Here's another of Lucinia and Annabella's adventures. The Dreamer uses his mind-magic to delve into Lucinia's core, and find the answer to how to convince her to become a Dreadlady.
Chapter One
"Lucinia!" Annabella called. Lucinia Draconia, practicing her sword-skills outside, easily heard her adoptive mother's call, and sheathed her blade. Walking around to the front of the house, she entered and moved through the building until she found Annabella sitting on a chair in the living room. The Blood Dragoness went over to the Lahmian and sat beside her.
"Yes, Annabella?"
She smiled and held Lucinia's hand. Although Vampires were generally cold and dead to the touch, Annabella seemed warm due to her aura of beguilement, which she used to a small extent on Lucinia. Not that she really needed to, the Blood Dragoness thought. With her perfect, long-limbed body, sleeveless black dress, black eyes and long, sun-blonde hair, and sweet voice, she already seemed the pinnacle of beauty.
"Lucinia, I've been thinking. We've been mother and daughter for 50 years, but I feel as though we have not done anything particularly special together."
"No, we haven't," the crimson-haired Blood Dragoness agreed. She was nowhere near Annabella's physical standard, but had sky-blue eyes on an attractive face, a smile befitting the 23-year-old woman she appeared as, and a well-muscled body. Her only fault was a scar from a silver blade on her neck, which she hid under her crimson clothing.
"So, I was wondering what you would say to sailing around the world." Annabella smiled.
Lucinia's eyes widened. She'd never sailed more than rivers, when necessary. "Around the world?"
Annabella's eyes sparkled. "Yes, my daughter. It'll be a great adventure. Consider it a reward for being my daughter."
"Being your daughter is reward in itself," Lucinia protested.
Annabella stroked her short, blood-red hair, causing her to smile. "Then consider this further reward. I promise it will be fun."
"What if the Queen requires us for missions?"
"Don't worry about that, Lucinia. We are free to act as we wish for a while yet."
Lucinia jumped to her feet, excited. "Then let's find a boat and go."
Annabella stood, revealing her to be a head taller than her daughter. "I have already arranged it. I knew you would not be able to refuse the opportunity."
"You were right."
They arrived at the busy port - in full daylight, both of them old enough to not be concerned about the sun - and found that even their Vampiric grace and agility were not enough to avoid all the crowds going to and from boats and stalls. Lucinia could smell much blood around her, and knowing she would be unable to feed for a long time once she stepped onto the boat increased her temptation, but she was Blood Dragon, of strong will, and knew she could not give in to such base instincts. They had both fed before, and she was confident Annabella had taken her needs into account when she planned the voyage.
Apologising to the last person she brushed past in her red half-plate armour, Lucinia followed Annabella down a finger of the dock.
Annabella pointed at the boat moored beside them. "This one's ours."
A man came to the side of the boat. It was immediately clear from his beard and lined face he had been sailing for years.
"Annabella and Lucinia?" he asked.
Anabella nodded. "Yes, Josephus," she replied with a smile.
"Then come aboard," he said gruffly.
Lucinia did so, careful not to appear to have too much balance on a gently rocking ship. She politely helped Annabella aboard, and then looked around, eyes wide. She'd never been on a large boat before, and could see many masts on the deck, sails currently furled. The prow curved up into a figure somewhat resembling a wooden lady. Curious, she asked Josephus, whom she guessed to be the captain, "Who's the lady?"
He laughed. "No one in particular. It's mainly a good luck charm. Don't want Vampires, among other things, aboard, now do we?"
"No, we don't," Lucinia responded, hoping her silent laughter at the irony would not be detected.
"Lift anchor!" Josephus called. "I want to get moving!" Crew rushed to carry out the order, unfurl the sails, and untie the boat from the dock.
Josephus looked at Lucinia's armour and sheathed sword. "You're a fighter, then?"
"Yes, I am," Lucinia answered proudly. As is my mother, but you don't need to know that.
"Good. We need some way to keep the pirates away."
The Blood Dragoness swallowed. "Pirates?"
"Pirates. Not just humans, either. They kill you for your treasure. Elves take you for...you really don't want to know. And I won't even start on Norsemen."
Lucinia blinked. Suddenly the voyage seemed a lot less appealing. But it was too late, and she would relish the chance to practice her skills.
Annabella laughed softly. "Thank you, Josephus. I think the girl knows more than she really wanted to, now."
"Can't avoid it, though. That's another thing the lady is for."
Lucinia's eyes flashed when she recovered. She didn't need her hand held, literally or metaphorically. "I believe I will be equal to any task required."
"You certainly look capable. This is a merchant ship, bound for Ind. Given the value of our cargo, your skills may be needed," Josephus told her.
Lucinia nodded. "I will do my best to protect this ship."
"Will you be requiring refreshments? Or can you wait until the regular time?"
"I can wait," Luicnia said quickly. She didn't know about Annabella, but whilst she was able to eat normal food and drink normal drink, she had to vomit it later, something that could get awkward on a boat. She decided the best strategy would be to eat as little as she could, and empty her stomach at night, when the meal could be safely disposed of overboard.
"I can wait also," Annabella said.
"Welcome aboard the Sea Dragon," Josephus said.
Lucinia suppressed a laugh. She was a Blood Dragoness, travelling on a boat called the Sea Dragon!
That night, after vomiting her food into the sea Lucinia saw Annabella place her hands over the side of the boat beside her.
"So, is this worth it?" she asked, smiling.
Lucinia's eyes shone, and she reflected her mother's smile. "Yes, Annabella! I like the wind in my hair, I like the sense of freedom the ocean gives, and I like exploring."
"I thought you would, my daughter. I like these things too."
"And its so different! No cities, no manipulation, just a few people on an artificial island." She turned to Annabella, a serious look on her face. "I must confess to you, this is a far better rest from Sisterhood work, and my complications than a few days' leave." Though living as aLahmian, with a Lahmian mother, Lucinia still tried to live true to her Blood Dragon sire's teachings, something that often stressed to her to near breaking point.
Annabella nodded, smile vanishing. "I know. That's the real reason I arranged this. Every mission I think you get closer to tearing yourself apart between your loyalties. Several months away from it will do you good."
"Thank you, Annabella."
Annabella's smile returned. "There's no need. I'm your best friend. Now let's go back to sleep before our absence is noticed."
Chapter One
"Lucinia!" Annabella called. Lucinia Draconia, practicing her sword-skills outside, easily heard her adoptive mother's call, and sheathed her blade. Walking around to the front of the house, she entered and moved through the building until she found Annabella sitting on a chair in the living room. The Blood Dragoness went over to the Lahmian and sat beside her.
"Yes, Annabella?"
She smiled and held Lucinia's hand. Although Vampires were generally cold and dead to the touch, Annabella seemed warm due to her aura of beguilement, which she used to a small extent on Lucinia. Not that she really needed to, the Blood Dragoness thought. With her perfect, long-limbed body, sleeveless black dress, black eyes and long, sun-blonde hair, and sweet voice, she already seemed the pinnacle of beauty.
"Lucinia, I've been thinking. We've been mother and daughter for 50 years, but I feel as though we have not done anything particularly special together."
"No, we haven't," the crimson-haired Blood Dragoness agreed. She was nowhere near Annabella's physical standard, but had sky-blue eyes on an attractive face, a smile befitting the 23-year-old woman she appeared as, and a well-muscled body. Her only fault was a scar from a silver blade on her neck, which she hid under her crimson clothing.
"So, I was wondering what you would say to sailing around the world." Annabella smiled.
Lucinia's eyes widened. She'd never sailed more than rivers, when necessary. "Around the world?"
Annabella's eyes sparkled. "Yes, my daughter. It'll be a great adventure. Consider it a reward for being my daughter."
"Being your daughter is reward in itself," Lucinia protested.
Annabella stroked her short, blood-red hair, causing her to smile. "Then consider this further reward. I promise it will be fun."
"What if the Queen requires us for missions?"
"Don't worry about that, Lucinia. We are free to act as we wish for a while yet."
Lucinia jumped to her feet, excited. "Then let's find a boat and go."
Annabella stood, revealing her to be a head taller than her daughter. "I have already arranged it. I knew you would not be able to refuse the opportunity."
"You were right."
They arrived at the busy port - in full daylight, both of them old enough to not be concerned about the sun - and found that even their Vampiric grace and agility were not enough to avoid all the crowds going to and from boats and stalls. Lucinia could smell much blood around her, and knowing she would be unable to feed for a long time once she stepped onto the boat increased her temptation, but she was Blood Dragon, of strong will, and knew she could not give in to such base instincts. They had both fed before, and she was confident Annabella had taken her needs into account when she planned the voyage.
Apologising to the last person she brushed past in her red half-plate armour, Lucinia followed Annabella down a finger of the dock.
Annabella pointed at the boat moored beside them. "This one's ours."
A man came to the side of the boat. It was immediately clear from his beard and lined face he had been sailing for years.
"Annabella and Lucinia?" he asked.
Anabella nodded. "Yes, Josephus," she replied with a smile.
"Then come aboard," he said gruffly.
Lucinia did so, careful not to appear to have too much balance on a gently rocking ship. She politely helped Annabella aboard, and then looked around, eyes wide. She'd never been on a large boat before, and could see many masts on the deck, sails currently furled. The prow curved up into a figure somewhat resembling a wooden lady. Curious, she asked Josephus, whom she guessed to be the captain, "Who's the lady?"
He laughed. "No one in particular. It's mainly a good luck charm. Don't want Vampires, among other things, aboard, now do we?"
"No, we don't," Lucinia responded, hoping her silent laughter at the irony would not be detected.
"Lift anchor!" Josephus called. "I want to get moving!" Crew rushed to carry out the order, unfurl the sails, and untie the boat from the dock.
Josephus looked at Lucinia's armour and sheathed sword. "You're a fighter, then?"
"Yes, I am," Lucinia answered proudly. As is my mother, but you don't need to know that.
"Good. We need some way to keep the pirates away."
The Blood Dragoness swallowed. "Pirates?"
"Pirates. Not just humans, either. They kill you for your treasure. Elves take you for...you really don't want to know. And I won't even start on Norsemen."
Lucinia blinked. Suddenly the voyage seemed a lot less appealing. But it was too late, and she would relish the chance to practice her skills.
Annabella laughed softly. "Thank you, Josephus. I think the girl knows more than she really wanted to, now."
"Can't avoid it, though. That's another thing the lady is for."
Lucinia's eyes flashed when she recovered. She didn't need her hand held, literally or metaphorically. "I believe I will be equal to any task required."
"You certainly look capable. This is a merchant ship, bound for Ind. Given the value of our cargo, your skills may be needed," Josephus told her.
Lucinia nodded. "I will do my best to protect this ship."
"Will you be requiring refreshments? Or can you wait until the regular time?"
"I can wait," Luicnia said quickly. She didn't know about Annabella, but whilst she was able to eat normal food and drink normal drink, she had to vomit it later, something that could get awkward on a boat. She decided the best strategy would be to eat as little as she could, and empty her stomach at night, when the meal could be safely disposed of overboard.
"I can wait also," Annabella said.
"Welcome aboard the Sea Dragon," Josephus said.
Lucinia suppressed a laugh. She was a Blood Dragoness, travelling on a boat called the Sea Dragon!
That night, after vomiting her food into the sea Lucinia saw Annabella place her hands over the side of the boat beside her.
"So, is this worth it?" she asked, smiling.
Lucinia's eyes shone, and she reflected her mother's smile. "Yes, Annabella! I like the wind in my hair, I like the sense of freedom the ocean gives, and I like exploring."
"I thought you would, my daughter. I like these things too."
"And its so different! No cities, no manipulation, just a few people on an artificial island." She turned to Annabella, a serious look on her face. "I must confess to you, this is a far better rest from Sisterhood work, and my complications than a few days' leave." Though living as aLahmian, with a Lahmian mother, Lucinia still tried to live true to her Blood Dragon sire's teachings, something that often stressed to her to near breaking point.
Annabella nodded, smile vanishing. "I know. That's the real reason I arranged this. Every mission I think you get closer to tearing yourself apart between your loyalties. Several months away from it will do you good."
"Thank you, Annabella."
Annabella's smile returned. "There's no need. I'm your best friend. Now let's go back to sleep before our absence is noticed."
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