meeting the other’s gaze is difficult at first, for it’s odd for sonja to look at someone and see herself so much in them. that’s why viktor had chosen selene, after all. her resemblance to his own daughter is UNCANNY, to say the least, and in many more ways than just the physical. finally lifting her head to look directly at the other vampire, sonja speaks.   ❛ have you told the others of my survival? ❜   she inquires of the elder, for sonja has been in hiding in one of the few remaining safe houses of the eastern coven.

@xprodigium

MICHAEL.

“It wasn’t on purpose, I promise.” He cracked a momentary smile, before it dropped and he breathed out a heavy sigh. “All the lycans think I’m dead after they slit my throat and bled me dry once, so I’ve been trying to stay out of their line of sight by staying in safe houses like these.” He told her, trying to keep his mind off of his mate. He knew Selene figured he was dead as well, which was what hurt him most of all. He couldn’t show himself to her, not now. 

          what he speaks of is quite horrible, for sonja can’t imagine the torture. however, she’s relieved that no one knows of his whereabouts or that he’s here, for it can only further ensure that she is not found either.   ❛ what do you plan to do after you leave here? you will not tell anyone of me, will you? ❜   sonja isn’t sure what she plans to do now, for her future hadn’t included being seen by anyone, let alone the hybrid that had helped kickstart the war once more. it seemed as if betrayal was always right around the corner where her father was concerned, for he’d tried to harm selene, a woman much like herself in nearly every way, for the exact same reason he’d condemned his daughter.

THOMAS.

                   ^{“My home. It is on the other side of the fortress.”}

^{He repeated his earlier words, feeling as if he was getting cross-eyed from looking at her sword. It was sharp, no doubt, and he didn’t move. He didn’t want to cut himself on her weapon; his sister had told him to stop being so reckless. Thomas swallowed the lump in his throat and finally looked at the woman again. Her eyes were a brilliant blue, and he squinted, unsure of what he was seeing.} 

          she’ll slowly lower the blade before sheathing it back under her cloak, bright gaze never wavering from the male’s. silence will follow, however, for sonja is still deciding whether or not to simply let him go or keep him here.   ❛ what is your name? ❜   words are spoken much more gently now, posture not as stiff and defensive as it had been mere seconds previous.

VIKTOR.

                             ^{Her BETRAYAL stung like any other. She was the one
                             he loved the most, above his own life. Yet to know she
                             willingly mated with a BEAST brought bile to his throat.
                             He had killed others for far less.}

                                        ^{And yet, he COULDN’T.}

                              ^{Water dripped down the walls of the dungeons, and he
                              moved past the cells, silent. Not even the Lycans within
                              would have noticed his presence, but she might.}

       ^“Why.”

                               ^{A single word, hissed through barely broken lips, as he
                               stared at the child he called DAUGHTER. New life was
                               pulsing within her womb: an abomination in his eyes. A
                               loathed legacy. Her child. His grandchild.}

        ^{“Tell me why.”}

          though she hears her father’s approach with ease, she refuses to react. her response is even delayed, for his own betrayal stings just as much as hers does to him.   ❛ and why should i do that, father? ❜   the vampire challenges, sonja hardly believing the elder deserves what he’s asking for. her gaze is dark as she meets his, her plump pout thinned as she waits for an answer.

MICHAEL.

Michael felt guilty for even bringing up Lucian, but it was true. Without his memories, he wouldn’t have been able to recognize what she looked like. He was relying heavily on that. “Unfortunately. I’m sorry, Sonja.” He seemed to be honest. He blamed himself for Lucian’s death. Had he not been involved, Selene never would have awakened Viktor and Kraven may not have resorted to what he did. He never gave voice to those thoughts, even to his mate. 

          her chin lifts, the vampire acknowledging his apology but refusing to reply to it.   ❛ how did you find me, michael? does anyone else know you’re here? ❜   she knows of the purge, but has kept her distance. were others to learn of her presence in this world still, the war would only worsen. dark gaze meeting the hybrid’s, brows will furrow slightly.

MICHAEL.

“I don’t know any immortal who hasn’t heard your name.” He spoke honestly, before bowing his head to her. “But it’s more than that. One of the people who turned me was Lucian.” He wasn’t sure what the mention of the vampire’s former mate would do, so he ducked his head once more. “His memories were passed on to me when he bit me.” He also considered mentioning that Selene was his other sire, but didn’t know if she would know the name or want to hear it.  Selene was basically Viktor’s replacement daughter in a way. 

          it’s both flattering and worrisome to hear such a thing, sonja’s gaze meeting michael’s until he dips his head down. the mention of lucian will send chills down her spine, and that’s when her gaze averts. arms cross over her chest, her frame stiffening before she’s able to respond.   ❛ he is dead now, is he not? ❜   sonja’s words are almost cold, for it’s how she keeps herself distant and unfeeling; any reference to her mate makes her weak, even if only emotionally.

MICHAEL.

His eyes widened at the look of her face, even part of it. It sends memories flashing before his eyes, of Lucian and Sonja fighting to be together only for her death to start this war. He couldn’t believe it even for a moment. How was she alive? Even in these memories he could smell her burnt flesh and see her charred remained. It just wasn’t possible. “Michael Corvin,” He was on edge, but didn’t fear an attack from her. He trusted her despite not really knowing her. “You’re Sonja.” 

           corvin. she knows that name, or at least where it comes from. not to mention, she knows that such a name belongs to the HYBRID, and thus sonja steps from out of the darkness completely.   ❛ i am. — you’ve heard of me? ❜   the vampire questions, approaching the male but stopping a few feet short.

THOMAS.

^{He’d heard stories of the old fortress. Of how the old lord and his people suddenly VANISHED one day, never to be seen again. Thomas and his older sister had played within the ruins in their youth, but they never found any clues about what happened. Besides a ravaged courtyard that saw clear signs of BATTLE, there was nothing left but stone and rubble. Thus, tales of the doomed lady and her lover were but mere MEMORIES, and he certainly didn’t think that walking along the wooded path would bring him any harm.}

^{Aside from the woman ahead of him, they were alone, but he made sure to stay several paces away. That is, until he felt the cold steel of her sword against his throat, and he stopped.}

                    ^{“ —– I want to go home, my lady. ‘Tis but a mile from this path.”}

          he hardly seems to be a threat, but she cannot let down her guard. after so long of being alone, it’s simply habit to react as she’s done just now.   ❛ why are you here? ❜   it had been her home here, after all. she’s been roaming these grounds over the last century after her father and the rest of the coven had left, and not once has she seen another.   ❛ tell me and i’ll leave you be. ❜   maybe.

          it’s only been a century since she’d been condemned to death by her own father, and after having gone into hiding, sonja can’t help but be PARANOID. she wears a cloak to hide her sword at all times for instances such as this, where someone is following her; and someone is surely following her.

          the vampire doesn’t hesitate as she spins around on her heels, sword in hand and blade tip pressed to the male’s throat.   ❛ what do you want? — be mindful of your word choice; i’m not known to be patient. ❜

@neverparted

MICHAEL.

Michael had to stay out of the public’s eyes. The lycans thought he was dead, and perhaps it was better that way. They weren’t hunting him anymore. He hadn’t seen what happened with Selene, and he only hoped that she had gotten away from everything and found a safe place to hide and wait it out. He sighed as he continued to move through to his next safe house he knew to exist. 

What caught him off guard was that the door was slightly open, signifying that someone was already in there. He growled, but didn’t shift into his hybrid form yet. He needed to see if this person was friend or foe, before reacting in that way. He slipped into the safe house, claws out but other than that not completely transformed. 

“Who’s there?” He asked, eyes black for a moment before shifting back to their normal green. He breathed in for a moment, and a memory from Lucian slipped into his mind. No… It can’t be… Michael looked around for a moment, stepping a little more into the room. “Show yourself!”

          her back is to the entrance of the safe house when the hybrid approaches, and though sonja has been in hiding for centuries now, her senses are hardly weakened. at the sound of the voice, she’s already trying to hide, but his scent will stop her just in his line of sight.   ❛ — who are you? ❜   the vampire has only ever heard stories of him, but being so out of touch with all others has it’s negatives; she doesn’t know EVERYTHING. keeping only half of her face in the light, her plump pout will thin nervously.