Octavia

*text that has been striked through are memories Octavia no longer remembers.

YEAR 1-100: Octavia Remmius Varro was born to Octavius in the year 1005 AD. Her mother died due to complications during her birth, so she was raised by her older sister, Octavia major. Her most beloved friend was her pet cat, Caesar. Some of her favorite memories as a child include when her father gifted her her ragdoll, which she carried almost everywhere, when her older sister taught her to sew her first dress, and being praised in schooling for being able to read the scripture so well. Octavia always had an interest in nature and reading as a young child, and when she turned 13 she entered a nunnery at the Santi Quattro Coronati church in Rome. During her studies at the nunnery, Abbess Hortense took a special liking to her and brought her under her wing. For several years she was her prized student. Abbess Hortense was an old and pale lady who moved slowly and had an eerie nature about her, but she was soothing to be around and had a special skill of making anyone feel valued. When Octavia turned 20, Hortense had become a close friend. She offered Octavia private lessons often, taking a special interest in her education. However, one session ended differently than any other. One moment they were reading, and the next, Octavias life was being drained from her body.

For a moment, the young girl was cold and lifeless. When she woke, her skin was cold and she could no longer feel her heart beating. The Abbess revealed to her the truth- although the word wouldn't arise for several hundred years- she was a vampire. The Abbess wanted her to work along side her, to prey on the innocent. Octavia felt just as frozen as her skin... so she stayed. Eventually a young girl by the name of Valentine entered the nunnery and she took a strong liking to Octavia. She must have seen her as an older sister-like figure, as she began to do her bidding. Valentine looked for anyway she could serve Octavia. Octavia was thankful for her friendship. Octavia struggled to keep her secret from Valentine... she often asked her why her skin was so cold and was constantly offering her linens to cover up with. One night, another nun caught Octavia feeding on a rat. She wiped the blood from her mouth and innocently explained she found the poor creature injured and simply was giving it a kiss out of pity. Whether her story was believed or not was unknown as Octavia gathered her belongings and brought Valentine with her to a town closer to the French mountains. She adopted the name Maxima as an alias. Octavia quickly realized she wasn't sure how to integrate herself into a new society without her family, so her and valentine scurried away into a cave within the mountains. Valentine could hardly believe Octavias condition... but they were such good friends, she was still willing to help her. Valentine would capture small creatures for Octavia to feed off of. Octavia felt blessed to have such an amazing friend.

However, the longer the two stayed in the cave, the more hungry Octavia became. She tried so hard to fight the urges, but they overtook her and Valentine fell victim to it. Octavia sobbed as she drank from her dear friend, hating herself for what she had done. As Octavia was forced to stare at Valentines lifeless body, she scrambled back home momentarily, seeking some sort of advice from her father. She had nowhere else to go. Upon arriving back home in the dead of night, she found Caesar. She didnt realize how old he had gotten. She could feel his weak pulse beneath his thin skin. She couldn't help it. Something went wrong, because when she pulled her fangs from her old cat, he reanimated with a new found fire. He hissed at her, revealing sharp canines and a red glint to his eye. Filled with shame, she watched him bound away into the night.