Kryos licked slowly around his pointed fangs with his tongue as Aria spoke, acknowledging the surrender and detailing her terms. His eyes remained unblinkingly fixed on hers, her beating heart playing out excellent music to his ear as accompaniment to her words. She was achingly delicious in her royal composure, her noble poise, her<i>sensual curves</i>...<br/><br/>It took every ounce of restraint in his two-hundred fifty year old being to resist and listen to her words, playing out like piano keys over the words about kingdoms and peace and safety and...<br/><br/><i>Was she talking to one of his</i><i>servants?!</i>He gave the little slave a glare that ignited terror in her trembling little heart. She hesitated, but obeyed<i>too</i>well the request from the Queen from Serenity. She would pay for that later.<br/><br/>"Those wounds on her neck, King Kryos", she began. Aria looked away from the servant and then at the Vampire Lord. "Is that your doing?"<br/><br/><i>Are you bold and foolish enough to confront me about this, you arrogant little... </i>the whisper of anger erupted in his blackened veins.<i>But perhaps she was merely curious...</i><br/><br/>The Dark King's eyes, glowing like embers in a fireplace, moved from his<i>too</i>obedient living, breathing<i>hors d'oeuvre</i>to the one who called her over and addressed Aria's question in an even voice wrapped in ice:<br/><br/>"And if it was?" he asked in answer, tilting his head ever so slightly as a challenge to her authority to question anything he did at all. Before she had a moment to respond, he drew closer to her, moving so fluidly and silently as to banish any notion that it was natural at all. His scepter was sliding,<i>throbbing, </i>hotly against her throat, slipping up her neck to caress and brush against Aria's jaw, its smooth, hard heat and warmth reaching her lips and nose with its scent. Kryos' eyes never released hers until they shifted momentarily to address Darian and her guards who had raised and readied their weapons with his sudden move towards their queen.<br/><br/>Then they slid like sidewinders back into her bright hazels. "As with any terms of surrender, we shall certainly<i>take your position into consideration</i>.<i>But</i>, as you know, changes in<i>management</i>are often necessary to...<i>prevent further rebellion," </i>he sucked in the chill of the dark hall before continuing, "and<i>reward those </i>who performed their duties<i>admirably</i>." At this, he held up the orb in his left hand, which seemed to grow in size by a few inches, though not enough to exceed the grasp of his long pale palm. "As you can see..." he added, inviting the Queen and her entourage to gaze within it, as its shadows and mists parted.<br/><br/>Within, they saw Aria's father. He was chained to a dark, rough hewn stone wall by heavy iron shackles and chains. Even with the illumination of the orb, it was a dim, dank place, but nothing gave away its precise location. No less than six vampires surrounded him, licking their lips, hissing with hunger and need.<br/><br/>"Observe," Krios directed them, "how I keep my best warriors and generals well-fed on the<i>finest </i>meat."<br/><br/>All of the vampires moved upon his body as one, closing up around him instantly like the petals of a black rose in the frost, covering all but his face in their dark, flowing attire, their pale faces, four of which were female, disappearing with bloody hunger to sink their fangs deep into various parts of his flesh. The old man cried out as they pierced him in several places, beginning the process of draining his life into their hungry, young bodies immediately. The color left his cheeks, the spark left his eyes, and his skin grew thinner, as his vitality was sucked greedily from his veins.<br/><br/>"Stop," Kryos commanded. As one, they pulled away, their blood red lips and stained fangs turned towards their lord's visage in the orb. "He is not to be killed." With sneers and bowed heads, they slowly, haltingly, reluctantly parted, leaving the old man hanging from his chains with tears leaking from his eyes, his breath ragged and rasping.<br/><br/>The Vampire Lord shifted his eyes to Aria again. "Tell your guards they may remain here for tonight while the<i>transition</i>takes place. On the morrow, they will depart these lands." Turning to face Darian, Kryos continued. "And<i>if</i><i>any</i>rebellious acts of violence are committed against myself or my subjects, you may consider my order on<i>your</i>father," he turned back to Aria, "<i>rescinded </i>and his life<i>forfeit</i>."<br/><br/>"Now," Kryos smiled for perhaps the first time since their meeting began, "Shall we dine?" His warm scepter grazed her neck once more and then flew away back to his hand, as he passed the orb over to the guard on his left without acknowledging him. The serving girl he beckoned with a long pale finger, freed now of the orb. She bowed her head and went before him. "Right this way, Lady Aria, if you please. The dining quarters are down the hall."