"The castle has been in my sights for the better part of half a day, yet it seems as though the closer I get, the further it gets away from me." He sighs to himself and launches himself back down the well maintained paved trade road.

Making this trek across the land back to Adeluna City many times, he's learned that the trade road is the best way to come in. Sure, there are other roads, tracks and fields to go across, but why waste the energy when you have all the time in the world. The only time limit he has is to himself, though his customers may think they have some hold on him. He will show the guarantee he promised to his customer when he sees fit and not a second sooner.

Looking at his surroundings, he never gets tired of seeing the rolling plains of the Antura spilling out into fields, farmhouses and finally into the city. The shining white walls a stark contrast to the natural beauty of the surrounding lands, though no less beautiful in their own right. He marveled at the watchtowers and wondered if they could see him coming yet, knowing full well there were quite a few men who were always on high alert, and possibly just as many men sleeping in their positions hoping they don't get found out. Switching shoulders that he used to carry the bag, he picked up his pace as he pressed onward towards the city hoping that he wouldn't have too much trouble bribing the guards to let him in. Remembering when he got too complacent about being on a first name basis with the guards and strolling carefree to the North Gate without a care in the world, until he saw a new face and knew it would be hard. Difficult, yes. Impossible no.

Finally getting to the North Gate, he could not stop looking up, no matter how many times he's made this trip or how long he's lived here, at the grand castle. It seems as though if you were to stand on top of it and the Beacon, you could just reach up at touch the bottom of the God's floor. Looking back down to reality, he made his way to where the guards were. Breathing a sigh of relief, he smiled at his old friend and handed him a few pieces of silver to let him in. They exchanged some pleasantries as he made his way in, making sure to keep his head down and move away from them without trying to bring to much attention to himself as he made his way down the street.

No matter how hard she scrubbed the blood never seemed to come off.  Her skin was already rubbed raw, small slices running up the backs of her wrists and the tops of her hands, leaking small droplets of blood that her tongue yearned to reach out and lap up.  By now her hands were clean, but that slick warm feeling wouldn’t leave her.  There would probably never be enough water, never be a temperature hot enough to make her feel clean from what she had done.  The taste of the man’s neck was still fresh on her tongue, but not as prominent as the fading sound of his heart beat.  And the sickest part of it all was how much she wanted to do it again.  How long would the blood lust last…?  Her sire had told her it would pass in time, it hadn’t even been a full year yet and everything still felt just as hopeless as it had her first night.

Her only saving grace, the one thing that kept hope alive in her breast was the fact that her demonic blood kept her safe in the sun.  She had no idea what she would have done had she never again been able to feel the warm caress of midday.  Presently she was waist deep in the waves that outlined Adeluna City, she had to go inside and was trying to prep herself as much as was possible.  So many humans in one place, royalty at that, she’d want to devour them all and the thought brought stinging tears to her eyes.


Breathe in.  Breathe out.  Her eyes closed and she sucked in the salty air around her before moving her hands up and scooping her long pink hair back from in front of her shoulders; tying it in a messy bun.  The ends were still damp from the water but the sensation was too close to that of being blood soaked: she couldn’t have it constantly brushing her skin or it would drive her completely mad.


“It’s going to happen again.  You and I both know.” She ignored Raïe in her head, but had no cutting remark or quip to throw back at her.  Whether she liked to admit it or not, she was right, but she didn’t have time to indulge her further.  Life had seemed like pure bliss for the daemon since everything had happened.  Yes, Raïe was trapped within her, but Hiromi was suffering on the outside.  Both of them were prisoners now, one by a blood curse, one by a curse of blood.  They really were twins.

Sighing, she opened her eyes, the usually vibrant green now dulled to a dusty mossy color as she looked out at the cresting waves.  How easy it would be to just let herself drift away, but that day wouldn’t be today.  Her master was waiting for her within the city walls, she knew it.  So, she trudged herself out of the water, letting her pants stay soaked through as well as the bottom of her vest and shirt.  It would get uncomfortable soon, perhaps Izumi would take pity on her today and dry them for her rather than have her build up the energy herself.

From here the city didn’t seem too intimidating, but the moment she caught the first scent of blood she nearly froze.  The guards would be the hardest: after all, they were there to keep dangerous people out, people like her.  But she wasn’t really dangerous, she couldn’t help what she was…All she had to do was keep calm.  Holding her breath would probably help.  She counted each and every step as she walked up, trying her best at a smile that probably looked more like a wince than a happy expression.

The papers her master had given her were soaked through and nearly ruined since they were bunched up in one of her vest’s inner pockets…she wouldn’t have been surprised if she had been accused of forgery.  After four minutes of standing and waiting the burning began in her lungs, it wouldn’t be long before she’d need to gulp in air, and even without smelling them, their pulses, that wet and inviting sound, was more than enough…

When she was offered back her further crumpled papers she took them hastily and quickly moved inside, not paying attention to her surroundings and colliding with a man.  Everything rushed into her nostrils as she gasped in, fighting the urge to pant from holding her breath for so long and gripping onto his bag to keep from falling.  Izumi would have tsked so harshly at her fumbling, Raïe cackled in pure glee within her mind.

“S-Sorry, too many people.”