[IC] 𝕮𝖗𝖎𝖒𝖘𝖔𝖓 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖙

[Shu]

PROLOGUE

THE VIPER AND THE LION

* * *

Casna Valentin sat alone in the small foyer of Valentin Manor, legs crossed and arms folded over her chest as she looked out the large glass window that sat above the front double doors outside. The sun was nearly gone, the fading reddish orange rays that stretched across the house marking the last breaths of the ending day. As far as Casna knew she was the only one in the estate that was awake minus the servants and guards, of course. This was nothing unusual per se, she was nearly always the first of her family to stir, taking the time to enjoy the silence and solitude of the manor in the early hours of the night.

Casna reached for the small goblet that rested on the side table near her, the deep red liquid within reflecting against the faint candlelights of the crystal chandelier that hung above. The reflective glow danced within as the liquid swirled from the lifting motion. Casna brought her drink to her lips, savoring that first metallic tang as she turned back the goblet and let the fresh blood flow over her lips and tongue.

Draining her cup dry she sat it on the table and left it for the next passing servant to take away. As the last rays of light faded and blackness began to envelope the outdoors Casna could hear the howling of wolves in the distant, the melodious keening bringing a smile to her face as she wiped a trace of blood from the corner of her mouth, suckling it from her thumb.

Amid the scattered bustle of the servants through the house Casna could hear the unmistakable sound of doors opening and slamming above. It seems everyone else wakes now. she thought. Keeping her seat Casna decided to wait for the others as they tended to their “morning affairs”, or rather evening affairs. She traced her fingers absently across the table at her side as she looked out the window, her mind churning with thoughts as they had been for several nights now. Thoughts best shared with only one person, whenever he decided to rouse himself and come see her.

[SilverPaw]

Theodor stirred at the pitter-patter of feet down the hallway. He was sitting half the way up, hand on the knife he habitually kept under his pillow, when his door slammed open, and a cheerful, “Morning!” resounded.

It was just Noah, the child vampire. When he realized who it was, Theo released the grip on his weapon, and waved at the already departing boy. Down the corridor, another inhabitant was the next one disturbed.

“Damned brat!” Joan’s shout was clear despite the distance, and more racket followed.

Theodor ignored the sounds as a matter of habit. He rolled out of bed, and proceeded to stretch thoroughly. After working out the stiffness in his muscles, he called upon a servant. All he had to do was pull a cord, which was connected to a bell elsewhere, and wait. Even after 30 years, the sheer convenience of living as a noble still startled him on the rare occasion.

In the meantime, he padded across the carpeted floor to the windows, and drew aside all the curtains. Though the sun had fully set already, it was still fairly light outside. He cracked open a window to let some fresh air in, breathing in the scents of early evening. He was itching for a flight, but didn’t want to let Casna wait for too long.

The servant arrived shortly after Theodor had changed into his day attire, and had seated himself at his desk to review his work from the previous morning. Documents and loose parchment littered the surface, but he maneuvered through the chaos easily.

At a knock on his door, Theo answered with an, “Enter!” In came Marcin, a stout but finely groomed middle-aged man. The servant carried a tray, upon which lay his meal; a chalice full of freshly drawn blood. Theodor motioned him closer, and while grabbing the drink with one hand, held up the other with a single finger raised.

He drank deeply, and finished the first meal of his day in several quick gulps. “Mmm,” he sighed in appreciation, closing his eyes briefly. If he were younger, he would mop up the residue lingering on the cup. But as it was, he merely returned the vessel to Marcin’s tray. “Good man,” he praised, and gave the retainer a friendly pat on his arm. He ignored the subsequent nervous tensing the human couldn’t help prevent.

Smiling wryly, Theodor stood up, and preceded the man outside. Wouldn’t want to give the poor thing nightmares by following right behind his back, after all.

It was a swift walk down to the foyer, where, as expected, Casna was waiting for him. “Evening,” he called out to her. He was not at all reluctant to get into her personal space, and stood right beside her. He brushed her shoulder in greeting, then stretched an arm over the backrest of her chair, leaning down on it. His other hand was resting on his hip, his head tilted down to meet her gaze, fangs peeking through his smile.

[Shu]

Casra met Theodor’s eyes and gave a little grin, her own sparkling white fangs showing. “Good evening, Theodor,” she said, her voice drizzled with a sort of jestful sarcasm, “so nice of you to come down and tower over me.”

Casra had always been one to prefer that others maintain a social distance in her presence, this including her closest friend. Standing up from her chair she strode forward crossing the foyer. The candlelights reflected off her pale flesh, white-blonde hair, and charcoal dress, giving the undead woman a rather capturing appearance. Were she “alive” any mortal man would call her a divine sight, dazzling, and beautiful. Most rather would be to frightened by the pale, fanged woman to offer her any compliment, and she cared little. The praise and admiration of the short-lives meant nothing to her.

Casra propped against the doorframe that lead into the parlor nearby as she spoke again to Theodor, “I am glad you and the others are finally awake, it was getting boring just sitting around. Besides I’m eager to have some fun this evening, Theodor.”

Casra smiled, pulling some strands of hair away from her ear. It had been a few nights since she and Theodor had gone out across the kingdom and tonight she had a little sport in mind. Granted she wasn’t entirely sure it was something he would be interested in but she wanted to put it to the test no less. After a little it of letting loose the two could retune to the estate and share a needed conversation, something she was eager to discuss with her old friend.

[SilverPaw]

Theodor smirked at Casna's greeting. “You know I have to take the advantage when I can,” he joked in return. True, she was about an inch higher than him, but he’d long since got used to that. It was still enjoyable to poke fun at each other about it though.

He let her put the distance between them, not minding what he might have once thought as aloofness. As he watched her move past the chandelier, pale skin glinting under the lights, he was reminded of the early days of winter. How often he’d woken at dawn to witness freshly fallen snow glimmering beneath the rising sun...

Though an aesthetic sight, he thought this was another reason vampires were unsuited to daylight. Their pallor was all too conspicuous.

Granted, there were some individual differences. His complexion, for example, had a light gray tinge to it, and was more matte. The most striking difference between the two of them was definitely the hair though. While both of theirs was long and fine, hers was flaxen fair, and his as black as the deepest shadows. Amusingly, their sense of fashion had some similarities. Though he wore more layers, his ankle-length outer robe was as dark as her dress, if not more so.

At her next complaint, he pointed out dryly, “You needn’t have just sat around waiting.”

When Casna expressed the desire to alleviate her boredom, Theodor considered her proposition. Given her proclivities, he was somewhat skeptical as to the form of ‘fun’ she had in mind. However, there were was a way for them both to get what they desired from this outing.

“If you’re intending what I think you are, then let’s at least fly out of the kingdom.” And before she could protest, or ask why, he pointed out, “You shouldn’t shit where you eat, Casna.” He crossed his arms over his chest as he raised a brow at her. A crude but nonetheless appropriate saying.

After a moment, Theodor added, “In any case, we should depart while the night’s still young.”

[Shu]

Casna released a snort of a laugh, her lips drawing back just enough to expose her pearly whites, “‘You shouldn’t shit… where you eat.’ That is… funny, Theodor.”

Casna crossed the room again closing back the distance between her and her old friend. She laced her hands together against her stomach as she leaned towards Theodor, eyes full of both intent and mischievousness. Of course in Casna’s case “mischievous” just as easily could be translated into “devilish” due to her bloody and violent nature, which even among her own kind was rather infamous among the lesser houses of the kingdom.

“Why should we leave the kingdom to hunt when there are unwanted strangers within our borders, Theodor?” Casna spoke quietly and let her words hang for a moment after she finished. The encroachment of foreigners into Arocuria was never something to be taken lightly as it could spell danger for the realm and it’s unholy overlords in many ways. Typically those who dared cross over into Arocuria from the “other sides” were few and short of being spies or other such troublemakers they were usually careless hunters or wanderers. Just as unwanted as deliberate interlopers of course.

“I saw them last night,” Casna continued, “three huntsmen from a faraway looking to poach the deer that our peasants feast on to stay healthy and fat for us. We should… put an end to them. Not only do they traipse so insultingly over our borders but they interfere in the circle of life of Arocuria.”

Casna stepped closer, a mere two breadths away from Theodor. “No one has to know, Theo,” she whispered, “we just drain them dry and leave the husks for the bears and wolves to chew on. We get a nice full meal and have a little fun with three brazen brutes. What say you?”

Between the two of them Theodor had always been the more cautious which often enough vexed Casna. To a degree she understood why he was so light of foot as to not rock the boat too much and bring down the wrath of the “great” House Vahidov or one of their pet crony clans. That said this caution in her mind often bordered on coyness or just outright cowardice to be blunt. More often than not she had to coerce her friend into partaking in dares with her, and she always knew just how to - more or less.

[SilverPaw]

Theodor observed curiously as Casna moved back closer to him. She did not usually do that unless she wanted something. He saw that spark in her eyes, the one which told him she was anticipating something bloody delightful. Literally.

“Ah, intruders?” he questioned rhetorically, smirking. After three decades, it merely amused him to remember he’d once been in that self-same position of an ‘unwanted stranger’. He didn’t tell Casna that it was enough for him to know some interlopers had crossed their borders. That fact alone would have him agree to her proposal. Instead, he let her continue her persuasion attempt, small smirk in place.

When she stepped right next to him, he subtly shifted so that they were somehow even closer, body leaned towards her – though not as much as a brush of a touch passed between them. He let their breaths mingle, eyes crinkling in pleasure. He did appreciate this devious side of hers. It was quite the boon, especially whenever their goals or desire were fully aligned. Aside from that, cleverness in any form was…attractive. Theodor usually didn’t let himself think of Casna in those terms, because he valued their friendship too highly to muddle it up. Besides, he preferred inconsequential flings with humans. It was much simpler that way.

Casna concluded by asking his opinion, rather provocatively so. He let a brief, teasing silence linger, though he was sure his expression was indicative of his approval. “Well. If that is the case,” he grinned, lids lowering. “Shall we?”

***

The two departed under the cover of the night, making do as if they were heading from the manor to the town for early evening socializing. However, when they were in a secluded alleyway, they took to the skies, and flew to the forest.

Theodor let Casna lead, since she knew where the trio of poachers had last been. However, soon enough he was able to see and smell them. The humans had built a small campfire, and the smoke made a barely noticeable trail waft upwards. Another human wouldn’t have noticed it, and even with their demonic powers, one had to know where to look – or get lucky, as Casna might have.

The pair of undead alighted silently on a high branch on one of the trees. The humans were entirely unaware, chattering among themselves as they warmed their palms by the fire. They had an entire dead deer by them, and a few rabbits. They seemed cheered by their bounty.

Not for long.

Theodor descended behind one human, and snapped his neck. Before the remaining two could let out as much as a yelp, he rushed another one. He put a palm to their mouth, and sunk his fangs into their neck.

Bliss.

Having torn through the artery, blood sprayed into his mouth, and Theodor drunk deeply. As the human’s heart begun faltering, he had to suck and pull, forcing the last of the sweet, sweet life liquid out of the body. His eyes were closed, and unnoticed, his clawed fingers dug deep gouges into his victim’s face and back. He issued a quiet groaning moan as he finished, and opened his eyes with a long, pleasure filled sigh. He pushed the drained human onto the floor, then sat down cross-legged by the corpse. He turned to wherever Casna was having her meal, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His cheeks were flushed the way only feeding could induce in a vampire, but cold rationality was already making a breakthrough in the previous insensate haze of base desire.

Nonetheless, he was languid and sated, and did not mind waiting in silence until Casna was done as well.

[Shu]

The third man, whom had tried to flee while Theodor was feeding on his fellow hunter, had not even made it into the shadows past the campfire. Casna took upon him from the front, seizing ahold of his chin and forcing his head back at a sickening angle with a sharp crunch. Casna gently lowered him to the ground and then fluidly drained his life essence from his very exposed jugular, her body electrified by the sensation, this one was healthy and strong and his blood showed - or rather tasted - of it. As Theodor stood up from his own meal Casna slurped the last of the crimson nectar from her own victim’s throat, it dripping from her lips as she raised her head up from the drained corpse. Using her thumb and index finger she reached up and with a sickening smile drove them into the dead man’s eyes, rupturing the two orbs encased within their sockets. The two eyeballs burst and coated Casna’s fingers with jelly-like red pulp.

“I always like the little ‘pop’ they make.” Casna tittered cruelly as she wiped her fingers throughly on the man’s tunic. “Like grapes.”

Casna stood and dusted off her dress, wiped her mouth, and looked to her companion with a slightly indignant expression, “Though maybe next time we could draw it out? I had a whole scene played out in my mind, you see. And I have always enjoyed a good chase through the woods. Killing them so quickly is never any thrill, Theodor.”

Casna knelt back down, careful to keep from getting back down in the dirt. She began running her hands along her prey’s tunic, searching him over for anything to to be kept. She checked his fingers but found no rings and his pockets were empty as well. Annoyed Casna spit on the pallid body with a hiss and brushed past Theodor, kneeling once more to check the first man her partner had killed. Unlike the first he had a few little things on him, a silver wedding ring, a pouch of coins, and a copper brooch in his pocket. Tossing the coins away into the brush with a resounding clinking Casna slipped the ring and brooch into her dress for keeps.

“That one is your pick.” Casna indicated towards the man at Theodor’s feet as she knelt to drink from the first corpse which was still filled with blood. Sinking her teeth into the hapless fool Casna found him less savory than the first but adequate enough, at least she would get her fill this evening. She was still a bit annoyed at Theodor for so swiftly ending the men’s lives and depriving her of any glee to be drawn from chasing them through the forest, their breaths ragged and hearts pounding as they fled from the undead devils at their backs. But she decided best to get over it, there would always be more kills and entertainment to be drawn from them, there was no sense in being cross with her longtime friend.

[SilverPaw]

Theodor watched lazily as Casna popped her victim’s eyes, smirking. While he didn’t care about gore one way or the other – certainly not gleefully enjoying it as much as the vampiress did – he could see the humour in it. “They don’t taste all that good, unfortunately,” he commented. “Like bitter, chewy egg-yolk if I had to compare it to anything…” he mused.

When Casna complained he’d not let her have her grand imagined chase, he slowly lifted a brow. He’d taken the initiative to take the humans out efficiently precisely because he’d wanted to prevent such a thing. Well, and because he preferred not wasting time needlessly. “And have them scream their heads off as they run? Wouldn’t want someone else to interrupt us, would we?” This referring to the fact that this was supposed to be a covert mission, else they risked discovery by other vampires. A situation Theodor didn’t particularly find desirable.

He sighed when Casna threw a money-full pouch carelessly into the bushes, and went to retrieve it. He didn’t strictly need it, but his mind was already working on how to best dispose of the evidence of their actions. He nodded when the vampiress told him to search the remaining man, the one he’d drained. Theodor rifled through the corpse’s clothing, though there was hardly much of interest. A few more coins, which he pocketed, and a worn amulet, which he let be.

Standing up once again, he regarded the corpses. “Well. No way to mistake this for an animal attack. It’s not a foolproof solution, but it’s best to simply disappear the corpses.” He put his hand to his chin as he contemplated the options. There was no way to falsify an animal attack – no blood to scatter around, and the marks of having been drained were too distinctive to disguise. Tear them to miniscule shreds to scatter around – or feed to the pigs? Bit effort intensive. Weight them with stones and throw them into a river? Or perhaps drop them off a remote cliffside? It would be simple, but they’d have to find an appropriate location. Either way, they’d have to be careful where and how they flew.

“Up for a little excursion?” Theodor asked Casna. “Or shall I handle the disposal by myself?” He was fairly certain his friend would consider this boring grunt-work, but perhaps she’d agree to it – or offer a different solution.