raven black hair, green eyes, a perfect jawline, a gorgeous smile, and a stunning physique. I was the Lucas who championed the soccer team of my local high school in every competition but somehow still aced all my tests. Sure I was on the honour roll, and the girls loved me ... even some guys although I decided never to venture into that. I was even the perfect gentleman, so how wasn't my life easy?

My mother had raised me all on her own. She'd made some bad choices in college and had to drop out to have me. My father? He was never part of the picture. So from a young age, I had to watch my mother crack under pressure. She was rarely home, having to run several shifts to support us. Whenever she finally came home she was always stressed out but still made time to find out how my day went. When we were done talking she'd creep away to her room to cry. Sometimes throughout the night. She had a friend who owned a modeling agency, Miss Hilda was very nice she always checked on us and ensured my mum was okay. Mum found it hard to open up to her about our problems though.

I was 5 when I first found out I was a little hotshot. My mum had just dropped me off at school that morning and my friend's mum saw me and fussed over me. Inviting me to their kids' birthday parties and hangouts that weren't coming up for weeks. After that, I asked Miss Hilda for a job and she granted me on the spot. It helped ease up the stress on Mum and all I had to do was smile and put on a couple of clothes and products for the money to come rolling in.

I am now 18 and a high school graduate. My mum was even more happy about this than me.... I should think. My friends were having the traditional "night in the woods" which every high school graduating set in our town had ever since high school came about. I didn't feel like going, so I opted for lying half-naked in my room flipping through old comics. Besides Mum was making a cake for me, I didn't want to leave her alone tonight, something felt wrong about going to the woods.

"Lu! Peter's here!", my mum's voice made its way upstairs to alert me of the impending doom.

I rolled over onto the floor in an attempt to hide under my bed. My room door flew open before my task was half completed and the calloused hands of my best friend wrapped round my ankles and tugged me out of my haven. "Not cool Luc!" he snapped at me, fighting the grin on his face as I raised my hands to plead innocent. "Get dressed and come downstairs you have five minutes."

"I was honestly about to come you know? I didn't just know what to wear." I called after his exiting figure in self-defense.

He stuck his head back ."Yeah I'm sure that's true you were only looking for your shoes under there!", sarcasm dripped from his tone. Wear whatever no one cares enough."

I pulled on tennis shoes and a plain black shirt to go with my khaki shorts and trudged downstairs. Peter was already in the kitchen making my mum laugh as she worked on the island. He was easy to be with like that.

"I'm ready!" I said and walked over to hug my mother after Peter called out goodbye and headed for the door. I pulled her against me muttering a quick I love you and placing a kiss on her temple.

"I'm so proud of you Lu. Go have fun" she said relinquishing her hold on me. I now had a fully funded sports scholarship that to study any course at any university of my choice. I sauntered lazily to the front door. Peter play-punched me in the arm and made a teasing comment about my outfit choice.

"You told me you'd be there you asshole" Peter began his assault on my ears without giving me a chance to speak. "They threw me out of the party to find you less than thirty minutes after I arrived."

I winced a bit "I'm sorry Pete, it's just... something doesn't feel right about this "night in the woods"."

"Doesn't feel right? Dude this is the most right thing that has happened since we began high school but if you want to start your career as a psychic, good luck!" he chuckled

I smiled a little at his enthusiasm and let the comfortable silence take over as we walked to the party site. This was one of the many reasons Pete was my best friend, he didn't feel the incessant need to feel each moment of the day with mindless chattering. Just our presence was enough comfort to each other.

The music began permeating the eerie silence before Pete spoke again. "Becky is looking nice tonight," he said. I frowned at him

"You of all people know such details aren't important" I sighed. Becky was one of my many admirers. I never had time to settle down and get into a serious relationship between school, soccer, and modeling although I messed around occasionally.

"Becky isn't like the others, buddy. She's one of the real deal girls. You better start using your brain instead of testosterone to think and make decisions!" He said before leaving me and heading into the party.

Chapter 2- In the Woods 1970

Lucas POV

I walked in after him. Mindlessly drifting and returning greetings, I was honestly a bit pissed off that he'd say such to me. Everyone was having fun and so fortunately I was out of the spotlight. I picked up a red cup without caring about the contents and downed it trying to soothe my nerves and wounded ego. I still felt uneasy about this party, something was odd.

I was going to reach for another when I got distracted by a dazzling pair of blue eyes. I wasn't much for liking girls based on their features, but her eyes caught my attention especially because they were trained on me. I blinked and glanced over at the owner of the eyes, Becky who was swaying her adequately curved hips to the beat. A little blue dress and minimal make-up, her wavy hair framed her face. She did look a bit sultry and goddess-like tonight, satisfied with the amount of attention I'd given her, and never one to be shy she strode up to me.

"How about we play a game Cap?", She used the nickname I'd gotten since I was team captain. I towered above her 5ft5 with my 6ft4, I smiled down at the confident minx that stared back at me her courage unfazed but she appeared a bit affected by seeing me smile up close. Her breathing accelerated and her cheeks were flushed. We'd never spoken till today.

I looked up and away before answering "What are we playing Rebecca?", I purposely used her full name to piss her off. I heard she hated people doing that.

She frowned a bit then blinked it away, "It wasn't decided Cap, I was hoping your influence could persuade them to.", she grinned and I missed a breath.

"You had to have something on your mind before you came over.", I said smirking. I wasn't going to let her out-flirt me.

Her smile widened, "How about blind man's bluff?"

Slowly I leaned into her and she naturally gravitated towards me like she thought I would kiss her. Then I went for her ear and whispered while brushing my lips against it, "Perfect". She shivered a bit. I straightened and slung my arm over her shoulders pulling her flush against my side. Hormones began to race when her delicate palm flattened against my ripped abdomen to steady herself.

"It might be fun playing blind man's bluff won't it Becky? Pity no one else seems to think so", I said comically increasing the volume of my voice to be heard over the music. Becky giggled, pleased by me using her preferred name.

"Totally a shame", she said playing along with me.

Before long there were a couple of murmurs of approval going round. I noticed Pete in the far end making a girl swoon as she laughed nonstop at his valet of funny jokes and situations.

"Why don't you be the blind man?", Becky suggested, whoops rumbled through the crowd so I immediately choked down the instinct to reject it and said, "Of course".

"Does anyone have a clothe for me?" I asked. "Use your shirt!", a girl yelled which invoked numerous calls of approval. I smiled hesitantly, then I pulled it off in a single fluid movement like I normally did while playing soccer and chuckled at the cat calls from people admiring my bare chest and abs, I handed the shirt to Becky kneeling before her to allow blindfold me. I wanted to make her feel special tonight. I relished the look of delight in her eyes as I did so. As she pressed the shirt on my face I pressed my face into her belly, intoxicating myself with the scent of her. It was a heady feeling having her assault my senses like this. All I could feel, hear, smell, or taste was her. Her gentle tap on my shoulder indicated she was done. She had been so gentle.

As I stood I realized the game had begun. She wasn't next to me. I laughed and stumbled forward blindly nearly crashing into a tree. Laughter rumbled through the gathering and a couple of individuals took the chance to touch me in places they normally couldn't. Whenever this happened I defeated the aim of the game by drifting away from the person's direction. Panic began to set, I knew people were there but it was uncomfortable not having sight.

I felt a light touch to my back and I spun abruptly to catch whoever that was. She evaded me, but I knew her the familiar giggle. It was Becky I lurched in her direction and heard her from somewhere else I followed her giggles and taps until the sound of music and chatter began to fade away. I stopped worried, "Come on Cap I'm right here!", Becky called and I followed the sound of her voice immediately.

In the back of my mind, I noted that she had lured me away from others but I didn't mind. A warm fluttering filled my chest and I started feeling funny, kinda of like what the boys who were actually in love with their girlfriends described. After a little more stumble-walking, she held my arms firmly to stop me. So I stopped moving smiling down at where I felt her face was.

"I'm not sure you're supposed to get me. I get you.", I joked lightly. She untied the shirt from my face and I squinted adjusting to the dim light of the moon and stars. I looked over my shoulders wondering just how far away from the party we were.

"You want to go back?", she asked her tongue peeping out to brush against her bottom lip. Her eyes looked glassy, I could sense her desire but the fact that she asked my consent rather than imposing her need on me kept my feet planted on the ground in front of her. That, and how alluring she looked in the moonlight. Her full rose-pink lips beckoned me like a siren.

"Hell no!", I whispered before crashing my lips onto hers. She tasted delicious and I knew then I wanted only her from then on. I set my shirt on the ground and grasped her hips lowering us hastily to it. We were a bit frenzied and rushed right into it, neither of us were virgins. She was ready for me and I wasn't ready to wait any longer than I had to have her. So I discarded my favorite part, foreplay, and went right into fucking her hard against the floor of the woods. The sounds of her moans resonated through the dark quiet woods.

When we were done I lay on the shirt, my knees folded with her little frame on my chest. We laid there for a while I hadn't chosen which school I was going to yet. "So where you going after now?"

"Kind of like a minor University in LA called Berths, why?" she answered propping herself against me to see my face.

I chuckled, "Never thought of you as a big city girl!", she smiled in response but offered nothing else waiting for me to speak first. "I hadn't decided where I'm going, LA sounds.... nice?"

"It is really", she had perked up at the prospect.

I threw my head back laughing out loud, then pressed my lips to his forehead and murmured "Don't stress yourself gorgeous, there's no doubt I would go to Hades if you needed me to."

Screams ripped through the woods, they were coming from the direction of the gathering they stopped almost immediately after they began which was the creepy part. We sprung up and began to dress hastily, I was mentally deciding whether to run to or away from the screams. They sounded like fear, not excitement. Once I heard birds deserting the trees, I grabbed Becky's hand and ran towards the nearest exit from the woods. I could hear something running behind me.

I had known this wasn't a good idea. I saw how terrified Becky was, she was crying and doing her best to keep up. Something solid collided with me and I fell to the ground Becky stopped for me. "Don't stop Becky", she seemed like she hadn't processed the command because she didn't move. My leg was hurt but I was already trying to stand.

"Fuck it! Run Becky!", I yelled at her and adrenaline kicked in I watched her sprint looking back at me every now and again begging me with her eyes to follow after her. Slowly I limped, my best chance was to climb up a tree or hide away. Or so I thought, I had never had cause to believe in the supernatural but nothing else could explain this. The creature was humanoid yet perfect in every way. Everything about him attracted me, his looks, his smell, and his voice. I was mesmerized and witless when he spoke. My brain cells refused to process anything other than pain and the resonating bass symphony that was his voice. I knew he was dangerous, though I hadn't heard whatever threat he'd probably spewed. His white teeth gleamed in the dim light of the moon as he smiled. "What are you?", I murmured.

"He speaks", the creature said and his friends emerged from the shadows looking disappointed, a quick assessment showed there were four including the one who knocked me down. Two males and two females. "They normally just scream", he said. He seemed fascinated at the fact I had questioned him he circled me slowly as I stood awkwardly on my sprained ankle still taller than him and his friends.

"Get along with it Ben, stop playing with your meal. I'm sure it will scream when you get down to it!" A female with a shrill soprano sighed impatiently.

"I'm not food and definitely not an it!", I said indignantly. In retrospect, it's probably not a good idea to annoy your captors because the female focused a glare on me and her lips twisted into a snarl.

" Never mind, I'll do it myself."' She launched herself at me so fast I couldn't see her but I noted that I had been knocked to the ground and her lips were at my neck. At first, I thought she might have wanted to rape me but then I thought about my friends whose screams had ceased almost immediately after they'd started and the fact that he'd had enough strength to knock me down and injure my ankle in one blow. Considering our difference in stature that should have been impossible.

"Vampire", I murmured accepting my fate and something changed in Ben's expression.

"Hands off Gina, I'm keeping him.", the bass voice called.

Of course, I had objections to being "kept" but it seemed better than being a bloodless corpse at the moment. Gina ignored him and I felt her fangs pierced my neck I grimaced in agony. Then Ben was a blur, ripping Gina off me "I said I'm keeping him and no one will touch him! Back the hell off!."

"Chill man it's not even worth it.", the other male vampire said. The other female just sneered at me in disgust. I was in pain but I shockingly still could scowl at their degrading and offensive manner of referring to me.

"Try me Timothy", Ben snarled. Gina was still pacing her eyes glowing with fury at being denied a meal. If looks could kill her's would do the trick. Now an angry Timothy was glowering at Ben. I was beginning to feel less confident of my chances at survival. I wasn't sure Ben could take on all three of them while keeping me alive.

"Fine then Ben, have him but you better turn him soon 'cause I don't do too well obeying instructions when I'm thirsty!", The second female finally spoke and began to move away without missing a beat. The others still mad, retreated after her.

"We're going to have so much funn!", he sing-songed. Then he bent and bit my neck. That hurt, betrayal I nearly laughed at it- nearly. Betrayed by the vampire who was supposed to be keeping me. I blacked out, at least they'd been focused on me long enough for her to escape. "Becky", I breathed weakly.

When I woke up I could feel my heightened senses, I was surprised about being alive. I realized, with a start, I'd been turned into one of them. Rage coursed through me, I'd have to leave all I'd ever known. The bloodlust would be too much or they would realize I'd changed and label me a monster wanting nothing to do with me. I could hear Ben and his friends laughing nearby. We were still in the woods. I walked out of the little enclosure they'd made for me.

I don't remember much after that. After what felt like a long while but was half an hour at most it was over. I let my instincts take over even though I had no skill to match these seasoned vampires my fury and pain spurred me on. After a few intense moments, their decapitated bodies were piled around my feet and I set them ablaze.

I wandered through the woods and came upon the bloodbath they'd left in their wake. What was so disgusting was that the bodies weren't even fully drained, so it was apparent they'd killed for the fun of it. Peter! Angst burned through me leaving a permanent scar in its wake. I held my best friend's corpse close to me. I discovered I couldn't cry. I could only make sounds that sounded so much more painful than weeping.

I had resolved not to visit my mom .. or Becky but I had to see if they were okay. I had withstood this bloodbath without any urges I would make it through. I began to sprint in the direction of my home. In a few seconds, I had arrived which surprised even me. I wasn't used to superhuman speed. I peeped in through the window. The sight broke my cold heart my mom and Becky were curled up together on the couch like they'd cried till they couldn't anymore while comforting each other.

ABOUT HALF A YEAR LATER

≈

I drifted away from my old house back into the woods for the thousandth time that week. Hours became days which became weeks, which became months. I honestly didn't care how long I stayed in those woods. But I didn't leave until Gary and Amy found me. They were a vampire couple in their late thirties, Amy had been longing for a child, and given our age gap it was just perfect. I stayed with them even though they moved around a lot. I often slipped back to check on my mom and Becky who had formed a close bond after my disappearance.

SOMETIME IN 2020

≈

Later on, we found Marcus, who became my adopted brother, and Marcus found Frieda who he fell in love with. Amy was quite worried about me ever finding someone to settle down with because even late into the 2000s I was still alone... save my occasional one-night stands. I didn't have it in me to try falling in love again after all I'd tried once and that got me turned into the bloodsucking leech I am now and I had to watch my first love grow and lead a life without me. After I attended Becky's wedding and witnessed all that could have been mine I kind of broke off. I'd slipped, I stared too long she'd noticed and looked back at me. I saw the tears in her eyes, the look of recognition and raw hurt that reflected all I've ever felt since I left, and then I turned and left.... again. I was going to keep my word, I'd said I'd go to Hades if she needed me to. Since she'd finally found happiness and managed to keep my mother in the loop, I would go all the way to fucking Tartarus.

CHAPTER 3 Lagos, Nigeria.

2015

Jasmine's POV

I and Diamond have been best friends for as long as I can remember. Our mothers had been best friends when they were younger. They grew up together, went to school together, decided to move to the USA together, and got rich together. The only difference my mother got married earlier and had my elder brother five years before her friend. So I and Diamond were the same age and had a lot in common we even shared June as a birth month but she was born on the eighteenth while I was born on the twenty-fourth.

So our mothers relocated to the USA but somehow formed the tradition of sending their kids to Africa, Nigeria in particular so we'd never forget our roots. It was my thirteenth birthday yesterday, Diamond and I came to Nigeria for our birthday and spent a week there. It was good but Diamond couldn't wait to go home. I wouldn't have minded a couple of more days. We'd gone with our governess. Miss Suzie, was white so a lot of people stared. My father is half-caste while Diamond's father is white. So both Diamond and I fit the role of Suzie's kids.

"Come on darling now we can't miss the plane dear.", Suzie chided me gently.

"If we miss this plane Jaz it'll be your fault and I'm going to make your life a living hell till we can catch the next one.", Diamond scolded me.

"Stop making such a fuss you had way more fun than me anyway.", I muttered begrudgingly but tagged along all the same.

≈

The plane had taxied off the lane about six hours ago but Diamond and I had fought over at least six different petty issues. Susie had stopped us each time and I was fed up. "Can I go to the bathroom?"

Susie looked at me for a moment, "No"

"Aww come on Susie.", I whined. Diamond sneered at me and turned away like she couldn't stand the sight of me and I rolled my eyes at her back she was so dramatic it was making me nauseous.

"You don't need to go Jasmine, but if you are truly so eager you and Diamond can apologize to each other", she said and my pleasant girl smile tilted down at the edges.

"Well that sucks doesn't it", Diamond said without turning to look at me. From her statement, it was apparent that she wasn't expecting me to apologize. I did start the arguments but only because she was so prickly and annoying this morning I felt like she deserved it.

"I'm sorry Didi.", I said looking down. When I looked up she was looking at me a bit stunned until Susie hinted it was her turn to apologize so she did.

When I was done using the bathroom I washed my hands and stared at my face in the mirror for a bit after making myself laugh by blowing out my cheeks and making silly faces I reached for the handle to exit. I slipped and nearly fell, when I tried again I truly slipped backward and hit my head on the other wall. When the plane's body vibrated I understood we were going through turbulence and I needed to get to my seat or maybe die while I was at it, if this plane crashed. I tumbled abruptly to the door during the next jolt. I clawed at the handle, grasping it like my life depended on it cause it did but the next jerk ripped me away from it. The next thing I knew I was airborne and somehow gravity wasn't trying to pull me down. The plane seemed to be free falling and I was being flung around like a doll, I screamed but it was drowned by the failing engines and the panic on the other side of the door. The last thing I remember was being flung towards the mirror. I hit it headfirst and it shattered just as I passed out.

≈

Everything was blurry when I woke up. I finally focused and things became clearer. I was in a large clearing lying on lush green grass, I couldn't feel pain so it was either I was damaged or I wasn't injured but I had other things to investigate at the moment I was at least a hundred feet from the crash. The fire was still containable so I figured I could still save other people. I got up to begin my race to the site but as I began running it was like one second I was a hundred feet away and the next I was right in front of the plane. It was shocking and quite destabilizing but given my current situation, I forged ahead to save whoever I could.

" Susie? Didi?", I kept calling out to them. Not to paint me as a horrible person since I was ignoring every other person I could have tried to save but my best friend was my priority. When I found them they were unconscious and I was sort of unsure how I would succeed in dragging them out by myself. Still ignoring logic I grabbed both of them at once and began to move, It was surprisingly easy... like way too easy. By the time I'd gotten them to safety, the flames had engulfed the plane and it blew.

When I recovered from the shock I got down to help my friends. I realized they weren't breathing. They were already dead before I saved them.

≈

My memories from that point till a good while after were blurry. All I remember was trying to get away from the corpses. I just kept pushing my feet off the ground wishing I could just go home. All of a sudden a circle opened up in front of me I was going too fast to stop. So I squeezed my eyes shut and held my hands up to protect my face a quiet cry of anguish leaving my lips. Why was everything going wrong?

The next time I opened my eyes I was in the garden back home. I saw my mom, father, and Jason walking and laughing. "Mama", I cried out in relief I would remain in her arms and she'd tell it was a bad dream and hold me till I woke up. She looked at me surprised and I ran towards her.

"Hey, little girl. Where's your mother?", she asked. I stopped dead in my tracks about two feet away from her.

"Stop playing Mama. It's me Jasmine, something terrible has happened", I whimpered, a miserable sound.

"Where's your mother and why are you calling me that little girl?" She bridged the distance between us and squatted. As I stared into her eyes, I understood why she was acting like this. It was almost like I could see into her mind. I was flipping through all her memories and thoughts as one would flip through a book. I wasn't in any of them!

"Mema!" I whispered in shock as a tear escaped my eyes and trailed down my cheek. And then it was there, a brief moment of recognition, love, and compassion before I was once again met with that blank stare.