The face that launched a thousand ships

  I'm not afraid of dying, I'm afraid of tomorrow. I'm afraid of watching you sail away and knowing you'll never come back. Before you came to Sparta, I was a ghost. I walked and I ate and I swam in the sea... I was just a ghost.

[loustestament]

let your men before me let them cower in my grace i was made to behold, a sun too splendid for a destiny like this. - you caged me in your halls tried to contain me now my heel is dipped in gold and a thousand ships have launched your cities will fall just to see me smile.

helen of troy. (l.p.)

[halle-ogden]

The sad song of a found soul

The battle was over, Westdell lay in ruins. The buildings were crumbling around her, broken windows, burned curtains barely billowing in the breeze. Stained streets streaked with a dark red that would never disappear. Even when the stones were taken by the soil, the innocent lives sacrificed for power plays could never disappear. They were there and they were real, their ghosts would howl in despair, thanks to the hubris of the Vitello’s. She had refused to believe it once upon a time, she had seen the family as individuals, unattached from the actions of the man who would be remembered as the Mad King Zion, but there was a curse upon them that would stop happiness and drive destruction.

The split ends of her jagged bob tickled over her nape, her fingers traced over the stone wall. Everyone had deserted after the fighting subsided, she didn’t blame them. She remembered hearing the cries of those realising their loved would never return. Still Halle had stayed inside, at the time she had been infuriated at her inability to move, to get out of the falling debris around her. She slowly came to realise that the constriction in her chest that was caused by the familiarity of the surroundings, how her safe guarded spot mirrored the building that had crashed around her months ago.

The entire time she stayed in the dark pantry her mind began to fade between reality and memory. She had felt too scared to speak, knowing that the last time she screamed for help she had found herself left alone, each yell losing her rare and valuable breath to no avail. Once the ground stopped shaking and the wall stayed steady, she felt unease at how her stomach had not stopped churning, how every hair on her body stood up causing her to feel like a stranger in her own skin. These physical sensations had amplifed the thoughts in her head. Once she left this confined space where would she go?  the thought plagued her for what felt like days. When she finally managed to stand up her head felt dizzy, her body following suit. Through guiding her way to the door that led out to the streets she found herself wincing at the light, as if she was suffering a hellish hang over from Darius’ strongest.

It was not long before she came to the conclusion that the city had been abandoned. She looked for Hayden, anywhere she could but she could find no trace. As she got closer and closer to the cities borders she started to hear rumours from the few that had stayed, about the migration to Ironmoor, the only thing that proved more assuring than that was the barks that came trailing after. As Paris jumped onto her knees the first hint of an old smile presented itself at the very corners of her lips.

The journey to the Ironmoor was long, she had sold most of the possessions she had held on her at the time of the battle leaving her looking wretched at the gates. Those who tried to attempt her in a less than gentleman like way had been met with the few defense moves she had learnt from Battaglia and Paris’ less than puppy like bite. But there she was, freezing as she stood in front of the large doors to attempt to see the man who had given her more than any other.  With no shoes or coat, her face still healing, a dog matted with mud and dirt she begged passing officials, she begged for them to give him her name, but they seemed to sneer. They could not see her face as one that would start any kind of war, or one that deserved affection.

It was eventually a squire that recognised her, he said she had the kind eyes of the Lady Ogden, said he would do what he could. She waited outside the castle until the sun had set, curled up in the same ball she had found herself in time and time again, but this time there was no restriction. No stone walls, no possibilities.  There she was bare and vulnerable in the rainy winds next to the sea, she had nothing left to lose. She was stronger now, no longer a pretty and innocent child. No her face was more stoic, the scars telling the stories of her past, her bruises showing the durability of someone who persisted with the last bit of energy she had, her eyes while still compassionate held a fire behind them of justice and truth, her chills were not just from the cold but from the fact that if these were her last moments at least she had gotten here independently, not riding the coattails of others, not being used as a pawn or some mans object. This pain, this loneliness, this journey born from fear, it all meant that for moments before what could be her death, she was alive.

Her eyes started to clothes as soaked her hugged her face, her bare feet hid under what little material was left from a grand dress, Paris barked, putting his paws against her knees, her breaths went shallow in acceptance. When she felt warmth approaching her, when she felt a weight over her shoulders she thought it was the after life, but when she opened her eyes she felt a warm hand on her cheek, she would never know whether it was a hallucination or truth but the next words would shape her new life. Isiah Balor held her wet and small form close.

                                      “You’re home, my daughter.”

[halle-ogden]

haydenbattaglia:

Hayden’s shoulders went slack as she grinned at him, gifting him with the kind of honest smile he thought neither Mason Ogden nor Marcellus Balor had ever gotten out of her, for all that they’d proper men to be betrothed to. Had Hayden been inclined to cliché bullshit, he might’ve thought something ridiculous like gods, she’s as radiant as the sun - and as far out of my reach, too.

He’d never liked cliché bullshit and so didn’t think it, of course. But he knew it anyway, could feel it in his aching bones she somehow warmed with the brightness of her mere presence. He knew it, yes: the unshakable knowledge that she would leave, or he would, because he’d always told himself that it was easier to leave than be left behind… no matter how hollow that rang.

And he’d let himself be drenched in darkness again, and think: this is where I belong after all.

“So neck kisses and pie fights are gonna be a yearly tradition now? You keep surprising me, you know.” His voice was just slightly hoarse, sounding faint to his own ears. Hard to imagine, years together with her - and not just because of the wildlings at the city’s gates.

He might as well enjoy it, though. For as long as it lasted. Hayden cocked his head; his lips curled into a teasing smile. There was a tired edge to it, sure. But it was genuine. “Wait, you meant making the pie eating a tradition? I guess I can get behind that too.” He slid another finger down his cheek, then licked the pie remnants from it and nodded. “Yeah, definitely this one. I bet the cook knows. How couldn’t he recognize the brilliance he created?”

Her lips stretched, causing her dimples to show, one obscured by the scarring that was starting to heal, they reassured her in a few years it would look like nothing more than a few faint stretch marks. They said her skin would be nearly restored, that she would be close to her true beauty, she found herself nearly resenting it. Halle believed she had found happiness, that she had finally been granted with what she had heard tales about, that unconditional love that she never verbally admitted she wanted. She believed the man in front of her had finally realised what she had known all along, that she would fight tooth and nail to keep him safe, to keep him to herself, despite every heart breaking thing he had done it would be okay now, because he finally understood, he finally saw how much she loved him. 

“Did you really think that there wouldn’t be such traditions? Neck kissing, pie fights, sneaking in through windows, sneaking you out for private dances. Our years will be filled with the things that made us who we are, well at least the happy things.” She said, standing up in front of him, stealing his hands and intertwining their fingers, hers so dainty an under-worked in comparison. She went on the tips of her toes, lightly kissing off the pie left on his neck. With each kiss she got a different flavour, leaving a small mark, not noticeable unless one was truly looking for it. “Yes, there is something brilliant about it.” But she was not staring at the pie, instead she was looking directly at him. 

[celinereece]

ashlynnpemberley:

the realm characters as songs from my 90s country spotify playlist: (1/?)

neilson: mr mom (lonestar)

isiah: 5 o’clock somewhere (alan jackson)

charlene: hot mama (trace adkins)

hayden: my give a damn’s busted (jo de messina)

ashlynn: where the green grass grows (tim mcgraw)

illias: save a horse [ride a cowboy] (big and rich)

galen: pickin’ wildflowers (keith anderson)

thaddeus: no shoes, no shirt, no problem (kenny chesney)

portia: little bitty (alan jackson)

holden: achy breaky heart (billy ray cyrus) 

el: great day to be alive (travis tritt)

adela: T-R-O-U-B-L-E (tavis tritt)

celine: man i feel like a woman (shania twain)

halle: ready to run (dixie chicks)

hypatia: kiss this (aaron tippin)

janelle: wild one (faith hill)

mina: that don’t impress me much (shania twain)

serafina: queen of my double wide trailer (sammy kershaw) 

elwinn: friends in low places (garth brooks)

oberon: some girls do (sawyer brown) 

prisca: goodbye earl (dixie chicks) 

cason: chicks dig it (chris cagle)

elinor: piece of my heart (faith hill)

enyo: bye bye (jo dee messina)

pierce: dust on the bottle (david lee murphy)

phyllis: she’s got it all (kenny chesney)

ambrose: fishin in the dark (nitty gritty dirt band) 

[halle-ogden]

haydenbattaglia :

His neck. Why’d it have to be his neck? He could feel his cheeks heating. Hayden resisted the urge to look around, see if they were being watched. Of course they were; this was the Keep, She knew that as well as he did, knew that they had to sell this to make Mason Ogden back off.

“First time I’ve heard of neck pie,” he said, lightly stepping away from her. He swiped a finger across the pie on his face and casually flicked it onto the invitation still lying on the table, then pretended he was studiously observing the few intact tarts that remained. “I’m pretty sure it’s that one,” he said, pointing at it, and turned to grin at her. “I would know, what with you just dumping it on my head and all.”

She looked back over at him with a large grin, teeth in full show, dimples etched in. It was perhaps one of the most sincere smiles she could give, especially in the world around them. They had been through so much, when they thought things were as bad as they could get, they got worse. The difference was now she knew she could adapt, that she could survive, so instead of pouting and sulking she would just change. It was the resilience of a warrior in a body that was once fit for a princess. Her face still held it’s scars but it had changed to pride, she had seen other women with similar ones, part of a trend that showed the stories of the people in this Keep. 

“Well get used to it, perhaps I will be such a good wife that I charm the recipe out of the sweet but slightly plump man. Each year we will have it and reflect on the time that you started it first.”  she said with a smirk, a smart retort, especially as he continued to go on about her acts of vile playfulness. She looked at the tart, trying to remember the name. “Do you think if I bring him left overs he could decipher what we mere uneducated, non-baking mortals could not?” 

[halle-ogden]

faithfullyyours-prisca :

Prisca had taken to wearing a scarf about her head, one of the only remnants of her former life that she happened to have with her when she and Titus were turned out of the castle. With her golden hair hidden, she didn’t seem to attract much attention from those around her, though she knew her cousin would still recognize her no matter what.

She smiled when she saw Halle come into view, but she couldn’t help but wonder how her cousin had fared throughout the chaos. “I don’t know if I’m a blessing,” she said gently. “Oberon was thrown in prison, and I imprisoned in my own chambers with my son…But I am glad to see you,” she said, her smile growing. “The Balors have taken you in?” It was safer than being with her family, at least for now. “Are you well?”

“Please, we both know that you fare well without him constantly by your side. It is an ambition of mine to even have a fraction of that kind of independence.” Not to mention the strength that came from being wedded to someone so constantly self serving. She moved closer, not fearing what came from others stares. If there was anything she had learnt it was that even when you thought the world was the worst that it could be, you would adapt, you would become stronger, become ready for whatever unpredictable thing came next. 

“Is he okay? is he bored out of his brains?  I am sure I could find something to sneak in and entertaining him.” she said, thinking of the small boy, easily distracted and therefore a very short attention span. “They have been more than kind to me, like always, I still struggle to wonder what I have done to disturb it.” she said with a affectionate sigh. 

[halle-ogden]

haydenbattaglia :

“Glad to know that whenever I’m acting the fool, I’m at least also charming and wonderful,” Hayden said, his lips nearly twitching into a smile as her cheeks grew even more pink. He’d never much been one for flattery - he’d seen enough of it in the Keep to know it was empty and meaningless - but her teasing compliments still made him want to grin like… well, like an utter fool.

But he wasn’t enough of a fool to think she actually meant it. Still wasn’t enough of a fool to think she meant any of this, to think that their play-acting at marriage could ever turn into something genuine. But gods, he wanted it to be. He wanted it more than he had ever thought himself capable of.

Perhaps it was that which made him the biggest fool of all.

He didn’t have a mirror right now, but he could sure guess at the devastation written plainly on his face. Hayden was almost glad when she pushed herself flush against him, if only for the distraction it granted both of them. It was easy to ignore the kinda gross slurry of the pie, the stickiness of their clothes, in favor of the warmth of her skin. He swallowed roughly, staring down at her lips-

And got dumped on the head by what he - as he licked the icing off his lips - guessed was some kind of custard. He wasn’t even mad. Not like he hadn’t already needed a bath anyway. “I’m not sure this is how pie-tasting’s supposed to work, you know,” Hayden said, amused. He couldn’t help himself; he pressed a quick kiss to her sticky forehead, then resolutely looked away as if to pretend it hadn’t happened.

She practically beamed, tilting her head as if play thinking, loving how comfortable his kisses felt. Something about the whole situation, about feeling his warm lips, the way his hands were almost around her, even in the middle of all this it made her feel safe. She went on her tippy toes, kissing his left cheek, then his right, then his neck lightly. “Neck pie...neck pie is definitely my favourite. Now we just have to match it to one of the messes on the table, or-” she looked down at the floor. “Those ones can be yours. As soon as we find it we just need to remember or guess the name and voila, the most important part of our wedding day is planned.” 

[halle-ogden]

haydenbattaglia :

Mock-offended at the notion, he snorted. “What, me? Do something stupid? I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.” He had done some foolish crap, it was true - not least among them agreeing to this farce of a betrothal - but he could take care of himself. Always had. Hayden drawled: “Besides, I wouldn’t wanna risk never seeing that fetching blush of yours again.”

Standing as well, he weighed the tart in his hand and narrowed his eyes. “Just so you know, I’m definitely going to break off the wedding if you aren’t talking about me as the best,” he said airily, and then added in the pompous tones of a particular nobleman they both liked to mock: “Mar your hair? That would be such a travesty.” Of course, that didn’t keep him from throwing the tart right at her face.

“Yes you, the all wonderful, somehow weirdly charming no matter what situation you’re in-” even if it felt like an compromising and nearly unforgivable situation. She couldn’t help it, she had said it once, how she could never choose who she loved; she just never expected it would be someone so completely different from everything she had ever read or dreamed about. “You tend to do things that to the common mind seem to be bouts of stupidity.”  at the mention of her blush however it grew more red and the craving to throw icing at his face intensified. 

She knew she was joking, he had to be, after everything they had been through together. “You are the best, but in the worst possible way.” she teased, jumping forward lightly as she jested. She was about to grab and through the closest cake when she felt a full force hit her face, it caused her to step back, feeling the pressure start to turn as the pull of gravity made it slide off and plop on the floor. Moving her hands up she wiped her eyes, licking her lips as her squashed up face turned into a grin, brightened by her now blueberry indigo tinted face. It stained down her dress. Without saying another word she began to move towards him, her eyes locking onto his as the corners of her mouth turned the grin into a smirk. “Oh my dearly betrothed, how can I repay you for such a kindness.” she said, moving onto her tippy toes, wrapping her arms around him as she pushed her body against his. While rubbing the berry bliss against his garb, the quick and quiet hands that he had trained moved to the counter behind him, grabbing a pie and raising it above his head. She winked, so quickly as she let it drop down on top of his head, covering him in a raspberry swirled custard. 

[halle-ogden]

She stood outside the fancy tent, beyond grateful that Isiah had taken her in, with all the chaos, the power plays, the world as they knew it getting burnt to the ground she was glad she was seen as an asset, or at least a liability that they cared about too much to cut off. Her dresses were once bright, floral and silk, now replaced by somber greys, embroidery that was subtle in it’s intricacy. 

She was no longer using appearance to lure people in, nor distract them from her potential. No, she was in control now, she knew her adaptability as well as her skills and after everything she knew that she would find away to make it through whatever would be thrown at her...or her thrown into.

She looked towards the approaching person, raising her eyebrow at them, not out of surprise but out of curiosity. “I was not expecting such a blessing today.” 

[halle-ogden]

haydenbattaglia :

“Your blush is so fetching, after all,” Hayden said, his voice so deadpan it sounded oddly sincere. Her voice, on the other hand… it had gone low and alluring, as if she knew exactly what that did to him. That smirk of hers looked a damn sight more attractive than it ought, too.“’Course it will be memorable,” he retorted, not quite willing to let go of the playful smugness between them - because he sure as hell didn’t know what to do if things turned serious.

Her licking her lips definitely didn’t help. But Hayden continued to grin, scooting farther and farther backwards till he nearly fell of the bench, just as she shoved the cake up against his nose. He had to cough and snort to get the stuff out of his nostrils. “Your revenge is swift and cruel, wifey,” Hayden sputtered.

He swiped some cake off his cheek and licked it off his fingers. “This one’s pretty good, though. Maybe we should just pick this?” His hand skittered around the table to grab another tart. His eyes glittered with mischief. “Or do you want another taste?”

She looked at him, her eyebrow raising as she let out a small giggle leaving before her gaze moved to the floor. “You are one of the few to be blessed with it, so do not go doing anything stupid would you?” she would never say that she could not handle it, after all she had been through so much that everything was put in perspective. Him being close to the gallows, her being forced to beg, her life being moved around from power families until she found one that could and would care for her. She could still remember the feeling of seeing him, of the girls running from him after a night of...well she could only imagine. No, she would be able to handle it, whether she was willing to let it pass was another issue. 

“I learnt from the best.” she said starting to stand, moving close with cake all over her hands, raising them away from her dark grey dress as she closed the distance, moving her foot behind to push her stool backwards. “If you think that revenge was bad wait until I find out you have gone and gotten it all over my hair. 

[halle-ogden]

coeusxcoleman :

           Coleman stared at her. “They will be put on trial and face whatever fate is decided for them. As for the Keep…” The younger Balor brother shrugged with one shoulder. “I don’t imagine it will stand for much longer.” He didn’t know what would happen to the wildlings—he simply assumed they’d go back to where they’d come from. At Halle’s apology, he smiled. What kind of god of intelligence would he be if he couldn’t even keep up with a few quick questions? But of course, she didn’t know that. “I can handle it, don’t worry, Halle.”

          Oh, Halle always appeared delicate, but he knew better. He knew there was sharp wit and intelligence hidden behind the soft gaze. ( She was becoming more and more like a Balor every day. ) “Soon, I’ll be able to go back home.” Ironmoor, he thought, where all his good memories had taken place. “What will you do, doll?” 

She listened to his question, not understanding why it made her feel so nervous. She moved her hand to rub her arm as Paris started to run ahead. “I suppose I am to be married, stay here, be happy I am away from those who actively tried to make my life a living hell while growing up. I might even get the chance to make a family of my own happy.” as she said she wondered if it was even possible, then again, she knew exactly what not to do. “Do you think Lord Isiah plans to go, back to Ironmoor that is-”

[halle-ogden]

enyoxelise :

         When the vampire came for her, Elise was ready. The speed with which the woman ran would have been intimidating to any normal human, but Elise could keep up. It was to be expected; vampires and werewolves were each other’s natural enemies, and they were built to withstand each other’s attacks—or die from them. Elise’s fingers wrapped around the ankle of the foot raised to kick her and she pushed the vampire woman right off, making sure to sink her claws into the skin a bit before letting go. She grinned. “Was that it, bloodsucker? Come on, fight me!” 

        But moments before she was to pounce the vampire, a high-pitched screech reached her ears and she yelped, covering her eyes and turning towards where the sound was coming from. A long, thin figure with straight light hair was coming their way, screaming as the wind waved her tattered dress around her bony limbs. A wailing woman. “A banshee…?” Elise had momentarily forgotten she had been about to fight the vampire. Instead, she shot the blonde a confused look. The banshee kept coming, the ringing in Elise’s ears grew louder and she stepped back. But the banshee ran right past the pair of them, almost as if… She was afraid. What were banshees afraid of?

        “What is going on?” the werewolf breathed. And that was when a sinister feeling began creeping up on her. “Something is very wrong,” she told the vampire woman. “Something is coming…” She could smell the stench, but when she looked around, all she saw was the vampire and the still wailing banshee in the distance. “We need to leave.”

She felt the claws digging into her skin but the woman would not wince, instead she focused on her landing, starting to form a pose that would add force to her next attack she dug her feet into the soil, a small smirk crossing her lips as her eyes locked onto the girls neck, she would break it and let the corrupted blood feed the forest floor. That’s when she heard the screech, she looked behind her the rags that held her were unflattering to say the least but banshee’s were never the most beautiful in the forest. She felt the cold wind rush past her, filling her hair before the wailing beast faded into the distance. 

At the mutts question her mind started racing, thinking of every text she had read, all the information she had been given by Isiah, a feared monster amongst the worst of them, that’s when it hit her. She could almost see the disjointed limbs starting to blur through the forest, it’s long and crooked claws digging into the ground, leaving it’s stench on everything the forest had grown, the smell of death that followed it with it’s white cloudy eyes. It’s sickening almost dislocated jaw and the teeth that would make a shark jealous, pointed, sharper, disjointed and still covered and stained with the flesh of all it’s victims.

“RUN.”  

[halle-ogden]

coeusxcoleman :

              “We won,” Coleman repeated, smirking as he took in Halle’s surprise. “It was the plan all along.” And how it had worked. It had taken months of preparation, months of smiling and babbling with nobles and those damned Vitellos in order to gain their trust, but… They’d succeeded. Isiah had done it. Leanne had done it. Mina had done it. 

              A gasp and then a chuckle escaped Cole when the dog licked his cheek and he looked up at Halle with startling surprise in his normally icy blue hues. Then he got back up and held out a hand for Halle to help her up as well. Tartarus knew she was probably sore from standing in that closet for so long. “Come now, doll, let’s get you out of this closet. Something tells me that a warm drink would do you well.”

She smiled, her eyes wide and full of respect for those who had played the game she was only starting to get good at. The people who had protected their interests, their people, who had stayed loyal, who had kept her safe. “So the Vitellos...what will happen to them? what will happen to the Keep? where will the wildlings go?” she said slowly biting her lip as she realized she had been asking questions as if she was scribbling down her thoughts, it sounded as bad as an interrogation. “I’m sorry Lord Coleman, I- my mind goes faster than I or many others know how to keep up with, curiosity being all consuming.” 

She took his arm, holding it close, her hold was gentle, she had always been taught never to be harsh, at least not with her mannerisms, no Halle Ogden would always hold snark in her wit and her words, she would look like a flower petal, soft and vulnerable, it was only since coming here that she learnt it was an asset. 

[halle-ogden]

haydenbattaglia :

His gaze flicked down, nothing her elbow touching his arm, before it flicked back up again. Hayden smiled gently at her, the expression on his face so fond that it was godsdamned embarrassing… before it turned smug again. “So you’re saying you never want to forget my” - he raised his eyebrows suggestively - “prowess?”

He stared back at her, undaunted. “My sweet, darling wife-to-be,” Hayden said with a grin which foretold nothing good, “I totally dare.” He pushed the cake into her face, leaving icing on her nose and cheeks, and quickly scooted away from her to escape her vengeance.

She sat up straighter, her deep blues finally locking onto his as her smirk started to grow. “If the past is anything to go by, you rarely allow me to forget anything that you’ve done has made me blush.” The corners of her lips turned up, a smirk which she had seen Alycia wear many times now falling so comfortably on her face. The usually jesting at each others expense would soon be replaced with sincere flirtation. The break she left between her words created a sense of pondering, as if reflecting on a thought or desire she had, perhaps in a dream. “Let’s just say I feel like the scarlet on my cheeks will be caused by the memorable rather than the embarrassing.” she said, her tone slowly becoming sultry. 

She let out a gasp, her mouth growing wide as she sat back, watching him scoot away, she licked her lips, trying to ignore the icing that had gone up her nose. Her head shook as she wrapped her fingers around the entire circumference of the mini cake in front of her. She started to move closer, slowly, first by feigning left, then to the right, before shoving the cake right up towards his nose.

[halle-ogden]

enyoxelise :

          Elise rolled her eyes and pulled a face when she caught the scent of the vampire woman. Ugh, how they stank. Like blood and rotten corpses. “You’ve got an awful lot of—hm, bark wouldn’t be the right word here—blabbing, and no bite. Show me what you got, you bloodsucking bitch.” She turned as the vampire circles her and slowly allowed her hands to turn into claws, her eyes to flare up a bright red color. Alpha. An alpha of real wolves, in this case. “Are you sure you want to do this, bloodsucker? What should I tell your vampire buddies? She fought bravely, and died with my teeth tearing into her throat…”

She stopped circling, turning her entire body to face the mutt in front of her. She was a young vampire but she had fed causing her veins to pump, her mind more alert and her body stronger, Isiah had trained her well, but the most important part of this fight...was not knowing better than to fight with everything she could. She ran forward, faster than any ordinary human would be able to comprehend, raising her leg in hopes of kicking the beast in front of her, her hands in a position in preparation to catch whatever attack came her way. 

[halle-ogden]

enyoxelise :

         “Bite. Me.” Elise said with a wolfish smirk. “I’ll be happy to break your vampire teeth right off and stab them into your own neck. You’ll finally know what it feels like, bloodsucker.” 

“Oh, please keep tempting me, I would love to make another bitch beg. Perhaps that’s too simple, I could collar you up, demand you sit and pray to whatever sick god there is that natural wretched stench leaves with a bath.” she said starting to circle around her. Her voice was calm, her eyes locked onto hers as she did, making sure she showed no sign of any waver doubt, just the power that came off from barking. 

[halle-ogden]

iapetxs :

“Ah, but we wouldn’t want her any other way,” Isiah replied, petting her hair before she pulled out of his embrace. It was funny—over 500 years ago, he’d made two of his own sons into vampires, but this girl he’d met and made barely a few months ago felt just as much a part of his family as they did. That was the power of the sire bond, he supposed. “Not bad,” he noted, nodding towards the body before leading her from the alley on light feet. “Have you tried feeding from the femoral vein? If you take the body to a worse-off neighborhood afterwards and compel a dog—yes, really, a dog—then it’ll chew up the legs and arms for you, tear the body up a little. Disguise the bite.”

“No, I doubt you would love her half as much if she gave her respect so freely.” she said turning and starting to nod in agreement to what he was saying. “Okay-” she said trying to mentally note each pointer that could make her a hunter. She remembered when she first started how she thirsted, how each time he took her to a hunting place she would be so careless, so savage, going for the first thing she saw without even a sign of subtly. After his lessons she remembered standing in corners, smelling the scent of something divine, or reprimanding herself to the point where she let her dream prey go away, just in order to prove that she could. It was that self restraint that had gotten her to this level of mutual respect, of care. Something she had never received from her real father. “So closer to the town or should we lurk around for idiots begging for death?”