The warmth of the water penetrated her skin and wrapped around her bones causing a satisfied growl to escape Helenaâ€™s lips. In the years since she had died, her appearance had not changed. The dark strands of rich chocolate hair suspended in the water gave the illusion of magnificent shadows dancing in a sway. She brought her slender hand up to wash away the dried blood from her face and chest. She recalled the satisfying crunch the bones had made as her beast had ripped her prey apart. A person could only cry wolf so many times before others stopped paying attention; it was one of her favorite tricks to lure a decent meal in. Although she did rarely hunt for herself, she enjoyed it when she did. The battle between humanity and the beast had consumed much of her thought in between daydreams of her sire and her studies of lore and language.<br/><br/>She sought some answer to justify her behavior to herself; to find some reconciliation so that her soul may continue on peacefully. She was expected to be beautiful, powerful, and without regard to former human ideals. She had agreed that humanity is a vampireâ€™s greatest weakness. Without the predator within, she would be prey just as any other human. What eased her mind was the simple fact that she was no longer human; she was immortal, she was nosferatu. It didnâ€™t make her better than any other creature; it meant that she was in another category with another place in the life cycle than the others. It was the natural way of life of all creatures that one assumes the role of the wolf, and the other the sheep; and that process and necessity she had determined was not something to be ashamed of; it wasnâ€™t a stain upon the soul. It was survival, nothing more, nothing less. Taking more than one needs to slake the thirst was an entirely different story.<br/><br/>She allowed herself to enjoy the kill and to enjoy feeling the fresh blood flowing through her veins warming her from the inside as the water heated her flesh. By the time the woman had wasted enough time enjoying the lingering warmth, the water was tinged with a light rosy hue. She smiled not because it came from the seven year old girl she had just butchered; but because it reminded her of the roses that Daniel had first given her. Who knew remnants of ones last meal could be so romantic?<br/><br/>She pulled herself from the tub and stepped out gracefully over the edge as she reached for a towel to begin drying off. Her hair had already begun to curl at the very ends which proved quite the obstacle for her ivory comb to endeavor. She slowly lifted her silken robe from the nearby chair and slipped it over her shoulders, pausing for a moment in reverie. She remembered when she had first come here; covered in blood from her first kill and sobbing miserably as her soul had found such conflict. Daniel hadnâ€™t left her side until she was calm again, and the blood had been washed away from the fledglingâ€™s form. He always used to sit in that chair. She ran her fingertips over the top of the fabric lightly as if the object itself contained that precious memory.<br/><br/>â€œ"For over a century, I had lived in secret until the day that news of you reached my ear. I knew the risk, but I have to have you,â€ came the exceptionally masculine voice from behind Helena. She pulled her robe closed quickly tying it about her slender waist as she turned around. He had startled her so badly she had jumped but immediately pulled her lips into a polite smile.<br/><br/>â€œDaniel,â€ she gasped with a relieved sigh. â€œYou scared me.â€  Her heart beat slowly with the remnants of her last meal as she expended blood to give her a more life-like appearance. Still, while she knew it was a conscious choice, she couldnâ€™t help but to feel as if his presence is what had caused her heart to beat. She slowly churned the words over in her mind, and the excitement built, just a bit. â€œIâ€™m sorryâ€¦â€ she shook her head, wanting to hear more desperately. â€œWhat were you saying?â€<br/><br/>â€œFrom the moment that I heard of you and the stories of Helena of Northpeak I knew that you were the one that I wanted to embrace; the one that I wanted to take as my childe and confidant after so many years of searching,â€ continued the blue eyed vampire with his ever perfect short, dark hair. His visage was almost always so perfect that she had many a time cursed that perfection. She never drew notice that she often had the same effect.   â€œMy memory is too clear; to sharp. Things should wear at the edges, and what is unresolved should soften.  Scenes are near to my heart like pictures never fade as if every event I have witnessed happened only moments before. I remember the first time I lay my eyes upon you; the first time I tasted your bloodâ€¦â€<br/><br/>Helena leaned forward a bit in anticipation; she was completely drawn in by his words and his presence. With every syllable her heart grew fonder and beat a bit faster. The one thing she had lacked in this life and the prior was any experience as someoneâ€™s companion, as their partner, as their wife or significant other. She had waited many long years and that shred of humanity that was left in her; the part which she desperately clung to longed for him to say the words she wanted to hear. Over sixty years together; she had at first thought him afraid of commitment, then realized the difference in mind set. Sixty years may have just as well been sixty minutes.<br/><br/>â€œI have been doing a lot of thinking in my travels; and I apologize for having been away from you for so long. I needed to sort out my thoughts and provide a good argument to the council for approval and acceptance of what I had wished to do. I promise, it was not because I was ignoring you or didnâ€™t want to share my time with you---â€œ<br/><br/>â€œOh of course not, I understood before you even spoke a word of unnecessary apologies,â€ she hadnâ€™t understood but wished for the prolonging of his speech to come to an end and get to the point she had been waiting for. â€œI understand how appearances are important and if you spent all your time with me they may doubt your impartiality to an issue if it involved myself. Oh, Iâ€™m sorry, again Iâ€™m jumping in. Please, continue Danielâ€¦â€ She silently cursed herself for her rambling tongue. She always rambled when it came to him to the point where she could go on for hours about something as simple as a butter knife or a field mouse. He had once commented how he loved to sit and listen to the chiming bells within her voice.<br/><br/>He laughed a bit at her eagerness and placed his hands on her shoulders, staring down at the beautiful woman. â€œWell, to be truthful I convened with the council members on a matter regarding yourself, my dear.â€ He smiled; she did her best to control her expression and not melt into a complete pile of goo on the floor. His entrancement lasted even though he wasnâ€™t trying; it was always there with her. â€œAfter much deliberation, and while it is unconventional for our kind, as a decision like this has never been made of one so young beforeâ€”â€œ<br/><br/>â€œYes?â€ she whispered in her angelic voice; her black eyes staring up into the one that had ended her human life.<br/><br/>He drew in a breath. â€œWell, I have never in my time as undead, encountered a woman of your beauty, eloquence, poise, mastery over your presence, and intelligence. It is for these reasons that I am exceptionally proud to have you as my childe, and for the work that you have done for our sect in such a short time. This is why, after convening with the council, that I ask you to accept the position of Regent within the high council by my side.â€<br/><br/>If there were words to describe how she was feeling; Helena couldnâ€™t find them. The shock that over came the girl, firstly because she was expectant of a confession of love, secondly because she had never expected nor wanted a position on the council, was so intense that the only utterance that was capable of escaping her throat was â€œWhat?â€, as she blinked.<br/><br/>He smiled. That effortless, charming smile. â€œYes, I know you arenâ€™t even a century old but you are quite a special woman. Iâ€™ve displayed your merits as well as what you have done and they are willing to make an exception. They want you on the council and will convene next month to perform the induction ceremony.â€<br/><br/>She managed a smile. â€œDaniel, thatâ€™s wonderful,â€ she said shaking her head half in disbelief half in disappointment. It was, to be sure, an honor to be among their leading ranks, even as the lowest rung of the leading ranks at her age and experience. Then again, her sire was more than respected amongst the community and had served on the council for years. As he drew her in close for an embrace; the dampness of her hair soaking through the silken fabric of her robe did very little to bring her back to the present. Her mind was focused on his words. She put her arms around him, squeezing tightly. He didnâ€™t withdraw until she did; he never did.<br/><br/>â€œUhâ€¦I should probably get dressed. No sense in walking around in a damp robe all night when I have a journey to make,â€ she retaliated as she headed back into the bedroom to rummage through her dresses. When she came out of the room she saw a bouquet of gathered dusty mauve roses.  â€œDaniel, they are beautiful,â€ she said walking over towards them, picking them up and touching the flowers tenderly.<br/><br/>â€œWell,â€ he said emerging from the doorway after having lifted a towel from the floor and set it in itâ€™s place. â€œEvery year on the same day you go to your fatherâ€™s grave and you spend at least three hours trying to decide what colors to get, so in order to save you time and ridiculous distress in the decision making, I got these for you to bring.â€<br/><br/>She turned around, having thought they had been for her. She was so confused at whether she should be angry that they werenâ€™tâ€™ for her, or pleased that he had remembered the day of her fatherâ€™s death and had been thoughtful enough to take such an action. Her thoughts rotated between thanking him and attempting to throw a shoe at him. â€œThank you, Daniel. They are lovely,â€ she smiled.<br/><br/>â€œI am glad they meet your approval, Regent Helena. I would be deeply disappointed if I had offended you in some way by my gift,â€ she smiled with that sparkle in his eyes. She shook her head, knowing full well the playful tone in his yet respectful words.<span style="font-style: italic">Regent Helenaâ€¦that will take some getting used to</span>, she thought to herself as she pulled a dress from the dresser, a pair of shoes and hat and scurried behind the sheer dressing panels to don her appropriate clothing. Daniel went on about what would be expected of her with an enthusiastic and cultured tone as Helena remained silent answering with a â€˜yesâ€™ or â€˜of courseâ€™ or â€˜I wouldnâ€™t dream of itâ€™, here and there respectively. Meanwhile she grumbled internally at the last wisps of humanity that plagued her.<br/><br/>She soon emerged in a corseted black dress with an intricate lace pattern about the neckline and along the hem. Upon her hands she wore the black-lace gloves that concealed the glasslike fingernails unless upon very close, brutal inspection. The heels of her shoes were respectable and quite sharp. Daniel caught the slight flash of metal about her leg as she fixed the hem of her dress; he knew it was a knife. She placed the hat upon her head and set it with pins in her hair, bringing the netting down over the left side of her face and fixing her hair a bit.<br/><br/>â€œEvery day I swear to both the demons and angels that your beauty intensifies,â€ he looked down at her. â€œSo does your promise.â€ He kisses her forehead and heads over to the large bouquet of flowers. He removes two roses and walks back to her; pinning them on the tilted left side of her hat. â€œIâ€™m sure he wonâ€™t mindâ€¦â€ he whispered quietly. â€œIt brings a bit of color to your cheeks and makes you more alive. It will help ensure your safety while within city limits. Every time you go, it makes me worry. I know you are capable enough, but to see something happen to you, Regent Helena Thorne; would mean a very dark ending to any party involved.â€ He smiles and squeezes her hand for a moment.<br/><br/>â€œI need to meet with Consular Grayson before the nightâ€™s end. Do you wish an escort? I can make time if you so desire,â€ he responded as he headed towards the coat rack to lift her black and crimson riding cloak from the peg and go to secure it around the beautyâ€™s figure. She looked like a perfect sculpture.<br/><br/>â€œNo, Iâ€™ll be fine,â€ she assured him, touching his shoulder. â€œThank you, though.â€ She nodded with a lovely smile, and he walked with her with the bouquet in hand to his horse in the stables. He helped her up and handed her the bouquet.<br/><br/>â€œIâ€™ve already found a blacksmith for your signet, when you return you must let me know what you wish, and you shall have it,â€ he assured her as he followed her slow trot towards the city.<br/><br/>â€œI will be gone only for a few days. It will give me enough time to figure out what I want. Unlike roses it may take me a bit longer than a few hours,â€ she jokes, and he laughs. The two part ways as Helena rides upon the white stallion, and the elder disappears into a rolling mist to race through the forests towards his own destination.<br/><br/>The woman rides at a brisk pace; easily navigating her way through the terrain when she hears voices. She slowly trying to figure out the number, and if she would choose to feed. After having fed so recently she decided it was best not to, to be discrete as possible. The last thing she needed to bring was hunters to Danielâ€™s doorstep. She wasnâ€™t scared for his safety, but rather his dissapointment in here. She continued on her route quietly; black eyes piercing through the air towards Northpeak as she approached her destination with the bouquet in hand.