The maiden of the forest sat at the edge of the bed and looked down at Stefan who was still unconscious and bound to her bed. She had tied both wrists and both ankles to the bed posts and locked him in a binding spell if he broke free from the ropes.
He was gorgeous up close. He had dimples and a thin mustache. He had facial hair under his lower lip and on his chin. She didn't know much about facial hair styles, but she guessed he had a goatee. Either way, it suited him.
She ran her fingers through his hair and it was soft as silk.
He is perfect.
Stefan opened his eyes and his vision was blurred. He could feel something lingered in his veins. Was he poisoned? He was given something, but it only made him black out. Now he woke up, not knowing where he was.
He tried to move his arms and legs, but found he was tied. When his vision began to clear, he was tied to a bed in a small house with only candles lit all around.
His mouth was dry and he suddenly had a need to cough, which he began coughing uncontrollably. When he stopped, taking deep breaths, a woman came around the corner with a glass of water.
He recognized her. She was the beautiful young blue eyed blonde that caught his eye.
"You're awake." she said with a smile.
"How did I get here?" he asked her with his charming voice as well as with a grin, as if he wasn't concerned, just curious. She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled him up by his shirt so he could drink. She admired how he still retained his charm even in such a situation. He was a man who held control and now, he tried not to let her know that he lost it.
"The beasts took you. A friend of mine saved you and brought you here, where I could care for you." She said. He laughed and she knew he didn't believe her. She was fine with that. He would have to know the truth sooner or later tonight.
"And how did your so called friend save me?" he asked, but his tone suggested he never needed to be saved.
"He did not say." She said, playing along, softening her eyes so he would melt under them. It always worked. However, with a vampire, she might have to try harder.
"Was I harmed?" he asked her. If he did melt, he didn't show it.
"I imagine so, but you healed quickly." She said. His smile faded and he looked at her with a suspicion forming in his mind. It was her turn to smile.
She placed the glass of water on the table and stood up. She took off a part of her dress. Underneath, was a shear material. It was cut a few times down the legs, where he could clearly see her smooth legs. Her corset held her breasts higher, or so it seemed without the first part of her dress. Now, her dress hung off her shoulders. Stefan looked at her neck, down to her shoulders. Her hair was held back with a clip. She removed the clip and her hair fell and sat on her shoulders.
She climbed onto the bed and saddled her legs around him. She sat gently on his thighs and her hands gently caressed his chest. He looked down and saw his vest with his daggers had been removed. His shirt had been slightly opened and with her fingers, she unbuttoned the rest, stripping it off his chest.
He looked at her hand and up her arm to her face. Her smile was dark and her eyes bore into his. This was not the same woman he saw that day when they arrived. She had looked innocent and now, she looked like what he'd expect to see in the mirror: a manipulator.
"You are the only man worthy of my affections, Stefan." She said. His facial expression told her he still tried to hold onto control, but she knew that he knew she held it all.
"Is that right?" he asked her, keeping his cool.
"I need an immortal and what better than a handsome, mysterious and darkly passionate… vampire." She said, whispering the word. Now confusion was written all over his face. He tried to erase it and he did when a question came to mind. This he was certain would swing control back into his corner.
"You know my name, but I don't know yours." He said.
"Wouldn't you like to know." She said and that sweet and young face returned; the one he first saw. "My name is Arielle, the Grand White Witch." She added. Stefan had a charming smirk spread on his lips, as if it all made sense. The only thing he couldn't understand is why a White Witch would want a vampire. Vampires are dark and care not for life. There was a clear rigid dichotomy between them.
"And how am I worthy of your… affections, Arielle?" he asked her, acting as if his discovery meant nothing. at least not for the moment. He said her name so smoothly it nearly made her shutter and he knew it. He knew exactly what to do to charm her to the point she was his puppet.
"No mortal man can have me." She said. She smiled, pulled her hair over to the other side of her neck and leaned over him, facing the bedside table where she placed his glass of water. He could smell her sweet scent. She was unlike any woman he had seen or smelt.
He watched her as she perched her lips and blew gently at a candle. He watched as the wick of the candle began to fume and, eventually, it lit on fire… with nothing but her blowing some air.
"You're quite the powerful witch." He said softly as he smiled. If he humored her ego, she would let her guard down and he'd have the upper hand. Still leaning over him, her eyes glanced over at him and her smile turned to a grin.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." She said sweetly. She moved closer to him, face inches away from his.
"You -" he began, but her lips had cut off his words with a quick, but soft kiss. She pulled away and looked deep into his eyes.
"I may be a witch, but I am a good witch. You, on the other hand, are a vampire and you are hardly a saint." She said.
So she knows of the dichotomy… interesting.
"However, I do not care." She added and her lips hovered over his.
So I've noticed.
"You are mine." She said and he began to laugh. He couldn't resist. She sat up straight and watched him with a grin on her face. She was less than pleased.
"I belong to no one." He said with venom in his voice.
"Yet." She added.
"My fellow hunters will find me and what do you think they'll do with you?" he asked her.
"If they can find you." She replied. "No one can find this place. It is protected under a spell and no hunter… or vampire can undo it." She added.
At that moment, there was a knock at her door. He looked at her with an arched eyebrow.
"No one can find this place, you say?" he asked with a devilish grin.
"Only if I allow them." She said and quickly got off him. She walked around the corner and to the door. She opened it and gave a slight giggle. "My dear friend." She said. She spoke to the guest while Stefan looked around the room. He could see the signs now that she was a witch. He looked at the round table and there sat a black and white cat, staring at him as if it were a guard. Other than that, he observed for weaknesses in the home and in her.
He tried again to loosen himself, but even with his supernatural strength, he could not. He came to the conclusion that there must also be a spell on the ropes. He looked at the candle. Ideas began to form, but being unable to move sent all of them out the window.
When Arielle came back, her "friend" stood behind her. Stefan looked at the girl, who was frozen in place, looking at him with disgust.
"Arielle… are you certain this is a good idea?" the girl asked and turned to the witch.
"Melinda, there is nothing to fear." She said and sat on the edge of the bed like before. She glanced at Stefan and gently stroked his face.
"He will try to kill me." Melinda said.
"He can try." Arielle said. Stefan looked at Melinda and after a few seconds, realized why she'd be disgusted and afraid. His muscles flexed and Arielle knew he wanted to be set free so he could kill her friend… the werewolf.
Arielle pushed Stefan back down and gave him a stern look, which he ignored.
"You will not kill her." She said and glanced at Melinda. "He won't." she added.
"Like hell I won't." Stefan said. "I've hunted your kind for a hundred years. Charles didn't let me join because of my good looks." He added and then glared at Arielle. "You cannot stop me, witch." Stefan added. She shook her head and held his jaw firmly in her grip.
"We'll see." She said and with a small bottle, emptied its contents into his mouth. That was what made him black out and it would again. He tried to resist, but she whispered softly, in a strange language, and he found he was unable to control his tongue. His eyes grew heavy even if, with all his strength, he fought to stay awake.
Stefan opened his eyes and it was the same thing over again. This time, Arielle was asleep beside him with her head on his chest. He looked down at her and could not understand what she wanted with him. Yes, she said only he was worthy of her affections, but what did that mean? If she wanted to sleep with him, get it over with already!
What he wanted to do was kill the werewolves, but she stood in his way. Why?
As he was thinking about her, it was like she knew. She woke up and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Your questions are screaming in my mind." she said. "It disturbs my sleep." She added.
"Good. Give me answers." He said.
"Naturally." Arielle said, which he didn't expect. "When I saw you that day, I wanted you." She said with a sweet, yet seductive smile.
"And vice versa." He said with a charming smile. Why should he lie? She smiled in return, but that moment seemed faked, like they were both mocking each other.
"Does that still stand?" she asked him. Was that also a mock?
"Perhaps." He replied. She laid her head back on his chest and continued telling him her explanation.
"I came home and did my research. When I discovered you were a vampire… it was all too perfect." She said. "An immortal… for an immortal." She added. That surprised him. he never heard of a witch being immortal. It would explain why she was powerful.
"And how did you -" he began, humoring her. What he really wanted was to escape. Talking distracted her and gave him time to look and think.
"Not by a pack with the Devil, if that's what you're thinking." Arielle replied with a cold tone of voice. "My mother was a witch. The townspeople hunted her and killed her. I was hidden and she feared they would return for me. Her spell was too late for her, but not for me. She made me immortal." She added.
"And your weakness?" he asked her. Why not be blunt with his questions? She might just tell him everything he wanted to know. She glanced at him as if she were ready to laugh.
"Who says I have one?" she asked him. He saw something flicker in her eyes, something he hadn't seen before, but he didn't know what it was. Either way, she wasn't thrilled with his question. She continued her story. "The night you and your fellow hunters were waiting for the werewolves… it was actually the werewolves… and I… who were waiting for you." She said.
His expression was priceless. He could not believe it.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't know you killed werewolves as a personal mission." She said. "So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone… not that I kill birds." She added. "That night was the first time they did as I asked and it was simply because you are a vampire." Arielle said. "They wanted you out of their way and I offered to take you out of their fur. I don't control them and I don't stand in their way. Melinda is the only one I spoke to." She added. "I want you and my friend and I want you to stay away from her and her pack."
"That sounds complicated." He said after a slight pause. "You want two beings to yourself and not have them encounter each other." He added with a mocking smile.
"With time, it will succeed." She said softly. The word "time" slightly worried him.
"You made a deal with the werewolves." He said. It just didn't add up. There had to be something she wasn't telling him, on purpose, of course.
"And what do you want with me, exactly?" he asked. For the first time, it seemed, she couldn't see the act of pretending to have control over the situation. He really wanted to know. "It can't be simply because you're lonely." He added, again in a mocking smile.
"Feed you to the werewolves." She said with sarcasm. "What do you think?" she asked. "I want you, simple as that, and I have told you that already." She said.
"Want me for what?" he asked, and he wouldn't stop until she elaborated her answer to his satisfaction. She rolled her eyes, irritated with his turn-about questions. She pulled herself up to him and kissed him. This kiss was much more passionate than the last time. If that didn't give him his answer, she had another way, but he returned her kiss, so she knew he got it.
Either that or her kiss reminded him of his hunger for female companionship. They both were lusting for each other.
She pulled away and continued telling him her truth.
"I gave you the potion as soon as possible and brought you here." she said. "Werewolves are clear on the matter of they don't help anyone." She added.
Stefan remembered watching the werewolves, trying to kill them. They were too quick and there were too many. And, before he knew it, liquid got into his mouth. Then, like earlier, he lost the control of his tongue and swallowed the liquid. It wasn't long after when he began to black out.
"You're going to keep me here forever, aren't you?" he asked, eyebrows raised as if he wasn't impressed. She simply smiled and rested her head on his chest.
"Keep you isn't exactly what I have in mind." she said and now, he sensed he was right where he began: confused.