Marlena dismissed her retainer, Alexia, after the woman dropped her off at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Walking to the elevator, Marlena refused to allow her nervousness to show. 'Ah, what's there to be nervous of? You're only going to share Vitae for the first time and let a Tremere perform an unknown ritual on you.' She thought as she watched the elevator numbers climb to the top floors of the building.
The ever present Constantin, one of Janos' bodyguards, was in the hall, sitting next to one of the suites. He was very alert as Marlena walked out of the elevator. She eyed the handsome man. 6'4" and 260 lbs., blond hair, blue eyes and well muscled. Much like someone you would see on Baywatch. 'Big, beautiful and dumb.' She grinned ferally as she approached. 'It's like having a large protective dog at one's side.' Marlena considered teasing him for a moment and then dismissed it. She had more important things on her mind.
Constantin stood as she approached. Well balanced and casually ready to kill. "Ms. Whittaker." He greeted her respectfully, his deep bass voice rumbling with his Romanian accent.
Marlena nodded at him. "Constantin." She acknowledged him and then knocked on the suite door, dismissing him with a turn of her body.
The door opened and Marlena saw Janos. For an instant she got the impression of a mad scientist about to perform his greatest work. He had a calm, fierce intensity about him, focused on all that he was doing. Marlena was surprised to see the normally immaculately groomed Tremere with slightly disheveled hair framing his face, no jacket and the top few buttons of his shirt undone. She was pleased to see that he was wearing the rune of Power medallion, a gift she had given him a couple weeks back, on his necklace. When Janos saw who it was, he smiled, inviting her in. "Hello Marlena. So pleased to see you made it."
"Hello Janos." She stepped forward in the room and anything else that she might have said died in her throat. Looking about the room, she was amazed. There were candles and flowers everywhere. To one side, there was table with wines, fruits, chocolate and other finger foods. All the furniture in the living area had been pushed back. Vaguely, Marlena was aware that Janos had locked the door behind her and was standing close by her side as she took in his preparations for the evening. 'Ever the romantic.' She thought with a nervous smile.
In the center of the room was a large rug with a circle inscribed with mystical looking runes. There were eight unlit candles that marked the cardinal points. Marlena felt her stomach do flip-flops as she looked at the ritual area. 'What the hell am I doing here?!' Her mind voiced her fears as her eyes were drawn to the first set of double doors, open to the bedroom and the king sized bed. Feeling unaccountably embarrassed, she turned, looking about the room again and noticed that the whole suite had been sun-proofed, with full, heavy curtains that reached from ceiling to the floor.
"Would you like something to drink?" Janos' voice murmured in her ear. His voice seemed to mesh with the soft tribal drumming music that floated through the room.
"Yes. Please. Something light." Marlena smiled at him and moved to the couch, perching stiffly on the edge of it. She sipped the wine he gave her, not really tasting it as she watched Janos finish up his preparations. She knew why she was nervous. She was not in control. It was like dancing the edge of a dangerous mission. Playing cat and mouse - only she seemed to be the mouse.
One by one, Janos lit the ritual candles, using only his finger. It was a small, but impressive, display of magic. He glanced at her as he stood. "You are not nervous, I hope?" Watching her aura ping like a thousand frenzied fireflies, he knew she was very nervous.
"I am. A bit." She admitted.
"Why?" He smiled reassuringly at her
"Gee, I don't know. It's not every day you share Vitae and allow someone to perform a magical ritual on you." She sipped her wine, trying to gather her courage. Sharing Vitae. The outward and inward admission of very real feelings from one Kindred to another. It was an extremely dangerous thing. It made you vulnerable. And the sharing of Vitae led to the strongest of bonds: the Blood bond.
Janos perched on the couch near her. He nodded seriously. "I know." He watched her for a moment. "Have you spoken to your mentor since the party?"
"My mentor?" She frowned at the sudden shift in topics. "You mean Yasmin?"
He nodded.
"Yes. I have. Why?"
Janos smiled and looked at his well-groomed nails. "She is very protective of you. I think I have managed to convince her that I am perhaps not such a big evil Tremere who is out to hurt you."
Marlena had to smile. "Yasmin is a good lady. Nosy, but well meaning."
"I hope that she knows I mean the best for you." He glanced at her "We had a long discussion about how Elders forget what is it like to be human... the feelings and emotions. It has been so long for them that sometimes they think that to be human is a bad thing."
She smiled at his glance. "That is one thing I disagree with Yasmin on. I haven't been mortal in a long time and yet, I have very real emotions and feelings."
"Do you?" He tilted his head. "Like what?" This was something he really wanted to hear about.
"I'm extremely passionate and can be hot headed." She grinned to herself. "I have a wide variety of likes and dislikes. Some say that I can be... tempermental."
Capturing her eyes with his gaze, he murmured. "And what are you passionate about, Marlena?" He saw the sudden surge of emotions and felt her rare shy streak emerge.
She stumbled a bit as she stared into his kind eyes. "Oh. Um. People. Places. Things." If she could blush, she would be blushing furiously.
"Which places?" His voice was soft as he gently led the conversation down a carefully choreographed path.
"Uh, well. There's this little cafe in Spain that I adore. And the ruins in the Athens. I love them. I'd like to take you there someday..." She trailed off. 'Oh, good Marlena. Let's make some INTELLIGENT conversation. Geez, it's like you're back in the Academy, learning the art of witty conversation. Get ahold of yourself!'
Janos nodded and smiled. "And what people?" He watched the surge of emotion in her aura again and was pleased at what he saw. Getting this temperamental woman to open up was like pulling teeth.
'You.' Was her first thought but she quelled that urge to say it. "Well, there's Carlossi, Yasmin..." She looked him in the eyes and gave herself permission. "You."
Janos smiled, memorizing her face. "Carlossi? Who is this?"
"He's a friend from my mortal and immortal past. We've worked together." Marlena grinned, remembering him. "He's too stubborn to die."
"He is someone I know?" Janos asked, very casually.
'Is that a hint of jealousy?' Marlena wondered for a moment. Part of her hoped it was. "No. No one you know."
Janos nodded again. "And Yasmin. What do you feel for her?"
She paused, pondering what she could say to him without making him suspicious of her true relationship to Yasmin. "I care for her. When I ask her advice, I really listen. She always offers it, whether I ask for it or not. I don't always listen. She's like a grandmother to me. She fusses over me. As my mentor, she wants to make sure I retain what I've learned." Marlena sighed a little. "Some days, she sticks her nose where it just doesn't belong."
"Ah, yes. Well, Grandmothers do that." Janos stood, walking to the table to pour himself a glass of wine. With his back to her, he asked with a deceptively casual air, "And me? What do you feel for me?"
Marlena knew that was coming and she still did not have a coherent answer. "I feel... much for you." Her voice was very soft. "A lot of emotion." She could not make herself admit anything more.
He took a sip of the wine. "Really? How so?" He had not turned back around to look at her, yet. He was feeling a little tense.
She took a breath. "If you remember the three reasons we discussed for sharing Vitae? The first reason." Marlena referred back to a previous conversation about sharing Vitae. There were three reasons for doing so: The first was for love and affection, binding the two closer. The second was trust building in a business relationship. The third was to force servitude on someone.
Marlena watched as Janos turned back around and smiled at her. He leaned up against the wall, looking for all the world like a model at a GQ photo shoot. She had the sudden thought of him being the "Tempter Angel" leading her down the path of the Damned. She wondered what he would do, now that she had, in a round about fashion, confessed her feelings to him.
Janos sipped his wine. "I know that there is much to fear and consider with the sharing of Vitae. As an offer, and show of trust, I will, as you say... go first." He watched her carefully, giving her the time and space to back out if she so chose to. He saw her aura spike with a myriad of emotions.
Anticipation, want, fear, and affection warred within her. Would he be offended if she accepted his offer of trust? Would he be offended if she did not? This was the point of no return. If she denied him, their relationship would never be the same. If she accepted him, she would never be the same. A matter of trust. There were so few that she could or would trust. Should she have him join that small few in her long life? 'Yes.' The answer came from within her.
Janos saw her reach an internal decision.
"Thank you. I very much appreciate that and I accept your offer of trust." She watched him carefully for signs of disappointment or anger with her answer and as was relieved when she saw none.
Janos put his glass to the side and stood up a bit straighter. "Then come here." He seemed to almost dare her in a dangerously seductive way.
She put her glass to the side and stood. Slow, deliberate steps took her across the room to him. Prowling like a feline, she locked her eyes to his. Her whole body seemed to challenge him to put his money where his mouth was. She saw him lean into her approach as she moved within a couple of feet of him. Marlena stopped just inside the customary personal space boundary, standing as close as lovers do.
His hand rose to brush her cheek, a gesture of affection. The two of them stood like tango dancers with a friendly, intimate but palpable tension between them. He cupped her cheek, his eyes darting to her mouth for an instant before reclaiming her gaze. "Bite yourself." Janos whispered to her. It was request; it was command.
Marlena hesitated within, stumbling. How was she to bite herself? She could bite her wrist and offer it, but that was not right for this occasion. Not right at all. She leaned into his hand and felt him slide his thumb slowly, sensuously over her bottom lip and then toy with her top lip.
Janos ran his thumb over her mouth, her teeth and felt her kiss his thumb gently before she pulled back a little. He watched as it suddenly dawned on her that he was hinting at her mouth, so that he could take her Vitae in a kiss. Marlena felt a sudden thrill at the thought and licked her lips, trying to imagine the feeling his lips pressed to hers.
He watched as she bit the inside of her mouth, below her bottom lip, and saw the hints of blood stain her white teeth. He cupped his hand around the nape of her neck, his eyes locked to hers and pulled her close. Then he kissed her firmly and passionately, tasting her Vitae.
Marlena pressed herself to Janos in the kiss, knowing that, were she mortal, her hormones would be in overdrive at this moment. They entwined close, kissing intimately, and their bodies molded to each other. She felt him pulling, sucking her Vitae from the wound in her mouth. It was an incredibly sensual, erotic, amazing first kiss.
The kiss continued for a long timeless moment. Then, still kissing her, Janos began to draw her with him backwards towards the ritual circle. She went with him, throwing caution to the wind as they continued to explore each other more with each passionate kiss. There was an incredible sense of relief as Marlena realized that Janos really did mean well for her. That was one huge hurdle out of the way.
Janos broke the kiss first. He looked her in the eyes and then began to chant in Latin. His left hand held her at the nape of her neck while she watched his right hand move in a series of incomprehensible gestures. She listened to the Latin and felt him grow warm with mortal warmth. It was as if his heart had somehow become alive again, pumping blood through his body, warming it within and making it radiate without. Marlena had to stop herself from pressing her hand to his chest to feel if his heart was beating again.
The chanting stopped. "One." He said, smiling at her as she marveled at his new warmth. Then he closed his eyes and began to chant in Latin again. She watched his hand curiously, wondering about the ability to do magic. As she looked up at him again, to watch his face, her eyes grew wide to see real tears coursing down his face. He chanted on, heedless of the tears but with a soft smile of joy on his face.
There was a pause as he opened his eyes, blinking at the tears. "Two." He murmured as she reached to touch the wetness on his face. He was smiling as he closed his eyes and began to chant for a third time. She felt his grip on the nape of her neck tighten a bit. This chant was lasting longer than the last one. At one point, she thought his knees where going to buckle but she did not move, afraid to interrupt the ritual.
Finally, he finished up, opened his eyes, and looked hungrily at Marlena. "Three." He whispered to her as he let go of her neck. He then bit his wrist and presented it to her. She did not hesitate, suckling at his wrist, tasting his blood for the first time. Other than her Embrace, this was the first time Marlena had tasted kindred blood.
During her Rapture of the Vitae, Marlena was vaguely aware that Janos' Vitae did not taste as she expected. It was more alive and warm. It felt thicker on her tongue, tasting more than Kine blood with a hot, salty tang. She knew that he was chanting in Latin but was distracted by the sudden warmth in the center of her chest. It was as if she were thawing from the inside out. Blood warmed and pulsed through her body.
Janos' chanting stopped and he pulled his wrist back a little. "One." He murmured as she marveled at the long forgotten warmth of mortal kind. "Slowly now." He whispered to her as he gave her his wrist again. Marlena nodded, closing her eyes. This time she slowly savored his Vitae, letting it trickle into her mouth.
Memories of mortality floated through her mind. Her first kiss. Her first love. Her first successful mission. Her love of rainbows, sunsets and storms. She could see them so clearly in her mind. There was an overwhelming swell of emotions. Real, tangible, hot, cold, passionate. Marlena felt a wetness on her face that had been missing for decades and she knew that she was crying.
'Tears of joy.' She thought as she opened her eyes and looked at Janos. He wavered for a moment and she grew concerned. Then he smiled at her. "Two." He pressed his wrist to her warm lips again and began the chanting for the third time. Marlena watched him hoping he was okay, but was distracted by the Rapture of his blood for the third time. Then, she became aware that the lower half of her body was tingling. Thawing out. Becoming very much alive and Marlena was becoming more and more aroused. She felt the blood rushing through her body to respond to the instinctive demand. A demand that had been dormant for a very long time.
Janos finished the third and final chant, opening his eyes to look at the wonder on Marlena's face. She was feeling, sensing so much. Like a child on their first Christmas morning. So much to see and feel, she did not know what to do first. "How...?" She asked, touching the tears on her cheek.
"I... We are borrowing something for the evening." Janos seemed pleased, proud of his accomplishments and happy at Marlena's responses. He grabbed her, pulling her close for another long, passionate kiss. She could feel his arousal pressing against her as their hands began to explore each other's bodies.
They moved from the center of the ritual circle, pressing up against a wall. Janos bit the inside of his mouth, sharing his Vitae with Marlena again, then bit her lip to taste her Vitae as well, sharing the blood until it was a mixture of Vitae that could not be separated. The passion and needs grew fierce and feral. Clothing was shed, strew about the room as they moved from the living area into the bedroom. This was a rare and precious time. Neither wished to waste even one moment of it.
Throughout the rest of the night, the two lovers explored one another, bringing pleasure to each other in the most intimate of fashions. Long forgotten rituals, courtship and play resurfaced as the two shut out the entire world-all its' politics, worries and dangers.
In those brief interludes when the two would rest and speak softly, murmuring to each other, Marlena would try to thank Janos for the precious gift that he had given her. He would always get emotional, quieting her with a kiss. "It is for both of us." He would tell her as they would begin the world's oldest dance again.
*
Marlena slowly opened her eyes. She froze still as she looked up at an unfamiliar ceiling. It took her about 30 seconds to gather her thoughts and then she remembered the night before. She was with Janos, in the Embassy Suites Hotel. She was first aware that Janos was holding her close, arms and legs entwined. Then she was aware that she was cold again and that Janos' body was cold. Still, Marlena smiled, remembering the sweet, passionate pleasures of the night before.
She shifted a little to look at Janos as he slept. He was like an angel. Face soft and unconcerned. Marlena felt a great affection for the man at her side. Even love. Yes, love. She could admit it to herself, finally. 'Tempter Angel, perhaps. Where you lead, I will follow.' Leaning close, she kissed him on the nose.
She watched as Janos woke up, a little dazed. She felt him stiffen as he realized that he was not in his usual haven and that he was holding someone in his arms. It took him about a minute to put things together and he relaxed, snuggling in close to Marlena, "Just five more minutes, Mum." He mumbled with a sleepy smile.
"Mum? After last night, I don't think I qualify as 'Mum.'" Marlena grinned as she snuggled close.
"It is an expression." He muttered, eyes closed. He pulled her tighter to him, nuzzling like a cat.
Marlena nodded as they cuddled, slowly waking up together. She touched his face, stroking it tenderly and smiled as he kissed her fingertips. She noticed that he had a distinctly languid and regal air about him as one did when one grew up a noble. 'A far cry from my upbringing on the streets of Washington DC and in the Saint Peter's Home for Orphaned Children.' She mused silently. "I think I could get used to this. Being spoiled."
Janos opened an eye and smiled a crooked grin at her. "Good. You should be spoiled. You deserve it." He stretched in a feline fashion. "I am wishing I could open the curtains and it would be Sunday morning."
"We could have breakfast on the terrace." Marlena joined into the daydream.
"No, no, no." Janos shook his head. "We would have the servants bring us breakfast in bed-perhaps strawberries and chocolate sauce." He paused, a smile lighting up his face again. "In fact..." Janos reached for his phone and dialed. Marlena had to giggle when she heard a phone outside the suite ring. He spoke rapid Romanian into the phone. He smiled at her as he hung up.
*
Several hours later, after a lot of messy, silly and romantic fun with the strawberries and chocolate sauce (and the much needed shower afterwards), Marlena and Janos got ready for the evening. "You know, I think my Constantin has a little crush on your Alexia."
Marlena smiled. "Oh? How interesting." She idly wondered if Alexia had even noticed Janos' bodyguard beyond the fact that he was one of Janos' retainers.
"I think that should they perhaps, start working together, it would be a good thing." Janos winked at Marlena.
"Indeed. And what they do on their off time is their business." Marlena dressed in her usual black, checking her weapons for concealibility and accessibility.
Janos titled his head. "Off time? Constantin does not have off time. He is, eh, very interested in being my bodyguard at all times."
Marlena hmmmed. "Free time is a better way of putting it. Alexia always is concerned for my wellbeing, but I let her have some time to herself."
He nodded, dismissing the talk of their servants in lue of a more immediate want. "Shall we hunt together this night?"
Her eyes sparkled at the thought. "Oh yes."
"One for each?" He asked.
Marlena nodded.
"Who shall go first?" Janos was feeling indulgent. He would see to Marlena's whims first.
Marlena paused, considering. "You. Then I'll take you to a wonderful little Goth club."
He nodded. "I do not think I have ever been to Goth club here in America."
"All you need to do is wear black and pretend that you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. "Marlena gave him an overly dramatic angsty pose and then laughed.
"I think I am having some experience in that." Janos smiled as they opened the door to leave the suite. Much to both of their surprise, Alexia was standing outside the suite door, arms folded across her chest and glaring at Constantin. She straightened up immediately. "Good evening, Regent Ceausescu, Miss Whittaker." Alexia seemed very pleased and relieved to see Marlena alive and well.
Marlena frowned, wondering why Alexia was here. She had left no instructions for her retainer to pick her up. Marlena stopped. She had not left any instructions at all. That was why Alexia was here. Marlena had not followed her own SOP. She nodded to herself. She would not punish Alexia too much, if at all, for this.
"What is the meaning of this?" Janos asked imperiously.
"I am telling her to leave, but she is refusing." Constantin said, eliciting another glare from Alexia.
"Constantin, you are 6'4" and 300 lbs. You were not able to make her leave?" Janos' voice was light, but his eyes bore into those of his retainer.
"And you." Marlena began, "You could not get around him? Haven't I taught you better than that?"
Both Constantin and Alexia turned bright red, mumbling lame explanations to their respective Domitors. Finally, Janos and Marlena let the two off the hook and gave them instructions for the evening. Then, leaving their servants to themselves, Janos and Marlena headed off for a night of hunting, dining, dancing, and star watching.
Alexia and Constantin watched them leave. "If I didn't know better, I would say they like each other." Alexia murmured to Constantin under her breath.
"I am thinking, you are may be right." Constantin answered as soon as the elevator doors shut.
They looked into the hotel suite that they were to clean, removing all traces of the unusual event from the night before. Alexia walked in first, blue eyes taking in the wine, fruit, chocolate, flowers, and the very rumbled bed. 'I didn't know Vampires could have sex. That's refreshing to know.' She smiled to herself. "Now I know they like each other."
Constanin nodded, watching the pretty Alexia as she walked about the room. She stopped at the table and dabbed her finger into what was left of the chocolate sauce, then slowly licked it from her finger, glancing at the handsome bodyguard. He swallowed quickly and looked away, pretending to start cleaning up the mess.
"Are you hungry?" She asked.
Constanin looked up. "What?"
"Are you hungry?" Alexia patiently asked again. "I know I am." She reached for the phone and dialed room service, ordering a nice dinner for two.
"I am not thinking that we should be doing this, Alexia." He frowned. "We have working to be doing."
She smiled slowly at him as she draped herself into a chair next to the table. "Why not? We have all night. It won't take us but an hour or so to clean this up." Alexia dipped her finger into the chocolate sauce and started licking the sweet treat off of her finger again. "Besides, all work and no play makes Constantin a dull boy."
He paused, considering her words. Then he nodded. "Yes. I am hungry. As you say, what could it be hurting?" He sat across from her, watching her openly, his eyes roaming her form. "Dinner, and then we will be working, yes?"
"Oh, yes..." Alexia purred, smiling a wicked little smile. "Working very hard."