Roy's Never Ending Stories

If you weren't a fan of my previous work, here's your chance to start on something new. I've written poems and short stories before, but now I want to share my ongoing projects in a hopes to get some feedback and maybe some good-old criticism. (maybe you can pick up on some subtle mistakes as well.)

How I'll do it will go as follows:
1. I will post what I have so far (if anything) in chapters. I'll try and clean it up if I can, but it might be a little raw (but it won't be like I'm writing as I go here).
2. I'll separate chapters between posts (the first being the first chapter and the second being the next and so on).
___A. This will mean that comments should be left out of the thread. I don't mean to be mean, but it will just flow better that way. (It doesn't mean that you can't comment, but please send it through PM or if I get enough, I might make a separate thread for it)
3. I'll then separate stories by labelled spoilers.
___A. That does mean that I will have multiple stories in this thread, but they will be sectioned out in chapters like I have explained above. (I guess I'll be testing the limits of a post, but I'll try to be generous when breaking chapters anyways.)
___B. This will also mean that I will be editing posts regularly (or at least somewhat), so feel free to stop by to check out a new story (I might let you "subscribe" through PM if you ask nicely).
___C. This should also make things easier on the people that aren't interested in a story, but are interested in another. It will also help those dedicated few to keep tabs on the chapter their story left off on.

I'll give a list of titles (All names are subject to change) that I am, may, or may not publish(ing) here with a couple of genre descriptions and a brief overview of the given story:

Take Me Away (Ongoing) {Up to Date} Romance; Action; Fantasy
Young Rosenia is locked away in her own home, but that is the least of her worries. It seems this hollow prison is the only thing protecting her from the cruel outside world. It isn't until a young thief out for her heart enters the scene that she starts to give way and truly long to leave. But there are so many secrets flying around, it seems nobody knows the truth anymore. So who will truly walk away with Rosenia as their prize?

The Storyteller of the Dead [series] (Coming Soon) Horror; Slice of Life
Everyone has a story of their life, right? A chronicle of how they lived, all the way up until they die? But not everyone is famous enough to have books written about them and not everyone gets to write down their day-to-day life. So what happens to them? Do they just die with the last person to utter their name, forgotten in time with all the others? Well, if you're lucky, the Storyteller of the Dead will tell your story for you. He will make it where no one will be forgotten ever again.

Shadows of Keerse [series] (Coming Soon) Horror; Thriller; Mystery
Do you want to play hide-and-seek? Alright, but don't let the Seekers find you. You wouldn't want to find out what they might do to you. What will I do when I find you? We'll see. You have to hide real good this time, OK? But the game is not over until one of us finds you. Let's see who gets to you first. But I don't hear them counting.

King of Atlantis [series] (Coming Soon) Crime; Thriller; Science Fiction
Atlantis was thought to be an ancient city that sunk to the sea, but in actuality that was merely a rumor slipped the tongue of the crime underbelly of Europe. True to its reputation, it is indeed under the sea, the Mediterranean Sea to be exact, but this "lost" city is only missing law. But there is some honor among thieves, if no one else, and there a creed that dictates how this world is run. Only the king may call the shots, and in this lawless city, there are plenty itching to be that person.

 

Chapter 1

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 1 Home Invasion

Rosenia sighed as she stared off into the endless mass of trees. There was a short clearing for a while until it ran downhill into the forest. From here, you could see everything there was too offer from the front of the manor to the shallow valley hundreds of yards away. That is, however, if there was anything to really see. The dense trees hid the ground and it was impossible to see the manor from the bottom of the valley, but you could see all the heads of the trees, if nothing else. Rosenia would often come up here to the balcony to watch the birds absentmindedly and daydream.

This was her favorite spot in the manor, save her own room, however grand the manor was. Long and flat, the manor stretched the entire top of the hill, stretching around the single lake that was its only feature. This was the second floor, and as such housed little activity except for a few dusting maids every now and again. Rosenia had often wondered why this room in particular was terribly vacant, but she knew better by now. She had guessed right that this was her mother's old room.

She glanced back to inspect it now. It wasn't completely bare, but it looked more like its tenants, or rather tenant, left the room “as is” and never considered returning. It would be easy to see that her mother had just been sleeping on the bed and just as easily vanished without a trace. Rosenia frowned and shook her head. Must not think of that. She went back to staring at the birds, but even they seemed tired. She walked softly to the door and closed it, ever so gently, behind her.

She didn't know if she wasn't allowed to be there, but she took great pride in that being a sort of “secret spot” as it were. She knew she couldn't leave the manor, but she didn't want to grieve her father for slipping into her mother's room either. Plus he would probably complain that she was too “open” standing there on the balcony like she does. Over exposure was capital punishment in this house. But Rosenia felt far too cooped up in this estate. She longed, more than anything, to see the outside world, but she knew that would be dangerous.

It was tough being a wealthy ambassador’s daughter. Remiel had told her that's how her mother died... and why she should stay hidden. He would get so mad if he found her roaming around the house unsupervised. It's not my fault I was born into this, she thought solemnly as she now paused on the very wide staircase. She shook her head again, this time harder. This wasn't like her, she was usually cheerful. Why was she in such a negative mood?

As she was just getting to halfway down the stairs, she heard the front door open. She ducked down a little bit to see who it was, but only got a glimpse of bright blonde hair as it disappeared outside. That was strange. The only employees at the manor were old, and with so few she could even name them. Very few Remiel trusted. With her curiosity peaked, she made her way to the door. Her hand hesitated over the handle for a moment. She still wasn't allowed outside. But what if I just peeked around the corner? With renewed confidence she pulled the handle, now fully content with her reasoning. And she did just as she promised: simply peeked around the corner. Again, she saw the patch of gold disappear around the corner, but this time she got a better look.

He seemed fairly young and was wearing rags and seemed to be heading in the direction of the servants' quarters. I don't remember a servant like that.... But the servants' quarters weren't expressly forbidden by Remiel. In fact Rosenia had been there at least once or twice. She found it somewhat boring, unless she actually managed to strike up a conversation with one of the old maids. She never had a reason to go there, so her father had never thought to forbid her. And here and now was the chance to abuse such a right. Maybe he's a guest. And it would be rude not to welcome him, wouldn't it? Now fully wrapped up in her delusion, she continued on past the door stop and out to the small path towards the servants' quarters.

Not very large and shockingly isolated from its sister, the main house, the servants' quarter sits in the shadow of her sister awaiting the beck and call of its tenants. Completely engorged by the surrounding trees, the building shows no compelling characteristics. Alternatively, the fact that it's so bleak is quite remarkable. The big double doors were the only things one could really make out from a distance, but Rosenia made for a window to the right side. Rosenia struggled to see inside, jumping up and down to see through the high window. Agitated, she snapped her fingers and climbed onto a block of ice.

The inside was set up much like a school in that lockers were set up in the front, for the servants' ease of access, and the private rooms fanning the center instead of the classrooms. Rosenia could see her patch of gold bending over one of these lockers right now, but nothing else. He seemed to be too far in to tell. Then a terrible thought struck her, what if he's some kind of thief? All rationalizing left her, as she marched over and swung open the heavy doors and glared off in the direction of the perpetrator.

Immediately her face boiled over, as steam evaporated the sweat off her face. She reeled back slightly in disbelief, but there he was: a young boy of about 18, standing without his shirt on, staring at her with almost as much reproach. Her face gleamed red while he stood staring at her as if he couldn't believe she was even there. And soon she wasn't; she ran off screaming in her head for all she was worth, for her throat betrayed her and would not utter a sound. She whizzed behind the front door to the manor and clung to it breathing heavily and still blushing profusely.

It took Rosenia a long time to recover; her heart wasn't used to such excitement. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and started around the corner to her room. However, someone at the door made her heart stop, as she flew into a panic again and darted to the protection of behind the door frame of the hallway.

A young boy of 18 entered the room, now dressed in the regal clothing the servants all wore. Seeming to shine with the prospect of royalty or even that of an angel, he was adorned with bright golden hair and deep green eyes. He adjusted his cufflink with a proud manor as he surveyed the room. He gave a deep, somewhat disappointed, sigh and walked to the door of the room that joined directly to the foyer: Remiel's own study. He rapped on the door in the typical servant manor and his predecessor seemed to acknowledge him and let him in. Ever curious, Rosenia followed, but not before some hesitation.

She pressed her ear to the door, in a somewhat childish manor, and closed her eyes in a strain to listen. And even then, it was hard to hear. All she could make out was that Remiel had seemed quite pleased, which was alarming in itself. Rosenia waited for the right moment and pulled her head from the door and gave a soft and gentle tap on the door. Remiel always seemed to hear, and always knew it was her, as if he waited and listened for it. Before she had even managed to say anything, he beckoned her in.

As she entered the room, she saw the boy stand in front of her father's desk at full attention. He didn't even turn as she made her way to the soft velvet chair she'd always sit in with her discussions with her father, but she did feel him watching her and when she looked up at him again, she could see him staining to stare at her out of the corner of his eye. Her face was still a little hot from their last meeting. But once Remiel opened his mouth, they both gave him their full attention.
Wearing the most expensive looking clothes, Remiel was quite handsome looking in spite of his old age. With as fair skin as his daughter and with the world’s brightest blue eyes, he could have swoon a girl or two in his prime. But unfortunately for him, his hair was the only thing to give his age away: with its faded red color as if it were made of the same aged bricks that lay his manor.

“Good morning, my dear,” He boomed in his beautifully-toned voice. Then he added with a playful smile, “I hope we didn't wake you with our manly talk of business.” Rosenia gave a faint smile in reply, and Remiel continued. “We have a new guest, starting today,” he said, gesturing to the boy in a somewhat nonchalant way. “He doesn't ask for much, so I know I'm getting a good deal here,” he explained, glaring into the boy's eyes as if to see if he would flinch or not. But the boy did not even waver. “He is quite loyal and very dependable, I am assured,” he continued abstractly, “that’s why I entrusted him with a very important task.”

“But what is it, father?” Rosenia interrupted, slightly blushing when she felt the boy's eyes on her again. “I-I mean,” she faltered, “what did you have in mind?” she corrected with a smile.

Oh, Remiel was having fun now. He grinned, another almost cruel but playful grin. “I have given him the role of your guardian,” he said in finality.

Not for the first time that day, Rosenia’s mind was wiped clean. She was at a loss for words and subconsciously tapped her index fingers together, with a childishly wide-eyed expression on her face. “Oh…” her voice trailed off as she got lost in space, “…that’s nice.” Then she abruptly shook her head as she took a more dignified stance. “I mean,” she said more determined, “I understand –father.” Then her eyes trailed off to the boy, and couldn’t help making another childish face. So he’s my guardian?

Remiel propelled them out of the room with a pleased expression on his face. Rosenia felt like a child and wore an indignant expression, while the boy wore a bothered face, as if he wanted to say something, but couldn’t. But they weren’t given time to lament over this, because before they knew it, they were out in the foyer by themselves with the door briskly shut behind them. Rosenia could feel her face start to flush. She turned to hide it from the boy, and he took the opportunity to scrutinize her out of the corner of his eye again, as he stretched on arm over his head, and the other bent towards his elbow.

Rosenia was a slim, dainty figure with pale skin. Though her face shades the colors of the rose from time to time, she inherited her name from her mother and her beautiful, light rose pink hair. Also, when she’s not blushing, her cheeks and lips shade in rose pink. Her eyes, ironically very pale red, also show how much of a rose she truly is. But she’ll always be Rosenia, daughter of Lady Rosa of House Stone. The birthmark on the back of her neck gives testament to that.

Rosenia glanced back to see the boy staring at her neck, but when she did so, the boy’s face reddened a little and he turned to hide it. Rosenia tilted her head to one side and gave an oblivious expression. She was too innocent to get it. Then a thought struck her. Wait, I haven’t heard him talk yet. Could he be…? “You can tal –um– speak, can’t you?” she asked with a genuinely worried look in her eyes. The boy let out a deep sigh with a slight grin on his face.

“May I?”

Rosenia put her hand to her chest and gave a deep sigh of relief. “Oh yes. Good,” she said at length. Then she lifted the hem of her dress and spun around giggling and curtseyed. “My name is a Rosenia Stone,” she said, looked up at him expectantly. “But you can just call me Rosenia.” The boy seemed at a loss at what to do with all the energy Rosenia’s presence gave. He simply turned away slightly and scratched his cheek with his finger as he addressed her.

“Melle.”

 

Chapter 2

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 2 Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Rosenia saw to showing their new guest around the house. If he was to live there with them, he should at least know the layout. However, there really wasn’t too much to show. Even being as large as the house is, it simply consisted of very large, open rooms, and empty rooms at that. Nevertheless, Rosenia showed him the dining hall, fit for congress of at least 15 guests and their two hosts, the kitchen, mostly stockpiled with more food than they ate in a month, and the beautiful garden out front.

“Come on, I want to show you something!” Rosenia exclaimed, suddenly pulling Melle’s arm. She took him around the side of the building down to a grove that led up to the large lake behind the manor. Rosenia simply turned around abruptly and pointed towards the house. There, along the wall, hung a beautiful hanging garden filled with wild roses in full bloom. Rosenia took a few steps in head and spun around in renewed excitement. “Welcome to my garden,” she giggled.

Melle really did look impressed, as they walked to a small white table under and surrounded by the walls of flowers. There were four matching white chairs, and Melle sat at the chair opposite Rosenia and occupied himself with a small pink rose he saw weaving around the wooden fence that made up the base for the rose vines to hang to. “I love roses,” Rosenia commented, quite pleased with herself.

“No kidding,” Melle replied abstractly, as he went to pick the rose.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” Rosenia asked, looking around admiringly. Then she looked back when he didn’t reply. Melle had gotten distracted and cut his finger on a thorn. He was staring at the drop of blood that was forming. The sight made Rosenia feel uneasy for some reason. She shook her head. “I’ll go get a bandage,” she called out to him as she rushed inside through a side door and picked up a first-aid kit.

Melle just stood there staring at the blood as if it were some sort of sign that he didn’t quite understand. He looked back at the rose. It was bright pink, but a drop of blood made it turn a deep red.

Rosenia came back with a bandage, but Melle already had his finger in his mouth. When he saw that she was back, he showed it to her. “I’m fine,” he said dismissively. “Thank you…” he trailed off because he noticed how she was staring at him. Her mind seemed to be in a fog, and she forgot what she was doing. How did she not notice how sharp his teeth were before now? Wait, did he just thank me? Her face started to feel warm and she didn’t know why. She shook her head again.

“O-oh… are you sure?” She asked absentmindedly. But Melle was giving a childishly curious glance over her shoulder.

“Is that your room?”

Rosenia shot a glance back at her open door and realized what she was looking at. She turned bright red as she scrambled back. “N-no –I mean– yes…” she stammered as she tried for the handle. “I mean, it’s messy!” She slammed the door shut. How unprofessional… she thought, not wanting to look back. Then she tried looking at him out of the corner of her eye. Wait, is he blushing, too?

After a brief and awkward silence, they recovered enough to go into the dining room and wait for lunch to be served. Rosenia sat in her late mother’s seat at the head of the table, and assigned Melle to the seat closest to her. The room was so quiet that they could hear the clinking of plates echo from the kitchen.

“Do you want me to see if I can ask the chef to prepare you something special?” Rosenia asked after a while. Melle thought about it for a moment, but Rosenia just decided for him. “Just tell me what you’d like,” she told him. Melle wasn’t used to being formal, and he was glad he wasn’t expected to. He gave her a subtle smile.

“Steak.”

Rosenia disappeared into the kitchen, but hardly a second before the doors had stopped swaying behind her, she was out, carrying two plates of steak. She sat one out in front of Melle and the other in front of her. “I felt like having some, too,” she explained. As she picked up her knife and fork, she glanced back at Melle, who didn’t seem too eager to eat. He was staring at his plate with a somewhat silly expression that almost made Rosenia laugh out loud. “What?”

Melle put his hand to his chin and studied the plate as if it were some kind of rabbit she just pulled out of a hat. “How did you do that?” he asked.

“How did I do what?” she asked, her voice sounding a little bit more forced than she intended.

“That was a little bit fast, wasn’t it?” Melle pointed out, shooting a curious glance back at her.

“W-what are you trying to suggest?” Rosenia asked defensively. “Let’s just eat…” She cut off a piece and shoved it in her mouth before she could say any more.

Melle seemed to understand, and didn’t say anything until after they had eaten.

After lunch, Melle escorted Rosenia back to her room, but at the door, Rosenia turned around. “Do you know where you will be staying?” she asked him curiously. “I mean, I doubt you will be able to really protect me from all the way back in the servants’ quarters…”

“Well, I intended to watch over you in your room, but–”

“No no no no no no!” Rosenia interrupted waving her hands in front of her face and blushing profusely. “I-it’s uhh…”

“…messy,” Melle finished for her, scratching the side of his face again.

“Yeah,” Rosenia gave with a sad sigh. But then she perked up again. “Oh, but you can use this one!” she said, indicating the room next to hers. Melle looked slightly surprised, so Rosenia had to explain. “I guess they figured House Stone would house a bigger family,” she said, laughing awkwardly.

“I see,” Melle replied, walking up and putting his hand on the door frame. “It’ll do,” he said smiling at her. And though she tried desperately to hide it, she was deeply excited that she would be sleeping so close to him.

. . .

Rosenia had saw to cleaning up her room that afternoon. She had showered and changed her clothes as well. She had felt embarrassed to realize she had simply been wearing her morning clothes around Melle. Now she was wearing one of her favorite dresses: a regal pink and white affair that was very slim on the top and puffed out in the plumage at the ends. It made her seem like some lost princess held captive in this fine, but comparably simple, environment. She stood twirling the bottom admiringly.

When she came out of her room, she found Melle standing in the hallway in front of her door. He seemed to be staring off into space at the window at the far end of the hall. Rosenia strained to see what he was staring at, but there was nothing there. It wasn't until the door had closed lazily behind her that he realized her presence. "Have you been standing there this whole time?" Rosenia asked.

Melle smiled, but shook his head. "Oh no," he said a bit sarcastically. "Your father would have none of that." But Rosenia didn't get it. "So, where are you off to?" He asked, inspecting her from head to toe with an amused grin on his face.

Rosenia giggled and spun around to show off her dress. "You like it?" she asked proudly.

"Almost makes you seem too good to be living here," Melle agreed. The grandfather clock from the foyer cut their conversation short as it rang out the approaching hour. "It's almost seven, already," Melle announced. "The chef told me to come get you. It's about time for dinner. Lord Remiel has menial work around the house, so I won't be able to attend."

"Oh..." Rosenia sighed, sounding very disappointed and looking as if all the energy was drained from her.

But Melle just smiled and lifted her chin with the curl of his finger. "It'll be alright," he said softly. "I'll steal some bread and wine when no one's looking. And I should be done in time to escort you back to your room."

"O-oh," Rosenia blushed, trying to look away. "OK. I-I mean, understood." Then she took a step back, curtsied and rushed off to the dining room, with Melle watching after her with his eyes, his finger still where it'd be if her chin were still there.

 

Chapter 3

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 3 From One Thief to Another
Rosenia had regretted leaving Melle so suddenly. The dining hall was so quiet and boring without him. It seemed very lonely, with her father still locked up in his study. All she could hear was the gentle bustle of the chef from the kitchen and the occasional footsteps of a maid. She could even hear the gentle ticks and strums of the grandfather clock.

Rosenia got bored and left the table early and wandered around the house. The house was fairly dark by now. They weren't allowed to turn on too many lights and they depended mostly on sunlight. Now that the sun was down, the house was dark and mysterious. However, Rosenia was afraid of little and certainly not simple darkness.

By chance, she caught a glance of the moon through a large window on the second floor. It wasn't quite full yet, but it seemed so close that you could reach out and touch it. Rosenia pressed her hand to the glass. It was cold. But somehow, the moonlight felt comforting. But when she removed her hand from the glass, she could have sworn she saw something move.

She moved her hand again to make sure it just wasn't the shadows playing tricks on her already sleepy mind. But the moonlight fell behind her. She began to worry, but after she had turned around and started for the stairs again, casting it off as her being paranoid.

But then, nightmares came to fruition when she heard the glass shatter behind her. It was coming from her mother's room, and despite her growing fear, she could not allow her uninvited guests to defile her mother's chamber. She rushed over to the door, but fear grabbed hold of her arm as she went for the handle. She was actually scared, and she didn't know what she'd do.

She needed Melle.

But just as she turned to go look for him, she heard the door open behind her, and felt an ice cold hand make its way over her mouth before she could utter a sound. She tried to push the person off her, but he was too strong for her and held his ground. She only stopped struggling when she felt cold steel being pressed against her back. "Don't move," a dark voice called to her from beside her ear. "You're coming with us."

But Rosenia would not have it. She bit down hard on the intruder's hand. She bit until she tasted blood and heard the man scream in agony. His hand slipped from her mouth for only a second. "Meeeeeelllle!" she screamed as loud as she could. But soon her captor had her by the throat with his still-bleeding hand.

"Shut up!" she heard from behind her as she was shoved against the wall. "Shut up, you wre--!"

But before he could finish his sentence, she saw it. Blood. Blood everywhere. It started from the man’s arm and sprayed into the air. The attacker wailed and reeled in pain, this time fully releasing his hold on Rosenia, as his arm sagged. Then he suddenly stopped, as something ripped through his chest. At first, it looked like spikes, but then she realized it was a hand, as the man’s burly shadow was quickly replaced by a slightly slimmer one.

Melle was soaked in blood, as he cast the man down from his hand to the ground with a look of disgust on his face. He shook the blood from his hand as he looked to Rosenia. "Are you OK?" he asked in a cool manor.

"Uhuh..." Rosenia replied in a daze. She ignored blood flooding the floor, or the gory scene of the dead kidnapper, or the blood splattered over her favorite dress, or even the blood that wasn't hers, dripping from her lip. Though, it seemed to bother Melle. He walked up too close to the shocked Rosenia, and she would have blushed if she had been her normal self. He took the thumb of his clean hand and wiped it over her lips, and she quivered slightly at his touch.

She walked in a daze as Melle led her back to her room and laid her down in her bed. The last thing she remembered before blacked out was Melle drawing the curtains.

. . .

Rosenia awoke while it was still dark out, but her room was still lit up by the moonlight. She could see the dress she had considered wearing still draped over the side of her bed, and if it wasn’t for the fact that she was still in her blood-stained dress, she would have assumed she had just fallen asleep that evening while she was picking out clothes. The room was still and she could hear a gentle breeze whistle over the lake outside. It was still further off than it seemed, but even from this distance Rosenia could see it from just sitting inside the door frame. She did just that, and watched in splendor as the moon looked even closer now, as if it were just hovering over the lake and would sink into its dark depths at any second. The wind swept over the pond and through Rosenia’s hair, as she wove fingers through it to keep it place.

She glanced over at the dress, still lying there on the bed. She moved to go get it, but a soft noise stopped her. She almost gasped at the suddenness of it, but then she realized it had been like that since she had gotten up. She looked around curiously until she finally found where it had been coming from. Melle occupied the seat overlooking her bed. He looked like this castle’s crown prince, sitting on his throne as he sat there breathing deeply, his eyes shut.

Rosenia walked up to his chair and stooped down beside him. He was sleeping so soundly, and he looked like he didn’t even take the time to wash up or even go to his room at all. The blood was still dried to the hand he slept on, but that didn’t seem to stop him. He did exactly what he was supposed to: he had escorted her back to her room, and watched over her intently. Rosenia ran her hand through his golden hair, and smiled. “You really are a great guardian,” she said tenderly, and she thought she saw him smile back.

 

Chapter 4

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 4 Into the Arms of a Killer
It hadn’t been long before dawn came, and Rosenia hastily made it out of the room. She left Melle to rest, figuring he had been up all night. It didn’t seem like anyone had noticed the scene last night, and the servants had probably retired early to their beds on that lazy afternoon. So Rosenia took the opportunity to go clean up the mess in the way only she knew how. She climbed up the steps again and soon found the bloody mess, still outside her mother’s door. It seemed, judging by the blood spatters leading up to the far window, that Melle had simple cast the robber out like he was yesterday’s garbage.

But it seemed he forgot to clean up the blood. Rosenia studied the mess in her mind and, with a simple snap; she made her way over the clean carpet over into her mother’s room. She was deeply relieved to see they had not damaged it in any way, save the few bits of shattered glass from the balcony window they had probably used to get in. Rosenia flipped the jagged pieces into the place with her finger and watched as they sealed back together. I guess they really were only after me, she thought sadly to herself as she looked around the otherwise spotless room.

Rosenia was just descending the stairs when the maids were entering for their morning cleaning. She heard one of them talking overly exuberantly, but she didn’t care to eavesdrop at the moment; she had to get back to Melle. She didn’t seem to notice the same golden hair in the crowd of maid caps.

When Rosenia entered, as quietly as she could, she found Melle still perched in the chair. She didn’t even trust herself to close the door and walked, briskly but quietly, over to him until she was facing him again. His eyes were still shut and he was still drenched in blood. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to concentrate, as her fingers slid into the motion of a snap. But she opened her eyes again and saw Melle’s silent face and she blushed. I can’t use this on him… she told herself, as she looked around helplessly. She wandered into her branching bathroom and found a bucket and a rag. I guess I’ll have to do it the old fashioned way, she thought as she filled the bucket with warm water.

She set down the bucket carefully beside his chair and rinsed the rag in it. Then gently, very gently, she dabbed at the blood on his hand. It seemed to make it all the way down his arm, and when she finally got down to where it soaked the inside of his shirt, she stopped. She made another helpless stare at his shirt, still a little damp with blood, and swallowed hard as she felt her face get very warm.

Her heart pulsed in her ears as her trembling hand made its way, painfully and slowly, to the collar of Melle’s shirt. Ever so carefully, she unbuttoned the first button… then the second… the third. Soon his shirt hung, slightly open, and that’s when Rosenia really felt the heat. She almost felt dizzy as she soaked the rag again and rinsed it out again. She gently moved it over to the part in his shirt, and swallowed hard again. But as she gently swabbed the inside, she felt Melle flinch slightly from the now cold water, and she looked up to see him groggily open his eyes.

Melle was awake.

The suddenness of it all made Rosenia screech. “Noooooooooo,” she wailed, covering her intensely red face with her hands. “It’s not what it looks like!”

It took some time to calm her down, but even though he had just woken up to such a shock, Melle was still able to sooth her with his calm voice. He seemed all too ready to forgive her, but Rosenia never stopped telling him how sorry she was. And to much discontent of the curious maids, the noise died down pretty fast.

“I’m sorry…” Rosenia whispered softly, for about the tenth time in a row. She had sunk to her knees and was tapping her fingers together again, with the face of a child ready to be scolded.

“It’s fine,” Melle repeated, looking at a loss at what else to say as he buttoned up his shirt and adorned his jacket again. But Rosenia did not seem all too convinced. Melle gave a humored sigh, as he finished and moved his finger under her chin to prop it up again. “I never got the chance to thank you for it,” he said, staring into her eyes, “have I?”

“N-no, but…” Rosenia stuttered, turning away from his eyes, red in the face once again. “I mean, no,” she admitted more softly.

“Thank you,” Melle said, offering his hand to help her up. Rosenia still refused to look at him, but accepted his hand gratefully. However, as she was getting up and because she wasn’t paying attention, she misplaced her foot and lost her balance. She only felt the tripping sensation for a second as Melle brought her in closer, her face brushing against his warm chest. She started blushing again, but quickly rectified herself so that Melle’s attempts to calm her down would not have been in vain.

She had the words “I’m fine” written all over her face, but Melle still stared at her for a moment. As he reached for her cheek, Rosenia was almost disappointed to find out why. When he pulled back his hand, he had some gooey almost-dry blood between his fingers.

“I guess it wouldn’t be good for me to walk around like this and scare off all the maids,” he said to her, though she probably looked just as terrifying, as he bent down to pick up something. “I think it best I change,” he concluded, gently pushing his thumb to her chin and placing his hand on her one cheek as he dabbed the other with the wet rag.

But Rosenia dared not to move. She simply made a silent “uh-uh-umm…” sound in reply as he washed her face. She had to close one eye, but she kept the other on Melle. It almost seemed practiced, like he’d done this before, and he did it so gently, it was nerve wrecking.

When he was finished, he held the cheek in his other hand and wiped his thumb across to dry it. “There,” he said with finality, not realizing that the way he still held her face was making her blush. “Are you alright?” he asked. It was strange for her to be so quiet, but Melle didn’t understand why.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” Rosenia said, taking a step backwards and turning halfway around so he couldn’t see how red her face gotten.

Melle gave her a content smile, and made to leave. “Well, I should be leaving.”

But Rosenia wheeled around and extended her hand and grabbed the end of one of his sleeves. “Wait!” she called out to him. He gave a curious glance at her, but she wasn’t ready for the words just yet. “U-um… Thank you,” was all she managed to say. But that didn’t seem to be quite what she wanted to say.

Melle gave her another humored smile a little as he brushed his hand between her hair and her cheek. “Any time you need me,” he replied. And Rosenia let him go and watched as he slipped out the door. But when she heard his footsteps die out in the hallway, she took a look around and realized how alone she was. She shivered slightly when she realized how cold it was and, after a unbelievably quick change of wardrobe, she decided to head out as well.

 

Chapter 5

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 5 Another Suspect
It was a pretty cold day, and the sun had just risen. Now it shined from the far window and illuminated the whole hallway. Soon it would be so bright it will be hard to look out the east windows. However, Rosenia set off to her father’s study to see if he was up and if he wanted breakfast. He’d normally lock himself up in there so long, he’d forget to eat.

But when she entered the foyer, she saw a maid struggling to carry a vast amount of plates out of the washing door to the kitchen and towards the cooking and preparing door on the other side of the dining room. The plates wobbled and shifted in the stack, and it was piled so high it covered the maid’s face. She seemed to be making a worrisome “yuuu~” sound. Rosenia pitied her a little, and went to go help her out. But as soon as she got close enough, the maid finally tripped up and she fell on her hands and knees, the plates crashing all around her. “Yuuu…” the maid sobbed, keeping her head bowed in disappointment.

Rosenia put her hand to her mouth in shock. Now she really pitied her. Poor thing, she thought to herself, carefully dropping down beside her to console her. Only now did she realize the familiar-looking golden hair.

“Yuu?” the maid said, looking up at Rosenia, a little surprised. “Oh!” she half gasped. “Oh wow, you’re really pretty~” she beamed, blushing slightly. Then Rosenia fully realized it when she saw the girl’s face. Melle? She almost asked aloud. But Rosenia knew better. Just her voice alone was more feminine and girly than anyone Rosenia had ever met, which made her slightly jealous. She helped the young girl up, and got a better look at her. Though she had little of her womanhood in her chest, her beautiful slender figure proved she was a very “girly” girl. Not to mention her face that, even as pale as moonlight, still showed a constant blush that made her seem almost sickly. But she seemed peppy enough for two people, even after her most recent failure.

Just then, she looked down at the all the shattered glass and cast a worried face, hiding it behind her hands in embarrassment. Rosenia still felt bad for her, and all but convinced herself it was all her own fault. She pulled the girl’s hands down from her face and gave her a comforting smile. She put her own finger to her lips and gave the girl a wink. Then, with her other hand, she gave a sharp snap, and all the plates stacked and reassembled on the tile floor.

The girl was a little less surprised than Rosenia would have thought. The chef had nearly dropped his jaw the first time he caught her using magic. But then again, he was the only other one that knew, until now. No, the girl looked considerable more pleased that she wouldn’t, in fact, get in trouble for breaking all the plates. Then she threw herself at Rosenia and clung to her arm as if she was planning on running away with her. “So, you can really do magic?” she gasped, looking up at her in excitement. And when Rosenia nodded yes, she almost gasped as the girl almost pulled her down as she clung even harder. “Yay, I’m so happy~” she practically sung.

But before she could say any more, someone interrupted by coming through the front door. It took him a couple of steps to come into full view, but as soon as he casually looked over at the two girls, he suddenly stopped. There was no questioning the surprise on his face but, to be quite honest, Rosenia was a tiny bit surprised to see that the girl wasn’t Melle after all. However, he just stood gaping for a few seconds, and Rosenia just looked from one Melle to the other. “Nelle?” he said at last, and Rosenia had to catch herself when she almost thought he had said the very thing she was thinking.

“Aren’t you surprised?” Nelle asked playfully, twirling the ends of her maid skirt. But Melle seemed to only get angry.

“What are you doing here, Nelle?” he scolded her. “I told you to stay home!”

“It’s no fun by myself~” she complained, still trying to sound cute as she stared down at her new, finely polished shoes.

Melle sighed. He obviously couldn’t stay mad at her. He walked over to Nelle and patted her on the head affectionately. Rosenia could more easily tell the difference, then. Though they both had the same golden hair and the same green eyes, but Melle was a little bit taller and muscular than Nelle. They both had about the same shoulder-length hair, but Melle’s was more lightly trimmed and didn’t quite reach his shoulders as Nelle’s lightly curled atop hers. In a lot of ways, Nelle was his counterpart. But even as they talked, they seemed in perfect sync.

“You’re really not cut out for this,” Melle explained bluntly.

“I am too~” Nelle protested, curling her hands into fists and making the most childish face. Melle just laughed at her, but then he noticed the plates on the ground and sighed, knowingly.

“Don’t tell me you were planning on carrying all that yourself,” he sneered. And when Nelle refused to answer, he picked up half the plates and turned to Rosenia. “Don’t fret, Miss Stone,” Melle said sarcastically. “We’ll get rid of these plates for you.”

“U-uh, you can just call me Rosenia,” she replied, not getting the sarcasm, then turned to Nelle to indicate her as well. It was an informal introduction, but Nelle didn’t seem to notice.

“Nelle Bloodcrest,” she curtsied in response. But Melle cut them off before she could go further than that.

“Come along, Nelle,” he called, not looking back, as he walked off to the kitchen.

Nelle gave a little huff, and picked up the other half of the plates and ran off after him. “Bye, Rosey~” she called behind her.

And just like that, Rosenia was left alone again. She took a quick look around, but suddenly remembered what she was doing. She turned around and head back to the door of her father’s study that connected to the main foyer. She gave a slight rap on the door, but no one answered. She twisted the door knob and gave another slightly louder one as she slowly opened the door, but the recipient would never hear the call. There laid Remiel, asleep in his chair.

“Father,” Rosenia whispered to him as she gently rubbed his back, “it’s already morning.” Remiel stretched sleepily and gave a gallant yawn.

“Oh is it, dear?” he asked nonchalantly, as if it were perfectly normal to work so hard you would fall asleep in your chair. “I hadn’t noticed,” he replied, putting his hand to his mouth to suppress another yawn.

“You weren’t up all night working, were you?” Rosenia asked with worried glance.

“Hardly,” Remiel laughed. “I apparently fell asleep before dinner.” Rosenia let out some of the air she had been holding in, but then gave him a sharp look.

“You shouldn’t work yourself so hard,” she snapped. But Remiel just laughed.

“But I am afraid I am going to have to disappoint you again,” he said with the same breath. “I have an appointment to keep that will take me quite far away for a fairly long time,” he explained vaguely. Rosenia bowed her head in disappointment. That was the thing she hated the most. Remiel looked up at her and gave an understanding sigh. “Oh, don’t worry dear,” he said encouragingly. “You still have that new servant boy…” he trailed off, forgetting his name already.

“Melle,” Rosenia finished for him.

“Oh yes, Melle,” Remiel laughed. “I’m sure he would gladly keep you company, the cheeky little devil. And I’m also pleased to announce, I have hired a new maid that seems around your age,” he stated almost proudly, and Rosenia listened more closely. “Yes, a very exuberant one, to say the least. I was sure from the beginning you would get along greatly. Though she’s not as dexterous as some of our other maids, she shows some promise. I had slated her to the task of being your new friend well before our negotiations were over. But who would have guessed that she would be the younger sister to that little brat I hired just the day before. But I managed to get them both for the same price,” he laughed.

Rosenia had guessed right from the beginning: they were brother and sister. Rosenia had guessed they had to be twins, even. But if what Remiel had said was true, she wasn’t alone anymore. She had two new friends and she was sure that they would make her forget all about her loneliness. She suddenly got excited. She couldn’t wait to see her new friend, now. And she believed she had enough energy to tackle Nelle in the same way she had tackled Rosenia, if she had been there then.

Remiel gave her a warm smile, as if he could read her mind. “Well, you run along now,” he said encouragingly as he once again propelled her to the door. “I need to get ready for my short trip.”

But as soon as the door closed behind her, Rosenia felt the deep rush of excitement take hold of her and she dashed off to the kitchen. Nelle was there straightening stacks of plates at least a quarter of the tower she had tried to carry. But when she turned around to see Rosenia standing there, breathing a little more heavily, she ran up and did exactly what Rosenia had wanted to do: tackled her with as much energy as to knock down a normal girl. “Rosey~” Nelle squealed, wrinkling Rosenia’s dress as she clung to it. She shot quick glances around the kitchen. “Melle’s not here,” she explained.

Rosenia chuckled a little. “I came for you, silly.” And she almost laughed out loud when she saw Nelle’s eyes widen when she pulled her along by the arm. Rosenia had decided to spend the entire day with Nelle and keep her from her chores and keep herself from getting bored or lonely.

 

Chapter 6

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 6 Outnumbered
And so they did. They ran around outside like mad, and picked all the wildflowers on the mountainside and made crowns out of them. They laughed and played until they were both so red in the face, they couldn’t breathe. They were both rolling in the grass when they finally came to a stop, panting for air as they stared up at the rolling clouds. They had wasted most of the morning away just goofing around, and the sun was already touching the horizon. Nelle had seemed like she hadn’t had that much fun in a while either, and Rosenia concluded that they had really needed that.

“Yuu~” Nelle sighed, both content and a little disappointed. “It’s already getting late.”

“Yeah,” Rosenia agreed with as much the same sigh, but inside she felt a little red flag come up, but she didn’t realize what it meant. It was only until they had decided to head back to the house that she felt a pair of eyes on her. Then all the terrible things that had happened last night came back to her. Will all those things happen again? she thought. What about Melle? Will he be there to save me again? And what about Nelle, will she be alright? Rosenia had gotten lost in thought and only Nelle’s soft words could have snapped her out.

“Rosey?” she asked, looking amazingly worried despite her normally positive attitude.

“H-huh?” she asked, coming down to earth. “O-oh, it’s nothing,” she replied. “I was just remembering something.” Then her face brightened a little more. “Here, let me go show you your new room,” she said, pulling her suddenly by the arm. She dragged her along until she got to the room, one down from Melle’s, and let her go. “This is it,” she announced. “Don’t mind the blandness; you can decorate it however you want.” But however droll the room actually was, Nelle didn’t seem to notice. She was actually quite impressed and excited.

“You mean I get all this to myself~?” she trilled in her usual way. And when Rosenia nodded, she ran around the room like a mad person, and Rosenia just had to laugh. After that, Nelle invited her to jump on the bed with her in a way she just couldn’t refuse, and they spent rest of the day and a little of the night, playing around together in her room. Only after it was getting closer to dinner did Rosenia realize she hadn’t seen Melle for most of the day.

At the dinner table, however, Rosenia met back up with Melle, but not in the way she had preferred. Apparently they were a little short-handed that night, and he was asked to be the server for the evening. So, instead, Nelle sat in Melle’s old seat, and Rosenia fed Melle the story of the past day, bit by bit, as Melle fed them. Nelle, on the other hand, felt right at home, ignoring most table manners, thankfully none of the obscene ones, and commented loudly on almost everything Rosenia had to say. Besides that, she filled the dining room with her signature “yuu~” sound as she ate.

All in all, Rosenia had a lot of fun. She laughed with Nelle at all the fun and silly things they had done. Even Melle seemed to enjoy it. He was smiling and adding his sarcasm and teasing Nelle when he could. And this was it, Rosenia felt like she was truly home. This was her true family, even if her “real” father was out for the night. And with all the festivities, the terror of the past night seemed furthest from reality. However, that was as far as it was going to get.

When dinner was over, for it ended pretty late, they all walked back to their rooms together, still talking in animation. Rosenia had almost felt sad she had to leave them at her door, but she knew that they would still be nearby. That feeling, more than anything, made her feel very warm on this bitterly cold night. Though Rosenia was still too hyper to rest now, she knew Melle had to be tired of working all afternoon. He had told her that while they were out playing, the other servants had him do all the common work around the house. He didn’t seem to be complaining however, just stating it as fact. But Nelle, she had acted so cheerful and high spirited all day, but Rosenia had known from her own experience that she would be tired out by now. She wouldn’t even be surprised if she didn’t even make it to her bed.

Rosenia had to resist the urge to go check on her, so she opened her back door and stood in the moonlight. It was actually full tonight, and it looked more brilliant than ever in the dark black sky. Rosenia sat down and let her feet hang off the short ledge below the door frame. Then she looked up, leaning on her hands she as she propped herself up from behind. And looking up, she could still see the closest of stars in the night sky, the ones not thwarted by the brilliance of the moon.

She watched them like this for some time, until she saw a shooting star gleam across the sky and then, once again, disappear into the night sky. She wished everything would stay the same, but she had been too late. She hadn’t noticed the shadowy figure that had appeared from the bushes. Only when she felt the warm cloth snap around her ankle did she have time to gasp before she dragged along and completely bound in it.

She tried to break free, but it was not use, she only felt the stands in the fabric get tighter and tighter until she was almost dizzy with the pain. She merely got a single glance at the bandaged face before she passed out. But she will never forget those glowing red eyes underneath the dirty-looking bandages. That was the face that had taken everything that she had loved about that day away from her.

When she awoke, she was in a very dark place. Everywhere she looked was total blackness. All things that she loved seemed so far away. Home seemed so far away here. But it was just outside, and all she had to do was look up. But when she finally did, all she found was her attacker, illuminated in the moonlight now, surrounded by a few parted shadows.

It was a sort of mummy. That was the best way to describe it. But that would need some better diction. This man seemed to be the embodiment of fear itself. His body, for the most of what Rosenia could see, was completely wrapped in a slightly dirty bandage. Over this, he wore black rags, torn in several places. But the most recognizable feature was his glowing red eyes, peering from the darkness between a gap in the bandages, which pierced the soul and sent chills down one’s spine.

Rosenia couldn’t take it anymore. “Let me out of here,” she screamed, standing up even though she was terrified. Then she took a sharp breath, and then screamed as loud as she could, “Meeeeelllleee!” The man seemed almost startled and he finally looked down at her.

“It’s no use, girl.” His voice was worse than his eyes. It was dark and came out in a clear, shadowy whisper. “There’s no getting out of there,” He explained, placing his hand on what seemed like open air, but made ripples as if on the surface of water. “And there’s no use in magic in there,” he assured her, just as she thought of it. “The darkness will take care of that.” And just when Rosenia couldn’t have hated him more, he gave a terrifyingly cold chuckle.

Rosenia felt awfully cold and weak, but she knew if she lied down here, she would never get up again. She sank to her knees and was just about to submit to tears before she saw the man turn abruptly, and she did cry when she heard a familiar voice.

 

Chapter 7

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 7 The Enemy of My Enemy
“Let her go!” Melle growled, and Rosenia wished more than anything that she could see his face, but judging by the man’s line of sight, he was somewhere high up, hidden above and behind some dark wall to her right. But another disgusting dark chuckle from the bandaged man cut her off when she tried to call out for him again.

“I was wondering if it would really be you,” he laughed. “But you’re too late,” he said casting his hand out over where Rosenia was imprisoned. “In just a few minutes, she’ll already be on the other side.”

“Enough!” Melle roared, slamming down what seemed like spikes again, but what Rosenia knew to be his claws. They forced the bandaged man back out of view, but Rosenia had seen at least one or two that had penetrated the bandages of his arm and heard him curse slightly. “Rose!” she heard Melle call out to her, as she saw his human-looking hand break through the darkness and reach out for her. She reached out to take his hand, but she heard the whispery voice cut them off again, and Rosenia had really wished he had died from the few scratched Melle had given him.

“You dare turn your back on your enemy?” he challenged. Then Rosenia heard something metal wiz through the air, the sound of flesh being torn away, and Melle gasp really hard. But his hand still kept reaching out for her, desperately, and when she finally reached it, he seemed to pull with all his might.

That was the time Rosenia was reacquainted with the midnight air and she could hear the gentle breeze across still water and feel the grass between her fingers. She could see was lying over Melle on the grass on the bank of the lake across from her room. But more than anything, Rosenia could see all the blood that Melle had lain panting in, seeming like a pale moon between clouds of red.

She wanted to do something for him, but he simply pushed her aside, beside himself with rage. But when he finally stood up to face his opponent, he still looked at him with a cocky smile. The bandaged man seemed to have finally brandished his weapon: a tall, rustic scythe with a jagged blade curved sharply and measured out to be about the same length of the metal shaft. It was probably this that had caused what Rosenia thought was a mortal injury. But Melle just stood there, barking his challenge at this familiar foe, as if they we just two boys playing a game.

“So, Rea,” he said, indicating the bandaged man, “are you still working for that house of demons?” The man frowned, or at least it seemed like his good mood had faded; for even his mouth was sealed in bandaged.

"I serve my master, no matter who it might be," he gave in answer.

"Even if he's some lowly pion, cast off as some child prodigy?" Melle asked, folding his arms. Rea laughed, the kind of typical evil laugh, slightly muffled into a whisper.

"All this, coming from a half breed? Ha! You're not even fit to be one of the servants that dust his chair." Melle was angry, now. He clenched his fist and a searing mass of purple fire enveloped it. His eyes glowed red and his fangs once again protruded from behind his lip. Rosenia felt far away, staggered back to her own door, watching the scene in a sort of wild amazement.

"Come then," Melle said in a low growl, "let me show you what my good half can do."

"Dear child," Rea replied with a condescending tone, "do you not fear The Reaper?"

And that was it, the battle commenced. Melle fell down on him with a soaring leap and came crashing down with his hand on the blade of Rea's scythe. He gripped down hard until his hand spat blood, but Rea held his ground, keeping Melle out of arm's length. Melle simply smiled as eyes grew darker and the blood that formed on the ground awoke and formed bloody spikes pointed towards Rea. Rea crashed his scythe down and leaped backwards, and Melle used the momentum to force himself back, furthering the gap. His bleeding hand once again surged with purple fire as he raised it before him, showing Rea the palm of his hand, as the blood from the gash started to boil. Then he dashed off over the grass, so fast he looked like he simply hovered over it without displacing a single blade, as he brandished his own blade made of blood.

Rea gave a displeased grunt as he saw he had little time to catch his breath. He waited and timed his down stroke onto Melle's blade as he caught it in its curvature of his scythe. But to his amazement, Melle kept on going, casting down his now-useless sword, he sprung off it, spinning his whole body into one massive swing of his flaming fist. Rea loosened his scythe, but his reaction time was too delayed. He had only grazed Melle’s neck instead of decapitating him as he wanted to. But that second of delay was all Melle needed to connect, and just the force of the impact of the hit sent Rea sprawling; the pain of it all was another matter. Rea was left reeling, but he got up quicker than Melle had expected.

He seemed old, as he propped himself up with the end of his scythe in the ground and the blade curving around his back. Melle's hand flamed again in challenge, but Rea didn't seem to have any intention of continuing their fight. "Not bad," he said, standing up in full length. "For only a half breed, that is." He sighed, ignoring Melle's growing irritation. "But unfortunately, dawn is approaching and I really must be going. Just know this isn't over, child." Melle launched a fireball at him, but it didn't connect. Rea simply vanished in the shadow of the trees.

Melle huffed in his general direction and hurried back to Rosenia, who was still standing in awe in front of the house. Rosenia rushed up to see if he was OK, but his pace started to slow as he got closer. He looked very weak in his human form now, and he had lost a lot of blood. When she had finally caught up to him, all the energy he had was used up and he collapsed into her arms.

But he had done it again; he had saved her life twice now. She laid him down in her lap. She ran her hand through his hair, fondly, and realized just how tired she was herself. Then a terrible thought struck her. What if I'm too tired to get up? What if no one comes to help him? She called for Nelle with the last of her strength and hoped she heard. She tried to stay awake for as long as she could, but dawn was quickly approaching. She sat there listening to Melle's unsteady breathing, her own eyes drooping from the trauma of her past experience in the dark prison. But when at last she saw Nelle's face appear from her doorway, she was so relieved, she fainted.

Rosenia awoke in her dark-lit room that seemed to far more quiet than it had ever been. She sat up to see that her curtains had been drawn, but it was no longer night out. Judging from the light that seeped under the curtains, she estimated it was around lunch time already. Had she really been asleep that long? She grasped her head when she saw her vision blur. She definitely felt dizzy. She could still hardly remember how she got here but she hardly had time to remember anything before she heard a loud scream come from one room over.

“Melle!” she gasped, suddenly everything that had happened last night. She had almost forgotten how injured he was. Was that really him just now? She asked herself, suddenly in a panic. It sounded like he was in pain! Without thinking, she got up and rushed out the door. She only paused for a second before she swung the neighboring door open in a lavishing attempt the recreate something she felt she had already done. Like it or not, however, she got the same effect.

Her face turned red again, much to Nelle’s pleasured face, as she stood there in the doorway of Nelle dressing one of Melle’s deep scars on his back. Again, Melle had his shirt off, but this time with a look of nostalgia on his face instead of the blatant surprise he wore last time. She slammed the door behind her and she heard Nelle burst into a laugh that most closely resembled a breathless hyena. Rosenia was very embarrassed now that Nelle was there to witness. Melle might forgive her, but Nelle would never let her live it down.

Rosenia was just about to run back to her room and bury her face in her pillow, but she stopped as she remembered something else. She had, now for the first time, noticed something on his back. A sort of writing, painted there in blood. She hadn’t noticed that before and thought it a little strange, yet strangely familiar. She thought a little harder and realized she had seen the exact same crest on the back of that Grim Reaper, Rea’s back. Though he had simply worn the emblem on his clothes; Melle seemed to have it engraved deep into his skin.

Had he not known Rea as well? But how could they have known each other? He didn’t know the nameless criminal that had broken in the night before. What were his connections with Rea? What was this “house of demons” that they spoke of last night? Rea had called Melle a “half breed”…. Who was Melle, really?

The door opening suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Nelle appeared in the doorway, grinning from ear to ear. “He’s all yours~” she teased, and then rushed off in her maid outfit to obviously go do some chores. Rosenia glared off in her direction, feeling her face getting warm again. Nelle really did feel like a sister to her already. Rosenia sighed and peeked into the cracked door, not exactly able to see anything. She thought it best to try and apologize to Melle for barging in on them.

Melle was up standing in front of the chair he had been sitting in while Nelle had dressed his wounds. He was just buttoning up a new, clean dress shirt haphazardly skipping every other button, as if he just wanted to keep the shirt on so Rosenia wouldn’t get too excited again. When she entered the room, he simply glanced over his shoulder at her, not really sure what to say.

“I-I, mm…” Rosenia tried to recover. Melle looked at her inquisitively, which it made it even harder to talk to him. “I wanted to apologize for earlier,” she said at last.

Melle simply moved his hand to his chin, as if thinking, and replied dismissively, “Well, it’s not as if you haven’t seen it before.” To that, Rosenia went crimson. She was about to protest, but Melle continued, “And it’s not that there’s anything to hide, really. I could take it off again if you wanted me to.”

Rosenia’s face was about to boil over at the thought of it. “N-no, that won’t be necessary,” she replied quickly, as if he might actually do it.

Melle sighed. “I thought you were going to ask about last night,” he said slowly, looking back as if to test her. He looked like he actually didn’t want to talk about it.

Rosenia was a little disappointed. “Oh!” she exclaimed, suddenly remembering. “I forgot to thank you for saving my life,” she explained, curtsying slightly. “Oh, and for the previous night as well.” But Melle just laughed at her.

“You’re thanking me for not leaving you to die?” he laughed. “Since when do I need an excuse to save a person’s life?”

Rosenia was confused and started to get mad, as if he was making fun of her. “Then what should I say then?” she asked indignantly. Melle simply grinned, a sort of sideways grin that flattered his face, and stood a little taller.

“Just call my name, whenever you need me,” he answered grandly.

It was words like that that seemed to leave Rosenia speechless. What do you say to that? Rosenia stared down at her fingers as she tapped them together in her usual nervous habit. “Oh, I see,” was all she could think to say, but Melle didn’t seem to be paying attention anymore. He was walking past her side nonchalantly, as if not to notice.

“In fact, if there’s anyone to thank, it’s you,” He said, turning around and looking her in the face. Rosenia was about to interrupt, but Melle explained, “I would not have made it back and gotten help if it weren’t for you. I could have easily bled to death.”

Rosenia blushed faintly, but then brought her head down in resignation. “Oh, I didn’t really do anything,” she replied softly, wishing she had. “After you collapsed, I followed suit not long after. It was Nelle who came to rescue us.” Melle gave a slight huff, and then moved his hand to bring back up Rosenia’s face. He looked at her with concern as he tilted her head from side to side, as if looking for something.

“Yes,” he said, taking a step back to check her out, “Nelle had told me that you had been out as well…” he trailed off for a moment, looking perplexed. “You’re not hurt are you?” he asked finally.

Rosenia simply shook her head. “N-no, I don’t think it was that,” she said a little awkwardly, not all too comfortable with the way he was looking at her. “But that prison that man put me in was terrible,” she said, shivering at the thought. “Actually, I don’t know, now that I think about it…” she said more slowly and reflexively. “I guess I had never really met with such darkness. It seemed to drain me a little. I felt cold and I was surprised I had enough energy to stand, let alone stay awake the whole time…” she trailed off, wondering if Melle could understand her any more than she could understand herself. But he simply put his hand to his chin again as if to turn over the idea in his head.

“I see,” was all he had to say about that. Then he smiled slightly, a warm and sympathetic smile. “Well, if you’re still tired, you should probably get some more sleep. I’m afraid you might have had too much excitement far too early in the day,” he laughed, trying to tease her a little.

Rosenia didn’t like that. She turned around as not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her blush. “I guess I might have…” she said, figuring he was probably right, but not wanting to go back to bed just yet. Melle walked her to her door, just a few steps away.

“Sweet dreams…” Melle told her, as she opened the door and entered her room, “…Rose.” But she had already closed the door. She didn’t get to see Melle’s hand move toward her face, or his intentions at a “good night kiss”. She did catch the word “Rose”, though. Her face reddened at the thought of it. Since when did he start calling her that? She listened for his footsteps now, but they were faint. Curse the wind, she thought as she went over to close her window. But something in the distance stopped her. It wasn’t even night yet and she could still see two figures approaching from down the hill, not too far to the right of where the lake lied.

 

Chapter 8

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 8 Victims A and B

Evangeline was tired; they must have been walking for hours. She felt like she was about to die if they had to walk any further, but she knew Cless would just scold her if they had to stop. She couldn’t stand it anymore. She looked over, and even Cless had his ears and tail drooped as if sun had finally roasted that small little brain of his. Evangeline was about to comment on it, but decided better of it. She was too tired to argue. “Can we take a break?” she whined.

“Not until we get to the top of this hill,” Cless huffed, seeming as if he wanted to complain too.

Evangeline hung her head, she didn’t want to keep going, but she didn’t want her brother to leave her behind either. She already found herself slipping behind, and quickened her pace in pursuit. Unfortunately, she misplaced a step and kicked a rock, forcing her knee down hard against the hillside. She almost howled in pain, her tail stiffened and her ears were pulled back from the shock of pain, then she just rolled over on the grass, writhing in pain. Cless has seen what had happened and sighed deeply, but he wasn’t the sort to leave someone behind, far less a damsel in distress. He walked over to her and held out his hand for her, but she perked up immediately, sitting up but not ready to stand.

“Come on, you’re not walking on that,” Cless ordered in an exasperated tone.

And with that Cless carried her on his back. Evangeline was so thankful she almost cried. She rested her head against his back and could really tell how exhausted he must be. He was breathing hard, but he just kept on moving. It was times like these that Evangeline was very proud to be his sister. She wanted to press her face further into his back, but this wasn’t really the time for affection. She was starting to get worried, even if the top didn’t seem so far off before. She peered around his head and much to her surprise she found a sparkling lake, shaded in the trees. It looked like paradise, but what true shocker here was the monstrous mansion in its wake. But there was a young lady standing outside it, regarding them with a look of pity, and Evangeline really didn’t know how she wanted to respond to that.

“Is she alright?” the pink-haired girl asked Cless, acting as if they weren’t complete strangers. “I saw her fall, and…” She seemed to pause at Cless’s silence.

“Well I’m fine,” Evangeline huffed, as if the girl didn’t even know she was there. “I just banged my knee, is all,” she explained from the safety of her brother’s back. “No need to get so….” She was cut off by the feeling of falling, but only when she felt the thud of Cless’s impact with the ground underneath her did she fully realize what had happened. “Oh my God,” she gasped, spinning off his back and turning him over. “Cless!” She grabbed him by his collar and shook him, but his eyes remained closed. Only when it was silent did she actually hear him snoring. She dropped him abruptly and let him slam into the ground, even though she was actually relieved. “Jesus, Cless,” Evangeline swore, as if he could hear her. “You almost gave me a heart attack. Don’t ever do that again.” She gazed back up into the intense and worried eyes of the girl from before. “What?” Evangeline asked crossly, as if the whole scene were perfectly normal in no need of her gawking.

“Is he OK?” the girl corrected herself, more than a little astonished.

Evangeline simply waved her hand dismissively. “Oh yeah, he’s fine; he was just tired; he just needs to sleep it off,” she replied all in one breath. “Got any food?”

. . .

The girl’s name was allegedly Rosenia Stone, but if that were true, then that was good news. They had made it far in only 3 days. To have made it to the next house in the sanctum was quite a feat when simply walking. Not that any werewolf would trust one of those screaming metal deathtraps the humans used. But Evangeline wasn’t too sure. She had always been too suspicious at times, but she had never heard of House Stone. Her grandfather used to say that this was simply a mountain, used as the dividing line between the factions of the sanctum. No, she didn’t trust this “Rosenia”; not yet. She wouldn’t have care if she had carried her brother herself instead of the scrawny blonde boy that she trusted even less. No one could be trusted. Cless was the only person alive she could ever trust again. Besides, Evangeline thought to herself as she walked alongside the boy holding her brother, eying the two intently, they smell like blood.

They laid her brother down on the bed of a small room that had a very high ceiling and reeked of blood. The girl implied it belonged to the blonde boy, and Evangeline would have believed it in a second; he smelled the worse. Unfortunately for her, their hostess had to leave, with the boy left to be in charge. “Call if you need anything,” the boy said, trying to slip out of the room as well. But Evangeline already made up her mind that she wasn’t going to like him, no matter how kind his voice sounded.

“How about some food,” she suggested with a huff. He seemed pretty capable of that, and she hadn’t eaten since the day they headed out. But the boy stood there for a moment as if he wanted to say something, and Evangeline dared him in her mind to say it. But the boy left without a word to go fulfill her request. I guess this isn’t all bad, she thought to herself, dropping to her knees by her brother and smoothing his hair with her hand. At least it’ll hold us over until we get there.

Then she heard the door creak and turned slowly. When she saw who it was, she almost flew off the handle until she realized it was a girl, holding her hand to her mouth and praying a sorry with her eyes. She was a maid, with almost the same exact looks as the boy that had just left. She strolled in with long strides and a grin on her slightly blushed face, but something about her made it seem a bit off. She seemed as if she were straining to mute herself, as if she was usually much louder. Evangeline could see an explosion on her lips that she was suppressing surprisingly well. The girl sank to her knees beside her and put her hand on her shoulder and whispered into her ear, “How is he doing?” and then stifled a laugh when her ear started to twitch.

“You don’t have to be so quiet; he’s only sleeping,” Evangeline grumbled, still not at all used to all this kind of hospitality. It was making her nauseous, to be perfectly honest.

“Well! That’s a relief~” the girl answered so loud it made them both burst out laughing. Evangeline thought that was hilarious, despite herself. But she didn’t want to like this girl, she smelled of blood too. “So, what’s your name?” the girl asked, holding out her finger to poke at Evangeline’s ear, but it twitched out of the way and came back, as if to smack the girl’s finger for her. Evangeline had to sneer at the attempt.

“Evangeline Benedictine” she replied, wincing as the girl managed to pull on her ear, as if to see if it were real. Despite the pain, however, he tail started to wag. Overly excited, the girl grabbed for it and pulled her hand gently through its black fur. Now that was not OK. Evangeline quivered slightly and pushed the girl away with a slight blush on her face. She turned around to hide it as she tried to regain her composure. She took a deep breath and turned back around. “And what’s your name, then?” she inquired curiously.

“You can call me Nelle~” she beamed, looking like she really wanted to come back closer and play with her tail some more. But Evangeline was facing her and hid her tail behind her back, still keeping out of arm’s length. Evangeline was about to start an interrogation, but then the men arrived. First Cless, looking alive, started to stir on the bed and then stretched to full length like a dog after a good nap. Then, at just about the same time, the blonde boy arrived with a plate of food. Cless sat up with a face full of content after his long rest, and the boy simply stared at his double on the floor next to Evangeline. “Hey Melle~” Nelle beamed at him. The boy gave her a slight scowl as if he didn’t approve of her being here.

“She hasn’t been bothering you, has she?” he asked Evangeline as he handed her the plate, insinuating that Nelle was the culprit behind her brother’s awakening.

“Oh, no,” Evangeline blushed. “S-she was entertaining me….” She turned back to Cless. “Can you get another plate for him?” she asked, wanting to get rid of the boy already. The boy frowned, not seeming to want to go through all that trouble again. But he left without a word, only a quick glance over his shoulder at Nelle, then at Cless. Good, he doesn’t seem to like me either. She started eating immediately. The plate was full of steak, mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. She avoided the broccoli like the plague but quite literally tore up the steak. She really didn’t even want to use a fork, but she refused to act civil enough to use a knife. She simply stabbed the meat with the fork and ate off it, not very lady-like at all, but she had been starving half to death and didn’t even think that full plate would even be enough. And she would have no problems sending off that boy to fetch more. She didn’t appreciate Nelle giggling at her in the background, but she hardly had time to blush before she saw a hand reach for her plate. She would have bitten it in a second, but she simply moved the plate out of the way and followed the arm up to Cless’s pathetic face.

“Come on, Eve, just one bite,” he pleaded, reaching for the plate again.

This time Evangeline did snap at him, earning her another fit of laughter from Nelle and a slight blush on her face in embarrassment. “No,” she said sternly, “This is my plate. That boy-”

“Melle,” Nelle corrected.

“That boy,” Evangeline repeated, stubbornly, “is fetching you a plate.” But Cless’s ears drooped as he looked longingly at her plate. Despite this she continued to eat, though more slowly, as she returned his stare with look of complete defiance. She had invented the puppy face, and it wouldn’t phase her one bit. Cless knew this and soon his eyes fell, defeated.

“No pity for the injured?” he said sarcastically.

“Ha!” Evangeline laughed. “You’re far from injured, sleeping like that. Actually, now that I think about it, you deserve it for almost giving me a heart attack. And if there’s anyone that’s injured,” she said shifting her position to show off the shallow gash on her knee, “It’s me.” But Nelle seemed to be the only one impressed by this.

“We both know that it doesn’t hurt,” Cless explained matter-of-factually.

It was true, werewolves were known for their thick skin. There wasn’t any more to complain about after she had rested. But she simply ignored him and went back to eating. She heard Cless crash back down on the bed as he waited impatiently. It was only then that she realized how late it had gotten. Were they going to spend the night there? Evangeline was left with that thought in the awkward silence, almost forgetting Nelle was even there. Now that was a dangerous mistake. Nelle had snuck up on her and started pulling her hand along her tail again, this time more vigorously, with a childish giggle. Evangeline froze, too far lost in a fit of quivering to stop the girl. She simply sat in sat in the ecstasy of the moment with a deep blush flooding her face until the boy had finally come back to interrupt them. The moment Nelle had stopped, she snatched her tail back and caressed it, fixing the hairs and petting it like it was some frightened animal.

“Nelle!” the boy commanded in a harsh whisper as he handed Evangeline the plate distractedly and went over and lectured the cowering girl in muted undertones. Evangeline quickly ignored them, staring down at the fresh new plate of glistening food. Then she looked down at her half empty plate, and silently scraped the fresh mashed potatoes onto her plate, despite having Cless’s eyes on her back the whole time. But she finished by adding the rest of her steak, practically half of it, to his plate and turned around with a genuinely sweet smile.

“I know how much you hate nightshade,” she explained. “And you must be really craving this by now.” She handed him the plate and, still laying down he picked up her left over steak with his hand and went to eat. “Don’t eat lying down!” Evangeline shrieked, slapping the steak out of his hand. “You’ll choke!” Then she got caught up in a lecture about how uncivilized he was, and all this with a parallel lecture behind her. And again, she felt herself getting too comfortable. Though I think I could get used to the smell of blood, she thought to herself when everything had quiet down. But she knew that wasn’t true.

 

Chapter 9

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 9 Possible Motives

At dinner, everyone seemed to be surprised Evangeline and Cless even showed up. They acted as if it were only typical to have so much food as a snack. But how were they to know that they hadn’t eaten in days? What? Did they expect their skin to be tight, or their bones protruding? Did they expect them to look like starved dogs? In any case, what did they expect them to do while they ate? Weren’t they the hosts? Did they expect them to cower under the table, begging for food?

Humans are always so rude.

Evangeline sat elegantly at her place at the other end of the table with practiced poise, as Cless pulled out the chair for her, chivalrous in his own right. Evangeline ignored the rest as they stared at her, with looks that made it seem as if their jaws were agate despite the actuality. Cless sat, seeming to follow her example. Good boy, Evangeline thought to herself as she folded her napkin before her and prepared for the meal. But it was quiet for a second or two, all eyes on the guests, but the enchantment was broken when the servers finally broke through the kitchen doors with the plates of food.

After that, conversation spread among the far end of the table where the girl, Rosenia, sat and Evangeline had eventually realized what had been bothering her all this time. “Why only those two?” She asked out loud, almost to herself. Nelle stopped giggling, Rosenia cast a sideways look and Melle just stared. They were all seated together at the head of the table. “Why only those two?” Evangeline repeated, loud enough for the others to hear. “Why don’t all the servants join you? Do you favor these more?”

Rosenia took the words with a blow, as if it pained her; as if she had just realized it too. “N-no, it’s not like that,” she replied hastily. “It’s just that these two are guests as well.”

Evangeline could sense her aversion of the topic. Did she finally hit a nerve within the enigmatic hostess? She gave a coy smile. “Interesting…” she said to herself, but a look from Cless warned her to stop while she was ahead. She gave herself a moment to choose her words more carefully. “So these are your guests?” she asked, trying not to sound like there was more to say.

“Well,” Rosenia tried to explained, but she was a little unsure of what to say, “they are just new here a-and…” she shook her head; more determined, she continued, “They are my friends.”

Evangeline smiled. That was a good enough answer. She twirled the tip of a prong of her fork around and around on the edge of her plate considerately. And yes, she would dare defy Cless’s patience with yet another question. One that had peaked her interest before, when she found the girl rushing to her aid when she hurt herself and again when Cless collapsed. She said it as a general statement to no one in particular and didn’t look up to address any of them. “You don’t find us strange, do you? You know, in the normal sense.”

Rosenia gave a truly innocent look across the table at her that Evangeline could feel rather than take the time or effort to look up. “I beg your pardon?” And whether or not she was actually that ignorant, Evangeline would never know. Though, she wouldn’t doubt it.

She gave a deep sigh that seemed to relieve her of pent-up expectations that even surprised herself. She froze when it was Cless that pushed his chair back and stood abruptly. “We’re werewolves,” he replied simply. But there was deeper meaning in the tone of his voice, as there always was. Even now, the air trembled with his voice, and when she looked up, she could see the same affect in each of their faces. Cless was a quiet man at times, but he still held greater thresholds of power no fortress could contain.

Of course, Nelle was the first to recover. “Oh, we already know that~” she trilled, an affectionate grin stretching across her face.

Evangeline sighed, this time more out of relief of tension. “Nothing fazes you people, huh?”

Rosenia gave a wry smile. “You’re not the worst company we’ve gotten recently,” she replied solemnly.

Evangeline looked up at her, one eyebrow raised at an intrigued angle. “You have many visitors?”

The blonde-haired boy replied for her, sarcasm bound deep into his voice. “You know, just your average petty crooks and common thieves and, more recently…” he paused for affect, staring back at her, unflinching, “…Death himself.”

A cold shiver ran down Evangeline’s back. “Looks like you had a run in with House Bloodcrest, too,” she said aloud without actually meaning to. As she said so, however, she was interested to see both Melle and Nelle turn pale. Rosenia leapt at the words from her seat as if something bit her.

“House Bloodcrest?” she asked inquisitively. Cless slammed his fist into the table and made everyone jump. He was sitting down now and almost amusingly dwarfed by the large cushiony chair in which he sat.

“Damn them,” he growled. “They destroyed our home.”

Rosenia gasped, placing her hand to her lips. “Is that why…?” but Cless was already nodding his head, sure of what she’d say, as he retracted his hand from the table and let it hang limp from his shoulder as if the passion had flooded out. The room was silent for a moment, and they could hear the ticking of the clock in the foyer. “Who are they?” Rosenia asked timidly after a while.

Evangeline shook her head. “Just a nasty group of demons,” she spat as if it were something vile, “ruled by the omnipotent Raine.”

“By the rain?” Rosenia asked, almost sickeningly ignorant.

“No,” Evangeline replied patiently. “Raine is a pure-blooded vampire,” she explained, looking from Nelle to her brother, “and from what I’ve heard, he simply reeks of blood.”

. . .

Rosenia was back in her room, thinking long and hard about her conversation with Evangeline. She had told her all she had known, and Rosenia had hung to every word of it, wholeheartedly. She had desperately wanted to know the reasoning behind her restless nights and her constant fear of being whisked off.

Rosenia tried to relax. She walked over to her backdoor and slid it open, plopping down on the side of the step and stared off into the lake with a deep sigh. Beside it, she could still see the scorch marks and the blades of grass cut far too short for the battle of the previous night. Images and words loomed above her head, and it was hard to process them all at once.

Rosenia could see Rea, leaning of his scythe like an old man, and the crest, blood-red, apparent on the front pocket of his tailcoat. Then she remembered words, words like “House Bloodcrest” and “gang of demons”, as the image of the crest was slowly replaced by a larger one, written in actual blood across Melle’s back. He had said something along those lines as well, hadn’t he?

Rosenia shook her head, grudgingly. She only wished she could understand it all. She let herself lean on the frame of the door a little more, as she fully realized just how tired she was from the whole thing. She doubted she would sleep at all that night. As an answer to this, a flash of blackness passed through the sky, like some falling black star. Rosenia ironically wished for more days like this, her heart almost leaping out of her chest as she heard a gentle rapping on the door to her room.

She was gratefully surprised to find Evangeline’s head appear in the doorway, her ears drooped in submission. “I’m sorry,” she said slowly, walking up to Rosenia as she stood. “I didn’t mean to upset you before.”

But Rosenia shook her head, determinedly. “No, it wasn’t that.”

“Good,” Evangeline sighed in relief. Then, smirking she added, “It would have been awkward to ask you where I would sleep. Cless is already sharing with Melle and Nelle would like the idea of me sleeping with her far too much.” They both laughed; a sort of relieving laugh that calmed both their tensions. Even though the mood had been better from the previous night, there had been plenty of tension. It felt good to relieve that tension, despite the grinning shadow that had appeared in the open doorway outside.

They didn’t realize the danger until the complete darkness came. And the darkness didn’t come until just before the lunar eclipse. The darkness before the final intruder, and the time just before the moon turned blood red.

 

Chapter 10

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 10 The Murder

Nelle was the first one on the scene, only catching the terrified screams and a flash of black disappear into the sky outside Rosenia’s back door. She ran outside and looked, barely able to depict them in the dimly lit sky. Rosenia reached out her hand as if to grab for Nelle’s likewise outstretched hand as she ran to catch up, hopelessly further and further away. She looked pale already, almost sickly. She didn’t seem to have the energy to even call out to her.

But Evangeline did. She seemed to fight back, slowly slipping into her wolf form in a fit of rage, biting down hard on the captor’s arm. As a silent curse filled the air, she watched as the demon dipped slightly, but not completely. However, it was just enough time for Nelle to catch up, and quite suddenly she clenched her outstretched hand into a fist and the sky around the winged beast turned solid for a second and he crashed into it hard, dropping the girl and the wolf, the latter catching Rosenia’s fall and landing on her feet.

The demon held his place in the sky, clutching for his chest. Then, controlling his breathing and regaining composure, he finally spun around, Evangeline already having carried the weakened Rosenia defensively behind Nelle. The demon was surprisingly young, looking around 10 years old, and his pale white face even paler under his pitch black hair that stood out even in this, the darkest of nights. His dark black wings spread out in all their glory. And of course, the familiar physique that made Nelle bite her lip, and earned him a low growl from Evangeline.

Raine dusted the ashes off the shoulder of his coat from the slight shock he received as the aftermath of running into the force-field. Now he glared down at Nelle and she silently cursed, knowing she wouldn’t have a barrier strong enough to hold him back. He combed his fingers through his hair in a backwards movement, then shook it loose, letting the ebony strands fall into place out of his eyes. Nelle heard him swear under his breath as he stared through her at Rosenia, still gasping for air.

But Nelle held her ground, increasing the fortitude of her stance and throwing both hands in the air. Just as suddenly as the first, a dense network of hexagons appeared in a field just beyond her hands, and created a dense wall between them and the black beast. But this beast simply gave the effort an overconfident smug, as the palm of his slightly outstretched hand went ablaze with the signature dark purple flame. Then, with an effortless lob, he sent the fire crashing down on the barrier that gave way instantly, sending fragments crashing down around the cowering girls, about two large shards piercing Nelle in an arm and a calf. But she held her stance, casting up another one, her shining blue eyes illuminating the darkness.

Raine gave a mocking grunt, as he lobbed another flame at the reinforced field, making it crack dishearteningly, but not breaking yet. Nelle watched as the flame seared the entire length of the barrier, even reaching the ground, as the added pressure threatened to break through. But Nelle held on with all her might, wincing at the pain in her arm and leg. She felt like crying.

Then disaster struck. The field finally crashed, sending broken glass and flares falling all around them. Then, in a terrifying moment, Nelle looked behind her to see a giant shard of glass making its way down upon Rosenia’s crumpled body. Evangeline was too late to notice, but Nelle had already caught the shard in her back, as she laid on hands and knees over her petrified form. Rosenia looked like she was about to cry for her; it really did look painful.

Nelle was bleeding profusely and it was a challenge just to keep herself up. The blood running down her back chilled her to the bone. She was just about to give up and finally pass out from exhaustion, but a hand plucked her up by the collar and she gasped for breath. Raine was still shorter than she was, but he still managed to hold her off the ground. She dangled there for a moment, struggling just to breathe. She felt her consciousness slipping; felt his eyes rip through her without pity.

Then she felt a warm sensation. A bright purple flame scorched Raine’s arm and he was forced to let her go. Now he ignored Nelle more than ever, but that didn’t matter now.

The boys were up. And Melle seemed pissed.

Cless ran and came to a screeching stop around Evangeline’s flank as they safeguarded Rosenia from harm. Melle simply hurled himself at Raine, initiating the fight without the slightest hesitation. But Raine was too much for him, even in the beginning. Melle threw some heavy punches, but none of them could connect. Jab here and miss. Hook here and miss. Then an uppercut that Raine caught it in the palm of his hand and flipped off the upraised first and landed behind him. And with a sweep of the feet, Raine forced Melle into the air, as his own demon wrath grew and his wings spawned from his back.

Both parties flew into the air, creating a vast distance, each with a hand alight with a purple flame, both dissimilar in color. Melle’s eyes now matched his partner’s, with his vampirism growing. And just like that, this turned into a full out aerial battle, the speed of which no human eye can ever hope to capture. The flares collided in a firework display of purple-black that barely showed in the night sky.

But it wasn’t long before Melle was injured. He fell from the sky like a crippled bird and slammed into the ground with a resounding thud. Dirt rose like smoke around him, making him cough as he got up. Raine held his place in the sky, glaring down at Melle with the most bitter of hatred. Then he spoke in a cold and commanding, though still a little childish despite himself, voice.

“Give it up, cousin,” he spat venomously. “You’re just no match for a purebred.”

And that’s when Melle lost himself to the vampirism. It consumed him like a plague. He nails grew to individual blades, his fangs protruded over his lip, and his hair turned as black as Raine’s, his eyes just as red. Anyone seeing him now would think him more Raine’s twin than Nelle’s. And it was such an appalling spectacle, it even made Raine rear a little in surprise. Nelle watched as Cless and Evangeline tensed.

A back flame licked around Melle's heels, bright in its blackness, the fingers of his hands starting to twitch. Then he suddenly crashed into Raine's claws like a flash of lightning with the same resounding thunder, as Raine indifferently cast him off. The failure of his first attack seemed to make him even angrier, as he roared and lashed again. When Raine calmly adjusted his hand without moving, he struck again. Then again and again, but he struck only claws, with grave and furious power.

It wasn’t until Raine barked a laugh in his face that he substituted power for speed, as the tempo of blows quickened and he managed to catch Raine's cheek twice. At that, Raine's own calmness deteriorated, peaking only when Melle had finally managed to file down his nail into breaking. As Melle lunged for a fatal blow, he sent a searing hand to swat him like a fly. And Melle hit the ground hard, making a shallow crater in the dirt.

Melle tried to pull himself up, but Raine slammed his foot in his chest. Then, searing with anger, he looked at his broken nails in disbelief, his hand trembling from the blow to his perfection. And, in a motion that made Nelle scream in horror, he stabbed Melle in the heart with his other hand; stabbing it in four proximal areas with each nail, making sure he hit it at least once. He pulled the nails from his chest, pulling Melle along with them, making him fall over his legs in an unnatural way. Blood spattered up to Raine’s cheek and he quite literally burned it off with a quick, indignant brush of his injured hand.

Melle had instantly reverted to human form and Raine looked at him disgusted, actually managing to spit into his dirt-covered blonde hair. His indifference showed in each stride as he walked away from him. Nelle didn’t even dare to breathe as he walked past her. It was only from the low growl she heard behind her that she turned around in a panic. But it was too late, she simply watched in anticipation and helplessness as Cless bit down on Raine’s arm as he tried to get Rosenia, and how Raine spun around with a roundhouse kick to the ribs.

Evangeline had reverted to her human form and now held Rosenia in her arms defensively. Raine simply lifted her by her hair and said in an exasperated tone, “Do not interfere, bitch,” and cast her aside. Then, picking up Rosenia delicately in his arms, he stretched his ebony wings again and shot up into the air. Nelle’s eyes never left his face, and for a second, he seemed to notice and he stared at her curiously. Then, deciding it wasn’t worth his time, he shot off toward the lake.

Of course, Nelle already knew where he was going; House Bloodcrest. But before she could manage to say anything, she watched as Evangeline took off in wolf form after them.

 

Chapter 11

Take Me Away

Spoiler

Chapter 11 True Incarceration

Rosenia felt sick, the eclipse was over, but she found herself in a very dark place. There was only a moon, held motionlessly in the sky, spraying thin white artificial beams across sands of ash that were littered with dead trees. Everything from the ground before them up to the horizon looked like this, even as fast as Raine was going.

Rosenia wanted to squirm her way out of his arms, to fight back somehow, but the darkness won out. She was powerless in such a place. She shivered with a sob, remembering how he had driven his nails through Melle’s chest. She could still see his blood, trickling down his chest, just as her tears now trickled down her cheek.

She buried her face in her arms. She wanted to just curl up in some corner, just as she had always done when she felt this low. She didn’t even know where she was going exactly, or why she was taken. She really didn’t care. What difference does it make? There was no one strong enough to come save her; no one strong enough to destroy the monster that held her tight against his chest.

Somehow it was more nauseating to fly with her eyes closed. She decided to stare at the ground instead. She had almost accepted being captivated like this; that is, until she saw a small shadow racing to keep up in the harsh sea of pale sand. It looked like some sort of animal, and Rosenia hoped it wasn’t another one of Raine’s lackeys making sure they weren’t fallowed. It took her a long time for her deteriorating mind to process what it was, but when she finally figured it out, she turned quickly, praying Raine didn’t see where she had been looking.

But she looked up just in time to see it. Towering like a mountain in the distance, radiating with an eerie glow of the purple flame she had seen so often over the past few days, Rosenia saw a mansion being sped toward her. She knew right away, even though she could have guessed from the beginning where they were going, what it must be: House Bloodcrest.

Arranged in the same pattern as the mark on Melle’s back, it looked more like a city of towers and turrets or a medieval kingdom rather than a “house”. Even as she looked, the castle looked more and more menacing, as if every brick that lay it were soaked in blood. The roof of the towers stood up like spires calling out for the birds to spear themselves so they could taste blood again.

Without thinking, Rosenia hid her face in Raine’s chest that seemed to surprise both of them. But that was a bad idea. Distracted, Raine finally looked down, just outside the great fortress, and saw just what Rosenia had been trying her hardest to hide; Evangeline. Even as they paused there in the sky, she came on running, not knowing the danger. Rosenia wanted to call out to her, get her to stop, but her voice failed her, stopping treacherously in her throat.

But it was already too late. Raine threw a ball of fire like a pitcher throws a baseball, scoring Evangeline in the head without much effort. She veered up, howled in pain, turned, and slid forward on her side until she was only a few paces away from where their shadow lied on the ground. Raine gave a satisfied huff that Rosenia hated so much.

And suddenly she couldn’t take it anymore. She stretched out her hand with all the reserves of her fading energy and slapped him with a resounding clap. He trembled for a moment, but she didn’t stick around to notice anything else; she fell. She fell from a height far greater than the building she had been trapped in like a bird in a cage. If she wasn’t so terrified of the moment when she might hit the ground, she would have laughed at the fact they were only just up to the battlements of House Bloodcrest’s walls.

Then she finally did hit the ground, and every muscle in her legs screamed and gave out. But she wouldn’t even care if they had torn apart. She crawled on the ground over to where Evangeline’s now-human body lay. However, just before she was in arm’s length of her messy black hair, a boot stomped in-between them; the same boot that crushed the life out of Melle and Cless. She looked up in pain at Raine’s face, now covered with his slightly unruly hair.

Indignantly, he brushed it out of his eyes and stared down at her, then behind him at Evangeline. For a brief moment, she thought he’d finish the job, but he turned back and said in a cold voice, “Does she really mean that much to you?” Breathless, Rosenia just nodded. Raine pulled Evangeline up by the hair in a way Rosenia wanted to smack him for again, but she no longer had the energy. All she could feel was a pain in her legs that kept flooding in and out, making her head spin.. She shook her head to stop it, as she looked back at Evangeline’s sandy face. At least she was still breathing.

Raine dropped her abruptly and made Rosenia want to kick him, but he moved a few steps off and summoned up a large fire, as big as a person. And coincidentally, there seemed to be a silhouette of one in the heart of the flame. Raine beckoned to it, “Make sure you pick up this trash outside.” He pointed to Evangeline unsympathetically and without even turning to look. “I’ll figure out what to do with it later.”

The shadow bowed and the flame spoke. “Right away, sire,” it said, and then fizzled out.

Raine looked back at Rosenia uncaringly and asked, “Are you satisfied?” But Rosenia just stared at him. And with a sigh, he came over and picked her up again, and with a brief glance over his shoulder as if to see if there were any more uninvited guests, and took off again, flying straight toward the central building of the great House Bloodcrest.

. . .

Rosenia sat on the bed of the very dimly lit room, facing the large open window she had come in. It was dreadfully small, and the bed itself almost took up its entire space. However big and elaborate the bed was, the room seemed ominously tiny, as if it were closing in on her. In fact, Rosenia had had that feeling since she got here. She had felt weak after the eclipse and weaker still in this place where light never reached, and the artificial moon. But what was more as in consequence of her lacking power, she could feel tense magic in the air around her: deep power, but very malicious. As if it wanted to strangle her; suffocate her in its thick atmosphere.

She soon found it hard to breathe, the masking energy never left her, as if Raine were always there. But he was gone now. He had left for one reason or another; left her in that small cramp room all by herself. He had given her a change of clothes, a simple and silky lace affair that seemed more fitting for a mistress, but what choice did she have? The clothes she had been wearing were ruined. Dirty, torn and blood-stained, she had cast them aside where they lie on the ground a few paces away.

She stroked her hair softly and comfortingly, and made her way to the window. She needed some fresh air. And it was a large window; big enough for even three large man to fit through. But the drop-off was enough to frighten even the winged. There was no hope of surviving that fall. No hope of trusting her fleeting strength to hold on to the railings and escape. No hope of anyone having enough strength to face Raine and rescue her. No Melle to.... She became very sullen, waiting to cry, but she hardly even had the energy for that anymore.

She felt like she was in a trance, that everything that was happening around her wasn't real. That she wasn't really there. That she was still back home, sitting in her mother's room all alone, crying for her father to come home or for the mother she never knew to come get her and take her away from this dark loneliness. She hardly even noticed the wall behind her softly rip and unzip, and when she turned around she found the outline of a door, opened from the outside.

Raine stepped through wearing an elegant coat as black as the night sky with a fiery purple trim and a blood-red undershirt. With his hair let loose and a fierce look on his face, he really did look older for a moment. He certainly didn't look like a monster, at the very least. He would even be very attractive if it weren't for the things he has already done. But he truly was just a monster.

How venomous he looked in such finery, like a wolf in sheep's clothing. His sharp eyes still held that cold stare he gave when he took away the one thing she loved most. Now there was only him; the victor; the purebred; the vampire. You know, he really looks like Melle. Rosenia shook her head, shocked at what she was thinking. When she looked up, she saw his eyes watching her, like a cat watches a mouse. But for a second, she really thought she caught a glimpse of Melle, but his image faded back to Raine as he stepped closer.

And without a word, he was on her. With nothing more than a shriek and the frail push of her weak arms, she tried to force him back. But he had her by the waist, and oddly enough, he even seemed taller than her as he pulled her in closer and moved the other hand to her cheek. She felt his firm grasp as his fingers curled tightly around her side, then felt the soft delicate touch of each finger on her cheek, as if that hand held a flower and the other a thorn. But she didn't have the time to think, her head was swimming, echoing the same name over and over again. She almost said it out loud, barely managing “Me--”, but he silenced her with a kiss. Her very first kiss, and one that she had been holding on to and held dearly, had been ripped out of her. She would have felt tainted; would have been furious, if she were in the right mind, but not now.

Rosenia's wits were stolen with a kiss that left her mesmerized and completely enthralled. Her eyes glazed over like a doll, and she was completely under his control. Raine reclined from her with a grin on his face. “Now,” he said very slowly, in a humorous tone, “who is it that you love?”

Rosenia shook, but she replied very cold and calmly, “Raine.” And only the tears streaming from her face gave away the lie. But Raine ignored it, stealing her second kiss.