Civil Twilight

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Prologue

The terran kneeled before his master, waiting tolerantly in silence for him to speak. After several long moments his demon master replied in acrid tones, “Yes…I have seen it. It is the Fayleen child. You should have all you require, do you not?”

“Yes my lord.”

“Once you have completed the task, assuming she survives, you will bring her to me. Is that clear?”

“She?” the terran sounded confused as he had expected it to be the boy.

“Do you question me?” the authority in his voice said his will was to be obeyed unfailingly.

“My apologies my lord, I was merely surprised.”

He had understood that they would need him to accomplish this goal, and he had only been too willing. He was prepared to assist in whatever way would bring pain and anguish to Unarsh Fayleen. He was just a child when he first heard the news of his brother’s death, and he vowed since that day that he would seek retribution against the one he held responsible. What better way to seek that revenge than upon one’s children? Nevertheless, he had anticipated it would be the boy and would now need to alter his plan somewhat to accommodate the younger girl.

“If you succeed, you will be greatly rewarded,” the demon added, though to the terran, the pain he would inflict on the Fayleen family would be more than reward enough.

“Thank you, sir,” he said, preparing to excuse himself.

“Terran,” the demon called after him, “If you fail, I will make you wish you had never existed. Do I make myself clear?”

He took a moment before responding, “Perfectly.”





Chapter 1

    Darkness. Each bump and lurch sent her into another tizzy of agony and misery. As Lyllian slowly opened her eyes, she could see last rays of the sun were sneaking through the cracks, shedding light on her small prison. She lifted a hand to her forehead, feeling a painful lump just above her right temple. She attempted to sit up when an intense pain ripped through her skull; holding her head in agony, she waited for the throbbing to subside as the sound of her heart pulsated in her ears. She stared at the floor trying to take in what had happened.
        Knowing that her captures would take anything they deemed of value, she reached up for her necklace almost in a panic. Relief washed over her as she found it still safely tucked under her dress. Hugh had been given strict instructions she was never to take it off and assured her it would bring her luck. The unusual amber trinket had been a generous gift from Hugh which she treasured greatly. Realizing what had occurred she began to sob uncontrollably; she felt forlorn and lost. She tried to calm herself as each shuddering breath caused searing pain in her head, but no matter how hard she struggled she was unable to. Eventually she was able to compose herself but she couldn’t shake the lingering feeling of dread that knotted in her stomach. 
    She let out a deep breath and then tried in vain to see past her small cage, but wasn’t able to see enough to get a sense of where she was. Time seemed to drag on for an eternity, the rhythmic motions of the carriage occasionally giving way to sudden jarring motions. The intense throbbing gradually gave way to a dull unrelenting ache.
    Light eventually gave way to darkness. She was offered a brief reprieve from her prison and provisions that were nothing more than leftover scraps that smelled half rotten. She refused to eat it, her hunger having not won out quite yet. A few of the men eyed her in a way which made her uncomfortable, their looks obviously hungering for something more than just the food in their bellies. A tall, lanky man came walking towards her, “Get back, bunch of fucking blathering buffoons. Last thing we need is one of you pathetic fools to damage our latest acquisition.”
         Lyllian should have felt grateful, but somehow his words sent a chord of fear ripping through her. “We sorry Juslye,” came a voice from a short, squat man, “You know us, we don’t see young girls much,” he said licking his lips as he eyed her.
    “I understand Henry, but you can have all the whores you want when we fetch a decent price for her,” he reached out to touch her hair, “She should fetch a decent amount, if we play our cards right.”
    Lyllian tried to back away, but found herself corned next to the carriage and was she was forced to endure him. Looking at her like a hungry animal, he noticed something that caught his eye and his hands wandered from her locks to the thin chain around her neck. Putting one finger underneath it, he gently pulled it out of her dress to examine what was attached to the cord. Alarmed, she grabbed the amber amulet in her fist determined not to lose it; however, Juslye was stronger than her and eventually wretched it out of her hands, “Give that back!” she spat with anger attempting to retrieve her precious gift.
    Juslye merely shoved her to the ground and continued examining the unusual trinket, “We should be able to get a decent amount for this as well,” he seemed captivated with the remarkable charm.
    “No, I need my necklace back, please don’t take my necklace!” she pleaded and begged, her face wet with tears. He ignored her and turned his attentions to the eagerly awaiting mob, “I highly suggest that you blaggards keep to yourselves; should you spoil our booty, you will be sorry.”
    A hush fell over the crowd, and more than one face looked disappointed. Lyllian was soon forced into her box once again and as the door shut she began to sob, having lost her most precious possession, her world was now completely devoid now of any hope.





Chapter 2


    By the following evening she was famished enough to eat the food offered to her, nearly choking on it as she tried to swallow the foul stuff. The subsequent days went by in a haze, with nothing to do in her solitude she went in and out of sleep frequently. At first the shackle on her ankle pinched and bruised, but with time it began to rub the area raw and a painful stinging sensation replaced the dull ache.
    Sometimes she became nauseous, but she wasn’t sure if it was from her mysterious illness returning or the atrocious and often rotting food they offered her. Numerous times Juslye pressed her for her name, and every time she remained silent on the subject. It didn’t overly concern him, and he eventually started calling her Maria. Lyllian lost track of the days, but she was able to discern from listening to her captures that they were travelling to Teldaeryn, a city in a country called Demarak.  Juslye was convinced he would get the best price for his plunder in a richer country, as well as the fact there were other, more profitable forms of earning a living in Teldaeryn.
    What concerned Lyllian was that it was the capital city ruled by the David Des’kar. David, the elder son of the oldest vampyre known to exist, was well-known in Sanavin as “Prince of Darkness,” and to her family was considered one of their greatest enemies.
She had been born into a religious family, who headed a prestigious guild known as the Shastrua. The mashari were warriors loyal to the Shastrua, and thus Sanavin, and were responsible for selflessly protecting Sanavin against the Katein plague such as vampyres, demons, dwarves, ogres, and any other threat not human save for their neighbors the sol elves and their peaceful nature. Yet of all the races of the world, vampyres, particularly the Des'kar family, were considered their worst enemies.
    With a shudder she tried to bring happier images to mind. She thought back to all the times Hugh had come to visit her, and how they had played hide and go seek. How her father had wanted her to marry soon, and her mother patiently trying to teach her all that goes with being woman and a wife. She wondered what her brother was doing at this moment, her brother who had left to carry on the family legacy of becoming a mashari. She recalled the day Adriel had left. How proud her parents were as he brought honor to the family! She also remembered how she had felt a twinge of jealousy that day as she watched him ride away, as she could fill no other role in the family than to marry quickly and raise sons to also follow in her brother's footsteps.
    How she yearned to see them all again, and now she was uncertain as to where fate would take her. All too soon they reached their destination, and as they opened the door her eyes stung from the sudden brightness despite the ugly day. Still manacled, they cleaned her up and made her look presentable, paying attention to as many details as possible and choosing a garment which would hide the marks of her imprisonment. Lyllian quickly realized she was the only living "plunder" they intended to sell.
    Juslye put on his best clothes, and led her through the streets like a dog on a leash, proudly showing off his wares as they made their way to the slave quarter. Lyllian was in such a state of shock she barely noticed her surroundings. It was not long before a buyer was found, and after a short period of bartering money was exchanged for a girl they knew only as Maria by a customer who was well dressed and spoke in a foreign tongue.
“My dear, it has been a pleasure,” Juslye said as he unshackled and her and handed her off to her new owner.
    The person she assumed was her new owner looked human enough. He was a man who obviously did not miss a meal; his blond hair was graying on the sides. Keeping a close eye on her, he led her to an open carriage and gestured for her to sit. Dreading what was to come next, she nervously played with her dress.
As they crested the hill Lyllian beheld a formidable looking stonewall, its surface rough and uninviting. She craned her head upwards but was unable to see what the ramparts withheld. They continued travelling parallel to the wall, the area clear of any foliage giving its defenders an unobstructed view. Impressive towers loomed overhead at various intervals, their presence intimidating. Coming around to what Lyllian assumed to be the front, they passed through a series of gates which allowed them to enter within the confines of the walls.
         The keep awaited them within, its walls boasted unique and stunning carvings, making it stand out from its otherwise foreboding surroundings. The community was bustling about, with a flurry of activity going on inside. Slowly they made their way to the front of the keep, the carriage coming to a gentle stop in front of a large wooden door, and Lyllian was swiftly led within. Whoever her owner was, he was a wealthy man.
    As she was led through the corridors, she noticed the floors were scrupulously clean, rats were absent from the halls, and even the servants seemed to be well-kept. She was stunned not only by the size of the keep, but also at how orderly and clean they maintained it. She was beginning to understand why Juslye had wanted to come to this city in the first place; Teldaeryn must have been a prosperous city indeed for nobles to boast such luxurious living quarters.
    She was given fresh bread, cheese, and water; Lyllian swore she’d never had anything that tasted so delicious or satisfying after weeks of eating moldy bread and foul meat. She wiped her mouth in satisfaction as she savored the lingering taste of her meal on her pallet. The water all but washed the flavor from her mouth; the meager supplements enough to appease her hunger without completely satisfying it.
    She suddenly came to the realization that whoever purchased her was not her new owner as she was handed over to two robust women. The women attending to her were identical in looks with wiry, steel gray hair; not only did they appear alike, they were also dressed similar and wore their hair in the same fashion so Lyllian was unable to tell one from the other.
    The women never addressed her and worked around her with such proficiency that Lyllian assumed this was routine for them. As the two women bustled about they chatted idly amongst themselves in a language Lyllian didn’t understand, so instead she contemplated to herself what was to become of her. Numerous possible outcomes entered her thoughts, some of which were more appealing than others.
    After she was meticulously bathed and her hair neatly arranged, she was presented with a stunning lilac gown with gold trim and long sleeves. The garment was uncomfortable as the bust line came up unusually high, but not wanting to appear foolish she wore the dress without complaint. However, when it came to the matching lilac slippers they were much too cramped so she slipped on her familiar filthy leather shoes assuming they would be hidden under the fabric of her dress.
    They stood back and looked at her, adjusting some small detail here and there, and then addressed her.  The one repeated it and Lyllian gave them a puzzled look, unable to comprehend the tongue in which they spoke, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
One of the twins pointed at the shoes and with a thick accent replied, “Those are not ze choos ve give you.”
“I know.”
The other twin handed her the matching shoes, “Put zees on.”
“I can’t, they don’t fit.”
The twins glanced at each other, a few words passed between them before they addressed Lyllian again, “Come wit us.”
         The three walked silently through a snake of corridors, ascending a long flight of stairs, and down another maze of passageways before approaching a foreboding wooden door, where two guards stood flanking either side of it. Stern faces greeted the trio, and she hardly recognized herself as she caught a brief glance of her reflection in the highly polished breastplate. Her ordinary, boring brown hair was transformed into a sophisticated style which made her appear older, and the lavender gown complimented her light skin tones.
The guard on the right, obviously the elder of the two, knocked, a muffled voice responded and he entered the room alone. Their voices were barely audible as words were exchanged, and then the door was opened and she was instructed to do something, but she didn’t understand.
         One of the women responded, and then the guard addressed her in a tongue she understood, “You are to come in.”
         Lyllian nodded and did as told, unsure of what she should do or say. The person she presumed to be her owner stood before her, bent over the desk as if refusing to sit. A cloak in deep tones of purple draped over his shoulders obscuring the expensive dark clothes he was wearing; his dark, nearly-shoulder length hair forming a curtain of mystery as to the features of his face. She thought it was jet black, but realized upon closer inspection it held a midnight blue hue which glimmered across its silk-like surface at certain angles. He did not look up to greet them, remaining instead hunched over the papers cluttered across his desk.
         The room was lit pleasantly by numerous candles and a roaring fire. Heavy drapes obscured the windows, the floors were carpeted with thick, ornate rugs, and paintings in a style Lyllian had never seen before hung on the wall. At one end was an oversized bed, with beautiful embroidery sewn into the bedspread. Directly across from the bed was an inviting crimson red sofa in front of the fireplace, with a small side table next to it, and countless books adorned the shelves on the wall. She was not sure what she had expected, but this was not it.
         “Lord Des’kar,” the soldier said respectfully, and after a brief pause he reverted back to the same unintelligible tongue.
         Astonishment crossed her face as she began to break out into a cold sweat, her heart pumping rapidly in her chest; one of her country’s greatest enemies stood before her. She forgot to breathe for a moment as a knot of doom formed deep in her stomach and disparity threatened to overwhelm her.
         He groaned, took a deep breath but refused to turn away from his work, “Alright. Leave the terran here," he said in perfect common, though with an unusual accent, “Now leave us.”
         “Yes my lord!” and with a salute the soldier excused himself from their presence.
         The prince continued to be engrossed in his paper work for what seemed like eons before he finally straightened up and looked at anything besides the documents which had kept him so preoccupied. With all the courage she could muster she intended to glare at him, but was taken aback by his vibrant eyes; they were a blue she had never seen before, a piercing and unnatural blue. He glanced at her for only a brief second and then returned to the task at hand.


*                    *                    *

         Although Loyen meant well sending the girl to him as a gift, he was annoyed at the notion; had he desired a toy to play with, he would have had one arranged to be brought up to him. Unfortunately his friend did not see it the same way, and after much begging and pleading he agreed to at least consider indulging in leisurely activities. His mind was not made up just yet, but if she was pleasing enough he might enjoy her for the night and discard her in the morning.
         He overheard the guard instruct her to enter, and then a woman responded explaining that she did not speak Demarian but she did understand common. A foreigner and a slave...he mulled silently without enthusiasm. Although some foreign women could be exotic and exciting, countless of them were also prudish and more trouble than they were worth. Although he could charm and seduce even the most conservative of women, he wasn't feeling up to it at the moment.
         She was brought in and he took no notice of her as he dismissed the guard, preferring instead to return to his toils spread out across the desk. He heard her heart begin to race as she stood where she was - he knew too well how mortals responded to fear. As he scribbled something down he inhaled her scent and noticed something that surprised him. Wondering if she was even human he stole a brief glance at her, She seems human enough.He returned to his documents but found himself unable to continue, she was different somehow and it had him intrigued. He heard her begin to breathe again; the floor creaking as she anxiously shifted her weight. He finally straightened up and abandoned his work altogether, curious about the mortal before him. Turning around he found her in the middle of the room, exactly where the guard had left her. Still standing, he leaned back against the desk and folded his arms and studied her for several long moments. At first she boldly glared back at him, but his unwavering gaze made her uncomfortable and eventually she looked away. She absently fiddled with her dress unsure what to do. At least she is smart enough to be afraid.
    Although she was a little pale, she seemed healthy; her chestnut brown hair elaborately done up, making her likely appear more mature than she actually was. Although she wasn't stunningly gorgeous, she was pretty enough. Taking a second look at her he realized that if she was human, she likely was still a girl growing into a woman. He continued to exam her as she maintained her position; meanwhile she tried to appear preoccupied while occasionally glancing back at him to see if he was still analyzing her.
    He did not break his gaze away and continued scrutinizing her for some length of time; nothing in her demeanor suggested she was anything else but a terran female. He remained inhumanly still as he studied his prey, contemplating who and what she was. He could just take her, drink deeply from her and as he did peruse her thoughts and memories; however, that seemed too simple. Besides, if the memories were buried deeply he may kill her in the process of discovering the answer, and he wasn't sure whether or not at this point he wanted to do that.
    His face was neutral as he asked in common, "Where are you from?"
    Her only response was to scowl at him, trying her best to show him she was not afraid
Moments of silence stretched on, "What is your name?"
He watched her clench her fists as another wave of fear shook her body. Once again she did not respond, so he asked the final question, hoping she would slip up in some way revealing part of the mystery, "What are you?"
         She seemed surprised and confused by the question, perhaps she was taken aback that he had sensed something odd about her, or perhaps she was not even aware of it herself. She continued glaring at him in such a way it was nearly comical. He took another deep breath, inhaling her scent. He could smell the human in her well enough, the sweet aroma of her blood was strong; however, he could faintly smell something acrid and sour as well which he couldn’t identify. He finally concluded that whatever she was, she was predominately human.  "Hhm, curious."
         He would take his time unraveling the mystery at hand, but first he had work that needed tending to. He unfolded his arms and then returned to his papers, leaving the girl to do as she pleased the rest of the evening.

*                    *                    *

         Although he left her alone, the night seemed to stretch on for an eternity. She was determined to remain where she was; however, after several hours her feet began to ache. He never once acknowledged her again, and as the night drifted onward her feet began to ache to the point that she had to give them rest. She hugged her knees to her chest and studied him as he leaned over his desk for quite some time before he finally sat in the chair afforded to him, though he still refused to resign from his papers.
    She pondered what could be so important that it captivated his attention so. Soon enough her thoughts drifted towards home and she distinctly felt an aching in her heart. She thought back to the last time she had seen Hugh, poor Hugh who had seemed fraught with worry as he visited her sick in her bed as she lay there wondering if she was going to die. Then she thought back to the last time she had seen her parents, and she remembered them telling her they would be with her soon as she kissed them good-bye. How she wished now she had savored those last precious moments she had spent with the closest people in her life.
    Lord Des'kar suddenly stopped what he was doing and lifted his head up but did not turn to look at her, "Why are you crying?" he said with feigned concern.
         Lyllian suddenly became aware of the fact her cheeks were wet and her nose was running. Hastily, she wiped her face with her sleeve trying to get rid of the evidence. He turned his head and glanced at her, knowing full well he was not going to receive a response. She remained on the floor, hugging her knees and staring into the fire completely ignoring him as best as she could. Taking a deep breath, he resumed his work.
         She wasn't sure how much more time had passed, but it seemed like eons and eons. The need for sleep was becoming more and more pressing, and as the night continued to dwindle she found it harder and harder to remain conscious. She decided to lie down on the plush rug beneath her and rest for just a moment to regain her strength for whatever lay ahead.










Chapter 3


         Lyllian awoke on the oversized bed, fully clothed, on top of the ornate comforter in the same room she had been brought to the previous night; however, there was one significant change from the previous night - there was no vampyre in the room. The chamber was dim but the dying fire provided enough of a glow for her to find her way. Sitting up she smoothed out her dress and realized that her feet were bare and her old leather shoes were missing. She climbed down from the bed searching for her shoes and instead found a familiar looking pair of lilac slippers at the foot of the bed.
         Irritated, she refused to slip them on, the carpeting on the floor keeping her feet warm enough for the time being. Unsure of how much time had passed; she peered out the drapes and was delighted to find the sun greeting her. With a flare of enthusiasm she threw open the heavy drapes; with ease the first and second parted welcoming the brilliance of the light into the room, but the third window closest to the desk was refusing to budge. She pulled at it harder and harder, and finally with frustration tried to yank it open with all of her might when suddenly it came crashing down, hitting the edge of the desk and sending papers everywhere. "Dang it!" she exclaimed in frustration, looking at the mess she had caused.
         Curious, she picked up one of the papers still remaining on the desk but was unable to read the language in which it was written. She admired the beauty of the penmanship for just a moment before crumpling the paper in disgust and throwing it to the ground. She contemplated spilling the remaining contents onto the floor when a creak interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see him quietly shut the door and examine the situation before him. He stood inhumanly still near the door and regarded her quietly; he seemed neither angry nor upset as he stared at her. This increased her irritation and without another thought she moved to execute her plan, a heavy thud hitting the floor, and papers floating to the ground. She looked to him for his reaction, but there was none. He remained exactly where he was, his face neutral, his body completely still.
         His lack of reaction caused her to become even more furious, and finally she yelled at him, "Why don't you DO something besides just stand there, looking at me vampyre!"
         He continued to stand, still and silent as a statue, his face revealing nothing. She picked up one of his papers and walked within a few feet of where he stood, "You were working on this all night, whatever it was that was so important," she crumpled up another paper and threw it to the floor, "Are you going to do something or..."
         She trailed off, unsure what else to say as she realized she was standing within feet of him, yelling into his face. He looked down at her calmly, inwardly surprised by the sudden show of spirit. His continued lack of evident reaction pissed her off even more, and she turned to continue destroying what she could when he firmly grabbed her arm, "I take it you didn't sleep well," he said in that same unusual accent, obviously trying to inject humor into the situation.
         She whirled around, "Get your hands off me, you filthy vydierac!" she spat as she emphasized the last word, a common slander to his kind.
         He chuckled to himself as he let go, "I see you have taken the liberty of re-arranging; however, there are better ways of organizing."
         She wanted to hurt him, and without thinking she reached out to slap him but he grabbed her wrist and prevented her from doing so, "My you have a surprising amount of energy; however, perhaps it would be better spent on more agreeable activities," his voice was lighthearted as he smiled at her.
         "DON'T touch me!!!" she barked again as she wrenched her wrist free.
         She rubbed her wrist, which was still sore from her imprisonment, as she glared at him. "Now, if you are done perhaps you would like to join me for some breakfast. I'm sure you must be hungry," he said as he opened the door for her.
         "I don't want to dine with you."
         "I always considered it better to be dined with than dined on, but in either case its breakfast time. I'll let you decide what's on the menu," he said teasingly.
         The blood drained from her face, unsure if he really was joking. She took a deep breath before responding, "I don't intend to willingly be your breakfast, kisértet," she said the last word, an even harsher insult to his kind, slowly.
         Bewilderment briefly crossed his face before he recomposed himself; however, he did not retaliate at the derision. Silence stretched on between the two only to be interrupted by a sudden growl from Lyllian's stomach. The silence broken, he responded somberly, his tone was no longer of a teasing nature, "I'm not going to feed off of you. Now, slip on your shoes so we can go downstairs, breakfast is waiting."
         "They don't fit," she stated to him as if she was pointing out the obvious and crossing her arms,
         "Oh? Are you sure?"
         She marched over to show him how wrong he was as she prepared to cram her foot into the uncomfortable thing once again. Instead her foot slid easily in, the slipper being a perfect fit. She stared at it in surprise and then slipped the other one on as if expecting it to be too small. "Come now," he said warmly.
         She opened her mouth to refuse but was interrupted by another grumble, reminding her all too well of her hunger which was becoming more unbearable. Embarrassed, she didn't utter another word and instead followed him reluctantly into the hallway, her mouth already salivating at the prospect of food.
         She followed him through the maze of the keep, noting the agility and silence in which he effortlessly took every step, the two of them eventually coming to a large banquet hall. A long dining table was set for the two of them, with one setting at the head of the table, and one to the left of it. Plates of fruits, nuts, breads, and some other foods Lyllian couldn't identify adorned the table. A servant came, held their chairs for them, and then proceeded to pour juice as Lyllian eyed the food trying to contain herself.
         Lord Des'kar reached over and put a piece of fruit, a pear, onto her plate, "I know you are famished, but try and eat slowly," he cautioned before pulling his hand away.
         She tried to keep her composure, but as her teeth sank into the soft, ripe skin and the juices flowed into her mouth she became lost in her desire and voraciously ate the fruit, nearly choking in the process. In her haste she ate the core with only the stem and dimple left in two separate pieces, "I think you've finished it," he said gently, reaching to pull it away.
         She stared at him numbly as he pried it from her fingers and set the remains on her plate. Her chin was covered with juice which was also dripping onto her expensive gown. He reached over and handed her napkin to her, gesturing to her face; flustered she used the napkin to dab her face. He took another piece of fruit but did not put it on her plate; instead he began to cut up the round red fruit nimbly. She cautiously began to reach for piece of bread when his voice interfered with her efforts, "Not yet."
         She pulled her hand back and glared angrily back at him. He chuckled quietly and then gave her the apple, now cut up into small pieces, onto her plate and set the core aside. At first she put them into her mouth and chewed as fast as she could, anticipating the next bite, but then came the same authoritative voice instructing her to slow down. With great effort and concentration, she was able to finish the remaining pieces at a more appropriate pace. Her hunger was beginning to subside, becoming more manageable. "Drink," he instructed next.
         She hesitated a moment, then brought the glass up to her mouth; however, upon tasting the juice she no longer hesitated but drank greedily, spilling a little of the sweet fluid onto her dress. She set her glass down with an empty thud, grabbing her napkin and hastily wiped her mouth apparently not realizing it was also on her gown. He gestured towards her clothes, her face turning several shades of red as she dabbed at the leftovers which dampened the fabric. "I'm sure your hunger is appeased enough now to prevent you from making yourself sick. Please, help yourself," he gestured at the food spread before them.
         She snatched a piece of bread, another piece of fruit, and a handful of nuts as another glass of juice was poured for her. Lord Des'kar meanwhile indulged in the brightly colored dish on the table. "This is frittata," he informed her, "try some."
         He put a small portion on her plate which she eyed unenthusiastically. She ate the rest of her food first before delving into the mystery dish before her.  Poking at it before tasting it, she eventually ate a very small portion unsure if she liked the taste and mixture of textures. She took another bite, larger this time, and inspected the taste further before deciding it was tolerable enough to eat. "Next time perhaps we will have a more traditional Savanian breakfast."
         Her hand froze on her glass as he emphasized the word Savanian. She gave him a dirty look and opened her mouth to deny it but he cut her off, "Don't try to refute it," he added, his voice dangerous, "I hate prevaricators."
         She pulled her hand back into her lap, her heart racing as she broke out into a cold sweat, her mind racing on how to react, what to say. She swallowed hard before responding, her voice trembling as she spoke, "W-w-when..." she had a hard time finishing her sentence, "are you going t-t-to...k-kill-"
         "I didn't say I was going to kill you," he responded in a cold unsympathetic tone.
         "Then what are you going to do with me?" she asked meekly.
         "I'm not sure yet, but I have no intentions on killing you," he took a moment before continuing, "Besides, one can't help where they are born, and it isn't a crime to be from a place; however, it does make you much more," he paused, trying to find the appropriate word before continuing, "intriguing."
         "How did you..." she paused a moment and then rephrased her question, "Is it my accent?"
         "Your accent? No," his voice was neutral once again.
         "Then...." she trailed off, a perplexed look upon her face as she tried to figure out what it was that had identified her so easily.
         His voice turned into one of surprise, "You really don't know?"
         Silence confirmed she was ignorant of what it was she had done. He added icily, "Vydierac is a common enough insult towards my kind; however, Kisértet," he said the word slowly, enunciating it perfectly, "is generally a term only Savanian's use. You should have known that."
It was obvious she had realized she had made a very stupid mistake. She was too preoccupied with her fear to notice a servant was clearing the plates. She found herself unable to look away from him as he continued to glare at her. She eventually found relief when he finally broke eye contact and turned to speak to one of the servants in demarian, at which point Lyllian became aware of the fact, her plate was absent. His gaze once again returned to her, "You will need to go upstairs and change into a clean gown."


*                    *                    *

         He ensured she returned to his room by escorting her there himself. Having discovered one of her little secrets, he understood a few of her behaviors better than the previous night; however, it also created even more questions and fewer answers. As they entered the room, the toppled desk and strewed parchment reminded him once again of the irritation and vexation she was unaware she had caused this morning. It had taken a great deal of constraint to appear neutral and calm prior to breakfast, but as he looked at the disorder before him once again he realized the whole situation was rather ridiculous.
         He watched her survey the havoc she wrecked earlier with satisfaction, clearly feeling no remorse for her actions. He forced himself to appear unabashed at the disturbance she had caused, trying to appear friendly and lighthearted, "Ah yes, I forgot about the improvements you made earlier this morning," he bent down to pick up a crumpled up ball of paper she had carelessly thrown to the floor during her episode, "However, I think we may need to take them one step further."
         It was evident she was holding her tongue, though it wasn't hard to imagine what she withheld from speaking aloud. He heard footsteps approach and anticipated the rap that sounded on the door, with the twins that had attended Lyllian previously waiting on the other side. "I believe you remember Mia and Mya, the two women who attended you yesterday. They are waiting to help you change."
         Thankfully she didn't argue and instead left without a single word of complaint. Now that she was gone, he had to collect and re-organize all his letters, notes, and documents. He proceeded to accumulate everything into one small chest, preparing to move his study to an alternate location for the time being. As he righted the desk and as he picked up the ink pot, he noticed a dark spot on the expensive rug that did not belong. He swore profanities as he touched the spot, which was still wet to the touch. The stopper must have been loose...damn it!          
The rug had been a treasured gift from his step-sister, now ruined, making the girl suddenly seem more trouble than she was worth. Taking a deep breath, he set the jar down and began moving his study upstairs in the small room in the east tower. In truth he had always been fond of the east tower room, it was cozy and offered an outstanding view from the small window, and perhaps this was as good a reason as any to utilize it for the time being. Preferring to handle these particular possessions himself, he carried the small trunk upstairs to the snug little room and instructed one of the servants to see to it that the desk was brought up as well. He then returned to the room, repaired the curtain, and proceeded to lie on the bed as he pondered the mystery of the girl.
         Upon first hearing her accent, he would have placed her in one of the regions well south of Demarak; however, he was still stunned over the discovery that she was from Sanavin, as it was the last place he would have thought she could possibly have come from. Considering Sanavins were highly intolerant of any races other than that of elves and terrans, he was puzzled by how she had managed to escape execution. Although terrans lacked the superior senses many other species possessed, the Mashari were known for their keen sense of auras and energies and he couldn't imagine she would have escaped their notice, even if she was mostly human. There was the possibility that she had had no interaction with the Mashari, but considering Sanavin was such a small country he couldn't believe that she would have gone her entire existence without having encountered at least one. There was more to her, he was sure of that.






Chapter 4

         Lyllian was forced to return to the same room as the previous evening. The guard announced her before she came in, which elicited a groggy and unenthusiastic response from the vampyre. She was now in a fresh gown with her hair re-arranged, but was surprised to enter the room only to find Lord Des'kar lying on his side, his back to the windows. Without opening his eyes, he murmured to the guard to leave and then returned to his slumber. Lyllian noted a sliver of light coming from a small opening in the drapes which hung over the window - the same drapes she had accidentally sent crashing to the floor earlier than morning. She also observed that papers were no longer strewn across the floor and the desk was now absent. Returning her attentions back to the vampyre, she noticed he neither moved nor stirred but remained deep in slumber.
         She watched him doze for a long period of time, feeling more and more at ease as the monster slept. She advanced as silently as she could towards him, stopping at the side of the bed and examining his face. He seemed harmless enough as he lay, his features peaceful and his eyelids closed. As she scrutinized him, his mouth parted just a little as his jaw relaxed, offering her a glimpse of what lay inside. Assuming the danger was currently dormant, a sense of morbid curiosity overcame her as she knelt and brought her head level with his, trying to peer inside and get a closer look. She could see a small portion of one of his fangs and found herself gaping at it with intense interest. Coming to her senses, she stood up but as she did she felt a hand clamp down on her forearm as a voice purred, "Are you curious?"
         He groggily opened his eyes as he sat up, his grip unrelenting as she tried to pull away, "Don't touch me vydierac!"
         "You didn't answer my question, terran."
         "I wouldn't be curious of anything you offered," she said, still trying to pull away.
         "Oh?" he sounded disbelieving. "Then what were you doing?" he pulled her towards him, refusing to let go.
         "Nothing!" she said as she struggled.
         "I will let you have a closer look if you desire," he said with a smile.
         She stopped struggling as she gawked at him, "Come now, I know you are curious," he let her go and they sat gazing at each other in silence.
         "No, I want nothing to do with you kisértet," and she hastily stood up and backed away from him.
         "You know, I really would appreciate it if you would stop calling me that. It's rude," he stated matter-of-factly.
         "I don't have to be polite to you."
         "I have given you no excuse to be disrespectful. Have I given you any reason to be uncivil?"
         "You're a vampyre, which is more than reason enough."
         "Is it? You have clean clothes on your back, a warm place to sleep, and I haven't violated you in any way. I would beg you to reconsider your justification."
         "I didn't ask for anything you've given me."
         "No, you didn't ask, you didn't need to. For the time being I have seen that all your human needs are met, without any expectation of gratitude or acknowledgement. All I ask for is a little respect. So I will ask you again to stop insulting me."
         She glared angrily but remained silent. "Well if that is settled then I have matters to attend to. I will ask that you remain here for the time being. I will see that someone checks in on you from time to time in case you find yourself in need of anything."

*                    *                    *

         She was more than glad to be rid of him, and it took a few moments for her to recollect herself and calm down. The first thing she did after he left was open the drapes, letting the brilliance of the sun in. She gazed out the window noting that she had quite a magnificent view from where they were. She saw rolling hills painted with brilliant colors of reds, yellows, and oranges, a city sprawled across the land, and far off she could see snow capped mountains in the distance. Looking below she saw people bustling about, some carrying wood, others tending to animals, some coming and going, each carrying out their duty assigned to them.
         She pulled herself away from the window and decided to try the door, but as soon she opened it the two guards on the other side ushered her back into her prison. Resigned she sat on the couch and pondered what to do. Her attentions turned toward a spot that she saw out of the corner of her eye, a large black blemish that obviously did not belong amongst the ornate and beautiful weaving of the exotic rug. She ran her hand over it, surprised that it was still damp to the touch. Pulling her fingers away she gleefully noticed the ink had stained anything it came in contact with.
         She wiped her hands on the front of her dress, black streaks staining the expensive fabric. With enthusiasm she proceeded to sit on the spot, allowing her weight to aid in absorbing as much of it as possible. As she was standing up to survey the damage, a knock sounded at the door; as promised a woman was sent up to check on her well being. Although the woman gave Lyllian a look of obvious disapproval, she didn't mention anything on the subject of Lyllian's dress before leaving her to her solitude once again. Later on a tray of fruits, nuts, sandwiches, and a pitcher of water was brought into the room, the sandwiches being particularly delectable and comforting in a familiar sort of way.
         She was sitting on the sofa snacking on a bunch of grapes when one slipped from her fingers and rolled under her seat. While retrieving the grape, she noticed something under the sofa, a book of some sort.  Fetching the leather bound volume, she examining its aged cover as she got comfortable once again. Gently she pried it open, its yellowing pages within greeted her with elegant handwriting in a style she immediately recognized dismally. She supposed it was a journal by the dates at the top of each page; however she was unable to comprehend the language which she assumed to be demarian. Inspecting it carefully, she attempted to sound out the words as she saw them; although the languages were different, they shared a common script. As she read the words aloud she attempted to decipher their meaning, some words were easy to understand, though most words she was completely at a loss as to their definition or meaning.

*                    *                    *

         The afternoon passed pleasantly and quietly as David re-organized his papers and penned a few letters. Realizing the sun was low in the sky, he knew it was nearing time to set his work aside and proceeded downstairs to retrieve the girl. As he approached the door he could hear her within. Motioning to the guards to remain as they were, he paused just outside the entrance as he listened to her trying to sound out words in demarian and butchering them horribly, stumbling through the words and exaggerating sounds that shouldn't be exaggerated. She must have grabbed one of the books off of the bookshelf.
         Without knocking he quietly opened the door, noting that she was much too concentrated on the text to notice him enter the room.  “My, my…you keep getting more and more interesting. So, you can read?” came a curious voice from behind her.
Her hands shaking and her heart racing, she attempted to hide the evidence under one of the cushions and stood, turning to face him. He studied her with a puzzled expression as he approached her, his face turning from puzzlement to disapproval as he noted the state of her dress. Damn it, I should have known better.
She stood defiant, triumphing over her small victory. "I see you seem to find trouble even if there is none to be found," he observed, "Well, you can remain in the dress for the time being," his voice was calm but the tension was not completely indiscernible.
He moved to grab the book; she attempted to impede him from retrieving it but he gently moved her aside and plucked it from between the cushions, noting as he did that ink was smeared onto the sofa as well. Damn it!!! he swore silently.
Trying to forget the sofa for the time being, he inspected the volume she had been reading - it was one of his journals. He held it up to her, "Do you know what this is?" he didn't attempt to hide his irritation any longer.
"Yes."
"Then what is it?!" his voice was growing louder as he demanded an answer.
She began to respond, caught off guard by his reaction, "Its-"
"Well, what is it? Answer!" he demanded as he stalked towards her.
She backed up unconsciously until she was unable to retreat any further, "Its-Its-Its, I-I-I think, Ithinkitsajournal," she said quickly trying to get the words out.
"You were reading my journal. You knew what it was and you were reading my journal!"
"I, well...it’s not like I could understand it," she said quietly without any of the conviction she was hoping to have behind the words.
"I'm done with you," he grabbed her by the arm and thrust her into the hallway, "Get this terran out of my sight!" he spat at the guards and slammed the door.

*                    *                    *

She was thrown into the dungeon unceremoniously, darkness surrounding her as the door slammed shut and the bolt slid into place. She sat alone on the cold, damp ground hugging her knees and sobbing into the ruined frock. She sobbed and sobbed, and then prayed to Solmyst for guidance and protection, desperate for consolation and hope. With nothing but the echo of her own sobs to answer her prayers, she laid on the ground as desolation and despair began to set in.
She wasn’t sure how long she laid there before she woke to hear a door open, the light hurting her eyes. Something scraped across the ground then darkness once again surrounded her. She realized she was shivering unconsciously, and as she moved towards the door she felt a throbbing in her head. Feeling around she came across a small bowl, its contents smelling unsavory to say the least. Refusing to eat the contents, she abandoned the meal and laid back down, feeling the beginnings of her illness wrack her body once more.












Chapter 5


         Although fatigue was beginning to set in, David continued working through the night completely engrossed in his endeavors, though he eventually set aside his obligations as the darkness began to recede. Glancing out the modest window in his new study he could see the horizon start to illuminate as the sky became painted like fire. Concluded with his written work after hours of tedious work, he was prepared to blissfully spend the morning hours getting caught up on some much needed rest.
Running a hand through his smooth, dark, hair he let out a sigh and proceeded downstairs to his bed. In the afternoon he would have business to tend to; reports would need to be heard and taken into account, disputes would have to be settled, finances would need to be resolved, among other things.
    Ensuring the drapes were drawn tight, he slept peacefully through much of the morning and reluctantly rose from his bed early that afternoon. Having received mundane reports on news and intelligence, he next heard from his advisors. Arduously listening to them ramble on about various topics, they deliberated on a few of the more paramount issues which  before he attended to a few other matters which required his personal touch. All business concluded, he decided to retire to the library to employ his free time reading, one of his favorite leisurely activities; however, as he plucked a book from the shelf, he was reminded of the events from the previous evening.  Perhaps I was too harsh...          
Taking a deep breath he replaced the book and proceeded to his room, instructing one of the guards to fetch the girl from the slave quarters. "Fetch the girl from the slave quarters?" the guard replied, evidently bewildered as he opened the door for his master.
         "Do I really need to repeat my instructions? Retrieve her and bring her here immediately," the annoyance in his voice was unmistakably apparent.
         "The same girl from last night, my lord?"
         "What other girl would I be referring to? Now, go fetch her and see to it she is brought to me directly."
         "Yes my lord," the guard said as he excused himself.
         He sat on the sofa, gazing into the fire as he rehearsed silently the best way to mend any lingering tension from the previous evening. An ample amount of time passed, and yet a hush remained in the hallways. His patience was rewarded with the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Finally.          
As they approached he could hear two distinct pairs of footsteps, their gait nearly identical. As they drew closer he could hear that one of them was marginally winded, his heart rate slightly elevated; however, one of the others, he assumed the girl’s, was irregular and erratic and she was gasping for breath. Before they could knock he instructed them to come in, expecting to greet the terran's determination once again with a smile. Instead he was in for a shock; she was being carried by the younger guard, and she would have collapsed upon the elegant tapestry at her feet if her escort had not gingerly assisted her to the floor. Her glazed eyes, swollen and traced with red, failed to register her surroundings. When she attempted to speak her bluish lips parted but she lacked the energy to produce any sound. It was obvious that she drew upon the last of whatever deep inner recesses of strength that remained just to attain air for her lungs."What happened?" he gasped as he moved towards her.
         He noted that dirt streaked her skin and clothes, her clothes having a strong odor of - was that what he thought it was? "Where did you fetch her from?"
         "The penitentiary, my lord."
         "What? Why in Annitear's name would you have sent her there?" quiet fury seethed through his restraint as he spoke.
         "We uh-"
         "No matter now you fool, I'll deal with you later. Go fetch a doctor, be swift and maybe I'll be merciful," he interjected as he picked her up and gently deposited her on the bed.
         He watched her struggle to draw breath as she shivered violently. Sporadically she moaned in agony and distress, apparently ignorant of what was going on around her. By Shatri, what is happening to her?          
He felt partially responsible for her condition, blaming himself for not supplying the guards with more detailed instructions when he had dismissed her yesterday evening. Still, he felt discombobulated as to why they felt the need to lock her up in a place which was generally reserved for the worst of offenders.
         Although her smell was revolting, he stayed at her side and attempted to make her more comfortable. She was delirious with fever, and he knew that it could be deadly if left untreated. Pulling his hand away, he muttered profanities under his breath as he opened the window to let in the cool night air. He called for a basin of icy water to be brought up which would served a dual purpose - to clean her off and cool her down. He gently applied the damp cloth to her face, neck, arms, and any other exposed skin as he spoke softly and reassuringly to her that everything would be all right.
He hadn’t realized her condition had been so frail; she initially had seemed for the most part healthy if not a little thin and pale. As he watched the poor girl continue to struggle for survival, he couldn't suppress the guilt that panged him- had he acted more rationally perhaps it could have been avoidable. He wasn't even sure himself why this particular terran made him feel so penitent.
         His began to feel perturbed again as it seemed like he had been waiting eons for the doctor to arrive. When the physician did arrive, he hastily examined her and initially thought she was ill with disease. With further investigation, however, it was clear that the cause was indeterminable as her as her symptoms didn't match any affliction that he was familiar with. He prescribed some medication to help bring down the fever, and some herbs that would enable her to rest hoping it would aid in bringing about her recovery.
         
         *                    *                    *

         The girl drifted in and out of consciousness, though she never seemed fully cognizant of what was going on around her. The fevers often receded and then returned, though her eyes remained red and swollen and a faint touch of blue never seemed to leave her lips. The physician was called several times, and each time he tried a different remedy but nothing seemed to offer a permanent solution.
David consulted another doctor but all had the same diagnosis. They were unable to determine what the root cause was, and could only try various treatments in hope that they would cure the disorder but her condition only grew worse. One physician prescribed a medication that appeared to work and she seemed on the road to recovery; however, a few hours later she was more ill than ever.
He called the physician once again, and as he helplessly watched the struggling mortal before him he began to grow increasingly disturbed. Her heart beat weakly and unpredictably, slowing considerably at points when her breathing was so shallow he thought she had ceased to draw any breath at all. As he contemplated her deteriorating condition, he ascertained that these were her final moments of life. As the realization occurred to him, he felt a ball of dread form in his stomach. He had to make a decision - either he was going to have to intervene, or she was going to die, and soon, likely before the doctor would have time to arrive.
Abruptly he acted before he could change his mind, sitting next to her and acting expeditiously. Gently he cradled her head in his left arm, watching her eyes flutter but obviously not registering her surroundings. He lacerated his wrist with his teeth, staining the sheets with drops of blood as he brought it to her lips.
He urged some of his life essence to flow down her throat, and although an ample amount made it to its destination, a small amount spilled out of the corners of her mouth as she swallowed weakly. Feeling satisfied that she had ingested enough, he pulled his arm away and proceeded to apply pressure to his wound as he surveyed the adolescent for any sign of improvement. Minutes seemed like hours, but after several moments he breathed a sigh of relief as her heart beat became stable and more vigorous as she slipped into a deep sleep. When it was clear she would continue sleeping peacefully, David bandaged his own wound and cleansed the blood from her face. By the time the physician arrived she seemed well on the road to recovery.
         David took a deep breath, unable to believe what he had just done. He had shared his blood, his sacred life essence which he had bestowed to few others before, with a girl whose name he didn't even know. Who is this terran who comes from the land of my enemies?







Chapter 6

         Lyllian drifted in and out of sleep over the next several hours, with her condition progressively improving. The fevers no longer returned, the blue tint to her lips was gone, and her eyes ceased to be traced with red. Her breathing remained even and gradually she became cognizant of her surroundings. Groggily, she sat up and then froze when she saw the vampyre sitting next to the bed. He stared at her intently in contemplation, obviously perturbed.
         “How are you feeling?” he asked in silky tones as he tried to disguise the apprehension in his voice.
         She stared at him, disconcerted, “I…” she trailed off a moment, unsure if she wanted to respond at all. He looked on patiently, obviously waiting for a response, “I am feeling better, “she responded, slightly confused.
          “Good. Now I want an answer – what exactly are you?” he asked the question slowly, enunciating each word.
         “I’m sorry?” she was bewildered.
         Abruptly he stood up, “I want an answer! What are you?”
         “I don’t understa-“
         “Just answer the question terran.”
         “I don’t want to talk to you,” she spat.
         “Don’t want to talk to me?! You would be a rotting corpse now if it wasn’t for me!” he said as he began pacing the room, stalking the floors like an enraged animal.
Like a hunter she thought as she gaped at him with sudden consternation. “I don’t understand…what-?”
         “You are not asking the questions right now, I am,” he desisted his pacing and stood at the head of the bed, staring at her in such a way it sent chords of fear ripping through her, “Right now, I want to know what the hell you are.”
         “What am I? I don’t understand,“ she was becoming increasingly discombobulated, her vision becoming blurry as she continued, “I don’t know what it is you want from me!”
         She didn’t even perceive him advance towards her, all she knew was unexpectedly he was seated next to her, firmly seizing her wrist and glaring at her threateningly. The look of a predator she thought as terror began to spread through her as she desperately tried to wretch herself free.
         “Calm down,” he was still holding her wrist, “All I want is answers.”
         “I don’t know what answers you want!” she was almost hysterical.
         Gently, he stroked the inside of her wrist with his thumb. When he spoke again, his voice was much gentler, like a man trying to calm a scared horse, “I want to know about you, who and what you are.”
         “You already know I’m from Sanavin…I don’t know what else you want to know.”
         Infuriation crossed his face fleetingly, and he was quiet for several moments as he struggled to re-obtain his composure. When he spoke again, there was a deadly edge to his voice, “If you don’t tell me what you are, I have other ways of discovering the truth,” he grazed his teeth so lightly across the inside of her wrist it nearly tickled, and as he turned his head towards her, she could see his pupils were dilated, the blue completely obscured with black. He noted with satisfaction that it had the intended effect he had desired.
         She shivered, “What do you mean?”
         He snickered, “When I take someone’s blood, I can see their thoughts, and their memories…I’ll find out everything about you if you don’t want to talk.”
         “Don’t you dare…violate me like that. I don’t know what answer you are looking for,” she was trembling now, her face streaked with tears - she was utterly terrified.
         Silence stretched on between them for several moments. Finally, taking a deep breath, he let go of her wrist as he tried to keep himself calm and composed, “You answer my questions to my satisfaction, and I won’t resort to more…invasive measures.”
         “But I have-“
         He held up his hand, gesturing her to be silent. When he spoke again, his voice was calm and gentle, “Let’s start with the first question. What is your name?”
         “My name?” she paused for a moment, “Lyllian.”
         “Lyllian,” he repeated, letting the foreign name roll off his tongue as if he could taste it. “Where are you from?”
         She paused for a moment, trying to get her thoughts together, “Um, Sanavin, but you already know that.”
         “Where in Sanavin?”
         “Oh. Emberi.”
         “The main city?” he seemed surprised, “How old are you Lyllian?”
         “12,” she said after taking a deep breath as she continued to try and calm herself.
         David was astonished once again, as he was under the impression she was a little older, “I see. What is your family name?”
         “My family name?” panic was rising in her voice, fearful of the consequences if she gave him the truth.
         “Yes, what is your family name?” he asked neutrally, expecting a response; he sat motionless, scrutinizing her as he waited for an answer. 
         Flustered, she fumbled for a name, fearing that if she gave him her real family name it would mean certain death. She said the first name that came to mind – Hugh’s last name. “Its… Astucia.”
         He noted she was apprehensive, “Astucia, I have never heard of that family name before. I take it from your hesitation that your family must be involved with the Shastrua.”
“I, um…” she was very uneasy.
“It’s alright. Do you have brothers or sisters?”
         “A brother,” she responded truthfully.
         “And is he a Mashari?” she bit her lip, hesitant to respond, “I will take that as a yes.” he was quiet for several moments before continuing, “What are you, Lyllian?”
         “You’ve asked me this several times. I don’t know what answer you are looking for!” the frustration could clearly be heard in her voice.
         “So either you are being deceitful, or you are ignorant of the fact you aren’t entirely human,” he stated.
                She looked at him both bewildered and surprised; it took her a few moments to realize what exactly he was saying.  “I am human!” she asserted passionately.
“Not completely,” he stated matter-of-factly.
                “I…what are you talking about? I am human! There is nothing else I could be. Look at me! Do you see-“
                He was now convinced that she was clearly ignorant of what she was, “Calm down,” his voice was soft and reassuring, “Yes, most people would probably assume you are human; however, anyone that is…more evolved can tell otherwise. I don’t know what you are, and I’m still uncertain how you could have survived in a family involved with the Shastrua without persecution. You look human enough but your scent is different, and even your energy is different from that of a terran, and I’m sure they would have sensed that.”
              “Then maybe you aren’t ‘sensing’ me right!” she snapped.
              “Oh, I’m sensing you right.”
                She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling a chill that wasn’t due to the temperature of the room, “It can’t be true,” she said as she hung her head.
              Suddenly he felt sorry for being such an asshole earlier; it was now visibly apparent that she was completely ignorant of what she was. “I’m sorry,” he said genuinely, “Perhaps then it is better, all things considering, that you wound up in my care.”
              “And how is it better!”
              “Because if you had stayed they would have eventually found you out, I’m astonished they didn’t already. We both know what they would have done to you. Would you have desired such a fate?”
Another shiver ran through her as she considered the honesty of his statement, “No.”
         So many emotions were running through her, adding to her earlier confusion. “I…I don’t understand,” she said as her cheeks became wet once more, “Are you being honest with me?” she asked somberly.
         “I wouldn’t lie about something like this.”
         Lyllian realized that he was speaking the truth, she wasn’t sure how she knew she just did.
He tenderly touched her shoulder, “I’m sorry…” he muttered again.
         She sniffled as she tried to wipe away her tears, willing herself not to cry and failing miserably at the attempt.  She stared at the comforter for several moments. Without looking up she asked, “What happened?”
         “You nearly died,” he stated flatly.
         “I nearly died,” she stated emotionlessly.
                “I am not sure what was ailing you; however, whatever was the cause will not be a problem again.”
                “You found a cure? You know what it was that was making me ill?” she paid intense interest in whatever he was about to say next.
    “We did not discover what was making you unwell. Truth be told, I consulted numerous physicians and none of them could confirm a diagnosis. It was quite vexing.”
                “Yet you said it would ‘not be a problem again’, you spoke as if you had given me a cure.”
                He took a deep breath, “When they brought you up, you were barely breathing.  I watched your condition deteriorate over several hours, nothing the doctors seemed to help,” he ran a hand through his silky strands, “I don’t think you realize how close to dying you were. You terrans are so frail…”
                  His gaze was far off as he continued, “I watched you struggle for survival, and if I hadn’t intervened you would not be here now.”
                “Intervened?” she was disconcerted and clearly not understanding what he was speaking of.
                “I don’t know why I did it, it was uncharacteristic of me, but I gave you some of my life essence to keep you from dying.”
           “Your life essence?” she said as her eyes grew wide.
             “My blood. Just a little.”
                “I drank your blood?!” she asked incredulously, her voice cracking.
                He looked at her sharply, “I’m not terribly happy about it, but it’s done now.  My blood is sacred; I don’t just share it with anyone. I don’t even know why I gave it to you,” he sounded bitter, “but needless to say, you are indebted to me.”
         “You have tainted me…”
         “You were tainted long before you were brought to me. You are welcome, by the way, for saving your life,” he abruptly rose and began walking towards the door.
          He paused for just a moment, realizing he probably ought to offer an apology for his harsh words, he opened his mouth about to speak when she interrupted him, “Just leave me alone.”







Chapter 7




                Lyllian was alone with her thoughts for some time. She noted the room she now occupied was simple and modestly furnished, not near as grand as the vampyre lord's chambers. A modest window allowed daylight to naturally illuminate the room, and a fire helped keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Yet despite the warmth the blaze provided Lyllian couldn't help but feel a chill at the knowledge she had just learned.  It has to be a lie.          
              Soup and fresh bread were brought up, and hours later David called upon her again with a book casually resting in his left hand. It was clear as he entered the room he was unmistakably upset as he glared at her.
    He was the one to break the silence, “Give me one good reason to keep you alive.”
         “I can’t. Perhaps you ought to do us both a favor and kill me.”
         “I’ve contemplated it,” he stated icily.
         A look of horror crossed her face. As she responded she could feel her face grow warm, her fists clenched in rage, “Then why did you ‘save’ me in the first place?” her voice was dripping with disgust and disdain, “No, kisértet, if you want to kill me, I won’t put up a fight. You would just be doing us both a favor in the end.”
         “Do you fully comprehend death?”
         “I’m not afraid to die.”
         “Yes you are.”
         Lyllian was silent as she knew he spoke the truth. “I have no honor left; you have disgraced me. It would be best if-“
         “Stop. I don't want to hear you lament about the circumstances of your revival,” he spoke condescendingly to her as he continued, “You are just a child. You don’t understand anything of which you speak of, and you purposely choose to ignore the the kindness that has been bestowed upon you.”
                “It would have been kinder if you had let me die," she spat.          
                "You are being irrational and emotional – like a child,” he stated.
                “Where do you come off patronizing me? You, a vampyre! You have no morals, integrity, or ethnics!”
         “Ethics,” he corrected, which enraged her even more.
         “Whatever, kisértet.”
         “I do have morals, ethics, and integrity; however, I do not have the same morals and ethics as terrans. Just because they are different does not make us deficient in them. You cannot hold us to the same customs and laws as you terrans hold yourselves. We aren’t human, our morality is not the same as yours.”
         “Of course not, you need to justify your actions.”
         “And you are going to tell me that Sanavins do not justify their actions as well? The mashari slaughter thousands of innocents and then find solace in the justification that they are righteous based solely on the principle that their victim must be malicious because their physical appearance was different from that of their own. In this way the Shastrua feel justifiedin annihilating countless innocent people.” 
         “I’m tired of listening to your vile words; your voice makes me sick.”
         His eyes dilated again, the vibrant blue once again completely obscured; Lyllian could feel the hairs rising on her neck and her body tensing for action. When he finally spoke again, his voice was nothing more than a lethal whisper, “I am opposed to killing children, or you would be a desiccated corpse by now.”
         It bothered him that she caused David to lose his carefully constructed composure so easily. He was beginning to realize that he couldn’t try and rationalize with a child, she wouldn’t understand as it was beyond her comprehension. The girl was wide eyed and afraid, resembling the lost and frightened adolescent that she was. He softened, his eyes returning to normal as he realized he was being harsh and insensitive with the youth. Of course she was petrified; there is no reason she shouldn’t be.
              He took a deep breath and began speaking tenderly, “I apologize; I’m being unsympathetic. Of course you are terrified and apprehensive, and I’m sure you miss your home and your family. You will be safe here for the time being.”
         She glared at him in response, “I don’t want your charity.”
         He pretended not to hear her, “I brought a book for you to read, one of the few books I have in common. It’s a collection of short stories I thought you would enjoy,” he set it down on the nightstand next to the bed, “I have other matters I must attend to. The nurse will be in to check on you from time to time.”
         

*                    *                    *

         Lyllian initially refused to have anything to do to the book, but with time boredome eventually won out and she reluctantly plucked it up and began to read. The stories were comforting in a familiar sort of way. They reminded her of the tales her mother used to tell, though the names and places were different. She was not a proficient reader and it took her the better part of the day to read the first two stories, but she found great enjoyment in them just the same.

*                    *                    *

                David had sent a petition earlier that day requesting his friend come speak with him, and soon enough Loyen arrived as per David's request. He bounded through the door in high spirits as usual. A human male in the prime of his life, he had dirty blonde hair and steel grey eyes, "You requested to see me, my lord?"
              "Yes, I wanted to speak to you about the gift you sent me."
              "The girl? Does she please you?"
                David's face was a mask of neutrality for a moment as he arranged his thoughts, "She is...most intriguing."
              "She does not please you then," Loyen gave an unhappy sigh, "I apologize, I should have selected her myself."
              "You have not met her?"
              "No, I never saw the girl myself. My new slave master is from one of the lands to the far east. He is a terran with a considerable amount of experience in his trade, so I had tasked him to search for an agreeable female that he felt would be best suited to please you."
              "Well that explains a lot."
              "I apologize my lord, I did not mean any slight against you. I will have the girl removed at once."
                "No, that won't be necessary. She was just so....young. I know you intended no disrepect and I am sure your slave master meant well in selecting her; I hear they value children for pleasure in some of the remote areas to the east. What a disgusting practice."
              "My lord, I can easily remove her and have a more desirable woman take her place."
              David smiled, "Be at peace my friend, the girl is a rather unusual gift but I accept it none the less. Do you know anything else about her?"
              "Unfortunately no. He only informed me that he had carried out the assigned task, and that you would be pleased with Maria. I can press him for more information if it would please you."
            "Maria? She said her name was Lyllian," David sat and pondered this a moment, "Yes, please gather as much information as you can."


*                    *                    *

              Late that afternoon David made his way to Lyllian's room; he walked in to find her reading the book he had left for her earlier that day. She was reading so intently she did not hear him initially come in, but upon shutting the door her eyes shot up and widened at the realization that her least favorite person had once again returned. She gave a frustrated sigh and attempted to continue reading her book. "I see you like the book," she didn't respond, though the look on her face told him she was annoyed, "If you would like, I can read aloud to you Lyllian, or is it Maria? I'm confused."
            "Maria?" she said as she looked up over the book.
            "Seems you aren't being completely honest with me," he said as he crossed his arms.
            An expression of befuddlement crossed her face as she set the book down, absently forgetting to save her page as she did so, "Why would I lie about what I told you?"
            "I don't know, you tell me," both her heart and mind were racing as he continued on, "The slaver master informed us that your name was Maria, yet you have told me otherwise."
            "Oh, um, the men who kidknapped me, they started calling me by that when I refused them my real name."
            "I see," he said, obviously not convinced.
            She was irritated now, "If you aren't going to believe a word I say, why did you even bother to ask?"
            "You are hiding something," he stated.
            "You asked me your questions, I answered them. I'm not sure what you think I would be hiding."
            David was now leaning against the wall, his arms still crossed. He took a deep breath as he turned to look out the window, "I'm not sure what to do with you."
            He was lost in his thoughts until the terran interrupted him, "What is it you want?"
            "Answers," he stated before excusing himself from the room.   

*        *        *

            Having concluded his work for the day, he put his quill down to contemplate the situation regarding the girl. Truth be told he wasn't sure what he was going to do with her. Her health seemed to be improved, though her demeanor was unchanged. Had the circumstances surrounding her recovery been different, he would have dismissed her as soon as he unraveled her secret, or until he grew tired of her, whichever came first. However, that was now completely out of the question. Just what am I supposed to do with you little terran?



*        *        *


                The following morning David called upon Lyllian and noted that she seemed much recovered from before. He found her gazing out the window evidently consumed in contemplation. He dismally noticed the nature of her scent had changed, reminding him once again of the actions he so painfully regretted. It wouldn't take much to terminate her life, I could just put an end to this nonsense here and now-
                "It must be nice to come and go as you please."
                  It took him a moment to disengage from his previous deliberations, "I take it you do not like my visits," his voice retained a bit of a cold edge to it.
             She disregarded the tone in his voice as she continued, "I'm merely saying it must be nice to have that kind of freedom.”
                His tone softened, "With freedom comes a considerable amount of responsibility. You must constantly weigh your decisions and perceive how your actions will affect others."
              "Of course. You must be able to perceive when your actions would affect others to your greatest benefit," she said snidely.
              "There was no benefit in saving you, I might point out. As a matter of fact it’s been more of a hindrance."
              "What is it you want? My gratitude?" she took a deep breath, "I am indebted to you for something I didn't ask for."
              "Would you have preferred the alternative?" he asked knowing full well what her response would be.
              "I didn't ask you to save me, nor would I have. However, I am..." she struggled to get the next words out, "grateful you saved my life. I am disgraced, but I am alive. Nonetheless, you have enslaved me to a debt I would not have agreed to had I been able to object. You must understand you have forced this upon me, and you cannot expect me to react agreeably to it."
              "No, I suppose I can't."
                An uncomfortable silence filled the room as Lyllian shifted her weight and absently fiddled with her dress, "I...have something I need to ask you,” David was surprised but did not interrupt the girl as she tried to find the words to continue,  “I, I…I noticed something strange. Marks on my body have disappeared, vanished, marks I have had since I was very young. I'm not, you didn't...I'm not a..." she struggled but in vain she couldn't put the words together.
         "You are not a vampyre if that is what you fear."
         Though she said nothing, the look on her face spoke volumes. “But I don’t understand. If I’m not a vampyre, then why…?”
                “Surely you know that in many areas of the world, vampyre blood is sought for its healing abilities?”
                “I…I have heard of people doing such things, I didn’t think it actually existed.”
                "Yes, obviously it does.”
                Another stretch of awkward silence remained between the two. Noticing the brilliance of the sun coming through the window, David quickly made a decision before he changed his mind, “It has been awhile since I have ventured into the city, and you seem well enough. Perhaps you would like to take an excursion into town with me?"
                Lyllian was caught off guard by the proposal, "I...um...uh...with you?"
                "Of course, that was the idea. Unless you'd prefer to remain confined to your chambers."
                "I suppose if it’s the only way I will see anything beyond my tiny window, I will have to agree to it."
                "I'll send Mia and Mya up then to see that you are properly dressed."



*        *        *

                Lyllian stepped outside into the crisp, cool air, and felt the warmth of the sun smiling upon her face. She felt healthy and whole again, her spirits lifted by the sunshine and fresh air. Brightly colored leaves crunched under her feet as she made her way to the waiting carriage where Lord Des'kar was waiting. The dress was more cumbersome than she was used to, and she had difficulties getting into the carriage as a result of it.
         Lord Des'kar kept to himself, preferring to read letters and reports on their way into town, meanwhile Lyllian gazed out the window at the surrounding countryside. She was delighted to be out of the castle, regardless of the company she was required to keep in exchange for the excursion. Naked trees and rolling hills filled her vision, with white capped mountains far off in the distance creating a picturesque scene. She pulled the rich velvet cloak tighter about her, “Are you cold?” David noted with concern, “If you are still unwell we can ride back to the castle.”
                "I'm fine," she reassured him, "I'm just not used to the cooler weather."   
                "That's right; they say it doesn't snow in Sanavin."
                "No, it doesn't. It snows here?" she asked incredulously.
          He gave a soft chuckle, "Yes, quite frequently in the winters. Is your cloak adequate for the time being?"
                "I'll be fine, thank you," she muttered.
                She felt even more awkward and clumsy exiting the carriage than she had entering it; she thought of other noble women she’d seen do both with such ease and grace. This was definitely not her: clumsy and gawky was how she looked, stepping on the hem of her dress numerous times as she tried to navigate the small step.
                Teldaeryn was an imposing city, a melting pot of all sorts of different cultures and races; Lyllian never imagined such a place could exist and she found herself feeling a little overwhelmed as she tried to take it all in.  The streets were clean and free of the sick and dying, and still more astonishing, the roads were smooth and not made of mud as she was accustomed to seeing.
                As they meandered through the city, she saw a group of undersized men, with wide shoulders and long beards. What made her look twice, however, was that one of them was wearing a dress. At such a sight, Lyllian had to stifle a laugh, though she couldn’t help but smile.
Further up the road they approached what Lyllian had assumed to be a group of children; however, closer inspection proved that they were in fact adults of their kind.  There were inhabitants of every shape and size in the bustling city, and she saw more variety of races and people than she could have ever thought existed in the world.
                She continued to follow Lord Des'kar and his entourage through the crowded streets of Teldaeryn. As she was glancing at one of the many market stands, one particular face caught her eye. Upon laying eyes on him, she immediately supposed him to be the most attractive person she had ever seen despite his unusual dress, and she found herself unable to do anything but stare at him. His features were delicate and his movements were fluid and graceful, like living water. His skin took on a bluish tint if you saw it in the right light. His hair was long, dark, and at certain angles it appeared forest green; it flowed untamed around his shoulders like the rapids of the Illeraek River. His eyes were a vibrant green and were full of life, and he gave Lyllian a wide grin and a wink as he passed by causing her face to flood with warmth.
                "They all appear that way," David said without even looking at Lyllian.
                "I..I...um...What was that, I mean he?" she nearly tripped.
                "That was a horr. They are an unusual race of people, you were lucky he was wearing clothes."
                "Huh?"
                "They generally don't like to wear clothes," he stated matter-of-factly.
         “No clothes?!” she repeated with great embarrassment, she had never seen a naked man before.
                They continued their journey, eventually pausing at a local bakery where they each enjoyed a sweet roll while Lyllian marveled at the sculptures that adorned many of the buildings. Lyllian had noted that the people of Teldaeryn seemed to readily accept everyone, regardless of what race they belonged to. Lyllian never dreamed such a thing was possible, yet countless different cultures and races coexisted here side by side peacefully and contently. .




         
                  As they strolled past the various shops, David patiently explained to Lyllian in his usual charming voice that the small people she had seen earlier were called gnomes, the ‘man’ she nearly laughed at earlier was actually a female of their species and was called a dwarf, the pale skinned beings with dark hair and pointy ears were lune elves, and lastly he pointed out that generally, with the exception of horrs, people don't like to be stared at. Lyllian hadn't realized she was staring until he mentioned it, now it suddenly seemed no matter what she did, she felt like she was gawking at everything.
                  The last stop of the day was at a cozy looking bookstore. Upon entering a curious looking creature came forward to greet them. Although he had pointed ears, dark hair and pale skin, his face seemed to lack the delicate features all elves seemed to possess.
Lyllian couldn't help but unconsciously recoil at his appearance; part of his nose was missing, his face was disfigured with numerous deep scars extending from his face to his neck, large patches of hair were missing from his scalp, and part of his left arm was missing from the elbow down. Despite all this he seemed to maintain an air of grace and dignity as he hobbled over and politely ignored Lyllian’s bad manners as he spoke to Lord Des'kar in demarian.
         As soon as the elf was absent, David whispered to her to stop gawking at the poor man. Lyllian felt her face grow warm as she realized she had indeed been staring the entire time they were speaking.
              “What happened to him?" she asked in hushed tones.
              "Perhaps you should ask him yourself."
              "I, feel it might be rude."
              "And staring isn't?" David replied as the abnormal looking elf slowly hobbled back. He handed David a book, and after a brief exchange of words and money David began speaking to him in common, "The girl does not speak demarian yet."
                "I assumed that was why you wanted the book in common," the elf replied with quiet understanding, his accent was distinctly different from David’s.
                "If you do not mind Naldell, the girl wanted to know how you came to find your way here," he said as he gestured to his face, "I feel perhaps your story may be an enlightening one for her."
                "Of course, if my lord wishes I will speak of...that night," there was a hint of sorrow in his voice, "then I will."
                A hush fell about the room as the man gathered his thoughts, deciding where to begin. "It was..." he had to stop again and think for several long moments, his voice quiet and trembling a little as he spoke, "almost 50 years ago by my recollection. My wife and I, we lived in Lalos, a small town near the northern border of Sanavin. That's when they came out of nowhere and began attacking."
                  "Who?" she asked feeling her anticipation rising.
                  "Soldiers from Sanavin, they invaded our home. They came and began slaughtering everyone who was in their path. My wife, she was in the house at the time," he spoke painfully slow, "A group of mashari set it on fire. I attempted to come to her aid but unfortunately I was outnumbered and ill-equipped for any sort of battle. I do nothing more than listen to her screams as I lay immobile on the ground bleeding. No matter how much I willed my body to move, I couldn’t."
                  He was eerily calm as he continued, "They did unmentionable things to her and then left us for dead. By the grace of the gods we survived and managed to escaped the gripe of those wretched beings."
                  "Mashari wouldn't do something like that," she was very assertive on that fact.
His features and tone remained unchanged at her declaration, "It is well known that Sanavin is intolerant of any who are different. They refer to us the Katein plague. But we were peaceful and desired none of the violence they visited upon our village. I am merely grateful that we have at last found some measure of serenity here in Teldaeyrn."
                  As he finished his tale a horribly distorted woman walked up, one whom Lyllian assumed was female only because of her manner of dress. She was clothed modestly, and a shawl skillfully concealed her hair. Her skin had the appearance of molten rock that had re-cooled, and her eyes appeared to have a cloudy look to them.  She exchanged words with both David and Naldell in demarian, and then turned towards Lyllian. Contrary to her appearance her voice was very gentle and comforting, and Lyllian couldn’t help but feel an instant connection with the woman, “I hope you have enjoyed your visit to our humble shop, and please do come again," she said as she bowed her head slightly. 
         As they made their way back to the waiting carriage, Lyllian found herself so caught up in Naldell’s story she failed to take notice of that which was around her. Absently she followed Lord Des’kar back to the waiting carriage, where with little grace and much awkwardness she once again bumbled her way in with assistance. The horse’s hooves created a rhythmic pattern which was almost mesmerizing as Lyllian repeated Naldell’s story again and again in her mind. "Why would anyone do something like that?" she said meekly.
         "People do horrible things in war."
         "I thought...the mashari fight for a good cause. To protect the weak, to bring glory to Solmyst."
                "In the battle Naldell spoke of they were fighting for land, resources. They killed innocent people in order to gain prosperity. But by going about it the way they did, they could not have hoped it would bring permanent gains, and in the end they lost what little they had achieved and made more enemies and fewer friends."
                "No, I can't believe it. I won't believe it."
                "Denial won't invalidate facts."
                "I don't believe you, any of you. It has to be a lie."
                "Suit yourself," he said, unwilling to engage in another heated discussion.


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