The Queen questioned me relentlessly, scrutinizing every word, every expression, and every gesture. I'd say it was well over an hour since I've been standing here in her hidden room with my arms stretched before me face up. Bloody little gashes marring my flesh. Her harsh switch tutted under my chin. "Now again, why did you refuse such an offer? Surely you must despise us." She pressed. I was doing quite well considering the alternative and held myself firm. I grasped for a lie, well partly a lie. "This is the only home I've ever known. I've been treated rather well, one could say more than I deserve. I'm honored to serve such a proud and noble family." The switch swatted down again, popping open another little valley in my arm. I winced. "Really now? That's interesting." She smirked. "My Queen I am but a mere peasant, what human life could I have lived scraping and groveling to some old man I'd come to hate as my husband or my body being sold just to survive. No, I've been grateful to have been placed under your command. Your beauty, strength and wisdom. I cannot imagine a more noble lady to serve." I bowed deeply, disgusting myself. "She laughed haughtily. I rose from my bow and met her gaze. Whack! Another swat. "Not that your opinion matters, but I can understand one such as…" she paused, "Yourself, could be in awe of such a life I've given you." She clapped her hands making me flinch to her delight. "That will be all for now." I try not to say to the floor in relief. "But Pet?" She flew to my face. "If I catch so much as a whiff of suspicion, well, you know fully what to expect." I tipped my head slightly in agreement. "Y-Yes my Queen." I stammered.
Upon leaving my inquisition, I sagged against the door momentarily to gather myself. My arms burning with pain and warm with blood dripped into the stone under my feet. I held my arms up as to not drip everywhere. I began my trek towards my chambers, shifting my eyes at every which way, it's never a sound idea to wonder when bleeding in this castle. Anyone could smell the blood and come for their share. I passed the great hall that lead to Misha and Pasha's chambers. I wondered what he was up to but decided to keep going. I think he must've sensed me because just as I've passed it, I felt the familiar gust and smelt his scent as he materialized behind me. "I could smell you a mile away. Come." He turned me towards the direction of his room, his eyes hard and distant. His jaw was set in a firm hold yet his grip was as light as a feather's touch. He ushered me into his room, motioning me to sit on his bed. I hesitated until his fingers pressed gently into my back. "Sit." He gently commanded. "Thank you." I replied quietly as I observed him. He returned to the bed with a basin of warm water and a cloth, giving me an up down as he did. Silently he commenced in the cleaning of my arm. "I could give you my blood to rid you of this and the scars to follow." He hesitated slightly, oh ever so slightly. This was definitely a first. "No, I don't like you hurting yourself over nothing." He then grasped my wrist, careful to avoid my wounds. He was about to speak but thought better and returned to his task. "About the night with Craster…" I began. He paused, eyes fixed on my arm. "I felt as if I'm forgetting something important, something…" I trailed off, retreating to my mind in thought. "You mean the girl?" He asked nonchalantly, as if possessed I swat his hand away, coiling back into myself. "I don't know what your talking about, I had something to drink with Gertie. It had properties much like wine but stronger. I just thought you could illuminate me on what exactly happened to Craster and how everything came about." I bit. He smirked to himself. "But you do remember the girl." I shot up from the bed unaware of myself. "What girl? I have no idea of that which you speak of!" I replied exasperated. He rose to stand over me. "The girl I fucked." He enunciated. I could not keep my demon possessed hand from flying up to his face with a sound slap. His eyes darkened and he reached out for my arm, this time grabbing wherever he could get his hands on. I winced under his grip. "I do love seeing you so angry." He almost purred, yanking me closer to him. "So you do remember." He confirmed, my face flushing with heat. "I-" I bit my tongue. His hand snaked around my neck causing me to gasp. "You appeared rather jealous." My breath caught in my lungs, strangling any attempt of a response. I turned my face away from him which only made him press more. "No." That was all me and my idiot self had to say. "No?" He guided me backwards until we hit the bed. I couldn't catch a breath feeling myself become lightheaded. His hand slid from my neck and down my breast. "I-um-" I panted. "Breathe…" He whispered gently pushing me onto the bed. I tried to regroup to form a coherent sentence, he lowered his self onto me pressing me into the mattress. "Master Misha!" I almost squealed. "Yes, just like that." He murmured, dragging his nose along my clavicle. "What?" I breathily asked. He propped hisself up on his elbows staring directly at me. "Remember when I told you I can tell quite a bit from your heartbeat?" His eyes bored into mine. I felt suffocated by his confrontation, he left little to no room to escape. My voice abandoned me. I was so angry at myself, I am letting him get the best of me! It's as if my logic has left me simple! "We both know what you want Osha, why not just say it." His smoothed the hair from my face in an surprisingly familiar way. I wiggled and writhed underneath him to get away but he held me firm under the weight of his body. "No. I want you to tell me Osha." He breathed in my ear. I could help but moan under the intensity and that, was all it took. He tore my clothes from me in one, painless motion. The cold air exposed to my nipples made them harden instantly. I cowered and covered myself from his intense gaze. He doesn't appreciate this and flung me back into the bed pinning me under him again. "Am I to wrench it out of you?" He continued. I felt a deep humiliation of knowing he was right and knowing he already knew. Of course any woman would want him. I wanted him yes, but Pasha's memory still clung to me. I couldn't allow myself to be used again, to love someone who could never love me in return. As for pleasure, I could take care of myself. I found the faintest inkling of strength and rose to meet his face. "Why do you care?" He appeared to be taken aback. It's not often you see that. I claimed that small victory for myself. The corner of his mouth faintly lifted, he rose from me and turned to grab something from a nearby table. I leaned forward to grab at the tatters which were my clothes. His foot firmly stomped on the piece my hand was on. "Mast-" He shoved me back onto his bed, harder this time. He climbed on top and straddled me. He held his arm out, confused I took his hand. "What?" That's when I saw the dagger, before I could register any emotion he drug it quickly across his arm, blood instantaneously poured out on to me. "Oh my god stop!" I cried, I tried to grasp his arm but he held me away and started to cover my arms in his blood. Tears threatened to escape, I know my reality, I know our differences but Pasha and Misha were the closest thing to family I had. Pasha is gone and Misha is all I have left. Tears bubbled over in spite of me trying to blink them away until I covered my eyes with my arm. "Please stop." I finally sobbed. Bewildered he pulled my arm down to meet his solemn eyes. "You know this will not kill me Osha." He spoke softly wiping the tears from their geysers. "It still hurts you." I weeped. "You think me some frail creature?" he scoffed pulling me towards him. "I just can't stand to see you in pain. I don't care what you say, I know it hurts." I absentmindedly started to cover myself again, realizing my nakedness and the proximity of him to me. I wiped my tears hastily and cleared my throat. We said nothing, just contemplating the mystery of each other. "You should get washed up. You can use my personal bath, I'll get it prepared for you then I have matters to attend." I was getting whiplash from everything that had just transpired. "You're leaving?" I asked. He smiled to himself, making me breathless. Not once had I ever seen him smile but I can tell you it was worth the most precious of jewels. "For now."
OSHA
I sat in the warmth of the water, contemplating the oddness of events that had unraveled the past few days. I found myself plagued with endless streams of questions. Not once had I ever encountered Misha like that, not once did he ever act as familiar as he did. I was more often than not, met with his steely indifference, so what possessed him to suddenly act so differently so drastically? He never failed to show his disdain for our kind, however, in the moment he didn't seem to mind me. After much debate I could only come up with that it must have been something to do with Craster, yet I cannot for the life of me remember. That drink with Gertie and Ollie must've proved to be exponentially strong. The thought of Misha and the woman he was with thrust itself into the forefront of my mind, a fury of unimaginable bounds reared it's ugly head. Was I jealous? If Misha knew it bothered me, why goad me as he did? Was it all a part of a game to keep him entertained? I hugged my knees to my chest, resting my chin upon the top. I thought of Pasha and I, our last night together and the detached way of his departure. Am I repeating the same mistake? I found it hard to believe Misha had any affections towards me. Pasha, in his own way, had given me cause to believe, having said that, after a fashion, he left me. I knew we could never be but some tiny part wanted to believe he would triumph, for me. I help onto that thought as I finished washing the stale blood from my body. Don't let yourself be fooled again Osha.
MISHA
I sat out in the garden as the sun lowered itself into slumber. Orange and pink swirled overhead, dancing about to see which would overtake the sky. A cool breeze whispered through the trees causing a lull of light swishing from its branches. I inhaled deeply, allowing myself a moment of peace. Pasha's monthly scroll had come. Upon leaving Osha, I slipped away to the village below. I discreetly slithered through the streets until I arrived at its outskirts. I came upon the old abandoned mill just a few miles from the town. I paused briefly searching about for signs of life. Shiva, Pasha's most trusted ally and friend revealed herself from the east side of the structure. Her hair was a dark as mine, her eyes a shade of green I've never seen and sensuous lips fuller than most. Her body was small in frame but lean, she was a beautiful Vampyr. She was Pasha's number three in rank, having earned her pledge. He liberated her people from our father's henchmen who were sent to sack the cities that refused to participate in the war. She was most grateful which lead me to wonder if he had turned his eye from Osha to somewhere closer in proximity to him. She slinked to the tree nearest to me, peering about to ensure there were no peeping eyes or perked ears. "Commander sends his regards." She muttered stiffly, producing a tiny scroll front her armored cuff. "This will be the last for a while. It's all in motion." I nodded in acknowledgment and received the scroll placing it in my pocket. "Very well. Should the need arise to reach me, set fire to this mill. I should see the flames from the castle. Men will come, hide yourself in the woods. Wait three days, on the third day at dawn, I will come." She bowed in response, her armor permitting her little movement. I gave my head a nod, turning in the opposite direction. I threw a glance behind me to find her already gone.
In the garden I read through the scroll once more, surely Osha would be onto her chores by now.
"The Sorcerer's Magic has proved fruitful. The Dragon will stay in its cave. Give the apprentice a new spell to lift spirits."
There was no mistaking the words, our plan was in motion. I narrowed my eyes, lingering on the final sentence. Give the apprentice a new spell. What he meant was to give Osha his affections. I crumpled the scroll in my hand, my annoyance building. It was my hope that after a time, Shiva would grow on him. The scroll in my hand said otherwise. My anger grew. I did not love yet I did love my brother. Here I was trying to take Osha away from him like a thief. "She is OURS." My Vampyr spoke within me. I felt torn between them. How could I let her go and still hold love for my brother? How could I steal her knowing he cared so deeply for her? "Steal? That would require her belonging to him in the first place." The voice spoke again, this time more menacing. I took once last sweep across the horizon before returning to my chambers to destroy any evidence of him.