Blood Ties (Symbol and me)

20 years. . .Only 20 years- time had never seemed so long. Life finally started to feel slow, as if just to taunt me. In the end, even life couldn't slow down forever; today was finally the day I would see my dear Titus again.

In the back of my mind I wondered how he had grown up, how he changed since the last, and only, time I had seen him. Letters had been exchanged between Mr.Barthow- a close friend of my father's who also had the pleasure of looking after Titus- and myself; rare, yes, but still he kept me updated as much as he could. It became harder for him to write a letter when the war started in America, however, so I hadn't pushed him about it. It wasn't as if his letters ever changed;
"He's growing up fine." "He's training." "He's stubborn but manageable for someone of your high class." Ever the same for Mr. Barthow. While a kind man he really didn't know how to speak to a person over matters he didn't care about. If he didn't like it he would change the subject, blabber on and on about it, but this was just one of those things he couldn't escape from.

Finally, last week, a letter had been given to me, informing me that Titus was ready- Mr. Barthow was sending him to me. It made me happier than a young girl going to her first dance or being kissed for the first time- it was as if I was getting a present that I had been promised forever. Although I should have gotten my guard 20 years ago I had waited as patiently as I could for Titus.
Mother and father had been surprised when I wanted the half breed as my own, yet they were even more surprised when their stubborn and impatient daughter actually waited. No fuss, no changing of mind- nothing. Not once had I complained about him not being here, however, at times mother could see I was slowly losing patience now and again. Thankfully, today was the day he would arrive.

We had sent one of the many house servants to fetch him from the boating docks; giving him warning that he may not want to come but he would have to- even if you had to knock him out. With a worried look the man went to fetch him, and now my parents and I waited in the east drawing room, closest to the front door.
In hushed tones they tried to get me to change my mind quickly, before it was to late. Though they try, I'm sure they knew deep down that their efforts were to no avail, and they were only waisting breath.

"I've already decided, you've already said yes- it's been a 20 year deal that you may not back out on." My voice was calm, soft, but they knew I meant business. With a sigh my mother fidgeted as she came behind me, fixing my hair a bit more. It was just something she did when she was nervous or unsure- she perfected things- usually my hair or dress. While she pined my hair up, telling me how it was such a wild thing at times- never liking to stay up in a bun- father moved his chess piece, sighing himself.

"I'm sorry. . ." A voice quietly called from the door way, though we all could hear him from down the hall, yet we acted like we were surprised to see him. "He's here. . ." He said. My expression brightened as I smiled at him- he blushed out of embarrassment. The little old man bowed to me as I quickly walked out the door and headed to see Titus at the door.

"Oh, look at you. So grown up, so handsome- my little Titus." The words just seemed to come out of my mouth as I saw him. Closing my eyes I breathed in that sweet scent that made my mouth start to water. With a bit of control I smiled warmly at him, circling him to get a full look at him.
"I suppose you don't remember me, do you?" I asked, in a sort of light hearted way. He had only been 3 when we met, we didn't talk to much, but the time we had spent together was nice- to me it was at least.
"If you don't remember, I'm Ixia." Another smile, a small giggle, then I turned to face him again. "It's so good to see you again."
((I'm sorry about the bad starter >.< I guess your character can talk a bit about the trip there and walking in to see Ixia- we will have more speaking then once we have our starters up haha. THat's how it always is with me anyway ^^' oh, and if you type in third person you may do so- I just type in first))

In the vast expanse of the Atlantic, a lone vessel progressed east from west, looking like an ant amidst the endless blue.

"...The time has come, Titus Hart. Your training is complete..."

The vessel was a cargo ship. SS Saint Helena was the name painted on it's hull. A few sailors milled about on deck, working the rigging and splicing rope. They were human. It was easy to tell. The way they moved. The way they smelled. Titus stood on the port-side, his pale hands leaning on the smooth timbers of the gunwale as he stared at the blurry sky-blue/sea-blue horizon in the north. The curls of his hair billowed gently under his wide-brimmed hat, like the tails of his coat.

"...I would be lying if I said Boston will be sad to see the back of you, half-breed. But continue with your carry-ons in England, and your masters will not have the reservations forced upon us. You will be killed..."

If the crew of the ship were curious about the their mysterious passengers, then they did not show it. The two of them were free to do as they wished with no questions. At this moment, the other of the two made his way across the deck. He was a short, old figure of a man, with a hunch-back and one squint-eye.

"Master Titus," he said as he appeared beside his charge. Titus could hear the distaste in the old man's voice. It seemed almost painful for old Guido to call Titus 'master.' It was amusing for the younger vampire. "You should not stay out in the sun for so long. You would not want to blemish your appearance and dissatisfy your master upon your meeting."

Titus did not break his gaze from the northern horizon. "I am wearing this ridiculous hat, am I not? And besides... there is plenty of food up here, I will not go hungry."

Guido gasped and stuttered, looking at Titus incredulously. "T-... Know your place, Master Titus."

Titus regarded old man briefly in the corner of his eye, his trademark ghost of a smile on his lips. He talked the talk but he knew he could no longer walk it. Everything had changed now. America was behind him. The ever-present awareness of that fact was making him more and more nervous day by day.

Guido left the young vampire's side and headed off below deck. In the endless blue, the SS Saint Helena moved ever-east.

***

The carriage journey was long but not uncomfortable. At least, not physically so.

Guido had left Titus in the hands of another on the docks of the famed Port of London. This new handler did not call Titus 'master,' nor even give Titus his name. Just a warning that he could come of his own free will or be delivered unconscious to his master.

Now his nerves danced, especially so when the huge mansion of a house came into view. Even under the hoofbeats of the horses that drove the carriage along the road, Titus could hear his heart thumping. This was the culmination of his training. His entire life had been crafted to lead him here, to this place he did not recognize. This country he did not know. Where people spoke with that ridiculous accent.

The carriage pulled up at the front door of the house and Titus followed his handler inside to the lobby where he was told to wait. The cold air and proper shade was comforting, and he willed himself to be calm and cool. Left alone with his thoughts for a few moments, his eeys scanned the sizable lobby and he realized that this was no ordinary family he'd been sent to work for. These aristocrats were of highest class. It was beginning to make sense why the Phantom's Guild couldn't kill him.

"Oh, look at you..." Titus' train of thought was interrupted and his attention drawn to a woman who was approaching. "So grown up, so handsome..." His eyebrows furrowed for a second before he could school his face to neutrality. This was his master. This woman. "...my little Titus."

She was beautiful. Almost, impossibly so. And somehow, someway, in the shadows on the edge of his memory, he recognized her face. Though the struggle to remember only brought the horrified face of his mother to his mind.

"Nooooo! Give me back my babyyyy!"

"Moommmmyyyy!!!"

She came around to his front after circling him and he found himself looking at her back. So delicate and petite she was, yet she could be a thousand for all he knew. Full-blooded vampires did not age the way he did. "If you don't remember, I'm Ixia." She giggled, then turned to face him again. "It's so good to see you again."

He didn't know what to say. Was it good to see her again? He seriously doubted it. If he opened his mouth this second, something sharp and tasteless would come out, so he elected simply to give her his eye contact. Statue-like, chin not proudly raised, not humbly low either, he simply awaited her instruction.

Ixia-

The beat of his heart was loud enough for me to hear, quick enough to make me laugh. "Nervous?" He wasn't answering me; no bowing, now nod, nothing but a strait forward stare. So far I couldn't tell if he was going to give me a hard time or not, so I continued to be warm as long as he would be good.

"M'Lady." The man who picked up Titus came to my side, bowing to me and asking if I would like for him to take Titus up to his room. Unlike Titus, he never seemed to look me in the eye. The poor human man had once caught me donning on a 'dear guest' of ours years ago. It had been a bad time for me to be so hungry, however, he had never said a word about it- the reason being I threatened to eat him as well. It had been a horrible thing of me to do, but he had never given me any reason to harm him afterwords.

"No, Ottis, it's quite alright. Just take his things up to his room. I'd like to keep him with me for awhile." Ottis seemed pleased to hear that; if I was feasting on this man then he would be free to live. Quickly he said yes, leaving to get other human servants to help him while I looked back at Titus.
"Come along, I'll show you some of the house. We can catch up." Holding my hand out for a moment for him to take I decided he probably wouldn't take my hand so easily as if we were dear friends. With a gentle look I stepped closer, lifting my hand to gently brush his cheek. He was so warm, something I loved about living beings like humans. "You don't have to be so quiet, I won't hurt you." A smirk appeared a second later as I added "At least, I won't mean to. But you seem like a strong man. I'm sure you could handle a little bite." My voice was a tad above a whisper. As I said this, and with that I lowered my hand, heading to the left. Standing in the hall I waited for him to follow. "Do you have any questions?" I asked him, deciding that would be one way to get him talking. If he had anything to say or ask.

Nervous? You're damned right, I'm nervous you pompous bitch.

She could see it in him, there was no sense in denying it to himself. Still he made no move and simply watched her. Perhaps she could judge him easily, but he wanted to stay unpredictable and perhaps, hopefully, instill a little nervousness in her too. Get even in a sense. Almost instantly, he realized that this was pointless. She was as comfortable as could be.

When the man who'd brought him here spoke up, Titus' eyes flicked to him. He was quite the different man when addressing her. The opposite. When Titus had come off the boat, the man seemed confident, aggressive almost, like he had a couple of wooden stakes in his coat pocket and knew how to use them. Now he was all but quivering. Was this woman... this girl... was she that intimidating, really?

"No, Ottis, it's quite alright. Just take his things up to his room. I'd like to keep him with me for awhile." He watched Ottis leave before putting his gaze back on Ixia. "Come along, I'll show you some of the house. We can catch up."

Titus looked at her offered hand and tried to clear his mind so he could weigh his options. It was usually such an easy, instantaneous task but he found himself a little sluggish, for she'd already stepped toward him before he could even think. It took all his willpower not to step back. Her touch was as gentle as a flower and as cold as granite. From this close, he could see that her beauty was no mirage - like a portrait painting that began to show it's true imperfections when stood but an inch from it - she was indeed awe-inspiring, cold and flawless like a newly-made porcelain doll.

"You don't have to be so quiet, I won't hurt you."

This feeling of powerlessness - of fear. It was all wrong. So many years it had taken to master himself in Boston. In the midst of so many superiors and so much negativity, he was finally able to take some semblance of control in his life, in his surroundings. And it was all gone, now.

"At least, I won't mean to. But you seem like a strong man. I'm sure you could handle a little bite," she all but whispered.

His lips parted but he did not speak. This will not do, he thought. I cannot be reduced to the child I was. The crying, scared mess that missed his mommy. I will not live like that again. I will take control of my emotions. I will master myself.

As she walked off, he watched her, jealous of the confidence that seemed to pulsate off her body with every movement she made. He had to take some semblance of control, even if it meant willingly walking into fog of which he knew nothing about. He would give himself to her not because he had to, but because he wanted to.

"Do you have any questions?" she asked him over her shoulder, stopping to wait for him to join her.

One side of his mouth pinched into a smile and went after her. "Yes," he said rather conversationally. "As a matter of fact." He took her hand in his own without without breaking his stride and they walked together hand in hand. "What do the English do for fun?" He browsed the decor as they went, raising his eyebrows approvingly when he saw something he liked. "You appear rich enough. Do you like a party?"

Their footsteps echoed in the vast halls. When they'd finished talking about leisure, he decided to ask her a more serious question. "What possessed you to pick a man like me?" He looked at her. "I mean, do not misunderstand. You've made a better choice than any... but, apparently, my kind is not looked very fondly upon?"

Ixia-

His sudden little smile made me wonder what he was thinking; a moment ago you would have thought he had no emotions at all. Questioning it on the inside, I didn't let my curiosity show on the outside and only smiled back pleasantly. My mask fell, however, for a split moment when he took the hand that I thought he hadn't wanted.

Titus' hand was warm, large, rough and yet it was these qualities that I liked about them. My hand fit so well into his, almost hidden behind the long and slender fingers. This little gesture made me happy, even though no one could tell at the moment; my polite smile was hiding a larger, happier smile. Wouldn't want servants getting the wrong idea, for humans always had a nack for turning things into what they were not.

It was when he started to ask what the english did for fun did I actually push such thoughts and feelings away long enough to pay attention. His questions made me laugh a bit to myself- apparently he didn't quite know who I was.
"Titus-" I started, looking up at him before looking back in the direction we were heading, "I suppose you don't know much about my family, do you?" Not waiting for him to answer I cleared my throat in a slightly joking manner. "I am Bloduwedd Ixia Valor- Princess of the Vampire race, as some call me. Saying that I am rich is quite the understatement." My mocking 'superior' voice even made me laugh at myself.
"And, as everyone knows, one thing princesses or rich folk like best are parties." Speaking of parties, we had been invited to one not to long ago; I believe it was tomorrow night.
"This is true for whatever country you are in. However, although I like parties now and again, I don't describe myself as a 'party' person." It was nice to meet new people, to chat and dance, but I rather be painting or heading to the 'other world'. The 'other world' was what we called it, although all it really is was a place where some of the more 'colorful' magical creatures lived. Such beings that had no human form to hide in while wondering this 'human world'. It was wonderful to see friends there, and if I loved parties I would rather have them there anyways; the fireworks there were always so much better.

Leaving behind the question of parties I looked up at him, a rather serious looking expression on my face. The expression didn't stay long, leaving as quickly as it came with a slightly softer expression. "As for your question about yourself. . ." It was hard to explain, for even I wasn't quite sure why I had chose him.

"If I had to try and explain it, I would have to look back at the memory and try and relive what I felt." Thinking back for a moment I spoke softer as I continued- "You were only a toddler, crying- such a mess you were. They were going to kill you." Looking back at it, I realized what I had seen before looking at Titus; I had watched other children die. Half breeds, just like him, had been killed right before my eyes. Children older, children younger, some the same age. Some cried, some yelled and cursed the very people killing them, and some thanked them. In a way it had touched me, but nothing touched me like seeing Titus.
"Half breeds are not aloud to live. You're to reckless- to say the least- impure beings." Looking up at him I sighed. "But, I had a feeling you were something else. I had gone to pick my guard, and I saw you- little you with a runny nose and mud in your curly hair." Once again I laughed at the sight, for it seemed he was always a mess when I had seen him those few times as a three year old. "I can't tell you what made me want you, maybe I felt pity on you because I had watched so many other children killed before my eyes. Whatever it was, I told them I wanted you as my guard. Of course they wouldn't go against my wishes, so they agreed to spare you and send you off to train."

That was the end of it, though there were little moments I had with him- which could be told at a latter date- and with that as the end I went back to an expression that showed no sorrow, confusion, or any other emotion that may make me seem anything but indifferent. Smiling once again I looked up at him, almost with a slightly cocky look- "Remember, I saved your life, so behave. I don't want any trouble, do you hear?" Pushing the whole discussion away with a small laugh I changed the subject quickly.

"Tell me, how would you like to go to a party? I believe our neighbors are having one either tonight or tomorrow night. It's a human party, but fun none the less."

He'd asked his last question with a genuine desire to hear the answer, but his mind was stuck on something she had said before.

Princess.

"If I had to try and explain it, I would have to look back at the memory and try and relive what I felt..."

A princess.

Back in his early adolescent years, Titus' transition from a insecure, confidence-lacking little half-breed to the man he was today was largely owed to his desire to be the most legendary vampire in history. His secret focus on this ambition was the anchor for him in a sea of rejection and ridicule, and it served him well. But Tainted Titus was no idiot. It was a pipe dream. A fantasy that, deep down, he could admit was a near-impossible goal. But, in the last 60 seconds, the whole idea suddenly seemed to bark at him in his mind.

Princess of the entire race.

Such power. Now he saw where her confidence and pomposity came from. It came from a very real, very justified place. He was almost lost in his thoughts as they walked, and he had to mentally fight to stay in the present. But her words brought him back to reality...

"Half breeds are not aloud to live." He turned his head to regard her. "You're too reckless- to say the least- impure beings." She shared his gaze and sighed. "But, I had a feeling you were something else."

"I am," he put in quietly, then looked back to face front. She continued. They had slowed to slow-motion stroll, both seeming to enjoy eachother's company. Titus was certainly enjoying her's, at least. He had traded more warm words with Ixia this last ten minutes than all his last 20 years worth of conversations with vampires in America. Undeniably, he was attracted to her power...

Princess.

...but there was something else too.

"Remember, I saved your life, so behave." Titus met her eyes with his own, taking in her cocky expression. He could not help but smile his ghost of a smile. "I don't want any trouble, do you hear?"

There it was. That something else. That attitude. Titus found himself enamored.

"Of course... your highness." The mocking tone was subtle but it was there. When she laughed, Titus realised that this new life was hardly anything to be nervous about. It was infinitely better than the one he had left behind in Boston. And Ixia's next words confirmed this.

"Tell me, how would you like to go to a party? I believe our neighbors are having one either tonight or tomorrow night. It's a human party, but fun none the less."

They stopped at the end of the corridor. There was a few closed doors, but more outstanding were the paintings on the walls. At this moment though, Titus only had eyes for the green orbs of Ixia. "A human party?" His tone was playful, but the young man could not hide the sinister undertone in his voice, nor the darkness in his smile. "Why... that's my favourite kind."

Ixia-

The tone, as he answered my question, spoke its own words to me. Suddenly, I was quickly finding something out about my dear Titus. He wasn't the same, that much I knew just by seeing him as a man for the first time rather than a child, but this darkness told me he wasn't as cowardly as I may have thought. While having a good idea what he meant behind his words and tone I couldn't tell whether I liked it or not.

"That's wonderful to hear, for I will need an escort and someone to help me escape all the vile men." There were at least one or two at every party- usually older, unmarried, and even if they were married they were still discusting. Following young women around, I did my best to stay away from them, and even now and again save a poor girl from landing in the spider's web. Poor flies, all young girls were; it made me sick to think about it sometimes.

"You'll be staying by my side." Exchanging the thought of those men with the thought of having Titus beside me at all times made me grin once more, making me feel less ill. "So, don't be going off to chase any girls. For I'll have you know, I'm not a big fan of sharing my men." It was told in a playful tone, but I had been serious- no feeding on such girls. He could feed now and again, but half breeds could easily live off of human food. Really, I just didn't want to find him in bed with some poor human girl.

"Alright, well you have seen the first level. Ready to see your room?" I asked.

Titus wondered to himself what an English woman would be like in her own country. America had been the very capital of immigration during his life. Boston was a major city, which attracted a wide variety of people. And folks of different nations always varied. The way they acted. The way they reacted. The way they tasted. Of course, there were always exceptions to the rule, but by comparison, English women seemed to be far more of a challenge to woo than the average American gal, making the reward more satisfying in many ways. But would it be different now he was in proverbial 'homeland.'

He was confident that he would find out soon enough.

"That's wonderful to hear, for I will need an escort and someone to help me escape all the vile men." Titus inclined his head in lieu of a nod. "You'll be staying by my side." Titus listened agreeably, but his face changed on her next words. "So, don't be going off to chase any girls. For I'll have you know, I'm not a big fan of sharing my men."

His face went from agreeable to decidedly neutral and he considered her words, his eyes drawn down and to the left as he thought. It was a mere a mere moment, though, he was looking at her once more. "As you wish... your Highness." That subtle, playful, mocking tone remained in 'Your Highness,' but this time there was slight note of bitterness in there too. Was he truly forbidden from having his own bit of sport every now and then? He certainly hoped not. But it, sure as hell, sounded that way. And he didn't like that one bit.

"Alright, well you have seen the first level," she said, changing the subject. Titus blinked and his misgivings vanished. For now, at least. "Ready to see your room?"

"I am," he bounced back smartly. And with that, she led him to the stairwell. They still held hands as they went through a door, and as she took a step into the lead, Titus found himself looking at her neck. That pale, slender decollete on show because of her pinned up, wildfire hair. And his tongue briefly stroked his lips for the moment that she could not see. When she looked at him again, he gave her a ghost of a smile and they continued on through the house.

What would a princess taste like?

Ixia-

He continued to call me 'your Highness', which I found rather cute of him but I felt he did it to get under my skin- that's what made it cute. With anyone else I would have given them a cold glare, but with him I ignored it, hoping he wouldn't call me that if I didn't give him a reaction.

The cold marble staircase, led one up to the second level. Each arch way had a sort of church like feel to it- large, grand, yet you felt there was something about the place. Everything was large, dark colored, and quiet. Rich mahogany doors lined up evenly at the ends of the hallways and on the maroon colored walls there hung tapestries- from medieval to now, these large woven works of art told stories from some of my family's favorite stories and some told history.
There were also paints, but most of them quite dark when you really looked at them. The only pictures that seemed normal were the paintings of our family, and the only ones that seemed bright where the few I painted. My paintings had a place in our house, to make it feel at least a bit brighter at times, but for the most part our house was dark. At night, when candles were lit, the maroon walls glowed and it was a haunting beauty to gaze upon at times. It gave this strange feeling to most of our human guests and our servants, but they quickly got use to it.
Down to the left, the forth door on the right, we stopped at one of the large wooden doors. The doors weren't as large as ones to studies and sitting rooms, but for most they were still quite much. However, with such ease I opened it, revealing a room with a deep brownish gold to it. This room faced the sunset, and so when that last light of day hit the wall it gave off a beautiful glow. The bed was dressed to go well with the colors, and to the right there was a desk and chair, to the left there was a dresser and a place to wash his face in the morning if he wished. "This will be your room."
Turning around, walking out and across the hall I stopped at my door. "This is my room." Opening the door I let him look in at the deep forest green walls. When moonlight hit them you could see that there were some shimmer to it, designs of little flowers running up the walls. The four post bed sat against the wall in the middle of the room, a canopy above it with curtains that could be closed. Just like his it had a desk, a wardrobe, but it also had a large table with a mirror on it, where I kept all of my makeup and perfumes. There were two large french doors that led out to a small balcony, yet the curtains were drawn over them. "The other rooms are for guests. My family and their guards sleep down the other end of this floor. Near their rooms, right at the end of the hall, there is a door." Looking over at him with a very serious look I said "That door leads up to the third floor and you, the other servants- including my parent's personal ones- are forbidden to go up there unless we give you permission."

"Any questions?" I asked, smiling once again.

(Yeah. . .not the best at describing houses or things of that sort haha)

The Gothic architecture of the place was reminiscent of the Phantom's Guild and his thoughts went back across the Atlantic for a while, though he banished them with the simple notion that he was glad to be rid of that wretched home. In truth, the comparison between the decor here and the decor at the Guild, although similar in design, were monumentally different in extravagance. Even to the untrained eye of Titus, he could tell that the mere hallway he was walking in was more expensive the entire Guild building.

The few paintings that seemed bright did go unnoticed either. They seemed so out of place and Titus guessed that Ixia had chosen them. She seemed quite a bright character, all things considered. When they finally stopped - the mansion being a much larger place than he had first given it credit for - she opened the door and they went into the room. She stopped near the door and Titus walked past her into the center of the room, slowly looking all around, and managing to swirl elegantly in a 360 as he did. The room was like a palace in itself. Decked in a beautiful gold-brown hue that seemed to radiate deeply on the senses. He noted all the furniture approvingly. It was far better than anything he'd slept in before. Certainly leagues upon leagues better than his dorm at the Guild, which looked like a ramshackle pad by comparison to this room.

"This will be your room."

They shared a glance and then she turned about and left, leaving the door open which meant he should follow. So he did. Across the hall, they went, to the opposite door, "This is my room."

He was rather surprised that her room was so close to his. They had told him, in Boston, that a bodyguard's duty was to shadow his master, but he had not fully grasped just how personal this would all be.

She opened the door and allowed him to look inside. He stepped in close to her, then leaned into the doorway slightly to have a look around. Her room was marvelous, but hardly surprising for a lady's room. "Nice bed," was the only comment. Again, they shared a glance. Then she shut the door and he stepped back as she did so.

"The other rooms are for guests. My family and their guards sleep down the other end of this floor. Near their rooms, right at the end of the hall, there is a door." Then, looking over at him with a very serious look, she said, "That door leads up to the third floor and you, the other servants- including my parent's personal ones- are forbidden to go up there unless we give you permission."

He linked his hands behind back and bowed slightly. "Understood," he replied. There would be time later to ponder what could possibly be on the third floor.

And she was smiling again. "Any questions?"

He was about to say no, then he realised that seeing these luxurious beds had made his body recall the long journey he'd just made across the ocean. "The journey here has been a long and arduous, as I'm sure you can appreciate. Perhaps you would permit me to take some rest in my room?"