Angel Vicky

~Bonsoir~

Victoria was up at the crack of dawn, yawning as she drank her coffee. She wore a Saint’s uniform for the morning and preparation, she would put her armour on later when the Wynters drew nearer. She looked over the map of London and studied the layout so she could memorize her path through the city that she was instructed to take on her horse. Her part was to be the bait and lure the attackers into their carefully laid out traps. She heard footsteps come into the kitchen. She glanced up at Ray who stood there. He waited a few seconds before he spoke.”

“Vail Hygrace is outside. What do you want me to do with him?” He asked her. Victoria slowly lifted her gaze, eyes burning like fire. “Tell him to go back to his other woman. He has plenty of what he wanted from me from last night’s delivery.” She replied as she sipped her coffee with tired eyes, slight bags under them. Ray nodded at her and took his leave from the room. She glared as he left as she didn’t know what or who to trust anymore. This could be her last day on Earth and she did not intend to spend it being upset over a lying man.

Ray cleared his throat and straightened out his red tailor coat as he walked out of the Crest manor main doors and descended the couple of steps outside toward Vail Hygrace. “Sorry Lord Hygrace, Lady Victoria does not wish to see you at this present time…” He remained calm and professional in tone, hoping Gerald did not make a scene. He thought saying it in a more diplomatic way would not embarrass the vampire or anger him in this delicate situation. Only Ray, Gerald and Diana knew of what Victoria saw.

Only saying Vail’s name out loud was picked up by the Lady Diana as she handed some tea to some of the Saints outside. She handed the tray to a servant, who then took it inside. Diana practically stormed over to the vampire, not afraid to give her a piece of her mind. “How dare you show up here!” She pointed up at him. “My daughter was in BITS last night because of you!” She growled at the man. “How could you do that to her? You said you cared about her yet you’re gallivanting around with another woman? I thought you were different, Lord Vail Hygrace. But now I see that you are just like the rest of them…you just wanted her for her blood.” Diana narrowed her eyes at him.

Ray rolled his eyes as a few of the Saints stared at them. “Lady Diana, might I suggest you go inside and let me handle this?” He suggested since she was so emotional. Diana huffed at Ray and reluctantly went back inside. Ray sighed. “Look, Vail. Victoria is very upset right now…she asked me to tell you to go back to your other woman and that you have what you wanted from her from last night’s delivery.” He kept himself calm and relaxed, so the vampire did not pick up on any rise in heartrate. He also held his silver gun in one hand. Just in case. “So…I suggest you go before Gerald sees you and decides to kill you on sight. We’re pretty busy preparing for the Wynter’s arrival, if you hadn’t noticed.” He extended his arms in gesture and looked around at the hustle and bustle of commotion. Victoria couldn’t help but watch from a window, she couldn’t hear them but wanted to see Vail’s reaction. Would he walk away without a fight? Or did he truly care enough to fight his way through the army that stood between his and his prey?

Current Mood in One Gif

~Bonsoir~

When Victoria got back to Crest Manor, it was swarming with Saints patrolling the premises, carriages parked out front and more horses in Phillipe’s stable. She sighed as she saw there was no room for her precious companion. She hopped down from Phillipe and walked him to the back of the manor next to the kitchen door so she could keep close eye on him. She stroked his mane before heading in. As soon as she was inside, she practically ran up the stairs, well jogged in that silver armour of hers.

As soon as she slammed her bedroom door shut, she broke into tears. She peeled her gauntlets off and threw them across the room, they smashed into the dressing table. She then kicked off her metal boots and unlatched her leg guards. Then shimmied out of the breast plate. Every piece, she threw on the floor making a hell of a racket. That’s when her mother came in. “Victoria what in the blazes is going on?!” She demanded, she looked around the room to see her armour flung everywhere. Then she stopped yelling as soon as she saw her daughter crying into her hands. “Darling…what’s wrong?” She hadn’t seen her this upset since she learned of the death of her father.

“I saw Vail with another woman. Another vampire.” Victoria explained as she walked into her mother’s open arms and buried her head into her shoulder. “He lied to me, mommy.” She sobbed into Diana’s shoulder. Then Gerald walked in having seen the open door. “What’s wrong?” He asked Diana as she held Victoria in her arms. She sighed at him. “Boy trouble.” She frowned at him as Victoria lifted her head slowly to look at Gerald and he could see she had reddened eyes from her tears.

“I take it this is about that vampire?” He asked and she nodded.

“You were right Gerald. He was just using me for my blood…he’s probably going to marry her. She’s prettier than me, and better suited to Vail. Just like his father wanted.” Victoria growled.

Gerald sighed. “I know I’m not your father…but he isn’t here, and in his absence, it falls to me to look after his little girl when it comes to boys who break her heart. I’m going to rip his heart out for this.” Gerald sneered, he held no love for any vampire, lesser for ones who hurt his god daughter. He was about to leave the room, when Victoria stopped him. “No, I need you here to protect me from the Wynters. We have planning and training to do.” Victoria had buried the hatched with Gerald when he had explained he didn’t mean to kill Alex, that a fight broke out between them and Alex was accidentally killed when he fell down some steps and broke his neck. Gerald didn’t shoot or stab him like she’d assumed. She forgave him in light of the bigger picture.

Gerald nodded. “You’re right. The Hygraces are not worth our time or manpower.” He agreed with her as she held his hands in his pockets. “Well, get some rest, we’ll be up at dawn putting our plan into effect.” He instructed as she nodded to him before he left the room. Diana stroked a strand of hair out from Victoria’s face. “Listen darling. You’ll find your true prince charming one day. I promise. It happened to me before I met your father. A dashing vampire stole my heart and used me to get one thing – my body. When he was done with me, he cast me aside like I was yesterday’s news. However, his presence brought Alexander Crest to my doorstep in search of his prey. And then the rest, you know.” She stroked her daughter’s hair softly and Victoria nodded with a weak smile.

“I knew it was too good to be true.” She didn’t want to get her hopes up that Vail may have been truthful and did care for her, in case he didn’t, and he really was using her for her blood.

“Goodnight darling.” Diana kissed her forehead and left Victoria alone to remove her shirt and trousers of her makeshift Saints uniform made from her father’s old clothes but fashioned to fit her womanly physique. She let her clothes fall to the oak floorboards and climbed into her bed with just her undergarments. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep within minutes.

~Bonsoir~

Victoria rode quickly towards the Hygrace Manor in the dim light of the setting sun. Eager to get her message to Vail as soon as she could so he could be as well prepared for the upcoming Wynter Clan’s arrival as he could. She was hoping to sneak up to the door without being smelt by any of the Hygraces that would alert them to her presence. If Peter had found out she was anywhere near there, he may do something worse than just throw her off the premises. Good thing her armour smelt of pure silver, something the vampires hated to smell. As long as it disguised her scent, she didn’t care it was heavy and stuffy inside.

She allowed the horse to canter to a stop and she hopped down slowly, landing with a clunk, about one hundred yards away from the gate so her horse did not make too much noise. She then thought about asking a random orphan to deliver her gift for a shilling or two as she took a leather pouch from the horse’s saddle bag to take with her. She walked as quietly as she could toward the manor house when she spotted two figures outside the main entrance door. She couldn’t quite make them out so she drew nearer and hid behind a tree. The oil filled lamps outside the manor was able to light up the porch well enough for her human eyes. When they adjusted they recognised Vail outside the door conversing with…a lady. Perhaps it was just a relative or servant, she thought. A carriage awaited the lady as she seemed to be saying goodbye to Vail. Then to her horror, Vail leaned in to kiss the woman’s cheek! She almost dropped her satchel, smashing the precious contents inside.

Her heart pounded as she couldn’t tear her eyes away. As Sylvia turned around and she got a good look at her face, Victoria saw just how beautiful she was. She had to be a vampire. The one Vail had mentioned to her. It seemed his engagement was imminent or even worse…had been in place all this time while he had pursued her. Just for her blood. Gerald’s words echoed in her mind. “A vampire would say anything, make you believe anything to make you do their bidding.” Victoria felt her eyes burn as tears filled up in them, as her respiration increased. She kept herself hidden as the carriage rode past her. Victoria knew she could never compete with the beauty of a vampire, and she would not live as long, leaving Vail all alone, if he did genuinely love her. She cared too much about him to hurt him. She looked down at her satchel and clutched it to her torso tightly. She decided to still drop it off, even if it was to become a parting gift. There was no point seeking vengeance when she didn’t have all the facts. Either Vail would respond her letter in some form or even show up a day earlier than planned or he wouldn’t.

Lady Crest would not be taken for a fool. That was for sure. So until she knew more about this arrangement between Vail and his new lady, she had to concentrate on the Wynters. She grabbed a boy passing by his arm. “Hey kid. I’ll give you a shilling if you deliver this wine to that manor’s door for me.” She offered the boy, who stared at the lady in armour. “Okay!” He chimed, and took the heavy bag from her. He practically skipped up to the door and rang the bell for a maid to answer the door. “Delivery!” He presented her with the parcel and left as she shut the door.

The boy ran back to Victoria and she tossed him two shillings. “Thanks lady! I can eat tonight!” He then ran off. She sighed feeling sorry for the child. When this was all over, she was going to go back to helping the orphans and homeless. She dragged her feet back to her horse and patted his mane. “Oh Phillipe…sometimes I think you’re the only friend I’ve got.” She sighed and hauled herself up on his back and rode back to Crest Manor for much needed rest. Tomorrow would be a very long day…

~Bonsoir~

Yes she could see them kiss goodbye (even just a peck) and get the wrong end of the story that way?

~Bonsoir~

Is it ok if Victoria sees Sylvia leaving the Manor?

~Bonsoir~

Victoria spent the next day training hard with Ray, one on one, getting better at fencing with each sparring match. “Good, you’re improving.” Ray stated as he sheathed his sword. “Oh almost forgot, I have something for you.” He beckoned for her to follow, she did eagerly toward a small box placed in the courtyard. It had been delivered earlier. When Ray opened it, all she could see was something shiny glinting in the spring sunlight.

“This…is your new armour.” He pulled out a breast plate, leg plates and gauntlets. “Made entirely from pure silver custom made to your size – your mother gave us your measurements so it should fit you perfectly.” Ray explained as he showed her the items. She gasped. “This must have cost a fortune.” She declared in awe as she inspected the beautiful armour.

“No expense spared in this fight. We need to ensure you are protected enough to ward the vampires away from you. The minute they get access to your blood, its game over. Your blood is their weapon. It will empower them twice fold.” He said in all seriousness. Victoria frowned and nodded. “Yes unfortunately.”

She then thanked him before running inside to try it on. Her mother helped her into it. She had a lot of trouble walking in it at first as she wasn’t used to the stiffness but it wasn’t all that heavy, made from a very thin layer of metal, its function was not to stop bullets or swords but to encase her in silver. The Lady made her way out to the courtyard and showed it off to Ray. “It fits a little too snugly.” She chuckled as she tried to bend the knee and it squeaked.

“And now for the helmet.” Ray said as he pulled out a silver helmet with a horizontal eye slit and popped it over her head. “There.” He smiled as she looked like a Knight of Camelot. “Sir Victoria Crest of London.” He laughed as she pouted, not that he could see that underneath the helmet! “I look stupid…” Her muffled voice came through the helmet.

“Nonsense. You look great…for a costume party!” Ray laughed harder and knocked on her helmet. “Heeey!” Victoria punched his arm with her gauntlet in response. Ray held his arm. “Ow. At least it packs more of a punch now.”

Victoria giggled and nodded. “I can see pretty well actually. I should practice in it.”

---

Later that evening when all had gone dark, she sat in candlelight, writing out her battle plans for Vail’s information to then deliver to the Hygrace manor later on. Then she contemplated the emergency escape plans. It detailed her aunt’s address in Scotland where she would escape to if they ran into danger. She then thought about an emergency supply of her own blood for him, in case the Wynters decided to take their fight to the Hygrace manor. She then asked a servant to go and call upon a doctor, out of hours of course. Soon a doctor would be at the door and Victoria asked him to draw a pint of blood for donation to the hospital urgently. A lie but the good doctor obliged as he trusted the word of a Crest. Once it was in a glass bottle and the doctor had left, she rolled her parchment into a scroll and wrapped it around the bottle with a ribbon and a tag with his name on in her cursive writing, then took a delicate white rose from the kitchen vase, freshly cut by her mother that day, to furnish it off as a token of her affection for Vail.

When she was happy with that, she donned her silver armour to disguise her scent from Peter and the rest of the Hygraces. She had trouble mounting her horse in the stable but once atop Phillipe, she rode off toward the mansion to deliver her gift.

~Bonsoir~

Victoria will still see her as a rival and threat to her. Maybe she could get the wrong end of the stick and see them together accidentally and think he's seeing her too? Then Peter could make it worse by stopping any letters reaching vail. And Gerald could make it worse by convincing her that vail was only using her for her blood and that the vampire would tell her anything she wanted to hear to get what he wanted. That would add some drama.

~Bonsoir~

Sylvia may be beautiful but she needs to hold an intelligent conversation, have wit and be able to give him some banter or he'll get bored easily. :P

~Bonsoir~

Oh ho ho! A love rival I see! *rolls up sleeves* Bring. It. On.