Lyla

Bloodbound & Broken

This would be the second time she had truly seen the animalistic side of Ren in particular. It was just as terrifying as when they first met and just as beautiful, her eyes drawn to the woman with a flash of awe painted across her face. It was amazing how fast her vampiress could switch on a dime like she did, almost like she was a whole other person, but in the undercurrents of their link she could still sense the woman behind the predator. Her eyes widened slightly at the drumming of the emanation that Ren gave off, sending electricity shooting down her spine, like a direct injection of energy.

The hiss drove her from the temporary amazement and she tightened her grip mere moments before watching the fledgling leap at her. The half-starved vampire was no real threat, she was slow from hunger and easy to predict, but something did catch Lyselle off guard. She only meant to defend herself, lifting her blades up as a warning, however her own movements were notably faster then she was used to. It caused her to flinch, pulling her blades away - enough to let the younger vampire clamp around her. Emotions of confusion and fear sparked her heart to beat faster as she watched Ren’s arm snapped out—a blur—and the fledgling was wrenched away. For a heartbeat she was then left frozen in a mess of thoughts, which mostly amounted to 'how did I move that fast?' For a heartbeat, her limbs had moved like they remembered something she didn’t.

”Wysteria you will not, I repeat NOT, touch a single hair on that humans head."

The ancient's voice warning Wysteria not to harm her human brought her back to the present, noting that she'd have to figure out the whys of it all later. Though there was this feeling of warmth that stirred, swelling inside her chest at seeing how protective Ren truly was. She looked to the sire with a discipled, but obvious gratefulness, sending the feeling of butterflies bouncing down their shared connection. Still she said nothing, letting Ren deal with it completely, paired with a sense of trust that the vampiress had been more than serious about keeping her safe.

“I’m going to very quickly disable you from doing so, for now, until I can trust you to control your urges…”

She never got the chance to really marvel at the use of blood magic, but hearing the incantations, much like her blessings being repeated thrice was certainly a treat for the young, curious mind. Especially seeing the effect it had, which was never anything the Vigil ever taught.

“Lyselle, my love.” The words meant to get her attention - which they very much did. “How long do we have until the werewolves are upon us?” As much as her mind screamed at her to try and analyze the use of the word 'love', she simply didn't have the time to do so.

"Seconds," Lyselle had replied, lowering her voice somewhat, clearly an indicator that the wolves were rapidly approaching. "One behind you - one the opposite way." At that, with utmost confidence that she could defend herself and that Ren would watch her, she turned her back to the pairing and lifted her blades up - eyeing where the female wolf had been silently stalking them.

---

As Victor drew closer, he could hear muffled conversation, narrowing his eyes to peer through the darkness - everything painted in silver and black and where light seemed to shine bright to the werewolf eyes. Close enough now to hear normal conversation, just past some bushes, getting low and ready to pounce. Victor had to train especially hard in ambushing and sneaking given his taller form, but by this time he had been one of the best hunters - even if not thee best. Which is why when he was just about to make himself known at full speed, he paused, eyeing the human opposite of his own prey.

Was she wielding silver weapons? A huntress - with a vampire? It certainly gave him pause as questions raced in his mind, of what this meant, and a ping of fear for his sister. They were ready to fight two vampires with one being weak, but never expected the third to be a hunter. Then it dawned - she must be dominated. There was hope then, if he could swallow the vampire's attention, the human might break free of the enchantment and might even turn sides. A very low sigh huffed through his maw before readying himself once more, turning his full attention on the woman protecting their prey, mission cemented in his mind.

Tensing his muscles, he launched himself forward at full speed towards the newcomer, letting out a wild and intimidating roar that seemed to shake the very trees - birds flocking upwards in fear as the quiet broke throughout the forest. He wasted absolutely no time, pouncing towards Ren with claws opened and teeth showing, ready to sink into dead flesh.

Bloodbound & Broken

As they sailed the winds, Lyselle carefully slipped the dagger back into place, acutely aware not to accidentally nick her newfound lover and simply watched the landscape blur on by with quiet wonder. Silently she smiled to herself, finding Ren's nod to her given - even if temporary - title to be exciting and heart-warming, like butterflies swimming underneath her skin. Eventually she heard, “We’re close,” over the whipping whines of wind. Her brown gaze found Ren once more as she nodded again but this time instead of moving her focus elsewhere, she took these last few moments to stare into those ancient eyes, the link seemed to sigh in contentment, a quiet warmth rippling across her skin.

“I need you to be strong.” The wire that connected them hummed with encouragement that seemed to fill her with a feeling of confidence, as if this age-old vampiress had a genuine confidence in her ability, bringing a light smile to her face. “Stay with me, listen to me… But be strong, in yourself.”

"Yes ma'am." Something in the way that Ren had trust in her abilities and yet seemed to act like a leader sent another surge through the young huntress, filling her with trust and courage, quieting any fears of being held by a blood-drinker even further - though the echoes of doubts still lingered in her mind - just easier to ignore. The world shifted once again as they took a hard turn, gliding quickly towards the ground where Lyselle felt the impact of Ren's feet touching the ground.

As the huntress was lowered onto the ground, she slipped gracefully to plant herself onto the earth below and looked around for a few moments to get her bearing, but quickly following her guardian's lead. The gentle glow of being held still flickered in-between her heartbeats, even as her training snapped into place, handing finding the hilts of her blades. Her hunter sense was always 'on' but it was now alert - sharper and more focused as the energy of battle settled within her.

She could already sense another presence and knew instantly that it was the other vampire as they both of them began to walk forward. Their aura was weak, which was to be expected, and there were leagues of difference in the presence of their being compared to Renaissance's own which marked them as significantly younger. This afforded her the first time to realize that the younger vampire would be sorely tempted to gun for her - feeding gave them a chance to heal and regain their power and here was a human walking in like a snack. A slight click of her tongue as she tensed, she was almost certain the fledgling would interpret her presence as a gift — a living vessel to heal from, which meant she may have to genuinely defend herself against the very person they were trying to help. 'Can't be avoided,' she thought to herself. She wouldn't take it personally, but her silver weapons unsheathed none-the-less, though she noted the tug of something in their link - she would be sure not to hurt the offspring permanently or even temporarily if she could help it.

Another pulse crackled through the hair just then as Lyselle looked to the sides, letting out a slight huff. "Werewolves," she said, warning the ancient sire of who had come to join the fun. "Two of them... trying to flank us." Even among seasoned hunters, her ability to decipher supernatural beings was among one of her chief abilities and one of the reasons she was hailed as a prodigy in the Vigil. Between that and her close-combat effectiveness, it set her up to seem far more experienced than she actually was.

---

As the pair drew closer and closer, Victor began to slow, careful to stay beyond the edge of a vampire’s hearing. As much as his blood flared and growled for him to jet forth, he knew better and lifted a slight hand for Violet to stop, before letting out a huff of frustration escape his nostrils. "Smell that, sis?" he asked in a low, whispered tone. "Looks like she called for help and..." The large wolf-man groaned in disgust. "They brought a human for her - we need to do this fast. I'll go around the other side and attack first and go after the 'help'... you go for the wounded one after me and... try to keep the girl from her - kill her if you have to." Most werewolves weren't innately hostile towards humans like the undead were, but neither did they hold much of a soft spot for them - if anything, they were often taught humans were just food for the abominations and so killing them was always preferred to letting a vampire get ahold of them.

Nodding once to his sister, he darted to circle the pair of vampires, careful to be quiet but quick. He knew he couldn't afford the wounded undead to heal and thankfully despite his size and shape, werewolves were known to be sometimes even more quiet than some vampires - one of the very few advantages they seized every time they could. It wasn't long before he was on the other side and started to creep forward, sniffing the air to keep tabs on his prey, tearing his focus from the stronger scent to lock onto the healthy vampire.

Bloodbound & Broken

The alpha of the pair looked back with a look of satisfaction and approval - he adored her support throughout the years and loved her dearly, even if he wasn't the alpha of the pack, but he was okay with that. Not every lupine was meant to be leader and guide and everyone had a role, which Victor clearly enjoyed as a hunter and provider. His sister was so attached to him that she would train right alongside him and become huntress herself, something that was uncommon, but not unheard of.

Taking in one last long inhale of the rotting blood, he shifted into a full sprint, having full faith in his siblings ability to keep up. If everyone had a strength they could lean into, then tracking was probably one of their best traits, and even though the smell was disgusting he and his sister could push through the gut wrenching and focus on their prey. Trees and bushes whizzing past him, pumping those massively legs to propel him forward, he could tell the scent was getting stronger - that meant they were gaining on the vampire.

He barked a laugh, "she probably wore herself out!"

---

Lyselle had been completely locked into her task, like turning on a light switch, and there was little room in her mind for fear or worry. So when the wave of comfort rippled across their bond, she was a little shocked to feel it, but swung her head around to give Ren a genuine smile.

”Great idea, Lys.” A glow of relief illuminated her from within, causing her grin to widen. She always loved the praise of course, as it validated that she was doing well, something she always felt the pressure of doing, but hearing it from the vampire was something wholly new and yet strangely familiar. Only a brief pause existed inbetween this and what Renaissance said next, but she basked in its glow none-the-less.

“If I’d have known one of my idiot offspring would beg for deliverance, I would’ve made time for some Blood Magic. But for the enchantment to have a strong hold, I’d need time-” the ancient vampire hissed air through her teeth. “And that, as we know, is not a commodity we possess in this moment. So I’ll have to mostly fight in the good old-fashioned way.”

It wasn't difficult to tell that her vampiress was still on edge by the suddenness of the change, but in an effort to reassure her guardian, she interjected lightly with, "and I can't cast many Scripts, but I can write them quickly if we get in a tight spot... Though in truth, Lyselle was no stranger to fighting in close-combat, her reflexes so fine they came as natural as breathing to her - though she still had more to learn. It helped her feel confidence, letting it surge across their connection, but she wasn't making sure not to overestimate her abilities.

Following the haunting beauty that was the vampire, she drew in a slow inhale of breath as the fresh air, closing her eyes lightly. A brief moment past before she took mental note that dawn was coming soon. It was an understated talent of hers that while any human probably could tell generally what time it was, even without the stars, moon, or sun to guide her, she could feel the weight of time on her skin. Early morning had a particular glow to it, like she could imagine the birds just beginning to wake up, crickets finding shelters for the day, and the switch from moths to butterflies. This was a good thing... usually, as Lyselle could fight effectively at anytime of the day (though she only told a select few that she preferred the night, especially during storms), but it also meant the strength of her companion would wane somewhat - though she had no doubt she could fight her own battles regardless.

Her world seemed to tilt then, feeling arms hook under her form and lift her, drawing an amusingly cute squeak from the young woman. She had never actually been carried like this before and blinked, looking up to find Ren's eyes, quickly biting at her lower lip. The view of watching the vampiress wings spring forth was even more amazing close up and as their fated thread hummed in delight, it forced a rosey color to spread across her cheeks.

“Hold on tight please, m’lady.” The playful take on giving Lyselle a title only made the blush flare moreso, though she rolled her eyes a little with a small grin lined across her mouth. “This is your Captain speaking. Welcome aboard Vamp Airlines. Our flight time today is estimated to be circa 20 minutes. Our cabin crew will now begin your safety announcements which include keeping your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. Please enjoy the view as we fly at altitude to an ominous forest filled with unknown danger and potential death. Once again, thank you for choosing to fly Vamp Airlines. Wishing you a wonderful flight.”

The whole thing made her giggle and instinctively wiggle in an attempt to get closer to Ren or at least as a show of affection, even being so bold as to place a shy kiss at the edge of the vampire's jawline. As the pair jolted off towards the clouds, she gasped softly, noting that actually feeling the wind in her hair was much different than having experienced it in her sleep. She had to admit her honed reactions were trying to kick in - screaming that she was in danger, being held captive by the enemy, but she chose to be brave. Emotionally, she turned inward along their cord for reassurance, soaking in it like it was a hot spring, letting it melt away her worries. Afterall, she needed to be present and focused, not distracted by voices echoing in her ears.

After an adjustment period, she turned to remove the silver dagger in her possession and closed her eyes, murmuring a prayer she had said many times over.

“Goddess of a thousand names,
She who wears the faces of warrior, mother, huntress, and storm —
Bless this silver by your light.
Let it hold the memory of moonfire,
The clarity of truth,
And the strength to cut through shadow.
Guide my hand to protect the living,
And temper my heart,
That I strike only where I must.
By your many forms, watch me.”

As she said her prayer, the silver dagger would begin shining a dull blue, like a pond lit by moonlight. Of course such a thing was dangerous to her if Lyselle would to suddenly drive it in, but despite that, the blessing seemed to wash around the vampiress and left her completely untouched - was it the chain that shackled them together or simply Lyselle's intent to kept Ren from harm? As they traveled, the huntress was able to say it three times before reopening her eyes, giving the ancient room to speak once more.

“Let’s establish some ground rules before we head into battle,” Ren said loudly above the sound of beating wings and whipping winds. “First and foremost, you mustn’t die. Seriously. I want you to be careful. Put yourself first, always. If you are overpowered at any moment or you come close to lethal harm, you let me handle it. If they harm a single hair on your head, I will eradicate them immediately.”

The hunter's face swirled with pleasant surprise before simply nodding obediently, feeling the thrum of her vampire's protective nature over her, even though her default nature was to charge into battle.

“We are to stay together. Close. Do not go idle, do not leave my sight. I want you within my reach until we establish what we’re up against… Okay?”

Another small nod was offered as Lys replied with a simple, "yes, your grace..." The urge to give this winged creature a title was a strange and new one for Lyselle, but it also was part of her nature on some level, having always referred to her mentors as 'master' followed by their name. She enjoyed the protocol of it and especially in moments like this, where even in her confidence she could feel submissive, it felt more strange not to properly respect Renaissance - though now wasn't really the time to be searching for what that title should or would be.

Bloodbound & Broken

“Oh-!” She was quick to return the tight hug, but it caught her off guard, sporting a soft blush even from such an innocent act. A happy sigh passed her lips before she tucked her hair behind her ear and once again focused.

“We’ll need weapons,” Ren spoke to her, smirking as her eyes lit with an urgent excitement. “I don’t know exactly what we’ll be facing, but I’m certain our wits and magic won’t suffice.”

The huntress blinked once, watching the vampiress spin and march over to her cloak—a flash of when they met crossed her mind, bringing a light smile to her lips. Still, she watched Ren with no small level of amusement. For the past two decades at least, Lys had lived and breathed hunting and fighting, so she was already preparing before the vampiress even spoke. Perhaps, she reasoned, it was simply Ren’s way—after all, even a creature of the night must have lived a life utterly unlike her own.

Still, the offer of more weapons did not go unappreciated. She walked over, eyeing the unique armaments thoughtfully.

A mental inventory flickered through her mind of what she already carried: her silver shortsword, wolfsbane, silver dust, holy water, and her hallowed throwing knives. She’d have to restock those herself from now on… but now wasn’t the time to reflect on her future. She only needed to protect her companion.

Seeing as they weren’t sure what awaited them, she reached for another of Ren’s silver daggers—less ornate, but Lyselle didn’t care, so long as it worked. In the background, she heard the vampiress pacing, no doubt troubled for her wounded fledgling.

“It’s a 20 minute flight away—roughly. We’ve got to fly, okay? You’ll have to either mount my back or let me carry you. Is that going to bother you? Now would be a fine time to grow a pair of wings from that human back of yours…”

A click of her tongue escaped her as she turned, offering Renaissance a lighthearted smile, brown orbs sparkling.

“Oh, of course—you know us humans are famous for having wings,” she joked, rolling her eyes playfully.
“No—I have no problem being carried. Gives me time to place at least a temporary blessing on this dagger of yours. Pairs nicely with my sword.”

As she slid the dagger into her belt, she considered putting both weapons to true, simultaneous use. She had never been known for dual-wielding among the Vigil—they insisted on mastering one weapon above all else. But that never stopped her from learning things in secret… just like her forbidden Scripts.

---

On any normal day, a vampire outclassed a werewolf in a straight fight—if both were at their strongest. But today was far from normal for the young vampire. She was interrupted mid-feed, bleeding, disoriented, and had two werewolves driving her deeper into the woods. Without that desperate cry for help, she would already be dead… or at least, something very close to it.

At least she’d bought some distance—almost twenty minutes’ worth.

And it didn’t help that the pair chasing her were siblings—natural born werewolves trained since childhood to stalk prey with uncanny synergy. Natural borns had the unique advantage of controlling their monstrous form far better than the cursed. They were more wild than rabid, and infinitely more dangerous because of it.

Hunters theorized endlessly while werewolf tribes told their own myths, but no one truly knew why natural borns couldn’t pass their condition to others. The tribes claimed it was a sacred gift from the Great Mother. Hunters liked to believe that the human spirit diluted the curse.

Either way, natural borns were far more cunning.

“Over here, sis,” growled the larger of the two, his voice an eerie mixture of human speech and lupine snarls. He would have towered over the young vampire earlier—nearly six feet even without standing fully upright, fur barely concealing the primal muscle layered beneath. Victor pointed to a tree with broken branches and the faintest smear of blood—easy enough to track, given that vampire blood smelled like rotting flowers.

And if werewolves hated anything more than hunters, it was vampires. On rare occasions, the two species even formed uneasy alliances to take down especially powerful undead.

Victor sniffed the air—once, twice, then several more times—before glancing toward his sister. Her lupine maw curved into something cruelly close to a grin as he nodded northward.

“Probably got ahead,” he grunted.
“But it won’t be long now…”

Bloodbound & Broken

The huntress continued to idly claw at the vampire as she felt the shiver of letting her own mind open up. It reminded her of those cold, chilly nights where a full moon bloomed, thunder in the distance, wind howling against windows—a sight most hunters understood as danger. It was reminiscent of how she felt when other vampires were nearby and the first time they had met; it was hard to believe that was merely hours before. The same sensation caused her own mark to flare up in protection, but one could not protect against that which was willingly invited in, and therefore found no purchase in keeping Ren out. This was decidedly different, though—feeling fingers brush across her memories and her secrets, not with intent to harm or dominate but like laying into a soft palm, being caressed and treated with gentleness.

Everything Ren did only enforced what the bond whispered in her ear as ancient promises fulfilled themselves like a plant being watered after centuries, choking on dust. It followed the vampiress in and where she brought chill, it warmed—like the unknowable handing the wizened woman a torch as she studied the inner workings of the huntress. Such was the feeling that Lyselle could have sworn she had felt this before, and yet held no memory of ever letting anyone simply waltz in. When others tried, they were only met with castle gates and cold stone guarding a magically sealed door—the same one she opened, gladly, for her companion.

That’s when Lyselle saw… felt… imagined a string tugging lightly at the only person she wanted, feeling her come to a sudden stop. Holding her breath, she waited to see what Ren was doing, only to watch her leave. A flash of panic crossed the great depth of her perception, but then—as if waiting for the right moment, poised and ready—that archaic bond reached out and soothed her worries. It was only a fraction of a fraction of a moment, but just long enough for the young woman to hear Ren’s voice, forcing her eyes open to see her vampire slowly peeling away.

She only had to see Renaissance’s expression to know she had not pulled away willingly and that something was amiss. The huntress shifted lightly on the couch, slowly pulling herself up as her eyes watched the beginnings of that familiar magic she had been raised to hate. “Something’s wrong, Lys. I can receive messaging from my fledglings, some of them, if they’re in danger. Like some kind of motherly instinct…” The gears groaned to life behind her brown eyes, recalling that this was one of the many, many things she knew—and soon enough she would need to call upon that knowledge.

“And whatever this is, whatever’s putting this fledgling in danger, is a bigger threat than she can handle herself—I just need to find out what that is.”

Despite everything that had gone wrong in her life, this was something she was intimate with, and easily whirled to put her things into order; she left nothing to chance. Whatever gods actually existed in this world, she silently prayed to—she couldn’t, she wouldn’t let Ren go alone. She was everything now. What would her life be anymore without this stranger—or was it even fair to call her a stranger anymore? There was no telling how this truly felt for Ren, at least not now, but even in the waking world the bond gave her one obvious gift: it whispered how things felt to a vampire, to feel that tug of danger, and to know she had done well to trust the ancient. For the worry that echoed in the distance of their connection was much easier to decipher and understand. Renaissance wasn’t like other vampires.

As soon as the vision was over, Lyselle was standing before the taller woman with a facial expression only seen in memories—it was even more determined than when the pair met earlier that night. No doubts crossed the huntress’ mind. And unlike her more submissive nature, she spoke with confidence,

“I'm coming with you.”

Bloodbound & Broken

She was almost lost to reason the moment she felt her admirer’s moist lips press against her skin, sending a violent shudder down her spine as the feeling of surrender showered the woman. Despite her body telling her that the flesh brushing hers was cold, all she could feel was heat everywhere Ren touched—striking like a scalding iron that burned away fears and doubts. The rumble that followed from her lover was something primal and demanding, as the hunter’s body became like a puppet, bending and folding however the vampire wished, hands reaching out to grip and pull at anything they could find—clothing, hair, skin—it mattered not.

Like gravity she was pulled again, this time into a vampire’s embrace, the excitement of their closeness rippling through Lys’ body like stormy seas. She was lost to the passion as sensations mixed like colors in a painting, not even sure she could tell where the kisses ended and the licking began, though one thing stuck out like the blackness of night in her mind—the gentle pressing of canines against her skin, forcing a faint whimper from her lips. She was sure she had never felt something so alive.

“You must tell me when it’s time for me to stop.”

If it hadn’t been for the low growl against her ear, she would have laughed—both because of how all this made her feel but also because it sounded absurd. That wasn’t even a thought she could conceive, let alone say aloud. She had buried this fantasy deep into the earth of her being, and now it had been unearthed and laid bare in its raw form. There was no turning back, only trying to cover it with a shallower grave.

It was more than that, of course—because of the bond that lit the room like a roaring blaze. Whatever it was that connected them only grew stronger the closer they were, the longer they breathed the same air. There was no cutting it now. And beyond even that, Renaissance had given her something the bond alone could not: safety, being wanted, being seen and heard, feeling like she was a person and not some tool to covet. If there was a reality in which the bond could be broken, Ren had already started to wiggle her way past the huntress’ emotional defenses—and no matter how much they were strangers, Lyselle already wanted to see more.

“Everything in me wants to know you, Lyselle. Let me in…”

Let her in?

Everything in Ren wanted to know who the hunter truly was, and that alone spoke volumes—like telling a child shaking in the corner that it was safe to come out, that she was allowed to be seen. Had Ren spoken different words—more demanding, less gentle—Lyselle might have hesitated more than the short moment she did.

‘Do I open the door? … no one will see me like this, ever again…’

That was all the convincing she needed.

With a trembling sigh of desire, she opened the floodgates.

It all came rushing down their fated thread in a rolling tidal wave—filling the vampire’s mind, never overwhelming, but with clear intent to share.
Flashes of fantasies came first, some already known, others new:
— the huntress falling to her knees
— being restrained
— obeying
— begging
— worshipping—and serving.

But like water, it only grew deeper the further one went. Beneath the desire lay something steadier: a yearning to be capable, to be worthy, to protect the one she followed, to make her proud that she claimed this human as hers. And deeper still came the rawest truths: a longing to be protected herself, to be cared for, to matter simply because she was who she was. To be forgiven for mistakes. To be allowed to be human.

And then came the memories—the dusty halls of the Vigil, the endless study of scripture and monsters, the warnings of the night, the drills, the restrictions. The indoctrination. No room for a normal life, no room for friends, no room for softness. Other students had lives; Lyselle had lessons. They saw “promise” in her, so they locked her away to shape it. Everything she was, she was for them.

And Renaissance, from her vantage, would see the truth of it:
This was not training—this was grooming a weapon.

This was her door opening.

And with it came a whispered, trembling plea:

“Please… come in…”

Bloodbound & Broken

Eyes fluttered open just in time to see the picture of her shadowy protector standing at the door, staring at her with an intensity she didn’t even know Renaissance possessed. The warmth of the dream still clung to her skin like phantom fingertips, and Lyselle wasn’t sure where the dream ended and Ren’s presence began. A smile kept to her lips, unable to do anything else, and it was as if the entire room suddenly flooded with color. She had never realized how dull everything seemed before — how grey, how lifeless — and the irony that a vampire was the one stirring such a reaction was not lost on her.

She murmured silently to herself about how she could look at Ren for hours and never tire of the sight… right as she felt the bond being tugged. A curious expression crossed her face — what was Ren looking for?

Then the bond pulled, dragging images and half-formed memories from her dreams and sending them straight into the vampiress. Lyselle half-gasped at how alive the bond seemed, as if it had its own hunger. She bit her lip gently. Ren might have felt a tinge of shame — and Lyselle empathized — but how could she ever fault someone for feeding? In truth, she was grateful for the glimpse into what it was like for the ancient. It made Ren easier to understand, easier to see as a whole rather than as a monster. Lys never saw that as a weakness.

“Huntress… You’re still here…”

Reaching out slowly, Ren spoke first, giving Lyselle no chance to reassure her. The huntress offered a small, playful smile.
“Where else would I be? Where else would I... want... to be?”

She groaned internally, looking away — gods, it was impossible to not be honest with this dark guardian. A huff slipped out as she mentally complained about how bothersome this golden string of fate could be, especially when she’d grown so used to burying every emotion deep inside her soul. And yet… paired with the frustration was a strange relief. A weight lifted. A freedom she had never once felt in the Vigil’s suffocating hallways.

Her gaze returned to Renaissance — and she could feel the bond humming, plucking at itself, whispering desires. Ren wanted to know her — truly know her — every fear, every joy, every vulnerable shard of her. Lyselle’s vision blurred with forming tears. Gods, how long had she waited for someone to really see her? Not the Huntress. Not the prodigy. Not the burden. Her.

She chuckled shakily as she realized she wanted to know everything about Ren just as badly — but from a different place. Not hunger. Not thirst. But a need buried so deep in her heart it scared her. She wanted to please the vampire. To make her proud.

Then she blinked — and Ren was suddenly inches away.

Her heart jumped into her throat, a soft gasp escaping her as breath became something shared. Even without the bond flaring, Lyselle found herself frozen, flustered beyond reason. Ren leaned closer — so close Lyselle could smell the faint trace of another woman’s blood on her breath. One might expect revulsion — but it did nothing of the sort. If anything, it added weight to the moment. Like their breaths had become a single, heavy thread binding them together.

Ren’s mismatched eyes narrowed purposefully.

‘f–fuck… th-this is really happening!’

The thought shrieked down the bond, impossible to hide.

Lyselle was grateful the vampire maintained control of the bond’s brightness — because she certainly couldn’t right now.

“Did you dream of me whilst I was gone?”

Her knees nearly buckled. A small, involuntary whine broke free. Surely Ren could hear her heart trying to escape her ribcage.

“I can’t decide if this bond is the best thing to happen to us or the worst exposure of all our supposedly private thoughts…”

"I-…"

The image that shot into her mind made her eyes widen dramatically.

“I d-didn’t—”

She tried to lie — but the bond betrayed her instantly.
Her pulse spiked. Adrenaline roared. Her own mind screamed another image into the connection:

The sting of fangs at her neck.
Wet lips sealing around the wound.
Heat. Breath. Pleasure.
Bodies entwined.
Kisses stained with blood.
A shuddering release shared between them.

Her imagination betrayed her spectacularly — and Ren would feel every flicker of it.

Her pulse stuttered, then quickened wildly, the sound of it filling her own ears until all she could hear was the frantic drumbeat begging for release. Her body leaned forward before she even realized she’d moved — a tiny, helpless shift, barely an inch, but enough that their noses almost brushed. Enough that the bond hissed with approval, a bright, hungry flare that sang between them like a struck chord.

'I shouldn’t want this…'
But she did.
Oh, she did.

Her fingers curled against her thighs, fighting the instinct — ancient, primal, utterly foreign to her — telling her to bare her throat, to offer, to trust. It was ridiculous. Dangerous. Unthinkable. And still her chin tilted up the smallest degree, a silent, trembling surrender she didn’t consciously choose.

The look in Ren’s eyes told her the vampire noticed anyway.

Bloodbound & Broken

Lyselle had wayward dreams and dark nightmares like any mortal, though she experienced the latter far more often. So when she drifted into sleep, she expected nothing different. Yet what she found in the deep recesses of her mind was wholly new—like mixing the ice-white of a dream with the storm-grey of a nightmare, somehow both and neither at the same time. A sense of safety washed over her just as strongly as a strange longing in the pit of her stomach, somewhere she felt both grounded and yet flying through dense darkness, where the melodies of an eerie piano hummed all around her.

As the images began to stitch themselves together, a shadow of a woman with large wings emerged, carrying them both through the skies, the howl of wind roaring in her ears. Then—like a skipped heartbeat—it shifted to a room she did not recognize in the least: yellow curtains, clothing on the floor, a neat bed, a window, the shadow, and a young woman. Everything else was a blur in this ghostly theatre play. She watched in morbid wonder as the shadow whispered into the mind of this stranger, and suddenly a name snapped to the forefront of her consciousness—Lauren.

Oh, how easy it was to slip into her mind, to urge her to obey, to come closer, to invite her in, to feed…

Realization struck like lightning—she was the shadow now.

How horrifyingly tempting it felt to be here, floating as she watched the woman unlatch the window, unable to stop herself from commanding the young woman, only to hear those sweet words:

"Come in."

She wasted no time, landing softly as she sliced a finger across the human’s neck, crimson drowning out all other color. Before she could help herself, her lips were at the wound. She could taste it—like the finest wine with a metallic afterbite that begged her to have more. Her stomach purred, her whole body untying itself as if it had been knotted head to toe, and a sense of quietness hummed in her ears. Had she not been drinking, she would have sighed in relief.

Again the performance shifted. She heard herself moan softly, her vision lifting toward the ceiling. Somehow she still sensed the stillness that blood gave, but she was no longer the one drinking. No—now she was watching Renaissance consume her blood, as though she had been the human the whole time. She couldn’t make out Ren’s eyes, but she knew the feeling sinking into the vampiress’ stomach.

And gods… she felt herself flush at the idea of being the one to provide it. She bit her lip gently, allowing herself this one fantasy, locked safely in her dreams.

Only when she heard herself speak did the enchantment break:

“Try not to… kill. I know it’s asking a lot and—if you do, it’s… fine… just—try… please…”

A heartbeat—and she was outside again, watching Renaissance look down at the woman, somehow acutely aware that she was still breathing.

Was this happening while she slept?
Did their bond truly have such strength?

This felt beyond two souls resonating. This felt mystical—an unknown magic neither of them had words for. She had so little time to adjust, but what choice did she have? The thread that tied them now felt impossible to sever.

Time had no meaning in dreamspace, so when she turned and saw herself lying on the couch, and Ren’s shadow slipping back into the apartment, she was not surprised. What did surprise her was the weight of feeling Ren close again—the gravity of her presence returning to the Loft.

Despite her emotionally charged sleep, she couldn’t help but smile. She was truly happy to feel Ren nearby again.
So much so that when Ren drew closer in the waking world, Lyselle began to smile there too.

Bloodbound & Broken

It almost felt like the bond between them was about to explode with feelings Lyselle could only imagine in her wildest dreams—until the connection suddenly muted. Her gaze flicked upward to look at the vampire now standing over her. It was a strange myriad of sensations: their thread dulled, yet something incredibly enticing about seeing Ren tower above her remained—a confusing urge to almost sink to her knees, as if this ancient vampire were some dark goddess. That thought alone brought another flush to her rosy cheeks, and she swallowed gently, afraid Ren might notice.

“First of all, enough with the ‘Miss Ren’—it makes me feel old.”
The comment pushed a light laugh from the huntress as she glanced down, right before she felt the soft touch on her chin guiding her gaze back up. Lyselle wondered quietly to herself what this feeling was—infatuation, the start of genuine emotion, or some sort of star-crossed love the universe itself demanded?

“Secondly, it’s simply impossible for me to endure these feelings I have toward you on an empty stomach… Do you know what feelings I’m referring to? Every fiber of my being is telling me I need to be close to you. And even then, I doubt that would be close enough. My body is screaming at me, begging me to cave in…”

Almost instinctively, Lys reached her hand out—then stopped herself just shy of touching Ren’s. A breath caught in her throat, making it difficult to speak at first before she swallowed and nodded lightly.

“I do…”

Renaissance had so easily found the words she herself struggled with—words she couldn’t deny. Lyselle didn’t understand it, didn’t know what to make of it, but there was a gravity to the vampiress she felt powerless to fight.

“But I need to feed. Pretty imminently.”

The more familiar sight returned: the shift in her eyes, the lengthening fangs, the single sharpened talon.
“You’ll be safe here whilst I deal with my urges, Lyselle.”
That serpentine hiss in Ren’s voice should have chilled her to the bone.

“And then I’ll be back to deal with my other urges.”

Of everything this night had brought, Lyselle’s reaction to that shift was the most surprising. Her eyes widened slightly as she nodded.

Before she could process it fully, she hurried out:

“Try not to… kill. I know it’s asking a lot and—if you do, it’s… fine… just—try… please…”

Anyone else would think her mad for saying such a thing—and Lyselle didn’t even know why she did. Only that she had never harbored the hatred of other hunters, and she never liked seeing people die when it could be helped. Maybe that kindness was reason enough.

When Ren answered, Lys offered a small smile to see her off—watching the ancient being almost float out of the apartment with a grace befitting her kind.

Left alone, she inhaled the mingled scents of flowers, oil, and ash, letting it steady the confusion that had swept through her. Closing her eyes, she recalled Renaissance’s transformation—and couldn’t help but think how hauntingly beautiful she was, even with darkened eyes and bared fangs. Had she had crushes among the Vigil before? Of course. She’d even dated a few. But she had never been so open with them as she had already been with Ren, and thus nothing had lasted longer than half a dozen months. And there had been pretty women, certainly… but none, fictional or real, compared to the vampire she now felt bound to.

A small click of her tongue betrayed how ridiculous it was—finding a hungry vampire gorgeous.

Letting out a sigh, she slowly leaned back into the couch, finally recognizing how tired she felt. Excitement had carried her far into bliss, some of which lingered still, but her body tugged at her to rest. She let herself sink into the cushions, head on a pillow, staring at the old tomes and lush plants as she drifted. Her mind ran through the day—Rhyland’s death, Ren’s arrival, their bond, their choices—over and over…
…until everything faded to black.

Bloodbound & Broken

A note of amusement sparked across her facial features at Ren’s jest—clearly showing she was not only open to the playfulness, but that there might be more than one might first assume. Her eyes sparkled impishly, and the fullness of their earthy color became even more apparent. Still, she shifted and spoke, finding that her mind was running quicker than her humor at the moment, her thoughts touching on the idea of leaving. In some sense, she wished she could go back in time already. It was all much more simple before tonight—before this fate that had been put into play for her—where vampires were evil and that was that. But she already knew it was too late to turn back the clock, and another part of her begged her never to do so, if it were ever possible.

As always, her attention snapped to Ren the moment she felt and sensed movement—especially as the vampire got closer. Lyselle’s lips parted lightly as she froze in place. It wasn’t fear that glued her to the seat, but something more divine and sweet, causing her eyes to widen slightly—flashes of daydreams, of romance, of finding peace, all flickering through her mind. Then she heard it: she was not a prisoner, she was free to leave, and she would not be pursued. No matter that Lyselle had already known this somehow—hearing it aloud still brought a sense of comfort and safety. Ren was probably well aware of that, perhaps even counting on it.

In the moment after, as she tried to find words, the vampire’s touch awoke another storm of silence, one that nearly drew all her breath away. Lyselle could do nothing but gawk at her bonded companion. The circling of Ren’s thumb was like the winds of a hurricane, the energy of their shared fate brimming like the shining sun itself, and the huntress could do nothing but let it happen—wanted nothing more than to let it happen.

“I—…”

She tried to speak, only to feel her throat tighten, her nerves flaring with lightning at feelings she had only ever imagined. It was one thing to fantasize about moments like this—it was another to sit face-to-face with their reality.

She was silent for a good while, her eyes drinking in everything about Ren—notably with her so close. Those beautifully mismatched eyes, porcelain skin, matching raven hair, plump lips, alluring curves… gods, the amount of men or women Ren must’ve been able to seduce was probably staggering, with how stunning the vampire was, Lyselle thought. The huntress didn’t even know what she would do with herself if Ren got any closer; the only sure thing she knew was that her face felt extremely hot right now, and she had no doubt her cheeks were fully flushed. To top it all off, she was being asked to stay—not for study or instruction or duty, but because Ren wanted her company. That very notion sent a shiver down her spine, and she looked away purely out of embarrassment.

“I d-didn’t plan on leaving.” Lyselle finally squeaked out, making sure Ren knew she didn’t plan on pulling away. That circling digit on her palm was causing so much chaos—but the warm, heart-stirring kind.

“... S-sorry… for making you w-worry… I was only… thinking… processing… everything… but I’m… not going anywhere. H-how could I? E-even as nervous as I am about this… being so new and foreign… I c-can’t walk away any more than you can… Miss Ren…”