The Second Age Year 584
Sixth day of the Third month
“Ah!” Sabina exclaimed in pain, clenching her teeth as she saw her servant reflection in the candlelit mirror, trying to brush through her thick knots. As her hair was long and flowing, a dark raven colour that ended in slight waves. “You’re being too coarse.” she said in an almost banshee like tone of voice.
“My apologies, Mistress,” the servant replied, in a meek manner befitting his social status. “But you cannot rush these things.” Speaking up for himself, a rare form of defiance she would not or could not accept.
“I will not tolerate any excuses.” She said, turning her head to look the servant in the eye. Her dark blue eyes burned with fury. “You either do your job, or I will find someone who will.” She said sternly, before turning her head back towards the mirror in front of her. She examined her body underneath the towel that covered her slender figure, making sure that every nook and cranny was clean. She wanted to make sure that her natural flavours had not been tainted by the outside world. That world of filth and grime beyond her mansion walls, where the unwashed rabble dwelt.
“Please, Mistress, have mercy. Without this job, my children will starve.” The servant begged her.
“And they won’t starve. As long as you do your job properly,” she said. This time, as she adjusted her breasts beneath her towel to ensure they were as full and firm as ever, although she only had a modest and small bust, regardless, she wanted to make sure that they looked as big and as full as possible. For everything had to be perfect, because she was Sabina Draconis, and anything less than perfection would bring shame upon her name and her noble heritage, which had remained pure for almost a millennium. Blood which contained the power of dragons, a power which, even faint, still coursed through her. Doing anything by half measures was an insult to her, her family, and what they stood for, for she viewed herself as a dragon in human form.
She looked away from her reflection in the mirror. She then cast her eyes towards the top of the dresser. On it were various vials of perfume, a set of tweezers, a handheld mirror, and various skin and lip balms, oils, and powders. Everything a woman of power and status needed to maintain her looks and beauty. However, there was something missing, something important. The one important item she couldn’t live without, one that always gave her peace of mind. It was a book that she always kept on her dresser. Her thin eyebrows twisted into something resembling an angry dog’s brow.
“Where is my book?” she demanded, turning her head sharply at the servant, pointing her sleek fingers at the dresser.
“What book, Mistress?” the servant asked, looking confused.
“The book, the one I keep on this dresser? The one about the Lords of Septum.” She answered accusatory.
“Which one? You have several on the subject, Mistress.” The servant asked now wiping his brow.
“The one titled The Histories of the Lords of Septum, written by Demetrius the younger.” She scowled at him. “Don’t tell me you can’t read, have the hiring standards have slipped so much since my father passing.”
“No, Mistress, they haven’t. If it’s that book in particular,” the servant said, pointing to the nearby bookshelf. “I put it over there. On the dresser, it would have been exposed to the elements.” With his other hand, the servant pointed towards the large outside veranda that overlooked the City of Sanctus.
“It seems you don’t know your place. Allow me to enlighten you,” she said, turning towards the servant again. “Your job is to attend to my needs. You are not to touch my belongings without my permission.” She said this time, tapping her sender fingers in on the dresser to make her point clear.
“Understood, Mistress. Shall I get it for you now?”
“Yes.” She stressed. “Stop brushing my hair, and bring it here immediately.” she demanded. The servant then stopped brushing her hair and rushed to the other side of the room to get the book, with the speed of a man possessed. She started to adjust her hair, making sure it was still silky and smooth, then started applying some make-up to her face. She dusted a thin layer of powder over her face, making her olive complexion to make it slightly more pale, darkened the circles under her eyes, and applied a balm to make her lips more rosy red, she wanted to look as good as possible.
As the servant came back and placed the book on the dresser, she barked another order. “Is my gown for this evening ready.”
“Yes, Mistress, but I must ask.”
“Ask what?” she snapped at him, her lips curling.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit thin? We don’t want you to catch a chill, especially since you’re about to get married soon.” he said, gesturing to the outside door leading to the veranda.
“If you insist on wearing such a thing, allow me to close the door and light a fire for you.”
“I thank you for your concern. But I decide what I wear to bed. Not you, and that door is to remain open, for I will not bar entry.”
“Whose entry, Mistress.” the servant asked her, looking even more confused. “Are you expecting a visitor?”
She didn’t answer his question, nor would she entertain the idea. “Now.” She said, waving her hand to shoo him away. “Go away. You are dismissed, and you must forget what took place this night, unless you want to thrown back on the streets.”
“Understood, Mistress,” the servant replied, giving a deep bow. “I wish you a good night, Mistress.” She didn’t reply as the servant left the room. Her attention was focused entirely on her own reflection in the mirror that she held firmly in her hand. At this moment, the outside world didn’t exist, only she existed at this moment, for within this mirror she was the centre of her own universe and those around surrounding her. Be it her family, her servants or even social betters were merely to her just props. Background decoration to make her life, less, world less, grey. Such is the ego, the pure narcissism and delusion of a high class woman with a golden spoon always in her mouth.
Sabina took off her towel, exposing her bare form to the cool, soft breeze that washed over the room. She began to get dressed, putting on a dark robe made of thin fabric that left little to the imagination and accentuated her figure. After making a few more adjustments, and ensuring her hair was just right, she spent several more minutes styling it, before deciding it would be better to tie it up into a small bun. She let out a small smile with her thin lips.
“Yes, that should be perfect,” she told her reflection in the mirror. Her oval-shaped face was as flawless as ever. She thought as she finished admiring herself, and she was happy that she was still beautiful — a fact that was acknowledged by everyone, including herself. Looking down, she picked up the book that the servant had returned to her dresser, and held it close to her face and kissed it gently, as a mother kisses her children. Hugging the book and bringing it close to her chest, she was suddenly flooded with memories of her father reading it to her as a child. She was always enchanted by the stories of Lords of Septum, a group of mages that overthrew the First Empire and once ruled Aria with an iron fist, several generations before her time, for almost a century. Until they were overthrown and defected by a small band of heroes named The Amethystra. All of them were of humble birth and origins, but rose to a height that even those of nobler blood could only dream to reach. To some, they were an example that human greatness can come from any person, whether from the highest of the high in the gilded towers, to the lowest of the low in living in squalor, and to most, a terrifying example why the common, unwashed, and unrefined masses must be kept where they are, otherwise they will rise and take the place of their rightful rulers.
Recounting those tales of heroism in her head for a moment, she wasn’t a fully grown woman any more, but that little girl, a girl who once looked to the future, and now she wishes to forget about that future: a future in which she would marry a man she didn’t love, nor find impressive, and bear his children for the good of the family, an insult that went against every instinct she had. If she had to sacrifice herself for the good of the family, then she would grit her teeth, smile through the pain, and do her duty as a woman of blue blood and fine breeding. But before she resigned herself to her role, surely she would be allowed one selfish act before the fateful day in a few days’ time? That day, where she would be married off and her freedom detained by the whims of her husband to be, her husband may lay claim and dominion over her body, but he will never steal her heart, for that has already been claimed by another, and could anyone really blame her for what she was about to do? After all, she had to follow her heart, regardless of the consequences.
As Sabina sat on her bed, she stared out of the window, seeing the full moon out and small wisps of clouds in the night sky if she looked even further. From where she was sitting in her room, she could see the farmlands and vineyards owned by her family, and beyond, several miles away, was that crown jewel of the old Empire and now the current, the capital city of Sanctus. From her bedroom window, she could see the many districts, the various temples, and even the Emperor’s palace, whose bastard half son she was destined to marry, and this was a political marriage that she couldn’t run away from, unlike most marriages. Her family was at a low ebb, as low as they had ever been, and they needed something, anything at all, to help them maintain power; however, unlike most marriages for those of noble birth, there would be no divorce when ever it was convenient, she was stuck with him until death do they part. She waited and waited, staring out of the window, looking for any sign of movement, any sound, any indication whatsoever that he was there. For she would wait as long as it took; he had promised to come tonight. Seeing him again and knowing he was safe was all she needed at that moment. Just being able to feel his icy touch one more time would give her all the strength she needed.
Sabina waited, soon seconds turned to minutes, and then minutes turned to hours. All the candles lighting her room were flickering until, one by one, they had gone out, for the only light left in the room was the faint glow of moonlight slowly pouring in through the windows. Her eyelids started to grow heavier and heavier as the time pasted. She needed to stay up, she needed to; he was coming to see her, he promised he would. She tried her best to stay up, but she couldn’t. And soon, she fell asleep, visiting the lands and realms of dreams. “Did he break his promise.” she uttered faintly as everything went dark around her. As she lay there, floating in her own bed.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, and then she suddenly felt herself wake up, by the chilling sensation that shot up her spine and froze her blood. She shot up awake and sprang out of her bed, looking around. On the veranda, which was several stories up from the ground floor, she noticed and saw what looked like a faint white mist start creeping up onto the veranda and wafting into her room. At this moment, every instinct of her body was telling her she should run away and that she should scream for help, for she was in danger, but all she could do was widen her eyes and lips with an expression that could be described as pure glee, for she hadn’t felt this giddy sense since she was a little girl.
He came, he actually came, as promised. The words that started to echo in her mind.
She kept on watching with great excitement and anticipation as the thin mist started to coalesce into a thick cloud. Within the cloud, she could see starting to form two glowing purple orbs, as she focused on those orbs. The mist cloud then started to take on more of a human shape. After a few more moments, what emerged from the mist was a man who was sleek and slender in build, and slightly elevated in stature, who looked as if he were only in the prime of his years. He had messy, wavy, black hair that parted in the middle and rested before his slightly pointed ears. A sharp and angular face, with a firm jawline, and dark purple eyes that glowed faintly in the darkness. He was wearing simple traveller’s clothing that were a mix of browns and grays, covered by a black cloak that surrounded him. Although she could, and should, scorn him for ignoring the proper decorum and dress when visiting a lady of her standing, and if he were anyone else, she would have made him grovel before her and kiss her feet for forgiveness.
But it didn’t matter to her. He was here, and he was just as handsome as ever. As her nighttime visitor stood there, their eyes met, and he gave her a warm smile from his pale, almost corpse like face that made her heart melt and send tingles down her spine, that made her almost faint. It was then he started to speak, giving her a small bow. “My apologies, Sabina, for being late.” He said to her, as he lifted his head, revealing a warm smile, which quickly switched to a more firm, melancholic smile, with his voice soothing, like the running water of rivers. Cutting through any objection she would of had of him being late. “I was held up by an old friend.” He said sardonically. Looking at him, she noticed there was part of his outfit that had some small tears and holes in them.
“That doesn’t matter,” she said to him joyfully, as she then got out of her bed and rushed towards him, her arms outstretched. He stood there, offering no resistance, as she hugged him tight and started to nuzzle her face into his chest; she could feel the slight muscle his body had from under his shirt. As they touched. She felt herself begin to melt within his arms. At this moment with him, Sabina could be her true self, not wearing the mask of a noble lady of the Blood or as a member of the Draconis family, but as herself, as Sabina, a young maiden in love. She could feel his cold skin as he placed a hand on her and put his fingers through her hair, twirling her hair in his fingers until they became like curls. At this moment, she felt her soul was floating and was one with the clouds; it was if all her troubles and worries had completely disappeared.
She then left in embrace and gestured for him to take a seat. “Please sit down; you must be hungry. Let me get something for you,” she said, as she watched him sit down on a wooden chair. As she grabbed a golden goblet that had a scale pattern engraved into it, along with being studded with diamonds, and a rather fancy knife that had a handle that was an eagle beak. As she sat down next to him, putting the silver goblet on the table in front of him, she then put the knife towards her wrist, which was hovering above the goblet, and was preparing to cut into her veins. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. As she was about to cut, she then noticed that she was holding air, as the knife that she held firmly in her hands was gone, and instead was now in his hands, and she watched as he put the knife to the side. It was then when he looked at her with a look of sadness and almost defeat.
“You shouldn’t soil such beautiful hands and delicate fingers.”
“So, you’d prefer fresh, then?” she said, not giving him a chance to reply back, as she then jumped onto his lap, sitting cross-legged and tucking herself into his form, and making herself closer by wrapping her arms around him, lifting her head up, making sure her neck was exposed. As she did, the whole mood of the room then shifted, as she could feel him staring at her like a predator watching their prey, his eyes almost piercing through her being, and she was waiting, and waiting, for the moment he would bite into her flesh. then she felt a faint, chill touch pass over her neck and up to her face as he touched her with his hand then gently brought her head closer until her face was touching the edge of his.
“I’ve already eaten tonight. You need not do such a thing,” he replied to her in a faint, lingering whisper.
“Why?” she asked him. “Is my blood not good enough for you? You will drink the blood of any pleb you find on the street, but you won’t drink mine.” She was almost insulted, she was of noble blood and birth, also chaste. She thought she would be the greatest vessel that a vampire like him could ever drink from.
“Sabina.” He said to her. “We have talked about this. I refuse to drink from you.”
“But I want you to.”
“As I have explained before, a bite from my kind is as addictive as it is pleasurable. If I suck your blood. You keep asking for me to do it more and more, and I am afraid I won’t be able to resist your requests, stealing from you until you have nothing left to give me.”
“I don’t mind, Xanathos.” Before she could continue, he cut her off.
“Please don’t call me that. I lost the rights to that name a long time ago.”
“No, you haven’t, no matter what you think. You’re still Xanathos to me, so take whatever you want from me,” she said, looking up at him, her eyes meeting his. “Take my blood, consume my flesh, drain my very soul, if you must. I will surrender, and give it all to you.”
He looked at her sadly again. “I am honoured by your devotion, but I must say no.”
“Why don’t you love me enough.” She asked this time, her lips pouting. “You don’t drink my blood or make me like you, even though I want you to.” Oh, she had dreams that he would take her like a wild animal, ripping open her throat and lapping up her blood, or even better, make her like him so they could be together forever.
“It’s because I love you too much to put you through that. To damn you for an eternity, both in this life and the next.” He said to her, clasping her hands tightly within his, his nails pointed and sharp like wolf claws. “I want you to stay as you are, pure, untainted, and most importantly human.”
“But if I stay as I am, I will die, weather away like a grape on the vine. You say you love me, but you don’t want me to join you forever.”
“Forever is a long time. We love each other now. But that could change.” He said to her softly, muttering something under his breath as he snapped his fingers; Sabina noticed all the candles in her room flicker back to life. But instead of the orange and yellowish flames, the flames were the whispery blue. “In time, you could come to hate me. For giving you an endless existence of sleepless nights.”
“I could never hate you.” She started to weep, tears now streaming down her face and starting to stain her make-up. “For you are the man that has stolen my heart.” She couldn’t believe that Xanathos would think that her love for him was so shallow that it couldn’t stand the test of time. For Sabina, her love for him was deep of the ocean, and was filled with a burning passion that was equal to the sun.
“But I am not that man any more, not the same man that you idolised, and the same would happen to you if I was to turn you.”
“You’re wrong,” she said as she straightened herself up, clapping his face with both her hands. His face felt cold and his skin felt stiff, like a corpse. “You may have forgotten who you once were, but I haven’t. You’re still the same as you were from back then, and you are still the same when you saved me that day almost a decade ago.”
He gave a small sigh. “That was a long time ago, and I saved you on a whim that day.”
“Was fighting them or falling in love with me just a mere whim to you?” she asked him.
He turned away for a moment and then replied, “No.” He said, starting to slowly push her back away from his face, although he tried to be gentle. To her, it felt like she was being forced back; the push of the mighty bull. She winced for a moment, still tightly clinging to him. The second he heard her wince, he stopped. “Sorry, I don’t always remember my own strength at times,” he apologised.
“It’s fine, but I’m not letting you go, no matter how much you try to push me away.” She wasn’t going to let him go; to let him go was to admit defeat.
“Well, I’m afraid that day is coming sooner than you think,” he said, turning his head again, this time towards the veranda.
“What do you mean by that.” she asked him.
“This night will be the last time we will be able to see one another.” He admitted, she could see how crushed he was just to say those words.
“Why?” In that moment, she wondered if she had done something wrong, if she was not beautiful enough, was another woman involved, or, worse, was he into men. All manner of questions started spinning around her mind as she started to recount every single word and interaction. Wondering where she went wrong, and what she could do to please him.
“It’s getting too dangerous for me if I stay any longer in the capital. The Shadows of my past are closing in on me, which is why I came here tonight, to say goodbye one last time.”
She felt the tears well up in her eyes again. “You could just hide here until everything dies down.” She said, denying the truth of the matter with every fibre of her being. For she wanted to keep this dream going for as long as possible!
“It’s not that simple, I’m afraid. I don’t want to endanger you or your family any more than I already have.”
“I understand,” wiping the tears from her face, which stained her make-up. “But if we are to part ways. Could you do one last thing for me?” she asked him. If she couldn’t join him as a creature of the night, then she was hoping she could get something to remember him by.
“What is it?” he asked her. She then got up and started taking her robe off, with her undergarments and wrappings dropping to the floor as she disrobed in front of him. Showing what the thin robe wouldn’t show. He could see everything, nothing was hidden from him. She felt a little bit embarrassed, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and she would use tools she had available to get her way. “Make love to me, and give me your child,” she asked him. In the blink of an eye. She saw him stand up out of his chair, almost taken aback by her boldness and sheer audacity; in response, he cried.
“You ask the impossible. I am but a creature of dead flesh. I cannot sire children, even my skills as a magus, I cannot change this fact.”
“Nothing is impossible. You showed me that once, and it can be done. I have heard that it can be done.” Magic and supernatural abilities, for as long as she could remember, ran strong in her family. Although they hadn’t had a mage or a dragon blooded in the family for the last few generations, although such things were often looked down upon by wider society. Her family still kept many of the books and arcane scrolls that were once part of the libraries and studies that her family more magically inclined ancestors had, and it wasn’t uncommon for her or members of her family to sometimes read these texts of arcane lore.
“Regardless of whether they exist or not. What are you asking me to try and create with you? To bring into existence? It could kill you, doom your household for all eternity.”
“And you would damn me forever more with a broken heart. If you are to leave my side. Please.” She begged him “Please give me something to remember you by, aside from the dreams of what could have been.” She said, as she sat back onto the bed, widening her legs and reaching out her arms. “Now, come and take me.” She gestured, beckoning him with her hands.
As she looked at him, her arms out stretched, she noticed, in the blink of an eye, he was gone. Looking around, she wondered if he had left and run away from her, until she realised that he was right next to her. “You are possibly one of the most wilful women I have ever met. But.”
“But what.” she asked him, giving him that seductive smile.
“You are also one of the few people who have made life in this state almost tolerable. So, I will grant your request.” He said, she noticed that his deathly pale face was starting to showcase a faint blush, as his skin was starting to look slightly less pale. “Do understand this will be the last time we will see each other, and there is no guarantee I will be able to give you what you want.”
“As long as this last night is unforgettable, then that’s more than enough for me.” She said to him as she took his arm off her body and started to shift towards the top of the bed, laying down while her top half was supported by pillows. As she did. She saw him snap his fingers, and all the candles went out, and even the moonlight that was shining through the windows went out. All she could see now is nothing, nothing but the darkness. She heard the sound of clothing dropping on the floor next to her bed, and from within the darkness, she saw his dark purple eyes shining like faint candle lights. They drew closer and closer to her until he was right on top of her, his skin brushing against hers; it felt even colder when contrasted with her skin, that was now hot and flushed. Until his eyes reached hers. “Forgive the darkness. I didn’t want us to be disturbed,” he said to her from the deep shadows. She gave him a smile, although she wasn’t sure he could see it. “Take me,” she said, and he gave her a firm kiss; as their lips pressed together, she could feel his fangs brush against her lips; as they parted, she returned his firm with one of her own, slipping in her tongue; his mouth felt cold and tasted like iron, but she didn’t care as her sense of time became a blur. After what felt like eternity, Sabina awoke to find that he was gone as night had turned to dawn. He was gone and she had been left alone. But unbeknown to her at the time, something was growing within her. For on that night, life and death had become one.
