Wizard Blood, Vampire Magic

Chase

                Bastian woke me up with an alarm that morning, a lovely rendition of “The Thong Song”, and I grinned, throwing back the blankets and hopping out of bed for a moment before I jumped right back in and wrapped the blankets around me.  “S-so c-c-cold!”

                “My apologies, Christine.  Shall I put the alarm for a later time?”

                “N-n-n-noooo, I’ll get up.”  Slowly I dragged myself out from under the warmth that had cocooned me, thankful for the plush carpet under my feet.  I peered at the window and saw that the sun had risen, but just barely so.  It was mostly dark still and I figured I had an hour till breakfast.  “Time to get ready…”

                “Shall I put on some music?”

                “Yes Bastian, that’d be lovely.  Something… bouncy.”

                The pirate-y music filled the stone room while I toyed with my hair, trying to figure out the best way to put it to make my face look the most attractive.

                When the sun was high enough in the sky that I didn’t need any artificial light, I looked at myself in the mirror.  I felt like I was going on an adventure in a video game, but… Well.  My crimson colored hair, which normally was flat and fell a bit past my shoulders, was now given gentle curls and tied up, letting loose strands fall around my face and over the nape of my neck.  My grey eyes were outlined with black eyeliner and topped with shimmering silver powder, a gentle tint of the same color on my lips.  I wore a silver ear cuff in my left ear that was vines and leaves, and in my right was a pirate’s symbol made of pewter.  On the top of my right ear were three piercings; two silver ball studs and one black hoop at the top.  My key necklace was on and hung down over the white peasant blouse I had, my shoulders exposed, except for the short black vest that curled around my ample bust and enhanced them, my upper arms covered by light, puffy sleeves that ended at my elbows.  It all fell under two belts, one that held the tops up, made of black cloth, and a dark grey length of matching texture which kept a half skirt in place.  The front of the skirt covered the tops of my thighs, but the steel colored material fell in a fast arc and trailed almost to my lower calves in the back.  Underneath I wore black legging shorts, coal colored trouser socks which couldn’t be seen, and matching adventuring boots.  The boots were my favorite part of the outfit because they were soft soled, snug around my feet, but loose over my ankles.  After putting on a couple handfuls of silver bangles and a couple of rings that matched the rest of my jewelry, I was ready.  On a pocket in my skirt was my wand, who had been delighted to help with my hair after I promised we’d practice shooting later.  After so many years of existence and so many owners, it was not surprising it had developed its own personality.  The headband had never happened, but I didn’t mind.

                I let Bastian take a picture of me before I left, locking the door and slipping the key into the pocket with my wand.  I felt confident, charming, and different.  I was nervous, but the morning walk felt good on my skin.

                “Christine?”

                I turned and saw Elle, whose mouth was hanging open.  She was dressed in a pale colored dress with a flimsy sweater and tennis shoes, and she looked pretty and preppy.

                “Hi Elle!”

                “You look like you’re going to run away and join the gypsies!  Or maybe be a pirate!”     

                “Oh, do I?”  I looked down at myself and pouted.  I thought I looked good, but…

                “No no, it’s great looking, just, wow, really surprising!”  She walked with me to the dining hall, asking about my clothes, where I got them, how long it took to do my hair…