Post by daezanathethorn on Oct 30, 2020 1:06:48 GMT -5
Claudia arrived at her haven late, only a couple hours before the sun would be upon her. She sighed as the door closed behind her, pausing to press a kiss to her father’s cheek, recently risen with sleep still in his eyes.
“Late night, my child?”
She hummed some under her breath, nodding once. “Just taking care of matters, Papa. I’ll sleep soon.”
He clicked his tongue at her, a wisp of grey hair falling over his weathered face as he shook his head.
“The world is dangerous for you, Koreetsi mou. You press your chances, tempting fate.”
She unraveled the dark fabric about her head, allowing her cloak to fall to a chair, the mass of dark and wild curls falling about her shoulders, pale features, ashen and cold, revealed in the safety of her home.
“Caution is my friend, Papa, you fret too much. All is well, I promise. Drink your coffee, before you grow another wrinkle. Hmm? I’m going to get ready for sleep, I’ll see you tonight.”
Her father, a strange and dangerous ghoul to have, to love so much, made a sound under his breath, not quite happy, but content with her words, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she made her way to her small room.She nearly fell into the chair that sat before her small desk. Recent events left a strange taste in her mouth, her muscles tense as though she were waiting to take off in a flight, or perhaps to ready herself for an incoming fight, all the while a budding hope coiled in her chest. So long she had been alone, she had forgotten what it was to feel as though there were others she could rely on, even slightly.
She knew the price of a sisterhood was steep, she knew of her debt to Amina, but there was something comforting in the warmth of one to hold you, if even for a moment through it all. She longed for her sire, for a time when her bloodline was a power to lean against, a potent strength to be proud of, and now it was nothing more than a price hanging over head, betrayed by an insidious family in their thirst for control and power. It was a blessing, perhaps chance, perhaps fate, that she had become close to Amina in just enough time to save her own skin. But now, she knew she needed to embed her safety in this city even further. Should she find Hades, she longed to tell him for once, she had more to offer him.
She was a hard woman to get close to, full of mistrust and pain, shoving away others before they became too close to her, close enough to hurt her, but Hades had always endured her, her moods and her violent swings of pain, the nights upon nights where she locked herself away among the tomes. He deserved safety, if she could offer it to him. He had saved her from a death without purpose, cruel and cold, brought on to sate the endless lust of men. Spirits were cruel, restless, and it brought on a wave of anger to think of how she could have ended.
Rubbing the heel of her palm against her eyes, thinking the burning to be found there only to be caused by the exhaustion that washed over her, she didn’t even notice the blood which smeared around her dark eyes, staining her hands, unable, or perhaps unwilling, to comprehend the longing and pain which found a home in her chest.
Reaching for a parchment and quill, the familiar scowl twisted her features as she held the feather between her fingers delicately, toying with words in her mind before she brought the tool to the rough paper, beginning to write.
“My dearest Amina,
The nights are cold amongst the land of Venice, but I find the ties of friendship with you warm me in ways I had not expected. I continue in my efforts, of course, to aide our cause.
I plan to make my ways to the family we spoke of shortly, and eagerly await any news of our mutual friend.
I find myself longing to make our stance a stronger one, the trio of us. Strength is something we will need, with roots embedded deeply into the ground of this city. The rumors I hear, and lack of interest of those around me, leads me to think trying times shall be in the future.
It is with this in mind that I request aid, Amina. A home to call truly mine, to build our net of security further, with the backing of one who’s strength far outweighs my own. These men have stormed my home before, scouring what I have rightfully collected, and now I must protect the information I gather, on all of our behalfs.
I will send further news shortly, and hope to hear back from you, dear friend. I do enjoy our meetings, sparse as they are.
-Claudia.”
She allowed the quil to settle in the jar of ink as she began to melt the wax for her seal, the parchment rolled and sealed, with instructions for her father to deliver it securely to Amina’s hands, before she finally settled into her small bed for the day's sleep. It was only once she curled under the blankets that her mind began to truly wander, filled with the possibilities of Hades’ fate, both of a reunion and of despair. The world was too cold, too dark, and it left her with a pit in her chest, dark and all consuming, a dangerous thing indeed.
“Late night, my child?”
She hummed some under her breath, nodding once. “Just taking care of matters, Papa. I’ll sleep soon.”
He clicked his tongue at her, a wisp of grey hair falling over his weathered face as he shook his head.
“The world is dangerous for you, Koreetsi mou. You press your chances, tempting fate.”
She unraveled the dark fabric about her head, allowing her cloak to fall to a chair, the mass of dark and wild curls falling about her shoulders, pale features, ashen and cold, revealed in the safety of her home.
“Caution is my friend, Papa, you fret too much. All is well, I promise. Drink your coffee, before you grow another wrinkle. Hmm? I’m going to get ready for sleep, I’ll see you tonight.”
Her father, a strange and dangerous ghoul to have, to love so much, made a sound under his breath, not quite happy, but content with her words, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she made her way to her small room.She nearly fell into the chair that sat before her small desk. Recent events left a strange taste in her mouth, her muscles tense as though she were waiting to take off in a flight, or perhaps to ready herself for an incoming fight, all the while a budding hope coiled in her chest. So long she had been alone, she had forgotten what it was to feel as though there were others she could rely on, even slightly.
She knew the price of a sisterhood was steep, she knew of her debt to Amina, but there was something comforting in the warmth of one to hold you, if even for a moment through it all. She longed for her sire, for a time when her bloodline was a power to lean against, a potent strength to be proud of, and now it was nothing more than a price hanging over head, betrayed by an insidious family in their thirst for control and power. It was a blessing, perhaps chance, perhaps fate, that she had become close to Amina in just enough time to save her own skin. But now, she knew she needed to embed her safety in this city even further. Should she find Hades, she longed to tell him for once, she had more to offer him.
She was a hard woman to get close to, full of mistrust and pain, shoving away others before they became too close to her, close enough to hurt her, but Hades had always endured her, her moods and her violent swings of pain, the nights upon nights where she locked herself away among the tomes. He deserved safety, if she could offer it to him. He had saved her from a death without purpose, cruel and cold, brought on to sate the endless lust of men. Spirits were cruel, restless, and it brought on a wave of anger to think of how she could have ended.
Rubbing the heel of her palm against her eyes, thinking the burning to be found there only to be caused by the exhaustion that washed over her, she didn’t even notice the blood which smeared around her dark eyes, staining her hands, unable, or perhaps unwilling, to comprehend the longing and pain which found a home in her chest.
Reaching for a parchment and quill, the familiar scowl twisted her features as she held the feather between her fingers delicately, toying with words in her mind before she brought the tool to the rough paper, beginning to write.
“My dearest Amina,
The nights are cold amongst the land of Venice, but I find the ties of friendship with you warm me in ways I had not expected. I continue in my efforts, of course, to aide our cause.
I plan to make my ways to the family we spoke of shortly, and eagerly await any news of our mutual friend.
I find myself longing to make our stance a stronger one, the trio of us. Strength is something we will need, with roots embedded deeply into the ground of this city. The rumors I hear, and lack of interest of those around me, leads me to think trying times shall be in the future.
It is with this in mind that I request aid, Amina. A home to call truly mine, to build our net of security further, with the backing of one who’s strength far outweighs my own. These men have stormed my home before, scouring what I have rightfully collected, and now I must protect the information I gather, on all of our behalfs.
I will send further news shortly, and hope to hear back from you, dear friend. I do enjoy our meetings, sparse as they are.
-Claudia.”
She allowed the quil to settle in the jar of ink as she began to melt the wax for her seal, the parchment rolled and sealed, with instructions for her father to deliver it securely to Amina’s hands, before she finally settled into her small bed for the day's sleep. It was only once she curled under the blankets that her mind began to truly wander, filled with the possibilities of Hades’ fate, both of a reunion and of despair. The world was too cold, too dark, and it left her with a pit in her chest, dark and all consuming, a dangerous thing indeed.