Born of the Bucescus dynasty, Nastya was Vladimir Karkoska's first love and Queen. She was the eldest daughter of a powerful prince and voivod of Walachia. A child of priviledge in a bloody time, she grew under her father's wing, as a trusted heir to his throne. From the earliest of time, Nastya could see the perfect plan, her ascension scheme to the seat of power. She knew that despite being first child of first wife, respect for her position would not protect her from the stronger, greedy siblings of the Prince's many wives, in fact... it made her the first target.

And so she sought every tool and weapon to wield in the subtle wars of ascension. Guile and cunning, charm, knowledge, charisma and when those failed her... treachery.

Beautiful beyond words, talented and clever. Nastya was the most desireable of maidens, in her day. And one day, she did in fact wed - a political favor to solidify her father's tenuous hold over the region. A blood alliance to the sworn enemy of her family's enemy. Ban Simion Movila was a humourless man who although a great warrior, was nonetheless a mere pawn on the board of their fathers. And knew it.

It was a favor, a gift from a daughter to her father, not a duty - a valued deal that was to be returned with a guarantee of succession to his throne.

But it was celebrated as a grand wedding of the highest order, a two week festival with the entire region in attendance - and in the shadows, watching over all, one handsome , mysterious countryman who skillfully maneuvered to the head of the line, to offer his hand in the first dance.

And with his hand, Nastya felt love. Real Love. Terrible, burning, wonderful, blissful love.

Only it was just a moment too late.

Her body was fresh from the official promise to a political strategy and legally bound by church law, but her heart now, was captured in an instant by a mysterious stranger.

She knew immediately, she would sell her soul for this love - do anything for this love, throw away all that she had worked for, all that she had endured and now the prize almost in her grasp -

All that she had ever dreamed of...

For love. This love. His love.

But he convinced her that a tryst would be better for all. And so it was, business and politics a complicated screen that distracted all - and her life was lived in the moments they would steal for each other. A trusted network of confidantes and allies cleared the way for these two hearts to meet, to breathe, to shine, to grow in each other's embrace.

But though fathers love their daughters, they love power and legacy more - and Succession was announced and bestowed on... a son.

And that's when Nastya learned how deep and rich her Soulmate's love her her truly was.

"You can still have his throne... if you merely ask. All it takes is one little kiss."

Nastya's loins burned with desire - and so asked she did.

Kissed they did. And the first Queen was born and with her, the Clan of the Bat.

She was changed, a creature of the night, and the spilling of blood became her life. And her power grew - her first stroke wrested the throne from her brother's bloody hand. But the people were angered at the loss of their newly crowned Prince. And havoc exploded across their lands. The Queen was challenged - her dominion questioned.

And her fury found its release.

And the skies blackened with the crackle of bat's wings.

And a reign of terror swept the land.

And every pretender to her father's throne suffered horrendous fates.

Even Nastya's hapless husband was unable to escape his Queen's wrath and he died at her own hands - a bloody and vicious death that quelled the chaos.

And she took what was to be hers with blood and fear and torment and death.

The Black Empire began. Queen Nastya and her evil King were inseparable, exploring the outer boundaries of lust and passion and desire with each other, they managed to take a few moments (under protest) when necessary to rule their kingdom. The Queen was charged with culling her hellish clan of vampyres from the best and brightest that her Romania had to offer. The King was rather proud that he'd stolen one of our Lord's inventions and gave it his evil twist - Just as the Queen Bee is the only one who can give life in the hive - it's the Vampyre Queen's kiss alone that can turn a mortal human into an immortal vampyre.

But Nastya loved the taking of life almost more than giving it, and so the clan grew slowly - much slower than the King's patience could stand. He also took issue with another of Nastya's habits - discerning as she might be with the wine she drank, she couldn't, to her fault, be bothered with expending too much of her own effort in the selection of her minions.

They seemed to kill for the pleasure, and drink more than their fill for survival. Her clan had become stronger than even his wildest dreams - a violent army of darkness whose voracious malevolence spread like winter fog over the land. The Clan of the Bat followed their Queen's every whim swiftly, ferociously, drunkenly and without question. The King wondered who's "children" they really were... and who would they really follow?

The Queen wondered at her lover's question - why should they ever have occasion to choose?

But it became as clear as the ice of the Molda River to the Vampyre King. His plan was just a work in progress -- the lust of power in his first love had become gigantic and terrible and glorious to behold...

And it threatened him.

And he knew that he needed a sword against this power. A power that he himself had created.

And he knew that he must leave.

But Nastya didn't greet his news with tears or sadness or fear. Only malice. She could feel instinctively that their love was at stake. The King shivered for the first and only time as her power was held in check behind veiled eyes.

"My Queen, I want to give you something to always remember me by - a token that will forever connect us - across the ocean of time and space we will be chained together you and I."

For a moment the light of malice flickered as she questioned herself - had she read him wrong? Did he truly love her and would in fact, return as he said, after his business was done?

"Anything, my Lord, anything - I am yours."

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She wanted him to devour her. He slid his hand under her corsets - his powerful touch sent torrents of desire up her spine, her flesh seared by the heat of his hand at the base of her spine...

... She started to swoon in the fire and flesh and lightening and... blissful unconsciousness of passion.

She awoke weeks later on the floor where he had left her - the room in total chaos the explosion of lust had ransacked the room - shattered windows and torn tapestries, the frost of the Wallachian winter incing everything.

She stumbled to her feet - a blazing pain of steel and fire at the small of her back -

clawing at the tattered clothes that had been scorched by his touch -

- A shattered mirror in the rubble -

- her fingers sliced and numb, smear blood on the blackened glass -

- an a broken Queen stares back -

- and there it is - an ancient brand - the symbol of transformation, immortality and death from above - the bat - tattooed onto her flesh.

She dares to run her fingers over the tender and violated skin and the voice of the master of her soul thunders across her inner world.

"My precious Queen and first love - you have now your deepest wish - you are completely and totally mine. Leashed to me with an unbreakable chain..."

Nastya is horrified by the treachery and glee in his voice - a tone reserved for their victims and playthings not for each other. She runs for the door - but is yanked violently across the room by the unseen chains.

"Testing my patience or the strength of your bondage, my Precious? Oh, please don't ever make me hurt you."

"But we are, we were love." She stammers. Tears of anger and hurt and betrayal pour red from her eyes.

"And nothing's changed, Nastya. You are my Queen, and I am your King."

The unseen chains of this Queen's bondage slackened and Nastya is released to stand.

"But I don't understand."

In time she did. He traveled often and returned often - mum always on his business away but always keenly interested in the growing Clan of the Bat - ever attentive and loving. Always her King.

And while he was away, Nastya found company in others, but it was never enough.

And that's when she started to follow him and learn what he did. Her powers grew as she kept her stalking from him - it forced her to be more skillful with the powers that he himself had bestowed on her.

But she also discovered that he had never lied to her. She was his only love.

But not his only Queen. And as the Black Empire spread to the four corners of our Lord's earth - she saw that she was in fact the first Queen of the most powerful army in history.

The army of darkness.

And so she rose to support him - hammering the Clan of the Bat into the strongest state of the King's holdings. She would be ready when her love and liege called upon her.

And they would be side-by-side once again.

Nastya would fight for her Man.

She would fight for her Love.

She would not be alone.

She would never die.