An Unplanned Introduction

Octavia’s POV


After I realized that I am currently being forced to live in the same building as the person that *killed* my family, I began to mentally disassociate for brief periods throughout the day. I couldn’t seem to sleep last night after that conversation with Ebony.

Time started running together, until I looked into my own eyes in the mirror one morning and saw the heavy dark circles under my eyes. *Had I really let this small piece of knowledge kill my spirit to fight?*

I touched my cheek, then ran a hand through my dry, tangled mess of curls on my head. I’m helplessly falling apart. My fingertips gently brushed over my now, scabbed and mostly healed bite marks. The rough skin along my neck opposing my soft hands.

I sat in front of the vanity, in the corner of the bathroom, and stared at my feet for what seemed like forever. Realistically it was only a few seconds.

*’I can’t live this way.’* I felt the tears welling in my eyes and the burning grow in the back of my throat. The familiar soreness in my chest revealing myself once more, I just wanted to cry.

*’NO!’* I told myself mentally, *’You CAN get through this. You can **live** like your family would have wanted you to.’*

I sniffle the tears back up, and take a deep breath as I watch my own actions in the reflection. My parents wouldn’t be happy to see me this way. I look into my own eyes, the deep violet reminders embedded into my head, thinking of my father. He would be ashamed of how weak I had become here.

*’If I’m going to be free, **I need to play along with their little game.**’* I think back to Ebony’s mention of the ‘Blood Moon Ball’. That is where my plan will begin, though, I’m not even sure what it’s going to be yet. *’I guess if the Emperor wants himself a “sweet little flower”, he is going to get it.’*

The emptiness in my eyes grows deeper, burning holes into the mirror in front of me. Figuratively, of course.

I hear a sudden clacking of glassware in my room, before something shatters. I stand, brushing my messily falling hair away from my face. Who was in my room? Or rather- who had entered without me noticing?

Maybe it was just Mirelo or Ebony? Perhaps it was Morgana? They do not socialize with me the way Oda did, it’s as if they are afraid of me. They do their duties and then disappear , Morgana doesn’t even directly care for me. She avoids every single attempt I make at an interaction with her.

Not that I care, the less contact I have with these strange beings the safer I feel inside.

I hear a loud thud following a small bump and multiple groans. Hastily I walk towards the source of the sounds, wondering if someone is injured or perhaps lost.

“Ugh, great..” I hear a soft, and unfamiliar *male*, voice. I freeze, slipping behind the corner of the doorway, to peek at the person standing by my *open* window. When did I leave that open? What in the world?

A tall, and seemingly *young* man was bent over, picking up.. glass? *With his bare hands!

Immediately I approached from my hiding spot, yelping almost, “Are you alright? Don’t pick sharp things up with only your hands!” I grab a small basket from the dresser as I walk towards him quickly.

I kneel, handing him the basket. He doesn’t flinch, and instead continues to pick up the pieces, now placing them into the basket.

“Ah I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone occupied this room..” His voice was fluid, and soft, yet very refined. He cowers slightly, looking down, his blonde hair flopping along with his movements.

He was incredibly handsome at first glance, his skin almost like porcelain it was so perfect. I observed him, not seeing any obvious bite marks. *’so he can’t be a mix-blood…’* I think, watching him further.

He must be a Damphir servant, but what is he doing here? I notice his clothes. They were… Quite plain, he wore a long-sleeved white blouse and a pair of dress pants. Over his shirt was a deep brown leather vest, and he sported a nice pair of black riding boots. Not the usual attire of a servant, maybe he is a higher-up?

“W-who are you? And why are you in my room?” I asked, embarrassed by my own staring as he cleaned up the mess. I bent down to help clean, blushing as I realized I was still *only* wearing my nightgowns. I began to help picking up the pieces from the floor, carefully avoiding any particularly pointy edges.

He stayed silent, blushing softly and avoiding my gaze. He seemed to be thinking to himself.

“Please, answer me.” I continued picking up the pieces in front of me, watching him in my peripheral view.

“My name is Gawen, I was…” He trails off, appearing to be completely lost in thought once again. “Well my brother and I were playing around in the gardens.. trying to avoid our *responsibilities.* I thought this would be a good place to hide, so I slipped in through the window…”

He seems to think a lot, or at least get lost in his own head. *What a strange man…*

“I really didn’t know this room was occupied though, please.. *don’t get the wrong idea!*” He waves his hands back and forth, flustered and beet red.

“It’s oka-“ I go to reassure him, when suddenly a sharp pain draws from my palm as I attempted to pluck the last piece of glass off the tile. “*agh…*”

I look down and see a small cut, with a small bit of blood coming from the injured area. I look up at Gawen, who looks right at me in unison.

“Are you… alright?” He asks, his face relaxing like a large wave of water cooled him down suddenly. His expression is strange, and unreadable.

My eyes meet his large, glass blue ones. They almost seemed to.. sparkle?

*’How handsome…’* I thought to myself as a familiar, yet strange sense came over me. The warmth in my stomach, and the strange throbbing in my neck, made themselves known as they have done before.

My view naturally trailed down his face to his jawline and rich, plump lips. His… *very kissable* lips.

*’Wait! You don’t know this man!’* I yelled at myself mentally, but it was no use. My body moved on it’s own, my hands cupping his cheeks softly. His skin.. just as soft and delicate as it looks.

Without my knowledge, his hands had found a way onto the back of my neck as we slowly pulled each other into a deep kiss. Our lips softly touched, yet this felt so.. *intense*. His silky hair brushed my cheek, as his fingers tangled themselves into my wild rose tinted curls.

I felt his breath swell hotter, and faster. The strange feeling in my core twisted, burning more and more by the seconds. Not only was I kissing a *stranger*, but I was practically climbing on top of him in my nightgown! *on the floor!*

My mind melted into a frenzy, *who is this man?*

Before I could clear my head enough to control my behavior, I was sitting on Gawen’s lap. His obvious hard-on pressing against my very *lightly* covered, and very vulnerable space. His lips chased mine playfully, innocently, *intensely.*

He stops suddenly, pulling his lips away from mine slowly. His face burning with a furious red, “W-wait.. I’m.. I’ve never…” He trails off again.

“*Ahem*, you know.” He covers his face as if he is embarrassed, “Tell me your name first- at least.”

“A-ah.. I’m sorry!” I stumble up, finally gaining control of my actions once more. I begin to walk into my bathroom quickly. “I’m so embarrassed! We don’t even know each other- I can’t even believe myself right now.”

He chuckles softly, watching my silly outburst, making me a bit more embarrassed than before. My cheeks feel as if they will melt off any second. “You think this is funny?” I ask him, ultimately frustrated at his reaction.

“N-no.” He laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and standing from the floor. “but I thought it was funny, I genuinely feel the same way.”

“Oh..” I sigh, humiliated by my assumption. “Im sorry.”

We both stand there, awkwardly looking in opposite directions. My god- in a mere few seconds I almost managed to ruin my morals. What was happening to me? I feel so *out of control.*

I look back at him as he asks me once more, “So? Your name?” His deep, yet youthful voice rings in my ears. A strange chill chases up my spine.

“Ah… I am Princess Illyria Cassion.” I bow softly, introducing myself as I always have. When my eyes meet with his once more, his face almost seems pale.

By the gods, **now what?!**