a Goddess among Men

Codfish and Iron bows

These old humans are odd aren't they?

Yes, Mistress, we humans tend to be rather odd.

Oh Dante, my sweet, you know I would never think you odd.

Thank you, Mistress.

I sigh and look up into his dark blue eyes; he really was a sweet human. He wouldn't stay human for much longer given how long I have had him, but he was sweet none the less. I shift my emerald eyes from his sapphire ones and look across the table to the old men speaking in low voices to each other. They didn't like me, didn't want to be in my presence, I felt it in my core. The only reason they are here is because I am of value to them. My power is valuable to them.

Pouting like a young child I look about the room and tap my nails impatiently against the mahogany table. My castle's dining hall was vast and seldom used anymore. Many rooms in my home were seldom used. I let my mind wander over the many centuries of my house, over the many centuries of me. Dante sighs beside me, I feel his exhaustion in my mind, it was getting early and he needed his sleep.

Again I let my eyes wander to the hunters across the table from me, they were starting to annoy me very much.Biting my lip to keep from saying anything I sit and wait, this was a very long day. Suddenly the large oak doors open and a small band of men enter looking very alert and tired.

Are these the men we have been waiting most of my day for?

Yes Mistress, I believe the man in the front is Master Vyron, the Hunter with the Iron Bow.

Dante shivers beside me as I take in the appearance of this 'Master Vyron'. So he is the mighty hunter whose crossbow has brought many of my kind to their knees? How odd, I pictured him as a savage and yet he looks quite civilized and charming.

"Lady Natashia, these will be your guards if everything is to your liking." The man directly across from me finally directs his attention to me his dull brown eyes never meeting mine.

The guards bow to me, all of them except for Vyron, the sight of which makes me giggle. The master hunter looks at me in slight surprise at the giggle and I quickly stop composing myself like the lady I am. I look up to Dante and give him a secret smile.

Master Hunter really is a stale old codfish isn't he, darling? I send with the thought the mental image of him as a codfish.

Dante smiles and holds in a laugh before composing himself and looking back to the Hunters seated at our dining table. The band of men take their seats as well and I feel Dante move away to retrieve a cart of food and drink for them. With a small bow of farewell the Hunters who had wasted my evening stand and leave.

"Welcome to Castle Baertson, from what I understand is that you will be staying here for as long as I am in need of your services or until your Master is no longer in need of mine." I give them all a smile before continuing. "Dante has set up for you all a base camp in the loft above the stables, you will of course be staying in the main home with me but that will be where you may stay if you are not comfortable with being this close to me." I smile again at the small look of distress on so many of their faces.

"My mistress will be in need of at least one of you to be a constant guard and stay in at her side at all times. You will be the ones to decide who is the most capable of doing just that, I will provide you with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner is the only meal at which my mistress will be here with you because of her special schedule. I hope you understand these complications." Dante finishes his small speech and looks around the table, it was odd hearing his voice spoken aloud. He was usually such a quiet boy and even in my mind didn't speak above a loud whisper.

After finishing their meal all of the men leave to set up their equipment in the stable leaving Dante and I alone with my thoughts. As the large oaken door closes I notice a straggler still sitting at the table before me. Vyron. he hadn't moved at all when the others had been dismissed.

"Is something wrong Master Vyron?" I ask sweetly looking at him with curious eyes, humans were such perplexing creatures.

"No Lady Natashia, it has already been pre decided that I am to be your personal guard for the duration of our stay at your home." He states simply, his heavily baritone voice resonating in my chest making my heart flutter.

Vyron stands and stretches looking over to me with those haunting blue eyes. His cloak moves slightly as he does and I catch a small glimpse of his crossbow. I stand too, not even coming close to matching his height, and leave the table behind to stretch. Those stale old men really are annoying, I think childishly.

"Shall I show you to your room now Master Hunter?" I ask sweetly and smile to myself as Dante moves instinctively to my side.

He nods and moves away from the table and follows me through the halls and up the stairs. Along the way I talk about trivial bits of knowledge from my home; important battles, interesting people, hidden passages. I tell him all of this with a small bored tone to my voice. With a small little pause in my very boring monologue we reach my bed chamber and I smile looking up at him. Wow he is tall.

"This will be your bedroom, I hope that you find it to your liking." I point to the door across the hall from my own and smile up at him.

"I am sure that it is Lady Natashia, thank you." He says slowly looking around us at the lavish hall. The corners of his lip turn up into a small half smile making my cheeks burn slightly.

With that he turns and looks at his door and takes the knob in his hand, giving me a soft bow he opens the door. Muttering soft farewells he enters his room and shuts the door behind him with a gentle click. His smile ghosts across my mind making my cheeks burn more, a fluttering feeling tickling my stomach. What an odd emotion, what is it? I make a point to remind myself to ask Dante what this feeling was.

The only light in the halls around me were the candles that burn high above my head, I still had a few more hours of moonlight before the sun began to rise. Go play the harp. The thought hits me suddenly. I needed to play the harp. My heart demanded, my very being demanded it. No. I know better than to do that to him! My fingers itch to play it, beg for the sweet embrace of its strings. The cold metal against my hands. No damnit! I almost scream my heart racing as I fight the demanding urge.

I feel it my body going cold as my emotions rage war inside of me, that draining feeling as my eyes turn from green to the horrible honey color. I don't want to, please. I whimper softly aloud this time. That deep demanding pain burns through my body. It consumes me. I need to play the harp. I have to play it.

Mistress?

Mistress are you alright?

Natashia. Please, what's wrong?

Dante's sweet voice sounds in my head, along with his panic. I was worrying him. My poor child, I was scaring him. My mind fogs over shutting him out completely, like an iron gate slamming down. I feel a sharp small pain, it's distant even for being from him. So distant. Play the song Natashia. Play the damn song.

My head swims in the need, my head was slowly turning black. I feel so heavy. Why am I so heavy? The world starts to spin, I'm getting cold. My body starts to tremble and a wave of nausea washes over me. My ability was quickly taking control of me. No amount of self control would save me from this need.

The world swirls and a rushing feeling overtakes me. Darkness envelopes my senses, I had lost.