Author's Note: I think I messed up somewhere in making Cian's condo. Now, remember, I said 'I think.' If there is something wrong, then I'll tell you now that I'm too lazy to change it. Maybe I'll revise it later on, but nothing too definite. As for this chapter, it's more bullshit between the four. They're trying to establish relationships and allies so basically, there's a lot of talking, sexual innuendo's, and just...well...you'll see.

�I�m scared of heights.� Lisa suddenly blurted out.
The other three inhabitants of the elevator turned to look at the witch. Her face was pressed against the glass windows, looking down with wide eyes. Her chest rose and fell erratically as if she was beginning to hyperventilate. Lucian tried to pry her away from the window, but she fought him, too scared to move, fearing that if she did, she�d fall through the window.
�This was a bad idea.� Lucian grumbled, removing his jacket. If he could just put it over her head, maybe he could hold her until they got to Cian�s floor. His jacket was long enough to fit over both of them and he didn�t mind missing the scenic route up.
He should have warned the others that Lisa had a phobia of heights. Lisa loved heights when she was a child, always climbing to the tallest peak on the jungle gym, climbing in trees, to the roof of their house, anywhere. But on a trip to New York with their parents, Lisa had been looking out the window, gawking over the buildings she saw under her window. She boasted that she wasn�t scared and if they had to exit, she�d grab a parachute and land on the ground safely. Then their plane hit turbulence and for five terrifying minutes, she had seen the ground rise towards her at incredible speeds. The plane shook, red lights were on, oxygen masks were hanging from the compartments and the pilot and stewardesses were trying to calm everyone down. It didn�t help, it still traumatized Lisa for life. Now, they never flew anywhere if they could avoid it. The only time she went to Europe, several years ago, was when she had taken a tranquilizer before she got on the plane, not waking up until she was at the hotel. He didn�t mind the silence, but it was a bit uncomfortable when everyone began to call her his wife and asked if she was okay.
Lucian threw the jacket over Lisa�s head and prepared for a struggle. He didn�t prepare for a fight. Lisa threw a punch which caught the corner of his chin. He fell back, slightly dazed and shocked she had that much strength. He refused Zoe�s help and tackled his sister who began to scream and cry. A part of him was determined to shake her back to her senses, but another part of him wanted to hold her, to make her fears go away. He growled when Cian touched his arm and nearly bit it off when the vampire finally used his strength. Lucian struggled against Cian�s hand and stared up at him with enough fire to burn down the whole building. Ignoring Lucian, Cian kneeled next to Lisa and pulled off the jacket. He shot a look at Lucian and took the witch into his arms.
�When someone is in a state of fear, you do not use intimidation or force.� Cian said softly. �Try to use compassion. Understand what she is going through. It won�t help if you tackle her or pin her down when she is already feeling useless. All you�ve managed to do is make her feel vulnerable.�
�And you�re an expert?� Lucian snarled.
�As powerful as I am, there are some things I am afraid of.�
�He�s scared shitless of me.� Zoe added, smiling.
Cian glared at his sister over his shoulder. �Only because you�re a Necromancer. I�m strong enough to stave off your attempts at controlling me, but there are some who are weaker than me and can be taken by your spell.�
Zoe shrugged. �I�m just glad you admitted you�re scared of me. I could care less about that other shit.�
Cian smoothed over Lisa�s mussed hair and kissed her temple. �We�re finally here, darling. Would you like something to drink to soothe your nerves?�
�Please.� Lisa mumbled.
Lucian would have liked to argue or at the very least find an excuse to pound the vampire�s face in, but Lisa was nestled in the said vampire�s arms and he didn�t want to risk any injury to a witch who could turn him inside out. So, in defeat, he followed after Zoe and kept to himself.
The entire floor was furnished in all the best life had to offer. The floor was carpeted in cashmere, walls were decorated with original paintings, and there were candles and soft lighting in every corner, giving it a warm, seductive tone. The elevator was situated somewhat in the middle of the living room, next to a faux fire-place that had a live fire within. A large, plasma screen sat in the corner, an entire entertainment system took up one wall, while black leather couches were strewn about the floor as if the decorator had tossed them aside, not caring where they were placed. There were diamond beads that separated the living room to a black and white marble kitchen, and even they sparkled in the dim light. A stainless steel refrigerator was in one corner flanked by a large six burner stove, a matching black microwave, an oven, and even a grilling station . There was a small dining room table seemingly coming out of the wall that comfortably sat six without bumping into walls or furniture. There were more candles on countertops and the table, and even some were on the floor, leading down a long hallway of rooms.
Cian sat Lisa at the dining table, gliding towards the refrigerator and making such a clamor that he had awakened his harem. He ignored them at first, until they began to crawl towards him, murmuring and whining, begging for his attention. He glanced at Lisa who had seemed more wide awake now than when she was fighting with Lucian. He gave a quick command in Gaelic, his native tongue, which had the men and women scampering away like scolded puppies. He set a drink down in front of Lisa and stood aside, leaning against the doorway to the bedrooms.
Lucian took a seat next to his sister while Zoe sat across from them. Zoe didn�t want to comment on the harem, but being the younger sister, she had to be a pain in the ass.
�It�s not like you to ignore your Fuck Squad.�
�Zoe.� The single word was full of anger and hostility.
�You seem tense all of a sudden.� Lucian pointed out. �Are they being punished?�
�As a matter of fact, they are.� Cian grumbled. Watching Lisa drink, he decided to have one of his own. �They were supposed to leave earlier this afternoon.�
�You mean it was time to bring in the new batch of Cian�s Cock-suckers?� Zoe asked.
Cian ignored that comment and took in a long drink of straight whiskey. It burned his throat going in and pulled in his stomach like a fire. He didn�t let up until most of the contents were gone before pulling the bottle away from his mouth. He gritted his teeth and let the fire subside. For a moment, his vision swam then steadied and he was regrettably sober again.
�So, where do we sleep?� Lisa asked, taking small sips of the drink Cian had given her. It was alcohol, bitter, but had soothed her otherwise frazzled nerves.
�The couches are fine enough.� Lucian answered. �Why can�t we sleep there?�
�You are my guests.� Cian replied. �At the very least, let me act like the responsible host. Lucian will take the guest bedroom. Zoe will take her room and Lisa will take mine.�
�Wait a minute!� Lucian protested. �I just told you-�
�I assure you Lucy that I will not be in the same room as your sister. I will take the living room. Is that a fair enough arrangement?�
�I wouldn�t want to impose.� Lisa said meekly, the alcohol seeping into her brain.
�Fine with me.� Lucian answered, eyeing his sister. He suddenly sniffed the air and snarled angrily at the vampire. �What the hell are you doing giving her wine?�
�It�s brandy.� Cian answered. �It�s good for soothing nerves. Or do you want her to have a nervous breakdown before she goes to bed?�
�Fine, whatever.� The werewolf stood and stretched, letting the bones in his back pop. �Where�s my room?�
�First room to the left. Bathroom is the opposite door.� Cian turned to his sister. �I suppose you remember where you room is?�
�Of course, I�m not an idiot!�
�Well, you do have a bad memory...�
�Quiet, dickhead.� Zoe muttered, rising and stomping to her room.
Cian shrugged and looked at Lisa. �Are you going to sleep?�
�Can you come with me?� Lisa asked. It was an innocent question, but if Lucian had been there to hear it, he would be up in arms and swearing a string of profanities. �The brandy kind of got to me.�
Cian smiled at the witch and offered her arm. It took her several tries, but she finally entwined her arm with his. It took her twice as long just to stand and just about another half-hour before she could walk without tripping over the candles and setting fire to the condo. The vampire was amused, but he decided not to watch her struggle any longer.
He picked her up and carried her to the room, wary that Lucian�s door was wide open and he had deliberately pissed him off by rearranging the room so that the head of the bed faced the door and he could see anyone and everyone passing by. Zoe�s door was closed, but he could hear her radio on, turned up so loud that he was sure he�d hear it from the living room. The last door in the hall and the room where his harem slept, was also closed, but they were wide-awake and waiting for his command to come out. He didn�t want them out of the room and in the living room with him, especially when Lisa was there, the declaration of his love for her still fresh in his mind. He�d have to dismiss them as soon as possible. It might have been too early to see if his relationship with Lisa would work, but he was willing to bet everything that she�d feel the same way about him, too. Eventually.
With a mental command, the door opened revealing a wide, spacious bedroom. The bed sat in the middle of everything, white lace forming a regal-like appearance over the canopy bed. It looked like white water, cascading down the four-post bed and pooling around a black wood frame. The sheets were the color of blood, satin-smooth and velvet-soft. Pillows ranged from white, black, and red, edged in gold, forming a small mountain against the headboard. To the left was the walk-in closet with a full-body mirror, an oak wood curio cabinet, an large, French armoire, and a vanity mirror that was typical of all adult film stars. To the right of the bed was the bathroom. The bathroom was devoid of a door which meant anyone who walked into the room could also see into the bathroom. There was a wide bathtub that could fit at least six people in its depths, a see-through shower stall right behind it with three shower heads with various heights to attend to three different sections of the body, and a toilet that, not surprisingly, was painted gold. Two sinks sat on the countertop along with every kind of toothpaste, mouthwash, body lotion, and cologne, and even had bars of soap in neat little packages like a hotel. If there was something you needed, like a special brand of shampoo, Cian Donovan probably had it.
�Wow.� Lisa whispered.
�Is there anything you need before you go to sleep?� Cian asked, setting her on the bed. He didn�t move away too quickly, just reveled the fact that he was so close to her. �Do you want the television on? The radio? Tell me and I will get it for you.�
Lisa stared at the vampire for what seemed like eons. It was too aggressive in her opinion, but she wanted to thank him for what he had done for her. Though she knew it would piss off her brother and annoy her friend, she thought a kiss was in order, since they had been prevented from getting a kiss before.
She lowered her eyes and stared at the part of his shirt that was partially unbuttoned. She didn�t want to blush, but it was inevitable. �Maybe a goodnight kiss?�
Cian let out a soft laugh as he got onto his knees beside the bed. �If I was human, you would be the death of me.�
The witch smiled, but said nothing as she both pulled herself up and brought Cian�s face closer to hers. She shouldn�t have been surprised when Cian kissed her, open-mouth. His tongue slid over hers in a languorous massage as he let his teeth graze her bottom lip. Her hands moved through his hair, held him in place as his mouth moved over hers, building up the stirrings of lust. He couldn�t keep his hands to himself and he laid his hand over her leg, inching his palm over her thigh and higher up to caress her hip. He felt her body shudder and he desperately wanted to sink inside of her, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and he turned slightly, looking over his shoulder to stare at a young man with flame red hair and sapphire blue eyes.
�Aaron.�
�Cian.� Aaron acknowledged with a sleepy, glazed look. �I see you are...occupied.�
Cian shifted so that Aaron could see Lisa. He smiled and regarded his longtime friend and ex-lover. �Aaron O�Brien, this is Lisa Mayfair. Lisa, my second in command and my oldest friend.�
�A pleasure.�
Aaron glided around the room and held out a hand. He smiled and the room seemed brighter. Like Cian, he was handsome but looked more at home in the fields of Ireland. He took Lisa�s hand and kissed it, wary that she was the only other person in the room. He addressed his friend in his other worldly language and got the response that Lisa might be the one.
�I hope to see more of you, Miss Mayfair. I only came to speak to Cian.� Aaron looked down at the master vampire. �Your filming schedule has been changed. It was out of the studio�s hands. Apparently one of the production crew has leaked a few of the completed...scenes on the internet. They�re investigating right now and would resume filming, by the latest, next month. But your photo shoots will still go on as planned. That�s all they�ve said.�
Cian ran a hand through his hair and waved Aaron away. He turned to Lisa who lay on her side, watching him. He reached over to her and caressed her cheek. He had a month of doing absolutely nothing, well, sometimes photo shoots took all day, but otherwise, he was free. He wondered if Lisa would want to spend time with him during his...free time.
His hand slid down her cheek and brushed against the pulse in her neck. There was a sudden jolt and he felt it, the all-consuming hunger. His mouth went dry and it took all his strength to pull his hand back from her neck unless he wanted to subconsciously strangle her. He backed away, knowing that his eyes had gone wild, and he probably looked just as dangerous as Lucian when he turned into a wolf. He pushed himself against the armoire, fighting the urge to rip her neck open and drink her life�s blood. He hugged his legs to his chest and shut his eyes. He had missed several feedings because of his schedule. He was powerful enough to suppress his hunger, but even a master like him had limits. He could go for more than a week without blood, but trying to push back the hunger further than that and he would go into a state of bloodlust. Over the past few days, he had simply forgotten. He was supposed to feed this night, but meeting Lisa had overrode his carefully laid plan. He had plenty of bodies to satisfy his body and his hunger, but deep in his mind he knew it wasn�t enough. He didn�t want just another body, just any kind of blood. He wanted to sink his teeth into Lisa�s neck, wanted to taste the sweetness of her blood.
�Cian, what�s wrong?� Lisa sat up and watched the vampire carefully. �Are you alright?�
�Fine.� Cian whispered, letting his hair fall over his eyes.
Lisa got up from the bed and moved towards Cian. �Cian-�
�Get away from me!� Cian growled. He grabbed handfuls of his hair and silently wished for one of his harem to hear him so he could take the blood he desperately needed.
Lisa stood beside herself, wondering what had happened in such a short time. Before he wanted to touch her, kiss her, get in bed with her, and now he wanted nothing to do with her. She would have left, but she noticed how badly he shook. He was pale, paler than normal, and his eyes, from a glimpse, were wild, not the way she was used to, they weren�t pure violet. They were rimmed in red. Like blood. Then she remembered...
�Have you fed tonight?�
�Not since last week.� Cian answered, voice low and raspy.
Lisa threw up her hands. She kneeled in front of the vampire, but didn�t move closer or further from him. �Do you want to take it from the neck or the wrist?�
�I�m not going to feed from you.� Cian snarled.
�Damn it, Cian, you want to love me, you want to fuck me, but you don�t want to feed from me? Isn�t that chopping the hairs a little too fine?�
Cian let out a rueful laugh. �I think you mean �splitting,� Lisa.�
�Doesn�t matter. Feed now because if you do it later, I can guarantee you that Lucian will walk through that door.�
Cian dropped his hands and leaned his head onto the wall, watching the door from the corner of his eyes. Thankfully Aaron had closed it when he left, and God knows where he went, but if Lucian was anything to go by, if he heard the commotion they made he would be up in an instant. He turned to Lisa and felt his hunger boil to the surface. Of course he wanted to love her, to make love with her, but first things first...
�Neck.� Cian said hoarsely. �It hurts less.�
Lisa shrugged and pulled off her sweater. Underneath she wore a black lace bra which made Cian want to bang his head against the wall, or, at the very least, bang Lisa against the wall. He bit his lip and watched as she tipped her head to the side, pulling her hair over her shoulder. She looked at him from her position on the floor then glanced at the bed.
�Should I get on the-�
�Yes.� Cian answered quickly.
He didn�t know the next time he�d be able to lie in bed with her, so he jumped at the opportunity. He stood above her, startled that he had moved fast enough that not even he had realized the feat. She sat up, moving her head to the side and looking at him like a Picasso painting. He cupped her face with one hand and moved his arm around her waist. The pulse in her neck beckoned to him, brought out every feral instinct he had and he couldn�t deny himself the one thing that separated him from being human and vampire.
A part of him wanted to cloud her mind, but another part of him wanted her to feel what would happen if she became his lover, became more than just another woman in his notorious repertoire. He opened his mouth wide and licked his sharp canines, hesitating a moment before his teeth sunk into flesh. He felt her tense, felt her hands grab his upper arms and she squeezed, taking in short breaths, writhing and moaning. He felt the sensation of power run through his mouth and coursed to every nerve in his body. He wasn�t feeding on flesh and blood, he was feeding on the very source of power. What Lisa had said in the club, that her family was power, it was all true. Every cell in his body came alive, it exploded like the birth of a million new stars, awakening his senses, giving him such a rush that he could honestly say that it was the first time he had gotten drunk off of power. Aside from the power rush, the flow of blood slid down his throat, filling him from the inside out. It was sweet like the finest wine, invitingly warm, and a prelude to a long and beautiful life with Lisa Mayfair.
Cian pulled his head back and he was breathing hard. He looked down at Lisa whose eyes had gone blind. She was staring at him, but not really seeing him. She was gasping, like him, but there was something of pleasure crossing her face, as if the feeding had given both of them satisfaction. She blinked several times then shook her head. She saw him now and instead of disgust there was a look of longing, admiration. Maybe even love.
He leaned over her and kissed her, settling over her like a blanket. He caressed her face and shut his eyes, the afterglow of power dissipating and sending him into a soft slumber.