Eternal Struggle

By TJ Converse

Being born a vampire has its benefits, but some are not the right choices. Rena was born with no limits, but betrayal, lies and secrets change her world. What is a vampire to do when they feel like they have nothing? Follow Rena over the years as she struggles with what she was born to be and the person she actually becomes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: TJ Converse
• Release date: Feb 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465979520

TJ Converse

Born in Raised in Florida. Writing stories and music was always a passion for TJ. She wrote her first story at the age of thirteen. TJ studied vampire folklore as a child and thought what it would be like to write a story based nothing of what people believed of vampires. So Eternal Struggle was born.

Book preview

ETERNAL STRUGGLE

THE SAGA

BY: TJ CONVERSE

Smashwords Edition

Copyright @ 2012 TJ Converse

All Rights Reserved

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters,places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To Kim-For never letting me forget my dreams.

1923-Los Angeles, California

A woman’s scream echoes through the halls of a large farm house just on the outskirts of Los Angeles, California. The woman’s name is Epica Lawrence and she is giving birth. Epica is a mysterious woman and secretive of a sort. Her age, place of birth and how many children she actually has is all a mystery. What is known is the man by her side, Franklin McCarty, loves her with all his heart and it doesn’t matter to him the mystery behind who Epica really is.

You are going to have to push harder Mrs. McCarty! Dr. Clark instructed as he waits for the baby’s head to appear.

I am you damn fool. And the name is Lawrence! Epica screamed as she pushed even harder this time as she tightens her grip on Frank’s hand.

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes seemed like hours. Through the screams and excitement the baby finally was born.

Doctor Clark quickly cut the cord and wrapped the baby in a small blanket. He peered over the rim of his glasses at the awaiting new parents with a look of sadness.

What is it Doctor. Is the baby a boy? Do I have a son? Frank asked in anticipation.

Frank always wanted a son to carry on his dying family name. He was born an only child and the only member of his family to move to the United States from England. Starting a family in his new home was a dream come true when he met Epica three years ago and then a year ago had their first child, Mara, and now all Frank wanted was a son.

No Mr. McCarty, your baby is a girl, He said in a sad voice as he turned the child out of their sight.

Epica’s heart began to pound harder as she realized there was no crying or any other noise coming from her newborn baby.

What is wrong Doctor Clark? What is wrong with my daughter? Epica demanded.

I’m very sorry, your daughter is dead. She is stillborn. There is nothing I can do. I’m so sorry.

Frank slowly let go of Epica’s hand and with a tear in his eye approached his daughter. As he looked down at the bloody discolored baby, he felt his heart sink deep into his chest. He thought to himself how beautiful she was as more tears came to his eyes and ran down his cheek. She was born with a full head of dark brown hair and looked so perfect.

I’m sorry Epica, Frank told her when he noticed she looked to be in shock.

Epica’s shocked expression suddenly changed to a wide evil grin and she burst into a loud laugh that echoed through the house.

Frank looked at the doctor and then back at Epica with disbelief.

Why are you laughing woman. Have you gone mad? Your child is dead and you are happy! What is wrong with you? Frank yelled in frustration then looked for one last time at his beautiful deceased daughter.

Suddenly the baby’s eyes opened wide and her eyes began to glow a crystal blue. The color of her skin began to darken to a living glow and she took a deep breath of air. Doctor Clark gasped almost dropping the small child.

Frank stared down at his daughter in shock. He could not believe what he was witnessing. His daughter looked up at him with her glowing crystal blue eyes; she smiled with a small giggle and revealed a full set of teeth along with two sharp fangs.

CHAPTER 1

The Beginning

1933- Los Angeles, California

Frank McCarty steps outside his large farm house into the darkness of his front yard. He scans the yard slowly trying to see through the darkness for a sign of his two young daughters who were out playing.

Mara, his oldest, was born with being sensitive to light. She was only allowed to go outdoors with Rena, her younger sister, when the sun with down. If not she could suffer from severe burns that could lead to her having permanent scarring.

"Rena. Mara! Come here at once! Frank yelled still searching for his daughters.

From around the side of the house, Mara and Rena came running towards him with Mara in the lead giggling. They were doing what they always did; race to see who would reach the door first.

I won Rena, Mara announced as she reach her father’s side first.

Only because you’re older and your legs are longer. I wish you could play outside during the day, I would so beat you at everything, Rena said just a few seconds behind her older sister.

Where have you two been? You were expected to be in for dinner an hour ago, Frank demanded in a furious tone.

We were playing in the woods. Rena wanted to climb trees, Mara told him with a lying smile. Mara always stuck up for her little sister. It may have been the sisterly thing to do, but her lying was more out of fear and it was her fear of Rena.

Have you seen Jacob? I haven’t seen him since you went off to play, Frank asked with anger in his voice.

Jacob, the family dog, is mostly Frank’s dog. He’s a German Shepherd that Frank imported from Germany several years ago for the children. But as the children grow, Jacob began to act strange towards them and spent all his time by Frank’s side.

Mara glanced over at Rena with a strange expression. Rena just brushed her long dark brown hair from her face and stared up at her father with an evil expression.

Jacob will no longer be coming home, Rena stated in a low voice with no emotion.

"What are you talking about? Frank questioned not quite understanding what she meant as Epica stepped out of the house behind him.

Because Jacob is dead! Rena expressed in a loud voice and hate in her eyes.

What? How did this happen? Frank demanded as his temper began to rise.

It was silent for a moment as no one said a word. Rena continued to stare at her father with the same non emotional stare and Mara looked around nervously.

How did this happen. Now answer me! Frank demanded again in rage.

Neither of the children said a word. Maybe it was because their father had changed. He wasn’t the same loving father he was a year ago. Since the day their mother stopped speaking to him he seemed to fall into a depression. It was the same day Epica received a letter from a place far away that she called home. Every night Frank drank himself to sleep with his scotch. He argued with Epica almost every day about their future and the future of the children. Mara and Rena knew their mother stopped loving their father the day that letter came to their door by a mysterious messenger.

But today was different then all the others. It was the first time he had yelled at them. Was the dog so important that he would choice to hate them because Jacob was gone? Maybe the children knew this and that was why they didn’t speak up about what had happen or maybe it was because one of them did something to Jacob and the other had just watched.

Answer me now or else! Frank yelled once more.

Or else what? Mara asked in a cocky voice as she put her hands on her hips showing attitude so much like her mother.

Don’t speak to me in that tone of voice young lady I get it enough from your mother! I am your father, now answer me! Frank grabbed Mara’s arms tightly.

Mara screamed in pain from her father’s tight grip.

I killed him, Rena said almost in a whisper.

You did what Rena? Frank yelled as he released his grip on Mara’s arms.

I killed Jacob. He bit me so I bit him back, Rena said with anger in her voice.

Frank grabbed Rena’s arm and shook her violently.

Tell me the truth you little bitch!

Let her go! Mara yelled and began hitting her father on the back.

Frank pushed Mara off him and she fall to the ground in tears. He then let go of Rena and she too fell backward and landed beside Mara on her back.

Franklin McCarty. That is enough! Epica announced from behind him a cold angry tone.

Frank turned and faced Epica still burning with rage.

Don’t you dare tell me how to discipline my children? Frank yelled as he raised his fist towards her.

Epica’s eyes glowed red with anger.

Never raise your fist to me, you weak human!

I am your husband. You are to love me and obey me. You can’t just decide one day to stop being my wife. I don’t care what you are, where you come from or the fact that my children are just as capable of evil as you are. Why did you choose to love me them decide to toss me aside! Frank shouted as he felt his heart tighten.

You mean nothing to me and never did. I used you in have two beautiful children and gave wealth. I do have to say I was beginning to get very comfortable living this life, but now I do believe I’m done with you. I will not pretend any longer. It’s time for me to end this and it ends now, Epica explained as she stepped closer to Frank.

Epica grabbed Frank by his neck with such a force it knocked the air right out of him. She lifted him from the ground just a few inches. Frank struggled in her grip trying to free himself.

Rena looked up from where she lay on the ground. She trembled as she watched the scene playing out above her. Suddenly everything seemed to move in slow motion as she watched her mother snap her father’s neck with just a twist of her fingers.

Her father’s lifeless body landed just inches from Rena. His face was turned; his eyes seemed to stare straight into hers. Rena wanted to touch him to check to see if he was still alive. She hoped he was for she could tell him she was sorry for killing Jacob. She didn’t mean to hurt him, it was an accident.

Staring up at her mother, no tears came to Rena’s eyes. Rena was terrified and in shock. Epica lifted Rena from the ground and carried her into the house. Rena stared back at her father waiting to see him move or say something to them. But the only words she heard were her mother’s as she called for Mara to get inside that they had work to do.

As the hours passed the children were instructed to pack some of their belongings. Rena finished packing her bags and quickly went to find Mara and her mother. She heard noises coming from the rear of the house. Rena quietly got to an area that she could see what was going on and saw her mother and Mara dragging her father’s body into a storage room.

Rena stayed her distance and out of their sight as she watched them arrange his body along the floor. They poured fuel around his body and then on him. They finished quickly then made their way back towards the front of the house. Rena ran to the front yard and grabbed her two bags and a teddy bear she had left by the front door of the house.

Rena are you finished dear? Epica called to her as she approached her sedan.

Yes mother, Rena answered as she handed her bags to her mother to put in the back of her sedan.

Good. Mara and my bags are already in the car so let’s go. We have a very long trip ahead of us. Epica said with a smile as she got into the car followed by Rena and Mara.

Where are we going? Rena asked as she climbed into the backseat.

We are going home where we belong, Epica told her young daughter with a cold smile.

As they drove away Rena glanced back at the place she had lived her whole life and saw smoke coming from the rear of the house. And as they drove further away Rena began to see flames. Rena’s childhood memories were lost among those flames and her new memories were going to be like the fiery pits of Hell.

*****

The journey to their new home was long and quiet. Mara and Epica spoke very little along the way. During the time they traveled during the daylight, Mara laid in the backseat wrapped in a blanket. Rena sat quietly during the trip, hugging her teddy bear and staring out the window at the countryside. Their journey ended in New York fifteen days later. It was nearly midnight and cold when Epica pulled her sedan up to the front of the large manor that looked like a castle. ‘This is your new home,’ was what Epica said to her children as they stop the car.

Mara and Rena stepped out as lighting shot across the sky followed by a loud boom of thunder. Mara jumped and grabbed hold of Rena’s hand.

The large wooden front door of the manor swung open and two young women came towards them in a hurry.

Mother! It’s about time you finally came home, one of the women said happily as she hugged Epica.

Rena stared up at this unattractive woman in shock. She never knew she had another sister.

Rena. Mara. This is your sister Kendall. And your other sister Glenda, Their mother introduced the two unattractive women to