Reluctant Consort

A finger ran along her arm, "What a delicious morsel you are..." he murmured, "And the scent of your fear," Rene breathed deeply, more for her benefit than any need on his part to inhale her scent, growing increasingly intoxicating now that she was bound to him. He smiled, "Take off your chemise."

"No," she whispered hoarsely.

Rene arched an eyebrow, "I don't think that was a request, mon cher."

His gaze grew hard, "Now."

She stared back at him, eyes wide, fear swirling in him, and him, the monster he was, he relished it. But it seemed, tonight, she would not. He held her gaze, wanting her to know the strength he kept in check. "Now, Saya." This time his voice held the familiar pull, the one she could not resist, naturally, as his consort. And though she did not understand it, the desire, the will, or lack of on her part, made sense, in some primitive part of her mind. Her hands shook as she pulled away the laces, to begin the slow unveil of skin. She couldn't bring her gaze away, as her shift fell from her shoulders, revealing the curves of her breast. She wanted him to enjoy her, if that was the only dignity she had left, she wanted to be the best. The thought burned. She turned around, and let the shift drop to the floor, knowing his gaze would be feasted on her derriere.

"Am I comely enough?" Her voice sounded, barely above a whisper.

His gaze trailed along the curve of her ass as her words floated through his mind, lifted through the intoxicating scent that was her... his consort. His finger traced the curve and he heard every lilt in the sharp breath she took. He followed the curve between her lips and parted them, gently. Leaning forward, Rene brushed his lips along the soft skin of her right ass cheek, his fangs descended slowly, pricking her skin ever gently.

He stood, then, his body barely an inch from hers and he could feel her body heat... her soft shudders... It drew him in and Rene pressed himself against her, feeling the way her body yielded as she fell into him. A growl slipped between his lips and he nipped her ear, just enough to draw a thin line of blood. He savoured the taste slowly, his tongue sweeping along the tip of her ear, the cut healed by the time he was done. And right then, Rene decided what he'd take from her and what she'd offer him, willingly.

"I want more than your blood Saya..." He murmured against her ear, fingers snaking along her belly, down between the thatch of wiry hair to trace teasing circles around her clit. His other hand found the rosebud nestled between her cheeks, and he pressed firmly, though with no intentions of penetrating her. He felt her shudder, deliciously, and tingles of excitement coursed through him.

"I want you to yield your body to me," he murmured, "I want not only your soul... I want to be in the deepest crevasses of your mind."

He closed his eyes.

~*~

The rain tumbled outside her window. She'd woken to it, her world awash in grey and she'd watched the rain drops chase each other down the window pane. It was an hour ago, it'd amused her, briefly, though her mind was now occupied with far darker thoughts. Of a man that made her heart stir, and it was not the butterflies she had been taught to expect. She was... strangely... simultaneously afraid of him, yet... he thrilled her. She was drawn to him. She... belonged to him. Saya blinked, the thought caught her off guard. Guilt welled in the same spot that she felt warmth almost, how could she belong to him? More bizarre yet, how could she even have entertained the thought?

She pressed her palm against her cheek and with barely restrained anger, threw the covers off. She stumbled for a moment as she tumbled out of bed but caught herself against the post. Where was her father? She wondered if he knew of this breach and hoped that if he didn't, he would soon and that thing, from what little she knew of the other manner of business her father supplied, would suffer dearly.

She made for the door and turned the knob, not truly expecting it to open, but it did. Curiosity and fear lashed against the other and made the hairs on her neck stand. Of course she had to try the door, but why would it be unlocked? Saya blinked, the stupidity of the thought was beyond her. Nevertheless, the door was open and she slipped out, closing it quietly behind her. Red carpet against the wood floors she noted, and frowned, it was... strangely... eerily familiar...

Blinking she shook off the notion and looked around, the hallway stretched out. Guest quarters? And which way to go? For a moment she contemplated going back inside her room, no, the room, it wasn't hers. But she was standing here already, and she would not be called a coward, though fear was said to be a natural disposition of her sex. And so with a conscious effort she placed one foot in front of the other and began walking. Her feet took her to the end of the hallway, and then down the stairs, her hand drifting over the cool banister. Her gaze drifted to the tapestry on the wall, it's rich colours depicting what she could place as the Spanish Conquest, if her history tutor proved any worth. Though to see it laid out in it's glory was strange. Perhaps the thing felt an affiliation? She shuddered, not willing to think how old he might be.

~*~

Rene watched her from the shadows by the stairs. Odd as it was, he could be content to watch her for quite some time. He had not thought her quite so bold, as to venture out of her room but perhaps he was getting... old. In any case, he was expecting Charles to show up at his doorsteps soon, though they had an arrangement, stealing her away in the night was hardly... courteous.

She drew closer to the bottom of the steps, her thoughts occupied by the tapestry on the wall and Rene remained undetected. He watched her scrutinise his favoured tapestry of the Spanish Conquest, he had not been there but had followed the events with avid enthusiasm, enjoying the humans play at their games fuelled by greed. Of course, he had made that justification in the hopes of feeling no remorse when he drained his victims to death. Eventually he believed his justification.

She'd reached the bottom of the steps and Rene began to move, the shadows cloaking him artfully as his eyes remained trained on her. Already he could feel the topmost layer of her emotions, more curiosity than fear. He found that amusing, that she could be curious about him. He circled her as she stepped around the room, eyeing the various paintings and portraits he had seen fit to decorate the walls with. He could feel her curiosity turn to surprise, slowly, as she perused a portrait of himself that he had taken pains to have commissioned. He'd admired the artist in question, the way reality was portrayed as it was, and not to a specification.

~*~

The picture of... it hung on the wall, cruelly austere from what she could make out, the little light penetrating through the high windows seeming to add to it's cold illusion, lacking in colour almost and with a jolt of surprise, she recognised the artist that had painted it. It was followed by confusion and quickly replaced by shock. Fear tingled over her skin. Though she shouldn't have been surprised... she was terrified, he was... un-aged. Panic rushed down her body, why was she still here?

And then she turned and made for the doors, pushing through them, spilling into a large common area, her feet carrying her rapidly across the space. But no sooner had the adrenaline kicked her body into flight, she stopped, almost as if thrust to a standstill. Her lips parted in horror, a gasp spilling from them. Unearthly tingles crept up her spine.

"What?" She gasped.

"Where are you going Saya?" His voice drifted from somewhere directly behind her, smoothly, amusement tinged with cruelty.

Her throat felt dry, parched as she pressed words out between her lips, afraid to turn around, "Don't you dare..."

Cold breath fluttered against the nape of her neck, "Don't I dare what?"

She shrieked at his sudden, impossible, nearness, and ran.

~*~

His lips curled, a smile of delight as she fled from him and his predatory nature crooned. Rene would not deny it. In two step and a leap he was afore her, the dim light cast in by the windows enough to highlight his silhouette. Another petite scream greeted his ears and he allowed his fangs to protract, smiling at her cruelly. He could taste her fear in the air, feel it through the bond and the creature that he was, revelled in that moment.

Wide frightened eyes bore into him, "No! No no no, stay away from me!"

He watched as she backed away, stumbling, and he circled her, "Now... why would I do that? You understand, you belong to me. Surrender." His words whispered unspoken promises.

She shook her head fiercely and he chuckled darkly, "Very well then. Let's play a game. You see those doors behind me. If you can make it through those doors before I count to ten, you may leave. Ten.

Nine.

Eight."

He arched an eyebrow, "Or you may wait to discover what I will do to you. Seven."

She ran.

"Six."

By the time he reached two, she was disappearing through the doors and Rene chuckled. Oh the hunt was on. His estate covered a good deal of hunting ground and he was in no hurry to retrieve her. In fact, he counted on exhaustion to make her pliant.

~*~

How long had she been running? Her feet hurt. Terribly. Everything ached. But she kept running, she had to keep running. Trees stretched onwards in every direction but she couldn't admit to herself she was lost, then the terror would be too much. She swallowed a sob. The skies were darkening and she redoubled her efforts, surely if she kept going in one direction, she'd eventually come out somewhere.

Time passed slowly, until she was dragging her feet and pushing past one too many shrubs, the tiny scratches over her hands testament to that. His face burned in her mind, seared there by the way he had circled her, smiled at her, but without kindness. It was a smile belonging to cruel thoughts. She could see the fangs as clearly as the reality around her and she knew, she knew without a doubt then, that he had enjoyed her fear.

Her feet touched the ground beneath her and slipped and she stumbled forward, her hands braced should she fall. And she wanted to, so terribly, to end her misery. Hot tears slipped down her face, stinging as they trailed down her cheeks. She wiped at them angrily and held onto that emotion as though it would be her last.

She took a few more steps, and then pressed onwards, she could do it. She could get out of here.

"I must admit, I did not expect you to wander this far. You have surprised me. More than once I should say."

She gasped and spun around, turning wildly to look for him, "What?"

A sigh drifted from somewhere above her and the sound of falling leaves was her only warning before a hard chest pressed up against her and strong un-denying arms snaked around her.

His voice murmured in her ear before she could find the breathe to scream, "You're tired, let me take you home now."

Her mind tumbled over his words, confusion and shock, anger, mingling to make her thoughts incoherent. She struggled to the surface, "It is not my home."

Rene chuckled, "Oh, mon cher, you do not know the half of it. You know as well as I, there are Laws. Do you think I could have bound you to me, without given permission?"

She turned over his words, pondered them furiously in a mill of her mind and her world went cold. Chills touched her skin because he could only mean one thing. There was only one person who could have granted him that and she would not believe it of her father. He would never have given him that.

"I do not wish to tarry longer. If you have questions, they will be answered."

"I-"

She let out a squeal, her words cut short as she found herself repositioned in his arms, and then Saya found herself swimming in the depths of a pair of very green eyes.

~*~

Rene looked down at the girl in his arms, his consort, his possession and indeed in that moment he felt quite protective. Without another thought he looked away and shifted into a sprint, they'd be back at his residence within a matter of moments.

Trees sped by at inhuman speed. The wind whipped against his face and he cradled the body in his arms closer. He could feel her surprise, perhaps even the slightest tinge of elation and he wondered if she enjoyed the sensation of the world slipping by her so fast. The only fear was the underlying one of him. Rene smiled. Good, she was sensibly afraid of him.

His residence slipped over the horizon and he was striding through the tall doors in a matter of seconds. He looked down at the girl in his arms again, her eyes were close, her fingers clutched slightly at his shirt, strands of hair falling over the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and Rene, for the briefest moment, felt his stone cold heart flip. Dammit. He blinked and the sensation was gone. He uttered a soft curse, how many decades had it been since he had taken, bedded, consorted with, women? And christ, not even that, she was a girl. Twenty, though of age, would be his youngest still. He grimaced, over the century he had preferred come of age boys and occasionally, seasoned men. They were easier to keep and judging by the predilections of Saya, he was inclined to remain in that mode of thought.

Rene swept up his staircase, down the hallway to the guest room she had woken in and deposited her on the bed. Softly. Her eyes fluttered up to meet his then, and she held his gaze for the briefest moment before looking away. He caught her chin and brought it back, querying softly, his tone dark, coloured by his thoughts and the possibility that he possessed a weakness, owing to her, "What?"

She looked at him with fear then. He could feel it snaking through their bond slowly. The way she exhaled faster, and curiously Rene brought his face closer. His fingers gripped her chin firmly as she attempted to turn away. He could taste her perfume sweet scent in the air with the familiar tang of fear and though tempted, he held his fangs back. His lips whispered against her face, "You're terrified of me again, that is wise. But, you belong to me and I will not hurt you in a fashion that you think I might. You may rest easy. Now, a maid will be up shortly to attend to you and I would like you to come down for supper when you are ready."

Rene released her and in an instant she had rolled across to the other side of the bed. He arched an eyebrow in feign amusement but the action had only incited him, his darker nature pushing him to reclaim her, to pull her back and deny her the freedom he had just afforded her, so that she would know, exactly, who and what she was. His. His consort and there would be no room for denial. He straightened abruptly and left before he could parry with the temptation, for it was not the way to possess her. Though perhaps he departed at a pace too fast for his little vancalye judging by the gasp he extorted in his wake.