Vivian's mind woke in a fog, trying to open her eyes was difficult, as it seemed that her body was too weak to even try to move. She could hear the crackling of a fire in the background, and was surprised to hear soft humming. Wait, was there someone carding their fingers through her hair?
"Catherine, stop it," an unknown male voice whispered. "She's not a doll." If Vivian could move she would've shivered from his tone. It oozed something… unidentifiable. She heard a female chuckle, most likely the one still stroking her hair.
"You know I can't help it, dear," the woman, Catherine, replied, her voice husky for a female. "They're so interesting." Vivian heard the male chuckle in amusement before silence reigned.
The silence was broken when a door opened and soft footsteps got closer to her. Vivian could feel the bed dip as another person sat down. The hands stroking her hair stopped.
"Don't say it," a familiar voice said warningly. Vivian realized that the… man from her apartment was there! Her pulse sped up and she wanted to flee, but her eyes wouldn't open, her body felt like she was being weighed down by lead.
"Oh, what would I say?" Catherine said, a teasing lilt to her voice. "She's only the first human that you've brought back since…"
"Ever," the other man in the room finished.
"Shut up," her attacker muttered.
Why were these people talking so strangely? They talked about her as though she were a different species. Trying to at least convey that she was awake, Vivian groaned groggily.
"Hmmm…it seems your guest is awake Severus," the woman in the room murmured in an amused tone, "Why don't you go and fix her something to eat, hmmm? I think you've scared her enough for one day." When all that was heard was indignant silence, the other male voice in the room chuckled before stating, "You know Severus, she's right. All of us at once might be too much. Let Catherine talk to her first." Vivian heard a huff before the weight on the bed lifted, the man from her apartment, Severus, getting up.
"Fine. Why I let the two of you boss me around in MY house, let alone even let you in my house, is beyond me."
"Because you love us," the woman replied in what Vivian could just tell was a smirking tone.
"Hmph."
Laughing sounded as the stranger's footsteps from her apartment faded from the room, the other male voice stating,
"Catherine…behave."
Stopping her laughter, the woman responded innocently,
"I will, love."
As Vivian heard the door shut once more, the woman who she guessed sat next to her began to stroke her hair once more, beginning her humming again as well. Against her better judgment, Vivian began to enjoy the feeling, relaxing under the woman's fingertips. Even though Vivian felt undeniably weak, she managed to flutter her eyelids, another moan softly issuing from her lips.
"Don't strain yourself dear, take your time."
As the woman's comforting voice washed over her, Vivian finally found herself able to open her eyes, and she murmured dazedly
"Who are you?"
Vivian watched as the woman next to her smiled, her deep blue eyes sparkling. Flipping her rich chestnut hair over her shoulder, she replied in a soft voice,
"My name is Catherine. And who might you be?"
"My name is Vivian. Vivian Dupree," she winced as she tried to sit up.
"Careful now, you've had a rough night," Catherine commented pushing the pillows up and helping Vivian lean back. Raising an eyebrow, Vivian commented sarcastically
"Oh, really? I hadn't noticed. Some whack job follows me home, bites me and then kidnaps me. Where the hell am I anyway?"
Catherine grinned. "You know, I like you. You're feisty. But anyway, you are at Snape Manor."
Vivian stopped for minute. She had heard of "Snape Manor" and "Atrum Manor," the other equally as beautiful mansion on the same property. They were very foreboding and nobody ever went near them for fear they were haunted. She mentally shook her head and snorted.
"You're daft." Catherine let out an amused chuckle as she glanced out the windows.
"That's still up for debate according to Severus, but you'll see. The gardens are especially lovely in the sunrise. When you're well enough I'm sure you would agree."
Vivian decided to drop the claim and instead glared at the fire sullenly. "So you just let him abduct me and don't even call the police?" She jolted at Catherine's laugh, staring as the other woman rose from her bedside and walked over to pour a glass of water. Vivian looked at the other woman's attire. Where did she come from? The upper portion looked almost Victorian-era, accentuating the curve of the waist, but was offset by the denim jeans she wore. Her bare feet padded softly as Catherine returned to her bedside.
"You'll find that Severus is quite fierce when he's insistent. Lucius and I find that acquiescing occasionally will keep him from having a temper tantrum," she said, helping Vivian take a sip of water.
"Severus can go drown for all I care," Vivian hissed after she finished her water. A knock on the door caused both women to turn and see a platinum blonde man leaning against the open doorway. Vivian watched Catherine's face practically light up as the man made his way into the room.
"I do believe we have echoed that sentiment before," the man said, stopping behind Catherine and subtly placing an arm around her waist.
"Lucius, this is Vivian. Vivian, this is Lucius, my lover," Catherine introduced. Lucius bent to pick up her hand and press a kiss on the back of it. Vivian just stared at him in confusion. Who greets people like that nowadays? An eyebrow rose to her hairline as Lucius straightened afterwards to smirk at her.
"A pleasure," he said. Vivian eyed the form-fitting waistcoat and dress shirt the blonde wore. Were they obsessed with that era or something? Vivian just nodded her head in his direction absent mindedly. Maybe she was hallucinating. Yes. She was going to wake up in her apartment, and go on with her life. She closed her eyes tightly and counted to twenty, missing the amused looks the other two sent at her.
"Nope, still here, luv," Catherine cooed when Vivian opened her eyes again, the blue eyed woman wiggling her fingers in a wave. Vivian groaned and leaned back on the pillows in defeat.
"I like her, Lucius," she heard Catherine say brightly to Lucius as she stared at the ceiling. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't get any worse. She was so very wrong.
Severus breezed through the open doorway, holding a tray of food in his hands and shooting a sneer at the couple at Vivian's bedside. "Are you two done doing anything besides being useless?"
Lucius was about to comment when Vivian shot straight up, her eyes blazing as she hissed at Severus,
"You!"
Raising an amused eyebrow, the dark gentleman (well as gentlemanly as you can be considering the fact that you are a kidnapper) now known to her as Severus glided over to the side of the bed and set down the tray of steaming food before smirking down at her,
"Yes, me. Feeling better?"
"Like you give a fuck, just stay the hell away from me," Vivian growled scooting across the bed as far away from Severus as she could. Sitting on the edge, ignoring the soft chuckles from behind him, Severus reached out to place a hand on her cheek murmuring "Now why would you say that love?" His face was quickly whipped to the side as Vivian's hand connected with his pale cheek, faintly hearing the hardly contained snorts from Lucius and Catherine.
"Don't you touch me you freak, and I'm not your 'love!' I'm not anyone's anything! I belong to myself and no one else, understand?!"
Eyes flashing, Severus snatched his hand away and placed it to his cheek, snarling as he got up and stalked out. Lucius watched in amusement as Catherine practically skipped behind, her upbeat statement of "I think she likes you Sev," echoing down the hallway, the heated reply of "Shut up!" making Lucius laugh. This time it was Vivian that laughed, "Oh yes, I absolutely adore him," acid practically dripping off every word.
Looking up to the remaining man in the room, Lucius asked politely as he gestured elegantly to the chair at the side of the bed,
"May I?"
Waving her hand listlessly before folding her arms, Vivian muttered
"Help yourself."
Seating himself and crossing his legs, Lucius commented softly, "You really should try and eat something, before it gets cold." Turning to look at the blonde next to her, Vivian's expression softened. "Well at least one of you is a gentleman. I suppose it can't hurt to try." Helping her to sit up more, Lucius placed the tray on her lap. Smiling slightly, Vivian stated "Thanks." Steel eyes resting on her, Lucius winked before responding,
"My pleasure."
