Seine-et-Marne

1810

He could hear her footsteps. Each stocking clad foot placed deliberately in front of the other as she tried to mask the sound of her arrival. His gut clenched, the muscles in his body twisting into one glorious knot and for the life of him he would not have her untie him. The smell of her skin wafted towards him as the open windows let in the summer breeze, the morning sun kissing his pale skin.

Several strands of auburn hair landed on his shoulder, her chin resting delicately on the top of his head.

"Hal," she whispered.

And despite himself the vampire smiled, for all her efforts she still struggled with the 'H'.

"Sylvie…." Her name reverberated in the air; the exquisite feel of her skin against his was marked indelibly into his brain.

"We could stay in this room all day," the woman suggested, her lips brushing past his ear as she wrapped her arms around him.

Shifting in his chair Hal's finger danced a delicate pattern across Sylvie's bare arm.

"You would have us stay in this room forever," Hal mused.

Grabbing the woman from behind him Hal pulled her into his lap, her slender legs dangling over the armrest.

"Do you blame me?" Sylvie smiled, her full lips parting to reveal her teeth. Hal felt it again, the ache in his stomach. So deep and so profound that he thought he would never be free of her, a willing servant for all of his days.

Pressing his thumb gently on Sylvie's lips he smiled, her love had kept him whole and safe. Admiring the delicate spray of freckles across her snub nose Hal bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Sylvie's mouth. The feel of her lips so pliant beneath his was a moment he clung to, the beat of her heart against his chest a familiar tune.

Wrapping her delicate fingers amongst Hal's hair Sylvie brought his head up as she fixed him with a stare.

"I would have you seduce me, Hal."

"I'm afraid I have already done that, Sylvie." Hal grinned, punctuating his next words with three kisses across her neck. "Many, many times."

"I demand that you do it again," Sylvie flung herself from out of Hal's lap. Landing steadily her brown eyes danced with mischief, quickly clambering onto the bed her hands wrapping around one of the four posts Sylvie swung outwards, her feet keeping a grip on the mattress.

"We really wont leave this bedroom if you keep this up," Hal commented softly, already walking towards Sylvie.

"Finally, we understand each other. You are clearly my play thing, to be used when I desire." Sylvie laughed, waiting for the man to cross the room.

Sylvie's auburn hair caught the light, a wide smile playing across her lips and for a second Hal stopped. She was something magnificent, so soft and understanding yet underneath the layers lurked something brazen.

"Is this all there is to our relationship?" The vampire feigned injury, a smile hidden but barely contained.

"Why else would I keep you here Mister Yorke?"

"Oh for a moment I thought it was the pleasure of my company…"

Sylvie held her breath, as if considering his statement before shaking her head. "No, I just want your body."

Hal gave off what could only be described as a growl before he marched towards the laughing woman and grabbed her by the waist. Taking a few quick steps he had her back pressed against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist. In the brief moment of repose, before Hal left Sylvie gasping for breath, her heart pounding violently against his chest, she whispered the only words that were not lost to her.

"I love you."

Hal let them wash over him; Sylvie had somehow managed to see what was worth saving in him. She had chosen to pour every ounce of love she had into him, willing that he could find it within himself to seek redemption. To believe that he was a man who deserved to be pulled from the pit of depravity that he had made himself.

And there were moments, moments like this one when Hal thought he was ever closer to rediscovering the humanity he had long thought lost. It was with Sylvie in his arms that he felt closest to it, in these brief seconds he never felt so alive, so human, so impossibly loved.

He had turned the horse smartly, the sun was sitting square above the house and for a few glorious minutes the inhabitants thought all was well. It was only when their lord and master returned that the reality of the situation dawned on them.

The maids had tried to run, but it had only served to egg him on. The footmen had attempted to protect the women but their throats had been just as easily ripped out. The bottoms of his shoes were covered in sticky blood, the red substance awash on the floors as another servant fell at his feet. Each bared neck gave way beneath his teeth and a pool of blood rushed into his mouth.

Mounting the stair he walked towards their shared room, flinging open the door her saw her on the bed. There was no fear in her eyes; something else lingered there instead. But Harry didn't care; all he wanted to feel was the life leave her body. He wanted to hold her against him until her heart stopped beating, until he had drained her of every drop of blood.

She tasted sweet, the words she had whispered to him moments before drifted from his conscious like smoke on the wind. He just didn't give a damn.

A small gargle escaped her parted lips.

"Goodbye Sylvie."

A/N: I wrote this with the conversation Hal has with Crumb in "The Greater Good" episode in mind, and as developments in the show seem to suggest Hal has an on/off switch that will just flip occasionally.

Anyway! Hope you enjoyed my take on it, and please let me know what you think!