Skyline Hotel.Thursday, August 8th, 2024.4 P.M.Josie's POVOnce, when I was about ten or eleven years old, I tried to save the prettiest butterfly I’d ever seen from a frog and ended up killing it. It was the morning after a torrential downpour. When mother nature was done reminding us little mortals about her supremacy, I’d ventured out of the house towards our backyard. The sun was still hiding and the clouds looked like they had more water to dump on us, but the air was crisp and smelled earthy. I inhaled the wonderful smell greedily as I hurried towards my garden. For some reason, I wanted a garden. I could never remember why, but I think it had something to do with the most popular girl in my class. Dad, bless his heart, had tried to help me start the garden, but we were both clueless about gardening and even worse, we definitely had the opposite of whatever green fingers were supposed to be. After a week of steadily killing flowers, Nora had groaned in disgust and finally he
Josie's POV (Continued)It took several seconds before I could find the culprit for my pain. He stood to my left, completely unapologetic for dumping cold water on me. The heavy chattering of my teeth made it hard for me to form any words, so I settled for scowling at him.“What the fuck?!” I bellowed when my body stopped shuddering long enough for me to shriek.“Finally! There you are,” Ru grumbled and he didn't appear to care one whit that I was on the cusp of freezing to death.My eyes flitted about the room, searching for something I could murder Ru with when I caught a glimpse of two empty buckets and ice cubes. Several chunky cubes. Did Ru just dump two buckets of cold water and ice cubes on me? A single glance at his raised brow was enough confirmation. Asshole. "Again, what the actual fuck Ru?” My voice was tight with anger."Here." Something warm covered my shoulders and I turned to find Char covering me with swaths of blankets and towels. The room was silent as Char set to w
The Knights Sisterhood, Variku. Thursday, 8th of August, 2024. Noon. Anna's POV I jolted awake with a lurch. "Argh!" I gasped in shock as my naked elbows slammed against bare floor. I rolled onto my back, tears stinging my eyes. The room was cold, I realized suddenly. Rubbing up and down my arms vigorously, I sat up and looked around. It was empty save for the cold slab I just fell from and the wall of bottles.The lighting in the room was muted even though I couldn't see any light source. I couldn't find a window either - or a door. Where was Josie? My last memory was of the floating lady who had promised to get me to Josie. Then for some reason, I'd been in pain - and then nothing. "Hey! Let me out!" I bellowed at the top of my lungs. I had to shout two more times before the wall separated and a girl wearing a white skirt and strapless crop top walked in. "Hey, you're awake," she murmured with a smile as she walked on bare feet towards me. "I'm Anise. What's your name?" "
Anna's POV(Continued)The fight left me in an instant. I took a step forward and asked, “You know Josie?”“Ye-”“Stay away from her,” the thick voice of a man’s baritone growled at the same time the trees rustled.I looked away from the girl and found a dark skinned man glaring holes at the blonde girl. The man was dressed as though he was going to the moon. Thick, black gloves. A skin tight black and silver suit. Heavy duty black boots that had made a soft thunk when he dropped from the tree. Was he the famed ostiarius? On the man’s hip was a sword sheath. I watched in bemusement as he drew his sword and pointed the sharp end at the girl.“Nightcrawler,” the man spat, advancing on her slowly. “You are trespassing.”The girl pouted, looking bored and dismissive. “Aww, c’mon. I got a name. It’s Lilya. Use it.”“How did you get in here?” he asked, still moving closer to me. I edged away from him.“Why shouldn’t I be able to step foot on this territory?” she wondered with a slight smile.
The District, Lourve, Hiiu. Thursday, 8th of August, 2024. 6 PM Anna's POV (Continued) “Hey. Wakey wakey.” The voice was soft but the tap on my cheek was not. Why was Rita in my room? I groaned, swatted away the annoying hands and rolled over. “Stop it, Rita. I need to sleep some more.” Something hard ground against my stomach as a voice laughed softly. “I'm afraid I can't let you do that.” The sound was musical and melodious. Rita had throat cancer earlier in life. Thanks to their less than buoyant financial status, the cancer had eaten deep before they got medical help. She was fine now and everything, but her voice was harsh and raspy. This was not Rita’s laugh. Or voice. My eyes snapped open and I came face to face with probably the most beautiful woman I'd ever met. She had delicate features that distinctly reminded me of a doll, what with how soft and ethereal she was. No mortal should ever have skin as soft and glowing as hers. “Are you an angel?” I asked, bemused. I
La Niche. Thursday, 8th of August, 2024. 9pm.Jo's POV(Continued)The brown and gold two storey building was at the very end of a cul dé sac. The street was very quiet and the nearest neighbour was about half a mile away. If it weren't for the luxurious cars parked outside the house and the different elite men and women dressed to the nines walking into said building, I would have thought that Vladimir had me brought all the way out here to be murdered.In a way, it sort of reminded me of house of Pulé. I gulped hastily, doing my best to quash the lurid images that sprung up at the thought of that house.Not the time, I admonished the lusty hoe residing rent free in my head."Miss Puhvel?" I turned my head at the voice.Staring down at me expressionlessly from outside the limo was Castor. I blushed for no particular reason and held my hand out to him. Without a word, Castor helped me out of the white rolls Royce limo we just arrived in.Dressed in a sheer cotton pink and white ruffle
FlashBackEstria - February 16,1991.Lady Piia's POV“Enough!” the voice thundered. Leaves rustled and even a few ravens flew away. That’s how bothered the whole surrounding had been by the sudden booming sound. Even from twenty feet away, I shivered at the uncontrolled rage in the tone. But the brown haired waif of a girl who was probably seconds away from being throttled by the irate mountain of a woman stared back defiantly, not a single hint of fear in her expressive chocolate eyes. Albus Nogru, wearing the brown and gold robes of an instructor glowered, her veins bulging as her hands shook, probably from the effort it took not to wrap it around Inna’s neck. “They are people too. They have a right to be taught and you can’t deny them their right!” Inna, my ever defiant, ever reckless friend snapped back loudly. She tilted her chin up, literally and figuratively digging her heels in. I sighed wearily, already knowing what the argument was about even without moving closer. Only
Braille Mansion, Lourve, Hiiu.Saturday, 10th of August 2024.10:30 AMLilya's POV“The timeline has been moved up. Be ready to move in two weeks,” Yasha’s crispy voice was direct and uncompromising.My lips thinned, but I held in whatever objection I had. “Okay.” I hung up without another word.What could have happened? Did he and Vladimir have a falling out? Of course, the only reason I knew that Yasha and Vladimir had a tentative alliance was because Yasha wanted to rob it in my face that I had fallen out of grace with my sire. I grimaced and quickly squashed that train of thought. Panicking would do me no good right now.All I could do was focus on my own plan. But that led me to the new problem Yasha’s announcement had wrought. Anna met her clan just two days ago. She was nowhere near ready to be chosen by the mark. And I wasn’t her confidant yet. Unfortunately, I was on Yasha's time now, so his word goes.I took out my phone again and dialed one of the only four numbers on speed
FlashBack.Somewhere in Durbent.March, 1724.Sven's POV“Little prince.”Careful not to startle Lydia, my pet komodo dragon, I kept my fingers steady even as I moved only my head to glance up at the approaching figure.Even before I looked up, I knew who the familiar voice belonged to. After all, his voice was the same rumbling cadence that read me bed time stories, coached me though my horseback rides and walked me through my sparring sessions; it either sung my praise or gently corrected my mistakes. Besides, he was the only one who ever came to look for me in my hideout.Lydia was done feeding, plus she was weary of humans who were not me, so she turned, her long tail flicking my hand as she trotted back into the out-building.“You know she will make a meal of you one of these days,” he murmured, walking further into my line of vision.His rich brown hair was cut short once again, but it highlighted the brown and gold flecks of his eyes. He was not that much taller than me, but wi
Josie's POV(Continued)“Hello? Are you okay -”“NO!!” It was instant. One minute, I was splat on the ground, having just spilled out of the elevator like a roll of tissue, the world spinning around me, then the next, a flash of light hazel irises, freckles and a button nose.Soft hands gripped my shoulder, and I whirled around instinctively, catching the boy’s wrist in my fingers. And the next thing I knew, a rush of light so bright and warm I went dizzy with it. Then it was over in what felt like seconds. I blinked, and for a single minute, I didn’t understand why there was a gray haired man with sallow skin lying unconscious beneath my feet. The yellow shirt of a store attendant looked so oddly familiar that when reality smacked me in the face, I squeaked and scrambled away on my butt.The warmth rushing though my veins turned to molten heat, threatening to roast me from the inside out. But still, I kept crawling backwards, my stricken gaze on the unconscious boy. My back hit a wa
The Mall, Variku.Monday 12th of August, 2024.8 P.MJosie's POV(Continued)People said that when it rained, it poured. For me, the heavy rain turned into a thunderstorm and now, it was a motherfucking tornado. Of all the terrible ways the day from hell could have gotten even worse, running into Kora was the worst thing that could have happened to me. In a way, it was actually fitting. First, I woke up with the ability to drain people of not just magic but their youth as well. Then I found out that I drained not 1 but 12 women. And now, when my control was nearing it’s limit, I chose to willingly walk into a building with over a hundred people in it -stupid decision, yes I know. So of the hundred, who else would be more appropriate to run into than my cousin?“Hey, cuz. You’re looking especially horrid today.” To accentuate how utterly fucked I was, the elevator dinged as its doors closed, and Kora and her friends were definitely not in it, as evidenced by her cruel words.I bit my li
The Knight's Sisterhood Territory, Variku. Monday, 12th of August, 2024. 5 P.M Josie's POV (Continued) An empty vacuum. That was my brain. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, elevating my heart rate, but the world moved at a snail’s pace. Everywhere I looked was nothing but vibrant colors. So many colors, even a rainbow looked washed out next to them. The buildings, the trees, the ground and even the very air rippled with an array of colors I wasn’t even aware were on the spectrum. I had no idea where I was nor could I order my thoughts. The only thing I could do was watch my surrounding in awe, feeling like I’d been under water my whole life and I’d only just been let up. The colors were deep and contradictory, looking almost like a child tried to paint a picture without giving a rat's ass about the lines. I could see buildings and trees and what not, but the colors made it difficult to immediately identify what I was looking at. And the vibrancy of everything was making my eyes a
FlashBack. Somewhere In Durbent. December, 1724. Sven's POV The sun shone brightly, a rarity at this time of year, but I felt none of its usual warmth today. I ran down Sabnova street, the harsh rays of the sun beating down on me. My hand stayed firmly on the hilt of my sword, hope and fear warring for dominance in my heart. Still, I uttered payers to a god I could only hope truly existed even as I used all of my spare energy to run. I hoped Kros would find me before them, but simultaneously, I prayed he had the good sense to run as far as he could. Far away from here. Even if it meant my life was forfeit, at least he would be safe. The corner ended at a dead end. I’d seen no one behind me, but I didn’t delude myself into thinking I’d managed to escape them. I scanned the area furtively, my panicked gaze latching on to a small rotten ladder in the corner. Half of its rung was missing, but there was still about three rungs left on it. Good enough for me. All I really needed wa
Outside The Knights Sisterhood Territory, Variku.Sunday, 11th of August, 2024.Vladimir's POVHer heartbeat was faint, but steady. It’s been three days since I drugged Joanne, but for some reason, she was still unconscious. I would be worried if the rhythmic sound of her heartbeat didn’t assure me that she was alive and well. For all intents and purposes, Joanne was taking a rather long nap. I could only hope that she wouldn’t need the kiss of a true love to wake up because if that was the case, she was shit out of luck.The wind rustled, bringing a sharp bite to this cold night. The sisterhood’s territory was deserted at this moment, a notion which I was inclined to believe was unusual for them. Perhaps they were all dreading the wrath of the high priestess?Two days ago, after I’d drugged Joanne and had her blood drained -not enough to kill her or send her into shock, thank you very much- my warriors had returned her to her friend’s hotel room. Rupaul Carrignton was not in his room
Braille Mansion, Lourve, Hiiu.Saturday, 10th of August 2024.10:30 AMLilya's POV“The timeline has been moved up. Be ready to move in two weeks,” Yasha’s crispy voice was direct and uncompromising.My lips thinned, but I held in whatever objection I had. “Okay.” I hung up without another word.What could have happened? Did he and Vladimir have a falling out? Of course, the only reason I knew that Yasha and Vladimir had a tentative alliance was because Yasha wanted to rob it in my face that I had fallen out of grace with my sire. I grimaced and quickly squashed that train of thought. Panicking would do me no good right now.All I could do was focus on my own plan. But that led me to the new problem Yasha’s announcement had wrought. Anna met her clan just two days ago. She was nowhere near ready to be chosen by the mark. And I wasn’t her confidant yet. Unfortunately, I was on Yasha's time now, so his word goes.I took out my phone again and dialed one of the only four numbers on speed
FlashBackEstria - February 16,1991.Lady Piia's POV“Enough!” the voice thundered. Leaves rustled and even a few ravens flew away. That’s how bothered the whole surrounding had been by the sudden booming sound. Even from twenty feet away, I shivered at the uncontrolled rage in the tone. But the brown haired waif of a girl who was probably seconds away from being throttled by the irate mountain of a woman stared back defiantly, not a single hint of fear in her expressive chocolate eyes. Albus Nogru, wearing the brown and gold robes of an instructor glowered, her veins bulging as her hands shook, probably from the effort it took not to wrap it around Inna’s neck. “They are people too. They have a right to be taught and you can’t deny them their right!” Inna, my ever defiant, ever reckless friend snapped back loudly. She tilted her chin up, literally and figuratively digging her heels in. I sighed wearily, already knowing what the argument was about even without moving closer. Only
La Niche. Thursday, 8th of August, 2024. 9pm.Jo's POV(Continued)The brown and gold two storey building was at the very end of a cul dé sac. The street was very quiet and the nearest neighbour was about half a mile away. If it weren't for the luxurious cars parked outside the house and the different elite men and women dressed to the nines walking into said building, I would have thought that Vladimir had me brought all the way out here to be murdered.In a way, it sort of reminded me of house of Pulé. I gulped hastily, doing my best to quash the lurid images that sprung up at the thought of that house.Not the time, I admonished the lusty hoe residing rent free in my head."Miss Puhvel?" I turned my head at the voice.Staring down at me expressionlessly from outside the limo was Castor. I blushed for no particular reason and held my hand out to him. Without a word, Castor helped me out of the white rolls Royce limo we just arrived in.Dressed in a sheer cotton pink and white ruffle