Anastasiya 'Asya' Petrova

“Bite you?” The dragon asked, cocking his head as a low demonic growl vibrated up his chest. “Well….cause you asked sooooooo nicely!” He laughed, his body contorting and splitting as the large, ground dewlling dragon ripped free from his human skin and loomed over the woman. Piercing eyes cut down at her as he made a hungry chuffing sound, his thick forked tongue flicking out as he large head dipped down. Better start running, cutie…..only get a ten second head start.

Asya stared at the dragon with a high level of contempt, finding it unnecessary to answer his question. Though as he shifted before her very eyes, looming over her, she felt pure fear grip her heart and cause her hands to shake in the face of her own determination. She didn’t move, staring right into his now very large eyes as his head came uncomfortably close to her. If you wanted me dead, I’d be limbless already. She thought back, fisting her hands to hide their tremors, only her accelerated heart rate revealing that she harbored any fear for him at all. 

Aleksander was stubborn and once he had something in his mind, nothing could change it- not even Asya. He wanted to get her out of the cells at least. He would not let her die there- and certainly not with any of these animals that called themselves masters. Alek was never as close to their father as his sister but he vowed that he would protect him after Asya refused to go into hiding. It was the hardest thing he’s ever done to let Asya go. “Let me worry about these people. You worry about keeping yourself alive and out of trouble. I won’t leave you in the cells,  skŭpa ptitsa.” precious bird. “I’ve made a home here for us. Just please don’t write it off until you’ve seen it.” He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against the side of his body. “How could this ever be your fault?”

Asya was by no means dissatisfied with being taken out of the cells. With being able to actually have a home and be close to her brother. She wanted nothing more than her freedom and to keep him safe. But she had been here a while. She had seen what evils lurked in this town. What monsters masters and mistresses became when drunk on the power the laws gave them. When human life meant nothing, when a person had no other value than to be used and abused, their body no longer their own. And while she had endured so far, she would not in a million years have Aleksander experience a fraction of it. She would protect him from it at all costs, even if it meant throwing her own life, what little she had been left with, away. “Has vampirism boosted your sense of hubris? But fine, I will do my best to stay out of trouble.” She somewhat agreed with a small nod. It had not escaped her how he didn’t seem to want to tell her what had happened to their father. The double avoidance made Asha’s stomach churn, her mind eager to make up scenarios she had to halt in their tracks time and time again. “Blagodarya ti, malŭk brat.” Thank you little brother. Easily leaning into him, Anastasiya sighed heavily. For the first time since seeing him outside her cell, she allowed herself to relax completely. “I refused to run, to hide. I was convinced the war would pass Bulgaria and leave everything as it were. Had I listened to you and father I would not be here to begin with.”

Alek hadn’t thought about the language they shared as children in a very long time. They were and still are very close- the language only helped them be even closer. Her disbelief punched him in the chest, stopping his undead heart out of pain for her. “But it is. He’s gone.” They finally reached the outside, the vampire was thankful for the daylight ring that was given to him when he arrived at CrownPoint. Skulking in the dark while it was daytime was absolute shit. “I couldn’t just leave you here! Vie ste vsichko!” You’re all I have. “There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you in this place. We just have to blend in for awhile, okay? Play the part so we don’t get ourselves killed.” He would never ever think trying to save his sister from a shitty situation was throwing his life away. As far as he was concerned, she was his life now. He wouldn’t fail her too- not the way he failed their father. 

Asya felt entirely numb as they walked. While she knew Alek wouldn’t lie to her, nor joke around with something as serious as their father being dead, she still couldn’t find it in her to accept such a truth. Yes, he’d been an absentee parent, someone who was a brilliant buisness man but a poor father figure. Who would protect his children but also his reputation at any cost. To date he was the strongest man she knew. Seeming.. invincible. How could he be dead? “How?” She asked, feeling breathless as she did. Normally getting outside, smelling fresher air and feeling the sun, would give Asya some strength. Right now though she couldn’t feel or register any of it, being in a sort of haze. That was until the stubbornness in Aleksander’s voice all but smacked her awake. Gritting her teeth a little, Asya wanted to argue. To tell and remind him that of course his life was more important than saving hers. Actually, her’s was already doomed, it had been the minute she had been sold. Of course she had not admitted to that to a single soul, most days not even to herself. Clinging to the belief that there was a way out of this town. That she could break free. But knowing her brother posing such an argument was futile. He wouldn’t listen no more than she would have if the roles had been reversed. “They’re not as stupid as you think. And if we are caught there’s no way we get out of here alive..” She said, hearing how weak her own argument was, knowing full well that had it been anyone else willing to take such a risk then she would be encouraging them instead. “Prosto ne iskam da umresh, opitvaĭki se da me spasish. Tova ne e vinoven, a moya, che sŭm tuk.” I just don't want you to die trying to save me. It's no ones fault but my own that I'm here. 

“SooOooOooooo that is code for “all my threats of power and danger are bullshit”“. Apophis mused, making dramatic air quotations with a smirk. “Honey, if I had a nickle for everytime someone has said that to me I would be a veeryy veeeerryyy rich beast.” The man roughly grabbed the woman’s chin, yanking her head up a little more. “Ya already there, dear. Seems your pride is preventing you from reeeeaaalllly realizing that, huh?”

Asya only rolled her eyes, loosing count how many times she had done so since meeting this asshole of a male. He clearly liked to belittle and paint himself as the all powerful, and she was not going to entertain that at all. No, he would not get her to admit in clear speech that she was in any way powerless or weak. Unlike half the slaves here she was not groweling on her feet or crying at night. Nor was she sucking up and bending to every master or mistress walking trough these doors. Because she had dignity. Because she knew her own worth. “Bite me.” She hissed, tugging her chin free of his grasp. “Oh no, this is far from hell. I’ve known worse. Regardless, why should it matter to you what I think?” With that she got to her feet, though she did not draw back from him, refusing to seem intimidated.

It was times like these that he was thankful they knew a language that most had no knowledge of. He could not seem weak to these people- not if he wanted to save his sister and not end up in one of these cells, himself. With the childhood nickname ringing in his ears, it was hard to not cry. He never thought he’d be thankful for an ass of a guard. “Kur.” Dick. He muttered in Bulgarian rather than snapping the guards neck in two when he caught Asya as gently as he could. “Bashta e mŭrtŭv, nickname.” Father is dead, nickname. The vampire was already leading her out of the prison, towards the home he’d set up for the two of them. “Na tova myasto tryabva da izglezhdam zhestoko.” I must seem cruel in this place. He explained why he seemed to keep flipping a switch inside of himself. 

Being able to speak in a language that few guards would understand reminded her of making up their own language as kids. How they would create words and hand signs to keep their parents from discovering their secrets or what they were up to. At the moment it was a painful memory to relive, having to recognize how much had changed since then. How particularly their circumstances had changed. Pressing her lips together, Asya made a small, dissenting noise. The guard was a major dick and like every single other guard in this place Asya wished this one dead. And yet she had no power to chop of heads, or even make the object of her wrath feel any pain in other ways. The words Alek then spoke ended up on a loop in her head, as she tried to wrap her mind around it. Father is dead. But that just.. didn’t make any sense. “Tova ne e vŭzmozhno..” That’s not possible. She stated in return, shaking her head as if she could shake off the truth entirely. Their dad couldn’t be dead... she just couldn’t loose another parent. No. “Da, tryabva da go napravite. Tova e risk za Alek! Shte te ubiyat. Te shte vi zabiyat i v kiliyata.” Yes, you have to. This is suh a risk Alek! They'll kill you. They'll shove you in a cell too. Asya couldn’t help it. The overwhelming worry and panic easily recognizable in her voice. She was overjoyed to see him, but she was terrified that in coming to rescue her he would throw his life away too. 

“Pardon me as I quake in my boots.” The man laughed, smiling down at the girl. “Honey, I dont give a shit if ya got a dick or a pussy between your legs, or if you are the last known giant in the world or a pygmy. But you talk big. That is what gets people looking down at the waste of space ya really are.” Apophis opened his hands out at his sides, shrugging. “Ya also didnt explain hooooow you have ways? Love to see em.”

Asya didn’t think his comment warranted a response, though she absolutely hated being looked down on. Unfortunately she didn’t have the power to back up her words. Yes, she talked a big game because she still wanted to believe she did, refused to accept that she was virtually powerless against any supernatural creature. “It wouldn’t matter one bit if I was talking big or small. You’d be looking down at me either way. And with a system where all the cards are stacked in your favor, you can. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t find a way to pay you back for this.” Her last sentence snarled out, a clear threat, though she could not help but add to it. “Go to hell.” 

His sister didn’t react in the way he assumed she would. Her hands stayed linked with his own, her concern written all over her face. Questions flew at him and he didn’t want to answer any of them. He had failed to save their father, both men dying but only Aleksander was given blood beforehand- forced to drink it and watch their father die. “Az ne uspyakh bashta.” I failed father. His voice kept whispering over and over, tears filling his eyes. He knew he should stay strong in the cells, especially since he was a newbie and didn’t need enemies in this place- not if he wanted Asya safe. “I can bring you to my home, I’ve already arranged to rent you. I have to rent you twice before you can go home with me.” His words were rushed as a guard finally approached them. He pulled his hands away from his sister and forced the tears from his eyes. “Vyarvaĭ mi.” Trust me. He hope his words were enough to calm her until they could at least leave this prison. “Do you want to move your ass a bit faster? I’m hungry.” He told the guard, keeping up appearances, not actually hungry.

Asya felt as if her head was going to split open with all of the questions she had and all the confusion she was feeling. Last they saw each other, she had been insisting on staying behind to finish that silly buisness deal she had been so hellbent on closing before admitting that there was a war. Before she had wanted to accept that the company she had built would be laid waste to the second she went into hiding. And so she hadn’t.. and that had been okay, even being here had been somewhat alright, because she knew her father and brother were safe. Because she knew they would survive even if she didn’t. And yet here Alek was. “Se provali? Neuspeshno kak? Alek..” Failed? Failed how? Asya asked, unable to keep some of the fear and desperation to learn the truth from her voice. What the hell had happened out there? “Ne plachete malko lŭv.” Don’t cry little lion. Asya murmured, reaching up to tilt his chin, so that he had to look at her, using the nickname she and her mother had used for him as a child. His next words however perplexed her, caused another wave of shock as she felt her jaw loosen and her mouth pop open in surprise. And slight horror. He’d become a master? Gotten a house here? She couldn’t decide whether to be faint with relief that he was about to free her, or terrified that he’d get caught and placed in a cell next to hers. She wanted to speak, but as the guard appeared and Alek took his hands back, all she could do was stand there in silence, trying to rearrange her face into a neutral expression. Her brother had asked for trust. And she would give it. The guard unlocked her cell and cuffed her without preamble, before he pushed her roughly towards the male. Asya only just managed to refrain from giving the git her evil eye. 

Apophis laughed like the mad man he was, the beast smiling broadly as he dragged her through the hall. “Value their lives, you say?” He barked out, the smile apparent on his voice as he threw her out into the street. “OOOOooooo are you some kinda bad ass, cutie? Cause I gotta say, this whole ‘attempted glaring thing’ is just a-dor-a-ble!! Bet you dont even know how to swat at a fly right, let alone make people feel fear!”

Asya grimaced to herself as her hair roots and scalp were burning and he was moving at a speed she could just barely keep up with. However she was determined not to loose her footing. While she had by no means expected to be handled with care, she did not see it coming. Being thrown she did loose her balance, falling forward onto the dirt road outside, something in between a snarl and shriek escaping her. Not surprisingly her skin now burned as well with fresh scrapes, though the worst part was the dirt. Quick to get to her feet, Asya brushed off what she could, rolling her eyes. “Could you be more of a male? Degrading a woman based on size and stature. Makes you pathetic. I assure you, there are plenty of ways to make someone fear you without resorting to violence. If you were a damned fly, you’d be long dead by now.” 

“Ooooo you are just adorable!” He laughed, the beast stepping into the cell. He reached out, gently caressing the girl’s cheek. “Such a lil frail thing, I can see why no one has hurt you yet.” Apophis smiled at the other before his hand snapped out and he grabbed a fistful of the girl’s hair, yanking the girl hard in hopes of dragging her down the hall.

“Yes I am.” Asya replied completely without humor and rather a confident tone to add to her posture. Once he came into the cell, she had to ignore the urge to draw back. This huge male, yet he was anything but human, making her wonder if all those bed time stories were true. While his touch was gentle, Asya didn’t relax a single muscle, only raising both her eyebrows in response to his words. Little and frail? How wrong he was. “No one has hurt me yet because they value their lives.” she finally replied, her words effortless, a bit nonchalant. When he was suddenly yanking at her hair, trying to throw her off balance, the brunette gritted her teeth and made sure to stay on her feet. “You filthy, worthless animal.” She hissed. 

Oooooooh this one had a tongue on her! His eyes danced with mirth and a slow, dangerous smile pulled at his teeth to flash the dangerous points, the beast never really feeling the need to hide them as some his kind did when they were in their human skins. “Personally? Nah.” He replied, waving a hand at a guard. “However!” he held up a finger as his eyes bore into the woman with a dangerous hunger. “Spunky, strong willed bitches? Who think that they can fiight somethin like me off with a bat of the eye, a sharp tongue, and wills?” A low growling purr vibrated up through him as he made a show of shivering. “OooOooO gets the blood a-pumpin!”

Asya only raised both her brows in silence as he flashed his teeth at her. As if seeing those would scare her. He had to do a lot better than that to instill fear, real fear, in her. Men always did that, with the dangerous smiles and show of what they percieved to be a strength of some kind, to make a woman back off or reconsider her position. Having faced off some of the fiercest and most successful, highly intimidating business men in the world from a young age, Asya was not easily intimidated by anyone. She didn’t change her expression or stance as he waved a guard over. No more than a flash of deep rooted determination bloomed in her eyes. Apparently he found her attitude appealing. How unusual. One hundred percent unexpected. Flipping her head over her shoulder, the brunette pursed her lips just a little, the smallest hint of a smile in hiding in the curve of her lips. “Oh your blood will be pumping alright.” 

She hoped that her trust in his words would be enough to overpower her fear that he wasn’t actually there. He needed her to believe she could be free of this place or he could never live without her. He only tried to soothe his older sister as she cried out to stop playing mind games. He wished it had been a mind game and that she wasn’t behind bars and they were far from this place. “Umryakh.” I died. He spoke, choking back a sob that he tried to hold back for her sake. He couldn’t spare her, just like he couldn’t protect their father. “Sŭzhalyavam sestra.” I’m sorry, sister. “Forgive me- forgive the monster I am now.”

His hands were like ice in her own, causing her to run her thumbs over the top of them, as if trying to give them her warmth. In the moment she didn’t think of it as a sign of change, but felt an increased worry that he had somehow escaped from his own cell and were risking it all to see her. Apart from the selft made hallusiniations she managed to have on her own, some of the supernatural guards seemed to thrive off of torturing the slaves in their sleep or whenever boredom struck. In such an environment she thought herself rational despite the behavior she had just displayed. As he said the words, ‘I died’, Asya wasn’t entirely able to comprehend what he meant. In her head he couldn’t possibly mean it in a literal sense.. could he? But once the last sentence came in English, naming himself a monster, she felt a fresh kind of pain twist in her gut. “Tova ne e ... kak e vŭzmozhno tova? Alek, kakvo stana?” That’s not... how is that possible? Alek, what happened? She didn’t let go of his hands, though some twisted voice in her mind were screaming at her to back the hell up. What if he was dangerous? What if he couldn’t control the monster within? But then it also seemed.. impossible. That her sweet, sarcastic, kindhearted brother could be anything resembling a monster. “You’re supposed to be safe with father.. I don’t understand.” 

He didn’t blame her for not believing he was truly there- after all, why would he be on the outside of the cell and not in a cell of his own? Alek needed to convince her that he was real though if he hoped to get her out of this cell and to his home- their home. “ Az sŭm istinska.” I am real. His Bulgarian still quick on his tongue. “Elate tuk i shte vidite.” Come here and you’ll see. His arms still held through the bars, not wanting guards near them yet until he has spoken to her about his… situation. It would come as a huge shock to her that he was no longer her human brother, but now he was a monster.

Asya had envisioned her father or brother coming to her rescue a million times since she had been captured and sold to the town. Each time they were there at her cell door, reaching out, promising to free her. And each time she either woke or stumbled her way to the sprinkled door, only to find there was no one there. Why should this time be any different? And while his bulgarian was entirely flawless, sending shivers up her arms and gutting her with such a profound longing that she could hardly breathe, her eyes blank as a result, she shook her head. “O, skŭpa, kak bikh iskala da bŭdesh.” Oh darling how I wish you were. Crossing her arms protectively in front of her chest, her voice was still thick with unshed tears, but also angrier when she spoke a second time in English. “Cut it out! Which of you monsters dare play with my mind!? Get out of my head! Now!” Sounding as threatening and imposing as she possibly could. Though despite herself, Asya was drawn to the cell door, running a hand trough her own dark curles before her fingers hesitantly reaching out for Aleksander’s. Once they did connect, and his hands didn’t vanish like she had expected, Asya almost yelled out in pure shock, though her grip on his hands tightened considerably. “Alek? Kakvo, po dyavolite, pravish tuk !? O, Bozhe. O, mami..” Alek? What the hell are you doing here!? Oh god. Oh shit..

Apophis arched a brow at the woman, not missing the attitude. “Did they let you keep that, uh, attitude though?” He asked, cocking his head down at the woman as he looked not appeased.

“Did they let you keep your personality?” She retorted, tone shifting to a slightly sarcastic one, raising her chin just a little, unable to even begin to comprehend how to emulate the skittish, submissive, forced politeness a bunch of her fellow slaves were displaying whenever they talked to a master or mistress. Each time Asya had to shake her head in disapprovement and quite frankly she was often embarrassed for them. Bowing to whoever came around, acting as if they were lesser, inconsequential, worthless even. The Bulgarian, former business woman would never, ever bow to someone else. Not unless it was that or her life. Besides, she could take the beatings and the hits. Little of it truly fazed her. “Let me ask you something; do you really find meek, scared women, or men for that matter, attractive?”