|
|
Marcus fed up on the victim his brother had chosen for him, and as soon as she died, he broker her neck. His color came back to him, as did his youthful appearance. He felt his younger brother sitting, watchfully, by Anastasia's side. Marcus then left his victim, to clean and straighten himself, before returning to his beloved Ana. He soon appeared by his brother's side in the underground chamber room. Kane turned to him, with relief on his face, "My dear brother, you look much better, now. Was the morsel delicious?" "Yes, thank you, Kane." Marcus nods at him, as Kane stands up. "That's good. I shall dispose of the body, and feed myself. I shall return later to check on you, if that is fine with you?" "Yes, dear brother, I would like that."
Kane disappears, once again, as Marcus lays down beside his love. He caresses her cheek, and kisses her forehead, as he snuggles against her. He soon wraps his strong arms around her and closes his eyes. He finds himself inside her mind, and calls out for her. "Anastasia, please come to me. I won't hurt you, I promise." He feels her stronger now, as he concentrates on her soul. "I love you, Ana." He cries, hoping it would ease her fears. "Please don't die on me." "Marcus." A small and frightened voice calls to him. He opens his eyes, "Ana?" He whispers, as he sits up and leans down to her. Anastasia begins to cough and moan. "Yes, Ana, wake up! Wake, my love!" He shouts, as he shakes her. Anastasia opens her eyes and sees Marcus smiling down at her. Shadows dance above them, and the candles flicker near by. "Marcus?" She whispers, "You've got big fangs." She reaches her fingers up, and touches his lips and teeth, as he giggles at her. "I'm a vampire, my love. But you don't have to be frightened of me." "I'm not. Your brother told me about you." "My brother?" "Yes, he came to visit me. Nice man." She breathes with great weakness. Marcus smiles, as he thought of his brother's efforts to help him. "Kane is a very nice man." He whispers to her, then kisses her on the forehead.
"Are you hungry, my sweet?" He asks. She nods slowly, and sighs weakly. Marcus sits her up right and waves his hand on her lap. A tray appears, with a hot bowl of stew, a napkin, spoon, and a drink, on her lap. Marcus unfolds the napkin and tucks it under her chin. He then picks up the spoon and dips it into the hot meal. He blows, gently, on the bit of food, and holds the spoon near Ana's mouth. She sweetly takes the spoon into her mouth, and savers the juice in her mouth. She swallows and takes a drink. "Good?" Marcus asks her. She nods, as he gives her another bite, and soon, she finishes her meal. Later, after she rests, Marcus bathes her in a tub of hot soapy water, and dresses her in a clean gown. She sits on his lap, as he brushes her wet hair, and they talk. Anastasia listens, contentedly, as he tells her of the dreaded curse and evil woman had put on him and his brother.
**********
"A long time ago, before even Greece was a thriving empire, my brother and I were great warriors. We ruled our concurred lands with pride, and fears fist. We fell in love with two sisters, who, at this time, were great female warriors. We married them, despite their mother's wishes, and ruled the land with them. We soon came to a great conflict with a mighty neighboring tribe, an went to war with them. Both of our wives died in the heat of battle. We survived and went home defeated. Their mother had heard the news of her only children laid died on the battle field, and charged into our gathering room. She cursed us both for killing her daughters. Then demanded that the bats of hell come to eat us alive. She said something about only til the innocence of the resurrection will come to us both, will we be free once again. She stormed out of the room, and we never saw her again. A year later, on the anniversary of our wives deaths, both my brother and I were attack by bats, which had built nests in our look out towers. They populated so much that they began infesting the entire castle. When we woke, our bodies were buried in a tomb instead of being burned. It was strange that our people didn't burn us, because it was our way of death ritual. We weren't quite sure we even died, until we broke out and walked among our people. They screamed, and lynched us into the woods. That's when we discovered we had powers. We were able to get away from the mob, and hide. Soon, we felt a craving for food, but not food. We came upon a house, and two women were living there. A mother and daughter. I won't go into detail, but they were our first victims. We lived out our days, months, years, and centuries as we are now."
**********
"Am I what you and your brother need to brake the curse?" Anastasia asks as Marcus tucks her back into his bed. She and her white gown seemed to glow in the red satin sheets. I'm not sure, but your name means 'resurrection'." He lays down beside her, and holds her close. "And you are the most innocent of any woman I have ever met." Ana blushes, as she snuggles her head into his chest. A warm breeze inters the room, as Kane walks from the shadows. "Ah, she lives!" He smiles, as he comes closer to the bed. "Hello, Lord Kane." Anastasia smiles back at him, as if he brought her candy. He reaches down and takes her hand, "Please to meet you, my dear." He softly kisses her hand. "It's nearly dawn, Kane. Won't your maiden's get worried?" Marcus asks his brother, as Kane sits on the edge of the bed. "They know where I am." He replies, as he takes off his coat, and places it in the chair, next to the bed. "Besides, I thought you might need me. But if you wish, I can leave." Anastasia reaches out for him and clasps her tiny hand on his larger one. "Please stay." "Stay, brother, she wishes it." Marcus smiles at him. Kane nods, and prepares himself of his daily slumber. Should I sleep on the floor?" He ponders to himself. "You can sleep on the other side of me, I don't bite." The brothers look at her with shock on their faces. "No, but we might." Kane chuckles. Anastasia rolls her eyes, "You know what I mean, My Lord." They laugh a little more, as Marcus gets up and readies himself for bed.
Before the two brothers climb in, next to Anastasia, she asleep in a peaceful dream. "Brother, could we dream with her? I'd like to get to know her batter." Kane whispers to his brother. Marcus nods, and blows out the last candle. They each huddle close to her, and soon fall into their death slumber.
Weeks past by quickly, as Anastasia became close to Marcus and Kane. None of them really knew much about how to brake the curse, or even discussed the matter. But for some strange reason, Kane had dissolved his ties in Scotland, and moved into his brother's English castle. What maidens he had captured, he sent back to their homes, or they died of sudden old age, depending on how long he had them. The ones still alive, remembered nothing of their time spent with him, nor had the thirst for blood, they were simply welcomed back to their families with open arms. Marcus and Kane even took it among each other to sit with Anastasia, as she ate dinner, read to them in the library, or played the piano for them in the sitting room. They waited until she turned in before they went out to feed. And when they left, they quickly returned to her side. They lived, strangely happy, like a family in their home by the sea. Well for a while, anyway.
Anastasia began to grow restless during the day. Marcus, though allowed her to dream of being in a garden, he still would not let her out of the castle. Anastasia spent her days looking out the open window, of the library, and breathed in the sea air. She watched the birds as they flew freely in the sky, as well as, the waves crashing effortlessly at the rocks, bellow. Anastasia stopped doing her activities during the day, as she used to. She stopped her needle work, her reading, her singing, and even her wondering around her home. The smell of spring was in the air, but it didn't seem to matter to her. She couldn't go out side to soak it in. Her sleeping habits changed, as well. She slept longer during the day, despite her two loves encouragement to wake up and play. 'Wake up and play!' As if she were a child of their's. Yes, she was young, much younger than them, but she was considered an old maid at the age of twenty-four. They dressed her, as if she were a doll, and set out toys of knitting, and needle work, and quilting, for her in hopes that she would play. They tried to set out musical instruments to see if she could pick them up, and play. But Anastasia wasn't interested in playing anymore. She loved her Lords greatly, and they always listened to her feelings, and thoughts, and opinions. But when she spoke of going out side, both of her beloveds changed the subject. Like a polite young lady she never argued, and never pouted, instead her body reacted to the environment. It wasn't that she wanted to escape, it was that her body craved to be out in the sun, and breathing the flowery spring air. The tiny widow in the library no longer help her get what she needed. Her form began to change, this much the brothers could tell, but weren't sure why.
Soon Anastasia stopped asking to go out side, as her skin grew ever so pale, and her tiny frame became more and more tiny. Her dresses hung longer on her, her beautiful chestnut curls grew out straight and brittle, and most days she only ate once. She stopped going the window in the library, and began to cough every time she breathed. It wasn't like she was doing this on purpose. She needed the sun! To feel free! To live! Soon, she began to fight out the brothers from her dreams, and slept whether they were wake or not. She couldn't help it, she was so sick. It was like she was a flower being suffocated by weeds. "We have to do something, brother." Kane spoke to his older sibling with worry, as he stood by the bed. Marcus sat next to Ana, as she slept and coughed. She broke out into a fever, this day, and was soaking wet with sweat. Dark circles appeared around her once lively deep blue eyes, now pale gray from her illness. Her cheek bones poked out of her ghost white face, as her veins became more and more visible in the light. Her tiny hands were nothing more than skin and bone, as Marcus held them in his. They were so cold and clammy into his huge warm ones. "You go feed first. I'll wait until you return, before I go feed, Kane." Kane nods his head, as he squeezes Marcus' shoulder. He bends down to kiss Ana's forehead, and disappears into the shadows.
"Anastasia, please tell me what it is, that makes you so sick. I thought you liked it here, with us? Please, don't die on me. Don't die on Kane. We love you so much, please, if there is anything you need, tell me." Marcus saw into her sleeping mind, nothing but black. Marcus closed his eye and tried to find where she was. Soon, the garden appeared to him, and Anastasia walking through a maze of flowers. She stops, sometimes, to pick some flowers, and places them into her basket. Marcus walks up behind her, as she hums a tune. "You have a beautiful voice, Ana." He whispers to her. But she does not acknowledge him, though, she stops humming. She walks her path, and picks a flower, or two, and places them into her basket. "Those are beautiful flowers, Ana. Could I put one in your hair?" As soon as he spoke, a wind in her dream began to blow. Anastasia's freshly picked flowers fly out of her basket, and around Marcus. She turns to face him, as he notices her grave looking face. She shows no emotion, as she stares straight into his soul. "You're killing me." A young woman's voice echoes in his ears, as the wind forces the flowers to fry and dance around him. Suddenly a torn off a rose strikes his hand, and as he jumps from the pain, the flowers change into large, dark, screeching bats.
Marcus woke, from his trance, shaking violently, as he tried to run from the flying beasts. It wasn't until he ran out into the dark light hallway, that he realized they where only Anastasia's images trying to frighten him. He trembled as he steadied his breathing, and gathered his senses. His ears, still numbing from the voice, faintly hears Anastasia coughing. He looks at her, as he stands just outside the door. He sees her, almost choking in her sleep, but for once in his undead life, Marcus is to frightened to come near her. He feels her heart beat hard and her blood race, as she clutches every breath. She is soaked to the bone, now, in a pool of feverish sweat, as she sleeps.
He soon feels his brother's return, and tries to get the courage to come back into her room. "Brother? What is the matter?" Kane asks him, as he walks closer to the bed. "She angry with us." He whispers as he takes hold of her wrist. "Why?" Kane asks, from behind him. "If you think, you will know why, Kane." Marcus stares down at his beloved, afraid to look anyother place. Her fever was getting worse, and her choking even more painful to hear. "She want's to be free, Kane." Marcus tells him, in an almost mournful fashion. "Since she stopped asking to go out in the sun, she's wasting herself away." Kane charges closer to his brother, and takes holds of Anastasia's hand, "You mean she's killing herself?" Marcus nods, as he breaks into tears. "How do we help her? I don't want her to die." Kane pleads to him. Marcus sniffs back his tears, as he turns to his dear brother, "We must let her go, if she wishes to leave." "NO! No, we can't do that!" Kane screams with fiery anger, "Why don't we take her?" "We can't, Kane. She's here to help us. We need her innocence, if we take her, she will be no use to us!" Marcus grabs his brother by the shoulders. "Marcus, if we let her go, we may never find out if she can help us."
Marcus suddenly feels sick from hunger, "I need to feed. Promise me you will not take her!" "I promise, Marcus. Go feed." Marcus leaves the room, to find his next meal, as Kane sits down into the bed. He washes Anastasia's face with a cold wet cloth, and removes the covers from her chest, so she may breathe better. Her coughs soon quiet, as her body cools. Kane thinks of her questions over and over about the outside, and lefts his hands to the windows. They open, one by one, as his hand glides across their path. A gentle breeze rolls into the room, cooling Ana's body off even more. Her coughing stops, and her fever lightens. Kane slowly unties the ribbon of her gown and loosens her neck line, so her skin could feel more of the breeze. He resoaks the cloth, and places it gently inside her gown. He brushes one tiny chest and throat with the cloth. She shakes a little, as he tries to break her fever. He unlaces more of the garment, and exposes more of her white, tender flesh. Since she stopped eating, her ribs poke through her delicate skin, like a skeleton covered in ash velvet. Kane refreshes the cloth, once more, and rubs her sunken belly, and protruding rib cage. Anastasia, now shivering, chatters her teeth, as she slumbers.
Marcus quickly returns to Ana's chamber room, and finds Kane rubbing their beloved down with the wet cloth. "Her fever's broken, brother." Kane tells Marcus, not turning around. Marcus sighs a deep breath of relief, as he walks around the bed. He lays down, beside her, and caresses her hair. "She began to feel better, once I opened the windows." Kane whispers, as if he were afraid she would wake. "I was thinking, that maybe she doesn't want to leave, but just go for an outing, in the garden. Maybe, if we kept a door open, to the garden, then she could go outside when ever she wanted. Marcus, we seemed to have foregotten that she is human, and does need more then a cracked window to keep her from suffocating." Marcus nods his head, in agreement.
A few days pass. The brothers leave open Anastasia's chamber room windows, and soon she began to stir once more. They set a table next to her bed so she could eat. They had plenty of soup and stew, with bread, and milk to help her strengthen herself. As each day passed she began to eat better, and let the brothers talk to her in the dreams. Though weak, Ana walked around up stares, for exercise. She began to put her weight back on, and could fit into her dresses. She was becoming herself, once again.
As soon as Anastasia was well enough to venture off of the second floor of the castle, she found herself walking down the front stares, and onto the first floor. She could feel the breeze coming in from outside, as she walked the halls. Almost all the windows were open, and Ana found herself in the sitting room. The cretins were open and dancing with the invisible angels flying into the room. A few of them make their way to Ana's cheeks, and kiss her softly, warmly, as she came closer to the middle window. She soon realizes that this particular window, were two stain glass doors, and lead off to a great garden. Anastasia steps out of the sitting room, and onto the cobble stone porch. The wind was warm, yet cool, with the smell of fragrant flowers and wet sea.
The garden was simply breathtaking to her. The sun shined and the birds sang, to her as she picks up a brown, woven, flower basket, from a stone banister. She gets the idea of taking off the shoes, and stockings, then steps on to the soft, wet grass, and giggles as the dew tickles her bare feet. She strolls the path of the garden, and picks the freshest of flowers; a rose here, lilac there, and so on. She stays out side throughout most of the day, and even eats her lunch on the porch. But after she eats, she feels her gentlemen calling her to nap, so they could chat with her. Anastasia happily gathers her things and strolls into the sitting room. There she lays her things in a chair, and lays herself on one of the couches. She soon falls into a deep sleep, and find her loves in the dream garden, waiting for her.
"How do you like your new surroundings, my love?" Marcus asks Anastasia, as he kisses her hand. "I love it Lord Marcus, thank you both for letting me out. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you. I'm not really sure it was me doing..." Kane places his hand, sweetly onto her shoulder, "No need for apologies, my dear. You are well, now, and we would do anything to please you." Marcus smiles brightly, "It was our fault for keeping you locked up. We've had this curse for so long, that we tend to forget humans need to be out in the sun light." Anastasia grins and looks down at her feet, "I'm sorry if I frightened you, My Lord." "Oh, Ana, it was your sickness, not you, that frightened me! Come let's talk of other things. How was your morning in the sun light?" Marcus quickly changes the subject, as the three dreamers walk to a swing and sit down. "Is the sun still warming to the skin, Stasia?" Kane asks her, as he puts his arm around her shoulders. "Yes, but the wind is quite cool because of the sea. I picked flowers for you. Maybe you could put them in your chamber, My Lords?" Anastasia studies both men's faces carefully. "That would be lovely, Ana." Marcus smiles, as he gently strokes her hand. "If it's not too much to ask, could I have some paints to create with? I never painted before, but I'd like to try." She asks them, shyly. She was still quite disturb from her actions towards them, when she was sick. She didn't remember much, but felt ashamed just the same. "That will be arranged, once you wake, Ana." They talk more of her morning, and soon have her wake up, so she could explore the garden some more.
Anastasia awakens and walks out into the garden. She finds her wish of paints granted. And easel, canvas, paints, brushes, and other things needed set ready for her. She giggles with delight, as she carefully examines her tools. She picks a nice spot in the garden, and sets up her work. She chooses to paint one of the rose bushes, and begins her work. The bush was far enough away, which let her paint the sky, but close enough to her, so she could see great detail. This painting would become her thanks to them, for their kindness to her. For several days, Anastasia painted on the canvas, not allowing her gentlemen to see her work, until it was finished.
One night, just before the gentlemen left to feed, Anastasia lead them into the sitting room, and went into a closet, only to quickly return with the painting. "I hope you both like it. It's not that good, but I'm sure I'll get better." She turns the painting around, and the brothers stare, not moving a muscle. She came closer to them, as she carries the canvas. "Ana, it's beautiful." Marcus whispers as he grabs the edge of it. "Is the sky really that blue?" Kane asks, as he takes the other side. "Yes, well, sort of. Do you like it?" "It's wonderful, Stasia." Kane smiles, "Does the sun really reflect off the flowers like that?" "Yes, but it's kind of hard to get actual detail. The sun moves to fast, sometimes, I think." She grins at them. "Look at you, Ana. I haven't noticed, until now, that you have gotten some sun. Your cheeks and nose are as pink as these roses." Marcus tells her, as he chuckles. Anastasia blushes, causing her cheeks to become pinker. "You know, I think this would look nice in our room, Marcus. It would brighten it up a bit down there." Kane smiles. "I'll take it down before we go." Kane kisses Anastasia, on the cheek, and leaves the sitting room. Marcus leads his love to her room and tucks her in her chamber bed, "We shan't be long, my love." "Good night, My lord."
The next day, Anastasia decided to paint an image of the fountain, which was placed in a middle of a circle in the garden. It was a beautiful old sculpture of harpies holding fish in their arms, and letting the fish pour streams of water out of their mouths and settling into the pool, below. It was made in a dark emerald marble, and had lily pads floating on top of the water. Some lily pads had brightly colored blooms on them, while others had frogs riding them, as they circled the pool. Anastasia set up her paints and began to work. She worked throughout most of the day on the painting, until she ate her lunch and had her nap, and painted all afternoon. She felt so inspired by the fountain, that she didn't want to stop. She stood, bare foot, in the grass and lost time in her joy. The sun was an hour away from setting, but she didn't seem to notice much. Soon she felt that she need to step back and view her work, but when she stepped her right foot back, Anastasia suddenly felt tremendous pain in her ankle. She screeches in pain, as she falls to the ground. She turns around and finds a viper wriggling away from her. Ana desperately crawled to the parch, crying and screaming in horror.
"Stasia! Stasia! Please calm yourself." Kane called to her mind. "Lie down, Ana." Marcus told her. She laid down on the stone porch, and tried to calm herself. There was nothing for the gentlemen to do, until the sun set. Their corpse of bodies laid like stone on their bed. "Shhhh... Stasia, breath slowly. The viper's poisonous. You need to relax, so the poison doesn't travel into your system as quick." Kane comforts her. "I don't want to die like this." She whispers. "You won't, Ana. We won?t let you. Come to us, my love." Marcus soothes her fears. Soon both men put her into a deep sleep, and holds her soul with them, until night finally came. Both men maon and grumble, which lead to shouting, as they force their bodies to wake. "I hate being like this!" Marcus shouts. They quickly go to her as she still slept on the porch. Kane lefts her head to his lap, as she stirs awake, and Marcus examines her leg. "Anastasia, this may hurt, but hold still. I need you awake to do this." Marcus tells her. She nods her head, as Kane brushes back her hair. Soon, Marcus glides his hand over Anastasia?s body, as he finds and gathers the poison inside her. "It burns." She whispers. Kane soothes her with a kiss, as Marcus begins to drain the venom out through the snake bite marks. Thick black blood oozes out of the wound, followed by a yellowish stream. "It burns." She whimpers, as she shakes. "It's alight, Stasia, it won't last long." Kane whispers in her ear, as he holds her still. Once the poison leaves her body, Marcus cleans her wound, with his shirt sleeve, and presses his hand down on the wound. Ana quivers at this new sensation. The tingling of his healing touch almost made her giggle, but still quite frightened she laid still.
With in moments, Anastasia was healed and comforted by her two loves. They staid with her as she ate her dinner. She told them about the painting, which was now sitting in the sitting room, and how she loved the fountain so. The viper was of no more in her mind. She just now new she must where her shoes, though she hated to. Kane sat quiet, as she and Marcus spoke. It really wasn't like him, Kane always had something witty to say. But tonight, he was quite content, as he watched his love dine, and talk. Anastasia had captured his heart, as well as, his brother's. What great power she had over the both of them. "Brother, do you think one of us should stay behind tonight? Just in case she my need us." Kane asks Marcus, as Ana bit down on her dessert. "The poison's gone, Kane. She will be fine, but if you like to be with her, ask her." Marcus smiles, knowing that his younger brother, just wanted to spend alone time with their beloved. Anastasia glances at Kane, as he catches her eyes, "Could you name the flowers you picked today for me, tonight, Stasia?" "Aren't you hungry?" She asks him. "I can wait until Marcus returns." He replies, as he gazes at her delicate face. "If you like, My Lord Kane." She smiles and kisses him on the cheek.
Marcus left quickly, as soon as, Anastasia dressed for bed. She and Kane sat on the floor of her chamber room, by the fire, as she named the flowers she had picked early that morning. She had developed the habit of picking fresh flowers for some of the room in the castle, so it would brighten the place more for the brothers, and her. "And this is my favorite." She tells him as she waves the light violet bud under his nose. "Lilac." Kane whispers, and realizes that, that's what she smelled like to him. She smiles at him, sleepily, as she places the flower down next to some daisies and a pink rose. Kane lightly lifts Anastasia?s gown and touches her leg, "How's your bite, Stasia?" She blushes, as her body tingles to his touch, "Fine, I don't think there is even a scar." Kane raises her gown up to her thigh, and to get a better look, by the light of the fire. He places one hand on her knee, and gently turns her leg to the side. "No, no scar, just pretty milk white skin." He tells her, as she smiles. She enjoys his touch just as much as Marcus', but with the thought of her first protector, she begins to feel nervous. Before she knew it, Kane had kissed her ankle, as he hold her foot to him. She couldn't fight him off, and didn't want to, as he his kisses lead him up her calf to her knee. She just watched him, and felt his gentle caresses. He slid his right hand down the inside of her thigh, and placed his felt hand on the outside. He mouthed her tiny knee cap, trying hard not to nick her with his fangs. She touched his dark drown curls, as he kissed down her thigh. She knew she was becoming more attracted to him, but Marcus still shined in her mind. How could she love two men so dearly? So passionately?