Warriors Of The Vampire

Chapter Ten: Breaching The Castle

Still outside the castle walls were , James, Misty, Britney, Rose, Angel and Marie. Scattered about the grounds, looking for a way in, which they had not found yet. All of them separate except Angel and Britney, but bound to cross paths sooner or later, as they were all searching for a way inside.

Feeling guilty for running away, Misty felt as though she had to prove herself. At first her plan had been to run, then slip in through and entrance by following the Vampires that took Kevin. But she lost sight of them quickly during all the chaos, and now as left alone and locked out.

There were many doors, and ways to enter, if they possessed the keys, however, they did not. And they were certain the keys were inside, and probably intrusted with some Creature of Vampire.

James was convinced to find a way inside. And he was about to go to great lengths to do so. Around the back area, looking over the ocean, listening to the sounds of crashing waves from on high, he sat resting on a long tree branch he'd climbed. The tree wasn't nearly as tall as the castle, but high enough to maybe reach some windows he thought.

While he looked out, over at everything, several feet above ground, he wondered just what he was going to do once he got in, if he did at all. The place was well sealed, most likely well guarded to. Though he was a great warrior, the odds were weighed against him surviving when and if he got in.

But he didn't really care, and didn't know what else to do. He couldn't stop, not now, they'd come so far. And he wasn't about to quit. Though he was very tired from all his climbing efforts.

Ready to get up and start moving again, he heard a noise down below him, the sounds of someone moving about. A Vampire? A Creature perhaps, he wasn't sure. But he ducked low, peering over the branches, getting a glimpse of a shadowy figure below. From what he could see, in between all the branches, it was a female. Still, he kept quiet as he could, moving in to get a closer look.

Then, suddenly, he crawled over a weak branch, and when his body weight was put onto it, it snapped! He slipped, then reached out trying to grab anything he could. Falling faster and harder, he hit several branches and limbs. They beat against his head, legs, arms, stomach and all over until he was a bruised mess. Then finally he hit a limb, after what seemed like falling forever.

It had been Misty down below, and when she heard all the noise she looked up, startled to see James. He was moaning and groaning in pain. She called up to him, "James? Is that you?" She spoke in a quiet voice.
He replied after a couple more weak groans, "Yeah love...thanks a lot."
"I'm sorry, you scared me to death. What are you doing up there?" She asked, drifting closer to the tree.
Pushing himself up painfully he answered, "Tryin' to get in a bloody window somehow."
Holding his throbbing head after sitting up, he glanced down at her as she started to climb towards him carefully.
He called down, "Watch your step."
Finally, she reached him.

"We lost the slayer, didn't we." He asked, staring off.
She answered with her head down low, "Yes."
James, plunged his fist into the side of the tree, with an angry shout! Misty took hold of his arm and snapped quickly, "Calm down! Listen, we have to focus okay? I need you clear headed. Got it?"
His eyes locked on hers, "Yeah, got it."

They sat in silence for a moment or two, both thinking, and trying to figure out their next move. They needed to get in, James was sure he could get into a window now, what with Misty there.
"It'll be easier you know." He mumbled.
She asked curiously, "What?"
He answered, "Getting into that window."
Her light blue eyes widened, "You're serious? James, the windows without bars on them are like, way up there!"
Clutching his throbbing leg from the fall, he replied, "So? You afraid of heights?"
"No. It's just....well, this place has got to be well guarded." She said to him.
But he persisted saying, "Yeah, so?"

Another long pause, until finally she spoke, "Alright. But if we're gonna do this, let's do it now. We need to get up there as quickly as we can."
He rose steadily on the long thick branch, hanging on with his left hand to another branch within his grasp, "Okay, ladies first."
"What is that supposed to mean?" She said.
He answered, "Ah come on! I mean you go ahead first, I'll help you into the window, then you can help me in."
She replied, "No way! Send me in there first, I'm sure it's heavily guarded."
"You can't handle yourself?" He said, raising an eye brow.
Tossing her hair aside, she responded, "Of course I can! Hurry up, we have to move."

Meanwhile, making their way to the front of the castle were Britney and Angel. And on the opposite side coming to the front was, Rose. Each of them was surprised that the place wasn't as well guarded as they'd thought. But almost all of the Vampires and Creatures were down in the basement area of the castle, waiting for the ceremony to begin again.

They soon reached the front yard again, coming around to the front door. To their surprise, it wasn't being guarded. However, just then, a noise from the right side distracted them, and started, they rushed to the nearest tree. It was one very tall, and close to the castle, with a thick enough trunk to hide both of them behind it's bark and leaves hanging down.

Their suspicions were soon relieved when Rose came stepping out from the right side of the castle wall. Looking around cautiously, she was taken back when Angel and Britney came forward. She quickly prepared herself for battle as she spun around, but was thankful to see just the two of them.

Moving closer to one another, they came to the main two doors.
"Melina is inside." Said Rose.
Both of them just shook their heads, then Angel said, "We have to get in."
Britney replied, "Well, somehow, I don't think they're gonna roll out the welcome mat to us."
Rose added, "She's right. This door has got to be locked from the inside."
Just then, Angel looked out ahead and spotted a Creature coming out of the forest, headed their way!
He just looked and Rose and Britney, then said, "Oh, we're getting in."
"Yeah, that much we know, but from where?" Rose asked.
Still staring straight ahead, he answered, "Right through the front door.
They noticed the Creature, and just looked at each other, they had a plan, one that would have to work.

Quickly, before being spotted, they hid behind a row of tall bushes to the left and right of the castle. Rose with Britney, and Angel on the left. They lie in wait, until the footsteps of the Creature was close enough to the door, they peered over the bushes, watching and waiting patiently.

When the door was open, they sprang from their hiding place, ready to attack. Though the Creature was taken off guard, it was quick to retaliate and fight back.

With no weapons, this was a battle of combat, and skill. The door wide open, Angel said, "Britney, head inside, wait for us. Go!"
She dashed inside and closed the door so that the noise of what was happening outside would not be echoed through out the foyer.

Bruce was sitting in the room to the right, near the fire. Just watching it burn, almost in a trance, ready to fall asleep, when he heard the door close. Instead of rushing out, he took his time, looking out quietly. He saw Britney, standing there, searching the place with her eyes. And just as he was about to jump out and attack, he started thinking.
Mumbling to himself, he said, "This is my chance. I'll show those other Vampires...."
He decided to pretend for now, that he was just a prisoner, but how, he wondered?

She turned her head, blond hair flying everywhere, to the sounds of someone running. When she saw him, she ran to him, he said, "Oh, thank God! I thought I was the only human left alive!"
She reached him, as he clutched his arm, pretending he was in pain.
"Oh my, you're hurt! And I lost my medical bag." She said.
He replied, "Please, you have to help me, they were after me!"
She took him aside into the room on the right, "Shhhh...we have to keep quiet. Now, who is it that is after you."
"Them!" He said.
She stared at him strangely, he continued, "You know, the undead, the evil....with their fangs and claws..Vampires."
"Oh. Okay, for a minute there I wasn't sure....never mind, what's your name?" She asked.
He replied, "Bruce. I was being trained to be a fighter when they brought me here."
She looked him up and down, she couldn't believe it, he didn't look like much.

Wearing a light blue button down shirt, with some black dress pants, there wasn't a drop of blood on him, yet he was clutching his shoulder, and looked rather meak.
"Are you sure you didn't bump your head?" She asked.
But before he could answer, there was banging on the main doors, she ran out, and Bruce came after her. But he couldn't get to her in time and she opened the door, there stood Rose, covered in blood, Angel following behind her, tossing the Creatures svered head into the bushes.

They stepped inside, finally, they were there. Rose asked, "Who's this?"
Britney replied, "Bruce. He was a prisoner here."
"How'd you escape?" Angel said.
He looked around the room for a moment, thinking to himself, "I...I uh...whooped up on some crazed vamps...I uh...guess they weren't strong enough to take me on you know. I was training to be a fighter." He said putting his fists out, "I call this the uh, tiger claw....attack of the..wild!"
They all just stared at him, "Okay....um, why are you clutching your shoulder?" Rose asked.
Bruce replied, "I hit it."
"I think you hit your head." Said Angel.

Just then, out of no where came Alison and Brad from the room on the left.
"Who are you?" Angel called out as they came closer.
Alison replied, "We came from the bowels of this place. We were in that room with the pool, there's an office back there, it's where we changed our clothes."
It then hit Bruce, he'd hit the jackpot! He knew right away those must have been the people who Robert and everyone else were searching the castle for.

It was confirmed when Angel asked, "What do you mean, the bowels of this place?"
Alison and Brad walked them to the door behind the stairs, and showed it to them. Alison replied, "We came from down there."
Brad added, "It's where the prisoners and towns folk are."
"And you got out? How?" Rose asked.
Alison answered, "Long story. But once they find us, they're going to continue one with the ceremony of blood."
Britney froze and asked, "What's that?"
"We watched several people be drained and tortured in it, there was ntohing we could do." Brad said.
Looking at the ground Alison said, "It's some sort of celebration to mark this occasion."
Angel continued, "What occasion?"
Brad replied, "Tonight they plan on performing some kind of ritual."

All of them just looked at each other, but only Rose, Britney and Angel knew what it was, aside from Bruce who was in on all of it.
"Oh my God." Angel sighed.
Alison, "I'm guessing it's not a good thing. They took some others upstairs, I remember where some were to be taken. I don't know my way around here to well, but maybe I can take you there."
Rose smiled, "The more the merrier."
"By the way, what are your names?" Brad asked.
Angel replied, "I am Angel, this is Rose and Britney."
Britney replied, "That is Bruce, I just ran into him, he says he escaped from somewhere as well."
Brad introduced himself and Alison.

"Alright, it's up those stairs, and we'd better hurry before we're found out." Alison said.
As they turned to head up and out towards the stairs, Brad turned and with the keys in his pocket, locked the rest of the Vampires down in the basement area. Then they were on there way. Unaware of the danger they were in, with the Vampire they had following along side them.

On the outside of the castle, just above the very tall tree, inching there way along the edges to a window, were Misty and James. Clinging close to the edges, feeling for anything they could get a grip on. With no harness of any kind, the slowly inched their way straight across. Wind blowing across their faces, as the waves crashed upon the shore.

They'd almost reached the window, it was so close. Since Misty was ahead by just a few inches, she reached it first. Peeking inside, being as careful as she could not to fall.
"Can you see anything?" He asked.
She replied, "No, it's pitch black inside. I think the window is locked."
He said, "It's glass isn't it?"
Answering with a quick glance down, she swallowed hard, "Yeah."
"Then bust it." He told her.
She began to argue, but he explained, "There is no time for this, we are hanging off the very edge of a very tall castle. I don't want to fall, and I certainly don't think you do, so kick open the bloody window!"
And that she did indeed. With one swift blow, she fell through the window inside, a loud crash following afterwards.

James quickly entered in with her, feeling along the walls, looking for a door knob. He heard Misty get up and start looking around with him. Finally, they found a door knob, when they made sure they were standing close to each other, James opened the door quickly and they both jumped back! There was a shadowy figure standing there, it moved back as well, then they charged out after it, James leapt into the air, only to find he'd tackled Marie!

Laying on top of her, Misty looked down at them, breathing heavily, then checking their surrounding to make sure that nothing was coming their way.
"Hello love." James said with a smile.
Marie beat at his chest until he rose off of her, "You bastard!"
He asked, "How'd you get in here?"
She replied, "The back entrance was open. I heard some banging around in here so I was waiting by the door."

They'd ended up in a long hallway, with deep red carpet and torches all along the walls. The halls looked endless, but they had to lead somewhere.
"How did you end up here? What floor are we on?" Misty asked.
Marie, replied, "Not sure, I lost count. This place is so big, who knows where the prisoners are being held. I haven't even seen a Vampire or Creature yet in here."
James looked at Misty and said, "There you see. Nothing, I told you my plan would work."
"Whatever, so now we're in here fearless leader, what now?"
He answered, "Follow me, the only thing we can do is look around till we find something."
Marie said, "He's right, and we better hurry."

High on the fourteenth floor of the castle, Lucy and Regina were securing, Amy, Eliza and Bobby in their cells, and changing them into some new clothes. Seperating them all, placing each one side by side in the cells, next to Kevin's. Locking them down tightly in identical rooms. Stone, with shackles on the ground, very small. However, since Bobby's room was near the end, he had a little window with bars on it to the right. All the rooms were empty and cold as well.

While the fastened them down with the shackles and chains, just a few floors down, Robert had decided to come up and secure them himself. Or at least, that's what he told himself. He was still having bittersweet memories of Carmen, and he thought it best while his feelings were mixed, to let of a little tension. He knew just what to do.

After all, Catharine and Camilla could search those floors pretty thoroughly on their own. As Robert walked, he began to relax in the silence. It was so quiet, nearly every Vampire and Creature were downstairs, deep below the castle, waiting for the prisoners to be found. Still, there were a few Creatures left to guard the prisoners cells and other areas, but not many.

Once Regina and Lucy had completed their command, they stepped outside the cells. Looking over at the two Creatures guarding the doors. Making sure, it was safe to leave them.

But, just then, as they turned to go down the hallway that lead outward, they stopped. It was Robert.
"Master, we have done what you've asked of us. Is something wrong?" Regina, asked nervously as though she was in trouble.
A smile spread across his face, and then he came forward from the shadows. He always admired the simplicity of the cell room. While many rooms in the castle had changed, this one, remained the same.

All stone, cold and dark. Narrow, like a hallway, but wide enough to be called a room. With the only light, being the moonlight, shining in from the lined windows on the back wall. Allowing a cool chill to be passed through out the room, into each of the ten cells on the left and right sides of the wall.

He replied to Regina softly saying, "No my dear, nothing is wrong."
Lucy, walked towards him, the pale moon reflecting off her white skin, "Then Master, why are you here?"
Looking over at a few of the cells, he answered, "I wish to see these so called slayers, and the human that were captured but hours ago. Which cells are they held in?"
Regina turned and pointed to a small row of four near the end up against the wall, "Cells, six, seven, eight and nine." She replied.
"Kevin is in six, Amy in seven, Eliza in eight and Bobby in nine." Lucy quickly added. "Would you like the keys?" She continued, stretching out her hand, with the keys inside.

Taking them, he spoke saying, "Stay and wait for me. Do not stray."
"Yes Master." They answered him agreeingly.
With that, he walked towards the back, to cell number six, unlocked it, stepped in a shut the door behind him.

Instantly, Kevin's gaze rose to Robert's. And with almost an ashamed glint in his eyes, he asked, "Do you have them?" Robert smiled, delighting in Kevin's obvious displeasure, and replied, "Yes, thank you for that."
"Then why I am here?" Kevin asked raising to his feet, with the loud rattling of shuffling chains.
Walking closer, slowly Robert answered, "The ritual has not yet been set up. We've run into some minor difficulties. But I'm sure the problems will be resolved soon."
Kevin asked, "One of the warriors, did they escape?" He said almost wishing someone would have.
"Relax Kevin. You did a good job in bringing them to me. Your reward is still coming. I am, a man of my word. Eternal life, will be yours before this evening is over." Robert promised.

After a slight moment of silence, Robert walked right up to Kevin, still smiling with his eyes he said, "That's not what I came up here for actually." He continued after a breif pause, looking at the curious expression on Kevin's face, "I want to know about one of the warriors."
"Which one?" Kevin asked.
Turning, he began to pace back and forth slowly, with his hands behind his back, "Melina." He said, in full stop, facing Kevin.
Slightly hesitant, Kevin asked, "Why?"
"Is she, someone, close...to you?" Robert smiled to himself.
But Kevin did not reply, so Robert went on, "That's right, everyone close to you is dead."
He turned his head in disgust, wishing to ignore the last thing Robert had said to him, "Melina is like a daughter to me. She's all I have left."
He came closer to Kevin, "Ah, how sweet....to sell your soul, and your dearest friends...to crossover into darkness. I like it. You have, so much darkness in you. That's why I chose you, imagine what it will be like when your full potential is unleashed. Simply amazing."

With traces of regret still on his face, Robert pressed on with his questions, "Now, tell me about the girl."
"She's twenty four, and was sent away by her parents at the age of six to Madison Hills so she could further in her training." Kevin replied.
Robert faced the wall said, "So, she's been alone, all her life."
Kevin quickly replied, "No, she's had me. I took care of her." He sighed, tears begining to form in his eyes.
Walking towards Kevin, Robert said in a low whisper, "And what a good friend you've been to her. Training her, raising her to be the best she can be...then giving her over to me. Thank you." He said stepping out of the cell and locking the door. Kevin fell to his knees and whispered, "God, forgive me."

He was pleased to see Regina and Lucy still there, although he knew they would not dare disobey him.
Walking in between them, he gently reached out, running his hands softly across their faces, "Are you hungry my dears?"
They each took one of his hands slowly, smiling, Lucy answered, "Yes Master, starving." Both of them smiled, allowing their fangs to show.
"Mmm...good. Because I want you to have something." He said, pulling Lucy closer to him while Regina stood behind him.
Regina asked, "What's that Master?"
He glanced over and then faced Lucy, "Bobby. Would you like him?"
They both smiled excitedly now, eyes lighting up, Regina replied, "Oh yes, I'd love him!" Lucy added, "As would I."
"Then please ladies, take him. You may kill him if you wish it so, or play with him. Whatever you like." He said.

He took unlocked Amy's cell, then handed them the keys, "I will be with Amy. When you're finished with him, come to me."
They nodded and hurried off to Bobby's cell, while Robert entered Amy's.

They opened Bobby's door, and came inside. He was lying on the floor against the wall, staring aimlessly at the ground. He couldn't stop thinking about what had been done to those poor people as he watched helplessly. But when he became aware of the presence around him, he rose and stared ahead and Lucy and Regina, smiling at him, coming closer.

Placing her arms around his neck, Lucy did not say a word. She just pressed her lips against his, and instead of fighting, like he saw himself doing in his mind, he did not. Regina came around behind him, reaching over him and running her hands up and down his legs. He felt frozen, but not with fear, something else, whatever it was, would not allow him to move though he felt himself trying.

Pulling away from the breath taking kiss, Bobby gasped for air unable to speak as he felt himself slip into a darkness he'd never known before, and he could hear it whispering to him, begining him to surrender. But he knew, if he did he would die, but his pleasure decieved him, blinded him, as Lucy slowly pulled him onto the ground. All the while he screamed inside, but could not cry out.

Lucy crawled on top of him, until she straddled him slowly while Regina held his hands above his head. He could feel her, moving and squirming over him, as she began to unbutton his shirt a soft moan managed to escape his lips, and the he closed his eyes.

The cool breeze blew across his chest, sending shivers down his spine as he groaned involuntarily. He really couldn't move and was beginning to get frightened, everything he told his body to do, it didn't. Regina ran her hands across his bare chest, the leaned down to kiss it. He heard his voice, shouting at him, telling him to fight back, but he couldn't. Now fear showed deeply in his brown eyes, as Lucy undid his belt buckle and slid his pants down, rubbing his inner thighs.

Then, without warning, Regina took his wrist to her mouth, sinking her fangs into it while Lucy bit into his hip violently, and he couldn't scream. Now he felt the blood and life being drained from him. Then pictures like flashes of light, shot before his eyes. Images of Nina, his family and Chantal, he could give up, but he was giving in and slipping away.

Searing pain began to shoot through out his body, and all he could do was lay there and take it. It was as though they had him under some kind of spell, one he was unable to get himself out of.

Crimson blood was now running over his leg, and wrist onto the floor, he could hear it dropping as his heart beat picked up, faster and faster. He was losing himself and didn't know how to stop it.

It hurt so bad, like thick spikes penetrating his flesh deeply, while tears formed in his eyes, pooling over the rims ,he began to feel sick, and feel the blood gathering around him. He grunted a bit in pain, just as everything started to blur, and then he thought of Chantal, and that was it. Finally, he found his voice, and shouted, "God help me!"

They immediately shot back off of him, so fast, it was as though something had blown them back. Dropping something without noticing. Curled up on the ground, covering there faces as though they were cowering in fear. Bobby sat up quickly, and backed into the wall watching them to see what they'd do.

Lucy's hands were hurriedly drawn from her face, as were Regina's, as they sat and stared at him, eyes blazing blood red. He'd angered and upset them, but for some reason they were not attacking him.

Hissing, they slowly moved towards the door never taking their eyes off him, "How dare you speak of God in our presence!?" Regina shouted. Her voice was rough, deep and angry.
Bobby stood up and answered, "Because God is with me wherever I am."
Rising to her feet Lucy shrieked, then said, "He can not save you now!"
Unshaken Bobby responded, "He already has."
Both of them, just turned and left, infuriated without so much as another word to him.

It was when they left, that Bobby knew. He may not be stronger then the other warriors, he may not have skills as they do, but he was still alive. Up until then, he wasn't sure how, but now he was certain. God had brought him there to fight, and given him strength to be used. Even if he died afterwards, he knew his purpose to serve, and he took comfort in those thoughts. Knowing he had something more powerful on his side, then what any Vampire could posses.

In Amy's cell, Robert was not doing well either. He could tell she was not a woman easy to break, despite his good efforts. He learned quickly he couldn't seduce her easily, and he couldn't make her tremble in fear. But maybe he could frighten her deep within, so far down that after he left she would panic.

"All those innocent people downstairs, locked in that horrible place, with every Vampire and Creature in this castle except few, they're all waiting do die." He said.
Amy shrugged a bit, uncomfortably she rose, feeling a bound in her clothing.
Robert smiled, "I hope you like the way we've dressed you. I wish I could have been there. I think the look suits you."
She replied, returning the smile, "I'll be sure to return it once I get my clothes, back."
"Nonsense, we've already given it away. Too nice to toss out it was." He said.
Stepping closer she said, "I'll try not to damage it when I kill whoever's wearing it."

Robert's gaze hardened as he stared her straight in the eyes, in silence for a few moments, then he spoke, "You think you, and a few fighters can stop the prophecy? You are but children, you've not yet begun to see pain, suffering, or destruction. Or at least not the kind I'm going to bring."
She stood firmly planted where she was, as he continued moving closer to her, "I'm going to kill you all, right after I slaughter all those pathetic humans you say, you care so much about."
"Monster." She said under her breath.
He replied, "Now that's more like it, it's more who you are."
Amy looked up, "Don't pretend to know me."
"Oh but I do my dear. You see, after being alive for thousands of years, studying the things you people do....oh yes I know exactly who you are. It's so simple to see right through that soul." He explained.
She replied looking him up and down in disgust, "Only someone without a soul would kill innocent people."

His eyes never leaving hers, he leaned in and said, "Innocent? None of us our born into innocents, it is not a thing mortals or immortals can obtain. We all know this in our heart of hearts. Even God knows this, that's why he wiped you out with the flood. And you came back, and sinned again. You curse God, and then steal, cheat, lie and murder, all this I have done admittedly, but your, innocent, does it as well. When they die, I will not be shedding innocent blood, but picking off the last of the weak generation."

She responded hesitantly, after staring at him for what seemed like a good while, "Who are you to play God? To judge right from wrong. You are evil because you choose to be. We murder you for justice."
He interjected quickly shouting, "Justice!? You talk as though you're just doing your job. No, you enjoy, maybe more then the rest of them do. There's always a small part, inside a slayer that rejoices when a Vampire is killed, but you, you love it. You're the worst kind. We share the same bloodlust you and I."
"You know nothing!" Amy yelled.
Robert went on, "I can see it in your eyes and if it was up to you, we wouldn't just die, but suffer for hours on end. Isn't that right?"
She responded, stirred up in anger, "I fight because I have to, I fight because...."
He interrupted her, "Because you love to. The thrill of the kill, that rush, there's nothing like it! If you had your way, all of us, all my kind would die and suffer in ways, in pain you wouldn't wish on your worst mortal enemy!"
Finally, she broke, "Yes! And I'd smile in your pain, because you are nothing!"

He'd done it, he'd broken her, found a weakness he could dwell on. Something he could dig at, and stir up. And he would have, but he himself, was angered as well at her remarks. Of how carelessly she would torture his kind, and he lost all sense of himself. He reached out and grabbed Amy by the throat and pushed her up against the wall, tightening his grasp around her neck, "You! You would take a Vampire out, torture and mame that person as if it were just some thing, like it didn't matter without a care in the world, just another kill for you, without even thinking!"
Struggling to breath, gasping for air with her mouth gaping open, Amy beat against his fist trying to free herself, but it worked to no avail, "So vicious, you would tie her up...so carelessly, so....and beat her, and laugh, and cut her though you knew she wouldn't die, bleed her out then...." His eyes filled with this immense sorrow he could not hide, what was once anger, mixed with rage, blurred, and Amy could not believe her eyes, what was happening to him.
He dropped her to the ground, choking and coughing, she looked up at him, and he didn't say a word. He just stared hard at the ground, lowering his head, so much so she could not see his eyes, and after a pause, he looked up at her, his eyes full of hatred for everything about her, "I'll kill you myself. You can count on that. It's the only thing you can count on. You better pray to your God, you pass out, because that's the only mercy you'll see." He told her, and then left the room, locking the door behind him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"You know what I want with you?" Carmen said, smiling brightly up at Robert, as he stared down at her with her head in his lap. He asked, "What's that?"
She took his hand in hers, and caressed it, as she lay across his bed, "A dance in the sunlight."
His eyes filled with despair, and sadness, he wanted to give her everything, but some of the simplest things, he could not offer of himself. Though he longed to, "I...I..just..."
She sat up and took both his hands in hers, smiling, "To see the way your face looks under those bright rays of light." She giggled a bit and said, "We could go up to the vineyard, no one would find us there. It's so beautiful. I'd love to just go away with you somewhere like that, somewhere beautiful."
Robert, squeezed her hands gently, as the candles around them melted down, "You know your Father would kill me if he saw us together. We have to be careful Carmen." He said with traces of regret.
But she never stopped smiling, "Well, we can still dream about it. Ooh, we could take the horses, I wish we had some place to go."

They sat in silence, just looking into each others eyes, "We don't always have to meet at my cottage you know."
"Yes but, it's safe and far away from my home. We couldn’t be seen out, not anywhere. Not now. I hate hiding this, it's so unfair." She spoke softly. Robert just smiled, the two of them leaned in. Her lips lightly pressed against his, as he gently drew nearer to her. Then slowly she pulled away, "I'd better go."
But he pleaded, "Please, stay with me tonight."
She responded, "Oh Robert, you promised...."
Smiling shyly he answered her, "I know, I know. Sometimes I...I don't think I can."
"But you will wait for me?" She smiled.
He nodded with a sigh, and replied, "Yes."
She stepped off his bed, and looked down at him, ready to leave, "We will Robert, just as I promised. When I fully belong to you." She kissed his forehead, and said goodnight, after he walked her to the door, he smiled to himself. He had a wonderful idea, a great surprise he could give to Carmen tomorrow night.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Standing outside Amy's door, Robert leaned up against the wall. He felt so useless, this was to be a night of celebration for them, and yet all he could think about was Carmen. He was sure that void inside him would be filled once he was in full control, but he was beginning to discover, that he was never so complete, then when he was with her.

His thoughts were interrupted when Lucy and Regina began shifting towards him. He turned as Lucy said, "Master, he has frightened us away! Using the Lord's name against us."
He, at the moment, couldn't care less. He was too busy drowning in his own suffering, coming to realization of facts that should have been obvious so long ago. He replied, "Go, down to the fourth floor, the sitting room. Tell Edward I am coming for him.......coming to murder him."
Regina asked, "But Master, I thought you were going to wait...."
He shouted, interrupting her, "Do it now!"
Lucy took Regina by the arm and said, "Right away!"
"I will be down shortly." He said.

They didn't know where he was going, or why all of the sudden he was acting so violent, but they left. Robert returned Amy's key to a Creature on guard, and then headed off. Off to think, and maybe check on Melina. He whispered slowly, "Why was she taken from me?" As he exited the prison chambers, filled with a deep sorrow.