Noblesse of the Dead [A Noblesse Fan Fiction]

VIII Part 4.

Annalise's POV

"Lukedonia?" I question the man in front of me. "Where is this place?" I want to ask, yet my attention is captivated by a strange power in the air.

Turning to my right, I take a step, my actions being carefully measured by the red eyed man.

I don't even spare him a second glance, as I stare in the direction of the woods, only one thought passing through my mind.

"What is this place?" I whisper, narrowing my eyes, trying to identify this weird feeling.

It seems my question made him still as a pillar, his eyes staring right at me.

I didn't feel intimidated at all, something that I found strange.

"You're coming with me." He put a hand on my shoulder, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself standing in a large room.

My eyes travelled on each wall, taking in my surroundings and everyone in here.

Another man with blond hair and red eyes sat on something that resembled a throne, others with the same red eyes stood on each side of the red rug going from a door to the throne.

Every pair of red eyes was on me. I thought I could feel uncomfortable, or at least scared, yet I felt indifferent about this situation.

"It reminds me of my castle." I say, still looking at the walls.

"Really?" The man on the throne mused. "How is your castle like?"

Silence.

The question made me feel as if someone took a grip on my heart and began squeezing.

"Burnt down." I barely choke out the words as I find myself crying in front of these strangers.

Shocked by my sudden change in personality, they glanced at the man who asked me the question with panicked and somewhat mad looks.

"L-Lord, what do we do?" A man with white hair and a few strands of black in it asks the Lord.

"W-What's wrong?" The Lord asks me.

I simply look at him with sorrowful eyes, releasing a small and sad smile, I whipped away my tears and said "Nothing." displaying an even brighter smile.

"What is your name?" I'm asked again by another man, with the same blonde hair and red eyes - a trait that I've noticed all of them have.

"My name is Cordelia Rense Di Annalise, sir." I politely say, doing a courtesy.

They seemed surprised by the demeanour I've just displayed before them.

Turning my head to the person that brought me here, I bowed and said "I deeply apologize for my attitude back there. I have no excuse for how I acted and I hope you will find it in yourself to forgive me."

Raising my head, I looked with confusion laced in my eyes at the shocked people in this room.

"Have I said something wrong?" I crooked my head to the side, searching for an answer.

Clearing his throat and making the others snap out of their dazed states, the Lord kindly smiled at me and motioned me to come closer, to which I complied.

"Why don't you tell me more about yourself?" He asked me when I stopped right in front of the flight of stairs leading to his throne.

Sighing, I began explaining who I was, where and how I lived, but when it came to talking about the fire, I felt like a lump in my throat was stopping me from saying anything else.

Sucking in a deep breath, my voice came out as a trembling mess. "One night, a fire started in the castle. I cannot remember how, b-but..." I stared crying again, but this time I didn't stop, I allowed them to run down my cheeks and to the ground. "My parents and brother somehow died." I smiled as more and more tears fell. "I managed to get out of the castle, but when I got out, a man with a sword waited for me. I didn't even fight him to live, then, I made a deal with God who called me 'Right Hand of God' and woke up here, where you found me." I finished my crazy story and expected shocked and weird faces, but when I opened my eyes, I found that I was looked at with pity.

"You may stay here as long as you want to." The Lord offered with a smile.

"Here." The white haired man gave a handkerchief, which I gladly took and mouthed a small 'Thank you'.

Whipping yet again my tears, looked back at the Lord and gave a small bow. "I think I will accept your offer, Lord." I smiled.

"Great! Ragar, show her around!" In my surprise to the Lord's newfound carefree attitude, I failed to notice the man from before walk next to me until he slightly tapped my shoulder.

"Oh! Sorry." I turned to Ragar just as he motioned me to follow him.

Walking around Lukedonia's fortress, I felt like a lost puppy following a random person it set eyes upon.

"You didn't have to apologize." I'm suddenly brought back from my daydreaming by Ragar's words.

"It only seemed the right thing to do, seeing as I intruded your land." He simply nodded. "But, one thing makes me curious."

At this point, I had all his attention on me once we stopped walking. "When we first met, I felt a strange surge of power that makes me ask, what are all of you?"

"Nobles. Follow me." Walking again, Ragar led me to a cliff near the sea, a beautiful sight unfolding in front of me as the waves crashed on the rocky land.

"Nobles are creatures that protect the humans. We usually don't mingle in their lives, only when there's a threat. As Nobles, we are divided in clans, each having a role and clan leader. The Nobles are lead by the Lord, who you just met." With his explanation over, I find myself staring at the man in front of me as if he grew another head.

Looking back at the sea, I sigh. "I see..."

As silence falls over us, I unconsciously begin humming a song that I have never heard ever in my life before.

I gazed at the sea again, its water washing onshore, bringing me in a stated of much needed calmness.

"What was that?" I look at Ragar questionably as he pointed to my neck. Looking down, I noticed the star locket around my throat glowing in a golden and red light, remembering the deal I made with God.

"I believe I collected the souls of the dead." I simply explain as God's words echoed through my mind again.

"You truly are strange."

- - -

Hi, author here!

I just wanted to say that I low-key cried while writing this chapter, which proves that I'm not a stone cold hearted bitch.

Good day. :)