Hello everyone! I'm going to apologize in advance. It's been a hot minute since I've written anything other than a series of oneshots, so please bare with me. I've written the first couple chapters three different ways just to get it all set up the way I wanted.
It was well past dark when the abnormally red-headed woman entered Shaun's small tavern. He, along with the regular inhabitants inside, all stared at the newcomer. She seemed average height. If Shaun had to guess, he'd say she was no older than twenty-five. She wore a black leather jacket, light gray shirt, and dark blue jeans that were split at the knees. Her hair, pulled up into a long ponytail. Mint green eyes met Shaun's own brown as she gave him a friendly smile and approached the bar. "I haven't seen you around here before, Stranger." Shaun said gruffly as she took a seat.
"Oh, my name's not 'Stranger'. I'm Theodora. Theo for short. And you don't know me because I'm not from around here." She said happily, extending her hand out for him to shake. He snorted, ignoring the friendly gesture. Like he didn't know that.
Picking up a glass and his rag, he began cleaning it. His attention not leaving the redhead in front of him. "What are you doin' here then?"
"Me? Oh, I'm just passing through. I've heard that there's a pretty good wine brand that comes from around here." The bar went silent. She looked around curiously. "Is it something I said?"
Adrian slammed his mug on the table. Here we go. Shaun thought to himself. He had hoped that for one night they wouldn't have to hear about that dreaded castle. "The only wine that comes from here is made by a monster in that damned castle."
The woman looked over at him, not seeming to notice his anger. "The castle on top of the hill?" She pointed her thumb over her shoulder.
"Yes." Adrian sneered. Ioana, the dark-haired woman beside him, grasped her husband's hand trying to calm him. "The place reeks of death. No one that goes up there ever returns." She explained.
Nodding her head slowly, she seems to be lost in thought for a minute. "Sounds interesting, thanks for the info!"
"Stay away from there, girl." Shaun warned, setting his glass and rag down. "It's not something to joke with. The Mistress of that place is a true devil."
"It's fine, I'm just going to catch a look, then I'll be on my way. She won't even know I'm there!" The woman laid some coins down on to the counter, before waving and heading out the door.
"Wait!" Shaun shouted, trying to get her attention.
The villagers all shared a look. Adrian downed the last bit of his drink. "Let her go, it's her funeral."
"Maybe if we're lucky that demon will be satisfied and leave us alone for a while." Ioana said from staring into her own mug thoughtfully. The thought made Shaun sick, offering up that poor girl to those demons. He couldn't deny, though, that he had been worried about his own daughter being picked to go up to the castle.
Theodora hummed happily to herself as she walked along the cobble path. "This place is beautiful. I don't know why everyone is so scared." She said to herself as she approached the vineyard. She looked around excitedly. A small frown formed on her face. "Man, I don't know why I thought anything would be growing, spring just started. I knew I should have come around summer." She muttered looking around at the bare stakes under the human-like scarecrows. "Now what am I gonna do?"
"Quick, get the cuffs!"
"Let me go, you filthy man-thing!" A feminine voice cried out. Curiosity getting the better of, Theo quietly made her way to the voices. A small group of men held a struggling cloaked woman onto the ground. "When I get out of here, I'll rip your arms off!"
One of the larger men, Theo assumed was their leader, stepped up in front of the girl. The leader pulled back the girl's hood, revealing a young red headed woman. Some form of symbol was carved into the girl's forehead. Pulling out a silver dagger from his belt, he lifted the blade above her head, preparing to bring it down. "You will die for your sins, demon spawn!"
"Hey!" Theodora called out as she approached the group slowly. The group of men turned their attention to her. "Let's talk this over like rational people."
One of the men that knelt on the girl's back sneered at her. "This doesn't concern you, Outsider. Leave, unless you wish to die!"
Theo held her hands up. "Guys, I don't want to fight. I'm just saying we can talk this out. No one has to die tonight."
The men all shared a look. "Get her!" Some of the men that held the girl stood and gathered their weapons before running at her.
"Guys, I really don't want to fight." Theo said as she stepped back out of the first man's swipe. The men didn't let up, each swinging their own weapons. "Well, I tried." Theo dodged the new wave of attacks. With inhuman speed, she landed punches and kicks of her own in return. In a matter of seconds, the men lay scattered, unmoving on the ground. Theo put her hands back into her pockets as she looked over to the remaining men.
"You're a monster like the rest of them!" The leader shouted. He pointed his sword at her before running at her himself.
"Listen, I offered to talk it out. I didn't want to fight." The man raised his arm, his sword at the ready. Theo waited patiently for him to get closer. She sidestepped the swipe of his sword. "Sorry about this." A solid punch landed to the man's stomach. He flew back from the impact, skidding across the ground.
"She killed Ivan with just her fist!"
Theodora rolled her eyes. Normal humans were always so dramatic. "He's not dead. Just unconscious."
"Sir, the demon is coming!"
"Quick, help the others. Let's retreat!"
Theo watched as the remaining men dropped their weapons and gathered all of their unconscious friends. Turning back to the girl, Theo approached her. The girl looked at her curiously. Silver cuffs bound the woman's wrists behind her back. "Here, let me get those off of you." Theo easily broke the binds, before throwing them to the side. Standing back, she offered a hand to help her up. "Is that better?"
"My, my, my." A female voice called out. A very sensual voice. Theodora thought to herself. "Seems like you've all strayed a little too far from home. Step away from my daughter or die."
"Mother wait!" The girl at her feet disappeared, a swarm of insects taking her place. Turning around, her heart skipped a beat as she beheld the beauty in front of her. A tall, dark haired woman dressed in white stood behind her. Razor sharp claws extended from her right hand. Never in her life had Theo seen someone with such beauty. The swarm of insects reshaped into the girl. "She saved me!"
"Is that so?" She turned her gaze to her daughter, looking her over for any form of injury. Satisfied that there were none, she retracted her claws. "My apologies. My name is Alcina Dimitrescu. Thank you for saving my daughter."
"No worries. My name's Theodora." Theo bowed respectfully. "But you can call me 'Theo'."
"You are not from around here."
"Nah. I'm just passing through." A boom of thunder could be heard in the distance.
"I think this conversation is best continued inside, away from the rain. Please, follow me." Turning around, she headed towards her home with the girls in tow.
"Daniela dear, please go to your room and rest."
"Yes Mother." The girl dissolved into a swarm that flew up and over the second level banister. With her daughter gone, Alcina climbed the stairs, her guest behind her. Reaching the top, she entered the door ahead of them.
"Please, sit." Alcina gestured to the overstuffed red couch across from her. Theo took at seat, placing her hands on her lap. Aclina watched with mild amusement as the girl continued to look around and admire her home.
"Thank you, Lady Dimitrescu."
"Alcina, please. Anyone who has saved my daughters has earned the right to call me by my first name." The brunette removed two bottles along with two glasses out of the cabinet against the wall, before taking her own seat across from the younger woman. She pours one glass, giving it to the younger one, before pouring her own. The two sit in silence for a moment, drinking their drinks. "What brings you to my home? Surely it wasn't to save my daughter."
Theo gives the woman a friendly smile. "Actually, I just wanted to get a glance at your vineyard. You see, I love your wine. I travel a lot and I figured since I was in the area, I might get to take a look. But I realized that Spring's just started, which means nothing has grown yet."
"Yes, the plants are not harvestable for another few weeks I'm afraid."
Theo shrugged, taking a sip of her drink. "Well, that's okay. I guess it wasn't meant to be."
"If you don't mind my asking, but it appears you are not human. You seem to have been given a gift. But you show no signs of having it."
Theo's eyes widened slightly as if she just remembered something important. "Oh, yeah. I totally forgot." Brushing her bangs back, she reached up to her left eye.
Alcina looked at the woman with mild disgust as she tried to pinch her own eyeball. "What are you doing?!"
"There." Theo blinked a few times before turning back to her. "Sorry about that. I forgot that I had it in."
"What is that?" Alcina demanded to know, glaring at the small, round, rubber like item that sat on her finger. It was clear that Alcina had not liked what she had just witnessed.
"It's a contact lense. They're used to change the color of someone's eyes, or even help them see better. It helps me blend in with the humans. Haven't you ever seen one before?"
"No, I have not." Alcina waved her hand, wanting to change the subject. The whole idea sounded very unpleasant. Pulling her attention form the lense, she turned back to Theodora. "May I?"
"Of course." Theo leaned over the table, closing the gap between them.
Taking Theo's face gently in her grasp, she leaned in. She tilted the redhead's head to the side as she examined her closely. The eye that the contact lense had covered was no longer green. Instead, it was a metallic lilac color. "Fascinating." Another turn of her head. "And this is the only sign of your gift?"
"Uh, yeah." Breathing in, Theo could smell the lingering scent of lavender and vanilla. Not that she would complain.
"Mother!" The door to the room flew open. Another cloaked woman hovered into the room. She stopped, landing fully on the ground. She removed her hood. Theo noticed that she looked much like the girl, but blonde. "I apologize for intruding, however there is an urgent matter in the dungeon that needs your attention."
"Very well." Alcina placed her glass on the table and stood.
Not wanting to over stay her welcome, Theo also stood. Gently, she placed her now empty glass on the table in front of her. "I'll see my way out. Thank you for your time. And the wine, it was nice."
Alcina waved her off. "Nonsense, the rain has started falling and will continue all night. Bela will show you to the guest room, you may stay here tonight."
Theo looked out the window, watching as the rain pounded against it. "Thank you, that's very kind of you."
"My dear, you've earned my kindness."