<a class="postlink" href="https://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/90/e3/21/90e32162b639a3b0b054f3098846b4e0.jpg">[ img ]</a><a class="postlink" href="http://www.picresize.com/images/rsz_commission_by_clearmirror_stillh2o_by_ontos75-d7u970t.png">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>In the vast territory of Parycia there lived King Nicolas and his seventeen year old daughter, the Princess Annalise. The dark, stone castle stood tall above the numerous villages of the lower class where peasants lived in peace with the royal family. Parycia is bordered on all sides by lush forests where nymphs roam the mossy floors. The population included the normal humans and the undead. A race inclusive of vampires, werewolves, and other beings of the darkness. A good portion of the undead live in peace with the humans, though issues exist between them.  While many would be loathe to admit it, a lot of people unconsciously see undead in a negative light. If an intelligent undead walks past them in the street, they clutch their belonging and move away as inconspicuously as possible. While the Unliving Person's Union, the key figure of undead representation in Parycia tries their best, a lot of issues crop up that require their attention.<br/><br/>Parycia's attitude towards the undead is actually quite forward-thinking. While other countries at least accept on principle that 'undead aren't all mindless kill-them-all creatures', most of them don't treat the undead as fairly<br/><br/>~~~<br/><br/>It was late September when Annalise's father told her of the suitor he had lined up to marry her. Being a princess has it's perks, however, love was not in the cards for her. King Nicolas, her father, holds complete power over Parycia and some adjoining territories. He has friends in all the right places- the folks with riches beyond belief.<br/><br/>His name is Leonard.<br/><br/>Leonard is a kind gentleman and in line for the throne of Etrias. Annalise had met him only once before she was told that he was to be her future husband. His hair fell in tresses of ginger curls down his back and he had a golden spray of freckles across his nose. He looked like a child, to her, trapped within the confines of a man's body. Leonard attempted to kiss Annalise only once on the cheek, but she rejected him ruthlessly. Not because he wasn't a kind man, but because she had no interest in being romantic with him. The only way she benefited from the marriage is the joining of Etrias and Parycia. Their alliance with each other will grow even stronger against their enemies, no matter how few they had.<br/><br/>It was evening when her father dismissed her from the courtroom so his men could have a few drinks in the company of only other powerful men. She retreated to her chambers and collapsed on the canopy bed in the middle of the room. It was late and the moon was full. She wished that she could sleep, but Annalise craved some company. Her father only let her associate with those of high status, like them, but other princesses were snobs and couldn't fathom why Annalise preferred exploring to doing her hair many times over. She tried to explain that she needed beautiful scenery to write her poetry, but they never understood.<br/><br/>Annalise wandered towards the large, wooden doors that kept her chambers separate from the winding corridors of the castle. She knew she would have a guard posted outside, so there was no way she could escape to the woods to write. Annalise shoved the doors open anyways only to come face to face with someone only faintly familiar. Her hair was the color of ash and her eyes a blood red. She was strangely beautiful despite her skin that seemed to crawl on it's own and the sharp bones in place of her fingers.<br/><br/>"Uh..." She whispered, "Who are you?"