Author: CodeNat, Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 3:47 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

The jovial atmosphere brought about by these events, these jokes, was something my tired brain clung to that morning. Sadly, it was also cursory environment. Whilst Katerina commented on sweet nothings that could never be - particularly the permanent and deep relationship she craved from me - , my mind wandered to a nearby presence: one I had not felt in quite some time. A familiar dragon was there, just on the other side of the mountain, and he was dying. There was not much time left before the breath of life would depart from his body; and, although I did not wish to leave the comfort of that castle that Katerina had allowed me into, I knew I had to go see my former companion before he expired.

Up until that point, I had entertained my host; and, for a time, my family had played at being normal. I teased a young woman about her love life, played hide and seek with a mother and daughter, and watched my girls flirt with their first taste of love. In the end, none of us could stay despite how much fun we were having but did not admit.

The first two to leave were Eden and Robin, whisked off to care for our dearest Nea now that she had emerged from her fever. Next was Anabelle, sneaking back into the castle after digesting her meal of morning buck. She collected her sister, Elizabeth, from the couch where she was sleeping after slipping past everyone in the lobby, and then ran off back home with the well-endowed kitten in tow. Ultimately, only I was left: stuck in a child’s body and surrounded by adults as I tried to explain Eden’s changes to her mother.

“Happy, certainly,” I remarked on the blonde’s state of mind. “Me, less so; since her and Adel don’t know the meaning of ‘quiet sex’. Those two are pretty much an item now, and her changes are due to Adel’s interference. But it would be better for you to hear the full explanation from her. I’ll make sure she comes back to visit soon for just that reason, but without me.”

The dark fox, Kiyomi, stood up at that moment to go for a little garden reading: a move that eased the next step in my itinerary. The dragon whose life was fading on a nearby hill had known her in the past, and the two of them had shared a frivolous crush during that brief interaction. I felt it was only just that he had at least one friend that he could remember at his passing. But since I could not fulfil that role thanks to my own decisions, I decided to take Kiyomi with me to do so in my stead. Her march toward the exit made that desire easier to accomplish, but, before I went chasing after her, I had one last piece of information to share with her mother.

“Forgive me for not being a more polite guest,” I began while walking toward the dining hall’s entrance, “but I must take my leave now. There’s somewhere else I need to be and it cannot wait.” Kiyomi had passed into the courtyard by then, so she didn’t hear the next bit. “By the way,” was how I began to say it, but the rest came as a rapid procession of word vomit exhaled in a single breath. “Congratulationsonyourpregnancy.It’stwosons.Kaynowbye.”

Yep! Katerina Silverstein was pregnant; with twins, no less! My deep-rooted tokophobia along with maybe some magical nonsense had allowed me to detect this, and I wanted nothing to do with it. Visceral horror mounted in me from saying the word alone, so much so I think it actually accelerated the speed at which I vanished from the dining hall. I literally caught up to Kiyomi in the garden before anyone had a chance to say another syllable, hopping onto her shoulders like she was a horse and I was a damnable thief raiding the stables of beautiful fox women.

“Not so fast, you,” I told her in a hurry without missing a beat. “We have somewhere else to be right about now; and trust me, you’re gonna want to come with me.” So it was that, without waiting for a response, I transported myself and my “steed” to another area of the highlands: a place that would be both the grave of Jack and the birthplace of Minerva.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 8:36 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

While everyone was lost in her little sister’s silliness, Kiyomi was lost in her own mind. The night before was replaying repeatedly. She couldn’t help but re-feel the pull she felt towards the vampire. Her eyes floated towards the vampire at the entrance of the dining room. He was also staring at her but looked away quickly. This made Kiyomi’s lips tug in a smile. To prevent anyone from seeing, even the vampire, she took a sip of her tea. In mid-sip, the white fox spoke causing the dark fox to spit out her tea and start to cough.

“KiyomI! Careful!” Katerina gasped as she tossed her daughter a napkin. “She read my mind!??!?!”Kiyomi screamed in her mind as she coughed into the cloth her mother had tossed. Her eyes widened as she looked over at Natsumi; surprised. “Get out of my mind Nat!? And there is nothing going on! I swear!” The dark fox girl looked over to her mother hoping she hadn't noticed what Natsumi had just said.

The eldest daughter’s hopes were granted; only partly. A vampire in the room noticed, Nikolaus. Her mother’s lover hid a smirk under his cup of tea. He took a glance over at Kiyomi then at Constantine. “Well, Well.” He thought and kept the chuckle to himself. His eyes soon turned toward Katerina. Looking at her made his thoughts of the young two disappear. He knew even though she wasn’t showing how she felt on her face, he could tell the hurt Katerina felt. He wanted to put a hand on her but re-framed.

The hurt Katerina felt didn’t last long. She pushed them away as fast as they came. She understood why the fox wouldn’t let the wolf in yet. The Wolf Demon had pushed many people away over the years. It wasn’t until Kiyomi had came into her life, everything changed.

The Mother Wolf’s attention had turned back to her daughter, Eva. She was storming out of the room. Katerina sighed and apologized to Natsumi. Her mind started to drift off to her uncle. Why did he leave without a goodbye? Why didn’t he at least say goodbye to the one who cherished him most? The Wolf Demon’s eyes watched as her daughter walked towards the doors of the dining room. Evangeline was always a spirited girl and happy. The small wolf even had manners before. Now? It was as if she was looking at a completely different child.

The Wolf Demon was brought back to reality when her daughter was picked up by a large woman. “Eden!?!? You’re my sister!?!?! You don’t look like the painting mom has of you!” Eva gasped out but tried to struggle against her sister’s hold. “Let me down! Eden! Come on!” The elf wolf ended up failing; nothing she could do could release her.


Shock covered Katerina’s face as she watched the scene before her. Her daughter had changed so much since the last time she saw her. “Honey?” Nikolaus’ voice made the wolf blink a few times; she couldn’t believe her eyes. “Eden?” Katerina finally spoke and stood.“That’s my daughter?” She thought as she looked over the large woman. “That can’t be her…. Can it?..” She said aloud, mostly to herself.

“You’ve grown so much, Eden. You’re so beautiful!” Katerina smiled while she spoke; it warmed her heart to see Eden so happy. She wished she could talk to Eden more but she was gone as fast as she came.

“Thank you for taking care of my girl. She seems happy. And yes.” Katerina said to the fox. She chuckled a bit at the fox’s comment. Taking a seat, she looked at the door her daughter exited out of. “I think we should have her over for supper one day, and the rest of your family.”

Eva growled as she stood up rubbing her behind. “Could of let me down softer!” she grumbled as she headed out of the room.

Kiyomi was surprised to see her sister she had grown up with. She was the first sister she ever had. Now, she was completely different than what she was used to. Taking one last sip of her tea, the dark fox stood from her chair. “Thanks for breakfast, mom. I’m going to go read in the garden.” Turning toward Natsumi, she bowed slightly. “Good seeing you, Natsumi. I hope to see you again soon.” With her final words, she excused herself and walked out of the dining room.

The last twenty-four hours were very eventful for the fox, and she just wanted some alone time. A book appeared in her hand and she walked out of the castle doors and into the courtyard.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Thu Oct 3, 2019 4:09 AM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

The Dragon’s End

Although I had had many years to get over the novelty of eyepatches, I often still forgot on Revaliir how romanticized they could be. Losing an eye sounds great until you actually go through it. After all, the lost eye gives you an excuse to dress up in ways that would otherwise make you look quite ridiculous. Yet I had been so jaded by my own experiences with the realities of such a handicap that the enthusiasm I received for it came as quite the surprise; especially from the daughter of a woman who hated pirates as much as Katerina did.

Guinevere practically shattered the silence at the table with her squeals of delight when she heard me talk about the patch I had hated for so long, and I’m sure her sister was thankful for that given my lack of filter mere moments prior.

“Yeah, a lot of muscle oogling was going on between you and Mr. tall, dark and gruesome.” Distracted by everything that had happened recently, I made the unfortunate mishap of interpreting Kiyomi’s private thoughts as audible speech. So when she was mentally defending herself against my criticism for being unobservant, I rudely retorted on a matter she likely wished to keep secret: namely her crush on Constantine. At least I was fairly quiet about it, mumbling under my breath the entire time. Still, it was not my finest moment, and probably made Kiyomi most grateful for her sister’s interference.

Guinevere’s screams called all attention onto her, even though her joy was destined for disappointment.
 
“That eye is gone,” I told her from my perch across the table, “and I would never bring it to another world anyway. It is… was dangerous.” Breakfast continued as per usual once that interaction was over, but more participants were arriving by the moment. Eva was next to venture through the dining room archway, although the greeting she gave was far from the warmth of the others.

The rebellious teenager of the group sought to lecture me in an ironic twist of fate. She was most displeased with the story of her birth, but her displeasure did nothing to sway me. All she really succeeded in doing was eliciting a smile from my face, just as she got into a fight with her mother.

Eva was right in a way: I didn’t care. Katerina’s emotions would always be secondary to what I thought and knew was right; even in the case of kidnapping. That was why I would never call her a true friend, let alone a sister. Even if she were related to me by blood, that wouldn’t have stopped me from taking her original daughter; and, by extension, wouldn’t have stopped her from having the right to hate me. But feelings could not and would not ever be allowed to jeopardize my home ever again. Such was the price that came with my responsibilities.

Alas, I couldn’t voice any of that. Katerina, despite being a good mother and having my respect, was nothing short of a nuisance sometimes when it came to actually talking to her. The two of us held vastly different opinions on social etiquette and other fundamental values. I suppose that’s why I agreed with Eva when she called me, “some friend,” in a most sarcastic manner.

“She’s not wrong, you know,” I told Katerina once she sent that mouthy daughter away. “I never really made an effort to be friends with you after I regained my memory, so I’m surprised you still call me that when talking to your kids.” Eva was on her way back to her room without food then, but she didn’t get far from us following her outburst. In fact, she was still in earshot for my admission when a far worse “daughter” popped up: a big boob ditz that snatched up the brooding teenager the second she turned the corner.

“She’s so cute! Just like a spunky version of Lizzie!” Eden had appeared as silent as the dead and as loud as a festival. She scooped Eva up in an impromptu hug without warning, catching her off guard with surprising deftness as her voice brought visible displeasure to my face.

“Ugh… what are you doing here, Eden?” My resident sex fiend of an in-law stood there in the archway now, carrying Eva back into the dining hall from whence she came while dressed in a rather comfy sweater. There she stood, unrelenting with her constant, falsely innocent smile as she addressed me.

“Oh pishposh, Nat,” the amazon began, “I know you love me. You wouldn’t let me live with you, otherwise!” Eden quickly turned her attention to Katerina without even waiting for my response to that somewhat irritating truth, and she waved at the woman with a bright expression on her face. “Hey mom! I’d ask how’s things, but I can’t stay long!” Then dropping Eva, the blonde woman walked briskly over to Robin and dragged the sleepy rabbit to her feet. “Come on, you! Your little sleeping beauty finally woke up, so it’s time to go home!”

Like an addict reacting to the smell of good coffee in the morning, Robin rapidly returned to the land of the living thanks to Eden’s words. She practically jolted to her feet and grabbed my in-law by the hand, finally allowing me to slip away from the dropped comforters whilst the bones in Eden’s palm crackled under white-knuckled pressure. “Okay, I get it,” the blonde woman groaned in brief agony from her friend’s strength, “You’re excited! But please don’t crush my hand! I kinda need that!”

It was good to see Robin finally awake and with some combination expression other than depression in those moments. It was even better to see that Eden would be immediately departing without giving me cause for more migraines. She gave a quick parting, shouting, “Bye~!” at everyone who was still seated, and then disappeared in a flash with my Robin in tow. Easy in, easy out.

“You lot have just witnessed the tornado known as Eden…” I told my hosts with a wide grin once the pair vanished before our eyes, then followed with a tongue-in-cheek comment. “I’ve been considering reclassifying her as a hurricane but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:31 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Katerina remembered the first time she ever met the fox before her. Natsumi was like a wild child in the forest, now, she was proper in everything she did, and deadly. The wolf demon looked at the woman child, she didn’t recall the fox ever having a scar over her eye. There were few things Katerina knew about the woman before her, one being that Nat was a great fighter. Being skilled at combat, attackers were ineffective in hitting the fox. “Back then… Maybe not.” The wolf thought with a mental laugh. “Maybe…. So?” She near forgot that the woman was never as young as she looked; Nat was older than everyone put together in the dining room.

The fox before them finally spoke. Her words were directed at Katerina’s eldest daughter at first. Kiyomi’s eyes rose up to look at the fox; she was in mid-bite. Hearing the fox’s words, Kiyomi frowned. “In my defense, a lot was going on.” She thought to herself. She wanted to speak but decided against it. Holding back the urge of rolling her eyes, the Silverstein daughter went back to eating. Her eyes would take the occasional glance at the vampire beside the dining room entrance door.

As the fox continued, she turned her attention back to Katerina; answering the wolf’s question. Her answer was obscured. The Mother Wolf held back a sigh. Natsumi never told the whole truth when it came to her past; Kat understood that.

While Natumi spoke to Katerina, the vampire's lips tugged into a small smile. The past was flashing through his mind. After meeting his lover years ago, he had trained in close combat. Every time he hit her or knocked her to the ground, the wolf would get back to her feet. “She learned quick.” He thought as he took a sip of his drink.

Everyone’s pondering minds were brought back to reality when the littlest one squealed. “You lost your eye!!! And got a fake one! How cool! Do you still have it?! I would love to see it! Please! Please, Mommy!” Guinevere looked anxiously to her mother then back at the fox.


Katerina sighed with a smile. Her daughter was amusing when she was excited about something. “That is up to Natsumi, Sweetheart. And that is if she still has it.” Katerina laid a hand on the back of her child’s head. “Do you?! Do you Natsumi?!” Guinevere's large blue eyes looked at Natumi with curiosity shining through them.

The sound of light footsteps made the Silverstein family glance over to the door to the dining room. Eva skipped into the room, she stopped in her steps when she saw the two guests at the table. “Mama? Who are our guests?” She asked as she made her way towards the table and took a seat beside her eldest sister.

“Eva, this is Natsumi and her wife Robin.” Katerina smiled as she waved a hand towards the two. Eva looked at them with an expressionless look. “So, this is the one that took me?” She paused in her words, as she glanced at Nat. “You should have left a note, instead, you caused my mother pain… Don’t you think of other emotions before you act? You might be in a child's form, but you are far more than one. What a friend this one is..” Eva rolled her eyes at the woman child and wasn’t expecting what she heard next.

The Mother Wolf gasped at her child’s words. “Evangeline, Natsumi is a guest in this house, you will not speak to her that way. Get your plate and move to the kitchen. Do not come out until Natsumi leaves.”Katerina’s face turned sterned as she looked at her daughter. Eva pushed her chair out from the table and flashed an angry look at her mother. “I wasn’t hungry anyway.” The younger wolf almost growled as she rushed out of the room and to her room.

“Natsumi. I am sorry. Our uncle left… suddenly and she isn’t handling it well. But, that doesn't give her any reason to say those things to you.” Katerina bowed her head slightly. It had been a rough twenty-four hours, but she was thankful to see her friend again. “Please accept my apologies.”

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2019 6:36 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Before then, the chase had gone as anticipated. Katerina, suspicious of the current circumstances, had correctly guessed my identity in the kitchen; but had failed to track me properly during the escape that followed. The woman and her daughter would have walked right out of the dining hall if not for Robin’s arrival. In fact, they were downright lucky to have someone like her arrive in a nick of time to save them inevitable defeat, because, otherwise, I would have fled back to my room the moment they turned their backs to the table.

Sadly, events did not proceed in this manner. Instead, Robin had briskly scooped me up and bound me to her bosom similar to how one grips a teddy bear, plush toy. Also similar to that particular analogy, she went right back to sleep the moment she hit the chair after securing my personage. Apparently, I was her “comfort charm" right now, but not in the sense of someone panicking at the thought of my loss. No, judging from the fact that I could so quickly feel my wife's breathing slow down once I was in close proximity to her, I was pretty sure that I had become the kind of "comfort charm" that awakens a moody, sleeping pharaoh when stolen from her tomb. In the end, there would apparently be no escape, because Robin would track me down no matter where I went. I was left to simmer in that collective body scarf knowing this, knowing that the slightest movement, the most minuscule hope of escape was futile.

Apparently, though, no one else around us seemed to notice that transition. A large portion of Katerina’s family filtered into the dining hall after I had been restrained, but not a single one of their greetings reached my wife’s attention. She was dead and would probably only awaken under the most serious of circumstances(like someone removing me from her arms): none of which current company presented. I didn’t even get a chance to respond edgewise either, because, by the time the inflow of people tapered off, I had only just freed my mouth from the fabric of Robin's newfound cloak-comforter.

“Strike one to Kiyomi for not recognizing the scar from last night," I said as I gasped from air in the aftermath of Guinevere's lecture. "And one brownie point to Guinevere because she noticed said scar, but did so in a rude way.” The conversation had drifted toward the scar on my eye by then; hence the first words out of my mouth. Unlike the others around me at that point, I took no food following my remarks. Instead, I gave some food for thought since I wasn’t exactly in a position to go anywhere anytime soon.“Everyone starts somewhere, Katerina. If you told me that you never got injured even as a child, I’d call you a god damned liar. My scar is actually older than anyone in this castle. I just developed a habit of hiding it along with all such blemishes as I got older because of the… well, frankly, the realities of being a woman was the original reason. Later on it was more that I got tired of seeing them every time I looked in the mirror; but recent events caused this particular one, the oldest scar I ever got, to resurface. Robin asked that I keep it once she saw it, and that’s the only reason it’s still here.”

I turned my attention to Guinevere then, ignoring the fact that I had technically lied about the age of my scar at least of Robin.

“You’re right, though, little hyper one. I am lucky I didn’t die from the sword that gave me this gash. I lost my eye from it, though, and I had to wear a patch for a long time until they could get me a fake eye that restored my sight. Now, the eye is real, but there was a long stretch of time where that was not true.”

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Thu Aug 1, 2019 8:30 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Katerina was uncertain as thoughts of doubt filled her mind. Was this child Natsumi? Even when the fox's name slipped through her lips, she was unsure. A part of her thought it was Nat, the other was skeptical. The last twenty-four hours had been very eventful; more than it had been in a long time.

The new guests filling the castle had excited the wolf, but, who else would come? “Did Natsumi have a child with Robin?” Katerina had thought in the split second while she reached for the girl.

In an instant, the fox girl jumped over Guinevere’s head and was running out of the kitchen. “What the bloody hell!?” Katerina gasped while her daughter giggled. “Let’s get her mom!” Her child yelled in excitement before she ran out the door. The Mother Wolf was on her tail. They followed the set of flour footprints that lead through the kitchen doors. “She’s fast. Hopefully, she doesn't run out of the castle.” The wolf said as they made their way toward the main hall. “We can catch her!” Guinevere excitedly cheered.

The two were about to head toward the doors of the dining room, instead, they stopped. A newcomer had caught their attention. “Robin..” Katerina was shocked as she saw the table being lifted in the air. “Robin!” Her face brightened up with her smile. “You're here!” Katerina was so excited to see the woman that she almost missed the child. The wolf demon knew at that moment who the child was. “Natsumi,” she smiled while shaking her head. “Always devious no matter the age,” Katerina said with a laugh as the mini-Nat was pulled into the covers that circled Robin.

“She is so strong, Mama!” Guinevere said cheerfully. The Mother Wolf looked down to her child with a smile. Her eyes moved back over to Robin, she was now sitting at the dining table with Natsumi peeking out from the covers. “Good Morning to you as well, Robin,” Katerina greeted the woman as she made her way towards the table. She took a seat across from the bunny. “It has been so long!” The wolf tried so hard not to run over and hug Robin but she knew that Natsumi’s family loved their space.

“Mama! She is so cute!! She is a bunny!” The wolf’s daughter had run up beside Robin with a huge smile on her face. “Can I touch your ears?” She asked while she jumped up and down. “Guinevere, no. You know how your cousins don’t like their ears touched.” The wolf demon said as she pointed to the chair next to her. “Come sit. Emrick. Food and Tea please.”

“Looks like I missed a new guest.”Nikolaus came in through the large doors of the dining room. He walked over to Katerina and took a seat next to her. “Hello, I am Nikolaus Metcalf.” He bowed his head slightly towards Robin. “Is… that..? “He paused, seeing Natsumi. Before Katerina could answer, the butler and the protector appeared through the kitchen doors with rolling trays. All the items that the wolf mother made were laid out across the table. The tea closest to Katerina and Robin.

The sound of steps moving across the marble hallway was heard through the dining room doors. When Katerina's daughters appeared in the room. The wolf demon smiled at them. "Morning girls." She greeted them. Her daughters were both dressed and presentable. Kiyomi wore a white loose-fitting dress that wrapped around the back of her neck with no sleeves and barefoot. Freya, in a white button-down shirt and a grey skirt that stopped a few inches below her knees. Also, she wore black flats with it.


Kiyomi and her sister Freya nodded with a smile then looked at the lady at the table wrapped in a blanket. "Hello! You must be a Robin." The brown-haired fox sat beside her little sister Guinevere and Freya took a seat beside Kiyomi. "Robin. This is Kiyomi and Freya, my daughters." Katerina motioned to the two sitting by her. When the older fox was introduced, Kiyomi waved with a smile. "Hello." The white fox voice was soft as she spoke, unlike Kiyomi's cheery one.

As they were introduced, Gwen was stuffing her face with pancakes; not paying attention.

"Aww. Did You two have a kid?…" Kiyomi asked, but paused after looking around the dining room. "Where did Natsumi go? Did she leave already?" Kiyomi asked while she poured a cup of jasmine tea for herself.

Kat smiled. "She's here." She started to fill her plate after that and she didn't have to look at Kiyomi to see her curious face.

Guinevere was in the mid-bite when she looked up to stare at the girl with Robin. Her head turned slightly to the side and spoke, "Mama… what's wrong with her eye?" The girl's word made her sisters stop mid-bit. Everyone at the table knew that pointing out someone's scar was impolite. "My sweet. It's just a scar. You know, like the ones I have." Katerina tried to explain this to her daughter as she set her fork down on the table. "But it's on her face…?" Guin asked curiously. "Your lucky you didn't die." The youngest said then took a bit of her food. Katerina sighed and put her hand on her brow; Her daughter had no filter. "That was impolite, my dear. We don't speak to guest like that. Yes. She has a scar, but maybe you shouldn't point it out so bluntly." The Mother Wolf scolded.

"Yes, Mama…" Guinevere frowned and started to eat once more.

Katerina turned to Nat with a sigh. "I'm sorry about my daughter…." She paused as she wondered. After a moment, she spoke about what she was thinking. "I understand if you don't want to answer …But I am curious about how that happened. Last time I saw you it wasn't there. And you pretty good at not getting hit." The wolf demon asked and then took a sip of tea.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 11:19 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Ironically and regrettably, the person who came through those doors at that moment was a young child of the same height. Guinevere had returned with flowers for her mother, but she stopped as soon as she saw that floating biscuit. I tried to eat the rest as quickly as possible before she could react in that state of shock, yet I was ultimately too late. The young child screamed for her mother, and Katerina, startled by the sound, accidentally burst a flour bag over my head.

My invisibility shattered by the advent of that white powder, and I, still trying to figure out how to get myself out of this mess, stood like a dumbfounded doe covered from head to toe and with chipmunk cheeks full of biscuit.

“Natsumi,” the flour bandit said to me in that state? She tried to reach out her hand while kneeling down to confirm her suspicions, but I instinctively retreated from her grasp without a moment’s notice. Wasting no time or thought, I animated the whole basket of biscuits that was still on the counter to my hand; used a magic pocket to stash the whole thing away; and then leapt over Guinevere’s head, out through the door, and into the dining hall in one fluid motion.

The flour on my body flew off in a dust cloud as I went, followed by the departure of my invisibility spell. Knowing that these two wolves would be following their noses instead of their eyes thanks to my blunder, I realized there was no longer any point in wasting mana on a spell of sight. Instead, I conjured up several replicants and had those versions of me make flour-covered footsteps out toward the staircases. The door was still closed behind us at the time, so the hope was that Kat and company would be fooled by the lack of a definitive scent trail as well as the flour footprints. Meanwhile, the real me hid underneath the dining room table, adhered to its wooden underside and waiting for my pursuers to leave so I could escape.

Alas, my trick proved futile in the end. As soon as Katerina and Guinevere had come out of the kitchen to chase after me, I felt the whole table shift as it was lifted into the air by a blanketed monstrosity. Robin – who had apparently dragged every last quilt from our bed down the stairs with her – had seen me in the act of hiding, and she wasted no time in lifting the whole table up single-handedly while Katerina and her daughter were still watching. She plucked me from its underside before I had a chance to react and then stuffed my childlike body into her quilted cloak so that my head rested just underneath her chin.

You could only see my face from the nose up after I was captured in such an unceremonious manner. My wife was also still half-asleep, so she didn’t say much of anything before setting the table back down and giving a bed-head-ridden salutation to our host.

“Ohayou gozaimasu,” she said with a yawn in her native language, and then she promptly found a chair to collapse into.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 10:05 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

To Push Away

Lucille didn’t think that touching the girl’s cat ears would have consequences. The poor wolf couldn’t help herself; it was as if she had idle hands. As soon as the cat moved, the young girl jumped and tried to move away. Her attempts were to no avail; in mere seconds she was pulled onto the couch and was forced under the cat. “No. No. No. No. No……” She repeated her reluctance quickly. The wolf tried to push away the woman and left her. Nothing was working. It was as if the cat was getting heavier with every move the wolf made.

A sigh left Lucille’s lips; defeated. She wanted to get away but no matter what she did, nothing worked. Crossing her arms over her chest, she decided to wait until the girl woke up. It was the sudden voice that lifted her spirits. It almost sounded like Natsumi, but a bit off. Maybe it was because she just woke up? Curious, the wolf tried to look over her shoulder towards the voice. It was the cat that kept her from being able to see the white fox.

“I didn’t mean—” The wolf cut off her own words; she knew that she knew all too well what she was doing. At that moment, she saw that the woman was being lifted off of her. “Thank you.” She whispered before she stood up quickly from the couch. She brushed down her skirt, then looked over to where the voice was before. No one was there. “Of course.” She thought to herself with a sigh. Natsumi was gone.

Being left alone with the cat once more, her eyes looked down at the sleeping woman. She didn’t know why she would feel this way about a woman. She made her body heat up in places she never had before. It took a moment before the wolf finally walked out of the room.

When she walked down the stairs, a smile lit up her face. Her sister, Luella, stood on the last step and leaned against the railing. "Hey there, sister." She said with a smirk and a bit into her apple. " I never thought you were into girls," Luella said to her sister. "I don't know what the hell you are talking about." Lucille denied it. She wasn't into any girl.

"Come on. She is gorgeous. And… With pillows like those, you could sleep all night." Her younger sister words shocked her. "Luella! Go get your chores done." With a beat red face, Luella rushed past her eyes and walked the opposite way of the kitchen. She didn't know if she was angry at her sister's words being true or that she said it.

Turning around the corner, she didn't look up in time to see the man in front of her. She ran into him and a gasp left her lips. "Well, darlin'. Don't be in such a hurry!" He smiled at her and while he grabbed her shoulders. "What is wrong?" He asked after seeing her upset face. Lucille shook her head. "Just my sister." She said with a sigh.

"Want to go for a walk and you can tell me about it?" He asked. Lucille looked at him for a moment before she nodded in agreement. As they walked out of the castle, she let him lay his hand on her lower back. She would regret this later. 

Flour Power

Skipping through the garden, the little redhead smiled over her shoulders at Nikolaus. "Nik! I want to make a bouquet for mama!" She stopped on the patch of flowers to her left. The flowers were of all different colors. Even making their way up the wall bush behind them and their vines wrapping around the iron bench that was beside them.

A smile came to the man's lips as he nodded. "Alright. Which flowers?" He asked then suddenly the butler appeared behind him with a set of shears. "Sir." Emrick held the shears out to his fellow vampire. When he took them, Emrick disappeared in a blur. "Yay!" Called Guinevere as she clapped and pointed to her first flower. "This purple one. Then this white one. Oh! More purple and… Hmm…some pink!" Soon Nikolaus had cut every flower she wanted. "It's so pretty!" The child squealed as she took them and ran off towards the castle.

The child soon reached the kitchen. Guinevere was so excited to give her mother the flowers. She skipped through the halls until she got to the doors. Pushing open the door, she was about to run in. But a curious object caught her attention. It wasn't the object per se, but what the object was doing; floating. A biscuit floated in the air before the child. For a moment she thought that a creature was in the castle. "Mom!!!!" Yelled the girl as she started to step back.

Katerina had been making more bread for later when the daughter had screamed. Guinevere started the wolf. The bag of flower that was her hands burst in her grip sending flour everywhere. "Guinevere, what's wrong?!" Katerina ran over to her child in an instant.

The young girl was pointing in front of her. No longer scared but curious. "Who is that, Mom?" She asked as she tilted her head to the side at the figure covered in flour. Her mother slowly knelt down beside her daughter as she too looked at the figure. The scent coming from the figure was almost like her friend. “Natsumi? Is that you?” She asked as she started to reach forward. “How did you get so… small?” She asked, wondering what was going on with the white fox. She couldn’t be as small as her daughter beside her? Could she?

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 11:49 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Elsewhere in the house, the rest of the night was wrapping up to the tune of the clock. Lucille did not return to my room following her departure, instead making her way back to the parlor en route to bed. No doubt she was attempting to rescue her sister from Anabelle’s embrace once again, but, just like last time, she was prevented from committing such folly.

 “Hello, can I help you?” Yet to depart for her nocturnal pantry raid, Elizabeth was still sitting on the couch next to her sister and Luella when Lucille returned. She announced her presence to that wolf woman in a calm, unassuming manner just as soon as she had turned the corner; but Lucille could not offer a reply. Rather than address the issue at hand like an adult, the elder sister quickly fled in the presence of my sultry kitten, shielding her face and the blush that had so rapidly developed along the way. For this, Lizzie could only offer a sigh.

“Yet another person has fallen for me, it seems,” she lamented while slumping down to pout. “And yet another person refuses to pursue those feelings romantically. Seems I will never have my own Robin at this rate.” The fate of my dear little hopeless romantic following that moment of despair remained to be seen, but the fate of the night that surrounded it did not. Elizabeth and Lucille’s brief foray into the gates of young love was the last interaction between people that happened in the Silverstein household that night. Everyone but my feline daughter had already gone or was going to bed by the time Lucille and her had their encounter, and nothing of note happened thereafter until early in the next morning – except, perhaps, for a sudden reduction in the amount of food that our hosts had on hand.

Following that brief night, however, Anabelle was definitely the first to rise, waking up hours before Guinevere had even gone to her mother’s bedside. She left Luella on the couch they had shared the night before, gently uncoiling from the young woman’s body before tucking her back into the blankets. After that, she went hunting for her breakfast, but not before making sure her sister was comfortable on the other couch next to her most recent heater.

Elizabeth’s nocturnal habits had her succumbing to sleep shortly after that, and it was there on the couch in a sort of half-slumber that Lucille found her once again. The young, curious wolf thought to take advantage of that situation, to palpate my daughter’s ears while she could get away with it. Unfortunately for her, though, my kitten didn’t play like that when she was asleep.

“Mmmm…” As soon as Lizzie felt her ears being massaged, she subconsciously mumbled in her sleep and latched onto the person doing the massaging. She dragged the wolf down onto the couch and then rolled into her lap before placing one of her hands on her ears again. Then, completely content with her new positioning, the cat girl began purring loudly in appreciation.

Lucille tried to struggle against this situation, obviously, but all she succeeded in doing was causing Elizabeth to increase her weight so as to avoid being thrown off. This was literally referred to as a “pet sentence” in our family, and the only way to get out of it was through finesse; not force like the young wolf was trying to do. In fact, Lucille likely would have been trapped there all morning had I not intervened.

“Rule number one about my family,” I said from the shadows, “Pet our ears at your own risk. We all react differently. Some violent, others clingy.” I helped Lucille out then by levitating my daughter off of her so she could escape, but never once did I show my face in that parlor or even in the entryway. In fact, if Lucille remembered the previous night well enough, she would easily have been able to tell that something about me was off in that moment. For starters, my voice no longer had the same authority as it did during our last conversation. It sounded smaller, more childish even. I was also obviously taking extra care to avoid being seen as if something was amiss with my appearance. And, indeed, something was amiss.

It was just my luck that my first visit to Katerina’s home would be proceeded by one of my notorious age regressions. I woke up that morning in the body of a child who had magically managed to merge with her wife’s bosom without being suffocated during the night, and, although I hated being seen in that form, I still needed breakfast. That said, the last thing I intended to do was allow anyone in the Silverstein family to see me that way; so, while I was helping out Lucille, there was no way I was going to show myself to her.

Actually, before the young love bird could even respond to my assistance, I skittered down the hallway under a cloak of invisibility. The pitter patter of my tiny feet echoed down the hall as I went, and I only slowed my pace once I reached the kitchen door, at which point I carefully snuck in underneath the gaze of a very busy Katerina. By then, Nikolaus and Guinevere had gone elsewhere, but the mother of the house was still cooking breakfast alongside her enchanted kitchen. I was easily able to slip inside and avoid her eyesight while still invisible, and I used that same trick to nick a biscuit from a plate that had just come out of the oven.

I should have just left after that to return to my bed with food in tow, but, instead, I made the ill-fated decision to eat while still inside the kitchen. Soon as I had the biscuit in hand, I took a bite out of it and began to munch just before the door behind me opened to expose the sight of a half-eaten, floating biscuit at the height of a young child's mouth.

Author: Anima, Posted: Sun Jun 2, 2019 1:13 AM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

[OOC: Part 1 of my post.]

But the deed was already done. There was no taking back the words I had so hastily scrawled upon the young woman’s head, nor was there any way to repair the fear I had seeded within her heart. She ran from me just as soon as she had given that half-hearted thanks of hers, and so I was left to a night of solitary, disgruntled reflection.

It occurred to me in that moment of silence that followed the young Lucille's departure that the family lecher, Wilhelm, might also have been infected with the same toxin as she had been. Yet, unlike with the former case, I did not feel the same concern for him. Ultimately, he did survive the night without my intervention, but his fate was entirely due to stupid amounts of luck rather than anything else.

Actually, come to think of it, I never even had the chance to visit him in the first place, because, as soon as I had even paid the wolfman a single thought, the door to my room creaked open once again.
 
“Did you really have to do that, Natsumi?” A pink-haired woman with the lyrical voice of a young maiden stepped through the entryway to my chambers almost as soon as the sound of Lucille’s footsteps became little more than an echo. She stood at the door after closing it behind her, a frown worn upon her face, and she stared at me from that position whilst her fluffy rabbit ears bent down in an obvious display of dismay. “I know you drive others away when you’re tired, but I wish you wouldn’t take out your grumpiness on people who are just trying to help.”

It was Robin who had come to visit me in that most unexpected moment. In fact, t'was so unexpected that I was briefly rendered speechless - if happy - after turning around to face her. This feeling, however, was not because of any long term absence that the two of us had had from each other. Nay, I had just left Robin back at the house no more than 15 minutes prior to her showing up in front of me at the Silverstein estate, so it wasn’t like I hadn’t seen her in an unbearably long time.

Actually, the reason I was so shocked to see her standing before me in that candlelit, enchanted room was because I had left her back at our manor precisely for her own benefit. Robin had been a nervous wreck lately. Nea, our newest tenant, had yet to wakeup since we rescued her back in Egjora, and my wife, as kind and gentle a woman as she was, had been worried sick over the girl’s bedside ever since we brought her home. I had no wish to compound her stress in that situation, so I had decided to let her stay at home whilst I dealt Lizzie and Ana.

Despite those best intentions, though, she still left to follow me; and through no small feat of her own. Her gate travel bauble that I made for her? It was still temperamental and had broken down once again when she traveled to Adeluna on the same trip that brought Nea back to us. Without it or the ability to cast said magic herself, the only way she could have gotten to the Silverstein manner in such short fashion was to receive help from another. Eden and Adel were the most likely suspects for that, seeing as they were the only ones left in the manor that could possibly use pinpoint, gate travel magic to transport someone this far into the Highlands; and, whatever their reasons for doing so, the end result was the same.

I was unequivocally embarrassed to be caught by her, by Robin, during yet another one of my mood-driven spells.  I grew defensive in the presence of my own wife because of that, and I even tried to justify myself to her before I was immediately admonished by something worse than an angry, best friend: a sad one.

“She’s young, too naïve, and…”

“And she needs to grow up,” Robin interrupted, completing my own thought before I could even get another word in edgewise. “Honestly, honey, you say I need to relax more, but you’re just the same if not worse. That girl is barely a woman; more like a child. Children should be allowed some amount of innocence. We shouldn't take that from them unless we have to.”

I wanted to argue with that point, to come up with some reason, any reason, to keep fighting and be right; but I couldn’t. Not because nothing came to mind, but because being right wasn't worth it to me in that moment. Robin just looked so sad. I was used to her being timid but strong. She could punch out a giant and win if she wanted to, but the person standing there in front of me that night? She was tired, sad, pathetically powerless even. I didn’t want to argue with her. It wasn't worth it. I could only walk over and hug her tightly, while stroking her head to try and bring back some form of safety for her.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I laid my chin over her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have snapped, not when I know how you’ve been feeling lately.” The two of us stood there in the entryway, Robin on the verge of tears and me feeling like a stupid, sorry asshole. I really was tired, because even my empathy had gone haywire. Otherwise I wouldn't have tried to argue with her in the first place

“Don’t leave me behind like that, please.” She wept in my arms, choking back tears that had been building for days. “Not when I need you. Not now.”

“Hey, hey,” I told her while moving her face to look at mine. “I would never leave you. I’m always up here and down there.” I pointed to her head and heart, gently tapping each area before guiding her over to the bed behind me. “Nothing will ever take me from you. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”

“But,” she tried to protest during the trip, “When I looked around from Nea you weren’t there anymore. Adel and Eden told me you came here, but Nea’s still asleep. I can’t do anything for her! You’re the only one, and when I turned around to see you, you were gone. I… I…” She was worse than I thought, and so I reacted without a moment’s notice before she broke down anymore. Quickly reaching my hands behind Robin’s ears, I tackled her to the bed and began scratching. Those tears of sadness of hers quickly stopped flowing as my fingers moved up and down the creases of her ears, getting every little hair or plume of fur that they could. Then, when she had finally calmed down, I laid beside her on the mattress and wrapped my tail around the both of us.  

“Nea will be fine,” I told her softly now that she had somewhat returned to normal, “If she still hasn’t woken up by the time we get home, there are other options, so don’t worry about it anymore. Especially don’t worry about me suddenly abandoning you. That’s just nonsense. It won't happen.”

“Natsumi.” Robin meekly cried out whilst both her ears flattened down against her head, then she pushed herself into me as our embrace tightened. “You won’t leave then?”

“Never,” I told her while wiping her tears away. “You’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.”

“Thank you.” Satisfied with my answer, the rabbit finally calmed down and slowly began closing her eyes. The two of us fell asleep in that position not long afterward, my face next to hers and covered in strands of pink hair. It was the first time in weeks we had slept together, and it didn’t even matter that we never actually made it under the covers. The interaction was magical all the same: a perfect midnight dream.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:07 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

[OOC: Given permission to have Elizabeth speak.]


To Fight Feelings

Waking up in the dead of night, Lucille didn't imagine this would happen. The woman who had dragged her down the hall was cold-blooded. The wolf girl had fallen to her knees while the room was darkening around her. The voice of Nat sounded distant to Lucille; her heartbeat in her ears. She knew that it was all her fault. She shouldn't have said a word to her and just left the room. Instead, bravery had risen inside her that she couldn't hold back. Lucille's words had left her mouth before she could think against it.

Every word the fox spoke stroke Lucille in the heart; it was all true. The wolf should have been rude sometimes, especially to stick up for her sister. Her sister was pure, naive, and didn't know how cruel the world could be. As Natsumi said, innocent. Luella, innocent to the world, and Lucille's shattered.

The wolf flinched against the fox's hand, uneasy. She didn't the events that would happen next. "She didn't do this on purpose…" Lucille thought to herself as she watched the worm-like creatures come out from her head. "Thank….you.." She finally managed out when Natsumi finished. Eventually, the wolf attained her composure; her eyes met Natsumi's.

The last words of the fox made the wolf nod; Natsumi was correct. "I'm glad I met you, Natsumi." With that, she stepped back, curtsied, and ran out of the room. She understood the woman, but she didn't want to stay another minute in there.

When she was finally a few feet away, the wolf let out a deep breath. She might have understood Natsumi, but Lucille still feared the woman. "I want never see her again." It was unlikely, but the wolf still wished it.

Stopping beside the living area, her eyes peered into the room. She was hoping Luella was gone, but she had to confirm it. The wolf didn't move past the doorway; a stranger sat at sofa. When strange feelings arose within Lucy, she unsure of her actions. Her eyes looked over the woman's hair, to her eyes, then down the curve of her jaw to her lips. What was the warmth spreading within her?

When the woman turned to look at her, she spoke, "Hello. Can I help you?" The girl's voice was soft and kind. Her eyes showed her kindness as well. This made Lucille blush and look away. She left in an instant. She ran into her room and shut the door behind her. Her breath was coming out in quick gasps. "What the hell?!" She asked herself. Leaning against the door, she slid down to the floor. This was a night she hoped to forget; and quickly. "Maybe I'll wake up and think this was a dream? Cause I seriously don't like girls." She said softly to herself.

For a moment, the wolf sat there in front of the door. Her eyes staring out the large window in the room. The moonlight made the room, not as pitch as it was before when the sun first set. Slowly, the girl stood from her spot and made her way to the window. Her eyes stared at the stars above as she sat down on the windowsill.

Her mind ran with images about the night. In many ways, Lucille was still back at her village; the world strange. Creatures of all sorts roamed Revaliir. Humans that was part Wolf and Fox was only just the beginning. Snakes, Cats, and women with powers to change a man were also alive. Lucille sighed and looked down. "How can I live in a world like this… Without you.." A tear slowly ran down her cheek.

For an instant, while staring at the cat-woman, an image in Lucille's mind. She had pictured her hand running through the woman's hair and down her chin to hold it. "She's so beautiful," Lucille finally pushed these images away and jumped up from the sill. "I need to sleep." With those last words, the wolf climbed into bed.


The Next Morning

Although she wanted to sleep, it never came. When she saw the sun, she was glad. "Might as well do my chores." Raising from her bed, the wolf dressed and headed out to start her morning duties.

Lucille had been the only one away for hours after the sun rose in the sky. It was the little Gwen who woke next. With a yawn, the toddler girl climbed out of bed.

Leaving her room, she headed up the stairs to the fourth floor. Heading down the hall a bit, she finally arrived at her mother's door. She didn't knock or call her mother. Instead, she entered and jumped into bed. "Mama! Wake up! Nikolaus! The sky is awake, so its time for all of us to be awake!" Guinevere yelled cheerfully while bouncing on the bed.

"I'm awake." The Wolf Demon grumbled as she rolled off of Nikolaus' shoulder. The vampire's eyes remained closed but only to fool the little girl. "Nik! Wake up!" She said when she bounced down in between the two sleepy head.

A growl escaped Nikolaus when he grabbed the girl in his arms and dragged her under the covers. Giggles of excitement left the five-year-old as she was tickled by the vampire. Katerina, now awake, rolled over and peered under the cover's at the two; a smile on her face.

"Good Morning, little one." The vampire said when he stopped tickling the child. With a soft kiss on her head, the girl smiled and jumped out of bed. "Breakfast Mama!" She said then ran out the door.

After a few moments, the two dressed and headed downstairs to the bottom floor. Katerina had been dressing differently. Her normal white ruffle top with black pants had changed. She was slowly getting more into dresses; courtesy of her Aunt Victoria. That day, she wore a long black skirt with a white ruffle top. Her long sleeve shirt had some extra ruffles and lace, along with some black bows in between the buttons. Another courtesy of her Aunt.

When the entered the kitchen, a moping stove stared at them. "This is more like brunch! You were not awake for breakfast… Will you even have food from me today, Madam?" The stove voice was soft and depressed; They hadn't used him lately.

"Oh, Mr.. Stove. Yes, we will cook with you today." Katerina smiled at the stove as his flames lit up within him. "What will it be today ma'am!? Chicken, casserole? How about baked biscuits and ham!" In just a moment, pots and pan have lined the top of the stove and were beginning to heat up.

The vampire and wolf laughed at this as they made towards the stove. "Let's have… Fish, eggs, biscuits, potatoes, some chicken, and fruit." Katerina paused thinking she had forgotten something. "OH! And can't forget the tea… We have a few extra guests today. " These words from Katerina made the stove even more cheerful.

"Ms. Kateria?" Lucille had entered while her cousin was cooking. With a curtsy, the younger wolf spoke. "Good morning, Ma'am. I have finished my chores for today, what would you have of me now?" She asked when she stood, her hands clasped in front of her skirt.

"Go start waking up our guests, please. And tell them brunch will be served soon." Katerina glanced over her shoulder; she was chopping potatoes. "Alright," Luella sighed softly as she exited the room. She didn't want to rise the fox or even…. The dark-haired beauty.

Stopping just outside the living area, the wolf caught sight of the sleeping cat. Slowly, she entered, looking around the room. "Where did Ana and Lulu go?" She thought but found herself distracted. She had stopped before the cat and stared at her once more. "What the hell is wrong with me…" She grumbled in her mind. "Hmm… I wonder if they are soft." She whispered staring at the catlike ears.

Without thinking, her hands touched the woman's ears. "They are soft." Lucy thought while her hands scratched and rubbed the ears of the beautiful woman.

Lucille didn't know that behind a nearby sofa, her sister was watching in hiding. The sister wolf had looked behind the furniture to find her shoes. When she found them, she was about the exit the room but saw her sister. "Well now, sister." Luella thought as she held back her giggle. While her sister was distracted, the little wolf snuck out of the room.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Tue Apr 9, 2019 8:56 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Before such a gathering could occur, however, the night had to come to a close. After I left the parlor with Lucille in tow, Katerina and company began retiring one by one. Luella ultimately accepted her fate as a pillow, something that elicited an odd show of gratitude from the matriarch herself; and Elizabeth, the one person who wasn’t falling asleep yet, was moved to speak on the matter just after Kiyomi had bid her own farewell.

“Please don’t thank her for being naughty,” the buxom, cat girl exhaled in frustration. “She always does this, even sneaking into people’s houses to ‘cuddle’ with them without permission. You wouldn’t believe how many heart attacks I’ve had to heal since the two of us switched the roles of younger and older sister. I miss the days she was the one cleaning up after me and not the other way around.” Katerina and her daughter had both suggested that the young lady retire by this point in their interactions, not realizing anything about her sleep schedule. The wolf was about to leave her in peace shortly thereafter too, so Lizzie was quick to speak up again before everyone was gone. “Oh, I’m nocturnal. I’ll be up all night… possibly raiding the pantry. Thank you, though.”

Far better for them to know a night owl was afoot now rather than risk being called a burglar, after all.

Meanwhile, Lucille and I were navigating through the candlelit hallways of the enchanted Silverstein castle. I dragged her behind me the whole way despite her constant mental complaints, and only released her collar once I was at the room she described. There, she finally grew a backbone, and, for a brief moment, chastised me about my manners – or lack thereof.

“And what would that have accomplished except wasting both of our times,” I asked her at the thought of requesting a room politely? “You’re right that I am rude. I’m a jerk and I’m a downright uncouth woman by most people’s standards. And hopefully you never have to experience what I did to steer me down that path, because, if you do, that means that someone or something shattered your innocence and otherwise cheery outlook on life.” The young wolf was petrified when I turned around after saying that. Apparently her words had escaped from her mouth before she could filter them, and now her expression was nothing short of instantaneous regret.

Lucille tried to leave in abject terror following those remarks, fearful of what I might do to her in response for her impropriety; but she suddenly collapsed under the weight of some unseen malady before she could make it to the door. Her assumption was that I was cursing her, but that was not true.

“Your mother is gone, Lucille,” I said to her calmly as I approached with cautious steps, “but you still have a sister who needs you. You’re going to have to be little rude if you want to survive and if you want to protect her. And you should always remember that manners will not always work in your favor. Sometimes people just don’t care; and other times they think of those manners as a sign of weakness to exploit.” Looking at Lucille closely, I grabbed her cheeks and positioned her face directly toward my own. I shone a light from my hand into her eyes and watched as dark, slender tendrils just underneath the surface reacted to the stimulation. ‘Damn it,’ I thought, realizing from those writhing entities that I had been careless during my rush to arrive at the castle.  “Seems I still had some toxin left on me when I arrived here,” I said, releasing Lucille’s face at the same time. “And you absorbed it the moment your emotions boiled over. It’s not your ordinary poison, either; but, thankfully, I can remove it from you. Good thing too, as otherwise you would have had a 60% chance of falling asleep permanently.”

Thankfully, I had removed that particular type of poison many times since attempting to unseal the vault where it resided. It was easy enough by the point that Lucille got infected that I could remove it in one fell swoop. All I had to do was point two of my fingers at the wolf girl’s eyes and then pull back as I collected the small entities into transparent, transient spheres. It would have been a disgusting sight for anyone watching: like pulling black worms from the inside of someone’s eyes. But once the “worms” were removed, I simply incinerated them so that my impromptu patient didn’t have to look anymore.

Her strength returned with that action, and I helped her up from the ground as a sign of peace between us. Then, while turning back to the room she had brought me into, I passed on a final piece of advice for the night.

“It’s a tough role being a guardian, Lucille. You have to be strong so the people you protect can live a more carefree life. Sometimes that burden corrupts the innocent princess in the fairytale, because no prince or hero is ever coming to save her. And maybe she too failed in her duty as a hero.” In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have told my maidly host that. She was still young and impressionable, perhaps not ready for that style of admonishment.  

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Fri Apr 5, 2019 10:52 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Katerina was a mixture of emotions that night; mostly happy and nervous. The Wolf Demon was unsure of the events that would happen once Natsumi arrived. Would she attack or grab the girls and leave? Instead of the worst happening, her brother was taught a lesson. It wasn’t what the wolf was expecting, but it was welcomed.

The Mother wolf had laughed at this encounter. A smile graced her lips when she finished speaking to Natsumi. Katerina was still sure Natsumi would just leave; she wasn’t one for staying longer than she had to.

A moment later, The Protector of the castle spoke, wanting to attack Natsumi. Before Katerina could say anything, Kiyomi spoke to him; restraining the vampire. Apparently, the fox didn’t hear this conversation. She had slammed her weapon into the ground, thinking she had attacked Constantine. Katerina looked questionably at her longtime friend. “Nat?” She started to say then SAI spoke. The Mother Wolf had a reason to worry; Natsumi was exhausted. The fox retorted which made the wolf sigh. She wanted to just throw the woman into a bed and lock the door, but, Katerina kept herself in control. “You need sleep…” Katerina noted, mostly to herself.

A light appeared from Natsumi’s eye, making Katerina wonder what was going on. Whatever it was, SAI showed the fox what she needed to see; she agreed. “You should rest here.” The Mother Wolf spoke. At that moment, she realized Natsumi hadn’t said a word to her. Katerina knew not to take this personal, her friend needed sleep. “I’ll speak to her once she has some rest.” She thought. Turning she was about to call for Lucille, but the older woman was already grabbing the young wolf by the collar. The two quickly exited the room, and the room grew silent.

“Poor Lucy,” Katerina said with a small laugh; she tried to break the silence. Lizzy also tried; which made The Mother Wolf snicker.

Hearing movement, she thought Lulu was about to leave the room as well. Instead, Katerina saw that she was still holding onto Ana; shaking. That wasn’t the only thing the wolf noticed; Ana had turned into a snake, at least half of her. The Mother Wolf was about to protest for Lulu, but the girl’s arms tightened around Ana; she needed comfort. Natsumi sometimes did that to people. A frown graced Katerina’s lips while she walked closer to the two.

Lizzy soon spoke, speaking to Luella. “I don’t think Lulu minds,” Katerina replied. “Thank you, Ana.” She whispered then turned to walk out of the room.

While she watched the scene around her, Kiyomi’s eyes couldn’t leave the snake. The light touch on her hand brought her back to reality. “You should get some sleep, M’lady…It’s late.” The vampire removed his hand and quickly disappeared in the darkness of the hall. Kiyomi’s hand continued to tingle long after he left. Clearing her throat, she stepped over to Lizzy “Goodnight, Elizabeth. If you like you can choose any of the rooms on the floor beside the ones marked with symbols. ” The fox paused for a moment and turned to her mother. “Night, Mom.” With a smile and a wave, Kiyomi left. When she entered the hall, her brother, jumped from her shoulder and onto the ground. He squeaked as he disappeared into the darkness. This made Katerina laugh as she walked up the stairs.

Just after she darted retired, Katerina stepped over to Lizzy. “You're so grown up now. My Eva is sure to look a lot like you… Hopefully, grow out of her shenanigans and be as kind as you.” Katerina paused with a smile. “Well, you feel free to make yourself at home, Hun. If you need anything just knock on the door furthest down the hall, up the stairs. Goodnight. You sleep well when you do.” With that, she left the room and joined Nikolas in their room.

While everyone retired for the night, Lucille was showing Natsumi to her chamber. Lucille didn’t retaliate to being dragged on her butt; she couldn’t. With reluctance, she told the fox where to go. “Down the hall….turn left down this hallway……last door on your right. It's one of the best rooms in the castle, second to the lady of the house. It's spacious and private. Away from the rest of the Silverstein’s…” The woman before her frightened her. The night's events flashed through her mind with every second that past.

It wasn’t that she feared the stranger before her, it was that Lucille was being opened to all new things. She had never seen any other creatures besides herself, sister, and humans. Being taken from her home, she was introduced to vampires, wolves that could change into humans, a steel wolf, her cousin who had powers, and much more. Now, this woman before her was like nothing she had seen. Yes, she was beautiful, but she rose a fear within Lucille, nothing compared to this emotion. The way they all talked to her made the wolf think everyone was insane.

The release of her collar made Lucille jump to her feet. Without thinking, the wolf turned towards the fox and protested. “What gives you the right to treat me as such?! I did nothing to you! If you would have asked, I would’ve shown you instead you were rude and dragged me all the way here!” Lucille crossed her arms over her chest and she narrowed her eyes. It was only a second later she realized what she had said. Stepping back, she swallowed. She didn’t know what Natsumi would do to her, so turning around, she started to leave the room.

Before the wolf could retreat, she felt a wave of dizziness. Falling to her knees, her hands came up to hold her head. “What… What are you doing to me?” She asked breathless; assuming it was the fox.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:05 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Wilhelm wasn’t the only one either. True, that he was the only fool who received judgement that night, but the vampiric guard of the castle nearly shared the drunkard's fate. Exhausted and jumpy, I rushed to punish him, but in a way that had depended on him not being stopped by his fair lady. Indeed, Constantine would have attacked me had Kiyomi not stayed his hand, but my subconscience had already predicted where he would have attacked and assumed that he was. Summoning Toirneach from the void, I grasped the weapon by the barrel and slammed the stock in that direction, but all I heard instead of crunching bone was the sound of cracking stone.
   
“Odd,” I remarked while looking down at the section of the floor I had just massacred, “that wasn’t the sound I was expecting.” And, of course, that was the moment that SAI – my enigmatic doctor – broke her usual silence.

“Natsumi, your energy reserves are dangerously low. You require sleep.” She wasn’t wrong. Even a blind hermit could have seen how stretched thin I had become in that moment, and no one was more connected to my health than SAI (literally). If she said I needed to rest, I definitely needed to rest.

However, as you can probably imagine, my stubbornness is inversely proportional to my energy level. I didn’t want to listen, and I tried to argue.

“I’ll sleep when I finish,” I said, referring to the many tasks still left on my list for the days ahead. SAI, however, wouldn’t hear of it. She showed me a “diagnostic screen” right over my left eye, causing it to light up for everyone in the room, and then proceeded to chastise me in her own, hyper-logical way.

“My sensors indicate that, at this rate, you won’t complete any task. You must rest if you wish to succeed at anything.” To emphasize her point, SAI even displayed a giant, flashing, red zero next to my success chance for the diagnostic screen. I got her point. I didn’t like it, but I got it.

“Fine,” I remember relenting, and so the decision was made that I would rest in Katerina's castle for a time.

Midnight Dreams

Up until the conclusion of that argument with SAI, I had largely ignored my host, having only paid her a brief glance before moving on. I was in no mood for pleasantries, especially since I had focused so squarely on my immediate concerns. In fact, I began that path by pointing at the two troublemakers in chief who were looking up at me with innocent smiles from a far couch. “I’ll deal with you two in the morning,” I told them, and then shuffled off toward the main entrance of the parlor without even so much as a hello to the Silversteins.

Lucille had entered the room by then, cowering in the doorway and hoping no one would see her. Unfortunately for her, though, her hiding place was pretty bad. I easily spotted her, but only in the way a brute sees the help for their current establishment. In fact, I rather rudely walked past everyone in front of me and grabbed her by the collar before telling her the task I was arbitrarily assigning. “You’ll be showing me to a bed,” I remarked, dragging her behind me as my outfit changed into more nighttime-appropriate robes.

An uncomfortable silence fell on the room shortly thereafter: marked by our disappearance. Elizabeth, looking slightly bewildered from the previous events, was shocked that I had arrived so quickly, but possessed just enough composure to regain her courtly presence.

“I do believe a hurricane just traveled through here,” the buxom beauty chuckled uneasily. “Well, I’m not looking forward to the morning, but at least the night is still young.” She stood up from her sister’s embrace then, and was about to help free Luella from the same fate until Anabelle decided to stop her. Typical of the rather childish snake woman, she returned to her lamia form as soon as Luella was the only one left in her grasp. She wrapped her snake body all around the girl again – as well as the whole damn couch – and covered them in the blankets she had recently acquired. The furniture sagged under their collective weight, and Luella soon found herself positioned perfectly next to Anabelle’s face just before the latter fell asleep entirely.

“Uh, looks like my sister disagrees,” Lizzie commented as soon as she heard the internals of the couch groaning under her sister’s weight. She turned around to face the bewildered Luella, whose head was still peaking out from underneath the blankets and very much awake; but then was forced to deliver the bad news. “Sorry, Miss Luella,” she said while taking another sip of tea, “Seems Ana’s chosen you as her nightly pillow, and, unfortunately, there’s nothing any of us can do about it. If we even try to free you while she’s in that state, we could end up suffering the same fate or worse. You’ll just have to bear with it till the morning.” Katerina was still there, thankfully, and was probably all kinds of surprised. Unsatisfactory excuses had brought her a huge amount of unexpected guests on that Venti night, and it was only about to get worse. The wolf matriarch would soon experience the feeling of an extended, spontaneous, family gathering.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:39 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Not long after moving into the castle, Katerina planned to invite Natsumi over for dinner but It wasn’t a good time for the Silverstein family. The wolf demon needed to take care of her family first, Kiyomi especially. The eldest daughter was different now. The events that happened caused the newly made fox to pull away from Katerina. The once great bond they shared seemed to have dimmed.

In this moment, Katerina could see that her daughter had a light in her eyes. Was it because the new arrivals? The Wolf Demon couldn’t tell. She did regret telling the children to leave. The Mother Wolf wanted them to stay, but she knew what would happen. She would send for Natsumi and her family once they left.

Before The Wolf Demon had entered the room, Luella was left alone with the visitors. She had set to work on the fireplace. Taking a knee beside the stone, she grabbed one log and tossed it inside; being careful not to burn herself. Standing from the fire, she decided to grab a few more blankets for the newcomers; She knew all too well how Ana could get cold.

As the young fox walked across the room, she could feel eyes on her. Luella tried to ignore the glances of the visitor while she opened up the small closet in the room. She grabbed two more blankets and shut the door. Right when she turned around, she saw who was staring at her; Ana. A blush came to her cheeks as she went over to them to set down the blankets. When she finally straighten she glanced at Ana and shared a friendly smile. That was when Elizabeth spoke, and Ana accepted her invitation.

Just a moment later, Kiyomi entered the room, joined by her mother. Katerina had spoke then to the daughters of Natsumi. Luella’s eyes looked from The Wolf Demon to the girl’s on the sofa. A frown gracing her lips, she liked their company and didn’t want to see them leave. She didn’t keep quiet about this either. The young wolf said her peace before sitting down near the girls.

When the wolf’s brother entered the room and made a horrid scene, Katerina wanted to throw him into a ditch. She didn’t understand how he could drink so much and act the way he did. She knew deep down something was wrong, but didn’t want to admit it. Before The Wolf Demon was about to grab her brother by the ear, but she noticed the girls move suddenly to Luella. The moment she saw the fog creep around her feet, Katerina gasped. She had an eerie feeling before she saw the figure appear before her. The wolf didn’t have to see a face to know who it was. Only one person in the world had that scent; Natsumi.

The fox’s hand came straight Wilhelm’s throat. “Nat!” Katerina gasped out. “She is going to kill him!” Katerina thought but a moment later he was changed into a rat. The squeeks of the rat filled the room. The Wolf Demon stood shocked for a moment as she watched the scene unfold. The room grew silent right before he was tossed over to Katerina.

When she caught him, Katerina couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore. He looked at her with pleading eyes before running up her arm to hide behind her neck and cover himself with her hair. Kiyomi laughed at this as well but suddenly stopped when she saw Constantine move to attack the newcomer. Reaching out, she grabbed his arm. “No. You don’t want to do that… Beside’s, she’s a friend.” Kiyomi warned. Constantine sighed, but listened to the young fox. With one step backward, he stood beside her, and remained by Kiyomi’s side; guarding but still.

“Serves you right, Will. Next time think before you do anything foolish….” Katerina scolded her brother before she took a step over to Natumi.

The words from The Wolf Demon didn’t calm the younger wolf in the room. Luella shook slightly and her eyes wide with fear. She was so frightened at the figure before her, she couldn’t say anything. She didn’t even move away when Ana held her close to her breasts.

“Natsumi, I am sorry about my brother’s actions. He can be a miscreant…. Would you like to stay for tea?” She asked hoping her oldest friend would say yes. She wanted to catch up.

Lucille wanting to know what was happening, entered the room. She wanted to make sure her sister was okay with the newcomers. The wolf girl froze at the door. Her words caught in her throat. The figure that stood in the room frightened her. She never like medicine doctors. Another reason why she stood frozen was because of the memories that flashed before her. Her mother sick in bed, and the medicine man standing over her. He scared Lucille to death, but she couldn’t leave her mother side. Even with the man’s help, the young wolf’s mother died. Lucille’s eyes didn’t even see her sister, who was pressed up against the snake woman’s breast. Again.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 3:33 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Kiyomi left the room shortly thereafter, off to fetch the tea and eavesdrop on a most unhappy wolf. Meanwhile, Luella tended to the fire, moving about as Anabelle’s eyes and head followed her throughout the room. She was staring most intensely, subconsciously flicking out her tongue as she usually did when left to her own devices. Lizzie eventually noticed, but probably not before her sister’s actions had sufficiently startled the young maid the she had seemingly become so obsessed with.

“Ana, it’s not nice to stare,” the girl with cat ears spoke up while lightly tapping her sister’s shoulder in the crackling ambience of the parlor. “If you’re really that cold, you can wrap around me, but leave Miss Luella alone unless she gives consent.” Seemingly obeying the catgirl’s command, Anabelle moved closer to her sister and reluctantly stopped staring at her former pillow. That was when Kiyomi returned with tea in hand, led by none other than the owner of the castle herself: Katerina.

“Ah, that smells heavenly.” Lizzie was the only one to speak in that circumstance under the presence of Kiyomi's mother, and her attention was drawn immediately to the chamomile tea that her friend had brought in interim. Her sister, Ana, did not follow suit in these actions. In contrast, the blonde lamia did not take any of the beverage - despite being the only one who actually needed it - and she did not speak at all even as her feline sibling poured a cup so quickly that anyone would have thought her a hopeless addict at first glance. In truth, Elizabeth was addicted to tea, but not enough to forget her manners. She was quick to address her grand host even though not before retrieving her 'elixir.' “Hello, Katerina. I wasn’t sure if you were home, but it’s nice to see you again.”

Her greeting was certainly a warmer one than I would have given to the old wolf, but, contrary to ordinary expectations, it did not receive the best of responses. Katerina commented on my daughters’ beauty at first, causing Lizzie to beam for a brief moment in satisfaction; but her smile quickly disappeared once the wolf transitioned from compliments to a message of doom and gloom. Kiyomi’s mother wanted the siblings gone. She wanted them to drop the tea and get out without so much as a crumb or a bit of small talk. Apparently – finally – she had grown paranoid about me after so many years of trying to dress me up in sisterly clothes. She feared I would destroy her house in order to “rescue” my daughters: a scenario that Elizabeth found laughable at best.

“I think you overestimate my mother’s ruthlessness, Katerina. She’s not going to…” The well-endowed cat maiden was about to continue this effort to dissuade the Silverstein matriarch from overreacting more than she already had, but the family drunk imposed himself before anymore progress could be made. He moved in swiftly on Lizzie once she caught his eye, and, being as sensitive to smells as she was, she recoiled from his advancing stench. Elizabeth physically retreated into her sister in a subconscious effort to avoid Wilhelm; and she was visibly uncomfortable when the man caressed her thigh - though she was too nice to give him the smack he deserved in that moment.

“I don’t think I want any of that,” she said when the old pervert kept drawing closer, but Wilhelm Silverstein was not the type to listen while drunk. He was a worse offender of consent than Anabelle in that state; and, in fact, Ana might have taught him lesson under normal circumstances.

But, for better or worse, she did not end up being the one to deliver punishment that day. In truth, just after Wilhelm’s advances had gone too far, an unnatural fog infiltrated the castle. Anabelle retreated with her sister in tow upon its arrival; moving onto Luella’s couch and clutching both women close to her as a lone glove appeared from the peculiar phenomenon to grasp Katerina’s brother by the throat. In seconds, he was reminded of his place in the world, transformed into a rat and removed from his clothing as he came face to face with a very irritated looking fox.

Usually, that was the part I started lecturing or delivering some quickly thought up quip to the person I was punishing; but all Wilhelm got from me this time around was a death stare that could chill even an active volcano. He was lucky that I didn’t squeeze him any tighter than I already had following the dissipation of the fog, and instead chose to simply toss him over my shoulder at his sister. I was in no mood to deal with imbeciles: a fact I wore plainly on my face as I manifested fully in that parlor while wearing my plague doctor attire without the mask.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Sun Nov 4, 2018 3:14 AM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Before they left for the castle, the cat made a comment about the wolf girl's sister. Luella's eyes widened at the comment and her cheeks turned red. With her pale skin, the wolf's blush could be seen by anyone around her. Turning her head away, she tried to hide her embarrassment. Hearing the cat speak again made, the wolf girl nodded. Maybe one day the girl would if she was told enough times.

Kiyomi noticed her cousin's face and tried to ignore it. She didn't want to embarrass Luella anymore than she already was. She decided to listen to the cat girl before her. "I knew that she looked familiar." The fox thought with a nod. "Yes. I do remember that." After Kiyomi had offered them a place to be warm and some tea, the cat accepted.

"My balcony?" This was when Kiyomi finally turned around to look at the castle. Usually, she could see her room from this spot. Her eyes saw a few bricks tumble down the side of the castle. "My balcony!" She said in shock. Turning to look at Ana, she just always seemed to save her; even in the most destructive way. "Thank you. And please do, Lizzie." She said with a smile then headed up the path.

When the reached the room, Kiyomi ushered them in.

"Take a seat." Kiyomi said as she stood by the door and listened to them talk about Natsumi. She wasn't sure what to say in this moment. Only that they looked like they were old enough to be by themselves. She mentally shrugged at that. Kiyomi would leave…before but her mother would still worry about her. She understood the situation a bit.

"I will go get the tea." She finally said after the laughter. "Luella can you add more wood to the fire, please." With that she left the room, and Lulu did as she was told.

While Kiyomi ascended the steps of the castle to the bottom floor, she heard the angered words of her mother. "How the hell did this all happen!?" Katerina yelled at the vampire. He had just told her of the events that night. "Who the hell are these two others that are still alive on my land?" The wolf demon crossed her arms at her words; she was clearly upset. "The Serpent was named Ana. Kiyomi has vouched her. The other, seemed to know the Snake woman." His words were straight to the point, leaving out just a few details.

"Ana… Ana as in Natsumi's Ana?" Katerina's arms dropped at her words. "I would presume so." Constantine didn't know about who exactly Natumi was; one day he would A sigh left the wolf demon's lips. "Go wake Amare and ask her to maximize the wards and you set some traps… Shouldn't just rely on magic. " A thought ran through her mind the moment she gave her order. "It would be what Natsumi would do.." With a nod, the vampire left the room.

"Kiyomi. How do you know Ana?" Katerina sensed her daughters presence. Stepping out into view, Kiyomi looked at her mother. "She saved my life…" That was all Kiyomi would say, but Katerina understood. "Does Natsumi know they are here?" The Fox's mother asked before she headed up the stairs. "No… It is fine, though. They will leave soon. I'm off to get some tea for them… Ana gets cold easy.." Kiyomi's words were soft. She didn't want her voice to wake anyone. Katerina nodded at this and headed up the stairs.

The fox sighed softly as she headed over to the kitchen. "Miss. Would you like some help?" A voice came from behind her suddenly, making the fox jump. "Florence." She said taking a deep breath. "I could use some help. Thank you." The candlestick smiled at her and hopped onto the tray. "I shall light the way mon cheri."

Kiyomi finally got everything on the tray and went back to the room. She wasn't gone long and she saw Katerina giving a kiss to Nikolaus and heading towards the lounging room.

Following behind, she entered and put the tray down on the small table between the two girls. Luella was finishing with the fire and sat down on an empty bench couch near Ana.

Katerina stood before the girls and looked at them both. "You sure have grown up into two beautiful girls." The Wolf demon said smiling at them. "Now. You need to leave." Her words made Luella gasp. "Katerina! But why?" The candlestick looked from one face to another, just as confused as Lulu.

The wolf demon turned to her family. "She doesn't know they are here…. You don't want to know the consequences. None of you need to see the destruction that Natsumi is capable of. She–" With the sudden presence in the room, Katerina's voice caught in her throat. They all thought it was Nat at that moment, but it was the wolf demon's brother.

A yawn escaped his mouth as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "What is going on here—- Well hello there kitty kitty. Aren't you a sight for these sore eyes." A smirk appeared on his lips as he stepped into the room. "Kat, aren't you going to introduce me to your new found beauuttifulll friends?" He asked as he stared Lizzie up and down. "Wilhelm!" Kat gave him a death stare and sighed; what was she ever going to do with this man. In a moment, she knew she didn't have to do anything. Just watch the lesson unfold.

Wilhelm ignored his sister and took his seat next to the cat girl. "Hello, Beautiful. My name is Wilhelm. But… You can call me Will. Preferably… in private?" The man introduced himself, the smell of alcohol on his breath. Reaching out, his hand graced her thigh.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 3:57 AM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Of course, leading up this apology, Lizzie herself had been anything but passive. Like her dear old mum, she spent a great deal of time and effort on observing her surroundings, especially during her attempts to get her sister down from the tree. So even though technically she was there for Ana in the first place, her eyes wandered like a tourist’s would. In particular, her gaze focused squarely on the half-naked women around her.

For better or worse, Lizzie had developed some of my perverted machinations while growing up, and so, like me, she couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get an eyeful of T&A when it was practically served to her on a silver platter. Lucy, in particular, was eye candy for the young neko, because her chest was bouncing freely in her nightgown while she was being carried off by Constantine. Her clothes left nothing to the imagination in that state, and also elicited a somewhat Freudian slip from my little voyeur in the making.

“Mmm, that’s a lovely sight. Miss Lucy is very easy on the eyes.” It was only after she said that that Lizzie realized the woman’s sister was still in earshot. This was after Ana had come down from the tree too, so Luella wasn’t even a few meters away anymore. She was standing directly in front of my daughter while she was making such lewd comments about the girl’s sister that normally only Ana or I would hear from her. As you can imagine, the realization of that social faux pas produced a swift and sincere apology from her when she noticed. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thought that aloud.” Lulu had just told Anabelle to ask before hugging her next time prior to this perverted commentary taking place, so, naturally, Lizzie was quick to adapt and turn the conversation onto that instead of her own sense of taste. “Anyway, you clearly haven’t met my sister before. Asking is the number one thing she is absolutely terrible at remembering to do.”

It was after that awkward moment that Kiyomi, once again, invited the two sisters upstairs for tea; and, now that Anabelle was fully clothed, the “younger” sister was all too happy to oblige that request.

“We’ve met before, Miss Kiyomi,” Lizzie responded with a warm smile after the fox tried to explain who she was, “Though admittedly I was a lot smaller when you and your mother dropped by unannounced that one time. It’s Elizabeth, in case you forgot, but you can call me Lizzie.” Pausing for a moment, Elizabeth hugged her sister for a bit before formally accepting her host’s invitation. “That fire does sound lovely, by the way, and I would adore any chamomile tea you have on hand. Lead on and maybe I can help repair your balcony like I did the holes in the barrier after a small midnight snack.”

And with that, the two sisters followed Kiyomi and Luella to the fourth floor of their estate, Anabelle blankly staring at anything and everything along the way.

Unsatisfactory Excuses

When everyone finally arrived in the fourth floor parlor, Anabelle and Lizzie picked out spots on the couch nearest the fireplace before they started getting comfortable. Lizzie grabbed as many blankets as she could while her sister sat down first, and then used them to practically cocoon the snake woman before taking her seat next to the newly formed blanket burrito. The girl’s teacup was empty by this point, so she placed it down on the table nearest her after subconsciously kneading her seat cushion. Then, and only then, did she finally turn her attention back to Kiyomi and Luella who were still nearby.
 
Overall, the atmosphere was very cozy in that room. Both heat and company were nice and warm, and it wasn’t until Ana spoke up for the first time since leaving the garden that any chill was allowed to leak inside whatsoever. After that happened, of course, the shift was palpable and cold in its own right.
 
“Lizzie, did you get permission before leaving,” Anabelle had asked before anyone else could speak in that place. Apparently, she was suspicious – and rightfully so – of her sister’s presence, but Lizzie did not initially recognize the reason why.

“Uh, I left a note with Adel and Eden?” The young kitten was blissfully ignorant of what her sister was getting at; thinking that a note was sufficient despite what I had told her in the past. Ana, however, remembered something for once, and elaborated on what Lizzie was forgetting.

“But you didn’t get express permission from Natsumi. Do you remember how mom gets in instances like that?” Suddenly my daughter’s confidence drained from her face as soon as her sister brought up such a valid point. The prospect occurred to her that she had violated my rules, and also that her note would just make her easier to find in case I decided to render punishment.

“Uhhh.” She lingered for a while on that thought before turning to Kiyomi again with the most sheepish of grins.  “We might want to stick to one cup of tea, my foxy friend. Something tells me I might end up grounded if I don’t get home soon, and you probably know from how my mother is that she doesn’t care how old anyone is during her punishments for them.” Nervous laughter fell over the room then, produced chiefly by the overactive imagination of my sweet, little kitty cat.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 3:20 AM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Kiyomi was sure that Ana would follow. Instead, her gut was wrong. The snake wouldn't release the child, no matter who asked. Kiyomi needed a different strategy for this. Stopping in her steps toward the castle, the fox girl turned around to speak. Her eyes widened at the new arrival; a cat girl? She was speaking to the snake. Very informally; like they knew each other.

Luella was the first to see the new comer. Her eyes watched curiously. Wondering who the woman was?

The sudden new smell made the vampire turn. His eyes narrowed. "The warding should be redone at this rate."With his final words, the vampire turned and returned towards the castle. He had enough of the new comers today and just wanted to relax. While the vampire moved away, Lucille started to struggle again. "Release me! You overgrown… jackass!" Lucy continued to say remarks to him as he carried her towards the castle. He was ignoring the girl and knew if he put her down, she would run at the snake. Most likely attack her as well.

It wasn't long before the cat girl had convinced the serpent to come down off the tree.

With a smile towards the fox, Lulu was placed on her feet. "Next time, just ask okay?" With a flashing smile at the serpent, the wolf girl walked over besides Kiyomi. She stood with her hands behind her back, waiting to see if her mistress was going to retire.

After Ana had finally put her close on, Kiyomi's eyes looked at the new addition to the grounds. The girl began to speak, and the fox nodded. "I know very well." She said with a small smile as she remembered the past. The fox tried to smile happily, but inside her heart ached. The past was not something she wanted to remembered; she needed to forget it, just not Ana. The serpent was the only good thing she wanted to remember.

Pushing the thoughts away, Kiyomi took a deep breath. "I am Kiyomi, Daughter to Katerina, if you are from Natsumi's family, you probably know of her." The fox introduced herself to the newcomer who looked oddly familiar to her. Trying not to think of it, she held out her hand to the side a bit to motion them to the trail. "Come. There is some warm tea, and a favorite spot of ours… by the lovely fireplace." With that Kiyomi showed them to the fourth floor of the castle; Luella in tow.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Mon Oct 1, 2018 11:33 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Much to Ana’s eventual disappointment, though, her request fell on deaf ears. Her captive’s sister came out before Kiyomi could properly negotiate her release and practically shouted at the half-naked lamia in the trees with words of violence and intimidation. My daughter immediately went on the defensive from this interruption, tightening her grasp around the wolf in her arms and no longer listening to the words of wisdom that those in front of her were speaking. Even after Constantine restrained the belligerent Lucille; Anabelle allowed her fear to control her. She didn’t listen to anyone, practically stuffing Lulu’s head into her bosom like a mother guarding her child; and very likely would have stayed up there in that tree for the rest of the night had someone more familiar with her ways not come along to mediate.


Thankfully, there was such a person there that night. Just as Kiyomi, Constantine and Lucy were about to leave and head back into the castle, she appeared behind them with nary a warning. It was a girl, barely older than Lulu herself, and she wore rich, luxurious clothing as if she had just come from a formal affair. In her gloved hands sat a solitary cup of tea, filled to the brim with freshly made jasmine; and she took a sip from that mixture just before speaking to Anabelle.

“Ana, let her go.” The girl with cat ears who had seemingly appeared from nowhere and without making a sound was in fact my other daughter, Elizabeth. Lizzie had finally grown up by this point, and was at last looking out for her sister in return for the many years she had received the same. This time, she was keeping Anabelle from making her situation worse, primarily by convincing her to let go when everyone else had failed so miserably at doing so. “No one’s going to hurt you, sis, but surely Miss Luella deserves to sleep inside? Not to mention, you need new clothes! Come down so you can change into the ones I brought from Eden and Adel!” Indeed, Ana did need new clothes. Having shredded her old ones thanks to her basilisk transformation, Anabelle only had a two pieces of cloth left to serve as her unmentionables. Every other part of her body was laid bare. No wonder she was cold!

Good thing for Anabelle that her sister came along with a fresh change of clothes when she needed it most: ones that Adel and Eden had prepared for her the moment they noticed her absence. Lizzie now stood in front of the half-naked woman, holding out that outfit on a wooden hanger with one hand while her other hand balanced her tea. “Come on. Come down,” she said with an encouraging smile, and finally Ana listened.

Slithering down from the treetops with Luella in tow, the serpent’s true size was at last revealed in full. She was easily large enough to have wrapped around more than just the wolf in her natural form, but also gentle enough to let said wolf escape without harm while she took the clothes from her sister’s hand. Then, as Luella was allowed to return to her family, Lizzie temporarily summoned a changing screen from home to shield Anabelle from their eyes.

Beyond that screen, my daughter began changing into a coat and dress similar in style to the one her sister was wearing. She took on her human form to match those additions, and eventually stepped out from the screen just as it vanished to reveal her new form: that of a woman in her early 20s who was part of a well-to-do, noble family. Both Lizzie and Ana practically glowed with their choice of wardrobe, either one looking like she had just come from a social event rather than being ready for bed. It was a nice scene that I wish I could have witnessed myself: both sisters standing side by side while Lizzie apologized on Ana’s behalf.

“Well hopefully everyone’s happy now,” Lizzie continued before sending the hanger back so only her tea was left in her hands. “Thank you for being patient, Miss Kiyomi. My sister is not known for her temperament, but she’s not evil. She’s just not a social butterfly either.” With that, Lizzie offered a curtsy and a smile, all while Ana just stared blankly at the people around her.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 3:25 AM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

"Mom!" Her voice filled the empty room as she sat up. Lucille eyes peered through the moonlit room. For a moment, she let her dream overtake her and a tear ran down her face. "She wasn't really here…" She thought to herself as she laid back while pulling her blanket over her. The wolf had lost her mother only a few months prior. During the day, she had many tasks to keep her mind occupied. At night, though, was a different story. Most nights she would wake up in a cold sweat and nightmares of her mother. It was always her mother, Lulu and her. Their father had left them long ago.

A sigh left her lips as she turned over to look at her sister; who wasn't there! Sitting up, she grumbled. "Really, Lulu." The wolf said as she dressed; a cotton white robe and slippers.

Occasionally, the eldest wolf would wake up and have to fetch her sister for bed. Every time she found Luella she would be asleep. "This silly sister of mine." She thought as she moved quietly down the stairs.

"Your sister out again?" Katerina voice filled the emptiness. The sudden voice made Lucy's heard jump. "Yes. I'm heading to fetch her now." The young wolf said with a soft smile. "Alright. Don't be long, hun. Goodnight." Even though the wolf demon felt something was wrong, she decided it was nothing and turned away. Her destination, back to bed with Nikolaus.


Back in the forest.

While sleeping peacefully in the snake woman's arms, Luella didn't notice the newcomers.

Kiyomi sighed as she watched the snake. All she wanted was warmth, but there was other ways of getting warm instead of holding someone hostage. Ana began to speak finally. Kiyomi didn't know what she was going on about though. "My balcony?? Wait…what?" Kiyomi grew confused for a moment and almost looked back toward the castle.

Pushing the thoughts away, Kiyomi needed to concentrate on the situation, not balconies. "Ana…" before Kiyomi could say another word a scream was heard from behind them. "Luella! That beast has Lulu! How can you just stand there and do nothing?!" Coming up behind Kiyomi, the sister wolf was in a panic. "Kiyomi! Constantine! Do something." Her words were coming out fast just like her sister before.

The vampire held up his hand. "Your sister is in no danger." He said trying to calm the wolf. "Danger!? She's not in danger?! A snake has her!" she yelled toward him while pointing at her sister. "Lucille. Calm down. She is o–" once more the Fox's words were cut off when she heard Luella speak.

"Mmmm…Lucy?"Luella heard her sister this time. "Lulu! You snake! Release her!" The eldest wolf yelled before she ran towards the tree. Constantine didn't let her get too far before grabbing her arms and throwing her over his shoulder. "M'Lady. You do not want to do that." He said and wasn't phased by the girl struggling on his shoulder.

"Lucy. I'm okay." Luella's words made her sister stop struggling. "Can you let me go now?" The youngest wolf said as she looked into Ana's eyes. "I can help warm you later." Her voice was soft as she spoke, still tired.

"Ana. There is a nice area in the house with a fireplace. I can even get you a blanket. It's a bit colder out here then inside." Kiyomi urged. Hopefully, the snake would take her up on her offer. Turning away, she nodded at Constantine. "Let's get inside." She said while she walked down the trail to the castle.

The vampire and young wolf following behind with Luella still on his back. He knew she would still attempt to strike. "Release me! Constantine!" Lucilla grumbled trying to kick and hit his back; this didn't phase the vampire. With a sigh, she gave up and just let him take her inside.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:42 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

A Reunion of Sorts

Regardless of her initial protests, Luella Montagne did eventually accept her fate on that autumn night. Ana’s kiss had –miraculously – shocked her enough to listen to the serpent ensnaring her, and the follow-up conversation between the two calmed her heart to a cool beat – well away from her previous paranoia and well within the realm of civil conversation. She was reassured - at least for the moment - that she was no longer in any danger; and that was enough for her to breathe a sigh of relief.

Although, Lulu was still miffed about the prospect of being bound against her will by a stranger she had just met. While she temporarily gave up the fight in a moment of compromise, she had every intention of escaping later that night. Had she not fallen asleep, she might very well have attempted to force the issue; but, since that was not the case, the snake did with her as she pleased. Ana, having sensing that her wolf pillow had dozed off, ensnared the girl even more than she already had; eventually ending up with the tip of her tail thoroughly embedded inside and throughout the girl’s nightgown for the greatest possible absorption of heat.

It was in this position that my daughter finally got herself caught. Kiyomi and Constantine came back to the castle after Anabelle had practically molded herself to the shape of Miss Montagne’s body. Both of them had suddenly realized they forgot to check on the castle’s newest arrivals after the demon’s incursion, and so they returned to the garden to search for the younger of the two sisters included in that group. As one might expect, Constantine was the first to notice my daughter’s presence in the tree overhead in that particular situation, and he was also the first to assume that she planned to harm the girl in her arms.

Unfortunately for the vampire protector, however, a lamia was very different prey than a demon; and usually less straightforward to fight. To charge one openly like he did Anabelle was a foolish miscalculation on his part, especially since closed eyes on a serpent did not mean sleeping eyes. Ana was very much awake in that position, and more than capable of dealing with a wounded fighter. She heard the ground crunch under Stormcrow’s feet long before he even made that jump to attack her, and had used the equivalent of a Medusa’s stare to stop him in his tracks just as he was about to become violent.

Constantine toppled over like a statue from that preemptive counter, petrified but not in the traditional sense. His paralysis subsided only after he hit the ground, at which point the hydra on my daughter’s back awoke. Several large snakes emerged from the treetop then, staring down at the two interlopers and hissing defensively until Kiyomi’s intervention calmed them down.

It was then that Anabelle learned the identity of the woman in her arms. Apparently, she had grabbed Kiyomi’s cousin, and the fox was requesting that said cousin be set free: a request that my daughter initially denied.

“Mmm mmm,” she quickly retorted while shaking her head before burying Luella in her embrace like a child guarding her precious toy. Ana had grown too attached and comfortable to want to let go of the wolf girl now; even if she felt the slightest hint of regret. It was true that she was a simple girl, but even she realized that she was on the wrong side of matters in that situation with Luella. She saved Kiyomi, yes, but also while breaking and entering; destroying a balcony; and kidnapping a resident against their will. Her actions definitely did not fall into the category of good manners, but she, not wishing to see fault with most of them, chose only to apologize for the 2nd item on her list while pretending the others were justified.

“…Sorry about the balcony. It got in the way.” Then came the pleading, with a bad attempt on Ana’s part to make herself seem like an innocent snake begging to hold onto her heater. “Can’t I keep her for a bit longer? Please? She already fell asleep without me helping.”

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:25 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Luella wasn't a fighter, but she had a fire in her heart. Even if she couldn't fight, she had a will to live. She remembered when her sister used that tactic before. Just days before their mother had passed, the two would venture out; they needed food, but had little money to spare. One time they could buy just a loaf of bread. On their way home, a man stopped before them with his dagger drawn. He wanted the bread, but before he could take it, the eldest spoke. She told the man who they were and what their life was like. Also, their mother, who was dying and had nothing to eat. The man frowned at his and ended up releasing them.

The wolf girl tried this on the serpent. She wasn't sure if it would work but she had to try. The unexpected came after her words. The snake spoke! "The snake is talking to me! A snake!!" Luella stammered in her mind. "Who is your mother?! Would she appro-" before she could finish her question, the snake turned her around. The wolf's heart started to beat fast again. "What..What are you doing? Please don't—" Tears stung her eyes as she spoke. She didn't want her life to end in that moment.

When she finally saw the creature behind her, she saw a woman? With a snake tail? Her words wanted to stammer out again but the unimaginable happened. The serpent kissed her. "What is happening!?" Luella thought as the snake kissed her. She felt the serpents tongue enter her mouth. She tried to refuse her but the wolf's mouth had a mind of its own. Her mind soon went silent as the woman pulled away. Her eyes wide in shock.

Slowly, her mind became her own once more. "A snake kissed me. A woman kissed me… My FIRST kiss was with a WOMAN!" Luella was shocked once more and continued to stare at the half snake woman. "She didn't want to hurt me. She wanted to kiss me?" The wolf finally thought. She didn't know if she should be flattered by this or be annoyed.

The serpent began to speak again, making Luella attention return to the snake and not her own thoughts. When she finished, the wolf blinked a few times somewhat confused. "She really doesn't want to hurt me….she is just cold?" Her heart slowed. Lulu knew now she was in no danger from the creature. "Okay… But not for long. I have to be in bed soon." She whispered. After a few moments of waiting, her eyes began to grow heavy. Luella tried to stay awake until the snake would release her but instead drifted off to sleep.

Back at the cabin.

As Luella slept peacefully, the young fox and elder vampire sat on the bed. She was finally stitching his wound up."Will your wound heal soon?"Kiyomi asked as she pulled the needle through his skin. "Slowly. Not as fast as usual. I need fresh blood for that… It has been a very long time." He answered then took a sip from his mug. The young fox frowned slightly. He would heal as fast as a normal human. "What is that you're drinking? It smells like blood?" She wasn't really understanding what he meant. He hand blood in his hands, but he wasn't healing?

"This is synthetic. Emrick concocted this his potions. It sedates us. Were still strong from drinking it, but not as strong as we could be from drinking human blood. As you see, it also prevents us from healing fast. We also feel pain more than we are used to. We have vowed never to forcefully take blood from another being ever again." He paused as he took a sip. "Some are just too precious. And others should be allowed to live, to change." Setting down the empty mug, the vampire looked over his shoulder at Kiyomi.

Kiyomi was concentrating on her task; lacing the last knot. "There." She said with a smile then grabbed the cloth she was to wrap his shoulder with. Her arms circled him and every time she touched his skin, she felt how cold he was. Constantine, on the other hand, loved the touch of her skin against his. Her warmth lingered when she finished and got off the bed. The vampire stood and grabbed his clothing to put it on. "You keep this place rather clean." Kiyomi said as her eyes moved around his room. "It's normally just dusty because I'm normally never here." He said. "Lucille and her sister have been keeping it clean."

"Oh no! Luella!" Kiyomi gasped when hearing her cousin's name. "I didn't check on her and she normally goes out at night." After this realization the fox ran out the room. Constantine was on her heels. "Why does she go out at night?" The vampire asked as the rushed through the forest. "She likes to read at this little spot. I have caught here there a few times on my walks at night." Kiyomi knew exactly where she was going. "If she isn't there she is in her room." With that they headed towards the castle.

When they reached the spot where Luella was normally at. Kiyomi let out a sigh. "She must be asleep in her ro–" Her voice caught in her throat seeing the book on the ground. "She…never leaves her books here." Kiyomi finally spoke when she picked up the item. "Constantine." The fox turned towards the vampire, her worry shown on her face.

Holding up his hand, he needed her to stop talking. "Quiet…" He whispered and his eyes looked around the area. The sound of someone breathing hit his ears. His eyes automatically went to the sound. "There!" He said suddenly when he found the two in the tree. The serpent was wrapped around Luella. "Luella!" He said in shock. She was in danger! Drawing his sword on his hip, the vampire jumped towards the beast.

The vampire was just about to jump towards the snake, but felt himself freeze. He couldn't move a bone in his body. "What is going on!?" He thought to himself when he tried to speak. His words wouldn't come out of his mouth. "Constantine!" Kiyomi said when he soon fell to the ground. "What happened?" The vampire asked a bit dizzy. Moving to his side, the fox knelt beside him then finally looked up to see the two. "Ana?" She said the name of the serpent as she stood. It had been so long since she'd seen the snake woman that saved her life.

A sigh left the fox's lips. Luella was now a victim of a snake wanting a heater. "Ana. Can you please let my cousin go?" She asked and remember the freak-out she once had. "Constantine. This woman is no threat. She is really the one that saved my life a few months back." Kiyomi said while she watched him stand on his feet. "You owe your life to her once more, Miss Kiyomi. She saved you again this very night." The vampire nodded towards the snake when he spoke. "She did? Ana? Is that really true?" She asked, confused.

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:52 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

[OOC: Reminder to mods that Ana is the main focus of this thread, a mage companion on this account and Natsumi's daughter. Her dialogue will be bolded since Nat isn't here for this thread.]

Luella’s entrance into Ana’s arms was far from a calm affair, as I have already hinted at in previous chapters. She struggled furiously at first: screaming, wriggling, and trying everything in her power to escape in the same way her companion had. But Luella was no fighter. Her muscles that she had gotten exclusively from chores around the castle were no match for Anabelle’s that had been trained through copious amounts of monster hunting. What’s worse – and probably what was even more distressing to the young seventeen-year-old at the time – was that even if someone in that castle possessed enough strength to substitute for her, no such person was around to hear her screams. Kiyomi and Constantine were out of earshot now down by the vampire’s cottage, and everyone else was still fast asleep; leaving Luella to despair all on her own.

She eventually tried to bargain in that situation; believing with every cell in her body that she was about to be dinner for a serpent. But no matter how loud she screamed or how fervently she begged for release, Anabelle remained inert: firmly and unrelentingly coiled around her captive’s soft frame. Rather than listening to her threats and cries for help, she was basking in the woman’s heat, waking herself up just enough to finally smell who she had captured.

“Hmm,” was the first thing she uttered once that point arrived – which, coincidentally, happened just before Lulu was about to cry. “I guess you aren’t my mother. You smell of books, but not orchids or jasmine tea.”

Anabelle’s childhood long before this moment in time had been filled with instances of “snake cuddles” from me and, later in life, from Adel, where she would do the same thing she was doing with Luella except on a far smaller scale. As she grew older, she still required the heat from those cuddle sessions, but I had set ground rules on how I would allow her to hug me. In Lulu’s case, Ana had been respecting those ground rules, believing the girl to be me. Now that that was proven to be false, however, she began adjusting.

Turning the young Luella Montagne around, Anabelle gently placed her captive at eye level and finally got a proper look at her at face. The woman’s fears were evident, as were the tears about to form in her eyes. Ana knew that look, and, fearing her newest heater was about to scream again, she interrupted her with a kiss.

Yes, a kiss, but not a romantic one. My daughter in that moment was following a piece of advice – bad advice, I might add – that I had given her once about the fastest way to shut someone up. “Just kiss them,” was what she had taken away from that ill-fated conversation, but Ana was so… ironically passionate about kissing that usually the people she did kiss couldn’t tell that she was just trying to get them to be quiet instead of showing romantic interest. Her tongue movements didn’t help that impression, either, but they probably at least allayed some of her captives’ fears about being eaten in situations similar to the one little Luella now found herself in.

Either way, the wolf’s particular situation was like a text-book example of Anabelle’s “calming techniques.” The kiss lasted for all of five seconds, at least long enough to get Lulu to calm down and think. Then, and only then, did the kiss cease, at which point the initiating serpent replaced it with a sort of “puppy hug.”

“I’m cold, so I can’t let you go yet,” she said to the frightened Lulu while gently using her head to caress the girl’s ear. “I won’t hurt the nice wolfie, especially not when she’s so warm and cuddly” This approach to calming, as you can probably guess, had a less than stellar success record in the past, but maybe, this time, it would work. That was Ana’s bet, at least, as she pressed herself even closer to Luella following the remark. By the time she closed her eyes again, the lamia had tucked Lulu’s head beside her own and was pressing her chest into her. Their arms were interlocked shortly thereafter, Anabelle hugging Luella close to try making her feel secure in the treetops so that the two could sleep there for a bit. Obviously, and in spite of what my simple-minded daughter believed, however, that intent couldn’t have been further from the truth of what resulted. The situation unfolding could not have been more awkward for any 17-year-old woman.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:53 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

As Constantine walked the grounds, he didn't hear anything. The forest was quiet that night after the intruder. The vampire kept his ears and eyes open. He was grateful. Whatever it was; a snake? another demon? The creature had eaten the intruder. Thankfully, the demon didn't enter Kiyomi's room as he feared. "She's safe.."The vampire thought. Constantine didn't know if he should thank the creature he saw or chase it out of the borders.

A sigh left his lips as he reached for his wound. When he hit the tree a branch had cut a deep gash on his shoulder blade. Bringing his hand back down he looked at the blood on his fingers; he could barely move his arm without pain. He had to go bandage himself, or he couldn't manage the grounds. Turning from the way he was going, the vampire headed to his cabin down the hill.

While the vampire headed to his house, Kiyomi was looking out Guinevere's bedroom window. Her eyes searched the trees for any movement. Her stomach turned at the thought of Constantine on his own. She knew that he could protect himself, but he had a wound. A sigh left her lips as she turned to look at her sleeping sister. The fear from the noises she heard was slowly subsiding into worry. "I checked on my sisters already. I need to help." She thought while she headed for the door.

The path to the Protectors house didn't take long for Kiyomi to walk. Hopefully, that was were she could find him. Slowly, the fox opened his wooden door. When she closed the door, Kiyomi's eyes danced around the room. She only saw his small living room with a lit fire and the kitchen area. For a moment, she thought he wasn't there. Turning to leave, she decided he was not there. Before the fox opened the door, a noise came from behind her. It sounded like a mug being set down on a table. Her eyes turned to see the sudden light that came from the bedroom.

With a gulp, she walked towards the room. She didn't step inside yet. She looked at the vampire before her. He was shirtless; the trench coat and black button down he usually wore laying beside him on the bed. Kiyomi admired his large arms for a moment. His muscles contracting with every attempt he made to clean his wound.

When Constantine finally looked up, his eyes narrowed. "Damn it, Kiyomi. What are you doing here? I told you to stay in the castle." He wanted to reach up and point at her, but the vampire winced in pain; it was his wounded shoulder. "Let me help you." She said with worry in her voice. Moving over to him, she looked at the wound. "Stay still." She said while grabbing the rad from his arm. To get a better angle, the fox got onto the bed and sat on her knees behind him.

"Kiyomi. Return to the castle, now, it is not safe." He started to turn to look at her but she gripped his other shoulder tightly. "I said stay still." With her new strength, she could stop him from moving. "Besides. The safest place to be is with you." Kiyomi smiled softly at her words. Ever since the demon had tricked and rapped her, the fox couldn't feel safe with anyone. Constantine was the exception. 

Hearing her words, the vampire couldn't help what he was feeling or the smile that appeared on his lips. Hopefully, the fox girl didn't see. 

Meanwhile in the forest.

Lulu sat in the silence. Her eyes reading every page with interest. "I can't hardly to use magic!" She thought sometimes when she read an interesting spell. The wolf girl wasn't a fighter like her sister, who was advancing in throwing knives. Every change Lucy got she would try to get Lulu to use a weapon, but Luella had no interest. The wolf was not a fighter.

When she found a Color Magic book, her thoughts changed. She could defend herself when she needed, or even make food for animals or make a tree grow out of nowhere. A smile curved on the wolf's lips as she thought of all the possibilities.

Being lost in thought, she didn't notice the snake tail coming down towards her. Mr. Oscar, on the other hand, noticed. He hopped off her lap and into the forest in haste. "Mister Oscar!" Luella yelled after him, worried; he had never done that before. In that moment, the wolf finally noticed the tail as it wrapped around her. A scream left her lips and her book fell to the ground. "Noooo!" The wolf screamed and tried to remove herself from the tail around her. But wolf wasn't quick enough. Soon, she was wrapped up in the snake's tail with arms around her. Her breath and heartbeat quickened. "Release me! Please don't hurt me!" She tried to struggle with no avail.

Finally, the wolf figured out that she wasn't going anywhere. Her mind was screaming. "There is a snake around me! Is it sleeping? Or deciding how to eat me!" Pausing in her thoughts her eyes looked down at the arms around her. "What is this creature!?" She screamed once more and started to panic.

"Who are you? What do you want? Do you want to hurt me?!" Her words were sporadic. "Please don't kill me! I have a sister. And cousins that would hunt you down to the ends of the earth…. Please. I haven't had my first kiss yet. Or had a crush on a boy or… or girl…. Look I don't know what my life is going to be like yet! I am only seventeen." Tears were about to fall her eyes as she spoke. Was this already the end of the line? "Please let me go…Please." Was there no escape for this wolf?

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 2:12 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

While the demon’s ultimate fate was indeed ironic at face value, it was even more so considering that the serpent who killed him in the end was in fact his original target: Anabelle. In a twist of fate different from what he was probably used to, the hunter had become the hunted halfway into his plan to kidnap Kiyomi. Ana became aware of his movements by accident after having escaped from our family’s vacation home in the next universe over. She only happened to be visiting the area around the Silverstein estate when the demon brother was first scoping it out; at which point he became her next target.

His smell was what tipped her off to his relation to Baal and Balban in the first place: an olfactory association that was more than enough to garner her interest. She still remembered the atrocities those two had committed, and was under the impression – given this man’s scent – that she had missed one of the demons back then. In the interest of confirming that suspicion and potentially rectifying it, she followed the skulking demon and actually invaded the castle ahead of him.

Of course, as is probably obvious from the way she evaded Constantine after causing the kidnapper’s death, my daughter did not breach the ward around Katerina’s estate as the giant snake she appeared to be the night that demon brother number 3 fought the vampire protector. Instead, she had entered as a garden snake the day before, punching a pinhole in the warding barrier so small that it was nearly imperceptible to even Stormcrow’s keen senses. Her magical mastery of polymorph had grown enough since her last encounter with Kiyomi to warrant that level of skill, and so her transition from harmless, unnoticeable garden snake to massive, deadly basilisk was virtually unnoticeable to anyone not expecting her to be there in the first place.

Obviously, the Protector did occasionally scope out the room that Anabelle eventually chose to stay in during the course of his weekly patrols, but he, like any good guardsman, was more concerned with guarding the perimeter than the interior. After all, if an intruder had gotten as far as the second floor, he had effectively failed to protect his charges already. Therefore, full sweeps of the castle innards were infrequent, and none occurred during Anabelle’s stay in the unfurnished room below Kiyomi’s. This was why she had plenty of time to molt and also to scout out the castle grounds for approaches an invader could use.

It was with that intent in mind that she stayed put. My daughter, like yours truly in such a situation, knew a relative of the demons would likely go after the prey that got away from his brothers if he was lurking so close by; and so she set up camp near the dragon turned fox, guarding her in secret just in case her suspicions were correct. She was eventually rewarded for that patience, as I have already revealed.



When the third brother finally infiltrated the Silverstein Estate and fought with Constantine Stormcrow, Anabelle had been napping in the form of a basilisk. His stench was what woke her up in the first place, causing her eyes to flicker open and glow in the darkness upon approach. She could see him through the balcony thanks to her natural, infrared vision, even if he could not see her; and thus his fate was sealed. Ana, sparing no chance for retaliation, lashed out with frightening speed, and consumed him along with part of Kiyomi’s balcony. Then, while her stomach began the digestion process for the meatball she had crushed the demon into, she fled the scene of the crime like an experienced dine-and-dasher.

You see, Ana was no fool. She knew she hadn’t been invited into the castle, and that only Kiyomi had a chance of recognizing her in that situation. A chance, however, was too flimsy a word to base her safety on, so my lamia daughter, thinking ahead, fled into the walls before anyone could come after her. Sure enough, Constantine arrived just after she had hidden herself, but, thanks to her quick thinking, he found only the remains of her molt from the day before instead of her. She, much to his chagrin, had evaded him, and was now crawling through the pipes in Kiyomi’s room to escape back out onto the grounds.

That said, this course of action, while necessary, did actually wake the fox up when juxtaposed so close to the destruction of her balcony. The castle would soon be in an uproar, which led Anabelle to flee to the garden as fast as possible. Her original intent was to lay low in that place; to avoid going for the exit too soon or getting caught up inside the castle proper. But, unfortunately, she had become drowsy because of how cold it was that night; and thereby lost track of her original plans.

Anabelle, rather than escaping like she should have in that moment, instead found her way to a thick, lush tree in the garden before starting to fall asleep again. She had escaped from a hole in the wall on the ground floor just as her pursuer reached the third, and shortly thereafter assumed her true form once she had hidden herself in the foliage of the tree behind the girl who was up past her bedtime. Luella didn’t even notice the small garden snake as it slithered up the trunk behind her, and just kept reading while petting Oscar. Ana, on the other hand, definitely noticed her, though not as she actually was.

Fatigued beyond the point of clarity, Ana saw two people instead of one on the garden bench beneath her tree that night. The girl known as Luella had the perfect combination of features to fool her tired eyes; and, so, where there was actually a wolf girl and rabbit, my daughter, instead, saw a pink rabbit and a white fox. Perhaps her cold-addled brain thought she had already escaped back home, or maybe she believed, naively, that Robin and I just happened to be visiting that area for the night. Either way, Luella looked like Robin and I to her in that instant, and that was a mistake that could not end well.

Fully believing that the figure beneath her was her mother, Ana slipped her tail down the tree and scooped Luella up like she used to do to me years before. Quickly – but gently – she wrapped herself around that woman’s body following this action, inadvertently preventing her from moving even as cold scales rubbed against soft fabric and skin alike. Her tail compressed the nightgown Luella was wearing, slowly coiling around her until the back of her head lay firmly plastered against my daughter’s face. Then, when Anabelle finished securing herself in the tree, she embraced the girl next to her, resting her arms directly under Lulu’s bosom.

Sure enough, that was when the screaming started: just as the wolf girl found her new home in Anabelle’s embrace during a normal, nightly reading.

Author: Silverstein, Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 2:45 AM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

The Silverstein's didn't expect to move into a castle, or have a grandmother still alive. This grandmother also brought two family members along with her. Sisters; Lucille and Luella. They weren't expecting the welcoming they got. The girl's were to earn their keep as maids but Katerina wouldn't have them labor all day. The wolf demon told the sisters they were to have free time. Just before dusk would be their cut off time for any chores. If they finished their daily chores early, they were to do as they pleased.Luella liked this arrangement. Lucille, on the other hand, did not. She always wanted to stay busy, so she didn't dwell in her thoughts too long. Her mind often drifted to her mother; who passed only a few short months ago. The memory still brought pain to both sister's hearts. Luella, unlike her sister, could keep her mind busy in other ways by reading. Her favorite spot sat under a tree. The bench was antique looking; the wood and iron faded. There were vines of flowers beneath that twisted up the limbs of the chair and around the arms. To give her light to read was a small lantern that hung from one of the branches.This night, however, Luella decided she would try to sleep early. Her late nights would prevent her from doing the best job she could. As she laid in bed, Ella tried to sleep. Keeping her eyes shut, and even counting sheep. Nothing was working for the young wolf.A sigh left her lips as she sat up in bed. Her eyes looked through the moonlit room to her sister on the other side; Lucille slept soundly. "Of course." She said with narrowed eyes. Her sister could simply fall asleep fast. Removing her blankets, she slipped out of bed and headed for the door. Slowly and quietly, she turned the knob. When the door was ajar, she poked her head out to look up and down the hall. Everyone was asleep.With only her silk nightgown on, the wolf made her way down the hallway towards the library. She needed to grab a new book before heading to her spot in the garden. The wolf girl knew exactly what section to head to; Magic. She never thought that magic even existed until she came to live with the Silversteins. Luella was beginning to have such a fascination with Color Magic. After picking a book on the subject, Lulu left the library.Barefoot with a book in hand, she exited the backdoor to the garden. The stone was cold on her feet but it didn't bother her. The wolf thought it was just like every other night…Inside the castle, Kiyomi woke with a start. A loud sound awoke her, and then a strange sound; something was moving in the walls. "What is that?!" She gasped she jumped out of bed. It almost sounded like a snake; a big one. That was one of Kiyomi's worst fears, snakes. Running out of her room, she had to tell her mother. Something was in the castle!Right when the fox girl ran out of her room, she ran into the arms of The Protector. A scream left her, shook at the nights events. Feeling his arms circle her for a moment, she took a deep breath and regained her senses. "Kiyomi. It's me." His voice calmed her as her eyes went to his. "Constantine.." She sighed in relief. "Did you hear that sound? It sounded like a snake…" She shivered at the word. "Yes. I believe there is one on the grounds." He paused before he gave his instruction. His hand moved up slowly to move her loose strand of hair out of her face. "I need everyone to stay in the castle. Go into your little sister's rooms and check on them, please."Finally, the vampire dropped his arms to his side. That was when Kiyomi smelt the blood. "Your hurt? Did you fight the snake?" She asked as she brought her hand up to his shoulder. "It's just a scratch." He said while taking a step back. "I'll explain later. I have to patrol the area." After his last words, he turned and ran off into the darkness. Kiyomi did as he said.With a soft hum, Luella made her way to her spot by the tree. Taking her seat, she started to read the old book in her hands. As she flipped through the pages, she felt something touch her foot. Her eyes moved to see a little white rabbit. "Mister Oscar! What are you doing up this late? You silly rabbit." She said with a smile as she picked him up and laid him on her lap. Picking a small flower off the chair arm, Lulu gave it to the bunny. He took it happily and started to nibble. "There, there." The wolf girl soothed as she started to pet him. "After a snack you can head back to bed." With a warm smile at the bunny, she held up her book and started to read. The creature that lurked on the grounds unknown to her. 

Author: CodeNat, Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 4:29 PM, Post Subject: Serpent's Chamber[P][R]

Revaliir was always supposed to be a small aspect of my life: a side-venture not worth more than a few passing moments. There was never supposed to be an intense focus on it, nor any attachment; and, yet, I came away from that place with far more connections than I had ever intended to make. I met my wife there, started a family again and got tied up in events far more numerous than I had ever anticipated. In fact, every time I moved us off world, someone in my family would always find their way back; and so I was seemingly caught in a love-hate relationship with this backwater universe known as Revaliir that I was long overdue in leaving.

Of course, not every story involving that planet and those close to me was necessarily tied directly to my person. Especially when my daughters got older, they attained some form of autonomy for themselves: autonomy that they used against my wishes. They would slip out of the house to find their way back to their birthworld, even when we were several universes away; and usually those visits brought no small amount of excitement – sometimes undesired. I could never fault them for trying to go back to their homeland in such a way, though; even if it’s safe to say that their shenanigans – and sometimes even Robin’s shenanigans – were the primary reason I kept coming back to this past assignment.

These are their stories.


Sometime in the middle of Revaliir’s Fall, the Silverstein residence was bustling more than usual. New faces had arrived recently, and there were more rooms filled in that ornate, highland castle of theirs than usual. It was a relatively safe abode for these newcomers, guarded equally by natural barriers and the family vampires. Even a warding barrier lay around the grounds to protect them from prying eyes, and yet there were still those who would break that peaceful silence for malicious gain.

A long time prior to the night in question that this next story takes place during, Kiyomi Silverstein, the eldest of Katerina Silverstein’s daughters, had encountered a brutal experience on the slopes not far from the castle. The incident was one drenched in blood and had resulted in the abduction of her sister, Eden – the resident blonde bimbo who incessantly pesters me in my own home even today. Suffice to say, the former dragon did not leave that conflict unscathed, but she was at least a far sight better than those who had seduced her. The demon clan that had been luring girls into slavery back then had met with a devastating end before they could add Kiyomi to their ranks. They were cut down by my own progeny, slaughtered to the last man. Not one demon survived that night’s massacre: or at least none of them who were there.

The third demon brother, who had just happened to be away from home at the time of Kiyomi’s internment, had escaped Anabelle’s wrath by the skin of his teeth. At the time, he was harassing a village further south for tribute, well out of Anabelle’s path and safe from her violence.  The first time he realized anything had happened in his absence was when he came home a week later to discover his younger brother’s, half-eaten corpse. He was shocked to find empty corrals as well –his brothers’ cattle having been freed by Adel and Ana after Kiyomi had already left. It was devastating: an absolute and total loss for his entire crime family.

Needless to say, the demon was furious at that development. He used some profane magics to see an image of the past for his bloody mountain, and, from Anabelle’s face in that vision, he began trying to track her down.

Unfortunately for his vengeful machinations, however, my daughter proved too difficult for him to find. He could not follow her to our mansion in the void because even he wasn’t strong or cunning enough for that; and, every time she went to the surface where he stood a chance, she always managed to evade him. The demon, understandably, grew frustrated over time from this fruitless game of cat and mouse; at least until he finally gave up and settled on a new target.

Since he could not get revenge on the woman directly responsible for the murder of his clansmen, he would, instead, go after the person he viewed as the indirect cause of their demise: Kiyomi Silverstein.

And so we arrive at this next story: an attempted kidnapping that happened just after dusk when the moon was in full bloom.



Most everyone in the castle had retired to their chambers by the time the demon arrived at the warding barrier. He had prepared for this moment, waiting until late at night before invading. Even if he couldn’t snatch Kiyomi up, the scorned brother thought, he would at least steal someone close to her and start the cattle game over again. With a wicked smile, he kept this promise close to his black heart and then shattered a hole in the castle ward.

He was overconfident in his approach, however, taking too little care to quiet his entrance from the ears of the family protector. Unsurprisingly, that cost him.

After the third brother had made himself an opening and slipped into the castle grounds, he was immediately set upon by Constantine Stormcrow. Mr. Stormcrow minced no words with him, an interloper who exuded such malevolence, and immediately attacked him from behind. The brother was wounded from that exchange, nearly done in by the vampire’s claw, but he gave as good as he got.

The two fought ruthlessly with tooth and claw, disappearing from one outcropping to the next. It was a supernatural fight if ever there was one on Revaliir, but one that ended in a stalemate. Stormcrow got another slash in, true, but not before being slammed into a wall. He was disoriented long enough for the brother to slip away, but not taken out of the fight.

“Damn vampire,” was all this lone wolf could say after being granted that newfound, temporary freedom. The Protector was an equal match for him, it seemed, done in only by luck; and, although he could have gone back to finish the job by taking off the vampire’s head, he feared that their scuffle had already woken up his prey. Rather than risk the escape of the girls he so desperately desired, he opted to hurry toward the 3rd and 4th floors instead to grab one of them from their beds and escape to his hideout before Constantine came back to harass him. If he failed in that, he thought, then the kidnapping would have to be delayed for another day.

Ironically, the brother did end up making it to the third floor and even made it to Kiyomi’s balcony in the end, but only to find out that his plan had been doomed since the beginning. Just after he caught sight of the sleeping fox but before he could snatch her up, he heard a hissing sound coming from the balcony directly below him. He paused for a split second, thinking that Constantine had returned, but he was wrong. In turning around to greet who he thought was the vampire, he was instead swallowed from below as a basilisk head crashed through the stone underneath his feet.

The demon brother, as evidenced by that sudden and violent demise, wasn’t the only intruder on the castle grounds that night. A loud crunch was, in fact, the last sound he made before encountering this other, for the serpent’s only form of greeting toward him had been a swift death. She literally gobbled the would-be kidnapper up in a single bite, snapping every bone in his body and swallowing him whole before darting back into the second floor chamber she had come from. Constantine regained his senses just in time to witness that attack, but he was not quick enough to catch the newest interloper before she vanished. Rather than finding her in the room she had appeared from, he instead discovered a temporary nest. All that was left in that place was a giant molt, shed by whatever serpent the Protector had just witnessed: a serpent that was now hiding somewhere on the castle grounds.