Once Lorena became accustomed to Kyries company she became a fairly good traveling companion. Her presence helped to ease Kyries mind taking it away from what she had so recently lost. It was nice to have a baby vampire to take care of. She liked Lorena and wanted to help her however there was no bond between them.
She missed how she felt about Nora, her sweet inion. The girls large brown eyes haunted her nights and creeped into her dead slumber during the day. She could hear her laugh reverberating in her mind at all times, the lovely sing song that it was. Nora had brought such joy to her existence.
Nora had always reminded her of when she was a human and had her younger sisters to entertain. The way Nora would swing her about happily giggling or sit at her feet as Kyrie ran her fingers down her hair until it was smooth, Nora reminded her what it was to be human.
Eric's memory was no exception either. That one was more pained with the deep regret and guilt that she had chased him away. She couldn't help it as each night stretched further into the future she wondered how angry he was, if he was still angry or hurt. More than likely he would find comfort and companionship if only for a short period but the bond would never be there.
The tall Viking king had always been her pride, her joy...she loved him more then she had ever thought possible as he had trusted her and loved her back as fiercely. Eric was loyal, he would have stayed by her side regardless...damn her guilt. It was an endless cycle.
She had since decided that her maker would remain as such, her maker. She would not think his name let alone speak it out loud. She blocked his face from her memory as much as she could but still...no. 'None of that now.' She thought to herself.
"You said last night you that you were raised in a convent?" Kyrie asked Lorena taking her thoughts away from her torment even if only momentarily.
"Yes, I was left there as a baby. The nuns raised me." She replied her voice heavy with regret. "I was to take my vows to join the sisters."
"You were never able to?" Kyrie asked curiously. Lorena shook her head once.
"I stayed out after night fall, outside the safety of the convent." She said softly.
"I am sorry, really very sorry." Kyrie said knowing that regret far too well. She had for a while after she had been turned berated herself nightly for leaving the safety of her parents house. She should have known better, she had been warned her entire life to be wary of the wooded area around their village...especially at night.
"It is done. I was fortunate enough that you found me." Lorena said smiling to herself. Kyrie smirked at her.
"I could not leave you alone to fend for yourself, especially now with the humans in such short supply." She stated.
"It was frightening enough when I was a human. We offered refuge to many at first however after a time the threat became to great and we had to limit our help." Lorena said. "I questioned the mother superior about it and I was given a very limited answer that bordered more on self preservation than the way of God. Hardly the Christian way that I had come to learn."
"I have seen the Christians do a great many things over the centuries in the name of their God, none of it coincides with their preachings." Kyrie replied.
"You must be referring to heretics, those who practice witch craft and the devil." Lorena said.
"Hm, more often then not they were simply ordinary humans who refused to accept the church's teachings. Their reward was to be brutally massacred." Kyrie smirking to herself. How many nights had she and Godric come across a battle field.
Often they would find sport in fighting along side the humans to pick out the weak, cause disturbance between the two sides creating more blood shed for their own benefit. It struck her suddenly, his name. It was a jagged dagger ripping into her heart as she saw his face in her mind, his fangs inches from her face...'Kyrie as your maker...'
She shook her head quickly to rid herself of his memory. Her maker was gone, she was banished from his sight...that was it.
"Are you alright?" Lorena asked eyeing her.
"Yes, never better." She stated.
"Now, where are you originally from?" Lorena asked.
"Erie, that is what my home was called. My clan lived in the northern territory, inland." She stated. "We traded with the other clans and went to war."
"Sounds charming." Lorena said sarcastically. Kyrie smiled.
"It was the way for us. We celebrated the harvests and worshipped the sun. We had our Gods that we gave thanks to for everything that they gave us." Kyrie said.
"That is where you're heading now?" Lorena asked.
"Yes it has been a long time. My curiosity has gotten the best of me. I must return to see if my clan survived time." Kyrie stated.
"You haven't returned since you were turned?" Lorena asked glancing at the elder vampire. Kyrie gave a slight shake of her head. "Why not?"
"I..." She stated staring down at the dirt path they walked along. Her sisters startled scream and voice echoed in her mind, 'My sister, she stinks of the ground she was buried in.' Kyrie brought her gaze back up. "I didn't belong with them anymore."
"So you went with, your...maker?" Lorena asked hesitantly testing the term out that Kyrie had used.
"Yes, my maker." She replied.
"Where is your maker now? Why are you alone?" She quipped back. Kyrie let out a soft sigh despite her best efforts not to.
"I was released. My maker recalled the bond he had over me and released me." She said softly. The melancholy draped itself around her in a heavy shroud. All at one memories of her human life surfaced and intermingled with her time as a vampire. It was overwhelming.
"I am sorry Kyrie, I meant no harm." Lorena said sincerely. Kyrie brought her gaze to the other female and stopped in her tracks. She picked up her skirt hem and shook it to go get some of the road dirt off of it.
"I know Lorena. I do, it's still very new...losing my maker, my progenys...I need time." She said.
"Well if all you say is true then that is certainly what you have." Lorena stated. Kyrie dropped her skirt and brought her attention to the night sky. She stared into the endless depth of the universe watching its death and birth a billion times over in mere seconds.
"Yes, there is."
Lorena was good company. She did help pass the time and offered her knowledge. Lorena had been well educated, that much was evident. The way she carried herself, her poise...it was evident she had been a lady of privilege even if that had been growing up amongst nuns.
She taught Kyrie how to read and write in Latin as well as the English language. In her clan they had used symbols but nothing nearly as eloquent as what Lorena had been taught. Kyrie learned how to speak Austrian and pronounce English more clearly. Lorena confessed she had had a hard time understanding her at first.
Her speech was guttural and harsh while her accent was mixed from her years traveling as well as the places she had stayed. She taught Lorena Erics tongue as well as the small amount that Godric had spoken to her in his own.
Nights passed quickly as they continued on their small journey. Lorena was taken aback by the sheer vastness of the world. Kyrie was grateful she had someone to share the trek with. In time she became fond of the younger vampire. It reminded her of a friend she had had as a human, Aislin.
They had grown up together, played together, and eventually even were promised to the same family at a young age. As was Kyries family, Aislins was in high standing as well with the clan leader. Promising the two girls hands to the clan leaders sons was to further unite their clan, to make them stronger.
While Aislin did as she was told and tied the knot at the summer festival of her thirteenth year Kyrie had refused, her parents bought her some time. By the second summer she had been told that it was not going to work again. She had resigned herself to that fate until she saw her friend.
The other girl had been busy taking care of her husband and minding her child that there had barely been time to talk over the course of the year. Now there Aislin stood, a child clinging to her hip not old enough to walk yet and her stomach was swollen with another. Kyrie left the summer festival and didn't return.
By the third year it had become almost a joke amongst her clan, her family was being shamed. The more time wasted the dowry her father had to pay increased, after all Kyrie was in her fifteenth year and practically on her way to becoming an old maid.
As they neared the grounds for the summer festival Malvyn, the boy she was promised to, greeted her. Much to her chagrin her family left her with him. He offered his arm to her smirking all the while. She chose to fold her arms across her chest.
"So is that it then girl? Greet me here, your betrothed, with a sour face and an impatient glare." Malvyn stated.
"Then find another betrothed. I have made myself clear, I will not tie the knot." She replied haughtily.
"Kyrie, I do not expect you to fall into my arms...I wouldn't want you to but come on now. We are not children anymore, whether we want to or not we must tie the knot. For the sake of our clan." He said.
"And for the sake of our clan you would have me clean your house, cook for you, mend your battle garments." Kyrie stated her voice raising as she took a few steps closer to him. "Lie under you so you may have your way with me, get fat with your children, mind them...waste my life for the sake of our clan."
"Waste your life? Girl, that is what people do. That is life." Malvyn countered. Kyrie shook her head.
"No, there has to be more." She replied quickly.
"What is it you want? I will not tie you down if you are not ready. I will not lay a hand on you until you feel the time is right..." He pleaded with her.
"Yet I will still be your wife, you will still be my husband and in the end I will be forced to act like a good wife if I wish to avoid wagging tongues." She spat back. Malvyn let out a sigh and hung his head.
"I am sorry, I really am. Theres nothing that can be done. They will force you to tie the knot with me this season. You won't be able to escape this year, it is inevitable." He stated as he walked past her. She heard him stop. "I will make you happy in time, all I'm asking is you allow me that chance."
Kyrie closed her eyes tightly gritting her teeth. Her entire body shook with rage, what was she going to do?
Normally the couples who were choosing to tie the knot would do so together as there were many other clans from the surrounding area that joined in the festivities of the season however it was decided that Kyrie and Malvyn would do so beforehand. That same night.
Kyrie stood in the dress her mother had to keep adjusting for her as she grew over the years. It was stark white, leather made pliable and smooth as any fabric could ever hope to be. She sat while her sisters braided her hair to put it in place on top of her head.
"Well then, more progress this year thus far." Her mother said happily. Kyrie stared down at her hands in her lap.
"I am not ready." She whispered as tears fell from her eyes. "Mama, don't ask this of me...I do not want this." Kyrie collapsed hanging her head down. Sobs wracked her body as she wept.
"My dearest you have been given more then enough time. If I could give you the world I would. I know, have known, this is not what is best for you but it is what we do." Her mother said. She grasped Kyrie by the hands pulling her up. "We are women, what is expected of us is never easy."
With a kiss on her cheek she was sent out of the tent. Her father greeted her outside grasping her arm tightly, more than likely to keep her from running. He walked her to the ceremonial ring. People from her clan and the other clans in attendance sat or stood around in a circle.
Torches lined a path leading to the center. In the middle stood Malvyn. His long hair was tied back and greased making it shine. His clothing was leather as well and a dark brown. A large bonfire crackled behind him as the Druid conducting the ceremony walked to stand slightly behind him.
Kyrie tensed, this was it...in the end she was being forced. The heat from the torches caused sweat to bead down her forehead. Her father walked her over to Malvyn handing her off to him. The younger male smirked up at his elder and gave a nod.
The pair turned towards the Druid as he began to speak. Most of his words were lost on Kyrie as her head began to swim. He spoke of the circle they were standing in and how tying the knot would bind them together.
"Malvyn, will you provide for this woman and the children she will bear for you. Do you promise this in front of us today." The Druid conducted.
"Yes." He stated softly. Kyrie glanced at Malvyn which turned to a glare.
"Kyrie, will you provide for this man and the children you will bear him. Do you promise that in front of us today." The Druid asked as attention shifted towards her. She could feel it, hundreds of burning eyes on her back. She swallowed hard feeling a lump in her throat as her stomach flipped nervously.
"I, I can't breathe." She whispered out hoarsely. She felt her eyes roll into the back of her head before there was nothing.
Kyrie awoke with a jolt. Cold fingers cupped her face tossing her head from side to side in an attempt to wake her. Her lids fluttered open to meet a boy she had never seen before.
"Well then, that should buy you some more time." He stated through his fangs. Kyrie sat up unsure of what she was seeing.
"Godric?" She asked. He only smirked at her. "This isn't right, you do not belong here...in this place."
"Kyrie, my Kyrie. I am with you always." He replied amused.
"No, you released me. Our bond is broken." She stated feeling sticky tears spring to her eyes. Godric grinned at her grabbing her to pull her into an embrace. She fought half heartedly before relenting. He nuzzled against his neck.
"While yes, our bond is not as it was do you really believe it to be broken? Have you so little faith in us?" He asked tenderly resting his head against hers. Kyrie let out a sob. "I released you to protect you, I could not let the authority get their grasp on you...you deserve better than that. Better than what I have given you."
"Is this real, are you...are you real?" Kyrie asked suddenly feeling as if she had been duped. She glanced up at Godric as he smiled down at her.
"Does it matter?" He asked softly. "We are together right now and I intend to enjoy it." Godric placed his lips against hers firmly in affirmation. "We will meet again Kyrie, not for some time more than likely but our roads will cross again."
Kyrie sat bolt upright panting heavily. She placed a hand against her forehead. Her eyes turned to Lorena as she slept soundly. Kyrie felt blood drip from her nose, it was still daylight. She laid back down on the dirt floor of the root cellar they had found placing her fingers to her lips before closing her eyes tightly.