** Just for the sake of better consistency folks... am changing this blog to third person perspective. **
@AppiusOcellaSVM . emerges again with another bit of input for @Alexei_Romanov1, this one in the nature of a mandate. Alexei's absence has weakened their bond and he demands that that weakness be done away with. He commands Alexei to allow himself be bitten and also to take his blood so that once again he would be under Ocella's full control and within the sphere of his awareness. Later... perhaps just to demonstrate that nothing has tempered Ocella's cruelty in his absence... he drains a young female before him and orders Alexei to dispose of her and lie to the staff that it was an unfortunate... accident.
Cassie, meanwhile, encounters another problem. Her recall of @MirandaLaney, which forced her to draw her own blood with a dagger, an athame special to Miranda - who may not know the extent of her own power has had an unexpected effect. That dash of Fae in Cassie's blood - enough to recall Miranda if needed, liked what it felt - and drew it in, enriched itself with it and left her with a bit of a mystery. Waking next to Alexei, she kissed him and headed for the shower, dressing, she grabbed up the athame and thought the radio had been left on or a monitor - and then slowly came on that realization that what she was hearing were the voices of those around her. Assuming they were trying to reach Miranda because it was her dagger, Cassie recalls Miranda again and is told... to her shock, that the reason she is hearing voices is because she can now hear the thoughts of those around her.
Shocked that that tiny bit of Fae could ever do more than spice her blood for vampires, she is given a decision - whether she wants to enhance that new power. Realizing what an advantage that could be in her work in relation to humans, she agrees and Miranda takes her through a few exercises to show her how to keep building on her new gift. For the first time in her life... Cassie finds herself with a supernatural power of her own and comes to terms with it quicky but deeply, riding out from the palace on a huge copper gelding she carefully chose... because she saw that he was large, powerful, and a challenge to tame... just like her new gift.
Filled with concerns, deep ones about the state of some affairs in the Romanov Kingdom, @Natasha_Cdr goes to @Irina_IGRM to talk at length. (See Natasha's Tales here: http://tashastales.tumblr.com/post/20352130597/about-me ).
Natashas' concern is Cassie and that she lacks the basic understanding of how the palace protocols work and her lack of respect failing to bow to @OlgaNikolaevna_ , one of the most revered royal council members.
Irina calms her and explains to her that they are obliged to deal with her American quirks, that Alexei is different than royals in the past in choosing her, that not only is Cassie not going anywhere for the forseeable future but that she will certainly not be given the job to kill her... Natasha continues to vent, needing her frustrations heard to the friend and colleague she has known for centuries, complaining to Irina of Cassie's boldness, sarcasm, and bragging and what she perceives as her lack of respect. Irina explains that in America... they have no monarchy and that it will take time for her to adjust and to consider that Cassie feels somewhat overwhelmed in the face of all those around her who have done the job she is taking on, in small part, for centuries. She tell Natasha, if she were able to assign her "homework" - to greet Cassie with a smile and give her some time. She also informs her that she will have a word with Cassie. Agreeing but still unhappy, Natasha is happier to move onto a more enjoyable pursuit, sparring the Irina so that they might hone the hands-on protective skills that have served them for so very long.
Still dealing with adjusting to telepathic powers, Cassie finds herself not only dining with Irina but of having the privilege of having the dinner prepared by Princess Katia herself, who is desperate to just be Katia. Over a meal of roast chicken and vegetables and white wine - Cassie and @Katia_Andreev begin a language lesson focusing on simple social interactions, something Cassie has left undone yet in the face of learning military commands. Dining with the first human she's had one on one contact with for any amount of time finds Cassie struggling to conceal her new talent, especially as images of Katia's murdered family pass through the young woman's mind. Katis is struggling still to accept their loss and the loss of her freedom despite the gain of rank and privileges that becoming a royal has provided to her. The two women find a point of contact, of closeness and of laughter when absent gestures by both result in servants leaping to fill Cassie's wine glass and a bevy of kitchen staff surrounding Katia to see what the sudden snap of her own fingers meant she wanted or needed.
Finally alone, with much to discuss, Cassie goes to Alexei in his office and as they talk she sees the bite marks on his neck. Slow to heal as they are from his maker, she undoes his collar and asks that they are. Alexei confirms to her that Ocella has compelled him to reinforce their bond against Alexei's will. Cassie reassures him that she understands and Alexei reassures her that their are ways of "negotiating" around the bond, that they are difficult to master and he will have to reacquaint himself with them to be able to connect with her as he once did...to protect her from Ocella's wrath. Knowing what a challenge that will be and how dangerous for him, Cassie asks if he would really risk that for her, tears streaming down her face, and Alexei reassures her he would. As the only person in the palace who knows of Ocella's secret brutality to Alexei, Cassie struggles with the news but work demands both of their attentions. She promises Alexei that later on, back in their chambers, when he is preparing to die for the day that she'll have something positive they can share.
As dawn approaches and he joins her in the suite, Cassie tells Alexei they have something to celebrate and that her contact with Miranda's power has initiated a change for her... that she can now read minds. Alexei is happy for her but concerned that the change is overwhelming, especially in the light of everything else she's absorbing. She reassures him that she'll deal with it somehow, that in the end she knows it will be a huge advantage. Reaching out for Alexei after they speak of being each other's refuge, Cassie is surprised when he doesn't respond then realizes that he is afraid of Ocella and what the consequences could be since he is still working on mastering how to work his way around the bond. Alexei quells his fear for a moment and takes her in his arms and asks that she speak to no one of what he's told her, to treat Ocella as the others do. Ocella is loved and revered, that he is barbaric in private to the prince must be their secret... just as Cassie's newly emerged telepathy will be. Cassie volunteers to simply act as a trinket he has brought back from America - a souvenir of sorts and regretting it mightily, Alexei agrees that would be best. Feeling the pull of dawn... he lays down to die for the day, trying to relax as Cassie has advised, as she kisses his forehead and lays down to rest with her head upon his chest.
No comments:
Post a Comment