Solum Reign discussion

Here any of the Royals and their guest may lounge and have small talk with one another around a hearth where no one may be harmed in any way. This is a place of peace.

Valentine was fed up as he sat next to the hearth, soaking up the fires warmth, uncaring that it was something that could send him up in flames. He was a man of importance and with that came specific obligations and with those obligations came annoying stress. The princeling was roaming the castle and was becoming as bad as the vermin that roamed the halls in the first place. He hoped Amelia would be able to obtain information on his subjects of interest, hoping he could use such information to his advantage and possibly plot something most delightfully entertaining.

Amelia stalked into the Hall of Presence, her shoes clicking loudly on the stone floor. Her usually blank face was contorted in disgust and annoyance. When she saw her father, she walked over to him. She dipped her head and gave a small curtsy to him before sitting down and glaring into the flames.

Valentine heard his daughters approach and even though he could tell she was in a fowl mood, he didn't care it only amused him, which could only mean that she had found something rather interesting. If not he would be terribly disappointed that she could not complete the task given to her. After all it was a simple one. "I see you have completed your task then." He murmured. "Do tell what findings have you had, something of use I hope." He pointed out, smelling the scent of fear and pain on Amelia realising then that it was the humans. "You better not have broken her, or you will be punished for breaking new livestock after we went to the trouble of getting such supple blood." He warned, eye dangerously close to black.

"The task has not quite been completed Father," Amelia said with disgust. "The girl is stubbornly loyal to the prince. His power has something to do with heat or cold." Her eyes flashed and she continued with her report. "She is also unusual. I have never encountered a mind like her's in a human. She kept resisting my powers. I was able to overwhelm her and get some information before she somehow was able to get me out of her mind." Her hands clenched and her nails drew blood from her palms. "Do not worry. She is not broken. Though I wish to break her at some point, Father."

Valentine raised a brow at her comment. She hadn't finished what he had asked of her, that in itself was rare enough to draw curiosity. "Ah loyalty is a dangerous thing, thought it doesn't come without a stronger tie to something else." He murmured, figuring that there had been something between the two, maybe affection? If it was it would explain a lot of the princes actions though they were more cowardly than anything. "Heat or cold...." Considering what both him and Markus realised upon meeting the prince it was highly unlikely that the prince knew what power he had nor how to control it. Which meant interesting clashes could happen. He looked at Amelia with a dark smirk, liking the idea of a stubborn young filly. "Then be grateful you have something to play with, to challenge you, to push you higher in the world. After all if one is never challenged then no one will succeed. In the meantime, continue to work on her, if not use her in front of the prince and if the worst comes to the worse, have your way with the prince." He told her. "Try not to break her until we have everything we need."

"Her loyalty to him is because he saved her life or something like that. I do not know the exact detail because I was also busy trying to stop her attempts to throw me from her mind." Amelia nodded. She was, in truth, somewhat glad that the girl had proved to be a challenge. It was boring manipulating the minds of those who just let her. Having someone fight back was going to be fun. She hoped that the prince would be easier to manipulate. She found it harder to flirt with men than it was with women.

Valentine ran through multiple possibilities in his mind as he listened to Amelia, knowing full well that though she was angry with the human girl, he could feel her excitement at the possibility of using her to experiment with her powers further even if she did break. "Well then do your duty and get me what I need." He told her. "We should have the prince gathered in the dinning hall, show him our hospitality and what we are capable of. He is bound to show his true colours eventually, the girl is just the stab in the back he needs to really push him over the edge. We are going to have some fun. A feast should be suitable." He told her, standing with grace. "I will make some preparations. Now get to work." He ordered Amelia as he made his leave.

"Yes Father. Of course. I shall look forward to the feast and meeting this prince." Amelia said as she stood as well. She got to her feet and went to leave as well. She needed to go find some place quiet to sit and think of a way to get into the girl's mind.

{End of Scene}

Markus entered the Hall of Presence even if it was daytime he had no intentions of sleeping. he went into the dark hall to ensure that he would not become stone. Most of the the magics that kept the kingdom covered in cloud only truly worked during the late hours of evening. He sat in the chair on the farthest end casted by the shadows who were so naturally keen to be drawn to him. He was hardly visible even close to the hearth burning brightly.

Annabelle had been sick after the mental torture she had been through. She had woken to a spinning world before the rug of earth was pulled from her. She had spent her time on the cold stone floor to ease her hot throbbing mind, it soothed but didn't help. So in an attempt to gain strength she went for the food but was sick after a couple of mouthfuls simply because it tasted like something that had been puked up before hand. So after an attendant had come to serve her breakfast he had gotten a physician. She spent her time drinking water in small doses before taking a long hot soak. After another bout of sleep she was put to work for the time being until she was deemed food, guard or dead. She had only just finished scrubbing the halls when she came into the Hall of Presence. The sight of a fire was enough to get her to her feet so she could grab warmth. She was meant to clean the dinning room next, heck if they had proper food in there she wouldn't hesitate to thieve some.

((Hall of Presence not praise lol...))

Markus watched as Annabelle was put to work. Normally the Livestock was put to work until feeding time. They probably told her to clean the dining hall last. The unfortunate girl was to be food for quite some time until her body was no longer able to bare the lack of blood in her body. "Hello, Annabelle." He says with a dangerous smile.

((GTG for a bit heading to the redbox to get a movie.))

(( oops lol ))

(( ok ))

Annabelle stood by the hearth, hunched over slightly as she cupped her hands to the fire, watching it ebb back and forth in golden waves. The shock of a cold voice stabbed at her ears and it made her flinch. Eyes wide and face pale she peeked around the fire at nothing but shadow, hugging the handle of her broom. "H-Hello?" She looked around but saw nothing, yet somehow she recognised the voice. "W-Who's there?" She wondered, though she felt chills and spiders and somehow didn't want to know the answer because somewhere deep down she thought she already knew, keeping close to the fire for warmth, light but also to feel some form of protection.

Markus's laugh was cold and dark it seemed almost frightening. "I am Markus, the one who introduced himself to you in your home of Vada. I am the Dominus of Xuin. I have been keeping a close and watchful eye on you during your stay with us and I can only come to a single conclusion about what makes you tick." He stands from the shadows as they seem to disperse in fear of him. "Annabelle, you are an exceptionally gifted girl with powers that can be enhanced with a single ritual of blessing. I know you are the one being in this world that can keep your prince's power in check. So tell me what alchemic remedies have you used to do such a thing? No one is blind to your infatuation with Gabriel and his with you. Tell me what keeps a simple servant so close to a prince's heart?"

Annabelle felt a mass of swords in her stomach, backing up a little, almost tripping up over her own broom. The dark man from the castle, the one that killed the two guards like it was nothing. She placed the broom between her and Markus, hoping to use it as a shield or a weapon depending on what he did. "Tick?" She muttered in confusion. A blush filled her cheeks as she looked into the fire. "I haven't done anything I promise. He came to see me, we talked, that was all." She told him. "I-I... I-I just think the prince is misunderstood... he saved my life. I'm very grateful for that." She murmured. "But I doubt the prince so much as likes me as he does enjoy the chance to talk to another and act like a normal human being. He's spent his time in confinement. He's just learning to spread his wings is all."

Markus simply gives a nod to her words, "Yes...I see. You know you would make a beautiful Vampire. Perhaps then with such a status you could be with him. You could at last be with the one man you long to be with for all eternity." he offers with a cruel smile. "You can put your broom down. We are in the Hall of Presence. The hearth before you is a symbol of peace. We gather here for more neutral conversations. Everything about this room is protected by powerful binding magic that prevents harm from coming to those within it. So please have a seat, Annabelle." He gestures to a chair. Markus was manipulative and very clever and few could ever consider challenging him. However, as much as Annabelle looked appetizing the magic was quite binding.

Annabelle paled even further at his vampire comment. She really didn't want to be draining people of blood like... livestock. She only ate to survive and even then she said a prayer over the animals she killed. "Changing what I am won't do anything. If he doesn't reciprocate my ... I don't even know what I feel myself." She admitted, realising her friends were right. Even with all of his talk the feeling of being prey was still imminent. She inched towards the chair and tentatively took a seat, keeping the broom in front of her. She didn't trust him, the darkness leaking off of him was bone chilling. For all she knew he could have been the one to safe proof the room and knew the loop holes, or knew how to break it. She didn't know magic but with magic there was so many possibilities it was daunting. "I-I should really get back to work." She told him, standing up again, feeling edgy and fidgety.

Markus stands, "No you should really have a seat and listen to what I have to say." He says with a demanding and cold voice. "I am the master of Xuin and you will do as I say. None shall defy me and none shall possess the magics to kill me. I rule over so much and it will not be long before Vada and Ӕldingar both fall under my power and influence. Vampires will rule all of Solum and I will not be stopped. I am offering you a chance to live rather than suffer as livestock. Note that your prince has already made enemies here and it will not be long ebfore one slips through my guards and kills him. Make a choice and save his life." He offers coldly.

Annabelle almost felt forced to sit down, gripping the broom tighter in fright. He was most likely having fun tormenting her mentally. The witch from before had really done a number on her. "It's not exactly fair to own all power. Power should be shared... i-in my opinion." Though she doubted he wanted her opinion. She didn't think she wanted to be ruled over by someone so cruel, only imagining an endless darkness in her life. She gave him a hard look. "I am not livestock. I am a human being and to suffer is to live, because if you do not except everything there is that life can throw at you, you will drown." A person would become someone like him. "I have suffered a great deal and yet I refuse to be beaten because I remember the golden moments I've had in life. With the good comes the bad, that is what keeps us on our toes. That is what makes us human." She muttered, looking away after realising she had voiced too much of her thoughts. "The prince is strong, he just doesn't know it. I will support him anyway a human can." She told him. "I don't want to drown."

Markus seems to move in a blur of darkness ebfore his face was right next to her ear. "There is one thing you and I differ with. I'm not human, Annabelle...I'm an Immortal who has a broken heart and a need to keep order in this world. Your kingdom will fall under me as they already bow to my power. Gabriel will accept what he is and you will either be lost with the countless numbers of the dead and surviving livestock or you will join us. I leave you to your thoughts only for a moment. You will come around to it eventually and I will have another soul to give me strength. My fellow leaders only think they can rule by my side when they too rule under me. I alone created Vampires and I alone will rule as the leader of the species and all of this world." He syas before a wisk of wind pushes throguha dn he appeared as comfortable as ever bakc in his seat across the hearth form her.

Annabelle gasped, unable to breath at the close proximity in such a brash and short amount of time. She gripped her broom until her knuckles went white and the wood bit into her palms, fear freezing her in place. The moment he retreated she began breathing again, sucking in air. "So because you got your heart broken you are taking revenge against the world and making everyone else suffer because of your pain?" She asked. "You don't think everyone else has had their own pain in life and have been unable to do anything about it? What you are doing is selfish and I wouldn't want to fuel a fire such as yours. But that doesn't mean I want to speed up my death. I long to die a peaceful death, grow old, have children, be safe. None of that can be achieved in darkness." She told him. "Your greed will be your downfall, I've seen it many times." She really had, many rich, many powerful, many famous, all taken down by greed, darkness and power.

Markus laughs coldly as it echoes through the hall. "My dear, my broken heart only fuels my rage against Ӕldingar due to their Kralista banishing me and taking me from the one I loved most. I desire power for the mere sake of order. I will watch Vada fall to it's knees at my mercy and I will watch Ӕldingar burn to ashes for banishing my kind. I act out of greed for my kind. We are Witches and we deserve the kingdom of Ӕldingar as our own home." He says showing he was not just greedy, but thoughtful as well. I am only looking for the greater good."

Annabelle looked almost sad for him, feeling almost pitying towards him. He was a sad and lonely man who had drowned too much that he didn't know how to get out of how to ask for help. It was kind of sad to watch. "I feel sorry for you and wish you some happiness in the world." She told him. "If you don't stop this, you will be brought down by your own greed, lying in wait and wondering why you didn't just be a man and talk." She told him. "You can kill me, torture me, play mind games, break me, but it won't change the fact that you are lonely and yearn for love and you are taking it out on the rest of the world." She stood up. "I have cleaning to do....try to find the light again, you might be surprised what you find." She sighed, going back to her duty. "We may be weak, but that is what makes us stronger to fight." She knew all too well. Once she finished cleaning she went to the next door to move onto the dinning hall.

Markus felt her words for a moment his heart was tender again, "Do not enter the dining hall. Others will clean it...consider it forbidden to you." He calls out in warning praying she doesn't become curious. Gabriel was a valuable asset and so was annabelle for as long as Gabriel was here.

{End SCENE}