Chapter 1
Zaun - famous for its blood thirsty vampires hiding and living in the darkest corners of the city.
Though not every Zaunite is considered as such creature. Besides bloodsuckers there are also of course about hundreds of other different kinds similar to vampires that protect themselves in the shadows of the Undercity.
Over many years, stories about these fearsome living beings have spread far and wide. The retelling of these tales has created a reputation for Zaun as the city of vampires.
This name has now become a part of its identity, which led people to not even set a single foot beyond the bridge out of fear.
Nonetheless, the people in Zaun are facing bigger difficulties. There has been a substance created by two vampires. Who have a strong partnership.
Who share a vision together of what the city could be one day. Silco and Singed.
The purple liquid is like a drug. It was made to enhance every ability - strength, speed, endurance. It can take away your fear and instead gift you with something that seems impossible. Another huge advantage is that it can still the hunger of bloodsuckers for a short period of time.
The drug replaces the need for human blood so that the vampires aren’t forced to hunt down the mortal beings or in the worst case starve to a painful death because they didn’t succeed.
In spite of everything the side effects of this substance - so called Shimmer are rather ugly.
It causes hallucinations and progressively degenerates your skin and muscle tissue. Overuse of the drug leads to permanent physical deformities such as large tumors protruding from the skin.
Just a single drop of the potion provides a power boost and healing effects, however it would not be enough to soothe the blood lust.
Unfortunately, Shimmer is still continuing to spread throughout the whole Undercity due to the increasing fear of the brutal vampire hunters. Most of them are human being from Piltover of course.
I mean- which Zaunite in the right mind would become something they hate? Betray their own kind?
Throughout the years the hunters would come down to the Undercity for various investigations.
Hiding behind gas masks as if they couldn’t breathe the polluted air in Zaun.
Suited with intimidating armor and weapons like rifles so that the small kids wouldn’t even dare to look into their direction.
Vampires and humans have a long history of hating each other so it wasn’t so unusual that the numbers of hunts are continuing to grow. Numerous children of Zaun grew up being taught to hide, scare off enemies and the most important part of course - to kill.
There was no other way to survive the conditions of the Undercity. Either kill or get killed. And with the rising power and influence of Piltover, also knows as the City of Progress the deathly circumstances of Zaun will only worsen.
Many Pilties are hoping for a future for the city where fortunes can be made and dreams can be lived.
However there have been rumours of someone trying to create ‚magic‘. Though he unsurprisingly failed at that.
After many years of studying he gave up because there was no one in Piltover who could help him. No one with the same knowledge as him.
The war that has been going on between the two cities, City of Progress and City of Vampires still continues without any end in sight and because of that many people from both sides are paying the prize.
Various innocent children from the Undercity were either brutally killed during battle or survived and are now struggling with the trauma and haunting memories of what happened. Vi is just like one of those children.
With a small, bitter sigh Vi stared at the blank mirror in front of her. Even though it didn’t show any reflection the Zaunite knew it probably wouldn’t feel like her own image anyway.
Her calloused fingers gripped tightly around the sink while her eyes hesitantly flickered down over her whole body almost as if she couldn’t recognize herself anymore.
Who could blame her - after nearly 7 years of being locked away in the lowest level of the worst prison no one would be the same as before. The prison, Stillwater Hold, was located on an island off the southern coast of Piltover so it was completely cut off from the outer world.
Almost every day, Vi got recklessly beaten up by the guards or other inmates. Leaving her with broken bones and many wounds alone in her cell that she got thrown into at 15 years old.
It was freezing cold especially during the winters and the vamp felt dreadfully alone. The loud thoughts and constant voices in her head definitely didn’t soothe her. Specifically after everything that had happened to her family.
Yet the worst part is that Stillwater Hold was exactly designed for vampires and similar to their kind. Which means the guards knew exactly how to torture her.
The vampire hunters - also known enforcers used silver and holy water against the bloodsucker weakening her and causing her skin to burn horribly. Though no one ever seemed to hear her screams in agony and pain. Or if they did hear it they chose to ignore it.
Stillwater Hold was famous for its highly effective security system. Not a single prisoner ever escaped before. Apparently. However Vi somehow proved the exact opposite by breaking out of her small cell and fleeing this gruesome place she called home.
Being back in Zaun was almost surreal to the vampire. Although she lived half of her life in this place it still didn’t feel like she belonged there anymore.
She could finally breathe the air of freedom again but at what prize? The conditions of the Undercity were not exactly better than her little cell in Stillwater Hold.
Of course Vi now doesn’t need to fight for her life almost everyday anymore but at least she had a roof over her head. Even if it was as bad as a prison cell.
Without her family Violet feels like a nobody. Like she got ripped apart in hundreds of various parts. Like she doesn’t even deserve to live.
Thousands of thoughts ran through the vampires mind as she slowly looked up into the broken mirror again.
The full moon hung high casting a silvery glow through the small window. Vi could see the soft glimmers dancing on the glass in front of her.
Her tight grip on the sink slightly loosened as her eyes tiredly darted across the mirror.
Of course she still couldn’t see herself but maybe it was better this way. She probably couldn’t bear the sight of how much her appearance has changed over time. After all she literally went through hell and back.
Slowly her hands then let go and made their way up to her bruised face. Vis bandaged fingers ran over the sensitive skin of her features causing her to flinch slightly at that touch.
Violets fingertips gently halted their movement when they came to her mouth. With a small sigh she carefully lifted her busted, upper lip. Although she couldn’t see her reflection in the mirror the vampire could feel her fingers slightly grazing against her sensitive fangs sending a shiver down her spine. The sharp canines - a constant reminder of what she is.
A small, annoyed huff escaped her lips before she let her calloused hands fall down to her sides again while squeezing her eyes shut.
The bloodsucker tried to distract herself from the nerve wracking thoughts in her head but they only went back to her family again. Or more particularly to her little sister.
After the ‚incident‘ happened all those years ago the two siblings were unfortunately torn apart from each other. The only thing Vi desperately held onto during her time in the deathly prison, that helped her survive was the thought of being reunited with her sister again.
Vi didn’t even know if she was still alive but her gut feeling told her otherwise.
With a slight groan the vampire then slowly cracked her eyes open again. A small glimpse of hope flickering over her delicate face.
There was only one goal in mind:
finding her own sister again.