2 comments/ 11184 views/ 1 favorites Lady of the Night Ch. 02 By: ceres_andraste He was a predator. His eyes flashed red as he watched the woman leaving the Tavern of the Nine Bells with some other ladies of the night. They were laughing as he silently followed, wrapping the shadows about himself in a lover's embrace. He waited for her to separate from the others with a smile on her face before following her down the alley. She was wearing a faded blue dress that seemed to be made of a soft material. He thought of how it would feel on the back of his hand as he ran it from her small ankles up to the tender flesh of her inner thigh… He shook his head clearing it. Darien, what is wrong with you?, he thought to himself. But then his eyes drifted to her raven black hair that was confined in a French braid neatly down her back and he imagined how it would feel in his hands as he freed it and crushed it between his fingers as he kissed her. The sudden clatter of a rock bouncing off his shoe brought him back to reality. He cursed silently as he watched her run the rest of the distance to the corner and turn it. What kind of idiot are you?, he asked himself sternly, she is a London whore and barely worth your notice even for a quick feed! And you just ruined that too with your day dreaming! But regardless of what his good sense was telling him, he couldn't help but think of her. He closed his eyes and immediately her image appeared before him. He thought of what it would be like to press her against his hard chest as he kissed her his tongue dueling with hers. The smell of her would permeate the air as he loosened her hair from its hold, the silky strands falling between his fingers and down her back. Then he would push back from her kneading her breasts through the soft material of her gown. His finger nail would elongate into a sharp talon as he cut the ties her pert breasts bursting forth from her gown for his eyes only. He would bend down and suckle on them drawing the nipple into his mouth making her moan for him. The discomfort of his pants brought him back to reality as he shook his head watching her approach with a customer. As she lead the first poor, and unattractive man down the alley way the sharp smell of sulfur permeated the air from the match he had just struck, He light a cigarette with it and slowly smoked it as he watched the man's brutal assault on the poor Lady of the night. Even as he crushed it out the man was throwing the coins at her in disgust and walking away. He watched her pick them up, apparently very much in need of the money, and walk back around the corner, her hips swaying in a manner that made him want to take her on the cobblestones and damn those watching. A few minutes later the theatre let out and he saw the crowd filter past. He was wondering why he was still standing around and not trying to find another meal. She came back a few minutes later with another man a gentile one this time apparently fresh out of the theatre. As soon as he saw the man he felt the presence of evil. He suddenly felt the need to pick her up and away from the situation which left him again wondering what was wrong with him this evening. Suddenly he realized why he was feeling worried as he watched the man bring up a sharp knife and slash the throat of the Lady. Almost before he knew what was happening he was on the man and had broken his neck. He threw the body against the wall of the building where it hit and landed with a sickening thud as the bones in the dead body broke. He sat down next to her and cradled her head in his lap as he licked the jagged wound, clean sealing it as he did so. The blood entering his mouth was like the finest wine he had ever tasted, but he ignored the sensation it caused as he healed her wounds, including the ones on her arms. Am I in heaven?, she thought as her eyes fluttered open, but the pain in her neck told her otherwise, I guess I am in hell then. She thought sadly as she looked at the man bent over her. He surely doesn't appear to be a demon to me, she thought, as the pain increased feeling like a red hot brand on her neck. As her eyes fluttered closed her life flashed before her and she mourned the loss of her girlhood innocence. Soon she did not have the energy to care as the permanence of oblivion started to come over her. He felt her eyes open and suddenly he realized how much blood she had lost. Picking her up, he ran with a supernatural speed back to his home and placed her on the couch. Feeling for her pulse, which was coming weakly and sporadic, he cursed and ripped open his wrist letting the blood drip into her mouth. "Drink, Chère," was all he said, and when he was convinced that she had had enough, but was not turned he sealed his wound. Her face now was not as pale as before and he nodded, smiling as he placed her head back on the settee. Looking down at her, he realized she was asleep. He stripped the ruined, blood soaked dress of her, and turning to a side table he grabbed a towel and a basin of water set there by one of the maids. He carefully washed her body, his own making demands of him that he hadn't felt in centuries. He looked down at her thinking of how much like an angel she appeared in sleep, certainly nothing like the lady of the night he knew her to be. Then he covered her with a light blanket before he snuffed the lamps and moved to the library to work. "Was it another profitable evening, milord?" Darien jumped, and looked up from his desk. "Damn it Mars, you scared me!" But Darien smiled at the Valet who had been with him for more years than he dared count. "I am sorry, Milord. I noticed we had a guest this evening, and when I came to inquire about the length of her stay you were so entrenched in your ledgers, I had to ask," The man had a sly smile on his face, damn him, thought Darien. "Well, it has been as profitable as any," He responded to the man's earlier inquiry, "And as to the Lady," he shook his head, "I am not yet sure." The man nodded before saying, "Is there anything you require before retire for the evening?" "No thank you, Mars. I believe I can see to the rest of my needs this evening." He watched his valet leave the room, closing the door behind him and sighed. What was he going to do with strange Lady of the Night? Oh, he had ideas. Lady of the Night Ch. 03 She sighed and stretched as she opened her dark jade eyes. She looked around the room noting the subtle elegance of the decorations in black and silver wondering where she was. Surely I have never stayed in an inn as sophisticated as this, she thought to herself before she noticed the stranger standing by the door. That man, who looked like a mixture of a demon and an angel with his long flowing black hair and dark brown eyes, was standing against the wall, and looking like a contented cat. She opened her mouth to ask where she was, but he shook his head and walked towards her. She sat up eyeing him warily. Upon reaching her, he bent down and kissed her holding her head and tangling his fingers in her long loose hair. He pulled her head back and ran his tongue along her lips asking for entry. She sighed into his mouth, and he thrust his tongue into her mouth and tasted her, bringing feelings to life in her body she had never before experienced. She wrapped her arms around his neck melting against his body. Suddenly, he disappeared from her arms and she felt bereft, looking around the dark room for him. The room was no longer there, and in its place was the alley. The man who had attacked her was there again with the knife and he began to attack her driving the knife into her over and over. She attempted to scream, but no sound came out. "Chère, wake up!" Darien said as he attempted to awaken her from her nightmare. She struggled against him even as she woke up, and he had to pin her hands above her head with one hand the other holding her ankles to keep her from thrashing out and hurting him. "Chère, wake up you are safe here. No one is going to hurt you." She started awake from the shaking and looked around blindly for a moment, fighting the bonds holding her. Confused, she starting striking out with her feet, kicking free from his grasp, panting with the effort, "Chère, I promise, no one is going to harm you here. You will only hurt yourself thrashing about like that. You wouldn't want me to have to tie you down would you?" he said his eyes laughing as he released her adding, "It was only a dream," he stroked her hair which was coming loose. She blushed, wondering who this gentleman was kneeling by her on the settee in a place she had never been before. When he saw that she was awake he released her hands and stroked her face gently. "My name is Darien," he whispered huskily in her ear, answering her unanswered question, as he sat her up moving behind her to unbraid her hair and rub it between his fingers, "May I have the pleasure of knowing yours?" "My name is Marcille, if it pleases you, Milord," she responded demurely, her language reverting to how it was before poverty had overcome her. She was confused by his behavior; no one had ever treated her this way. "May I ask you a question Milord?" "Most certainly, you may ask anything you wish, as long as you call me Darien." She looked into his eyes and nodded slightly, "Then, Darien, I wished to ask if I am in heaven." He threw back his head and laughed, and she got her first good look at his face. She blushed as she realized that his face was fiercely beautiful, with his flowing black hair going just past his shoulders which he kept held back with a red silk ribbon in the current fashion. His eyes, though they were closed now, she had noticed were the darkest brown she had ever seen. "Why would you ask a question like that, Marcille?" he asked her after he had regained his composure. She smiled, "Merely because you look so like an angel, Milord." The shock on his face from her blatantly innocent explanation took him a moment to overcome before he could answer her. "No, sadly you are not in heaven, but if you were you would be the angel, not I." She smiled at him as she tried to rein in her turbulent emotions. What caused me to ask a question like that? She wondered to herself before she asked him a more logical question. "May I ask where I am then Darien?" "You are in my home the Villa Hadean where I brought you after I found you injured in an alley," he smiled gently moving from behind her and gently laying her back against the settee as if she was made of porcelain. "You are still very weak from the attack, so please, chère, rest here and feel safe. I will come back around to check on you before I head to bed for the night." She nodded as she let him lay her back and cover her gently with the light blanket that had been placed at the end of the settee. As she watched him walk away she frowned slightly reaction to him. When he was near her she felt confused, but when he went away, like he was doing now, she wanted him to come back. Why, she thought, was he being so nice to her? Most people would have just left her to rot in the gutter...; she pulled herself from this thought by taking her first really good look at the man since she had awoken. He was a tall man, with a cloak of confidence surrounding him with every move. His brown eyes seemed to take in everything in his surroundings, and when he was talking to her his eyes were only for her, making her feel precious and wanted; a strange feeling for a Lady of the night who only relied on herself. As if he was reading her mind, he turned around and strode back over. As he stood over his hunger for her was evident in his eyes. She sat back up, and suddenly realized that she was not wearing anything under the blanket which suddenly seemed far too small. She held it around her like a shield suddenly wondering why she wanted him to return, "Was there something you required, Milord? I mean Darien," she added quickly remembering his earlier request. He smiled and gently shook his head, as if to dislodge some errant thought, and stood silently looking down at her. Suddenly, he bent down closing the distance between them until only a few inches separated them, and she could feel his breath warm on her cheek. He remained right where he was for what seemed an eternity. She could feel the heat from his body, though he was not overtly close to her. Her tongue darted out and ran over her bottom lip in an unconscious gesture that was innocently erotic. His smile widened and she noticed his strong white teeth as he made the final move to kiss her. As his lips touched hers she felt the world tilt and grabbed his shoulders to keep from falling off. His lips were warm and strong against hers as he ran his tongue on the crease of her lips, as if asking for entrance. She parted her lips and sighed into his mouth as his tongue entered her mouth. His arms felt like steel as he held her to him making her feel protected. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tangled her tongue with his. He had never experienced anything like it. Her mouth tasted like honey and her tongue stroking his sent flames trailing down his body into, it seemed, in his growing manhood. He ran his fingers through her silk fine hair and kissed his way to her ear nipping it lightly and listening to her gasp at the sensation. He smiled and sat back on his heels and looked into her eyes. He looked at her for a long moment before he turned off the oil lamps, "Goodnight Marcille." Her eyes were dazed and half closed as she smiled at him as she responded, "Goodnight Darien." He walked over to the table by the door wondering what he was going to do with this strange woman. After donning is top hat, gloves and cloak he silently opened the door and stepped into his carriage that would take him back to London. What were you thinking? He said to himself, with this entire Jack the Ripper hysteria going on it has been hard enough to get a decent meal after sundown, but no... You had to go out and play the knight in shining armor to a woman who is obviously not a damsel. now it is very likely now that we will go hungry tonight. But, he argued with himself, there is the girl in the house. If we can't find a meal we can always finish off what that man started... "No!" he screamed as he stepped out of the carriage and into the London night, "I won't kill her!" Right then a well dressed gentleman walked past. As he thanked his lucky stars he began to stalk the man silently. As he followed the gentleman he soon realized that something was wrong... He seemed to look a lot like the man that he had thrown off of Marcille earlier that evening... But how is that possible? He wondered, the way I threw him against the wall would have killed anything but a... He stopped that thought, no, it couldn't be... No one was that stupid. After all, there were rules to this game. With his hunger forgotten for the moment he began stalking this man, this Jack the Ripper. He followed him all throughout London into the Predawn hours of the morning. When he lost the Ripper among early morning traveler's he decided it was time for him to go home. He called his carriage and stepped lightly into it. He knew he would shortly return to his home and to Marcielle. When he returned home he walked to the study door and listened to her breathing for a few minutes. He knew little of what he was going to do with her at the moment, but one thing was for certain. He would protect her. Lady of the Night Ch. 04 The sound of a Robin singing outside of the window awoke Marcille the next morning. She blinked her eyes against the bright light in the room, someone had apparently pulled the curtains, and rolled over trying to get some more sleep by pulling the blanket over her head. As soon as her head was covered her feet were free to the air and they soon become cold. She sighed and opened her eyes blinking into the bright morning. At once she remembered where she was, her tiredness left her and she became curious. She rubbed her eyes and looked around the sparsely furnished room. The furniture was from the Louis the Sixteenth era of France. There was a large desk on the far side of the room from her in front of a large picture window. It had a veined marble top and a silver quill holder with matching ink well. There were also a few Queen Ann chairs set in certain areas of the room. They were all done in black and silver damask to match the walls and curtains of the room. Suddenly, she remembered the naked state she was in beneath the blanket. She wondered who had stripped her. Was it Darien? She wondered, or just a servant. Even though she had been a Lady of the night for many years now, she still blushed at the idea of Darien seeing her naked. With this in mind, she took the blanket and wrapped it toga-style around her body covering as much as possible. After she finished making sure that she was adequately covered she opened the door that lead into the hall and peeked outside. The sun was shining through the windows in the immense hall. The floor was a fine white marble, apparently from the same quarry where the desktop came from as it had the same fine veining almost making it appear like the floor had veins of black blood. She smiled as she closed the door to the sitting room she had been sleeping in and leaned over a nearby vase of red, white, and black roses. That is a strange combination, she thought to herself, I wonder why he chose these colors. The hall she noted was long and wide enough for five people to walk abreast and not bump into the person next to him. There were more Queen Anne chairs dotting the hall. She silently closed the sitting room door and wandered down the hall inspecting a beautiful landscape painting that was hanging on the wall. Suddenly, while she was engrossed in the painting, someone tapped on her shoulder causing her to jump. She turned around with fear in her eyes wondering if she shouldn't be there, and saw an older man dressed as a valet. He had grey hair, ice blue eyes and was smiling at her. "Good morning, Madame. I am Mars, the Lordship's valet. I did not mean to startle you, but I saw you standing there as I came down the hall. Was there something you required?" She looked down at herself and blushed realizing how much of her legs were bare and she returned his smile, "Yes, if you don't mind, I would like some clothes." His eyebrow raised in question at her language. This did not sound like a London slum whore to him, but he responded, "I completely understand, Milady. Let me show you a guest room that was prepared for you while you were sleeping." "I would enjoy that," she said as she followed him up the stairs to a beautifully furnished room. It was painted in a sky blue and the bed was fit for at least 3 people to lay comfortably side by side. She sat of the soft bed and tears came to her eyes. "What does your master want from me?" He looked at her and understood her confusion, and wished he could assuage it, "Honestly, Milady, I do not know what he wishes in your regard. But I do know that he would not want you sitting around uncomfortable and wrapped in a blanket," He smiled gently, reminding her more of a grandfather than a valet, "Now I will call you a bath, and by the time you are done a clothier will be here to get you some new clothing." She smiled nervous at the idea of being treated this way. She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh as she rubbed her eyes wondering if this place, so like heaven, would disappear as in her dream. When she reopened her eyes Mars was gone but there was a wonderful tub in front of the fire which was being filled by other servants with hot water. Mars walked out of the room just as the others had come up the stairs with the lady's bath. He nodded his approval to them and walked to the study. He knocked lightly on the door and was answered with a gruff, "Entrez." He walked in the study his eyes slowly adjusting to the light of the single candle on Darien's desk; He looked at his master's face which was thrown into shadow by the candle, he looked pale, his skin was drawn tight around his skull, and it was obvious that he hadn't fed last night or slept this morning. "Master, you shouldn't be up at this time of day," said Mars worried. He had never in his seventy years of service seen his master look like this. "Thank you Mars for that astute observation," snapped Darien glaring at his valet.He shook his head and looked into the candle, "I am sorry Mars. I know I am acting out of the ordinary, but I am just worried about our guest." Mars looked at his Lord and raised a grey eyebrow not believing a word of what Darien was saying. After seventy years he knew when his master was trying to keep things from him. "She is whole and hail upstairs about to take a bath, as you well know. What is really bothering you Darien?" He asked with what would be, to other master's, a rude tone of voice. "I am not worried about how the staff will treat her Mars, I am not as young as all that. I am worried about the person who attacked her coming back for her." "I thought you said that you broke his neck against a wall, Milord." "And that I did. Broke more than that I am willing to wager, as hard as I threw him." "The please excuse my ignorance, Milord, but what is the problem?" "You have spent the entirety of your life in a Vampire's household, and you have no idea of why I am worried?" "But surely, Milord, a vampire would not attack an unfortunate in such a way?" "I will give you that I did not consider it a possibility either, but while I was out last night I saw him walking the streets whole and hale as if nothing had happened. I am Positive that the attacker was another Vampire. So while she is here I would like to make sure that she is safe. By no means make her a prisoner here, but just make sure she is discreetly watched while I am sleeping." "Of course Milord, it is as you wish. I will have someone keep a discreet eye on her." "Oh, and Mars?" "Yes, Milord?" "Send Sophia to tend to Marcille's needs. She came highly recommended as a lady's maid when we first hired her on." Mars bowed, "Of course, Milord." Darien nodded and got up walking to the door of his bedroom which was adjacent to the study where he worked. "Goodnight, Milord," Mars said as he snuffed the candle Darien had left burning. "Good day, Mars." Mars went directly to the kitchen where Sophia would be enjoying her breakfast before a long day of polishing silver. "Sophia?" He called as he entered the kitchen. A young woman stood up immediately brushing down her plain grey dress, "Yes Sir?" "His Lord requires you to attend upon the young lady who is out guest. She is currently staying in the blue room. Please attend on her as you would any woman of class." "But I was under the assumption, Sir, that she was a whore out of the White Chapel district?" Mars give her a stern gaze that would turn water to stone, "I do not want to hear you voicing that out loud again. If the Lord wishes her to be treated as a Lady, Then she will be with no questions. Understood?" Sophia blushed and ducked her head, "Yes, sir." "Good. Oh and Sophia, be sure to keep an eye on her. The Lord is worried about her well being." She nodded and curtsied to Mars before heading up to the lady's room. Meanwhile, Marcille was watching the servants fill the copper bath tub. After the tub was filled and one of the servants had spread in some dried rose petals, she got in the tub and sighed as her sore muscles relaxed. She sank deeper into the bath until her black hair was all that was left floating at the top of the bath water. She surfaced and rubbed her eyes, nearly jumping out of her skin when she noticed the girl who had appeared in her room. "I am sorry Milady; I didn't mean to startle you. I am Sophia and his lordship wished me to tend to your needs. Would you like me to tend to your hair?" She smiled and nodded, "Yes please, I have an awful time washing it." She relaxed as Sophia washed and rinsed her hair ducking under the warm water to clear out the remainder of the soap. When she came back above the water Sophia carefully laid her hair out over the side to allow it to dry. "If you need anything Milady I will be sitting just outside the door," Sophia said as she walked silently to the door closing it behind her. Marcille laid back and let her thoughts wander to the mysterious man who had brought her here the night before. She was still surprised he had not left her to die as many people would have done. After all, she was just a Lady of the night, a mere unfortunate; most would have left her to die in the gutter. Suddenly, her thoughts moved away from this morose line as she thought of Darien. Just the memory of the kiss last night was enough to send shivers down her spine. Closing her eyes she visualized this strange man His long flowing black hair tied back in a red ribbon, his face appearing as though it had been chiseled from marble. She saw him, in her mind's eye, coming into her room and kneeling by the metal tub she was currently sitting in. She looked deep into his eyes feeling as if he could see al the way down into her soul, while he gently brushed her hair with one hand his other cupping her face and bringing it closer so he could kiss her. She sighed into the kiss, making a purring noise as his tongue thrust deep into her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck unconsciously pressing her breasts into his white shirt. He pulled her closer in response and lifted her out of the tub running his hands over every inch he could reach while carrying her to the bed. He lay over feeling every bit like a personification of masculinity when suddenly she heard a crash outside the door. She opened her eyes and realized it was only a dream, sadly, noticing that the water was becoming freezing. She called for Sophia and stood up shivering slightly. Marcille stood and stepped into the towel that Sophia offered her a minute later and dried herself quickly, due to the chill in the room. She put on a robe and sat down to allow Sophia to brush out her hair while they waited for the clothier. Lady of the Night Ch. 04 She smiled up at him and answered, "Of course, Milord, shall we go?" He shook his head as he led her to the carriage, "Please Marcille, do not call my Lord, for I am not your Lord. To call me Darien would please me greatly." She nodded, "Of course, Darien. I apologize. I will call you whatever you wish." He laughed as he handed her up into the carriage and followed her in. As the carriage jostled down the road he looked at her, flushed with happiness, and good wine, he found her suddenly irresistible and leaned forward kissing her deeply. He cupped her face in his hand as his tongue dueled with hers. She moaned into his mouth letting him lean her back against the side of the carriage as it moved through the London streets. She looked into his eyes and saw his kiss-swollen lips, a blush stole up her face and she looked away. He turned her face back to him, "Please do not turn from me, Marcille. I am sorry if I am scaring you. I just can not keep from toughing you." As if to emphasize this fact he ran a finger along the side of her face and down her neck causing her to tilt her head to the side baring her neck to him. The movement of her tilting her head to the side brought her neck temptingly close to him. He could smell her blood lurking beneath the surface like a good aged wine. "Ah, Marcille, you are such an evil temptress," he whispered in her ear as he trailed kisses down her neck, enjoying the scent of her blood, though he knew he could not afford to indulge in it. Gaining control of himself he sat back and smiled, "I believe we are home." He assisted her down from the carriage and walked her to her room. He ran his thumb over her cheek and kissed her gently, trapping her against the wall with one hand. She sighed and leaned into his hand like a cat. In all of her time as an unfortunate she had never had this response to a man. She looked into his smoky blue eyes as he bent his head lower again. He merely brushed his lips with hers lightly at first then he ran his tongue along her bottom lip and she opened willingly. As the kiss deepened his hands wandered over body. He couldn't seem to get enough of her. She retaliated and ran her hands along anywhere she could reach. She broke off the kiss and nibbled her way to his ear where she nipped at the lobe and smiled as he moaned. She moved her hands from his neck down his muscled back and held him closer to her as she teased his ear with her mouth. Meanwhile, his hands roamed her body kneading her buttocks and pressing her against his raging erection. His lips were unrelenting as he kissed the side of her face to her neck and his eyes took on a red glow as the blood lust consumed him. He shook his head to clear it as she pulled back from him giving him a questioning look. "It's nothing, Marcille," he purred as he brought his lips to hers kissing her deeply in attempt to wipe the worry from her eyes. She continued her exploration of his body as her hands roamed to his chest and pushed his jacket off his shoulders and her hands moved to his shirt and slowly began to unbutton his shirt with a sudden urge to feel his hard hot body against hers. At the same time his hands roamed up her back and expertly began to work on the small buttons of her dress. As he freed it he gently steered her through the door and to her bed. As he laid her back on it he pulled the top portion down freeing her breasts to his view. She murmured a protest as he freed himself from her questing hands which had finally freed all of his buttons and had pulled his shirt from his breeches. He shrugged out his shirt and came over her grasping her breast in his hand and kneading it causing her to moan and arch against him. He answered with a moan of his own as she arched and rubbed against his erection. She looked up at him, her eyes glazed over with desire. She ran her hands over his chest even as he dipped his head to taste her breast. The pleasure was so great that she felt as if she would die of it. Her hands moved to the waist line of his breeches and smiled as she felt the muscles of his stomach jump at her light touch. She gently unlaced his breeches and freed his manhood running her hands lightly up and down it causing him to growl deep in his throat as he claimed her mouth once again. After breaking off the kiss he looked at her, "God, chère, do you know what you do to me?" She looked up at him smiling wickedly and attempting to repress a giggle, "If it's the same as you do to me, Darien, then we may be in trouble." He laughed at this and kissed her possessively as he freed her body from the dress she was wearing. After he had pulled it off and flung it aside he stepped back to look at her. She felt his gaze hot upon her as if a million tiny flames were roaming her skin and she looked into his hungry eyes. He quickly rid himself of his breeches before he regained his good senses and came down over her. Her body arched against his and she reached for him. He eagerly went into her arms and kissed her passionately. He rolled off of her, ignoring her moan of protest, as he looked down her body and moved his hands over following the path of his eyes. He shaped her breasts and took her nipples in between his thumb and forefinger playing with them until she writhed and moaned beside him. Then he moved them over her belly to the nest curls at her junction and felt her jump beneath him. He played his fingers over the soft skin of her inner thighs and then placed them at her feminine entrance. He leaned over and kissed her neck as his fingers parted her center and stroked her nub as she moaned and arched against him. "Not yet, ma chère, not yet," He whispered in her ear as she grabbed him attempting to pull him to her. He leaned down and took her nipple in his mouth and sucked on it while moving his finger faster against her. She felt like she was standing at the end of a precipice and the only real things in the world were him and her. All she knew was that she wanted him to relieve her torment. "Please Darien," she moaned as she attempted yet again to pull him to her, and this time he came over her and took her wrists in his hands and held them above her head as he slammed into her. She moaned into his mouth when he kissed her, and he continued to pound into her and she felt herself on the edge of the cliff again. He bent his head down to her breast and she felt a sharp pain before she tumbled off the cliff wrapping her legs around him as she came, and seconds later she could hear him call out her name as he came deep inside of her. Lady of the Night Ch. 05 Frankenstein, What a strange choice of literature she picked, yet amazingly accurate. He thought to himself. He saw himself as a monster, but he doubted that she, or anyone else for that matter, noticed that side of him as he kept it hidden from the world. Even Mars had only seen it a few times in his seventy years of service. He watched her silently for a few minutes before realizing how strange it was for someone from the White Chapel slum to be able to read. Just the fact that a small part of the female ton could read was a miracle. Most women, no matter whether they were high or lowborn, did not have such time for such frivolities. He found himself wondering, and not for the first time, where she came from and who she really was as he walked over to his desk and pulled out his ledger to work out the household accounts for last month. He had worked on the accounts for a few hours when he decided that enough was enough. He closed the ledger for the night and watched her. She was still deep within her book, he noticed with a grin, noting on how she was twirling a strand of raven black hair around her finger idly. She mindlessly adjusted her dress as she turned the page, then seeming to realize that he watching her she looked at him as he sat behind his desk. "Are you enjoying the book, Ma chère?" "Yes, the idea she is relating of the loss of innocence is intriguing," then realizing she had said too much she blushed and looked at her feet. He raised an eyebrow at the grasp of the literature she had and he walked over to her sitting next to her on the settee moving her hair behind her and kissed her neck, "There is more to you than meets they eye isn't there, chère?" She looked at him, "You could say that Darien," her tone indicated that she did not wish to continue this line of conversation as she resumed reading her book. "Who are you, Marcille? Are you a witch who has put her spell on me?" He purred into her ear as he nipped her ear. She smiled looking up from her book her eyes becoming hazy with desire, "I am a witch no more than you are a vampire who has hypnotized me." He stilled as she said this, and then when he realized she was kidding he walked around and sat beside her in companionable silence happy to just watch her read. A knock on the door roused him from his observation of the light and shadow on her face, "Entréz," he responded looking toward the door. Mars walked in and bowed to them, "Milord there is a messenger at the door for you," he said with a discreet glance at Marcille. Darien got the hint immediately and got up, "I will be back shortly," he said as he walked though the door. Darien closed the door quietly behind him before he looked at Mars fully. "What is the matter Mars? I have never seen you so upset," he asked when he saw the look in his Valet's eyes. Mars shook his head, "You better come and see for yourself, Milord," was all he would say as he led Darien to a seldom-used second study. Darien followed him into the study and looked around as Mars light a candle. "What is this about Mars?" He asked with mock urgency. Mars walked over to a settee that had a blanket on it and pulled it back to reveal a man badly mutilated from multiple stab wounds. "Is this Davidson?" Darien asked. "It is Milord." "What in the nine tiered side of Hades happened to him?" He asked as he bent down to see if the man was still alive. "It's no use Milord; he was dead when he was found, no more than three miles from here." "I did not expect such an end for him," Darien said sadly, "He was one of our best men." "Aye, Milord that he was." "Was there anything found around his body, a note or something?" "No, Milord. He was discovered just as you see him. I think this was meant as note enough." "In that case, it is well taken Mars. In the morning, I want you to send a note up to our old friend Benjamin. I want him to get a few of his men posted around here. I would feel more at ease when I am sure she is safe." "Of course, Milord, I will do it first thing in the morning. Would you like me to have him post a guard on the young Lady as well?" "No, Mars that will not be necessary. I do not want her to feel like a prisoner here. Just have one of the staff keep an eye on her while I am sleeping. That in combination with guards around the perimeter of the estate should keep her safe enough." Mars bowed, "As you wish Milord." Darien smiled then went back into the library where he found Marcille asleep, her head bowed into her book. He smiled and gently removed the book from her hands and set it on the table before he picked her up and carried her up to bed. After he put her in a nightgown and slipped her beneath the covers, he found himself wondering, again, where this young Lady had come from. She obviously was not bred out of the gutter; her features were too refined for that. He finally acknowledged the fact that he was not going to get any answers from her while she slept, and left the room to go hunt.