Naveen

Rina:

“We will take you to the boat, but you may not bring any weapons longer than a forearm.” The girl tod us eying Talon. My mouth was upturned in a look of distaste but I removed my short sward from my belt and placed it with our other things.

I left the weapons that didn't fit the criteria beside our things. I was far from unarmed, nor was she with her two birds. But having a greatsword just would have made me feel more comfortable with what was going to lay before us.

Rina:

I pulled on my dark cloak as Talon removed his weapons. “Very good, now follow me.” The man told us then took us out the door facing the cliff. It was cool and windy as we trekked down the stone steps of the cliff to get to the little boat dock. There were three medium wooden boats and he helped us into the first one while ocean water sprayed at us. There were goose bumps on all of my exposed skin.

I made sure to stick close to Rina, keeping an eye on her just in case. The stone cliff and the salty spray of the water sent a shiver down my spine. By no means an unpleasant sensation, the feel of the water almost made me want to remove my clothes and take a dip. But I held back, taking care to guard such feelings. The moon was tied to the ocean, we worshiped one and used to play happily in the other. Now we lived much too far from the sea to ever enjoy it but the feelings were still ingrained in my people.

Rina:

I settled in the boat next to Talon and wrapped my cloak tightly around myself. Dark clouds covered all but I tiny sliver of red sky on the horizon. As the servant began to row, to boat rocked with every wave. The water was rough and turned my stomach. I was regretting the stew but was determined not to lose it. Ten minutes in I could just barely make out a dark mass of rocks ahead. My stomach twisted then for an entirely different reason.

I tried to slow my breathing, tried to control the pace of my heart. But my success was only so much. It was the calm before the storm, the quiet before a battle. No matter how much I was used to it, the feeling and sound of it made me want to pace. I kept my eyes roaming, focusing ahead of us until the rocks of the island slid into focus as we approached. "I'm still here." I murmured to Rina as I gazed out at the rocks.

Rina:

I reached out and took his hand without looking at him. I squeezed it in mine as I watched the rocky island move closer. As we rounded it, torches from the mouth of the cave came into sight. The cold didn't bother me anymore. When the servant grabbed a floating rope in the water to rein us in, I forced myself to swallow my fear. A numb sort of calm settled over me. I let go of Talon and sat up straight.

I held her hand tightly, offering what strength and taking what I could from the bond we shared. As we were reigned in I steadied my breathing, letting myself slip into the calm I got before a battle. Before she released me I gave her hand a squeeze, still offering silent support as I could.

Rina:

Th servant helped us out of the boat onto the dock and told us to go through the blue fire lit tunnel. He would not be joining us. I lead the way, with Talon behind me. After a few minutes of walking we came to a great wooden and brass door at the end. Someone stepped out and it was immediately apparent what she was.

The exquisite creature was tall with delicately defined features. Golden eyes peaked out though long, wavy dark hair. She looked like a living marble statue. Her clothes were a similar style to my dress, but out of blue satin. Upon a quick survey of the two of us, her pink lips curved into an enticing smile.

“My, what a pair. You are expected of course,” She looked to me. Her voice was clear and devoid of accent, but it was as if her tone was on a different level from a humans'. She turned her eyes to Talon. “A child of the moon, a rarity to be sure. Some would say we are not so different in our roots, young lord.” She inclined her head to him in a show of respect.

I was at a loss. She was nothing like any of my imaginings. Everyone said they were feral creatures, they were violent and tricky. But this woman was nothing like that, different from anyone I had ever met, but not disgusting by any means.

I sighed through my nose as I gazed at the door. I couldn't very well comment on the mass of the door. Intimidation was a part of life in some regards. The Vampire, for she could only be that was gorgeous. But she was not one I recognized. "The Children of the Night are a rarity as well. But we both exist in places where the sun does not reach. Our roots are similar yes." I said with a formal incline of my head.

Rina:

“My name is Coralina. Anstron sent me to accept you.” She opened the door and lead us in. “I know what you're thinking,” She said as she walked, almost glided, down another long corridor. “How different I am? Well, I suppose I should correct you before you meet Him.” I dropped my gaze to the stone flooring rather than look at her, to mask my emotions as best I could. Little did I know, there was nothing I could do that she couldn't read.

“I am young for my kind. The youngest here by far. Four hundred and sixteen.” She gave a trill laugh to herself. “Anstron is not so progressive as I. Many of the human kind cannot bare him.” She came to a stop and turned toward us in front of a dark archway. There was a blue flame torch on the wall which she took down with ease.

“Will you continue?” She asked, her gold eyes piercing me. “Of course.” I answered. Her language was hard and confusing for me to follow, but I had come this far and wouldn't be deterred.

I knew all about Him. We'd left on good terms the last we had met....though I'd been forced to kill a vampire. Our people had a somewhat strained but good relationship in the past. But everyone had a strained relationship with a race that could enslave you with a bite and wanted nothing more than obedient thralls.

Rina:

Through the next hall we went.  It was much darker than the first, only lit occasionally by low burning torch so that the light from the last only barely reached that of the next. The hall opened up to a much larger compartment that was ice cold.  

The room was lit only slightly better by the same blue light and at the very end sat a man- a vampire on an elaborate stone throne.  He looked old yet his face was smooth of wrinkles.  His hair was long and thin, not gray, but a silver, as if it was spun from the metal.  His predator eyes  were a contrasting amber and the only thing of color on him.  Behind him was another one, though he had white gold hair and light aqua eyes.  Both creatures were stunning, but strangely unappealing.

“My liege, the child you sent for.”  Coralina addressed him with a gesture to me.  “And accompanying her, the lord from the mountains.”  She bowed and stepped back.  

“Come closer,”  He beckoned to me with barely more than a whisper.  I moved so I was before him but still a few feet back, the room was lit so I could clearly see him, but my face was cast in shadow.  It relaxed me, but it was a false sense of security for the vampires could see in pitch darkness.  

I relayed Brian's message and offered him the 'gift' but he was disinterested in my words and material.  Then he told me that he would require a small blood payment, that I would not have his secrets until he complied.  This was what had scared me.  All the dread I had felt leading up to this point was for this.  I was at their mercy, and I could not leave until they had what they wanted.  For the moment I was frozen in my spot.


Coralina stepped up silently behind Talon and carefully cuffed his wrist with her hand.  His strength may have matched hers at his height, but it was not more than.  “Have you ever been to a testing?”  She asked him in a silky whisper.  The human girl was for a moment silent, but she knew she would give in in a minute or two.

I gazed up at Anstron, eyes narrowing at his slight. Propriety stated to address fellow monarchs first, and yet he ignored me. I only dragged my gaze away from him when Coralina grabbed my wrist. "Unhand me." It was an order, spoken with distaste. I didn't even look at her, only at where her hand held my wrist. Fighting vampires was trying at best. Their unearthly strength and speed was legendary. It was only through skill and luck that one could ever kill such a creature.

The vampiress did as he commanded though she stayed to his back. “The girl is in no danger I can assure you. My master has a special, long awaited interest.” She spoke low so as not to be over heard by human ears. “It would not be a wise choice to distract.”

"Your Master slights me. Do you think I came with my companion because of boredom or caring? I came to protect what is mine. I also came prepared to deal harshly should even Anston decide to leave his throne for one such as me." I spoke just as softly though my hands strayed to my weapons. If I drew them it wasn't Anston I planned on harming.

A low hiss resonated in her throat. He was royalty but her had insulted her master, what more he had laid claim to something they thought they alone had discovered. She thought of it when she first saw who came with the girl. Now it appeared he was willing to fight for the control of it. Her young eyes sought her masters and for a brief second met them. He could no doubt hear their barely audible conversation, yet he chose to refocus his attention for the time being on the child.

Rina:

It took me a minute to let myself give my consent. There was no way around it, and I hated to think what they could do to me if I absolutely refused, even with Talon here. I was silent after my acceptance. Anstron was clearly pleased, even in the normally unreadable face of such a creature. I took the steps up to the thrown and was immediately forced to my knees by the other vampire. Had I fought it would have altered the events in no way. It would be like punching stone: only damaging to myself. The blond on twisted my arm and exposed it to the Vampire King.

My grips tightened on my blades. "Do I annoy you girl? Do you seek retribution for what I say? Bide your tongue and your manners. You play games with kings when you are nothing more than a pawn." I was on edge as Rina advanced up the steps and was grabbed.

“Lord Talon, as you would be named,” She murmured, noting the fiction in the title. “A king is a king, while a pawn, should it survive the venture, could be crowned. Is that not why you come to back your piece?” No sooner were the words out of her mouth then her master called her with a sharp tone, even for a vampire.

Rina:

I saw the female from earlier suddenly appear at my side and take hold of me, a second later there was a sting in the crook of my elbow. He had bent from his thrown to bite me, and now my hot blood was flowing freely. It hurt, but was not unbearable, the more troubling feeling was the distance my mind went from my body with each second, like I was blanking out but with retention of my vision.

"And yet the pawn will never be crowned king and the queen still exists to protect the king. You still know nothing child." He muttered with stress on the word 'child'. He knew every vampire in the room would hear his words. But that was acceptable to him.

Had she dared turn her head to him, Talon would have see n the disdain in her face. Time hardened vampires, but elves, it seemed, were only stroked by it. The human girl gasped when Anstron released her arm. He allowed the other one to lick the wound but not Coralina. Had she kept her mouth shut, she too may have had the privilege.

“Renee, tell me how old you are.” Astron instructed. “Twenty.” she spoke dully, it was the effect on most humans after a bite. Though the sedative did not last long, it did encourage truthfulness.

“Who was your father?” There was a pause. “He was a warrior.” “And where did you grow up?” He asked again followed by another struggled silence. “In a village close to Hillcountry.” Despite her illusive answers Anstron was pleased. All the answers he needed he received from her blood.

Rina:

The fogginess was clearing but only to be replaced by lightheadedness. A cloth was wrapped once around my arm then the female bent it so my hand touched my shoulder. The vampire king himself stood and lifted my to my feet, not gently, but with less force than I would have expected. His skin was cold as the stone I knelt on. It made my skin crawl to be touched by him. Steered by my other arm he took me to Talon.

“Had you sent word, more welcoming arrangements may have been made, young lord. As it is, I would apologize for discourteous words from the girl. Children of the moon share in our roots, may your people never weaken.” The quiet words rang in my head, I found little meaning in them. “The lady for you safekeeping.” He extended me towards Talon as if I were a child.

"The hospitality of the Children of night are ever gracious. Had I been able I'm sure we would be enjoying a bounteous feast and examples of the great works of your people. I'm sure you have acquired much in the time between we have last had chance to speak." I replied formally with a nod of my head. I took Rina into my arms, supporting her. "May your people always find safe haven from the light and may our roots always connect us." I kept my gaze at him.

Rina:

I leaned into Talon feeling very much like a child among adults. He was warm and gentle and his scent soothed me. Feeling nauseous and faint, I leaned my head on his shoulder. Anstron inclined his head to Talon then told the male vampire to take us to an outer chamber to rest.

"Come on." I murmured to Rina, moving us to the outer chamber. Once I had her inside I took a moment to draw a roll of cloth from a pouch at my belt. "Can I see your arm Rina?" I asked her softly, unsure how she was doing.

Rina:

I uncurled my arm and the scrap of cloth they had put on the room fell to the floor. The wound was not big, just two triangular puncture marks in the crook of my elbow. It was tinder, and I felt, quite literally, drained.