It was nearing moonrise late Friday night when Lady Gisla awoke in Guy's bed. He had covered her with the silk linens while she lay sleeping. She could still hear the rain outside of the window, feel the breezes touch her skin, yet she did not feel cold. She opened her eyes. Guy sat on the edge of the bed leaning down over her, a look of concern on his face.
"Are you alright, my lady?" He asked as he softly caressed her cheek.
"Yes, my love. Did it work?" She asked him.
"I think so, my love." Guy smiled. He leaned down to her and kissed her softly. "Yes, my angel. It worked. Your lips are cool now." He murmured in his perfect, gravelly voice.
"Mmm. Do that again." Lady Gisla grinned. "It feels different." She whispered. She reached over and loosened the sash on his purple, silk robe, then moved her hands up to his shoulders and pushed the edges of the soft fabric down over his shoulders.
"My lady." He whispered as he leaned in and kissed her neck. "We should go, my angel." He said.
"No. Not yet, Guy. Take me, my love." Lady Gisla murmured seductively in his ear.
Gisborne kissed the place on her neck where he had bitten her just hours earlier. It was almost completely healed now.
"We need to get back to Northman's manor." Gisborne whispered as he began to kiss her lips softly.
Lady Gisla had succeeded in removing his robe completely and pulled him down to her. "Why must we?" She whispered as she kneaded his shoulders.
"He keeps telling me he must watch over me during my 'transition' – whatever that means? We should leave soon so we'll have plenty of time before sunrise." Guy said.
"I shall miss the sun, but not as much as I was missing you before you turned up." Lady Gisla said as she caressed his cheek.
He kissed her passionately. He wanted her. Damn the woman!
"My lady…" Guy whispered as he drove his tongue past her lips and tasted her tongue.
"Take me, my love." Gisla whispered breathlessly. "We have time. It is our first night of our immortal life together. Let me love you the way I was meant to." Gisla purred in his ear.
"Well, since you put it that way." Guy grinned. He kissed her hungrily and she pulled him down on top of her.
In moments he was thrusting inside of her, both of them giving way to animal desire and new found passions.
"Give it to me, Guy! Harder!" Gisla moaned. She raked her fingernails down his chest and licked at his blood. "Mmm, you taste so good to me."
"Gisla…" He murmured. He was very aroused she was tasting his blood and liking it.
She twined her legs around him and pulled him down to her, moving her hips frantically along with him.
"Oh, Gisla, you feel so good." Guy whispered.
He took her to a place of forbidden desire and she found an awakening she never felt before. As if she was suddenly more alive than she had been in life. Guy pleased her over and over again during the course of the next hour, yet she wanted more and more.
"Oh, my beautiful lady, you know I could do this all night." Gisborne whispered in her ear. "But we should leave here before the witching hour."
"How long must we continue to consort with your maker, Guy? Why can't we stay here? Is this where we would have lived if you had married me – assuming you wouldn't have met with the end of a sword?" Gisla asked.
"Yes, my love. We probably would have lived here. I'm not sure about how long I must continue to be attached to him. I will speak to him about it. You're right. I'd rather we be left alone as well." Guy smiled as he smoothed her hair.
"I am yours, my love. I will go where you go. I would prefer if we didn't have to move, but…"
"This is only temporary, my angel. We won't be staying with Northman long, and then we shall live here together as man and wife – though I'm not sure how that works in the vampire realm?" He mused as he looked up thoughtfully. He looked back down to her and smiled. "Maybe if we drive him mad we could be granted leave that way?" Guy teased.
"It shall be me who goes mad – having to wait to be alone with you again, Guy." Lady Gisla purred as she kissed his neck.
He felt himself harden in response to her words. "My love, you're insatiable, you know that?" Guy smiled as he closed his eyes and sighed.
"You make me that way!" She grinned, then kissed him hard.
Gisborne sighed happily as he took his lady again. He was more content than he had ever been in his life. He had no idea the lady of his heart would turn out to be such a beast in the bedchamber!
The Sheriff and Lady Lictina were sitting up in his bed propped by several pillows. Myriad candles were now aglow in the room. The Sheriff had just arose from the bed recently and lit them. Now he had his arm around his vampire lady and held her to him.
"You must be tired, milord." Lady Lictina said. "Do you wish to sleep?"
"No, my love." The Sheriff whispered. "I'm more awake than I've ever been." He breathed hotly as he turned to her and kissed her passionately.
"George…" She whispered. She reached up and touched his warm cheek. His soft mustache tickled her lips as he kissed her. His breath was hot and he tasted her tongue with his. She was on fire for him…again.
She raked her fingers through his soft, silky, raven mane, then her hands moved to his shoulders and she pulled him down to her. She wrapped her smooth, silky thighs around him.
"Lictina…" The Sheriff murmured as he kissed her.
Suddenly there was a wrapping on the door of the den again. The Sheriff stopped kissing his lady, looked to his left toward the double doors, and exhaled an audible sigh.
"I do not believe this!" The Sheriff huffed.
"It's not Eric. I can already tell. He would never knock like that." Lictina said with her eyebrow quirked.
"Probably my cursed, little runt of a page! The little brat is afraid of his own shadow. Ignore him, my love. He'll go away." Nottingham whispered as he kissed her again.
"Mmm… you taste so good, lover…" Lady Lictina whispered as she opened her mouth to him and tasted his desire on his tongue.
He was so hard for her. She was going to send him to madness! She was making him insatiable, he couldn't get enough of her! The Sheriff wondered if he would miss all of Saturday sleeping by the energy he was expending now? He didn't care. He had never been with a maiden as exciting as this one and he was going to pretend like he was never going to see her again – he would make it that good for her. He prayed to Zeus he would be seeing plenty of her, but he was going to love her like this night would be their first and last.
"Oh, Lictina…I want you, my lady." He whispered.
"Take me… George!" She cried out.
The tapping on the door sounded again.
"Goddamn it!" The Sheriff cursed. "Forgive me, my lady. Do not fear. I will go and see what this nonsense is about, and then I'm instructing my sentry that on pain of death – we are not to be interrupted!" He huffed. He reached over for his robe and began to put it on hastily.
"Why don't I answer the door for you, milord? I have a few tricks up my sleeve that might make them think twice about bothering you again." She winked.
The Sheriff turned to her and caressed her cheek. "A nice thought, my angel, but perhaps my staff aren't ready for those kinds of tricks… yet." He grinned. "Don't move, my lady. I shall be back in a moment." He said smoothly.
She smiled up at him and he proceeded to the door.
The tapping started again as he walked through the den. He opened the door moments later and was startled to see his courtesan, Catherine standing there before him.
The Sheriff narrowed his eyes. "I did not send for you, Catherine." He said.
"You tell me all of the time I am your favourite. Can I not surprise you?" Catherine asked. Then she took in his disheveled appearance. He held his robe closed but she could tell he was naked beneath it. "Oh, I see." Catherine said as she looked downcast. "Well, don't let me keep you, milord." She muttered.
"Well, well, well!" Lady Lictina's voice suddenly sounded behind them.
The Sheriff turned back to face her. She was walking toward them. The Sheriff's silk sheet was wrapped tightly about her body. His eyebrow shot north as he wondered what she was up to.
"What do we have here?" Lictina asked as she stood beside her lover and grinned appreciatively at the consort. She looked up at the Sheriff.
The Sheriff looked down upon her with his eyes narrowed.
"Is that a courtesan standing there, George?" She asked with a deviant grin as she looked back at Catherine.
"Ha! And you're not? I am his favourite, you little tart!" Catherine shrieked.
"I'm sure." Lictina snarled. She threw her arms around her lover's neck and kissed the Sheriff's cheek as she kept her eyes on the consort. She glanced up at him and grinned. "Oh, George, you're so incredibly thoughtful! You have ordered me a snack! Now, how did you know I was hungry?" Lady Lictina laughed wickedly. "Aye, must have been all the lovemaking. How many times did we do it, lover? Is it a dozen? Or is it more than that now?" Lady Lictina mused as she rubbed her chin in feigned contemplation.
"I'm not sure." The Sheriff said as he looked at her curiously. Surely she was jesting about feeding on Catherine?
Catherine's jaw flew agape.
"Dear God, George! You chose to lie with one of those creatures!" Mistress Catherine exclaimed, incredulous.
The Sheriff opened his mouth to reply but wasn't fast enough for Lictina.
"He did and he said I was the best he ever had!" Lady Lictina grinned. She grabbed Catherine by the arm and pulled her into the chamber. "Do shut up, won't you? You're not here to please him now – you're here to sustain me! George won't be needing your services any longer!" She laughed.
"Let me go!" Catherine shrieked.
"That is true, my lady, but I did not summon her." The Sheriff said.
Lady Lictina pouted. "Oh, lover, you're telling me she is not my snack?"
"No, my lady. She is not your… uh… snack." The Sheriff sighed.
Lady Lictina sighed. "You're such a tease, George! It's like dangling a carrot in front of a rabbit! She looks so delectable and it's been several hours since I've had blood!" Lady Lictina spat as her fangs appeared. She pulled the courtesan close to her and leaned down to her neck.
Mistress Catherine screamed.
"Lady Lictina!" The Sheriff shouted abruptly.
"What?" She remarked, rolling her eyes.
"I will get you blood – somehow, but do not bite her!" The Sheriff exclaimed.
Lady Lictina narrowed her pretty brown eyes upon him curiously.
"Why do you care whether I bite her or not?" She demanded. "She is a whore! Pretty much the lowest species in the human food chain. They're only good for two things: lying with lonely men who can't get it anywhere el –"
"Hey!" The Sheriff snapped.
"And providing sustenance to vampires!" Lady Lictina exclaimed. "That is all that whores are good for!" She seethed.
"I would agree with you, milady Lictina. You may have your pick of any other of my… former courtesans." The Sheriff said, choosing his words carefully. "Leave this one alone." He said firmly as he nodded to Catherine.
Catherine looked downcast and smiled that the Sheriff was defending her.
Lady Lictina paused a moment, studying him. Then her eyes widened. "You care for her!" She exclaimed in horror.
"In a small way, yes." The Sheriff said. He came closer to her and smiled. "Not like I care for you, my Lictina." He said smoothly.
"You're sure?" She asked pointedly with her eyebrow quirked.
"Yes." The Sheriff said, unblinking.
She retracted her fangs and let go of the courtesan.
Catherine looked up to the Sheriff. "I'm out of here." She announced. She made obeisance to her master then turned to take her leave.
Lady Lictina grabbed her by the arm. "Not so fast, honey!" She admonished sharply.
"What? Let go of me, you beastly harlot!" Catherine exclaimed.
"Lictina!" The Sheriff scorned. He shot a cold look to Catherine just then. "And my lady is not a harlot, for your information, whore!" He spat.
Lady Lictina looked up at him and smiled wickedly. "She must not know what she has seen – me! I will not harm her. Trust in me." Lady Lictina purred.
The Sheriff folded his arms and sighed. He smiled knowingly at her. Damn the woman! The way her lips curled into a smirk, without her even willing them to, she was so sensual. Here we go – the bewitching trick again.
Lady Lictina grabbed Catherine's shoulders firmly and stared deeply into the consort's caramel coloured eyes.
"Mistress Catherine." She said softly.
"Aye?" Catherine said.
"Your duties are complete. The Sheriff shall be needing your services no more. You have seen the Sheriff with his lady love, and now you must go. You shall pack your things in your quarters and leave this castle on the morrow. Do you understand?" Lady Lictina asked with her eyebrow quirked knowingly.
"Yes. I understand." Catherine muttered quietly, still staring into Lictina's chocolate brown eyes.
"Go." Lady Lictina commanded.
Catherine nodded and turned to take her leave.
Lady Lictina looked up to the Sheriff after Catherine closed the door behind her. "She won't be coming to bother you again." She smiled.
"Oh, my lady." The Sheriff said as he went to her and held her to him. "That is quite the trick you people have there. If only I could command such attention and willingness to comply just by the power of my words." The Sheriff said.
"It's not the words, my love. It's how you say it. It's all about the intonation of your voice, how you use your voice to enchant, and in the stare that goes with it." Lady Lictina explained as briefly as she could. "You know – you'd be very good at it. You have a perfect voice, it's smooth as silk. You have a lot of power when you stare into someone's eyes too. I can only imagine you as a vampire." Lictina smiled sensually.
The Sheriff sighed happily. He never knew a lady to offer him so many compliments before – though he wasn't sure about the part where she pictured him as a vampire. "There must be more to it than that, my lady. What exactly are you doing when you stare into their eyes like that?" Nottingham asked, curiously.
"You'd have to be a vampire to understand it, milord. I could try to explain it, but I'm not even sure how to describe it." She said with a shrug.
"Try me." He said with a smile.
"Alright, but just so you know – I wouldn't do this to you." Lady Lictina said. "You must understand that."
"Alright." He said as his eyebrow shot north.
"When we stare into the eyes of a human in that moment when we are glamouring them, we are in effect – controlling them." Lady Lictina said.
"Hmm." The Sheriff muttered as he rubbed the whiskers on his chin, thoughtfully.
"Told you – you wouldn't understand it." Lady Lictina sighed, shaking her head.
"You were right, my lady. I don't, but I have plenty of time to understand it. Right now I'm only mindful that there's only a few hours left until dawn." A beat. "How shall we make use of the time before I tuck you into my trunk, my lady?" The Sheriff asked with his eyebrow quirked knowingly.
"I can think of a few things we haven't tried yet." Lady Lictina grinned.
"Mmm, lady, you are good for me." The Sheriff growled as he pulled her to him and kissed her hungrily.
"Oh, George." She whispered as she kissed him back with as much passion as he.
"Now, my lady, why don't you go back into my chamber? I shall speak to the sentry about keeping people from disturbing us." Nottingham said smoothly.
She smiled deviously at him, then turned and glided to the bedchamber. The Sheriff licked his lips as he watched her walk away. Then he sighed and opened the door, and gave the sentry strict orders to keep everyone away from his chambers.
They made it to Northman's manor very early on Saturday morning, a couple of hours beyond moonrise. Guy opened the door and led her inside. He found Eric standing by the window in the sitting room, sipping blood from a shiny golden goblet, and speaking with Necrolus Moonshadow who was seated on the couch. Eric looked to the doorway when he heard their footsteps.
"There you are, Gisborne. It's about time you showed up." Eric said as he walked toward them. "So, is this your lady?" He asked Gisborne as he nodded to Lady Gisla.
"Yes. This is my lady." Gisborne said. "This is Lady Gisla Greenley." He smiled as he gestured to his lady.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, milady." Eric said smoothly as he took her hand and kissed it lightly. "I am Eric Northman." He said. He nodded behind him to the couch. "That's Necrolus who is too indolent to move from his seat." Eric said as he rolled his eyes.
"Hey!" Necrolus snapped. He arose and walked toward them. He looked to Gisborne. "Good to see you again, newborn!" He said as he slapped Guy on the back. Next he looked to Gisla who stood on Guy's right. "I am pleased as well, milady. Necrolus Moonshadow. Don't worry – I won't bite." Necrolus grinned. "You're not human, I see, so there's no danger of that!" He laughed.
"Indeed." She said as she smiled ruefully.
"Yes. I see Necrolus is right." Eric said. "So, another newborn to feed!" He grinned. He looked over to Necrolus. "Find the maiden some blood, Necrolus. I'm sure she hasn't fed yet." He stated as he shot a knowing look to Gisborne.
"That is true. She has not had blood yet." Guy stated.
"Fine. I'm going outside then. I'm sick of your cursed rat blood!" Necrolus spat as he headed to the door.
"I'm glad you got back here, Gisborne." Eric said as he took a sip of blood from his goblet.
"Trust me. We could have easily remained at my manor." Gisborne retorted as he led Gisla over to the couch. She took a seat and he was just about to seat himself beside her.
"Don't get comfortable, Gisborne. We need to go." Eric announced.
"What? Where?" Guy asked as he turned to face him and narrowed his steel blue eyes upon him, curiously.
"We have ourselves a little problem." Eric spat.
Gisborne looked around the room. "Where's Licks?" He asked suddenly.
"Well, that's the problem." Eric snarled. "I finally found her earlier without even trying. You'll never guess in your entire immortal life where I found her!"
"Where?" Guy asked as he folded his arms.
Eric sighed and shook his head, his long golden locks lashing out in the air. "The foolish, cursed, little vamp!" He spat.
"Where is she, Eric?" Gisborne asked again.
"With your cousin!" Eric snapped.
"What!" Gisborne exclaimed, his eyes widened in horror.
"Oh, and when I say she's 'with him'…" Eric snarled as he hooked the first two fingers of each hand in the air around the mention of him. "I mean – she is with him! She's probably still there – in his bed no doubt!" Eric spat. He placed the goblet on a table near to him.
"Wha – what?" Guy asked, astonished, shaking his head vehemently.
"Oh, yes!" Eric exclaimed as he began to pace back and forth in the room. "I stopped by his chambers to tell him I was there to pick up his prisoners. She was in his bedchamber!" Eric snarled as he suddenly whirled around to face him. His black cloak swirled about him as he did so.
"Oh, no." Gisborne muttered. He shook his head and closed his eyes.
"Oh, yes! And guess who is quite disturbed by her absence? He thinks Licks is with me! I'm sure of it!" Eric growled.
"You didn't tell him?" Gisborne asked, incredulous.
"I care for her. That must be the reason I covered for her!" Eric spat.
Lady Gisla looked back and forth to each of them, confused by their banter.
"So, what – you want to rescue her from the Sheriff's chambers?" Gisborne asked pointedly.
"Wait a minute. What is going on? Guy?" Gisla asked him as she looked at him in confusion.
"A vampire friend of ours is with the Sheriff, my lady." Gisborne explained.
"And… her name is 'Licks'?" Lady Gisla asked curiously with her eyes narrowed.
"It's a long story – we'll explain it later." Eric said.
"Alright, fine. Let's do it." Gisborne said to Eric. "But what about Gisla?"
"Necrolus will stay with her. We won't be long." Eric said.
"What? No! Guy?" Gisla pleaded with her lover.
Guy went to her and crouched down before her. "It will be alright, my lady. You shall be protected. I won't be gone from you long." He soothed.
"I do not know this Necrolus fellow, Guy." Lady Gisla said, shaking her head.
"I know, my angel, but he is a friend of Eric's and therefore he can be trusted. You cannot be left alone just now, and you cannot come with us. There might be trouble, you see." Guy explained as tactfully as he could.
"What? You mean you might meet danger?" She asked horrified, as her eyes widened.
"Oh, for God's sake! Why are you scaring her, Gisborne? We are vampires! We have but one low life human to deal with when we get there – your cousin. Two of us against him? We can take him in the blink of an eye!" Eric spat.
"Indeed." Guy seethed. He stood up and turned to his maker.
Just then Necrolus came into the sitting room, smiling proudly.
"Well, where is it?" Eric asked. "What have you brought to feed the lady?" He said to Necrolus.
"Nothing much." Necrolus grinned. "Just a deer!" He laughed. He went back to the front door and dragged the buck into the sitting room by its' antlers, leaving a trail of blood as he did so.
Lady Gisla gasped.
"Do not fret, milady! I'll make the first bite and once you smell the blood it will come as naturally to you as breathing once did!" Necrolus grinned. He opened his mouth and his fangs appeared.
"Necrolus!" Eric shouted.
"What is it? I thought it was feeding time?" Necrolus huffed.
"You must stay here with Lady Gisla. Gisborne and I must visit Nottingham Castle. We won't be long." Eric said.
"Oh. You're leaving me alone with this… lovely, vampire maiden?" Necrolus grinned deviously.
"You will not touch her!" Guy roared.
"Don't worry, my Guy." Lady Gisla grinned at her lover. "I'm a vampire now. I can take care of myself, lover." She purred. She looked to Necrolus and her fangs appeared.
Guy smiled at his lady.
Necrolus frowned in chagrin.
"Alright." Necrolus sighed. "I will watch over her, but while you're there why don't you see what you can grab us out of his dungeon? Don't know how much deer blood will be left for you boys when you get back." Necrolus said as he looked to Eric and Guy with a deviant grin.
"Ha! You want the blood of prisoners you'll have to speak with Sheriff Draconis!" Eric growled.
"I'd rather not." Necrolus frowned. "I prefer to only visit him if I have to. Maybe once every fifty years!" He laughed.
"Bah! Our vampire Sheriff is a pussycat next to Primus Mortelum! I don't know why everyone complains about him so much? You have not met the worst of them, friend." Eric said to Necrolus with his eyebrow quirked knowingly.
"So you keep telling me. I prefer not to deal with any of them." Necrolus said.
"Lucky for you, you never lived in York!" Eric spat. He looked to Guy and nodded. It was time for them to go.
Gisborne went to his lady and kissed her, then he and Northman went on their way.
Mortianna was just coming through the portcullis. She held her black woolen cape close about her. She felt a desperate chill down to her weary, old bones – and it wasn't just from the brisk autumn winds and the fierce rain that was coming down hard this night.
She frowned as she thought about what Friar Capellarius told her. It seemed these vampires were quite formidable and powerful creatures – and Gisborne was one of them. She shuddered. One man could never stop these beings. She had to make the Sheriff understand this. She had so much to share with him about a vampire's weaknesses, and the common items that would serve to destroy them. Still, she knew that it would take an army of fearless men to go after these creatures. They possessed immeasurable strength and power. And she had something else to tell him too – Robin of Locksley had seen them. In fact, Locksley had seen her master in a vampire cave!
She was glad when she was safely inside the castle. She decided this night she wouldn't venture out again after dusk. There was great danger lurking about Nottingham. She hoped the information she had gathered to impart to the Sheriff would serve the village well. If anyone was cunning enough to pull off a war against formidable beasts such as these – she was confident the Sheriff could do it if he planned it well.
She would speak with him in the morning. The first thing the witch planned to do was light a fire and brew some batwing tea. She could surely use a soothing cup of it to warm her and ease her frazzled nerves.
Lady Marian couldn't sleep. She kept waking up, hearing Robin's voice warning her of the grave dangers lurking at night – a danger so fearsome that even the Sheriff was worried about confronting it. What could it possibly be? She arose from the bed and grabbed her green velvet robe that was trimmed in white fur and put it on. Next she lit a candle and took the candlestick with her as she ventured down the stairs to the sitting room. She found Robin sitting on a chair by the fire. He was staring into it thoughtfully.
She slowly walked toward him and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, slightly startled.
"Marian? What is it?" He asked as he stood before her.
"I cannot sleep." Marian said. She set the candlestick on a nearby table then went to him and embraced him. "What is it, Robin? Why can't you tell me what's going on?" Lady Marian asked as she looked up at him.
Robin smiled down at her and smoothed her hair. "I will in time." He said.
"It must be something quite formidable to have you and your enemy both on your guard?" She said with her eyebrow quirked.
"Yes, my lady." Locksley said evasively.
"I'm frightened, Robin." Lady Marian whispered as she held unto him fast.
"I will protect you, my love." Robin assured her.
He led her over to the couch and they sat beside each other in front of the fire. He put his arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Close your eyes, my love. I'll be right here beside you when you wake up." He soothed as he kissed her forehead.
"Promise me?" She asked as she looked into his eyes.
"Yes, my lady Marian. I promise you I won't leave you, my love." He smiled.
She sighed happily and leaned into him. She closed her eyes, feeling better about him being so close to her to protect her.
Locksley sighed. He was going to need to come up with a better plan than this in the coming nights. He needed to protect Marian, but his men were out in the open in the heart of Sherwood Forest. What if those creatures found them? The cave was not far enough from camp to suit Locksley after what he saw going on inside of it!
He shuddered. He wondered if he'd ever be able to erase those images from his mind?
It was nearing the witching hour on Saturday. The Sheriff was mounted on top of Lady Lictina. He shot up straight suddenly while still inside of her and threw his head back and moaned. His raven, wavy locks, damp with perspiration, lashed out about his face when he did so.
Lictina looked up at him and bit her lip. He looked so sensual to her just them, the glow of the candles dancing upon his moist skin, and his raven hair.
"Oh, God, Lictina!" Nottingham gasped.
"Oh, George, you're so good to me!" She cried out.
Her silky thighs pulled him into her tightly. She raked her fingernails down over his shoulders. The Sheriff leaned back down over her and collapsed on top of her. She sucked at the blood she just drew on his shoulders. He was suddenly quite aroused when he realized what she was doing and grinned wickedly at her. He pushed a dampened tendril from her face.
"My beautiful, dark angel. You are really quite a tiger, aren't you?" Nottingham growled as he kissed her neck.
"I'll be whatever you want me to be." Lady Lictina whispered.
"You're amazing." He sighed as he began to kiss her hungrily.
"Oh, lover, let's do it again!" Lady Lictina purred. She kissed him hotly and drove her tongue into his hot mouth.
"My lady…" The Sheriff whispered. "I could never get tired of doing this with you." He grinned.
She stopped kissing him then and narrowed her pretty brown eyes, then began to sniff.
"What is it, my love?" The Sheriff asked.
"Damn it! We have company!" Lady Lictina growled.
"What? There is nobody here but us, my lady!" The Sheriff argued as his eyebrow shot north.
Just then the double doors threw open. He looked to his left and frowned. Gisborne and his maker, Northman were standing there with their arms folded, both of them looking upon him coldly.
"See?" Lady Lictina remarked, rolling her eyes.
"What the hell do you two, cursed pair of its want now!" The Sheriff shouted as he extricated himself from Lady Lictina and sat up. He grabbed his robe from the foot of the bed – rather tired to have to keep dressing in it throughout the night! He stood beside the bed and folded his arms. "Get the hell out of my chamber at once! Your friend came to me willingly and she is my lady now!" The Sheriff roared.
Lady Lictina sat up in the bed holding the navy silk linens up to cover her breasts as she looked over to Eric scornfully.
"Right!" Eric snorted. He walked over to the bed and stood over Lady Lictina. "Come on, Licks! Looks like you've had enough fun for one night!" He said sharply as he put a firm hand upon her bare shoulder.
"Get your damned hand off of me!" Lictina growled as her fangs appeared.
"Damn you, Licks! Ben is on to you! He's asking questions!" Eric snapped.
"I am not his lady anymore!" Lictina retorted. She nodded to Nottingham. "I am this Sheriff's lady now. You know – a real Sheriff who has earned the noble title?" She said with her eyebrow quirked knowingly.
The Sheriff looked upon her and smiled proudly.
"You're going to make me gag!" Eric spat.
"Licks, come on. You know this won't work!" Guy said suddenly as he came toward them.
"Oh, for the love of Zeus! What would you know of it!" Nottingham barked.
"No. You're wrong about him, Guy." Licks said. "It's working perfectly so far. Your cousin is perfect! How do you like that? Stick that in your codpiece and tie it!" She laughed.
Nottingham looked downcast and began to laugh.
"Licks!" Eric admonished her.
"You can't make me! He's right." She said as she nodded to the Sheriff. "I came to him willingly. I came looking for him, and he accepted me with open arms!"
"And you accepted him with your legs wide open!" Eric muttered in disgust.
"Not even Ben is capable of loving me the way he has!" Lady Lictina roared.
"Damn you, Licks! Intimacy is not love! You don't know him!" Eric exclaimed.
"He's right!" Guy said sharply.
"Bollocks! She knows me very well now!" The Sheriff barked. "Now, the two of you sod off and get out of my room!"
Lady Lictina looked up to her lover and grinned.
Eric shook his head as he looked down upon Lady Lictina. "Well, I hope you find a coffin to sleep in then!" Eric spat. "Ben asked me to relay a message to you."
"What is that?" Licks asked, rolling her eyes.
"He said he hopes you know a thing or two about loyalty by now, and that you best not disappoint him. I covered for you once, Licks. Don't expect me to do so again!" He snapped. He looked to Nottingham and sneered, narrowing his bright blue eyes upon him. "You lay one hand on her and you will feel my bite!" He sneered.
"I'm sure." Nottingham seethed. "Now, get the hell out of my chambers!"
"Damn you, George! You don't know what you just got mixed up in!" Gisborne roared. "You and that wondering cock of yours! Can you never just keep it in your breeches!" He spat. "This is not one of your meaningless consorts – this is Licks!"
"You're just jealous you can't have your lady!" Nottingham growled.
Gisborne grinned deviously but said nothing.
"We'll be in touch." Eric spat. "You can bet you'll be seeing a lot of us now, Nottingham! Now that you're holding Licks hostage!"
"I am not his hostage! I know what I'm doing, Eric! I'm where I want to be, so leave us!" Lictina admonished.
"Very well – but only because I care for you." Eric said through his clenched jaw. "But remember what I said. I covered for you – once." He said evenly.
"Yes, I heard you." She seethed.
Gisborne looked to his cousin and shook his head, then the two vampires left the chambers as quick as a flash.
"So, what do you think of the taste of blood, milady?" Necrolus asked his charge after they had their fill of deer blood.
"It's not nearly as bad as I imagined it would be." Lady Gisla remarked as she wiped the blood from her lips with the back of her hand. "You were right. It did come naturally." She smiled.
"That is good, for it's not as natural to all of us. It's best if you take to it right away. It's never good when they hear a vampire is not keen on the taste of blood." He said as he narrowed his steel gray eyes upon her.
"Who are 'they'? She asked.
"Well, actually I'm referring to the vampire Sheriff. There's more than one of them, however." Necrolus explained.
"Oh. Guy didn't say much about the Sheriff. He mentioned him only briefly." Lady Gisla said.
"That's good, milady. If he didn't have much to say on the matter, consider yourself fortunate. Now, tell me – what of this man of yours? I thought he was rather fearsome in life?" Necrolus asked pointedly.
"Aye. That he was." Gisla grinned.
"Really? He doesn't appear all that fearsome to me." Necrolus commented.
"You wouldn't have wanted to cross him. People preferred to keep their distance from he and his cousin. One was just as dangerous as the other." Lady Gisla explained.
"Yet, still you chose to consort with him?" Necrolus said with his eyebrow quirked.
"I couldn't help it. He caught my eye on first glance and held my attention from that moment on. There was something dangerously attractive about him, but he does know how to treat a lady, it turns out." Lady Gisla smiled.
"So it would seem." Necrolus grinned wickedly.
"He will not come to harm, will he?" Lady Gisla asked suddenly, her eyes widened in fear.
"No, milady. Fear not. Very few people know of our existence, and those that do cannot match our strength. He will be fine." Necrolus reassured her.
Lady Gisla smiled ruefully. She hoped Necrolus was right. Still, she knew if any human possessed enough cunning to destroy a vampire – then the Sheriff of Nottingham was the one to fear.