Loosening the scarf, Kira exhaled leaning forward, her knee bouncing up and down as she waited anxiously. She had not expected this of herself, to request such a thing, in fact she was certain that if she was successful her life would be in the greatest amount of danger than she thought herself capable of putting herself intentionally into. Whether or not Lady Carmilla would protect her was unknown, or even if this request of audience would be taken seriously. But one thing was for certain, whatever Carmilla was afraid of Kira knew to be afraid of too and if she could get ahead of that fear and that unknown enemy, then she would survive yet again.
This at the very least she could work to get ahead of. An unknown enemy that she should not even know about; the question is how to deceive the Empress to accept without suspicion. Why her 'pet' was suddenly asking to know about the immortal's society, their workings, their plan; she would be asking the Empress to put her trust into livestock. Kira hoped, that her years as an obedient and loyal 'pet' would at least have her not question her motivations.
Perhaps she could be honest to a degree, omitting some truth was not a lie so long as she was not asked directly. Even if suspicion was aroused, Kira had been well versed in innocent deception, a skill impeccable to her survival; at the moment was being tested truly by Eona's presence. This is the best way—if I can stay by Carmilla's side even when she leaves the Palace I'll be safer than being here with her. Kira thought to herself as the door opened, three vampires leaving, passing her while only one bothered to glare at the human.
She heard her name from within, the door left ajar by the master's order as the others departed. Kira took a deep, nervous breath, her knees weak with anxiety and fear. If this went the wrong way Carmilla could get the wrong idea about her intentions and all the years spent building their relationship would fall to shambles. She has to trust me a least a little, but maybe I'm wrong, she's a vampire after all. Not waiting to have her name called a second time, Kira stood, entering the office.
As she entered, she turned around, softly closing the door with one hand on the door knob, the other braced on the door's surface. Finding the courage, or stupidity, seeing as the two seemed to be difficult to distinguish, Kira turned around to Carmilla. Behind the sleek, modern desk there were three holographic screens projected in front of her master. Though they were relatively transparent, Kira could tell the vampire's focus was not on her, which made her relax slightly, but also worry she would not be taken seriously.
Carmilla flipped through paperwork in front and to her side, alternating between the physical and the projected. For a moment she said nothing, believing Carmilla had either ignored her presence, or was otherwise occupied. Kira admitted she did not often see the Empress working, not on anything professional, their time together often involved...less clothing and certainly less paperwork. As of late Carmilla's summons of Kira to her bedroom had gradually increased, not that the vampire's consumption of the human's blood had. Why this was, Kira did not know.
"Your heartbeat is elevated." Carmilla said without looking at Kira, "It only beats this way when you are nervous."
Kira cursed internally. Shit, I thought I was able to hide it. Nervously, she tried to gather the courage to speak, but there was a lump in her throat. She was scared, terrified even of speaking to Carmilla in a manner that did not involve the human melting in the vampire's embrace. This was the first time she had attempted anything beyond that and the instinctual fear of what the repercussions might be were beginning to override her attempts at self-preservation in a new way.
Carmilla noticed this, she stopped what she was doing and stood, coming around her desk, she closed the distance between the two of them.
"What is it?" Asked the vampire, her hand touching Kira's cheek.
It barely calmed her.
"Lady Carmilla..." Kira clenched her fist, "I...I want to be of more use to you..." She finally was able to say, "I...want to help you..."
Chuckling the vampire used her finger under Kira's chin to raise her sky-blue eyes to meet her own crimson.
"What is it you wish to help me with?" She smirked, her voice low and smooth, "I am not thirsty, but my hunger for you is...constant."
Kira, normally able to control some of her reactions, quickly turned red.
"I-if that is what you wish..." She said accepting that either she was not being taken seriously, or Lady Carmilla did not understand her meaning.
Not satisfied with the answer, Carmilla tilted her head curiously, there was something more she had come here to discuss. From the beginning it was out of character of her to initiate contact between the two of them, at first she though it something to do with Eona, but it seems she may have happily been mistaken.
"Satisfying our physical needs is not why you are here. Is it?" Carmilla asked out right.
Nervously and slowly Kira shook her head, averting her eyes. She was right to be nervous, to be squirming under the vampire's touch, but this intrigued that same vampire. It was incredibly rare that Kira asked for anything, at least to the Empress directly, normally any of her wants and needs to met by secondhand awareness and reports by other sources. It was the Empress's subtle way to win over the human's loyalty and affections, something more indirect than she would have gone for any other, but it was necessary.
She desired something more than a slave.
"What is it you wish?"
Kira bit her lip, "I want to learn." She finally forced out, "About vampires, how you rule; how you came to rule. I want to know you better."
"You wish to know me?" Carmilla asked with surprise, but it was apparent this was a pleasant surprise.
She smiled seductively, lightly brushing Kira's arm up and down, "But we know one another so well already."
The slightest touch was enough to raise the goosebumps on the woman's body, but there was something else in her eyes. Kira obeyed shyly, any and all orders and commands Carmilla gave in and out of the bedchamber. She melted in the vampire's arms at the lightest touch, the dirtiest words, even the gaze of the immortal was enough to make the human weak in the knees. This time...Kira fought against her body's natural weakness to Carmilla trying to keep firm.
"Lady Carmilla...I've been in your care for the last fifteen years, I've learned a lot, as a human in your world." Kira started, finding her confidence, "I want to be of better use to you, that maybe somehow even as a human I can be useful."
Carmilla stepped back, leaning against her desk intrigued. She thought of Kira's words for a few moments, but there was little to consider.
The Empress tilted her head slightly, "You are familiar with the Game?"
Kira nodded.
"Even for an Empress, the Game is an important tool to control the Council and Pureblood houses." Carmilla began, gesturing for Kira to sit in front of her.
It is called the Game because of the play of power between houses. Marriages, offspring, wealth and influence; these are things that drive a Vampire House to rise in stature. The highest of course are Purebloods, The purest of vampires who have never had a single trace of human DNA within them. This is why their individual power is great, granting them abilities such as Absolute Rule: the ability to compel other vampires to obey any and all commands. Purebloods, the perfect vampires, are few in number, their rich blood and immense power sought after by lesser vampires.
In the immortal hierarchy next comes Noble Vampires, those who are born vampires either from other nobles or sometimes Purebloods. They are strong, having impressive abilities, though not as Purebloods. Following are Ex-humans, vampires born human and turned into a vampire by a Pureblood. They do not often exhibit abilities on par of that of Nobles, nevertheless Purebloods, but the exact understanding of what vampires have the capacity to exhibit abilities is still inconclusive.
There is a level even lower than Ex-humans, one that almost any vampire is capable of reaching if they fall prey to their own nature. They call it Level E: those who have gone completely insane, mad by starvation, loss, binge-eating or contracting something from their prey. They have lost their sense of self and their original personalities are overwritten, devoured by their animalistic instinct to hunt, kill and feed. At their core, vampires are predators after all. Once an immortal degrades to Level E, they very rarely return and are often hunted down and exterminated.
Carmilla looked at Kira's covered neck, protected by the scarlet scarf, "A human bitten by a Pureblood faces only two true options. Turning or dying."
Kira hesitated.
"But...there is also another type of vampire: they aren't classified by any specific level because it is more of a state of mind than physical. A vampire who goes into this state of mind is treated as incredibly dangerous and a treat to human and vampire alike. We call them Demons."
Demons are immortals who give into their instinct, allowing them to be controlled by their inner vampire. These personalities are often polar opposites to the immortal's original; usually it is dominated by a single emotion. They do not just consume blood, but flesh, bone, vampire and human alike. Demons can be one of the most dangerous being in existence, as vampires already feel emotions nearly ten times harder than human, a ghoul who is ruled by a single one can triple it.
Carmilla seemed saddened by their mentioning, "Vampires who become Demons...almost never return to who they were."
"They change that much...?"
Bounding her head side to side Carmilla answers, "Some people of capable of change, while others...become who they were meant to be."
At age fifteen, Kira had lived many years in the Imperial Palace becoming close friends with Eona and Jake. They were the only ones within each others age and played together often. Though the staff and guest showed difference and Kira's actions and reactions when guests were present was different, when they were alone and it was just the three of them they were all equal.
Back then Eona wore dresses and skirts, her hair was long and silky, Kira would often sit behind her under the tree and braid it while Jake sat in the tree. There was nearly nothing the three did not do together, Eona and Kira in particular were thick as thieves causing all manner of mischief. They were never caught, not with Eona's speed and Kira's knowledge of staff schedule and habits, working as a stand in during the summer vacation.
Running through the Palace they found ever secret passage and hidden compartment in the ancient castle, discovering secrets long forgotten or never known, but by the original architect. They would sneak out during the day, exploring the river and forests above, following the streams until finding the small lake a mile away, even there seemed to be its own trove of treasures. Swimming in the freezing waters; watching the sun set over the horizon, the creatures of the day retreat before the rulers of the night emerged.
Having small picnics, talking about everything and nothing, watching the clouds roll by, the seasons change, the city illuminate the valley. This special place, a cliff overlooking the palace beside the waterfall was special, known only by Eona and Kira. There they camped for a couple hours, telling another secrets, sharing memories of pasts neither would return to. It was easier to connect with someone when they shared the same pain of losing a mother.
Kira had forgotten the pain she suffered from all those years ago, forgot the daily struggle to survive she lived for over two years when the war began. She forgot humanity lost, she forgot what she lost, living a life like a normal child would have. Her and Eona were closer than others, their shared interest in many things only bringing them closer, reinforcing their feelings toward another.
That secret cliff was where they affirmed their feelings, children who knew nothing of the evil of the world. Innocent people who only wanted to love and cherish another; there was no human and vampire, no master or servant, simply two people in love. Kira thought she would be able to live a happy life, to grow up and the three of them would always be together.
That is what she thought.
One fateful night, a houseful of guests had the human safely tucked away in her room. She was not forbidden from leaving, but she had long grown into the habit of not being present with other guests. Originally it was to avoid her becoming a meal of another vampire, but after a time it was something done as a force of habit than with a purpose. There were numerous times when she left with no problems before, the hunger in her stomach had her leave for the kitchen.
There were many more guests than Kira originally thought, she found she could not make it to the kitchen unseen this way and decided to use a passage found nearby Eona's room. She had done this numerous times and seeing as it was on the way back to her room it was not a problem. On her way, Eona's aunt, Lady Carmilla, was heard.
Though Eona and Kira were close, Lady Carmilla was not someone she liked to be near by herself. The Empress often had these eyes of hunger toward Kira, a desire she did not quite understand. Slipping into a nearby room, Kira silently backed away from the door, hoping that her presence would go unnoticed. The Empress's words were indistinguishable, but her voice was easily recognized, a chuckle she spoke to another unknown woman. They stopped for a moment, Kira heard the door jingle, her heartbeat quickened, the door opened partly, but it stopped. Lady Carmilla's voice more easily heard through the ajar door, then it opened, the Empress kissing another woman in the doorway.
Kira held her breath, the one vampire was too deeply engrossed in the Empress's arms she did not notice the human, but the Empress her did. It was not the fact of seeing two women kissing, but rather it was the Empress whom Kira never expected be a bisexual. Two crimson eyes locked on two stunned sky-blue, their intensity not angry, not violent, but inviting. That same hunger Kira recognized was present, but while the woman in the Empress's arms was focused on the Pureblood, she was not returned the same. The Empress was focused on Kira.
"Let's go to my room." Lady Carmilla said, Kira did not know whether she was talking to her or the vampress hanging on her.
Stepping back, keeping eye contact, Carmilla closed the door, their footsteps quickly fading as they went down the hall to the Empress's bedchambers. Kira exhaled loudly, sucking in replacement oxygen, breathless from more than just a lack of breathing. The human shook some, the intensity of Carmilla's eyes as unnerving as ever. I hate when she does that. She clenched her jaw, looking out to the moon hanging high in the sky through the window. Wanting to wait a little longer before she headed back, Kira walked to the window to look down at the people below.
From behind the door creaked, Kira turned—black took her vision. She was on the ground, scurrying back, kicking her feet that slipped on the blood drenched floor. She forced herself back with one arm, her other clenching her neck hard. Heat began to be pulled from her limbs, they grew cold as that same heat rapidly escaped her neck, coating her hand in its wetness. Panting, Kira struggled to keep her eyes open, her vision going in and out as she saw another person standing in the shadows, their crimson eyes overpowering her identification of their face.
Pain burned at her neck, her heart beat so hard she thought it would break from her chest. Harder she clenched her neck, she coughed, spitting blood from her mouth the wall hit her back. Stinging pain shot up throughout her back, multiple wounds on her back stained the wall; her clothes. She had nowhere to go, no strength to fight. I'm gonna die. Kira remembered the helplessness she felt watching her family be massacred, remembered it was the vampire, remembered that she was human and that to them she was nothing more than food. I don't want to be one of them! Glass beside her from a window she does not remember being broken, she reached to it, but her vision blurred.
She woke up in bed, her neck wrapped, Doctor Sanders beside her, speaking to Lady Carmilla.
"Ah." The Empress sensed the awakening, "You mustn't move."
Kira ignored it, sitting up, her neck screaming agony, as though someone has poured liquid fire down her throat. She grasped her neck instinctively, Doctor Sanders eased her grip free, explaining to Kira that she lost a lot of blood and severely wounded.
"I—I—w-as—a—tat—cked!" She struggled to speak.
Lady Carmilla nodded, "Yes, a Pureblood attacked you, fortunately Doctor Sanders was able to stabilize you."
"I was able to prevent you from turning." Emily said more importantly, "You're still human, but you shouldn't move in your condition. The Stigma is working, but your body is weak."
"St-igma—?" Kira tried to get up, Doctor Sanders tried to hold her down, "What—what does that mean!" She resisted, the doctor realizing that Kira was about to become erratic called for sedation, "What does that mean!" She shouted
Lady Carmilla grabbed Kira by the sides of her chin and forced her to look at her, "Stop fighting." She commanded.
Kira glared, Carmilla grabbed her arm, stopping her from swinging, "Stop fighting and I will show you."
The human breathed heavily, quickly, her useless resistance of the vampire subdued, her arm and face were let go. Carmilla reached to her neck, Kira hesitated, instinctively jerking back and protecting her neck. For once, the vampire did not force the human to obey, she grabbed a hand-held mirror instead from the dresser.
"See for yourself." Carmilla said holding the mirror.
Taking it, Kira looked at her bandaged neck, Doctor Sanders slowly and delicately unwrapped her neck at its end was a crossing, dagger it tattoo swollen, puffy and red on her neck.
Kira left Carmilla's office feeling a sense of pride and victory. She had managed to convince Carmilla to allow her to learn of the government, mentioning that a part of these lessons would be done first-hand. Experience is the best teacher, Kira's attendance of social events would be a drastic change to her presence among those of the Game. They may see her as a threat, but a well-protected one. No one would dare raise a hand to the Empress's property, but the vampire must not show weakness. Many would take her bringing of Kira as a show favoritism.
While favoritism and the opinions of the Council mattered not to the Empress, their resources, assets and support did. Remaining united avoided factions, avoided internal wars and struggles for power that their enemies may see as the moment to strike. Some may even take it that Kira is a soft spot to the Empress, a weakness, though this is not true, it truth is irrelevant. Kira's life is in danger nevertheless. It was her choice, though Carmilla enjoyed keeping such a treasure to herself, she enjoyed the opportunities Kira's presence would bring. No longer would she have to keep her in the Palace like a secret, safe keeping from others, instead she would be beside her, a useful tool for resisting humans as well.
Outside, Kira felt a sense of nostalgia come over her and decided to visit a place she had not in a long time. The old tunnels and passageways remained untouched by time, unused in her absence, but nevertheless she remembered them like the back of her hand. She was above the Palace now, overlooking the entire valley as the dawn came to greet the valley. This was her favorite time, her alone time, when the colors of the sun painted the skies a beautiful canvas.
She was not alone.
"I thought you forgot about our spot." Said the vampire coming from the passage.
Andddddd there goes my peaceful morning.
Kira stood up from the cliff's edge, "Consider it yours, I was just leaving." She said in one breath, her words visible in the morning chill.
She began to pass Eona, but the other woman grabbed her by the arm, keeping her from going any farther.
"Kira...I don't care about this spot, I care about you." Eona said.
The human looked at her arm, "Huh." She jerked her arm free, "Could've fooled me."
Eona followed her back down, to the wine cellar that saw little traffic. There they had privacy, uninterrupted, but too loud of raised voices and attention would quickly be grabbed. Especially in a house full of vampires. Yet in this house, the Tepes women were as different as night and day and Kira was right in the middle. Between a rock and a hard place.
"Please, Kira, give me a chance—"
"To what?" The younger woman stopped, not bothering to turn around, "Not explain why you left? You know we never did figure out who stopped writing to the other first." Kira's tone was mocking, she turned leaning her back against one of the pillars to finally look at Eona as she crossed her arms, "Do you even know, what you put me through? Does your entitled, prideful, Pureblood, arrogance even comprehend the consequences of your actions?"
"I couldn't stay." Eona frowned, "After you were attacked...its hard...for a young Pureblood to control their thirst. I was afraid I'd hurt you."
Kira blinked, "Hurt me?" She uncrossed her arms and marched right up to Eona, jabbing a finger in her chest, "You did more than hurt me."
Stepping back as an angry Kira advanced, "I tried to protect you, I thought my aunt would leave you alone."
"This isn't about Carmilla!" Kira slugged Eona in the chest, "This is about us!" Her words began to be choked on, "You weren't there! I needed you and you left!" She slammed both her fists into a cornered Eona, "I was alone and had no one to turn to! I almost died and the one person I was closest to, the one person I needed abandoned me! Carmilla was the one who protected me, who saved me, not you!"
She beat her fists against the vampire. The intensity of her fists lessening as the woman's heartbeat raced, her legs weakening. Eona held her up, grabbing her arms, keeping her from dropping to her knees. It was her fault, leaving unexpectedly, just after Kira was attacked, but there was no choice and telling the truth was not an option, not yet.
"I'm sorry." Eona apologized.
Kira stepped back, pushing off Eona's chest, "You think you can come here and apologize, thinking everything—"
Eona grabbed the back of Kira's head, pressing her lips against the other woman, her other hand grabbed the younger's waist, pulling her into her. Kira's hands instinctively grabbed Eona's waists, pull them both closer, the vampire's tongue exploring the inside of her mouth. For a moment they parted, Kira trying to catch her breath, caught in a spell cast by Eona. Again Eona went forward, her lips plump, wet as her tongue assaulted Kira's own. It was intense, pure passion, different than lust entirely, it was deeper, hungry for emotion, for heart and mind.
Pushing the vampire back, Kira covered her mouth with a gasp. What the hell was she thinking, what the hell was she doing? No, no that did not happen! That can't happen! Kira stepped back, Eona reached out gently taking her hand, placing her lips on her knuckles as she kissed them. She smiled, looking at woman's red face, nearly matching the scarlet scarf.
"I made the mistake of letting you go once trying to protect you. I won't do it again."
