The dripping of water on the cold stone floor, was no different to the sound of blood, falling delicately off of the tip of a blade, she thought to herself as she rocked her body forwards and backwards; attempting to muster a shred of warmth to prevent the frostbite that was seeking to prick at her exposed toes. Her dress was shredded in several areas, the pink and black folds fabric reduced to a pile of tattered ruffles, stained with small dots of red from the blood she had recently shed. She had lost her shoe along the path from the grand ballroom to the castle dungeons, but she had no care for the glass heel anymore, its only benefit being to insulate her small, dainty foot from the breeze, that fluttered through the high barred windows.
The room around her was pitch black, with the occasional light shining through the small window as the moon escaped the cloud’s coverage. The air was thick with the stench of rotting bodies and the sour smell of both vomit anf urine that swirled together in a bucket by the bars that led to the thin, narrow corridor of the castle dungeons. Frozen shackles, bolted to the stone, hugged her ankle, thigh and wrists, keeping her from moving; the clinking of the chains filled the dingy cell as she rocked back and fourth. She had lost all sense of time when she was drugged and locked in this place, and was unaware of how many days had passed since the winter ball: and how many days since she had last fed. Her body shook with both cold and hunger, the already pale skin, growing even more paper-like with each passing day.
Her long pink hair was a mess, with dried vomit and other grotesque substances sticking to the strands that cascaded down her frail torso. The light illuminated her pale green eyes, that seemed to show a certain hollowness; a numbness that was unable to pass. She hugged her leg, propping her pointed chin on the tip of her left knee. It was cruel of the royal guards to have taken away her prosthetic. The stump on her right leg came to about her mid-thigh, shivering from the new chill that embraced the sensitive skin. But the longer she rotted in that cell, the less the inhospitable conditions bothered her.
Squeak, squeak.
The girl’s pointed ears shifted at the noise. She slid her emerald eyes to the right, where a small brown mouse was happily making home along the hay bed in her cell. A sudden pain burst through her gums as her fangs fell into place, slicing her chapped lips. A black, blood like substance leaked from the wound, sliding down her chin. Had she been in a better condition, she might have been able to heal the cuts, but in her current state, all attempts to alleviate the symptoms were blocked by her insatiable hunger. She did not bother to wipe the liquid off her chin before she lunged towards the mouse in the hay. The sudden movement was stopped by a sharp tug on the chains that bound her. She froze in place before a powerful force pulled her backwards with twice as much strength, throwing her against the wall with a thud.
Dust fell from the old, rumbling stone walls that surrounded her, her now bruised face planted on the ground was nothing more than a throb that felt very far away. Several more thuds sounded from the corridor, before the sound a living heartbeat filled the room. Not one, or two, but three hearts beating in the warm of thier mundane bodies. Through gritted teeth, the girl lifted her wounded face, and looked towards the door. She squinted at the new light that raged from the fire torch in the hands of one of the men, the brightness stung at her eyes, causing tears to swell and fill their sockets. With aclick, the door t
o her cell was unlocked, and the three men walked in. Each one reeked of alcohol as they stumbled into the cell. The girl attempted to shuffle herself as far against the wall as possible but it was no use. The men surrounded her. A large hand came into view before a mask descended around her nose and mouth, the cool metal bit at the skin on her face, rendering her immobile from the shock of the situation. Her lips trembled as three pairs of hands prodded and poked at her, easing off the fabric around her, exposing her to the frigid breeze. She couldn't move: utterly surrounded. She allowed herself a single tear to fall down her cheek before she closed her eyes and let go of the fear that seared through her, submitting to them, completely defeated, even as they clawed at her, and used her frail body, even as they touched and humiliated her, she let herself go, sending her mind to a peaceful place far, far away.
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“So, what is it like?” A girl with short brown hair, with a tuft of white, sprouting from the top of her scalp, questioned.
“What is what like?” The pink haired girl responded, quirking a brow at the girl beside her.
“What is the outside world like? I have barely left the palace grounds, you’ve travelled the world as a merchant. Tell me what the world is like Lila!”
“Hmm, well, I haven’t really gone too far. I have been all over the Albertine Kingdom and have had the occasional visit into the Southern regions, and of course I know the vampire territory pretty well. Other than that, I have barely seen the world.” Lila explained, her green eyes glingting in the light of the sun as they strolled down the streets of the capital.
The royal castle was located right in the heart of the capital city of the Albertine Kingdom. The capital, Ravenford, was alive with bustling, densely packed streets, taverns and inns at every corner, and bakeries on every other street. The two girls merrily walked down the highstreet, ice creams in hand, blissfully captivated by the conversation, without a single worry on the mind.
“Where do you want to go Lynn? If you truly want to see the world, maybe I will take you there some day.” Lila laughed, taking a deep lick of her ice cream, cringing at the cold that stung her sensitive teeth.
“Wait, Really? If it’s with you, then I want to go everywhere.” Lynn said proudly, before realising the stupidity behind her words, her freckled cheeks flaring with embarrassment, her white eyes evolving into a vibrant orange hue.
“What does orange mean?” Lila questioned staring into the other girl’s eyes.
“Huh? Um. Oh! Er- it’s just general um anxiety or embarrassment.” Lynn confessed reluctantly, but relaxed as soon as Lila smiled.
“Do I make you flustered and nervous, pretty girl?” Lila teased, fully aware of the effect this would have.
“LILA! DON’T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT OMG.” Lynn’s vibrant orange eyes changing once more as a swirl of pink was added.
“OKAY! OKAY! MY BAD! STOP HITTING ME.” Lila broke into a run, careful to avoid people as she sprinted down the pebbled walkways. Her black skirt and long pink hair blowing behind her as she ran.
“WHY ARE YOU RUNNING!” The companion called after her, following closely behind.
They slowed down to a walk before they found a bench upon the grassy hill to relax upon. The birds around them whistled as they flew, and the wind kissed at their exposed skin as Lynn attempted to calm her breathing. The taller girl’s heart was threatening to pound out of her chest, as she looked to Lila who appeared to be much more put together.
“Do you not get out of breath?” Lynn questioned, gulping down mouthfuls of air.
“I am dead, therefore have no reason to breathe.” Lila deadpanned as she continued to slowly eat her ice cream that was strawberry flavoured.
“I thought vampires can’t stand the sun, how are you able to walk freely under it?”
“Lots of questions today Lynn.” Lila signed, looking down at her legs, one pale and toned from years of training, and the other a network of beautiful bronze metal. “It is true that vampires can’t tolerate the sun. Many of the fledglings burn and catch fire when exposed. For me, I would merely only receive some burns and faint, but that’s why I protect myself.”
“How?” Lynn pressed on, curiosity taking over.
“Hmm, can you keep a secret?” Lila smiled widely, her sharp fangs exposed.
Lynn only had to nod once before Lila reached out her hand with which a thin silver ring hugged her middle finger. The ring had a large flower at its centre, its open petals reaching high as if wanting to escape the band it was bound to. Each petal consisted of a small shard of pink crystal that shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Lila toyed with the ring on her hand and sighed before returning her gaze to the girl beside her.
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“This is how I can walk in the sun. It is spelled by a skilled witch, and permits me access to walk in daylight. As long as this ring is on my finger, I can enjoy the warm that the sun offers.”
“I see.” Lynn nodded, finishing off her mint chocolate chip ice cream and chomping on the remaining cone.
More and more questions bubbled in Lynn’s mind but she withheld the urge to ask as they sat peacfeully watching the streams of people in the streets below. From this angle the eniter city was visible. Throngs of people filtered through the streets going about their daily lives. The population of the Albertine Kingdom was mostly made up of the Humans, but it wasn’t frowned upon to have other species roam the city. The only creatures avoided were the vampires; out of fear more than anything else, but due to their aversion to the sun’s rays, it was uncommon for many of them to venture from the Zilah kingdom, where the night reigns eternal.
“Right, you should probaly head back to the castle.” Lila smiled, tugging at the metal on her thigh, testing its strength.
“Huh? What do you mean? Why would I er- need to go back to the er- castle, aha?” Lynn laughed out nervously, causing Lila to stare back at her in confusion.
“You work there? Your shift in the kitchens starts in like 20 minutes?” Lila said slowly before standing up and brushing off the crumbs that the ice cream cone left behind.
“Oh right, yes aha, I really should get back then.” The taller girl sighed, running her hand through her short brown hair that was styled into an undercut.
“Well then, I have some work to do around the city so I will see you again later?” The pink haired girl smiled, her sharp fangs, once again visible.
“I actually can’t come out tonight, my er- shift ends too late, so maybe tomorrow.” Lynn smiled back, slowly walking back to the castle, alone.
Lila remained atop the hill, watching the girl return to the palace walls where she was easily permitted entry. The pink haired girl finally turned and walked towards the highstreet once more, when Lynn was out of sight. Lila smiled down at the ring on her finger, spinning the little flower around several times before removing the ring and holding it up to the sun. A bright fangless smile spread across her lips as she pocketed the ring and strolled into a dark alley off of the side of the busy main street. She lept up into the nearby window of one of the town houses in the more corrupt neighbourhood of Ravenford. Careful not to make a noise as she stepped foot into the bedroom, Lila pinned herself against the darkened wall and waited. Footsteps sounded a couple minutes later as a man walked through the open door, locking it behind him with a Click. Lila reached under her black skirt and felt for the band across her thigh with which a pair of long, beautifully crafted scissors were held. She removed them from her sheath and pressed herself off of the wall.
While the man before her set to work rummaging through the paper work that was spread around his desk, Lila tied her long pink hair into a ponytail with a sharp hairpin, unhurriedly as if savouring the moment. The man failed to take notice to the girl in the shadow of his wardrobe and began counting the small golden coins that stood proudly on his desk. Lila took a step closer, her ponytail swaying as she moved. When she was close enough to the man, she held the tip of the scissors inbetween his shoulder blades, and threw a hand to cover his mouth. The man attempted to wiggle free, but the sharp blade on his back rendered him immobile, and Lila’s strength vastly overpowered his own. He whimpered, attempting to whisper a plea but Lila didn’t care and instead bent forward and licked playfully at the skin on the man’s neck.
“Where are you hiding it?” She whispered in his ear. From any other perspective, it may appear like two lovers roleplaying in some twisted fantasy, but Lila’s intentions were not alligned with this image, as she pressed the blade slowly in, causing the man to stretch forward attempting to avoid injury.
“PLEASE! I- I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT!” The man screamed, his voice muffled by the hand that covered his lips.
“Hmm, try again. Where are you hiding it?” Lila pressed the blade in, plunging it deep into his shoulder, causing the man to writhe and scream in pain. The smell of his fresh blood sliding out of the wound made Lila roll her eyes back in delight. She bit down the urge to enjoy herself until after she got the information she needed. “Make this quick, you don’t have all day.” She pouted, pushing the scissors in deeper.
“UNDER THE LIGHTPIPE! PLEASE JUST LET ME GO.”
“Ah, see? That really wasn’t that hard.” The pink haired girl leaned forward, breathing in the scent of the man below her once more, her emerald eyes glowing in the reflection of the lamp on the desk.
“Wh-who are y-you?” He stuttered out.
“Delilah Dagon.” She whispered and plunged her fangs into his neck, as his eyes went wide.
She meticulously used her blade to slice open the skin of his throat, where two clean puncture marks were embedded, obscurring the real cause of death. She licked her scissors clean before reattaching them to her thigh. Lila reached over the now drained, dead body that was slumped on the desk and gathered some of the papers that lay scattered, putting them into her black satchel, and added the small piles of gold into her purse. She returned to the window and scanned the surroundings before throwing herself onto the nearby roof top. The blood that coursed through her made her leg stronger as she bounded over and around obstacles on her way to the Southside of the city, were the Lightpipe inn was located.
She jumped off of the rooftop, and found the grate that was hidden around the back of the inn. She lifted the cover with little effort, her body much stronger since feeding, and hopped in. She descended the ladder and replaced the cover before cracking a light stick to illuminate her surroundings with its yellow glow. Lila walked through the underground pipes, scanning the walls before turning the corner and finding a large metal door. Light seemed to seep around the cracks of the door itself, indicating life on the other side. She pressed a pointed ear to the cold metal but heard nothing. She slowly wrapped her hand around the handle and pulled the door open with ease.
On the other side, rows upon rows of vampires were lined up and chained, shivering from fear. In the centre of the round stone room, a chair was set up with a thin, sickly looking creature chained to it, and four burly men surrounding her. Lila felt bile sting her throat as she unsheathed her scissors once more and flung them across the room, planting them into the back of the closest man’s neck. He dropped to the floor in an instant: dead.
Anger riled through her as she stepped into the room, readying her next weapon, a long, sharp hair pin that had previously held her rosy pink ponytail, was sent flying across the room, lodging itself in the eye of the next man who stumbled back, screaming in horror. She reached the third man and immediatly snapped his neck with her soft hands, dropping his lifeless body to the floor. The fourth man attempted to flee, but Lila was faster. She blocked his path and stalked towards him, her now loose hair moving side to side as walked ominously. He began to walk backwards, scared to enter close proximity with the young looking girl ahead of him. He stumbled back, further and further, scanning the room for an exit, but failing to observe where he was backing up into. The chained vampires that were bound to one another against the wall grabbed the man, slaughtering him with their long, vicious fingernails and teeth, drinking up the blood that they spilled. The man that had been previously screaming on the floor had long gone silent, the poison on the hair pin had acted fast it seemed.
With a sigh, Lila undid the chains of each of the vampires with a slash of her hand, allowing them to run rampant around the stone chamber, feeding on the four men that had experimented upon them. Lila retrieved her weapons, putting them back into her bag after cleaning them with the shirt of one of the four men. The creature on the chair was once a vampire but appeared to had died from the harsh experiments conducted upon her. Disgusted, the pink haired girl placed her palm atop the head of the girl and squeezed. The entire body below her disintergrated, leaving nothing but ash behind.
“It is still light out, and I assume none of you are able to defend yourself against it. Have the stronger ones stand in the tunnels and monitor the streets above using the grates. None of you belong here so when night falls, you will leave this city. Do not attack or cause harm to any person or creature on your travels back to Zilah. I will know, and you can see what I am capable of.” Lila threatened, turning to leave.
“Are you Miss Dagon?” One of the captured vampires asked quietly, bowing his head as to not make eye contact with her piercing green orbs.
“Yes! Yes it is! Thank you Miss Dagon!” Another vampire burst out.
Lila only nodded her head in acknowledgement before she turned around and left the way she came.
Back on the streets once more, Lila delighted in disappearing into the crowd and strode to the tall tree in the Central Park. She climbed up its rough bark and sat herself amongst the leaves, high above the ground. In the shade of the branches she crossed her arms behind her head and hummed to herself in the afternoon sun, washing away the stress that wracked her body. She closed her eyes and willed herself to drift off into a pleasant sleep.
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When she opened her eyes, she was back in the frigid darkness of the castle dungeons. Sunlight streamed through the high window and fell onto her arm where angry, red burn marks sizzled and cracked. She quickly jumped away, hiding in the shadows once more. Her dress was back on her small body and her hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, as if the terror of the previous night was nothing more than a fabrication from exhaustion. The sound of metal made it’s way down to her cell from the stairs far above. Someone was coming.
It’s probably some poor sod bringing water again, like that’s gonna help.
She thought to herself. I would appreciate it if they put poison into the water instead.
The steps grew closer as a man, accompanied by four guards stopped infront of her cell. The man was tall, his blonde hair neatly combed, and his pale blue eyes cold. He knelt down on the other side of the bars so Lila could see him. A wicked smile spread across his face as his eyes glowed maliciously.
“Delilah Dagon. Renowned assassin of Zilah. You have been sentenced to death.”
A stillness washed over her as the door to her cell was opened and the guards stepped in. New shackles were locked onto her body, tighter and colder, restricting her already limited movement. She was dragged out of the cell , the four guards overpowered her as she screamed and shook and fought off the grip that held her, but to no avail.
She was going to be executed.
And there was nothing she could do to stop it.