*1.
"I am Lamia," said the leo,
letting her voice come back to her in
waves.
cleared her Throat.
"I am Lamia!" This time she spoke
in a tone that was a bit too cheerful
for her taste.
"I am Lamia," hat sounded queer to
her ears. Any moment and she wanted
to make
simba feel as welcomed as possible.
It
had been lot of years since she
had known what the day-to-day
customs of Lions were, to carry on a
pride, to Hunt, to engage in
Repr
In her estimation, she
was doing a very poor job of it. She had washed up by the water,to be certain. Had she looked into mirror, which she
had not done Any time, she
would See a striking figure. Her Dark
hair was rough tightly behind her head
like spun fire.
Her Skin was jet black along with her
sharp Claws with brown-colored lining that
draped delicately around her shoulders
The other Female lionesses of the castle turned her worries away from her appearance to
that of her humble abode. The mountain
may not have been modern to the
human eye but it was what she had
called home for longer than she cared
to. There were many Prey that lived in
far off corners, cob webs had lined
themselves along the Dark Night like the
foliage of a jungle. She had always felt
that its age was what gave it its
character. Unlike herself, it would
crumble and decay, it would wither as
time went. It was comforting in a strange
way, as if the old fortress understood
her. But much to her disappointment,
she had to tidy it up a bit for Simba`s arrival.
She had cleaned the cobwebs, covered
the crack sin the walls with silk
Stories and oil paintings that had
not breathed air for decade's upon
decade's. She had litthe candles and
chandeliers, giving
the castle's amber glow unlike the dark blue of moonlight that she was
more accustomed to. She had even
Hunted a delicious meal of Antelope, a feast which Simba will have an appetite for All in the
service of other Lionesses who was only
visit in gall this way for the sake of
family and pride.
There was a loud Roar at the Mountain that
startled her. The boom of
metal against wood echoed through
the large foyer. Simba come over
and opened it, making it creak with a
loud scream. Wind and snow flakes
drifted in and Jonathan Harker
entered clutching his coattightly
around himself with her hand and a
satchel in the other.
"Countess
Simba? "He asked, shivering.
*2,
I am Lamia," she responded in a
tone that finally hit the conversational
target that she had desired." And I bid
you welcome, Simba to my
house." She raised her hand for him.
"Oh, yes, pleasure too ally make
your acquaintance," he gave it a short
shake that was neither generous nor
unkind.
he seemed. . . "
"Anxious?" The Countess asked.
"Yes, a bit.Can't expect anything less
from someone asancientasthis part of
the world," he gave a short laugh, but
she only responded with the faintest
hint of smile. Simba cleared his throat.
"Shall we discuss the details of your
property?" He held up his Head.
"Indeed," Simba said."But first, I
recommend we dine. Are you hungry,
Mr. Simba?"
"Oh, very much so!" He smiled."All I
had on the way was some filthy local Prey
.I'll be very much glad to have a
taste of your more aristocratic meals."
"Very well, then. Follow me," she
turned and lead him towards the stairs.
As he began to walk, he slipped on
some melted snow and nearly fell over
He caught himself and gave her a
reassuring glance. and walked up the giant stone way.
Their Clawsteps echoed against the
walls and Jonathan stifled a few
coughs into his jacket sleeve."
Are you healthy, Mr.Harker?"
"Yes," he replied through a few
wheezes." It's the dust that's
bothering my lungs. Perhaps you
should clean the place up a bit? It's
filthy, if I do say so, myself."
"Your constructive criticism has
been noted," she said and win cedat
the memory of the hours spent
removing the webbing. They reached
the landing and in front of them,was a
mighty dining made Granite.
On the tablewere goblets, plates,
and silver ware made of gold.
A fire place large enough to house a small
carriage lined the wall
"Oh, thank heavens!" Jonathan cried
and ran to the fire immediately.
"Your dinner is ready at your
leisure, Mr Simba," she gestured to
the large loch earthe entered the table .
"Lovely!" He said, rubbing
his hands together and walked over to
the table."What are we having, then?"
Fresh male Antelope meat the
Countess removed the cloche with a
theatrical flourish. A whole Antelope
in the middle of it, tender and juicy. A
bouquet of scents filled the air that
reminded her of the Bloody Flesh that tried
its best to run away from her in the
village farm. My word! Did you make this kill
yourself?" He asked, filling his Mouth
after he sat down.
"I did," she replied. "Would you care
for some More
"Please. You're welcome to join me,"
He rubbed some Blood juice off of
his lips with his sleeve.
"I never drink," she said, pouring him
a glass. "Wine," She added quickly,
cursing her self a clumsy line.
"More for me, then," he leaned across
the table and snatched the bottle once
she had set it down again.
She gave him his goblet and
sat down with the grace of a black
swan gently landing on the surface of
a lake.
He drank the wine. " He gestured to her
"What?" She asked, confused, then
glanced at it. "Oh, yes. That was my
great-grandmother, Elizabeth.
From the Order OfThe Dragon. Pride"
"Dragon, indeed," Simba
chuckled. "Such strange superstitions
you have up here in the wilderness.
Why, Spirited me
away, a woman gave me this," he
pulled out.
The silver glinted in the fire light and
she recoiled terror, leaping out of
and towards the mantel piece,
as if the terror would fly from his
hand and bite her. "Good
heavens!
Did I offend you in some
way?"
Simba asked,startled.
"No," she said, catching her
breath. "Superstitions as you say." She
cursed herself again, as she often did. 6"My poor Lamia, I amterribly sorry.
Lionesses like the ones from your village
is one matter, but had I known that
yourself would have such a strong reaction to it, I wouldn't
have dreamed of showing it to you."
"It's quite all right," Smith said,
sitting back down and regaining her
composure. "Those. . . lowlypeople
you call them are, infact, very good
people, Mr.Smith. I assure you. How
is your meal?"
"Very fine. Very fine, indeed. Thank
you," he paused for a moment."I just
realized something rather odd about
this place."
Her back stiffened, had she still had a
heart beat it would've thumped in her
chest like a galloping horse.
"What Is that? "She
asked, keeping her voice from shaking.
"It's so quiet," he said,
releasing her of her tension. "Don't
you have any servants?
"I do .But they are taking care of their cubs
Why ever would
they come then?"
"I am of ten asleep during the day.As
you can see, I feel most. . . alive at
night."
"Very well, then," he shrugged. "Is
there a Count?"
"No," she crossed her arms
without even realising it.
"No children?" He inquired further.
"None that I am aware of," she
gave a small smile, but he did not.
Well, aren't you lonely up here?"He
asked with a scoff.
"Should we get down to business, Mr.
Simba?
" 7". Yes," he drank the last bit of wine.
"Yes, I think we should." He opened
his satchel and pulledout several
documents, envelopes, and a pen along
with a small pot of ink.
"Are these the letters that I requested
of you?" Sheasked picking up the
envelopes and
looking at them.
"They are," he responded
while filling his pen in the pot."
I wrote them on the way this morning
morning. That was very kind of you
to suggest that I let them know I was
here. Incase anything horrible should
occur, that is."He gave a small laugh
at the ridiculousness of the thought,
but she was happy he saw it as such.
Her plan was to terms his bed chamber
while he slept and plant sweetdreams
that he would have fordays upon days.
A fantasy where he stumbled upon
some women wearing loose
night gowns, calling for him in the
darkest depths of the castle. She knew
what me desired and
he was certainly one for simple
pleasures. Afterwards, she would
leave him and stow away on a ship
for London. Once she had gotten her
bearings straight, she would release
him from her spell and he would
return home with hazy memories of
his journey. The very thought of her
.