Name: Auroriana Ravenwood

Age: Looks: 32 Real: 37

Species: Dhampir

Weapon Affinity: Short swords for dual wielding

Colour: Silver

Face Claim: Rosario Dawson

Orphan. A word that comes with a weight so heavy, it's nearly impossible to hold. It was her. She was the girl with no family. No past... She was used to the looks people had given her when she was younger or more so the desperate and uncomfortable attempt of someone trying NOT to look her as she begged on the streets of NYC for money. That was almost 2 decades ago and she wasn't looking back. Auroriana was older now and those memories were buried away, deep, deep inside where the pain was permanently branded in her heart and mind like a regretful tattoo someone gets in a drunken stupor.

She had worked in the orphanage in which the police dropped her off so many years ago. The building at the time was in shambles, but the woman who kept watch over them, Mrs. Thompson, was a generous and loving person who wasn't getting much funding from the city. Yes, there were leaks and paint chipping... Appliances constantly breaking, but there was always something to eat and a place to sleep. The building had been full of children since she could remember and it was nothing new now so many years later. Auroriana, or Rori as everyone called her, could never leave the place. It was almost like she would sabotage the visits where potential wannabe parents would come looking for a child to make their families whole. She wanted her real parents. She knew they were out there and she knew they were looking for her. No one could tell her differently...

Rori wasn't sure when that dream changed. What year it was that she finally became an adult and decided her real parents were never coming for her. It didn't matter though. She was in her teens and trying to get adopted now was nearly impossible. Potential parents were looking for babies and children, not a defiant teenager. The orphanage was her home and it always would be.

On a day like any other, Rori was the first one up to begin helping Mrs. Thompson with cooking meals, cleaning, and gardening. It was only then that Rori realized it was her 18th birthday when the old woman brought out a small cake from the refrigerator. She set the dessert down and beamed at Rori with a warm smile. "You do know it's your birthday, dear?" she said, putting her hands on her hips. Rori put down the rag she was holding after moving the pot of oatmeal to the burner and uncomfortably smirked.

"Actually, I'd kinda forgotten." Rori tucked her hair behind her ears nervously. She didn't really enjoy being fussed over.

Mrs. Thompson gave a small sigh and moved over to her. She laid a fragile and wrinkled hand on Rori's cheek and looked into her eyes. "Auroriana, what am I going to do with you?" She knew it was an innocent and rhetorical question, but she felt there was something behind it she couldn't quite catch. Her small hand lingered for a moment and there was something Rori could see she was deciding on. The older woman let out another sigh and disappeared into the study before returning a moment later with a small envelope. "Please forgive me."

Rori's eyebrows furrowed and she felt her heart skip a beat. She looked to the older woman in confusion. "What's going on?" she asked softly.

Mrs. Thompson still clutched the envelope and gathered a shaky breath. The elder grabbed the back of one of the kitchen chairs for strength and continued to plow through a secret she had been keeping for many years. "They... They told me you were in danger and they had to keep you safe. Keep you away from them to keep you safe. There were people coming for them and they brought you here in the middle of the night..."

"The police brought me here..."

The woman shook her head. "No. They didn't. I told you that, but it wasn't true. It wasn't the truth at all." She cleared her throat and continued. "Your parents were being hunted and they knew the only way to keep you safe would be to keep you away from them. They told me to give you this letter once you were 18."

Rori took the letter from the woman and carefully tore it open. She thought her heart was sure to break from her chest.

'Auroriana. Our sweet girl. We are so sorry we had to leave you, but it was the only way to keep you safe. Keep you from harm's way. We never wanted this to happen, but we had to do what was right. One day we hope you learn why this was the only choice left to us. Just know, we love you and always will. In a perfect world, we will meet up again, but that is not promised to us now.

You are a dhampir. A powerful warrior that protects its own as well as those who need protection themselves. One day, someone will find you and bring you into a whole new world where you will be kept safe and learn to be strong. For now, we have placed a protection rune on you so you can't be found.

We love you always, our beautiful daughter. Forever. ~Mom and Dad'

A single tear slid down her cheek and she began to tremble. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. She looked to Mrs. Thompson and couldn't find the words. Rori couldn't remember the last time she cried, for it was not in her nature. Showing emotion was something she could never really express and knew from the look on Mrs. Thompson's face that this was breaking her. The older woman started to move towards her, but Rori backed away immediately. She swallowed and found her voice. "How? How could you.. could you not tell me?"

"I swore to them I wouldn't." She had her hands clasped together as if begging for forgiveness. "They showed me..." she began, but thought better of the words that were about to come from her mouth. "I believed them. Something terrible was happening and they didn't want you caught up in it. I'm so sorry, Auroriana. We only meant to protect you."

That was all she needed to hear. Rori left that day and hadn't returned. That was almost 10 years ago. No one had ever come for her like the letter said and she felt an emptiness since that could never be filled. A horrible nagging pang of something missing. She was alone. Just as she had been as a child... but she could never go back.
(To be Continued)

~Personality Traits~

Positive: Empathetic. Intelligent. Loyal
Negative: Hard-headed. Reticent. Guarded.