<span style="font-style: italic">Wake up...</span>an internal voice crooned.<span style="font-style: italic">Time to make your day what you will.</span>Alys wasn't sleeping. She hadn't slept a wink in over two centuries. She had tried the whole sleeping bit, but it got old real fast. Why waste your time when you could be having fun? Presently, she was enjoying the cool breeze atop a large spire in the center of town. You could say she was resting. Her perch granted an ample view of high street--now there was something she always preferred, seeing her enemies before they could see her. Absently, Alys reviewed the events of last night. The two men she had drained begged her to stop before they would perish. She held no mercy for them. The whole reason she chose them was to play the game. She was good at it too; the only rule was discretion. Being found out would help nobody. It happened once before. Just once. Licking her lips sensually she remembered their taste; blood laced with the subtle taste of ale, something she almost never got to enjoy of her own accord.<br/><br/>"Curse this young body." She spoke aloud. Of course she was beautiful; many a man attempted to court her despite being far advanced in years. Or so they thought. If she had a shilling for every person she had met older than herself, why, she'd have two shillings!. Her life was a lonely one, but lavish. Her adopted family had no knowledge of her real self. Alys preferred it that way. She didn't often confide in her pets, because doing so meant keeping them. At least for a while.<br/><br/>The quaint town of Marlborough was starting to stir. Deciding it was time to move before she was seen Alys leapt from her spire and landed easily in a grassy patch below. She was on the outskirts of the town, who ever said she needed to be close to observe? Alys adjusted her current garb, a nice Sunday get up complete with flattering hat and prominent shoes. One needed to look presentable entering the town or folk would assume you were up to no good. A woman on the streets alone was hardly a common occurrence. As long as she looked 'up to business', she could pass by undetected and unspoken of. Her current relations did not like it when she disappeared at night, but she took care of that with a quick compulsion. Alys could care less what her 'family' thought of her, all that mattered was what she wanted.<br/><br/>Right about now that would be entertainment.<br/><br/>Alys walked briskly towards the center of town. She passed a few people on her way that recognized her. She gave them polite but curt nods, indicating with her expression that she was on a mission...which she wasn't. By the time that she had arrived at her estate, the town was in full swing. Bustling noises of carts and shouts could be heard until the wooden oak door had finally closed behind Alys, shutting out most of the sound. Having hardly taken a few steps inside the foyer, a voice rang out from the overhead balcony.<br/><br/>"Artemis!" it called. The voice belonged to Heather, the shrewd wife to Don Sarten, the owner and benefactor of her stay. Looking up without a care in the world, Alys gave Heather a stare that clearly conveyed 'what-the-hell-do-you-want-with-me-anyway?'. "You were missed at breakfast once again! Matilda comes to furnish your bed but you don't seem to feel you should be in it. My ill-gotten husband has opened up this house to an ingrate like you, but that does not mean that I have to put up with antics such as this! Why, if I had--" Heather cut off mid-lecture, because there was a petite fifteen year old girl situated directly in front of her on the edge of the balcony, staring her pointedly in the face. "How did yo--What are you doing up there?! I demand that you remove yourself at--"<br/><br/>"Why don't you shut up now?" a pleasant voice suggested to Heather. What a lovely voice; like a serenade for the ears. Heather fell into the compulsion quickly, so great was her experience at being controlled by the hand of this ingrate. She nodded resolutely, but silently. "Good..." Artemis continued. "Now, tell me why I'm here?" She questioned routinely.<br/><br/>"Lady Artemis is here to assist in the dealings with my husband. She is a great company to is and is warmly welcomed and received."<br/><br/>"Excellent!" Alys chimed in response. "So we're done here. Now, go straighten up this house, it looks dirty. No, no, you, not Matilda. She's done enough work for an ingrate such as your-self." Heather was all smiles as she worked her way down the stairs to the cleaning cupboard. The only reason her heart remained beating was convenience. It wouldn't solve anything to kill her and deal with Don and his questions later. Her compulsion only lasted as long as her commands were fulfilled, then she zapped right back into rude fashion. It was certainly possible to keep her contained within a compulsion, but citizens, especially Don would notice a permanent change like this. Best to think her odd chipper moods were rare albeit beautiful occurrences.<br/><br/>Alys made her way fluidly into her quarters. Checking herself in the mirror, she did agree she looked quite a bit ingrate-esque. She could fix that later, for she was also feeling somewhat peevish. She wanted a drink, and she knew just where to get it. Alys pulled her long hair out of its tied bun and smirked as she headed towards Don's study. She entered without rapping on the door, as was customary for her. Don looked up bemused at her entrance.<br/><br/>"Arty! I...wasn't expecting you so early. Weather treating you well I'd expect?" He babbled nervously. He was so cute when he did that.<br/><br/>"Yes...I actually think itâ€™s a bit crisp outside, don't you?" She said, brushing a hand suggestively across his middle-age desk.<br/><br/>"Oh, well...I suppose, a bit." He admitted sheepishly, trying his damnedest not to look at her hand.<br/><br/>"You know," she started, looking up in time to catch Don's mingled expression. "I was thinking that you might be able to help me feel a little warmer." Don coughed, emphasizing the roughness in his retort.<br/><br/>"I, well I just don't think that, I mean with my<span style="font-style: italic">wife</span>here..." He spoke tentatively, unsure as to whether it was wise to continue. It wasn't.<br/><br/>"Oh but that's quite alright. After all it's no concern when Matilda is in. This should be no different, don't you agree? Ah but I forget! She's busy cleaning at the moment, so you shouldn't fret darling." Alys spoke pleasantly with a slight chuckle. If only Heather had an inkling of what was going on between her husband and his mistress, why, she'd shriek and go fuming all over the house. This was true, as on several occasions, to amuse herself, Alys intentionally allowed for them to be caught fornicating. This little affair was just another way to alleviate the boredom settling in her heart.<br/><br/>"Cleaning!" Don began to erupt. "Why would--"<br/><br/>"Shh, shh, shh!" Alys chastised, her finger resting lightly on his full lips. She had used celerity to whip around the workspace and situate herself easily on his desk facing him. "Never mind it now. Let's just concentrate on us..." She spoke, her hot breath falling on Don's face. Mutely he stared ahead, as if in a trance which of course, he was. Smiling contentedly Alys heaved herself effortlessly off the desk and postioned herself around Don's chair, wrapping her arms around his large frame. "I'll be gentle again, for you." She whispered in his ears, as though confiding a great secret. She watched with delight as goosebumps rose on the back of his neck, even though he was powerless to respond to them.<br/><br/>Lifting one hand, Alys used her nails to brush away Don's loose hair from the right side of his neck. She bent to the spot she craved most, and let herself fall into her instincts. Her fangs protruded from her gums, elongating to a sizable length. She bushed the tips of them painfully across his skin.<span style="font-style: italic">Well, playfully gentle.</span>she corrected in her mind. The marks left lines where blood began to seep up, taunting her for an early finish. But she was of a higher caliber than that. Five long centuries of learning control did not an imbecile make. She flicked her tongue delicately across his vein before pressing her fangs deep into his flesh. Luscious...delectable was the blood that rose to greet her parted lips. It was warm but it cooled. It poured down her throat in tight gulps sating the burning feeling there. She relaxed for a bit, totally in her element as she drank her fill. Yet all good things come to an end. Before she had really begun, Alys knew it was time to stop. She pulled back, delicately this time, and withdrew her mouth from Don's soft tissue. The entire exchange might have been a loverâ€™s caress, so intimately entwined was she with her prey.<br/><br/>Releasing him, Alys left Don with a sated feeling. For all the world he was merely a man who had a long night and was now slumbering peaceably at his desk. Alys closed the door behind her departure, making sure to keep her head down and shield her eyes from the public. Generally, a normal human girl did not traverse the busy midday streets with eerily illuminated red demon eyes. Or rather, that was what they would say. To Alys it was all normal. It is not as if she felt it; well, that was partially a lie. The fact remained that it felt good to feed! So why should she not do what she must to survive when others always did? To be honest, there were much worse things than her...even if she was a bitch.<br/><br/>So it wasn't long that she had been strolling along when she noticed something peculiar. The town was off...something just wasn't right. It just might have been that this particular area was positively buzzing. Her eyes were almost back to normal. Up until now she had been keeping her mouth shut but she could feel her canines receding as well. She strolled casually up to a woman busying herself with a stack of papers.<br/><br/>"Excuse me madam," Alys started, looking up like a small girl who might have been lost. "Whatever is all this commotion about? I don't believe I have ever seen such an excited bunch." She said, gesturing slightly towards a group of young males smiling and acting rather foolish.<br/><br/>"Oh! Well ye mustn't 'av been out atall! Jus' this mornin', me an' a couple of the other merchants were gazin' down at all these flyers. We dun 'av any knowledge of where they came from, but look at 'ow elegant!" The lady passed Alys a flyer before leaving to attend to her stand. The text was indeed elegant, as far as text on parchment would go.<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-family: Vivaldi;"><div style="text-align: center;">Come one,<br/>Come all,<br/>Welcome the Grand Ball!<br/>For here the strong run for cover,<br/>And the weak stand tall.<br/><br/>If you're not afraid,<br/>Welcome to the Masquerade...</div></span></span><br/><br/>Afraid? Hah! This was just what Alys was looking for. A chance to get out and do something that was fun. Curious though, that there was no forwarding address as to where this strange invitation came from. And if everybody knew about it, was everybody invited? Typically Alys did not enjoy the company of lower classed humans, but they have from time to time interested her, so she supposed it would be okay. Grinning brilliantly, she made her way quickly back to the Sarten estate. When she was sure no one was looking, Alys once again used celerity. As a result, she arrived a full 10 minutes earlier than she would have normally, though she hadn't gone far.<br/><br/>She burst through the doors, swinging them wide as if she owned the place. You gotta admit she kinda did. She received a few fearful looks from the handmaids stationed in the foyer. If they were here, that meant that Heather was finished her cleaning and was most likely upstairs in the drawing room. Perfect. She could dress and prepare without interruption. One hour and forty minutes later, and Alys was all dressed for the ball. Her dress was a soft green, with off blue and gold trimmings. She adorned a beautiful red stoned collar necklace and her mask was a bright puce color with black feathers and sequins on the edge.<br/><br/>Come six in the evening, the sun was starting to set and the sky was beginning to darken. A large crowd moved steadily in the direction of the town's theater. Alys should have known. Of course a gathering of this magnitude would be hosted in the largest space available to them. The theater was a grand ball and auditorium setting where plays, concertos, and many other assorted forms of entertainment were carried out. The towns best and beautiful were stopping outside the large entrances to the theater, apparently waiting for something. Alys was alone, so she did look to be out of place. Once the ball started however there would be no way to tell what she was up to, because it would be normal for a kid to be off on their own exploring. Right now it was only her small stature to give her away, but with the added mask, it would be increasingly difficult to notice her. Tonight, she would have fun. An unnaturally chilly wind swept through the plaza outside the theater, and the doors swung open wide of their own accord. Music already playing drifted out through the entrance, enticing all who heard to enter. Alys sneered.<br/><br/>"So it begins."