As the five butchers, or what Sophia called the Souls Debt Collectors, were being contained into five different colorful orbs that shrank into marbles. Each color emits different types of energies from woods, air, water, fire, and blood, and all five were commanded or created by Rose, Skylar's vampire side, which seems to be hiding something.
'Care to tell me how they knew you or whatever connection you had with them?'
"What is it to you if you learn them?" Rose responded with a slight, amused chuckle before closing her palm, keeping the orbs out of sight.
'So I would easily in my duality. Is that enough fair reason?'
"Fair enough." She chuckled and stared softly at the flexible but crystallized orb that Skylar had done a few minutes ago. She smiled softly, saying, "Since you did a great job on doing what was assigned to you, maybe you can give some hints."
'Oh, c'mon. spill all the tea. We're living in the same body now. You have to tell me in case we can't reach each other.'
"Alright, just don't whine like a kid back there. It hurts my head." She chuckled amusingly and sat in the aisle, letting the jade and the orb float calmly on their orbits.
'Then spill before I throw a tantrum here.'
"Cute. Okay, let me start in ancient times, when human colonies weren't too populous. We, the night creatures, lived alongside mythological beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, centaurs, and others. It was peaceful as we moved based on instincts. It's always give and take while respecting the law of nature. We did kill for fun or revenge, we kill and hunt to live. That's the cycle before the dinosaur era came." Rose started sharing a history that hasn't been written in any historical book, making Skylar listen attentively inside their shared body.
'Untold history.'
"To humans it is, but to our kind who have been living for centuries or more, it's ours." She corrected, letting the memories from the old civilization that no one heard about show around them - playing an old recorded movie.
'Where were you back then?'
"Along with the myths. I've been living as a vampire with pure instincts of one. I lure, I hunt, I kill, and never feel any sorrow or sleep. It's in our nature, but it balances with the rest of the other myths. We all lived peacefully in our own tribes, blending with nature, doing our natures while respecting boundaries and balance with the spiritual dwellers. But the human population kept growing, and the changes began affecting us. We became wary because some humans were too curious to explore the depths of the unknown." She answered, continuing to share her untold history.
'Depths of the unknown?'
"Our kind, our lives, but they looked at us as monsters when they were the ones who forced themselves into our peace. We are just moving according to how we're born, and by doing who we are, we become haunted. It forced us to blend into the shadows; it angered some, while some ignored and lived in peace, never crossing paths with humans. But predators from ancient times, particularly vampires, had tasted human blood for the first time." She replied while still sharing her story and even admitted her first taste of human blood, "I'll be honest, it was sweet and addictive, but it was also a curse. We lost our appetite for any solid food and only desired blood. We became cold and heartless, who can no longer walk free under the sunlight. Anger intensified, and even I joined the vendetta and used the night for it and became the monster they should fear. Some distaste what we had become, and some became drawn into power, making our kind divided. That's when I stumbled into an Amazon tribe."
'Amazon tribe?'
"It was not filled with women, but the majority of their tribe were women. They helped me when I stumbled, bloody and dying, in their tribe. I know they wanted to kill me, but their chief stopped it for some reason and took me in." She responded with a soft smile on her lips before continuing, "I wanted to kill and feed from them, but whenever I attempted it, the chief was always there to stop me. She helped me use my curse and instincts fairly, and only becomes a monster at will. I became one of them, I protect them savagely, making them untouchable until some invader-humans trash everything and kill anyone in sight. I became a monster once again, avenging them, but the chief's death wounded me deeply."
'You love her.'
"I did. Always will." She smiled sadly before taking a deep breath and continuing the story while the background played, "Being with the tribe, I learned how to communicate with the spirits and seek their aid, but being not purely devotee, I had to pay a price. I was stopped, but I'm determined and became an Immortal."
'What did you do? What price did you pay for it?'
"I did it to protect the tribe, particularly her, but my wish is too big, and I spent my entire remaining life paying for that through the scars I have in my body, and by the blood I spill on the ground. However, what I didn't see coming was the Death being fascinated and gave me a token. It might be an eternal curse, but also become a gift of Immortality." She chuckled slightly when she recalled the first time she met Death, "Death is hideous but gorgeous at the same time. She's ruthless and dark, but also has a soft and sweet side too."
'The way you identify her is filled with love and affection. Rose, tell me, are you Death's consort?'
"Yes, I am that too, but I'm her first Immortal General." She admitted, smiling before adding, "I do tasks for her and be there for her when she needs me, but I'm not her mate. Or that's what I thought."
'OH MY GOSH! MY VAMPIRE SIDE IS THE CONSORT OF DEATH! No wonder, I could easily sense death coming near me.'
"Shut up. I didn't realize that I am if her jealousy didn't strike like a thunderbolt on my chest." She groaned, rolling her eyes in the process before adding with a heavy sigh, "She punished me by not having my own body, which partially explained why I'm stuck with you."
'HAHAHA! That's what you get from making her jealous. But how long will it last?'
"I don't know." She answered, sighing sadly.
'And what about Vin?'
"About him...Vin is the reincarnated soul of the chief I had fallen in love with, and being around her soul, Death was not being a jealous wife after all." She replied, smiling faintly.
'Damn you, Rose, you have two mates, one is a goddess and the other is an Amazon chief.'
"Hey, I didn't ask for it to happen...But I don't mind. I just feel lucky. I guess." She responded, shrugging her shoulders, thinking of both of her lovers, when Skylar caught her attention again.
'So that's explained your connection with those butchers, or there was something else?'
"No, you're right. Because of my connection with Death, I could easily manipulate deaths, souls' energies, and turn them into guardians." She admitted, before explaining it further, "But that was not the reason why I made them. I made them to help me collect what the humans had taken from us.
'Such as?'
"Relics and heirlooms from us shouldn't have been possessed by humans. But blending and mingling with the right humans, we gave it as a gift or a token, and only a few learned how to keep and use it well, which your family included." She answered, showing in the background the items that have been passed down through generations in different regions and kinds. "The Leadership Crown was given as a gift to the Monte Cruz family. The Book of Wise was in the Aspire clan, the Moon's Sword was in the Kings' possession, and the Blood Dragon Eye was in the Saison family..."
In the background, the crown might be anyone's crown - typical with gems and pointy, but with the rightful leader, the crown shifted, depending on what type of ruler it could be, and showed its true power. As for the book, it was a book that had its own mind. It only showed to its rightful owner, showing either a graphical sketch of what had been recorded from ancient times or an unknown language that only the true keeper could read. As for the sword, it was an unsharpened sword, but it could win any battle, and only a true wielder could release its sharpness and power. And for the Blood Dragon eye, it was a tiny marble eye - the size of an eyeball that could see death and life through blood and flame. Anyone could have them, but there was only one; a chosen one can use them well.
"Those are the few mythical relics that have chosen night creatures, but the Cloak Knuckles and Night's Veil had chosen a human, and for some reason, it's your father," Rose added, making Skylar frown. She didn't think that her father would be close to night creatures aside from her mother.
The knuckles may look like black gloves that Fredric always wears at night during his mafia business, but they only release their potential when the chosen wearer is on the bridge of death. As for the veil, Skylar was chosen since birth. It was a tricky veil because it was not literally a veil, but because it was made through blood. Only Skylar could bring its power to its full potential.
'Is that the entire reason why you had chosen me as your vessel?'
"No, you're not, but your mother did something that had conflicted the process." Rose clarified, chuckling in the process, saying, "Sophia was my chosen vessel, but your mother's bond with hers had pulled me into something - fascination which was the reason Sophia could not hurt you when you were a baby."
'You fancy me before I could even learn how to walk.'
"Silly, that's not entirely the reason you became my next chosen vessel. It was because of your mother's bond with Sophia. It was the same as I had with the chief before. Your mother was born to lead without even trying, and Sophia, herself, was close to death, which reminded me of Death itself. Both have differences, but their bond blends so well." She clarified further, giggling slightly before adding, "Through them, I've learned to differentiate bonds until you were born and led me to my chief again."
'Make sense. But I'm wondering about you being Consort of Death.'
"Don't dwell much on it. It's my trouble to handle." She assured her, smiling before getting up, dusting her clothes and doing some stretching.
'But you're in my body. I have no idea if ever Death is coming - literally coming.'
"Death rarely comes on the land of living unless she must personally collect souls with grave debt on her." She briefed, still smiling, before thinking separately, "Or to play."
'Okay, but have you ever thought of leaving us when she forgave you?'
"Why? Do you want me to stay as your alter ego? Your split personality?" She teased, opening her palm to check the flexible orb.
'Well, I'm kind of used to your voice already, so it will be different not having you around in case you leave.'
"You're a sweet kid, but I don't like it. It creeps me out." She teased more, making Skylar frown and whine.
'ROSE.'
"Just teasing, but, in all honesty, I've been missing her lately ever since your awakening. But since she's not reaching out for me, I'll stay for a while and do my task as her Immortal General." She said coldly, but her smile was genuine, before adding, "I have to collect souls that belonged in her realm."
'I'll help you with it since there's somebody annoyingly becoming a peasant in my hotel's progress around the border, let's check it out after having a vacation.'
"You sound excited to hunt again, but sure. I love action." She agreed, giggling too when a knock happened, Vincencio showed up in his human form.
"Wifey, are you two done? It's freezing out here." Vincencio asked, shivering while peaking his head from the gate.
"Yeah. Let's switch." Rose replied before switching with Skylar instantly and adding, 'Oh, another thing, check yourself at the pack's clinic. There's a blossoming life in you.'
"Shut. Up." Skylar said softly, not believing Rose's words.
'No kidding, try it.'