Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Essence of Blood (1x1)

Alezander caught her as she fell, making sure she didn't hurt herself. He leaned her against the bed, letting her recover at her own pace. He looked to the man, noticing that he was still breathing. Odd. Usually she said she finished them off when she fed. He bent down, ready to finish the man off, not wanting to curse someone to the fate of a vampire, but he noticed the man wasn't showing any signs of turning.

"Odd..." he said, and he picked the man up, resting him against the wall and patching the bite marks on his neck. This was strange indeed.

Zalia woke up in about three hours. She sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes. "Wh...what happened? Alezander?!" She looked around quickly, scared. Had she attacked him? She sniffled a bit and stood up carefully.

"Are you okay, Alezander? What happened? Is everything alright? You...you were spitting blood. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but I should ask you the same. Why didn't you feed when I told you to? You could have killed yourself," he said, though his voice was more concerned than it was stern. His eyes moved to the man nearby. "And, it seems you didn't finish your meal."

He raised his hand, holding the shining red stone up to the light. A lot had happened; too much that he didn't want to think about right now. "Thank you, for taking care of their bodies..." he said, looking to her. It was obvious he was talking about his sister and her family.

Zalia sighed softly. "I was going to...but it was raining, and there were these two men, and it was going to be dangerous. It just...it kept getting put off." She looked down, ashamed. When he mentioned not finishing her meal, she glanced over. "Sometimes it happens." she said quietly. "I'm a half-blood. Sometimes I don't need to kill when I feed." She shivered a little. "It scares me though.."

When he thanked her, she stared downwards still. "...you're welcome. We should go soon, Alezander." She was glad he was free, at least. It was all worth it if he was free.

Even though she said she was ready, he was not. Something seemed wrong. "I know, what Maria did was horrible. But, do you think they would want us to linger on their deaths? We've avenged them... You avenged them. And I owe you a lot." He moved toward her, embracing her in a hug and spoke just a bit more. "You've come with me all this way, and you've helped me push through so many terrible past deeds and memories. Thank you, for being there with me. And you should know, I'll do the same for you."

Zalia looked at him and listened. "No, they wouldn't." she said quietly. She blinked when suddenly he was hugging her, her cheeks turning pink. Her arms wrapped around him in return, however. "I'll always be here for you." she promised. "As long as you want me." She smiled a little. "I know you will. Thank you."

If only he knew how much he meant to her.

"Then, let's go," he said, giving her a light kiss on the forehead and lifting her to her feet. "I'm sure, when this man wakes up, he's going to be confused. Let's not be here for that." But, were they heading back home? That seemed like the best idea. He had his blood supply there, and it was home for now.

At least they could take their time on the way back. No need to rush, no time limit.

Zalia's face turned red again when he kissed her forehead. "Yes, I agree." She would walk with him as they headed off. She wanted to be back home. It was safe there, and there they didn't have so many problems and troubles. "I'm glad you're free."

She smiled at him as she walked along. She felt much better. And she felt a lot better now that he wasn't under Maria's control, too. But her smile shrank, and she looked away. This was all her fault. If she hadn't been sucked in by Maria's lies, Samantha and her family would still be alive.
This thought upset her.

"You know..." he said, almost able to sense what was troubling her, though he couldn't be completely sure. "If you hadn't of been there... I would still be the creepy vampire with a dead body in my room. I was still under her control, even though she wasn't awake. Now, I am free to do what I want, and feel what I want to feel, and not be afraid."

It was true, he was saddened by what happened to Samantha's family... her legacy. He made him angry, because he was the one who gave Maria that opportunity.

Zalia blushed when he told her just how important her presence was to her life. Despite all the bad that was done, the good had come as well. "Nobody should ever be controlled." she said quietly. She was silent for a time, just walking along with him. But, eventually, she took his hand in her and kept walking. She just wanted to be close to him. That was enough for her. Just that made her happy.

He didn't protest when she took his hand. He smiled to himself and walked along quietly, just enjoying the moment.

He felt bad though. For her. He had resolved his problems so quickly, it seemed, and she was still threatened by her father. Should he bring up the idea of finding him and confronting him? Or would that only worry her, and make things worse? He wasn't sure what to do. He said he would be there for her, so he would just wait until she needed him.

The sun was nearly rising by the time they arrived at the first town. They stayed at the same inn, recieving the same, if not more, curious looks from the innkeeper.

Zalia slept when they got there. She was tired. She slept, and then woke up and ate throughout the day. She made sure not to be anymore trouble by fainting on him. That would be bad. She just would keep herself busy. Sleeping, eating, and keeping watch. When it was finally evening again, she was ready to head on. "Ready to leave, Alezander? We have to get back home." She smiled softly at him.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better than ever," he said, as he dried his hair with a towel. He made sure the sun was down, before he took her hand to lead her outside and onto the next town. It seemed like a completely different trip on the way back. The mood, and the surroundings just seemed so different. Perhaps because there wasn't such a heavy weight on his chest anymore, literally.

But as they were walking, he finally decided to ask Zalia about what she wanted to do. "When we get back," he said, looking at her slightly as he walked, "are you going to stay with me still? And... what about --- your father?" He knew it might be a sensitive subject, but he needed to know what she was planning, if anything.

Zalia walked along quietly, up until he asked that question. She bit her lip, thinking for a few moments. "I want to say." she said. That was for certain. "I-if you don't mind, that is. But uhm...about my father..." She sighed slightly. "I don't know. I just...I don't know..." She rubbed her neck, trying to think. "He could have left. Or he might be watching. I never know with him."

She smiled slightly. "I'm sorry. I can't do anything good when it comes to my father." She frowned slightly. "Next time he comes...I'll kill him." She would try, at least. It wouldn't be easy for her at all.

"It is bad, that you feel you must do all the work, and carry all the burden. I should do more to help," he said, thinking to how she was the one who had killed Maria; how she was the one who managed to keep him sane; how she had to put up with his odd behaviors.

"If he comes again," he said, "I'll do my best to help end him for you. I won't let you go through it alone."

Zalia listened to him, not really feeling that way at all. She liked helping Alezander. And besides, Maria was her fault anyways. "...okay." She wasn't going to deny his help. She would struggle with it, with the task of killing her father. There was a large part of her that was too scared to even try. She was terrified of the retribution she would get if she attacked her father with the intent to kill.

It made a chill run down her spine just thinking about it. Her hand gripped his a little tighter.

With all the talking, the night went by quickly, and they were soon to the next town. Alezander decided to stay at a different inn, finding he disliked the stares he would most likely get for returning to the same inn.

"If you need anything, get it while we are here. Food, drink... whatever you need," he would tell Zalia, taking her hand and placing a fair amount of coin into it. He didn't want her to pass out again for any reason if he could help it.

Zalia was also pleased that they could stay at a different inn. She didn't want to get those stares either. "Okay. I promise I will." She knew he was worried about her. So she took the coins and nodded. "I'll go have something to eat now." She smiled slightly at him, then left the room. She'd fed, so she would be okay for a couple days.

After she ate, she went back to the room. "I'm going to get some sleep, okay?" She needed it. She stood for a few moments and watched him, then laid down on one of the beds and fell asleep.

When she left, he took his bag and set it on the bed. He pulled out the mirror from inside and gently placed it on the table next to him. He sat, watching it for the longest moment, as if expecting something to happen. But nothing did. The surface of the mirror remained smooth, and retained its reflective property.

He took it, putting it back into its place in his bag and looked as Zalia re entered the room. He nodded when she told him she needed sleep, and would go to his respective bed as well. Sleep wouldn't come easy, as he lay awake most of the day, thoughts making it hard to do so. What had happened in the past few days, seemed to be hitting him all at once, and he couldn't help but feel sadness for his sister and his family, anger toward Maria, happiness that his sister had forgiven him... and confused. Mostly about Zalia. She confused his mind constantly, always wanted to do the best for her, but feeling the need to protect himself at the same time.

Zalia woke up after a few hours. She sat up and rubbed at her eyes, looking around. "So...when do you want to leave?" She glanced towards the door, and then the window. "I guess we should check if it's dark yet." She would watch him for a few long moments, and then just suddenly hug him. "Thank you, Alezander. For everything that you have done to me. I feel like I really haven't expressed how grateful I am."

He had done so much for her after all.