#the vatican cellars

[nem0c]

And even if there were no Society to restrain us, that little group of relations and friends whom we can't bear to displease would suffice.

André Gide, The Vatican Cellars

[thewomanwithmissingfingers]

what are you reading rn?

i've been all over the place with reading lately, due to not being able to discern what mood i'm in, or existing in a mood that just won't remain in one place. that said, empire of the senseless by kathy acker is the main novel currently, still reading poetry alongside it. recently picked up baise-moi again but it might deserve a space without as much distraction instead

[sedlex]

Yeah, yeah, world domination and whatnot… but have you tried this uber-vintage brandy???

[incorrectbatfam]

All the places the batfam was banned from

Dick

Damian's parent-teacher conferences

The HBO writer's room

An almond farm in Manteca, California

Victoria's Secret

Jason

32 U.S. states + Puerto Rico

6 countries

Downtown Tokyo

Comm. Gordon's office

Ra's Al Ghul's hot tub

The Phantom Zone

Other-dimension Jason's safehouse

Every Pizza Hut in Ontario

15 feet of any Confederate statue in South Carolina

The Ford dealership in Tallahassee

Riker's Island

Alcatraz

Club Penguin

Tim

The original Starbucks

Wayne Enterprises boiler room

Brentwood Academy biology department

Madripoor

Damian

Outback Steakhouse

West-Reeve school debate team

Steph's apartment bathroom

USDA regional inspection office

Every BP gas station on the Atlantic seaboard

Duke

Gotham High model rocket club

Gotham High acapella choir

Gotham High ventilation system

Cullen

Harper's work table

A meme subreddit

A furry Discord

A Minecraft battle royale

His part-time job after ghosting instead of formally resigning

Stephanie

Oktoberfest

Every Gotham restaurant requiring a dress code

50 feet of the Mona Lisa

The Manor's wine cellar

Planet Fitness

A Harry Styles concert

Cassandra

A falafel cart

Justice League snack storage

The local tarot reader

A bus stop in Hong Kong

The Vienna Philharmonic

Barbara

The Apple Store

The Microsoft Store

Amazon HQ

The backend of all Google sites

Best Buy

The Pentagon

Twitter

Harper

A Home Depot in Wisconsin

Yellowstone National Park

A free pottery class

Gotham City Hall

Carrie

The Tootsie Roll factory

Boy Scouts (not because of gender)

The duck pond at the park

A Barnes & Noble in Boston

Webkinz.com

Kate

A soccer stadium

A Dairy Queen in Houston

A rest stop near Reno

Death Valley

Alfred

The Kremlin

The British Museum

The Vatican

Selina

Most museums in Gotham

Times Square

Buckingham Palace

A mini golf course

Netflix studios

Bruce

The kitchen

Kate's garage without her present

Mars

Batburger without someone else accompanying

A Justice League conference room

The Batcave when injured

Build-A-Bear

Best Western

Jason's safehouse

Facebook Marketplace

Diana's invisible jet

The GOP

Stark Industries break room mini-fridge

Near any animals on Kent Farm without Clark's supervision

[coulsons-fullmetal-cellist]

An Attempt at Cowboy Roleplay

(Dieter x horror loving female)

Words: 502

Summary: Dieter somehow gets a cowboy hat and has ideas

Warnings: lots of saucy suggestions, Dieter doing a terrible accent

Check out masterlist here

“Well howdy there, little lady.”

A somewhat strange accent was coming out of your boyfriend, and you had to look up at what was the cause of it.

“Dieter, I say this lovingly but why are you wearing a cowboy hat?”

“Stupid Sloane put in on my head as a joke and they never asked for it back so it’s mine now.” He strutted over to you in what could be described as a sexy manner. “There’s a snake in my boot and whatever else Woody says.”

The look that was on your face was not expressing one of desire. “The cowboy thing not doing anything for you honey cakes?”

“Not really. Unless…” you scuttled over to the other room and came back with something in your hand. You lifted Dieter’s hand and placed the object in it, stood back to admire and “Yeah, that’s doing something. Now if we got you a long coat…”

“Uh, what is this?”

“It’s a wooden stake,” you said so casually.

“Honey cakes I say this lovingly but why do you have a wooden stake?” he was looking at it in such confusion.

“Well, in the off chance that vampires are real.”

“It’s a big off chance.”

“I want to make sure that I’m ready for it.”

“And you’re ready for it?”

“Oh yeah, silver jewellery, eating garlic any chance we get. No chance of being turned.”

He put the wooden stake down and came over to you in a loving embrace. “Would you still love me if I was a vampire?”

“It depends on the type of vampire, a Byronic vampire, yes obviously; Count Orlock I don’t know, I may have to lock you in the cellar until I find a cure.”

“We have a cellar?”

You pulled out of his embrace “Now I understand why those characters do that in horror films. Just the thought of you as a vampire” You turned back around in excitement. “Okay, now we really need to get you a long coat…”

He was very much intrigued now and hummed his approval. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking something along the lines of you being either a monster hunter for the Vatican, dhampir vampire hunter or futuristic priest turned vampire.”

Dieter was very much confused, “Okay, I understood none of that. But I will get a long coat because I love you and I love your weird but sexy roleplay ideas. What part will you be playing?”

“Depends if you want badass warrior princess, plucky farm girl or a maiden in a long flowy white dress.”

“Don’t make me choose.”

“Which do you want to try first?”

“Again, don’t make me choose.”

*****

Later that night, Dieter turned over to you in bed and asked, “Do we have a cellar in this house I don’t know of?”

“No, but we should get one.”

“We should?”

“No easy way to escape a locked cellar.”

“I don’t know if I should be worried or turned on, because right now, I’m both.”

Films referenced: Toy Story (1995), Nosferatu (1922), Van Helsing (2004), Vampire Hunter D (1985), Priest (2011)

Lovingly tagging @boliv-jenta @simpingcowboy @ellenmunn @o-sacra-virgo-laudes-tibi @brilliantopposite187 @chaithetics @myloveistoolittle

[trashcanband4]

The Bastards Ch. 8

The Bastards Masterlist

Warnings: None. Note: Once again, sorry for the long wait. Writers block is a pain. And sorry if this sucks.

Catherine, Henry, Francis, Bash and Maisie stood around a small round table in the wine cellar, knowing no one would find them there. "You two will be wed tomorrow night." Henry told Maisie and Bash.

"How will we keep Mary from learning of this?" Maisie asked.

"We are going to make her believe she and Bash will be the ones getting married." Henry answered with a glance at Bash before he looked back to Maisie.

"Before I have been declared legitimate?" Bash asked with a frown.

"Yes. The reason for the hasty nuptials will be to force the Vatican's hand." Catherine assumed as she turned her eyes to Henry. "If they want Mary to claim England she will have to be married to the next king of France and if she is already married to Bash they will have no choice but to declare him legitimate."

"Exactly." Henry confirmed.

"Won't she get suspicious if we all just back down and let it happen?" Francis asked.

"Yes, which is why we're not going to back down." Henry answered, then looked at Catherine. "You're going to send an assassin to Mary's chambers tonight. It would be expected considering if she has it her way you'll lose your crown." Catherine made a face that suggested he wasn't wrong. "One of my guards will thorwart your assassin's efforts." Henry looked at Francis and Maisie. "You two are less predictable." He focused on Francis. "What would you do if Mary succeeded in giving your brother your crown?"

Francis thought about it for a moment. "I would leave court." He answered.

Henry looked at Maisie. "What of you? Would you stay and become Sebastian’s mistress?"

“Yes.” Maisie answered. “I’ve already threatened as much.”

“You have?” Bash asked with a look down at her.

“Mmhm.” she hummed.

"Then it's settled." Henry said with finality in his voice. "Tonight Catherine will try and fail to assassinate Mary after which Mary, Bash and I will confront her in the throne room." He then looked at Francis. “You will interrupt and announce your plan to leave court.” he then looked at Maisie, “You will stay out of sight and refuse to join Mary’s other ladies in walking her down the aisle. While Mary is busy getting ready to marry Bash you will be getting ready to take her place."

"Please don’t take this as me being unappreciative," Maisie spoke up and Henry gave her a curious look, "but why can’t Bash and I simply elope in the morning before Mary even wakes? Make things quick and easy?"

"Because she will expect that and we need witnesses, including Mary, so that she cannot question the validity of your marriage." He answered, shutting down her hopes for a simple wedding.

"Fair point.” she replied with a nod.

"If all goes according to plan Bash and Maisie will save a great many people from suffering." Francis said to his parents. “I suggest we show our appreciation with a gift of title and lands.”

Henry and Catherine shared a look. Maisie looked up at Bash with wide eyes while he looked down at her with a surprised look of his own.

"There is a chateau available just outside the castle grounds." Catherine suggested.

“I agree.” Henry said then looked at Bash. “Do you accept?”

“Of course.” he replied without a second thought.

“Very well then.” Henry said with a nod of finality. “Upon your union with Maisie you will become an Earl and as such you may move into your new home.” he told Bash then looked around the table. “Are we all agreed to this plan?” he asked and they all nodded. “Then let’s get to it, shall we?” he asked with a wave to the stairs.

Henry and Francis left first, exiting a couple at a time to stave off the suspicion that would be drawn if they all exited at once. After a few quiet moments Catherine looked at Bash and jerked her head to the stairway. He gave her a nod and left the two women alone. “May I ask…” Maisie started, making Catherine look at her with a hum that told her to continue, “why you agreed to gift Bash a title and lands when everyone knows you hate him?”

“I don’t hate him.” she defended, making Maisie lift their brows at her. “I hate that he exists.” she corrected. "My reasons for agreeing are selfish, I assure you. If you leave court, so does Sebastian. With him out of the castle there is less reason for Diane to be around.”

“Ah.” Maisie said with an understanding nod of her head.

“With the title and lands I’ve also given you an escape.” she continued and Maisie gave her a curious tilt of her head. “From Mary and her fury. As you and I both know she has a temper and she will not be pleased with you after tomorrow.”

“That is assuming she will allow me to leave court. I am still her lady.” Maisie pointed out.

“Yes, about that. Mary will do anything she can to push you from court and away from Bash for she already sees him as hers. She won’t want you around, stealing his time.” Catherine replied. “Prove to her you mean to keep him in your bed despite her plans and she will push. Of this I have no doubt.”

"Thank you for the advice." Maisie replied.

"Now, about the chateau you've been given." Catherine changed the subject. "There is a reason it is available at such short notice. It borders the blood wood." Catherine's words made Maisie's eyes widen. "There haven't been any incidents, but its close proximity scares off most nobles."

"We'll make it work." Maisie agreed, hoping that if they respected the people in the woods, they would be able to live peacefully. 

Catherine gave her a nod then jerked her head toward the stairs for her to leave.

RRRRRRRRRR

As soon as she walked into her rooms she spotted Bash sitting on the small bench in the corner of the entry room, a soft look in his eyes. “I’m sorry.” Maisie apologized softly as she walked over to stand at the small table in the center of the room. Her eyes stayed on her hands on the table. “I didn’t mean to make you feel roped in with this plan of Henry and Catherine’s. I know I should have spoken to you about it first, but there wasn’t time." Still not looking at him, she picked up a petal that had fallen from the flower arrangement in the center of the table. “I’ll understand if you can’t risk your brother’s life.” A sharp pain shot through her chest as the words left her mouth. “But you should know, if you choose Mary, I can't stay. I only said I’d become your mistress because that’s what I want Mary to think.” she answered. “In all actuality I wouldn’t be able to handle it…seeing you stand at her side…knowing that if she won’t release me from my duties to her I would have to be present as you consummate your marriage.” her hand slipped over her churning stomach. “Just the thought of it…”

Seeing a tear slip from her cheek he rushed to her and wrapped her in his arms. “Look at me.” she pulled her face out of his chest to look into his eyes. “I choose you.”

“What?” she asked, pulling her head back slightly.

"I won't marry her." He clarified. "I can't." His words brought a confused frown to her face.

"But…what about Francis…and the prophecy?" She asked.

"Just because I won't wed Mary doesn't mean he has to." He replied. "She can find another alliance elsewhere."

"So we're really getting married tomorrow?" She asked, in a bit of shock.

"Yes. By tomorrow night you will be my wife." He answered with a toothy smile.

A quiet laugh left her lips as she stood on her toes and caught his bottom lip between hers. A thought struck her, making her pull back to look him in the eyes. "You're sure you won't resent me if they do wed and something happens to Francis?"

“Of course not.” he replied. "A man should never have to choose between his brother and the woman he's loved since childhood. But I chose you and I always will." A tear slipped down her cheek and he wiped it away then caught her top lip between his for a short kiss.

Her eyes traveled to the open window of her room, noticing the sun had set. Bash followed her gaze. “I must go. The assassin is probably in Mary’s chambers as we speak.”

“Come back to me when it’s over?” Maisie asked with a look up at him through her lashes.

“Do you think that’s wise?” he asked, uncertain.

“I warned Mary I’d make her life a living hell.” Maisie replied, dropping her eyes to her hands on his chest as they slipped up to hold the sides of his neck. “You, in my bed, every night is one of the ways I intended on doing that.” she looked back up into his eyes. “So let her find out and leave the fall out to me.”

Bash gave her smirk. “Yes ma’am.” His words made her laugh before he caught her lips for a quick kiss. He then left her, both of them feeling lighter now.

RRRRRRRRR

She was dressed in a long sleeved, white satin nightgown, sitting at her writing desk, braiding ribbons of red, blue and brown in the candle light when her door quietly opened and closed. Bash walked over, curious as to what she was doing. “What is this?”

“Handfasting ribbons.” she replied. “I know it won’t be allowed at our wedding as it’s not a christian tradition, but it’s one that’s been in my family for generations.”

“My interest is piqued.” he said as he grabbed a chair and sat beside the desk, watching her fingers intertwine the ribbons. “Tell me more about this family tradition.”

“Well, usually the cords are braided during the ceremony while the bride and groom say their vows then they are tied around the wrists of the betrothed. After the ceremony the cords or ribbons stay on until midnight, assuming the marriage has been consummated by that point.” she answered.

“And is there a reason why you chose these colors?” he asked.

“Every color has several different meanings and the couple can choose their colors. But, seeing as we don't have much time, I took the liberty of choosing for us." She explained. "Red, for love, passion and courage. Light blue, for understanding and patience. And brown for healing, nurturing and home."

"Sounds like us to me." He agreed. "But if we can't use them in the ceremony what do you intend for us to do with them?"

"I don't know. It just felt wrong, not having them." She answered as she finished braiding then tied them off.

"How about…" as he spoke he took the finished ribbons out of her hand, set it on the desk then took her hands into his, "after the grand ceremony, we ride out to our tree and have a private little ceremony of our own?" He asked as he stood and she followed as he set her hands on his shoulders then wrapped his around her waist. "No scripted vows, no watching eyes. Just words and rituals of our choosing."

"That sounds lovely." She told him with a bright smile.

"Good." He replied before he caught her lips in a soft kiss that slowly deepened.

As they kissed her hands slipped up his chest then over his shoulders and down his arms, pushing off the jacket he wore over a thin, brown linen shirt. When it hit the floor he wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up. A girlish squeak left her lips as her arms tightened around his neck and her legs clumsily wrapped around him.

He chuckled at her as he carried her over to the bed and laid her down, his lips traveling down to her neck. "How I missed you." she whispered.

"I missed you too." Bash replied before he went back to kissing her neck.

They spent half the night lost in each other before they finally slipped off to sleep.

RRRRRRRRRR

Bash woke to the feel of Maisie's light touch, her fingertips slipping back and forth over the patch of dark hair in the center of his chest. A contemplative look on her face, her head propped up with her hand and elbow. "What's on your mind?" Bash asked, alerting Maisie to the fact that he was awake.

She took in a sharp breath and blinked out of her thoughts before her eyes met his. "When I told my friends about our engagement Greer asked me something and I realized I didn’t know the answer." She answered.

“And what question did she ask?” he asked.

“If you want children.” Maisie answered. “It’s one of the few things we’ve never discussed.”

“Of course I do.” he replied. “Do you? I know some women fear childbirth.”

“I don’t fear it. I’ve always wanted children.” she answered then dropped her eyes down to his chest. “Though I’d like to try to wait a little while…enjoy being young and constantly in your arms first. If that’s okay.” she looked back up to his face to see him give her a smirk.

He pushed himself up onto his forearm and slipped his free hand over her cheek,  “I think I can handle that.” he caught her lips in a kiss.

As she laid back, resting her head on her pillow he followed, not breaking the kiss. After a moment a thought struck him and he pulled back with a hum. “I forgot to tell you, I met Keelan.”

“What, when?” she asked, a little upset she hadn’t been there.

"He cornered me in the halls on my way here last night." He answered. "He's a very…forward man, that friend of yours. From the way he looks out for you, you'd think he was your big brother."

"Yes…" Maisie sighed, "he can be a bit…overbearing. Did he give you an earful?"

"No." He answered. "However he did threaten to bury me alive if I wed Mary."

Maisie cringed. "Sorry…"

"No need. Like I said, he was just looking out for you. And I'm glad he was there for you when your brothers came. You're going to need him even more after tonight." He brushed a lock of hair out of her face and slipped his thumb over her cheek. "You'll need a friend you can trust. One who's not duty bound to Mary."

She gave him a sad smile. "How is it possible to be more excited than I have ever been and filled with dread at the same time?" she asked, thinking about what this would do to her friendship with Mary.

“I know you’re not looking forward to hurting Mary, but you must remember that she tried to take me from you.” he answered and Maisie raised her shoulders as she took a deep breath then dropped them and nodded as she let it out. “When you feel the dread seeping in, think of me…of this." He caught her lips in his and moved between her legs that wrapped around him. Him, grinding into her core, made her hum and press her fingertips into his shoulder blades.

"Bash…" she sighed. "Must you keep tempting me so close to our wedding night?"

"Yes." He answered, pulling back to look into her eyes. "I intend on spending the rest of my life tempting you, challenging you and being challenged by you." Maisie gave him a smile and caught his bottom lip between hers.

She pushed his shoulder and he rolled onto his back taking her with him. She set up, resting her hands on his stomach. "I wasn't just thinking about whether we wanted children or not. I've been awake for a while, thinking about the events of the near future. The ceremony…consummation…"

"Are you nervous?" He asked, slipping his thumbs over her satin covered sides where his hands held her.

"I wasn't until Lola warned me that the first time tends to hurt.” she admitted. Bash sighed and sat up, dropping his eyes. “Should I not have brought it up?” she asked with a frown as she dipped her head, attempting to catch his eye.

“No, it’s fine.” he answered, lifting his eyes to her. “It’s just…there’s something I wish to tell you, but I’m not sure if I should, especially now.”

"If you want to tell me, then tell me.” she told him as she unwrapped her arms from around his neck to softly hold the sides of it. "I can handle it."

“Even if it has to do with my past with other women?” he asked cautiously.

“Bash.” she said deadpanned. “You’re allowed to talk about your past and, believe it or not, I strangely like that you’re experienced. You’re not some clumsy boy who has no idea what he’s doing.”

Bash’s eyes dropped once again. “Actually, on this one occasion, I may be a bit inexperienced. I've…never bedded a virgin.” he watched, a bit worried, as her expression transitioned from one of confusion to one of realization.

“Was that…by design, or did it just happen to turn out that way?” she asked curiously.

“By design.” he answered. “I may be wrong, but I believe a woman’s first partner should be someone who truly cares for them.” his hands caressed her back as he explained. “I only ever wanted to be that man for one woman. You may not be my first sex partner, but tonight will be a night of firsts for me too. You’ll be the first woman to give me her virtue…” he pulled her close and pressed his forehead to hers, nuzzling her nose with his, “the first, and only, woman I’ll ever truly make love to. For I do believe there is a difference.”

A tear slipped down her cheek before her hands slipped up to hold the sides of his face as she caught his lips in a deep, passionate kiss. Eventually it slowed, then broke and she pressed her forehead to his, "I love you." she whispered, a bit breathless from the kiss. Bash smiled brightly as he fell back, taking her with him. He managed to place a few kisses to her neck before she set up and he let out a slightly agitated sigh. She just laughed before she said, “There is one more thing I thought about this morning that I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Good lord, how long have you been awake?” he asked.

“I rose sometime before the sun.” she answered. “Anyway, I know I said that I wanted to try to wait a while before having a child, but tonight…for this one night I don’t want to avoid it.” she fell forward, bracing herself on her hands beside his head. “I want our first time to be…natural, for a lack of better word."

"What do you mean by that?" He asked curiously.

"I've felt you reach completion between my lips and I've been aching to know what that will feel like when you're inside me.” A smile stretched her lips as his eyes darkened with lust. "What do you think?"

“I think I like the sound of that, but…are you sure?” he asked. “I don’t want you to end up looking back on our wedding night with regret.”

“I’m sure.” she answered with a nod. “If it’s meant to be then it’s meant to be. If not…” she caught his lips with hers in a short kiss, “then we’ll have fun practicing until we’re ready to try again.” she kissed his scruffy cheek.

“As long as you’re sure.” he agreed. She set up and smiled down at him. “Was there anything else bouncing around in that beautiful mind of yours, or am I free to ravish you for what little time we have left this morning?”

She pulled her lips to the side as she looked up at the ceiling in thought, “Actually, now that I think about it I-”

He sat up with an aggravated growl and she laughed as he grabbed her shoulders and rolled them over. They got lost in one another and only pulled apart because if he lingered any longer Mary would surely come looking for him.

After getting dressed Bash went to the door and Maisie followed. Before she could open the door he gave her one last kiss then cupped her face in his hands. “Don’t plan on sleeping this night, My love." He pecked her on the lips and left her behind with butterflies in her stomach and a blush on her cheeks.

RRRRRRRRRR

Maisie was sitting at her dressing table, still in her nightgown, brushing her long auburn locks, when a knock sounded from her door. When she pulled it open Mary stood on the other side. "What more could you possibly want from me?" Maisie asked.

"Bash stayed in your chambers last night, correct?" Mary asked, her tone cold as a stone in snow.

"Correct." Maisie answered just as coldly.

"Why?" Mary asked with a glare.

"Because a man can't change his heart simply because you bid it so." Maisie answered.

"You are released from your duties to me." Mary told her, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I have arranged your passage to Scotland. You'll leave in the morning. Go home. Queer or not Keelan loves you. Marry him and grant yourself a happy life."

"Oh Mary…" Maisie sighed, "selfish, naive, foolish Mary. Scotland may be my country but it's not my home, Bash is. So I'm staying right where I am. After you and Bash are wed he will be the king of Scotland and eventually France. There will be nothing you can do to stop him from taking me as his mistress. He will never love you and because you have ruined the future we planned together he will never grant you permission to be with another. If he ever finds out you've bedded a man he can and will have your head thus freeing up the spot at his side for me. I will bear his children. You…will be nothing." She looked at her hand as she grabbed the door handle then looked back at Mary. "You're dead to me." She slammed the door in Mary's face.

Mary flinched and closed her eyes.

RRRRRRRRRR

Maisie was pulling a dress out of her wardrobe when a knock sounded from her door. “Come in.” she called as she folded the dress and tucked it into a trunk.

Greer, Lola and Kenna came in. “You’re packing?” Lola asked.

“Mary said you were staying, that you’re planning on becoming Bash’s mistress.” Kenna said, lifting her eyes from the truck to Maisie.

“I do intend on staying, but not in these chambers as they are intended for Mary’s ladies.” the weight of her words and the fact that they were true, this wasn’t a part of the role she was playing, pressed into her chest like a heavy blanket. After tonight she would never sleep in these chambers again, and her friendship with Mary would forever be changed. Her eyes watered at the thought. “And I am no longer one of you.”

“Oh, Maisie.” Greer sighed as the three girls closed on her and engulfed her in their arms. 

“I know things seem bleak, but you will still be here…we’ll still be your friends.” Lola offered.

“You say that, but Mary will forbid you from seeing me.” Maisie argued.

“You can’t truly believe she would keep us from you.” Kenna said, looking at her sadly.

“She has already tried to send me back to Scotland with Keelan.” Maisie countered. “By staying and clinging to the man I love my relationship with Mary will be reduced to one no better than that of Catherine and Diane.”

“Then I suppose I should give this to you while I still can.” Kenna said before she left then came back with a white dress in her hands. “I know the timing is…unfortunate,” she said as she held it out to Maisie. “But I took the liberty of bringing your mothers dress to the castle seamstress. Of course she couldn’t med it, but she did save a majority of the lace and added it to this dress.”

Maisie took the dress with fresh tears in her eyes as she took in the lace on the puffed sheer sleeves and the belt. “So all of these applique are-”

“From your mothers dress, yes.” Kenna finished for her.

“I thought the servants had thrown the dress out with the rubbish.” Maisie said in awe of the dress. “Kenna…I…I don’t know what to say.'' She looked up at Kenna with a smile before she realized that as far as Kenna knew she would never get to wear the dress considering a king and his mistress never had any kind of ceremony. Her smile fell.

“Perhaps if you and Bash have a daughter she can wear it on her wedding day.” Greer offered in an attempt to cheer her up.

Maisie laid the dress out on the bed then sank down to sit beside it. “Maybe I should return to Scotland…marry Keelan…”

“Is that truly what you want?” Lola asked as she took a few steps closer.

“I think the real question is could you truly be happy stuck in a loveless marriage?” Kenna spoke up.

Maisie sighed and ran her fingers through her loose hair. “I don’t know.”

“Whatever your decision, we will support you.” Greer assured her.

The girls shared one more group hug before they left to tend to Mary.

RRRRRRRRRR

The maids that Catherine had sent were helping Maisie dress for the occasion and had just finished putting the final touches on her hair when a knock sounded from the door. She walked over to it and the ladies grew quiet as she called out, "Who is it?"

"Francis." He called back. "May I have a word?" Maisie stepped back and pulled the door open allowing him into the room. After shutting the door she turned to see that the ladies had gone into the bedchamber, the last room of the three room chambers, to give them some privacy where they stood in the entryway. Francis was looking at her with an appraising gaze and a smile. "My brother is a lucky man." Maisie just blushed and dropped her eyes for a moment. "I know about Nostradamus's prophecy. Mary and Bash believe in his gift. Do you?"

"I do." She answered.

"Do you still think Mary and I should be together?" He asked and Maisie nodded. "I'm not sure how I should feel about that." He admitted with a narrow of his eyes.

"Well, I don't wish for you to die if that's what you're suspecting." She replied as she walked over to the padded bench in the far corner of the room. Francis grabbed a nearby chair and pulled it over to sit across from her. "I just can't help thinking that if it were me and Bash in your stead…if marrying Bash would cause his death I would still want to marry him."

"Why?" Francis asked as he leaned forward, putting his elbows on his thighs, listening to her reasoning intently.

"Because a short life lived happily is better than a full life of misery." Maisie answered. "I would rather have a handful of wonderful memories of Bash and I together than no memories at all. Besides, while I do believe in Nostradamus's gift, I also believe the future is fluid. One small pebble dropped will cause a million ripples. It is impossible for Nostradamus to see all of those ripples. He correctly predicted that Bash would be taken from me, but he didn't see that I'd take him back." She explained. "I also believe our fate is ours to choose. Bash, Mary and your mother love you and they don't want to lose you. I don't either but it is your life on the line and it is your right to choose how you live it, no one else's." Francis hummed and gave her a smile as he sat up, leaning back in his chair. "What, may I ask, is that look about?"

"You are the only person who hasn't outright told me what to do." He responded. "Mother and Bash have urged me not to wed Mary. Father is demanding I wed her and deliver England to him. Mary is outright refusing me…" he told her with a shake of his head. "Your point of view is refreshing." Maisie just smiled and dropped her eyes to her hands. A few quiet moments passed before Francis spoke again. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course." Maisie answered and a small smile passed over Francis's lips.

"I've always been jealous of Bash." He admitted and Maisie gave him a look that asked him to explain. "He's always been free. Free to do whatever he wished no matter how dangerous. Father doesn't worry about him dying so much he doesn't get to live."

"I'm sorry. It must be incredibly restricting, being next in line for the throne." She said with a frown.

"It is, but I've come to terms with it." He brushed it off.

"Then why bring it up?" She asked curiously.

"Because the secret is I have a new reason to envy him." He replied. "He has you." Maisie frowned. "The love that you and Bash share is something I've only read about. Your devotion to him is…remarkable. I wish Mary could be as devoted to me as you are to Bash. I wish she could see things as you do and allow me the freedom to choose my own path instead of taking matters into her own hands."

"I'm not sure she'll have much say in the matter after tonight." Maisie pointed out.

"And for that I am grateful, however I fear if my father and her mother force our marriage she'll resent me." He replied.

"If she resents anyone it will be me, your parents and her mother." Maisie assured him. "I just hope that in time you both will forgive Bash and me for taking away your choice in the matter."

"As far as I am concerned you're already forgiven." Francis replied and she gave him a thankful smile. He stood and Maisie followed as he walked to the door then turned to look her up and down. "I can't wait to see the look on Bash's face when he sees you tonight." Maisie smiled softly and opened the door for him and closed it when he walked out.

RRRRRRRRRR

People stood in the chapel forming an aisle. Bash stood at the end of it, dressed in black clothing embroidered with gold thread befitting a royal. Gold buckles on the front of his tunic accented the embroidery. The deep crease in his brow made it seem as if he didn't want to be there. However in truth he was eager, excited and even a little nervous. Behind him stood a priest, an open bible in his hands. Mary waited to the side of the arching entryway, just out of sight, dressed in white with a bouquet in hand and her ladies standing behind her all wearing shades of dusty blue.

When music started playing Mary started to take a step into the entryway, but Henry’s guards grabbed her arms, stopping her. “Unhand me.” Mary told them, but stopped fighting when Maisie walked out from around the corner with a bouquet in hand. “What’s the meaning of this?” she asked, both shocked and pissed.

Maisie ignored Mary and stepped into the center of the arching entryway. Keelan walked up the aisle and held out his arm to Maisie. She laid her hand softly on his forearm then looked back at her friends. “Would you like to join me?” she asked quietly. Kenna and Greer moved around Mary to stand behind Maisie who gave them an appreciative smile. When they noticed that Lola hadn't joined them Greer motioned her over. Lola shook her head no, refusing to support Maisie's decision. A sharp pain shot through Maisie's heart before she pushed the pain to the back and turned her eyes to Bash.

The frown was now gone from his face as his eyes drank in Maisie in her simple and elegant, white stain, a-line dress with a high scoop neckline and puffed sleeves of lace appliqued chiffon that were cuffed to her wrists with beaded lace. A belt of lace that matched that on the sleeves was tied around her waist. It could barely be seen behind the bouquet of gardenias, greenery and little white stephanotis flowers. A lavish, three stranded pearl necklace with a square aquamarine gemstone in the center accented the scooped neckline of the dress.

Maisie only had eyes for Bash, though he was a bit blurred by the blusher of the veil that was draped over her face, and she couldn't help smiling like a fool at the look on his face as she walked toward him. Once at the altar, Keelan took Maisie's hand and placed it in Bash's as he looked him in the eyes pointedly, "Treat her right or you will come to regret it." He warned then moved to stand with the rest of the people in the room. As Kenna and Greer moved to stand at her side, Francis and Henry walked out of the crowd and stood beside Bash, showing their support for him.

"Sebastian, Maisie,” as the priest spoke, the couple turned to face him, “have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, willingly and wholeheartedly?" The priest asked.

"I have." Bash and Maisie answered together.

"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor one another for as long as you both shall live?" He asked.

"I am." Maisie and Bash answered again.

“Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, you must declare your consent before God.” the priest told them. Maisie handed her bouquet off to Kenna then turned toward Bash and grabbed both of his hands.

“I, Sebastian, take you, Maisie, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you until death do we part.”

“I, Maisie, take you, Sebastian, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you until death do we part.”

“May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared. What God has joined, let no one put asunder." The priest turned to Henry who handed him two simple golden bands. The priest blessed them with a prayer and holy water then handed one to Bash and the other to Maisie.

Bash took her left hand into his. “Receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.” he slipped the thin gold band onto her finger alongside the rose ring.

Maisie took his left hand in hers. “Receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.” She slipped the ring on his finger and they grabbed each other's hand then looked at the priest.

“In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Sebastian, you may now kiss your bride.” Bash lifted the veil from her face, cupped her cheek in one hand and pressed a light, lingering kiss to her lips. “Go in peace to glorify the Lord with your life.” The priest closed things out and motioned for the newlyweds to leave. The people in the room applauded as they walked down the aisle hand in hand.

Mary, who had been forced to watch from the back, chased after them. "What have you done?" She practically yelled at Maisie's back.

"I took back my fate." Maisie answered as she stopped and faced Mary.

"And damned Francis in the process." Mary said with tears pooling in her eyes.

"A fate that is his to choose to live with or change. His, not yours or Catherine's." Maisie argued. "You once forced my hand to keep me with the man I love. Consider this me returning the favor."

Mary looked at Bash with glaring eyes. "You were in on this. Henry didn't want us to wed quickly to force the Vatican to legitimize you."

"I told you I never wanted to be king. You didn't listen." Bash answered.

"I never wanted to hurt you.” Maisie told her honestly. “You were my friend. But you stabbed me in the back and shattered my trust and my loyalty for you. Now, if you'll excuse me." Maisie and Bash turned their backs and took a step.

"You are not excused!" Mary yelled.

Maisie rolled her eyes as she turned and looked at Mary. "My wording was an attempt to remain civil. I'll rephrase. I am now a French subject. I answer to you no longer."

Henry walked over to stand on the other side of Maisie, looking flatly at Mary. "I suggest you stop harassing Lady Maisie."

"Lady?" Mary asked, surprised.

"Countess, to be more specific." Maisie answered, making Mary's jaw drop.

Francis walked over to stand beside Mary. "Bash, Maisie, congratulations." He told them with a pleasant, closed lipped smile on his face.

"Did you have prior knowledge of this?" Mary asked, glaring at him as well.

"Yes." Francis answered with a smirk at Mary.

Maisie looked up at Bash. "We're going to be late for our reception if we linger any longer."

"Yes, go." Henry spoke up then looked at Maisie and Bash. "Celebrate your future and a job well done." He looked at Mary. "How things proceed from here will be up to Queen Mary."

"Father-in law," Maisie said with a bow then turned to Francis and gave him a bow as well, "Brother-in-law." She gave them a smile and ignored Mary all together as she took Bash's offered arm and they walked away.

RRRRRRRRRR

Neither Bash or Maisie wanted a reception, but it was customary. Before they could have their first dance, Kenna and Greer rushed over to Maisie with smiles on their faces. Lola lagged behind. “You all told me this morning that no matter my decision, you’d support me. I know you were all unaware that this was an option, but-”

“We’re happy for you.” Kenna cut her off.

“You’re not angry with me, for pulling the rug from under Mary’s feet?” Maisie asked sheepishly.

“Of course not.” Greer answered.

Maisie noticed that Lola hadn’t said anything and was keeping her eyes downcast. “You don’t agree with them.” she said as she dipped her head into Lola’s line of vision.

“If Mary wed’s Francis and he does lose his life, Mary will grow to resent you.” Lola answered. “You are her friend, her lady. How could you have acted so selfishly?”

“Lola.” Greer chidded her.

“It’s alright.” Maisie told Greer. “She is entitled to her opinion." She turned her eyes back to Lola. "You see my actions as selfish because I'm one of Mary's ladies, and as such every move I make must be in her best interests, in Scotland's best interests. While this move was selfish on my part, I assure you it is in Scotland's best interest and therefore in Mary's."

"Is that what king Henry told you?" Lola asked.

"No it's what common sense tells me." Maisie answered. "What good is a marriage to the next king of France if France is in shambles itself?"

"What do you mean?" Kenna asked.

"If Mary were to wed Bash it wouldn't only put Bash in a position he is unprepared for. It would force Henry to annul his marriage to Catherine and put Diane on the throne. Diane's return to court would hurt Kenna as well as Catherine." Maisie explained.

"Sense when do we care about Catherine? Lola asked.

"She may be cold sometimes but there is a heart in her chest and she loves her children with all of it." Maisie responded. "If Bash were legitimized, Catherine and her children, Francis and his little brothers, would be in danger, forced to live in hiding for fear of Bash's supporters. They would try to kill little Henry and Charles to keep them from staking claim to the throne."

"That's horrible, but I don't see how it would put France in shambles." Lola argued.

"The Nobles would do that. The ones in charge of putting food in our mouths, the ones the king and Queen have to smile and placate, they would riot if the line of succession were tempered with. There would be uprisings and uprisings bring a needless death count of both citizens and soldiers. The same soldiers the king commands, that Mary needs at her disposal." Maisie finished explaining then gave Lola a chance to speak, instead she hugged herself and looked down. "Either way what's done is done and I'm leaving court."

"What?" Greer asked sadly.

"Bash and I were given title and lands for helping Henry and Catherine." Maisie answered. "We have a chateau, just outside the castle grounds. You're welcome to come visit if Mary allows."

Bash walked over and rested his hand on her lower back then whispered something in her ear, took a step back and held his hand out to her. When she took it the musicians started playing and Bash led her out onto the dance floor. "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" Bash asked as they started dancing. Maisie just hummed and shook her head. "Well you do and you are." He assured her, making her give him a soft smile. "Seems Catherine knows your tastes."

"The dress wasn't Catherine's doing." Maisie replied. "It was Kenna's." 

He gave her a confused look considering Kenna didn't know they were getting married.

"I thought the maids had taken my mother's wedding dress, thinking it was rubbish. Turns out Kenna took it. She brought it to a seamstress for mending, but as I already knew it couldn't be fixed. So the seamstress saved what she could of the lace and added it to a new dress of similar style."

"We'll, that was kind of her." He said with a surprised look.

"I know she is reckless and careless in love, but there are two things she truly does care about. Her friends and her country." She defended.

He gave her a soft smile. "We'll, I suppose anyone who cares for you can't be so terrible."

She noticed his eyes drop to the expensive necklace. "It was a gift." She answered and he looked into her eyes as he grabbed her hips, picked her up and spun her around.

"Who from?" He asked as he set her back down. "Wait, let me guess, Keelan?"

Maisie smiled, "No, Aylee gifted me the necklace the morning of her passing." She answered, feeling a pang in her chest at the thought of her fallen friend. "She gave all of us necklaces to wear at Mary's wedding. She thought I'd like this one. The gemstone reminded her of your eyes."

His eyes softened. "You must miss her."

"I do." She said, tears welling in her eyes. "I thought wearing it might make it feel as if she were here with me." She took a deep breath and blinked back the tears. "Besides, I highly doubt Mary will want me in her wedding after tonight. So it's not like I'll get to wear it for its intended purpose anyway."

"You're letting the dread seep in." He pointed out as he grabbed her hand and held it over her head as she twirled.

"I know…I apologize." Maisie sighed as she stopped and Bash grabbed her hips then lifted her as he spun.

"Don't apologize." He told her as he set her down, her breath quickening from the feel of her body in the satin dress sliding down his before she landed on her feet. "Simply do as I suggested this morning and think only of me." They stopped dancing as he tucked an auburn curl behind her ear then rested the heel of his hand on her cheek as he pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. When it broke she let a small smile grace her lips. "I don't know about you, but I've had enough of this party." He rested his forehead on hers. "Father's gotten what he wanted. It's time I get what I want."

"And what do you want, dear husband?" She asked sweetly.

"You...all to myself." He answered.

Her smile brightened. "I think I can handle that."

RRRRRRRRRR

 "So, I noticed something in our vows that I don't entirely agree with." Maisie said from where she sat in front of Bash in the saddle on his horse, no longer in her wedding dress, but a simple long sleeve, cream colored eyelet lace top and skirts held in place with a white corset.

"Really, what?" He asked as they ducked under a low hanging limb.

"We vowed to love one another until death parts us." She pointed out. "But I argue that I will never stop loving you. Even after death I will remain yours." 

"I like the sound of that." he agreed as he steered the horse. "I've been thinking about what our private ceremony should consist of. I think, since our last oath has been fulfilled, we make a new one. A new vow to fix the flaw in our public vows. Unless you had something else in mind."

"I don't." she answered as she leaned to the side and looked at him over her shoulder. “And I’d love to.” A smile brightened his eyes before he caught her bottom lip between his. After riding in silence for a few moments the grand French oak tree, its base was surrounded by lanterns while others were scattered around the ground lighting the night, came into sight. A blanket that was spread out on the ground nearby. "Bash, this is beautiful…" she said in awe.

Bash pulled the horse to a stop and dismounted before helping Maisie down. They walked hand in hand to stand in front of the tree then worked together to secure the handfasting ribbons around their wrists. "If I die first I will wait for you at heaven's gates, unable to pass through, for my heart and soul will remain on earth with you.” he took a dagger out of a sheath on his hip. “If you go first I will remain yours, incomplete until I'm at your side again." He said as he cut over the scar on his hand.

She brushed the backs of her fingers over his scruffy cheek as she repeated his words then took the dagger from him and traced the scar on her right hand with the sharp tip of the blade. "Never shall we ever truly part."

He smiled and took the dagger from her then put it back in its sheath. "Never shall we ever truly part." He too promised as they clasped their hands together. They shared a smile before he caught her lips in a deep kiss that pulled a hum from her. He echoed the sound back as he pulled her into him. Deciding she needed more than kisses she pulled back, looked down at their bound hands and slipped her hand from the loop. "I thought it was supposed to stay on until midnight."

She took the loop from his hand and pulled the ends, forming a knot in the center of the braided ribbons. "I don't want them to get in the way."

"Of?" He asked as she reached over and draped the ribbons over a low hanging branch to keep them from getting dirty on the ground.

She simply looked up at him through her lashes with a smirk as she grabbed his hand and led him over to the blanket. His eyes darkened as she turned to him and he watched her start working on the gold buckles of the leather vest he wore over a dark long sleeved shirt. As she worked on the buckles, he started untying the laces at the back of her corset.

A heavy sigh left her lips when he cupped her face in his hand, his blood smearing over her cheek as he kissed down her jawline to her neck and she tilted her head. He tossed her corset to the side and shrugged off his tunic, breaking the kiss to grab the v-shaped collar of his black cotton shirt and pull it over his head, tossing it in the same direction as her corset. While he removed his shirt she removed hers then, with lust in her eyes, reached back, untying her skirts and they pooled at their feet. Bash captured her lips in a kiss that didn’t last long before he moved to her neck and chest, dropping to his knees as he kissed down her torso and pulled her knickers down her long smooth legs. With them gone he looked up at her, taking a moment to bask in the sight of her standing before him completely naked for the first time.

Maisie kicked the clothes around her feet aside and kneeled down, hooking her hand around the back of his neck as she caught his bottom lip between hers. He laid her back, hovering over her from the side.

After a while of passionate kissing, their hands exploring what flesh was bare, Maisie gave his shoulder a push and he rolled over. He watched with lustful eyes as she straddled his legs and started unbuckling his belt then the buttons of his trousers.

As soon as she was done he set up. His hands slid up her flawless bare back to press into her shoulder blades as he kissed her neck then trailed noisy kisses over her chest and between the valley of her breasts before catching the peek of her right one between his thin lips. A gasp left her lips at the new sensation. Both of them enjoyed him exploring her chest for a moment before he caught her lips with his once again and didn't break the kiss as he laid back then rolled over. 

After a moment he stood and removed his trousers then kicked them aside and returned to her. His weight rested on his right forearm on the blanket beside her head. His left hand grabbed hers, threading their fingers together, the fresh cuts aligned. Assuming he wanted them to be connected in every conceivable way she gripped his hand and tightened her legs around his waist. A shaky sigh left both of their lips when the tip of him pressed into her, teasing her in the best possible way.

Her free arm hooked under his to hold his shoulder. An almost pained sounding hum left her parted lips when, instead of entering her, like she so desperately wanted, he slipped his length between her slick lips, rubbing against her clit. The action didn't only pleasure both of them but also coated him in her arousal to make him entering her a little easier. His own heavy breaths filled her ear as he kissed her neck, teasing her with slow drawn out movements of his hips. "Make love to me, Bash." She sighed, then resumed kissing his shoulder.

"Are you sure you're ready?" He whispered teasingly in her ear then kept kissing her neck.

Her response was a sound of aggravation as she lightly bit his shoulder, dug her heels into his rear, her fingertips pressed into his back and her right hand squeezed his, their fingers still intertwined.

He chuckled as he pulled back and looked into her eyes that gave him a playful glare. His face turned soft but serious as he brushed his thumb over her cheek. "Let me know if you need me to slow down or stop."

She gave him a nod, so he didn't take his eyes off hers as he reached down, lined himself up and pressed in. Slowly he entered her, watching closely for signs of discomfort, but he saw none. Only an expression of pleasure as her cinnamon brown eyes, clouded with lust, gazed into his with an almost overwhelming amount of love. The combination was one he'd never seen before and it only added heat to the fire already burning within him. After sinking into her completely he let his head fall to rest on her shoulder. A shaky breath left his lips.

Maisie moved her hand from where it had been gripping his shoulder to slip it up his chest to hold the side of his neck, "Is something wrong?"

He lifted his head and she slipped her hand over his cheek. "No." He answered. "You feel better than I ever could have imagined." He elaborated and her worried eyes softened as a fleeting smile pulled at one side of her lips. "Are you alright?"

"Perfectly." She answered then placed a few kisses to his shoulder as she slipped her hand down his neck and chest then around to rest on his lower back. She kissed up to his ear then rolled her hips into his as she whispered, "Please, continue, whenever you're ready."  

Her action pulled a labored breath from him before he captured her lips in a hungry kiss. Despite the temptation to go fast and hard, he kept the strokes of his hips agonizingly slow and gentle.

After a moment his movements, which had felt a little odd to her at first, started to feel better and better. His breaths in her ear, the caress of his lips on her neck, his free hand holding the side of her head, fingers embedded in her hair while his left hand still held her right, a slight sting in her palm from the pressure on her open cut…it all fed the feeling building within her.

Bash reveled in her. The feel of her ample chest pressed against his, the way her fingertips pressed into his back, her thighs gripping him, her hips moving perfectly in time with his as if this were the hundredth time they'd made love, her quiet panting and the occasional high pitched moan that would slip, despite her trying to hold them back. He'd been on edge since entering her and wasn't sure how much longer he could hold back, but he could tell she was getting close. "Bash, I-" she panted.

"I know." He sighed, nuzzling his face into her neck, "Let go and I will surely fall with you." The words of encouragement and the light squeeze he gave her hand pushed her over the edge and a muffed moan filled his ear as she pressed her face into his neck.

Just when she thought he couldn't possibly make her feel better than she did in that moment, his choked, deep moan filled the space around them and he began pulsing inside her, filling her with an intense warmth. The sensation pulled a short, high pitched moan from her as her thighs tightened around him and her fingertips once again dug into his smooth back. They rode the waves of ecstasy together, him peppering her neck and chest with kisses while her free hand caressed his side and back until the waves subsided.

After a long, comfortably quiet moment he caressed her nose with his then pulled back and put most of his weight on his right forearm. When his eyes moved to their hands still clasped together hers followed and watched as they let go, both flexing their fingers after holding the position for so long. Only a small amount of blood was on their palms since the pressure had stopped the wounds from bleeding.

Bash cupped her cheek in his left hand brushing his thumb over her cheekbone as he gazed at her content face. "Tell me what you're thinking."

"I'm thinking that I understand why you told me not to plan on sleeping tonight." She answered. "Because I want to do that again," she pecked him on the tip of his nose, "and again," then his cheek, "and again," then whispered in his ear, "until the sun rises."

He chuckled as he rolled into his back, taking her with him. "Then may I suggest we retire to a location better suited for such activities?" He asked as she set up and his hands grabbed her hips. Both of them then noticed the blood that had been smeared everywhere their cut hands had explored. "And perhaps a bath."

"You read my mind." She answered as she leaned down and caught his lips in a playful kiss.

Tag List: @lilbitofliah @ranuchiha @jodiereedus22

[corallapis]

Henry ‘Chips’ Channon: The Diaries (Vol. 1), 1918-38, entry for 25th August 1923

—

Saturday 25th August

Castle Howard¹

A great barren ugly palace is this famous Castle Howard inside. The galleries are reminiscent of the Vatican with their hundreds of busts and statues of emperors and gods. The great library is an enormous narrow red room of the length of the house and is hung with enough paintings to found a museum. Most of them came from France, along with those at Bridgewater House having been bought by Lord Carlisle and the Duke of Bridgewater of the time from the French royal collections broken up by the revolution. The house is uncomfortable in the extreme and is badly kept up. Everywhere there are signs of decaying magnificence.

Old Lady Carlisle,² that demented and tyrannical old lady of the house of Stanley of Alderley, died last year,³ having made her family, neighbours and the countryside miserable for fifty years. Many are the stories told of her eccentricity . . . how she caused thousands of gallons of old port and glorious champagne to be emptied into the park . . . how she bullied her husband and tyrannised over her children . . . how she dismantled Nawroth Castle when she discovered it had been left to her eldest son and not to herself . . . . how she set off from there to Castle Howard with vanloads of paper and pictures and furnishings which have accumulated dust ever since in the cellars of this Vanbrugh⁴ palace. Her will was her final act of folly and instead of making Carlisle rich as was his birthright, she divided her property amongst her daughters. They sat about a table and redivided everything as they thought best. Castle Howard was given to Geoffrey Howard,⁵ her youngest son who with his charming wife, Kitty Methuen, are my hosts. Carlisle was bought off with about £10,000 a year and the promise of a few pictures. He doubts whether any of the five Sir Joshuas⁶ here will be his. Geoffrey is a large, coarse, bald, ugly, badly made sinister-looking man with a glass eye. But in reality he is genial, intelligent and a grand seigneur. Once politically ambitious, he was destined perhaps for a Cabinet portfolio but with the fall of the Liberals from power he lost out and is settling down to middle age with his pretty young wife. Mrs Asquith⁷ told me once if she hadn't married ‘Henry’, Geoffrey Howard would have been her choice. The vast un-dusted house abounds in treasures; one delightful room overlooking the terrace has for decoration some sixty Canalettos . . . . The exterior of the house is splendid. A Vanbrugh, cold, classical and imposing. I prefer it to Blenheim; it is smaller and less magnificent. The park, with its Palladian love-temples and bridges is England at its best and is symbolic of the grand age when the great English landowners were an intermediate order between God and mankind.

—

1. Seat of the Carlisle branch of the Howard family in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

2. Rosalind Frances Stanley (1841-1921), daughter of the 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley, married in 1864 George Howard (1843-1911), who in 1889 succeeded his uncle as 9th Earl of Carlisle. He was a painter; she was a campaigner for temperance and women's rights. Channon does not exaggerate her personal qualities: her children described her as tyrannical and she ceased to be on speaking terms with some of them for years at a time.

3. She had actually died just over two years previously, on 12th August 1921.

4. Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) was both an architect in the baroque style and a playwright, best remembered in the former vocation as the architect of not just Castle Howard (he was distantly related to the Howards), but also of Blenheim Palace.

5. Geoffrey William Algernon Howard (1877-1935) was Liberal MP for Eskdale from 1906 to 1910; for Westbury from 1911 to 1918; and for Luton from 1923 to 1924. He married in 1915 Ethel Christian 'Kitty' Methuen (1889-1932), daughter of Field Marshal Lord Methuen.

6. Paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92), English portraitist.

7. Emma Alice Margaret 'Margot' Tennant (1865-1945), sixth daughter of Sir Charles Tennant, 1st Bt, married in 1894 as his second wife Herbert Henry Asquith (1852-1928), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916; with his elevation to an earldom in 1925 she became Countess of Oxford and Asquith.

[lokighost]

idiot escapes vatican cellar prison and discovers weed

[doing-something-unholy]

Bless me Father, for I have sinned...

You would think that I am coming with you to atone for my faults and find comfort, but the truth is that I am not. I am aware that what I am going to tell you next was wrong and is really offensive but I really just want to get it off my chest, without the need to be judged or have someone listen to what I have to tell you...

When I accepted the job in the archdiocese to help them with the pending trip to the Vatican for canonization, I did not expect the workload to be enormous: if we as lay employees go crazy with everything that the Church requires of the Office of the cause of the Saints, I don't even want to imagine how the clergy have to go through it!

Between the procedures before the government, helping the nuns with the transfer of relics and the extraordinary meetings with the vicars and rectors, I have left work until 4 am... one of those days was this tuesday, after leaving the Rector Galicia in her chambers after midnight.

You know that Rector Galicia has had a cold these days, so I took him to his chambers after moving the relics to the cathedral and promised him that I would keep the ropes in the cellar...

I swear to the most sacred that my intention was only to keep the strings in the closet that was at the bottom of the cellar shelves, but when I realized it, I heard laughter... Oh Father, my professionalism yelled at me that I had to get out of there, but my curiosity was stronger.

I have never considered myself a voyeuristic, but I must confess to you, Father, I don't know what I experienced in there...

Everything I saw there felt so divine and at the same time so profane, that I began to tremble. the noises and moans made me warm... As the moans, pleas and friction increased, everything inside me was experiencing burning, tingling, desire.

I know that we can sin in thought, word, deed and omission. But what kind of sin would it be to look? I didn't plan any of that: I don't even know how I ended up in that basement at that moment: I was able to enter before taking the Rector to his house, I was able to do it the next day after delivering the passports, I was able not to do it and go home... but I did not

I have no idea if what I experienced on tuesday was a sacrilege or a religious experience: the only thing I am sure of is that I want to repeat it, I need to repeat it and if the saints who experienced divine ecstasy decide to show me the majesty of their passion; I promise you devotion on my couch, an altar in my bedroom and a shelter under my roof... living outside your country in a place where good wine abounds has its advantages.

🛐 ((nonny here: between the audio you posted here and the LOOOOOONG story inside the basement, they provoked something in me and I had no choice but to come to confess... You know what they say: race, sex or language doesn't matter, we ALL get love moans))

That sounds quite intense, to be driven to call something a religious experience but also torn between that and calling it sacrilege.

Divine ecstacy is so rarely given out by God, you're right to come to me with the task of finding out for sure. Religious ecstasy could come from oneself, the Devil, or God, we must look inward to see what draws our minds to such otherwise-sinful activities.

I would gladly help you repeat what you saw, gladly accept your devotion and make an altar of your bedroom.

[nem0c]

What half-forgotten memories this catchword the slim aroused in Cadio’s mind! The slim, in their slang, at the time Protos and he were schoolboys together, were a genus who, for one reason or another, did not present to all persons and in all places the same appearance. According to the boys’ classification, there were many categories of the slim, more or less elegant and praiseworthy; and answering to them and opposed to them, was the single great family of the crusted, whose members strutted and swaggered through every walk of life, high or low. Our schoolfellows accepted the following axioms:

1. The slim recognise each other. 2. The crusted do not recognise the slim.

André Gide, The Vatican Cellars

[frogbearwhatever]

Very Short Story- Debauchery

After the reappearance of Zeus and the Olympians many had to reassess their lives. None more so than those of other, newer faiths.

In the Vatican vows of celibacy were cast off and wine cellars emptied as former nuns and priests embraced debauchery.

[sedlex]

So you waited 1000 years in a Vatican cellar to finally experience being skewered by the Warrior Nun. Okay.

[amberfaber40]

25 Mysterious Facts about Ancient Cities - Fact Republic

25 Mysterious Facts about Ancient Cities - Fact Republic

1. Heracleion, an ancient Egyptian city that was swallowed by the Mediterranean Sea 1,200 years ago, was discovered in 2000 and has been the site of an underwater excavation since then. It is thought to have been sunk by an Earthquake.

80 Awesome Ancient Artifacts - Pi Queen

Love archaeology but hate dust, dirt and human remains? You're in luck. The following list of amazing archaeological finds will take you on a trip through time and across the globe, but without all the mess (or the jetlag).

Exploring The Vatican Museum In Search Of Out Of Place Ancient Artifacts - Hidden Inca Tours

Above is a sarcophagus from Egypt, likely made of limestone on display in a courtyard of the Vatican Museum. Likely taken by Emperor Caligula when the Romans took over Egypt. Above is an exceptionally well carved Sphinx, likely a Roman work of course heavily influenced by the earlier dynastic Egyptians, carved out of granite most...

Astrolabe

@Museum of the History of Science, Oxford

Ancient DNA Sheds New Light on the Biblical Philistines

A team of scientists sequenced genomes from people who lived in a port city on the Mediterranean coast of Israel between the 12th and 8th centuries B.C.

- Sponsored Links - 1HeracleionHeracleion, an ancient Egyptian city that was swallowed by the Mediterranean Sea 1,200 years ago, was discovered in 2000 and has been the site of an underwater excavation since then. It is thought to have been sunk by an Earthquake.Source & More2. In the ancient Indian Kingdom of Golconda, the king Ibrahim Wali designed and built a fortress city so acoustically perfect that a hand clap at the fortress gates could be heard at the top of the citadel itself, located on the summit of a 300 foot hill.Source & More3. In Portugal, there is an ancient city named Vilarinho Da Furna that is submerged in water, but during dry spells, the water levels go down enough that you can see it. This 2000-year-old town was destroyed by an electric company when it constructed a dam in 1967.Source & More4. In the ancient Greek city of Sybaris, the citizens, derided by famous writers of the time for their extremely luxurious lifestyles, had canals built that transported wine directly from the countryside into their personal cellars. The cavalry from the ancient city of Sybaris trained their horses to dance to pipe music and then were defeated by an army attacking them with music.Source & More5. The Ancient Egyptians had a city called Crocodilopolis. It contained a sacred lake where crocodiles were worshipped, fed and adorned with jewelry.Source & MoreLatest FactRepublic Video:15 Most Controversial & Costly Blunders in History6JerichoThe ancient city of Jericho (currently in Palestine) is the world’s oldest walled city, with evidence of stone fortifications dating back nearly 9,000 years. Archaeological digs have turned up traces of habitation that are even older up to 11,000 years ago.Source & More7. A huge ancient Mayan city named El Mirador has been discovered in Guatemala and it holds one of the world's largest pyramids. The La Danta temple measures approximately 72 meters (236 feet) tall from the forest floor.Source & More8. In the ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali there are an estimated 300,000 or more precolonial African literary manuscripts tucked away in various libraries and private collections, mostly written in Arabic and some in native languages. Topics include herbal medicine, mathematics, astronomy, poetry, law, history, faith, politics, and philosophy.Source & More9. The ancient of city Caral in Peru features Pyramids which were built around the same time period that the Great Pyramids of Egypt were built. The city also shows no traces of warfare, indicating that the site was built as a place for “Commerce and Pleasure.”Source & More10. The ancient city Catal Huyuk (in the present day Turkey) was one of the first recorded cities in history, but it didn't have any streets. The dwellings were clustered like a honeycomb-maze. Most of the houses were accessed by holes in the ceiling and doors on the side of the houses, with doors reached by ladders and stairs.Source & More - Sponsored Links - 11SeuthopolisAn Ancient city named “Seuthopolis” was discovered in the bottom of a lake in Bulgaria. It was founded in 323 B.C. The city was discovered and researched between 1948 and 1954. Unfortunately, this discovery came too late, because the reservoir dam being constructed nearby soon flood the valley and drowned this city. Right now there is a project underway to restore the city.Source & More12. In the ancient city of Memphis, Egypt, so many people worshiped Anubis, the jackal-headed God of death, that the catacombs next to this sacred temple once held nearly 8 million mummified puppies and grown dogs.Source & More13. Nan Madol is the only ancient city ever built upon a coral reef. It is a marvel of ancient engineering. The city, constructed in a lagoon, consists of a series of small artificial islands linked by a network of canals.Source & More14. Hatra, the capital of the "first Arab Empire" known as the Kingdom of Araba (in modern day Iraq) was one of the most diverse cities in the ancient world. It had temples (pantheons) to 5 major religions: Greek, Mesopotamian, Canaanite, Aramean, and Arabian.Source & More15. Two ancient Chinese cities were drowned when the valley was flooded for a new hydroelectric power station. He Cheng and Shi Cheng remained forgotten for 40 years until 2001. Shi Cheng was built more than 1300 years ago in 621 AD. It was once the center of politics, economics and culture. He Cheng is even older: established in 208 AD as a business hub.Source & More - Sponsored Links - 16Lost City of ZakynthosWhen snorkelers discovered what appeared to be ancient stonework off the coast of the Greek island of Zakynthos in 2013, archaeologists sent to the site thought the odd rocks might be the ruins of an ancient city. Turns out, the so-called Lost City of Zakynthos was not built by humans, but by methane-eating microbes.Source & More17. In 1963, a man tore down a wall in his house and noticed an enormous and complex tunnel system behind it. He had rediscovered the ancient underground city Derinkuyu in Turkey. The city had 9 levels, used to house 20,000 people and had amenities such as stables, wineries, schools, and chapels. It was built between 1200 and 800 B.C.Source & More18. The ancient city of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey built in 10,000 B.C., is twice as old as Stonehenge, and completely disrupts our ideas of human development and agriculture. Carvings on a stone located at the site depict a comet strike that researchers have theorized caused a worldwide cataclysmic event, which in turn brought on a 1000 year ice age known as the Younger Dryas. It predates the invention of known tools, cities/communities, and the written word. The oldest known sphinx was found in Gobekli Tepe, Turkey and it was dated to 9,500 BC.Source & More19. The Aztec capital Tenochtitlán was the largest city in the Americas with over 200,000 people. It was built on a man-made island in the middle of a lake - connected to the shore by 3 causeways. It contained huge pyramids, floating gardens, aqueducts, and canals. It was destroyed by the Spanish in 1521.Source & More20. The Greek city of Helike sank in an earthquake in 373 B.C., and all of the inhabitants died. Over time, it was silted over and was thought to be legendary until it was rediscovered in 2001.Source & More21UrukThe Ancient city of Uruk at 2900 B.C. had 50,000 - 80,000 residents living in its 6 square km of walled area, making it the largest city in the world at the time.Source & More22. Almost every home in the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro from over 4000 years ago was equipped with a private bathing area with drains to take the dirty water out into a larger drain that emptied into a sewage drain.Source & More23. The city-states of the ancient Maya were dominated by two cities, Tikal and Calakmul, who fought a series of conflicts through proxy states. Some experts have compared these conflicts to US-Soviet fighting by proxy during the Cold War.Source & More24. The largest brick arch in the world, the 121-foot (37 m) tall Taq-i Kisra, is nearly 1,500 years old and it is the only surviving structure from the ancient city of Ctesiphon.Source & More25. There is a ruined and uninhabited medieval Armenian city-site named Ani in Turkey that has lay empty for over 3 centuries. Even as a ruin it is still disputed.Source & More Sign up to our Newsletter & get FREE!! 1000 Facts E-BOOK Email Address * - Sponsored Links -

[essaybrook]

What efforts should be made at restitution?

Short, direct, concise, active writing improves clarity. A bibliography is required, as this is not simply a reflection or response paper. More paper guidance is available on the course Blackboard site. Your memo should cite at least four sources, three of them scholarly (defined as a source that cites its own sources). The memo should be about 3 pages double-spaced, or about 750 to 900 words. It is Clear, concise, direct, active writing is best. A memorandum like this should be written in formal writing. Here are some writing tips: Do not start a sentence with “there is” or an undefined “it” (“it is clear that…” etc.). Avoid second person (you) and unnecessary passive voice. If the doer of the action is known, make the doer of the action the subject. Avoid throat-clearing (“it is important to add that…”), legalisms (“null and void”), and wordy phrases (“when it comes to,” “the fact that”). Also: unbury verbs (say “violate” not “in violation of”). Use the simplest verb form possible. Avoid unnecessary helping verbs. Avoid the word “being” since it often signifies a passive voice gerund or participle. Avoid weasel words: “many people say that” or “many studies show that” unless you are proving it. WATCH PRONOUNS! Make sure pronouns are clear and that the number and gender agree. For the avoidance of doubt, I will not count formatting (for instance, making it “look” like a memorandum) against the word count or page count. The following prompt is to be used for the final paper: You are an American soldier who was drafted into Gen. George S. Patton’s army division before the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Prior to this, you were working at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, as the head of the provenance division. As the army advanced across Europe, your division encountered enormous caches of art, much of it confiscated from Jewish or refugee families or from prominent art collections and churches. While some of the art was stored in cellars or castles for safekeeping from air raids and looting, some, no doubt, was taken for profit by shady art dealers, Nazi officials, or hungry townspeople looking for a quick trade.

Because of your background in art history, you join the Monuments Men, an attachment to the U.S. military that specializes in finding, tracing, and restituting artwork. The Monuments Men quickly make some important discoveries: the Veit Stoss alterpiece from the Krakow Cathedral and the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire were found in Nuremberg. Hitler’s enormous personal art collection was in the salt mines at Altaussee in Austria. Castles such as Neuschwanstein in southern Bavaria are filled not only with paintings, but with furniture, tapestries, books, archival records, antiquities, holy relics, and many other cultural artifacts. Much of Italy’s famous art is still in the neutral Vatican. The Monuments Men sets up the “Central Collecting Point” (CCP) at the Fuhrerbau building in Munich, Germany, the former Nazi Party headquarters, where all works of art are sorted and catalogued. Many, many paintings taken from Jewish art collectors are starting to appear in museum collections.

Gen. Patton is concerned, however, that his boss, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower, does not know the sheer scale of the task. The Monuments Men must restitute hundreds of thousands of works of art, and a total number of pieces in the millions—surely the staff is inadequate. You have additional concerns. The Soviets are advancing westward, and art that falls into their hands is shipped back to Russia. American soldiers can’t resist taking anything shiny they can find, and desperate looters have picked much of the area clean. The works of art are not protected from the elements and risk permanent damage or destruction. The sooner they get home, the better. Gen. Patton tells you to write an urgent memo to Gen. Eisenhower explaining the problem of looted or missing artwork. You have recently traveled from Munich to Vienna, stopping in Nuremberg and Budapest, looking at the destruction. Your memo to Gen. Eisenhower should include some or all of the following: A descriiption of the overall problem of Nazi-affected art. Why is this matter urgent? Describe one or more works of art that you saw on your travels. Why are these pieces important? To whom do they rightfully belong? Why were they taken? What efforts should be made at restitution? (If the works you chose were purchased rather than confiscated, what should be done about the current owners? If the works you chose have no living heirs or the heirs cannot be discerned, what should be done with the artifacts? If the works you chose came from a museum or church, how can they be returned?)

First appeared on Essaybrooks.net

[hraeth-ethile]

Kirchewasser Deletia, Church Water Deleting, or just Deletia, is an extremely rare genetic condition inherited by the offspring of a union between a sapient and feral of the same species. While a 1-in-1,000,000 chance keeps most from becoming pregnant after such a union, those that survive pregnancy are always stricken with deletia. The effects of deletia often come with leukodystrophy, most commonly VWM disease. On their own already considered extraordinarily rare, the diagnosis of deletia always pairs with a kind of leukodystrophy. In addition to the effects of VWM disease, deletia includes dysnomia, extreme confusion with more pronounced effects, and a much more rapid degeneration by leukodystrophy. Only 3 historic cases exist of an infant born with deletia surviving into childhood until deletia and its related conditions ended their lives, and only one of those cases could be confirmed with the life and death of Deuzą. Deuzą was a victim of the Battle of Berlin, and was discovered only after a post-battle casualty intake.

The history of the condition is mired in contention and misinformation, which has led to religious disputes, murders, and even a minor war, but first appears in a paper notice from the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter of Köln, dated 1355 CE, about healing waters discovered in its basement. According to the notice and the legends that came from it, the waters of the church had the ability to restore eyesight. Three locals and one traveller were reported of having the capacity to see with their eyes where they could not before.

The traveller, a merchant from Norfolk County, England, had only impartial vision before the miraculous cure that was applied to his eyes with a wash. He reported that, when his vision was perfectly restored, that he had a vision of God warning him of a threat that someone was intending to befoul the holy pools within Saint Peter's cellar, and that this person would have the Antichrist within their belly.

Terrified and incensed, the religious population of Köln, which was most of its residents at the time, began an inquisition, and a letter to the Vatican was sent requesting ecclesial support. Support came in the form of an apostolic visitor by the name of Vicar Ecclesiastes, a ruthless and unpopular man who had great favour with the pope. Upon arriving in Germany, the vicar, rather than investigating the rumours and stories, initiated a moral panic that started with an immediate roundup of every pregnant woman in the city. They would be put through a series of intense questions in public and then either let go or burned at the stake. While most left exhausted and distressed but unharmed, several women and their unborn children were murdered by the vicar.

The last of these women, who was also to be put to death, was Astrid die Nette - a widely respected vixen and adored young baker who had just recently been wed to a French chevalier. A crowd threatened to revolt against the vicar until Astrid's water broke messily and everywhere, and she soon gave birth to an unusual child. The infant fox, stillborn at birth, was observed to have an unusually narrow and small shape, much closer to that of a feral fox and not a sapient one.

Vicar Ecclesiastes declared that the unusually large water break was a satanic mockery of the pure healing waters of the church, and that the infant was indeed the Antichrist that was foretold in the traveller's warnings. The large crowd, which nearly revolted on behalf of Astrid, quickly turned on her and murdered her, and her and her stillborn were put to fire together. Their ashes were summarily buried in an undisclosed location in the nearby German countryside. Thinking the matter put to rest, the vicar returned to Rome.

On the following morning, the healing pools of Saint Peter's were discovered to be dried-up and missing when an altar boy went down to open it for the needs of more of Köln's blind.

[therewasatale]

hate me (Part 2)

Part 2 : Hellsing

On Ao3

Part 1

The full moon traveled slowly across the sky. Its silver rays first flooded the crowns of the trees, slowly creeping into the branches. In the depths of the forest, the nocturnal animals began to wake up. However, not a single living creature dared to go near the estate in the middle of the tall oaks.

Dark shadows moved around the building.

The empty windows yawned deep into the interior of the abandoned house. No matter how hard someone would try to look inside, the blind darkness would be the only thing looking back at them. Even those unfortunate souls would have had the eerie feeling of something staring back at them from the middle of that black abyss.

For years, nothing dared to get near it. The average person had no idea who this estate belonged to. Not that there had ever been a living person who had much to do with the small area. It was just a hole in every map. Those few who started asking questions soon stopped. It's always been that way. A piece of land believed to be cursed. This only let the real evil fester there.

The light of the moon colored the walls of the building but despite its best efforts, it could never illuminate the interior of the house.

Slow footsteps echoed deep underground of the estate. The old stairs creaked, but the vampire didn't pay attention to them, nor did the woman walking next to him.

"So, Lisa got herself caught?" The vampire spoke as he opened the door and let the woman into the hallway.

"I wouldn't say she was caught. Rather, she was eliminated. I warned her not to interfere in the affairs of the Vatican, but she didn't believe me."

"Do they know anything about us?"

The woman glanced at her servant, her voice was almost reproachful. "Eric, you're always too worried."

The answer came after a moment of silence. "I just don't want them knocking on our door here. Not when, we're so close to our goal."

"Hm," her lips curled into a thin smile, her green eyes were glowing almost like a vampire's. "Well, maybe this is a sign to stop making plans and finally make some a reality."

There was another silence until they passed the thick iron doors. From behind which the sounds of muffled crying could be heard. Someone was suffering in the depths of one of the cells, elsewhere a painful moan broke escaped, someone fighting for his last breath.

At last, they reached the wide hall. The place used to serve as a wine cellar, but now it has been significantly expanded and furnished. On the table in the corner of it, worn and battered books rested on top of each other, they were it was illuminated only by temporarily installed lights.

"There. Almost everything is done, we just need a little bit of time." The woman shook her head, her long hair fluttering behind her. "Three months, three months will be enough." She glanced down into her palm, the tattoo almost completely healed up by now.

"But if the priest shows up, then-" Eric glanced at his master, he felt annoyed by her overgrown self-confidence, even though he should have gotten used to it over the years. Still, underestimating Hellsing and the Vatican. It could be a suicidal move.

"Then what?" She took out a cigar from her pocket.

"He can be a problem."

There was a small chuckle. "You think the count would stop because his nemesis shows up?" The woman slowly played with the thin cigar between her long fingers. "No, if you ask me, he will want to gain back his freedom more than everything else. When he gets it, then he will play with that Iscariot. Without his shackles."

She swept her long hazelnut colored hair back and fished out a battered lighter. The barely visible inscription on it said: 'To my devilish girl'. He slowly ran his finger over the letters and lit the end of his cigar. "Actually, I hope they will send him too. So we could get an excellent show. It will be a message even to those fanatics. "

"Shame, maybe I could play with him too."

She inhaled sharply. "I do not care about that lunatic priest, nor about those religious idiots. They will be nothing, when the new world arrives."

The conversation was interrupted by the loud cry of a child.

"You still haven't dealt with them."

"I didn't have the time." The vampire glanced at the way of the noises. He seemed eager.

A small puff of smoke got mixed in the air. "Then go and do something. I'm getting tired of their crying."

"As you wish, master."

The woman glanced after him, and she was able to see, as he unbuckled his belt before the door closed behind him. After a couple of seconds, she let out an another puff of smoke escape from her lips.

Soon the crying changed into screaming. She could hear the vampire's deep laugh, then finally there was only silence.

When the only sound was her footsteps, she walked to the table. It was her sanctuary, well, a part of it. Between the books there were papers and photos. Years of searching and studying.

She took one of the photos. It was taken from a recorded footage, a moment, she only needed one good moment to capture.

Like most, this too was taken in the dark. The night was clear, mid-July, the location was France.

The trees surrounded the abandoned building like blurred shadows. All its windows were dark, and the door was lying in pieces on the floor. The most important figure of the picture was almost perfectly discernible. The wind caught in his red coat, the black gun hung in his left hand.

She slowly run one of her fingers along the vampire's face.

For years, she could only watch him over the photos and videos. There was only one voice record, containing a small clip of his laughter, but it was enough for her, to keep going. Reading and searching for lost books, forgotten notes which were not read for over centuries.

Finally, it seemed her work will finally pay off.

After two soft knocks, the door opened again.

"You finished with them quickly," as he glanced over her shoulder, she stopped. "Oh, Matthew. I though you will only arrive tomorrow."

The man walked closer with measured steps, his jacket and coat ironed perfectly as always. His appearance seemed to be as if he was fresh out of butler training. Mathew served those who paid him, but his services consisted of making others disappear.

"You're right, madam. I did finish them quickly." His mouth slightly twitched.

"Good."

"Although, I think your vampire, "it sounded like an insult, "is still occupied with the children." His voice filled with disgust.

"I believe you killed kids too?" She put out the end of the cigar, as she gathered most of the papers.

"It’s different. I don’t play with my targets, madam. That is the difference. I'm not some kind of sick animal."

She glanced at the photo one last time. "Becoming a vampire can drag the weak willed into darkness."

The assassin looked at her, and for a couple of seconds observed her. "Aren't you afraid?" His question sounded honest.

"From death?"

"From becoming something like him." Matthew turned his gaze at the door behind him. "Losing your mind, you pride. Craving for blood, and only ever caring about power."

She walked around the table to the man. He stopped a few steps away from him and stared straight into his eyes. "Are you calling me weak, Matthew?"

The man's lips twitched, but shook his head. "I'd never, Miss-"

"No. Shut up. I don't want to hear it. I despise that name." She extended her arm, with a letter in his hands. "Find them and bring them here. Three months, I want to be ready in three months."

Matthew studied the names, and raised one of his eyebrows. "Bloodsuckers?"

"We need some. I know they weren't all hunted down, yet. They can be useful, or be fun for our guest, or guests. Don't worry, they won't attack you, they still owe the branch of my family that belongs to me."

"As you wish, madam." He only briefly glanced at the money in the envelope. "I will bring them here."

She didn't answer. She already told everything she wanted. There were more important matters to check up on. But she knew, three months will be enough, it has to be. She couldn't wait any longer.