ROLEPLAY HQ - ruby-kingdom

Taking Back Luxday started a thread. 6/12/2023 11:47 AM

“Is it rumors of another war?” asked one of the servants within the vampire’s chamber. They poured red liquid, much of what looked like hot fruit juice, into a porcelain cup. Steam billowed from the surface of the tea, filling the room with an aroma of cinnamon and cloves as they handed the drink to their master. The note which was in Silen’s hand soon folded and was set on the table at his side. Relaxed into a black leather chair too large for any one person, yet only fit for royalty, he pressed his weight against one of the armrests as if curious about the news of what he’d just read. He said nothing to the servant even though they were considered to be trusted by him. His hand went to his chin and stroked the stubble in a state of contemplation. After a moment, he smiled, and for Silen that was a dangerous weapon depending on who was around. Too attractive for his own good, it was a curse of the vampires to obtain physical features that often lured the unsuspecting into their deplorable desires. Naturally, the servant standing near him blushed at the sight of his teeth. There were markings along her neck from being fed on by Silen merely days ago, bitten with the intention of draining her during sexual pleasure, marks which she showed off proudly above the collar of her laced blouse - to the servant, those marks were a symbol of being wanted and worthy. “Will you not confide in me?” she asked him. Her words were soft and coaxing, yet Silen was not swayed by the request of a servant who devoted their time to the vampire colony in hopes of one day being married into royalty. “Your emotions are clouding my judgment - leave…” The woman with long hair, too smooth and silky to tangle, turned and headed for the door without another word. Of course, before leaving the room she made sure to steal one last look in Silen’s direction before following through with his command. The note, drawing his attention to the words written there, had sparked his interest like a

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match catching a sudden flame. The letter did not speak of war, but of a woman wandering their border who looked a great deal like the fabled lost princess of Cirrane - assumed to be in search of her next crystal with the intent to add another to her collection. If this information was true, it was meant to be kept a secret. Silen left the castle with a wooden bow and a sharpened sword. These weapons alone would easily kill the ghost of Cirrane and offer a high price for returning her body where it belonged - to The Caves possessed by ancient Demons. The Runaway Bride they called her. To think, he could trade her back to them and collect a crystal for himself, providing an additional way to build power within their Kingdom…it was an opportunity he could not ignore. When he arrived at the outskirts of Roslauten near the base of the mountains, he concealed his position in the wilderness nearby, waiting to see if there was in fact a theft amongst them. A thick blanket of fog rolled in and covered the ground beneath his worn boots. Silen, pressed against a tree, remained hidden with a view to the entrance of the mines. If the lost princess were seeking a ruby, this is where she’d go to find one… @👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯

Staring down at the palm of her left hand, the blue haired fairy stroked her thumb gently over the faded scar that sat raised from her skin. She could still feel it, the raw power of the freshly mined emerald she had held in her hands a mere 8 months prior. It had been the first time she had entered a crystal mine or interacted with a stone prior to refinement… and it had been… different. Wilder. Uncontrollable. Nym had been so unprepared for the rush it had given her, or the effort it took for her wield the power that it had thrown off her escape, and before she had managed to contain it the power had lashed back out and caused the scars, and for her to drop the stone itself. The Elves had realised she was there at that point and were working on surrounding her so she hadn’t had much choice but to run again. But every night since she had dreamt of that power. It had become her obsession, her focus, and she hoped, her future. The months since she had dedicated to research, switching herself from breaking into mines and refineries to libraries and the like. She had read through every documentation about the crystals, their power, their history. Books upon Books upon Books about the impact of refinement on the crystals were burned into her memory. Every one spoke about the importance of refining a crystal before use, about how it was presumed impossible to be able to wield one without it. Nym didn’t believe that, not now, not anymore. She wanted it, more of it. It had made the stones she had already seem like little more than paperweights, despite the years she had invested into being able to use their power better and stronger. The small citrine that hung around her neck glowed softly in the moonlight, inlaid in a gold claw and sitting on her collarbone on a dainty chain. By contrast, the obsidian bangle on her right wrist seemed to be absorbing the light into its darkness. They had both caused their own faint scars over the years of use, but it was nothing compar

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ed to that on her hand. Nym’s research had lead her here to where she was today, and the excitement around her was palpable. She was convinced that with a raw Ruby in her possession she would be able to better control the raw power of the other crystals, by using the healing power to counteract the effect the crystals had had on her skin. She was also most of the way through her research on her theory she could potentially “heal” a crystal beneath her skin, binding it directly with her body… she was needing the Ruby though to try and test the theory before deciding it was the way forwards however. That is why she sat where she now sat, a few miles outside the border of Roslauten. Nymriel had been camping there for around a week now, using the time to visit up the mountain to the border edge and scout out the route she would take. Her research had given a rather good idea as to the location of the Ruby Mines within the kingdom and her scouting had managed to confirm that. Overhead, a thick cloud came across, covering the faint moonlight and plunging Nym and her surroundings into darkness. That was her cue. As the blue haired fairy rose to her feet she reached over her shoulders to grab the hood on her cloak, pulling it up over her head. The dragonfly wings on her back unfurled from where they had been tucked against her back. She shook them off, stretching and twisting them a moment before they started to beat steadily. Picking up speed, the Fairy rose from the ground to hover, taking a deep breath before the darkness seemed to become one with herself. Using the Obsidian stone, every inch of clothing, skin, hair and wing turned deep black, swallowing any form of light that would pass over her. And in the darkness, she took off for the flight towards the Kingdom. It took several minutes, but the cloud cover had remained, and would do so for the rest of the night if her prior indications had been correct. (edited)

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Using the power of the obsidian stone for such a long period of time though was exhausting, and her wrist was starting to hurt and ache from the weight of the stone. Having reached the border, Nym flew direct to a tree that gave a good view over the Mine entrance, landing carefully on a branch to not cause the leaves to ruffle too much more than if a breeze had passed through them. Once she was crouched on the branch she would re-appear in a blink, breathing heavily as she reached to rub and massage at the wrist the stone was bound around. She hadn’t noticed the form stood against the trunk beneath her, nor would she have expected one to encourage her to look for it. Time was approaching for a shift change, and she had banked on the noise pollution of the workers putting down their tools and saying their farewells, or greetings, to their colleagues to be able to mask the beat of her wings enough for her to enter. From her prior excursions, she had recorded it taking a good 5 minutes at least for them to secure all the filled carts before the new shift started and this was her window. Closing her eyes, Nym listened closely… there was a very distant bell indicating the shift was over. She counted under her breath… 1… 2…. 3… before leaping forwards from her branch, the darkness swallowing her again as she leapt to take off towards the mine. @Taking Back Luxday

The sequence of events leading up to Silen and Nymriel crossing paths could only be labeled as fate when an unsuspecting moment flashed before his eyes, witnessing the elusive fairy perched on a branch above him. Even if only for a short moment, the realization of her existence fueled an unanticipated amount of adrenaline within him, which offered a high no taste of blood could ever satisfy in comparison. In his mind, there was no longer any question about the trespasser within the vampire kingdom. To obtain an obsidian stone, one that could cloak the identity and mask someone’s physical form entirely out of view, was rare - and for the stone to be in the possession of a fairy, was even more unusual. The rumors on that worn piece of parchment, delivered to him out of secret intentions to gain unforeseen power, were in fact true. In a way, Nymriel was just as rare as the stones many wished to collect throughout their realm. This was the lost princess everyone spoke about on warm summer nights, a girl who was forgotten and broken into fragments of tempting legends… The sound of the mines closing for the evening echoed throughout the wilderness. Metal chains looping through iron gates clambered against the crisp fog. Soon, the mines would be out of the thief’s reach. He carefully pulled an arrow from the pouch on his back, preparing it against his bow for when the time was right. Years of training made Silen’s aim deadly. Once deciding on what to hit, he never missed, and there was no telling exactly where the arrow would land for an occasion like this. Naturally, he wanted to keep her alive, and in the awe of seeing her hypnotic wings glint in the moonlight, even for a short second, he knew they were a delicacy he could not afford to damage. As soon as she appeared is how quickly she vanished. If he hadn’t been looking in that direction he wouldn’t have noticed at all. Only a faint outline of her figure remained on the branch, and if Silen had not been trained

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to detect enemies using the obsidian stone to their advantage, it would have been impossible to see her location as she blended into the night the way a shadow gets lost in a dark corridor. Silen gazed at the ghost-like figure, allowing himself a moment to take in these pricey circumstances. He did not have expectations of their unlikely encounter, though that did not stop him from being skeptical by her lack of effort to check her surroundings. It was clear she was hungry to get into the mines. To steal a ruby and be an inch closer to more power. Though he did not smile, this notion entertained him to no end, knowing exactly how those feelings often conjured up mistakes - such as her inability to see him waiting there. No longer in debate if this were a trap or if she were accompanied by others, he aimed his bow towards the branch with the intention of snapping the wood in half and catching the lonesome wanderer off guard - just as he did, a gust of leaves spiraled off the tree signaling the fairy had taken flight. He watched her silhouette mix against the moonlit sky, causing the transparency of her existence to warp the world the way visuals dance through a clear glass of water. Silen steadied his aim. Careful and calculated. He pulled back on the bowstrings until the weapon’s line was taut and rigid against his unruly fingers, closing one eye for better accuracy, and let the arrow soar through the night with the intention of impaling her right shoulder. @👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯

Nymriel had watched the closing of the mines so many times, on so many nights just like the one she was in now. She had counted the locks, watched the pattern of the chains over and over again. She knew exactly which loop was next, and which loop would be last for her escape… and just in case something went wrong, she knew the opening pattern for the next day too should she have to wait to leave. The trip had happened over, and over, and over again that it had given a sense of… security, that was dangerous to someone carrying out something incredibly dangerous. She had fallen into complacency with her awareness of her surroundings, and the excitement that the night to finally claim her next treasure had come had her heart pounding so hard in her chest it was deafening to anything else around. As she had leapt from the branch into the crisp, night air, the gusts beneath her wings gave her a new energy. Nothing was going to stop her. Her eyes locked onto the opening of the mine and she swore she could hear the rubies within, calling out to their counterparts in the citrine and obsidian power crystals that adorned her already. This was it, this was her step to ultimate power, this was… The sharpened arrow head punctured into her skin like a hot blade into butter, an inch or so aside from where her wing connected to her back and just hitting the soft flesh beneath her shoulder bone. The sudden sure of pain made Nym scream out as her body twisted around from the force, messing with her trajectory and sending her crashing into the ground on her right arm, sliding through the mixture of dirt and stone and causing the arrow to be pushed further in so the rear points would wedge into her skin. A sudden wave of heat would rush over her as she gasped out, her bodies desperate attempts to prevent her passing out sending the crystals into overdrive. She flickered between shadow and glowing, the stones themselves searing burns against her skin causing her to hiss. A silence had

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fallen around the mines and Nym became keenly aware that the social chatter of the workers had stopped… she was suddenly feeling very, very vulnerable. It only took a few seconds and Nym managed to get her ‘flickering’ under control, the surge of adrenaline taking over and bring back her wits and awareness. Wide eyed, Nymriel’s head twisted left then right, taking in the immediate landscape around her. She had fallen into a slight clearing in the lead up to the mines. However, to her left she could see there was a gathering of larger rocks and some fauna, barely taller than her knees but it was the best she could manage given the circumstances. Reaching out with her left arm, her right one tucked up close to her rib-cage in an attempt to not shift her shoulder, she dragged and scuffled herself in the direction of the rocks, intending to curl up under the fauna and hopefully just out of sight of anyone. Her ears were keenly listening for approaching foot-steps as she looked around, trying to figure out the source of the arrow in her rush to hide. Maybe the strike had been an accident, after all, she had barely been visible… the hunter was likely aiming for a bird or so further past her. Hopefully the flickering light on the ground could of been put down to some sort of electrical disturbance and everyone would write it off and continue on their way… Because right now, the searing pain from her shoulder was causing her eyes to well up, and was pulling too much of her focus to be able to piece together a well formed escape plan. @Taking Back Luxday

If there was one thing Silen was good at, besides fucking someone until they couldn’t remember their own name, it was using his bow to take a precise shot at a target. The arrow flew through the sky as intended and just as he anticipated it hit the fairy with unfair accuracy. His curiosity boiled. He needed to know if her wings were kept intact. The relentless confidence within him from years of training told him they were fine, and if they weren’t, so what, he’d be able to fetch a high price for her regardless. The sound of her falling gave him pleasure when he heard the faint impact of her hitting the ground. Knowing this caused a cruel smile to form within the shadow of his cover. He wore a black cloak with an oversized hood used to conceal his face from the moonlight. The garb did a decent job blending him into his surroundings, much like the obsidian stone the lost princess used, Silen was also clever at staying undetected - the only difference is this was his territory and she was trespassing, which gave him the upper hand. Peering around the side of the gnarly oak tree, he watched her with the intention to continue hunting her, witnessing her pop in and out of reality as if she were a firefly on the verge of death. The glow from her body illuminated their surroundings like a dying flame in a rainstorm. When he could no longer see her he relied on the trail of blood that would lead him straight to her position. Even from a distance, the allure of life force was tempting to Silen, like forbidden desires no one was ever to know about. And if he didn’t act quickly others would catch her scent on the breeze. Silen hadn’t fetched a lick of fairy blood in years. One could easily say it was a delicacy, much like needing to wait for a certain season to arrive before touching the first flake of snow. Something like this was not always readily available. Emotions of adrenaline and war to finish what was started took over. He knew he’d wounded her and now all he

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needed to do was bind and capture her. He could taste her dire predicament in the frigid air. Her need to stay hidden. The intoxicating downfall of a countdown before she was his prize consumed him. The fact was, there was nothing that said he needed to give the princess of Cirrane back to the demon lands immediately. No one would even know he’d taken her unless it was what he wanted. That meant he could do with her as he pleased, like drain her blood to sip upon when bored and in fancy of a high. The endless possibilities to take advantage of these rare circumstances were not wasted. As the fairy took refuge seeking shelter within the rocks surrounding the mines Silen moved between the trees until he was at the backside of her haven, all while keeping an eye on the mines - much like his prey, he also did not want them finding her or noticing he was there. He climbed onto one of the rocks, spotting the trail of blood dotting the way to where Nymriel sat, and began unwinding a rope from the belt around his waist. His hands wound the rope in long circles, manipulating it the way one does to wrangle a bull in an arena full of people watching for entertainment, then with precision cast the length of the rope below and lassoed the fairy. In one pull he had the rope around her figure to constrain her on the ground. Silen jumped from his hiding spot landing on both feet with a wave of dust clouding around them from the struggle, reeling in the rope until he could get his hands on the fairy’s figure. Although invisible, since Silen was familiar with a woman’s body, he knew which way she faced, turning her around to force her back and wings against his chest. With a cloth exuding the scent of a poisonous plant in one hand, he placed the fabric around her mouth so she’d breathe in the fumes, aiming to have her pass out from the plant’s natural chemicals to go limp within his arms. @👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯

Curled up in the little rock hole, Nymriel’s heart raced in her chest and she breathed heavily. Every movement of her arm and shoulder was agonising from the arrow lodged there but she knew better than to try and rip it loose while still out in the field. Her rush of adrenaline was already wearing off causing her to fade in and out of consciousness as she tried her best to focus on the noises around. There weren’t any notable footsteps about, some of the murmuring from up near the mine entrance had restarted. Fortunately for her, the wind was blowing away, another purposeful note so the scent of her blood wouldn’t be travelling up to the mines for a few hours at least. The arrow though… had come from behind her, and her scent would certainly be passing that way. Perhaps it wasn’t a vampire though… she had heard rumours that they hired other species and races to carry out work for them from time to time and it could be anything else that was hired as a hunter and had just had a lucky shot. Shifting in her small space she reached down to her leather vest, slowly unbuckling it while hissing and wincing from pain. Once the bottom few buckles were loose she could reach below and grab the cotton shirt she wore underneath. She curled over with a quiet cry to bite onto the cotton, tearing enough of a hole to allow her to rip a strip of the fabric free, unwinding it around her waist two or three times before breaking it off. It left barely any fabric left but the leather vest covered her regardless. It wouldn’t be comfortable to have the leather rubbing against her bare skin but it would only need to last long enough for her to get back to her camp - there was certainly no way she was going to make it into the mine now as the final locks were probably in place. The loose strand of cotton she carefully looped over her shoulder and under her arm, wrapping around the shaft of the arrow and either side of the puncture wound. The intention was for the make-shift sling to be

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able to hold the arrow in place enough for her to be able to fly once again. Once wrapped and tied tight she reached over her shoulder, grasping onto the shaft and giving a sharp yank in an upwards angle direction, snapping the arrow down near the neck where the fabric sling held it in place. Nymriel bit hard onto her lower lip as she broke the arrow off to prevent her screaming out in pain, causing her lip to bleed and for a brief moment her figure slumped into the curves of the rocks, unconscious. Only a few minutes must have passed when Nym was awoken by the sound of soft steps on the rocks above her. Instantly she clenched her fists, feeling the cold rush from the obsidian stone as it disguised her in with the rocks. She couldn’t see much through the rocks and the foliage covering her hiding spot, and the moonlight was still dull behind the cloud cover above so the blackness of the shadow standing over her merely blended in with the dark sky further above. Nymriel froze in place, holding her breath and waiting to hear the footsteps rescind from her position. It was too late when she noticed the rope, feeling the rough fabric against her arm before it was suddenly yanked tight around her midriff, catching her left arm in its lock. Her right hand reached out to grab onto a rock as the rope dragged her from her space and she screamed out, her upper wings opening up to pound against the force pulling her, her lower wings straining against the rope as she writhed and thrashed to get free. She heard the thud of footsteps landing above her right before she was pulled up against something solid, feeling the cold hands grabbing at her to pin her lithe self against him.

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Her legs kicked out attempting to catch his legs, knees flying everywhere. Her free hand lashed out with her nails to try and scratch at her assailant as she was twisted around to pin her wings between their figures. Almost instantly she felt her mouth and nose covered by some sort of soft fabric, and her next gasp of breath tasted metallic. The poison made her head throb, her mind going foggy and barely able to compute what was happening. Her sight became blurred and dizzy before her eyes rolled back in her head. Her hand, clawing to his wrist fell limply to the side as her whole body dropped as a dead weight in his arms, slumped forwards. Both wings hung limply against her back like the finest fabric just draped across her spine. The world had gone black. @Taking Back Luxday (( Whenever you're ready! No rush at all ))

“Who’s there?” A raspy voice from within the mines called out as if expecting to stumble upon a struggle between two animals. The light of a lantern rocked back and forth on the cavern walls of Roslauten’s mines. An elderly man wearing dirty clothes hobbled to the gates searching the darkness for a commotion but saw nothing. “You’re going senile old man!” said another worker within the ruby mines. The warm glow of the lantern made both of their black eyes flicker with a pinprick of luminance. They fastened the chains on the gate to lock up for the evening, but after, they stood there watching for trespassers as an unanswered cloud of dust settled on the wind from Silen’s encounter with Nym. When nothing stirred to draw their attention, the two vampires began to speak of the rumors circulating the realm. “The King won’t let anyone into Roslauten, not even to strike an alliance. The odds of someone roaming these parts would be an act of insanity, you know that right?” But the elderly man kept staring into the darkness holding wisdom within his aged stare, as if the years had given him an advantage to seeing things that were meant to remain hidden - and that’s why Silen kept still, pressed against the rocks of the mountains to be concealed within the cold shadows, drawing in the scent of the fairy’s delectable blood with every breath. When the two vampires retreated into the depths of the mine, Silen began his trek back to the castle carrying Nym over one shoulder, blindfolded, bound with rope, and gagged. If anyone discovered he’d captured an intruder rumors of war would not be the only topic of conversation circulating the seven kingdoms - and if he was right that the fairy in his grasp was the lost princess, the idea of that war could become very real. Once inside the walls of Roslauten’s fortress, having taken the hidden side entrance revealed only to those within their royal ranking, he brought Nym into a chamber where no one would know she was there.

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It was a personal section of the castle meant for Silen’s eyes only, and of course, the few he trusted. “I can’t believe it’s her,” said the spy who delivered the tip to Silen. “When my men said there was a fairy wandering your land I laughed at their stupidity. Many of them are drunks. Shall I arrange to have her returned to the lands of the demonic? Perhaps a discreet exchange for a large sum of obsidian crystals…” “No,” said Silen, his teeth showing ever so slightly as that infamous half-smile made an appearance. “I have other plans for the lost Princess of Cirrane…” “You are playing with fire, my Lord. Should anyone find out she is here, there could be some who wish to reclaim her as their own. That could put your kingdom in grave danger seeing as how there are rumors of a war on the horizon - each kingdom seeks a way to obtain all seven crystals in order to control a prophesied power…” but these words were either ignored or lost within their conversation. Silen, now amused, held the citrine pendant Nym once wore in his hand, hanging it in midair to be examined by his eyes. Accompanying the necklace was the obsidian bangle looped around his index finger. These items had been taken from Nym upon stripping her body, forcing her appearance to be exposed and no longer under the influence of the obsidian power. “What will you do with her?” the spy inquired, hesitant to reach out and touch the crystals to see if they were genuine - even from arm’s length their power could be felt like static electricity. “Leave,” said Silen with what seemed like a threat if he was not obeyed. “Yes, my Lord.” The spy knew well enough their time within the chamber had come to an end. They bowed and left Silen and his new prize alone, locking the metal door behind them with the last reflection of the crystals sparkling in their treacherous eyes. When the fairy would finally wake, she’d find herself without clothes except the covering of a plain garb that looked much like a po

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tato sack to conceal her chest and lower regions. The rope around her body and the cloth in her mouth used as a gag were also missing. A metal collar inscribed with symbols from the vampire’s court now adorned her neck with matching shackles around her wrists, bound by a chain to the stone floor of the chamber so her wings could not help her escape. There was nothing in this room worth noting, only a fireplace at the south end and a large chair placed strategically near an open balcony, one that looked out on the fog, clouds, and darkness of the Roslauten kingdom - one that was occupied by Silen, a vampire notorious among the seven kingdoms for his wraith and lust for blood. These were common traits among the vampires, though it was the unforgiveness that resided within Silen that made him dangerous. Whenever the eyes of the fairy would finally regard him, there would be a smile on his face waiting just for her, to remind her that she was no longer free, and now belonged to him. @👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯

Blinking open her eyes, the pale, blue haired fairy slowly lifted her head. The front of her forehead was throbbing in pain from the poison inhalation that had knocked her out cold, and dehydration from the amount of time she had been out. Nym let out a slight pained groan, shifting her aching, tense limbs so she can plant her hands flat on the cold stone floor and push herself upwards. The amount of effort it took trying to lift herself made her let out a loud groan, just about managing to lift herself onto her knees, bent over on all 4’s. Nymriel’s chest heaved up and down as she panted heavily, staring down at the floor trying to get her bearings. Her memories felt sparse, broken. In her mind she could see glimpses of the moments before she had passed out. She remembered the mines, the sound of everyone leaving, the flight, the fall… Instinctively she quickly looked back to her shoulder where the puncture wound would be, yelping out as the jerk movement sent that searing pain back through her, though it was much duller than it had been at the time of the wound being fresh. Her opposite hand reached to touch over her shoulder but she found it was restricted, the heavy rattle of the chain reaching its extension and pulling her wrist back. Nymriel blinked confused, looking down at the binds holding her secure to the solid floor. What had happened after the fall… More images flooded back to her. The dark hole, the footsteps, the rope, the struggle… That was when Nym realised where she must be. Captured. Taking a sudden sharp intake of the cold air her gaze shot up, eyes darting around as she looked back and forth around the room. The lighting was dim and her eyesight still blurred but she could make out a few shapes in the dancing light of the fireplace. There didn’t seem to be much around, certainly no guards or people in sight in her initial gaze. Carefully, Nym struggled up onto her feet, a little wobbly. It hadn’t occurred to her initially why she was feeling

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so… fragile, weak, but now as she stood carefully in the centre of her cell her attention came to her attire. Her fingers plucked at the itchy fabric sack draped over her slight figure, feeling up to her neck where her necklace should have sat. Instead, she found the bulky and heavy collar locked securely around her. Both hands grasped at it, pulling with a strained groan trying to loosen it. No such luck was given though, and she felt her fingers along the runes inscribed in it. The light from the fireplace glinted off the same symbols on her wrist and she twisted around to view them better. The sigil inlaid was familiar to her, and caused Nym to release a heavy, knowing sigh. The royal sigil… that made the whole situation she found herself in much, much worse. Not only was she captured, she had lost her crystals of power and now… she sat in chains as property of the vampire Royal Family. Her only hope that she could see would be that they had not figured out who she was, or what it was she had been wearing. Hopefully some lower servant had been responsible for stripping her and hadn’t realised just what it was they were taking, and had put her stones aside. It was also possible she had been brought in by some hunter from the edges of their realm as a mere trespasser on their land. The fact she was still alive, and still in Roslauten gave her hope for that to be the truth. A slight, chill breeze brushing in from the open balcony made Nymriel shiver in the thin sack covering her body and the flames in the fireplace briefly falter. It had also drew her attention out towards the sky. The moment she looked that way, she felt her wings twitch at her back, stretching out and shaking themselves awake from the sleepy lull.

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How she wanted to leap out there, free in the fresh air. Just the thought had her wings beating at her back, lifting her a small amount off the floor before those chains once again reached their limit and yanked her back. Her feet landed on the floor with a soft thud and she sighed, her mind thinking over what her next steps would be. Ofcourse, stage one had to be how to release herself from the shackles, and step 2 would be finding her… A glint of amber in the moonlight drew all her focus back to the balcony, and her heart began to thud harder in her chest. She caught a small glimpse of the citrine pendant she had worn for many, many years, and she could swear she heard it calling out to her. Her head tilted as she made out the chair turned towards the open doors, and then the figure sat silently within it. Tracing up over his hand, his arms, shoulders, jawline to his gaze… Nym’s blood froze. The little colour that had been in her face suddenly drained and she gulped. They had never met in person before, of course, but Nym was educated enough in her youth to know exactly who it was that sat before her. “You…” she whispered quietly under her breath, clenching her hands to stop them shaking at her side. Her eyes locked to his as her mind ran through just how utterly fucked she was in this situation right now. The fact he had her crystals within his grasp chilled her to her core… however, there was still a chance… a chance he saw her as nothing more than another fairy to venture unwelcomed into the lands. It was a chance she had no choice but her bet her entire life on now. @Taking Back Luxday

“Since you seem to know who I am, then you realize how dire your situation is. Welcome to Roslauten, Sesuka…” The term Sesuka was a common term often used in their realm when referring to someone who is beguiling. Silen, no longer sitting in the chair, and having crossed the room to stand before her, now looked down on her with what some would consider a sinister smile. The way he tilted his head to get a better look at the side of her face, or it could have been her lithe and alluring neck, was nothing short of a threat for someone like Nym. If fright had not struck the fairy by now, surely when Silen’s hand went to her throat, encircling the collar there to pull her to him, making it so her chains stretched their limit and could go no more, doing this in an attempt to place agony and strain on her body to suit his desires, that terror would eventually come crashing down like the breaking of a dam. Nym was a raw temptation to Silen, all fairies were to the vampire race, and it showed in his bloodthirsty eyes. “Isn’t that lovely…” he’d comment. “How nicely your throat fits within my hand. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were the fabled princess of Cirrane - the betrayer of her own family, and fiance to the Demon Lord’s eldest son. A fairy who holds a high price on her head.” It was a throat he could snap in half if he wanted to. The vampires who lived in Roslauten were anything but kind, and more often than not, enjoyed violence in the hopes the sight of blood might appear. So as his fingers tightened around her pretty throat, getting a feel for how warm her flesh was, it was no accident when one of his nails drew a line of blood near the edge of that cold steel collar. Using his index finger, he touched the glistening drip forming from her new wound and found himself sampling her pain without remorse.

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“Perfection,” he’d say to himself. Those eyes, no longer studying the fairy before him, were now closed and lost within a new wave of pleasure this sudden taste brought to his doorstep. He immediately wanted more. It was like drinking a fine, thick, indulgent wine compared to watered-down grape juice. Ideas of putting his mouth on her neck to draw out more blood crossed his mind. He licked his teeth starting from one end of his canines to the other as if enjoying how slick they felt. “Fuck...” was said in all but a whisper, and then a laugh roamed under his breath at his own satiation. At that moment Silen knew the option of returning her to either her family or the demons was out of the question. The odds of another fairy, especially one as attractive as Nym, stumbling into Roslauten’s borders for a second time was like going into outer space and expecting to touch a star on the first try. As the blood circled his taste buds, sadistic scenarios flickered within his imagination and he began to picture her presence within the castle. There were many parts of their home Silen wished to take Nym, such as the lantern-lit dungeons where they performed rituals with the blood of their adored. If this was in fact the lost princess, he debated how much money he’d receive for returning her to her family or the lands of the demonic - it was no secret there was money to be made, though at the moment, perhaps due to his ability to feel the emotions of others as all vampires do, he considered keeping her identity a secret the way Nym wished. He could tell his spy he was wrong, that she just happened to have elusive gemstones on her, and was simply labeled as an attention-seeking wannabe, that she was not the original they were looking for. Although his comrade was a trusted spy and servant for many years, Silen was no fool. He knew word of Nym’s presence would circulate around their kingdom one way or another, especially if he decided to keep her - thus, referring to her as

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a prisoner, an unwise explorer, a thief who was forced to pay off her debt to his kingdom seemed to make more sense.

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And there it was, that smile that could make someone on the edge of submission come crashing to their knees appeared once more. If it were anyone but Silen, their teeth would have been puncturing Nym’s throat with new holes, devouring her drop by drop, and even draining her for sport. Once a feeding started, especially on someone like Nym who was of fairy origins, it would be difficult for a vampire to stop - yet Silen was well versed in patience, restraint, and controlling his desires in order to get what he wanted. And he wanted Nym alive, so he could taste her every day from this moment forward. To have her in ways that were considered sacrilegious. “They say the fabled Princess of Cirrane is nothing but a whisper in the wind, a figment of one’s imagination, a rarity amongst the fairy kind - that her beauty brings men to their knees and women to the mirror where they find nothing but envy that their reflection looks nothing like hers. They say she is cunning with the ability to steal precious gemstones from the hands of those who lead armies, having gathered enough resources to vanish and make a new life for herself. A shadow in the realm, unable to be obtained…” The firelight in the room flickered in his stare, which was cold and burning with what seemed like unexplainable animosity toward the world. Silen was taller than Nym, causing his thumb to inch her chin upward and force her eyes to meet his own. “I admit, the tales never spoke of carelessness, or perhaps you are a blessing from the forest, from the branch that snapped and gave you away. Rumor has it the land of the demons have been searching for you since the day you left…think of the profit I could make when they have you in their hands once more. More reason to give you back to them, who, from what I’ve heard, are rightfully vengeful for being thwarted from a deal your father made - a deal you apparently wanted no part of…” That last part was nothing more than a whisper, as if complimenting the

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fire in the corner of the room. The sound of his voice was as convincing as the sparks of embers breaking off the burning wood.

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“Then again, to have a fairy at my disposal whenever I please. To taste your blood as I see fit - how utterly delightful. Even if you are the lost princess, no one would believe you. Not without these.” The pendant and bangle she once possessed were shown briefly, taunting her, only to be placed back within the confines of his cloak supposedly never to be seen again. Silen did not wait for her to give a response to the mystery surrounding her identity, figuring she’d lie either way - when he was ready, he’d get the answers he wanted. Until then, there was much to be done to prepare for her new life within their walls. With his thumb lingering on the slope of her jawline, caressing her skin as if she were important to him, he said… “If I were you, I’d pick the green one…” Silen walked away from Nym, leaving her in the chamber alone with her thoughts, ambitions, and fears. With his departure, there was nothing for Nym to do but wait, and eventually, after what seemed like hours, the door to the chamber opened again and a servant entered the room. It was the same woman who tended to Silen, the same slave who brought him the note but did not know the contents of the letter. Having seen Nym standing there, her curious eyes suddenly filled with disappointment. Instant jealousy consumed her. She did not want anyone near Silen or taking her place, and these cursed emotions showed on her pale face. “I am to take you to be cleaned, Mistress…my name is Nadia,” she told Nym. Nadia pulled out a small key from her dress pocket and freed Nym from her chains. “Don’t bother flying away,” she told her, and walked to the door, holding it open with one hand. “The collar on your neck is laced with magic, the steel is poison, especially to your kind. If you leave the barriers of this castle, you will die. Or maybe that’s what you want?” Nadia did not hide the obvious hope in her voice.

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There was a balcony in the chamber to which Nym could take her chances and fly away with the dangerous collar on her neck, it could take a few days before the poison kicked in - or she could go with Nadia and find herself in her new sanctuary. A room filled with items that should belong to a queen. With ornate mirrors, lavish furniture, and trinkets from all over the world. There would be several dresses for her to pick from on a large neatly made bed, including one that was green, should she decide to wear it, or to be free and flee this place, was entirely up to her…

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@👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯

When Silen rose from his chair Nym jumped back a little, her whole body tensing defensively with her eyes locked onto every minute movement he made, though he seemed less than bothered by her presence and probably with good reason, the chains prevented her from being able to make any actual defensive moves. The sound of his voice pierced through her skull and made her face contort dramatically in disgust, and though his words rang true she had no plans on portraying the poor, defeated fairy in his presence. As he came up immediately in front of her the height difference between them was more noticeable, though Nym tried her best to reduce it by lifting slightly on her toes, pushing her shoulders back and squaring up to him, eyes barely blinking as she watched his. His manner however, seemed to come across less aggressive, and more like a predator lazily toying with their prey before dinner, which was unnerving. As he reached for her throat Nym gulped, feeling his fingers wrapping tightly around. With one jerk of the wrist he could likely end her, the thought of which made Nym’s fingers curl into her palms. She winced as she was dragged to him, her toes barely brushing the ground as she tried to keep her footing, wings beating at her back to stop her potentially falling, the chains clanking loudly as they hit her limit and bit into her skin, pulling her arms back to strain against them. His words echoed through her like a purr as he teased with knowledge of her identity, making Nymriel bite slightly on the corner of her lower lip in an attempt to keep her expression as neutral as possible. She would be kidding herself to be convinced he still didn’t know who she was, and now he was just playing with her to what… get a confession? The squeeze on her throat did little more than pull a small squeak from her as she felt her airways closing slightly, causing her breathing to wheeze as it strained through to her lungs. The hot wave of pain that washed through her skin

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as his nail punctured against her neck made her grow pale, her own nails biting even harder into her palms to stop her screaming out, the small fairy intent on giving him as little satisfaction as she could given her situation, though the warmth of the bead of blood softly trickling down her neck made her heart sink. She had been warned, after all, by her father several times of the effect fairy blood could have on vampires, in particular, the frenzy it was known to drive them into. It was like a drop of blood in an ocean of sharks. Watching Silen taste that mere drop was the breaking point for Nym’s resolve, her lips curling inwards as she strained to pull back against his grasp on her, wanting to get away before his eyes would open again and he would feast, soft whimpers fighting their way through Nyms throat. Her hands had reached to grasp the chains, using them to try and pull away. Her eyes locked to the glimpse of his fangs as he licked across them, freezing the small fae in place as she realised there was nothing she could do… accepting her fate, his sadistic laugh sealing the deal… But, the lunge, the bite, the scream she had readied…. None of it came to fruition. Nym stared in almost disbelief as Silen began to speak once more, speaking of the rumours, fables and legends that had followed her since that fated day she had escaped the clutches of the demons. Some of which she had heard in her travels, many of which had amused her, and some that were surprisingly new.

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Nym’s brows furrowed as she realised she couldn’t tell what was going to happen next, and a little in surprise at the apparent rumours surrounding her looks – she was sure the poor Vampire prince must have been disappointed that she wasn’t living up to expectations with her ratted hair a mess, dirt covering her body and most unflattering potato sack swamping her torso and pelvis. The statement about her being careless however caused a sudden clash of chains as her right hand had flung up in an attempt to hit him and she returned to her struggles against his grasp, insulted. Although, if one was to truly look at Nym’s accomplishments to date it could be argued she had the stones by mere luck as her apparent talents had done little to aid her in obtaining a 3rd for the many years she had been attempting to do so. Her straining died down once again as his thought process moved away from handing her back to her betrothed, whom Nym was sure had made different plans for her than for them to be wed at this point in time, and more to keeping her. That was a plan she could perhaps work with… anything that didn’t result in her immediate demise that was. Once he revealed her stones however, that solidified her wish.. no… need to remain at the castle and she stopped straining against his grasp completely. As Silen left the chamber, Nym didn’t dare to move and didn’t turn to watch him leave. Instead, she stood, rooted in place staring at the air where his face had previously been. Her mind was racing ahead of her, thinking through her options and potential outcomes. He hadn’t killed her immediately, no, and from his statements there was no intention for him to kill her in the near future either. This was a good sign, because being dead would certainly make any chances of escape considerably more difficult. After a few minutes alone, Nym felt her tense muscles relax and she looked back around the room, taking a deep breath and trying to wiggle some life back into herself.

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Turning, she moved to where her chains were shackled to the floor, sitting cross legged besides the bolts and beginning to look and pull at them, trying to loosen them. Hours later, the fireplace had dimmed to little more than a dull ember, the missing flames having caused the room to get much darker. The sudden sound of footsteps and the door opening startled Nymriel, as she looked up towards the light flooding in from the corridor beyond. Her fingernails were bloody and sore from where she had been digging them under the bolts and granted, her efforts had been at least somewhat victorious in that one of the bolts had lifted mere millimetres from its original position. Perhaps a day or two more and she would have managed to release some of her chains from their shackles. Nym rose herself to her feet to be in a better position when the young woman entered the room Nym’s brow raised, it hadn’t been who she was expecting after all, and the sudden demeanour change of the servant suggested to Nym that she hadn’t exactly been what she was expecting either. Nym’s eyes narrowed at the young woman introduced herself as Nadia and approached, reaching for her chains to unlock them, allowing them to drop to the floor with loud thuds and clanks. “Rey” Nym finally introduced, using one of her alias names she had for the unfortunate times she did need to interact with others, usually in markets and trade stalls when she needed to stock up on supplies.

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Reaching for her wrists, Nym rubbed where the chains had been previously, feeling her red-raw skin stinging under her touch. As Nadia explained the facets around the collar Nym glanced towards the open doors of the Balcony. The temptation to leave was certainly strong, even with the deadly collar – Nym’s mind raced with how she could potentially find a location within the castle grounds to hide until she had figured out how to remove said collar and getting out of there… but there was no way she could leave. Not really, not yet. The stones that had once adorned her called to her from somewhere within the castle and she was certain there was no way she would be leaving without them. Turning away from the balcony, Nym heading out of the opened doorway to follow Nadia. The disappointment within the servant girl was noticeable and even in the current direness of her situation, Nym couldn’t help but smirk at that. It brought her back memories of her childhood within the castles of Cirrane, where a young Nymriel took great pleasure in causing drama amongst the various handmaids and servants who seemed to spend far too much time fawning over princes and nobility in her opinion. As Nadia opened a 2nd door and stood aside, Nym began to walk through before freezing in the doorway, looking into the lavish bedroom before her. She waited a moment to be told this wasn’t where she was meant to be… or for someone within the room to make themselves known but neither happened. Instead, Nadia cleared her throat behind her as she waited to follow her inside. Tentatively stepping forwards, the young fairy coiled her arms up close to her torso to ensure she didn’t touch anything, or more importantly, break anything. Her eyes moved slowly around the room, taking in the ornate furnishings, the trinkets and treasures from all corners of their world, including some she recognised as being from home, and finally the dresses laid out on the bed. At the far side of the room near a grand, ope

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n fireplace sat a large copper tub with steam bellowing from the hot water filling it. Suddenly there was a tug and the scratchy cloth covering her frame was lifted up and over her head, blinding her a brief moment by Nadia who had come up behind her to strip her down. “Into the bath please Mistress, we don’t have much time” she ushered, though as Nymriel glanced over her shoulder to the young servant girl she caught the look of sheer disgust and hatred filling the girls eyes as she looked over the fairy’s bare frame, another wave of jealousy giving away the girls true feelings. Rolling her eyes, Nym moved quickly across the room to the tub, placing her hands on either side and lifting her legs up together to place into the hot water. At first touch she winced, seeing her pale skin redden slightly from the heat, but as she lowered herself in the wave of relief washed over her. She wasn’t sure how long it had really been since she had enjoyed a hot bath, having resorted to rivers, wells and streams during the majority of her years in hiding. The heat eased her tense muscles and offered relief to the soreness of her shoulder, the markings left by her bindings and her bruised and bloodied fingers. Tucking her wings close to her spine Nym sunk herself deeper into the water until it was up to her neck, letting out a heavy sigh of relief before her moment of serenity was interrupted by Nadia coming to her side. “I’m sorry Mistress, I have a lot of work to do to get you ready and no time for relaxing.” She commented, before reaching into the bath. Within Nadia’s hand was what looked like a wooden scrubbing brush, about the size of her palm with rough horse-hairs, and a bar of soap. She rubbed them together before grabbing for Nym’s leg, starting to scrub with such force it made Nym shriek and push herself away. “HEY! No need to be so rough… I can do it.”

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Nym yelped, reaching forwards and snatching both the brush and soap from the woman before she could object. Resuming cleaning herself, the fairy started to scrub the dirt from every inch of her body while Nadia disappeared from view without much comment. Nymriel had just commenced on cleaning under her arms when there was a sudden rush of cold water dumped ungraciously over her head, soaking her hair and causing it to cover her face. Gasping for breath Nym quickly pushed her hair out of her eyes, beginning to look around before Nadia grabbed her shoulders and forced her back forwards, her thumb on the wound caused by Silen’s arrow making Nym wince in pain. “I need to wash your hair, stay still!” the servant scolded, before applying a sweet, floral scented soap to Nym’s scalp and working it into a lather. The water within the bath had began to grow chill by the time Nadia was satisfied that Nym was clean, though the fairy was sure that the 4th or 5th scrub down had been unnecessary and just a way to cause her discomfort and punish her for… well, she hadn’t quite figured out the exact reason for the servant girls hatred yet but she had no doubt it was something to do with the prince who had captured her. It did cross her mind that maybe she should alleviate some of the jealousy by expressing her disdain for Silen to the girl or offer any reassurances that she had no interest in entertaining the princes apparent… attachment to her, but in all it would have been a lie. During her time alone between Silen leaving and Nadia’s arrive, Nym had given thought to the best way to approach her escape and come to the conclusion that potentially encouraging the Vampire prince’s advances towards her could give her some leverage. Approaching a golden framed full length mirror standing alongside the foot of the bed Nym paused to look at herself. Her skin looked brighter and more glowing than it had done in years now the caked on dirt and minerals were gone and it had a soft pink t

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int to it from the heat of the bath having encouraged her blood vessels to open. The bright turquoise of her hair seemed to be radiating its own light as it hung loosely around her shoulders and down her back. Her wings unfolded and shook off the excess water before opening, gently pulsing back and forth. Beautiful had never been a word Nym had used to describe herself… she figured her appearance was probably passable at best, which was exactly how she liked it. She didn’t want to stand out in a crowd after all or draw attention to herself. Seemingly curious, Nym dropped the towel she had been clutching wrapped around herself and brought her hands down to her side, taking a deep breath as she viewed her naked form in the mirror. The last time she had truly looked at herself had been before her escape and in the years that had passed, her body had certainly developed a more feminine silhouette. Her breasts had filled out in a pleasant fashion that was usually hidden by her normal attire, and the curve from her tiny waist to her hips was more dramatic than she had even imagined. The years of running and hiding had caused the muscles in Nym’s thighs to round out her legs and as she turned to the side, granted a cute perkiness to her rear. A small, impressed snort left Nym’s nose as she shook her head in surprise, glancing over to where Nadia had been emptying the bath and now stood staring at the fairy once more with her lips slightly ajar. “Mistress, you should get dressed, he will be here soon.” Nadia finally said once she realised the fairy was looking in her direction. Her hand gestured back to the gowns on the bed and she guided Nymriel over to select one. Lifting each one, Nym was surprised by the weight of the fabric within each gown.

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Each was intricately detailed with the stitching and various adornements like nothing she had ever seen before. As Nym touched the green gown her mind went back to her standing within Silen’s grasp, his fingers softly stroking along her jawline as he spoke gently to her ”If I were you, I’d pick the green one…”. Nym blushed a little and looked a little flustered by the imagery in her head, quickly throwing the gown back onto the bed as if it had electrocuted her. The moment had encouraged a heavy sigh of relief from Nadia, who had apparently been holding her breath the whole time that Nymriel had been inspecting the dress and now had a smug smirk adorning her features, like the rejection had been a win in her eyes. “I’ll take the blush.” Nym finally declares, reaching and carefully lifting her chosen gown from the bed and passing it to Nadia who had already swooped in to collect it. “Wonderful choice, right this way, I’ve taken the liberty to set you out some undergarments to get into.” Nadia instructs, taking hold of Nym’s inner elbow and pulling the fairy with her behind a tall room divider where there was indeed, a stool with various undergarments on it. Several minutes later, having been strapped up tighter than should have been possible Nym emerged to look into the full length mirror once more. The bodice of the blush pink dress seemed to exaggerate a cleavage that the young fairy had no idea she had had prior to the days events, with soft feathers, pearls and gemstones fluttering from the bodice and over her arms. The dress helped to pull attention to her slim waist, now shaped even further by the corset beneath before flowing out over her hips, gemstones hand-stitched into the dress. The base of the dress was a slightly darker tone than the rest where it brushed the floor, the perfect length since Nadia had found some suitable heels for her to wear. “Hm.” Was the only noise Nadia would make, neither of approval or disapproval at the culmination of her wo

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rk. It was clear that she hoped she would at least get some credit, perhaps thanks, for the efforts taken in making the strange fairy before her more beautiful – though she wasn’t happy about the task in itself and preyed she hadn’t done too good a job that she would be outshone. There was one final thing to do. Moving to a nearby dressing table, Nadia fished out a crystal flower hair clip, moving to Nym and sweeping half her hair back to secure with the clip, the rest falling softly around her back and shoulders. As if right on cue, the sound of footsteps would be heard just beyond the doorway and Nadia quickly hurried over to the door to greet them. Frowning, Nymriel too turned towards the doorway, her hands coming forwards and smoothing her skirt. @Taking Back Luxday

The wide corridors of Roslauten’s stone castle were cold, dark, and inhabited by guards wearing steel armor at every entrance. The men stationed against their posts looked like figments of a gruesome nightmare, with gleaming crimson red eyes that often held no remorse. When they spoke their sharp pointed fangs could be seen as a reminder to their enemies, a warning not to get too close or else their blood would become a prize for sport. As Silen walked down the gloomy blue hallways filled with candles, these guards, devoted to Silen and his ruling, would turn to face him out of respect. There were many blood oaths between Silen and the guards, powerful alliances that could not be broken. These oaths increased their magic and abilities in war and combat. There were subtle benefits to making a blood oath with royalty, such as accuracy when aiming with a bow, a minute increase of speed, and an unspoken acknowledgment of emotions to what others were feeling - of course, all of this was secret knowledge within Roslauten’s vampire colony, information only revealed to those making the sacred pact. Over the years, as the King and Queen succumbed to old age, Silen being the eldest took on the royal responsibilities and duties of their land. Many within their borders looked to Silen as their leader. A man who often ordered death sentences to those who trespassed, building fear amongst the realm to never cross into their territory unless they wished to die. If Silen wanted, he could be crowned as King - yet he continued to deny the title as it would mean he would be forced to choose a mate, and that was an event everyone knew would never happen. “There’s a delightful odor lingering within the halls, my Lord…” one of the servants with long pretty blond hair and rich tan skin remarked as she brought Silen a goblet of blood, the life force from a human that was no doubt kept within their dungeons for the sole purpose to be fed upon. “Does it make your mouth water?” asked Sil

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en. Of course, there was a smile accompanied by those words, one that often made the servants shamelessly flirt with him. It would be no secret soon enough that a fairy was within their walls. An untouchable delicacy that many in the castle would want to get a better look at, to feel, and to taste… “Tell me what it is I smell?” the servant girl begged. Her eyes shimmered with excitement and possibilities, thinking Silen might tell her what the tantalizing scent was circulating throughout the castle. “You’ll find out soon enough, though I hate to disappoint your fantasies - you won’t be invited to indulge in Roslauten’s newest delight.” Silen finished the drink and handed the chalice back to the servant. He was deliberate and cruel with this next part, stroking his lips with the curve of his tongue to clean off any excess blood remaining there, which ultimately sent the vampire servant into a frenzy. There was unnecessary sexual tension brewing within all vampires - lust was part of their makeup and if so inclined Silen could have any of them pinned against a wall, fetching a taste for their blood, followed by a night of diabolical fun…

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“Oh?” The servant giggled. Not in an annoying way. It was cute and sort of musical, like a bird on a spring morning. “Something tells me I’ll find out at one of the rituals and get my way! I must try whatever it is you’ve brought to us…” Although she was teasing, the woman immediately stopped grinning because Silen was no longer amused by her wants… “...or not.” She fiddled with the chalice in her hands. He made her nervous. To avoid her name getting on a list of those who no longer entertained him she started walking down the hallway with less confidence. “This way, my Lord - I was told our newest guest is cleaned, waiting with Nadia, and ready for you...” The door to Nym’s chamber opened and the first thing Silen saw was not the glittering accessories of the room dancing with firelight, but an attractive, yet unobtainable illusion brought to life, standing there, adorned in royal clothing - granted, the dress she wore wasn’t the color he preferred, but that could easily be fixed by stripping her. He’d make her wear whatever he desired, and do it whether she liked it or not. One heavy eyebrow rose into the middle of Silen’s forehead, observing the fairy’s figure, starting from the bottom of her dress and eventually making his way to her face. As Silen walked into the room he gave no attention to Nadia, the guards outside the chamber, or the servant girl holding onto the empty goblet standing at the door, whose mouth was now open as she stared at Nym and her electric fairy wings with envy. “A fairy?” the servant girl gasped - and the way she said those two words made it clear Nym’s presence would soon be known to everyone. “Leave…” That’s all it took to get everyone out, making it so Nym and Silen were once again alone. “I quite liked the minimal look on you, the sack offered a better view of your legs.” He’d comment after the door to her room was closed. Silen made his way towards Nym and once he stood in front of her, where he could look down into her eyes, hi

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s finger traced the collar on her neck.“...this suits you. I imagine whoever you are given to will enjoy putting their own steel on your throat.” His deep brown eyes were pierced with unfiltered amusement as he imagined what it would be like to see Nym feasted upon during the ritual they were about to attend. He’d made up his mind. If he couldn’t prove she was valuable, there would be no point keeping her to himself. He could not bargain a fairy to other kingdoms in hopes of a wealthy return, but he could offer her to those closest to him in exchange for their continued loyalty. “I take it you realize the danger you’re in? Surrounded by vampires who would like nothing more than a sample of your blood. A flavor such as yours easily turns into an addiction. I admit, even I am tempted by your presence. Though, keeping you to myself is pointless - if you are not the lost princess stolen by shadows then you have little to no value to me beyond a gift to Roslauten’s most devoted…that is where you will be going tonight, to meet the men of my army where they will take turns feeding upon you.”

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The finger that once explored her collar now roamed the lining of her dress near the shoulder as if the fabric did not live up to his expectations. Yet when his eyes landed on her iridescent wings, approval claimed his charming, yet deadly gaze once more. “There is a mirror in the corner of the room should you wish to see yourself one last time before you are made into a canvas of blood.” Silen walked away from her and leaned against one of the stone walls near the door, relaxed, without concern for what came next now that he had her gemstones locked away… “Have you any questions for me, Sesuka?” If only vampires weren’t so attractive, the way Silen positioned himself in her room was nothing short of unintended seduction. Black hair casually grazed the bridge of his nose while firelight and tricks of the night claimed his face - and should Nym get creative with a sudden departure, there was a knife hidden within his black robes waiting just for her. @👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯

As the door swung open, Nym was surprised to find it was none other than Silen the other side, she had expected more servants or staff to be the ones coming to collect her. His gaze, carefully sweeping over every inch of her made her want to crawl away into the closet and hide, especially as his view came up over her corsetted top to where her chest and neck was left bare and accessible. Bar the heavy metal collar around her throat. Her fingers curled nervously into the fabric of the skirt more, considering how - whilst the dress was beautiful - she most certainly felt like she had been dressed as a meal. Her heart beat heavy in her chest and she gulped, trying to calm its racing pace as she didn't want to draw more attention to herself when surrounded by vampires than was necessary. Attention was exactly what she had though, as the servant girl who had been alongside Silen suddenly gasped. Nym hadn't even noticed her there before her exclamation. Not that she remained long, the simple barked order for everyone to leave was abided by at once, the door swinging closed behind Nadia as she quickly ducked from the chambers. Nym, in response, would drop her arms to her sides, standing herself up straighter as he approached in an attempt to not seem so... small, so fragile, in his presence. Her own eyes would scan his attire, seeking any inclination that her gems were on him, within reach, though it seemed not to be the case as her senses found nothing. As he commented about preferring her in the sack she would bite her cheek, it hollowing as she tried to resist any particularly spiteful retorts - she was still, after all, at his mercy. His hand reaching for the collar made the fairy lift her chin, leaning her neck back a little in an attempt to avoid his cold touch against her skin, the idea of his fingers stroking along her neck making her skin prickle and putting her nerves on edge. Nym's icy blue gaze however remained locked on Silens own, not daring to look away f

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or a moment in case he registered her fear. "Well... I'm sorry its not green..." She would hiss quietly under her breath in retort to his views on her attire, an obvious goad to show she had purposely chosen differently to what he had requested from her. There may be a collar around her neck keeping her prisoner... but she wasn't going to bow down to please him just for that. However, she hadn't missed the suggestion that someone else's collar may yet adorn her neck - and that in itself was the bigger threat than being locked alone in the room with him. If she was to be chained to another home... out of reach of the stones... her decision to stay would have been for nothing. As he spoke of the evening that would lay ahead for her, of the dangers she was in, of the seduction of her blood to all those within the castle, Nyms eyelid would twitch a little, giving away the small element of fear she had been trying to keep at bay. An obvious swallow jumped in her throat as she regained her composure quickly, convincing herself that he must be bluffing. Her gaze sought any evidence of such but.. she found it hard to believe he would have gone to so much effort just to have her drained - why not throw her to the wolves in rags, she doubted that when a fairy was involved the vampires would concern themselves with the packaging. The reasoning for his threats were seemingly made clear though, he wanted a confession from her. Admission of identity. It did perk a brow as Nym considered that... what his reasons could be. He knew who she really was, the stones were now in his possession so if he had ever doubted their authenticity he would have had confirmation by now.

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The little dance between them was no more than a game at this point... both knew the other knew, they were just seeing who would break first. The hand dropping to her shoulder though would make her suddenly take a sharp, intake of breath, before quickly turning her head away to the side now. Sure, the movement opened her neck more for him, perhaps a temptation, but the reasoning for the movement was so much more innocent. She didn't want to watch his expression as he inspected her, nor see his touch near her skin. Staring into the fireplace seemed much more soothing in the moment. Fortunately, her torture in his presence wasn't to be drawn out further as he stepped away. There was no need for her to check the mirror again, so she would instead straighten herself and move towards him at the wall, watching the way his figure leaned so casually there. He was certainly making it seem like today was just another day... just another fairy... just another evening meal ahead. "Are you sure it's worth the risk?" Her calm voice would be almost melodic as she spoke to him, standing a little over an arms reach in front of him as she came to a stand still, the dress swinging and shuffling a little around her before coming to a rest too. "If I'm just another fairy then by all means... I would be worth nothing more to you than a meal that you needn't consider again. But... if I was... the lost princess... and the realms found out my stones were in your possession..." A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she tilted her hair to one side, her soft, teal locks gently gracing her shoulder. "They're going to come asking questions. Do you really think they would approve to learn you fed me to your men? Or sold me to a nobody? You... and your kingdom.. May have a reputation for war. But nothing unites realms like a common enemy. Is a quick meal worth that target on your heads?" Sure, there was an element of bravado and over confidence in her statement... its likely m

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ost of the realms wouldn't care too much of her death. But her father, and her ex betrothed, would certainly be riled at the fact that her punishment had been denied to them, as well as the idea that Silen now had the stones within his grasp. Everyone knew the kingdoms were constantly on the precipice of turning on each other. They all had a resource the others needed which had brought about the fragile peace they lived in currently... a small push, betrayal, could certainly be the one to break it all down. After allowing a moment of silence after her comment, Nym would swish the skirt as she turned to the side, walking to the dressing table where Nadia had acquired her hair pin from. Opening the stiff drawers she looked through, finding another pin and carefully slotting it against the cleavage of her dress. It wasn't a blade, but she figured with enough force it would easily puncture the neck of a vampire should she be bitten, so having a spare on her wouldn't hurt.

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@Taking Back Luxday