Chapter 1: Chapter 1
"I'll kill them all," Anais snarled between clenched fangs, carmine eyes twinkling with the reflection of the flame-licked vista, "mongrels..."
I lacked the strength to offer my condolences. All we could do was watch as our home, Anais's birthright, buckled under its own weight; Castle Archambeau had fallen. To see the usually regal and often callous vampiress in such a sorry state truly broke my heart. As her protector, I'd failed.
"Princess," the words echoed throughout my chassis, low and tired, "we must press on."
Anais shook her head, the motion causing her hair to ripple like liquid silver. "Where? Where will we go? The humans have betrayed us all, and will pay for it in blood." Even in the duchess' disheveled state—her gossamer veil singed, silver locks unkept and luxuries gown shredded at the hem—she possessed a royal air that brooked no argument.
"We can't stay here," I said, gesturing to the burning city. "If the humans are this ruthless, then we need allies."
Anais huffed, but she did not disagree. Her survival would be paramount, after all, if there was any chance at restoring the honor of the Archambeau line. To our estimation, Anais was all that remained of her family's Sanguine Court, the rest presumably butchered by the human peasants and their foreign liberators. I'd only survived in my charge to protect Anais by merit of being a construct, able to shake off the most grievous of blows. As Anais's creation, it was purpose to protect the young mistress at all cost.
"The house of Lavere is allied with the humans," Anais said, looking away from the devastation, her gaze instead on the distant mountains. "They are weak and decadent, and they will never accept me as their queen, bastards."
I shifted, the slight creak of blood-rusted joints accenting the advice, "Your Highness, we should consider our options. Perhaps the House of Krahr would welcome you into their fold?"
Anais scoffed, "House of Krahr? They are nothing more than a pack of dogs. No, we cannot trust them, nor any other house that has turned against us." She looked down at her hands, then back up to me, "We must take matters into our own hands."
My chassis rattled as I processed her words. "You wish to take your vengeance upon the humans personally, Your Highness?"
Anais nodded, "Yes. I will destroy them all, every last one."
I agreed, though I knew full well the risks involved. I had been built to protect Anais, and I would not fail in that duty again.