Heya Everyone.
So I was working on a new piece for today's blog post. I wanted to use Carina from last weeks post and write the start of her story. Keyword wanted, unfortunately, my bad health flared up, and despite spending a day in front of a keyboard, I was unable to tell the tale she deserves. What I have done, is searched through my files for something semi-recent to show you instead. (This is from 2013, it counts right?) So I haven't done very many touch ups, and I found this because I found a part of it that I was working on late last year.
In terms of my health, I should have an 'official' diagnosis in about two weeks to share with you all.
I hope you like it.
Rose.
Prologue:
We live in a world, a world we unknowingly share, with Vampires and shapeshifters alike. Like us humans, they have their faults and flaws.
Vampires are one of two things, made or born. Made vampires were turned into vampires by another vampire. They have only one more restriction than born vampires, their explosive habit of imploding on contact with the sun.
Born vampires are either noble, from one of four founding families, or they weren't. Should the vampiric king pass on, a new king is chosen from the nobles, one who shows the most potential rather than anointing someone named as heir. This King rules over his vampires. It is very rare for the ruler of the vampires to change, and there is only one known case of this having happened. The vampire king grew too powerful, abusing his power. The collective vampiric community decided to eliminate him and replace him with someone who seemed to be better suited to rule.
All vampires have an intense craving for blood, and generally, each vampire has their own personal preference. Each time a vampire drinks blood they receive something extra from the bloods owner. Shapeshifters blood allows vampires to use their shifting abilities, whereas human blood heightens the vampires normally dulled emotions. The duration this lasts directly correlates to the amount of blood consumed.
Otherwise, vampires are like those we read about these days. Fanged, blood sucking creatures, who can move faster than you ever dream possible, and some of the most attractive people on the planet.
Shapeshifters are not immortal, but they do outlive humans, with an average lifespan of 5 000 years. The current ruler of the shapeshifters spends that time not only ruling her people but also looking for a suitable heir to take her place once she passes on.
Shapeshifters have very few restrictions on forms they could take, anything that wasn't extinct or mythological. There were still few who broke those two basic rules, and more often than not they ended up hunted, killed by their own kind. Rare shapeshifters are slightly more powerful than shapeshifters that don’t have the gene. Those born with it are able to change form, quicker and sustain that form for an indefinite period of time, whereas normal shapeshifters can only hold their forms for 1000 years before they have to revert back. The rarest of these shapeshifters also have better control over their abilities, and, if they could master it, they could also 'modify' the creatures they change into, mixing the better parts of two creatures to make one powerful hybrid, however, this in itself was such a rarity that although several dedicate their whole lives to studying and mastering it, very few succeed, and when they do, they are only years away from death's door.
Shapeshifters usually find a few forms that they called their 'preferred forms', which are simply the forms that they felt comfortable in. These forms are typically similar, with one animalistic, one human and one vampiric, however, the older the shapeshifter becomes, the more likely it is they would grow bored and develop even more 'preferred' forms.
It is here we meet the most famous of Shapeshifters and Vampires. King Altius Hadrien Marcellus of the Vampires and Queen Rozen Sabina Aurelia of the shapeshifters. The story I'm risking my life to tell you, is a simple one, of forbidden love, vengeance and royalty.
Chapter 1:
Stunning green eyes locked on pure blue as they stared across the school's courtyard. The Queen of Shapeshifters instantly recognised the King of Vampires, they’d met plenty of their vast years walking the earth, and he had not aged a day. He was well built, as expected of a vampire of his status, easily carrying the air of nobility with subtle grace. He looked more welcoming than his predecessor, short light brown hair that curled naturally and soft pure blue eyes. Yet as is well known, looks can be deceiving, the King of Vampires could be just as malicious if not more so than his predecessor. A single glare was like a glimpse into the evil workings of his mind, more violent and cruel than anyone could ever imagine.
A slight smile graced the Queen of Shapeshifters lips as she noticed the man she had been searching for for years. Green eyes slowly changed to her natural hazel, and only the king noticed, his ‘entourage’ still stunned by the mahogany haired woman who commanded the utmost respect by just standing still. She seemed to control the very breeze that flicked through her hair.
“Alone are you my Queen?” The King asked, bowing his head as she walked to stand closer.
“Never my King.” A silent command and the light breeze turned into 3 figures, two males and one female. The female and a brown haired male stood to her left, whereas the blond haired male stood to her right.
“I do not believe you’ve met, the female is Jeniveve.” The only other female in the group looked up, blue eyes glancing over everyone, pausing only slightly on the king before looking to her queen.
“Then the male next to her is Nickolas, we call him Nick.” The brown haired male didn’t bother to glance over the crowd of Vampires, instead, hazel eyes flickered between Jenieve and his Queen.
“And, this is Kaardil.” The male had steel grey eyes, and dark blonde hair, a soft smile on his face.
“Your bodyguards change all the time my Queen.” The King teased,
“Unlike yours?” She replied with a smirk.
“Point proven, they have forced another upon me now, see.” He gestured to the three vampires behind him.
“Victoria, the eldest.” He motioned to a woman with long curly brown hair and dark brown eyes, who was studying the Queen with a slightly concerned look on her face.
“Avan,” Avan also had dark brown hair and brown eyes, but he didn’t seem worried by the Queen, a slight smile on his face, looking right at home.
“And Alli” She had short light brown hair, and also had brown eyes.
“What happened to John, and Luca? I liked them.” The Queen easily looped her arm through the one that the King offered her, and the pair walked away, conversing like the old friends that they were. The Vampires followed along behind, while the shapeshifters again took on their form of air, and hovered around the King and Queen.
“You have been searching for me, Rozen.” The King stated,
“Indeed I have Altius.” She replied with the same serious tone. They both motioned for their guards to leave at the same time.
“To class, the Queen will do me no harm.” The King ordered as the three shapeshifters appeared next to the vampires.
“You also.” The Queen turned and walked away with the King, to a more private place.
“I do not have the answers for you, Rozen.” He spoke softly, his hand resting on her cheek. She leant into his touch, her own hand resting softly over his.
“You have all the answers Altius, you always have.” Her voice was slightly softer than his,
“Not always my love.” He smiled sadly,
“I should be dead Altius, I’ve watched those I have chosen to succeed me die, I have for the last thousands of years. I should have died when I was five thousand, and I am twenty times older than that.” Her voice rose hysterically with her words, and Altius couldn’t help but draw her into his body, hugging her tightly.
“I have only one theory my love, and it is not one that you will like.” A sigh from the King,
“Have you been craving more raw meat than usual?” He asked quietly,
“My preferred forms are carnivores Altius, I have always preferred my meat raw.” She replied just as softly,
“My only theory is that you are on the verge of becoming a vampire. Still a shapeshifter, but very close to turning permanently, and that is what is preventing you from ageing and dying as you should.”
“So I am at risk of turning?” A whispered question,
“No, my Queen. If my theory is correct, the only one who can finish turning you...” He paused, moving one hand to run through her hair softly. “Is me.”
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