COUNTESS.

Cowardice was never a trait she believed Sonja had, but in this moment, The Countess noted it and fear. Fear for what would transpire if the others, the covens and Lycans realized an heir of Viktor survived. Let her not be at fault for the sins of the parents, she mused to herself. “Yet, the world must end with your arrival. They must see you survived, despite Viktor’s efforts to kill his own blood. Selene became his surrogate daughter. How can you not see the reflection in the mirror with her? She needs our aid and you think of your own fear?” The Countess tsked at the thought of Sonja sacrificing Selene for a false safety.

“How can we sit back in relative safety and allow Selene to be sacrificed because she speaks a voice you and I voiced hundreds of years ago? She is to finish what you began. Would you cut such a voice down as your father tried to?”

          chin lifts at the countess’ tone, the scolding hardly something she’s used to. after all, she’s been in hiding for CENTURIES, only the vampire before her knowing of her continued existence. with what the other woman says, though, sonja isn’t able to ignore the reality of her own selfishness. she is afraid, has been afraid of the war reaching this point for so long; and now the time has come.

          gaze averts, the pure blood vampire ASHAMED of her actions and words now.   ❛ how dare you. ❜   but the countess’ words are working to push sonja to change her words, but not so easily.   ❛ i have seen so much death… my own FATHER condemned me and the love of my life is long gone. i have nothing left in this world after all it’s taken from me; why should i give anything back? ❜   

          but sonja is hardly finished, arms crossing firmly over her chest before looking upon the brunette again.   ❛ you’re asking me to fight. i haven’t fought in centuries… why do you think i will be of any help now? ❜   slowly but surely, the vampire is caving, hues a bright blue from the overwhelming emotions rushing through her. sonja is no coward, though; she is merely tired.

MICHAEL.

“I don’t know, I don’t know.” He seemed terrified, hands shaking. He knew it was wrong of him to come to her, to ask her to sacrifice everything to help him. Selene was in danger though, and he would do anything to protect his mate. He was pacing back and forth. What if, while he was here, she was killed. He couldn’t bring himself to think like that. “Give me advice on what to do. You were high up in the coven, you had power, you know how this works.” He wanted to ask her to come help him, but knew that would be far too much to ask. 

          his fear for his mate’s future is something sonja knows well, but even that can’t convince her to readily help. michael wishes for advice, but the vampire isn’t sure she can give out. after being out of touch with vampires and the rest of the world for so long, sonja doesn’t want to help; what can she do?   ❛ i hardly want to know how it works anymore. i stayed away this long for a reason, michael. i’ve lost SO much, and i see little reason why i should interfere with fate. ❜   she’s cruel in her reasoning, but only because of all the pain she’s endured in her own life. 

LUCIAN.

_{she   tried   and   that   was   what   mattered   for   lucian.   breathing   outward,   fingers   carefully   lifted   to   grasp   her   hand   and   pull   it   away   to   hold   it   in   his   own.   managing   to   press   a   kiss   to   her   knuckles,   lucian   revealed   a   meager   nod   behind   it.         ❛           of   course   i   do.           ❜         slowly,   he   rested   their   hands   at   her   hip,   a   deep   sigh   coming   from   him.         ❛           and   you?   will   you   still   be   coming   with   us?           ❜}

          bright eyes watch as he pulls her hand slowly from his face before kissing her knuckles, the corners of her lips curling up.   ❛ good. ❜   a soft chuckle will follow, but it ceases the second he asks if she’ll be going with him.   ❛ —— lucian… you know i can’t do that. ❜   sonja shakes her head slowly, as if hoping it’ll lessen the harshness of the answer.   ❛ my father still does not know about us. he’ll do anything to get me back, even if it means framing you for kidnapping me. ❜   it would be a lie, of course, but they’re both aware viktor wouldn’t care.

COUNTESS.

“Yes, to see your beautiful face and announce some plans.” In a few hours, another would be here to ask for sanctuary. At last, the war arrived to her castle and it was time to finalize her plans. This is where Sonja would come of air. Where the pieces would at least connect and reveal the vast picture.

“I must now call upon the favor once vowed hundreds of years ago. I would not ask it if it were not for great importance. I want your support in battle and for Selene to end this war. Forever.” She awaited to hear and expect a response from Sonja.

“Reveal yourself from the shadows.”

          she falters, for what countess is asking is the last thing sonja has expected. her lips part, jaw dropping slightly in the process.   ❛ — i cannot do that. i will help in any way i can, but not that. ❜   shaking her head, the woman goes on.   ❛ do you understand the risk that would follow if i told everyone of my survival? the war started because of my death, and it would have all been for nothing if they find out i’m alive. ❜   then again, the war was bound to happen anyways, the tension between vampire and lycan only growing as the years — and now centuries — pass.   ❛ you have my support, and i will speak with selene, but i cannot do more than that. ❜   she owes countess much, though, and if the other were to remind her sternly of such a thing, sonja will have little choice but to submit.

          ❛ — you wished to see me? ❜   the servant the countess had sent to retrieve sonja hadn’t said much, had only informed her that her presence was requested. hence why the vampire is here now, standing only a few feet before the countess.

@theoriginalbloodcountess

MICHAEL.

“I know I shouldn’t have come to find you.” Michael said, his gaze at the floor as he approached Sonja. He felt remorseful for tracking the older vampiress down, but he needed help. “The vampires have Selene…” He seemed scared, worried that something was going to happen to his mate. “They’re going to hold trial for her soon.” He ducked his head a bit, tears in his eyes as he spoke, the fear almost completely taking hold. He could only imagine the way they were holding his mate, and that she was alone and he didn’t want to think about her fate. Sure she was immune to sunlight, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be killed by other means. 

“I need your help, please.”

          what he’s asking of her is more than she’s given anyone, even lucian. eyes will brighten to that striking blue, fear and mild anger filling her. sonja has kept her own existence a secret for centuries, and coming into the forefront of attention of both species would cause so many problems that she’s unsure she’s ready to deal with.   ❛ —— what do you expect me to do? ❜   articulation is COLD, bitter even. then again, isn’t she being just as selfish in worrying about herself over all else?

LUCIAN.

_{soft   extremities   meet   his   beard,   lucian   dropping   his   gaze   from   the   sky   to   look   to   her   resting   below.   she   knew   him   too   well   by   now.         ❛           no…   i   am   sorry.           ❜         this   was   their   time   away   from   their   lives   and   here   he   was,   allowing   his   thoughts   to   cloud   the   moment.         ❛           they   brought   new   slaves   in   today.   did   you   see   that?   it   should   not   be   long   before   they’re   all   turned.           ❜         that   was   all   that   his   kind   was   becoming…   slaves.}

          her expression falters at his words, but sonja keeps her hand in place and attempts to smile despite the severity of the situation; anything to comfort her lover.   ❛ do not be sorry, my love… but i did see. just — we need time, then we will be able to get them all out of here. i promise you that, lucian. ❜   her voice is soft and inviting, the woman still trying to comfort him.   ❛ you DO trust me, don’t you? ❜

MICHAEL.

“Of course not.” He reassured her, not wanting to cause her to do anything to him because of any risk. He wouldn’t let anything like that happen to her. He felt like he already knew her despite never having met her before today. He wouldn’t let anyone find her, even if it killed him. This woman was very important, and everyone thought she was dead, and perhaps it was better if it stayed that way. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for bursting in here like I did.” 

          she takes immediate comfort in his reassurance that he won’t say a word of her existence to anyone after he leaves, her stiffness faltering and her lips parting slightly.   ❛ thank you. ❜   is all the once death dealer says, even giving him a mild smirk. she doesn’t know michael well, not as well as he knows HER, but it doesn’t keep her from trusting him. if lucian had done so, then she wouldn’t question the situation too much.   ❛ it is not your fault. you had no reason to know i’d be here… and i hardly own this safe house. ❜   a soft chuckle follows, sonja approaching the hybrid slowly before stopping only a few feet short.   ❛ your mate is selene, yes? ❜   she’d heard much of the death dealer, for selene had been her replacement, in a way.

THOMAS.

              ^{“Thomas Sharpe, my lady. And yours?”}

^{He asked out of reciprocation and so he would know who to watch out for in the future. Relieved that she decided to lower her sword instead of running him through with it, he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. This part of the woods was known for its silence; there were no owls hooting, wolves growling, or…anything, really. It felt almost eerie, and he wondered how she could stomach walking alone at night. But that was none of his business.}

           ❛ — sonja. this used to be my home. ❜   as if he’d believe her, for it would mean the woman is much older than she looks. nonetheless, she lifts her chin and turns her head to look upon what remains of the castle she’d once inhabited before she’d been CONDEMNED to death. with a sigh, she turns back to the young man before her. sonja says nothing just yet, however, instead thinning her lips and pursing them, as if challenging him to say something else.

LUCIAN.

_{fingers   sprawl   along   porcelain   shoulder,   undoubtedly   supposed   to   be   laced   with   scars…   but   her   blood   changed   that.   her   species   changed   that.   breath   tickling   the   shell   of   ear   as   his   frame   shifted,   comfort   was   discovered   once   again.         ❛           sonja,           ❜         he   merely   murmured,   silence   having   filled   their   latest   minutes.         ❛           aren’t   the   stars   beautiful   tonight?           ❜}

          she feels her body relax further under his touch, sonja’s bright blue hues hooding over as she relishes in the lycan’s presence.   ❛ they are… ❜   though her eyes had been closed, she’d looked long enough at the sky as they’d made love. shifting beside lucian, though, she settles on her back so that she can marvel at the sight if him.   ❛ but that is not all that is on your mind, is it? ❜   the vampire inquires gently, lifting a hand to his cheek so that thumb caresses flesh slowly.