Zoran sat on the edge of the lookout of the long abandoned Byrgenwerth College, looking out towards the moon-illuminated lake. He was uncertain as to why he had originally returned here, seeing as there was little else left for him here after slaying Rom; but the beautiful sight before him was welcome after the endless myriad of twisted buildings and blood-stained streets that had made up a large part of his journey. He understood why Willem had been so fond of this lookout, even as his mind began to wither away.
Really, all he wanted was a place to escape from it all. Away from his duty, away from the eldritch beings now fully visible in Yharnam, away from the Nightmare. Away from her.
Ever since their last meeting, Zoran's thoughts gravitated towards Maria. He could not deny that their time together had helped pull him back from the brink and helped him see that there was still something there for him in this bleak world that surrounded him. In return, Zoran had tried to ease her own suffering, in what little way he could.
But he had felt something change between them when he let her remove his mask, as his feeling of trust and respect for her blossomed into something else. After they had parted ways, he set about concocting a plan to see if he was right; but he never could've predicted their experimental exchange would end the way it did.
They had talked about nothing and everything, sharing stories until their bottles were empty, the teapot was drained and his supply of "pryaniks" had been reduced to mere crumbs. He had planned to give her the music box in either case, but somehow, she still managed to surprise him; inviting him to dance with her as it's tune quietly played in the background. If their meeting were to have concluded there, he would've been content; but it didn't. And any doubt he had as to the nature of his feelings for her immediately vanished.
He found himself desperately wanting to return to her, to listen to her enchanting voice. To have her close to him. To see her smile again.
But part of him was afraid to go back, because he had not been entirely honest with her.
The helm he held in his hands was a reminder of what he really was, something he wasn't proud of. When he told Maria about the loss of his former comrade Alfred, he had not specified as to the cause of his madness. In truth, he had aided the Executioner in his eternal quest to find the fabled Cainhurst Castle, final resting place of his exalted Master Logarius and the home of Queen Annalise, last of the Vilebloods.
Or at least, she was.
As he travelled through the Forbidden Woods, a mysterious force had beckoned him through a nearby cave and back to Iosefka's Clinic, where he found the latest efforts of the Church's gruesome experiments, as well as an envelope that invited him to visit the Castle Cainhurst. How it had gotten there or how they knew who he was remained a mystery to him, but he followed its instructions to the latter.
Upon his arrival, he almost subconsciously made his way towards where Annalise' chamber was located, almost as if he were a marionette being guided along a path. As he progressed further into the abandoned castle, he laid witness to the bloodshed inflicted by the Church's Executioners against it's inhabitants; coming upon the long decayed architect on a seemingly empty snowy roof. Upon his defeat of the shell of what had once been Master Logarius, he almost subconsciously put on his fallen crown, revealing the long-lost chamber of the Vileblood Queen.
As he entered, the same voice that had guided him thus far echoed clearly through the vast room, instructing him to either kneel before her or to leave. Her words emanated with authority, yet were also rather inviting, tempting him to approach her. As he followed her instruction, she had made it seem like she was surprised by his arrival, but he understood that it was a mere act.
She knew exactly who he was.
As she introduced herself and recounted the brutal actions the Church had inflicted on her and her people, Zoran remembered feeling a sudden anger swell within him. His own anger towards the ones that had forced him into this hunt still fresh in his mind, it was only amplified by the horrors he had come across during his journey to this very room. She had chosen her words very carefully.
Zoran had pledged himself to the Queen, taking up arms against the Church in a hope to bring their entire organization to ruin. Swearing the Vileblood Oath and partaking of the queen's rotten blood, he donned the armor of the Royal Guard and took up the Chikage, weapon of the defenders of Cainhurt's royal bloodline; the hybrid weapon eating away at his very essence every time he used it.
But he didn't care. All he cared about was exacting revenge on the Healing Church and it didn't matter to him how many people he had to slay to see it through. He had been born to kill, he thought; why bother hiding from what he truly was?
This continued until he had slaughtered dozens of his former comrades, harvesting their blood and bringing it back to Annalise in order to further her ambition to produce an heir, as well as to gain more of her unholy, yet invigorating blood. As he cut down his targets, one after another, he began to relish the feeling of the kill, with each victim bringing a sense of unparalleled euphoria.
It wasn't until he went after the only Executioner he believed remained in Yharnam that he began to realize the error of his way. Alfred fought valiantly and ruthlessly, but he was soon overwhelmed and at his mercy. Yet, he displayed no fear at his impending doom, daring him to finish him. Despite being unaware of his assailant's true identity, Alfred's words had stopped Zoran from killing him.
This was his friend. He had been a loyal and trustworthy partner throughout the night, and a valuable source of interaction. And he had come dangerously close to slaughtering him like a crazed animal.
This moment of clarity did not last long, for he soon found himself back in her chamber. As he knelt before her as per usual, he was surprised when she ordered for him to stand, herself rising from her throne and approaching him. Rid of the mask forced on her by the Executioners, Zoran could see that his gifts had restored her to the prime of her youth. She praised him then: for his dedication to Cainhurst, his prowess in combat and above all, his loyalty to her. Even as she removed his helm, he found himself unable to stop her, almost as if he had been placed under a spell.
The next thing he knew, he was lying in a bed, an unconscious Annalise by his side. He did not remember a thing of what had happened, but in the absence of the Queen's silver tongue, it became quite clear to him what she had done to him.
He had long assumed that Annalise had planned to be the bearer of a Great One's child, and as the first and most influential of the Vilebloods, she was an ideal host for such a child. Yet the longer his service went on and this prediction failed to come to fruition, his theory began to fall apart at the seams.
She was no doubt aware of the fate that befell Queen Yharnam, her distant ancestor and the last known bearer of a Child of Blood. Realizing the inherent danger of consorting with beings beyond her comprehension, she had opted to play the long game; slowly accumulating enough "echo-fiend" blood to make the liaison unnecessary.
The Dregs he brought to her had the added benefit of restoring her to her younger, more fertile years, with the subsequent gifts of blood offered to him furthering his own status as a Vileblood in turn. She never intended to be impregnated by a nameless deity. What she truly wanted was to continue her own lineage with a truly special child. One that she could control.
And he was to be the final step in that quest. A "moon-scented" hunter who had the forbidden blood of Cainhurst flowing through his veins. The perfect specimen to father the legendary "Child of Blood"; a role he would fulfill whether he wanted to or not.
She had manipulated him. Corrupted him. Violated him. And now, he had served his purpose.
But alas, her flesh was undying, so nothing he could do would bring him the vengeance he so desired. Yet as Queen Annalise slumbered, her plan seemingly coming into fruition, she was unaware that her trusted knight had slipped away; a single, bloodstained envelope in tow.
That had been the last time he had seen her in one piece, but even as the remains of her queenly flesh squirmed on her throne, her legacy lived on.
Lived on within him.
Now that he knew of Maria's disdain of her former home, he had hidden all traces of his ties to Cainhurst from her. He did not know if she would be willing to accept him after knowing the truth, but part of him knew she would find out, sooner or later. He had buried himself in his duties in order to distract himself from this uncertainty and to find any excuse not to return. He did not want her to turn on him, just like all the others.
But he could not bear lying to her any longer. It was time she knew the truth.
….
The soothing melody echoed through the Clocktower for what seemed like the hundredth time. Any other person would have long ago been driven mad from being forced to listen to the same mind-numbing tune over and over again, but Maria welcomed anything that would break the unbearable silence within her domain. Despite the relatively modest nature of the music box, it was a gift she would always treasure.
Despite the multitude of thoughts that ran through her mind, they always seemed to come back to her last encounter with Zoran. He had proven himself good company long ago, but even though they had been engaged in conversation for what was felt like half a dozen hours, she did not grow weary. She could not recall being able to converse so freely with someone as she did with him, where it seemed as if no topic was off the table.
But one aspect of their encounter stood above the others. Though she had hoped only to alleviate the dark cloud that had settled on them after his story, the moment the music box stopped playing had made it seem as if nothing were wrong in the world. But when he told her that he had finally chosen to confront what he believed to be his greatest failure; she chose to show that it meant just as much to her as it did to him.
And he had eagerly returned the gesture, removing the last semblance of doubt she had as to what passed between them.
Something had clearly changed between them, and up until that point; she was hesitant to call it by its name. But their last meeting was…magical. So much so that she didn't want it to ever end. He had always made her feel at ease when they were together; but their last few meetings had inspired something she had not felt in a long time.
Genuine happiness.
To see him so high-spirited and animated compared to the wreck he had been when they first met warmed her heart; especially now that she knew the type of man he was before the hunt had crushed his spirit. He was a joy to be around, attentively listening one moment and beginning a seemingly meaningless discussion the next. But no matter how bleak their surroundings seemed to be, he never failed to bring a smile to her face.
But despite all that, a lingering guilt was present at the back of her mind. Not from the action itself, but from the fact that he still did not know the reason she was trapped in this Nightmare to begin with. Of the unspeakable cruelty she had inflicted on the citizens of that hamlet so many years ago. And of the reason she stood guard to ensure no-one else discovered it.
She had been so absorbed in thought that she did not notice the strange figure enter the Clocktower until he had already passed through the gate. Swiftly grabbing her Rakuyo, she saw a man wearing a full suit of armor, with a helm covering his face. Upon closure expectation, she recognized it immediately, hatred gripping her as she realized the armor's origin.
"Knight of Cainhurst! What despicable quest brings you to my domain?!" She questioned her mysterious visitor, only to be met with silence as the figure continued to approach her.
"I will not allow you to further your Queen's twisted ambition. You will get nothing from me." She said in a rage, fully prepared to combat this intruder.
Suddenly, he spoke, his helm obscuring his voice.
"The Queen is dead, as are her subjects. Cainhurst Castle lies in disrepair. We are all that remains of it's legacy."
Maria could hardly believe her ears. Long had she dreamed of seeing Cainhurst's nobility crumble into nothing, their despicable practices abandoned for good. She had thought Annalise's death impossible, yet clearly the pompous nature of the castle's nobles extended far beyond their invitations. But she did not allow this news to distract her from the figure in front of her, who's identity remained a mystery.
"Who are you?" She asked the intruder, her disdain evident with every word.
"I am a Royal Guard of Cainhurst Castle, a Vileblood." He took of his helmet then and upon seeing his true identity, Maria dropped her Rakuyo in shock, backing away in astonishment.
"I, the very last on this Earth."
"Zoran? But… how…"
….
It had been several hours since Zoran had given Alfred the envelope that would lead him to Cainhurst Castle. He had feigned ignorance as to the reason of his injured state and shared his vials with him to help him recover before he presented him with the very thing he had sought for so long.
Ever since he had aided him in battle against the poisonous beast in Old Yharnam, Alfred had been the first person he would go to in case he needed someone's help and he was always happy to provide it. It was about time he returned the favour.
Zoran set his thoughts on Annalise' throne room, still wearing the armour that had been granted to him in the off chance his friend had not arrived yet. In any case, he did not want to miss her comeuppance. When he finally materialized, the first thing he heard was Alfred's triumphant exclamation.
"Master, look! I've done it, I've done it! I smashed and pounded and grounded this rotten siren in to fleshy pink pulp! There, you filthy monstrosity! What good's your immortality now! Try stirring up trouble in THIS sorry state! All mangled and twisted, with every inside on the outside, for all the world to see!"
He erupted into rapturous laughter, the intensity of which sent shivers down Zoran's spine. Making his way to his ally, he laid witness to his handiwork. Queen Annalise, now nothing more then a bloody paste, what little remained writhing eerily as if still trying to draw breath. Though he knew the barbaric tactics of the Executioners, the sight before him still caused him to feel sick to the stomach. Looking at Alfred, he found the protegee stained in blood, wearing a golden cone-like helmet and hoisting a massive wheel on his shoulder, giggling like a madman.
"Oh, you, is it? Look at this! Thanks to you, I've done it!" Alfred suddenly recognized Zoran's presence, pure joy in his voice. "Well? Isn't it wonderful? Now master can be canonized as a true martyr!"
"Alfred, what has happened to you?" Zoran was thoroughly disturbed by the Executioner, who now seemed like a completely different person from the kind-hearted stranger he had met in the Cathedral Ward.
"I've become whole. I have carried out my Master's final wish. I've done it. I have." He then erupted into another round of laughter, causing Zoran to back away from him uneasily.
"Now, what is the meaning of this? Did you not wish to see the end of this wretched siren? You should rejoice!" Alfred suspiciously questioned his ally.
"I did. Truly, I did. But this is… this was not the end I would have envisioned." Zoran told the bloodstained Executioner.
"Oh, I see. You're jealous, aren't you?" Alfred mocked his compatriot.
"What? No. I fear for your well-being. The Alfred I knew would not resort to such senseless brutality!" Zoran tried to reason with one of the few people he called his friend.
"Then perhaps you did not know me as well as you thought! Fifteen years I have waited for this moment and at the dawn of my finest hour, you stand there and judge me? Need I remind you that I would not have made it here if not for you?!" Alfred began to scold Zoran, edging closer towards him with every word.
"No, I need no reminder. But I know I did not go through hell and back just to see you lose yourself to madness!" Zoran fired back.
"Mad, am I? What would you know?" Alfred snarled, now face to face with his fellow hunter.
"More than you can imagine." Was all Zoran managed to reply with, but it seemed to cause a dawn of realization to descend over the Executioner, as he backed away from his ally.
"Master Logarius was the anchor that ensured no one would discover the Vilebloods again. I thought him lost to time, but it was you, wasn't it?" He realized, his grip on his weapon tightening the longer he spoke.
"It was." Zoran admitted sheepishly.
"And the only way you could have obtained the summons that brought me here, was to be…" Suddenly, Alfred's head shot up and if he were able to see his face, Zoran was almost certain he was glaring at him.
"You. A Vileblood?!" Alfred questioned; betrayal evident in his voice.
"Alfred, please. You must understand. I wasn't in my right mind. She manipulated me." Despite his pleading, Zoran knew he couldn't reason with Alfred any further.
"You lied to me. You were in league with this wench from the beginning. You aim to stifle the Master's will." Alfred stated in an accusing tone, before he began to shake in visible anger.
Before Zoran could protest, Alfred charged towards him with a gut-wrenching scream, ready to ground him into mush. Sliding back at the last moment, Zoran drew his Chikage and continued to evade the Executioner's relentless swings, knowing that he could not defend himself from such a heavy weapon.
"Unclean wench! Vile monstrosity! Bloody fool!" Alfred's rage induced insults echoed throughout the throne room as he chased after his prey, his only aim being its complete annihilation.
"Alfred, listen to me! I am not your enemy!" Zoran pleaded with his friend.
"LIAR! Just like your mistress! You have been tainted by her unholy blood! This is what you deserve!" Zoran's pleas fell on deaf ears.
Zoran ceased his retreat and ducked underneath Alfred's wheel, sliding forward as it sailed past him into a nearby statue, shattering it. As he did this, he slashed at Alfred's stomach with his sword, causing the Executioner to cry out in pain and double over as he clutched his bloodied abdomen, his Ardeo falling of his head to reveal collapsing, bloodshot eyes. His theory had been confirmed. Alfred was descending into beast-hood.
"The blood! You've spilled my blood!"
The Executioner then reached for his weapon, revving it several times until a blood-red aura surrounded the wheel. Charging at Zoran with renewed vigor, Alfred continued his onslaught. Noticing that the strength of the Executioner's swing was weakening with each passing second, he suddenly had an idea. He continued to evade Alfred's attacks for the next twenty seconds, until the effort that was necessary to maintain the buff became too much to bear, causing the executioner to struggle when trying to lift his massive weapon. Seizing the opportunity, Zoran rushed towards his corrupted friend, driving him through the chest in one swift motion.
Alfred dropped his wheel, desperately reaching for Zoran as if still attempting to catch him, seemingly not noticing the weapon embedded in his chest. The Vileblood then pulled the Chikage from the Executioner's chest, causing its victim to drop to his knees, completely drained from his vain attempt to slay Zoran. Looking up at the target of his rage, Alfred began to softly chuckle to himself as his body began to fade away.
"Pray for Master Logarius in my stead…" He pleaded before collapsing, seemingly recognizing his friend in his final moments.
Zoran spared one more look at Annalise's mangled remains, a realization suddenly dawning on him. The Vilebloods had won. It did not matter that every last one of them had been wiped out, for even in death, they had managed to drive their greatest adversaries to the brink of ruin. Looking down at the accursed weapon in his hands, Zoran flung it across the room in a fit of rage, managing to impale the Queen's writhing flesh as he did so. But he knew it did not matter. She would survive, no matter what he did. And even if he somehow managed to slay her, he had ensured that the Vileblood legacy would live on within him.
With that, he rushed into the bitter cold of the Castle's exterior, where he had slain the shell that remained of the once mighty Logarius so long ago. Glancing once more at the accursed castle, he focused his attention on the lantern in front of him and left Cainhurst, vowing never to return.
….
Maria stared at the helm Zoran held in his hands, several thoughts running through her mind. Part of her was glad that the institutions of Cainhurst had been torn asunder and that they could no longer continue their accursed practice of bloodtinge. But that feeling was overshadowed by what she felt towards the man next to her. Betrayal.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Maria suddenly asked, unable to hide the hurt from her voice.
"Because I was afraid of how you would react." Zoran admitted.
Maria understood then that he had been afraid that she would see him as the monster he thought he was, turning on him much like Alfred did. Though she held no affection towards the knights of Cainhurst, her hatred was not all-consuming.
"Zoran, I mean no offense, but this Alfred was clearly a zealot. His commitment to the extermination of the Vilebloods was absolute and I doubt that he would have continued to associate himself with you if he had known the truth. All the beast hood did was escalate this hatred." Maria attempted to bring attention to the Executioner's underlying issues.
"Maybe so, but I still considered him to be my friend. And I clearly did not know him as well as I thought I did." Zoran replied, with Maria immediately recognizing the point he was trying to make.
"I know what you are thinking. It is true that I hated the Queen and all those who associated with her. But I am not like Logarius and his wandering band of barbarians. I can see that she used you. Manipulated your anger and grief. I would never think less of you for something that was out of your control" She told him.
"Was it really out of my control? The things I did on her behalf, they…they stemmed from my own desires and wants. I would never have joined her if a part of me didn't want to enact such total revenge. To partake in such mindless slaughter." She offered no response, which caused Zoran's face to contort in frustration.
"Why do you say nothing? Do you not wish to see the legacy of Cainhurst extinguished? Because if you truly do, then you know you cannot allow me to leave this tower!" He suddenly snapped at her, forcing Maria to glare at him in order to silence him.
"Speak not those words! I did not spend hours listening to every horrid detail of your hardships just to have you beg for death yet again. Yes, you made a mistake. But that is not all that defines you." Maria spoke with an authoritative tone, hoping to quell his attempts to goad her.
"Zoran, you must understand. Even now, after I have discovered the darkest aspects of your life, I do not regret our fellowship; not for a moment. It is…" She paused then, struggling to get the final few words out.
"You are very dear to me." She admitted, causing Zoran to stare at her for several moments until it seemed that sense had returned to him.
"I lied to you, Maria. I led you on while hiding an integral part of who I was. How could you possibly forgive me?" Zoran suddenly asked her.
"Because I have not been entirely truthful with you either."
….
The sky over the desolate Fishing Hamlet was clear, with the deluge that had accompanied her last venture having subsided. The town was barren, without a soul in sight as Maria wandered through the village square and towards the path that took her to the caves below. Where she lay even now.
She was alone, carrying a wooden headstone in her hands, her eyes set straight ahead as she walked up a small hill towards a rundown light-house, which had once served as a guide to the village's fishermen as they returned with their spoils. As she approached her destination, the eldritch voices that normally plagued her were strangely absent.
Approaching a fenced off cliff, she set down the makeshift headstone on a nearby rock and hesitantly approached the side, placing her hands on the fence and looked out at the ocean as the salty wind blew into her face. She closed her eyes, willing herself to look downwards to where she knew the sight of her greatest sin lay in wait.
Opening her eyes, she saw her. Mother Kos. The Great One worshipped by the hamlet's residence. And the being who her and her fellow hunters had unjustly defiled in pursuit of an eldritch truth.
She had carried the burden that night had placed on her for several years, trying to lose herself in her hunts in order to cast the memories of its events from her mind. But she knew she could never forget it. She would make sure of it.
Averting her gaze from the deceased Great One, she turned back towards the headstone; picking it up and logged it into the wet ground near the edge of the cliff. Releasing her hold on it, she clasped her hands together as she knelt down in front of it, uttering a prayer that the slain residents of this village and the child the hunters had defaced would one day find peace.
But she did not ask them for their forgiveness. For she deserved none.
After she had concluded her prayer, she reached into her travelling bag and pulled out a lumen-flower she had picked out prior to her journey, gently placing it against the headstone. Rising to her feet, she cast one more solemn look at the makeshift grave before turning to leave, making her way back to the village square.
As she walked away, a myriad of distorted voices began to run through her mind. Pleas of mercy. Desperate prayers. The pained noises of the dying as the weapons of the workshop pierced their skulls. But in the background, one voice was always constant; its condemnation echoing in her head.
"Curse the fiends, their children too. And their children's children forever true. Call to the bloodless, wherever they may be. Mother is dead, her baby taken. Mother is dead, her baby taken."
This chanting continued until Maria stumbled into the middle of the town-square, prostrating herself on the ground as tears poured down her face in droves. So much death. So many lives claimed by her hand, and for what? So she could feel like a hero? So she could be a part of something greater than herself? Or was it because, deep down, she was herself a beast; concerned only with who her next kill would be?
Straightening herself, she pulled her Rakuyo from the sheath on her side; it's shining blades reflecting the face of it's wielder. The face of a hunter.
The face of a murderer.
With a cry, she flung her blade away, listening as it tumbled down a nearby well, culminating with a distant splash. She then rushed out of the village, not looking back as she mounted her horse and rode away from the accursed land; trying to escape as far away as she could.
And through it all, the voice of Mother Kos followed; like a hunter trying to wear down its prey.
….
A dreadful silence fell over the Clocktower after Maria concluded her admission. She stared blankly at the floor, to ashamed to look him in the eye. She gave up the hunt after that day; swearing never again to claim another life; choosing instead to put her talents to a more practical use. He had listened intently throughout, not saying a word as she chronicled the events that lead to her abandoning the hunter's life.
And to the creation of the Nightmare they found themselves in now.
"Is that what you're guarding, then?" He asked as he locked in the direction of the clockwork of her tower.
"Yes." She admitted, not wanting to hide the truth anymore. But he had one more question for her, which could not be answered as easily.
"Why, Maria?"
She did not answer his question straight away, instead sitting in silence for a few moments as she pondered how to properly explain herself. He deserved to know, but she had to give him the full truth.
Without saying a word, she rose from her seat and strode over to the table, picking up the music box he had bestowed upon her. After its tune began to play, she set it down and turned back to Zoran, who sat watching all this unfold. Once again offering him her hand, he sat in a state of slight surprise for a moment before he accepted.
The two of them repeated the ritual from their last encounter before they were again moving as one, albeit in a much slower fashion. Like this, she noticed that her partner seemed much more at ease this time around, managing to stay at a mostly even pace with her.
"Why did you do it, then?" He asked yet again, reminding her of what they had been about to discuss.
"Do what?" She asked back, slight puzzled by what he was implying.
"Why prevent others from discovering it? If you were so ashamed of what transpired there, wouldn't you want to undo what happened? Why continue to serve the interests of the ones who wronged you even in death?" He demanded, as she slightly avoided her gaze. Finally mustering the courage to tell the truth, she looked him in the eye with a serious expression.
"I wasn't."
Realization seemed to dawn on Zoran soon after, his eyes widening as he recognized why she held guard over the Church's darkest secret.
"You weren't acting in the interests of the Church. You did it on your own accord. You wanted the Nightmare to endure." He stated, which Maria confirmed with a slight nod.
"You must understand. In the last few years of my life, I was consumed by bitterness and hate. Before I…died, I grew resentful of the institutions I pioneered: of the hunters and of the Church. But above all, I hated myself. And as my life flashed before my eyes, all I could see was the trail of death and misery that was left behind in my wake. What was to be my legacy." The jovial atmosphere that defined their last liaison was no longer present, replaced with a feeling of apprehension and unease.
"I thought that was the end. But then, I awoke in this very room; as if I were reeling from a bad dream. But the moment I saw my old weapon lying in my lap, I realized what was happening. I tried to escape several times, finding myself awakening in the same spot each time; my wounds fully healed. And I could hear voices: the hamlet dwellers I cut down, the people the beasts I slew once were, the countless patients I confined to a fate worse than death. This was to be my punishment. I would never be able to escape from the atrocities I've committed. I would never be able to find peace, because in the eyes of the Gods, I did not deserve it." Her explanation was thorough, but she had not yet described the most important development.
"And you agreed, didn't you?" He asked, his voice belying a hint of concern.
"I did. But before that acceptance occurred, I pleaded with Mother Kos and pledged that I would watch over the astral passageway for as long as I lived; desperate as I was to alleviate my suffering. And when the voices suddenly ceased, I understood then that me and her had a shared interest. To ensure that the child of Kos is never defiled again." She bluntly stated.
"And that the ones responsible were punished."
They continued to dance in silence for the next few moments until the faint melody came to an end, forcing them to stop. Maria could sense a slight apprehension in her partner, yet despite now being fully aware of her darkest hour, continued to tenderly embrace her. To think it took him laying down his life for her to begin to see the error of her ways.
"I'm sorry, Zoran." She told him, her voice low and rueful.
"For what, may I ask?" He said in response, looking over to her with a puzzled look.
"For what I did to you in our first few encounters. When we fought, all I felt were the anger and hatred that had been festering within me for my last few years of life. And in you, all I saw were the parts of me I despised the most; the thought that you were undeserving of my wrath never crossing my mind." She admitted, the guilt for her unjust treatment of him still lingering.
"Come now, there's no need for that. You know full well the same thoughts were running through my mind as well." He assured her, though this did little to shake her feeling of guilt.
"That isn't what I'm saying. It shouldn't be that I had to see the full extent of your hardships to feel even a hint of remorse. And that the loss of my humanity hinged on a misfired pistol." Maria said, reminding him of just how unlikely their current conversation was given the circumstances of their meeting.
"But you were the one who pulled yourself back from that brink. What you did to me then doesn't matter anymore, because you saw the error of your ways and worked to better yourself. That thing I fought when I first came here, that wasn't you. Just as much as the person you fought was not me."
Maria found herself at a loss for words. But despite her disbelief, she sensed no insincerity in what he had said to her. He did not hold any ill-will towards her, acknowledging just how much the both of them had changed since their bloody and heated duels. And she knew he was right.
In her, he would've seen everything he hated about himself. She reminded him of the Church and of Cainhurst, for whom he had sold his soul and cut down hundreds in their name. Their battles reminded him of the warrior he had been molded into from birth, something he would never be able to undo. And his countless deaths by her hand served to remind him that no matter what, he would never be able to escape from his sins.
She knew all of this because he had said as such, letting his doubts and struggles be known to her with little hesitation. Yet throughout her time with him, she had also seen what lay beneath the hardened exterior; a kind and gentle soul sullied by the pain and trauma he has endured over the years.
As this mess of thoughts and emotions swirled and turned inside her mind, she felt Zoran slightly tighten his hold on her hand, a small smile forming on his face.
"Come. I want to show you something."
She proceeded to follow him outside of her tower and through the gardens leading back to the Research Hall, remaining unsure of where exactly he was leading her.
"Where exactly are we going?" She asked as they entered the surgical room where the lifts were located.
"I'm sure you know the answer to that." He responded as they stepped into the elevator to the upper levels. as they stepped out of the elevator, she failed to procure an answer. She knew every inch of the tower like the back of her hand, so how is it he knew of a place that would be able to surprise her? Unless…
"Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no…" She uttered in dismay as she recognized they were fast approaching the massive spiraling staircase to the top of the tower. Gods, please, anything but that.
"Now, Maria. I know you're frightened, but there isn't anything to worry about. All you have to do is take that first step and from there, it will only get easier." As he said this, he stepped onto the staircase and turned to look back at her. Despite his obvious attempt to urge her on, she felt as if her legs had turned to stone; preventing her from going any further. Noticing her hesitation, he extended his hand to her.
"I will be by your side. Trust me."
After a few more heartbeats of uncertainty, she accepted his offered hand and cautiously placed her foot on the first step, before following Zoran upwards at a relatively slow pace. Through it all, her heart hammered against her chest, every sense in her body telling her to turn and run back down to safety. But she could also feel Zoran holding her hand and his mere presence seemed to soothe her unease.
The further they went, the more she had to refrain from casting her gaze downwards to see just how high they really were.
"Easy. We're almost there." Zoran reassured her as they stepped on to the second flight of stairs and it was then she recognized that her grip on his hand had tightened significantly.
After she was finally off the stairwell, she gripped a nearby railing and began to breathe heavily, trying to calm herself down.
"Are you quite finished?" He asked after letting her catch her breath for a few minutes.
"Yes." She acknowledged before rising back to her full height and turning to face him. "I do believe you've made your point. Shall we begin our descent?" Upon saying this, his reaction made it clear his plans for her were not quite over.
"Oh, not yet. The first step is always a hard one to take, but once you take it, you need to commit to the path you've chosen. Otherwise, it's all but worthless." With that, he stepped to the side and presented to her a small ladder that lead even further up. "After you." He insisted, seemingly knowing that if he went first, she would surely not follow.
She glared daggers at him as she approached the ladder, but ultimately complied with his instruction. After reaching the top, she saw what was to be her next test: a series of dangerously narrow beams. And the dread she felt when faced with the stairwell was amplified tenfold.
As she stood petrified, she could faintly make out Zoran joining her on the platform she stood on.
"You can't be serious." She said to him, her voice quivering despite her efforts.
"I will not say that you shouldn't be afraid. When faced with something like this, it's all but impossible not to be. But when there is fear, there also lies a chance to overcome it. To move past it." He stepped by her onto the beam, walking a few steps away without showing an ounce of fear. He then stopped and turned to face her, flashing a warm smile her way.
"Confront that fear with me, Maria."
He again offered her his hand and again, she accepted it. As he led her further out onto the beam and with every step, her heart hammered against her chest; forcing herself to appear calm.
She was terrified. She dared not look down, but simply being aware of just how perilous her current altitude was made her stomach threaten revolt. Yet as they got closer to the centre, she suddenly froze up. Her eyes slightly glistening from the tears building in her eyes, her eyes began to wander downwards…
"Do not look down. Keep your eyes firmly on what lies ahead." Zoran's voice snapped her from her petrification and her eyes focused firmly on him. Forcing herself to push aside her fear, she continued to follow him; his smiling visage comforting her despite their precarious position. Every time he took a step back, she mirrored him and soon, the deadly drop beneath her had all but vanished from her mind.
As they stepped onto the circular platform where the device that operated the staircase was located, her fear had subsided, but was not yet forgotten. Zoran continued to lead her forward, until they neared the very edge of the walkway they found themselves on. And through it all, her eyes were set on him, not on the ground below. And she could see the pride on his face as they approached the end of the path.
"You're near the end now. Just a few more steps." He said in encouragement. Zoran then stopped just at the edge, letting go of her hand, turning and jumping off the edge; the sudden action filling her with a fear unlike any other as she called out his name. That was when she realized that there was a vast platform just below them, where he now awaited her.
"There's nothing to fear. Let go, Maria. Come and join me." He said in encouragement as he raised out his arms as a sign he was ready to catch her.
Maria stood at the edge for a few more moments, pondering her next move as Zoran eagerly awaited her. One of her feet hovered over the side, her hand holding onto the railing next to her to prevent her from doing anything rash. Closing her eyes, she slowly moved towards the ledge.
She soon recognized that she was falling, forcing herself to remain calm until she felt a sudden jolt, forcing her eyes open. She found Zoran standing before her, having kept his word and caught her as she fell. As her feet touched the floor and he helped her straighten herself, her terror finally caught up with her.
She enveloped him in her arms, holding him close to her and burying her face in his shoulder as the tears brought forth by her fear finally flowed over the brims. As she wept, Zoran tenderly held her, trailing his hand up and down her back.
"So high…I thought I was going to…I thought you…" She stammered in between her sobbing, but Zoran promptly shushed her in a gentle tone.
"It's alright. Nothing's going to hurt you here." He said in an attempt to soothe her.
They stayed like that until she felt some semblance of control return to her, but even after her crying came to an end, Maria continued to hold on to him for the next little while; content with simply having him close to her. She eventually willed herself to release him, though her hands remained on his shoulders.
"Feeling better?" He politely asked.
"Yes. Thank you." She was still a bit shaken from her ordeal, but she was sure it would subside shortly. Never in a million years did she think she would've been capable of attempting such a thing, but he had inspired her to confront a fear that had plagued her since she was a little girl. And he did it on his own accord.
"I know I should've said this before, but it heartens me to see how much you've improved. I'm very proud of you, Zoran." She truthfully said, prompting him to lightly chuckle.
"You made that ardently clear, as I recall." Maria felt a sudden rush of heat in her face as she was reminded of the conclusion of their last meeting. She knew they would be forced to confront it eventually, yet she still found herself underprepared. It had been a decision made in the spur of the moment, but it left her…longing for something more with him.
"Listen, I…I can't stress enough how much our last meeting meant to me. I enjoyed every second of it." She acknowledged with a smile.
"I did too." He stated in response just before he smiled as well. "Speaking of which, how did you find my little offering?" Despite it being given as a question, it seemed he was already confident of her answer.
"Oh, it's delightful. I can see why you were so attached to it." She answered, suddenly regretting that she hadn't taken it with her. The silence of their current location was almost deafening.
"I'm glad to hear that. It was all I could really offer as thanks." He softly said, causing her lips to form into a small smile.
"Thanks? Whatever for?" She asked.
"For saving me. If you hadn't stepped in, I dread to think what would've become of me." He admitted and Maria could somehow tell he earnestly believed what he was saying.
"Come now. You don't owe me anything. The fact you're still here…is rewarding enough on its own." She said, bringing her hand to rest on his cheek.
There was such fire in his eyes; a far-cry from the empty, lifeless void they had appeared as when they had first met. To think that such a turnabout was possible, even in so bleak and desolate a landscape.
"That day. When you chose to put an end to our conflict, I remember feeling as if my soul had fizzled out. Comfort. Hope. Fear. All of them seemed like foreign concepts to me then, ones that I would never again reclaim. I thought that my failing to best you was what finally snuffed out that fleeting flame. But I see now that if I had succeeded, if my aim were true that day…that would've been the moment it well and truly died." As he spoke, his voice was scarcely above a whisper.
Maria's breath caught in her throat upon this admission, forcing her to take a moment to absorb what he had meant by it. She had defeated him that day by the skin of her teeth and if that shot had succeeded, she would've certainly perished. And that would've been it. She would die trying to ensure thousands upon thousands continued to suffer, while Zoran would go on with no guarantee he would succeed in ending the Nightmare, close as he was to the brink of self-destruction.
One bullet. All it would've taken was one bullet.
"Do you remember what I said? After you told me what happened at the Chapel?" Her question came after a brief silence, with Zoran swiftly recalling the message.
"Off course. And I'm sorry to say that I didn't believe you then." He confessed, appearing regretful at the fact.
"And do you now?" She inquired in a tender tone of voice. Zoran appeared to ponder his words before he chose to speak again.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't." Though this simple statement sufficiently answered her question, it didn't seem as if Zoran was done yet.
"Though it pains me to admit this, I thought you a monster when we first met. But since then, I've had the pleasure of seeing the real you. The real Maria. Honorable. Compassionate. And as fair as the moon itself."
He held her gaze, letting his words register before he chose to drop all pretenses.
"I love you, Lady Maria."
Her heart swelled upon hearing him utter those words, though she found herself incapable of saying anything in response. Luckily for her, he still had a bit more to say.
"And yet, being the fool I am, I thought I was somehow undeserving. After all, what am I? There will be no stories written about my virtues nor shrines put up to honor my memory. At the end of it all, I will just be another hunter, caught in a never-ending cycle of bloodlust and insanity." He softly admitted, before posing one final question to her.
"Would you ever think to love me?"
Still, she seemed incapable of saying anything in response. After standing in stunned silence for a few moments, she chose to finally grant him an answer.
Without saying a word, she reached for her brooch; removing it from its attachment as Zoran looked on. She gently took his hand and placed the emerald green pendant in his palm, leaving him staring at it in stunned silence. He looked back at up her in disbelief and she smiled warmly at him, their eyes remaining on each other even as she closed his hand over the pendant with her other hand.
"Off course. I do love you." She confessed as she found herself overwhelmed with emotion. She traced of her hands across his cheek as she found herself lost in his gaze, enraptured by his strange, moonlit scent and yearning. Yearning for his touch.
"How couldn't I? You saved me too…"
Before she knew what was happening, their lips were only a hair's breadth apart; lightly brushing against each-other before meeting yet again. But this time was much gentler than the first; and much more personnel. As the light from the outside poured in from the window behind them, Maria was overtaken with happiness; feeling complete for the first time in what felt like centuries.
And she didn't want to let him go.
…..
As he descended the stairwell, Zoran was elated. The uncertainty he had felt when he finally brought himself to enter Maria's sanctuary had come dangerously close to driving him away; fearing that he would ruin their comfortable relationship. Yet somehow it had never occurred to him that she had been withholding secrets of her own.
Rather then driving them apart, their honesty somehow only served to cement their bond further.
The idea of bringing her to the very top of the tower had concocted in the spur of the moment, but seeing just how much trust Maria had placed in him eased the anxiety he felt at his impending confession. Telling her the full extent of his feelings for her had taken a heavy weight off his shoulders, even though he did not know how she would react to this revelation.
When she didn't seem to say anything, he thought for sure that he had overstepped his bounds. But as she removed the pendant her mother had given her and placed it in his open palm, he had been so shocked by the gesture that he forgot how to speak. She didn't need to say anything else after that, but hearing her confess that she loved him made his hear soar with joy.
So it was that they now walked hand in hand, no more words needing to be said. What was to happen next, he did not now. But so long as she was with him, it did not matter.
"May I ask you a personal question, Zoran?" He heard Maria say as they were about to enter the lift that would take them back down to the lower levels.
"Sure." He responded simply.
"Have you ever been…intimate with another?"
He prayed to whatever God was willing to listen that he wasn't flushing, but considering what she was insinuating, he found it difficult to remain composed. Regardless, he chose to answer honestly.
"Well, there was…" It seemed she knew what he was about to say, for she cut him off before he could continue.
"What she did to you was an act of violation, not intimacy. And so, I ask again. Did you ever experience such a thing?" Upon hearing this, his gaze fell to the side.
"No, never. As it was, I took the whole "vow of abstinence" business far more seriously then I should've." With that, Maria's expression shifted to accompany her noted displeasure.
"I see." She acknowledged simply.
Looking back, he really didn't know what had spurred him to hold off sexual relations for so long. Many of his fellow soldiers had begun to sire children even before he deserted, yet he remained a virgin. Was it because he wanted his first experience with it to be special? Because if so, being forced into it by an immortal aristocrat was not what he had in mind.
"Why do you ask?" He inquired, partly to ameliorate the uncomfortable situation this revelation created, but mostly to see whether she was suggesting what he thought she was suggesting.
"Well, you see, in Cainhurst; when one develops an interest in another, they were expected to undergo an extended period of courtship. They would mingle. Exchange gifts. Dance and dine together. And gradually reveal the true extent of their desires." She stepped closer to him then, stopping just before him. "And once it had been concluded and a mutual love was declared, it was customary for the pair to consummate their union."
Gently running her hand along the side of his head, she continued.
"The act of love-making was a sacred ritual amongst us, one that was not to be engaged in arbitrarily. During it, one would aim to please the object of their affection; their own gratification coming second to laying bare the full extent of their love." The alluring way in which she spoke made Zoran feel weak in his knees, all while finding himself captivated by the woman before him, who proceeded to reveal her true intentions.
"I wish to share this with you, Zoran. If that is what you so desire."
A dumbstruck look was no doubt chiseled on his face then. What exactly what he was supposed to say now? He had never been in a position where a woman was being so forward with her intentions with him and she was being very, very forward. She wanted to lay with him. To grant him his first real sexual encounter.
And there was no one else he'd rather experience that with.
"I do. More then anything, I do." He stated his consent with a jubilant tone, which led to Maria softly smiling at him.
"Then I have no intention of keeping you waiting. Let us go."
With that, she led him into the lift and the two of them descended to the lower levels, where she directed him to a hatch that he had remembered had been closed during his trek through the hall. After he reached the bottom, he offered her his arm, which she accepted after a brief interlude. Together, the two of them walked outside into the halls and to one of the neighboring rooms, stopping just in front of the door.
She fished out her set of keys and unlocked it, opening it to reveal a medium sized bedroom with scarce decoration. The bed located at the rightward centre of the room resembled the canopies he had come across at the entrance to the hall, complete with plain white curtains. Other then that, the room also contained a small table beside the bed, a bookshelf on the far end of the room and a desk that was no doubt intended for filing paper work. As convenient as it was, he found himself wondering why…
"Graveyard shift. It was mandated that at least five members of staff be present at the hall at all times, which included when the patients were meant to be sleeping. Laurence made it so the one's staying here could find a retreat, somewhere where they could recuperate in peace." She explained almost as if she was reading his mind.
The door remained open as she turned to look at him, seemingly waiting for him to say something. The only problem was, he had no clue how to go forward from here.
"So-what now?" He asked her, hoping she would be able to get them started.
"That depends. Are you certain this is what you desire?" There was no doubt in his mind in regards to that, but instead of expressing it verbally, he instead took the door by the handle and slowly eased it shut behind them, separating them from the world outside. Upon this action, Maria's lips curled into a slight, pleasant smile.
"Very well. Come along." Taking him by the hand, she led him over to where the bed stood. He was undeniably nervous about what lay ahead, most of it stemming from whether he would amount to anything during this encounter. In any case, he'd certainly try.
After they reached the bed, Maria simply sat down on its edge and reached behind her head, undoing her ponytail and letting her shoulder-length hair to fall free. She then set about undoing the laces of her boots; after doing this for a little while, she looked up at him expectantly and motioned for him to sit as well as he remained standing in confusion. Pushing aside his momentary embarrassment, he sat down beside her and after taking off his intrusive gauntlets, he set about removing his greaves. The task proved rather cumbersome, but he eventually set them down side by side, allowing some relief for his aching legs.
He froze up when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist from behind, followed by a sultry voice whispering something in his ear.
"Would you like some help?"
When words failed him, his eyes glanced over to where Maria had been just a moment ago, finding nothing except her boots and jacket in her place. Now that his surprise at her initiative had subsided, he found himself curious as to what she had in store for him.
"Why yes, my lady. I would." He responded with as much confidence as he could muster.
"Mmm, so I see. And I'd be willing to indulge you, but first, I want you to do something for me." The manner in which she spoke those words left him quivering in anticipation.
"And what would that be?" He inquired.
"Close your eyes, and don't move an inch." He complied, leaving him to rely on his other senses in order to gauge what was happening around him. As he sat crossed leg on the bed, he could hear the sounds of curtains closing behind him, to his side and just in front of him before he felt her hands on him once more.
"Forget the hunt. Forget whatever lies beyond this room. Let this be our moment. Where I grant you the fulfillment you so rightly deserve…" Just hearing her speak in such a sensual and intimate way had him tingling with anticipation. But before she proceeded, she whispered one more thing to him.
"Let me liberate you, my beloved…"
Zoran could feel her hands running along his armor-clad body, just as he could feel her breath against his neck and her hair settling against his shoulders. After a moment of tense anticipation, her lips brushed against his neck, causing his breath to catch in his throat from the unexpected contact. Maria slowly and meticulously unbuckled each strap holding his breastplate and decorative cape in place, placing gentle kisses on the back and sides of his neck all the while.
The breastplate eventually came off, bringing along a certain sense of liberation that he was finally free of that infernal armor. And that there was now one less obstacle between him and his impending lover. He could sense that she had now begun to undo the top few buttons of white linen shirt that had been worn beneath his armor; a few moments later and she was kissing along his exposed shoulder, her hair brushing against his skin as she traced a path back to his neck.
"Maria…" He quietly uttered in between his breaths in order to urge her on, relishing her every touch.
She carried the pleasant scent of the flowers outside her tower, which seemed almost intoxicating due to her proximity to him. The fact he couldn't see her only added to her allure and continued to build up his desire for her. She was now approaching the middle of his shirt and finding himself unable to control his impulses, his hands moved to meet hers…
"Now, now. Don't be hasty. You'll get your chance soon enough. For now, just sit back. Relax." Maria sensually whispered to him before she gently nibbled on his earlobe. Shutting his eyes, he fully succumbed to her worship, letting the pleasure she was bestowing upon him overwhelm his senses.
As the last of his buttons were undone, Zoran could feel the cold air of the room come into contact with his bare chest. After Maria had taken off his shirt, she pressed her chest against his bare back and begun to trace her gloveless hands all over his chest, until they came to a stop at a certain point; without even needing to look, he knew exactly what she had discovered.
"Open your eyes."
He finally peeled them open and looked down at his chest; more aptly, the multitude of scars and fading wounds that were strewn across it. A bullet wound on his shoulder he received from the Turks at Shipka Pass. A set of three claw marks from the beast inside Iosefka's Clinic. A circular wound on his stomach from when he was skewered by a spear-wielding beast. Remnants of the burns inflicted on him by the watchdog in the labyrinths. But there was one in particular that drew his lover's attention.
He smiled as her hand ran along the sensitive mark stretching from his shoulder to his hip; the mark she had left on him. After letting her explore it for several more moments, he turned to face Maria and found that she too was smiling. With her hair draped over her shoulders and her skin modestly covered by her undershirt, she looked absolutely breathtaking. But what stood out the most to him was how she was looking at him, every trace of her expression showing nothing but adoration and affection for him.
Gazing into her sea green eyes, he saw no sign of the all-consuming emptiness he had seen when she had pulled him close in their very first encounter. Instead, they were radiating with warmth, showing him the beauty that lay behind the tortured veil. The real Maria.
The Maria he fell in love with.
Without saying a word, he gently placed a hand on her cheek and brushed through her hair, slowly closing the distance between them. Gently kissing her on the lips, he broke away after a few seconds before resuming it soon after. The kiss gradually increased in intensity until Maria was lying on her back, returning the gesture with equal vigor as their hands ran across each-other's bodies.
His waiting had payed off. Now, he would savor every waking moment with her.
He set about slowly unbuttoning her undershirt with one of his hands and moved in to kiss along her neck, being rewarded by her soft, quiet moans as she shifted her head to grant him better access. Her fingers ran through his hair as she writhed beneath him and as the last button of her shirt came undone, his hand trailed along her exposed flesh to gently fondle one of her breasts.
"Zoran…" He heard her softly utter his name, her voice dripping with desire. And to hear her express such pleasure from his actions brought him a surge of pride, in no small part from just how heavenly she had sounded. Gods above, he loved her voice.
Breaking away from her neck, he let Maria sit up so they could strip her of her undone shirt, leaving her upper body completely bare. Almost as soon as it came off, the two of them were kissing again, their hands running along each-other's bodies. Wrapping an arm around his back, she moved herself up and surprised him by shifting him in such a way that he was now on his back; the two briefly giggled before resuming their kiss.
"Didn't you say you've never done this before?" She teased as she broke their kiss for a brief, though their lips remained only a hair's breadth apart.
"I may've done a little pleasure reading in my spare time." He said in response just before he playfully brushed his lips against hers.
"Mmm, you naughty boy." Her voice was scarcely above a whisper as she said this, but hearing this invoked a strange feeling within him.
"How about it? Does a fair maiden such as yourself fancy a little mischief?" Daring as it was, it seemed to have it's intended effect, for Maria's lips spread into a devilish smirk.
"I'd much rather show then tell." His curiosity piqued, Zoran could only smile himself.
"Fine by me." He said just before their lips met yet again. She was so gentle, and yet so assertive in her action that he did not hesitate in succumbing to her.
Her lips trailed along his jaw and chin, before gradually shifting her attention to other parts of his body. Moving down, she trailed her lips across the mark she had left on him, its presence dwarfing any of the others. It was quite sensitive to the touch and Zoran's breath hitched at the contact, but there was something strangely fulfilling about the way she treated it; almost with reverence.
It was what brought them together, after all.
Soon, Maria was travelling down along his torso, their eyes remaining locked as her worship of him continued. A sense of anticipation persisted as she turned her attention to removing his trousers, undoing them painstakingly slowly. But what caught his attention the most was just how confident she appeared then, fully aware of the effect she was having on him. He watched intently as she simultaneously rid him of his remaining articles of clothing and finally freed his constrained erection, which stood ready for her to claim.
Maintaining eye contact with him, Maria began to slowly stroke his member, with Zoran doing little to hide the pleasure her actions was bringing him. His head was now resting on a pillow and he chose to let her do whatever she pleased. Yet he was caught of guard when he felt her lips trail up his erection, letting out a noticeable groan; promptly looking over to see her looking at him with an amused expression.
"What's this? A hunter caught of his guard?" With a soft giggle, she engulfed his manhood with her lips and slowly began to bob her head up and down, eliciting several more groans from him as she took him within her mouth. And through it all, she looked up at him through her white bangs, a hint of mischief in her eyes as one of her hands fondled his scrotum as well.
"My God. Maria…" He gripped the covers as he grew ever closer to loosing himself in pleasure. This was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. And he wanted more. Oh, so much more.
After some time, she ceased her efforts and looked up at him; a silent understanding passing between them as to what would happen next. His desire for her was now at a fever pitch and as she hovered over him, he was more then prepared to fully claim her as his own.
But then he remembered that this was meant to be a mutual expression of love, where they both were to give pleasure rather then receive it. And he wanted to please her. To show her just how much their union truly meant to him.
"Shall we?" She whispered as their lips hovered just above each other.
"Not just yet." He said in response just before he shifted his weight so he was now on top of her; his partner letting out a surprised yelp at his initiative. Her hair was now sprawled across the bed-sheets as she looked up at him in surprise and he gently ran his hand along the side of her head before he claimed her lips again; a kiss she soon returned with equal vigor.
"My, my. You finally have me at your mercy. How does it feel?" She teased him after their lips broke apart.
"A better question would be "What am I going to do now that you are?" He said in reply, with an eager smile making its way onto Maria's face.
"Mmm, the suspense is killing me." She said, signalling her interest.
"Then allow me to relieve you." He said just before he kissed her again.
His hands ran down her body towards her lower half, slightly rubbing her covered womanhood and eliciting a muffled moan of acknowledgement. Zoran then set his attention to undoing her trousers and upon his eventual success began to make a beeline straight down. As his lips reached her abdomen, he gripped her trousers and undergarments with both hands, and as he grew ever closer to her loins, lowered them to reveal her womanhood.
Maria was now completely bare, save for the stockings she wore on her legs. Gods above, she was gorgeous. He had known so far before his feelings for her truly blossomed, but as she lay there in all her glory, she seemed like the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
And he was not prepared to disappoint her.
Running his hands along her legs, taking in her alluring scent and admiring every inch of his lover's frame. But as he approached her inner thighs, hesitation suddenly took him. He had never done anything like this before. It was his aim to please her after all, so how can he possibly do that if he hadn't the faintest clue what he was doing.
"What's wrong?" He heard Maria ask, taking notice of his hesitation.
"Oh, do forgive me. It's just…I am still a novice at this, after all." He frankly answered and to his surprise, her response was a simple, understanding smile.
"That's quite alright. Just go at your own pace. There's no need for us to rush things, wouldn't you agree?" With this perspective fully in mind, Zoran descended on her inner thighs.
As he experimented, he paid particular attention to the noises Maria made as a result of his actions. When her breath hitched, he knew he had found a sensitive spot. When her moans became audible, he gradually increased the intensity of his current technique to gauge her reaction. And soon, he found his stride, licking and sucking her womanhood all while he massaged her legs with his hands.
"That's perfect. Keep going. I knew you had…" Her words were interrupted by an expression of pleasure, which told him everything he needed to know. Zoran felt a sudden surge of pride that he had managed to please her, making it so her legs were arched at an angle and she was gripping the covers with her hands. And this newfound confidence gave way to a new, wicked desire.
Ceasing his efforts, he looked up at Maria, who was lying with her eyes closed and a look of pure bliss on her face; breathing through her mouth as she came down from her high. A devilish smile on his lips, he made his way back up to eye level with her, kissing along her neck as he trailed a hand down her stomach and back to her inner thighs. She let out a noticeable moan as he began to softly rub her womanhood, continuing this teasing until he decided to slip one of his fingers inside.
And he soon added a second. And then a third. And he made sure to keep his pleasuring of her slow, seeing as he didn't want to hurt her on accident. But Maria showed no signs of discomfort. Quite the opposite, in fact. Her impassioned moaning still remained quiet, but he could tell he had her exactly where he wanted her. And with a devilish smile, he whispered a simple request into her ear.
"Do you want me?"
"Yes." She responded, her voice scarcely above a whisper.
"And what do you want me to do?" He continued on, feeling bolder by the second.
"Take me…" She answered after a brief interlude and his smile grew even wider.
"Is this what you want? Is it?" He asked partly to make sure she was certain, but also to indulge in the pride her desire stilled in him.
"Yes. Oh Gods, yes! Take me, Zoran. Make me yours!"
If that was what she wanted, then he would kindly oblige.
He stopped what he was doing and positioned himself above her, bringing his manhood tantalizingly close to her entrance. Her arms were now on his shoulders and she was looking up at him with unbridled longing in her eyes. She then offered him a small nod, signifying that she was ready.
He slowly began to ease himself into her, inducing a drawn-out moan from Maria as she tightened her hold on his shoulders, stopping once he was fully inside to both give them a moment to adjust. After a brief interlude, he took both of her hands in his, and as their fingers laced together, he commenced a slow, rhythmic pattern; lavishing her neck with gentle kisses as he made love to her.
Yes. That was what he was doing. This was the cementation of their union, where he would show her the full extent of his love for her. And by God, did it feel amazing.
Her legs wrapped around his waist and her grip on his hands tightened as they continued their passionate exchange. He relished the feeling of her skin. Her intoxicating scent. The loving way she whispered his name in his ear. But all that paled from what he saw when he looked her in the eye.
There was no mistaking the affection she exhibited through her gaze; the love she held for him. He had long ago lost hope that he would ever find that ever elusive bond, someone that he would want to spend the rest of his days with. And he had found it during his darkest hour, where he had all but lost his will to live. And she was the thing that guided him away from that dark road. Gave him a reason to carry on.
Their lips met yet again and this time, the two of them did not shy away from pouring everything they had into the kiss. He was so absorbed in it that he didn't even react when she flipped him onto his back and took control of their intercourse, moving up and down on his member as they continued their passionate kiss. Supporting himself on an elbow, he ran a hand through her hair as the pleasure he felt grew more intense with every breath.
He recognized he could not contain himself much longer and soon, he was lying on his back, gripping Maria's hips and rising to meet her descent. Her hands were on either side of his face and as their lips finally broke apart, she said something to him.
"I love you." She repeated this declaration several times over and as much as he wanted to offer something similar, the words simply escaped him. As it was, he was completely mesmerized by the woman above him. And as they both grew ever closer to release, he found his tongue.
"So…beautiful…" He whispered as he reached out a hand and placed it on her cheek, their eyes locked as they both grew close to coming undone. As the pleasure in his loins reached a fever pitch, he lost himself in her gaze. In the softness of her skin. And the completeness he felt from sharing this with the one he loved.
The one who saved him.
"My…guiding…moonlight."
He pulled her into another kiss and soon, he finally came undone. Euphoria settled over him as he released himself within her, which seemed to trigger her own release; her moaning muffled through their kiss. Once he knew they were finished, they broke apart and took a moment to catch their breath; their bodies glistening with sweat.
And they didn't say anything. Instead, they closed their eyes and pressed their foreheads together, simply savouring their proximity to one another as they basked in the afterglow of their love-making. After maintaining this embrace for well over a minute, he felt Maria settle down beside him and nuzzle her face against his neck, which prompted him to pull the covers over them and hold her close to him.
As he lay there with his eyes closed, he could distinctly feel her hand slowly running across his chest. Across the mark she had left on him…
"A grave misstep, my dear hunter." She teased him.
"That attack was rubbish and you know it." He fired back in a playful tone, eliciting a slight chuckle from her.
"Perhaps." She acknowledged as she continued to trail her hand across his chest. "But I don't regret it for a moment..." After she said this, he placed his hand over hers, a content smile on his face.
"Neither do I..."
As sleep slowly crept up on him, Zoran felt a sense of…completeness. Like he had reclaimed a part of himself he lost long ago; or rather one he didn't even realize he was missing. Holding Maria in his arms then, her body pressed against his, made him feel at ease. Secure. Happy.
Yes. He was happy. And if this was truly a nightmare, then he never wanted to wake up.
...
Author's Note:
Yet again, this bloody chapter ended up taking up a majority of my time. I focused mostly on expanding on the backstory of Zoran's service to Cainhurst and how he had ended up in that position to begin with; which meant I had to take a few liberties regarding Annalise's motivations and character. I always felt like the way we the player get to know off and arrive in Cainhurst Castle to be rather strange, so I offered an explanation.
So yeah, Annalise is a telepath and possesses a minor hypnotic ability, with the ardeo the Executioners wear serving partly to protect them from her influence. As for the whole "Child of Blood" business, it always struck me as odd that she would need to intake all those Blood Dregs to gain such a child when Arianna, who is most likely a descendant of hers can catch the attention of Oedon through her blood alone. So I hypothesized that she was slowly but surely augmenting herself with the blood of the "Echo Fiends" in order to create such a child without a Great One's interference and using the hunter she enraptured as a father. And no, this is in no way character bashing. I recognize that my version of Annalise is a departure from what she's portrayed as in game, but I felt like it fit within the story I was trying to tell.
Oh yeah, and I added some smut. It was a pain to write. It also probably makes the other smut I posted a while ago redundant since I lifted so much from it, so later I think I will go back and change it to a description of the event from Maria's perspective. It was after all an exploration of what the two of them felt for each other.
And to close things off, if you're wondering why Zoran managed to carry on for so long, let's just say he put a lot of points into endurance.