Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Mordred & Marguerite]
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Marguerite on 02-12-2008, 05:51:35</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Mordred &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>02-12-2008, 05:51:35</strong>
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				<em>Here comes the bride,<br>All dressed in white...</em><br><br>Those two lines replayed over and over in Nola's mind as she realized her dream wedding loomed ever closer. Still, she could not believe she was going to get married and start her shared life with her fiancee. Slightly, it made her giddy and sick at the thought. Once she married, this was it. No more wondering if he who she would never call to mind might reconsider his foolishness, get down on his knees and beg her to take him back. No more looking over her shoulder in fear and anticipation of the day he would return and claim her once more. No more fearing he might lash out at the life she had built for herself or those she had come to befriend and care for. The only fear she had was what wedding gown she could choose to walk down the aisle in. <br><br>That thought brought her back to the task at hand and to her mirrored reflection in the bridal shop. She spent the past few hours heading from shop to shop with her soon to be mother in law and her fiancee's female relatives to find the gown to make Ethan's eyes shimmer once she walked down the aisle in the dress. Glancing at herself in the mermaid inspired dress, her eyes flickered towards the pair of swallows tattooed on her left and right wrist. Each swallow held significance to her. According to sailor folklore, a sailor with one swallow was a sign he travelled over five thousand nautical miles while a sailor with two swallows had travelled ten thousand nautical miles. She might not have logged miles on a ship but she felt like a sailor in the ways she traveled for the past five years to this point in her life safely.<br><br>The swallowed also hid two puncture wound scars on each wrist from her old life as a freshie. Even thinking about the hidden puncture wounds brought back a flood of memories acquired during her stint as his fleshie. Nola had been a peace offering to his kind to ensure the treaty was held on both sides. Only eighteen, she was handed over to the vilest man she ever met. The one movies, books and nightmares warned those to watch out for: Dracula. Given to Dracula, she became his blood donation, giving him his sustenance whenever he required it along with a mind to converse with whenever he wanted. However, never had he touched Nola in a manner to be considered sexually or romance-like. The first year spent with him she was glad he wanted nothing of her body only that she kept herself healthy and conversed with him on various subjects. <br><br>Nola had been glad in the fact he did not need her body in his bedroom for she felt there were more things out in the world than being a human blood bag. She yearned to throw herself into social work and help broken familes try to be whole again by any means. If a child needed to be taken from an abusive househould and placed with another family, she worked long hours to make sure the traumatized child never had to worry about another father coming at them with a meat cleaver or a mother spending her paycheck on narcotics instead of groceries to fill their bellies. Instead, she was stuck in the role of being Dracula's donation bag until either he grew weary of her or she died out from natural age. Never had she asked him to give her the 'kiss of immortality' as most of the made fleshies in the community called it. Never had she wanted to live out her life at his side nor in his shadow.<br><br>Nola could have eaten those foul her words as she spent time in his company and in his various homes he lived in. Slowly, but surely, she started to see the history behind him. Noticed mannerisms and expressions to warn her of an impending sour mood or amusement with every passing day. Nola even came to find herself enamored with him and hoped to reveal those feelings to him. She had adored him not because of his title and his grand history but of the man she saw whenever she conversed, laughed, bickered and even fed him. However, it was not meant to be.<br><br>Whether she might have given herself away too soon or he had become tired of her, Dracula or Vlad as she came to call him started to act hostile and bitter towards her. He cast aside any opinions or comments she had with a lethal swipe of his hand, demoted their daily and nightly conversations to only speaking when he needed her to feed him. Before she had been given the leisure to feed him from a cut on her wrist to which he would later heal with a few drops of his own blood because she had not wanted him at her skin with his mouth and fangs. <br><br><strong><em>Give me your wrist...<br>But you promised never to pierce my skin!<br>I promise nothing to no one, much less a throw away female like yourself!</em></strong> <br><br>That night she cried for the change in his demeanor towards her. Cried for the bleeding puncture wounds in her left and right wrist, a towel pressed to her wounds to staunch the bleeding and cried over the loss of what she thought he might have held for her. It all came to a boil the night she asked him if he could ever see himself more than what people made him out to be especially in his cruelty.<br><br>This discussion started as she sat across the table from him at dinner. Before his change in moods, she had sat next to him as he watched her eat her food, asking her every now and then to chew over a savory dish to better see what food was to her liking and what was not. With his change in mood, she was placed at the other side of the long table with a centerpiece placed in the middle to obscure her vision of him. <br><br>Picking at her food which was a charred piece of meat, she out and out asked him if he reveled in the fact that he was making her miserable thus relating back to the rumors of his cruelty among the vampire community. Nola barely got out the last syllable of community before she found herself thrown against the wall and pinned by the neck. He bared his fangs in her face, telling her to never speak of his past or to insinuate he was anything but a Master Vampire.<br><br><strong><em>Never think to belittle me, Nola! Never! I should rape you till you scream out for your God, drain you to the point of death, snap your neck and leave you to the wolves.</em></strong><br><br>Those words set into motion the chain of events needed for Nola to put together that the life she could spend with Dracula in this state would drive her to the brink of insanity and eventual suicide. When he asked if she wanted to retract her statement, she did and apologized for her stupidity. He threw her aside, having his servants take her back to her room. There, as she was led towards the backway to her room, Nola let her body take action while her mind shut down. She fought her hold from the meager servants before running out of the servant's entrance to the pouring rain. Somehow, even with the high security around the place there was no one there to stop her as she made her way off of the large property and onto the nearest road to lead her away from the life she could have had but most of all from Dracula himself. <br><br>"Nola, are you alright?," Sonja, Ethan's younger sister asked as she managed to stop Nola's thoughts where it had tried to lead itself to. Any longer and she would have let it lingered towards how she fought to survive the first year on the run from Dracula. Nevertheless, she found the traces of tear drops on her face. Hastily, she wiped them away from her eyes and smiled at the bevvy of females watching her with wary eyes.<br><br>"I am just crying because this is the perfect dress," she admitted though it was a lie rolling off of her tongue. The woman all cooed and walked over to fuss in pleasure at the dress even more, moving her thoughts away from the past. She had managed to lie about her past as a former freshie to Ethan never letting him know that she had given a year and so much more of her life to Dracula. How could anyone admit to what she had gone through without the fear he might exact revenge on her. For now, she was sure in the fact that if he had not come looking for her before, he would not go looking for her now. <em>I am free of him,</em> was her last thought before she asked the other females if a veil or a tiara would be better, receiving a slew of answers in return.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>02-12-2008, 23:59:53</strong>
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				It was dusk, with the sun just barely hidden over the horizon, yet already Dracula wished it were time to fall back into his black slumber. Sitting outside a café downtown London, with a newspaper and a cup of coffee which never touched his lips, he watched people in their daily lives through highly tinted glasses. Glancing back at the paper, his lips curled in disgust. Must she flaunt herself? He remembered clearly the many nights when she would go on and on about helping people, this ‘social work’ she was so determined to do. She never thought he listened but he did.<br><br>Fine, go out in this world and do your work. Become the next Mother Theresa! Fine. His eyes reluctantly looked down towards the print again. Newspapers, magazines, picture after picture. She’s basically rubbing it in, he thought. But why? He did the kind thing, in letting her leave him unharmed. He allowed her to break, in a way, the peaceful treaty between the Fleshie Coalition and himself. He even sent her a dozen roses with a note, letting her know he forgave her and she would be welcome back once she realized her mistakes. All met with silence. A slap in his face.<br><br>Some knew him as his popular and well known name, Dracula, a slight shift from his original surname. Others, those more acquainted with history, by his first, Vlad. None that passed in foot by the tall man in the black Armani suit would guess that here sat the creature of legend. Dark coat draped over his crossed legs, he pulled a flask from his inner pocket for a quick drink. Damn, it was empty! Sighing, his mind flashed back to the good old days. Times when he could simply take what was his.<br><br>Tucking the newspaper under one arm and his coat under the other, he walked slowly down the sidewalk. He showed her kindness. How does she repay? By leaving him. And now this? He warned her that her life would never truly be her own.<br><br>What I should do, he thought, is find her and pull her by her hair back to where she belongs. She thought I was heartless and wicked? She has no idea! Then I could keep her alive by the faintest thread, not killing her, not disobeying the new pact… yet letting her know the privileged life she could have had… had soured into a hell&nbsp; of her own making. As each word and thought materialized, it just as quickly faded. No, I can’t do that. He did have a slight weakness for this mortal. Not love. No! Instantly his beloved Elisabeta formed in his mind, as she died in his arms. His heart died along with her. He swore to her soul he would never love another.<br><br>You leave me no choice, he thought. In the past, he’d simply kill those that opposed him. Ahh, but the Fleshies, they have gained power. It’s all about respect in these modern times. His was in jeopardy of vanishing.<br><br>What he would not admit to himself was any feeling towards Nola. No! Shaking his head as the smallest thought in that direction formed. No, again bellowing inside his mind as sudden sharp nails dug into his palms drawing for the briefest moment, blood, before sealing. Yet as he screamed these thoughts in his mind, her face would not fade. Those eyes that stared back at him in defiance and fear as he held her throat against the wall on that horrible night. The last time I saw those eyes, he thought. What was surely sadness, he hardened into thinking as regret. Regret that he lost such a bright, intelligent, friendly… No stop!<br><br>No, I am a monster. I do not love. I don’t know how. Why then, do those eyes always shine so brightly inside my mind when I close my eyes?<br><br>The slow walk sped to a casual gait. The casual gait sped to a blur. A plan was formulating in the mind of Dracula, Master Vampire.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>03-12-2008, 02:01:35</strong>
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				Once the argument of tiara versus a veil were put to an end and she tried on several veils to fit with the mermaid dress the female relatives were ready to plan a hen party. Smiling to herself, she could not believe Ethan's mother was giddy and over the moon in the fact she might be able to wrap her hands around a male dancer's pert bottom. Lilia usually kept herself prim and proper acting almost as if she was the example every regal female she look up to and achieve one day. Now her soon to be mother in law's eyes shone like a shiny, new penny ready to be jingled for all its pleasure. While the rest of the ladies were ready to even start the hen party a week early, Nola, on the other hand, was ready to tuck it in for the night. <br><br>Though New Orleans was a place to dance and find the darkest part of one's desire, Nola was simply tired out of her mind from the last few days. She went from flower shop to flower shop to find the perfect flower centerpieces, venue to venue for the wedding's reception and even hotel to hotel for the start of her honeymoon with Ethan. Once the wedding and reception ended, Ethan and her had plans to take a two week vacation in Scotland, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain. <br><br>Coincidentally the furthest European countries from Romania, the main house she knew he kept. The further she was still away from his homeland the better. Nola even made sure to buy a ticket on a cruising ship from a port in Greece to take her New York. She worked her way from state to state, her eye on the windows and doors in case he should try to barge through them. The one thing the books were wrong on was the fact he needed to ask permission to enter into a household. Garlic, cross and holy water meant nothing to him but bad breath, a new accessory and wet hair. However, silver was a deterrent to which he had always made sure she never wore while she had been in his household. Her body was drowning in silver rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, even the engagement ring Ethan gave to her was a claddagh ring.<br><br>When reporters and the paparazzi came to her door to ask about her engagement to the famous Ethan Roxton she was fearful for her life. If news of her existence came about to Vlad's ears and of her location then she would have to pick up and run again. Run from the life she built for herself in the last three years and from the man she had fallen in love with. Never had she suspected she could open up to anyone after Vlad. Vlad had been her first experience with mature feelings and when he out and out crushed them without a flicker of emotion in his eyes she shut herself down. Shut herself from ever feeling anything but anger and fear. Anger because she had been fool enough to let her guard down around a monster like him but fearful because he could always finished what he had threatened that fateful night. <br><br>It had taken a therapist to get out about her 'abusive relationship' though she never named him in the sessions in her second year on the run to get her to be open and to enjoy the life she had. She might not be rich and she might not be famous but she had her health and freedom. With those two thoughts of being free and healthy, she kick started herself to get her degree in social working once she settled down in New Orleans.<br><br>Before she left Vlad, she was as the fashion industry would call plus size because of her full hips and the figure most continued to say was Marilyn Monroe. She had felt conscious everytime around Vlad whenever she ate with him, wondering if he wondered how much of a pig she could be. During the first two years on the run she rarely slept and because of it lost a considerable amount of weight to the point she looked as if she could have been the posterchild for anorexia. It had been a horrible time the first year but with the therapy, slowly, but surely she fought her way back to a healthy weight. It was during one of her workouts at the local YMCA she met Lord Ethan Roxton. <br><br>He was with a group of carpenters walking around the YMCA trying to come up with ways to spruce it up and put in more rooms to be used in various ways to help the community. She was speedwalking around the basketball court in the far back when he came out to get a breath of fresh air. One could say it was love at first sight but it had taken several tries on Lord Roxton's part to engage her in conversation and a first date before she let herself feel those sparks of love. The courtship as Ethan called it lasted for three years during the same time she put herself through school to achieve a bachelor's degree in social work and hired on as a social worker before Ethan popped the question. Never had she dreamt he would ask her to marry him always afraid he might one day tell her she was not worth anymore of his time and walk out the door. <br><br><strong><em>Nola Isolde Crux, I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I know you want to spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?</em></strong><br><br>Those words threatened to bring her to more tears and even now as she thought about it she could not believe she was to be married in a few month's time. Five more months and never again would she be in fear that her heart was not going to be loved. Nola may have faltered the first time but the second time with Lord Roxton was accepted. He loved her. Loved. A word never to be associated with Vlad but with Ethan, she could see the love in his eyes shine only for her. <br><br>This thought pushed back the memories of Vlad's slight intrusion into her life when she settled herself in her role as a social worker. Coming into the coffeeshop she had visited for the second time in the first year she ran from his side she found a dozen roses placed in a glass vase along with a note from Vlad waiting at the cashier's. The bus boy mentioned a FedEx had delivered it to this place in hopes it might get to her. Disbelief had ran through her and she read the attached note which let her know she would be welcomed back into his house once she realized what a grand mistake she made. <em>Mistake my ass</em>, she had thought at the time as she threw the roses into the trash and gave the vase to a busboy to take with him before shredding the letter to pieces. Soon after that, she ran out of the shop and onto the next town.<br><br>Smiling at her soon to be female relatives, she waved off their protests at her bowing out early. "I do not want to spoil any of your fun, ladies. I will be taking my rest and hope to see you tomorrow for the wedding shower," she answered, kissing each and every one of their cheeks before she was given the silent reprieve. Slipping out of the bridal shop, she hoofed it as far as she could before one of the ladies changed her mind to try and rope her into the girl's night out.<br><br>"Ahh," she hissed out as she felt the arms of a man weave around her waist, his hands coming up to cover her eyes. At first, she wanted to scream and use the few techniques she picked up in cardio class to disarm her assailant but on the first whiff of cologne, she smiled and relaxed into the embrace. A small laughter passed her lips as she tried to pretend who was covering her eyes. "Is it David Copperfield?," she asked. When she was told it was not Mr. Copperfield, she went onto ask if it was the ghost of Steve Irwin, even Bobby Brown. When she heard her fiancee burst into a fit of laughter and removed his hands from her face she turned to let him know who it was all along. On the tips of her stiletto heels she went to give him a deep and strong kiss, her arms coming up to wrap themselves around his neck. The couple continued the meshing of their lips, teeth and tongue for a few more seconds before the need for air overcame the need to continue their kissing. <br><br>"I was waiting at the restaurant across from the shop for you. Could not get out fast enough?," he teased, leaning down to caress her cheek. She nuzzled his hand, reveling in the fact he had been watching until she slipped out to catch her off guard. This was truly the life for her she thought as she took his hand and let him lead her towards his Mercedes. From there, the two of them would head to their shared penthouse and make sweet and passionate love to each other. It made her happy she had taken the chance to run away when the opportunity came up. Life could not get any better.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>03-12-2008, 21:28:05</strong>
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				By the time he returned home, he realized his supposed ‘plan’ would not work. Fear would only push her farther away. If he went on a rampage, it would not only damage any hope for somehow making her see sense but also would probably shatter the fragile truce with the Coalition.<br><br>“Get me on the earliest flight to New Orleans”, started a whirlwind of activity in his house. Precautions, plans, but mostly darkness. That was always an underlying fact, a vampire needs a safe and dark place to be while the dreaded sun was in the sky. What he never told anybody was, he missed the sun. While the memory of it was long gone, he had the faintest memory of being very young and sitting with his mother on a grassy hill. How it felt on his hair.<br><br>Vlad entered his favorite room. Years earlier, he was outraged and offended by the portrayal of being, in films and books. Bela Lugosi? Why not Peter Lorre? Or why not find the most unappealing creature to play him on stage? Christopher Lee, slightly better but they always made him look so damn old. Standing nearly 6’3” with a thick outcrop of hair so black it was nearly dark blue, he was always intrigued by how the media would imagine him to be. The eyes though, that was most startling. They were black also but with a slightly reddish tinge. Once asked about his human appearance, he vaguely recalled his eyes were blue. His hair was always black, yet once he departed from human life, it shifted from curly to straight. It stood out as if he were shocked with electricity.<br><br>The room contained all recorded evidence, writings, novels, and films that related to his legend. He found it fascinating, this love humans seemed to have for him and the concept of vampires. In different times, he was loathed and feared. Yet now, he was a celebrity.<br><br>Sinking into the plush chair in the middle of the room, he reached under to pull out a small frame. Nola’s face stared back at him from the image. Why, why did you have to be so… independent? I would have given you a life of luxury. Travel, culture, anything… anything you want, it would be yours. Yes, you gave me your blood. Yes, you were my companion. Yet you never tried to see things from my point of view. Sometimes he would stare at this picture for hours. Hoping somehow his powers had evolved and she would hear his thoughts.<br><br>A favorite part of his day was watching her eat. She would slowly put each morsel into her mouth. Vlad was always interested in the process of digestion. It was illogical to him, this cycle of eating. When he drank blood, it soaked into his every fiber. It didn’t later escape. Shivering at that notion, “You just had to be so headstrong.” Yes, that last meal as she ate, he was nearly in a trance just watching her. Normally, humans were like flies to him. An annoyance… something to gesture to get out of the way. Yet Nola… yes at first she was like this also but in time, she grew on him.<br><br>Gorgeous, yes! She was beautiful, there was no denying that. Hundreds of years of existence, however, definitely deafens the effect of beauty. She would at times stop eating to stare back at him. He could sense the questions running through her mind. Why was he always so angry and cold? But I’m not! I’m never angry. Cold?<br><br>Cold… maybe. He wouldn’t, couldn’t… let her know. Hell, he couldn’t even let himself know, or acknowledge, the struggle within. A fleshie was a tool. Yes, it’s possible to get close or friendly with a fleshie, but actual feelings? How, though, to explain this to one? He knew his thoughts about humans was an insult to their species. Look at it from my point of view! He remembered bellowing this many times as she would leave the room, wounded by his attitude.<br><br>Staring down at her picture, he felt something inside him shift. Gasping, he stood up, clutching his chest. A lifeless heart was inside, that was all. What is that? Not pain, or not physical pain… but still, it hurts. Realizing suddenly, he hurled the picture at the wall, the impact shattering it into a thousand shards of glass. Instant regret as he pushed over a cabinet to retrieve the photograph.<br><br>Hands shaking, clearly losing all control, Dracula raised his head and screamed the most horrendous sound any living creatures could imagine. Every item of glass in his mansion shattered. Every item of glass for miles around, shattered. Every dog within miles howled in pain at the sound that pierced the night air.<br><br>A broken heart? Me? No… I refuse! Hand crumpling the photo in his hand, he swore a string of Romanian curses… something he hadn’t done for centuries. Squeezing his eyes shut, he strained to replace the image of Nola with that of Elisabeta. Try as he might, it was impossible.<br><br>Storming out of the mini-museum of Dracula, he yelled out, “I’m ready to leave!” Think to cast me aside like I’m just a bit of mud on your shoe? He smiled darkly, realizing it had been a long time since his wrath had truly been seen in this world.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>03-12-2008, 23:57:05</strong>
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				The couple returned to their luscious penthouse situated a few streets from the Quarter, the pair smiling and eyeing one another. Each could not wait to get their hands one another, both enjoying the way the other perused them in their private penthouse. "Do you know how beautiful you look in that sun dress?," he asked, leaning in to kiss her neck. Sighing, she arched her neck into his lips, fingers tip-toeing their way up his dress shirt. Lord Roxton dressed in immaculate clothing as if everyday was an invitation to a celebratory event. However, she wanted to see less of those clothes on him and get to the heart of him. The heart which was showing itself through his slacks and against her stomach. <br><br>"I am still proud of how much you pushed yourself after what Vasco did to you," he commented, his hand coming down to caress her face. Vasco was the name she had given Vlad when Ethan started to ask about the abusive relationship in their conversations. She gave him as much information as she could without giving away there never was a true relationship between 'Vasco' and her other than her being his blood bag. Vasco translated meant crow and that is what she thought of Vlad. He was a black crow who pecked on everything she had inside of her. Picked and ripped that to which it disliked and devoured all the goodness she had for him. Even now, she felt the crows which inhabited Lafeyette Cemetary where a part of him, watching and seeking whatever she was making of herself. What she made of herself was far more than she had expected if she had stayed to die in the wretched house of Dracula. <br><br>Smiling at his words, her fingers made quick work of his blue dress shirt, parting the material to take in his male physique. To compare and contrast Ethan and him would be easy thing to do. Everything Ethan was, Vlad was not. Everything Vlad was made up of, Ethan was the opposite. Both men contrasted in their physical features. While Vlad looked as if he needed to slap on a bit of tan in a bottle, Ethan with his Mediterrenean breeding was golden tan. His mother and father adopted him as a child from an orphanage in London and the title of Lord came from his uncle who passed it onto him before the uncle died of cancer. Vlad had his sleek and black, too black for a painter to try and imitate on a portrait. When Nola was in Vlad's service as a freshie, she found herself at times caressing the straight mane without thought as she sat next to him while he read one of his foreign literatures to himself. Though she had no clue what the foreign words were on the paper, she kept him company and at times listened to him speak the words aloud if he chose to give her that honor.<br><br>Various differences and in those contrasting figures, it made her realize that he held everything she would want and nothing that would make her fear for her life. "It was hard, having to put up with it for so long, I almost lost myself. But I think I had to lose myself to find you," she whispered. Roxton never had raised a hand to her in anger. He might have made his voice higher but at the end the two of them apologized and made up quite happily. Never could she say she did that with Vlad. Most of the time, she wondered if he had the urge to bash her brains in because she would never bow down to his logic. There were times he made a good argument but she held to her optimistic beliefs and let him go on with his cynical ideas. Even at times, the arrogant bastard gave her a look to which she had titled as the "look" whenever he was close to losing his cool facade. When it happened during the first few months, she beat feet and left him to destroy a room before calling in the servants to order new furniture pieces. <br><br>Nola might have let him indulge in his hissy fits but she continued on with her own tidings. Kept up with painting and photographing items around the house. What was a female to do during the daylight hours as the person she was given to slept during the morning hours? For her, she explored the various houses he and her lived in and even managed to get herself into some trouble when she came upon his shrine to himself. Every newspaper, novel, movie, diaries, photographs on the supposed 'Dracula.' She even noticed an original copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula in the pile but she never had the chance to read it. Soon after she entered into the room had one of his male servants informed her she was to be confined to her room because of the intrusion. She did not listen of course and went on her way, inciting in him the need to take her camera and shatter it into a million pieces. Of course she had been upset at her favorite camera shattered to bits before her very eyes but the anger faded away the next morning when she woke up to a gift box and a letter written in his own handwritting. A brand new camera laid in the box with his statement that her old camera was a shoddy one nonetheless. Never apologized but made it up with giving her gifts, just his way of being asked for pardon.<br><br>With Roxton, he never gave her gifts to shut her up or to get out of a predicament. If he gave her gifts it was beacuse he caught onto her personality and bought her something she would enjoy and use in her work. The latest gift had been a stress ball because of her latest cases taking a toll on her. She worked hard for her clients and made sure each and everyone tried to get the one hundred percent of satisfaction it deserved. Right now, Roxton was giving her the satisfaction she deserved by fanning her black locks over her shoulders and laying her down on their bed. Once leaving Vlad's side, she dyed her hair several different colors from the original red and settled on the midnight black to throw off any suspicion of her identity and wore brown contacts to hide her green eyes. If she were as herself, she would be picked out in a crowd of who was a flaming Irishwoman by those damnable eyes of hers.<br><br><div align="center"><em><strong>Your eyes, they amuse me.<br>Why do they amuse you?<br>Because they remind me of the Highlands of Scotland. Beautiful place but a dangerous one if one was to ever become lost in it. That is your eyes. Beautiful but dangerous ones.<br>I do not know whether to be grateful or insulted.<br>Insulted because rarely does one enjoy to become lost in anything.</strong></em></div><br>He somehow managed to not only make her hope for a few seconds but shatter it the next nanosecond with his insults. "Do not think of him, my love. Once we are married, you will never have to worry about being in pain ever again," he whispered against her lips as he pressed his body against her. She winced at the slight intrusion because her body was still getting used to him. Never had she slept with Vlad but on the first night with Roxton, she had been unsure of her own femininity. Ethan put those doubts to rest and he put the doubts of her happiness with him as well as she felt his love for her in the strokes of his hands and the thrust of his hips. Groaning in pleasure, she closed her eyes, an image of Vlad at her wedding, tears in his eyes as he watched her married off to someone else. That thought brought a smile to her face before it faded into a sigh of pleasure. This is where she wanted to be and nowhere else. Vlad could burn in his own hell while she reveled in her heaven. That was how it was meant to be.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>04-12-2008, 19:58:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				High above the arctic in his private jet, the Master Vampire Dracula stared out the window, nearly empty of thought. The rage he fell into just an hour or so before consumed him farther than any had in many years. He completely and utterly destroyed the ‘shrine’. Shrine, he thought, that sarcastic name she had given that room. It wasn’t a shrine, it was simply a view into how people saw him. It fascinated him how such a monstrous being could be almost glorified in books and film. Yet now, all that he had been collecting for decades was garbage. Or nearly. Somehow, he kept a small glimmer of reason. One item came into his hand, one item which he could not lay waste to. One item which he slipped into a pocket. How it came to be in that room, he would never know. Lost for years, it was finally again in his possession.<br><br>Yes, I know I’m unbearable at times, he whispered. My entire existence has been one event activated by a previous one. Even before becoming… ‘this’, I was seen as a monster. There was only one who saw through the shell. And yet later, it was her who caused me to evolve into this soulless creature I am now. Pulling out a small container, Vlad took a deep inward breath. Unable to consume alcohol, or any tranquilizers… anything that entered the stomach other than blood was rejected. Yet vapors worked. Shortly after Nola left, he sought and found a chemist to work strictly for him. Calmness, that was his first goal. “Give me something that will put peace in my mind”, was his first request. And it seemed an impossible task. Trial after trial, nothing seemed to work. Then one day, a concoction did work, but sent Vlad in such a state of hunger, he nearly broke the ‘pact’ by attacking Jones, his chemist. It was that small ironic breakthrough that led to scents that finally did work on him. Most were still in experimental stages, after a few other possible fiasco’s, but now, he did have one that seemed to put him in a mostly peaceful state.<br><br>Staring deeper out the window, still marveling at how technology blossomed in this century, Vlad slipped into a melancholic state. These modern times are not for me, he thought. I’m a relic. A window to the past. The days of my supremacy, of doing as I wish, when I want, with no worries… they are over. And what am I doing now? I’m rushing to a woman who hates me. She can’t possibly comprehend what measures I took. Yes, one long twisted chain reaction, each one sinking me farther into being this that I am now. But I do try. What is the truth? Am I simply an old man stuck in the body of an eternally young one? Yet with the power and rage of a demon? A demon. That is what I am.<br><br>And what about her? This went beyond simply wanting to safe face. Otherwise, he would be planning a massacre. To kill every single person at this farce she is planning, in front of her. To hear her screams as I did what I do best, slowly, and watch her eyes. Yes, see those eyes filled with sadness. But no, he knew he would see something else which would be unbearable. Her complete, black hatred for him. Why? Why does that bother me? What do I care if girl in her 20’s, or any age for that matter, hates me? A long ugly path of humans who took it in their heart to hate me. Yet this one little girl, I can’t see it in her eyes.<br><br>Suddenly Vlad realized something. Even the idea of a massacre was another indication of ‘something’ inside… that he felt for her. Otherwise he would not waste his time with so much revenge. He would simply rip her away from her surroundings… and deal with her as he dealt with all those who oppose him. <br><br>To avoid slipping into some mood which could cause the small jet to come hurtling down in flames, Vlad took another deep sniff of the small bottle. An idea was formulating, one that would probably cause her to hate him more but he saw no other way. Lifting the receiver, he spoke to the pilot in a calm voice, “Let’s hurry. I’m going to slip into my box, so just get there. Signal me when I’m at the apartment.” Yes, Nola… you might end up hating me more, but at least you will know.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>04-12-2008, 21:05:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Smiling to herself, Nola wondered how life could get any better. She was in a dream world filled with a fiancee who showed her the true way to love and a family that accepted her with the baggage she had on her. Even Ethan's mother accepted the swallows tattooed on her wrists once she realized Nola was not a tattoo fanatic unlike some of the residents of New Orleans. Once the two finished their honeymoon, the pair would hold housing in New Orleans and Greece to visit the extended family and holiday events. The thought of a real family brought a deep blush to her face inciting a smirk on Ethan's face. <br><br>Kissing her wrists over and over, she watched Ethan make a shrine of her swallows. He traced the outline of the birds with his tongue before he kissed the coloring of the exotic beings. Where the eyes of the swallows were was the puncture wounds of Vlad's fangs. It had been a bit of trouble to get the tattoo artist to cover up her wrists after seeing the marks because of how marks on the wrists, neck, thigh and the sides of the breasts signified a branding of sorts. If a vampire wanted to cover up the bite marks, a few drops of blood healed the wounds but those left to heal on its own was a protection of sorts. For Nola, she did not want people to know she had been touched by a vampire, most of all by Vlad himself. Took a bit of bribing to finally get the tattoo artist to relent and give her the swallows.<br><br>Tattooing the swallows on her had not been an easy task. It was a lot of work and pain to get through but she pushed herself to have the evidence of Vlad removed. The swallows took about three hours in to get in the detail, shading and coloring but the finished product was worth it. Each of the swallows was blue and pink with one of its wings spread out and the other close to its breast with small bandages wrapped around a few of its feathers. In its beak held a red rose bud dragging it along to signify the load she held on herself to move with and even if she was down in the dumps continued to take nonetheless. When the artist finished, she cried and cried a boatload she did. Nola had managed to erase the last link between her and Vlad by these tattoos. Everything he had given to her including the new camera and the rest of her possessions she left behind when she ran away but those scars on her wrists was the last of it to go.<br><br>"You are becoming more and more enamored with my tattoos then with me, I think," she teased Ethan as she settled into his arms. Their lovemaking had been rushed but tender and most of all, sweet. Ethan chuckled at her words, stroking her cheek, watching the way the light of New Orleans played her features. The curtains of the wall to wall windows had not been closed, giving them an unobstructed view of the fading sun on the horizon and the trembling of the residents and tourists traversing the French Quarter. It made it much more decadent with the thought of those who might look up at the various floors of the establishment, all the way to the seventh floor where their penthouse was situated as the two of them made sweet love. <br><br>Sweet love with no protection. While she had started on the birth pill a few years back, the two of them decided to have children as soon as possible. Roxton would always say a Greek good luck prayer over her stomach every time they made love which at first weirded her out but soon she amused him in it. He even showed her what words were correct to use in conversation with the elders and what was appropriate for children. "I hope this child is a girl with your eyes," she whispered, sitting up in bed. She was badly in need to use the bathroom before coming back to her husband to be. The thought of using the bathroom if and when she became pregnant brought her to stand up and hurry to use it before Ethan started to tickle her. She heard him murmuring she had a supple behind and would enjoy taking a bite out of it soon enough.<br><br>"I heard that," she said over her shoulder before she entered into the bathroom. Ethan was going to give her more laugh lines than she could possibly imagine. At her twenty-four years, she had done so much to forget what she put herself through at eighteen. Once she married, the thought of ever becoming a fleshie would be cut off competely. Coalition law stated if a freshie were to marry a mortal, then the service of being a freshie would discontinue or continue if and only if the mortal companion accepted this predicament. She would never let Ethan agree to anything of the sort at all if Vlad were to ever come back into her life. Never. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>04-12-2008, 23:24:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Vlad stood before the building, waiting. Looking down at his hands, he almost expected them to be clammy. A human trait. I’m not human. I shed that life long, long ago. Taking a deep breath, he let his mind focus. His head lifted as the eyes opened slowly. She’s up there. If not for the marks he let stay on her skin, he’d never be able to find her. Or not without wasting lots of valuable time. Time was never an issue for him, but now suddenly, his impatience was nearly crippling. He couldn’t think of anything else. Unsure whether it was pride or… a deep emotion he wouldn’t even allow himself to give a title to, he decided to enter the building the conventional way. Still unsure how he would approach, hoping for minimal conflict, he walked to the doorman. <br><br>“I need to visit a friend, could you give me the room number for Ethan Roxton?” The man began to protest until Vlad focused on him, intently.<br><br>“Seventh floor, sir.”<br><br>“Would you be so kind as to lend me a key? I am hoping to surprise the groom. He’s an old friend from… college.” Again a certain look and the man extended a small ring of keys, “It’s the gold one with ‘700’ imprinted.<br><br>In a blur, Vlad was up the steps. He never took the elevator. Something about the confinement bothered him. If I want confinement, I will crawl in my box, he thought. In moments he was standing outside a door. Reaching inside his long black coat, he pulled out his little ‘bottle of calm’, taking a deep breath. Sliding the key into the knob, he quietly opened the door. Sighing inside, he hated this creeping around. Stay focused, he thought, this is not the time to lose your cool. She always called it “the look”. Suddenly he nearly chuckled, wondering what her reaction would be at seeing him suddenly.<br><br>Silently he approached where he heard voices coming from. The bedroom door was open half way. Walking through, a man laying back on a bed started to jump up. “Shh”, Vlad made a motion with his finger to his lips. Ethan Roxton, I presume, time to sleep. From a lit doorway, “I heard that.” Vlad was shocked at first but then realized she was talking to her sleeping finance.<br><br>Stay calm. Whatever she says, expect. Don’t let her anger you. These thoughts ran through his head as he walked through the bathroom door, closing it behind. With clenched fists, he said in a calm, friendly voice, “Hello Nola.” <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>05-12-2008, 00:20:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Nola smiled at herself as she tucked the end of one wrapped sheet between her breasts, giving her the look of a Greek Goddess in a dress. Though the dress was one hundred percent Egyptian cotton, she could pull it off if there was a masquerade ball. All she needed was a mask and pin her hair up, curling the ends to give herself the air of formal but mysterious at the same time. Using the bathroom quickly, she flushed and went about washing her hands in the sink. It was a spacious master bathroom where it held a sunken jacuzzi which she had use quite often either by herself or with Roxton helping her to become a clean female. A workable toilet along with a side toilet for females, however, the first time she used it Nola drenched the floor in the powerful water as she failed to turn it off. Ever since then, she left the female toilet alone and never disturbed it. There was a standing shower, housing three pulsing jet on each side but her back and a long bench to either lay down or sit if the feeling to do so came about. What she admired about the master bathroom the most was the large and long bathroom sink which made her feel like a old movie star. The bulbs around the immaculate mirror gave the room an mellow and calming effect. <br><br>"Hello, Nola."<br><br>The calming effect went right out the window at those words. She dropped the bar of soap she held in her hands, the small ping of it hitting the floor resonated through the bathroom. She should have felt it. Nola knew better than to let her love of Roxton dampen the survival tactics she held when it came to recognizing vampires. In New Orleans, vampires were a common thing and she made sure to keep herself in large groups or in the daytime to avoid detection from any of the fraction of vampires. Nola should have felt the tell tale sign of her skin erupting in goosebumps and the hollowing effect in her stomach to make her beat feet out of the precarious situation. <br><br>Taking a few seconds, she let her eyes look up into the mirror to try and get a handle on who it might be. Her breath hitched as she saw his reflection in the mirror above the sink. Vampires were able to project reflection thus cracking the myth of no reflection in the vampire folklore book. Still, she could not believe it. Shutting her eyes, she took several deep breaths and even said a little hymn before opening her eyes to see him once more in the mirror. Nola's eyes went to anything and everything she could use as a weapon against him. Anything to sharpen into a sharp knife and drive it through his black heart. Quickly after doing that, she would have to dismember him, throw his corpse on a bonfire and throw his ashes in the ocean to complete the ritual. Thinking of those plans, she knew it was futile. Even if she tried to fashion a stake out of anything in this room he would be too quick to take it from her hands. <br><br>The only plan worthwhile was to escape through the bathroom window which led out onto a ledge. With the sheet she wore, she could wrap it around one of small iron work placed on the ledges and somehow get herself down to safety. Damn it, she realized she was on the seventh floor, another barren idea shot to hell. The last chance for escape was the door to which he stood in front of. She should have known, she told herself. Should have known that he would come when she least expected it. Never would Nola have expected him to walk right into the shared penthouse, close himself in the bathroom with her and merrily say his greetings. He stunned her but soon the stunning effect and the ideas of escape faded to a boiling anger inside of her.<br><br>Nola was angry as all can be. Enraged and bitter at Vlad for he was here in the immortal flesh. Nola knew she was not having a three-d nightmare. This was real and she had to find a way for him to leave her or to escape before he started in on one of his hissy fits. Lowering her eyes was the first tactic to stop any mental suggestion he might try on her if she were to look him directly into his disgusting eyes. In his service, eyes were always averted to his gaze. Though there were times she found herself watching his face, she knew what he was capable of if she let him suggest anything he wanted of her if and when he caught her gaze. One of the many reasons she averted and stared at his nose or his lips when he spoke to her. <br><br>Automatically, her hands clenched the edge of the bathroom sink, the fight or flight adrenaline rushing through her veins. Nola's eyes caught sight of a shiny grey color on her fingers, she moved the position of them and a silent smile formed on her lips. He was here. This wretched and grotesqued creature of the night was in the United States. In Louisiana. In New Orleans. In this penthouse bathroom with her. Even if he was with her right now at least she would give him a New Orlean's welcome. A repelling gentleman like him deserved his just desserts. Lord give her the strength for what she was about to do now. <br><br>A banshee cry ripped itself from her throat as she turned and vaulted herself towards him. Out came her hands to slap and grab ahold of his face. The silent smile she held on her lips was the realization she still wore the various silver rings, including her engagement claddagh. If he was going to murder her at least she would go down fighting. He would feel the tear of her fingernails, coated in silver polish, twelve rings, two on each finger, and the silver bracelet engraved with Ethan's name on it. She wanted him to feel the pain she had during the year and a half pairing. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>05-12-2008, 03:51:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As soon as she launched herself at him, Vlad moved slightly to the left, to avoid what he suddenly realized was two hands and arms adorned with silver. Feeling deep gouges instantly on his face was shocking. I'm faster than that, he thought. Then it hit him, the vapors! The calming effect was joined by slowed reflexes. At least it wears out fast, he thought, hand raising to the bloody rifts in his skin.<br><br>Spinning, his arms swung out to grab Nola by the waist. "We can do this the easy way or the hard", he yelled, his calm manner fading fast, likely guided by the sudden surge of adrenalin. Pushing her down hard onto the bed, he grabbed the sheet from her body, ripping strips to tie her up.<br><br>"Damn you! Do you think I enjoy this?", feeling a growl rise inside he knew the peace was fading fast. I must get her out of here and take another dose... worried he would lose it entirely. "I promise to not hurt you", looking over at the sleeping lump, "But him? don't push me!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>05-12-2008, 04:05:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He deserved every bit of pain. The man dished out pain and he should be able to take it, Nola thought as she ravished his face with her nails. If she had any silver fillings in her teeth she would have torn his throat out for the feelings he was bringing out in her. She wanted him out of her life. Could he not see that? Was he blind to the fact she never returned to his side after he sent those roses? Should he not have noticed she was off living her life without ever begging him to take care of her? Nola survived and loved but she was not about to lose it all because of his obsession with hurting her.<br><br>She cried out, kicking at him with her bangled ankles, hoping to get him in his knees. "Let me go!," she screamed, wiggling in his grasp. He did not have any right to touch her. No right at all. He was not going to take her anywhere nor would she go submissively. Breath shot out of her at the impact of her body on the bed. She should have known him to use his skills on Ethan, a hand shooting out to try and smack Vlad in the face once more. Oh, he questioned whether she enjoyed having him hurt her again. What a damn fool for him to believe she wanted any of his anger. She had been a fool to think this monster would be sorry for ever harming her.<br><br>"You enjoy hurting me," she cried out, trying to scramble away from his grasp. When he threatened to hurt Ethan, she cursed him in Irish. Cursed his form to the bowels of hell and beyond. Threatened his livelihood if he ever harmed her fiancee. "You harm a hair on him and I will make sure the Coalition hears about this!," she yelled, trying her best to squirm off of the bed and towards the front door. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>05-12-2008, 20:12:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As if her harsh words and that intense look of hatred brushed aside all thoughts of calm and peace, he crouched low, nearly straddling Nola’s legs as his hands shot out to grab her arms, carefully avoiding any contact with silver. “Oh, you want to play games, eh? I will not hurt your precious boyfriend.”<br><br>Giving her his most sincere smile, using words in the softest voice possible, knowing it would chill her in their sarcasm, “But how about if your beloved… could restart? How about if I suck every goddamn memory out him?”<br><br>Watching her face for reaction, “You could raise him as your own. Feed him, bathe him, <em>change</em> him. Twenty or so odd years later, he’ll be an adult again. But much older. Then you could let him know that mommy is <em>really</em> his girlfriend. And long, long ago”, in a sickly childish voice, “A big bad vampire… oh you know the one, he goes by the name Dracula… was oh sooooo mean, he didn’t want true love to blossom.”<br><br>“Or”, his thoughts realizing deep down that he needed to take another whiff of his small bottle but no, he was enjoying this. Five years too late but still, it was fun, “Or… perhaps I could reach back farther. Remove every bit of knowledge in that pathetic human mind that he is even human. Leave his as a vegetable. You could probably still marry him. Then you could care for him forever.”<br><br>Looking up towards the limp, sleeping form snoring softly. “Would you like that, Ethan? In a way, you could be the fleshie for… the fleshie.”<br><br>Sneering, he looked straight into the face of hatred and loathing. “So what will it be? I will not hurt you. And I will return you. But right now, you are coming with me. Make no mistake about that. You can come slumped over my shoulder in a bag, or walking with dignity with your hands and ankles tied together. And his… mind intact.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>05-12-2008, 21:35:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Dracula was truly a monster. A monster no woman would ever love other than his dead wife. How much of a stupid and senile fool was she to even think he was someone she could want to love? She must have been mad or slightly off her rocker to think he was a man that she might want to spend the rest of her life with. His words invoked in her the past memory of him in the final weeks before she left him. It was the same man though she had thought he would have changed. Time never changed an immortal nor did it change his character. Vlad cemented his own character now that he threatened her livelihood all over again. Only this time she had more people to think about than her own. <br><br>He would not touch Ethan no matter what. Ethan was her love and though Vlad might not understand the meaning of love, she would not have the beast have any innocent blood on its hands. Gritting her teeth, she let her eyes linger towards her sleeping fiancee. She would return to him but she needed to finish what she hated to have started with Vlad. For one reason or another this bastard wanted to ruin her life but she would not let him if she agreed to certain terms. "If I go with you, I will leave him a note to say I am finishing business with a former friend. Two weeks is what I will give you, no more than that. I will not feed you nor do you even I will still obey you to do so. You might think you have one over on me but I am no longer the eighteen year old who feared your shadow, Vlad. You may be a true monster in a gentleman's outfit and even if you turned Ethan into a vegetable, I will always love him no matter what." She wanted to spit at him but she held back the thought for only it would make him hurt those she loved more.<br><br>That is all he would get. Two weeks of her life and no more. After the two weeks, whatever he needed to discuss with her would have to be in his own head. The coalition would know about his treason to enter into the United States without announcing himself and harming those who were not fleshie. He had broken several rules just by invading the household of a non-fleshie and harming her. Though she may have ran away from him, the Coalition knew about it. Even before the news broke about her engagement to Lord Roxton, the Coalition summoned her to ask about her status with Dracula. She informed them Dracula had been abusive and disgusting towards her. No word had come back from the Coalition about their decision on the matter. For now, she was a fleshie but not a fleshie too. A difficult thing to explain but all she knew was the fact if she became married, her contract as a blood donator would be null and voided. <br><br>"You come back into my life only to try and ruin it, Dracula. I have nothing but the worst of feelings for you. Let me get changed and we will go on with your damn formalities, strega," she answered, inserting the word monster into her last word. Nola wondered if she was making the right choice. Either way, he would not leave her in peace but she needed to get him to sign a few papers or to let her marry to end her contract. There was no way on God's green earth she would want to be his blood bag again more so than be in his company. However, she needed to get through this if she wanted to marry her husband to be and keep Dracula from ruining it. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>05-12-2008, 23:26:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Write your note, fleshie”, after firmly fastening her wrists but with enough give to grab a pen, Vlad tossed down a pen and notepad he found on the nightstand. Feet firmly bound, he stood to look out the window. New Orleans was always one of his favorite cities. He had a decent sized plantation house a few miles out of town. But his mind wasn’t on that.<br><br>She covered my bites. When his eyes saw what appeared to be swallows, he nearly fell back. She wanted to be free of any sign you ever existed in her life. These words rang through his head. Dazed, his hands finished so he could move away from her.<br><br>Starting to shake with rage, he decided against inhaling the nasty vapor, instead he knelt beside her, his eyes unable to pull form the tattoos. “The Coalition… well, my lawyer is in communication with them now. Because we never… officially ended.. ‘this’, I’m still within my rights.”<br><br>Watching her small moves, he continued. “But you know what? I don’t care. They want a war, I’ll give them a war.” Standing, looking around him in disgust.<br><br>“But you, you may hate me. Ok, you do hate me. Yes, hate me all you want. But you will… understand me.” Watching her hands move, again fixated on her swallows, “Two weeks? Sure. That is sufficient. And I give you my word.” Reaching down, he lifted her chin, to look in her eyes even if she averted his gaze. “You can think all you want that my word is dirt. But I never lied to you. And I won’t start now. Two weeks, yes. Then you are free. I will… we… will… both sign documents and then you are free to live… your existence however you wish.”<br><br>He said the words but as he did, a shifting feeling inside grew. Swallowing hard, he lied, “And just so you know, I hate you also. I have never met such an exasperating being in all the years I have walked this earth. But a deal is a deal and we will end this properly. And I will have you understand me.”<br><br>Quickly he moved away, turning around, to compose himself. Mentally straining, Vlad tried to picture his beloved Elisabeta. But no, all that came into his mind was Nola.<br><br>“Damn you”, he murmured to himself, unsure if he was meaning her or himself. In a louder voice as he turned, "Are you nearly done yet?"<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>06-12-2008, 00:21:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The most basic instinct she had in her body was to rush at Vlad. Nola wanted to throw herself against his form and burst through the window. Yearned to have him impaled on one of the iron fences even if it meant her own death as well. At least as she died Nola would be happy with the thought of getting him in the heart at least one time in her mortal existence. However, the bubble was burst with her incapitation to do anything but right a letter to Ethan. She sneared at his back when she called her fleshie. Nola was no one's fleshie and most of all, she was not his to call her that foul title. "The name is Nola, not fleshie," she spat out before she clicked the top of the writing pen and went to work on the notepad. <br><br>Even as she wrote the letter, she kept an eye out on Vlad. Never knew what to expect with this creature, Nola reminded herself. He was an enigma and one she did not want to uncover at all. The sooner he discussed what he needed to converse about in the next two weeks the better for her to get back to her life. However, she smiled a bit when she felt his eyes on her wrists as he tied her up. Yes, he needed to know she wanted to get rid of any evidence she associated herself with him. Ever last bit even if it cost her more pain to erase it, Nola knew the swallows were worth it. <br><br>Laughing at his words about whatever 'this' was a funny thing to hear. He had no rights at all when it came to her. "You will fail in that. I can be sure of it, Vlad if you break more rules than enforce them, you will lose your seat and the Coalition will cease sending any fleshies to the fledglings. I am sure that will go over quite well," she answered, sarcastically. If he continued on this path with not caring about the Coalition, he would surely find himself in a predicament even his title could not get him out of. Though she might still be his under law, he had not sent a formal complaint to the Coalition. <br><br>Nola hissed when he tried to get her look into his face. Her eyes averted, staring down at his mouth instead. She would never understand a wretched bastard like him. Never. What a fool he was to assume she would believe anything that came out of his mouth about never lying to her. He had lied to her. From the first day, he lied about his true self to her. If there was any evidence to him hurting her and practically choking her against a wall, Vlad should have voiced it. Nola would have fought harder to have her services rejected. Even now, when he said how much he hated her, she should have been happy at the notion. Instead, it enforced how easy she could have made herself look like a fool if she had admitted her feelings to him those many years ago. <br><br>She wrote the best that she could under this circumstances. Nola revealed to Ethan she had received a voicemail from a dear friend who was dying of cancer. Ethan would not question the severity of her friend's condition only that how long she would be away. She wrote she would be gone no more than two weeks and would try to contact him through email. The place she would visit did not have great cell reception but she would do her best to let him know she was alive and kicking. <br><br><em>I want to see my friend before she dies, my love. She asks for me to visit her and help her tidy her things together before she passes away. I will not be gone too long, darling. I will miss waking up to you each day I am not there to see you but know that I love you and only you fovever. Ever faithfully yours, Nola.</em><br><br>Clicking the pen closed, she sighed. She felt as if she was writing her death certificate more than a letter expressing how she needed to see a dying friend to her fiancee. He would understand. Never had he questioned her love because she showed Ethan he was the only man for her. Though she was leaving with the first man, scratch that, creature she fallen for, Nola knew her heart belonged to Ethan. "Yes, warden. I am finished with the letter, I need only change and grab a few things. Unless I am to go with you wearing only scraps of a bedsheet for an outfit," she spat, shaking her head. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>06-12-2008, 02:12:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He sighed, realizing she did also at that very moment. Sneaking a quick sniff of the little bottle, he smiled at her. Not that she saw. Why oh why did this have to be so difficult?<br><br>“Actually, before you left, I had ordered all the clothes you checked in the stacks of catalogues you used to collect. Every single piece. And no, not to win your favor. I couldn’t have foreseen what happened that fateful night.”<br><br>Watching her for any reaction, he continued, “I saved the wardrobe. At first, hoping it would make you happy when you returned. Later…”, another sigh, “I don’t know why.”<br><br>Pulling her up, avoiding her nails and rings, “What? Let you squirm your way up? To add to what you think makes me tick, watching a woman helplessly scrambling with tied limbs?”<br><br>Before guiding her along, he stopped and turned. “Two weeks. Yes. And then, you will never have to see me again. In fact… I’ll even give you a gift that should make you happy, even if you continue to hate me. If you want, I’ll even erase your memory of me.” At that, he turned quickly. Damn her, he thought. Why can’t I also erase my memory?<br><br>“You are lucky, you know”, at the front door, waiting as she grabbed a few things with tied hands. “Some day, maybe long from now, you will realize I’m not such a monster. I give new meaning to ‘misunderstood’. Moving his shirt aside, he thumbed a small scar. “See this?”<br><br>“I’m not going to mess with your mind if you look at me. But see this scar? Van Helsing! Yes, that slimy little man. Oh the stories all tell how he was a great hero and how he wanted to rid the earth of the vile Dracula. I will tell you the truth about the heroic&nbsp; hunter. But that can wait. We have a jet to catch.<br><br>Watching her, again he wished he could erase his own memory. “Nola…”, he said, then stopped.<br><br>“Ready to go?”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>06-12-2008, 03:28:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I would have assumed you have gotten rid of the clothing. It has been five years, should have realized I was not coming back after the second year," she commented, blowing a piece of hair out of her face. Even if he did buy her clothes for her to wear five years ago, she doubted any of those pieces would fit her. She had grown up and out of her eighteen year old form when she came to be his blood bag. Before she was a little heavy, not too much but enough for people to know she was a plus size female. After she left him, she dropped fifty pounds, most of it from her stomach and face. When she started to get back into shape and eating the right way, a new body emerged. This one had hips, thighs and breasts to entice a man if she ever wanted to get into dancing professionally or even commit to skin flicks. None of those occupation appealed to her and she went into the career she truly wanted.<br><br>Rolling her eyes, she shook her head at him as she brushed off his comments. "I doubt they would fit. I was much heavier back then," she replied. It embarassed her to know she was at her heaviest when she was falling for him. She could have suffocated him with her thighs if he had any breath at the time. Still, it would not have mattered because he would never give his love other than his dead wife Elisabeta. The female was dead for far more centuries and she noticed him watching her portrait as if it was merely yesterday she passed way. One of the things which made her harden to the fact he was nothing more than a possessive monster.<br><br>A gift from Vlad the Impaler? She almost laughed at his words. Nola had no need of any gifts from him. During the time she was away from him, she paid her own way. "Quite fine without any gifts from you, Vlad." Worked various jobs as she went from state to state before she finally settled in New Orleans. Any gift coming from Vlad had to have some sort of ulterior motive to give her any kind of present. Had to be.<br><br>As if he would erase her memories and if she would even want him to try. She would rather know who the face of evil looked like before he popped up again in another few years to ruin her life. Moving and giving herself space against him, she started to make her way out of the door. A bit diffcult with her ankles tied together but she managed with small wiggling steps to get her going. Nola even managed to grab a jacket, her messenger bag filled with her laptop and necessary files to keep her busy in case he went to bed in the damp earth. No encouragement for him to continue on his story behind the scar came from her. Nola could really give a rat's ass about his life. Shrugging off his words, she looked past his shoulder to nod. "Ready as a person on their way to the electric chair can be."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>06-12-2008, 21:06:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Walking slowly behind her, Vlad murmured, "Hold on a moment", bending down. Pulling tight on the ties holding her feet, there was a ripping sound, giving much more range. "You can walk easier now."<br><br>"Many times I did plan on removing you.. things. But then I decided to hold on, just in case." Walking around her, he looked into her turned face. "I expected you to return. I thought you were simply being stubborn." Looking at her neck, he reached to caress it, before snatching his hand back. "I wouldn't have hurt you, you know. It was a 'reaction'. You spoke to me in a way I am not used to. I reacted! You're the one who started squirming and moving."<br><br>Touching the deep gashes that covered his cheeks, "<em>I</em> would never intentionally harm <em>you</em>." I laid in my coffin that night, wishing I could chase after you. Let you know how sorry I was. Would you have even listened, he wondered. Looking down, wishing just for a moment she'd let him meet her eyes, he sighed. I won't invade you. Not you.<br><br>Leaning close, "Hate me, hate me all you want. Just know, human, you are the only living being I wouldn't harm. Not now, not ever." Moving his head back and forth before hers, trying to get her gaze, "What, you think only humans can make mistakes and learn?"<br><br>Sighing, he let his senses absorb the moment. Mentally, he had noticed her hair and eyes. They have changed, but your natural colors were better. Yet still, she was strikingly beautiful. And definitely more mature now. If not for the battle to keep himself restrained, he'd have watched her moves, the slimmer yet more curvaceous body a surprise. A very lovely surprise. Yes, he had seen her in a few tabloids, declaring the 'big event', but seeing her in person was much better. "You have blossomed incredibly."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>06-12-2008, 22:00:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Thank you," she muttered though it would be the only thanks he would receive from her. With the larger range of motion, she managed to slip into the sandals she kicked off in the hallway of the penthouse. She wiggled her toes to get a bit of the blood running back into her feet. He really did not know his strength especially when it came to her. Vlad must really though she was some fool to take his words at face value. There was no two sides of the coin to him as far as she knew. <br><br>Shaking her head, she kept her eyes averted, staring at her red-painted toes. It was amusing to see her painted toes were as red as the blood she had spilled to him under his service. Nola had figured she would be giving her life's blood but never had she realized her heart would go to him as well. In his service, she kept a journal of all the activities she involved herself in with Vlad. Chess matches. Conversations about the many literature books he had in his library. Activities which meant more to her than she realized when she fell for him. Soon after he marked her wrists had the journal been thrown in a fit of rage into the burning fire and even sooner when she realized her mistake in doing so, it was too late. Maybe that was a sign of how too late it was to stop herself from loving him towards the end.<br><br>"Why do you give me pretty lies, Vlad? There was no reaction to what you did to me. I never did anything to invoke your greatest anger. I did once or twice poke in fun at you. It was in fun but never viciously so as you did," she whispered, smiling ruefully to herself. He was confusing her to bits and pieces over his words. Though his words said one thing how could she believe it when in the past he did the opposite of those promising words. Vlad said he never would hurt her yet he did. "Humans can make mistakes and learn but you, you make your mistakes and expect us to learn from it." He got his kicks from playing her and the less he gave her his company, the more like a fool she tried to forgive his wickedness. She was not going to be his stepping stone again.<br><br>His compliment should not have made her blush but it did. She had done everything in her power to change herself. Change the way she had been in his service. Hair, body, eyes, even the way she dressed and talked. Too long since she let her accent play against her conversations. Everything and anything to make sure she felt secure in the new life she carved out for herself. However, with Vlad around, he knew her as she was before. The red-haired, green eyed, Irish spitfire who fed and gave him company every once in a while. Though one question played on repeat in her thoughts. The question was: What use did he have from her now?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>07-12-2008, 05:51:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As she stepped into the car, Vlad put his hand on her head, pushing down gently. He felt her stiffening, "Sorry, just didn't want you to hit your head." Getting in next to her, he tapped on the glass barrier and the car took off.<br><br>Staring ahead, he tried to somewhat explain his actions. "I did, for many months, accept your decision. I still do! I know my actions pushed you. I know when I react at times, it's sudden and unexpected." Turning towards her, "I relived every single morning as I slipped to sleep, that scene, over and over. You think I have a bad temper? I hold myself responsible, fully, for that day and many other times I upset you."<br><br>Moving closer he tried to position himself so she would look at him. "I was once human. No, I wasn't a nice person. I was a blood-crazy warlord. But times were different and Romania was, back then, a brutal territory. Religion... you know by your history books, those were violent times. I was a product of those primitive cultures and beliefs." Looking at his hands, scenes of grotesque violence flashed through his memory. "I can't say I'd be different. No, I am what and who I am. But don't you think, just like every other living being, I felt justification in what I did? Nobody makes moves unless they feel it is right. Even the most brutal creatures in history feel they are doing the right thing."<br><br>He sighed, watching her. I would give anything to see your smile, listen to your music as you told me why you loved it so. His thoughts were filled with so many wishes. Again looking at his hands, he filled with rage. I can crush just about any substance with my hands. I can look in another's eyes and have them do my bidding. But one woman. One woman holds so much power over me. A human. What is wrong with me? If I killed her, it would be over. But that thought emptied him. If I killed her, I might as well die myself. Again. This time, completely. This time, to send my soul finally to where it belongs, hell.<br><br>Relaxing back in his seat, he watched her reflection in the divider. Her head was turned mostly away but he could see her expressions shift. What are you thinking, Nola? He started feeling dizzy, realizing the combination of the vapors and... "Damn, I need blood." Instantly, he backtracked, head snapping over to look towards her. "Not you, I didn't mean you!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>07-12-2008, 07:01:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				People who milled about the street watched the two of them emerge from the building. It was easy enough to walk through the lobby since the doorman was fast asleep. No doubt from the mental suggestions Vlad had given him. Though she could see a few people wondering why a woman wearing bits and pieces of a bedsheet was getting into a car with a man who looked more like a mobster or her pimp/boyfriend. She stiffened at his touch, gritting the back of her teeth to stop herself from lashing out at him. He was merely making sure she was fine though it felt as if he was trying to give out some sort of signal to the witnesses. <em>This be my woman, bitches.</em> If only he could read her thoughts but he could not. A plate in her head remedied him and every other vampire from poking around in her head. <br><br>One could say she was a fool to go up on the roof of her house to dislodge a soccer ball from the roof of her parent's house. Even as a young child, she was determined to do things without anyone's help. Did not ask for help from an adult and managed to fall off the roof because she wanted to be even cooler and punted the ball to the kids. When she punted she lost her balance and by losing her balance slipped off the roof of the house. Nola managed to stave off her dead by falling into a bush of her mother's favorite rose bushes but she did not get out of it in one pieces. She managed to crackher skull and jostled her head around a bit. Oh the way her mother cried and her father berated her when she woke up a few weeks later from the coma. She managed to break her ankle, fracture a few ribs, broke her left arm, scratches from the rose bushes and of course the metal plate in her head. <br><br>Nola never indulged this information to Vlad, figuring it was her own secret to keep. If he never listened in on her thoughts then it would be better to keep the fact she was in love with him under the bed. Even if he knew, she told herself he would never want to love a female who adored cheeseburgers over exercising when she was with him. Shaking her head, she brought herself back to listen to his words, scoffing a few times. "You had more than a bad temper. People who have bad tempers usually curse, maybe throw a few dishes but throw me against the wall and almost choke my breath from my lungs," she answered, trying hard not to bring back the memories. She wanted to keep the past in the past. Not back to her new life with her new love. <br><br>Why was he bringing up his personality? Why bring up his actions over and over to her? He knew what the history books said about him. Knew the books spoke of a man who placed his own people on spikes if someone displeased him with a glance. No matter that Romania was brutal but she had to listen if only to try and piece together why he would say these things to her. Biting down on her lower lip, she glanced in his face, at his nose but never above to his eyes. She did not want to see those eyes to which she had wondered if one day they might fill with love and adoration with her. This was business. Merely patching up what happened long ago and then moving on. He needed something from her, she did not know what but she wanted to get it over with and go back to her life. A life without Vlad.<br><br>A life without Dracula. Those four words made her heart clench in her chest but it was true. She went without him for five years. Five years of wondering too many things. Maybe this would be some sort of closure for her. "Of course I am not going to give you blood. Even if you asked, you would not get it," she whispered, sighing. Even when he motioned that he did not want her blood, her wrists twitched in response to give it to him. Her own body was against her and it needed to be controlled quickly. Before she blurted out things in the heat of the moment. Though it might work in some way.<br><br>Nola needed to get whatever she had in her head out on paper and through her mouth then go on her way. The two of them could discuss anything and everything but nothing to do with her feelings for him. Nothing about that. If he asked her that, she would lie all the way to her grave. Though she might whisper she hated him, inside, she felt still those feelings for him and she was a damn fool because of it. A plain and stupid fool.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>07-12-2008, 09:44:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Hearing her hateful words denying him her blood, made his boil. Not that he wanted it. He would never take from her without her consent. And he felt more with every moment, this entire event was a farce. She would never relent in her hatred. But her words filled him with rage. Why, why did she have to be so venomous? His hand reached around for something. It clutched onto the metal seat belt clasp. Squeezing his fist close, the metal bent, it's shape instantly mutated. "If I wanted your blood... IF I wanted to sink these teeth into you, I would. But I don't." He looked over at her wondering how he would endure many hours on a plane near her hateful heart. He understood hatred. He had been filled with it for centuries. It created him, caused him to burst free from the cocoon existence of being human. But how could she hate him?<br>&nbsp;<br>"I used to watch you as you slept", sinking farther back, his legs stretched out in the limo. "I thought at times maybe being near you would cure whatever ill caused me to be what I am. I was so tempted to enter your mind but I never did. Others, yes, with no care. But not you. I sometimes waited, hoping as we'd talk, I'd see a look or hear something in your voice which invited me in but I never did. Instead, you'd flinch when I moved too fast. And always that look of fear."<br>&nbsp;<br>Speaking to himself, out loud, "Why do I even bother. Hundreds of years to get to this crazy moment. And now a little girl has such... sway over me." Closing his eyes, he wished it would instantly turn to day and blast him to ash. It wasn't enough to end him but surely his companion would figure out how to truly end him. But no, dammit, I will not end or willingly depart by the hands of a human, without a fight. The Coalition... despite his contempt for them, he did think perhaps the tide had turned. And these actions today certainly wouldn't help.<br>&nbsp;<br>Five years. A spec of time. The blink of an eye. Yet this five years was more like a hundred. Two. A lifetime by any other measure. "Woman, human...", turning towards her, "You may hate me. Loathe me. Wish I would completely die in the most painful way. But you don't know what every moment is like. Every moment where every little sensation is magnified by a thousand. Every irritation is like a spike shoved repeatedly into the brain." He watched her, hoping for some reaction, but not expecting any. "But then one day, miraculously, all that faded. Or dulled to a tiny little buzz. And you know what cause it? No? Not even an attempt to answer? It was YOU! You had this... effect on me. It was as if your very presence was this ocean which would send me back to laying on the sand and the waves would slowly rise more and more until I would be completely engulfed in water. And my vision would simply hold you."<br>&nbsp;<br>Stop it! Quit this pathetic babbling, whining, he screamed inside his mind. She doesn't care. Look at her. She'd just as soon open the car door and accept death than be with you. Looking up, he was happy to see the airport growing into view. Sighing he wasn't sure if that was a good thing. "We are close now. Do you have any needs before we board the jet? It's fully stocked, including a selection of clothes for you. I know, your body has changed. And apart from", reaching up but then pulling back from touching her hair, "the changes in color in your hair and eyes, you are even more radiant and beautiful. Your parents.. created quite a lovely being in you."<br>&nbsp;<br>Again he clenched his fists, wishing his mouth would remain still. Embrace her hatred. Make it part of your own. You are a master of that art. He would always use his enemies hatred against themselves. Sometimes through entering their mind. Usually through absorbing like a sponge that anger and ferocity, where it would blossom in his empty soul. "I know what you are thinking. What does he want from me? Yes, what do I want?"<br><br>Turning slowly he glared at her. "I want my mind back. I want my life back. I want to be able to wake in the night and not always first wonder about you. I want to be able to see you in a magazine or on one of those pathetic entertainment shows and not feel anything. And despite what you think of me, I do want you to live and... to do as you want. The Coalition obviously made a mistake when they screened and cleared you as a fleshie." Wanting to say more yet knowing he said too much,Vlad pulled his bottle out, taking the last sniff. Rubbing his fingers on it's rim, he inhaled it's last bit of moisture.<br><br>The car approached their next traveling mode.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>07-12-2008, 22:14:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				What made her hate him so much? Enough to be on constant guard and lash out at him every second she could. Truthfully, it must have been the things she had wanted to say to him in the year she was in his service and the five years she did not see him. She wanted to say the things that came to mind but found he was not at her side and he was across the ocean from her. Nola wanted to tell him how hurt she was for him to be outright mean to her. His insults cut her deeper than he must have known. The remarks about how she was a human questioned how the Coalition let her through to become his gift.&nbsp; <br><br>Why was he saying these things to her? Why not tell her earlier? "I felt your presence somehow as I slept. I never asked you this because it was rare thing if I slept at night. Usually, I slept in the afternoon and conversed with you at night," she answered, rubbing her eyes. She had made sure to keep herself awake to keep him company the first year of employment. So many things the two of them talked about. Politics, religion, history, even if there was an afterlife when humans died. For vampires, death was never on their minds though their immortality and how it affected them was a constant topic the two of them chatted on about. <br>&nbsp;<br>Immortality was something which intrigued and made Nola wary about. It would be a nice thing never to grow old and to never age a bit but how would it feel when those one became close to died off? She was sure in the fact that one could do anything and everything in their immortality. Live many occupations. Visit various places in the world over and over but when the exciting factor to do everything and anything wore off, what could an immortal do to entertain themselves for the rest of their undead lives? That is what made her wary to even think about the 'kiss of immortality'. Would she become bored of the immortal life and saddened by the death of those she might come to care for who would age and die off or hardened to it all?<br><br>Little girl? "If I had any sway over you Vlad, you would not have been cruel to me those many years ago. I have no idea what you want from this two weeks whether it is to finish old business or to somehow make peace with the Coalition. She winced at her own words being thrown back at her but she winced because of his words. Nola could not take his words to mind. She was merely a blood bag to him and maybe a piece of conversation. Nothing more, nothing less. <br><br>Sighing, she rubbed her forehead even more finding she had a headache coming on the way. "Just some aspirin, please," she asked, taking his words into consideration. He had no clue who she was. Torn between two lives at the moment now. One was the life she started on her own and the life with Vlad. She had not closed the chapter with Vlad no matter how much she tried. She could not escape the past even though she tried her hardest to do so. For the next two weeks she had to face her past with Vlad, whether it might lead her to more heartache or some sort of neutral understanding with him, she had to know. Once the two weeks were up, if he kept to his promise, she would be let go from his life. <br>&nbsp;<br>"Thank you for the compliments, I do miss my parents presence even more now," she truthfully, revealed. Her parents had been good people to her. Both wanted the best for her and she was slightly comforted by the fact the two died six years ago. If they were alive now, her father would have been questioning her sanity by letting herself be given off to Vlad as a piece of meat on a plate. Her mother on the other hand would have asked her daughter if she was doing this for herself or because she had nothing else to do with her life. Nola knew when her parents died everything they owned would have to be sold off. Though her parents were good people, her father was shoddy in keeping up with the mortgage payments. Not even a few minutes after their funeral had the collectors come to the house demanding their money or the house. She sold off what she could for a price and what she could not bear to sell off was placed in storage. <br><br>Her skin prickled at his last words. "Please, do not think that you were in torture over me. Let us get on with the formalities and if the Coalition is on your ass because of my running away, we will deal with it. I have already told them I wanted out as soon as I ran away and have yet to get back to me. By law, if I had married sooner, we would not have to worry about such things but...," she faltered, shaking her head to try and get rid of the migraine but it was a failure unless she received some medication. "It will be dealt with." She stepped out of the car as soon as the driver opened the door, thanking him when he helped her out. She needed to get a grip on her emotions as well. Both were merely angry because of the past and things filtered out. That is what she was sticking with.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>07-12-2008, 23:52:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As the walked to the plane, him behind her by a few feet, he watched her moves. Disheveled, limping, tied up, she was still incredibly womanly. Five years picturing her exactly as she was on that fateful night, Vlad was nearly blown away by how beautifully she had continued to mature. Doesn't she even remember any good moments? I didn't always lose my temper. "You know, many years alone does have it's affect. I might not be human, thankfully, but my mind still has remnants of human thought. I'm not sentimental by any stretch but still, loneliness, the lack of a companion, does take it's toll."<br><br>Quickly walking to her front to face her, he put his hand out, halting their movements. "Every human, every vampire... either hating or fearing you, has repercussions. Do you honestly think I planned on 'this' when I died into this life? I was barely older than you are now. A brash warrior. Trained from childhood to kill. Yes, I mastered that art better than anyone. I even learned to take great pleasure in my methods. I perfected the very meaning of torture and killing." Knowing this wasn't helping any, he shifted tone, "When I was a boy, after my first kill, my father gave me a my first set of armor. He took me by my neck, and proudly told me I would surround myself with the skin of my enemies. Armor wrapped in treated skin. The children of his enemies. Hence, my enemies."<br><br>"In this new world, I have no enemies. I know you can't comprehend the 'need' for those to fight, to kill. It took me a long time but I no longer have those needs. I only have one true need, and that is blood. But old habits are hard to shake." Suddenly he felt as though he was talking to a wall. Stepping aside, Vlad motioned his arm out for her to continue. "You are... or were, the first person that tried to be a friend. Don't think I was oblivious. You think I didn't care but I did. You were genuine, you didn't say and act out of fear but out of curiosity, out of eventual friendship, and later out of companionship."<br><br>Old habits do die hard, he thought. Vlad had been very emotional in 'life'. Yet as a creature of the night, it was all concentrated on hatred and anger. Centuries of this did alter the man he had been. The last time he had cried had been with his dead Elisabeta limp in his arms. As a vampire, those emotions never returned. Yet it seemed with age came a longing to feel again. To care, to want.. and more than simply wanting blood or feeling lust. Lust.. his eyes raised to Nola's swaying walk before him. He hadn't thought about any other female body other than hers since she came into his life. Even his new fleshie. She was beautiful and by any normal standards, with a nearly perfect body and face. Nothing, though. He felt absolutely nothing in the way of desire for her.<br><br>The vapors completely faded in their control. Taken by a sudden need, Vlad reached out, grabbing Nola. Spinning her to him, he grabbed both shoulders. Firmly but not painfully. "Damn you", he whispered harshly. "What have you done to me?", feeling her squirm, hearing sounds but not truly understanding them as she nearly spat at him, his hand moved up through her hair, "Why have you haunted me these years. What... spell have you placed on me?" Knowing he went too far, he released her. Watching her face, looking in her eyes this close was too much. Sneering, he turned away.<br><br>"I'm sorry", he murmured as he quickened his pace before her, running up the stairs to the jet. Snapping towards two burly men in suits, they moved to both sides of Nola, ready to grab hold at the slightest need.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>08-12-2008, 03:31:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Nola thanked the driver for placing her jacket on her shoulders. She would have shrugged into the coat sleeves but with her hands tied together, it was a bit difficult to keep the sweater from slipping off of her. Though the driver never seemed to question why she looked like a rendition of a sexy mummy from a B-movie horror flick. "Oh, I know how loneliness can be Vlad. Takes a told on the mind and on the body as well," she answered and glanced down at herself. Having parted from his side, she knew what loneliness could be like when she tried to put together a semblance of a life for the last few years. She succeeded but she still felt as if everything might go away if Vlad had it his way. <br><br>Halted in place, she listened to his words but she wondered about them. Born into a life to commit atrocities against othe people appalled her. Disgusted by how many leaders sought to show their strength by murdering thousands, even millions always made her dislike them on sight. However, even though Vlad was one of these men, she could not help but still like his company. A straight fool she was to let herself become moved by his words. These were the words of someone who murdered his own people and yet was bred for it. There could be found no fault because the minute he left his mother's womb, he was raised and brainwashed to become a murderer. Even if he was raised as a murderer he could have changed when he became an immortal.<br><br>"Yes, I tried Vlad, tried with all my might to give you the benefit of the doubt," she whispered but glanced away. How to explain how she was to him? She had given him the benefit of the doubt and tried her best to get him to see her as someone who had no use to exploit their friendship for anything. What was she going to do? Go to the Coalition? The Coalition were the ones who told her she needed to stay in his service if she wished to live a life that was better than the one she lived in. The life with Vlad at first was miserable but he was a good man. A man nonetheless to whom she wondered how he faired during the five years of separation.<br><br>Why in the hell was she thinking about this? She assumed she was done with questions but she remembered she wanted to let herself feel and want to say things for and to him. If he wanted to take two weeks of her time, she wanted to make sure she got as much information as possible about his own thoughts and emotional outbursts. "Tell me why you still want to talk to me?," she asked him. She wanted to know everything she could because soon once the time was up, only her mind would be left to wonder about his supposed answers. <br><br>She was shocked at first when he grabbed her by her shoulders. Was he having another of his fits? Her knees knocked together, trying to get away from him. "I have done nothing to you," she whispered, though her cheeks flamed at the touch of his hand in her hair. She needed to stop this. He was crossing the line. Never had he touched her in this manner. Nor had she pushed him to touch her in that sort of manner. Vlad never asked her to sleep with him or give him pleasures of the bed which would have been much harder to make her leave if she had. <br><br>Breathing heavily, she wiped her forehead with her clasped hands, licking her suddenly dried lips. He was going to be the death of her no matter what. She had to get away but the guards halted any thought of escape from him. Wherever she was going, she would have to deal with her raging hormones in peace. Nola was to be married to Ethan and her love was with him. Not with Vlad. If only her body could realize it and stop with the emotional surges.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>08-12-2008, 05:31:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Vlad moved through the jet and sank into his favorite seat. Regret was starting to creep into him. What am I doing? It wasn't the abduction that bothered him but the feeling of fruitlessness. Clenching the armrest, denting it slowly on both sides, he was also upset at his outburst. Don't give her that power! Watching through the window, he saw her slowly approach. She's miserable. And why not? He took her from that bastard she was engaged to. Shaking his head, he stood to stop this charade. Then sat back down. I can't back off now. I'd truly lose all respect. And she would part, gloating to her human boyfriend. I might as well let her fill me with silver to end it all right now.<br><br>Dreading the flight and the two weeks to come, he chuckled sarcastically to himself. She will be the death of me. Did I take this path to end it all going mad over a woman? Then again, thinking back, maybe that is my pattern, my plight. The last time his existence took a major turn was when his beloved died. Maybe I can reach a new level of insanity. But not by this woman's death. Maybe by my own spiraling fall into sheer lunacy.<br><br>When Nola asked why he still wanted to talk to her, he shook his head. I don't, he had uttered. Thinking, why would I? She judged, she prosecuted him. Over one night, one tiny moment. When she mocked him. Nobody mocks me. People are terrified of me. And there was this young girl not even twenty years of age trying to get the upper hand? I have shoes older than her.<br><br>Explaining his earlier life, he wasn't trying to justify anything. Merely trying to show an objective angle. He could detect the eyes rolling. Not in their movement but by her small sighs and the shift of expression. Yes, this is a joke, he thought. But one I'm stuck in. Which enraged his every molecule. Yet slowly his scowl shifted. I'm doing this to save my... reputation. My honor. I can't be made to look like a fool. And this is exactly what this silly human girl is doing. Making a fool of me. I will show her.<br><br>Looking out as she approached the steps, he whispered, "I was going to spoil you. Pour every wonderful amenity onto you. Shower you with every possible wonderful thing you could imagine. No. You will suffer. Not in pain but somehow I will make this hell for you. You say I'm a monster? I will prove you right. Maybe I will drive you as mad as you have done to me.<br><br>Sitting back, he closed his eyes. He instructed for her to be placed in the seat opposite him. No more displays of any kind. Let her ride in silence. Let her worry. Let her fill with more and more hatred of me. And let me... willing himself beyond any urging he had ever wanted... let me feed off that hatred. No Nola, I will not harm one hair on your head. I will damage you, though. As you have damaged me.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>09-12-2008, 06:06:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Before she was able to board the plane, Nola had to do one thing before those surly guards of Vlad's even let her place one foot on the ladder to the jet. She had to remove all of the silver from her body unless she wanted the guards to remove it themselves. By the way she noticed one of the men eyeing her as if she was a piece of meet and his fingers twitching in anticipation of her fighting them, she removed the pieces. She was not about to have any other man's hands on her. Vlad might have touched her but no other man tonight would get their hands on her in this state. <br><br>"Not going to happen," she answered as she handed over the pieces of jewelry with the exception of her engagement ring. The guards would still not let her pass through unless she removed the ring. Nola had to make a choice. She either gave these two lunkheads the engagement ring and possibly never see it again or have one of these men use any means to remove the ring. From what she noticed of these guards, these two were up to get their hands very dirty to do anything possible for their employer. Sighing to herself, she slipped off the ring and handed it to the bulkier guard. He nodded and thanked her for the gesture of good faith, giving her the pass to enter into the jet. She swore to herself to get back the ring and placed back on her hand or she would make sure the guard ate his expensive leather shoes.<br><br>Forced to settle herself in front of him in a seat, she kept her eyes on her ringless hands. She rubbed at her face with the need to get rid of the raging migraine. It would not leave her be and she wished she could crush her skull to alleviate the pain. However crushing her own skull was not going to help her. "Can I get the aspirin pills, please? I feel like my head is going to implode," she whispered, trying to keep the volume of her voice down as much as she could. She held onto her messenger bag even when the guards asked her to put it beneath her seat. Might have taken her rings but not about to take her laptop that was inside the bag. No sir.<br><br>Her eyes glanced up every once in a while to him. She wondered what was going on through his head. The small spurt of words he gave out before boarding the plane took her for a surprise. Never had she heard him spill anything out to her that usually was considered far too open to let out. He might give out a bit of his past, never of Elisabeta but hearing his words earlier unnerved her. Was he saying these things to tempt her mind into thinking more what-if's? The what if's and the what could have been plagued her the first two years of her life as well as the year and a half spent with him. Plagued her enough to fantasize image of the two of them in bed together. Vlad's body poised above her as he entered her, her neck arched to give him everything he needed.<br><br>Even thinking about those images once more brought a deep blush to her face and she averted her gaze. She was giving herself away too easily. Just only two hours in his company and already her anger was starting to slip from her grasp. Nola needed to grab ahold of it with every fiber of her being and stroke the embers to keep herself from falling head over heels for him again. She needed to think about her Ethan. Moreso, her thoughts ran to her eyes and the contacts which bothered her. "I hate these things," she whispered as she opened one eye and reached carefully with a finger to remove one of the colored contacts. This manage to make one eye green and one eye brown as she blinked a few times. Changed her whole being to change her feelings about Vlad and now he would be able to see if it he looked hard enough. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>09-12-2008, 19:02:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Vlad watched as Nola gave up her silver. Good. For some reason it would have bothered him to see them take it from her forcefully. Although he did warn them to be not too rough. Tapping his fingers on the armrest, taking deep breaths, he felt suddenly very satisfied. Enough of this foolishness. No more outbursts, no more of this childish display. Must be this North American air, he thought. I need to return home. The air is pure there. There was always a special feeling, no matter how much time went on, he would fill with as his castle would come into view. Cars were not allowed there. The surrounding lands were all his still his so his word was the law of the land. Technology did have it’s place, but not as the roar of an engine approaching his home. Once, many years earlier, an accountant of his came thundering up his roads in his brand new Porsche. I warned him. I told him explicitly to not leave town by any means other than foot, bicycle, or horse. But no… ‘Vlad will want a ride in this beauty’… his exact words. He was never seen again.<br><br>As she walked up, he closed his eyes. Hearing her murmur about aspirin, Vlad pushed a blue button near his left hand. In moments a very pretty young woman walked up nervously. “Oh, I was expecting the steward”, feeling slightly awkward, “Nola, this is Katrina, my current fleshie. Katrina, Nola.” Irritated, he watched Kat’s face. Two years with him and she never relaxed. He should be happy with her for she never argued, never caused him any reason to get angry. Wearing a long, dark red dress that clung to her very shapely body, Katrina curtsied, smiling nervously. She was, in many ways, the perfect fleshie. Appearance wise, also, she was what most would consider perfect. She even looked like a vampire herself with long black hair and skin nearly as pale as his own. But no spark. No… oomph! She was boring. “Kat, would you get a bottle aspirin for our guest?”<br><br>She scurried away, then returned with a brand new, unopened bottle of Excedrin, handing it to Nola. Leaning forward, Vlad took her hand, “I will join you in a while. I’m feeling… quite ravenous.” The look on Katrina’s face shifted, nearly startled, before he gestured her away. He forced himself to not grin. I never speak to her so she must be terrified. But I’ll be damned if I let Nola think I’m not perfectly happy. In fact, it was time to kill any thoughts seeded by that little display outside the plane.<br><br>As the plane started to move, Vlad leaned forward. “So, how did you like that little scene outside? I think it nearly fooled you. Did it? The look on your face was priceless.” Sneering, “But no, it was all an act. I was expecting maybe that you’d try something before we took off. I was hoping to let you see a ‘softer’ side.” Inside, saying these words, made him feel sick. Looking at her stony face added to his resolve, “The true reason I have you is to take care of the legal side of things. To put an official ending to something that never should have began. But on my terms.”<br><br>Pointing towards Nola’s swallows, Vlad knew he had to rush out these last few words before he either changed his mind or lost his nerve. “And those, I know you went to great trouble to cover my bites”, inside his stomach was churning, a tornado screaming and throwing his mind into chaos. I never lied to her before. Always telling her the exact truth. Until now. And it felt as if a thousand silver nails were being driven into his skull. “I will give you a last gift. To remove those bites.” Forcing a look of disgust, “I don’t want any marking of mine to be on you. So, it’s a gift to us both. You are free of my markings and I am free of… you. Finally.”<br><br>The plane completed it’s turns, speed increasing as it finally left the runway. Standing, “Yes,&nbsp; free of you. You are lucky, you know. I have never in my existence”, these words were true, “removed my signature from a living being… other than by death.” Leaning down, to whisper, “Although you… yes you are dead to me. And I have all I need.” Turning towards the aisle, he looked back, smiling, “I’ll return in a few minutes. Time for dinner.”<br><br>As Vlad walked away, feeling sick to his stomach, he filled with a new consuming rage at himself. Out of view, he leaned to hold onto a seat. This has to be done, he chanted again and again to himself. Straightening, suddenly totally composed, he walked through the door, vanishing. Moments later, a small man in white shirt and black pants appeared before Nola. “Good evening, mademoiselle”, handing her a menu. “I will be your server on this flight. Whatever you want from the menu or off, just press the red button near your right hand and I will take your order.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>11-12-2008, 04:59:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Opening her eyes, she glanced up at the female. She was not a stewardess by any means and the way she dressed, it only meant one thing to her. This was Vlad's fleshie. Nola had to stop the need to retch at the moment. Somehow he picked up a female that made her feel small. This female looked as if she could eat to her heart's content and never worry about gaining a bit of fat. Unlike herself who had to work various days out of the week to keep down the food she consumed. Katrina was a piece of art to which she wondered if Vlad admired and touched me often than not. The way the female stood maybe he already had as soon as she left. <br><br>Vlad's words cemented the fact he was using her in that manner. Hearing him tell Katrina he was ravenous and the look of enjoyment or surprise, she could not tell which was which on the beautiful face of the female's told her what she wanted to know. He used her in every manner. Hard it was not to let the mask she had on slip and show him how much those words effected her. Why should it, she asked herself. Nola was with Ethan and to be married in a month's time. Should be thinking about the wedding plans and the dress she needed to mend to her size. The bust was a bit tight and brought in further from the waist.<br><br>He fooled her all right. Nola had almost believed his words. Believed his fabrications but he was there to fix her assumptions right away. "Fine, have it finished and done with," she whispered, glancing away from him. Sooner the better, she thought to herself. Though if he wanted to dissolve the contract, he should have done it years ago or even the first day they met. It would have saved the both of them a lot of wasteful months together. Save her that much grief and counseling to get over someone who managed to throw her across the wall and almost choke the life out of her. <br><br>It should have made her happy to hear he wanted to remove the marks. However, she had them covered with the swallows. How could he get rid of them? Biting the back of her tongue, she nodded to him. "Yes, I want them off more than I want to breathe," she answered though she closed her eyes quickly. She did not want him to see how hard his words hit her. Vlad threw the fact that he had forced those marks on her as if it were her fault. She asked him not to do it, cried for him to use a cut in her wrist to get his nourishment. Looking at her as if she was the scum of the earth made her want to cry out how evil he was. However, she would not give him the benefit of the doubt no matter what.<br><br>Ignoring his presence and his words when he stood up to leave, she glanced down at her hands. If he did not ask her to look up at him, she might be able to take the fact he was going to Katrina. Fuck, she wanted to get up and leave right now. However the fact she was on a plane stopped her from doing so. Instead, she took three pills, wanting to get rid of the headache which now grew even more in size in her head. Nola wanted to take a few other pills to knock her out for the rest of the night. Sick and tired of the emotional rollercoaster she managed to put herself in right now. Once the two finished their tete-a-tete, she was going to ask if she could lay down. Hopefully, those two did not consumate the bedroom or she might ask to sleep on the floor. Oh, Vlad would enjoy if I slept on the floor like some bitch, she thought to herself. <br><br>Shaking her head at the server, she threw him a smile. "I feel a bit ill, I would like to lay down to rest in solace though I can wait till those two finish," she answered, rubbing at her forehead with her fingers. She was going to be stuck on a plane with Vlad and his female. She must really enjoy putting herself through hell to be here. What she really wanted was to be back in New Orleans in Ethan's arms. No one else but when she imagined Ethan, it was Vlad in bed with her. Fuck, that was not good.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>11-12-2008, 23:02:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Vlad closed the door behind him, Katrina was beaming, as she approached. The room contained a single bed, a love seat, and various small appliances. She sat reading a book, which was instantly discarded. “Does this mean…”, she started to ask but upon seeing his face, her words ceased. Yes, it does, he thought. When Katrina started as his fleshie, he had eagerly hoped it would rid him of his thoughts of Nola. And why not? Katrina was by most standards a perfect ten. Most men would give their soul for such a beauty. But you aren’t her, he thought. You aren’t my Nola.<br><br>A few minutes earlier, he watched Nola’s face for any sign that she was upset. A few flickers, he was sure. That should make him happy. He should be in here dancing with Katrina that he finally saw a sign of regret or sadness on Nola’s face. Yet why was he feeling so low, suddenly? I should be rejoicing. She showed such pleasure in flaunting her boyfriend. Sinking into a seat, Vlad motioned to Katrina. “Just this once”, he whispered. She frowned for a moment but then smiled. She thinks maybe I will find her flesh irresistible, Vlad realized. Neck arched back, Katrina hoped he would bite her in the classic fashion. And he did. In a quick blurring moment, he took her in his arms and sank his teeth in. At least I can make it pleasurable for you, he thought as he sucked her blood for long minutes, just to the point of where it was euphoric for the human. Also extremely pleasurable for the vampire, Vlad then released her, in a nearly orgasmic state, sitting on the seti next to her. Smiling, he lifted his gaze to hers. Kat was smiling also, while tears formed and fell down her cheeks.<br><br>“You are lovely”, he said, taking her hands, “But you aren’t her.” It was the closest she’d get to an apology. Standing, he adjusted himself, “You can sleep now or do whatever. I probably won’t need you again on this trip.” Looking down, he could see she was riding a wave of pleasure, yet still those tears were falling. He knew she would do anything for him. At first he admired it, thinking it such a welcome change after someone who always enjoyed arguing. Yet later it started bothering him. Now, it sickened. Although he had a small level of sympathy. Someone this beautiful should be with someone who truly appreciates. Not with a pathetic vampire who can’t rid himself of a curse. Nola, he realized, was his curse. This very thought made him realize something. “Soon, I will release you. Don’t cry, please!” He detested seeing her cry. She was always crying.<br><br>Exiting the room he took a deep breath. The rippling of pleasure was still swirling through him, putting him in a better mood. Sitting across from Nola, he looked up at her. Smiling, he asked, “Are you feeling better? I hope the headache has at least partly faded.” Something in her face seemed utterly sad. Or angry. Damn, you are always so hard to read, he thought. Which always intrigued him. She was never easy to understand. As the wonderful feeling inside seeped away, he felt worse and worse. No, I don’t want to remove my marks from you, he thought. When he originally placed them, it was slightly in defiance of her wishes. But he was marking her as his. She never understood how important it was that she be seen at all moments as belonging to Dracula. He never normally felt that way, but in her case, he simply did.<br><br>Watching her, he knew seeing Katrina would bother her. Not in jealousy. No, I know you hate me and want me gone, dead, and blasted from this earth. No, it was her image issues. Vlad had spent many conversations with Nola trying to tell her, truthfully, she was perfect. And in his opinion, she was. Yes, many men would prefer a stick like Katrina. Vlad preferred women who were women. Even the first time he saw her, he instantly told her how he very much liked her full figure. She was a beautiful and perfect throwback to the golden age of cinema, when women had ample curves. So yes, he would watch her eat. Mostly because her every move fascinated him. Yet also because he wanted to make sure she didn’t starve herself. You think I was always judging you, he thought, head shaking. That wasn’t the case.<br><br>Now looking at her, after years of change, he saw that she was even more appealing. What was before an hour glass figure was even more accentuated. What I didn’t think possible, he smiled despite himself, was that you would actually blossom even farther.<br><br>Seeing the fatigue in her face, Vlad leaned forward. “If you want, you can lay in my bed. It’s back there”, pointing in the opposite direction of the room Kat stayed in. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone, so I will join you. But at least you can lay down for a while, maybe even nap, if you want.” The idea of laying next to her, even just to watch her sleep, was a very soothing one. Just this one last time, Nola.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>14-12-2008, 07:53:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Nola wished her imagination was dead at the moment. Her mind ran rampant with images of Vlad taking the fleshie over and over in the bedroom in the back. She scolded herself to even let her mind wander into this filthy mental alleyways. Her thoughts should be with her fiancee or how her cases were going. Mental signals to send across the ocean to Ethan to let him know he was in her mind and in her heart even if she was flying back to close a chapter on her past. Each case she took on should have consumed her with the urgency to make sure the child in need had a place to go to. However all she thought about was if the female was digging her nails into Vlad's back or if Vlad was speaking to her in Romanian.<br><br>"I am a sick female, I need help," she whispered beneath her breath. Utterly, she was sick to be thinking of what he might be saying to her in the bedroom. Of whether he might stroke her hair fondly or grip her hips harder as he peaked towards his climax. Never had she asked him if immortals were able to have sexual relations. It was a subject she stayed away from with him and because she was a naive female in the art of lovemaking. After she left Vlad she came upon a bookstore which sold mainly erotic novels. What a surprise to find herself reading the trilogy of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice and flipping through the Karma Sutra. She was blushing red when she read the books and glancing through the pages of sexual position but this moment made her feel embarassed down to the bone.<br><br>When he returned, he looked somewhat happy. He must have had a really good time, she thought to herself. She glanced away, taking deep breaths as she felt another urge to purge the contents of her stomach. Covering her mouth, she stood up and shook her head needing to lie down now more than ever. "May I lay down in the bedroom, my head is killing me and I think the altitude is getting to me," she asked, rubbing her forehead. Sooner she got away from him and the fleshie into her dreams, sooner she might be able to not imagine the female and him in the throes of passion. What was happening to her? Nola was losing it. Completely to be a besotted female once more to him. She worked out her issues of loving for him in therapy. It all should have stayed in therapy but obviously her old baggage wanted to come for a trip now.<br><br>One hand went to her wrist to check her pulse and to rub against the swallows. Against his marks. She refused to let him know how he was affecting her. Nola wanted to lie down and take this as a hallucination because of the illness she acquired in the last hour. A shock to the nerves to see Vlad after all these years must have brought up old stress levels when she was in his service. Maybe it would keep her from shoveling food down her gullet for the next two weeks. She needed to lose a few more pounds to fit into her wedding dress and if she could not eat as she wanted around him it was fine with her. Besides, Vlad did not have to know how her eating habits had changed and increased. New Orleans food was unique and delicious which made her want it more. Either she was pregnant which was not true since tested herself a few days ago and it came out negative or her hips had gotten bigger as cause of the consumption of food. Wonderful.<br><br>Thanking him for the offer of the bed, she had to clench her fists from holding back a retort to tell him to go to hell. She had no need to steal from him nor search through his place. God, he really wanted to show her how much he had moved on. Rarely had he let her near his room. It was his sanctuary and his domain. Off limits no matter the times she became afraid of the new houses the two of them lived in. Maybe it was the fact she was alone in a house that held booby traps in case someone tried to sneak in to harm Vlad or the fact she was All he needed to do was remove the marks while he fucked Katrina at the same time then it should knock some bloody sense into her. But no, he wanted to watch her as if she might go off the deep end and harm herself. If she did that it would give into letting him get to her and hurting Ethan in the end. <br><br>Entering the bedroom, she glanced around. It was interesting to say the least. A black and red bed, large enough for two people and she guessed he would have used it with Katrina. At least he did not take her here. Would have made her want to sleep on the floor or even ask Katrina if she could bunk with her. "Do you think I am going to try and off myself," she asked as she settled herself on the left side of the bed. Having heard his confession of watching her while she slept unnerved her. If he watched her while she slept now she might become even more vulnerable and break down in front of him. How could she be on the edge of wanting to cry or to lash out when only hours before she was in engaging bliss? Her mind needed to find a level she could handle before Vlad realized her weakness and went for it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>15-12-2008, 20:30:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The very question, with venom in her eyes, shook him. No, he didn’t truly think she would harm herself. Although the crazy look he had gotten from her initially did raise those alarms inside. Vlad was never one to leave things to chance, and the thought of Nola dead brought surprisingly horrible feelings to him. Alive, no matter how much she hated him, there was always at least a small chance ‘something’ could change. That someday maybe, somehow, he’d see a look of warmth in her eyes. Or her smile. Not even in his direction but just to see it. “If you kill yourself”, he replied with a flat voice he hoped was convincing, “it will most likely appear I coerced you into it.” With an empty expression, he bellowed inside to keep from showing anything, any shred of emotion. “I need this… arrangement to end completely, with no suspicious threads. Once you sign, once you are out of my hands, then… yes, do as you wish. But not now, not in my custody.”<br><br>Feeling inside as if something was crumbling, Vlad slowly came to a realization. Centuries of living with no care, no thoughts apart from his own greedy needs, this little girl who was born in the blink of an eye, who grew into a woman then was presented to him… she changed him, somehow. Through months of being near her, watching her… long stimulating conversations with her… and yes, witnessing her peaceful sleeping, he shifted. Altered, changed. Somewhat acknowledging this when she left, he believed it would soon fade. Yet now, being near her, feeling what he was terrified to even admit, the idea of her not being in this world hit him like a ton of bricks. Even worse, he knew if and when she did part from this world, he would die a second time. And the world would see something. It would see this civilized creature who it came to accept and even in ways admire, revert back to his earlier times. Those stories which experts now always laugh about, ‘exaggerations’ thought by some, would come to life in these modern times, Vlad thought darkly. They think they know me? The true me? A new reign of terror will grab each heart, for they will not know where I strike next. Contain me? Hold me true to silly contracts and truces? The blood drinker slightly shook his head, returning to this moment.<br><br>Watching her as she looked around the bedroom, Vlad noticed Nola was obviously very upset. Missing her beloved. Can’t bear to be away from him for even a few hours. She will drive me mad with her sniffling sadness. Although each time, she’d probably then swiftly alter that by throwing those optical daggers, killing me again and again with her deep hatred. As she moved around, his intent gaze shifted. She is… lovely, he thought despite his need to shift in attitude. The slightest moves, the way they shifted her clothing, showed in ways the body beneath. How he longed to pull every shred free, to taste every part of her. Not even in a sexual way. Just to feel that force inside her which he missed… surging and bubbling away beneath his lips. One night long ago, he remembered telling her how her blood reacted uniquely when he was close. Not at first, but in time, with being his fleshie, he noticed the subtle changes.<br><br>The concept of ‘fleshie’ was a new one. Victims were victims. Some would be killed instantly as every drop was absorbed. Some, left to be drank again and again until they weakened to the point of either needing to be changed into a vampire or killed. With a fleshie, the amount was much smaller. Enough to sustain, but not to the point of damage. Yet in time, the fleshie does become changed. The Coalition wasn’t aware of this, Vlad knew. He himself was hardly aware. He simply noticed the signs. A year after being his, Nola’s blood reacted to his close proximity.<br><br>Not sure if it was being in this room, near his bed so close to this woman who he couldn’t shake himself from, he knew one thing. Her blood was screaming out at him, willing, beckoning, taunting him… to plunge his teeth deep into and drink madly. Knowing though, if he did this, she’d not only hate him but also wouldn’t trust him in even the smallest way. The call, though, was difficult to resist. It wrapped around him, relentlessly. Whatever is in her blood, he knew, had grown and evolved. He knew her taste would be intoxicating beyond his wildest dreams.<br><br>Something else shocked him to the core. He wanted her in a different way. Usually, pleasures of the flesh were pale to him, in desire. At high times of blood consumption, while feeding, it would fill him… this ‘need’. Yet at other times, it was something pleasant but not in a hungry way. Watching her as she examined the surroundings, giving him evil looks on occasion, Vlad kept imagining again and again ripping her clothes off and plunging deep inside her. Yes of course with my teeth. Also, with this solid beast of mine. Oh Nola, he thought, how it wishes to be sliding into you. Your neck beneath my lips, your force filling me, as I watch those eyes of yours shift… and soon fill you with my force.<br><br>Sitting on the edge of the bed, he sighed. It will be a long flight.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>20-12-2008, 06:01:20</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The only thing Nola wanted to do to herself was sleep and push those inappropriate thoughts to the back of her mind. It was too much too soon. Too much memories flooding her senses that it made her want to cry. Crying was not something she ever wanted to do again around Vlad. She cried too much when he started to hurt her in the last few weeks in her service to him. Cried for the loss of conversations. Companionship. Appreciation. So many things she cried about because she had let herself fall for an immortal who would only think of her as property. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nola should have warned herself not to let him get beneath her skin when she was there but then she bet he would have found other ways to harm her. <br><br>Kill herself? He was still on this idea she would off herself to get away from him. The only time she had thought of such things had been when he had tore into her wrists and that memory still hurt her even to this day. When he bit her wrists, she felt it was the final straw in how she wanted to live. If he was going to ruin her time here on earth with him she wanted to take control and leave the earth before he could do anymore damage. However, when the servants came to give her a gift Vlad had sent for her somehow she let her stupid love for him get in the way of her mental capacities and she forgave him for the indiscreation. What a fool she was to take his gifts as if he was silently letting her know he loved her. A gift was a gift and coming from Vlad, gifts were bargaining tools. The camera because he had broken the first. A warm jacket because she had caught the flu from the lack of heat in the houses and he hated to be without a blood source if she caught anymore colds and died on him. Funny how she thought the gifts meant he cared for her. He might have picked out the gifts or had someone else do it for them but ultimately he must have done it to give her a false sense of hope. Hope she took precedence in his life but the gifts were merely to shut her up or stop her from informing the Coalition about her treatment.<br><br>However, she could not merely put it on him. She was the one who accepted the gifts thus making it seems she would enjoy gifts in the future. Never did she throw the gifts back in his face. Though she adored how he was to her in the beginning, even when he was becoming horrible to her, she still accepted his 'forgive me' presents. How could she not knowing at the time she still thought to change his ways. A naive female to think if he had someone who was not as a 'Yes Sir' he might open himself up to Nola. Still, she tried but now, she wondered if he expected her to be open again. If he thought that, he was surely mistaken. Though her heart knocked the lie aside even as her mind fought to keep the flittering heart from telling the truth.<br><br>"I might be a bit upset but I will not kill myself, Vlad. I thought you knew my views on death. Death is not the way out even if thought it seems like the only option," she whispered one of the topics of conversation the two had many years back. Death took its toll on those who were not given or born with immortality. She knew one of these days Death would be waiting to take her wherever she needed to go. However, Nola knew Death would not take her in the prime of her life. Even if she had to barter with Death, never would she want to live everything she had behind. Friends, a job, Ethan, Vlad. Wait. Vlad?, her mind asked as she pulled back the sheets on the left side of the bed. <br><br><div align="center"><strong>You get your kicks you get your kicks from playing me<br>And the less you give the more I want so foolishly</strong></div><br>How true these two lines she repeated to herself. Maybe he was getting his kicks from seeing her in a vulnerable position. It was not easy to see someone who one left on bad terms with. Nola left on very bad terms by running away and changing her identity. Even now those dam contacts of hers were irritating her to bits. Rubbing one eye, she sat up in bed, tilting her head down to remove each contact. She would not be needing it after remembering she left her contact solution back at the penthouse in one of the shared drawers. Removing both of the contacts, she glanced around for a place to put them. Blinking a few times as she did so, she got used to being able to blink much more than she could have done with contacts. With the contacts, she had to watch how she blinked or the lens would move and show off her green eyes, he true eye color. Went through a lot to hide from him but since she was here, then the masks had to come off one way or another. Hers was coming off with the contacts first but he would not see her inner core. Never.&nbsp; <br><br>He was watching her again. Nola knew that for a fact as she reached up with a hand to pull the messy ponytail out of her nest of curls. Shaking it out a few times, she laid back on her side, facing away from him. Was he watching the way the nest of curls came down her back? Longer and fuller from the layers placed in a few weeks ago. The tint of her hair making it seem as if she was bathed her hair in a bottle of black ink to discern the bright red of her true heritage. Was he narrowing his eyes in disgust as the sweater she wore bunched up to show the patch of torn sheet secured tightly against the side of her neck? She knew without the aid of her sweater she would have looked like a mummy extra from a B horror movie from the torn sheet wrapped around her. <br><br>Maybe he wandered if she had contracted any diseases of the blood by being with Ethan. In the vampire community there was a rare but deadly disease called the Delilah virus which was dormant in humans but if a vampire drank from a fleshie who had Delilah the body ravished against itself. In other words, the vampire would be immortal but in constant pain for the rest of his or her life. She checked herself out and she had nothing of the Delilah virus before she was given to Vlad and even now she still had not contracted the disease. Not because of future contact of Vlad. No. Never.<br><br>Damn it. Nola cursed herself for letting him get into her thoughts once more as her blood surged lazily through her. <br><br><div align="center"><strong>Never going to be your stepping stone. <br>I am standing upright on my own.</strong></div><br>These two lines she repeated to herself in her head as she stretched beneath the covers, keeping her back to Vlad as she did this the entire time. Memories came to her then which she had no clue it kept slipping beneath her defenses. Once more she was blaming it on the shock of seeing him again in the flesh but this memory made her blood sing in its veins. The memory of seeing him in the nude brought a deep blush to her cheeks. Lord have mercy on her soul for even bringing these torrid images to thought when she had a fiancee waiting for her back home. Nola was going to hell for this. She knew it. Only somehow, she silently accepted the fact that a part of her wanted to burn if only for a moment for the thought of Vlad burning in hell with her. So as long as he was there, holding her, she was a fool for him. Damn crushes, she thought as she yawned.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>24-12-2008, 20:03:01</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				As she turned away, Vlad sighed inside. What most didn’t realize was, he had truly mellowed with each passing year. In the past, only fools turned their back on him. An enemy would be killed. Anybody else? It simply wouldn’t happen. And yet here, this young woman so blatantly stuck her finger up right at his face. Laying down also, facing her back, his eyes traveled up and down her body. A strange mix of longing and anger filled him. Longing, to reach out, pull her around, feel her warm body against his. To taste you, he sighed with closing eyes. To make those beautiful swans bleed for me… to drink that gorgeous red wine that flows through your luscious, living body. It seemed worse now, after she removed her contacts. That brief moment those bright green eyes shined in his sight, inside something snapped. She changed in so many ways, yet those eyes were exactly the same. The same intensity. The same mesmerizing radiance.<br><br>Angry, at the circumstances. He was the one in power. She was his captive, his hostage, in a way. Yet that cold, hating hand of hers was clutched firmly around his balls. As time continued, he felt that grip tighten. I will kill you before I let you ruin me, he hissed with no words. Although even that thought followed by another sigh. No, sadly he realized, I will never hurt you again, Nola. <br><br>There had always been a big question mark regarding his tolerance for her ways. Even when she was first delivered to her, practically a child, there was a strong defiance in Nola. Normally, he’d have shaken that out of anybody. But her ways always intrigued him. It was as if she was fearless. Toe-to-toe, she would stare at him, that look of anger in her face. Knowing I could end her in the blink of an eye, he thought. Yes, without a shred of fear. Or at least none showing. And that angered him greatly at first. Later, especially after she left, the idea seemed to attract him. Hundreds of years with nobody ever being able to hold his gaze without crumbling, then a young girl comes along with fire in her heart. Yes my fiery Irish woman, you are truly unique, Dracula thought with a grin as he watched the rise and falls of her breathing.<br><br>As she shook her hair looser, he was amazed at how disheveled she appeared. I know that bothers you, he thought towards her. You always thought I was judging you. I was simply curious about you. Most humans didn’t last long with Vlad. He would either tire of them, kill them, or… in many cases, they would lose their mind. It would always happen so fast, usually within weeks, he never had much chance to get to know any of these strange, living creatures. Nola, she far outlasted anybody. He even toyed with the idea that maybe she was destined to be his. Not that he believed in any higher power. No, those days were far gone. There was no God and certainly no Devil. But maybe in this strange world, maybe there was finally one born who would be my perfect mate.<br><br>So close yet so far away. He was dying to touch her. Lose strands of intensely dark hair were close to his face. Reaching up, he rubbed it between his fingers. It should be easier now that the initial shock of all this has settled. And yet this pounding inside, it doesn’t relent, Vlad noticed. Eyes moving down, he admired her differences. Visions flashed through his mind. Nola walking down the ancient stairway in a stunning red gown. Nola outside, her skin glowing brightly under the moon. Nola sleeping, her beautiful full figure surrounded by a clinging night gown. The bits of skin he had seen in their struggle earlier enflamed many impulses in him.<br><br>Before realizing, he reached out, placing his hand on her hand. Feeling a flinch, he pulled away instantly. It killed him to sense her revulsion. “Sorry”, he muttered quietly. “I just wanted to see if your skin still felt the same.” Trying to recover, to show her his feigned indifference, “You have changed in so many other ways, maybe your skin has also changed into someone else.” Laying back suddenly, he stared at the dark wood above. Soon, the plane would approach brighter areas. The lid to this bed would then quickly lower. He didn’t even consider or think about how that might make matters&nbsp; worse. The altitude, the vapors he had earlier used, and the current ‘situation’… all altered his need and hunger. Yet he couldn’t move. Soon, it would close.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>24-12-2008, 21:59:01</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				On her side, facing away from him, she wondered various things. Though he might be watching her to make sure she did not do anything, she was curious why he would want to speak to her. He had his freshie who looked as if she was ready to do anything and everything for him. Everything. She had done the one thing to which she had wanted to try with him when she grew into his company. To sleep with him and to give herself to him. At first, horrified to be given to Vlad as a gift to proceed with the contract between vampires and fleshie, but soon she became enamored of him. It was not a fast process, not at all. It took its time and caught her by complete surprise. <br><br>Six months into being his fleshie, she had been surprised by a gesture he had committed. She had heard about his reign and the acts he had done, expecting him to be a mean bastard to her because of his past. Instead, when it had come time to be the six month of surviving being in his service he had picked out a beautiful gown for her. A deep, crimson red which must have cost a fortune but to him money was no object. She wore the gown that evening for dinner and somehow he had left unexpectantly after seeing her in it. It had hurt her because of how much she cared that he enjoyed her in the dress and she placed the dress into the back of the closet, never to be worn again. Nola wondered if the gown was still in the close gathering dust and moth balls.<br><br>Now, she wished she could wear that dress again but mend it to catch his eyes. She wanted him to see her as the female who he could have had a life with but missed out on. Nola must be a sadist to wish that on anyone but a masochist to wish he would look at her with lust and love. For now, she only had her imaginations to keep her wondering about him and his actions towards her. Did he remember the times she spent in his company? Remember the constant conversation held on different subjects? Frowned at one conversation about the role of women in society? She had asked him about this when she noticed the lack of female authors in his library and how could affect his view on the role of females. Nola and he had conversed for a good two hours on it before it ended with a cup of hot chocolate and his feeding.<br><br>Slightly, her skin and herself jumped at the touch of Vlad's hand against the skin of her hand. It was a true surprise to feel his touch. Brought a warm feeling to her stomach and a few other things to her body. If he could see into her head, he would be able to hear her telling her body not to react to his touch. Her skin tightened, goosebumps appeared, breasts felt fuller and a trickle of need was felt between her thighs. Nola's body was either on the fritz or against her. Yes, that had to be it. No way with close to being married to Ethan would she be feeling this basic urges for Vlad. He was merely asking about her skin and no hint of seduction was found in his voice.<br><br>"Please, Vlad, I am uncomfortable being touched," she whispered, snuggling deeper into the bed. Even more uncomfortable being touched by you, she thought ruefully. When he touched her in that manner it brought back painful memories. Too many she wanted to cry out at him to make it go away. Make the memories of the good times she had in his company leave her in peace. She should be thinking of the horrible acts he committed in the last few days. Shredding her wrists to ribbons, belittling her intelligence, keeping himself as far away from her when she came around him, so many things which shattered her self-esteem. Her self-esteem had been up when she met him but when she let herself matter only for him, it had nearly killed herself. By letting herself fall into the same patterns again was suicide and one she wanted to escape as soon as possible.<br><br>Nodding, she glanced over to him, biting on her lower lip. "I have, I had to because of the sensation over my disappearance from your side causing some of the lower vampires to search for me. Rumors were there was a bounty for my return and there was even the hint of not caring if I was alive when I was returned to you," she explained, her eyes catching on the fall of his hair as he laid down on the bed. It should be a crime for him to be this handsome and enchanting, she thought, her eyes flickering over his face. Her hands curled against her chest, pulling the sheet up higher to hide her the pounding vein in her neck. She tried to get her mind off of his full lips or the fact she wanted to taste them and asked him a few questions to try and get her back on the same footing. Nola asked him why he came now in the midst of her marriage. Could he have asked for an attendance when there was not much things going on in her life? Did he hate her? No, that last question she kept on the tip of her tongue but never asked him that. No, never.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>24-12-2008, 23:34:13</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>"Please, Vlad, I am uncomfortable being touched.”</em><br><br>These words were like an icy hand slowly shoving a rusty silver blade deep into his chest. It’s tip then punctures his heart, where it slices back and forth painfully… only to then have that extra push, dividing the lifeless thing inside him into two. I make her skin crawl, Vlad knew. While that very skin is the only texture I want to feel against my own. Inside, a complete turmoil as that one single touch ignited a need in him. A need to slide his fangs over her perfect, flawless skin. To feel the blood inside her react as it races towards those two little points which it so desperately wants to be penetrated by. Mortals didn’t realize how their blood urged, beckoned to be had. Vladimir Dracula, basically, was a servant of the blood. As the seas that covered the earth danced their turbulent moves, so did the divine red sea inside each mortal. Some… more than others.<br><br>These thoughts slammed shut as her next words filled his ear. Yes, he had sent a few henchmen out, searching for her. But not to harm or retrieve. And certainly not to kill. “I did, I admit, send some to find you. But not to harm or ‘get’ you.” In a flash he jumped over her, landing on his feet, as he knelt beside her on the side of the bed. “Others, my enemies, yes. They searched to find and kill you. Or find and keep you as a ransom.” Watching her face, he leaned closer, forgetting himself. “You think I only have humans that want me dead? Those ‘henchmen’ I sent… they killed many others in protecting you.” Leaning even closer, “This precious skin of yours… would be ashes now, if not for my protection. And you, you would be living in misery.” It was true. An old friend of his who later became a rival had sent hoards of creatures to capture her. In fact, he had worried about her fiancé for that very reason, thinking he was some sort of mole, at first.<br><br>Moving back, he leaned against the bed, his back to her. This is pointless, he thought. She is&nbsp; a stubborn human, and a female! She will never change her mind. Sighing as he shook his head, “Why would I want you dead? Yes I did want you to return. I first wanted you back to punish you. To”, turning he grinned without thinking, “make those stubborn Irish eyes of yours show me fear.” Seeing the defiance, he thought for a brief moment something else shone through for a moment. “To see your lip quiver, wondering what torture I would put you through.” Seeing her lips so close, all he could think about was them pressed against his own. Turning before he showed her any emotion, he stared out the dark window. “But in time, I stopped. Another phase, another human, another century. It all blends in one massive memory.”<br><br>An alarm sounded softly. Vlad quickly made his way to the bed, laying near but not touching, behind Nola. “We are approaching lighter skies. Sorry, I should have warned you.” Hearing a smooth whirring sound, the ceiling seemed to lower, suddenly. “Don’t worry. There are air vents and filters. You’ll still be able to breathe. And&nbsp; light, if you need.” It closed quickly, putting them in utter darkness. “There is a small compartment with food and drink. I had this designed for company. Haven’t used…”, stopping midstream. Don’t let her know you haven’t used this yet! “My fleshie is claustrophobic. Not a great combination with a creature who sleeps in a box, is it?”<br><br>How about a creature who doesn’t sleep but closes his eyes and sees only one face, feels only one touch on his skin, and hears only one voice? With the darkness, his other senses heightened, making him far too aware of Nola’s closeness. Making him too aware of her blood screaming out at him to taste. Turning away, he faced the other way, his breathing quickening as he tried to calm himself. Don’t lose it now. Maybe in a couple weeks she will leave you thinking better of you. Don’t make her hate you by taking what is no longer yours. Yet the thoughts didn’t help. As Nola breathed, each exhale broadcasting her pulse louder. Each one, taunting him, calling to him. Covering his ears didn’t help. It was a ripple in the air, a series of waves that sang out from her blood to his hunger.<br><br>The act of sleep isn’t natural to a vampire. Embraced in the darkness of the box was more of a hypnotic experience. Vlad concentrated on trying to let the darkness fill him. Let the mind shut down for a while. Quit thinking. Stop being so damn aware of her. Yes… he slipped slowly. Yet as soon as he did, the partial-dream began. For five years, he had dreamed only three times. Each, about Nola. This dream was no different. Fifteen minutes later, he woke with a start. Senses even stronger, he knew his resistance was gone.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>25-12-2008, 01:19:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Biting on her lower lip, she wondered how he might answer her questions. When she was with him, she threw various questions at him and never went away until he answered every last one of them. Now, she was quite fine if he ignored the questions and told her to go to sleep. Him lying next to her was a fire hazard. Her skin was on fire and her heart pounded harder and harder in her chest. Any harder and she feared her heart might explode out of her chest and do a little tap dance for Vlad before it keeled over. <br><br>Nola's eyes widened when he came around to look at her. She wanted to inch back and turn away from him but his words stopped her from the action. "I felt them, I do not know how I did but I knew when they tried to cause me harm," she whispered. She remembered one group of men who kept eyeing her and palming something in their suit jackets. The way the group of men were dressed and the place where she worked when it was a bar did not seem right. Nola called the police soon after and when the police came in under the assumption someone was underage and causing trouble, the group of men left. From there, she asked the officers if they could give her a ride home because her car was in the shop. <br><br>"Why did you want people to watch over me, Vlad? After I ran away, I had assumed you merely wanted to make sure I did not spill any secrets. I never did, you know. Spill any of your secrets," she revealed, biting down on her lower lip. Never had she revealed any of the secrets he spilled whenever the conversations had gotten deeper. She revealed to him about her fear of wolves and he revealed things about himself, about his life which she never gave up to anyone. Sure, she let the therapist know a bit about his personality when she was in session but nothing that might be used against him. Nola had no idea why she still felt the need to guard his secrets as if they were her own but maybe he might answer that question for her. <br><br>To hear there were people after him was no surprise. His servants always worried something would happen to their Master if he was not careful about keeping his friends closer but his enemies even more. "Then I do thank you for making sure I was safe even though I was not your fleshie," she said in a small voice. What a feat for her to say that to him. She had wanted to keep her mouth shut but he needed to know that she appreciated his aid to keep her safe even though she had run away from his side because of his actions. The next words now made her wish she took back her words. <br><br><em>I first wanted you back to punish you.<br>To make those stubborn Irish eyes of yours show me fear.</em><br><br>Nola wondered how her life could have been if he never shown how cruel he could be to her. She could have lived a fantasy love of trying to win her love but maybe it was fate to show her this man was more than she could have. Though she tried her best to see him in a different light maybe he was just who the history books said he was. A monster. Complete and utter monster who wanted to destroy her and make her keep wanting it. Yes, she wanted him to destroy her so as long as he lied that he might care for her. Tell her pretty lies and she would believe it if it came from Vlad.<br><br>Jumping as the sound of the alarm, Nola wondered if the private plane lost altitude or gas. Seeing the ceiling lower itself down, she panicked a bit. Was the ceiling caving in because of the plane breaking apart? "Vlad, I am scared" she called out, afraid of being locked into the dark. Though she might be able to breath and eat, she was closed in a makeshift coffin with Vlad. Never had she seen him sleeping in his coffin nor had he asked her to join him because it made it much more intimate than it should be. Holding out her hands to the closed lid, she felt around to make sure it gave her room to move around without disturbing him but it disturbed her even more. She felt she could not breath, felt a bit shut in with no way out. This was worst than his spiteful acts towards her but when she leaned into the vents to take in air, she calmed down a bit more. Enough she did not hyperventilate but it scared her nonetheless.<br><br>Turning away from the vents to see how he was doing, she watched him as best as she could in this dim lighting. It held enough late to see where she was moving and if she squinted the outlines of people but not enough to do much else. She guessed he wanted to keep out as much light possible from hitting his skin. Nola watched him shuffle around though she kept herself as quiet as possible, save for her breathing. She wanted to watch him sleep, even though she had no clue if vampires really slept. Maybe vampires simply closed their eyes and were dead to the world around them until awoken when the sun dipped over the horizon. <br><br>Slowly, somehow her body disconnected itself from her brain as she reached out to stroke his mane nearest to her. At first, she merely felt the cool bed but when she threaded a few strangers around her index fingers, she was content to have found it. His hair had been something she admired most of all. Became envious as well by how silky smooth and dark it was. Even now, she still had the dream of one day washing his hair and brushing it herself but she never asked him that simple request. It was too strange, too out of character for her when she was in his service. To ask now, he might think she wanted a chance to have him in a vulnerable position and slit his throat when bent over to have the shampoo washed out or gouge his eyes out. Nola could not stop him fro thinking that after how horrible of a guest she acted to him today.<br><br>"I'm sorry," she whispered as she moved away when he awoke with a start. He must have felt someone was trying to cause him harm though she only played with his hair and woke up to let her know to quit. Moving her hand to her side, she nibbled on her lower lip, pretending she was asleep though one eye was open to see if he would fall back asleep again.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>27-12-2008, 10:43:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With a start, he woke. Feeling her hand instantly withdraw, before thinking, he reached out and took it. Without thinking, he pulled it back, simply holding it. “Nobody has ever shared my sleep. You didn’t startle me. I’m just not used to feeling a touch.” Knowing her mind was probably tossing with questions, he continued, hand loosening in case she wanted to pull back. “I promise you, there is nothing to fear here. The vents were designed, just in case. They are attached to filters to burn away any remnants of any sun-tainted air. I’m not sure if breathing is necessary, but I have breathed in air touched by the sun and it burned my lungs as if I swallowed kerosene then lit it with a match.”<br><br>The small moment of emptying the mind seemed to help him. Still very aware of Nola’s close proximity yet not hearing the pounding of her pulse, he was able to think more calmly. In the box, he was always very sedate. Waking in the night, he always sat for a while rising. For those few minutes, he was more as the human and not the vampire. After, the hunger torched his every cell.<br><br>Suddenly he recalled her fingers touching his hair. That must have been a mistake, he realized. Or maybe she was simply feeling for how far from her I was, for her own comfort. Whatever the reason, that touch entered his dream for that brief moment. He felt her reach out for him as his face turned towards hers to get a soft touch of her lips. Then, he woke.<br><br>“Here, more than anywhere, I remember being human. Sleeping. Such a wonderful action I know you all take for granted. I don’t truly sleep. I slip into a… lower level of consciousness that does at times fill with dreams. But the function of ‘sleep’, I can’t remember. I don’t need rest. I just need to avoid the sun-filled air.”<br><br>Feeling himself slipping from this calmness, feeling the hunger for her precious, sweet, red wine slowly build, Vlad embraced the calm feeling. Her hand still in his, he pulled it towards his heart. At first feeling a resistance, “Just… please… I mean you no harm”, he pressed her hand against where his heart resided inside. “Feel that? Nothing. Not a beat. Ice cold.” Yet within mere seconds, activity seemed to whirr into motion inside. “You feel that, don’t you?” Part of his mind was screaming to stop this silliness yet he held on for just a few more moments. “When you left, it stopped. I wasn’t even aware of it’s beat but when it ceased, it was hard to think of anything else.” His rage filling quickly, not at anybody but himself and his pathetic babbling, he blurted out one last statement. Thumbing her wrist, “The beat inside me perfectly matches your own. I used to think maybe it was something I did to you in a bite. But no. I have bitten many and never experienced this. I have no idea what or why.”<br><br>At that moment, all calm thoughts left. Pulling a bottle he knew was empty up from it’s container, he strained at sucking it’s last few drops. “Damn!” Releasing her hand as he felt the screaming blood inside, he turned away. Shaking head, hating himself for these words, “I’m sorry. Sorry for everything I have put you through. You are innocent in all this. You were born and years later, somehow, chosen to be mine. Obviously, a clash of wills.” Reaching out, he touched her face, caressing a soft cheek which surprised him in how that one motion calmed him slightly. “When we land, you are free. I won’t hold you prisoner. Sign or not, it’s your choice.” Feeling a different, foreign sensation inside, Dracula tried to pull his hand away. But he couldn’t. Laying back, he again emptied all thoughts. Forgetting where his hand rested, it remained as he slipped into another sleep-like state. To another dream. Two in one night, a new record for him. But this one was different from the other. This one was filled with carnal needs. To be inside this woman he acknowledged in his mellow state.. he loved. Thoughts that would madden him when he walked in the night air. Yet, the truth.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>27-12-2008, 23:28:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her hand held in his was a beautiful experience. Nola felt little strikes of lightning hit against every nerve starting in her hand and shoot itself all the way to her heart. Her cheeks grew hot at the feel of his skin upon her own. "I am sorry nonetheless for touching you without permission, I was...well, I was tempted," she whispered. Tempted to touch and feel how warm he was even for a few hours. Having fed earlier, his skin felt warm to the touch but she knew the blood supplied to him could only last for so long. She had seen him wear thick and furry coats to insulate him against the cold and most of the time it amused her to no end to see him looking like a bear as he walked around to check up on things. Sometimes she even though to offer her own body warmth whenever he was lying on a couch reading a book or sitting down near the fire but it was too forward of her to offer such things. Though now she wanted to offer him warmth if only she could stop her own body from wanting to find other naughty ways to do so. <br><br>Nodding, she kept her hand in his own, not moving or pulling back. Nola knew she should have. Should have told him that he could not touch her without permission but it had been too long since she was near him. Her body and her mind was still trying to remember the fact of what he had done to her but her heart led the way in being a foolish female who still cared for him. Sure, she had a life with her fiancee and found a place in the world but had Vlad? Had he found himself in a comfortable niche after her departure? From the way things were, he needed help if there were people coming after him and the ball coming up hosted by the Coalition to mark another year of peace between the fleshies and the vampires. She had received an invitation in the mail, she guessed because she was found out through the media circus surrounding her engagement but had thrown it away. Now she wished she had the invitation to show to Vlad and ask if he had sent it to her.<br><br>A small gasp filtered past her lips as she scooted over to stretch her arm out better to feel his heart. "Inside, I know you will not harm me. I have no clue how I know that but I do," she answered as her hand was pressed against his chest, against his heart. Nodding in the dark of not feeling a thing against her but the warmth of his clothes covering his chest, she waited. Waited to see what would happen and it showed a few seconds later when his heart gave a bump and more bumps soon after the first one started up. She felt the beat of his heart but it was impossible. Was it not? Never had she heard of vampires with beating hearts but then she remembered she had tried to keep her assumptions about vampires to a minimum. Vlad managed to crack the various myths about garlic, holy water and the rest of the list of what might irritate a vampire because she had those things with her but it merely irritated him to see someone weighed down with a necklace of garlic. Though the silver bit caused him harm and for a while she went without silver jewelry even though it was her favorite kind and even know she did not miss her silver engagement ring. A sign that something bad was around the corner but it seemed her mind shut down whenever he was around her. All she could think about was holding him and seeing he was fine, just as she had done as his fleshie.<br><br>"Why does my heart beat in that manner then? I was tested for the Delilah virus and I was negative but do&nbsp; I have something else to make your own heart do that?," she asked, scooting closer to try and figure out an answer. When he came back into her life, she felt the same erratic heartbeat when she was in his service. Even more when he bit her wrists and the night of her running away, her heart felt as if she was going to rip itself out of her chest and roll itself back to him. For days, Nola thought she was having herself a heart attack because of how hard her heart was pumping inside of her chest and when a year went by, it slowed down. It took a year for her chest to contain itself and even then, sometimes, Nola wondered if her chest was trying to let her know it was sad to have left Vlad's side. When that thought came up, she pushed it as far as she could to the back of her mind and make herself remember how hard it had been in the end with Vlad. Still, being here with him now showed her how much she tried to make herself hate him to hide behind the fact she felt like the young nineteen year old who fell for the Dark Prince. At her age, she was still in love with the Dark Prince. <br><br>Hearing him curse and having her hand released, she feared he might have sucked in unfiltered air into his lungs. God, look at her, she was worrying over his health when a few hours ago she cursed him to Hell and back. What a bag of contradictions, Nola was. One moment she was ready to throw him into a pool with silver in it and now she was concerned of whether he might have inhaled sunlight.&nbsp; The way he spoke of her being an innocent female, Nola knew she was not an innocent. Sure, she had acted mean spirited towards him but she knew she was not an innocent as he assumed her to be. Who would want to become someone's fleshie unless there was ulterior motives? She had done so because she wanted to give herself a better life but never had she expected to be given to someone who tested her in more ways than she thought possible. Vlad had done that and for that, she would return the favor. <br><br>Nuzzling her cheek into his palm as if she were a cat, Nola shook her head. Though he might be able to see her shaking her head, she wanted to tell him to take those last words of his and shove it. "No, I refuse to be freed," she whispered. One part of her screamed to take those words back and tell him she was overjoyed to be leaving his side for the last time. However, the other side, the more dominant side who took over in this moment wanted to spend those two weeks learning his traits and his personality one last time before she left him for good. Nola did not want to be cheated of the closure she wanted and of the desires she might finally want to let out. This last thought she would not reveal to Vlad but she would show him that she wanted to be here for these new two weeks. If she had to, she would be his fleshie for these new two weeks to try and close the chapter of her time spent with Vlad for good.<br><br>"I want to be here of my own free will, Vlad. I want to be...I want to be your fleshie for the time I spend in your company and then go on my way when the two weeks are up," she stated and to prove herself, she scooted further to move her wrist up to his lips. Nola would later blame it on some sort of stockholm syndrome and felt loyalty to someone who had done her harm in the end. However, all Nola knew was she wanted to spend these two weeks as a make up for the two weeks before she left his side. To her it was some sort of closure but her heart knew otherwise. Her heart knew Nola wanted to do this to have a piece of Vlad just as he had taken a piece of her to warm her until her mortal life wilted just like a rose when it knew its time to die out. Question was would Vlad take her up on the offer to renew the fragile bond between a former fleshie and him for the time she was here?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>28-12-2008, 23:47:06</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				You don't need permission, Vlad wanted to yell, but knew it would shatter every window in the small plane. She didn't realize how many times he emerged in the evening, having had that very thought in his mind for hours. Just a touch. Just a look. Just feeling her presence close by. Nola also didn't realize that this, even with her hating him, this was surreal to him. Like a dream he had had for many years, finally coming true. For centuries, he had been drifting. Yes, as a vampire. A killer. A monster. But then, that one wonderful day, there was this young woman brought to him. A mixture of terror and defiance in her eyes. His first words to her had been harsh for all he really focused on was her resistance. Yet there was always this growing fondness for that fire inside her.<br><br>What he could never explain or describe to her was why he was at times so harsh to her. He didn't even know himself, really. Each time, later, he would feel what he imagined was sadness inside when he saw her look of fear at him. This very moment, reflecting on how she would look at him, he knew why. I was challenging you, he softly nodded to himself as her cheek rubbed against his hand, creating a storm of mental and physical reactions. Eyes closed as he imagined how it would feel to have her limbs wrapped around him. To have her lovely walled part as he moved inside her. To bite softly into her neck, taking her sweet essence as inside her, she bathed him with inside her as well. Yet those thoughts were always joined by the thought of her breaking his skin, taking her taste between her lips.<br><br>Feeling her cheek rub against his palm, Vlad moved closer, on his side facing Nola. Yes, he challenged her. It seemed pointless because of the rules and laws attached to the contract with the Fleshie. He saw in her something he never saw in anybody else. A mate. A wild passionate fire inside that could match and possibly surpass his own. Even in the hatred he had seen in her eyes, he was aroused. Mixed with turmoil, of course. For, now he was coming to accept more and more, he was in love with her. And nothing was worse than having that returned with loathing. "Oh Nola", caressing her cheek, letting his hand move up into that hair he so many times imagined caressing his chest as she covered his body with her own, "here has always, only been one fleshie for me." Smiling, hoping she saw and felt his sincerety, "in fact, don't turn your back on Katrina. She hates you. She knows I will never think about her, want her, need her in the same way."<br><br>Releasing emotions always came with a price. Sometimes Vlad wondered if the need for blood was directly linked to emotions. Like a fuel tank which would be consumed when fires ignited. They could be of anger, sadness, or in this case, a release of acknowledgement. The hunger inside was unbearable. "I'm fine, and I will be fine. I'm just hungry." Running his thumb across her lips, which didn't help in any way yet made him smile, "And it's your fault. And no, you don't have the virus. An alarm would have sounded on this plane when you entered. And then? Then I would have had to kill each of my employees for they are trained to kill on site any being who shows any sign of that horrible disease. They would rush you... and I would kill them in protecting you. Even to my own demise." And I, I would risk anything to taste that gorgeous nectar inside you. I would die as well, he knew.<br><br>Always able see the wild feelings swirling through his loved fleshie, yet never able to sense or probe that lovely mind, he pleaded, "Honestly though. No worries or fear. You don't have to remain with me for these weeks. You can live your life, happy and normal. And with no fears ever again." Laying back, breathing slightly labored, Vlad concentrated on peaceful thoughts. Normally, he'd be fine. Circumstances of the last many hours plus having her here, within agonizing reach... he chuckled thinking about the phrase, 'water, water, everywhere, not a drop to drink'.<br><br>Turning back to this woman who he knew would somehow be his downfall, risking a move but unable to not tell her, he pressed his hand to Nola's left breast. Breathing deeply, focusing yet needing to tell her, "Your heart is unique. I felt it the first moment that young woman stared back at me a few years ago." Pressing his hand more firmly against the full breast he was dying to free, expose, to sink his lips on. To kiss, to slide his tongue around, and yes to even take a small bite to feel her precious force inside flow between his hungry lips. "I have never felt such a heart inside anyone. It filled me with hope. Maybe there is someone in this world that I could live in eternity with." Feeling a rush of a different emotion, he swallowed hard, "But the rules of our contract denied me that possibility. So in the time that passed, I did find myself challenging you. I wanted to see that potential I came to realize was in you, release. Yet to what goal?" Feeling her heart beat so solidly against his palm, knowing as his altered her would match perfectly in sync, his fingers brushed across a stiffening button on it's peak. Before thinking, his fingers squeezed around that growing center. Pulling his hand away as his hunger threatened to blind his ever sense of reason, Dracula again apologized.<br><br>"I hope this patch of sun fades soon." Taking her hand in his, he kissed it's palm, eying the swallow. "I'm sorry for tainting your skin. I did so thinking you would always be mine." Another thought he hated, knowing some day he would maybe see her and see that she had aged. Knowing just like another phase in his life, so long ago, Nola would some day be old then die, then become another memory.<br><br>Another memory. In a crazy mind that always resorted to memories.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>30-12-2008, 19:03:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His rejection hurt her though she had hoped he would be able to see to her way of thinking. Maybe he was wary about her thoughts behind wanting to be his fleshie for the time she was here with him. Did he think she was trying to make up for what he had done to her? Give him a chance to try and make amends? Yes to those questions because she wanted to erase the last two weeks of the service to him with something better. She had grown up and Nola yearned to show him she was not going to do this merely to punish herself. If there was any time to punish herself it was leaving him side without hearing why he had done those horrible things to her. At times, she even wondered how far his sadistic side would go? Would have have gone as far as raping her? The thought of it had not so much sickened her as aroused her. To at least have him inside of her even if he was raping her would be to have him fully to herself for that glorious moment. Nola truly was a sick female to think of rape as sensual lovemaking.<br><br>Rubbing her cheek further into his palm, she smiled when he said her name. The first months of the fleshie/vampire contract, he had referred to her as merely food or fleshie. She had told him to call her Nola when he tried to dehumanize her and it had taken a while but with her determination he only called her Nola. Called her Nola all the way until the last two weeks when he called her not even fleshie or food. He simply called her cattle and it hurt because of how she felt about her weight. Now, she would have flung back he was an old cook if he thought a female having curves was considered overweight. '...only been one fleshie for me...I will never think about her, want her, need her in the same way...' His words brought a flutter to her heart as well as butterflies when his hands went into her hair but she questioned what he truly meant behind those words. Of course she knew his other fleshie disliked her because she had been the first official fleshie rather than a blood victim of Vlad's. <br><br>If he wanted her then why deny the fact she could be his fleshie for these next two weeks? If he was hungry than why not take her wrist again? He already marked her, there was no other vampire she had given herself to. No one else. He was confusing her with every passing second as if he enjoyed the fact she was desperate. Made her feel as if he was toying with her only to disappoint. A female's mind could be grand but it always seemed to turn on itself and it was doing so with Nola. Kill himself only to leave her behind with his corpse or his ashes crying for someone she should be happy was dead. Vlad was screwing with her head and her emotions too much already. Resigned to holding her tongue, she let him move away, her mind made up to leave him when the plane touched down. She rather leave with her dignity than to ask him again. <br><br>Vlad surprised her once more to make her wonder if he was truly mad. Nola groaned when he touched her breast, her nipple peaking against the sheet and the sweater. Never had he touched her in that manner and she wanted him to do it again. To use anything other than his hand on her breast. Nola wanted his mouth, his tongue, even his fangs against her supple breast. She would be cheating on Ethan but she felt this was important. Important to try and see if her girlhood fantasies of being with him was true but his words stopped her from revealing them. She looked away knowing her eyes would give her hunger for more apparent. Nola was a damn fool in thinking Vlad would ever come out with anything. He spoke in circles, just like a true King would. He had been King of his land for too long and even now he was the King of the Immortals. Only fiting for him to confuse her in order to keep her interested.<br><br>Gulping, she nodded with her head about her swallows. "It will be over soon enough. Remove it when we touch down and I know how to get back home," she whispered, closing her mind to anything else about him. Vlad no matter what was someone who she could not be with. Not because he was a vampire and not because he was a murderer. The reason was if she gave her heart and soul to him, she feared he would crush and never give it back. Then she would be a living dead girl who had nothing to offer to anyone else, least of all to herself. Nola knew her place in this world and it was not to be at his side anymore. Sliding her hand out of his own, she scooted back to her side, giving him the space he would have for the rest of his immortal life from her. "I pray the sun will hurry itself down as well, good night, Vlad," she whispered before shutting her eyes and forcing herself to sleep. As least in sleep she could escape the reality of knowing her time with Vlad was up. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>09-01-2009, 05:34:05</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Vlad sank back into a strange hypnotic state. What am I doing, he wondered. I had her. Or at least had the opportunity of having her for two wonderful weeks. Now, all gone. But then, why? Why have somebody who truly isn't interested? Yes, damn this human, she can have her freedom the moment we land. Anyway, she is simply relaxing out of fear. You have pushed her again and again beyond any chance of forgiveness. Just like all humans, he sighed, she is simply a bag of blood. I will give Katrina the chance I should have long ago. It's not her fault I let my guard down for this other girl.<br><br>Words which were supposed to sooth chanted in his mind. Not that soothing, however. The hours until darkness were excruciating. Suddenly, the lock snapped as air cycled through, in exchange. The box lifted, dim light from the cabin gently entering. Vlad looked over at Nola, but couldn't tell if she were awake or not under the blanket. Walking to the windows, stretching, he sat staring out from a small chair. What the hell do I expect, he questioned himself. As usual, each spurring decision wrong, one after another. And now, the one woman I would do just about anything for, again probably believes I am just some sick monster. Playing weird devilish games with her heart. And why? Always to save face. I won! I got her to let her shield down for a moment, and then I pushed her away.<br><br>Reaching inside his jacket, after turning to make sure she wasn't watching, he pulled out the crumpled picture of Nola. Five years younger, taken outside. Vlad asked her to give him one picture in the light of the sun. Normally, he despised and cursed the ball of fire. It represented everything he hated about humanity. And the myth he used to believe in, God. When she gave him this picture, tears of blood filled the corners of his eyes. After hundreds of years, he wanted to see the blue sky. Simply to see what her eyes looked like in the full bright light of day. Hearing her stir behind him, Dracula quickly replaced the picture. Standing, "There will be food", gesturing towards the door. "You must be starving. There's a menu with all your favorite foods and drinks."<br><br>His plan was to remain in the cabin. Seeing Katrina now would be too much. A reminder of recent failures. Grabbing a book from an elaborately carved case, he sat back in the chair, without looking at Nola once. It was too unbearable at the moment. Sighing, he willed himself to believe, once this was over and she was gone, he could finally accept closure in all this. And she will live happily ever after. Married. Kids. All the lovely trappings of the modern world. And Vlad would return to his eternal damnation. Romania. I need to stay there for a century or so. Remember what I am, where I came from. Why. Why! Yes... why I am what I am. Why I chose this dark path so long ago.<br><br>The pain inside, needing blood, was beyond hellish. He needed Kat, needed a feed badly. It's her! Damn woman, she wakes and suddenly... Taking deep breaths, Vlad concentrated. Once she leaves, I will simply lay down. She'll be out there and this feeling will subside. Still not hearing much movement, "Aren't you going to go get something to eat?" Damn, he knew his voice sounded strained. Staring out the black window, he just wished this were all over.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>27-01-2009, 23:13:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Nola slept as hard as she could to forget the pain in her heart. Why should she be upset about this? He was freeing her and getting rid of the marks. She should be over the moon and she would when the plane touched down. Before, when she had to get away, she followed routes others took to emigrate to other countries. However, for her she used those routes to escape and keep herself of his trackers and from Vlad himself. Now she would use them again and never worry about him coming after her. Nola was free of him, thank god. <em>I'm free...and never do I have to suffer again.</em><br><br>No, God would have helped her out in her time of need. Given her some sort of map to figure out Vlad and try to get through to him. Maybe even hand her some sort of good luck charm to keep his fits at bay from heading her way. Nevertheless, God nor any other higher being assisted her in trying to figure out the enigma that which was called Vlad. No rules or guidelines to get by his rages and his mood swings. Before, she thought females had a few hormonal surges but Vlad took the whole fucking cake and the frosting for that. She wanted to be his and he threw it back in her face but she would hold her head up high and go on with the show. <br><br>She felt the day give way to darkness and as the lock snapped to lift the box up, Nola opened her eyes. Nola yawned and stretched, her bones creaking from the lack of space she had put herself in. She did not want to end up rolling on top of him and giving Vlad the wrong idea. Already made a fool of herself with begging him to take her as a fleshie. Vlad must have woken up because she glanced over and he was standing. Rubbing her eyes, she turned away from him to compose herself. "Just water please, I am not much for eating at the moment," she replied, her lips parched for water. <br><br>Food at the moment would have tasted like ash and iron if she swallowed it. All she wanted was to get away from him and his new fleshie. Since he was not going to leave the room, she would do it herself. Sitting up, she wrapped the bedsheets from the plane's bedsheets around her own sweater-covered form and stood up. Hearing him ask her if she was going to get food in that tone made her keep her eyes on the door. There was a strain in his face she guessed dealt with his fits. Best for her to leave him to it and destroy the bedroom. "I'm going," she muttered, opening and shutting the door behind her. Salvation from his presence, she thought as she shuffled to settle herself in one of the plane's comfortable chairs. A waitress came by with food but Nola merely took the glass of water to sip. Soon, she would be gone from his life and then she could live out her life in peace.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>17-02-2009, 01:23:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After she left, Vlad shook his head in disgust. It had been eternity since he felt such self-loathing. The majority of his existence, he considered himself a god. Do gods feel this, he wondered? Do they, in their surreal surroundings, feel at times such hatred for everything including themselves? No pulse, and yet his temple throbbed in pain.<br><br>For a moment he toyed with the idea of tearing open a door to the screaming wind outside, to hurtle all these vile humans out. Yet that thought instantly brought regret, sadness. I can't see her die. Couldn't possibly be the cause of her death. The thought, though, of then letting the plane simply land in flames was appealing. What, to then slowly make my way to health, with that added misery? I must be entering into a new phase of insanity, Vlad thought, shaking his head with a grim smile. Just then, his odd little fantasy was halted as the pilot signaled him they were close to landing. A small device in his pocket buzzed until fingers pushed the off button.<br><br>Composing himself, Vlad stood to look out the dark windows. Home always put him into good spirits. At the moment, a numbing spread through him. Not perfect, but an improvement. Exiting the bedroom, his eyes first saw the back of Nola's head. It took his entire will to not grab her, tell her, show her somehow in his evil eyes that he cared for nothing but her. What, have her spit back at me? No, no more of that. Sitting across from her, he raised his eyes, looking at her face. "The documents are at my estate. Of course, you can stay at a hotel, but you have my word there is no harm nor will there be any coercion if you ride with me." Unable to read her expression, "My home is beautiful. Please allow me to show you not all I cause is destruction." It was true. Vlad was exceptionally proud of his castle. Once, a place of horror. Now, it was influenced by centuries of care. The years had changed him at least in one way. He cherished fine beauty.<br><br>Yes, lovely angel, I cherish beauty... he thought as he watched for her response. Unfortunately, that fact is bathed in the reality that I am a monster. Glancing down at the swallows, he smiled. "You have taken your hatred and turned it into something beautiful in those lovely birds." As the words filled the air, he felt a pang inside, knowing someday this radiant woman would be old and would someday die. If I had been different, she'd live forever with me. Different? Chuckling erupted at the thought. Hitting the intercom, he asked while laughing, "How long till we land?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>26-02-2009, 23:02:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				At this moment, Nola wished she had her mp3 player with her to drone out the thoughts she had in her head right now. She wanted to ignore the fact that Vlad was just as he once was even if he was apolgetic. Wanted to forget the fact of how forward she had been with him and almost let herself fall into the same destructive pattern. No, she would never let it happen again. He hurt her too much and to try this out again, it would kill her. Either he killed her with hits fits or she would take a knife and slash her wrists to bleed out. Oh hell, he might even enjoy dining on her dying corpse and click his tongue at her for staining the good sheets he owned. <br><br>Scoffing at the image of her bleeding corpse, she tried to remember what she wanted to have played at her wedding. Even through this, she would still go on with her wedding to her fiancee. She loved him to death and he cared about her more than his own life. He was there for her when she needed him the most. Never had he struck at her or stomped her feelings beneath his booth with a smile on his face. The mental picture of her true love smiling at her helped to ease the pain in herself for being foolish enough to fall for Vlad's charms once more. Oh, he almost had her under his charm but not anymore. Never again.<br><br>She felt his presence and kept her eyes on her clasped fingers as the air shifted when as he settled himself down in the seat across from her. Nola took a chance and let her gaze look up towards the window to see the dark clouds rushing by the jetplane. Oh how she wished to fly out of her body and be a cloud who never had to worry about pain, torture, betrayal, any damnable emotion because of a man who she foolishly gave herself over to as a young female. Nola dug her nails into her hands to keep her voice steady and answer his requests with as much dignity as she could muster. "No, thank you," she whispered before she put her gaze from the window back to her clasped hands. She did not want to see anything which belonged to him. The farther deattached she became of him, the easier it could be to walk off this damn plan and take herself to the nearest ferry boat. If she had to, she would barter a passage with the silver jewelry she had, anything to get away from his reach.<br><br>Immediately after Vlad commented on her swallows did Nola cross her arms over her chest to hide them. His compliments of if they were compliments at all unnerved her. He was a swinging pendulum where one moment he was angry at her and another where he was complimenting her. Keeping quiet, she closed her eyes to try and keep herself from having to further talk to him. Nola prayed this would be over and to forget this experience once more. She might have to go to therapy again but her true love would be there to get her through this period once more. He would be there to grow old with her and watch their children grow up, unlike Vlad. She doubted he could even spawn children and if he did, may God have mercy on everyone in the world from Vlad's hellion children.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>03-03-2009, 05:26:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Leaning on an elbow, Vlad studied this creature which seemed to do what he never thought possible. She controlled his every emotion. I should simply kill you, he thought. Jump upon you and drink every sweet drop of blood flowing through your entire living body. Fill with your warmth. Watch your eyes intently with my own as the horror shifted to pleasure. Yes, he thought, then that shift from pleasure to the realization, clouded by euphoric waves, that your life was hurtling to it's quick end.<br><br>A million reasons kept that thought from blossoming. The first and most important, knowing she would be no more. Eyes squeezing closed, Vlad tried to remember the face of his Elizabeta. Impossible! It was Nola who filled his internal vision. Flashes of her face in various expressions. When he first saw her, that young girl who was so damn innocent, so untainted by what she would later feel about him. Various others, all in wildly different thoughts and poses. Until the last, that look of cold fear as his hand clenched around her throat.<br><br>One thing he didn't tell her was how once he knew her whereabouts, there was this one wicked temptation. He even planned it out to the smallest detail. To find her, drink from her, and force his essence into her. To make her into his own kind. To inject his own demonic syrup into her soul. "Welcome to my world", was all he wanted to whisper to her, upon that completion. To laugh and know she would live an eternity, just like him. Whether she would love or loathe him, the devious joy at knowing he altered her existence forever was intoxicatingly alluring. Yet again, what forced him to not dive into that seductive temptation? Knowing she'd most likely always hate him. That final nail would be pushed down into his entire being.<br><br>As the passengers started to depart, Vlad stood, still watching Nola. As Katrina approached, he grabbed her. The look of shock on Kat's face instantly changed to pleasure as with a savage movement, he pulled her neck close, sinking his teeth in with a forceful bite. Eyes locked on Nola's, he drank. Drank heavily, feeling the fleshie sink against him, her arms wrapping around him fully. Moans, cries, sounds of both pleasure and terror escaped the woman's lips as he filled with her blood. Revulsion rippling through him, Vlad forced a look of pleasure. Partly true, for blood was blood and he was indeed hungry. Watching Nola, the lips that consumed curled into a dark smile. Inside, revulsion was quickly morphing into heightened pleasure. Feeling Katrina starting to limp against him, fangs released the sweet neck, one last lick as he continued watching Nola. "Go to my chambers, my lovely fleshie... I shall join you later when return home", he spoke softly in a lie. There was no intention to come anywhere near the fleshie ever again.<br><br>Sinking in the seat across from Nola, gaze having never broken away, Vlad smiled. Inside, the euphoric wave was steadily calming, leaving a sickened feeling in it's wake. "There's a bar nearby. I believe they have a fax machine. I'll have the documents sent, so we can end this farce as soon as possible.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>05-03-2009, 20:28:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Nola watched him and wondered what exactly was up his sleeve. Dear God in Heaven, she thought as she tried to look away from this horrible moment. He was just as she thought he would always be: monster. Yes, he was a vile and appaling monster to her. Even as she wished with all of her being to look away from his sight it was Vlad's eyes which locked her to watch him drink from his fleshie. Tears formed in Nola's eyes at how she was close to finding herself at his mercy again and thanked the stars above she escaped from the mistake with her life. Vlad would never change and stay the same as the beast that he was, Nola would move on with her own life away from him. <br><br>Blinking away the tears, she cleared her throat and finally broke eye contact with him. God, she was almost free from the life she led with Vlad. Finally, he could help end this revolting chapter in her life. Nola was almost there she could taste it and there was nothing to stop her from achieving it. Vlad made sure to show her he had no need of her and she was quite fine. As long as he did not force her mind away from her task then she had nothing to fret. She had her life in New Orleans with a fiance who adored her given the faults she had. Unlike Vlad, bastard.<br><br>Clearing her throat once more, Nola slapped a smile on to her lips and looked to him. "Good to see you acquainted with your fleshie. Now, I merely need a car to drive me to the nearest airport and I can easily buy my own ticket back," she commented, finding the need to escape through the same routes would take too long. Better for her to buy a damn ticket and get out of Europe faster before Vlad tried once more to make her feel even worse about herself. She was a fool once but she promised herself never to be a fool again. Vlad might have seen her throw herself at him but she would hold it together. Hold it together and bare knuckle it all the way until she arrived back in New Orleans.<br><br>Standing up from her seat, she looked him over and shrugged her shoulders at him before she made her way down the walk to get off of the plane. As she walked, she met up with the guards who removed her silver jewelry from her hands and neck. "My things," she commented, holding out her hands to receive them once more. Raising an eyebrow when the two tried to play it cool, she smirked and shook her head at the idiots. Oh how foolish these two were to protect a foul creature like Vlad. If they only knew the history on Vlad then maybe the two would be on her side instead of his but no matter because she never had to see these bozos again. <br><br>God, she was free and this time forever of Vlad's hold. Her skin itched to get further away from him and she did as she climbed down the stairs of the plane. "Yes!," she screamed, pumping her fists into the air as her bare feet padded down the tarmat. If she could, Nola would kiss the floor but the need to keep her lips from being burned or tasting of tar stopped her from doing so. Nola was this close to freedom, no, she was free because he gave up on her ever being a simple female like before. Nola had strength and with it, start a family with her fiance and leave all of this behind as if it were a horrible dream. Free at last.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>11-03-2009, 20:39:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Vlad stood in the bedroom of the plane, watching Nola cheer with excitement. A black limo pulled up, ready to take her wherever she wished to go. The driver had clear instructions, to give the lady a certain item if she was alone. And she was. The item, a canister containing a rolled document, a dagger, and what would appear to be a pill. Each in it’s own special case.<br><br>Exiting the aircraft, another car pulled up. Entering the backseat, it immediately sped off. Off for a long journey towards a carriage that would then take him finally to his home.<br><br>The letter reads…<br><br><em>Nola,<br><br>Since you are reading this, it shows how things can never be good between you and I. I should have known. Yet I couldn’t help but try. And I’m sure, by now, I have upset you yet again. I would say unintentionally, but know that it’s very likely I might have done something to purposely hurt you.<br><br>It amazes me how after centuries of ‘living’, it was one young girl who would finally break something in me. Not my heart, for you know as well as I do, that cavernous thing is long dead and will always be. No, something else. My will. I don’t care about anything anymore. It’s time for me to retire to my homeland, at least for the time being, and wait. In some ways, I think to wait for you to live your life without any interference.<br><br>I’m a creature of the past. Yes, I embrace the world and it’s changes, but deep down it’s not me. The battles are over. And this new world is one that doesn’t feel right to me. Hopefully, and I know to a normal thinking person this is a sick thought… but hopefully the premonitions of an apocalypse will someday come true. To pave the way for a savage world where I will feel more at home.<br><br>Yes, the battles are over. Including the intoxicating battle between this old vampire and the young woman who he can’t have. Maybe that was always part of the appeal, the lust for battle. The challenge and fire inside you that simply wouldn’t relent. Even when you were younger, where most would crumble in fear, you stood straight, defiant, and more beautiful than any creature, living or non, I could ever hope to encounter. Would you believe I even had your lineage investigated? I was sure, somewhere, you’d have Romanian blood in you. Yet, as far back as could be found, there was none. It was just you. Something in you.<br><br>So here, I release you. You find here the documents you desire. My signature is on each. All you have to do is sign and you will never lay eyes on me again. Nor will you hear from me. Laced through these documents are extra legalities. All my properties, assets, bank accounts outside of Romania, are yours. Yours to keep, yours to sell, yours to burn, whatever you desire. Yours to visit with your soon to be husband. Yours to hold for your children’s future. Your… choice. It is really quite a substantial fortune, yet I have no need for anything apart from my home. Here where I will remain, until another day. And before you crumble these, spitting vile, know that I will not relent. You must sign the full thing or nothing. Released, with these attached… or remain mine. Remain belonging to Dracula.<br><br>As you see, there is also a tiny pale vial. Believe it or not, that is made from fragments of my bone. Inside, my blood. If you ever find yourself in trouble, real trouble… swallow it. The outcome is unsure, but not permanent. And before you toss it aside, I just want to ask you, don’t! I know you don’t want any gifts from me. But this is a powerful little capsule. I hate to think a day might come where it could help you and you don’t have it. Keep it safe. Keep it near you.<br><br>Lastly, this canister, as you see, has a blade inside. It is made from the most pure silver there is. The silver you already have in your trinkets of jewelry are nothing compared to this. Keep this also nearby. By the time you have returned to normal life, my henchmen, my little network that was watching over you will be gone. I am freeing you in all ways. So this little tool will be handy in case others of my kind decide to do you harm. I myself can’t even be in the same room as this dagger. It ensures you freedom from laying those beautiful green eyes on me ever again. Or any other vampire.<br><br>Sign these documents, and live your life. Sign them and see it as me walking you down the aisle. Giving you over to your betrothed. Handing over my Nola. And yet, I will continue to be your Vlad. Until that sad day when you stop living. That will be the moment when I will finally be free.<br><br>Live well, precious Human. Know you are loved.</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>16-03-2009, 01:49:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Nola slipped into the backseat of the limo, feeling overjoyed to be finished with this ordeal. She wanted to cry out in sheer happiness but she knew if she started in on crying then he might want to tend to her and make sure everything was fine. Right now, all she wanted was a glass of water and a bed that did not include Vlad in it. As she looked up from her lap and towards one of Vlad's bodyguards, she frowned. What else did these men want from her? She was leaving without anything to let the world know of Vlad's cruelty, again. What else could they even think to blame her for? When the letter and containers were given, only confusion was on her face. However, when she read the letter, the blood drained from her face. <br><br>As she read the letter slowly, silently, tears slid down her cheeks. How could he write something like this to her and keep her from freedom? Why must he torture her even more with these lies? He must know how she felt about being duped into falling for him again because these were lies. Lies. Lies. Fucking lies to make her ponder if these lies were truthful. Over and over she read the letter as she limo took her away from the air strip, making her wonder if he did this to try and get in one last jab. He was not going to do this to her. Not now. Not ever.<br><br>She looked up from the letter, wiping at her tear-streaked face. He needed to explain these things to her because right now she was angry as fucking hell. How could he leave her with this and not expect her to demand an god damn explanation. "Turn the fucking limo around and follow him!," she cried out as she banged at the glass separating the driver from her. She surprised the driver with her request and he dared not to question her need to turn around and merely made a U-turn to follow Dracula's car. However, he managed to send off a quick text message to Sir Dracula for he needed to know his guest planned on coming to the estate with him.<br><br><strong>Girl wants answers. Angry as hell. Sorry, Sir.</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>16-03-2009, 23:31:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Seeing the message, Vlad instantly called but then hang up. No use. The poor driver wouldn’t have a clue how to deal with this situation. Damn her! Why can’t she just accept things without having the last word, he asked himself. The pieces were set, put in motion, and they could remain out of each other’s way until… well until the end. Of her. Sighing, he stared out the window. His own driver was now on the phone. “Should we pull over, Sir?”<br><br>“No! Don’t you dare even ask me that. If she wants, if she insists on making a scene over trivial matters, let it be on my terms. I’m going home.” Looking out the window, he knew he had to go home. These cars weren’t equipped for emergencies. It had never been an issue before. To be safe, he had to get to the carriage and get home with a decent speed. If Nola needed to talk, scream, or whatever she had in mind, it would have to be on the move.<br><br>Damn, I have to go through this again. Seeing her, letting her go. Would this woman ever just try to make things be easy? Writing that letter was the hardest thing in the world. A being that had exactly what he wanted, never took no for an answer, never gave to anybody or anything. This was Vlad Dracula. In one swoop, he did everything that was most difficult. Most of all, releasing Nola. Nola, why can’t you just let it be? What, you want to rip the papers in my face, to spite me, to show you don’t need any of my gifts? They aren’t gifts! It’s all just stuff. Stuff I no longer need or want. Stuff that will rot in the coming years without care. Sell them, burn them, I don’t care!<br><br>Each minute passed slowly. Both cars speeding down the dark, winding roads uphill. Up towards my dark castle. The place where horrors most can’t even imagine have occurred. A horrible thought came into realization. Fingers blurring over his phone, it rang a few times until there was an answer. “Undo everything…. Now… NOW!... wake everybody up if you have to. I don’t want there to be any sign there was any welcome for her.” Hanging up the phone, “Shit! Damn her! Yes, rub my nose farther in it, woman. See where this gets you.” Yet each dark thought was an empty threat. Even in his mind he knew he would never harm even the slightest hair on Nola’s head.<br><br>The tires screeched to a halt as he jumped out of the car. The other car was right behind them. As it halted, Vlad was hurrying to the carriage, calling over his shoulder there was no time to wait. He had to get home. Suddenly he wondered about her silver jewelry. Sighing, he didn’t even really care.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>26-03-2009, 19:44:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>I'll begin to let you go<br>When the sunlight melts the snow<br>Every night I drive away from you<br>I see the mountains I have yet to move</em><br><br>That was ow she felt. He and he needed to let go. Over five years ago, she drove away from, well, ran away, but he never made any outward appearance to move mountains for her. Nola never did the same for him. He deserved to be given mountains in his path, for his mind to be stuck with the same horrible images she had of his ferocity and anger that night. He had come undone and it had been the nail which sealed the coffin for her escape. He. He. He. She knew she held a part in this dramatic performance and should have stopped him before it was too late. Now was the time to cut the threads which bound this marionette to her puppet master.<br><br><em>And you there<br>You don't care<br>I wonder if you<br>Wanted me like I wanted you<br>It's a lonely truth<br>That I can't change you<br>And you sure can't change me</em><br><br>It was true. Nola wondered if Vlad wanted her just like she wanted him when she came into his service. Sure, she was only a female of eighteen and unsure of herself but could he not realize that the two could come to some sort of friendship if only he opened himself up a bit? If she had let been more firm to show him that she cared for him? No, it was an impossibility for a man who broke her heart in the plane would never change just like how Nola's view of him would never change. It would not change until these two talked and spoke freely but even given the chance, would these two bare their souls to one another? Bare it knowing it would hurt like hell and maybe ruin their chances?<br><br><em>It's hard as hell tonight to sleep<br>To close my eyes would be admitting my defeat</em><br><br>Yes, sleep was a nuisance for when Nola slept he was in her dreams. Sometimes the dream version of Vlad lurked about in the corners of her mind. She never knew if it was possible for him to see things through her eyes. Nola heard there were vampires who could drink from a fleshie and join in their bodies. A vampire could see what was going on and even feel. Ha, if it was true Vlad never acknowledged it though even with the plate in her head, how could he? Everytime she thought about the past it made her gasp in pain for she failed to be stronger back then and now she was doing the same thing. She needed to be strong to survive or perish once more.<br><br><em>Wanted me like I wanted you<br>It's a lonely truth<br>That I can't change you<br>And you sure can't change me</em><br><br>There were moments of insanity that made one wonder how in the hell he or she had done that stupid act. How one could slam their fist into a wall, feel no pain until the next day when the hand was broken and bruised to a blood pulp. Hell, how another person can tear a residence apart in the manic rage overtaking them until the individual figured out he had destroyed their entire home in the fit of anger. For Nola she was committed to smashing anything in the back seat of the limo until her hands were bleeding and the tears were pouring down her face. How could he do this to her when she was freed from him and this sham of a crush she had for him. Yes, sham because what person in their right mind ever thought of him as someone to love but she was a fool for him. A fool for a man who was truly a monster.<br><br>She looked up only when the driver informed her of their arrival and even then he asked if she needed assistance out of the car. One look at herself and she was covered in alcohol, blood and tears. Even now she had a few pieces of glass embedded into her hands where she flung them against a line of alcoholic drinks but the only throbbing pain was in her chest. How far was she going to go to find out the truth of Vlad's letter? Could she picture herself going stark raving mad to find out what made Vlad the heartless bastard that he was and yet adored no matter the fact that he hurt her to no end? Well, she needed to find out in order to finish whatever it was. He had no right to give her this letter just when her fragile mind was set on her new life without him.<br><br>When the driver opened the door but stayed back she knew it was time. To hell with looking like a blood Popsicle, Vlad and her needed to talk. Slowly, she scooted towards the opened door, brushing away broken shards of glass. The small pieces still embedded into her hands and arms stung but nothing but the life she had with Vlad stung worse. She was a child back when she came to Vlad but she was a woman. It seemed even as a woman she could not break of Vlad until he knew how much he deserved to be left alone and to never come near society again. If he was smart he would realize that she could just a big of a monster as he was and as a woman she could just as well hurt him as he had done to her. You know what they say about payback, well, Nola was the bitch. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Cynical &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>22-04-2011, 04:37:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With a sudden gasp, the unthinkable happened. Vlad the Impaler, Death Incarnate himself, The Master Vampire Dracula.. woke from a nightmare. Breathing hard, he sat up, every part of him shaking. Shivering, he lifted the coffin's lid, his hand sliding against the mahogany. What the? Struggling out of his box he stood before his mirror, terror flooding every part of his mind. Before him, his nude image stared back covered in what appeared to be a covering of blood. It was as if a fine mist of red was sprayed over him, covering every inch of his body. I'm still dreaming! But no, he knew fully he was awake. Never in his immortal existence had he ever truly fallen into a deep sleep, and never.. absolutely never had he risen to this.<br><br>Slowly it sank in. It was sweat. The horrors of his nightmare caused him to do something very human. Something he hadn't done since that last day of battle so many centuries before. This thought brought forward the images of his dream.<br><br>It was just as it truly happened in his human life. The battle rage had filled him as he slaughtered the Ottoman horde. Drenched in blood, he was unstoppable. All he could think of was his beloved back home. He couldn't leave her. Couldn't break his promise to return home. And so he did finally defeat the last vile creature. And as was his way, what he was always known for throughout the ages, he impaled this last foe.<br><br>Just as he lived through, Vlad sped home. As if he and his horse were bonded in soul, the black beast galloped as if possessed. Smiling, he promised the animal the greatest of rewards once they were at rest. As he got closer to his beloved, a darkness started to spread inside. Something was wrong, he could feel. Try as he might to push away the feeling of doom, he couldn't. Home.. just get home and all will be fine, Vlad tried to believe. Yet he knew something was not right at all.<br><br>Jumping to his feet, he ran up the path, throwing open the doors. Yet unlike his memory, in the dream he could smell blood. Not just a faintness but as if it filled the air. Running up the stairs, the scent was stronger. Deep down, it was a gorgeous smell, although he didn't know why. Why would I enjoy this smell, he wondered, he screamed in his thoughts. Breaking out in a sweat, he ran down a hall.. and stopped suddenly.<br><br>On the altar, covered in blood, was his love. Arms stretched outward, one still clutching a curved dagger. Moving closer, tears poured down as he pulled his beloved into his arms. In his dream, it was Nola. Screaming, he held her close, begging her to open her eyes. Promising her he would never leave her side ever again. Yet she was cold, long dead, her life force emptied onto the cold stone. Limp in his arms, Vlad sank down to the floor, holding Nola. In his dream, he sat here for hours, unmoving, slowly losing ever shred of sanity.<br><br>And then he woke.<br><br>Staring at himself, even his hair had beads of blood, giving is an eerie crimson glow. As he stared, the memories of the dream gave way to the memories of the night before. Him arriving home, rushing inside. Unable to deal with Nola, Vlad rushed into the depths of his castle, into the crypt. Into his box, needing peace. Madness loomed and he knew he's do something completely regrettable if he remained above.<br><br>And then he dreamed. What is happening to you, he thought as he stared into the mirror. The whites of his eyes were even red, giving him the look of a true demon. Dark streaks seemed to leak from his eyes. Tears. Not only did I sleep. Not only did I have the most vivid and horrific dream which brought my entire body into a sweat.. I cried. The feeling wouldn't fade as he thought of Nola in his dream. Dead. The thought raised a panic through every fiber of his being.<br><br>Without thinking or caring of his appearance, Dracula rushed from the crypt, running in a blur up countless steps. Even in a speed which would escape the human eye, he wasn't fast enough. Skipping five, ten, even fifteen steps at a time, he flew up the steps to the top floor, terror filling his still heart as this moment seemed all too familiar. Sensing her through double doors, her old bedroom, he burst through. The doors burst into dust as he stopped, looking down at the bed. Sitting, trying to remain calm as realized what a horror he must appear. A form lay there, motionless yet through his bloody eyes, Vlad had difficulty telling seeing.<br><br>"Nola?", he whispered.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Mordred &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>27-04-2011, 04:26:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"What do you want?," Nola asked, no whisper or warmth in her tone.; was he here to try and cause her more trouble when all she wanted was sleep? She finally went to bed after his servant patched her up and gave her a couple of aspirin to stop the gnawing headache. When she ran after him, his guards were kind enough to stop her from going any further after him. She found to get through but considering the state of her hands a doctor was brought in to fix and mend her bleeding hands. The doctor was human which was a surprised considering Vlad usually preferred his own kind to care for him which only made her wonder just how lenient he was becoming in his ways. However, the pain of having broken glass removed from her hands and the doctor warning her against doing such stupid things again brought Nola back down to earth. Vlad was not a selfless man for he did things for a reason and she doubted the doctor would be around much longer and would most likely be made into blood wine. <br><br>She pulled the sheets up to her neck and her nose tickled through the air of dust still around in the room. The servants had tried to air out the room as best as they could while she paced back and forth downstairs in the study. She found a lot of things had not changed in this room and wondered if Vlad assumed she was going to come back with no doubts on her mind. Even the dresses he had bought as another apology gift hunt in plastic wrap, no doubt to keep any mothballs from eating away at the material. For some unknown reason and she bet it had to do with pent up rage, Nola took her anger out on the clothes. If Vlad were to look down he would see the slew of dresses thrown on the ground, some stomped beneath her feet, others rolled into balls and a few torn to strips. Nola had wanted to burn the place to the ground on the last night but causing arson was not on her mind as much as escaping from Vlad's cruel hands. Now that she was back where a slew of memories could assail her, Nola could not find any positive way to burn off her anger and loathing. <br><br>"Why are you here? Should you not be out and about scaring the local villages with tales of your history? You made yourself clear that you do not want to talk to me. However, I rather we speak in daylight than having you prowling around in the bedroom while I am asleep and vulnerable." Nola did not enjoy the fact Vlad could have watched her this entire time while she was asleep. She wondered if he had done this prior when she was his fleshie when Nola was foolish enough to believe in trust and honor. The man had none of it even with his words written on paper. Nola could not accept his offer to be given everything he owned because it was just another 'Forgive me' gifts from him. She knew better to take his gifts as face value anymore than she could take his word. What she wanted was answers from him but she wanted to do it on her own time and when she was ready to face him. Right now, all she wanted was to figure out a way to get him to speak the truth all the while ready herself for any lies he would fling at her. <br><br>Frowning, Nola sniffed the air and found a metallic smell on the air other than dust. Had Vlad fed before coming to her room? She wondered if it was with the fleshie he swore would no longer at his side. Nola doubted he would cast someone out who he would need to feed on unless he had reverted back to his old ways of feeding on the locals in the village. These were the tales told her as a child about Vlad and his need to feed on anything which crossed his path. At the moment, Nola could see Vlad was in the way of her leaving the room unless she wanted to plummet to her death from the top story of the estate. Nola always feared Vlad would somehow find a way to push her through the stained glass windows and watch her as she fell to her death. Now, she pondered whether he would do it tonight with the air of tension crackling in the air. "What is that smell and...why are you naked?," she asked, having narrowed her eyes enough to notice he was in the nude. <br><br>Quickly, Nola covered her eyes and looked away from Vlad, knowing there was some decency even if he had puts his hands upon her own breast. The fast glimpse she had showed her the male was not even wearing underwear. "You really should put on some clothing and perhaps even take a shower. You know, shower is where you pour water on yourself," she muttered, picking up a pillow and throwing at him to at least cover his front side. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Mordred &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>09-05-2011, 11:31:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Vlad couldn't help smiling, hearing Nola's scornful voice. "You are fine. That's all I need to know." He stood, thinking about the 'villagers' Nola mentioned. "I nearly decimated all the villagers only months after I became this. The few that lived all packed up one day. I woke to every house empty, every human gone. It took many years but eventually they started trickling back. You see, Romanis can't stay away long. This land speaks to their soul. I would say it speaks to mine as well, but I stopped hearing it's sweet voice many years ago." Only a few years before, Vlad had been sued with a class-action suite. Restitution for the centuries of terror, the murder of ancestors, even the death of livestock. As if I would drink animal blood, he thought with disgust. I may be a monster but I'm not a savage. No, save the animals for the humans.<br><br>At the window Dracula lifted what looked like an ancient padlock. "I found this lock in Vienna.. 1542. I remember every detail of every moment as if it happened yesterday. Every single moment." With a sudden twist the lock was snapped in his hand. A rusty scraping sound echoed through the room as Vlad pushed each window side out and open. A cool gust swept inside along with the familiar night air of Transylvania. Far below, mist hugged the ground as far as he could see. The very stuff of nightmares. The original set for so many tales of horror.<br><br>He realized all the clothes saved for Nola covered most of the floor, which made him laugh. "I see you settled in nicely. I love what you've done with the place." Smiling sarcastically, he saw Nola's eyes in the dark. A mixture of anger and exhaustion. Even in such a state of stress, she was still radiantly beautiful. What can I do, infuriating girl? Images of the recent dream flashed through his mind, causing a wave of weakness. Keeping his composure as well he could, Vlad staggered to the bed, sitting beside Nola. Turning, he looked towards her face so near his own. Her heart was loud in all senses. Pounding, booming. Every drop of blood inside her, he could feel. Every single one going along it's own path as it sped along with all the other drops. He could feel the inner walls of each vein, how they contracted and inverted in such minute vibrations. It was euphoric and dizzying. Also disturbing in it's volume. He found it hard to focus which was an unusual feeling. Single minded focus was always his strongest trait.<br><br>One spiralling thought pierced the clouds of confusion he felt. Speaking slowly, he tried to not let his voice give away the strange feeling, "Heed the letter, please. Why is that so difficult? You buy your complete freedom with a few signatures. Isn't that what you dream of? Sign, leave forever, marry your little friend, live happily for fifty or so years." And I, he thought, will remain in my homeland until you exist no longer. He knew without the slightest doubt when she died, he would know. It would be a dagger plunged deep in his heart. It would be death all over again.. but he would know.<br><br>Those last thoughts seemed to slowly turn a dial up. Louder her beat smashed inside his every sense. Gritting his teeth didn't stop the flooding volume that screamed throughout every bit of his skull. Grabbing his head with both hands, Vlad fell back onto the bed. "Stop!", he yelled in a harsh, raspy sound. He could feel a flash of fear in Nola's blood. The last thing he wanted was her fear. Palms pressing hard against his eyes, Vlad regained control of his breath. The pounding beat still pushed at every fiber of sanity yet somehow he managed a small bit of control.<br><br>He reached for her hand, determined to feel in touch what soared through his every cell. "Will you? Take what is yours, what you deserve, and just sign the damn documents? Buy your freedom without one cent. In fact, buy your freedom and everything you could possibly want with one fell swoop. Will you?" Nodding as he spoke, trying to sound convincing, Vlad reeled inside. The very thought of not seeing her again seemed impossible. Five years. Five fucking years and still this human bag of blood won't set me free. And yet he knew it was now worse than ever. Just hours earlier it was difficult but acceptable, in it's own way. Now, feeling her so close, seeing every beautiful detail that was her.. he was doomed for the forseeable future.<br><br>Realizing the blood no longer covered his skin, Dracula smiled. "Blood always eventually soaks into my skin." He could feel his entire body was dry and once again clean. Even the metallic scent was gone. The idea of returning to his box was unsettling. Maybe a few days of simply being in darkness would be better. His hand still over hers, a few fingers rested against Nola's thigh. The echoing effect inside him, from so many angles this taunting sense, was mind-numbing. It reached a pinnacle where he was sure she would be able to feel his slight shake. And then, it seemed to cease completely.<br><br>Within a handful of seconds, all senses returned to what felt normal to Vlad. Scooting to the beds edge he sighed, "I better go. Soon I'll need some blood." Still his cool fingers sat upon the searing heat of Nola's hand and leg. Perhaps that's all I needed, he thought. To feel her one last time. Lifting his gaze, he found her eyes. Oh such passion in you, little girl, he sadly thought. Once mine. Yet now I know it'll never be. For the briefest moment he imagined holding her down. Sinking his fangs deep in her neck. Just finish this. End this torment. These thoughts vanished as quickly as they formed. He couldn't truly hurt Nola ever again. It was bad enough having her hate him. Causing her more harm was unbearable.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Mordred &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Marguerite</strong> on <strong>28-05-2011, 01:11:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I bet the land stopped talking to you after it realized what kind of creature you were even now, Vlad," she murmured, placing her had on her knees, watching him with hooded eyes. She did not trust this male and to see him in her room in the nude did not add any more liberties to turn her back on the vampire. He was Vlad the Impaler, the infamous murdered of hundreds upon thousands of individuals as he ruled and took over the lands which made up Romania. She remembered the way textbooks, movies, and books talked about the man who put his enemies heads on spikes and laid it out for anyone to see what would be done to them if they crossed the man. Now to see him against after these many years, maybe Nola should have believed the tales of his ruthlessness. At least with imagining him as a heartless male kept her from throwing anymore of her dignity at his feet to stomped over with glee and satisfaction. The man had hurt her too long for her to want to reach out to him.<br><br>Nola did not know what to do anymore. He kept denying and pushing her away. Did he truly her want her gone? After what he had done to bring here here, for him to change his tune was typical. It was just like him to change him mind and expect everyone to be on the same page with him. He would drive any female mad with his fickle nature? She thought she was difficult with how it took her a while to come to a decision in her life back with her fiancee. Now, she could see Vlad took the fucking cake on being the most difficult individual on the earth. Perhaps it was meant to be like this with her shutting herself further from him. He wanted her here to sign the papers and then head back to her home to be with her fiancee. A man who adored her beyond any measure of doubt and who stood by her as she rebuilt the pieces of her life into some fragile deck of cards. She could not let Vlad knock down everything she built or even allow herself to throw it all away for some fantasy of him.<br><br>A fantasy which talked about some stupid ancient locket which he broke in order to let the cool wind inside of the castle. "What can I say? I enjoy redecorating and I plan to do so when I get back to my <strong>home</strong>." Nola emphasized for this place was not her home. No, it was her hell when Vlad started to become a cruel Master who put the fear of no God into her soul. No God would let His very subjects be submitted to such torture, both mentally and emotionally. There were times Nola wondered what might have happened had she not escaped Vlad. Would she be put into the dungeon of the castle? Shackled to the walls, her body nude and covered in scabs? Her breasts and very sex ruined by forceful rape? The thought of Vlad raping her brought a chill to her spine and made her stomach clench in readiness to retch should Vlad get any closer to her. When he moved towards the bed, Nola, scooted back, throwing another pillow in between them to put another wall, a fluffy wall, between the two. <br><br>"I will never have to see your face again," she whispered, vehemence behind her every word. Her eyes flared with renewed anger, letting it consume her and knowing the creature of the night would never change. He was the same man she left behind those many years ago. His heart was shut off to her and everyone who was not his beautiful Elisabeta. Nola should have known now the man was never going to love her and she was foolish to even put the deal on the table for him. At least she knew Ethan was waiting for her back home and his arms would never be closed off to her. Nola listened to his words and merely nodded at a few phrases but it was all garbled words to her. "Fine, I will sign the contracts. I will take my freedom when I wake up and I will be free of you." Nola did not flinch when he pulled away assuming he was starting to lose his hold on sanity just as she almost had earlier today. She could not fault him for his actions as he tousled about on the bed.<br><br>Yet, she could not let him take her hand and she pulled it away from his reach. "Yes, I will sign the documents," she murmured again, feeling the words as automatic as a robot. Her heart she knew ached and it burned inside her chest, but Nola now knew better. No matter the passage of time, this creature in front of her would never her see as anything but a young fleshie who defied him. A fleshie who no longer needed him. A fleshie he could never come to love no matter if he said the words to her. Words were beautiful things but actions spoke a lot louder. So far, his actions dictated the need to push her away and he succeeded. He won. The Prince of Darkness finally got his wish and Nola would leave his castle. A castle which held too many memories for her to handle but she managed by her will and urge to see the light of day. If she could make it to the light of day, then it meant this was not a dream but reality. A reality which would no longer have Vlad in her life. Nola should be happy and she would in time, but now all she wanted was to be left alone.<br><br>Not even his touch helped with her loneliness. All she wanted from him was his love but his touch only drove home the point this man would never love. "Please, just go. I need my rest. I cannot see my love, my fiancee, Ethan, if I look like I am smuggling bags beneath my eyes," she whispered, no humor in her words. The smile she had for her comment did not even reach her eyes but she waited for him to leave her peace. Nola yearned for the peace he would give her by leaving and she aided by scooting further away from him. "Good bye, Vlad." With hope, Nola prayed he would never search her out again when she was on her death bed. The last thing she wanted was to see his face as she took her last breath from this earth.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dracula's Flesh, Blood and Love [Mordred &amp; Marguerite]</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Mordred</strong> on <strong>20-07-2011, 07:16:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Dracula stared at Nola for what felt like an eternity before he slowly stood. Never in his existence had he felt as tired as he did right now. Not while he lived and certainly not while he was dead. It was a foreign concept, one for the weak. Right now he felt as though the true death would be pleasant. The idea of sinking into a box, having it dropped into a hole and filled with concrete, was actually tempting. Sighing, he walked to the bedroom door, wanting to give Nola this one last gift. Freedom from his evil. As he reached for the handle, he noticed his hand shaking. It both infuriated and saddened him at the same time. You walk out this door, he realized, and you will never see her again. This is it.<br><br>Turning suddenly, he stared at her in the dimly lit room. It was starting to lighten outside, casting a a faint light that made Nola look ghostlike. "I had a dream. I have never dreamed. Not since I became.. this. Not since she.." He couldn't say her name. He realized he would never speak or think that name again. "Not since she died. Yes, I dreamt of that day when I denounced god and humanity." As his hand continued to shake on the handle, Vlad snatched it back. Visions of the dream flashed through his mind. Nola's face, lifeless, in his arms. His screams of rage, cursing all that he believed in, his very being changing in a matter of moments. Nola's open eyes staring into his, yet with no life inside.<br><br>Turning fully, his eyes couldn't leave her. Inside he felt that returning feeling of dread. It amazed him how real that dream felt. Falling back against the heavy oak door, he slid down to the floor, his head in his hands. "It was you in my dream. Your green eyes, your beautiful face, your dead body in my arms." Unsure if it was a laugh or something else, Vlad shook as a strange sound erupted from his lungs. "I can't even remember what she looks like any more. And you know what? I don't even care. I only care about you." Throwing back his head against the door, a loud smashing sound of splintering wood echoed through the room. "You, who despises me, who I held up against the wall that one horrible night, who.. Yes, dammit, who I wanted to kill that one night.. You are the only being I give a shit about."<br><br>Again he threw back his head, and again, sending splinters flying. "I loved.. her. Yes. I ended my life because I loved her as much as I did. I was insane with love. Yet in one moment that love turned black, turned me into a monster, consumed my entire existence with hatred and.. what I am now. Yet I always continued to love.. her. And now, I can't even visualize her face. When I try, I only see you. You. You, the only person I care about. You have replaced what I ever felt as love." He knew he lost her, knew she hated him, but he was beyond saving face. He didn't give a fuck about how he appeared. For the first time, ever.<br><br>Starting to stand, his hand slipped on wet stone. Looking down, Vlad saw he sat in a pool of blood, again from his perspiring body. Did she even notice or care? He couldn't tell. The room was darkened and blurred by the well of blood in his eyes. Slowly standing, he realized he was again a frightful sight. "I know you hate me. I don't blame you. I hate me too. If I had any true balls, I'd dive out that window and let myself burn under the rising sun. But I don't. I'm too afraid of the pain, too scared of the idea of burning alive."<br><br>Taking the door's handle, his gaze finally parted from where Nola sat. He couldn't even see or tell if she had moved. Sight was blurred, senses out of whack from his lack of blood. "You did what nobody else, not even.. her.. could do. You tamed me. Too late, I know. Far too late. You turned the heart of darkness into one that cares. Not about myself, but of you. It will always, only be you. Goodbye, Nola." Slowly with a slippery shaking hand, he turned the handle and opened the door. "I won't interfere with your life, any longer. This.." Waving his arms, his back towards her. "This was my last attempt, my last foolish try, to regain you. What does an evil monster know about winning the heart of a woman? Human men hardly know, so what chance did I ever have? Goodbye."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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