As written on my profile, this is an incomplete work I'm posting. You can go there to see the entire explanation.
~1~
Vibrant blue eyes reflect in boredom in the pristine window framed by thick embroidered curtains. She stares down from one of the bedchambers on fourth level of the Edinburgh castle. Her arms are stretched out to her sides as her helper maids make final adjustments to the shockingly white dress that clings to her torso and drapes around her legs and the stark black petticoat beneath it. Gelda sighs when one tells her she can place her arms down after they smooth the sleeves against her arms one last time. Then the princess gazes fleetingly at the hanging crescent moon before observing the long stretch of land that expands past the kingdom she resides in. She wonders about the meeting she has to attend this evening and how it will most likely end in her father's favor due to her ability.
There is a knock at her door causing her maids to straighten up while she turns to face the disturbance. "Come in." She tells them in a quiet resonance.
The door swings open and a servant immediately bows low at the waist as he begins to speak. "Lady Gelda, His Highness requests your immediate presence in the throne room."
Gelda brushes a stray strand of her pale blond hair that managed to come from her intricate twist over her shoulder and behind her ear as her lips purse. "Thank you. I'll be there momentarily." The servant bows once more and makes his leave just as Gelda turns to the two maids still hovering in wait of any requests. "That will be all," she dismisses them curtly. Once alone, she lets her stoic mask crumble for the briefest of moments. This has been her life for far longer than she would ever hope for. Edinburgh is a land of treachery and deceit. And her role as "The Thousand Temptations" places her in the center of it all.
Her father wants her at this meeting to assure that the visiting nobleman will be more agreeing to his terms and more easily swayed once Gelda sets her eyes on them. Of course the downside to this is that once her magic drifts into the unsuspecting victim there's no going back. She's forced to spend the night with them. Not that her father cares. He's more concerned with the settlement made that'll quickly be undermined in favor of conquering the new land when least suspected, so that a new batch of vampires can be brought to their numbers.
Her journey through the castle is swift; she wishes to arrive before the visitor so as not to draw any unnecessary attention to herself. Pushing open the heavy side door at the back of the throne room, she immediately lowers her head in greeting to her father as she rushes to take her place at his side. Even sitting in his throne crudely structured from the skulls of the deceased, King Izraf towers over her standing figure as his black hair tumbles around his shoulders in utter disarray.
Gelda keeps her stance tall and her expression smooth as she stares patiently at the thick doors that will grant the visitor entrance soon. However, the deep booming voice of her father causes her to start and turn to him with curious eyes. "Gelda, I do not under any circumstances want you to charm this… guest," he hisses the word with such contempt she has to still herself from the sheer hatred that curls from his form, "I will handle him solely. I don't wish for you to be alone with him, is this understood?"
She lowers her head as she agrees, "Yes, father." Although confusion swirls in her mind at this development. Never once has her father told her not to use her ability bestowed upon her by him for his gain. He's never once cared for the outcome of her meetings with his guests, so that can't be the reason for the sudden change. So why?
The sound of the massive doors opening as a servant rushes in to announce their visitor shocks her into awareness.
"Your Lordship and Lady Gelda, I announce Zeldris of the demon realm." The servant quickly moves to the side allowing Gelda to curiously peek at the entering male, apparently from the demonic realm. 'No one from that place has come before. Maybe that's why my father is so wary?' She considers as she tries to take in his features through the thick darkness that cloaks the inside of the castle day in and day out. When he stands before the throne, she finally sees him with perfect clarity and feels her insides jolt in surprise.
The first thought that comes to mind is that he's young and unbelievably handsome. All of her father's visitors usually end up being towards middle aged or even older and despite herself being a few hundred years old, it's still unpleasant to be around someone who looks older than her own father. But this man is anything but unappealing. Her eyes sweep across his raven strands that curl wildly from his head, to the steady set of his jaw as he stares up unflinchingly at her father. His eyes are hard and the darkest she's ever seen. And his body… Gelda feels a twinge inside her stomach that coils then heats into a pleasant warmth as she's forced to look away. He's a soldier. He must be from the muscles that strain against his longcoat her hands are dying to run across.
She feels her cheeks heat embarrassingly as she keeps her eyes to the floor, unable to hear what they're saying due to the way her heart's hammering in her ears.
"The Demon King promises you a wide stretch of land along with as many humans as you wish so long as you lend us your unwavering support in the coming war against the goddesses," she finally hears once she manages to catch after taking a set of long, deep breaths. The voice is dark in its low tenor, dripping with an immeasurable amount of control and power that causes a fierce shiver to race up and down her spine. Heavens above what she would give to have him talk to her with such a voice.
Her eyes glaze over as she raises a hand up to her cheek and finally raises her gaze to stare at him from beneath her eyelashes. She vaguely hears her father's hissing voice come to an agreement while watching Zeldris with desiring eyes. Her father told her she wasn't to charm him and that he would take care of the visitor. A sudden flaring of anger burns ferociously beneath her skin like the sacred flames of her magic. Why this time? This one time when she would actually gain an experience more than memorable is she forbidden to use her gift? Why must her father always be so cruel to her?
Gelda furrows her brows as her hands slip down to her sides. Not this time. She wants the attentions of this mysterious demon and doesn't give a damn about what her father has to say to it. Steeling herself she keeps her gaze steady on Zeldris and lets the cool ball of wispy magic nestled inside her drift in his direction with a practiced ease from years of use. She gazes at him with a coquettish smile as he and her father negotiate his stay in their land for the time being, the idea of which thrills her further.
"The Demon Lord sent me here to not only relay his message, but also to keep track of things as you prepare your army. So, Izraf, my stay here is nonnegotiable," Zeldris concludes calmly that in no way hides the frigid warning that arises within his eyes. As her father begins to grumble furiously at the developments, Zeldris shifts his gaze in her direction as she expected. It's the first time he's gazed at her since entering the room and being under his scrutiny causes her stomach to flip excitedly.
It only lasts for an instant though when she realizes he's gazing at her just as indifferently as he has the entire room since he arrived. But that shouldn't be. Her ability has never failed.
"Keep your eyes off my daughter you filthy demon! You are not to touch her or this deal is void!" Izraf roars murderously as he slams his fists on the arms of his throne sending bits of bones flying to the sides and causing Gelda to flinch.
Zeldris simply slides his gaze back forward as his voice eases outward unperturbed. "I apologize for my ability to see and my gaze happening to land on her. It will not happen again."
Izraf is on his feet as his hand shoot out in the demons direction causing Gelda's heart to plunge in her stomach as she watches the two in horror. "Are you being smart with me, demon? Do you realize what I can do to you?"
Zeldris gives the tiniest smirk. "No, of course not. I was simply stating the honest truth, was I not? I was only looking in her direction because I had a sudden... urge to."
Izraf hesitates for only a second but it feels like an entire lifetime to Gelda as she feels the world begin to spin dizzyingly around her when fear fills her with a nauseating forcefulness. Her father gazes at her with such rage, she's certain whatever punishment she'll receive will make her regret her decision to go after Zeldris.
"Gelda, did you—!"
"My attention was caught by that lovely tapestry behind her. It's unfortunate she happened to be standing in the way of its view," Zeldris continues on as if he hadn't been interrupted and Gelda turns in his direction with wide hopeful eyes.
Izraf is again quiet for a moment before his gaze returns to the stoic demon standing as sharply as he has since he entered the room. "I don't know what game you're playing at, demon, but my word still remains. She is to remain untouched by the likes of you!"
Gelda feels herself tremble subtly as she tries to calm down from the near discovery of her transgression while keeping her eyes on the silent way Zeldris seems to contemplate his next words. She knows he was referring to her when he felt that urge, he was letting her know, but at the last moment he spared her. Why? What exactly is going on behind those cool eyes and that biting smirk of his?
"Right. Now where will I be staying?" Zeldris finally voices as his arms shift over his chest emphasizing his muscles, making Gelda long for a chance to be closer to him despite her father's obvious wrath. It was a foolish move to try and transfix Zeldris in the presence of her father, but the rebellion had burned bright and her need had kindled hotly. It was near impossible to deny an attempt at drawing him in and she's positive it won't be her last. She simply knows she'll have to tread more cautiously.
"A servant will show you to your room." Her father growls before clapping his hands twice. One male servant immediately enters with a low bow as her father gives the command. As the male leads Zeldris from the room, Gelda bites her lip fretfully hating that she hadn't gotten to say anything to him at all. She watches him with keen eyes as she raises a hand to brush that stray strand back behind her ear and her breath nearly hitches when Zeldris catches her eyes for the briefest of moments in his turn to leave. The look in his eyes is devilish and filled with trouble and for a moment she wonders if her wanting him is a wise decision. It truly occurs to her that he's a demon and maybe her father has a good reason for warning her away from him.
But as she watches his back as he fades into the darkness, the idea of staying away from him vanishes. He may be trouble, but he's the most interesting thing that's happened to her in centuries and there's no way she's giving that up that easily.
~.~.~
She feels her vocal cords straining before she even truly regains consciousness. Bolting upright in her bed, Gelda stifles her scream as her eyes blink rapidly still seeing the images from her dream or nightmare flashing before her eyes. She's breathless as she stares blankly ahead trying to recall what happened during her slumber, but only seeing bursts of bright lights from some magic and surprisingly Zeldris' grave face. When the dream finally slips like irretrievable grains of sand in the recesses of her mind, Gelda finally takes note of her surroundings.
She's in her bedchamber where she'd retired after Zeldris' arrival the night before. Sleep hadn't come too easy with thoughts of the new demon being somewhere in the castle. It was far too simple to slip into thoughts where he was the center focus. What would his hair feel like between her fingers? What would it be like to have his hands beneath her dress roaming along her heated flesh? Would he be cold and uncaring in his advances? Or would he be burning to the touch and passionate? She'd stayed up, hoping that maybe her enchantment had worked and that perhaps he was simply waiting for the right time to find her alone. But he hadn't come and she'd been left alone to wonder how it was possible he wasn't affected and more importantly what she would have to do to obtain his attentions.
She looks down at her disheveled sheets and her sweat soaked chemise and considers her fitful sleep as a cause of her overthinking.
Sharp whacks on her door pull her focus outward as she steps out of bed onto the cold stone floors. "Come in."
Her two helper maids come in and immediately begin fussing over the mussed sheets and her untidy appearance one of them already rushing into her washroom to begin running a bath. Gelda sighs weakly; the two women are kind, but it would be nice if she could be given the chance to do things on her own.
~.~.~
Gelda strolls from her room without a hair out of place. Her two personal servants are at her heels waiting for orders which Gelda does not wish to give. Her mind is taking note of the time of day by instinct. It's just reached late morning she muses with pursed lips. Her nightmare must have kept her in slumber a lot longer than she'd realized. No one had awoken her which means she's not needed for meetings. The free morning begins to breed ideas in the princess' mind. Ideas that will either lead to blazing success or withering failure.
Turning her gaze to the brunette beside her Gelda pulls her lips up into a soft smile. "Do you know anything of our guest's whereabouts this morning? Or even where he was given a room to stay? I need to discuss a matter pertaining to one of his tasks here in Edinburgh."
The brunette looks startled at the odd question. "I… apologize, Princess, but I do not know."
Gelda lets out a silent frustrated huff before her other servant speaks up in a helpful tone. "I do not know of his whereabouts this morning, but I do know that he was given a room on the third floor, Lady Gelda."
Gelda's shoulders relax as she smiles thankfully at the stocky auburn haired woman to her left. "Thank you. That will be all I need for now. You both can do as you please until I need you." The two bow gratefully before taking their leave.
Gelda waits until she's certain they have disappeared before a wide smile fills her face as she strides forward at a brisk pace. Zeldris is on the floor beneath hers, her floor being the highest in the castle. She sometimes thinks her father gave her a room on the highest floor just to make it harder for her to escape. However escape is the furthest thing on her mind as she takes the stairs leading downward, keeping one hand on the rough rocks of the curving wall and the other gripping the skirt of her sky blue dress.
This could definitely be a chance to catch him alone, if he's still in the castle, and perhaps get a chance to speak with him and maybe even get a little insight into his thoughts. Her heels clack loudly in her rush through the halls, her mind curiously seeking the dark essence she'd felt in the throne room the night before. As her eyes flick from room to room her mind wanders to his mannerism in the throne room. Zeldris was the epitome of composure and control as her father spoke to him in feral tones. Even when her father was seconds away from unleashing his fury, Zeldris hadn't once flinched or even given off the appearance of being intimidated, which leads to several electrifying prospects. Even though she hadn't felt it entirely, Zeldris must have a substantial amount of power at his disposal. And that fleeting look of cold rage that built within his gaze at her father's displeasure at Zeldris' stay within the castle hints at his hidden facets that she can only hope to draw out.
She turns a corner at a slightly slower pace when the feel of darkness catches her attention. Even when focusing on it, it's hard to pinpoint exactly where he is except his general direction, so Gelda is forced to tread forward vigilantly. Torches throw splashes of orange on the walls occasionally, but otherwise the halls remain in a comfortable gloom of darkness her eyes peer through with growing anticipation. Occasionally she'll spot guards standing in corners and servants lumbering about, but she can't seem to place where Zeldris is.
Then she turns another corner and something about the long stretch of hall leaves a sense of eeriness in her. Her heels are much too loud she eventually decides as she pulls her lower lip gently between her teeth nervously. The sound they make bounces off the walls, gives her presence away much to her chagrin. She quickly slips into an alcove and pulls the dainty shoes off her feet allowing the cold stones to shock through her soles as she peers around the edge of the nook she's in. She feels Zeldris' energy more surely in this area than any of the others and being able to catch him the slightest bit off guard would be an intriguing scenario.
Leaving her shoes behind she pads forward keeping one hand on the stones beside her as her vision cuts through the darkness looking for anything moving out of the ordinary… There! A person moves with a purposeful stride towards the end of the hall.
Her heart begins to race in exhilaration at the chance of finally being alone with him. Gelda bursts forward on silent feet with thoughts of how to possible catch his attention. Maybe she'll call out his name when she's close enough? Or place a hand on his shoulder when she's behind him? Her cheeks flare at the thought of getting the chance to touch him, even if it's innocent enough. He's right there, right in front of him and she decides to do both.
"Zeldris?" His name comes out like a purr of delight and she realizes she wants to say it as often as she can. Her hand reaches forward eagerly only to fall through empty air. No one is there.
"What…? But I was certain he was here?" She murmurs in distress when she tries to sense out his presence, sure enough, coming up with him still being in the vicinity. So where did the demon disappear?
"What is it you vampires do?" a low voice echoes from above.
Inhaling quickly Gelda looks up and stares in wonder at Zeldris sitting casually in the windowsill covered by heavy shutters. The look in his eyes as he stares down at her is partly amused and something else that she can't identify before he leaps from his perch to land right in front of her. The heat from his form practically burns into her, they're standing so close, and as she draws in deep shuddering breaths she has to fight the urge to bite her lip roughly for fear of cutting herself. His scent is intoxicating, rich and heady to her thrumming senses.
Zeldris' lips seem to curl slightly as she feels his eyes roam over her surely flushed face. "I've been up since dawn out of a force of habit. It was easy to do a patrol within the castle. It seems you vampires like to shut yourselves in at the slightest sign of light, which is understandable given your race's weakness." She listens with rapt interest to the inflections of his voice as he seemingly talks with ease to her. She takes diligent notes of anything that might give her insight to his personality. Like the way his eyes seem to darken with contempt at the mention of their weakness. Maybe he's a perfectionist?
His eyes focus in on her once more as he begins to scowl. "I thought there'd some kind of training grounds indoors or something perhaps you all did, but it's been hours now and I've come to a few conclusions. There are the pathetic servants, maids, and guards who amble around like lost souls waiting to be put out of their misery. Then there are the royal members who torments the pathetic bunch in this castle for shits and giggles. The King who broods over reports and grumbles over my presence…" He takes a step forward with each point he makes, forcing Gelda to press backwards until her breath flees at the feel of stone against her back.
She watches him smirk as he comes to stand nearly chest to chest with her. She meets his gaze head on with a smooth expression despite the weak feeling in her knees. "And then there is you. The princess with a knack for stalking."
She feels embarrassment color her face and bleed across her ears as she begins to splutter indignantly. "I would never—I did not—"
"Oh really?" he arches an eyebrow and she can see the amused mockery that dances in his eyes as he chuckles. "Would you believe I led you astray a few times just to be certain?"
She turns her face away shamefully. It was a foolish idea to think she could sneak up on someone with expertise like him.
"Now what do you want?" The serious address causes her eyes to turn back to his, wide and uncertain.
"I just… wished to speak with you." She hadn't thought this through. Her infatuation with him has blinded her to the fact that he isn't swayed to her gift. Now that she looks at it with a slightly clearer mind, she realizes she's alone in an empty corridor with a demon of immense power. He could do anything to her and she would be powerless to stop him.
Zeldris' eyelids lower just slightly, then his head sinks to her ear and her eyes drift shut at the velvety way his voice caresses her senses. "You and I both know that's not true, Gelda." Her breathing turns shallow as her hands clench at her sides wanting to reach up and pull him against her body starving for contact with his.
When he pulls back, she's afraid to open her eyes for fear the undeniable want that burns within them will be easily seen. So she looks down instead where she notices his hand is braced on the wall beside her and the other… She gasps at the rough texture of his fingers captures her chin forcing her to look upward and into his intense gaze, the feeling instantly causing a full-bodied tremble to roll through her like a powerful wave. "Did you think I came here uninformed, Princess? I know of your title, Gelda, the thousand temptations. I felt what you can do last night. I feel what you're trying to do now," he pauses to laugh almost in ridicule of her efforts. The sound of it causing pure unbridled infuriation to fill her at his obvious knowledge of his effect on her while he goes on with a lack of interest in her whatsoever.
"How are you unaffected?" She bites out with a frown.
His teeth show in a grin of overwhelming confidence. "You will come to learn that I'm not easily controlled. I can feel your power urging me to pull you close. To hold you, burn you with my touch, and run my lips across your supple flesh… You want me to do things to you that'll make you forget your name, am I correct, Gelda?"
She presses her lips together to suppress a moan as her answer. Her mind runs wild with heated images causing all the strength to give out in her knees. She allows the wall to hold her weight entirely now as Zeldris gazes at her with a smugness that both angers her and aids the steady slickness that forms from her rubbing her thighs together in a futile effort to find relief. Still, though, she succeeds in dropping her voice to a frosty level of hostility when his hand leaves her chin and fleetingly runs across the shoulder of her dress, toying with her further. "And you don't want me at all? You feel nothing towards me?"
"That's neither a yes or no."
The blunt response causes a familiar defiance to rise within her. "I don't believe you," she blurts out lowly. A bit of feisty resistance rises in her as her eyes stay trained on his. Her hands are quick in reaching forward to slide up his chest in a sensual display of her need, but what she hadn't expected was him having seen the move coming. His hands snatch hers up before they can make contact and press her palms flat against her back.
Zeldris gazes at her with that infuriating calm as his lips curve in mirth. "We can't have any of that now can we? I'm sure your father would be furious to know how you've gone against his wishes to try and be with a demon like me…"
Her bust arches into the taut muscles of his chest with each harsh breath she takes. A storm of various shades of anger and desire crash inside her. All from a single encounter from this captivating demon. "You wouldn't tell him," she states with absolute certainty and is delighted when he gives a pleased chuckle.
"My, you catch on quickly. I'm here under my King's volition, otherwise I do as I please…"
"So I have a chance of convincing you, Zeldris?" she presses as her hands fidget in his hold, her attempts at twisting her hands to at least try to get a feel of his being unsuccessful. In her near inattentiveness she almost misses the way his eyes become smoldering for an instance before they're cool and calculating once more.
His hands release her as he takes a step back and regards her slowly, dangling her precariously over the edge as she waits for his answer. Then finally with a careless shrug, his eyes trail off to the side as he responds concisely. "I'll need some source of entertainment, won't I?" He turns away, making his way down the hall and around the corner then in a clean march, leaving her with no other hints to his meaning.
Gelda stands there alone for a moment, attempting to get her heart back on its proper tempo. She hasn't a clue of what to think of the demon. He either wants her or he doesn't. Neither of which is clear. What she does know is that he finds her obvious attraction to him amusing and that irks her greatly. There's only two things she's wanted in her life. Her freedom from this oppressive rule and control under her cruel father, and the demon, Zeldris. Is it really comical to want an experience with someone I'm actually attracted to instead of it being a shuddering experience as a result of my father's orders?'
Gelda breathes out slowly and her eyes turn downcast as she walks in the opposite direction Zeldris disappeared on bare feet. The sound of creaking armor coming from around the hall in front of her forces her to straighten her posture and place the mask of the cold unaffected princess back on. So when the group of guards pass by and greet her, she's able to speak in cool intones. Discreetly, as they continue forward behind her, she picks up her heels she left in the alcove and mentally comes to a decision.
It doesn't matter what Zeldris says or does, this is something she wants and desperately needs. She experiences a connection to life she hasn't felt in years when he speaks to or even acknowledges her and she won't give that up. She'll convince him. She'll change his mind one way or another. She will know what it feels like to be filled with a passion so strong… she won't remember her name.