About Sire.
I didn’t ask for complications. Name: Sire
Age: Age-less
Gender: Female
Species: It’s complicated.
Appearance:
Everything about her is…complicated. Ordinarily, she appears like a young girl stuck in her late teens, early twenties but with am ambiguity that makes her age a question, rather than a statement. Average height, a little bit on a shorter side, she’s slender but not quite ‘skinny’, with pale skin that appears merely light at some times, and glowing at others. With shoulder length dark hair that’s reasonably straight, but nothing special, she either wears it in two loose braids down her back or piled up in a messy bun, as if she possesses a million pins and didn’t know where else to store them.
Her face is slightly grave, so that it appears a bit disconcerting when she actually smiles. Average, with a slight overbite that seems to draw notice to a slight plumpness of her lips, she hardly wears makeup, and it shows. Frank dark eyes and brows that would fare a bit better if they were groomed, she has the kind of face that doesn’t need makeup, because it’s so clearly… well, her. Not quite pretty, but somewhat easy to look at, she bears no moles or scars and really, if it wasn’t for that slightly withdrawn attitude, she would have been the kind of person who was easy to forget.
Usually dressed in ‘modern’ ‘western’ clothing, while she’s got enough curves to belie the fact that she’s a girl, it’s really not saying much. Dressed in fitted trouser jeans and long sleeved tops, she doesn’t seem to feel the heat or the cold, and is often seen wearing a soft sleeveless turtle neck that gives her more age than a piece of clothing should.
Sire carries no weapons with her, and while she doesn’t have a bag either, she does carry around a wallet, a lighter and wears a little silver cross around her neck, hidden under the cashmere choker of a shirt. Her ears are not pierced, and while no ones seen her naked enough to tell, so far she only seems to have one tattoo, a Celtic cross on her left… well… butt cheek.
Personality:
Quiet and grave, she’s got a weird sense of humor and doesn’t mind laughing at other people’s expenses. Patient, she’s been around so long that she doesn’t know what it’s like to be impatient for anything, and isn’t quite as neutral as she should be. Not evil, but not good either, she has distanced herself from the world around her and watches the weakness of human beings with a slightly aloof air.
Arrogant, she has a cause to be and also unpredictable, she’s not the one to be noticed out of the Family, and defiantly not one who suffers from over attention. Mysterious as best as one of them could be, she’s probably the most normal of them—except anything would be considered normal, when compared to that group.
She’s not a good guy, and she doesn’t work for anyone except for herself and to fill the growing sense of boredom around her. A smoker, drinker, drug abuser, or at least pretending to be, she’s tried everything that exists for experimentation and to see the limits of her own endurance. A bit sadistic as well as masochistic, she doesn’t like being ordered around.
When it comes to love, loyalty, in her mind she comes first, and then her family. Maybe, maybe humans after that. Loyal to an extent, she doesn’t quite believe in patriotism and holds a very bleak view of the whole love thing.
Abilities:
With heightened senses and strength, she’s got this whole anti gravity thing going when she wants and seems to have joints in her body that should be impossible to have. Basically, just your average, upgraded human being, she has mild telepathy and telekinesis—enough to keep her alive and keep her in contact with the bunch of weirdos that make up part of her clan.
Considering the world around her, she’s actually quite normal, when it comes down to it.
Links
Credits
The Story
Watching the way the smoke curled in the air, a
serpentine shape that she swore would snarl crimson eyes at her at any
second, she reached out with one pale hand and watched the figure
dissipate. “I don’t know where the rumors all started.” Her voice, a languid drawl that tightened things low in the body didn’t suit the rest of her appearance. Lifting her feet and placing them in the other man’s legs, she watched the irritation cross his face. “And don’t look at me like that. This was your idea.” She wriggled her toes, the knee length striped socks a odd addition to his tan trousers.
“I wanted an interview with one of the Vampires” he said stiffly, formal.
She leaned back, inhaled quickly and lay out another long serpentine tail of smoke. Her head barely rested on the arm of the couch, showing just how large the couch was, and how short she happened to be.
“First of all.” She said. “You have it wrong. You have vampires.” She said, pronouncing the word rather like umpires. “and Vampyres.” Vahm pie yeers. There was a slight inflection to the words that made it different. “The first are your average blood sucking demons. They are no relation to us.” Her eyes narrowed in disgust, arrogance. “The latter, -me- happens to be a direct family descendent from Vlad.”
“You mean Dracula?” he offered.
She watched him, disdain in her eyes. “I don’t know why you’re allowed to talk to us, when you don’t seem to know anything.” Stretched so that the cropped turtleneck rose and exposed a line of pale, taunt stomach, she smiled when she saw the way his gaze lingered. The cashmere was a soft orchid shade that matched the scarf belted around her skirt. “Dracula is just a name we pass down so that vampires have someone to fear.”
He watched her, the way she moved her feet the way a cat kneads against a soft surface. “Why you?” he asked abruptly.
She smiled, and it was feline, and oddly out of place. In fact, it looked like… like she was laughing at him. “Why not me?” she asked smugly. “I asked you the same thing, but you didn’t answer my question.” Her gaze was pointed, dark eyes steadfastedly drinking his in.
He looked away, a bit unsettled by the power of her gaze. He knew vampires had the power to bespell people with their eyes, but he didn’t know that much about This kind. “Your matriarch.” He said quietly. “Owes a favor to a friend of mine.”
She snorted, rolled her eyes. “Try again, sweetheart.” She said, smirking. “The only person that grandmamma owes a favor to is Shy, and you don’t look powerful enough to—“ her eyes widened, and for a moment she appeared human.
He couldn’t help feel a bit smug at her surprised look.
“Will you answer my questions now?” he asked politedly.
“What is this for?” there was sharp intellect, as well as curiosity in her gaze as she watched him. Moving her feet away so that she was leaning forewards, her legs lost somewhere behind her, a soft scent of something cinnamon like wafted from her hair.
“Research.” He replied promptly, moving away so that he couldn’t smell her any more.
“Research.” She smirked. “I’ll make a deal.”
“I don’t—“ he began, but saw the challenge in her eyes, and couldn’t help but give in. “Very well. What?”
“I’ll tell you everything you need to know, as long as you promise to answer my questions about Shy.”
He shrugged. It didn’t bother him, because he didn’t know that much about the scientist anyways. “Very well.” He said.
“Deal?” she prompted.
“Deal.”
They shook on it.
***
“So, where shall I start?” she was waving the dying cigarette in the way, ignoring the smattering of ash that landed on the saw silk couches. He winced. Didn’t she know how much it cost to replace them? Or even mend a tiny burn?
“Why don’t you start with your weaknesses?” he suggested.
She chuckled appreciatively as if he had made a joke. “We have no weaknesses.” She said, and then grew thoughtful. “Although I supposed arrogance…” she mused out loud.
He sighed. Was this going to take all day?
Sensing his impatience, and rather liking it, she got up, moving around the room in an odd, cat like grace that seemed out of place with her slightly scruffy appearance. She stopped in front of the mirror, and bared her teeth, checking for food.
“Well” he said. “What about telling me about yourself.” It was one start, and if she was right, and they were arrogant…
She brightened immediately, and turning around, crushed the cigarette against a marble statue, living a sooty imprint at the cheek of the cherub’s shoulder.
“My name is Sire.” She started off. “I’m named after an infamous vampire slayer who existed in the eighteenth century—which makes me one of the youngest of the family members. I have two older sisters and an older brother, all at least a decade or two older than me. Contrary to what people think, we are human enough that we need to eat, breathe occasionally and can reproduce.” Her smile grew wicked, and he blushed, looking away.
“Are there many of you?”
She chose a straight backed chair, and climbed up, her feet resting on the cushion and her butt perched on the neck of the teak furniture. “Many.” She said empathically. “But the further you are from the main blood source (which is my grand mama) the weaker you are. We’re scattered all over the world, all nationalities but because of blood lines and telepathy, it’s not hard for us to keep contact.” She shrugged. “There are always those rogue members, but usually they’re killed by either us, or the vampire slayers.”
He looked up, curious. “Then, are you allied with good?”
Her lips quirked into a smile, and she leaned down, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. “Do you believe vampire slayers are good, then?” she asked, her tone slightly chiding, and he was suddenly made very aware of her age. They stayed in silence, staring at each other, and then finally, she got up.
“Where are you going?” he hadn’t noticed how quickly she had moved, and alarmed, he watched as she moved towards the door. For a moment he thought she wasn’t going to answer him, and then she paused.
“A drink.” She called out, not turning around. “I won’t sit there and tell someone private things when they can’t even answer a question. Come back when you’ve grown up.”
***
Right outside the room, a shadow who had been waiting for the striped socks to walk by pounced on the other woman. Sire stiffened, but recognizing the scent, relaxed as she quickly turned around and slammed him against the wall.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting to do that all day.” She said, slightly incredulous that someone could be so bored.
The man, or rather, boy, was much taller than her with ash blonde hair and tattoos etched on one side of his voice. “Yes?” he asked, his tone rather boyish and his hands slammed down on her wrist and use it as a propeller to jump over her head and onto open ground.
She shook her head in disbelief. “Lukyan.” She said. “Don’t they give you anything to do?”
He made a face of wry disgust. “Not any more. Besides, I hate being treated like a puppy, no matter what your grand mamma says.” He grinned. “I heard what you were telling the chit though.” Together they walked away amiably, current physicalities forgotten as they made their way down to the breakfast room. “I was named after an infamous vampire slayer.” He mimicked, and she winced.
“It sound that bad?” she made a face. “Do you think he believed me?”
He let out a short bark of laughter and casually slung his arm over his shoulder. “Of course he did.” He assured the vampyre. “You’ve got the whole brooding thing covered.”
Grinning back just as easily and shrugging off his arm, she stretched. “I was at my wits end.” She smirked. “When I heard you fidget outside though…”
“I did not make a sound!” he said in mock annoyance. “Me, the famous vampire hunter giving it away with a…”
She laughed, and he paused, realized that he’d just been duped.
“Mmmhmm” she drawled, and as they walked into the room, paused by the doors.
“Very funny.” His voice was sulky as he rushed ahead of her, reaching with practice for a china bone plate and piling it up with hot food.
“Now, now. Don’t sulk.” She chided, and looked around the room ruefully to see some people watching them. “They’re going to see you as a child.”
Lukyan watched as she took a piece of bread, and piled hers up with more hot food as well. “You need the energy. You’re going to skinny.” He said flippantly, and then answered her comment. “They won’t. They’ll know I was brave, dashing and…”
“Don’t you two ever get tired of the bantering?”
At another pair of swinging doors, a majestic woman with silver white hair piled on her head and keen blue gray eyes walked in, a sway in her step as if she owned every soul in the room.
Which technically, she did.
“Grandmamma!” eyes brightening, Sire forgot about her plate and ran over, letting out a small whoop as she embraced the powerful matriarch. “I thought you weren’t supposed to be in until tomorrow afternoon.”
“That’s what I thought, but our Asian cousins were easier to please than people said they would be.” She smiled, eyes softening as she watched her youngest granddaughter. Pecking her cheek, she looked behind at everyone watched, eyes fastening and noticing each one. “Now, how’s our guest?”
Sire made a face, about to talk but Lukyan interrupted her.
“Suffering from a load of bs.” He said cheerfully. “Do you know the things your kit is telling him?”
The woman frowned. “Now Sire.” She began. “I told you to be nice to strangers and especially nice to guests…”
Sire rolled her eyes. “Why do you always believe him?”
“Because he’s usually right when it comes to you?” the woman swiftly interjected.
Lukyan smothered a smug grin, and was rewarded by a look of impending doom. “I was just telling him a few things.” She hedged. “I don’t know why…”
“We’re to cultivate awareness of our distinction from the vampires, Sire.” She said patiently, and looked around the room. “Now, why don’t we all have breakfast, and when we’ll go and see how our guest feels.”
***
“So, I’ll tell you where we’re from then.” Sire was a bit sulky, and he looked up, surprised. She was more… emotionally volatile; if that was a saying and it showed in the way she swung her feet back and forewords.
A moment ago she had entered with the matriarch of the clan, a beautiful yet frightening woman and so he had been a bit awed. She had said nothing, really. Just small talk, seeing if he was comfortable, and yet Sire had been quiet the entire time, acting like a child being reprimanded by her mother in front of her teacher, and the end…
“Be nice.” She had said.
And he was sure that Sire had been very nice the entire time.
He took out a pen, opened to a fresh sheet and was ready to write when the silence lengthened. “Yes?” he asked, a bit prissy to see that she had been watching him the entire time.
“What am I supposed to call you?” she asked. “Scholar?”
He shook his head. “My name is Thomas.” He said.
“Tom?” she asked.
He grimaced, and she couldn’t help but snicker. “Thomas is fine, thank you.” He said, adding a bit more pressure to his words, and Sire smiled easily.
“Very well. No trouble at all, Tom… ass.”
He knew that she was doing it deliberately, and because of this he knew better than to react… but he couldn’t help a little irritation, and the quirking of his own lips as she baited him so easily.
“The story?” he prompted, and she sighed.
“Spoilt sport.” She muttered. Settling herself down and wriggling down in a distracting fashion, Sire closed her eyes.
“Where do I begin? It’s a story that’s told a thousand times by the time your twenty years old. It’s like the bible, and also a fairy tale for children.
When god made man and woman, the angels watched with jealousy and curiosity. They knew the mortals were special because they were made in his image, but they didn’t know to what extent until later, when His son was incarnated as one of them.” She opened her eyes. “Not reincarnated, because that’s a second time.” She closed them again. “By that times, darker sides had caught onto the idea of exploiting humans, as did the good. Elves, faeiries, demons and vampires were created, not only to rival the humans with greater powers, but as an experiment. The first angels were the only ones with this power, the seraphim with their four wings, a touch away from the most holy.
It was already well into civilization, when pyramids were built and humans had evolved to a more beautiful form, that Gabriel, the greatest of angels with his six wings created a creature born of both good and man. He made them in the image of the mortals, and named them Vampyres. Vampire means the divine dead. Vampyre, means the divine creatures. A little twist of words, really. He created them as a gift, and watched over the first, making sure that they survived. He could play no direct role in their lives, but he was power, he with his six wings and he always kept us out of extinction, out of purgurtory. It is said that when Vampyres die, they are reincarnated as humans, the only other creature to be given this blessing by Him, or turned into angels with six wings.”
Her story spun from his, growing bolder and louder and Thomas could imagine the first Vampyres, walking naked and defenseless. She told of how they were tutored, how they grew and he was surprised to hear so many famous names linked to this imperial bloodline.
As the story mended to a close, Thomas and Sire fell into silence, musing.
“It’s getting late.” She said abruptly, breaking the silence as the two reflected on her cleverly spun tale. Thomas looked up, startled and realized it had been two hours. Surely, more than enough for this session.
“Very well.” He said, packing up. He looked up at her, curious. “Do you have another appointment?”
“Appointment?” she smiled, amused by his choice of words, and shook her head. “Nothing like that. But it’s lunch time soon, and after I have training.” At his curious look, she smirked. “I’ll tell you about that, next time.”
“Tomorrow.” He said.
Sire frowned. “So soon?” she asked.
“Why, do you need to recuperate or something?” the amusement in his voice made him sound younger, more like a man than a scholar, and she couldn’t help her quick laugh.
“Of course not.” She said easily. “But, does this mean you’ll be seeing me every day?”
“If I can stand it.” Came his teasing response almost immediately, and then he colored. “I’m sorry—“
Sire laughed it away, glad to see that this man had some kind of humor. “No.” she said. “I like you better this way.” Hmm… smiling, she walked to the door. “Tomorrow then—maybe at five in the afternoon? It’ll grow too habitual if we met at the same time.”
Thomas nodded, confirming her appointment on his PDA, and watched her walk out.
***
“Don’t be so weak!” her partner snapped. “Faster, I know you can do it.”
Grumbling something about being tired after being entertainer to a mortal, Sire leapt from the ground, narrowly avoiding a swinging dumbbell hanging from the ceiling, and landed on her hands, just missing the spikes on the ground. Falling over on her feet and leaping out again, she reached out for the handholds in the air…
And felt another pair of hands grab hers instead.
Recognizing the shift of the grip because she had worked with it for so long, Sire looked up, scowling.
“I was going to make it!” she snapped, and swinging from him, landed on the mats with a light pat. A sheen of sweat covered her like a film, hugging the leotard closer to her body and staining the violet lycra a deeper shade.
“No you weren’t.” jumping in behind her and dressed in something rather like gym shorts, his pale skin seemed to sparkle.
“I was too.” She stuck out her tongue, and looked around. “Enough for today?” she called out, hopeful.
Her partner, still snapping at her from the other side of the room nodded—barely. “Don’t let yourself go, Sire.” She warned. “You’re faster and stronger than most humans, but you’re falling behind.”
Sire rolled her eyes, and walked away, followed closely behind by Lukyan.
“Do you mind?” she growled. “I’m going to go take a shower—unless you’re trying to join me?”
Lukyan’s smile turned feral as he arched a brow. “Darling” he purred. “I had no idea you felt that way”
Sire heaved a sigh. He was always in such a good mood after a workout…
But then, usually two hours of moving through an obstacle course that changed at whim made her feel good as well. She was just tired, having talked for so long—she hadn’t known how exhausting it was to talk!
“So” he said casually. “How did it go?”
“Good.” She mumbled. “Told him about our past and didn’t make anything up.” She stopped at the bathroom door, seeing his hand blocking her movements. She turned, arching a brow. “Yes?”
Lukyan smiled. “Are you going to see him soon?” he asked.
“Tomorrow.” She said dismissively.
“So soon?” he sounded so surprised, and she had been as well. But her face as cool as she slapped his hand away from the door and walked in.
“Sooner to get it over with.” She called out.
Stepping into the shower and letting the heat rub her down, she closed her eyes. As a vampyre, she had the same advantages as other dark creatures, able to push herself longer and faster than humans. They weren’t magical, in a sense because it was something humans might have been able to achieve on their own. They were physically more capable and had a longer endurance to external forces, and coupled with uncanny senses, it almost made them seem more powerful.
But really, the larger you were the harder you fell, and times like this Sire could really feel the effects. She had been biologically created to be able to withstand great trials, and because she didn’t use her body often enough, she was feeling it break down too quickly. They were strong, but without work they disintegrated into soft muscles in a heartbeat.
Groaning as the water hit a sore muscle, she leaned back against the wall, positioning the nozzle more strongly against the sore spot, and sighed.
Well, she knew better than to let herself go now.
***
Thomas entered the room, looking around to see that so far, Sire hadn’t entered yet. Looking down at his watch, he walked over to the largest table and sat down, pulling out a recorder this time. Thunder clashed outside the windows, and while he did not flinch, he couldn’t help but wonder why the weather was feeling so… cliché.
“Sorry.” Sire burst through the doors with the apology, pulling on one heel as she nearly hopped towards a nearby chair.
Dressed in a form fitting orchid and black cheongsam, Thomas arched a brow.
Sire snickered.
“Don’t be so vain.” She said smartly. “I’m going to dinner afterwards, some kind of political nose rubbing at the Equinox.” She tilted her head, fastening large dark earrings and smiled. “What do you think?”
Thomas stared; impressed at the way she appeared. “You clean up good.” He said, drawling in the words and Sire’s eyes narrowed appreciatively.
“That’s something.” Now that she was ready, her hair piled up in a messy bun and her shoes on both feet (Thomas wondered how women walked in those torture contraptions) she flumped back into the chair, letting out a soft scent of spicy as she did so. “So, where were we?” she asked pleasantly.
“I want to know about you, and the matriarch. Loyalty. Family.” He said simply, and Sire arched a brow.
“I guess you have everything prepared then…” swinging her left foot in small circles, she frowned, concentrating.
“Ever since the beginning of our clan, there has always been a matriarch. Never a man, because it seems that not only were there more female Vampyres, but that they were more powerful. The matriarch is usually one of the closer direct ties of the next generation or so, and while our kind don’t necessarily die—like humans, people do like to retire and forget about old responsibilities.
Grandmamma has been the matriarch since 1872, when our previous decided to throw everything to the winds and marry an upperlord demon. While we are supposed to be neutral, everyone’s susceptible to love.
The matriarch is the living fountain of blood. Somehow after a ceremony, the title and rank gives her more power. Rather like queen bee. She keeps everything in control, handles pesky matters and is generally like the Big mother to us all—that’s why Grandmamma is never here. She has to go to the corners of the world and keep in contact with the rest of the family.
Family… loyalty is foremost to your mate, then your children and then the family. Of course, usually this amounts to the same thing, and more Vampyres are very loyal. Some think it’s a trait that’s been programmed into us so that we’re less likely to die out. You know, the whole all for one and one for all kind of thing.”
Sire’s voice settled into the old fairy tale kind of whisper, and Thomas listened, entranced and glad that he had the recorder. While it wasn’t hard to remember everything she said, yesterday he hadn’t made a dent into his notebook. Fascinated about the almost medival kind of loyalty in play, he didn’t realize that she had fallen silent, and that she was watching him.
“What is it?” uncomfortable, her gaze was bright, intense.
“How do you know Shy?” Thomas blinked at the sudden change of topic, and then smiled.
“I work for him.” He said simply. He wasn’t trying to keep anything from her- merely he didn’t want to waste words. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”
Sire’s eyes lighted with challenge, aware that he was deliberately changing the topic. But she seemed fine with it, because she shrugged.
She’d let it go.
For now
“Fine.” She snapped. “Same time.”
Thomas’ lips quirked into a smile. “Yes ma’am.”
***
They spent every day together, two to three hours at a time, and while at the beginning Sire saw it as a mindless chore, she began enjoying the scholar’s company. They spoke of the past, of the Vampyres but soon their conversations were also dotted with personal information, of things that didn’t really concern the reason for their meeting.
Three weeks passed.
***
It the previous weather had been dark and cliché, today’s weather was worse. Barely making it in time to the manor, he ran in, cursing as he tried to brush the water off his back.
“My my, the poor boy.” Someone chuckled, and Thomas looked up to see the matriarch standing there, her eyes slanted with amusement.
Thomas stopped, more at ease but still feeling a bit awed. “Matriarch.” He greeted her, polishing it off with a short bow.
She purred, liking the formality, and she seemed almost… playful. Thomas looked up, wary as she came down the stairs. “I’m afraid.” She said. “Sire cannot see you today. She’s not here.”
At these words, a door slammed and Thomas saw a very familiar form snarl and race across the ceiling to another room. He arched a brow, and the matriarch frowned.
“Alright. She’s here. But she can’t speak to anyone right now.” Another door slammed, followed by another growl and Thomas nodded. “But the other Vampyres are willing to speak to you.” She began.
Thomas frowned. He should say yes. After all, he was here to note down their past, not spend every day with one woman… but still, his hesitation was obvious, and the matriarch’s smile deepened.
“It’s been three weeks now.” She noted carefully. “How are you handling my grand daughter?”
Thomas smiled, relieved that he didn’t have to answer the previous question. “Well.” He said, and chuckled. “If anyone can handle her… she’s been great, and I think, because we’ve established such a strong base, I should just wait until she’s… better.” Thomas paused. “She will get better?” there was a slightly anxious look in her eyes, and it was enough to have the matriarch’s smile soften. She appeared almost like your real grandmother. Just… sexier.
“She’s fine. It’s a vampyre thing.” her smile turned almost impish. “Maybe when Sire is feeling better, she’ll explain it to you.”
Thomas knew there was a hidden joke there, somewhere. “Should I come back tomorrow?” he asked politely.
The matriarch nodded her head. “I’ll get the driver to take you home—don’t want you to suffer any more than you have to in this weather… would you like something to drink first?”
***
“What are you doing?”
Sire looked over to see one of her sisters standing there with an amused expression on her face. Sire paused.
“I don’t know.” And with those words, she dropped from the ceiling onto the bed, a wreck of nerve points and skin.
Her sister laughed, and Sire glared. She didn’t appreciate that kind of laughing at a moment like this!
“I told you to go screw your slayer.” She said fondly.
Sire frowned. “I didn’t want to.” Her voice was so peevish that with a sigh, her sister sat down next to her.
“Sire.” She said patiently. “We Vampyres have a duty to continue on our blood line. You know that our species is slowly dying out, that very few of the women ever get in heat any more. The only time we are even suspectible to fertility is when we’re in heat. Sooner or later, you’re going to stop as well. Then what are we going to go?”
Sire smothered her face into a pillow and pretended that she wasn’t listening. It didn’t matter though, because her sister wouldn’t stop talking.
“Our kind are destined to be paired up with the vampire slayers. You and Lukyan go so well together. It’s only a select few that can handle our dna system and actually give us children—slayers are just the only ones we know of, right now. The only ones who’ll give us true Vampyres, instead of some half mix. Do your duty!”
“And I thought we lived in the twenty first century…” Sire muttered. Peeking out from over the pillow, she glared. “Go away.”
With a sigh, her sister left the room.
Well, she’d tried.
***
Thomas walked under the edge of the large building, the rain having stopped in the early hours of the morning. Standing there, he paused when he saw a figure sitting over the edge, hovering too closely to the ground.
Before he could say a word of warning however, the figure swore, yelling something at the person in side the room and jumped out the window.
Shit.
Thomas ran, watching as the body fell from the sky and landed on her two feet. Slowing down, he realized how ridiculously he was behaving as he saw Sire standing there, dressed in jeans and a floppy hat with her cheeks stained with anger. She turned, and for a moment she focused those hard eyes onto him.
“Oh.” And suddenly she was normal again. “You were running to help me?” she sounded amused, and while the color was high on her cheeks, she seemed to be in control.
“Come back up here!” from above, a breath takingly beautiful man was swearing at her, but she merely flipped him off.
“You ready to go?” she asked, ignoring the man upstairs.
“Go?” he repeated blankly. She grinned.
“For ice cream. My treat. I’m getting cabin fever.”
They sat in the park a couple of blocks from the manor, him with vanilla and her with some odd combination of chocolate, caramel and vanilla. They didn’t talk about anything to do with the past, and yet they didn’t sit in silence. The odd moment was punctuated by a conversation between a girl and a boy, talking about life, movies and the occasional odd song or two.
Sire sighed, leaning back and feeling the heat on her face. “I can’t believe the weather gets like this after such heavy rain.” She murmured, throwing the cone into the bin a couple of feet away from her. Naturally, it met it’s goal and dropped in.
Thomas smiled. “I think, it’s like that saying of how it’s quietest before a storm? Afterwards, that’s when the best weather is.”
Sire smiled, slanting a glance at him. She had been a storm herself, yesterday. Did that mean… she shook her head. What silly thoughts! Sitting there with a half smile on her face, she looked over. “We Vampyres aren’t as abnormal as we look.” She sighed. “We’re too human.”
Thomas smiled. “What was wrong, yesterday?” as the silence stretched, he looked away. “That is—“
“It’s like pms.” She said, and her tone said it all. Drop it.
Thomas shrugged. It wasn’t an urgent matter, after all. Besides, he didn’t want to ruin this moment. They were like average people, and something about her angst and gloom had dropped half way during their conversations. She was completely normal after all.
***
Thomas dropped her off, declining the offer to come back in with her and so Sire went up by herself. She had been having a good time, and so she was a bit surprised to see how hurt she felt that he wouldn’t come back with her.
“Finally.” A voice snapped, and Sire looked up to see Lukyan standing the half shadows, his arms crossed in front of him. “We haven’t finished talking.”
And all the good moments went away, and she was left with that feeling of unease and irritation. “There’s nothing to talk about.” She snapped. “I was in heat. But I didn’t want to fuck you.”
The words were snapped, cold and seemed to jump across the room and slap Lukyan in the face. It was enough to have him flinch, stiffening his spine as he looked up.
“Then did you want to fuck him?” his voice was crude, his eyes mean. “Is that why you two went off? Did you—“
Before she could think, she was in front of him, straddling him to the ground and her fingers positioned right over his throat. “One word.” She warned, her eyes blazing. “What’s wrong with you? You knew from the start when we met that I wouldn’t give into anything. What’s changed?”
There was just enough desperation in her voice that Lukyan controlled his own struggle. “You spend every day with him, Sire. You’re my Vampyre, and I’m your slayer but how do I know that you won’t go for him? You’re not interested in breeding, and that defeats my purpose of being here.” His words were quiet, mumbled but Sire’s hearing was sharp enough that she caught every word of it.
“Run off?” she said, incredulous. “With the human?” she suddenly jumped off of him, as if he was too dirty to touch. “You’re jealous?”
The words, the incredibility was enough to have fire reenter Lukyan’s eyes. “You don’t see me any more, Sire.” He snapped. “You’re not acting like we’ve got a contract. I think it’s better if I left—or even found myself another Vampyre.”
The words hurt.
And Sire was hurt, enough that she didn’t know what to say.
Where… where was all of this coming from?
She ran.
***
She didn’t know why, but she ran from the grandmother’s room, not even knowing if the matriarch would be in there.
No, she did know why.
It was because she was scared, and who better to protect you than your matriarch?
Moving with instincts rather than coherent logic,
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” the moment she ran into the room, her grandmother looked up from the book, getting up and sliding the reading glasses off her nose, frowning with compassion.
Sire told her everything.
Or at least, everything that she could. She didn’t understand Lukyan.
“I don’t understand men.” She spat out the word in such a fashion that her grandmother smiled.
“Come, sit next to me.” Patting the couch next to her, and watching as her grand daughter made her way over unwillingly, her smile deepened. “You know, men always say that women are hard to understand, but in general, it’s usually them.” She smiled. “Lukyan was just jealous, Sire. He said those words in heat because you’ve never spent so much time with a man before, and you haven’t had a physical relationship with him. He thinks, probably, that this is your way of getting out of your contract.” She grimaced at the words. “It’s more of a marriage, but…”
“If I wanted to end it, I would have told him.” She said, still incredulous. “And then he threatened to break it, go off with another girl…” she scowled. “I bet he was eyeing that blonde girl, Amera…”
Grandmother couldn’t quite stifle a chuckle, and soon had that glare directed to herself. “Sire.” She began. “You do not know how funny this is.” She smiled. “You are like two lovers having your first argument.”
Sire made a rude noise.
“But well? What do you think about Thomas?”
Sire frowned, and shrugged. “He’s a good friend.” She said simply. “Of that we have had no choice. Seeing each other every day, it would have sent one of us running for the hills, otherwise. He’s relaxed, he makes me forget what I am even when I’m talking about our past and he’s comfortable to be around.” She made a face. “But Lukyan is my slayer. I can’t change that.”
Grandmamma sighed, ever patient. “You can.” She argued. “We are romantic fools.” She said, as if this explained everything.
Sire’s frown deepened, merging close to a scowl. “That may have worked in the past, but this is me.” She got up, pacing the room. “Maybe I should just ignore it, pretend like it never happened?” she snorted. “Lukyan would never allow that… or maybe.” She shrugged, lost and a little bit alone as she wondered just how to fix the mess that happened to be her life.
“Some people.” Her matriarch said wryly. “Would be glad to have a man like Lukyan jealous and wanting to be their own.”
Sire arched a brow. “Those people have never seen Lukyan in the mornings before hes had his coffee.” She muttered. The older woman laughed, and feeling more at ease, Sire walked towards the window.
“Where are going?” her gaze sharpened. Her youngest was still too emotionally turmoiled to leave the house for too long. Besides, she had been in heat a couple of hours ago—it was her weakest point.
“Out.” She said simply. “The grounds. I need air.” She paused. “And besides—I don’t want to be in the same house with people who’re conspiring to put me together with the slayer.”
Against her better instincts, the matriarch watched the young woman leap out of the window. Her youngest seemed to like dramatic exits. But before she was too far away, she sent a response.
‘For your information, I’m conspiring for the other one’.
Telepathic laughter met her words.
***
It was cold—not too cold, but cold enough that Sire could feel it like a pleasant breeze nipping her body. It was odd, how weather seemed to jump erratically, but she didn’t really care. Moving with the ease and the speed of someone slightly unnatural, she found herself walking closer to the edges of the manor, to the fringes of where it met a giant park.
The same park she was at earlier during the day.
The thought bought the memory of ice cream and sun, as well as a rueful smile to her lips. She was being silly! If humans had pms, why couldn’t Vampyres? They were made of almost the same stuff. Feeling a bit embarrassed at how quickly she had over reacted, at how easily she had baited the slayer, she flushed for a moment, and turned on her heels, getting ready to walk back to the house.
And to apologize.
Well, she’d try anyways.
“Going so soon?”
The way dogs recognized cats, man recognized full bodied women, the scent and the hiss was enough to have Sire spin around, her eyes wary. Two vampires were standing in front of her, one cocky and cliché with a leather jacket, and the other a ordinary young girl in jeans and a jumper.
“You’re on private property.” She said neutrally. There was something bitter between their kind, something no spurned on, but inevitable. It was the way water and oil didn’t seem to mix. Something always set each other off, as if they weren’t… supposed to be together.
Like her and Lukyan, really.
“Is it? Is it really?” his tone was mocking, and someone laughed behind her. She didn’t have to turn around to see that she was being surrounded. “Here we were, watching the Vampyre’s” his tone spat the word, as if it was dirty. “nest, and what do we see? A little, defenseless child coming out to play…” the one behind her walked closer until she could feel the heat (or the cold) radiating from his body.
Or hers.
“What do you want?” her tone was biting—it was instinctive, but she was also a little bit cautious. She wasn’t strong yet, something about the potential to breed seemed to use up all your energy. And she was feeling so… so silly.
“Why, nothing, of course.” The one behind her purred. Defiantly female. “Just want you to pass on a little message.”
Sire snorted. “Can you get any more cliché?” she retorted. “What are you going to do, hurt me and leave me to die?”
She heard the quick intake of breath (hah! From a vampire?) before she felt something move. Quickly she turned around, ducking and bringing her legs up the same time her hands touched the ground for balance, and she threw the figure behind her into the walls.
But she didn’t land as hard as Sire had hoped.
“Ooh, you’ve got one temper.” The man in the coat purred, walking forwards. “And you’re weak as well. I can smell it.” He made an obscene sniffing noise, and it was enough to have Sire start walking away, irritated.
“You’re not stupid enough to attack me on ground.” She snapped.
“No, we’re not stupid enough to attack a Vampyre so close to her home.”
The select words were enough to have Sire still. “But?” she said, dreading the answer.
“But what about very special friends to the Vampyres, friends who have been visiting the house every day for the last three weeks?” his smile turned predatory. “I’m sure that’s another story.”
***
The pounding at the door was enough to have anyone run it, and certainly, it was enough to have Lukyan run to the door. He had been hovering around the hallway, waiting for Sire to return so that he could apologize for being so childish and… well, basically an ass.
The doors swung open harder than he meant for them to, and he paused, registering only Thomas’ face.
“You?!” all childish anger returned. “What are you doing here?”
And then he saw her.
He paled with such anger, if it was possible with his already white skin, and darkened with rage. “If you…” he began, his voice deep.
“Lukyan.” The voice was frigid, dominant and swamped with worry as the matriarch pushed her way forewords. “She’s hurt. Don’t be stupid. Get the healers, and get me her mother.” She commanded, and without waiting, turned to Thomas. “What—“
Thomas grimaced. He was covered in blood, but from here the matriarch could smell the life in him. They were not deadly, none of them were spilling hearts blood- she would be able to smell that much. Perhaps it was the scent of blood, or maybe the fact that Lukyan was running all over the place screaming for a healer, but people drifted downstairs.
“What—“ someone murmured, interrupted when the matriarch, all dominant power now swept through with Thomas in tow.
“The study.” She said. “Go in there, put her down.” She paused, waiting for them to enter before her, and then looked behind her. “I don’t want anyone interrupting, unless it’s urgent.” She said quietly.
They saw her eyes flash red and knew no one would dare speak to her until this was over.
Thomas wasn’t worried about all that, though. He was already moving Sire gently to the bed, scared that he was hurting her more than she was. It was a small bed in the center of the room, designed more like a day bed with cushions instead of pillows, a odd zen like decoration to the rest of the room. Setting her down, he paused, checking for a pulse and realized how stupid it was.
“What happened?” the power in the voice had Thomas flinch. He had… the matriarch’s voice softened. “Thomas.” She said gently, sounding more like a mother worried over her child.
“Vampires.” He said quietly. “Punks looking for an easy kill. They saw me in the late afternoon, saw me leave and they’ve been watching…” he looked up. “The ones in the neighborhood, the new ones don’t respect you any more, and they thought it’d be fun to push the message across…” he shook his head. “I’ve never seen such… violence for no reason.”
The matriarch sat next to Sire, stripping off the jacket gently. Satisfied that she was still breathing at least, the matriarch looked up. “And you? Are you okay?” she asked sharply.
Thomas nodded, and winced. “Bruised up, cut.” He said. “But it’s nothing dangerous. They weren’t trying to kill me, just…” his voice shuddered in the end. “Trying to have fun.”
The matriarch’s eyes narrowed. “I’m going to have a little visit with them tonight.” She said, her voice a quiet murmur.
“It was only three, four hours later maybe when they disappeared, and she came… she came running in.” Thomas looked up. “I saw her in the afternoon, dropped her off and… what happened to her?”
She smiled. “Long story.” But just then, the healers entered, Lukyan straight behind and a distraught looking woman with Sire’s eyes.
“Is she okay?” she demanded.
The matriarch shook her head. “I don’t know.” She confessed. “I can’t hear her mind. She’s either sleeping or…” she shrugged, not wanting to voice the darkness. “She’s already weak, so she may only appear…”
The other woman wailed, and turned, her eyes fastening on Thomas with a need for venting. “You!” she snarled. “Was it you?”
Before Thomas could say anything, the matriarch intervened. “Klara.” She said gently. “Go call your other children… I want you to go out, find out who did this…”
The woman’s eyes darkened with blood lust, and she nodded when…
“There’s no need.”
Klara spun, glaring at the young woman scholar who dared say something, when he spoke again.
“They’re all dead.” His voice came out in a shuddered whisper. “That’s why she’s so hurt… she killed them all.”
***
Darkness.
Pain.
Shock and horror as she saw the blood on Thomas’ face. Who did this? Who did this?! Something so protective, and the laughter.
She had always known that vampire shad held a vendetta because Vampyres had been created with love, while the blood suckers were nothing more than an evolved species of the leech. She had known that they were baiting her, that in some corner he was actually safe, but it hadn’t been just her physical power that had been drained. Her mental control had gone as well, and she had snapped.
When one died, the other had turned on her, furious.
She thought they’d be glad to lose such an embarrassment.
Showed what she knew.
“Sire, sweetie, are you okay?”
The voice niggled at her from some corner of the darkness, and it was enough to disturb her peace. Opening her eyes, or at least trying to and then finding out that they wouldn’t open on their own, she groaned, struggling only to feel a hand on her shoulder.
“Shhh…” she recognized that voice.
‘Can you hear me now?’
‘Yes, asshole.’ Came her groggy response, and it was enough to have Lukyan choke back a relieved laugh.
‘You okay?’ he asked, gentle.
‘Do I look okay?’ she was tired, she was ill—but that didn’t mean her mental capacity wasn’t up to it. If she could dream, if she could see memories flashing before her eyes, then damn right she could speak through mind.
Except it was tiring…
‘I’m not naked, am I?’ came a sudden, alarming thought and that same laughter.
‘You’re broadcasting loudly.’ Came her grandmother’s gentle voice. ‘Sire…’
‘This is Lukyan’s fault’ and there was wry humor.
The slayer didn’t seem to see the funny side though, because the hand on her shoulder tightened. ‘Sire, I’m sorry I’m such a dumb ass. I’m sorry….’
‘Shhh’ It was tiring, even though usually it took no effort. And her voice showed, even her mental one which was heavy, and drugged. ‘Debase yourself later… when I have a camera…’
And with those words, she fell back to drunken sleep blissfully.
***
Her grand daughter was sleeping, now, and she got up, feeling a bit more calm. Moving around the room and checking on the healers as well as family, she stopped in front of Thomas.
“Yes?” he looked up at her, worry and guilt in his eyes.
“I need you to get in contact with someone.” She said quietly, and Thomas’ eyes darkened with confusion, and then realization as he realized who she wanted.
“Can’t you do it yourself?” he was not being belligerent, merely curious, and she shook her head.
“Your source is probably more faster than mine.” She said simply.
Thomas nodded, and followed her out of the room.
He wore a hand phone, or something like one and he dialed the only number that it could access.
“Why?” he mouthed to the matriarch who had cornered him in a small, private salon.
“I need his help.” She whispered.
“Hello?” the voice purred on the phone. “Thomas~ a delight to hear from you.” Thomas frowned at that cloying note in the other man’s voice, and instead tried to focus on the matter at hand.
“There’s someone who wants to speak to you.” He said curtly, and Shy went silent.
“Very well. Let me talk to her.”
The scholar didn’t ask how he knew, only that it was possible. He handed the phone to the matriarch who took it a bit awkwardly. What, had she expected some grand hocus pocus scheme?
“Shy.” Her voice was different, younger and more vulnerable and Thomas had to work hard to hide his surprise. “I need your help.” She seemed to be listening to something he was saying, because her eyes darkened with annoyance. “My youngest, Sire is sick. Yes, the one whose been tutoring your boy. How? She fought a couple of vampires, and the healers think that she’s been bitten multiple times—“ she listened in. “I know Vampyres and vampires cannot breed, that they’re separate dna contaminates the other… I think she’s going to change, I need you to come here and… make sure she survives.”
The grandmother suddenly scowled.
“I don’t care about fate running its course! This is all your fault Shy, and I demand that you save my heir.”
Thomas’ face wasn’t schooled enough to hide the look of alarm. Sire was going to take over? But she hadn’t said anything about special training…
“Thomas.”
The scholar looked up to see that the matriarch had already hung up the phone, and that she was watching him. She handed him the phone and he took it, questions in his eyes.
“I would appreciate it if you kept the last part to yourself.” She said quietly, and Thomas nodded his head, trying to gain some control as he watched the other woman’s face. “Shy said he’d be here soon as possible, and he’d fix her.” Her voice was unsure, doubtful.
Thomas reached out, forgetting how powerful she was and smiled. “I trust him.” He said quietly.
***
“Shhh—she’s awake!”
Sire was blinking up at the ceiling for what may have been five minutes. But she was only aware of her actions for the past two seconds, when suddenly she was tired of all that blinking. At the overly loud voice, her head snapped to the side only to protest at the sudden movement.
“Sire, darling.” A man drawled, standing over her and peering at her face with odd pale green eyes. Cat eyes. “Don’t move so quickly. I’ve healed you, but you’re still sore.” His voice was amused, proud and Sire didn’t know him.
“Sire?” a voice wavered, and Sire looked to her other side to see Lukyan, his face drawn with exhaustion and his eyes darkened with lack of sleep. “Finally.” He sounded relieved, and Sire frowned.
“I’m okay, right?” her voice scratched against her throat, but she didn’t mind, really. Looking around the room to see that everyone else was still standing around, she tried to get up, only to feel the room swim. “Mmm” cursing under her breath, she bit her lip only to find her teeth sink in much deeper than they should have. “Mmph?” opening her mouth with pain, she ran her tongue over her teeth to find that they were the same.
Except for two really, really long canines.
“Sire?” her grandmother appeared in front of her, her face anxious. “There’s something you need to know.”
Sire was too busy distracted with her new teeth to be scared.
“You were bitten and drained, and then reblooded be a group of vampires… you would have turned, and then died once your body spurned the Vampyre blood, so Shy” Sire looked up sharply at the man, watching the other a bit closer. “came to heal you. But it seems you’re still going to have some… ah… unusual characteristics.”
“Unusual?” she asked sharply. Her eyes widened with alarm. “I’m not a…”
Her grandmother shook her head quickly. “No, you’re not one of them.” She said. “We did blood tests and everything. Your body still rejects vampire blood, your insides are all the same and you can stand light. It’s just…” she paused. “You’re a bit different.”
“Different?” her voice came out sardonic, and Shy interrupted.
“You’re teeth are sharper. You can hide them in plain sight, someone I know will teach you. Direct sunlight will give you a headache, might get you sick if it’s strong enough, and you’re going to be craving more meat, more rare foods. Not blood outright, but well done, cooked food might taste a bit dry to you from now on.” Shy’s voice was actually pleasant to the ears. “You’ll be just that much faster, and you’ll heal much more easily as well. And…” Shy paused, and he arched a brow in amusement. “During the nights, you’re going to find yourself more restless. Vampires are awake only at night time, so when night comes, you might find yourself… somehow more.” He shrugged his shoulders elegantly. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Thanks.” Her voice was slightly wry.
Shy didn’t say, that.
She was going to be more beautiful, at night. Vampires are vain creatures, they’re always beautiful at night. Her skin was going to be like moonlight, her hair darker, her eyes larger and in whole, more… dominant, more sexual from the average girl. She was going to be attracted to the darkness, to the idea of running free, and… dark arts, evil, wasn’t going to be so unappealing.
But he decided not to share all this, because he knew she’d find out eventually.
***
“Sire?”
The voice, the hesitancy in it was new, and maybe it was because she wasn’t used to hearing that note, but she turned, more gentle and more willing.
“Yes, Lukyan?” she asked. She was sitting on the bed, examining her own face, slightly startled by the changes.
“I.” He cleared his throat, and he looked so uncomfortable that Sire didn’t know what to say. “I wanted to apologize.” He started.
“For?” her smile was slightly amused. “I’ve been an ass.” She confessed.
Lukyan grinned. “So have I.” He admitted, but he didn’t say protest at her own confession. Sire knew this, which was why her smile matched his, silly and slightly shy.
“So…” Sire started off, and paused.
“Do you want to go out for dinner?” he asked suddenly. Sire looked up, startled. “The three of us.”
“Three?” Sire asked, a bit unsure, and Lukyan nodded, even more determined.
“You, me and Thomas.”
Sire smiled. “That would be good.”
***
They went for dinner at a slightly posh Italian restaurant, enough that Lukyan wore a beautiful dark blue shirt and Thomas a suit, and Sire put on a deep burgundy dress that hit her mid thigh. They were pretty to look at, not stunning but exciting in their own right.
They spent the night in mindless chatter, proving that especially with what had happened, that they could get along. At least for an hour. Wine flowed, and the food was decadent enough that all wore touches of crimson on their cheeks, and a much brighter eye.
When the last dessert course came around, Sire smiled, sighing as she leaned back, holding onto the thin champagne flute with one hand. “I’m glad we did this.” She said, smiling.
“So am I.” Thomas was slightly grave, and Lukyan nodded.
“Sire.” He began, and then stopped. He looked over at Thomas, who nodded.
Sire saw the look pass between them, and arched a brow.
“Well.” It was Thomas who cracked first. “You were down for a week. We had time to talk.”
“Talk?” for a moment, her tone took a note of unease.
Lukyan nodded his head. “Sire…” he began again. “Thomas and I, we both…”
Sire smiled brightly. “Some ice cream?” she suggested.
“Sire.” Almost exhasperated, Lukyan reached out and held her empty hand. “We’re trying to be serious.
Sire knew this, which was why she sounded so desperate.
“I love you.” Thomas blurted out, just like that and it was these words that had Sire turn, still. “I like you a lot.” He amended, blushing slightly. “You saved my life, kind of. Maybe it’s hero worship, but it’s not just nothing. Lukyan… he loves you. He’s your slayer but I…”
“We both do.” Lukyan said smoothly. “So we decided, not to fight. That…”
“You’d share?” her tone came, quiet.
Thomas nodded, relieved that she understood so well. “Exactly.”
The three sat together, in silence and then Sire broke it.
“I… need to go to the bathroom.”
***
Grandmamma looked up, startled as she gave a porter the last of Shy’s bag. It was magic, of course, but still… she paused, surprised. “Sire? Are you home already? Where are the boys?”
Sire, her cheeks touched red as if with exertion, shook her head. “They think I’m in the bathroom… although I think since half an hour has passed, they know better.” She looked up, saw Shy shaking hands with her mother. “Are you going now?” she asked, her tone sharp.
Shy looked up, bemused. “Yes.” He purred. “I have my own business to take care of, at the Vella Crean.”
“Is it far?”
He arched a brow. “Of course.”
“Can I go with you?”
Her grandmother watched her, alarmed. “Sire.” She began.
Sire looked over. “For a little while.” She hedged desperately.
Shy smiled, his eyes seeing much more into the matter. “I will keep her safe.” He assured her, and arched a brow. “No bags?”
“What, don’t you have clothes in your world?”
***
Sire had been at the Vella Crean for a week. Long enough that she had gotten over her initial scare of realizing that there were weird creatures in the world, and that she had adapted at living in a maze. A laboratory, but still… a maze.
She hadn’t told anyone where she was. She hadn’t written. It was an extremely cowardly thing to do, but really, she didn’t give a damn. All she had wanted was to run away, to run from the moment, and even now, she wasn’t feeling strong enough to face them.
It hadn’t been a complete mistake, however. She was with Shy, and under his tutelage she began to learn even more about herself. She was strong, powerful and while she wasn’t evil…she had to admit, she was seeing a kinder light to all of this bad stuff. It was intoxicating.
She grew, if it was possible, in a weeks time. She didn’t complain when he gave her different clothes, when he forbade her from leaving without a companion and when he dropped in at odd hours to stuff her silly with cake.
She could live with that.
At least for a while longer.
***
‘Hiding. What are you hiding from?’
Sire stirred in her sleep, frowning and trying to block the voice. She didn’t know what it was, only that it was sibilant, that it seemed so…perfect and that she didn’t know where it was coming from.
‘Are you hiding from me?’ it hissed, soft.
Sire frowned, twisting.
‘No, you’re hiding from yourself…’ it answered, triumphant.
“Go away.” The words left her like a slight sigh, and at her words, the voices seemed to recede.
From outside the room, Shy poured himself another glass of ice tea, really a potent sugar mixture, and watched with rapture.
“I don’t know why you put her in that room.” A voice spoke from besides him. The golden woman smiled. “I could have told you right off that she’s meant to be a candidate.”
“I know.” He said, soothing the ego of the Oracle. “But I wanted to know where. This is a good room, a great invention… too bad the inventor had to die.”
Monique’s lips quirked into a smile. “Like you had nothing to do with it…” she muttered.
“Pardon?”
She merely smirked. “Her vitals are okay. I tracked the voices, or at least the souls. I know where their coming from.”
Shy swiveled in the chair, moving over to join her on the other screen. “Where?” he asked. “There?” he sounded a bit incredulous.
Monique bit back an ‘I told you so.’ “Well, she’s not exactly good.” She pointed out.
“But she’s not evil either. And no winter recurrent…”
“There’s another clutch.” Monique, ever so practical, and ever so high in being right when Shy was wrong, pointed this out in a slightly condescending manner.
Shy frowned. Humph. “Are you going to tell her?” he asked, sulky.
Monique smiled. “She won’t say no, you know.” She said.
“I just think it’s good if she faces her two men for the last night.”
Monique smirked. “Liar. There’s always a letter.”
***
To
Lukyan and Thomas.
How long did it take for you to realize I’d left?
It’s taken me a long time to write to you both, but I am a coward, so I’m not going to send two letters. What’s the use? I’m sure the two of you would read them to each other, in the end.
I am fine. But Grandmamma has assured you of that, hasn’t she? Has she also told you that I don’t want to be found?
Well, not you know.
I am safe. I am happy. I am, hiding. Currently, it seems that I am waiting as a potential bonder to one of those dragon things. Or something. You know, we’ve read many books about them. I’ll bring some back later.
Books, not dragons.
If this works well, I will be home in a couple of years. Although Shy assures me that I can skip time, I think it’d be weird, if I came back three years older, and only a month had passed. Besides, it gives you boys plenty of time to catch up.
I’m really trying not to sound bitter.
I ran away without asking questions, without waiting for the whole story. I know this now, and I am very, very embarrassed. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m not there. Maybe it’s because I only woke up from the coma a day before, but my reasoning seemed logical then, and now… well, the past is the past.
How long did it take for you to realize I’d left?
It’s taken me a long time to write to you both, but I am a coward, so I’m not going to send two letters. What’s the use? I’m sure the two of you would read them to each other, in the end.
I am fine. But Grandmamma has assured you of that, hasn’t she? Has she also told you that I don’t want to be found?
Well, not you know.
I am safe. I am happy. I am, hiding. Currently, it seems that I am waiting as a potential bonder to one of those dragon things. Or something. You know, we’ve read many books about them. I’ll bring some back later.
Books, not dragons.
If this works well, I will be home in a couple of years. Although Shy assures me that I can skip time, I think it’d be weird, if I came back three years older, and only a month had passed. Besides, it gives you boys plenty of time to catch up.
I’m really trying not to sound bitter.
I ran away without asking questions, without waiting for the whole story. I know this now, and I am very, very embarrassed. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m not there. Maybe it’s because I only woke up from the coma a day before, but my reasoning seemed logical then, and now… well, the past is the past.
Don’t
worry, you’ll see me soon.
Maybe things will change when I come back. Maybe you two will be lovers?
Lukyan, I’m joking, you homophobic slayer.
Thank you for understanding.
Although really, I guess you have no choice?
Sire.
P.S:
Thomas, I don’t know if Lukyan told you, but I really wasn’t named after a slayer. That would be too cliché. Actually, my name is a odd word play on the name Saya. If you pronounce the latter just so, it sounds like Sire, doesn’t it?
Saya was the angel that Gabriel tried to impress, so he created our kind. The way men create sculptures for beautiful women, we were made to impress the crush.
Yeah, it’s cute how angels can be human as well.
Maybe things will change when I come back. Maybe you two will be lovers?
Lukyan, I’m joking, you homophobic slayer.
Thank you for understanding.
Although really, I guess you have no choice?
Sire.
P.S:
Thomas, I don’t know if Lukyan told you, but I really wasn’t named after a slayer. That would be too cliché. Actually, my name is a odd word play on the name Saya. If you pronounce the latter just so, it sounds like Sire, doesn’t it?
Saya was the angel that Gabriel tried to impress, so he created our kind. The way men create sculptures for beautiful women, we were made to impress the crush.
Yeah, it’s cute how angels can be human as well.
