Animals Calm }{ Open

[Mihaela Reveka Vladescu]

It was a quiet evening. The sun was setting over the mountains, casting an orange and red hue over the land. There were only a few clouds in the sky. There was a little wind, but not enough to make the dark haired girl walking across the lawns uncomfortable. No, in fact, Mihaela Vladescu was comfortable. Even in her tank top and sweat pants. They weren't clothes she wore out into public. She has learned as a child to look as regal as possible, this didn't apply however when she was at home.

A few minutes after leaving the main castle Mia had reached the stables her destination. In the far back corner, the last stall on the right side, was a pitch black mare named Odette. Mihaela's pride and joy. Odette was a strong mare. Just over five and with the will of any human.

Opening the latch after grabbing her bridle, Mia attached the harness to the horse and lead her out into the riding ring, passed all the horses. Odette was like Mia, scarred and emotionally broken. Odette was set apart from the other horses, she was always fighting with them.

The Princess ceased her steps in an instant as she hear the sounds of leaves crackling. The few leaves that had fallen in the early autumn. Her grip on the horse's reign tightened. Mia's nerves set in. Dara hardly ever came out to the stables, Valeriu was spending time with their mother. As far as Mia knew her father was attending to political work.

Mia waited, frozen in her spot for her visitor to show themselves. Her grip tight on the horse, ready to escape if necessary. But who would attempt to hurt a vampire princess in their own stable? Mia didn't ponder this thought long as the stranger came into view.

open || 312 words || clothes || odette

[Lucius Valeriu Vladescu]

Lucius walked through his castle hoping to run into his eldest daughter. His fist tightened at the thought of her and what had occurred to her all those years ago. He hadn’t forgotten and it was doubtful he would ever let himself forget. It had been his fault after all that she had been hurt, he should have protected her and he failed. The thought made him cringe fighting the pain and angered that coursed through his body.

He saw his youngest daughter, Dara, dancing carefree in her room to music that only she could hear. He watched her from the doorway for a few minutes, happy to see that she was still carefree and innocent. He had been extra careful with her to ensure that the same fate did not fall upon her. He knocked then and she stopped mid twirl her bringing her leg down gracefully something he knew took athletic skill, and standing still for a moment in greeting. She would be a good fighter should she ever take her lessons seriously. “Have you seen your sister?” he asked her, watching as she walked to stand before him.

“Probably at the stables” Dara replied happily, a smile gracing her bright face. He nodded leaning down to kiss her forehead. He wasn’t much for affection with his children but seeing Dara so happy brought comfort to him. “Thank you, darling.” he said, letting her go back to her dancing.

He should have thought of the stables; they were the one place that Mia loved deeply. He walked out to them just in time to see her go into the stables, more than likely to visit her mare. He crunched leaves and made as much noise as necessary to announce his presence, knowing that Mia would hate to be surprised. His heart ached deeply as he saw her freeze in her actions, her hands gripping the reigns tightly. “Mia” he spoke out wishing to see her relax.

Word Count: 344

[Mihaela Reveka Vladescu]

Mia let go of Odette's reign just a little as her father came into view. "Good evening, Father," Mia said looking away from the man and toward her horse. Slowly her footsteps began again as she led her black mare into the riding ring. She tied up the horse before going to get the grooming supplies. Mihaela was the only person who could get near Odette without having the great beast flip out on them.

"I thought you were having a meeting with the Elders tonight," she said gathering the brush and other things she needed to care for Odette. "I heard they weren't happy about the Fortescues staying for an extended amount of time." Mia had only met Sebastien Fortescue in school, but she knew that the boy posed no threat, what the Elders were afraid of no doubt. Foreigners threatening the peace, they had to do something in France to warrant the purge. The last thing the Elders of either the Vladescu or Dragomir clans wanted to risk was a stirring, let alone a full out war with the humans.

Mia stepped lightly passed her father. She was like him in a lot of ways. She was political, but also a warrior at heart. She was tall, strong willed and intimidating. She knew her father grew up with punishments that would kill a human, it explained his deviousness. But where as Lucius Vladescu had year to become that person, it only took one incident for Mia to be that cold.

The girl knew what her father had done to the boy that scarred his eldest daughter. It was all the servants could whisper about while they cared for the broken little girl. Through out her childhood Mia remembered hearing whispers. Some servants spoke of her father's ferocity, some spoke of Mia's own introverted-ness. It was no shock that Mia was cared for only by vampires at a young age, her mother's only smart idea in Mia's mind.

open || 336 words || clothes || odette

[Lucius Valeriu Vladescu]

Lucius watched her as she greeted him, always so formal much like him. Lucius saw the way she cared for that horse, almost as if caring for him was caring for her. The problem was that they weren’t the same at all and he should have been a better father to her. Still things were taken care of now, the humans knew better and if one should ever think to harm her again Mia was prepared. He watched Odette wearily not much caring to be trampled by the horse who despised anyone but Mia.

“The Elders are not pleased. There is little I can do about that except reassure them that the Fortesque’s mean no harm.” he said. It was true that the Elders were worried problems may arise, that the French vampires wouldn’t be pleased being second, but that was what they had chosen moving here and so must now accept it. “I hear their son is in your grade.” he told Mia, wondering if she had met the boy.

Mia walked past him always so formal and cold, the only time she truly ever seemed to enjoy something now was when she was practicing or riding. He was worried about his eldest daughter. He knew that she had never overcome her attack but he had hoped that she might be improving; instead the opposite seemed to be happening. He thought back to the boy and his family, they had been dealt with immediately; no doubt with talk of the staff but even those whispers he had managed to silence.

His thoughts drifted back toward his youngest daughter. She was happy and carefree and that too was a problem. She had yet to learn that this world was cold and so was very vulnerable – this too was his fault. He had failed both of them as Father though Mia more than Dara.

Word Count: 344

[Mihaela Reveka Vladescu]

Mia knew her father's hands were tied. Yes, he was the king, but he still over ruled by the vampires much older than himself. His uncles, and Mia's mother's family. They aboded by the old rules of governing. Each royal family was to stay in their own area. Even tension between the Vladescus and Dragomirs was clearly apparent before the marriage of Mia's parents. Things were still tense between the families, but with the birth of Valeriu, then Mia herself and finally, Dara. They couldn't dare do anything to the other. The rules of vampires, Mia supposed.

The Princess nodded. "Yes. We have a few classes together," she said as she groomed the mare. A few was an understatement. The two practically had matching schedules. Only having separate gym classes. Mia didn't see the need to tell Lucius this. If he really wanted to know, he'd just have to ask someone at the school. Or invite the Fortescues over. It made Mia wonder if her father knew about her mother's party plans. If Mia knew about it, so must her father, right?

"Has mother spoken to you about the party?" Mia asked bluntly. "She wanted me to take Dara dress shopping tomorrow after her dance lesson. She said we were having special guests over for a dinner party." This wasn't a lie. Mia had just left out how Antanasia Vladescu had told a servant to deliver the news to her daughter. The woman apparently thought it was a good idea for sisterly bonding. Mia laughed at the idea when she was given her orders.

open || 273 words || clothes || odette