STORY (1/2): READ THIS ONE FIRST
"The line between good and evil is often unclear. Black and white can become gray so easily. What one soul considers evil, another might consider righteous..."
When Viggo's life is saved by a mysterious woman in blac...
"Do you know how difficult it is to find wood on this island?" Viggo asked, not looking away from the fire. "Impossible, actually," he raised his eyebrows, "I had to go to a completely different island for it." Finally, he looked at her. Nodding his head toward the knife in her hands, he smirked, "you dropped something."
She straightened her posture and responded confidently, "I am aware."
Viggo raised an eyebrow and gave her an amused grin, "so it was on purpose....you are quite the mystery."
She didn't reply. She stood up and put the knife back with it's matching set of five. "Why?" She heard Viggo ask from behind her.
Without turning, the woman spoke slowly, "fate..is a curious thing."
Viggo wasn't sure how to respond to that. It wasn't an answer, nor was it an explanation for anything. He frowned and asked another question, "why did you save me?"
She bent down to wake her dragon with a pet on the head. Nightshade lifted her head, gurgling softly at the sight of Viggo and the skrill. To his surprise, she did not seem threatened; she was as nonchalant at her rider. "Because you deserved to be saved," she told him.
Shock struck Viggo at this. He deserved to be saved? Did she have any idea what kind of life he led before? When she looked toward him, she seemed to read his mind. "I know who you are; Viggo Grimborn, former chief of the dragon hunters," she stated bluntly, "but my soul said to spare yours."
As she walked toward him and sat by the fire, Viggo saw her face in full for the first time. Her jaw was a sharp as her knives, cheekbones high and proud. Her skin was as pale as snow, with shadows on her sunken cheeks. This woman looked fragile, yet he could feel the strength radiating from her.
There was a long silence before Viggo thought of what else to say. He watched Nightshade nuzzle Lilith. "I don't recall devilish dervish being a nocturnal species," he observed.
"This one is," the mysterious young woman responded simply.
Viggo smiled crookedly, "perhaps she's picked up on her rider's sleeping patterns."
She stared into the fire, letting the silence sit for a moment, "..sunlight is my poison; I am allergic."
There was truly no end to her mystery, and it intrigued Viggo. "And I suppose that's why your pupils are so large, yes?" He went on, "you must be an excellent night hunter."
The woman turned her gaze toward Viggo again. She squinted at him inquisitively. It had been eight years since she bonded with another human being. Eight years of solitude with Nightshade. But she could already feel her interest in him growing. And with that, a connection was already made. So she decided to not only trust Viggo, but allow him to know her. Finally, she gave her name, "you will call me Sessa."
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⇧ Sessa ⇧
Not expecting the sudden change in her secretive demeanor, Viggo raised an eyebrow. Yet, he couldn't help but smile at the beautiful young woman. "Sessa," he repeated, "it's so nice to formally meet you."
Sessa ignored this gesture of kindness and went on in her usual emotionless tone, "you will need darker clothing, if you want to travel with me; black, specifically...we can find you some tomorrow night." When she noticed Viggo's look of surprised satisfaction, she asked defensively, "what?"
It was the first bit of emotion he'd heard in her voice. Smiling a bit, he asked, "..just like that?"
Sessa shrugged and looked away again as she repeated, "just like that."
Realizing that he had already pushed her too far this night, Viggo decided to stop questioning for now. He offered Sessa one of the fish and spoke charmingly, "well, I do hope that, in time, you will tell me more."
Sessa was surprised at herself for letting Viggo in so quickly and easily. As she took the fish and began to nibble at it, she became lost in thought. Eight years of saving lives, and someone had finally searched to find her. Eight years of leaving behind clues, like her disgaurded knife, praying that fate would one day lead someone back to her. Yet, when it had finally happened, she had no idea how to feel about it.
• • •
The rest of the night, Sessa avoided Viggo. But he didn't mind. He gave her the space she needed and took this time to get to know Lilith better. Besides, he needed some time to rest and let his injuries heal. It wasn't until the sun began to come up that Sessa finally spoke again.
"Come here," she ordered of him, standing by the wall of the cave. Viggo did as he was told and approached her. "Let me tend to your wounds," her voice was cool and monotone, but the gesture was warm. Viggo could already sense her beginning to get used to him. So he turned his back toward Sessa and let her work.
