Maria slowly entered the room which had been given her at Longden Castle, her steps a bit slow and hesitant, the morning had been so busy she had yet to get a moment to truly look around it. A sparsely decorated place, with dark ebony wood dressers and foot chest, a large ebony wardrobe and an ebony bed were the few pieces of furniture in the room. The bed itself had been made fine enough, most likely by the hand of the same man who had owned the room before her, she could almost feel his presents there, a strong and deliberate man, who's soul purpose was to tend to his lord's needs.

His lord, she paused the thought, her hand staying on the door if only for a moment, before slowly closing it the rest of the way, feeling as much as hearing the heavy latch connecting and holding the door true. She fumbled the key in the lock as she thought over her position. Had she really gained any? Her initial plan had been to get a good meal, give this man a taste of her, then request payment to finish the night, so that she would have some money to survive on.

Little had she known what would truly occur, her hand moved to her neck at the thought, the other drifting downwards, over her hip and towards... she broke the thought quickly clasping her hands into fists and holding them steady at her sides. She had just gone from one life of servitude to another, sure he had said he loved her, but wasn't he powerful enough to say anything and make her believe it, if so she was as trapped as if he had meant it.

But neither mattered, she felt herself entwined in him, bound to him now, yearning to hear him call to her, to beckon her to his side and caress her in that loving way. She yearned to hear him call her beloved, and praise her like one would a loyal dog, 'that's my pet', 'your doing fine'. She shivered in pleasure at the thought of the words and felt her knees weaken just slightly, yes she would long to hear him even call her pet. She slipped into the room and drew back the heavy black curtains to let the sunlight spill in, blinking a couple times for her eyes to adjust as she looked out over the massive yard.

She turned back to the room, her eyes scanning it once more before stepping to the wardrobe throwing open the doors and paused shivering. Yes it was like he had never left, here his shoes and dress pants, shirts and jackets, all perfectly pressed hung side by side by color as if he would return at any moment to work what had to be hours to keep that shine in those shoes. She chewed her lip lightly, she wasn't this meticulous, would that anger her new master? Would he rage at her if she chose to be a bit more haphazard? She looked down at the clothes she wore now, the skirt and shirt from the day pryor, pulled on in a haste to fallow her master from his room to meet his staff and receive from him the gift of the collar that now hugged her throat so tightly.

Maria licked her lips and sighed into the silence of the the room and looked around once more, yes definitely someone else's room. She hesitated to change a thing, not liking the idea of moving anything for fear of dishonoring the soul that had lived here. She moved around the room slowly, looking through drawers and running fingers over every nook and cranny in the room. Once she had been through every drawer she started the slow careful process of gathering the man's stuff together, his shirts carefully and with reverence taken from their hangers and folded carefully laid on the foot of the bed, fallowed by his jackets and shoes, then his undergarments and on top of that a couple of wicked sharp knives that looked as if made for skinning animals.

She gathered it all and saw it to boxes and placed to be gathered later before searching through the keys she had found amongst his person stuff. Finding the proper one she unlocked the foot locker and hefted it open, pausing as she looked within. She carefully removed the warm blanket and looked beneath at the bottles there, six bottles stored precisely, tipped up just slightly on their sides, the corks appearing to be made of some different material and she lifted one of the bottles carefully looking at it in the light, the dark bottle was too much so to tell what was with in. She tugged free the stopper and sniffed the liquid expectantly, not truly surprised to smell the metallic scent of blood, and dipping in a finger she double checked, sure enough it was blood that slicked the appendage and she wiped it carefully off before digging free the other five bottles, seeing to them all being well sealed before setting them too with the clothes to go as well.

She finished cleaning the foot locker out by pulling free a strong box and unlocking it too she found his final Will and wishes setting it aside she gawked at the bag of money at the bottom of the box and reverently set it too aside before removing a small box of diamond and precious stones and finally another piece of parchment noted to the whomever saw to his Lord. Maria carefully broke the seal and read the words quietly, instructions on the deliverance of his things and a note to take the money and jewel for herself. She was slightly surprised, but then again if he had no one to send it all to then it would make sense, she supposed as she folded the paper and settled the money and jewel back into place, relocking the box and placing it on the foot of the bed with the key before rising.

She would have to get one of the servants to help her clean out the belongings and she would have to gather up Kyuusai to head into town to get her belongings what little she had, as for the room, she wasn't sure what to do with that, but her master had assured her that she could do as she wished, she would look around while in town for something less dark. She moved to head for the door, settling the key in the lock before leaving the room, making sure the door was secure behind her before going.

Maria had slipped from her new home once more, midafternoon did little to fend off the cold as she lead her horse from the stable mounting swiftly and turning the prancing stallion towards the road leading to the small town of Rhy-Din. There were still a few things she wished to do in what little free time she had, and even that time seemed to grow shorter as he always seemed to find her ask her to open to him, and she always did, needfully.

She kept her horse at an even but swift pace and let her body rock against the saddle, chewing her lip at the pleasure it sent through her body, waves of it, making her from time to time close her eyes and picture his hands on her, touching her, pinching at her body, rough but loving, his teeth, oh those teeth, such ecstasy. She was shocked when town came up on her quicker then normal and she slowed the little stallion as she approached the market.

She wasn't really sure what she was looking for, but she knew the dark wood would not do, she had to do something and sense the money was hers. She drifted into a couple of different shops before finding a dark lacquered oak head board and foot board, both with spindles at the top and bottom, her mind on if her Lord would wish to tie her. She then sought out a matching armoire and foot chest. A little dressing table with oval mirror and a matching dresser and two bedside tables.

She purchased it all at a better price for the set, paying a good amount for the thick hard wood. She gave them little instruction accept that it would be sent for, before she left and crossed to another small store. She purchased a dark set of curtains to go over the lace she had bought and a few things for her dressing table before she gathered her mount and headed for the darker side of Rhy-Din. She knew who she sought, there was always one in every city and sure enough the little Japanese store sat almost hidden amongst other run down shops.

She entered with a weariness of one going into battle. Here vials and weapons, clothes and foods all sat out, and short elderly man sat behind the counter watched her as she approached the weapons, drawing one down and slowly unsheathed it, checked its weight and took a few swings before rejecting it and choosing another. She did this with four others before tucking one under her arm and going through a similar practice with the daggers.

Once she had settled on one of each she moved through the shop once more, choosing delicate cloth and outfits, Kimonos and pants and blouses. A few food items found their way into the growing pile a small box of special candy and a few other sweets if they could be called that, sugar wasn't huge ingredient and as such the food was only candy do to its sweet taste that occurred naturally. She set the items all down before speaking softly to the clerk who looked up at her, the words exchanged if anyone had been there to hear were all in Japanese and were hushed, soft but specific, his questioning hers confirming.

Eventually he disappeared out back to return with a bottle, he spoke softly to her as she took it, examined the label and the liquid then finally nodded. Once she had it paid for a stowed away she headed for one more shop. She entered a bit nervously, she had never been in a shop like this before, here was lace and leather, small famine objects and sharp instruments that appeared to belong in a doctors office.

She chose carefully here, a few things were gathered, white and black, pinks and reds. She also picked up a couple of smaller items, more intimate and quickly paid for it all. Her last stop wound her up at a small shoe store and she made a few purchases there as well before finally heading for home, she had a very special evening to prepare for.

Unsuspecting of what she had done, he brought the glass to his nose to test the bouquet of the wine. Immediately his eyes widened, recognizing the smell of the blood wine. He tilted the glass and confirmed the blood wine by the color and consistency of the fingering along the side of the glass. He brought it to his lips and sipped it. He sipped more and his breathing increased and he trembled slightly from the excitement and arousal that the blood wine brought to him. He looked down on her, this time his eyes fixated upon her thong. "It is superb, my love; simply delightful. As are you, to me. You are far to good to me, and I must think of some way to reward."

Maria smiled softly, "I'm glad I have chosen well," she answered softly, seeing where his gaze has settled she opened her legs wider remaining where she kneels.

He finished the wine and held up his glass, "May I have another, please." He was feeling the effects already - of the blood and not the alcohol.

She immediately rises to gather the bottle once more. She refilled his glass before once more setting the bottle once more in its place to remain cool, once more moving to return to the kneeling position.

He drank the wine slowly, breathing becoming more rapid. "Come here, please. I would like you to stand in front of me. I want to see you up close." He had another sip as he waited.

She moved to stand once more, moving to stand just in front of him, her hands at her sides looking down at him, waiting, her feet apart slightly to give him full access to her even while she stood there.

He looked up at her from is sitting position. "Please look straight ahead, he said." His hand touched her, and he loved this about her - she was always ready to please. He finished off the wine in the glass, filled the glass once more with the blood wine, but this time to the very brim. He handed it to her. "Hold this in your left hand. It is your job not to spill a drop of that precious wine."

She seemed a little confused but took the glass carefully and turned her eyes to look straight ahead, her eyes over his head looking right at the door, doing exactly as she was told.

He slipped down in front of her, putting his legs between hers until he was in a sitting position, his face close to her. "Now, there's only one thing better than blood wine. Remember to not spill a drop, my love," he reminded her without looking up. He would know if a drop would be lost.

In all that he did to her, she managed to not spill a drop of the wine - until the end of the test.

She chose another piece of the fish before moving to crawl into his lap, hoping he would not frown at her for taking the liberty as she laid the fish between her raised breasts, lifting her chin and offering him the fish from her body, "I hope I can make it better she purred.

He looked at her and smiled. "You are winning me over, my love. I think that soon you'll always be in my bed." He brought his mouth down ate the sushi from between her breasts.

Maria smiled at him, her eyes hooded in the passion he was rising in her as she plucked the last piece from the table, "I would like that, very much," she replied her voice seductive before she placed the fish to his lips, her own on the other side and as soon as he opened his mouth to receive it she let her own lips part and shared the final piece with him amongst a deep passionate kiss, parting to swallow her piece hungrily and smiled at him seductively. "Thank you my love, for this freedom," she added and moved to kiss him deeply once more.

Arms of supernatural strength held her in an embrace that she would never get free of if he didn't eventually allow it. He kissed her with such passion that it surprised even him. There was something about this woman and what she could do to him. He was falling for her and he knew it; but he would fight it. It just wouldn't be right to actually be in love with his valet - or would it? He put the thought aside and moved his hands over her, finding the strings of the corset bra and loosening them.

Maria moaned softly into the kiss, a little disappointed to losing the freedom he had given her but enjoying his touch very much

When the corset was loose and about to slip off her, he relaxed his embrace and took her beautiful face into his large hands. "My love...my desire...what is the second course that you have so expertly planned for this evening?"

"Second course?" She purrs playfully and smiles, "I wish I could share something sweet with you, but I think I shall have to suffice for that, I do have something for you though, if I may," she moved to slip from his touch, giving him the chance to refuse to let her stand.

"Whatever you want, my love. You are free to do as you wish." He smiled, wondering what else this perfect woman would come up with. Besides, he enjoyed watching her body move, and with the corset loose, they're be more to enjoy.

The second course was one of pure pleasure such as he had never before felt. When the "second course" was over, Maria smiled at him through hooded eyes and slowly sat back, "I love you," she breathed, and she meant it, despite his earlier strike at her that morning, she loved him so she wanted to be everything he expected her to be.

Her words touched him. All that she has done for him has touched him. He had never been treated this well. He touched her face with his hand and looked into her dark eyes, "I love you, too, Maria." And it scared him that he meant it.