The young spiky haired blonde sat in the middle window of the three in the grand hall. The hall was a dark room, mahogany wood trimmed the room and adorned the furniture. Deep royal purple stained the walls, and the colors from the stained glass cast onto them from the light of the full moon.
The manor is usually so quiet this time of night, the servants usually fast asleep as well as the daytime guards. He took an irritated drag from his cigarette flicking the ashes onto the ground. Reflecting on the previous battle they had with a warring family. He narrowed his crimson eyes as the reflection of a voluptuous woman leaning in the doorway from the glass. Her brilliant golden eyes catching and reflecting back the moonlight. Light from the candles behind her in the hallway made only her silhouette show behind her resplendent eyes.
He stood up, turning to making eye contact, as he dropped from the windowsill letting his long black coat flow down to his mid calf concealing his body, "Report, Guardian." Moonlight from behind him outlined his strong frame, not yet meeting the feet of the woman.
Quiet footsteps came forward, a splendor of a woman, tall with long black braids tied into a bun with some of the braids unfix themselves and fell to her lower back. Wearing tight but practical black robes, with a red hint them. A pair of kusarigama loosely laid claim to her hips the chains dangerously dangled to her knees. She held out her left hand revealing a missing ring finger and a symbol burned into the palm of her hand. It was her Master's sign, the signet of the Delacroix family. She stopped a few feet from the dark mahogany table's clawed feet.
Kneeling in his direction. "My Lord, we have lost three guardians and five fallen angels. I'm sorry, Master!" She hit the ground onto both of her knees bowing. "I have failed you and disgraced your honor."
Walking around the table until he was uncomfortably close to her, he knelt down on one knee and reached out to touch her cheek, revealing his matching brand on his opposite hand's palm, removing and placing his loose fitting coat fell around her shoulders. Exposing his toned frame, although very pale, from the lack of sun, quite muscular for his size. Betraying a toothy grin imbued with fangs and sharper accompanying teeth. His tight fitting black leather doublet revealed his muscular shape ending at his hips caressing the top of his looser fitting leather pants.
"My precious lycanthrope… Tonight, we leave." His ruby eyes glowed with a vengeance. Her eyes met his. "He's beautiful when he's angry," she thought to herself, "my Master."
Before she gathered her wits. "Victonilea! Come!" He commanded.
She snapped from her trance, "Yes, Lord Caspian." She obliged her master and followed closely behind him.
After a few hours passed they arrived at their destination, the manor of the family whom the Delacroix's held hatred for. A tall darkened Victorian, a once beautiful home, now menacing to the sight. Three hundred years of fighting over land and subjects. Victonilea grew anxious at the possibility of ending the family that claimed her master's immersion, his passion, though through hatred. They had what she desperately desired. His fixated attention.
They entered into a large open bay window. Silent footsteps and swift movements gained them entry into the rafters of the manor. Using only eye contact and silent hand gestures given from her master, she knew her objective. Find and end the head of the family.
Victonilea started along the rafters listening to the conversations of the other inhabitants of the manor, waiting to hear the voice of her target, Ariestdos Bathory. Descendant of the countess, Elizabeth, a great and terrible wretch. She looked over her shoulder knowing her master went the opposite way, but, all leads this way in the west wing were a dead end, "Should I lie in wait? Or find my Master?"
Crimson eyes searched the quiet corridors of the east wing of the manor. Turning to leave only to be met with an equally dangerous pair of scarlet eyes. Caspian narrowed his eyes bared his fangs and let out a low growl. The scarlet eyes never wavered or faltered, kept their soft expression.
"I missed you." The young man whispered tenderly. "I didn't mean to startle you, please, have a drink with me." The young man dropped from the rafters and landed with cat-like grace. He stopped and turned towards the candlelight and plopped on the couch lazily. His soft child-like face held sincerity in his words. His onyx hair shined in the light, the back spiked up and his bangs softly swept across his forehead. "I really do miss your company… Please, sit." Ariestdos placed his hand on the seat of the couch next to him. "I know what you're here for, and you can have it. I tire of fighting you and doing harm to our families. I long for the days when we chased each other around the grounds… We were once—"
"Silence! I'll have no more of you're weak rambling!" Dropping himself down from the rafters landing on the plush navy carpet. With a swift motion he drew his dagger and with the speed of light held it to his rivals throat. Ariestdos made no movements to defend or dodge his attack. Caspian glared at the young man and a silent droplet of blood slid down his neck, staining the edge of his ivory blade ebony. "Do you not value your life?" The blond frowned questionly.
Ariestdos looked up from behind his bangs with a pleased grin. "I knew you couldn't hurt me, you always pulled your punches…" He sighed. "Ooh, Caspy… How did we ever get this way?" He silently inquired as he leaned against Caspian's blade, "So, do it!" He demanded grabbing Caspian's hand, pulling his dagger deeper into his neck. "End this! End it before I change my mind!" A few moments passed then, Ariestdos kicked Caspian back with one swift fluid motion he drew his own dagger and crossed it with Caspian's. With skilled steps their daggers met clashing and flashing light into every corner of the bright red room with golden oak trimmings. On the final collision of their blades came a loud crackling sound. Both daggers clattered to the floor in fractured pieces.
Their eyes met. "Te iubesc, Caspian."
The blonde's expression softened, "Mi-e dor de tine, Ariestdos."
They both looked away from the other. The onyx haired man stepped forward and the blond stepped back. "Hear me, Caspian. Know I speak the truth." Ariestdos' eyes met the ground, "Just do it, if I have to die… I'd want it to be by your hands."
Caspian stepped towards his long time hated rival and slowly placed his hands around his enemy's neck, his hands trembled slightly. "I hate you! I swear I hate you!" Sounding as if he were trying to convince himself his grip tightening at each word. His grip loosened at the sound of his adversary gagging. Gritting his teeth, "Oh, Goddess…I love you." Caspian placed his hands upon Ariestdos' cheeks and brought his face to his.
Victonilea sat in the rafters waiting and watched in horror at her Master's actions. Watching her master gently embrace their enemy rather than tear his heart out was painful enough but to hear his secret confession of love? Unforgivable. Rage sharpened her eyesight, sorrow granted her strength, pain gave her shape.
Caspian pulled Ariestdos closer their eyes metting, and a burning feeling in their cheeks giving them a slight pink shade to their faces. Just inches from one another's lips. Suddenly, without warning, a coarse growl resounded through the room accompanied with the crackling of splintering wood. Before either of the young men could gather their bearings a flurry of claws were flying at them, knocking over furniture and shelves of books. Caspian did three backhand springs to escape the creature and landed on his feet tactfully. Ariestdos clumsily ducked below the creature's violent assault. Then sent a terrified look towards Caspian.
"A fucking werewolf?! Are you fucking kidding me?! By the Gods, are you mad?!" Ariestdos bellowed at him as he began accurately dodging her offensive strikes.
Caspian brought up his arms in front of him, his right hand in front of his left and formed a shape with his fingers, closed his eyes and began chanting. The branded mark on the left paw of the beast began to glow an eerie shade of navy blue and royal purple. Caspian opened his eyes, "I'm sorry, Victonilea." He looked over to Ariestdos with a pained expression, "Forgive me…"
The servants of the manor finally broke the door down, just in time to see the subdued werewolf and the opposing Lord followed by a bright light.