Fifteen Years Later
The rays of the rising sun are the most beautiful sight. It seemed all the colors of the rainbow painted the sky, illuminating the global canvas with its light. She loved this time, when the day began as the brisk cold morning dew collided with the heat of the sun. The chill reminded her of life, was a feeling that relaxed and eased her, especially when her body ached, cooling the heat she felt within. It was this way many mornings, her routine whenever she was called for her service during the night. No one, but a few servants and the guard were up now.
Vampires and sunlight were not a deadly combination, those bedtime stories were false propaganda for humans to believe they had a chance. Humanity never had a chance, not against them, the immortals who swept thru human defenses in less than three years. The world was theirs now, over a decade strong and their domination has not waivered. As the vampire reign supreme, mankind is at the bottom of the food chain-second-rate citizens, slaves, livestock. Against the vampire...there is little humanity can do to achieve victory. The immortal are stronger, faster, they have hidden themselves in the darkness of world history, gathering their forces, resources until they could launch their attack.
Millions of people died; turned against their own; millions suffer a fate worse than death.
This time was her time alone, her time to think for herself, to be by herself; this was the closest she ever came to freedom. It was short-lived, but it was the most precious thing she was 'granted'. Though she had late-night duties, she had normal tasks in the later hours of the day. That was not for many hours though, now she was relaxing, decompressing from the previous night. It was out here, in the light where she felt the the closest she would ever have to freedom. Beyond the limits of these grounds lie certain death, for fleeing, for trying to escape, or simply being caught by the Huntsmen again.
Sitting on the roof of the Palace, this place was usually off limits to civilians and staff, but the vampires knew she would do nothing nefarious. What could she do? Plot against her masters? Commit suicide? They knew even she was not foolish enough because if she tried and failed then she will certainly live to regret the attempt. Despite this life of a gilded cage...she did not want to die, she refused to die. If she did, who would be left to remember those who have died? Those killed by the vampire? Her survival here, that was her fight, her resistance against the vampire ruler.
"You know when she finds out you're out here she's going to punish you."
Kira leaned back, taking the offered bottle held to her. She looked at the top then offered it back. He took his thumb and popped the cap off with little effort. If anything being a vampire was convenient for that alone. Bottle opener at one's fingertips.
The human woman shrugged taking a sip, "You make it sound like I try to hide it. That she hasn't already punished me." She said rhetorically, leaning forward with the bottle between her dangling legs, "Living day by day..." Kira looked down at the bottle, "Not knowing when it's my last."
Jake sat down beside her letting out a sigh, "Such is the nature of the Game." He expressed, looking at the grounds holding his own bottle with his arm resting on his propped knee.
The Game is a common-tongue phrase referring to the delicate navigation of the social and political circle of vampire society. Politics and personal lives are one in the same, going as deep as a vampire's very blood and can be the life and death of one. A human has no place in the Game, no power, no influence; a piece of meat, livestock. And yet Kira was in the heart of the Game, at the very top-the highest point for the bottom of the food chain. A rare and unexpected opportunity, but also the most dangerous place any human could be.
Kira took a longer sip, her flannel long-sleeve pulled back by her movement. Jake saw the bruising on her wrist, "You trip..." He gestured quotes with his free hand, "Or did you run into a pole again?" He asked with displeased sarcasm.
"Actually this one was my fault: fell out of bed." Kira bumped her shoulder with his taking another sip.
Jake rose a brow, "About your family?"
"No..." She shook her head, "About Eona."
"Really?" She was asked with great surprise in her friend's voice, "That's weird, you two haven't talked in-"
"About five years, yeah." Kira confirmed rubbing her temple, then adjusting the scarlet scarf around her neck. She shut her eyes, "It was just a dream, but freaked me out enough that I shot out of bed, legs got caught in the sheets and I hit the ground."
"You gonna be alright?"
Kira chuckled waving the beer, "Oh yeah these help loads."
They both laughed.
Kira exhaled loudly, "Had Emily check it, its fine, a bit tender, no ropes or cuffs for me for a couple days though."
A whistle from one of the roof patrols signals that someone less than desirable of Kira's few freedoms was coming. Jake and Kira finished their beers and stood. Passing the empty bottle to his friend, Jake lifted her into his arms and jumped, landing on the ground in the gardens below. Away from the unpleasant guard, the two of them took their time walking the garden, enjoying the last of the morning dew before sleep called them both to their perspective stations.
"So how goes the matchmaking?" Kira prompted.
Jake rolled his eyes, "It's not matchmaking-I met with my fiance last night. We had dinner." He stressed, "It was nice."
"And here I thought arranged marriages were an old school thing that only humans did." Kira sung with intended obliviousness, "Oh the joy of being a human slave."
Jake stopped as Kira continued nonchalantly disregarding the seriousness of her own statement.
"You're not a slave." Jake quietly spoke, "Human or vampire you're a person, a person with a right to live and love like any other."
"That's a nice thought." Kira replied, pulling her scarf down reminding Jake of her-predicament, "But we both know that's not true, least of all for me."
The Noble Vampire exhaled loudly shaking his head, "I'm sorry...I wish there was something I could do."
"Jake, you're my best friend, you've helped me get out of more trouble than I can possibly think of."
"But you can't tell me everything because of Absolute Rule, I know and I hate it." Jake slid his hands into his suit pocket, "Can you at least come with us to the club Friday? Bunch of us are going; me, Kaden, Mike, Jules, Hanna." He drummed his head for another name.
Kira shrugged, "We'll see, its been getting harder and harder to leave lately."
"They think you're going to run?"
"They know I'm not stupid enough." The human frowned at him giving the face he should know better than to suggest that, "She's been agitated lately and has been keeping me closer than usual."
"I hate to be the one to ask, but...is she...clingy?"
They turned the corner.
"Pfff, more like marking her territory." Kira answered often comparing the behavior of vampires to predatory animals.
Of course she kept that comparison to herself knowing to keep her sharp tongue behind her teeth when in...polite company. She had to do that much of her life, especially the last few years. In the Palace everyday was a fight for her survival. Every expression of her face, every motion she made; her body language; heart beat; words spoken, all of it was an art; crafted, perfected and sculpted all these years to ensure her survival. This art was constantly changing, dynamic in its nature, the Game is not a force to be underestimated. Seeing the sun rising everyday was one more victory, one more absolution that she had survived, but she knew better than to become complacent. She learned that lesson not once, but twice.
"I'll ask about Friday, but no promises."
Jake came in front and spun on his heels, walking backwards with a victorious grin, "Alright! Don't forget I have to attend a Senate meeting tomorrow so I can't swing by till Wednesday."
Kira became quiet.
"Hey." Jake came around wrapping his arm around her shoulder, "You're smart, cautious, and stealthy. That makes you far more dangerous than any vampire here."
They turned another corner, heading toward the Palace.
"Try to get some sleep." Jake said releasing Kira, going off to the side of the Palace, disappearing after a few steps.
The sun had risen now, the light warming the growing day. Kira walked up the rear steps of the Palace, looking over the river that traveled towards the mountains and the valley between. The Palace was built into the mountain, high above a city that lies below. Beside it, a waterfall fell from the cliffs above creating a small pool in the back of the garden forbidden for use but anyone given direct permission by the Master of the House. Perfectly defensible from any attack, anyone who tried would be fighting an uphill battle. It also made escape impossible for a human such as herself simply from the fact she was not as fast, strong, or possessed rapid regeneration. On raw abilities alone, going against them directly was suicide.
Kira managed to survive in a different matter, then again it was never her idea, she went along with it. Looking out towards the back of the garden, she watched the sunrise over the horizon once more before heading inside. Years of living as a night owl and one's mind and body becomes wired in a certain way and yet, her nature as a human, a being of the light has her yearn for the day. Even if for a few minutes, a few moments, was a natural yearning for the sun. It seemed foolish to her now as an adult, as a child she associated it with being afraid of the dark and now as knew better. Now she knows she is terrified of the dark and her yearning for the day was nothing more than instinctive impulse to claw from the darkness and to have that absolution of surviving another night.
Walking inside the massive Palace, a place she self-labeled as her cage, she took the time to memorize every detail, every inch of this place. From top to bottom, inside and out, even the off-limits locations and secret passages only the oldest of guards and servant who had lived and served this family for years knew. She counted every step, knew the exact dimensions of every room, the distance between each door, the amount of steps, the number of doors and windows. The name of every painting, every person depicted, their births, deaths and significance to the Immortal history. Kira did all of this, learned every detail in order to survive and yet with all she learned, she did not understand the workings of vampire society and only had a small introduction to their hierarchy.
She has lived in this Palace for nearly fifteen years and in that time the furthest she has been are the pages of books, no further than the limits of the city below. Under heavy guard she was never let out of sight, but where she had hoped to gain their trust, or their complacency of her existence, instead of guards she became watched by vampire society as a whole, a human in her position is rare, unexpected and very...unwelcomed. Needless to say she has become the target of many hungry mouths, for more than who she stand behind.
The twenty-one year old woman passed a mirror and stopped to look at herself. On the outside she looked as though any other human woman, living her life, a normal life without a thing wrong in the world. Wearing torn blue skinny jeans, black sneakers and a light black and grey flannel complemented by the scarlet scarf around her neck. Her long hair was raven black, as dark as night was braided to the side of her head down the front of her collarbone. Her eyes were as blue as the sky reflecting that which she as a bird in a gilded cage, would never rise to fly free. She tried to copy what a college student around her age would be, based off of pre-war magazines she had acquired from the trash. The Master of the House did not care what Kira wore in her own time, but in 'polite company' or just hers there was an 'expectation. To anyone on the outside she looked like any other normal woman, but that was far from the truth.
Touching her neck, Kira walked past the mirror, trying to ignore the throbbing she felt beneath the fabric. She has learned to always trust her gut and her gut tells her something big is coming. Whether good or bad she did not know, but what she did know is that she would stay out of its way regardless. That was how she survived, that was how she saw the light of another day. Walking past a window to the outside, she looked below, seeing down into the city below. Even for the early hours of the morning people were up and active, a few had gathered again, picketing and protesting outside the furthest most gate to the Palace. Progressives: humans and ex-humans who think equality and coexistence are possible between humans and the immortals.
They're wasting their time. Kira thought to herself, her fingers touching the glass of the window as she watched them. There's no such thing as coexistence with them.
She continued on, going toward her room. This hall was empty now, safe for her. The Master of this house resided in these halls as did Kira, adding further to the growing displeasure of the human's existence. Grabbing the knob to her room, Kira looked down the hall, seeing for anyone, more specifically one person. No one, but that did not mean anything when being hunted by a vampire. One second you could be alone, the next you are pinned against the wall with their hands around your throat.
Kira twisted her neck left and right, feeling stiff. She just wanted to sleep now, just go into her room and collapse on the bed. Doing just that, kira shed her clothes and crawled into bed, pulling up her covers and hoping that sleep would take over soon and that there would be no dreams tonight, especially about Eona.
The first series of drapes were opened, farthest from the bed, then the third until the fifth, the last, which is directly beside the bed was left closed. Tea was ready on the nightstand; morning breakfast consisting of Crepes with questionably Strawberry flavored syrup, toast, and bacon to the lady's left and a tablet opened to the daily report neatly beside the TV remote. Perfection. Everyday she waited in the bed's shadow, hidden from the dwindling light of the sun. The Master of the house did not like to be awakened by the light of day, it is why the last set of drapes were kept closed.
Many punishments followed before Kira mastered the routine, not even from the Master, but behind the scenes by the head Maid and Butler. They demanded perfection drilling, beating into her that perfection until her knees and knuckles were bloody. Once blood was shed however, their Master showed compassion to the human servant. That compassion did not come without a price and it is one she continues to pay day by day and is the greatest asset to Kira's survival in the Game.
For Kira, that compassion was given by a Pureblood Vampire by the name of Carmilla Tepes the Master of this house.
"Good evening Lady Carmilla." Kira said once positioned in the light of the windows.
"Ah, breakfast in bed." Arose the Master opening her crimson eyes to drink in the woman before her, "How thoughtful." Kira jumped, Lady Carmilla pressed against her, pushing the woman against the wall between the two windows.
"But I do enjoy dessert so much more." The tall red-haired woman slipped her hand past Kira's tailcoat top, sliding around her waist and tugging her deeper to match the immortal's curves.
The vampire's crimson eyes glowed with desire, her plump lips touched by her tongue eager to tickle the flesh on the human. The tender, sweet surface of her prey beneath her fingertips; so easy to tear into; so fragile, a delicate bird whose wings must be clipped. Her long hair cascaded down her exposed back, some came down front, covering the lacy bra at the nipple. It had only been a few hours and still she found herself wanting more. Lady Carmilla felt Kira tremble in arousal at her touch, a touch the never fails to instigate such a response. She smiled pleased at her influence, but stepped back, returning to her bed, ringing her fingers through her curly hair when reaching for the tablet and taking her tea cup to bring to her lips.
"You can breathe now." Lady Carmilla teased, sensing Kira's pacing heart rate and rasped breath, "All good things come to those who wait." She added with a small smile, hearing Kira exhale quietly, calming herself quite effectively.
Lady Carmilla read the data on the tablet, sitting on the bed, her silky pink lingerie all she wore without a single sense of modesty. Kira moved towards one end of the bedpost, grabbing the robe draped on the post returning to the vampire's side when opening for her to place her arms in the sleeves. The human cringed slightly her wrist throbbed with a wrong twist. With Lady Carmilla temporarily clothed, Kira went on to the closet knowing there was a Senator coming to meet with her later in the night.
"What happened to your wrist?" The Lady asked, making Kira jump again as she silently moved, to her place in the doorway.
Kira bowed her head slightly, "I fell out of bed m'lady."
"Is that so?" Lady Carmilla asked, strutting towards Kira, taking the injured wrist into her long, slender fingers, "I hope that is the truth. Those of my staff should be well aware of the consequences for harming..." She brushed her fingers along Kira's cheek, "That which is mine."
The human shuttered, a smile came across the vampire's face as she traced her finger under Kira's chin. Even the slightest touch, the smallest brush is enough to get this woman flustered, a few steps more and the vampire can easily make her putty in her arms. How delightful that would be, such a treat this early in the night, but not now, now she needed to rest and recover to provide her continuously delicious service. Lady Carmilla hummed in contemplation then walked past Kira to look at her own attire.
"You will take the remainder of the day off." The vampire ordered, "Any who dare raise a hand to you in opposition will suffer the consequences."
"M'lady it's just a bruised wrist Doctor Sanders already-"
Kira leapt out of her skin, Lady Carmilla's intense gaze made a lump form in her throat and she bit her tongue before she jeopardize her life. One second, that's all it took, one whim of the vampire to decide she did not have any use for Kira any longer. She needed to prove her worth, her use constantly, otherwise she would likely find herself on the dinner table.
"Forgive me, I spoke out of turn." Kira quickly apologized avoiding her Master's gaze.
Lady Carmilla shook her head, "You did nothing wrong. While your devotion to me is admirable, when I command you to care for your health I am not to be questioned." She walked toward Kira, whispering into her ear, "Those who are disobedient are punished."
Kira swallowed.
"And we both know that I can be very creative in my punishments."
