[center][h1][b][color=7ea7d8]The Stranger[/color][/b][/h1][/center][hr][hr]
Alyssa stood with her back against her just locked the door and let out a sigh of relief. When she heard that there would be a big get together where Valerian would be present, not in a thousand years would she have guessed that not just all Tepes' children but also the Artois and Zeno would be there! And she was none of them! Still, she managed to blend in well enough as she sipped Mimosas. Which were mostly to take the edge off her situation. When she saw him she finally understood what her best friend was talking about for three whole decades. He was a prince and very much dressed for the role. She tried to get his attention in the hall and with some waving she even got it! Of course, his father's speech interrupted everything and things were getting a bit too hot for Alyssa's liking. So she fled to her room. Ready to use plan B.

[quote=Unknown]To: [b][color=99C1C3]Valerian Tepes[/color][/b]
[b][color=7ea7d8]I need to talk to you about a scarf, a guitar and heart shaped glasses. Meet me in room 312.[/color][/b][/quote]

When she pressed 'send' a shiver went down her spine. She didn't like this. Back on the Island, it appeared as if they could see everything. Every chat, every message, hell every phone she made. It felt as if it was all monitored. From time to time, it felt as if her own mind was being checked upon. They always knew, somehow. Except now. They didn't know about the handful of Polaroids she had scattered over her bed. They all had the same person on them. Except for one: where the girl of all the other pictures shared the little rectangle with another man. They were at a beach, holding hands and looking at each other with starstruck eyes. Those who didn't know Aria would say she looked happy in all of them. Alyssa knew better. In every picture something was wrong. Something was eternally gnawing at her. In the last, her smile was something else entirely. It was disingenuous. She was content but not happy.

Over the course of decades, Alyssa had heard every story her best friend could tell about Valerian. How they met and how they, for a time, were very happy together. Then finally, the accident and she turned into a vampire. A sickly one at that. Despite the years, Aria was still hoping Valerian would come. Every night she'd look out of her window into the ocean water beyond. Sadly, time erodes even the strongest of bonds and one night, Aria stopped looking out her window at night. A day later she became content.

Alyssa wouldn't stand for that though. As she looked at the picture. They guy wasn't a bad person. Far from it. But from the stories, Alyssa thought that Aria deserved better. She deserved her prince. She might not be able to leave the Island but Alyssa was. Security wouldn't just check her luggage, they would check the content of any digital device before she could leave. Luckily though, she managed to slip a few pictures out. It was dangerous, though. If security had found those pictures, she could be banned from the Island forever. That was not a fate she wanted to suffer. Still, she hoped the pictures would be proof enough that Aria was out there still waiting for her Valerian.

Her mind had taken her on a nostalgia trip as she looked over her photos. She got so deep into it that she almost didn't hear the fluttering from outside. All her windows but one were closed and thick, sun-blocking curtains made sure she wouldn't get a horrible sunburn. However, this also meant she couldn't see who was outside. Carefully she took a step back from her bed. Then the curtains moved some more. [b]"Hello?"[/b] She said. [b]"Anybody there."[/b] In answer, the curtains moved a little bit more. She heard something touching the wooden frame of the window. Something was moving against the curtain. It kept sneaking around under the thick cloth. It went down. Towards the little bit of space that kept the curtain off the ground. Alyssa had taken three steps back already. She wished she had something with her. Anything to defend herself. [b]"Get back or I'll scream!"[/b] She declared with all the fury she could muster.

Until a figure came from under the curtain. It was a crow. Instantly all fear fled Alyssa. [b]"Oh thank god."[/b] for a second time that day, she let out a sigh of relief. Luckily she was of the adventurous sort. It might not look like much but she loved the thrill she was getting. [b]"Who's pet are you then?"[/b] she said teasingly at the blackbird, who ignored her and flew up onto the back of a chair. Seemingly overlooking the pictures on the bed. [b]"Are you hungry?"[/b] Alyssa asked. The crow looked at her for a second, probably just to find the source of the sounds it heard. Still, she saw it as confirmation and went to a cupboard. The private island wasn't just a quick getaway place, Alyssa had found. Some cupboards were actually filled with snacks. Like a little pot with nuts, which she unsealed and shook towards the crow. It didn't move, instead, it kept looking at her bed. [b]"That's strange. Are you okay, little crow? Do you want some water?"[/b] Alyssa didn't wait for an answer. She went into the bathroom where there was a beautiful bowl she filled partially with water and carried to her bedroom again, where she put it down for the crow to see. Still, it didn't budge. [b]"Are you okay, little crowley? Did you hurt a wing?"[/b] She asked, as she slowly approached the creature. Trying to look as unintimidating as possible. The crow, this time, kept its eyes on her. As if it was studying her. [b]"It's okay. I'm your friend."[/b]

The crow took off with unnatural speed. Before Alyssa could full and well react, it was heading straight for it. It flew fast. Too fast for any bird. She held out her hands to keep the beast away but it moved too quickly. With unnatural speed and went straight for the eye. Before the girl knew it, it’s unnaturally sharp beak was pushed through her eye. Supernatural speed pushed it deeper. Her body fell backward. The bloodied crow crawled out of the eye socket it came into. Covered in gore. It walked towards the bowl and bathe itself into the water, washing off the bits that clung to it. Once it was sufficiently clean, it flew up on the bed to observe its kill. The girl never even had a chance to scream. When content with its work it turned around and collected three pictures. The one with Aria and the other man remained, and another of Aria standing in a window as well. The crow crawled under the curtain and flew away.[hr][quote=Unknown]To: [b]Dimitri's Cleaner[/b]
Room service 312[/quote]