She lightly toyed with my hair, saying "If you want to look then go ahead."
An explosion went off within my mind. I fell into a daze for a moment before beginning to imagine all sorts of things.
Then her cottony voice was suddenly solemn."Are you alright?" She asked after separating from me.
The question took me aback.
"You did very nearly die, after all." She recounted apathetically as she tightened her robe.
My eyes were still transfixed on her chest and I barely heard her words.
As she she leaned forward , her robe slid down a bit, revealing the deep gully between her chest; and immediately every fiber of my being was lit on fire.
But then memories of yesterday came back to me like a flood. Dimming even the raucous lust she had stirred within me.
I sat up and grabbed my gut, expecting to find a burning hole where my intestines used to be. But I felt no pain.
"I thought I was dead." I soullessly mumbled.
The woman explained. "It was close. I wasnt certain that my venom would be enough. Nor was I certain you could survive the pain in the state you were in. I had never before tried to regenerate such an emaciated body."
The world had already began to spin around me as I struggled to understand what she was saying.
Her soft satin palm lightly cupped my cheek. "Don’t be so surprised. This world is full of a myriad wonders."
"My name is Rea, the ruler of house Uttara, a Dhampir. And I am your master henceforth. Nice to meet you."
She delivered her words with a slight smile, one that was rather chilling on such a beautiful face.
....
Ahh a clean bath...
A luxury i had not enjoyed in along time.
I peeled off my robes and almost secreamed in shock.
What was wrong with my body? Why did my arms look that way? Why was my chest so broad?
Readers I’mma level with you. I wasn’t somebody you’d want to look at for too long.
But now I faced the mirror, not recognizing the stranger within my reflection.
My hair was the same, a low buzz cut.
My eyes were a striking scarlet – a sight that terrified me to my core.
They had a ruthless, predatory danger to them.
My upper body, however, I recognized even less.
I’d always been a little lanky. Even with all the exercise i got with... you know... running for my life.
I had a ribs that even my dark caramel skin couldn’t hide.
Now ... strangely, i had an athletic physique of perfectly balanced muscle. Draped with a curtain of silky chocolate skin — slightly darker now.
All the achne and scars and burns that came from a lifetime of scavenging had disappeared.
I made a fist.
I’m not sure what came over me. Maybe it was the trauma of my recent death. . . Or all of this weirdness that had come out of nowhere.
The anger, fear and pain of the last few days bubble to the surface. I had been, attacked, hurt, murdered and tortured.
I hit the wall.
My fist dug straight through the cement. I pulled out my hand and wriggled my fingers. No fratured bones or even bruises.
I regarded the fist-shaped hole I’d in what i assumed was solid concrete.
Just then someone knocked on my door.
It automatically swung open and a woman stepped inside ...
I immediately sucked in a cold breath the moment i saw her eyes.
I was suddenly reminded of waves of the sea; powerful, impassive, ruthless. All that strength seemed to gather in her burgundy eyes.
It was almost as if she was a walking storm, a force of nature, a goddess from beyond the material world. Her skin was as flawless as the purest snow, and the contours of her face must have been crafted by a pantheon of gods.
It was the only plausible explanation for her beauty.
It dawned on me that i had seen the celestial Visage before.
Yes she was the woman I thought I had hallucinated during my fight with the flame meta.
Her gaze was still was still cold and emotionles.
She was dressed un soft pliable layer of dark leather armour.
Her snow white hair tied in an elegant knot.
She glanced at the hole in the wall expressionlessly. ’You felt the need to do this?’
’You’re real,’ I noted sheepishly.
She smiled coldly. ’Well.. here you are having a conversation with me, so i suppose i must be.’
’Where am I?’ I managed to ask after a while.
’You are in Orcus. The capital city of the Dhampir —within the territory of house Uttara.’ The woman answered as she twisted the knob of her ring.
’You brought me here?’.
’Yes, I am named Hera of house Uttara and as an aid to lady Rea I am tasked with finding humans with the potential to become powerful vampires.’
’Then you chose wrongly. I dont even have a meta ability!’
She surged towards me, pushing me against the wall as easily as I’d punched through jt.
She pressed her forearm against my throat.
’Don’t say that,’ Hera hissed. ’Never say that again! Especially not infront of the lady.’
Her breath smelled like a winter aconite(flower). Her eyes were bright with fury.
They seemed to glow from within, like embers smoldering quietly in a hearth.
’Release me,’ I croaked. ’Don’t you –’
She pushed harder against my windpipe. ’Silence!!
I brought you here!
And so your failure is my failure! Don’t you dare let down the lady’s expectations of you!’ She growled.
I didn’t have a response to that. The hold did not feel painful or uncomfortable like it would have had i been human.
It was just annoying...
But fortunately she stepped away.
As I readjusted myself, she paced my room her face fixed into a permanent scowl.
I rubbed my bruised neck.
Stupid. I chided myself.
It had only been a day and I had already started whining and making demands.
I had to set aside my fear for now.
For now I would learn rules. I had to learn the power structure, who i couldnt dare to offend, learn what all the mistakes were before I made them. I had to keep surviving ... even if I was already dead.
’Sorry,’ I apologized. Trying to appease Hera. ’But why are you here—Speaking to me now?’
She frowned. ’Because I am your gaurdian. Tasked with protecting you until youve grown into a powerful Vampire. I also –’ She caught herself. ’Never mind. Henceforth do not go anywhere without my permission or speak to anyone. Shut up and do what I tell you!.’
I was about to protest when my throat suddenly felt raw with thirst. It had been like this since I had woken, and the more time passed the worse this thirst became.
Hera read my expression with a smile, instantly aware of what was happening. ’What superb timing.
I could also use a drink.’
I jumped out a window.
Yes my dear readers, we had finally gotten to this point.
Surprisingly I easily reoriented myself in space, and the ground seemed to move toward me so slowly that it was all to easy to find my footing.
I landed gracefully, the impact melting into the soles of my feet.
Then in awe I gazed at the structure I had jumped from.
Well first things first the sky was purple here. But even before I could appreciate the freaky weather I was astounded by the giant 500 acre castle a few paces behind me.
Brimstone walls, fiery torches, the whole nine. But it was also endowed with an ethereal beauty. Ghastly glowing silver trees and hypnotic purple orchids amidst a myriad mystic flowers, populated gardens that lined the castle streets.
"Maison?"
"Yes?"
I replied, snapping out of it.
"There will be time for sight seeing later." Rea chided.
Hera took my hand abruptly — her skin was impossibly smooth, and... refreshingly cold —and led me to a dense forest.
"This is where we hunt."
I pursed my lips, thinking. The was a river infront of us, about fifty yards wide.
’How do we-?’I begun.
Too late.
Rea let out euphoric laugh before launching her body from the riverbank.
She was a flash of movement as she arced through the sky and over the water, finally
Landing on top of a ledge in the other side.
She immediately turned and cast a stern look, beckoning me to jump.
My pupils dilated in shock. I was a little intimidated.
But the motion was fresh my mind, and somehow my instincts told me. . . That i would be capable of it as well.
I took a deep breath and ran for the riverbank.
The winds raced past me as my muscles tensed, and all it it took . . . was one bound.
A mere split second, splintered into several moments whithin my mind—my eyes and spirit racing beyond my body.
Like it was second nature, I pressed my foot on the earth and built enough pressure to send my body hurtling through the air like a tensed spring.