Josephine raised her head slightly, her gaze fixated on the ceiling now. In the corners of the room, there was a plant. There were plants everywhere, most of them being vined flowering plants. She took special care of them, and cherished them. Despite her room being gothic themed, there were still lovely hints of other things. Perhaps she was the black sheep of the family for having these sort of interests, considering that none of the others did. Her gaze went around the room, reluctantly leaving every little thing it landed on. Finally, she stopped to look at a photograph. Her mother. It was an older photo, torn at the edges and a bit water damaged. It was a beige color all around, darker and lighter in some spots. Josephine was a clone of her mother, down to the placement of every little birthmark.

The majority of people believed she was a reincarnation of her mother, despite the fact she was born long before she had passed. She even had the same fiery, temperamental personality. The two had their spats and arguments, but Josephine loved her mother like nobody else. To see her crumple down into a pool of her blood while war raged was the most traumatizing thing. It was like watching herself die. Perhaps her father disliked her because she was too much like her? Josephine winced and was torn from her swimming thoughts as she felt the needle again. As Blanche stopped to check her work, Josephine breathed a sigh of relief.

She closed her eyes again, softly this time, as Blanche pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her head hurt almost just as much as her stomach did. It was an agonizing pain that she felt through her whole body, even in her fingers. She only frowned slightly at Blanche's words, wanting to be over immediately. She watched as Blanche lowered herself back down onto her knees, and she braced herself for the pain to come back so much worse. Josephine closed her eyes again, harshly biting down on her bottom lip to fight back the whine that nearly escaped. It would only worsen things if she deliberately let Blanche know of the pain, or to the extent of how much it hurt.

If only she had just listened to her father, he never would've injured her. She would have to keep this very moment in mind for the next time he went into one of his moods. Josephine chewed on her lip, pulling it between her teeth with a sharp inhale. If she could focus on that feeling, she would be fine. But she couldn't quite focus on anything else. At least it was being fixed now and she wouldn't quite have to worry about it later, or stitch it up herself. She wouldn't have been able to do it herself, even if she wanted to. Josephine squirmed in her place slightly, biting down harder. As soon as Blanche finished and cut the suture, she opened her eyes again and released her lip. It was slightly swollen and bloodied.

It caused a stinging pain, a slight distraction from the rest of the pain in her body. "That was brutal." She groaned, bringing a hand up to her face to pinch the bridge of her freckled nose. She rubbed the skin between her fingers gently, then released it and brought her hand back down to the bed. As Blanche rested a hand on her shoulder and moved the other to the back of her head, Josephine moved herself to sit up with the assistance. As soon as she bandages were wrapped around her body, she glanced down. At least now she could tolerate to look at herself without breaking down and crying. Her head was pounding, and she could feel her heartbeat in her fingertips. "Thank you. Seriously, I wouldn't have done that myself." She smiled sheepishly, averting her gaze down to the bed.

She closed her eyes softly as Blanche brushed the hair out of her face, still slightly recovering from the feeling of the needle. Needles. She hated them with a passion, and did her absolute best to avoid being anywhere near them. Josephine brought her gaze back up to Blanche, though she didn't quite make eye contact. "I.. don't quite have any clothes considered comfortable," she paused, thinking about her options, "except for night clothes. Grab one of the pajama sets, will you?" She smiled gently, lacing her fingers together. She had a few of them, the majority being a silk tank top paired with shorts.

Josephine had never quite thought about just keeping basic, comfortable clothes for situations such as these. She'd rather be dead than be caught wearing anything like that, though. She moved herself closer to Blanche, leaning forwards to press a soft, gentle kiss to her cheek. She could hear faint shuffling coming from downstairs, and she couldn't help but wonder who it was. Her mind then went to her father. Perhaps he had down the wolf king over and successfully ended the war, she didn't know. She could only hope that he did it, and she would be free to see Blanche whenever she pleased. Josephine leaned forwards again, bringing a hand up to cup Blanche's jaw. She pressed a soft, chaste kiss to her lips, pulling away with a smile.

Leo was unsure of what Hannah could be thinking about, or why she was so silent. He missed the voice of Josephine, her arguments and even her annoying opinions. He glanced from her to Harden, until finally he let his gaze rest on the man. "You know, I think we can make this work. Despite our species difference, we aren't all that different." Such a risky thing to say, something that could possibly provoke Harden. He was sure that it wouldn't, but there's always the possibility that it would. He knew he was right, though. Their only major difference was the species, and even then they weren't all that different.

They had the same priorities and such, so why not just work together and fix everything? As Harden suggested then being alone he nodded. "Wait outside, would you?" He nodded towards Hannah, who obliged willingly.

Blanche frowned a little. "I'm sorry, hurting you is the last thing I want to do but I couldn't leave you in that condition, you won't have to go through the pain of it constantly opening and bleeding everywhere now though," she said quietly, looking down to her lap instead of having any eye contact with Josephine. The amount of guilt she felt was intense, almost suffocating. Her hands felt clammy and she kept rubbing them against her jeans to try and dry them. Having left her in the first place, not being able to protect her, having caused her so much pain and the worst part was she was going to need to leave again soon. If she didn't, they both would be put in even more danger than they already are and Josephine was in no shape to even try and protect herself. She needed rest, nothing more and nothing less.

Blanche smiled ever so slightly as Josephine thanked her, allowing herself to look up from her lap. "You don't need to thank me, I just wish I was there to stop it happening in the first place," she said softly, bringing a thumb up to Josephine's bottom lip, gently brushing over it. It was swollen and bloodied. A small frown began forming but she quickly stopped herself. It was over now and soon enough she could hold Josephine for a little while, they could cuddle and just relax with each other for a bit. Blanche didn't think she'd be able to give herself stitches either, the feel of a needle going through her skin with someone messing around with the wounds didn't sound like a pleasant experience, a necessary one for sure but it definitely sounded brutal.

With a small chuckle at the mention of how Josephine didn't really have any clothes to be considered comfortable. They were very much different in that way, all of Blanche's clothes had to be comfortable in some way. "We are very different in that way, most of my clothes are pretty comfortable," she shrugged, not that it mattered, she just found it amusing. Still, she gave a small smile and another nod as she was told what to grab. The kiss to her cheek only made the smile wider, leaning into it with a soft hum. Any affection she was given by this woman just made her adore her so much more, she craved it constantly since she met her and never wanted that to stop.

This kiss to her lips only strengthened that craving, returning it happily with a smile of her own. "I'll go get you some pyjamas," she said as she got up from the bed, her eyes glued to the woman for a moment before forcing herself to turn and head to the walk-in closet. Flicking the light inside on, she began looking for what Josephine had asked her to grab, humming softly as she did so. Soon enough she found a dark purple silk tank top with some matching shorts. While she was there she also grabbed some black undergarments, unsure if Josephine would want to wear some more not. Blanche soon headed back into the room, clothes dropped over her arm as she turned the light off and closed the door.

Coming back over to the bed, she set the clothes down on the end and took away the towels around Josephine. She left the one she was on top of and the one that was around her but the others could go. She'll get the other two once Josephine's dressed. Folding them up, she simply set them aside for the time being. She didn't want to leave again, it was time to fulfil her promise and hold Josephine while letting her rest. With that thought in mind, Blanche took a seat back on the bed beside the vampire, bringing the clothes with her. "I hope these are okay, don't stretch too much and I'll help where you need me to," she said with a small smile. "I also didn't know if you wanted to wear a bra or anything underneath them so I brought them just in case," Blanche added, feeling her cheeks warm up a little at the mention of them, such an immature reaction but one she couldn't control.

Harden listened to Leo with surprise, he hadn't expected this man to say something like that. It was rare they ever saw eye to eye and clashed on a regular basis and yet, he wasn't entirely sure that was their own fault. Harden never really had a choice and never took the time to get to know the man before him, fueled with hate that the decade long war between them had brought along. "I sure do hope so, I don't want things turning out even worse but right now it seems we want the same thing," the wolf replied before watching as the vampire king agreed to what he suggested. He couldn't help but wish both his own daughter and Josephine were there.

He was sure that the pair of them would give their own ideas or opinions without so much of a second thought, the two that were with them were quiet and respectful while in one way was a good thing, in another way it just brought an unnecessary nervousness to the air. Harden couldn't help but think about how similar their daughters were in a way, especially when it came to their own opinions. With this temporary end, he felt it would only be good if he allowed Blanche to meet the vampire king and join in on the meetings from here on. For now that could wait though as he was sure she was out reading somewhere. Harden glanced over to Sol, gesturing with his head to leave alongside the other woman. Sol knew to keep an eye on her but she would be stupid to try anything either way.

Once the pair was gone he couldn't help but relax a bit more, clearing his throat once more before speaking up. "How would you suppose we announce this whole thing to everyone and make sure they know it's not an opening to start killing each other?" He asked, wanting to see what he would suggest.

Josephine frowned, taking both of Blanche's hands in her own. "It's okay. I'm grateful you did that, even if it did hurt." She smiled softly, rubbing her thumb across Blanche's knuckles. The hands were clammy, but she didn't quite mind. She brought one of Blanche's hands up to her lips, pressing a gentle little kiss to her knuckle. Her haziness had mostly worn off, yet some of it still lingered. Her pupils were still large and dilated, her vision slightly blurred. It would fully be gone soon enough, but to her, it felt like it was taking ages to go away. She wanted to gaze upon the beautiful face of Blanche without any bluriness. Josephine released her hands, letting her own rest comfortably on her legs. She shifted her gaze up to Blanche, a fawing look on her face.

To her, Blanche was more beautiful than the everlasting starry night sky. Not even the stars could hope to outshine Blanche. Her eyes rolled over every little freckle on her cheeks, every little bit of pigment in her pale eyes. How dazzling could someone be? She exhaled softly as she felt the thumb on her lips, and heard the lovely sound of Blanche's voice. It was like pure music to her ears. More beautiful than any cadence she had ever heard. "It's not like it was your fault. Nothing could've stopped it from happening." She rested a hand on Blanche's leg, gingerly rubbing her thumb over the material of her jeans.

It was true, absolutely nothing could've prevented her from the injury. Unless she had did as told and not tried to flee, then that would be different. "I just like more.. fancy things, I guess? Not that you can't tell or anything." She smiled playfully, chuckling softly. It was very clear she had more lavish and expensive tastes. It simply stemmed from the way she was raised, and there was no getting rid of it now. She nodded her head as Blanche spoke again, and the watched ad she went over to the closet. Oddly enough, she wasn't embarrassed about the state of herself. She didn't quite mind that Blanche had seen her bare and vulnerable, in a way it was sort of comforting.

Upon watching Blanche return, she smiled softly. Josephine allowed the towels to be taken away, missing the soft fabric slightly. She glanced down at her stomach and legs, examining her freckled skin closely. Everywhere was freckled, either heavily or gently. It was like someone just spun her around while flicking paint at her. "Thank you very much." She grinned, holding back a laugh as she noticed the slight change of pigment in Blanche's cheeks. She took the bra first, gently putting it on and clasping it on the loosest setting in the back. Afterwards, she carefully slid the tank top over her head, stretching her arms as little as she could.

She definitely didn't want to ruin Blanche's hard work and have to have it done again, that would be a nightmare. Josephine moved herself closer to the edge of bed, slowly putting on and pulling up the matching shorts and undergarments. Slightly difficult to do while sitting down, but she still managed it. Josephine immediately moved herself back closer to Blanche, a wide grin on her face. She wrapped her arms around Blanche's waist, resting her head on her shoulder. She was careful not to move too much or press herself entirely against Blanche, no matter how much she longed to.

"You're so perfect." She whispered softly, gazing up at Blanche. How cruel it was that they would be separated again, and would have to wait for another opportunity to see each other again. Unless their fathers had agreed to end the war, then that would be an entirely different story. Just the thought of it made her so giddy and excited. She would be free to see Blanche whenever she pleased. Josephine held Blanche a little tighter, unable to contain the wide smile that spread across her face again.

At the moment, everything seemed to be perfect. She didn't want to be stuck on the future, and decided it would be best to live in the present and be happy with Blanche. It was a shame that she was unable to attend the meeting with her father, she really loved being there and giving her own advice. This was so much better though. The thrill of them sneaking behind the backs of their species only seemed to add to it all, making the situation even more fun. It was dangerous and would be horrific if they were caught, but she was so very confident that they wouldn't ever get caught. They were both smarter than that. Josephine inhaled softly, taking in Blanche's scent. Although the blood still lingered in the air, the scent overpowered it.

Leo was slightly shocked to see that Harden hadn't reacted negatively to his statement like he had expected. It was a major relief, and a major weight taken off of his shoulders. Perhaps once they paused the war he would be free of all the stress it caused him. With their forces united, the humans would stand no chance whatsoever. The powers of the vampires, the wolf forms of the werewolves. It would quickly overpower the humans, and drive them away. "That's good. I'm glad we can reach an agreement with this." He offered a slight grin, overjoyed with their decision. In a way, it was his way of making things up to Josephine. She knew she would be so, so excited to hear the news.

Although Leo wasn't entirely sure why she was so adamant on the war being ended, he didn't dwell on it too much. As the other two in the room left, Leo allowed himself to relax a little. It was definitely better with just the two in there, free to share whatever opinions and such without having to worry about any slip ups. "Ease them into it. Allow them to mingle with supervision, like at the masquerade. Once they can be trusted not to kill each other, let them go unsupervised." He nodded his head as he spoke, mostly to himself. He knew there would still be some deaths, especially since some members of their species had an intense, never ending hatred for the other.

There was just no preventing that small portion of deaths no matter how hard they tried. Leo cleared his throat, speaking to again. "How's Blanche? I think her and Josephine would get along quite well." He chuckled softly, allowing himself to relax more. If he was going to be working with Harden from now on, he might as well allow himself to become more comfortable with him.

Josephine gently rolled her shoulders, listening to the cracking of her bones. It was relieving and made her body feel a whole lot better. She grinned at Blanche, the faintest tinge of pink settling over her cheeks at Blanche's words. She didn't feel bad in the slightest about being with her, and thought it was sort of funny how nobody had quite noticed her. Even if they hadn't known each other for long or spent a lot of time together, it was still surprising that nobody had figured it out. How she could get so close and so vulnerable with someone she barely knew was beyond her. She was usually a difficult person, she enjoyed leading people into a chase and then never acknowledging them again after she gets what she wants. She was so scared she would do it to Blanche, but oddly enough, she didn't.

Josephine didn't want to put her through that, not at all. She actually wanted Blanche in a way she couldn't quite describe. Romance wasn't foreign to her, yet the feeling of actually wanting someone was. Anyone she wanted, she got. She wrapped her arms impossibly tighter around Blanche, refusing to let go. She was content with the position they were in, even if she wanted to be as close as they possibly could be. Even that wouldn't be enough. It would never be enough for her. She laced her fingers together, allowing herself to press even further against Blanche. Josephine could feel the beating of her heart right against her chest, and in her fingertips. It was an odd feeling, much odder than it had previously been.

Josephine moved slightly as Blanche reached behind her, presumably to grab the remaining towels. She closed her eyes softly, the feeling of tiredness finally catching up to her. It was an endless chase, always ending the same way. She was never well rested and was always extremely tired throughout the day. "I'm okay. I want to remember us like this." She spoke in a soft tone, her words sincere. Had she decided to take more painkillers, she definitely wouldn't remember a thing. The pain was worth being able to remember the wolf in her arms. Her eyes were focused on the bruise on Blanche's jaw, and she grew curious about it. She had noticed it before, but decided not to ask about it.

The usage of the nickname brought a smile to her face. Josephine could still faintly taste her sweet blood, but she chose not to focus her attention onto it. She lifted a hand and ran it through her short tousled and tangled hair. It was unusual for her to have messy hair, but given the situation, she really had no choice but to leave it the way it is. Braiding it would probably be a good choice to prevent it from becoming gross and even more knotted. She loosened her grip on Blanche as she felt her shift. She took note of the way Blanche was beginning to lay flat on her back, but made the decision to roll onto her side instead. The quiet groan made her expression change to one of concern, even if Blanche couldn't see it.

Josephine brought a hand to rest gently on one of the ones wrapped around her. She could feel the gentle, warm breaths ruffling her hair slightly. Her eyes closed almost immediately, and she shifted herself downwards slightly. She moved further back into Blanche, craving the warmth of her body. Between the feeling of the silk on her skin and the warmth of Blanche, everything was perfect and comfortable. Josephine sighed softly and rested her head on one of the many pillows, bringing her free hand to rest on her own shoulder. Her hand was cold against her skin, but it quickly warmed up. A smile was permanently on her face, never faltering or changing in the slightest.

Josephine knew how much trouble they'd be in if they had been caught together, but at the moment, it was the least of her concerns. She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in the arms of Blanche and never leave. It was so risky and she had no clue when her father would be back, but it's not like she cared. Her breathing became steady for the first time in hours, and all the tension left her body all at once. She could feel the clutches of sleep slipping around her, and she embraced them. Slowly, she slipped into a light sleep that gradually became deeper.

Leo couldn't quite believe what was happening. The effects hadn't quite sunken in yet, and his mind didn't quite recognize it as a real thing. Never in his many, many years of living did he think he would ever agree with a wolf ever again, much less work with one. If they had figured this out much sooner, things would've been so great. Without the constant feeling of the war breathing down his neck, he could have time to himself and to relax. He wasn't sure how things were going to work out, but he could only hope they turned out to be for the better. Leo was taking a big step, freeing himself from the heavy clutches of hatred that his father had taught him.

He did have his own opinion on wolves, as well as the one influenced by his father, but they were changing slowly. Deep down, Leo knew it's what his late wife would've wanted. She hated the war, hated everything about it. She liked the wolves and had no issues with them whatsoever. Words cannot describe how enraged she was whenever the war had started, and when Leo didn't end it when he became the king. He tuned back into the words of Harden, listening closely and carefully. "I don't see why it wouldn't work." He stated, shifting slightly in his seat. He wasn't uncomfortable, but he also wasn't entirely comfortable. It was in the middle and he knew it probably wouldn't change that much, at least not at the moment.

As Harden spoke about Blanche, his mind shifted back to Josephine. He couldn't help but wonder how she was doing, and if she was even alive anymore. His only child, his only daughter, and he had done what he swore he would never do. She always listened to him and obliged, but the one time she didn't he freaked on her. It would be his fault if she didn't make it, or didn't trust him anymore. After that she definitely would be avoiding him for a long, long while. "I can't wait for that day. They'd be locked in some sort of argument." He chuckled, shaking his head. Absolutely nobody could win an argument against her, no matter how hard they tried to.

The feeling of Josephine being so close was euphoric, she couldn’t get enough and yet it just wasn’t close enough. It would have to do for now, at least until Josephine was healed up. As soon as she was, she could be as close as they wanted. The thought brought a smile to her lips, as much as she wanted that now she was willing to wait and knew it would be so much better than she could even imagine. Her mind travelled back to her father and the war for a moment, it was such a shame they had to meet each other under these circumstances. It was something she knew her father would never approve of. He hardly lets her interact with them at the masquerade of all places. If he ever found out she was having relations with one, especially if that one was the vampire king's daughter he would surely flip.

Blanche couldn’t help but cringe at the thought, burying her face further into Josephine’s hair. Letting her intoxicating scent soothe her, she let out a content sigh. She kept one hand wrapped loosely around Josephine, not wanting to press on any of the wounds, with the other arms going behind her own head, bending it at an angle to keep her head propped up. The soothing scent, the closeness of the vampire, the moment itself were all things that pulled her closer and closer to fall asleep. Even as she fought it, she felt her eyes grow heavier, fading in and out of the darkness that was sleep.

Soon enough she could feel Josephine's body relax completely, her breathing evened out and she finally seemed more peaceful. At least this way she wasn't in any more pain. She didn't want to leave quite yet but knew the time was coming eventually. She just hoped Josephine stayed asleep, it would be better for her that way. Blanche pressed a soft kiss against the back of the vampire's head, gently rubbing at Josephine's hip. This was so peaceful and she wished she could just sleep with her right now but she knew it would be irresponsible. Letting herself would potentially put both of them in serious danger by getting caught. Josephine was in no position to be able to protect herself.

For a moment, Blanche felt herself slip into a light sleep. Shifting herself closer to Josephine, her breathing slowed and her body relaxed. Yet she quickly snapped herself out of it. She couldn't let this happen, she couldn't potentially cause Josephine more harm and in this position she was soon not going to be able to fight it. With a frown, Blanche slowly slipped away from the woman she so desperately wished she could stay with. Knowing her body heat being taken away would make Josephine cold, she quickly covered her with a blanket, making sure she stayed comfortable. Her waking up was something she didn't want, she went through enough pain today and deserved all the rest she could get.

Ever so quietly, Blanche slipped her way off the bed. She couldn't help but stare in awe as she watched Josephine sleep. She was so beautiful and looked more peaceful than she had when Blanche got there. If only she could stay. It looked so comfortable there with her and everything within her was telling her to get back into the bed and sleep. Shutting her eyes tightly, she turned her head away from the woman. She couldn't. It wouldn't end well. All she could do was hope that one day, no matter how far she would get her chance. With that, Blanche decided to quietly tidy up for a moment, everything was thrown everywhere and while she couldn't do anything with the blood, she tidied everything she could.

She packed everything up back into her bag, making sure it was all neat before looking at her book and getting an idea. Pulling the book out, she placed it on the nightstand before quietly looking around for a piece of paper and a pen, hoping there was some, somewhere. Pulling open the drawer of the nightstand, a smile came to her lips and she quickly pulled them out, crouching down a little so she could write on the paper. 'My little rose, I'm sorry I couldn't be there to wake up with. Look after yourself for me, I'll be back and have you in my arms again. I promise. I know we only just met but you mean the world to me. B~' she wrote, making sure to not use her full name just so no one would know who it was if they read it. Once she was finished writing, Blanche folded it in half and slipped it into the book, having the top poking through the pages so she could see it.

It was one of her favourites that she could read over and over again. It was an original copy and it took her forever to get her hands on so leaving it was hard but even if Josephine didn't know it, letting her have it said a lot. Even letting people just borrow it to read wasn't something she allowed. The idea of grubby fingers and not knowing it was safe with her made her stomach churn but she wanted to leave it for Josephine. She didn't even have to think twice about it. The movie of the book 'of mice and men. ' never did it justice and she refused to ever watch it again.

With a deep sigh, it was time to go and she picked up her bag, slipping it onto her back. Leaning across the bed without touching it the best she could, Blanche pressed a soft kiss against Josephine's head, she truly didn't want to leave but it was for the best. She looked so precious and it made her smile, it was killing her to leave. Forcing herself away, Blanche moved to the door and switched the light switch so it turned off. She wanted Josephine to rest and hopefully it being darker would help with that. Within the darkness, her eyesight was a little better and she carefully made her way back over towards the balcony, following the slight sun that was passing through them. It was softer than when she got there but there were still a good few hours left.

Remembering everything from last night and earlier, she slipped herself over the edge of the stone railing after checking if it was clear to do something. The last thing she needed was to get caught leaving. Hopefully their fathers were still talking or the vampire king was just leaving, that would give her time to get out that way. Blanche got to the ground much smoother this time and knew the next time she would do everything with ease. Climbing was always a strong point of hers and she rather enjoyed it, especially when the height made her nervous. There was nothing like that thrill, like those butterflies she would get, it was all euphoric. Sticking close to the brickwork, the wolf slunk her way towards the gate she had been told about, taking one last glance up towards the balcony before leaving completely.

Leo was once again right, there was no reason why it couldn't work out, especially between the pair of them. If they put all that hate aside and got to know each other outside of the war, things may just get better. It was an exhilarating thought and he just hoped it didn't end badly. Dwelling on the negative was his true weakness, no matter how much he tried to fight it. There were so many things that could go wrong and he just wanted things to go right. Closing his eyes for a moment, forcing the thoughts away as best as he could. Dwelling and over thinking could wait for later when he was on his own. It was always best that way and while it took away from sleep, he didn't mind it so much then.

Instead, he chuckled slightly at what the other man had said. "I can definitely see that, they are both very opinionated and spirited," he replied, scratching the back of his neck. They had the same kind of views in his opinion but yet that sometimes made people clash. Either way, it would be nice to finally get Blanche more out there without the fear of the war taking her away from him. His mind travelled to the traitor and he couldn't help but wonder if hunting them down was a good choice with this new idea. It seemed to defeat what they were trying to do but then again with the other species ending their own traitor, he felt it may only be fair. It was still the law when they were seen together and if anyone thought they didn't uphold the laws, there would be chaos.

With a sigh, he leaned himself forward again, resting his forearms against the wood of the table. "When should we schedule this meeting? I'd like for Blanche to be there but she's one of my best trackers and we need to find this traitor," he brought up, letting his gaze meet Leo's. Things are much more relaxed with the other two out of the room and Harden couldn't help but feel more comfortable with this man, something he hadn't felt in the slightest before.

Josephine stayed asleep for awhile, staying in her exact same position. Lana eventually jumped off of the cat tree, everything in the room shaking slightly from the force. Being such a big cat, she made an impact. Slowly, Lana strutted over to the bed, jumping up onto her owner. Josephine was startled awake, fear written across her face as she looked at the culprit who woke her up. Almost immediately, she noticed that the warmth against her was gone, and replaced by a blanket. She sat up in a panic, wincing as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. "Blanche? Blanche!?" Her voice was incredibly panicked and fearful. She wildly looked around, eyes wide until her gaze settled on the book on her nightstand. That wasn't there before, all of her books were kept neatly tucked into her bookshelf.

Josephine took a final glance around before she grabbed the book, setting it in her lap. There was a page of paper poking out from the top. The lights were off, the only light in the room being the ones by her bed and the sunlight that crept in through the windows and balcony. All of the light combined created a soft, warm golden glow. The golden glow from the lights by her bed spilled onto her bed, and onto the cover of the book. Of Mice and Men. A classic, timeless book that she enjoyed through and through. She gently slid the paper out of the pages, unfolding it as soon as it was out. Josephine found herself smiling as she read it, then folded it back up and slid it back into the book. Lana purred and rubbed up against her, demanding her attention.

Josephine used her free hand to scratch Lana's chin, using her other hand to set the book back on her nightstand. At least she knew Blanche was okay, and nothing had happened to her. It was a great relief and she certainly was glad to know it. Slowly, she uncovered the blanket and moved herself to the edge of the bed, her feet touching the hardwood floor. She managed to find the strength to stand, shakily and wobbly at first, but she found her balance. The scare she had when she didn't see Blanche had fully woken her up, so she didn't have to sit in bed for a few minutes like usual.

She felt considerably better. Josephine carefully made her way to the door, opening it quietly. She wasn't too sure if anyone was around, and didn't want to alert them in case they were. Her stomach didn't hurt nearly as much and she felt good enough to be able to walk fine. Josephine crept down the sunlit hallway, the carpet warm against her feet. She made her way down the stairs, and out the door. She didn't bother to find any shoes, she only had one thing in mind. Upon reaching one of the many side doors, she pushed it open with her shoulder and closed it softly and gently behind her.

Her only focus was the horses. Of course, she needed to go see them. They made her happy and that's the only thing she needed at the moment. Josephine quickly reached the stables, pushing open one of the doors. Upon entering, the horses whinnied all at once in greeting. She approached one of them, a beautiful, raven black gelding. He was gorgeous, with a wavy black mane and sparkling brown eyes. She could tell they had recently been put back in their stalls by the way they all acted. Tired, worn out. Josephine rested her hand on his nose, and he pushed it into her palm. "My sweet, sweet boy. Nothing will ever hurt you." She whispered, rubbing her hand gently.

Josephine claimed that she loved all of her horses equally, but it was clear she preferred this specific one over the rest. She had named him Asterion, after the king. He looked like royalty with how stunning and majestic he was. Asterion snorted as she pulled away, tossing his head up. "So handsome and perfect." She cooed, gritting her teeth as she felt her pain come back. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to come down to the stables. She made the long journey back, pausing every so often whenever the pain got too bad. Eventually she had made it back to her room without being spotted by anyone. Josephine flopped herself down onto her bed, her back flat against the sheets.

Leo couldn't believe how comfortable he was. Now that the two were on the same terms, he realized that he didn't exactly hate the man before him. He just misunderstood the species as a whole and had no reason to hate them. After all, it's not like all of them had killed his wife. Only one did, and he was dead now. Leo rested his hand in his lap, smoothing his pants slightly. He then moved them to his knees, doing the same process. This whole thing really could work, so long as they were both committed and believed in themselves. They wouldn't make a bad team, and would be unstoppable together.

With his knowledge and Leo's strength, there was no way they could be beat. Perhaps the appearance of them together would influence both of their species, and encourage them to like each other, not want to murder them. "Perhaps a little too spirited." She chuckled, moving his hands to lace his fingers together. He knew Josephine didn't mind werewolves, especially after all her times of attending the masquerade. So that definitely wouldn't be an issue with her, but he wasn't sure about Blanche. He didn't know much of the woman, his only information being from bits and pieces that Harden told him during their previous conversations.

Leo listened as the man spoke, and then considered their options. A week from now would give Josephine time to recover and become stable enough to attend. "A week from now? I'd like to give Josephine some time to get better. I'm sure you'll be able to find your traitor in that time." Leo offered a small, reassuring smile. Now with Blanche there, he was sure things would get a whole lot more interesting. With both of their daughters putting their opinions in, he was sure that it would make for an amusing time, to say the very least. He glanced back towards the door, his mind wandering to Hannah. He always shamed Josephine for being with a human, but it's not like he could shame her now that Hannah was turned.

Josephine stayed splayed out on her back for awhile, her fingertips gently caressing the fabric of her sheets. They were soft and cool, illuminated by the golden light that spilled across them. The faint golden glow mixed with pink, and she sat up, curious gaze on the balcony door. She rose to her feet and approached the door, quietly opening it. The sky was a beautiful pale pink with fleeting colors of purple and orange. On one side of the sky, it was a creeping navy blue. On the other side, it was a bright array of fading colors. Wispy clouds scattered across the sky, not necessarily minding which side they were on. The sun was dipping below the horizon, hiding behind the trees that stretched across the land. She leaned forwards on the railing, inhaling the scent of petrichor and sweet florals. If only Blanche was here with her.

The moon was beginning to crawl its way up the sky, rising halfway while the sun went down. The trees were nothing more than spindly, black figures outlined against the divided sky. Come nightfall, Josephine knew she would have to feed on something, or someone. She had gone too long without blood and it was beginning to mess with her head. A light breeze ruffled her short hair and cooled her cheeks. Her eyes closed softly, and she brushed some of her hair out of the way to feel the breeze better. The calls and songs from the birds filled the warm air, only adding to the peace.

Josephine sighed, opening her eyes to take in the colorful scene before her again. The colors were fading quick, and the navy blue was taking over the entirety of the sky. The moon was waning, noticeably smaller than the fullness it had the previous night. Somewhere in the far, far distance her ears picked up on the cries and howls of coyotes. They had something, and they didn't plan on letting it go anytime soon. The cries grew louder and louder, the shrill sounds piercing her ears. Sometimes, her highly enhanced hearing was a blessing. Other times it was a curse. At the moment, it was both. The cries suddenly stopped, then returned even louder, much more triumphant. Whatever they had, they had successfully won their fight with it.

The wispy clouds lazily drifted across the sky, which had fully changed into varying shades of blue. Mostly dark, some light where the colors had previously been. The first stars of the night began to twinkle brightly in the sky, and the moon began to cast its silvery shroud down onto the land. Tonight, the air was warm and she could hear the croaking of nearby frogs and the chirping of crickets in the fields. Fireflies emerged from their hiding spots and danced their way up to the balcony, much like they had done at the masquerade.

The stars were twinkling overhead and the fireflies were putting on a show for her. They flitted around and blinked in sync with each other, creating a bright glow of green all at once before it disappeared and reappeared again. It was still dimly lit by the fleeting sunlight before it finally vanished, the sun dipping fully down the horizon for the night before it would rise again in the morning. Josephine couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if Blanche was with her again, stood beside her on the balcony as it was whenever they had met. The lights on her wall faintly spilled out onto the beginning of the floor of the balcony, but stopped short where the moonlight spilled. It was like they were battling for whoever got to go where. She rested one hand over the other, her eye twitching slightly. She really, really needed blood. A primal and instinctual feeling from deep within her gradually rose to her surface, begging and demanding to be set free.

Josephine knew that if she didn't get what she needed, she would lose control of herself. She gripped the railing with one of her hands, gently pulling her bottom lip between her sharp teeth. Where was she supposed to find a non-vampiric person? Usually, they did have humans around for this very purpose, but unfortunately there were none around. Josephine felt like a dog trying to resist stealing a steak. It was near impossible to keep herself contained at this point, and the growing feeling of need was spreading throughout her entire body. It was like a wildfire, spreading rapidly with nothing to prevent it. Nothing to stop it. Sooner or later she would have to give in and let herself go. There was no point in delaying it anymore, yet here she was.

The silvery light of the moon shone down onto her, turning her pale skin into the same silver. Her bright golden eyes were narrowed and the light reflected in them. Josephine was teetering on the edge of her breaking point, and she could feel her instincts biting and tearing at her. The feeling of wanting to be set free wasn't painful, yet it was uncomfortable. Like wearing wet jeans and trying to take them off. She shut her eyes, an exhale shakily passing through her lips. The moon rose higher, and so did her urges. Oh, how she hated being a vampire. She hated the feelings that came with it, and this moment only reinforced her hatred. Josephine took a final breath in, and then set herself free.

Leo knew he would have to be home sometime soon to make sure all was going right at the castle. He knew everyone was a little on edge with the loss of the humans, and that some of them would be in desperate need of blood. "Thank you." He responded cooly, his worry easily masked. Vampires were relentless whenever they were without it, and he didn't exactly want to come home to chaos. Some of them couldn't exactly control themselves too well, the majority of them couldn't. He flicked his gaze down to the black watch on his wrist, eyes widening slightly in surprise. He had been here for awhile, and it was definitely time for him to go. The night brought many things with it, and antsy, hungry vampires were one of them.

They required blood often, but unfortunately with the war raging between them and the humans made it difficult for them to get any. Leo smiled warmly at the man who sat before him. "I'll get back to you with any information I can find. Until then, I think it's time for me to go." Leo slowly rose to his feet, his legs aching from being sat down so long without any stretching.