The only sound for miles, the soft tapping of a pen on the edge of the leather bound book and the sound of the crackling fire as dark eyes examined the long blank page of the last gift he would probably ever give her, and she knew that.Maria wasn't sure what to do with it, what to write in it, a journal he had said, a gift so that she would have something to put her thoughts in. She vaguely wondered if it had actually been his attempt to stop her from complaining to her new master, the man he was sending her to. She love Talomar with all her heart, and she knew he loved her too, and that had been the problem, so now she was half way to her knew home, it was cold and dark and snowy, and Maria had agreed to take this trip without the cover of the carriage. At last her pen touched the paper and slowly her thoughts formed;

"There I stood, on a precipice between life and death, the wind seemed to beckon me, tugging at my coat, calling to me, all I had to do was take a single step, and single step into the oblivion of the abyss that spanned below the bridge leading to Longden Castle. Behind me the grooms held my horses, packed with the only things I owned, my few clothes, the money that had been left to me by my predecessor, the only couple of jewels I owned and a single book, leather bound and empty that he had given me as a final gift with what had to be a very expensive pen. I was losing my home, and I knew despite his assurances of his love, that I would never see this place again, at least not to return to him. I held my breath and closed my eyes and for a brief flicking moment almost took that step and embraced the blackness below.

Then the moment passed and I let out that breath and looked back at the waiting grooms, then up towards the study, we had said our good byes up there in privacy, and as I moved to my horse I for a minute wanted to rush back into him, to beg him not to send me away. I couldn't do it though, not to him and not to me. I mounted with few words to the pain in the ass grooms, they were all probably glad to see me go, then turned to head out. I didn't tell Talomar that I wasn't taking the carriage, he would not have approved of my stubbornness. I gave my horse a nudge and we were off, I never looked back, as badly as I wanted to I refused to look back, it would only make things worse. Instead a slouched in my saddle in unhappy silence and headed down the road.

I was in no rush, I'm not expected until sometime tomorrow, and I continue to wonder about this new home I was being sent to. Tal had said something about him being a Baron? What the hell is a Baron anyway, because I have no idea. Apparently my grasp of the english language isn't as good as I thought it was. I still have that bottle of wine the bartender gave me, tucked away in my bag, and the vile of blood and the last bottle of the blood wine I had had made for Talomar. I don't know why I took them with me, but I did, it just seemed like the right thing to take at the time. Now here I am at my camp for the night, its damned cold and the fire is doing little to fend off the cold, I can't wait to just get back in the saddle and keep going, I haven't eaten all day and I could use a warm place to rest. For now I think I will try and get some sleep."

Maria closed the book, hearing the oiled leather creak as she closed it, doing up the latch on the cover before she pushed it into her saddle bag. She sat up for a few more minutes, her hands extended to the fire to try and ease the cold pain in them before she moved to snuggle deep down into her bedroll. She sighed softly looking through the darkness at her stallion and the white mare beside him, one more day and she would be in a new home, and deep down, she was terrified.

Maria glanced over the group, then at the man beside her, this was different, she was use to fighting with servants, this group seemed kind and well behaved, not as ornery as Tal's people and she nodded a bow to them, "Nice to meet you all," she stated softly.

?Trina, would be so kind as to let the Baron know that his guest has arrived. Dorothy, please get Lady Eriko a cup of tea and some biscuits (shortbread cookies) and bring them to the parlor. And Betsy, bring Lady Eriko?s belongings up to her room and make it ready for her. I?m sure she?s tired after her long trip.? Charles turned to Maria, ?Follow me, please. I?ll show you to the parlor.?

Maria nodded and moved to follow him silently, still glancing around and taking it all in, making sure she noted where everything was.

The parlor was a very comfortable room with several Queen Anne chairs, a couch, end tables with lace and Tiffany lamps, a colorful wool carpet with fringe that came within a foot of the fireplace hearth, and nicely paneled with mahogany. ?Please, Miss Maria, have a seat.?

Maria nodded, "Thank you," she stated softly once more and moved to sit silently on the couch to wait.

Soon Dorothy returned with a silver tray with a silver tea set on top of it. She set it on a coffee table and began to poor a cup of tea for Maria and for Charles. ?Do you take anything in it, ma?am??

"A little honey would be good," Maria answered softly with a nod.

Dorothy added a little honey and presented Maria with her cup and one to Charles. She then held out the tray of shortbread cookies to Maria. "Take several, Miss Maria," Charles said, "you must be hungry and it will be an hour before dinner is served."

Maria was starved, but she only took a couple and smiled softly, "Thank you, it has been a little while since my last meal."

Dorothy departed with a little curtsey and left Charles alone with Maria. ?The Baron should be down shortly,? Charles said as he sat down with his tea. ?We heard only a few days ago that you were coming, but we?ve tried to make things as comfortable for you as possible. I don?t know all the details, but I?m sure Baron du Lac will fill you in.?

Maria nodded as she sipped her drink, "I'm not sure of them all myself, other then knowing the Count wanted me here," she shrugged and nibbled the cookie, she could see herself very bored here, surely this Baron didn't need a valet with this much help around.

?Well, for however long you stay is, I hope you?ll find it pleasant. Castle du Lac is not a bad place to be, especially in weather like this. Oh, you should see the view from here. It?s simply breathtaking.?

Maria nodded, "I'm sure it is," if she wasn't so tired and cold she might have actually paused to take it in when she had arrived, but for now, she was just looking forward to getting this day over with.

After a little more light conversation, Charles excused himself to go check on the dinner preparations. A half hour passed and still the baron had not arrived. Maria was left on her own in the parlor.

Maria sighed softly as she sat and waited, leaning forward in her seat, cupping her empty mug between her hands as she looked around her, rising to step to the window, glancing out at the surrounding yard as she brushed her hair off her shoulders and stretched slightly, wondering about this Baron, and where he was.

Maria nodded letting him help her up before carefully extracting her hand from his, "I appreciate the concern, and the time, I know I could use the sleep," she stated softly, not to mention the fact that she was in need of a hot bath and a warm meal, the time off would be perfect, though she doubted she would sleep much as she moved to follow him, wanting to get to know this castle as soon as she could.

"Let's not think about jobs and positions for now; and if you decide you don't want employment, you may stay here for six months while you get your thoughts and goals in place. Heaven knows, there's plenty of room in this castle." He had no sooner spoken when a group of six children, ages 6 to 10 ran by them, giggling and playing a game. "The staff bring their children with them. We have fifteen children here on the estate, so I hope they don't bother you. I like the idea of the staff having their families here if possible. It keeps everyone happier. Besides, then they are in no hurry to leave and go home, for they *are* home." They entered the dining hall.

Maria watched the children run by wide eyed in shock, children, in the castle, running and playing, she couldn't believe it, the shock completely losing what he had said as she watched them disappear, "Children," she muttered softly then looked towards Merrick, blinking and trying hard to wipe the shock off her face as she smiled slightly.

He saw her shock and smiled, "I've been to Longden Castle, and I realize this may take some getting used to. The Count and I have very different ways of doing things." The servants pulled out their chairs for them and were ready to serve.

Maria moved to take a seat, "I can tell," she answered softly, "You don't seem like the type to be in business with him," she added softly.

He laughed, "The Count has many attributes. One of those being that he is an exceptional businessman. People who want to be successful align themselves with him. I learned that many years ago. The commodities that I trade are somewhat different than his, so we compliment each other to the benefit of both of us." The soup was served, a type of potato and cheese soup.

Maria looked at the food picking up her spoon to poke at it curiously, "So I have heard," she muttered and smiled softly, and known personally, she thought quietly, "He does seem to attract business people," she stated softly and winced, "Can we not talk about the Count?" She asked softly before finally testing the soup.

"Yes, I'd much rather talk about you, Maria. Are you married? Do you have family that is close by?"

She actually laughed, glad for a reason not to eat the soup she looked up at him as she stirred it quietly, "No, no family near by, in fact, none that need to know I'm still alive, and not married," she trailed off watching him again, her eyes on his, feeling awful that Tal hadn't told him everything. She dropped her eyes to the soup, thinking should be telling him what Tal had not.
"The soup is really quite good," he said as he listened, very happy that she was not married. "Well, I don't have any family either. They all died long ago and I never met a women who I became deeply involved with." He finished his soup and the bowl was taken. "I purchased this castle only thirty years ago. It was a dream of mine."

Maria smiled softly, "I'm very use to more eastern foods," she answered as she picked at the soup, but hardly touching it. "I couldn't imagine having the money to buy such an estate, this place is amazing, far more extravagant then..." she trailed off and smiled softly, so close to saying Tal's name, she cleared her throat and looked up at him, "Its a very beautiful home."

"Thank you." He waved to a servant. "Please bring the lady a bowl of miso soup instead, and you can serve the main course."

Maria glanced at the servant and then towards Merrick again, a smile filtering over her lips again, she could get use to this kindness. "Every person I have met of your kind have been very," she paused to think over her wording, "very promiscuous. I'm must say I'm surprised you are not already well taken with someone," she stated softly.

He laughed again, enjoying her company very much. "I've been a little too busy for socializing. However, I told Charles just the other day that it's time that I start taking some time for myself and settling down and letting others handle the work load." The main course was simply filet mignon, parffet potatoes, and green beans - all elaborately presented.

Maria smiled softly at the meal, she was starving but she looked up at him once more, "I know the feeling, but I think you had a lot more time to think about it. I've spent most of my life handed from one man's hands to another, so I'm not completely new to this situation."

That made him sad. He knew that Talomar was involved in slave trade, but he was not. His voice reflected his sorrow for her, "I want you to know that while a guest here, you are not in my hands and are free to leave whenever you wish, Maria. You are first and foremost a guest and not a servant or employee."

Maria nodded, "I thank you," she answered softly, "I don't think I have ever been a guest in someone's house before," she stated softly as she moved to start into the meal, for the first time starting to feel a little more relaxed. "So what is your business my Lord? If I may ask?"

He cut into his steak and spoke, "I'm also in the trade business, but I concentrate on weapons, machinery, and scientific products. There is good money to be made, and except for the weaponry, there is very little interference with legal regulatory matters."

Maria nodded knowing that Tal's business was very illegal in many places. "I see," she nodded as she ate hungrily, she was so hungry. "Was there anything else you wished to know about me?" She asked softly as she reached for the glass in front of her pausing to peer at it before sipping the drink.

"Well, two very important ones, actually. Do you like wine? And how do you feel about children?" He tried to keep a straight face as he put some potato in his mouth.

She looked up at him at the questions, seemed like odd questions, "I love wine, I was learning to tell good wines before I came here. As for children, I have a soft place for them, I've never had any, or even lived with any before, but I tend to be a little protective of them," she answered as she nibbled on a few vegetables.

They were good answers. "I only ask because with fifteen children and 9 of them of an age to run around, if one didn't like children, this place might seem like a madhouse. Regarding the wine, I thought perhaps we might have a glass of port together before you retire for the night. If that would be okay with you?"

"Oh, of course my Lord," she answered softly with a nod, as she took a delicate bite of the steak.

"Excellent, except for one thing. Please, call me Merrick. I don't stand on formalities."

She wasn't at all comfortable with that as she looked up at him, "I'm not sure that would be appropriate," she gave him a distressed look, "you are after all a Baron, I'm nothing more then an ex-valet," she pointed out, "a geisha really."

He finished the last of his meal. "Well, perhaps in time you'll feel more comfortable. So, until then you may address me as you feel best." He waited for her to finish her meal, observing her to be far more than merely an ex-valet.

He continued to touch her as they walked to the couch, then he sat with her. "Oh, it's my pleasure. I'm delighted to have you here with us." And he really was. He hadn't seen anyone so beautiful as Maria, and she was here sitting with him.

Maria smiled softly up at him, her gaze once more taking in his, "You are absolutely amazing," she whispered, then seemed to realize what she had said and flushed bright red again and ducked her head, "Err...I mean, your kindness, and everything," she amended quickly.

He smiled from hear to ear and sat looking at her, turned toward her with his elbow on the back of the couch and the knuckles of his hand against his cheek. "You are too kind, Maria. If anyone is amazing it's you. Here you are, having traveled for two straight days and you look unbelievably fine." He was going to say gorgeous, but that would have been inappropriate.

She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his again, those damned eyes that kept capturing her and losing her in them, "I probably look a horrible mess," she answered softly, and licked her lips, she wanted so bad to reach towards him, to touch him, but instead she took a small sip of her drink.

"A mess?" he sat up straight and brushed his soft blonde hair back off his shoulder. "I should say not! You are too beautiful for words!" He blushed, "And so I better just shut up and drink!" He laughed and drank his port wine.

Maria smiled softly as she looked down into the drink, "I have been away from water for two days and a real bed in just as long, I feel a mess, tired," she muttered realizing that she was saying more to him then she would ever say to Tal.

"Of course. Please excuse me for being such a self-centered fool." He stood up and reached for her glass to set it aside with his own. "Come, I'll show you to your room."

Maria blinked, that's not what she had meant, and moving was the last thing she had wanted to do. But she let him take her drink and pushed herself to her feet once more and smiled softly up at him, "Thank you," she stated softly again, "it is a beautiful study, I imagine the view is perfect in daylight," she stated gently.

"Yes it is. Tell you what. I'll wait for you here in the morning and we can go down to breakfast together. Sleep as long as you like." He reached out and took her hand in his, "Come...I'll show you to your room."

Maria smiled and nodded, looking down at where his hand took hers and let him lead her from the room, "I wouldn't want to keep you from your breakfast my Lord, I can be up when you like me to be up," she offered.

"Oh no...I'll just read in the study all morning. It's the weekend and I love reading in there. So, get your rest." He came to a room and opened the door for her. None of his doors are locked in any compulsive way. "Come on in. I'll give you a brief tour and leave you be."

Maria entered the room glancing around them as she did, she had noted he hadn't once locked a single door, but didn't say a thing about it, curious but too tired to bring it up.

The room is open, yet cozy and beautiful decorated, looking very much "a woman's room". There were large windows with lace curtains, a large comfortable bed, her own desk, a book shelf with various books, a vanity table, it was carpeted with a deep burgundy carpeting, it had electric lighting, and there was a large bathroom off the room with a bath, shower and all the usual bathroom things. "I hope this will be satisfactory for you."

He made a slight bow of his head and turned to leave. "I'll see you in the morning. If you need anything, just pull that cord," pointed to near the bed, "and a maid will be with you in no time." He looked at her appreciatively once more and smiled, "Good night, Maria. I'm so happy that you are here at the du Lac castle."

Maria blinked in shock as she looked around the room, walking through it, touching almost everything before she approached the book shelves, her eyes scanning the shelves before she looked back at him and nodded, "Good night my Lord," she answered softly.

She was so tired, she hadn't slept well in days, nights with out Talomar's arms around her always left her fighting to sleep, and last nights cold had done nothing to help her sleep. Now she treaded silently into her bedroom and looked around before she picked up the journal and moved to drop onto the bed, laying the journal and pen by the book and moved to slip under the blankets, laying the towel over her pillow to protect it from her damp hair before she picked up the journal turning to the next page and picking up the pen she started to write;

"So here I am, in my new room, surrounded by new things, new sights, new sounds, new smells. This castle is nothing like Talomar's, its homey, comfortable, warm, like someone actually lives here, and cares about how things look. And Merrick, what can I say about him? His eyes, those eyes take me in a capture me, they hold my soul in the cage of his gaze, I feel like he's looking straight into my heart, like he was looking to learn my every desire. I have never felt such a piercing gaze before. He is so kind I just don't know what to do, I have felt such abuse in my life I am waiting for him to anger at me and strike me. Talomar was kind when I first met him too, but that had given way to his training, surely there is a darkness here too.

There are children here, something I had never expected, and am not really very sure how to react to, and the serving staff and quick and seem happy with their jobs, I'm so use to fighting with staff, and arguing with cooks, but this place it seems as if everything is perfect, what could possibly be here for me to do? I fear I may have out grown my usefulness, and freedom scares me, my whole life since I was a young child has been a life at the hands of other people, first the geisha house, then the asylum in India, then the castle in Egypt, then Longden Castle, I feel as if I would die if sent into freedom...what an unnatural statement, what is wrong with me?

How can someone fear freedom? Should I not be craving it? I should have jumped at the chance to leave, to be my own person, but I didn't, the idea of it scares the hell out of me, surely this is not natural. What will I do if he does send me away? Where will I go? Such thoughts send chills up my spine, I mustn't think such thoughts, I need to align myself to my new master, my new lord, to meet his needs now. But what needs? And how can I do that when everytime I look him in the eye I lose myself, all I want to do is beg him to feed on me, to take me into his arms and drain me, to take away this torture, to meet my needs, I long for it.

I can't do that, I can't ask that. I wont, my needs are second to his, I must see to him before I see to myself, or I am not doing the job I should be doing. But my gods those eyes, and this longing, just to have him touch me again, to feel what I felt when he touched me today, the strength and protection in it, the need to feel him against me, to feel his teeth sink into my flesh. Gods forgive me, for I am weak and I need him so much it is tearing at my heart, like he is calling to me to find him. I wont, I wont give into this longing, I have no right, but gods I want it."

Maria sighed as she set the pen down against the binding of the book and closed it, pausing to catch her ragged breath. She set the journal aside and picked up the book she had chosen, leafing to the first page and began reading. It wasn't long before her eyes had drifted shut and she was fast asleep, the book laying heavy on her chest as she dreamed of vampires through out the whole night.

Maria all but winced at his words, "Forgive me my Lord, I had not meant to sleep in so late," she stated softly, looking up at him for what felt like the hundredth time to look into those eyes.

"Nothing to forgive, if you were up with the sun you have seen me when I was not so presentable, and I would have been quite embarrassed to be seen that way by a woman as beautiful as yourself."

Maria looked confused but didn't ask as she brushed a stray hair behind her ear, glancing around again, before turning back to him once more, "Well I'm afraid I am quiet lost now," she answered, knowing she would never find her way to the main hall or even to her room again now.

He chuckled, "I guess I'm just going to have to be your escort for the rest of the day." He set his napkin down on the table. "I want to show you something."

Maria nodded, "Okay," she set her own napkin down and moved to stand.

He stood also and held out his hand to her, "I want to show you my favorite orchid."

She glanced at his hand as if afraid to take it, then slowly let her fingers slipping into his, her eyes on his fingers as she licked her lips, looking up at him again, her eyes on his once more, a deep longing in the look before she forced her eyes away from his.

He felt her hand in his and gave it a soft squeeze, enjoying the touch, the feel of her hand. He led her into an area that had tall banana plants, growing up and ferns grown down. There were bromeliads in bloom and orchids everywhere - purples, pinks, blacks, yellows...multicolor.

Maria followed him quietly, her eyes gazing over the flowers, her step falling in with his, her arm on occasion brushing against his as she drew closer to him from time to time and then would seem to remember who she was with and would slip back away from him a bit. She was very quite as she gazed down at their entwined hands, licking her lips, wanting to speak, but unsure of what to say.

He brought her to a particular orchid in the midst of all the plants so that they were surrounded as if they could have been in a tropical paradise. "This one," he said, pointing to a particularly unique orchid that had a bright red flower with a deep black interior. "This one is my favorite. It's very rare."

Maria raised her gaze from his hand to look at the flower he indicated, her eyes on the flower, "Why is it so rare?" She asked softly, they had passed dozens of these flowers, just in other colors.

"They are very hard to find. They grow only in dark, swampy areas. Most people never get to see a beauty so rare." He smiled, "And here I am with two of them." He could have meant the flowers, or he could have been referring to Maria and the flower. He suddenly reached to the orchid and picked off it's flower. He turned to Maria and put it into her hair just over her ear. "It is just the color for what you are wearing." He looked down into her eyes, "But its beauty is far overshadowed by your own." He went silent and just looked into her eyes.

Maria's lips parted at his words, her own eyes locked on his, taken deep by them, her fingers of her free hand moving over the front of his shirt, "You do me much grace my Lord," she whispered softly, her lips so close, her need almost over whelming, she needed to stop this she needed to look away, but she couldn't, she couldn't drag her eyes from his, she couldn't drag herself away from him.

He leaned closer to adjust the orchid in her hair, his lips barely touching her forehead. He could smell the scent of her hair and feel the closeness of her body. He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her, hold her, feed on her; yet he has known her for so short a time. "I'm just speaking the truth, Maria." The words spoken were so close to her that his breath moved her hair.

She closed her eyes and swallowed hard, she wanted so badly to just tilt her head and draw him to her. She felt tears sting her eyes again. She wanted so badly for this man to just grab her and take her, feed off her and give her some sort of focus other then on the freedom she is un-use to.

Maria smiled just slightly, if only he knew how badly she wanted to be taken advantage of, how badly she wanted his teeth in her neck. She nodded, "Thank you, but right now, the last thing I want is to be alone," she answered softly.

The last thing he wanted to do was leave her alone. He moved closer, straddled the bench and pulled her against his chest. "In that case," he whispered, "I'll never leave you alone."

Maria sunk into his arms, surprised by how much his touch seemed to settle her, her mind seeming to quiet as she rested her cheek against his chest and simply listened to his heartbeat, her fingers playing lightly over his shirt. "You are to kind," she whispered softly, "you hardly know me."

His words were a softly spoken whisper, filled with tenderness. "Too kind? I don't think so. And I know a beautiful, sensitive woman when I see one...and I haven't seen one in a very long time...until I first laid my eyes on you as you stood at the window."

Maria sighed softly, sensitive, just what she didn't want to be, just what Talomar had been training out of her. But what did that matter anymore, Talomar wasn't a part of her life anymore. She smiled softly a minute later before slowly separating from him, looking up at him, her eyes on his once more locking on his, gods those eyes, she could lose herself in them all day. "Thank you," she whispered softly once more.

He looked at her and she brought out all the needs that he had within him....and he had needs, both as a man and as a vampire. He had been gentlemanly, but there was another side to him that had not yet been revealed to her...a side that was ruled by his dark side, his vampire side...the side that demanded and took what it needed. There was something in his eyes that revealed the struggle he was having keeping that side at bay. It was demanding to be released.

Maria shivered at the look turning her eyes away from his again, her mind on what she knew she had no right to ask, what she knew her own body longed for, she wanted it so badly. She looked up at him once more, her eyes pleading as she moved closer to him, her lips parting once more before she met his in another tentative kiss.

His needs were surfacing...he could not keep them buried any longer. His hands held her head as he kissed her hard and deeply, his tongue moving deep into her mouth, tasting her...wanting her.

Maria moaned deeply into the kiss, her hands resting on his chest as she moved to face him, moving to straddle the bench herself and his lap without breaking the kiss. She needed this, her body yearned for it.

As she straddled him, he got braver with his needs. His hands moved over her body as they hungrily devoured each other's mouths. He finally broke the kiss, pulling on her lower lip. "Maria..." he said, out of breath, "...let's go back to you room. Children sometimes come in here to play hide and seek."

Maria settled her own breath and looked up at him, this may be the worst mistake she had ever made but she nodded and moved to slip from his lap, standing and waiting for him, she had no idea how to get to back to her room.

He held out his hand to her and led her out of the sun room and through the hallways to her room, he opened it for her and saw that the servants had already been there to clean. They would be left alone. He closed the door behind them and this time he did indeed lock it.

Maria glanced back at him as he locked the door, a little shiver of nervousness running up her spine. Not because she didn't want this, she did, badly, but because she wanted this man to respect her, not to get into another relationship like the one she had had with Talomar. She watched him quietly her arms wrapping around herself as she looked up at him.

He walked over to her, wanting her, but now thinking that he might be going to quickly. He stood in front of her and touched her face with his fingers, and brought his lips to hers once again in a gentle kiss.

She slowly responded to the kiss, her hands dropping to her sides as she moved closer to him, her fingers moving to rest against his hips.

He kissed her slowly, savoring her mouth, the feel of her lips, the scent of her skin. He released her mouth, "Maria..." he said as his hands touched her hair, "...you've awaken feelings in me that I have not had in a very long time. I suppose you could say that they are feelings of.....love."

Her gaze darkened slightly at his words, "Love?" There was a slight bitterness to the word. "You hardly know me," she whispered softly, she didn't want to hurt him, but she had been hurt badly being sent here, she wanted to be sure it wasn't going to happen again.

He looked at her and cursed himself for having used that damn word. For the first time in years he expressed his feelings and now it came back to bite him. "You're right, Maria. That was foolish of me. I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me, it won't happen again." He bowed, walked to the door, unlocked it and left.

Maria reached out to stop him, her fingers brushing the edge of the door as he was closing it, catching it to pull it open, "Merrick," there was desperations in her voice, panic even.

It was the first time she had used his name. He turned back to face her and stood in the hallway. She had stirred up feelings in him that needed release. He had to go feed. His voice was now pleasant, but formal, as it might be toward any ordinary guest. "Dinner will be at 6:00. If you need anything before that time. The servants will be happy to assist you." He bowed, "Good day, Maria."

Maria felt tears in her eyes, damn her, what had she done. She felt a single tear streak her face, "I'm sorry," she whispered softly, her eyes moving to her feet a second before she sunk to her knees, taking up what Talomar would consider a perfect position, "forgive me I had no right to speak to you in such a manner."

He saw what she was doing and recognized the posture of a slave. He stepped toward her, "Get up, Maria. You are not my slave." He held his hand out to her to help her to her feet. "You spoke nothing wrong, and have nothing to be sorry for. I should have never spoken my feelings. It was a mistake." He paused and looked at her, "You'll find the castle an interesting place to explore. There are no dangerous places as in Longden castle, so you have nothing to worry about. Now, I must be getting back to business." He needed to feed, more and more desperately as the beauty of Maria just brought out that desire in him.

She let him pull her to her feet, but kept her gaze on their feet despite wanting to meet his gaze as she nodded, "I understand," she whispered softly, she understood she had blown it, that he had opened up to her and her own hurt had caused her to snap at him, she didn't have the right to do that, she was a guest in his home. She hadn't wanted him to leave her alone at all but she turned to step back into her room, wiping at the wet trail of the single tear, forcing herself to let him go.

His strides took him down the hall and when he was alone he disappeared...gone to find someone to feed on.

Maria closed the door between them, leaning against it in silents for a long time, her forehead pressed to the cold wood, her mind on what had just happened, had she just done that? What had she been thinking, she had just thrown his words back in his face, she had denied his feelings, how could she have done that to him? She knew exactly how, and she knew who's fault it was too, Talomar Longden, damn him, she hated him, she hated him so much for doing this to her, she would never trust anyone ever again thanks to him.

She turned back to the room, leaning back against the door, this day couldn't have gone worse, first she slept in so late it was obscene, then she got lost, then she told him and spilled her heart about her past, then she drew him to her room and denied him in the end. She was a horrible person, it seemed like her lot in life to hurt people, to never be happy. How she wanted to be happy, but deep down she feared it would never happen.

Slowly she pushed off the door and moved to the window, pushing the curtain from her way looking out at the snow before she turned and moved to head for the door. It was too late to change her actions now, but she did need to know this place. She pushed out of her room and headed into the hall, it was time to explore and find her way to the main hall, else she be late for dinner when it came as well.

Trina's eyes widened. "She'll freeze out there. Jenny, go get the Baron and tell him that Maria is lost outside in the storm. Hurry!!" Jenny, the oldest girl ran down the hall and up the stairs in search of the master of the castle.

Maria felt her whole body shaking in the cold of the storm, her fingers digging painfully into the ice, scratching and clawing against it, trying to free herself of the freezing water, kicking her tired legs weakly as she laid as much as she could on the ice, gasping for air in tired pants, her fingers bleeding slightly from her clawing at the ice, she didn't notice, she was freezing, her teeth chattered as she shivered uncontrollably, the wind biting into her skin and clothes to make it all the worse as she hoarsely cried for help once more, knowing in the wind it was a losing battle.

A knock came on his door, bringing him out of the daydream he was having about Maria. "Enter," he said.

Jenny entered and curtsied, "Baron Merrick," she called him, "Maria went out into the yard looking for Sam, and Trina thinks she's lost out there."

"What!?" he shouted while standing quickly at his desk, sending papers flying. "How long?"

"How long what, Baron Merrick?"

"How long has she been out there?"

"About 15 minutes, sir."

"Put more logs on the fire, Jenny. I'll be right back." He could only pray that was true. He didn't bother to put on a coat. Temperature didn't have the same effect on the unalive as it did on mortals. He could take the cold for a while. He went to the balcony door and tried to open it, but snow had drifted against it. He pushed hard with non-mortal strength, compacting the snow behind the door, giving him enough room to easily slip through. He closed the door behind him and looked out over the grounds. He could see nothing but white.

Maria fought to keep tired eyes open, her weight slipping back slightly towards the water as she body started to relax, starting to give in to the cold. "Tal," she muttered, then amended the thought, "Merrick, of gods Merrick," she struggled to hold to the ice as she called out softly, "Merrick," slowly she lowered her head to her arms, "I'm so sorry," she muttered, closing her eyes, shivering painfully.

He jumped from the balcony, a dark form piercing the white atmosphere until he landed in snow that was three feet deep. He rose and lifted his body up and out of the snow. Beginning at the back entrance he found tracks. They were already nearly covered in by the blowing snow, now just shallow depressions in deep snow, but it was enough.

Maria gave up, feeling her body slipping back towards the water, barely conscious from the cold that was gripping her body, clothes entangling her legs completely as she slipped off the ice.

He followed the tracks with both his eyes and his senses, actually seeming to hover over the snow as he made his way. Once, he thought he lost the tracks, but he found it again. He realized that she was heading toward the pond. He moved with the speed that only a vampire would have at his disposal, covering the distance in seconds, seeing freshly disturbed snow. Then he saw the break in the ice and a dark from inside the break. "MARIAAAA!!!!!"

Maria felt the cold of the water surrounding her, her eyes drifting open, trying to locate where the voice had come from, struggling to get enough strength to hold on for even a second longer, cold tears forming in the corners of her eyes, "Merrick?" It was barely a sigh and filled with confusion.

He walked to the edge and reached for her, but the ice broke and he went in with her, the cold being felt even by his vampiric body. He came up with his arms around Maria's waist, and in a way only a vampire lord could do, he lifted both of them straight up and out of the water. He reached down and picked her up into his arms. She was dead weight and the weight of her clothes added to the weight he was carrying. Yet his strength was enormous and he made his way quickly through the snow at a speed that could only have been matched by a person on skiies.

Maria was shivering hard in his arms, ducked tight against his cold wet clothes her eyes barely open, her hands curled under her arms trying to protect herself from the wind and cold of the falling snow.

"Yes, dear?," he whispered as he enjoyed the closeness of her body and the feel of her against him. His hand moved over her face and hair, caressing her as they warmed in the heat of the fire and the comfort of the quilt.

Maria took a deep breath as she sunk into his arms for a minute, "Oh gods thank gods your really here," she muttered softly, still shivering slightly but more in waves then in a constant manner, "Thank you my love," she whispered softly, "I feel like such a fool," she added shivering again and kissing his chest softly.

She said 'thank you my love'! Those two words 'my love' hit him like a ton of bricks. "Don't feel like a fool, Maria. You were just trying to save Sam. You could not possibly have known the pond was there since it's been covered by snow since you've arrived. You've done nothing wrong. I'm just so glad you're alive. I don't know what I would have done if you died. I don't even want to think about it."

Maria smiled softly, "I'm not real fond of the thought myself," she muttered, curling tighter against him, for the first time realizing neither of them was clothed as she lifted the quilt to peer under the blanket and quickly putting it back down, blushing at what she had just done without considering it, "Sorry," she squeaked in shock, not having meant to make him uncomfortable.

He grinned at her squeak, "I'm sorry, but I also fallen in while trying to get you out and my clothes were wet. It was the best way to share body warmth. I hope you don't mind." He felt a bit embarrassed to be laying with his naked body pressed against hers, without even her permission. "If you're warm enough, I'll get out of the blanket and give you some privacy. But I should only do that if you've recovered all your warmth."

Maria shook her head, her grip on him tightening, "No," she answered almost too quickly, "err, that is I'm still very much chilled," she added and looked up at him. She wasn't lying, she was still very cold.

He was happy to hear that she was still cold, not that he wanted her to be cold, but just that he was enjoying having their naked bodies pressed together. "Here, if I may, let me try to make you warmer." He wrapped his arms around her and leaned his body over her, feeling his chest press against her breasts. He was mostly on her left side, but his mouth moved to the right side of her face.

Maria worried her lip gently, forcing herself not to moan. She had been dieing to get into this position with him for days, since he had left her room after she had made the comment about love. She did however nestle into his neck, inhaling his scent deeply.

His voice was soft and caring, "Is this helping, Maria? Let me know if I become inappropriate." He could feel himself pressing against her leg. He was a bit embarrassed because he was sure that she could feel it also.

Maria didn't answer, her attention was on his touch as her fingers slipped over his shoulders, her lips very lightly brushing his neck.

He could feel her lips on his neck, and that gave him chills that went deeper than any given by ice water and a snow storm. He own mouth moved over her cheek, slowly moving toward her lips. It seemed like ages since he last kissed her. His lips came to the side of her mouth, them moved onto her lips.

Maria turned to meet the kiss, her lips parting readily against his touch, a soft whimper of need echoing in her throat.

To be kissing this beautiful woman while having his naked body on top of hers was something that he had only been dreaming about since the first night he met her. He quickly deepened the kiss and spread her legs with his knee and them moved his body from the waist down between her beautiful legs. He was now totally in a position to make love with her.

Maria moaned deeply her legs parting easily, her hips rising to grind against him as her tongue rushed and stroked over his.

He stopped to look down upon her and swallowed, breathing hard. "Maria...I want you...I want you so much." He moved his hip to push against the smooth soft flesh of her, and his mouth again came down on hers.

He saw her tears and realized that once again he had used the words that he should have kept to himself. When would he ever learn? He was such a fool. Had they made love, or was it only a spontaneous act of passion for her? He didn't know, but he did know that he shouldn't have done that. He took advantage of her compromised position and that was inexcusable. He enjoyed her kisses, but separated himself from them emotionally, and did not respond to them. "We'll just rest, and when you feel stronger, we can get you into your own bed. I'm sure you'll feel more comfortable there."

Maria stiffened at his words, blinking as she stopped the soft kisses, her eyes locked on where her lips had just been, was he dismissing her like he would some common whore? She considered his last words to her and his profession of love before she looked up at him, her dark eyes confused, "Your sending me off?" She asked softly, confused and starting to feel uncertainty drift into the back of her mind.

He shook his head. She was certainly a confusing woman. "I'm not sending you. I want you here in my bed. I just thought that you wanted to be....away from me."

Maria watched him, this man's words change like a tidal wind, if he got anymore confusing she was going to be in tears for sure. "I wish nothing of the sort unless it is your wish," she answered watching him, damn there had to be away to clear this up, for her to make this better, to understand what it was he wanted from her, to know if he truly loved her.

"My wish? Well, if we are going by my wish, you should move all your belongings to my room this very second! THAT is MY wish." She was going to drive him crazy. He was sure of that!

Maria blinked in shock at his words, she was sure if she looked up the word confusing in the dictionary there would be a bold picture of Merrick there. There had to be a middle road that they could reach, she was too use to serving and doing as she was told, and had been hurt too many times to be truly trusting. But he was so open and he didn't want her to serve him and that made things even worse, how was she suppose to react to this man? "If that is your wish my Lord, I will of course do so immediately," she answered him with a slight nod as she laid back on the pillows looking up at him, "I wish only for your happiness."

Oh...this was one frustrating woman!! "My happiness? What about YOUR happiness, Maria. Tell, me this please. If you could have anything you want within this castle, what would it be?"

Maria looked up at him, why would he ask such a blatant question, when the answer was right in front of him, "You of course," she answered softly in confusion, "There is nothing in this castle that would make me more happy then to have you, to be with you," she tried hard not to look as confused as she was. "But my happiness is second to yours," she added softly.

He smiled and touched her face, "To me, Maria...you're happiness comes first." He didn't give her time to say one more confusing thing. He brought his mouth down on hers and kissed her - slowly, sensuously, lovingly as he embraced her within a cradle of his arms.

Maria felt another streak of confusion at his words, but not because she didn't understand, but because it was not the way she had been raised, or trained. She returned the kiss though, letting him draw it out before she slowly broke it to look up at him. She was still confused, but trying to figure out the right words and questions to ask was a daunting task, and one best spread over time to give them both a chance to adjust. Finally she chose her words carefully, "Where I have come, and in my training, the man's happiness always comes first, always. Their wants and needs are to be met before anyone else's."

His mouth nearly touching hers as he spoke, "And what if my want and need is to make you happy?"

Maria blinked, even while with Talomar he had not asked such a question and she seemed stricken by it, confused on how to answer, "Then," she paused thinking it over, "I would attempt to be happy in all you do," she answered softly, which to her shouldn't be hard, she was falling madly in love with this man for his kindness, he was something she had never before encountered.

He smiled, loving her more and more. "For now, let's just sleep in each other's arms."

Maria sighed and nodded slipping down into his arms. She doubted she would sleep, but she would lay with him for as long as he wished. She hoped he wished a very long time.

His mouth when to her ear and he whispered, "I like having you here in my bed."

Maria smiled softly, her body curling firmly against his, feeling herself mold against his body, he seemed to dip where she curved and curved where she dipped, as if he had been made to form to her body. "Good," she muttered softly, "because I love being here," the word slipping with out her even thinking about it.

Maria slipped from her room looking a bit more collected, morning was giving way towards afternoon, she had less then an hour before lunch, and the need to explore a little more before that time sent her down the halls of the castle again. It was a huge place, and like any palace had lots of hidden places to explore. Merrick had not warned her away from any where so she felt completely welcome to wander the halls looking over the tapestries and pictures in the halls.

The time for her to make a decision about her place in the castle had been up a day or two ago but Merrick hadn't pressed her, she was glad for that, she was enjoying the time to relax and settle in, and was even getting use to not having to rush everywhere. Her thoughts were still drifting when she turned a corner she had not yet been down, her mind wondered still as her feet guided her movements without much thought behind it.

She was so much in love with Merrick, she didn't think she could ever have fallen so madly and deeply in love with anyone after Talomar, but now the other vampire rarely entered her thoughts, and only when she longed to be touched the way Talomar use to touch her, with force enough to make her cry out in pain and pleasure. It took her a minute to realize she had come to a stop just in front of a heavy door like none of the others in the castle, the hall was dimly lit and she looked around in confusion, why was there a barred door here?

She looked at the heavy stone door once more before reaching out to turn the hand lock and tugged. It gave freely and the door silently swung open on well oiled hinges without a single sound of protest. Maria hesitated again, poking her head inside to look down the shadowed stair case, feeling the cold wet of the hall. She looked behind her, before once more looking down the stairway, finally curiosity gripped her and she swiftly and silently slipped down inside, tugging the door closed behind her, after all, Merrick hadn't forbidden her from going to areas of the castle, he probably assumed she would know better.

She reached for the only torch that burned at the top of the stairs, it seemed odd to see a torch here, here where Merrick had electric light in all the rooms and most of the halls, there was no reason to need torches, but here there was no light. She raised the heavy torch up so she could see, as far down as she could make out there were no other sources of light anywhere, apparently one was expected to be the only person there, without the light of the torch it would be treacherous to try and go down without it.

Maria ignored the feeling that she should go back, as quickly as possible and seek out Merrick. Instead she started down the stairs, her steps light and careful as she swept down them, her sandaled feel making soft noises on the damp stairs and as she got lower she felt the temperature drop and shivered at the chill as it touched her bare legs and warm flesh hidden beneath her skirts. She finally reached the floor after what felt like forever of descending, she twice had stopped and thought about going back. By now the light of her torch would be unseen above and she looked around her, her brow furrowing, was that cells she saw in the walls?

She approached slowly running her fingers over the doors of steel and rock and opened the closest. It opened as silently as the door above and she peered into the cell, not much different from that Inara had been kept in, dark and wet and cold and very much unlike Merrick, this room reminded her of Tal. She pushed the door closed and looked around her, her brow furrowing at the door in the middle of the circle of cells. She moved to it, pushing it open, again it was silent, and she raised her torch to see more.

Maria's slender fingers continued the slow stroking movements over the small egg shaped toy, the silvery metal warming under her fingers. Finally Maria set it carefully back into its place and sighed softly, obviously this was a life her lover had left behind, one that she would never know the pleasures of, after all Merrick never touched her in any way that would remind her of this kind of treatment. Her lover treated her with nothing but the deepest of respects and was always so careful not to upset her.

She wished he wouldn't be so careful, but as she looked around her she realized this was a life Merrick would never allow her to have so long as he was with her. Maria reached out gripping the lid to the chest and tugged it closed, making sure it was fully in place before she rose and headed for the torches, slowly one by one she snuffed them before picking up the one she had used to get down there, rising it to look around the room one more time before slipping out of the room, closing the door securely behind her and heading for the stairs once more.

She hated to leave, she wanted to stay there forever, to feel every torture in the room, but she had to go, she was expected at lunch and was probably late, and she didn't want to disappoint her lover, or scare him off by telling him how she felt. She took the stairs two at a time, suddenly needing to escape this dark place before it bid her return and caused some kind of trouble. Once at the top of the long stair way and snuffed the final torch, placing it back in its scons before pushing out into the main hall, peering around to make sure she was alone before she pushed the door closed behind her and quickly headed for her room once more. She needed to change, her clothes had picked up the damp smell of the dungeon and her skirt was dirty from kneeling on the floor down there, and she knew the vampire would pick up on both.

She pushed into her room peering at the old clock on top of her wardrobe as she stripped, she was late, she had spent too much time down there, and she had to change quickly before she rushed from her room and headed for the dinning room quickly, not wanting to make Merrick wait for her any more then she already had.

Maria headed for the kitchen, setting her cup and saucer down to be cleaned before she headed out the back door into the yard. She was dressed in one of her few pairs of pants, the leather she was fond of, and a pair of black riding boots and a light airy deep blue blouse that she had purchased just a few days prior. She headed to the barn to pull Kyuusai from his stall waving off the young man she had met on the first day Bryan, he was a good kid and awesome with the horses, but for today Maria wanted to bury herself in the work, to try and rid her mind of the on going conflict.

She took to brushing the little stallion with a vigor, curry comb losing the shedding coat and a dandy brush removing the hair the curry had brought to the surface. She proceeded to a soft body brush made of animal hair, probably badger, and then once his coat was truly clean she reached for a clean towel, with a bit of elbow grease she brought a glorious shine to his coat rubbing down his neck shoulders back and flank, paying particular attention to his girth line and then his legs before exchanging the soiled towel for a fresh one and starting on his face, fallowing every contour of his coat she rubbed down his poll and muzzle, cheeks and ears, cleaning the corner of his eyes with the gentlest of touches.

Bare handed she worked his mane and forelock free of tangles and dirt before wiping it down too then moved to his tail to brush free any tangles there with a stiff toothed mane comb. Once both were free of knots she gathered and hoof pick and began the cleaning of frog and sole, paying attention to all debris against his shoes and checking the fit of each shoe to make sure none were lose. Once she was sure all was clean and in place she returned all her grooming equipment back to their rightful places and gathered her saddle and saddle blanket laying both carefully on his back, making sure no wrinkles were in the blanket before clinching the saddle.

Finally she moved to his hand once more, carefully sliding the bit of his bridle between his teeth and moved his ears into place before sliding the cheek band into place and doing up the nose band as well. She paused to admire her horse and beautiful pure black Egyptian Arabian stallion with the darkest eyes, the tassels and silver on his saddle were a luxury, one she had paid well for before she had even arrived here. She smiled softly as she moved to grab one of the long slicker coats from the hooks by the door then lead the stallion out into the spring sun, tugging on the jacket for warmth against the spring chill she moved to the side of the saddle.

Carefully she placed her left foot in the left stirrup and with a silent, 1...2...3, she launched herself into the saddle. She slowly lowered her rear into place before taking up her other stirrup and gathered her reins. She wasn't much sure on where she would be going, but go she had to, if only to avoid another awkward afternoon with the man she love. She looked back at Bryan who was watching her with much curiosity, probably wondering where she was heading at this hour.

She knew she couldn't just slip away so she gently closed her leg on Kyuusai's side and reined him over to the boy. "I wont be long Bryan, I just need some air, thought I would explore a bit. Could you let Merrick know for me and express my apologies for not being here for lunch today?" She asked with a soft smile.

Bryan was still a bit confused but nodded and returned the smile, "Of course Lady Eriko." He answered with a nod and Maria smiled, he was a good boy, not asking anything further, he would do well in any man's stable. She nodded again and collecting Kyuusai under the bit she nudged him with her heels, letting the stallion prance towards the castle gates, waiting until they were out on the trail leading towards the wooded path before giving the stallion his head to break into a collected lope and from there a smooth canter as she headed them for a nice leisurely ride around the Baron's estate.