The Ring

0021

The dark waters were calm, during the night.

They had been miles away from the Vampriclands, with the cool air running across the surface of their skin. Chrissa had been on the first deck, with both of her hands on the rail. She closed her eyes and listened to the calm of the waves crashing together over and over again.

At that hour, everyone had been in deep slumber, but her thoughts had been keeping her up. Her mind wouldn't let her rest. All she could think about was the letter, Mars, Max, Michael, Stephen, and Kandor. All in that order. Not to mention the horrors of Vampirism, and her family eventually finding out.

She imagined her mother and father's faces, and her younger brother Theodore's. What they would say to her if they ever saw her as a Vampire. It was a dark imagination, but soon it would be a reality, she supposed.

A part of her wished she'd gone with Stephen when she saw him conquering her palace. Whilst she did love Michael, she also loved her life before the chaos that they'd been in even more. She missed attending galas, and tea parties. She missed the comfort of her expensive dresses, and her delicate corsets. She missed wearing powder on her face and the shade of berry on her cheeks and having someone dress her.

"I know of that expression," said an all too familiar voice.

When she turned, she saw an amused Kandor staring back at her. He looked different, Chrissa thought. The expression he wore seemed less tense, and his hands were shoved in his pockets. His back straight. Kandor always seemed to behave like royalty. It was something that you'd notice only if you grew up around it. It was how the royals disengaged themselves with those who weren't. Royal children learned early on what was an acceptable posture to stand in, and what mannerisms were respected in high society. Chrissa caught herself regressing into it often subconsciously. It was a part of her.

She tore her attention from the crashing waters beneath them and looked at him,  "what expression?"

He blinked twice and hid a smile, "you miss it. The life you once had." Kandor pointed out, and walked toward the railing where she was. His gray eyes gazed into the darkness of the waters, and then up at the moon. He looked at her again, but Chrissa broke their eye contact.

"N-nonsense," she said defensively, and crossed her arms. Chrissa then raised an eyebrow, "and aren't you supposed to be driving the boat?"

Kandor smirked. She looked away.

"Automatic," he replied, but then looked at her seriously. "And you shouldn't lie to yourself, Chrissa."

She dropped her arms and faced him, "y-you don't know what you're saying. I'm simply fine..."

"You aren't that hard to read," he pointed out. "And you're lying."

"I don't wish for you to try and do anything. And I don't dream of your advice," she snapped, "so stop."

He half smirked knowingly, and cocked his head."I find it hard to believe you're actually satisfied." She narrowed her eyes, "because you've turned me into this," Chrissa said. She then uncrossed her arms and looked to him, "who could be?"

"Once again, I saved you." Kandor gazed at the moon again, "I see a girl suddenly stepping into a power that she doesn't understand. A power that will transform her entirely," he admitted, and then turned to her.

"You killed me," she pointed out. "I am hardly powerful. I'm practically dead," she almost laughed.

"If you're so dead, then why does it feel so good?"

"It doesn't," she snapped.

"Oh, but it does," he challenged. "I think you're telling yourself it doesn't, when really you love the power of Vampirism, and what it can offer you."