The shrilling seabirds and bustling crowds sullied the simple beauty of Crete, but the busy palace of Knossos was the center of the world for Evadne.
The young woman stood at the end of the dock, surrounded by grumpy merchants and exhausted sailors. They avoided her, slipping around her as best they could. But she never moved. She stared out to the horizon, her gaze blank and empty.
Her brother was set to return from his journey two days ago, but when his ship arrived, he was nowhere in sight. His commanding officer sought out her father and left the family with the terrible news that their eldest child had been lost in the frays of battle.
Evadne refused to believe that he would leave her, he had promised her that he would return. So, she stood on the dock, watching and waiting for his triumphant return. Week upon week she waited, from sunrise to sunset. She barely spoke a word to anyone, even her parents. They mourned their son while she refused to let him go.
--
One cool evening, she had stayed by the shore longer than usual. Her thin dress was the only thing between her skin and the biting chill in the air. With a quiet huff, she turned to leave but was startled stiff at the sudden sound of the wooden boards creaking and groaning as someone stepped cautiously across them.
Slowly, she turned to the source of the sound, her body tense and ready to flee.
She blinked owlishly, stunned by the figure before her. There her brother stood, as pale as a ghost. He was dripping wet, his fair hair sticking to his ashen skin. His top was torn and tattered, and his pants fared no better, he wore no shoes and the belt she gifted had gifted him years ago was missing. He looked like a soul that had been lost at sea, eerie and cold.
"You waited for me." His voice was almost foreign to her. It was no longer rough and uneven; it was smooth and honeyed. It made her uneasy, her instincts telling her that this was a trick, that this was not her brother.
"Evadne," he cooed, taking a measured step towards the shaking girl. "I knew you would wait for me."
"Caius-" He suddenly flashed towards her in a blur, his icy fingers dancing across her soft cheeks delicately, like he was afraid she would break in his hands. Her voice caught in her throat, tears welling in her eyes. She was terrified.
"My precious sister, always so loyal."
His fingers trailed down her face, ghosting over her jaw and coming to rest on either side of her neck. He could feel her racing pulse as her blood pumped through her veins just under her skin. He could almost taste it, but he was fighting his new, vicious natural as best he could.
"We'll be so strong together."
He buried his head in the crook of her neck, his teeth tearing through her delicate skin in a selfish act of violence. She thrashed in his arms, desperately trying to free herself from the monster wearing her brother's skin. He took his fill from her, weakening her until she could no longer fight against him, then began to let his burning venom replace the crimson blood he stole from her.
With great strength, he pulled away from her open wound, still cradling her tightly in his arms. The front of her fawn dress was soaked in her blood and her hair was matted with the warm liquid, her usually olive skin sickly and waxen.
He loved his sister dearly; she was the only reason he still returned home. And now she would be with him in his new, immortal life.
"Forever, Evadne."
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