This was written for my friend of several years. Their friendship will stay with me for years to come and it will never be forgotten.


I wanna hide the truth

I wanna shelter you

But with the beast inside

There's nowhere we can hide


Eyes flick upwards almost as if they were tired but it wasn't the case. Long fingers tapped upon the solid wooden armrest silently before an index finger was raised and it motioned to dismiss those before him.

"Not one brother? Not even one to amuse you with her crimson?" There was a scoff of disgust in reply.

"Last thing I'd wish for was a lynch mob that we'd need massacre to demonstrate our superiority." There was a pause before the last of the maidens left the room. "She's not here brother, the prophecy was wrong. If that hag was still alive I'd end her for her this deceit." He rose from his place. "I'll be back before dawn." Quick steps though the several aids that remained, parted for their lord and master; disappointment etched in their features. They too had hoped that the legend was in fact true and the century of waiting would come to an end.

Passing through several passageways brought him out to a garden of strewn darkened stones that were as ancient as him; though he didn't look a day over thirty, they were all well weathered. Several more quick steps found him in the open countryside and to his place of reflection, away from the prying eyes and ears of the castle. He found his place on top of a stone that hadn't moved in centuries as far as he could recall and crouched down on it. It may have been part of a very large boulder or ancient mountain range that had long since been eroded away or covered by dirt but there it was; it grounded him. He let his features of authority and superiority transition to what was buried deep within him, disappointment.

He kept his voice low and unassuming. "Prophecy. What were you thinking Vladimir?" He would spend several hours like this, doubting the reason for his continued search.

There was a disturbance in the distance, his eyes traced down the country road in the distance to the three figures riding on horseback. They were travelers from afar, they weren't familiar to him and he knew all in his region. Travelers were not, in the understanding he and his brother had with the town that surrounded their home, under their protection or more clearly, fair game. He listened, they were arguing and from what he could immediately surmise, his home was their destination.

"She's being selfish mother. What kind of man would marry a complete stranger, I'll tell you, a desperate one." "Shhh they will hear you and we will be turned away with not so much as an audience." Sobs from the third one were heard. "Oh wonderful, now she'll be all puffy and blame me for it. Wake up and forget this fantasy and go find a real man and be happy." "Stop upsetting your sister Jacqueline." "If father were still alive he'd have put a stop to this lunacy before we'd left, dammit, we'd still be home. But no, here I am on this stinking horse, in the middle of nowhere, freezing, on the idle hope some mythical creature, that has lived for ever it seems, takes a fancy to my ridiculous and childish sister." More sobs.

He was amused at the human's cruelty towards her sister. The humans he witnessed in his presence always tried to keep a dignified composure around him, never so much as raise their voices and seeing this uninhibited display was entertaining.

"I told you to keep quiet child." The hoses were stopped. He rose to his feet to take a few steps to the side of the stone to see where they were being hidden behind a tree. The moon was half full and despite the great distance still between him and the riders, his keen eye caught sight of them.

"I'll tell you this daughters, before your fathers passing he revealed a great secret to me that must never leave your lips because the others of their kind would seek to destroy you."

His ears honed in; secrets after all could bring down kingdoms, even human ones. The horses sensed the nearby threat of him and were uneasy. The women quieted them down and they complied.

"Your father was of the bloodline, of the family that his deceased Queen came. Generation after generation of your relatives have come to be considered, but were turned away. I'd have not bothered myself but then there was talk of a prophecy and according to it, it's nearly time for the reemergence of her, the image of her. The odds are with us and I'd regret it to my last breath if I didn't even try to fulfill the wishes of your father."

"That's ridiculous mother, father would not have allowed this. I'll have no part in being presented, besides, I'm too old, thank God."

The mother sounded more exasperated than when he first heard her. They would be seeking an audience with him shortly, and he'd know this about them, their heritage. This wasn't any different from the others that have approached him. His fallen queen had many descendants, some he had even feasted on that insisted and demanded their place at his side. The queen's relatives were getting harder to come by as the decades passed. The blood lines themselves were being diluted by the humans moving away and breeding with others from other lands.

The winds that were keeping away until now started to move in. He was up wind from them and he first caught the scent of the horses; they were foul smelling creatures he never cared for. He picked out their human scents and committed them to memory for later on.

"I'd be glad to take myself home mother so you can go without me and not worry about me making a scene." There was a hint of deviousness in her voice, it almost sounded like a threat; he grinned at the clever girl. "I will not allow you to go off in the dead of night child now come on and let's go find an Inn." The one called Jacqueline turned towards him, in his direction, and pushed away the windswept hair from her face.

"Illeana" The name fell from his lips so easily. He had sworn to never speak it again for fear he'd relive the day she was taken from him by his enemies, his Queen. This image, the face of traveler, held his gaze.

"Can we go now mother, I'm freezing my tits off."

"Child please, if not for your own dignity then think of your sister."

"I hope I don't have to kill someone to get a decent meal at this hour, I'm starved. Why didn't come by car anyway?" The horses were signaled to start moving again on the uneven path. The mother grumbled at her headstrong daughter. They would reach the town shortly and their way was safe from the typical rift raft that tended to prey on travelers.

His feet were not made of stone but at that moment they felt of it the moment he cast his eyes on her; they were now fixed in place. If he were human he'd suspect that he had seen a ghost but his vision was perfect as was his state of mind. The frail outline of the human he saw was true image of his lost love, his brother would attest to it as well when he saw her.

She'd be in his audience in less than a day, her sister anyways, in the next batch for his review. He'd invite her to stay but he knew her mind was already set against him by the tone of her voice and her clear opinion of what was happening. A soft hiss passed over his lips. He'd need to appeal to her womanly desires; woo and court her if he must.

Never had he felt a sense of urgency in the last century as he did in that moment. For all his cunning and intelligence this was the one task that couldn't be taken lightly nor could he fail. He had purpose now. His feet released him from that place to usher him back to his home in several bounds. He'd speak to no one about his discovery that night.

Him and his brother were in their seats, his fingers tapping once again on the armrest, this time impatiently. There was a chance that her mother would deem her unworthy of attending but seeing as she'd wished to be done with this… no she'd keep her near.


"You seem preoccupied brother. Should we send them away without bothering so you can get on with your moping about?" Stefan's voice was low, not even the few of their kind that were present could hear. "Let us proceed with it then." The last twenty four hours he'd played out every scenario that could happen but deep down he knew it was for not. Her aptitude, as pleasing as it was to witness it with her mother, was regal but in his presence should it crumble in fear of him it would take much to fix.

He kept his gaze lowered as the women proceeded in and stood where they were instructed to. Their families stood quietly behind them a little distance away. He quickly caught sight of the young sister, she had been cleaned within an inch of her life; her skin nearly scrubbed raw and her hair meticulously styled. Behind her was her mother, a woman hardened over the years and by the loss of her husband. There standing behind her was his prize. His gaze albeit fast gathered in her full appearance. He heard his brother give a small 'oh', when he saw her. The corner of his lip twitched up just a bit and unseen by all those present, now was the time.

His brother started speaking to the small gathering, "Thank you all for taking the time and coming." not even bothering to rise from his place.

Vladimir looked up at the women, many of them were already trembling at the sight of his crimson gaze; the rest followed suit when he stood to adjusted his jacket and approached them. They didn't need to fear him, they were safe from his blood lust; he saw to it earlier that day, not that he'd take any of them in this setting. He didn't exercise the use of his speed in this instance as he approached them; no need to send them running for the door, he attempted to be as welcoming as he could. Starting at one end of the line, as if he were inspecting a regiment of soldiers, he slowly paced down it. The sounds of disappointment as each maiden was passed were heard by all in the room. Hundreds had come before them, a life of security was not only being offered to the one, but her family as well for generations to come. Breaths were being held and released in anticipation as the sound of each of his paces was heard until he stopped in front of the sister of whom he sought. Up close he noticed how truly young she was; it explained the sobbing he heard from her the night before. Why she thought she'd be desirably to him he didn't care to know; he didn't want a child. His shoulders turned towards her and her eyes widened. She was brave to look him directly, her mother must have instructed her to show no fear but there were other signs that he picked up on that gave her away. He leaned in to her, inches from her shoulder that was covered in a frilly lace, and inhaled. All the cleaners in the world couldn't erase the smell of the horse she rode in on. "How old are you child?" There was a long silence from the maidens trembling lips before she mouthed the number eighteen. He wasn't amused with her timidness and hoped her sister didn't share the trait. He centered himself in front of her, his face inches away from hers to look her in the eye. "Do I frighten you little one?" The whole room stopped breathing when she collapsed to his feet. He didn't touch her but took a step back as an abrupt cry came from the crowd as her mother made herself known and violently pushed her way though. "Dominique!"

He noticed no movement from the one he desired. "I can assure you madam she is unharmed, only startled." The woman at his feet cradling her youngest only could nod and kept herself respectfully silent in his presence. "Your other daughter madam, call her forward." The woman was clearly still too overwhelmed to obey his command. If she had been a servant of his her veins would already be spilling forth but her daughter didn't need to see the monster showing his true colors, just yet. "I see then."

He directed his attention back to the gathering and found her watching him. His tongue swiped over his teeth, the name he longed to use was no more and as he keep this eyes on her he pledged to himself that he'd never address her by it. "Jacqueline, please step forward."

The use of her name startled the crowd. He'd never address a human by their name let alone be polite in asking them to do anything; it was always a command. There were gasps as she moved forward and people parted the way as soon as they realized she was in their vicinity. He was right, she was a replica and his brother was silently at his side in an instant to get a closer look for himself. She didn't rush nor did she purposely delay her movements. He was already pleased at her show of confidence and courage when she stepped past her mother, who was cradling her sister, to stand before him.

"You're a myth." She clearly stated without any apprehension.

He grinned at himself, she had the spirit he desired. "I'm looking at ghost reborn into flesh." The crowd broke into a hushed fury of specializations. He raised his hand, palm up, to beckon hers. Her brow creased momentarily but having had listened to what her mother had been instructing her little sister, she quickly realized that if she was to refuse him in front of this audience it would be deadly for all of them. "Come with me." She raised her hand and placed her four digits lightly in the offered hand. She, like her sister, looked him directly in the eye but there was no signs of fear within her, none he could detect with his senses. "Brother, please see that her family is looked after." He pulled his gaze from her and addressed the crowd, "Should any harm come to them, death will be a welcomed relief." then looked back to her. Her silence worried him, he'd expected some form of gratitude by now; did she hate him that much or was the weight of her selection too much and she was contemplating his refusal. "Everyone is dismissed." His free hand dismissed the crowd of hopefuls and they started leaving the place; not wishing to displease him. He raised the hand that held hers and slowly lead her to where he was earlier seated. A hiss to his left broke his attention. It was an act of treason to act out of place in his court; especially towards the human that had took him half an immortal lifetime to find. Vladimir glanced between the two women, Jacqueline would perish at her hands in seconds. There was a moment, his eye caught it, the looks between the two women that cemented his decision of her. Jacqueline's brow twitched up, gave the woman a huff while raising her chin up slightly; the action placing the threat beneath her.

Stephan was between the two women in a quarter of a second, "Clara. My sweet," Vladimir backed Jacqueline away slowly, a jealous immortal was unpredictable he wasn't about to take any chances with her as he suspected what his brother was about to do. "Why the apprehension?" Every eye was on the two, mortal and immortal. "You have nothing to fear." Stephan pressed each if his palms to Clara's cheeks and leaned in as if he was about to grace her lips with a reassuring kiss. "But me." The jolt of Stephan's hands was quick and the sound of the cracking metal that resulted echoed in the room. A scream from the revived Dominique then echoed along with the hushed pleas from her mother to quiet down. The torso of the woman fell before the ancient and he threw her head across the room to the open fire where it burst into a plume of purple smoke. "I was getting tired of her anyway." He turned to his brother, gave a curt nod and left. The rest of the witnesses filed out quickly to leave them. An attendant hurried to fetch the mother and sister to usher them to a room in the castle.

When the last one was out of the room Jacqueline dared to part her lips again, "Who was she?" A courtesan he replied to her, "Oh..." she looked at the fallen woman. No blood, nothing that would have indicated that it was nothing more than ever stone. Her hand was tugged on and she obediently moved to allow the mythical being to lead her away.

Her anxiety rose with every step, each doorway passed and with each glance she noticed he gave her. Her outward appearance was steady but her thoughts were ripping through her mind with a wild rage. She recalled all that her mother told her young sister and in essence it was 'Do as your told.', but that wasn't who she was and she then heard her fathers voice advising her from when she was a child, 'Be who you are.'. His words, spoken long ago still rang true to her but did they apply to this situation? In her daze of thoughts she awoke a little startled to find herself with in a room. Her hand was released by him and he just looked at her. "What is it that you want?" She asked.

Vladimir wanted so much at this moment; a taste of her blood, a kiss from her lips, her to say his name as he once heard it so long ago. From all his experiences with the opposite sex he knew one thing was true; forcing them to do anything would have the opposite effect. He had decide that lies were beneath him as well; he needed her to trust him implicitly. When the moment came when she was to be truly his, there could be no doubt present in her thoughts or his eternity would be lost. She already did please him with her courage and confidence thus far. He stepped close to her to raise her chin up slightly and pressed his lips to her cheek before backing off. "Nothing."

"All this for nothing, I don't believe you." The crease in her brow was threatening to become a permanent feature at this rate. She was clearly upset and he attempted to placate her anger.

"Believe me Jacqueline, I desire nothing from you but I do request that you not try to leave." His swift hand caught a lock of her hair; the colour although lacked the brilliance of that of an immortal was an exact match to his lost love. "Do you fear me?"

The question was a trick she thought. "Do you mean, do I fear death." She recalled her father telling her stories of these beings and from what she had seen with her own eyes she knew she was looking at death. Death was handsome and it had picked her. "I don't fear you." She said with some edge to her voice as if she meant it. He grinned and dropped the lock of hair he had twisted in his fingers.

"Delightful. Now if you can stop hating me and attempt trust me that would help things move along." He was still inches from her and had no intention of moving regardless of her opposition to him being there.

"I don't hate you but moving things along doesn't sound like something I'm about to do." He imagined how it'd be if she would have fallen into his arms and he could have ended her humanity in a matter of days, weeks tops but this seemed to give him more sport. Her honesty in refusing him was better than her complete acceptance of him; she wasn't hiding who she was.

"Well then I'll leave you to your servant; she will see to all your needs." He leaned into her, she remained rigid despite the intrusion into her personal space, to inhale her scent. He toyed with the idea of gracing her with a kiss if not on her cheek then her hand; but decided against it as to not stir the monster within him. "Good night." He righted himself, turned on his heel and left her.

The servant that was waiting dipped down reverently as his stepped before her, "Madam, you have your work to tend to." then proceeded to go. He stopped around the corner to listen.

"What can I get you for your evening meal?" The old woman's kept voice low, she knew this was to be her masters bride.

"I'm not hungry." Jacqueline was upset.

"It's still early and you need to eat. Our cook is quite good and is awaiting your orders 'mlady."

"I said I'm not hungry. Are you deaf or did he press you to feed me."

"No no, nothing like that. Alright then, you will have a healthy appetite in the morning. I'll start a bath for you."

"No, I'm not getting bathed by a strange woman." She was angry now.

"I'll leave if I must but you need to bath. The masters have a keen sense of smell and even I can smell the horse on you. It's a wonder that..." She quieted herself and he chuckled to himself.

"It's a wonder what? It's a wonder what...that he kept to himself that I stank of horse?" He pressed his lips together to suppress a laugh.

"They can hear you 'mlady." There was a long pause.

"I don't care."

"Are you sure I can't get some food up here for you?"

"I'm not hungry." There was an exasperated sigh; much like her mothers from the night before. He didn't care much for the servants frustrations to carry out her duties but he could use this for his amusement. He pushed off from his place and proceeded to go find his brother.

Vladimir closed the door behind him before Stephan started to speak. "Done her so soon, will your bride be waking in a few days brother? I didn't' hear any screaming, is she a quiet one?"

"Funny. You're almost as amusing as she is." He took a seat in a worn deep leather chair. "She's not being cooperative, she's determined to put me off." He shrugged.

"Why are you bothering? Change her and worry about taming the newborn with your charm."

"If I wanted a whore I would have stopped you from expediting Clara's time. I want," He paused. What did he want. She wasn't going to be his lost love...was he wrong all this time to be searching for her? He was never wrong. "to not have a newborn taking off my head or any other part of me I'm fond of. Conquering the human will take less time."

"Have you no sense of adventure?" Stephan scoffed and snorted.

"I do. I will be breaking her, and she being so fragile it'd take more skill than taming a newborn."

The brothers talked through the night.

At first light, Vladimir went to fetch the woman and as he approached he heard the servants voice first. "That's all that there is to wear and you will wear it."

"I will not. Where are my things from the INN? You'd think they'd be fetched for us by now."

"The Innkeeper's wife packed them herself and sent them last night for you and your family. They are being washed to rid them of the stench."

"There was nothing smelly about my clothes and I want them instead of this frock." More anger from the servant; he could hear her aging.

"Can you please finish getting dressed and eat something child? It's getting late and you may be called on."

"I'm not hungry and I'm not letting myself be seen in this."

He tapped on the door but to the occupants inside it thundered, and then allowed himself in. He wasn't about to ask permission from a human to be allowed anywhere in his home. He observed her and withheld the compliment that was at the tip of his tongue. The servant backed away slowly and he looked over to the untouched food that was brought her and frowned slightly.

"Have you anything positive to say this morning?"

Jacqueline frowned and shifted her weight a few times. "I like how my hair was done for me because clearly I'm incapable of doing it now." She glared at the servant.

Vladimir shook his head, "So close. We will work on that." he raised his hand. "Come."

She shifted her weight and raised her hand to place in his. Perhaps she did it in the prospects of being let out of the room to go see her mother; he didn't know but he was pleased she didn't put up a fight. He lead her to where his brother was sitting and observing a meeting and guided her to sit on the step before his place where he seated himself.

Jacqueline sat with her hands clasped and her head lowered; she was visibly upset but he didn't' care.

"Is she now your pet brother?" His brother mumbled low so she couldn't hear. "I'm needing to end her hunger strike." Was all he said on the matter. The two of them listened in on the human's council meeting with little interest. Jacqueline only stirred and lifted her head when someone entered the room to bring the men before them water or some document, only to lower it when she didn't see who she desired. There was a heated discussion over the lack of visitors to their region and the men were debating for hours about what should be done about it. The idea of a visitors center, advertising, and even a new lodge were debated. A long sigh caught Vladimir's attention and he looked down to her to see her repeatedly shaking her head. "Are they all wrong woman?"

She scoffed and shrugged a shoulder. "Yes."

He didn't press her for more input as to what she was thinking but only clapped his hands and the men fell silent. "Do share why you think the men of this town are failing to solve this issue."

She looked up to them, not bothering to look at the man seated up above her. "Have any of you ever traveled the main road to here lately? I'm suspecting you haven't because if you did you would have immediately noticed how riddled with potholes it is. There are low branches everywhere and its poorly lit. No one who has traveled that road here would go on it again after they leave and never mind those buses that the tourists ride on; they'd never make it. Fix the road and send letters to the travel companies saying you did with pictures of the town. There is enough here to see without building a thing." She lowered her head and sighed again. He was pleased with her but didn't say a thing. The men continued their meeting until lunch was announced; they'd leave and be back afterwards.

Jacqueline looked at her hands and fingers the pattern on the dress she was obliged to wear; she felt her stomach protesting it's emptiness. Her back developed an ache from sitting on the stone unmoving. The brothers, from what she gathered, were talking on and off but she couldn't hear what of. She had been, while listening to the meeting, debating to ask permission to leave her place and go back to her room. It did occur to her that her mother would be upset by her behaviour thus far, but again, she wanted no part in this stunt.

"Are you hungry yet?" His voice was quiet, she nearly missed it while mulling in her thoughts. She felt like he was mocking her. "No."

"Very well." He didn't sound angry and that might have angered her even more. She questioned why he didn't care, why he wanted her to remain at the foot of his chair. Was this what all those women that came before her were seeking she asked herself; there had to be more. She doubted that this was what her sister had envisioned.

Vladimir kept watching her in the corner of his eye, watching her shift around uncomfortably and noting her actions when people entered. He also listened to the grumbles of her stomach and noticed her gradual loss of posture as she started weakening. His brother didn't ask about her but he did make a joke to his brother, if he were to wed her, he would also get a mother in law. Vladimir wasn't amused with the prospect of that but thankfully, he considered, the woman was old and would die soon. The men came back into the room, after a considerable break, and went back to their discussions. Jacqueline lifted her head and dropped it back down with another sigh when she noticed it was just them.

Several more hours passed and then men filed out for the day; she nearly didn't notice them leaving as she was still lost in her thoughts. "Jacqueline?" Now, she thought, she was hallucinating about her mother calling her. She shook her head and looked up to see her mother standing there. She would have gotten up, if he'd of let her, but her legs were stiff. "I'm going home, did you want anything Jacqueline?"

Her lips were dry, why didn't she at least drink anything she thought. "I suppose bringing me with you is not an option?" She looked up to look at her mother who appeared concerned.

"We will be gone about a week or less and I hope you'll not make a nuisance of yourself and be a gracious guest."

Jacqueline scoffed at the notion. She knew she wasn't a guest but a prisoner in this place and her mother brought her here. Her voice was dry. "Safe journey and I hope I'll still be alive on your return mother."

Her mother gritted her teeth and grumbled as she bowed to the creature that had taken claim to her daughter and left.

Jacqueline closed her eyes and went back to her meditations without even looking at him. She in her many internal arguments debated breaking down and crying but then she reasoned that he'd see though the rouse and make her, or worse, her family suffer for it. She felt her body lose more strength and she slump further. He wasn't going to let her perish, not after waiting for so long to find the image of his lost queen but who knew, he might have been even that arrogant and confident he'd find another.

"Up" his voice commanded. She lifted her chin and considered snapping at him for his mistreatment of her but stayed silent. His extended hand was lowered to her and she took it. She squeezed it tightly, using it to aide her getting up from her spot but her legs quickly failed her and the room went monetarily dark.

Vladimir waited for Jacqueline to open her eyes and find her bearings before he spoke, "You will now eat and stop this foolishness" and started walking at a slowed pace back to her room.

She realized she was being carried. "I can walk."

"You're famished and you can't even stand." He grinned down to her. "Besides, you weigh nothing to me and I prefer having you close to me."

She frowned.

The door to her room was opened for them and her aide was nowhere to be seen. She smelled the food before she saw it and her stomach grumbled loudly for it. He took her to the table that only had one chair and sat down on it and positioned her on his leg. He held her snugly to him, pinning her arm to her side with his one arm and with his other hand picked up the fork.

Jacqueline pressed her lips flatly together, she saw what he was going to do and wasn't impressed at the thought of being fed like a child. "I can feed myself."

He moved the fork around to poke at the various things presented. He was familiar with how humans in the day ate; he himself recalls using his hands at meals but these were modern times and eating was slightly more dignified. He decided on the the softer item, a potato, poked it and presented it to her. Her lips quivered as he tilted his head, amused at her momentary uncertainty. She was too tired and starved to keep up her protest and opened her mouth just wide enough to take the potato off the tines of the fork. This repeated several times until her stomach fell into a quiet hush.

He didn't care for how humans ate, or the sounds they made while eating but her slow and careful chewing; for his benefit, didn't completely disgust him.

"Do you want to have anything?" Her head nodded to the plate that was half emptied. "I don't think I can finish it all myself."

"No." He set the fork down and released her arm that he had pinned to her side and picked up the thin stemmed flute of wine and handed it to her. She took it and sipped it tentatively, her eyes widened and down it all went.

"That was good." She looked at the emptied glass in her hand, "Oh no, I shouldn't have drank all that." and set the glass down.

He knew the effect alcohol had on humans all too well. "Why not? It was good wasn't it." He watched her cheeks pink up slightly. "I see. Lovely." She blushed a little harder at her oversight and his compliment.

"Why not?" She picked up the fork and continued to eat.

"I don't eat food." His answer was short.

She lowered the bite she was about to take. Her voice was hushed and a little disappointed. "The stories were true."

"Stories are stories." He waved a dismissive hand. "Tell me your stories and I'll dispel the lies you've been told." He liked her talking, talking was good progress. In the privacy of her room he didn't need to uphold his position of authority.

Her eyes lowered and she took the waiting bite. Her cheeks were still mildly flushed when she spoke. "Turn into a bat at will?"

His eyes glistened, he was amused. "Stephan started that one as a joke. He will find it funny that it's still going around. No. We don't change our forms."

Her eyes searched the plate and she speared a carrot. She thought about asking about his diet but didn't want to offend him or upset herself thinking about it. "How old are you?"

His fingers pressed into her side carefully, shifting her in closer from where she had drifted off slightly. "Over a thousand, under two. The calendars have changed a few times." His free hand picked up the wine bottle that was sitting in a bucket of ice at the side of the table and he poured some more into her emptied glass. He moved the glass close to her hand offering it to her after he set the bottle back into its place. "How old are you?"

She side eyed him and took the glass, "Twenty eight." and drank.

"You're not too old, I think I was mid thirties..." His gaze drifted off to the doorway and the hand on her waist clenched her more firmly.

She looked at him sharply, not only for how tightly he was holding her but what his answer may have be hinting to. Jacqueline completion went pale despite the wine in her system. "Mid thirties what?...oh..."

"Enter!"

She jumped, startled at his abrupt change of volume. The door opened and her aide poked her head in first and then came in holding a bowl of ice that contained a covered dish. "Apologies for the interruption 'mlady, this took some time to find." She set it down and quickly left them without so much as a second look.

His hand glided over to the lid to lift it to reveal a frozen lump of gelato; he guessed. His fingers picked up the little spoon and took a portion of it and he brought it to his nose to smell it, "It's not too awful." and then offered it to her.

She was timid again about opening her mouth to the offering of food even though her hand was free to take the spoon from him. Her lips parted as she leaned forward to take the iced morsel into her mouth and as she sat back she closed her eyes as it melted in her mouth. Her stiffened posture had eased slightly , something the wine didn't do earlier, and when her eyes opened back up there was a hint of sadness within them. "Delicious."

He watched her reaction, felt not only her body but noted the distance in her eyes. "Why so sad all of a sudden?" He set the spoon down and guided her chin so she'd look at him. She pursed her lips, how he wanted to taste them even with the hints of food on them and to ease her distress.

"I remember when I first had that, I was with my father on a trip." There was such sadness in her eyes. "He died, murdered, shortly after… I've hadn't had it since." Her lips quivered. "Only my mother knew that so its rather strange that someone went looking for it specifically." She frowned, her mother had no doubt been questioned before she left and it made her uneasy again not knowing what she said. His finger rose up to her lip to brush past it; he would kiss her one day, but not today.

She picked up the spoon and surprised herself when she offered it to him, "I'd like some more if you want to…" His hand cupped hers carefully as he took the utensil from her. "I want to."

The rest of the night continued until every bit of food was eaten and all the wine was very slowly drunk. There were moments of many questions being asked and answered and several moments of them sitting silently. It was well past midnight when Jacqueline yawned and started looking over at her bed timidly. Vladimir's gestures and subtle comments didn't go unnoticed by Jacqueline during the night and she wasn't sure what he was expecting from her or what her new 'duties' entailed.

"I will be taking my leave." Vladimir rose from where he was now seated and she rose up to see him out. He paused for a moment and approached her to take her hand and kiss the back of it. He turned her palm up to run his fingers on it and to her wrist to feel her pulse. What that simple little gesture did to her made her blush again as her heart went racing off. He grinned to himself at her response. "Good sleep."

The door closed and she was alone. She raised the hand he took and just looked at it strangely and asked herself what the hell her problem was; her cheeks were still flushed. She shook her head and peeled her dress off and changed for bed.


As you can see the above was not beta'ed.