The Cloaked Lady

[Maezyl King]

The winds howled loudly and rapped constantly against the frames of the windows. Dawn was upon the skyline, filling it with shades of orange twining with the bright blues of the upcoming day. The gloomy, gray skies had finallt receeded and it seemed like things would be alright with nature, even if only for a day. A long dress swayed from side to side, slipping across still humid grass. Things seemed different, stranger, newer, older. So many different descriptions that the cloaked figure could not choose. Emerald eyes looked up. At once, they caught the first ray of the day and a small smile crept along the graceful, pale features of the female hidden deep within the midnight blue cloth. A sigh came from her lips and she undid the hood letting it fall in rivets across her strong shoulders. Although she wanted to hide her mood, there was a very small smile on her face. Her eyes were somewhat downcast watching something else swerve and zag from her line of sight. The defeaning sound of a giggle wrung out in the small encrampment between the many trees. She laughed, a joyful laugh. One that was only heard from her when she was with those she loves most. Something tugged at the thick satin cloak and she looked down. "Mel." She whispered and bent down low to try to meet within eye level of the culprit. Bright clear eyes met up to look at her, the sweetest smile on her little face as she giggled and murmurerd "Momma" to her. Her arms came around her daughter and she sweeped her into her, giving the toddler a series of kisses and raspberries. "You're just like your father, Melisande Victoria Zanlaraniel. No wonder he loves spending time with you! Probably giving you ideas." She gave a motherly nod of amusement only to see her little Mel shake her head and then smile brightly at her mouthing off a "no". Maezyl was amused she was learning a lot and she knew it wasn't just from Van, but no doubt from Niessa, Rionos, and Zora too. She pursed her lips and carried her little girl out of the woods and towards the shining light of the day. The days around the whole of the town has grown dark and cold but the same could be said about everywhere else in the world. Still the same troubles and the same worries but for a brief moment, she had a respite from all the problems. And she could be happy. She looked about the area and out Melisande down letting her walk forward flapping her wings trying to imitate a bird and calling out "Daddy wook at me!" constantly. Mae giggled and shook her head. "Yep, she's definitely a Zanlaraniel."

[Vandos Zanlaraniel]

He watched the small child playing innocently as his boots crunched against the small little pebbles by the shore of the crystalline water. The young demon was a constantly brooding man now, but little Mel, with a smile to melt even the most evil creature, forced him to crack a smile as well. His shoulders supported a regal-like cloak, that covered some very form fitting clothes. As he walked, his muscles could be seen bending and tightening with every step. There was still a spark in his eyes, the soft soul he possessed inside. The rest of him looked like the traditional demon, when they simply had to walk about the land and had the respect their species at one time deserved. Vandos believed they had long since lost that, and were still too stubborn to renounce their old ways. The day was perfect, almost too perfect, and the sun hitting the water seemed to be teasing them, telling them that soon they would be begging for such an environment. To keep his mind off of such depressing things, he watched his daughter as she ran to the water, splashed and ran back as if she'd done something quite spectacular. She looked like her mother in every way, and now his eyes wandered to the beautiful creature who had given him such a blessed life. Maezyl, far more beautiful than any sunrise or body of water. His eyes outlined her form, her stature, her presence. He closed his eyes, opened them, his vision noting her aura, how hers remained intertwined with his own. The effect was nothing short of amazing, and he shot her a quick smile as he came to a stop where Mel was. "Melisande, would you like to swim in the lake, sweetheart?" The small child nodded fervently and he just gave a nod of compliance. "Let's get ready to go swimming then, like we showed you."

[Maezyl King]

She canted her head to the side watching Mel and Vandos interacting. It felt good to have a day like this. Things in the King and Zanlaraniel families were always hectic, bloody, and violent. A year, a month, a week didn't go by that something hadn't happened to someone in such a large family that involved injury or someone killing someone else. But to her this was heaven. And she cherished it for as long as she could knowing that it would be a few more years until she got a chance to just be at one with nature, her children, and her husband. She moved closer to the waters edge and Vandos and wrapped her arms behind him, leaving the sweetest kiss against his cheek before pulling away to allow him to swim with Mel. She pulled off her cloak and let it rest on the ground. Her body was coverd in a light blue dress adorned with an ancient elven design. A beautiful locket rested against her neck and she looked nothing short of a Royalty. She fixed the bottom of her dress and smoothed it under her, taking a seat on the satin cloak. Although she was silent and regaling on the moment, her mind couldn't stop reeling with so many thoughts. Moreso the unspoken word and questions held between her and Vandos. Questions that she wanted to know but didn't want to ask just yet, not until the time was right. There was a very special connection between the two and she knew that deep down he knew she had some reserve and a lot of curiosity. She brought her knees upward and wrapped her arms around them watching the ever curious Melisande running back and forth between splashing the water and close to her father. "She's just like you, Van. Ever the curious genius." She grinned at him. "I just hope she doesn't end up fighting like you because if people thought YOU were tough, they're in for a surprise when it comes to her. Just look at Rionos, just as bad as his father." There was a glint of amusement in her gaze.

[Vandos Zanlaraniel]

"Me? Oh, on the contrary, the children fight like you. Ruthless, and quite ferociously. That's from you." He smiled and put his cloak on the floor, and next came his boots, his pants and then his shirt. He was left in just some undergarment shorts that were contradictory to his outfit. They looked as if he was a peasant from a farm. They were the one thing he remained unchanged with. They were comfortable, and he was a creature of habit. His daughter had on a little swimming outfit beneath her clothes and he smiled as she inspected his toes with interest. "They're big, aren't they?" He wriggled them as she tried to hold them and he just winced when her nail scratched his pinky toe. "To the water with you little monster." He stood up and the sun hit his perspiring body. He was no longer the lanky, thin man he used to be. His body was toned and every muscle was defined. Using one hand, he picked Melisande up and held her upside down as she giggled. He walked backwards into the water until he was up to his knees. "Climb up." Mel clambered up to sit on his shoulders and he moved a bit farther out, to his waist. He sensed her caution of the water. "Well, what are you waiting for child, jump already. Daddy's here and he won't let the scary water harm you." That seemed good enough for Mel and she jumped into the water and before she hit the bottom, Van picked her up and she was gasping for breath and in the silence, he let out a loud, long, and hearty laugh. "You'd think I caught a fish out of water. Hold your nose like I taught you Mel, and keep your mouth closed." He just shook his head and smiled.

[Maezyl King]

"Be careful you two!" Maezyl sat watching Van and Mel, it made her reminisce about when Rionos was younger the time they spent together. Of course that had been before he was forced to grow up so suddenly. She no longer had her little boy but a teenage boy who was closer to adulthood and closer to experiencing the harsh realities of what were life for them. She'd missed out on his childhood and it was a feeling she'd never fully gotten over. On the opposite side of the spectrum was her eldest. Her handsome Regulus. The first fruit of her and Vans love. And one that neither had known about for years. Another childhood missed, another opportunity taken from her, from Van. Zora, suffered the same fate. From a child to an adult without as much as a transitional period. And now there was Melisande. As a mother, Mae couldn't stop worrying about whether or not she would be denied her daughters childhood too. It seemed to be a pretty usual occurance by now. One that she should not have been used to but she was. But even in that state, she still held hope, it was hidden and unseen but she hoped that for once she could live through all the joys all parents could. Mel was flapping her arms aroung wildly, dozens of giggles escaping her still innocent lips. Her clear eyes staring so deeply into her fathers and then a quick hug around his neck and a kiss on the cheek before she was trying to squirm herself away from his grasp to once again taste the joys of swimming and a momentary freedom. Mae leaned back, her elbows propping her up from behind as she smiled and giggled at the sight before her. But amidst all the laughter something else was ebbing towards the surface of her soul and her momentary carefree attitude. It was a feeling that she could not shake off, one that had been there for awhile now and gone unspoken. She felt pain and sorrow, but mostly anger. It was so familiar to her. She'd felt it before but she could not quite place it. All the anger and resentment threatened to drive her insane. For days now, weeks, she'd been pulled towards the Zotithla's mansion. Something in there, something that was hers was deep within its walls but it was all a feeling she could not explain. She blinked and slowlty rose to her feet, her blue dress billowing under her as she made for the cloak and placed it across her arm. She was uneasy now and something throbbed in her. For a brief moment her eyes changed to a bright yellow with the slightly hint of black. It must have been the Dragon blood in her.

[Vandos Zanlaraniel]

He sensed something going on with Maezyl and almost forgot to pick Mel up out of the water. He did so, and heard her scold him for waiting so long. He nodded an apology, but held onto her with one arm and waded back towards the shore. "Go throw a few rocks into the water and save all the red ones for daddy. I need to talk to your mommy for a little bit." The young girl nodded and walked several feet from him so he could remain watchful. Now his attention went to Maezyl and he put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it rather hard to snap her away from whatever she was feeling, so that he could find out what was going on. "Well, what's the matter? You've been acting strange, and I want to know what's going on, because I've been feeling odd lately myself, and I can see that I'm not the only one Mae." He turned her around and put both arms on her, trying not to get her dress wet because he was soaked.

[Maezyl King]

Maezyl's eyes darted up from her position. Vandos. The only creature she had ever truly loved with all her heart. The only creature who understood her better than the rest of the world. The only creature who knew both their triumphs and their pains in the same degree that she felt them. Her partner. Her lover. And her confidante. But even so could she confide in him the unsettling feeling that threatened to consume her. The curiosity was building in such large amounts that she felt she would lose her sanity at times. This feeling was slowly making her believe the craziest of notions. Were those whom the called sons, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, and everything else... truly whom they claimed to be? She had a dream. A very dark foreboding dream that awoke her in the early hours of the night. There were two dreams they were both almost the same but from two very different perspectives. They scared her and yet beckoned her to discover its meanings and its secrets. She let her eyes rest on Vandos' for a long time without a word uttered. For those rare moments she let her thoughts swirl and simmer from the growing maelstrom that brought her close and close to the brink of the 'twisted lands'. Her eyes changed colors once more, a golden ocean of knowledge and a black slit of an abyss. Her eyes, her face, her entire countenance took on that of a wise creature. In fact, of the wisest creatures to ever have existed. For one brief moment she was completely one with the Draconic blood that flowed through her veins. For years she wondered if she was losing a bit of her self, if the strong vampiric blood that flowed through her veins was diminishing as well as the blood of the elves and whatever other blood flowed through her veins. The days passed and she saw the world just a little differently than the day before. She saw great merit and honor in wisdom and spoke with the experience of the ages. Of course though she was younger than Vandos, much younger than he was. He truly had the wisdom of the ages, of experience, and of life and death. But her wisdom came from a primal, powerful, arcane, and extremely dangerous sort. Knowledge and wisdom intertwining to let her know the world differently from her kind and from her kin. For that brief moment that passed between them she let her eyes tell Vandos the story of the maelstrom of emotions and doubts that swirled into her mind. She let him see the wisdom of the ages and the fear of these mysterious dreams. Would he see them? Could he see them? Their link was strong, stronger than anyone she had ever met and for a very long time she wondered if one day he could see into her mind, into her thoughts. Now would be the day that she would find out. Still, she had her doubts and she picked and chose her words to tell him if this experiment she held between them, between husband and wife, between best friends, between soul mates could traverse the laws of this plane of existence. It's no secret that their experiences had bestowed them with a far darker and yet stronger bond between them. Now could they prove that love truly was the most powerful tool... and could her precious Vandos save her from the edge of the "twisted lands" while trying to uncover these secrets that have been locked in her mind and soul.