Sumika walks through the halls, her red eyes narrowed. She didn't like the looks that these people gave her. They were not like the innocent Aliana. She didn't like that. "Sister." She jumped before looking towards the shadows. "Brother. The deed is done. I brought a few other villagers that were in critical or in horrendous conditions." Cian nods before walking out of the shadows. "I am glad to hear that."
Aliana started to doze against Blizzard, her head drooping slowly against the tiger's back, snuggling close to him and shutting her eyes. She slipped off into sleep very soon, giving small snores as she used Blizzard as her bed.
And as she dozed, her family and other humans situated themselves in nice, comfy garments given to them by maids, as well as the food prepared. Some would soon be asleep like trusting Aliana, but others would be restless their first night. Well, not for too long.
Blizzard curled around her protectively. He falls asleep as well.
Cian walks through the halls when the night fell, his eyes roaming the castle as he enters the library. He starts when he sees the sleeping figure of Aliana. He blinks a little before smiling softly. "Such a curious human." He places a finger on his lips when Blizzard looked up. He gently picked Aliana up and carried her to her room, placing her in her bed. He pulls the covers over her and chuckled. "Rest well, my little rose."
Aliana didn't stir. The fire had died down into a few ashes, but she was kept warm by the warm fur of her new friend. She relaxed against him and still slept on as he carried her, her head lolling against his strong arm. Even as she was set down and everything seemed to move around her, she still slept. she was a very comfy human, in the luxury of this new place.
(So do you wanna skip a few days, when the other humans leave to find safety? And maybe Aliana stays?)
(Sure, sounds good)
Cian walks cloaked, his mask covering his face. "I hope all of you have recovered. My sister has had some strong words with your master. Hopefully you'll be treated better." he says, gazing at the humans. "Sumika will guide you back home." He says. Sumika bows a little, her red eyes glinting in the light.
(ye)
As the group moved together with some things they were allowed to take with them, splitting off by the family they belong to with soft words of thanks to their highness. But as they split up, one human was missing. Young Aliana was not with her family, but they didn't seem too worried. She had spoken to her older brother and he allowed her to stay, and assured her if the highness didn't let her, she would be welcomed back with a big hug.
Cian raised a brow beneath his mask. "Where is young Aliana…?" He asks curiously, more to himself then anything as his golden eyes scanned over the group of humans. He was wondering mostly to himself of why she would want to stay here. It made no sense to him, but he let it pass. He looked over to Sumika. "I presume you can take it from here, sister?" She nods and bows. "As you wish brother. I will be staying there for a few days to make sure things run smoothly." She explains. Cian nods before opening the doors to the castle.
The humans followed Sumika out, and soon they had all filed out, allowing the castle doors to be shut again. The large foyer was quiet and now devoid of the sound of the humans. At least Cian's castle wouldn't be totally human-less.
Aliana was still hiding in her room, absolutely nothing packed up as she hid under her bed with Blizzard, poking at a couple of books.
"Blizzard, I don't wanna go. Do you think Cian will make me?"
Cian walked through the halls and entered Aliana's room. "Aliana?" He asks, smirking under his mask when he sees Blizzards tail under the bed. "If you wish you stay, you're more then welcome to." He says, his arms crossing over his chest, his eyes watching the bed with an amused look in his golden eyes. "Blizzard, you big oaf, come on out." Blizzard wriggled out from under the bed and leaped to his masters side, Cian releasing a soft snort of laughter.
Aliana peeked out, then awwed softly when Blizzard moved out away from her. She slipped out from under the bed with an armful of children's books, gazing up at him with a small few blinks. "I am? Oh, thank you!" She exclaimed happily, grinning and running over to hug him quickly, before giving a few pats to Blizzard's head. She never really gave her highness hugs, so it was kind of strange, but also nice.
Cian starts when he's hugged, a little look of surprise flashing through his eyes. "Well then… I did not expect a human to enjoy staying here at the palace…" He tilts his head, as he stepped away slightly, gazing down at her with a confused expression. "Very well. You're welcome to stay here."
"I like it," She cooed up at him, grinning cheekily up at him. "You make sure I'm taken care of and I like that." Her hands still stroked and patted the tiger's head as she wriggled in her place happily, humming a small tune she learned. She seemed to push the vampire's confusion away. At least he accepted the hug.
He smiled a little behind his mask, his eyes gazing at her for a moment before walking past her before sighing tiredly. "Well. I must retire. It's been a long few days. Sumika is helping your family home. You may wander, just say my name if you need anything." he says before walking out into the hallways.
Aliana nodded up at him with a big, friendly smile. "Okay! See you later tonight." She sat down on her bed again. The mention of him taking a nap made her want to take one, but she wanted to continue looking at the picturebooks she found in the library. The words were big and easy to read, and the pictures were cute.
Can walked to his room, sighing softly as he does so. He ran a hand through his hair, readjusting his hair before settling on his bed, resting his eyes. He was exhausted. He hadn't slept since the humans had stayed in his castle.
Aliana looked around for Blizzard, calling the tiger's name softly as she looked around from her bed. "I wanna read some more with you! You're a great reading partner." Unlike the humans and vampires, Blizzard just purred when she read and made mistakes.
Blizzard looked up and leaped onto the bed, wrapping around her gently. He purred quietly as he looked at the book curiously. His tail flicked back and forth in a relaxed manner as he does so.
Aliana giggled and started to slowly read her book. Her nail moved across the page as she read, her bright eyes flickering back and forth. She liked this a lot. But she would prefer it if she was being read to. She wondered if Cian would want to read with her.
"Um… Cian? Cian Nightshade?" She asked slowly into the room.
Cian heard his name called and he faded into shadows before appearing in Aliana's room. "You called?" He asks, bowing a little before gazing at her and tilting his head as he gazes at her with a curious expression. He took note of the books in the others hand. He smiled faintly. "What's this?"
Aliana smiled up at him when he appeared, sitting up on the bed. She shut the thin book she was reading and held it up for him to look at.
"I'm trying to read, but I don't know if I'm doing it right. Also, I want you to read to me." She smiled brighter in hope. She had never asked him to read to her.
He settles on the bed, his head tilted as he gazed at the book. He smiled underneath his mask. "Very well." He gently takes the book with slender fingers, getting comfortable before opening the book, settling beside her and beginning to read. His voice was soft and had a gentle rhythm to it as he talked and told the story the pages offered.
Aliana slowly leaned against him as he read to her, following the words as he read with a big smile on her face. She liked his voice, how low and comforting it was. She snuggled into the warm cloak and used it as a blanket for herself, Blizzard, and him still, giggling every so often at a dumb joke the book offered her.
He read with a little smile, his eyes scanning over the pages with fondness. His mother used to read this to him when he couldn't sleep. He glanced at the other every so often, noticing that she was still snuggled into his cloak and that Blizzard was falling asleep. But he kept reading, his gaze returning to the book.
Aliana read it with him, still wide awake as she was relaxed into his side with a small smile on her small, sweet face. Her arms wrapped around one of his and she just felt so at ease. But soon the book ended, but she picked up another for him to read, turning her pleading expression up at him, which seemed to work a lot.
Cian looked at the second book before looking at her expression. He hummed before gently taking the book. He began to read again, no complaints leaving his lips. He was comfortable like this.