Marienne's life was completely undone when her village went up in flames. Badly burned and her eyesight lost, she awakes in a strange place, with no knowledge of how she arrived there. Her savior was the enigmatic and alluring Victor, the Lord of Az...
Author's Note: Quick content warning here, though if you've made it this far, I doubt this will bother you, but there is mention of blood in this chapter. Also, yesterday (9/22/24) Eyes of Azyron made 400 votes! Thank you all for the love and support thus far! I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as you have previous ones. <3
Also, you'll no doubt notice some mild discrepancies in this chapter. Never fear! I am aware of them, as I do plan on coming through and thoroughly editing this and the previous chapters once I've got the manuscript done. However, I chose to make some minor changes to the storyline that this chapter will flow with better once those changes are published, hence if anything seems contradictory, that would be why.
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I let Marienne drift off to sleep in my arms. I could use sleep myself, but my mind was too filled with worry to properly drift off. Instead, I watched her drift away, studying her features. Her cheekbones were high and well structured, her chin square, but still soft with femininity. There was a certain stubbornness and strength to her, and it shone through the more adversity she faced. I supposed, if I was going to pick a woman to love, those qualities were most desired.
She was going to need that strength, in the days to come. If I was correct, then Wilhelm wasn't going to rest until he had usurped me from my position of esteem, even if it meant destroying me. He had no qualms about destroying other Striga Primus. In fact, he was known for it. But I couldn't allow such thoughts to drive me into hiding, as it wouldn't solve the problem, even if it would mean Marienne could be safe, could be happy.
She was snoring softly in her sleep, and I couldn't help but smile. In many ways, she was still very much human, as was the way with fledgling and young vampires. I wished I could see those traces still within myself, but the man I had been born as was long since gone, lost to changes brought with time and progress. Nothing made me feel older than reflecting on my past, so I did my best not to dwell on it.
I desperately wished I could lay in bed with her all evening, but there was much to attend to during that time. I needed to go back to Marienne's village. Her own memory would not suffice in these matters, and I wouldn't force her to recall what was lost to her, not now. Give her fifty years, and she may be able to forgive it all. But then, after two centuries, there were things I still could not let go. I kissed Marienne gently on the cheek, and climbed out of bed, only bothering to pull my pants back on. Nothing else would be necessary for what I wanted to achieve.
