The house of rhapsody (Book 1 Of The Sanctuary and War Series)

Worrying minds and fiery hearts

Stacking files in their respective places, in alphabetical order, obviously, gave Temin a thrill! She was clumsy most of the time, but when she was stacking files, books, and tomes in order of their letter placements always made her feel like she could go on for hours, without messing up something so simple like she usually did. Honestly, it was quite a miracle that she was given the place as the Keeper of Records in the first place! Her clumsiness, her shy nature and even being surrounded by more than five people took its toll on her psyche.

Eventually, a certain book caught her attention. It wasn't anything special, just a little something she had read before supernaturals began to be slaughtered like cattle. "The Fall of The Gifted" She called it. Of course, she was far too nervous to actually say that in front of people, and even to herself sometimes. Temin then moved the book to its rightful place far to the side of the shelf. She was proud of her work.

She simply wore an outfit which resembled a Japanese Miko's outfit, except it fits her and her body quite nicely rather than the women of far-off Asia. Having finished her work, she began walking towards her desk before she, like many others in the mansion, had sensed the movement of people. She originally thought they were just residents, but having lived in the forest for a few centuries doesn't just hone one's survival skills. Taking a breath through her nose and her mouth, she had then decided there was indeed more than two, and more than four.

She almost panicked before she remembered her duty as the Keeper of Records. "I must protect the tomes..." She whispered to herself, covering her heart and taking a deep breath. As a Kitsune that possessed illusion magic, though at the cost of her having unnaturally lost her inherent ability that allowed her to use light itself as a weapon, she placed a barrier that she thought would be enough to dissuade humans from entering, making the room itself seem as if it didn;t exist to them. If they did manage to pass her barrier, she would know instantly and would rush over right away and defend it with her life. It was the least she could do for House Rhapsody after all.

Suddenly, as if it was being drained, she felt one slowly slipping away. She sighed. "Ah, that's right. I forget that Zane is a vampire..." She placed a hand on her forehead, less worried than before. She had done research on every member of House Rhapsody as she could. Every record on every person in the house. From the staff to the mere residents. Of course, she knew it was wrong, but how else would she eventually try and get close to people other than knowing every detail about them?

Her senses shocked her once more. Her hearing and her smell both struck her heavily as she heard Zane scream in pain. At this point, she could no longer stay where she was. Temin knew or thought she knew, that Zane was always within close proximity to Miss Noir, so knowing he was injured, meant that Miss Noir was in extreme danger. "Why are humans so annoying?" She asked in irritation to herself. She was quite furious now, so she put on an illusion she didn't use that much.

To the few that were in Miss Noir's room, it would feel like the room was shaking to large footsteps, and that's what it would look like as well, because a giant, snow white fox walked through the hallways and knocked itself through the door, walking inside the room, growling at the intruder. Alright, now just... kill them... It's fine they've slaughtered countless of us! They caused the Fall of The Gifted! She repeated this thought in her head as she rushed from beside the giant illusion of a fox and leaped onto the human, biting and scratching at their neck and chest.

Lily had been dreaming of the events leading up to her mentor's passing when she was startled into waking. The sounds of something hitting the ground jolting her tired and exhausted mind. Instantly standing up to her full height of six foot four inches, the desk chair she had been sitting in was abruptly pushed back and toppled against the wall. Heart racing, her usual steel grey eyes had changed into that of her phoenix. Lustrous blue hues looking for the source of the noise as white smokey flames hinted from her body as if it were slowly resonating with an inner flame. Though her first thought was not of her own personal safety, but instead had been towards the safety of her house.

Those under her care. Lily had vowed to keep them safe at any cost. Seeing Zane was fine though as he seemed content to feed upon the male hunter, she let out a soft sigh of relief to see the veiled sentinel was alright and not injured. Not minding the powerful sucking at which he fed. She knew he was a vampire. But the feelings of relief were short lived as a second hunter had come up with a bottle. Before she could really react though, a vial of clear fluid had been thrown towards Zane, and the next thing she knew his howl sounded throughout the walls of the office. Instant rage coursed through her veins as the white smokey flames began to resonate thickly from her. The nerve of these hunters! How dare they?! She looked briefly at Zane seeing he was injured, but alright for the moment. Their eyes connected for a split second before she looked towards the hunter as he gave a nasty grin and started to come forward.

Crackling sounds of her flames were auditory by this point as her form slowly began to fade, the fiery nature of the phoenix making itself known. At least until she felt the floor shaking with thunderous applause. What the hell was this? She looked around frantically for a moment as the rumbling caught her totally off guard. Had the hunters somehow pushed some truck or crane past the Wayward Forest?! That's when she saw the form of a giant snowy Kitsune coming from the very walls of the stone mansion itself. But she recognized it fairly quickly to be the keeper of records, Temin. Being susceptible to illusions, Lily stared in shock as the huge Kitsune seemingly went up towards the second hunter, but seeing Temin move from beside the massive form. Seeing the white haired woman tearing into the human's throat and chest, felling the hunter. Lily lets out another sigh of relief, holding her belly slightly.

Once the threat in the room seemed over with, she looked from Temin to Zane. The two of them were alive, and she was more then grateful for their overall safety. "Thank you both.." She spoke softly. Relief clear in her expression at the two of them being alive and not dead. Even though Zane was technically "undead", he was "alive" in a sense, which was all around a relief. But more to the point. She could hear sounds through the thick stone walls. Shouts. Raised voices herding the residential population of the house. Knowing Shantellias would have given the enforcers orders to keep the residents safe. Through the open window of her office, she could hear faint screams of pain. The shade keepers must have caught more of the hunters. But they were important members of the house as well. And as such, her focus was shifted. Swiftly, she walked around her desk, checking to make sure Temin and Zane both were alright first before heading to her door. Remarking while she walked.

"I'm happy you're both alright at least.. But we're not out of danger yet.." Upon opening her door however, she stopped dead in her tracks as she came face to face with the ground's keeper's semi bear-like form. From his enlarged attire, to the bear of a man himself. Her lustrous blue hues stared straight into his ursine eyes. But seeing him also safe, it put a little more into the woman relief as it showed. Quietly speaking to him in turn. "Now that's three that I know are safe.. Excuse me please, Elias." As much as she wanted to gather everyone under in one place and throw her protective flames around them, she also knew they were more then capable fighters and did not need to be coddled. Respecting their space, and having faith in their individual fighting abilities. She moved forward, and around him. Swiftly taking to the stairs and looking out the windows in an effort to locate the commotion.

Upon seeing the hunters that were outside and seeing they had injured a few shade keepers, the inferno of her fury was fanned. The nerve of these hunters! Lily quickly begins to open the window, with intent to go outside and blast away the humans from her precious members...