R-NC-17 (Though parental guardians are not at all recommended.)
Rated for the following: Violence, abuse, rape, death, homicide, ‘colorful' language, blood sucking (o.O;), sexual situations, and lastly... Slash/Yaoi

He took everything, and gave nothing... When all Persephone ever wanted was to be loved....

Persephone

Act 2, Scene 1, Love you Madly

I don't want to wonder
If this is a blunder
I don't want to worry whether
We're gonna stay together
'Till we die

I don't want to jump in
Unless this music's thumping
All the dishes rattle in the cupboards
When the elephants arrive

I want to love you madly
I want to love you now
I want to love you madly, way
I want to love you, love you
Love you madly

I don't want to fake it
I just want to make it
The ornaments look pretty
But they're pulling down the branches
Of the Tree

I don't want to think about it
I don't want to talk about it
When I kiss your lips
I want to sink down to the bottom
Of the sea

Demetrius awoke late and gloriously sexed. He crawled out of bed, and tried somewhat not to disturb his two lovers, Helen, the girl with the electric-pink hair, and Lysander, his ‘less fortunate' cousin. An odd trio, to be sure, but Demetrius wasn't one to complain about his sex buddies, just so long as they were doing what he'd befriended them for...

He smiled to himself as he stepped into his large shower, letting the water pelt down onto him. Yes, he'd been perfectly happy with the events of the night before, but the entire time he had wished to be with only one person, and not two as he was now, though neither of them was who he'd thought of.

Somehow, he'd have to take Persephone, if not for the young man, but for himself; hopefully he would be able to kill Lucien in the process. While a vampire hunter, Demetrius still had an overwhelming sense of justice for all creatures, which included the creatures of the night... While Lucien was a vampire, that didn't necessarily mean that he was evil.

Although, Demetrius had no doubt in his mind that Lucien would be deserving of any punishment he could inflict. A vampire should never take a concubine like Persephone... It would be enough to drive the poor boy crazy and paranoid eventually, if he wasn't already.

In his years as a vampire hunter, and from any tales he had heard from others, he'd never met anyone who'd come across a situation quite like his... Lucien's madness was appalling; Persephone's grief was... Painful... Wrong.

He felt a strange sense of foreboding as he stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. Though he'd never actually come in contact with Lucien himself, his reputation preceded him, and he seemed to be no ordinary vampire. Older, perhaps, than any vampire Demetrius had yet to encounter... Dangerously, with age came immunity.

Nothing conventional, practical, or stereotypical would kill Lucien DeNoir... Stakes through the heart, silver bullets, cloves of garlic, articles of Christian religion... More than likely useless, and most assuredly cliché. Sunlight, even, might not be enough to do him in. Somehow, however... Persephone would be free. Demetrius would just have to think of something, first.

Drying his hair with a separate towel, he suddenly ceased both his steps and the rubs of his hair when he reentered his bed room. Unlike how he had left them, Helen and Lysander now lay in the bed in each others' arms. “What's it that we have here..?” he asked, a quirky smile to his lips, and an amused tone to his voice.

They both instantly broke away from one another, each grabbing a separate part of a sheet to cover themselves, suddenly conscientious. “Uh...” Lysander tried, but Demetrius only stood there expectantly, his hands on his bare hips, waiting for an audible, articulate response.

“Oh, go ta hell, ya bastard,” Helen grumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes, her usually askew pink hair even more so. Lysander only reddened, and slid out of the bed, trying to find his clothes to dress himself with. He only succeeded in finding Demetrius' pants, however, which were too short, and quickly threw them aside. Demetrius only rolled his eyes, and sauntered off to his closet, throwing clothes all over the place while looking. “Hey! Ya know I'm goin' ta have ta pick those up lata, ya slob!”

“You are such the morning person, Helen...” Demetrius said dryly, though wearing a hidden wry smile on his features. He just loved tormenting her in various ways when she'd just woken up.

“Um...” Lysander broke in, looking to his watch, and finally wearing his own clothes. “It's actually rather late in the afternoon, and um... Demetrius, stop putting those blue jeans on...”

“Why?” He asked sheepishly. “Does my ass do it for you, huh?”

Lysander only shook his head, looking crestfallen at the fact that he was related to such a complete and total imbecile... “No, you idiot. You've another of your mother's prestigious parties to attend, and while I'd love to see her face if you walked downstairs dressed as you are, I don't think she'd be very happy with your chosen ensemble...”

Demetrius' shoulders slumped as he threw a t-shirt back into the closet, and turned to stick his tongue out at his raven-haired cousin. “That's not what you said last night... About my ass, that is,” he added after Lysander gave him a clueless look. “And I don't care,” he said, pulling out a rather regal suit. “If you two are in love... You're rather bad about hiding it from me, so you may as well just escort Helen tonight...”

Lysander and Helen exchanged a look of overwhelmed, yet welcomed surprise, before Helen bolted out of the bed and threw her arms around Demetrius, squeezing him fondly. “Oh, Demetrius! Thank ya, and I love ya ta death!”

“Bah!” Demetrius whined, trying to twist free from her strangely iron grip. “Eww, get off of me, you crazy European floozy! You're getting girl cooties all over me! Gross! Lysander, save my ass!”

Helen only snuggled him, and fwapped him on the head. “That's not what ya said last night, ya loser!” Lysander only buried his face in his hands, and Demetrius, though still putting up a smile, came to realize how few days like this they had left...
Persephone woke up to far less inviting circumstances. Still exhausted and weak, not to mention sore all over, Persephone awoke still lying where Lucien had left him, shivering as he stood and stepped to the tile bathroom floor. He wrapped himself tightly in the nearest towel he could find, relieved that it was overlarge like everything else in Lucien's manor, and covered much of his icy skin.

Huddling against the wall to preserve what warmth he'd gained, he looked up suddenly when the golden doorknob to the bathroom shook, and then the door swung open. Between himself and the bedroom stood a golden-haired young man, and while it was not Lucien, it was certainly not much better.

“L-l-lazerus..!” Persephone cried softly, now shaking for more than one reason. Lazerus was one of Lucien's lackeys, and basically a zombie. He was much older than Persephone, though he still looked young, and was by no means as old as Lucien; while his hair shared a similar golden sheen to Lucien's, it was cut much shorter and more modern, and had a bronze tinge to it.

He grabbed Persephone by the wrist, and while his thin fingers whose skin was grayed and lacked the faint yet flourished glow of life wrapped around his arm, they held much more strength than their appearance let on. “P-please don't...” Persephone said softly, though he dared not move.

“Master Lucien wanted me to fetch you when you awoke. I could feel you stirring. You are to do as I say, and prepare for Master Lucien's party tonight. I am to eat you if you give me any trouble. Master Lucien said you would not give me any trouble. Will you disobey me?” He asked, his words and sentences slurred together inexpressively, as his amber eyes boared into Persephone's frightened violet ones.

“N-no... I will not...” Persephone said softly, dropping his head in submission. He knew that Lazerus would not hurt him unless Lucien had instructed him to, which was something he rarely ever did. It was his own pleasure to abuse Persephone, and no one else's. Though, Persephone was not about to disobey...

He was far from being that stupid. Lucien had once before made Persephone watch as Lazerus ate some one alive, just to prove to the terrified young man that Lazerus was entirely capable of killing him slowly and painfully were he to not do as he was told. The images burned into Persephone's mine as Lazerus jerked him carelessly from the room, and he felt waves of sickness wash over him.

Still weakened and unbelievably tired, Persephone lost his footing, but was caught by Lazerus' surprisingly swift reflexes, and lifted into his arms. Lazerus carried him to the bed, and set him down with more gentle actions than he'd first touched Persephone with, knowing full well that Lucien's concubine was very dear to him, and even more fragile.

“Do not move,” Lazerus said monotonously, walking to the armoire. Persephone obliged willingly, relieved to just sit in the soft comfort of the bed, so different from the inhospitable bath tub. He returned with a snowy white ball gown draped over his arms, and laid it down on the bed beside Persephone. “Dress.”

Nodding, Persephone stood and pulled the silken clothing on, relieved by the warmth it provided his body but his shoulders and arms. His waist was already slim and curvier than the average male's, and as the dress was made to look like he had at least some what of a chest, he found himself looking all the more feminine in the large mirror that hung on one wall.

When he had finished, Lazerus took his wrist again, and led him to the dresser, pushing down on his shoulders lightly to seat him, as though every of Persephone's actions must be thoroughly directed, or he would do nothing at all. Strangely enough, though Persephone was used to it; Lazerus began to brush his hair.

Sorrowfully, Persephone gazed into the reflection of the mirror before him, not at himself, but at Lazerus, his amber eyes dull and emotionless, yet set on the task at hand. He would have been, in every right, very handsome, had it not been for the bland vail between his consciousness and the rest of the world. Had he been anything but what Lucien had made him, he would perhaps not scare Persephone so, and the pale youth often found himself wondering what kind of person Lazerus had truly been...

As himself, Lazerus was Lucien's child, and as he did, Lazerus would do all Lucien said. That strange bond and understanding was the only thing that kept Persephone from being completely terrified and disgusted by his actions, though he still shuddered visibly as the cold, lifeless fingers ran across the back of his neck.

When his hair was done up, as shining and lovely as ever, Lazerus stepped away, but Persephone did not move. Persephone stared at his reflection, violet eyes wide and innocent, before watering with tears. He felt so ashamed every time Lucien dressed him like this, and while there was no doubt that he was beautiful, he felt as though he was hiding.

Covering his eyes with his hands, he willed the tears away, his soft sobs gradually turning into coughs, which became more violent with each one. He covered his mouth suddenly, catching the blood that trickled slowly from between his lips. Jumping slightly when Lazerus appeared instantly behind him, he gave a small gasp as he took his hand, and licked the blood away. “You taste good...” Was whispered into his ear, and he instantly stiffened.

But, as he had hoped, Lazerus would do nothing against him without Lucien's expressed permission, and the golden-haired boy continued to dress him, slipping matching white gloves over Persephone's thin fingers, and then his slim wrists, and then his pale arms. He stood when Lazerus physically directed him to do so, and looked himself over mournfully in the mirror.

As Lazerus laced butterfly wings to the back of his shimmering white dress, Persephone absently fingered his neck, wondering what would be done to hide his... Injury. The cuts on his face had already been covered by makeup as pale as his skin, but nothing had been done about the two small holes on his neck, which were now purple and bruised around the edges. His questions were quickly answered, however, when Lazerus slipped a choker around his neck.

It was at first too tight, and when Persephone tensed, unable to breathe, Lazerus loosened it a bit, and spoke. “I am sorry. I forget mortals need to breathe... It is a gift from Lucien. He said he has forgiven you for your treachery.” Persephone only silently nodded.

His fingers traced over the beautiful, precious stones, each as perfect and flawless as the next. The silvery white of the diamonds and the luscious red of the rubies glinted in the light, and matched the butterfly wings and dress... And they hid his neck perfectly well.

Before taking his arm again and leading him away once more, Lazerus handed Persephone the mask he would hold for the ball he would attend with Lucien... As more of an image for him than as an actual companion. Giving himself one last wistful look in the mirror, Persephone turned away sorrowfully, stepping deftly and gracefully after Lazerus...

Lucien was waiting.

I want to love you madly
I want to love you now, yeah
I want to love you madly, way
I want to love you, love you
Love you madly

I don't want to hold back
I don't want to slip down
I don't want to think back to the one thing that I know I
Should have done

I don't want to doubt you
Know everything about you
I don't want to sit across the table from you
Wishing I could run

I want to love you madly
I want to love you now
I want to love you madly, way
I want to love you, love you
Love you madly

The italicized words are coppywritten to Cake, on their CD Comfort Eagle, circa 2001, track nine, Love You Madly. I in no way lay claim, other than... I just typed it... :)

; It's been pointed out to me that a lot of the character's name start with L... o.o; Well, that was accidental, and only because I like to use allusions in this story, and that's just how it worked out... ^^

._.; Who likes Lazarus? I don't... ; He's a bastard... Not really because of anything he does in this story, but what he does in my other stories... Oo Confused yet..? ^^