Little in Alonia (Open)

["Babs" Delton]

As the bag fell, Laura could not help but smile. If she was going to make anything simple, it started with Virgilia being there. As Virgilia turned around, Laura was feeling a little hope, but when she found herself in Virgilia's smile, she started to feel something more. Close as they were, she caught sight of the amber flecks in Virgilia's golden-brown eyes and almost felt a little silly for not noticing earlier.

Virgilia reached for a note, and Laura assumed it was something Virgilia had been working on while Laura had been sleeping. The dim light coming in from the window showed ink covering both sides of the page. Laura kept her mind still. This note had probably not been intended for her to read until later.

“I…vill…”

Laura almost felt even better for hearing what she had hoped to hear, but she still kept her mind still. She knew that Virgilia had planned to leave. This note was more important now than it might have been for Virgilia being there for Laura to read it. Laura knew that she needed to be ready to understand it and be ready to understand what the moment needed. Laura followed Virgilia's leading them back to the barely-raised mattress, watching as another note was written. She didn't try to read it, however, until Virgilia showed it to her.

As she read, Laura felt a predictable mix of emotions. That Virgilia wanted to stay with her made her smile and the thought that she would ever want to call Virgilia a bother cut into the strength of her smile. There was another feeling in all this, however. She would have to tell Virgilia that if they were to see one another after this morning, change would come. The fact of the matter was that soon she would get a visit, not from a simple watchperson, but from the constable or the sheriff investigating the taverner's claims. She knew each woman and man in those positions because she had met them before she fled the family that now looked for her. Inside of this day, Laura would be found and brought back to the estate and made back into the second daughter of the baron Delton. Her hard-earned commoner's life would be just another jest for other nobles to practice and refine for their brunches. Meanwhile, she would be stuffed back into the fine wools and linens that she never had to work a minute for. What would happen then? How would she see Virgilia again? She would find a way, but would Virgilia want to see her again? She reminded herself as she put down the note that this was the time she had to be honest, to put as many of the obstacles between them to rest as she could.

Laura started to read the second, much larger note. In only one second, Laura felt her eyes open wide. Royalty?! Laura remembered her composure and kept reading. At the end of the first paragraph, she realized that had no reason not to believe it. In fact, it was almost a relief. It wasn't just Laura by herself, hiding her status. Maybe it would make it easier for Virgilia to understand when, after all this, she would say what she had to. Maybe, she dared to imagine, their statuses would help when they tried to see each other again. Still, Laura did not look up before she read the next section.

The next paragraph told Laura much of what she had learned or guessed up to that point, except she did not know about Virgilia's powers and, more importantly, she did not yet know what Virgilia did to survive: animal blood, not human blood.

As Laura read the next paragraph, she felt a little guilty for thinking that they had something in common in that they were not the favored women of their houses. Laura knew that she chose her disfavor with her family. Virgilia, on the other hand, had no choice, and grew up sick with the truth of herself hidden from her. No, they were not alike in that respect, Laura thought, more guilty.

As she continued to read, she started to feel the weight that Virgilia must have felt when she wrote the notes. She lived against her nature and even Laura's hurt from the splinter was enough to cause what had happened. Laura knew that there was a genuine danger but she still remembered her resolve. Somehow, there was a way to keep a small cut from putting Laura in danger in the future. If she somehow found a way to turn her inevitable capture by her family into a better chance to know Virgilia, she would find a way to help this barrier as well.

Her mind briefly left her thoughts of preparation when the note continued on to being about the last moments of the last night. But again, the easy and wonderful feelings, of seeing Virgilia's feelings about their kiss, found a strange vein as Laura continued. To think that people would think about what was felt between them last night with different attitudes based on their both being women made Laura feel an old of anger seep from that old scar over her heart.

Laura shunned the memory that appeared and loosened her teeth the second they locked. What happened was in the past, she reminded herself. The present moment was what mattered. Laura edged her eyes forwards, still a little stuck on her anger, but then all that changed in one second.

...I think I’m truly falling for you Laura Veronica and I want to be your lover...the thought of not doing that and leaving like I should hurts more than I could ever imagine...

Laura's thoughts and feelings suspended themselves as she read the last words of the note. When her eyes met the three words, "I love you", she felt fear. Right there in her hand was no longer a detailing of Virgilia's past or her royal status. It was something more than that or the ink or the paper; it was her heart, entrusted to Laura's care. She felt that she knew, by reading the note, that it was the first time Virgilia had done such a thing. The gravity from it all came from that time in Laura's memory when she had confessed to a girl whom Laura had not known much longer than she now knew Virgilia. The results had shattered her. For years, she thought that her mistake was that she had trusted far too soon. As Laura held the note now, she started to think that maybe Virgilia was now trusting her too much. Laura started to think that it wasn't fair to herself to be trusted so quickly. Could one say 'Love' so quickly?

Yes. Laura put the note down and looked right back into the glittering gold of Virgilia's eyes without any of the dark emotions that she had visited. Her purpose had not changed at all; she would live this and every moment without hesitation or holding back.

The room was a dim, cozy gray light coming in from behind the window, gone darker as the clouds slid under the sun's light. More snow would be coming within the hour. It would last for the day, giving Alonia another blanket of white. Virgilia's eyes looked dark again, but Laura imagined their color as she leaned in closer to Virgilia. With their faces only a thought apart, Laura stopped.

"You too...I...love you too. I want you to know, that before I tell you who I am and what is coming, that you're safe with me."

[Virgilia de Artio]

Virgilia had been watching Laura while she read the two notes with a frightened look. Once the other woman had started reading the second letter she had dropped her smile, and it was replaced by several other expressions on her face. Though none of them seemed the slightest happy. She hadn’t really expected much else, maybe relief since she told Laura that she didn’t drink human blood, but in the end she thought Laura would be nothing but happy. Wasn’t love supposed to be a good thing? Something that made you happy?

Having followed Laura’s gaze, she knew she was near the end of the text and this made her frown. First the other woman looked a bit angry, which made Virgilia scared, but then she saw that Laura’s expression changed from angry to scared. Why did Laura look scared? For a split second Virgilia felt angry, angry with herself for not understanding how Laura felt but it was soon replaced by pure confusion.

Even though the light disappeared Virgilia could see Laura’s eyes and she didn’t look away from the other woman’s blue orbs and felt herself moving a little closer as well. Suddenly as Laura told her she loved her Virgilia’s eyes widened and she turned her head away, biting her lower lip in confusion. Was that something Laura just said? Because Laura pitied her? Feeling a little mad at herself for thinking that she hugged onto the other woman’s arm, though she still couldn’t get the thought out of her head. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her friend, but the look on the other woman’s face a moment ago told her that it was at least something that bothered Laura.

She nodded her head she tightened her grip around the blonde woman’s arm. Virgilia felt safer with Laura than anyone else and wanted to know the other woman better. She wanted to hear Laura Veronica’s story.

["Babs" Delton]

"A year ago, I ran away from home. It wasn't a place like this. It was a home with a gate and a coat of arms, where I woke up every morning in a bed of feathers and linens. I suppose now, looking back, there were many reasons for leaving. Everything a noble learns goes towards impressing other nobles. I was taught arts and literature, but not so I could make such things. It was so I could talk about them and nothing more unless I wanted to imitate some so-called master.” It almost felt silly to complain. Virgilia was royalty. Laura had been around the peacocks of society for many years, but Virgilia had probably endured watching them flash their plumages and strut.

“I left. The life of a noble is not life. It is a small pseudo-existence inside of gilded chambers and fragile ideas. I want to be a part of the world around me. I want to find the beauty and put it in my own words and feel it with my own heart. I know that my hair is overgrown and untidy and I don't even remember what I looked like in makeup. My home is starting to grow mold in the walls and I still sometimes wake up from the crunchy sounds of my mattress, but I treasure all this more.” Laura sighed audibly as she considered her next words.

“Soon, I believe that I shall be visited by one of city's constables. These women and men appeal to the nobility such as my house of Delton. As such, I know most of them. I also know that my absence is not being accepted by the Baroness and Baron, my parents. As soon as I open the door to answer questions about last night, I will be recognized. Vee...if I'm seen, my family will see me locked away in the estate with only my books or my pen and papers to keep me company. If I'm there, you see, they can blame somebody for my being gone for a year, and get sympathy."

"I don't know what to do yet. I once held an invitation to go to Venus, but considering the contents, I knew that it would mean being a noble again, and so I threw it away. Vee..." Laura rested a hand on Virgilia's arm holding one of hers.

"If the worse comes to pass, I want you to believe me when I say that it is not your fault. What happened last night was an accident, and not one of neglect."

[Virgilia de Artio]

At the end of the other woman’s speech Virgilia already found herself crying silently. She had really ruined this woman’s life she thought. Would she continue to do that in the future? Letting go of Laura she carefully moved away and pushed herself away from the other woman while trying the best to hide her sobs, though they could still be heard. “I… I…”

Desperately looking around she grabbed the paper she had been writing the shorter message on earlier and a pen. Her hand was trembling slightly as she wrote and she had to start writing words over again several times as she misspelled or just shaped the letters wrong. Luckily the sunlight returned when she was about halfway done with her message, giving Laura the chance to read what was written.

‘I’ll meet them! In that way, you won’t have to face them and they won’t know who you are. They’re after me after all isn’t that right?’

Feeling bad for wasting a lot of ink she looked at the paper, after finishing the text, with a frown. It would have been better for Laura if she’d never even met Virgilia wasn’t that right? The woman in front of her loved this life wasn’t that true? If Laura was taken away they probably wouldn’t get to see each other much more anyways. So this was at least something she could do. She put the paper down on the mattress and pushed it towards Laura.

The thought about what could happen to herself, never found it’s way to Virgilia’s mind. She only tried of thinking of a way to prevent Laura from meeting these people.

["Babs" Delton]

"If the worst comes to pass..." Laura looked at her dresser, a few lidless boxes nailed together and raised off the ground by another plain table. An idea advanced to the fore of her thoughts that made her smile; she would have to laugh about it later. Her mind started to think of the logistics of what she was starting to plan. What could she leave behind?

"Nobody's going to meet anybody. Virgilia, I was a fool for setting up my new life in the front yard of my old one. In time, I'd have been noticed. There's no bad in the truth. It's time for me to leave this place. Will you join me?" she asked, barely able to hold her growing excitement.

The idea kept blossoming in her mind and it kept feeling right. But then, there was one last obstacle. Even if they both left this house, and even if they both traveled together, Virgilia's ankle was horribly sprained; such an injury would easily take over a week of care to heal. A new idea surfaced, though it started to take her virtually careless joy away. Would it work? Laura considered herself insane for considering it. First, she needed to know if she could convince Virgilia to leave this place.

[Virgilia de Artio]

Virgilia looked surprised at the other woman and blinked a couple of times before her mind finally understood. Did Laura really want to leave this? Studying the look on the other woman's face she felt a smile coming to her own. She would do anything to make things up to the bonde woman and the fact about her leg did of course not reach her mind making her nod at Laura's question. But then as she was about to move she felt the pain again and flinced. Looking back at Laura again she wondered if the other woman had a plan that would make at possible for virgilia despite her foot.

["Babs" Delton]

Laura watched closely. Virgilia smiled; hopefully it meant that she wanted to leave with Laura but it was still clear that with the injury, they might leave town, but only barely. Obviously, they couldn't camp in nearby lands as the nearest were controlled estates, one being the Delton estate itself. There would be no choice in the matter; Laura would have to ask; it might be the only way. It felt wrong as she thought up the question, as thought she was bringing back into their worst trauma so far.

"Vee, there's something that your note did not necessarily address that may be important. Can..." Laura caught herself starting to lower her gaze away from Virgilia and stopped herself.

"If you had human blood right now, would it help your leg?"

[Virgilia de Artio]

Virgilia's eyes widened and she looked at the other woman with a shocked expression on her face. "buth..." she bit her lip and looked down. Laura had looked so exied a moment ago and the last thing she wanted was to ruin this plan. The problem was just her ability to not drink much human blood and only a little. All the times she had sucked someone's blood she had ended up killing the person. That might be because she had never sucked blood without reaching the point in her need that she lost her mind but the thought still scared her. Slowly she then started to nod at the blonde woman's question. With all of her powers her foot would most likely almost not affect her at all.

["Babs" Delton]

She imagined that if she only lost a little blood, it might make her weak for a while, which would be a better handicap than if they tried to get outside of Alonia with Virgilia's injury. However, there were variables that she wondered about. What if the Virgilia of the last night appeared? For the instance she had Laura in her grip, it did not appear that there would be any stopping her from killing Laura if things had gone on for much longer. What about the bite itself? If Virgilia bit her, there would surely be a bleeding wound left behind, an injury that would require treatment. If the bite happened someplace vital, there could be no question--she would bleed out. Even if the bite somehow did not cause terrible harm, what if the bite had some sort of lasting effect? What could that be?

Laura could not deny herself the truth that she might be deciding if she was willing to die. However, she stopped thinking in that direction; it wasn't even clear how much danger she could be in.

"Vee, it feels really strange to suggest it...maybe I'm not intelligent enough to think of a better way...but if it's an option, it's our best choice...but...what could happen to me?

[Virgilia de Artio]

Virgilia looked to the side and lowered her head. It was a simple answer to Laura's question: she could die. Looking up again she signed for the other woman to come closer. If the blonde woman truly wanted to try she would do it and try her best to only take a small amount of blood.

["Babs" Delton]

Death. Laura thought on the word and its truth. At first, she looked down on the decision she was about to make. Was her life truly worth having her way? In a way, her spirit felt like it might as well be her life, so would she not be dead in the gilded halls of Delton, albeit in a different way? No. Whatever the horror of being alone again in the gilded halls of Delton, she would be alive. She could live to see a better day. If she died here, there would be no second chance. She would be in the hands of the gods, a place nobody could know. Again, was it worth the risk? Yes, there was a bit of wisdom in staying this course. To the greatest extent possible, it would be the choice most honest with not just the simple wants she felt, for the strange, passionate princess opposite her, for the wonders of the road, but for the fact that allowing others to control her would be a wrong that would dwell and fester in her. But how wise could a choice be if it could mean one’s death? Is it not right to want life, whatever the trouble?

…Every moment…

Looking across the inches between them, Laura saw doubt. Virgilia would be fighting her instincts to take every drop of her for herself. Laura also saw a sliver of certainty telling Laura that she would live. They would share the road south and spar with destiny several times more than they had already. Without another doubt, Laura scooted closer until Virgilia was just at her side. She started to breathe deep and slow. Whatever might happen, she could not imagine that this would be a painless event. She would need to relax as much as she could.

[Virgilia de Artio]

Turning so that they were facing each other Virgilia leant forward and hugged the other woman. Closing her eyes she lowered her head and listened to the sound of Laura’s heart beating. Not ever was she going to stop that heart from doing so she told herself. Leaning back a little but not letting go of the other woman Virgilia’s eyes were now looking straight at the other woman’s neck. Not moving for several minutes Virgilia was having an inner fight with herself, weather to do this or not.

Taking a deep breath she leant forward again and kissed Laura’s neck before opening her mouth, thrusting her canine teeth into the blonde woman’s neck and straight into a couple of blood vessels. The next moment she found herself drinking her friend’s blood feeling great pleasure. Never had she gotten to drink anything as good and the thought of having to stop before she was absolutely fulfilled was pushed away for the moment. But then her eyes shot open and she pulled away. Just as her mouth left Laura’s skin she let out a moan and she bit her lip to prevent herself from leaning forward to suck more blood.

Quickly she put her hand on Laura’s chest to feel the other woman’s heart beating. She hadn’t taken more than half a litre of the other woman’s blood though she still couldn’t tell if she had taken too much or not. When she had made sure that the other woman was still alive she stood up and went to the other side of the room. The pain in her foot was pretty much gone, as it had already started to heal rapidly. Her body was shaking as she was fighting the need for more.

["Babs" Delton]

In the first instance of the bite, her hands had nearly shot up to her defense, but then they fell. It was not for a lack of pain, however. She had felt the skin pierced and stretched around the teeth, warmth leaving along them. Her body tried to respond, but nothing happened. Under a force beyond nature, she was no more able to move than a mouse compressed in the coils of a serpent. Unable to think or move, she could only experience the emotion of a scream without being able to give voice to it.

And then the pain stopped. She found her body and thoughts again, but they could only unite under exhaustion. Laura hung her head as she sat. She felt the spot on her neck and her hand returned as dry as it had left. It was frightening magic, to be able to cut off a person from their body and furthermore to leave no evidence of the deed. With powers like this, a Vampire could drain a life without there being any sound or external sign. Laura felt a little better for having her thoughts be able to analyze something again.

Laura lifted her view and felt her fear re-intensify. Virgilia’s eyes were trained on her from across the room, holding none of their usual kindness. Was the nightmare over? Somehow, Laura managed to feel that it was; if Virgilia had the strength to pull away, she wouldn’t suddenly come back at her. Laura looked back down, still not even remotely able to look into those eyes.

“Vee, are you still with me?” Laura asked as she fell back on the mattress. The wave of exhaustion was not for a lack of blood, she knew. Her body and emotions were tired from the seconds-long event. More, something swam in her thoughts that she did not quite know yet.

[Virgilia de Artio]

At the question Virgilia felt her usual ability to control her desire for blood slowly returning and she was finally able to force a small smile to her lips. It looked like Laura was pretty much okay maybe a bit tired for a reason but beside that she was fine. Walking over to Laura’s desk she wrote a short message to the other woman and held it out to her, not sure if she should smile or frown at what was written.

‘I’m sorry. Did it hurt?

That’s the first time I’ve sucked human blood without killing the person.’

Looking down at the woman on the mattress for a moment she bent down a little and smiled sadly at the other woman, afraid that she would be scared or mad at what was written. Still she had told herself to never lie to Laura and so she would tell the truth.

She looked away from Laura and crossed her arms over her chest, wondering what the next step in the blonde woman’s plan was. The strength she felt in her body at the moment somewhat scared the princess a little. Never had she really gotten used to control this much power and it almost felt unnatural not to feel tired and weak. Straightening herself up she took a couple of steps away and looked at the window.

["Babs" Delton]

While the pen moved audibly in the room, Laura did not move. She had started to feel a string of contrasts. Energy somehow flowed from her exhaustion, as though she could leap from the bed and run, but only for seconds. After Virgilia handed it to her, Laura looked up into her eyes, and felt something between them that Vigilia’s face did not betray. An emotion that was not Laura’s added tension to her breath. Was this anxiety?

The next note contained an implication; Virgilia had killed people. Oddly, this wasn’t the focus of Laura’s attention; it was a feeling that she had known the words of the note as they were written. What did all of this mean? Again, she reminded herself that she probably did not understand the full extent of what had happened a few minutes ago.

“No,” Laura lied, trying to pull levity into her voice. “It wasn’t half as scary as I thought it’d be.” She walked over to Virgilia and hugged her at her back. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. I’ll need but a few moments to prepare, but…” Laura left a kiss on Virgilia’s neck. “…I would like but a moment to change.”

Laura eased away and began getting ready. It was time; snow outside or not, all it would take was a few moments’ waste to realize a constable at her door.