Bloody dreams of you

@ katahdin
Madeline waited a moment before he spoke again. She sighed. "Of course not Master. She simply does not know you. Cassia has a soft heart she just needs time. I know you are concerned with time Master but for Cassia I think you will need to give her the time and the affection before she will consider your offer. She cares for others easily, give her a reason to care. Might I suggest a walk out on the beach Master?" she asked softly and looked at him. "Confide in her. It might scare her but your honesty will win her over. If you are wanting her as your Bride then treat her like it not like a child that will just bend to your will." she said and pressed a wrinkle on her dress down with her palm. "Trust me Master her feelings towards you will come easily once you give her the time and the affection. She after all is very new to a man's presence." she suggested knowing puberty had been a strange one for Cassia with no boys to ogle over. "Would you like me to send her in now?"

---

The girl giggled sorting through the gowns before pulling up a stunning silver gown. "I think this one will compliment you nicely." she said and then set it on the hook before moving to the large bathroom starting the bath. She added in many bottles until a heavenly sent was coming from the bathroom. "If you will strip I will help you bathe and prepare to see the Lord again. She said and grinned pushing her sleeves up and then tying her long strawberry blond hair back. "I am Lynore your chamber servant so any personal things you need you just ask me!" she said happily her brown eyes glowing.

@ Jinx...

Thibault listened to Madeline speak, nodding a little at her advice. "Thank you, Madeline. I can always count on you." He smiled, finishing his tea before nodding. "Yes, please send her in." He ordered, standing and moving to look out the window, waiting for Cassia to enter. When she did he began to speak, although he didn't turn to look at her. "I apologize for my behavior earlier, Cassia. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I hope you'll forgive me."

---

Rosemarie nodded a little at Lynore's selection, slipping out of her nightgown to climb into the bath once it was prepared, relaxing in the warm water. "Thank you for your help, Lynore..." she spoke softly, having about a million questions, but was unsure of which ones to ask.

@ katahdin
Cassia walked down the hall the same as the night before but this time alone and much earlier in the night. She was dressed in a simple glue gown made of the softest lace she had ever touched. Cassia paused at the doors feeling nervous but pushed them over and slipped in before they shut behind her. Cassia walked in a little when Thibault began to speak. She frowned as he apologized and she nodded. "I appreciate that but I understand a little why you might have. Instead of getting so upset over your offer I should have requested that we get to know each other instead." she said and bit her lip stepping in farther her bare feet moving silently over the stone. "Does this mean I might have more time to consider your offer?" she asked softly hoping he wasn't holding her to that one day think over he had demanded yesterday. Cassia wanted to get to know her mysterious secrete lover.

---

Lynore chuckled and nodded. "Oh it is a pleasure." she said and started on washing her hair. She shampooed massacring her scalp and then deep conditioned leaving her hair a moment moving onto rubbing the scrub into Rosemarie's shoulders then down her back. It not only made her skin soft but removed any lasting tension there. Once she had cleaned her and smoothed her completely she rinsed her hair and then held up the towel. "Okay out you come. We have to dry you up and fix you up a little before we can get you in that dress." she said. Lynore made quick work of her make up and hair helping her dress. "I don't mean to over step my boundaries Ms. Rosemarie but you have been very quiet. Is there something on your mind?"

@ Jinx...

Thibault turned back to face her, smiling a little at her words, despite how disheveled he looked. "Of course, Cassia. You have all the time you need." While that wasn't true, he needed an answer sooner rather than later, but he hoped relieving the pressure about giving him an answer would help her decide. He moved closer, reorganizing some things on the little table before looking her over again. "You look beautiful, Cassia. Would you like something to eat? Or to go for a walk?"

---

Rosemarie did as she was told, looking at her reflection in the mirror as Lynore did her makeup and helped with her hair. "No.. It's just... Why am I here?" She asked, looking up at the other woman. She didn't understand why she'd been kidnapped and brought here, or why Zane wanted her here in the first place, and hoped Lynore woild be able to explain.

@ katahdin
Cassia bit her lip gently. He looked kind of sick and that worried her but he seemed to be up to hang out with her again tonight. "Thank you." she said softly sighing in relief. She watched him clean up the table and blushing at his compliment. "Thank you." she said softly and shook her head as he asked about food. She had already eaten earlier in the night with everyone else. "Have you already eaten?" she asked wondering if that was part of why he looked unwell. She smiled as he mentioned a walk. "It has been a while since I have actually been out of the castle." she said her fair skin evidence of that. If she was out in the sun very long she burned. That was why she and Mistress Madeline tended to stay towards the indoor greenhouses. The windows open but the roof closing them off from the rays. From some of the gardens you could see the ocean not to far away and it had been years since she had been on a beach and she did want to visit.

---

Lynore frowned and nodded. "That is a good question and the only answer I can give you is the obvious one. The Lord might have more in mind but I am guessing he is lonely. He doesn't like to call on the ladies of the house knowing we have to get up and clean, cook and work all day long. I think he is wanting someone that he can spend time with. It seems that way to me but then I am not the Lord of the house so I can't really answer that more for you." she said and shrugged. "He keeps to himself most the time but sometimes when we have night projects he just kind of sticks around asking obvious questions. I tend to be more chatty but I think he is guarding some kind of secret he doesn't want everyone knowing about." Lynore shrugged and paced the earrings from he jewelry box in her delicate ears. "There all done. I bet you are starving now. Do you need me to show you the way again to his chambers?" she asked grinning gently hoping he helped her.

@ Jinx...

Thibault smiled when she agreed to go on a walk with him, grabbing his coat in case it was chilly before heading for the door, pausing to wait for her, holding his arm out for her to take. "I know just the place to go." He shook his head when she asked about him eating, trying to ignore his hunger and the sound of her heart. "No, I'm alright. Don't you worry about me, my flower." He reassured her before leading her out of the castle through some hidden passageways, exiting out onto the beach.

---

Rosemarie frowned as she spoke. He had said that he wanted someone to talk to, so that would fit in with him being lonely. Once she was dressed she took a minute to look at herself in the mirror, amazed at how clean and fancy she looked. When asked if she knew the way to his chambers she nodded. "I know the way.. Thank you for your help, Lynore." She smiled before heading out of her room, making her way to Zane's, her heart beating anxiously in her chest.

@ katahdin
Cassia nodded gently. "Okay." she said though it was unlikely she wouldn't worry. They walked side by side as they headed out of the castle. Cassia breathed in the night air as they exited the castle. She grinned looking up at the stars and the moon that was twinkling in the clear sky. The smell of the ocean hit her and she looked around as her bare feet hit the sand. "The beach?" she asked excited and giggled. "I have been wanting to come here a long time." she said and pulled her dress uploading on Thibault to help her stay up right. Cassia smiled at him. She bit her lip wanting to talk to him, well to hear about him to learn about him but she had never been good at talking.

---

Zane's door was open and he was standing by the window with the curtains open revealing a stunning night a light breeze fluttering his hair. Zane turned hearing Rosemarie and smiled seeing her walking towards him. "You came." he said and chuckled offering her his hand. "Dinner will be shortly." he said and smiled at her. "You look stunning." he said and looked her over appreciating how she looked. She smelled amazing and he wanted to taste her but didn't want to scare her. He was thinking maybe he should come clean with her and tell her what he was. Zane smiled and lead her to the balcony. He took out a cover and placed it over her shoulders. "So you don't get cold." Zane whispered in her ear and then pulled out her chair. The balcony was light with candlelight and the full moon. They looked out onto the city below their hill far out the lights twinkling causing a lovely glow over the horizon. Zane sat and offered her some wine as a servant brought in the shrimp appetizer.

@ Jinx...

Thibault smiled when he saw that she was excited to be at the beach, helping to steady her as she pulled up her dress, even helping to bustle it up so that it wouldn't get caught in the sand. "I often forget how beautiful it is out here, and end up cooped up inside most of the time.. I should try to get out more often, I think." He laughed a little to himself, wandering along the beach, eyes scanning the edge of the water and the sand for sea shells. "I think I was born by the sea, but it was such a long time ago, I do not remember it."

---

Rosemarie blushed brightly at his compliment, looking down at her fancy gown with a small shrug. "Lynore picked it out... I've never seen such beautiful clothes, let alone worn them." She murmured humbly, smiling as she thanked him for placing the blanket around her shoulders. She blushed brighter as he whispered in her ear, taking her seat before looking back out over the balcony toward the city in the distance, wondering if that was where she had been taken from, if her family was wondering where she was. Her thoughts were drawn back to dinner once Zane offered her some wine and the appetizer arrived, the young girl shaking her head a little. "I've never had wine before.. Mother would never let me." She murmured softly, smiling kindly at him as she began to eat, not realizing how hungry she was.

@ katahdin
Cassia beamed as he said it was beautiful out here. "Well you can get out more often with me." She said thinking it would be nice to take night walks with him, on the beach through the gardens down in the orchard. It could be quite romantic she thought. Her attention moved back to him as he spoke about where he might have been born. She chuckled. "How old are you like 30?" she asked and shook her head not thinking him more than 28 really but that wasn't old at all. "You know I don't remember much of my past either." she said and bit her bottom lip. "Just glimpses here and there and usually I am alone." she said softly and looked down at her toes in the sand then back at him. "I guess we do have a lot in common." Cassia pulled her arm through his walking with him towards the water edge.

---

Zane chuckled. "She does have good taste." Zane shook his head. "You could never tell you have never been in something fancy." he said and was glad when the food came. "Aww well just try it. It is a sweet wine. I figured you probably hadn't had a lot you are so young and sweet wine is way to drink. It's like honey that goes to your head making you warm and feel fuzzy." he shrugged giving her a couple mouthfuls in her glass before filling his own sipping it sitting back and watching her eat. He knew she had to be hungry. If she hadn't had enough to drink he couldn't imagine what they had done to her food amount either. Zane smiled as the main course was served. A savory steak with creamy potatoes and asparagus for her. His steak unlike hers was very close to being completely raw.

@ Jinx...

Thibault chuckled a little, nodding as they walked, looking down at her. "I'd like that very much. As long as you're up for it." He smiled, although it disappeared when she asked how old he was, looking out over ocean, watching the waves in thought. He wasn't sure how to answer, wanting to tell her the truth, but he worried that she'd think him a monster, and that she'd hate him. "I'm a bit older than that, my dear.." he sighed softly, pausing to lean down to pick up a beautiful shell, smiling as he offered it to her. "For the birthday girl." He smiled, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her cheek.

---

Rosemarie nodded a little, taking a small sip of the wine before humming contently, enjoying the taste. "It's very good.." she took another few sips before setting her glass down, eyes widening as the main course was brought out. She'd never seen something so fancy, or delicious looking. "Wow... I hope it wasn't too much trouble to do all of this... I can survive off of simple things, I don't need anything fancy.." she murmured before she dug into her meal, practically moaning at the taste, having not had a decent meal in weeks.

@ katahdin
Cassia blushed and held it to her heart. "Thanks." she said and looked down. She knew she should probably press harder on figuring him out but it made him so sad and really that wasn't what she wanted. Cassia grinned then pulled on his hand until they both stumbled into the water. She giggled and let his hand go spinning in the waves that went up to her ankles. After she was dizzy and breathless she fell into his arms and looked up at him laughing her hair windblown and a cute mess. Cassia moved closer to him and laid her head on his chest. "Okay so know you know something about me... tell me something about you." she said and chuckled nervously. She was still a kid a heart that liked to make messes and have fun and it was obvious that even if she could be grown up she didn't want to be.

---

Zane smiled as she gushed over the food. He hadn't done that for many many years. "Nonsense. We are celebrating your arrival. Besides just because you can get by with simple things doesn't mean you have to anymore Rosemarie. I know I am a demanding man and I want you to know I will happily lavish you." Zane ate slowly. "Don't worry though I am not trying to buy you. I don't want you to ever do something you are uncomfortable with, maybe a little cautious of but I want you to trust me." he said and sipped his drink. "I simply ask that you have an open mind and are willing to try things." he said and watched her wondering what she was thinking.

@ Jinx...

Thibault smiled, laughing a little as he was pulled into the water, watching her spin and laugh happily. He quickly stepped forward to catch her once he saw that she was going to fall, chuckling as he held her close, fingers gently stroking her curls. When she asked that he tell her something he frowned a little, deciding it would probably be the best to tell her the truth. "Well.. I... I'm not, uh..." he began, running his fingers through his hair anxiously, not wanting her to hate him. He shook his head after a moment, deciding against the truth for now. "I'm scared of heights." He settled on the lie, releasing her to head back up the beach, away from the water. He couldn't make her his bride, no matter how much he wanted it, knowing he'd only ruin her happiness, deciding to ask Mistress Madeline to find him someone else once they were back in the castle.

----

Rosemarie nodded a little, but soon frowned as she listened to him speak, finishing the bite she'd taken before setting her fork and knife down, staring at her half eaten plate sadly. "But... You did buy me... You're my owner. You're acting as if I'm a guest in your house, but really I'm just a prisoner.." she murmured softly, not sounding angry or upset, just sad. She sunk further back in her chair, suddenly losing her appetite.

@ katahdin
Cassia frowned watching him walking away. She picked up her dress and ran after him. "Thibault." she called catching up with him and catching his arm. She pulled him back to her and slipped in front of him. "Hey... I know you where lying to me. If you don't want to talk about it then you don't have to but I was just trying to get to know you... You know it's kind of important I get to know you. After all you're the only thing I remember about my childhood before I came to live here." she said and bit her lip. "I wish you wouldn't clam up on me and would just talk to me but we can just have fun too." she said and slipped her hand into his. "You should take me out for dates more often." she said and smiled reaching up on her toes to kiss his cheek before starting to walk again the way he was headed carefully holding her shell in her other hand swinging the hand she held of his with hers.

---

Zane frowned. "And if I released you then you would run from me back to your own life just like everyone else. It's not about owning you Rosemarie. I... just don't want to be a lone anymore. I want you to still have a life, an amazing one but I don't ever want to be alone again." he said and ran a hand through his hair sighing and standing pacing. This obviously wasn't going well. "I seem to truly be terrible at this." he said and frowned not knowing what to do. He wanted to make her happy but by doing that he would loose her and neither seemed like an option so what should he do?

@ Jinx...

Thibault frowned a little in surprise when she ran after him, listening to her words with wide eyes, a blush creeping up his cheeks when she kissed his cheek and mentioned going on more dates. He sighed a little to himself as they began to walk, looking up at the moon, trying to decide what to do, when, without thinking, he blurted out the truth. "I'm a vampire." He frowned a little as he turned to look at her, giving her hand a little squeeze before reluctantly letting go, figuring she wouldn't want to be anywhere near him now.

---

"Kidnapping someone isn't a way to make friends." Rosemarie frowned, watching him pace along the balcony before looking back down at her lap. "I suppose it doesn't matter now anyway.. They said that if I ever ran away, they'd just catch me again and keep them for themselves.." She frowned, smoothing out her dress with a small sigh.

@ katahdin
Cassia smiled as he blushed. It was odd to see on him but really cute to, she decided she liked it. They where walking for a while when suddenly Thibault blurted out what she was pretty sure she ad not been expecting at that moment. He squeezed her hand then dropped it and she looked up at him. She was quiet awhile then nodded. "Yeah that is what everyone has been saying... I wasn't sure I believed it but really the only thing left to be proven to me is the biting part." she blushed and shook her head. "Which I am not ready for yet." she admitted and bit her lip. Cassia shifted from foot to foot and shrugged. "I think everyone has something odd about them. And that isn't the only thing you are. Maybe you think it is but it isn't so I want to get to know you more. Maybe now that you have told me you can be more honest with me." she said and smiled gently and took his hand. "I could use a drink let's go inside."

---

"With what I am yeah it is and I didn't do anything. I picked you out of so many other girls to save from a life that would only harm them. I get it you don't want to be here and I don't blame you but don't see me as a monster I am not. I am a monster in many different ways." he said and shook his head. "I will have your dinner sent to your room is you would like." he said and turned from her standing by the railing looking out at the lights of the night.

@ Jinx...

Thibault frowned a little when she spoke, surprised she wasn't fazed by the news. He chuckled a little at the idea of the other girls talking about him being a vampire, hoping that those rumors hadn't scared Cassia as a child. "I'm glad you're not scared... But I'm afraid it's more complicated than it may seem.. But let's not worry about that for now. What would you like to drink?" He asked, leading her back into the castle and up to his room, gesturing for her to take a seat while he got her something. He was relieved that she seemed to like him, although he worried that if he tried to rush the bonding, she'd grow distant, although he wasn't sure how much time he really had.

----

Rosemarie stared down at her lap guiltily, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Her father had yelled and gotten upset at her in a similar way, often making her feel guilty about things that she wasn't responsible for or growing angry with her when she didn't praise him. She sniffled a little, wiping at her eyes. "I-I'm sorry, Sir.. I-I'll be more grateful.." She murmured the same response she usually gave her father, fists clenched in her lap to try to keep her from crying more.

@ katahdin
"I don't know. I want to try something you, you pick." Cassia said and smiled climbing into the chair she had last night. "You know it's not about if I am scared or not." she said as he returned because honestly she wasn't as scared as she had been yesterday but she was terrified of what he would do if she accidentally started to bleed. Cassia bit her lip. "People do things they are scared of everyday, often times several times a day. I have listened to the stories when no one thought I was listening and one thing has always been the same, you take care of the women you feed from... I am guessing that part of the reason I am around is because of this reason. It's making more sense now though it kind of makes me sad to. But then there are other reasons I am here that the other girls don't have and that is what I am most scared of. You want something rom me that you don't want from them and I don't know you yet enough to give you anything but a chance to get to know you." she said and and shrugged. "Does that make sense?" Cassia asked and sipped at her drink. She wanted to be clear with him. Cassia had not grown up in a bad place, she had not grown up with all the knowledge of what a vampire was and how bad it could be but she did grow up hearing the stories of his seduction and feedings and seen the tired women with he holes in their neck or sometimes other places. She grew up knowing that the world held things she didn't understand and no one wanted to talk about. Cassia bit her lip. "Regardless of all this I want to know more about you, not just your vampireness... she said and chuckled because she didn't have a word for it.

---

Zane turned as she spoke and frowned. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He sighed and walked over to her and knelt beside her taking her hand. "I am sorry. I have made you cry." he said not knowing really how to fix this. She had moments ago be angry and frustrated with her situation, with him and now she was in tears. Women made to sense and yet he could not survive without her already. Rosemarie was someone he wanted in his life. He just knew it by her presence and her sent. Zane sighed. "I have done it again ruining our meeting. Rosemarie you do not need to do anything you are entitled to feel how you feel and I understand it I do but... my situation is not like others. I can not go out and just meet people. I can not make friends like everyone else, let alone something more. So I have saved you from a life you had been destined for and brought you into mine. Not much better granted but it is at least somewhere you can be yourself. Zane reached up and brushed a tear from her eye and placed his hand on her fist. "What can I do to make you more comfortable here? I can't let you go but tell me what I can do..." Zane hung his head. He knew she had to morn her old life and hopes and dreams and he had to give her time and support to do that but it wasn't easy when all he wanted to do was kiss those lips again take her to his bed and drink from her.

@ Jinx...

Thibault prepared some of his favorite tea, a cup for each of them, carefully setting down the steaming liquid on the table next to her chair before taking a seat across form her. "I understand, Cassia.. I know you're scared, and don't expect anything from you and won't take anything from you if you don't give it willingly... But I need you to understand that there is an element of time at work, and as much as I don't want to rush you, I would appreciate a swift decision." He spoke calmly as he watched her, unable to help but stare at her neck, practically hearing her heart beating, even sitting so far away from her.

----

Rosemarie lifted a hand to wipe at her eyes, letting out a soft sob as she shook her head, ruining the makeup that Lynore had worked hard at making perfect on her. When he asked what he could do to help her she just shook her head a little, slipping out of her chair until she was sitting in his lap and resting in his arms, face buried in his shoulder as she cried softly. As much as she hated that she'd been ripped from her old life, she felt comfortable around him, safe, which was something new to her, as she hadn't had the best home life and the men that had taken her certainly weren't kind. She didn't understand why he kept referring to himself as a monster and his situation being odd, but she figured he'd tell her in his own time.

@ katahdin
Cassia looked at him and bit her lip nodding taking the cup and sipping from it. It was good, different in a way. Not exactly what she had been expecting when she asked for him to surprise her. Cassia looked back at him after analyzing her tea. "I would like to help in whatever way I can and appreciate the time I have to consider your offer. Maybe in a couple days we can revisit what this all it but for now it's just to soon." she said and bit her lip. "Thibault... if you're not scared of heights... might I then ask... What are you scared of?" she asked softly not wanting to push but wanting to find out.

---

Zane sighed as he held her to him and rocked her gently. He pressed his cheek to her head and just sat there on the floor with her as she cried. "It's okay you can tell me in time." he whispered so she could hear him and he sighed closing his eyes. As much as Zane hated to hear her cry he immensely enjoyed holding her, comforting her. There was something about it that soothed something in his own heart. Zane stayed there a while until she seemed to calm then stood and carried her into his room and sat in his chair with her in his lap gently stroking her hair. "Are you feeling better now? Do you want to try and finish your food?" he asked her softly.

@ Jinx...

Thibault nodded, sipping from his tea, looking a little better than he had earlier, but still looking rather ragged. "Thank you for your kindness, Cassia.. Its much appreciated." He smiled around his cup, shrugging a little at her question. "I'm not sure.. I've never had a reason to be afraid of anything before." He answered simply.

----

Rosemarie remained in his arms, even after she had stopped crying, her arms wrapped securely around him. She relaxed into his lap once he brought her inside, shaking her head a little. "It'll be cold by now.. I-I'm sorry I ruined our dinner." She murmured softly, fingers playing innocently with the buttons on his shirt.