Fear in the Dark (0pen)

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"Why, why, why, did I allow her to drag me into this? The sway of a woman's hips should never have this much effect on a man. This is just madness,"

Felshen walked wearily through the main hall of Castle Feratu his eyes wide with terror and his hand ready to dart to his blade. His boots clipping along the polished floor and the normally reassuring clink of the charm on his swords pommel did little more than humiliate him. It turned out the charm was little more than a charm that asked vampires nicely to go away. So much for a repellent, he was nearly shoulder to shoulder with the beasts.

He would have never set foot in this castle had the lure for gold not enamored him so. All around him the hustle and bustle of the vampire society turned his normally cool disposition into the incarnate form of terror. At least his crew couldn't see him, he doubted they would respect him at all if they were to see him stricken with terror as he was now.

Sure they all knew how he hung garlic over his bed at night even amongst the rolling waves of the ocean, and how every time a fog or mist rolled in he would hang his "charm" from the bow of the stand with his sword ready. They always took it as a mans irrational paranoia; but they never truly understood how terrified he was of them. Sure they may have suspected but they never had the gumption to confront him about it.

Now here he was walking into the heart of the vampire capital, he surely had a death wish. No simple charter was worth the fear he was enduring at the moment.

"Then again, a thousand gold marks for a tour down to the scattered islands could have me set for the rest of the year," He mused quietly to himself as he approached the location where he would pick up his waiting client.

[wingedfreak]

Liliana wandered through the enormous main hallways of the Castle Feratu. At times she wondered why the old Ancient would have built such a large castle for so few a population and even so, most vampires lived in other parts of the world, not just here. She was one of the few who actually stayed in the bloody castle. Ergo, if her creator had not been killed she most likely would have never stepped foot near the place. But she desperately needed some form of sanctuary. And that came in the shape of this castle.

As she turned a corner, she bumped into someone. “Geez. I’m sorry.” She murmured as she rubbed her forehead. “Wasn’t paying much att-” She stopped when she noticed that the one she bumped into was an elf. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “What in the world are you doing here?” She was genuinely concerned on why a potential snack would wander so deep into the Castle. “Do you have a death wish?” She smacked her forehead. “Don’t tell me Xiao sent you.” She mumbled. “That stupid half-breed.” Xiao always sent some poor soul into the heart of Castle Feratu when he needed to speak to her. Even that care-free half elf knew when to steer clear.

She sighed. Her stomach growled a bit. She had not hunted in quite some time. The curve of the elf’s neck was very appealing right now. She shook these thoughts from her head. “If you don’t have any official business here, I suggest you leave. Before you get hurt.”

[fade]

Felshen tried not too look terrified as the small vampire knocked him back a step. He looked her up and down, the Vampire was beautiful but he automatically took another step back. She was trying to draw him in. Even the threatening comments seemed to make him want to stay.

"As for officially business," He stammered, "I do have it, I have a charter I need to find. Someone paying a lot of gold to go on a cruise. I was supposed to meet her around here,"

He took another half step back, the fact he knew he could bring the entire castle crashing down around him did little to comfort him, he would then simply have a couple hundred angry vampires to contend with, and he doubted the simple destruction of the castle could do much more than anger them. Maybe kill a couple of the weaker but, he would still be worse off. Besides, he would most likely kill his charter, because he couldn't see a vampire wanting to go on a tropical cruise on a sailing vessel.

his hand was more than ready to reach for his sword if need be, but he sincerely hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"But as for me leaving madam," he said, making a shaky bow, "I would be more than happy to as soon as my charter arrives,"

He smiled a winning smile and introduced himself, "My name is Captain, Felshen Cresting,"

This vampire was some thing else though, attractive with an alluring gaze, she wouldn't mind this one around his neck for feeding unrelated activities. Or maybe just a lit... He shook his head. What was he thinking?

[wingedfreak]

Liliana laughed lightly, it sounded so musical and mesmerizing. Even for a vampire. “My, my, a charter? Someone who wants to go on a cruise? Kind sir, I’m afraid that not one vampire residing here would even dream of going on a cruise.” How absurd. Was this some sort of cruel joke? The poor elf. Practically shaking in his boots as he bowed and introduced himself. She bowed her head in return. “My name is Liliana.” She told him in a reassuring tone.

“Captain Felshen Cresting…” She paused. What would the Captain of a ship be doing so far from port? “Is money so important that you would risk your life? Seems like such a silly idea.” She peeked and probed through his mind. Trying to find his true intentions for coming into the Castle. However she never expected to find such thoughts. She quickly backed out of his mind. Had she been a living being with a beating heart pumping blood through her veins, she would have blushed madly at the thoughts. She inwardly shook her head and kept her cool.

Gently, with the tip of her fingers, she tilted the elf’s head to the side, just barely though. She leaned closer, her lips almost touching the bare flesh of his neck. She giggled. “Would you mind if I took a bite?” Her hand lightly touched the sword that was attached to his belt. “Or are you going to try and fight?”

She backed away and turned. “Silly elf.” She said with a sigh. “If you don’t want to die, I suggest you follow me.” She turned her head to take a glance back at him with a fangy smile. “Of course. I will require payment for the favor.” She would only take a small sip, just a tiny one wouldn’t be too bad, right? Normally she would never sink her teeth into someone, but her hunger was getting the better of her, it was best that she satisfied it now before she lost control and actually killed someone. She turned back and started to walk away. “Follow or don’t. It’s up to you.” She said with a shrug.

[fade]

Trembling at her touch he didn't resist as she leaned her lips in closely to his neck. He was almost to petrified to think. This vampire was enthralling.

"I didn't come here by choice milady, I was forced to by the ship Priestess. She felt I was being a fool to pass up a thousand gold marks for an easy charter,"

He shivered as she backed away. Strangely enough he wanted to hold onto her, he nearly had to keep his arms from reaching out to her. She was like a magnet. He had never encountered a female vampire before, the ancient he slew was a male, and that was more than enough. He hoped to never have to fight another again.

Now as for being ripped apart by one, that didn't appeal to him any more than fighting one. He would honestly prefer the later. Following this vampire did seem to be the better choice. Maybe she would take a couple gold as payment and leave him be. But part of him would be insulted even to offer. She was just so... Exotic.

Taking a deep breath he followed after her "Weighing my options, it appears it would be better to come with you," He trotted up quickly and joined her instep at her side.

[wingedfreak]

“Hm, maybe your Priestess does not like you very much. She’s pretty much sending you to your doom.” She paused, placing a finger on her lower lip. “Or maybe she wants to make you less of a scaredy-cat. You know, toughen you up a bit?” She laughed. “Easy charter? Considering where you are… I think you and your charter should have picked a better place to meet… ”

Suddenly two little twin vampires were by Felshen’s side. Each of them took a hold of his arms. “Oh yummy. A snack.” One said. “Delicious little snack.” The other agreed. They looked to Liliana, their fangs protruding from their little mouths. “Is this yours? Can we have a bite, Lily?” One pleaded. “One tiny bite! It won't be much.” The other happily chorused.

Liliana looked to Felshen then back to the little vampires. “I’m sorry, dears. But he’s all mine.” She shooed them off and took a hold of Felshen’s arm. "I'll bring you something next time."

The little vampires pouted and huffed, defeated. “Greedy, greedy.” They told her in a sing-song voice before disappearing into the shadows.

When she was sure they left, she let go. “Sorry about them.” She shrugged. “I share most my meals with them, they’re pretty much my children.” She giggled and began walking again. “But you can’t blame them for trying, you do smell delicious.”

"So, Capt. Cresting, what kind of jobs do you accept? Just the random odd jobs that come your way?"

[fade]

Felshen was terrified by the young vampires forwardness, he paled visibly and blushed scarlet red when she referred to him as "All hers,"
He really needed to see a professional. He loved freedom but the idea of being owned seemed to set a fire in his stomach.

"You know I think the same thing some times, she isn't the kindest person on my ship, but there are moments when she lets her guard down and a tender word will slip through unnoticed,"

He smiled faintly, this vampire seemed to relax him, he felt safe with her. But then again, there were so many stories of vampires luring their pray in was a false sense of security. But then again, this one didn't attack him on sight, and had defended him from her "Children". It was more reassuring than being by himself, in the bastion of the undead.

"The whole way here, I had begun to think the charter and reward were just a trap to lure me here. As if there were no charter at all, just a hungry vampire. The Priestess on my ship is fresh from the underdark and she is, like it or not, naive,"

Felshen looked about him into the dark castle, "Where are we headed? I don't mean to be rude, but this place does make me uncertain,"

He had realized she was reading his mind from the beginning, as for how much she had read, he wasn't sure. He felt there was little to no need to announce the fact that he knew, simply because it wouldn't change anything. He just hoped she hadn't read to much. He honestly doubted he was a very interesting read anyway.

"By the way," he continued, "Please, call me Felshen, Titles make my skin crawl,"

[wingedfreak]

“Hm, so I guess she wouldn’t send you to die if she has those small moments.” Liliana mused thoughtfully. That priestess of his sure sounded like a fun, demented girl to be around. She would not mind meeting her one day. “She just likes to push you around a lot, I assume.” She looked to Felshen, he did seem like the type of leader that thought he knew more than he actually did. And would be fun to taunt and poke at.

She laughed at his doubts of whether this charter was fake or not. “I would not be at all surprise at that. My people lure whoever they can in any way possible.” But she never thought that they would stage a charter with reward to bring out someone to their home. “But usually we use our own bodies to lure people, most humans fall for that.” Humans were always the easiest preys to hunt, being the most naïve and young of all races.

“Well, Felshen, just in case your client does decide to appear, and I’m hoping you‘ll recognize them, I’m just leading you around the castle a bit.” She looked to him with a smile. “But if no one appears within a certain amount of time then I guess I’ll lead you out.” She tilted her head a bit. “I hope that is alright with you.” She twirled back around and led the way. “And for payment, I require something from you. It won’t be much. You‘ll be able to deal with it.”

[fade]

The entire charter idea was starting to look more false by the minute. He had attempted to point out to Azazealyn that he didn't even know the charters name, or what he or she looked like. The request was sent via a courier who knew nothing about and it simple read:

Captain Cresting,
I am most eager to meet your acquaintance,
meet me within the Main hall of Feratu Castle
within the month. I'll be waiting with a 1000
gold marks for you to give me a tour of the
scattered islands aboard your vessel. Don't
worry about recognizing me, Ill most certainly
recognize you.

Many a thought passed through his mind with that, his extreme paranoia of vampires played with his sanity more than Azazealyn ever could.

He gulped at the idea of her "Payment", Well as long as it wasn't too bad he could handle it.

Turning his head to her he flashed her his most winning smile, "Well I greatly appreciate you guiding me through the castle. But I fear there is no charter or a vampire attempted to lure me here. Or perhaps both," He shook his head.

"That entire trip for nothing," he sighed, "At least I was able to stretch my legs upon land again, As much as I love the sea, it was nice being able to walk upon stable ground again,"

Felshen tilted his head to the side as he was walking and scratched behind his ear. Realizing how open his neck was, his heart pounded in his chest. It was like he could almost hear the blood rushing through his veins. He quickly righted his head.

[wingedfreak]

"Ah well, that's too bad. I'm sorry that it was a waste for you. But hey, money isn't everything." She tried to cheer him up a bit. And then shook her head, "It's the least I can do. Poor saps like you always manage to get so far into the Castle. Sadly, most never come out." She grinned. "So you should consider yourself to be very lucky."

She thought of the sea. "It must be nice." She murmured sadly. She had never been on a boat or to the sea for that matter. She wondered what it was like. Xiao promised that one day that would go but he was always busy. Doing what? She knew never. "I would love to go someday." She would have to wear a cloak during the day to shield herself some sunlight or stay below deck until nightfall. But to see the ocean and watch the waves crash, that would be worth it.

After about half and hour or so, Liliana decided it was best to lead Felshen out and away from the Castle. Her hunger was growing stronger by the minute. They traveled through many hallways and secret passage ways. Soon enough Felshen and Lily were now at the Castle entrance.

She looked to Felshen. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll be collecting my payment." She leaned closer to him and once again her lips touched his skin. "Don't worry, I won't kill you and this won't hurt too much." She sunk her fangs into his neck. She placed a hand on the back of his neck to help her feed a little easier.

[fade]

His breath left him, and he grasped her shoulders and squeezed, his eyes growing wide as her fangs sunk through flesh. She was right, it didn't hurt all that bad but the suddenness took the breath from him all the same. It wasn't like anything he had really felt before.

While she fed, he thought, which seemed to be an odd thing to be doing. She seemed to want to see the ocean. He could take her with h... He sighed as she continued, Him. He would be more than happy to have her aboard, which he found himself baffling at. Him of all people offering a free tropical cruise to a vampire. It was nearly laughable

"You," He started, breathing heavily, "Could come," He shut his eyes and tried not to focus too heavily on what was happening, "It," he stammered on "Would have made my trip, worth while,"

He relaxed his grip on her shoulders feeling a little dizzy.

[wingedfreak]

Liliana pulled away before she took too much, and so gently licked the wound. Soon it healed up very nicely. The power of a vampire's saliva, but it only worked on healing the wounds the vampires themselves inflicted. Gotta have some limits somewhere. She planted a light kiss on his lips-- a parting gift most, if not about half, vampires gave to those who so generously fed them.

She licked her lips of the excess blood and looked to Felshen. Was he serious? He, who seemed terrified beyond words of vampires, would take her, a vampire, with him. "You're not joking right? Because that wouldn't be funny at all." She said with a slight pout. She would strangle him if he was. "You would really take me to the ocean? For free?" A small hope welled up in her chest. To be on a ship and see the seas would be amazing.

A small smirk set upon her lips. Then she could finally tell Xiao about something he had never seen. It was always him who got to see the world and then told her all the amazing things in it. But now it was her turn.

"Ah, but... If you do take me... you do realize I'll have to feed on someone every now and then, right?" She hoped this would not be a problem.

[fade]

He still shivered at her touch, and he looked at her curiously, seeing the excitement well up inside her. He smiled, and cocked his head to the side, "Of course I'm serious," He was just pleased that the feeding wasn't too bad, "A vampire most likely wrote that letter in the first place, so I may as well take one back with me,"

The smile faded from his lips as he leaned back and appeared to think, "As for the feeding," he paused and smirked, "I think we could figure some thing out,"

"Besides," he thought, "Maybe having a vampire around would assist me in breaking free of my fears,"


He straightened and cracked his back, yawning, "As soon as you're ready we can head back. I warn you, we'll be walking a awhile, unless I can book us a trip down river on a boat,"

His aching feet would be grateful for the deck and lounge chairs of a river boat.

[wingedfreak]

Liliana smiled brightly, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big hug. "Thank you!" She exclaimed happily. She let go of him and stepped back. "You're very kind to take me along." She giggled. "And brave to face your fears. I hope I don't agitate you too much." She lied on that last sentence. Strong emotions made the blood taste better, in her opinion. Of course, it would be nice if her prey were beyond happy when she fed from them. But that rarely happened.

"Well... I hope we figure out something soon... Hunger pangs are the worst..." She sighed.

"We can leave right now actually." She whistled loudly and within a few minutes her two companions, a phoenix and an animal-shifter, came to her side. The phoenix had a long black cloak in between its beak. She took the cloak from it. "Thanks, Fai." She wrapped the cloak around her tiny frame and looked to Felshen. "Kieli can shift into a horse and get us to the nearby river..." The river wasn't too far away. The animal shifter transformed then into a horse, its nostrils flared. She climbed onto Kieli and gestured for Felshen to do the same.

[fade]

Fear was a strange thing, the way it worked and shifted from topic to topic as if it was a being of its own. He thought this as he was hugged by Liliana. He was too surprised by her cheerfulness to react appropriately.

"You're more than welcome Liliana,"

He smoothed her hair down, before she jumped back and he smiled. he really didn't feel like starting his journey yet, all he wanted to do was sleep. He had been walking since dawn and when he finally arrived he wanted to leave and rest at the same time. There was nothing he truly wanted more than a full nights sleep, in a warm bed.

"Well, alright," he jumped up upon the horse and wrapped his arms around her waist, "whenever you're ready,"

He would rest when they were safely aboard the riverboat.

[wingedfreak]

Liliana laughed, "You won't find a safe place here to sleep. So it's much better than we start this journey as soon as possible." She gently kicked Kieli's side and they were soon on their way. "Many that live here would soon be clamped onto your neck." She added. Felshen smelt so delicious that she had no doubt that he would be dead within a few minutes. "How you manage to survive before I came along is beyond me actually..."

They traveled through the dark forests that surrounded the Castle. The creepy sounds of night creatures echoed through the woods. Liliana always loved to listen to such random sounds, it was as if the creatures of the night were talking and murmuring to her. But she assumed that the sounds only strengthen Fleshen's fear of vampires.

Soon they arrived at the river docks. A small river boat was all that was available at the time. "Well... better than nothing right?" She looked back to Felshen with a smile before climbing off.

[fade]

"It's perfect, I see a bed chamber at the least, maybe with a little extra I can purchase it for use,"

Felshen agilely hoped off the horses back, and feeling more secure he approached the Ships Captain.

"Hello, I would like to purchase passage on your vessel,"

"Hmmm...." The captain said eyeing the pair "I say seventy five gold marks for the two of ye,"

Felshen's mouth dropped at the amount, "Why so high?" He exclaimed.

The Captain merely gestured behind Felshen, "A vampire, seventy five or no passage,"

Felshen paused considering and eyed the boat, she was about the size as a schooner and she sported two masts. Not a bad looking boat, undoubtedly though she had more than one room. He looked back at the captain, "I'll agree to the price of eighty gold marks if you throw in a cabin,"

The captain ran his hand through his thick brown beard and nodded, "I do supposed I can do that, where do you be headed?"

"The south east shore of Temarra where this river joins the ocean," Felshen stated.

Once again the Captain ran his hands through his beard and seemed to consider. And with a twitch of his lips and a shrug he turned and motioned the party to come aboard. Felshen led the way onto the ship behind the Captain, and looked around. The boat truly was a beauty.

"You four will be staying below deck where you can keep out of me and me crews hair," The captain stated grumpily

"Sir, I am a captain upon my own vessel, if you are in need of assistance in anyway please, don't hesitate to ask,"

The captain grunted and showed the way to their room, the cabin was small, not unlike the Guest quarters upon the Heron, the nicer by far. The bed wasn't a cot but an actual bed large enough for three if they slept on their sides. And the wash stand in the corner already held soap and water, and the mirror that accompanied it was a full body mirror. Not a cheap commodity to say the least.

The captain left them and Felshen walked over to the bed where you proceeded to lay down against the far wall. He didn't bother climbing beneath the quilt blanket he lay his head on a pillow and starred at the ceiling. It was so nice being able to sleep on a bed again, having slept under bushes for the past week this was some thing he had been strongly looking forward to. Finally growing accustomed to Liliana he looked at her and smiled.

"Within a week you'll be at the ocean on board my ship, And I promise you. I'll take you around the whole continent,"

[wingedfreak]

Liliana sighed. She should have known better. Of course the Captain would have his doubts on whether or not she could control her hunger. Maybe he thought that she would kill them all. But was it really necessary to raise the prices so high? She inwardly growled. Xiao would have given the man a death glare so horrific that the man would have let them ride free. But then again, Xiao was weird like that and Felshen wasn't.

She followed Felshen and the captain to the small room they would be staying in. Fai and Kieli perfered to stay outside, they would rather fly that stay below deck. It was how most animals felt, they hated to be caged up for so long. But the room wasn't all that bad actually. For a small boat anyway. Nice and 'cozy'.

When the captain left them and Felshen laid out on the bed, Liliana sat on a nearby chair. She smiled. Happiness filled her very being. "I can't wait." What would it be like? The ocean... A river paled in comparison. The ocean held more animals than a river. And mermaids. She always wanted to see one.

She then hung her head down in shame. "And I'm sorry." She murmured. "I'm costing you quite a fortune." It was always a problem for her to travel because so many feared her kind. "I'll pay you back somehow..." She vowed to him.

[fade]

"Don't worry yourself, eighty some gold is pocket lining, We've been fairly profitable as of late hauling spices from port to port,"
Felshen smiled, and rolled to the edge of the bed.

"You've no idea just how nice this bed feels after so long sleeping on hard dirt," He lay on his back and sprawled out hanging his head over the bed looking at the cabins far wall. He had been trying to forget that the flower accompanying him was a vampire. He had completely terrified of her up until the point she fed from him. She had been so gentle with him, it relaxed him greatly after she had fed. At times if he turned too quickly he would still become light headed. But beside that, she put him at ease.

Her eagerness upon seeing the ocean was matched by his own, it was his home after all and he'd been too far away for far too long now. He laughed inwardly, He would need to re-earn his sea legs.

"The ocean can't be described with words. You hear people try and describe it, poets and scholars throw large words that have a nice ring to them and write masterpieces. But, they all pale in comparison when you first step through that tree line and see wave upon wave of cresting blue or green. And the ocean at night is beyond breathtaking," Felshen paused, rising from the bed.

He walked across the cabin behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders "Close your eyes, and imagine this for me," He began slowly rocking her left and right forward and back in no particular order, "Relax, loosen your neck and slide through water, you wont fall over I have you, float in my hands," He smiled and kept rocking her.

"Now, imagine a ship beneath you, you're barefoot. The polished wooden planks are cool on your feet," He went on slowly, smiling and speaking softly, "Now, imagine a moonless night sky filled with stars to the point of bursting," He let the imagine sink in and then leaned down next to her ear and whispered "Now, imagine a void, above and below the ship and you are now at the bow, leaning over." He smiled as he continued rocking her, now just left and right.

"Now fill that void with the sky you imagined earlier, you're floating in the midst of a sea of stars. You see nothing but night sky all around you but a warm moist wind slips past your ear," Felshen blew gently past her ear and slowly released her shoulders, "That is an ocean at night," walking back in front of her, he sat on the edge of the bed and smiled, "You can open your eyes now,"

[wingedfreak]

Liliana smiled, “Well, if you ever need a pair of strong hands I’m your gal.” She clenched her fist in the air. “I may not look it but I can do some pretty intense labor.” She flexed her arm muscle and grinned. "I need to find some way to pay you back for your kindness...." She giggled at his comment over the bed. “Must be a nice difference compared to a dirt floor.” She had almost forgotten that elves and things not-vampire required a lot of sleep. She on the other hand needed maybe a small nap every now and then.

She closed her eyes as he instructed her to do. And laughed as he rocked her back and forth, to and fro. She could almost see what he was talking about. A wide open night sky, the starlight reflected on the ocean’s clean, clear surface. It was simply… breath-taking.

The warmth of his hand on her shoulders now gone, she slowly opened her eyes. She smiled brightly. “It sounds like it would be an amazing place to see.” She could hardly wait now. This small river boat seemed like it was no longer going fast enough for her taste. She looked over to Felshen, the happy grin still on her face. “And I wouldn’t mind meeting your crew either.”