Multiple Settings The Preying Seasons | Main

[Desert_Blossom]

Alarick Vernon

The relief Alarick felt when he passed through the portal back into his own kingdom was twofold. The disconcerting sensation of being a wolf in sheep's clothing was instantly gone, and, most importantly, he'd secured Jolene as his bride. This year, he'd been more anxious than usual about having his queen-to-be slip through his fingers before he could bring her back to the Spring Kingdom to live. Al had given up on the notion of finding his prophesied eternal bride long ago, so he tried to chalk this uncharacteristic fear up to Jo simply being more of a firecracker than his past wives. The Southern Belle wasn't one to be tied down, which made it all the more critical that Alarick find a way to get her home without spooking her. It also made his guilt all the more difficult to swallow.

Though, the werewolf could argue, while he was taking away some of Jo's freedoms, he was presenting her with others she never would have dreamed of. She'd no longer have to worry about financial constraints, or of people bossing her around (well, aside from him if she forced him to be the bad guy). Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but Al rather thought Jolene might enjoy holding a place of power and decision making... and if not, many of his wives hadn't lifted a single finger to help him rule other than showing up for balls and dinners. The beautiful blonde could be as involved as she wanted, or spend her time as she pleased. As long as they were married and she was his queen, the seasons would continue in peace, regardless of their marital bliss or lack thereof.

Of course, as Jolene's lips hungrily found his, Al's thoughts were on nothing but the heat and chemistry between them. He returned her kisses greedily, his fervor only increasing with the aforementioned relief that came with making it to the bedroom and stumbling into bed. It might not have been his bed, but at least it was in his kingdom, and that made his night of passion with his bride-to-be that much sweeter.

The werewolf woke early the next morning, unable to enjoy more than a few hours of peaceful sleep next to the beautiful woman he lay with. Al knew what was coming, and his mind was too restless as he watched the clock tick closer and closer to the impending explosion the truth would cause. Still, even as the dread ate at him, the rugged man made no move to leave the bed. Instead, he let his gaze wander over Jo's sleeping form, drinking in the woman he'd spend the better part of the next century with. He was savoring these last couple hours of her ignorance, because soon she'd no longer look at him the way she had the night before.

At the first sign of Jo stirring, Al turned over on his side, away from her to make feigning sleep easier. He wanted to postpone the literal moment of truth as long as possible, and half hoped the blonde would decide to stay in bed with him the rest of the day. But she didn't. And soon Al felt her weight shift on the mattress as she slipped out of bed. He opened his eyes just enough to watch her move about the room in the reflection of the dresser mirror. He smiled sadly, seeing her slip into his shirt as he noted the feeling of satisfaction it gave him. How long would it be before they could enjoy a morning like this again?

When Jo started looking around the room, Al realized she was trying to make her get away, and he sighed internally, closing his eyes once more as she walked over to his side of the bed. Her hand was warm as she shook his shoulder, and the werewolf waited a few moments before responding to his name. "Hm?" He groaned a little, letting out some of the dread that was making his stomach tighten. Opening his eyes, he met Jo's hazel ones as she crouched level with the bed. This has been fun and everything. I had a great time last night. But it's about time I get going. Do you know where my purse is?

And there it was. The question that would ultimately undo a week worth of fun. Al pushed himself up into a sitting position, trying to keep his features calm despite feeling the sting of Jo wanting to leave so quickly. "Your purse? Yeah, I think you tossed it on the coffee table when we came in..." He said, absentmindedly running a hand through his hair. "But it's long gone now..." Al sighed, offering Jo a small shrug of the shoulder as he rose from the bed and grabbed his pants from the floor. He slid them on as he walked around the room, nudging her dress aside with his foot to make sure none of her hidden weapons had made it into the kingdom. Satisfied that all he'd have to deal with were her fists should Jo try to fight her way out of this, Al turned back to look at the blonde from across the room as he leaned against the door frame. "And you won't need those things here anyways."

The wolf nodded towards the window that was obscured by the blinds, preemptively answering the questions Jo would likely have next. It was usually something along the lines of What do you mean? Or, where am I? The women never believed Al when he simply told them they were in another world entirely, so it was better to skip the disbelief and let Jo see it for herself. "Welcome to the Spring Kingdom, Jo..." Al uttered, a bit of sarcasm lacing his words as he prepared himself for her reaction. It wasn't easy to know that the woman you've chosen to spend her life with doesn't want to be with you, and the wolf found that if he pretended he didn't care, he could almost convince himself that he didn't. For now, he'd have to forget about everything he'd shared with Jo the past week, and just get through the present as best as possible.

Dread

Spring Kingdom

Outfit

MadiRaiCat

nine lives

 

[_amaranth_]

Carina Hawthorn

The sun rays pierced curtains covering the windows and tickled the figure resting on a bed in the bedroom which was larger than her apartment back in Maple Grove. It was warm but not obnoxiously so, just like the perfect fall sun, the indian summer kind which Carina loved the most. Out of all seasons, if she had to choose wóne, it would be the fall. Ask her why and she’s set off on the whole rant about how the weather in the fall was just perfect. Not too hot but also not cold enough. A light sweater or a jacket was enough to cover your shoulders in the evening if you ventured for a few adventures once the sun started to set. The leaves turned from lively green into orange, yellow, red, brown, all of these colors which warmed the heart. As much as Cari loved summer, it could simply never beat the fall.

The redhead squirmed under the heap of sheets piled on top of her and a small yawn escaped her lips. Her eyelids fluttered open and for a moment, she just laid there, staring in the distance, a small smile resting on her lips. She couldn’t even remember the last time she slept this well. The bed was large, sheets fragrant, smelling after wild flowers, soft as a cloud. All in all, Cari felt like she was sleeping in a huge cotton candy. The smile on her lips grew even more when she remembered the cotton candy and her first experience of the sweet treat with… Asher!

Cari sat up abruptly, holding the sheet on her front, rather unnecessarily at that since she was fully clothed from last night, and looked around. For the first time that morning, she realized the room was unfamiliar to her. Where was she and how did she even get here? Her last memory was the ball. She was wearing a gorgeous gown and the most beautiful jewel around her neck… Her hand flew up, the necklace was still there. Cari threw the comforter away and her bare feet touched the floor. If she thought it would be cold or at least cool, she was mistaken and her skin was met with warmth. Her first steps led to the window and she pulled the curtains to the sides to see outside which literally took her breath away. Although she didn’t know it was the fall kingdom, she was mesmerized by the beauty of the picture in front of her. Trees of all kinds of colors, light breeze swishing in their crowns, faint sounds of music playing outside. The painting of the fall spreading right in front of her. And far away in the distance, barely visible but still there, Cari knew there was her dream. The sea.

“Ash…” she whispered and her gullible mind stopped thinking about anything that was important at that moment. How she didn’t remember anything past the dance at the ball, no traveling, no planes, airports, buses, even the car ride. The joy of being so close to her dream was so overwhelming that it prevented the redhead from realizing all circumstances and barefoot as she was, she ran out of the room, finding herself in a long hallway. “Holly molly.” she breathed and looked this way and that, choosing to go right in the end. The hallway ended with an impressive staircase which slowed her down. Her head was tilted back and with every step she took, she admired the place in its magnificence. It looked huge. How was she ever going to find Asher here? Also, why was he not with her?

Cari was lucky. Someone was walking towards her and her eyes lit up. “Excuse me! Yoo hoo!” she waved at them and the servant came closer. And Cari’s words died in her throat when she noticed the man’s ears. They were…they were…not like hers. His ears were pointy and she got lost in examining them. “Can I help you?” he asked her in a deep voice, tearing her out of her reverie. “Oh, uh, yes, yes. Where’s Asher?” she asked, eyes wide open in expectations. “His Majesty is in the kitchen. Follow me, please.” he motioned his hand and started walking in the said direction. And the whole time, Cari was toying with two words. His Majesty. But the confusion disappeared the second her gaze fell upon the man at the table. The servant left them and Cari’s wide smile returned. “You really took me to the sea?” she asked, approaching him. “That’s literally the nicest thing anyone ever did for me! And this hotel? Wow! Seriously, wow! I didn’t even know there were hotels which looked like castles. I feel like a princess. Ash, I…how can I ever repay you? I swear, I have no words.” she ranted, hopping on top of the table in front of him. Her bare feet dangled in the air and her hazel orbs glimmered with ultimate happiness, still rather forgetful about everything else.

mood; elated| location; ball| outfit; dress necklace arm| tags; Asher MadiRaiCat

the elven bride

code by low fidelity.

 

[_amaranth_]

Arthur Donnovan

This was definitely not Art’s first rodeo. Since the beginning of time, he had done this so many times he even stopped counting because the number was almost terrifying. Even hundred years, the drill was the same and Art perfected it that it came to him as naturally as breathing. He appeared as a tool and he knew it. Out of the four brothers, he was the most serious and the most stoic one, something that stemmed from who he used to be before. The vampire curse only strengthened every attribute and so he might look like he was a marble statue sometimes. And yet, he knew more than well what to do and how to do it, how to achieve his goals. And he could read people as well. Some required more work but some let him in easily and Tori here was definitely the latter category.

Meeting her father, Art was even more certain what she was looking for and how to get her where he wanted to have her and so, after defying her father in a rather sharp but still gentlemanly way, he brought her to the ball, danced with her, played her game and let her think she had the upper hand here. Tori was a girl who needed to feel she was in charge and Art was glad to let her think that was true until the very moment she asked him what he wanted to do. And that was his moment. It was the one opening he was looking for and the winter king used it to the fullest, whispering his desires in her ear. And just the way her body tensed was proof enough that she was his. "I want to go. Home. With you. Take me." she said after a while and Art nodded.

“Your wish is my command, my love.” he told her courtly and led her outside, away from all prying eyes, away from the whole pompous party. Only there he placed his hands on her shoulders. His cold blue eyes stared in hers intently. “Maybe you should take a nap until we arrive.” he told her and his voice turned into a soft monotonous sound. “It’s a long way to my place, it’s better if you rest now and once we’re home, we can have our fun.” he added, holding her firmly until she was nothing but a rag doll in his arms. “Good girl.” he whispered once she was asleep and hoisted her up, carrying her bridal style. Everyone stayed inside, enjoying their party, dancing and drinking. But for Tori Zabielski, the ball was over and Art was already zooming across the town, using all the perks being a vampire offered. The two disappeared in his room and from there, the road to his kingdom was a matter of one portal.

The following morning, Art was standing in his study. The drapes were almost closed, only a small gap was between them, allowing the King to watch his empire spreading in front of him. The sun was up and bright but the ground was covered in fresh snow. Icicles hung from the roofs and cool wind was blowing, trying to steal scarves and hats from anyone who dared to battle the weather outside. Some of Art's subjects and their children were walking around, children screamed and laughed, disrupting the smooth surface of the snow to make snowballs and snow angels. Art’s kingdom might have been the winter one but he still liked to think that people and creatures who lived there were satisfied.

Now, the important question was, would the new Queen be satisfied as well? Art could already see how the whole situation would go. From what he found out about Tori, he was more than sure that this was not going to be any quiet and peaceful debate. Not that she had any choice in the matter. The second she put his necklace on, she became his and there was no way for her to leave this place unless she was with Art. But also, there was a huge possibility that she was going to spend next decades hating him deeply and did Art want another wife to despise him to the bone? Was there even a chance for him to convince her this life was not all miserable? His fingers toyed with the lapis ring he wore, the only thing that enabled him to walk under the sun, and his eyes just stared in the distance. He was just standing there, tall and quiet, like a sea before the storm, waiting for his bride to come to him. Like the storm on the sea.

mood; sneaky| location; ball| outfit; click! | tags; Tori, ( apolla )​

the vampire king

code by low fidelity.

 

[apolla]

VICTORIA ZABIELSKI

Outfit: Click & click! | Mood: confused & pissed off | Tags: Art ( _amaranth_ )

Had Tori known what she was getting into with Arthur, she probably would have run in the opposite direction as fast as her heels would carry her. Although she'd been intrigued by him from the very beginning, she had no way of knowing that part of that allure was on purpose. He'd made his decision nearly from the beginning, and she'd had absolutely no idea that her world was about to change. Sure, she'd wanted to get the hell out of Maple Grove for good, but like this? No. But they say ignorance is bliss, and though she'd never considered herself ignorant, in this instance that's exactly what she was. When Art leaned in and whispered those words in her ears, she'd thrown away all of her inhibitions and told him she wanted him to take her home. She was ready to leave with him and not look back. So that's exactly what they did.

He led her out of the party, and that's the last thing she remembered before her world went black. Time passed, though exactly how much, she didn't know. Eventually, her eyes fluttered partially open, and for a blissful moment, she was completely unaware that anything was amiss. She rolled over, sliding her fingers over the silken sheets on the bed. The sensation brought a sleepy smile to her face. A chill ran through her directly afterwards, and she frowned. Reaching for her goose down comforter, she grabbed the blanket and brought it up to cover her exposed upper body. A flash of dark color was her first clue that something was off, and her eyes opened more. Staring at the black comforter in her hands, her eyes dropped a moment later to the blood red sheets on the bed.

She froze, her grip on the comforter tightening. The night before came rushing back, slamming into her like a mac truck. Struggling to control her breathing, she replayed the scene, remembering how she'd agreed to go home with Art. Suddenly the tightness in her chest disappeared, and she breathed a little easier. The foreign sheets were easily explained, then. But where was he? Hopefully making coffee. With a soft groan, Tori pushed the comforter aside, surprised to find that she was still in the dress from the night before. Did she put it back on after...? Well, that's stupid. Her bare feet hit the ground and she pushed herself up to a standing position, looking around the scarcely decorated room. That in itself wasn't weird to her, not completely.

The large windows drew her attention and she moved closer to them, a gasp catching in her throat when she peered down at the scene below. Snow... icecicles... people the size of ants with scarves and knitted hats and heavy coats... Suddenly her heart started to pound again, her hand pressed against the glass as she moved closer. "No... way..." She paused, her eyes drawn to the frozen icecicles hanging off the overhang almost directly in front of her. Determined to prove to herself that she was dreaming, she found the lock on the sliding door and flipped it, shoving the door open. Stepping out onto the small balcony, she shivered immediately, her dress doing little to prevent the biting cold from getting to her. Still, she reached out, stretching her fingers as she gripped the balcony with her other hand, to touch the...

As soon as she felt the ice she jerked her hand back, nearly stumbling back into the room. Without even bothering to close the door, she turned on her heel, marching towards the door to the room. "ART!" She shrieked his name, partly furious and partly terrified. Looking both ways when she reached the hall, she picked a random direction and took off walking. It quickly became clear to her that wherever she was, the place was much larger than she anticipated. "Art!" She called again, nearly jumping out of her skin when she looked behind her and saw someone dressed akin to what she thought a butler might wear. "Where is Art?" She asked, hating the uncertainty in her voice. "His study, ma'am. Down the east hallway, behind the double doors."

She must have looked confused, for he just nodded in understanding and motioned for her to follow him. She hesitated before she did so, her bare feet padding on the floor as she went. They passed a mirror on the wall and Tori glanced at herself as they passed, spotting the exquisite necklace still wrapped around her throat as well. A sudden wave of anger washed over her and she reached for it, her steps not even faltering as she attempted to yank it off. But... it wouldn't... "What the fuck?" Now she did stop walking. "What the hell is this?" The man she'd been following stopped as well, turning to look at her, and she saw a look of discomfort cross his face. "Master Arthur can explain. Please... follow me." Tori narrowed her eyes at him, but she dropped the necklace and followed him through a maze of hallways until they reached the double doors. He stopped just outside of them, but Tori didn't. Shoving the doors open, she spotted Art standing by the window. "What the hell is going on here?"

coded by natasha.

 

[apolla]

ADRIAN BECK

Outfit: shorts, no shirt! | Mood: hesitant | Tags: Mari ( Desert_Blossom )

In a way, inviting Marissa into the lake with him had been a dirty trick. But in his defense, each of his brothers had a dirty trick of their own. Not that that would make it any better in Mari's eyes come morning, but maybe Adrian was just hoping that if he gave her a magical night, she wouldn't mind waking up in a different world. It was a slim hope, but that was Adrian, ever the optimist. To his delight, she'd shrugged out of her fancy dress and chose to join him in the water, where they spent some time learning each other in a more intimate way than before. Though they hadn't gone "all the way" as Adrian had heard human's say, he was still very much satisfied with the direction things had gone. And he liked to think that Mari felt the same way, considering she'd been laughing too, and had even kissed him back more than once.

Eventually, Adrian knew she was comfortable enough to follow him underwater. He kissed her deep before he ducked under, swimming towards a light that was actually the portal into his kingdom. Points for creativity, right? The deeper he got into the water, the more his body began to resist the legs that he wore while on land. One minute the legs were kicking one after the other, and slowly, the kicks began to happen in unison before they morphed completely into his fin. There was no describing the freedom that Adrian felt while being his true self underwater, and it brought a bright smile to his face. He looked over his shoulder, seeing Mari following after him. The closer they got to the light, the more he slowed, until she was near enough that he could wrap an arm around her waist.

She might already be feeling the effects of being so close to the portal, or she might even be thinking that she needed to go up for air. Casting a glance upwards, Adrian watched the ripples on the far away surface before he looked back at Mari. Holding her close, his fin propelled them through the portal, and they emerged on the other side, in the deep water that surrounded three sides of his waterside castle. Still holding onto his wife to be, he used his tail to get them to the surface, breaking the water a few seconds later. His eyes shifted down to the passed out woman in his arms, and he stroked her face gently as the waves broke against them. Wet strands of hair clung to her face and he gently moved them out of the way. Shore wasn't far, and as they got closer, his fin split into two and he was able to walk on shore still holding her.

Placing her in his bed, he whispered words that would remove the moisture from their bodies. Even though he wanted nothing more than to cuddle all night with her, he remained awake for some time, just watching her sleep or staring out of the large bay windows of his room. He wasn't looking forward to the next morning, but he kept holding out hope that she would surprise him. Eventually, he fell into a fitful sleep, and then a deeper one that removed the worry creases from his face. He slept soundly, completely unaware of when Mari awoke the next morning. That is, until the sheets were torn from his body, and he heard her voice a moment later, demanding that he explain. His eyes opened, but he didn't turn to face her right away. So much for being surprised, he mused.

Slowly, he turned to face her, watching the barrage of emotions on her face and in her eyes. Still clutching the sheets, she looked as though she might be sick. Pushing himself up to a sitting position, his eyes never left her, not even as she threatened to scream. "Please, don't." He pleaded with her, his eyes full of sincerity as he stood, slowly reaching for the sheets. Disentangling them from her hand, he tossed them behind him onto the bed, then took her hands in his. "I can explain everything, I promise." His eyes darted over to the window and he made a soft sound of understanding, his eyes sliding back over to Mari. "You've seen the mermaids, then." He confirmed, not needing her to say it for him to know. Curious creatures, mermaids were.

"Come with me." He let go of her hands, slowly reaching for her shoulders and turning her around, facing the window again. He moved both of them towards it, peering down at the crashing waves below and the mermaids and merman now looking up at both of them. "These are the mermaids and mermen of my kingdom, Mari. You're here..." Ah, shit. "To be my wife and keep the world in check. There's more to it than that, but that is the gist of it. I chose you, Marissa, because of how I feel about you." Turning her around, he slid his hands down her arms, taking her hands again. "Nobody has ever made my heart as full as you do. You'll make an amazing summer queen." His eyes were shining, full of happiness, but also hesitant because he knew... this could go very well, or very poorly.

coded by natasha.

 

[MadiRaiCat]

location

bedroom

mentions

none

interactions

Alarick ( Desert_Blossom )

outfit

x

Jolene

werewolf bride

Had it been her choice, Jolene would have been gone from that room before Alarick had even awoken. Yeah, she would probably have to contact him later to trade out his button-up shirt for her ballgown. But, she would prefer that instead of a morning-after conversation. Something about waking up next to one another seemed too much intimacy for her. There would be cuddling, sweet nothings, maybe even a shared breakfast, or going out to brunch. All of those things were completely the opposite of the raw passion that took place between the sheets the night before. Sex was easy for her. It didn't necessarily require a connection. Just physical attraction. And Jo certainly had that with Alarick. Hell, if she were being honest with her emotions, she would even venture to say that she actually liked Alarick. But, being in tune with those emotions was a rarity for Jolene. And so she kept them squelched done.

Al groaned a bit beneath her hand, seemingly waking up from his slumber. He sat up, strangely not looking at all like someone who had just woken up. Something about his expression put Jolene on edge, the sheer calm of his features. She didn't like it, her heartbeat picking up a bit with adrenaline as though she was in danger. Nothing about their interactions throughout the week had given her that feeling before. But, something about the current situation made her wish she had a weapon or defense item somewhere close. "Coffee table? Ok, tha-" Jolene began, turning towards where the saw the coffee table earlier with a slight sense of urgency. But she didn't see it there and froze as Alarick finished his sentence. Turning her piercing hazel gaze back to the man she slept with the night before, the blonde bounty hunter saw him shrug and realized she didn't know him at all.

She observed him with predator-like precision as he moved around the room, trying her best to hide her fear at that moment. After all, Jolene was strong and stubborn. But if there was one thing that terrified her most, it was being trapped. And by the way Alarick seemed to be cornering her, she was starting to feel caged in. "What do you..." Jolene began, her whole body tensing. But she trailed off when he nodded towards the window, the light filtering in through the blinds. With slight hesitation, Jo moved towards the window, making sure never to turn her back to Al. She pulled up the blinds, revealing a beautifully green, lush area. It looked like the grounds of a castle. But hadn't they just walked into an apartment the night before? How could she be here? Had she been drugged? They certainly weren't in Maple Grove anymore.

"The Spring Kingdom? What are you, some kind of prince?" the blonde bounty hunter asked, sarcasm tinting her tone. "Look, I'm not a fan of surprises or roleplay. So how about you just tell me where my things are and I'll be on my way." Something caught the light from the window as she spoke, reflecting emerald green prismatic waves onto the walls of the room. Looking down, Jolene realized the extravagant emerald necklaces from the evening before had been replaced with a petite diamond and emerald pendant on a delicate gold change. Had he changed them out in the middle of the night while she was asleep? "You can even have this back," Jo continued, reaching for the clasp at the nape of her neck. But when she attempted to open it, it wouldn't budge. What in the hell was going on? Jolene felt intense anger overtaking her, unlike anything she had felt before. When she met Alarick's gaze once more, her own was no longer hazel, but an intense gold. "I want an explanation. Now."

nine lives

 

[MadiRaiCat]

location

kitchen.

mentions

Carina ( _amaranth_ ).

interactions

none.

outfit

x

Asher

elf king

It felt like it had been hours since Asher moved from his chair. He had drank so much coffee that his elven kitchen servant had to make a second pot. He was starting to feel a bit jittery but attributed that to the never of the situation rather than overdosing on caffeine. After all, he was immortal. But, elven coffee was usually a bit stronger than its mortal realm counterparts. At some point, a breakfast pastry on a saucer was sat on the table in front of him. But Ash barely noticed it, let alone ate any of it. He was too lost in thought. Why did their mother do this to them? What purpose could it possibly be serving? Did she think that it was teaching them patience? Or gratitude? Because in his eyes, all it was doing was creating negative connections between relationships and love. It had been a long time since he had talked to or seen his mother. But maybe they could talk to her, ask her if all of this was really necessary, if they had suffered long enough and she could just point them in the direction of their soulmates already. Asher was getting tired of waiting, tired of falling and love and losing them over and over again for all eternity. She loved her sons, right?

"You should eat your breakfast, Sir. It'll get cold if you don't." The soft voice caught his attention, and the brunette king looked up to find Miriam, his oldest maid standing in the doorway to the kitchen. She had a concerned, yet knowing look on her face. Miriam had been around almost since he created the Fall Kingdom. She was the first elf to work for him, and one of his most trusted confidants and advisors. Asher saw her as a nanny of sorts, maybe an elderly aunt even though he was older than her. Someone who was around to care for him, both physically and emotionally. And he cared about her as well. "Miriam, good morning to you too," he said with a smile, taking another sip from the bitter liquid in his mug. She took a few more steps into the kitchen, walking over to him to place the bouquet of wildflowers she had probably just picked from the garden in the glass centerpiece. It was something she did every few days, always saying it brought a bit of life in from the beautiful world outside. For a long time, Asher didn't quite understand what she meant. But as he got older, he started to realize the purpose behind it, and he smiled every time he saw them.

"Fine, fine. You know I can't say no to you," the brunette man responded, picking up the pastry. He took a bite, savoring the flavors of pumpkin and spice that melted across his tongue. The elves were amazing cooks that loved to use fresh fall ingredients in everything they made. Within less than a minute, the pastry was gone, and Ash was calmer than he had been moments before. Miriam shot him another knowing look, though this one was more of an "I told you so" than anything else. He rolled his eyes and pushed the plate to the side, offering her a grin. "You were right, you don't have to say anything," Ash said with a light chuckle, shaking his head. The woman teasingly smirked in response but said nothing, taking the plate to the sink to clean before leaving the way she had entered. Ash sighed, finishing off the final coffee in his mug. But his relaxation was short-lived as one of his male servants entered, and he immediately knew the reason why. A flash of red hair followed the man in, wide-eyed and seemingly in awe but overall not seeming angry or upset. Maybe she was alright with her current situation after all, and he had nothing to worry about.

"Thank you, Elyon. You're dismissed," Asher said, watching the servant leave before turning his attention back to Cari. She smiled at him, immediately speaking in that adorably excited yet hurried tone she had. Her rant continued, and he returned her smile with one of his own, happy to let her live out her fantasy for a bit longer. He held out hope that the truth of their situation wouldn't wreck her, that maybe she was one of the few that would love living in the kingdom from the start and never harbor ill feelings towards him for whisking them away from the moral realm. Just maybe. "I'm glad you like it, Carina," he answered, his leg brushing hers as she sat on the table in front of him. Asher reached out and took her hand gently in his, hoping that the physical contact was somewhat comforting in what he was about to say. "But we're not at the sea you think we're at," he continued softly, bracing himself for the response. The large bay windows across the kitchen instead revealed a beautiful land of warm tones and cool fall breezes. "This is Fall Kingdom, Cari. My home, and now yours too. We're not in Maine anymore."

nine lives

 

[Desert_Blossom]

Marissa Locke

In hindsight, waking her abductor rather than trying to quietly flee while he was asleep might not have been the smartest move. Marissa had the perfect opportunity to put as much distance between her and Adrian as possible and figure out a way home, but here she was impulsively confronting him instead. The blonde was understandably scared by the confusing situation she had woken up to, but despite Adrian almost certainly being to blame for it, she didn’t fear him. Was she insane? Maybe. But one moment Mari had been losing herself in Adrian’s kisses and the next she was losing consciousness. Thanks to blacking out, the memories of their time in the lake were still fresh and Marissa couldn’t completely switch her perception of the man lying before her so quickly. He had tricked her, but she didn’t think he would hurt her.

When Adrian didn’t respond immediately after she tore the sheets from his sleeping form and demanded that he explain, Marissa thought that perhaps he too had been knocked unconscious and was also a victim. However, any hope that he wasn’t the perpetrator dissolved when he turned to look at her with a steady gaze that betrayed no confusion or surprise. He was far too calm, which only unnerved her more, and if anything he looked a little disappointed by her reaction. Growing impatient with Adrian’s silence, Mari threatened to scream in an attempt to elicit a reaction from him. It worked, sorta. Adrian’s plea for her not to scream wasn’t the immediate answers Mari desired, but she stayed quiet nonetheless as he rose from the bed.

The blonde took a reflexive step back as Adrian moved toward her, but his grip on the sheets she was holding onto for dear life prevented her from getting far. For a moment, she resisted letting him untangle the bedding from her hand, feeling somewhat comforted by the barrier it created, before relenting her hold. There was no way she’d win in a tug of war with the sheets against him anyways. Marissa’s lips parted, ready to repeat her demand, but her voice caught in her throat when Adrian’s hands found hers. That same comforting warmth his touch provided washed over her and her expression softened a fraction when Adrian promised he could explain. Marissa studied him, letting hope that all of this wasn’t what it looked like seep in. Maybe she really was hallucinating the -

You've seen the mermaids, then. Blue eyes widened at Adrian’s words, so nonchalant despite the ridiculousness of them. “So they’re real?” She choked, feeling her hope drain away as tears sprinkled her eyes. Her worst fears were being confirmed, and Adrian was acting like this was normal. Panic began to swell in her chest again, but before she could protest, Adrian was directing her towards the window by the shoulders. Marissa reluctantly looked down once more at the merpeople as Adrian began his explanation, finding it hard to process his words. However when he dropped the bomb about her being his wife, Marissa’s head shot up and she glanced back at Adrian with alarm.

This had to be a joke. Some ruse or prank to fuck with her. She didn’t believe in mermaids, or fairytales where the girl accidentally falls for the prince. Hell, she didn’t even believe in ever finding someone else to spend her life with. A sound that was a mix between a sardonic laugh and panicked sob escaped Marissa as she tried to steady her racing heart and increasingly erratic breaths. She was losing sensation in her limbs and if not for Adrian spinning her around to face him, the blonde would have crumpled to the ground in shock. The tatted man’s hands ran down the length of Marissa’s arms, pulling her focus back to reality as her gaze found his once more.

The emotions that swam in Adrian’s eyes made Marissa’s heart skip a beat. He truly believed every word he uttered- that she would be his wife, that he chose her because of how he felt, that she made his heart full… that she’d be a queen?! Marissa wished that Adrian’s words were just a ploy to deceive her, that he was lying. That would make it so much easier to hate him for bringing her to whatever unearthly place this was. And she wanted to hate him so she wouldn’t feel so guilty for destroying the happiness that was in his eyes. She couldn’t be what he wanted her to be. She just couldn’t.

“Adrian…” Marissa breathed, squeezing his hands in hers, “please take me home…” She implored him, stepping even closer and tilting her head back more so her blue eyes never left his. “I’m frightened and I just want to go home.” She slipped her hands free, placing them against his inked chest. “I… I don’t understand what’s happening, but I know I can’t give you what you want.” Mari’s hands shook a little as a tear slid down her cheek, hating the shift in his expression. “I don’t believe you want to hurt me… but I would only hurt you, and that’s not what I want.” Closing her eyes, Mari leaning forward and buried her face against his skin. He was the one putting her in this situation, and yet she still instinctively sought solace from his warmth. He’d made her feel the best she’d had in years and she wanted him to make this all go away now too. “I just want to go home. Please, Adrian.” She repeated, her voice hardly above a whisper. The contradictory cocktail of emotions were overwhelming her, subduing her anger from being tricked and leaving her feeling the weight of her vulnerability above everything else.

Frightened

Adrian’s Kingdom

Outfit

apolla

nine lives

 

[Desert_Blossom]

Alarick Vernon

How many times had Alarick gone through this? Fifty times? Sixty? More? Although all his chosen wives were different, their reactions to learning their fates pretty much fell into the same five categories. There were the ones that were terrified and broke into tears, the ones who went into shock and withdrew into themselves, the ones who believed themselves to be crazy and refused to accept reality, the rare handful that were grateful for being saved from worser fates and then those that were angry above all else. Jo seemed to be in that latter category, and Al wasn’t particularly surprised.

The guilt the werewolf had been marinating in all night had subsided some since watching Jo try to make her escape without even a goodbye. Perhaps it was his bruised pride, but he was rather irked at how quickly she was going to put him in the rear view mirror. After fretting for hours about how breaking the news to Jo was going to hurt her, he was less sympathetic now that he’d also been hurt. And so, he casually leaned against the doorway as the pair began the customary song and dance that he detested.
The blonde bounty hunter met Alarick’s sarcastic welcome with sarcasm of her own, and his jaw tightened a little at her jab about being some kind of prince. “King. Actually.” Al replied in a deceptively level voice. “Though if I was merely a prince, you wouldn’t be here right now.” He added, unable to help himself. “And we could both avoid this headache.” There were those walls again, complete with an arsenal of sardonic words and feigned indifference. A brisk laugh issued from the back of Al’s throat at Jo’s mentions of role play and surprises. “You don’t like surprises? Or only when you’re on the receiving end?” He countered, considering she likely surprised many men in the morning by sneaking off before they awoke. “And I already told you, your stuff is long gone.”

Light from the window caught the emerald around Jolene’s neck, momentarily diverting the Spring King and future Queen’s attention to the pendant. Shortly after Jo had succumbed to the exhaustion of their nocturnal activities, Al exchanged the ornate necklace he’d gifted the blonde for a simpler one. It too had the power to bind Jo to the Spring Kingdom unless he was with her, but it would be easier to wear in her daily life and he hadn’t wanted to risk the soft flesh of her neck being marred by the necklace from the ball. Jolene of course was unaware of this small gesture of thoughtfulness, and was quick to try to return her engagement gift. He knew her efforts were of course futile, and braced himself for the wave of anger and frustration that was about to break.

And when it did, the look in Jolene’s eyes was almost feral. It was tempting to ignore the blonde’s demand for an explanation, not liking to be ordered around, but even Al had to concede that she deserved one. “Right…” He began, becoming distracted momentarily by his livid fiancé’s peculiar gaze. For a moment he thought the light was playing tricks with the color of her eyes, but he brushed those thoughts aside in an effort to calm some of the storm raging within Jo. “Well, as I said, I rule over the Spring Kingdom… My brothers and I are responsible for maintaining balance and order of the seasons. We have been for centuries…” Al continued, pushing himself off of the doorframe and strolling over to Jo’s side to look out the window at his land. “Unfortunately, part of our responsibility requires us to find a queen every 100 years…” The werewolf’s brows furrowed slightly as he recalled those women who’d come before Jolene. “And you, Jo, are the one I’ve chosen to be my next wife.”

Knowing this reveal would not be taken well, if taken seriously at all, Al braced himself. His eyes shifted from the window back to Jolene, studying her as she processed the information. “I know this all sounds like ridiculous fantasy, Jo, but things will go more smoothly if you ignore your instincts and believe what I’m telling you.” It was difficult not to reach out and comfort the blonde, but Alarick knew that if he valued having two hands that he had to resist. Jolene wasn’t a damsel in distress that could be soothed by caresses and embraces. She relied too heavily on Earthly logic and would need time above all else to accept what was being forced upon her. “You will be the next Spring Queen… and this land will be yours as well.” Alarick gestured to the picturesque landscape beyond the window pane, hoping she would find this as some kind of consolation.

There was so much to divulge to his bride-to-be, but Al had learned that dumping all the history and information on an unsuspecting woman her first day, and sometimes even week, was dangerous. There would be plenty of time for him to explain the role his mother played in this, who each of his brothers were and the other kingdoms. Becoming engaged to an immortal man was a tough enough pill to swallow… and Al hadn’t even gotten to the part of him not being human yet. That too was always a fun conversation. Fuck this was going to be a long day.

Guarded

Spring Kingdom

Outfit

MadiRaiCat

nine lives

 

[_amaranth_]

Carina Hawthorn

The castle was huge. Cari couldn’t stop looking around, big dark eyes drinking in the beauty of the palace surrounding her and she could barely notice everything that the place had. Large windows, intricate designs woven in the architecture, marble and tones of gold and bronze everywhere and it all without making this place look tacky or tasteless. Indeed a beautiful hotel and the redhead only wished she would remember how she got here. It had to be some private jet maybe, or something like that, considering she still had her ball gown on. The only thing that was missing was the pair of shoes but she found them at her bed. She simply chose not to wear them because walking barefoot sounded way more comfortable. The marble floors cooled her feet and kept sending impulses up her body, keeping her alert. But apparently not alert enough to realize what was truly going on.

The man with those strange ears told Carina to follow him and she did so without ever questioning it. Her flowy gown rustled with every step, kissing the ground ever so softly. And Cari walked further and deeper inside the palace until being led to the kitchen where Asher was already sitting. Her eyes lit up and she approached him, perching herself up on the table as she ranted joyfully, on and on about how happy she was that he had taken her to see the sea. Although she couldn’t exactly see the azure water from the windows, joy from seeing his fair face again made her forget that for a moment and to her naive childish soul, nothing seemed off for now. Their eyes shared this invisible bond, as if connected with a thin thread and Cari’s lips were curled in a dreamy smile of a girl who had just woken up recently.

Asher’s hands found her and she let him touch her. Their legs touched as well, even if it was only for a brief moment. His warm touch filled her with comfort as so many times before when they shared their moments in Maple Grove. Somehow, their time together there seemed eons ago. The roller coaster, the cotton candy, walks and picnics, coffee dates and so much more. "But we're not at the sea you think we're at," he told her after a while and the smile became a tiny bit smaller. Confusion was written all over her face. “We’re not?” she asked, rolling her bottom lip in her mouth, chewing on it thoughtfully. "This is Fall Kingdom, Cari. My home, and now yours too. We're not in Maine anymore."

Had the girl known more about the real world and its traps, she would have understood immediately. Had she been more bitter or irritable, she would have been throwing a tantrum. And yet, sweet naive Cari was just staring at Ash, letting the words sink in properly. “We’re not…” she repeated in a half whisper. “So…where are we? And what do you mean my home? My home is in Maple Grove. It cannot just…”

Curioser and curioser. Somehow, Carina felt like Alice when arriving to Wonderland for the first time. Nothing made sense to her. She slid down from the table, her hands slipped out from Asher’s and she turned her back on him, looking around the place. The world behind the windows looked different. Like it was Fall but it wasn’t. It wasn’t, right? But he said this was the Fall Kingdom so it would make sense… “The Fall Kingdom… That would make you…” she talked to no one in particular. “Your Majesty…that’s why he said it…so if this is the Kingdom, then you’re the King…but how did we…? When? I mean…ah, my head hurts.” she sighed in exasperation, pressing the fingers to her temples, massaging them in circles. Carina was overwhelmed, trying to figure out this riddle in front of her, battling her reason and imagination. “What did you mean by saying this is my home now too?” she asked, deciding to battle one question after the other. First things first.

mood; confused| location; ball| outfit; dress necklace arm| tags; Asher MadiRaiCat

the elven bride

code by low fidelity.

 

[_amaranth_]

Arthur Donnovan

Taking Tori away from Maple Grove prove to be easier than Art originally thought. He was no young and exciting metrosexual playboy, the kind girls Tori’s age loved to swoon over but surprisingly, it was his whole persona that seemed to be intriguing to the young girl. Maybe she had already had her fill of young playboys and was ready and in a mood for a mature man. And that’s what Art was here for. He smiled at her, made sure she felt safe around him and even helped her to defy her father. Apparently, it was the way to the young girl’s heart and when he proposed leaving the fake shiny pompous ball, she jumped at the opportunity and soon, they were leaving together, entering his Winter Kingdom where he placed her in bed, in the room that was specifically prepared for the new Winter Queen. And when the morning came, Art knew the dreadful revelation was about to happen once again. And even though he had gone through it so many times before, it never got any easier.

A scream echoed in the palace and Art’s grip on his glass of Scotch tightened as he recognized Tori’s voice. His bride was now up and apparently, she was slowly getting acquainted with what her new home looked like. And for her sake, Art really hoped she was a winter person because those cutsie skirts and high heels were not going to have any great success around here. His sensitive hearing was able to capture every sound and he could clearly hear Tori, her footsteps, her anger rising with every step she took. He was in for quite an entrance and the closer she was, the clearer it was becoming. Art just remained at the window, stoic, almost rigid as always and the only move he made was when he drained his glass and reached for the carafe to refill it.

The door slammed open and while anyone else would possibly flinch, Art didn’t even blink. "What the hell is going on here?" Tori asked and her voice was raised and filled with anger. Art watched people outside, his loyal subjects, for a moment longer, took a sip from his fresh Scotch and turned around. “Good morning, Victoria.” he told her quietly, motioning his hand towards a plush set of couches by his left hand. “Why don’t you have a seat?” he proposed and moved towards one of the couches, folding his tall elegant form on it. For a moment he waited and whether she sat or not, he kept looking at her. “I assume it’s time we talked.”

There was no easy way to say what he had to say so Art assumed that it was for th best to just rip the bandaid off. “You’re home now. Welcome.” he started his speech, not realizing that his beginning would infuriate basically everyone. “Last night you wanted me to take you home and that’s exactly what I did. This is my home and now it’s yours too. This is the Winter Kingdom and it all belongs t me. And once we exchange our vows, it will belong to you too.” Art spoke, his voice still low and deep, calming, slightly even soothing as if he was trying to compel her. He was not though. Not for this. He needed her to listen and understand because the way she decided to approach this was going to determine their whole cohabitation. “You’re going to become my wife, Victoria.” he said plainly and stood up, setting the glass on the table so he could walk to her. “And let me tell you, you are no less beautiful today than you were last night.”

mood; patient| location; ball| outfit; click! | tags; Tori, ( apolla )​

the vampire king

code by low fidelity.

 

[apolla]

VICTORIA ZABIELSKI

Outfit: Click & click! | Mood: confused & pissed off | Tags: Art ( _amaranth_ )

A mixture of anger and fear flooded Tori's tiny body, enough that she slammed the door open as hard as she could to enter the study. It didn't take her long to find Art standing by the window, her tone nothing short of accusatory as she hurled her question at him. For a moment, he didn't even turn to look at her. She trembled with anger, watching as he took a drink of the liquid in his glass before finally turning around, greeting her with a simple good morning. As though they were talking about the weather. The unforgivable cold, freezing weather at that. He gestured towards the couches by the wall, inviting her to have a seat. The words why don't you bite me? were on the tip of her tongue, but for once she bit them back, forcing herself to say nothing as he moved to take a seat himself. She knew he was waiting for her to do the same, but she didn't move.

"So start talking." She ground out, turning her body to face him fully. But whatever she'd expected him to say, what he uttered next was not it. Her eyes widened and for a moment, fear outweighed her anger and the latter emotion was forgotten. "What?" She asked, her voice barely above a horrified whisper. He continued as though she hadn't spoken, telling her that he'd done exactly what she wanted and taken her home. To his home. And now, apparently, hers too. The kingdom seemed to have a fitting name, if what she saw outside of her window told her anything. Thinking about the icecicle she'd touched almost made her miss his next words, but the word vows rang out loud and clear in her mind. Art continued in that strangely calm voice of his, telling her in no shortage of words that she was going to become his wife.

Her entire body tensed when he stood, approaching her, telling her she was beautiful. Her cheeks warmed, but if he thought compliments was going to get him out of this, he was dead wrong. "Take me back." Her voice shook as she looked up at him, a slight pleading note to it as well. But in a situation like this, even Tori wasn't above a slight amount of begging. "Wherever the hell you brought me to, I don't want to be here. Did you drug me? Is that how you got me here to a place where there's snow and ice on the ground? Icecicles hanging from the roof and people all bundled up?" The pleading gave way to desperation as she continued, biting down on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from actually lashing out, whether with just her words or physically. In hindsight, maybe she should have snapped that icecicle from the roof and brought it with her.

"Art..." Tori tried again, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, trying to regain her composure. When she opened her eyes a second later, nothing had changed. She wasn't Dorothy, able to click her heels together and go home. It seemed the only way she'd make it back to Maple Grove was if the man in front of her took her back, but apparently, that wasn't on his to-do list. The anger began to creep back in and she scoffed, turning away from him and marching over to the window he'd been staring out of. Once again she was brought almost face to face with the elements, and she faltered. Until she caught a glint of the reflection of the necklace in the window, reminding her of what happened in the hallway. "Why won't this come off?" She didn't think she needed to tell him what she meant. A part of her thought he would know exactly what she meant. Suddenly she spun around again, padding back in his direction, coming to stand directly in front of him again. Lifting her hands, she hooked her finger through the chain, lifting it from her neck. Just in case he didn't know. "Take it back."

coded by natasha.

 

[apolla]

ADRIAN BECK

Outfit: shorts, no shirt! | Mood: hesitant | Tags: Mari ( Desert_Blossom )

Adrian was never good at hiding what he felt, and it was clear on his face and in his eyes that he was disappointed by Mari's reaction. It wasn't really fair of him to ask her to react in a better way, though, and a part of him knew that. This was all new and unexpected to her. He wished that he could have told her sooner what his plans were, or what it meant for her to put on the necklace he gave her. But he simply couldn't afford the risk. None of them could. Once the secret was out, it was out. But at least here there wasn't anyone who didn't know about the kings, and there wasn't anyone Mari could accidentally spill the secret to. Was it fucked up? Beyond. But it was just how things had to be.

Standing from the bed, she took an automatic step back from him. But he just pulled the sheet from her hands, and he tried to explain things in a simple way that she would understand. Not because she was stupid-- far from it. But because he knew she was traumatized, and her mind might not be functioning at full capacity to understand the history of everything right now. There would be plenty of time for that later, if she wanted to speak to him after leaving this room. Never one to hide the truth, he turned her around and gently guided her back to the window. She was looking down at the prying eyes from below, but his bomb about her becoming his wife caused her eyes to dart up and in his direction. He saw the alarm there, but he remained calm.

The sound that escaped her coupled with the erratic breaths leaving her lungs told Adrian that she was dangerously close to having a panic attack. He tried to ground her with touch, remembering how she'd reacted to touch before, once she'd gotten comfortable with him. He wanted to show her that he was still the same guy that she'd gotten to know over the last week, that nothing about him had changed. Turning her around, he peered down at her as his hands found hers. There were no lies in anything he'd said to her, and he needed her to know that. But with the way she breathed his name, he knew that he wasn't going to like what she said next. A silent sigh escaped his large body when she squeezed his hands, begging him to take her home.

For a moment, he said nothing. She moved closer, tilting her head back more, and neither of them broke eye contact. "Please don't be frightened." He implored, feeling her small but warm hands move to his chest. She didn't understand, and he knew that, but what broke him was hearing her say she couldn't give him what he wanted. His jaw clenched; did she think that little of herself? She continued, finally closing her eyes before she buried her face against him. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly in the embrace he knew she wanted. If she didn't, she would have done anything to ensure she wasn't in his arms. Once again, she pleaded with him to take her home, her voice so soft that it could almost have been drowned out by the waves rolling against the castle walls. "Mari..." He started, moving his hands up and down her back, hoping to be comforting. "Come with me." He moved to his closet, grabbing a shirt that she could throw on before he led her out of the room. Navigating expertly through the hallways, he stopped outside of a white ornate door, turning to look at her. "This is your room, in your section of our castle. I've had it decorated for you, but anything you don't like-- we can change. Consider this a safe space from me." He nodded towards the door for her to enter. "I won't come in unless you invite me."

coded by natasha.

 

[MadiRaiCat]

location

bedroom -> outside

mentions

none

interactions

Alarick ( Desert_Blossom )

outfit

x

Jolene

werewolf bride

To say Jolene didn't quite understand what was happening to her was an understatement. She could feel the anger racing around her body like magma, burning every place it touched. She was having trouble keeping it together. There was a part of her she didn't recognize, fighting to get out. She wanted to launch herself at Alarick. To do what, she wasn't entirely sure. Rip his throat out? Jump his bones again? The primal instincts attempting to break through could go either way. Because, despite everything including the confusion, Jo still felt a pull towards the ruggedly handsome man in front of her, was still attracted to him. Did that make her crazy? Maybe, but she couldn't deny it. That being said, the way he casually leaned against the door frame annoyed her. She felt her fingernails digging sharply into her palms as she clenched her fists.

Jolene couldn't help but roll her hazel eyes at the word 'king.' In her experience, men who thought of themselves as kings were usually egotistical assholes with no real power. She had hunted many of them in her time, and usually, she was pretty good about picking them out of a crowd. But it would seem that Alarick had fooled her. That was a first. At least in a long while anyway. Now, because of her lack of insight, she was stuck in a building with a guy she really didn't know at all. With no weapons and nothing but her wits and fists to protect herself with. The way he looked at her felt calculated, like he could see through her taunts and sarcastic jabs. The blonde didn't appreciate how easily he seemed to read her but kept her face as passive as she could despite all the anger boiling in her veins and sending her heart racing.

With her back positioned to the wall to keep herself guarded, Jolene pursed her lips as she listened to Alarick speak. At least he was giving her the explanation she demand, he owed her that much. That being said, his words were not exactly sparking confidence. 'Maintaining balance and order of the seasons.' What the hell did that even mean? She took a step back as he approached, her back hitting the wall next to the window. It was involuntary but revealed that she was afraid of him. But his words terrified her even more. Queen? Wife? Was he being serious? From the look on his face, Jo could tell he was. He believed everything he was saying. She was trapped, scared, cornered. And so her walls went up. The blonde narrowed her eyes, feeling the anger well up inside of her again.

"Believe you? You want me to believe you? What you're telling me is insane!" she shot back, practically bristling. She began moving slowly away from the wall, still facing Alarick. Her now golden-tinged eyes darted towards the door for a millisecond as she made her plan. After spending the majority of her adult life free to roam wherever she pleased, the idea of being stuck in one place forcefully was her hell. So, despite being clad in only Alarick's button-up shirt from the night before, she knew she had to make her escape. When he leaned towards the window to peer out, she cut around him and ran as fast as her feet would carry her, bursting out the first door she could find.

nine lives

 

[MadiRaiCat]

location

kitchen.

mentions

His brothers.

interactions

Carina ( _amaranth_ ).

outfit

x

Asher

elf king

Asher knew from the very beginning that Carina was different, unique and unlike any of his previous wives. But, to be honest, that was how he preferred to choose them. While his brothers might go for a girl based on whoever draws them near, that wasn't the only piece of the puzzle he looked for. He wanted a new experience, a different life each time so that immortality wasn't as monotonous as it had definitely come to be. Humanity was interesting that way. Despite the thought-provoking question of nature versus nurture, there was an infinite amount of combinations and choices that created infinitely new personalities and consciences and, thus, people. Elves had longer lifespans than humans, not necessarily immortal but close. Including his brothers and his mother, Ash had been around the same groups for most of his life. With each wife, he had a new muse, a new adventure.

Unfortunately, however, the Fall King was nothing if not straightforward. Sometimes to a fault. He couldn't sit there and lie to Carina, couldn't give her a false sense of security. She thought this was the sea she dreamed of, but it was far different. Ash could only hope that it wasn't worse in her mind. She had this dreamy look on her face that he didn't want to change, but he didn't have a choice. He could tell that his words confused her, and he knew what was coming. The questions, the fear, the anger, even the futile attempts to escape when magic wouldn't let them. But Cari surprised him once again, seemingly contemplating his words and turning them over in her mind. Did she understand what he said? Should he repeat himself? No, she had questions, he could see it on her face. Her soft skin against his was suddenly gone, slipping away as she moved from the table and looked around. He let her, taking one final sip from his mug of coffee before standing to join her.

The brunette king reached out to place a hand on the redhead's shoulder but dropped it before he touched her. He let her think on things a bit more, ask her rambling questions for a moment, and waited for a pause before he began to answer. "I'm the King of the Fall Kingdom, and my brothers rule over the other seasons. The world is a magical place, and for the seasons to stay in balance, my brothers and I must take a new wife every 100 years. This time, I chose you. You will stay here with me and rule over the Fall Kingdom as my Queen. So, this land is your home now," Asher did his best to explain. But he knew from experience that all of this probably sounded like some sort of delusional fairy tale. But it wasn't. "I know you probably have a lot of questions, and I'd be happy to answer them. Would you still like to go see the sea?"

nine lives

 

[Desert_Blossom]

Marissa Locke

For a few moments, Adrian’s embrace offered the solace Marissa was so desperately searching for. It was strange to feel so safe in his arms, while knowing that when she opened her eyes she’d still be trapped in a foreign place. His warmth was like a drug- offering escape from reality, but addictive and deceptively dangerous. And now the very man who had put her in this situation was the only one Mari could turn to for help. Adrian implored her not to be frightened, running his hands up and down her back in a comforting motion. How could she not be frightened though?

Breaking the embrace, Adrian told Marissa to come with him. Praying that her pleas had worked and he’d realized the mistake he’d made in taking her, Mari quietly followed after him. The merman handed her a shirt and the blonde slipped it on as she let her sheet toga fall to the floor. Sure, this wasn’t the ideal outfit to travel in, but it would do as it hung loosely on her frame.
Once again hope crept in that Adrian would do the right thing and would take her home like she’d asked. It was irrational at best, but for some reason Marissa wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Even though he’d deceived her. Even though he’d kidnapped her. Even though he’d made her let her guard down and believe that maybe…

The blonde looked up at the large man a couple paces ahead of her as he led her through the grand hallways, studying him for any sign that he was a different person than she’d be led to believe he was. Marissa had been so careful. So hesitant to let anyone else in after losing James, and then Adrian appeared and within a week’s time had Marissa breaking all her rules. By the end of the ball the blonde had even wondered if he might be be able to save her from herself… Now that seemed impossible, but if Adrian would just take her home, then she could put this all behind her and hide away once more behind her walls. Better this time. And never make such a foolish mistake again.

When Adrian came to a stop in front of an ornate door and announced that it led to her room rather than freedom, Marissa felt like the world dropped out from beneath her. “Our castle?” She echoed, unsettled by how permanent that made her stay here sound. Shaking her head in denial, she retreated away from Adrian and the room she viewed as a jail cell. “No…” She breathed, trying to fight the utterly terrifying reality of her situation. Adrian wasn’t planning to take her home because he seemed of the mind that she was already there. He had ignored her earlier pleas and was just going on about having this room decorated for her. A safe place?! Maple Grove was a safe place. Her home was a safe place. This… wasn’t.

“No.” Mari repeated, more firmly. This had to be a joke. Or a bad dream. This couldn’t actually be happening. “Adrian I have to go home. My job is there. My family is there. James…” Marissa faltered, thinking about her husband’s grave stone that she visited religiously. “… is there.” She hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye.

Adrian might have been wanting her to go into her room, but there was something frighteningly final about it. Like if she went in, she’d never come out. And while that might have been a little dramatic, entering would at least symbolize her not returning home today, if ever. Blue eyes turned to her surroundings, suddenly becoming interested in the hallway, the different directions it led and where the windows were. If he wouldn’t help her, then she would just figure out a way to escape herself…

Denial

Hallway

Outfit

apolla

nine lives

 

[Desert_Blossom]

Alarick Vernon

Over the last week, Alarick had been drawn to Jo for a number of reasons. Her beauty was undeniable, nor was their chemistry, but what had convinced him that she would be his the most was her fiery spirit and independent nature. Perhaps it was because times were changing and women were allowed more autonomy, but Jolene was like none of his wives before her. She was bold, driven and spoke her mind… But now, that fiery spirit and need to be free from ties was making their future together difficult. The dynamic had shifted now that Jolene didn’t have control over the situation, and Al knew that would be difficult to overcome.

Preferring not to talk to Jolene from across the bedroom, Al took a chance and walked over to join her near the window. That was likely a mistake, because the werewolf noticed the blonde step back away from him. Sure, he was a little irritated with this whole song and dance, but he didn’t want Jo to be afraid of him. Al clenched his teeth for a moment, swallowing his anger at this ceremony he and his brothers had to go through every 100 years. He was tired of his wives starting each of their marriages afraid. Jo wasn’t one that seemed to fear much, so for him to make the list sent a pang of guilt through him. Her anger at his explanation didn’t help any either.

The Southern Belle’s eyes were full of fury as she pointed out how insane Alarick sounded, and he couldn’t help but notice the golden tinge to them. He’d been certain her eyes had been hazel, though perhaps the light was catching them differently here in his kingdom. Or her anger was making them shine brighter. Whatever the case, Al didn’t have long to study Jo’s gaze before she used him glancing towards the window to her advantage. Catching her movement from the corner of his eye, Al turned just in time to see Jolene dash out the door.

For a moment the wolf’s instinct was to chase after the running girl, but he reminded himself that there was nowhere for her to escape to really. Even if she went to the edge of his kingdom or to one of his brother’s if he gave her enough of a head start, he’d be able to track her scent. Besides, he could easily out run her. It wasn’t like she would get far before he caught up. And maybe some fresh air would do his bride-to-be some good. At least she wouldn’t feel trapped in his castle.

Letting out a long, languid sigh, Al ran his hands through his hair. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, feeling thousands of years older than the youthful man staring back at him. Time hadn’t been kind to his spirit, but it hadn’t touched him physically. He was still shirtless, but he didn’t bother dressing anymore as he walked out the door in the direction Jo had run in. Hell, his staff had seen him in less, and if he did have to chase the blonde down at least he wouldn’t ruin another shirt transforming.

Following the aromatic and intoxicating scent of the woman who wanted nothing to do with him, Al trailed after Jo. He imagined she would be in for quite a shock when she discovered herself in a land of werewolves, and didn’t want to be too far behind in case she tried to go on the offensive. An amused smirk did pull at the corner of his mouth when he considered that his future wife would be bold enough to try to take on a werewolf if she felt threatened. He had definitely picked a feisty one this time around. Mother Nature help him.

“Jolene… you might want to wait up…!” Al called after the blonde, unsure if her human ears would hear him or not at this distance. It was worth a shot though. She couldn’t say he didn’t try to warn her.

Old

Spring Kingdom

Outfit

MadiRaiCat

nine lives

 

[_amaranth_]

Carina Hawthorn

Dreams were intricate webs of adventures and desires woven inside Carina’s head. She had been working on this web for over a decade now, adding more and more strings, connections and needs. At this point, in her late twenties, there was barely a place in it to add more and yet, she kept trying to cram it all inside that red-haired head of hers. As a child, she used to dream about fairy tale lands. She would just adore taking the yellow brick road and clicking the heels of her ruby slippers to travel around the fairy-verse and find herself at a tea party in the forest only to fly away to Neverland holding onto a shadow in the shroud of the night. Cari was nothing if not a dreamer and these ideas were deeply rooted in her.

What she never expected was actually finding herself in a land resembling all the countries of the tales she had devoured as a child. Asher explained something but his words sent her brain spiraling. Too many thoughts, questions, answers and more questions popped up and resulted in a budding headache. Not even the quick temple massage was helping and Carina was trying to understand everything Asher was telling her. He was a king. Wait, not a king. The King. The Fall King. Her hazel eyes went even wider and lips parted. Then she closed them only to part them again, making herself look like a fish on dry land. But with more words from the alluring man, Carina’s heart started to beat even faster, making her want to faint. Or wake up. Or something. Something really needed to happen because…

“Wife?” she exclaimed louder than she planned. Her heart kept fluttering in the shocked state. “Queen?” she asked in a slightly quieter tone but the more he talked, the less believable things were. This had to be a dream. Taking a few steps back, away from Ash, Cari squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands were balled into fists by her side and she pressed her nails into flesh so hard they were bound to leave a set of half-moon imprints. She needed to wake up and soon. She was sure that once her eyes opened, she would be in her bed, back at Maple Grove. But nothing of sorts happened. “It’s not a dream…” she whispered, starting to look a little desperate. Not even the prospect of seeing the sea and the beach distracted her from the fact she started to realize. Her newly found freedom was vanishing in thin air. “Please, take me home. I can’t…I am no Queen, Asher. Please…” she pleaded, feeling as if the walls were closing down on her, no matter how large and magnificent the palace was.

mood; panicking| location; ball| outfit; dress necklace arm| tags; Asher MadiRaiCat

the elven bride

code by low fidelity.

 

[_amaranth_]

Arthur Donnovan

Being around for literal centuries prepared Art for a lot of things. There weren’t many situations, occurrences, phenomena or reactions that were able to surprise him at this point. And same applied to his wives. After being married for so many times, he had encountered all sorts of women and encounters from which most were negative. Some screamed, some cried, some fainted. There were ladies who ran and locked themselves in their room, never to speak to Art again. Some of them even tried starving themselves to death. Other times, they screamed, kicked, yelled, attempted to make his life a living hell. And the tiniest percent of them even agreed to his proposal. Not that any of them ever had the option to refuse. The only option they had was to choose how they wanted to approach this new situation. And something was telling the vampire that Victoria was not the one to take this lightly.

If her way of opening the door told him something, it only confirmed his assumptions. She came in loudly and bringing the whole circus with her, all screaming and demanding. She didn’t take a seat when he proposed which didn’t stop him from doing so as he calmly continued in explaining the whole predicament to the blonde. And as expected, her reaction was hysterical, demanding him to take her back. For the tiniest moment, Art might seem like he was considering it. “No.” he said with freezing cool in his voice. “I did not drug you. I am no date rapist, what do you think?” he told her, disgust dripping from his words. “Once again, Victoria. You wanted me to take you home. Look around. We’re home.” he said as if there was not one problem around here. “The sooner you make your peace with it, the better it will be for both of us.”

Her next question wasn’t surprising either. Art knew she would eventually realize the necklace was not coming off and she apparently did. “It’s a token.” he spoke and that almost deadly calm tone never left his voice. He walked to her, standing dangerously close. “It says you’re mine.” he rumbled deeply, snaking his arm around her small waist. “It belongs to you just like you belong to me now. Now tell me, Victoria…” he started, passionately refusing to use her nickname. “...if we were not here, if we were still in Maple Grove and I told you you’re mine, if I told you without all that bravado from before, without my kingdom around us, would you react differently?” he hummed, towering over her like a dark menace. “Because something is telling me you were quite excited about my presence in your life before. And honestly, this is no different. Just the place looks better than that tacky mansion your father owns.” His fingers traced a line on the side of her face, toying with a loose golden lock. “Or am I wrong?”

mood; patient| location; ball| outfit; click! | tags; Tori, ( apolla )​

the vampire king

code by low fidelity.

 

[apolla]

VICTORIA ZABIELSKI

Outfit: Click & click! | Mood: confused & pissed off | Tags: Art ( _amaranth_ )

Things weren't adding up in Tori's mind, and it only infuriated her further. The thing was, Art's words were cool and collected, same as his tone. He was clearly speaking English, so she understood the words themselves. But they still didn't make sense. A few short hours ago, they'd been in Maple Grove, but now she definitely wasn't in Kansas anymore. Somehow, in the time she'd been sleeping, he'd taken her somewhere where there were icecicles and snowflakes. How...? Being drugged was the only thing that even came close to making sense, but she heard the disgust in his voice when he told her that he hadn't drugged her. Her anger had flared right before that, when he seemed to consider her demand but only for a split second before he refused. She felt a chill creeping down her spine as he continued in that freezing tone, so much so that she had to move away from him, and went towards the window.

As she stood there, she tried to pick apart what he was saying, but she just didn't understand. Catching sight of the necklace in her reflection, she now had a new direction to go in, and she felt that anger return, heating her from the inside. Turning back to him, her bare feet pounded the ground as she stomped closer to him, demanding answers yet again. "A token?" She repeated, dropping her hand from the necklace as she gazed down at his still seated form. But then he was standing, crossing the distance to her in a few short strides. Her breath caught in her throat, both at what he said and his proximity. His arm slid around her waist and her hands moved to flatten against his chest, giving him a half-hearted push that he ignored. Her hands remained where they were, her eyes wide as she stared up into his.

"I don't want it." She whispered, her words lost as he continued. Goosebumps rose on her exposed flesh as his words wrapped around her, smooth as the finest silk, yet able to call her out on her bullshit at the same time. And she hated it. Her fingers curled on his chest as her lips parted, but no snarky response came out. Nothing came out, actually. She was speechless. She felt his finger tracing a line on her face and she shivered, automatically moving closer to him before she remembered she wasn't supposed to be doing that. "You tricked me." She whispered, realizing in that moment why she was so angry. One of the reasons, rather. Perhaps the biggest. She felt the betrayal cutting through her like a knife, even if it wasn't exactly what had happened. "You tricked me, and that cancels out any feelings I might have had toward you."

She wrenched herself out of his grip, but really, there was nowhere else for her to go. She could run, but to where? Outside in the snow in her bare feet and dress from the ball the night before? Biting back a sob, she finally moved, just to sink onto the couch he'd offered her to take a seat on just a few moments before. Placing her head in her hands, she remained like that for a few moments, trying to make sense of her thoughts before she finally lowered them. "Fine." Her voice shook, but she was still as determined as before. "We're in your... kingdom." She scoffed lightly, almost as though she didn't believe him. "Where is it? Alaska? Canada? Still not exactly sure how you got me here without drugging me, but I see the snow. I... I felt the ice. It's... it's real." She stared at the ground, slowly lifting her gaze to him again. "So what? You're a king?"

coded by natasha.

 

[apolla]

ADRIAN BECK

Outfit: shorts, no shirt! | Mood: hesitant | Tags: Mari ( Desert_Blossom )

It broke Adrian's heart to know that Marissa felt deceived by his methods of bringing her here. She didn't have to say it; he knew. But this was just the way things had to be. Adrian's presence in the world couldn't be common knowledge, same as his brothers. If humans knew there were four 'gods' of the world, they would do anything they could to reach them. It reminded Adrian of a story he'd read in the bible once, where the Babylonians had tried to build a tower that would end in the heavens. Of course, it was nothing more than a story, but it wouldn't surprise Adrian for people to do something like that. Adrian and the others kept the world balanced, and unfortunately for Marissa and the girls and the ones who'd come before them, they were just a part of that. But that didn't mean that's all they were to the brothers, because it was more than that. Adrian knew better, and it was something he tried to convince every wife he'd had of, but he wasn't always successful. But he wanted to be here.

At first, Marissa seemed to melt into his touch, and he felt a false sense of hope that things could be okay. That's why he wanted to show her the room he'd had prepared for her, because he wanted her to know that he'd thought about her. That he'd wanted to give her a safe space to think if she needed it, a place where she could even hide from him if she wanted. They traversed the hallways, coming to a stop in front of the ornate door that led into her chambers. He even felt proud as he studied the carved dolphins decorating the trim surrounding the door, before his ocean-blue eyes turned down to Mari. "Yes. Our castle." He repeated the phrase, turning to face her as she started shaking her head. He realized then, and as she said no in that soft breathy voice, that he'd been foolish to think things were already going to be fine. It only took one look at Mari's face and in her eyes for him to realize that she was interpreting things much differently than he wanted her to.

"Mari-" He started, but she firmly repeated the word no. Had he been a dog, he would have tucked his tail between his legs, especially as she started listing off the things back in Maple Grove that she needed to go back to. "You can't go back." He whispered softly, after a long silence that fell between them. He'd known that she still clung tightly to her ex husband, but seeing the way her face fell now made him feel about two inches tall. "Mari, I'm so sorry... but this is your home now." He wished he could make this better for her. He'd wished it with almost every single wife he'd ever had. They'd all been different, had different backstories and lives he'd wrenched them from, but for some reason his heart hurt worse with Mari than it had with any of the others.

"Your family, your job, your... James. I know it pains you, but I need you to know that I only want to see you happy here." He corrected himself on the last one, wanting to use the man's name and hoping that he wouldn't insult her by doing so. "You can do anything you like here. You can work, or you can choose not to. Anything within the realm of possibility that I can do, I will do for you. You going back to Maple Grove is not within that realm." He stared at her, but suddenly she shifted her gaze from the door, looking at the area surrounding them. He felt his heart sink further when he realized what she was doing. "The castle is ours, I meant what I said. You are free to explore it. And you are free to venture into the kingdom, if that's what you wish. But you won't find your way back to Maple Grove, Mari. It's impossible."

coded by natasha.

 

[MadiRaiCat]

location

castle -> edge of the kingdom

mentions

none

interactions

Alarick ( Desert_Blossom )

outfit

x

Jolene

werewolf bride

Almost immediately as she stepped outside, Jolene was met with the scent of fresh cut grass, wildflowers, and newly fallen rain. It assaulted her senses all at once, almost as if she had never smelt the outdoors before. Every scent was brighter, more prevalent, and increasingly overwhelming. So much so that it gave her pause and she froze at the top of the marble entrance staircase. As far as she could see, there were rolling hills of lush green grass and bright flowers swaying in the wind, lit perfectly by the sun's glinting glow. It was like something of a movie, a fairy tale. It didn't look real. "What in the absolute tarnation..." she muttered to herself, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to wake up from whatever dream she was stuck in. But she was already awake, and this was no dream. With her feet still bare, Jo ran down the stairs, stopping only to look back at the castle when she reached the bottom. And she could help but lose her breath at the sight.

The stone castle was magnificent, looking like it belonged in an episode of that British drama the Capitain used to watch. The stone was aged, but still strong, and the towers regally accented the corners. This most certainly wasn't the apartment she had walked into last night. Was she drugged? No, she couldn't have been. Her mind was bright and alert, and if he had done something like that, it most certainly wouldn't be. But the logical side of her couldn't come to terms with the possibility that Alarick wasn't lying. There were kingdoms and he was centuries old and this was another realm... No, no way. So, without waiting any longer, she took off into a full spring across the lawn towards the forest that encircled part of the castle Because, if she knew anything about tracking, her only chance of getting away from him was losing him amongst the trees and hopefully a stream or two.

Had she been less panicked, Jolene might have realized that she was sprinting faster than normal. Sure, she worked out and could run pretty fast. Hell, she had to when she was chasing her targets down random streets. But this was faster than even that. Her feet crunched against branches on the ground, but she didn't feel any pain. Instead, she heard the wind rushing past her ears and the sound of her heartbeat. Something about that moment reminded her of camping for a month in the Appalachian Mountains with the Captain. That was one of the places he taught her survival techniques. How to build a fire, how to hunt and forage for her food, how to make weapons and build shelters. If she got far enough away, she could probably survive in those woods for weeks while she figured out how to get back to Maple Grove... If she could get back to Maple Grove.

She heard Alarick call out from behind her, could detect his scent and cologne almost as if he was right next to her. But instead of thinking it might be enhanced senses, she assumed it was due to the shirt that she wore. Branches tugged at the dress shirt and her skin. Though they left tears in both, the latter healed almost immediately. But Jo didn't notice. Eventually, she burst out into a clearing and could see the sun reflecting off a body of water in the distance. She smiled as she caught her breath for a moment. She must look wild, but she didn't care. Instead, the blonde took a few steps forward and was met by an invisible wall. She stumbled back, looking around to try and understand why she couldn't go any further, to see what was blocking her path. But there was nothing there.

Reaching out a tentative hand, she placed it directly on an invisible surface. And that was when she realized that everything Al had told her was true. But before she had a moment to process it, a growl sounded from behind her. Jolene turned slowly, coming face-to-face with a large golden-eyed wolf. Being the Southern belle she was, her immediate reaction was to grab a nearby branch and hold it menacingly towards the wolf. Her father had taught her a bit about dealing with predators, but all she could think to do at that moment was fight. "I warn you, I may look small. But my papa always told me I had enough fire to kill a bear with my bare hands. I can't imagine your furry behind would be any different. So, I suggest you turn tail and leave before I have to teach you who's who, you hear?"

nine lives

 

[MadiRaiCat]

location

kitchen.

mentions

His brothers.

interactions

Carina ( _amaranth_ ).

outfit

x

Asher

elf king

No matter how many times Asher had to explain his occupation, for lack of a better term, to his new wife, it never got any easier. There were different types of responses. The easiest were those that immediately believed his words and accepted their roles. They were the ones who always had dreams of a fairy tale and were happy to be waited on hand-and-foot for the remainder of their relatively short lives. But, in his experience, those were the marriages that were the most surface level and materialistic, the ones he was the least happy in. Some were angry and never forgave him for ripping them away from their loved ones and old lives, even when he assured them that they could travel back to visit as long as he was along for the ride. But that wasn't good enough.

They wanted their families and their friends and their jobs, and were completely unreasonable with the idea that the seasons would not be in balance if they didn't help rule the kingdom. Those were the marriages when he was generally the most miserable. And then there were the responses like Carina's. Those were the ones that broke his heart. No matter how many wives Ash took, or how long he was alive, it didn't get any easier. Those were the marriages that could go either way. They could be the most stressful and excruciating, or they could be the most exciting and romantic relationships he'd had. And the worst part was the wait. He wouldn't know until years into the marriage which path it would take.

After all, he couldn't give his wives the traditional human things that they wanted. He would never grow old with them, would never watch their children grow up and have children of their own. As far as he was aware, he couldn't father children. But that didn't mean he refused to dream about what it would be like. Human families were something he was envious of. Maybe it was a piece of his vanity and envy, being all-powerful and still not have something mere humans could. Or maybe it was a real dream, he wasn't sure. Whatever the case, it certainly felt real. Of course, it never really occurred to Asher how he came to be. He knew his mother was the goddess of all nature. But a father? No clue. Maybe if they had had one, they would have learned a better basis for choosing a wife.

But that seemed a bit outlandish, even to him. No, he would just have to keep failing until he found his so-called soulmate that his mother promised would actually exist at some point. Every time, he hoped it was a fairly, and he certainly hoped that with Carina. She was a dreamer, sweet and unpredictable to an adorable extent. Ash already knew he felt a connection to her, a hope deep down that this would be the one to last for eternity. But maybe he was being selfish in wanting that. Well, selfishness be damned. Neither one of them had any choice in the matter now. Nevertheless, it still hurt his heart when she took a few steps back from him, maybe in disbelief or worse, fear. He certainly hoped it wasn't the latter. But, with the way things were going, he couldn't be sure.

"No, it most certainly isn't a dream, Carina," Asher said softly, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans to combat any temptations of touching her or pulling her into a hug. He could see the panicked, saddened look on her face as the reality of his words began to set in. Ash couldn't begin to imagine what was going on inside her mind. Everyone was different. He had only known her for a couple of days, so the importance of freedom to her went over his head. "You are a Queen. Queen of the elves and the Fall Kingdom. And I think you will do a wonderful job if you give it a chance. This castle and this kingdom are yours and your home. That is the only way to keep balance in the worlds."

nine lives

 

[Desert_Blossom]

Marissa Locke

As Marissa listed all the reasons she needed to return home, Adrian was visibly affected. He no longer had the warm spark in his eyes or laughter on the tip of his tongue that she’d come to already expect from him. No, right now his usual vibrancy was muted, and it was all because of her. At first, the blonde took satisfaction in this- not wanting to be the only one hurting. What had he expected, that she’d be thrilled to leave everyone and everything she’d ever know behind? Besides, hadn’t she told him she couldn’t give him what he wanted? She’d been here mere hours and already was causing Adrian pain.

The second this observation was made though, traitorous guilt began to seep in. Mari shouldn’t care that her kidnapper looked like a kicked puppy, or that her steadfast desire to leave cut him down. But part of her still did. Just like at the ball, she had the urge to do anything to prevent him from looking so disappointed… but she held her ground. And he unfortunately held his.

You can’t go back. Adrian’s words were just a soft whisper, but coming from him, that almost made them worse. He was being serious. The defiance that had been in her eyes moments ago as she told him “no” slipped away. Adrian’s apology caught her off guard because he truly seemed to mean it. For a second, Marissa wondered why he would do something he knew he’d be sorry about, but before she could ask, James’ name was uttered and she immediately prickled. That’s right, Adrian planned to replace James as her husband. It was such a peculiar notion that Marissa couldn’t even process the idea of marrying Adrian yet. Not when she was hardly dealing with the idea of not being able to go home.

The blonde woman believed that the Summer King was being sincere when he said he wanted her to be happy or that he’d do anything within his realm of possibility for her… But all of that was pushed to the side when he made it clear that it was impossible for her to return to Maple Grove. He would do anything except what she wanted most.

Mari’s chest tightened around her lungs as the finality of her situation sunk in and tears clouded her vision. It felt like losing James all over again. Except this time she wasn’t only losing him, but also her mother, and father, and brother, and sister, and niece, and nephew and everyone else she knew. All at once. The extent of that loss- the very feeling she feared the most- was overwhelming and seized Mari in a vice-like grip. “I-“ The blonde began, trying to catch her breath as her chest rose and fell too quickly to take in enough oxygen. “I-I need air…” She said panicked, feeling like she was suffocating beneath the pieces of her shattered reality.

Adrian had said she could go wherever she wanted, and right now that needed to be outside. Somewhere that didn’t feel like the walls were closing in around her. The blonde turned from him, taking a few clumsy steps one way, before second guessing herself and starting down the opposite direction. She’d already forgotten which turns Adrian had taken to get here, and she wasn’t even sure if his room was closer to an exit or not. Disoriented and feeling like a ticking time bomb, Marissa swallowed her pride and glanced to Adrian, once more needing him. Or at least his help. “…Please?” She asked, looking for guidance on how to get out of the castle. And quickly!

Panicked

Hallway

Adrian’s Shirt

apolla

nine lives

 

[Desert_Blossom]

Alarick Vernon

For such a petite woman, Jolene was surprisingly fast. By the time Alarick reached the marble staircase of his castle, her form was already disappearing into the forest. Sure, he’d trailed after her at a steady walk rather than a run, but he didn’t expect her to have that much a head start. Still, even the fastest humans only required a light jog for Alarick to catch. Not that he found himself running after many humans other than his past wives. The blonde either hadn’t heard his warning or had decided to ignore him, but either way he didn’t want her in the forest alone very long before she was told just what type of beings she would be Queen of.

Deciding he should still be able to catch up to Jolene in his human form, Alarick took off at a steady jog after her. However, judging by the diminishing strength of her scent she was still getting further from Al rather than closer. The werewolf’s brow furrowed, confused how this could be possible, and he increased his pace. It was only when he was running at full speed that Alarick began to gain ground on his future wife, but by then another familiar scent joined hers. Fuck. And she was quickly approaching the border where she would be caught at a dead end. Double fuck.

By the time Jolene came into view through the trees, she was doing just what Alarick expected- trying to take on a werewolf. Pride sparked within him at how brave the woman he’d chosen was, but she couldn’t have picked a worse opponent to antagonize with her brazen words. Had she been swinging the branch at any other werewolf, Alarick might have been amused and held back to see how it played out… But he didn’t want to take the chance of letting things go any further. Not bothering to hide his inhuman speed, he darted between Jolene and the werewolf, making sure to steer clear of her branch bat. With his back to Jo, the Spring King squared off to the wolf, who bristled under his Alpha’s gaze.

“Is that any way to greet your future Queen, Jethro?” Al asked in an even, but low voice, making it very clear he was not pleased with the situation. The wolf looked from Al to Jolene, hesitating for a moment as he surveyed her suspiciously, before casting his eyes downward in submission. The muscles in Al’s body relaxed almost imperceptibly, and he crossed his arms over his chest, satisfied that things would not get physical. Jethro was one of the older wolves, and had never quite liked the idea of having to answer to anyone other than himself. While Al did not trust the wolf, Jethro had never crossed any line far enough to deserve to be exiled. Yet. Though the thought of Jethro alone with Jolene set Alarick’s teeth on edge, and would never be allowed again. “And what did you plan to do had I not showed up, I wonder? I would think you would have better things to do than chase after unsuspecting women.” He scolded.

Jethro apparently did not like what the king was insinuating and looked up sharply, growling in protest before he remembered his place. Al raised an eyebrow in warning, before turning his head to glance at Jo out of the corner of his eye as he inhaled deeply. His shirt that still hung on her frame had seen better days, and it looked like she’d cut herself in the brush, but he couldn’t smell Jethro on her. She hadn’t been touched. Good. For the rogue wolf’s sake. “I’ll speak with you later Jethro. For now return to the other pack leaders and let them know that our new Queen has joined us. I would hate for anyone else to make your same mistake.” Alarick directed, dismissing the werewolf with hardly a second glance as he fully turned around to face Jolene.

Blue eyes studied her for a moment, before shifting their focus past her to the ocean in the distance. “I see you made it to the border of the Summer Kingdom in record time…” Al mused lightly, his intensity from moments ago softening some as he and Jo were left alone. His gaze returned to his future wife, their exchange in the bedroom still fresh in his memory. She’d been afraid of him then, so he imagined he’d not helped his cause any the last couple minutes. She probably thought he was insane for talking with a wolf, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. There was still so much to tell her.

“I have no intentions of harming you, or letting anyone else do so either.” Alarick vowed to the blonde, slowly reaching out his hand to lower the branch she was yielding to the side. “Though it looks like you’ve done a number on yourself…” He pointed out, observing the tears in his shirt, and the dried blood on her cheeks. “May I…?” He asked, holding out his hand to Jo, wanting to take a look at the damage done to her free arm.

Protective

Woods

Shirtless w/dress pants

MadiRaiCat

nine lives