CHAPTER 2: Ah! My Devil!

When the shadows closed in, the finch seemed to disappear along with my chain. When the bird vanished from my sight I had no choice but to stop. My feet came together and I looked around to get a handle of where I was, but as I surveyed my surroundings I realized I had never been to this part of the forest. I had no clue where I was, and it was too dark to see the proper path back to the manor. I wandered a bit farther, trying to find a sign or some kind of clue as to what part of the forest I was in, but in vain. I sighed, frustrated at my oblivious behavior earlier. If I had been paying attention I wouldn't have gotten so lost.

I kicked a pebble nonchalantly and leaned against a tree with my hands behind my back. I looked up at the dark, groping tree limbs that twisted above my head. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of the forest deeply. A stick broke behind me in the silence. I glanced behind me and closed my eyes, listening back.

I was greeted by warm breath down my neck followed by a cool, silky voice, "Well, when I went walking around in the woods, I didn't expect to find such an attractive young lady." I gave a startled yelp and spun around to face him, only to melt on the inside with a low gasp. I felt my eyes widen as I looked upon him. He was lean, with a narrow waist and average shoulders. He was definitely fit, too; I could see his muscles through his clothing. Then I noticed his outfit; it was an all-black leather tight get up with a jacket. His boots reached past his knees, and everything had a white trim and various small emblems and symbols here and there. I then noticed his ornate red armband, loosely attached to his sleeve. That wasn't even close to the shock of his face. It was so beautiful and perfect I was certain it was carved by angels. His hair was shoulder length, and it framed his face beautifully. The caramel color was second only to his big, mocking, amber eyes. He was, in a word, captivating. I could feel my mouth begin to water. Afterall, I knew he wasn't a methuselah, but a terran, and a terran with blood flowing through his veins. And by the scent and smell of him, I can bet that he's very sweet and rich.

I had delved into my thoughts again, wow; I had to stop doing that. That guy smiled, being very patient with me to answer him.

" Who are you? What are you doing on my property?" I demanded, a fierce, protective tone embellishing in my voice like a tigress defending her territory.

"Well, now. That's no good. It's rude to speak to a guest for the Duchess of Saar in that manner." The man replied. God, his voice was heavenly.

"You're trespassing. State your business here, or you will regret it." I snarled back at him.

"You seem to be in a tight spot. I wandered here and saw you. I thought you may have needed help. You see, It's just so odd for a lady of your position to be out in the woods in the middle of the night, so far from her manor, dressed with nothing but an emerald evening robe." He looked me up and down with a hungry smile. I sniffed in disgust. Nevermind. This kid was a total waste of beauty.

"I lost something. Anyway what would you know about it? Do you usually go wandering out in the woods looking for girls in bathrobes?"

"Yes, yes I do. Though none of them I found have been so beautiful. "He walked up to me, until he was standing no more than 5 inches away from me, his hand brushing my hair back and cupping my face. I felt myself flush red, my heart beginning to beat just a bit faster. I couldn't help it. Despite that attitude, this kid majorly turned me on, but I have more dignity than that. I pretended to be offended, and quickly took him by his neck and crushed him into a tree, glowering at him with my fangs bared. Satisfied at the yelp of pain he gave, I smiled.

Dietrich stared in horror at the fangs extended past the lips of this girl. He hadn't expected her to be a vampire. Isaak had told him that the girl was a terran adoptee of the Duchess of Saar. Apparently he was wrong—no, Isaak was never wrong. Well damn. This assignment could be a total bust if Dietrich didn't do something, but what could he do? He was trapped between a tree and an angry vampire. His mind began to run and he searched for any means of escape. Dietrich did see the look on her face when he touched her—her pale skin gained a rosy accent to it, and he had felt her shudder. Maybe he could charm his way out of this and just grab her and go. After all, that was his assignment. He thought back to the briefing Isaak had given him, direct orders from our lord Cain.

"Cain is familiar with this girl. He wants her to join us; she has very…unique abilities. She's the adoptee of the Duchess of Saar. She lives in her manor in Londinium," he had handed Dietrich the address; "She's the new Duchess of Saar, though she now goes by the surname Castellan after her mother. Just something you may need to know. Prepare yourself, and make sure you bring her back either willingly or unconscious." Isaak had put his hand on the head of his protégé, ruffling his hair even though Dietrich was clearly much too old for things like that, before dismissing him.

Now Dietrich understood why Isaak had said to be careful. This girl was fast, very fast, and her strength was not trivial. Who knew what kind of tricks she had up her sleeve especially if Cain wanted her to be found for Dietrich to deliver an invite in the Orden. Perhaps force would be the only way to make it out. Now, how to do it..

A powerful, cold wind blew through the trees, blowing her dark, curly hair in front of her face. He seized the opportunity of her shrouded vision to gather his puppet strings in his hands before casting them out, wrapping them around her arms, legs, and her neck. From there he constricted them tighter, cutting off her air supply.

Shocked, Irena struggled against his strings in vain only able to thrash around before falling to the ground. Her eyes began to roll into her head before her eyes closed and she went limp. He sighed and gazed at her for the longest moment: she was actually quite beautiful. She may even be as beautiful as him—nonsense, no one is as beautiful as him. Isaak said so and Isaak is never wrong. Dietrich smiled.