River Athena, City of Caldera
It was morning, and the dew had begun to evaporate into the already cloudy sky. The River Athena glistened and flowed clear, clean as its banks, from which the carnage of the night before had been removed.
A young man approached the waters from the trees, fishing net in hand.
He whistled an upbeat tune as he threw it in, and his face brightened at the size of his first catch.
He hoisted it up alone and carried it to a truck waiting nearby, offloaded his fish, and returned for the next attempt.
The morning seemed so peaceful, so serene, that the slightest disturbance would be a grave desecration of its tranquility. Yet that is exactly what happened, as he soon experienced, for his approach to the river was stopped in its tracks by the sight of a hand coming out of the water and feebly sink its fingers into the earth.
The man watched, frozen, as the hand fought against the current, till it found purchase on a little rock embedded on the side of the river, and another hand joined the first.
They tensed and at last, a body pulled itself out of the river and onto the moist ground, face down and coughing out water mingled with blood.
Lucas finally turned himself belly up and took several deep breaths, feeling the cold air fill his previously flooded lungs, while savoring the soothing heat of the morning sun.
His wounds, while not fully healed, had begun to close up, the waters having washed off a significant amount of venom inflicted by the claws and teeth of the wolves.
The fisherman's heartbeat quickened as he recognized the man on the ground, and he slowly took a step back.
He took another, then three more in succession as Lucas coughed violently, expelling the last of the water from his respiratory system.
He silently turned round and ran into the trees toward his car, hoping against hope that the prince would stay incapacitated till he could leave.
He made it to his vehicle and looked behind him. There was nobody in sight.
He took a deep breath in relief and turned to the driver's door, then instantly turned pale, his heart seemingly about to burst.
Lucas stood there, leaning on the door, his eyes a bright green. He smiled and said, "From the look on your face, I surmise you never expected me to survive that assault?"
The fisherman's eyes flashed yellow. "Keep standing there, and I'll make sure you don't, bastard."
Lucas' smile grew wider. "Oh? How? Your kind is strongest in its wolf form, yet I decimated thirteen of twenty, and the remaining seven - yourself included, only barely survived."
He stepped closer, and the werewolf moved back in response.
"My question now is: if twenty of you could barely take me on in your stronger forms, then what gives you the confidence to assume you can beat me, alone?"
The wolf's hand whipped towards Lucas' throat, but the prince caught it mid flight and twisted it, sending him to his knees.
"I may not be fully recovered but I am more than strong enough to kill you, boy," Lucas said coldly. "Now," he continued in a slightly less detached tone as he lifted the wolf by the neck and pressed him against the car, "you will help me, or your life's story concludes here."
"I will never, never help a..."
His neck snapped before he could finish, and Lucas sighed. "All I wanted was a clean set of clothes before I left this place..." His face was visibly distraught as he threw the body with the fish and turned on the ignition, driving off into town for a more... fitting set of clothing, before returning to Asgeirsson Manor.
But before going home, there was somewhere he had to go, a truckload of fish to deliver, and a present for a particularly vile Alpha.
...
Winchester Manor, New Ashton
"Miss Rivergate? The Lady Winchester requests your presence," a maid informed Alexandra, who had taken to her quarters after being unceremoniously abandoned by the Asgeirsson brothers.
After a silent discussion between the two of them, they had decided to explore the city and mark possible hiding places - or battlegrounds - should the supernatural community of New Ashton be inclined to violence upon their departure from Valeria's home.
They left without so much as a goodbye, and she only found out after asking Gordon, who seemed empathetic to her plight.
The brothers had gone out for yet another cause, that only the two of them knew.
Alexandra followed the maid across the hallway, marveling at the architecture of the Manor. It was... exquisite, to say the least.
It left her wondering what the interior of the Asgeirssons' own Manor looked like, reminding her that despite them sharing a common goal, she knew nothing about them.
The maid knocked on a particular door and said, "Miss Rivergate is here, my lady."
Alexandra's heightened hearing allowed her to perceive Valeria's voice say from the other side of the door, " Do let her in, dear."
And so she found herself in Valeria's chambers.
The Lady Winchester stood in front of a mirror, wiping makeup off her face. Upon seeing Alexandra's reflection, she said, "Sit, sit, love."
Alexandra obliged and rested on a couch to Valeria's left.
"I simply do not understand why women fuss over makeup and excessive jewelry. I personally believe that one must present themselves as they are. Beauty must not be artificially imposed upon one. Countenance is nothing to be ashamed of. Don't you agree, Alexa?" Valeria turned to her.
Alexandra replied, "Your words wound me, my lady. I also apply makeup at times," to which Valeria responded, "You are a gorgeous girl, why do something like that? There's no blemish to conceal, no ugliness to hide. You have no reason to."
To that, Alexandra had no refute.
Valeria smiled at her little victory, then focused on the mirror as she removed the last of the makeup on her face.
"I hope you are enjoying your stay here," she said, taking a brush from the dressing table.
"I am," Alexandra affirmed, appreciating the softness of the couch she sat on.
"I am glad. Where are you from, Alexa?"
Alexandra replied, "I was born in Ethiopia, but my parents are from here. Three months after my birth, we returned to Argent and have lived in Caldera ever since."
Valeria smiled softly as she brushed her hair, then shared, "Fascinating. I was born here, but spent my third to ninth years in England. Then we returned to New Ashton, but I have been coming and going till about a decade ago."
She turned to Alexandra. "That couch was made for reclining, love. Lay down and relax."
Miss Rivergate was pleasantly surprised, but she did it with no objections.
"An emerald pendant for your thoughts," the noblewoman said after Alexandra spaced out.
"Oh! I, uh... I'm just thinking about how nobody would believe me if I told them about my life these past few days."
"Really? What about them?"
Alexandra replied with a smile, "Well, first, I've never been in close proximity to a noble before, but here I am, in a lady's private room."
"I'm a Countess," Valeria said. "Nik wanted to make me a Marchioness, but then the Overthrow happened five days before he could."
Alexandra stared at her for a while, taking in the fact that Nik had a friend.
"About that... what makes my life even more unbelievable is that I'm practically living with the Royal Family. I've seen those two outside of their arrogant airs and they're actually very fun to be around. Alas, it is a truth I will carry to the grave," Alexandra said wistfully.
Valeria laughed. "Then allow me to add one more unbelievable tidbit to your tale, my friend."
Alexandra's expression froze for a split second at the use of the word friend, but considering how Valeria had treated her so far, she accepted it without hesitation. So she smiled and asked, "What is it, pray tell?"
Valeria's eyebrow went up. "Are you certain you don't hail from a noble house?" Alexandra shook her head. "Then the influence of the Asgeirssons is strong on you," she said with a laugh.
She walked towards her wardrobe and opened it, revealing an assortment of elegant but restrained dresses, then turned to Alexandra.
"Pick a dress. We're going to a little party."
...
"I reckon the girls are thick as thieves by now, brother," Mikael said as they turned the corner and headed into a shop.
They had finished scouting their exit route for establishments owned by Supernaturals and found only one, which they had avoided, then found three places where they could hide or fight. Whichever came first.
"Your underhanded tactic was quite well planned," Ariel agreed. "Alexandra will forgive us for the sudden abandonment while Val will be grateful for the new friend she has made. Ingenious."
They were in a clothing store.
"You know, we could have gone home and gotten other changes of clothes before leaving Ashgrove," Mikael said.
"That name hasn't been invoked in seven years, you cretin. There's a reason why," Ariel admonished him.
Ashgrove was the name bestowed upon Caldera nearly two hundred years ago when the Asgeirssons assumed the Throne of Argent, for the city, still a town back then, had been surrounded by ash trees, and everything had burned in the battle for the kingdom in the winter of 1766.
After the Overthrow, the Republican Government restored Ashgrove's name to Caldera in a symbolic reversal of Asgeirsson authority.
Mikael motioned for his younger sibling to join him. "We can't waste time searching personally," he said and gestured to a woman assisting an elderly couple looking for scarfs.
Ariel waited for her to finish attending to them, then after ensuring that nobody was looking, crossed over to her in a blur. He came beside her and said, "Good day," giving her a fright.
"How did you.. never mind," she said, breathing deeply, a hand on her heart. "You had me scared there, sir."
"Lord," he whispered inaudibly, then gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry about that, but I could really use your help."
He looked directly into her eyes and compelled her, "I seek an attire fitting for a lord. Could you help me find some?"
"Right this way. Follow me," she said, and Ariel muttered, "Come over," then Mikael's voice resounded in his ears, "Give me a second or three."
He was right beside Ariel in the second second.
The young woman directed them to the section, and the two smiled. "Perfect," they said in unison.
"I'm glad you like them," she said. "Many politicians and members of the nobility often visit our establishment."
"I can see why," Mikael replied, selecting a suit.
A short while after, the two were in a carriage, headed back to Winchester Manor.
"I can't wait to see the look on their faces," Ariel said, smiling.
"Am I overthinking, or are we deliberately going to provoke the supernatural elements of the gentry?" he added soon after.
Mikael grinned and said, We are, absolutely. We have run and hid for too long, and I doubt either of us are willing to tell Nik we hid like thieves during our quest to find and wake him. We will go, and if they want war, we will simply decimate the lot of them."
Ariel was still slightly wary. "There's one issue, brother. New Ashton has a four hundred year old. That's almost twice our age, which is twice our power."
His older brother smiled again. "And there's two of us. Besides, our family is not like the others, you know that."
Ariel relaxed a bit. "Regardless, we have yet to face one like this. The only reason he bent the knee was because we had an army in 1765."
"Relax, little brother. There is nothing to fear but death, and we cannot die."
...
It was afternoon, and the time to leave had arrived.
Valeria and Alexandra descended the staircase, and all eyes were on them.
The Lady Winchester wore a long sapphire dress with matching elbow length silk gloves, complimented by an amethyst pendant and silver earrings, the entire ensemble highlighting her golden hair and blue eyes.
Miss Rivergate had chosen a sky blue dress with sleeves and an emerald necklace with matching earrings. Her brown hair and eyes contrasted with Valeria, making them look like two sides of a coin...or whatever the proper expression is...
Either way, she looked stunning. She looked like a noble.
"My ladies, you look absolutely lovely," Gordon commented as they came down.
"Thank you, Gordon," Valeria said for them both.
"Their Royal Highnesses are waiting for you in the foyer," he informed them.
"Oh my, do you see what I see, Mikael?" Ariel exclaimed as the ladies approached them.
Mikael replied, "I see better than you, little brother."
Ariel walked up to Valeria. "You look ravishing," he said, and she smiled, replying, "You don't look too bad yourself, my Lord Prince."
The princes had chosen black royal styled suits for themselves, then gotten Valeria's seamstresses to sew the silver epaulettes of the Royal Princes onto the jackets to make them more similar to their own.
Now they looked like princes proper, only without the ceremonial silver necklaces they usually wore over the jacket.
"You look wonderful, Alexandra," Mikael said to her, and gave her his elbow.
As they walked towards the door Valeria asked, "I was going to ask before, but how did you know we were going?"
The brothers stopped at the door, barring the way.
Mikael replied, "Heightened hearing. And speaking of going, have the both of you become so excited to forget that our beautiful friend here will turn to ash in minutes if she walks out the door?"
Ariel asked, "Where is the witch?"
Valeria answered, "She's upstairs. She came back just after you two disappeared."
Ariel left in a blur and soon stood at the head of the staircase, listening for Amy's voice.
Upon finding it, he knocked on the door and entered. Amy had the ring in her hand, whispering the spell under her breath.
She held it out to him. "Here, my Lord." He took it and wore it, then removed his own.
"He walked to the curtain and opened it enough for the sunlight to go on his hand, and nothing happened. The ring had been spelled successfully.
"Thank you, Amy," he said, wearing his own ring.
She nodded, and he walked out.
As he shut the door, she said, "My loyalty to the Crown is uncompromised, Lord Ariel. My fealty is still to you and your family."
Ariel shut the door and waited a while before saying, "On behalf of the Asgeirssons, I give you thanks. Your loyalty will not go unrewarded."
Then there was nobody at the door.