The sun slowly set over the horizon, bathing the small town of Piorre in an orange glow. Bustling crowds filled the village square, taking one final pass through the Hero's Fair. The merchants packed their various wares back into heir carts, getting ready to depart back to their homes.
Outside the hustle and bustle of the fair, two men sat out in the open field on the outskirts of Piorre.
"This is great, thanks to you we're completely out of money. At least you could have left enough in the satchel for inn fare." one of the men snapped, raking his hands through his dark brow hair as he glared at his companion.
"You were the one who wanted to try the archery contest, Cyrus!" the other replied with a sigh.
"Once, Basil, once. You spent the other fifty two gold, without hitting a single target no less! Now give me a hand will you?" Cyrus groaned, fighting to keep their torn and tattered tent from collapsing again.
Basil lazily grabbed one of the tent posts and forced it further into the ground. Satisfied with his job well done, he went back to lounging in the grass. Cyrus let out a groan, giving up on the tent.
"Forget it! I'm going back to town to see if I can't borrow some gold for the fare at the inn. Since this is mostly your fault, I suggest you do the same." Cyrus sighed, walking towards the town gate.
"What about the tent? Shouldn't we take it...""
"Who in their right mind would want to steal that nightmarish thing? Just leave it, we'll buy a new one sooner or later." Cyrus replied, continuing on into town.
Basil stumbled after Cyrus, not wanting to be left behind.
"Don't worry, I'll get us the money in no time. No woman can resist my subtle charm." Basil grinned.
"If by subtle charm, you mean blatant debauchery, then I agree. Any woman wouldn't be able to resist the urge to run as far away as possible." Cyrus laughed.
"Yea, yea, keep laughing." Basil groaned.
"We should probably split up. I'll cover the west side of town, you take the east." Cyrus replied.
"Alright, Meet be back here in an hour?" Basil asked, turning towards the residential district.
"Sure. Just remember you're looking for inn fare, not a date. Got it?" Cyrus sighed half jokingly as he walked down the dirt road away from the town square.
The markets were empty, most of the merchants having already left for home. Cyrus wandered through the markets, knocking on the occasional door in hopes that someone was still around. He paced around the small fountain, trying to think of anywhere else he might be able to find some spare gold.
"I wonder how Basil is making out..." he thought aloud, taking a seat on one of the stone benches around the fountain.
Leaning back, he dipped his hand into the water, stirring his fingers about in the gentle current. He turned his head towards the water, looking into the fountain to see if there were any coins drifting about the bottom, but to no avail. The fountain was disappointingly empty.
"Well, sitting here won't do me any good. I might as well get back to searching."
As he rose back to his feet, Cyrus noticed a dim light off in the distance. Walking down the winding path, Cyrus made his way through the night. His footsteps echoed through the still night air as he made his way to the edge of town. He found himself at the gates of the village cemetery.
"Who would be out here at this time of night?" Cyrus wondered, opening the gate and walking inside.
He followed the small dirt path through the countless rows of headstones, following the ever brightening light. At long last, Cyrus reached the source of the curious glow. A large mausoleum encompassed the center of the graveyard, the cross at the peak of its dome reaching towards the heavens. Cautiously, Cyrus crept closer. A cloaked figure knelt by the door of the mausoleum, gripping a solid gold staff in hand. The tip of the staff glowed with a brilliant white light against the darkness of night. A glimmer of light reflecting off a small pendant in the man's hand caught Cyrus' eye.
"You there, what is it you want?" the man asked, still fiddling with the door.
Cyrus hesitated for a moment, unsure of the man's intent. Placing a hand on the hilt of his sword, Cyrus took a step forward.
"No need to worry, boy. I mean you no harm. Now, what is it you require of me?" the man asked again.
"Well, a friend of mine got me into a bit of trouble, you see. I'm in need of some gold to cover the inn fare for the night. I was wondering of you'd be so kind as to..."
Before Cyrus could even finish, the man rose to his feet and reached into his cloak.
"But of course! Here, this should be more than enough to cover things." the man replied with a laugh, tossing Cyrus a small leather pouch packed to the brim with coins.
"Thank you, your generosity is greatly..."
"Now who said I was giving it to you for free?" the man interjected once again.
Turning to face Cyrus, the man dropped the hood of his cloak, a crooked smile curling across his lips. Despite his sharp facial features which were worn and weathered with age, he had a rather pleasant demeanor. His chin was coated in grey stubble, and his appearance overall was rather slovenly and unkempt.
"You see this insignia?" he asked, motioning towards the door.
Taking a step closer, Cyrus looked over the small engraving at the center of the mausoleum door. It was an intricate design of a snake weaving around its own body, entangling itself as its jaws came down upon its own tail. Following the snakes body with his eyes, Cyrus noticed that aside from the head, the insignia was divided into three identical parts.
"Yes, but I don't quite see what's so important about it..." Cyrus replied with a shrug.
"That is because you aren't looking hard enough. Tis a lock, my boy, a lock with three keys. I have one of them here, and I know where another one is. That's where you come in!"
"How so?" Cyrus asked, skeptical as to what exactly he was getting himself into.
"Well, the key is in the hands of an old acquaintance of mine. Unfortunately we haven't been on the best of terms. I was hoping you could go retrieve it in my stead." the man smiled.
"Well, where exactly is this acquaintance of yours?" Cyrus asked, fishing for more information.
"Oh, not far at all, not at all. There's a small manor to the north, deep in the forest. You'll find the key there. I'll send word of your coming." the man replied with a crooked grin.
"So that's it, we just get the key for you..."
"Simple as simple can be, my boy. Now, go get some rest. It's a good day's journey to the manor. If you leave by daybreak you should make it there by sunset."
"Alright. I'll talk it over with my companion and see if he's willing to help." Cyrus replied, turning to leave.
"Oh, and before I forget. If you're thinking of taking advantage of this old man's generosity.... let's just say I wouldn't, if I were you..."
With that, the man drew the hood back over his head and once again turned his attention to the door of the mausoleum.
Making his way back to the town square, Cyrus noticed Basil was already waiting for him. Taking out the gold filled pouch, Cyrus sat down on the bench.
"So, did you have any luck?" Cyrus asked.
"Not at all, how about you?" Basil replied.
"Well I was really hoping you found something to be honest. Some old man gave me some gold, but wants a favor in return." Cyrus sighed, holding up the pouch.
"Looks like we lucked out!" Basil squealed with glee, practically diving at the pouch.
Cyrus instinctively pulled the pouch away from him, shaking his head.
"Something's not right. I felt like he was hiding something. He wants me to pick a key up from a friend of his, but he barely gave me any information aside from where to go. It doesn't feel right." Cyrus sighed.
"Well it's all we've got, so might as well take it. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm beat. We'll figure this out in the morning." Basil replied with a yawn as he stepped through the door to the inn.
Cyrus followed, rubbing his head in deliberation, his mind deeply troubled by his deal with the mysterious old man. Cyrus hardly slept the night, his subconscious tormenting him with visions of what grisly fate lay ahead, be it from the denizens of the forest, or from the man's mysterious acquaintance. The night seemed to drag on forever, the infinite possibilities for disaster and restless nightmares keeping Cyrus awake. At long last, the sun crept over the horizon. Cyrus let out a groan as he rolled out of bed. Having only slept for an hour or two the whole night, Cyrus groggily shuffled over to his bag and began to back up his belongings. Basil, on the other hand, was still sleeping soundly, sprawled out across his bed like a large mutt. The soothing melodies of songbirds drifted through the window, carried along the breeze of the crisp morning air.
"Get up, it's time to get moving." Cyrus sighed, giving Basil a shove.
Dragging himself out of bed, Basil slowly got dressed and grabbed his pack. They headed out of town and started the long walk to the forest.
The sun had nearly set by the time they made it to the forest, the trees casting an ominous and foreboding shadow over the two travelers. The cold night wind whipped and howled through the branches, screaming for them to turn back while they still had the chance.
"We there yet?" Basil sighed, leaning against a nearby tree.
"Almost. The manor should be in the depths of this forest, if what the old man said is correct." Cyrus replied.
"Well, can we take a quick break?"
"I want to get there before nightfall. This place can get pretty dangerous late at night. Once we get to the manor you can rest all you want." Cyrus replied, heading further down the path into the forest.
"Fine, just don't leave me behind!" Basil called, running to catch up.
Following the small dirt path through the forest, the trees around them grew thicker and thicker, until the sky was almost completely shrouded from view. Even during the day, sunlight would barely stand a chance of penetrating the thick foliage. The pair walked on well into the night, and at long last the manor came into view. Though most of the base structure was stone, the peak of the manor was adorned with a large rose insignia carved from oak. At the front of the manor was a large double door, a solitary guard pacing in front of it. He stopped, looking towards them.
"You two, are you the ones Mathias spoke of?" the guard called out.
"Though he never gave me his name, I would assume so." Cyrus replied.
At this the guard simply grinned. Unlocking the door, he ushered his weary guests inside.
"My master has been expecting you. Continue down the main hall until you reach the foyer. I should warn you though, wandering off may prove to be quite... fatal..."
The guard bowed his head, inviting them inside.
The main hall of the manor was lined with portraits, all of whose subjects seemed to be related, if only by the same ice cold demeanor as they looked condescendingly upon their audience. Cyrus looked at the paintings as he walked by, reading the nameplates of each as he passed. He and Basil stopped for a moment at the final portrait. Staring back at them was the most unsettling of all the portrait's subjects. A powerful man stared back at them, his eyes practically piercing their souls as he watched them from atop his bloodstained throne.
"That's it, I'm out of here..." Basil whispered, turning around.
The guard from outside had been following the entire town, and now stood mere feet behind them.
"Leaving so soon? My master has been in a rather foul mood lately, and I would hate to sour it even further." he sighed.
Basil nervously turned around, shuffling back over to Cyrus. The door to the foyer loomed before them, daring them to continue onward. Left with no other choice, Cyrus nudged open the double doors, nearly dragging Basil along behind him. A long red carpet lined the small entryway at their feet, leading to an elaborate throne at the center of the foyer.
To their surprise, a young woman stared back at them from across the room, slouching rather comfortably in her throne. With her head propped up in her hand, she looked them over. Crossing one leg over her knee, she addressed them.
"You must be the ones that old codger sent in his stead. That senile old geezer just refuses to give up no matter how many times I turn him away." the woman scoffed.
"So this key is that important to you then?" Cyrus asked, approaching the throne.
"No, it's keeping it out of the hands of you self-righteous humans who know nothing of the power these objects hold." she replied, sitting up a little bit.
"Then, if you would, please explain what is so powerful about these keys."
"I've already wasted my breath merely entertaining your presence, so what makes you think you're even worth giving such an explanation to?" the woman groaned, growing more irritable by the second.
"If that's the case, and you knew we were coming for the key, then why invite us in at all?" Cyrus protested.
"I was bored." she sighed with a shrug.
"Bored... I see... well, perhaps we can make some kind of deal here."
"Good idea, Cyrus! I'd gladly offer myself as a bargaining chip." Basil said with a smirk.
"Now isn't the time for this..." Cyrus groaned.
"I concur. Besides, I'm a good two centuries to old for either of you." The woman sighed, her right eye twitching ever so slightly, quickly becoming frustrated at Basil's advances.
"I've gathered you're not exactly human... would you mind telling me a bit more about yourself, your name for starters?" Cyrus asked.
"Just call me your royal highness, that or master, whichever you prefer." she replied, a malicious grin creeping across her lips.
"I'd rather not..." Cyrus groaned, shaking his head.
"Well, it would appear your companion has no issue with that request." the woman laughed, looking over at Basil.
Cyrus turned to look at his friend, surprised to see him kneeling before their host, his eyes fixed upon her knees."
"My companion has... less noble... reasons for complying..." Cyrus sighed.
"I realize. Why is it, do you think, I chose to cross my legs when you both entered. I noticed that hungry look in his eyes from the moment you set foot in this room. Stray dogs begging for a free meal belong out of the streets." the woman scoffed, snapping her fingers.
Two guards answered her call, standing at her side.
"Please, escort him out." she sighed, pointing towards Basil.
The two guards grabbed him by the arms and forcefully dragged him out the door, Basil pleading for forgiveness the entire way. With Basil gone, she turned her attention back towards Cyrus.
"Now, with that out of the way, where were we?" she sighed.
"I would still like to at least have a name to call you by." Cyrus replied.
"You intrigue me, boy. You know I am not human, yet you insist on learning my name before all else. Aren't you curious at all as to what I am? Or perhaps you are to dense to realize how different we truly are from one another." the woman laughed.
"What you are has no bearing on our negotiations, but it would be nice to at least be able to call you by name." Cyrus replied.
"The woman began tapping the arm of her throne with her nails, unsure what to make of the man standing before her. After a moment of silence, she rose to her feet.
"Very well. If you must know, my name is Tielle Mortevus, head of the Mortevus clan. You can still call me master though, I would prefer it over my formal name, child." she answered with a sly grin.
"As I said earlier, I'd rather not, Tielle. Now, about those keys..."
"I'd rather not speak of such things, boy. it's a troubling subject for me, to say the least."
"Fine, what would I need to do to get the key you hold, then?"
"Nothing. I won't be giving it to you, or anyone for that matter."
"Then why did you even grant my audience with you in the first place?" Cyrus snapped, starting to get frustrated.
"My you're rather slow. We're just going around in circles now. As I stated before, I was bored... that and I find you rather intriguing. You continue to keep yourself purposefully in the dark about my true nature. You're not like other humans I've seen."
"You're intelligent enough to be reasoned with, which is more than I can say even for most of my own kin. I feel safe in that your nature doesn't put me in any immediate danger. "
"I wouldn't go so far as to say you're safe, boy. You're just lucky I'm not hungry."
"I see..."
Cyrus began fidgeting nervously, starting to realize the fatal flaw in his logic. Having no way out, he may very well be at the mercy of this woman, whatever she may be.
"Now you realize the gravity of your situation, child? If you didn't pique my curiosity so, chances are you wouldn't leave here alive."
Cyrus swallowed hard, fear almost overtaking him, but despite the voice in the back of his head screaming for him to run as far as he could, Cyrus stood his ground.
"It would seem that rather than bargain for the key, perhaps you should start pleading for your life." Tielle said with a grin, revealing a prominent pair of fangs.
"I don't even think I have anything worth bargaining with, except maybe a small pouch of gold." Cyrus sighed.
"Tielle simply laughed, slouching back in her throne. Running a hand through her hair, she leaned forward, motioning for Cyrus to come closer with her free hand.
"But there is something you can give me. It's something I've been wanting of you from the moment we began this little game. Serve me, and I will spare you. Who knows, I may even let you glimpse upon that key you came here to get, maybe."
"And what of my companion, Basil?"
"What of him? I don't care for that vile womanizing cur. He belongs out in the wilderness with his own kin." Tielle scoffed.
"That may be true, but I do consider him a friend..."
"Before I call your sanity into question, let me get this straight. You wish to drag your friend into this mess along with you?"
"You know more than anyone how dangerous these woods are at night. He would be dead before sunrise if I left him out there like this."
Tielle simply shook her head, letting out a groan.
"I suppose I could give him one of my maid servants to drool over. He should be obedient enough. You, boy, are what I want out of the deal though."
Cyrus tilted his head to the side, giving her a bewildered stare.
"What would you want me for?"
Tielle gave him a smirk, leaning back in her throne.
"Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've last had someone keep me so entertained? Your logic, however flawed and naive it may be, it fascinates me. Most humans either run in terror, or worse yet, only come in hopes of slaying me. You, on the other hand, speak with me as an equal, not as some monster. Unfortunately, neither of these is how you should address your master." Tielle laughed, kicking off one of her shoes.
"I've yet to agree to your terms, Miss Mortevus." Cyrus replied calmly.
"I realize that, but it's only a matter of time, lest you want me to kill you, and turn you. Look at it this way. In the end, you will serve me, with or without your free will matters not to me." Tielle sighed, giving Cyrus a good look at her fangs to further emphasize her point.
"Well, it would seem I truly have no other option, but why would you let me keep my free will? Wouldn't that cause you more trouble worrying about keeping me under control?" Cyrus asked.
Tielle burst into laughter, unable to control herself. After a moment, she composed herself once again, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You bring up what you see as flaws in my logic, regardless of how it may inevitably doom you. Lucky for you, I have my reasons for keeping you as you are, boy. Now, do you accept my offer, or would you prefer death?"
Cyrus hesitated for a moment. He knew what he had to do, but he was far from willing to go through with it. Nevertheless, he reluctantly gave his answer.
"I accept..." he groaned.
Tielle was brimming with joy, grinning from ear to ear at his reply. Motioning for him to approach, Tielle brushed the hair from her face.
"Good, you are as smart as I had hoped. Now, to seal the arrangement with a kiss."
Cyrus was taken aback, blushing slightly at her request.
"So you want me to seal my fate with a kiss?" Cyrus asked, coming face to face with Tielle.
"Yes, but I think you misunderstood exactly...where..." Tielle sighed, offering Cyrus the top of her bare foot.
"I should have known..." Cyrus groaned.
"Well, boy, what are you waiting for?" Tielle sighed, giving Cyrus' cheek a light tap with the ball of her foot.
"In retrospect, I should have chosen death." Cyrus sighed.
"Too late now." Tielle sang, continuing to mockingly poke and prod at his face with her foot.
"Fine, Tielle, I'll kiss your damn foot!" Cyrus snapped, grabbing under the bridge of her foot and pulling it to his lips.
"Happy?" he groaned, releasing his grip.
Tielle simply stared at him with disapproval. She gave him a swift kick to the face before slipping her shoe back on.
"You forgot to call me master. I'll teach you some respect even if it kills me, boy." she growled.
Rubbing his cheek in pain, Cyrus turned his head back towards her.
"My apologies, master." he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"And you continue to give me an attitude..."
With that, Tielle gave him a hard kick to the side. Before he could even regain his balance, Tielle gave him another hard kick to the chest, knocking him to the ground. She rose to her feet and walked over to Cyrus, who was groaning in pain on the floor. Placing her heel on his throat, she applied just enough force to make breathing difficult.
"You will learn your place, boy, whether you like it or not!" she snapped, glaring at him angrily.
"Y-yes master!" Cyrus stammered.
"That's more like it." Tielle said with a grin as she released him.
Cyrus coughed and wheezed for a moment, gasping for air as he caught his breath. Tears of pain blurred his vision as he rose to a kneel, finally able to breathe again.
"Tielle..."
She simply glared at him, clearing her throat.
"...master... what do you want of me? There must be something you wanted me to do, or you wouldn't have..."
"There is nothing I want of you at the moment. You simply intrigue me, that is all. Perhaps we should take this time to get more acquainted with one another, hmm?" Tielle sighed, leaning back in her throne.
"Alright, what do you want to know?" Cyrus asked.
"How exactly did you end up in this predicament in the first place? I'm fairly well known in these parts, so I'm surprised you took Mathias' offer so willingly." Tielle replied, tapping the armrest of her throne.
"Thanks to my thick headed companion, we had no gold to pay for inn fare. Left with no other option than to beg, I came across Mathias in the cemetery..."
"Piorre's cemetery?" Tielle interrupted, her rather bored demeanor suddenly gone, the topic striking her interest.
"Yes. He had some kind of pendant, said it was a key, part of one anyway. In exchange for more than enough gold to cover our expenses, he wanted me to retrieve another key from you, though he really didn't give me any information at all about you." Cyrus continued.
"You must not be from around here. The mere mention of this forest is taboo in most towns lest its from a hero on some futile quest to slay me." Tielle sighed.
"I do a lot of traveling, mostly doing work for hire wherever I can find it. When I heard about the Hero's Fair in Piorre I figured it might be a good way to find some business."
"So you'd no idea what Mathias was asking of you... I almost pity you... almost..." Tielle laughed.
"I guess I should be thankful for that much at least." Cyrus groaned.
"Yes, you should be, boy. Now, you said Mathias had a pendant?"
"It looked like it was part of a key to the door of the mausoleum."
"So that leaves two more. One is already in my possession, and the other I may very well end up having sent to me for safe keeping..." Tielle mumbled, more in thought than directed at anyone in particular.
"So what is so important about thee keys?" Cyrus asked.
"I commend you on your persistence, child, though even I do not know the whole truth behind them. You humans believe that a great hero lies dormant within that tomb, a last resort should the forces of evil rise up to threaten the land. Personally, I don't have much faith in such fairy tales."
"I've never heard of such a legend. Would you mind telling me the tale?"
"I'd rather not dwell on such topics, besides, it's a legend. I doubt there is very much truth to it." Tielle scoffed, turning her head to hide a lonely tear running down her cheek.
"True, legends never have been very reliable in the practical sense." Cryus sighed.
"Agreed. Perhaps you would like to take this somewhere a little more comfortable? I would assume you'd rather sit down somewhere rather than stand there like that." Tielle asked, rising to her feet.
"I wouldn't mind, but something has been nagging at me, so if you don't mind my asking..."
"What is it?"
"Your demeanor is quite different from even just a few moments ago..."
"That is your doing, not mine. You've learned your place, for now. I've no need to remind you of that." she replied with a laugh.
"I see..." Cyrus groaned.
Tielle led Cyrus out of the foyer and up the stairs to the second floor. Tielle stopped for a moment at the top of the stairs.
"That will be your room over there" she said, pointing to a door at the far left of the balcony overlooking the room.
As Cyrus began walking towards the door, Tielle grabbed him by the back of his collar.
"That's not where we're headed." she sighed, pulling him back.
They continued a little further down to the middle of the balcony, stopping in front of a large pair of oak double doors, the same rose insignia from the front of the house etched onto it. Tielle pushed the doors open, revealing a lavish bedchamber. A large bed rest against the far wall, a curtain drawn around it shrouding the bed itself from view. To its left was a small desk, bookshelves lined with books on both sides of it. To the right of the bed was a massive walk in closet taking up the entirety of the right wall. She led Cyrus inside, drawing the red curtain around the bed aside. Taking a seat, she motioned for Cyrus to join her.
"Come now, I won't bite." Tielle giggled, seeing the trepidation in Cyrus' face.
He cautiously took a seat beside her, unsure of what she intended by inviting him here. Looking down at the bedsheets, he began to wonder if they were naturally crimson, or if they had simply soaked in that much blood over time. Tielle put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry, there isn't nearly as much blood on these sheets as you would think."
Cyrus found the fact that she admitted the sheets were stained with blood to begin with a little unsettling. Though trying to keep his composure, his hand began trembling with fear. Tielle looked him over, a subtle grin pursing her lips.
"You're absolutely terrified of me right now... I could have so much fun with this..." she giggled, leaning in close to Cyrus' neck.
He started inching away, trying not to let her get too close. Cyrus could feel his heart pounding against his chest, trying desperately to break through his ribs and fly away from its fleshy prison. Chills ran down his spine as he felt Tielle's breath on his ear, cringing as he anticipated what was to come.
"Not only do you fear me, but you also seem to think I'd so easily go back on my word. I told you I'd let you keep your free will. I must say though, toying with you is so much fun, boy." Tielle sighed, letting herself fall back onto the bed.
Cyrus let out a nervous laugh, feeling his neck just to make sure he wasn't imagining her sudden change of heart.
"I really am quite disappointed. You'll learn to trust me in time, I suppose." Tielle sighed.
"I don't have much choice in the matter..." Cyrus replied, his voice still quivering a little.
"Come, join me." Tielle yawned, grabbing Cyrus by his shirt and pulling him down beside her.
Cyrus let out a startled yelp as he felt himself fall back. He started to blush a little as he felt Tielle wrap an arm around his waist, her soft breath gently blowing against the back of his neck.
"What is the meaning of this?" Cyrus gasped, Tielle's actions taking him by surprise.
"I'm cold, and you're still rather warm. The transfer of body heat is a simple concept, simple enough where even you shouldn't have problems understanding it." Tielle replied.
'But you have blankets for that sort of..."
"You fill the role more effectively. I've grown tired of this banter, but mostly just tired. I trust you'll keep me warm through the night..."
Tielle's voice trailed off as she started to doze.
"And how do you know I won't try anything while you sleep?" Cyrus asked.
"You, unlike that filthy cur you associate yourself with, don't strike me as the lecherous type. No more questions, I'm rather sleepy." Tielle mumbled, pulling Cyrus in closer as she nuzzled her face into his shoulder.
Cyrus tried his best to get some sleep, but seeing how Tielle was becoming more and more clingy in her sleep, he found it incredibly difficult to get comfortable, not to mention the awkward discomfort from the situation in general. As he lay awake, Cyrus began pondering the night's events, especially the drastic change in Tielle's treatment of him.
"She can be quite likable when she's not being a pompous bitch." Cyrus thought aloud.
He suddenly felt Tielle's grip tighten, her nails raking into his sides. He could hear her giggle softly in his ear.
"I'd advise you wait till I'm asleep before making such comments, boy, lest you enjoy pain and suffering." she whispered in reply.
Cyrus fell silent, not wanting to further invoke her wrath. He tried to reposition himself a little to get comfortable, but Tielle only tightened her hold on him. He struggled against her to release her grip just a little, but it was no use. The best he could do was to turn to face her, which was a little more comfortable, but only made the situation even more awkward for him. Eventually Cyrus was able to get some sleep, though his peaceful slumber was short lived. He looked up to see Tielle staring down at him, and by the looks of things she was sorely displeased.
"My men have tracked down that womanizing bastard you call a friend. Dealing wit that insufferable dog even for a moment tries the very limits of my patience, which is short enough as is mind you." she groaned, grabbing his collar and pulling him up.
"Now why is it you wanted me to fetch him again?" she growled.
"Misery does love company I suppose." Cyrus replied with a grin.
"Then why is it I'm the one who's miserable here!? And why are you grinning, boy? Perhaps I should take out some of my frustration on you then?"" she sighed, cracking her knuckles as she released him.
"He was that bad?" Cyrus stammered, cringing in fear.
"That dolt did nothing but make advances towards me and every maid servant that passed him by. I put him in the care of my second in command. Considering her job is to keep people in line I suppose she'll make quick work of training the mutt and keep him on a tight leash." Tielle growled, shoving Cyrus back down onto the bed.
Before Tielle could leap at Cyrus and begin her therapeutic beat down, the door to her room swung open, slamming against the wall as it did. A young woman stood in the doorway, clearly having reached her limit by the look of the infuriated scowl on her face. Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail that snaked down her back. Her light breast plate glistened in the torchlight, along with a multitude of knives and daggers strapped to her belt.
"I apologize for intruding, master, but I simply can not oblige to your request to babysit that boorish creature! With your permission, it would greatly please me to slit his damn throat." the woman said in as polite a tone as she possibly could, holding back a considerable amount of anger and seething rage.
Tielle simply laughed, looking over at Cyrus.
"Whether or not you can kill him is up to the boy." she sighed, motioning towards Cyrus.
"You jest. You surely don't mean to tell me you want him to decide that foul lecher's fate!" the woman protested.
"Allowing his companion to share his fate was part of the deal we arranged. As cold hearted as I can be at times, I still hold to my word. So, boy, what say you concerning this matter?" Tielle sighed, cocking her head back as she lazily stretched out across the bed again.
Cyrus shook his head in disbelief. Once again Basil had dragged Cyrus into another fine mess. As far as he could tell, Tielle seemed to care less about the outcome, but was clearly enjoying watching this debacle unfold. The other woman, on the other hand, seemed at her breaking point, and denying her any action for Basil's sake would likely push her over the edge.
"Do what you must to keep him in line, so long as you don't kill him." Tielle sighed, tired of waiting for Cyrus to answer.
Cyrus looked over at her in surprise. Tielle simply gave him a smirk.
"You would have come to a similar conclusion, though it would have taken far longer. " she continued, patting Cyrus on the head.
He simply groaned in reply, brushing her hand aside. Tielle turned her attention back towards her second in command.
"Morgan, you are dismissed." Tielle sighed, motioning for her to leave.
With a bow, Morgan walked out, closing the door behind her. Turning her attention towards Cyrus once more, Tielle drew the curtain around the bed shut. Putting a hand under his chin, Tielle looked Cyrus in the eyes as she gently scratched under his chin with her nails.
"There is something I want of you, boy..." she whispered, wrapping a hand around the back of his neck, gently leading him closer.
"What to you wish of me?" Cyrus replied with a relaxed sigh.
"Retrieve the second crest from the tundra in Rel' Vesh." Tielle replied with a giggle.
"But of course... wait what did you just..." Cyrus began, completely unaware of what he had just agreed to.
"To think, a little seduction could so easily cripple a man's sense of reasoning. It really is rather pathetic." Tielle sighed, sitting back up.
"You're already sending me off to find the other crest for you? Aren't you afraid I'll run?" Cyrus asked.
"If the crest were anywhere else, then yes. It lies in a tower to the north, in the heart of the frozen tundra. I can only give you an escort so far into the mountains though, you'll have to travel the rest by foot. Should you even try to run, you'll succumb to frostbite long before you come within a hundred miles of civilization, assuming you aren't eaten by the mountain's natural inhabitants that is."
"How comforting." Cyrus groaned.
"The carriage has already been prepared to take you to the mountain pass. I suggest you get moving." Tielle sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"At least give me a day to get settled. I doubt the crest will go anywhere while we wait." Cyrus replied.
He immediately let out a painful whine as Tielle tightened her grip.
"Now." she commanded.
"Okay, fine, just let go...."
Tielle obliged, and then promptly shoved him out the door.
Grabbing his belongings, Cyrus headed downstairs and walked out the front door of the manor. Morgan was already waiting for him at the door of the carriage.
"Can I at least cut out his bloody tongue?" she groaned, motioning towards Basil, who was already sitting inside.
"Not unless you want to deal with him using his hands to get your attention instead." Cyrus replied with a laugh.
Morgan shuddered with disgust just at the thought of what that might be like, and quickly dismissed the thought as she opened the door of the carriage. Basil had already sprawled himself out across one of the seats inside the carriage. A grin crept across Basil's face as Cyrus climbed into the carriage.
"I think that girl's got a thing for me." Basil laughed.
"Did you not just hear her say she wanted to cut out your tongue just now? I'm sure she's had to have made threats to your face by now, considering she's nearly begging me to let her have her way with you." Cyrus groaned.
"She's just teasing is all. She can have her way with me any time she wants." Basil grinned.
"I wouldn't be so sure..." Cyrus replied, shaking his head.
"Enough about my latest tryst though, I'm more curious about your night." Basil grinned, nudging Cyrus with his elbow.
"What are you going on about? Nothing happened last night." Cyrus groaned.
"You spent the night in that woman's room!" Basil whined.
"You mean Tielle?"
"And you got her name too?" Basil groaned.
"You mean she never even gave you her name?" Cyrus sighed.
"Said I didn't even deserve to know it, let alone call her by it. She's just trying to play hard to get, but I can tell you right now it's not gonna work. I'll woo her eventually."
"I think she's one of those girls you're better off leaving alone, trust me. Who knows, you might live longer that way." Cyrus laughed.
"What's the matter, jealous? I see, you don't want me to take her from you. Alright then, I'll keep my distance, for your sake." Basil said with a smile.
"I'm telling you there's nothing going on between us!" Cyrus protested.
"I think the master has taken quite a liking to you though. You're the first I've seen to hold her attention for so long." Morgan chimed in from the head of the carriage.
"Please tell me you're joking." Cyrus groaned in anguish.
"Let's face it, she's intrigued by you. Even if it is only for her own amusement, she enjoys your company. To her, you're like a new toy to play with, until she breaks it and needs a new one anyway." Morgan replied, a smirk creeping across her lips.
"Break...." Cyrus repeated with a gulp, not liking the sound of this at all.
"Most people can't even stand to be in her presence for more than a few minutes. Then again, most are also after her head. Being able to enjoy her company is something that takes patience, a lot of patience." Morgan continued.
"After having to deal with Basil for so many years I'm sure I can handle a bratty little princess like Tielle." Cyrus sighed.
"After last night, I'm sure you're off to a good start." Basil said with a wink.
"How many times do I have to tell you, nothing happened!"
"Regardless, we have a long trip ahead. I suggest the two of you at least try to get some rest while it's still somewhat warm. The cold winds tend to make sleep rather difficult." Morgan said, turning her head back towards them.
"Why don't you come join us?" Basil replied with a smug grin.
"And who, might I ask, would be driving you two if I did, you dolt."
"Just give it up Basil, I think you've harassed the poor woman enough for one lifetime." Cyrus groaned, laying down on the soft cushioned bench.
"Well, my offer still stands if you ever get lonely and change your mind." Basil smiled as he curled up on his side of the carriage.
"Only to kill you in your damn sleep." Morgan muttered as she urged the horses to press further onward.
Getting comfortable, the pair eventually fell of to sleep, the gentle rocking of the carriage soothing them as they continued heading north.
Cyrus awoke to find Morgan curled up on the floor between the seats of the carriage, sleeping soundly. Basil was still passed out, sprawled out across his seat in a rather contorted and uncomfortable looking position. Stretching his legs, Cyrus sat back up, being careful not to disturb Morgan with his feet.
"Guess she decided to join us after all..." Cyrus sighed, reaching for the curtain drawn across the window of the carriage.
He suddenly felt something tightly grip his ankle, firmly holding his foot in place.
"Open that and you lose the only one who can show you back to civilization, and your foot if I have the chance..." Morgan hissed.
"H-how so...." Cyrus asked hesitantly, turning away from the window.
"It's daylight out. Why else do you think I sought refuge in here with you two? Though, I do wish there had been another option..." Morgan groaned, looking over at Basil.
"Why is that?"
"He's been murmuring my name all the while he's been asleep, and I can only imagine what perverse fantasies are running through that mongrel's head." she continued, shaking her head.
"How much farther until we reach the valley?"
"Not much, we should reach it before the next daybreak if we set out at sundown." Morgan replied.
"I assume you'll be waiting to take us back upon our return." Cyrus sighed, already having a bad feeling as to what the answer would be.
"The master has requested I return promptly once I've taken you to the drop point. I'm sure she had some way in mind of getting you back to the manor though. You're too amusing for her to just leave out in the cold like that." Morgan laughed.
"How nice of her..." Cyrus sighed with a shrug.
"Your friend on the other hand, well, I fear the only one who wishes more harm upon him than my master is me." Morgan replied, a devilish smirk crossing her lips.
"You're not killing him. Despite all the trouble he causes, he is useful at times." Cyrus laughed.
Morgan started to pout. Taking a glance over at Basil, and then looking back at Cyrus, she let out a sigh.
"It's rather hard to believe that uncouth thing could actually serve to be useful." Morgan replied, rolling her eyes.
"Even I have a hard time believing it myself." Cyrus chuckled in reply.
"I'm impressed at the level of patience you have. I'd have killed him long before now." Morgan sighed.
"Well, the fact I don't have those most certainly makes him a little easier to tolerate." Cyrus sighed, motioning towards Morgan's chest.
"Yes... perhaps you're right..." she groaned, instinctively folding her arms across her chest.
"What exactly did he do to get you so upset? Most women simply ignore his inane attempts at romance. It's not often that a woman wants him dead. Beaten, maimed, and tortured on the other hand, that's an entirely different matter." Cyrus wondered aloud, leaning back in his seat.
"Please, you're giving me far to many ideas. If you must know, perhaps you should ask the master. It was how he addressed her which first sealed his fate, though his actions towards myself certainly didn't help things." Morgan groaned, shaking her head.
"Really? You must be rather protective of Tielle." Cyrus replied curiously.
"As her second in command, I have a solemn duty to protect her with my life, should she require it. She found your companion's advances far from flattering. Such vulgarities he spoke of, most women would seldom think of such things let alone agree to partake of them, and especially not with the likes of him." Morgan spat, just the thought of what Basil has said making her sick.
"That explains why Tielle was so upset..." Cyrus thought aloud.
"I wouldn't make a habit of calling her by name, lest you let it slip on your return. Hearing you refer to her so casually may result in some nasty consequences." Morgan cautioned, looking up at Cyrus from the floor.
Cyrus fell silent, the thought of what consequences Morgan was referring to had him quite scared.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she would go easy on you. You seem to be her new favorite toy, so she'll at least try not to kill you." Morgan laughed.
"Is her temper really that violent?" Cyrus groaned, almost not wanting to know the answer.
"It can be, but usually only under the right circumstances. There are certain things one should never, ever bring up in her presence."
"Like what?" Cyrus asked.
Morgan simply giggled teasingly, putting a finger to her lips.
"I'll let you figure that one out on your own."
"So you'd rather see me provoke her rather than just tell me?"
"Well of course, it's more fun that way." Morgan laughed.
"With my luck, I'll probably find out too..." Cyrus groaned.
"It should be close to nightfall. Perhaps we should continue our journey."
Morgan pursed her lips, letting out a loud whistle. The carriage began to move forward, the horses galloping at full speed.
"Did you just..."
"I know these horses very well. I trust they know the way." Morgan replied.
"How did you command them without being at the reigns?" Cyrus asked, completely dumbfounded.
"As I said, I know these horses very well. Try not to think too hard about it, I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. We should reach the valley shortly." Morgan smiled.
"How long has it been since daybreak?" Cyrus asked.
"Quite some time I would assume. I suggest you get some more rest in the meantime. You've got quite a walk ahead of you." Morgan sighed, stretching out across the floor.
"How long of a walk?" Cyrus asked curiously.
"A few miles, though the constant snowstorms and natural inhabitants of the valley should make things rather dangerous.
"And I'm sure the tower isn't any safer..." Cyrus groaned.
"The tower is actually more of a safe haven. You should be fine if you can make it there safely." Morgan replied.
"Really? How come?"
Morgan teasingly put a finger to her lips again before replying.
"That I can not say, Tielle's orders. She thinks it would be more entertaining to find out for yourselves." Morgan laughed.
"Great, more secrets." Cyrus groaned.
"Don't worry too much about it. I think you'll find it to be a rather interesting surprise." Morgan smiled.
"Really..." Cyrus sighed skeptically.
"You wanted to know more about her, yes? This will give you that chance." Morgan smiled.
"Now you've got me curious..."
The carriage continued steadily on its journey, the temperature dropping as they drew closer and closer to their destination. The cold winds swept through the carriage, and the howls of wolves echoed through the cliffs around them. Cyrus tried to get back to sleep, but the freezing temperature made it a near impossible task.
The carriage at long last came to a halt, the nervous shuffling of the horses' hooves in the snow just barely audible over the howling winds.
"Well, we've finally made it. This is where we part ways." Morgan sighed, giving Basil a rough shove to wake him.
"So we simply head north from here?" Cyrus asked, grabbing his belongings.
"Simple as that." Morgan replied with a smirk.
"Do we have to go right away? I'd like to spend a little time with you by my side..." Basil mumbled, still half asleep.
"Cyrus can stay, but you have to wait in the freezing cold." Morgan groaned.
"Though I appreciate your offer, I'd rather get this over with as soon as possible. I really hate the cold. Cyrus sighed.
"Very well. I hope to see you back at the manor should you survive." Morgan sighed, ushering them out of the carriage.
No sooner did they set food in the cold snow, the carriage took off towards the horizon. Cyrus started to shiver as the cold winds whipped around him. Basil on the other hand seemed perfectly comfortable. The pair trudged onwards through the knee-deep snow, doing their best to keep warm. The heavy snowfall made it hard to see the way ahead of them, and even harder to tell just how far they had traveled.
"Why did this damn crest have to be here of all places." Cyrus groaned in frustration.
"Well, it could be worse." Basil said with a shrug.
"I can already barely feel my feet. How worse can things get?" Cyrus snapped, losing his patience.
"Didn't Morgan say this place could be dangerous?" Basil asked.
"Yes... wait, weren't you asleep for that? How did you..."
"Only half asleep." Basil chuckled.
"So you heard the whole thing, huh?" Cyrus sighed.
"Sure did! It's so cute when Morgan makes all those empty threats." Basil laughed.
"You do realize those threats are far from empty, I hope..."
"But why would she want to kill little old me?" Basil chimed, almost too innocently.
"Let's start with everything about you, how's that for a start?" Cyrus sighed.
"Oh come now, she can't hate me that much can she?"
"She does, believe me, and Tielle barely tolerates you as well. Speaking of which, what exactly did you say to get her so upset?" Morgan wouldn't even go into detail, and it looked like just the thought of it made her ill." Cyrus groaned, knowing he'd probably regret asking.
"All I said that I would love to..."
Basil's speech was cut short as the ground began to shake, a loud rumble echoing through the valley. A massive mound of snow began to rise up behind them. Cyrus broke into an all out dash down the valley, Basil following close behind. Without warning, the mound of snow erupted, sending ice and rubble flying every which way as a colossal wurm burst forth from the ground.
"Why is it bad things always happen when you're around!" Cyrus yelled in frustration as he ran for his life.
"Look on the bright side!"
"What bright side is there to this!?" Cyrus yelled back.
"At least you're not cold anymore!"
"I give up! I should have let Morgan do what she wanted with you when I had the chance!" Cyrus groaned.
At long last, the tower crept into view over the horizon. The wurm kept in hot pursuit of the two unlucky travelers, diving in and out of the snow covered valley, trying to catch them in its gaping maw. Without warning, a bolt of fire blazed through the sky, just barely missing he wurm as it crashed through the ice. As they approached the tower, it fired another bolt of fire, this one hitting its mark and blazing a hole through the wurm's skull.
Reaching the tower's door, it opened before them, having awaited their arrival. As they slipped inside, the door shut itself, locking behind them. The inside of the tower was pitch black, so much so that the pair had trouble seeing the ground at their feet let alone their surroundings.
"I don't like the looks of this..." Basil whispered, inching back against the door.
"I agree, this is beginning to look more and more like some kind of trap."
A small torch on the wall suddenly burst to life, illuminating a stairway leading up the wall of the tower. One by one, the other torches lit themselves, inviting their guests up the stairwell.
"Looks like we've got no other choice but to go up." Cyrus sighed, starting the climb.
"I still don''t like this..." Basil groaned, reluctantly following Cyrus.
As they climbed, the torches below began to extinguish themselves, once again shrouding the path behind them in darkness. At long last, the stairs came to an end, a small door waiting at the top.
"I really don't like this... How about we go back down now?" Basil asked.
"You're welcome to try, but I don't think those torches will be kind enough to show you the way." Cyrus sighed.
With a hesitant whimper, Basil turned back towards the door. Gripping the handle tightly, Cyrus cautiously opened the door. Behind the door was a small alchemy lab. Shelves and racks were crammed full of books, jars full of powders, and various other oddities. A cloaked figure sat behind a small cluttered desk, eying them from beneath the cloak's drawn hood.
"Tielle sent us to retrieve the key that lies here..."
Before Cyrus could continue, the still air around them whipped into a howling storm.
"You must be rather close, using her name so casually."
"I wouldn't say that..." Cyrus replied.
"Then again, you are her newest plaything. I'd be surprised if she didn't give you some kind of special treatment, considering how unique you are." the figure laughed.
"What do you mean by that?" Basil interrupted.
"Your friend here can be rather trusting, albeit quite naive in doing so..."
"How do you know all this?" Cyrus asked in confusion.
"I must say, my sister was rather impressed with the level of respect you gave her upon your first meeting. It really is quite rare for someone to hold a conversation with her as long as you."
Cyrus paused for a moment, trying to make sure he heard what he thought he just heard.
"Did you just say that Tielle is your... sister?"
"Well, technically we're not related by blood, but we were raised by the same mother and father, so you could say we're sisters to some degree. Please, call me Sara."
"So you're willing to give us the key she needs then?"
"Of course, though I assume she gave you something to present in return..."
Her voice trailed off as she saw the expression on Cyrus' face becoming more and more disheartened.
"Of course she didn't, that would just take all the fun out of things."
"We don't have much to offer, but I'm sure we can work out some kind of arrangement." Cyrus replied with a shrug.
"But then what would be the point? She gains the key but loses nothing in return. Then again, you are technically her property..."
Running her hands up the sides of her hood, she brushed it aside, letting her long black hair unfurl, free from beneath the cloak. She looked them over, her hazel eyes bouncing from one to the other.
"It's decided. I'll keep one of you here with me in exchange for Tielle's precious key."
Reaching into the folds of her cloak, she pulled out a small pendant on a long gold chain. Tossing it to Basil, she gave him a nod.
"Go run this back to my sister." she sighed.
With a snap of her fingers, Basil was surrounded by a brilliant white light. When the light faded, Basil had vanished.
"He should be back in Tielle's manor, though I can't be entirely sure. I'm still figuring out this teleportation spell." Sara sighed with a shrug.
"So why me?" Cyrus asked.
"Simple, You'll benefit far more from serving me than tat oaf of a companion you keep by your side would. You weren't the only one Tielle went into great detail about. I'm a great deal more personable than my sister, but even I have my limits." Sara sighed, shaking her head.
"Yes, I'm sure Tielle is just thrilled to have him back." Cyrus replied with a laugh.
"I hope she doesn't kill him before you get to see him again."
"Likewise. It would rob Morgan of the pleasure." Cyrus sighed.
"Oh, Morgan wants him dead as well? Hmm, perhaps sending him back wasn't the best of ideas then. Oh well, it can't be helped. Now the only question that remains is what to do with you."
"I was beginning to wonder what you were planning myself, actually." Cyrus thought aloud.
"I hadn't thought that far ahead to be quite honest, though I do have an idea of how you could make yourself useful. I need you to retrieve something something from an old friend of mine. She lives in an old chateau just east of here."
"What am I looking for exactly?" Cyrus asked.
"A purple candle, about twelve inches in height." she replied rather bluntly.
"Does any special properties, curses, or anything natural about it?"
"Not at all."
"Then what the point?" Cyrus asked, shaking his head.
"It bothers me my desk isn't balanced." she replied, motioning towards a lonely purple candle fitting her description sitting on the far left corner of the desk.
"This is just absurd!" Cyrus groaned in complaint.
"...or would you rather serve as a guinea pig about in one of my latest experiments? I'm currently working on an invisibility potion, but I still can't seem to get it to wear off..."
"Fine, fine, I'll get the candle!" Cyrus groaned.
"I figured you'd make the right choice. Let me at least give you a heavier jacket before you go." Sara smiled, rummaging through her closet.
Turning back towards Cyrus, she was holding a heavy fur coat, the body of the jacket comprised of wolf pelts woven together, both inside and outside lined with fur. As Cyrus slipped his arms through the sleeves, he found the jacket to be a snug fit, but it was better than nothing.
"Head out whenever you're ready."
"Is there anything else I should know before I go?" Cyrus asked, concerned that yet again vital details were being kept from him.
"Not that I can think of."
"Alright then. I hope I'll be back shortly." Cyrus groaned as he walked out, making his way back down the long spiral staircase.
After what felt like hours of trudging through the snow and ice, Cyrus finally found himself at the doors of a run down chateau. The once elegant painted brickwork was now faded and peeling, revealing the worn stonework beneath the lavender stain of the paint. The dim glass windows were completely obscured by dust, untouched for decades. Placing his hand on the heavy wooden door, Cyrus pushed it open, stepping inside. As he walked through the the old chateau, clouds of dust escaped the old carpets with each step he took. The inner halls of the chateau were covered in dust and cobwebs, the walls creaking and groaning with each passing gust of wind sweeping through the cracks in the stone walls. As he continued through the main hall, Cyrus could feel heat faintly resonating from further down the hall. Following the warmth, he made his way to the last door on the left. The faint clicking of footsteps and creaking of wheels echoed from behind the door.
Opening the door, Cyrus was greeted by a small study. Its circular walls were lined with books on every shelf. A ladder rested against the bookshelf across from him. A young girl stood about halfway up the ladder, carefully sliding the ladder across the shelf, its wheels squeaking as it crawled around the edge of the shelf. Her long black hair and matching dress swayed gently in tandem with the rocking of the ladder as she pulled herself across the shelves. An oversized traditional witch's hat barely clung to her head, threatening to fall to the ground with each move she made.
"Um...excuse me?" Cyrus called up to the girl.
With a startled gasp, she fell backwards off the ladder, her had gliding through the air as she fell. He back slammed against the cherrywood desk in the center of the room with a loud thud. Letting out a painful groan, she reached down and grabbed her hat, which had fallen to the floor just in front of the desk. Placing the hat back upon her head, she straightened her dress as she let out a sigh.
"You had better have a damned good reason for startling me like that." she growled.
"Sara sent me to retrieve something for her..." Cyrus began, hesitant on revealing that he had just caused so much trouble over an ordinary, mundane candle.
"That girl is always causing trouble, even when she was younger..." the girl groaned, sitting up on the desk as she rubbed her back.
"But you can't be older than twelve, maybe thirteen, how could you..."
The girl leaned forward, putting a finger to her lips.
"Hush for a moment and let me think. What Sara sent you all this way to get mustn't be all that important. If it were, she would have come to get it from me herself.
"Great, so if she doesn't even care about the candle, then what the hell is the point of all this?" Cyrus yelled in frustration.
The girl shot Cyrus a disappointed glance.
"I said hush, or do I have to still your tongue for you?. Now, where was I going with this? Oh, right. If she doesn't care about what she sent you to get, then that can only mean one of two things. Either she simply wanted to get you out of her hair by sending you on an impossible task, but seeing as you're looking for a candle, which I full well know the location of, that only leaves the other reason..."
"Which would be what exactly?" Cyrus asked.
"You are one of Tielle's servants, are you not?"
"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything."
"I feel that perhaps she sent you to get at her sister, as to how I can't be sure."
"And you did you figure that?" Cyrus asked.
"It's quite simple logic, that and I know those two girls far better than they even know them each other." She said, sliding off the desk and back onto her feet.
"How would my being here affect Tielle in any way?" Cyrus thought aloud.
"As I said, I haven't a clue. I'd offer to get the candle for you, but seeing as I'm in quite a bit of pain, all thanks to you, I think you should get it. You never even apologized, no less. Where are your manners boy." she groaned, her voice getting more and more irate as she went on.
"My apologies, I didn't even realized..."
"Far too late now, but apology accepted, though I'm still not getting the candle for you."
"Understandable, but where would I goto find it? I really don't mind going to find it."
"It's in the cellar at the end of the hall. Do try not to get too lost, though. Fiendish creatures lurk in the shadows, waiting for a fresh meal." the girl replied with a smirk, ushering him out the door.
Cyrus made his way to the end of the hall, just as the girl directed. The small steel door leading to the basement was securely locked from the outside. Steel bars held the door shut, chains wrapped around them to ensure they stayed put. His stomach churned, dreading what lay on the other side of the door, but with no other choice, Cyrus decided to press on. Taking the key hanging next to the door, he undid the lock holding the chains in place. Pushing open the door, Cyrus began his descent into the darkness. Lit torches lined the wall of the stairwell, but beyond that, the cellar was completely shrouded in darkness. Grabbing a torch from the wall, he continued further into the cellar. Shelves and towering walls of crates and boxes formed what felt like an endless labyrinth of nicknacks. Books and potions lined the endless spans of shelves, along with a few jars of ominous looking spell components, most of which stared back at him lifelessly from within their glass prisons. Looking up towards the next set of shelves, Cyrus let out a startled gasp. A woman stood a few feet away from him. She was dressed in a dark hooded robe, a veil covering the lower part of her face. Her long black hair trailed down her back as she took a step towards Cyrus.
"Are you looking for something?" she asked, tilting her head to the side as she curiously looked him over.
"Yes... you startled me a bit. I'm looking for a purple candle..."
"Tall, rather thin? I know exactly where that would be. Come this way." the woman replied, turning around and heading deeper into the dark cellar.
Cyrus followed the woman through the cellar, quickly losing track of where exactly he was going. Eventually they final reached a dead end. Taking a closer look at the shelf in front of him, Cyrus began searching for the candle. After checking the contents of the shelf a third and final time, Cyrus realized the candle wasn't there. The woman dropped her veil, revealing the charred flesh fused to the exposed bone of her lower jaw.
"I'm going to eat well tonight..." the woman hissed, taking a step forward.
Drawing his sword, Cyrus backed towards the shelf, waiting for her to strike. The woman laughed as she continued her slow approach, locking eyes with Cyrus. Licking what was left of her lips, she gave him a crooked smirk.
"It seems the others have caught your scent. Lucky for them, Im in a sharing mood today."
Without warning, hands burst through the shelves behind him, grabbing Cyrus and pinning him to the shelf. The woman rand her fingers down Cyrus' cheek, her face inches from his own. He could feel her cold breath against his skin, the foul stench of charred flesh filling the air.
"It's been forever since we've had a live one. Mostly the master just throws table scraps our way. I'm going to enjoy such a feast." The woman smiled, licking his cheek.
Cyrus desperately tried to break free, but each time he managed to loose himself from one of the hands, two more immediately took hold in its place. Before long, Cyrus could barely even turn his head, and was forced to stare death in the face as the woman tested and tormented him, taking great pleasure in watching him squirm as she delayed his inevitable demise.
"Tielle wasn't kidding when she said you were fatally naive." a voice called out from the darkness.
Taking her attention off of Cyrus, the woman turned her head, looking back down the corridor. The young girl from the study stepped forward, lifting the brim of her hat from in front of her eyes.
"Alright, you've had your fun. Let the poor boy go. He is still of some use to me." the girl giggled.
"But we haven't had a live one in ages. I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say we're getting rather sick and tired of your leftovers." the woman hissed.
"You know, I didn't have to be nice and let you all continue living down here as my personal guardians. I could have easily cleared the lot of you out of here and brought in my own help. Now, let the boy go."
The hands holding Cyrus to the shelf slowly released him. the woman begrudgingly stepped aside, letting Cyrus pass.
"Thanks, I owe you one." Cyrus sighed, approaching the young girl.
"After speaking with Tielle, I knew I wouldn't hear the end of it if I let you get yourself killed. I had no choice but to save you. Oh, and this is for you." the girl replied, tossing Cyrus a tall purple candle.
"You spoke with Tielle?" How did you get in touch with her so quickly?"
"I simply know how to get her attention. She can be rather prompt to respond given the right motivation." she laughed as she began leading Cyrus out of the labyrinth.
"Oh really?"
"Yes, the second I mentioned your name to her, she demanded to know of your whereabouts. Needless to say, she wasn't pleased to hear you were down in that cellar alone. For a girl who's distanced herself so far from the world, it's funny to see her so concerned about her newest plaything." the girl giggled.
"Why does everyone keep saying that? It's not like I'm some kind of toy."
"You are whatever she needs yo to be, and knowing her, you're most definitely her plaything whether you realize it or not. You intrigue her, which means she'll poke and prod you until she figures you what makes you tick."
"That explains a lot." Cyrus groaned.
"I'm sure it does." the girl laughed.
Finally having made their way out of the cellar, the girl opened the door at the top of the stairs and led Cyrus back into the study. taking a seat behind her desk, she kicked her feet up and leaned back in her chair.
"I'm sure Tielle sent you here with no information whatsoever on what she wanted you to accomplish, correct?" she asked.
"She sent me to get a crest that is part of the key to Piorre's mausoleum." Cyrus replied.
"I'm surprised you know that much."
"I only know what I do because I saw it in person."
"Do you at least know the legend behind that tomb?"
"Not in the slightest." Cyrus replied, shaking his head.
"Then please, allow me to explain." the girl smiled, motioning for Cyrus to take seat.
He did as she asked, attentively waiting for her to begin.
"There was a war long ago, a war that threatened the very world in which we live. A powerful half demon, Lillianus, gathered hordes of undead, dregs and deranged madmen, some of the most dangerous creatures she could find. All of which she commanded in an attempt to cover the land in the fires of war and destruction. Legend has i, a young warrior led the final remnants of civilization against this unholy threat, and managed to vanquish Lillianus. The war ended, and powerful wizards sealed the hero away in the mausoleum to be summoned when next the world was in need."
"So what would Tielle need with the pieces of the pendant?"
"You really think I'd know? Besides, it's merely a legend. I doubt theres much truth to it." the girl sighed.
"There still must be some reason she wants it."
"I fought in that war you know... along side her father..." the girl muttered, her voice trailing off.
"Her father? You don't look nearly old enough to have..."
"I'm older than I look, trust me. When I first met Tielle, she was only about twelve, maybe thirteen. I probably shouldn't even be telling you all this..." the girl laughed.
"No, please, continue." Cyrus replied, eyes wide with anticipation.
"You really do want to hear more about her, don't you? I must say, i'm surprised you seem just as interested in her as she is in you. Very well, but I should warn you, the war is a very troubling subject for her. There's no telling how she might react should you mention any of what I am about to tell you. Understand?"
"So that's why she wouldn't go into detail on the crest." Cyrus thought aloud.
"I fought along side her father in the war. What a fierce warrior e was. I have still yet to find someone capable of matching his skill, but I digress. After defeating Lillianus' forces, we found that she was immortal. We tried every form of execution we could imagine, but to no avail. With no other choice, we sealed her away in Piorre until we figured out how to deal with her."
"From the sound of things, her father didn't survive..."
"You're rather sharp. Yes, something went wrong when sealing her away. Though it isn't the only reason the war is such a troubling subject for her. It would be too much to go into all the detail. If anything, she's gathering those shards to keep them safe."
"But how did people get the impression a hero was sealed in that shrine in the first place?"
"Humans are rather proud creatures. They would do anything to preserve their image, even rewrite history if need be. Humiliated at having a vampire as their savior, they twisted the truth to create a legendary hero to fill the role..."
"And Matthias is searching out the crests to revive what he thinks is a hero."
"Matthias is involved? You must get that crest back to Tielle and quickly."
"Matthias is really that much of a danger? He seemed..."
"Don't let his appearance fool you. That shapeshifting bastard wants nothing more than to see Lillianus tearing this world apart."
"How do you know about him?"
"I've met him before. His guise as a weathered old man is quite convincing, though the fact he can't change his teeth gives him away."
"So how dangerous is he then?"
"He was Lillianus' right hand. Though he may not look it now, his true form is quite horrifying. Simply looking upon it drove some to madness. I don't want Tielle facing him alone. I want you to go back to the manor, and keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid."
"Alright, I'll do what I can, but I don't exactly have a way back..."
"I'll take care of that."
With a wave of her hand, she scattered a fine powder into the air. A spiraling vortex of light materialized in the powder, hovering in place.
"This will lead you back to the manor. Before you go though, I think Tielle would be rather displeased if you returned empty handed."
She tossed him a small pendant as she hopped off her chair.
"Thank you. I'll give Tielle your regards."
"Yes, just tell him Anise says hello."
"Very well, Anise."
With that, Cyrus stepped through the portal. He immediately found himself on the other side of the portal, standing at the gates of the manor. The portal had vanished, leaving no trace of its existence behind. The guard at the gate gave Cyrus a nod, opening the door.
"The master has been expecting you. She requested I fetch you the moment you arrived. Follow me."
Cyrus followed the guard through the main corridor and the throne room, down the winding corridors in the heart of the manor. They finally stopped in front of the large stone door.
"I've brought the boy as you requested. I know you're preoccupied, should I return later..."
"Send him in." she replied sternly.
The guard heaved open the heavy stone too, a wall of steam rushing out the greet them. Barely able to see through the steam, Cyrus stepped inside, the guard closing the door behind him. As the steam cleared, Cyrus could make out a large man made hot spring. He could barely see Tielle resting against the far wall, her back facing him as she ran her fingers though her hair.
"I.. I didn't realize you were bathing. If you'd like me to come back later..." Cyrus stammered.
"I wanted to see you the moment you arrived, no matter the circumstances. Besides, I could use a good back rub right about now. Come, join me." Tielle sighed, motioning for him to join her.
As Cyrus reached the edge of the water, Tielle looked back at him. She shook her head and laughed as she looked him over.
"If you get those clothes wet by coming in here fully dressed, don't expect me to supply you with something dry, lest you want one of my gowns. I think you'd look rather fetching in the pink one I was wearing last night." she teased.
Cyrus reluctantly disrobed and joined her in the spring, wading his way to the far wall.
"I heard you had quite the adventure..." Tielle giggled.
"I guess you could call it that. Though, I would have preferred to stay here." Cyrus groaned.
"I see, so you enjoy my company that much do you?" Tielle smiled.
"Yes, because I just love spending quality time with you." Cyrus groaned as he shook his head.
"You know, I should probably hit you for that, but I'm in a rather pleasant mood today, so I'll let you off easy. Now, about that back rub..." Tielle yawned, stretching her arms over her head.
"You were serious about that?"
"Of course I was, boy. Now, tell me more of your trip."
Cyrus walked closer to her, though he had no intention of obliging any request she had of him, the back rub included.
"I learned a bit more about those crests, and the history behind them." he replied as he stopped a few feet away from her.
"Oh, did you now..." Tielle replied, her body tensing up at the mere mention of the subject.
"Yes, though I can see why you didn't want to talk much about it..."
Tielle simply gave a silent nod in response.
"About your father... I'm sorry..."
Cyrus immediately regretted finishing that sentence as Tielle whipped around to face him, glaring at him with murderous rage.
"How do you know about my father? Further more, why would you even mention such a thing?" she hissed.
"I don't know much about him.... I'm sorry if I struck a nerve..."
"You've done more than merely struck a nerve, boy!" she snapped, slicing the surface of the water.
She used such force that the surge of rippling water washed Cyrus back a few feet, pushing him into the wall. Before he could even recover, Tielle was practically on top of him, her fingers wrapped tightly around his neck. Her other hand was braced against the wall in front of her.
"Everyone in this manor knows not to mention my father. The last who did suffered greatly, begging for the sweet release of death by the time I was through with him. Do you understand me?"
Cyrus was able to wheeze out a barely audible compliance despite Tielle's tight grip on his throat.
"Good, now let us never have this discussion again, shall we?" Tielle spat, releasing him.
Cyrus gasped, catching his breath. Turning away from him, Tielle walked back to the far wall. Cyrus turned to address her, but before he could even speak, she interrupted him.
"Leave me be. I would like to be alone for a while. " she sighed, turning to face the wall.
Cyrus did as she asked, turning back towards the edge of the spring. Reaching the small set of stairs leading out of the spring, he hesitated for a moment, looking back at her. Her body trembled with each heaving breath. Barely able to stand, she put a hand against the wall to brace herself, her other hand rubbing at her brow as she tried to hold back the sudden upwelling of emotions. Be it out of pity or remorse, he couldn't be sure, but Cyrus found himself wading back in the water, approaching her once more. He lingered for a moment, unsure of how to even begin to help as he watched Tielle fall to her knees, laying herself bare before him. Gone was her haughty attitude, her inflated ego, the constant biting quips and sarcasm. All that remained was a broken girl desperately longing for her father.
He felt her body twitch with surprise as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What are you doing, I thought I told you to go..."
She could barely get the words out between sobs as she hastily tried to compose herself.
"I couldn't just leave you, not like this. I'm just doing what feels right." he replied.
"Well, I don't know about right, but it does feel nice." she sighed, steadying her breath.
"That's a start I guess."
"Indeed, though had I known you were this good with your hands I'd have asked this of you sooner."
She let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping forward a bit as she leaned against the wall.
"Though I do appreciate what you're trying to do, some wounds will never truly heal."
"Then at least let me try to distract you from the pain for a little while."
She softly laughed to herself, drying her eyes the best she could. Gently removing his hands from her shoulders, she turned to face him, her back gently pressing against the lip of the spring.
"You know, you're actually kind of sweet, that is when you're not being so damned sarcastic."
"The same can be said for you, when you drop the whole princess act."
"Oh, and here I thought I would compliment you for once. That wasn't an opening for some witty little quip" she laughed.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were just begging me to tease you a little."
"To be honest, I was getting quite bored with you gone. Despite how much it makes my blood boil, your sass is actually quite refreshing at times."
"Is it now?" Cyrus replied, a little surprised she had yet to put him back in his place.
"Do you know how dull things can get when everyone walks on eggshells around you? Aside from my Morgan, most of my servants are painfully compliant, even when I'm trying to get their honest opinion on something. You, on the other hand, you do the exact opposite. You constantly oppose my wishes, never hesitating to make some off hand remark in the process. Though, you don't do it out of spite or ill will towards me, which is certainly something I'm not accustomed to. You simply treat me as an equal, regardless of circumstance."
"That's because, at our core, we essentially are equals."
"That's an interesting way to look at things, though I must say I strongly disagree."
"Not surprising considering your background."
Cyrus let out a sigh of relief, seeing she was for the most part back to her normal, slightly condescending self.
"Now that you've calmed down a bit, I was wondering..."
Cyrus hesitated, debating if finishing his thought might be detrimental to his life expectancy.
"Would I mind what?"
"...Telling me why your father is such a difficult subject for you?"
Tielle froze for a moment, that familiar heartache and anxiety flaring up in her chest again. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her emotions, trying desperately to keep herself under control.
"I can't figure out if you're just that dense, far too concerned with my well being, or simply have a death wish. For your sake, I'll assume you just care that much about me." she laughed.
"And if I were to say it wasn't?" Cyrus teased.
"Then I'd have some serious concerns as to how you've managed to survive in my company as long as you have. Now, as for the answer to your question..."
Hesitating a moment, she took a deep breath, preparing herself for the troubling memories she was about to dredge up from the recesses of her mind, a place she hadn't dared to visit in quite a while.
"The war was rather troubling as a whole for me. The effects of that war shaped and molded me into the woman you see standing before you, both the 'princess', as you so aptly put it, and the whimpering broken shell of a child. I had been traveling with my birth parents to small rural village. It was part of one of my father's business ventures. I was only a child at the time, unable to fend for myself without the aid of my parents. Truth be told, I was rather spoiled back then as well. Regardless,
when Lillianus' forces struck the small village, I was the only one that managed to survive, hiding under the corpses of my parents until it was safe..."
"I'm so sorry I brought all this up. I can see why this..."
"I'm not even close to finished. That was the day I lost my birth parents, as well as the day I met my adoptive parents. A wandering servant surveying the wreckage happened to find me amidst the countless dead littering the streets. Taking me back with him, I was introduced to the leaders of the Mortevus clan, who raised me as if I was their own child. My sister has a similar story to how she became part of the family as well. After years of training me to be heir to the throne, my father was slain while sealing Lillianus away. After telling me the news of my father's death, my mother left, isolating herself from the world. Once again I found myself completely alone, and kept things that way for some time I suppose..."
"How so?"
"Well for one, you're the first person I've ever told of this. The only reason Morgan knows of this is because she was my caretaker as a child."
"I'm flattered."
"Don't mock me, boy. This is hardly the time."
"I'm being serious. This is the first time I think you've really opened up at all. I'm glad I'm finally getting to know you a little, the real you."
Tielle blushed a bit, caught off guard the sudden sincerity of his words. She was half expecting him to follow up with some witty jab, or play it off with some lighthearted banter.
"You... really are serious, aren't you... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, just take a deep breath and be glad that burden you've been carrying around with you all these years has finally been lifted." Cyrus replied.
Letting out a heavy sigh, she gave him a nod. Making her way out of the spring, she slipped into a crimson robe hanging on the wall. Curling her fingers, she beckoned for him to follow. Climbing out of the spring after her, Cyrus quickly dried himself off and got dressed, following her into the hall.
"As comforting as all that was, I can't change what's already been set in motion. The best I can do now is to keep that crest locked away in this manor forever. Come tomorrow morning I want you to get the last piece from Matthias."
"So soon? I need some time to recover, I only just got back you know." Cyrus groaned.
"The sooner I have those keys in my possession the better, but if you insist I'll allow you some time to rest."
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall as Morgan ran towards them. Despite her stoic demeanor, she seemed unusually tense as she approached.
"I can tell something's wrong, Morgan. What is it?" Tielle asked, biting her lower lip.
"I can't find Basil anywhere. It would appear he's run off, and has taken the two keys to the tomb with him."
Tielle's heart sank at these words, her mind spiraling into a frenzied storm of panic and dread. Her chest tightened with each increasingly difficult breath as she realized the nightmares of her past could very easily become her future.
"I'll leave you be..." Morgan muttered.
"Wait! Prepare a carriage for me. I'll be damned if I let my father's death be in vain." she growled.
Morgan gave a silent nod and hurried off to make the necessary preparations.
"I think I have a very good idea where that idiot ran off to..." Cyrus groaned, shaking his head.
"As do I, though I hope you can forgive me if I try to eviscerate the poor bastard on sight."
"Understandable, but what if we're too late?"
"We won't be. We don't have any other choice."
Lightning split the sky above the old tomb, a torrent of wind and rain buffeting the small stone walls. Matthias and basil stood at its gate, the key in hand. Matthias gently pushed the crest into place, muttered a short incantation under his breath, and gave the door a slight shove. The stone door slowly slid open, the dark stairway beyond it daring them to enter.
"Your role in this is through, now off with you." Matthias sighed, tossing Basil a large pouch of gold.
"But I want to see what's inside. It must be something really valuable if it took so much to get in here."
Matthias simply chuckled to himself, quite amused at Basil's curiosity.
"Very well then, but you do so at your own risk."
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, they stood in the entry way to a small room. Candles and torches kept it well lit by comparison to the near pitch blackness of the stairway behind them. The room was mostly empty aside from a small stone slab at its center used as an alter for the deceased, though the woman sitting atop it staring back at them looked very much alive.
Her long black hair coiled around her body, further bringing attention to her red eyes, which were currently assessing her two visitors. A light repetitive ticking echoed through the small chamber as the woman tapped her long, black, claw-like nails against the hard stone. Her whip-like tail swayed back and forth, like a metronome in rhythm with her tapping.
"Lillianus, it's been quite some time since I've seen you." Matthias smiled with a bow.
"Likewise, and now I'm free again, thanks to you. Come, I'd like to repay the favor." she smiled, sliding off the slab and on to her cloven hooves.
A subtle grin pursed her lips as she sliced his neck open with one swift flick of her wrist. Matthias stumbled backward, falling to the floor. Kneeling at his side, she ruffled his hair, giving him a soft chuckle.
"This is what you get for running off when I needed you most."
As she watched him bleed out, struggling to breathe, her eyes darted off towards the stairs as she noticed Basil trying to slip away unnoticed.
"Now where do you think you're going? We haven't even been formally introduced."
Basil froze, too afraid to look back, yet too afraid to continue onward as well. He could hear her giggling echo up the stairwell.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. Matthias got what he had coming to him. You, on the other hand, I have no reason to harm..."
Basil let out a sight of relief as he turned back towards her.
"...but that doesn't mean I won't kill you just for the fun of it." she smiled.
He winced as he felt her claws gently scratch the skin as her hand caressed his cheek.
"You seem like too much fun to kill, not yet anyway. Maybe you can be of some use to me."
Hearing footsteps behind him, a glimmer of hope lit up in Basil's eyes as he saw Cyrus running down the stairs. That hope, however, was quickly burned in the deepest fires of Hell as he saw Tielle casually descending the stairs close behind.
"Well if it isn't Voran's precious little princess. It's been a while." Lillianus laughed, calling up to her.
"Not nearly long enough." Tielle spat, forcing her way in front of Cyrus.
Her fingers twitched, aching for the taste of combat and bloodshed as she locked eyes with the demonic nightmare that changed her life so long ago. Shoving Basil into the wall as she passed, Tielle stopped just in front of her.
"You were still just a tiny little thing back the last time I saw you. My how you've grown into a fine young woman."
"Don't patronize me! Do you even know the pain you've caused?"
"But of course, but if not for me, you'd still be the spoiled daughter of a wealthy socialite. You'd have amounted to nothing more than the silver spoon you've been sucking on since birth. But no, I changed all that for you. Perhaps you should be thanking me for the way you've turned out."
Tielle gritted her teeth, rage quickly consuming her. The torrent of emotions erupted inside her as she burst into a violent tirade, taking a step closer.
"Thank you? You have the gall to say such a thing? I've simply dealt with what has been thrust upon me by circumstances you set in motion! If you truly want thanks, then please, allow me to pay you back tenfold for all the pain and suffering you've caused!"
Tielle lunged for her throat, out for blood, and right into her trap. Tielle let out a whine as Lillianus grabbed her wrist and began twisting it to the side.
"You've got his temper. Funny how it got him into just as much trouble. I loved provoking him. It was just so fun to watch..."
A loud crack echoed through the chamber as Tielle's wrist shattered, Lillianus still toying with the empty gap once occupied by solid bone.
"Let go of her!" Cyrus yelled, rushing towards Lillianus, sword drawn and ready to strike.
"If you say so." she giggled as she let go of Tielle's wrist.
Her hand quickly thrust forward, grabbing Cyrus by the throat. Her body unwilling to move, Tielle simply stared on in horror as Cyrus struggled to break free. Lillianus simply smiled, casually whistling on occasion as she looked over at Tielle.
"What, no yelling or demanding that I release your servant? How unlike you, Tielle. Perhaps you've grown up in more ways than one..." Lillianus sighed, putting a claw to Cyrus' throat.
"No, you wouldn't! Release him this instant!"
"He's nothing more than a dog to you, so why do you care about what becomes of him, right? Or perhaps..."
She trailed her claw along Cyrus' throat, leaving a large gash.
"What do you desire more, revenge or the life of your companion?"
Dropping Cyrus, she kept her eyes locked on Tielle, awaiting her answer.
"As much as I'd love to see your head as a new decoration for the manor, revenge will have to wait for now." Tielle growled, rushing to Cyrus' side.
"Tielle...why..." Cyrus gasped, trying to breathe.
"Stop talking, save your breath. I must warn you, I'm about to put you through a horribly painful ordeal, but it's the only way to save your life."
"I know... Just...get on with it..." he replied, offering his neck.
Tielle hesitated for a moment, leaning in close to him. He could feel her body trembling, a few falling tears splashing down his neck as she inched closer.
"I wish it didn't have to come to this. I'm truly sorry..." she whispered.
With that, she sunk her fangs deep into Cyrus' neck. He could feel his last bit of strength leave him. Without even the power to lift a finger, he lay there paralyzed, watching Tielle feed. The walls around him began to tilt and sway, his vision blurring as his breath became shallow and weak. He tried to speak, cry out, anything, but all he could muster were shallow whimpers and sighs. Releasing him, she wiped away the tears running down her cheek before even attempting to wipe away the blood dribbling down her lips. Taking his hand, she let out a sigh of relief.
"I think you're going to make it." she smiled.
"Really now? Then why does it feel like I'm dying." Cyrus groaned.
"Oh good, you can speak! You should regain feeling soon."
"Something other than pain you mean?"
"The pain will pass, just give it time. How are you feeling otherwise?"
"I'll manage... wait, if you bit me, then does that mean..."
"No, you're still human, for now at least. Biting you has lent you some of my regenerative powers. The turning process is rather long, and painful, and the last thing I ever wanted was to set such a horrible fate upon anyone, especially you."
"I'm sure I've dealt with worse, mostly thanks to Basil. Speaking of, looks like he managed to run off." Cyrus sighed.
"As did Lillianus."
"Well that's rather unfortunate." a voice called from atop the stairs.
A tall woman in a long black dress stepped into the doorway of the chamber, an all too familiar witch's hat shrouding her face from view.
"Though, all is not lost. While she's strong in her own right, she still needs an army. That gives us some time."
"That hat.... weren't you just a child last we met?" Cyrus asked.
"That form is merely an illusion, though I'm glad you recognize me."
"I was wondering when you'd finally pay me a visit. You really do need to get out more, mother." Tielle sighed.
"Oh, I'm sorry if I prefer being alone to actually dealing with people. We do have more important things to worry about than my social life though, like him for instance." Anise sighed, motioning towards Cyrus, who was still quite visibly in pain.
"She gave me no choice. It's regrettable that it came to forcing him to suffer such a cursed existence, but I wasn't about to let her take him from me..."
"I know, and I promise you, we will find her and she will pay for what she has done. Now though, we need to regroup and figure out how we're going to track her down. That and we have to make sure your new toy is alright." Anise sighed.
"I think I'm going to be alright once the pain stops. I could use a nice bed as opposed to this cold stone floor though." Cyrus groaned, chuckling a little.
"Perhaps its best if you two went on your way then. If you need me, you know where to find me." Anise smiled, turning towards the stairs.
"Lets get you back to the manor, Cyrus."
With that, Tiele lifted Cyrus on to her shoulder and began the long trek back to the manor.
Years went by, and life went on. Not a word was heard concerning Lillianus, and as expected, she seemed to have vanished from existence. Over time, the Mortevus clan began to weaken, and with their leader presumed dead, quickly began to crumble. Other clans began to rise in the ensuing chaos, vying for power.
The sound of hooves echoed through the night air as a light rain fell upon the small village of Piorre. A lone horse drawn carriage made its way down the winding path leading into town. Racing down the back alleys and side streets, the carriage made its way into the slums. The villagers held their breath, peering out of their windows waiting for their unwelcome villagers to finish their business and promptly leave. Reaching its destination, the carriage came to a halt in front of an old dilapidated cottage. The roof of the old house was littered with holes, and the front door barely clung to its hinges as it swayed in the breeze.
The door of the carriage slid open, a woman in a hooded cloak stepped out into the rain and made her way to the door. She gently knocked on the already broken door, making sure not to break it any further. The sound of footsteps sloshing through puddles and mud echoed through the small cottage. A ragged woman woman pushed the front door aside, still attempting to fix her disheveled hair, which seemed more like a lost cause the more she struggled with it. Her blue eyes looked over her visitor, keeping a hand on the door as she wondered what this unexpected visit was about.
"I'm sorry to disturb you miss, especially this late at night..." the cloaked figure spoke, giving a slight bow.
"Who are you and what do you want?" the woman snapped, shivering in the cold as she rubbed her eyes.
"I'm Morgan Felzcraus, from the castle to the north. You have a son, correct?" she asked.
"I've nothing to say to the likes of you!" she snapped.
"Will you at least hear me out? The princess has been rather lonely, so I was hoping to find someone to keep her company. Your son is about her age, and from what I've heard, he has a heard to gold. There's no doubt in my mind that the two of them would get along quite nicely..."
"I'm not giving you my son! Find one of your own to keep her company, or bite someone else! I won't let my son become one of you!" the woman yelled.
"I wouldn't even think of turning him. Not only is the thought of such a thing cruel and disgusting, there are some things only a human can provide. I'm looking for someone to befriend her, not some slave to bend to her every whim." Morgan sighed.
"I don't believe you!"
"Do you really think you can provide for him like this? He barely gets a good night sleep with all the rain, and I doubt he eats well considering. You'd be welcome to come visit him whenever you wish, and I will pay you for his services. He will be well provided for." Morgan replied, locking eyes with the woman.
The woman mulled over Morgan's words. Morgan's telling of the harsh realities that plagued them burned within her chest. As much as she wanted to deny it, her son would be better off if he left.
"Are you sure he'll be safe?" she asked, calming down a little.
Morgan opened her cloak, revealing a wooden stake strapped to her hip.
"Should he be killed or turned under our care, please come find me." Morgan replied, drawing the stake from her belt and placing it in the woman's hand.
"Alright, I'll go fetch him." the woman sighed, turning to hide the tears rolling down her cheeks.
Morgan waited outside, listening as the splashing of the woman's footsteps grew faint.
"I hope Mina takes a liking to the boy. If this doesn't cheer her up, I'm not quite sure what will." Morgan sighed.
The woman returned with her son in tow. He looked to be about fourteen. His damp brown hair was matted and suffered from the same uncontrollable nature as his mother's.
"Alright Tim, be good. I'll come visit you as much as I can." His mother said with a broken smile, the tears flowing down her cheeks as she hugged her son.
Tim gave her a silent nod, still half asleep. Morgan opened the door to the carriage, ushering Tim inside. Closing the door behind him, she turned back towards the boy's mother.
"I know how hard this must be for you, and your kindness in helping with this matter is duly noted. Please, if you need anything don't hesitate to..."
Just go, be fore I change my mind..." she sobbed.
Morgan gave the woman a silent nod and stepped inside the carriage. She took a seat across from Tim, who was already fast asleep on the seat of the carriage. The carriage slowly made its way back up the side streets and out of the town. Morgan propped her feet up on the rest of the seat, stretching her back.
"That went better than I expected. With the Mortevus clan a mere shadow of what it used to be, the other clans have been at each other's throats for dominance. No where is really safe anymore, nowhere except the castle, and even then its only a matter of time before..."
Looking over, she noticed Tim starting to stir in his sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he looked over at Morgan.
"Did you sleep well? we're almost at the castle." Morgan smiled.
"You're that woman... so I wasn't dreaming then..." Tim mumbled as he sat up.
"Please, call me Morgan. If you have any questions, go right ahead and ask."
"What do you need me to do?"
"If all goes well, you simply have to befriend the princess and entertain her, though you may be needed for menial labor around the castle from time to time as well." Morgan replied.
"And if she doesn't like me?" he asked, a little nervous.
"Just be yourself and I'm sure everything will be fine. If she doesn't take a liking to you I'm sure we can find another role for you to fill. Whether she likes you or not won't be held against you, if that's what you're asking." Morgan replied.
"A-alright, and I won't be in any danger? I'm not one of you after all."
"Don't worry, your humanity is part of the reason I think you'll be perfect. She needs a friend, not a slave." Morgan replied.
The carriage pulled through the castle gates, coming to a stop in the courtyard. Opening the door, Morgan led Tim outside. The massive stone walls loomed over them, the tall spires of the castle piercing the sky. Taking him by the hand, Morgan led Tim inside the castle. They walked through the foyer, being mindful not to get in the way of the servants bustling about and head for a small door at the back corner of the room. Morgan ushered Tim through the door and up the long winding staircase, eventually leading him to a small wooden door. The other side of the wooden door revealed a long corridor, a lone double door beckoning to them at its end. Morgan gave a light knock on the door, awaiting a reply.
"Who is it?" a tiny voice snapped.
"I have a surprise for you." Morgan said with a smile.
"Another useless gift, how nice." the voice gave a droll replied.
"I think you'll like this one though..."
With that, Morgan shoved Tim inside, closing the door behind him.
"Have fun you two!" she chimed, walking back down the hall.
Tim looked over the elaborate bedroom in awe. The room was painted a deep lavender, along with most of the oak dressers and nightstands. A large armoire took up the entire far left corner of the room, which was being swarmed by a horde of stuffed animals. Along the right wall of the room was a large bed fitted with purple sheets. A matching curtain which could be drawn across for privacy rested against the wall at the foot of the bed. The bed too, was adorned with stuffed animals, so much so that he almost didn't even notice the girl staring at him amidst the pile.
"W-who do you think you are... barging into a lady's room like that..." she said with a pout, burying herself deeper beneath her protective layer of fluffy companions.
"Morgan just kind of shoved me in here, I didn't mean to upset you..." Tim muttered, unsure of how else to respond.
"I'll get her back later, inviting someone in here without my permission." she sighed.
"She said you might be lonely..." Tim began with a smile.
"It does get boring around here with no one to play with, well no one my own age..." the girl sighed.
"Well then, what do you want to do?" Tim asked.
"Let's just talk for a little bit." the girl replied, patting theft of the bed, the only part not swarmed with fluffy stuffed dolls.
Tim did as she asked and joined her up on the bed.
"What's your name?" Tim asked.
"Mina, and yours?" she replied.
"Timothy, but most people just call me Tim."
Mina looked Tim over, her red eyes locking with his.
"Blue eyes... so you're a human..." she thought aloud.
"Is that... a problem?" Tim asked, trying to sound sincere despite being slightly offended.
"Oh...no...its just I've never met a human before." she replied, her eyes wide with excitement, mind reeling with a plethora of questions to ask him.
"There's so much I want to know about you, but its nearly sunrise and I really should get some rest..." Mina sighed with a pout.
"But shouldn't you just be getting up at sunrise?" Tim asked, slightly confused.
"Maybe for you." she said with a smile, revealing a pair of sharp fangs.
"Right, how could I forget. Those look... sharp..." Tim replied with a nervous laugh.
"Don't worry, I don't bite. Morgan keeps me well taken care of. Speaking of Morgan, she'll show you to your room. I'll see you at nightfall!!"
Leaning in, she gave him a quick hug before sending him on his way. Morgan looked over at Tim as he closed the door behind him. With a grin on her lips, she gave him a pat on the back.
"Looks like I found the perfect man for the job." Morgan laughed.
"You really think so?" Tim replied hesitantly, still a bit unsure of himself.
"Of course! She's fascinated with you, and I'm sure there's plenty you want to know about her as well."
"You've got a point." Tim conceded.
"Of course I do." Morgan laughed.
Barely taking even a few steps from Mina's room, Morgan stopped in front of the first door she came across in the hallway.
"Well, this is where you'll be staying."
Opening the door for him, Morgan ushered Tim inside, letting him explore the room a little. It was a rather modest room compared to Mina's, though compared to where Tim had spent most of his nights the room might as well have been a luxurious master bedroom. The room itself was rather plain, unpainted stone walls greeting him from all sides. There was a small bed against the far wall, and a plain oak dresser on the left. He gazed out the window next to his bed, staring out at the sprawling courtyard below.
"There are some clothes in the dresser. If you need anything come find me. Sleep well Tim, I'll wake you at nightfall." Morgan smiled, taking her leave.
Time slipped into bed, tossing and turning as he tried to get some sleep. No matter what he did, Tim couldn't force himself to fall asleep in the middle of the day. Giving up on sleep for the moment, Tim rolled out of bed and walked out into the hallway. Walking down the stairs, he began exploring, roaming the halls of the castle. he nightly affairs of the castle had dulled to an eerie standstill, the halls completely empty now that the sun was rising. As he wondered where he should explore first, the faint sound of muffled sobs trailed down from the staircase behind him. Turning and heading back up the stairs, he followed the sobs, stopping in front of Mina's door. He gave a light knock, wondering if he should even check in on her, or if he should find Morgan first. The sobbing quieted for a moment, Mina's voice stammering as she answered.
"W-who is it and what do you want?"
"It's Tim, are you alright?"
Tim was answered only by Mina's still heavy and labored breathing, and her desperate attempt to compose herself.
"May I come in?" he asked.
"Please..." Mina replied softly.
Tim opened the door and slipped into Mina's room, closing the door behind him. Mina had completely buried herself beneath the mountain of stuffed animals on her bed, her breathing and the gentle rising and falling of a few teddy bears in the pile being the only indication she was even there at all.
"What's wrong? When I left you looked so happy and excited..." Tim sighed, taking a seat at the edge of the bed.
"It's nothing to do with you, Tim..." she replied, crawling out of hiding.
"Then what is it?"
"Would you believe I envy you, Tim?" she asked, looking up at him with tear filled eyes.
"You...envy me?"
Tim could hardly believe his ears. The fact that anyone could envy him, especially with the life he had, living in shambles with barely a cent to his name was such a foreign concept to him. No, if anything he should be the one envious of her. The extravagant lifestyle, the spacious castle, not having to worry about meals, or clothes, or shelter, she had everything he could have ever dreamed of, or so he thought.
"What could you possibly be envious of, Mina? I grew up in a run down shack that barely even had a roof, I barely had any food, and I lived every day wondering if I'd be able to scrounge up enough crumbs to eat or if I'd have to go steal some bread from the market just to get a meal. Sometimes I'd almost wish I'd get caught. Even in prison I'd have more food then at home!" he snapped, a little offended.
Mina inched back, startled at Tim's curt response.
"I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out. Besides, you didn't know the life I had before now."
"No... I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry. I should have been more considerate, but I do envy your freedom..." Mina's voice trailed off a bit as she clutched her knees, pulling her legs to her chest.
"My freedom?"
"Yes. For the past fourteen years I've not once set foot outside these walls. I long to know the feeling of the grass between my toes, or the cool night air gently tickling my cheek. This cold walls of this castle is all I've ever known." Mina sighed, eyes welling up with tears.
"But why? Can't you just walk around in the courtyard for a little?"
"It's too dangerous... That's what Morgan says anyway..."
"What's so dangerous about it? I've practically lived outside all my life." Tim asked, cocking his head to the side.
"It's because of who I am... I'm the heir to a kingdom that no one even knows still exists. I need to stay hidden..." Mina sighed.
"But if you're the heir, then wouldn't your parents be the ones in the most danger?" Tim asked.
"They're either dead or missing." Mina replied, remaining surprisingly calm.
"I'm sorry, I didn't..."
"It's alright." Mina interrupted. "I've dealt with mother's disappearance and my father died when I was only a few months old. It's kind of funny how much I consider Morgan to be my mother, despite the fact my mother could still be out there somewhere."
"It must be hard, not knowing your real parents." Tim sighed, giving a sympathetic smile.
"Living a life imprisoned here is far more difficult, I assure you."
"I'll talk to Morgan about possibly letting you out, even if it is just to walk around the courtyard." Tim replied, putting an arm around her.
"Don't waste your time, she'd never approve of it." Mina sighed with a pout.
"Alright then, I'll just have to prove you wrong!" Tim replied with a grin.
Mina smiled a little at Tim's offer, but the harsh realities of her situation kept happiness just out of her reach.
"I'll let you get back to sleep. You need your rest." Tim said with a smile, rising to his feet.
Mina grabbed hold of Tim's sleeve as he stood up, looking up at him with a pout.
"Please, stay..." she whispered.
Not saying a word, Tim sat back down on the bed.
"I just... wan't someone who will always be there for me..." Mina sighed.
"Alright then, if nothing else I can most certainly do that much for you. I promise."
A smile slowly tugging at Mina's lips, she wrapped her arms around Tim, tightly clinging to him.
"Even if that's the only thing you ever do for me, I couldn't be happier right now. I've been lonely here with no one to talk to or do things with. Even though I have all these servants, it's just not the same as someone enjoying my company for what it is, not out of some obligation thrust on them."
"It's almost nightfall. I'm going to see if I can find Morgan." Tim said with a smile.
Walking back out into the hall, Tim noticed Morgan leaning against the wall by the door.
"Just who I was looking for. How much of that were you listening in on exactly?" Tim asked.
"Enough to know what you're planning. The answer is no, by the way." Morgan sighed, brushing the hair from her face.
"But what harm could come from it? Even just a simple walk in the courtyard. She doesn't even have to leave the castle grounds!" Tim protested.
"You wouldn't understand how much danger she's in, even safe here in the castle. It's a risk we just can't afford to take."
"She is so miserable here though..."
"Miserable, but safe. Making her happy is your job, Tim. You'll have to find a way around it." Morgan sighed.
"How am I supposed to do that if you're denying her the one thing that will make her happy!" Tim snapped in frustration.
Morgan simply gave a shrug as she started walking off.
"Good luck, kid. I'm going to take a nap." Morgan yawned, walking down the stairs.
Walking back into Mina's room, Tim let out a sigh, his shoulders slouching in disappointment. Mina rolled her eyes as if to say 'I told yo so' before laying down on the bed. Looking down at Mina, Tim's eyes lit up as he came up with a plan to get around Morgan's answer.
"We don't have much time. Morgan be damned, you're seeing the outdoors tonight. We don't have much time, come on!" Tim said excitedly, taking Mina by the hand.
He quietly led her down the stairs and along the east wing of the castle towards the back gate. It was still too early for most of the servants to be up, but the sun had just set over the mountains in the horizon. Tim slipped out the back door of the castle into the garden. Making sure the sun was completely set, Tim led Mina outside.
"Are you sure this is alright? Morgan said no to your proposal."
"But she said she was going to take a nap. It was like she was inviting me to do this as long as she wasn't directly involved. That's how I saw it, anyway." Tim replied.
Stepping out into the grass, Mina wiggled her bare toes, gripping the soil and tufts of gras with her feet. She let out a sigh of relief as the wind caressed her cheek. Breathing the crisp night air, she turned to Tim, her face brimming with joy.
"This is better than I ever could have imagined." Mina sighed, laying down in a bed of lilies.
"I'm glad you're enjoying this so much." Time said with a smile.
Taking a deep breath, Mina looked up at the sky, sad that this was only a fleeting moment that would soon come to an end, this paradise wrenched from her grasp.
"Tim, I don't know how to thank you for this..." Mia sighed.
"It's alright, there's no need. Just seeing you smile like that is thanks enough. Now we should head back inside before Morgan notices we're missing." Tim replied.
"I think it's a little late for that." a voice called over to him.
Turning towards the sound, Tim froze as he saw Morgan standing in the doorway of the castle, anxiously tapping the toe of her boot against the stone floor.
"Morgan... I thought you were..."
"Asleep? Come inside. We need to talk, in private. Mina, the servants have prepared a bath for you, go freshen up." Morgan commanded sternly.
Tim followed her nervously as she led him deep into the castle's barracks, the walls lined with countless weapons and armaments. She led him down a winding staircase at the end of the barracks. The light from the hall above began to fade as they reached the bottom of the stairwell. A long hallway lined with prison cells stretched out into the darkness ahead. Chills ran down Tim's spine as she led him down to the end of the hall past the rows of vacant cells. Opening the door at the end of the hall, Morgan led him into what appeared to be a small interrogation room. Motioning for him to join her, Morgan sat down at the desk in the center of the room.
"Don't be so nervous. I'm not going to hurt you. It's just this is the only place we could be left to talk without interruption. I'm the only one who ever really comes down here." Morgan sighed, leaning back in her chair.
"Oh, I see..." Tim replied, fidgeting nervously in his seat.
"Now, about what you've done..."
Tim could practically feel his heart leaping into his throat as Morgan spoke, dreading what would befall him. He could feel her eyes staring coldly into his.
"Normally, I find the ability to think for yourself and not always follow orders to be a good thing. Unfortunately, this is an exception. You've greatly endangered the princess. Should anyone happened to have seen her, this place would no longer be safe." Morgan's eyes narrowed as she spoke, furrowing her brow.
"How can we even be sure anyone saw her? She was only outside for a few minutes!" Tim protested.
"The fact of the matter is we can't. Only time will tell such a thing, but until then I'll assume the worst." Morgan groaned.
"So I guess you want me to leave then, considering the trouble I caused..."
"Oh no, don't even think I'm letting you off the hook that easy. You're going to be the one protecting her majesty. You two make a pretty cute couple, so why ruin a good thing? Besides, letting you go would break her poor little heart even more." Morgan laughed, grabbing a sheathed short sword off the wall and tossing it to Tim.
"I don't even know how to use this thing. How do you expect me to protect her with this?" Tim groaned.
"You'll learn. Now, go back upstairs and protect your dear princess." Morgan commanded with a slight grin, ushering Tim out of the room.
Returning to his room, Tim hung his sword over the back of his chair and dove onto his bed. Tossing and turning, he wondered what he had just gotten himself into.
"I'm sure Morgan's just being overprotective. It's almost impossible for someone to have seen her. We were outside for no more than a few minutes at most." Tim thought aloud.
Looking out the window at the night sky, his mind began to wander, wondering just how much danger Mina was really in. She seemed safe enough, but as an outsider, Tim knew he was in no position to judge Mina's current situation. Looking down at the floor, Tim noticed something quickly scurry out from under the dresser, slipping under the door. Slowly rolling out of bed, Tim shuffled to the door. Opening the door, he took a peek down the hall. Seeing nothing particularly out of place, Tim coldest door and turned back towards the bed. No sooner had he reached his bed, a loud shriek echoed through the castle.
Barreling through the door, Tim rushed to Mina's room. Barging into her room, he found her cowering in the corner, clutching her knees, her eyes locked on the floor. A small black creatures scurried towards her, its spider like legs struggling to move through the thick carpet. Before Tim could even make a move, a dagger flew past him, piercing the creature straight through the middle.
"I was being serious when I told you to protect her. I'll remember to make things a bit more clear next time." Morgan sighed, walking over and ripping her dagger out of the creature's corpse.
"What the hell is that thing!?" Mina yelled, still in a panic.
"They must have slipped in while you were outside. They're magical creatures made for gathering surveillance." Morgan groaned.
"So they're spies?" Tim asked.
"And they seldom travel alone. The castle is probably teeming with them now."
"So we just clear them out and everything will be fine, right?" Tim asked, hoping things could so easily be fixed.
"Their creator cans through their eyes. Whomever sent them already knows Mina is here, and is most likely planning to pay her a visit. I want you to stay here with Mina until I say otherwise. Do not leave her side for any reason, understand?" Morgan commanded.
"And what of my privacy!?" Mina protested.
"It's something you'll have to do without for the time being. Tim seems like a perfect gentleman though, so I doubt you have too much to worry about." Morgan replied with a smile.
"I don't feel comfortable with this at all..." Tim sighed, his reply cut short as Morgan gave him a cold stare.
"You will do as I say, understood?" she growled.
"Y-yes ma'am..." Tim replied, his body trembling.
"Take good care of her, I have some business to attend to." Morgan sighed, closing the door as she walked out.
Letting out a sigh, Tim looked over at Mina.
"Does she normally get like that?" he asked.
Mina shook her head, wide eyed.
"I've never seen her get so serious before. She's normally the most laid back, even when she's giving orders. She must be really worried." Mina groaned in reply.
"I really screwed up, didn't I..." Tim sighed.
"Hey, it's my fault too. Besides, what's done is done." Mina smiled, patting Tim on the head.
"I guess you're right. I still feel awful though. I never realized how much danger you were in." Tim sighed.
"To be honest, neither did I."
"Wow, Morgan must be really good at keeping you safe if even you didn't know just how dangerous going outside could be." Time said, giving Mina a smile.
"Actually... this wasn't the first time I've been outside..." Mina's eyes darted to the floor, wringing her hands nervously.
"Really? Then when was the last time you were let out?"
"When I was very young, the day my mother left. She let me walk with her to the gates of the courtyard. She told me she'd watch over me no matter how far away, and that she'd return one day. That was ten years ago..." Mina replied, her eyes welling up with tears.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something like that..."
"It's fine. I already know I'll probably never see her again." Mina sighed.
"I'm sure she's doing just fine. She sounds like a strong woman from what I've heard." Tim replied with a smile.
"But to not even reach out to me, not even once in ten years. I find it hard to believe that she's doing well." Mina groaned.
"Still, I'm hopeful she'll return." Tim smiled.
"As refreshing as your optimism can be at times, it can be unwarranted..." Mina groaned.
"You're right, you know." Morgan laughed, walking over to Tim.
"I can't help it." Tim replied with a shrug.
"Mind if I borrow him for a minute, princess?" Morgan smiled.
Mina gave her a nod, turning back towards her mountain of stuffed animals.
"Good, if you'll follow me, I've got a job for you." Morgan smiled, ruffling Tim's hair.
Getting up, Tim followed her out. Morgan handed him a large empty sack.
"Go hunt down those little bastards for me. I need some time to myself. If you need anything I'll be in the hot spring." Morgan chimed, stretching as she walked downstairs.
The empty sack in one hand and his sword in the other, Tim began roaming the castle in search of those creatures. He lazily checked behind drapes and under tapestries as he walked down the halls.
"Why am I stuck doing this. I thought she wanted me to protect Mina." Tim grumbled.
By the lack of servants in the halls, Tim could only assume it was just about daybreak. He spent the rest of the day wandering the castle in search of those creatures, but his search was to no avail. At the end of the day, his sack was filled with nothing but air, just as it had been from the start. About ready to give up, Tim headed back towards his room. As he reached the stairs, a loud crash echoed through the castle as it shook violently, causing him to lose his balance. As the rumbling subsided, he could hear Morgan yell to him from upstairs.
"We're under attack! Head outside and keep them distracted, I'll meet you out there as the sun sets!"
Tim complied without hesitation, running for the front gates. Bursting through the front door, Tim was greeted by a pair of large clay golems. The golems immediately charged at Tim, knocking him to the ground. Shaking off the blow, Tim rolled on his side, catching his breath. The golems closed in on him, raising their hands above their heads, ready to come down upon him. Sliding out of the way, Tim just barely managed to dodge the blow and climb to his feet. Readying his sword, Tim watched as the golems slowly approached him, waiting for his chance to strike. Watching as one of the golems lunged towards him, he dodged to the side, but not quite enough to completely clear the golem's fist. It knocked him to the ground, the other golem striking his chest as he hit the ground. The golems began pummeling him into submission, each blow feeling like it would kill him. His vision began to blur, teetering on the verge of consciousness as he felt the last of his strength leave him. Content, the golems left Tim unconscious on the ground as they marched off over the horizon.
Tim slowly opened his eyes, roused by a gentle tapping at his window. He was surprised to be back in his room, the the rush of pain quickly distracted him from the thought of how he got back safely. Rolling on to his side, Tim jumped, startled to find that he wasn't alone. A young woman was leaning against the wall, the tapping he heard being her nails tapping on the glass window. Her long blonde hair was tied into a ponytail which snaked down her back, resting against her hip. Her long black dress fluttered in the breeze as she opened the window.
"So you're finally awake." she smiled.
Tim scurried back, staring back at her.
"Oh, where are my manners. I haven't even introduced myself. You can call me Tielle. Morgan's told me much about you, and she made a point of telling me the grave error you made in endangering my daughter..." she growled.
"D...daughter?" Tim stammered.
"Yes, and if she didn't adore you so much, I'd make you pay dearly for what you did." Tielle groaned, her eyes narrowing into a glare.
"I'm really sorry about what I did. If i'd known what kind of a position Mina was in..."
"... You would have ignored her needs to ensure her safety." Tielle interjected.
Tim stared at her, taken aback by how matter of factly she put things.
"That's why I like you, boy. You care about what she needs. If I simply wanted someone to protect her, well that's what Morgan is for. You just need to learn when not to overstep your bounds." Tielle sighed.
"I see, then you have no issue with me staying after putting your daughter in such harm?"
"Forcing you to leave now would only break Mina's heart. Besides, what you've done can be remedied. We simply have to relocate is all." she said with a smile.
"I kind of like it here. It's quiet, and peaceful." Tim sighed.
"Well, not so much anymore thanks to you. Regardless, the tundra to the north is quiet and peaceful too. I'm sure you'll get along there just fine." Tielle said with a grin.
"Tundra... great..." Tim groaned.
"What's wrong? Are you not a fan of the cold? If that's the case I could always just leave you behind." Tielle teased.
"I'll go, but why does it have to be so cold."
"You'll be fine, just dress warm." Tielle laughed.
With that, Tielle rose to her feet, stretching a little.
"It was a pleasure to finally meet you. If you'll excuse me, I still have to pay my precious Mina a visit." she smiled, opening the door to leave.
Tielle looked over to see Morgan waiting for her, leaning against the wall. Next to her was an intricate clay doll, standing at about five and a half feet tall. If not for it's pasty complexion and waxy texture, it could easily be mistaken for a human at first glance.
"I see you've met my travel companion." Tielle laughed, ruffling the doll's scruffy brown hair.
"Yes, he's quite the conversationalist. It's rare to find a doll that can think on its own. Did you seal someone's consciousness in there or is it simply possessed?" Morgan replied with a smirk.
"I wouldn't know. I found the poor thing wandering the desert, so I figured I'd let him tag along. It was getting quite boring traveling alone."
"I'm glad I was able to provide such good company." the doll replied with a smile.
"What can I say, you piqued my curiosity, Adrian." Tielle laughed, giving him a nudge.
"Well no wonder you two got on so well with each other. Looks like you found yourself a new toy." Morgan sighed.
"I suppose you could put it that way. Well, I've made my daughter wait long enough. I'll leave you two to make the travel preparations then." Tielle shrugged, slipping into Mina's room.
Mina's eyes lit up with excitement as she watched from her bed as the door creaked open, her mother stepping inside. Unable to stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks, she leapt into her mother's arms.
"What took you so long to come back? I missed you so much..." Mina cried, burying her face in her mother's shoulder.
Tielle gently pet Mina's head, gently kissing her forehead as she took a seat on the bed.
"I've missed you too. I wish I never had to leave you in the first place." Tielle sighed.
"It's alright, you did it to protect me. I understand that now."
Tielle gave her a soft smile, letting out a sigh of relief.
"You're far more understanding than I. You can thank your father for that."
"I never really got to know either of you growing up. I can start catching up on lost time with you, but for him...." Mina's voice trailed off, her eyes darting to her lap.
"Did Morgan ever tell you what happened to your father?" Tielle asked.
"No, not until she thought I was ready..."
A brief moment of silence hung in the air, Tielle practically holding her breath in trepidation as memories came flooding back, memories she had put out of her mind for so many years.
"Could you tell me about him?" Mina asked, resting her head on her mother's shoulder.
Letting out a sigh, a weary smile tugged at the corners of Tielle's lips as she thought back to their first encounter. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the wall.
"He was naive, inquisitive to a fault, and rather selfless at times. He saw past what people were, in order to find out who they were. He also tended to be extremely sarcastic, making cheeky comments at the worst possible times, to the point I was almost certain I'd lose my temper and kill him on multiple occasions. Ironically, it ended up being one of the reasons I fell for him in the first place."
She let out a wistful sigh, an almost melancholy smirk creeping across her lips as she reminisced on the time the two of them had spend together.
"That boy reminds me of your father when I first met him. Even knowing my quick temper, your father was able to help me come to terms with my father's death, even after all those years. That boy did something similar for you, despite the amount of danger it put you in. You needed to see the outside world with your own eyes. Cyrus would have done the same thing had it been up to him."
"I wish I could have gotten to know him..." Mina sighed.
"As do I. He truly treasured you... while he was still human at least..."
"What do you mean?" Mina asked hesitantly.
TIelle went silent, her breath growing heavy as she clung to what little composure she had left. Memories of Cyrus' death flooded her mind, the blood splashing on the wall as his lifeless body slumped into a corner. Looking at her hands, a tear fell from her cheek, landing in her palm.
"Mother, are you alright?" Mina asked softly.
"I..." she paused for a moment, her eyes shut tight as she took a deep breath, clearing her head.
"I'll be fine... though I think it's time you learned the truth about your father's death. Considering how close you two have become, I think the boy would do well to hear this as well. You'll need someone you can turn to after this, even if it's just a shoulder to cry on." Tielle sighed as she led Mina back to Tim's room.
Tim looked up from his bed as he heard the door swing open. His heart filled with dread as he saw the sullen look on both their faces.
"What's going on? Is everything alright?" he asked.
Tielle let out a heavy sigh, sitting her daughter on the bed next to Tim. After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.
"Mina, I turned your father to save his life. At first, things continued as normal, but he eventually became a completely different person. It was a slow process. It started off slow. He became more complacent, the sharp wit and sarcastic comments I'd grown to expect eventually fading completely. He was more a slave than a lover. Then the bloodlust started, and that's when things really took a turn for the worse. As hard as he fought to keep his free will, to keep his former self intact, he was unable to go through the turning process unchanged. His will alone wasn't enough to fight the primal urges to feed welling up within him. I was soon forced to lock him in the cellar, chained to a wall like an animal to keep him under control, and hopefully help him overcome this..."
Tielle fell silent, again desperately trying to keep her composure. Tears rolled down her cheeks, her body trembling as she spoke.
"Unfortunately, I underestimated the weight of those chains. He broke free in the middle of the night, little more than a beast looking for its next meal. I... I supposed he sensed... the human part of you..."
Shaking her head, she took a deep breath.
"He had managed to slip into your room. Had I not been there, he would have killed you..."
She burst into tears, sobbing as she looked down at her trembling hands.
"With these two hands, I was forced to kill the one closest to my heart..."
Tim and Mina both looked on in shock, lost for words. Mina sat on the bed, her body gently rocking as she tried to cope with what she had just heard. Calming down a little, Tielle dried her eyes, shaking her head. She stared at the ground, letting out a sigh.
"If you want nothing to do with me after hearing all of this, I understand..."
"No..." Mina replied, clenching her fist.
"But..."
"No, I'm not letting you use this as another excuse to run off again!" Mina snapped.
Tielle looked at her daughter, tears still running down her cheeks.
"You did it to protect me. I understand that, as hard as it is to hear. Besides, I already lost you once. I'm not letting that happen again." Mina continued.
"You...don't hate me for what I've done?" Tielle asked hesitantly.
"I dealt with father's death an your disappearance a long time ago. Father is still dead, and knowing how it happened isn't going to do anything to change that fact." Mina sighed, laying down as she buried her face in her hands.
Tielle took a seat at her daughter's side, looking over at Tim, who had remained silent through the whole ordeal.
"And what about you, boy?" she asked.
"I really don''t know what to think. All I know is you did what you had to in order to protect your daughter. I can't fault you for that." Tim replied.
Their conversation was interrupted by a light knock on the door.
"Tielle, may I have a word?" Adrian asked, opening the door just a crack.
"Of course. Mina, go pack your things. I want to be ready to leave by midnight." TIelle replied, regaining her composure, the weight of carrying Cyrus' death having been lifted.
Ushering her daughter back to her own room, Tielle closed the door to Tim's room before turning her attention to Adrian.
"Now what was it you wanted to speak with me about?" she asked.
"You ad asked me once if I remembered who had created me..." he began, a bit hesitant.
"An you aid you didn't remember much of anything, correct?"
"At the time I didn't, but now, I'm starting to remember. He said his name was Voran."
Tielle stared at him in shock, praying at first that perhaps she misheard him, that it wasn't her wretched past once again toying with her like so many times before.
"Are you sure he said his name was Voran? Did he tell you anything else?" Tielle asked, grabbing his shoulders and he rigorously pressed him for more information.
"All he told me was to find his daughter, but he vanished before I could ask him anything about her." Adrian stammered.
"You had better not be lying to me..." she growled.
"What reason would I have to lie about something like this? If I may, why is this so important to you?"
"Because I'm the one he sent you to find." she sighed.
"I see..." he replied, his voice trailing off as he began contemplating the odd coincidence.
"Adrian, just how long ago did you remember?" Tielle asked, her eyes narrowing as if she was trying to stare into his mind to find the answer herself.
"About a week ago, but with everything going on with your daughter I didn't think it the best time to bring up such things." he replied.
"Well, next time you remember something important I'd like to know sooner, and that's an order." she snapped.
"But of course, master." Adrian replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't you have a carriage to prepare?" Tielle growled, her patience wearing thin.
"That I do. If you'll excuse me." Adrian replied with a smirk, walking down the hall.
With a sigh, Tielle let her back slide down the wall as she took a seat by the door to Tim's room.
"So if he's been alive this whole time, then why is the first I'm hearing of it from a damned doll!" Tielle yelled in frustration, slamming her fist against the wall.
Turning her head, she noticed Tim's door slightly ajar.
"It's not polite to eavesdrop you know..." she groaned, looking over at Tim, who was staring back at her from behind the door.
Tim shut the door, not wanting to offend her any further, but it was already too late. Opening the door, she walked over to Tim, who was nervously fidgeting on his bed.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you or anything." she sighed, plopping down on the bed next to him.
"I'm sure if your father could reach you somehow he would. Maybe he's just trying to protect you, like you were trying to protect Mina." Tim said hesitantly.
"But Lillianus had been sealed, there was no reason for him to stay in hiding had he not died when sealing her away like we all thought."
"All I can say for sure is he must have had his reasons. Be it by choice or circumstance, we can't really know." Tim replied.
"I suppose you're right, and all this speculation won't do us any good either. We need to focus on the task at hand." she sighed, rising to her feet.
Turning towards Tim, she gave him a smile.
"You know, you're quite good at calming people down. Thank you for that. Now, pack your things, we'll be leaving here by nightfall." Tielle continued as she opened the door and stepped into the hall.
Time hastily gathered his belongings, watching as the set over the mountains. Making his way out the front gates, Tim was greeted by two large horse drawn carriages. Morgan was at the reins of one, and Adrian at the other. Tielle stood by Morgan's carriage, holding the door open.
"Your princess is waiting." Tielle said with a smirk, ushering Tim towards the carriage. As he stepped inside, she put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him for a moment. Leaning in close, she whispered in his ear.
"Should anything happen to my daughter on your watch... well, just make sure nothing happens..."
With that, she closed the door behind him. There was what appeared to be a large coffin in the middle of the carriage, Mina already called up comfortably inside.
"Come join me. It's going to be a long trip from what mother told me. I'd hate for you to have to stand the whole way there." Mina chimed, patting the empty velvety cushion of the coffin.
Tim reluctantly climbed in, trying to give Mina as much space as he could inside the cramped little box. Reaching up, Mina closed the lid of the coffin and snuggled against Tim, quickly falling asleep. Tim eventually followed in suit, occasionally awoken by the jolting and rocking of the carriage.
Tim slowly opened his eyes, groaning as he shivered from the cold. Mina was still sound asleep, clinging tightly to him for warmth. A light knock on the lid of the coffin roused her from her slumber.
"You can come out now." Morgan called from outside.
"It's going to be freezing out there. I'll stay right here if you don't..."
Without warning, the lid of the coffin came flying off its hinges, Tielle staring down at him with an impatient groan.
"Out." she commanded, lifting him up by his collar and dropping him on the snow-covered ground.
A large tower loomed before them as Tielle led the way up to the front gate. Opening the door, she stepped inside, the rest of the group following her in.
"Sister, it's been so long! How have you been?" a voice called down from the winding staircase. A woman came down the staircase, soaring down the banister as she practically tackled Tielle, wrapping her arms around her.
"I've missed you so much, how come you never keep in touch? Tell me all about what you've been up to these days!" the woman squealed excitedly as Tielle struggled to pry her sister off of her.
"I will, I will, just let go of me." Tielle groaned.
Letting go of her sister, Sara's gaze wandered over to Tim as a grin pursed her lips.
"I see you found a new toy... a bit young but..."
"Actually, that one belongs to my daughter." Tielle laughed.
Sara stared at her sister in shock, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Why am I the last to hear about you having a daughter? I'm hurt..." Sara whined.
"With her being in so much danger, I had no other choice. Don't take it personally." Tielle sighed.
"I see... well feel free to make yourselves at home. The guest rooms are off to the left. Come, sister. We've much catching up to do!" Sara said with a smile.
"Fine, fine, I'll be back in a little while. Tim, save me a bed, I'd like to room with you two lovebirds, just to be safe." Tielle sighed as her sister practically dragged her upstairs.
Finding a room big enough for the three of them, Tim tossed his bags in a corner and threw himself onto the bed. Looking over at Mina, he let out a sigh of relief.
"We've finally made it, safe and sound." Tim sighed, stretching his back.
"Yea... safe..." Mina sighed, taking a seat at the foot of the bed.
"Everything alright? You look exhausted." Tim asked, sitting up.
Mina began rubbing her eyes, a cold sweat beading at her brow.
"I just feel really dizzy all of a sudden... I think I need to lay down..."
Without warning, Mina collapsed on the bed. Leaning over her, Tim gently shook her shoulders.
"Mina... wake up... are you alright?"
Tim's shaking became more frantic as he began to panic. With no other choice, Tim bolted up the stairs. Reaching the door at the top of the stairs, he swung it open, bursting into the room.
"Tim, what's the meaning of this? We're in the middle of an important conversation!" Tielle snapped, more surprised at Tim's sudden intrusion than anything else.
"Mina's collapsed."
Tielle's eyes narrowed in concern, the only thing breaking the silence being the sound of Tim's labored breathing.
"Move." she commanded, pushing Tim aside as she ran down the stairs. Running to her daughter's side, placing an ear to her daughter's chest.
"She's weak. The carriage ride alone shouldn't have put her in this kind of condition." Tielle thought aloud.
"Do you know what's wrong with her?" Tim asked, inching closer.
"Half bloods like her, vampires born through conventional human means, are extremely rare. I thought of their existence as mere myth until I experienced it myself when I gave birth to Mina. Honestly, I can't say for sure what's going on. I want you to take her to see my mother. If anyone would know what to do, it would be her." Tielle replied, stepping away from her daughter.
"Of course, where am I going exactly?" Tim replied.
"Morgan, show him the way.
"Very well. Tim, would you do the honors?" Morgan replied, motioning towards Mina.
Hoisting her up on his back, he followed Morgan outside.
Trecking through the frozen wasteland, Morgan led Tim to small chateau half buried in the snow. Opening the door, she ushered him inside.
"My job is done, I'll see you back at the tower, kind." Morgan smiled, ruffling his hair a little before closing the door behind her.
He shivered in the cold, disappointed to find that inside the cabin was no warmer than the freezing winds outside. Looking around the dust covered chateau, Tim carried Mina down the far alway. Noticing one of the doors slightly ajar, Tim took a peek inside. A young girl with flowing black hair sat behind a desk, her nose buried in a thick book. Her eyes drifted up from the book, her gaze meeting with his.
"Can I help you with something?" she asked, turning her attention back to her book.
"I'm looking for Tielle's mother, do you know where I can find her?" Tim asked, stepping into the small study.
"Oh, you must be Tim. Tielle mentioned you last I head from her." The girl smiled, rising to her feet.
"You're Tielle's mother? But you can't be older than..."
"Don't think too much about it. Now, what is it you needed?"
"Mina's collapsed and she won't wake up. Tielle said you might be able to help." Tim replied, the worried tone in his voice becoming more and more prominent the more he thought about Mina's condition.
"Lay her down over here." the girl instructed, clearing off her desk.
Tim did as she asked and laid Mina across the table.
"Alright, what next.... I don't believe I caught your name."
"Please, just call me Anise. Now, what has her life been like recently? Has anything occurred that might have caused this?"
"Not that I can think of. We just arrived from the castle in Piorre."
"Yes, I heard all about that. I mean once you got to Sara's..."
"Not really, she just felt really tired, a little lightheaded, and then collapsed." Tim sighed, looking down at Mina.
"Lightheaded you say? When's the last time she was fed?"
"Well she had some bread on the carriage ride over..."
"I mean blood. When is the last time she's had human blood?"
"I... I don't know. Come to think of it, I've never seen her drink human blood. Even in the castle I mostly saw her eat normal food." Tim replied.
"Seeing as she's a half blood, it would make sense she could sustain herself to come degree on food alone, butI believe that time has come to an end. Tim, give me your hand." Anise commanded.
"Tim held out his hand hesitantly as Anise grabbed hold of it. Taking a small knife from her drawer, she quickly slid it across Tim's palm. Letting out a yelp of pain, he tried to pull away, but Anise kept her firm grip. She moved Tim's palm to Mina's lips. He could feel her breath on his open wound, her lips parting slightly, letting Tim's blood trickle down onto her lips. Tim suddenly cringed as he felt her tongue start to gently brush against his open wound, getting a good taste of the blood it so desperately yearned for.
"Is it working?" Tim asked, still concerned that Mina hadn't woken up.
"This may take some time, but I believe this will work eventually. I think she's had enough for now though." Anise smiled, watching as Mina rolled over, licking her lips.
Taking Tim's hand once more, she bandaged up the wound.
"If you could carry her to the next room across the hall, there's a nice bed she can use." Anise smiled, sitting back down at her desk.
Tielle sat on the empty bed, looking down at where her daughter once was. Her mid wrought with worry, she tightly clenched the sheets in her fists, trying to think of what could be wrong with her daughter. She was so deep in her own thoughts she didn't even notice the well dressed gentleman watching her from the doorway.
"Fancy seeing you here, kitten." he smiled, running a hand through his short grey hair.
She looked up, glaring at him with murderous intent.
"Why are you here, and what are you plotting." she growled.
"Plotting? Oh whatever do you mean? Is it wrong to want to visit an old friend after all these years?" he replied with a grin.
"Had those words come from anyone else's lips, I wouldn't question it, but with you, there's always a deeper motive. So, what is it you want?" she sighed.
"Truth be told, I came to see your daughter..."
"I think the word your looking for is take... you came to take my daughter...." Tielle growled.
"Mmmm, there's nary a difference between the two. We could play this game of semantics all day, kitten, but it wouldn't do us any good, as it appears your daughter isn't here. What a pity." the man replied glumly.
Tielle nearly lunged at his throat, gripping the bedpost to physically hold herself back.
"Valdier, if you so much as lay a finger on her, I swear I'll tear you limb from limb, and that's if I'm feeling generous and don't feel like making you suffer." she hissed.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Your daughter is such a beautiful flower, I simply wish to pluck her from the garden and keep her for myself. Killing her would do me no good, though I must say she'd make a lovely bride." he replied wistfully.
Tielle was seething with rage. On one hand, part of her knew full well Valdier was purposefully antagonizing her, trying to push her over the edge. On the other hand, she didn't really care.
"First you send your spies to keep tabs on her, then you send your golems to take her by force, and now you have the gall to show your face here in person just to antagonize me? I swear, I will end you."
"It's cute how you continue to make idle threats after all these years, kitten, but you're sorely mistaken. I never sent any spies or golems. Truth be told, this is the first time I've attempted to even find your daughter." he sighed.
"I don't believe a word of it." she growled.
"Fine by me, kitten, but you should know, the air is abuzz with rumors that the Mortevus clan is far from dead. The fact we're even speaking right now is proof of that."
"Then perhaps I should kill you here and now, assuring that this chatter will amount to nothing more than rumors and hearsay." Tielle grinned.
"That wouldn't be a wise choice. I already have someone checking in on the two lovebirds as we speak. I'm sure Mina can fend for herself just fine, that is if she wakes up in time. I'm more concerned with the boy, him being a mortal and all. Should I die here, I can't guarantee their safety."
"And how would you even know where to find them?" Tielle scoffed, leaning back against the wall.
"My sources tell me they're with your mother."
Tielle's heart sank at his words. The thought of Valdier killing Tim and worse yet doing God knows what with her daughter made her physically ill. Her body trembled, her head slumping forward in defeat.
"What do you want? What will it take to get you out of our lives forever?" she sighed.
"Oh but where's the fun in that? I'll make you a deal. Should the boy live to see Mina's wedding day, I'll let him be, and you'll never hear from me again."
"I don't have much of a choice now do I?" Tielle sighed.
"True. Regardless, best of luck to you kitten."
"Tell me... how did you know where she is?" Tielle growled.
"You'd like to know? Hmmm, perhaps I could tell you, if you did something for me in return..."
"Tell me, now!" Tielle hissed, tackling Valdier to the ground.
He simply chuckled as she wrapped her fingers around his throat.
"I've always loved that temper of yours. It brings out the best in you." Valdier said with a grin.
"I won't ask you again, who told you..."
"Well, if you must know, it was your sister. Such a naive girl. To think, she actually believes I'll do as I promised. She obviously doesn't know me very well." he laughed,
"I'd kill you right now if I could." Tielle growled, begrudgingly releasing him.
"Oh, I don't doubt that. I look forward to our little game, kitten. Don't disappoint me."
With that, Valdier turned and walked out of the room, his hearty chuckle echoing through the hall. Tielle slammed her fist against the wall, welling up with rage. She walked out of the room and made her way up the stairs towards Sara's study. Throwing open the door, Tielle stared angrily at her sister, who was trying to catch herself before falling out of her chair, startled at Tielle's sudden entrance.
"What's with you, barging in here like that.... and why do you look so upset?" she stammered nervously.
"What have you done, Sara? Why have you betrayed me?" Tielle asked, holding back her rage.
"You've been in hiding for years, your empire has fallen apart, times have changed. The Mortevus clan is a mere shadow of what it used to be since you left. Other clans have risen up to power, and they all see anyone who was associated with you as a threat. Valdier offered me protection, in return for feeding him information. I had to protect myself, you understand that, right?" Sara replied, eyes darting to the ground.
"So you took the cowards way out and not only endangered myself, but my daughter as well? Why did you trust Valdier of all people, you know full well the man nearly ruined my life when I was younger!" Tielle snapped.
"What would you have me do!? If you had just stayed put none of this would have happened! Had you not left us in such a poor state we..."
"Don't you even dare try to blame me for this! I left to protect my daughter, and it's not like you're incapable of handling yourself in my absence. What's the real reason behind this? I know you too well, you're hiding something."
Sara went silent, avoiding Tielle's gaze.
"He promised you something... what was it?" Tielle groaned.
"You don't know what it's like, constantly in your shadow. As the elder sibling I should have been the one to lead the clan..." Sara's voice trailed off a bit, shaking her head.
"So he promised you could take my place, is that it? This whole thing was just a play for power. I thought better of you..." Tielle sighed.
"Father did always like you best, and look where it got him. After all his hard work you simply abandon everything he worked..."
The mention of her father quickly brought Tielle to her breaking point. She lashed out, grabbing her sister's throat.
"First of all I actually gave a damn about taking the mantle and becoming the leader of the Mortevus Clan, unlike you, who simply waited for it to fall into your lap! By no means did I simply abandon everything. As the heir to the throne, keeping my daughter safe is my number one priority both as a mother, and to ensure there even is a next head of the clan! You put my daughter in such grave peril, leading Valdier right to her! Need I remind you this is a man who kept me captive for almost two years just after our father died in hopes of breaking me, plotting that a forced marriage between us would give him control of our clan! I can't believe you would do something like..."
A loud snap echoed through the chamber. In a blind rage, Tielle had snapped her sister's neck, Sara going limp in her hand. Trembling, she laid her sister's body down on the desk before falling to her knees.
"Why did you provoke me so.... sister... curse your envious heart..." Tielle sighed.
"When will this bloodshed end?" Adrian asked softly, walking up behind Tielle.
"I... did what I had to do... to protect my daughter..." Tielle growled.
"Please, do not mistake my intent. Far be it from me to question your motives, but I'm sure this isn't the path you wished to go down." Adrian replied.
"My soul will never be at rest, Adrian. All attempts at a peaceful life have been wrenched from my grasp. Even the one time I found true happiness..."
"You mean Cyrus..." Adrian sighed.
She gave a silent nod, letting out a heavy sigh.
"I've been backed into a corner with no way out..."
"I know. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Valdier earlier."
"I can't bear this any longer, Adrian. Am I supposed to just sit back and watch while my daughter is taken from me? I can't kill the bastard, as much as I'd like to, and with Mina in such a state I don't even know what will become of her..."
Tielle let out a sigh, shaking her head.
"I need to go lie down." she groaned, walking back downstairs.
"Would Cyrus simply let you run away from this? No, he'd tell you to stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something, because you've had far worse problems to deal with than this. Besides, Valdier won't play by his own rules, so why should we? Beat him at his own game!" Adrian snapped.
Tielle simply stared at him in shock.
"The only one I ever let speak to me that way was Cyrus, and I barely tolerated it even when he did it." Tielle growled.
"Well since he's not here to do it, I'll have to do. Besides, you need someone to challenge you on occasion." Adrian sighed.
"You're right, we need to do something about this." Tielle replied, drying her eyes.
"The best we can do is to speed things up between the two lovebirds." Adrian thought aloud.
"But with the way Mina is..."
"Let your mother take care of that. You just worry about how to deal with Valdier." Adrian sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"You're right, I need to be with her, to protect her. Come sunset we'll head for my mother's chateau.
Pausing for a moment, she rested her head on Adrian's shoulder, letting out a deep sigh as though the weight of a thousand lifetimes had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Tell me everything will be alright..." Tielle whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek as she wrapped her arms around Adrian.
"We'll make it through this. Tim and Mina will be just fine." he replied, stroking the back of her head.
Tim sat by Mina's side, opening the wound on his palm again to let her feed. She was less responsive than his previous attempt to wake her, barely even parting her lips this time. Tears of frustration ran down his cheeks as he pressed his hand firmly against her lips.
"She can only feed so much, Tim. Just let her rest." Anise sighed, taking a seat next to him.
"But it's the only way she'll wake up..."
"You've been at this on and off for seven hours. I'd rather not have to nurse you back to health too. I was just about to put up some tea, how about you take a break and join me."
Tim reluctantly obliged, as he slowly stood up, practically stumbling and tripping over himself as he tried to walk, weak from blood loss. Giving him a shoulder to lean on, Anise led him to the study. Taking the stemming hot kettle hanging over the fireplace, she poured two cups of tea.
"I have to ask, are you doing this all just because you care about Mina, or is there something more to this? I understand being concerned for her, but you're taking things a bit far even for something as simple as that." Anise asked, taking a sip of her tea.
Tim let out a troubled sigh, shaking his head.
"All this is happening because of me. If I hadn't let her outside, she'd still be safe. I've got to make things right." he replied.
"Stop being so hard on yourself. Even if you did cause all this, which you didn't, you're no good to her if you're dead. Her condition will work itself out with time. You just need to have some patience." Anise replied, bringing the cup to her lips again.
"But I can't just sit here and do nothing!" Tim protested.
"You've no choice, Tim. Just accept the fact you're doing all you can and do what you need to do, namely taking care of yourself at this point. Now, drink your tea." Anise sighed, nudging Tim's cup closer to him.
He begrudgingly took a sip, too absorbed in his own depression to really care about much else than making things right.
"None of this is getting through to you, is it? Stop worrying so much about Mina. We're all here to help figure out what's going on, so stop trying to do it all on your own."
"You're right, as much as I hate to admit it. It kills me to see her like this and know my actions led to this." He sighed, his head slumping forward, resting on the table.
"You had no way of knowing this would happen, Tim, and her condition is a result of what she is, not as a result of anything you've done..."
"But if not for me she'd at least still be safe!" Tim sighed, shaking his head.
"It was bound to happen eventually, Tim. I doubt Valdier got wind of all this on his own, and is by far the least of our worries."
"What do you mean...?" Tim asked hesitantly, not quite sure he wanted to know the answer.
"Tielle and Valdier have a bit of a long history. I doubt he'll truly follow through on any of his threats. He just likes to watch Tielle suffer. What I'm more concerned with is how Valdier even found about Mina in the first place..."
"I don't know, there were these strange creatures sent to spy on the castle shortly after I let her outside." Tim replied.
"Valdier was never one for subtlety. I doubt those spies were his. That must mean someone else knew about Mina first. If I could get my hands on one of those creatures to study it maybe I could learn more about who sent them."
Their conversation was cut short by the sound of hurried footsteps outside.
"Tim, wait here." Anise commanded, walking to the door. Her back against the wall, she nudged the door open take a peek. Seeing the door to the guest room was opened, she darted across the hall, Tim close behind.
Anise let out a sigh of relief, seeing Morgan by Mina's side.
"You nearly scared me half to death. I thought Mina was in danger." Anise sighed, grumbling as she shook her head.
"Don't worry, she's safe. Tielle and Adrian should be joining us shortly. Any news on what's wrong with her?" Morgan asked, placing a hand on the girl's forehead.
"It has to do with her mixed blood. She is still part vampire after all. She needs human blood." Anise replied.
"I guess letting her lead a normal life was too much to ask for." Morgan sighed.
"Yes, I suppose it was. Tim has been quite distraught. I practically had to pry him away from her."
"Blaming yourself again, Tim?" Morgan laughed.
He simply looked at Mina, both physically and mentally exhausted, forcing himself to carry on for her sake.
"Tim, you look terrible, go get some rest, kid." Morgan sighed.
"How can I rest when she's like this?" Tim asked.
"Trust me, you're gong to rest whether you like it or not. You can either go lay down now and be comfy, or pass out from working yourself like a dog. Mina will be fine, now one along, I'll keep you company for a bit, help take your mind off things." Morgan smiled, leading Tim to one of the other guest rooms.
Laying him down on the bed, she tucked him in as she would a child, taking a seat next to him.
"We're all just as worried as you are, Tim, especially Tielle. The good news is we know whats wrong with her. She'll recover with time."
"I feel like there's nothing I can do. I can't wake her, I sure as hell can't protect her, not the way you can. I just feel so useless." Tim sighed.
"Once she finally wakes, be there for her. It will mean much more to her than anything we could ever do. So for now, get some rest and take care of yourself."
Patting Tim on the head, she walked out, letting him get some sleep.
"Well, I think he's finally going to get some sleep. Now, how's Mina holding up?" Morgan asked.
"She's doing fine, we just need to be patient, and keep her safe." Anise sighed.
"Now that Tim's asleep, there's been something I've been meaning to ask. I'm sure you've realized by now Valdier isn't the only one after Mina. He even said so himself according to Tielle." Morgan said, leaning in close, her voice hushed to a whisper.
"Yes, I made mention of it to the boy, but left my suspicions as to who was truly behind this to myself." Anise replied.
"So you fear the worse as well... That flicker of dread in your eyes just now told me everything I needed to know. For Mina's sake, I surely hope we're both wrong."
"Worry about what?" Mina groaned, rubbing her eyes.
"Mina! You're awake! How do you feel?" Morgan asked, rushing to her side.
"Relax Morgan, give the girl some space." Anise laughed, pouring Mina some tea.
"I feel exhausted, and why do I taste copper..."
"You needed blood. You are part vampire after all. That's why you felt so ill all of a sudden. Tim was kind enough to feed you, though a little obsessive if I must say..." Anise sighed.
"Tim!? Is he alright? I didn't bit him did I? Oh what have I..."
"Mina, its fine. The wound you fed from was self inflicted. Anise sighed.
Mina calmed down, rolling over on her side.
"Is he alright? Where is he?" Mina asked.
"He's sleeping in the other room. He worked himself to exhaustion taking care of you. I physically had to force him away from your bedside." Morgan laughed.
"I'm going to go see him." Mina said, getting up.
"Lay back down. You've been comatose for days. I don't want you pushing yourself too hard now." Anise interrupted, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"I'm going to tell you just what I told Tim. Get some rest and take care of yourself. Everything else will fall into place just fine. Trust me." Morgan laughed reassuringly.
"If you say so..." Mina sighed with a pout.
"Hello, anybody home?" a voice called.
"Morgan's heart filled with dread and malice as the familiar voice echoed through the halls, a voice she hadn't heard in years, and hoped to never hear again for as long as she lived. Drawing one of her daggers, she opened the door.
"I'll be just a moment." she growled, stepping into the hall.
Stepping into the hall, she saw Basil standing in the doorway, a clueless grin on his face.
"I swear, Basil, if you have anything, and I mean anything, to do with Mina's situation, I will end you." Morgan hissed, staring down the hall at him.
"Who are you kidding, you wouldn't hurt me. I'm sure you've been pining away for me all these..."
Basil cut himself short as a dagger whizzed past his cheek.
"... years..." he sighed, finishing his thought.
"Nex time I won't miss. What are you doing here?" Morgan groaned.
"Just checking up on you all..."
Another knife flew past his head, this one barely grazing his ear.
"Try again."
"Because I love you?"
"Oh give it up already! I know what happened down in the tomb, Basil. You're here on her behalf, aren't you?" Morgan spat.
"You got me. She just wanted to make sure Mina's still alive." Basil replied sheepishly, rubbing his ear where the knife had nicked him.
"Alive? Why would she be checking if she's alive?" Morgan asked.
"Beats me, sweet cheeks. The boss lady keeps me in the dark most of the time. Well, now that I know she's fine, I'll be going now..."
"Oh no, not yet you spineless son of a bitch. I'm sure Tielle would be thrilled to know you care so much about Mina's well being. Why don't you stick around for a while." Morgan laughed.
"I'll have to pass, but give her my regards, would you?"
"Don't be like that. You two have so much to talk about. It's ben a long time..."
The door creaked open behind Basil, Tielle and Adrian kicking the snow off their shoes as they stepped inside.
"Well look who it is. Things are finally starting to make some sense for once." Tielle said with a smirk.
Basil froze in fear, too scared to turn around and face her.
"How long has it been, Basil? Ten, fifteen years? How has serving that vile creature been for you? Not as glamorous as you first thought, hmm?"
"It's been hectic, not gonna lie. How's Cyrus..."
Tielle lunged forwards, grabbing Basil by the back of the neck.
"You dare bring up that name after everything and that irredeemable wretch of a creature you serve have done? You have the gall to rub salt in these old wounds, even after I've been so courteous as to not kill you on sight? Tell me, Basil, is the notion of death so irresistibly tempting that you ever crave its sweet embrace?"
Adrian, who had been silently watching the whole exchange, finally deciding to speak up.
"Tielle, by the look of things, I'd say he honestly didn't even know himself. He truly believed Cyrus was still alive, and from how you've described her, I wouldn't put it past Lillianus to no tell him that Cyrus was dead."
"Dead...? Then who's going to protect me from these two?" Basil stammered.
"That's right, with Cyrus gone, that little agreement keeping you alive is null and void..." Tielle grinned.
"good point, but we want him to talk... and I can help you with that." Morgan laughed, cracking her knuckles.
"Now now, ladies, no need to get violent..." Basil stammered.
"As much as I'd love to let you have your fun, he's right. Can't your mother whip up some kind of truth serum?" Adrian asked.
"I believe so, but after everything he's done. Morgan, go have your fun!" Tielle replied.
"Gladly, now where is she?" Morgan hissed.
"I'd love to tell you, but I can't. I took a vow of silence, you see. If I talk, she silences me. Simple as that."
"If you don't tell us, we'll do much, much worse." Morgan chimed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm much more afraid of her than I am of you..." Basil cooed, nuzzling his cheek against Morgan's hand.
"Okay I've had enough of this, time to change that." Morgan replied, leading him towards the basement.
Tielle and adrian walked down the hall into Mina's room.
"How is she?" Tielle asked, a worried tone in her voice.
"She's awake. My suspicions were right, on more than one thing for that matter. She just needed more blood. She is part vampire after all." Anise sighed.
"Mother, is that you?" Mina groaned, rolling over.
Tielle rushed over to her daughter, hugging her as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Yes, it is. You had me so worried. I thought I'd lost you forever..."
She holder daughter in her arms, holding back the tears of relief that were welling up in her eyes.
"Don't scare my like that again, I couldn't bear to lose you as well." Tielle sobbed.
"Don't worry, she's not going anywhere if I have anything to say about it." Anise smiled reassuringly, patting her daughter's shoulder.
"Once Morgan's through with Basil, hopefully we'll know more about what Lillian's is planning. Hopefully we can stop her before this gets too out of hand." Tielle sighed, taking a seat on the bed.
"That all depends on Morgan right now...."
"I'm sure Basil's cracked by now, he was always a coward at heart." Tielle replied.
Shrouded in the darkness of the cellar, Morgan paced around the chair Basil was bound to, giggling like a school girl.
"You've no idea how long I've wanted to do this." she sighed.
"Do your worst..." Basil smirked, giving Morgan a wink.
"Oh, that's the best part. All I have to do is stand here and watch." Morgan laughed.
"Your worst is to do nothing? I was expecting something a little more... hands on."
"Just because it won't necessarily be my hands, doesn't mean things won't get physical. Basil, I'd like you to meet Vera."
Basil felt a hand ruffle his hair. As he turned to see, Vera walked around the chair to face him. Her long black hair flowed down, covering half of her face as it seemed to meld with the darkness surrounding her. Between the alluring beauty of the half of her face not covered by her long hair, as well as the fact she was dressed in mostly rags or whatever else she managed to scrounge up from the basement, Basil was practically itching to get out of his chair.
"Well hello there, Vera." Basil cooed, a smug lustful grin on is face.
"Just don't go too quick, Vera. I want him to talk first. Savor it." Morgan smiled.
"Oh, I will. It's been forever since I've had a live one." Vera replied cheerily.
She knelt down at Basil's feet, placing a palm under his heel as she began sucking on one of his toes. He began to relax a little, letting out a sigh as he looked over at Morgan, chuckling to himself a little.
"Seriously? This is what you plan on torturing me with? Oh, this is too much..." Basil sighed, shaking his head.
"Just wait for it." Morgan replied.
Basil lifted his other foot, pointing it towards Morgan.
"Here, why don't you come join in the fun. I know you want..."
Basil was cut short by a loud crunch echoing through the cellar, as well as his own bloodcurdling scream as he quickly looked back down at Vera. She was happily chewing on his toe, which she had just bit clean off, blood still dribbling down her lips.
"I told you, just wait for it." Morgan laughed.
"I'm... still not talking..." Basil groaned through the pain.
"Fine by me. I'm sure Vera doesn't mind either." Morgan replied.
Vera gave Basil a smile as she brushed the hair from her face. Not only was she missing an eye, but her jaw was also mostly eaten away by rot, revealing a menacing skeletal grimace.
"I assure you, she will eat you alive if you don't talk. Now, do the smart thing and tell me what I want to know." Morgan said sternly.
"Don't listen to her, stay quiet. Please? I'm really hungry..." Vera mumbled, pouting as she looked up at Basil.
"Sorry Morgan, I can't say no to that face." Basil laughed.
"Damn it Basil, are you insane or just an idiot? I honestly can't tell anymore." Morgan groaned, losing her patience.
"No, I just fear Lillian's far more than I do you. All those years in isolation drove her a little stir crazy to say the least. Granted, I like the wild ones, but even for me, she's a bit much." Basil laughed.
"Says the man getting off from being eaten alive by a ghoul." Morgan groaned.
"She's still holding a grudge too." Basil replied.
"What do you mean?" Morgan asked, giving him an inquisitive stare, excited that she might be finally getting a tidbit of useful information out of him.
"Well, what other motivation would she have for making your lives a living hell? Then again, if I was sealed up for hundreds of years I'd want revenge too." Basil sighed.
"That's good an all, but that still doesn't tell us where she is." Morgan replied, leaning in close.
"She's hiding safely as far away as she can. That's all I can tell you." Basil sighed.
"Very well then, we could just have you lead us to her." Morgan smiled.
"Oooh that's a good idea!" Vera chimed, taking a break from sucking on Basil's severed toe.
"Well it would be if I was going back. She's cut me loos. Says she needs time to think, and I was too much of a distraction." Basil said, shaking his head.
"And I think that was the smartest thing she's done yet." Morgan laughed.
"I've told you everything I know, so would you please let me go now?" Basil whined.
"And pass up on settling the score for all you've done in the past? not likely." Morgan replied coldly.
"Still upset about all that, huh..." Basil mumbled.
"Incredibly much so." Morgan spat, a low growl in her voice.
"Can't you look past all this, let bygones be bygones?"
"The callous remarks, horrid come ons and your ceaseless pathetic attempts to woo yourself into my bedchamber I can forgive. What I can't forgive is that because of your actions, Lillianus has been set free, or did you think we'd all just forget about your role in these recent events?" Morgan growled.
With that she drew the knife strapped to her hip, pressing it to Basil's throat. Her hand trembling with anticipation, she stared him dead in the eyes, her eyes alone revealing every scar Basil's actions had caused her tormented soul. With a heavy, exasperated sigh, she dropped the knife.
"I can't kill you... not yet... heavens forbid you actually prove to be of some use to Tielle..." Morgan sighed, shaking her head.
"Then I don't get to finish my meal?" Vera asked, pouting like a small child.
"Not yet, let me confer with Tielle on what to do with him. Keep him company for now, will you?"
With that, Morgan turned and headed back up to the main floor. Tielle was waiting for her, leaning lazily against the wall across from the door, playing with her hair.
"Not much we don't already know. Lillianus apparently cut the poor bastard loose, so odds are he wan't even lead us back to her. I left him alive in case you wanted to take a crack at him."
"Later. For now, let him rot. I'm more concerned with how he found us. If he knew where to look, that can only mean one thing..." Tielle sighed.
"We're no longer safe here. We need to move, but to where?"
"No, we stay. Let her make the next move. We'll be ready for her when she does."
"But what about Mina? She's barely recovered and Tim can't very well be expected to protect her, not from this." Morgan protested.
"I'm going to send them off somewhere safe with Anise. It's me Lillianus wants, and I won't let her drag those two into this." Tielle replied sternly.
"And what of Basil?" Morgan asked.
"What of him? He's served his purpose, though I suppose I could say goodbye to the poor bastard. It's the least I can do before letting Vera have her treat."
"Tim, gather your things, and Mina's too while you're at it. We're leaving." Anise sighed, slining a pair of burlap sacks over her shoulders.
"But Mina's barely even recovered! Shouldn't we let her rest more?"
"She can rest on the way. We need to leave, now." Anise replied firmly.
"It's alright Tim, I'll be fine..." Mina yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"If you say so." he sighed, gathering their belongings.
"No, really. You don't need to worry so much. A long as you're here I'll manage." Mina smiled.
"She's got a point. She does still need your blood after all." Anise laughed, walking to the door.
"Ill be getting the carriages ready. Come meet me out back when you're finished packing."
Helping Mina to her feet, Tim look one last look around the small guest room.
"For being in the middle of a frozen wasteland, this place was actually kind of cozy." Tim sighed, relieved to be finally getting out of the cold.
Guiding Mina through the hall, he smiled as she nuzzled up against him, struggling to stay awake. Despite all that had happened, Tim felt as though he was walking on air, without a care in the world so long as Mina was safe and by his side. He looked over at her as she mumbled something sleepily, tugging on his shirt.
"Can things go back to normal yet?" she mumbled, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Soon, I hope. Tielle's doing everything she can to make sure of that." Tim sighed.
"I know... wait, isn't she coming with us?" Mina asked.
"She said she had some unfinished business to attend to, or something like that. She promised she'd catch up to us when she was finished."
"But we were finally together again after all these years, I don't want to leave her again so soon..."
As Tim opened the back door of the chateau, instead of the frigid cold he was so accustomed to, he was met by a wall of blazing heat and smoke. Coughing and wheezing, he could barely make out the carriage, which was completely consumed in flames.
"Inside... back... inside!"
Anise's worried cries faded in and out with the crackle and roar of the fire. As he turned to grab Mina, Tim suddenly realized she was gone. As far as he could tell, everything was gone, and nothing but the billowing smoke and flames around him remained. Feeling a hard blow to the back of his head, he fell to the ground, calling out Mina's name in a hushed whisper as he slipped out of consciousness.
When he awoke, Tim found himself bound to a chair, his arms wrapped uncomfortably around its back. Still lightheaded from the smoke, Tim let his head slump to the side, hoping to make the room stop spinning. He could hear hushed voices though the door in front of him, but try as he might, at best he could only make out hushed whispers and mumbled words. The door swung open without warning, a woman glaring at someone just outside the doorway as she pointed at him.
"And does that look like the young princess of the Mortevus clan to you? How hard is it to capture a girl? I swear, I must have accidentally killed off all the good help during the war all those years ago, because you've done nothing but disappoint me time and time again. Now, I have to see if any good can come of this disaster." she groaned.
Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her, locking it. Grabbing a chair, she spun it around and sat down in front of him, folding her arms across the back of the chair. Resting her head on her arms, she brushed the long black hair from her eyes as she looked Tim over.
"Well it seems there's been a little mix up. You see, I was looking to grab Tielle's precious little princess, not... whoever the hell you are... I just hope I can still find a use for you. I'd hate for all the hard work I put into this little scheme to go to waste." the woman sighed.
"And if you can't?" Tim asked hesitantly.
"Let's just hope I can... for your sake. Now, who are you and how did my useless peons mistake you for a petite little princess?"
"I'm Tim. I guess you could say I'm Mina's companion?" Tim replied. Never having thought much about what his actual job was working for the Mortevus clan, he wasn't exactly sure how to answer. He just hoped it would be enough to get him out of this mess.
"Mina... so that's her name.... I wonder which one of them came up with the name. It was probably the human plaything she kept around with her, or had he already turned by the time they... you know, I never really thought about how she even managed to conceive in the fist place. You see, that's the problem with being sealed away in a tomb for almost an eternity. You become so used to living with nothing but your own thoughts that you lose the ability to control them, now where were we again? Oh yes, figuring out whether or not you'll survive through the night..."
Her voice trailed off a bit as she gazed into Tim's eyes, quizzically tilting her head.
"Well how about that, Tielle still has a habit of keeping human toys around, or did she simply give you to her daughter as a gift?"
Tim opened his mouth to reply, but was hastily interrupted.
"No matter, either way, you're here, and she's not, and until I hear something particularly useful from you, that little mix up doesn't do me any good..."
Tim gave her a hesitant stare, choosing his next words very carefully. He knew as soon as she lost interest, it was all over.
"Well? come on, give me something to work with here. I'd hate for this to have been a complete waste of my time." She sighed, tapping her fingers against her hip.
"I guess you could say I'm Mina's companion. They took me in under the conditions that I would care for her and keep her company, but my role has become a lot more... complicated since then." Tim replied, his voice shaking in fear.
Lillianus grinned, gently clawing at the back of the chair she was sitting on.
"That's a start, I like complicated. I take it you two are close then, so at least this isn't a colossal failure. So many possible ways to make her suffer, I can hardly contain myself!"
Biting her lip a little, she let out a squeal of glee as she hugged the chair, leaning back a little bit. Tim eyed her cautiously, wondering just how much danger he was in, watching as she nearly fell over.
"Why is a demon like you-"
Tim was suddenly cut off as Lillianus corrected him, her eyes narrowing.
"HALF-demon"
A tense silence filled the air, Tim hesitating again, afraid to continue. Letting out a sigh, Lillianus gestured impatiently for him to continue his question.
"Why do you hate Tielle so much anyway? What did she do to deserve this?" Tim asked meekly.
Lillianus gripped the chair harder, the oaken frame crackling and snapping as her nails bore into it.
"Oh, I don't know, her father sealing me away in a marble box underground for centuries probably has something to do with it, maybe just a little." she droned, snapping the back of the chair in half.
Tim flinched as the oak slab sprung towards him as it came loose, falling backwards and landing on the hard floor, still bound to his chair. Writhing in a bit of a panic, he tried to get himself upright, or at least on to his side, but before he could even get moving he felt himself being dragged forward along the floor. Before he knew it, Lillianus was straddling his chest looking down at him.
"Granted, I did manage to torment the hell out of him. He used his own essence to power the barrier so he was stuck there with me in a sense. It wasn't on the material plane, but he was there, always listening. He didn't have a choice really. Not really sure what happened to him after the seal was broken, so I can't really get revenge on him for what he did to me, so his daughter will have to do. That's where you come in kiddo!"
She ruffled Tim's hair a bit, leaning closer as she stared deeply into his eyes. His heart began to race, unsure of what she was planning, her face getting uncomfortably close to his. She gave him a wide grin, which coming from anyone else might have even seemed welcoming, if a bit too friendly. From her though, such a smile was seldom a sign of anything good.
"Maybe I'll just keep you for myself instead. It'll be nice to finally have some company who isn't looking at me like a hungry dog eyeing a piece of meat." Lillianus chimed giddily.
Tim just stared at her, at a bit of a loss. Her demeanor and tone were shifting so quickly Tim felt as though his head was spinning. Just who was this woman and what did she really want with him. Did she even know? He stared back at her silently, hoping this was all just some strange fever dream, that he'd wake up by Mina's side back home.
"You know, her last toy was pretty damn cute too. I mean, you're a bit young, but in a few years maybe when you grow into that face of yours, you'd totally be her type too. If nothing else at least she's got good taste. It's a shame I had to slit her last toy's throat, but she bit him so I guess it all turned out well in the end. You probably wouldn't even be here if it didn't, right? I wonder what he's up to now. I never did manage to catch a glimpse of him while my eyes kept watch on that castle of hers. Wait, if I'm the reason Mina was able to be born, and you being her little pet is the reason this whole mix up happened, does that mean it's my fault you're mixed up in this whole mess? I guess it does doesn't it? No... no it's their fault. It's definitely their fault, but I showed them."
Lillianus continued to ramble, the grin on her face growing wider as she had a slight gleam in her eye, passionate, yet completely unhinged. Tim tried to get a word in, but she was talking so fast he could barely keep up, words blending together as she barely even took pause to breathe.
"What are you talking about? I don't even-"
Lillianus suddenly went quiet, almost as though she'd just come out of a trance. Shaking her head a bit, she slid off of Tim, righting the chair before pacing around him. She let out a sigh, rubbing her head.
"Can't get too excited now, I don't want to do something careless..."
It was as though a switch was flipped as she returned to the cold and distant demeanor she had when she first walked into the room. Kicking the now broken chair aside, she hopped up and took a seat on a nearby steel table, palming one of the small, warped and twisted blades scattered about and rolling it between her fingers. A thick bead of sweat rolled down Tim's brow as he watched the jagged diabolic instrument dip and twirl in her hand.
"It's fascinating the many ways humans can come up with to inflict pain and suffering. Take this little guy here. The blade's intentionally made to be as inefficient as possible. The warped curve of the blade, the unrefined jagged edges..."
Lillianus gripped the blade firmly, lightly dragging it along the back of her forearm, just deep enough to rip and tear at the skin.
"It's impossible to make a clean cut with this thing. It'll stick, and does more ripping and tearing than actual slicing, but most importantly, it's incredibly painful..."
She eyed the blade, a smirk creeping across her lips as she laid down, sprawling out across the table.
"I'm going to enjoy listening to her sing for me..."
Turning her head she glanced over at Tim.
"And with the bait set, It'll only be a matter of time."
Mina sat out in the cold, slumped over the smoldering embers of what was once a carriage, staring blankly into the wisps of smoke rising off the remnants of what was supposed to be her way to safety. Tim was gone, she still felt faint and weak, and she felt like she was at her limit. She broke down in tears, not even bothering to hold her head in her hands as her body trembled and heaved with each jagged breath. As the wind picked up, the smoke beginning to disperse, Mina could make out the figure of someone approaching through in the distance. Cautiously easing up to her feet, she squinted trying to make out who it was.
"Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, princess. I had just missed you the last time I decided to visit." a voice called out from the distance. The voice was smooth and comforting, and rather jovial despite their surroundings.
A tall gentleman strode through the smoke and ash, running his fingers through his raven hair as he gave Mina a comforting smile. His white suit jacket fluttered in the breeze as he fixed the slate gray tie tucked into his red vest. His crimson eyes looked her over, as he approached.
"You certainly have your mother's beauty. Please, there's no need to be afraid. I'm an old friend of your mother's. I've come to bring you somewhere safe."
"She would have told me..."
"Ah, yes, she's just a bit busy right now figuring out where Tim is. It's not safe for you here anymore though my little flower. If you'd please..."
The man gave her another smile, gesturing out towards the snowfields where the faint silhouette of a carriage could be seen through the smoke.
"I... I should go say goodbye first... I-"
The man placed a hand on her shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze.
"Dear Mina, there's no time to waste. Your mother will be joining us shortly. You really must come with me now."
Mina stared into the man's crimson eyes, unwilling to budge. The deafening silence between them was eventually broken by a shrill and rage filled shriek.
"Get away from her!"
The man's eyes shot open as his mind reeled. If he were to make his move, he'd have to do it now.
"Sorry about this milady, this would have gone so much more smoothly if you had just went in the damn carriage."
Before Mina could even respond, he scooped her up into his arms, slinging her over his shoulder. As the man turned to leave, Mina could see her mother bursting out of the chateau, a rage burning in her eyes like she'd never seen before.
"Valdier, put her down this instant!" Tielle barked, storming up towards him.
"Ah, kitten, there you are. Don't you worry, I'll take fine care of the young miss for you. Besides, you have more important things to worry about than little old me, right?" Valdier chimed, turning to face her.
"If you taking care of her is anything like how you treated me all those years ago, Lillianus can wait a little while until I deal with a twisted bastard like you."
"Oh come now, I gave you everything you could ever want. Lavish meals, a luxurious bed chamber..." Valdier gave here a smile, completely unphased by Tielle's fury.
"Oh, yes, food slid through a hole under the door and a lavish bedroom with gallery windows you would constantly keep tabs on me from. I wouldn't exactly call those living conditions generous."
"What can I say, I'm a connoisseur of the finer things in life. Fine art, expensive wine..."
"People... specifically women, you sick son of a bitch." Tielle spat, shivering in disgust as she thought back to her time under his care.
"But of course, what else encapsulates beauty in its purest form? That fiery spark was always what I liked most about you. Though, that little wolf pup beat you out in terms of energy. I had to remodel her entire room after you sprung her loose. She'd spend hours clawing at the walls till her claws bled. Poor thing didn't realize there was a magic barrier, but that was no problem for you to deal with, was it kitten? It's a shame, she was a fun one..." Valdier gave a slight chuckle as he reminisced.
"Fun? She was fun? You nearly scarred the poor girl for life. I swear I should have killed you that day when I had the chance. What the hell was wrong with me back then." Tielle muttered to herself.
"Stockholm syndrome is a funny thing, kitten. I know you're still hurting, conflicted, over me." Valdier smiled, that same carefree, horribly out of place smile.
"The only thing I'm conflicted about is how I'm going to end you. Now, put... her... down..."
"Afraid I can't do that, kitten. This was the only chance I had where the lovebirds were apart. I'm taking my opportunity. Looks like the boy will live to see her wedding day after all, well... hopefully. On the bright side, I'll be out of your hair forever."
He gave Tielle a smirk before turning his attention back towards Mina, turning to leave.
"I bet you look quite lovely in white." he said with a smile before disappearing into the smoke and ash.
Tielle gave chase, but by the time she made it out of the courtyard and the smoke cleared, Valdier was nowhere to be found. Letting out an exasperated yell she grabbed a nearby smoldering piece of rubble and hurled it off into the distance. Adrian made his way outside, giving her a sympathetic smile.
"Today just isn't a good day, is it?" He sighed, carefully stepping around the smoldering rubble.
"Adrian, I'm in no mood..." Tielle growled.
"Clearly, but someone has to talk you off that ledge. You really hate that man don't you." Adrian sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Hate doesn't even begin to describe it. Two years of living in that hell. God I was such a fool when I was younger. I hung on his every word for so long, the compliments, the praise, all those empty words, by the time I realized, it was too late." she sighed, shaking her head.
Adrian simply stayed silent, listening as he gently rubbed her shoulder.
"Do you know what it's like to be someone's possession? Do you know what it's like to be treated like some kind of art piece to be admired for countless hours, locked up in a glorified cage? At least I had a strong resolve, but that poor girl in the next room over. I could hear her crying and howling every night, and the incessant scratching on the walls. I can still hear the scraping of her claws against stone. "
"The wolf girl Valdier mentioned, right? You helped her escape though, right? What happened to her after that?" Adrian asked.
Tielle gave him a nod, rubbing her brow.
"I took her in for a few years until she recovered. The poor girl was a mess. She wouldn't even talk to anyone for months after what she went through. Once she was back to her normal self I took her back home to the mountains. Actually, I don't think they were very far from here if I recall."
Adrian gave her a smile, recognizing the gleam in her eye. That tenacious resolve was back, and she had just the plan to put it to good use.
"I think it's time to go pay her a visit and see how the little pup is doing. Care to join me, Adrian?" She smiled, resting her cheek against his hand.
"It'd be my honor." Adrian replied giving her a cheeky grin.
"Then we should get going. I'll let Morgan and Anise deal with Basil and keep an eye on things here."
She let out a loud whistle, walking towards the edge of the courtyard. A black horse came galloping towards them, clouds of snow kicking up form its hooves as it approached. Slowing to a halt, the horse nudged Tielle with its nose before turning towards the horizon. Grabbing the reins, she hoisted herself up, mounting the horse effortlessly before turning to Adrian.
"Hope you don't mind riding double." she teased, grabbing Adrian and pulling him up onto the horse behind her.
"Hold on tight, I'm not turning back for you if you fall off."
With that, she gave the horse a good kick, riding off towards the mountain forest in the distance.
Mina slowly opened her eyes, her head pounding as she looked around the room, getting a bearing for her new surroundings. Luxurious turquoise wallpaper lined the walls of the spacious bedchamber, pristine and nearly brand new. A mahogany armoire sat against the wall, a small vanity beside it. In the other corner of the room was a large bed fitted with royal blue sheets and a velvet comforter. A dull pain throbbed along her neck, her head spinning as she tried to gain her balance and rise to her feet. Tripping over the unwieldy dress under her feet, she fell forward, landing hard on her shoulder. She groaned in pain, only now realizing why she felt like she could hardly move. She was now wearing a large billowy white wedding dress, overly complex weaves and layers of fabric running down along the dress.
"I'm sorry for the rough treatment, but you wouldn't stop kicking. I had to knock you out somehow." a voice called over to her.
Mina rubbed her head, just trying to get the room to stop spinning as she started feeling feverish. Struggling to her feet, she stumbled over to the bed, leaning against it to support herself. Her breathing labored, she felt like she was going to be ill.
"The sedative should wear off soon. Just try to get some rest until then. Don't worry, I'll be keeping a close eye on you to make sure nothing happens."
Mina's eyes traced the room, noticing someone watching her from the gallery window. It was the same man who had approached her at the chateau. Her mind was reeling, flooded with questions as she tried to focus through the horrible nausea and pain.
"What... do you... want?" Mina groaned, crawling up onto the bed.
"You, my dear. You do have your mother's beauty after all. Though, her family name does still carry quite a bit of weight, so inheriting that clout certainly is a bonus." Valdier grinned, admiring her through the window.
"Family... name? You don't mean... you plan on..." Mina's eyes widened as the pieces started fitting together.
"The bridal gown looks quite lovely on you, my dear. I hope you don't mind me taking the liberty of putting it on you." Valdier said with a smile, gazing adoringly at the elegant white gown.
Mina shivered in disgust, pulling the covers over herself. Completely blocking herself from view, she let out a groan, still feeling weak.
Valdier simply chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
"Oh no, not to worry my dear. I simply wish to marry you for your name's sake. I prefer to simply admire you from afar. I'm a bit of a connoisseur, a collector of sorts. I'll simply watch, admire, observe. Nothing more."
Another wave of nausea and dizziness hit Mina as she tightly shut her eyes, waiting for the feeling to pass. Valdier's words simply droned on around her, blocked out by her conscious struggle to keep from vomiting all over the bedsheets. Between the side effects of whatever Valdier drugged her with and already recovering from her unintentional starvation, her body was at its limit. She could hardly take it, and his constant prattling pushed her over the edge.
"JUST SHUT UP!"
The room went deathly quiet as she trembled under the covers, body drenched with sweat. Clenching the sheets tight, the only sound that could be heard was her labored breathing.
"Very well. I'll let you rest, my sweet little flower. Perhaps we'll talk more when you're feeling better."
With that, Valdier wandered off out of view, leaving Mina curled up under the covers in agony. Feeling at least relatively safe, she let her body give in, collapsing as she passed out.
"So, where are we going exactly?" Adrian asked, his arms casually wrapped around Tielle's waist as their horse steadily made its way through the damp forest, the leaves and twigs crackling with each step.
"It shouldn't be too much farther. This is right around where I dropped her off all those years ago, so we should be heading into her territory any moment now." Tielle sighed, keeping a keen eye between the trees off in the distance.
The overgrowth and canopy of the forest nearly blocked out all light, making Tielle's life a bit easier as it was nearing daybreak. Coming up to a pair of large redwood trees, she pulled back on the reins, easing the horse to a stop. The horse stomped and shifted nervously, Tielle now entirely certain she'd reached her destination. Dismounting the horse, she helped Adrian down before approaching the redwoods. She stopped between the trees, simply waiting.
"Tielle... what are you..." Adrian began to ask before being interrupted several low growls.
A small scouting pack of wolves approached from the underbrush behind them, snarling and growling angrily. Adrian gave Tielle a worried glance, but she remained perfectly calm. Paying the wolves no mind, she simply kept her gaze in front of her, staring into the thick forest ahead. A figure stepped out from the underbrush up ahead, her body draped in various furs and pelts. Her yellow eyes darted back and forth between Tielle and Adrian, the growling of the wolves echoing louder through the forest as she drew closer. Her hair was ragged and disheveled, tied into a messy series of braids snaking down her back. Putting her fingers to her lips, she gave a loud whistle and the wolves went silent. She stood perfectly still, locking eyes with Tielle.
"Tielle, are you sure this was a good idea?" Adrian asked in a hushed whisper.
Before she could reply, the woman lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Tielle.
"You were supposed to come visit... What the hell took you?" She growled, hugging her tight.
"I know, I know, I should have come sooner but..."
"No, no buts! No excuses! I waited years, and nothing!" she snapped.
"It's been one tragedy after another since I left, Mara. I've been a bit preoccupied... it's also part of why I came to see you..."
Mara let go of Tielle, turning and walking back into the woods.
"Come. We'll catch up."
Tielle and Adrian followed behind, the pack of wolves following up the rear as they ventured deeper into the woods. Tielle and Mara were silent, Adrian occasionally glancing back and forth between then, and worriedly back at the wolves behind him. The uneasy silence made him even more uncomfortable, second guessing if this was such a good idea. Before long, they came to a clearing with a few chairs carved out of old tree stumps, a large wooden throne at the head of the clearing. Mara took a seat on the throne, gesturing for the others to make themselves comfortable.
"So, why come back now? You were fine just leaving me here alone to fend for myself so what do you want?" Mara growled.
Tielle sighed, shaking her head in frustration.
"Mara, stop trying to make me the villain here. You knew full well I wasn't going to be able to take care of you forever. I got you back on your feet, and then got you back home when you finally told me where you came from. You had your family to lean on, I couldn't just stay with you forever."
"The nightmares, the burning rage, being completely hopeless to do anything about it, you're the only one that understands! You're the only one who gets what that does to a person, the only one I can lean on for support, the only..."
"He has my daughter, Mara..." Tielle interrupted, her voice cold, detached, trying her damnedest to keep her composure.
"And you were hoping I'd want a little revenge, and help you out at the same time?" Mara asked, snarling a little.
Tielle shrugged, letting out a soft sigh. She wasn't exactly being subtle about her intentions, it was