Ambrose POV

As Arelia slept I drew sketches of her sleeping, one could say it was a hobby of sorts.

Others a profession if good enough for others to commission.

My mother once told me I'd be a renowned artist someday...who knew I'd be the queen's general.

Ideas of my childhood long forgotten in the fray of war.

Spilled blood that could drench my clothes a thousand times over has made me forget about the simplicity of life.

To be content by even the mundane of things.

To see a woman my heart started to ache for, sleeping...was a beautiful sight...a calm feeling that washed over me knowing she was safe and sound.

And yet I knew if she could she'd hate me if not for our involuntary bound formed by fate...formed by unseen forces that could only be explained like the wind.

I wanted so badly to touch her cheek, to wipe away a tear that was straying away from her closed eyes.

But alas...I could not in fear of her awakening.

So instead I took out more drawing material and started to use charcoal as she continued sleeping.

Drawing her in the field of flowers with the moonlight hitting her face had to be one of my best pieces yet.

Maybe because of the way her dark raven hair contrasted her pale skin...or maybe the peacefulness of her expression that lay restfully in her face.

Something about the artwork I had just created reflected peace in the midst of sorrow...in the midst of sleep.

At that I shook my head afraid to think anymore on the matter.

When she started to stir awake I shoved what I could out of sight as I flipped my sketchbook to its cover, shoving that under the bed she laid upon.

Once her amethyst eyes opened fully, her immediate reaction led to her shuffling to the furthest part of the bed, farthest away from me.

"No need to be alarmed, I only saved you from a week of constant sleep. Unless you didn't mind being in a death like sleep for that long?"

"No. I have better things to do than waste my hours away on sleeping."

"Then follow me." She gave a hesitated look and did not take my offered hand.

Instead brushed past me and waited for me to take lead.

"Not outside, what I want to show you is down here." I opened a trapped door that was partly hidden under a rug.

A space that led to an underground wooded forest, big enough to build a cabin house if so desired.

"A present from the queen when I became general...she can create spaces like this...one of many of her talent's."

"One of many?" Was all Arelia had said before watching her reflection in a small pool of water.

"Yes. After all, she isn't the queen of us vampires for nothing. But she does have a sort of soft spot for you. But it's her story to tell, not mine."

"Soft spot...for me? But she's a vampire? What do I have to do with anything?"

"You're human and she had a human lover at one point. Who ultimately betrayed her love in the end. But she never stopped loving him."

"Betrayed her love?"

"He was selfish and afraid, a coward...but also was one of our most trusted friends...that was until he grew to fear Estel's growing power as the full blood royal she was born to be. Queen of the vampires, our protector from any and all threats to our very existence. Both a burden and a gift, but really it's mostly either one or the other with most vessels who've obtained such power in her line..which had been passed down for generations. She is the seventh of her line to take a hold of such strong and potent power. And maybe the last."

"What do you mean the last?"

I gave her a weary look.

"She has no lover, no significant other, no one to pass her bloodline to. So her only option is to bless one of her closest kin or one of her kind to take her place someday soon or the power will die with her. Since the betrayal of her human lover she desires no man. No partner which means no king. You could imagine how the sits with the royal council."

"Not pleasant."

"Not one bit. But Estel is strong and I know she plots schemes and plans unbeknownst to them. Plans that will keep her power going to vessel to vessel."

"Why do I have a feeling she's picked you?"

"I'm afraid not. If so i would've known already."

"You're too humble." She almost spoke in a scowl of annoyance as she kicked up dirt beside me as we walked.

"You're too mysterious yourself."

"Women are meant to be mysterious. It's a known fact. Plus everyone has secrets, everyone is allowed to have secrets."

"Dangerously mysterious." I spoke softly as almost a whisper as she didn't seem to notice.

Her gaze fixed on the glittering pixies ahead which glowed like that of fireflies.

"What are they?"

"Pixies, nasty little creatures if you rub them the wrong way. This is kind of like a sanctuary for them. Away from the prying eyes of humans and other hungry creatures out for a snack or a nice cozy profit."

She finally turned to me as she held one gently in her hand that seemed to have fallen asleep.

"Why help these small creatures?"

"Why not?"

At that she placed the small sleeping pixie of a soft mossy green slowing back on its leaf as we walked on.

"We may be tied to an unseen rope of fate...but that doesn't mean I love you. Ever. I may lust after you for a mere moment but I hate you even more. And that's what will keep me from becoming your stupid pet. I'm a human, I'm capable of deception. I'm capable of betrayal. I'm capable of many horrible and terrible things. So very terrible."

And as if for a moment, a flash of sorrow washed over her eyes like a glossy effect as she looked away from me.

"If you are the thorn, I am the rose." I spoke softly as she didn't even attempt to look my way as scorn wore on her face.

"You're a fool. That is all you are to me."

I knew from just her tone that her words weren't at all empty...but very much full of threat and ill intent to possible kill me.

If anything I believed she was underestimated just how scary I can actually be.

What beast I lay dormant was for her to find if she so wished but I'd prefer to leave it sleeping, even forever if I could.

I was no monster ...no monster until I was pushed to be one.

Like wearing masks, it seems hers and mine were to play the parts of a ballroom ballad.

Like a dance unforeseen in its course, led all on instinct.