Throughout the day, the inevitable happens. The same usual thing day in and day out. Absolutely nothing. The same mundane chores. With a plethora of scheduled sessions to Catherine's door to deliver her medicine. It's becoming quite redundant, however, it's better than being married. Who said I was complaining? I wasn't. You may if you wish but that is your prerogative. Catherine and I had a mutual understanding as far as the West Wing is concerned. I was allowed to enter if Roman was on the loose or if her medicine was needed. Not a peep, nor to disturb Catherine and no contact with the blue spirit under any circumstances. In which, if I was ever approached, I must report to her immediately.

  In due time the tension passed. Catherine and I were on speaking terms but it felt as though we were at a crossroads in a sense. I wanted to get in, but she shut me out. As if she was scared to let me in. I fear she may upset me and be the reason I leave. It appeared as if nothing had happened whereas she stored it deep inside her. Oh, I wish to be the one to crack her surface. She let me once, I needed to go again.

  I was in my usual spot this night, an enjoyable one at that. Finishing off a book I read in a matter of two days. I arose from the comfortable spot in the groove of the couch. My feet were not my own, they were numb from me sitting on them for so long. I stretched out flicking my ankles to hear the sweet click of my subtalar joint and talus bone shift against each other. "Ah...much better. Sweet god." I rolled my neck around my shoulders to hear the same noise. My ears perked while I trotted over to the bookshelf with the empty spot to place the book perfectly back. It was footsteps. It was Catherine's obviously. Spirits don't make footsteps correct? I hope.

  "Bella? Bell?" Catherine's voice boomed. She turned the corner of the hall. Her arm crept along the door frame leaning her body weight on the hardwood. "Yes, Cath?"

  "Come, it is late. Please, you go to bed. You look tired." She yawned. "As do you. I thought you slept in the day?" I yawned in return.

  "I did. I yawn in mere boredom. When you go to bed then I will have my fun."

  "Oh? You have without me?"

  "Jealous little sort are we? Go to bed and perhaps I may include you." I tip-toed before Catherine met her eye to eye. "Really? What fun would that detail?" She smirked as she lifted a loose strand of hair away from her face. "Do not fret, you will enjoy it. Now, bed." I passed her down the hall to the stairs. I would assume this was the attic, however, in this castle, it is a labyrinth. As though the castle only allows me to see what it wants me to. I perhaps may or may not be imagining it. Castles are not alive. It is just a building. Stones and wood. The matter remains, the owner of this castle wanted to keep everything lock and key.

  ?───? ??? ?───?

  I dove deep under the covers in my bed. I was on the brink of falling asleep. My brain shut off. The door creaked with the sound of the hinges wailing. My eyes widened with the sense something felt extremely off. The room's dark aesthetic changed to a blue haze. It bugged my eyes with the fuzz around the corners of my footboard and cabinets.

  Was I having a dream? This was not my room. This...this was different. Airy yet quiet.

  "Bell...oh Bell." I could not move my head from left to right. Nor my body for that matter. I am dreaming. I must be. The paralyzing feeling, disorientation, acute deafness. Yes. I am dreaming. I knew that was Catherine's voice but her body did not come into my field of vision. I tried to say yes but all my vocal cords could muster was a 'huh' noise. Like an animal. "Good, you up." Catherine came into frame, wearing her red robe not tied around her waist. "I wanted your company more than expected." Catherine cascaded herself around the diameter of my bed slinking her body across my mattress. "Uh...huh?" She hopped onto her knees revealing she wore nothing under her robe. Bare in all of her glory. I wanted to oppose and turn away. I had no use for it, my body refused to. "You seem to be needing company huh? All alone on a night like this?" She slipped off the robe off her arms throwing the cloth to the floor. Her lengthy hair ran down her back stopping barely to her ass. It made me feel like complaining about how long my hair wasn't a major issue since Catherine hadn't cut her in a few years. "Mphm..." I nodded not knowing fully what the hell I was agreeing to. "I love we have mutual understanding darling," She reached down stroking a strand of my curls that lay alone on my pillow. "May I join you?" Her eyes lit red as she drew my bedsheets away from my body. Her hands dipped under my shoulders tugging my nightgown to my ankles.

  Hey! Wait! Stop that!

  "Huh?.." I peered down at my nude body under hers. "N-n-no..." She hummed a little giggle. "Your mind may object, however, your body is telling me differently. My mind tells me to lick every part of your orifice. Inside and out. My body on the other hand...well let me just show you..." She crawled on top hovering over my body. She licked the top of her teeth and lip, as her red eyes stayed. Her head dipped to my shoulder as her tongue glided across my collarbone. My body was paralyzed but my senses were enhanced, and so was every nerve ending in my being. Feeling this was as if I felt it awake. "Oh god...I can smell it Bell. Your excitement. Your b-blood. It's driving me over the fucking edge!"

  My what?! I heard correct?

  My breath hitched not to move. How could I? I was motionless already but the sheer fact a beautiful naked woman laid upon me, besides I laid bare idly beneath her as well. "Your mixture of scents is so erotic. Orgasmic even. Fuck...if I even see a drop of your blood I will sure come on the spot." Her head perked up from my collar dragging her tongue along my cheek. "Goddamit...Belly my sweet, do you see me? You have your own power, power over me." My arms were finally free. They were once heavy as boulders, now they are as light as pillows. I could not function properly as I would normally. I reached out to stop her. I went to leap off under her body but my back was still heavy. My hands swerved through her hair bumping the side of her breast. Catherine's smile hid behind her hand, it dropped down to grasp mine to bring my palm against her full breast. "Oh, I know what you want. It's been on your mind all along. Me. Quite flattered if I dare say. I haven't been touched in years. I'll let it be you Bell. As long as I'm allowed to do the same." She shined her sharp teeth shaking her full hair behind her back. She smelt of a mix of florals and copper. "W-what?..."

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "I want you to touch me, Bella. I would tear this flesh apart and crawl into you. Your blood would be the height of my sexual escapades. Let me!" She drew one index finger flicking her long nail out in the moonlight, her nail drug across my neck. It stung briefly with the feeling of a damp coolness. It was blood! My blood! Catherine let out a tumultuous moan. Her eyes shone brighter than ever. She leaped to my neck lapping the fresh blood off. She murmured in my skin. Her body trembled over mine. My fear was replaced with excitement. Not the feeling I didn't think was to be expected but it was there. The thrill of being touched perhaps? Being with Catherine? A supposed vampire? Perhaps the villagers were right. "I am what you think I am...what they say I am. A blood-drinking nymphomaniac vampire!" Catherine grasped one of my smaller breasts in comparison to hers. "This is the longest I haven't slept with a servant...nor kept them alive this long. You should feel honoured. Deflowering you will be so sweet. Your first orgasm will make your blood so precious. A rare commodity. I can't hold it any longer!" At once, her hand dove into my skin ripping my skin apart. My blood painted the white bedsheets under us, my skin tore like stale bread. Rough cut skin deep in like a slab. I cannot scream nor freak. I lay still watching. Her opposing hand had other plans, as she spread my thighs apart dipping her middle and ring finger deep into my loins. My brain was screaming. Her hand dug further into my ribcage as her other pumped ruthlessly into my mere core. With a large thick string-like matter out of my stomach. My intestine! No! She intertwined my large intestine in her hand licking my blood. Her mouth was covered in the crimson of my bodily fluids. Catherine dropped my inner workings back in their place still deep inside me. It was a shame I could not feel this. Not the pain I mean but the sheer fact that I have never had someone inside me other ways than being split open like this. I bet she makes love as passionately as she kills. "Taste your decadence, Bella Donna." Her head hovered over as her bloodied lips smashed into mine. My neck finally moved as her lips guided me to join the kiss. Her tongue poked lathering my blood in my mouth. I still taste the copper but it wasn't something I was disapproving over. I had to let out a cry or free myself. I was dying. Catherine opened me up, I am surely dead already! Just running in shock. "N-no! No!"

  ?───? ??? ?───?

  "Ah!! No! No!" I shot out of bed in a pool of sweat. My nightgown slung around my shoulder half on and half off. Roman hid under a chair in my room over my shrieks. My hair stuck to my forehead.

  "Bella! Bella!" Catherine screamed from what seemed to be her study. Her stomps up the stairs grew loud and she ran at a fast pace. She ran into my room almost breaking the door down. "What is wrong with you?! Why in the hell are you screaming?!" She was out of breath as she checked my forehead. "God you are burning! You must be falling ill." She sat on the edge of my bed adjusting the straps of my nightgown to cover my exposed body. "N-no...I'm fine. I just had a really bad nightmare."

  "A nightmare? How back could it possibly be if you are in shock hm?" Catherine caressed my shoulder in comfort. Though, I could not get the violent image out of my head. Her naked vampire body tore me to shreds with a hard-on for me. "Um-...I don't think I want to share Valeria. It was too dark."

  "Hmph...fine. If you insist. Come down to my study with me. I do not want you to catch a cold from going to bed all sweaty in your cold bedroom. Not good for your body. I'll fetch you some water." She arose to her feet lending out a hand. I caught her hand hoisting my shaken body up to the floor. She was right. The only thing warm in the room was me. The wood beneath my feet was ice. Catherine's hand took hold guiding me down the stairs to our left into her study. "It is fine Catherine. I serve you. I will fetch my own water." I tried to let go but her hand held me firm. "Nonsense. I have water in my study. I drink more than medicine Bell." We both stopped at her red velvet chaise chair she sat in often. This was Catherine's chair. She shouldn't have to give it up for me due to my childish nightmares. Catherine dropped my hand beside my hip as she moved behind her chair to the desk to find a vase of water and a glass. I observed her movements as a mirror caught my eye.

  I was unharmed! It was a mere dream! My intestines were not out on display! My throat...Wait! My throat! I ran to the mirror to find a small red line carved below the most important vein in the body slightly cut enough to draw a morsel of blood. "What the hell?.." I felt it slightly trying not to make it bleed worse. "What's wrong Bell?" Catherine turned in her robe. "Um-...I have a cut...across my throat."

  "Oh...oh dear, must be self-inflicted. You never know, how you were going about this mysterious nightmare it appears you must have hurt yourself while freeing your mind." I had to agree with her. I could tell her my dream. Keeping the sexual parts out in fear of my feelings brought to light. She would laugh at me for thinking she was a creature of the night. "Weird. In my dream," Catherine's hand took hold of mine to pull me away from the mirror, in which her body never appeared. She sat me on her chair sitting next to me. "I-um...you came into my room. You slashed my throat." She handed me the glass, I gulped in appreciation downing its contents happily. "Haha! Why on earth would I do such a thing? I had to get you away from the mirror. An optical illusion mirror from Greece. My husband loved it." An optical illusion? No illusion there.

  "You were a vampire. Haha! The villagers are getting into my head more than I thought!" I giggled as she refilled my glass. "Ha! Seems so. What a strange girl you are. However, I do find it flattering you are having dreams about me. Nightmares or fantasies."

  "Sure. You are probably the same. We are the only people we see every day." I yawned in a sense I grew tired in her calming presence.

  "Oh, I suppose when you put it like that. Here, you must warm yourself by the fire." Catherine's hand touched my temple moving my head to her shoulder. "There. You'll be warm." I slightly shivered against Catherine's icy body. Like brick. Her hand laid against my cheek, her nails tapped above my eyebrow. I notice each nail move singularly to its translucent shape. Until I noticed something startling. The cherry red tint coated her index nail. Something that could be passed off but my mind thought it knew better. "Did you cut yourself Cath?" My hand crept to her wrist examining her reddened finger. "Oh, not on the contrary. I was pouring myself some medicine and it spilt a little." She held her finger to her face as she licked to remnants. "Do not worry, just lay here. Warm yourself. You are making me cold Bell." Her hand retreated to my face applying pressure. "No blood-sucking is in store tonight, rest assured." Catherine mocked me. I did not protest or retort back, I took a mental note to make fun later. I was going back to sleep with a feeling of Catherine's hands on my body. One laid on my head as the other crept up my thigh holding me if I were to fall forward. My brain wished to sleep but it wanted to stay alert, even if it was just a dream, it seemed too real to not stay wary. She pokes fun yes, but is it her guarded facade hiding the true nature of Catherine Valeria's true illness? Not sickly by any means; but a true vampire.

  "Dancing bears...painted wings...things..I always...remember..." Catherine whispered the same song. The song the ghost girl sang in the entryway. I suspect it was her daughter but I would not dare to ask on the subject. I instantly hummed the same tune under my breath. Finally at ease to fall asleep next to my employer.

  How strange is it not? The same once cold and menacing face, ridiculing my every move could show her soft underbelly. There is a softness to Catherine Valeria. I have only scratched the surface, in which I am fully prepared to break her barrier.