The Shapeshifter's Choice

[Ion]

@P U R I T Y


The Victorian Era - The annual Coven Ball is around again, the one time in the year when warring covens come in peace to discuss their affairs. A place where even vampires know the one rule is not to bite.


The Vampiress Vivienne is a pure blood who sullies too much with men and has relationships with nearly all the pureblood gentleman available. Her one mistake, however, was the decision to enter a relationship with a mysterious shapeshifter who disappeared after their one night romance.


What he left behind was a hybrid that was shunned by every race.


Tonight, Vivienne hosts the Coven Ball once again in her glittering mansion. Unaware that her shunned and feared son might just meet the vampiress who will save his soul.
​

 

[Ion]

Aiden listened to the haunting music coming from five floors below him. His one trousered leg dangled over the edge of the marble white staircase as he took another bite from his apple.


Pale blue eyes watched the entrance of vampire after vampire, he watched as they greeted Vivienne one by one, all smiles and polite nods until they passed her.


His gaze slid over, watching the orchestra play their haunting tune as more and more people piled in. He hated company and this was putting a seriously damper on his mood. He had planned to invite some of his ‘lowly friends’ over as Vivienne liked to call them, and have some fun with the blood dolls she had stored away for the ‘special guests’.


Not that he minded, but the twisted threesomes his birth mother engaged in just made him feel like gagging.


Swinging a long trousered leg back over the balcony, Aiden dropped his finished apple to the ground below and grimaced when the sound of soft shouting was heard once the apple made contact with some unfortunate soul’s head.


The mansion was a palace in its own right.


A huge dome made out to be the centre piece, its white face etched with marbled statues and fallen angels. The mansion flanked out to the sides, covering large expanses of land and shielding the large polo field behind it as well as the swimming pool and the miniature forest Vivienne kept for those who liked hunting down their prey.


From the mansion’s main entrance to the gold encrusted black gates, a large stretch of grass expanded. From the green grass sprouted large oak trees and today it would be lit with lanterns swaying in the gentle breeze.


The mansion was a beautiful place to come every single Coven Ball and as the night progressed the general rule of no biting would disappear into naught.


Couples would disappear into the various guest rooms Vivienne had decked out, and when they awoke, the blood dolls would be used up and new bonds would have been tied.


It was a night of love and lust.


And Aiden intended to make it count.


It was his twenty-third birthday today, not that anyone remembered, not that anyone cared. The only one that knew was Vivienne and she had been bugging him since he woke up. She had already gotten her breakfast and had leaned against his doorway, her dark sage eyes regarding him with hate when he woke up.


They did not speak, never quite did. She blamed him for how the society talked behind her back. Although this was partially true, Aiden sometimes wished she could see that her own promiscuous activities had been her demise and that it was not entirely his fault that she ended up being the black sheep among the vampires - if this were even possible.


Aiden’s birthday wishes had been simplistic.


He took as many of his ‘friends’ as he could to his room and then he’d lock the room door and satisfy the lust that threatened to consume him every single moment of the day.


Silently, he blamed it on Vivienne’s genes as he kissed down the smooth leg of the blood doll he had managed to drag to his room.


Vivienne liked choosing pretty ones for her guests during the Coven Ball and Aiden used it to his advantage entirely. Despite the girl’s fear for the fangs that scraped along her inner thighs, she held in a shiver of desire. Aidan’s bite - alike the bite of any other vampire - was one that made another feel pure ecstasy. Infused with two bloodlines, his bite was enough to make a girl forget that she was going to be sucked dry by none other than the hybrid himself.


‘Don’t be scared,’ Aiden cooed, his pale blue eyes looking over the silken dark blue sheets of the room as the girl’s legs trembled and shivered against the sides of his cheeks.


She looked at him through lowered blonde eyelashes, her rose petal lips parted to let out a tinies of squeaks as he bit the flesh on the inside of her knee gently, drawing just a few drops of blood.


‘What’s your name?’ he whispered, revelling in the sweet taste of blood that now slid down his throat like a drug that left him insatiable.


‘Clara,’ she whispered, barely as she leaned her head back into his pillow, her eyes rolling back when Aiden sunk his fangs into her right inner thigh.


Thus, the first present of the night was given to him. Unbeknownst to the regal guests who mingled below them.


A knock made Aiden open his eyes and soon enough Vivienne’s man servant stepped in, the only person that had been remotely civil to him since his birth.


Edwin took a glance over the man’s room, noting that three blood dolls lay over his lap, a bare chested Aiden leaning against the pillow with a lazy smile on his face.


‘Not joining the party, Sir?’ Edwin questioned, automatically picking up the discarded shirts, bras and underwear from the ground that had been scattered throughout the room. It was something he always had to do, Lady Vivienne would throw a fit if she saw that Aiden had been taking her blood dolls as his own personal presents again.


‘When do I ever?’ Aiden drawled, inspecting one particular blue vein that ran from the third girl’s wrist to the crook of her elbow. His fingers smoothed over it lovingly - a sickening action.


Edwin straightened, keeping in a sigh, ‘I trust you’ve had your fun Sir, now-‘


‘Edwin,’ Aiden snapped, flinging the wrist he had been looking at from his chest, ‘they’re not dead’. The dark haired man stepped from the bed, stark naked before pulling on his discarded clothes, ‘Just put them in the private cellar and they’ll be as good as new in a few days. Vivienne won’t know a thing’.


‘I must insist on you telling Lady Vivienne that herself, Sir,’ Edwin murmured, sighing when it turned out that Aiden wasn’t listening.


The young Master had already buttoned his shirt and snapped the mask on that belonged to the masquerade theme of the Coven Ball, ‘Eddie,’ he grinned, flashing a row of perfect pearly white teeth tipped off with withdrawn fangs, ‘how do I look?’


‘Marvellous, Sir,’ Edwin replied robotically before bowing as Aiden walked past, ‘Please enjoy the Ball’.


‘Oh, I will,’ Aiden chuckled, leaving briskly.


Edwin looked around the room once more and sighed; same thing every single year.


Aiden cracked his neck before descending the marble stairs to the Ball room.


It was as expected. As soon as the vampires had noticed his presence they backed away. It was something about his aura, different than that of an average vampire’s that made him rather repellant to those of his race.


When he was four, Aiden first shifted into a cub, and Vivienne had screamed, throwing him outside to get rid of the monster. At age seven, he had managed to shift into a fox. At fifteen, he had managed his first ever wolf transformation. And from then on, it had only gotten worse. When he turned nineteen, the news of his shifting into a werewolf had become news in the mythical underground.


An abomination.


A monster.


A tumour in the pure blood line.


Aiden had heard them all and though he convinced himself it didn’t matter, he was bitter that he didn’t belong anywhere. Instead, he managed to convince himself to live like he wanted to. More blood, more freedom and no responsibilities.


Though Vivienne hated him, she wanted him to stay as well. It gave her something to boast with; her freak of a son. She had never said anything good of him before but had revelled when her friends came over to ask if she had indeed given birth to a monster. Vivienne had been giddy to stand in the spotlight of society once more, not caring in which light it was, as long as she was the main character.


Reaching the Ball room’s marble polished floor by his own, Aiden moved towards the corner aware of the amount of eyes trained on him.


Though his face was hidden behind a dark silken blue mask woven in with black threads, his eyes were impossible to ignore. The pale blue a contrast to the usually dark mysterious eyes of the rest of his kin. A straight nose and a handsomely squared jaw helped cast the shadows over his cheekbones and the redness of his lips - after all, he had just fed. His swept raven black hair was still messy from the tumble in bed he had just had and the unruliness was pushed back when he ran his hands through his hair.


His dark trousers encased strong legs before ending in leather boots that were laced together clumsily. His black shirt clung to his muscled frame, the longer jacket over that fell to his calves and a delicate silver wrought watch was tucked in the left of his breast pocket.


Aiden stood in the corner, his piercing blue eyes surveying the people that danced, their skirts swirling. And he knew, no one would ever ask him to lead a dance.


He was, after all, an abomination.

 

[Raerae]

Elizabeth could feel her patience dwindling fast as her mother introduced her to yet another potential suitor, of whom reeked with a sexually active aura, the scent of many, many others heavy on his porcelain skin. Her satin skirt swept the floor as yet another round of formalities were exchanged, one heel crossed the other as her long legs bent slightly. She curtsied, he bowed, she inwardly sighed as the array of kisses on her hand trailed a little farther up her arm than she'd like. Her lack of interest prompted her mother to make all kinds of encouraging gestures, and bare disapproving glares from behind the males line of sight. Ellie didn't mind that he was a lustful man, not a soul was here tonight for the unnecessary buffet that was for sure, even Elizabeth herself was romanticized by the magniloquent interior and dreamy, traditional Victorian designs. Unlike some, formal events like these sparked a fire in her soul, it was obviously a setting that did her delicate features and intense reveries justice; but, it would have been nice if others could figure out the truth as quickly as she. For all the love that he made, this man was already bonded. Deny it as he might, a very specific soul weighed on his heart, well, metaphorically of course, his very soul was in sync with another presence tucked away in the crowd. What a waste of my time, she shot her mother a look that'd confirm he was taken, and then the woman nodded and stepped away, exhausted in her attempts and daughters lack of mating. In to the twirling array of skirts and tail coats the woman disappeared, and as her figure blended with extravagant fabrics and colors, Ellie fixated her attention on the man standing before her.


"You should go find her, the woman you're yearning for," Ellie told the man with a lack of enthusiasm, watching as he seemed to be taken on a defensive aura regarding her sudden intrusion on his privacy. She couldn't help it, her abilities granted her the knowledge of a strangers life. "I'm sure any woman spending tonight alone would be miserable."


Underneath the dimmed lighting, her ivory complexion glowed cool and fair, smooth as a newborns skin, covered by the silky layers of a flaring victorian gown, dyed soft shades of blended ivory and champagne. Sleeves draping past her wrists and sewn with a lacy texture flowed like curtains for her palms, of which were tucked within one another and resting on her abdomen. Her neck was elongated with the comparison of a swan, supporting a soft jawline carving an oblong face shape. The neckline of her gown was rather low tonight, exposing prominent collar bones and hunting at petite shoulders; her corset was unnecessarily tight on an already tiny waist to give the illusion of added curve. Ellie was ashamed to admit she needed the boost, both for her own self esteem and to better sell herself with added curvature. No man wanted a stick figure, and although she wasn't to be described as such, the brunette was built of a notably lissome stature, complimenting her height of five feet and nine inches, of which wasn't rare amidst these women. Swirls of honey in her chestnut locks cascaded all the way down her slender back, brushing along her tail bone, styled with a subtle, yet voluminous bounce to each loose curl.


Doe, topaz orbs were shadowed by thick, black lashes, free to shamelessly scan the palatial mansion, both in admiration of the grandiose structure and in hopes of a new lead. She couldn't be seen standing idly, her image was on the rocks as is- daughter of the illustrious widow, Chrstine, and of a former duke gone rogue vampire, Jonathan, didn't exactly bring you a lot of reputation aside from a worthy surname and a lot of expectations to avoid satisfying. Won't find my mate just by waiting, of course, some lucky females did, Ellie just wouldn't count herself among that minority. Perhaps it's time I take the initiative?


With long strides and a ghost of a smile curving cherry lips upwards, the young vampress skirted her way through lovers and conversationalists, dancers and potential meals; she was ducking, bowing and greeting where it was due, that was, until she bumped into her mother again. She snickered as the woman cajoled a bachelor, a sight not unusual for the brunette. Had the conversation the pair was sharing been uninteresting, Ellie would have glided elsewhere, however, she tuned in at the mentioning of her own name, and felt her lips grow weighed with dismay as her mother clearly expressed her concerns.


"By God, she'll end up like Vivienne's boy if she doesn't pick someone! I mean, bless his soul," The woman mumbled, "I just can't support her singularity forever, and every time she dismisses someone I get a letter of complaint from the family, and some are persistent for her hand... tsk, that girl, she's too much like me, and will end up alone making mistakes like I did..."


With furrowed brows, Elizabeth receded from the scene, fighting the guilt that came with causing her mother such stress. She truly wasn't so selfish as to dismiss men just to stay home! She just didn't approve of the ones offered, others didn't share her gift, they didn't understand the way she did, see people past their guards and facades the way she couldn't help but do. Her chin tilted up and she mustered a minuscule ounce of bravery, "The next pair of eyes I meet, I'll ask to lead. No exceptions."


Upon the subtle bat of her lashes, Elizabeth locked gazes with crystal like orbs, an astonishing blue she couldn't quite claim she'd ever seen before, holding glints of light and disdain. Ironically, this was the man her mother had disdainfully compared Ellie to, but at the moment the brunette was entirely unaware of who he was. And if this individual held the potential of a mate, admittedly, she wouldn't care if he was the devils child himself. Fate was non negotiable.


"Pardon, sir," She said once she'd approached the figure nestled in the shadows, and subtly curtsied before the man, thin fingers tugging the front skirt of her gown up from the floor as she did. "Would you... um," Damn, she hesitated. Her lips pursed and she dropped her skirt all at once, gesturing with hinted exhaustion as she continued, "Do you wanna dance?"


She could practically hear her mother scoff at the lack of formality, and cringed with apprehension behind the mask of a ghostly smile and slightly hopeful, doe eyes.

 

[Ion]

Aiden had been concentrating on the ample cleavage of the daughter of the Duke of Varland when a creature walked by, a creature dressed in ivory. He had always had a thing for women who adopted the colour of innocence for when he defiled them the feat felt greater to him. He began following the figure’s movements until she stopped and he let his pale burning gaze move from bottom to top, something he deemed was necessary. A woman’s body had always fascinated him more than a woman’s face.


His gaze slid up her lacey sleeves, the slender arm attached to a soft rounded shoulder. A delighted sigh escaped his lips as his eyes glanced across the smooth ivory skin that stretched over her body like silk upon a canvas. He followed silk stretched over her collarbone to the smooth curve of her neck and unbeknownst to him he licked his lips. There was something about the fragility of that soft neck that made some primal instinctive need stir inside of him.


It was only when he reached her delicate face that his lips ployed into a small grimace, of course.


Over time, Aiden had made his business to know every single vampire of every single coven. A more acceptable past time than his hobby of playing with blood dolls until they collapsed from pleasure and exhaustion.


If he recalled correctly from the weekly gossip soirees Vivienne held in the West Lobby, this was Elizabeth, daughter of Christine and Jonathan. Alike most gossip soirees went, Vivienne had focused on the cons of this particular tidbit; how Jonathan had turned rogue and how their daughter had failed to find any possible suitor till now.


‘Christine’s desperate,’ Vivienne had cackled, ‘You should’ve seen her at the party a fortnight ago, she’s at the end of her rope with that daughter of hers’. His birth mother had then waved her feathered fan before leaning back in her chair, ‘Every time any one of us asks she says her daughter’s turned them down again,’ Vivienne waved her hand dismissively, ‘it’s all lies, ladies. Which distinguished vampiress would let her daughter run around as she pleases? Horrendous,’ Vivienne had added.


Aiden tilted his head to the side, rolling this particular memory in his head as he watched Elizabeth converse politely with every single gentleman. As the years went by he had learnt to make out feigned formalities, it was a gesture the most of the society exercised on his birth mother. They tolerated her for her power and estate, not so much for her promiscuous affairs.


Now he watched Elizabeth feign the same formality as Christine showed her around to these men. Aiden recognised every single man she was talking to. Some were boring, some were promiscuous and he found himself eager to see which one would spark Elizabeth’s interest.


Instead he watched her walk along, her skirts pulled up with soft delicate fingers before she paused somewhere right across him and tilted her chin up. Then abruptly she looked up and their eyes met. For a split second Aiden revelled in the topaz glow of her thickly framed eyes under the swinging chandelier of the Ball room but then she managed to surprise him even more when she walked towards him.


In shock, he had hardly heard her utter the words, instead, he found that from his height which was slightly over six feet, he had a good view of the soft rise of her low cut dress.


From somewhere within the crowd he could hear Christine give out a soft aura of disapproval. Did she perhaps know who he was? Was the mask doing him justice?


His eyes flickered back to the woman in front of him, her eyes seemed to plead and deciding to go along with this air of illusion, Aiden inclined his head gently.


‘I certainly… wanna,’ he teased, copying her choice of words before he lifted her hand gently with his fingers. Bending, he brushed his lips over the soft skin of the back of her hand, trying not to get distracted by the scent of her blood before rising once more. ‘If my memory serves me correctly, you are Lady Elizabeth correct? I have been watching you,’ he added, allowing a soft smile to touch onto his lips before he held out his arm for hers, ‘If you will’.


It was then that a voice interrupted them and he turned, his eyes narrowing as Edwin appeared, his suit tailored to the very tips of his tail coats, ‘Sir’.


‘What is it now?’ Aiden couldn’t help but snap, putting a hand on Elizabeth’s waist, afraid that this rare little accident was going to slip through his fingers if he didn’t act fast. It wasn’t usual that this happened, that someone actually did not know who he was.


Edwin’s eyes slipped over to the woman standing beside the young Master before he bowed, ‘Miss….’ then he leaned in, keeping his words strictly to Aiden’s ears, ‘Your mother has found the blood dolls, she saw me when I was taking them to the private cellar. She’s looking for you now’.


As if on cue, a soft shriek was heard and both men looked up over the sea of heads at Vivienne, her raven black hair styled fashionably as her sage eyes peered over the sea of heads.


Realising that his rendezvous might be disrupted by his birth mother’s incredulous rage, Aiden turned to the woman in his arms and said, ‘If you do not mind, my lady. It is rather stuffy in here, might I suggest a stroll and a dance on the balcony?’


Without waiting for an answer - and eager to get away from the imminent arrival of his enraged birth mother - Aiden started pulling Elizabeth with him through the crowd.


The others parted easily, sensing his aura and staring after them, wondering why on Earth any distinguished young vampiress would think it a good idea to associate themselves with the monster.


As they reached the double white painted doors of the balcony, Aiden pushed down the golden leafed handles and pulled Elizabeth through it before shutting the doors back behind him.


The music could still be heard despite the obstacle of the double doors of the patio and Aiden pulled a small key from his waist pocket. With a swift moment he locked the balcony doors and leaned his head back to take in a breath of fresh night air.


When he looked back up, he sent a wry grin to Elizabeth, ‘I apologise, my lady, it seems that our dance was interrupted. Now, if you’ll allow me to properly introduce myself,’ slowly undoing the ribbon of his mask from his face, Aiden bowed once more, ‘Aiden, son of Vivienne Crusadian. Let me formally welcome you to the Coven Ball’.

 

[Raerae]

Music


"That I am," Elizabeth mirrored his soft smile as he reciprocated her lack of formality, confirming his assumption and feeling her dimples ease into a natural expression of content. He'd been the only one to show a little personality behind the mask, less stuff, responsive to her unusual disposition, and that'd been enough to hold her interest. She arched a thin brow when he mentioned he'd had her eyes on her beforehand, topaz orbs inquisitive as she said aloud, "Oh?"


She felt inclined to inquire why, but knew better than to inquire a man's actions, especially a potential suitor. Instead, her sleeve brushed his in an attempt to lock arms, but a voice had come to interrupt their shared moment. Nothing was heard, but tension was thick and made the brunette shift uncomfortable in her heels, peaked canines momentarily exposed as she exhaled through her mouth to steady her nerves. Had she done something wrong? Her hands rested on her abandonment, fingers discreetly tugging at the layer of lace across her torso as an occupation for her nerves. Her one act of independence, had it gone awry already? She curtsied out of habit to the new stranger before her, but was limited in her movement with this vampires hand on her waist; she stayed still in his slight hold, casting her eyes to where her mother had been, but the woman was no where to be seen.


"Is everything alright?" Elizabeth asked, but her soft inquiry was nullified by a distant, yet prominent shriek. Without hesitation, she allowed the gentlemen to escort her elsewhere, curiously gazing out at the sea of richly dressed individuals, but what exactly the issue was had never been resolved within her mind. Instead, she and the individual escaped to the balcony, the tension was left behind subtly locked doors, and in sync, the pair inhaled the nights fresh air, Elizabeth especially didn't mind the shift in atmosphere. Not that she minded formal gatherings, either, but this truly was where she was most at peace, void of others, bathed in the dimming, night sky. She knew the piece that resonated behind closed doors and was somewhat taken with the number, humming it beneath her breath and envisioning the pressure on individual keys as her instructor played in sequence with her practised waltz. Only peeking up when the male started to remove his mask, Elizabeth let out a soft gasp at his unveiling. The name came as quite a shock, for she was well versed with the rumors of his unworthy existence, belittling his every move, tainting him with the title of abomination. He seemed nothing of the sort, hardly emitting an air like the temptress he'd been born to. He was...


...beautiful.


"Charmed," She lifted her thin fingers to her hand crafted mask, the rims were lined with miniscule diamond embellishments, and shaded with a champagne paint. Gently she unwound the lightly knotted ribbon that secured it up in her skull, removing it to reveal lively, doe eyes and the subtle fall of her caramel tresses. Her skin breathed and she felt relieved to rid her cheek bones of the light weight that'd rested upon them all night, with a gentle curtsy and an unwavering smile, she responded, "Elizabeth, daughter of Christine Chevalier. I'm... honored."


Elizabeth closed the bit of distance between them with graceful strides, tilting her chin up thoughtfully to better view the stranger she'd followed. Her forehead barely reached his chin. Even with the rumors that claimed imminent accuracy, he was every bit a stranger to her, and despite the names he bared, he'd been a near perfect gentlemen so far. Her curiosity got the better of her, and for a moment she just gazed at him, but her eyes were soft and lacked judgement, or pity. "It's nice to meet you, Aiden," she held up a delicate hand, awaiting his lead.


It made no difference to her, at least in this moment, who he was; this was a dance after all, and he was, indeed, a potential mate. She was in no hurry to return downstairs, either, and thought it intriguing they'd come to the balcony for whatever reason.
​

 

[Ion]

Aiden surveyed Elizabeth’s face for any flicker of emotion. He had expected horror, maybe even fear at the sudden revelation that he was indeed the infamous abomination that everybody seemed to talk about. Instead, she gasped and he felt drawn to the way her soft lips opened up. There was something about the shape of them that made him tremble.


She spoke softly and he watched hungrily as she slowly pulled off the delicate mask she had on. Her skin was porcelain, as the soft silk that had stretched over her throat that he had so intently observed.


She spoke of her full name once more and watched as she stepped forward. And for a while they stared at each other, and Aiden came to a sudden startling realisation that her height would fit perfectly into his arms. His fingers twitched lightly, as he fought against the unfamiliar emotion.


As she held up a hand he wondered what she meant; should he kiss it once more? Should he pull her towards him? Maybe he should take her into the waltz, to the rhythm of the delightful music that had picked up a romantic and slow pace.


Aiden fought momentarily with the conflict of emotions within his mind. What if he tainted her?


The only women he ever associated himself with were blood dolls, those that were already seen as naught by the vampire society. If he took this woman for a dance, if someone were to see them without masks, see that she had willingly come to him. She would be shunned. Even if their courtship lasted but a night, she could very well never find a suitor.


His pale blue eyes flickered over her head shortly at the darkness of the miniature forest belonged. Surely, before, Aiden had never hesitated to take his meals there. That was all they had been. Yet Elizabeth was a distinguished vampiress, he would ruin her.


With a soft grimace, he cast these thoughts aside. She wanted him, and if she was too stupid to realise her own demise, it wasn’t his problem.


Steeling his heart against the guilt that pressured his heart, Aiden took her hand and turned it over, pressing his lips upon the pulse of her wrist, his eyes peering at her over the cage of her soft curled fingers, ‘It’s very nice to meet you, Elizabeth,’ he purred, chuckling softly as he realised she had spoke to him on first name basis. A rare informality in between the vampire society that would have not been excused if he were another man.


What they were doing was forbidden and it exhilarated Aiden even more than his usual antics. There was something about the scent that lingered on her skin that made him want her in a primal animalistic way that scared even himself.


As the music reached a crescendo, Aiden pulled her against him swiftly, draping her delicate wrist over his shoulder - making sure to let her fingers wrap around the back of his neck, nestling against the locks of raven black hair that curled there.


An arm was wrapped around her small waist and he pulled her against his chest, showing a soft languid smile before he inclined his head down at her slightly so that topaz and ice stared into each other’s depths, ‘Your requested dance, my lady,’ he breathed softly.


Under the moonlight they spun, the soft glow glancing off their porcelain skin as their feet danced in sync to each other. Now and again he dipped her or whirled her out and the scent of her hair in the evening air made his fangs extend ever so slightly.


It was, after all, a night of lust.


It was halfway through gazing at the mesmerising face of this new trinket that had stumbled into his life that Aiden’s supernatural hearing, heard a soft shriek of a familiar voice from inside the Ball room.


‘Aiden,’ Vivienne growled, ‘where is he?’


‘Who?’ an unknown voice answered.


‘My son,’ Vivienne spat, as if the very fact burned her to the very core.


A soft pause sounded and as Aiden danced towards the edge of the patio with Elizabeth his eyes widened, ‘I saw him go outside to the patio with a girl’.


His eyes flickered to the locked doors, this was after all, his mother’s house. She had the key to everything.


‘I apologise,’ he whispered, locking eyes with Elizabeth before he lifted her. Smoothly halfway a dip, his arm extended till the back of her shoulders and he slid over the patio ridge with amazingly accuracy. Landing on the damp grass with a nearly non-existent thud.


Quickly, he pressed Elizabeth’s back against the wall of the patio behind her, his figure curling over her protectively.


He offered her a smile, hoping it seemed reassuring and not too panicked as he held a finger to his lips.


Soon, the unlocking of a door sounded and the scent of Vivienne filled the air. Heavy and pulsing with pureblood energy, Aiden dipped his head into the crook of Elizabeth’s neck nearly unconsciously, wanting to get away from the scent of the woman that hated him so.


Vivienne stayed for quite some time and Aiden’s hands which were placed on either side of Elizabeth’s face curled against the concrete wall of the patio. If she found them now, she would ruin the woman that had appeared tonight.


He only hoped that Christine would be inside, unconcerned with the whereabouts of her daughter.

 

[Raerae]

She'd never been this close to a man before, at least, not without disgust or force. It was... riveting, his subtle command and looming figure, blocking out what scenery there was before them with merely a finger to his lips as an answer. The proximity lulled her fangs to peak out and play on an instinct she'd rarely indulged in, unless she was feeding. Elizabeth was doused in his scent, and didn't entirely mind, inhaling it nonchalantly and wondering if her enthusiasm was merely out of the spark of the moment, or genuine because he was a potential match for her. It was all very inviting, and for a moment she sank into the wall and kept her hands to his chest, not feigning how was gradually captivating her.


That was, until she finally tuned into the looming threat above, a venomous aura that made her cringe beneath his chest. This was the second time he'd spontaneously tugged her away, at first she found it a little romantic, being naive to whatever situation was at hand. But with his mother involved, a woman with a reputation that'd not only tarnish Elizabeth's, but more importantly her mother's, the brunette felt her guard rise. Enough to put a metaphorical wedge between herself, and this intoxicating individual. Whatever was going on, she couldn't afford to be naive to. It was then that she felt the motherly tug that she knew meant her parent was searching for her, likely with a worry unmatched by other parenting vampires; she'd search the mansion and throw a fit if she thought some individual had stolen her daughter.


Elizabeth was thankful for the genuine reasoning to leave, but a gradual wave of disappointment washed across her previously excited features quite blatantly. She gently pushed her delicate hands against his body, and eased away from his straddling arms with quite a sudden motion. "I don't know what's going on, but... My mother is looking for me," She said with a disheartened tone, though it was tactfully whispered as she didn't know what threat Vivienne posed to him. "Goodnight, Aiden."


Back in the mansion

"Elizabeth, don't you scare scare me like that again! Where did you run off to? I said you with Vivienne's boy, please don't tell me you fell for that-"


"-Nothing happened. We just danced for a while, and then I left," Elizabeth said solemnly.


"Good, I was dreading the fact you might fall for him. Was he... like his mother?"


"Oh, no," She folded her hands and rested them on her torso, walking alongside her mother as the two started to exit the mansion. They never stayed as late as the others, preferring their solitude as their empathic traits were easily drained in such large gatherings. "He was... wonderful."


"But...?"


"I believe I'm destined to be alone."


"Oh, don't say that, we'll find you someone. He's just going to be one in a million, nothing like expected."


Elizabeth kept blaming her sullen disposition on the lack of success on finding a mate that night. Though, in all honesty, she felt her insides quiver as she pulled away from the only person that'd ever make her heart come as close to beating as it had been. His scent, his strength, those eyes, that voice- She was far past being impressionable and dictated by hormones, what she felt simply had to be the spark she'd been looking for. Alas, she left it all behind that night.


Until Vivienne invited the two over for a soiree

Although void of crowds and blood dolls, Vivienne's mansion was no less grandiose upon the Chevalier's arrivals. It towered and reeked of privilege, structured by the hands of architectural genius, and founded on acres riddled with beauty. The Chevalier's weren't known for richness, in fact the small family upheld a quaint living style, merely maintaining a lot of land with little show of settlement; their home was more like a loft, ostracized but humanized to some degree, with an air of their era, but nothing quite so magniloquent.


Elizabeth walked alongside her mother with a masked expression of politeness, nodding at the few individuals working under Vivienne's hand although they were extremely reserved, and showed little character. She was dressed appropriately, but her evening gown was far less decorative, dyed a soft blue with a bit of gold sewn in along her fitted corset; nothing zealous, no extravagant jewels or embellished masks. Her hair flowed freely, a marvel among women, As it reached her hips and had an unnaturally healthy, caramel shine. Disdain coated her every thought, her palms intertwined with a firmness that made her finger bones ache. She didn't want to be here, she was very naive to the power this women could have, but was aware it was enough to have even the monarchy on their toes. Someone like that never played nice- they didn't need to, and as the doors were opened and the pair stepped through, Elizabeth put a hand to her abdomen, which flopped with anxiety. Had her time with the young Crusadian been some sort of treason? Her mother seemed unaware if that was the case, in fact she'd forgotten about it the moment they'd returned home. Had Elizabeth stirred up some thing far beyond her comprehension?


"Welcome, Miss Chevalier, and... Miss Chevalier." Bowed the familiar man Elizabeth had seen whispering with Aiden that night, he bared no special mind to the brunette.


After exchanging formalities the two were escorted into what was a sort of entertainment room, spotted with women Ellie knew to be of high regard and quite revered. Her mother fit in amongst them naturally, a ravenette of a beauty, with an air of seduction. Although it didn't compare to Vivienne, both out of some in fact morality and a lack of romantic interest due to unfaithful lover's. Christine understandably spent little time around other females, as they were known for being possessive, territorial, and down right aggressive when it came to their status, or their mates. Amidst all the high class females was Vivienne herself, adorned in befitting garments and wearing a smile that was deceptively inviting.


"Why, if it isn't the lonely little vampress herself." She said coyly, and although Ellie and her mother exchanged weary glances, the two were seated upon the woman's gestures. "I heard you left the coven ball without a suitor, again. Lord Blackbournes son had taken quite an interest in you..."


"I declined the gentleman," Ellie responded with hinted exasperation. Women were always prodding at her love life, or therefore, lack of; As if she wanted to talk about her lack of success in mating. "He was... already taken."


"Is that so?" She remarked with hinted disbelief, "I don't recall him confirming that at any point. You passed up quite the honor, Miss Chevalier."


Christine seemed to mirror Elizabeth's exasperation, but sometimes, the brunette wondered if they were on the same page, or if her mother felt disrespected by her daughters failure to secure a mate. "You dishonor your mother, and what's left of your family name, by remaining single. It's bad for a young lady to seem so picky, there are many girls that are sought after like prizes, you know. Holding yourself to such prestige," she tsk'd, baring utter disapproval. "Are you really so vein? So selfish? Or are the men actually rejecting you? Come now, darling, you can tell us."


Elizabeth felt unnerved under the false accusations, and noticed her mother started to speak up, only to hush herself as it was not her place to sag any thing. Ellie was too grown to have her parent speaking in her place, but as the inquiries fed her discomfort, all she could do was sit there and bite the inside of her cheek. Finally, she sighed, "I don't want to rush anything."


"Is that in reference to your mother's failed marriage? Oh, Christine, if I were you, I'd put that girl in her place!"


Her mother sounded cross as she responded, "I'll ask you to not guide me as a parent, she implied no such thing, nor would I blame her if she had-"


"I wasn't... I..." they talked over her regardless, snippety and snarky, until her mother expertly soothed the situation by switching subjects and cajoling the majority.


Elizabeth rose from the sofa she'd been seated at the edge of, and quietly excused herself. She glided through the foyer and nearly bursted outside, catching her breath as she exited the mansion, and wandered several feet away from the murmurs and gossip. What upset her most, was the possibility that Vivienne was right, that Ellie was pompous in her declinations, that she should have chosen the first man to generously offer his hand, and in tow, his estate and surname. But as she leaned against one of the many grand columns holding up the estates second story, she mused over what she believed mating was supposed to be. Romantic, eternal, a form of irrevocable bondage- perhaps not for all, but she didn't want to rush and risk the heartache her mother endured. Besides, she couldn't imagine waking up beside someone she couldn't stand for the next, well, however long she lived.


"I don't owe anyone an explanation," She told herself, pressing her thin fingers to the cool paint of the buildings structure, shaded by the rooftop as to avoid any direct sunlight. Her cerulean dress skirt flared a little, and her long locks were caught in the passing breeze, but her eyes were rather sullen with guilt, and for a moment she wished she hadn't declined that first gentleman, despite him already being mated to another without his knowing.



​

 

[Ion]

Aiden was lying upon his bed, staring up his ceiling as he rubbed a hand over the fur of his cat: Venus. The white cat purred and rubbed her head against his palm, making the sapphire ring on Aiden’s finger glisten in the dim lighting of his room.


The curtains had been drawn, since Aiden was never a fan of the sunlight.


‘Venus,’ he purred back, as the cat licked his fingers, ‘what should I do?’


For the umpteenth time that day he wondered what had happened to Elizabeth. She had left abruptly, as if something had happened and he hadn’t heard of her since.


‘Venus,’ he chuckled, lifting the cat who pawed at him mid-air and meowed in protest, ‘why don’t you tell me what Vivienne is doing downstairs? You want some fish baby girl?’


As he planted a soft kiss on the cat’s small furry head he let the feline go on the floor and swung up from his bed. Venus was one of the few women he had in his life, one that he did not engage in any form of romance with, except for the purely platonic course of events.


Aiden wrapped a silver grey robe around himself, tying it so that only a slight bit of his bare chest was shown. He yawned, stretching shortly before peeking out of the window between the dark blue curtains. It was light already and from below he could hear Vivienne’s high pitched laugh. He narrowed his pale blue eyes and could just make out the glass garden house that his birth mother always liked holding her gossip gatherings in. The ivy had grown over it but inside the double glass window panes, there would be luscious pillows and chandeliers with small bites and goblets of the richest blood.


He sighed softly as he heard another high pitched laugh and shut the curtains.


Venus leapt onto the counter, the moment they arrived in the kitchen. Despite the vampire’s dietary conditions to just consume blood, Aiden was not a pureblood and having some actual food in his stomach always did him well.


He opened the double doors of the fridge and looked past the packets of blood carefully stored, on each was a plaster that announced what type it was. He smiled wryly as he noted O+, one of his favourite types of blood before his eyes shifted down.


Taking out a can of sardines, he opened it and put it on the counter before sliding onto a bar stool as Venus ate. He watched her small tongue go to work on the fish and he smiled, a rare moment for anyone to see Aiden show any compassion towards beings on this Earth.


He rubbed his two fingers between Venus’ ears, receiving a small purr in response before he moved towards the kitchen windows and looked out upon the wide expanse of land that Vivienne owned.


She had already made it clear that on the rare occasion that she died, he would not get a penny of it.


He scoffed softly, before his eyes locked on a small figure by the storage house. The paint had chipped from the old thing, and the figure stood there, shielding herself from the direct sunlight. In a sudden revelation, Aiden realised that that was Elizabeth.


As if Venus sensed her Master’s sudden distress, she gave a soft meow but Aiden had already opened the door and was striding over the damp grass.


He made care not to come into the garden house’s view, afraid that Vivienne would want him to go in again and parade him around like a monkey on a leash. Instead, he slipped around the storage house, as silent as could be.


Aiden wasn’t afraid of the sun but he had found that staying in the shadows was a better way to stay utterly unseen.


He slipped around, caught Elizabeth’s wrist and pulled her towards him. Slipping her past the corner so that the storage house would stand between them and the gossiping girl party going on just a few feet away.


His eyes lit up, and slowly a grin appeared on his lips, ‘I didn’t know you’d be interested in Vivienne’s gossip soirees’.


As if he finally noted the sad look in her eyes he frowned, and his head tilted to the side every so slightly. The breeze rippled over his robe and with a finger he brushed over Elizabeth’s pointed chin, ‘What has made you sad?’


It was the sudden meow that made him direct his attention downward.


Venus had come out, spinning around his ankles, hungering for his attention as it became apparent that she wasn’t the only woman in his life.


Aiden smiled, lifting the cat easily before holding it out for Elizabeth, hoping that she might like animals and it might cheer her up, ‘This is my Venus, Venus, this is Elizabeth’.


The cat meowed, green eyes narrowing at the woman in the cerulean dress. She had never liked sharing Aiden’s touch with anyone else and her Master laughed at her grumpiness before letting her go.


‘Come on, I’ll take you inside,’ he said, and without waiting for an answer, he pulled the woman with him towards the kitchen he had come from.

 

[Raerae]

Momentarily caught off guard, Elizabeth had nearly hissed as a sudden grip snatched her from where she'd been standing. With her guard as thick as it was, she'd half expected it to be Vivienne herself, her fangs bared like a territorial cat for merely a moment. At the sound of his voice which vibrated through her with familiarity, she calmed at once, feeling foolish and pursing her lips as canines retracted.


I didn’t know you’d be interested in Vivienne’s gossip soirees.


"She invited me, I hadn't even taken into account you... might be here," Elizabeth answered, feeling silly at how willingly she was confessing in the woman's son. She nearly apologized for leaving so abruptly that night, but bit her tongue and stood by her decision. She'd not forgotten the level of secrecy the night of the ball, the whispers that evaded her and the level of tension that encouraged her to leave. There was still this urge to remain hushed, and had it not been for the stimulating proximity, and the fact she was undeniably enthused to see him, Ellie would have acknowledged common sense and fled again. When he touched her chin, she touched his hand, briefly, before dropping her own to her abdomen again.


"If I'd known the gathering would be a personal toast to my romantic failures, I may have refused the invitation. I had to leave before I said something she'd make me regret," though for all that Ellie said, even a stranger such as Aiden would know she was simply too delicate to speak up and provoke argumentation. She'd sooner melt and evaporate into th anxious atmosphere, than dishonor her mother any more than she apparently had. Her stomach clutched, and Ellie sighed.


"Venus?" She tentatively held out a delicate hand, admirably patient for the cats approval. But, as she brought an index finger to the felines nose it's eyes dilated as if ready to swat, not even sparing her a sniffle. Ellie had to laugh, though internally she had taken the reaction too personally and felt a little offended. As Aiden let the cat go, the brunette returned her golden gaze to meet his, bright eyes no longer framed by a mask, but complimented with a rich complexion and those ebony locks that finished the debonair appeal.


Just as beautiful. She noted, but with more admiration than shock this time around, for a moment she contemplated reaching out, but caught herself just as he whisked her away to the mansions kitchen. What had possessed her to act so boldly? The lines between formality towards a gentleman and... however she truly saw him, were blurring, she didn't understand it. But, once they were a miniscule measure safer inside the mansion, she didn't necessarily mind the lack of coven protocol. Why did she let him guide her away like this?


Venus had followed them inside, eyeing Elizabeth with disapproval, or so the vampress swore. The young woman stepped a long the polished flooring and leaned against a glossy counter, feeling the slight nervous twitch in her fingers for being back in this building. Beside her sounded a soft thud, and she met those scrutinizing cat eyes again. She forgot everything other than a silently building quest to earn the felines approval, raising a hand and stretching it outwards for the animal to react to. The moment she grazed its cheek, Venus swatted at her ivory skin twice and hissed, causing Ellie to react with an instinctual hiss of her own and clutch her hand to her chest. It didn't hurt, even a dainty female like her couldn't be jaded by mere cats claws; but it had frightened and further offended her.


"Well go join the soiree, then," She mumbled childishly, and then realized how stupid she must have looked. It wasn't abnormal for Elizabeth to give animals more respect and acknowledgment than truely necessary, they were a rather constant part of life after all. When you were known as somewhat of an abomination yourself, having been abandoned by your source of financial stability and left with a heartbroken widow, humans became the real beasts, and the subtle purr of cats and paw shakes with canines became favorable. "I..." Her mouth opened and closed, instead she just leaned there and shamelessly observed his stature, admiring the masculinity without attaching the rumors she'd heard about him, to him. Elizabeth was extremely judgemental, her lack of titling wasn't to be seen as sweet per say; she merely found it better to form her own opinion, though right now it was a far cry from any thing other than lovely.


After all, he had a kitty! A sassy one, but a kitty nonetheless.
​

 

[Ion]

Aiden leaned against the counter, watching Venus swipe at Elizabeth. He chuckled when the two females seemed to dislike each other, ‘Don’t mind Venus, she’s used to being my favourite,’ he chuckled huskily, rubbing the purring feline between her ears before opening the fridge - displaying the grand amount of blood available.


‘Please help yourself,’ Aiden grabbed the O+ himself and started sipping from it, moving on to a bar stool.


He watched her silently as she observed him and unable to help himself Aiden flexed the well formed muscles under his shirt and gave her a teasing wink, ‘Enjoying the view, Lizzie?’


The nickname had slipped off his tongue naturally, and it was too late to take it back.


Aiden had never really been the gentleman, despite his very best efforts to act like one to lure in vampiresses. Yet with Elizabeth, it felt natural to behave though the undercurrent of showing her the animal under the surface was overpowering him second by second.


As his eyes swept over the kitchen counter he was reminded of the time he’d taken a blood doll here, quite literally, taken her on the counter.


Vivienne had been furious when she walked in, and the blood doll had been sucked dry. Never would he undergo the mistake of angering his birth mother like that anymore.


Instead, Aiden’s rendezvous with women stayed strictly in the confines of his bedroom, behind a door Vivienne would never enter of her own accord and the impeccable poker face of Edwin.


Vampiresses that had dared to bring any time with Aiden were deadly afraid of admitting it. Not only would their reputation be tarnished, the entire vampire coven would turn upon them and they would stay shunned and without a partner for the rest of their miserable long lives.


Though it wasn’t quite hard for them to ignore Aiden after a little get together. The shapeshifter had never been called a nice person, in fact, he took what he wanted and then he high tailed it out of there. Hence, these women fed the vicious gossip regarding Aiden, and the full circle was made.


The more hateful people were towards Aiden, the more Vivienne rejoiced. For the people coming to her gossip soirees would double, purely there to question about her son. If he really were as beastly and unseemly as he was to which Vivienne would reply happily that he was and add on a few exaggerated stories of her own. Of how he sucked blood dolls dry continuously, how he howled at the moon when it was full. How he seemed to grow older every day like a shrunken old man.


Aiden had often hid behind the doors when Vivienne was busy gossiping about him when he was younger. His eight year old self had cried when he realised that the woman he believed to be his mother hated him but slowly he begun to realise that Vivienne was pathetic and he had left that state of mine.


Now he did whatever he wanted.


Yet with Elizabeth, he felt llike he could not. She was vulnerable, and it seemed that every time they were together, he tended to do something that would cause her a lot of trouble if anyone found out.


Concern racked his mind and he frowned before letting his eyes travel over Elizabeth’s figure.


She was truly a beautiful woman, the cerulean dress that clung to her skin was made to be peeled off and despite all his inner warnings to stay the gentleman she seemed to believe him to be, Aiden felt himself avert his gaze and shift upon his bar stool.


Venus purred, leaping onto his shoulder before her narrow green eyes grew into slits as she eyed the woman across the kitchen counter.


Aiden grinned, watching at the cat’s talons extracted in irritation, ‘Venus,’ he chastised, picking the cat up by the neck and opening the door, ‘come back when you learn how to treat my guests,’ he opened the kitchen window and unceremoniously let go.


Venus let out a betrayed hiss before shooting across the green pasture of grass and disappearing.


With an apologetic smile, Aiden turned to Elizabeth and shrugged, ‘I apologise for her behaviour, she’s never really liked anybody else. Please don’t take it personal’.


It was the sudden wave of laughter that made him look up.


‘So she told me it wasn’t true but I mean… who would believe that lie?’ Vivienne was saying, the clicking of heels sounded down the hallway and for a moment Aiden’s panicked eyes met Elizabeth’s.


He had been having quite the lovely time with his new lady friend, but when Vivienne arrived, it was the cue for him to go.


With a soft pained expression he moved towards her and looked into her eyes, as if he wished to convey something of deep importance, ‘Please, meet me in the forest behind the house tonight,’ his eyes were twinkling, finally excited for the first time in his life, ‘I have to see you again,’ he breathed.


There was a connection between them that made it hard for him to explain, and when he looked upon the silkiness of her smooth skin, something stirred within him that he thought he had locked away a long time ago: hope.


As if controlled by something else entirely, Aiden leaned in and his lips brushed across hers, igniting a blazing trail before he held his fingers to his lips, grinned, and in the next moment disappeared.


In truth he had slid out of the kitchen to the outside and was busy high tailing it back across the greens to his room as fast as he could, excited for what the night would bring.

 

[Raerae]

Elizabeth had to bite her tongue upon his blood offering, like him, she had a quirk she'd been born with. Also like Aiden, this was potentially dangerous to everyone around her. Unlike him, she could not control the wild instincts that'd take her over, and she had blood on her hands from prior unexpected, nearly volatile shifts in character. A hyper active metabolic rate meant that she burned through blood faster than nearly any other known creature, specifically her own kind; it was one of the main reasons her mother preferred her daughter stay home, and also explained her dainty stature, she just couldn't build a lot of muscle consuming what she did, and at such an astounding rate. Her hunger was insatiable, but quelled with the right blood type and copious amounts at certain feeding times she'd grown accustomed to. At the moment, she was content enough to decline his offer politely, but she did dread the day when he realised what a monster she could be. The strength, speed and ruthlessness seemed absolutely impossible to align with her character, but should Ellie be deprived of her feedings... It takes quite a few grown vampires to tame the very wild beast like herself.


Maybe that's where she understood him? Although he didn't seem quite so wild, he was in fact a one in a million individual, such as herself.


"Has to see me again?" She almost laughed, just out of disbelief, but he was entirely serious and that was absolutely thrilling to the brunette. When Aiden disappeared, Elizabeth was left to drown in all the emotions she'd only read about in her romantic, gothic century novels. She felt euphoric, and until Vivienne and her mother's aura were rounding the corner she was grinning much he had been. Even if her endeavours were foolish, there was something intoxicating about him, and part of Elizabeth hadn't quit believing they may be the match. It was unexpected, and odd, but with what her gifts allowed her to feel she picked up sincerity somewhere inside him, and if this was a mistake...


She couldn't finish that cliche line for the group of women had neared, and with a swift notion she glided out of the kitchen and met them nearly at the hallways corner. Her mother was the first to notice her, eyes weary from keeping up a cordial facade. The ravenette neared her daughter as Vivienne watched with narrowed slits, still chuckling with the other brides and lady's about things Christine didn't find very appealing at all. "My my, Christine, do you always let your daughter sneak into others houses without permission?"


"Elizabeth, what are you doing in here?" Her mother seemed to grow increasingly worried as she noted the kitchen was behind them, sending a scolding look at the young vampress who merely scooted around the question.


"I was hungry," She said with hinted apology.


"You're not supposed to go off your diet," Christine murmured, though she was extremely concerned as opposed to angered. If Ellie were to have blood that didn't pertain to what her body deemed essential, she'd become extremely sick, usually spitting whatever she consumed back up. This had been the case with most animal blood, she could hardly hold it down and usually took on an odd complexion.


"What, your daughter can't have normal meals like the rest of us? You spoil her too much," Jacqueline purred from beside Vivienne, she was no more a saint than she, but had a manipulative way of maintaining more harmony despite the tactful remarks. She was a wealthy, mouthy woman, but hid behind her mate when things became tense. "Little Ellie, you're--"


"Enough," Christine snapped, "Do nor disrespect my daughter when yours has been estranged from this coven for years. You're all well aware a child tends to be born with a sensitive stomach, don't preach to me about parenting, I've kept her alive and well."


Elizabeth started to express pride, but was met with a disapproving look from her mother. One snatch of the wrist and the two vacated the premises, leaving the woman behind who were mostly unmoved by Christine's truth.


~


"I want to know what you were really doing in that mansion," Her mother had asked her on the trip home, and Elizabeth struggled with being dishonest for the first time, or confessing her interest in the rumored abomination. She'd been relatively quiet, lost in thought until they'd reached the door hours later, and then promised it wasn't anything worth worrying about, and left it at that. She didn't want to mention a mate, especially Aiden, too soon; no reason to say anything until she had an idea of what awaited her in the forest.


That night

"Aiden?"


She felt so silly! Wandering the acres of land surrounding the very house that filled her with indescribable dread, holding up the skirt of her simple gown and calling out to the darkness with a name said far too casually. There'd been so much time trapped in her thoughts, twice she turned back and decided against coming, only to remember how badly she wanted to and ease back into the lull of temptation. There was almost an invisible, spirit woven thread drawing her to the spot he'd spoken about, and as much as Elizabeth wanted to call it fate, destiny, or true love, she mostly just believed she was a foolish, naive vampress about to be misguided and made a fool of.


As the damp soil softened beneath her careful footsteps, she whispered his name again, praying that his intentions were as genuine as his words. That she wouldn't arrive here just to be caught in some elaborate plot to humiliate her, orchestrated by the soiree attendees themselves. Oh, how she'd dishonor her mother once and for all if her little adventure was in vain; Ellie had no curfew, and was aloud to wander and stay out for however long she pleased. That was because Christine trusted her to be good and only good, and Ellie couldn't say her actions at the moment did their bond justice.


I think too much, she chided herself, upon being bathed in the shadows of arching tree canopies. "Or perhaps I'm not thinking at all..."
​

 

[Ion]

Aiden didn’t particularly look forward to his sudden rendezvous with Elizabeth. It was only after, in the confines of his new room, that he realised that his straight forwardness was most unheard of in society. That he shouldn’t have kissed her - although it hadn’t even been a real kiss - and should’ve waited after courtship.


It was then, as he sat upon his bed, sliding back his clothes on after feeding, that he found that he wasn’t allowed to court her.


Could he really promise her that he’d choose her? He’d defile her if he didn’t stay with her, would it be better if he didn’t meet her?


Venus had pretty much made up her mind for her Master, she had set her claws in his thigh when he prepared to stand up from the bed. The white cat hissed as if she knew what he was thinking and Aiden chuckled, holding Venus up. The cat looked at him grumpily as his hands slid under her armpits and she refused to look him in the eye.


‘Come on Venus, don’t be so mean to Elizabeth’


The cat meowed in response before struggling in his hold. Aiden let her fall and with another screech she shot towards the door where Edwin had just appeared.


Vivienne’s man servant slid in, waiting for Venus to leave before closing the door. His eyebrows raised when he turned towards Aiden once more, ‘Miss.Venus seems to be in a bad mood’.


Edwin had started referring to the cat as a Lady after the feline had managed to swipe his cheek when he tried to pick her up by the neck fur and put her out into the garden. Aiden had chuckled when Edwin growled, letting go of the cat who immediately ran back towards her Master, ‘That’s no way to treat a Lady is it now, Eddie?’


Aiden shrugged, buttoning up his shirt before jerking a chin towards the woman that lay in his bed. Surprisingly, she was clothed this time.


Edwin eyes widened in surprise as he stepped forward, eyes scanning the female for any physical exhaustion. Yet there was none, only her shallow breathing from being fed on, ‘Not particularly hungry today, Sir?’ he managed.


Aiden shrugged, not willing to look him in the eye as he peered at the blonde that was lying in his bed, ‘Just get her out of here’.


Edwin bowed, ‘Of course, Sir’.


Once the woman was gone from the room, Aiden stretched and moved down to the floor. He felt lazy and confused, the latter was an emotion he hardly had. After all, his shunned presence had never left any room for confusion or hope. It was now, with the sudden arrival of Elizabeth, that it seemed that he might have a chance to be happy.


Aiden leaned his head back on his bed and waited till the sun started to set.


When Aiden awoke, he was covered in sweat and with one look at the moon - which had risen to the sky during his nap - he knew why.


It was full moon tonight.


How could he have forgotten?


Already, he felt his heart accelerate - it’s normal languid pace increasing to a rapid rhythm that made him cough.


It wasn’t that he was forced into change on a full moon, over the years Aiden had learnt to control this ancestral liability. Yet, he was more prone to anger and lust on this night. It was as if his long lost father decided to remind him that he had his blood running through his veins every full moon.


With a soft groan, he moved onto all fours and when he looked back, the pupils of his pale blue eyes were so dilated his whole pupil seemed black.


It was then that Vivienne appeared, a gloved silken scarlet hand pushed open the door and the woman looked down at her hated son - on his fours like an animal, ‘Grab him,’ she instructed.


In a rush, the two men who were always there to restrain him on the night of the full moon were there. Burke and Ethan were heavy set vampires that had a special liking to kicking Aiden after they had chained him up in the cellar. There was no doubt that Vivienne knew what her henchman did to her son, she actually rejoiced in the fact that they could beat him up. She herself was too afraid.


She had seen him look at her with utter hatred and she had no doubt that if Aiden ever got the chance, he would slit her throat.


Aiden growled, an animalistic and guttural sound as chains were placed around his wrists then he was pulled out of his room.


They were moving past the patches of grass outside, ready to lead the shapeshifter into the cellar under the old shed when Aiden lifted his face to the air and sniffed.


Elizabeth.


He had told her to meet him there, had he not? And now, her scent covered his nose like an irresistible mask. He pulled at the chains and they jangled in the dark of the night.


‘Aiden,’ Burke growled, yanking at the chains and making the young man pitch forward, nearly hitting his face on the damp ground.


Instead, the urge was too strong and for the first time in a long time, Aiden resisted.


He needed to go, he needed to. It was a force that he did not understand, and something that scared him as he started to transform - willingly.


With a guttural snarl he launched into his wolf form, something he had managed to repress for all those years.


As his hands grew, fingers curling shakily into the talons of a beast, the bones of his forearm grew in width and strained against the iron chains. They burst and for the first time, Burke and Ethan took a scared step back from the black animal that was taking Aiden’s place.


The last time he had resisted the chains, he had been fifteen and easily subdued.


Now, he was a full grown adult, twenty three and muscled like a bull.


Fur sprouted and soon enough the feral animal was loose from its chains. It was easily 6.5 feet tall and as it looked down at the men it growled, showing two rows of perfect white teeth, so big they looked like one’s forearm and as sharp as a polished blade.


Ethan and Burke bolted.


Under the moonshine, Aiden was dragging Burke through the grass, the man’s large body in his big jaws. In Aiden’s now beast-like mind, this was his gift to Elizabeth.


Burke was a pureblood despite his rugged and broad appearance and his blood tickled at the werewolf’s nose, a scent that made the vampire within him stir ever so slightly.


He had left Ethan - the scrawnier one - out to bleed in front of the house.


Inside, Aiden knew that the consequences of his actions would bring rage to the entire vampire society. He had finally shown that he was an uncontrollable beast, a danger to both races. He would have to be brought down.


But there was only one thing on his mind right now, or rather, one person.


He spotted Elizabeth first with pale blue eyes, she was there under the tree canopies and when the breeze brought by the name she whispered, the wolf’s big triangular ears twitched and he grunted before loping towards her. Large paws padding upon the forest floor until it came into her sight.

 

[P U R I T Y]

Vampiric blood wafted along with the nighttime breeze, potent enough to catch the attention of the waiting vampress. Lacking knowledge to explain the unexpected aroma, she felt instinctively guarded, canines resting on her bottom lip. Before she'd caught the scents source the worst possibilities ran through her mind, that this was a set up, that Aiden never intended to come, that his mother regularly brought the naive and lesser classed here to destroy and devour. Elizabeth's head perked up, chin tilted and her eyes shaded honey, when her anxieties stalled and were instead replaced with curiosity. Padding footsteps, the approaching presence must have been four legged, which frightened her terrible for her faces demise was likely to be by their lycan opposites.


Of all her worries, she'd foolishly forgotten to consider the greatest threat poised in her life. The shapeshifter. And her lack of concern for the truth behind Aiden's handsome features led her to be unprepared and left quite literally breathless at the sudden, monstrous dog approaching her. Without hesitation, she climbed as if the norm, and situated herself in the canopy of a looming tree, hissing quite animalistic like and crouched in a way that'd shame her etiquette instructor. The individual lodged within the canines muzzle made her cringe, and she observed the blood with remorse for the gushing man, unaware of his true identity. With a hiss she remained where she was, like a cat on the fence with a beast at her feet...


...until she noticed those pale, blue eyes.


They stared back at her, void of malice, holding all the familiarity of Vivienne's son, but framed by a shaggy skull and a coat instead of skin. She stalked forward, still perched on protruding wood and inclined forward, nose scrunched at the scent of her own kinds blood. "...Aiden?" The moment of silence brought about self assurance, despite the authenticity, and with immense caution she lowered herself to the group in one, graceful fall. She knew not if he was lethal, or had any recollection of who she was, or what he'd done. But if he'd arrived here, surely he must have some sort of consciousness? All she knew was that it was him, irrevocably so, and her chest swelled with aches at the sight of what he'd done. And more importantly, where she fit into all of this. "Aiden, drop the body," She managed to say, thin fingers quavering slightly. "Do you remember me?"


Her mother was right, Nothing normal ever happens after midnight.
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