A L M I R A

Prologue
Almira Davenport

"An upgrade? You mean a new cell without a chain around my ankle?" I persisted, raising an eyebrow.

"If you're going to be my new weapon, you might as well have a.. comfier place to stay, per say, so I'm giving you a room in the castle. You'll be staying in my room," He finished.

My mouth dropped open and I shook my head, sitting back down in the cell. "I think I'd like the cell better. No thanks."

Alastor grabbed my arm and in a matter of seconds, sped to his bedroom and threw me onto the bed. This situation felt all too familiar and I panicked, grabbing the closest thing to me for protection: a pillow.

"You are the worst kind of person I've ever met," I insulted, sending harsh glares his way.

"I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," He sarcastically responded, shaking his head.

"I've been debating on keeping you as my own until I pay Calix a visit. So for now, I think we're gonna change some things, yeah? You can be treated like someone who belongs here, how does that sound?"

"Terrible."

"Great! To elaborate for you, Almira, dear, you'll start wearing new clothes every day and I expect you to look presentable every day. Anyways, I have more things to do with kingdom's business and Calix, farewell, love," Alastor winked and disappeared.

Holy Goddess. What just happened?

Alastor let me in a room with a window? This could be my chance to escape! Hell, if I find paper and pen, or something to write on and with, I can send Calix a note to tell him I'm fine and make an escape plan. This is perfect!

I looked around the room to see if he had anything so could use to send a message, but he had nothing of use. I sighed and shook my head, sitting down on the bed. One of the maids came in and smiled at me.

"I see he decided to give you an upgrade?" She looked tired and worn out. Poor girl. 

"More like a downgrade, I'm stuck in the same room as him. I'd rather starve in the cold cellar," I complained, falling back onto the bed.

"I'm truly sorry Master is like this. If there's anything I can do to help you, let me know, yeah? For now, why don't we get you cleaned up and in some proper clothes," she smiled.

I nodded and stood up, following her. She led me to the bathroom and handed me a bath sponge, some soaps, and hair products. She closed the glass door in the shower and waited outside for me to finish. Once I was done, I knocked on the door for her to come back in. She looked at me and smiled before handing me a cream color floor length dress. The sleeves fell off my shoulders, the sweetheart neckline showing off just a bit of cleavage.

She sat me down in a chair and dried my hair before braiding it back and putting flowers in it for decoration. This seemed all too sketchy for just a change, was I doing something else in Alastor's plan?

She spun me around and began working on makeup, and that's when I put the pieces together. "Alastor wants me to look appealing for some type of event, doesn't he," I whispered, my heart breaking. I thought I could get a break.

Ever since the day I got here, Alastor has been abusing me, torchering me, mocking me, and rubbing my imprisonment in Calix's face. It's all too much for me.

"Tonight he wishes to perform the spell. He has his strongest witches and the sacrifices prepared. All that's left is you. Your humanity will be taken from you and replaced with hatred. However, I don't think he's aware you're a rare hybrid," She responded, speaking the latter part quieter than the rest.

"Wait you know? How?" I panicked, my hands finding the side of the seat.

"I'm a witch myself, so I could sense it when you came into this castle. Your soul was far tangier than the other witches, and tangier than werewolves, so when you put two and two together, it made sense. Alastor hasn't noticed and probably never will unless one of the witches tell him. He's only a vampire, he can't sense these kinds of things," She explained, setting down the products she was using and looking at me. "You're all finished!"

I nodded and stood up. "So do I just wait for my doom now?" I asked, looking at her.

"Pretty much. I promise, things will turn out for you," She smiled, putting her hands on my shoulders. I gave her a soft smile and nodded, not really believing what she was saying.

She led me to the bedroom and sat me down on the bed. "Oh, hey, um, do you think the next time you come back, you could bring me something to write with and paper?" I asked, looking at her with pleading eyes.

"Why?"

I had to come up with an excuse, I couldn't just let her know what I was planning. Quick think witches. "I, uh, get these strong urges at night to draw out these visions and dreams. When I don't, I get super sick and ill. Yeah, that's it," I lied all too quickly.

"Oh, of course!" She nodded, smiling.

I smiled back and she walked out.

Over the time period of waiting for my ultimate doom, I finally came up with a solid plan on how to escape from here. Alastor would catch me if I wrote the escape note, and he'd also catch me, if not him then his guards, if I tried to just walk out and run. I needed to use magic, but for some reason, I can't use mine. But if I pay attention on how to get to the witches, I can try and find a book and use the spells to get out.

I smiled at my genius self and hummed a melody in my head. The door swung open and in stepped two guards. Without saying a word, they grabbed my hands and led me out of the bedroom. Once we got in the hallway, they put a blindfold around my eyes.

Of course I wouldn't be able to see. Can someone here read minds or something?

As they lead me to our destination, I tried to remember sounds on the way through. Fire crackling, creaking floors, and I think one guard ran into an armor stands. I'd have to remember these sounds if I wanted to have a chance of escaping.

Soon the guards got quiet and I heard the sound of calm, streaming water. The scent of vanilla and strawberries flooded into my nose and everything in the room seemed to go still. The guards untied the blindfold around my eyes and walked out. When I opened my eyes and looked around, everything made sense. I was in the middle of red and white candles: the strawberry and vanilla scent. There were streams of water against one wall, which explains the water sound.

Looking at the people in the room, there were five witches and Alastor. I began to panic, not really wanting what was about to take place happen.

Before I could utter a single word, Alastor spoke up. "Oh, Sephtis, I call upon you tonight to make an offer. In return for my sacrifices I have with me, I ask that you consider my offer. I have her. She's the one Abelia is seeking to change you! So, fill this lad with hatred and let's make our deal, Sephtis!!"

Alastor looked at the witches and they started doing the ritual. One witch drew out the spell on the marble floor in salt and the second witch came behind her, pouring blood on the salt. The other three witches cut their hands open and then the first two did. They poured their blood into the circle that I was in the middle of.

My body heated up and I screamed in pain before blacking out.

~-~

I woke up in Alastor's room in the same dress I was in before the ceremony. I sat up and looked around. No Alastor, that was good. I crawled out of bed and took everything off my face and out of my hair. I went into the bathroom and took off the dress. Hanging on the door was a pale blue dress. I'd just wear that then.

I hopped into the shower and basked in the glorious warmth. The events that happened from the ceremony replayed in my head. Did it really work or did something go wrong? Was I supposed to black out or was it all apart of the plan? My mind raced with all the thoughts of the ceremony.

I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower, drying off and putting my hair in the towel. I rubbed oils on my body and put the blue dress on. I looked in the mirror and applied light makeup before drying my hair and braiding it.

I slid white sandals on and walked out of the bathroom and went into the hallway. Nobody seemed to be around which was odd. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I continued walking through the hallways, listening for the familiar noises yesterday.

I seen a fire place and smiled, knowing that was the cracklings noise. I was doing good so far. I looked around and noticed a long hallway and decided to go down it. I walked down the hallways cautiously, looking behind me every so often to make sure nobody was following or watching me. I couldn't get caught, now that I was this far. I had to make it.

I continued walking and the floor below me started to creak with each step. I was mixed with emotions. Would people hear me? If they didn't, I'm one step closer to escaping. I smiled and seen an armor stand,  being careful to be quiet and get near it. I looked around, seeing three hallways. I listened for the sound of running water but I couldn't hear it. I was on my own now.

I heard a whisper and shivered. Right.

Something in me listened to the voice and went right. Could I be walking to my ultimate demise right now? Absolutely. Was I still walking? You betcha'.

After what felt like forever, I heard running water and sighed in relief. The door in front of me was barely open. I pushed it gently and peered inside, looking around. Nobody was in here, but it was definitely the room I was in before.

I smiled to myself. I'm finally going to escape! This is my chance! I walked inside and closed the door behind me, locking it. When I turned around, a specific book caught my eye. Around it seemed to be blood droplets and scattered papers.

I walked closer to the book and looked at it. It was a spell book, I think. The writing was weird and faded in some areas. It must've been really old. I picked it up and set it on the counter, careful not to make any noises.

I flipped through the pages, reading the titles of them. Most of these were basic stuff like flight, strength, and enhanced agility. However, one caught my eye.

Κρυμμένη μαγεία. (means hidden magic)

I read the page and then the ingredients. Everything was for the spells they put on me last night. I needed to study this book more to understand what happened and how to escape.

I looked around for a bag and found one. I stuck the book in the bag and looked around more, hoping to find more books. I grabbed a maroon and navy blue book and sat it on the table. This book was different than the others around it.

It had intricate gold designs around the spine of the book and then a golden lock on the book. It had to be important if they locked it, but where would they hide the key?

I panicked as I heard voices coming down the hall. Oh no, this wasn't good. If they found me, who knows what all they'd do to me. Turn me into a frog, give me warts, put me through eternal hell, the possibilities are endless.

I stuffed the other book in the bag and then shoved it up my dress before hiding in the closet.

"Do you think he'll notice?"

"Notice what, sister?"

"We didn't just do the "hatred" spell, we hid her magic, but Master Alastor didn't seem to know she had magic."

"Sister, Master Alastor believes she's but a mere werewolf who's mates with his enemy. He has bigger things to worry about. For example, Sephtis."

"But she might hurt us."

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