Winter Soul

[flickering-frights-blog]

Her smile never falters even though her stomach is doing acrobatics. She has long ago rehearsed her story, has made notes of every contact that she should offer as a reference if need be. But if she knows her story by heart–that false story–why is she so nervous? She chalks it up to anxiety while being in the company of a man so powerful that he is known as king.

She reaches for the paperwork and takes the pen, moving the chair closer to the desk as she begins to write in the spaces given. Name? Iris Prosper. Birthdate? Iris struggles to remember. The seasons blurred after awhile and birthdays were no longer important, but she would always remember the year. 1849. As she works through the paperwork, she looks towards the man leaning on his desk, the god over the few in Covaire. “How is it that you become King of a place like this?” she asks, tone good-humoured, but cautious, as to not give offense.

[covaireking]

He will know if she is lying. This, is a practice, discovering the truth, a thousand year old process. Darius made sure to investigate the residents of his city, who did what when they thought they were not being watched. It was with his authority to maintain his people, keep the order, weed out those that disrupted it. He watches quietly, patiently, as the vampire continues to fill out the work he’s assigned her, it will be later he will discover if she is telling the truth or not.

“I heard of this city overseas,” he begins calmly, the string of facts leaving him evenly, “when I arrived to see it for myself the former alpha was leaving, both of them were. The city was either going to fall to chaos, or someone was going to rebuild it. I saw the potential, and chose the later.”

[declanforsythe-deactivated20160]

Keep up with the vampire was a bit harder than he anticipated, but he managed. He felt awkward following behind him like some puppy, but he figured his question wouldn’t be answered otherwise. “I can find someone else to bother with my questions if you’d like, sir.”

[covaireking]

Darius looks quietly over his shoulder to the boy who is striding to keep up with him, a single brow arching to display his curiosity in whatever matter the boy sees fit to bring to him, “finish what you’ve started, Declan.”

[bwfassy-deactivated20160914]

[skylarcarlisle]

It was like hide and seek, except for the fact that in one moment she completely lost him. The brunette chuckled to herself, her wolf senses coming to her more than ever in the last few weeks when she was in her human form. She sniffed, trying to concentrate on hearing the man, before she turned around and bumped into him. She took a step back, looking quite defensive. Gaia raised an eyebrow to him, quickly realizing he wasn’t a wolf, but not a human as well. Yes. A vampire. Splendid. The shewolf licked her lips, before slowly pointing to one of the guards, not really caring who. A second later she pointed at herself, clearing her throat. “Good.” With a slight shrug, she took a few steps back, half-circling him, eyeing the man up and down - as if she wanted to ask who was he in return.

[covaireking]

He knows this wolf is more in tune with the primal sense of her nature than the other wolves. Some of them are merely puppies licking the hands of those that feed them enough, though as she looks at him after nearly colliding and arches her brow, stares evenly at him, he has a hard time imaging she’d want out for merely a walk. “Good,” now it is him that arches his brow, he’d smile, only the amusement of his voice doesn’t truly appear in his features. “I have a hard time imagine that.” Cold digits catch her wrist soon after she begins to digest the sight of him, stopping her from continuing to round him. “Treat me like an animal dear girl, and I will call on my nature to show I am so much more.”

[from-beneath-it-devours]

“Utmost apologies Mister Sullivan for I was simply told to find you here, yet I shall make haste of my inquiry.” Galadrielle spoke softly.The petite shewolf followed with ease, and yet she was still troubled by such informal way to address him. She kenned by now that such discomfort was intended, in a few more years she would find amusement in the less formal appellation, but not yet.

[covaireking]

He does not slow down in his stride, it would perhaps almost be an insult even to dull himself to any other speed. The vampire’s attention shifts from the aimlessness of the Dominion to her, “tell me what you wish to know, my dear.”

[knifing]

[declanforsythe-deactivated20160]

“I was going to ask you a question, but you started moving. I apologize. It wasn’t my intention to follow you.”

[covaireking]

“Well,” Darius replies, his voice almost tinted with a tone of amusement, “I suggest you walk and talk faster.”

[skylarcarlisle]

Gaia hadn’t been out in days, but since she had started behaving better the guards gave her an hour out. She grew bored of watching other slaves whine and cry, suck and fuck their masters in front of everybody…there was so much boredom the werewolf could take. So instead she decided to roam around for a little. A tall, dark figure caught her eye and it wasn’t before he spoke she realized he had seen her. “Mhm.” Gaia muttered and continued following him around, tilting her head to the left. Maybe he was her ticket out of here.

[covaireking]

Centuries of life has guaranteed him a sharp set of senses, trained and learned to catch the smallest of gestures, ticks, movements. It is sometimes unbearable to be so aware, but when you’ve adjusted to the overwhelming flow of information it’s easier to digest and process each. The King knew of the girl’s presence long before she muttered a noise, and he continues as she follows creating a maze of movement, sharp turns, cutting corners. He stops at the end, waiting for her to find him, waiting to see when she turns around to be face to face with him. “Now,” he muses, “who let you out.”

[survivor-grey]

Butt Naked ||

[survivor-grey]

Roderick’s head cocks to one side at the warning, or even the threat, and after a second it shakes “No sir, but I have learnt from my mistake. There will not be a next time.” he assured with the most polite smile he could manage. “Will that be all, King Sullivan? I should really tend to my slave, he has been through enough, I believe.”

[covaireking]

What a dangerous position he’s put himself in by his mistakes. Because now the wolf is in the vampire’s scope, and now the vampire won’t so easily overlook him as he may have before. Darius gives a polite smile, his thoughts concealed as he nods. “You’re dismissed.” 

[covaireking]

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“I would recommend picking up the pace if you insist on following me.”

[covaireking]

November Winds | Claire & Darius | Closed

[claire-hxlmes-blog]

With each passing minute, it seemed like she was going more and more into herself. The music stirred something incredibly sad within the woman, and for the first time after she had been brought to the city, she allowed herself to mourn. To mourn her husband, as well as her freedom. Unlike to the day of Ronan’s funeral however, her mind was clear. She didn’t cry, nor was she overwhelmed by a whirlwind of painful emotions. Instead, they were bundled and carefully collected inside her heart. The Chateau had never been able to give her the time to accomplish this; not with its hallways filled with cries of terror and desperation. As a result, without the vampire knowing it, she felt grateful.

“I used to play in my childhood days.” Her mother, Mali, had taught her how to. “At some point I simply lacked the time to continue with it.” After Mali’s death, she couldn’t even bear so much as to look at a piano. A long pause followed after that statement. Her gaze wandered between his face and the instrument, until finally, Claire stood up from her seat and sat down next to Darius.

“I wonder…” She whispers, cautiously brushing her fingertips over the keys. Then she starts to play. Her choice is incredibly corny in many ways, but it is also the only one which she feels confident enough to show. Music fills the air once again without effort, like the waves filling holes in beach sand; the sound rushing in and around every person in the room. Some react to the beat, others continue in chatter, but always it speaks to them in some manner. A lively tempo can lift them, elevate the spirit, or move them to dance, whilst a slow one can relax the mood. “Now, tell me, you awfully secretive man,” a content smile spreads on her lips, “What’s your name?”

[covaireking]

She eyes the instrument, a curious lens to her gaze, as if it is a threshold she must cross and not merely a construction of music. Darius says nothing of it, he wouldn’t expect many slaves to know how to play the piano, it was more of a rare quality, people living in desolate, morally depraved places had more to be concerned with knowing than a string of keys. But he is pleased nonetheless when she stands after a few heartbeats of a moment to sit beside him.

The music she plays is such a contrast to the one he performed moments ago, while his was slow and dark hers is light, happy even. Some react to the rich melody, they turn to look at her beside him, they move their bodies just slightly to the sway of it. But he is not paying attention to them. His focus is completely on the girl, the way she moves her fingers across the keys as she plays and the way she smiles afterwards. It entices the quietest of smiles to develop on the vampire’s lips, a hidden thing only she may be able to see.

“Mr.Sullivan will suit me just fine for now,” he replies with a subtle quirk of his lips, he stands from the piano bench then, offering the crook of his arm to the young girl. She still seems to be unaware of who he is, which makes this encounter all the more amusing. “I think I shall retire back to my establishment now, you, dear girl, may join me or return to the cells, I offer the choice to you.”

[fassbender-m-deactivated2017101]

[diamondsandash]

Huh? The smell?[ Absentmindedly, she smelled her arm, realizing she was the source.] It’s from melting Iron, sorry about that. [Maybe she should have showered before looking for breakfast.]

[covaireking]

“Don’t apologize my dear, for doing work,” the vampire began just a table away, shutting down the creature that pointed out the aroma another table away, gracing the girl with a polite smile.

[survivor-grey]

Butt Naked ||

[survivor-grey]

The wolf cocked his brow as the king told him to do it now and he was finding it hard to keep the growl in as he gave a hard and frustrated nod before walking over to Thomas “Yes your majesty.” he moved to his lawn and unhooked the chain, allowing Thomas inside and looked to the king. “Forgive me for the spectacle,sir.”

[covaireking]

Oh—now there is a flash of something defiant, a little spark. This wolf has no concept of who he’s daring, Darius is a creature forged in ice, he wouldn’t tolerate a little spark of a flame. And he waits, seeing if that ever present temper under the wolf’s skin will leak into the fore and give Darius a reason to correct his behavior. But he complies, unwillingly it seems. He watches as the slave is released and brought inside. “Good boy,” the vampire begins as he approaches Roderick, “careful pup, you wouldn’t want the next spectacle would be you, would you.”

[covaireking]

November Winds | Claire & Darius | Closed

[claire-hxlmes-blog]

Come? That’s all she would get? Claire raised a brow and silently stared after his retreating figure, looking rather dumbfounded. The door to her cell stood open, as well as the opportunity to explore the city beyond its confined space. Her heart began to beat faster at that thought. What should she do?

“Wait! You’re too fast, you insanely tall man!”

As soon as she was able to catch up with the vampire, she walked as closely to him as possible, too afraid to lose sight of him and to get lost, for her fear wasn’t without reason: As it turned out, Covaire was huge. Whereas she looked calm and collected, she felt like a child on the inside, her gaze wandering curiously from building to building. Perhaps she was fascinated by the huge difference between this sight and the one which was offered to her from the Chateau’s lonely and stony walls. Or, she was shocked at how normal this city actually looked like, in an absurd and odd way; she had honestly expected to face a spitting image of hell itself. And as they walked further, her curiosity slowly shifted from the buildings to the citizens. Vampires, werewolves, humans - all of them were present and filled the streets.

And all of them were staring at her.

Embarrassment struck her. Was it because she was a slave? Was it already that plain for everyone to see? But once Claire studied them more closely, she found an entirely different answer than the one she had expected. They weren’t devouring her with their stares, but him. Made room for him. Was it out of respect, or were they trying to avoid? Whatever the reason, it was incredibly peculiar and evident that he was a special snowflake. She wanted to ask for his name, because he had never actually introduced himself to her, but bit back the urge when they stepped into a parlor.

Music soon flooded the room caused by the tinkling and tingling sounds of a piano. The tone of the piece was intimate, somehow yearning, and for the time being, Claire felt captivated by it. She sat down on a chair near the elegant instrument and simply allowed herself to enjoy this.

[covaireking]

The piano was not an instrument that was alive when the man was born. It was centuries later that he discovered it while traveling the world, days can be so long for an immortal creature. He learned to keep his mind busy, away from memories of the dark underworld he was forged into something unholy, of the ashes left of his home. It was then when he found the instrument, hearing the cords play melodies he had never before experienced, washed his controlled mind into ease. He forgot when he caught the first note of his pain.

He elected to play, the music was a divine thing he couldn’t predict himself leaving. Here in the parlor he is consumed by the way the keys feel against his chilled hands, how they glide over each, summoning the music. Darius was delighted at first when he became aware of Roslyn’s ability to play, he remembered the way her demons fell away when he gifted her with a piano. Now they refused to leave. He hated that, how there was nothing he could do, no solution to accept and execute.

Who was going to burn in the end? Her? Or him?

It is a long time before he stops, still attempting to have the music calm rigid nerves. One song turns into several, people come and go. At the end he turns to Claire, her emerald eyes remind him of his dear, though her orbs are without the haze of a haunting kept in the mind. She does not know how dangerous it is to be seen appealing. Especially by him.

“Do you play?” he begins, curious.

[zoella-gables-blog]

[Zoe stayed completely still as the king stepped up to her, not daring to move when she felt his finger tip along her jaw. She nodded her head slowly.] Yes sir and I hope you have a pleasant night. [Zoe said as she finished packing up her desk and walked out.]

[covaireking]

END.

[flickering-frights-blog]

She bobs her foot up and down, listening to each sound in the building, the faint punch or slap, the crunch of a nose or a bone. And like a cat she poises on the sofa, her lips pressing into a thin, hard line. She knows that she looks unhappy, and she feels unhappy, and there’s a man on the other side of that door who will make her existence tolerable or miserable and she doesn’t know which it is. But she walks with purpose when he calls her.

 “My King,” she says, giving him a quick curtsy and a dazzling smile as he brushes his lips to her hand. She’s never met a king before. “Of course the nerves are for you–you’re very important, aren’t you? Would be a shame to make a poor impression on you. No, thank you, coffee never sits well with me.” Nothing sits well with her except the blood of the innocents, and perhaps cheesecake. Iris sits in the proffered chair, placing her bag on the floor.

“I came as soon as I received your summons. I hope my visit finds you well, my King.”

[covaireking]

Darius regards her as he does all the new vampires that come to his city and join his clan. He was always intrigued to discover them, learn of them, each character was important to evaluate. Were they monsters, ravenous primal things he would have to carefully watch, or civil monsters akin to himself. 

He grins politely, knowingly, as she says he is the source of her nerves. Slender fingers skim through the set on his desk, Darius was adamant in knowing the details of his city, he pulls free a simple document littered with an array of questions. “You’re new to my city, my dear. New to me. And I’d like to learn just a little more about you.” Darius’ clan was structured and defined, he allowed for no mistakes and the few brought to his attention were always given punishment. 

“Here, simply review the questions, and answer them. I would prefer for your history to reveal itself, or I shall dig up its body myself.”