The Children of Sekhmet (Wicked & Fates)

[Fates.Gamble]

The hall was silent; still as death, as though the very air was strangled into quietus. ...Or, at least, it would have been, if not for the incessant sobs and guttural cries coming from the girl before him. Though her face was wet with tears, she was, unquestionably gorgeous. She had a near perfect bone structure and flawless skin, long auburn curls he could tell were soft as silk, and bright, vivid eyes. All of this he would have admired to greater effect, had she not been putting on such a pathetic display. Still, she was a prospect to rival Aphrodite herself, and the literal center of attention whilst all around, the other vampires watched and waited. One might be forgiven to think they were statues. How perfectly still they lingered. Breathless; soundless, and all of them with fangs on display, and hungry eyes boring into the girl. They dared not move until their host came to a decision.

A very fine catch, the appraiser thought to himself, But good enough? Collected and calculating, he circled the girl who remained on her knees, a blubbering mess in a bright white gown that pooled around her like a dinner plate. And perhaps that’s all she would amount to.

“Stand up,” he told her. His voice was powerful, and refined with an accent so indiscernible that it was strange to call it an accent at all. His words were like nature itself, and despite her fear, the woman rose. She dared not meet his gaze, though, and kept her eyes between the floor and stealing meek gazed of the other creatures, all of whom watched her with what she could only call mindless hunger.

“Look at me,” he commanded next, tired of her watching his boots.

“Please…” she managed to squeak out, pleading and fighting to resist the strength of his liquid voice.

This time, he did not wait for her to obey. Reaching out, he grasped her chin, sternly lifting her face up to meet him. The girl shivered at his touch, unusually frigid against her flush skin. Somehow, looking into his icy blue eyes of his calmed her down. Like his voice, they were powerful and commanding. But something was also off about them. It was as though a certain luster, typical in the eyes of anyone else, wasn’t quite there. They were mystifying, light with a dull glow unlike the lucidity she was used to in others. She soon lost herself in the soft blue pools, her tears drying up and her posture straightening.

Scared though she was, this man wasn’t nearly as terrifying as the other five; those whom hoarded around her like wolves surrounding a hare. The way his slender, cold finger stroked down her cheek, and how those intense eyes appraised her, ever so gently… It was almost as if she had nothing to fear anymore. Not from him at least. He felt so ancient and powerful… Even thrilling as his finger drifted further down still.

Icy tingles ran across her collarbone when his touch continued its descent and grazed the buxom of her breasts, offered so readily thanks to the tight corset she wore. Her breath caught at once, and she began to see her captor in a new light. He was devilishly handsome, after all, with thick black hair hanging just above his shoulders, framing his light-skinned face and strong jaw. His lips looked soft… Full… Tempting, even. If she could have bared look away from his face, she might have found him dashing in attire as well. He looked a fine specimen in his elegant, double breasted waistcoat, a bold flash of red against his black top. Dark trousers fell loosely to his ankles, ending in his fine, black boots.

His offered prize was even more beautiful now that he could get a good look at her, but unfortunately all he could picture now was the image of her on the ground, dress like a dinner plate and squealing like a pig fit to serve it. If she couldn’t even compose herself in this situation, not without his influence. And so that begged the question of how she would behave when the very foundations of her world were redefined. With that, the choice became clear…

“Your prettiest catch yet, Malcolm,” he acknowledged one of the other vampires; a youth of 17 in appearance only. “Truly she is fit for a king. But not for me, I’m afraid.” The group of predators stirred, growling and grinning at his jest, and the girl’s fear returned tenfold. She barely had time to protest before he shoved her away, letting her tumble into the clutches of Malcolm and the two vampires nearest him. Her screams pierced the room, echoing on the stone walls as she was dragged to a nearby couch and found a pairs of fangs sinking into her neck, her wrist, and once her dress had been ripped open, into the meaty thigh near her groin. The other two inferiors moved in to join them, but their host stopped them with nothing more than his icy gaze.

“No, they brought her, not you lot. If you want to eat, you’ll have to work for it. And someone has to watch the grounds, besides. The local citizens won’t be pleased while their beautiful livestock goes missing at such alarming rates, and I’ll not be caught unawares should they put the pieces together.” The pair hissed, fangs still drawn and ready to disagree. Yet, these two knew better than to so much as entertain the thought of turning against him. And so, they skulked off, leaving the feast to return to the manor grounds, while their apparent master returned to his seat, simply to watch the others feed. The girl’s screams were already dying off as she was drained, weak moans of protest soon to be her only means of resistance, what with three of them partaking of her at once.

He thought of joining them while she was still fresh; she smelled positively divine; but what with his recent string of failed candidates, he found his appetite lacking. And his guests were messy eaters besides, letting the girl’s inner delicacy spill all over her pretty white dress to stain it red. Such infants… He contemplated to himself. It was a wonder he’d felt no zest in his eternity with nothing but amateurs to keep him entertained. How long had it been since he’d found one old, or competent enough to truly engage him? Few and less survived to the age he had, their greed and gluttony drawing the ire of humans putting an end to those too incompetent to survive into the true adulthood of immortality. And that was no small number.

And so came the decision to create his own progeny; The perfect mate upon which to pass all of his wisdom and guidance, and more importantly, to share the ages with. He need only find the right woman, but for the first time in a very long time across his exceptionally long life, he was growing impatient. He may have had eternity to live, but if his servants kept bringing him duds he would possibly just kill himself out of the boredom. He may have settled for the beauty dying beside him, but after what happened the last time, that was one thing he could not abide to do. Perhaps he would have to take on a more active role and seek out this candidate himself. This latest one came close, but the fools were never going to find exactly what he was looking for, and it was too much to hope she would just come walking through the door to meet him.

 

[WickedWonderland]

It was in the middle of the night when they took her.

They had thought that in a bar crowded with people, bodies packed into the small establishment so tightly more than a few found themselves pressed against the walls uncomfortably and at odd angles that would see their muscles throbbing and their skin bruised come the morning, that no one would notice when one among them had gone missing. It was a mistake they would soon regret for years to come, for if they had just paid a little more attention, if they had not been quite so eager to bring a new prospect to their lord, the beings that had once called themselves men would have known that the woman they had selected for that night's offering was not alone. The woman who would later be found trembling before their lord, tears spilling down her cheeks as her body trembled in pure terror as she pleaded for her life to be spared, came with a sister. A sister who would turn their world upside down.

As the men dragged the young woman, the alcohol flowing through her veins fogging her brain and making her stomach roll with every movement, she had no idea the awful fate that had awaited her. All she knew was that she felt terribly overheated and, as her stomach rolled unpleasantly with each step, she was fairly certain that it was only a matter of time before she was getting sick. When the men had approached her and so very kindly, almost too kindly, offered to take her outside she had not been of the right mindset to refuse. They had been so very gentle as each one took hold of her arms just above the elbows, so very soothing as the mumbled words that she could hardly make out in her inebriated state, and had all been just so...pleasant that it would have felt rude for her to refuse their offer. With a wobbly smile and a faint nod that came with a laugh that was a little too loud as it spilled across her lips she accepted their help, feeling like the cool air of the evening would do wonders in helping to make her feel better. Though the closer they got to the door, moving so carefully around the mass of bodies that not a single soul gave them a second glance, something deep within her, buried beneath the nausea and alcohol, told her that something was not right. It was that feeling that caused her to glance back over her shoulder and through the crowd to her sister, eyes wide and pleading for her to turn around as she pulled out into the darkness that somehow seemed so much darker.

The feeling of eyes watching her made Anna's skin prickle, a bit of gooseflesh rising faintly as a shudder raced down her spine. Normally it was a feeling she might have ignored and brushed it off as nothing more than her mind playing tricks on her, but this had not been her usual night out. On this night she had not come alone to the bar, instead she had managed to convince her little sister, who would have had her nose buried deep within a book as she curled up on their couch otherwise, to accompany her. ‘We never do anything together anymore!’ Anna had whined, bottom lip jutted out into a pout as she knelt at her sister's feet. It had made for quite the site for the older sister to be the one begging the younger to go out, for usually it was the other way around. But such was the relationship between the Randal sisters. Anna had always been the one who begged her sister to get out of her shell, to put down the books and have a little fun for once in her life. It had always been Anna who got them into mischief and used a bright smile held the promise of more wickedness to come to get them out of it. Throughout the years Anna had always been referred to as the fun one and it was only now, as she actually heeded the signals her body was giving her and turned to catch a glimpse of her sister as she was dragged out of the bar, that she regretted it.

"So-Sophia?!"

Her sister's name fell from her lips on a breath that could have easily been a shriek if she had not been so shocked, eyes wide and body frozen as her brain frantically tried to process what she had just seen. Sophia! Fear and desperation took the place of shock as she moved, stumbling a bit on the first step, her boot clad feet somehow finding traction on the polished floor of the bar that would have been a hazard even if she was not slightly tipsy. Without apologizing once and ignoring the angry shouts that followed her, Anna all but clawed her way after the retreating figure of her sister and the men that had taken her. Sophia! Gasping she paused only for the briefest moment, an attempt to catch her breath, before she was charging down the street after their retreating forms. She had to catch them, she had to, failure was not an option.

How Anna managed to get to the manor she would never know, everything since she stepped out of the bar had been nothing but a blur. At some point she must have kicked off her boots, the sharp edges of the pebbles of the driveway alerting her to that fact as they bit and cut into the smooth flesh of her feet, but if it bothered her at all her expression did not show it. Her features, considered beautiful by many that had looked upon her, were set into an expression of great worry as she all but dragged her way up to the front door, breath coming out in soft pants as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. But she could not stop now, not when she was so close.

“Well look what we have here.” The words had barely made it to her ears before hands, that may have looked weak and unassuming, wrapped around her waist, halting her march forward and spinning her to face what turned out to be a pair of males. Instantly she tried to get away, body jerking against the hold, but his grasp remained firm and her only reward for her efforts was a laugh that sounded bitter and harsh. His companion seemed equally amused, a twisted grin curving upon his rather hideous features, though the look faded away instantly as he stepped closer to her.

“Wait a minute,” He mumbled, a hand moving to grasp her chin, forcing Anna to look at him though she tried hard to avoid his touch, but there was only so far she could go and he was very persistent. “Look at her, Alex! Doesn’t she look like the girl Malcolm brought earlier?”

The girl? Sophia?!

“You idiot!” The man, Alex she noted mentally, holding her scoffed, reaching over to give his partner a sharp smack to the back of the other’s head that earned him a yelp, “Look at her eyes!” As the other, grumbling in a low hiss about always being treated like a child even though he was the older one, moved closer to take a closer look at the violet eyes staring back at him with a glare Anna did not give him a chance to get any closer. Without giving it much thought to find out if it was a good idea or not, one leg came up as hard as she could and connected squarely with his groin.

They both seemed surprised by the sudden attack, the one she kicked stumbling back to the ground with a curse as Alex released her, an action he would later come to regret, and rushed to help his friend. Idiots. She mocked them silently before turning without further delay and shoving open the doors to the manor, ignoring the way the pair of them shouted after her as she charged forward into the house she and her sister had always been told to avoid when they were younger. Though she had always been curious, wondering what secrets it was hiding within its depths, Anna did not think about any of that as she came rushed into the foyer. Her entire focus was on one thing and one thing alone.

“S-Sophia…” Her sister’s slipped across her lips on a raspy breath as she came tumbling into the massive room, violet eyes wide with horror as she took in the sight before her. There on the couch, spread out on the plush surface like an offering to some sort of morbid offering to some dark god, was her sister. Her once tan skin was covered in what looked like bites and from the wounds…Oh god! Anna’s stomach gave a roll, pure horror flooding her veins and tears clouding her vision as she took a stumbling step forward. Her hand, trembling like a leaf as her brain desperately tried to tell her that what she was seeing was surely a lie, reached out. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to rush forward and take Sophia into her arms and tell her that everything would be okay.

It would be a waste of time. A voice, what she assumed to be the one of reason, whispered in her mind as another, a female, spoke up. “Oh, look Malcolm,” The honey sweet voice filled with pure glee as its owner all but skipped forward, hand reaching out to brush the loose strands of Anna’s hair offer her shoulder, twisting a few of the copper strands around her fingers. “Someone came to play!”

The touch combined with the mocking tone, like that of a child who had just been gifted with the best toy, seemed to snap Anna out of her shocked state. In place of horror a rush of anger, white hot and burning as it traveled through her veins, rose up and as the hand played with her hair her own came up, fingers finding the pin that had held the strands up into a tight bun. Grasping the little piece of metal tightly and pulling it free, Anna spun to face the other woman, catching her off guard by the quick movement, and with a snarl jammed it right into one of the bitch’s eyes.

 

[Fates.Gamble]

The others did not know; they could not hear nor smell the girl who’d stumbled her way upon the manor grounds. But Alastair was not like the others. While his pale, blue eyes watched the underlings, drunken on the euphoria of their supper, the remainder of his senses tracked her every move. Even from here in the foyer he could smell the liquor on her breath, the smokiness; the sweat and salt of the tavern clinging to her. But his keen nose picked up on something sweeter yet: The sunlight on her skin, in her hair, and all around her. And beyond that, a taste of something truly divine running through her veins. It was an aroma similar to the last human to enter these walls, whom now lay a lifeless doll upon the couch, glassy eyes cast to the ceiling forever more.

Similar, he noted, But different somehow...

Needless to say, he was not surprised when the copper haired beauty came barreling onto the scene. Her every footstep betrayed her presence to one who cared to listen. The rest of his party, however, were akin to spooked deer at her arrival. They spun about, mouths yet slick with the blood of their rejected catch, ready to lunge. A calm settled almost immediately after, upon realizing the interloper was a mere human.

Sloppy fools, Alastair thought to himself. Had the threat been true, they’d have all met their true death.

But his attention no longer entertained the young ones. Instead, his interest settled upon this girl who so boldly thrust herself into the lion’s den. Eyes as cold as ice drank in the scene, watching as she succumbed to her grief. For a moment Alastair thought she might run for the girl, become a sobbing mess just like her. He could practically see it happening, and was already bored with the outcome when Evelyn sauntered over to play with the pretty little thing. And that was when the girl truly did find a way to surprise him.

Blue eyes widened at the ferocity with which the pin was drawn from her fiery mane of hair and promptly delivered unto her foe. The walls of the manor were like an echo chamber, amplifying the ghastly scream of agony that came tearing from Evelyn’s ruby lips. She staggered back, away from Anna with milky hands clutching at the bit of metal now firmly planted in her once beautiful green eye.

“You filthy little bitch!” Evelyn shrieked, tearing the hair pin out of her eye without so much as a flinch of pain. Before Anna could so much as breathe the vampire was upon her, cold, slender fingers wrapping around her vulnerable throat like a vice grip.

“I’ll gut you like a pig!”

No sooner than she lifted her free hand, raising the pin to deliver a strike of her own, was Alastair there. Faster than a man could blink, he’d risen from his seat and crossed the distance, arriving the very moment Evelyn’s arm drove forward. Her wrist found itself caught in his inescapable grip, and her attention snapped towards the interloper with fury, only to realize exactly who stopped her.

“That’s enough,” he told her cooly. His expression was unreadable, but the way those blue eyes drilled into her was enough. Her fingers relaxed from around the girl’s throat, letting her breathe again. Once Anna was free, Alastair released his grip as well, letting Evelyn snatch her arm back like a wounded animal.

“Your eye will heal, Evelyn,” he told her, almost consolingly, if that strange and powerful voice were capable of empathy. “Your pride on the other hand...”

This caused a round of snickering from the other vampires, who circled around like a pack of hyenas, laughing at the situation in which this redhead landed herself. Evelyn met each of them with a cold leer, her eyes landing on the human bitch last of all. Once against she lifted her hand towards her, this time merely brandishing the hairpin in threat.

“This is far from over,” she spat, words laced with venom, “I’ll stick you yet, little lamb!”

Before things could go further the doors burst open again, the two set with minding the grounds finally catching up with their failures. Alastair’s pale face soured with a frown as he turned his back on them, eyes focusing squarely on the girl who bested them.

“A little late, don’t you think?” He called to the pair. He waited for no response. “I have you a job to do! Well... No matter. It wasn’t exactly a catch, but you’ve let something very exquisite fall into my lap, haven’t you?” His lips pulled into a warm, if devious smile.

Knowing where her convictions truly lied, Alastair made a nonchalant gesture towards her sister’s body. “Oh I wouldn’t worry about that anymore. There’s nothing you can do for her now. Any further concerns may be taken up with me.”

The rest of the hunters seemed to inch closer, Evelyn still clutching the hairpin, fresh with her own blood. How eagerly they awaited for her to address these concerns; for her to make the wrong move and see him reject her like all the others. It would be a true feast tonight. Or so they thought. In truth, Alastair would not dismiss this one so hastily. She had all the charm and beauty of her late kin, yet the spine to stand on her own two feet.

“What’s your name, girl?” He demanded, patiently awaiting her next move, whatever she might throw at him.

 

[WickedWonderland]

Fearless.

Such was the word most would have used to describe Anna and the way in which she lived her life. Where most would encounter an obstacle in their lives that, due to fear taking control, would cause them to back down choose another course, Anna did not seem capable of the emotion. If anything, her actions, like being the first to volunteer to jump from a plane on a family vacation when she was a mere age of thirteen, seemed to suggest that she was almost challenging life to give her something in which to fear. What most did not know, however, was that she did have a fear. It was one that she had not shared with a single soul, not even the sister with whom there were no secrets between them, and it was one she had hoped she would never see come to fruition. But it had and the sting of it made everything inside of her go numb.

Sophia. Sweet, precious Sophia who was too good to have any right to share her blood nor should they be as close as they were, was gone.

The pain of it swirled and twisted in Anna’s gut, mixing with the burning anger and rage that saw her lodging a hair pin straight into the eye of one of her sister’s murderers’ eye. It was what left her body trembling as the warm blood of her victim spilled down her fingers, staining the lightly tanned skin, as the loud screech of pain echoed off the walls of the foyer and hit her ears with such sharp intensity that it might have made Anna wince under any other circumstance. Instead it only brought forth a twisted smile to her lips that was both cold and an unspoken dare to the screeching woman as one of her hands reached out and wrapped tight around Anna’s throat. The promise of death that came with the tight hold, which was sure to taint the once flawless skin beneath a bright bruise, was one that did not make her scratch and claw against the hold as most would have. No, if anything it only made that twisted smile on her lips grow until it was a full-blown grin.

“Do it!” The words came out on a tight hiss, the last bit of oxygen within her lungs used to push them out as the edge of her vision began to cloud and blur. But no sooner had they come out the hold was gone and as the air came rushing back into her greedy lungs, one hand instinctively reaching up to rub her throat. Yes, she was definitely going to have a bruise. Confused she glanced up to find a man, the one who clearly ran this entire operation given the way the rest of his little clan seemed to cower and back away from him, was standing before her and putting an end to the violence. His voice was surprisingly calm, even if there was an underlying edge of coldness to that made her skin prickle, as he spoke to the woman, Evelyn she noted mentally, she had attacked and told her to stand down. It was an instruction that left no room for questions, but that did not stop her from promising that this, this spat between them, was from over.

“Such a sweet promise,” Though her voice was still raspy and gruff from the tight grip on her throat just moments before her violet eyes burned with the challenge, chin tipped upwards in a display of defiance as she spat back with equal venom lacing each word. “Let us see if you will keep it!”

If the man, with eyes as blue as ice, had not been standing between them Anna was certain Evelyn would have lunged at her then, the snarl that rose from the back of her throat proof of that. But his presence seemed to hold them all back as he moved closer, drawing her complete focus and, with the casual way in which he referred to her sister’s corpse, the full force of her rage as well.

“That,” She snarled, flashing her dull teeth at him in an instinctive display of rage at him as she took the smallest of steps forward and it was only in that brief moment that she noticed just how much taller than her he was, towering over her much smaller frame to the point where she would have been intimidated were she not so furious. “Is my fucking sister and you will show her some respect!”

The demand was met with barks of laughter from his companions, for they all of them knew that surely such a demand would result in the mortal’s death. Surely their host would not allow such a defiant display to go unpunished! What a fool this mortal woman was! They could not wait to feast upon her.

Despite the sound of their laughter ringing in her ears, mocking her, Anna ignored them all as she glared at the man before her, scoffing as he made the demand for her name. Part of her wanted to refuse him, for what did it even matter what her name was when he was just going to kill her? Still, there was a part of her that found she could not refuse him, and the answer came slipping past her full, pale pink lips before she could think better of it and it was the calmest thing she had uttered since entering the manor, “Anna. My name is Anna.”

 

[Fates.Gamble]

Alastair was not entirely sure if this girl was fearless, or just foolish. But one thing was certain: She was an impressive specimen, the polar opposite of the sister who begged for her life, tears streaming down her face. Not only did she look into the jaws of death, but dared them to snap shut upon her. A woman with nothing left to lose, he realized. Exactly the sort I’m looking for...

They weren’t off to a very charming start, he had to admit, as the woman spat and seethed at him, none too pleased with the way he referred to her late kin. It didn’t help that Alastair found a reason to correct her, even as she demanded respect. “That was your sister,” he pointed out. “The woman you knew is gone now; drained away, I’m afraid. What is left behind is flesh, and only flesh.” It was probably not what she wanted to hear, least of all in the flat tone he spoke with, but it was a simple fact, and one she would have to come to understand. Besides, he wasn’t interested in her sister anymore. She and she alone now held his attention. Why speak of what was dead and gone?

He waited patiently while his guest scoffed, clearly torn between offering her name and refusing him. A smile claimed his lips even as the name eventually slipped past hers, and Alastair clasped his hands behind his back, appraising her with a knowing, and wicked gleam in his eye. “Anna,” he repeated her name, tasting it on his tongue. “How very brave of you to tell me so.” The clomp of his polished, black boots filled the ensuing silence as Alastair began to circle Anna, icy eyes latching onto her like a predator calmly sizing up his prey. He drank in every detail, eyes tracing her shapely body and savoring every little detail. The way he studied her... It was as though life and death itself weighed on his approval. And with his contingent of followers watching, waiting, and hoping for his rejection, there was no doubt that it did.

“Yes, very brave indeed. Tell me, why don’t you fear us? Your darling Sophia did. She begged and cried and moaned with terror, right until the very end. But not you.” Given her temperament, he wouldn’t have been surprised if his words were enough to make her lash out and attack him, but Alastair did not give her the chance. His influence settled over her mind like a heavy blanket, pacifying her from the action even should she have the thought. He preferred her rooted to the spot, and ensured she remained that way even as he came to linger at her rear.

“Haven’t you realized what we are?” He inquired, wondering if her sense of grief had perhaps dulled her sense of logic. There were no few fairy tales about their kind. To learn they were true; to witness the way Evelyn’s eye knitted itself back together upon removal of the hairpin... Well that would have broken the minds of many a mortal. But not Anna. Perhaps she was more foolish than brave.

He approached the girl from behind, stepping dangerously close. In the end her answers did not matter all that much. In fact, she could say nothing at all, for as far as Alastair cared. If he chose her, they would have an eternity to satisfy their curiosity of one another. Why rush to know everything now? Besides, whatever life she led would soon be dead and gone; a memory scarcely worth discussing compared to the miraculous future she would be given.

Now he stood directly behind her, strong, cold hands coming to rest upon her shoulders as he leaned in close, lips hovering just inches away from her ear. “Do you so long for death?” He wondered, ancient voice more powerful than ever in its proximity. “No need to wait for her promise...” His eyes briefly flicked up to Evelyn, who’s jaw was set, fist still tightly wrapped around the bloody hairpin as she watched this display.

“I can free you from this pain of loss; give you the death you crave,” he assured her, “Or I can give you something even better. I can give you eternity; an existence of power and respect, your youth and beauty preserved forevermore, never again to know the ravages of time or pestilence.” He paused, taking a moment to brush away a few strands of copper hair that covered the smooth, flawless skin of her neck. Afterwards, his hands abandoned her shoulders, sliding carefully down her arms. Such adoration was there in his icy touch, you’d almost be forgiven to overlook his ominous words. “A life worth dying for,” he promised.

Leaning in even closer, Alastair’s lips came to hover beneath her jaw, lingering between ear and collarbone, just above her carotid artery. As his finished their path down her arms, they came to rest on either side of her waist instead, his touch freezing enough to cut right through her garments, chilling the bare flesh beneath. His eyes drifted closed as he reveled in the warmth emanating from her. Her aroma was even more intoxicating, and the sound of her heart beat was like a killing melody, drawing him ever closer to that artery.

“There’s just one last thing I need to know.” He told her, soft smile crossing his lips. “The taste of you.” A strange request to be sure, and not one that was elaborated upon as gelid lips pressed softly against her warm flesh, pressing a kiss into her neck. The affection was fleeting, however, as not an instant later his fangs came to bare. Sturdy and sharp, they looked as magnificent as polished ivory. She might not have been able to see them, given his position behind her, but she could surely feel the sharp tips tease across her skin as Alastair held her close.

Only then did he finally release that hazy grip pacifying her mind, giving her a split instant to fight back before those fangs found their way home, piercing her neck and sinking right into that artery to let her precious nectar flow freely. Eyes rolled back with pleased inebriation as Alastair began to feed, skilled tongue and mouth allowing not the even the slightest drop to escape him. She tasted every bit as heavenly as he expected. A woman most divine, he thought, even as he continued to forge, morning with his delight and approval. The others watched, hissing with their surprise as they saw their host consumed in their bloodlust. None were so surprised, or furious as Evelyn, whose eyes gleamed with fury. How could he have chosen the one who so callously assailed her?

Anna would feel herself growing weaker by the minute. Even if she did struggle, she would find no way to escape his superior strength, for now his arms were laced tightly about her, keep her nestled tight against Alastair while he enjoyed his feast. When the lightheadedness would finally come, seeing her sag in his arms, the vampire carefully, and lovingly lowered to the ground with her, letting her off her feet but keeping her propped up in his arms. While she was still here, straddling the lines of consciousness, Alastair pulled away, tongue peeking out to lap at a bit of the crimson fluid on his lips.

“As a wedding gift,” he began to say, amorous delight written in his blue eyes as they met with her violet ones, “I will show your sister the respect you wish, and give her a proper burial. A token of my goodwill,” he promised, before leaning back to carry on where he left off. Wet tongue ventured up here neck, running up the path of streaming blood to return to the puncture marks from which it escaped. This time he would not stop himself, not until Anna’s life had ebbed away, everything she was gone, leaving her an empty vessel fit to receive his mother’s blessing.

 

[WickedWonderland]

Anna was not quite sure herself if the way she was acting was exactly brave or completely foolish. To the group of his eager minions that were watching them with all the patience of a starving dog waiting for their master to prepare their meal they would argue that she was quite the fool. The way she came charging into their den with little thought or care for her own wellbeing, even going as far as to attack one of their own, was not the mark of one who was brave. And she could feel them laughing at her as they studied her, pinpointing spots on her body that would be the prime location to feast from. She could practically hear them wondering if she would scream and plead for her life as her sister had, the thought causing her hands to ball into tight fists at her side. But she tried not pay them any mind as her violet eyes, sparkling in the rage that danced within their depths like a fire, remained fixed ahead and locked tightly on the icy gaze of their host.


She was prepared for anything he might throw at her, body tensing in preparation for a strike of his hand, but it never came. What came instead rattled her in such a way that for just a single moment she forgot all about the bittersweet cocktail of rage and grief that had been threatening to consume her. Like a teacher correcting a student that had misspoken he corrected her statement about her sister, referring to the corpse that was still sprawled out on the couch a few feet away from them as nothing more than a hallow shell of flesh. Her sister was gone he informed her on a tone so flat that her jaw went slack from the pure shock of it, hanging open in a way that might have been comical if their situation had been different.


How...How dare he!


Like a flash the rage came rushing back and her jaw clamped shut with an audible snap as Anna glared daggers at him, lips parting to sling a colorful string of words at him that would make his head spin. But he was one step ahead of her, as he always would she would find out much later. The sound of her name dancing across his tongue, as though it was a fine wine and he was taking his time to savor it, gave her pause. Gone was the mocking tone and in its wake she would swear there was the barest hint of affection, as though she had just shared the most precious of secrets with him. If not for the wickedness dancing within his icy depths, making them sparkle in the dim lighting of the mansion, she might have allowed herself to believe that it was real, that actually felt something for her other than mockery, but as with all of their interaction it was just another lie, another joke to which she did not know the punch line.


“Ass.” The word slipped out barely above a whisper, nothing more than mere a breath across her lips as he showered her in praise. With a smile that some might have found charming he cooed about how brave she was to share her name with him, as though she was a toddler that had just taken its first step. Mocking her, always mocking her. Her lips curled at the edges into a sneer, ready to wipe that smug look right off his handsome face, when he moved. There came a slight tingle of fear racing down her spine as he stepped forward and she wondered if this would be when he would strike. Had he finally had enough of their dance? And why, she wondered as she watched him move, did the thought of that cause a sense of dread to rush over her? Without Sophia she had nothing to live for, right?


Right?


Swallowing past the lump that had formed in the back of her throat, Anna tried to focus only on her rage, clinging to it desperately like a lifeline, as he closed the distance between them. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing he intimidated her. Though instead of lashing out he circled her, eyes moving across her body and taking in every detail. Dimly she was surprised to find herself wondering, through the heady cloud of rage that fogged her mind, if he liked what he saw. Did he find the freckles that gave a bit of color to her otherwise pale skin appealing? Did he think that there was too much fat on her stomach as the dance instructor from her college, who had circled her in the same way, had? Were her breasts, that were pushed up and out in a silent plea for attention thanks to the tight, black dress she wore, pleasing to him? More than that, why did she give a single fuck what he thought of her? He was a murderer, a monster! Whether he found her attractive should not even be a thought that crossed her mind and yet, she had been unable to stop herself. And she hated herself for it.


Through all her inner turmoil Anna missed most of what he said, only regaining focus as he stopped behind her. As his hands, as cold as the ice that gave pigment to the eyes that had all but drank her in, settled on her shoulders and she made to flinch away from the touch something pressed against her mind. In a warm wave, as gentle and firm as the hands on her shoulders, it washed over her and with a faint gasp she found that she could no longer move. Haven’t you realized what we are? He asked as the heavy feeling moved down like an anchor to settle firmly at her bare feet, keeping her rooted in spot even as her brain was all but screaming for her to run. In that moment all the pieces of the puzzle, all the clues that she had either been ignoring or missed entirely, came snapping together and the realization slammed into her like a punch to the gut.


“Vampire...” The word was louder than the last one she had uttered as her tongue, the only extremity she found that she could still move, peaked out to dampen lips that suddenly felt far too dry as his lips brushed oh so gently against her ear in a way that would have made her shiver if she had the ability to do so. The area was something of a weak spot for her and even though she was furious with him, longing for the chance to claw and tear out his eyes, Anna could not stop the way her breath hitched as those lips brushed and fluttered over her skin with every syllable. His voice, laced with an accent she could not quite place her finger on, sounded so much more powerful and dangerous this close as he asked if she longed for death’s sweet embrace. Though there was a hint, small though it was, of what one might call affection as he offered to her a promise of giving her the freedom from the cold, unforgiving chains of life.


Wasn’t that what she wanted?


Honestly, she was not so sure, but it was not an offer she was given long to consider as his hands, which had moved down her body so slowly that she had missed their journey entirely, settled around her waist. So gently did he hold her, as though she was both the most precious and fragile thing he had ever touched. If it weren’t for his true nature, a monster hiding behind the mask of a man, the hold might have brought some sort of comfort to Anna. Hell, if their entire meeting had happened under different circumstances, she might have even found some pleasure in it. As it was it only served to make her aware, painfully so, that she was going to die. That realization, more so than the mental hold he placed upon her, kept Anna frozen completely in place as his lips continued their travel to press just beneath her jaw. She could feel him take in a deep breath, filling his system with her scent, and she could imagine his eyes fluttering close as he paused for a moment to hold her. As they stood there, him holding her as though he treasured her, it felt as though he was taking time to savor the moment. And that might have brought her some semblance of comfort were it not for one hard fact that hung between them...


I am going to die...


The hard fact echoed through Anna’s mind as a gasp, which sounded so much more like a whimper, spilled into the air around them as the lips brushing against the skin of her throat in a ghost of a kiss tipped upwards into a smile that she could almost picture looking as affectionate as it did wicked.There’s just one last thing I need to know, He all but purred the words against her skin and she fought off the urge to shudder that raced through her, The taste of you.


As soon as the words left his lips, accompanied with a kiss to her smooth skin that made her heart flutter, her eyes that she had not realized had closed snapped open wide. He gave her only a moment to process the statement, just enough that it had only barely been received by her brain, before his fangs pierced her flesh. The first bead of her blood rushed forward onto his waiting tongue when she felt whatever hold he had placed upon her lift, allowing her the freedom to move. But where could she truly go? Despite knowing it was a wasted effort, for she was not quite as foolish as he thought, Anna’s hands came up to his, clawing and tugging at the icy appendages. If the attempt at freedom bothered him at all he did not show it, hands only moving to snake around her waist and pull her more securely back against him in a hold that still might be considered loving. She remained undeterred in her attempt at freedom though, legs lifting back to kick him as her hands continued their efforts to get him to release her.


Through her struggles she could make out the sound of hisses from his companions who were both shocked and confused by their master’s choice, but louder than that was his moan that she couldfeel rumbling against her skin as he fed. At least one of them was enjoying themselves, she thought bitterly as the edge of her vision began to cloud and the ability to fight against him was lost to her. With each greedy pull from her vein Anna grew weaker and weaker until she slumped back against him, losing the ability to hold herself up on her legs. In fact, she could not even feel her legs any longer, a realization that brought tears to her eyes as her vision spun.


I am going to die...


No, I am dying.


Barely able to do anything beyond giving the faintest of whimpers as he moved them down to the ground, holding her so very lovingly she actually thought for a moment that he did treasure her, Anna could only stare up at him as he pulled back. In the last moments of her life she could only just make out what he was saying and with the last of her strength before he dove back in to finish his dark task, she uttered the last words of her mortal life, “W-Wedding...? Wh-….Who?”


It was a question she would not get an answer to until much, much later. For now, there was only a darkness that came up and wrapped around her, pulling her down into an embrace that bordered on being as loving and gentle as his. Held tight within its depths Anna would miss the sweetness that dripped onto her tongue and down her throat, starting the process of her change into a new life. She would miss the sound of a hairpin snapping in a tight grip and the snarl that followed before someone was storming away in a rage that bordered on her own when she had entered the mansion. She would miss how she was carried so gently, like the bride she had no idea she was, from the foyer and into the depths of the mansion.


There was so much that Anna would miss as she changed, but not all of it was spent in complete darkness. After what seemed like hours, she found the darkness that gripped her mind fell away and the space around her turned and twisted, shadows falling away as she found herself sitting on the floor of a room. She was aware enough to know that she was not actually awake and that nothing in the room in which she found herself, warm and welcoming though it was, was real.


“I’m dead...” She murmured out loud, assuming that no one would be around to hear her admission. Oh, how wrong she was.


A laugh, gentle and soothing, danced through the air and it was then that she become aware that someone was behind her. Jumping from the shock of the discovery, Anna tried to turn around to see who was with her, but found herself unable to do so as hands came down and firmly, but gently, kept her facing forward. “Yes,” There was a bit of teasing in the answer her companion, a woman from the sound of it, provided, “But also, no.”


Blinking in utter confusion Anna tried once more to face her companion, but the woman gave only a click of her tongue as her fingers gave her cheeks a gentle pinch until she was facing forward once more. Huffing in what could best be described as childish annoyance, violet eyes glared ahead of her at an ornate door, captivated by the intricate designs carved in the wood. Was that Egyptian? For a moment she forgot about everything else as her eyes studied the patterns, trying to make sense of what they were, when there came a gentle tug to her hair.


“Do not worry about that, hamal,” The woman behind her cooed as her fingers worked through the long strands of Anna’s hair, twisting and weaving the copper locks into a braid that would have taken her breath away if she had been able to see it. As the mystery woman worked, every so often she would weave in moon lilies, the richly colored flowers complementing the copper of Anna’s hair beautifully. “That is something you will understand later.”


“What do you mean? I am dead, aren’t I?” The answering laugh, like the one a mother would give when her child said something completely ridiculous, made Anna roll her eyes and she wanted to argue, but the woman was shushing her. Just like a mother.


“Do not fret so, my sweet hamal,” Her voice was so soothing that Anna found that any frustration she felt could not last. “All your questions will be answered soon enough by my beloved son, though I imagine you will be quite cross with him once you wake.”


Why would she be upset? In the moment she could not quite recall and though she wanted to ask, the woman did not give her the chance as she continued. “As is your right, his actions were not becoming of his age.” The sigh that emitted from her lips was every bit the one Anna had heard her own mother give on a few occasions, a mix of disappointment and exasperation, and she had to fight back the urge to laugh. “Though I suppose loneliness can do that to someone who has been around as long as he has..”


She sounded so sad then that Anna wanted nothing more than to wrap her in her arms and tell her that it would be okay. As if sensing her thought the woman chuckled and stroked her fingers along her cheek in a gentle caress, having completed the work on her hair, “But you, my hamal, will be good for him, though I am afraid it will not be easy for you to see it.”


The lament was given on a soft hum and before Anna could say anything, for there was so very much she wished to say, she found herself fading. The darkness reaching out to claim her once more and for a moment she struggled against it, but the woman quieted her, hands rubbing gently across her shoulders as she placed a kiss against the top of her head as she whispered, “It is time for you to wake, hamal, do not fight it.”


With those soft words Anna let the darkness claim her once more, leaving the mysterious woman and the strange door behind as she fell. The interaction was one that she would not be able to recall, though the proof of it was there as her eyes fluttered open. Her long hair had been twisted into the same braid the woman twisted it into and the moon lilies were still weaved within the locks. None of this would she notice for some time as she stirred back into the waking world, back into life. The first thing that struck her was not the mystery of the bed on which she found herself, nor was it the mystery of how she had got there. No, the first thing she noticed as she woke was the feeling of pure and utter affection, laced with the faintest bit of lust, that came washing over her like a blanket.


Later she would find that these were not her own feelings, but in that moment she could only give a low, rumbling sound that was akin to a purr as she tried to push herself up with limbs that still felt weak and heavy. “Where,” Her voice sounded so strange to her ears, huskier and smoother, than she remembered. “Where am I?”​

 

[Fates.Gamble]

Cold lips pulled into a warm smile at Anna’s final words, her question unanswered while Alistair focused on his meal. Her could feel her heartbeat ebbing away now, the fires of her life reduced to a smothered ember, soon to die out completely. The melody of that fading note was like music to his ears. It was stunning finale and prelude alike, enthralling him for what was yet to come. Coupled with his own emotion’s were Anna’s, which came spilling forth as freely as her blood Eyes were closed once more while Alistair held her, relishing the flood of sensations that laced her essence. Waves of her fear, sadness, and even her intrigue… Alistair felt them all. But it wasn’t just her emotions, it was her life experience’s as well.

Flashes of Anna’s past sparked within his own memory, like tiny flashes of lighting; there in an instant and gone in a flash. It was impossible to make sense of her life’s story, as these flashes came out of order and without context. But, much like an abstract painting, Alistair could see the beauty of the greater picture. Her most recent experiences, however, were the most powerful of all. He could see her in that tavern, feel the mass of drunken bodies around her as lucidly as though he were there himself. He could taste the liquor on her tongue, and feel the dread upon realizing her sister had been lured away by predators.

For a time, Alistair could not separate himself from that sense of loss and terror. He allowed himself to wallow in it, to feel as she felt. Such a connection would be everlasting once their ritual was complete; if he could not share in the turmoils of her mortal life, their eternal one would be doomed from the start. Our love will be stronger for it in the end, he was telling himself, even as Anna slipped from the realm of consciousness, her spirit barely clinging to its mortal husk. She will be nothing like the last… I will make sure of it.
That was a vow he had no choice but to trust in, for he’d come too far to turn back now.

It was like coming out of a trance once Alistair pulled away, the last of Anna’s life stolen between his lips. Now he would pay for her sacrifice, granting a boon far more precious than that which was taken. In time she would come to understand the bounty granted by her loss. It might take decades, even centuries, Alistair knew, but eventually this life would seem like some far off place, a ghost to haunt her mind every now and then. Whatever sorrow plagued her now would be fleeting compared to the wonder of the life ahead of her.

That life begins now, Alistair thought, as he propped Anna’s lifeless body upon one arm, and lifted his free wrist to his own crimson tinted fangs. One quick bite and his own precious wellspring was tapped, his ancient blood flowing like sweet molasses from the puncture marks. Ever so carefully did he put it to her motionless lips, letting a few drops slip past to fall upon her tongue and roll back down her throat. That’s all it would take; the change would work itself slowly now, robbing her of a life of warmth and sunlight and resigning her to his likewise fate. And that was all it took for Evelyn to lose her composure as well, though Alistair paid the vampiress no mind when he heard the pin snap, or the sound of her retreating footsteps.

“The rest of you may leave as well,” Alistair told the other four, though his doting eyes remained on Anna alone. This was a private moment; meant only for the two of them, not a pack of ravenous spectators disappointed to see her turned. He could already feel the magic doing its work; feel his own essence entering her bloodstream, steadily bringing ‘life’ back to her frozen veins even as they spoke. These jackals were only sullying the moment as they stood there, watching like sad hounds. Doubtless they loathed the idea of him finally settling on a bride, thereby losing the bones he threw them over potential fiancee’s. In the end they knew better to argue or disobey, and shuffled their way out, retreating back into the night.

Alistair continued to sit there even after they were gone, quietly tending to his new bride, who lay in his arms as lifelessly as her sister did the settee. Anna could not have doubted his affection if she could see him then, soft eyes drinking her in as a lock of copper hair was lovingly brushed away from her pale face. He was connected to her now in a way that mortals could never have understood. The sharing of their blood was a ceremony far more binding and powerful than any human marriage; one that went beyond death and parting. It was as electrifying… and admittedly a little terrifying. Alistair wanted to believe he made the right choice with this woman, but he had his own ghosts haunting him, instilling him with doubt. But he fought them off, convincing himself once again:

You will be nothing like the one before.

Leaning in, he placed the softest of kisses upon her dead lips, a token of affection to go with his promise. Then, like a man holding the most precious thing on Earth, he lifted her back up from the ground and silently carried her out of the foyer. The sound of his boots upon the marbled floor was the only sound as they made their way to the west wing, and the stairs leading down to the lower levels of his home. Only there would she be safe, tucked away beneath the Earth and the harm that morning would bring. His own chambers were kept down there, a luxurious bedroom with all the comforts one of their kind could hope for; and this was where he would place Anna for the remainder of her transition; one that promised to last until the following moon-rise.

Though their kind could not enjoy the sun, Alistair had gone lengths to provide a sense that they still could. Within the room were false window panels, enkindled with the illusion of warm sunlight. It gave their basement room a pleasant if disingenuous ambiance. A large, four-poster bed served as the room’s center piece, and there did Alistair lay Anna, gently placing her upon the soft mattress. He took a moment to stand there, simply admiring, and familiarizing himself with the face of the woman who would be spending the rest of his immortal life with. It was a daunting thought, but Alistair remained confident in his choice.

“Rest sweetly, my dearest,” he said allowed, knowing she could not hear the words, “For tomorrow night, your life begins anew.”

Leaving his bride to her evolutionary slumber, Alistair made his way back to the foyer, intending to carry out the promise he’d made just before she died. He ventured to Sophia’s remains, eyes appraising the lifeless woman with a new-found respect. She had, after all, been the catalyst that led to this joyous union. Therefore, he treated her with every bit the respect he did her sister, carefully gathering her up and carrying her out to the gardens. In the far left corner was an ancient weeping willow tree, older even than those who’d drained her mortal life away. It made as fitting a burial spot as any. It was peaceful even, Alistair thought, with a nearby pond and bench where Anna could choose to sit and visit, if she so insisted on clinging to these fragments of her old life.

With his preternatural strength and speed, it was short work digging Sophia’s grave beneath the canopy of arching branches. Once it was done he set her inside, gently position her body to look as restful as possible, before moving the soil back in place. Once the ground was smoothed back out, Sophia in her eternal sleep below, Alistair fetched a gathering of stones and built her a small cairn. And so was his mortal sister in law laid to rest, Alistair showing her one last gesture of respect with a small nod, (more to his handiwork than anything else,) and heading back inside. Next he sought to clean up the mess in his foyer; specifically the messy eating habits of his guests. It wouldn’t do to have Anna awaken his progeny only to spy her sister’s bloody mess shortly after.

“Such animals,” he mumbled to himself as he arrived at the settee, cleaning supplies in hand. Before he could so much as reach for the sponge, however, someone rang the bell.

Alistair froze on the spot, his pleasant mood draining away almost instantly. It wasn’t just anyone who could make it to his front door without alerting him. Humans were too clumsy, he could practically hear their footsteps from a football field away. And younger vampires, like his guests, were far too cocky to care if they made a little noise; not unless they were on the hunt. Surely they would not come so soon… Alistair was thinking, as he set aside his bucket and left the bloodstains to answer the front door instead. At least this intruder had the good sense to knock, unlike Anna and her own brazen interest.

“Ah,” he chimed, realizing who was on the other side of the door even before he opened it, “An old friend.”

Sure enough there he stood, a vision of the past dressed in a fine, two piece suit. His back was turned, and Alistair had never seen the man in such modern threads, but there was no mistaking that bald head of pale, chocolate skin. And indeed, as the vampire turned to face him, it as the same, timeless face he’d last seen some 400 years ago. Two humans were with him, one male and one female, both genetic works of art and scantily clad. And clearly glamoured, judging by their mindless, glassy eyes, and utter devotion to the one they clung to. The mortal ones were more surprising to find than the old friend. Even standing right under his nose, Alistair found he could not smell them. Indeed, it seemed his senses failed him completely. Clearly they’ve learned a few new ways to lie low, Alistair thought to himself. He supposed that wasn’t all too surprising. As times changed, their way of life was only growing harder. So had it been since the earliest days of his creation.

“Qadir!” His unexpected guest shouted, his voice cheerful. “It has been some time. Well met, Eldest.”

“Well met, Khonsu.”

“I haven't heard that name in years,” he told him, souring at the ancient title. "I go by Damien now."

“Is that so?” Alistair asked, eyes shifting between the vampire and his two consorts. “I would ask ‘To what do I owe the pleasure?’ but I have a feeling I already know.”

“You always were a sharp tack,” ‘Damien’ said, looking a little uncomfortable. He turned his attention to the humans, stepping back from them with a humble gesture. “A gift to celebrate our reunion,” he said, and as simply as that, their infatuation for the visitor seemed to disappear. Instead, Alistair had the fool of their attention. They stepped forward, as brazen as Anna might have been had her sister’s death not sullied their meeting.

“Thought I might tempt you to a bite to eat,” his visitor offered, wearing a smile.

Alistair could tell that smile was as false as the windows in his room. He could see the knowing behind it; as well as the restlessness. The longer they remained, lingering in the threshold like this, the more uncomfortable his guest became. “Afraid I just had dinner,” Alistair told him, though he swept aside, allowing the trio access into the home all the same. “But please, won’t you come in?”

Damien accepted the invitation with thanks, waiting while Alistair closed the door behind him before leading him past the foyer to a large study and sitting room where they could relax and catch up. While Adrian relaxed and made himself at home, Alistair took the time to light a fire, the flames warming the natural chill that clung to their bones. Together they sat, a table between them, as the humans gravitated back to the one who’d charmed them. He waited, wordless and patient, eyes watching the scene as his guest indulged of the male’s wrist. The human was particularly euphoric, his sense of pain overridden by a sense of pleasure instead, courtesy of the one pulling his strings.

“Come now, you really must try one,” Khonsu, (For Damien just didn’t feel right to Alistair), pestered him, leading him to cave; He didn’t want to be rude after all.

Alistair beckoned to the woman, and she sauntered over to him, hips moving with provocative sway. She was a buxom blonde, and smelled plenty delicious. But as she brushed back her hair, and Alistair bit into her offered neck, he found himself none too satisfied. The girl was swill compared to Anna, and so he only drank shortly of her before passing her back to his guest. As they were patient beings at their core, Alistair merely waited until Khonsu had his fill, then tended to the puncture marks to stop the bleeding, reserving the rest of them. Afterwards, they sat on either side of him, showering him with their affection even as his eyes remained on Alistair.

Finally, after an unbearably long moment of silence, Khonsu said: “Ophelia has felt the birth of your progeny.” He waited another short moment, expecting Alistair to react. Brows lifted with intrigue when he did not. “You are not surprised?”

“Of course not,” Alistair replied smoothly. “She is of my blood; the third line of Sekhmet. Though, I admit… I did not expect her to feel it quite this soon. Before her awakening,, even. She has become powerful indeed. More than I expected under his tenure. But that brings us to the point, doesn’t it? You’re not here to tell me about Ophelia.”

“No,” he admitted, no longer dancing around the issue. “Through Ophelia, Abaddon has also learned of the birth of your progeny.”

Alistair had to interrupt him with a short tune of laughter. “’Abaddon’” he repeated, testing the name as thoroughly as he did Anna’s, though with far less appeal. “So then, he no longer goes by ‘Sobek, The God with the Strongest of Bites? How amusing…”

“And what of you?” Damien said, smirking. “No longer Qadir, or Osiris… nor even Tusk-Breaker, as first ordained. No.. now you are ‘Alistair…’ Gaelic, isn’t it? Ah yes… ‘Defender of Man.’” It was his turn to laugh.

“I can’t go around calling myself ‘Tusk-Breaker’ in this day and age, and besides, it carries a certain irony, don’t you think?” Alistair suggested of his name.

“Yes,” he admitted, “Your sense of humor is much like your mother’s. Which brings us back to the original point. Name’s aside, you know what your brother had decreed: The pure blood of Sekhmet will produce no further lines.”

“Ah, but my brother makes the mistake of believing I care about what he has decreed. I did not care when I was still within the Circle, why should I care now that I have abandoned it?"

“Be that as it may, it matters to your brother. Do you think he will sit idly by and watch you attempt it again? Older and stronger you may be, Alistair, but your brother still has the Circle. As long as he pulls their strings, his strength will ever be greater.”

“It’s funny… Aren’t you one of those stringed puppets, Khonsu? Surely ‘Abaddon’ would be displeased to learn you are here, warning me now. Why aren't you dancing to your puppeteer's tune like the rest of them?"

His guest bristled at this, deep, brown eyes narrowing. “I thought an old friend might be worth the risk,” he explained. “I would be remiss should anything untoward become of you. But make no mistake, my friend, as a member of the Circle I will do my duty. As Abaddon instructs, so do I obey. You would be wise to follow that code as well. Do the right thing; hand the fledgling over to your brother before he decides to come and take her himself.”

“You have never sired, isn’t that correct?” Khonsu’s placid expression was all he needed to see. “I thought not. So you could not possibly understand what Sobek has taken from me. He robbed me of a part of myself, only to make his ‘decree’ in the hopes that I will never find it again. Well, fuck Sobek. If he wants to come for me or her, let him. That is one feud I look forward to ending.”

“Do not be a fool, Alistair. If your brother comes for you, you will surely meet the true death, and your progeny a fate worse even still. But I have no you far too long to know there will be no changing your mind. How that saddens me, friend.” Frowning, the vampire raised from his seat, yet his human companions lingered behind, remaining like perfect statues. “A little something for your bride,” he explained. “Newborns are ever so hungry. Consider it my last token of good will; for I fear should next we meet, it shall be as enemies.”

“Until then, old friend,” Alistair dismissed the man without so much as getting to his feet.

Khonsu bowed, then saw himself out, retreating back into the night; undoubtedly back to the Circle before they realized where he’d been. And what should happen if they discover it? He wondered, contemplating on what his brother might consider punishment these days. It’d been centuries since he’d last involved himself in those sorts of politics, and no doubt methods had changed to meet the times. Unlike Alistair, Sobek did not cling to ancient histories. Regardless, he remained unsettled by his brother and the threat he posed. Alistair had expected such a reaction from the first. Sobek was never going to be happy about the decree being broken, and Alistair was never going to abide by that fool’s wishes. This conflict has been inevitable since the day he was born, he decided pointedly,before lifting off the couch and returning to the work that awaited him in the foyer…

Dawn was nearly upon them by the time Alistair had everything spic and span again. His work done, he retreated back down the stairs, down to where his bride waited, a motionless silhouette resting abaft the bed’s gossamer canopy. Alistair drew back the curtain to view her, eyes full of adoration but also a touch of worry. While he did not fear for himself, he did fear for her. Her very existence would place a target on her back, and should by whatever slim chance, his brother manage to overpower him, it would be Anna who truly came to suffer for it. With that in mind, Alistair found himself toeing out of his boots and joining her lifeless form in bed. Nestling himself up beside her, Alistair held her close.

“There is nothing to fear,” he whispered to her unconscious form, arms coming to wrap protectively around her. “You are forever mine, and I will see to it that Sobek greets the sun before he ever gets his jaws around you.” And so he promised, even as his eyes fell shut, and the ancient being drifted into a waking slumber…

~

The vampire remained as motionless as his bride, straight through sunrise and even unto sunset. All the while the change took place, silently changing Anna’s physiology, granting her the full blessings of their kind. But never did he expect Sekhmet’s other blessing; a token of motherly love granted to her new daughter of the night, even as Alistair held her in his arms. Nothing could have prepared him for the moment when his eyes opened once again, night having descended on the Earth. Those eyes went wide upon seeing her braided her, at once recognizing the technique. It can’t be, he thought, too stunned to move for a minute. How many centuries had come and gone since his mother had last walked the mortal plane? Long had he spent searching for her; wondering at her reasons for abandoning her flock and the world at large.

The sight of Anna and her braided hair was even more unsettling than his visit from an old friend. He found himself shying away, letting Anna slip out of his arms as he retreated from the bed, his mind racing. How was it even possible? And what did it mean? The anomaly had him so engrossed that he was surprised once Anna began to shift, stirring at last. Once he had, however, his Sekhmet’s surprise was completely forgotten. He turned on the spot, eyes locking onto Anna as her gorgeous, violet eyes came to open. His worries and fears were swept away, replaced at once by his longing and adoration. If it were capable, his heart might have been racing when he heard that lazy purr, and she pushed herself back up from the dead.

“You are home, my love,” Alistair answered her question at once. He swept back to the bed, letting things sink in before he planted himself upon it, sitting just beside her. “Tell me… what do you remember?” He asked, giving her his warmest and most charming of smiles. With any luck she would recall nothing of Sophia and her untimely end. It wasn’t unknown… Memories didn’t always survive over; and often the new flood of emotions and sensations could over power those memories even if they did. Perhaps she would succumb to the wave of his own emotions now flooding through her. Or she could prove a slave to her own body, one she might find she had very little control over at first. Any mix of feelings and emotions could come to the surface, but she was already proving more successful than the last attempt. His first progeny came into this world bloody and screaming; more interested in tearing her maker apart than trusting his guidance.

And if she remembers the sister this could end much the same way, he thought, silently hoping he’d have no reason to explain that grave beneath the willow.

 

[WickedWonderland]

As the flashes of her former life danced within Alistair’s mind, each one flickering away as quick as it had come before he could hold onto them, he would see glimpses of the bond his bride and her sister shared. Later, when Anna would allow him the chance, he would understand the depth of their love, how they were the yin to the others yang. As it stood, he would only hear the echoes of their laughter, playing like a silent melody that only he could hear and truly appreciate, and he would know that their time shared together had been one of great happiness. There had been moments of sadness and anger shared between the sisters, but nothing that could ever truly sour their bond forever.​

Few shared a bond as strong as the Randall sisters.

If she had had any say in the matter Anna would have hated that he had gotten even the briefest taste of her life, for those were moments that should have been shared with someone she trusted. They were not meant to be seen by the eyes of the man who had been the bystander to her sister’s murder and the one who had brought forth her own demise. But as it was she could not protest, for it would not be until much later, after the effects of her new birth had faded away, that she would learn of what he had seen and whether that would be met with her rage or a willingness to give him a better glimpse into her mortal life only time would tell.

When she finally did open her eyes, greeting her new life with violet eyes that no longer sparkled with the flame of life, but were nonetheless breath taking, Anna felt none of the anger that had plagued her hours ago. Though it tried desperately to claim her, clawing forth from the deepest depths of her mind, it was held back and blocked away by stronger emotions. Emotions that were not quite her own, though she could not tell that in the first moments upon her waking, for they were so strong that she felt they must truly be her own. How was she to know that a part of the bond she shared with the being that was both her creator and husband was the sharing of their emotions? No one would think of that, so she could not be blamed for welcoming the waves of pure affection and another emotion that she could not quite name (was it love?) that washed over her and wrapped around her like a thick blanket. The weight of them made her first moments in her new life a pleasant one, even though she struggled like every bit the newborn she was to push herself up onto her hands. Even such a simple movement seemed so difficult, as though the limbs had not been used in months rather than hours.

What is wrong with me?​

Blinking in confusion, an action that seemed harder than it had any right to be as well, Anna tried her best to process everything, but that was harder said than done. Her mind was flooded with such a vast array of stimuli, colors seeming so much brighter than she could remember and tastes that she could not recall ever tasting exploding across her tongue, nearly caused her to fall back against the strange bed on which she found herself. Had everything always been quite this overwhelming? Closing her tightly eyes, a desperate attempt to block out all the sensations that were working so very hard at fighting for her attention and leaving her feeling dizzy, Anna did not realize that she had said anything, at least not out loud, until someone answered.

You are home, my love.

Quite instantly did her eyes snap open, flicking towards the voice that seemed so very familiar and yet strange at the same time. Curiously did she study him, a handsome figure with hair the color of the night sky and eyes such an odd shade of blue that she found herself quite captivated by them. One might argue that she might have been hypnotized by his gaze, lost in their icy depths as the mortals he fed upon were, but that was far from the truth. No, Anna found herself drawn to his gaze because of the overwhelming amount of affection that came pouring from them as he moved to join her on the massive bed. Was he feeling what she felt? Head tipping to the side, another action that should not have been as hard as it was, as he came closer she found herself soothed by his presence, as though it was something she had been longing for though she did not quite know why. As he settled on the plush mattress she found that it was not nearly close enough and inched closer, her movements so stiff that it seemed to take every ounce of her energy to move even such a small distance and she found herself all but collapsing against him when she was finally close enough. Her head was pressed against his chest, her cheek moving against the soft fabric of his shirt as another purr rumbled in the back of her throat.

This was nice...

Her mind hummed with the thought, for the moment contented though there was a part of her that felt as though she shouldn’t be. It tried so desperately to hold her attention, to make her aware of how very wrong this moment was between them, but each time it threatened to take hold the sweet scent of the flowers weaved into her hair filled her nose and blocked them out. It would be much later when Anna would learn that those flowers had been a gift from her new mother, an attempt to show her new daughter that her new life could be a good one if only she could move past the pain and grief of her mortal life; a wedding gift from the other side.

“My love?” Anna breathed against him, finally realizing what he had called her as her fingers lifted to play with the strands of his ebony hair that had fallen over his shoulders, finding their smooth texture quite pleasing against her skin as they danced across the tips of her fingers. Was there really love between them? She wondered as she continued to nuzzle against him like a kitten, head moving from its place against his chest until the tip of her nose was pressed against the hollow of his throat. Another wave of affection flooded over her, drawing forth a soft hum from her lips as her eyes fluttered close to relish the feeling. Yes, there must be love shared between them...

Wasn’t there?

“I remember...” She started, only to trail off as she tried so very hard to get her mind to work, to recall anything of value beyond the affection that clouded it, but she could only gather up pieces. Every time her mind touched on something dark and unpleasant the sweet scent of flowers wafted to her nose and blocked them out. “I...I remember my name and...umm...” For a moment she trailed off, the effort she put forth into to trying to recall even the simplest bit of information taking more from her than she cared to admit. The scent of the flowers seemed to grow stronger then, working hard to soothe her as her frustration mounted.

“Should...Should I remember more, my love?” The pet name came easily from her lips, though even if it hadn’t Anna realized in that moment that she had nothing else to call him. Had she forgotten his name as well?!

Oh, if only she knew....​

 

[Fates.Gamble]

Just as Anna was swept into the sea of his emotions, so too did Alistair experience her feelings. Her confusion was the most prominent, telling him she did not remember what happened even before she admitted as much. He could not say whether he was relieved by the fact, or worried over it. Memories of her old life could return at any point; a ticking time bomb that could just as easily be a dud. Yet, his concerns over whatever grief the past might bring were nothing compared to his intrigue. He watched his new bride with all the patience a loving caretaker might, allowing her to get a feel for her new body. She was like a storm in a bottle at this point; full of power and wonder, but no idea how to break free.

Oh but how quickly she adjusted, accepting this change as though she were born for it. It was perhaps a little too perfect, how well adjusted she was to this; how accepting she seemed of the strange man claiming to love her. Alistair knew their unspoken connection had something to do with that, but he found himself eyeing those lilies in her hair, almost with suspicion. Had Sekhmet truly blessed their union? It beggared belief, even after eons of witnessing what most would call impossible.

What have you done, Mut? He wondered silently to himself, even as Anna settled upon him, head lithely pressed against his chest. He held her just as gently, one arm snaking it’s way around her with his hand resting at the small of her back. For a moment he could swear he felt the conflict within her, but the hum of her mind won out. A warm, of a little devious smile crept across Alistair’s lips.

“That’s right,” he encouraged Anna as she repeated his term of endearment. Icy blue eyes held her pools of velvet as she reached out to play with his strands of dark hair. “Have you forgotten that as well?” Not that the memory was there to find... Though his bride remained oblivious, her name all that came to mind. Alistair’s was not expecting such a smooth transition. It might have left him for a loss, had he not already been losing himself in her sweet affections. Slender fingers teased across her back, smoothing their way further up.

“Alistair,” the vampire offered, catching the hesitation over his name. His free hand came to seize hers, their fingers interlacing as he shook his head at her. “No need to fret over it, Dearest. You’ve been through a lot...” A gleam of knowing sparked within his eyes as he considered exactly what she’d been through. If she had remembered, odds were this conversation would be going a very different route. As it was, Alistair was enjoying this gift of amnesia. Anna was intoxicating, the flames of his desire stoked by her receptiveness.

“Perhaps it will come to you in time,” he suggested, silently considering the possibility. Perhaps his avoidance would only cause further difficulties between them if she finally did come to, but he would cross that bridge when he came to it. “But if not,” Alistair paused, his roaming hand reaching up to brush back a few strands of copper hair from her pale face, “Then it is no true loss. For the past is dead and buried,” Quite literally, given the stone cairn that marked Sophia’s grave, “Our future is all that matters now.”

The softest of kisses was pressed to the crown of her head as Anna shifted up, the bridge of her nose brushing up just below his jaw. His heart might have raced it such a thing were possible, but Alistair thoroughly lost his head all the same. His body seemed to move of its own accord, nudging her attention further up still, until she was left to meet those endless blue eyes of his again. They drank in her gaze for a time before wandering, admiring the planes of her face, and especially the pulp of her full lips. The temptation of those lips was almost too much to ignore, but some how he managed it, his eyes sweeping back up to meet hers.

“But enough talk of lost memories for now, hm?” He decided, brushing the back of his hand softly across her cheek. “You must be absolutely famished,” he pointed out, knowing full well the hunger that would be clawing at her belly; a mild annoyance at first, but it would grow all the more ravenous the longer she went. Too long, and it leave her mindless and starving.

“What say we get you up and dressed? I’ve got something lovely prepared for us downstairs, and after all, it’s a very special occasion. You want to look your best for our wedding night, don’t you?” Alistair flashed her a quick grin before leaning in and placing another kiss, this time upon her forehead. He then untangled himself from his bride, before stepping away and gesturing for her to follow. Fortunately he’d been preparing for her arrival for sometime, a full wardrobe included. He took her to that colorful menagerie now, watching with keen and patient interest as she took the time to peruse, and decide what called to her the most.

 

[WickedWonderland]

If the old Anna, the mortal Anna, knew how she was being played, twisted and twirled around fingers that had been around for centuries before even her ancestors were a twinkle in the universe, she would have been furious. All the rage that had burned through her veins mere hours ago would have paled in comparison to what would have come out, an inferno that would have consumed everything in her path without mercy. Nothing would have been able to soothe or stop her until those that had wronged her were lying dead and bleeding at her feet, but even that would not have been enough to sate her. She would have become every bit the monster her creator feared.

But the old Anna was gone, for a time at least, her anger and pain hidden behind the thick blanket of warm emotions that welcomed her into her new life with open arms. Even as the memories of her old life fought to rise up, clawing their way up from the deepest caverns of her mind like starving beasts desperate to be set free, they were chased away and banished back into the shadows by the lilies that had been weaved into her hair with all the love of a mother who wanted to give her two most beloved children a moment of happiness. For a moment was all it would be in the end when fate finally caught up to them and dug its greedy claws into them.

Oh, but what a moment it would be...

Completely unaware of the interference of an ancient goddess and the way she was being manipulated, like a piece of clay to be shaped and molded into the perfect bride, by her son Anna found the first moments of her new life blissful. Truly. As his hands danced along her body, with a touch so gentle that even through the fabric of her dress she found herself shivering for more. How would it feel to have those hands against her skin without the barrier of fabric between them? It was a question that brought a haze to her mind, quite unlike anything she could recall feeling before, and so desperately did she find herself wanting to know the answer that she could barely focus on anything else. She missed the way he teased her about forgetting something that had never been, the way his lips up into a smile that was every bit as devious as the way he strung her along to lead her through a lie that would very likely bite him in the end. There was so much that she missed in those first few moments as he held her, but none of that matter when he offered up his name.

“Alistair.” She breathed it so softly, testing the way each syllable rolled across her tongue and finding the result quite pleasing as his free hand found her own and laced their fingers together. The slight brush of skin on skin was very nearly overwhelming for her, causing her violet eyes to widen as the electrifying pulse of it rushed through her body. If she had still had the ability a gasp would have hit the air, but as it was her lips only parted in silent awe.

What was that?! She wondered as he soothed her, a talent that he was proving quite deft at as the hand roaming along her back came up to brush aside a few strands of her hair as she nuzzled against him like a contented kitten. The movement, so gentle as all of his touches were, had her eyes fluttering closed as a sound akin to a whimper spilled forth in a silent plea for more.

Our future is all that matters now. Words she found herself agreeing to as a kiss, so soft she might have missed it entirely if she had not been paying attention, made the whimper in the back of her throat shift into a full-blown whine just as the tip of her nose brushed against the underside of his jaw. In an instant he nudged her up, her eyes fluttering open as their gazes met.

“Alistair.” His name came out louder this time, an edge to it that was so clearly a plea as their gazes met and held each other. What she was pleading for she truly did not know, though as those blue eyes dipped to her lips to study them with such an intensity that she could not stop the way her body trembled, Anna thought that whatever it was could wait so long as he kissed her.

Then he was pulling away, putting a distance between them that had her unbeating heart sinking even as his hand brushed along her cheek with the silent promise of more later. But she did not want to wait! A pout tugged at her lips and there was the brief flash of her old self as her violet eyes flashed with a determination he would remember all too well if he had glimpsed it.

Ignoring his mention of how famished she must be, a fact that she had been painfully aware of from the moment she opened her eyes, and only briefly being thrown by his mention of their wedding night. When had they gotten married? Anna refused to be distracted as she followed him off the bed, her movements far less smooth than his. She stumbled only once as her feet, still bare from when she had kicked off her boots in her chase after his goons the previous night, touched the floor. If she was embarrassed by that brief moment of weakness she did not let it show, violet eyes blazing as she squared her shoulders and marched over to him.

The hunger that had been nagging at the back of her mind, buzzing around like an annoying fly that refused to be chased away no matter how many times it was swatted at, threatened to consume her then. It was enough to make her pause for only a moment as it raced through her body with such intensity she felt it in her newly acquired fangs, the tips of the pearly daggers peaking from just behind her lips as she fought hard to stuff the feeling down. She needed to focus!

“No!” The words came carried out on what sounded like a growl, though the anger behind was directed at no one but herself, her hands balling into tight fists at her sides. Once more there came a flash of her former self, giving him a peak of just how stubborn she could be, as she moved forward to close the distance between them. She would not be controlled by her baser instincts!

“Th-There is something,” Her voice was calmer as she came to stand before him, realizing only then how much shorter than him she was. “That I have to know first.” The words would be familiar to him as she peered up at him through the thick lashes that rimmed her gem colored eyes, hands reaching up to cup his cheeks as they trembled like leaves caught in a stiff breeze.

“Can you guess,” The tone was low and sultry as the newly born vampire rocked forward onto the tips of her toes. She would never be on the same level as him, but it brought her close enough to her true goal as the corners of the lips that had captivated him so just moments ago tipped up into a smile that was filled with pure mischief. “What that is, my husband?”

If he was going to answer Anna did not give him the chance, surging forward to capture his lips with her own. The first real intimate touch between them drew a moan from the back of her throat as the hands cupping his cheeks moved to his hair, her fingers tangling and twisting with in the silken strands that had so captivated her just moments before.

~

Far off and far away, hidden away from the reach of her children, in the very same room that Anna had found herself in moments between the death of her old life and the start of her new one, sat a regal looking woman. Her long, ebony colored hair was weaved into a braid similar to the one she had worked into Anna’s own hair, though she had forgone the lilies. Her eyes, golden like the sun and rimmed with kohl, were fixed on the mirror held within her hands. Instead of seeing her own reflection staring back at her the woman was graced with the image of her children, watching the first moments of their new life together with a loving smile on her lips.

“Oh, my dearest son...” She cooed softly with an edge of sadness as tears welled within her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks as she bid the image to fade away before she saw too much. With a heavy heart she set the mirror aside, longing to do more for her children than be a silent bystander. “I would help more if I could...”

 

[Fates.Gamble]

The electrified reactions of Anna were rippling through Alistair, spurring him onward as her body quickly came to accept, even savor his touch. He promised himself he would take his time with this one; steadily introduce her to the eternal life she’d been given, but the fast mounting tension was posing quite the threat to his slow and steady plans. Somewhere the back of his mind he knew Sekhmet was likely the cause of Anna’s passiveness, but it was easy enough to ignore and forget when up against the swell of sensations coursing through him. Those sensations were only growing the longer things went on, the tension becoming so palpable you could cut it. Once he’d swept away, the space between them was almost too much to bear pleading of his name was almost too much to bear, and the pleading of his name didn’t help things. Alistair knew, however, that the longer the newborn went without feeding, the more twisted would the roots of hunger grow around her mind. Despite that, the fledgling seemed as impatient as she was beautiful.

Alistair hardly made it three steps before Anna was up on wobbly legs, still learning how to pull the strings that now moved her body. He turned on his heels, meeting the determined look that set her violet pools alight. And then she was approaching him, albeit it haltingly. Alistair could feel the beasts within his progeny, hunger and desire both clawing their way out of the very core of her being. For a moment it seemed the hunger would win out, leaving her one of the ravenous monsters this world believed them to be. But then that determination; that profound stubbornness which saw the woman marching barefoot into a den of devils for her final mortal act, took over.

Alistair watched her with curious eyes once Anna chastised herself, then finally closed the distance between them. He stood rooted in place when she halted before him, as quiet and motionless as stone. His eyes never left her face, not even as trembling hands reached up to cup his own. Could he guess? Truly, it was hard to think of anything but the answer. He’d felt a likewise urge building and in him from the moment she came barreling through the door. That flame of desire was only growing now, heating to an inferno when she pushed up on bare toes, and pulled her lips into a sultry smile. A clever retort came to mind, but it never managed to slip free of his lips before Anna was hungrily feasting upon them.

Her kiss was sweet as honey; her lips as soft as rose petals. Alistair couldn’t have kept himself from melting into it even if he wanted to. His hands found a home on either side of her waist, the initially soft grip growing firmer as his lips parted, and his tongue came out to invite hers to a thrilling game of chase. In that moment, the world seemed to disappear. All other thoughts and concerns vanished as he gave into their shared desire. A low, desire laden moan sprung forth as their kiss deepened, and his touch further explored the little black dress, which was beginning to feel all the more cumbersome. His hands slid across her waist and around to the small of her back. Gripping fingers snagged the fabric of her dress, hiking it up just a fraction as he pulled her in close enough to mesh their bodies. Every inch of contact was electric fire, bringing him to shiver with anticipation. But judging by the way his hands continued to roam every inch of her, it wasn’t nearly enough for him.

Alistair’s fingers worked their way up the contours of her back, gliding across the smooth black fabric with appreciative touch. Rowling’s hands came to a sudden stop, however, when they managed to brush across the petal of a moon lily decorating her braid. Suddenly, Alistair was grounded back to reality. His kiss became sluggish as the memory of Sekhmet’s gift came flooding in, though he couldn’t bring himself to break it entirely. Likewise, his touch became one more of curiosity than desire, as fingers carefully worked their way across the flower, and further up the braid cascading down her back.

Icy eyes opened slowly, only to narrow with determination, much in the way Anna’s did before him. Enough, he told himself, wrenching his thoughts away from the mystery of his maker. This was no night for such a distraction, and his frustration over the fact showed in the way he took Anna’s braid in an iron grip, only to give it a rude tug. It wasn’t enough to hurt, but enough to break their kiss, pulling her head back just enough that her sultry mouth could no longer reach him.

Alistair wore a wickedly bright smile as he looked down at Anna, the sharp tips of his fangs peaking out as his mouth remained open, the sweet taste of her yet lingering on his tongue. His hold on her braid remained, keeping her helplessly locked in place long enough for him to lean in, as though for another kiss. Instead he missed her lips entirely, masterfully diverting to her jawline, where he peppered a row of much smaller kissed all the way across, down to the sweet flesh of her neck, where he’d feasted from just hours before. Unlike then, however, the pain of his bite never came. The assault was much sweeter this time; nothing but soft, cold lips, and a wet and eager tongue in their wake. Anna’s hair was finally released as his attentions ventured further down, gracing a collarbone and then the bare flesh of her shoulder. His hands found new territory to explore as well, slipping right back down her back and settling upon the round globes of her ass instead.

Another moan broke free, the vibrations of his deep voice tickling across her skin before he pulled away and greeted her with another wild look. A heart beat later, Alistair hefted her up, lifting Anna by the grip on her ass until she was securely straddled about his hips, relinquishing the need for her to reach up on tippy toes. The moment she was level with him he seized her in another kiss, just as hot an heavy as the last. It persisted even as he began to move forward, carrying her right back to the bed she’s only just stumbled out of. He hesitated just at the edge, too absorbed in their second kiss to break it just yet. Eventually he did, however, and just as rudely as before, if the way he let her spill out of his arms to lay out across the mattress was anything to go by.

She wouldn’t have long to complain, however, as Alistair dropped in moments later, snatching up her wrists and pinning hands on either side of her face before she could get up to too much trouble with them. Grinning, he stared down at his hopeless victim for a moment, eyes drinking in her face before venturing further down to appreciate the rest of her shapely body. “Absolutely gorgeous,” he complimented her in a husky voice, before leaning down to place another soft, yet fleeting kiss upon her plump lips. Like before, his lips trailed down, peppering across chin and throat, and further down still, to the valley of her bountiful cleavage. Lingering there, he released her hands, finally allowing them to explore him as he began to do the same to her. Soft touches ventured up her front this time, gliding across her side, all the way up to cup one of the breasts he showered with attention. Skilled fingers worked across the soft flesh, his thumb teasing a nipple even through her clothes, which were becoming more bothersome by the moment.

The devilish man pulled away after a bit, eyes gleaming as he looked up to note her expression. “Enjoying our wedding night so far?” He asked, not truly caring for an answer as they were a long ways from done. His hand had left her breast, sliding instead down her front, towards the hem of her dress. “Since you seem to have lost your memories,” he went on, eyes slipping back down her body while his hand managed to find its way right between her legs, which he parted with gentle coaxing, “What do you say we truly make this a night to remember?”

His exploring fingers went right in for the attack, masterfully teasing at her clit right through whatever garments she decided to pair pair with that little black dress. Gentle yet firm, he rolled his fingers in a wide circle, continuing to stimulate her until she was wet enough he could feel it through the fabric. When she was, he rewarded her with another tantalizing kiss, his efforts persisting all the while. He would end both shortly after, however, his body moving to shift further down hers. A hunger of his own has arisen, and unlike Anna he had no intentions of denying himself. Prying her legs further apart, he reached up under her dress. Taking hold of her undergarments, he peeled them off, sliding them right down her toned legs to remove them completely, only to toss them aside when he was done. One flash of a sultry grin and Alastair went for it, pushing her dress further up her waist and spreading her legs apart at the knees, before lowering himself right to to the center of her womanhood. Cold lips teased her at first, kissing all around her vulva before finally moving on to the root of her pleasure, where his all too masterful tongue came out to flick and play, eager to see her reeling with enjoyment.

 

[WickedWonderland]

Was she always this bold? It was a question that spun and weaved through Anna’s mind as she rose up onto the tips of her toes, closing the distance between herself and the man who claimed to be her husband. Dimly, through the fog that clouded her mind and only allowed her to go back so far, she could recall that she had always been the sort to take action where others would sit back and wait for something to happen. An exact example she could not pull forward, just brief flashes of images that were only piece of a much bigger puzzle. She could see a younger version of herself charging up to someone, words spilling from her lips that cut deeper than any sword at the person they were aimed at. Then there came a flash, more recent, of her ripping a pin from her hair and jamming it into someone’s eye without a care for what the consequence of her action would be. Both times she could feel the echo of the emotions that had drawn her into action where others would have sat back, but that’s all they were in the end; just echoes. She could not remember what had led her to such moments, for every time she tried something pulled the answer away and kept it just out of reach. Though from them she could gather what she might have once been before she awoke into her new life, but it was only a guess.

A guess that she would not know the answers to until much later....

For the moment she was complete consumed by Alistair. Captivated by the feel of his lips against her own, somehow warm despite the coldness of his skin, and the feel of his tongue that danced along her own in a way that saw her chasing after him every time he pulled back. He could try to escape, but he would learn that she would always chase him down. Toes curled and the fingers in his hair tightened as a wave of pleasure washed through her, the intensity of it nearly knocking her back onto her feet. It was unlike she had ever felt before, pulsing through her tiny frame with all the strength of an electric current and she might have pulled away from the shock of it had he not held her in place. Where she faltered at the intensity of the emotions between them he remained strong, holding her in place and coaxing her out of the fear that might have been stirred up with gentle hands. Where she was unsure he was determined, drinking her in with all the passion of a man that clearly starved for it, and that alone calmed her. If he could be so sure then so could she.

Against him she melted, whimpering into his mouth as his hands moved along her dress and part of her wished that he would just rip it off. And for a moment, as his fingers moved upward to the middle of her spine, she thought he just might. She could barely contain the way her body trembled in eagerness, but as fingers brushed her braid, a touch she was surprised she could feel, something changed. In an instant their kiss lost its intensity and where he had once been devouring her, seeming like he simply could not get enough, he grew sluggish and withdrawn. Something was pulling him from her and though she could not see it or name it, it was like a stab to her unbeating heart all the same.

Concerned, violet eyes came fluttering open to meet his icy gaze. In that moment she wished that she could see into his mind and know what it was that caused the change. Had she done something wrong? That seed of doubt started to bloom inside of her, nearly bringing her to pull back him and put a voice to all the questions dancing and weaving through her mind, but he was quicker. She caught a flash of determination racing through his gaze, lighting a fire in those blue depths that seemed to bring them to life as they narrowed. Instantly the questions she wanted to ask shifted, but, as before, she would not get the chance to ask them. The hand brushing along her braid shot up, giving the copper strands a firm tug as he clutched them tightly. It was not hard enough to hurt, but came with just enough pressure that her lips were pulled from his.​

The smile he offered to her then was the picture of wickedness, the tips of his fangs just peaking past his lips. It was a sight that might have caused most to draw back in fear, but for Anna it only made the flames of her desire grow. The hunger that had been gnawing at her since she opened her eyes shifted, twisting until all of it was directed at him. Lips, swollen from his attention, tipped upward as she forgot all about her previous concerns and she might have lunged for him then, but the hand on her hair kept her tightly in place. How unfair! Pouting she might have begged him then, but then he was leaning in, teasing her with a chance for another kiss. “Alistair...” She breathed his name as her body trembled in anticipation, but at the last second he shifted. His attentions fell to her neck and dimly she could recall that the last time he had explored that part of her body there had been pain before she fell into darkness, but this time was different.

Everything became a blur as his lips brushed along her skin and as a moan, so low and full of need that it shocked her, spilled from her throat Anna barely had a chance to comprehend what was going on or how to react as he hefted her up. As though she weighed little more than a feather, he lifted her from the floor and seemed to take a certain delight as her legs instinctively moved to wrap around his hips. She had only a moment, as their faces became level, to flash him a smile that bordered on cheeky before he had her lips claimed in another kiss that was filled with more passion than the last. Moaning she clung to him, completely unaware that he was moving them back to the bed until it was too late.

Without any warning she found herself released from his grip and in the seconds before her back met the mattress violet eyes went wide. The expression lasted only a moment before a combination of anger and annoyance came rushing up, threatening to overwhelm the lust flooding her veins as she cast him a glare. If she was going to say anything to him then, whether it be a curse or an insult, he did not give her the chance. He did not even give her the chance to push herself up, snatching up her wrists in a firm grip and pressed her back against the bed. All her previous dark emotions were forgotten then as he loomed over her, drinking in the sight of her helpless beneath him. ‘Absolutely gorgeous.’ He praised her and if she still had the ability her cheeks might have flushed with a blush, but as it was she could only dip her head down in a way to hide from his gaze.

He thought she was gorgeous? Surely, he was mistaken....

Ready to rebuke him, Anna managed only a simple utterance of his name, “Alistair...” Before anything that might have come after was lost and forgotten as his hands released her own, setting to work exploring her body in a way that saw her falling back against the plush mattress and nearly caused to forget her own name. As fingers drifted down, tracing along the plains of her body and committing each dip and curve to memory, she arched up as their attention turned onto the swells of her breasts. Though they were still hidden behind thin layers of her dress and bra, she could still feel his touch just surely as if there were no barriers between them. Part of her thought to beg him to just rip her clothes off, but then his thumb was rolling over her pert nipples and the thought was lost.

As she twisted against the sheets, a whimpering and moaning mess from just the simplest touches, Anna barely heard him speak. Just barely through the fog of lust the clouded her mind could she make out the low timbre of his voice, but what he was actually saying she could not make out. Something about enjoying herself maybe? She could not say for certain, but it hardly mattered as his skilled hands left her breasts and drifted downward to dance along the hem of her dress. So close to where she was already burning for him, but still so far away.

Only the mention of memories that were lost to her seemed to pull her from the fog of lust, “Memories...?” She breathed seconds before all thought was lost to her once more, his fingers finding the sensitive bundle of nerves between her thighs that had her falling back against the mattress with a keening cry.

Though she was already running wet for him, Alistair worked her until it could be felt through the thin fabric of her panties. “Alistair, I-I...” What she was trying to say she did not know, but she knew that her body could not handle this torture for long. As his lips found hers, shushing her even as she nearly sobbed for him, she thought for certain that he might end her then. If he was worried about it, though, he did not show it, flashing her a grin that was built of pure desire as he nudged her legs further apart and freed her from the flimsy piece of fabric that was made a mess with the evidence of her desire. Feeling dizzy with need she could nothing but watch as he tossed the garment over his shoulder before diving down to the true object of his desire.

With her dress pushed up around her waist and legs spread apart in open invitation Anna felt more exposed than she had with anyone that had come before him. Whimpering she might have shifted then, wanting to hide, but he never let her get far. Cold lips brushed along her skin, teasing her for a moment before they dove in. The pleasure that shot through her as he set to work, drinking her desire like it was the finest ambrosia, was so intense she would swear that she blacked out for a moment as a moan that bordered on a scream was ripped from her.​

 

[Fates.Gamble]

In truth, Anna didn’t know much about about her husband, save for his namesake. But boy if she didn’t find a way to put it to good use, her husky voice moaning it out with increasing approval every time. It made for nice motivation, Alistair feeling zealous in his efforts to draw out such sweet music. Her initial shyness was melting away fast enough, her sensitive body a helpless victim to what assailed it. A confident smirk claimed his busy lips as Anna writhed and screamed, a throaty chuckle rumbling past them before his swirling tongue retreated from its work. A soft row of kisses were left in its wake, vivid eyes flashing up to spy Anna’s expression.

“I see you’re learning to appreciate your new body,” he praised her, his cold hands sliding their way up her inner thighs to add into the sensations. Her senses were sure to be going haywire, each and every one of them amplified from the mortal perception she knew. Compared to those days, her world would have become a vivid wonderland, alive with color and sound. The same could be said for the sense of touch, which Alistair skillfully manipulated, driving her to the very edge of pleasure but never quite enough to throw her over it. Indeed, one might think him merciless in the way he fell right back into his assault, slender fingers coming to join the fun in a thorough effort to please her, but only for so long.

After a time, he abandoned the effort all together, leaving her practically quivering at the edge of a climax. Her hands were seized a moment later, only instead of pinning her down he pulled, tugging Anna up into a sitting position with him. Like magnetism, their mouths found one another, meeting in another passionate embrace. It didn’t last long, as Alistair’s hands managed to find the hem of her dress. A moment later it was sliding up her body, interrupting their kiss long enough for Alistair to get it up and over her head. He’d never tossed and article aside so quickly, his hands eager to explore her bare body. That was also cut short, Alistair pulling away to see to his own clothing next. Fingers worked quickly to undo his waistcoat, a task that might have gone faster if he somehow hadn’t found the distraction of her lips, even while undressing. It made it to the floor all the same, and his top along with it, exposing his broad, well-sculpted torso to her.

It was all he had to patience to do before he grabbed Anna by the waist and pulled her into his lap. No sooner than she was sat there did he begin a new assault, lips exploring her neck, down to her clavicle, and eventually, her bare breasts. Ample attention as given to each, lips, tongue and even teeth seeking out her nipples to taunt and please. He pulled away from the sensitive nubs eventually, leaving them hard and excited before his hands finally went for the belt holding his trousers in place. His mouth busied itself on the side of her neck that had been neglected, blunt teeth playfully nipping at the skin while he shuffled out off the last of his clothes right under her. He was more than a little worked up by now, the girth of his manhood making its presence known as they settled back into position. Throbbing and eager, if threatened to slip right past her slick entrance, thanks in no small part to the way Alistair rolled his hips, teasing Anna with the threat.

A devious grin lit his face, wondering how long he could keep this up before a very frustrated Anna just took things into her own hands. He never got an answer though, for the moment it seemed like she might, his hand snaked its way between their bodies to take a firm hold of his cock and guide it home. A low moan of pleasure escaped Alistair as he was swallowed inch after inch, hips lifting until her wet tunnel had taken him to the very base. He retreated slowly then, loving the way her tight little pussy squeezed in response. Half way through his retreat, Alistair drove his hips forward again, hitting deep and quickly finding a rhythm. Sultry notes of approval notes of his approval were sounding on the air before long, the tempo increasing with every thrust, until the sound of their colliding bodies had joined in the symphony.

“Mmm, fuck…” The vampire moaned in compliment, hips grinding all around on a particularly good thrust. At this point, their position was nothing more than a tease for him, plenty off fun but no room to maneuver. As such, he decided to change things up, Anna quickly finding herself on her back, Alistair lifting up to his knees without missing a beat. A wild, lusty gleam was in his eye as he stared down at her, pausing his efforts just long enough to snare her by the ankles and shift her legs into an agreeable position. Once they were he held them there, his eyes drinking in Anna’s gorgeous form as he proceeded to slam into her again and again.

 

[WickedWonderland]

He was a wicked man, her husband.

Though she could recall very little about him that was one fact of which Anna was certain. No one who was of a kind heart would be so relentless with their teasing, working her so close to the edge that she could practically taste it on her tongue, only to pull back at the last second to start the whole process all over again. Despite her growing frustration it was not as though she was truly complaining, the way she thrashed upon the sheets and cried out proof enough of that. And how could she really bring herself to complain? No one had ever given her such pleasure, the kind that made her very world spin up on its head to the point where she did not know if what she was feeling was really happening or imagined.

At least she could not remember if anyone else had...

Though her memories were shielded from her, locked away and hidden deep within the furthest reaches of her mind, through the haze she could extract more pieces. She caught flashes that told her she had shared her body with other men, but they had never gone beyond that. Her relationships had never turned into anything that last, something had always kept her from committing herself fully to anyone and anyone that came into her life was kept at an arm’s length. Why? Through the haze of pleasure that clouded her mind she tried to search for a reason, coming close to finding than more once. But just when she got close enough a roll of his tongue and a flick of his fingers against her sensitive flesh pulled her focus back onto the present.

He said something to her then, but she could not make out the words as his menstruations made the possibility to form a coherent thought near impossible. And the ability to speak? Forget about it. All she could manage were a series of whimpers and moans that seemed to please him will enough, for he quickly set back to work on driving her mad with pleasure. Was this how he planned to end her? No sooner had the thought managed to cross her mind did she find herself pulled upward. Confused she could only manage a blink before her lips were claimed by his in a kiss that was filled with all the desperation and longing of a person who had spent centuries without the company of another. Combined with her own desires, Anna was near consumed by the storm of emotions coming off both of them.

Between their feverish kiss she felt him move, working himself out of the confines of his clothes. His frantic movements had her laughing against his mouth, finding amusement in the fact that despite his calm demeanor he was just as desperate for her as she was him. She tried her best to help him, but she found herself quickly distracted from the task as his skin was revealed to her. Like a siren calling to a weary sailor, so too did his smooth skin call to her. Unable to resist the urge she answered the call without hesitation, fingers tracing along the broad planes of his chest. She savored every dip and dimple as it was revealed to her and if she had been given the chance, she would have worshipped him in the same way he had done to her, but her husband was not a patient man it seemed. Not that she was much better.

A wiggle of his hips and there were finally no more barriers between them. Shivering in delight she savored in the feeling of him, hard and throbbing, so close to where she needed him most. Though he took a moment to tease her, rolling his hips in a way that brought him so close to slipping inside. But close was not what she needed! Close to growling and taking matters into her own hands, Anna managed only to flash him a glare before he moved. With practiced ease he reached between them she caught only a glimpse of his grin, a truly wicked and devious thing, before he guided himself inside of her willing body.

Forgetting all about the frustrations of a moment ago, Anna cried out softly as he slid in to the hilt. In that moment she felt complete, as though he belonged there, but it was a sensation he did not allow her to focus on for long. The first roll of his hips came slowly, drawing a gasp from her lips as her body tried desperately to cling to him and pull him back, but soon the pace picked up tempo. The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled her ears like a symphony, mixing with their combined groans and moans, as she pressed her forehead against his shoulder. Her hands tangled in the long strands of his ebony hair that she had been so transfixed by not that long ago, holding him as close as possible. He could not get close enough!

Though she was ready to cling to him forever, Alistair had other plans. With all the grace displayed when he had first dropped her onto the bed Anna found herself tossed onto her back. For a moment she thought that she might have done something wrong, but the gleam in his eyes told her otherwise. Without giving her a chance to react to the change in position, he grabbed her ankles, moving them to drape over his shoulders, before he dived back in with a sharp thrust. Crying out her head fell back against the pillows as her body arched upward in a perfect bow, the change in position allowing him to go deeper into her body than before.

“Fuck!” The words came out on a whine as he pounded into her and for a time she merely held on, simply enjoying the pleasure he gave to her, but soon she wanted more. A flash in her violet eyes was his only warning of her intentions before she surged upward, legs moving down from their place on his shoulders to wrap around his waist as her hands took their place. Without missing a beat she pulled him down over her, capturing his lips in a kiss that bordered on greedy.​

 

[Fates.Gamble]

A lusty smirk took Alistair’s lips over his lover’s enjoyment. Her lustful vocals were like sweet music to his ears, her salacious expressions stirring him with fervor. Anna had been shy at first, but he loved how greedy she soon became. A bit of the predator seemed to be coming out of her; he could see in that that wild gleam of her eyes, even before her legs pulled away so that she could snatch him down into an all consuming kiss. He returned it in full, his playful tongue dancing across her own before moaning deeply into her mouth, the pleasure building with every collision of their bodies.

Their joining was rattling, his blood burning with a fiery passion and his proverbial heart racing with desire. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d felt as such; not for many years now at least. But now something was stirring in his cold bones, bringing his long dead soul back to life. It was everything he’d been hoping for, and yet he could not dismiss the the influence that he knew was playing a part in this favorable outcome. For now, he ignored it, choosing to bury it as deeply as the lilies hid the truth from Anna. The tragedy of their meeting would be brought to the light eventually, of that he was sure, but for now he reveled in the darkness of secrecy, and enjoyed Anna’s body to the fullest.

Alistair broke their kiss after a time, emerald eyes lit with desire cracking open to drink her in. He never missed a beat, hips grinding and thrusting in an attempt to work them both towards wondrous climax. His teasing nature was gone now, his own predatory coming to light when one of his hands came to wrap around her pale throat and squeeze. He held her down there, where he could have an unobstructed view of that beautiful face framed by fiery strands of copper. His eyes locked with hers whilst he continued to ravish her, hard cock throbbing within the grip of her slick channel. Her name fell from his lips in a shuddering breath, his marble length remaining buried to the hilt after a particularly good thrust left him wracked with pleasure. His hand fled her throat then, lips dipping back down to mesh against her own in a much softer kiss. Alistair’s hips took on more of a lazy roll after that, working himself in and out of her without the reckless abandon of before. Though it wouldn’t be long before he found more energy, his tempo increasing again as the pressure in his loins built to a tipping point.

Alistair threw his head back with a heavy moan as he reached his tipping point, his dangerous, pearly white fangs accentuating his pleasure-ridden expression. A few more slams into her was all he could withstand before driving himself deep and spilling his seed inside of Anna. The pulp of his lower lip was caught between teeth as he came, though was released when he lowered himself even closer to his new found lover, their bodies intermingling while his lips found hers for another insatiable kiss. Rolling hips rode out his final waves of pleasure in her oily depths, lingering in the aftermath. He stayed there for sometime, relishing in their kiss before his lips fled, peppering a trail across her jawline and down to her neck. He grinned against her soft skin as he showered her with affection.

“And now we are well and truly one,” he stated huskily, the low sound of his voice vibrating across her sensitive flesh. “In both blood and soul.” He pressed another warm, lingering kiss at her neck and drew back, his icy eyes searching her face as while she remained beneath him. How long would the bliss remain? How long would Sekhmet’s influence keep her ignorant to the very bloody truth of their red wedding? And when it did, would Anna recoil with the hurt and betrayal he anticipated, or would the prospect of a new life; a new love, sway her?

Or perhaps, he thought privately to himself, This is Mut’s way of making sure I don’t repeat my mistakes… Surely his ancient, all-knowing mother would not suffer another Ophelia to enter this world.

He’d scarcely finished bedding her and already Alistair felt like a drowning victim caught in the ocean of his thoughts. He could hide them well enough at face value, but their connection went far deeper than that now. He’d long since learned to bury his emotions from those who shared his blood, but he was vulnerable now, and knew Anna would sense the conflict in him if he settled on it for too long. That would only put this fragile tranquility at risk. So, the vampire did what he could to sweep his thoughts under the rug, an easy enough task when he had Anna herself to focus on.

“So then, my dear…” Alistair cooed, reaching up to brush a lock of hair away from her perfectly sculpted face. “Craving a second course?” He boasted a wicked smile, eyes gleaming with his mischief, “Or can I tempt you with something that promises every bit as delicious?” Her body did have other needs, after all, and to ignore them for too long would leave her with a more ravenous and dangerous desire than she displayed in the bedroom.

 

[WickedWonderland]

Deep down she knew that what they were doing was wrong, but this truth was locked so far away within the recesses of her mind, hidden carefully behind the sweet scent of lilies, that she could not have reached it even if she tried. Though if she could somehow have managed to reach within herself and claim the dark truth that was sure to rip them asunder once it came to light it was hard to imagine that it would cause her to put an end to their current actions; shameful as it would be for her to admit. The way he worked her, stirring up passions unlike any she had ever felt before from any of the men she had chosen to share her body with before him. Though none of the men that came before her husband and creator had ever felt for her as Alistair did. On the tip of her tongue she would almost swear that she could practically taste that emotions that poured from him as he moved within her, the sweet taste of them running down her throat as his blood had hours before and calling forth her own. And even if she had been of a clear mind with all her memories intact and at her disposal, Anna could not have denied that the man surging above her did, indeed, love her. Worse yet, she would not have been able to deny that she loved him, too....

Even as his had closed around her neck, a silent display to remind her that even in moments where she seized control it was only because he had allowed it, there was not an ounce of fear that rose up. Had she still been trapped within her mortal shell her eyes would have been wide with a combination of fear and rage, but in her new life such a dominant display only saw to raise her pleasure. Violet eyes lulled into the back of her skull as her head tipped back, willingly offering more of her throat to the hand that pressed against it. On a whimpering moan she offered his name as a feeling rose up behind her mounting pleasure, a gnawing ache that nearly overcame her. It was the hunger she had ignored so foolishly upon waking, but it was different than a simple need to feed. As her fangs peaked out, the twin ivory daggers pressing against the smooth flesh of petal pink lips as she mewled and whined beneath him, there came a deep urge to be closer to him still.

If she turned her head just so she would have been able to bite him, would have been able to taste that sweet ambrosia that flowed through his veins once more. Only the faint edge of fear held her back from such a bold action. Would he punish her for it? Truly she could not say for certain, storing the question to bring forward for another time when she could better focus on such things. As it was her eyes fluttered open, violet meeting his icy blue depths. The passion and lust she found staring back at her with such intensity that it made her skin prickle, was unlike any she had ever seen. And with one sharp roll of his hips she went tumbling over the edge, the cry she offered to him as her body arched up and inner muscles clamped around him blended with his own.

The world around her seemed to fade away then, so powerful was the peak of her pleasure, and for a moment she might have sworn she had died once more. Only the feeling of his lips, brushing along her skin that was still overly sensitive, managed to guide her back into reality. As he worshipped her, declaring that they were now completely one, she felt a lazy smile curl upon her lips. Had this not always been what she had been searching for? Though she could not recall the full brunt of her memories, Anna could recall feeling lonely for most of her life. Someone had always been by her side though, distracting her from fully succumbing to such a dark emotion and becoming lost to it.

Who was it?

Just as a face began to take shape through the fog that kept her former life hidden Anna was distracted, pulled from her thoughts by an odd feeling. Suddenly she felt a flash of discontent slip into her mind and though she did not know much about her new life nor all the abilities that came with it, she knew enough to know that those feelings were not her own. Brows furrowing, she forgot all about the pleasure that still rippled through her and the hunger she had ignored gnawing at her insides, both strong emotions that tried to battle for the young vampire’s attention, as she turned her attention towards the man above her. With trembling hands she reached up, cupping his cheeks and pulling his attention back to her even as she felt his troubled thoughts slip from their bond. It was almost as if they had never been there, just a figment of her imagination, but she had felt them all the same.

“My love,” She breathed on a voice made rough and husky from their actions just moments before as he cooed to her, still trying his best to distract her. It was a lovely gesture, but he would learn quickly that his wife could not be so easily swayed. Even when he smiled at her in such a way that the embers of her lust came flaring back to life with all the intensity of raging inferno or when he made the offer to satisfy her other hunger that was threatening to consume her if she kept pushing it off, Anna refused to be placated so easily.

“What troubles you?” He could not hide from her and the faint narrowing of her eyes as she peered up at him held within them the promise that if he tried it she would fight him. Truly if he had wanted a bride that would just go along with what he said choosing her had been a mistake.

Tipping her head to the side she tried to approach him with a bit of humor, knowing that sometimes that was all it took to make a person feel comfortable enough to share how they truly felt. “Was I that unpleasant of a lover that you are having regrets of sharing eternity with me?” Lips, plump and swollen from their kisses, twisted into what could best be described as a playful pout that was made complete by a slight fluttering of her lashes. 'And do not lie to me.' She added mentally with a growl.

 

[Fates.Gamble]

It wasn’t often that Alistair found himself surprised, but Anna had found a way. Icy blue met those violet eyes of hers, which sharpened with perception not moments after the glorious end to their joining. Had he truly grown so careless as to lose himself in the moment? Or had he merely forgotten the strength of his mother’s blood? Joyous as their connection was he should have buried it; stealing away the truth lest it ruin Sekhmet’s gift to them.

Gift… or Curse? He thought hiding these true thoughts from her. Powerful her blood might be, but he’d had several millennia to perfect his talents, including how to darken his thoughts from her mind. It had been a necessary skill to learn, lest his first daughter’s terrible violations batter his mind. Yet, with every year Ophelia grew stronger. Even know he could feel her knocking, her powers ever growing, ever testing his defenses. He had to wonder how long it would be, before she and Anna alike found the strength to break them.

For now, however, he swept such troubles away. The warmest of smiles was given to his new beloved as his face was cradled in her soft hands. “Of course not, you were exquisite,” he assured her, placing another soft, pacifying kiss upon those full lips of hers. Upon pulling away, however, he responded somewhat truthfully, though not with the raw honesty she hoped for.

“Old memories,”he told her, eyes searching her face, before jumping up to the flowers in her hair. Silently, he wondered what would happen if he did reveal the truth. Would Sekhmet’s spell prevent her from accepting it? Would the wool be pulled over her eyes, making his words turn to mush or her mind forget them all together? Just as Anna had felt fragments of his thoughts, so too did he feel hers. Even as they made love, he could sense the truth of her sister’s fate bubbling up, only for the lilies to drown the memory with their intoxicating fragrance. What would happen when those flowers withered, or their magic faded?

“Though I would not say I am troubled over these memories, so much as I am curious about yours.” Alistair pulled himself up, slipping out of her grasp to lay beside her instead. He propped himself up on an elbow, head resting in the palm of his hand while the other found her body which exploratory fingers softly caressed, trailing up the smoothness of her side. “You truly remember nothing from before you woke?” Though, in truth, Alistair wasn’t asking about her mortal life. He wasn’t half as curious about that as he was what came after. Somehow, while Anna was caught in that slumbering world between life and death, Sekhmet had found her. It seemed beyond all possibility; his mother had been gone for centuries now, thought dead by all who mourned and cursed her.

“Not even the one who gave you these flowers?” He insisted, reaching up to brush one of the lilies in her sprawled braid. The perplexity of it all had Alistair on edge, though his mask remained perfectly in place. Anna could search his feelings all she liked, but it would be as looking into a void, her own conscience all that remained, now that she’d given away her perceptiveness to it. Pressing the issue, of course, could prove just as precarious as allowing her freely into his mind, so he asked no more after that, whether the information was forthcoming or not.

“Well, in the end I suppose it makes little difference, right? We’ve at least one happy memory to share, even if we lose the rest. Now, what say we make a few more?” A devious grin lit his face, though he had nothing so sultry in mind as their last act. Instead he swept away from her, hopping up out of the bed to stretch his limbs. “You must be famished,” he suggested, recalling the grip of hunger that had taken hold of her even whilst he ravaged her. “So, how about we get dressed and I treat you to something positively to die for?” His debonair smile returned, the implication of the phrase stroking his dark sense of humor. For one unfortunate mortal, it would be all too literal.

 

[WickedWonderland]

In the moments following their passionate lovemaking she felt like she was floating. A lazy sort of smile twisted itself upon her lips, swollen and bruised from the intensity of their kisses, and her fingers ran through the silken strands of his ebony hair. Through it all he dotted upon her, showering every bit of skin he could reach in kisses and gentle touches, and in that moment she felt loved. More so than she ever had before. Even if she had full access to her memories, Anna could not have denied the love he felt for her nor could she have said that it was not a feeling she returned. Perhaps her emotions were simply being swayed by the sheer intensity of his own, it was hard to say for certain. But no matter the reason for it, Anna felt truly happy for the first time in her life.

However, it was not a feeling that lasted for long…

Too soon there came that hunger, a burning need that clawed and twisted at her insides to the point that even her fangs began to ache. She had pushed the feeling aside for too long it seemed and if she had been weaker, if it had not been his blood that had given her life, she would have gone mad already. As it was she managed to hold herself together, keeping up her cheery attitude even though she longed to pout like a spoiled child at the loss of his body against her own. Her fingers twitched with the urge to drag him back down against her, but it was a feeling she pushed aside with ease, deciding instead to taunt him.

With an arch of her back she made a show of stretching out upon their bed, letting him get a full view of the body he was leaving behind. As her muscles expanded pleasantly and her joints cracked, a low moan rumbled in the back of her throat and she might have settled back into sheets for a little nap had she still been a human. Only that lingering need to feed pushed her upward as he brushed aside her concern for the memories that had distracted him from her just moments before.

“Old memories.”

What were those? She wondered, head tipping to the side curiously, though she would not press him on the subject. At least not yet. When they knew each other better she might fight him more, but the moment she let him have his privacy and secrets. A feeling he did not return as he questioned her about the authenticity of her claim that she recalled nothing upon her waking. Shifting a little to her side as his fingers traced along her cheek, Anna gave a shake of her head, “It feels as though it is all covered in a fog.” Her voice was soft and one might mistake the tone as troubled, but in truth she was anything but. While a part of her did long to recall the life she had left behind, if only so she could have a better of the person she had been before, another part was eager to accept her new one.

Then those fingers brushed over the flowers woven into her hair and everything changed…

Unintentionally he drew her focus to the sweet smelling petals, asking if she recalled who had given them to her and just as quickly brushing off the question before she could answer. However, she could not so easily forget about them. It was funny how she had not seemed so concerned by them when she first opened her eyes, her attention held completely by Alistair, but now they were all she could think about. Where had they come from? The question danced through her mind as he got to his feet, trying his best to distract her with the temptation of filling her horribly empty stomach, yet she hardly heard a word he said. Her own fingers moved to her tightly braided hair, pulling it over one shoulder so that she could get a better view of the secrets it held.

The petals, such a pale shade of lavender that they could easily be mistaken for white, offered the perfect compliment to the fiery red of her hair. Lightly her fingers brushed over them, marveling at their velvety texture, and she could tell that whoever had placed them into her hair had done so with great care. But why?!

Violet eyes narrowing with determination, she pressed against the fog that clouded her mind. Like some wild, caged beast she clawed against the barrier in a desperate attempt to find something, anything, that would give her a clue about where the lilies had come from. All the while their sweet smell seemed to intensify, as though they were trying to distract her and soothe her away from the answer. But Anna was stubborn and would not be so easily placated, a soft growl spilling from her lips as she pressed in harder. With every proud and push she gave there came a bit of pain, a sensation that started out as nothing more than a mild discomfort like that of a headache and bloomed into something that felt as though the tip of a blade was being driven slowly into her skull. Still she kept pushing onward…

Dimly she could make out the sound of someone crying out in pain as another voice pleaded with her to stop, but they were all things she ignored. She had to know, she had to. With another hard press there came a flash of an image that was gone before she could truly observe it, but it seemed to be enough to convince her to back off. At least for a moment. Slowly she drew back, falling back into reality to find herself staring up at the ceiling of their room. Had she fallen over? Blinking in confusion the newly turned vampiress pushed herself upright, pausing only when she felt something wet against her lips. A quick swipe of her fingers revealed the substance to be blood, having slipped from her nose in her quest for answers. If the sight of it troubled her she did not show it, cleaning the crimson liquid from her fingers with a quick sweep of her tongue as she turned her attention to her husband.

“I...I don’t know where they came from, but, “ A pause as she pushed herself onto her feet to stand beside him, hands reaching out to claim his and tangle their fingers together, “I saw a door that had weird symbols carved into the wood. Like….Like….” Like what? She struggled to think of how best to describe them so that he would understand, but the words failed her at the moment. “Well they looked ancient.”

 

[Fates.Gamble]

Icy blue eyes drank in their lover, gleaming in contemplation while Anna pushed at the barriers clouding her mind. Part of him wondered if he should stop her; there was some rather questionable baggage in that brain, after all. The other half of him was a little thrilled at the idea of her discovering the truth of their relationship. Wasn’t it all that raw emotion he’d fallen for in the first place? All that sadness and rage over her sister’s death, followed by the subtle thrill of Sophia’s murderer coming to embrace her… That was all part of why she was chosen. What marriage didn’t have a little drama?

All the same, concern sparked in those eyes when Anna toppled over, her conscious snuffing out like a candle. It wasn’t so much a concern for her well being; Alastair knew that look. The way her eyes were fluttering, even behind closed lids--It wasn’t the memory of Sophia she uncovered, but a memory of the ancient blood now flowing throughout her veins. Alastair shifted about as his new bride remained lost in the days of old.

Is it my life she sees, He found himself wondering to himself, Or hers? He could already guess the answer even before Anna would wake to explain it.

“Sekhmet!” Alastair hissed with distaste, knowing Anna would be unable to hear him in her comatose state. The vampire’s luminous eyes jumped about the room, searching as if he would find his mother lingering about somewhere. “Nearly four centuries you’ve been gone from this world… Yet still you find a way to interfere with my life.”

Alastair’s eyes fell back on Anna, his gaze lingering on those bothersome flowers in her hair. They seemed a gift at first, a way of smoothing things over with the woman whose life he’d just stolen away… Now they merely set him on edge. Those lilies were like a ticking timebomb; a promise of bringing what should be dead and gone back to life with explosive force. But he didn’t let any of that show once his bride finally stirred, a very confused young vampire coming out of her dream with hazy eyes and a bloody nose.

“Welcome back,” he greeted her, before listening to her describe the event with quiet interest. Alastair soaked in every detail. By the sound of the door she witnessed it had been an ancient event indeed. But what significance did it hold, he wondered?

“What you saw is a vision of the Blood,” Alastair explained, quickly reassuring her over the odd event. “Think of them as genetic memories; lingering thoughts or unforgotten emotions of those who share our bloodline. In this case, I’d say you have your grandmother to thank.” His eyes swept back to her hair, to the lillies braided within them. Did they truly have Sekhmet to thank for that as well? But no… Now was not the time to dredge up family history. Now was the time to celebrate like the newly weds they were. Now was the time to feast.

“We can speak more of this in time,” he promised, sweeping forward to take Anna’s hands in his and coax her off the bed, back to her feet. A soft kiss was pressed to her cheek, Alastair’s lips traveling up to linger near her ear while. “Now hurry and get dressed so we can get back to enjoying our wedding night. You can meet me in the lounge once you’re ready.”

He left no room for argument, sweeping away from her and scooping up his garments before leaving the room and giving her time to decide upon a wardrobe. He dressed himself quickly, the distasteful thought of his mother and her schemes leaving him all the more sour. It was a bad enough that Sobek would come sticking his snout into this, but Sekhmet would be a much more complicated hurdle. Even so, he did what he could to put the issue out of mind and prepare dinner in the lounge. When Anna finally deigned to join, she would find Alastair sitting in the center of the couch, the two scantily-clad mortals that Khonsu had gifted them occupying the space on either side of him.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he would greet her, luminous eyes glinting with devilish intent. The main course danced to his tune, faces lighting up to Anna as they rose to their feet and sauntered over to the vampiress. Their love and appreciation seemed every bit as real as Alastair’s, each of them appearing needy for her attentions once they moved to embrace her. The humans seemed to revere her as a god, their hands roaming her body in endless appreciation, and heads lolling to present their vulnerable necks in silent pleading. Alastair merely sat and watched for now, eager to see how Anna would go about her first feeding.