Chapter 2: Noir
It felt like cold water was splashed over my body and I was suddenly jolted awake. I clutched my chest and fought for breath as I stared down at the sheets covering my body with wide eyes. A beautiful woman, no older than eighteen, with long black hair, two pointy ears, blood red eyes, and two tiny fangs, that barely poking out from her bottom lip, leaned in the side of my vision and said "Helloooo! I thought you would never wake up!"
She waved her hand at me with a smile and I felt compelled to wave back. Suddenly, a dull pain spread out from my neck and I winced before placing my hand where the pain was. Seeing my discomfort, the woman frowned slightly and said "Don't worry, it'll take a while to get used to, but you're fine. I promise." I turned my head to get a better look at her and was momentarily distracted by her stunning figure, which was made even more apparent by the skin-tight black dress she wore.
I shook myself from my daze and asked "W-What do you mean...? What will take a while to get used to...?" I was sure I had died back in the Navus' dungeon, and my little fifteen year-old mind couldn't handle the realization of being alive after, literally, just dying. The woman gave me a smile that had a hint of sadness contained within before saying "Are you sure you wanna know...? If I tell you, promise not to get mad, ok?"
It felt like my heart was going to burst from seeing her sad, even if it was only a little bit, so I quickly answered "Y-Yeah, I won't get mad...I just want to know how I'm still...alive..." The woman pat the side of the bed I was laying on and asked "May I have a seat?" I nodded my head and she sat down with a soft sigh.
"Firstly, my name is Nalia Vesphyr, and I am what you would call a Vampire. I am the current head of the Vesphyr House, which is the first house of Noir, the Demon Realm. I, Nalia Vesphyr, have turned you in order to bring you back to life, however, you are not a Vampire like I thought you would be. You are something far, far from such a being..."
She stopped and opened her mouth, but she didn't speak. Nalia closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. "You are something that has never been heard of before. You are a Half-Demon. The blood of a Demon runs through your veins, while the blood of a Human is mixed in with it, each side tainting the other in a never-ending battle for dominance."
"Upon my turning you, you are now apart of my family and are, undoubtedly, one of the strongest in the entirety of Noir. You are alive because you had reached out to me with the last bit of your crumbling soul. I am here to help you fulfill your parents dying wishes, and I am here to help ease the burdens on your heart..."
'Vampires...? Demons...? What the hell is she talking about? I...I never asked to be revived...right...?' Suddenly, a warm embrace interrupted my thoughts as Nalia said "I'm sorry that you can't see your parents just yet...hold on for a little longer, Take. I promise that they're all right, and are watching you safely from the afterlife. Please, just hold on for a bit longer...I don't want you to face them like this..."
"I..." My voice failed me and I was left with nothing but tears as I finally broke. I broke from the pain and suffering I endured, I broke from the torturing I received, from the bullying I went through, and from the realization that I may never see my parents again. I broke from the pressure of just being alive. A scream of pure sadness tore through my throat as my tears stained my clothes and the sheets on the bed, all while Nalia was holding me tightly.
It reminded me of my mother's embrace. The way she would always hold me when I came home in tears after being bullied by the rich kids. The way she would always soothe me with her calming words, and even the way she smelled...
I soon found myself returning Nalia's embrace as I calmed down considerably and asked "Why does living have to be so hard...? Why is there nothing but hate and greed hiding within the heart of man?" She tightened her grip around me and said "I don't know, truthfully. It's such a shame that someone as kind and brave as you had to endure such a cruel life all because of a few greedy and pathetic, spoiled rich men. I want to change the world for the better, but I'm afraid of only making it worse..."
"Then let's work to change the world together. With the both of us, there's bound to be a way to fix it..." Before I even knew what was happening, or even where I was, I had placed my full trust in this woman before me. I don't know why, and I'm sure I'll regret it one day, but it just feels...right.
"Sorry...about all that." I said as I wiped my eyes on my sleeve. Nalia shook her head and said "No, Take, I encourage you to lay yourself bare with me. After all, someday, I'll free you from your burdens, but I can't do that if I know nothing about you..." I let out a small laugh and let go of her lithe frame. Her face was full of kindness and it made my heart tremble a little when looking at her.
I coughed to relieve myself of these awkward feelings before asking "So, what will I be doing here in Noir, or whatever you call it." Nalia paused and put a finger on her chin before saying "Well, you can do really anything you want since you're apart of the First House. Which means you can also seek out an ability that you want, since you're now, technically, a new species than what you were before."
I widened my eyes a little and thought 'An ability huh...I wonder what it'll be like having one after fifteen years of being completely powerless...' It was a tempting thought. "Well, I'll leave you to get comfortable with the castle and I'll have my best butler assigned to you for all of your needs. Remember, I'm only a single whisper away if you need me!"
Nalia disappeared in a cloud of smoke and was replaced with a old man with pale, grey skin, long grey hair tied back neatly, and two ruby red eyes that matched his black suit and red tie surprisingly well. "Greetings, young Lord, my name is Daarvess and I am but a humble Dhampir assigned as your personal butler. If you require any refreshments, a warm bath, or food I shall be but one call away."
Daarvess bowed low and quickly looked me up and down with a curious glimmer in his eyes. "Uh, greeting Daarvess. My name is Take...Take..." Daarvess widened his eyes slightly as he stood straight and said "Ah, my apologizes young Lord. It seems Lady Nalia has yet to inform you. Since you were turned but Lady Nalia, your last name is now void, however, it is replaced with out House's name. Vesphyr. Fear not, though, for you will be able to use your previous surname when sent out on missions within the Realm of Humans."
'Vesphyr...Take Vesphyr...' I thought as I looked down at my hands, my scarred and beaten hands. Realizing something, I hurriedly took my shirt off and noticed that I had scars all over my body, as well as burns and bruises, many from the vile tools William had used to torture me. However, some were from working in the fields in my earlier life.
"Is everything all right, young Lord?" Daarvess had a worried expression on his face as he watched me inspect the various scars, bruises, and burns on my body. I quickly looked up and waved my hands before saying "Oh, uh, no nothing's wrong. I was just wondering why I had all of the scars from before, even though I was technically reborn."
Daarvess tilted his head slightly before asking "Do you want me to find a healer to remove these scars, young Lord?" I immediately shook my head and said "No. They help me remember what I'm fighting for. Thank you for the offer though, Daarvess. Oh and, if you could, I'd like to see if I could get some type of combat training, sooner is preferable to later." Daarvess bowed low and said "Of course, young Lord." before disappearing into a cloud of thin smoke.
Taking advantage of being alone, I hopped out of the bed I was laying on and immediately noticed a difference in my body. I was more toned than before with power filling every fiber of my being, while still being slim and not too muscular. The most shocking change, however, was that, upon looking into a mirror that I had found next to the bed, I found out that my hair, eye color, as well as my facial features had all changed.
I used to be a skinny, dirty-blond haired kid with bright green eyes, but now my hair was completely black...no, half black and half midnight blue, but the blue was so dark that it was almost impossible to notice it, while my eyes were a dark orange that glowed like a fierce fire. I used to be an average looking kid, but now...now I really looked like a lady-killer, that is if you could get past the dead eyes and long, unkempt hair.
I walked back over toward the bed and slipped my shirt back on just as Daarvess appeared with a much younger man in a similar suit with long, light blue hair, golden eyes, two pointed ears, and a kind smile plastered onto his face. "Young Lord, this is my son, Synfael, and he shall be teaching you the ropes of combat, unarmed as well as armed if you so choose."
'Damn. I'll never get over how awkward it is to be treated so highly.' I smiled and nodded my head before walking over and extending my hand toward Synfael and saying "My name is Take Vesphyr, it's a please to meet your acquaintance." Synfael smiled even wider before shaking my hand and saying "Likewise, young Lord. I shall be in your care from now on."
Suddenly, Daarvess raised his hand and smacked Synfael on the back of the head before whispering "Dumbass, treat the young Lord with more respect...!" in a harsh voice. I couldn't help but laugh upon seeing Synfael's embarrassed face. They both looked at me with nervous and confused faces as I waved my hands and said "No need to be so formal with me, I used to be a commoner after all."
I cleared my throat and extended my hand once more before saying "The name's Take. I hope we become good friends someday, Synfael." Synfael sighed in relief before smiling and shaking my hand once more as he said "So do I, Take. My name's Synfael, but you can just call me Syn..."
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