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Post by Sinara Dominor on Oct 14, 2010 17:33:30 GMT -5
Sinara
Sinara stood at the window of her chambers, arms braced on the ledge, looking down at the comings and goings through the main entrance far below. Confined and secluded- not to mention starved damn near to torpor- it was, aside from her Sire`s visits, the only contact she had with the outside world for .. well, she couldn`t even determine how long now. Not even her children had been allowed to visit... Isabella, Herald.. she could only imagine the scene Samael would have created were he here. She felt a small smile tug at her lips at the memory of her son Herald`s attempt to see his Mother- surely a scene worthy of one of her kin. That seemed ages ago... now, eyes burning, muscles spasming, her mind fluctuating between reality and dream, she wondered in a moment of lucidity when the hell it would be done. Her rooms within Dominor Manor were spacious and comfortable, but deprivation was deprivation no matter how pretty a bow you slapped on it. The Fates, she thought with some amusement, should not ever be underestimated. It was almost 291 years ago to the day that she was embraced by her Sire Azazeal, cheating death that night -and then forever. How appropriate now that she was in the home of his own Dark Mother, who had until recently barely even acknowledged her existence.
Aza had always said that she and Valterra would never get along... "You are too much like her, Sini... you will never be able to tolerate each other- rather, she will never tolerate You." The argument that ensued as to the true reason Aza had turned her in the first place was fodder and foundation for strife over the next several decades, and all the more reason for the current situation being almost comical in it`s unlikelihood. As a mortal, she was of the young Italian aristocracy... but that wasn`t what she knew had drawn her Sire to her and ultimately saved her life. She had been a fighter in every sense of the word. Strong of will, short of patience, sharp of tongue... her twin brother Mayne had inherited their mother`s charm- she her father`s short fuse. She had no use for the weak and made damn sure she didn`t suffer their company for long, if at all.
Sinara shook herself sharply- realizing she`d gotten lost in her own mind again. Walking on fatigued limbs out onto the balcony, she was just in time to witness the arrival of several guests. She could hear the voices clearly.. Valterra was at the door welcoming first Alucard, then Azazeal. It was unnerving to realize that she had just spent at least an hour at the window that felt like mere moments. She was slipping. She hoped Aza wouldn`t come to see her- she wasn`t sure she would control her temper or her thirst. He was the only being Val allowed near, lest she be tempted to feed. His visits were a balm at first, a much needed distraction in the early days of her seclusion. As her nerves wore thin, he became her only target, which they both realized was doing nothing but providing entertainment for the rest of the household... mainly Val. She chuckled for the first time in weeks as remembered clearly the first time she had seen Val when Aza had brought her to the Dead City mere months after her change. They had been in the main hall of Obsidian, Val`s home at the time. She had entered the hall, taken one look at Sinara, proclaimed her ".. another damn bastard offspring from some flavor of the month" and never spared her another glance- that Sinara knew of.
As time went on, Sinara embraced her immortality, her surroundings, and most of all- her blood. She and Valterra may never have had tea parties and sat about gossiping and braiding each other`s hair, but she couldn`t help but appreciate and respect her for what was clearly the gift of her blood through Azazeal. Green eyed, bronze skinned, and auburn haired as a human, Sinara had changed dramatically after her embrace. Her hair had eventually turned the raven black of her Sire`s, and upon their first opening after tasting his lifeforce, her eyes were the deep garnet of his. And his Mother`s.
Over the years, Sinara strove to learn all she could, become as strong as she could, lead and follow wisely- she wanted to make her Sire proud. If Sinara were to be perfectly honest- which she wouldn`t- showing his Mother she wasn`t like all of the `others` was another must. Well, hell if she hadn`t rubbed her Nonna the right way, she thought with a smirk. Now here she was, starving, quarantined like a damn plague, and half frigging insane for her efforts. If she`d had the energy to kick her own ass, she would certainly have contemplated it at that moment.
At the present, however.. that was not the case. She was cold. Tired and weak and colder by the minute. It seemed it had been an eternity since she felt the cold of her surroundings. She turned to glance at the fire burning in her hearth, but it just seemed too far away... not worth the effort. Leaning her lower back against the balcony`s stone railing, she let her mind drift, beyond caring if she lost touch with this reality. Sliding her hands out behind her and to her sides, she braced her palms against the rough surface, the brief thought of falling gone before it could make purchase on her fleeting awareness. Odd, she thought.. the cold seemed less and less of a concern by the moment as well, as did the voices from far below. Were they calling to her? No matter. She looked down over her shoulder and saw flashing red eyes staring back at her and felt a smirk play at her lips. She leaned further over the railing, the memories flitting through her mind like a broken movie reel, her last conscious thoughts of family, of kin... of blood.
Donovan Hades
Donovan stood up on the roof of the manor watching. He slid down quickly as he watched Sinara begin to topple over the side of the railing. She was growing quite delirious in her weakened state. Watching her lean and suddenly she seemed to lean even further.. Something was wrong.
Slipping just close enough to grasp her before she began to fall. He tugged her back by her dress careful not to show himself to the others down below as he hadn`t been welcomed. He lifted her up in his arms and carried her inside as he looked down into her red eyes. "Excuse me Sin. I`m sure the fall would have been exciting but this isn`t the time for extreme sports."
He smirked and set her back against the pillows propping her up. "Now then sure there`s a blood pack around here for you or something then.." He said looking around. Donovan waited a second and decided to look for himself as he searched the bed stand and then went over to her dresser. "Hmmm"
"No sign of fresh victims and no blood packs.. is the bitch starving you?" He said chuckling as he said it not out of animosity really. Just a side of Valterra he knew was there if she were cross. He sniffed the air and made sure she wasn`t close by after he thought a moment and was pretty sure she wasn`t within hearing range at least.
Donovan grumbled and went back offering her his wrist pulling back the sleeve of the tight turtle neck he`d worn.. just for something different to his usual clothing he supposed as he sat next to Sin not really sure if she was still conscious. "Well just a snack won`t hurt?" He asked her..
Sinara
She was falling, and didn`t much mind. She had an irrational thought as she felt her footing become more precarious... "Val is going to be so pissed if I swan dive and land in an inelegantly bloody lump in front of her company." Just as the image was about to become a reality, Sinara was snatched unceremoniously from her perch. Her head lolled to the side as she was crushed against a large, hard chest belonging to a none too pleased male. She didn`t even have to open her eyes to know who it was... the only surprise was that he had taken this long to come.
The scent of leather and sandalwood made her a bit homesick, and had her thoughts momentarily distracted from his actions as he placed her on the bed and began rifling through her room. What the devil was he looking for? As she came back to herself, so did the thirst and the frustration of weakness- but this was her choice. Hers and Valterra`s.
This was not the first time she had manipulated her body and readied it for change. As a Dragon within the Ordo Dracul, a Vampire moved through the Coils of the Dragon, seeking transcendence from the weaknesses and limitations of the condition. A large part of this practice was self control, self discipline. One way a Dragon prepared themselves was to maintain small changes to their form. A vampire`s body returns to it`s form while they rest each day. It takes control to maintain a haircut, or a scar- thus older, learned Dragons had various markings on their bodies. The intricate scrollwork tattoos that Sinara held on her upper back and shoulders that extended partially down her right side and curled delicately up to the right side of the back of her neck were a matter of pride. This was no different .. her control had been sorely tested, her mind beginning to slip more frequently, but the method and rationale to this trial of will was sound.
All logical thought fled her mind as she again focused on Donovan and his outstretched wrist. She scrambled back on the bed, legs tangling in sheets as she flung herself away from temptation. "No! You shouldn`t have come! It will all be for naught!" she screamed as she pushed herself to her bare feet and ran on unsteady legs toward the door. She glanced back and felt a pang of guilt as she saw the bemused look on her dear friend`s face. She reached the thick wooden door, and without turning again, pointed to the balcony and pleaded.. "Go Don.. go before .. just trust me. I will explain soon.. but go!" Her throat burned, her mouth ached to feel her fangs make purchase in flesh- but she could not let base instincts overcome her. She closed her eyes tightly, her palms pressed hard against her face, and prayed the man behind her would understand and heed her words, and quickly. There was only so much temptation one can withstand.
Donovan Hades
Donovan rose from the bed and nodded moving from the room out to the balcony. "As it is your choice then as well." He said as he moved through the sliding doors. He simply lept off the balcony as he landed below where the guests had been moments before entering Valterra`s home.
He`d been sure to leave a note along with a white gardenia on the balcony`s edge held there by a small piece of tape. It read as followed: Dear Sinara,
It`s been far too long. I`m tired of waiting for that hellhound to release you. You are missed my Mistress of Mysteries. I do not wish to break your... whatever it is you`re doing there. But I had to come see you at last. And what`s with people suddenly claiming the Dominor name lately- I've been hearing Val`s last name recently. I swear to the Gods I`m going to smack you if you sport it too, now. Kidding I swear.. I kid. Now hurry back home to us in the Ordo`s safe halls. I.. we miss you dearly. I`d keep writing if I could to fill you in on everything but I`d surely die from sitting in one place for so long. Hurry home.
Love ya hun,
Donovan.
Valterra
Valterra greeted her son and ex-husband with quiet welcome, her eyes were the dark garnet of her blood, displaying clearly that she had fed very recently; in fact, only moments ago wiping a stray drop of blood from the fullness of her bottom lip as she had excused herself from the man-servant who had been breakfast.
She would need control this evening.
Sinara had been fasting for exactly a month on this date, whether the child knew it or not, the time had come to proceed with the final step that would make her Dominor.
The cool night air kissed Valterra’s bare shoulders as she reached a hand out to glasp Azazeal’s at the wrist, a greeting of mutual respect, but still he knelt at her feet as he took her slender limb in his strong hand. He had done this for centuries, and would continue to do so. He knew the truths of his Mother, the light and the dark- the power, and the capacity for destruction, and proudly he carried her name, and the mark of his blood-right. His eyes glowed in quiet reverence as he turned them upon Val, standing above him in a halo of free-falling fire, and she wondered as to whether his reverence was for her being- or for the night and its festivities.
The pride was clear in his expression, for though the night was Sinara’s, it too was his. She had been his choice, and she had been born of his blood- assured for centuries that Valterra would never claim his bastards, and yet there they were- gathered to accept just such a bastard.
She could sense his mind sharing the wandering of hers, and a playful smile turned the corner of his mouth upward, as he rose to his feet.
She turned then to Alucard, standing cloaked in both natural and unnatural darkness, and she extended a hand to him as well, though this she shook like a business partner, for though they had been much.. much more in times past, though they had shared in pleasures of blood and bliss and flesh- they stood now looking upon one another with respect, dignity, and shared passion. In truth they were business partners- and very old friends.
Her own mouth curved as Alu raised her hand to his lips, pressing them there as his eyes held to hers, an impish smile spreading across his mouth as he released her.
“Evening pet.” She remarked nonchalantly, a glint of mischief in her eye, only heightening when she caught movement from the corner of her eye upon the balcony stories above- Sinara’s balcony.
She grinned deeper as she extended her senses to hear more, see more, and sense more- finding that she had been correct in her assumption that some foolish man would seek to be Sinara’s would be rescuer.
She stopped paying attention then, as she turned and led her guests into Dominor manor, Alucard quickening his pace to walk upon her right, and Azazeal, to her left, just a step behind her movements as the three moved in perfect, unnatural unison, the night clinging to them like lovers as they traded it for the flickering candle light of the manor they each knew like the back of their alabaster hands.
Slaves came forward then, some human, some not, bowing deep before the men at her sides as they requested the privilege to take their jackets from them.
Azazeal grinned playfully, intentionally displaying a touch of fang as the fashionably dressed human at his feet turned her eyes up at him, and he nodded permission so that she would rise and help him from his jacket, pointedly watching her backside as she left with it, all the while Alucard simply raising a hand to dismiss the woman before him.
Valterra gestured to a set of closed mahogany doors upon the right, as she turned to face the men.
“If you would make yourselves comfortable gentlemen.” She said simply, ushering them toward drinks, and a warm hearth fire.
“Sinara and I shall be with you shortly.” She grinned once more, fire lighting in her eyes as Alucard nodded, moving toward the room as instructed, and Azazeal came forward to place lips upon her smooth cheek.
Once alone, she moved down the north hall, climbing the spiraling staircase with preternatural ease. It could have taken seconds, but she allowed it to take minutes, Donovan was still within Sinara’s chambers, and Sinara was still fighting for control.
He would tempt her, he would ask her to flee with him- or worse yet to feed on him- and the young woman should have that choice.
She had survived the fasting, she had passed the first trial- but there would be more still this night, her strength would be tested again and again, for Dominor’s would be made only of the best- and Valterra would not have weakness sully her name.
She paused to press a single palm against the massive door to the rooms within which she had kept her little Sin, pausing a moment as Donovan flitted to the roof. She allowed him to leave and live, for whether he had intended it or not he had served her purpose, testing the blood of her blood again.
Finally she moved within, her eyes finding Sinara for just a moment, before turning to the scrap of paper on the balcony.
She moved there, the moonlight kissing her pale flesh as she leaned upon the railing of the balcony with practiced nonchalance, reading the scrawled words aloud, ignoring Sinara’s feverish muttering for the moment.
“Apparently your friend does not approve of your choice- apparently he shall come and save you from your wicked Grand-mama.” She mused with a chuckle, casting the paper into the wind as she watched Sinara.
“And what, pray-tell, little one, do you have to say to that?” She grinned as she crossed her arms over her chest, black bell sleeves pooling down her middle as the wind once more danced across her bared shoulders, casting crimson hair to tickle against old dead flesh, as she awaited the girl’s response.
Sinara
She heard his footfalls on the balcony, and knew he was annoyed. Annoyed, but gone- which was essential to both his continued survival, and for her own purposes. Men... always needing to be saviors of us `little women`. Although the sentiments and effort were usually appreciated and sometimes even charming, hell if they could discern between a damsel in distress and a Vampire who would sooner play footsie with the Devil in the high noon sunshine than find herself in need of saving.
Sinara took a deep, unnecessary breath and removed her hands from her face, chancing a glance back over her shoulder. She half expected to see Donovan there with rope and a net at the ready for her forced escape, but was pleased to find herself alone. She leaned forward onto the door as much in relief as for support, placing her palms against the cool wood in front of her. She rested her forehead against the back of her chilled hands, her hair falling forward, framing and enclosing her in a silken black curtain. It was odd what she felt then.. her palms tingled and burned, but it was a cool strength that she felt. Straightening from the door, she stepped back, palm still braced against the wooden medium. She knew her Ava would come.. the Grandmother she never wanted, who never wanted her- yet was now the one being she wanted near.
The door opened silently, her entrance fluid and swift. She paused for only a moment, presumably to see that Sinara was still there, still indeed alive, and alone. She moved to the balcony with purpose, and Sinara hoped to the Gods that Donovan had had the good sense not to linger within reach of those slender, pale hands. She noticed then what a shambles she had made of her room during her unexpected visit, and what she herself must look like. In the past, she had always tried to present the perfect facade... in Obsidian, she was sure to be picture perfect at all times, say and do all the right things with the right people. The few times that Alucard had brought Valterra to Arcana for visits, her home had had to be just so- everything and everyone in their places, all things put to rights- so that Sinara could feel inwardly confident enough to show outwardly that she didn`t care a whit what `that woman` thought. God forbid she should know the Mistress of the house had cared enough to do an ounce of preparation.
Now... things were different. They were in the same home, whether within the walls of Hellsing or here at the Manor. It no longer mattered.. none of the petty things. It was freeing to admit that she wanted approval and acceptance- and why the hell not? She had become very near as strong as her own Sire, who was no doubt below stairs at that very moment charming some unsuspecting woman out of her little mind and unmentionables. It was her right by birth, and she had been willing to earn it by proving her worth. Pride, ego, and vanity aside.. she wanted acceptance.
Lost for a moment in her musings.. had she been muttering to herself? Good Lord. Thank goodness the whole facade idea had flown the coop. Muttering a mix of Latin and Italian gibberish while tidying a disheveled bedroom could not possibly be considered dignified. Valterra was speaking to her, reading her a note that had been left behind by her would be rescuer... "What do I have to say?" Sinara asked with a small smile as she tossed the last of the pillows back onto the large four poster bed. "I say magna res est vocis et silentii temperamentum ...the great thing is to know when to speak and when to keep quiet." The breeze entering through the balcony`s doors carried the woman`s scent, and Sinara again felt the tingling burn of power. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, amazed at the small amount of strength she felt return to her still unsteady legs, the ease with which she was able to hold a thought in her clearing mind. She could always sense Aza`s power, but it was an obvious heat, a warmth in her blood. Nothing like this. Her throat still felt as if she had swallowed a fair amount of fire, and she was still having spells of vertigo, but she at least had herself in hand for the moment. She looked to Valterra then, watching the fiery hair whip in the increasing wind as she curled a raven lock of her own around her cool fingers. She walked slowly down the length of the bed, lowering herself to the large mahogany chest at it`s foot, crossing her legs with deliberate motions, right over left, and angled her face toward her companion.. "Perhaps I should have told a pretty lie as to my whereabouts to avoid the potential death of those misguided enough to assume I need help. Alucard can rectify that easily enough, I suppose. As to the approval or lack there of from anyone in regards to my choices, I have always found it difficult to give much of a damn. My wicked Grand-mama and I have plans, and I can`t imagine anyone capable of stopping us from fulfilling them, aside from ourselves. Can you, Ava mia?"
Valterra
The evening breeze danced across her shoulders with a whisper, and though she felt no chill, she knew the wind was cold. The month was only April, and the heated kiss of summer had not yet touched the evening`s breath.
Silently, she turned to the night as the child behind her droned on about nonchalance for the thoughts of others, and a gentle smile curved the Mistress Dominor`s lips.
Soon the young woman would know only too well the importance of the thoughts of others, soon she would learn to drink of their thoughts like the blood that sustained her. She would learn to use them, to manipulate them and hold them close like the friends and allies they were. Soon she would learn the use of private thoughts when stolen from their privacy- as was her blood right.
Abruptly Valterra turned, eyeing the girl posed on the chest with legs crossed like some farce of an Indian god- Kali perhaps, of destruction. Her eyes were dark and garnet as she assessed the shambles of her own little Sin- the month had not treated her well, and she ignored the girl`s posed question. It required no answer.
"Come now" She commanded, leaving no room for argument, nor giving Sinara time to settle herself or change her unkempt clothing.
She smiled into the girl`s violently red eyes- crying of her birth right as she turned to leave the room, knowing well by the silent thanks in Sinara`s mind that she would follow- for hopes of feasting and celebration.
A pity the little one thought the hardests of tests passed, a pity the little one had no concept of the lengths to which the woman she called Ava would push her that night.
A pity she could not yet recognize the strength of will and mind and courage it would take to claim her name.
But she would know- soon.
Sinara
Just when she thought she would take a moment to enjoy the brief respite from struggling with her mind and keeping herself upright, Valterra was whisking her off to... Gods only knew what. In truth, she was too tired and too deep in need to care much where she went, so long as it was a moment closer to sating the damnable hunger. Not that she hadn`t gone long periods without feeding before- self discipline was a way of life that she embraced. This was different. She had given someone else absolute control of her situation, albeit for a purpose. Well, she thought.. in for a penny, in for a pound.
She stood as Val passed her, feeling almost swept along and out the door without conscious thought to her own volition. She had looked up at her Ava as she passed, and the smile she was greeted with was not entirely .. comforting. Now, following her down the silent corridor, she had the where with all to actually become concerned about what was in store for her. Throughout the entire month, she had imagined that the deprivation would be her only trial. She laughed softly at herself and her foolish assumptions. Did she not know Val at all?
At the sound behind her, Valterra turned briefly, presumable to see what Sinara could possibly be finding even remotely amusing in the dimly lit hallway. Sinara raised her brows innocently, suddenly brought back to her childhood when her Italian grandmother, her Nonna, would silently chide her for one misdeed or another. Now, at 5`5" and a grown adult of almost three centuries, she couldn`t help a small smile at the much older, taller woman in front of her. Yes. She was in for a rough night- but just as was the pain of birth for both mother and child, it would be worth what was borne in the end.
Valterra
want or need to try Valterra could hear the pitter patter of Sinara`s little feet behind her, and she took note of the fact that the woman walked with less grace than she carried naturally, another note of her famine.
Sinara smelled nearly human in the dark, granted slightly rotten human, but human nonetheless for her malnutrition and she doubted the girl had any idea how unnatural she smelled.
It took just short moments and long strides to arrive, and Valterra stopped without warning and rather abruptly as she opened the small door to her left, ushering Sinara ahead of her into the small room between rooms.
The walls were vaguely cerulean within, just a whisper of an endless ocean in the flickering light of several candles within small alcoves upon each wall, a bench to the left and right of the room, and naught but a deep navy curtain to separate the small entranceway from the room beyond.
The scents of amber and lavendar were thick in the air to any with a nose to sense it, and steam made the air in the tiny room, all the smaller for the presence of both women, heavy.
"Remove your clothing." Valterra instructed almost clinically, her voice carrying neither passion nor interest as she looked down upon the smaller woman with seeming disinterest, waiting for her to do as instructed.
Sinara
As she padded barefoot down the hall, her short lived mirth vanished like the shadows that the two women passed. The thought occurred to her that it just might be possible that she would not survive whatever test Valterra had planned for her. The woman had not ever considered her kin... and even if she had, she wondered if that would make a bit of difference when it came to her continued immortality if she was found lacking. Doubtful, at best.
Sinara instinctively thought of escape from her agreed upon captivity, a sudden panic skittering through her now crystal clear mind. Knowing it was entirely futile to even entertain the idea of overpowering anyone in her present state, she forced the urge to flee from her mind and limbs, closing her eyes briefly and following the sound and scent of her guide.
Valterra stopped so suddenly that the pair almost collided. Well, to be realistic, the collision would have left Sinara on her backside, and Val merely slightly more irritated than Sin herself. As they entered the room, the aesthetics and aromas lifted the tension the short walk had built almost immediately. Had she known that Sinara`s favorite scent had always been lavender? The thought that Val had actually made an effort toward her comfort- even if that notion was false- renewed her faith in her survival of this night if only just a bit. That bit was enough to allow her to raise her head and meet the eyes upon her without fear, even as they demanded that she bare herself at that moment.
Sinara smiled a small smile then. She thought back to the times when she would never have let this woman see her in less than picture perfect condition. Now, here she stood, removing her clothing piece by piece, knowing she had never looked less appealing. She untied the white laced shirt she wore, happy to be rid of it, along with the laced front matching bottoms. She folded both out of habit, placing them on the bench behind her. She looked down at her body then with a critical eye... her markings were a blazing red testament to her Coils against her skin now, a reminder to herself of her own strength. Her hair hung limp to her waist, her earlier scuffle still apparent. The thought of a proper bath and cleanliness made her inhale the scents deeply.. that of lavender and of the woman in front of her giving her strength. She stood before her, naked and strangely at peace with the fact that she had no more to hide - she had placed her life, and now her dignity in the hands of her oldest blood kin. Appropriate. Or stupidity- she would soon see.
With that thought in mind, she met her Ava`s gaze, twined her hands behind her back, her head tilted to the side, and awaited her fate.
Valterra
Valterra`s eye was critical as she watched Sinara peel her clothing from her form, assessing the child very openly as she undressed, and folded her clothes neatly.
She waited a long moment as Sinara stood bare, revealed and serenely awaiting command, angling her head to the side as she allowed her long dark hair to fall down the length of her spine- revealing her throat to Valterra in a display of submission; but above that, of trust.
Smiling gently, Val reached her arm up, running a single fingertip along the vein she knew resided beneath the young Dominor-to-be`s unmarred skin, tracing the invisible line within which a nearly imperceptable trace of blood flowed. Her skin was cool to touch, any trace of false human warmth gone from her unfed body.
Her smile turned warm a moment as she cupped the girl`s cheek in her deceptively delicate hand, turning her to face her, guiding Sinara`s chin upward, silently inviting her to turn her eyes to Valterra`s own.
"Soon little one." She stated simply, before releasing the girl`s alabaster cheek.
She turned then, pulling the navy curtain back to reveal the room upon the other side. Cool, even light flooded the small alcove within which they stood as Valterra ushered her little Sin within the massive room laid out before them.
Within the center of the room, carved into gleaming royal blue marble sat a bath, easily built to accomodate large amounts of people. Light came from the ceiling, spherical lights; dimmed and calming, catching upon the steam within the room, leaving a layer of mist and fog thick in the air, scented heavily with the seductive aromas merely hinted upon in the small room within which Sinara had been instructed to undress.
With a proud smile, displaying her taste for the decorum, Valterra ushered the girl further within the room, pausing as she allowed the curtain to fall behind them, and Sinara to gain her bearings within the bath- that little did she know, was to be host to the first of her endeavours that evening.
Sinara
Time slowed for just a moment.. the cold floor beneath her bare feet seemed to rock and sway as she felt the cold burn follow the path of Valterra`s finger stroke on her neck. Did she realized she had never before touched her? For most of her unnatural life, she had come no closer to the woman before her now than the distance whatever room they were in allowed. Aza had kept them apart intentionally- first in fear for Sinara`s safety, then most likely for his own. She loved her Sire dearly. She had been content to seclude herself and not associate with any other than him for years after her embrace. As time went on, she ventured out, made a life of her own- but her Electra complex was more than evident to all. Most especially those females he chose to keep company with. He said it was because of their blood bond.. the connection of Sire and fledgling, and she had always begged to differ. Now, looking at the woman before her as she smiled down at her, she had to wonder at his words.
She had never seen Val smile a genuine smile at or for anyone. Not that she doubted that she had.. she`d just never seen it. Now, as she stood there faced by the Valterra that Azazeal must have seen, she understood his devotion to her. The hand she placed on Sinara`s cheek felt warm in contrast to her pale, chilled skin. She gave in to the urge to lean into her then, half expecting a reprimand, or at the very least for her to pull away. "Soon, little one" was all she said ... and at the promise and acceptance in those words, she felt a hint of what her Sire must have felt. She understood.
The room that she was led into then seemed ethereal in it`s serene beauty. The scents and even the hushed sounds were soothing, and even in her discomfort, she found herself smiling at the area that Valterra had created- yet another glimpse into the woman behind her. She knew becoming a Dominor was not going to be a simple undertaking- but it was who she was, and who she was meant to be. Everything was becoming clearer to her now... why she and Azazeal had the volatile relationship that they did, why she was so often entangled with the same souls as her gran`mama.. even to her unfed, unclear mind, it was beginning to make sense. She was meant to be exactly where she was.
Valterra
Keen interest marked Valterra`s aristocratic features as Sinara paced slowly into the room, warm mist and steam dancing across her flesh like tears, and she raised her own hands to the steam, letting it moisten her fingertips and cheeks with serenly closed eyes.
She stood still and stoic only a moment, easily resembling an ancient statue in her pale stillness before she came forward, as silently as the death that would never claim them.
She placed open palms upon Sinara`s bare shoulders as she moved serenely into place behind her, nearly a head taller than the small vampiress.
"Get in" She whispered quietly to the girl, her voice but a cool breath upon the paleness of Sinara`s neck before she relinquished her touch upon her frigid flesh.
Sinara
The comparatively warm hands on her shoulders sent a shiver down her spine, and she placed her cold hands on her equally cold thighs to steady them as she took the few steps forward to enter the water. The mist rising from the bath was thick enough to obscure her vision- she never was completely comfortable submerging herself in waters where she couldn`t discern if she was indeed the only occupant.
At the moment, however, she would happily share the waters with any number of oddities, just so long as she could get clean. She stepped down into the pool of water, the warmth a blessing to her skin, but not nearly reaching her core. She doubted she would ever be warm again.. but at least she would be clean. Sinara had always been fastidious in her cleanliness to the point of obsession, some might (and had) said. The deprivation of the wonderful sensation of being fresh and clean was the worst part of the whole month- well, aside from the thirst and the accompanying physical deficits, of course. She was hip deep in the pool now, and as she ran her hands through the water, the mist parted briefly, and the scent of lavender intensified. She closed her eyes and sighed in relief, then bent her knees, lowering herself fully into the water. It was serene and quiet, the only sound was the water, reminding her of blood rushing in her ears. She turned while still submerged, tilted her head back to remove the dancing tendrils of hair from before her face, then stood to face Valterra at the edge of the pool.
The look on the woman`s face was unreadable, and Sinara had no idea what was expected of her, or what was to come. The night was young, and anything was possible- as well as out of her control. Not a pleasant thought, that, but such were the current circumstances. She held Val`s gaze for a moment, and still there was no indication of any expectation from her. Sinara smiled then, and unable to find find the appropriate words to describe the relief she felt at that moment, she inclined her head and said a simple, heart felt... "Thank you."
Valterra
Valterra watched the child intently as she paced forward in her bare vulnerability, her eyes and face blank as she regarded Sinara once more with detached curiousity.
She said nothing as the young vampiress entered the massive roman bath before her, descending the curved marble stairs as though afraid something might crawl from the rather shallow depths of the pool and take a bite of her toes- poor thing was looking in the wrong direction for what might threaten.
Sinara’s momentary serenity gave Val pause to smile as the dark haired beauty submerged herself in the water. And she allowed the girl to cleanse herself a moment, to let the warm waters remove some touch of the filth that had coated her lean form over the course of the last month- but her filth would be deepened more still before she were whole again.
For a single moment she met Sin’s eyes blankly, admiring the bright crimson regarding her like ruby gems from the child’s eyes. But her mouth curved up as Sinara gave her thanks, as the poor girl was naïve enough to think the bathing ritual a thing of kindness, of purity and cleansing.
“Silly child.” She remarked quietly, her lips barely parting as the words came out a snarl, her eyes brightening with a touch of excitement as she lifted her right hand- and snapped her fingers, the sadism of her own expression echoing ‘round the room like a curse in the snap of her long, elegant artist’s hands.
Oh how she would paint pictures this night, how her creativity would seep into it’s events, into challenge and blood…
It took only seconds for them to enter… less even, so hurried were they to obey the command of their Mistress. Her disinterest burned them, as their eyes remained downcast upon the marble floors, but still they knew she didn’t so much as look at them, so deep was her interest in the leech in the pool.
With dripping arteries they came forward, chained by nothing more than their own fear of death, and their respect and adoration for the hateful Mistress that summoned them.
They came forward like wraiths, expressionless bags of blood and flesh, until the three of them stood opposite their Mistress, behind the ancient thing in the pool where they awaited her command- wasted drops of their own lifeblood tainting the scent of the mist around them until it smelled of lavender, and amber- and blood.
Valterra assessed them evenly as they stood upon the other side of the bath, lovely young ladies with dark hair pinned exquisitely upon the tops of their heads, the cuffs that generally embraced their necks like collars removed for the evening, replaced instead by a fine sliver of a slice ‘round each of them, so that gentle blood seeped from their flesh to drip and pool ‘round their breasts.
In the same fashion were their wrists sliced, all about them like bracelets; or cuffs, so that their hands too dripped with… with the delicious.
Each of the three were pure, never to have been touched nor tasted- she had ensured it be as such and Valterra found even her own mouth watering as she looked upon the perfection of their warm and bare human bodies, as she scented the twisted ecstasy of their blood within the vapor that permeated the room, as she watched the crimson from their wrists drip slowly into the water within which Sinara bathed.
Her grin deepened, and she watched the woman who was to be her child very carefully- for this too, was a test.
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Post by Sinara Dominor on Oct 14, 2010 17:36:24 GMT -5
Sinara
"Silly child"... she heard the murmured words as loudly as if they`d been screamed at her. She began stepping back instinctively, moving away from the curving of lips that none would ever mistake as a smile. With one snap of Valterra`s fingers, Sinara knew that there was to be no tranquility or relief in this bath- it was never meant to be a serene moment for her to bathe and gather herself for the ritual that was to come. She looked up at Val`s face then, and a thought struck her like a blow. Her hands came out of the fragrant water and pressed to her chest of their own volition as a gasp of humiliation and pain escaped her. It was all just a cruel joke, for the amusement of.. the Gods only knew how many. She was not wanted.
Her stomach turned, and her chest tightened as she closed her eyes and let the disappointment and hurt burn through her mind, hoping that the customary numbness she always embraced after a loss would come sooner this time than later. She had endured the last month without a sound of protest. She had looked to the woman looking down on her now as her blood - and more. She opened her eyes to meet those so much like her own blazing down on her as if she were a science project gone awry... just another amusement to pass the time.
The physical discomfort of the past month`s trials began to pale in comparison to the rapid shifting of her thoughts and emotions. Her mind, usually more easily centered in Val`s presence, was now twisting in on itself, the numbness dueling with anger, hurt, and embarrassment. She shook with the force of the internal battle in her mind, for once not truly caring if she didn`t have complete control of herself. Control... the thought brought an uncontrollable burst of harsh laughter to her throat. There she stood, naked and dripping in someone else`s home- control was not always hers.
So lost in her swirl of emotions, she had neglected to even turn to see what she had been stepping backward toward. She had sensed others in the room, but had not cared at all- not until she smelled the scent of human blood, and a moment later felt the press of flesh at her back. She whirled in the water, stirring small waves at her hips, and stared silently for a moment at the vapid human woman standing before her like nothing more than an animated blood bag. Her head whipped around sharply to face Val, and the vicious, expectant glint in her eye was equivalent to a slap in the face. She wanted her to fail. The realization pushed all aside except for a burning anger, more toward herself than anyone or anything else- though it just so happened that the thing in front of her would be her target. For an irrational moment, Sinara saw the three broken women as the source of her humiliation.. not to mention such weakness made her nearly physically sick, even in humans. Under normal circumstances, she would never choose to taste the vitae of a woman, especially ones that were so broken and pliant as these.
Her Ventrue nature made her .. selective. Always men, always human, always strong in both mind and body- but this was no ordinary circumstance. Still, she would not lose any more of her dignity or any little piece of herself here that she could maintain. The bleeding woman moved closer, her blood dripping into the water at both women`s thighs. Sinara`s throat burned with thirst, and with the harsh, uncharacteristic growl that emanated from deep in her chest as her hand shot out to halt the vacant woman`s steps. The creature walked straight into her grasp as if she hadn`t a thought of her own, and Sinara wrapped one delicate hand around the crimson lined throat and ended any chance of oxygen reaching the broken thing`s brain, her hand and forearm stained red.
She simply let go of the corpse, not at all surprised that she put up no fight what-so-ever. She looked over her shoulder to Val then, her mind fracturing bit by bit with the realization of loss. She moved to step out of the back of the pool and another of Val`s instruments came forward quickly, almost smiling.. was she mocking her? Her mind loose and scattered, she barked a single harsh, ineffective command of "No" at the approaching torment before lashing out with a hard backhand that sent her skidding along the smooth surface of the floor. The third woman rushed to her, obviously lacking any thought or will for self preservation. A glance at the pleased look on Valterra`s face was her undoing. She vibrated with anger as the wasted blood of the weak vessel coated her hands as she spun her about to be at her back, wrapping her in a hold with her right forearm under her neck, her hand grasping her left bicep in a rear choke. Sinara turned her captive to face the beautiful redhead across the pool, staring over the woman`s bloody shoulder, her mouth mere inches from her still pulsating neck. The fragrant blood smelled of weakness and submission, neither of which she would succumb to.
Her entire body shook from the small amount of effort she had expended, which normally wouldn`t have affected her at all. The backs of her eyes burned, and she blinked hard to maintain her dignity. Val was watching her as intently as before... if she was waiting for her to sink her fangs into the thing she held, she would be disappointed. Sinara released the body she held abruptly, and the woman slumped to the floor. She didn`t care enough to look back to determine if she was still alive as she stepped over and past her to make her way back to her Sire`s Sire.
She left bloody bare footprints as she walked, her gaze never leaving Val`s. Her jaw was set, her teeth clenched tight against the need to feed and the knowledge that she would not. She was covered in a thin coating of blood, her naked skin tinted a false pink hue. She reached Valterra`s side and looked up at the regal, ancient Vampire who`s blood she carried, who may never intend to claim her no matter. The garnet moisture in her eyes was barely visible, and her voice trembled only slightly as she forced a hard smile to her numb lips "I believe bathtime is over, Ava." If she failed this night, it would not be her doing.
Valterra
Sinara’s movements were nearly human in their vulgarity, they lacked art or purpose, they were useless, meaningless emotional violence, and the corners of Valterra’s mouth were pulled down in a pout. Perhaps she wasn’t ready.
She did not speak, nor did she move an inch as she watched the little would be Dominor slaughter the women she had most recently paid a pretty penny for.
‘What waste- what blatant disrespectful waste.’ Her mind echoed as the child moved about, ending harmless, fragile human lives with neither reason nor provocation.
She watched her with almost clinical disinterest as Sinara ended the last of them, and strode with set shoulders forwards, toward Val- as though pride and strength swelled her, and all the woman she called Ava had seen in the violence before her was youth, and recklessness.
Her eyes never left Sinara’s eyes as the child came forward, displaying nothing of her disgust or disappointment in the younger woman for her actions, until the child spoke.
The moisture in her eyes was not lost on Valterra, but the purpose for it was. She chose not to enter Sinara’s mind, for fear that she would give clues as to the purpose of the exercise, and thereby help the young girl cheat- help her succeed. If she was to succeed- it was to be done on her own.
“Get back in the bath fledgling.” She said simply, her lips barely parting as she spoke quietly, the power of ancient queens and revered goddesses in her voice as she channeled her own control not to strike the girl for her stupidity.
“Get the innocent’s blood off of your hatefully weak form, and then I will send for you.” She finished, her voice thick with anger, irritation, and the disappointment she felt in the young child before she turned her back to young Sinara, and strode briskly from the room as she called over her shoulder.
“Perhaps Azazeal was right to keep you from me. Perhaps you aren’t ready.”
Sinara
She stared wide eyed after the retreating manifestation of anger and disapproval- she knew she had just taken several steps back in her Ava`s eyes, yet she couldn`t keep a small smile from her lips. It was not a joke. SHE was not a joke to her. The relief was short lived as she looked down at her blood stained hands and arms, her chest smeared with evidence or her rash behavior. She had been hurt over nothing- then caused hurt for nothing. Sinara was never cruel without cause. Sure, she had inflicted her fair share of pain-usually mental- on those who had wronged her, but lashing out at Val through her property was unwarranted, although it seemed logical at the time.
She had fully expected that Val would simply laugh at the discomfort she had already forced her to endure, snickering with the rest of the guests as she announced that the `gig is up`, and little Sin would be on her foolish way. Sinara made a mental note then and there to get a hold of her damn insecurities where this woman was concerned regardless of how the night turned out. Just ridiculous.. this lack of balance simply would not do.
She looked to the other end of the room then, a detached practicality guiding her actions. She walked to the edge of the pool and pulled the slight female form from the water to lay on the tiled edge, chignon ruined, wet hair obscuring her features . The other two figures, one still unconscious, were not far away. She stepped to the awakening figure and pulled her to her feet, the emerging bruising around her neck now a sickly reminder of her temper- she didn`t even want to see the woman she had hit. She made eye contact with the dazed woman and said in the sanguine voice of the Ventrue, "Go and retrieve your companion if you can awaken her. Do you understand?" At the woman`s nod, Sinara continued.. "Both of you go back to where you came from. Do it quickly." She clenched her teeth, the closeness of the blood in pure veins... none here to witness or stop her- then turned away sharply to step quickly into the pool.
The water was still warm, but now smelled more of blood to her sensitive nose than of anything calming. Although it was only slightly tinged,not even visible, she felt as if she bathed in it.. the blood she had shed. She moved to the other end of the pool, slowly and methodically through the mechanical motions of cleansing skin and hair, the events of the past month replaying in her mind. She had not treated this as she should have from the start. She had been emotional to the extreme- and the Gods knew she was not the most in control of her emotions when it came to a certain few. She could hide them, push them down, but they affected her judgment and her actions. There was no denying the obvious.
The silence in the room was broken only by the sound of the water that she herself disrupted. She closed her eyes then, forcing her mind firmly into place. She was Ventrue, whether she ever become Dominor or not. In her few years, she had accomplished much more than most three times her age, much due to her ability to control not only herself, but those around her, whether by loyalty earned, secrets learned, or favors owed. She was known to be socially adept, calculating and methodical in her words and actions, consistently inconsistent and thus never predictable in her dealings whether it be political, business, or social. She had lost all sense of self this night.
She had been so focused over the past month on doing what Val expected, being what she thought Val wanted her to be, that she let it become almost a desperation. She felt her lips twist in disgust, the realization making her nearly physically ill. She opened her eyes then, not at all surprised to find herself still alone. She stood completely still in the water for a moment, cleaned and centered, and ready to await and face whatever was to come next.
She exited the bath and turned back toward it, her back facing the door. She reached behind her and gathered heavy, wet hair, twisting it to lay over her right shoulder in a fragrant mass. She knelt gracefully to end in a traditional martial arts pose, her feet tucked underneath her, her hands resting on her thighs, her head bent slightly forward. She had sat like this for endless hours during her training over many many years, both human and Vampire- it felt appropriate. Regardless of what transpired tonight, she would leave here with her dignity. She also acknowledged at that moment that if she failed... yes- it would, actually, be her own doing.
Valterra
Valterra’s pace down the hall from the bathing chamber was hurried, infuriated.
“Stupid stupid girl” She cursed the child in the rooms behind her. The idiot child was just that, a child, in no way ready for the Dominor line, it may have been wise to simply end the little beast now rather than let her taint the bloodline any longer- Valterra would not allow such reckless impassioned stupidity taint her family.
When she entered the parlor in which she had instructed Azazeal and Alucard be led to, she was furious, a torrent of free falling scarlet waves and folds of black fabric coming through the door like a streamlined freight train.
“Go and get your useless daughter.” Valterra cursed at her son as he leaned back upon the burgundy armchair near the window, sipping a chalice of blood in leisure. He nearly spilled it when his Mother came forward in her fury, rising to his feet immediately to do her bidding. He placed his glass on the table with a single glance toward the electricity dancing ‘round his sire and parted from the company of his elders to fetch the child as she had instructed.
Valterra turned then to Alu, her dark garnet eyes moving downward to catch his, observant and ever secretive as he watched her.
“Speak.” She demanded of him, patience failing her as irritation crept once more into her voice in his silence. She could see the gears grinding in his mind, nearly taste the speech upon his tongue.
“Look at you.” He stated simply, as though he made an eloquent point in three simple words. She raised a single brow as she continued to look down at him with impatience, a hand clutched to her cocked hip.
“She is no more passionate- than you are my sweet.” He remarked caustically as he took another sip from his own glass.
“I will not have you defending her.” Valterra stated simply as she composed her form and her expression.
“Passion is no excuse for useless brutality.”
“Is youth?” He questioned her further as his eyes turned to the dark sky beyond the window.
When she responded it was with finality, her eyes turning too to catch the reflection of the stars his own lit upon.
“Not in a Dominor.”
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Azazeal approached his daughter quietly as he entered the bath, the sweet scents of the pool and the musk of blood assaulting his senses as his eyes moved first about the room, to the blood tainted pool and then to his own fledgling, catching the easing tension in her form as she sat in meditation.
“She beckons.” He stated simply as he stood behind Sinara, hesitant to invade upon the room or her silence any further than he had, standing instead within the threshold of the room as he looked upon her subtly curved limbs in admiration. She was beautiful, and worthy, though presenting her to his own Mother pained him.
He had known since her making that one day Sinara would crave this, to claim her kin, her blood and her history, but still he had fought to keep the two women from one another. Knowing too well the blazing fire, the intensity, and the potential for destruction that was his own Mother.
He had not forgotten his own embrace into the Dominor line, his own rude awakening… his own hard earned right to claim her name… and her blood.
Sinara
She could feel his presence at her back just as easily as she could feel the hard floor beneath her knees. She heard his voice clearly, but took long enough to move that he repeated himself. These may be the last motions that she made, and regardless of the outcome of this night, these were the last moments that she would be as she was.
He stepped forward and Sinara was not surprised to be hauled up by the arm. She turned on numb legs to face him, still calm, yet her mind was racing. He looked at her then, and his expression darkened. She had no idea what she looked like at this point, and for once, it was the least of her concerns. She watched his eyes move past her to survey the room, pausing for a moment on the lifeless form beside the water`s edge.
"I told you this would happen, yet you insisted you stay. Did you think I was feeding you falsehoods all these years? I kept you away for a reason- I should have known you weren`t ready. All I can do now is plead for her to let you leave here tonight and forget your existence." She stood still during his half growled speech depicting her failure, watching his lips move, his garnet eyes betraying the anxiety he felt for her, and possibly for himself. She thought of last moments again.. quite possibly the last with him. His hands on her arms moved up and down uselessly, as if to warm her cold flesh. She couldn`t help a small smile then- he never could decide what he wanted her to be. Daughter, friend, lover. He continued, eyes narrowed, "... and you`re freezing- not to mention I enter to find you offering whomever happened through the door next your exposed neck."
She placed her hands on either side of his face while he was still speaking, kissed him once on the lips, and braced herself for what was to come- what she had asked for, and brought upon herself. She moved past him to the small alcove where she had disrobed, her clothing now absent. She spoke for the first time then as she wrapped a large towel around her form, her white knuckled fists clutching the towel to her chest in front of her the only sign of her fear. When she spoke, she was grateful that her voice sounded even and calm, "You may have been right all these years, Aza- and if I have proven you correct, I apologize. You`ve been everything I needed, and I have always appreciated you," she added with a tender smile as she looked at him. He knew her well, and he knew well that she would not let him beg for her release tonight.
He came to stand behind her, and she turned to see their reflection in the mirror then, just as he did. She was a small, female version of himself, more evident now than ever before. She was so pale after all that had passed that her skin looked as ice cold as it felt. Her hair hung damp and loose to her hips, as black as his. Her eyes shone a pale rose now, the vibrant garnet gone with her strength. He had lost much over the years, and he may lose more tonight. For that, she was sorry.
He took one fortifying breath before placing his hand on the bare skin of her back where the towel sloped to her hips and urged her out into the passageway. She spoke rapidly, her mind flying again, wishing the corridor was longer, that she had more time, "Alucard has access to all of my business and personal files- he knows where my assets will go. Should Samael return, everything in New York is his. Herald and Isabella are provided for, the Italian properties revert back to Mayne.." She knew he wasn`t listening now, but he would remember. At some point she had taken his hand but let go of it now, as she felt they were nearing their destination.
Aza stood behind her at the threshold of the room. Sinara stepped inside alone, willing her legs to lock in place and keep her upright in the face of Valterra`s fury. She whispered a soft `I`m sorry` over her shoulder. She had never meant to hurt her Sire this way.
Her mask of calm nearly crumbled when she looked to Alucard- Aza thought she would die tonight, at best, escape. Alu, though, was merely watching her- expecting. He expected her not to fail, to be what she was supposed to be. He knew her and Valterra better than anyone- in fact, it was more his fault than her own that she was here, depending on how one looked at it. She looked to him for some sort of guidance then as she always did, anything. He raised both brows just slightly, whether at her less than dignified appearance or her circumstances she couldn`t know. His nod was barely perceptible, so small that she could have imagined it. The man was probably thinking of the inconvenience it would cause him if she died tonight.
No matter. It was far too late now to do anything but stay true to herself, as she did not want acceptance on any other terms. She had brought herself to this place, and however she left it, she would be forever changed.
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