Meeting at Dusk (Social- Aera Tylidae Marianna)

Night. The realm of nocturnal, time for the horrors to move about. Marianna wasn’t lost, yet she wandered this place without a goal. Ever since the day of pirate hunting, the Eldritch Vampiress knew not in which direction to go. For thousands of years, she was surviving in this world, through good and bad, through a cycle of torture and torturing. And now she found herself in these woods, a home to many creatures that would surely be considered evil by the mortals of this fleeting realm. In her path, a number of corpses torn into pieces and dried off their blood. Marianna was fed well enough.

And she could feel it. Yet another presence in the shadows, one seemingly stalking her through these woods. Yet, she did not care. She just walked, her human form still present, but clad in a cloak of pitch-black mass that would not reflect the light from the Moon. It was growing and shrinking, unable to remain still as it flowed in the faint winds. No one could even begin to guess that this was her true form, appearing like just another article of clothing. The true appearance of a horror that wished to devour this entire world.

But then this presence stopped. It stopped right ahead and waited. It was not a predator, for a predator would have taken all of its changes and attacked in a situation where it would be at the greatest advantage possible. This one was different. Because it waited. It was intelligent, not yet another beast of these woods. And so, as Marianna walked, she would finally see it. A humanoid form of another female. Was she a human? There was a potent smell of blood, but it did not come from within her body, in the same manner, it would if she was a human.

And so the vampire stopped, even if it was for but a moment. She did not say a single word at first, merely gazing at this curious humanoid with her golden eyes, ones that were almost shining and piercing the darkness. And then, she finally spoke. "A ty jsi?" Words that were spoken in an unknown language that no one but Marianna would understand. A language used long ago by her nation, one that she learned from the old and rotten gods that made her into what she was today. Words that pierced the ears drums of mortals that would hear it.

Translation: “And you are?”

Whatever it was, it understood. Whether fully or partially, that the vampire did not know. Still, it was both surprising and amusing, experiencing something like this. She did not expect her words to come through at all. And yet, her physical body did not flinch at all, her eyes not blinking and simply staring forward. Marianna listened to the words but did not react as if they were never said in the first place. Why should she listen? She as not given a reason to. Death was no threat to an immortal and what else could really happen here. It was not important at all.

Because the other creature vanished back into the shadows after stating her intentions. But that was hardly the end of it. Marianna was not thirsting for blood at the moment, but there was something about this land. Looking at the soft grass and dirt beneath her, she would suddenly extend one of her hands toward it. And as she did, several thorned vines would escape from her pristine, pale skin. They would bury themselves beneath the ground and search. Search far and wide, as well as gather. Soon enough, the green vines would turn crimson red as blood started flowing through them and into the vampire’s body.

But it was not a fresh blood. Instead, it was a very old one. This land had seen many horrors. And whether that being from before was truly the one to rule over this place or not, there were things outside of its control. Creatures that would die and their blood spilled into the ground, taken by Gaia and return to what it once was. Here, the ground was saturated with it. Not many creatures, even ones that had to rely on the consumption of blood, could do this. Not that old blood like this tasted any good to a vampire, especially one that had lived for as long as Marianna.

But to yet another surprise, that creature from before returned, its form taking place in this realm once more and approaching. Speaking. Eventually, Marianna’s eyes would once again turn toward her, but the vines remained. “Dítě bohů. Upír. A mnohem více.” Once again, she spoke in that language from before. But then, her expression grew much calmer and gentle for reasons unexplained. “You approached me before and now you’re approaching me again. You wish to know more about me.”

Translation: “Child of Gods. A Vampire. And much more.”

The vampire would listen with her unmoving, perfectly still gaze at the other female. Her speech, her movement, all of it was much different to what Marianna had observed in the common creatures of this world, in humans. Was it a given? Or perhaps this being, whoever she was, simply acted and wanted to appear as more than she truly was. The golden-eyed vampire had no need for fancy words or actions. She was but a tired creature. Tired of living and her undeath, yet bound to it endlessly. Suddenly, her eyes would move toward the ground as the vines from her body retracted and moved back into her skin, leaving it perfectly pristine.

She would not turn even as the other life-form moved about as if she was stuck in her own mind. But then, as the other one stopped talking, Marianna would look at her again. “To study me… studied I’ve been. Skin cut open with sharp knives, limbs removed, head buried, heart pierced, my veins torn out. Yet, they arrived at no result. Only pain for me and death for them.” Suddenly, her body would become entirely covered in black inky substance and fall apart, only to reappear floating right behind.

In a single instant, the vampire’s arms would wrap around Lynn’s body from behind in a strangely affectionate manner, as if she wished to hug her. “Soft skin, eyes that pierce the darkness, a beauty that is unmatched… and yet, you did not give me your name. But you may call me Marianna. I walk without a goal and stop when I feed. You stopped me, but I do not feed. No, you stopped me with your words and beauty. If you wish to study me, I might allow so. For a price you will have to pay. Give me time when I will feel ‘alive’ again.”