Manifestations Of Power

-Alexis Lycan, 18 years old-

Black smoke swirls itself around Alexis' body like that of a snake curled tightly around a tree. His shadow is now darker than usual, pitch black and swallowing up all of the light that touches it. It is quite unnerving to look at.

Alexis reaches slowly up to his face and his reflection does as well. It is indeed himself he sees looking back at him.

"What the fuck!" Alexis barks out only a moment later, panic welling up within him. He stumbles back from the mirror while swatting at the smoke that surrounds him. In his sheer panic he backs up into the shoes that were left haphazardly on the floor and trips. He loses his balance crashes to the floor with a loud thud.

"My Lord!" Sabrina yells again, seemingly snapping out of the shock she was in. She rushes to her master's side to try and help him up. "Please calm down my Lord." She says while reaching out a hand towards to him.

"Stop! Don't touch me!" Alexis commands and swats her outstretched hand away. Confusion and panic have completely gripped his heart. He doesn't know what the hell is happening to himself. "It could hurt you." Alexis continues, explaining when he sees her surprised face.

Sabrina looks down at her precious lord, whom she has served her whole life, and finds a scared and confused young man instead. With a newfound determination in her heart, she steps forward once again, disregarding his protests all the while, and kneels in front of him.

"Allow me, My Lord." Sabrina bows slightly, her clear blue eyes piercing through him, calming his wild, thumping heart.

Alexis stares in those beautiful eyes for a few moments before nodding his head almost imperceptivity, a sign of assent.

Sabrina scoots forward and wraps her arms around her lord, pulling him into a tight embrace. His head resting on her shoulder. His body is rigid and tense. After a few moments, Alexis cautiously returns her hug. Holding her softly, tenderly.

"Are you okay?" Alexis whispers to her, worry and concern plain in his voice. She smiles at this.

"I'm fine my Lord, do not worry about me, just relax." Sabrina says while running her hands through his hair and stroking his back. Alexis shudders slightly and leans further in the hug. The action makes her blush yet again. Her heart beats quickly and she worries he will hear it, loud as it is, thundering away in her chest.

They stay wrapped together in a tender embrace for what seems like an eternity.

Belatedly, she notices the black smoke surrounding Alexis' body has all but dissipated. Her Lord is still in her arms, so she doesn't want to say anything, lest he move. Selfishly, she enjoyed his warmth for a few more seconds before opening her mouth reluctantly.

"My Lord, the smoke is gone." She whispers softly, hoping not to startle the young Duke.

"Hmm?" he mumbles, pulling away from her embrace to look down at his own body. He is taken aback by what he sees, which is nothing. His plain body greets his eyes.

The smoke is now completely gone with only his darkened shadow remaining. There is no trace of the smoke, as if it was only merely an illusion.

"Ah." she unintentionally lets out, lamenting the sudden absence of his body. Though he does not hear her outburst.

"Thank the Gods!" Alexis cries out as he climbs to his feet in happiness. He returns quickly to the mirror and views his reflection. "Thank you, Sabrina!" He says happily after a few moments of gazing in the mirror. "You saved me while I was panicking and half out of my mind. Truly, thank you." Alexis says to his loyal maid, turning to look in her direction. His beloved childhood companion.

"Of course, my Lord." Sabrina replies with a smile on her face. She bows quickly, hoping to hide her delighted smile and blushing face from her most precious Lord. She fails.

Alexis takes note of her face before a feeling of intense lust surges to the surface. The sudden urge startles him. He fights the feeling with all his being, pushing it way down inside of his mind. Alexis is bewildered by the extreme intensity of it. It is almost the exact same feeling he felt while inside his 'dream.' He shifts all thought of that particular 'dream' to the side for now. He will worry about that later.

He clenches his hand tightly, drawing a small amount of blood, in the hopes of distracting himself. The miniscule amount spills on the floor, in dark, black splotches.

"What exactly was that... smoke... my Lord?" Sabrina asks hesitantly, unaware of the internal conflict within Alexis. She has since stood up and assumed her usual place next to Alexis' desk.

"I am not sure honestly." Alexis answers honestly, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "I had a bizarre dream where the same thing happened." He continues, walking to the still ajar door, and closing it. He then drops himself into the chair in front of his desk. He turns and looks at Sabrina, watching her.

"A dream?" Sabrina repeats, turning to look at the bed, still covered in sweat and with blankets strewn about.

"Yes, I woke up in a completely black room." Alexis explains, folding his hands on top of the desk with a faraway look in his eyes. "In the dream there was a woman clad in all black. She was wrapped in that same smoke and had an ethereal look about her. Eventually, the smoke was covering me as well."

"A woman in black..." Sabrina mutters. "Did she have a name, my Lord?"

"Arabella, if I am remembering correctly." Alexis answers, her name lingering sweetly on his lips. Filling him with a warm and calming feeling. He remembers what they were doing in his dream, the intense and frantic kissing. Lust worms itself in his heart again.

"A strange name, my Lord." Sabrina says as she ponders his words. Trying not to notice the look of desire on his face. The thought pains her heart.

Alexis shakes his head and sits up straight.

"Sabrina" he says sharply.

"Yes, my Lord?" She turns and faces him, giving him her full attention.

"Tell no one about what you saw today." Alexis says in a soft yet firm voice. "Not until I figure this out."

"Naturally, my Lord." Sabrina replies while she bows deeply and exits the room. He watches her leave with a complicated expression.

Alexis sits in silence after her departure. 'What the fuck was that smoke?' he asks himself. 'I wonder... if I can go back to that room...'

"Arabella..." he mutters, looking at the shadows in the room. "I'm coming back for answers."

-

Alexis walks down the short hallway with Sabrina trailing after him. His destination is the dilapidated dining room in the corner of the house. After reaching the door, he takes a deep breath to settle his thoughts before opening the door and walking in. The room is lit by a single window on the wall and two candles on the table. In otherwards, it was a dark and depressing atmosphere. The rooms occupants stand up in unison and bow to the entering Alexis.

"Duke Lycan." Three voices speak out in unison.

Alexis eyes the three occupants, his vassals, and smiles gently. "Good morning. Let us not waste any time for time is of the essence." He says while dropping a pile of papers on the table. Various old maps and charts could be seen in the stack.

Ryan, Angelica, and Vanessa each take their seats around the table after Alexis sits.

"We have a lot of work to do." Alexis says simply when they are all seated. A cunning gleam can be seen in his eyes. His vassals notice this and are expectant and full of hope, a rare thing these days indeed.