Lily

Lily had a strange yet exhilarating sensation of floating. She clung to the muscled frame that moved stealthily through time and space; hazy, frozen scenes passing her like a brief motion picture.

The swift, unexpected flight made her stomach turn in a way that pulled any remnants of color from her face.

She hadn't realized that passing out had been an option until the arms of brawn cradled her, drawing her tight against his hefty chest, supporting her limp frame.

"Lay still, beauty." She felt his lips at her throat, not realizing her head nestled comfortably against his shoulder.

The nauseating feeling began to subside. She attempted to pull away the moment she was able, but his arms locked tightly around her, and she spied that irresistible grin.

"You are damned near tempting."

Despite the automatic heated response his words produced, she pulled away, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at him. "If you think to get another picking at my throat, think again. I'll not hesitate to pummel your sorry, good-looking ass."

He chuckled and dropped his arms. "I've had my fill of you-" he paused, his dreamy, dark eyes taking on a desiring gleam. "For the moment."

She should have been alarmed by that, but oddly enough, her heart jolted in a sense of anticipation-of what exactly? Being in his surprisingly warm embrace or to feel the feathery caress of his lips against her throat once more?

"Where are we?" she demanded shrilly, realizing they no longer stood on her paved isolated street.

She turned to look at him and noticed a sudden graveness to his face. "Home." He uttered longingly.

Her heart pitched in fear. "Home?" her face paled, "As in your brooding, eerie-looking mansion situated on a hill designed specifically for frightening globe-trot hitchhikers?"

Her hair tossed against her shoulders with the shaking of her head as she retreated a few paces. "I think I'll check out."

A large hand lashed out and grabbed her wrist. She was startled by the strength in those fingers, wrapping lethally around her bone. "This is but one of many homes."

Her brow arched with some interest, "You have more than one?"

He nodded a bit smugly.

Surprisingly, the house that greeted them was not something conjured of scary themes and disturbing black basements piled to the ceiling with crates filled of soil, but she imagined a teeming row of refrigerators stored with blood.

She really didn't know what horror or phenomenon lurked behind its door. Of what she could see, the house was situated on a hill, but its presence gave the impression of Victorian beauty. It was a much older structure, clearly built in later years and stood at least three stories.

His hand latched around her upper arm and began pulling her towards the imposing yet lovely abode.

"Please-" she started, feeling a real fear grip her.

As if sensing her inner fright, he tugged her around to face him, the graveness of his expression shaking her already cracking composure. "No harm will come to you here." His hand slid a gentle caress down her cheek.

"Why did you bring me here?" she demanded.

The angles of his face took on a sudden severity edge, "There is much that needs discussing."

He didn't give her time to respond as he started towards the house, pulling her reluctantly at his heels.

The moment the door swung inward, Lily knew her world would be changed forever. It was as if she had been transported to another time, yet, the modern-day was still at play with the mixture of furniture and décor that dotted the room. Beige leather sofas took up a majority of the sitting room. A gold-rimmed settee lined in scroll sat below a tall and narrow window draped in thick, velvet curtain.

An issue of Vogue lay open across the glass table set before the smaller sofa. The room was lit in dim lights and had a peculiar fragrance.

Plush rugs lay scattered variously throughout the room, particularly beneath heavy, marbled furniture.

A sudden feminine but stern voice carried to the room.

Lily stiffened as a very beautiful and regal looking woman appeared at a set of stairs that she hadn't noticed until now.

The woman was tall and slender, dressed in head to toe chic. Her white-blond hair created smooth lines and loose waves that were pinned in a wave to sweep across her forehead.

Her skin appeared as alabaster. Dark, cat-like eyes slanted beneath a sweep of inky-black lashes, below that, a small but peaked nose, and thin, slanted brows.

Her ethereal beauty however did nothing for the thinning of her lips, the particular lines of cruelty that lined them, though she painted them in a vibrant, red lipstick, the unbecoming scowl dampened her exquisiteness.

Her sharpened gaze leveled grudgingly on Lily as another figure glided smoothly down the stairs.

The man was as regal and exquisite as the woman at his side, but his demeanor far more warming than the woman who continued to cast jagged glares in her direction.

"Petri!" the man beamed, flashing a toothy grin that revealed a small set of fangs.

The man was not in the least bit threatening or lethal than the vampire at her side, but she sensed an inner recipe for danger lying just beneath his cool exterior.

His eyes were a cobalt blue; he had an unruly mane of dark curls and he wore plaid.

Lily almost had the insane urge to laugh but refrained.

"Where the hell you been?" plaid asked, making his way around the scowling beauty.

Plaid crossed the lush carpet and came to stand before them; blue eyes turning speculatively on Lily. "Who's the human?" "It seems Varian has brought us a stray?" the woman chimed, moving in a deliberate sway down the stairs.

"He's always had a way with humans." Plaid teased, forming a wry grin.

Lily tensed as the woman came to loom above her. Her dark, cat-eyes narrowed shrewdly, "A bit thin for your tastes, Varian?" a thin hand reached out to grab a blond wave and Lily jerked away instinctively.

The woman's thin, red-adorned lips curved in surprise. "Hmm, pussycat." She purred, stepping around Lily and sweeping her with a chilling glare. "Does kitty have claws?"

"Shut your fangs, Marguerite." Varian hissed warningly.

Marguerite made a sound that bordered a pout and peered sorely at Varian. "I thought perhaps you had brought me a play thing."

"I'm no one's play thing!" Lily snapped crisply.

Marguerite's thin lips curved intriguingly as she stepped closer to Lily. "She's tasteful, Varian. The thought of draining her sustenance grows more appealing."

"If you so much -"

Marguerite hissed and Sir. Plaid standing aside cast a wayward roll of his eyes to the ceiling while Varian, in an attempt to separate the two, pushed Lily at his back and leveled Marguerite with a hard, challenging leer.

"Cross me, Marguerite and I'll personally see to removing your fangs." The threat of it somewhat moved Marguerite in an unsettling way, for she immediately clamped her thin lips shut but Lily was quick to note the unsparing harsh glint that promised pain.

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