Child of the Shadows, chapter 2
Chapter 2: Palais de la Lune
Dinah's savior set her down far out in the countryside, away from civilization of any kind, except for the house before them. Dinah gasped in awe as she took in the dimensions of the house and the details of its appearance.
It was built in the style of Southern plantations like Scarlett O' Hare's Tara, with a wide, wraparound pillared porch, and massive wooden double doors engraved with a symbol of the full moon in the center and an outward facing crescent moon kissing it on the left and right.
The other girl smiled. "Welcome to my master's home, the Palace of the Moon." She ascended the wide wooden steps ahead of Dinah and gently tugged the bell-pull. "Master, it's me, Saya!" she called out. "I've come back, and I've brought a guest."
The immense doors were opened by a tall, pale young man with curly, shoulder-length black hair and silvery eyes. "Saya, welcome back." He embraced her eagerly, and only then did he notice Dinah. His eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
Saya ducked out of his embrace and ushered Dinah forward. "Be nice, Haji. This is my guest...." she trailed off and looked at Dinah apologetically. "Um, I never got your name, I'm sorry."
"D-Dinah. Dinah Wherever." Dinah stammered. Haji's manner was cool and regal, and Saya seemed somehow queenly and untouchable, despite her friendly demeanor. She felt as if she should bow before them.
"Then welcome to my home, Dinah Wherever." A new voice cut in. The deep voice belonged to a tall, pale man with long golden hair and azure blue eyes. He smiled, an expression that utterly charmed her, until she saw the pearly white fangs nearly identical to the teeth of her attacker.
Dinah gasped and backed up a step.
The man held out his long white hands in a placating gesture. "Please, do not fear me. I mean you no harm." He gestured to Saya. "Haven't I already proven that by sending one of my children to aid you in your time of need?"
Dinah glanced at Saya, who shrugged and smiled just enough to reveal that she too had fangs.
The blonde man turned to her and Haji. "Thank you. You've been working hard all night. Go now and rest."
Saya curtsied and Haji bowed. "Thank you, Master. Goodnight." Saya murmured, placing a hand on Hai's arm and allowing him to escort her down one of the many ornate halls visible from the front room in which they all now stood.
Dinah stared after the pair in shock and also a bit of awe, until the master laid an elegant hand gently on her shoulder.
"Come," he said quietly. "Let us find you a room for the night. Tomorrow we shall discuss your situation."
Dinah nodded.
The master smiled at her, leading her down a different hall from the one Saya and Haji had gone down.
After showing her to a room fit for a princess or even a queen and seeing to it that she was comfortably settled for the night, he kneeled beside her and kissed her hand with his cool lips. "Goodnight, Miss Dinah."
"G-goodnight." She blinked once in her drowsiness, and he was gone, the lights extinguished, and the door left open only enough to let a crack of light in, since the room had no windows.
Despite herself. Dinah was asleep in moments.
Dinah's savior set her down far out in the countryside, away from civilization of any kind, except for the house before them. Dinah gasped in awe as she took in the dimensions of the house and the details of its appearance.
It was built in the style of Southern plantations like Scarlett O' Hare's Tara, with a wide, wraparound pillared porch, and massive wooden double doors engraved with a symbol of the full moon in the center and an outward facing crescent moon kissing it on the left and right.
The other girl smiled. "Welcome to my master's home, the Palace of the Moon." She ascended the wide wooden steps ahead of Dinah and gently tugged the bell-pull. "Master, it's me, Saya!" she called out. "I've come back, and I've brought a guest."
The immense doors were opened by a tall, pale young man with curly, shoulder-length black hair and silvery eyes. "Saya, welcome back." He embraced her eagerly, and only then did he notice Dinah. His eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
Saya ducked out of his embrace and ushered Dinah forward. "Be nice, Haji. This is my guest...." she trailed off and looked at Dinah apologetically. "Um, I never got your name, I'm sorry."
"D-Dinah. Dinah Wherever." Dinah stammered. Haji's manner was cool and regal, and Saya seemed somehow queenly and untouchable, despite her friendly demeanor. She felt as if she should bow before them.
"Then welcome to my home, Dinah Wherever." A new voice cut in. The deep voice belonged to a tall, pale man with long golden hair and azure blue eyes. He smiled, an expression that utterly charmed her, until she saw the pearly white fangs nearly identical to the teeth of her attacker.
Dinah gasped and backed up a step.
The man held out his long white hands in a placating gesture. "Please, do not fear me. I mean you no harm." He gestured to Saya. "Haven't I already proven that by sending one of my children to aid you in your time of need?"
Dinah glanced at Saya, who shrugged and smiled just enough to reveal that she too had fangs.
The blonde man turned to her and Haji. "Thank you. You've been working hard all night. Go now and rest."
Saya curtsied and Haji bowed. "Thank you, Master. Goodnight." Saya murmured, placing a hand on Hai's arm and allowing him to escort her down one of the many ornate halls visible from the front room in which they all now stood.
Dinah stared after the pair in shock and also a bit of awe, until the master laid an elegant hand gently on her shoulder.
"Come," he said quietly. "Let us find you a room for the night. Tomorrow we shall discuss your situation."
Dinah nodded.
The master smiled at her, leading her down a different hall from the one Saya and Haji had gone down.
After showing her to a room fit for a princess or even a queen and seeing to it that she was comfortably settled for the night, he kneeled beside her and kissed her hand with his cool lips. "Goodnight, Miss Dinah."
"G-goodnight." She blinked once in her drowsiness, and he was gone, the lights extinguished, and the door left open only enough to let a crack of light in, since the room had no windows.
Despite herself. Dinah was asleep in moments.