Zane sighed as the warm water splashed against his body, gently peeling away the many layers of blood and grime that had accumulated on his body. Grabbing the soap, he scrubbed harshly, trying not only to wash off the dirt, but the smell and feel of his sire. He shook his head, biting his lip a little at the thought, the memories of him, and the night flooding back. The shadowed figure overtop of Zane, glaring menacingly, seemingly feeding off his fear as Zane had lay prone underneath him, helplessly waiting to die.
Zane shook his head vigorously, sending the memories back to the depths of his mind as he throughly shampooed his bleached blonde hair. Rinsing the soap from his hair, he turned of the water, hopping out of the shower, and into the now steam-filled room, pulling a towel off the rack and running it through his hair, taking it from sopping wet to simply damp, and sticking out in every direction. He quickly ran the towel down his body, before he heard the knocks on the front door.
Ignoring them, Zane continued to towel off, until he found that they were still continuing, and becoming slightly more insistent. With a small sigh, he quickly found the fresh pair of boxers he had left on the toilet seat, pulling them up his hips, and then adding a pair of loose fitting, soft blue jeans on top of them, hanging low enough that the 'Joe Boxer' waistband, showed prominently, as well as the tops of some happy faces on the yellow boxers. The knocking on the door continued without answer, and Zane shook his head, forgoing socks, shoes, or even a shirt, and opened the bathroom door, the cool air hitting his body in a wave.
Quickly walking from the guest bedroom, he bounded down the stairs, and jogged to the front door, opening it in one motion, gazing out into the night, his eyes stopping on the woman in front of him, his gaze caught in her golden brown eyes. After staring for several moments, Zane shook his head, blushing lightly.
Nicoleta looked up suddenly as the door was pulled from behind her hand, straight into the eyes of a rather attractive man.
"Uhhh, hi.....sorry no one answered the door sooner...." he shrugged a little, and wiped some of the red-tipped blonde hair from his forehead. "I'm not sure where everyone's at." he mentally slapped himself for a moment, and then looked back at Nicoleta. "Sorry....would you like to come in?"
She noticed that he stared at her for longer than most would...she was used to this, however coming from this man it made her blush slightly. She mentally shook it off. "Yes, thank you. I would like to come in."
She entered the mansion and gazed around taking in the amazing display of wealth. She turned then and took in the attire of her host of the moment and smiled slightly her eyes lighting up with a meriment she hadn't felt in years. Her eyes followed upwards from the rather childish happy faces and reached the darkest and most intense pair of blue eyes she had even seen.
She quickly averted her gaze to something else in the room and then after a brief moment to compose herself she looked back at him. "My name is Nicoleta Ihrin Giovanni." She held out her hand to him and smiled.
Zane found himself staring at the woman's body as she walked into the mansion. It certainly didn't help that she was wearing such a form-fitting dress, the colour looking absolutley perfect on her. He watched, almost dazed, listening as her boots clicked against the marble entranceway floor, before being jarred back to reality by her voice.
Zane shook his head, as if to recenter himself, and blushed a little redder, gently taking the hand that was being held out to him, as he smiled back softly. "Zane Corrigan, nice to meet you, miss..." he nodded a little, still holding onto her hand without realising it. Finally, that fact clicked, and he released it, almost to quickly, another embarassed rush of pinkish colour managing to flood his face.
Nicoleta smiled broader at the fact that he had held her hand much longer than was needed...she herself trying to ignore the fact that his hand felt nice around hers. "I was sort of wondering where I could find the Prince...I figured this place would be full of Kindred by now. It's actually awful quiet. No matter I guess I'll run into him soon enough." She reached out and fixed a stray lock of his hair that kept trying to fall in his eyes, her fingertips gently brushing his forehead and down his cheek as she drew her hand away.
Zane smiled a little broader
at the feel of her soft hand along his face, and looked down a little into her
eyes. "Thanks...." he muttered softly, trying not to get caught in
her gaze. "My hair
always seems to do that when I don't have time to fix it up." he shrugged
a little, fidgeting with his hands before shoving them into the back pockets
of his jeans.
"There's actually quite a few Kindred here right now, it's just all quieted down a bit after the chaos of earlier tonight." he shuddered a little involuntarily at the thought of it. "Apparently there was a fight between a Brujah and a Toreador on the front lawn earlier tonight....a couple Malkavians strolled in and were...well, typical Malks...and then some..." she shook his head briefly. "Well, some other stuff. You just managed to catch a quiet moment..." he grinned. "Lucky you."
Nicoleta laughed softly. "I'm sure I would have given anything to see that fight but I am glad I missed the damn Malks...Caine knows anyone can live without witnessing their antics."
Zane shrugged. "I missed the fight too, was a little..." he paused for a second, a little shudder hitting his body. "...busy at the time." he shook off his uneasiness the best he could. "Heard that it was pretty funny.....until the Brujah freaked on the Toreador and like jumped her from behind or something. Dunno, but I would have loved to see Julian's reaction." Zane shrugged a little, and looked to where she was pointing.
She began to gaze around the foyer. "So maybe you could show me around or something since standing here is just well...awkward..." She smiled warmly at Zane and then pointed towards the staircase, "What's up there?"
"Oh, up there? Tons of stuff.....all the guest bedrooms, regular bedrooms, the conference room....." he trailed off, and laughed a little. "I guess it would be easier for me to show you....but I'm not totally familiar with the place, so if we get lost, don't hold it against me, okay?"
Nicoleta couldn't control the laughter that bubbled forth. She gave Zane a glowing smile and took his right hand in her left, "I promise...I won't get mad if we get lost..." then under her breath she muttered..."hell I might like it better if we did."
Zane turned towards the stairs, to lead the way, and also to hide the blank expression that crept onto his face at what he thought he heard Nicoleta say. He shook his head ever so slightly. *Naw....I heard her wrong, or interpreted it wrong....she didn't mean....* his own thoughts trailed off, as he waited for her while hopping up the steps.
"Maybe while we're up here, I'll grab myself a shirt and socks....I was in a bit of a hurry to answer the door....and now I feel pretty underdressed." he looked down, and blushed a little. "You can see my happy faces!"
Nicoleta giggled and began to ascend the staircase one graceful step at a time. With each step the slits in her dress fell open revealing the creamy skin of her legs. When she reached the top stair she unfastened her coat and removed it showing her clingy dress and an almost illegal amount of alabaster skin and cleavage. She grinned wickedly before draping her coat over her arm, "So we're off to your room I'm guessing so you can hide your smiley faces..."
Zane had to pull his gaze away from Nicoleta after she took off her coat, revealing a lot more than Zane would have expected. He blinked several times, and tore his eyes away, looking down at the floor instead. "Uhhhh...." he began, a little flabbergasted.
"Well, yeah, I guess so....I felt kind of under-dressed..." he trailed off, and then mentally slapped himself. "Uhh, feel under-dressed, feel...." he told her, looking up after briefly shaking his head.
She laughed a little and then smiled, "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
Zane looked back, finding he had blushed a little more. "No, no, you really don't. Truthfully, you make me feel overdressed...." he grinned at that. "You look....well, you look very, very beautiful." he admitted, eyeing her again.
She dropped her gaze to the floor and blushed a deep crimson...which was very difficult for a vampire who did not feed recently. With a bright smile she walked over to him and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "You're very sweet...now about that shirt for you..." she hooks a finger in the waist of his jeans "...even though you are overdressed."
Zane grinned, and followed behind her, putting two fingers over the spot where she had kissed him, before quickly putting his hand back at his side. "Turn into that second room on the left...." he told her, still walking behind her, and trying not to gape too much at the appearance of her figure in the dress.
Nicoleta complied and walked until she reached the second door on the left. She then opened the door and entered mentally berating herself the whole way...*what are you doing Nic you know better than this...what would he think...defacing his memory the first time you set foot into society again....* She shook her head vivsibly to ward off the angry and chiding voice of her inner thoughts...she didn't want to hear them she was having fun and smiling...she hadn't done that in sooo long. She threw her coat over a chair and not thinking flopped down on the bed on her back...she hadn't realized how tired she was. She yawned slightly and sitting up removed her boots and began to rub her feet.
Zane gazed at her curiously as he walked over to the closet, rummaging through it in order to find a shirt. "Did you come a long way? You look pretty tired..." he remarked, and finding a white shirt, threw it on, pulling it down until it hung just over the line of his boxers. He looked over at the huge boots she had just taken off.
"On second thought, if I wore those, I'd be tired too....are they even comfortable?" he asked curiously, as he poked his head into the bathroom, grabbing a handful of jewlery off the sink. He pulled his silver watch onto his right wrist, doing up the clasp easily, and then fumbled while trying to put on a large silver chain around his neck. He grinned sheepishly over at Nicoleta.
"I don't suppose you could help me out...."
Nicoleta rose from her spot upon the edge of his bed and padded slowly over to where Zane stood. Almost like a large panther regarding its prey she circled around til she was behind him. Her hands snaked over his shoulders and down his chest reaching for the silver chain he held, pulled it up and began to clasp it...she spoke softly, her lips were centimeters from his ear. "They're comfortable enough I just haven't worn them in a while..."
She finished clasping the chain and let her hands fall to rest on his shoulders. She could sense he was tense...she hadn't asked him what it was that had kept him from seeing the fight. He didn't want to talk about it that much she could tell. She began to slowly rub and massage his shoulders trying to help work out the tension she sensed rolling off of him in waves.
"Thanks...." Zane murmured, letting out a sigh as her fingers began to work his shoulders. He found himself crouching down a little so that he was more her height, and sunk even more into her touch. He was so tense, and it felt so nice.
She smiled a little when she noticed she was too short for him now. "Maybe I should have left my boots on..." She walked over to the bed and sat down. "Here come sit on the floor in front of me this way you won't need to bend down like that and I don't have to put my shoes on or stand on my tip toes..." She let forth a tiny yawn and then smiled, "excuse me."
Zane complied, following her as she moved back to the bed, and finding his way to the floor so that he was leaning against the foot of the bed. "Is that better?" he asked, sighing again as her hands manipulated the muscles of his shoulders, the tension slowly slipping away.
He noted the yawn, and turned his head ever so slightly. "You never answered my question before. Did you come a long way to be here? You seem...well, tired for one."
Nicoleta sighed softly and paused in her ministrations. What was she to tell him...*well the reason I'm tired is because I haven't slept well without nightmares in several decades....yeah that would be good...*
"My house is only a few blocks away so I walked....I haven't been sleeping very well so I think my lack of rest is finally catching up to me..." She smiled weakly and kissed his cheek again not sure what compelled her to do it...just knowing she wanted to. She then went back to rubbing his shoulders. She shifted slightly on the bed to be more comfortable, moving her legs out from under her and draping them over the sides of the bed on either side of Zane.
After a few minutes she stopped and placed her hands on his chest, the index finger on her right hand tracing subconscious circles there. She sighed again becoming increasingly lost in thought...almost at once she snapped out of it and let free a little bit of nervous laughter. "Sorry I think I zoned out for a minute there."
Zane grabbed the hand on his chest softly, holding onto it as he turned himself to face the other way, still on the floor. "I think you're a lot more tired than you're letting on. The conclave's not going to start for a while yet, half the Primogen are still missing.....you should nap. Really." he tried to convince her. "You could even sleep right here, if you want...." he pointed at the bed she was on. "I mean, that's what guest bedrooms are for, right?" he thought for a moment. "I can even find you something to sleep in, if you want....I wouldn't want you to wrinkle that beautiful dress...."
Nicoleta smiled graciously and yawned again before giggling a little..."Yeah I guess you're right. I can find something though I'm sure if the Prince keeps spare clothes for men in here he keeps spare clothes for women as well."
Nicoleta rose and walked over to the closet she had seen Zane grab a shirt from. Within it she found several drawers as well as the contents hanging within. She opened one drawer and rummaged through it til she found a pair of soft denim cutoffs. She then closed that drawer and opened the one below it, rooting around until she found a small t-shirt that was white with the pepsi logo on the front. She then padded off towards the bathroom.
Once inside the bathroom Nicoleta
removed her pendant and earrings leaving them in a little dish beside the sink.
She then Pulled her dress over her head and slipped into the cut offs and t-shirt.
Turning on the sink she reached for a tissue and wiped off her lip stick, she
then carefully scrubbed her face clean of all her other makeup and turned off
the tap. She toweled off her face and then let her hair free from its pins.
She reached into a basket on the back of the toilet and pulled free a brush
and ran it through her long dark hair. She then put it back and emerged once
more.
She gracefully sauntered over to where Zane still sat upon the floor and kissed him softly. *What the hell was that for....I must be losing it....* she thought to herself and blushed and then whispered "Goodnight..." before lying down on the bed and curling up with one of the pillows.
Without her makeup she was still stunning but she looked more innocent now.Zane blushed a little as she kissed him, and he got up the second after she had curled up on the bed. He looked down at her, finding himself taking in her entire beautiful body, looking terribly innocent as she lay there. Without really thinking, he bent down, gently running a hand down her bare arm before reaching the soft comforter folded up at the foot of the bed. He gently pulled it up until it covered her, and smiled softly at her now-sleeping figure. He padded softly over to a chair, not wanting to leave the room, and casually sat down, pulling a magazine off the desk and beginning to read.
Nicoleta let out a little sound of contentment as Zane carressed her arm and snuggled deeper into the pillow, subconciously burrowing into the blanket as well. She began to dream unknowing of the other person in the room.
In her dream Nicoleta once again sat within the confines of her chateau...except this time she sat in a spacious and decadent room before a fire place in a large highback chair. Beside her chair stood her Sire. He was smiling at her, his eyes alight with love and happiness just for her...he told her that he loved her always and kissed her softly, running his fingers through her long chesnut mane before pulling away, a look of total and complete sorrow on his features. "I must leave you now little one...." he whispered. She watched unable to move as he began to walk away, his image fading more with every step he took...."No....please don't leave me..." she pleaded, blood tears beginning to slide unbidden down her cheeks, falling to her lap and staining the white nightgown she wore, but the figure never turned around...it just kept fading and moving farther and farther away.
In reality Nicoleta curled further into the pillow and kept muttering 'no' over and over again, her own real tears sliding down the pale ivory of her cheeks and pooling upon the pillow darkening it slowly. She squeezed the pillow tightly and cried out..."Please don't leave me..." before falling silent for she was awake now and unable to hold back the sobs the flowed forth from the very deepest recesses of her soul.
Zane looked up from his magazine worriedly as he began to hear her cries. He raised his eyebrows at the words, and quickly got up out of the chair. By the time he had reached her side, she was awake, and sobbing soundly. Gently, he knelt beside the bed, taking one of her hands in his, while his other hand went to stroke her hair gently, as a concerned look ran across his face.
"Nicoleta....shhh, shhh...it's okay, it's okay....it was a dream....shhh, don't cry..." he whispered soothingly, running his hand along hers. "Please....no one's leaving....it's okay....."
She was absolutely frantic, her sobs coming out as choking wails..."he left me....he's never coming back...he left me..." She practically threw herself at Zane without thinking, wrapping her arms about his neck and crying into his shoulder. "He left me...he left me..."
She trembled and shuddered from head to toe and clung to Zane like a life preserver, his soothing words barely registering in her mind...all she could think about was him. It still amazed her how fresh the pain was ever after all these years.
"Please don't leave me...don't leave me...he left me..."
Zane looked at the figure clinging to him, and fear for her drifted through his eyes. Quickly, he got up on the bed, gently shifting her body so that he sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard, with her figure resting in his lap. He hugged her tightly to him, and continued to gently run his hand through her hair, while he ran his other hand along her arm.
"Nicoleta....please....I won't leave....I won't leave...." he whispered into her ear, holding her tighter. "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere. Nicoleta...it's Zane...please...." he pleaded with her, hoping to stop her sobbing.
Nicoleta began to calm, reality of the situation finally setting in...it was close to eighty years since he had gone yet it still stung as though it had only been an hour or less.
She softened her hold on Zane, but burrowed against him seeking the comfort he offered. Her tears slowed a little but still fell, the gut wrenching sound of her sobbing quieted. She gently nestled her head beneath his chin and leaned into the soothing feel of his fingers running through her hair. "I'm sorry..." she whispered so softly it couldn't have been heard by human ears.
Zane wrapped an arm around her back, rubbing it gently, as her head moved into the crevice between his head and shoulders. His other hand still moving through her hair, he sighed a little, biting his lip. What was wrong with her?
"Don't apologise....you don't have to...." he whispered gently into her ear, hugging her more. "It's all going to be okay....shh...."
Nicoleta sighed and snuggled into his embrace, he made her feel so safe. "I feel as though I should explain..." she whispered. "You see when I was alive my father hated me because i was his only child and a little girl. When my mother died he tried to drown me...I managed to run from him and lived on the streets for most of my life while I was mortal. It was then that a very handsome man began following me and leaving me gifts...he was kindred and a Giovanni. He embraced me when I was about 20 years old...he was the only man to ever want me...the only *person* to ever want me. I loved him more than life itself..." her voice trailed off and fresh tears sprang to her eyes.
She sighed and reigned in her composure. "I spent the next hundred or so years with him sharing everything in life...I'd never been so content, but he was taken from me...by an assamite bitch..."
Through a tearful haze she spoke now, her voice soft and lost sounding like an abused child, "Its been almost eighty years since he left...since he was taken from me...I haven't slept without nightmares in almost eighty years...that's why I'm so tired...and that's why..." She began to cry again steadily and she hugged him to her tightly. "the pain never leaves...it follows me everywhere I go..."
Zane hugged her tightly to him, beginning to lightly rock Nicoleta back and forth. "I....I wish I knew the right thing to say...." he whispered truthfully, kissing her forehead lightly. "I wish that I could say I understood your pain....but I've never been one to lie...." he bit his lip solidly, looking down at her with worry in his eyes.
"You've known that pain of loss longer than I've even been alive, and for that I'm truly sorry, and I wish I could take that pain away from you." he sighed softly. "You've carried your pain for way too long, I wish I could bear it for you, if only for a little while. At least long enough for you to find happiness again." he gently brushed her hair from her forehead, tucking it behind her ear.
She looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Thank you...I think that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me..." she took a deep unneeded breath. "You shouldn't feel so bad, you know...you made me smile and laugh today for the first time since it happened...I had locked myself away for a long long time, refusing to emerge, wanting only to stay locked away with everything that had been his and mine forever...I almost drove myself insane..." She swallowed down the lump forming in her throat, "that's why I'm here...I fled to the U.S. needing to finally be free of all I had known..."
***