Ch. 9
“Obstinate”
I start walking to the water edge. My body is shaking. My head is ringing. The spikes on my back raging and shining a deep array of purples, and sparks come off them as I move. I can tell Zanir has moved past the trees now. His smell, mint, moving closer. My cloud moves back to me forming a tight circle around me, a shield around me again.
I feel myself change. Bone snapping again, changing, and forming into something else, my true form. My legs start to form, pale now from the layers of clothes I used to protect them from the autumn season that Solomaonri brought to Adros. My arms begin taking shape, tattoos start to appear, creatures inked on my body, each killed by me, part of the bond with my inner beast. Evidence of our power, my power.
Along the wrist of my left hand, the Samca starts to form with the bind rune. I will have to show Oana when I get back to the castle. Halfy’s and my bond on my left index finger, a familiar rune displayed on my true form’s hand. My back becomes smooth, no wings or spikes, just runes tattooed for protection, Mother said, even though they were different than the one on my finger, but no protection from vampires, I guess.
My hair falls along my shoulders and my black wavy hair, with the palest of purple hues, that Mother gave me, is now sticky and crusty from the blood. It clings to my face, my shoulders, my back. I am covered in blood. Red blood from the buck and a dark almost black blood from the Samca all over me. I feel the blood running down my mouth, no longer filled with fangs. I use my hand to wipe the edges of my mouth. Once fully changed back to myself, into my true form, I continue to the water. I need to wash away the dread of killing, even though I would do it all over again, if needed. I regret nothing. Not anymore.
The water starts to creep over me with each stride into the depths. My cloud starts to dissipate as it touches the water. The repetitive motions of the waves pushing against me with each furthering step. The cold water reaching and running over my hips. Even with the clear water by the shore, the darkness completely engulfs anything below the water now, further, and further I go. The wind returns, whistling through the waves and past the trees in the forest behind me, to Zanir. The brisk air cutting through my lungs now like razor blades. The water creeping up my stomach, as the water washes over me it takes the blood with it. Leaving a trail of dark red water as I continue. I feel my muscles trying to combat the cold that is touching every inch of my skin. Different from the cold that lingers within. No thick fur to protect me in this form. My pupils dilate as my blood begins to pump faster. The numbness of my fingers as I run them across the passing waves.
“Mihaela, little bat…” barely more than a whisper against the autumn air blowing against the lake’s water now. Even the wisps have returned to dance along the water. I stand facing the mountain range ahead, my back to him, my cloud, my shield gone, exposed fully. I sink under the water. My face stinging as the water washes over me, all of me. The copper taste of blood leaves my mouth as water rushes past it. I push upward, slowly breaking the water surface.
Now I face the creature who I dared to disturb in the night, and in turn is interrupting my stillness after the rage, after the beast, my alone, my moment, without the castle, without mother, without duties, without scouts or guards, without anything other than my true self washing it all away.
I feel my hair clinging to my cheeks and the water dripping down my brows. I see him, standing past the tree line now, always dancing with the edge of darkness. Like he needs to be surrounded by it. “Definitely not…a bat.” He slowly steps forward, shadows dancing as the trees blow around.
I brush the few strands of my hair out of my face, the only part of me above the water.
“Zanir, you know most mortal men would run at the sight of a naked woman at the water edge of a lake within the endless forest. Many creatures choose to look like beautiful women to lure men into the depths before swallowing them whole.” I start moving back up to the shore, my shoulders now past the water surface.
Usually, I am fully dressed before shifting, but given the last time I shifted was into my beast form…let’s just say that most of the time my clothes get completely shredded if the beast is fully out to play.
My muscles twitching as the air cuts into each water drop that still lingers on my skin, I pause. He is fully out of the tree cover. Like saying his name lured him out of the hidden world of shadows. His torn shirt, blowing with the passing winds. Darkness clinging to the trees, not him, like when we first met… before I took his powers. His eyes were looking right at me holding my stare. That flame raging in them once again, looking like they may burst.
“Can’t say that I wouldn’t mind that.” He says with a small smirk. I hiss. Gross, and he continues, “Curiosity made me mortal again. It would seem I do not learn from my inquires.” He moves in closer away from the trees and back into the clearing. “I do recall that Samcas steal children or women baring children, but also enjoy nice mortal snacks. As the Samca is no longer here. I doubt there is anything currently I need to fear…Unless that red blood…that was on you was from a mortal man…” He says while acting like he is wiping something off his ripped shirt, wanting me to look at him, to continue taking every inch of him in my stare. “I do like how you say my name, though…Say my name, again.”
I growl through clenched teeth and dive under the water again, the cold digs its claws into my bare skin. I linger under the water for a moment. Quiet and dark. Wanting the blood, all the blood, to wash away. To wash myself of all responsibilities, all the thoughts that fill my mind, all the voices, all the powers that course and burn through me.
Once I come back up, my lavender eyes breaking the surface of the water. Like a water beast stalking the water surfaces, only their eyes shining. At the water edge I can see the rock covered and marked with moss. Thank Nyx.” Hmm…” He mutters. “I understand why your mother named you after, one who is like a god…”
I groan and start walking back up the shore, “What about knocking, ever heard of knocking?” I say as my shoulders break the water surface again. A gust of wind blowing my hair off my back.
Without missing a beat, he turns his back towards me, and walks to the nearest tree and proceeds to raise a fist and knock against the bark. I can feel my eyes roll almost out of my head. Mother is going to be overjoyed about another smart ass entering her castle walls. Nyx help us.
I continue up the shore, water dripping from me. The air is cutting into me again. My muscles tremble. The winds cut tears from my eyes. I take a deep breath, taking every moment of the cold running over and through me, a small gasp escapes me at the end. A shiver flows down me. I prefer this type of cold rather than whatever is going on inside me.
I can feel his eyes on me, and I look hard in his direction. He is now leaning against the tree he knocked on, staring at me, in my eyes. His cerulean eyes burning with a fire, looking back at my cold lavender ones. I cut him a glare and he smirks and turns his gaze back to the lake.
“You know,” I start when I reach for the satchel that laid where I buried it earlier next to the moss-covered rock. I do a quick glance around, continue and say, “You think you would be more wary around something who took your immortality, your powers… who can change forms, control the wind, fire, ice, and make a Samca disappear.” The satchel now lays in one of my hands and I wave my other across it, it doubles in size, more to the size fitting for my true form. I sense his eyes wandering towards me again, and my eyes slice through the cold air at him. “And knows a handful of spells.”
He quickly looks up to the night sky, the stars are starting to fade. “Can you blame me?” He repositions himself against the tree. Hmm… He resumes, “I was simply meeting with Muma Padurii,” I feel my eyes narrow towards him. One does not simply meet with the mother of the forest… A witch who meets with no one… “Who was scared off by something, or someone...” He motions his head towards me, his eyes not breaking from the sky above. “Then this someone, something, catches my attention, doesn’t flee from me, from my shadows, my darkness, or my eyes…then bites me...” He chuckles and I scoff loudly. Missing some important details. “All while pretending to be something they are not, not truly. Later I am chased by their bonded beast, an Akhlut none the less, who laid on them while their tattooed human like hand peaked out from underneath him.” I feel my body jerk, not from the cold. “Then while still pretending to be something they are not, while I relived mortal memories that I long forgotten.”
I look away from him and turn my back to him. I reach into my satchel and retrieve a white button shirt, black pants, a dark tinted royal tunic, warm socks, plain undergarments, and long black boots. His eyes finally move back to me, watching me. I can feel it even with my back turned to him. That burning feeling of being open and exposed.
“Then disappears into the night only to come back when their beast howls into the sky while facing down a Samca…only to return as a beast themselves, a different one, one that has power surging from them, their back. Able to move through the air like a mist, a blur. The smell, the smell of their power filled the air, bitterness burning through everything. Then that power incases it and the Samca as a shield, a wall, a cloud…and within seconds the buffer mystifies, and the Samca is being dragged into the lake depth by their beast, their Akhlut…” His voice gets quiet, such as if spoken it does not make it real. As if this is a dream, this is fantasy. It is not. The blood of the Samca still under my fingernails, as my claws dug into its chest as I stood over it before ripping its throat out. “After all that, this someone turns into what I believe is their true form, covered in markings, tattoos…” He pauses, waiting for any response. Wanting me to explain more. Nope. This is not a check mate, mortal vampire man. You have only exposed the queen, or at least the princess. He continues, “Can you blame someone for being curious, and wanting to know more about this sly, cunning, extremely powerful, stunning creature ...” I feel the air leave my mouth and a snarl flows past my clenched teeth, loudly, again. “Or woman… Plus, I do truly miss my own power and do wish to get it back…” I can hear his footsteps as leaves crunch under his boots.
I turn towards him. He is roughly too far even with my rock throwing skills. At least you learned I will throw things. A small chuckle leaves my body. Fear me, mortal vampire man. I lean against the large rock where I buried my satchel. I then begin putting on my undergarments and shoving one of my legs into the dark pants I packed. I could swear I heard him growl.
I scowl and snarl in his direction baring my true form’s teeth. I know they aren’t as intimidating as the fangs of my beast, but I’ll rip anyone to shreds in any form if I wish.
“First, don’t call me stunning, unless you know for certain I have no weapons.” I cut my eyes to him, cold. I see the flames in his eyes rage slightly before it is gone, but the edges of his mouth curls. “If I am breathing. I am a weapon.” I stand buttoning my pants and reaching for my white shirt. “Second, Halfy is not the creature from which you should run. I can climb trees, or at least turn into something that can.” I smirk at my own bumptiousness. “Third…” I say as the tight white shirt now clings against me. “You look at me without my permission again, I’ll take more than your immortality from you.” I finish sliding on the warm socks I packed, thankfully, and my long boots, and continue. “Fourth...” I look back in his direction. He is now staring back to the sky and biting his lip. Weighing all options, all possible responses, but says nothing. Smart mortal vampire man, you are learning. “You talk way too much. Try thinking before you speak.”
Peering eyes and ears are always possibly around and he is just airing out all our business, my business. I glance back to the lake, what is taking Halfy so long. I reach for the dark royal like tunic and wrap myself in it. Embracing the warmth against my freezing skin, my freezing inside. My hair flowing in the wind, but I can feel the water still dripping from it. I braid my hair down to a point, I can see the gloomy purple hues shining, and then wrap it back around and tuck it under the rest of my hair. I finish and then say, “I much preferred your approach toward me more as a bat by the way.” I lean back against the rock, now fully clothed, fully transformed into the Mihaela that everyone at the castle knows.
Zanir turns from looking at the sky back to me, “I could say the same about you.” He says with a minor tilt of his head. A snarl leaves my teeth and I realize that this is going to be a constant noise and interaction we have until we reach the castle. “May I ask you a question?” Again, talking too much. But at least he asked first.
Ch. 9
“Obstinate”
I start walking to the water edge. My body is shaking. My head is ringing. The spikes on my back raging and shining a deep array of purples, and sparks come off them as I move. I can tell Zanir has moved past the trees now. His smell, mint, moving closer. My cloud moves back to me forming a tight circle around me, a shield around me again.
I feel myself change. Bone snapping again, changing, and forming into something else, my true form. My legs start to form, pale now from the layers of clothes I used to protect them from the autumn season that Solomaonri brought to Adros. My arms begin taking shape, tattoos start to appear, creatures inked on my body, each killed by me, part of the bond with my inner beast. Evidence of our power, my power.
Along the wrist of my left hand, the Samca starts to form with the bind rune. I will have to show Oana when I get back to the castle. Halfy’s and my bond on my left index finger, a familiar rune displayed on my true form’s hand. My back becomes smooth, no wings or spikes, just runes tattooed for protection, Mother said, even though they were different than the one on my finger, but no protection from vampires, I guess.
My hair falls along my shoulders and my black wavy hair, with the palest of purple hues, that Mother gave me, is now sticky and crusty from the blood. It clings to my face, my shoulders, my back. I am covered in blood. Red blood from the buck and a dark almost black blood from the Samca all over me. I feel the blood running down my mouth, no longer filled with fangs. I use my hand to wipe the edges of my mouth. Once fully changed back to myself, into my true form, I continue to the water. I need to wash away the dread of killing, even though I would do it all over again, if needed. I regret nothing. Not anymore.
The water starts to creep over me with each stride into the depths. My cloud starts to dissipate as it touches the water. The repetitive motions of the waves pushing against me with each furthering step. The cold water reaching and running over my hips. Even with the clear water by the shore, the darkness completely engulfs anything below the water now, further, and further I go. The wind returns, whistling through the waves and past the trees in the forest behind me, to Zanir. The brisk air cutting through my lungs now like razor blades. The water creeping up my stomach, as the water washes over me it takes the blood with it. Leaving a trail of dark red water as I continue. I feel my muscles trying to combat the cold that is touching every inch of my skin. Different from the cold that lingers within. No thick fur to protect me in this form. My pupils dilate as my blood begins to pump faster. The numbness of my fingers as I run them across the passing waves.
“Mihaela, little bat…” barely more than a whisper against the autumn air blowing against the lake’s water now. Even the wisps have returned to dance along the water. I stand facing the mountain range ahead, my back to him, my cloud, my shield gone, exposed fully. I sink under the water. My face stinging as the water washes over me, all of me. The copper taste of blood leaves my mouth as water rushes past it. I push upward, slowly breaking the water surface.
Now I face the creature who I dared to disturb in the night, and in turn is interrupting my stillness after the rage, after the beast, my alone, my moment, without the castle, without mother, without duties, without scouts or guards, without anything other than my true self washing it all away.
I feel my hair clinging to my cheeks and the water dripping down my brows. I see him, standing past the tree line now, always dancing with the edge of darkness. Like he needs to be surrounded by it. “Definitely not…a bat.” He slowly steps forward, shadows dancing as the trees blow around.
I brush the few strands of my hair out of my face, the only part of me above the water.
“Zanir, you know most mortal men would run at the sight of a naked woman at the water edge of a lake within the endless forest. Many creatures choose to look like beautiful women to lure men into the depths before swallowing them whole.” I start moving back up to the shore, my shoulders now past the water surface.
Usually, I am fully dressed before shifting, but given the last time I shifted was into my beast form…let’s just say that most of the time my clothes get completely shredded if the beast is fully out to play.
My muscles twitching as the air cuts into each water drop that still lingers on my skin, I pause. He is fully out of the tree cover. Like saying his name lured him out of the hidden world of shadows. His torn shirt, blowing with the passing winds. Darkness clinging to the trees, not him, like when we first met… before I took his powers. His eyes were looking right at me holding my stare. That flame raging in them once again, looking like they may burst.
“Can’t say that I wouldn’t mind that.” He says with a small smirk. I hiss. Gross, and he continues, “Curiosity made me mortal again. It would seem I do not learn from my inquires.” He moves in closer away from the trees and back into the clearing. “I do recall that Samcas steal children or women baring children, but also enjoy nice mortal snacks. As the Samca is no longer here. I doubt there is anything currently I need to fear…Unless that red blood…that was on you was from a mortal man…” He says while acting like he is wiping something off his ripped shirt, wanting me to look at him, to continue taking every inch of him in my stare. “I do like how you say my name, though…Say my name, again.”
I growl through clenched teeth and dive under the water again, the cold digs its claws into my bare skin. I linger under the water for a moment. Quiet and dark. Wanting the blood, all the blood, to wash away. To wash myself of all responsibilities, all the thoughts that fill my mind, all the voices, all the powers that course and burn through me.
Once I come back up, my lavender eyes breaking the surface of the water. Like a water beast stalking the water surfaces, only their eyes shining. At the water edge I can see the rock covered and marked with moss. Thank Nyx.” Hmm…” He mutters. “I understand why your mother named you after, one who is like a god…”
I groan and start walking back up the shore, “What about knocking, ever heard of knocking?” I say as my shoulders break the water surface again. A gust of wind blowing my hair off my back.
Without missing a beat, he turns his back towards me, and walks to the nearest tree and proceeds to raise a fist and knock against the bark. I can feel my eyes roll almost out of my head. Mother is going to be overjoyed about another smart ass entering her castle walls. Nyx help us.
I continue up the shore, water dripping from me. The air is cutting into me again. My muscles tremble. The winds cut tears from my eyes. I take a deep breath, taking every moment of the cold running over and through me, a small gasp escapes me at the end. A shiver flows down me. I prefer this type of cold rather than whatever is going on inside me.
I can feel his eyes on me, and I look hard in his direction. He is now leaning against the tree he knocked on, staring at me, in my eyes. His cerulean eyes burning with a fire, looking back at my cold lavender ones. I cut him a glare and he smirks and turns his gaze back to the lake.
“You know,” I start when I reach for the satchel that laid where I buried it earlier next to the moss-covered rock. I do a quick glance around, continue and say, “You think you would be more wary around something who took your immortality, your powers… who can change forms, control the wind, fire, ice, and make a Samca disappear.” The satchel now lays in one of my hands and I wave my other across it, it doubles in size, more to the size fitting for my true form. I sense his eyes wandering towards me again, and my eyes slice through the cold air at him. “And knows a handful of spells.”
He quickly looks up to the night sky, the stars are starting to fade. “Can you blame me?” He repositions himself against the tree. Hmm… He resumes, “I was simply meeting with Muma Padurii,” I feel my eyes narrow towards him. One does not simply meet with the mother of the forest… A witch who meets with no one… “Who was scared off by something, or someone...” He motions his head towards me, his eyes not breaking from the sky above. “Then this someone, something, catches my attention, doesn’t flee from me, from my shadows, my darkness, or my eyes…then bites me...” He chuckles and I scoff loudly. Missing some important details. “All while pretending to be something they are not, not truly. Later I am chased by their bonded beast, an Akhlut none the less, who laid on them while their tattooed human like hand peaked out from underneath him.” I feel my body jerk, not from the cold. “Then while still pretending to be something they are not, while I relived mortal memories that I long forgotten.”
I look away from him and turn my back to him. I reach into my satchel and retrieve a white button shirt, black pants, a dark tinted royal tunic, warm socks, plain undergarments, and long black boots. His eyes finally move back to me, watching me. I can feel it even with my back turned to him. That burning feeling of being open and exposed.
“Then disappears into the night only to come back when their beast howls into the sky while facing down a Samca…only to return as a beast themselves, a different one, one that has power surging from them, their back. Able to move through the air like a mist, a blur. The smell, the smell of their power filled the air, bitterness burning through everything. Then that power incases it and the Samca as a shield, a wall, a cloud…and within seconds the buffer mystifies, and the Samca is being dragged into the lake depth by their beast, their Akhlut…” His voice gets quiet, such as if spoken it does not make it real. As if this is a dream, this is fantasy. It is not. The blood of the Samca still under my fingernails, as my claws dug into its chest as I stood over it before ripping its throat out. “After all that, this someone turns into what I believe is their true form, covered in markings, tattoos…” He pauses, waiting for any response. Wanting me to explain more. Nope. This is not a check mate, mortal vampire man. You have only exposed the queen, or at least the princess. He continues, “Can you blame someone for being curious, and wanting to know more about this sly, cunning, extremely powerful, stunning creature ...” I feel the air leave my mouth and a snarl flows past my clenched teeth, loudly, again. “Or woman… Plus, I do truly miss my own power and do wish to get it back…” I can hear his footsteps as leaves crunch under his boots.
I turn towards him. He is roughly too far even with my rock throwing skills. At least you learned I will throw things. A small chuckle leaves my body. Fear me, mortal vampire man. I lean against the large rock where I buried my satchel. I then begin putting on my undergarments and shoving one of my legs into the dark pants I packed. I could swear I heard him growl.
I scowl and snarl in his direction baring my true form’s teeth. I know they aren’t as intimidating as the fangs of my beast, but I’ll rip anyone to shreds in any form if I wish.
“First, don’t call me stunning, unless you know for certain I have no weapons.” I cut my eyes to him, cold. I see the flames in his eyes rage slightly before it is gone, but the edges of his mouth curls. “If I am breathing. I am a weapon.” I stand buttoning my pants and reaching for my white shirt. “Second, Halfy is not the creature from which you should run. I can climb trees, or at least turn into something that can.” I smirk at my own bumptiousness. “Third…” I say as the tight white shirt now clings against me. “You look at me without my permission again, I’ll take more than your immortality from you.” I finish sliding on the warm socks I packed, thankfully, and my long boots, and continue. “Fourth...” I look back in his direction. He is now staring back to the sky and biting his lip. Weighing all options, all possible responses, but says nothing. Smart mortal vampire man, you are learning. “You talk way too much. Try thinking before you speak.”
Peering eyes and ears are always possibly around and he is just airing out all our business, my business. I glance back to the lake, what is taking Halfy so long. I reach for the dark royal like tunic and wrap myself in it. Embracing the warmth against my freezing skin, my freezing inside. My hair flowing in the wind, but I can feel the water still dripping from it. I braid my hair down to a point, I can see the gloomy purple hues shining, and then wrap it back around and tuck it under the rest of my hair. I finish and then say, “I much preferred your approach toward me more as a bat by the way.” I lean back against the rock, now fully clothed, fully transformed into the Mihaela that everyone at the castle knows.
Zanir turns from looking at the sky back to me, “I could say the same about you.” He says with a minor tilt of his head. A snarl leaves my teeth and I realize that this is going to be a constant noise and interaction we have until we reach the castle. “May I ask you a question?” Again, talking too much. But at least he asked first.
