CHAPTER 12: New Allegiances

Author: Vampiress Belladonna

Date: 08-23-04 18:43

As the sun set, the Vampiress Belladonna awoke alone, as she had almost every evening for over the past two years. Her hard work and ascetic lifestyle had paid off. The new Sanctuary, named "Crimson Kiss" after its ill-fated predecessor, had opened the night before with the arrival of more Kindred than Belladonna had ever dared hope.

Of course, there had been complications, the most dangerous being the almost inexplicable appearance of Officer Ava Montgomery, the policewoman in the forefront of the investigation that nearly revealed the prior Sanctuary to the human authorities. Now, having slept on it, Belladonna still believed her solution to that crisis had been best. In a day or two, with the addictive essence of three vampiresses in her blood, the beautiful young policewoman would be their virtual slave, willing to do whatever it took to please her immortal mistresses. What better tool could they hope for to keep track of their mortal enemies?

Belladonna wondered how Ava had spent the past day, while she and the rest of this household slept. Did she dare tell her colleagues of her abduction by vampires? Or was she unable to report something she knew true, but which any mortal would almost surely dismiss as delusion?

Belladonna and Damiana had laughed about that all the way back from the roadside where they had abandoned the unconscious and half-naked policewoman. They'd reached the manor just as the first bit of the sun was peeking over the horizon. Safely in the foyer, they found the rest of the kindred asleep. Saying goodnight, they hugged warmly, but by wordless assent in their exhaustion, had each retired to her own bedroom.

Belladonna hoped, however, that the day just passed would be the last during which she would have to sleep alone for a while. Soon, Ava would beg to share her bed, but even that was not the sort of companionship Belladonna needed. The Manor was full of Kindred she had never before met. She could not help but anticipate what new friendships she would make before this night was through.

***

Watching Her Sleep & Awaken

Author: JeanClaude Minot

Date: 08-23-04 19:45

I awoke before Vladira did. She lay beside me, her face had a look of peace. I did not wish to wake her, so, I arose slowly. She sighed a bit, and turned over onto her left side. I walked over to the window and slowly opened the drapes, allowing the night to show. As I opened the balcony door, I could feel the night breeze that accompanied the sunset, softly touch my bare skin.

I turned and saw her. My Carpathian Rose, Vladira, begin to stir. I walked back over to her, and sat beside her, stroking her beautiful black hair. So soft and luxuriant it was. Her skin was also soft, and lustful. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and smiled up at me.

"Good evening, My love." I whispered to her.

"I thought I was dreaming when I met you, JeanClaude. I know it was quite real. Good evening my Chevalier." She said as she began to sit upright.

I watched the sheet she had covering her slip down to her waist, exposing her breasts. I longed to take her then and there, but, I waited. I kissed her deeply, her hands slipping about my neck, her breath hard. I could hear her moan with delight, then she began to laugh.

"Humor? What is humerous?" I asked, smiling at her.

"I could sense your longings, JeanClaude. You want to take me again right now? And I you. But, we must meet with the others. It would be rude not to go and greet our Hostess. I am sure Belladonna, and the others will want to know about our becoming consorts?"

I nodded. "Ah yes. Even you mother might want to show her happiness for us. Even Elsa would like to be there as well. What plans do you have for your chylde?"

Vladira sighed and turned away a bit. "I want her to stay with mother. Vladmir does not know about Elsa, and I wish her to be safe. She will be our Ace in the Hole."

I looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Ace in the Hole?"

Vladira nodded. "If something happens to us, my blood flows in Elsa. She is a part of our clan, our family. She is Lucarda now. She will be there if we fail to defeat Vladmir and The Dark One. Mother will know what to do."

I could not believe what Vladira was saying. But then, I realized what she was planning. Elsa would be her successor. I hoped that it would never come to that though.

As we talked for a while, we both decided to have a shower. She beat me to it first, and turned on the water. I watched as the water flowed down her shoulders, and her back. She turned to face me, tilting her head back, allowing her hair to be drenched.

I moved towards her, kissing her again. I kissed her along her neck, her collarbones, catching the water within my mouth that ran down her breasts, and knealt down before her. Her abdomin covered with the water added to the moment. I could feel the water run down my face as I kissed her.

"Jean, you can go lower if you wish" She whispered as she ran her fingers down to stroke her dark curls, parting the way to her hidden place.

I placed my hands on her buttocks, and began to kiss her womanhood. Her fingers still there, my tongue finding her swollen flesh. So plump it had become, I took her nub between my lips, my tongue caressing her. I could feel her shudder as I locked onto her.

"Jean....oh Jean......YES!" She moaned. Louder and louder she moaned.

As I stood back up, she breathed hard, and I held her close. Her kisses were ravenous, then she fell to her knees, arousing me. I could not believe such rapture. Our love grew every moment. Her lips around me, I felt her tongue slide slowly, around and across my tip. The pull hardening, her hands bringing me closer to her, I would not be able to move from her, even if I tried.

All I could do was caress the top of her head, and found the shampoo. I slowly applied a small amount on her head, and began to massage it gently. The foam rising between my fingers, she sighed.

"My Carpathian Rose. No one will ever take your place. Marry me!" I whispered.

She looked up at me, slightly. Her lips still locked on me. Her front teeth gently pinching me, she slowly smiled and nodded, then returned to her lustful enticement.

I felt the release come. I grasped her hair hard, pushing her face hard against me. I hoped we would find eternal happiness. I knew we would.

***

A comforting slumber

Author: Vampiress Narcissa

Date: 08-24-04 06:01

She hadn't slept so well in weeks. Normally, even wrapped in the embrace of Guillaume she would wake up once or twice during the day, only to find herself awake for minutes at a time before slipping back into slumber. Perhaps it was a natural thing, she wasn't sure, an instinct for self preservation that kept her awake. But this day proved otherwise as she slept fully through the day, awakening when the sun finally set across the mountaineous horizon. She sat up and stretched, a luxurious tug at muscles and bones, before moving her gaze to the still slumbering Tricia. They had both weathered long flights across the ocean, as well as long rides to get to the new manor and a long sleep was needed, moreso for Tricia than herself.

She was getting used to have Tricia around, not just as a slave, but a companion in times of silence, or when she just needed a bit of company while Guillaume was away. She was happy he sent her to the manor, but worried about what would happen once he finally arrived. She worried he would still be angered with her, although she knew he would never harm her to the point of killing her...she thought. They were after all, kindred.

She stirred from the bed, stepping over her clothes which had been folded, moving towards the bath. Drawing herself a boiling hot bath, she eased down, allowing the scalding water to pinken her pale flesh as she cleansed herself to face the night. She was a bit hungry, although not ravenous as she had been with the asian treat, and thought perhaps she would go out a bit later for a bite to eat. But the feeling she felt before going to bed still nagged at her. Would she be safe alone without Guillaume? Something told her the wolves of the forest were waiting for her...and the hunt would soon begin. The bath was long and she took her time before finally rising when the water became merely hot instead of scalding, wrapping herself tightly in the luxurious towels Dahlia had always provided and moved towards the closet. She picked out a long cream colored silken dress, off the shoulders and showed off her curves, after brushing out her long fiery tendrils of hair straight down her back. She finally moved to the bed in her last lingering moments in the chambers and pushed against Tricia's shoulder.

"Tricia, time to wake up. Cleanse yourself and join me downstairs. I want to show you off to the other kindred with your skills of servitude."

She noticed Tricia stir, much against her own will to continue sleeping, but she knew she had to get up and serve her mistress. She smiled and stood up, satisfied that Tricia would not dawdle, and moved towards the door. Her fingertips opened the brass knob, pulling open the heavy oak door and stood for a moment. Her body was flooded with old fears and hatred suddenly, and she merely froze at her door. She whispered to herself as she forced her own foot to step into the hallway.

"What is happening?

Her steps were heavy, almost as if each footfall were sticking to the carpet as she moved to the railing that overlooked the hall into the parlor. She gripped the railing tightly as she tried to breathe.

***

Small Comforts

Author: Vampiress Laura

Date: 08-25-04 12:56

Laura awakes a little before sunset, still plagued by the clinging guilt over the excesses of last night's hunt, and the lingering pain from the resulting gunshot wound.

Laura sighs tremulously, but finds some comfort in the subtle, somnolent smile adorning the lips of her sleeping companion, the Vampiress Violet.

Over the past five years, she has grown so accustomed to sharing her bed with her Sire, that several moments pass before it occurs to Laura to wonder why Violet has arrived here, at the new Sanctuary, ahead of schedule. Had she and her lycanthropic lover, Union Wise, again parted ways, as has happened so often during the half-decade of their volatile romance? That would be a shame, but for the moment, Laura is just content to have Violet here to console her.

Mirroring Violet's smile, Laura closes her eyes and falls back asleep.

***

the meeting

Author: Union

Date: 08-25-04 16:11

The day went by slowly with Union sitting outside enjoying the cloudy sky which rumbled in the distance promising rain. He walked the grounds and got his bearings of the Manor, all the while his thoughts were consumed of Violet and Narcissa. Night would come again, and they would awake, then he thought to himself the fun would begin.

Five years�five long years of wandering, wanting, and when he found another such as he, he ended up slaughtering her while she slept, and fed upon her heart. Sometimes the man could swear he could still hear the girl's voice within his mind, and at other times he believed his dreams were moments of her life. Sleep, he did it rarely now, going days at a time before closing his eyes.

Now he was back within the comforting arms of the manor. He moved within the walls of the mighty home after the last rays of the sun filtered from the heavens and the blackness claimed the land. The first sprinkles fell upon the soil when he closed the door blocking out the world. Going to the bar, he carefully poured himself another drink and listened to the breathing of the many within the walls. He could hear them all, each heart beat, every scent�

Going to the staircase, Union followed the steps upward towards the scent of fear, which echoed like the thunder outside, inside his mind. "Ahh young one�" he whispered topping the staircase and rounded the corner where he came face to face with Narcissa.

He looked at her for a few moments, studied the fear upon her features then stated in a calm voice, "It is good to see such lovely prey again."

***

Has the hunt begun?

Author: Vampiress Narcissa

Date: 08-26-04 04:34

It was as if time had completely frozen in the few minutes she was at the top of the stairwell in the hall. Her emerald gaze frozen upon the man who stealthily made his way to exactly where she was standing.

It is good to see such lovely prey again.

So he says.

She swallowed hard as she looked upon the man who seemed to still crave the devouring of her flesh. But why, after so long now, would he still be this way? Had he still not accepted what he was? Or perhaps even worse....this was what he was. She merely stood in the hallway frozen, while her hand wrapped white knuckled around the wooden railing of the safety bar. She took a step back, attempting to compose herself as he approached, trying to think of something clever to say in retort, only to come up blank. She wished, at this very moment, that Guillaume would suddenly appear behind her, and she would bump into him. But the reality of her lonliness set in and she stopped. Perhaps Violet would sense him in the hallway and come out to give him a passionate lovers greeting. In the meantime, she would have to keep him engaged in conversation, if anything, for survival alone.

"I see you made it back to the manor Union. Welcome back. Violet said she lost you long ago. I hope it was no trouble finding the new manor."

Deep inside she wished he had stayed lost, although he did add an element of adventure to this old manor. But she wondered how the other kindred would take to his kind, and she also wondered how long she could keep up this conversation.

***

Who Is The Hunter, Who's The Game...

Author: Sutter Kane

Date: 08-26-04 06:21

Sutter began to stretch his long, lithe limbs upon the silken sheets to loosen his muscles from the previous evening's escapades that had lasted well-passed dawn. Satisfied with his stretch, Sutter reached forward and across the bed finding Samantha with her back to him and upon touching her, she stirred. Moving closer to her so as not to disturb her rest too much, Sutter placed himself in a spooning position against her and reached around with his right hand to cup her breast. When he did, he gave her a small squeeze and was rewarded with both a squeal of delight and the fact that Samantha pushed herself closer into his embrace.

An hour later after lazing nude in the bed together, Samantha was the first to get up and make her way to the water closet and as she did, Sutter watched as she walked away and admired how her hair cascaded down her back and shoulders. Smiling to himself he also noted how the skin on her back was smooth in a fair and creamy color almost to the extreme of being pallid, which was exactly how Sutter liked it because if made fining her in the dark that much easier. She was half way across the room when her eyes fell to her bum in its perfect heart shape as her long, thin legs trailed out from beneath her.

When she had made her way into the water closet he closed his eyes and simply listened to the sounds emanating from across the room and was satisfied when he finally heard the sink water come on followed soon after by the sound of the running shower. Sutter smiled as he listening to the shower water fall upon her beautiful body, and then Sutter's mind brought forward a memory of a time while they had still been traveling in France just after he had embraced her into eternal night�

The sounds of it were loud as it crashed against the rocks as they passed the last of the underbrush and broke into the clearing where they could see the waterfall at last. As the water fell from the one hundred-foot drop, the spray of mist at the base looked like a hundred thousand sparkling diamonds swimming in the moonlight. And it was just then as Samantha broke through the underbrush herself that he heard her sharp intake of breath when she also saw the waterfall. They stood there for long moments and took its simple beauty, admiring the pulverized H2O as it danced to the song of a splashing accompaniment.

Sutter always enjoyed the slow, easy moments like this when one could simply stand back and take in the moment and feel the connection. But these moments were always made even more distinctive when there was someone special to share the moment with. Turning to Samantha, whom he had brought across just twenty-four hours before and holding her closely, he did something that surprised even him. He looked her in they eyes and explained briefly what a consort was and in the very next breath Sutter ask Samantha to be his consort, and she readily accepted on the spot then and there. For the first time since being brought across himself more then twenty years ago, Sutter felt comfortable enough to feel a connection to someone, to feel that Samantha understood that life was not always wine and roses.

Unless you had the power to make it exactly what you wanted it to be; and it was this truth that Sutter offered Samantha. A life as opposed to an existence. And though it may have been Samantha who thought she was the huntress at the French Rivera, looking for some boy toy to play with for the week, it was she who had been the hunted all along. And when Sutter hunted, he always captured his prey.

* * * * *

Sutter and Samantha refresh themselves by skinny-dipping in the pool the waterfall had made and when they jumped in the water was very cool, yet not cold, and the sudden crispness of it brought them both to a heightened sense of awareness. Every touch, every caress was heightened a hundred fold as they spent the rest of the night in the pool made by the waterfall and did nothing but laugh and give into long and carefree hours of flesh warming intercourse.

As the night slowly moved forward, they spoke of many things, one of them being that Samantha had wanted to come to the United States, as she had never been out of Europe. Knowing that certain events would be unfolding in the States over the next several months, Sutter promised Samantha that when he departed for the States that he would bring her with him. However before they could depart for the States that he had personal business to see to and finish in Italy; Tuscany to be exact.

When the dawn began to near, they packed their few belongings and just before they headed back to their hotel, Sutter called for the wolves. He needed to cover up their tracks by having the wolves scatter the bones of the two very lifeless bodies that they had fed on when the two Americans stumbled upon them.

* * * * *

Snapping back to reality, Sutter began to sense something he didn't like. When he breathed in deeply he wrinkled his nose. No! Sutter didn't like this at all�

***

Independance

Author: Lia

Date: 08-26-04 08:38

I woke up in my room, stiff, cold and unrested. As I straightened from the awkward position I had been lying in, I could feel my muscles and bones creak and protest...and then I could feel them, almost I could hear them settle and adjust. I reached up and felt my face, although it had been almost two years since I had become a Vampire, the memory of crying until my face swelled was still with me, I was unable to control the impulse to check how swollen my eyes were. I sighed, and stretched, working the last of the kinks from my back. I didn't really want to leave, but I didn't really want to be here in the first place. However beautiful and grand the room, it had a dark gray pall over it, as oppressive as the soot laden smoke that pours out of a forest fire, and I could not see through it. I wonder if it will always be this way?

Eventually it has to stop hurting, being thrown out. I don't know what hurt me more, having my mother reject me like that, or having my father go along with it. He could have stood up for me, and he didn't. Why hadn't he? He always had before, and she'd never left him as she had threatened. In fact, she had left him before, with no provocation, and then she had come back...what's to say that she wouldn't leave again anyway? At least if I were here, we would all know that it hadn't been my fault. I wouldn't trust someone who had treated me so callously, and for no good reason, to keep her word, whatever it had been. Had she promised to stay with him if he got rid of me? But hadn't she threatened to leave him if he hadn't gone out and taken me all those years ago? It certainly sounded that way, whenever they fought...I had heard the same argument so often and for so long that I could repeat both sides of it word for word.

So what had changed now? She didn't really think that I would...compete with her for my father's attention did she? Yes, I am pretty, but so are plenty of other people, why should that have mattered? And yes, I do like spending time with my father, or rather I did, but what daughter dosen't? Everything had been normal, and now, in the space of 22 months, everything had been turned upside down and for no good reason. I'm alone, familyless, adrift, and if not for this place, this Sanctuary, I'd be homeless. Sure, there would have been plenty of men and more than a few women willing to take me home for a night, but that's not how I want to live, that's nothing more than survival. And yes, I could probably have made someone take me home and leave me be, I'd seen my parents, plenty of times, make the people they fed off of jump through any number of hoops (once, quite literaly, when I had missed out on going to the circus,) by...well, they did something, and given enough time, I'm sure that I can figure it out, whatever it was.

I sighed, and stretched again, thinking that if I made myself move, I could get started on the evening. I was awake much earlier than I was used to, and it made me uncomfortable. It would have been nice to believe that there was an unsettling current in the air, that there was an unusual tension wandering through the mansion, but I'm in no way familiar enough with this place to know what it does or does not feel like at any given dusk; more than likely, I'm just giving myself the heebie-jeebies because I want to be anti-social, and lock myself in this room and just let the world and all of the trouble it brings go away for a bit. But I could hear Bryant, almost as if he were standing in the room, saying "I will make your excuses to our Mistress, but you must present youself to her tomorrow evening."

I don't want to, I don't want to leave the room, I don't want to leave the bed, I don't even really want to be awake...

I suppose that this is a matter of protocol and manners and who knows what else. I'm in over my head here...

I go to the bathroom and have a look around. There are shelves and cabinets and drawers full of various soaps and bubbles and lotions and oils, such a variety that it's not at all difficult for me to believe that in this mansion, there must be at least one container of every perfume, cologne or toilette water known to man, and possibly, quite a few that had been forgotten by history as well. I decided that instead of trying something exotic and probably unsuitable, that I would just use what I had brought with me. I would run out of it eventually, and then I could try one of these. With nowhere else to go, I was in for the long haul anyway. I showered and scrubbed, and then ran a bath, intending to soak. I stayed in it as long as I could stand, which wasn't really that long at all, as I have never been a soaker, and when I let the water out, it had barely cooled at all. I dried off as best I could, wrapped myself in my fluffy, black velour bathrobe and went back into the bedroom to sit and think, and try to find something else to do, some other delaying tactic. I toyed with the little make-up kit that I had discovered the night before, but really, it just wasn't that complicated. I played with my hair, which didn't really fill up the time either. Finally, I took off my robe, smoothed on my body lotion and got dressed. Maybe my mother was right, and it wasn't an actual sensitivity, it was only a phobia. What better time to find out than now, in a household full of much older Vampires, one of whom would, surely, know what to do if I happened to have been right all along?

I took a deep breath, opened my door and stepped into the hallway. There was a library here, my father had told me. Perhaps the library would have a window in it?

***

Unexplained Yearnings...

Author: Ava Montgomery

Date: 08-26-04 12:25

Nothing seemed real anymore. I had so many new feelings that I knew were not normal, none the less they were enticing. The three women that had attacked me the previous night seemed all the more tempting. No matter what I did the feelings were still there. I had to find them again. I had to be near them. Most of all I wanted to be able to please them.

I tried to get those thoughts and images out of my head, but I couldn't. I stomped on the gas pedal to get up the mountain all the more quickly. The police had scoffed at my story. They took the report, but until Amber's family reported her missing there was nothing they could or would do. Oh how that had been a mess.

When I woke up I found myself half naked in the grass on the missing woman's coat. How awkward I must have looked. Scooping up her jacket, I peered around for my gun.

"Bastards took my gun."

I threw everything in the car and popped open the trunk and grabbed out a t-shirt I had been given at a recent training. The wayside looked as if no one had even been there�the authorities wouldn't believe me. Driving like a bat out of hell, I made it into town in about 20 minutes. People were just waking up and I noticed an officer had just opened up the police station to the public.

"You have no idea how good it is to see you."

The officer looked me up and down and the shook his head. He continued walking into the station and beckoned me to follow. Digging in the cupboard for a bit he pulled out a uniform and threw it at me.

"You're late."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You're Officer Montegomery, right? Your chief called and said you are to start duty out here immediately."

"What!? He didn't tell me that. I can't start duty�.I�.a�.lost my weapon. That's why I am here."

"How did you manage to loose your gun Ms. Montgomery?"

This officer was starting to piss me off. He didn't care anything about what I was going through; just that I was late for a job I didn't even know I was going to be doing. It was just one thing after another for me. I started to explain to the officer everything that had happened, leaving out the fact that vampires existed.

"So what you are telling me is that this Hampton guy killed a girl and almost killed you?"

"I don't know if he killed the woman he was with, I just know she was missing when I came upon the scene."

"Why didn't you call for back up?"

"Neither the radio or my cell phone was working."

"Yeah, the mountains will do that."

After an hour of talking to several different people, I was told to go home and get some rest. David had called and had a conference with him, myself, and the police chief. I wasn't going to be working out here after all, it was just a misunderstanding. I was thankful I wasn't going to have to work and David told me to take some time off, for awhile. My vacation had been building up for awhile and I at least had enough for a few months, although I would use it sparingly.

It had grown dark and I was finding it hard to walk through the woods. The wolves howled in the distance, but they were still far enough away. I was finding it hard to be away from the women that had attacked me. My mind yearned for answers; my body yearned for their touch. The darkness seemed almost calming as I came upon a clearing.

***

With Open Arms

Author: Vampiress Belladonna

Date: 08-26-04 16:31

Preferring to receive her guests formally in the parlor, as opposed to running into them haphazardly in the corridors, Belladonna took the narrow back stairs to the manor's ground floor. The large kitchen was empty. She crossed the hallway to find the butler alone in the parlor.

"Good evening, Mistress," he welcomed her with warm affection.

"Good evening, dear Briant," she likewise replied.

"The Kindred are stirring," Belladonna added as she stepped forward and greeted him with a kiss. "But it remains so quiet and still, just as it was when only you and I resided in these walls."

"Our friends need time to begin to feel at home here," the venerable vampire observed. "No one wants to be first to disturb the twilight's peace. That was rarely an issue at the old manor. Ian the Bard was often in residence, and would be up when the Kindred awoke, to greet us with his jovial tunes. Unfortunately, I've not seen hide nor hair of him since that mansion burnt down."

"'Hide nor hair,'" Belladonna echoed with a dry chuckle. "While the expression fits that old minstrel well enough, it applies better to many other of the folk who have sought Dahlia's Sanctuaries."

Belladonna sniffed at the air as she crossed the parlor to take a seat near the fireplace.

"Please bring me some bloodwyne, Briant. Last night was quite an adventure, and something tells me that this evening shall prove to offer more of the same."

***

knowing your enemies lust

Author: Union

Date: 08-26-04 20:56

The scent of fear, and uncertainty lingered about the girl; it was such a sweet smell the beast within the man yearned again to be released upon her. Yet Union reframed for now, the mention of Violet made him hold his demons at bay.

"Violet is quiet charming, and a wonder. I could lose myself in her arms every night, and live in happiness." He hesitated, "But I do not want happiness, I want to hunt, it is after all what my kindred do best." He moved in close and allowed his breath to breathe upon her cheek as he whispered, "Are you ready to run again little one?" A hint of laughter came with the words; he could smell the fear, the want�the want coming from the other.

Taking a step back, he smiled, "You are a wicked one Narcissa�I think you would enjoy such a thing, or does your mouth still wish to deny that which you need?"

***

Let the games begin

Author: Vampiress Narcissa

Date: 08-27-04 17:20

She turned her cheek as he approached, closer then what should normally be allowed. For all intensive purposes, she was a married woman, her heart and soul bonded to Guillaume for all of eternity. It was as if Union wanted to readily test her faithfulness to her sire, and gain a playtoy in the meantime. But what exactly was his ideal hunt? Did he merely wish to play with her mind or perhaps he wished to fulfill his carnal desires. Either way, she feared he would not stop until he got what he wanted. And she wanted to know exactly what that was.

"Tell me something Union...why is it, you wish to devour only my flesh and not that of the other kindred in this manor? What hatred have I invoked in your very soul that would make me your primary target?"

She turned more towards him, intimidated by his scent of powerful strength, knowing he was much faster, and keener in his senses then she was, but not willing to cave to his whims. She could feel the animal in him, his features still stone cold and rock hard, practically hearing the blood inside of his body thrusting and pumping with adreneline in every vein. Awaiting his answer, she dared to gaze directly into his gaze, demanding the truth.

Dining alone in the woods could be dangerous.

***

yes let them begin

Author: Union

Date: 08-27-04 18:27

"You have not angered me girl or provoked me in any way�" He stated, taking another step back to allow his eyes to search her every curve. "Far from it, I am merely drawn to you." The smell of fear filled his mind, he wanted, needed her to fear, he thrived on it. "Do you believe you are not someone who would pull at my heart?"

She wasn't�the thought of her pulled at something deeper, deadlier. The beast cried within, yet held no sway at the moment over the man.

He let his eyes settle upon hers, and for a moment they remained locked. He dropped his away first, and took another step back, retreating from the human feelings of caring which Union started feeling in that moment. The beast did not want to care, it wanted to torment. "Allow me to get you a drink, maybe you will be more at ease within the company of others." He stated, a grin creasing his lips as the beast gained a small foothold upon his soul. "Or you can flee out the back door and I will be along shortly.

***

We Meet Again

Author: Cassandra Belmont

Date: 08-28-04 09:04

Cassandra stirred, her rather blurry eyes beginning to focus on the new evening laid before her. Turning to her side, she noticed Davis and Bianca, snuggled up close to each other as any pair of lovers should. She smiled as she remembered the night before. She couldn't remember entirely what had occured between the three, but since all were laying naked under the covers, she had no doubt that there had been some kind of erotic passion between them.

Lazily forcing herself up off the bed, she made her way to the bathroom and hoped that she wouldn't wake the pair if she took a shower. She was planning to go down to the parlor and see who was down there. She really did want to do some more mingling this evening, and since her lover was nowhere to be found, she didn't think that it would be a huge problem.

Smiling at her naked form in the mirror, she turned on the hot water and stepped in to feel it pounding down upon her body. She closed her eyes for just one single moment, relaxing as she felt the water splash down upon her figure. Carefully running her hands over her breasts, she cleaned herself up and turned it off. Stepping out onto the now rather slippery floor, she wrapped a small towel around her figure and made her way back out into the room to retrieve her clothes from the previous evening. Sure enough, Bianca and Davis had not moved, and Cassandra sighed. She missed holding Varsuviya close to her, without a care in the world, knowing that there was no other that could possibly take her place in her lovers heart. But alas... things seemed to have changed between the two lately.

Carelessly flinging the same clothes on as the evening before, she ran a brush through her dark locks and slipped on her heels. She didn't look too bad, she thought, as she made her way out of the door. She thought about waking her companions to tell them where she was heading to, but then again, they would most likely know where to find her if they needed her again.

With that, she began to make her way slowly down the long winding staircase that would eventually bring her to the parlor. It seemed quieter to Cassandra this evening, but perhaps that was purely because it was rather early. Many were probably still sound asleep in their beds.

When she finally reached the parlor, she gazed around slightly, as if searching for a familiar face. However, she seemed to be alone as she made her way over to the wetbar for a glass of that ever necessary sweet nectar. She gazed awkwardly down at her seat, her hair falling over her face, yet as soon as she got her drink she realized that she was not alone. No. As soon as she looked up, she gazed over to lay eyes on the ever beautiful Belladonna once again, and that familiar tingle between her legs returned as she seductively began to make her way over to her.

She noticed that she had previously been chatting with Briant, who luckily seemed to leave as soon as Cassandra had seen her. She smiled, ready to take her in her arms that very moment, but she would have to contain herself yet again. Last evening had been a bit of a dissapointment to Cassandra, but she was determined to not let that happen again.

She stood over Belladonna's beautiful figure for a moment, simply taking a moment to take her in, absorb her radiant face and features. God, how she wanted her.. she wanted to please her so...

Yet she simply bent down, her lips close to Belladonna's ear, and ran her fingers down her back gently. The Mistress seemed to shudder at her first touch, but no sooner had she done so when she turned to look into Cassandra's eyes, their lips barely apart once more.

"Good Evening, Mistress" Cassandra whispered seductively. "It seems we meet again.."

***

Entitling

Author: Vampiress Belladonna

Date: 08-28-04 10:11

Belladonna shuddered with sudden sensual craving when the lovely vampiress gently caressed the soft skin of her back.

"Good Evening, Mistress," Cassandra whispered seductively. "It seems we meet again."

When Belladonna turned toward the delightfully warm breath in her right ear she found Cassandra's beautiful brown eyes revealing a similar longing.

Belladonna did not hesitate. The slightest movement of her head brought their lips together. For a few seconds of eternity, their tongues danced teasingly together to the music of their sighs.

"I'm sorry about last night, my dear Cassandra," Belladonna explained when their mouths finally parted. "I had critical household business to which to attend, and by the time I returned, all the Kindred were abed."

As a result, Belladonna had slept alone through the intervening day, a frustrating disappointment after Cassandra's earlier flirtations. Belladonna was tempted to assuage that frustration immediately, if her new friend seemed inclined. The fact that her responsibilities as mistress of this manor would almost certainly delay that opportunity, probably until dawn, made Belladonna want to scream. What was it about Cassandra that she found so desperately compelling?

Part of the answer came to her even as she'd silently posed the question.

"I love it especially when you call me 'Mistress,'" Belladonna confessed, still unsure why.

"What do you desire for me to call you?"

***

Seeking a drink..and others

Author: Vampiress Narcissa

Date: 08-28-04 10:56

His words perplexed her as did his gaze. He still struggled with the beast within, an oddity he would perhaps struggle with the rest of his life. She remembered reading about the shapeshifting sort, mostly lupine, and a few very ancient vampires, walking between lines of morphing shapes, controlling them...or not controlling them. To her, she was what she was. She was kindred, and one who stayed that way. What he was, was perhaps even more of a mystery to all of them, including himself. Perhaps one day he would gain that control, but for now, he would enjoy torturing her with that loss of it.

"Allow me to get you a drink, maybe you will be more at ease within the company of others."

She wondered what he meant by those words, a pound of civility dripping from his lips as he made the offer, all the while his eyes had dropped away from hers after taking a good long look at her body once again. Perhaps it was best if she stayed in the company of others, that way, she could at least have a fighting chance. But his next words sent a chill, just as deep as his hungry gaze did, down her spine.

"Or you can flee out the back door and I will be along shortly."

He had opened the distance between them, and she knew eventually she would have to leave to feed. Perhaps there was a way she could do it while he was in a passionate embrace with Violet. The question was however, would the beast break free of Violet once he realized the hunt was on? She shook her head and looked down at the floor.

"I think think I'm gonna head down into the parlor now. I can pour my own drinks. Maybe you should go check on Violet and Laura, make sure they're okay."

She turned and started to head down the stairs, her soulful gaze looking back to him as he stood in the shadows of the hallway. Her lithe form took her slowly down a few steps with the long skirt of the dress trailing behind. She stopped for a moment, looking over her shoulder to him whispering softly, but she knew he could readily hear her.

"It's been a long time Union. Things are different, I'm different, even this house is different in may ways. This fight doesn't have to be a fight at all."

***

To the Parlour

Author: Vladira

Date: 08-28-04 16:20

After JeanClaude and I finished or shower together, we both dressed and I awoke Elsa. She was ready to join us down in the parlour as well.

We three had arrived, and waited for the others. JeanClaude and I sat beside each other, Elsa across from us. We talked as we waited.

"Vladira, when do we go out and hunt?" Elsa asked.

I smiled. "Jean, shall we bring her on a hunt? I am sure she would enjoy it."

"I did last night. But, I wish to go with you both."

JeanClaude sighed. "Of course, Elsa. Where shall we go, My Love?" He asked, looking over at me.

I shrugged. "Perhapse we ought to wait for the others and see where we can find a good place to hunt."

He kissed the back of my hand, and smiled. I looked up to see Narcissa walk in.

"Good evening, Narcissa. Please to meet my consort, JeanClaude Minot, the Count Lucarda. Also, my chylde, Lady Elsa."

And I smiled at her, and wondered if she, or any of the others, had anything in mind this evening?

***

promises

Author: Union

Date: 08-29-04 07:15

His angered burned for a moment as Narcissa implied what he should do. The beast was not one for orders�save those given by Violet, it's master�as for the prey flowing down the stairs and out of his sight, the beast had thoughts of merely breaking her spirit as he ravaged her body to fulfill its lusts.

Union shook away the thoughts given to him by his darker side, and gradually moved to the top of the stairs only to find them empty, the girl was already within the common room with others. He could sense them all, knew the dangers of this house as he had discovered the dangers in the manor before.

He was different, he was not of their kind, and so he had to wonder why was he pulled to this place?

"Little one you will know what prizes I offer in the end, and you will like them." He stated with a grin, revealing the long fangs of the werewolf hidden within his soul.

***

Longing For "The Mistress"

Author: Cassandra Belmont

Date: 08-29-04 07:40

Cassandra's whole body longed for Belladonna even more than before as the Mistress bought their lips together for a few mere moments. She was in heaven as her tongue slipped into Belladonna's eager mouth, caressing her own. However, they both knew that their lust must end for now, and so they pulled away from each other.

"I'm sorry about last night, my dear Cassandra," Belladonna explained when their mouths finally parted. "I had critical household business to which to attend, and by the time I returned, all the Kindred were abed."

Cassandra simply nodded in understanding and made her way over to a seat directly across from Belladonna. She had made sure to dress herself "appropriately" for this evening and as she made her way over to the chair, her hips swaying naturally, she could feel Belladonna's gaze upon her body. As she sat herself down, she purposely crossed her legs to reveal just the right amount to the Mistres, and of course, her plump, fleshy breasts were popping out the top, just enough to make Belladonna crave Cassandra beside her in her bedchamber that evening.

"I love it especially when you call me 'Mistress,'" Belladonna confessed as Cassandra listened intensely to every word spilling from Belladonna's lips. She simply gave her that ever seductive smile as she continued.

"What do you desire for me to call you?" she added rather eagerly.

With that, Cassandra made her way back over to her, resting her hands upon her shoulders, whispering passionately in her ear once again.

"You may call me whatever you wish" she told her with a giggle, placing a gentle yet rather meaningful kiss upon Belladonna's cheek. "You may call me Cassandra, or... you may think of something rather more.." she paused, searching for the correct word.

"Meaningful" she added finally.

Cassandra could feel the lust from the two vampiress' filling the air, and it made her all the more eager to have Belladonna right then and there. Her mind immediately thought of herself in her favorite "nightgown", ready for Belladonna's commands, waiting for her to lay on top of her on the creamy white bedsheets and tearing all the clothes off of her eager body, ready to please her in any way possible.

However, she simply helped the Mistress out of her seat and gently took her hand in her own, which she couldn't help but think was now rather sweaty.

"Now" Cassandra began. "Perhaps it would be best if you were to mingle with some of the newer kindred? After all, they should all be able to know just how loving and kind their mistress is, don't you agree?"

Cassandra giggled as she pulled her face away from Belladonna's once more, much to the dissapointment of the Mistress who had apparently been expecting much more.

Yet Cassandra had only one goal this evening, and she was certain that it would not be too hard to accomplish. She wanted to tease Belladonna, make her long for her until she cracked.... after all, it was what she did best.

And she did not want to share her this evening, not with anybody. However, she doubted if that would be a problem either..

***

Out in the open

Author: Vampiress Narcissa

Date: 08-29-04 12:01

She heard Union's last utterings about what he had to offer, and it did send another shiver down her spine. She moved down the stairs and stood for a long moment, her gaze reflecting back into her own mind about the man...the animal. The writhing lust passed through her body again as she thought of him once more, remembering the heat when he last touched her, pinning her to the ground outside the old manor in the woods. The visage of the man taking her while the beast sated her own lusts...

She shook her head and continued downward, entering the parlor to a gathering of kindred who had woken perhaps a bit earlier than she did. Most were already sipping their provided wines, and she waited for Tricia to come down and take her place serving drinks while Briant tended to other business.

She smiled as she saw Vladira and company, meeting each as she spoke their names.

"Jean Claude, Elsa, a pleasure to meet you."

She looked to Belle, who seemed to be occupied with the chylde of Varsuviya, raising a brow. She saw the flirtations beginning again, and it was all too apparent what was going to happen this night..or perhaps even in the future, but she wondered if it were possible for a sire to lose their chylde so easily. She knew her own sire would not give her up without a fight, even resorting to killing her before he allowed her to merely leave his grasp and she enjoyed the fact she was almost 'owned' by Guillaume. She shook her head and turned back to the trio, smiling with a relaxed smile, feeling better off in the company of other kindred. She was seemingly getting used to the fact that Guillaume had not come yet, but she was certain he would be here soon.

"I hope you all rested well enough last night. Anyone need a drink?

She offered it up herself as she had a feeling this was going to be a long night where she would have to watch her back when she was alone. Union was back, and she knew he would not take any chances with her while she was in the company of others. But what exactly would he do when they were alone? Something in the back of her mind tempted her to test that question.

***

alone but your in my thoughts

Author: Union

Date: 08-29-04 12:49

He finally allowed himself to wander down the stairs, his mind racing, fighting the temptations his imagination provided the beast as to what he wished to do to the girl. She was beyond his reach for now, but he knew the moment would again come where she would be alone, like before�he shivered with anticipation�but unlike before he would not stop the beast, it would feed upon the lusts she had to offer, even if it was by force.

He found a small room unoccupied; the walls were lined with shelves harboring a verity of books. He cared nothing for them, but only for the solitude the room offered. A chair with designs of swirls, like waves in a whirlpool rested within the corner, and he allowed his body to relax in it. He sipped again from his near empty glass, and as always the liquor offered no release from the ever wanting within his fibers.

"I am who I am�" He said to the loneliness, as if it were an excuse for all he had ever done.

***

Soothing The Savage Beast

Author: Samantha Bouvier

Date: 08-29-04 20:19

The shower had been cooling and part of her wanted to remain beneath the chilling flow of water for a good long time. But as she cleaned the last of the build up wax from her body, smiling at those tiny clumps Sutter had left behind, her body began to hum anew. Their love making had drained her, quenched her hunger, and left her aching for more. It was always this way with them. There was fire and there was passion between them. And there was something else, something Samantha had never known. Complete and unwavering trust.

She drew the silk robe around her scented body and returned to the main part of their suit, to where Sutter sat on the edge of the bed, seemingly distracted.

She felt a darkness surrounding his energy. It had changed. Was he still upset about his daughter? No, she thought, sensing this was something else. Something threatening; dangerous. She hesitated a moment, fearing she might break into his thoughts unannounced, which she had no wish to do. As if reading her mind, Sutter spoke.

"It's alright, Sam." He motioned for her to come closer. "It is nothing."

Samantha knew better. She could sense his emotions too well. Sometimes that was a good thing, and sometimes not so good. She used caution as she eased up onto the mattress, crawling across the bed behind him. She sensed him smiling and she smiled.

"Are you still hungry, my pet?" He whispered in his low seductive tone, the sound of his voice sending shivers all through her.

"To please you as you have pleased me, my lord. Yes. I am still hungry for you." Samantha eased up behind Sutter's still naked form and began to kiss his shoulder. He dropped his head to one side giving her complete access to his neck, which she took, raking her tongue in a fiery path along his collar bone as she slithered around in front of him, kissing his side, his ribs the hard, flat plain of his belly as he sat there for her.

"You do please me, Sam. You know that." He said into her eyes and kissed her mouth, softly, almost a whisper of a touch.

She smiled and removed her robe never leaving his gaze. She then slid around him fully now, off the bed to kneel before her lord and master. "I am pleased that I do, my love. I so enjoy giving you pleasure." She dragged her hands up his bare skin from her position between his spread legs, over his knees and inside his taught thighs. She then followed her fingers along his flesh with her lips; her tongue, nipping and sucking his skin as she moved nearer to her goal.

Sutter had his hands, palms down, resting on the bed on either side of him, allowing Samantha complete control. It thrilled her beyond all reason when he did this for her, and made her need for him all the more stronger, and devoted, and when his erection welcomed her in, she smiled and rained soft kisses upon the silky head, reveling in the feel of him moving within her firm grasp and against her lips.

Sutter groaned his pleasure and Samantha took him fully into her mouth, long and slow, caressing and loving him thoroughly with each long stroke and was rewarded with long, deep moans of pleasure from her one true master. She moved her hands behind him to feel his body as her mouth made love to him; feeling his thighs, his backside, so firm and hard, the muscles tensing when she dove her mouth over him again to take him deeper. Soon he had his hands on the back of her head, unable to keep them from it, and was forcing her head to move up and down quicker and she took his lead and did so.

She made love to his hard shaft slow and tender, tasting him, soothing the savage beast in him, and when his climax approached, she moved up onto her knees and made ready for the onslaught of his desire for her. Samantha held him there, moving faster, taking what he had to offer up to her, to the last, and in the end, left nothing of the evidence of her loving of him and when he finally fell to his back on to the bed, Samantha continued to administer to him, softly kissing his flesh where he still shivered. And then she eased up over him to kiss his stomach, his chest, climbing up onto the bed to lay beside him.

"Did I please you, my lord?" She whispered against his arm, savoring the taste of his skin.

Sutter smiled with his eyes closed. His energy had calmed and she smiled in the knowing of it. He drew her close and held her to his side.

"Yes, my pet. Very well, indeed."

***

Not the Bravest

Author: Lia

Date: 08-30-04 08:04

I'm not the bravest of people, never have been and probably never will be. If I hadn't been assured of my safety here, I probably would never have left my room without being either dragged or ordered out of it by Briant, who seemed to hold some sway over matters in the household. But that's neither here nor there. I could hear people moving around and talking in the parlor and almost, I went in. But I didn't, I walked by without even stopping, trying to find a room that smelled like books. If I didn't take this chance to prove to myself that there was nothing odd about me, that I wasn't somehow less than the rest of them, that I wasn't the least of them, the Vampires, my own kind; how would I ever get up the courage just to face them? As it happened, it had taken me more than ten minutes to convince myself that I wasn't about to do something suicidally stupid and another five to convince myself that I wasn't about to get caught. So, fifteen minutes after declaring myself ready for the evening (actually closer to twenty, this place is huge,) I found myself standing outside the library.

I know that it probably sounds quite strange to hear someone say that she was trying to find a room that smelled like books. But I have quite a good nose, and I put it to use every chance that I get, I guess I'm a bit like a puppy that way. But it's very useful in finding prey, I can tell a healthy human from a sick one, male from female, pregnant from not pregnant...and those are just the easiest to tell. If I want to get specific, I can watch two women leave a diner and tell you what each one of them just had to eat. It's how I choose my prey. When he was teaching me to hunt, getting me ready to come to this Manor, my father often used to laugh at me and call me a picky eater because I tend to be so selective about my prey. I like young women, healthy, vegetarian (particularly those who eat a lot of nuts,) and childless. They're a bit like dairy products, really. Young girls, girls who don't yet bleed are like half and half, good in small doses, but too rich to have all the time, and they stay that way for quite a while...I can't imagine how my parents managed to turn me without being sick to thier stomachs for days. Young women are like whole milk, wholesome, good for you, and an essential part of the diet if you want to stay healthy. Pregnant women are more like heavy cream and should only be sampled in very small doses, like the richest of desserts. But older women, women who don't bleed any more are something else entirely, and this is where the whole system breaks down. I've compared everyone else to milk, post-menopausal women are more like nicely aged cheeses...

And it's now been five minutes that I've stood outside this door. Not only am I loosing the very light that I wanted to test myself against, but at any moment, Briant could come along and he'd expect me to go to the parlor and introduce myself. Which, technically, I should have done already. I took a deep breath, and opened the doors. I knew immediately that someone else was in there, I could hear him mumbling to himself, "I am who I am�" whatever that meant. Really, who else could anyone be? You were no one but yourself, and in the end, you have no one but yourself. I just learned that lesson, and as self-centered as it may be of me, I have a hard time believing that others older than me haven't had to learn it as well.

I ignored him for now, I was running out of time, I could feel it. I took a quick look back into the hall to make sure I hadn't been spotted and closed the door behind me. I walked to the wall, which was (as I had hoped) mostly windows, and I threw the curtains open, turning my face to the side and squinching it up in anticipation of the pain. Which didn't come. What did come, however, was a short, harsh bark of a laugh from the man in the chair. I cracked open my right eye and looked out at the forest. I guess I had missed my chance, it was pitch black out there...I went closer to the window and craned my neck so that I could look up...where was the sky? I looked more closely at the darnkness outside. "Fuck!" I shouted. I turned to the man in the chair. "Do you know that there's nothing out there but an overhang and a cliff wall? Why is there a window here, if all there is to look at is more stone!"

He was still laughing at me, although it was mostly silent now. I took a closer look at him, and started paying attention to what my nose was telling me, rather than what my eyes were. He wasn't one of us, that much was clear. He had the pungent, sharp tang of some kind of wild animal, and smelled...well, frustrated, almost beyond bearing, and at best, only half...tame? Housebroken? What is the correct term to use for a wild man? I looked at him carefully too, moving closer as it was rather dim in the room, even with the lights on, there seemed to always be shadows in this place. He was rather grotesquely over-muscled but, poor thing, I guess he couldn't help the way he looked any more than I could. I felt my lips peel back over my fangs as I got another really good whiff of him now that I was up close, and I got a good look into his eyes while I was at it. I don't know what I saw, he certainly seemed to be hurting as badly as I was, but I didn't trust what I saw any further than I could spit a horse. Maybe because there was something else in there, beneath or behind the hurt.

I backed off a few feet and drew myself up, looking at him evenly. "You are who you are? Well then, who are you?"

***

The Need for Change

Author: Vampiress Belladonna

Date: 08-30-04 08:32

"I love it especially when you call me 'Mistress,'" Belladonna confessed to Cassandra. From the moment she first really met the young Kindred last evening, something about Cassandra's natural deference to her had excited Belladonna in a way unique to her experience. For six years, Belladonna had been more than content to serve Dahlia, perhaps even more than that ancient vampiress needed or wanted. Now that she had tasted dominion over this household, Belladonna found herself craving to savor all advantages such control might provide. She hoped Cassandra would enthusiastically abet that endeavor, and gave her the opportunity to declare her potential disposition. "What do you desire for me to call you?"

"You may call me whatever you wish," Cassandra giggled with nervous breathlessness in Belladonna's ear before placing a gentle, lingering kiss upon her cheek. "You may call me Cassandra, or... you may think of something rather more...." She leaned back to let Belladonna see the sincere need in her eyes.

"... meaningful." she added finally.

"For the moment," Belladonna responded with an affectionate smile. "I'm pleased to simply regard you as 'My Darling.'"

She then settled into her chair, purposely flaunting her casual comfort in this mansion, over which she had increasingly come to adopt a proprietary sentiment. She intended for the fire in her eyes to suggest to Cassandra some of the more harshly possessive appellations for her that had crossed Belladonna's increasingly avaricious mind.

No one was more surprised by these thoughts than Belladonna herself, and she wasn't sure if Cassandra blushed, but decided it would be best to leave the impression to settle into her consciousness. Several vampires had gathered in a far corner of the parlor. Belladonna's eyes met Narcissa's for a moment. Belladonna noticed the fleeting scowl on her face and immediately suspected that she understood it.

It had taken Belladonna several years to grow accustomed to the fluidity of Kindred romance. At first, only her devotion to Dahlia had enabled Belladonna to endure the many lovers that shared her Siress' bed for a night, or a week, or a month. Just recently had Belladonna come to appreciate that with their dark and eternal existence, lonely ennui was a constant threat, and vampires must find needed solace and diversion in, among so many other things, the ardent and innumerable pleasures of wide-ranging sex.

It seemed that in Narcissa's now world renowned love for her Sire, the distinguished Sir Guillaume Fitzhenry, the young vampiress still clung to mortal conceptions of fidelity. Somehow, in taking on the rights and responsibilities as Mistress of this manor, Belladonna had herself finally discovered the first inklings of the emotional maturity necessary to survive the endless interpersonal variations engendered by immortality. The only constant in the universe was change.

"Come, My Darling," Belladonna offered her hand to Cassandra as she stood. "We should attend to our guests."

***

Waking anew

Author: Davis Santiago

Date: 08-30-04 11:29

He awoke after he heard Cassandra stirring, but not fully out of his nightly slumber. His fingers caressed against Bianca's sated brow, kissing the top of her head as he started to rise. He felt her stirring as well, and slipped out of bed quietly.

"Time to get up love. Time to start a new night." He grinned slyly to her, thinking about Cassandra in their bed. Together they sated themselves, exhausting their bodies at least one more time before the sun rose, each slipping into their daily slumber, only to rise, and attempt the same feats.

He moved towards the closet, pulling out a pair of dark slacks and a white shirt, making a mental note that perhaps later, he would surprise the ladies with a luxurious bubble bath, drawn by himself. It gave him an idea, that was sure to please not only Bianca, but perhaps their newfound lovers Belladonna the Mistress and Cassandra as well. He waited for Bianca to rise, and finally dress herself as he sat at the edge of the bed, slipping on his shoes.

"You hungry tonight love or did you get your fill last night?" He would have to think of a way to slip out alone to enact his gift upon the women of the manor.

***

Love and Sex

Author: Bianca The Bloody

Date: 08-30-04 11:59

"You hungry tonight love or did you get your fill last night?" Davis asked as Bianca dressed herself. She slipped on a short black skirt, that had a small flare at the hem. To go with that, she shrugged into a red blouse...the color of blood. She left it unbuttoned from the bottom of the hem of her bra to the neck. It was a most revealing outfit, but that was the whole point for the evening. Along with the outfit she had on, she slipped into a pair of fish net stockings and pulled on her knee-high combat boots. She ran a brush through her hair and decided to leave it flowing behind her back.

She came to join her lover on the bed and wrapped her arm around his back and leaned in to kiss his jaw. "I love you..." she whispered in his ear. There really was no reason to tell him...he knew she loved him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. "And no, my love, I do not need to feed at the moment. I think I would just rather join the other in the parlor for a few hours..." Bianca explained.

Very well...shall we then?" Davis stood and crooked his arm for Bianca to take it. She stood and linked her arms with his and the two made their way to the parlor. Bianca kept thinking of the previous evening she shared with her lover and Cassandra. The young vampiress had proved herself in their bed. She was quite a skilled lover.

Slowly a feral grin cross Bianca's mouth. Tonight, she wanted Belladonna to join them all. She felt it almost essential. She wanted herself to be loved by Davis, ravaged by Belladonna, and caressed in all the right places by Cassandra. Would that happen tonight? She did not know. If not, she would be more than happy to spend an evening alone with Davis for once in a long time.

***

Our Guests?

Author: Cassandra Belmont

Date: 08-30-04 17:24

"Come, My Darling," Belladonna offered her hand to Cassandra as she stood. "We should attend to our guests."

Cassandra stood gazing into Belle's lovely eyes, a little confused as to what she had just said.

"Our guests?" she repeated before sliding her hand gently into Belladonna's. The Mistress simply laughed a little before leading Cassandra across the room. At first, she couldn't see who they were heading towards.. but then a familiar couple entered the parlor and Cassandra smiled as the memories of the previous evening flooded her mind once again. Davis and Bianca were heading their way, and Cassandra did not hesitate to lead Belladonna to them. They had certainly been most.. well, rewarding in the bedchamber last night, and Cassandra only wished that she would have another opportunity rather soon to lie with them for another night of heated passion and lust. However, she rather hoped that the Mistress would be able to join them next time, as a small part of her just hadn't felt the same without her haunting presence.

As they approached the loving couple, Cassandra found herself squeezing Belle's hand a little tighter. She knew that it was rather selfish of her, but oh god, how she'd kill to have her all to herself! She couldn't help but get that awkward feeling that somebody, anybody could take her from her, and she didn't like that idea at all, not one bit. Oh she wasn't stupid. She knew as well as every other vampire in this place that Belladonna really did belong to Dahlia, but then again, Cassandra had never felt such a strong surge of lust come over her for any other person before either.. as much as she hated to say it, she hadn't even felt the same the first time she laid eyes on her beloved Varsuviya, whom she had been careful not to forget throughout this whole ordeal. She treasured Varsuviya more than anything and knew just how lucky she was to have her as her lover, yet Belladonna.. well, she was Belladonna, Mistress of Crimson Kiss manor! Who wouldn't want her?

"Good evening" Cassandra told Bianca and Davis politely, flashing her darkly outlined eyes at them.

As they both gave her a friendly smile in return, she gently caressed Belle's knuckles, just to let her know that she was still there... still willing.. very willing.. to participate in the same activities as she had with Bianca and Davis the night before.

"I have not yet had the opportunity to tell our mistress just what.. fun we had last night" she said with a rather seductive smile that she used all too often nowadays. Bianca laughed as Davis wrapped his arm firmly around her waist.

"Perhaps next time we meet we should all get together? All four of us.. after all, the more the merrier!"

With that, she made certain to "accidentally" brush her hands over Belladonna's beautiful buttocks before placing her hands down by her sides once again. Oh, she could tell that this evening might just be more than she planned for.. and she absolutely ADORED the idea..

***

Unease and distractions

Author: Vampiress Narcissa

Date: 08-31-04 06:40

She was standing in the parlor, glass of wyne in hand, still looking quite nervous. She now knew he was here, and she also knew he was waiting. What was this discomfort that made her pace slowly about the room, taking in the faces of the guests and listening to conversation, yet distracted by her own thoughts? It was as if her own mind was speaking to her, telling her things would be alright one moment, then reminding her of the danger the next. She tried to relax, she really did, but the nervous instinct could be seen in her eyes.

She stood behind a couch and stared into the fire as she thought to herself. What if Union did sate his lusts with her? What would happen afterwards? She knew Guillaume would fly off the handle, kill Union, and perhaps even kill her as well. But what if he never knew? There was something inside of her that longed for the animal that Union was, an old feeling she thought she had buried deep inside of her, forgotten and never to be heard from again. But she was wrong, and those were feelings that scared her. She remembered the whippings and discipline Guillaume had given her only for having mere thoughts about it having detected the scent of Union upon her. Surely he would have no qualms about taking the life of his unfaithful chylde, and these were thoughts that confused her. How could the other kindred have such open relationships with their sires, without regrets or remorse?

She rubbed her temples with a free hand while the other gripped the crystal goblet in her hand. She would have to confront Union again and flat out tell him that he could not have her, but yet, the hunt still excited her. Things suddenly got very complicated.

***

Sensing The Unease

Author: Sutter Kane

Date: 08-31-04 07:05

In terms of a shower, Sutter and Samantha could not be more opposite: he liked hot showers, so hot in fact that his skin was red from the heat of it just now, and she liked the feel of the cold water as it sprayed all over her body� The very thought of cold water made Sutter shiver just now. He liked his creature comforts and was not willing to part with them, just as he was not willing to part with "Sam," he called out, "did you put on that Obsession like I asked you to?"

"Yes my Lord. And also in all the special places you like." She replied and giggled at the same time knowing that her soft laughter often did things to him. And it did really, because he needed to concentrate to bring himself back to the mirror just now and when he did he smiled boyishly as he said, "You could not have done a better job Sutter." as he thought of Samantha. He then started getting himself ready for the night and once he had applied some product to his hair and fixed it, he then put on a fresh shave, applied Old Spice after-shave and Old Spice cologne. He then stepped into the suite to dress.

* * * * *

Sutter, with Samantha on his arm, glided down the stairs dressed in another double-breasted Armani suit, this one gray and black, highlighted with a blood red silk tie. Samantha was decked out in a black, off the shoulder dress that covered her from neck to ankle yet had a low back. She had accentuated the outfit with diamond earrings and a diamond tiffany bracelet at her left wrist. But the highlight to her outfit was the pearl drop diamond necklace. Sutter liked to see Samantha in diamonds and thus he demanded that she wear them all the time, a fact she was more then happy to oblige him in.

Once at the bottom of the stairs they moved gracefully toward the parlor where they both saw more then a few of the Kindred already gathered. Sutter and Samantha both nodded to a few of the Kindred they had met only yesterday, and made it a special point to make sure they nodded to the Mistress of the Manor just before she started to meet and greet her guests. Sutter was about to step forward and address Belladonna and her latest "acquisition" when he felt a certain pull at his mind. Looking in the direction of the pull he laid eyes squarely upon Narcissa as she stared into the fire.

Sutter had been a keen observer of human behavior for most of his life, and since being turned, had also added observing Kindred to his inventory of talents. Therefore it was rather easy for him to see there was something that Narcissa was� concerned with. With Samantha still on his arm Sutter strode forward confidently and approached the Vampiress. "Narcissa, are you feeling better this evening?" At the end he upturned the question and raised an eyebrow to silently ask her not if she was feeling better, but rather to ask if there was anything wrong. Narcissa was an intelligent woman and Sutter knew this almost from the very moment he had met her and therefore he knew she would catch the real question that he had asked. However, if she chose to answer the question or not was another matter entirely, and a matter that only Narcissa herself could answer.

Sutter, being from the "Old South" had perfected this means of communication out of necessity, especially when he was still mortal and needed to delicately ask questions of the elder citizens of the community of Savannah being that their sensibilities were a bit more easily upset then the younger generation. After all, the right question, poised in the right ear in just the right way often gave Sutter answers to questions he had not thought to ask in the first place.

***

a drank please

Author: Union

Date: 08-31-04 07:50

"Who am I?" He let out a short laugh, then stood, his height towering over the woman, "Well now I could ask the same of you." He looked her up and down, reaching out with his senses to get a feel of this new woman. "I am Union." He offered his hand, after a moment she took it and introduced herself as Lia.

Union looked from her to his empty glass, "Won't you be a dear and get me some more brandy." Her eyes widened at the request, which was said by him with an arrogance the beast loved to portray. "Don't be so shocked girl, my solitude within here is evident, and if you do this for me I may include you in some fun tonight as I have plans for another."

Anger flashed across her features, here was an arrogant man, a beast among the kindred practically ordering someone he had just met to do something for him. Behind the wicked smile of Union, the beast laughed.

***

Why Not?

Author: Lia

Date: 08-31-04 08:47

"Who am I?" He laughed at me again and stood, and I had been right before, he was absolutely huge. Rather than crane my neck as uncomfortably as I would have to, I took another step and a half backward so that I only had to look up a little bit, rather than strain my neck until it creaked. "Well now, I could ask the same of you. I am Union."

He was really checking me out, probably for much the same reasons that I was looking him over so carefully. Both of us seemed to be feeling around for the answer to two very important questions, What kind of mess am I getting myself into now? and Is this person going to be a useful ally? At this point, no plans of any sort having been made, neither question may have seemed at all important to an outsider, but my position was not good. I had been determined to have been somehow defective by my original family and only a fool would have believed that my situation wouldn't come to be known by the other residents of the Manor, in time. My place here, in this society was precarious, and if there was any time to take a big risk, it would be now, before any questions of my sutibility as a part of the company had a chance to be asked. "My name is Rosalia Costa. Lia." I took his outstretched hand and waited for him to make the next move.

Which, I should not have been at all surprised to see, was an arrogant one. "Won't you be a dear and get me some more brandy." My eyes flew wide, and I was just barely able to keep my mouth from hanging open. The decanter was right there! All he had to do was sit down, and it would be right at his elbow! "Don't be so shocked girl," he told me, "my solitude within here is evident, and if you do this for me I may include you in some fun tonight as I have plans for another."

"I don't suppose it might have occured to you that I had plans of my own for this room," I said frostily, while glaring at the useless window. "Although the very building itself has...thwarted me." I shrugged, "Well, what could it hurt, one glass of brandy?" As he was back in the chair, I saucily seated myself on his knee and proceeded to pour for him, although the smell of the alcohol nearly turned my stomach, much to my disgust. How long would I have to live before the shame of my first hunt lost its sting? "Plans for another? If you don't mind my asking, which one? And why should I be at all interested in helping you out with your plans? Not to put too fine a point on it...dear...just what the hell is in it for me?"

***

Invitation to be Alone

Author: Bianca The Bloody

Date: 08-31-04 09:27

"Perhaps next time we meet we should all get together? All four of us.. after all, the more the merrier!" Bianca said smiling. Davis wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tight, as if to say he agreed. "And Mistress, I'm sorry you could not have joined us last night..." she added to the lovely Belladonna.

She felt Davis' hand drop from her waist and reach for her own hand. She intertwined her fingers amongst his and squeezed his hand gently. The more she got to thinking about this evening, the more she thought she would just like to ravage her own lover. Just leave the parlor and go back to their room...

"If you'll excuse us, ladies...I need to speak to Davis in private a moment...we'll not been but a second..." Bianca said, moving away from the erotic beauties before her. The two women smiled at the loving couple as they made their way to the bar. Davis poured himself and Bianca glasses of sweet wyne. Immediately Bianca put hers to her lips and sipped gently.

"What did you wish to speak to me about, my love?" Davis asked.

"Right...well as much as I would love to share an evening with all four of us...I think for the first portion of the evening, I only want to be with you. It seems like it's been ages since I have felt you inside me and shared a loving moment with only you. I want that again, darling." she stepped in closer to him and ran her tongue along his ear lobe. She felt him sigh against her cheek. "What do you say, my love? Shall we go back up to the room for a little while?" she whispered seductively.

***

The surprise can wait

Author: Davis Santiago

Date: 08-31-04 11:57

He loved the sweet, soft purr from between Bianca's lips as she seduced him by the bar. The thoughts of a group together tonight amused him, but he knew he would have to share Bianca, yet again, with the embrace of the other vampiresses. Perhaps her purrings were correct...alone for a bit would be more than satisfying, if anything, for his male ego.

The more she teased with her body and words, the more he was influenced to want to join her back upstairs for a bit. He grinned and nuzzled against her neck, breathing softly against delicate flesh, as if he were to bore his fangs into her neck at any second.

"Mmmm, don't you think we should stay and socialize for a bit my love?" He chuckled as he could feel her melting a bit with his breathing, resting one hand on her hip with his own as he started to kiss. She whispered softly into his ear, almost thwarted with desire as she amicably said..."No."

He came back to her face, looking down into her gaze before winking to her and placing his lips softly against her. He kissed her for a long moment before pulling back and taking a long sip of his wyne. He must be in love as he rested the cup on the bartop and shrugged. "Whatever you wish my love, I am at your command." He took her hand, pulling her away from the bar with a laugh and started to head towards the back doors of the parlor, perhaps, instead, taking her to a new room in which to enact their vengence of love upon each other.

***

Nagging Thoughts

Author: Hampton Culver

Date: 08-31-04 12:30

Hampton woke up with the brightest sunlight in the history of humanity boring through his eyelids and into his brain. He held his palm over his eyes and opened them with the speed of a glacier. The clock said it was getting near midday.

Hampton rolled onto his side, reaching for a glass of water that he remembered leaving beside his bed. The liquid chased the dust from his tongue just moments before his stomach told him that it didn't appreciate anything being poured into it. He really didn't want to throw up, and took the hint.

Just how much did he drink last night? He had not thought it was that much, but the whole night was like a dream to him. There was the dancing and the girl, the drinks they shared, a couple of lines, a drive and some good screwing around.

Though for some reason it seemed a little more rough than he normally went for.

Did she have friends with her that they met up with out in the forest?

Hampton really could not remember, but his dick seemed to. It was standing up like a flagpole ready to unfurl for the day.

He wrapped his right hand around the shaft and gave it a few pumps as he tried to recall the chick's mouth from the night before. But for some reason the more than he tried to remember, the less enthusiastic about it his little man seemed to be.

It was like the more his brain wanted a morning blow, the less the little guy did.

'Oh well' he thought. He let go of himself, and pulled a smoke out of the pack on the side table. The warmth of it spread through his lungs helping him to feel better about the new day.

He got up and proceeded to vigorously scratch his ass that was not covered by the tiger print briefs. A quick trip to the john to relieve the pressure in his bladder was followed by pulling out the little jar where he quickly sniffed up a tiny bit of white powder.

Yeah he was feeling better already.

But what was it about last night that kept having him think about that forest last night.

He got dressed and tried to push out some vague thought that he had left something there and that he should return to retrieve it.

***

Social Butterflies

Author: Vampiress Belladonna

Date: 08-31-04 15:06

"If you'll excuse us, Ladies," Bianca interjected unexpectedly in the middle of their flirtatious evening greetings. "I need to speak to Davis in private a moment. We'll not be but a second."

Belladonna and Cassandra watched with amusement as the couple slipped away. The movement of Bianca's body against the grinning Davis, their playful kisses and hurried private whispers over sidelong glances left no doubt as to the nature of the emergency Bianca needed addressed. It did not surprise Belladonna and Cassandra when, despite Bianca's assurances, they did not return, but slipped unashamedly out of the parlor to a back corridor. Belladonna smiled in amused understanding as she watched them leave.

"Bianca promised they'd 'be but a second,'" Belladonna laughed. "I think she should give Davis more credit, based upon my experience, at least." Cassandra's sudden blush suggested she had a basis to agree.

Belladonna passionately kissed her, then continued. "I would so like to follow their lead, My Darling, but I keep hoping Violet and Laura will arrive. There was a bit of trouble last night, and Laura was hurt. That is what called me away from our company -- and worse yet, your side -- last night. I don't want to disturb them if they're still sleeping, but I really want to ensure that Laura is alright. So let's wait down here for now... chat with our guests. I don't think I've met the gentleman with Vladira and Elsa. Let's make his acquaintance."

Hand in hand, Belladonna and Cassandra stepped up to the sofa on which the Vampiress Vladira reclined, together with her chylde and male companion.

"Good evening," Belladonna said to the man. "I am Belladonna, and this is Cassandra. Welcome to Crimson Kiss Manor."

***

prey on top of prey

Author: Union

Date: 08-31-04 20:01

He could not help but laugh, a chilling thing, a knowing laugh. Standing, he assisted her from his lap, and he walked away from her towards the door. "I said nothing of you helping me in my endeavor, what I meant was�" He stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder towards her, his eyes glowing a brilliant yellow now, "What I meant was when I finish with her, I shall come to make prey of you." He flashed his canines, as the beast within fought to be released, yet Union did not allow it so.

But as he walked from the room and into the corridor, he let his jacket fall to the floor followed by his shirt. Down the hall he walked towards the side door leading into the gardens, off came his boots, then he relieved himself of his pants before stepping into the cool night air.

He breathed in the freshness, and released the hold upon the werewolf, allowing his body to transform, for in the darkness it would await the coming of what he wanted most.

***

Calling in the Garden

Author: Vampiress Narcissa

Date: 09-01-04 06:49

She turned suddenly as her thoughts were distracted by the voice of Sutter. She looked upon his form, standing with his beloved Samantha, both hailing concern in their gazes. She exhaled slowly and finished off the wine in her hand.

"Yes, I'm fine Sutter. Thank you again for the meal you provided. I know it was supposed to be for the Mistress of the manor, Belladonna and I promise to repay the favor.

She smiled softly looking down at her empty glass, setting it on a nearby Louis XIV style table, before looking back up at them both.

"There is something I am uneasy about right now, so please forgive my manners. I don't seem to be myself since I came back here."

There was a long pause of silence between them both as Sutter seemed to leave it that way for her to finish her statement. She did finish it, but probably not the way either of them would expect her to, desiring to hear the explanation of why she could be so troubled in a place she called home.

"I need to go finish something...if you will both please excuse me."

With a strange smile, she moved away from the groupings of kindred, following the familiar scent as she left the parlor. Soft footfalls carried her past the library where the musky scent of the lupine was strongest, the scent of forest, man and beast wafting in the air as she caught sight of the blonde beauty that was in the room. She lofted a brow, wondering who she was, but she felt there was no time for pleasantries at this very moment. The scent got stronger and stronger as she moved down the long hall, looking down at the clothes that littered the antique rug like a common laundry room. She knew exactly whose clothes those were, recognizing at first the shirt, then the pants...was he naked in the garden?

The doors were pushed open slowly as she stepped into the blue, moonlit room, the foliage around making the garden a faux jungle of sorts. She heard the heavy breathing and the man was lost. She gasped and stood at the doors...this confrontation had to happen.

"Union...."

***