It was so strange to finally look upon a thing she’d read about in so many stories. Common, yes, and yet she’d never seen one—Meaning: perhaps it was not the city that was strange, but instead the woman looking on from a distance.

When one was prompted to explore something new- to venture out of their own comfort zone into something they’d never before seen, it was safe to assume that interest was the cause. In a way, for Tya, that guess would be right, but her intentions were more than just simple curiosity. After all, if one was to be a human, they must know what a human acts like, right? How was she to mimic human behavior without even knowing what human behavior was?

Her steps through the city’s entrance were hesitant and slow, almost as if she expected the ragged cobblestone to fall under her weight. Her movements were near silent though it wasn’t as if she could remain out of sight in a place like this, no matter how much she hoped she could. Too many citizens roamed so early in the day, just when Venat’s light was right overhead to warm them in their various chores.

The path she walked was wide. Many small streets branched off, and from what she could tell, there looked to be normal little homes lining those narrower roads. Timber frames and age-colored walls in various shapes with decor from the windows and gables.

The road she followed had something similar at least in the way buildings bordered it’s edges, but for these, there were signs, stylized with a simple little symbol behind a name.

Shops.

She could tell. Goods were displayed behind glass; that was an easy give away. She’d read about this method: To display things out in the open, in order to persuade passersby into purchasing goods they didn’t know they wanted until they saw them. People truly fell for such a transparent method?

Peeking inside, Tya could see that the shops were seemingly empty. A door lay open, awaiting customers, yet there were none inside. There were supposed to be people there to watch the store and to help customers with a purchase- that was the way shops worked. Even someone as inept as her knew that to be true, much like she understood that no one was to be trusted. While Evoles wasn’t rife with thievery like, say, the country of Sorestras, there was no way someone should trust their goods to be left unsupervised. Even those in the peace-run country of Amalar didn’t do that.

But maybe she was wrong. That wouldn’t have been unlikely. Taking everything she read as truth wouldn’t be wise, after all. Misinformation was expected, but the thought made her all the more uncomfortable. She thought she was at least somewhat prepared for the outside world.

Tya backed away from the shop door, standing herself on two different steps just outside the entrance and before the path, and looked around. Her brow furrowed as she watched the crowd of people on the roads.

If one shop had been left briefly unattended by its inhabitants, that would just be an oversight. Perhaps someone hurrying off to a call of nature or something along those lines--- she paused mid-wonder. She’d have to keep that in mind. Her body did not have such a function, but if she was to be acquainted with people, it would soon raise questions if she never ducked into a restroom---

It seemed other shops were being emptied. People in aprons, people setting down boxes to hurry to the herd that all moved farther into the city as if they were on a mission. Her attention was drawn in the direction they walked, and she noticed the structure that shown above all others. To a normal person, such a thing may not be seen as massive, but to someone who hadn’t ever seen a structure other than a cottage, it certainly was-- Even if that cottage was conventionally larger than most cottages.

She had read about these too, though.

Castles: Homes of many rooms that often housed royalty.

The crowd made its way down the main path, but she was able to note something strange about it. What caused events such as this? Her guess would have been entertainment. Festivities of some sort, but for those, people often held an air of joy. There was laughter and cheer, but there was none to find in the faces of this rabble. She stepped down from the shop’s entrance, back onto the main road and followed close behind, slowly, curiously, looking on with caution. The solemn look on the faces of many that participated was unnerving.

She looked to the side streets. A small group of children was shuffled inside by a pair of adults. A few doors snapped shut, slowing just before they hit the frame to silence the latch. All events had in common a look of concern that those involved would cast back toward the mass.

Was this perhaps a strange human ritual? She’d come at a good time to observe this if so. She hadn’t read about anything of the sort, but she hadn’t expected to read about everything. If she was able to do that, there’d be no reason to come out here after all.

But why? What was their goal?

She looked forward again.

There were more oddities in the crowd. Down the path not far ahead, a person fell on the ground, their knee scraping against the cobbles. In response, a hooded man rushed to them, but his mannerisms were not those of worry. The person was ripped off the ground by the arm, and the hooded man watched them with narrowed eyes.

She could see his glance flick up to a pair of fluffy wolf ears that now lay flat against the citizen’s head, then down to a gray tail that had tucked between their legs. With displeasure, the hooded man thrust the citizen back into the crowd.

Rude.

Just as her gaze began to move elsewhere, she watched as the wolf cast a quick look back down the street they were in the process of passing.

A woman and child had broken off when the hooded man had went to ‘tend’ to the hybrid. They did not go far, and the home they entered did not seem to be their own. They knocked frantically, the woman’s eyes locked on the hooded man. After a few of her hurried knocks, a person opened the door and ushered the pair inside, then the door closed quickly, but without a sound.

Her head cocked to the side with interest toward such odd behavior, but she did not stop to sate any such curiosity. She followed, her observations continuing elsewhere. As they neared the castle, she noticed more figures, hooded in like clothing. No more people split off, but that solemn aura to the crowd had worsened.

Their grim march continued deeper into the city.

She looked back, noticing more hooded figures from passed streets had gathered where the crowd seemed to end. She was one of the few that lingered so far back, and she knew this fact made her all the more noticeable. Judging by the way those two had hurried to escape and by the way the coming streets had an overseer at each, escape was not an option.

Whatever the people marched toward, it was mandatory.

Which begged the same question she’d asked herself since this ritual began moments before: Why?

The feet stopped moving, the hushed whispers ceased, and the cloaked people set themselves on the outsides of the crowd as if they were containing them. Before them all, atop rounded stone stairs, at the castle doors stood a woman dressed in violet.

The fabric of her gown met that of a cloak, and both pooled at her feet, leaving a silken trail behind her. Black curls sat against porcelain skin, and continued down to cascade from beneath an embroidered hood. Her face showed little sign of aging, and her beauty was beyond what Tya had seen. Fiery eyes looked out upon the tense crowd, and the sight put a subtle smirk on her lips.

Slowly, she began forward, the click of her heels being the only sound to break the thick silence.

“This crowd grows thin every time it convenes.” She began, that gaze trailing over the worried faces of those she stood over. “I would like to say it is because my work is progressing, but I am sure many of you would only laugh in my face, as you hide from me what I desire.” Though her words were filled to the brim with spite, a smile still rested upon her lips.

“I understand that my mission alone breaks what previous leaders had set for this country. I understand that they writhe in their graves to see their word is for naught,” her smile faded. As she looked out across the faces, all of which were cast downward, her tongue traced her lips. “But it is their own doing. They acted in their own favor and they neglected to see to the needs of all of their people. And now, those of us that took their mistreatment deserve a chance to thrive.”

Once more the woman in violet paused in her speech, her steps bringing her to the edge of the first step and keeping her there. “Those of you who are under the impression you can somehow be kept from my law, I do beg you to rethink… My goal is known, if you are not cattle, you needn’t put yourself in harm’s way. Those of you who choose to harbor a human have your last chance today.” Her back straightened with this decree. “I will be lenient no longer. Friends of the families who think themselves martyrs and saviors, please do what is best: spread my word and assure your friends their actions will not be tolerated. I did not want to do harm without necessity, but I will no longer stand by and let what I want slip through my fingers. Punishment will come to those who disobey.” A cloth covered hand pushed from beneath the cloak, rose, and waved outward in a finite motion.

While the signal, at first, looked like a dismissal, as Tya took a step back and looked at the crowd, she found that this was not the case. No one around her made a move, but the hooded figures on the mass’ edge did. They began weaving through the people whose heads had bowed. Many had their eyes closed, but all stood still in their spots so Tya stood as well.

Everyone seemed defeated and hurt. They stood and waited, some not even having the courage to look up from the ground.

For a moment, Tya wondered why, but her question was answered with examples.

One of the hooded figures latched on to the hair of a young girl, no older than the age Tya had chosen for herself—no older than 20. The being ripped her head back with force that elicited a pained cry from her lips. She didn’t even have the chance to beg for her life before sharpened fangs were sunk into her throat.

Taken aback, Tya whipped to look around and see if anyone else had seen what she had, but every face was toward the ground. Those closest to the girl flinched at the spray of blood that hit them but they turned away from the sounds of her desperately fighting to keep her life.

Another look was cast around, again searching for anyone that may move to defend the victim, anyone that would dare fight, but instead she was only greeted with another similar scene. This time an older man who had been cowering behind two others was found and knocked off his feet at the hands of yet another cloaked figure.

Another scenario proceeded to unfold, fangs sunk into the throat, and then another, to another man—a younger one. And then a child, whose father tried to fight for her, only to meet the same fate seconds later.

Many seemed to simply kill their victims on the spot, but Tya noticed others being dragged forward, tossed onto the stairs before the woman in violet.

Others emerged from the castle behind her to grab those offered, and Tya watched, ice blue eyes wide with disbelief.

Tya had read books for information. She did not need to read fiction; she wished to know facts. But such things grew tiresome to any, meaning stories often made their way into her mix for her own entertainment. She had read of villains, but she assumed such individuals existed solely in fiction. Seeing this woman though, standing tall above her people, she realized those characters had to be based off someone.

Why would these people have left their home if they knew they had the chance to be ushered here and murdered? Why were these specific people targeted?

Was this normal?

Force on her shoulders pushed her forward a step and cut her internal questioning short. It was a wonder she hadn’t fallen to the ground, because her assailant likely expected her to be far heavier than she actually was, and really, she might have if it weren’t for the fact that she stumbled into one of the many that was trying to avoid acknowledging the entire situation.

All she was given was a quick expression of dread before that stranger turned his back to her and left her to fend for herself.

The reasoning behind the assault may have been something she was unsure of, but the action itself was something Tya could handle. She would not be easy prey like the others, she would be sure of that. Her work would not go to waste so quickly.

The hooded figure that had assaulted her had moved to grab her wrist, but Tya ripped her arm away from them- a woman, taller than her, pale skinned, with a glow to her eyes.

At first, the woman drew back in surprise, but when she realized she was being resisted, she bared her fangs. “Have you not learned fighting back is useless?” She growled as she lurched forward to grab hold of Tya again.

Before she could get a hold of her, Tya responded with a defiant push. The woman stumbled back, but grabbed hold of Tya as she did. Her attacker held fast and despite her resistance, Tya was effectively dragged forward.

“I am not another pathetic victim.” Tya spat, trying to free herself from her grasp, this time in vain. ”You will not undo what I have made.”

“You dare disobey a servant of the High Queen?”

High Queen. Tya had read of those as well—The Queen to rule over all other heads of royalty. The one who held the highest power within their rightful country.

That blue gaze flickered back to the woman on the stairs, whose eyes were now on them. Hers as well as others in the crowd. While the citizens seemed stricken with surprise and fear that someone may go against Her word, the High Queen herself once again had a smile upon her lips. If not cattle as she stated, then an example is what she’d be made- a show that resistance would only end them sooner.

Tya turned back to the woman that held her.

“I do not bow to her, nor do I to you. Unhand me or action will be taken against you.” Venom laced each word as she spat at her assailant, a fact that only seemed to amuse her.

Rather than heed the warning, a hand went for Tya’s hair in a manner similar to what she’d seen with the victims slaughtered moments prior. Her head was torn back, and those fangs went for her neck, but Tya’s hands pushed against the other. That action alone would have done nothing, but seconds before her skin could be pierced, fire sparked from her palm. The hood her assailant wore was taken up in an angered flame, and Tya was released so quick she was actually cast back a step.

A horrifying screech left the woman, but she was given no chance to try and put herself out before she crumpled to ash at Tya’s feet. She gaped at the pile for a moment before this… odd sensation hit her...

It was that of eyes on her.

So many.

Too many.

She turned back, looking into a crowd that stared back at her.

For a moment, everyone was still, Queen’s servants included. The smile on the High Queen’s face had faded, astonishment overtaking that beautiful visage of hers.

For a moment Tya locked eyes with the High Queen’s, but the glare was soon broken as the hooded figures began to fall back, pulling out of the crowd and taking a place behind her.

“Do not fall back,” The High Queen snapped back to those that gathered behind her, only to be met with pleading refusal. “Of all of the humans that need to be brought in, that one is the most important!”

Tya’s attention shifted, noticing that their choice to retreat left the road open behind her. No one was in her way and because of this, she turned on her heel and began in the direction she’d come.

She heard nothing behind her, but that feeling of eyes remained on her back. She knew she was being watched. She wasn’t entirely sure why no one was trying to go after her, but she assumed it had to do with the reaction her initial attacker had to her resistance.

Her fire alone had much more of an effect than what she’d expected from a normal person…

She’d think on it later.

For now her attention returned to the path she took, and she watched her feet as she hurried out the city’s entrance.