Tulcea was where Cho reigned supreme as part of Dracula’s army. Traveling from Japan had been a long journey, and she had no castle like Dracula did, but she had still made good timing, which was why she’d been ordered to one of the territories within Romania to oversee his forces and make sure they were prepared to move beyond Tulcea when more night creatures began to arrive.
For that, Dracula needed more bodies for his forgemasters.
He only had so many demons from hell; the rest would require the work of his forgemasters. Cho did not understand the power they held, nor did she find she truly cared, so long as they were on their side. Dracula seemed to trust them, but Cho had her doubts. What human would, really, want to destroy all of humanity?
Even Cho wondered how a good an idea it was as she held court in Tulcea, robed in a red kimono and a golden belt. She did little to blend in with the people of Romania, even if she spoke their tongue. She was making a game out of her role among them, knowing they were all doomed. She was bored after all.
In her court back home, she’d be entertained with fights and bloodshed, at least.
She had found new ways to go about entertaining herself here. The humans didn’t need to know it was all utterly hopeless yet, so she fed them pretty lies about how they could survive and watched them prove how truly wretched they were when under that kind of pressure. She had asked for a sacrifice this time – a child, because of course, no parent would willingly part with a child.
Cho hadn’t willingly parted with her own daughter.
Yet she knew other humans would try to force it. She knew that eventually, one would be brought before her.
So when one of her attendants alerted her to the arrival, she went to what was passing as her ‘throne room’ in a house she’d taken over, and took a seat, before they were let inside. Her nose wrinkled in disgust immediately, understanding immediately why this child was brought before her. She had half a mind to reject the lycanthrope, for that reason, and for being too old – although she hadn’t specified age.
However, she decided not to do so immediately – seeing this play out would be interesting, and lycanthrope weren’t to be killed on sight, according to Dracula’s orders. Another powerful ally who had reason to hate humans would be useful – and someone who could deal with the likes of some of Dracula’s other allies would also be useful. Cho wasn’t looking forward to a reunion with the likes of Godbrand.
Cho pointed at the girl, one long nail extended, “You bring this whelp before me, and think this is sufficient?” Her Romanian was heavily accented, further indication she was not from the area, but she assumed it was still understandable. No one else had too much trouble with it yet.
~***~
Jars littered the counter where Alina worked in the fading sunlight, candles illuminating the dimming home. The Witch of the Woods had gotten off to a late start for her plans with syrups, but she’d been distracted with setting up wards that did not shun her familiar, but would shun the likes of the night creatures she’d heard were soon to come this way.
The red-head didn’t assume they’d overlook her, simply because she was already soul-bound to a demon. As far as she understood it, demons would take whatever meal they could, even at the expense of another of their kind.
She stirred sugar and lavender into a pot she had over the fire, letting the sugar dissolve, and bringing it to a boil. She heard the light footfall of the demon, returning to her house in the form of a white cat. Alina did not glance her way, until she felt arms wrap around her shoulders, and felt her chin rest upon Alina’s head. She tried to look up, of course, but it was a rather futile endeavor.
“You’re going to have a visitor soon,” Ishara said, voice as low and sweet as a siren’s. “Carmilla,” she added.
“Oh, really?” She didn’t seem that phased, “I wondered how long until one of them came to see me. I was expecting Lenore.” Though Alina had never met any of them, she heard enough rumors of them from the townsfolk who did visit her, always warnings, of course, concerns that one day the vampiresses would grow tired of humoring her presence and run her off. She supposed that was finally today. “I hope I can at least finish my syrups. You don’t think a vampire would appreciate syrup, do you?”
She didn’t have blood on hand to offer. She was going to be a rather poor host in that regard.
Ishara laughed, a rumbling in her throat, but she gave no answer, simply shifted back to the white cat, and found a perch high on one of the bookshelves to settle herself, to watch.
Thankfully, Alina did have time to finish her syrup, and pour it into two of the waiting jars to cool off so it could be used. She’d found that making a sugary lemon beverage, and mixing it with lavender, was quite delectable. Perhaps not the best use of her immortality, but if she was going to eat, she was going to enjoy it – might as well put some of her time towards delicacies.
This was probably why she’d become an open secret with the children of Styria.
Even if their parents still fretted over any sweet being poison, or thought she was trying to fatten the children up to eat them. ‘Hardly.’
She heard the alarms of her wards in her own head, meaning an intruder, and by the time the vampiress would be able to see the door, Alina would be waiting just outside of it, white lacy skirt and simple blouse, little intimidating at all about her appearance, though she assumed the woman with the white hair wasn’t as foolish as to think that. Witches may not have the same abilities as Speaker Magicians, but they had magic all the same.
And a demon right behind them.
“Good evening, Lady Carmilla. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” There was nothing fearful, nor accusatory. It was an honest curiosity.
Haro
For that, Dracula needed more bodies for his forgemasters.
He only had so many demons from hell; the rest would require the work of his forgemasters. Cho did not understand the power they held, nor did she find she truly cared, so long as they were on their side. Dracula seemed to trust them, but Cho had her doubts. What human would, really, want to destroy all of humanity?
Even Cho wondered how a good an idea it was as she held court in Tulcea, robed in a red kimono and a golden belt. She did little to blend in with the people of Romania, even if she spoke their tongue. She was making a game out of her role among them, knowing they were all doomed. She was bored after all.
In her court back home, she’d be entertained with fights and bloodshed, at least.
She had found new ways to go about entertaining herself here. The humans didn’t need to know it was all utterly hopeless yet, so she fed them pretty lies about how they could survive and watched them prove how truly wretched they were when under that kind of pressure. She had asked for a sacrifice this time – a child, because of course, no parent would willingly part with a child.
Cho hadn’t willingly parted with her own daughter.
Yet she knew other humans would try to force it. She knew that eventually, one would be brought before her.
So when one of her attendants alerted her to the arrival, she went to what was passing as her ‘throne room’ in a house she’d taken over, and took a seat, before they were let inside. Her nose wrinkled in disgust immediately, understanding immediately why this child was brought before her. She had half a mind to reject the lycanthrope, for that reason, and for being too old – although she hadn’t specified age.
However, she decided not to do so immediately – seeing this play out would be interesting, and lycanthrope weren’t to be killed on sight, according to Dracula’s orders. Another powerful ally who had reason to hate humans would be useful – and someone who could deal with the likes of some of Dracula’s other allies would also be useful. Cho wasn’t looking forward to a reunion with the likes of Godbrand.
Cho pointed at the girl, one long nail extended, “You bring this whelp before me, and think this is sufficient?” Her Romanian was heavily accented, further indication she was not from the area, but she assumed it was still understandable. No one else had too much trouble with it yet.
~***~
Jars littered the counter where Alina worked in the fading sunlight, candles illuminating the dimming home. The Witch of the Woods had gotten off to a late start for her plans with syrups, but she’d been distracted with setting up wards that did not shun her familiar, but would shun the likes of the night creatures she’d heard were soon to come this way.
The red-head didn’t assume they’d overlook her, simply because she was already soul-bound to a demon. As far as she understood it, demons would take whatever meal they could, even at the expense of another of their kind.
She stirred sugar and lavender into a pot she had over the fire, letting the sugar dissolve, and bringing it to a boil. She heard the light footfall of the demon, returning to her house in the form of a white cat. Alina did not glance her way, until she felt arms wrap around her shoulders, and felt her chin rest upon Alina’s head. She tried to look up, of course, but it was a rather futile endeavor.
“You’re going to have a visitor soon,” Ishara said, voice as low and sweet as a siren’s. “Carmilla,” she added.
“Oh, really?” She didn’t seem that phased, “I wondered how long until one of them came to see me. I was expecting Lenore.” Though Alina had never met any of them, she heard enough rumors of them from the townsfolk who did visit her, always warnings, of course, concerns that one day the vampiresses would grow tired of humoring her presence and run her off. She supposed that was finally today. “I hope I can at least finish my syrups. You don’t think a vampire would appreciate syrup, do you?”
She didn’t have blood on hand to offer. She was going to be a rather poor host in that regard.
Ishara laughed, a rumbling in her throat, but she gave no answer, simply shifted back to the white cat, and found a perch high on one of the bookshelves to settle herself, to watch.
Thankfully, Alina did have time to finish her syrup, and pour it into two of the waiting jars to cool off so it could be used. She’d found that making a sugary lemon beverage, and mixing it with lavender, was quite delectable. Perhaps not the best use of her immortality, but if she was going to eat, she was going to enjoy it – might as well put some of her time towards delicacies.
This was probably why she’d become an open secret with the children of Styria.
Even if their parents still fretted over any sweet being poison, or thought she was trying to fatten the children up to eat them. ‘Hardly.’
She heard the alarms of her wards in her own head, meaning an intruder, and by the time the vampiress would be able to see the door, Alina would be waiting just outside of it, white lacy skirt and simple blouse, little intimidating at all about her appearance, though she assumed the woman with the white hair wasn’t as foolish as to think that. Witches may not have the same abilities as Speaker Magicians, but they had magic all the same.
And a demon right behind them.
“Good evening, Lady Carmilla. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” There was nothing fearful, nor accusatory. It was an honest curiosity.
Haro