The Annual Harvest [Open]

[Cana]

When the last few chords were struck, Falona sighed and admired her harp. A single tear escaped her eye when she finished, as it always did when she played this song. She stood, her had resting on the arch of the harp. "I have always loved that song. I made this harp just so I could play it. It always makes me feel my home." She looked at it once more, her hand still lingering on the beautiful instrument. Then, with a tap of her fingers, it vanished. She looked over at Corvus. "I trust that your rest was eventful?" She asked.

[Lion]

Corvus paused before he could take his first sip when at last she  finished her song.  His eyes beheld her as he caught the tear that flowed down her cheek and he pursed his lips for a moment. "I-I did," he said, taking a drink at last. 

He peered at her again and smiled.  "It was a lovely tune.  Though it seems a little ironic, don't you think?  Considering you left your home because...  Well, it was lovely."

[Cana]

Falona smiled. "Thank you. It took me a decade and two years to master." She sat down across from Corvus. Three prisoners escorted by a demon were lead into the room. Two went and stood at Falona's sides, and one went to Corvus's side. "I realize that you're still fairly well-nourished from breakfast, but I brought you a snack just in case." She looked at the prisoner on her right side. Taking their arm, she lifted the weak soul from their body, doing the same to the other prisoner. After absorbing the souls, she used her magic to absorb all of their blood into a silver pitcher. She poured some of the blood into a goblet and sipped it. "Blood keeps my muscles strong," she explained, "so I only drink it occasionally."

[Lion]

Corvus watched her transfer the blood into the pitcher with fascinated eyes and he grinned wider at her as he sipped his wine.  "That was quite a trick you've done, but I don't suppose you'd have any real food would you?  Even I would enjoy a savory steak of venison or perhaps pheasant would you?"

[Cana]

Falona looked at him a little oddly. "I haven't craved mortal food for over 500 years. But if you'd like some..." She tapped the table in front of her. A silver plate materialized in front of Corvus with the biggest, most succulent steak to be found anywhere in Le'raana. "Enjoy," She grinned and drank some more blood. 

[Lion]

Corvus grinned all the wider when the steak came before him.  He poked it a little, testing the juices before cutting himself a piece.  It indeed was one of the best steaks he'd had in a while and he gave a sigh at the taste of it.  "Five hundred years?  It wouldn't hurt to indulge from time to time.  Don't tell me you don't get...cravings?"

[Cana]

Falona laughed lightly. "I stopped craving for human delicacies when my powers first came to me. All I ever crave are souls or blood. To me, they are the finest foods I have ever consumed." She watched Corvus eat quizzically. "It is fascinating to watch someone eat something that disgusts me. You're positive you LIKE that stuff?" She sniffed the aroma of the steak and wrinkled her nose. It smelled like a decaying animal.   

[Lion]

He ate solemnly but with no less enjoyment of his meal as he peered at Falona with the corner of his eye.  He laughed at her comment, though it didn't seem in jest.  He took another bite and nodded to her as he chewed.  "I do, actually.  There's something I enjoy about sinking  my teeth into flesh that is gratifying.  It's almost primal. "  He grinned and took the last few bites. 

[Cana]

"How barbaric," Falona smiled coyly. She had drank three-fourths of her pitcher of blood. "You know, I feel I should tell you the truth." She sipped more blood. "Remember when I told you that my blood was poison?" She looked at him from the top of her goblet.

[Lion]

He couldn't have agreed more.  As he savored the taste the wine went well with it and he felt himself momentarily sated.  He peered over to her and the pitcher and carefully helped himself to a small cup of that.  "Oh?  Um, yes, I do believe I recall you saying something of that nature.  What about it?"

[Cana]

"Well," Falona sat her goblet down, "let's just say......I was bluffing..." She avoided Corvus's eyes and instead played with her hands. She suddenly felt embarrassed for lying to him to begin with. She blushed lightly. "It was a bad lie on my part, and I apologize. That was very inappropriate of me to lie to my own apprentice."

[Lion]

Corvus narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, sipping the blood.  "Why?" he asked sharply.  "Why would you apologize?  There is no need.  You were merely taking precautions.  It is understandable, if not commendable."  He smiled at her regardless, noticing her blush.  "I was almost too curious to try anyway.  I'm sure it's flavor would be unique."

[Cana]

Falona smiled down at her hands, her blush deepening. "I'm sure it's the most vile blood there could be, thanks to my magic." She looked back up at him. "Darkness has that effect on things, you know."

[Lion]

Corvus laughed and sipped the rest of the blood from his glass.  "All the more to savor," he growled a little.  "And truthfully, even if I did have a taste I promise you wouldn't turn into anything you didn't want to in the first place.  Knight's honor.  I don't spread the poison much like other ordinary vampires would.  We are both unique in our aspects."

[Cana]

Falona smiled, a challenge in her eyes. "Alright then. I'll let you taste me. But first, you have to catch me!" She rose from the table and practically flew out of the room, her beautiful laughter filling the air.

[Lion]

Corvus was caught unawares the moment Falona bolted from the table and he choked on the last of his drink and dropped the cup on the table when she flew out of the room.  He bolted after her, chasing the echo of her steps, but she was nowhere to be see when he rounded the corridor.

[Cana]

Falona smiled most amused from her perch as she watched Corvus search for her. "What's the matter, vampire? Can't you find me?" She giggled as she magically projected her voice to confuse him. "Come now. Surely a great predator like you can smell the bitterness of my blood?" 

[Lion]

Corvus paused when the trail of her voice sent him into a hall of pillars, similar to the ones in her great hall, but it was exceedingly different.  He stood at the center of several of them, each one rising high toward the vaulted the ceilings and they all sprawled out toward various corridors.  But the loudest echo of her voice resonated here and he began to search, carefully and slowly despite her taunts.

[Cana]

Falona watched him, silent now. He searched so carefully and meticulously. She smiled. "Use your senses, Corvus. You know where I am. Find me." She said this with her mind, sending it to his mind through magic."

[Lion]

Corvus smirked as she spoke into his mind.  It was a strange sensation, but he wasn't opposed to it for the time being.  He honed his ears and listened out toward the echoes of the hallway and he passed through them before he neared one of the side walls and finally looked up to see a shadow perched up by the sill of one of the high windows.  He smirked and eventually leapt upward, climbing into the perch and snatched onto her form.  "GOTCHA!"