“ Indeed, you understand.” He let another bout of soft laughter emit from his lips, eyes closing as he found himself enjoying the bliss of this sensual moment, this pocket dimension he found himself with her as if the two souls were all that mattered in this world. No sooner did Dio’s eyes open ever so slightly would he close but a small distance between himself and the other. While still just shy of an arm’s reach away, Dio could feel her heart beat, such a lovely tune, the most lovely music that might ever have been put upon the Earth.
Dio made his approach, though his features were soft and alluring, calling to her and seeking to fill her with all manner of comfort, the haziness that comes with slowly slipping into a warm bath. Pale moonlight shined upon them as the vampire towered over her, her small form succumbed to his shadow, yet his smile seemed to radiate the very warmth of the sun, the blossoming starlight that he feared.
“ I shall say unto you now if my company or words haunt or disturb you simply speak such thoughts aloud and I shall be removed from your sight forever, but if even a SINGULAR thought is drawn to my being I must beseech you here my declaration.”
Fingers gently placed themselves under her chin, bringing her face upward so her gaze might meet his. He regarded her with warmth and affection, eyes blazing with curiosity and newfound tenderness, along with the hint of desire she had come to fill his very soul with, a fire of devotion and contempt, a blaze of a wicked, perverted love. It was so simple, so easy for him to see through her, for royalty seldom produced healthily creatures, especially women who were so often denied the freedoms of their male counterparts. So sheltered she must have been, so pampered and void of adventure or meaning in her life. It was all too easy to see written upon her face and embedded into her soul.
“ Fate has controlled our lives since the beginning, all your life you have dwelled where you were born, heard stories of great men and women, prayed for something more, something exciting, something your own that no one family or friend might lay claim to. Perhaps in this singular moment here, fate has chosen to unburden you of your troubles, the world of laws and comfort, the world of privilege and monotony. Perhaps my coming heralds your liberation? Your freedom and of course…”
His lips edged closer to her, hovering over he lovely ears.
Oh, she certainly understood. How rare, to find another that truly did understand exactly what it was that you meant, that understood you as a person at your core, in your entirety. Perhaps, the more he spoke, the more she believed him to be that for her. Eloise remained glued to where she stood, keeping her eyes locked on him as he drew his body closer, her neck craning upwards to keep that eye contact. Even she, though, couldn’t stop the slight droop that her eyelids had, suddenly feeling ten times heavier.
Her hands clutched at the edges of her top, letting one clasp in the other as she inhaled quietly. Her eyes studied his face, taking note of just how different he appeared than others in her Kingdom, and though it was in a positive way, she couldn’t quite place her finger on just what it was about him. Still, she found herself unable to tear her gaze away from him. How captivating his features were, and how she found herself at peace with herself and her surroundings.
At the mention of leaving, she found herself shaking her head, “Rest assured, Dio, I don’t find your words to be that at all.” In fact, she found herself wanting to hear more from him, curious to what he had to say, to hear him speak what was on his mind. She couldn’t stop the tinge that painted her cheeks as he lifted her chin, and with the new angle, even if she wanted to look away she would be unable to. Her lungs burned, and she only just realized that she had been holding in that breath for more than a few seconds now, slowly exhaling and trying to regulate her breathing.
How had he read her so easily? Certainly, she was a creature of tradition, and she had no problems with simply laying down and doing exactly what a woman's role was; however, the fact of the matter was that she truly did envy the one that would take the throne, her own flesh and blood. It was so easy to simply do what was required of her, to support her country, and serve as a figurehead and an image of what a woman should be.
Then, there was the fact that through that, and past that, she wanted to be the one to act as the ruler over her own country, how no matter even if her brother died on the throne, she would never have it. A woman that was out of her own bloodline would become ruler before she would. Even more so, she found herself relegated to simply staying in her own lane and choosing a candidate for marriage, to learn what her place was. What he was offering, it opened up doors and would give her the opportunity to do what she wanted rather than let others make decisions for her.
A shiver coursed through her as he leaned in so close to her ear, and she found herself tuning in more intensely on his words. “Perhaps it does--” She gulped back, “And pray tell, what precisely can you do to give that to me?”