New Introductions

Illyria’s POV

After my hot interaction with Prince Drystan, I was sent back to my room by his personal servant, ultimately forced to face my disappointment towards the entire situation. I spent all night wondering why he didn’t go any further, and what the **hell** came over me.

I had been chaste my entire life, with not even a second thought towards the opposite sex in such a *beastly* manner. In fact, mother always told me to save that piece of myself for my forever partner. My husband, mate, and best friend. *What took hold of me, and clouded my judgment?*

Anytime I'm near him this strange heat takes over my core, making the pain in my neck disappear completely. Did it have something to do with the venom thirst?

A heavy emotion ate away at my mind, some sort of stress I hadn’t experienced before, confusing the tangled mess in my chest further.

But there was still one more question plaguing my thoughts, swirling up my feelings. *Where the heck had Oda disappeared off to?*

I was worried, normally she prepped me for bed and greeted me before breakfast. It was currently midday, near lunchtime, and I hadn’t seen her at all since she left me with the prince *yesterday*.

Suddenly a loud knock rang through my room, and the door opened. My heart jumped, my sore body following its lead.

“Oda! Thank god you’re back I-“ I yelped and dashed to the door, only to be saddened and surprised by my eyes, not recognizing those standing on the other side of it. Fear absorbed my chest, but I sucked it down, attempting to keep it away from my face. When did my actions become so loose and uncoordinated? What has this wretched place turned me into..

“Oh I’m sorry.” I glanced at the three faces standing before me, none of them familiar, none of them Oda. I cleared my throat, awkwardly. “I… thought you were someone else.”

“It’s quite alright, Princess. We are here to assist and serve you… for the time being.” A young man with dark brown curls and brownish red eyes bowed before entering my room. Two young women followed him from close behind like ducklings.

“I am Mirelo, this is Ebony…” He bowed, the woman to his left mirrored his movements while smiling brightly at me. Her long, light brown, intensely straight hair flowing with each of her actions.

“And this is Morgana.” He gestured to the woman on his right, as I glanced at her she scowled at me with her deep red eyes. Her hair came to about her shoulders, falling slick, straight, and black. She wore a dark green sash, tied as a headband around her hair. Though I was shocked at her treatment, I held in my reactions. Who is this woman, and why does it seem like she dislikes me?

“Ah… nice to meet all of you. I am Princess Illyria Cassion. ” I smiled, bending lightly into a curtsy, pushing my curiosities to the back of my mind. “Er…Do you happen to know what happened to Oda? My… previous servant.”

“I am sorry, I do not. Shall we clean up your dishes from breakfast?” He smiles softly, gesturing to the small table under the window of my room. My heart drooped, was she angry with me for brushing her off when I hurt myself?

I ate beside the window everyday since I woke up here, and normally I insisted on Oda joining me since her stomach growled often. Breakfast was so lonely without her today, when had she become such an important person to me? Had I begun to let my guard down? Have I.. gotten *too* comfortable?

I reminded myself not to allow people so close to me, as these people are likely the ones who stole my home and family from me. Once I gain my health and strength back, I will find the man that killed them… and I will return the favor of his actions.

They all began cleaning my breakfast up, in unison, while I stood frozen by my thoughts. Reminded of my now, dear friend.

Will she return at all?

I sigh heavily and sit on the edge of the silk bed I uneasily slept in for these few weeks, or maybe days? I wasn’t sure anymore. Time has begun to bleed together. I constantly feel like I’m just having a really strange nightmare, yet I can’t wake myself up.

“Your highness?” Ebony smiles, her gentle presence approaching my sitting figure and ushering me to stand. “Let us get you dressed.”

I blankly nod and follow her into the dressing room, beyond the bath. “Ebony, was it?” I clarify, tilting my head and watching her small frame graciously stroll into the closet area. She glances around, learning the placement of storage in the room quickly.

“Yes milady.” She answers simply, rummaging through a few hat boxes and drawers as if she's looking for something specific.

“That's quite a lovely name, if I may say so.” I smile under my breath, thinking of an old friend who shared the same name. “It’s nice to meet another person with that name.”

She lifts a small white corset from the drawer, decorated in lace and ribbon, and turned to me. “Another, miss?” She questions, gesturing for me to undress. She reaches for the back of my dress and corset, pulling the ribbons loose as I hold the top up to my breasts.

“Ah yes, well.. I once knew someone with that name.” The sadness in my heart grows, reminding me of a worry free time I can never go back to. “She was my childhood friend, back home.”

“I see.” She simply answers, turning around and revealing a flowing yellow gown. I drop the top of my dress, stepping out of it to reveal my quite *lewd* underdressing. She gestures at my underwear and tilts her head, pulling a fresh pair from the box beside her.

“Here, let's get you into clean ones. I can practically smell *everything* that happened in those.” She stutters, giggling softly and removing my bra.

Wait- *what?!*

My entire body freezes into an awkwardly tense position, my eyes wide with shock.

Not only did she just confess to being able to *smell* my nether regions, but she is undressing me *completely*. Utter embarrassment brews in my stomach, bubbling up my throat and into my face. The heat radiates from my cheeks.

“Y-you can what?!” I yelp, dropping the corset completely out of shock. I jump immediately after, covering my breasts stiffly as the lewd piece of clothing falls from my skin to the floor below.

Ebony glances at me briefly, with an odd look, then bursts into laughter.

“Hahaha! My goodness, the look on your face is quite funny, your highness.” She laughs, the smile on her face seemingly genuine. I relax slightly, feeling my shoulders drop a bit. “I am a Damphiyr, we have intense senses. We inherit all of the gifts of the vampire, while not having to live off blood entirely.” She gestures to herself, then to her eyes, which shimmered in a deep brown-red.

“Have you not been sent to study in the library?” She gestures to the large, grandiose bathtub in the center of the tiled bathroom. Pushing me gently to go to it, I comply and attempt to answer her. It seemed that Mirelo had finished filling the tub while we were distracted.

“Well… I have *been* to the library..” I clear my throat, caught red-handed. I was supposed to be studying this country’s history, politics, and culture in the library. But Oda had many things to do having been my only servant, so as she was distracted I let the fictional books section take me on many adventures.

Though, it seemed strange since now I knew *vampires* were in fact real. I grew curious if there were any other species in existence somewhere, believed to be fictional.

“Ah, I see.” She states simply, rummaging around for a brush to detangle my hair with. I slip into the bath softly, sinking into the hot bubbles prepared freshly. A content sigh escapes my lips, and my muscles automatically relax.

“Well, while we clean you, I will teach you a few things that will be helpful to your sound mind.” She smiles at me as she sits in the same stool Oda normally uses to brush out my hair. “Do you remember earlier when I told you that I am a Damphyir?”

“Yes.” I respond, confused, what is she getting at?

“I am a child bred from a human and vampire. Not a pureblood vampire, but a cursed vampire.” She pulls my half damp hair from the water, brushing out my very tangled curls, starting at the ends and slowly moving to my roots. I sit up a bit, giving her better access to my hair.

“There are four types of vampires, contrary to the legends that humans have made up. Firstly, we have the Purebloods, which are our forefathers. Where the bloodline of vampires began.” She begins to braid my hair loosely, strategically leaving some loose curls down around my face. My interest in what she was saying dwindled, reminding me of my studies back home, but I continued to listen quietly.

“The Purebloods founded the Empire of Sirius, and have been the original Imperial family from the beginning. Their lifespan and strength is that of the Gods, and few things harm them.” She sighs as if she’s in love, seeming to truly enjoy talking about the imperial family.

“Their traits are not always distinct, but once they shift, there is no mistaking their glowing *Blue eyes* and *Snow white hair.*” Suddenly my body stiffened again, my Interest in the subject changing moods completely.

The image of the man who slaughtered my parents burning itself into my memory once more, his glowing blue eyes and wild Icy white hair distinct, along with all the blood on his clothes. His strength, and my weakness, have been plaguing my nightmares continually since I arrived here.

Goosebumps formed on my skin as I realized what she was saying meant for me.

**The man who killed my family, was an *Imperial Pureblood Vampire*.**