Josephine snorted in amusement at Blanche's comment. "I could out drink you any day." She playfully pushed her shoulder. She could hear the music and chatter dying down, and she knew the clock was just about to strike midnight. They had been on the balcony together for awhile, and she didn't exactly plan on leaving too soon. Hopefully she would be able to see Blanche again, no matter where or when. How unfortunate they couldn't spend the rest of the night together. Or perhaps they could?

Nobody said the night has to end here. From her spot on the balcony, she could see a pair of glowing eyes in the courtyard below. They were hidden in some rose bushes, peeking out slightly. The moonlight reflected upon the silvery body of the creature. She was unsure what exactly it was, but it was probably a coyote or some raccoon of sorts. Its eyes glowed a bright green, mixed with golden. She focused in on it, watching as it retreated back into the bushes upon being noticed. Odd.

Fireflies danced all around the courtyard, some of them drifting their way up to the balcony. They twinkled in sync with each other and flew around, making a soft buzzing noise as they whizzed past. She has always loved fireflies, especially on a night like this. The air was warm, it was sweet, and it was peaceful. The fireflies were really just the cherry on top. Crickets chirped in the distance, calling out to each other. She could smell an oncoming rainstorm and the scent of freshly cut grass.

The night was captivating and bright. She had experienced many nights like these, but never one so peaceful. Josephine softly traced her fingers up and down Blanche's skin, humming softly and quietly to herself. Her sharp nails pressed against the silk gloves, though they comfortably rested there. From downstairs, the music had stopped. It was completely cut and the chatter had died. "...minutes to midnight!" She hadn't quite caught the first part of what was being said, but she knew it was an announcement about how quickly midnight was approaching.

Soon, she would get to see the face of the woman she was so dearly curious about. Soon, she would have to leave the same woman and possibly never see her again. It was bittersweet, to experience such a lovely night with someone she would leave until the next year. That is if she could even find her at the masquerade again. Typically, Josephine was a very popular woman at events like these. She was always swarmed and asked questions she didn't have the answers to.Ever since this event had been going on, it was that way. Being one of the last few vampires actually born as one, it was understandable.

She stopped aging whenever she was 21 and would forever be that way until her death, or until she was cured. Being cured of vampirism was a horrible and difficult task, and often ended in death. In the middle ages, someone had attempted to perform the cure ritual on her and she had nearly lost her life. In a blind rage, she murdered them and went on a spree. She had lost all control and was nearly unstoppable.

Bringing her attention back to the woman in her arms, she couldn't help but smile warmly. Had they been unmasked, she would've kissed her. From her earlier response, she could tell Blanche didn't know who she was. Good, hopefully it could stay that way. Josephine didn't quite know who Blanche was, but knew she had some sort of importance among werewolves. The name was familiar and she had heard it many times, yet she couldn't quite place the importance of it.

At the usage of a compliment, she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, although it was thankfully hidden by her mask. The music resumed, the same slow songs it was before. "So? I'm not one to judge." She chuckled, giving Blanche a second to gain her balance. She then gently moved the hand on her waist down lower, now resting it on Blanche's lower back. She began to move in time with the soft music, a classical song she didn't quite recognize. It was a sweet and smooth piano ballad with faint violins in the back.

Josephine guided Blanche across the balcony, never looking away from her. It was sort of funny, the shorter woman leading the dance. For a second, she pulled herself away from Blanche, quickly spinning her around and then bringing her closer again. She froze up a little bit upon feeling Blanche rest her head against her shoulder, but she quickly corrected herself and continued to move. Her movements were smooth and fluid, matching the pace of the piano.

The moon shimmered down on the two, its light illuminating the entire scene. She could see the way the light reflected in Blanche's eyes, the way it danced across her skin and her mask. For a moment, Josephine wished she could see the view from above. Her eyes closed and she let her body guide them, swaying softly in time with the music. If it hadn't been a full moon, she would've asked Blanche to leave with her. But she knew she couldn't keep a wolf away from the moon, and she wasn't going to try.

Josephine let out a gentle sigh, her hand gently caressing Blanche's back. She was at total peace, and had completely forgot about how on edge she was earlier. Oh, how she wished she could just stay in this moment forever. She opened her eyes again whenever Blanche spoke. The hand on the bottom of her cheek was comfortable and warm. "Words can't describe how much I'm enjoying this." Josephine hummed softly, brining her other hand to Blanche's hair. She gently stroked it, gazing into her pale green eyes. "I promise. Perhaps we'll see each other again sometime soon." She smiled, gazing up at Blanche.

Josephine had some tricks up her sleeve. She could most definitely find Blanche again, and the two could spend more time together. It completely defeated the point of why the masquerade is held, but she didn't care. She didn't care she was supposed to forget about Blanche because she wasn't going to. The music cut again, and she knew it was time. Her smile quickly turned into a frown as she heard the announcer's voice again. There was a loud chime, signaling midnight. "And the clock has struck midnight! Masks off, please!"

Even though she knew their time together had come to an end for now, it meant she would get to see the face of the masked beauty. "I guess it's true when they say all good things must come to an end." She shook her head, stopping her dancing. Josephine kept one hand on Blanche's back, and reached the other up to the back of her head. She carefully undid the clasps of her mask, minding the flower that covered them. She took the flower from her hair, holding it as she undid the final clasp.

Josephine allowed the mask to slide down, then took it off. Her pupils dilated from the newfound light, having been partially shaded by the mask. She held both the rose and mask in her hand, a soft smile on her face. Josephine took one of Blanche's hands and gently pushed the rose into her palm, closing her hand so it didn't fall. "Something to remember me by."

She blinked a few times, bright golden eyes still adjusting to the brightness of the moon. It was even more beautiful than she could see from underneath the mask. For a moment, she couldn't help but stare up at it, admiration written across her face. She then turned her attention back to Blanche, patiently waiting.

Josephine sighed softly, her mind stuck on their previous little conversation. Downstairs, she could hear the excited chatter of people, and quiet music still playing in the back. Above all else, she could heard the sounds of hooves on cobblestone approaching. Her heart sank and a pit grew in her stomach. Those horses were coming for her. It had only really just sunk it that she would have to leave, and that would mean leaving Blanche. She just couldn't do it. The woman was the first in years she felt a connection with, and wanted something with. Josephine didn't just want to spend a night with her and then never speak again, no. She wanted them to be together for the rest of Blanche's lifetime. How unfortunate to want something death can touch, even more unfortunate to want someone she can't have.

The hooves drew closer and closer until she heard them stop. Despite all the other sound around her, that seemed to be the only thing she could focus on. She had quite sensitive hearing and could pick up on the shuffling of a mouse miles away, so it's a wonder how she managed to only focus on the hooves. She brought a hand up to the bridge of her freckled nose, pinching it gently in annoyance. It was a habit of hers she did whenever she felt anxious, or annoyed. Josephine could hear the doors open and close, signaling that people were leaving. She didn't want to leave. She couldn't leave.

Her heart seemed to race and pound against her chest as she thought of a way, any way to spend more time with Blanche. This wasn't like her. Although a very clingy woman, it wasn't normal for her to be so clingy to someone she had met hours ago. But there was something pulling her to Blanche, it was as if their stars were crossed. Fated to be, but not allowed to. A classic tale of tragic love that she wasn't ready to experience, no matter how old she is. She glanced up towards the sky, now able to see every little star without the blockage of the mask. Somewhere in the distant sky, past all of the usual stars and constellations, she swore she could see two stars with their paths crossed. Perhaps it was a sign?

Josephine turned her attention back to glance, who was still masked. She couldn't control the gentle pink tint that came across her face upon hearing the compliment. Her bright gold eyes watched intently as Blanche pinned the rose into her hair, then began to undo the the laces that held her mask on. She scanned every little feature on the new face before, but she quickly froze in horror. She knew the name was familiar. Hell, the woman standing before her was the daughter of her father's rival.

Josephine knew the face all too well. Her father spoke about Blanche often, and had informed Josephine to steer clear of her at the masquerade. But what had she done? Stayed with her, and only her the entire night. Somehow, it didn't seem to change her feelings towards Blanche. "Wow.. you're even more beautiful than I could ever imagine." She breathed out, her expression awestruck. She took both hands and brought them to Blanche's cheekbones, resting them there and gently twirling her thumbs over Blanche's smooth, lightly freckled skin.

Her she's scanned the entirety of the woman's face, noting every little, tiny feature that could be seen. The moon illuminated half of her half from where they were standing, and it only seemed to enhance her beauty. "Oh, darling, where have you been all my life?" She spoke, although it seemed to be a question directed towards herself.

She could hear the clatter of hooves again, although this time it sounded as though the horses were impatiently pawing the ground. Their time was up. Both of them would have to depart. She wasn't ready to say goodbye and didn't want to. Josephine wore a sad expression, a frown crossing her face. She had spent the time wishing to leave before she met Blanche, and now, she couldn't bring herself to leave. She tore her gaze away from Blanche, now looking down at their feet. Oh, how very wrong this was. How wrong it was to want someone of the other species, to become so interested in them in the short time they were together.

She still had so many questions, so many things to talk about. No way she was going to wait until next year, where there was the chance of one of them not being able to attend. "Come with me? Please, I don't want this night to be over." She blurted out, her voice breaking halfway through the sentence. Josephine lowered her hands and took both of Blanche's hands in her own, gently rubbing her thumb over the soft skin of her hand. She knew it was selfish, and that the chances of Blanche actually agreeing were low. But it was worth a shot.

Her gaze went from pale green eye to the other, desperation on her face. She didn't want to be so vulnerable and needy like this, but she didn't care. Josephine could feel a vibration in her waistband, the little spot where she kept her phone tucked. That was the driver calling, she just knew it. She made no effort to retrieve her phone, and didn't take her gaze away from Blanche.

The strong urge to stand taller and kiss her was immense. It was a terrible feeling, a longing that burned in her stomach. Josephine breathed in and stood on her toes, her heels lifting slightly off of the ground. She let go of Blanche's hands and reached her own up to cup the woman's face again, careful not to misjudge her placement. Once she was just about level with Blanche, she tightly closed her eyes in leaned in. She softly pressed her lips to the werewolf's, a chaste kiss of adoration. It was a typical thing for her to be flirty and kiss someone within the first few hours of meeting them, but this wasn't the same. Josephine meant it and didn't just want to stay with Blanche for only tonight.

She pulled away, dropping her hands to her sides. Josephine gave a sheepish grin and lowered her gaze, licking her lips. She hoped that Blanche hadn't tasted the blood from earlier, or that she wasn't disgusted by the whole thing. Josephine clasped her hands in front of her, still not daring to meet Blanche's gaze again.

(sorry it's a little short!! i wrote this on my lunch break :') )

Josephine hummed softly upon having her gloved knuckles kissed. She desperately hoped her driver wouldn't mind having a werewolf in his carriage. He couldn't have a say, the horses belonged to her anyways. He never really struck her as the type of person to discriminate against them, but then again, you can never really just assume something about someone. She glanced up into the sky, watching as dark and gloomy storm clouds rolled across the everlasting sea of stars. It clouded the moon in a fog, dimming the light. It would rain just momentarily, and the two would really have to leave. Josephine loved and enjoyed the rain, and would gladly stay. But she wasn't sure if Blanche was the same way. Lightning in the far distance struck, lighting up the clouded sky for a split second. It was quickly followed by a loud clap of thunder, which rumbled across the land for a moment before it ceased.

She adored rainstorms and thunderstorms alike. They were soothing, the perfect time to sit by the window and read or do any activity. Josephine liked to watch the rain droplets race down the window, always excited to see which one won the race and slid down the fastest. The feeling of being pulled so close to Blanche made her heart race, and she was almost certain that the wolf could feel it against her own chest. Such a perfect way to end the night. The oncoming rainstorm with the smell of rain lingering heavily in the air, the warmth of her night's lover in her arms.

Josephine still couldn't quite meet Blanche's eyes after their kiss, until she felt the wolf take her hands again. Upon having them wrapped around Blanche's waist, she clasped them together tightly, afraid to let go of such a precious woman. She now gazed deeply into Blanche's eyes with a mixture of adoration and longing, longing for more. Blanche had already agreed to go with her and it made her heart flutter just thinking about it. Her only concern was bringing a wolf home to a castle filled with vampires. What would they even think?

No matter what, she wouldn't care what they thought or what they said. She wasn't about to let some snobbish, stuck up bastards ruin her night just because they're caught up in some silly war. Nobody could even quite remember why it started, not even her father. So why did the hatred continue? Why couldn't the species just come together? Josephine brought her attention back to Blanche as the woman cupped her chin, and began to lean down. She closed her eyes, softly this time and closed the gap between them. She could taste the wine that Blanche had earlier.

She gazed at the closed eyes of the wolf as she rested her forehead against her own. "Good." Josephine smiled as she pulled away, grabbing the mask she had set down on the railing. It was still just as beautiful as whenever she first saw it, the gems reflecting the clouded, foggy sky. As Blanche guided her to the stairs, she took the lead from there. As they came into the crowded ballroom, Josephine tightened her grasp on Blanche's hand and weaved through everyone, ignoring the looks of adoration. She knew it was bound to happen, and she could only hope word didn't get out.

Josephine used the hand she held her mask in to push open the door, fully opening it with the side of her arm and shoulder. Almost immediately, she spotted the carriage. It was a victorian style carriage, decoration wise. It was colored a lovely blood red and black, the horses adorned with matching red plumes, and black and red harnesses. Josephine hurried to the carriage, never loosening her grip on Blanche. Upon reaching the carriage, the horse closest to them turned his head and let out an annoyed snort. They were Paso Fino horses, a lovely gaited breed. These two in particular seemed to be a darker, more midnight color than they were before. They had an almost blue sheen to them, and had beautiful, long and flowy manes.

Josephine reached a gloved hand out to his nose, watching as he pressed his nose into her hand. "Sorry, pretty boy." She cooed, rubbing her hand along his nose. As he pulled his head away, she turned back to the driver, who was now off the carriage and opening the door. "So glad to see you again, Miss Samaras." He spoke with a smile, his gaze shifting from Josephine to Blanche. If her appearance and name hadn't given away who she was, him speaking of her last name surely would. "Your father is eagerly waiting to speak to you. I suppose I should keep him occupied while you get your.." he trailed off, gesturing to Blanche, "your guest up to your room."

So, he didn't have any issue with werewolves. "Thank you, sir. I dearly appreciate it." He smiled at her again, stepping to the side as he opened the door. Josephine pulled Blanche up in with her, resting her hands on the velvety seat. The interior was black and midnight purple, the seats being the lovely velvety purple. Just as the door was closed, she could hear another loud crackle of thunder. She hoped the rain would wait until they were home, so that the horses wouldn't be soaking wet.

Josephine kept their hands interlocked, and rested them in her lap. For the entirety of the ride, she stole glances of admiration at Blanche. Soon, they arrived at the castle. It was positioned on a small hill that overlooked the front courtyard. The castle looked as though it was straight from a movie-- the dark, scary castle that the villain lives in. It has built with various pointed spots, and the architecture was similar to that of Victorian era houses. It was a deep black, a faint outline against the darkened sky. The gate was the same, as was the garden in the front courtyard. It was completely gothic themed, the perfect place for vampires.

The castle was very, very old. Not as old as her, but still incredibly old. The gate swung open as the carriage pulled in front, and the sound of hooves on pavement changed to cobblestone again as they entered the courtyard. The driveway was long, and split off three ways. To the stables, the main castle, and the courtyard gardens. In the center of the three cut offs was a statue of a man on horseback, locked in an endless rear. The horse had its mouth wide open, and the man wielded a sword that was pointed up in the air. Around it was a fountain, and a waterfall cascaded down from the mouth of the horse.

The driver came to a stop at the grand staircase leading up to the castle, and came to open the door. He peered in, the same smile on his face. "I'll distract him. Get out and hurry, then come back down." Josephine nodded, watching as he hurried off. She waited a moment, then turned to Blance. "I'll give you the grand tour and explain everything later.. but for now we've gotta get you to my room first. Got it?" Josephine gave a smile, and quickly exited the carriage. She pulled Blanche with her, shutting the door and hurriedly making her way up the stairs. She didn't quite care that her dress dragged on the ground.

Josephine pushed open the grand, dark oak doors. They were engraved with a scene. The interior of the castle matched the outside. It was gothic, and the foyer was an absolutely massive place. Straight ahead was the massive, beautiful grand staircase. It was the main attraction, and on either side of it was the foyer. Josephine could hear talking coming from one of the side rooms when you first enter. That was her cue to lead Blanche up the stairs. She made her way carefully, then picked her way through the dimly lit hallway to the left. At the very end of the hallway was a large window, and moonlight spilled onto the red carpeting. It illuminated some of the hallway, but not all. She pushed open a door to reveal her room, which had a very similar vibe to the rest of the castle. It was a very large room, with a bathroom, closet, and balcony attached. She had her own section of the courtyard, which was what the balcony overlooked. The sliding glass door was covered by sheer curtains that allowed light to pass through and spill onto the hardwood floor.

It was a rare occurrence for her father to be home, and usually she could roam freely. But not tonight. Josephine led Blanche over to the bed, sitting her down gently on the silk sheets. She leaned over her, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "You're welcome to look around. Closet is there if you'd.. perhaps like to change?" She pointed towards the closet, which was a large walk-in. Her room reflected her, in a way.

As Blanche stood up, Josephine could see only half of her face. Half was lit up by the moon, the other half was shadowed by the darkness of her room. The hands on her hips, the closeness between them, the sound of her voice. It all made her breath catch in her throat. "You'll be safe here. None of those half-wits can come into this hallway without my explicit permission." She smiled softly, eyes following the movement of Blanche's hand as she brushed hair out of the way. Whenever they broke apart, she couldn't help but frown at the loss of warmth. Josephine grumbled to herself as she kicked off her heels, not particularly caring where they went at the moment. Her room was very neat and tidy, so what would some heels on the floor do to it? She cast a final glance towards Blanche before she flicked on a light, which provided a warm, gentle golden glow. Then lights were draped on the wall by the bed, casting dim golden glows across the floor. The light mixed with the moonlight, providing a brighter view. "The overhead light switch is here if you want it on." She offered a small smile, then turned and pushed her door open.

Josephine made her way through the carpeted hall, her figure casting a shadow on the floor as she moved. The carpet was slightly cold against her now bare feet, and the air surrounding her nipped at her skin. She had made it just in time to see her father coming up the stairs, an annoyed expression on his face. He was a very, very tall and slim man, with greying black hair and dim gold eyes. "Josephine, don't you know how rude it is to keep me waiting?" He called out into the dimly lit hall, voice carrying all the way down. "Sorry." Was the only word she managed to muster up as she approached him.

Together they went back down the stairs, and into a hallway that led off from the foyer. She lengthened her stride to keep up with him, like a lost little puppy. Josephine barely managed to stop just in time as he came to a sudden halt in front of one of the many doors. She opened it and ushered her inside, placing a hand on her shoulder to guide her. Inside was his study, a place she had been in very few times. It was a very neat place, lit by a bright lamp on his desk. He sat her down at a chair in front of his desk, while he sat in the office chair behind it.

"The wolves are advancing. I didn't want to have to do this to you, but I need you to go fight. Kill every single one of those bastards you see." He sneered, emphasizing the word wolves. Her face fell, and her heart seemed to sink. "No." Josephine blurted out, watching as his expression completely changed. "No? You have no authority to say no to me, Josephine." He growled, leaning over his desk. His eyes were narrowed, and his hands were balled up into fists. She nearly shrunk back in fear and cowered, but she didn't. No, she leaned forwards to break the distance between then. Now just mere inches away from him, she spoke again. "No. I wont do it."

His expression turned to a scowl, a look of pure anger. "You better listen to me, you brat!" He was borderline screaming at this point, and she was sure everyone in the entire castle could hear it. He took her by both shoulders, his fingertips digging into her back. A very violent man he was, but he would never actually hurt her. He just made it seem that way to scare her into doing his bidding.

"I'm sick of it! I hate fighting, I hate this stupid war!" She matched the tone of his voice, but she kept her volume level. For a moment, he seemed to settle. His expression softened, and he let go of her and leaned back in his seat. "Sorry. I've just been so stressed, you know that." He sighed, running a hand through his greying hair. "But you know we have no choice now. Do you want to kill, or be killed?" He gazed into her eyes, a soft look in his own before it disappeared.

She was his only daughter, the only one he could spend time with. I.. I don't know." Josephine sat her hands in her lap, looking down at her feet. There was a deathly uncomfortable silence hanging in the room now, both of them trying to decide what to say next. "Come with me." He stood, making his way over to the door. She followed, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.
The two made their way out to the back courtyard, the section that didn't belong to her. There was an array of plants, ranging from some mild poisons to pretty flowers. The other, more harsh poisons were kept in her section.

"Do you see all of this?" They stood side by side now, his arm rested gently around her shoulders. It was a beautiful view, the garden, and then the rolling hills and forests behind it. All belonging to them. "Do you want this all to be gone?" He looked down at her, and she looked up at him. Josephine shook her head, unable to formulate any words. At the exact moment she shook her head, it began to downpour. They were stood under the patio, so thankfully they weren't getting rained on. The rain immediately began to pool up around the small, elevated platform of the patio.

For a moment, everything was peaceful. Everything was okay. "One day you'll be in my position, hun. Maybe you'll understand then." He sighed softly, now looking out at the garden. She knew that was true. He was a very wanted target, particularly to the wolves. It was only a matter of time before one of them managed to get to him. Whenever that happened, she would be crowned as queen and would be in charge of basically the entire world. That also meant she would have to marry and have children of her own, ones that would eventually succeed her one day.

"Please just listen to me and do as I say. I only want what's best for us and every other vampire in existence." Again, she couldn't quite find the right thing to say. They stood in silence, listening to the rain beat down on the castle and the ground. His arm around her was warm and comforting, but she would much rather it be the arm of Blanche. She didn't want to harm werewolves, much less harm anyone. Josephine finally turned her gaze back up to him, tilting her head back to look fully up at him. "Please give me time to think about it. I don't think I can do this anymore." He frowned down at her, but it was an improvement from earlier.

She knew how to calm him and put out his fiery aura, but only momentarily. Josephine broke away from him, and then turned completely to face him. "Please. I don't want this war to go on any longer. Put your pettiness behind you." She clasped her hands in front of her, pleading to him as if he was some sort of god. There was obvious thinking and concentration on his face, he was clearly considering her words. "I'll try. I'll try for you, my little dove." He managed a small smile, the first smile from him she had seen in quite awhile.

It would all depend on the werewolf leader now. Her mind drifted back to Blanche, the daughter of said leader. She hoped that Blanche was doing okay up there and had no sort of issues. Josephine glanced in the direction of her balcony, a longing look on her face. "I guess I'll let you know. You're free to go." He reached out and patted her on the back, then disappeared back into the castle.

Josephine decided she would give Blanche some more time to think. She turned and walked off the covered patio, embracing the rain that poured down on her. The rain soaked her hair and dripped down from her eyelashes. She made her way to the stable, pressing her back against the door as she opened and closed it. The horses were in their stalls, either peacefully eating or neighing to each other. She just needed to make sure that they had made it back safely. They were her personal pride and joy, and she loved them with her whole heart. Josephine hurried out and made her way back to the main door of the castle, slipping inside silently. She picked her way to the laundry room, where she knew there would be towels.

Josephine grabbed a towel from the top of the dryer, quickly drying her entire body off. The towel was still warm, having been taken out of the dryer not too long ago. With a sharp inhale, she began to make her way through the long, winding hallways until she made it back to the staircase.

Josephine turned down the left hallway, making no sound as she walked. She pushed open her door, checking around for Blanche in the room before her.

Once Josephine left, Blanche took the opportunity to look around a little more. The room was large, considerably larger than her own at home but she preferred smaller spaces when it came to sleeping and that was all she really used it for. Being cooped up inside wasn’t her idea of a good time and avoided being at home unless she had to be. With that being said, the room she was now in was spacious enough for her not to feel closed in and knowing, hoping Josephine would be back soon was enough for her not to complain. If staying inside meant spending more time with her then she didn’t mind. These vampires clearly lived a lavish lifestyle, that much she could definitely tell. The room had a walk-in closet, en suite and a private balcony.

Figuring that the other had offered her to change, she decided to have a look in the closet. Maybe it could be considered snooping but she wanted to find out as much as she could and wanted to see what she would wear normally rather than the dress she had worn to the event. Upon inspection she noticed there were little to none items of clothing that seemed to be just for the purpose of comfort. It was clear to her that Josephine dressed to impress and took pride in presenting herself, an admirable quality that Blanche didn’t always possess. As much as she enjoyed looking good and having the attention on her, she also valued her comfort and would typically wear jeans or even sweats at times. That was more when her father made her do some training with him though.

As if the overprotective man knew he passed through her mind, she felt her phone buzz. It had been tucked into her corset and she had almost forgotten about it. With a hard swallow, she pulled it out and saw she had a couple messages and a missed call from both her father and the driver. A hand came up to her necklace, fiddling with the moon as she thought of the best way to reply. Lying wasn’t her forte, especially in person or when she was speaking so instead she decided to send a text to her father. ‘I need to get out and run, the moon is strong tonight. I’ll be home late.’ Short and sweet, no room for anything that didn’t seem like her. Blanche knew of the promise she made with her father but she would deal with that later. Just to make it seem more realistic and so she wasn’t bothered, she turned her phone off and set it down on the nightstand next to Josephine’s bed.

Taking a step back, Blanche closed the walk-in closet and turned on her heels. They were growing uncomfortable to wear and as much as they made her outfit she wanted to take them off. Besides, running if it came down to that would be much easier in bare feet. With that, she headed back to the bed, sitting on the edge before leaning down and unclasping the ankle of each one, sliding them off and neatly placing them next to the nightstand. Blanche had always been a tidy person, especially if the place wasn’t hers. Leaving things out like her shoes for someone to trip over just wasn’t in her nature. Even if Josephine had left her shoes in the middle of the room, it was her room and could do as she liked.

Typically she was patient but the longer she waited for the woman to come back, the more nervous and fidgety she got, hoping she would walk through that door every second she was in there. Even if it had only been a mere few minutes since she left. Blanche could have easily listened to what they spoke about if she really tried, her hearing was impeccable, not as good as her sense of smell but if she focused she could pick up on the littlest of sounds. However she valued privacy and couldn't do that to Josephine. Cracking her knuckles, Blanche rolled her shoulders for what seemed to be the millionth time that night and stood up once again. She couldn’t sit still, her nerves were everywhere and it began making the wolf frustrated with herself. Blanche let out a sigh and made her way over to the balcony, letting the moonlight try and soothe her. Peaking out of the sheer curtains, she used all of her senses to make sure no one would be out there to see her before opening the doors that led to it, stepping out and moving towards the railing.

The moon caught her gaze before anything else, It seemed closer than before somehow, it almost being perfectly centre with the balcony she stood on. As mesmerising as it had been at the masquerade, nothing compared to how it looked now. It drew her in and held her captive as she gazed upon it. Nothing else had her attention, the shouting of a man, not even registering in her mind. The glistening moonlight hit her skin and she couldn’t help but soak it up. A soft hum passed her subtle lips, basking in its rays like a reptile to the sun. It had her in its clutches and once again she was feeling that same pull. It was an uncomfortable feeling to resist and every second she stood there it only grew harder. The clawing to be let out, to run and do the thing that was in her very nature was near impossible for most to ignore. It had been for Blanche for a long time and there was a time where she had no control within herself whatsoever. It had taken a lot of pain and work to get to where she was now and even then, it was still extremely hard.

Everything came in a sudden wave and the air was knocked out of Blanche’s chest. She snapped out of her trance and went to step back away from the balcony only to fall to her knees. She bit the inside of her cheek hard, stopping the bloodcurdling scream that was about to leave her mouth. Making so much noise would be like asking for death to find her and she refused. Blanche had started losing control in that moment and her shoulder made a large snapping sound as it dislocated, starting the shifting process. It had been more painful than it had any other time and fighting back any sound of pain was proving difficult. The wolf whimpered, her hand going up to her shoulder.

Blanche couldn’t let this happen. She had to fight it. The metallic taste of blood made her cringe as her canines pierced her cheeks. “No,” she whimpered to herself, dragging herself out of the way of the moonlight as best as she could. The pain surged through her entire being but she fought against it with everything in her. Blanche managed to get near the bed, leaning her back against the edge but not daring trying to get up. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, slowly exhaling through her lips to try and get a grip on herself. If she didn't, there was going to be a raging werewolf, running havoc through this vampire's home. It would end in her dying, she had no doubts about that. “Come on,” she muttered to herself, shutting her eyes and finding any ounce of control that she could.

Josephine came to her mind first, the idea of potentially hurting her or even her seeing Blanche’s monstrous form was enough to have her put her all into forcing this transformation back. Biting her cheek once more, Blanche lifted a hand to her shoulder and braced herself for a moment. Forcing the shifting backwards was bound to be just as painful if not more. Holding the shoulder firm, she brought her elbow into her ribs as best as she could despite the pain. She needed to make this quick and was thankful she had managed to stop the full transformation, right now she just needed to put her shoulder back into place so she could control herself better. With one final breath, Blanche made the swift movement of putting her shoulder back into place, another scream bubbling up her throat but she managed to simply make it a whimper before slumping down, slouching against the frame of the bed with beads of sweat rolling from her forehead.

The metallic taste of her own blood lingered in her mouth and as much as she disliked it, she couldn’t bring herself to move from that position. Everything hurt, especially her shoulder and she just needed a moment of stillness. Blanche knew this wouldn’t be able to be avoided forever but she needed more time and would do anything in her power to get that. No matter the pain it caused her. Her moment of stillness was short lived as her head snapped over to the door of the room, hearing it opening and seeing Josephine step inside. Blanche swallowed and composed herself as best as she could, sitting up a little straighter but not making any efforts to actually get up, she was sure she would just collapse again and didn't want the other to see that.

Josephine looked around her room in a panic, until her eyes settled on the bed. There sat Blanche. She calmed herself a little, until the faint, very subtle smell of blood hit her nose. Was Blanche bleeding, or had she got into the blood vials? "I'll be with you in a second." She offered a slightly concerned smile before she strode over to her closet, flicking the light switch on. Although she had a copious amount of clothes, not many were exactly deemed as comfortable clothes. To her, they were. She walked around in the closet for a bit before she settled on something. It was a slightly oversized black sweater with floral accents, one of the more comfortable clothes she had. She chose a simple pair of shorts to go with it, white in color, although the sweater covered them.

Josephine quickly changed in the closet, out of sight from Blanche. It felt rather lovely to be out of the dress, which left little red indents in her skin from being tight against it. She carelessly tossed the dress into the hamper of dirty clothes positioned in the corner. She put on a pair of long, plain black socks. While the castle did have heating and whatnot, it still did get cold at times. And in her opinion, there's nothing worse than having cold feet.

Josephine searched around in the depths of the many clothing racks for something, anything that would be comfortable enough for Blanche. There she found it, some random sweatshirt and sweatpants she hadn't worn in ages. Why those were even in her closet was beyond her. With a hum, she briskly walked out of the closet, turning the light off behind her. With the clothes in hand, she cautiously approached the bed, the subtle smell of blood becoming slightly stronger. Blanche was bleeding from somewhere, but it wasn't visible.

"I managed to find these for you. Change whenever you want to." Josephine smiled sheepishly, placing the folded clothes down onto the nightstand next to Blanche's heels. She could tell that something was up with the werewolf, but she didn't say anything. Wasn't necessarily her business to get into. She sat down on the bed next to Blanche, wincing slightly at the feeling of the cold sheets on her bare legs. It was clear that Blanche hadn't been there for long, otherwise the sheets would be considerably warmer. Vampires, who were typically undead, were very cold. While she wasn't undead, she was still a very cold person and craved warmth. Blanche, on the other hand, was warm and Josephine wanted nothing more than to just cuddle into her.

Josephine rested a hand on Blanche's leg, a soft smile crossing her face. "Are you alright?" There was genuine concern in her voice, and she mentally facepalmed for letting that slip through. Why be so concerned for someone that shouldn't even be at the castle? Her thoughts were a mix of negative and positive, although mostly positive. "If you um.. need to do a wolf thing you can? I don't quite know how your species works." She admitted, bringing a hand up to the back of her neck. She knew the full moon was important to the wolves, but she didn't know if there was something they had to do on full moons.

The rain poured down on the roof, a soothing sound to her ears. Had this been any other night, she would've been relaxing in the bath or already asleep. Blanche's leg was warm under her hand, and she found herself inching closer to the wolf. She could hear faint chatter from downstairs, her father talking to someone. Probably about their encounter earlier. Josephine leaned back against one of her many pillows, stretching her legs out as far as they could go. She lifted her arms above her head and stretched, her back cracking as she did so. Her full focus was on Blanche, but she didn't look over at her. Instead, she stared at blank full screen TV across from the bed.

Josephine wasn't quite sure how long she had with Blanche before the wolf had to leave, but she wanted to make the most of it. She had been around many shifted werewolves before, and knew how to handle them. Even if they didn't exactly have control over themselves. It still sort of scared her half to death, but it wasn't like she couldn't deal with it. She gently rubbed her thumb along Blanche's leg, glancing around her room. From one of the dark corners, a little chirp could be heard. Slowly, an incredibly large and fluffy cat emerged. Oddly enough, it was a snowy white color and stood out among the shades of black and other darker colors in her room.

The cat had beautiful icy blue eyes that held a gentleness to them. Her face suddenly fell as she looked back down at Blanche. Did wolves dislike cats? Did they have issues with them? That was something she didn't know, and something she hoped wasn't true. The pretty white cat strutted over to the bed, jumping up and sitting herself in the lap of Josephine. It was a Maine Coon, one on the larger side of the breed. She absolutely adored cats, she loved them with her whole entire heart.

"Oh, my sweet, beautiful, and wonderful girl. I love you, yes I do." Josephine cooed, lowering her head to kiss the forehead of the cat. She used both hands to scratch under the chin, and behind the ears of the cat. Now that she wasn't wearing gloves, the tattoos on her hands became visible. As did the ones on her legs, since they were now revealed. The other ones were hidden by her long sleeved sweater. The sweater dipped down below her collarbones, revealing her family crest. All of the vampires in her lineage had it, some just had it more visible than others, like her. She was proud of her heritage, just not proud of what they happened to be doing at the moment.

Starting wars for no reason seemed to be a common thing, a thing that she would change as soon as she was able to. Her reign would be peaceful, much unlike her father and the others before him. Vampires were not very violent creatures, yet the royal ones were. Josephine ended up with the gentle demeanor of her mother, she had a sort of peacefulness to her that the others didn't.

Josephine smiled down at the cat in her lap, who purred loudly and meowed up at her. Lana, the cat, was a very elegant cat. Exactly like her owner. She was very odd to see in such a dark themed place, she stuck out like a sore thumb. She didn't seem to care, though. She was absolutely beautiful and she knew it. Lana began to knead the sweater that Josephine wore, slowly closing her eyes as she kneaded. How could anyone hate a creature so beautiful and sweet?

Josephine turned her gaze back down to Blance. "I certainly hope you don't have any problems with cats. We have a whole hoard of them." That would prove to be true soon enough whenever all of them flocked to her room. Every night, the cats slept with her. She wasn't particularly sure why, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.