The Gypsies

Featuring the Romanian vampire outcasts

Cast

Constanta

Alina

Andre

Ancuta (Ana)

Andrada

Balan

Radislav – grandfather of Constanta human life

Esmerelda – visions of the future

Miro

Mahala

Silvanus

For centuries untold the Romani or the Gypsies were outcasts and treated as such by the magical community.  They were treated as criminals both in and out of the magical communities.

This is the story of Constanta a young Romani Gypsy vampire and her quest for acceptance.

———-

The year was 1257 in the Province of Dacia where Vladislav and his wife Silvana lived making their living as farmers.  Life was hard for the couple, as they struggled to be able to make the farm as structured as it could be.  Vladislav was keeping the farm for the most part by himself with a little help from his father Radislav.

His family was small since even though his parents had 8 kids only Vladislav had survived one of numerous plagues that has stricken Romania.

His wife kept the housekeep amazingly well and raised there children. Knowing that they couldn’t afford to have many children they had been careful to try and prevent accidents and having further kids.  At this time they had three all boys Vladislav Jr, Radislav the third and Consus.  They were fairly young still none of the over the she of 7 summers old.

It was a hard life and Vladislav or Vlad as he was called was a kind man who did his best for his family.  His wife on the other hand was very strict and cruel in her punishments.  She has no issues with whipping the boys for bad behaviour even for minor issues.  She was cruel as could be when it was needed and the boys were terrified of her.  She also told stories of the tortures that the Roman Empire uses on their slaves.  It had the boys constantly in terror.

In that year the family was shocked as Silvana ended up becoming pregnant having the bundle of joy in September.  They named their baby Constanta a powerful name for a little girl.  Little did they know the path that there life would take after having that little bundle of joy.

—-

Silvana was not happy with having the bubbly Constanta as a constant in the house.  She had tried to give her away as a baby but it was one time where her spineless husband actually stood up to her.  

It was rough but in the year Constanta was turning 15 things had got to a head.  Her father had passed away from an accident with his scythe while cutting down some of the grains that he grew.  Her Grandpa had disappeared a few years back after a long illness which caused the family to lose what little savings that they had.

Her brothers were another matter.  Consus had left the family farm moving to his in-laws farm as they only had their daughter.  He had taken on the work on that farm with her family.  He didn’t come around and Constanta only saw him on days that they came to market.  He had cut off his old life seldom even making the attempt to connect with the woman who had given him birth and speaking very little amounts with his siblings.

Vladislav Jr had taken over their farm but he was a poor substitute for his father.  He wasn’t very good at it and was constantly in fear.  He was unmarried but had a child out of wedlock which made his mother furious.  She had beaten him black and blue when she had found out about it and because of what he did to the poor girl her father had whipped him.  The lady has died in child birth and her family didn’t want the bastard so it came to him or more importantly for Constanta to raise.

The middle boy Radislav was married and had built a small place on the property were he was raising his two children.  His wife was a baker and sold loaves of bread and other pastries at the market.  They were enterprising couple and sounded like they would soon have the gold to be able to move to the town to open up the shop that they ardently wanted.

Constanta was left in the house wondering what she had done that was so wrong that she was forced to live with people who were the epitome of evil.  At 15 she was read to leave but women weren’t able to hold land or do anything that she would need.  Also marriages were generally arranged and only her eldest brother had that power now since her father had passed on to the other side.

—–

“Constanta” her mother shrieked at her from the kitchen to the attic where she had always stayed.  

She quickly ran to the stairs and walked calmly down the remaining steps.  She replied dociley “Yes Mama?”

She looked not frightened but apprehensive to say the least “Vladislav wishes to talk to you in the main room by the fire.  Go there and remember he is the head of the house.”

She nodded and walked in “Sir, mama said you wished to talk to me”. She bowed as she had been taught and never looked him in the eyes.  The moment you did punishment reigned down on you.

“Constanta, I have received a very substantial offer for your hand in marriage.  It would allow the family to live easier for the rest of our days.  The money is enough to make this farm really prosper like it has never done before.  We also would get 15 slaves to work the land.  You will move to a large Keep that has the most beautiful stream at the back.  You would be married to a slightly older gentleman who can easily provide for you as well as any kids you will have.  You will be wedded within a month and things will all go easily”

She was shocked, she had always known that one day he would marry her off but that usually came quite a bit younger than she was.  Generally they would put an offer in at the age of 13 and it would then be consumated as quickly as could be to get the most heirs possible.  She feared having children and in many ways she feared men. “Who dear brother will I be married to?”. She asked trying to keep a meek and mild tone to her voice.

He nodded and was watching her for any disrespect but she looks slightly scared.  “The Widower Augustinus.  He wants a young bride that can be molded into what he needs and he chose you.  The amount of money will save the family “

She was very scared now.  Augustinus was about as old as her dad would have been.  He also looked very pale with long dark hair that touched his shoulder blades.

It was early morning “Tonight you will be married this slave will help you get prepared.”. He pointed at the woman who had a darker look.

Stammering she said “Tonight?” That was very quick and this man was not who she wanted no matter how nice she had been treated by him before.

——–

Augustinus had been older than normal when he was turned into the walking dead.  He was a supreme adept which was the most powerful of the adepts.  He also has a special power in that he could detect truth and he saw the auras of those around him.

He had detected that Constanta was a potential that was the equal of him.  She would be a great partner for him one that could easily become what he needed.

His own Sire was done of experimenting, he had seen that with his own eyes.  He had 10 children none of them survived until him.  The experiments were to creat half vampires called dhampirs.  

He had his own plans and he would find a way to bring this dhampir into reality as well as make this potential supreme adept a vampire as well as his partner.  His goal was to have her give birth once and then turn her to the undead.

He was salivating at the thought of having this young lady.  He hasn’t been linked to someone in over 300 years and at that point it wasn’t fun.  His ex was an evil creature who cared nothing for anyone.  She left him and his thought was good riddance.

——

At around 8pm Constanta was dragged over to the large farmstead by her arm in a brilliant white dress with a veil covering her face.  A preacher met them at the door and ushered them in.

“Welcome to the farmstead of the great lord Augustinus.  He is prepared for this day and is very pleased to welcome you to his home and to welcome the guardian of his wife to be as well.  Please follow me.”

He walked into the home it was so much more than a simple farmhouse it was huge.  It had two floors and split level going to dining hall and another going to a family room.  To say that she was flabbergasted was much less than really what she felt.

The walked to the back it felt so far and she saw a huge fireplace set up and a man with long hair standing in a magnificent suit.  He looked very handsome in his finery.  She still felt nervous but she began to walk up to him on her own. 

The ceremony was over fairly quickly and she was now married.  Augustinus was a kind soul and has not shown her a single harsh instance.  He had given her a huge sewing room as well as her own room which has a lock on the door.

She could lock the world out if she so chose.  So far she was so young to have been married off but many girls her age were married younger than she was.  She wasn’t looking forward to the consummation of her marriage and having children.

——-

It was three months in and she had become quite fond of her husband as well as the tenderness her was giving her both physically and emotionally.

Loving him was becoming easier, she no longer feared her old life.  Her brothers and her mother were not thought of anymore.

She had been feeling sick quite a lot lately even throwing up.  When she spoke to the lady servant she told her that if she was sick like that it could be that she was with child.  She was still only 15 and not ready to become a mother.

She never had a role model in that role before so she didn’t know what a mother was.  Thinking of this she knew she had to approach her husband to tell him about this.

She walked into the family room clearing her throat.  “Constanta, did you need something?”

She nodded “Darling I “ she stammered “I think I am pregnant”

He managed to not show his glee at this he showed happiness and convinced her to go and rest.  He opened his mind allowing the power to wash over him, sensing the presence of a new life growing.

He turned and looked over at the man hidden in the corner.  He had beeb brought over a few years back “You heard Radislav?”

The man has been old when he was turned by Augustinus and he knew well the lady Constanta.  He should as he was her human grandfather.  He had made it so his son and daughter-in-law would have funds available to them but that meant he would never see them again.    When he and been turned he was able to access the magic of the blood and became a journeyman power level.  He was honest as well as loyal and was now the man going to other areas to talk with their leaders.  

They were known as Gypsies they didn’t bow down to those in power which was the cadres.  They were outcasts who cares little for Royalty and wanted to live their life as they saw fit.

The old man nodded “I heard.  Soon you will have someone who is different.  The experiment was a success.  Soon a dhampir will be born and survive.  She is strong and will make a great mother especially once she is changed.  You will want me to gather your most ardent supporters.”. With that the kindly old man disappeared from the room and went to find the others.

—-

The pregnancy went well for Constanta who was able to manage the pain even of childbirth well.  She looked down at the twin babies sleeping against her breast.  Twins were not a common occurrence here but she was so happy.  

They looked otherworldly and they seemed to mature much quicker than what she had expected.  Her husband had been beside himself with joy as well and he allowed her to pick out the names.

The son was Anghel, he was her little gift from the angels as she didn’t expect him to come after his sister was born.

The girl was Aurelia and she was so bright and vivid.  She was certainly a special child.

Her husband on the other hand was showing fear and she could sense it now.  She had been told that the birth of her children must have pushed her abilities up and she was now an empath.  She had also found out that her husband was a vampire and she knew from Esmerelda the fortune teller that she was destined to join him in everlasting life.

What she didn’t know is Esmerelda while she was a fortune teller she also was a vampire from one of the many gypsy groups. In particular she was linked with Augustinus.  The fact that he looked for those who had the sight or any other psionic power was beside the point.

Soon the Romanian gypsy groups would strike taking out the royalty and making the Romani people the dominating force in the country.  If they could get the Royals out they could easily hold the land for as long as they wanted as the Royals had no idea of the power of the Gypsies.

Just wait till they found out the strength and cunningness of the vampire gypsies and the allies that they had made in the past 50 years.  They would no longer be ignored and treated like they were abominations or even hunted by the Courts for fun.  Soon it would be their turn and they would turn the tables, then they would see what real fear was like as the lives of those they cared about was lost. 

No one would dare stand against them.

In the next installment you will meet Esmerelda the fortune teller and see the mischief she comes up with.