The Hunter and His prey

[AmbrosiaCaress]

( This story is CLOSED for Starsailor2804 and AmbrosiaCaress)

~ The nightmares came again.. as they did almost every night now for the past weeks... She was beginning to fear going to sleep... fear the darkness that blanketed the world at dusk... as the sun slowly slid into slumber for the night... she became increasingly nervous.. scared... yet the darkness always claimed her... she had to sleep.. sleep was not something she could deny... and the worst of it was.. the nightmares were getting more... sexual.. more erotic.. more.. addicting....

She could tell no one.. her father had enough on his mind with the death of her mother years before.. accidental tho it was.. or was it.. she had been found with her throat torn from her ... her face contorted in a scream.. It had happened when Lilly were just a child.. she had heard her mother's scream.. heard another voice.. she had peered out into the gardens... only to see the shadows of 2.. before 1 fled.. the vision had haunted her.. but she was too young to understand what she had seen.. to young... and now that memory was a hazy one at best.. she wondering if it had been something she had really seen.. or was it something that the details of the horrible death had created in her imagination..

Lilly Turner had grown up then under the protective eyes and guidence of her father and older brother... Afraid of losing their only link to the wife/mother that had been brutally ripped from them.. Lilly was sheltered... and kept safe.. from most everyone.. except her closet family.. and friends.. She was a haunting young girl.. the image of her passed mother.. her skin was ethereal and pale.. smooth.. supple.. she was petite... at 5'5" a mere 112 pounds.. her midnight black hair spilling down her back like the darkest of silks.. her most striking feature.. the one feature she got from her father was her stunning amber eyes.. like those of a hunting feline...

As beautiful as she was.. she loved nothing more than riding.. as well as taking care of her horse.. Sirius... a magnificent stallion whose coat matched the ebon of her hair...

She never had the nightmares... not until she turned 16... they came sporadically at first.. here and there... waking her up at all hours of the night... but as her 17th birthday approached... she started having more... always involving the night... a man... and .. things she could not even bring her self to think about when she was awake... she did not understand... who ... why... these nightmares haunted her...

Now her 18th birthday were here... the nightmares were increasing.. coming not every night.. not yet... but almost... she feared sleep... she feared the darkness... but was determined to deal with this.. This was her own mind after all .. she could get thru this ... and drive the nightmares from her slumber once and for all...

***********************************

She shot up in bed... a scream strangling in her throat... her hand resting there... fingertips dancing on the flesh along that curve... shaking her head.. she stood up.. walking to the doors that lead out onto the balcony... throwing them open.. the moon hung in the night sky overhead.. seeming to stare at her... a cool breeze blew in.. wrapping itself around her... this dream had been especially erotic... but she did not understand... innocent and untouched... the dreams only disturbed her... she did not understand why she was having these kind of nightmares...

But she had to cast those thoughts and the nightmares from her mind.. this was her birthday... and her father had planned a grand affair.. and Lilly was looking forward to seeing all the people he had invited.. many she did not know. She was excited and scared.. but at least, now that she were 18.. maybe she would be allowed to live a bit more and not be so.. confined to the estate... but that was for later.. it was still dark.. the sunrise hours away.. and she were awake.. again afraid to go to sleep...

"I need a ride" she whispers to herself.. and with that she dressed in her riding gear and snuck out of the mansion.. her father hated when she went riding alone.... especially before or after the sun had set.. her father hated Lilly being out in the dark in general.. that had to be from her mother's death.. it had happened in the darkest part of the night... but Lilly wanted that ride...

Once she was in the barn... Sirius was whinneying... He was up for a run.. Sirius always was...and a run he would have... moments later .. she was racing over the estate.. wind in her hair.. the horse thundering under her.. this .. was when she felt the most.. alive... ~

 

[Starsailor2804]

He had waited so long for this day to arrive, far too long, but finally it was here and finally he would claim his prize. The foolish man had made a deal, a deal he could not keep and had led to the death of his wife and reality that at age 18 he would lose his daughter as well. Truly he never thought it would come to this day as he had heard nothing of the dark force since that night and thought maybe he had gone about his way. But, Darius had never left, he just chose never to appear to him.

However, for years now he had watched over Lilly as she grew into a woman. For two years he had watched her mature into a beautiful young woman, just like her mother had been. Darius had even chose to feast less in wait for the young woman's 18th birthday. Outside her window upon her balcony he watched and waited, tortured her mind, and filled it with the sexual thoughts that the young woman had no idea were there.

Watching her as she left the manor and headed for the stable he waited, it wasn't time yet, no, not yet. Standing upon the roof of the manor as she rode off, her small legs and thighs gripping tightly on the horse, Darius smiled and flew off into the air behind her. The cold air that was brought with him sent more than one shiver down the spine of the young untouched beauty. He did not appear to her yet, but he remained by her, waiting for the right moment, the right opportunity.

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ her thoughts turned to her birthday that coming night.. It was more than 12 hours away.. for Lilly was excited. She had not been excited for anything before.. not really.. but this was going to be a grand affair she hoped... 18... an adult...

Her father.. he seemed to want to forget her approaching birthday at first... Lilly had to remind him.. on more than one occassion in the weeks leading up to this day... her birthdays had always seemed to send him into an emotional spiral.. she did not know why... but this was her 18 birthday... it was supposed to be special and she told him so... he finally gave in and he and her older brother planned the grand party... What Lilly did not know was that her father was also taking all the precautions he could think of to keep her safe... she had no idea at all of the ... evil... that had been watching her.. stalking her...

As Sirius thundered over the grounds... Lilly let out a howl of pleasure.. she sooo loved riding.. so loved her horse... she wished she could just ride forever... and not have to face that chilling haunted look in her father's eyes as her day of birth approached.. and now... now that it were after midnight.. tho still dark out... it was here....

Pulling the horse up... Sirius grunting and coming to a stop... she was at the small pond that took up the northwest corner of the property.. she slipping off the animal... and making her way to the water.. the moon shone on the glasslike surface of the water.. she kneeling down.. gliding her fingers within... the touch of cool wetness made her shiver a bit... she got the eerie feeling she was being watched... a feeling that lately had seemed to creep up on her more and more... but she wrote it off to the eyes of the Stallion watching his Mistress... ~

 

[Starsailor2804]

Hours, that was all that was left. And, it was soon time for him to slumber, oh how he hated that he was unable to remain awake and watch her throughout the day. Tonight would be a grand occassion, her awakening to the removal of her innocence. She would be his and she would be awaken to the darkness that was not entitled to her mother. Unlike her mother he had been in the dreams of the young beauty and had already essentially taken control of her.

If he had beckoned her now she would have came, but no, not yet. Instead as he stood upon the roof of the stable again he watched her as she knelt down. "Tonight my dear, you will be mine," he said in a dark hollow voice that she could hear, but would think of it only as if she was hearing things. Leaping off the roof he flew off then to his manor to rest for the night. Tonight would be a grand affair, he had his suit picked out already.

He would be the star of the occassion, surely he could have any of the women at the party tonight, but Lilly was his prize. Sweet rose. Flying through the window of his manor he flew deep into the dark recessions of his manor and into his dark coffin waiting for the night to come. "Lilly....," he said before the coffin closed and he fell asleep resting for a long fulfilling night.

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

"Tonight my dear, you will be mine,"

~ Lilly lifted her head ... had she just heard something.. a voice.. deep.. resonating... as chilling as the breeze that now seemed to be licking around her skin... she stood up.. shaking the droplets of water from her fingertip.. looking around behind her.. aside... to the other side of the pond... She heard Sirius breathing... the soft thud of his hooves... the gentle song of the leaves as the breeze caresses them.. her head shaking lightly

"I must be hearing things" she mutters to herself.. but she really thought it was a man's voice... but there was no one there.. and as she stood by that small pond.. the sun slowly beginning it's ascent into the sky.. driving away that cursed nightmare filled darkness.. she wondered if she were truely beginning to lose her mind... between the nightmares and now this...

A gentle nudge from Sirius.. the horse always knew when she needed that reassuring touch... and it made her smile.. she reaching up to gently touch.. and pat.. the mighty animal's nose...

"Yeah.. I know.. I better get back before daddy awakens and finds me gone.. he'll have a cow.. "..

Her father had no clue that she had been out in the dead of night.. If he had, surely he would have had a heart attack.. especially if he knew what had followed and watched her... but there she was.. safely tucked in her bed when he came to call... the sunlight gleaming in her windows... she still looking like the little girl he soo loved.. yet she bore such a resemblence to her mother... just that thought made his breath catch...

"Lilly... time to get up"... So much was happening that day.. he of course wanted to forget it all.. he never wanted this day to come.. but here it was.. and he had to deal with it... Lilly rose when her father called... she so full of life... love.. and innocence.. and as her father held her and hugged her... she felt for a moment that he were hugging her goodbye.. as if he would never see her again...

She always thought her father just was not the.. same .. since her mother died... even tho she was very young.. she remembered him being so happy... fun filled... now ... well.. he was just a very different man.. but Lilly supposed death did that to some people...

The day seemed to pass quickly... the mansion was buzzing.. servents decorating.. cooks cooking... all in preparation for her birthday party that evening... Lilly spent most of the day in the stables... with Sirius... cleaning his stall.. feeding.. grooming... she spent some time in the library.. another of her favorite spots.. reading... until it was time to get ready....

Lilly bathed... the warm perfumed water gliding over her smooth, supple skin... when she emerged her skin and hair had the hint of jasmine ... the scent barely kissing her flesh... a trio of female servents were to help her dress... to accent her mane of midnight black.. and the amber fire of her eyes.. a gown of the deepest crimson had been chosen... the color seemed to shimmer.. and once on the girl... who in and of herself was beautiful... she became enchanting to gaze upon... the color brought out the flush in her cheeks.. and the blaze that lay deep in her eyes... her hair was pulled back and braided... crimson roses were interweaved into the long braid.. and a scarlet ribbon accented ... she was a vision to behold...

Already people were beginning to arrive.. and the sun was just setting... the light being chased away by the shadows of the night..
Carriages pulled up... men.. rich.. powerful.. arrived.. with their sons.. daughters... wives... women who were gorgeous in their own right... yet none held a candle to Lilly this night...

The mansion's main room was quickly filling up... soft music played.. it was almost time.. time for the guest of honor to make her first appearance as an adult... Many had not seen Lilly since her mother's tragic death... her Father having kept the girl tightly sequestered... many hoped that perhaps their son would catch her eye... to marry into the Turner family.. as rich and powerful as they were.. would be quite the feat... the anticipation was building.. ~

 

[Starsailor2804]

Darius arose from his coffin and deep slumber to the inviting darkness from the window. Oh yes, tonight was the night. Walking to the window with his robe open, loose pants he looked out over the skyline with strength and determination for a new future. He would have his beautiful youthful bride tonight. There was no need to shower for his intoxicating scent always remained and so he dressed into his fine silk attire.

His style of clothes were very 'old school' in that he was out of date with his style but they were the finest of their time and thus they still had that amazing appearance. Leaving the manor Darius decided to walk to Lilly's residence for no real reason, he just wanted to. Of course, he walked at a pace that was so much faster than mortals and so it took him no time at all.

What a beautiful manor, he thought as he entered the grounds of his hunt. Standing among the crowd of many yet far away he waited patiently for his bride to appear. Many women drew their looks his way because they could smell his intoxicating scent, certainly too many for some had their own men pulling them back from going to greet him.

And so.....he waited.

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

" Lilly, my dear, it's time. Many people await You" Her father's voice could be heard on the other side of her door...

She had dismissed the servents... and was pacing the room.. to say she was nervous was an understatement. She was excited, nervous, scared... but this was it. She no longer was the little girl who needed her daddy... that little tragic figure that had lost her mommy... she was an adult... she certainly did not quite feel that way... but fact was... she was 18 now.

Turning at her father's words.. "yes Daddy" ... she swung open the door to her bedroom... and stood before her father... his eyes were amazed.. his breath caught in his throat... she looked so like her mother at that moment.. as her older brother.. Nate.. came around the corner.. he too stopped in his tracks... staring at his stunning little sister.. "my god" he whispered... as surprised as his father was at how she resemebled his mother....

Both men managed to get their wits about themselves as Lilly patiently waited... with a frustrated tap to her foot... she wanted to get down to the throng of people that were waiting to see her... she wanted to mingle.. and have fun... she was sooo tired of being sequestered... she wanted out...

With her father on one side of her.. Nate on the other.... she finally began to descend the grand staircase as the music below began to play a haunting melody... the crowd quieted as Lilly came down each stair... a soft gasp could be heard from some as they saw the captivating beauty for the first time..

As her feet touched the last stair then.. the music began playing "Happy Birthday.. and the crowd joined in... singing to her as she stood there smiling... a glass of champagne was pressed into her hand... she wrapping her slender.. delicate fingers .. around the flute.. and a moment later she was toasting her 18th birthday along with everyone else... she was the bell of the ball this night.. she felt very much like on of the beautiful heroines she read about in the books that she sooo enjoyed when she was alone...

Now that all the formalities were done... she was able to mingle.. her cousin... a relatively pretty girl of 20... sidled up to Lilly's side.. smiling.. "Happy Birthday cousin" Caitlin whispered with a giggle.. she had already enjoyed several glasses of champagne and wine and was feeling the effects... Caitlin was not one of Lilly's favorite people.. the girl was just much to... brash and forward .. and liked to drink and party.. things that Lilly really knew nothing about and did not want to find out either... Rumor had it that Caitlin had also lost her own virginity on her own 18th birthday... to 3 different men... But at least Caitlin was the expert mingling.. so Lilly followed her along... at least for the moment...

As Lilly moved thru the crowd behind Caitlin.. sipping her champagne.. her soft pink lips moist from the bubbly.. skin flushing just a little.. she got the distinct feeling she were being watched again... she stopped in mid step... Caitlin pushing on ahead of her.. not even realizing Lilly was no longer behind her.. Lilly stood there.. feeling those eyes... many people .. both male and female.. but espeically male... were observing her this night... yet she never noticed them... only one.. one seemed to make her blood run a bit.. faster... sweeter.. and made her heart pulse... but who... she stood there in the middle of the crowd... looking around.. her eyes passed right over Darius... at least the first time... but a moment later they were drawn back to him... and looked back... meeting his gaze... ~

 

[Starsailor2804]

Lilly watched her as she strolled about the party meeting and greeting guests and finally as she met her beautiful cousin Caitlin. What a gem that girl was, not as innocent and beautiful as Lilly, no, she could not be, especially the darkness he sensed within her, but she was still quite a lucious treat for sure. Drinking from his glass of red wine he watched as she trailed her cousin and then slowed and looked about, she knew he was watching her. Interesting.

And then, she turned and saw him, their eyes met and his eyes burned deep inside her sending waves of fear and excitement at the same time. Through his mind he spoke to her, "Lilly, I am the darkness in your dreams that you fear and lust for. Soon, like your mother was once, you will be mine." Right as he finished he disappeared from view and she was brought back into reality.

As she returned to her party, cautiously, Darius met another target, Lilly's beautiful cousin Caitlin. Coming up before her she immediately allowed him to draw close and whisper something into her ear that brought her absolute attention and affection. In the distance Lilly could see Caitlin stopped and talking with a man, a man whose face she could not see.

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ Lilly stared for a moment... and for that moment.. it seemed that she and that.. stranger .. were the only ones in the room...

"Lilly, I am the darkness in your dreams that you fear and lust for. Soon, like your mother was once, you will be mine."

She shook her head... and suddenly turned around.. thinking that someone had come up behind her and whispered in her ear... but no one was there.. not that close... and that voice.. it sounded like the same one she had heard while out by the pond...
She drew her gaze back to where the stranger had been.. but he was gone... had he ever really been there..? Or was her imagination getting the best of her... perhaps one too many romance novels were making her see things that really were not there... Lilly shook her head for a moment.. just as a couple of people she did not know came up to her.. and a moment later she was engaged in an animated conversation with them...

Caitlin .. on the other hand.. was moving thru the crowd... it almost seemed as if she knew everyone.. The girl was quite pretty.. she had the same dark ebon hair that Lilly had... but Caitlin's was wild and curly... wildly splaying down over her shoulders and back.. Caitlin's dark smokey eyes were lidded a bit from the champagne.. her gown.. a gorgeous black silken laced gown.. where Lilly's gown was very... proper.. with a high lace neck that embraced her throat in crimson lace... and long lace sleeves that clung to her slender arms.. Caitlin's black gown cut in a low V that showed Caitlin's ample bosom.. her arms were bare.. the gown seemed like a 2nd skin.. Caitlin's wild mane tumbling down her nearly naked back.. the gown cut lower back there..

Caitlin had just finished a dance with a pretty goofy looking kid.. one that seemed infatuated with her... with a roll of her eyes she turned.. and came face to face with Darius... her eyes widened... the man was... chilling... haunting.. and she could not take her eyes from him... he reaching out to her... he drew Caitlin close.. the cool caress of his breath tickled over her ear as he whispered to her.. whispered to meet him in the back gardens.. as the moon rose.. alone.. how could Caitlin refuse that.. the man was simply gorgeous.. and she felt her heart pounding... at the thought.. of maybe some .. alone time with him... on such a beautiful night...

Lilly turned from her conversation... to see Caitlin talking to someone.. but she did not know who.. his back was too her.. but she saw Caitlin's eyes widen.. and her cheeks flush...
"Hmmm... " she thought.. "someone got to her.. that is unusual" she again thought to herself.. from what she had heard.. it was Caitlin that got to the boys... not the other way around...

Lilly smiled... it was good for someone to turn Caitlin's head... she figured.. and hell.. it was a party... HER party... she turned then.. her arm taken by that same goofy kid that had been dancing with Caitlin.. where Caitlin found him goofy... Lilly found him cute and charming and soon she was dancing across the floor with him.. ~

 

[Starsailor2804]

Darius whispered one more thing to Caitlin before he walked off allowing Lilly to see who he was as she turned in the dance. But, she was unable to get a great view of him before he was gone, but she did see Caitlin walk off in another direction towards the gardens. In the dark recesses of the gardens the two were alone, of course Caitlin knew not where he was, but Darius knew where she was. As she turned the corner he approached from behind and grasped her shoulders. She shrieked but settled when she saw who he was.

"That cousin of yours," he said as she spoke into her ear in a way that drew her into a trance, "She will be my bride. You will bring her to me and you will enjoy the fruits I have to offer." Kissing her neck he drew her in tightly as his fangs became exposed. Opening his mouth he then bit down into her soft neck sinking his fangs deep in her vein. She screamed, but it subsided as she went into euphoria.

Drawing the blood from her in waves he held her in his arms and drew more and more until she grew weaker and weaker and then collapsed in his arms. Many minutes passed as he drank and then retreated his fangs for her to be revived to some understanding, she had grown much paler, but her beauty remained. She hadn't achieved immortality, but had her first taste of it. "Now go, my dear, and bring my bride to me," he said and sent her off as she walked with little idea as to what she was really doing at the moment.

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

~ as the goofy kid danced her across the floor.. Lilly's eyes fixed on Caitlin and the man.. and he turned then.. a soft gasp escaped her lips.. it was that same man that had been staring at her... it was.. she was sure of it.. or was she... he was gone into the crowd of people before she could take a second look...

As she dances.. she sees Caitlin.. flush... fanning herself with a smile on her face.. she turned... flashing that smile to her cousin.. then heads out into the gardens... and the ethereal light of the just rising moon... the air out there was cool.. refreshing.. the music could still be heard.. but it was much more.... haunting out here.. much more sensual... and Caitlin found herself swaying slightly to the meoldy as she waited for the man to show... she had not even gotten his name.. but that did not matter to her.. she would not forget his looks.. that's for sure..

She turned and walked further along the patio.. turning a corner into the shadows.. and he was behind her... cool touch reaching out to her shoulders... she gasped.. almost screamed .. but manages to quiet it as she realizes it was her new... friend...

His voice was hypnotic... it seemed to entwine with the wind and the soft music she could still hear.. as he spoke...
"That cousin of yours, She will be my bride. You will bring her to me and you will enjoy the fruits I have to offer."
She felt as if she were floating.. and his voice was guiding her.. her eyes slowly close.. as she nods to his words.. "Yes... yes I will bring her to you... yesss.. " she mumers to him .. as his lips begin a slow kissing caress of her throat.. dancing over that supple curve... her sweet blood flowing just beneath... heated.. fresh...
He drew her to him.. she did not resist.. as her head canted back slightly... his fangs found that sweet vein and sunk in deeply...
Caitlin's eyes snapped open.. for a moment the trance was broken.. she realizing what was happening.. what he was.. and that he was ... FEEDING... she screams.. but the wind takes her voice... the music hiding those desperate sounds that soon weaken and silence... into a low moan... as the Vampire feeds from her.. drawing her blood... her life.. the sweetness.. from her... she collapses in his embrace... her body trembling slightly... her low groans of pain.. intermingled with a deep sensual pleasure.. slipping from her pale lips...

When he pulled back... she was quivering.. her eyes had a glazed look within.. and when he spoke.. she found herself turning to his voice as if drawn to him... she felt... different.. she felt dark... shadowed..and she liked it...

"Now go, my dear, and bring my bride to me,"

"Yes... " she hisses with a slow smile.. "yesssss"
At this point.. Caitlin would do most anything for that feeling again .. that feeling of him feeding.. that euphoria... her mind did not comprehend what she had been asked to do.. or what would happen to Lilly should she accomplish what he wished... all she knew was the he wanted her cousin.. and she was to bring Lilly to him...

Caitlin turned from the Vampire... but not before he handed her a length of black silk.. this.. was draped around her marked throat.. to hide his bite... the midnight silk accenting her now pale skin even more..

Caitlin then went in search of her cousin... Lilly...

Lilly was enjoying the company of that same red headed goofy kid... they had found a quiet corner and were talking... and enjoying some champaign... Lilly had undone her braid... her long black hair now hung down her back like a waterfall of ink...the goofy kid was running his fingers thru it.. something that Lilly was finding enjoyable... but when Caitlin approached.. the kid's attention went immediately to her...

"Lilly... come with me... we have to talk.. out in the gardens.. " Caitlin implored... Lilly looked at Caitlin .. she looked pale all of a sudden.. and Lilly did not like the looks of her at all.. "Cousin are you ok? .. you look.. well.. tired.. "
"that's what I want to talk about .. come on.. please" she again implored.. taking Lilly's hand and leading her out and into the gardens.. away from the safety of the others.. ~

 

[Starsailor2804]

Darius waited patiently within the dark territories of the garden for his lovely bride and vixen to arrive for his delight. Finally, he saw them approach from the distance and enter his hunting grounds. Lilly was obviously confused on what was going on, but she was led on without hesitation by her cousin Caitlin. Stepping out from the darkness he appeared before them both, Caitlin happy to see him and Lilly obviously confused.

"Well, welcome Lilly. You know, you do look so much like your mother, she was certainly a beauty to behold." Walking closer Lilly was unable to back away as Caitlin placed her hands on her shoulders. Suddenly, he appeared before her and breathed in her scent, what seemed to be intoxicating to him. "A virgin, my virgin bride," he said with a devious smile as he leaned by her and kissed Caitlin.

Right after he did so he exposed his fangs and sunk his teeth into the petite neck of Lilly, driving his fangs deep and sucking the life blood from her. Within her mind, which had nearly gone numb, he spoke to her. "Welcome my life, to the life of an immortal, but you have not made your journey yet. Soon my dear, soon," he said as he took Lilly into his arms. Caitlin held onto him tightly as he leapt into the air and returned to his manor.

Setting the young beauty upon the silk sheets of the soft bed he allowed her to recuperate and began to taste the sweetness that Caitlin had to offer. Since she was a virgin it would take Lilly some time to recuperate from his bite and drain of her blood. Kissing deeply upon a most excepting Caitlin he did not hesitate to undress and she did not hesitate to aid him.

"Tonight is not for you Caitlin, tonight we turn your cousin first and we make her my bride. You will have your power my beauty, but you must wait. Now undress your cousin."