Sebastian could feel his skin stretching, shrinking, and hardening against his muscles. These sensations caused his difficulties to become visually prominent as he moved. His eyes rolled at the sound of Zephyrus's continued hideous laughter. A painful dryness kept them in place, skewing his vision.
A deep glare of white layered everything, including the portraits and paintings. The sheen blurred them, leaving only their bottoms available for viewing. The only detail that stood out on the wall was the dark wainscoting section that discarded the green wallpapered upper half.
Sebastian's arms stretched out in front. His jaw fell slack, opening with his head leaning to the left. His hearing slowly deafened until the sounds became inaudible murmurs. Slowly, his understanding of the world darkened.
Black shoes and the hem of a black dress interrupted his vision. A loud scream that shrank to a well-worn piano key startled him. He released a long, agonizing groan.
The woman screamed again, and he mimicked her. "Ahhhh."
In the middle of the developing chaos, he felt a rush of hard presses and straps pulling tightly against him.
The last things Sebastian heard were the low, audible squeak of wheels, indistinguishable chatter, and a splash.
Thick and wet with the feeling of cement tied to him. His body was torn between sinking and floating. His eyes refused to open. How did this happen? How did he end up here? He was walking and went to see Mora. His mind floated on waves.
Sebastian envisioned Mora here with him, floating beneath the thick sludge. Her long black hair blending into the pool's contents. Her icy hands stretched out toward him. Complaining of his cold nature. The image of her in the pool faded to a memory of Mora brushing her long hair with a gold brush. She had a sour expression across her dazzling face.
"Humans are usually so warm, yet you are cold like frozen cream. You smell of animals, wax, salt, nuts, plants, and spices. It overpowers your natural scent. Afraid of being a meal?"
"You know as well as I do that scents like this are meant to be worn. It labels us as not food," Said Sebastian.
Mora slammed her brush down. Her fangs were drawn out. "Not to that extent. I do not even know your natural scent; it's hidden beneath medicine and perfumes. I'm hungry for you! To know the real scent you carry. She pushed away from the vanity. Her chair scraped against the hard floor.
He remembered rolling his eyes at her. "Mora, it's rude to reveal the scent of blood around vampires; it is frowned upon."
She snorted.
It was the most unladylike thing he had seen her do. "Even if we are wed." She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I want to know your natural stench. Not the perfumes or the scent satchels that you lay across your body."
Mora shot up from the vanity bench and turned to him . Her eyes were red as the color that flows in her veins. Her stride was purposeful, powerful, demanding, and rage-filled.
Sebastian had found himself mesmerized, unable to look away from the pale woman. He could not remember the exact moment her hands ripped his shirt off or when her teeth descended on his neck. What stood out to him was the end of the encounter. Her head welded back as she ripped away. The gut retching scream that followed. He had barely caught her as she fell limply.
How could he have been so careless as to let her bite him? As his regret afflicted his mind. His skin softened in the pool.
A long, heavy hook searched the sludge and dragged Sebastian out. He mumbled something but did not have full consciousness.