"Is everything ready?"

"Yes, there's a car waiting for you, along with the proper attire, floor plans, weapons, ammunition, the works. Are you sure you want to do this? The last guy we sent in there..."

"Wasn't me. As long as you made all of the arrangements, there should be no problem with me getting in."

"You're insane. Going there is a death sentence!"

"Kid, I don't plan on dying." That black mercedes peeled out of the parking lot as the young man watched, a sigh passing over him.

"What you plan doesn't always happen... God be with you..."

"Now... look at you! You look so lovely in that..."

"I feel like a painted doll."

"Inara, that's the point," Esmerelda chuckled, straightening one of the lines of the dress as Inara looked at herself in that mirror. The gown was dark blue, going down well past her feet but luckily Inara could move pretty well in her silver heels. The top part was a tight corset that laced up in the back, it made it difficult to breath, but the two vampires dressing her didn't seem to pay her mind when she pointed that fact out to them. The lower part was a silky material that ruffled around. Silver beading decorated the corset making it seem as if streams of diamonds were woven into the fabric. It was probably the most formal Inara had ever dressed, even when she was younger her clothing had been cotton, modesty being the policy at the Vatican. The dark colors made her pale skin glow, and Anwen was doing her best to cover up those cuts still present on Inara's wrist. After three days they were faded, but still stuck out on her skin.

"The Master is going to love you in this..."

"Good thing that someone does..." she muttered under her breath, pulling herself away fro the vampiress who were now trying to put jewelry on her.

"Come on now, the ball started an hour ago. He's probably waiting for you by now," Anwen pleaded. The ball had started an hour after sunset, and Inara watched that endless stream of cars arrive for almost an hour and a half, beautiful people exiting, vampire and mortal alike. Of course the mortals were in blissful ignorance as they shook hands with Séraphin and Esmerelda, and then Simon would lead them into the house. The immortals would give small nods and proceed unattended to the hall, eager to meet their once deceased lord. The amount of people made Inara nervous, and the fact that there were mortals interspersed with vampires made her even more nervous, it would be difficult to tell who was who.

She felt those chilled hands fall over her neck as Anwen quickly put a black choker around her throat. It was black lace with silver threading around the edges. Inara felt Esmerelda slip some bracelets onto her wrist, and Inara pulled away from both of them.

"Stop it, please. I really don't even want to go," The hunter snapped, wanting to pull off all this jewelry and fancy clothing and get back into what she was use to.

"But he wants you to dear," Esmerelda soothed. "You know better than to disobey him..."

"Really, at this point, I really don't fucking care," Inara shot. "I've been his little prize for a while, and I don't want to play this game anymore. I'm a person, not a pet and I don't belong to him to dress up and command."

"My dear... do you think you have a choice?" Esmerelda asked quietly, a bit of saddness in her eyes. "He picked you... or was drawn to you for one reason or another. He won't just leave you now, and you won't be rid of him." Inara turned away from the vampiress, and Esmerelda was quick to dismiss Anwen, who was more than happy to leave the agitated Knight in favor of more pleasurable company. Esmerelda walked over to Inara, a soft smile on her lips, as if she was more try to encourage her instead of alienate her. "You shouldn't fight him, Inara... Think of what power you have now. He can protect you from any disease, any ailment, and you will never have to fear enemies because those who cross you will be dealt with by him. You will never have to fear, or want for anything..."

"I want so many things, Esmerelda, you couldn't possibly understand." Inara turned angrily, withdrawing from the elder vampiress. "Namely I want to leave here and return to my old life."

"Was your old life so much better than this?"

"My freedom was much better than this," Inara sighed.

"You must sacrifice much to gain much... isn't that right?" Esmerelda inquired, walking over to the door. "He's expecting you. Go to him. You could change before you go, if you want, but I wouldn't if I were you." With that the vampiress left, leaving Inara at the window, where she studied the other painted and dressed up people as they entered the chateau.

"Oh... what I would give to go home..."

[So after a LONG delay, I finally got around to finishing the story. Sorry about that, school comes first and school got REALLY hard for like 3 years. Over the next few days I'll post the rest of the story, so here's the beginning of the end]