Children of the Night

Chapter 1 – Wolves

"Fight for what you want, because tomorrow, it might not be there."

~Anonymous

The moon shone down eerie silver rays, bathing the forest in an unnatural cloak of mist, and shafts of light speckled the undergrowth. The trees rattled with the quake of a breeze, a whispering hush falling over the darkened paths of the earth, and then…silence. A rock face jutted out from the ends of a mountain, pebbles skidding down from the ravine, and splattering the bottom to ricochet away.

A girl laid at the bottom, her eyes opening blearily, and slowly starting to focus on the darkened sky, and sinking moon. Her head throbbed, a sharp pain working at the base of her skull, and then all the way down her spine. She groaned, slowly sitting up, and hissed when the searing returned in full force to hammer the back of her head.

"What…happened?" She grumbled, standing up slowly, almost stumbling back to the rocky earth, and rubbed the back of her head. "Ugh…Where in the hell…am…I?" The girl looked at her hands; brow furrowed in curiosity, and shook the right one slightly. Her mouth became a thin line as she looked around with concern and fear. "More importantly…Who am I?"

She closed her eyes and gripped her head. Who are you? Who are you?! Her head throbbed, a rhythmic tattoo of pain working at her temples. The girl took a deep breath, calming herself, and exhaled sharply out her nose. She remembered a face; one that she somehow knew was not hers…A sister! I have a sister…An older one! But where was she now? She looked around fearfully, half expecting to find another body close by, but there were none…

Try to remember more…Come on, focus! Her age, birthday, father, mother, did she own any animals?! Anything! A shred of a clue that was hiding from her, lingering in her mind, something had to be there! I am nineteen…My father was – is a…carpenter? No! That's not right…That's his…his brother? Does he have a brother? No, I don't think I have an uncle. Damnit!

She mentally cursed, looking around in distress, but there was nothing around her except jagged rocks, and a cliff overhanging her. Had she fallen? That might explain the lack of memory. "I'll be fine…Surely someone will come to find me…"

Who are you kidding? Her mind viciously snapped, her own logic biting at her like a rabid dog. They could be dead, could have fallen prey to wolves, bandits, or something worse! Her eyes darted nervously to the darkened woods around her. You're in the middle of some random damn woods; no food, no water, and not even a map to guide yourself with! As if you could read it anyway though… You've got nothing! She grumbled, scowling, and looked around again.

It was a forest. The trees looked almost white against the eerie blue mist in the distance; pale, silvery moonlight splashed the earth of the undergrowth, the whole of the world she could see bathed in a unique darkness. The soil itself was black, and patched with dark green from grass that was either dead, or dying. What a lively place. I feel like I'm in a cemetery with no tombstones.

She looked down at herself. Her legs were covered in some brown, rough, cotton pants, with a strip of leather holding it about her waist. Her chest felt to be covered in bandages, the shirt she wore sagging over her form, and white in color. A faded, worn leather vest rested on her shoulders, heavy, and musky. It smelled familiar… Was this my father's? It must have been! She hugged it to herself, her brow furrowed, and frowned. She felt warm…Safe.

She sniffed herself. She smelled clean, and her hair felt the same way. "Well, at least I'm not dirty." She patted her bum to get rid of whatever dirt had been left there after she had awakened.

I should probably try to think of a name in case someone finds me… She stepped forward and hissed, looking down. She wasn't wearing shoes. "Son of a motherless whore!" Her feet were more than a slightly calloused, but the pebble that had dug into the base of her foot had still hurt a little. "Oh well…" Wait! A name, clear and true, came to her just then… But it wasn't hers.

At least, it doesn't feel like mine. Of course, then again, how would I know?

Iris. The name that had come to her all of a sudden was: Iris. "Well, it's all I've got for now. I hereby dub you: Iris." She chuckled darkly to herself, starting on a trek through the forest. Iris made her way deeper, or perhaps closer to being farther, out.

Then she found a path. It was wide and long, spanning forever in each direction as far as she could see. She squinted. "Bloody fantastic, I'm blind." She couldn't see anything far away; objects farther than twenty feet or so started becoming blurry and hard to see.

Iris sighed and trudged on, having grown tired of jogging. She wasn't large, probably about average to a little under for her five foot four height. Lovely, I can remember how tall I am but not my real name? But every little fact was a treasure to be held, fragments of information bleeding around the edges of her psyche.

Iris paused, and then started to jog again, her eyes scanning the sides of the path, looking for company. Nothing. Her body didn't seem used to this kind of duress, but she pushed on nonetheless, panting…And then, her foot went down.

"Wo-" She gasped, half her body falling into a small tunnel. "What in the nine hells?!" She cried, quickly tearing herself free, scrambling along the path till she was to the side of the road. Twigs and leaves broke around her waist, her legs kicking viciously, smashing through to pull herself up. Her lungs hammered against her ribcage as she lay back, staring, wide eyed at the hole in the path. "What kind of arse would do that?!" She hissed.

Iris panted, sweat starting upon her brow, and gulped. Tightening her jaw, she steeled herself, inhaled sharply, then slowly, on hands and knees, crawled to the hole. She peaked inside, the moonlight above illuminating the interior for her to look down the tunnel. It was rather wide, long, and spreading along the expanse of the road in either direction. She pulled her head out, brow furrowed, and lip curled up slightly. "A tunnel under a road?" It didn't make any sense. She poked her head back in.

The walls were matted and un-kept, broken twigs and jagged roots sticking out, making it look something like a rabbit's warren. Something caught her eye, white, and fluffy looking along the side. She reached in, keeping a firm grip on the lip of the hole she had made, and tightened her fist around the anomaly. Iris tugged it free, pulling herself up with her abdomen. Inspecting it in her hands, her eyes widened under her furrowing brow. Hair. Long, course, thin, and ratty hair. It was clumped together, feeling slightly sticky with what was no doubt saliva. She stuck her tongue out a little. Gross…

She pulled it apart, feeling it still in her hands, despite the nasty quality of it. It was… familiar. Like dog hair… I had a dog. I have a dog. But this…It also feels, strangely… human. Iris frowned.

Ooooohhhhh!

Her head snapped back so fast she almost hurt herself, her neck straining, as her wide eyes scanned the forest behind her. She stood, slowly, making her way to the side of the road, and pulled herself out of it to grip the bark of a tree. Another howl rang out, strong and true.

Wolves… She couldn't recall ever seeing one before. And as far as she knew, wolves weren't necessarily dangerous creatures unless their den was threatened. Was she in a wolf pack's territory? If so, she should leave immediately, wolves were dangerous when faced with a potential threat.

She stepped back onto the road. If I stick with this path, I should reach civilization, and then I can find out who I am…Hopefully. But then another sound met her ears. A horse… It sounded like it was crying out. Her head turned to the noise once more, and her mouth became a line again. Should I go check? It could be in danger…

But her logic was cruel…

Tch, what could you do to protect it? About to turn away once more, she heard it cry again. She growled and shook her head, picking up a long, somewhat thick stick. She smashed it against a tree, watching some of the bark of it snap off, revealing a strong white core. Iris felt it vibrate up her arm with a sore sort of pain. It would not snap under pressure if smashed into something… She snarled, making her way deeper into the woods, shoulders squared, and eyes narrowed.

Let's find out…

V-I

Iris ran towards the sound of the horse. Her lungs hurt in her chest, hammering oxygen through her system, and her heels began to hurt as they thundered over the earth. She stumbled at one point, gulping, and continued on, her legs starting to ache at the calves and up her thighs. Come on, keep moving! She had heard two other horses before, but now there was only one left. She had to do something fast if she wanted to save the remaining one at all. Iris burst into the clearing, eyes wide. And then wished she hadn't. There were several of them. Three to be exact, that weren't dead.

They were hulking and white, with mottled bodies that were disproportioned to their mauled muzzles, and pale eyes. Their skin was pitch underneath, even darker lips pulling back to reveal yellowed, grizzly fangs that were covered in gore so thick it appeared black. Their mouths dripped heavily with the innards of the two dead horses and bodies that surrounded them, men in midnight suits of armor, and even more of their kind. They were eating their own dead…

Iris back peddled two steps, almost tripping over one of the dead men, his pale blue eyes wide with shock. No, it wasn't him she tripped over… It was his head, some of his spine having hit the back of her ankle. She fell onto her back, too stunned to speak, and her blood started thundering in her ears so hard her temples throbbed. Iris kicked her leg furiously, wheezing in shock and horror at the vertebrae and tendons that had locked around her foot.

She could feel the thick blood painting part of her leg, as she kicked so furiously it slapped across her calf, staining it with thick black. The wolf-beast-things, whatever they were, one of them had disengaged from one of the horses to come at her. Iris jerked back, landing a foot away from where she was previously, and against the body of the man whose head had spiraled from her. She couldn't take her eyes of the wolf, jaw tensing as the stick in her hand dug into her palm.

Her arm jerked back, colliding with something sharp, and if she were in more of a conscious mind she might have said 'ouch', or 'what the hell was that'. But she just grabbed it, the slickness of her blood painting part of the blade as the wolf charged, the prospect of tender meat driving it forward. Iris lifted whatever sharp object she had found, abandoning the stick to grab her new weapon with both hands.

The beast howled as it impaled itself on the sword, the hilt of it digging into the ground under Iris's shoulder, as she stared into the cobalt eyes of the beast above her. Its saliva drained down, mixed with thick smelling crimson, and dripped heavily onto her shoulder. She felt ill, the light in those murderous azure eyes smothered by the beast's pupils, as deep red blood curled down the blade and over her hands. Iris lurched out from under it, scrambling back, and gasped in panic.

Her erratic breathing stirred the other two, alerting them to her presence, and they lifted their heads from their meals. She tugged at the dead one as hard as she could, trying to angle it to free the sword, and when she got a good grip she jerked it free so hard that her left arm hurt. But she couldn't feel it, pain was secondary, her shock and adrenaline sending her mind reeling into over drive. Her ears were pounding with her heart beat, the hilt slick in her palms, and heavy… Could she even swing it?

The other two, there are two more, this isn't over. Don't run, they will just chase, might call more; kill them quickly… But how?! Iris looked to them, the sword in her hands was so heavy, and she knew she could barely swing it. Is there even a chance for me?

The first one charged, his claws gouging into the dead bodies as he scrambled at her, with a never ending hunger in his azure irises. She held her breath, brought her feet in close and twirled; using her momentum to bring the blade behind her, and when he leapt…Her knees hit the blood soaked earth, staining her canvas pants in more bloody black.

CRACK!

The sword snapped in half on collision, the dulled blade spiraling across the ground, and Iris's arms jerked at the same time. The hilt slammed into the earth in front of her, half of its shining body missing; she couldn't help the grit of her teeth, and the way her eyes moistened in pain as the wolf snarled in anguish, crashing into the earth to roll away.

The other one was already moving towards her as the other slid across the earth. She rolled away, holding onto the hilt with its shattered blade.

The wolf skidded, his claws raking into bodies, sending flesh and bones scattering across the black earth. Iris swung the sword, finding it much easier, and scored the beast's flank. She was surprised by how easily it cut, searing through the monster's flesh as if it were paper. It howled, jerking and contorting in a flurry of limbs, anguish lacing its form.

Iris forced herself to inhale, finding this to be her only chance, and ran forward, bringing the blade over her head. She jammed the sharp edge into its eye socket, the sick squish of fluid, and the grotesque crack of its bone assuring her it was dead. Iris gasped and hissed, almost cried out in pain as it slashed her arm while it died, three long gashes painting her bicep. She pulled back, coughing, and looked around. The second wolf was up again, its eyes alighting on her as she scrambled to the side of another knight, looking for a sword.

She found none as the monster howled at the loss of its own, and Iris searched frantically for a weapon. There was a torch! It was burning low, but as she lifted it, the flames brightened to engulf it once more.

The wolf fell to all fours, pacing around her, a jagged, thick slash across its snout from where the blade had snapped on its mug. Iris backed up, feeling her blood painted ankle collide with something… It felt cool and smooth. A sword?! She didn't take her eyes off the wolf, reaching back for her savior… Her brow furrowed on the feel of it though.

She lifted it and her jaw dropped open, eyes widening in a face that would have been funny… Were she not about to be eaten! Alcohol. This bastard carries bourbon and not a blade! What the hell?! I curse you in death! Iris turned her gaze back on the wolf as it came closer, pacing around her, backing her into the rock face that it and it's brethren had no doubt ambushed the knights against. She licked her lips, wetting them, and put them to the bottle.

It tasted foul, but she forced herself to fill her mouth as the beast charged at her. Iris turned her head, and spouted it onto the flame before her, and watched with a stunned gaze as the fire took to the monster's fur like kindling. The beast contorted in pain as Iris took another mouthful, spouting it once more. The wolf turned, howling in agony, and spiraled around the clearing. She dropped her 'weapons' and scrambled back, pushing herself against the rocks. It rounded the circle of bodies, smashing into a tree with a sickening snap, and it was over…

Iris gasped, shaking uncontrollably, and fought down the need to be ill. She slowly crept out from the crevice she had mashed herself into, her arms curling around herself, and collapsed to her knees. She tried not to sob, or to scream, least she attract more of the creatures. Her wide eyes scanned the woods with a new found fear, her lungs slamming against her ribs, and filling her with pain. Her arm and cheek burned from the scratches the wolf had inflicted, soreness erupting over her ankle, chest, and head as her blood flow returned to normal.

Those weren't human; they weren't wolves either though… They were…Werewolves?! The idea stunned her senseless, leaving her staring at the bodies around her. She turned her head away, trying to escape the idea that not moments ago she had trampled over bones, innards, and… don't think about it. Don't, just… Don't think. She lifted her uninjured arm, inhaling sharply against it, in an effort to escape the nauseatingly powerful iron tang that peppered the air.

Iris slowly stood, trying to clear her aching head. She heard something then...someone. She turned her head sharply, making her way towards where she heard the noise. Iris rounded a jutting rock, eyes wide, and found herself face-to-face with a woman. She blinked twice to make sure she was real, before rushing to her side, standing a foot before her, unsure of what to do. The woman was beautiful, with long black hair, and extremely pale skin… She almost looked to be made of marble.

"Are… Are you alright?" The woman – blood covering the front of her chest plate – tried in vain to shake her head. "Can you tell me your name?"

"…Sonja." Her voice was harsh and raspy, her eyes almost seeming to glow the bright blue that they were. "We were… careless."

Iris nodded. "Try not to strain yourself. I… I think there might still be a horse alive somewhere, I'll go see if I can't find it."

"The wolves…" The woman warned, and Iris shook her head, taking a deep breath.

"Don't worry; I've taken care of them. You just… Just rest here, I'll be right back, I promise." Sonja looked surprised, but nodded for her to leave. The girl ran out quickly, searching desperately for the horse that she knew had to still be alive. She didn't know how badly Sonja was hurt, but she was the only person as far as she could tell for at least hundreds of miles. At that moment, she was all she had.

The horse was not as hard to find as she thought – after a quick inspection – he might have been. She grabbed his reins, trying to keep her eyes off the bloody, gory mess of a clearing, and led him back to his mistress. Iris neared Sonja, eyes widening on the fact that the older woman's were closed. Please don't be dead, please don't be dead…

Her fears quickly abated as Sonja opened her eyes, the bright blue still unwavering. She breathed out a sigh of relief. The horse stood dutifully as Iris released him. "Um… Can you stand up? Do you need help?" She wasn't sure where to touch her, unsure of her injuries, or if she should be moved at all. Sonja nodded, trying to stand with the help of the rock face, and failed several times. Unable to watch any longer, Iris pressed herself under her shoulder, and carefully wrapped her arm around her waist.

She was heavy, the armor poking into Iris's side uncomfortably. "Here, can you pull yourself up?" She gestured to the stalwart horse, who seemed damn near calmer than she was. Sonja shook her head, admitting her weakness it seemed, and Iris frowned. "I don't think I can help you up with the armor, it's really heavy." The older woman nodded in response, shifting slightly to reveal the clasps of the plate.

It was awkward, and they had to shift a couple times, but Iris managed to support her and get the pieces off. The metal fell to the earth with muffled clunks, revealing Sonja's black clothes… They looked to be made of some odd, silky material. Iris raised a brow but said nothing about the obviously high value cloth. "And up we go." She murmured, bending down to help Sonja up.

The woman looked down at her, her blue eyes half-lidded. "You will have to lead him, I cannot." Iris nodded, pulling herself up in front of her, and kicked the horse's sides gently. It feels like I've done this before, although not often… She felt Sonja lean against her back in exhaustion, and Iris shrugged. The horse left with a steady trot, finding the road easily enough on his own.

"Which way?" She looked over her shoulder, frowning at the sight of the ghastly looking woman. Sonja pointed to the right, coughing, and gripping her side. Iris kicked gently at the horse's flanks, evading the middle of the road – suspecting their might be a tunnel underneath, and road on. Sonja was getting worse. She was going from alabaster to a sickening pasty color.

"Come on boy, come on!" Iris kicked a little harder, prompting a full on run from the animal. And then she heard it, a noise that sent a chilling blade up her spine… A howl, long and strong, sent to the falling moon in the sky. She ghosted a look behind, terror seizing her on the several shades appearing in the distance, and with no sword... "GO!" Iris roared, but the horse needed no motivation.

They blazed forward, the earth passing under them rapidly as they burst from the tree line, and Iris's eyes widened. A castle, they were headed straight for a castle, the field before them scattered with jagged rocks. The horse maneuvered them with practiced ease, the gates opening before them, and Iris's heart raced with hope. Giant spears smashed through the heads of the wolves following them, and in a flash… They were inside.

Iris heard the gate slam shut behind them and shuddered, looking behind, and past Sonja as they were… safe. They were in the clear. The horse below her panted heavily as they were surrounded, and Iris could feel Sonja slip from behind her, and into the arms of a knight. "Wait! She's hurt, there were these werewolves and –"

"Who are you?" A voice snapped and Iris turned her gaze on one of the knights, he wasn't wearing a helmet unlike the others, and he was older. He had dark grey hair that lightened around the sides of his head, and he wore a whip on his hip.

"I…I'm… I don't really – "

"She saved me." Everyone's gaze snapped to Sonja, her form virtually falling against the man holding her up. "She killed three wolves on her own…"

The man with the whip's eyes widened, and he looked to her, shocked. "How?" He scowled, obviously doubting her.

"Well…I…I fell back and managed to grab a sword, so when the first one leapt at me he fell on it. The second one I burned and the third I managed to stab in the eye." Iris said, pausing sometimes under the other's stern gaze.

"What is your name?" He raised a brow, the scowl slowly sliding away.

"I… I don't really remember, but, I know a name, whether or not it's mine I don't really know…"

"Well, what is it?" He snapped.

"Iris."

"Very well, for saving the Lady Sonja you may… stay." He nodded and Iris tried to pull herself off the horse. She paused, the ground seeming farther away then she remembered it ever being…

"Um…Help?" She looked at him pleadingly, her mouth twitching in a smile. The man stared at her, clearly torn between amused and flabbergasted that she couldn't get off the horse she put herself on. He sighed and stepped forward, pulling her off the beast, and paused. He stared at her for a long moment, holding her effortlessly up it seemed, despite his age. Tough old man, isn't he? His brow furrowed, eyes glazed over, and she stared at him in turn, hands resting on his elbows.

"…Are you alright?" He snapped from his thoughts, quickly releasing her, and letting her feet hit the ground. The spike of pain that went up her heels from the action made her wince.

"You may stay in the guest quarters." He nodded to a random soldier to lead her off, but she paused.

"What's your name?"

"What?" He looked back to her, having turned to walk somewhere else.

"I told you mine…But I don't know yours."

He looked taken aback, scoffing. "Kosta."

Iris nodded to him, before jogging off to the man, who was waiting for her in the doorway to the castle. She heard Kosta yell as she was leaving: "Take Lady Sonja below for attention, and inform Lord Viktor of her status immediately!"

Lord Viktor?

K-I

"You can stay here." The knight grunted, nodding to a small room with a cot in the corner, and a cabinet on the wall by the bed. A small, white vase with a basin lay on the lone piece of furniture, old, and slightly worn. "There should be some medical supplies in the top drawer, clothes in the bottom; everyone sleeps come the dawn, so don't go poking around, understand?"

Iris nodded and entered the room. "Thank you…" Her voice trailed off, silently asking his name.

"…Soren." He answered her quickly, with two short syllables and left, closing the door. She heard the click of the lock, and let out a deep breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Iris sat on the bed, putting her face in her hands, and inhaled sharply.

"Right." She opened the drawer of the cabinet without standing, finding bandages, and some alcohol. This is going to hurt… She knew she'd probably felt the burn of it before, but those had all most likely been minor injuries, nothing like the grievous gashes that painted her now. "Damn…"

Carefully, she removed the oversized vest and peeled off her shirt, wincing at the sight of the wounds that were growing red and angry; no telling how her face looked with the three slashes she could feel there! She counted herself lucky that there wasn't any swelling, but they were somewhat angry and red.

Steeling herself, she held out her arm, and poured. She slammed the bottle down on top of the cabinet, sealing her lips, and exhaled air sharply in a closed-mouth groan. Her gag reflex quaked in the back of her throat at the sheer pain, and she coughed several times to get rid of the feeling.

She dabbed the area around it dry, watching the wound fester with some white foam. Well, that worked. Iris wrapped the wound and did the same to the one on her hand, the pain here much less since it hadn't come into direct contact with the beast's nasty claws. I must be lucky to not have been bit!

Next, the marks on her face… As far as she could tell, they started just below her cheek bone – all three of them – and stopped on her jaw bone.

This is going to be fun! Not… Saturating part of her shirt with alcohol, she took three deep breaths, and then pressed it firmly to the side of her cheek with one go…Well, more like she slapped it there, and pain flared behind her irises, turning everything white. She grit her teeth, held the bed frame with her other hand, fought down tears, and repeatedly lifted her leg to smash her heel into the floor till the anguish subsided. Iris let out a wheezing, low sort of whine, and slowly pealed the cloth from her face. She managed to bandage it on her own and let a few tears fall.

Oww…

Now that the most painful experience she could remember was over… Iris stood and used the wash basin on the cabinet to clean herself as best she could, before putting on the clothes provided for her. The pants were much too large, made of leather with strings up the sides, and had to be tied tightly by a strip of leather about her waist. The shirt was, well, obviously not made for someone of the female gender. It was more like a vest than a shirt, and offered as little privacy as one would.

Should probably take care of my chest before putting this on…

She traded her old bandages – they were sweaty and crusted in some blood – for new ones, tightly sealing her chest, and inhaled to make sure she could still breathe without breaking them. Sighing, she pulled on the 'shirt', the material dark blue and ratty.

Iris gathered her dirty, bloody, mostly smelly clothes, and threw them into the corner. The only article she kept was the worn, dark brown leather vest. This, she wrapped around herself, and inhaled the scent of it sharply. Then, she sat down on her cot, and waited… For what, she didn't know, but she sat there.

Maybe I should try to get some sleep… He did say that everyone rested for the day, and I am very tired.

Iris laid back, her eyes tracing the grooves in the stone wall for several moments. Slowly, her eyes fell closed, and within the hour, she was fast asleep…

I-S

Iris was awakened by the banging of her 'bedroom' door, which was thrown open with no warning when she failed to answer. She turned, still groggy, and muttered a half-awake: "wha-?"

"Lord Viktor wishes to see you, you are to –" Soren stopped. He looked at her very closely, the azure blue eyes under his helm widening.

"What?" He slammed the door shut and she heard the clatter of his boots as he rushed off somewhere. What did he say about Viktor?

Iris stood, looking around her gloomy room, and rocked back and forth on her heels, abandoning the worn vest on the cot. Her mouth became a line as she stepped forward, opening the door, and looked around outside. "Hello?" No one answered, the hallway to the right leading up a staircase, and to the left there were a series of other doors that belonged to servants. These rooms feel like monk cells…

Her eyes ghosted down the corridor, walking down the right hallway, and up the stairs. I have no idea where I'm going… Oh no, was I supposed to follow him?! Wait, no, he wouldn't have closed the door, he would have told me to follow… Right? So far, she had no idea how the people around here worked.

She reached the top of the stairs, where more led up to the right, and out of sight, scaling up and up. Iris stopped though, her eyes set dead on the wall before her… Skulls, there were skulls and bones that decorated the inside of the alcove. She couldn't help it, her hand reaching out to rub the slightly yellowed exterior of one of the skulls calling to her. It was smooth, polished feeling, and the crack in the top of it told of its past owner's doom. Iris withdrew her hand and exhaled a breath she didn't know she had. "Interesting décor they have around here…"

She heard the scuffle of feet, her eyes instantly flying to the top of the next set of stairs, and around the corner appeared – "Sonja! You're alright!" She called upon the sight of the older woman.

"Yes, and I see you are well taken care of. Quickly, come with me." She extended her hand and Iris took it happily, ecstatic to be in the presence of someone she at least somewhat knew. Sonja had kind eyes, ones that didn't glitter with the sliver of disdain she found in Kosta or Soren's. And, although Iris couldn't remember her mother or sister, she had a feeling that they had the same eyes.

"What's going on?" Iris couldn't help but ask as she increased her pace to keep up with Sonja.

"My father wishes to see you."

"Your father… Is that Viktor?"

"Yes." Sonja made a series of turns, scaling even more steps, as Iris jogged behind her to keep up with her long and hurried strides. "He is the master of this castle, and he wishes to thank you personally."

"Master… As in, he's a Lord?"

"Indeed." The girl couldn't help but gape and splutter.

"So… I have to look the part? As in, dress fancy and pray he likes me?"

"You took on three werewolves on your own, despite your size, and the fact that you are human." Sonja laughed. "You were quite cunning, when you blew fire onto the wolf."

"You – You saw that?"

"Yes, we could use quick-thinking individuals like you." She added thoughtfully, and Iris raised a brow.

"What are you talking about?"

Sonja paused, turning to her, and seemed to scrutinize her for a moment. "My gods'…You don't know what we are, do you?"

"What?" Iris stared at her and this seemed to confirm what her companion was thinking. "Aren't you…knights or something?"

Sonja let out a sad laugh. "No… We're vampires." Iris's eyes widened.

"As in, you drink people's blood?" She nodded. "As in, you burn in the daylight?" Another nod. "Will you… drink from me?"

Sonja smiled and shook her head. "No, tonight, you are to honored for saving me, despite being a human."

"Oh…So, no one's going to try and… Eat me?"

"Not without their head being separated from their shoulders by me...or my father. It is forbidden to drink human blood; it was outlawed at least a century ago." Iris nodded in relief. "Come now, we have to clean you up, dress you, and I'll put makeup on you; try to take care of those cuts."

They entered a large bed chamber, with intricate carved furniture, and a shuttered window. "You have great taste." Iris said, touching the surface of a mahogany bureau in awe of its craftsmanship. Sonja looked up at her from across the room, gathering things for her young charge to wear.

"Most of this was my mother's; it was put in here as a gift from my father."

"What happened to her?"

Sonja paused here, holding a black, silver embroidered suit in her arms. "She died…giving birth to me." Iris paused, turning to look at her over her shoulder.

"…I bet she was a great woman." It felt awkward, she didn't know why, but some part of her thought it was wrong to say: 'I'm sorry' to someone over loss. It sounded too much like a play on pity, or sympathy, and if she lost someone…Well, she sure as hell wouldn't want pity or even sympathy from someone else.

Sonja gazed at her for a moment, smiling in understanding, and laid the clothes out on the bed for her. "Here we are; you may wear these. I'm afraid they were all I could find, but, if you wear your hair down with a little makeup, they should be able to tell you are a girl."

"Oh, thank you, I'll uh…" The older woman turned, walking over to the window to look out over the courtyard, giving Iris the privacy to wash and change. The shirt was thick and hugged her waist, revealing the curve of her hips, and the slight curve of her chest that the bandages couldn't completely hide. She was still a girl after all, and despite being mostly flat chested, there was something there at least. The pants did the same, hugging her legs, which she grumbled at. "These clothes make me feel self conscious."

Sonja turned, walking forward to stand before her. "Well, we have to be able to tell that you are a girl somehow." She pulled gently and patted a few places on the sides and front. "Yes, well done, now… Let's brush out your hair and try to deal with these marks."

The cuts on her face had closed – thin as they were – but her arm had to be re-bandaged. Sonja went around each of the gashes with a fine brush, almost seeming to magically hide most of the angry redness that lingered behind. She put mascara and several other things on to hide any blemishes. "Am I expected to look like another vampire?" Iris asked, feeling a wave of déjà vu fill her… And for a moment Sonja looked different. She had done this with her sister. Her older sister had put make-up on her before. It was a memory she tried to hold, but it slipped away.

Well, I guess it's enough to know that it happened.

It seemed that she was doomed to remember facts, not people or places… "Well, you are rather pale." Sonja said, looking her over for a moment. "Look." Iris turned, and stared into the mirror. Her brown eyes were highlighted in black, the marks virtually unseen, having turned into three thin red lines along her cheek thanks to Sonja's expert hand, and the two or three blemishes that had marred her virtually clear complexion were gone.

"…I look like a porcelain doll." Iris frowned, her lips turning into a thin line in something close to distress. Sonja laughed, carefully pressing her cheek to hers.

"Well, vampires don't usually have to cover their faces with this."

"Perfect skin huh?"

"Yes. But you do look lovely."

"If you say so…I still think I just look like some little doll you dressed up." Iris smiled at their reflections, looking into her own deep brown eyes.

"Perhaps." She stood, brushing herself off. "We should head to the grand hall; father will be impatient by now."

"Should I… Know anything about your father ahead of time?" Iris asked as she stood, and faced Sonja with a worried expression.

The older woman turned to her, inhaling heavily. "He's…" She paused, seeming to search for how to describe him. "My father is a very…" Sonja once again lost track of the sentence, closing her eyes before reopening them. "When we go down there, tell him how you killed the three wolves. Tell him how cunning and strong you were in those moments. When you speak to him, refrain from saying: 'um' or 'uh', keep your speech clean and to the point. Try not to embellish, but don't skip any details. And if you can help it…Don't be afraid. He will not harm you."

Iris swallowed hard, and nodded, taking in a deep breath. "How should I address him?"

"Don't look him in the eye and call him 'sire' or 'Lord Viktor'." Sonja nodded, putting her hands on the young girl's shoulders to steady her. "Try to keep your heart rate down as well."

Iris gave her a bewildered look.

"We're vampires…We'll be able to hear it."

Iris let out a shocked, almost horrified laugh. "Are you kidding?" Sonja shook her head. The girl gulped, tensing her jaw, and relaxed her shoulders as best she could.

"Do you have any other questions? This could be your last chance to ask."

"No… Let's go." She nodded, following Sonja out as they made their way to the hall.

S-I

And this is the first chapter of: Children of the Night! An AU to Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, and in that sense, an AU to the rest of the franchise. Stay tuned for more.

Edit: I went back and changed the very beginning of the story where Iris awakens. Her back story has had a few changes as I think it's before for the overall feel of things. I also took out some words and added more detail to certain parts that I think needed it. The other chapters are getting the same treatment, and once that's finished I will upload the seventh chapter. Hope you enjoy!