The room lay in shadows. The fire had burned down to embers and most of the candles had guttered away. Only one or two flames weakly flickered amongst the candles set about the room. The heavy drapes were pulled across the windows, not against the night, but the encroaching day. The thick material also kept out the autumn chill. This was fortunate since Asher and Julianna had long since pushed the bedcovers onto the floor.

Julianna dozed lightly on the side of the bed closest to the fire. Asher lay on his side, his head supported by his hand, simply looking at her. He enjoyed the way the waning light outlined the curves of her body. Her hair spread across the pillow and spilled off the bed, nearly reaching the floor. As he toyed with a lock of it the curl wrapped around his finger. He raised it to his lips and rubbed his cheek along it. It was soft. So very soft. He could smell the spicy-sweet scent of the soap that she used and it reminded him of the other evening, when he'd played lady's maid and helped her wash it. Once they'd gotten it washed and rinsed, they'd slung water and lather at each other and giggled like children at the look on the housekeeper's face when she saw the mess they had made of the room. He smiled at the memory and rubbed the lock of hair along his cheek again. This time, the gentle tug on her hair woke her and she smiled as she turned her head to look at him. He was looking at her so tenderly it made her breath catch in her throat.

"What are you thinking?" She asked, her voice soft and slightly rough from sleep. Instead of answering, he asked a question of his own.

"Do you know how much you mean to me?" He asked, his voice just as soft.

His eyes met hers as he released her hair and reached over to touch her face. His fingers skimmed her cheek. Following her jaw down to her chin, he brushed his thumb along her lower lip.

"I was alive before your grandparents' parents were born, Julianna." He continued, softly. "I've known so many lovers, both men and women, in my time. More than I could ever tell you about. And in all my years, in all these lovers, I've never found what I've found in you."

His fingers moved down the column of her throat to skim along her delicate collarbones. His eyes never left hers.

"What have you found, mon amour?" She asked.

"A home. You are my home." He replied.

His fingers brushed along her breast. She felt the barest whisper of a touch over her nipple. It was enough to tighten it to a hard point even as his words moved her to tears. He leaned over and kissed the tear from her cheek. His lips moved down to settle over hers as his fingers continued their journey down over her body. He kissed her softly, almost reverently.

"You are my home." He repeated, and kissed her again. His fingers played over her navel.

"You are my hearth." He sucked her lower lip into his mouth gently. His fingers threaded through the hair at the apex of her thighs.

"You complete me." He parted her lips with his own, kissing her deeply as his fingers parted her slick folds. She arched beneath him into his hand, moaning softly.

Julianna ran her hands into Asher's hair, holding him to her as she kissed him back. Asher pulled back and took her hands in his.

"No, ma douce." He placed his hands over her head. "I love your hands on me, but not this time. I want to touch all of you. Taste all of you. If you touch me, I'll lose myself. Let me do this."

She looked up into his eyes that were still looking down into hers so tenderly and wondered about his strange mood, but she gave him what he wanted and kept her hands still against the pillow. Once she acquiesced, he returned to kissing her. Again he moved his fingers down over her body. His light touch sent shivers across her skin and she moaned against his lips. He smiled and climbed over her, his knees on either side of her hips. Then he began kissing his way slowly down her throat. He hesitated over the pulse in her throat. It thundered over him and he reveled in the way it quickened as he ran just the edge of his fangs over it. He wanted this to be for her, however, and since he couldn't roll her when he took her blood as Jean-Claude could, he continued downward past the oh so tempting area.

Touching her with just his lips and his tongue, he moved down to her breast. It seemed like hours before she felt his tongue flick across her nipple. He slowly drew the hardened point into his mouth. She gripped the pillow tightly as she tried to remember how to breathe. After several minutes, he moved towards the other breast.

His slow seduction was making her insane! Her hands gripped his shoulders of their own accord and then trailed down his chest towards his hard length that was brushing her stomach as she tried to convince him without words to leave off this erotic torture and just take her. He again took her hands in his and placed them over her head. A wicked gleam replaced the tenderness in his eyes.

"Ah ah ah. Now you made me forget where I was. I guess I'll have to start from the beginning." He said, smiling.

Julianna groaned in frustration. "Asher! Please!"

He smiled even wider, flashing a hint of fang. "If you don't leave your hands where I put them, I'll have to keep starting over."

For all his teasing tone, she saw he meant what he said. He began again by kissing her mouth and slowly worked his way downward. After an eternity, he parted her thighs and knelt between them and began placing feathery kisses across the taut skin of her stomach. She flinched a little when his tongue circled her navel and she had to resist the urge to grab his shoulders again when his lips brushed her hipbones. She felt him hesitate at her aborted movement. He looked up at her through the curtain of his hair. His mouth hovered barely a breath away from her skin.

"Will I have to start over again, ma belle?" He asked.

She drew in a shaky breath. "No." She whispered and gripped the pillow tighter.

He licked the delicate skin just below the gentle swell of her stomach as if he were tasting her. Then, instead of moving downward as she craved, his mouth followed the line of her pelvic bone to her leg. He nuzzled the top of her inner thigh, causing his hair to brush against her core. Her body was so sensitized, the light touch of his hair cause her to draw a sharp breath. Her leg and stomach muscles clenched and her hips thrust up towards him. She felt him smile against her leg.

"You are so very impatient, ma belle." His voice whispered across her skin, causing her to shiver again. He moved to her other leg. She groaned as she dug her fingernails in to the pillow.

By the time she felt his fingers part her folds, she was writhing under his ministrations and she was moaning almost continually. Then his tongue finally touched her there. She gave a loud, keening cry as her body arched up off the bed in response to the sensation. She felt his fingers slip inside of her and her muscles gripped him tightly in response. Her immediate orgasm left her shaking beneath him. He didn't let up, however. He continued to move his fingers inside her as he sucked her clitoris into his mouth. Her second orgasm hit her hard and fast. He didn't give her time to recover, however. Instead, he continued to use his mouth and fingers on her. Her body twisted under his and she reached for his hair, but stopped herself. She didn't think she could take it if he started over from the beginning again.

"Asher, Asher, mon amour. I cannot bear it! It is too much! Please, I want you inside me now. Please!" She moaned.

He stopped and looked up at her, his eyes traveling along the length of her body. Her skin was flushed and her breasts rose and fell quickly with her heavy breathing. Her eyes were heavy-lidded with passion. Her heat and scent enveloped him. She was so very beautiful.

He moved up over her body. His cool body was almost a relief to her fevered skin. He slid his fingers into her hair and kissed her passionately, all control gone. Julianna released the pillow. She slid one hand into his hair, kissing him back just as passionately. The other hand slid down his body until she held him, cool and hard, in her hand. She placed him against her entrance. Then she wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him into her. Her moan was answered by one of his own. Her muscles gripped him tightly as he began to thrust inside her. Her hips rose to meet his every stroke. He leaned to one side just a little and stroked a hand down her body until his fingers reached her clitoris. He brushed his thumb along it and she cried out as another orgasm swept over her. Almost as affected as she'd been by the slow build-up, his climax quickly followed hers.

They lay together, intwined, breathing heavily, unable to move. After several minutes, he lifted his head. He smiled.

"I wanted to taste every part of you, ma belle, and there is still so much of you that I missed. Next time, I'll have to start with your back and work my way to the front." He said.

She grinned. "I think that I really might go mad if you do that." She stroked his hair back from his face. "But it would be very interesting to find out if I could survive it." She said.

His tender expression from earlier returned.

"You asked me what I was thinking earlier. I was thinking that the day we met was a miracle. Jean-Claude is dear to me, but you, you are my heart." He said.

"As you are mine, mon amour." She replied.

He left the bed to retrieve the bedcovers and they fell asleep curled around each other as dawn broke across the sky.

*******

Somewhere, someone was banging. Julianna groaned and tried to block out the sound, but the banging was incessant.

"Madame! Madame! You must wake up! Something terrible has happened! Madame!" Her housekeeper sounded almost hysterical.

"I'm coming, Odeil! I'm coming! Cease that infernal banging this instant!" She yelled.

Julianna didn't know what time it was, but given the muddled feeling in her head and the lethargy of her body, it must still be quite early. What could possibly be so important to wake her at this hour? She quickly threw on a nightgown and a robe over her naked body. The thrice-damned banging began again. She crossed the room and unlocked the door, throwing it open.

"What is it, Odeil?" She said, loudly, her irritation evident in her voice.

"Madame, there is a man who says he has bad news about the other Master. He is waiting for you downstairs."

Something had happened to Jean-Claude? The normally unflappable housekeeper looked about ready to collapse with fear. Julianna barely noticed, however. Instead, she ran for the stairs without bothering to make herself presentable for guests. She was in the front room and completely surrounded by soldiers dressed in the Witchfinders' livery before she realized that it was a trap. The older man in front of her looked vaguely familiar. She didn't attempt to recall who he might be, however. Instead, she drew herself up straight and proud.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion, monsieur?" She asked, her voice cold and haughty. On the inside, however, she was afraid. Usually, once the Witchfinders were interested in you, all you could hope for was escape. Unfortunately, even if she could get away from the men in this room, there was no way she could take Asher out of the house!

The older man, obviously in charge, sneered at her, contempt and hatred evident in his eyes. "Mademoiselle, you are charged with lascivious conduct, moral turpitude, intercourse with the Devil, and witchery. You are to be presented before the Tribunal for examination."

Lascivious conduct? Moral turpitude? Was this due, in part, to her living arrangement with Jean-Claude and Asher? They usually stayed in noble households, where as long as the formality of separate rooms was maintained no one really cared who slept in where. However, they had actually taken a house and stayed in both Mantua and Venice for several months and nothing like this had ever happened. Had they drawn the notice of the Witchfinders simply because she had not rented two houses? The idea that something so easily avoided might have placed them in this position made her angry and it showed in her voice.

"I might be guilty of "lascivious conduct", as you put, monsieur, but intercourse with the Devil? Witchery? That is ridiculous!" She replied.

Belfleur stepped forward so that he could speak with her without anyone else hearing. "I know it's been more than 30 years, but I'm a little hurt that you don't recognize me. Of course, it may have been easier for me to recognize you than for you to recognize me. After all, I suppose my appearance has changed quite a bit in that time, while yours, yours has remained exactly the same, Juliet."

Shock flashed through her eyes before she could cover it. She looked at him more closely. Could it really be him? Could it really be Rogier Belfleur? She hadn't thought of him in years. She'd put him and all other parts of her previous life behind her the night Asher had arranged her "death". Her parents had betrothed her to Rogier when they were both just infants and, regardless of her feelings about it, she would have followed their wishes and married him if not for Asher. Within a month of meeting the vampire, however, she'd been willing to go to the ends of the earth with him if he asked. She hadn't even had to think about it when he asked her to be his human servant. She realized Rogier was watching her, watching her reaction to his words, and composed herself, but she was sure he'd seen the recognition he'd spoke of in her eyes. She stepped back from him, but she made a point of meeting his eyes with her head held high.

"I don't know what you're talking about, monsieur. My name is Julianna Florecy. I do not know anyone named Juliet and, as I was born in Paris only 22 years ago, I certainly could never have met you over 30 years ago." Her voice was confident, arrogant, but her hands were shaking. She clasped her arms across the low décolletage of her robe and nightgown in part to hide them.

Belfleur smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "We shall see, won't we, mademoiselle?"

Julianna turned towards the door and was met by several soldiers, their swords pointed at her neck and her heart. She stopped.

"I assume I'll be allowed to get dressed before we leave, monsieur?" She asked, without turning to look at him.

"I am tempted to bring you before the Tribunal in all your wantonness, witch. However, you will be allowed to dress." He said, disdain thick in his voice.

She began to walk forward again. Perhaps she could hide Asher and convince them that he had left the night before. If she could save him, then it all would be worth it.

"Provided you don't mind several of my men watching you, to ensure that you don't attempt to flee." He continued.

Humiliation flashed through her. He was going to force her to change her clothes in front of these rough, leering men. She had a feeling that this was but the first humiliation she'd be forced to endure.

"Several, monsieur? Truly, I must be most terrifying if you feel that you need to have several of your soldiers guard me while I change clothes." She said, sarcastically.

"I can hardly chance that you might attempt to seduce or bespell one of my guards from his duty, now can I, witch? That is much less likely if there are several guards than if there are only one or two." He replied.

She looked over her shoulder at him, hatred plain on her face. "No, I suppose you can't." She said, and continued towards the door, confident now that the soldiers would give way.

Belfleur gave a nod and the men in the doorway stepped back out of her way. Five of the soldiers fell in step behind her.

The first thing she saw as she stepped into the hallway was the housekeeper. She'd been standing there, listening to the confrontation. The betraying bitch! If she had given warning instead of leading her into this trap, perhaps she could have figured out a way to save Asher and herself. Her eyes met Odeil's and the woman cringed at the expression on Julianna's face.

"I'm sorry, Madame! There was nothing I could do! I have children to think of…." She groveled.

Julianna's eyes swept over her contemptuously and she turned back towards Belfleur. "Get this woman out of my sight, monsieur, or I won't be responsible for my actions!" She demanded.

Belfleur met her angry stare with one filled with hatred. "Oh, you will be held responsible for all of your actions, mademoiselle, rest assured of that. In the meantime, are you quite sure you don't want a ...chaperone... with you while you make yourself presentable? If not, I will certainly be happy to send Mistress Odeil home."

Julianna looked at the five eager men that planned to watch her as she dressed. She could almost see their thoughts and what they'd like to do to her if they had her alone. She shuddered. She almost spat when she muttered, "The worthless wench may accompany us, but she'd better not speak a word of her excuses to me!"

As she started up the stairs, she heard a shout from above. Other soldiers had been searching the house while she'd been talking with Rogier and she suddenly realized that in her haste earlier she hadn't relocked the door! Asher! Paying no attention to the shouts behind her, she lifted her skirts and ran up the stairs. She had to get to him! She had to protect him! She burst into the room to see two soldiers standing over Asher's naked body. Grabbing a heavy brass candlestick from a table near the door, she ran towards them, heedless of their drawn swords.

"Get away from him!" She screamed.

Stunned at the sight of a beautiful woman running towards them, clad only in her nightclothes, the soldiers hesitated. She took advantage of their hesitation. She stepped in close to the guard nearest to her and brought the candlestick down hard against his forearm, using all of her considerable strength. The sound of the bone breaking was loud in the room. She grabbed his sword as it fell from his now nerveless fingers and turned it awkwardly towards the other soldier. He started to rush forward and she threw the candlestick at his head with deadly accuracy. It grazed his head as he ducked and stepped back. Disoriented from the sudden pain, he stepped back again, falling over his companion, who was writhing on the floor in pain. He quickly regained his feet, however. He touched the side of his head and came away with blood on his fingers.

"You pay for that, bitch!" He snarled angrily.

He circled her, noting that she held the sword with no skill. He laughed.

"You would have done better to keep the candlestick and throw the sword, sweetheart."

He feinted to her right and was bringing his sword around to slash her left side when an angry voice cut across the room.

"Stop!" Belfleur yelled.

Both Julianna and the guard stood still, though they still held their weapons at the ready.

"Mademoiselle, I have crossbows pointed at both you and your lover. If you perhaps think to goad me into shooting you in the hopes that he might survive, bear in mind that I have a good idea exactly what he is. I will make sure the first arrow enters his heart. Then I will take his head in front of your very eyes. On the other hand, if you desist with this pointless display, I will personally ensure that the young man will..." He hesitated over the next word as if it caught in his throat. "Live to see another night. Have I made myself clear?" His voice was like ice.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat and she tossed the sword to the floor.

"Yes, monsieur, you have made yourself most clear."

Two soldiers ran up and grabbed her arms, turning her back towards Belfleur. She was walked over to him. Without warning, he backhanded her hard enough to rock her head to one side. She saw bright flashes of light and felt blood trickle down from her lip where his ring had caught her.

"It appears you have broken one of my guardsman's arms. He will be useless to me for weeks." His voice was as calm as if he was telling her about the weather. Then he punched her in the stomach and her legs went out from under her. She sagged, dangling in the soldiers' bruising grip. She coughed and retched and tried to catch her breath.

"Take her and dress her." He looked sternly at the two holding her. "I expect her back downstairs within 30 minutes and ready to go. As for this creature, you three," He pointed at three other guardsmen. "Wrap him completely in the heaviest cloth you can find and make sure that absolutely no part of him is exposed and then load him into the carriage. The rest of you search the house. According to Mistress Odeil, the other one sailed for France almost a week ago. I want you to sure that he really is gone and there are no other abominations in the house." He turned away and stalked down the stairs.

******

Odeil led the way to Julianna's room and pulled out a plain day dress, an underdress, and some undergarments. Meanwhile, one of the soldiers held her arms bent painfully behind her back while the other one took sadistic glee in ripping the robe and nightgown from her.

"Look at that. I knew there was a nice bit of muff hid under them skirts." Both of them laughed as she tried to flinch away from the bruising hands pinching and groping her. She clamped her legs tightly together and yelled as the one in front of her tried to run his hand up between her thighs. The soldier behind her let go of one of her arms and covered her mouth. He used the motion to pull her tighter against him. Despite the fact that it felt like he was breaking her arm, she started to struggle in earnest when the one in front of her started to undo his breeches. It was the one holding her stopped him, however.

"Put it away, man! His Lordship said we had to be downstairs with the witch quick like. We don't have time for this and I, for one, don't want to get on his bad side. Besides, it's not like she won't be in a cell and waiting for us this evening, eh?" They laughed and told her in crude, explicit detail exactly what they planned for her as they continued to grope her for a few moments. It involved them and several of their friends. She shuddered at the mental image it produced.

The one holding her had the other one ready his crossbow before he shoved her towards Odeil who was crouched over in the corner, crossing herself and reciting the rosary. The sudden motion caused her to fall at the housekeeper's feet. Julianna rubbed her abused arms and wished that she were indeed a witch who could bring down pain and death on all of these bastards.

The one that had been holding her sneered. "Unless you want to go out of here naked, I suggest you get up and get them clothes on, witch."

Her glare was venomous, but she stood and dressed. Odeil retrieved her walking shoes and a head veil while she braided her long hair and pinned it up. When she was ready, the guards again stepped forward and grabbed her arms roughly and escorted down to the waiting Belfleur.

continue?