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There was a lot Remmick could remember about his life before being turned, almost too much. The last day being human, the last time he was with his family.
His father lost his land, and it was something that wasn’t forgotten easily. Not in the years they pretended to be converted into believing in a god they never wanted, holding on to their ways and beliefs in secrecy. Til someone had ratted them out. His father… what is there to say? He was a stubborn old man who wasn’t going to bend down to the English. Even at the expense of his life. His last memory of him was leaving him behind to save his own family.
The sun had gone down over the rolling, lush hills of the Emerald Isles. A land known by its people to be filled with life, making them connected to the gods who had blessed them so to call it home… The misfortune was, the ones who called themselves men of god did not see it that way. Nor did they hesitate in eliminating anyone who dared fought back
“My feet hurt.” The little girl spoke, her tiny voice filled with an exhaustion someone her age shouldn’t know. It was something that always haunted Remmick.
“I know, Méabh.” The girl’s mother said, huddling the two other children closer.
“Come here.” Remmick scooped Méabh up, lifting her over his shoulders. Holding her legs tightly to prevent her from falling. He remembered keeping his wife and children close in his sights as they wandered aimlessly in the woods.
“Granddad is gonna be okay, right, Da?” Conor asked, that was his name right? Remmick couldn’t remember his but he tried to remember everyone else’s.
“Yeah, of course. Your Granddad is strong. He’ll be fine.” He hated lying to them, but how else could you explain. The children didn’t know what world they had been born in.
“What if he isn’t?” Aoife said, breaking the silence among the family.
“Aoife, it'll be alright-“ Imogen, god. His wife… He knew what was coming next, he can’t ever stop reliving that night, he can’t stop the pain, the tears, or the hate that has been festering inside him for centuries to keep growing.
“We don’t know what happened, he could be hurt or dead!” Aoife’s tone caused her brother and sister to become scared at the thought. “What if those people come after us? And take us away from you?” The sound of little Méabh’s tears broke Remmick’s heart, setting her down as he pulled all three kids close.
“The three of you listen, me and your mammy won’t let that happen. I promise, nothing will-“ He stopped, looking up at Imogen as she looked over at where the sound of a snapping twig was heard… footsteps weren’t far from where they were standing.
“Shh, stay quiet and hurry.” He kept Conor and Aoife on each side, while Imogen picked up Méabh. Moving as fast as they could without giving their position away. But something else was following, Aoife panicked as she could’ve sworn she saw glowing eyes, tripping over her feet.
Before she could even get back up, someone pounced on her… only it wasn’t human.
Her screams were sure to give them away but it didn’t matter. “DA!” Remmick ran back, pushing the man off his daughter, his heart dropping at the sight of the man’s fangs and the blood dripping down his chin. It was a vampire. The shock left him vulnerable as the vampire threw him against the tree before clamping down on Aoife’s neck. Her blood pooling down her neck, desperately trying to pull away.
“NOOO!” Between Imogen’s screaming and the fear in his children’s eyes, Remmick didn’t have time to be scared but he was. Without waiting, he grabbed the nearest branch from a fallen tree and drove it in the vampire’s chest. Pushing back as he brought it down over and over again.
“Oh no, oh Aoife.” Imogen knelt over Aoife’s body as she bled out. But more trouble was coming. The sounds of English men were drawing near.
“We have to go,” Remmick pulled his wife away as she cried.
“No, no! We can’t- I can’t leave my baby.”
“We don’t have a choice!” He yelled, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling Conor and Méabh along as they ran.
“Dad? DA!” Nobody else but Remmick knew Aoife was still holding on, left in the dirt as she bled out to death. Watching as her family fled.
They wouldn’t get far with their pursuers riding on horses, hunting them down like dogs. Remmick pulled them along a blind spot, praying it would conceal his family long enough the men to lose them.
“Mum, I’m scared.” Conor buried his face into his mother’s skirt, without even saying anything. Remmick knew Imogen was thinking of something.
She knelt down to the boy, speaking in a gentle tone. “Conor, it’s okay to feel scared. I need you to be strong no matter what comes next.” Then, coming up to Méabh as she pressed a kiss against her head before pulling back.
“Imogen?” Remmick’s voice cracked, almost a whine as he realized what she was going to do.
“I’m so sorry.” At the time, he hadn’t even realized just how close they were to them. Imogen fought back, while he watched like a coward as they took her. Her voice echoed his name one last time. He couldn’t even remember what it was.
He ran with what little remained of his family, but danger seemed to follow them or rather him. He had heard stories about vampires as a child, but never thought he’d have to face them or risk losing his family.
“Son, I know this isn’t fair but take your sister and whatever you do keep running until you find somewhere safe.”
“Dad?” He didn’t respond to Méabh’s whimper, pushing the boy further.
“Go, I’ll find you!” Remmick watched as Conor fled away with his sister.
He grunted as the creature jumped on his, thinking he would have an advantage until he felt the pain in his neck as he was held towards the vampire’s mouth…
Remmick woke up starved, but he had to find his children, he had to see if his wife miraculously survived! But as the sun rose over the horizon, was only then the painful reality of his infliction set on him. He hid in a cave, his heart tearing at the sound of screaming in the distance… Aoife was made into what he was. And burned by the sun with no understanding why, and he couldn’t go out and save her.
He never found out what happened to his wife, even by lurking near the very men who had taken her before he drained them, or even through passing conversation. It was as if she had disappeared from the world.
By the time he had found Conor and Méabh, some years had passed far too late for there to be any reunion. Both having died from disease due to the conditions they lived in. With no family left, Remmick continued draining people of blood, turning them to make another family that wouldn’t die. They never did last long, it didn’t even matter how many lives, or others families he ruined. He was trapped with no one and no place to call home… there was no point staying in Ireland. Having heard of fíli that may exist in other nations aside from his homeland. No one else could replace the family he lost, he was going to get them back.
No matter what it took.