-Alexis Lycan, 18 years old-
Alexis gulps audibly as he looks at the ethereal woman wrapped in smoke and shadow. "Where are we?" he finally manages to croak out. Alexis is mesmerized, seemingly pulled forward by an unseen force.
The longer he looks at her, the more beautiful she appears in his eyes. The perfect woman.
She giggles at the slack jawed look on his face. She doesn't have to read his mind to know that he is attracted to her, deeply so. The thought flatters her immensely. No mortal has gazed at her in such a way for thousands of years. The weak-minded mortals had usually fallen to their knees in terror and supplication.
Beings such of her have lived since the very beginning of time itself. Each have their own unique spheres of influence. Many beings, mortal and undying alike, revere them as mighty gods. Though some are forgotten, lost to the annals of history.
"We are in my domain, as I have said." Arabella replies in a clear yet low voice. "It is a space between worlds. A haven."
Alexis is only more dumbfounded by her words. This confusion is written clearly on his face but she either doesn't notice or doesn't care. It is most likely the latter.
Arabella continues without deigning to explain further. "I have called you here to bestow upon you a most precious gift." she says with a big smile. "This is an extreme honor, mortal." Her teeth shine brightly. Her nightmarishly sharp fangs catch his eyes further, putting him on edge. She notices his reaction and grins.
Alexis is even further confused, 'a gift?' he wonders. 'What the hell is she even talking about?' he ponders in his head. While lost in thought, he finally notices that she has stopped talking and is looking at him as if expecting something.
"Thank you, Lady Arabella." Alexis bows, deciding on the title of lady. She is immensely regal and refined, so it is a good choice he thinks to himself. "It is an honor."
Arabella sticks her chest out in pride when she hears the title 'Lady'. Alexis holds back a triumphant smile; it seems he had chosen correctly.
"As you should be honored" Arabella says softly, once again speaking. "It is a gift fit for even a king." The long fangs that protrude from her teeth retract, leaving a regular, yet beautiful, smile. The sight banishes the slight unease he has at the sight of them.
"But why me?" Alexis asks, bewildered by all this is happening and by the spectacle of her teeth.
Arabella smiles slightly. "Why, because of the Lycan blood in your veins, of course."
"My blood?" Alexis looks down at his arms as he says this, looking at his veins and the blood within them. "I don't understand." He murmurs.
Arabella steps forward and the smoke that is pouring off of her twirls itself around Alexis playfully as if alive. He feels suddenly calmer and more at ease when the black tendrils make contact with his bare skin. Alexis closes his eyes and exhales deeply. He is comfortable in the shadows.
Arabella reaches out and runs her hand down his face causing him to shudder. "The Lycan blood is special, blessed even. For centuries now I have watched over your family, bound to an ancient pact made with your ancestor, the founding king of the Lycanian kingdom." She whispers in his ear. "I have given great power to each of your predecessors. Though recently, I have offered but only a sliver. They were all unworthy as of late, you see."
Alexis opens his eyes and looks into the deep dark pools that are her eyes. He isn't startled by how close she is, but quite the opposite. A strong urge to reach out and grab her wells up within him, but he forces the thought down. He must control himself.
"What kind of power?" Alexis finally asks slowly, unable to tear his eyes from her.
A gleeful smile spreads across the woman's face. "I'll show you." she whispers.
Arabella suddenly grabs his face in a strong grip. His eyes open wide by her sudden action. "What are-" he starts, but is cut off by her lips touching his in a sensual and passionate kiss.
Alexis' mind blanks and he wraps his arms around her instinctively, finally letting go of the barely contained urges he has been forcing down. A cold feeling slides down his throat. He does not know what it is, not her tongue he thinks, she hasn't used that yet. The cold continues down his throat and spreads throughout his body. As he wonders about the weird feeling, she breaks the kiss and steps out of his embrace.
"Do you feel that?" She says with an odd smirk on her face.
"Feel what? Why did you do that?" Alexis demands, flustered. The taste of her lips still on his mouth. After he speaks, he feels a sharp pain in chest, likened to a stab wound. The pain quickly radiates outward from his heart continuing down to his feet and arms. Alexis yells out sharply and falls to his knees, tears streaming down his face. It is the worst pain he has ever felt in his life, like a fire is burning up his insides, tearing him apart.
Alexis reaches out to Arabella in blind desperation. She watches over him with a calm smile on her pristine face. "Help me." he manages to choke out. He does not know why he asks the mysterious woman; it is almost reflexively. Like he is being pulled to her, even now.
"Of course, My liege." The shadowy woman says as she steps forward again to embrace the writhing man. "I will take away all your pain."
Arabella kneels in front of Alexis, who was still on his knees, and kisses him deeply. As soon as her lips touch his, the pain that is wracking him vanishes as if by magic. Leaving only pleasure and a lingering burning sensation behind.
Alexis reaches up and grabs her shoulders and pushes the woman down to the ground roughly. Arabella smiles wickedly as the man looms over her, his eyes wild and full of lust. The sudden pain and confusion of the whole situation seemingly snapped something inside of the young Duke.
Alexis reaches out with his right hand and grabs her neck tightly, not enough to strangle, but a more possessive action. He presses his body onto the prone woman and kisses her back wildly, almost desperately.
Black smoke starts to emit from Alexis, just like Arabella, yet he pays it no mind. His veins also begin to turn black as the blood inside them darkens.
Alexis jerks back after a minute or two, surprised by his actions. A trail of saliva continues from his mouth to hers. Tangible proof of how intense their kissing was.
"Why... Why did I do that?" Alexis asks, his actions leaving him shaken and disorientated. He glances down at Arabella who is still lying on the ground. Her hair and clothes are heavily disheveled. "Who exactly-" He begins but is interrupted.
"We will have to continue this another time." Arabella whispers softly with a slight frown as she looks up at the ceiling of the dark room. "We are about to be interrupted, My Liege."
-
"My Lord!"
A sudden shriek awakes Alexis from his sleep. His eyes shoot open quickly. He jumps up from his bed to look for the person who yelled so loudly in the morning.
His eyes land on Sabrina who is framed in the doorway with both hands over her mouth in shock. Alexis narrows his eyes at her, quite upset at being rudely awaken from his heavenly 'dream'.
"What is it, Sabrina?" Alexis asks irritably, reaching up to push his hair back from his face. His body feels heavy, and he is covered in sweat. The cold wind flowing into the room through a broken window chills him to the bone, adding to his mounting irritation.
"My Lord... What is going on?" Sabrina asks shakily while pointing at his chest. Her eyes are wide, and she is shaking heavily. Fear and confusion evident in her eyes.
Alexis gives her an odd look before walking to the mirror in his room. "What are you talking about? There is nothing-" His voice trails off when he sees his reflection.
Black smoke is twirling around his body. Pouring off of him, just like it had been in his supposed 'dream'. Just like Arabella.