𝙰 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙴𝚖𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 (wlw)

Chapter Five

Shivers quickened through Emese. The morning breeze was more than a little chilled for her, whereas, Anastasía's immunity to it allowed her to stand there unfazed by it. Eventually, though, she decided to head back to the cottage, and the woman quietly followed.

Inside, she tended to the firepit as a distraction but still noticed the chill of the woman's presence behind her.
She turned to greet her and noticed that she offered a piece of wood to her. Quietly, she took it, adding it to the crackling fire.

For a moment they observed the flames as they flickered and danced. Emese then bustled away only to be followed yet again.

“I've been alive for quite some time,” Anastasía revealed after the long silence. 

“You've mentioned this already,”

There was no need to be redundant, Emese thought.

“Yes, but I've decided to make up for my vague responses,”

Brown eyes then softened upon such realization. “Go on, then,” Emese encouraged.

“The year was 1126 when I was born,”

Her eyes widened, “That is astounding,” she said. It explained the woman's quaint mannerisms and speech. 

“Are you really from here?” she further asks.

“I am. I grew up further north in a place that overlooked The Sea of Roray.”

“Is it beautiful there?”

“It was,” hummed Anastasía.

Emese frowned. “Was?”

“Yes. It was destroyed by some terrible people many years ago,”

“I'm... sorry, I shouldn't have asked,” she said with a mournful tone.

“Don't be sorry,”

“What was the world like back then?” she questioned, hoping that the change of topic would be welcomed.

“The same as it is now I assume, the only difference was that over a hundred years ago there weren't that many humans in these parts of the province. Most of Obscure was just miles of untouched land,” Untouched to most, but not to her and her family.

“I see,” Emese remarked.

Her bright eyes caught Anastasía's attention. It had been so long since anyone was that interested in what she had to say and it felt nice.

“Were you always of the occult?”

“Yes,”

“That means you were born as the creature you ar—”

Anastasía interposed. “Saying what I am won't taint your tongue,”

“I'm aware,”

“Then don't call me a creature, it makes me feel as if I'm some sort of wild animal,” Anastasía advocated.

Not wanting to offend her again, Emese accepted the correction. “Were you born a vampire?”

Anastasia's demeanour suddenly changed. A sort of nervousness came over and despite her stern disposition, Emese noticed.

“I was,”

“Is that even possible, being born a vampire?”

“I know those who've learned of our existence believe that we're all turned, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I and many others were born this way,”