Bloody dreams of you

@ katahdin
Madeline frowned and nodded. "Yes Sir." she said and then exited. This conversation was not going to be an easy one with Madeline. She bit her lip and moved with tase through the castle. Once she found the girl that always gave the master the most energy after feeding and sent her to his chambers she then turned and headed to Cassia's chamber only to find her sitting and reading a book. Cassia looked up with so much hope in her eyes and Madeline frowned causing a worried look in Cassia's eyes. Madeline entered and closed the door behind her. "Cassia we need to speak." she said stepping in as Cassia closed the book setting it aside.

Jasmine walked to the Master's room and knocked on the huge doors entering once she heard his voice call for her to enter. The site of him caused her worry. "Oh Master." she said softly and moved towards him the door closing behind her. "Let me help you." she said pulling her hair to the side offering herself to him.

---

Zane blushed. "It's an old Norwegian lullaby... my mother use to sing it to me when I was a young child." he said softly and thought back to his mother who had long since past. He had lived so long ago now. It was amazing what 300 years could make in a society. "Sleep now little one." he said softly and kissed her head gently. Zane looked down at the beautiful mess of hair and curious eyes. He could look at her for hours but he only had a little while before he needed to return to his room and into the dark to sleep.

@ Jinx...

Thibault sat at the edge of his bed, watching hungrily, eyes almost desperate, as Jasmine came in and sat next to him. Almost as soon as she sat his arms were around her holding her close, fangs piercing the skin on her neck as he drank hungrily, eyes going wild and his grip around her tightening at the first taste of her blood. He was always careful not to drink too much, not wanting to injure anyone, but this time he took a little more than usual, finding it a bit difficult to stop himself in his condition, but once he pulled away and sat back he felt much better, a bit of color returning to his skin and the dark circles under his eyes improving quiet a bit, although he still looked rather ill. He turned away to grab a cloth to press against her neck, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "Thank you, Jasmine... I hope you are not injured."

----

Rosemarie smiled a little, nodding as she closed her eyes once more, settling into bed comfortably. "It's a beautiful song... Goodnight, Zane.." She murmured softly, it not taking long before she was sound asleep in his arms, one of hers loosely draped over him and her head resting against his chest.

@ katahdin
Jasmine smiled softly. "I am fine Master. I might need to rest here a moment and drink some water if you don't mind." she said softly.

Cassia sat on her bed as Madeline sat on a chair near her. "Cassia... The Master of the house is very sick." she said and began explaining about vampires and the need they have to bond. It is very dangerous not to do so. He probably should have when he found you as a child but he wanted to wait... for you." Madeline said and Cassia frowned. Madeline walked and Cassia listened. It was more than Madeline had expected her to do. "He might have two days before the effects are irreversible." she said and Cassia bit her lip. "Might I see him?" she asked softly.

It seemed the questions she had been hoping to avoid, it was time to ask. Cassia stood wearing a soft blue dress with ruffled blue shoulders that floated over her arms. As usual her feet where bare as she battled through the mansion. Mistress Madeline had gone ahead to make sure it was safe. Cassia passed Mistress Madeline and Jasmine headed back to the rooms. Jasmine glared at her as they passed and she could guess why. Cassia stopped at the doors and gently knocked waiting to hear Thibault.

---

Zane grinned and nodded. He waited until she was resting deeply. Once he was sure she was out he carefully shifted her into her bed and tucked her in pressing a light kiss to her head before sneaking out of her room. Zane moved into his own room and into the dark room slipping into his sleeping spot. Once he was ready he closed the lid sealing himself into the darkness. Zane was pleased with how the night turned out and he hoped she would be happy to see him again tomorrow.

@ Jinx...

Thibault got Jasmine a glass of water and helped her rest, moving to his closet to get dressed into something nicer for his meeting with Cassia. He wished Jasmine a good night before calling Cassia into the room, smiling kindly. "Good evening, Cassia.. I'm sorry I couldn't see you earlier, I was unwell.. Would you like anything?" He asked, gesturing for her to sit in their usual spots. He didn't want to have to rush her, terrified she'd reject him.

"I hope Madeline explained everything to you properly, but if you have any questions, or want me to explain it again, I'd be happy to."

---

Rosemarie slept soundly through the day before waking, having a small meal before she picked a book to do some reading, waiting anxiously for the time when she could see Zane. Once it was time she quickly changed out of her nightgown and into a pretty dress before hurrying to his room, practically jumping into his arms once she arrived out of excitement, wondering what he had planned for them tonight.

@ katahdin
Cassia nodded. "This is all just a lot to go over will you please explain it again." she said. Cassia hadn't truly believed in vampires until he admitted it. Then the evidence had been easy to see but then to find out he is dying without a bond mate and he wants her? She felt like her head was swimming. Why not Mistress Madeline or Jasmine? Why not any of the girls here? Cassia moved around his room looking at things listening hard to what Thibault was saying. She finally moved back to the chairs they always used and she took the tea cup that always seemed to be there for her. Cassia sat and took a sip feeling it's warmth spreading through her. She looked up at him her head spinning as she tried to hold all her questions until the end.

---

Zane was sitting in his chair watching the fire and looked up as Rosemarie landed in his lap. He laughed and cradled her to him. He couldn't remember the last time he really laughed. "Good evening Rosemarie." he said softly and pushed the hair that was in her face back. "How was your day?" he asked and kissed her head. He was thinking tonight he might try to move their relationship up a level. First he had to feed her though.

@ Jinx...

Thibault nodded slightly, watching her pace around the room as he spoke. "Vampires, while they can live forever, need to become bonded with a human periodically, in order to sustain themselves.. Simply feeding off random, or even the same person without bonding can't keep us healthy forever. And we can't bond with anyone, it has to do with compatibility.. And some vampires never find anyone to bond with, and end up going crazy and dying." Thibault sighed as he explained, rubbing his temples anxiously. "You don't have to accept.. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to."

----

Rosemarie snuggled into his arms, smiling up at him. "It was alright.. I found some books to read, and went up to the garden for a while, but it wasn't as fun without you around." She smiled, looking up at him. "What are we going to do tonight? Anything fun?"

@ katahdin
Cassia sat there for a while and bit her lip then spoke. "And I am compatible with you? How... why? What does a bond do? What will it be like?" She asked and set her tea down not able to remain sitting. She stood turning from him facing back over to the window and rubbing her arms as she looked out at the perfectly manicured gardens below. Cassia looked back over her shoulder at him. "We both know I won't let you go crazy and die Thibault." she said and looked down then back at the gardens and hugged her waist. She just wanted to understand more before she gave him anything. She was scared, it was normal when facing the unknown.

---

Zane chuckled. He was glad she enjoyed his company so much. "Well we can do all kinds of things. But I thought I might start cooking with you in the kitchen. Once we eat then we can go for a stroll." he said and ran his hand up her back. He wanted to kiss her again but he knew it was time to tell her the truth. He didn't want to but hiding this from her was to hard. He knew he would have to feed soon and once he did she would see him for what he was unless he could explain it to her.

@ Jinx...

Thibault smiled a little at all her questions, doing his best to answer. "I'm not sure how compatibility works.. All I know is that when I found you as a child, I knew we were compatible, and that I had to take you." He explained, sighing a little as he sunk further back in his chair. "The bond makes it so that your blood will be able to completely sustain me for long periods of time.. I'd probably only need to feed once or twice a month. It would also mean that I'd be bound to protect you and keep you safe, and you would be bound to looking after me during the day while I sleep, which Madeline does sometimes now. Other than that, I suppose the easiest explanation is that it's like marriage. You will belong to me, and I will belong to you."

He stood when she said that she wouldn't let him go crazy, slowly moving over to her, taking her hands in his as he gazed down at her. "I know you think that.. But I need you to understand the significance of the bond. Once bound, only death can separate us, and it can be painful at times. I need you to know that you dont have to do this. You can be free, I'll send you and Madeline as far away as I can, because I'm afraid that if you stay and dont bond to me I'll injure you unintentionally.."

---

Her eyes lit up when he mentioned cooking, nodding excitedly as she stood, grabbing at his hands. "I love cooking! What are we going to make?" She asked as she looked at him, smiling happily at him. She figured there was something else he was thinking about, but didn't want to push him to speak before he was ready.

@ katahdin
"Have you ever bonded before?" Cassia asked ignoring his statement. She couldn't just up and leave him when he needed her. She knew what she was going to choose it was just a matter of how comfortable she was going to be before doing so. "Other than feeding from me, what else will I need to do? I am sure the bonding is not just a couple vows like a normal marriage." she said figuring that there would be some consummation involved and that she would be moving in with him in order to fully complete her tasks. It had to be more than she could comprehend how but Cassia was trying to understand. She knew he must have bonded to someone else before and wondered what happened to her. It was unlikely he had gone all this time without being bonded.

---

Zane chuckled and stood letting her lead him out of the room. When she stopped unsure where the kitchen was he took her hand and lead her to the kitchen. "What ever you like the kitchen is fully stalked. I have to warn you though I have a very particular diet and probably won't be eating much tonight." he said not wanting her feeling to get hurt if she made something and he didn't eat it. Zane was glad he found someone so easily that he was able to bond with. He knew it wasn't easy finding those people and Rosemarie was exceptional. He smiled softly as they entered the state of the art kitchen. Zane took out some glasses slipping them on before turning on the lights.

@ Jinx...

Thibault smiled sadly, cupping her cheeks in his hands, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "I tried to bond once, shortly before meeting you... We were not compatible, and it ended quiet badly... She died, and I was ill for weeks after that. The day I met you was the first time I'd left the castle since I'd attempted to bond." He explained, caressing her cheeks, smoothing back her hair.

"The bond involves the vows being said, and then I feed from you while you wear that ring I gave you the other day.. Some vampires prefer to also consummate with their chosen partners when they feed for the first time, claiming that it makes the bond stronger, but I dont know if I believe that, and I not going to force you to do anything you dont want to do."

---

Rosemarie looked around the kitchen with wide eyes, releasing his hand to look through the ingredients he had stocked in his kitchen. "What do you like to eat? I'll try to make something you can eat too." She smiled at him, running through all recipies and dishes she knew how to make in her head.

@ katahdin
Cassia looked up at him starting to understand why this was such a rush. He had been patient waiting for her to be old enough and have a life before him, time he hadn't had. She nodded as he explained the bonding process and she nodded gently Cassia looked away then stepped forward and pressed herself to Thibault closing her eyes as her cheek pressed to his chest. There was still some danger that she would be unable to bond with him but it seemed unlikely. She breathed him in holding onto him. "Before I make my final decision I want to request one thing from you." she said softly. Cassia waited a moment before she spoke again. "I want to sleep beside you tonight and I want a kiss.... not a peck or a timid kiss. I want a you're going to be mine mind shattering kiss." she said her cheeks heating so much he could feel her blush through his shirt. Cassia knew if these two things went well then the rest would work itself out. Cassia clung to his shirt wondering if he would accept her terms.

---

Zane smiled glad she seemed to enjoy the kitchen. Zane frowned as she asked what he liked to eat. He couldn't tell her the ingredient that would make just about anything edible for him. "Steak, seared." It was the only thing that he could think of that was the easiest on him. "Umm honestly I don't eat a lot." he said and moved to her. "Why don't we make some pasta?" he asked knowing it was fun to make and he could at least make it edible for himself easily. "I have some special sauce that will work for me but you will have to make your own sauce." he said softly and smiled gently. He knew this was one of the harder things for them to do but it had somehow seemed like a good idea.

@ Jinx...

Thibault was surprised when she hugged him, although his arms instinctively wrapped around her securely, holding her close. He chuckled a little at her terms, hand moving to her chin to tilt her head back, gazing down at her lovingly. "Of course, my flower.." he murmured as he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. His kiss was gentle at first, but soon he deepened it, his arms tightening around her as he kissed her hungrily, needily, as if he'd wanted to do this for years.

---

Rosemarie nodded, thinking a little. "I can make ravioli.. Would that work?" She asked, smiling at him as she began to gather the ingredients she needed. When he started to help she shook her head, pushing him away. "No, I want to do it myself.. You've been so kind to me, I want to thank you somehow.." she blushed, looking up at him.

@ katahdin
Cassia looked up at him watching him. He leaned in close and she closed her eyes the sent of him invading her senses. She kissed him back gently as his lips got the feel of hers. It was like a switch went off as his hungry kisses devoured her. Cassia clung to him as his kiss became a desperate need. She clung to his shirt her lips meeting his with desperation. She had never been kissed before but this was what she had always imagined it to be. The books she had snuck readying as a younger child had explained them and so much more to her. She was innocent but she knew more than others might think she would.

---

Zane nodded softly. He went to start helping and she pushed him away. He looked down at her and the blush that rose on her cheeks hit him somewhere deep within. He nodded softly and cupped her cheek his mouth capturing hers before he realized what he was doing. He kissed her with a passion that was hard to resist. Zane pulled away and rested his head on her shoulder. "I am sorry." he whispered his breath little jagged. Zane pulled away and sat dow in the stool near the stove. "Raviolis sound good." he said trying to change the subject again.

@ Jinx...

Thibault kissed her deeply, drawing her closer as he allowed his tongue to slip between her lips, twirling it with hers. He nibbled lightly on her lower lip before he pulled away, resting his forehead against her shoulder, pressing a few small kisses to the tender skin of her neck before he sighed weakly. "I've waited a long time for that... But I'm afraid that if we continue, I may end up feeding from you before we are bonded, and I wouldn't want to hurt you.."

---

Rosemarie brushed brighter when he cupped her cheeks in his hands, gasping against his lips as he kissed her. She kissed him back happily, heart fluttering wildly in her chest as they kissed, panting slightly when he drew away and apologized. She blushed brightly as she watched him, frowning faintly.

"Zane... If.. If there's something you need to tell me, please, dont keep it from me.. I-Id rather know.." she murmured softly as she watched him, worried something was wrong.

@ katahdin
Cassia moaned softly letting him have his way with her. When he pulled back her breath came in gasps her eyes still closed. He placed kisses on her neck and she hummed her head falling to the side revealing her neck. He spoke and she nodded weakly. She bit her bottom lip and stepped back slowly. Cassia's eyes finally fluttered open her eyes still dazed, her cheeks pink and her lips slightly swollen. Cassia looked around then moved on not so steady legs to the chair by the fire. She took a sip of the cold tea and sighed looking into the fire. It was a good thing she didn't have to make a rational choice right now. Cassia wondered if there would be anything else that would happen with he bonding. Cassia looked at the ring still on her hand. "Why the phoenix?" she asked looking at the side of it. This ring was beautiful but if she had chosen it would have been something more sleek. "Why is the ring important?" she asked him.

---

Zane nodded. "There is a lot to tell you and some you might not believe and others that will start to help you make more sense of things. But please after dinner. I just want to spend this time with you. If after you want to retire to your room at least I would have had this time with you." he said softly and smiled gently at her. "Are you sure I can't help?" he asked feeling odd just sitting there. "What about drinks you want something to drink?" he asked her.

@ Jinx...

Thibault lifted his head as she pulled away, holding a hand out to steady her as he helped her to the chair by the fire. "Here, let me get you some fresh tea.. Or would you rather have something different?" He offered, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. He smiled a little when she asked about the ring, carefully taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it. "It was my mother's. It's been in my family a long time. When bonding, the vampire gives something special, important to the human he is bonding with, sort of like a sign that they belong to each other."

----

Rosemarie frowned a little, but reluctantly nodded. She smiled a little when he offered to help, shaking her head as she moved past him to get something, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek as she passed. "Nope, I'll take care of it." She set to work making the raviolis, carefully rolling out the dough and preparing the fillings, letting them cook while she prepared a sauce to go with it. Once she was finished she carefully plated the raviolis with the sauce, humming while she worked and moved about the kitchen, smiling once she was finished. "There. All done."

@ katahdin
"Tea is fine." Cassia said and then listened to him talk about his mom and the reason for the ring. She nodded and took the cup back after he had freshened it up. She thanked him sipping the warm liquid. "Is there anything else you think I should know before making my decision tomorrow?" she asked him wondering what he thought was important for her to consider before they made his official. Cassia bit her lip gently watching him cuddling into the giant chair.

---

"Mmm looks amazing." he said and stood heading to a pantry with a lock on it. He pulled out a dark bottle turning from her pouring something in his bowl before locking everything up again. Zane grinned and came sitting back down with her. He took a bite and nodded. "Yep that's good." he said and grinned sipping the drink he had on the counter. "You are very talented. So tell me what where you doing before you came here?" he asked wondering what she use to do.

@ Jinx...

Thibault sat back down across from her, shaking his head a little after a moment of thought. "No.. not really.. Do you have any more questions?" He asked, sipping his tea, looking rather tired and disheveled.

---

Rosemarie smiled, nodding a little as she ate. "Thank you.." she frowned when he mentioned her life before coming here, looking down at her plate. "I was a graduate student at university.. I was almost done my degree.." she pushed her food around her plate sadly, hurrying to finish it, not wanting to seem like she was ungrateful for the food.

@ katahdin
"Not that I can think of at the moment." Cassia said softly. "You look tired maybe we should head to bead early." she said softly and bit her lip gently. It was hard getting to know someone when they where so sick. Cassia at least was starting to see this arrangement like an arranged marriage in a way. She wondered what it was that she would do in the end. Cassia didn't think she could just let him die though.

---

Zane frowned. "I don't mean to upset you. What where you studying?" he asked softly wanting to give her something the she could still do. If he could let her finish her studies here then at least he could give her that but if it was something that she couldn't he would feel guilty for brining it up again.

@ Jinx...

Thibault nodded a little, feeling much better than he had before he'd fed from Jasmine, but it wasn't much of an improvement. "Perhaps.. But I don't want you to go feeling like you're being forced into this, Cassia.. I don't want you to be forced into doing anything, including going through the bond." He said, frowning a little as he looked at her. "If you don't want to, I'm sure I'll be able to find someone else to bond with, and you'll be more than welcome to either remain here in the castle, or you and Mistress Madeline can leave."

---

"History... It's fine though, I didn't like it much anyway." Rosemarie forced a smile as she lied, not wanting to upset him. She knew there was nothing that could be done about it now, so she figured it was best not to get upset or even think about it. "The food you keep here is very lovely, where does it come from?" She changed the subject, finishing her food before moving over to the sink to wash her plate, wanting to distract herself with something. "Have you ever thought about growing vegetables in your garden? I'm sure you could grow some nice things up there, with all of the sun it gets.."