Rolling onto his back, Sorin gazed up at the ceiling with sleepy eyes, trying to adjust to the dim lighting of the room. Light came in from around the dark green curtains, mostly obscured but still coming in. How annoying. Bringing his arm over his face, he covered his eyes as he groaned, the memories of what happened the day before coming back and hitting him like a ton of bricks. He got roped into helping out that short girl, the one that somehow got a hold of some valuable jewelry. At the time, he was too pissed off at the thought he couldn't pawn off that junk bracelet, which he had snagged from some lady in the town up north. But now... Where did she get that jewelry? She was so meek and uncertain about everything around her. It could have been an act for someone to lower their guard around her, but at the same time, there was something about her that didn't seem right. Was she really the type to do whatever means necessary to get what she wanted?

How demeaning that you allowed yourself to be some servant to another carrier! You should have put that girl in her place and taken the money from her.

"Believe me, I was about to take it from her but... She's a carrier, she would have fought back and then we'd end up making a huge scene of it all."

You're letting fear take hold of your actions. It's pathetic! And of all the carriers, it had to be Melantha's!

"I couldn't care less about your stupid little sibling feud, Ignatius. And whether you like it or not, I need the money to survive. Keep your two cents to yourself."

The silence in his mind other than his own thoughts brought relief for him, glad the dragon took the hint and fucked off. Now, to do that in person would have guaranteed his own death, that much he was certain. But the dragon mentioning Melantha's carrier did have him ponder what exactly happened to her that she ended up looking like that yesterday. Not that he was concerned about her - no, far from it - he just had to know whether she did anything that would end up bringing attention to herself and, by extension, him. Because if whatever she did caught their eye-

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, Sorin groaning again and turning on his side so his back was facing the door. Another knock, but this time followed by the small voice of "it's me." It was her. Huh, he never did get her name, did he? Not that it mattered, he supposed. With an exasperated huff, he threw the covers and blankets off himself as he sat up, glaring at the door for a second before getting up and out of bed. He still felt half asleep, opening the door a crack and squinting a bit from the light of the hallway. His eyes eventually glanced down to see Lilith looking up at him, hair and skin clean of dirt and leaves. Eyes wandering lower, he did notice her new attire, undoubtedly bought yesterday.

A long sleeved black off-shoulder shirt, which thankfully had the sleeves high enough to cover that shoulder marking, and it showed some of her cleavage. As his eyes glanced lower, he noticed the dark purple skirt she was wearing with black leggings, and some black knee length boots on, the laces tied up. She cleaned up pretty well compared to her messy appearance the day before. And here he was, with nothing but his boxer underwear, not that she can tell just yet.

"I got us some croissants," she said, holding one up for him. "Can I come in?"

Sorin's eyes were back at her face, sighing some as he quietly nodded and took the one she offered.

"You're only in here because I'm still waking up. Otherwise, I'd have shut the door on your face and told you to fuck off," he muttered, stepping away from the door as she pushed the door open some more. Stepping in, she shut it behind her and looked toward him, only to quickly avert her gaze as she realized he was only in his underwear.

"Um, shouldn't you, uh... dress more appropriately? You're wearing-"

"I know what I'm wearing, I just don't give a shit," Sorin said as he sat down on the edge of the bed, taking a bite out of the croissant. "Now why the hell did you want to come in for? If you have some girl troubles, I'm not about to listen to that."

"No, that's not it," Lilith started, shaking her head. "I just wanted to know which dragon you had? You seemed to know which one I have, unless I'm wrong?"

There was a pause between them, Sorin looking at her in momentary disbelief that this was really all she had come here to do. However, still in his half awake state and with the croissant calming him, he shrugged and decided to humor her.

"Ignatius, fire dragon. He was the one who actually pointed out your marking when I spoke with you outside of the pawn shop. Seems he and Melantha had some sibling rivalry or some stupid shit like that."

"Hm, a fire dragon," she mused, stepping forward some and sitting on the burgundy carpeted floor, biting into her croissant.

"Actually there was something I had to ask you, mainly because I need to know what exactly I'm getting into with being your little guide," Sorin pointed out, staring intently at her.

"Ah, sure, what is it that you need to know?"

"How did you get that jewelry? The ones you sold off. And how did you end up looking the way you did?"

"That's um... It's a bit of a long story."

"Try me."

As Lilith looked up at him, she could see in his green eyes that he wasn't about to back away from his question. Well, she could tell him just of the end part, the one he wanted to know the most. Taking a breath to calm herself, she then explained to him what happened in the last moments of her life under the control of her parents. And as he listened, he felt a slight tenseness in his stomach when she spoke of how her mother nearly killed her had it not been for Melantha intervening. It was... He hated that he could relate to that. However, as she continued with her story, recalling how Melantha attacked and destroyed the Frostdane manor, his eyes narrowed at her.

"Shit... Shit, you didn't tell me you came from some aristocratic family," he muttered, though was more stressed about it than she expected.

"Is that really a problem?"

"Yes, it is! Fuck, you really have no idea what the hell was beyond that place, do you? Look," he started, sighing some. "There's a group out there, they call themselves Dragon's Blood. They only exist to kill carriers like us. Now, they mainly do it out of profit, so that might be what saves us from drawing attention. For all anyone knows, no one survived the attack on your family's manor."

Lilith stared in temporary shock at his words, realizing something that happened between them when they were at the front of the pawn shop. "That's why you reacted the way you did when you saw my marking, right?"

"Yeah.. That, and also because sometimes.. people would just take matters into their own hands. You need to understand that people like us aren't really welcome anywhere. This is why you need to hide it. Now, do you know anyone who might investigate into what happened at the manor?"

"Not that I know of, but I recall seeing some escape when Melantha showed me the memories of that night. But it might have been a few maids and butlers. Unlikely they'd have the money to pay this Dragon's Blood."

Sorin visibly relaxed a bit, nodding his head. "If that's true, then we'll be alright. From what I've heard, they ask for a lot for their services. Can't blame them - they are slaying dragons."

"But, why even form a group like that to begin with? And how can they kill a dragon? Melantha was practically unstoppable during her rampage. How could humans kill a dragon?"

She leaned forward a bit to hear for an answer, Sorin glancing away a second as he took another bite of his croissant. How exactly should he go about this? The girl apparently had awakened her dragon not too long ago, so there was a lot she didn't know about being a carrier in general. Or rather she didn't have the chance to speak with Melantha regularly. Well, he couldn't blame her for not wanting to speak to her too much. Dragon spirits were really irritating after a while with their arrogance.

"These are just stories I've heard, but supposedly they have abilities - powers that can rival a dragon's," he explained, lowering his gaze to her. "I don't know how they got them, but they do. And why do they hunt us? Well... Let's just say there's been carriers in the past who got a bit too aggressive with their powers."

Lilith remained silent for a moment, taking in all this new information she had never imagined existed. The people of these lands really hated carriers that much? It was almost unfair that their hate was directed to the vessels, when the dragons were the ones responsible. And yet, from what Sorin had said, carriers were just as much at fault as the dragons. They used their powers for their own gain, and now every new carrier born had to deal with the consequences. This - why was this so unfair? All that time trapped in that manor, only to escape into a world that hated her as much as her parents did? Tears began to well up in her eyes, the realization that her situation hadn't improved all that much hitting her.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Whoa, wait.. are you actually crying," asked Sorin, taken aback by her reaction. Lilith quickly brought her arm up to wipe her eyes with her sleeve, not trusting her voice to answer him. "Ugh... Look, if you're going to cry, can you at least do it in your room? That should have been another condition - that I'm not here to listen to all of your problems."

"Sorry.. It just seems... Kind of hopeless. I thought things would get better, but it doesn't seem like it will," Lilith explained to him, Sorin sighing.

"Look, obviously no one has to know what we are. So just keep it hidden and no one will make a scene of it. They won't treat you differently if they don't know the truth."

Staying hidden... It was really the only thing she could reasonably do from here on out. As long as no one knew, Dragon's Blood would never come after them, and people won't get hostile with them. She could still live her life out in this big world, she just had to keep Melantha a secret. As she took breaths to calm herself, wiping the lingering tears in her eyes, her gaze was on Sorin again. It was then that she noticed the mark on the middle of his torso, one that looked like a flame. When her eyes wandered a little to note his lean muscle, she caught herself and averted her gaze to the carpeted floor instead. This was really strange for her - never before has a man wore so very little around her. On the other hand, Sorin had proven he was far from the noblemen she had met before. Hard to say if it was a good or bad thing just yet.

"Anyway, if that's everything, you should go get your things so we can leave. I'd rather not stay around here too long after you walked around and showed your marking," he said, finishing up the rest of his croissant. Getting up, he walked over to a pile of clothes at the front of the bed, slipping on the sleeveless shirt he wore the day before.

"You're still going to stick around even after that," Lilith asked, surprised that he was willing to risk possibly getting involved with the worst.

"Don't misunderstand - I'm only doing this for the money. If Dragon's Blood happens to be looking for you, I'm stepping out of this and you're on your own. I'm not about to tangle myself with them."

"Alright." Lilith stood up carefully with her croissant in hand, knowing full well that she couldn't ask more from him. They weren't friends and he was only around because she was pretty much paying him to.

"Before you go," Sorin added, picking up his pants and looking at her. "What the hell is your name? Better give me something before I start calling you a runt."

"Lilith, you can call me Lilith," she quickly answered, hoping he wouldn't resort to those names regardless. He would nod at her, Lilith turning away to head out and return to her room. What had intended to be an attempt to know him a little more turned out to be a bomb of information being dropped on her instead. This Dragon's Blood... Just how dangerous were they that not even Sorin, despite how hotblooded and abrasive he seemed, wanted to cross paths with them? If only she had known of them sooner, she wouldn't have recklessly exposed her marking when she first arrived into the town.

After gathering all of her things into the new backpack she bought, she slipped the straps over her shoulders and headed out to the main lobby, handing over her room key and confirming her checkout with the receptionist. In a few minutes, Sorin would arrive at the lobby to do the same, motioning to Lilith to follow once he finished. Heading out together, Lilith couldn't help looking around once they were outside, everthing looking different with the morning light than the setting sun of yesterday.

"Ugh, you really do look like a tourist," Sorin remarked, shaking his head as he walked ahead of her. "You better keep up, Princess, because I'm not about to slow my pace for you. And don't even think of asking me to carry you either."

"I wasn't a princess and I can walk on my own just fine, thank you. Besides, you look like you would end up dropping me on purpose," she retorted, lowering her gaze some so she wouldn't look too much like a tourist.

"Damn right I would," he said with a small smirk. "Huh, guess you do have a little backbone. Which isn't saying much."

Did he really have to go out of his way to be this difficult and confrontational with her? Even if it was simply how he was, the thought of having to deal with that on a regular basis sounded so exhausting. Maybe asking for his help specifically wasn't such a good idea if it meant their conversations would always devolve into... Whatever this was. Banter, perhaps? And yet, at the same time, she realized she never had this chance before. Mother had always controlled who she spoke with, who she was allowed to meet with. She controlled everything...

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"And this is my room," announced the red-haired little girl, dressed in a frilly white dress, her arms in the air to show off the large room. A much younger Lilith gazed up and around the room in awe at the room, the girl wearing a light blue dress with a black ribbon tied around her waist. A luxurious wooden vanity, a large bed with white comforters and a canopy, the oversized stuffed animals, and the many toy boxes around. And that wasn't even counting what might have been behind that closet door. Perhaps a walk in closet with various outfits for her?

"It's.. really nice," Lilith said softly, almost speechless.

"It is, isn't it? Anyway, let's get the toys and head back outside!" The pair would nod at each other before rushing to opposite sides of the room, each grabbing an armful of toys that they liked the most. Lilith had picked up soft brown teddy bear, a pair of dolls in ballroom gowns, and stuffed white horse with brown patches. Her playmate went with more dolls, both male and female, holding them close with a big grin as she approached Lilith. With the two prepared, they rushed out the room and down the halls, giggling the entire way until they were outside.

But on spotting her mother outside near the garden, conversing with her playmate's mother, Lilith quieted down and kept her head low as she slowed her run to a walk. Doing her best to keep her pace brisk, she tried to keep up with her playmate as they approached a tree, a large picnic cloth already set on the grass for them to play under the shade. Setting their toys on the blanket, they started to play together, Lilith occasionally glancing back at her mother. Well, it didn't seem like her mother was paying too much attention, immersed in her gossiping. Relaxing some at this, she focused back on playing, picking up the fluffy teddy bear and holding it close. The soft fur caressed her skin, bringing further relief to her that she could have a moment to be herself.

Pulling the teddy bear away a bit, she smiled down at it and then picked up the cute stuffed horse, putting the bear on top of it as if it was horseback riding. She giggled a bit until a small hand reached out and yanked the stuffed horse away. Glancing to her playmate, the red-haired girl held the stuffed horse close to herself, a dressed up doll in her other hand.

"Sorry but Miss Belladonna Starflower needs a ride to the ball! She needs this horse to get there on time. Oh! Lilith, how about you go pick some flowers out? The daisies over there look perfect for Miss Belladonna!"

"Um, but I was playing with it first," Lilith muttered, pointing to the stuffed horse. The girl glanced to the horse and turned in a way to hide it some with her own body.

"But it's my toy so i can play with it whenever I want. You can get it back once I'm done. Can you go get the flowers? Please?"

Lilith quietly stared a moment before nodding, getting up from the blanket and stepping away from the girl. She had only taken a few steps behind her when...

You had that first, didn't you? Take back what's yours, what you rightfully deserve.

Stopping in her tracks, Lilith was taken aback by the sudden voice, nothing more than a little whisper yet too difficult to ignore. What she rightfully deserved... Turning to look at the girl's back, who was blissfully unaware of what was happening in Lilith's mind, Lilith's eyes watched for a moment before looking elsewhere. Blue-grey eyes spotting a rock close by, her gaze lingered for a moment longer on it before stepping toward it.

Show her what happens when she takes what belongs to you. Go on... Make her regret it.

Her hand gripped the rock and pulled it up, taking a bit of effort since it was embedded in the dirt. Now with a rock half covered in dark dirt, she slowly and quietly approached the girl, each step careful so she wouldn't hear. The shade of the tree concealed her shadow, the red-haired girl unsuspecting of the encrouching and imminent danger behind her.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Closer.. Just a bit more...

"LILITH!"

The piercing shriek through the air had Lilith reflexively freeze in place, turning her head slowly to see her mother rushing toward them.

She let down her guard

She let down her guard.

SHE LET DOWN HER GUARD.

Dropping the rock onto the grass right as her mother drew close, Lilith's hands came up in front of her chest, eyes wide as her mother's figure drew closer, soon towering over her. Her mother reached and roughly grabbed at her arm, yanking her away from the girl and being pulled along.

"I'm sorry, but we must leave now. I bid you a good day," her mother said sternly to their guest, the other woman watching with stunned eyes yet managing to nod. As she was pulled away, Lilith looked over her shoulder to her playmate, the girl staring with wide and confused eyes, unsure just what had happened. It was the last time they've seen each other. Hesitatingly, her gaze turned to her mother's face, the woman catching her stare. A look that she was familiar with yet always filled her with dread. A glare filled to the brim with fury and hatred.

Lilith quickly averted eye contact, knowing full well that what she almost did was inexcusable. All because she listened to a little voice in her head.

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"You were spacing out a good while there," muttered Sorin, glancing over to her. Lilith blinked and looked up at him for a moment before lowering her gaze and shaking her head.

"Ah, I was just remembering something," Lilith told him, sighing a bit. "Can I ask you something? How often do you hear.. their voice?"

The pause after proved his hesitation to answer, Sorin considering his words carefully since they were still out in public, where someone might catch on to what they were saying.

"Pretty often now. He didn't really speak much until after he awakened," he replied with a shrug.

"Awakened?"

"Yeah, the moment their power fully becomes yours. They're usually dormant until then - sometimes it takes extreme danger or an intense emotion to get it done. It's possible, yet rare, for it to happen through dreams or meditating."

"You didn't hear anything before then?"

Sorin was quiet for a few seconds, looking at her with a more serious gaze. "I did. I think it's more like them trying to trigger it somehow. The more you give in to their urges, the easier it is for them to take control." He remained silent as they continued their walk, at least until they reached the outskirts of the town.

"You heard her voice before the actual awakening? It wasn't often, was it," he asked, Lilith crossing her arms over her chest as she recalled that one particular moment.

"It wasn't too often, honestly. Something that happened rarely, with only one time that I almost carried it out."

"Well, I'll tell you now so you won't be surprised later: you're going to get those urges more often. No matter how timid a person is, the dragon nature starts to slip in more and more the longer they've been 'awake.' That's just how they are.. They're drawn to violence, and they live to subjugate."

"Hm, then I take it you've had yours awakened for a long time now? What set it off?"

He suddenly stopped walking, eyes narrowed threateningly at her. That stare alone made Lilith freeze up, his eerie silence impossible to ignore. Their eyes would stay locked for a couple more seconds, until he turned away and continued walking, making it very clear he wasn't about to answer that question. Lilith was left to stare at his back, the realization that she had stepped onto something out of line dawning on her. And she knew very well that there was no amount of money that could get him to tell her either, not with that look he just gave her.