It hurt to look at him. It hurt to be captivated by his ethereal beauty. It hurt knowing that he loved me. It hurt because I knew that no measure of time with him would be long enough, that someday it would all be taken away from me and then what would I be left with?The memory of this man, this exceptional being that gave me everything whilst giving me nothing. This man that saw the real me, all my imperfections and irritating idiosyncrasies and loved me all the more for them.The memory of his electric touch on my skin and the way the sun light captured the liquid gold in his eyes. The way his eyes captured me and dared me to look away.I fell in love with his eyes, I fell in love with his soul, I fell in love with his laugh and his cry, I fell in love with the way he said my name, I fell in love wi
As the light of the early morning sunrise broke through the tattered moth-eaten curtains, Seraphina’s eyes slowly started to flutter open. The hour may be early but, it was time for Seraphina to start preparations for the day.Seraphina stretched her arms above her head and let out a long yawn, she had been working into the late hours yesterday for her Master, Lady Persephone, once again restoring her to her former youth and beauty. She had no idea how old her Human Master truly was but, she didn’t look a day over 25. She had looked the exact same as she did when Seraphina was enslaved by her 18 years ago, Seraphina wasn’t Lady Persephone’s first Dhampir so, one could only guess how old she truly was.Seraphina slowly sat up from the wooden crates that she had fashioned into a bed and stepped up to draw the curtains. She took a
Once all the guests were seated at the long table and everyone was settled, Lady Persephone stood and cleared her throat, everyone's attention turned to her. “The De-Vander house is joyous to have you here today to welcome spring, may the season be fruitful and may the Gods bless each and every one of us” her voice sang out and the guests all raised their glasses to toast. Seraphina stood to the side and kept her head low and her eyes cast down, only moving when someone need their glass refilling.A Noble lady she recognised as Lady Lissandra of the De-Bohun house gestured to her, she immediately rushed over and bowed. “As lovely as this wine is, could I trouble you for some blood instead?” Lady Lissandra asked smiling wide, revealing her impossibly white fangs. Seraphina smiled politely and pulled a small blade from her belt,
Bethels face paled as the tea cup slipped from her hand and crashed to the floor. “I-I- I'm not sure that I know what you’re talking about...A Familiar?” Seraphina frowned and crouched down to pick up the remnants of the cup as Rose and Melanie exchanged a glance.Rose took the broken cup from Seraphina as Melanie began to mop up the spilt tea. “Bethel, I have known you all of my life, I know when you’re lying. Please do not think me a fool and tell me the truth. What is a familiar?” Seraphina tried to be firm but her soft voice betrayed her.Even still, Bethel sighed and seated herself next to Seraphina. “Familiars are the animals which Vampires can shape shift into. When a vampire child is born, they will have a silver birthmark which shows what their familiar will be. Familiars are a reflection of a Vampires
Seraphina turned to Bethel “What will happen when I... if I drink her blood?” Bethel looked Seraphina in the eyes “I am not sure child, you may shift straight away, it may take hours or weeks. The dragon is part of your soul, she has been sleeping though and she may not wake immediately or she may be waiting to be released. One cannot say, it is rare for a Dhampir to have a familiar at all, but to have one so powerful. I’m sorry I can't help you more”.Just as Seraphina was about to answer Bethel, there was a commotion in the courtyard as the Manor doors were burst open and the fanfares of the Royal Parade were heard loudly within the Manor walls.“Well, this just got interesting” smirked Melanie mischievously.
Once again, Seraphina’s breath hitched and she hesitated, Bethel stepped back into line and urged Seraphina forward gently with her hand. Just as she was about to step, Lady Persephone shrieked, “Your Highness, she is but a lowly servant, a slave even, you cannot let her touch you, who knows what disease she may carry”. The Prince rose an eyebrow as if he were amused, “Really Lady Persephone, well my Vampire body is far more tolerant than a humans, any disease she may carry will not affect me. Besides, does she not touch you?”“Well...Yes she does work on me from time to time.” said Lady Persephone, clearly flustered and embarrassed to admit she wasn’t a total natural beauty.Seraphina suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, Lady Persephone kept Seraphina most n
The Princess smiled widely and ran her tongue across her sharp glistening fangs. “Finally, time to have some fun.” she said wickedly.The Prince brought his attention back to the Seraphina and suddenly removed his cloak. He turned her around and produced a sword from his belt. Seraphina froze as he delicately ran the blade up the back of the dress cutting it off and revealing her perfect olive toned skin underneath. His eyes cast down to her rear and he felt his pants tighten in response.He gulped loudly and wrapped his cloak around her letting the rest of the dress fall away. As he turned her back around, he saw the mark of the dragon peeking out of the cloak that was balanced on her shoulders. “So, you do bare the mark of the dragon” he said with a smile. His mother, the Queen tur
Seraphina didn’t have time to react to hearing the Prince’s pet name for her as when the Prince stepped out of the carriage with her in him arms once again, she was greeted by the beautiful marble castle that stood before her. She gasped as she took in her surroundings, she took a moment to let her eyes scan all around her.From the tall marble turrets beautifully decorated with gold to the perfectly manicured gardens filled with tall blossoms trees that released little pink petals as the wind gently blew. Her eyes were wide brimming with wonder, she looked further and saw rose bushes, lilies and all other kinds of flowers she didn’t even recognise. It was like nothing she could have ever dreamed.The Prince watched her with curiosi
“Do you think it will work?” Seraphina’s eyes followed Isobella as she paced back and forth.
Grief. Bone chilling, stomach turning, blood curdling grief. That’s all Seraphina could feel. She collapsed and let out a wail that sounded almost demonic. She clawed at her naked skin and screamed into the night. Her screeches loud enough to disturb the heavens. Raging fires encircled her like a protective wall.She wrapped her arms around her stomach, feeling empty, hollow, lost. She could hear the sound of laughter, a cruel, demented laugh. Turning her head towards the sound, her eyes reflecting the flames dancing as they were slick with tears. Stepping through the flames, she stalked towards the person laughing at her, her hands partially shifted into the claws of her dragon. Ready to tear out the throats of whoever had dared to mock her.
It felt as though a lifetime had passed by the time they arrived back at the manor. All the while, Seraphina had been calling out to Achilles in her mind, hoping and praying she would hear from him. A response, a whisper, a cough, anything…but nothing came.As the courtyard came into sights, she came to a halt as she hovered in the air, gently allowing herself to descend onto the ground.Cheers erupted as soon as they landed and she was immediately surrounded by anxious and tearful faces.As the mages dismounted with the children, Matteo came rushing over to Seraphina holding a robe open in his arms. Nodding her head at him, she shifted back and shrugged her arms into the robe before tying it in place.
The two older girls looked at each other before settling the babies down and stepping forward, careful to keep the younger girls behind them. Crouching down, they dug their hands into the dirt before looking up at the crowd before them, their eyes glazed over as roots and vines shot out from the ground and began to wrap around the legs of the soldiers, winding their way up around their torso and arms.The vampires among the soldiers made effort to free themselves though, the humans for the most part were completely stuck in place fighting against their little cages.Freeing herself from the vines, Seraphina bent down to get onto their level and opened her palm out skyward. Whispering words in the air, a small handmade doll appeared in her hand as she
A wave of nausea passed over Seraphina as she approached the circle of mages. Swaying on her feet, her hand shot out to grab Aurelia’s arm, steadying herself.“Is everything okay Seraphina?” Aurelia whispered under her breath.She gulped audibly before nodding and gesturing for them to continue forward.The circle of mages parted as Seraphina, Achilles and Aurelia came to meet them. Isobella opened her arms out to embrace Seraphina, as they parted she paused momentarily and cast her eyes over Seraphina’s body. An unsettling look came across her face before she shook it away and gave a solemn smile.“Are you sure it is wi
“Violence will be avoided if possible, our main priority is to get in, get the children and get them out. The mages along with Princess Seraphina will be entrusted with bringing the children back to the manor. Magnus?” Aurelia addressed the solider.“Yes Princess,” the aforementioned stepped forward with a salute.“You will stay here with your men to await their return in case anyone tries to follow. The children will stay the night here with their families, they will be seen to by the palace doctors, Helga and Bethel to see if they require any treatment. You are to guard them at all times. I want 2 soldiers stationed inside each of their rooms and an additional 2 guarding the doors.”
An electric buzz coursed through Thea as the mages chanted their syphoning spell. Seamus had warned her that she would feel the absorption of the magic but, she had no idea it would feel so…thrilling. Butterflies, more akin to flying rocks, danced around in her stomach, a radiant sensation passed through her body, warming her from head to toe.The notion that she was absorbing her father’s magic suddenly occurred to her. She had never felt connected to her parents, having no memories of them whatsoever. Moving to the DeBeaux Angelo manor, she thought she would’ve felt a connection, a spark, something but, she didn’t. It just felt like a house.Now, for the first time, she felt connected, she felt the love her father had for h
“I should have known your father would’ve kept an alter hidden somewhere,” Isobella grinned as she walked into the secret room.
*A light breeze drifted through the hallway twirling Seraphina’s sk