Love or Blood
Chapter Sixteen: A New Friend
XXXX
How wondrous it was to make a new friend. To hold a conversation - no matter how short - with another person, a new person. The Count had liked it very much and hoped for more to come soon. How drawl his evenings had been before her! It was comical, his days did not feel as routine once she came, even when on a tight schedule. He looked forward to her visit every night at eight. Little Abigale Lynn was never late.
Janus realized how much pleasure she gave him just by presenting herself to him each evening. Over the past several nights these feelings had strengthened and grew inside him. He hadn't felt this way in so long, it almost troubled him. Almost. He was far too overcome within the afterglow of companionship that he did not question it or himself.
Her shift had just ended and he missed her already. She was still as sweet and kind as she was the night she had a little too much to drink. Although she was still very shy and quiet he found it much easier to engage her in conversation. It had also become much easier holding it.
Janus eased himself into his favorite large armchair by the fire and smiled to himself. The heat from the fire soothed him and the softness of the armchair lulled him into a dreamlike state. Not that he was dreaming or imagining, just sitting. He had gotten so comfortable that he had almost missed the knock on the door.
He called for Hal-Liurz to enter, as he now recognized the rhythmic breathing. Argonian's breath came out scratchy, much like a hiss to his adapt hearing, as it did with all vampires. She was very lucky he didn't find it bothersome as most picky people in his situation and station would.
"Good evening." He said, not bothering to move or even turn to face her. The fire's warmth felt far too good.
She did not answer him, only walked forward and stood before him, holding a small, neatly folded piece of parchment. The Count now noticed a slight change in her color. Her scales had paled a bit, perhaps from the winter cold? "This just arrived for you." She sounded distant and strained. More than usual, so something was definitely wrong. Or he was being 'insensitive' to her position again?…
The Count quirked his brow skeptically and excepted the paper. Once he turned it over however, he saw what frightened the Stewardess so much.
It was a neat little letter, sealed with black candle wax, twin V's clearly and glossily emblazed in it.
"Ah." Janus turned the letter over experimentally with his fingers and tapped it twice on his knee. "Thank you. You may go then."
"I don't like them." Hal-Liurz glared. "Sir, they're not good people. If word ever got out…it's just not good. He will bring bad luck. They can easily destroy you by telling all what you are. Gold is his only true friend. Please do not-"
"Please do not interfere with my affairs. This doesn't concern you. Now please, kindly leave me." Although the Stewardess did not appreciate her abrupt dismissal she obeyed. She turned on her heel and went to the door. "Do not worry about your welfare, Hal-Liurz or mine. I always play my cards close to my chest, even with friends."
Without warning the Stewardess turned to him, her eyes scraping over him cynically. "And what of the others? Perhaps you've grown attached to certain workers, what if he wants them for his own? What if he is called to do the worst to them? You say you play your cards close to your chest, but you're not just playing with your cards, you hold innocence in your hands as well! It is the most foolish thing a man of your stature can do!"
The Count could not even make a remark, she had already left, huffing and buffing down the hallway. She would never realize how deep the bonds he had made ran. Everything he had to do or had done had purpose. Of course she had every right to feel discomfort. Sharing letters with a murderer wouldn't sit well with anyone. But once he made a friendship, he also made a pact.
He sighed, his quiet and pleasant evening was no longer his own. Janus leaned over and carefully pulled open the letter feeling a little annoyed, a little eager and slightly amused.
Janus,
Forgive my terrible timing and brief response, but I'm afraid I have some bad news, (for you, I mean). By the time you have opened this letter I have already drank my fill and slept at the Inn closest to your home. I am in desperate need of suitable lodging and company. Moreover, we have much to catch up on. Tomorrow I will arrive at your castle and greet you at approximately eleven. I'm giving you an entire day to prepare this time so do be grateful! We are even - for now-Vicente Valtieri.
P.S Can't wait to meet that little headache of yours! Have her serve us drinks, would you?
The Count pouted. He was far too familiar with Vicente Valtieri to think (or hope) that this was a joke. How would he prepare?
xxxx
"So when can we take a break?" I heard the new servant girl ask Tualga from our room. She was small, tinnier than me with chocolate curls, freckles all along her nose and cheeks with wide spaced brown eyes. She was new and that was good for me. I wasn't the baby of the castle anymore. Although I haven't the courage to ask her about her age I believe she's younger than me also. The way she talks and her mannerisms are those I can only remember possessing at a very young age.
"You don't." Tualga responded calmly, still holding a kind smile despite the girl's constant questioning. "Once you're here you work. You take your meals in here with us, and bunk in that room there." She pointed to the room next to ours. "On the weekends and holidays you can go to your family. Wages are delivered at the end of the week."
The girl rolled back and forth on the balls of her feet. "Okay," she put a finger to her chin. "But when do I stop working? And when do I start, again?"
Tualga groaned and I leaned in a little closer from my hiding place - the doorway. "Laura-" so that was her name. "I've told you this a thousand times now! You're here, you work. As soon as I find you your partner she can tell you all you need to know." I desperately hoped right then that Tualga didn't partner Laura with one of those other cruel maids. I still haven't forgive them for all these awful rumors about me.
"If I could just find the girl…" Tualga looked around the room until her eyes fell upon my hiding place and she sighed. "Little Abby Lynn, you need to start looking for better hiding spots."
I swallowed hard and carefully stepped out from behind the doorframe, trying desperately to hide my blush. "Hello." I said to Laura, trying to smile despite the awkward situation I had put myself in.
Laura was an inch or two shorter than me which for some odd reason made me feel good. She looked me up and down, her eyes got big. "Wow." She gave a little laugh, which made me even more uncomfortable. "You are very pretty! The other girls said so and now I can see why. Guess they're right once they say good looks get you into good places, right? Right?"
"Umm." I looked to Tualga who only shrugged. "I suppose so -"
"And your voice is pretty too! So soft and feminine. I wish I could talk like that! My daddy told me that I sound like a farm mouse that's been stepped on too many times, which isn't nice, I suspect. But it could be a complement coming from my daddy, he's so smart. Pity I'm so dim sometimes, he says. But it's all good fun right?"
I opened, closed and opened my mouth again before staring helplessly at Tualga. We exchanged odd glances for a very long while.
"That's uh nice..." Tualga said taking a step back. "Lynn here is gonna' take you around the castle. She's gonna' show you all the things she had to do on her first day. When she thinks that you've gotten the hang of it, she'll bring you back here and get on with her normal routine. Sound like a plan eh?" She then left me with Laura and I felt helpless and out of place. I've never had to do this before. I felt a great wave of honor and dread at the same time. What if I messed up? What if I said something wrong?
"Well it's nice to meet you, Laura." I tried a better smile this time. "What brings you here to castle Skingrad?"
"Money." She said with a shrug. "Daddy's losing the vineyard. He told me to get my arse in gear and dip my toes into servitude. Good thing I know how to read and write, otherwise I'd never have gotten hired here! Plus I hate working the vineyards, so I'm very grateful."
That made me smile. "Your father sounds a bit like mine. My father made me work at an Inn. But I was grateful, just like you."
She smiled too and thrust her hand out to me. "The name's Laura. Laura Surilie."
xxxx
After that I didn't know how to react. For the rest of the day I was simply memorized by the fact that I was working, training, a girl who should have more money than the Gods. Surilie of the Surilie Brothers wines. But this was one of their daughters. She talked much about her father but never mentioned his name and I didn't ask, out of kindness. I knew for a fact that neither of the Surilie brothers had married, I had staked out their home and stole from their grapevines on numerous times. So she was a child out of wedlock. It didn't matter of course, but I wondered why they needed their daughter to work.
Throughout the day we spoke lightly to each other. After our first meeting in the maids' quarters she seemed to calm down a bit. She told me that she was only eighteen and lived in Skingrad her whole life. It was interesting to hear about the way she had grown up and compare it to mine. She had seemed to have lived the life of luxury until her father caught her with a hired help and told her to get a job. I doubted the story of her father losing the vineyard and figured she told it just as a formality, or to make her father (who she has a grudge with) look bad.
It all was going smoothly until we were both polishing the candlesticks in the main hall in silence. So far we had never had a bout of silence and by the look on her face I knew she was thinking of how to word something properly. Sure enough she turned to me.
"Hey Lynn…" she gave me a curious look. "What do you do for work?"
My face went hot again and in a second I knew that she had already spoken to the other servants.
I looked at her oddly for a long moment before responding. I wanted to tell her the truth. I liked her and thus far, she has been kind to me and talks to me more than most others. In our brief time spent together I have grown quickly to enjoy her company. It would have been good to have a friend. I cannot tell her the truth however, so I must tell her what she most likely suspects. I had truly hoped that she would be a new friend to me.
"What do you mean?" I asked her innocently enough.
She ran the tip of her tongue across her teeth before quietly responding. "When I was interviewed I heard about you. A lot about you actually and I heard some…things."
I knew it. I bit my lip, my hand no longer moving, my candlestick long forgotten. "Gossip is cruel. You shouldn't believe everything you hear." It was all I could tell her really. If she knew of my true employment, how I am bound to the Count for life, then I will most likely loose everything I now have. Everything.
"You work for the Count all night. Eight to midnight unless he calls you sooner or later. And you're so pretty." She paused and looked about nervously but eagerly. "I won't judge you, you know. I've done it once too for my daddy's investment. When a girl or her family gets down there is only so much we can do."
"I'm not his whore!" I whispered harshly. I didn't know where it came from or how it came out of me. I was so tired of the assumption that I'm that Count's concubine. It's an insult to the Count and my honor. Who are they to point the finger and call me harlot? Why do they do it to me? Because they don't know my origin or because I'm shy?
My heart was hammering in my ears. I had never been so angry. But I quickly realized that I was taking my anger out at the wrong person. It wasn't her fault. I was in this position because of what I had done for the Thieves Guild. Now this is my punishment. I can't take out my frustrations on the innocent when I'm the one to blame.
My anger quickly turned to shame. It was wrong of me to snap at this girl, especially once she just confided in me about her own experience on the flesh market. "I'm sorry." I bit my lip and looked at her pleadingly. "It gets to me after awhile. I guess it makes sense to think that I'm a…well, you know. But the Count is too good of a man to ever even consider that."
"But what do you do for him then?" She seemed unfazed by my odd rage, which was in my favor I suppose. "You're with him all evening. I heard you spend more time with him than anyone else has in years! Is that true? And why?" I was instantly flabbergasted. Instead of even holding the slightest grudge against me for my outburst she bombarded me with questions? I was intrigued and confused.
"I-I don't know why exactly. I clean for him and stay out of his way but…I think he may be lonely. I'm rather shy, I think he finds me easy to engage and maybe even enjoyable."
Her interest quickly peaked. "What's he like?"
"I…he is very kind. He seems to enjoy the simple things when he can get a hold of them. I'm afraid he is terribly busy most of the time with county work. He can't indulge in the things he likes the most."
XXXX
Skingrad, the most beautiful in Cyrodiil. With elegant, lush vines climbing along iron fences and clinging to the stone walls of its inhabitants homes. The streets, nearly always quiet, were bathed in the soft glow of lanterns and streetlamps. It was quite breathtaking at this time of night. At least Vicente Valteri thought so.
It had seemed like an age since his last visit to Skingrad. The light sent of flowers gave him an almost nostalgic pang. Everything in Skingrad was to its finest. The food, wine, culture and the people - whom were separated by district, of course. Some people couldn't stomach the city. Being as wealthy as it was, it gave the citizens bragging privileges…which they often abused. But Vicente was a vampire. Such things were mundane. However he did enjoy the wine, and the clean flesh of a warm female delicacy. Beyond that, the place was just pretty to look at.
Of course he wasn't here to gawk tonight. Nope, he had a date with 'the most interesting man in the world'. Tonight he was off to meet Janus Hassildor, Count of Skingrad and biggest stick-in-the-mud there ever was.
Oh he was excited!
Effortlessly he clung to the banister that framed the small courtyard outside the castle's main entrance. Shrouded by shadows, Vicente leapt over the railing and landed silently onto the wooden planks. He proceeded to make his way to the Count's door, having timed the guards patrol already, the entire task was simple.
The last thing on his list were the locks. 'Oh Janus, how you love locking yourself away' Vicente smiled as he pulled out a lock pick and invited himself into Castle Skingrad.
xxxx
Training Laura was much harder than one would think. She talked and talked and forced me to respond. But we did get along and she was a fast learner. I did think that her endless questioning would be the death of me.
She bid me goodnight and went to bed. I had a mind to join her after I ate something. But before I even could bring the tin cup of water to my lips the Stewardess came to me.
"Your presents is required tonight. The Count wishes to see you." I blinked. Tonight was the only night I had off to work. What was so important that he needed to see me? "Before you ask, I shall answer. Tonight you are entertaining him and his guest." She looked funny. Stricken, maybe. All I knew was that she was unsettled and that only worried me more.
"Guest?" I repeated. I was unaware that the Count had connections outside of the castle. Which is silly of me I know. When being a Count one has to keep up certain appearances, but with his condition how could he? But that was all besides the point now. I had never really entertained anyone before. What was I to do? What was wanted of me and could I provide it? I'd have to, of course, but that's very nerve-racking. "May I ask who I am to entertain?"
"No you may not." She answered as if she knew that question was coming as well. "Just come with me and all will be made clear soon enough."
xxxx
"I don't like it anymore than you do." Hal-Liurz told me as we walked side-by-side down the throne room. " The Count rarely gets visitors and when he does they're usually no good. Many deals must be made to ensure the safety of our Count and County, however. These things must be done." She paused and looked directly at me. "Don't be afraid, the Count wouldn't present you to someone he thought would hurt you. Try to except him and behave."
I didn't like how she was talking. I wondered why she was confiding this information with me. That's when it hit me. Dealings, entertaining strange company, the new maid Laura, Hal-Liurz's attitude. I was being sold.
My heart sank deep within my chest. My fingers went numb and my face grew hot. How…how could he? I thought he and I were getting. Getting…I don't know. But how? Why?
"Stewardess," I stammered. "W-what am I supposed to do? I-I don't want to go. Can't you please-"
We stopped at the Count's door and she fixed me with an odd stare. "I can give no further advice. Go to him now." She didn't offer me a second glace as she disappeared down the hall, leaving me to my grief and fright. With a careful hand I reached up and grabbed the knockers.
I was surprised when the door opened for me. I stood with my shoulders too far back and stared up at the Count. He was dressed in a black shirt, vest and pants, neatly embellished with a red-thread pattern. He was dressed no different than usual, but I felt there was still something off. Knowing that tonight might be the last night in his castle caused a wave of sickness to overcome me once I met his gaze.
You're not supposed to stay where you aren't wanted. But here I felt safe. Would it all leave me now?
I opened my mouth to greet him, but he cut me off by taking hold of my arm and pulling me inside his room. I stumbled over my feet but was able to catch myself on one of the stone pillars in his room. He locked the door behind us and turned to me. The safe feeling I was lamenting over a moment ago washed away.
"I'm terribly sorry about that. I had to make sure you weren't followed."
"Followed?" I gulped. "Who would be following m-me sir?"
"Sit." He commanded, waving away the question with a smile. I did as told and carefully seated myself in the chair I had sat in last time he told me to sit. "I'm afraid I haven't got much time to explain. You see there is…a friend of mine who is coming to visit tonight and he wants to meet you."
"Why?" I asked, not realizing that I had just interrupted one of the most powerful men in Cyrodiil. I wanted to know why I was put in this predicament and I wanted to know now.
"I've spoken to him before about you and he thinks you would be entertaining. I've described your…ah, yourself, to him." My face burned and I had a fistful of my skirt in my hand. What exactly was 'described' about me? And what was so wonderful about me that it put me on the market?
Suddenly I wasn't able to hold myself back. I began to cry.
XXXX
He felt the heat radiating off of her like she was a roaring fire...at a comfortable distance. She was hotter than usual but showed no signs of fever. Then, oh then, did things get awful. She, for no fathomable reason, started crying.
"W-why?" She sobbed. "I didn't do anything wrong! I-I just-"
The Count was so dumbfounded that it took him a moment to realize that she was sobbing at him. This was going all wrong. He wanted her to know that she was going to be safe with him, that his friend wouldn't hurt her. Instead she was bawling her eyes out, shaking her head and acting like it was some sort of doomsday.
This madness had to stop.
"Wha-what are you talking about?" He edged closer. "Why are you crying, what's wrong?"
"Y-you," She sniffled, her voice barely audible. "You're selling me! I know it. I've not been good enough for you, sir I just-"
"No, no!" Janus was so surprised he almost laughed. "I'm not selling you. You've gotten it so very wrong."
"Please, my Lord, please let it be so." She did not remove her hands from her face. Only hunched deeper into her arms. "I don't want to go."
Her voice was so soft, barely above a whisper. It tugged on the Count's heartstrings more than he would have ever thought possible. It was a desperate little plea from this young girl that brought him to his knees, and touched him in a way he didn't understand. So he kneeled before her and gently took her thin wrists into his much larger hands, carefully pulling them away from her face.
"You're not going anywhere." She stared. For the first time he was at eyelevel with her. He felt like he was looking into her, past those pretty irises and into something more. "I would never do such a thing to you. I couldn't, such cruelty is beyond me, especially towards you." Her wrists were soft and warm and her heart was racing. The touch, the smell and the tears were eliciting emotions in him he long thought dead. "I want you. I want you to stay here with me. To be happy."
She stared at him, unbelievingly beautiful in the oddest of ways. Why did he keep thinking of her beauty? Why did he feel the need to reach out and touch her? Why had he acted on it and why couldn't he let go of her now?
"Oh Janus, you are the sweetest little creature! You sure know how to warm my cold heart." Two heads whipped around towards the front door, entangled limbs quickly detaching. "I had almost forgotten just how you are with words, silver-tongued devil, you! Take me now before the moment is gone, if you please."
xxxx
Being as overwhelmed as I currently was I did not hear the door open and neither did the Count for that matter. But I stared dumbfounded at the man or…creature before me. He stood around my height, a bit taller, with soft brown colored hair pulled back neatly into a ponytail. But by Gods' blood he was pale. Whiter than the purest marble.
His clothing was rich, embellished with gold and made of velvet. But his attire could not mask the look in his eyes or gauntness of his features. He was a vampire and one could tell so if close enough. But his voice was smooth and calming. His gestures just so. I could not tell if he was a danger to me yet but I trusted the Count's word. I would remain silent unless told to speak.
"You're early." The Count rasped, quickly getting to his feet and making his way over to his guest.
"Fashionably, of course." The other vampire said with a smile. He made his way toward the Count and extended his hand. The Count was very tall in comparison to him, almost comically so. "It has been too long, my friend. We have much to catch up on, like the two old bitties we are."
"Yes. And as always it is a pleasure to see you but I would be ever so grateful if you showed up on time. Not before or later." The Counts' brow rose in a way I did not recognized. "It's rather rude."
"You're only cross with me because I interrupted your little rendezvous. I'd be cross with me as well if someone pulled me away from this little bird, friend or no." He turned and smiled at me but a lump formed in my throat from it. His fangs were much larger than the Count's.
"Ah yes, I would like to introduce you." The Count turned to me and motioned me to come forward. I quickly wiped away any stray tears on my face and made my way to him.
"Enchanting. I am Vicente Valtieri, your Lords oldest friend." He took my hand and kissed it. I held my breath. His hands and lips were cold. "It is an honor to meet you, miss Abigale Lynn. I've heard a great deal about you."
"Wonderful, you are on a first name basis. Absolutely sensational." The Count grunted from beside me. I was suddenly jerked toward him. His hands were on my shoulders. My heart instantly raced and other odd sensations ran through me. All screaming out that my comfort zone had already been breached multiple times in this one night, and that it could not handle much more.
Vicente quirked his pale brows at the Count. "Janus you hurt my feelings. Do forgive him my lady. He's young and still going through his terrible mine faze. I'd give it another decade or two before it has fully run its course." I blinked at Vicente oddly but the Count loosened his grip on my shoulders.
Knowing that Vicente was the older of the two was easily distinguished without him telling me so. There was wisdom in his stare. And although he was handsome - with sharp angular facial features, a lively nature and pale skin - he was just a bit too gaunt, sickly but otherwise looked healthy. It was very strange.
"You can say hello." The Count's breath ran across my ear and neck causing the little hairs on my skin to prickle.
"Hello." I said automatically. I swallowed hard and looked up past my shoulder to see the Count. He had a smug look upon his face and had it focused on Vicente. "It's nice to meet you." The Count's hands fell from my shoulders and in that instant I felt relief and loneliness. I did not know the man across from me and was only on…terms too difficult to word with the man behind me.
"How about a drink?" Vicente proposed only shortly after my greeting. "I'm parched, Janus! You're not being very hospitable. Invite me in but give me nothing to drink? Honestly better manners in a scrib! I'll make myself at home then. Wine in the same cabinet as it was two years ago?"
"My friend you hurt me so. Am I so predictable?"
"That depends. Is the wine in the same cabinet?"
"Yes."
"Then yes."
I laughed. I couldn't help myself. They sounded like an old married couple. And while I'll admit I had felt a shot of adrenaline once Vicente mentioned a 'drink' the sensation quickly dispersed.
Vicente beamed at my laughter. "Would you care for a drink as well? I want her to join us Janus. It's been a long while since I've been in the company of a lady." His mouth pursed for a moment. "Then again your company certainly resembles a femin-"
"Complete that sentence and I shall call the guards. Then, in a small jail cell with a hulking orc, you can decide whose more feminine."
"That is just unfunny."
I bit the inside of my cheeks. I had never heard the Count say anything of that nature! But instead of finding it revolting and racy, I laughed again. It was going to be a long night.
Author notes: Been...uh a bit of time since my last update but I've been super busy. Got a job, lost a job, got engaged. Fun stuff! I haven't really even glanced at this in so long but it never really left me. Like the song it's always been on my mind XD.
So nothing new. Except a few things. Hope you don't mind the dust on this chapter hehe... I have to give an obnoxiously loud THANK YOU! To the peeps who have reviewed. I may not have answered you but the odd flood of feedback I've been getting recently inspired me to write again. Thank you c:!
The next chapter is a good one! Lots of laughs, talk of these fine two vampires naughty parts, the works XD. Be kind and reveiw if you want more! It really is inspiring!