Nadine - The Beginning

1. Nadine

I am not editing any of this. This was the original beginning of Nadine Book 1. It was edited out of the books. It's cute, so I'm putting it on here. If you like the Nadine books, you may think it's cute too.

Age 140. (Human age about 7.)

"Momma, he won't leave me alone. He just steals my toys." I run into the sitting area and plop down.

My momma is sitting on the new bench talking to a servant. "Yes, this wood is just beautiful on these benches. They even have an area on the back for sitting back and relaxing."

The bench is all fancy and has tan cloth on it. There are actually 3 new benches. They sit 2 people each and are all facing a small wooden table in the middle of them.

She grabs a mug of blood from the little wooden table and takes a drink. "That's what brothers are supposed to do."

I sit down on one of the other benches. I try to copy the way momma is sitting. Her back is completely straight. She's not even using the back of the bench.

I try to be as formal as I can. "Momma I am far to mature to have to deal with a child chasing me around all day. I am 140 years old now."

2 servants and my momma all let out a chuckle.

I let out a sigh and rest my back on the back part of the bench. "It's just not fair."

My brother comes running into the room and throws a wooden toy at a servant. "Let's play!"

My momma stands up and picks up Clay. "Hey we don't throw things around. Someone could get hurt Nicladie."

"She said she would play with me later momma."

"I just played with you."

"Ok you 2. It's no matter. We are having paintings done of us this morning. Both of you need to go with your servant. They will help you get dressed." She looks at my servant. "And please pull her hair up."

"I don't want my hair up momma. I like it down." I stomp my feet and push my bottom lip out. "It hurts so much when she runs those combs in my hair."

"I know. But for the painting please. For me?" She pokes me on the nose with her finger and smiles at me. "Your hair looks like it's going to blow away."

"Fine."

"Thank you." She kisses me on the forehead and turns to another servant. "Please let Miculai know that the artist will be here in 1 hour. I'm going to go get ready myself."

"Yes ma'am."

I hold a servants hand and we walk to my room. I plop down on my bed. "I hate it when she does my hair. She's so mean. It like rips half my hair out."

"I am sorry ma'am. But tis what the queen ordered. Let's get your fancy dress on quick."

After she pushes and pulls me into all that fabric she looks at me. "You look good. I will let another servant know you are ready to get your hair done."

"Uugh." I sit down on the stool in the center of the room. It's always the same one who does my hair and she's so mean about it.

A new servant walks in that I haven't met before. "Where's Leshanie?"

"I'm sorry ma'am. But that servant found her mate. She went to live with him."

"What's a mate?"

The new servant smiles at me. "I'm going to put some of this liquid in your hair ok. It will help make the tangles come out easier. Then I will tell you about mates. Is that ok?"

I nod.

She puts something all over my hair then gets another stool and sits down beside me.

"Ok little miss. A mate is someone who falls in love with you. And you fall in love with them. You have a big wedding. You make a family and home with them. Someone that will always love you just the way you are. You will be with them forever."

"How do you know someone is your mate?"

"Well I haven't found mine yet. But I've heard other people tell me." She moves my hair a bit.

"They smell so amazing. They will be the most beautiful person you've ever seen. All you will want to do is touch them. And when they look into your eyes, you can actually feel your souls connect right in your chest." She looks at me and pats her chest.

"Will I get a mate too?"

"Everyone gets one. But some people wait longer than others to find them. You never know when they're going to show up. But they always show up at the right time. And you will love him immediately. You'll actually claim them. You say mine while looking in their eyes."

"He won't be annoying like my brother will he?"

The servant laughs. "Well all boys are a little annoying. But no, probably not as bad."

"And we'll get to start a home and a family of our own?"

"Yep, you get to make a happy little family of your own."

"Where do babies come from?"

She slips and nearly falls off the chair.

"Ouch you pulled my hair."

"I'm sorry ma'am. But look we have it all combed out."

"Wow you did it and it didn't hurt at all."

"It's that liquid I put in there. But what should we do with it? Do you want some curls or straight?"

"Mommy said it had to be pulled up... but I like it down."

"How about we pull all this up but we leave some on the sides down and give it some curl? Would that make you both happy?"

I nod and she heats something up on the fire.

"Ok while that rod heats up, let's get this hair pulled back."

"What's a wedding like?"

"Well, you invite all your family and friends and everyone gets dressed up. But the bride gets a special dress. You will be the most beautiful person in the room."

I can't help but get excited. "With make up and everything?"

"Yep anything you want. It will be your special day. But you stand under an alter and tell each other special things. Then a man stands up and announces that your souls are now connected for all eternity. Then you get to kiss your mate."

"On the lips? That's gross."

She laughs and gets the rod. "Well someday you won't think that. All you'll want to do is hug him and be close to him."

"What about the veil? I was told I have to wear one when I get older. So no one can see my skin."

"No one should see your skin until your mate see's it first. It's his right to see you first. Because you're his."

"Why don't boys have to cover up like that?"

She sighs. "I'm not sure miss. But I do believe it's because they like to rough house to much. I mean could you imagine a boy a trying to wear a veil while fighting with a sword? I don't think that would go well."

I laugh trying to imagine it. "Yea. You're right. Why don't you wear one? You said you haven't found your mate yet."

She smiles at me. "I was born a human. The rules are different for us." She clips something to the side of my head. All done. What do you think?"

"Wow these curls are so pretty and bouncy. Thank you so much... what is your name?"

She looks down. When she looks back up I notice tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong? You don't have a name?"

"I do have a name. But no one asked me that in many many years miss. Just shocked me that you would ask ma'am."

"Oh." I reach out and grab her hand. "What is it?"

"My name is Mary ma'am."

"My name is Nadine." I stand up and do a curtsey. "It's nice to meet you Mary." I look at her face. "Will you be my servant Mary? You're much nicer and better with hair too."

"I would love to ma'am."

"You don't have to say ma'am." We head for the door. "I liked it when you said little miss. Or just don't call me anything if you want. I get tired of hearing ma'am all the time. Everyone says that. Do you play dolls?"

She looks down at me and smiles. "I can if you would like little miss." I hold her hand and walk to the sitting area.

"Daddy!" I run and jump at my daddy.

"Oh my princess. Let me see you."

I do a twirl and give him my best smile.

"You get more and more beautiful every day my princess. Oh I got you something today!" He reaches down into a bag, pulls something out and hands it to me.

"It's a new doll daddy! Thank you. I love her and you. Her name is Mot." I give daddy a big hug.

He laughs. "That's a good name my sweet princess."

"You got here just in time."

"Hello my queen. How do you like the new sitting area?"

She looks at us and smiles. "This entire place is beautiful Miculai. A little place for our little family." She gives him a hug.

"I was thinking, maybe I could add on an office area in that direction. I could do some of my work from here. What do you think my perfect queen?"

They kiss. I look away. "That would be perfect. Maybe another child someday too?"

My brother runs in and sees them. "Ewww gross! They're kissing. Look away."

Momma laughs. "Or maybe not. 2 is good."

"You'll be paying for that tease later my queen."

She whispers but I still hear. "I look forward to it my king." Not sure what that means.

I can't help myself. I look up at them. "Are you 2 mates?"

"How did you hear that word Nadine?" My dad looks a little unhappy.

"One of the servants said that Lashanie found her mate and moved away with him. So, are you mates?"

My mom smiles at me and bounces one of the curls. "Yes princess. Your father and I are soulmates. Our souls are tied for eternity."

Daddy squeezes mommy around the waist and looks at Nicladie. "And for my little prince Clay. I got you something as well." Daddy reaches back into his bag and pulls out a toy sword.

Nicladie takes it and starts swinging it around at everyone and everything. "Yay now I can fight bad guys for real."

"Ok sweetheart. But not in the house. I'm sure that would hurt if you hit someone." Mommy doesn't appear to like it at all.

"Yes Clay, you need to keep in your pants loop like this." Daddy shows him how his sword is attached to his pants. "While bad guys aren't around anyways."

"Oh daddy I almost forgot." I grab the servants hand and pull her off the wall. "This is Mary. I want her to be mine. She didn't pull my hair at all. I want her to myself daddy. I don't want to share."

My dad looks at me and chuckles. "Oh my princess. A servant swearing their loyalty to a certain member of the royal family is a big decision. One that can't be taken lightly. And it is also not an order that I can not give. The decision is hers alone and I'm sure she would like some time to think that over."

Mary looks at me and smiles. "Actually I'd love to. You're the sweetest person and I would love this job little miss."

I look back at daddy and he is just staring at us both holding hands. After a minute he finally speaks. "Ok I will have the ceremony set up for later."

-Knock knock knock-

Mom is still staring at us.

"King and Queen Sandu, the artist has arrived."

"Ah yes, show him in please." Daddy starts looking around at his uniform.

Mommy fixes something on his neck. "You are very handsome my king. You look great."

"And you look amazing my queen. How did I get so lucky?"

"Hello Sir, Ma'am. I am the painter. Did you know where you wanted me to paint these paintings?"

"Hello and welcome."

My mom looks around. "How about right here? We can put a new bench in front of the fire place. I think that would look nice. Or maybe outside in front of that big tree. What do you think?"

"The tree would be better for lighting ma'am."

Daddy walks over to the painter and puts his hand on his shoulder. "Sounds like a plan my good man. But listen I know I wanted 1 of us all together. But I would really like one of just my queen and my princess together as well. Would that be an issue?"

"Of course not sir. But it will take a bit longer."

"Not a problem. Ok kids and my perfect queen, let's go out to the tree."

"Can I bring my sword?"

Mom laughs and dad says "No."

I hand my doll to Mary. "Please keep Mot safe."

She looks at me and smiles. "My pleasure princess."

The first painting takes forever. It felt like we have to sit still for years.

My brother is the first to jump up when he says we can move. "Hey who is that?"

I watch them for a minute. 2 girls that look a little older than me are walking by on the path in front of our house. I run over to them. They smell different but are smiling at me.

"Are you new here?"

"Yea, we just moved in. Where are you going?"

"We're going to the school house. Are you coming?"

I hear my daddy yell. "Come here Nadine. Time to get the painting with your mother."

"No. Maybe another day. Nice to meet you."

"You too."

I walk over to my mom and sit down with her. "Mommy what's school?"

"It's a place where human children go to learn how to read and write."

"Can I go?"

My dad laughs. "No my princess. You're not human."

"That looks perfect. Just hold as still as you can please."

"But please daddy."

"Sweetheart you age to slow. The humans would notice that you don't change. It takes us 20 years to age 1 of their years."

"I'll just go for a few days."

"They go for a year at a time."

"They can't tell that I won't change in a year."

"It's risky sweetheart."

"But daddy I can learn there."

"You already know how to read."

"Daddy I could make friends with other girls."

Daddy shakes his head. "Your mother and I will talk it over later."

I sit there with the biggest smile on my face. The thought of meeting other girls my age makes me so happy. The only kid I'm around is that annoying little brother of mine and Tre, but he always steals my desserts.

After another hour we finally get up.

My mom looks around. "Great those look beautiful. Now just 1 more."

My dad and the painter both give her a weird look.

"You and Clay of course."

Daddy nods. "Go get your sword young prince. We shall pose manly for the picture."

"Yay! Be right there." Clay takes off running into the house.

"You can help me get lunch started for us all Nadine."

"Yes momma."

We go into the kitchen and momma starts directing the servants on what to make for lunch. "Mommy, how did you and daddy meet?"

Mom smiles. "One day, long ago, I was walking near a river to get get some water. I reached over with the bucket and slipped. I nearly fell in but some strong handsome man grabbed me so I didn't. He just stood there with his arms around me. He looked so handsome. I never wanted to move from that spot. He reached up and slowly pulled off my veil. As soon as our eyes connected I knew he was mine forever. It was love."

She laughs a bit. "He just stood there staring at me with his arms around me. He stared at my lips for the longest time. Then he looked back into my eyes and said 'mine.' I smiled and said it back. Then we stayed on the bank of the river all that afternoon. We had our first kiss there. It was the perfect day."

"Will I get a mate momma?"

She smiles and plays with my curls some more. "Someday, but not for a very long time. You are far to young right now. It won't happen until you're older."

"How old?"

"Well no one knows for sure when they'll find their mate. But it won't be until your an adult, at least 400. Vampires become adults at 400 years old and we don't find our soulmates as children."

"Will he bring me presents like daddy does?"

"I'm sure he will bring you a few sweetheart. Let's get lunch to the table. The boys are probably about done." She stands up and walks off with a plate of something.