Unknown Girl's PoV:
My humanity betrayed me…
I don't know how long I'd been walking, my bare feet looked almost blue as I trudged through the snow. The piercing air made it difficult to breathe as the frigid wind blew harshly through the giant trees. I held tightly to the tattered cloak, the only thing aside from my shabby, thin dress that shielded me, however poorly, from the wind. My legs gave out & immediately the rest of my body followed suit. I did not feel the cold, but my body shivered anyway.
Is this how it ends? Am I going to die here? Betrayed by my own humanity?
I give in, closing my eyes.
Third Person PoV:
In the distance, two figures, a man & a woman waded through the snowy woods as the blizzard raged around them. Both were imposing in stature, though one was visibly several inches taller than the other. The heavy cloaks they wore did well to shield them from the harsh winds as they headed east. The man stopped, pausing for a few moments as if trying to make sense of something.
"You feel it too then, the energy radiating from that direction?" The woman asked, watching him.
The man began heading west, with the woman following after her tall companion. The snow & wind picked up as the pair headed further into the woods towards the strange sensation. The taller figure halted, directing his gaze toward a hand poking out from beneath the snow. He knelt down & began digging, immediately the woman followed suit. After the snow was moved, the two stared at the sight before them, the silhouette of a body. The thin cloak blew off of the head, revealing long & dark tangled hair. The face had so much dirt that its features were indiscernible. Parts of its arms & legs were hues of purple, its skin clearly on the verge of frostbite.
"It's a woman…" The smaller spoke after looking more closely at the body.
"Can you feel that?" The man finally spoke, his voice was calm.
"She looks dead, we should just leave her here." She ignored his question, rising from her place on the ground.
The taller of the two, didn't say a word, staring at the body for a few seconds more, unsure. As he stood up, the hand that had previously laid motionless, latched onto his leg. He immediately looked down.
"I… am… alive…" A weak voice croaked in a scratchy tone.
The taller figure knelt down again, removing the hand from his leg, then scooping the woman up with one arm. Though his face was composed & expressionless, he looked upon her with eyes of uncertainty.
"Sire?" His companion spoke only one word, concern was evident in her voice.
The man began heading east once more with the woman in his arms.
"Very well." She replied, now more intrigued than concerned.
Though their interactions may have seemed odd, the understanding between these two seemed to speak of a deep trust & profound respect for one another. As they continued on their path the woman in the man's arms, did not stir again. He pulled his cloak over her, shielding her from the winds & cold.
…
As the woman came to, she felt a sense of heaviness, reluctantly opening her eyes. She quickly sat up, her vision blurred as her eyes darted around from beneath her matted hair. She tried to absorb as much of her surroundings as she could.
"You're awake." A beguilingly calm & masculine voice said.
She twisted around, searching for where the voice originated. Her gaze landed upon the form of a young man, who exuded an air of striking poise & elegance. His skin was a pale olive shade, contrasting beautifully against his wavy, blackish-gray hair, peeking out from behind it were pointed ears, one silver earring clinging to his left lobe & two silver clinging to his right lobe. His dark alluring eyes were a captivating hue of viridian green, a green as deep as that of a jungle, beneath them were visible bags, this faint trace of weariness etched below his mesmerizing gaze, only amplified his appeal. Even while seated, it was evident that he would tower above any crowd at an impressive height of: 6'6'' or 6'7". His visage was one of absolute equanimity, one of detachment that displayed no trace of emotion nor any indication of expression. Despite his seemingly impenetrable & impassive demeanor, there was an underlying intensity to his gaze. His beauty was just as breathtaking as it was chilling.
Next to him stood a wiry woman of around 6'2", her slender physique contradicted the incredible physical strength that lay dormant within. Her chiseled muscles, a testament to her unwavering discipline. Though she was relaxed, she emitted an aura of vigor, as if she were accustomed to carrying herself with a learned grace, despite her tenacity. Her lustrous platinum beige hair falling down her back, gathered loosely in a ponytail, with a fray of bangs haphazardly framing her face. The combination of her extremely pale complexion & silvery-gray eyes added an ethereal quality to her already exquisite appearance. She wore purple eyeshadow which only served to further accentuate her natural beauty with a touch of vibrant colorful splash. On her left ear was a silver earring that matched the man's, dangling from her right ear was a silver column earring. At her side was a thin sheathed blade & around her neck was a white scarf.
Unknown Girl's PoV:
Though I felt nothing, my body tensed up nonetheless as I realized the beings before me were not human. I stared at them both, trying to figure out what I should do.
"Are you gonna speak?" The blonde asked, her voice filled the air like an angelic chaos. From her mouth protruded four visibly large canines, two on the top & two on the bottom. Her fingertips were like the sharp claws of a wild animal, a dangerous reminder of the primal power that lay just beneath the surface of her charming exterior.
I didn't answer. I couldn't speak even if I wanted to. A long while of silence passed, before anyone spoke again.
"You should get cleaned up, we don't know how long you were out in the blizzard, your body may be susceptible to illness." The man said, rising from his chair. As he spoke, light danced off of a dangerously sharp pair of canines that were noticeably longer than the rest of his otherwise perfect teeth, though the ones on the bottom were smaller than the ones on the top.
The man was noticeably many inches taller than the blonde, his sinewy physique moved with an elegance that seemed impossible given his stature. His movements were fluid & calculated, as though every motion was made with a sense of purpose & grace. He extended his hand towards me, revealing black fingernails. Across his body, was a series of stitches, their jagged edges clashing against the smoothness of his skin. The stitches wrapped around different parts of his arms & fingers. One stitch traced a path from his neck up to his cheek, while another rested between his shoulder & collarbone. It was almost as if they were holding some part of him together, whether the part was physical or mental I could not tell.
I did not know what else to do as I stared at him. It was clear that the towering figure before me was over a foot & a half taller than myself. My hand hesitant as I reached out, the heaviness in my limbs intensified as I tried to stand. My body lacked enough strength to follow commands.
Third Person PoV:
The man took a step forward, observing the woman with a keen awareness. Even with the vast space that separated them, he seemed to sense her need for assistance. She attempted once more to get to her feet, but her legs gave out. With a quick swiftness, he caught her, gently placing a hand around her waist. He held her up with a tenderness that seemed uncharacteristic of someone of his immense size.
No words were exchanged as he led her through the bright & lavish halls of the castle, the blonde followed beside him, watching the girl's movement. They stopped before a large iron door, the tall woman pushed them open to reveal an exceptionally spacious bathroom. Tan & white marble covered every inch complete with a marble tub, easily over twenty feet wide, intricate waterfalls poured from the tall marble walls. The towering windows spanned an entire wall & though they were tinted let in lots of sunlight which sparkled over the water. The room was filled with many lush plants & mirrors, the mosaic ceiling was complemented by a dazzling crystal chandelier.
"Please pardon my rudeness, as it's not my desire to offend you. But I can't leave your side at present." He said, leading her further into the bathroom.
The blonde pulled the doors shut & locked them, then walked over next to the two. She stood nearly a foot taller than the woman as well.
"May I?" She asked softly, looking at her, before undoing the lousy string that had kept the tattered cloak on, after receiving a nod.
The man held her steady, his eyes averted, as his companion undressed her. He proceeded to lead her down the steps into the heated water. The blonde grabbed a bucket & followed them in. She dipped it into the steaming water before pouring it onto the woman's head, continuing until she was soaked. The man still did not look at the woman, out of respect. The moment was tender as the blonde cleaned the woman, and the man held her up. Great care was taken to cut the matted knots from her hair that couldn't be untangled. After it had been combed, beautiful curly locks were revealed. Her hair, which had gone past her waist, was now just barely below her ears.
At last, the man & woman allowed their eyes to fall upon her. Now that the woman was clean, her sublime magnificence surpassed all previous recognition. Her lustrous curls, dark as night, flowed gracefully past her light golden-brown skin. Her face was adorned with several beauty marks, two lying gently beneath her left eye, while another resided on the cheekbone of her right side, & one more graced her lip. Her voluptuous figure was that of utmost sensuality, boasting curves that could not be ignored. Her glimmering eyes were like two unique universes, containing all their own mysteries, shielded by long, full lashes. The left was a stunning shade of aquamarine akin to a cold spring, while the right eye progressed through various shades of brown, ranging in color from the softest sand to the darkest ebony. Her stature was that of a delicate 5'3". Now dressed in a white silk slip, she presented herself before the other two without so much as a hint of emotion, her gaze steady as she stared at them in silence. The pair silently glanced at one another, then back to the lady in white.
"I want her." The blonde proclaimed energetically, her serious expression widened into a mischievous smile as she clasped her hand together, stepping towards the small woman.
The tall man grabbed his companion's wrist, keeping her from going any further.
"Oh? And what's this?" She grinned, her eyes glancing back at him.
"You didn't even want to bring her." His voice never wavered from its calm rhythm.
"Well yeah cuz I thought she was dead, Sire." She smiled, not doing much to hide her annoyance.
The air between the two began to spark as they continued their version of bickering. It was clear that these two were bonded in some way.
The woman remained silent for a time, watching them. When she opened her mouth to speak, a mellow alto voice was revealed, a voice that compelled all who could hear to hang on every word as if it was that of a melodic instrument. "I am not property…"
The two immediately quieted, staring at the small & gorgeous woman before them.
The man said nothing, but gave his companion a cold glare.
"Woman, tell us your name." The blonde demanded in a curt, yet amused tone, avoiding the man's glare.
She maintained her silence, her bewitching face remained emotionless. The constant state of expressionlessness like that of a doll.
"My name is Damian Alfreed Darasien." The tall man's fangs were visible when he spoke.
The blonde woman then gave a slight bow, "Mia Wriest," her sharp claws glistened as she let her hand fall back to its place at her side.
"I am Beatrice." The small woman answered.
"Do you have a last name?" The tall blonde asked.
"I do not remember anything aside from that my name is Beatrice." She answered softly.
All three of them stared at each other quietly. The woman took a step forward, her legs wobbled a bit, before she caught herself, then continued walking towards the door.
"Where're you goin'?" Mia's eyes followed the woman's movements.
Beatrice stood before the exit for a moment, then pulled the heavy door open, after unlocking it.
"Sire, whaddya wanna do?" Mia cocked her head back, looking at Damian.
The blizzard had been raging for a few days. He wondered how she even survived, let alone how she managed to stand on her own. He said nothing as he followed Beatrice, keeping a small respectful distance between them.
"Oh?" Mia grinned, "Is my lord finally interested in someone?"
"As if you're one to talk." Damian brushed off her sly comment.
"What can I say, I just can't help myself." She shrugged, following after them. "But the difference between us is, you've never desired anyone before." She laughed, grinning mockingly at him.
They acted like best friends.
They followed Beatrice through the halls, curious to see where she would go in this setting which was unfamiliar to her.
Damian eyed Beatrice's frame as she continued down the hall, the image of her face pouring into his mind. He had never been so captivated by one's physical appearance before.
Suddenly, Beatrice stopped, she turned around, looking up at the two who followed behind her.
"What are you?" Her posture was almost perfect.
"Hm?" Mia raised her eyebrow, her interest slightly piqued.
"Please do not take me for a fool." Beatrice did well to hold her ground.
"You could tell we aren't human?" Damian asked with calm curiosity.
"I am not certain what you are, but yes." Her voice did not waver from its mellow alto tone.
"Are you aware of what region you're in?" Mia asked.
She shook her head, "I do not remember very much."
"You're in the country of Daria, in its capital kingdom of Darius." Mia's eyes seemed to eat up every inch of Beatrice's body.
"The land of vampires?"
"Not only vampires, but this is the land they rule over as their domain." Mia hummed uninterestedly.
"You are vampires?" Beatrice's expressions remained unchanged. She could tell they both each had distinct auras. Both presences were imposing, almost stifling to be around. But she knew something about her assessment was off.
"Not quite." Mia corrected, "I'm a Thoroughbred Werewolf, in service to the royal family."
"So then you are the vampire?" Beatrice's eyes shifted to Damian.
"Not really…" He avoided her gaze.
Mia burst into laughter, "Sire, your reactions betray you."
Damian immediately shot a glare towards Mia.
"Do you not intend to give me a straight answer then?" Beatrice's formal manner of speech was endearing.
"There really is no true place for me." Damian answered, his eyes looked bitter.
Beatrice tilted her head, considering for a moment what she should do next. For some reason those words resonated with her. She then walked up to Damian, placing her hand on his. As soon as their hands connected a shock was exchanged between them.
"You are a Hybrid?" There was no judgment or disgust in her voice.
Though her choice of words took Damian by surprise, he didn't show it outwardly. However, the girl's tone compelled him to give an answer. "My mother is a Pure-blooded Vampire & my father a High-blooded Demon."
This amused Mia, "Well, well, well." She grinned, "Are you afraid now girl?" She said as she placed her hand on her friend's shoulder before peeking out from behind him to look at her.
Beatrice shook her head, she hadn't been & still was not afraid.
Mia momentarily looked displeased before throwing her arms around the girl. "Aren't you just the strangest little thing?" She smiled, hugging her tightly.
Beatrice's blank expression unsettled Mia, but she was now lost in thought.
"Hey space cadet?" Damian's eyes seemed to brighten a bit as he looked at her.
She seemed to snap out of it, "I suppose you are a member of this royal family then?"
"Yup, you're quite correct Milady." Mia spoke softly, her expression turning serious.
'What was it about this woman that seemed different?' He thought to himself as he gazed at Beatrice.
"My things?" She didn't react, she merely pushed Mia off of her, turned around & continued down the hall.
"What's her deal?" Mia griped as the two watched Beatrice disappear down the hall. "Just what the hell kind of human is she?"