Raven awoke slowly; stretching her thin body all the way out and then curling back into a ball as she blearily surveyed her surroundings. She was home in her petite, yet very cozy apartment. Her bedroom was separated by a bead curtain from the rest of the apartment, and it gave the room a magical feel. The small area that was her bedroom was quite clean, with her bed against the left wall and a dresser on the other end covered in an array of black makeup.
Raven finally pulled the covers off of herself and rolled out of bed, putting on her fuzzy black slippers with bat wings. She hated mornings, she was much more of a night person. She slunk out of her room to face her kitchen, which held a stove, refrigerator, and wooden cupboards, as well as a table to the right that had three different chairs around it. Ah, the wonders of a struggling artist. Well sort of artist. Raven supposed she could consider what she did to be an art.
She pulled out a box of cereal as she contemplated that thought. Witch-craft wasn’t a sport, or a hobby, maybe a lifestyle. But calling it an art seemed to make the most sense. It took many years to perfect; starting with little exercises like moving pebbles, and then grew to such things as making potions that could save one from death. However it was hard to get recognition as a good witch or sorcerer. Everyone went to well-reputed and known magic practitioners, but since witches and sorcerers could choose whether they wanted to age, no one really retired, making it almost impossible for someone new to start in on the business. But nevertheless, Raven was determined to try.
She sat down at the wobbly table and began to munch on her cereal, before noticing the mail at the front door. She quickly padded over to the dark cherry wood door and bent down to pick up the few pieces before sitting down again. The first two were just bills… but the third one was addressed to her. Raven rarely received mail and so she quickly tore it open and began to read:
Ms. Raven Marie Blackmore,
Your presence is requested at Vesnic Tanar Castle by Queen Catalina Pavlenco and King Emil Pavlenco of the Vampire. A medical emergency has occurred and your superior skill is needed immediately. A distance key has been provided so that you may travel with utmost urgency. We beseech that you come with speed.
Wow. Raven took a moment to reread the message and compose herself, before she stood up and twirled around the kitchen giggling. A freaking job for the vampire royalty! She could not believe her luck! Raven was now used to the petty jobs she had been performing for neighbouring lowlife magic folk, but this was unbelievable. It was incredible. If people heard that she was the first call for vampire royalty then she would soon be booming with business! Luck was finally on her side.
Raven skittered into her room and began to pull out clothing, trying to find the best outfit to wear to a castle. She began to pick through her best clothes in her dresser. She finally decided on a dress and quickly used a spell to erase all of the wrinkles before she began to pull it on. Finally she grabbed out a pair of two inch heeled black shoes with a rounded toe that harboured a white lace bow. Sitting at her dresser she pulled a comb through her hair and quickly fixed the dishevelled mess before beginning her makeup.
When she was satisfied with her primping she stood and gazed at herself in the full length mirror next to her bed. She looked good, and very professionally witch-like, even with her rather gothic style. The dress she wore was tight across her chest and stomach, with tank top straps, and then crisscrossing spaghetti straps across the front, and a small bow attached on the left side. A layer of lace ran across the top of her chest and her small b-cup breasts swelled sensually beneath it. The skirt came out with a flounce, and three inches before the bottom of it was a strip of lace. Her pale alabaster legs were bare until they reached the small heels. Raven was merely 5’4, though she now reached the grand height of 5’6 with her heels. Her hair was jet black and had multiple layers that framed her pixie-like face in caressing waves, reaching to her shoulder blades. Raven’s face was sweet and feisty at the same time; she had large green eyes that were framed heavily with thick black lashes and eyeliner. Her nose was small and round and beneath it were soft lips, painted a dark plum.
Finally happy with her appearance she returned to the kitchen table, her witch bag held proudly. She felt slight butterflies. What if this was a practical joke? Or what if she couldn’t accomplish what they asked… Oh god, how could she ever do this! Quickly she reached into the envelope groping for the distance key the letter had mentioned. It was there and Raven pulled it out, carefully studying it. It didn’t look like a hoax. And these things were expensive, would someone actually pay for one just to commit a prank? The small key was silver and had three prongs that attached to a magnificent handle decorated with swirls.
Raven took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to do. She was going to do this. She was going to be the best witch doctor to ever attend vampire royalty. Her business would soon be booming. She just had to use the key. She reached forward and turned the key in an imaginary door.
“Vesnic Tanar Castle.” Raven vocalized, and with a whoosh of air her apartment was left empty.
* * * * * * * * * *
Raven’s head spun as she tried to gather her surroundings, and her knees buckled beneath her as the room she was in continued to swirl. Before she could hit the ground however to strong arms wrapped around her body and supported her. She blinked frantically and after about a minute she could make out where she was. The room she had entered was fantastic, filled with lavish furniture and a ceiling that was at least fifty feet high, if not more. It was then that she realized the compromising position she was in and she quickly jumped back.
A man stood before her, roughly six and a half feet tall and in his late twenties, he had dark hair that was drawn into a ponytail, reaching his waist, and he wore a black suit. The man watched her with steel gray eyes that made her feel like her soul was being bared to the world, and he was absolutely beatific.
