Without Love ::: Robert, Anne, Reginald

[Robert Alexander Lovelace]

Robert surveyed the room around him. He could be quite handy with power tools. THe towel rack was reinstalled and the fixtures in the bedroom had been remounted and rewired so that he could turn on the lights without setting the place on fire. His college days had been spent doing construction and he knew almost every aspect of the job now that he had the mental capasity to absorb it all. "If you can't be handsome be handy." he chuckled and put the drill away. Next was the touch up with paint. Robert had that done in about half an hour as he zipped through his rooms and did touch ups.

Perfect. He sealed all the cans and put them in the garage before taking the steam cleaner to the carpets and vacuuming them. Never let it be said that a man can't cook or clean. Robert could do both most of the time. He rehung the shower door; thankfully the glass had survived, and it sparkled. After taking the laundry and hanging it up he surveyed the suite of rooms. It was immaculant and very modern. He hated frilly girly crap. Modern clean lines and done in shades of blue and beige were his favorite. He'd compromised on the rest of the house given that he spent most of his time here and now he always had the urge to grunt and belch when he went into the main part of the house. It was historical but sooo soo frilly. He worried his fangs would fall out.

He wondered if his daughter would ever get married or if the house would scare folks away. There was only so many carvings and roses one could fit in the room before you vomited flowers. He exhaled from habit and went to his fridge. MMmmm O Negative. Breakfast of vampiric construction workers everywhere. He finished his breakfast and changed clothes. Next to the definition of metrosexual was a picture of Robert. He shook his head and put on a muscle shirt and jokingly struck a heroic pose like a boss.

[anneliese]

The steam was thick in the air as Anne soaked in a warm bath, mostly for the warmth. Her mind was racing, which was never a good thing when it came to her. She couldn't figure out what was happening, why her mind seemed to be so irresistibly attached to the idea of Robert lately. Due to her little insanity issue, there were times when the love spell couldn't full grasp her due to the complex nature of her different 'personalities' which popped up from time to time. Right now she was rational, even confused, however the moment she left this room she would probably sink right back into a frenzy.

She could hear the sound of a power drill, fixing all the things she had broken over the past couple nights. How anyone else in this house got any sleep was a mircale, even she felt like she needed to rest. Sinking into the tub underneath the bubbles that floated on the surface, Anne simply laid there for awhile. For some reason she could think better this way, the warm water was relaxing as it covered her entirely. The ocean came back to her in a flash, the dark depths that held her from the sun. Where she should have recoiled out of fear, she found a sort of peace and relaxation in it.

Rising from the bath Anne reached for the nearest towel, drying herself, before simply stepping out of the bathroom. She was not surprised to find Robert nearby, as always, he seemed to be incredibly devoted to being with her. For once she had created what she felt was a perfectly obediant fledgling, one whom she could possibly love, though he was still far from her perfect standards. She was trying to create someone who enjoyed destruction as much as she did, so far it was a bust. Watching him silently for a moment, she watch him strike an odd pose, causing her to tilt her head.

"They tell me I'm mad.." she said, her voice breaking into his little self admiration session. Her mood was relatively good, even better now that her eyes were on him once more. At the same time that was bad, the thirst in her rose to the fore front, the thought of them trading blood fresh in her mind again. Fighting to compose herself, Anne took a few steps forward, wrapping him in her small embrace, which felt like a bear hug from a statue. "I think something is horribly wrong Robert. I'm acting like a teenage who has discovered how to make love for the first time." she said, her tone showed her confusion.

[Robert Alexander Lovelace]

Robert turned and chuckled, as Anne embraced him he relaxed, "I learned a long time ago not to take myself too seriously, Anne. Keeps me from getting too boring." he said as he relaxed against her and nuzzled her cheek. "Its probably because you were gone for so long and now your body is getting used to being out in the world." he turned in her embrace and pressed his forehead to her own. "You know I love you, Annie. Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?" he whispered softly as he gently nibbled her neck. It was more to give comfort than for sex. Only Anne's mood determined when there was sex.

He just wanted her to feel reassured that she had someone there. He wanted to help heal her mind and cure her loneliness and he knew it would take a very long time. But time was what he had now. "There is nothing wrong with being a hormonal teenager with me, Anne." he said gently, his sire was gorgeous and he knew it. He knew she played the field and didn't particularly mind. No one would ever say Anne wasn't extraordinary in some way.

He tugged at her towel, "Here, let me dry you off." he said as he gently took it from her and did as he said. He loved to pamper her when he could and did not linger overly long in any one spot. Taking a bit of leave in conditioner he combed it into her hair before taking a dryer and brushing out her golden locks. "You're beautiful, Anne." he said after her hair was dry and falling in shining waves down her back.

[anneliese]

"It's going to take more than a few goofy poses Robbie. Come hunting with me, let loose." she insisted once more, knowing he would probably turn her down. They hunted differently, it was painfully obvious to her that she had failed yet again to create a monster like herself. It was odd that she didn't just force the issue, but lately she had felt incredibly odd. There was a softer, kinder side that was normally well hidden, if it even existed naturally and right now it was being shown for the first time. There it was again though, as his lips brushed her neck, an electric feeling that almost made her feel like she was alive again.

There was a laugh that followed his question of cheering her up, however, they both knew what would do it. After the night she showed up on the beach she knew that he did not have the stomach for it. It was painfully obvious last night that something was affecting her when she made Robert leave the light on even as the sun rose outside. She would never admit it to anyone else, but as a creature who could only survive being out at night, she was terrified of absolute darkness. When the lights went out it she could feel it pressing in from all sides like a crushing weight.

"I know that you aren't complaining, only one person has ever complained." she said, thinking now about him. The mere thought brought on the feeling of repulsion and a massive need to send him back to the abyss. One day she would have to find and confront her wayward fledgling, force him back into her world. It was not like Anne to simply sire a child and leave them out there by themselves. They were her possessions, her toys, and she had to make sure that no one else could take joy from her own pain.

Relaxing a bit, Anne let Robert take her towel from her, a low sigh escaping her lips as he dried her. That was one of the main reasons she came back to Robert above all others, she felt like a goddess to him. She felt like she was the center of his universe while she was present, if it were not for this she would be just as dissatisfied with him as she was with Connor. "So I am told. It is how I managed to make you in the first place, is it not? You simply couldn't resist me, even after all that happened to your family." she purred, though it was a bit insensitive. Under this spell though, she truly loved him, and so what she would do next would surprise anyone.

"I'm sorry, I didn't.. I don't know why I said that. I didn't mean to drag things up.."

[Robert Alexander Lovelace]

"Tonight I just want to relax, Anne." he said gently to her as he brushed her hair and looked at her in the mirror, "Just the two of us." he murmured softly in her ear. "For this one perfect moment let me help you relax so you can just be." he ran his hand through her hair and let it slip through his fingers gently, watching the light play with it.

His throat constricted when she mentioned Melissa's death. Somehow the nature of it meant it would never truely heal. his heart ached for his dead wife and the life that he should have had. All of it was gone and in its place was this tiny broken thing that he had glued back together with sheer will and determination. He wasn't going to let Noah or anyone else ruin it. He'd even kill Anne if she forced him to. His whole reason for living this life such as it was was his family. If he could just get them to a stable point then he could move on or perhaps step into the light and join Melissa like he had wanted to for so many nights.

"It is alright." He said finally as he moved away from her and bit his lip till he calmed himself. His mood was broken and he stepped out of the room to let Anne collect herself while he set about fixing the bedding and making the room presentable once more.

[anneliese]

For some reason when she hurt him it felt like she was hit by a steel brick, as if for the first time ever she was acutely feeling his pain. There was an overwhelming feeling building up in her, as if she was going to cry herself. Was this what it was like to sense his pain? To actually feel something more than being a monster? The spell was having an interesting effect on this creature, as it made her feel mortal for the first time in almost four hundred years. Several crimson tears slid down her cheeks as she tried to block it out, but it was like someone was forcing her to feel this.

Following him to the bed, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his back. "It's not alright, Robert." she began, unsure what to say next. She could never tell him that it was her who caused this pain for him, how much of a monster she was, and how she deserved to be the one who carried this painful feeling. Instead she simply nuzzled him, wishing she could will it all away from him. She knew now that she could never take Melissa's place, even if it was due to some sort of spell.

"I want to be there for you. I know in the past I've been a monster, made you do, and watch terrible things.." she started, biting her own lip. She actually drew blood from how hard she bit, as if forcing herself to feel pain would somehow lessen his own. "You're always here for me, no matter how I returned, no matter how I abuse or destroy you." she said, refering to the times she would swat him aside, taunt him for having feelings, or genuinely just hurting him out of sheer rage. It was like a whole new Anneliese emerged from within herself, the girl before the abuse, before being turned to darkness.

She could remember it now, so long ago, she used to laugh, smile, and cry. Anne used to have emotions, hopes, and dreams beyond hurting other people before it was all stripped away. "I will stay with you tonight, comfort you, anything you wish tonight. For once your command is -my- desire." she said softly, her hands running up and down his stomach gently. "I promise I'll try harder to behave, to not make you watch me do unspeakable things.."

[Robert Alexander Lovelace]

"Anne..." he let her name trail off when she spoke, he gently scooped her into his lap and ran a hand through her hair, "I want..." he wasn't sure how to articulate it, "I want you to be better not because its what I want but because it will make things easier for you. I love you and it hurts me to see you in pain. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." He kissed her lightly. "Just be the wonderful woman that's in there when you can be. If you want to pamper me tonight I won't object but I want you to know that I want you to feel safe and loved and needed because you are, Anne. You're special to me not because of your looks or your abilities but because you are you. A brave woman who is not afraid to speak her mind who knows what she wants." he hugged her to him and looked down at her.

Shifting slightly onto the bed he did smile up at her, "So what do you feel like tonight?" He asked. The lights were such that they lit the room softly and highlighted her features, "Its not all about me, Anne. There is plenty to be shared between the two of us. No more talk of the past. Tonight there is just us. You're here for me now and that is what matters." He took her hand and kissed her wrist, "This moment, Anne. The past is done and the future is unknown. I know you will try your best and that's enough for me." He shifted lightly and kissed her, "Now, shall we see about getting you to relax and smile a bit?"

[anneliese]

It wasn't fair, not in the slightest, but when he said her name every part of her was paying attention. The lady, the child, the monster, even the caring side of her personality. There was so much going on inside of her, her soul fractured into so many different pieces. In this moment however they were all still, they were all one as his words soothed everything. The world seemed to fade out, the sound from outside receeding until there was nothing left but Robert. It was the most focused she had ever felt in quite some time, the true Anneliese that most hoped to somehow restore. Her voice caught in her throat, but when she spoke it was weird. She sounded entirely mortal, entirely vulnerable, as if she was that woman who was sentenced to a life of darkness as a mortal.

"I.." she started, searching for the words. She was not as good as him at articulating what she wanted without violence. "I know you do and every part of me wants to be better, for you. When I am with you in these hours, the war inside of me comes to a cease fire. I feel like I can truly think for myself, without all of my urges taking the reins." she said, biting her lip which drew a bit of blood from her. "There is so much I want to tell you Robert, before I return to being her, the monster. I am just afraid, I don't want who I was before to ruin what I am in this moment, whole again." she said. There were actually crimson tears running down her cheeks as she spoke, remorse had set in.

In her natural form, she simply clung to him as if the world was going to be ripped from beneath her. But tonight, instead of violently taking from him, she smiled at rested her head against his shoulder as she thought for a moment. What was it that she wanted, did she even know herself? Something to fill the void in her soul, most likely, but she could never have the things she wanted now, they were forever lost to her. "I just want to be close to you. In my entire life time I have never known love, the true love of a man. I have compelled others to love me, bound them with my chains, but yet you seem to love me completely." she said, sounding breathless. Turning her neck a bit, she exposed the flesh to him as she kept her face buried in his shoulder.

"I just want to know love, without violence or destruction. I just want to know what it is like to share a special moment with someone who cares.." she said as she put a hand to the back of his head and guided his mouth to her throat. "Please." she insisted, waiting for his fangs to pierce the flesh. If he did what she asked, a silent gasp would follow before all else faded out of existance, a perfect moment that she had never known, not even in her four hundred years of life.

[Robert Alexander Lovelace]

Robert held her close and kissed her tears away as best he could, "Anneliese, its alright." he wiped the tears from her face and rocked her, "I'm here for you. I won't be going anywhere. You aren't alone you have me." he said to her as he rocked her back and forth, "Just focus on now. Don't force yourself to worry so much." He said this softly to her as he laid back on the bed with her in his lap. His head resting on the headboard.

"How could I not love you, Anne? You were there at my darkest hour and gave me hope. You have flaws just like the rest of us but we'll work through them. You made me and I love you." he rocked her back and forth and gently licked a tear trail away, "Just be the girl you are and enjoy tonight. There is no need for sadness.

Robert did as she asked, his fangs sinking in and giving her that blissful release as he fed from her and gave what he could of himself. His mind open to her own as he shared his hopes for her and dreams. He wanted her to feel safe and loved and never have to worry about the dark. He had always seen the lost lonely girl she was and he shown a light for her to follow out of the darkness.

[anneliese]

The clarity in this moment allowed her to see for once what he meant when he said these things before. She had never taken him seriously, considering him to be nothing more than amusement. Was that even true? On some level she must have loved him, she came back to him everytime she returned. Hell, she had even risked destroying everything to have him for herself. Now however she realized the error in her judgement, or lack thereof. These tears were not for herself, they were for what she had done to him. She could never tell him, it wouldn't matter anyway, nothing could undo the damage.

"Did I give you hope? Or the false promise that I could make everything better? I might have robbed you of everything by offering to you what I am." she said softly. Staring into his eyes, she wondered if maybe he wasn't better off as a human. Even if he had lived anywhere near half of a mortal life, he deserved the chance to finish it. It was too late for all of that now, she couldn't possibly give it back to him. Anne's voice caught in her throat for a moment as she opened her mouth to speak, for the first time she felt like she could honestly admit it. "I.. I love you too." she whispered.

When his fangs pierced her throat, she sighed, leaning her head against him. The rest of the world would spin out of existance. For now they were the same being in a sense, their "souls" offered to each other in love. By the time it was all over, the heavy feeling of dread, of being alone had somewhat vanished. However there was a new feeling she had never felt before, ever.. there was regret. She knew that she was going to get everything she ever wanted, only she never had to pay any cost, only Robert and Merry. When she was sure he was asleep, Anne slipped into a white dress. However she would do something she had never done before for Robert, she left him a note explaining she went out to think.

Biting her lip, she pressed her lips to the letter leaving a blood imprint of the shape, before vanishing out into the night air. When she was far enough away to know he couldn't find her, she came to a stop, standing in the middle of some park. There was a fountain with bright lights inside the water, hypnotizing her into staring into their depths for awhile. "What have I done..?"

[Robert Alexander Lovelace]

"You gave me hope to find the being that murdered my family, Annie. I realize it was selfish of me to want that; to expect justice for my family when so many never get it but it does not change the fact that you were there for me when I needed you." He took one of her hands and kissed it, "I love you too, Anne." he placed his hands on her waist to rest gently, he made certain never to make her feel trapped.

Robert woke to find the bed empty and scanned for his family with his senses. Merry was sleeping exaustedly in her bed. Her dreams fraught with worry as they had been since she met Connor. Sienna was still recovering and was sleeping the peace that percoset brought and Tana and Tera were on shift at the circus. Leila was no doubt enjoying herself somewhere. He knew if she had been in distress he'd have picked up on it.

He sighed and felt sleep claim him as he red Anne's letter. Sometimes all you could do was let someone think and sort out their problems.

[Reginald Edmund Sinclaire]

Reginald felt like king of the world. Whatever spell had gone off was making him irresistible to weaker minded women more-so than usual. He had fed so much in the last few hours he looked as young as his daughter. The thought made him laugh softly. His thoughts turned towards her and he realized she was with Trenton. That was probably for the best given his slightly drunken mood right now. He probably wouldn't have resisted his urges and that would have caused a bunch of problems he did not want to deal with.

As he wandered the park he thought about his options. If Trenton followed through he probably could be counted on to marry Marina at some point, thus giving Reginald a toe hold in the vampire community. He always felt conflicted in regards to his daughter. He wasn't used to denying himself anything but with her everything was a denial. All his attempts to get her to turn to the darkness had failed. She refused to strike him and open herself up to the power he offered. It was a simple thing really. Very Return of the Jedi actually. All she had to do was attack him. That would open her to his powers and from there he could mold her into the Succubus she was meant to be. She could stay with him and want for nothing. The irony was that he wanted her to do it of her own volition. He wanted her to take up the mantle of power he offered freely and she'd refused.

Complications, life was always full of complications. She simply loved him too much to harm him and accept her place by his side. She was too afraid of the darkness and what it offered and pointed out to him that her brothers had all died or failed him and while it was a failure not to assume her place, to bring his hopes up and not meet them was far more devastating in her mind. Maybe she was right after all. Still, she was going to grow old at the rate she was going and he was not going to have that. It would not be permitted. This was not up for debate. She would be a vampire or she would join him as a succubus. If Trent refused to turn her then he'd pull some strings. Maybe he could track down Diana to do it. Not that Mari looked old by any means but he did not want her to deal with the ravages of time as a disabled person. He wanted her to experience life without the pain of her human form nagging at her. She used that pain to steal herself against him. It was her armor and he wanted to rip it from her and show her that being self righteous and good was a ticket to an early grave.

It was then he saw Anne mulling her own thoughts in her head. He bowed to her courteously and smiled, "A penny for your thoughts, My lady?" he said with a soft smile as he waited for her to acknowledge him. "You seem as deep in thought as I am."

[anneliese]

There were too many thoughts for her to miss him, her abilities were usually always active, even when she wished they were not. Someone was also contemplating their life choices, which made her laugh a bit, a few more steps and they would no longer have to worry about that. They seemed to be unaware that a monster sat only feet away from them, one that even lost in her own thoughts was dangerous. Raising her head to find the source of the thoughts, her eyes fell upon a man, one who seemed attractive, if she could even think about that. Robert lingered on her mind, filled her up entirely, right now she couldn't figure out what to do with this feeling.

"It might cost you more than a penny, sir." she replied calmly, reaching into the fountain and stirring the water with a finger. While she could not peg the specifics, she knew that something had to do with a girl. Possibly a daughter, perhaps? When she tried to take from him, something seemed to fight back against her more than she would have liked. "If you must insist, my thoughts dwell upon a man. Love is a stranger thing to those who can feel it, I find myself wondering if I am even capable of such a thing." she said, continuing to splash about in the water with a hand.

There was a soft sigh, as she looked back down to the fountain. "I refuse to hurt this man, even though I have, and will hurt so many others." she said, biting her lip. She didn't know what to do with the feelings she had for him in that bed, she wanted to be with him, be a part of his family. She wanted to exist as more than this, but she could never be there for them, not as this monster. "You've got to give some to get some." she reminded him, looking up now suddenly. Her light blue eyes seemed to pierce right into your soul when they were upon someone, which was truer than anyone could guess.

"Who might you be?"

[Reginald Edmund Sinclaire]

Reginald bowed in a courtly fashion, "My name is Reginald Sinclaire, my lady." he said for lack of a name to pin to a face, "And you will find that I am as telepathic as yourself if the touch of your gift is any indicator." he said with a hint of a smile as he approached her, "I'm an incubus and what might you be?" he was too full to feed from Anne an doubted he could in any case. It was for this reason he was glad his daughter did not share the home with him tonight. He was more than a little drunk in his thinking and innocence was its own rush. He turned his thoughts to Anne and leaned lightly against the edge of the fountain, "We men are tricky fellows. Forgive my prying thoughts but who is this man who has confused you so?"

He stretched lazily and looked at her with appreciation, "I was thinking about my daughter. I wish her to join my side as is her proper place but she resists me. Sadly, to turn her into a Succubus requires her consent and she's immune to my powers. A fascinating conundrum. We always want those things that we cannot have. I suppose if my daughter could be influenced by me I would not care to press her so, but its that delicious bit of defiance that makes me want to bring her to darkness all the more. I've tried a few things, threats, murdering those she cares about, beatings and yet she still defies me. I may have to resort to having a vampire turn her to get the point across because she is remarkably resilient. I mean I have her last boyfriend stuffed and being used as a coat rack in my den and she's still daring to try and leave the nest. I've butchered her own brothers to protect her and killed innocents in front of her and all she does is send them onto their way with her psychic gifts and pray for them. It hurts her deeply I know, but I am trying to make her strong because her body is mortal and frail besides."

He looked at Anne, "Our children defy us, My lady. They refuse the gifts we offer and wish to travel their own path. We simply have to be strong in our resolve that the world will give us what we want of it because we can take it. If your man loves you then consider it to be of benifit to you. My daughter loves me she just will not become evil for me." Another sigh as he looked at her and smiled bemusedly. "Perhaps I can offer some small physical comfort?" he offered. She was gorgeous and he was an incubus after all.

[Merry Grace Lovelace]

Thread closed.