The pendulum that was my heart was erratically faltering, it was pumping and yet the warmth had vanished. My eyes narrowed, my brows furrowed, this woman had taken everything from me. My life as it was, gone. She was the source of this sorrow I feel, this complete futility.
"Your emotions dictate that you are unpleased with me, why?" Her eyes were still glistening in the darkness of the room, I could see clearer now.
She was like a damned emotionless gnat, her voice still sultry, but her monotony seemed so soulless, like she doesn't give a single damn about what she has done to me.
"You took everything from me." my eyes were affixed upon hers, I could feel the muscles in my brows almost melding with my eyes. "You took it all, and you don't even care, why?"
She shuffled in place, "I simply did what I had to," her gaze had set upon me deeply now, "you were dying, I saved you."
I was dying, I do remember it, how my chest had been punctured by something, how the blood puddled below me, how the muscles twisted and malformed in defiance to the fate that was bestowed upon me.
I ask, not knowing what answer would come from this, "What now?" I was as lost as a lamb for the slaughter, not knowing what I should do anymore. What purpose did I have in life now? To just simply hide in the dark, that was no life.
"Now, you will learn our ways. You know nothing of this world, the world you lived in was merely a singular layer. You will soon see that this world extends far deeper; you will have to learn our ways." She extends her hand, the long slender fingers reaching out to me and caressing my forearm, her nails were sharp, but they did not penetrate past my skin. "You are one of mine now, it is my duty to see you grow in power, and represent me well."
"One of yours?" I had heard of this phenomenon within vampires, how they belong to clans, and those that sire you -- bite you, become your direct superior.
"Yes, you are apart of the Nevere clan now, one of few, yet the quality is better than quantity."
Nevere, it sounded absolutely terrifying, but I had no idea what any of this meant.
"Come along now, we depart for the academy, you will learn everything and more there."
My eyes widened at the news "Academy? What kind of academy would accept someone like me?"
"I mentioned before, you have no idea what exists beyond your singular layer of the world. It is an academy for all beast folk, all things magical. Anyone who desires power, who strives to reach their goals, go to this academy."
A goal! The only way I can escape, I can leave and go find Darius and mother, is to become stronger, to gain power, enough to quench my ambition. I will see it through. My body felt lighter, I stood up and followed the woman, she walked regally, two hands at her waist, her strides were as enchanting as a dancer's.
I wanted to know more, "What is this Nevere clan?" I can't just accept the name, my curiosity had gotten the best of me.
"I am the matriarch of the Nevere clan, the clan, in a simple sense, are all the vampires I have sired. However, I do seldom sire vampires, perhaps you will meet your brothers and sisters soon. I do hope they will take care of you."
I have brothers and sisters... more vampires I have to be wary of. "What of the other clans?" If she was the leader of one, surely that meant there were many others, right?
"There are nine clans, Nevere is one. The others, you will find out about shortly, now hurry along."
Her words seemed to permeate again within me, I follow her outside of the cabin, and the minute we exit the cabin door, I am met with a magical sight, the cabin that was in the middle of nowhere, now seemed to be in the middle of a bustling city of splendour. Houses floated in the sky, people glided across the street without their feet touching the ground, the banners of different establishments were glistening with an ethereal energy. The rocks, and rough cobble were no more, instead it was a perfectly paved path of marble that stretched as far as the eye could see.
This was the world I had no idea about?