Fandom The Building of Styria

[Lucyfer]

Another silence fell as Hector made his demand about Carmilla and her ambitions. Hector wondered if he had gone too far, too quick, in suggesting he could ever work with them. Of course, he hadn’t agreed yet. He still needed certainty. Even Lenore’s words didn’t actually quell his concerns.

Could she really walk away from her home? Could she really stand up to her sisters because they wanted more? He didn’t believe it, and didn’t mask the frown, the downturned expression, even as he nodded. There would need to be more. He didn’t think he needed to say that, right then, when Lenore still had to speak to her sisters about all of this. Still had to consider what she said, too, and determine how honest she was being.

If she was being honest at all.

Talking of hobbies was better. Morana and Striga, it seemed, had few hobbies beyond themselves and their jobs. So, too, Lenore. Their lives boiled down to that. How much diplomacy did Lenore really have to do, after all? “You must spend a lot of time reading,” he noted, almost hopeful, because too much diplomacy would mean there was a lot of threat to the region. A lot of problems.

“I do like to read, actually. Philosophy most of all,” he said, “but I also like to spend time with animals. I never had the space to really care for many, but I’ve always enjoyed their presence. I had a dog for a while – Cezar,” he smiled, though it faltered, “I think he’s truly gone now. He was with me at Dracula’s castle, but…well…I never thought to bring him out during all the chaos. I didn’t have the time.”

Or foresight.

He shook his head, “I suppose I’ve also always liked making things. Not just night creatures. I built most of my homes. I wasn’t great, but I got better.”

~***~

A bit of a wry smile touched Alina’s lips at the comment on garlic. She made a mental note that Carmilla had no liking of garlic. Not that it was likely to ever come in handy, but it was worth keeping in mind. Just as Carmilla’s opinion on her revelations. ‘It is secrets that kill us.’ She wouldn’t say as much, only offer a small shrug that it really was of no consequence to her.

If Carmilla was going to try and kill her, she could try.

There was still the demon to get through.

The demon wasn’t half as frail.

Instead, she listened to the bits about her sisters, Striga with her army, Morana with…Striga. Her eyes widened just a touch at the way it was introduced, as if it were nothing at all to be surprised over. As if what Striga and Morana had was the height of normality. That disinterested tone suggested it didn’t even bother Carmilla in the least, and something like hope welled in Alina’s chest.

Had she found a place where even that was accepted, after so long? Not that she had her beloved any longer, but…what a relief, that others could enjoy it. She let her expression soften with the thought of it, and of Lenore who was originally going to see her, smile easily staying as she noted, “I see why they would send Lenore. It does sound like I would—will—like her,” she supposed it wasn’t a would any longer.

She was going to be meeting them.

And to see the kind of happiness she had longed for. Her heart ached while it swelled with joy, such a strange emotion. “Morana and Striga, were they together before they were vampires, or did they find each other afterwards?”

 

[Taikailex]

Even with the hope that she could make a pragmatic appeal to her sister, Lenore did wonder. There was a large part of her that churned with the idea of Carmilla seeking such lengths of ambition, it was something that did not sit well with her, but in the same breath, how did she walk away from everything they had built together? Not to mention, she would be horrid on her own, absolutely dismal. She had always lived as some more of nobility, it only took one look at her delicate stature to know this. Even her vampire strength had done little to aid that fact. No, even when Morana and Striga would expedition with the troops for some training or to quell bandits in the area, she kept to the castle, a bed rather than a tent, imagining bathing in a stream with the cold sounded truly abhorrent. Yet, she had never been pressed on her survival or had to attempt it before, but if she were to leave could she even find stability once more? Would she find happiness again?

Still, the words hung dry for the red-eyed vampiress and she was glad to have the transition of topic. As the Forgemaster commented on her doing access reading, a small smile came to her lips. “I suppose I do, books or music, the piano is perhaps my failed hobby,” she admitted and took a sip of her wine once more. Diplomacy for Styria had settled, mostly she oversaw trade delegations and ensured that their lands were prospering and how to intervene if they were not. That was how they had maintained their power, through compromise and conversation. Most vampires took over with little regard to anything else, they brought security and prosperity to the people here and they overlooked their slight aversion to the sunlight one could say.

Hearing of the canine that Hector had left behind, Lenore felt her features soften and she smiled gently at the thought. “Well, things do have a way of turning up again,” she mused and immediately knew that would need to send someone to see if the poor creature had managed to endure whatever had transpired at the castle. Glancing to the night sky, she sighed wistfully. “I always wanted a pet, I always had a tendency to bring home strays, nurse them back to health, but my sisters encouraged me to find them suitable homes. I even splinted the leg of a spider once, Carmilla has never stopped teasing me over that,” she blushed at the admission.

—--

The night hours held the legacy of their lives. Even though Carmilla knew that she would likely be awake for the daylight hours as her thoughts consumed her. There was no denying that she was caught in the throes of ambition and the wish for greatness for the nation she had formed, for her sisters, and to feel the sweet vengeance that she so yearned for. Even now, as she sat before the witch who had been so problematic, she regarded the woman with her icy gaze and interest, something that she normally did not experience for anyone truly. But in truth, she had never met someone with this power, with their soul tethered to a demonic entity.

As Carmilla observed the reaction that Alina had to the news of Morana and Striga, she kept her features impassive but knew then that this was something else that mortals had denied her off. The truth of who one loved was a delicate thing and she did not truly see the obstacle of gender as something to hinder such emotions. Not that she had cared for someone herself in a long while, rather she had almost become bitter from her past. Alas, as the comment was offered about Lenore, she simply offered a nod and crossed her arms, leaning back in nonchalance. “It is difficult to dislike Lenore, I am sure the two of you will get along,” she admitted.

At the question that she had been waiting for, the vampiress smirked gently at the witch. “Afterwards, humanity was not kind to any of us. But we have found freedom together. Something we wish to sustain,” it was interesting to see that even after all of their pain that they had been able to trust and find one another. She had not been privy to the start of Morana and Striga’s relationship but they had conveyed the tale to herself and Lenore. She was happy for her sisters and the bliss that they had managed to find within the adversities.

 

[Lucyfer]

The thought of hearing Lenore play the piano caused Hector to tilt his head, allow his lips to quirk up in curiosity. He’d never been musically inclined, but he enjoyed music. He just didn’t get to hear much of it – given his avoidance of humans, he also tended to avoid the positive things they made, except on the occasions he could slip into a tavern where no one would recognize him, and stay for a couple of drinks.

It was hard, though. He was rarely without an escort of something demonic, for his own safety. People just…seemed to smell it on him, when he wasn’t. Somehow, someway, they knew he didn’t belong among them. He didn’t know how. However, he didn’t interrupt until she mentioned the spider, which caused a bewildered look to cross his face. “A splint?” That had to be such delicate work.

Such kind work.

This was someone who liked Carmilla?

“Did it work?” Thoughts of asking about the piano were tucked away in lieu of wondering about this spider, “What kind of spider was it?” He supposed the poison of a spider wouldn’t bother her, but he was still quite curious if it was a large spider, a poisonous spider, or some small jumping spider that she had spent time taking care of.

Just as he was curious if it had worked out.

~***~

‘No, humanity never is.’

Yet, Striga and Morana had found each other. They had found a home where they were accepted, a family. It warmed her heart to think of it, that there was life and love after their own sort of curse. Or blessing. She supposed it depended on who was asked, how they felt about their turn to vampirism.

Carmilla likely thought blessing.

“How did you find the three of them?” Alina asked, “Or did they come to you?” Rumor had been quite alive about Styria. She had known to head there, despite not being from the area. It was a place where a woman had a better chance of living life as she saw fit. Alina hadn’t dreamed it encompassed loving as she saw fit, but then again, she hadn’t really thought much about that. The wound was no longer fresh, but she hardly went out of her way to get to know people.

This was a first in quite a while. “I know that I heard rumors about Styria being a sort of…better place for women. It was what drew me here, but by then the four of you were united. I do not know if the rumors existed before all of you were together or not.” She did not know how it was before the four were one.

She was just glad it was, as it was, now.

 

[Taikailex]

Truly, it was odd for the dainty vampire for someone to take such interest in her acts of compassion. Her sisters had always claimed her a bleeding heart and that she should be wary of such things as it could be her undoing. Alas, since it mostly extended to animals she had never seen fault in her indulgences, to save poor souls that had been wronged by the world but had not subjected others to such ailments. Kindness was so rare in the darkness of the world, she wished to bestow all that she could, to negate the cruelty that she had once suffered.

A small smile touched the lips of Lenore and her cheeks held the warmth of a slight blush as Hector inquired on her actions towards the arachnid. “After a few attempts, it seemed to take. I kept it long enough for the leg to heal, removed the splint and released the poor thing,” she did hope that it was able to find a means to survive from then on. “It was a simple jumping spider, wolf spider or something of the sort? Although the kind would have hardly mattered, I would have tended to it regardless, with perhaps a bit more protest from Morana if it had been larger,” she admitted with a warm smile at the recollection of the event.

“I suppose it must seem terribly foolish to devote my time to such endeavours, but I believe there has been enough suffering in the world, the innocent endure enough, and animals see perhaps the worst as they cannot voice their adversities in a way we understand,” her red orbs looked out to the land below, recalling the form that her own suffering had once taken and how she wished that someone would have been able to offer her mercy, that was until she had met her sisters, they had given her plenty to live for in her formerly dark life.

—-----

Amusement washed over the features of the white-haired vampire and a smirk curled on her crimson-painted lips. “You certainly ask a lot of questions,” she quipped. Although it was oddly enticing of Alina to be so bold and for some reason, she wished to answer, none of the information was particularly dangerous and she knew if she was required to she could bring an end to the witch, demon protector or not. Carmilla was strong enough to resist a bit of hawthorn. “You could say we found each other, caught in the wars of men. Stupidly ego-driven buffoons, acting on their impulses with no real aim or goals other than proving which one was the more manly. It was easy to find a way to claim our land from such fools, that was of course after we found Lenore,” she had truly relished seeking her vengeance and soon she would claim it over the world. There would be nothing to stop her grand ambitions as she was determined that Styria would flourish.

Carmilla regarded the comment on Styria being a safe haven for women and she could not deny that this brought her pleasure. “The word spread after before Styria was like the rest of the world. That was why we built our nation, to carve a place out for women like us. As well all know men are incapable of such comradery and kinship. The very reasons why our rule is so successful, they are more concerned with their damned egos,” she stated quite bitterly.

 

[Lucyfer]

Hector’s pale green eyes widened a bit at the word of Morana not liking larger spiders. The thought of a vampire being afraid, or having that kind of aversion, was almost hilarious, but Hector didn’t laugh, too startled by it all to laugh, and too endeared by Lenore’s kindness. Not to mention, the subtle embarrassment she had towards it. Obviously, her sisters didn’t care much for these acts of kindness. Not enough to support it. Her flush made her seem all the more alive, and he smiled as he leaned forward.

“Well, I’m glad you would have saved any spider,” he said, “I’ve always tried to save animals. Of course, I can’t…do it like you can. I always seem to arrive too late, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a second chance,” and that was what he could give them, and what he always did try to give them.

And they were always happy.

“So, it doesn’t seem foolish at all. Animals don’t deserve what happens to them,” he shook his head, looked down, “they don’t act with malice or with reason. They act to survive. That’s all. There’s no reason to punish them for that with senseless cruelty,” how many times had he seen people throw rocks at animals that had done no harm, just because it was fun? It was easy to feel anger again towards humanity for all its cruelty to those that didn’t deserve it. Easy to remember why he’d been taken in by Dracula’s offer.

“It’s a shame your sisters can’t see that, though you clam they’ve suffered as you have,” he looked back up, then, bit his bottom lip a moment – but asked, “what happened to you, Lenore?”

~***~

‘I’m curious.’ Curiosity had always been a part of Alina. Likely why she wasn’t so ambitious as others. She could spend her time learning stupid things about, well, anything. Carmilla likely wouldn’t enjoy being compared to those many things Alina studied, so she’d not mention her curiosity was natural, and the reason she didn’t think an eternal life would be too boring.

There were always going to be new things. Humans, for all their ill, were always creating.

Yet Carmilla gave very little. The four had found each other – no indication of how, no indication of where, nothing at all. Alina hummed, wondered if Carmilla even recognized how easily she omitted things. Likely not. It must have been second nature by now. She had found solace in secrets, in omissions, the way Alina found solace in being more open.

“You say that as if you’ve never known women who would betray each other and claw each other’s eyes out for just a bit of power. Just a bit of ego or reputation,” which didn’t seem right, of course. Carmilla had the bearings of nobility, though perhaps she had come into it after life, rather than in life.

She carried it well. Naturally.

“You’re fortunate not to know that cruelty, I suppose.” Just as she seemed to have never known a good man. Alina couldn’t say she had known any – but she had suspicions they existed, in the few who dared to approach her for help. Afraid, humble, not boasting – but Alina did not know them. That could be a clever ruse…but Alina still hoped.

 

[Taikailex]

Taken in by the green eyes of the Forgemaster, Lenore could not help the smile that settled onto her lips at his reply. How he too had sought to save rather than act in cruelty. She knew Carmilla held no kindness for men and that was likely part of the reason her sibling had treated Hector in such a manner despite his compassion and innate goodness on a fundamental level. “You giving them a second chance is what truly matters. I am quite fond of second chances myself,” she joked about her vampiric nature playfully, as if it were a simple topic. But she had seen it as being brought into something greater, well after she had met her sisters.

As if drawn by some internal force, the petite woman allowed her lithe hand to rech out and settle on the knee of the man before her. “You are a good man Hector, far better than all the men I have known,” she admitted with a smile. A softness had settled into her crimson eyes. Perhaps she ought to berate herself for allowing such weakness and openness but she could not help it, he had somehow managed to bring down her guards.

Yet, it did not take long before Lenore was faced with a rather difficult question. She sighed gently and removed her hand from his knee. She stood, placing down the goblet of wine on the table and moved to the edge of the balcony, placing her hands on the cool stone to ground herself. Staring into the night she began the tale she despised. “I was born a noble, my parents were not particularly kind, my father more concerned with marrying me off for profit. Alas, the suitors he chose, well one offered marriage and tried to force himself on me so I would be bound to him. I escaped and naturally refused,” she closed her red eyes for a long moment. “My father did not take kindly to my actions, he was… thorough with his punishment. The bruises took weeks to heal. But then one night they were slaughtered. A man walked into my room covered in the blood of my parents and of my sisters. For whatever reason he turned me,” she shrugged. “However, his cruelty was far worse than any suitor and I was not truly free until my sire met his end at the hands of Carmilla.”

—--------

Perhaps it was simply natural now to leave out the details, that had become the way of Carmilla’s life, giving enough to answer the question but being obscure so not to risk those that she loved in any capacity. Nobility was an air that she held with sheer determination. The former mistress of a devious king, he had used her as he would, agony was commonplace and she was merely a tool for his pleasures. When he had tired of her, she became a favour for his men and suffered all the more, in no shape to fight off seasoned soldiers with her slight frame.

As Alina made the comment in regards to other women and their ability to turn on one another, the icy eyes of Carmilla settled on the other woman. She knew that women could be cruel had seen the backhanded motions that one had talen to replace her as mistress. “And why do women seek such power by harming one another? They are forced into such a position by men, trying to cultivate their favour, trying to make their way in life,” she waved her hand dismissively. “We’ve been pitted against each other for so long, we do not see that we have been deluded in our thinking. Where if we worked together, formed true alliances instead of petty greed and favour for senseless egomaniacs then we could build something so much stronger. Styria is proof of that,” she insisted firmly the passion shining in her icy eyes. She would never be a victim again she would claim her power and the power for all the females that she aimed to protect, they would find their independence.

 

[Lucyfer]

Hector jolted a bit at Lenore’s touch, unaccustomed to it. His back straightened, but after that he quickly tried to temper the reaction. His cheeks, his body, flushed red. He could only turn his head to try and mask it a moment as he adjusted to the physical warmth. Physical kindness. Of course, even a hug would have been sufficient enough to make him tense up and remain uncertain. These were not things he had much of in life.

Certainly not from a beautiful woman – vampire or no.

The touch didn’t linger. His question brought about its removal, and he was tempted to take it back. Or to stand immediately and join her side. Yet, he kept himself where he was, look turning back to follow her as she went to the edge of the balcony, looking out at those things Hector could only imagine, in her memory. Her hard life, made all the more difficult by being turned – until Carmilla came along.

Hector rose only after her tale concluded, and moved to stand at her side, turned towards her rather than the landscape.

That explained why she felt so bound to Carmilla – and likely, the others. “I can’t say I’m grateful to Carmilla,” he noted, “but nonetheless, I suppose I am…appreciative that she was there to save you from a terrible situation that never should have been inflicted upon you.” To be sired by the one who murdered her family. Even if her father was cruel, was it true of all her family?

Possibly.

And yet Hector did not think he could really thank someone who killed his family. He had done it with his own hand, but likely would have resented anyone else who did it. It was not their place. Plus, Lenore mentioned sisters. They were likely just as captive as her to the whims of their parents. “She always seems to want to do away with men who have gone mad. That’s…not a bad thing.”

He understood that. He understood in a way she had made him see what Dracula was and perhaps saved him from death, but that didn’t make her good. “I’m sorry I asked. I can tell it’s still hard for you,” he glanced away then, “but I do understand what it is to be mistreated by family who should have protected you. By others.”

~***~

Alina couldn’t argue with Carmilla’s deductions. Women, when they acted for power, tended to do so to better their position through men. In that way, men were guiding them to those kinds of acts, but Alina didn’t doubt that given their own lead, women could still be just as petty and vindictive. They could seek to usurp power from each other, for power’s sake. She was likely not to see that for years, though. Centuries. Men still held onto their positions, and women still let them.

Perhaps Styria would be the start of something new.

Carmilla certainly believed it. “I hope you’re right,” Alina said, “but I do not have as much faith in the innate goodness of women, just because they are women.” Nor the innate badness of men, just because they were men. How could the boys who bartered for sweets all grow up into terrors? No, more than that, she blamed the structures crafted by those in power, for making them all feel weak.

For teaching them to be weak.

“Do you plan to kick all the men and boys out of Styria? Your guards?” She couldn’t help but ask, and though it was a serious question, there was a bit of play in it, lightening it, as if it could be a joke, if Carmilla preferred to think of it that way. “I imagine some women would be dissatisfied with that.” Those with sons they loved, husbands, fathers…those who were fortunate enough to have good men in their life. True or not, they very often believed they were good, if they did not a raise a hand against them, no matter what else they did.

 

[Taikailex]

Naturally, the petite vampiress had noted the jolt that the grey-haired man had experienced at her touch. Her red orbs were able to observe that he had not known much in the way of kindness either and her stilled heartfelt for all that the man had endured through no fault of his own other than existing. But it had not taken long before she had risen to answer his question, feeling the need for the breeze to run through her auburn locks as she spoke and for the moon to shimmer down upon her. The tale was not an easy one and it took all of her effort not to be consumed by it. Such memories were things that she tried to leave in the past as best she could, but they did work to strengthen her resolve at times and promoted her need to show kindness.

As Hector had risen to join her when her tale had finished, Lenore felt his gaze settle upon her. The way he spoke of Carmilla caused a small smile to quirk upon her lips. “If you had said you were grateful to my sister I would be questioning how much wine you had drank without me looking,” she mused trying to lighten the atmosphere between them. Although even being appreciative, well, that spoke volumes of how their conversation had gone. “Careful Hector, I may think you are beginning to like me,” she added in a playful tone.

It seemed that the Forgemaster was quite astute even when it came to her sister. Carmilla did despise men more than most. “Well, Carmilla has her reasons, but that is not my tale to share,” she admitted. It had clouded the vision of her sibling more than once. But it had always allowed for more faith in one another. There was a level of respect between them all that could not be replicated and she would forever be tethered to her sisters. That was why she was so concerned for the ambitions currently presented and what would happen if they went too far. She believed herself to be steadfast, but she was also fearful of walking away from those she loved. They had given her so much and they had built this empire together from absolute nothingness.

As Lenore heard the remorse in Hector’s tone, she turned to him and peered up at him through thick lashes. “There is nothing to be sorry about, I would not have shared my story unless I had wanted you to know,” she assured with a slight smile. But it was his last comment that was more telling than all the rest they had shared together. She felt for him if he had known the same sort of cruelty. “And what is your story, Hector? What led you down this path?” she asked taking a step closer to him the allure of some unspoken connection present.

—-----------------

Perhaps the viewpoints of Carmilla were deluded in terms of women, but after all, she had suffered it was something that had latched onto her mind and refused to be deterred. Blindness that she had all too eagerly accepted. There was so much she could not determine about the future but the vampiress would strive towards it and she noted that the witch had been stagnant as well as they dealt with the aftermath of life beyond their control. Still, there was nothing to be said on the matter other than what she had currently disclosed.

“If I am wrong then it shall be my undoing,” Carmilla informed Alina calmly. She was certain that this was going to be something that highlighted her life. It had been the foundation of what she offered for the building of Styria. “It may not be innate goodness, but women tend to have more sense, in my experience,” she commented. That was what she had observed over the years, the madness of men and the suppression of women. They knew what it was like to be suppressed so they were less likely to afflict others with the same level of oppression. At least, that was what she thought, yet, there would always be someone that broke the mold.

A small chuckle escaped Carmilla when the witch seemed to add to her comments. “I do not plan to do away with the men. I inten to make it so they are not given rights above women for the sake of their genitals. I aim to show that women can rule as well or better than those that ruled before, all those that have a problem with that. Well, I’m sure we can find something to do with them,” she mused with a smirk. Her sisters might be adverse to the idea but she did need to eat, even if the taste was bitter with the negligence of male lives, she would see that they paid for the sheer enormity of the disrespect that they cast upon the world.

 

[Lucyfer]

Hector allowed a soft chuckle at her assessment. He couldn’t deny that Lenore was already fast growing on him, but he hadn’t forgotten who she associated with, nor his end goal to get free. That didn’t mean he didn’t find her quite tolerable. Well, more than tolerable, really. He was merely trying to avoid feeling it too deeply by keeping those thoughts at a distance, to be examined outside of her presence.

Her presence would only make it too easy for his thoughts to stay favorable.

“I’m admittedly not really concerned about her past; I don’t believe she’s learned much from it other than hate, spite, and vindictiveness,” Hector’s stated, but sighed at Lenore’s further question of his past, head bowing a bit as she stepped forward, looking down at her, wondering how much to say. He, too, had been petty, vindictive, and spiteful.

Not against those that didn’t deserve it – or he tried not to be. Yet, he had been.

“I was born this way. I didn’t really get a say,” he supposed Lenore did not get a say in her vampirism, either. “I didn’t realize it until I was a few years old. I found a dead dog, and something inside me just…knew how to bring it back. And so I did. My mother was terrified, and my father…,” just thinking of the selfish alchemist upset him. His expression hardened, and he looked away from Lenore.

“Like everyone else, he sought only to use me. So my mother would regularly abuse and neglect me, and he would force me into activities, experiments, and much else, for his own gain, offering the bare minimums like food or a blanket for my cooperation.” So he had already been through this before. Suffering. Imprisonment in a sense. He swallowed the bitter thought down.

Perhaps he hadn’t learned anything.

“I left them when I grew older,” he realized what he was omitting, laughed a bit, shook his head, “better said, I killed them, I suppose, and left to start my own life. I had been living in Rhodes on my own until Dracula found me. And then…,” he gestured out at the land, “this.”

~***~

Carmilla didn’t seem that phased about being wrong, despite the dire consequences. Of course, she held herself with so much confidence, it was likely hard for her to imagine being wrong. Alina wouldn’t push it, but hummed and leaned against the carriage door, considering the rest with a bit of a smile as Carmilla noted men wouldn’t be banished from Styria. Well, at least she had that much consideration.

She didn’t even talk about truly undermining them – just made it clear their genitals wouldn’t win them a higher position. ‘I wonder if they’ll become a bit more like women. Playing catty games to try and get their way, the way women have.’ Hopefully not.

“It will be interesting to see how it develops,” certainly one for the history books; other than the Amazons, who were dubiously real, there hadn’t been much female leadership in the world that Alina knew about. ‘You’ll have to be right, Carmilla. If you fail….’ Sadly, it wouldn’t be like a man’s failure. It would be a mark against all women, rather than just a mark against an individual.

All the more reason to see it succeed, assuming what Carmilla had omitted so far was indeed nothing to be too concerned with. Time would tell. “I suppose I hardly need to guess what use such men would have,” it was obvious enough, though they likely wouldn’t be willing volunteers. “I hope we will not find many of them. If the environment around them changes, in a couple of generations, they ought to change, as well.”

 

[Taikailex]

Even the chuckle of the man caused something undefinable to rise from within Lenore, it was odd to place and perhaps she ought to work more diligently at controlling her thoughts and obvious preferences that were rising. She had been entrusted to see that the Forgemaster would aid them, but she had not considered that she might actually like the man to this degree. There had been the intent of a simple negotiation, not such sharing, but the words seemed to pour from her lips as did the questions as if completely of their own volition. Now, even as Hector spoke on the nature of her sister, a small laugh escaped her lips. “Perhaps Carmilla can be a bit set in her ways at times,” she mused with a playful tone to her voice, knowing the reality of the statement. No, she was anything but naive to the faults that herself and her sisters did possess and their implications. Being conscious of such things allowed her to navigate through political situations smoothly.

As Hector seemed to indulge her, the auburn-locked woman listened to his tale intensely, feeling the sorrow reside within her frame for all that he endured. Yet, she did not interrupt merely listened, suddenly remorseful that her role was to use him as well. The thought was unappealing, to say the least, but she did not have any other choice. She knew her position here and the support that she had to offer to her sisters for their successes. Even as he mentioned his father, there was something within her dainty frame that seemed to rebel. How could she possibly return him to a cell where he was denied basic needs when he had confided such a thing? She claimed to want to be allies, such an action would be hypocritical and perhaps set their relationship back.

Even as he mentioned that he killed his parents, rather than be fearful of such a thing, her crimson orbs softened slightly. Moving a bit closer, taking his large hand in two of her own. Offering the compassion that she could not deny which resided within herself and constantly yearned to press for. “I truly do want us to be allies, Hector, to learn to trust one another, given enough time. I hope that you can see that as my intention.” Carmilla was going to be livid with her when she suggested how they should proceed with the Forgemaster, but she could not see progress being made if he felt used and denied of all the pleasures of life, then he would be a slave to their will, not an ally, and that would be a dangerous thing considering his extreme power.

—----

It was an odd thing for the vampire to be speaking so freely of her ideals. Although perhaps the witch did understand persecution, especially since the other woman had sought haven in Styria due to the rulings of herself and her sisters. Yes, they were strong women and had projected that over the land, there were not many that would openly shame women here, or burn them as witches when they knew that their nation was government by female vampires that would likely take offence to either. And she would take great offence. There was no room for such petty religious fuelled zealous in a land that she had fought to bring from sheer nothingness.

Still, Alina did seem insightful on a great many things and Carmilla was quite appreciative. Even if she guessed that her judgments might be a bit harsh for the other woman at times. It hardly mattered as she would continue with her ambitions no matter the course she must take to see it done. “I am quite certain it will be fine, it has been thus far, the world is simply free for the taking now,” she mused and inspected out the window. “As for the change of men, one can hope, but I hardly care as long as they cause no trouble,” she admitted. The silence was fine with her as well, and Striga did need men for her army, which made them somewhat useful.

Finally, the castle seemed to appear in the distance and the crimson-clad woman let out a breath of relief. “Finally, I have had enough travelling for at least a century,” she admitted sullenly. As she knew that she would soon be forced to travel once more and there would be plenty of lands to see and to conquer for Styria.

 

[Lucyfer]

Lenore did not lash out in immediate offense at the comment about Carmilla. She seemed to accept it with a chuckle. Perhaps people were aware of Carmilla’s problems, even if they had yet to rise to the occasion to try and solve them. Hector could only hope they would. ‘Hope?’ His own internal voice challenged it. His own desire to get free reminding him it didn’t matter what happened.

These four were just out to use him, the same as anyone else. The same as his father, as Dracula, as Carmilla. They were in league with her, after all. They had been for…well, he didn’t know. Really, for all he knew it was only a year, though it could also be a hundred. Vampire lifespans were, after all, incredible.

So, he tried to harden his thoughts against her as she took one of his hands in her two, much smaller ones. He felt his fingers curl towards one of them to gently hold it, even then. It was only natural. “I can see it as your intention,” if she could fake the look in her eyes, she was very good indeed at the game. “But I know you’re not alone in decisions made here, and I have not known Carmilla in a positive way.” Nor did he know either Morana or Striga, so he could not say what Lenore’s intentions would amount to.

“I also know you are the diplomat. You’ve said as much.” He relaxed his grip with a sigh, “even if I want to trust you, I’ll always remember your job to your sisters. Your loyalty.” Meaning, of course, it would take time, if it was ever going to prosper, no matter how pleasant these moments were. And they were pleasant.

It just didn’t change the fact he’d only recently gotten off a brutal road and arrived here, to be greeted by a cold cell and an overwhelmingly generous beauty.

It was a lot to take in.

~***~

Carmilla certainly preferred to see the forest, rather than the trees. Not a bad view, perhaps, but no doubt the other three sisters had to fill in those blanks. Carmilla not caring how men changed or didn’t could easily be one of those oversights, but that was a problem for later, no doubt. So long as Carmilla wasn’t planning on getting rid of them en masse, it could be left to solve. Men weren’t likely not to cause trouble while they were left out. Not immediately, at any rate. They did have their own petty ambitions.

Alina stayed silent on that, and glanced out the window at the castle she had only seen from afar before. It was a magnificent thing. Even afar, she’d known it had been built by skilled hands – hands no human castle had likely ever known. It always seemed ahead of itself, somehow, though that was likely of all castles. It wasn’t as if Alina had ever spent much time in, or around, them. Just churches. And they always felt out of place to her, too – but not in an ‘ahead’ fashion.

Despite the fact it was likely dangerous to mock a vampire, Alina couldn’t help but chuckle at Carmilla’s complaint. She stopped herself quickly, shifted the subject, “How long will you need me at the castle?” Ishara moved then, stretching out on the carriage bench and preparing herself to disembark, still as a cat, still, apparently, unwilling to engage in too much.

“I don’t really travel much, either. Not even this far.” Not a full truth, she just didn’t travel this far into Styria. The woods around her home, she traveled plenty. Not that she minded it, but the things she’d left undone returned to her. She wasn’t expecting a long stay, perhaps a day and then she could return, and come when she was needed for some of the plotting. Her home was, after all, still her home.

 

[Taikailex]

It was difficult to truly hold the mistrust of the Forgemaster against him, he had known cruelty time and time again. There was no reason that he should truly put his faith in the vampiress, even if she did attempt to hold noble intentions when it came to their conversations. He was very right when it came to the matter of her sisters and that she held loyalty to them. They had done so much for her it was difficult to fathom standing against them in any capacity other than to voice her disagreement, which she did often enough when the moment called for it. Not that it had for some time they had been living so contently until Dracula had started his attempted quell of the entire world and made everything problematic for everyone.

As Lenore had taken Hector’s hand within the two petite ones of her own, she had been attempting to extend her compassion to the situation that they found themselves in. Yet, when she felt his fingers curl as if to hold her hand in return a slight smile touched her lips. It seemed that they had developed quite the rapport in such a short time, and she had to admit she truly did like the man before her. “I know my loyalty to my sisters is troubling to you Hector,” she acknowledged. “But I do hope that you can come to see that there is a place for you here, Morana and Striga are not Carmilla, I cannot change your relationship with my sister, but I can assure you, Morana will be more than accommodating,” she allowed. Mostly her sister saw the tactical advantage. “And Striga, well, as long as she has her army she is content,” the other two were certainly more open to the idea of more hospitality.

Reluctantly, Lenore finally took her hand back and returned her posture to look at the stars, admiring the night sky. “All of these things will take time, but you have my support here. We can work together to make this advantageous to us all,” she stated somewhat wistfully. Even if she did wish that they did not need to use Hector.

—------

Returning home held a sweetness, the crimson-clad woman had been gone for too long and she had only just arrived when she had gone to seek out the witch once more. Still, there was much to be done and for the sake of her ambitions, she would comply with the rather tiresome tasks. When Alina inquired on how long she would need to remain at the castle, she simply waved her hand at the question nonchalantly. “The tactics are in the hands of Morana, she will have a better idea. Yet, it is within reason that you would have most of your daylight hours free,” she stated with a smirk touching her painted lips at the sheer knowledge that they would not be denying themselves from their own sleeping hours.

Yet, as Alina mentioned she did not travel, the icy gaze of Carmilla shifted back to her. “Pity, the woods certainly lack the grandeur of the world,” she stated and then waited for the carriage to halt and the door to be opened before she stepped out. A guard approached her with the usual stoic disposition. “Where are my sisters?” she inquired.

“Lady Morana and Lady Striga are in the drawing-room,” the soldier seemed to hesitate before he continued on. “Lady Lenore is with the prisoner on the balcony,” the words bore some hesitance as if not sure of her reaction at the present.

As Carmilla was informed of her sisters, a hand rose to massage her temple at the later news. “She does know he is a Forgemaster, not some broken puppy she can fix,” she stated bitterly not liking the idea of her sibling allowing the man to run about without a proper leash. She glanced back to Alina and tried to press the irritation and weariness from her eyes. “Come, we will meet the two reasonable ones, let Lenore play with her new pet,” she stated her tone bitter as she led the way.

 

[Lucyfer]

No, Morana and Striga were not Carmilla, but he did not know them. All he knew was that they supported Carmilla. He didn’t know if they would stand up to her, if they would find empathy for a human. The majority of vampires he’d met thus far did not have that. Dracula once had it, but no longer. All the others of his court had so much less. It was hard to hope for those accustomed to Carmilla to be of the empathetic nature.

‘So I’m supposed to have faith in someone who cares only about an army?’ That didn’t sound very appealing. That was a warmonger. Someone who wanted and craved violence, likely sought to incite it. No, Hector found little hope in Striga, and wasn’t sure how much more he could hope from out of Morana.

Time would tell. ‘But it doesn’t matter.’

Lenore took her hand away, and he closed his fingers into his palm, before he let his hand fall to his side. “We’ll see,” he allowed only that much as he leaned against the railing, still looking at Lenore rather than the distance. “I’m not sure how well I’m supposed to trust Carmilla and a warmonger – no offense, but all I seem to hear about Striga is that she cares about her army. Doesn’t sound very…positive for a peaceful future, from where I’m standing. I’m sure she’d wonder what happens when there’s no more wars to fight. When it’s all over.”

Would she be happy and content to just have a standing army waste away on borders?

He wasn’t so sure of that.

~***~

‘Daylight free to sleep.’ Alina didn’t say that, though it seemed obvious to her she’d have to learn to become more alert at night. At least it wasn’t too late yet, but she could imagine in a few more hours she wouldn’t be quite as lucid as the others might like her to be for their talk of tactics. She’d adjust.

Carmilla’s sisters were all at the castle, as the guard noted. One was with a prisoner. ‘Hm?’ Alina arched a brow, wondering at the situation with a prisoner. Not that prisoners were unexpected, but it was another thing she didn’t know about – and one of Carmilla’s sisters was treating with them? ‘Curious.’ Curious enough. A silent conversation passed in a look to Ishara, who leapt out of the carriage.

Of course, Ishara knew what a Forgemaster was off-hand. She had known one before, and was quite intrigued to find out if this had been the same Forgemaster she’d known before. It would explain to her, where Carmilla planned to get her forces.

“All right,” Alina agreed, “Though I hope I’ll meet Lenore before the night is up,” as curious as she was of Striga and Morana, she remained curious about the one who would have met her otherwise. She would follow Carmilla, looking around her home as they wandered, admiring it – but also feeling a coldness to it.

It was large.

It was spacious.

And with not much that seemed to harken to anything warm. Familiar. The decorations were in dire need of something more personal than elegant, in Alina’s opinion, though she held that to herself, and pretended not to notice when Ishara turned another way, off to find the prisoner and do the snooping that Alina couldn’t do right then.

She’d distract with a query, “Are you the one in charge of the aesthetics here?” It would make sense. Sharp, elegant, cold. Just like the woman before her. And plenty of red.

 

[Taikailex]

Even though the Forgemaster had applied valid concerns to their conversation, the petite vampire was happy to indulge. She knew that he had only ever experienced the cruelty of one of her sisters and his experience with vampires prior had not been a good one. Thus, all the insecurities that the grey-haired man voiced were based on experience and what he had witnessed. Something she could not deny nor expect his viewpoints to change in any capacity. Not until he had been given another perspective that would press the truth of her own intentions.

Yet, Lenore was a patient woman, she would wait for Hector to become comfortable here, to be able to see that her words were genuine. She saw no point in lying, not if they were going to have that close of an alliance. And she saw something in him that she could not explain. “Vampires tend to crave one thing above all else,” she stated honestly her tone smooth. “Stability, there is also the security to go along with it. Even Striga yearns for this despite her army. We carve out a place to spend our eternity, that is why they will see reason, there is only so much we can claim without losing said stability, and that is our greatest fear,” her voice was reflective as her red orbs looked to the moon and she wondered if she was trying to convince Hector of her words or herself as she felt something sinister brewing.

As the breeze blew through her long auburn locks, she worked to situate the position within her mind. Turning to the man that had so far been pleasant company and meeting his gaze once more she permitted a solution. “Let us focus on finding an understanding between ourselves, and when you know me, perhaps you shall trust my judgement on my sisters,” she offered with a small smirk.

—------

As the group stepped in the direction of the castle, Carmilla held her usual aura of grace that could not be detracted from. Quite the opposite it often held a domineering effect over her life. Still, as her icy gaze turned back to Lenore once more before they entered she regarded the witch plainly. “I will make sure to see the two of you introduced,” she waved dismissively. Lenore’s efforts would be better spent with the witch than with the snivelling Forgemaster. Well, that was her opinion, but she also knew that they still had need of Hector which was quite unfortunate.

Once inside the crimson-clad vampire let out a breath of relief, returning to her home took some of the weight from her shoulders and she knew that soon she would be able to gather the opinion of her sisters when it came to Alina and the skills the woman possessed. As for the castle, it would not be surprising to the woman to know that Alina had noted the coldness of her home. True, she had a particular level of taste that resounded in the decor. Perhaps a bit cold for some and even for herself, but what could one expect from a woman who had never known love?

Even with her parents, whom Carmilla could scarcely remember there had been no affection there, only the firmness of a persistent need to strive for greatness. Something she was quite good at and carried that through into her transformation as a vampire. Alas, when Alina commented on the castle her painted lips quirked in a smirk. “Observant, yes, that is my work, my sisters have held influence in some of hte rooms,” she admitted as they continued to stroll forth. “Not quite your cabin, but I am sure you will find our accommodations more than fitting,” well, unless you were Hector, then he got the dungeon. Sighing she knew that Lenore would be asking them to move her new puppy out of their and she was exasperated at the thought. The tender heart of the redhead was something she did not understand she doubted that she even had the capacity to do so.