My joyous crystalline laughter echoed into the endless nighttide, as I mirthfully pranced and danced among the corpsen trees and melancholic mist. Ghastly transparent phantoms took shape within the swirling fog all around me. Their gaunt and twisted souls writhing with ghostly moans. My bare feet slid across the cool ashen soil in a gleeful glissade, while I gracefully twirled with my arms carelessly bowed above my head. My tangled golden locks fanned out around my body, as long silvery grass and withered purple flowers wavered at my feet.

Ancient weaponry of old gleamed within the ebon bark of one of the trees, as it reached its ghastly skeletal branch hand out towards my dancing form with an eldritch hiss. I giggled, watching as its long black claws swiped at me. It caught nothing but the swirling fog, casting the haunts away with spectral wails. I jumped with my legs spread apart in a silly sissonne. Then after one final twirl, I landed in a graceful swan-like arabesque while enthusiastically smiling over at Valarendrik.

Silver leaves mirrored my dancing, fluttering peacefully above his head, while little strands of ebony hair whimsically wisped around his face. He sat leaned up against the twisted trunk of a caedis tree, watching me with a gleam of complete adoration in his crimson eyes, and a tender smile upon his face. A black leather-bound sketchpad rested upon his bent knees, as he sketched with some sort of thin black stone.

It had been about three weeks since being swallowed up by this frightful world, and today was finally the first day, if you could even call it that, that my foot was actually healed enough to use. Although, a nasty dark pink scar did remain, decorating the underside of my foot with a jagged insignia of the trauma that once ensued. I didn’t mind it though. I was just glad that the damn thing healed without infection, and that I was not only walking but dancing again.

Thank goodness for Valarendrik’s unyielding, and highly annoying, diligence about washing it out and forcing me to rest.

The grass and flowers swished beneath my feet, as I gleefully skipped over through the darkness. I stopped to reach up and pluck a round ruby caedis fruit from overhead, watching how the black spindly twigs hissed and writhed in protest. Then I plopped myself down beside Valarendrik’s much larger frame.

With a toothy lighthearted grin, he affectionately wrapped his arm around my shoulders and delightedly hummed. I happily leaned into his side like a little snuggle bug, resting my cheek against the rough material of his tattered jacket. His peppery rosewood scent filled my nose, as I enjoyed the feeling of sanctuary that his embrace provided.

“You look very mystical while you dance.” He tilted the sketchpad towards me as he spoke, tapping it lightly with the drawing stone to ensure that I’d look.

My eyes grew wide in surprise, just as I was halfway through taking a big ol’ bite of the fruit. It crunched within my jaws, filling my mouth with the deliciously sweet and juicy, but highly unique flavor of caedis. “Oh my goodness, Valarendrik! That’s incredible!” My muffled voice tried to express with a mouthful of fruit. I quickly covered my lips with my hand as to not be rude. “It’s beautiful!” He truly was the most impressive artist I’d ever met.

The highly realistic sketch was of me with one leg out and one arm up in an elegant croise devant. I appeared to glow like a glimmering goddess amongst the extremely detailed corpsen trees and oppressively dismal darkness, with the small flowers strewn about my feet and ghastly ghosts twirling through the mist. It was both fascinating and flattering to see myself from his perspective. I looked like a shining light in his world.

Does he really see me as being so beautiful?

“Thank you. I’m pleased that you like it.” He graciously said, while tucking an unruly strand of hair behind his pointy ear. “How did you learn to dance like that?”

Realizing I hadn’t swallowed yet, I did so with an audible gulp, then answered him. “My mother forced me to take dance lessons when I was younger. I used to resent going to them though because I saw it as just another way for her to control my life and turn me into her idea of what the perfect daughter should be.” I shrugged. “But now I’m grateful for the skill, I guess.”

He softly scoffed. “I find that very relatable. My mother was very controlling of my life as well. Although, I’m not grateful. Nothing good ever came of it.” His hand absentmindedly caressed up and down my arm, slightly tickling my skin with his claws.

I inspected the deep blood red center of my fruit snack while I spoke, watching how the sticky juice beaded up upon my bitemark. “I think my mother did it because she was under a lot of stress from being a single parent. She had to work long hours to support us, and was so scared that I’d turn out all screwed up, that she tried to ensure perfection in me.”

Deep growls and a harrowing screech suddenly came from deep within the forest. I snapped to attention and shivered, knowing that something was surely being mauled to death. Valarendrik shifted a bit with his claws lengthening then retracting, clearly using his keen senses to assess the far-off danger lurking within the mist-clad trees. Then he calmly raised a brow while tilting his head towards me.

“Well, I think that your mother must have done a fine job. You don’t seem too ‘screwed up’ to me.” He laughed. “What happened to your father?”

My shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. “I never knew him. My mother met my father while in a foreign country called Switzerland. She had a single night of passion while on this thing called a ski trip. When she returned home she found out that she was pregnant with me, but never went back to track him down. He never even knew that I existed.” I curiously looked up at him. “What about you?”

He glanced down and vacantly plucked a single silvery spear of grass. “I was also raised by a single mother. Mine killed and ate my father shortly after I was born.” He spoke as if it were as normal as taking a stroll through the park.

My flabbergasted mouth fell agape. “She what!?” I squawked.

Amusement glimmered in his eyes, as he took in my ridiculous expression with a laugh. He gently placed his hand beneath my chin, then pushed up to close my gaping mouth. “Eating your spouse is actually quite a common thing in Tenveriel. Tenverians are highly cannibalistic, and the women are especially notorious for doing such things. Luckily, the men have a way of...” He gave an irresolute shrug as if carefully choosing his next words. “...extending their lives, I suppose you could say.”

My face contorted in revulsion. “That’s disgusting! No wonder why you don’t like living among your own species!” I exaggeratedly held up my caedis fruit as I spoke. “I’m so sorry that you lost your father like that. I couldn’t even imagine something so gruesome.”

“Eh...” He shrugged again like it was no big deal. “I’m grateful for it, actually. He was apparently far crueler than my mother. So I feel as though I was spared his wrath, rather than deprived of a father.” He sneakily leaned down, then swift as the wind stole a bite of my caedis fruit, with his sharp teeth coming unsettlingly close to my fingers.

His action spooked me, and my eyes widened in fear. “Good gracious gravy! Just what the fucking hell do you think you’re doing!?” I panickily ripped my hand away from him.

“Stealing a bite of your caedis fruit, obviously.” He replied with chipmunk cheeks and a guilty smirk. “I’ll get you a new one?” He offered while innocently holding up his palm.

“Stealing a bite of my-” I flusteredly huffed without finishing my sentence. “You can’t just go telling me that your species is highly cannibalistic, and then almost immediately afterward clamp those sharp chompers of yours down right next to my hand like that!” I shook my finger at him to further reprimand his reckless behavior.

The bones twitched as he eerily tilted his head. “You think that I would bite you?” He inquisitively tapped his chin.

“Well, how should I know? You do remind me just how carnivorous you are every time I cook up plants. And I would probably taste far more delicious than them to you too.” I held my palm up towards him in a ‘talk to the hand’ kind of way, even though I was confident that he’d never actually bite me on purpose.

He swiftly grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me over his lap so that I was lying face-up across his strong thighs. “What the!?... Oh my god!” His large hand cradled the back of my head, entangling his black claws within my golden tresses. Slowly, his face leaned in, while a deep otherworldly purr rumbled out from within the depths of his chest.

The sound was so predatory and primal, abyssal and dark. Each titillating vibration coursed through my veins like sizzling electricity, awakening my senses with a tingling warm. They seemed to flow all the way down from the top of my head, and up from the tips of my toes until they met in the middle to intensely thrum right over my throbbing clitoris. I timidly gasped and tried to squeeze my thighs tightly together, unsure of the sudden heat pooling within my core.

Why the fuck is my body responding to that terrifying noise like this?

A wicked smirk adorned his lips, and mischief glimmered in his gaze as he peered down at me. “Hmm... I don’t know, Lucilia. You do have a good point. Maybe I should see just how delicious you’d taste?” He playfully gnashed his teeth right next to my ear, sending a shiver of either fear or desire through me. I wasn’t sure which one.

The voice of logic reasoned within my brain, saying “Bitch, this is some dangerous shit you’ve just gotten yourself into. This guy’s a fearsome otherworldly predator! You need to get your ass the fuck outta his arms and run for your goddamn life, girl.” And yet, I knew in my heart and soul that he would never harm me in any way. There was just something about him that was so purely good, so trustworthy.

“Go ahead, have a taste then.” My eyes narrowed as I confidently challenged his bluff, while smugly smirking back at him. “See if I care.” I bravely taunted, further sticking my hand within the flames.

...Oh snap!

A surprised squeak left my lips, as he quickly leaned down and dragged his sharp fangs up over the curve of my shoulder, while a deep abyssal growl vibrated inside of his chest. My breath grew rapid, and my nipples seemed to turn to little pebbles, as he continued to slowly graze his fangs up along the crook of my neck. Goosebumps rose across my flesh from the light caress, and a deep feverish blush adored my cheeks.

“Oh my! What are you doing to me!?” My hands instinctually latched onto his arms, as a thrilling rush of adrenaline was sent through my veins. His silky warm tongue suddenly flicked out and steadily licked up my throat. Then it glided along my jawline and to my chin, leaving a tingly wet trail in its wake. His nose caressed mine, then he flicked his long tongue out again to swiftly lick my cheek. All while that deep grow was still vibrating within his chest.

My whole body seemed to quiver and melt against its sensual caress, as I unwittingly arched my upper back and gasped from the arousing sensation. He slowly lifted his head back up, with his face mere inches from mine. My eyes flickered down to the full sensuous curve of his lips, and I bit my own lower lip at the sight of it... Oh my gosh, is he going to kiss me? My heart fluttered at the thought of it as I placed a tremulous hand on my cheek, directly over the electrified spot where he’d licked.

“Mmm... No, I don’t think I’ll eat you. Even though you do indeed taste delicious, you’re far too entertaining to make a meal out of.” His face broke out into a wide goofy grin, while unsuccessfully trying to keep himself from laughing.

What the hell... Is he seriously just fucking with me right now!?

I furiously snapped out of my wanton daze and smacked him on the shoulder in frustration... Sexual frustration, possibly... But I wasn’t ready to admit that to myself just yet. “Well, I’m glad that you find me amusing enough to keep my butt off your diner plate!” My finger firmly poked at his chest, while I angrily glared up at his stupidly handsome laughing face.

The bones on his head clicked, while the silvery leaves rustled above us. His laughter turned into a slight chuckle, as he tenderly caressed the side of my temple with his rough fingertips. “Don’t be angry, Lucilia. You know, you’re more than just amusement to me. In fact, I genuinely enjoy your company quite a bit. I’d be a fool to devour someone like you.” He teased, and yet, the endearment in his rubescent gaze had my heart fluttering like a butterfly.