Kapri hummed to herself as she adjusted her delicate, mesh sleeves of a new emerald dress that Count Lirael had made for her. The fabric catching the soft light of the artificial sun within the green house giving her a regal shimmer with a surreal glow on her skin. Across from her, Kavi and Nyxith sat at the small table in new dresses they were also provided as they poked at their breakfast as they stole concerned glances at her.
Finally, Kavi leaned forward, her voice hush. "Why are we still here, Lady Kaprice? They probably have already figured out why we were here."
Kapri's knife hovered over her plate as she cut into the meat in silence, her gaze distant. After a moment, she looked down without such much as a response to Kavi. Nothing.
"Lady Kaprice!" Nyxith raised her voice as she slammed her utensil on the table rattle the silverware. This caught Kapri's eyes, but she wasn't angry or upset, but she looked as if she were restraining. "Please, its been four weeks and you haven't gave us any further instruction. You're scaring us."
Kapri set her utensils down as she sighed, while looking away from how upset her juniors were. She couldn't let herself get emotional so she wouldn't give Count Lirael insight into anything.
"I can't provide you further instruction because my essence is currently compromise," she spoke softly as she looked away from them. "Do what you need to do, but don't reveal anymore information to me. Please."
Kavi and Nyxith exchange wary look, each glance leaving them more puzzled then before. Before they could press her for more information further, the door from the castle that led to the greenhouse opened and Count Lirael enter. His slender frame was dress in dark slacks and crisp, white button-up shirt. His easy smile caught lighting up as he saw Kapri.
Kapri kept her head turned away from him, that was the only way she could ground herself when he was near. Instead, he cupped her chin, and leaned in to gently kiss her on the forehead. She didn't react nor push away, her mind almost becoming fogged as her body grew warm as her mind seemed to float far away.
"Do you mind if I join you ladies?" he asked Kavi and Nyxith, as he glanced over his shoulder. They tensed up, from their encounter with him last time with Nyxith holding Kavi's hand to comfort her fear. Nyxith shot a worried look at Kapri, but Kapri simply leaned into Lirael, pressing her face to his chest so her emotions would not even flutter.
"No… of course, Count Lirael" Nyxith replied for them both her and Kavi.
In the greenhouse, it became obvious it was meant to micmick the environment that surrounded Kapri's manor back in Sableford. A paradise of roses, orchids, and twisting vines that surrounded them, though it was lust, it was also eerie. Of course, Kapri noticed when she first got there and the juniors notice too, recognizing the flower's from the estate they spent many of their summers in for JLDRA. Count Lireal's hand rested gently against Kapri's shoulder as he sat beside her.
"No, contact from Sableford. Lord Dazriel?" Count Lirael questioned all three of them, but more Kapri because it was difficult for her to lie to him now.
Luckily, she had no need to. "Of, course not. Why would I when I'm happy here?" she smiled as she finally looked at him, and her heart genuinely fluttered facing him. "Very much."
"I thought you might feel closer to home here," he replied.
Kavi's mouth twisted, she clenched her fist, as if not able to bear the display. Before she muttered, with a strained tone, "It shouldn't matter. We'll be going home soon."
An uncomfortable silence followed her statement. Lirael's smile quickly faded, and his gaze darkened staring at the girl. Kapri covered his eyes with her palm. "Why aren't you staring at me? Am I not beautiful enough?"
"Lady Kaprice, what is the matter with you," Kavi asked, her resolve breaking down seeing Kapri seem to be on the enemy side without much explanation.
"I'm in love, dear," she hummed, before she looked at Nyxith hoping she would calm Kavi down.
Just then, Kraxil the Diminutive strode into the greenhouse as he broke the tension with the clomp of his hooves against the stairs as he balanced a silver tray bearing a teapot. He walked over towards the table, replacing the one that had grew cold before he poured with gracefulness into each cup. His eyes settled onto Kapri as Count Lirael nestled up to her side, she noticed that ever since she was tricked into the intimacy pact, but he won't do anything to her. Though, Nyxith and Kavi were not necessarily untouchable either, Kraxil looked towards the two children with a glint of mischief.
Kapri tried to keep herself calm as she watched the goat stand off to the side. "So, would you ladies like to take me up on that offer for sparring?"
"That was four weeks ago, Kraxil," Kapri commented. "Are you still going on about that?"
"Does the offer expire after a month, My Lady? I could use the exercise," his eyes shone with amusement.
"It should be alright, I'm sure they could use a little challenge besides humans," Count Lirael said as he looked into her eyes, and she narrowed it before she waved a hand dismissively.
"Fine, as long as they agree and you make sure not to hurt them," she said in a joking tone as she chuckled. "Otherwise, I'll have to 'spar' you next, Kraxil the Diminutive."
Kraxil laughed, as he gestured for Kavi and Nyxith to join him in the open space that was a little further from the table before servants came with a saber. Nyxith stood up first, she held her hand out as a servant gave her a new one and she seemed to weigh it in her hand before they started. Her movement were nimble and precise with a natural graced that guided each of her thrust and parry. Of course, Kraxil, being a demon of probably hundreds of years old, just sidestepped and parry her with ease.
"Nice, Mistress Nyxith, not too bad," Count Lirael said, as he and Kapri clapped, she didn't seem grateful for the Count's compliment as she moved from the space and walked past Kavi as she placed a palm on her shoulder before she handed her the saber.
Kavi stepped forward, Kapri could tell she was still anger and scared just because Kapri wasn't acting like her. No, she couldn't act like herself. Kavi stance were firm in front of Kraxil, who just laughed mocking before she swung with raw power. With that, came her cutting through the air in a way that left her wide open. Kraxil blade moved like liquid, and he deflected her attacked with ease.
Kraxil smirked. "You fight like someone with too much anger and too little discipline. Tell me, child—did a demon hurt someone you loved? Or did they betray you for the love of the demon?"
Kavi's face twisted with anger, and she lunged at him as nearly tripping herself, and he slice into the side of her dress; a small trickle of blood sliding down her leg. She caught herself just in time, but her cheeks were flushed as she recovered.
Kraxil's smirk deepened. "Pitiful," he muttered, then turned his eyes toward Kapri, as if taunting her.
Jiron, who Kapri didn't even noticed was watching from the outside of the greenhouse stepped in. He stepped into the opening as he grabbed Kraxil by the collar of his vest. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he growled. "That's a child!"
Kraxil barely blinked, instead he twisted Jiron's wrist and forced him to his knees with a smirk. The idea that even a demon barely five feet could bring down a human above six. "And what would you know of fighting, Sergeant?"
Kapri's calm voice cut through the tension. "Jiron. Stand down," she said, standing up from the table. Count Lirael tried to grab her arm, but she had already stepped forward. "It's alright, the girls already knew what they were getting into. Let them learn."
Kraxil's let Jiron go as he pushed him off to the side. "Oops, it seemed I hurt one of them. Do you think you could still fight in your feeble state? Is that okay, Count Lirael?"
Count Lirael sighed, she knew he could sense her annoyance. He simply nodded his head.
Kapri's expression remained serene as she picked up a saber from Kavi's hand, she didn't look at her. Her eyes only on Kraxil as the blade gleamed; untouched while a little of Kavi's blood was on his blade.
"I survived many wars, including the last one, and I will survive the next, and the next," she said coolly as she practiced swung it with her dominant hand. It was so light, without a weight to restrain her like she was used to. "So, yes, I believe I can fight. Though, winning is another thing."
A snide laugh escaped Kraxil as he readied his own blade. "You, a human soldier? Show me, then, Kapri."
Kapri lifted the saber, shifting her stand, and without another thought about what she could be doing wrong, Kraxil lunged at her that it blew the flowers with a strong wind. His blade came down fast, and Kapri blocked with the blade with her arm straining under his strength. He was very much strong for his size, and she grimaced as held it tightly.
"Loosen your grip!" Kavi screamed out. "Keep your blade higher, and match his angle."
"Next time you remember the same, dear," Kapri sweated as she glared into the eyes of the goat. Almost, couldn't take the fight seriously if it wasn't for how fast he was slicing where she had no choice except to block.
Kapri nodded, shifting as she attempted to adapted to the saber's unique balance, though her movements were growing more fluid. She was never the person to learn anything new so quickly. Kraxil's smirk widened as he dodged her next swing and his blade sliced a clean, deep line across her shoulder. She stumbled back as she touched her shoulder, Kraxil eyes widened as he looked back to see Count Lirael unamused as he touched his own shoulder.
"I forgot," Kraxil whispered.
Kapri knew she couldn't beat him sparring with a saber. Never had she won fighting by the games she never played.
Her voice dropped to a whisper, her words almost a taunt. "What's wrong, Kraxil? Afraid?" She took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "Afraid Lirael won't come back too?"
"What are you talking about?" Kraxil said. "Count Lirael is here."
Kraxil composure faltered as he glanced at Count Lirael, who stood frozen as he sat at the table with a similar glint of anger towards him that Kapri had. His lip shuddered. "She's controlling your emotions," Kraxil said to him. "You cannot--"
Kapri lunged at Kraxil as she dropped the saber with a metallic clatter, and her fist smashed into his face. Blood sprayed from his broken nose, splattering the cobblestones and soaking her dress in crimson. Ignoring the pain as he punched her ribs, she seized his collar, unleashing a relentless barrage of strikes to his face. Each blow sent blood flying, painting the vibrant flowers nearby with dark stains as Kraxil struggled to pull away.
With a brutal grip, Kraxil squeezed her wrist until she heard a bone crack, eliciting a piercing cry from her lips. But Kapri, fueled by a fury she just couldn't bear to not get out, grabbed one of his twisted horns, and wrenched his head to the side before slamming it into the ground with a sickening thud. While he staggered, she stepped on one horn and twisted the other violently. Jiron approached initially planning to pull her away, but with the look of a violent yearning; he changed his mind and decided to grab the horn and start twisting with her. Kraxil horn finally snapped, and he was left in a howling agony.
They both fell back as it snapped off, and Kapri landed on Jiron. Kraxil laid there, his face swollen to a grotesque mask of blood and bruises that left him unable to see. Kapri rose, her fist clenched and her eyes the most serene as she tossed the bloody horn to the side. Slowly, she advanced towards him, each step promising further violence upon him.
"Lady Kaprice," Lirael's voice cut through, gentle but firm. He moved closer, extending a hand on her bloodies shoulder. "That's enough, dear."
Kapri froze mid-punch, her breath ragged, her knuckles bloodied. She turned, meeting Count Lirael's steady gaze, and something softened within her. It was annoying, but she couldn't resist as she slowly released Kraxil and let him slump to the ground.
She stood up, brushing the blood from her hands as she glanced back at her companions. "We'll see you at dinner," she said coolly, turning and walking away. Jiron, Kavi, and Nyxith sat off on the side.
Count Lirael's gaze lingered on her retreating form, and his expression both proud and haunted as he watched her go. That was odd, because he has never felt a human's emotions of this intensity.