Castle Volkihar was an oppressive and intimidating structure. The ancient stones held together in an almost supernatural way, even though they looked like they were falling apart from decay. The skies above were perpetually full of clouds, snow falling intermittently and coating the ground with a thin white blanket.

Farrah stood on a balcony overlooking the sea; something she had always found beautiful in the past, here looked as dead as the rest of this cold place. Chunks of ice floated, sloshing against the stones that made up the foundation of the castle. The bitter wind nipped at her dark skin, but she didn't shiver. The cold didn't bother her anymore, not like it used to; not since she had accepted this gift. It was a decision she was coming to regret.

The door creaked behind her, and she grimaced as the intruder on her solitude approached. A cold hand rested possessively on the nape of her neck, giving her a gentle but firm squeeze. Farrah bit her tongue to keep the angry words forming in her mind from coming out her mouth. Instead, she turned to face her lord.

"Come," he commanded. The word itself was common and impotent, and yet from his lips, she knew she could not disobey. She defied him once - she had learned the grave mistake that had been.

His hand wandered down her back in a caressing motion, and settled over her lower back. She turned to him then, her face blank, and allowed him to lead her back inside the castle.