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 Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:16 pm
Vita saw lips moving, but as was normal for her as of late, she didn't hear a word. She knew her daily responsibilities in the stables, ingrained in her memory so deeply that she did them without thought. Listening to orders wasn't needed for her to do her tasks. When the head groom walk away, she headed for the stall of the count's prized stallion. The equine whinnied and snuffed at her pockets for treats, only to be disappointed. Vita rarely brought treats to him anymore. She mucked out his stables and groomed the fine beast until his coat reached its usual perfect shine. She then geared him up with his bridle and reins and cinched the saddle around his belly before leading him out into the stable yard.
She mounted the stalling and guided him out into the city streets, making way for the gate. The stallion knew Vita's gentle touch on the reins as well as he knew his own master's, and it took little effort to direct him. When they were finally out of the city, she turned the stallion down a worn path off of the main road and followed it until they reached the little meadow.
The dull ache that chaffed her heart swelled and became clear, sharp. Her vision blurred and something warm was wetting her cheeks now. She wiped at them with her hands. Tears? Tears for Gwyn? How silly she felt to be surprised about them. Every day she wept for him in the meadow, because the empty meadow reminded her of him. Of the fact that she once gained everything here, and then lost it elsewhere.
Then the impatient stallion leaped forward in a gallop, catching her off guard. She tumbled down behind him and lay there in shock.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:47 pm
Altais has ridden up this way for a meeting with one of the Cobras -- commanders -- from three towns over. The man was, of course, late, and the Demon had to wonder if something had befallen him on the rode. With a sigh, the assassin patted his blue roan on his hindquarters and began walking out towards the lush meadow in front of him. If nothing else, he could at least catch some sunlight before he had to work tonight. He had a rather interest Mark this evening; a busy, well-to-do gutter rat-c**-merchant who had gotten on a count's bad side. Altais felt a small smile curve his lips. Ah, the intrigues of men. Such petty squabbling and proudcocking. They never ceased to amaze him with their greed and jealousy. But then again, who was he to judge?
A gutter-rat himself, after he met Alston, he absolutely flew up the social ladder, eventually becoming a Marquis and then Duke in his own right. But that was in the Lands Below, and he had soon tired of the life of a noble. One day, he had spent a fortune -- a mere pittance to him now -- on an Airship, who he had christened the Sky Adder. She was gorgeous; a three-masted beauty, with four Moonstone engine-rooms, seven large cabins, and a dining hall, complete with crystal chandelier and works of invaluable art from all over the world. He grinned as he thought of her, docked even know at the piers of Avandere. He would have to take her out one of these days and drag some of the Serpents along as crew.
The man heard a feminine yelp of surprise, and came out of his daydreaming, glacial eyes scanning the meadow. The mottled, black and grey silk blindfold he wore painted the world in monochromatic hues, yet still it wasn't hard to distinguish the form of a girl laying prone on the ground. He walked up to her and crouched down on his heels, waving a slender hand in front of her face, his belled sleeve trailing in the breeze. "Alright there, girl?" His voice was strange; a lilting, melodic cadence, yet with another tone beneath, almost as if two people were speaking at once, yet not as obvious. "Need a hand up?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:14 pm
She looked up at the sky whilst catching her breath. The head grooms words finally registered in her head. Keep a firm grip on his reins today. He's an antsy fellow lately as the count hasn't left the manor since your return. How stupid of her. Her hands clenched into fists she was about to press against her face and scream before a figure appeared above her. She stared at his face a moment before her eyes trailed down to his outstretched hand.
Stupid horse. She thought, then shot up and whipped her head about, eyes searching the meadow for the stallion. She spotted him grazing and sighed in relief. She rose to her feet and brushed herself off, forgetting about the stranger momentarily. Alright there, girl? She covered her face with her hand momentarily and sighed again. Why was it so hard for her absorb words? But she already knew the answer to that question. She pushed it out of her mind and curtsied. "Yes, m'lord. I'm alright."
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:24 pm
The Demon eyed her, noting her late response. He tilted his head to the side, opening his Sight for a moment. Her Soul shone brightly, yet there was a tinge of regret, of sadness swirling through it, leaving a sour taste on his tongue. He took his lower lip between his teeth for a moment, thinking. She was clearly in distress. He could easily turn that to his advantage, maybe toy with her, feed off of her anguish for a while to sustain him until he found a Mark to Contract. It was, of course, his policy not to Contract with women because they had a nasty habit of falling in love. And a Mark in love with a Demon was something utterly disgusting; fit for nothing more than a quick kill, not even worthy of being fed upon. No, love ruined the whole point of making a Contract and grooming a Soul for feeding.
However, if she was receptive, he could siphon away some of her and feed that way. Not enough to affect her, no, not at all, but just enough to please him. Yes, that actually might be the best option in this situation. Feeling his lips split into a warm smile of their own accord, the Demon placed a slender hand on her shoulder, steering her towards several large rocks strewn about the field. "Sit here, dear, and I'll fetch your horse for you, hmm?" Without waiting for an answer, the Demon sprinted off in the stallion's direction. He came within perhaps twenty feet of the horse and stopped, not even winded. The man let out a low, lilting, eerie call, and the horse snorted and flicked its ears before plodding over to Altais. "There's a good boy. Now, let's come on back to your mistress, eh? No doubt she's quite lonely over there and could use some attention." He pat the stallion on its neck and took his reins in hand, returning at a leisurely walk back to the girl.
He wedged the stallion's reins between two sturdy rocks and sat down across from the woman, crossing his long legs and studying her. "My name is Altais. Your horse seems fine; he isn't injured or upset, at any rate. Yet you seem like you've a lot on those pretty shoulders, hmm?" His tone was melodic, almost hypnotizing as he continued speaking. "It might help to get some things off your chest, maybe a new perspective would help clear things up, My Lady. And I've nowhere to be and don't mind listening, if you were so inclined."
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:40 pm
Vita perched atop a rock, watching the stranger as he fetched the horse and walked it over to her. "Not my horse." She commented with a hint of bitterness at his comments about the stallion being uninjured, but then he continued and for once somebody's speaking had her attention. He wanted to let her vent to him? Somebody cared to listen? Nobody else wanted to. Nobody else understood. You'll bond with another, they'd say, it will pass. So she held her grief inside and some days she felt so angry, so hurt.
"I met him here. I met Gwyn. And I don't know what he ever saw in me, but he Chose me. I failed him, and he died." Tears began to well up in the girl's blue eyes as she began to tell her story. She wrung her hands together and stared down at the ground now, too embarrassed to stare at the stranger, Altais' face. "I've always liked horses, but then one day I saw an Azrein. I was too shy to speak to them, and all I ever wanted was to meet one. I never thought one would ever Chose someone like me. It was the best thing that could have ever have happened to me. It was like nothing bad would ever happen. It was perfect, but then he died and I lost everything. There's nothing left in here but pain and regret, everything else is gone. It's empty." She put her hand over the left side of her chest and began sobbing uncontrollably.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:56 pm
Ah, what a perfect situation. A little lost bird, needing a place to roost, hmm? The man hid a smile behind his hand. Yes, this would work out nicely. As the girl began crying, he sighed, as if pained himself. "Ah, he was one of the Fallen, was he not? The King himself was shattered after his Valdien was killed, so do not think that you're ever alone, My Lady. And yet, I know the pain you feel, and I know how angry and torn you must be. I am truly sorry for your loss." The girl began sobbing, and on a whim, the Demon moved to sit next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and drawing her to his chest. Her tears saturated the thin fabric of his shirt, wetting his left breast over his heart, and he did nothing more than simply rub her back and speak quietly to her.
"You must feel so lost, so alone without Gwyn, I'm sure. All Azrein are such amazing, marvelous souls, aren't they? They're the epitome of all that's good and pure in this world, and it's tragic to see any one of them die of natural causes. But your Gwyn and so many others, torn away from you without any warning, without reason save for mere hate. That must eat at you day and night, child. They say your Bonded is the other half of your soul, and I know that to be true." Which made sense. That was why her own seemed to be tainted with anguish. "And I'm sure everyone tells you that you'll Bond again some day, which you will, but they don't understand, do they? They don't know how bad it hurts, how it feels like you're walking through life in a daze; with no motivation, no direction."
The Demon ran slender fingers down the sensual curve of her neck, long, lacquered nails tickling the nape of her neck pleasantly. "And you don't want to hear about Bonding to another, because no matter what happens, they won't be your Gwyn, will they? No, you don't want -- aren't ready -- for another yet. But your Gwyn won't be coming back, and even though he was torn from you, you must realize that he is still with you in your heart, yes? I'm sure that even now he's watching over you, sad that you still yearn, still ache for him. But in time, you will realize this, and don't need someone like me to tell you. You just let it out, My Lady, because crying is the best thing for you right now. Tears are a sign of strength, not a show of weakness, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, hmm?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:23 am
She felt the familiar warmth of another next to her, much like when she wrapped her arms around Gwyn's large, strong neck. And yet so different, because this time it was somebody with their arms around her. It calmed her, and she welcomed any little thing that might ease her pain in the slightest. Listening to his soothing words, eventually the sobbing slowed, though her tears continued to flow freely. "He was my best friend." She murmured.
As his fingertips slid across her skin, she felt pleasantly odd. She'd never felt such a thing before. It was a warm feeling that spread from her neck to her thighs and made her shiver. It wasn't something she'd ever experience through her bond with Gwyn, so she enjoyed it all the more. "What was that?" She asked. Although she wasn't even sure herself if he would know what she was talking about, or if she were brave enough to elaborate.
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:45 am
"Hmm?" Ah. She yearned for contact, didn't she? He would've felt bad for her, if he wasn't what he was. The much he could feel at this point was simply anticipation, knowing that he'd be able to feed within a few hours or days at most. This chance meeting had been exactly what he had needed, and the missing Cobra could go to the Nine Hells for all he cared. The Demon once more trailed his nails down the side of her neck slowly, lightly, as if running his fingers over the most delicate of flowers. "That, you mean?" She was still against his chest, so she didn't see the wolfish smile on the assassin's full lips, otherwise she surely would have taken her leave.
She shivered, an unspoken answer to his question. "That was simply the touch of another human who cares, My Lady. Someone who empathizes and genuinely wishes to ease some of that pain from your soul." Pain and plenty of other things to boot, really. The man tilted his head to the side, running the slender fingers of his free hand through her hair. "Is there anything I can do for you, My Lady, that might help you in your anguish?" His question sounded so sincere to her ears, as if he wished nothing more in the world to aid the young girl. But that was very, very far from the truth, and she had not an inkling of his true intentions.
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:02 am
Anything? He truly would do anything for her? What a wonderful person to have met. It was almost like fate was toying with her. To have met Gwyn here only to lose him, and meet somebody extraordinary yet again in this very same meadow. "Just stay with me?" She asked. Her question sounded childish, even to her own ears. "And don't die. And... keep doing that." She really enjoyed that. She quivered involuntarily again merely thinking about the feeling. She felt warmth spread to her cheeks and knew that she must be blushing. She tilted her head to bury her face against his chest, trying to hide her embarrassment.
And how silly of her. She had yet to tell him her name. "Altais, was it? My name is Vita. The horse is Albion. He belongs to the count." Doubly silly of her. Did he really care about the horses name?
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:23 am
Ah, he could turn this so, so many different ways. Taking advantage of this girl would be so simple, so easy, with minimal effort needed. If fact, she was asking for it. Quite literally, really. Don't leave. Don't die. Yes, she definitely needed him, didn't she? His lips turned up into a feral smirk, a low laugh falling from his lips, as if in amusement. "I shall remain here, and I promise you I will not die before you, Lady Vita." Ah, how true that was. He still had another two or three thousand years to look forward to. Hell, he could remain here with her for years and it'd be nothing but a blink for him. Except. . .Except he had to return to Cairne at some point within the next moon. He had told the Other King he was going to take the Sky Adder out for a few weeks -- which he still had yet to do. He had wanted to meet up with the Cobra first, but obviously the man had come to an unfortunate end. Sadly, he hadn't been there to take his soul, but if he had been, then he never would've come across this lovely flower.
The Demon's nails elongated slightly, though they remained rounded, and he stroked the back of her neck once again, this time grazing his nails back up and behind her ear and into her hairline before trailing down once more. "Albion's a strong name, you know. When I lived in the Lands Below, I knew a man of that very same name. Names have power, Vita, and I can tell Albion's has affected him in a rather cross way, hasn't it?" Altais laughed, and anyone save the girl would've found the sound absolutely maddening, terrifying. But she had become ensnared by him -- even without having to remove his blindfold -- and so to her it sounded rich and warm. "What Count does he belong to, if you don't mind my asking, Lady Vita?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:43 am
"Good." She said in reply to his promise. She lifted her head away from his chest and sat up, though she didn't pull far enough away so his arm could remain around her. "He... he does not normally behave in such a way." She began to explain, "The count has not left his manor or visited the stables since I returned to his service. I fear I may have displeased him by my failures." And she really couldn't blame him. He had given her private education separate from the other servant children. Such kindness and generosity. She could not bear to think of how much the count wished not to see her. But what Vita did not know, was that it was quite the opposite. The count was not disappointed. He simply could not bear to see her in such a state after she lost Gwyn. He could never acknowledge, publicly or privately, that Vita was of his own blood. But in his heart she was.
She smiled at his inquiry of which count, simply holding her arms out to display her white and gold livery. "Is it so hard to tell? Or are you not from Avandere?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:49 am
Altais raised his eyebrows. He was not, in fact, from Avandere, and only spent time rarely here. The only reason he came to the western part of the Isle was to manage affairs of the Serpents or business in the Red Circle. So he sighed and closed his eyes, calling on the Demon within for the answer he sought. Ah. Squinting at the horse, as if trying to make out the crest on its tack, he let out a quiet sound of surprise.
"Ah, Count Netharis. Of course, his lands aren't too far from here; just a few miles up the road." He pointed back the way she had come to demonstrate. He tilted his head to the side. Ah? Well, wasn't that interesting. One of his Brothers in the Abyss had alerted him to the fact that the Count was actually the child's parent. He tucked that bit of information away for future use, if it were ever needed. "I'm sure he isn't disappointed, dear. Have you considered that he merely doesn't know how to approach you because of how upset you've been recently?"
Altais hooked a finger under the hem of his blindfold, pulling the black-and-grey mottled silk down to reveal a single, glacial eye. The Demon leaned forward so that his lips were beside her neck, his breath warm against her sensitive skin. "I'm sure he wishes nothing more than to see you happy again, Vita, if only there was something to make you so."
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:05 am
"But if that were true, why would the count care about me in such a way." She wondered aloud. But she was pleased that Altais recognized the Count's livery she adorned.
His breath upon her skin had he eyes flutter open wide. Happy? What would make her happy? She envisioned herself kissing Altais, and it sent tingling, warm feelings down her body, spreading through her limbs. Before she even knew herself what she was doing, her hands rose to cup his face. Her eyes fixed onto his one eye that was not concealed for a moment, before straying down to his lips. "I've never..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:18 am
Ah. He had her. He was going to wait until he invited her aboard the Sky Adder, but he supposed this worked just as well. Maybe following this, he could bring her with him for a week or so, treat her to things she had never imagined as they flew through the skies. Yes, that would be perfect. His full lips turned up into a smile as she held his face, the strong lines of his jaw resting on the heels of her hands. She had looked into his eye, and it was only a matter of time now before she gave herself fully to him, allowing him to feed whenever he desired.
The arm curved around the small of her back jerked her forward, pressing her body hard against his, his long, leanly muscled torso hard and warm against her curves. The hand behind her head tangled itself in her hair as he tucked his chin, leaning down to press his lips against her own. He would take it slow and gentle to start; that's what she desired right now, he knew. Very well, then. He took her lower lip between his teeth -- his fangs gone entirely for now -- and gently sucked on it as his fingers tightened in her hair. He felt her body unconsciously press tighter against his own, and he smiled against her mouth, his eyes closed to ensure that she didn't get drawn into the madness and insanity within his mind. Without waiting for her acceptance, he slipped his tongue between her teeth, her mouth yielding immediately to him, and he explored her, tasting her on his tongue. He failed to fight back a groan of pleasure; the taste of her soul was sweet and light, like honey on a winter day.
After a moment he pulled back, not wanting to become greedy and lose control over himself for fear that he might Call to her to form a Contract. He'd hate to have to kill such a refreshing resource. He waited while she caught her breath, color on her cheeks, and he slowly untangled his fingers from her hair. "You've never. . .?" He prompted.
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:41 am
Altais' kiss left her head foggy, and her body fully of such wondrous new feelings. The physical, base type that painted over the wounds in her heart, letting her forget the dark things tucked away there. "It doesn't matter now. I've done it." And this time, she leaned in for the kiss. Such was her personality, that while she enjoyed the way Altais had kissed her, she was just too shy to try it herself. Instead, she pressed her lips to his, and once again invited his tongue into her mouth, yielding to him.
Her hands acted as if on their own, for before she realized it they sliding away from his face, down his hard lean body to the hem of his shirt. She slid them underneath to trail her fingertips across his abs, down past his navel, but she stopped once she reached the waistline of his pants.
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