Liana’s Dilemma Pt. 01

Author's Note - This story has two parts and covers the first several chapters of my published novel of the same name. My novels have less graphic depictions of love scenes. I expanded those for Literotica readers who, generally, expect a more explicit depiction. As usual, comments are greatly appreciated. New readers please note that while having read my earlier works here would add to the enjoyment of the story, it is not essential to do so. All of my stories are related.

1721 A. D. - A small village south of Paris, France.

"Be right there," I called from the back room. The bell over the door had chimed announcing a customer. "I was just getting ready to close. It's past dusk and I want to get..."

I stopped mid-sentence and stared at the woman who had entered. I guessed her height to be a shade under 1.9 meters. Her chestnut hair fell in luxurious waves over the most beautiful face I had ever imagined, let alone seen. Her pale complexion was flawless, as was her attire. What I could see of her figure would make her the envy of any woman. I felt positively plain by comparison, and men and women have always been effusive in their praise toward me.

Her tailored outfit was of the finest materials and included a pair of beautiful leather boots obviously crafted by a talented hand. She positively reeked of wealth. Not just money, wealth. It was her eyes that left me speechless. Her piercing green eyes seemed to glow. She was intimidating. Yet, I felt drawn to her.

"I know," she said softly. "I am aware of your normal closing time. It is why I chose this hour to call. I promise not to keep you over long. You will be well compensated if you are who the townspeople say you are."

"I imagine that means different things depending on to whom you've spoken."

"Is your name not Liana? Is this not your shop?"

"Correct on both counts," I replied. "What is it that you require?"

"It is said you are skilled at producing documents that can attest to one's ownership of items even if there is no bill of sale. Is that true?"

"That's a question that can get people killed in these parts," I said, trying not to show fear. "The wrong answer can land a person who can do what you suggest in serious trouble with the authorities. Who are you and why ask me a question like that?"

"A sensible response. I am Helena. I own the house atop the hill halfway between here and the neighboring village. I assure you I have no wish to be killed nor to see you in jeopardy."

"If you mean the old D'urbanville estate, people say things about you as well that might or might not be true. You're a woman of great mystery to the villagers. Some fear you. All of the villagers want to know more about you."

"I have no doubt they do. It's the price of being a wealthy woman in this society. You did not answer my question. Can you produce such documents as I require?"

"For the sake of discussion, let's say I can. My price would be beyond the means of ordinary men."

"As you can see, I am neither a man nor ordinary. I applaud your discretion. Well done. Now, can we do business or not?"

I walked to the door and bolted it. I placed the 'Closed' sign in the window and drew the curtain. "Come with me," I said as I motioned her into the back room. I pointed to two chairs on either side of a small table I use for meals and private business such as this, and said, "please have a seat."

I retrieved paper, an inkwell and a pen from the desk in my shop.

"Don't bother with that," Helena said. "Neither of us wants evidence of this transaction. I propose dinner tomorrow night. I'll send a carriage about this time. I have extremely good stores and an excellent kitchen staff. You may have game or fowl, whichever you prefer. You can look at some of the items in my possession and decide then. I will pay you well for your time regardless of your decision."

"A fine meal sounds lovely. I'm not choosy about food. Either option will be acceptable. There is no need for a carriage. I have the use of a mare owned by the local blacksmith. He has used my services before and is generous with his animals."

"I have no doubt the good smithy has suitable stock. I would prefer that no one be more aware than necessary of your visit. Curiosity killed the cat is the saying. Is it not?"

"Won't your carriage draw attention? I didn't hear it when you arrived, but if it's of a similar quality as your apparel, it will not go unnoticed."

"True," she responded. "It will be dark so that will lend some cover. I will return you here before dawn. As for why you did not hear my carriage, I came on horseback. It's a lovely starlit night. Excellent for a ride."

"I don't mean to be difficult, but if I have my own transportation, I can control my coming and going."

"Cautious," she said with a smile. "I respect that. I imagine it, in part, accounts for how you have avoided problems in your past. It makes me more comfortable engaging your services. A consideration for your comfort. I have had more than one visitor experience problems with their horses near my own animals. Should your horse decide to bolt and dump you on my doorstep, you would still be at my mercy for transport home. I promise you will be free to leave when you choose."

"It seems you've accounted for all possible arguments I might make. I'm not accustomed to entrusting my safe passage to someone I only just met. I haven't reached my 32nd year unscathed by being careless. Fine. I accept your offer. Since you know when I normally close, would you prefer to meet earlier? I can adjust my schedule to suit."

"That won't be necessary. The night will afford the most discretion. I shall have my carriage arrive at this hour if that is satisfactory,"

"It is," I replied, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.

"Very well," she said as she rose and placed a gold coin on my desk. "Until tomorrow."

"Wait, I didn't name a price."

"I know. That is for your time this evening," she said as she walked to the door, unbolted it and left.

I waited until the sound of her horse's hooves faded into the night, slid the bolt closed on the door, leaned against it and let out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding in.

I'm not easily intimidated nor easily impressed. I had to admit Helena had me off balance. I built my business over a decade of study and negotiation with members of Royal houses, powerful businessmen and a few women, people I knew to be criminals, as well as average citizens needing no more than simple documentation. No one had made me feel the way she did. I was not exactly intimidated but I was not at ease either. Not only did I have goosebumps when I recalled the conversation, I realized I was wet.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time, Liana? Yes, she's rich. Yes, she's beautiful beyond imagination. She oozes confidence and strength. There is something about her that I can't put my finger on. No matter. The die has been cast. We shall see what tomorrow brings."

* * *

The next night, Helena's carriage arrived after nightfall. It was impressive for the elegant quality of its craftsmanship rather than gaudy decorations. A solid black sedan drawn by two beautiful, black steeds. The door to my shop opened and in walked a very pretty blonde woman dressed in snugly fitted attire that appeared to be light, supple armor. She could not have been older than her early twenties. She moved with a dancer's grace and gave the impression of strength far beyond what one would expect given her lithe figure. Her hair was the color of cornsilk. Her eyes a pale blue. Like Helena, her skin was flawless and pale and her eyes seemed to glow.

"Good evening. Madame Liana I take it?"

"I'm Liana, yes. I'm not and never was Madame. You are an employee of Helena's I assume."

"You might say that," she said with a sly smile. "I'm Bridget. I am in charge of Lady Helena's guards."

"Helena is Noble? Is it by birth or marriage?"

"Neither. It's simply a title we use to avoid questions and prolonged discussions. Do you need more time or some assistance before we leave?"

"No, I'm ready," I said as I locked the door and climbed into the carriage. Bridget climbed in and sat opposite me."

"If you don't mind my saying, you look young for such responsibility," I said to Bridget.

"I hear that often," she replied. "I'm sufficiently skilled. You are as safe with me as anyone could be."

"Might I ask where Lady Helena is from? I could not place her accent."

"You would be better served to ask her," she said politely. "I mean no disrespect. We don't discuss her particulars with anyone. Her privacy is important to her."

The rest of the journey passed in silence. I could not keep from stealing glances at Bridget. She attempted to look hard and business-like but her smile and her eyes betrayed a mischievous sense of humor.

When we arrived, we passed through a high, sturdy gate onto a circular carriage way leading to the front door. The house was massive. 'Fortress' was the word that came to mind. Bridget disembarked and held out a hand to assist me. She walked me to the front door, opened it and ushered me inside. As soon as we entered the large foyer, we were met by a distinguished looking older gentleman who bid me follow him. He led me to a well-furnished sitting room and offered me a chair while I waited for his Mistress to appear.

My eyes scanned the room. It had tasteful, lush furnishings. On the walls were several paintings. A few sculptures adorned the tables and corners of the room. The furnishings and artwork screamed wealth and history. I was eager to take a closer look to see what serious antiquities were among the art.

"Welcome to my home, Liana," said Helena as she swept into the room. She wore an exquisite gown, the base color of which was a shade of green that almost matched her eyes. Her smile was bright and sincere. I rose to greet her whereupon she embraced me in a hug and kissed me on the cheek.

"I wasn't sure if I should curtsy, Lady Helena," I said.

"Oh, Bridget again," she laughed. "She loves to do that. I am not Noble. I am simply Helena. If I were to go by any Title, it would not be Lady."

"Is there another Title? I asked.

"None that you need concern yourself with," she replied. "The table is almost set. Until we are called, I would like to show you two pieces about which I have concerns. If you will follow me."

She led me to an adjacent room. This was a smaller sitting room. On one wall hung two paintings. She pointed to them and urged me to examine them.

"These appear to be originals," I said. "They seem to be the artist's lesser-known works. I would have to do some research. I could then establish an honest value for them. Would you consider me out of line to ask how they came into your possession?"

"Not at all. You should feel free to ask anything. I will feel free to answer or not. There is no need for either of us to take offense. I have met a lot of people in my life. Wealthy people. Artists. Business people. Some have items for sale. Often, the story of how they came to possess them is not true. Some things I have received as gifts. I am sure you are aware that some men like to give a woman a gift after a night or two of pleasure. What is not so well known is how many wives of aristocrats enjoy a dalliance and express their appreciation with gifts from their husband's treasuries. My experience is that includes wives and sisters of Royal houses."

"Scandalous," I laughed.

She smiled. "Some may say that. Others may say practical. Others may say clever. Still others may say solid business sense. Have you been fortunate enough to receive such tokens?"

"I have, though much more rarely than you, obviously. It's how I gathered enough money to purchase my shop. I never married. I was too busy surviving."

"A woman with your talents and beauty should be better rewarded," she said. "These two paintings require provenance. Can you manage that?"

"I can. It will take some time. I think a fortnight should suffice."

"That will be fine. We can set a date to meet here again for another dinner if you wish at that time."

Just then, the gentleman who greeted me entered the room and said, "Ma'am, dinner is served."

I followed Helena into a spacious dining room. A large table was set with two plates. She sat at the head. I sat on her right. The smell of roasted pheasant filled the room. A young woman with a cart began filling our plates with slices of meat and servings of vegetables. She then poured a white wine and retreated leaving us to talk and eat. The food was exceptional. The wine was nectar.

During dinner, Helena asked about my background. She offered glimpses of her travels. It appeared she did not stay in one place very long. She had only been in this house a few months. She said that if I was successful in this task, she would have a large number of similar requests. She also asked if I had done trading in this area. She needed a broker for some purchases and sales. I advised her that I could do that as well.

After dinner, she gave me a tour of the ground floor. There were two wings that were mostly empty save for a few items in some of the rooms. One room contained a number of glass cases containing jewelry, gems and what appeared to be golden artifacts. She advised that several gems and jewelry pieces were from Royal treasuries across the continent. One piece was from India, another from China. I would have placed their origin as being several hundred years ago. I chose not to ask how she obtained those.

That prompted me to ask her if she believed the world was flat as so many scholars of the day opined. She didn't hesitate. "No. It's a globe," she said. Her level of certainty dissuaded me from discussion.

As she walked me through the rooms, she had her arm around my waist. She was gentle but firm. She also smelled great. I liked how it felt being close to her. I leaned into her contact. At one point she turned to face me standing within reach. "I hope you are as talented as you are beautiful," she said softly. Her hand stroked my hair. "Would you object if I kissed you?"

"I would," I said. I reached for her taking her face in my hands and said, "only because I would prefer to kiss you first." I did. A gentle firm kiss, undemanding but full of promise.

"Well," she said. "It's rare that I'm surprised," She pulled me in for a hug and a deeper kiss. "Would you like to see the upstairs?"

Of all the things I had expected and hoped for from my dinner date, being in the arms of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen was not among them. When Helena invited me to see the upstairs, there was no mistaking what she had in mind. Since I had taken the bold step of kissing her first, I was in a bit of a pickle.

"I would very much like to share your bed," I said. "But, the hour grows late and I must be up in time to open my shop."

"Then, don't open it," Helena responded. "I'll stand the cost of a day of your shop's earnings. That way, you will have tomorrow free to begin your work for me."

"You're offering to pay me for sex?"

"Not at all. I am offering to eliminate your financial argument against a pleasurable end to this evening. I intended no offense. I'll call for the carriage and get you back home safely. I would still like the opportunity to spend the night with you another time. But, if you would prefer not, I understand. My opinion of your beauty remains unchanged." She smiled and released me from the hug we shared. She started to walk away, I imagined to find Bridget or other staff to arrange my exit.

"Wait," I said. "I fear it is I who has offended such a beautiful and gracious host. I wish to stay. I simply don't wish to be compensated for a lost day tomorrow. That would feel tawdry to me. I have no appointments in the morning. If I'm going to miss something, I prefer it to be a morning in my shop rather than a night in your arms."

She smiled. "You are a prize. You are more confident and direct than most women I've encountered." She held out her hand and said, "Shall we adjourn to a more comfortable room?"

Her bedroom was enormous. I think my entire house and shop would fit inside. The furnishings were as impressive as the rest of the house. The bed was large enough to sleep a handful of people. The curtains were heavy fabric and complimented the bed covering. I didn't know anyone who had that many pillows on their bed. I had been in the private rooms of men and women from all walks of life. Helena claimed not to be a Noble, but I could not imagine a Queen of any country having a more resplendent place to lay her head.

Helena closed the door and took me in her arms kissing me deeply and with purpose. She began pulling at the stays and buttons on my dress which quickly succumbed to her nimble touch and lay in a pool at my feet. A few more quick movements as she nuzzled my neck and nibbled my ear had my undergarments joining my dress. She had me step out of the pile of clothing and led me to the bed. She drew back the covers, kissed me again and pressed me to lie down.

I tried to make myself comfortable. I don't really mind being naked. I sleep that way. I was trying to lie on my side not wanting to appear wanton, but still trying to appear fetching. I had a thought of how foolish that notion was in the presence of such a beauty as Helena. She quickly divested herself of her garments and stood in all her glory, which served two purposes. One, it made me even more conscious of how much different we looked. Two, it made me want to kiss her and touch her everywhere and allow her to reciprocate. I don't recall ever being in such a state of arousal.

She joined me on the bed, again taking me into her embrace and kissing me deeply. Her hands traced the contours of my body teasing, caressing and exploring every inch. I attempted to do the same. Her skin was soft and flawless. The bed clothing was silk, clearly quite expensive. The juxtaposition of the sensations of the sheets against my skin and the delicate yet demanding feeling of her hands on me had me quickly reaching a state of overload. I took pride in the fact that she was responding in kind.

She squeezed my breast, gently but firmly. Her thumb and forefinger rolled my nipple teasing it until it became so hard I feared it would burst. I couldn't silence my moans. Her kisses moved to my shoulder, then to my neck. i could feel her gently biting. Oddly, it only felt like her canine teeth. Almost animal-like. I could hear a soft humming coming from her throat.

I was not idle. My hand moved over her stomach until I found her center. I slid my fingers along the outsides of her labia, lightly pressing. I traced their outline several times until I could feel her wetness. That was my cue to slip two fingers between them. One finger pressed into her while the other sought her clitoris. I was kissing, biting really, her shoulder as my hips tried to press into hers. When I found her clit, her hips pushed hard into me. It almost sounded as if her humming became a low growl. I could feel her teeth pressing harder. At the same time, I could sense her head and neck stiffening as if she was holding herself back from unbridled pleasure.

Her lips found mine agaih and we kissed fiercely. My tonge, which is exceptionally long and limber, fairly wrapped around hers. That caused her to gasp in surprise. Or maybe it was the fact that I chose that moment to push a second finger into her. Whatever the cause, her hips began to undulate. She broke our kiss and returned to my neck, licking and gently biting as her orgasm hit. This time I was certain she growled. I alternated between teasing her clitoris and sliding my fingers deep into her. Her thighs quivered and her stomach rolled as her vaginal muscles tried to prevent my fingers from leaving. we continued like that for a few minures until she calmed enough to kiss me again.

"That is an impressive tongue, Liana. Mine is not nearly so agile, but let's see what it is capable of," she said with a smile."

"I have no doubt you are skilled, Helena. Stiil, we probably should make sure."

With that she began a journey down my body. She licked, bit, kissed and sucked every inch. She was particularly attentive to my now diamond-hard nipples. She gently sucked then sharply bit. I screamed in surprise and pleasure and had to look to see if she had drawn blood. She hadn't, of course. That would be strange, I thought. Though, part of me found the idea exciting.

Her kisses moved down over my stomach until the found my other lips. Her tongue slid between them separating them as she sought my opening. Her tongue pressed into me as far as it could as she moaned which, again, sounded more like a low growl. I grabbed my breasts and squeezed my nipples, adding to the pleasure she was giving. When her tongue found my clit and she began nibbling, I lost all sense of decorum. I begged her to never stop. My orgasm was completely body-shaking and thorough. My hips flew off the bed as my hand reached for her head not wanting her to abandon her efforts. I've had my share of what I thought were amazing lovers, but this was another level altogether.

Afterwards, we lay together, kissing and snuggling. We both expressed surprise at how well our bodies were attuned to one another. I confessed to her that my response was not my normal experience. She thanked me for the compliment. When I told her how beautiful she was and how I was so much less so, she gently scolded me.

"Liana, you are a supremely confident woman. That adds to your beauty. Make no mistake. You are among the most beautiful women I have known. You have no reason to feel less than any woman and every reason to feel the opposite. I am impressed by your mind as well as your body which is delightful. Trust me. You may compliment me but you may not denigrate your own charms. Do we have a deal?

"Yes. Right now, I feel so good, there is nothing you could say to which I would not agree."

"I should be careful with that thought were I you," she responded. "There is much about me you do not know. You could be offering more than you care to give if you were more informed."

I replied, "if it meant having nights like this, I am not sure there is anything you could tell me that would dissuade me. Anyway, do we have an idea of the time?"

"About three hours before dawn," she replied. "I think for the protection of your honor, it might be best to return you to your home under cover of the night. I would love for you to simply stay and sleep away the day with me, but I know how townspeople love to draw conclusions. I won't have your reputation besmirched."

I stretched and looked again at her beautiful face, my eyes taking in her perfect body. I almost argued to stay. She was right. "I hate to agree with you. I hope there will be other nights."

"There will be, if I am given the choice. I look forward to it." She arose, slipped on a robe and left the room for a moment. She was back almost as soon as she left. "That's odd," I thought. "I must have dozed off for a second." I began to dress.

When I was dressed, she took my hand and led me downstairs to the foyer. Bridget was standing there. She winked at me, smiled and directed me to the carriage. "I hope you enjoyed your evening," she smiled. "Lady Helena is not known for entertaining guests as she did you. You must have made an extremely favorable impression. I can see why you might. You are rather lovely, even in a just rising state."

When we got to the shop, it was still dark. Bridget said, "I truly hope to see you again." She waited until I had entered the shop, then climbed in the carriage and left.

Once inside, I promptly undressed and crawled into bed. I slept until almost mid-day and awoke with a smile. I had a wonderful meal and conversation, great sex, a substantial contract and a promise of more pleasures. It had been a good night indeed. Helena did say we would have dinner again in a fortnight. I hoped that meant another visit to her bedroom. Meanwhile, I had work to do. I needed to send a courier to gather some information. That would take several days. I arose, got dressed, and opened the shop for the afternoon.

* * *

The next two weeks passed without anything of note. I got the information I needed from the courier I sent. That allowed me to produce the required documents. I had a steady influx of customers all of whom had simple transactions. With the coin I anticipated from Helena for this contract and her promise of future ones, it was shaping up to be a banner year. My love life had suddenly taken a turn for the better as well. I don't normally mix business with pleasure. I decided to make an exception in this case.

I thought perhaps I could set aside a few weeks for a vacation this year and travel somewhere that was NOT here. When the day of my dinner date arrived, I made sure not to schedule any afternoon appointments, put the 'closed' sign in the window and began washing up and getting ready to dress for dinner. I realized when I heard the shop bell jangle that I had forgotten to bolt the door.

"I'm closed," I called out from the back room. "Did you not see the sign?" I slipped on my dress and walked out into the shop to find a young woman and two fairly large men standing just inside the door.

"I will be open two days from now. I can make you an appointment if you wish."

One of the men had a crossbow slung over his shoulder. The young woman carried a rapier at her side. The other man had a rather large knife in his waistband. The young woman spoke. "Are you Liana, the proprietor?"

"I am. I would appreciate it if you either make an appointment for another day or simply leave."

"Is it true that you are doing work for the Mistress of the large dwelling a short ride outside of town? The one atop the hill that people call the D'urbanville estate?"

"I do not discuss my clients. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'm not comfortable with you knowing anything about my comings and goings. You three are not from here."

"We are not. We are trailing an unsavory bunch. We would appreciate an answer to our question. Their apprehension is critical. It involves your own safety as well."

"Bounty hunters," I said. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I asked you to leave. Now, I demand it. I have nothing of value nor any interest in your search."

"A fortnight ago, you were picked up by carriage and taken to the house in question, were you not?"

"Whether I was or wasn't is none of your concern."

"Did not that same carriage return you here before dawn? Which would mean you spent a number of hours there."

"Again, no business of yours. Kindly leave."

"One of the men grabbed me, swept back my hair, turned my head from side to side examining my neck."

"Clean," he said.

"We need to examine her more thoroughly," said the other man.

They dragged me into the back room. "Take off your clothes," the first man ordered.

"I will NOT."

"Have it your way then," he said as he ripped my dress, then my undergarments, leaving me naked.

They threw me on the bed. I anticipated a rape. Instead they examined my breasts, then spread my legs to examine my inner thighs.

"Nothing here, called the men to the young woman."

"Nevertheless, bind her. We need to interrogate her. The townspeople are positive they saw what they told us. It will be a shame to damage such a pretty face and body, but she likely won't survive the questioning. Even if she does, she is probably in league with them and doesn't deserve to live, just as they don't."

They tied my hands and feet. When they heard the shop bell ring, they quickly gagged me. One of them said, "Silence or you die and whoever just came here does as well." They stepped back out of view of the door to the shop. The crossbow man loaded a bolt. The other pulled his knife, practically a short sword in length.

I could hear the conversation from the shop. It was Helena.

"Good evening. Is Liana ready?"

"No, she had to go out to see a sick friend on the other side of town. She asked me to lock up for her."

"Strange," said Helena. "You don't look like anyone I've ever seen around here. That's quite a rapier you are sporting. Are you expecting trouble? This is a rather peaceful area."

"No, no trouble. I just carry it for safety. A girl can't be too careful."

"I take it you are proficient in its use then."

"Rather. Though I mostly use it for duels for money. Blood, no killing."

"How odd. Anyway, the proprietor was to produce some paperwork for me. May I have it?"

"She didn't tell me about any paperwork. Perhaps if you called again tomorrow. She should be back by then."

"I'm sure she would not have forgotten that. Maybe it's in her back room. Do you mind if I check."

"You can't go back there. It is, um, private. She doesn't let anyone back there."

"Oh, she doesn't? Why then did she seat me across from her a fortnight ago as we discussed the documents she promised to create?"

I heard two noises. One sounded like a sword being drawn. The other was a loud thud as if someone had fallen. I heard Helena call out for me and I grunted as best I could through the gag in an attempt to warn her.

The man with the crossbow pointed it toward me and fired. Before the bolt could strike home, Helena appeared by my bedside as if by magic. She snatched the bolt in mid-flight, turned and in the blink of an eye closed the space between her and the man who had fired, and jammed the bolt into his eye piercing his brain. He dropped to the floor, dead I assumed.

The man with the knife took that second to attempt to stab her. Her hand stopped his motion. She slowly forced the hand holding the knife under his chin and pushed the knife upward through his palate until the hilt was pressed against the bottom of his chin while the blade showed through the top of his skull. He too fell to the floor.

She pulled the knife from the man's skull and wiped the blood on his shirt. She used the knife to free me from my bonds and helped me stand. "Are you hurt?" she asked softly as she examined me and rubbed my wrists.

"Not as badly as I fear I was about to be," I replied. "How did you...?"

My question was cut off by the emergence of the young woman charging with rapier drawn. Helena stepped between me and the attacker, deftly brushed the blade aside with a lighting quick move of her hand. She grabbed the woman's hair in one hand and the front of her shirt with the other pulling the woman's head back exposing her throat. Helena's face changed into something inhuman, terrifying, yet beautiful. Her eyes glowed brightly and her canines elongated. Fangs. She lifted the woman off the ground and sank her fangs in the woman's neck.

I was mesmerized as I watched this gorgeous aristocratic woman hold her prey immobile as she drank blood from the wound she had opened. The scene lasted a few moments until Helena stopped drinking and looked the woman in her eyes. "Who are you?" she demanded."

"You know sodding well who we are, you Vampire abomination. We know where you live and we will destroy you and your followers. Your filth cannot be allowed to defile humans." growled the young woman. "Now that you've made me an abomination like you. I will use that new strength to destroy you, then kill myself."

"Hunter," Helena snarled. "You know so little about what you so thoroughly hate. Simply being bitten is not sufficient to turn you. Even if it did, I would not allow you to live as a Vampire any more than I will allow you to continue to live as a human." With that, she snapped the woman's neck and dropped her dead body on the floor.

Helena turned to face me as she tore a piece of the woman's shirt to wipe the blood from her mouth. I finally found my voice. "What just happened here? Who are those people? Who the... wait... WHAT the hell are you?"

Helena handed me my dress. "As much as I enjoy seeing your naked body, it might be best if you had something on. I had not intended for you to learn what you just did until some time in the future, if ever, depending on our interactions. As you saw and heard, I am a Vampire. More to the point, I am the Vampire Queen. Those," she swept her arm toward the bodies in my shop, "are, rather were, Hunters."

"Hunters? What are they? What were they doing here?"

"Hunters are an organization of humans who dedicate their lives to finding and destroying Vampires. When they think one is in an area, they descend and use any means to find us and attempt to kill us. They are ruthless and of the opinion that those who interact with us are potentially in league. They don't care if they kill a human to gain information or an advantage in their quest. I'm afraid I have not been as diligent as I normally am. This town's location was deceptive. I should have been more guarded where you are concerned. Your fellow citizens are unusually nosy it would seem."

"Those men said it was some townsfolk who told them about my visit to your place. But they acted as if they knew who you were already."

"So it seems. I think it would be best if we went to my place tonight. I will send Bridget and some staff back here to recompose your place and rid it of these vermin."

"I guess you're right. It appears I already know more than I should."

Helena waited in the shop area while I got dressed. We got in the carriage and headed for her house.

"Can I ask some questions?"

"I expect you have many," she replied.

"You're a Vampire. That means you drink blood. I saw you with that young woman. It looked, I don't know, like an animal response."

"We do. It's the only way a Vampire can gain the nourishment needed to survive."

"But, you and I had dinner. You seemed to enjoy it."

"I did. Both the food and the company. We can eat what humans eat. We find it pleasing to the taste. The act of sharing a meal is enjoyable. We gain no nutrients as you do."

"Are you undead? Do you sleep in a coffin during the day? Will the sun kill you?"

She laughed, "No, we are not undead. We are very much alive. Because exposure to the sun can be fatal, we tend to sleep during the day, but we can be active then as well. We stay indoors as a rule. If necessary or if I simply wish it, I can be in the sun for short periods of time without harm. I recall that you found my bed to be comfortable. I do as well. So, no coffin.

"We are not human. We are a different species. Every Vampire other than myself was born human then changed by me or another Vampire. I am original. I was never human. How I came to be and how old I am are not subjects I will discuss at this time. All other questions are fair game. Suffice it to say, Vampires have a life span many multiples of that of humans."

"Those paintings you had me verify. How did you get them?"

"The artist gave them to me. We had a brief affair and he wanted me to have them as tokens."

"That artist died over a hundred years ago," I said.

"He did. Quite a tortured soul. Real talent in AND out of bed."

"The artwork and antiquities in your house. All those are gifts as well?"

"Some. Not all. Some I collected when the human owner died, to ensure their beauty was not lost. Some I collected from Vampires who died. Since all Vampires can eventually be traced back through my bloodline, I determined myself to be their rightful owner. Some, I stole in years past. I choose to not be bound by human law or morality. Though, some of your laws are useful and adhering to them can aid in not being detected as anything more than human."

"When we slept together, you didn't drink my blood. Did you intend to do so tonight? Ever?"

"Tonight? No. I had no desire to reveal myself. In the future, maybe I might have. It would have depended on how things unfolded between us. I am not looking for a mate. I have one already. You didn't meet her as she is visiting some other Vampires at the moment. I'm certain she will like you. We are hedonists. We enjoy pleasure with human men and women as well as with other Vampires. Sometimes, humans allow us to feed as part of having sex. They enjoy the heightened pleasure we can give them. Blood is only taken from a human voluntarily. The exception is what you saw tonight.

"All Vampires are considered members of my family whether I made them or not. As I am Queen, they are the equivalent of what humans would call subjects. Occasionally, a family member becomes a danger to humans. That is the main reason the Hunters think what they do about us. The destruction of dangerous Vampires is the one thing on which Hunters and I agree. I am better at making that happen than they are."

We arrived at her house. As soon as we entered, she sent for Bridget. She explained what had happened at my shop. She instructed Bridget to dispose of the bodies in the woods with the thought that predators need to eat. She directed Bridget to take enough staff with her to clean my shop and put things to right. She also requested that anything of value be collected from the bodies and be brought back.

"Normally, I would have instructed Bridget to drain their bodies first and bring the blood back for our stores, but they have been dead for too long. Their weak blood would be even less nourishing. Plus, they disgust me," said Helena.

"Now, on to more pleasant things. Are you of a mood to dine. If not, I can order some broth or a light repast for you. Wine is definitely necessary."

"Something light sounds good. Are you going to join me?"

"I will sit and share a drink with you. I have already eaten enough for the day though it was a less than tasty meal. I will have staff prepare a room for you for tonight. It might be best if you stayed during the day tomorrow. I will sleep unless you require anything from me. There will be staff around in case you need anything at all. I see you brought a folder. I assume those are the papers I requested."

"They are. Along with an invoice." I handed her the folder. She did a quick examination, nodded and smiled.

"Excellent work. Quite well done. All but the invoice. You cheapen your work. I shall double your asking price. That is fair for what I know must have been considerable effort. Shall we adjourn to the dining room?"

We sat and I nibbled on meat and cheeses. "Thank you for rescuing me. I don't think they would have let me live. I told them I knew nothing of import about you. They didn't believe me."

"No, they wouldn't. Once their mind is set, they only allow for facts that confirm their suspicions. You would have known too much about them to be allowed to live. You might be surprised what snippets of information that you consider nothing have meaning for them. I truly am sorry to have placed you in danger."

"Will I be in danger going forward?

"I'm afraid so."

"What am I to do? I'm not weak-willed, but I can't snatch a bolt out of the air, nor disarm three people as you did. You could promise to have my house watched, but for how long? How many watchers will be enough? Besides, won't that simply attract unwanted attention?"

"All good points. I have a couple of ideas about that. I propose you move in here with me. You noticed the empty rooms in the east wing. I can set three of those aside for you. One for dressing and bathing, one as a sitting room and office and another as a bedroom. I could use someone with your skills on my staff. You would be handsomely compensated. The house would be at your disposal as well. As you have experienced, the kitchen is excellent."

"What duties would that include? Would I be your concubine? Will I be expected to allow you to feed from me? Are you not simply offering a pleasant prison?"

"Nothing of the sort. You could still conduct business from your shop if you chose. You would need to be guarded there at all times. As I said earlier, I never require blood donations. As for being a concubine, I would enjoy your company if it was willing. I suspect my mate, Idra, would as well. Trust me, you will find her extremely desirable. Neither of us would demand it. You would also be free to take pleasure from others of my household, Bridget for instance. She is a generous lover."

"What happens to me when you inevitably move?"

"You would not be safe in this village. You are welcome to go with me when that happens. Your services are ones that are in demand everywhere. Or, I could give you sufficient funds to relocate elsewhere. There is no guarantee Hunters would not find you. The most effective action would be to simply change you."

"Change me?"

"Yes, change you from a human into a Vampire.

"For the sake of discussion, if I consented to being changed into a Vampire, would that guarantee my safety?"

"No. It wouldn't guarantee it. Nothing can do that. For one thing, you would not be as powerful nor as efficient in battle as I am. There is only one family member who is equal to me in power, my mate, Idra. That is a gift I will not offer you. I will, however, make it so you are among the strongest Vampires in my family. Vampire speed and strength would make you difficult to harm. If you were injured, you would heal quickly. It is not easy to do, but we can be killed. You would be far safer than you are now. Imagine if you were attacked by robbers, rapists or highwaymen. As a human woman, you could find yourself in peril. If you were a Vampire, the attacker would be the one in mortal danger. I can train you in personal defense and weaponry to a level that would make you a force to be feared."

"You only met me a short time ago. Why offer to make me among the most powerful? Also, how would you change me? You told that Hunter just being bitten wouldn't be enough."

"Why give you such power is a simple question to answer. It has three parts. First, I have given you the option to resettle with or without being changed. If you were a Vampire, the more powerful you are, the less vulnerable you are outside my direct sphere of influence. Second, I have sent inquiries about you and confirmed your skills and discretion. Those are qualities I find rare in humans. Third, I have lived centuries and seen humans progress in ways they did not anticipate. Call it a feeling if you will, but I see in you a set of skills and an attitude that I know I need now and will likely need even more in the future.

"The process is that you would first drink some of my blood. Then, I would drink enough of yours to end your life. The next night you would awaken. Changed. A Vampire in my employ and under my authority. Human laws would not govern your life. My laws alone would. The penalty for violation of most of my laws is Death. There is no appeal nor acceptable argument in such cases. Even as powerful as I decide to make you, if you were to betray me, I could end you with ease."

"That's harsh."

"It is. I am harsh in some ways. I am the Queen. I take a parental approach whenever possible, but I alone rule the Vampire world. Since Vampires were once human, they retain a lot of their humanity. That is not always a good thing. I try to be selective in choosing who may become a family member. Still, power in some can corrupt their initial intentions. I will not allow the family to be placed at risk. Nor will I allow humans to be abused."

"Would I have to drink blood to survive?"

"Yes, either Vampire blood or human blood. Human blood being the prime source of nutrition. Sharing Vampire blood is often more a byproduct of sexual congress rather than strictly feeding."

"Would I need to avoid the sun?"

"Unfortunately, yes. I said I will make you among the most powerful Vampires. You will have some protection. You wouldn't succumb as quickly as a weaker Vampire. It is possible to increase your tolerance a bit if necessary. That would be my decision and the result would only be temporary."

"Was your plan for us to make love again tonight?"

"It was. I was looking forward to it. The last time was quite enjoyable. You are pretty and have some skills other than your vocation. Surely, your human partners have commented on your tongue," she smiled. "I imagine the events of this evening are not conducive to that ending."

"I was looking forward to intimacy tonight as well. They ruined my best dress I wore for you. I guess that idea is gone. Unless, I decide to let you change me, of course. Well, that's not really all that relaxing a thought. I end my life as a human and enter a whole different existence in the same world."

"True. Though we need not have sex for me to change you. It could be simply transactional. You drink. I feed. You die. You rise. It is a bit impersonal to me. It's been done in time of need. I would prefer sharing pleasure with you as part of it."

"Let me see if I understand you. I can stay here. Work out of an office here. If I choose, I can travel to my shop using this as my home and returning at night. If I take customers in my shop I would be under a constant watchful eye. When you inevitably leave this area, I will have to move either with you as an employee or without you somewhere I might be safe. I will be under constant threat and will need to be guarded in all my actions and conversations.

"Or, I can accept being changed. My business in town is done since I would not be able to travel or work days. I would adopt a nocturnal existence. I would be powerful enough to defend myself. Far better than I can now. I could live with you as an employee or strike out on my own. I would live several lifetimes. I would need to be on guard for Hunters. But, it would take a number of them to be successful or a lucky ambush. Is that about right?"

"It seems accurate as an overview. If you join me and decide to 'strike out on your own' as you put it, I will allow you to take a Vampire mate or change a human to be your mate. Otherwise, changing humans is a capital offense unless you petition for my permission, which I rarely give. I try to keep our numbers small enough to be controlled. But a family's needs change over time.

"The freedom you will have will not be absolute. It will not be overly confining either. I would give you some resources to start anew in a place different from me. I would expect a percentage of any wealth you gain in return. When you die, whatever is of value of yours comes to me."

"Will being changed hurt?" I asked.

"Whether I simply feed or take enough blood to change you, my bite is painful," she said. Her face changed to one more wild, her eyes glowing fiercely and her canine teeth elongating. After a few seconds her face was back to normal. "My fangs are sharp as that Hunter woman discovered as one of her final life lessons. During the feeding process, a few seconds after the initial bite, you would experience a feeling of euphoria and heightened pleasure."

"Would I develop fangs and glowing eyes?"

"You would. You would look terrifying to a human who saw you thus. You would learn to control your fangs and eyes to maintain your normal appearance as I do. A bonus is that you will look even more beautiful once changed. Every positive aspect of your face and figure will be enhanced. You will be you, only much prettier."

"Are the rest of your staff Vampires?"

"No. Some are. The rest are humans who have agreed to travel with and work for me. Some are blood donors. Some are not. Of the ones you have met so far, only Bridget is a Vampire."

"Did you save her from Hunters as well?"

"No. Her I saved from Vampires. As I said, I have not personally created every Vampire though all are a result of Vampires I have created. A bit of my blood is in them permanently. How much determines how powerful. It's a discussion for later if you agree to join me. Occasionally, a Vampire decides to ignore my rules and creates their own Vampires without authorization. We call them rogue Vampires. A group of rogues was terrorizing Bridget's village. I had heard of their actions and led several other Vampires on a mission to destroy them.

"When we arrived on the scene, the town militia was under attack. A battle they would have lost with every member of their militia slaughtered. Bridget was fighting a recently turned female Vampire. Against all odds, she was victorious, slaying the rogue. That impressed me. I needed a personal guard, so, I offered her the job. It required that she be changed. After some discussion, she agreed and has been with me ever since. That was more than a century ago."

"Do you travel around making Vampires as your needs or whims dictate?"

"Hardly. Creating a new Vampire is a rarity. You would be my first since Bridget. Her I offered to change owing to her considerable skills. I never met a human fighter with her talent and tenacity. I rarely encounter humans that I consider a fit for my family. You I am offering to change partly because I feel responsible for your predicament. I should have been more careful. You should not pay the price for that.

"Like Bridget, you have skills that would benefit me and my family. I could probably get what I need by hiring humans in each place I settle, but it would increase my visibility and risk. I would prefer not to do that. I had already planned to offer you a job if your work merited it. It does. As I said, you may still accept a position on my staff and travel with me without being changed. It should be fairly obvious that if you accept my offer to be changed, you will have much more control of your life, one which will span centuries."

"I'm pretty sure I understand." I said. "There is one big concern I have. If when you change me, I die, and a day later I come back to life as a Vampire, what happens to my soul? The Church says that those turned into Vampires forfeit their immortal soul. They are damned to a fiery Hell."

Helena replied, "the simple truth is I don't have any idea whether a human soul exists. I have seen many humans at the moment of their death and I have never seen a soul leave their body. Vampires are not spawn of Satan, as the Church teaches. We have not made a deal with an evil entity. We are simply a different species. Being changed should not alter whether you have a human soul nor upon your human death what its disposition would be. Logic would say that IF humans have a soul, it would depart the body at the moment of human death. Then, I suppose, it would go to its judgement if such a thing actually occurs. It's an intriguing question, but not one about which I've ever had concern. I have no use for religion. It's a human construct. I see the good it brings them as well as the bad.

"Other than our human appearance and general physical makeup Vampires have nothing in common with humans. Humans are simply food. While I will not have Vampires prey on humans, abuse them or enslave them, I care very little about them as a species, I have no real concern for their comings and goings, living and dying as long as I and my family are not endangered by them or they cease to be useful."

"You said every Vampire except yourself was once a human. Surely you have some regard for the human race. Otherwise, why change anyone?"

"It's rare that a human has been so thorough in their questioning of me. You clearly are well above the average human intelligence. I am delighted to encounter such a keen mind. The answer to your question is companionship. I enjoy being surrounded by others closer to my own kind. This seems to be something I share with humans.

"I appreciate that it is no simple thing for you to leave behind the way of life you now have. If you accept the change, you will not lose any of your humanity. Your knowledge stays intact. The good or evil you carry within yourself remains. It is why I am so careful to limit creation of Vampires and only allow it with direct permission. Bad people become worse with the power being a Vampire brings. That causes problems for Vampires and humans alike. Problems I prefer not to have.

"I will not pressure you. Take the time you need to decide. I will listen when you feel at ease. For now, dawn approaches. Let's leave questions and decisions for the morrow. I will sleep during the day. You should too. I will have staff draw you a hot bath. Relax. Soak a bit. Have some more wine. We shall talk tomorrow evening at dinner. How does that sound?"

"A bath and some wine sound like just what I need. Thank you for your understanding."

Helena left the room. A few minutes later, the young woman who had served us returned and escorted me to a guest bedroom. A large tub of steaming hot water awaited me. She urged me to undress and slip into the tub then left the room saying she would return in a few moments. As I sat relaxing, I suddenly began to shiver. The night's events caught up to me all at once. Clearly, my life was about to change in some way. I had to decide to what extent. I didn't want to die, but I didn't want to live in fear. When the young woman returned, she was carrying wine for me to drink and what she needed to bathe me.

It felt good to be tended to. Her deft handling of soaps and cloth relieved some of my stress. The wine did its part as well. After bathing me thoroughly, she toweled me dry with one of the softest materials my skin had felt. She turned down the bed, asked if I needed anything, then left when I said I didn't. I slipped between the covers on an amazingly comfortable bed and quickly fell fast asleep.