It is a bedroom,

Red as the hall,

A four poster bed on a platform,

Red curtains,

Red blankets and pillows,

A black carpet,

A closet holding dresses,

Old dresses,

Beautiful dresses,

Ball gowns,

An arched window,

Barred,

Gazing upon a courtyard (See Courtyard),

An air of comfort lingers,

An air of love,

A desk in the corner,

Locked,

There seems to be no key,

What is in that desk?

What about this room is so peaceful?

So loving?

It makes your heart pound,

Makes you want,

Long,

As you have never longed,

The bed looks to be the perfect place for love,

It confuses you,

Makes uncontrollable,

Makes you want to stay out of this room,

If you leave it,

The feelings,

The longings,

Disappear,

But that room,

It is perfect,

If only you had a lover near,

That bed looks so soft.

RP 1

CHAPTER 45

DANICO

ENTERS THE ROOM OF THE COUNTESS

Danico slid into the room silkily and after a quick, calculating glance he took the chair standing in front of the desk. He carried the chair to a sheltered corner at the opposite side from where the closet stood. To aid his cause he opened the closet door just far enough to allow an inviting glimpse of the exquisite dresses waiting inside. Then he promptly took a seat on the chair in the hidden corner and allowed the shadows in the room to wrap around him like a blanket, rendering him almost invisible.

All he had to do was to wait.

RP 1

Chapter 46

ELIZABETH

I lazily bumped open the door that Danico had entered and lightly treaded to the center of it. He was sitting in a dark corner of the room, watching me like a hawk. Oh wait, I get it.

I'm not supposed see him.

I glanced around expectantly, half waiting for a creature or something of the sort to jump on me as if it's all a prank.

There was nothing. Only a beautifully carved cupboard with glorious night gowns screaming at me from their hangers. They want me to wear them.

I felt so much at ease right then, it was something very overwhelming. This room did it to me, and it was absolutely irresistible. Although, it wasn't the dresses. It was Danico.

The murderer of my child, and the biggest nuisance in the universe, was suddenly so exceptionally and irrevocably appealing to me. I shifted into my human form, knowing that I should too now be very, very unavoidable in this magical room.

RP 1

CHAPTER 47

DANICO

"You do realize I opened that closet for a reason? Get dressed. I do believe you are not a complete animal." Danico said, fumbling in one of his many coat pockets. After a moment he seemed to find what he was looking for and chuckled softly to himself as he traced the outline of a shard of mirror thoughtfully.

'Good thing that kiss between Cyra and me didn't happen. It would have made this room an decidedly unpleasant experience otherwise, judging by this room's little melody.'

He glanced at Elizabeth briefly.

'Hmm... Well, it's definitely doing its job. This should make things easier. I just hope she doesn't try... something...'

RP 1

Chapter 48

ELIZABETH

I shot an alluring smile in his direction.

"Is that the Nefalai meaning for; 'I'm still a virgin which means I cannot be attracted to a naked woman in front of me?' Oh please, Danico. You're still a man after all."

I kept smiling, hoping that he'll wipe that stupid expression off of his face any second now and just kiss me already.

RP 1

CHAPTER 49

DANICO

Danico grinned.

"Well, I'd love to go into a long conversation on our species' reproductive habits, but unfortunately that's not what I came in here for, so all you need to now is no, Elizabeth, I am not attracted to the naked woman in front of me. And Elizabeth, don't call me Danico again."

His face darkened and his black eyes wandered to from Elizabeth's face.

"Foundlingbird, foundlingbird..."

He looked back at the woman in front of him.

"Do you know that old little song Elizabeth? My name is Alexander. Now if you please, back up a step towards the closet and this will be over soon so that I can pay a visit to the little princess."

RP 1

Chapter 50

ELIZABETH

"Fine... Mr. Alexander. Wait, wait, wait! Princess? Come on, Dan, I'm not a person for riddles. Give it to me straight and dirty."

I looked at him for a second and then made up my mind.

"I mean, the way it really is."

I looked at him for another second.

"Or should I get dressed first, since it probably makes you uncomfortable, Mr. Alexander the man?"

RP 1

CHAPTER 51

DANICO

Discreetly Danico pierced one of his fingertips on the shard of mirror in his hand before getting up from his chair lightly and taking a few steps towards Elizabeth.

"Princess? Did I call her that? You mean the little flower upstairs? But no you don't have to dress; You will suffice just as you are. You see Elizabeth you are strong, not just physically but in pure force of will as well and I, you see-"

Without warning he closed the remaining space between Elizabeth and himself, backing her up against the closet mirror. Then, the moment she hit the cold, reflective surface her reflection's hands shot out and fastened around her wrists, which Danico had kept at her sides, in a grip as strong as her own.

"I need that strengh to face this place, whatever this place is."

RP 1

Chapter 52

ELIZABETH

I remained calm. Who cares what he does to me now, anyway? The last time I checked, my life was in ruins anyway. He took my family. Who cares if he took me too?

"I have my own will too, you know. I'm a law abiding citizen, and clearly, you are not!" Since you're going to take my strength. Or something like that. What ever.

"Maybe I should just kill myself before you even think of touching me just a little bit more. And you know what? This position actually seems a little... hmm, should I say a teeny bit tempting for a human man to fantasize about? What, did you think pressing up to me wouldn't affect my raging hormones? Get real. And get off!"

RP 1

CHAPTER 53

DANICO

"You won't kill yourself... And I'm enjoying myself tempting you, so I'm not planning on getting off until I have what I want. Now I'm not going to take it all... Just enough... You should be fully recovered in a few hours. You're too useful to kill right now. So, do you want a kiss?"

Promptly Danico's hands moved to her face, Elizabeth's strength seeping into them steadily.

RP 1

Chapter 54

ELIZABETH

"I...", I couldn't respond, my legs felt so numb I knew for sure that I wasn't holding myself up anymore. It was him. I glared at him for a moment and then opened my mouth to speak again.

A snarl escaped.

Doesn't he realize that a shape shifter might be a teeny little bit more animal than human? It was my instincts that was taking over, and the attack mechanism was to be catapulted right into him at any damn moment.

"You..." another snarl. I tried keeping my eyes apologetic, so that he would hopefully understand.

RP 1

CHAPTER 55

DANICO

LORIMER

The reflection of Elizabeth's hands loosened their grip for a moment; just long enough for them to fasten themselves around her middle in order to support her increasing weight.

"I... You... Is that a yes or a no? And just what is that terribly soppy expression on your face? Don't worry, it'll be over in less than a minute and after that you can take a nice, long catnap. And what do you think about my little trick? Neat isn't it? Borrowing reflections... it comes at a price though. Those hands holding on to you have the power of your own... Which make this little trick effective, if expensive... Do you realize that I talk to much? I should probably keep my mouth shut, but since I get out so seldom..."

Lorimer woke up facing darkness and then recognized a voice that he would rather have never known. For a few moments he just kept still, wondering what he was doing before he went to sleep. He moved out from underneath the bed and turned around to find Danico and a woman who looked vaguely familiar in a position that made him quietly run for the door.

RP 1

Chapter 56

ELIZABETH

The damn darkness was pushing down on me, and I responded with a simple nod. I would be out any moment now anyway.

Someone in the background, I cocked my head to get a better view before the person left the room.

RP1

CHAPTER 58

DANICO

LORIMER

Danico saw Elizabeth eyes follow something behind him and turned around almost instantly.

"Ah… Lorimer. Stay put for a few moments. I have something I want to give you." He said, picking up Elizabeth before walking over to Lorimer, who stood, before the already open door and with eyes averted to the corner of the room. The hands which had held onto her had disappeared back into the mirror where they belonged. Lorimer swallowed and asked;

"What is this… place… And what is it doing to me?" He looked Danico in the eyes for a moment. "Please, don't do this to me, Danico. Take her away. You know I won't be able to live with myself if I did anything to her."

Danico sighed and shook his head.

"Take her." He said, before pushing her into Lorimer's arms. He took her grudgingly and stumbled back a few steps into the hall because of Elizabeth's weight and the force with which Danico had handed her over.

EXITS ROOM OF THE COUNTESS WITH ELIZABETH

ABOUT TO ENTER HALL OF BLOOD WITH ELIZABETH

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