Unchained

It was a cold winter day. Snow covered the ground, over a few inches thick. Shoe imprints were embedded in the snow. Grass lay dead underneath, the only real sign that there were spring and summer seasons in this world. It was on the edge of the humans, inhabited by species such as vampires, werewolves, elves, dwarfs, etc. In particular, vampires (pure blooded ones especially) were the dominant species, ruling over others. They normally lived in kingdoms, run by royalty and nobles. Pureblood vampires sat comfortably on thrones. Underneath them, were nobles, also purebloods. Some, a small population of nobles, are halflings, part vampire, and whatever other species. Then, the common people were considered one-third vampire or less. And lastly, were slaves. One could identify them with an *S*, tattooed or marked on their neck. If someone was born a slave, they often died as a slave. It was very rare that slaves were freed by their 'owners'. Yet, on this particular day, there would be *one* slave that would become free. This world was backwards from humans. Humans, now, in the modern day, slavery did not exist. It was abolished long ago. However, the vampires and other species were set in their ways. People could not be ruled without someone ruling over them. They needed to know their place, as many would say. And, that's exactly how it was. Until things began to change.