Erieda slowly took in Man's word, as it passed by her in the carriage, and while it reeked of iron, enough to make her stomach churn, there was an odd beauty in it. The tall buildings, a testament to their ingenuity, the mechanical devices, that worked like the magic they did not possess.. The carriage itself clicking and hissing was oddly amusing, like a strange song. She wondered if this was how the mortals felt when happening into a Fae inhabited forest? Wander, and Excitement, and a twinge of fear. She found herself wanted to explore further in, much like the mortals do in her world.
Finally the arrived at the manor, and Bertoldo politely offered her his hand after stepping out of the carriage. She would have liked the ride to go on a little longer but in the end, she knew she work to do. She couldn't get lost in this world, even if she truly wanted to.
The fate of her kind rested on her shoulders, weary as they were. She slipped her hand into his, and felt a soft chill crawl up her arms. His kind did not produce heat, as they're bodies were some place in between living and death. It was a strange notion, but not entirely foreign, the UnSeelie were much like that, only much colder.
He lead her into the manor, a rather plain looking structure, unlike what she'd expected and honestly she felt a bit disappointed, she wanted to see more of what Man could create, she wanted to see it first hand. She didn't let this show, she merely looked on with quite amusement until she felt eyes on her.
She looked to her side, and saw that a man who'd opened the door for them, gave her a dagger like glare. This was no something she wasn't used to. Walking into the UnSeelie king's palace, Warm and glowing like the morning sun against the stark blacks, whites and greys of the Unseelie palace, she'd knew that look all too well.
She was unwanted.
Fair enough for the Unseelie, she didn't want to be there anymore than they wanted her there, a point she made painfully clear when it came time to meet her Intended.
"I hope you'll forgive them for staring. They've likely never seen your kind before, and the Council's opinions on this matter have no doubt seeped into their minds as well," [/b] Bertoldo said, calling her from her thoughts, offering her a small half grin. She shook her head. "It's quite alright," She said. "With any luck, I can change their minds." She said, and walked along with him.
They then approached a wooden door, which -while it pale in comparison to what she could create on a whim- was lovely and healthy, she could feel the wood breathing and smiled. She knew Man didn't share the world, they dominated it, subjugated it, so it was nice to see that this wood was not dead, cut, but not dead.
She'd made a move to touch it, but instead, Bertoldo reached around and opened the door for her. She figured it was some sort of mortal etiquette, sine she hadn't opened a door and was offered a hand more times then she'd ever had before in her near eon of life. She wondered if this was just from Bertoldo and the kind Mr. Wells, or were all mortal men like this.
She then thought back to the drunkard at the docks and thought better of it. Chances are the vampire and his valet were most likely the exception not the rule. She stepped through the door then, and continuing the trend, he closed the door softly behind her, then pulled a chair for her. She wondered if the females were able to do much, it seemed that it was polite to do anything for a woman. Where mortal woman feeble or insipid? Shaking this thought, she watched as he leaned, almost causally against his wooden desk which spanned most of the room, and looked at her,
"First of all, perhaps I should have said it sooner, but I wish to welcome you to my home," He said, light in his tone. She smiled and nodded, giving a soft bow of her head.
Now, is there anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable? If you'd like, we may discuss these plans over dinner?"
Erieda cocked her head, avian-like as a chuckle tugged at her lips. "Odd thing, you mentioning dinner." She said. " but to answer your question, I am a fine as I am, thought if you've a garden, that would be nice, I am a Dryad, I feel at most comfortable, surrounded by flora and fauna." She said. "But that is a conversation for another time." She said and her expression grew dim.
"As you know, My people, we are low in number, we fought a great war, and the losses were paramount." She said, the images still plaguing her thoughts.
"What you do not know is that, thet war was so great, it tore a hole in the veil, the ley that kept our world and yours apart." She said. "Yes, mortals have come to our world and vice versa, but never so many." She said. "If I could say that."
"For now, My people, we need to recover, our enemy, the UnSeelie, they do know where we are, we've hidden ourselves, on an island nearest what we call "Ironside." a place only few fae dare tread." She said, swallowing being that she is one of those Fae. "For now we are safe, but surely, they will come to know where we've hidden, The UnSeelie care little life, fae and mortal alike, and I fear that our mere presence puts us all at risk...." She said and looked up at him.
"Unless we work together. You see, Like you, The Unseelie, that are the Night Court, they thrive in the cover of darkness, while we Seelie, are of the Day, blooming in the sun. We are not safe at this time, and I hoped, that perhaps we can use this to our advantage." She said and took a breath, knowing she had to lay it all out for him so that he may get a sense of how serious she was. " I am Fae, My words can not be false, should I choke on them and die. What I say next, I need to you trust and believe. " She said, and took a moment to let that all sink in. "I would like to give you, a small taste of what a deal with the Seelie Fae, can offer." She said and pulled back the belled sleeve of her dress, revealing soft caramel skin and offering it to him, being sure up her allure a bit so that it would be more then tempting.
"Take my blood, the blood of the Seelie Queen herself, and you, Bertoldo Ettore, Lord of the Vampires, will be able to walk in the sun."