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Make a little conversation..
so long I've been waiting!
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The night passed quickly, and in no time at all, Vera was up and running as dawn broke. The quad slept peacefully as she stumbles out of bed, forgetting her surroundings and the body she was in momentarily. The clothes her supposed "mother" provided were folded neatly on a wooden chair since the siren had taken them off to sleep. Now, naked and nowhere to turn to, she decides to use the blanket she had cuddled with in the night. The quad had slept in a pile of soft cushions, what Marzena called pillows if she recalled correctly, at the end of the bed. Vera smiles at the sight and wraps the furred blanket around her body. She wobbles through her room and was met with what theWolvernrians had called a hallway, wondering what there was to eat. She had smelt a delicious aroma teasing her stomach.
Following the scent, Vera walked down the hall and turned right. Wooden stairs were before her, so she walks down them, stumbling into Kaius. He holds her in his tight embrace before she could fall to the floor. "Woah! Vera," he exclaims as he catches her. Kaius inspects her quickly before heaving a sigh of relief. He smiles when he realizes she's fine and there's no injury. He helps her stand upright once the ordeal is over.
Vera, on the other hand, gazes at him with wide eyes. Her heart had stopped for a moment before it decided to start up again. She took her time, grasping Kaius's shoulder for balance and regained her breath. She wiggles the tiny appendages attached to her.. feet, she remembered what Marzena had called them. Vera catches her balance, quickly releasing Kaius from her grip, and clutches the blanket tighter around her body. Her eyelids close a moment before bestowing a grateful smile to him.
With a palm flat on his chest, Vera said, "Thank you.. Kaius."
The Wolvernrian blinks from surprise. He couldn't believe the woman would thank him for such a small act of kindness. There wasn't much need for "thank yous" in Wolvernry, with all the arrogant egos prowling around no one ever spoke such words of graditude. Kaius was genuinely warmed by her three words. It brought not only a handsome smile, but it brighten his entire gloomy day.
"Of course," Kaius hesitantly nods, bowing to show his respect. He wasn't exactly sure want to say to a "thank you," and he most certainly didn't want to offend his sister. In fact, he had no idea what would offend her.
It was Vera's turn to stare. She was confused as to why he bows before her. In Aquatica, bowing is a display of honor and respect towards the queen.Vera was nowhere near royal blood, in fact, she hunted royal blood for entertainment.
Could he possibly be mocking me? Vera turns her nose upwards at the thought.
If he was mocking her culture, the brute would pay severely. She didn't take to those who dared to mess with structure, especially when she was a part of it. Her demeanor changes, however, once she notices the pure, genuine respect brewing within his hazel irises as he stood to his full height. He was well-shaped, Vera thought, and tall too.
Too tall it seemed.
Vera was taken aback herself, realizing her height. She's small compared to him; her head falling at the tip of his nose. Her eyes met the scars of brutality and violence, acts of war and battle, that litter across his chest and shoulders. There's a moment of silence between them, then she swallows her insults before nodding in acknowledgment. Instead of bowing back, Vera allows a real smile, very small but real, to curve the ends of her lips. They silently share a sibling connection in that moment, a small mutual understanding of emotions run through their veins simultaneously, and a part of Kaius smiles. Then, it's ruined by a delightful smell lingering on the steps.
"Mm, what is the aroma I smell?" Vera asks. Her eyes close as she begins walking further down the stairs to reach the tempting scent.
Kaius follows after her, but not too close. He didn't want to crowd her, not knowing how she'd react. He grasps her elbow swiftly within a second when she steps towards the East Wing. The action prevents Vera from following her nose, thus ending in her turning to the male. Curiosity dwells within her bright irises, glistening with excitement. She was confused at the Wolvernrian's sudden hostile response. Vera freezes at the moment he touches her, giving Kaius her undivided and lugubrious attention.
He didn't know what to say, honestly. Kaius hadn't even thought this far. He didn't want her to get lost in the house, but he didn't want Vera to feel as if he was controlling her. Kaius loosens his grip and stands straight. He fixes his seemingly-astonishing behavior before answering her curious gaze.
"There are more stairs towards the East," He nods to the direction she was heading in.
Vera blinks, surprised by his words. She didn't know whether to feel grateful or offended. She decided to wait until Kaius finished talking. The knot in his brows is enough proof he wants to say more.
Kaius's muddy irises glimmer with kindness as he directs her body to the West, where the path was a straight a-line to reach the culinary room. "Come; there's less scenery down this flight," Kaius murmurs loud enough for Vera's ears to catch, but not enough to wake the sleeping beasts within the building.
As Vera is removed from the path of the longer route, she observes the lush grass green floors her feet glide over. Instead of feeling the texture of carpet of the grass itself, the floors ware slick and cold. Her gaze follows the tiles until she spots the beige wallpaper with intricate designs along the walls. The photos hanging on the wall next to her catch her gaze, and what's unique about them is how there were seven or more Wolvernrians gathered together in a line or pattern to make a shape. Vera recognizes Marzena in a few of them, and Kaius as well but he had to have been a child in certain photographs. Theon was there with a few others whom appeared similar to her mother and the Wolvernrian she's decided to bed.
Vera stops short, observing a photo with each of her mother's family. She raises her hand up to touch the smudge less, transparent glass, tracing the smile on her mother's face. Her heart longed for the genuine smile and a photograph of her mother with Dariol and her. Just a moment trapped in time that could be taken anywhere at anytime. Whatever emotion she began to unravel in, it hurt, deeply, nonetheless.
The pain Vera endures in that moment was more than longing. The emotion coursing through her veins wasn't full of sorrow any longer; no, it was full of rage and hate. Rage because Marzena had a choice, and she chose the life without Vera. All of this, without Vera. She burns with her anger; standing in her home with her blanket around Vera's body as she glares at her family photos of her kids and her perfect life.
It was not, and never will be, just.
The hate radiating in waves against Vera's chest was caused from Marzena's calm attitude when she first met the Wolvernrian landris. As soon as their eyes connected, Vera wanted to turn, jet to the nearest cove, and never return to the surface. She didn't have the feeling of security with Marzena. It was because of her Vera never could live freely. It was because of her Vera was forced to swim in the depths of Aquatica.
For centuries, Vera has carried the weight of her mother's selfish decision unknowingly. Dariol had grown tiresome of females, and because of this, he treated his craen the only way he knew how: as he raised his solens. His first daughter had become his champion, a warrior, his greatest creation, and whether he saw her as an offspring or an asset, Vera didn't care at all. She only cared about his loyalty and how he kept her when Marzena didn't want her. Dariol may have been a raike and gnawed at her hard, but he cared for her when he could have left her as a merling to fend and feed for herself. He had been the main reason for her to live as long as she has.
Dariol had been her savior, and now it was time to repay him with what he had asked of her; whether she cared for the idea or not.