r a n s o m notes [effy]

[Lenore Machiben]

By daily dying I have come to be.

So thought Lenore as she traipsed around the ruins of the old mill, a dried rose clutched in her left hand. Her black cloak trailed behind her, sweeping up some of the old ash that still remained here. There was something strange about this place, a gripping...something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up. Lenore was never one to not trust her instincts. Those years on the road - God, they felt centuries ago now - had made her alert to everything. Her senses were the only reason she was still alive. She couldn't not trust them.

Why was she here then?
She had no clue.

It may have been the thrill that she got whenever she came here - maybe it was just the solitude. It was probably the latter, knowing Lenore. The masquerade was ending. People were beginning to suspect...who she really was. What she really was. Why she was so different to the other girls, and why she just turned up, out of the blue last year. Granted, Lenore wasn't not proud of her vampirism. Hell, if anything she was happier that she was a vampire. It set her apart, gave her a little something. A little spice, perhaps. That was how Lydia would've described it.

A little pang shot through Lenore's chest as she remembered one of her closest friends. The way their friendship ended was horrible, it should never have happened. Lenore should never have run away. If she hadn't though, Lydia would be dead. At least the Contessa was alive. Lenore could take comfort in that fact, if nothing else. Maybe they would see each other again some day, in some bizarre universe. Lenore would like that.

She found a dry spot to sit and dropped to the ground with a dancer's grace, playing with the dried rose. It'd become a habit to carry it around with her. Don't ask her why, she wouldn't know. It was for the same reason why she kept her tarot in the pocket of her cloak. Lenore just...needed these things. They were part of her being, in some way. She's a strange creature, let's leave it at that.

[Elizabeth Vandiest]

An impressive looking creature swept across the lands. A large and bulky build would strike fear into any small creature with ease. Deadly black eyes set straight ahead with a mission, a destination. Black hair was swept back by the wind due to the sheer speed the creature was traveling. This impressive creature, this brute however was probably the most threatening thing about Effy. Which was fantastic really if you thought about her. Her darn horse was scarier than herself. The large steed was probably taller than one she should have owned but such a bond was formed at a young age she couldn't let him go. She just watched him grow and grow...and grow. The girl however who perched neatly on his broad back was a totally different story. Five foot one, skin as pale as ivory, ninety six pounds in weight and looking like she couldn't crush a fly with her foot. By looks she could easily be mistaken for a creature of the night but really...she just didn't like the sun.

The most intimidating thing about the small girl was probably that bright red shade of hair she sported, it was her trademark and she was known for it's bright tones. Her eyes, big and bright green filled with excitable innocence. She always seemed to carry that devious little smile though. The smile that was so sweet it made her look like she had done something wrong and was trying to cover it up. Her smile however was not a cause for this. Her red hair brushed wildly back as the horse's hooves thundered against the ground without mercy, this smile was from sheer enjoyment.

Why was she here?

Not even she knew. Effy had a thing for old desolate places that looked like they could be the next set for a monster thriller. These things are what Effy loved, the idealistics of the supernatural. Of course the reality was very different. She hardly looked like she had much protection against such fiends but sweet as she looked the small girl had killed many. Werewolves mainly who had made attempts at stalking and hunting their pray the petite red haired girl. Little red however soon disposed of them. Her Father being the most well known blacksmith around he created beautiful instruments. Instruments that Effy knew how to use well.

She was skilled highly in using blades and also a keen hand on archery however she stayed firmly away from fire arms. Never having much fondness for them she decided to not embrace their destructive powers. As always Effy had several blades on her, most created for her by her Father and silver at that. Soon to reach her destination she slowed down the stallion. Her form was clad in a pair of black ridding pants, boots that fitted her skinny legs perfectly and a corset that framed her ever so light curves. Her virgin white skin on her arms bore the cold breeze and the elements yet she wasn't one to feel it, not after being out for a while now she had gotten used to it.

Slowing to an easy trot Effy brushed back and tamed her bright hair with the tips of her finger. Stopping the moment she saw the old mill Effy slipped from the horse who remained loyal in his place. Running a soft hand down his side she turned and wandered towards the building. Her body stopped in place as not far away she spotted a figure. Bright green eyes giving a curious look she titled her head lightly yet did not mutter a word.

Who's this?

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[Lenore Machiben]

Only now did the angry gray clouds overhead break, and Lenore sighed in slight irritation as she felt the cold rain falling on her and promptly drenching through her cloak. Her blond hair, spilling about her shoulders today like a flaxen waterfall, was beginning to clump together in wet strings. Lenore didn't move. She simply sat in her little dry spot and took it all, letting the rain spill over her face and body. There wasn't a risk of getting a cold - vampires were immune to the petty illnesses of mortals. Unlike most sane vampires, however, Lenore desperately wanted to be ill. This pure...healthiness was disconcerting. After sixty-odd years it became amazingly boring.

A little stab of apprehension gripped her chest, a feeling she called the 'vice'. It wasn't painful, merely annoying. It often preceded a reading, and it was something of an alarm clock to Lenore, telling her to pick up her d**n cards and see what this was all about. Ignoring the rain, Lenore plunged her hand into the pocket of her cloak, retrieving the deck of cards. It was quite thick, and the cards were about the size of her whole hand. Quickly and expertly she shuffled and cut the deck, picking up the card on the top of the deck. Two of cups. She was going to meet someone new, someone very soon.

Lenore was never wrong. Promptly she heard the sound of thunderous hoofbeats, about two miles or so away. It was a huge animal, perhaps as big as a draft horse, with a rider that was somewhat...less large. She loved having superior hearing. No fear entered her heart, she was confident that she could fight any human or werewolf that dared to fight her. She may be slight, but she was strong the way a cat was strong. Really she had nothing to worry about.

After maybe two or so minutes the hoofbeats became closer, slowing down gradually. She didn't move an inch. She didn't even need to turn around. The horse - if it was really a horse, it was gigantic - was about eighteen or so feet away. It had slowed to a stop by this point, and a prickling commenced in her spine. Lenore was being watched. Quickly she pocketed the tarot; a one-way ticket to the stake for a lot of people in Transylvania. She really didn't feel like being burned to death today. An involuntary shudder ran through her as she remembered the horrible screams of the executed, the agonizing way they writhed to get away from the tongues of flame. It was never any use though, they all eventually succumbed to the inferno.

"Not exactly a nice day for a ride, now, is it?" Lenore asked, having to raise her voice over the rain for the rider to hear her. By this time the person had dismounted, and Lenore could smell her blood. Human girl, about sixteen or seventeen. Thin. Short. Dyed her hair recently. She didn't have to smell the girl for the last one. Lenore's curiosity got the better of her and she had turned around, staring at the girl full-on. Lenore was probably rather scary, what with the thick eyeliner and full black wardrobe. The rain didn't make it any better.

[Elizabeth Vandiest]

Feet planted firmly int he dirt she stopped hearing the voice though to her surprise she did not find a pair of eyes staring back in her direction. Curiously looking on she wandered a moment how she would know of Effy's coming. Of course the hooves would have been a dead giveaway but something told her this girl wasn't normal. Besides herself she found often nobody in these places. That was exactly the reason she visited them, they were abandoned. Remote and away from the busy areas. Who on earth would hang around here.

Vampire maybe, or werewolf, or even some other creature?

She was struck with that the curiosity when meeting somebody new. With such an active mind if she had the chance she would view everyone a creature that could hold some threat to her wellbeing. For now though she remained calm and relaxed. One hand slipped to prop up against her slender hip. This would have looked like the small girl trying to take a more dominant stance however there was very little of the dominant gene in her. She would fight if need be but that didn't make her a dominant character. Her hand was in fact placed there as it was close to her thigh where a several inch delicate looking blade sat in it's holster.

Seeing the pale girl turn around there was a sharp jab of fear through her stomach. She seemed to be rather threatening. Her piercing eyes shot straight through her. She was certainly pretty though which confirmed in her mind that she probably wasn't a normal human. Effy had an odd habit of being attracted towards those that would probably kill her getting a chance. This...wasn't the best ideas as you can probably work out yourself.

Only when she turned around did Effy reply in a soft tones as always. "It's certainly as good a night as were going to get though." Her comment was even doused in an almost friendly tone. She would be nice as always until provoked or made to be otherwise. Stepping forward a little the girl stopped, her neck cranking backwards so she was able to look at the wreck. Soon though she couldn't felt return her attention to the girl. "How come you're here?"

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[Lenore Machiben]

A tiny half-smile curled Lenore's lips, her eyes softening considerably. She had no intention of scaring the poor girl, although she probably already had. It sucked being a vampire in this respect, the whole world was either afraid of her or trying to kill her. It wouldn't be long before she succumbed to the hatred of humans. Or perhaps a werewolf, if she was lucky. At least a werewolf would fight fair, rather than a human. Humans were always armed with cruel weapons, like those gigantic cannons. How they even carried them was a mystery to Lenore. Herself, all she needed were her teeth and the tiny silver dagger she hid in her boot. Just in case.

The girl was now standing only a few feet away, her hand on her hip. Lenore knew she was making an effort to be casual - she could hear the frantic thumping of her heart from where she sat. She did her best to ignore it, though, and stood up, undoing the cloak and letting it fall where she'd just sat. The rain was letting up into a steady, insiduous almost-drizzle. Underneath the corset she'd worn a simple black shirt, cinched by a red-embroidered black corset, and a pair of tight dark trousers. Nothing too fancy, she couldn't afford fancy.

Lenore ignored the water dripping down her spine to better survey the girl who'd intruded on her solitude. If anything she was surprised - the human didn't look the kind to come to the mill, much less alone. It was dangerous here even for supernatural beings. Now that Lenore could get a good look at her, though, she found she was gorgeous. Not beautiful the way vampires were, but it was a different kind of beauty, a mortal beauty. That was the best kind, if you asked her. Lenore's eyes trailed down to her hip, where, a little lower down, a blade was strapped to her leg. She'd recognize the filligree anywhere. It was of Vandiest make.

"I come here to be alone. The normalcies of village life sometimes become...too much to handle. And besides - I like the rain." Lenore ran a hand through her wet hair, turning to the remains of the millstone. She still watched the human girl from the corner of her eye - a little apprehensively, perhaps? "You don't need to be so afraid. I'm not going to hurt you." She didn't give any hint as to how she knew that, but from her experience of humans she'd probably already caught on. They weren't as slow as many thought. "My name is Lenore, by the way. I'm the fortune teller in the village."

[Elizabeth Vandiest]

Effy watched the girl with masses of interest, it was always so easy to engage in someone else, questions flooded her mind as she spoke. Never having seen her before was she really from the village? Effy herself spent a lot of time in and out of the village, she never really stayed still for too long. With so much energy and a need to satisfy her desires she would often not be seen for days. It was a regular thing of her behalf so maybe the woman was in the village when Effy wasn't around. Hell, maybe her Father even knew her. Her Father was a man who knew everyone and was a rather liked man at that. He was devoted to his work now though after the massing of his wife and Effy's mother. The family saw him less yet when they did he would be his calm self with that soft smile that Effy had obviously received from him.

"I know what you mean. I think." She frowned a little not all too sure on what the girl meant however the village got on top of her sometimes. Or rather her family, being the eldest female child she was just sixteen however there was a tradition in her household. The men would work with metal and be brilliantly successful and the women were great wives, passionate, loyal and great cooks. Effy, now she was another story. She was passionate about things other than love and when she thought she found love...it never lasted long. Unpredictable with her constant wanderings and she was useless at cooking...unless you liked things burned to a crisp. Her father would sometimes become annoyed at this however he had loved his child and gotten used to the way she was...strange.

That soft smile returned to her lips as she glanced up into the sky at the darkened setting. "Rain is nice. Soothing." She spoke in hushed sounds her voice almost dream like.

To her comment Effy flashed a curious look. How on earth did she know the girl was frightened. With a light from she decided not to ask. Maybe Effy did kind of look a little bit awkward. Rather an intelligent young girl she was not weary of the girl and made a mental note to keep track of what she said, wait for a little slip up maybe that would reveal to Effy if she was telling the truth. A quick glance back told her that her stallion was still waiting for her, he always did though it was nice to be sure. He was busy munching on some greenery several feet from where she had stopped.

A quick smile as she turned back told the girl she had heard her introduction. Effy was distracted easily however she was polite and even though looking around she would still pay attention to the person she was with...unless they were just that dull. "I'm Effy Vandiest." Her smile brightened in a friendly way, she never introduced herself as Elizabeth, her Father still insisted on calling her it and those who didn't know her but knew of her referred to her as Elizabeth also yet Effy was always quick to correct them.
"A fortune teller. Whoa that's pretty impressive." She actually looked rather impressed, things like that, different occupations always did interest the girl. "I'm...nothing right now I wander about a lot so there isn't much point in a job of any sort. Somewhat unreliable." She smiled obviously relaxing that little bit in her company.

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[Lenore Machiben]

Lenore was extremely surprised to hear herself chuckling, a rare display of emotion she'd gone years without showing. She was used to confusing people, it was one of her specialties. Lydia often said that Lenore was her own personal book of riddles. Perhaps that was the best way to describe her. "I'm sorry, I confuse people a lot. What I meant was that being in the village for too long hurts my head. I come up here to breathe." As if to emphasize this, Lenore sighed a little as she tried to wring some of the water out of her hair. She really should have tied it up or something.

Now that her hair was out of the way she turned to look at the girl, to see her expression become one of relative shock. Lenore really shouldn't have pulled that one out. Quickly she tried to change the subject before it turned in the direction of the supernatural and gestured toward the magnificent horse, who stood stock-still behind his rider. "That's a beautiful horse. Has he got a little draft in him? He's...quite big." 'Quite' didn't cut it, not by a long shot. The stallion stood proudly in a manner that, if he were human, could be interpreted as masochism. Stallions tended to act that way a lot, hence why she preferred mares. Much more humble, but a lot more tempermental. Just like Lenore.

Effy? Finally, a name to match the face. Effy did suit her well. And Vandiest? Lenore should have known. Hunter would never have sold such a fine blade to just anyone, let alone a teenage girl. They just wouldn't have the money. Or perhaps it was just Lenore - she was a taboo in Transylvania for her unorthodox career choice, especially among the more Christian half of the village. "Effy...short for Elizabeth? And I'm guessing your father made that blade of yours - nobody else in Transylvania could to that." Lenore gestured to the weapon on the girl's leg, but immediately biting her tongue in self-punishment. Yet another thing she shouldn't have let slip.

Her interest in Lenore's practice made her smile, not knowing how else to react. "You really think so? Most people would be tying me to the stake right about now." Ah, the superstitious ways of Transylvanians never ceased to amaze her. Perhaps Lenore shouldn't have been so quick to stereotype - Effy definitely didn't look like your average God-fearing girl. No...Lenore didn't really know what Effy was. Intriguing, that's all she could wrangle out. Lenore liked intriguing.

[Elizabeth Vandiest]

Effy couldn't help but laugh a little, she wasn't usually one for getting confused by people. She had spoken to many on her various walk abouts through the vast lands. Many times she had walked an entire day just to land back in the same place again. She had met some odd people to say the least and was used to them however she wouldn't call this girl so much odd as just interesting. "Oh I see." She gave a little smile as she sifted her weight from one foot to the other. Eyes not leaving the girl as she replied. "I come up here to look around, I like places like this. Dangerous, morbid." With light frown she wasn't sure if telling the girl of her fascination with dangerous things.

Maybe that was why she was so interested in her company though.

Turning back she glanced at the stallion, or rather known as Riot in her case. She smiled gently as he seemed to peek up and from his musings and look rather impressive. The horse seemed to know almost exactly what his owner and her new company were speaking of, he looked proud and almost imposing. "I'm not all that honest on what he is to be honest. I got him a few years back. He just never stopped growing. He's a handful but loyal when it comes down to it." At home in the stables he would much rather go visit the mares than listen to Effy however he knew when it counted. Out on her wanders his attention would always be fixed to his rider.

With a quick nod to confirm her blade and it's origin she smiled. "Technically it's not mine." She pulled out the weapon, a beautifully crafted thing made of silver, holding it against the light of the moon so the light would highlight the elegant engraving on it towards Lenore. Against the cool metal it read 'my love'. Simple words yet effective. "My Dad made it for my Mother just over a year ago now I think it is." She smiled though it wasn't the same cheery smile, it was a little forced to be honest. She always recalled when it was made as her Mother died shortly after receiving it.

Slipping the weapon away safely she wandered towards near where Lenore sat. Though still a little away Effy sat down obviously letting her guard sway. She always qas quick to trust people but at least she wasn't too trusting, her guard still allowed her to keep a close eye. Brilliant green eyes did not once leave the girl. "Ah I may not be conventional as far as that goes. I can't see why we're all killing each other when there's much larger evil out there. There are much more important things to be concerned with." She smiled of course meaning vampires yet she meant them in the typical style. Evil, nasty killing machines.

[Lenore Machiben]

Lenore nodded thoughtfully as Effy spoke, watching the other young woman with those deep blue eyes of hers. She was really a lovely girl, a non-conventional beauty. That was the best beauty. "Dark and morbid? Wow, never would have thought it of you. I dunno...you look more like the kind of girl who'd start a barfight." Finally, something that made sense. There wasn't that much sense in that day. Effy talking to her in the first place made no sense whatsoever.

Make sense or no, it wasn't something Lenore was complaining about.

Effy turned her attention to the stallion and Lenore looked away from the girl for a moment, studying her horse. "He looks like he has Thoroughbred in him. Have you thought of breeding him? He'd make a great stud horse." Watching the proud beast for a little longer, she added "You're lucky you can afford a horse. Tarot reading doesn't exactly make big money in Transylvania." Lenore chuckled at that, her smile illuminating her features. Wow, in one day this Effy had managed to wring more emotion out of Lenore than she'd felt in years.

The hiss of metal against a sheath grasped Lenore's attention once again and she had to only take one glance at the blade before sucking in an astonished breath. The blade was more beautiful than she'd imagined. The sparing light glanced off the silver, throwing the engraving, My love, into relief. "It's beautiful. Your father certainly knows his trade," she finally managed to choke out, tearing her eyes from the weapon to look at its owner. She seemed sad as she mentioned her mother, and immediately Lenore knew what had happened. She hadn't been in Transylvania at the time, she'd come a few weeks later. She'd heard it from a few of her clients, the more gossipy women of the village.

Lenore felt a stab of sympathy as Effy came closer, and as soon as she knew Effy's intentions she scooted over, making a bit more room. As Effy sat Lenore gave her a soft smile, leaning forward to rest her arms on her knees. "I'm so sorry about your mother. Losing someone that close to you is never easy." Lenore only knew too well how hard it was to lose someone, although it was her sire, not her mother. "You still have your memories, and your father. I never met my mother, she died many years ago." Lenore spoke this last sentence with an air of forced casuality, although there was a small pang in her chest as she thought about it. She wished her mother had survived, if only for a few years. Victoria had left her infant daughter alone in the world, and perhaps she'd be alone forever. Ah, the joys of immortality.

She couldn't help but wince a little as Effy continued to speak. Lenore knew exactly what she was talking about when she said "evil". Vampires. In no way did Lenore blame her for feeling that way - hello, one had killed her own mother - but it still hurt. Suddenly Lenore realized that she'd have to tell Effy, whether she wanted to know or not. It was wrong to keep something so important from her. But she didn't have to know just yet. "Sometimes the evil is closer than we think...and most of the time the things we think to be evil are in fact not so awful. Take me, for example." Dammit. Lenore began to mentally kick herself for being an idiot yet again. She hoped that Effy wouldn't pick up on the fine print...but if she did then she would just have to live with the truth. It may have been to early to tell, but Lenore didn't want Effy to go.

[Elizabeth Vandiest]

Effy smiled gently at the comment as her smile seemed rather bright due to the amusement she took on the comment. "I'm not the type to start bar fights I'll have you know..." With a devious little smirk she shook her head. "I would get squished within a second. People that you find in dangerous, morbid places aren't usually people anyway." Effy shrugged lightly. She did of course see vampires as people, just scary slightly stronger ones. In fact she had one down as a 'friend' while actual fact she still scared the crap out of her. Effy had just been promised no harm would come to her by that vampire.

Glancing back at her stallion she almost felt sorry for the girl. She hated being wealthier than many people in once sense because others seemed to sometimes scorn her for it. "He's the only one that was ever actually mine." A warm smile crossed her lips.

The blade slipped safely away she moved with ease and as sitting down she gave the girl a funny look and then shrugged. "It's alright I'm going to find the vampire that did it to her and tare them to shreds.." With a little frown she realized how harsh that sounded, firstly Effy probably would be able to actually tare them to anything. It would probably be more along the lines of 'i'm going to pull you to bits....ahhhh run away'. That sounded about right but in all honesty she didn't care she would rather die trying to bring down her mother's killer than live knowing she ran away.

"Really that's awful. What about your Father is he still alive?" Of course not knowing she was a vampire Effy had no clue how old she was, she looked mid to late teens and that was what she went with. Maybe she was just like Effy and liked to explore strange dark places.

To the girls comment it was obvious Effy had grasped at the wrong end of the stick. Usually a quick and smart child she didn't even consider such a nice and friendly person to be a vampire. "You're not evil, not evil at all!" Her argument raised as she frowned at the girl. "Just because your job isn't exactly in line with Christian traditions doesn't make you evil. Some of that stuff is total rubbish I swear."

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[Lenore Machiben]

A grin graced Lenore's lips as Effy spoke. "I never said you would be actually fighting..." Of course, she meant the barfight would be because of her. Although her little tendency to confuse people would probably rub off on Effy. As she continued speaking the grin fell a little, coupled with a tiny wince on her part. Not people? She could understand why Effy would say that, but...ouch.

"He's very beautiful. You're fortunate. And don't be sorry, it's not your fault your father is talented," Lenore smiled again at Effy, sensing the edge of apology in her voice. It really wasn't her fault, and she shouldn't have felt sorry. Lenore really was happy that Effy had money - her future would be set. No doubt she would marry a rich man and move away, leaving Lenore to rot in the village. Because, of course, a girl that pretty could never like anything less than rich men...especially not eternally teenage vampire girls. The youth would drive anyone crazy, and Lenore sorely wished she'd been allowed to stay human. However, if she had she'd have never survived.

The smile widened again and she let out a small laugh, immediately reproaching for being so insensitive. "Well...if you ever find the ass who killed your mother, come find me, okay? I'll help you rip him apart." Lenore flicked her drying hair over her shoulder, watching Effy with her big, dark eyes for her reaction. Lenore knew how hard it would be to take down a vampire, and if Effy ever did find her mother's killer she'd definitely need all the help she could get. Vampires weren't neccessarily easy to kill - it took a lifetime of training for a human.

Lenore shook her head sadly as the subject of her father came up, her dark blue eyes staring up into Effy's green ones. They were so intriguing, in her seventy years she'd never seen such eyes. It was quite frightening, actually, but it was a nice kind of frightening - like the rush of jumping from a cliff to the ocean below. "My mother was alone when she gave birth to me. She went into labor at an orphanage and died a few moments after I was born. I think she may have died from a broken heart." She bit her tongue after that, not giving away the fact that he was most likely dead after all these years. A human wouldn't live this long.

A humorless chuckle escaped Lenore's lips as she turned to face Effy, her entire body now facing the other girl. She hated that she had to tell Effy her secret, but now there really was no way out. She was a horrible liar, and besides, she didn't want to betray Effy's trust, not for a second. "Effy...I need you to promise me something." As she spoke she took the other girl's hands in a daring move, seeing as she'd only known Effy for about an hour. "Promise me you won't think any different of me, and promise me you won't be afraid." And with that, she curled back her upper lip, baring her fangs for a few seconds before shutting her mouth, apology in her eyes.

[Elizabeth Vandiest]

Effy raised a brow and laughed lightly putting a hand over her yes just to mock the shame of being so silly. Dropping her hand she shook her head. "Sorry, I swear I'm not usually this dense, or at least I'm usually around people who make me look confusing and witty." With a quick shrug Effy flashed a light smile though. Sitting back she stared up at the sky, for some reason she was rather at ease around the girl, probably for that reason for a start. She believed her to just be a slightly odd fascinating girl.

To her comment she just smiled sweetly. In all honesty the great steed that he had turned out to be was not at all what he appeared to be at young, he was the produce of two wild horses however those being attacked by some creature he had brought the runt of the horse home. He was probably not even a purebred which Effy thought was just silly. All those people you saw around the place with their horses and purebred practically printed on them, she saw no point. Her impressive mix breed could probably come out on top in many ways. Although heavy and large like a draft he was also quick and had a brilliant stride. She couldn't ask for more, sure he liked to push his weight around but that was just his stroppy little character. Effy wasn't ashamed of him being a mixed breed, not at all like usually she wouldn't even be bothered about her wealth. The girl saw little of it, being away so much of the time on her wanders. Of course her Father had tried matching her with many rich young many, many he made weapons for but Effy would agree to meet them, when the day would arise she would of course be nowhere to be found. In all truth she didn't want marriage, the girl had once tried to explain to her Father her attractions to the female sex but she found herself locked in her room for a week for such a sinful comment. That never stopped her though.

The girl smiled brightly to the offer of help however she shook her head a little. "Oh no, I could never put another person in such danger. If anything would happen I would feel terrible.." Her expression was still a soft smile, of course this comment was said still believing that the girl was in fact a poor defenseless human.

Effy felt terribly sorry for the girl, never to have known her mother. Effy would spends hours to date just sitting around remembering of all those fond memories. If being punished for a sinful comment or a punishable act by her father when younger she would often be shut in her room with no food. Her mother would die to see her child upset and would bring her food and sit with her whilst Effy took in the comforting hugs. The girl had grown up a little wayward so to speak, she was never your average Vandiest lady. She couldn't cook, she refused to clean and she dreaded the day she would have to setlle down and have children. More so she wasn't even sure if she wanted children yet her Father had assured her she would get used to the idea. Effy frowned a little, could you die of a broken heart? See now there was more to be scared of.

"That's terrible, at least she got to see you when you were born didn't she?" The idea of a parent going through so much and dieing before even glancing at their child was heartbreaking in itself.

As the girl grabbed her hands Effy found the motion rather odd. She had thought they were having rather a nice light hearted time. However Effy smiled reassuringly. "I prom-" Her words cut off as she jumped from her seat and jerked from the girl. Although it looked bad this was simply a reaction to shock. "Oh my gosh!" Her heart was pounding from fright however she quickly laughed at her own reaction. "You couldn't just tell me? Way to go for the dramatics..." She smirked sitting back down beside her however those bright green eyes now filled with great interest as she stared at her fangs.

"It's Ok. I think no different of you, I know other vampires. Two in fact. I may be even staying with one a while but she is a little on the scary sadistic side." Effy smiled reassuringly, of course her fascination did not end with old buildings but with strange creatures as well. Holding up a wrist she flashed a bite mark that was still healing and smiled. "You're the first one I've gotten off on the right foot with though...or who hasn't tried to scare me." Dropping her hand she hoed she didn't seen the crazy one now.

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[Lenore Machiben]

Lenore grinned at Effy's words, chuckling inaudibly. Her eyes blazed as she watched the other girl, her hair still dripping uncomfortably down her spine. The rain had stopped now, but in Transylvania the weather was unlikely to stay dry for long - she could already hear thunder rolling lazily in their direction. "You're not dense at all," she laughed, brushing her fringe from her eyes. "It's my fault really - being a fortune teller gets you in the habit of speaking in riddles. A lot of customers love it when they get vague answers. If you'd like I can read your cards some time. I'll even do it for free." Truth be told, Lenore'd taken a liking to this girl - not in a scary vampiric, I-vant-to-suck-your-bluuuud way, but more in the way that she'd taken a liking to Lydia - although now the roles were slightly reversed.

Her lighthearted laugh erupted at Effy's words, a little uncalled for but better than just sitting there like a fish. "How could the big, bad vampy hurt us? Me with all my muscles..." Lenore flexed her arms, as if they were clad in huge bulging muscles. In reality they were thin as sticks, with barely a scrap of fat on them. Yes, Lenore was a sarcastic geek, and she wasn't afraid to flaunt it. It was one of the weird things about her personality, a strange side of her that didn't show very often.

The pain still wasn't going away - Lenore wondered why she'd even broached the subject of her long-dead mother. She didn't want to tell Effy though, so she put on a brave face and nodded, brushing the drying hair off her forehead. "She lived for a few minutes after I was born, long enough to give me a name. She went to an orphanage to give birth, so I think she knew she was going to die. I can't imagine the pain of knowing that...and with a baby on the way, too..." Lenore fell silent, looking at her clenched hands. It scared her when her thoughts drifted so dangerously close to her mother. Normally she could keep them at bay, but Effy's questions had broken through the wall that was holding her emotions back. Her eyes brimmed with tears but she blinked them away, not wanting to embarrass either herself or Effy. It wasn't fair to either of them for her to suddenly break down.

Lenore cringed at Effy's original reaction, immediately dropping her hands and slamming her mouth shut. But as the other girl laughed Lenore found herself laughing with her, relief pouring through her. She's not scared of you, she's not scared of you... her mind repeated over and over. "I apologize. I was never one for the conventional...and I figured I might have scared you off." The last part of her sentence was delivered rather sheepishly, and if her heart still beat she'd probably be blushing, but because she hadn't had a pulse in seventy years her face remained as pale as always. One of the few trivalities she missed about being human.

"Other vampires? Wow, I'm surprised. I just hope you don't mean you know a Dracula...they're not exactly the most pleasant of vampires to know." Lenore clenched her fists as she mentioned Count Dracula, wincing a little as her black nails dug in to her palms. The Machibens were what were considered 'vegetarian' vampires - because of the lack of humans in the area they drank the blood of the surrounding animals. Over the years it had been ingrained into their morality, and by the time Lenore was bitten it had become a crime to drink the blood of a human, unless it was an emergency. It had wormed its way in to Lenore's beliefs as well, and the thought of drinking another human's blood made her feel sick.

When Effy mentioned a sadistic vampire Lenore grinned, knowing exactly who she was talking about. "Let me guess. Thorn, right?" Although she'd never met the vampire she'd heard about her strange pension for collecting humans and, after she tired of them, killed them and sewed their skins together. Although she'd never heard of anything like that, Lenore wouldn't put it past her. Her eyes caught on the all-too-familiar wound and, before Effy could protest, she'd snatched her hand and was now inspecting it closely. "I hope whoever did this to you didn't use any venom. It looks quite bad, when did you get this?" Although she tried to be nonchalant she couldn't keep the element of worry from her voice.