Winter. Warmth. (Or lack thereof.) mini writing 2/?, suggested by @swamp-tastic
Orion looked out the window of the manor to view the snow falling on the other side of the glass. This was not their home in the warm Mediterranean of Italy, but a much, much colder country. Ever since their embrace over a century prior, they found they seldom missed those warm summers compared to their new blizzards.
Their most adorned ghoul, Aurora, prodded a small fire in the hearth to slowly bring it to life. The firelight glittered in the gemstones embedded in her hands and face and braided into her hair. Few ghouls had the courage to act up in front of them, and yet this one did. But there was no doubt of her loyalty. She was their most adorned for a reason, after all.
They turned away from the window and towards their ghoul, who huffed as a cold breeze swept through the room and threatened to put out her fire. Her reactions were often adorable, and they found themself smiling at it once again.
“How fares the pack?” They asked, their tone flat. Disinterested.
“Penelope has been wondering when you will return, while Julian has been preparing to deal with those Hunters from last month.” Aurora listed off her small report, watching Orion for a reaction that never came. They would ask about the pack, but never cared much for what answers they’d receive. None knew what the two of them did, that the Tzimisce was immune to such things as the Vaulderie.
Orion paced slowly, taking in the brief bit of information. Their cold, crystal hands lifted up to touch a pair of porcelain dolls on a shelf. One made to be a smaller copy of themself, while the other was not quite as identical. Too human, too untouched by the embrace. But with those same eyes as their own.
“Will you be joining the pack this time?” Aurora asked, eyeing the doll in their hands.
They nodded, placing the doll back on its shelf. “If these are the same Hunters, then I must come. After all, my dearest twin and I have some catching up to do.” A hunger shone in their eyes as they looked back to their ghoul. Their long standing game would continue, and they would be the victor this time. They would become a beautiful, matching pair of canvases. There would be no other outcome.