The Girl in the Library

You and your little brunette minx were dressed, all indecencies had been washed away by a quick bottle or two and sweet Belle was tucked in fast asleep, left to rest till nightfall.

"...I'm serious, Chip." Cherry spoke at length during getting ready to leave, mumbling on about commitment, not the resounding of such, but the freedom of it.

She wanted to make it crystal clear that she needed you to be free, and for her freedom to be untouched also. "...Commitment is important, yes, but I'm a young woman and I need my freedoms--"

"So you want to screw other guys?" You asked lightly, and your suspicions on the subject were told in the way she harshly took your hand

"WHAT!? NO! B-B-But... you should... not be discouraged screwing other girls, I uh.. I mean it's 2019, any kind of relationship is possible so."

You fixed her with a bored expression "I already am screwing other girls, Cherry. If you're a little voyeur, cuckquean then that's completely fine, I'm sure Belle won't mind letting you watch or something if you want?"

Charlotte Burned with fury then, flushing like a god damn tomato "I am not at--"

"Look, I'm super chill right now. I'm not gonna argue with you, or just talk at you while you put on an angry face, I can literally feel your arousal at the thought of it so... no big deal, alright?"

Charlotte and you stood at the entrance to the club, and she took a hold of your arm, her whole 'little queen' thing was having quite the effect on you, sparking that hunger once again.

LUUSSSST.

"Anchor"

LUST!!!!!

"ANCHOR!"

Hmmmm... Sloth. you're forcing yourself to remain calm with Sloth, wow, not even I can tell if you know yourself really well... or maybe not at all? you are terrified of yourself aren't you, little chip? we are the Dragon, you have nothing to fear as long as you have faith in yourself. but you don't even know yourself? either way, bottling in the monster is bound to have disastrous results, trust me, we know.

"Yes, fine. no big deal... Can I kiss you whenever I want now?" She struggled to **** back her girlish tone, but you smiled, leaning down and capturing her lips, the cute little brunette throwing her arms around you as she groaned deeply, tonguing your mouth aggressively before parting swiftly from you and giving you a pressing gaze "I want you to take me to Vicky's big party that everybody is talking about."

Your smile faded.

"what's that face for? I know she invited you. You should be stoked right? more opportunities for our little hostile take over." She rubbed her hands together like some kind of hysterical villainesse. "...Plus, you can show me off: your beautiful new girlfriend!"

"No. I-I'm not going to that party." You muttered, pushing through the doors and into the relaxed energy of the Rattle Club.

You sighed as you sat at the bar, looking at Velka with exasperation as the sound of Cherry's angry pitter-pattering feet raced behind you. "One for the road?" You asked.

The Platinum-blonde scowled back at you "You gonna pay for it?"

"I own part of this place, V." You sighed.

Her nostrils flared "whatever. My name is Velka. don't nickname me." She prepared you a few shots of good scotch as she moaned and you necked them in seconds, giving the girl a weak smile.

"Thanks, V, see you later. Come on Charlotte."

Velka scowled as Charllotte ran to your side already complaining "YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE PARTY WITH ME, CHIP! H-HEY WAIT UP!! STOP IGNORING ME!! GIVE ME WHAT I WANT!!"

With your spoilt little beauty at your side, you moved towards the exit reception, looking forward to a nice relaxed day... though, with your plans, you doubted it would be relaxed at all.

You felt oddly uncomfortable stepping out into the daylight, it was one of those Lazy Saturday Late autumn sun's that glared down but made no effort to shield from the cold.

However, when you came under it's ivory gaze in the unusually populated Wallace streets, you could not shake this strange, overheating feeling.

Just walking beneath the sun as Cherry complained, you were cold sweating, the overwhelming, irritating kind of heat that walking to target in las vegas warrants, not beneath the black towers of Wallace underneath the depressed Massachusetts sky. You just sped up your walk, hopeful to take shelter as your stomach churned, god you were hungry.

You enjoyed walking past a bakery or a restaurant, or maybe even a steakhouse BBQ during lunch, the delightful bouquets of these delectable foods carried you into a warm desire to buy a doughnut or eat a sub or something, but Jesus christ those smells taken in by your nose right now, were fucking unacceptable. The Stench was more than you could take, so subtle and off-putting, the smell of putrid dough and spoilt meat, of disgusting vegetables, crawling with vermin, you kept holding your breath to avoid them... and damn could you hold your breath for a long, long time.

Charlotte was talking all the way up to the Eastside, where you walked along the wooded path up to the Drake-mansion gate. "Ireallywanttogotothispartyandbepopular, don'tyouwanttobepopular? ITHOUGHTTHEPLANWASTOBEPOPULAR!?"

You spun around grasping her arms as you stared insidiously, she paused, looking a little afraid... and a little aroused.

"This isn't about that." You whispered, pressingly and desperately "I'm... not right, okay? I know that You're hurting and it's why you're acting all weird--well you and your sister are weird but you are like manic. and the problem is, that I am an amnesiac potentially bipolar weirdo with terrifying powers that I don't understand. Mix that with a party filled with people that I am too scared to confront, and I fear that I may actually end up killing somebody. let that sink in, I could kill you, not even on purpose because I'm half a monster. I'm not going to that party."

She examined the look in your eyes, and stepped back, holding her hands a little guiltily "I'm not blind you know. I know that... we both have issues. But... I just wanted to spend some time with you, even if we are a little odd, that doesn't mean that we can't confront our demons and have a little fun while we're at it?"

You shook your head, thinking of Vicky, and Izzy, and... and Jane, everybody will be in one place, and without a doubt, all eyes will be on you.

You couldn't even begin to be bothered.

Charlotte rubbed your arm and pecked your cheek "I'm going to pick out an outfit, for the party. I hope to see you there." She touched your face, whispering in a more comforting tone "I miss you."

You couldn't help but smile "You haven't even left yet."

"Yeah... strange isn't it?" She gave you a wink, pecking your cheek again before turning on her heel and marching off, mumbling a cheerful Russian tune as her butt wobbled in her jeans.

"That girl is out of her mind." You grinned, your spirits lifting with the picture of Cheerful-Cherry in your mind.

Bluedrake Mansion was tall and dark on the horizon, eclipsing the winter sun that irritated you to the very core. You eyed the place, your home felt very strange nowadays, it was taller and stronger than ever before, almost intimidating, a shadow, grown to near it's fullest potential, echoing with the patchy childhood memories in your noggin.

Cracking open the front door, you did not see Naomi at reception. Instead, the door adjacent to the reception desk was locked tight "Is she... asleep? during the day?"

You swiftly backed off, refusing to look upon it as you pressed the buttons for entry to your altered home.

There was no Diana in your father's office, either. Nor could you find Claudia, looking forlorn at the landing of the foyer staircase. You knew... you knew that Daisy... ugh, you were far too agitated to go and try and make things right straight away.

You needed more relaxation and nothing could do that like your dad's old astronomy tower.

Cutting left on the first floor, moving past the guest wing to the west, which you'd often catch your father in, carrying papers stacked in his arms, giving you a small smile every so often. You shook the ghost of his image away and instead paid attention to the number of rooms in the guest wings "More rooms?" You whispered.

Indeed there were six doors in this wide hall, nearly double the amount of before, though you could not shake the strange ominous feelings these doors brought.

For a moment, in the shadow of your blinking eyes, you thought you could see a hall nearly a mile long, with a hundred doors flowing down its endless canyon but these doors were nowhere to be seen after testing with a more clarified gaze.

The Doors were locked, almost like they were barred, it gave you the creeps... who was in there?

You really craved more relaxation after this torrent of freaky shit in your family home so far.

Sighing with relief, you touched the solid iron door that led into the tower, engraved with the great symbol of the Black serpent, your family's ancient crest and feeling that door, you knew that You'd find suspicion before peace in this place that was once mythical in your young eyes.

You punched in the code to the keypad, the same as your dad's old cave (god you really wished you spent more time in that place) and pushed open the doors to the large, circular structure, it's walls inlaid with hundreds of hundreds of books, old and new, this place was a much a library as an astronomy tower, which stood at the very top of the tower, where one could behold the starlit sky.

But it appeared that you were not alone in this sanctuary.

The small hearth in front of the tall windows was ablaze, and the curtains were drawn, much to your relief.

Your pop's old armchair was in the centre of the room, in front of the round side desk. the back of the chair faced you, but you could see books stacked on the desk and of course, there was the smell. It was women's perfume, sweet and in your face, whoever was sat in that chair was not anyone you knew, just from the scent alone.

Was it one of the staff? well, then what were they doing in here? how did they know the code? with quivering legs, you moved towards the chair, the air growing thicker with the scent of ****, mixing unnaturally with the sweet perfume, creating the blended ire of a sleeping beast.

Would you have to fight again? you didn't know if you were that lucky to pull through a second time, but damn if you were going to run away again, not in this place, His Place.

Fists clenched, you swung around the chair, ready for horror................ but instead, you saw a girl in her late 20's, maybe early thirties, fast asleep a book laid on her face, similar to the one's splayed all around her.

You saw her hippy outfit, the strange mixture of green and violet in her loose blouse and frilly skirt. Long, wavy blonde hair flowed from each side of the book and a gentle trill (which you suspected was actually the cutest snoring you'd ever heard) echoed in the room.

Crouching at the base of the chair, you looked at the books she was reading. To say they were odd would be an understatement, weird tomes on Nicholas Flamel, the wonder's of unorthodox chemistry and... and...

Recognizing the spine immediately, you carefully reached up and with a deft hand, removing the book and looking closely inside. The Red cover, the Blood ink, there was no mistaking it "Blood of my blood, by the Great Scribe Kvasir... only a few copies in the world huh, Hilde?" You whispered.

Your eyes brushed past the girls face as you set aside the book, and became suddenly snagged, you stared wide-eyed for a moment, absolutely lost in this girl's face.

She wasn't exactly dazzlingly beautiful like some of the other girls you'd seen, and yet, in a way, she was prettier than them all. this Blonde had soft, warm features, just watching her sleep, it was like fondly watching a sister... a family strokes sister that is. her lips were wide and pillowy, and her button nose twitched as she continued to snore gently.

She wore circular glasses, sequenced with pink and with deep purple lenses. they made you chuckle a little, wow she was really going for the hippy thing huh, jeez "Who the hell is this chick?" You laughed, unaware that your hyena cries roused the cute blonde from her sleep.

Stormy grey eyes looked up at you dozily only for a moment, before snapping into clarity, watching you confusedly as your laugh slowly died down, clearing your throat and trying to look stoic. "Hello."

"H-Hey." She muttered, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"I'm Charlie, Diana's brother, I uh--"

"Yeah, I kinda... know who you are." She held herself close, closing her mouth tightly as if in fear to speak.

"Well, I'd love to know who I'm talking to, in my dad's library?" You prodded, you couldn't help but be curious.

"Oh, right I'm... Ramona, Romona Reid. I handle the books here with my brother, d-did Diana not mention me?" She cringed and you were curious as to why.

"Right, the Reid twins, yeah she did. it's nice to meet you." You held out a hand, waiting patiently to see if your suspicions meant anything.

Absentmindedly after straightening out, and brushing aside her hair, Romona took your hand with a deadly tight grip, her icy skin making your bones vibrate and a slight gasp involuntarily leapt from your lips. the dread was there, and it was strong, very strong, much stronger than Belle, not of body, but perhaps of mind.

She pulled back feeling the electrical response between you. Her hands flew up as you backed away "Wait wait! I'm not you're enemy!"

"Nobody is my enemy these days." You growled, ready to battle another vampire.

"I-I-I- *Pop-pop* I'M SCARED, i'm SO SCARED SOMEONE HELP ME I'M SCARED *WHISTLE*"

You paused, seeing her sudden outburst that she went red trying to **** back, clutching her throat as You instinctually moved forward, crouching as she choaked the words down, looking even more distressed as You frowned worriedly... and then made a very confused face as to just why you were worried. "Are you alright?"

She looked into your eyes, and the pain faded away, she smiled the warmest smile, a smile that was a bright and beautiful as the sun "Yes... I have Tourettes, I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologise." You whispered, taking her cold hand, making her look in wonder. "Have we met before?"

"N-No. why?" She asked softly.

"Because You are the most oddly enchanting woman I have ever met. And the only thing I know about you is your name?" there it was again, that Deja-vu which usually wasn't good. but you just couldn't refute this feeling inside, that You trusted this girl, and cared for her.

"Weird. hehe. I am a friend of Belle's and your sister... I um, I just... I cook the books and I read the books and... a lot to do with books. hence me... being... here--I'm sorry I'm not usually this nervous." She chuckled.

"I thought you had Tourettes?" You asked.

"I do! ...kinda, why?"

"You haven't ticked since we started talking." You smiled

"Oh right... yeah, I guess not?" Romona chuckled, brushing back her golden hair again and adjusting her glasses awkwardly "I don't usually dress like this... well I do but--It's um... Hippy day."

"Hippy day?"

"Yeah, my brother likes the memories of home, keeps him... cool-headed. I'm sorry again about frightening you."

She apologised a lot, though she didn't come off as insecure, Nah she just seemed caught off guard, as would anyone awoke by a tall dark weirdo laughing his ass off. "Are you from..." You tried to picture her accent, let it mull around in your mind as to were you'd heard it before.

She frowned girlishly as you rubbed your chin. "I'm not from Australi-"

"New Zealand! yeah, that's it! you're a kiwi, right?" she seemed caught off by your enthusiasm, and something else, though it was subtle in her gaze.

"I am... though people usually think we're Australian. Funny you picked that up?" She muttered, eying you carefully, moving in... very close.

Her grey eyes narrowed as you looked down at her _"What is she looking at me like that for?" _You thought.

She raised an eyebrow, though peered even deeper and for a moment you felt goosebumps flare across the back of your neck. Her face was right up in yours now, the two of you having a very weird standoff, although... you couldn't help but think with her so close "She is seriously hot. Jeez, any closer and we might kiss... I can't kiss her! I don't even know her!? ....do I?"

Ramona bit at her lips and smiled a little, almost as if she... almost... as if...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The Blonde rubbed her ears as if you had just screamed in it.

"ARE YOU READING MY MIND!?" You asked, freaked the FUCK OUT!

She rubbed her knuckles "Ummm, yeah, sorry. You have... intriguing thoughts, I won't do it again I promise."

"You're apologising like you just stole my lunch, not rooted around the inside of my head like one of those fucking crane machine things!" You proclaimed dramatically, running your hands through your hair "Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts...." You said with a cartoonish grimace.

The blonde frowned, stepping forward and smiling kindly _"Just calm down, I won't look into your mind anymore-" _Her words were like venom, the way they twisted and tangled, trying to grasp at the hem of your frontal lobe, but in that hauntingly calm voice of hers, came to a pause, because as she tried to take hold with her commands, her grasp slipped away suddenly, the claws unable to penetrate the hard shell that was anchored by the will of the Descendants.

ANCHOR

Gasping slightly, Ramona stepped back, rubbing her eyes as her lips curled "YOU JUST TRIED TO MESMERISE ME DIDN'T YOU!?" You pointed bitterly.

Guiltily, she huffed, and hugged herself tightly, her discomfort returning "I-I'm sorry, I just wanted to calm you down a little, you're heart is beating really fast... it's making me kinda hungry." Her eyes widened as you tensed, "N-Not that I'd try and eat you! I just.... ugh I'm so fucking bad at this-fuck it." She marched up to you and before you had a moment to react, her lips pressed against yours.

Her lips were so gentle and patient, and soft... so soft, that they pushed past your own, moving like a mist up through your jaws, carefully creeping up the flesh and sinue in your face, warming you tenderly as it slipped passed the hard metal shield in your brain and gently dispersed, forming into images which like a flash of lightning, began to flash violently, yellow hair, white teeth, embers and smoke in the air, blood staining the city of tents as a Black hand ushered her and her brother into darkness.

It was odd, the way you just casually parted. You didn't feel overwhelmed by the information just zapped into your head, it felt natural as if it had always been there... and You looked down at Muninn, and blinked, slightly confused. "I know you." You whispered.

She grasped your face, examining your eyes "Yes. but not in the way I hoped."

"You're Muninn, your brother is Huginn, you're a Mystar, you're from Auckland, you hate Cars and you love watching the stars, your favourite colour is Blue, your favourite animal is dogs and... your favourite food." You frowned.

Muninn huffed and smiled "There, now you know me, and you know I'm not going to hurt you." She said.

But your eyes narrowed "We have met before, haven't we?" You asked plainly.

Moonie nodded, her blonde hair shifting as she did "Yes. but-"

"-You can't tell me anything, yeah yeah, I've heard that bullshit before." Folding your arms, you shook your head, ...that was 3 vampire's that You 'knew' now, what was it that they weren't telling you? why did they have to keep this stuff a secret?

During the moment of awkward silence where the pretty blonde Kiwi crouched down to gather the books, you leaning down to help her as she cracked an uncomfortable smile, You began to think. There was something very strange going on here, You knew things that you had never known, had seen things that You had never laid eyes upon and knew people that you had never met before... and all of them kept their truth's locked tightly away, even your Belle had done little to enlighten you on that ever-present sinister cloud that loomed over you, a cloud that solidified into your mind as a single, insidious Name "Nox."

Carrying the heavy bundle of books back over to the desk, Muninn thanked you kindly, although she seemed unnerved by your persistent staring "...Awfully cold day today, huh?" She chuckled as your eyes narrowed "Winter will be here soon and-"

"-You work for Nox, right?" You really didn't want to waste any more time on idle chit-chat and she realised this, dropping the awkward air and folding her arms.

"Yes."

"So does Belle, so does every person employed here. Are all of you Undead?"

Muninn's silence was highlighted by her willful expression. Moving closer, your pupils locking as you whispered softly to her "Every day I wake to the morning sun and wonder when this dream will end, when the fog of this fantasy will finally drift away. I'm tired of feeling like an idiot like I'm out of the loop, have you ever felt like that before, Ramona?" You knew she had... in that kiss where her life flashed in the prism of your mind, you felt her fear, her uncertainty.

Her blonde hair shifted as she pushed it back, you could barely help but notice her figure, curvaceous and foxy like an hourglass. An exasperated huff left her pink lips and you smiled, playfully knocking her shoulder, which on its own was a bit of a gamble.

But the corners of her mouth skipped up momentarily before she could stop herself "You know I do because of the transfer." She grumbled.

"Then... if I trust you as much as I think I do. Help me, please?" Your voice was soft; a pleading whisper.

The Blonde's cheeks creased as her face argued with itself, trying and failing several times to engrave a stubborn demeanour, though eventually a breathless exhale escaped her flared nostrils and Ramona's stormy eyes gleamed with a subtle hope "You... really trust me?"

"I guess I do? yeah... sure, even though I met you five minutes ago, ugh I'm never gonna get used to that-"

"If we are going to do this, then I need you to know that it goes directly against Nox's orders, I had half a mind to shoot through after he died on me but he was the Boss and I have to follow his will." Her tone was stern now, strong, almost motherly "I'll help you, But I am not breaking my promise to him. So here's the deal, I'll teach you as much as I can about us but if you have to help me too, got it? no pussyfooting around and forgetting about me, I need real help, My brother too, got it?"

You Blinked, wow... she went from soft to stern in no time at all, and what the Hell was she talking about abandoning for? ...what the hell did you do to this girl? god this was a mess, but you needed clarity and if not from her then who else?

Extending a hand, you smiled "I promise."

Her eyes narrowed, shaking her golden head as she put on a sinister grin. Muninn did not take your hand, but raised her own to her lips, you watching a little apprehensively as her teeth jutted out, burying into the skin of her palm.

Blood so dark and thick that it gleamed like a stream of black ruby as it dripped down her sharp fingers, extended now for you "A promise is as a whistle on the wind, one moment you're so sure that it's there and the next it's carried away and into nothing, but an Oath of the Blood, is everlasting."

You looked long and hard at her blood, it's temptation fierce and mysterious but her words cut in "If you take my hand and mix our blood, then you swear on every inch of your vitality that You will help me, and I will do everything in My power to teach you in the ways of the Dead. Do You accept?" Her words etched into the air, definite and eternal.

Hilde would throw a fit when she found out... but if you could even scratch the surface of the truth behind this darkness, then maybe the fog would finally lift and you could be free. Your head jolted and Muninn raised an eyebrow as your palm flashed into your face, your cheek blazing as you grimaced "Ugh, come on..." You growled, smacking yourself again as hard as you could, making your head snap to the side.

"What are you... oh? OH?" Her eyes lit up as you canines speared forth, sharp and white as her own, and watched you grimace like a kid as you bit into your palm.

"Ow..." You moaned, watching your bright red blood seep from the pinpricks.

Muninn eyed the gore that oozed from your wound, her chest rising as she took in a long inhale of what you knew was her own personal brand of heroin, right before her eyes. But she was snapped out of it, as you gripped her cold hand, you blood mingling together, dripping as one unto the carpet, your face arcing into a deep smile "I Accept. I'll do everything I can to help you to repay you for what You're going to do for me, you're brother too. When do I get to meet him?"

You flinched as you sensed a presence, looking in confusion and awe as a man slid down the spiral staircase from the Observatory above, his Bright pink flared trousers contrasted by the furious red of his shirt, the medium length blonde of his hair wiping as he belted with all of his might "HELLO MY BABY, HELLO MY HUNNY, HELLO MY RAGTIME GAAAAALLL, SEND ME A KISS BY WIIIIIIRE, BABY MY HEARTS ON FIIIIIIIIRRRRE!" with all the grace of a blind turtle the man suddenly tumbled to the ground, his knee smashing on one of the steps as he lay face down on the ground.

You gave Muninn as confused looked, her giving a cringed smile as the man suddenly rolled up straight, grasping his knee and taking sharp breaths and moaning deeply "*INHALE* AHHHHHHHHHHH *INHALE* AHHHHHHHHH *INHALE* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-" He suddenly paused, his head slowly lifting up to look at the both of you, his angular face forming into a light smile "Oooh you totally saw that... that's embarrassing..."

Muninn looked wholly unamused as she gestured to her brother "Charles Drake, meet My Brother."