Wings Of The Foretold

Sweet 16

I awoke to the mid day sun streaming in through my open curtains, my head pounding from the late night I had celebrating the eve of my 16th birthday. Admittedly, I had had far too much to drink but I'm sure anyone in my circumstances would have tried their damnedest to drink themselves into a sloshing drunkin stupor. I groaned and slung my arm over my eyes in a vain attempt to block out the oppressive rays.

"Who's there,” I grumbled. “and why have you opened the curtains? I had a long night and I would like to sleep in."

"S-so sorry to wake you young master, but the Lord has requested you in his study." A half blood maid stuttered sheepishly.

The smell of fear radiated off of her in waves. It's not like I was gonna hurt her but if she was going to keep radiating such strong emotions I might just be tempted to draw energy from her to get rid of my headache. It’s not something I like doing, but she was making it hard not think of it.

I sat up in my bed and slung my legs over the edge, satin sheets slipping off the bed leaving my bare chest exposed to the sun. The maid gasped. I knew my skin would be shining almost gold in this sunlight. I let my long coal black hair fall over half my face and Cascade down my shoulder, as I released just a bit of my power over her.

"Come here,” I said softly, compelling her to move forward.

She started walking to me instantly but faltered in her step halfway to my bed side. She was fighting it, if she wasn't she would be practically in my lap by now. Fine then, I thought. I wasn't one for forcing myself on others anyway. If she was strong enough to try and fight I'd let her believe she could. I pulled my Aura back in and she stopped dead in her tracks, her energy instantly returning to fear.

God it smelled good.

"Was there something you needed my young Lord?" Her voice shook slightly as she spoke, her eyes never meeting mine.

I gave her a glare as if what I was trying wasn't working how I wanted. She stiffened, keeping her eyes on the floor.

"Go fetch my servant to come dress me and get out.” I ordered while waving my hand vaguely toward the door. She bowed silently, picking up her skirts and scurrying out as fast as she politely could.

I snickerd to myself before frowning in thought over what she said. My father wanted to see me.

I groaned again throwing myself back onto my pillows.

I did not want to see him. I knew what he wanted to talk about. My patron. Every pure blood fatu, after their 16th birthyear was to be given off to a filthy Anu who would choose pure blooded mates for them to reproduce with and house them in their own lands till they were old enough and if they were of royal decent, like me. Trained to lead their own designated town, city, tribe, kingdom, or just however much land their patron could afford. I did not want to be a filthy parasites personal blood bank and fake puppet Lord over their human toys. Nor did I want to mate. God it sounded so sick. Those things see us as nothing more than toys. Something they can use and flaunt for their own sick pleasures.

"Is something wrong young Lord?”

A low voice sounded from behind me, pulling me out of the thoughts coursing through my head.

It was then I realized I was no longer in my bed. Sometime in my rage I must have stood up and started to Pace.

I straitened and with some effort un clenched my fists. "No Rowen nothing's wrong, I'm fine, and I told you not to call me that." I responded hastily.

"Would you prefer young Master?" Rowen asked, raising an eyebrow.

I turned to give him a glare at that. He stood with the perfect posture, his salt and pepper hair combed back to perfection, gloves and suit clean and pressed. His eyes glinted, the deep blue grey stared back unflinching into my golden ones. I couldn't hold my glare for long though. Rowen had been there for me my whole life since I was a child and I couldn't hide anything from him, Hell he probably knew better that I did what was bothering me.

I let out a long sigh, running a hand through my hair before speaking.

"I don't want to go Rowen, I don't want to leave and become a plaything for some sick over privlaged Nobel Anukah." I felt a deep despair at the thought and it could be heard in my voice as the words left.

I could feel tears stinging at the back of my eyes, begging to be released. I blinked them back and tightend my fists again, my headache coming back with full force. Rowen being ever the gentleman pretended not to notice. He knew I hated seeming weak and he was kind enough not to point out how spoiled I sounded. After all my father had to go through this so did my mother and my little sister would eventually have to as well. I inhaled deeply and tried to push the worst case scenarios to the back of my mind to be buried and forgotten.

"I guess there's no helping it though.” I paused, meeting Rowen’s eyes and casting him a small smile. “Help me dress, and pack my things for me while I'm with my father, would you?"

Rowen trailed his eyes from my head to my toes before responding. "There is no need for that young Master, everything you will need will be there for you when you arrive at your father's patrons mannor."

Right. I knew I wouldn't be allowed to take anything with me when I left, I knew it the moment the words came out of my mouth. I could pretend though, could hope that after today I would still be a free person. Capable of having my own belongings and identity. Really I could care less about my clothes and belongings, what I really didn't want to leave behind was Rowen. I had been feeding off of his energy, his Mana, since I was a young child. He used to be a feeder for my father before he got cast aside by him for younger more aesthetically pleasing humans and half breeds. I was old enough to understand that our feedings were addictive but still too young to fully grasp what that meant. I choose Rowen to feed from because he was someone I knew and someone who was willing to let me.

I always hated using my Aura, especially on anyone who didn't seem to want it. But now that I had to leave and couldn't take Rowen with me, I was the most worried for him. For all I knew, me leaving him here could very well kill him. Plenty of people had been known to kill themselves when they weren't fed from any longer. I had been trying to wean Rowen off of my feedings slowly for the past year and a half, knowing that I couldn't take him with me. But it was so damn hard to find anyone else in this God forsaken Castle willing to feed me. Because of my difficulty in finding willing donors who my own father didn't have claim over already is why I hadn't done the best of jobs in ensuring Rowen would survive my absence. Well at least I can give him one last parting gift and pray that when I finally became free of the Anukahs control, well free for the most part anyway, I can request him back.

"Yes, you’re quite right Rowen, I nearly forgot that I have no need to pack.” I paused, thinking. “Dress me then, and if you wouldn't mind I have a killer headache from last night,” I informed matterofactly. “since the maid this morning ran off before I could ask for anything useful could you perhaps spare a moment to help me replenish? "

I'm sure he knew what I was doing, giving him one last rush before I had to go. Rowen gave a deep bow one gloved hand behind his back the other over his heart.

"Of course, young Lord I would do nothing less for you."

“Well let's hurry up then. I've taken long enough to answer my Father's summons as it is." I smiled, the words leaving my mouth quickly.

I strode over to the wordrobes on the far end of the room, my bare feet cold on the marble floor. Maybe my patron would have carpet. I could at least look forward to that. I stood silently in front of the mirrors as I watched Rowen expertly fit tuck tie and tidy an expertly crafted ceremonial style of dress. It resembled the traditional wear of the fatu people before we almost became extinct, but was still modern enough that I wouldn't feel out of place. The swooping golds and stark reds complemented my skin tone nicely while the clean cuts and intricate folds did a nice job of downplaying my more effeminate features and drawing focus elsewhere. The last touch was having my long black hair braided into a high bun where a matching red and gold crown piece could be placed. I stared back at my reflection. I eminated royalty. Only the best pets are fit for the ungodly rich I suppose. I turned to face Rowen, it was now or never.

I might not ever get to see him again. I thought silently, trying to take a mental picture of his kind face.

"Rowen I'll be honest with you, I’m sure you already know quite well that I do not wish to go. But all my fears and worries for myself aside my biggest concern is for you.” I shuddered in a breath my body shaking with anger and unshed tears that I refused to let free.

"What are you going to do without me here Rowen, I... I don't think I could live with myself if anything were to happen to you.” I rushed out, staring at him.

Rowen’s face softened as he looked at me, his eyes seeming more grey than blue in the moment. “My young Lord," he paused before meeting my eyes and correcting himself. “Master Koren, you should fear not about me, for it has been an honor to serve you, care for you. You are like a son to me and I wish nothing but the best for you. I will be okay.” He said softly, coming closer.

A loud knock on the door broke the moment

We both turned our heads in unison toward the large ornate door. "State your business.” I ordered making my voice carry so it could be heard from the other side.

"Official summons from the Lord.” A low voice sounded. “The prince is to meet his father in in the throne room."

The throne room? That couldn't be right. The maid this morning told me I was to meet him in his study. Maybe I had just taken too long and he decided to have me meet him there instead? Oh well I'd figure it out later. "Tell my father I'll be there shortly." I called, hearing the sounds of armor clunking in what I could only imagine was a salute then the faint sounds of footsteps trailing off down the hall.

"You looked confused when that gard informed you of your father's summons, I thought you had already been informed that he wanted to see you?" Rowen questioned.

"Yes he did but that's not why I was confused." I responded with a frown, turning back towards the wardrobes mirror. 

"Oh?" The older man inquired, studying me through the mirror.

“I knew he wanted me to see him but I thought the maid told me he wanted me to meet him at his study. I must have misheard her.” I said while running a finger across the embroidery of my collar.

"Yes you must have," Rowen mumbled quietly. "Quite unusual for you to make such a mistake."

I turned my body to face Rowen who seemed deep in thought, knowing I didn't have much time before father became impatient. I released my Aura around me letting it stretch out to encompass Rowen and I. The man took a sharp intake of breath at the feeling of my Aura surrounding him as he turned his full attention to me. My breathing increased to match the pace of rowen's on instinct. I could see his chakras glowing brightly along his body, the tendrils of energy beginning to take shape through and around his body. They flowed and arched with the purpose of distributing his Mana across his being. I stepped forward, and at the same time Rowen took a step toward me. I could feel his energy reaching out to me as tangible as his heartbeat in my ears becoming in sync with my own.

Rowen knelt down in front of me his head now eye level with my chest, I reached down with both hands and lifted his head to ward mine, his eyes meeting mine. I would miss him so much, and trusted him to be okay like he said he would be. Slowly I bent down to meet my lips to the glowing purple that was the center of his forehead, feeling his third eye chakra click into place, the Mana building in anticipation beneath my parted lips. I inhaled a needed breath and finally, drew in the manna waiting beneath.