The Anthology of Erythis Firestorm
Four
Sub-Tags: [Erythis][Melathara][Katsin][Valkrian][Viletta][Romance/Courting][Scheming]
Sitting upon her vanity, Erythis Firestorm brushed the long, crimson hair that cascaded along her back and shoulders. She was no longer a child, but a young woman, and had grown quite considerably over the last few years. Sapphire earrings were placed to adorn her earlobes, silver bangles upon her wrist, and ankle. Her dress was black in color and cinched tight around her waist, flaring out with shimmering fabric along the bottom with a slit rising up towards one of her thighs. It looked like a midnight sky, painted upon with glittering stars. In all of her beauty, the heiress was a sight to behold. Though there was still a nervousness about her that suggested she had not yet realized just what a treasure she was.
"Are you ready, my lady?" A handmaiden parted the deep blue drapes at the room's entryway. "Your suitors are waiting patiently for the guest of honor to arrive." Erythis rose, a towering six feet in height. As she approached her servant, the maiden could smell the fragrant, elegant perfumes that had been sprayed upon the redhead's neck.
"Yes..., I suppose it's time. Is brother going to escort me out into the ballroom? I would feel much more at ease with him present." The handmaiden shook her head, leaning forward to brush some of the magi's reddened bangs from her eyes.
"Don't worry, my lady. You will be fine, I promise."
"Tomorrow, I will no longer be but an arcanist. I will finally be a full fledged magistrix, just as those who came before me. Now that I am finally of age, I can focus on my abilities and helping Silvermoon move forward. Why is something like me finding a suitor placed as such an importance? I just don't understand it." The maiden shook her head, giving a chuckle.
"Family customs are just as important, my lady. Besides, your brother is also in the process of selecting a suitor. I do believe he has one in mind."
"Do you know if..., he likes her?"
"I'm not aware, I'm afraid. Now, come on, then. You look really spectacular, and it's time to go wow the gentlemen. Eat, drink, dance! Surely, you'll find someone who meets your fancy."
"Somehow, I doubt that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There were harps and string instruments playing in the hall. It had been decorated with grand pillars, shimmering banners of silk, and all the finest pleasantries. Small morsels and tasty treats were scattered about on tables, along with what seemed like an infinite assortment of wines. Before entering from the stage, Erythis Firestorm stopped to look at herself in a mirror. She pressed her fingers against the glass, feeling its surface and staring at her reflection with a forlorn expression. It was as if she hardly recognized herself. She procured a small, black brooch and pinned her hair up. Waves and curls still fell against the length of her back, even when pulled upward. With a soft sigh, a glass full of wine materialized in her hand from nothing with a light shimmer of magic. She gulped down the its contents in one go, then releasing the glass to its own devices. It vanished into thin air before ever touching the floor.
Her entrance was met with bright light and applause. They all looked so happy, so excited to see her. She smiled, and waved, but her mind was elsewhere. She was asking herself questions. Did she believe in love? Would she have to settle on a man, or would she ever feel the heat that had been described to her as a child? Inside, she secretly cried out for her brother. But within moments, she had walked gracefully on the steps leading down from the stage, and had taken the arm of one of the many eligible bachelors.
One at a time, they swept her off her feet, but only in a physical manner. She danced, and chatted, and asked for more wine. She sipped, and listened to their tales and stories of grandeur. The noblemen were all the same, to her. They all seemed like robots: void of any actual personality. They were programmed to act in such a way, speak in such a way, and behave in such a way. She asked herself, was she so different? She was a product of nobility, just as they were. But she wanted to believe. That she was something more. That she could be something more. After an hour or so had passed, the radiant beauty slipped away, heading outside onto the terrace. She stared out at the countryside and up at the stars, crossing her arms in front of her, as if to comfort herself and hide her vulnerability. Through the haze of wine, she listened to the faint sound of violins- locked within her mind, until she heard a voice.
"So who are you?" There was a presence beside her before she even had the chance to move. A man leaned on the railing in front of them; he didn't look at her, but rather, out at the hills, just as she had been doing. From a glance, she knew he had been one of the suitors. She hadn't had the chance to dance with him, but she had seen him from the corner of her eye.
"I'm..., fairly sure you know who I am, or else you wouldn't be here." The magistrix turned towards him slightly, setting a hand upon the railing.
"I know what your name is. I know about you. I know about your family. But I do not know who you are." The redheaded woman looked to his face: handsome, and framed by blonde hair. "But you, Erythis Firestorm, are a mystery to me. I do not know who are you at all. For instance, did you pick out that dress, or did your staff pick it out for you? Did you choose that scent you're wearing, and your jewelry? How do you prefer to dance-" He extended his arms, taking her in them.
"Wait a moment-..!" She protested, but he swung her out, and then curled her back in: dancing.
"Slow, or fast?" After curling her back in, they shifted into a more formal dancing position, and he swayed her. She was silent for a moment, moving gently along with the potential suitor. After a moment, soft words fell from her ruby colored lips.
"I chose this dress. And the jewelry, and the fragrance. I rather..., enjoy such fine fabrics. I have expensive tastes, I guess."
"And good taste, then. It warms my heart to know you chose these things. It tells me a little more about who you are." Erythis was unsure of what to say. Of all the men she had danced with that night, at least this one was actually curious about her. She still wasn't sure what she felt, or was supposed to feel. He dipped her, and he flashed a genuine smile. "You want something more."
"Excuse me?" As she was pulled back upright, he laughed.
"You don't want just any man at your side. That look on your face- you want something special. And you deserve it. Tell me, how does it make you feel when I..." He brought a hand up, cupping one of her cheeks. "Do this?" She reddened just a little. "Is the wine making you blush, or is my touch soothing to you?"
"I'm..., not sure. Who are you?"
"My name is Valkrian." He lowered his hand.
"Alright, Valkrian. What family do you hail from?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't?"
"Will you choose a husband because of their surname, or because his touch sets you on fire?" Erythis pulled from him, then.
"Your touch does not set me on fire. I have handled fire. Felt the way the arcane surges through my veins and my blood, and that rush....- that is what I want. What I want to feel in a suitor. I want to feel the way I feel when I cast my spells. That blissful feeling."
"One day, you're going to find it. But not here, at this party, on this night. I was hoping that I could draw that spark out from you, but it seems like so far I have failed." For the first time in the last hour, Erythis smiled.
"At least you are so bold. Honest. I admire that in a man. But I have just recently become a woman, and I do not know how a woman is supposed to feel on the inside, or how she should feel with a man who is not family." The man named Valkrian set a hand on her shoulder, his thumb pushing gently into her neck. She stared at him, and he met her gaze.
"Would you at least give me the chance to try and make you feel that way anyway? It's not as if there's anyone else in there who has the potential." With another smile, she nodded her consent. She stayed with him in hopes of finding out just who he was. What did she have to lose?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Katsin." Wrapped in crimson colored sheets, the duke of Felo'Danil and a dark-skinned woman were staring into each other's eyes. Their bodies, nude but concealed, were tangled in a most intimate of ways.
"What is it, my beloved?" Her long, platinum colored hair shimmered like silk against her tan flesh. A lengthy nail trailed along the knight's chest and seemed to only fuel the fire in his spirit.
"Why did you choose me? You know that the Goldcrest girl was so madly in love with you." Katsin gave a devious smirk, leaning over to kiss at the woman's neck.
"I think you've simply bewitched me. You've used your magic to steal my heart away."
"Couldn't even wait until your wedding night, could you? You just had to have me." He gave a low growl, hovering just inches over her now as he leaned.
"You are irresistible, Viletta. Any woman who can best me in a fight is deserving of me. You challenge me like no other." He took in her scent, her flesh. It was as if he was in a trance, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
"The question is, can you handle me?" With a laugh, she forced her way over him, staring down at him with those piercing blue eyes.
"You will be my wife; a true Firestorm. I will give you the world."
"No!" She straddled him, a nail now trailing down across his throat as the woman raised her voice. "It is I, who will give you the world." Her grin broadened. "Never forget."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After the party had concluded, the young Firestorm heiress returned to her chambers to retire. Instead of finding the solitude she had hoped for, however, she saw the stern face of her twin. "Oh. Hi, Mel. What's going on?"
"You tell me. You look like a mess." Erythis fidgeted nervously, patting some loose strands of hair back into place.
"Oh, you know. Lot's of dancing around, and I did have a little to drink."
"Did you meet anyone special?" The sorceress grew somewhat paranoid in her own mind. Did her sister know something? She made her way inside, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.
"Well..., I did meet one man who was alright. But I don't think he's the one."
"Pity."
"Did you wish to speak with me about something?" Melathara shook her head and made her way for the drapes.
"No." She exited in haste, walking down the hall. "But when you do find the one, I am going to make you suffer." She stopped, procuring a small hand mirror, which she gazed into. "I will take him from you." Staring into the mirror, Melathara Firestorm was no longer herself. She was her twin sister, ready to court with whoever may be waiting.
"So who are you?" There was a presence beside her before she even had the chance to move. A man leaned on the railing in front of them; he didn't look at her, but rather, out at the hills, just as she had been doing. From a glance, she knew he had been one of the suitors. She hadn't had the chance to dance with him, but she had seen him from the corner of her eye.
"I'm..., fairly sure you know who I am, or else you wouldn't be here." The magistrix turned towards him slightly, setting a hand upon the railing.
"I know what your name is. I know about you. I know about your family. But I do not know who you are." The redheaded woman looked to his face: handsome, and framed by blonde hair. "But you, Erythis Firestorm, are a mystery to me. I do not know who are you at all. For instance, did you pick out that dress, or did your staff pick it out for you? Did you choose that scent you're wearing, and your jewelry? How do you prefer to dance-" He extended his arms, taking her in them.
"Wait a moment-..!" She protested, but he swung her out, and then curled her back in: dancing.
"Slow, or fast?" After curling her back in, they shifted into a more formal dancing position, and he swayed her. She was silent for a moment, moving gently along with the potential suitor. After a moment, soft words fell from her ruby colored lips.
"I chose this dress. And the jewelry, and the fragrance. I rather..., enjoy such fine fabrics. I have expensive tastes, I guess."
"And good taste, then. It warms my heart to know you chose these things. It tells me a little more about who you are." Erythis was unsure of what to say. Of all the men she had danced with that night, at least this one was actually curious about her. She still wasn't sure what she felt, or was supposed to feel. He dipped her, and he flashed a genuine smile. "You want something more."
"Excuse me?" As she was pulled back upright, he laughed.
"You don't want just any man at your side. That look on your face- you want something special. And you deserve it. Tell me, how does it make you feel when I..." He brought a hand up, cupping one of her cheeks. "Do this?" She reddened just a little. "Is the wine making you blush, or is my touch soothing to you?"
"I'm..., not sure. Who are you?"
"My name is Valkrian." He lowered his hand.
"Alright, Valkrian. What family do you hail from?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't?"
"Will you choose a husband because of their surname, or because his touch sets you on fire?" Erythis pulled from him, then.
"Your touch does not set me on fire. I have handled fire. Felt the way the arcane surges through my veins and my blood, and that rush....- that is what I want. What I want to feel in a suitor. I want to feel the way I feel when I cast my spells. That blissful feeling."
"One day, you're going to find it. But not here, at this party, on this night. I was hoping that I could draw that spark out from you, but it seems like so far I have failed." For the first time in the last hour, Erythis smiled.
"At least you are so bold. Honest. I admire that in a man. But I have just recently become a woman, and I do not know how a woman is supposed to feel on the inside, or how she should feel with a man who is not family." The man named Valkrian set a hand on her shoulder, his thumb pushing gently into her neck. She stared at him, and he met her gaze.
"Would you at least give me the chance to try and make you feel that way anyway? It's not as if there's anyone else in there who has the potential." With another smile, she nodded her consent. She stayed with him in hopes of finding out just who he was. What did she have to lose?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Katsin." Wrapped in crimson colored sheets, the duke of Felo'Danil and a dark-skinned woman were staring into each other's eyes. Their bodies, nude but concealed, were tangled in a most intimate of ways.
"What is it, my beloved?" Her long, platinum colored hair shimmered like silk against her tan flesh. A lengthy nail trailed along the knight's chest and seemed to only fuel the fire in his spirit.
"Why did you choose me? You know that the Goldcrest girl was so madly in love with you." Katsin gave a devious smirk, leaning over to kiss at the woman's neck.
"I think you've simply bewitched me. You've used your magic to steal my heart away."
"Couldn't even wait until your wedding night, could you? You just had to have me." He gave a low growl, hovering just inches over her now as he leaned.
"You are irresistible, Viletta. Any woman who can best me in a fight is deserving of me. You challenge me like no other." He took in her scent, her flesh. It was as if he was in a trance, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
"The question is, can you handle me?" With a laugh, she forced her way over him, staring down at him with those piercing blue eyes.
"You will be my wife; a true Firestorm. I will give you the world."
"No!" She straddled him, a nail now trailing down across his throat as the woman raised her voice. "It is I, who will give you the world." Her grin broadened. "Never forget."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After the party had concluded, the young Firestorm heiress returned to her chambers to retire. Instead of finding the solitude she had hoped for, however, she saw the stern face of her twin. "Oh. Hi, Mel. What's going on?"
"You tell me. You look like a mess." Erythis fidgeted nervously, patting some loose strands of hair back into place.
"Oh, you know. Lot's of dancing around, and I did have a little to drink."
"Did you meet anyone special?" The sorceress grew somewhat paranoid in her own mind. Did her sister know something? She made her way inside, taking a seat on the edge of her bed.
"Well..., I did meet one man who was alright. But I don't think he's the one."
"Pity."
"Did you wish to speak with me about something?" Melathara shook her head and made her way for the drapes.
"No." She exited in haste, walking down the hall. "But when you do find the one, I am going to make you suffer." She stopped, procuring a small hand mirror, which she gazed into. "I will take him from you." Staring into the mirror, Melathara Firestorm was no longer herself. She was her twin sister, ready to court with whoever may be waiting.
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