Disclaimer: They don't belong to me but I wish he did.

For my Jester

That evening he left her alone to have her supper by herself. The previous nights and from what she heard, most nights he went out. On a few rare occasions he had a guest over. Scarlett tried not to listen when he did, but it was hard not to hear. She'd be gone soon, in less than a week and she wouldn't be stuck there imagining what went on in the room, rooms, beside hers. When she woke up the next morning she found her things for the day laid out for her; she had gotten past the issue of V coming in to her space to set things out, how else was she to know what he wanted her to wear, she slept soundly in the silence of her room regardless never once being disturbed by him or any outside noises. Date nights were the only exception, that's what she called them, date nights. Him having them made her feel better on a small level, one where he wasn't pressuring her for sex. Her morning proceeded as the ones before; this one was a workout day so she went to the other floor where her trainer was waiting. When the doors to the elevator opened she hesitated, she noticed that it wasn't her usual person. She approached the man whose back was turned to her, "Where is Jane?" and heard him grumbling into his cell phone before hanging up and pull a couple of small weights from his bag to set them roughly down on the table, his back remaining turned.

"She's sick, and according to your boyfriends instructions she can't let you come into contact with sickness or any kind of germs so she begged me to come in her place. I'm Josh." Josh wasn't impressed one bit with having his long weekend being cut into but Jane was his best friend and she couldn't afford to lose this gig. Easy enough, Josh thought, stretch out a middle age rich pain in the ass woman for a few hours and get paid. "Jane filed me in on your routine so if you could find a place we can get started."

Scarlett didn't appreciate Josh's tone and she wasn't going to stand for his attitude ether. Jane was always happy to see her and it gave her a break from her day; she wasn't about to have it ruined by this guy. "You will address me as S and be polite. The guy who's paying for this isn't my boyfriend but I'm not about to let him spend any money on someone who's going to be rude to me." Josh turned to face her and there was a moment where he blankly looked at her.

Josh was stunned and admitting that small fact to himself took a few seconds. He had seen his fair share of beautiful women in his life and even had the pleasure of enjoying them but S was out of any of their leagues. His eyes had to sweep over her a few times to find a flaw, any flaw but physically she was perfect. Legs and thighs strong looking, curved hips to a tapered waist and firm belly that lead to a tight midsection until it reached her breasts. Her breasts were full, firm looking and ample for his large hands. He had to force himself to look up to her eyes and keep them there; he'd take more of her in during the session. "I'm sorry madam. I'm upset over something else that's none of your fault and if you're willing to look past that we can get started?" Josh mentally slapped himself a few times; never had he reason to use the word madam or mean it in that very moment. She was stunningly beautiful; even with the frown. He could picture waking up beside her, looking into her eyes that were almost silver, run his fingers through her golden hair...he had to stop his thoughts before he got himself in deep trouble and his friend Jane fired.

Scarlet found her place on a mat that was set out and they proceeded with the workout. After she returned, showered, dressed and waited for V to come fetch her. He remained, as always respectful to her personal space and always made his contact with her in an appropriate manner. There were fewer words between them lately it seemed; he felt upset to her. He still hadn't asked her if she was going to return; she wasn't sure if she should just tell him, just in case he didn't want her back. Minds can change Scarlet thought, and hers wasn't all that sure if it had settled yet on a decision. He had her put on, what she now considered, a simple evening dress even though it probably cost a small fortune. It was a light grey that matched her eyes; not that they'd be seen with the blindfold in place. She was expecting V to have her reclined on a couch or something similar for several hours then move her to a sitting or standing position. After her workouts he never had her doing anything too tiring. He wouldn't have her 'mock' tied up until the evening, after dinner; if she wasn't retired for the night, or for date night. Today was different; he had her sitting on a firm couch and he sat down closely beside her.

He had heard the entire exchange on the floor below and judging from Scarlett's indifference upon her replies, and seeing her now, he was pleased that the male didn't make an impression on her. He, of course, knew of the switch but his curiosity got the better of him in what her responses would be. He listened closely to her now; her heartbeat was always telling and it told him she wasn't alarmed in his actions thus far in sitting her down beside him. "Today I shall indulge you." He opened up the pages to a well worn book, a book that wasn't needed; each of it's words from each of its pages were firmly in his mind, it was for her sake that he held it. "This is my favourite book, I will read to you from it." Vladimir started to reading slowly with all expressiveness in his native Romanian tongue knowing full well Scarlett couldn't understand a word. Soft words were lightly spoken, harsh ones were accented according to the severity of their tone. He listened to her. Her breathing. Her heart beating faster then slower. He watched her gripping her clasped hands on her lap then loosening them. She was listening intently to him, every word every expression. "A doua zi ai să-mi-ai voi fi la mila ta." ((The day you let me have you, I'll be at your mercy.)) He closed the book and set it down on the side table. "Did you like it S?

Scarlett finally figured it out, what set Liz off, when they were negotiating her contract, V got into her head...but this, this was different. She felt his words creeping their way into her mind, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake as they spun their way down her spine. She had to keep breathing steadily to ward off their effect but it was a failing battle. She resolved to kept them in her mind for later when she was alone. "Yes." She finally was able to say, even though the single word she spoke was telling in its tone. "It sounded interesting the way you told it, I wish I could of understood it." Even now, her cover-up was just as telling; she was still savoring his voice and its effect.

Vladimir's smirk was fixed now. It took him a complete chapter to rouse her to this point. Normally it's take a few well chosen lines, in a crowded room no less, to get a similar effect in a woman before he could pull her away to a secluded location. He then though, perhaps Scarlet took more coaxing because of her possible dislike for him, but he dismissed the idea when he noticed she didn't take the opportunity to pull away from his contact when he returns to his position after depositing the book on the table. "It's the story of an old kingdom that fell when it was attacked and the people were scattered over the countryside." His fingers brushed away a few stray hairs from Scarlett's face. "Would you like for me to read the second chapter to you someday?" She nodded, then only perceiving his hand nearby but still not pulling away from it. "Before you go I will be asking you for one of the items you agreed to consider, I'm hoping that you will say yes to it." He paused, he could tell she was recalling what her maybe items were.

Scarlet was nervous at the thought of what could it be. She disliked not knowing what he could possibly ask was. "Ask me now?" She felt him shifting his position beside her and huff a little.

"I'd be very upset if you didn't allow it." Vladimir saw the shift in her, the subtle trembling.

"If you wait until I go and I still say 'no' you might not get a chance to ask me again." This was hard, Scarlett admired to herself, it was like she was playing cards and trying to bluff her opponent.

Vladimir smirked, she was a clever human, but he's been doing this for centuries. "If you say no now I'm not sure you'd reconsider. I'd only have two days to sway you but I'll retract the request then so we will never know." He got up and stepped back. "Up please, your lunch should be here soon." Scarlet was visibly perplexed, jaw slightly clenched and the telling line on her forehead was showing. Her posture was slightly stiff when she rise up and she seemed upset.

"Ask me." She was tempted to put in an ultimatum to force the issue such as 'she'd never return no matter how much he offered her' or 'decide that all her 'maybe' items were now off limits', not that there were many, she was very limiting with them because she just didn't know V at all when she entered this arrangement.

Vladimir did like her spirit, he did want her to also feel like she had some form of control over him, it would make her more inclined to be brave and give an answer in his favour; his intention all along. He took hold of her fingers on his and caressed the top of them with his thumb. "Alright, I'll ask you but it's such a small item, nothing grand or difficult." He watched Scarlett posture relaxing slightly. "I was hoping that you'd be so kind to allow me to kiss you."

Scarlett was shocked and at the same time not surprised. This is the man who could have anything he wanted; she recalled the night she suspected seeing him dancing, all the women vying for his attention. She was still feeling the after effects from his reading to her though and to say she was curious would be an understatement. 'It would mean nothing.' she reasoned, 'I will walk out of here and never need to see, be, in his company again.', 'He has paid me a small fortune so one kiss isn't much.' His fingers were still caressing hers, he was waiting. "Alright, one kiss."

"You sound nervous S, are you sure?" She nodded at him.

"I like seeing who I kiss but since that's not going to happen, I'll just have to deal with it I guess." She felt him getting closer, not with any tactile sensation, she felt it in her chest, a certain kind of nervousness combined with excitement that would only subside when they were done. She was confused and lost for a moment at what to do next until he placed one of her hands on his waist and lifted the other to his cheek. Her thumb felt like it was near his mouth. She felt his hand slip around her waist to the small of her back and him moving more into her embrace. Her heart started pounding more fiercely when his other hand cupped the back of her head and his fingers were snugly embedded in her hair and with the slightest tug to make her chin rise up to his lips. The sensation of V's cold lips was overruled by how unforgiving they were, but his tongue; Scarlet felt herself sighing in that moment she tasted him. She kept her lips moved steadily against his, never wavering for an instant, not wanting to break the connection that was moving though her, inching her body closer to his until she was firmly against him.

Vladimir resolved to keep himself the picture of steadiness but even he knew he wasn't fully immune to this woman. He knew, repeatedly, that it was his venom that was drawing Scarlett into him but he also knew it'd be up to him to keep her there in his embrace and safe from his nature. He felt her body resonating through his, her breath, her heart beating and pushing her blood rapidly through her veins and raising her temperature. 'A taste', he thought, if only to taste her 'for just a moment' would be elating. A sound behind him caught his attention, Scarlett's lunch was being wheeled in but he had no intention of breaking off something so important, so intimate now. He brought his attentions back to her once the attendant finished and left him to his beauty in his arms that was making the most deliciously soft whimpering sounds that he'd ever heard. 'If only a taste', his cruel nature was tempting him but he fought it back because finding another such human like Scarlett would take him decades if not longer. His selfishness was greater than his thirst. He carefully caressed the small of her back in an attempt to have her break off from him because he could feel her body running a marathon in his arms and she'd pass out soon. He didn't want that. His fingers in Scarlett's hair tightened slightly and he coaxed her away from his lips with as much delicacy as he could. If she had been a meal he would have let his kiss continue until it truly was a kiss of death.

Scarlett was taken with the array of sensations that were running rampant in her; shivers then shocks of lightning that left a warmth in their wake to notice V's subtle hints to disengage herself. It was cruel to take something away like that, she wanted to be angry at him, speak up and demand that they continue but the sudden wave of exhaustion hit her hard and she then found herself clinging onto V, or more accurately, he was holding her up. She forced herself to breath and regain her bearings but found herself still holding on after a few moments and needing to rest her head on his chest.

Vladimir licked his lip, she was worth all his efforts and then some. His kill that night would need to be especially violent to satisfy the monster inside of him that he had to silence to enjoy this moment. He felt a resolve come to the surface of his mind in that moment of clear delight, one that he would endeavor to strive for no matter what the cost. It was all so clear in that moment to him that he dared not to give it too much further thought lest he ruin it. He cleared his throat, more so to get Scarlett's attention, "You are perfection. I can't tell you how dearly I will hold that kiss in my thoughts for eternity." she was still breathing hard. "Your lunch is set out. I'll sit you down to it, no need to eat right away if you are not up to it just yet." She was still limp in his arms but he managed to get her seated without too much difficulty. He took his place behind her and removed her blindfold. Her hands went straight to her face. "Are you not well S?" Her head shook and she remained fixed in the position for some time. Vladimir leaned forward slightly to kiss the back of her shoulder. "Please eat something, I know you're probably hungry and it's getting cold." He sighed. "If my request upset you in any way I will not ask you again?"

Once Scarlett was sitting, the overwhelming feeling of uncertainty swept over her like a tidal force. It made her dizzy, her stomach was still doing flips and she could still feel her legs shaking. "It didn't. I just need a minute" She tried to steady her breathing and uncover her eyes to help get her bearings. She could still still feel his lips on hers and his breath on her shoulder. Her hand went to the fork before her to start eating but her hand was still shaking too hard and his hand suddenly appeared and stopped hers from dropping the utensil and remained on it. 'Calm yourself S', the command was given and she, her body, obeyed instantly. His hand gave hers a gentle caress then slipped away. Scarlett, once she had calmed down enough to eat she did; the food was perfection as per normal but as much as she tried focusing on it her mind went back to the kiss.

"Good girl." He whispered in her ear and then smirked. The strange effects from it were gone but their memory was vivid. The things he had wished he could do to her didn't seem to matter as much anymore. If he could just have her agree to pose in the position for them would be enough now that he knew she wasn't immune as he thought to his influence. He desperately wished she'd come back to him and agree to what he desired; it was the objective now. He watched, listened and waited for her to finish her meal and then lead her, blindfolded, back into her room. "My brother will be visiting this evening so I'd like you to rest so you can stay up late with us" He easily found what he wished her to wear and set it out. "I will come fetch you at seven sharp." He was gone in an instant.

Once she had the blindfold off she mentally repeated to herself, 'Be ready by seven, be ready by seven'. It would be her first showing to an outsider, V's brother no less and something inside of her wanted to make the best impression possible. Not for herself, she thought, but to make V proud of her in the hopes of him wanting, rather, gifting her with another kiss. She had to lay down, it was still too overwhelming for her in recalling the kiss. The only light in her room was coming from the window and even it was too bright; the complete darkness during the daytime was suiting her more and more. The darkness, when she was with him, made it easier at night to imagine he was still with her too and that was oddly comforting to her. Two more nights and she'd be home; she tried to picture it as the place that was her refuge but the outside world, the uncertainties of it were creeping in making unpalatable. She felt safe here, now in this place even though when she recalled how shambled she was once her lips came off his, he could have taken her so easily without a fight. He didn't, he was honoring their agreement to the letter. Scarlett set her alarm for five and then curled up on her bed to rest as instructed. It may have been her time off but she was too nervous to stay awake and not do well during the visit.

X-X

He didn't say a word to her the last time she was in his company; that hurt Scarlett the most, he just held her in his arms. She could still hear the sigh from him, the one that sounded like he was saying goodbye instead of I'll see you in a weak. Scarlett's insides hurt not only from her cycle but the pain was in her chest and lungs. She had told Liz she was fine and that she'd see her in a couple of days but it was far from the truth, she wasn't fine at all. What little food she bought before she came home was still sitting on the counter; the can of soup she heated up was still in its pot on the stove. She couldn't eat it, not out of being spoiled these last few weeks with fine cuisine but because she knew it wouldn't sit right. The noise from outside was frightening to her, sirens, cars, people screaming; it was all nerve racking and she wanted everyone to just be quiet. She tried to hate V for spoiling her so much; letting her have a taste of something she couldn't have but then she realized it was her who had changed, not him. She recalled Stephan's visit, how nervous she was when he finally arrived, how V had his hand on her the whole time until he was satisfied that she was alright. The hours the brothers spent talking and her listening to their rich voices bounce in and out of different languages effortlessly. The gift Stephan brought her; 'pastels' he said, 'from an exclusive shop in Paris that has a wait list for its clientele'. She had no way of thanking him enough for such a fine gift that she knew she didn't deserve. How she was seated for the duration of the visit; slightly reclined on her side with a pillow to lean on as she wished. Even with all that, the most pleasurable moments was when V was placing the pastels on her tongue for her to enjoy, one by one. It was that very moment that she didn't care if she was being paid to be there, she wanted to stay there in that moment with him forever. How she wished she could be back there now. Liz had said he would have time to review their contract and she'd call when it was back in her hands for her to look at and and decide if she wanted to go back or not.

Vladimir had been listening to the girls talk on the morning that Scarlett left with Liz; he couldn't help not to. He purposefully asked Liz to come when he did so the sun would be up and his movements would be limited so he couldn't chase Scarlett down. He wished he could tell what she had been thinking when he gave her one last embrace but even with all his abilities he'd never know. Stephan gave his approval of her immediately upon meeting her in person but Vladimir was inclined to think his brother was itching to see her when he first saw her on that business call. Liz had been pressing Scarlett for 'dirt' as she called it but she wouldn't say much to nothing about their time together; only that she let him kiss her. Even Vladimir, with his vast vocabulary couldn't put words to what they had shared. He had left a duffle bag for Scarlett to fill with whatever she wished to take home but she had opted to leave with what she had worn when she came and no more. Vladimir wished she would take some of the things he'd gotten her for her stay, she more than earned all of it so when he found the bag unused it made him believe she didn't want any reminders of him at all. The night his brother had come over may have been the most peaceful few moments in his existence, it was a reprieve from who and what he was and it was priceless. He recalled how each of the different flavors of the pastels invoked a different response in Scarlet that it was something that his brother even noted. They both have had the opportunity of interacting with women of their own kind but as it was, the women were often hardened by the years and bitter over the theft of their biological right to procreate. They, accept for a precious few, were unsuited or willing to be put in a position of servitude as Scarlett was. 'Ah Scarlett', Vladimir thought, 'you were never my subservient. I may have possessed you but I was always at your beck and call.' he wanted her back at any cost, to hear her make those delectable sounds she did when he was feeding her sweets. Once he had entered back into his quarters he went right to work on what he hoped would entice her to come back to him.

The rapping on Scarlett's door shot such a pang of terror though her that she was immobile for a good five seconds until she heard Liz's voice.

"Wake the hell up already, we are going to be late!"

'Late. Shit!. I forgot.' Scarlett quickly let Liz in and went to get changed. She hadn't slept at all that night or any night since she was back home and in her own bed and once Liz did get a good look at her she wasn't impressed.

"You're away from him for what one, two days and you fall to pieces. What am I going to do with you." Liz was downright mad; no one makes her late for an nail appointment, ever. "You are getting the works today S, hair, nails and we are waxing every inch of your body."

"Not every inch!" Scarlett snarled back, she was awake now and ready to go.

The cab was waiting for them and off they went . Liz didn't say a word to her the whole time and it was odd but a welcome change. When they were seated at the spa and the attendant set the jets in their little personal pedicure tubs on that's when Liz finally broke her silence. "I have a copy of the new contract he wants you to look at."

Scarlett nearly missed her saying it. "The what? Oh!" She eyed the attendant who wasn't in earshot of them. "And , so, he wants me back?"

Liz shot her a look. "Those blond roots go all the way down don't they? Well duh. He gives you a designer bag to haul away anything you want, jesus, goes above and beyond your contract to get you a personal trainer and the little tidbit on your wrist I'm not even going to tell you how much that is even worth. I'd be willing to bet if you had asked to stay he'd have you sitting here with a tray of d'oeuvres and a personal assistant instead of me." Liz was bewildered at Scarlett's oblivion.

Scarlett just shrugged it off and sat back almost relieved but also a little concerned. "Well, whats it say. Does he still want all those things or has he added more...not like that wasn't detailed enough already." She inspected her now lacquered nails and tried not to look like she didn't want to go back only to have Liz huff at her.

"You totally suck at that and thank god you have me as your agent. Okay, so, " She pulled out the stack of paperwork that was now contained in a binder. "I had to make sure these were all kept in order" She went on but turned the binder so Scarlett could read along. Liz pointed out all the things that required no change by him, all things she maybed. Pages turned, all things were being covered until they go to the 'sex' part of her contract. Liz showed Scarlett the blacked out page, and the next, and the next. The confusion was plain to see on Scarlett's face. "It's all off the table, all except him being able to ask you for a damn kiss girl. What did you do to him, turn him off women now?"

Scarlett wasn't sure if she was insulted or not; he'd surely want to sleep with her she thought. "If you'd kiss him you'd know he wasn't gay Liz. Far from it if you've ever heard him going at it with whoever she was, or them. Shit I lost count of all the whores he banged, I swore he'd break the furniture or something." Liz's face went blank. Scarlett forgot how V had set her off with his voice; she understood it now. "I wonder if his brother is the same way?" She teased Liz back for the blond comment. "You'd die if you heard him speak, his voice is so much more deeper...melt your panties clean off." Scarlett watched Liz zone out for a second and took the book from her. She flipped back over the blacked out pages where it had mentioned bondage and a few other items, she was still in disbelief. When she turned back to the 'kissing' question she saw a little scribble, 'Only ever with S's permission, even if this becomes a yes.' Certainly not gay Scarlett thought as she flipped the page to 'Attire.' The prominent thing she noted was V's wanting to have her wear less. "What does this even mean Liz...Liz wake up you're not a horny teen anymore."

"Well I need to overcompensate for you it seems. Man oh man, think about it, two of them, I'd die happy. The wearing less part is him wanting you in underwear it seems. If you read down you'll see that you will be wearing less but never will you be exposed so no nipples or lady bits showing." Liz giggled. "I personally wouldn't care if he saw my bits but this isn't about me now is it. What I did notice at the bottom that all this stuff on top is conditional to your approval of what you'd be willing to wear. See here, 'A selection of items will be set out for S to decide on as to what is deemed acceptable attire by her.' So he's going to let you pick your own panties." Liz let out a squeal of a laugh. "It's like he wants you to make him all hot and bothered but he's not going to touch you at all. I don't know what's meaner, you saying no to sex or no to this? "

Scarlett handed Liz back the binder and listened to the rest of the contract, most of it unchanged except for the attire part. Again she wasn't sure if she was insulted or not; all of it could go away at the snap of her fingers and then she'd try her luck with random guys as an escort. Liz had closed the binder, there was more to look at and for her to sign off on, if at all. "Has anyone been asking for me at all otherwise?"

Liz nodded. "I could have you booked for two weeks solid. It got so bad that I almost changed my voicemail to 'S is on assignment and isn't available.' You don't know how popular you are and OH he's asking you to name your price." Liz's eyes grew.

Scarlett had a micro anxiety attack in that moment because in her heart she was ready to go back for less but Liz would string her up if she didn't say she wanted more. 'Screw it.' Scarlett thought, it's not about her is it? "The same will be fine and I'm going to agree to the new stuff too." Liz gave her a look but the serious look on Scarlett's face shut up any retaliation. They sat in silence as their feet were pampered with a massage and a thin layer of polish was applied to their toes. They went their ways into their own waxing room but Scarlett was so preoccupied in thought she didn't even feel the wax strips being ripped off her body. After they were done they went for lunch and Scarlett signed and initialed off where she needed to until she came down to the section where any of her requests could be written down. She wasn't sure how she could ask him for anything more; he was offering her so much already again but she wrote a few things down that, in her opinion, weren't much to ask for at all. When her and Liz parted after an afternoon of shopping, where she didn't buy anything at all, she only then noticed how dark it was getting and she rushed back to her dismal apartment, fearful of the night and its uncertainties.

Yes next chapter is being thought of and slowly written. Please be kind in your reviews.