Anise woke up rather early, well early for her new schedule. Her life had been turned upside down since she first arrived at Castillo de la Muerte. She opened the window, watching the rain fall. The clouds engulfed the sky as lightning cracked down in the distance. She looked to the woods, her amethyst eyes softening. That was a year ago.. I remember Alice would always leap through there, covered in dirt and leaves.. It's been almost a year since I last felt my sister's warm embrace.. Right at the edge of the property, Alice's favorite spot in the area, stood a fairly taken care of headstone. It looked relatively new. It belonged to Alice Delopar. Her twin sister..

Anise could remember last year's werewolf attack as if it were yesterday.. She heard a knock at her door, and she quickly approached, opening the door without regards to the fact she was in her nightgown. There was a thin orange box with red ribbon tying it closed. She picked it up, noticing a card tied around the ribbon. Gingerly she turned the card and her eyes widened. From Demetri?? She was completely taken aback. She never got presents from Master Bishop's twin. Ever.

From: Demetri

"I'd like you to wear this from now on.. It's the new uniform. Embarrassed you for a second, didn't I, Dove?"

(OOC @ Butler & all Maids: For your message from Demetri, please send me a PM and I'll give each of you a personalized note from him to go with your uniform. Also, I tagged everyone to notify you that the RP has officially started!)

Anise could feel the blush burning her cheeks and she instantly frowned. She let out a small 'hmph', closing the door to her room quickly. Demetri and his games.. She thought a bit irritated, but a smile quickly formed on her lips. She let out a soft giggle, running to the bed to open her present. Her fingers gently untied the ribbon and placed it aside on her bed, lifting the lid and tossing it carelessly. Her eyes widened as she saw the outfit inside. Her eyes lit up as she reach inside, picking the outfit up and taking a proper look at the dress. It was sewn excellently.. professionally perhaps? For a moment she wondered if it even fit.. It looked too good to be true. Anise quickly scurried over to her wash bucket, placing the new dress in the nearby chair. She quickly poured some of the water into a bowl, splashing her face and washing her hands. She quickly dried off with the cloth she laid out the night before. After she was dry, she dabbed one end of the cloth into the water, cleaning her body off for work. A bath wasn't until before dinner, besides she'd just get dirty during her chores. It would be a lost cause to take one now.

Speaking of.. The new maids and butler would arrive soon. She supposed chores would end early today.. They always let the new maids and butlers have it easier the first week.. They probably wouldn't even reveal themselves as vampires yet.. But she wasn't entirely sure.. The new head of house might have changed this, like all the other rules. Castiel was in charge then.. It was happier here with Castiel in charge.. In fact.. I wonder if he's doing alright..? They haven't let us see him since the accident.. She wished to check on the blonde vampire, but she doubted Reiji would allow it. Then she got a clever idea. Reiji never woke at this hour. If she was very quiet.. and she didn't stay that long.. Maybe she could go visit him without getting caught. She doubted a stiff like Reiji changed the flowers in Castiel's vase.. Mirabelle was useful, but she wasn't a maid. There was a lot she assumed the siblings accidentally neglected. Tanzy had a family to worry about, she definitely wasn't about to break any rules here. Anise on the other hand, she was fresh out of familial ties. She quickly changed after washing up, putting her dirty clothes in a basket.

Aniselooked in the mirror as she buttoned her throat cuff, amazed by how well Demetri guessed her measurements, but also a little shaken by it. Putting it aside as one of the things that would always be strange about her job, Anise slipped her shoes on. She clicked the toes against the floor, about to walk out the door when she noticed the present box's lid was still in the floor. She ran over to pick it up, placing it back on the bed. Tanzy.. you're rubbing off on me..

She then exited her room, shutting the door as silently as possible. Looking around for signs that meant someone might be awake, Anise tiptoed through the halls. She kept quiet as possible the entire walk to Castiel's quarters. She didn't get nervous until she passed Bishop's and Reiji's rooms though. They were on the same wall with Demetri's room in between them. Then next to Reiji's room was Mirabelle. Thankfully Castiel's room has stayed in the same location through all of the madness.. His was at the far end of the hall, next to no one else. It was the 'dead end' of the corridor per se. She reach for the doorknob, confident that she'd succeeded when finally a calm, icy voice addressed her.

"Love, just where do you think you're going?"

It was Reiji's voice, and she spun around quickly. Her mouth was agape and her hands began to shake, despite her efforts to remain calm. Master Bishop is going to be so mad... She thought anxiously. Her eyes darted around the hall as she looked for an excuse, any excuse but all her anxiety brought her thoughts to little more than naught.

"I-I wanted to check on Master Santia- I mean.. Lord Castiel.. It would gladden my heart to know for myself that he's alright." She mentally cursed herself for what came out however. She knew she could have done better than that, but no one in the castle brought fear to her like Reiji. He was ruthless, and pointlessly so. Castiel didn't show cruelty without reasoning.. Nor did Bishop. Reiji simply enjoyed it and it brought her entire frame to a constant tremble. Shit.. I just addressed Castiel as head of house.. Reiji is going to be punish me for that..

Reiji wasn't getting much sleep these days. He never realized how strenuous Castiel's job was, until it was his own. He was up to his nose in paperwork. He never knew there were so many bottom feeders begging to be acknowledged by the hierarchy. How many letters could one person answer in a day? So many lower standing families begging for loans.. kissing his boots.. He was growing sick as he responded as cordially as he could possibly muster. He wanted to vomit at his words, but alas... this was the job he so desperately wanted, wasn't it? The dark haired man adjusted his glasses, smirking to himself. Time for a break... Today starts the fun after all.. He stood up from his desk, escaping through the window of his bedroom and re-entering through the bottom floor. He landed perfectly on his feet, dusting his clothes off and straightening them out.

He proceeded in shutting the downstairs window behind him, and made a beeline for the kitchen. He found the whiskey cabinet eventually, uncorking it with his left fang. He grabbed a glass and poured it half full before replacing the cork in the bottle and putting it back. The pink haired maid would be frantic if he didn't put things back where they went. Then his eyebrow quirked mischievously. He left the liquor cabinet door open, hoping Tanzy would notice and it would unleash her obsessive compulsive monster. He enjoyed watching her clean to the finest human details. If she were a vampire and could see what the human eye could not.. He chuckled at the thought. Wondering just how much time Tanzy would spend cleaning the castle if she were a vampire. All those tiny little microscopic dust particles.. Watching her would be almost endless amusement at the very least. He took the contents of the glass in one long gulp before placing the glass with the rest of the dirty dishes.

Time to wake the maids.. He thought to himself, licking his lips. He'd fed from Tanzy a couple times since his new position as Head of House began.. but not as much as he would have liked. Then there was little Anise.. He never caught her out of Bishop's clutches but he was certainly dying for a taste. The two maids were on par with each other as far as innocence went. His crimson eyes began to glow, bringing the severity of his hunger to literal light. He walked up the stairs, just in time. He couldn't believe his luck. He quickly hid himself to the wall, remaining silent. He even silenced his breaths. It wasn't as if he'd die from suffocation. He was already dead after all.. He noticed the maid in question sneaking from her room and down the hall. The hallway that his siblings rooms resided in. Just what is the little mouse up to at this hour? He thought to himself with a dangerous mixture of pure amusement and agonizing curiosity.

He waited for her to lower her guard, listening to her heart beat thump as she passed Bishop's room, then Demetri's and finally his own. Her heart's beating surged as she passed two of the bedrooms, and it brought a violent smirk to the man's face. Make you nervous, do I? He thought to himself, dying to let a chuckle escape his lips. Then her heartbeat came to a calm as she was about to enter Castiel's room. So that's where you were headed.. Tsk tsk.. little maids can't disturb our dear brother.. He's still in a fragile state after all.. With minimal effort Reiji leaped from the stairway to the spot he now stood, directly behind Anise. He'd cleared the entire hallway in a fraction of a second without even batting an eyelash.

"Love, just where do you think you're going?" His voice taunted her calmly. His tone was cold and full of mischief as he awaited the small girl's answer. Though her reaction kept him from growing bored in the meantime. She spun on her heels to face him, struggling to find the words she was looking for. His smirk grew as he noted the tremors in her fingers. I'm scaring you, aren't I love? Good.. Fear is a delicacy.. Not many know how to appreciate the taste.. but it happens to be my favorite..

"I-I wanted to check on Master Santia- I mean.. Lord Castiel.. It would gladden my heart to know for myself that he's alright."

Master Santiago? I am Master Santiago.. Not that pompous bastard.. He thought with a snarl. Immediately he decided he was feeding from Bishop's maid. She'd insulted him and now it was time to remind her that no disrespect would go unpunished. He towered over her easily due to their difference in height and roughly shoved her by the shoulders against the left wall that connected to Castiel's quarters. She let out a rather loud gasp, more than likely due to pain from the impact, but Reiji honestly didn't care for her comfort. He could feel her minuscule excuse for resistance and he simply chuckled. Then as her hand whipped around to slap him, he pinned both of her hands above her head with one. The other turned her head to the side as he leaned down to get a proper sniff of her intoxicating aroma. He licked his lips, basking in her fear, and enjoying her sped heartbeat for a moment longer.

"N-no!" she cried out, trying to thrash about in his grasp, but it felt like iron. She couldn't budge at all. S-someone..P-please.. H-help.. the girl pleaded, mentally but most of the Santiago siblings were still in bed. The sun hadn't even completely set yet.. Help was possible, yet unlikely at this hour. The odds stood in Reiji's favor, unless one of his siblings heard Anise's gasp or pounding heartbeat..

The new help would be arriving shortly and he wanted to get his fill before they got here. He wanted to experience their fear later. He didn't wish to ruin it now.

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There’s so much blood-…so many screams…so many voices. It’s maddening. His gaze shifts from the snowy haired child’s corpse to his tainted fingers. Marble skin is sullied by hot rubicund essence right before his eyes. He wrings his hands, trying to rid them of the blood, but it won’t come off…it sticks to him, crawling up his wrists and overtaking his arms. Desperately, he cries out, lifting his gaze only to find another version of himself staring right back at him. Frightened azure meet sadistic cerulean and he’s trembling from how monstrous his reflection looks. A wide vile smirk stretches across his reflection’s face, revealing bloodied fangs just before he’s attacked.

“No!” He cries out, jolting up from his bed. Wide sapphire orbs dart about the room in search of any horror that could possibly be lurking in the dark. Luckily, there are no threats and he’s finally able to release the breath that he wasn’t aware he’s been holding. Artisan fingers drag through sweat laden locks as he tries to calm himself. He slowly rises from his bed, careful to avoid the small rays of sunlight that threaten to break through his curtains. Bare feet pad softly against cold wood as he makes his way to the full length mirror across the room.

It’s there that he looks at himself, half expecting the reflection to suddenly take on a life of its own. However, that doesn’t happen and he’s left to view the emotional wreck before him. Castiel Santiago…the name sounds too foreign—too impersonal. It just doesn’t feel like him. Slowly, he lowers his gaze to his slender fingers before sighing in relief. No blood. He closes his eyes, rubbing his hands over his face.

You’d think he would have gotten used to the nightmares, but they just seem to be getting progressively worse. It’s not getting any easier and he highly doubts that it ever will. He chooses not to dwell on it for long…there is no use dwelling on something he doesn’t fully understand. He pushes down the neck of his tunic, inspecting the angry red scar that resides of his left shoulder. It’s not as ugly as it once was, but it’s still a mound of puckered pink flesh. He doesn’t think it will heal any more than it already has. From what he’s been told, he was attacked by a werewolf-…Apparently, werewolf bites don’t heal gracefully. Figures. It’s a miracle that he lived through the ordeal with only amnesia. Some saw this as a blessing, but he finds it utterly frustrating. He’s expected to live the life of a man he no longer knows in a world that he barely understands. He’s afraid; afraid of his past. Was he really as bloodthirsty as his subconscious leads him to believe? And that’s when he heard it.

It’s a rapid thumping, increasing in tempo with every passing second. He can hear the continuous panting; the whistle of air bouncing off of lungs. He can smell fear. Narrowing his eyes, Castiel’s gaze falls to the door as he makes his way towards the entry way. He opens the wooden barrier, exiting his quarters when he spots the display to his immediate right.

He can’t remember who she is, but the terror in her eyes speaks volumes and before Castiel can stop himself, he’s placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder and yanking him away from her. He stands between the two of them, brows furrowed and hands clenched. “That’s enough,” he grimaces at the other vampire. His voice is laden with authority much to his surprise. It simply just comes out. He glances down over his shoulder at the unfamiliar maid, softening his gaze to reassure her that she’s safe now. He shields her with his body, obscuring her from the view of the predator standing before him. His stormy eyes dart to Reiji with a snarl on his lips. “What is the meaning of this?”

Examining her reflection in the mirror, Tanzy tilted her head and craned her neck, rubbing gingerly as she searched for any sign of Reiji's bite. Despite her attempts to discourage the new head of house, he paid no mind to her protests that she was Castiel's maid and thus by agreement the only one allowed to drink from her. She sighed, feeling far more powerless than ever under Reiji's authority. Now she feared her words even more, never knowing if she'd slip up and say something to inadvertently arouse the vampire's anger.

Suddenly, a knock on the door snatched her attention, the sound making her jump in surprise before spinning to face her door. Perhaps Anise was coming by before they were to do their chores? But Anise would usually announce herself. Curious as to who else in the house would bother to knock, she tentatively approached and opened the door, only to see an empty corridor. Anise couldn't move that fast, so which of the vampires had commanded her to open, and for what reason? Fearing Reiji, she looked left then right, hoping to see who it was when a box on the floor caught her attention.

Puzzled, Tanzy lifted the thin parcel, checking once more for it's sender before retreating back inside her room. Sitting upon her bed, the maid untied an orange ribbon and picked up the note, scanning it before she dared open the gift.
I made this just for you, little dove. I hope you like it. Less cloth to get dirty, ne?
Demetri? Tanzy didn't even need to read the name to know. Demetri was the only one who consistently called her and Anise little doves. Re-reading the note, she wondered about his mention of less cloth. Depending on what that entailed, she may or may not be comfortable with the attire. She looked from the note to the box, wondering what new outfit it was he had sent, hoping it wasn't something too outrageous. Placing the note aside, she lifted the lid and pulled out a admittedly well made outfit. She noticed the exposed shoulders and separate cuff for her neck, and even more unnerving, the exact size. It was admittedly less to get dirty, but it still left her shoulders feeling vulnerable, especially considering Reiji's apparent interest in drinking from her. Despite this, it was well-crafted, and while she didn't love it, she didn't dislike it either. It worked, and it covered what needed to be covered. Inspecting the button on cuff, she wondered about it before realization quickly dawned on her brain. IT was to make it easy to feed. Reiji came to her mind again, and then Castiel, who she had usually served. The maid bit her lip at the ease the cuff would give, but she flushed upon recounting the previous method. Well, at least her modesty would be better preserved, no more tugging on her top to expose her neck and shoulder. In any case, it was time to change.
Donning her new maid uniform, Tanzy couldn't help but feel amazed and more than a little creeped out by how perfect the fit was.

Brushing her hair and adjusting herself to make sure ever crease was perfect, every hair was managed, and she looked perfectly presentable, Tanzy finally deemed herself acceptable and made her way out into the corridor, hoping not to run into Reiji so soon.

Deciding to start in the kitchen and get herself something quick to eat as well, Tanzy had taken no less than two steps into the room before spotting something amiss. She looked in dismay at the whiskey cabinet, wondering who would be so careless to leave it open. She hurried over to it, reaching for the door when she caught the bottle position. Without even thinking of how silly and meaningless the action was, she straightened the bottle so the label faced squarely forward, just like the others in the cabinet as she had arranged them in the past. There, all with labels clearly showing. She closed the whiskey cabinet, silently declaring it fixed.

About to open the pantry door, Tanzy heard a familiar voice cry out in distress, the sound making her freeze and a cold jolt of fear to stab her heart. Anise! Her dearest friend and only remaining fellow maid, Anise meant as much to Tanzy as her own family. Her friend's voice sounded scared and frantic, Tanzy's worry kicking in.

All thoughts of food and cleaning forgotten, Tanzy hurried in the direction the voice seemed to come from, freezing at the sight of Reiji pinning her fellow maid to the wall, a hungry look in his eyes as he drew closer to her. No! Tanzy couldn't watch him hurt her friend. She knew she risked his wrath, but to watch Anise become his food and do nothing would be unforgivable.

Parting her lips to call the master of the house's attention to herself, her attempt to rescue Anise proved to be thankfully unnecessary for the time being, none other than her master and prior head of house appearing before Reiji.

Tanzy breathed a sigh of gratitude and relief upon seeing distance put between Anise and Reiji. She looked at the blonde haired vampire with appreciation, bowing her head to him. Even if he never remebered her, his kindness towards Anise and his reasonableness was enough for her. She only hoped he was ok.

"M-master Castiel! You're awake sire, shall Anise or myself get you anything?" Tanzy asked, closing the distance between herself and the vampires around her friend despite her anxiety of Reiji. Trying to appear normal and calm, she too tried to utilize herself as a shield between Anise and the head of the house's fangs.

"Master Reiji, I...I am available if you truly need sustenance...." Tanzy offered, feeling her hairs stand on end as she gingerly rubbed her neck once more.

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Jason sat up quickly in the dead of night. He could feel the mattress beneath him soaked in sweat. He looked around at the ground around him, littered with other mattresses that held his siblings. He looked out the small window the apartment's room held. Jason tried to calm his breathing rapidly as he listened to his brothers' even breathing. They had all already said goodbye. Looking at the sun, Jason saw it setting. He had been curious about why the carriage with the horse was coming so late, but didn't ask. He didn't even ask why his employers preferred a carriage with horses when they could probably easily afford a car if they so pleased.

Jason stood, knowing it was time to get ready to leave. He carefully made his way over the crooked and warped wood of the room and made his way to the kitchen. He slipped his shirt on as he walked in, closing the door behind him only to turn around, faced with his mother. She smiled sadly up at him. "You don't have to go," His mother says, soft and tired, sad that he was leaving. Jason shakes his head as he approaches his mother. "You know I have to," He says softly, holding her in a tight hug as she cried. She didn't want him to go, but he needed to. If he didn't, well, the family couldn't possibly last much longer what with his siblings needing school and all. "I love you," She sobs, "I love you so much." Jason breaths deeply, running his hand over her back in the comforting way she always did for him. "I love you too. So so much," Jason says softly.

When his mother left, going to bed as she needed to in order to wake early the next morning, Jason began to collect his case. He gathered his writing materials and what he was working on into the family suitcase which he would take with him. He looked around at his house, or apartment rather, with sorrow in his eyes. He looked at the door of his sisters' and mother's room, that of his brothers' room, the small room they spent their spare time in. Everything seemed so small now, for whatever reason, he couldn't tell why. He walked towards the door, wondering how he would possibly bare to be so far away from them for so long. He slipped a note onto the table, one he had written days ago, not being able to cope with the other option. Write often and work hard, I love you all. ~Jason

Jason read it over once, then slipped on his jacket, and left. He walked down the steps of the apartment's and onto the cobbled path. He walked past the wrought iron fence that surrounded the property and towards the carriage. He wondered yet again why he was being transported by horse and buggy, or carriage rather, but wouldn't judge his new employers. If they liked it, he wouldn't hesitate to abide by it. He rather liked the curious animals anyway. Jason climbed into the carriage, setting his case at his feet, ready to go.

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Jane looked down at her sleeping brother. He was exhausted and his fever was running yet again, It was as if his body was getting worse so she wouldn't want to go to her new job. She didn't at this point, but she didn't have any other choice really. She stared down at him, willing him to open his eyes, even if it was just for a moment. Just to say goodbye, but he didn't. She couldn't wake him when he was so beaten from trying to work when he clearly shouldn't. That was why she was going away, no other reason. She needed to.

Jane stood from where she had knelt beside the bed. She made sure the sheet covering him was as far up as it could be. She made sure he had water at his bedside, that he had a basin to put a cool cloth in should he need it for his forehead, and even a small loaf of bread should he get hungry. She didn't want him out of bed and didn't want him to possibly worsen his condition when he needed to really get better.

Jane quietly left the room and grabbed her bag, looking inside once more to make sure everything she would need was in there. It wasn't much. It was two dresses, a few spare coins, and a few small trinkets to be there for comfort. She would need them when she was going to a strange place with strange people to do strange work she had never done before. How could she be a maid? Why did she take this job? She didn't know the first thing about caring for a persons every need. Unless, of course, they needed it. Even then she didn't know if she was doing more harm than help or what.

As Jane slipped out of the house, she began to go up the dirt path leading to the main road. Her house sat on a small hill in the middle of rolling farmland, a tree standing over it to provide shade. She had sat under the very tree so many times growing up. She had climbed it, read in it's shade, and even fallen from it, but the childhood memories came back of her suddenly in a strange way. Maybe it was because she was leaving and wouldn't see it for a while. That must be it

She crested a hill and saw in the distance a carriage that was drawn by two horses. They both reminded her of those she had grown up with and smiled, her steps more joyous as she found herself attracted to the enchanting animals. She smiled at them as she walked up, running her hand over their nose as she came closer. The beautiful and majestic creature stared at her with it's eyes of endless knowledge that only it had access to. With an inward sigh, she resigned herself to get in the carriage, it would, after all, be her first step to a new life that would be more beneficial than anything else she had ever done before.

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In the carriage

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Jason looked at the girl sitting across from him in the carriage. He wasn't entirely sure what to say, so he figured introducing himself wouldn't hurt. "My name is Jason..." Jason says with a smile, breaking the silence. He stops before realizing he might want to continue. "What do you two go by?" Jason asks.

Jane looks up at Jason and smiles slightly. He was trying to make things not so quite, well, quiet. Jane looks at the girl beside her. She too had brown hair though hers was long compared to Jane's own short hair. "I go by Jane," Jane says softly. When Jason offered her his hand to shake, she was surprised, but took it. "Nice to meet you Jane," Jason says gently, as if Jane was somewhat unnerved by him. She was slightly, but she didn't think it was that obvious.

Jason's attention turned to the other girl in the carraige, the one with the longer, and lighter, hair. "I'm Camie, just Camie." she said, picking up a strand of her hand and twirling it around in her fingers, in a slightly nervous gesture. Jason nodded, smiling at her and shaking her hand as well. He didn't know what else to say. He didn't think the others would want to share why they were going, it would, or could, be personal. Some people just weren't as friendly or open as he was at times. "A pleasure," Jason commented as he shook her hand.

When they arrived, Jason climbed out quickly, offering a hand for the ladies. He grabbed his suitcase and began walking towards the gate. "Do we just go in?" Jane asked staring up at the gate. Jason frowned and shook his head slightly. "I don't know," He says with a curious note. He pushed gently against the gate and found it to open. Walking through it, he shrugged inwardly. Why not?

The house was huge, easily a manor that could fit any royal for some occasion. "I suppose we should knock however," He says as he approaches the door and knocks on it as he would his house should he be coming home late.

“It realy came, huh?” Camilla muttered to herself quietly as she saw the horse carriage stop at the assigned meeting point. A horse carriage? Those nobles do have weird taste when they could have cars. It seemed a little too old fashioned and made her slightly uneasy. She had felt the same thing when she met her employer, and for a moment every cell in her body was telling her to run. And her instincts were quite accurate, in fact, she could have sworn that he was not breathing… She shook her head slightly to ignore the feeling of impending doom that was creeping upon her. Nothing could go wrong. Ok, so maybe they had a few odd tastes and fetishes, but she wasn’t the one to judge.

She clambered into the carriage, pouting slightly at its height, as she studied the other occupants in it. There was a girl with short, brown hair and a man with black, and she gave them one of her fleeting rare smiles. They were in the same situation, and she hoped that they could be friends that hopefully will last longer this time round. She settled next to the girl, playing with her hair out of habit as the whole carriage filled with silence. Brilliant, the first day of her job and things were already going smoothly. Her mouth twisted into a small scowl as she stared out of the window, the carriage bouncing on the cobblestones. There was a storm boiling outside, and she hoped they got there soon. She didn’t particulary love the wet weather, it brought back unpleasant memories of trying to find shelter as the icy droup kept falling on her skin, soaking her clothes, and the hopelessness she felt. Was anyone going to say something? She fidgeted slightly, uncomfortable in the silence.

She opened her mouth, about to speak when the man beat her to it."My name is Jason... What do you two go by?" The girl sitting next to her, with short, brown hair, slightly darker than her, spoke first, saying that her name was Jane. She simply listened quietly as they spoke, and she was almost a little startled when he addressed her. Knowing that he was probably expecting a reply, she said the first thing that came to her mind. “I’m Camie, just Camie.” She said, picking up a strand of her light, hazel hair and toying with it again, feeling the softness and silkiness of it, before shaking the hand that was offered to her, feeling slightly embarrassed as she did so. It was all very new to her, like she was seeing and hearing for the first time. As the carriage was submerged into silence again, she regarded the two people before her, wondering what their personalities were and toying with their nicknames. In fact, she was debating on a few tempting ones when the carriage screeched to a stop, stopping before a huge mansion that almost took her breath away. The ‘big wigs’ or so the children had called them, sure were rich. Which comes to the question why they didn’t buy a car in the first place…

Hesitantly taking the hand of Jason, who clambered out first, she hopped off the carriage and landed on both feet, doing a playful pose before she looked up at the iron gates, both awed and intimidated at the same time. At Jane’s suggestion to go in, she instinctively reached for the hairclips she hid in her hair, planning to pick the lock if it was locked. She didn’t want to get stuck out in the storm, but before she could do something drastic, Jason was a step before her for the second time in the day and pushed against the iron-wrought gates and they swung apart, allowing the three of them to get in. Now, when they stood outside of yet another set of doors, she felt the sense of impatience eating away at her, as she pulled out one of her hairclips out when Jason finished knocking.“I can pick it open if they don’t answer it?” she offered, taking a closer look at the designs on the lock. “I could make short work on this one.”

Demetri woke by falling out of bed. His dreams tormented him each night. Angelo's corpse, the wolves.. He couldn't sleep through any of it. He sat up, rubbing his head and letting out a few choice curse words all the while. His emerald eyes shifted to the curtains, which reminded him. Today the new help arrives.. He stood, going over to his closet and tossing off his night clothes. He grabbed the first suit he could find. He first put on his pants first, and gladly so. Just as he finished, his sister entered the room.the outfit He quickly buttoned his shirt, frowning a bit.

”Deme! You meanie! You make new dresses for the girls, for our guests, and I don’t get one?"

"Belle, doors exist for a reason. We're not children anymore.." His cheeks were slightly flushed, a mixture of moderate irritation and embarrassment adorning his cheeks. He ran a hand through his wavy locks before placing his hand on her shoulder, a serious look on the man's face, "Those outfits are definitely not appropriate for my sister. I apologize." He smiled a bit at her laughter before ruffling Mirabelle's hair, mostly to annoy her back. He quickly moved outside of her arm's reach, grabbing his jacket and sliding it on. He really didn't have motivation that led him to get up every day, but he had to move forward whether he liked it or not. If he let time truly stand still, if he succumbed to his depression, he'd surely go insane. Putting his thoughts to the back of his mind, Demetri buttoned his jacket, continuing his life as if nothing was wrong. That's what he did every day since he slaughtered the nearby village. He never even spoke of what he'd done. He woke the next day pretending that it hadn't even happened. He tilted his head at his sister, wondering what else was on her mind as she gave him a hug. She typically sought extra attention when she was troubled or had something on her mind.

"Are you ready to meet our guests?" He probed, attempting to dig out the source of his sister's visit. The emerald eyed man doubted it was only to toy with him. That could be done at any time of day, especially when he was dressed more...presentably. He slipped from her arms and grabbed his tie, beginning to work his magic with it. He could remember his step-mother constantly reprimanding him for being unable to tie a tie. Ever since he set out to learn, and now he always wore one. He hoped she could see him from wherever she was, and he hoped she shoved her cruel words down her throat and choked on them.

Then he heard the knock downstairs, smirking to his sister, "Looks like we've got something to do~ Castiel and Reiji seem to have our current maids a tad bit..busy.." So he knew about Anise's suffering in the hall? It wasn't like Demetri to allow his brothers to extend unnecessary cruelty to the young women..

He took little time in reaching the door, mostly because he skipped the stairs entirely. He was to the ground and at the door in less than ten seconds, hoping Mirabelle was shortly behind him. The red haired man opened the door, smiling down at the two females as he leaned against the doorway. He caught the youngest right in the middle of her first sentence and he chuckled to himself. She reminds me of.. His mind shifted to his previous maid, to Alice..

“I can pick it open if they don’t answer it? I could make short work on this one.”

"That won't be necessary.. Though I'd love to hear how one such as yourself acquired such a skill.." His voice was smooth, like silk, but had a subtle masculine quality to it as well as he spoke, "I will show each of you to your rooms. You should get dressed after making yourselves comfortable, because we will be having dinner shortly.. Anise and Tanzy have prepared an excellent meal and we'd appreciate it if each of you join us. I have supplied your work attire as well. You can find the box on each of your beds." He informed them, ushering for them to follow him inside of Castillo de la Muerte. The inside was quite glorious. Chandeliers and Victorian furniture.. They were quite rich indeed. The Santiago family refused to conform to modern technology. He also didn't want to linger with the door open, enough terror came from inviting strangers into their home. "I made each outfit myself, based off Reiji's judgement of course.." He decided not to inform them that as vampires, they each had a keen eye for mathematics... the clothes were likely to be scarily precise, down to the slightest centimeter.

He wanted to leave it up to each of their employers to inform them, he wasn't going to ruin anyone's fun. He then smiled, leading them up the stairway, "Camilla, your room is across from Anise. She's rather nice and she will definitely help you with anything you need. Don't hesitate to utilize your placement." he informed the small girl, pointing to her room. He noted her small stature, wondering just how old the girl actually was. She appeared to be even younger than Anise when she began working for the Santiago family.. He gave her a warm smile before his eyes shifted to Jane, "You're across the hall from Tanzy, she's also a quite useful and sweet dove. Albeit Tanzy can prove to be a little more blunt than Anise." He chuckled, pointing to her room as well, remembering Tanzy's arguments with Mirabelle as her name crossed his lips. The two were like fire and ice when they were brought together.. A mischievous smile crossed his lips before returning to the task at hand.

Then his attention finally turned to Jason, "Your room is at the end of the hall for decency... I hope you find the room suitable, and during suitable hours you may visit Anise and Tanzy for guidance. Though I advise you to keep your visits to decent times, for my twin can be quite...possessive of Anise and Reiji is quite... temperamental and also territorial of Tanzy." He approached, a smile on his face as his cold hand patted Jason's shoulder. Demetri wasn't threatening him, more of giving the poor boy a proper warning. He wasn't sure what type of man Jason was, but he didn't want anything unfortunate to happen because he failed to supply proper information to the new help, "I assume we won't have to worry about that though.. Also, a warning to everyone, Reiji does not tolerate rude behavior.. his punishments are quite unorthodox so I advise you all to be courteous." He chuckled.

He moved to depart, but turned on his heel sharply, "Camilla, you're going to be my personal maid once your duties begin. I have very few rules.. but I do intend for you to learn how to properly pour wine and to wash laundry. Most other things I prefer to do myself... Jane, you're my sister Mirabelle's maid.." He looked to his sister, checking for her reaction. She assumed that she wanted the butler, but Reiji, being an older brother was very protective. Then he adjusted his tie and continued, clearing his throat, feeling a little uncomfortable. He hoped that Reiji informed their sister of this, otherwise Demetri was going to be the one to receive the blunt end of her disappointment, "Finally, Jason, you're my brother Bishop's replacement, Anise has been transferred as our eldest brother, Castiel's personal caretaker."

Anise let out a loud gasp, wincing as Reiji slammed her against the wall. The force was incredibly painful and she could feel the pain throbbing in her shoulder. She didn't even want to imagine the bruising that would set in on her shoulder blades. She didn't cry from the pain, although it was rather tempting. She didn't want to give Reiji more satisfaction than she had to. She couldn't contain her fear, but that was to be expected. Instinctively she went for the slap, considering Bishop ordered her to never allow Reiji to feed from her, to avoid him at all costs.. Though her effort was in vain, he caught her wrist and painfully pinned both of her hands with his one. Her anxiety then increased exponentially. She couldn't move a single inch in any direction.

The terrifying vampire's hand forced her chin to turn, exposing her neck as he leaned down, taking a deep breath to bask in her fear. He inhaled her scent and was about to go in for the bite. She could feel her entire form trembling, and she was mentally pleading for anyone to save her at this point.

"N-no!" Anise shouted in defiance, though it was weak. She knew her situation, but she wasn't going to willingly submit to a disgusting man like Reiji. She couldn't stand this man, he sent chills down her spine on his good days.. She was growing nauseous right now, she desperately wanted far away from the sadistic man holding her captive. His very touch made her feel physically sick. She hated herself at the moment.. for being human, for being weak.. for getting in this situation period.. S-someone..P-please.. H-help..

Perhaps Alice was right.. Perhaps.. they're not the kind of people I thought they were.. I'm going to die here and nobody cares...

She closed her eyes, accepting her fate fearfully. She did her best to escape Reiji's iron grip, but her wrists ached and her back was oh so tender. She didn't want to be in further pain so she finally decided to give up. She couldn't fight Reiji, and she was growing too tired to do so.. besides he pretty much forced the fight out of her with all the unnecessary strength. The ebony haired girl was going to have multiple bruises on her wrists and back if she survived the encounter.

Then she heard a door open, just as Reiji's fangs dared touch her skin. She opened her eyes in shock as she fell to the ground, no longer in Reiji's clutches. The familiar blonde came to her aid, and she was surprised at how well he had recovered. Today was the first time she'd seen Castiel since she'd given him her blood. Her gemstone eyes stared in stupor, wondering how it was even possible that the burnt man Mirabelle was holding tearfully and the current handsome blonde protecting her from his younger brother were even the same person. Vampire healing abilities had her in a state of complete stupor. A human never would have came out of that experience, let alone return to such an aesthetically pleasing form. Castiel.. He's alright.. He's..ehem.. better than alright... A blush formed on her face as she thought about it, but she quickly shook her head, reminding herself that now wasn't exactly the time to gawk.

"Thank you... Lord Castiel.." She hesitated, making sure not to call him 'Master Santiago' in front or Reiji again. She didn't wish to further anger the already furious vampire. Though something was wrong. Something about the look in Castiel's eyes was far more alarming than Reiji's attack. He'd never looked to any of them that way.. Tanzy, Her, Alice, Olivia, Kat.. He never graced any of the help such a gentle expression. She'd never seen Castiel as a gentle person, and according to Tanzy he even threatened her life once during the time she'd served him. Is this the same person..? Castiel..?

“That’s enough. What is the meaning of this?”

She slowly stood, dusting off her dress and examining her wrists. They were already fairly bruised, and slightly tender to the touch, but she'd survive. She could still move them, that's all that truly mattered. She'd be able to continue her daily duties. She'd just have to find a way to hide them from Bishop.. He'd be furious with her, and with his elder brother. She didn't want to cause a fuss, she'd already accidentally caused the current one between Castiel and Reiji..

She instantly bowed, despite the pain surging down her spine. Reiji used a lot more force than was necessary and she imagined the bruises there were far more unsightly than those on her wrists. Most of his bottled up anger had been flushed out on Anise as he slung her, "I-It was my fault.. I-I accidentally called you Master Santiago and upset the new Master of the house... I'm still not entirely used to the switch of position.. I apologize.." Seeing the animosity between the two men, she began to feel a pang of guilt clawing at her chest. Anise's voice grew desperate as she spoke the next part, "Please.. Y-you're brothers.. I don't want to be the cause of trouble between you..." She remembered her fights with Alice previous to their arrival at Castillo. Sure, they were children when they last fought, but she regretted not savoring every moment she had with her elder sister. Now that she was gone, she regretted every small quarrel.. every moment she spent childishly hating her sister..

"M-master Castiel! You're awake sire, shall Anise or myself get you anything? Master Reiji, I...I am available if you truly need sustenance...."

Anise raised as she noticed Tanzy, putting her wrist cuffs in proper position to hide the darkening bruises on her wrists from her fellow maid. She didn't wish to worry the other girl more than she already was. She nodded her head in agreement with Tanzy, glad to have a change of topic brought to the situation. Left unchecked, the situation could have gone quite sour.. but then Tanzy, being Tanzy said too much. Trying to help her, put more anxiety on Anise's plate. Her friend was practically offering herself to the devil, on a silver platter!

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“I can pick it open if they don’t answer it? I could make short work on this one,” Camilla spoke up. Jason looked at her, surprised and curious about the ability and where she might have come about it. He, for instance, had no clue how one could possibly pick a lock with nothing more than what they had on him. He would need dynamite as a minimum what with his skill at it. He was about to say something when he noticed the door open and saw a figure with red hair standing in the doorway. He heard someone welcome him and wondered who it might be until he thought he saw someone else.

"That won't be necessary.. Though I'd love to hear how one such as yourself acquired such a skill... I will show each of you to your rooms. You should get dressed after making yourselves comfortable, because we will be having dinner shortly... Anise and Tanzy have prepared an excellent meal and we'd appreciate it if each of you join us. I have supplied your work attire as well. You can find the box on each of your beds. I made each outfit myself, based off Reiji's judgement of course..."The red haired man said as he ushered the three in. Jason noticed a slightly shorter blonde girl beside him, the one who must have spoken, though his real attention was on the entrance.

The chandeliers and finery of the wealthy family was amazing and rather expensive looking. He had known the family was wealthy considering they were hiring two new maids and a butler, but he had expected less than, well... this. His ideas of a wealthy person were quite different though he didn't vocalize it. He was still in awe that someone could own so much in the palace their home was.

Only then did his newest employer's words register. He had made all of their uniforms. How interesting that was in itself. Jason looked after his new boss as he began climbing the stairs, following as he figured they were supposed to. He let his hand drape over the rail. "Camilla, your room is across from Anise. She's rather nice and she will definitely help you with anything you need. Don't hesitate to utilize your placement. You're across the hall from Tanzy, she's also a quite useful and sweet dove. Albeit Tanzy can prove to be a little more blunt than Anise." The man continued. He pointed out the girls' room and explained. That left Jason wondering just how many people lived in this house. How many other servants did they have?

"Your room is at the end of the hall for decency... I hope you find the room suitable, and during suitable hours you may visit Anise and Tanzy for guidance. Though I advise you to keep your visits to decent times, for my twin can be quite...possessive of Anise and Reiji is quite... temperamental and also territorial of Tanzy." Jason was still looking at the large place while he listened to the explanations. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to find the red haired man giving him a smile that seemed to be friendly enough. Jason thought over the man's words. With what he had already seen, his room was certain to be more than suitable. He had his own room. He would definitely go to the girls mentioned to know what he would need to do and know how to do it, though he was certain he would make sure it was at decent hours. He didn't want to anger any of the household and he certainly didn't want to come across as bad in any way.

"I assume we won't have to worry about that though.. Also, a warning to everyone, Reiji does not tolerate rude behavior.. his punishments are quite unorthodox so I advise you all to be courteous." Jason nods his head without hesitation, "Yes sir, of course. No worries." Jason was earnest in his promise and didn't want to come across as bad on his first day. And what did the punishments entail? It couldn't be much more than a cut in salary or no dinner. What else could be done with an unruly servant?

He seemed about ready to leave, then seemed to remember something and came back around. "Camilla, you're going to be my personal maid once your duties begin. I have very few rules.. but I do intend for you to learn how to properly pour wine and to wash laundry. Most other things I prefer to do myself... Jane, you're my sister Mirabelle's maid... Finally, Jason, you're my brother Bishop's replacement, Anise has been transferred as our eldest brother, Castiel's personal caretaker." This made sense of some of the oddities that was around him, but certainly not all of them. The girl, Mirabelle, was a house member. There was at least four brothers, and a set of twins in that. Jason hoped they weren't extremely identical for that would leave problems for him.

His own boss had lost his servant to Castiel, who Jason didn't know. As he was left to go about his own business, Jason moved to go to his room. He nodded at Mirabelle and Demetri, giving a slight bow and saying, "Excuse me please," Before going down the hall towards his room. As he arrived, he set his case on the floor by the door, looking around curiously. He noticed a box on his bed which was by far the best he had, or will, sleep in. He walked to it, opening it to find a note on top.
From Demetri:
Welcome to Castillo, I'm sure you will have many hardships along the way, but finding something to wear will never be one of them. I'd like to know how it fits.
Hardships? Possibly. Jason smiled at Demetri's note. That was the man's name. He was liking the man more and more. Setting the note aside, he tried on what was a suit. It was not like most with it's informal collar, but Jason liked it. He was going to look in a full length mirror the room held when he realized that it didn't just fit, it fit perfectly, as if it was custom made to suit him. He froze. How did his new employers know his measurements? Even his sleeve was at the proper length. He sighed slightly in disbelief, it was probably just that he was of the same stature and near height of one of the brothers. That must be it.

Jason just looked in the mirror once more, then moved to put his suitcase on the table. He wondered where he should go. He didn't think exploring would be a good thing, and he didn't want to try to seek out one of the experienced maids, but he certainly didn't want to stay in his room. He emerged, walking down the hallway while looking around. He traversed the stairs, standing in the entrance way yet again. The only other place he knew in the mansion besides his room. Instead of traveling any further, he looked at the ornate furniture, the chandelier, and at the various ways he could potentially go, but wasn't too keen on trying. He certainly wanted to meet the one he was going to serve most, but he wasn't sure how to go about with that. Dinner was probably best for that.

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“I can pick it open if they don’t answer it? I could make short work on this one,” Camilla spoke up. Jane smiled at her in appreciation. Skills such as that, the ones nobody ever expects, those are the more interesting and fun ones to possess. "That won't be necessary.. Though I'd love to hear how one such as yourself acquired such a skill... I will show each of you to your rooms. You should get dressed after making yourselves comfortable, because we will be having dinner shortly... Anise and Tanzy have prepared an excellent meal and we'd appreciate it if each of you join us. I have supplied your work attire as well. You can find the box on each of your beds. I made each outfit myself, based off Reiji's judgement of course..." Jane sees a man who she believed most be one of the family members spoke. "Welcome, welcome," Jane saw a young blonde girl say. Jane smiled at her as well. She seemed friendly enough ,things here couldn't possibly be too bad if everyone was so friendly.

The obvious wealth of the family was incredible. The finery and beauty that was throughout the entire mansion was spectacular as far as she could see. She moved forward, walking in to stand next to Camilla, looking at the man with red hair since he seemed to be the one in charge between him and the girl. Maybe they were related, or possibly just friends.

"Camilla, your room is across from Anise. She's rather nice and she will definitely help you with anything you need. Don't hesitate to utilize your placement. You're across the hall from Tanzy, she's also a quite useful and sweet dove. Albeit Tanzy can prove to be a little more blunt than Anise." The red haired fellow started off talking to Camilla, but when she noticed his pause, she looked back at him to find his gaze on her. She smiled softly at the name. She hoped the two would get along, otherwise working here wouldn't be entertaining whatsoever. This man did say that she would be useful though she may not be gentle with her approach. Jane would be okay with that so long as she wasn't rude or mean in which case she would probably ask Anise who sounded friendly enough as well. Names, however, could be deceptive. Why was the man causing her sweet dove? She was curious about it, but didn't think she should tell him to stop. What message would that send. It wasn't like he was bad looking however. Maybe, just may-. No. She was here to get money that she needed, not have feelings for anyone that employed her.

Jane didn't really pay attention to the words of the red haired man as he spoke to Jason, but instead, looked between the two. "I assume we won't have to worry about that though.. Also, a warning to everyone, Reiji does not tolerate rude behavior.. his punishments are quite unorthodox so I advise you all to be courteous." Jane was about to ask what could possibly be a punishment that sounded as this man made it sound. She frowned and shook her head, dismissing the notion that it could be anything bad.

"Camilla, you're going to be my personal maid once your duties begin. I have very few rules.. but I do intend for you to learn how to properly pour wine and to wash laundry. Most other things I prefer to do myself... Jane, you're my sister Mirabelle's maid... Finally, Jason, you're my brother Bishop's replacement, Anise has been transferred as our eldest brother, Castiel's personal caretaker." This certainly surprised Jane in a way. She hadn't been expecting the blonde girl beside her. She could tell the blonde was whom the red haired man was referring to when he looked at her, somewhat nervously in a way. She spoke up then, clearing away any possible hesitation on the thought.

”Reiji already informed me... Gave me a whole speech of complete nonsense. I will convince him eventually though. But don’t get me wrong.. It’ll be a pleasure to have you. Yes… A pleasure indeed.” The girl by the name of Mirabelle said as she came in for a hug. Jane was surprised and accepted it, confused as she did so and giving the red haired man a questioning look before her attention turned back to the girl. She certainly was friendly enough. There was nothing wrong with it however and Jane didn't care too much.

"Well, thank you. I'm sure it'll be a pleasure," Jane says softly as she steps back. Jason left after politely dismissing himself. "I suppose I should get ready then. It's been a pleasure meeting you all. I guess I'll see you all at dinner then," Jane says as she steps into her room. She closes the door rather quickly, her heart sinking. She was so scared. She was in a place with people she didn't know, in a place she didn't know, working for people she didn't know. They were kind and friendly enough so far, but what if she messed up? She couldn't possibly serve anyone a drink without it falling and she had no skills other than sewing though why would they need that in such a place as this where they could toss anything they didn't want anymore.

She sighed, standing and placing her bag on a small table by her bed. She sat on her bed, staring at the box that the red haired man had mentioned. She wondered of his name. She wanted to think of him in a different way, as a boss, as an employer, not as how she thought she might be. He probably was engaged or something along those lines and she should just leave it at that. Jane looked at the box yet again and lifted the lid, not wanting to keep anyone waiting.
This dress is compliments of Demetri, I hope you like it. I hope you have a wonderful time here at Castillo. If you ever find yourself needing anything, feel free to stop by my door. Anything I can do, I will. Get dressed, little dove.
Again with the little dove nickname. Jane smiled slightly at it. It was cute and she rather liked it though she wouldn't tell him. If she did, well, she wouldn't in any case. She set the note aside. She might just have to take him up on his offer should she not know what to do or how to do something for Mirabelle that Tanzy couldn't help with. She didn't know what that could possibly be. She was a teenage girl after all. How hard could she be to assist in her daily life?

Jane took out the maids outfit and nearly choked. It appeared rather small and didn't seem as if it would cover much. She reread the note and looked back at the dress. This was it then. She quickly got into the dress, leaving the cuffs off for now. She looked at herself in the mirror. It wasn't as bad as she thought though her shoulders were bare. She smiled slightly, it fit perfectly done to the last seem. Demetri was gifted with dress making if he really had created it. She would have to commend him and see if he would allow her to know how he did it.

Jane looked down at the cuffs and slipped them on, unsure what else she could do with them. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair just barely reached the bottom of the cuff on her neck. The headpiece sat on the crown of her head, not doing anything except being decorative really. Jane smiled at her mirror image, then moved to her bag. She opened it and slipped out an old, cheap necklace her brother had made her and slipped it on. In her time of nerves, it would serve as a boost to her confidence hopefully. The neck collar covered it up for the most part though it didn't if it moved too much in which case she just needed to cover it up once again. It wasn't difficult at all. She walked to the door, opening and glancing out before leaving it open and going back to her room to put away the now empty box, but leaving the note on the bed to put in her bag. She thought the note cute and a small reassurance that she was to work here and that she needn't be so worried.

Camilla’s eyes widened slightly as she was interupted half-way through her suggestion my a man with flaming red hair. “Bloody-“ she almost swore in her shock, before she clasped her hands over her mouth as she gave the man a glare in response to his chuckle. "I will show each of you to your rooms. You should get dressed after making yourselves comfortable, because we will be having dinner shortly.. Anise and Tanzy have prepared an excellent meal and we'd appreciate it if each of you join us. I have supplied your work attire as well. You can find the box on each of your beds." Anise and Tanzy? Oh, well she should have expected other maids in there, it was a mansion after all, they’ll need all the help they could get in maintaining it. Another, smaller girl emerged from behind him, giving them a playful bow, cheerfully welcoming them to the mansion.“T-thanks?” she replied hesitantly. Are those two related? They sure had the same air of mystery exuding out of them. "I made each outfit myself, based off Reiji's judgement of course.." the man continued, and Camilla looked at him, shocked and quizzical, cocking her head slightly. He made them? A man? She wasn’t sure whether to admire him or think that is an odd habit for a man to be having. At least she learned something new…

"Camilla, your room is across from Anise. She's rather nice and she will definitely help you with anything you need. Don't hesitate to utilize your placement." Anise? She made sure to keep that name in her mind, she’ll need help in learning how to even clean and cook, having absolutely no idea how to do those things. He then continued to tell the other two where their rooms will be, warning them again that Reiji, their employer, does not tolerate any behavior that is out of line, and that his punishments were rather ‘unorthodox’ whatever that word meant.“That sadistic bastard…” she muttered under her breath, toying with her hair once again.

It’s over? She thought a little wearily as the red haired man finally turned to leave after his long speech, but he turned back. Apparently that wasn’t all to it. She braced herself for another long talk, but he just said"Camilla, you're going to be my personal maid once your duties begin. I have very few rules.. but I do intend for you to learn how to properly pour wine and to wash laundry. Most other things I prefer to do myself... Jane, you're my sister Mirabelle's maid... Finally, Jason, you're my brother Bishop's replacement, Anise has been transferred as our eldest brother, Castiel's personal caretaker." “Mmm… Ok, I’ll be going then, see you guys.”

She headed down the halls to find her room, stifling a yawn. Listening to long talks without getting bored was apparently not one of her strengths, and she was almost glad that the talk was over. Striding down the halls to find her room, she stopped in front of the one opposite hers. “Anise, wasn’t it.” She lifted her hand to knock on it, waiting for a reply. There was none. Hmm? Maybe she was still busy… Camilla had been looking forward to seeing what her senior looked like, and she stepped back, slightly disappointed, going into her room. When she saw the bed, she immediately flopped down into it and buried her face into the pillows. It had been a tiring day for her, there was too many things to see and hear, and many that she couldn’t wrap her mind around. “Ow!” she let out an involuntary yelp as her foot hit something, and she turned around, irked, to see the parcel on the bed. Was that the uniform he had told them about? She opened it to see a maid’s outfit with a small piece of paper resting on top of it.

As my personal maid, know you can come to me with anything. I hope you have a comfortable stay. I will do everything in my power to protect you from any dangers you may face, I hope you find the outfit fits properly. I understand you're quite young, but as long as your work is sufficient I will treat you the age you act, rather than the age you are. See you soon, tiny dove. Tiny? She couldn’t help but smile at that. Oh we’ll see, we’ll see. She set the note aside before pulling out the outfit, nearly throwing it on the bed. What was with that…that… It felt that she would die a horrible death in that mountain of frilly material. That must be the most erotic thing… She turned her back on it and calmly counted to ten, before turning back to it. Ok, ok she will not rip it to shreds. Deep breaths, Camilla, deep breaths. She slipped on the dress, leaving the cuffs aside as she checked her reflection in the mirror. It was too girlish for her liking, but she kept it on for the sake of not offending her employers. Especially the mysterious sadistic bastard.

Finally, she put on the collar on her neck, wondering why it was buttoned. Was that needed? It was not like they were going to detach it or anything. She placed the head ornamont on top of her flowing hazel hair, pinning it in place before heading out, unsure of what to do next. Was she supposed to find her ‘master’ or something?

Despite being up for more than twenty minutes, Bishop remained in his room, staring at the curtains shielding him from the sinking sun and the view outside his large window, a crack in the fabric allowing a thin sliver of light onto the window bench and the floor below. He could still remember the smell of wolf, the blood spilling in the halls, his brother's lifeless form. He remembered Anise's loss, and her impressive display of resilience and ability to strike down her foes should the time come. With a little help, she had avenged her sister's death, but he still noticed a slight change in his maid. She retained a gentle and innocent soul, but the outside had some callouses, some backbone.

Demetri appeared to be his usual creative, outgoing, energetic self. Bishop wasn't fooled, noticing slight changes in his twin's demeanor. He caught Demetri when he suffered from nightmares, saw him gaze out with bitterness and sorrow. He noticed how his fellow redhead took the attack, his spiraled control and his heart closing another part of itself. It was painful, maddenning to see Demetri sink into a depression, to become more bitter.

More like his siblings.

Bishop did not comment on it, knowing it would help no one. Demetri wasn't an empty shell, he was not lost to them, and that was enough. Demetri was still Demetri, albeit some of the warmth had been diminished, some of his fire smothered. It was unforgivable.

Then there was Castiel, the eldest brother, and a man Bishop could respect. Seeing his elder sibling lying in his room and plagued by restless nights, Bishop wondered what had happened during the night. What had happened to change his brother. IT was unnerving to see the proud, collected head of the house fall so far as to lose his very memories. Castiel had always been a strong and able leader, overseeing the manor with a skill and grace rarely seen now days. But now the blonde was but a shadow of the feared and respected vampire lord. He had reverted back into a time of purity, a time when he still had joy and humanity in his heart and mind, shown to the world. Bishop never wanted to deny his sibling any peace and content, but even so...it was disturbing, offsetting to see Castiel in such states, healing in body but still lost in a cloud of muddled and forgotten memories.

Bishop frowned then, sensing Reiji nearby. The prick. Reiji had appointed himself the next head of house, and it was all he could do to not attempt to rip out his sibling's throat. Castiel was tough, but he made sense. Reiji was an arrogant prick as far as Bishop was concerned, and it was with reluctance and annoyance that he tolerated Reiji being in charge. Not, that he didn't argue with the man about his changes, the redhead wondering if Reiji was just trying to piss him off. IT wouldn't surprise him in the least.

Bishop's musings were interrupted as he sensed Reiji moving about the halls, only to find another scent command his attention. Anise.

His maid was up early, and while being up was not frowned upon, he could tell she was taking care not to arouse any attention. Frowning, the vampire wondered what his maid was up to, her heartbeat thudding in her chest as she passed before his door.

He had enough, and deciding to see what his human was doing, Bishop no sooner donned his clothes when Anise's pleading cry met his sensitive ears. She was protestig something, fighting. Growing suspicion in his gut, Bishop snarled as he left, swiftly making his way into the hall as none other than the bastard himself was being separated from his maid by Castiel's body. His brother saved the maid? Certainly not like the intimidating Castiel he was used to.

His expression darkened upon seeing Reiji smirking, his brother clearly having tried to steal a taste of his human! Bastard.

"And what the hell do you think you're doing, trying to drink from my human? I have made it clear that no one touches what is mine!" Bishop snarled, taking Anise by her wrist and holding her behind him. He nodded to Castiel, giving his brother the respect he earned.

“That’s enough,”

Reiji practically growled when his brother removed him from Anise, allowing the lamb to escape the lion. All of their other siblings overlooked his behavior, but even with amnesia Castiel was still thwarting his every move. Crimson orbs narrowed at the blue ones before him, and he snarled. He honestly felt the urge to lunge at his brother then and there, but he supposed it would cause an unnecessary uproar. The new help had just arrived and he waited for each of them to pass out of earshot before continuing their... conversation. His eyes could not see Anise, but he had a good idea of her position behind Castiel so his eyes glared knives through that spot. He was going to have her, and he was fine with using whatever means necessary. Being the stubborn brat their mother raised him to be, Reiji felt enormous entitlement towards anything he deemed worth his attention. He wasn't about to let Castiel stand in the way, to obstruct him from seizing what was, as he deemed, rightfully his.

"Thank you... Lord Castiel.."

Her tone of voice disgusted him and Reiji let out a disgusted huff, making his displeasure known. The way Castiel spoke to him, looked to him. He couldn't remember anything but that voice. That horrible, condescending voice. Reiji hated it. Every time Castiel used it Reiji got an overwhelming urge to rip his brother's voice box clean from his throat, with his bare teeth if he must. The fact that Castiel was playing white knight at all proved that his brother was unwell. It wasn't that Reiji thought Castiel wouldn't protect the maid either way, it was just his methods that proved his brother's plague still haunted his mind. By now, if Castiel was truly the Castiel that he grew up despising, Reiji figured a lecture about not taking Bishop's prey would come spewing out of those obnoxious pale lips of his. Some rambling about punishment and a threat of banishment.. old Castiel was so predictable in that sense... Or perhaps it's simply that there are only so many threats you can give someone before it becomes redundant..

“What is the meaning of this?”

"She was being quite.. disrespectful and I was parched.. What other reasoning does a vampire need to feed from a human? She needs to be taught to hold her tongue." He retorted, unsure of why he was still putting up with this insolence from Castiel. Castiel was older no doubt, but with his illness taken into account, Reiji was the head of Castillo estate. The castle was his to command. Though as Tanzy approached the group, his irritating question was answered. For some reason people liked his pompous elder brother. His siblings would revolt against him if he laid a single finger on Castiel, especially after they'd nearly lost him once.

"M-master Castiel! You're awake sire, shall Anise or myself get you anything?"

"I-It was my fault.. I-I accidentally called you Master Santiago and upset the new Master of the house... I'm still not entirely used to the switch of position.. I apologize.."

It never truly was a 'switch of position, love. I was born for this job.. Castiel was simply a usurper. He never truly deserved to run this home.. Edward just wanted power, for his blood to continue to wreak fear in the hearts of others... Yet here I am sitting in the throne... Here I am.. on top. I wonder if he's writhing in hell. I hope he is trying to claw his way back to this world. I hope it is tormenting him in ways one could never even dream.

"Please.. Y-you're brothers.. I don't want to be the cause of trouble between you..."

Reiji smirked at this. Trouble wasn't caused by some mortal wench. There was bad blood between the two of them over a hundred years before this girl was thought of. Possibly longer. Reiji never was good at keeping track of time. His hatred, his goal, it was far older than this ebony haired servant. The fact she assumed she was the cause was arrogant and absurd. The more she spoke, the more he wanted to sink his fangs into her neck. He wanted her to fear him, to never part her lips in his presence again. For such an innocent girl... she had far too many assumptions. Reiji was growing to despise her as well.

"Master Reiji, I...I am available if you truly need sustenance...."

"Now that you mention it.." Reiji began, but then another idea popped into his head, an excellent idea. A idea so brilliant he wanted to kick himself for not thinking of it sooner. He wasn't sure why the thought hadn't crossed his mind before, but he was glad it did. Late is better than never I suppose.. Though before he was allowed to bring his plan to life, before a single word left his lips, they were joined by his hotheaded brother, Bishop.

"And what the hell do you think you're doing, trying to drink from my human? I have made it clear that no one touches what is mine!"

Bishop from what Reiji could tell, seemed to be just as furious as Reiji had been with Castiel prior to the redheaded man's arrival. The younger brother proceeded in snatching Anise from behind Castiel, and tugging her behind himself instead. Possessive dear brother..? Stinginess is an unbecoming trait for a young lord as yourself.. Allow me to remedy you of that unsightly trait.. He thought tauntingly, a mischievous grin forming on his features. Bishop seemed fairly angry about his rendezvous with Anise, which only caused Reiji to chuckle. His plan was going to be delicious.

"I've decided. As head of Castillo castle, I now place Anise in charge of Castiel's care. She was sneaking out to his bedroom anyhow when I seized her. She then proceeded to show quite a harsh level of disrespect. Obviously you've grown too attached and haven't disciplined her properly, little brother. Perhaps Castiel can teach her manners." He smiled to Bishop, making sure to keep a close eye on his response. Their home was growing rather boring.. This switch of maids would cause the uproar Reiji craved. He wanted his siblings and the help to entertain him, but apparently they needed a little push.. His eyes lingered on Bishop before finally turning to stare down at Tanzy, "You on the other hand, since you're so eager to serve me, are my personal maid from hence forth." He placed a hand on the pink haired woman's shoulder. It wasn't rough or taunting, just an acknowledging touch.

"Your new servant is Jason Olivander. I pray you handle him better than you have your insolent maid, Bishop.." He teased as he walked to his office, leaving the group where they stood. Then he turned as he reach the door, "Come, Tanzy. You can clean the office as we discuss the terms of this new arrangement." He opened the door, about to go inside, but looked out one final time to Castiel, Anise, and Bishop.

"Oh and Bishop.. if you defy me, I will not hesitate to kill her myself."

With that, Reiji entered his office. The dark haired man took a seat casually and closed his eyes, removing his glasses and placing them on the desk in front of him. It was great to be in charge.. He awaited for the maid to follow, knowing she would. He liked that about her. Dependability. It was a fine quality in his mind. She'd be a useful toy. He'd utilize that in the upcoming months.

Tanzy had been feeling hopeful, glad that two of the vampire brothers liked Anise or at the very least found her worth enough to protect. Perhaps Reiji could be placated and satisfied with a drink, and then Tanzy and her friend could be dismissed without much more hassle. Such hopes of a peaceful resolution were snatched away the more she listened to Reiji, the head of the house clearly upset and determined to make an example. The look in his eyes made her gut knot up in worry. What if she couldn't protect her friend, worse, what if he somehow overpowered Bishop and Castiel? Trying to squeeze herself more in between to add extra protection for Anise, Tanzy froze as Reiji declared a new arrangement.

Anise would serve Castiel? Tanzy wondered how the chores would be split up between them if Anise joined her in caring for Castiel. She doubted Bishop would accept the transfer so easily. The maid's concerns over the work were squashed instantly by Reiji's next change, the blood draining from her face almost instantaneously. She was being removed from Castiel's service? Why? Had she done something wrong? Had she not gone in to feed him and help him recover every day?

Reiji's smile did nothing to reassure the young woman, his hand on her shoulder earning a flinch. She almost felt like crying. Why was he doing this to her? She had done everything perfectly as she could, and now he thought she wanted to serve him! How had she made him think such things? And now she would no longer serve Castiel. If anyone was to serve him aside from her, she was glad it was Anise, but even so, Tanzy was crushed. She bit her lip, harder and harder, hearing the head of house continue, only to earn a gasp of horror as he threatened Anise should Bishop disobey him. She looked worriedly at the other vampires, silently pleading with them to not let Reiji follow through on the threat.

Seeing her new master dismiss himself for his study, she tried to give a weak smile to Anise, showing she'd be ok, though she knew her friend was probably just as worried. With a heavy heart and a growing sensation of dread, she followed Reiji into the room, eyes downcast.

Anise's eyes widened as Bishop arrived and she opened her mouth to explain that she was at fault, not Reiji but Bishop's sudden grasp on her wrist caused the girl to wince. She flinched and let out a pained gasp, her wrist attempting to free itself out of pure instinct. The purple bruises tender against his reckless and possessive grasp. Though it was Reiji's fault that Bishop's hold hurt in the first place.. Anise didn't want the brothers arguing..

"I-It was my fault... I accidentally addressed Lord Castiel as the head of Castillo..."

Bishop's eyes immediately went from the object of his disgust to Anise, suspicion on his eyes as she gasped in pain. He loosened his hold slightly as she tried to pull away, a mixture of annoyance and surprise in his features, and perhaps concern if someone like Demetri tried to look. IT was miniscule, however. Lifting her wrist to inspect it, he growled. Reiji left a bruise on his property! Outrage danced behind his eyes. "He put these bruises on you, didn't he?" Bishop demanded to know, though it was more a statement than a question. He didn't need confirmation, he already knew, already smelled his brother.

His attention once more riveted to Reiji, a feral look in his eyes. Forget tolerating the arrogant asshole as head of the house, Bishop wanted to see his blood paint the walls. "You marked what is mine? Surely you know that I kill for less...." his voice hissed out through clenched teeth, hands itching to grab and tear the man before him limb from limb. Not surprisingly, Reiji continued, all but ignoring his warnings only to completely screw with the arrangement Castiel himself had set up.

Bishop grit his teeth, glaring daggers at his elder sibling as the prick dared to assume he was not fit to be Anise's master. Fully convinced Reiji was doing it solely to piss him off, Bishop snarled back, emerald eyes practically glowing with rage.
"Until now, she has never needed discipline. I am more than capable of such things you miserable son of a bitch." Bishop retorted, taking a step forward to try and accost his brother, self proclaimed head of the house.

His fury grew, hearing Reiji dismiss him and declare a new servant for him out of nowhere. It was enough to make his blood boil. "Like hell I am going to have another servant. Castiel himself gave me that maid. You are foolish to try and take meat from a lion. I drink from Anise, and no one else will stop that. I don't give a damn if God himself declares otherwise. So you listen to me you piece of shit. Anise can clean and serve my brother, I am tidy enough myself. But I'll be damned if I let a creep like you think you can drink from her. I don't even share my meals with Demetri."

Bishop was hissing by now, livid and looking at Reiji with a burning hatred. The bastard. He was at his limit, when Reiji found a way to prove him wrong and enrage the older twin even further. Kill Anise? Bishop began to growl low in his throat, taking a step towards his brother as he released Anise's wrist. He'd kill the man if it was the last thing he did!

"Mark my words Reiji, I WILL kill you you worthless son of a bitch! An asshole like you will never survive being head of the house."

"She was being quite.. disrespectful and I was parched.. What other reasoning does a vampire need to feed from a human? She needs to be taught to hold her tongue."

Those words alone brought Anise's eyes wide. It was like a brick to the face. Reiji was right.. being fed on, she had no choice in it.. and there was nothing she could do to make it stop.. whether she was polite or rude.. The result would be the same, give or take. Alice understood that.. She pushed way too hard, to the point they'd rather dispose of her, but she understood good behavior meant little here... Why was she still behaving so courteously? Why was she still apologizing..? Why did she feel so damn guilty for causing this argument?

Anise's eyes widened as Bishop arrived and she opened her mouth to explain that she was at fault, not Reiji but Bishop's sudden grasp on her wrist caused the girl to wince. She flinched and let out a pained gasp, her wrist attempting to free itself out of pure instinct. The purple bruises tender against his reckless and possessive grasp. Though it was Reiji's fault that Bishop's hold hurt in the first place.. Anise didn't want the brothers arguing, "I-It was my fault... I accidentally addressed Lord Castiel as the head of Castillo..."

"He put these bruises on you, didn't he?"

Anise's mouth opened, but no words came out. She didn't like lying, but she didn't want this argument to escalate any further than it already had, "Well.. I-I.." She tried to come up with a plausible excuse, but her mind was shooting blanks. At least he didn't see all of the bruises, that much she was grateful. She merely lowered her gaze, tensing as she shouting continued. She really wouldn't have went if she knew something of this magnitude would result.

"You marked what is mine? Surely you know that I kill for less...."

Kill? Her thoughts returned to the night Alice died, and it could be seen in Anise's eyes that although she was standing there, she was not currently present. For a few moments she got flashbacks of the wolves, the death, the corpses.. She remembered burying the dead.. It was horrible..

"I've....Castillo.... now place Anise in charge of Castiel's care. She was sneaking...his bedroom...I seized her. She then proceeded to show quite a harsh level of disrespect. Obviously you've grown too attached and haven't disciplined her properly, little brother. Perhaps Castiel can teach her manners."

That was when Anise felt something in her subconscious crack. She returned to reality just in time to hear her new placement. She was being removed from Bishop because of this..? Castiel was less temperamental, but that was Tanzy's job.. She didn't want her friend's position. She opened her mouth to protest, but began chewing on her lip nervously. Her mouth is what got her in this situation, she decided not to make matters worse. Regardless of her intentions... Anise realized that she'd ruined everything.

"Until now, she has never needed discipline. I am more than capable of such things you miserable son of a bitch."

It felt like a compliment, though she wondered what Bishop would do if she was still his personal maid. He agreed that she was to be disciplined, so a tiny part of her was relieved to be in Castiel's service. Reiji terrified her, but Bishop could instill almost the same amount of fear in her when he tried. Her eyes shifted to Tanzy, apologetic for her mistake. She just wanted to know how Castiel was doing and now she got the two of them transferred from their year long positions...

"Your new servant is Jason Olivander. I pray you handle him better than you have your insolent maid, Bishop.. Come, Tanzy. You can clean the office as we discuss the terms of this new arrangement."

Air suddenly stopped reaching her lungs as she realized where Tanzy was placed as a result of the 'insulting behavior' Anise had displayed toward Reiji. It was all her fault.. Tanzy now had to serve that sadistic bastard. She felt frozen in place, her voice felt like it had been ripped from her throat. What have I done..? She thought in despair. She didn't want to fathom how Reiji would treat Tanzy for her mistake. Surely he'd punish her friend in order to get to her. Tanzy was one of the only living people that Anise felt close to.. of course Reiji would utilize that to it's full potential..

"Like hell I am going to have another servant. Castiel himself gave me that maid. You are foolish to try and take meat from a lion. I drink from Anise, and no one else will stop that. I don't give a damn if God himself declares otherwise. So you listen to me you piece of shit. Anise can clean and serve my brother, I am tidy enough myself. But I'll be damned if I let a creep like you think you can drink from her. I don't even share my meals with Demetri."

Anise smiled a bit, though it was faint. The fact Bishop didn't want to lose her, whether it was only for her blood or not, was a little reassuring. At least he didn't want her dead.. Though something about his tone shook her. He was refusing another servant.. and he was handling it far better than she'd expected. He wasn't even saying anything to Castiel or her about his possessiveness. Maybe he was changing more than she'd noticed? Though she wasn't sure what had changed in him since a year ago. He was always disappearing and keeping secrets.. but this Bishop was speaking everything on his mind.. He hadn't disappeared for days at a time in ages..

"Oh and Bishop.. if you defy me, I will not hesitate to kill her myself."

Anise's body nearly collapsed as the threat reach her ears. She saw Bishop taking a step towards Reiji, and she instantly reach forward, gently seizing the back of his shirt. She didn't want anyone fighting, she didn't want any more graves. The night of the attack was horrible and she remembered how glad she was to see Castiel return alive. She'd spent the entire day after crying of relief. She also mourned.. She mourned her sister, Katerina, Olivia.. and even Angelo. She didn't really know Olivia or Angelo as well as she did the others, but they were still good people. They didn't deserve to die.. She acted before she could think it through, mostly because she was afraid for Castiel and Bishop. Castiel was still recovering according to Tanzy and Bishop's emotions were...easily triggered. A calm collected man like Reiji could make quick work of Bishop in a one-on-one fight if he used Bishop's anger against him. The red haired man was already blinded by rage.. So she did the only thing she could in this situation. It worked on her mother at least, and it was the only thing she knew to do. Her uncle embraced her mother the day she scarred Anise's arm, it was probably the only thing that saved the young girl's life that night.. So she gave it a try. She didn't want to see the three of them fight any longer, despite her growing hate for Reiji.

"Mark my words Reiji, I WILL kill you you worthless son of a bitch! An asshole like you will never survive being head of the house."

Anise quickly lunged herself forward despite her anxiety. Despite her fear for her life, for Tanzy's life... She suddenly wrapped her arms around Bishop's stomach, arms tensing around him as she spoke. It looked a bit odd, considering their difference in height. Her face was buried against his mid back, and if Castiel and Bishop had human ears, her words would have been quite difficult to hear due to her being upset and Bishop's shirt muffling them further, "Please, no more dead bodies.. Haven't enough people died already..?"

Since Alice's death Anise became sort of a pacifist. She became terrified of death, namely the death of others. The mere thought of seeing a corpse made her skin crawl.

---

---

It’s a showdown. Brother against brother in a heated stare down. Castiel’s intensity never wanes as he shields the young woman with the length of his tall physique. He can see the waves of rage and hatred in the torrents of rubicund hues. He knows that they are supposed to be brothers, but he feels no connection to this being. In fact, he’s almost disgusted by him and judging by the look on his face, Castiel can tell that his sentiments are requited. He crouches, cautiously in case he ends up in the heat of battle. His jaw squares as knuckles turn white from clenching his fists. He’s practically daring Reiji to make a move he doesn’t like.

"She was being quite…disrespectful and I was parched.. What other reasoning does a vampire need to feed from a human? She needs to be taught to hold her tongue."

Castiel can think of quite a few reasons. One being that no one deserves to be subjected to brutality unless absolutely necessary and he can just tell by this vampire’s overzealousness and irrational sense of entitlement was the result of this debacle, not the maid’s supposed disrespect. He glances over at her, watching her tremble in pure unadulterated fear. She’s far too fragile to blatantly commit impertinence in the face of someone so unstable.

In short, Reiji is full of bullshit and Castiel is about to be the first one to tell him.

That is until another woman is thrown into the equation and stops him before he’s able to tell Reiji just how much of pretentious waste of space he is. "M-master Castiel! You're awake sire, shall Anise or myself get you anything?" Castiel narrows his eyes at her, not in anger, but in a vain attempt to remember her name. It’s utterly frustrating. All of these people know him, but he can’t reciprocate. They are emotionally invested in him, and yet he feels little to no affection. He’s thankful for them saving his life-…but aside from that, he feels no kinship. He’s not sure he ever will. He simply shakes his head at her, choosing not to directly address her lest he offend her with his lack of knowledge of who she actually is.

"I-It was my fault... I-I accidentally called you Master Santiago and upset the new Master of the house... I'm still not entirely used to the switch of position... I apologize…"

His attention is back to the young lady he had just defended. He looks down at her with cerulean orbs laden with understanding. That certainly explains the vampire’s entitlement complex. It’s news to him that of all the people to take his place as Master of Castillo, it would be someone like this. This actually makes him begin to question his former self. It scares him to think that he was anything like his younger brother; rash, cruel, sadistic. He certainly is a different man now. He’s a man of dignity, morality, and compassion and at the moment his heart goes out to the poor maids of his estate. He can only imagine the hardships they face surrounded by bloodthirsty supernatural beings that completely disregard their needs. As fragile as these women look, they were no doubt strong in will for lasting this long and sticking together. He holds a certain amount of respect for that, especially when the light haired maid offers herself to the maniac to defuse the situation.

Castiel sends her a look that is drenched in veneration and dripping in gratitude. He feels remorse on her behalf, but he’ll make sure that her bravery does not go unrecognized and unrewarded.

Once again, Castiel opens his mouth to speak, but it instantly interrupted…again. Fiery red locks come surging towards them all in a hurricane of angst and anger. Castiel can tell that their situation is about to get a lot worse, so he holds his tongue to avoid setting off the ticking time bomb coming their way. Protectively, he shifts his position to shield the young dark-haired maiden from the other vampire. He can’t be too careful. As expected, the red headed vampire is in a rage, staking his claim on the woman. Slowly, Castiel allows him to take her, seeing as she’s obviously his to care for. They share a look and Castiel sees the respect that the vampire has for him. He returns it with a silent nod of his own, backing out of the way and giving him the freedom he needs.

It isn’t until Reiji begins speaking again that Castiel narrows his eyes in sheer animosity once more. "I've decided. As head of Castillo castle, I now place Anise in charge of Castiel's care. She was sneaking out to his bedroom anyhow when I seized her. She then proceeded to show quite a harsh level of disrespect. Obviously you've grown too attached and haven't disciplined her properly, little brother. Perhaps Castiel can teach her manners."

His brow quirks as he glances over at the woman. So, her name is Anise. He savors the name, trying to use it to unlock something in his memory, but it does nothing to quell the questions it brings. Knowing her trespasses, however, provides him with some reassurance. If she felt the need to risk getting punished just to see him well then that must mean he may have done something good in his past to gain her concern. Were they friends? Lovers? He doesn’t know, but he’s fairly sure that he’ll get an answer now that she’s under his charge. Although he’s not opposed to the change of rules, he can see that his younger brother is fanning flames. The redhead instantly rebuttals, but it’s all for naught because it’s all final.

"Your new servant is Jason Olivander. I pray you handle him better than you have your insolent maid, Bishop.. Come, Tanzy. You can clean the office as we discuss the terms of this new arrangement."

Much like Anise, Bishop and Tanzy’s name does nothing to stir the contents of Castiel’s mind. He watches as his sadistic younger brother departs, but not without pushing Bishop’s buttons once more. "Oh and Bishop.. if you defy me, I will not hesitate to kill her myself." And then he’s gone. Bishop’s on a tangent, his maid trying to subdue his indignation with a muttered a plea.

A surge of pity grips Castiel’s undead heart and twists. She’s must have gone through so much to feel so compelled to beg for peace. He hasn’t gotten a word in edgewise, but now his deep resonant voice reaches out to her and his hotheaded brother. “I do not wish to hold any ill will towards you or your maid…” He tries to remember his name. “Bishop, is it? My apologies for not being familiar with who you are, but I’m under the impression that we are brothers, correct?” His voice still holds weight, but instead of ruthless conviction, it’s compassionate. “You have my word that I will not abuse my position as…erm…Anise?” He furrows his golden brows as he recollects her name before continuing. “As Anise’s superior. She’s in capable hands, brother. So please, fret not. Not only do I promise to handle her with care, but I will also make an effort to get my position of power back and fix the mistakes our brother has made.” His eyes narrow towards the office that was once his sanctuary. “And I will grant you the chance to acquire your vengeance the moment I knock that bastard’s arse off of his damned high horse. This, I swear to you…and you, Anise. I have a bitter feeling that he’s only going to make matters progressively worse for this family. In the meantime, we need to maintain peace lest he does something unspeakable in rebuttal. He's far too reckless and unpredictable, so we must tread lightly.” Castiel smirks, licking his bottom lip as a plan forms into his head. He walks up to Bishop, leaning over a tad to whisper in his ear to avoid Reiji tuning into their conversation. His voice is low enough for only Bishop to hear. “I say we let him think he's in control, so we can pull the power from right underneath him and watch him fall on his arse like the fool he is."

Bishop glared after his sadistic prick of a brother, eager for a fight when he was stopped by a sudden warm embrace around his abdomen. Looking down with the beginning of a hiss, he felt a burst of genuine surprise to see none other than gentle little Anise wrapping her arms around him, face buried in his back. He made out her muffled plea, annoyance and an ounce of respect meeting her request. No more bodies huh? As far as he was concerned, Reiji was well worth killing, but it seemed his human was far more touchy about life.

The fiery red head didn't get the chance to answer her, the calm, deep voice of his eldest brother reaching his ears at last. For a second, the tempermental twin felt an urge to ask what the hell had happened to the real Castiel, when he recalled for the thousandth time how the blonde haired male had been attacked, suffered for who knows how long, only to lose his memories. Besides, it wasn't completely new, just more reverted to the childhood Castiel, the kind, peaceful humans they once were. Even so, it's disconcerning to hear the proud Castiel fumble for something as simple as their names.

Nevertheless, Bishop nodded, rage gone from his eyes as he met the blue eyes of his brother. "Yes...You're the oldest Santiago. Demetri and I are twins, the youngest two Santiago sons. The youngest Santiago is our sister, Mirabelle." Bishop explained, regarding his brother calmly. Surprise showed for a moment in his emerald orbs, Castiel's assurances and concern for him and Anise both eerily unfamiliar but welcome. Bishop dared to relax. Aside from Demetri, he trusted no one in the world more than Castiel. He knew Anise would be safe with him, even if it pissed him off to not have her at his beck and call.

With a sigh, Bishop nodded, letting his brother see he could accept the situation if it were him. "Well, I know you will. Just keep the creep away from her will you? He likes taking what isn't his. Stupid prick." Bishop's face darkened, about to sink ino another tirade and let his anger stir up once more when Castiel continued with even more pleasing words than his assurance to take care of Anise.

At the whispered plottings in his ear, Bishop smirked, nodding as he felt his respect swell. THIS was why he respected Castiel so much. Even as a compassionate shell of the intimidating master of the house, he retained his strength of will, his cunning, and his ability to plan five steps ahead. Brilliant. Speaking softly so he could just be heard by Castiel, Bishop didn't even bother trying to hide the approval in his voice. "Excellent. It's not in my nature to play nice, but you speak the truth." Bishop lowered his voice even more, just enough to reach the blonde's ear. "Know this, I will stand behind you for all your days brother, and Demetri as well." Finally leaning back so as not to be caught in a conspiratorial whisper, Bishop looked down at Anise.

He took care not to grip her wrists as he disengaged her, rolling his eyes. "Fine, fine. I won't kill the bastard. But you're too damn nice." he retorted at last, wondering at how little sense humans made to him now.

In the distance, Bishop could hear his brother's voice, talking to someone. No, not just someone, the new help hired by the bastard Reiji himself. With an annoyed huff, Bishop realized they must have arrived not long ago. 'Always the gentleman, brother.' he thought, knowing his twin was giving a mini tour and welcoming the new help. Poor, clueless saps. Oh well, not that that was his concern.

Returning his attention to Anise and Castiel, he glanced in the direction of the stairs leading down to the first floor and it's components. The kitchen and dining room among the bottom floor layout would by now be prepped for a grand dinner to be led out.

"What did you two make tonight?" Bishop asked idly, deciding to try and give Anise something else to focus on.

"Reiji already informed me.. Gave me a whole speech of complete nonsense. I will convince him eventually though. But don’t get me wrong.. It’ll be a pleasure to have you.”

Demetri left the hallway and stopped atop the stairs. He took a deep breath, and closed his eyes with a grin. He could smell roasted chicken from where he stood. As he continued his descent down the stairs he took a second wiff, and he wasn't sure if he was correct, but it also smelled like they managed to procure fresh potatoes and corn. Did someone go into town? We don't have a garden on the grounds.. He was used to feeding only on blood, but human food wasn't horrible either. He was about to head to the kitchen to take a quick peek, and perhaps sneak a taste, but he noticed Jason arriving in the main hall behind him, "Oh, hello. After dinner I can give everyone a tour of the castle, so you can make yourself familiar with the layout before you begin your duties. There are several other rooms here than I will show in the tour, but most of them were sealed off long ago..."

He ushered for the man to follow him, leading his fellow man to the drawing room. He took a seat on the couch, his hand ushering towards the other, "Sit, sit.." He insisted, laying down leisurely on the other. The red haired man ran a hand through his hair, letting out a yawn. This room was far more extravagant than the main hall, and had much more luxurious furniture. The family definitely was in good standing with the king. The lords of Castillo had only the finest pieces in their home, they must be filthy rich, "Are you looking forward to dinner? You'll meet the other servants shortly and the two of them can answer any questions you may have." He informed him, and quirked an eyebrow, "Do you drink? I can get us a bottle of scotch if you'd like..." Demetri was fully unaware of Jason's past... struggles with the substance, so the question was innocent enough. Reiji didn't give them any prior information aside from their measurements and gender.

Demetri was growing interested, and he left the drawing room door open just in case the two new maids wished to join them. He didn't mind a bit of company as they awaited Anise and Tanzy to return to the dining room to finish their duties. His emerald eyes scanned Jason, admiring his looks before he continued, "I wish to know more about those whom share my residence, no offense. So what brought you here? Why would you travel so far, just to come here and serve a lifetime contract?" The young gentleman inquired, sitting up straight as he awaited the young human's response. He was craving a drink, but his maid hadn't arrived. He wasn't a fan of the drink, but he wasn't sure what Jason preferred. Most men preferred stronger drinks than wine when they weren't dining.

Camilla was wandering up and down the hallways, exploring the whole house. It was amazing how many valuables it held, and it felt like quite the treasure trove. She had to suppress the urge to pocket some of it as she looked, but it was oh so very tempting, just lying there, simply telling her to steal it. There was only one place she had not visited yet… the rooms of all of the residents in the mansion. She had heard sounds of argument coming down in that direction, something she wants to steer clear of if it was none of her business anyways. Not getting your nose into anything that has nothing to do with you was the secret to avoiding fights, and it is applicable on nearly any situation she has ever been in.

She perked up slightly as her nose caught a whiff of food just as her stomach let out a groan of protest. Almost forgot about dinner… well, its not too late anyways. She hurried down, muttering a few curses under her breath as she almost tripped over her skirt on several occasions. That frilly atrociaty is going to be the death of her, that was why she didn’t wear dresses in the first place! The staircases only made it worse as she tried not to fall down them. The house was big, bigger than her expectations even, and now, rushing down the many flights of stairs, Camilla finally experienced the down sides to it.

“Ok, ok, almost there…” she spurred herself on between gasps for air as she rushed down yet another flight. The arouma was getting stronger now, signalling that she was getting closer to the kitchen. “I made i-" she said with a sigh of relief when she reached the last few, only to trip over the hems of her dress and fall flat on her face at the foot of the stairs.

“Oww…” She sat up, rubbing her head from the impact. You’d think that it’d be less painful from fights… apparently not. She nursed her injuries for a while before she noticed that she had an audience. The red-head, Demetri and Jason were seemingly having a conversation together, and hoping they didn’t notice her, she quickly brushed herself off and walked past them, into the kitchen, pretending nothing has happened. This was probably the second time she had embarrassed herself, and all in a day’s work too. “Hey, whatcha making?” she asked, standing slightly on tip toe so she could see the contents. “Smells good.” She’d forgotten when was the last time she had a good meal, but that pretty much makes up for it. She turned her attention to the two women in the kitchen, probably the other maids by the looks of it, and wondered which one ‘Anise’ was. Demetri did tell them that Tanzy could be a little blunt, so… its probably the one with black hair, she decided. It was a good enough guess anyways. “Can I try some?” She asked hopefully, looking up at the girl with black hair and violet eyes.

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Jason was just observing one of the fancier furniture pieces when he noticed that the red haired man, Demetri, was in the room now too. "Oh, hello. After dinner I can give everyone a tour of the castle, so you can make yourself familiar with the layout before you begin your duties. There are several other rooms here than I will show in the tour, but most of them were sealed off long ago..."Jason nods, not sure what Demetri meant by the last part but not wanting to ask. "That's sounds like a wonderful idea," Jason offers with a smile as he looks at Demetri.

Jason followed upon being directed to do so, not sure what else he could do. As he entered the drawing room, Jason was struck by how rich these men must be. How could they all own such pieces? Did they know the royals or something? Perhaps they were distantly related to the king. That wouldn't surprise Jason at this point. He wasn't sure anything could. "Sit, sit.." Demetri says as he lounges on another couch. Jason follows suit though not so at home in his manor. He looked around, marveling inwardly at the velvet underneath him.

"Are you looking forward to dinner? You'll meet the other servants shortly and the two of them can answer any questions you may have." Jason nodded in response, his eyes going from the furniture to Demetri. "Yes sir, I'm looking forward to meeting your brother too," Jason says with an easy going smile. He wasn't worried about meeting his new charge, he was terrified that he would be dismissed for whatever reason. Would he be liked? Could he fulfill what he had come here to help with? This he didn't know and was scared of, nothing else.

"Do you drink? I can get us a bottle of scotch if you'd like..." Jason's breathing halted as he heard the offer. It took him a moment to regain his composure before he shook his head, slightly off now in his attitude. He couldn't have a drink. He was afraid his control might waver and he would go back into his depression centered around the beverages that burned his throat and drowned out his sorrows. In reality though, he knew now, they only increased his sorrows. Now he was back on a track where he could avoid the spirits and be better off all together.

"No, no thank you. I prefer... avoiding alcohol as much as possible," Jason says, having a hard time finding words for fear of offending the red haired man. He was a peculiar sight, but he was the friendliest Jason had met and he rather liked the fellow.

"Mr.Demetri, is that what I should call you and those around the house?" Jason asks honestly unsure in such a situation. He shifted, suddenly feeling weird being on such a couch for the first time. Why was he feeling weird? It wasn't like he was poor or anything. Not nearly as wealthy as these aristocrats, but not dirt poor.

Jason realized that he hadn't gotten out what he had meant to say. "I just wanted to thank you for the suit. It fits incredibly well and is very nice. The entire outfit is, extremely well done," Jason says, looking down at the suit before looking up at Demetri and nodding as he found the words to describe the amazing job well done.

He thought the red haired man seemed like he belonged here with his attitude towards the world, or at least what Jason had seen of it so far. He wondered if Demetri's brother, Bishop, was like Demetri. Were they opposites? That was a question to save for when Jason actually met the brother that didn't have a face to connect with in Jason's head.

(OOC: Will beautify after food. It was a pretty forced post, but it's finally here. Sorry for the delay..)

“I do not wish to hold any ill will towards you or your maid… Bishop, is it? My apologies for not being familiar with who you are, but I’m under the impression that we are brothers, correct?”

Anise removed herself from Bishop as she heard Castiel's voice. He..doesn't remember anything..? Castiel's amnesia was kept pretty lock and key, until now she wasn't even allowed ten feet near his room, let alone close enough to learn that the lord of the house lost all of his memories. Her violet eyes lingered on the blonde, wondering just how lonesome it had to be. If she could remember Alice.. her mom.. What would make her personality? What experiences would define her? Amnesia had to be quite scary.. She'd never come into contact with a person whom developed the sickness, but now that she had, she understood it's horrors... and it's dangers. Had anyone else found Castiel, or if no one had at all, he could have easily died that night...
Her fingers clenched at the bottom edges of her dress, trying not to think too hard on the subject. Aside from Castiel's behavior coming off as a bit creepy, perhaps the switch could be a good thing. He seemed quite a bit more friendly than Bishop..? Though she had little to go on. Perhaps the new Castiel had a dark side as well? Demetri surprised her. She thought he was so well behaved and in control of his hunger.. then he slaughtered an entire village.

“You have my word that I will not abuse my position as…erm…Anise? As Anise’s superior. She’s in capable hands, brother. So please, fret not. Not only do I promise to handle her with care, but I will also make an effort to get my position of power back and fix the mistakes our brother has made.”

His words brought a smile to her face. She wanted nothing more than Castiel to return to power. Standing here, listening to the two men converse, it reminded her of kings, and royalty. They were lords, but they weren't exactly princes or kings.. yet somehow they were still fighting over a figurative 'throne'. She wondered how much blood would be shed in Castiel's battle to return to the top of the house, but decided that they'd get to that bridge when they crossed it.

“And I will grant you the chance to acquire your vengeance the moment I knock that bastard’s arse off of his damned high horse. This, I swear to you…and you, Anise. I have a bitter feeling that he’s only going to make matters progressively worse for this family. In the meantime, we need to maintain peace lest he does something unspeakable in rebuttal. He's far too reckless and unpredictable, so we must tread lightly.”

"Well, I know you will. Just keep the creep away from her will you? He likes taking what isn't his. Stupid prick."

His strategical skills and wit made Anise tilt her head. Perhaps Castiel didn't lose as much as she was led to believe.. Sure, his memories were gone.. but the man standing before her was still intelligent, his presence practically screamed hierarchy.. He just seemed less cold, like something melted the ice around his heart. What exactly happened to you, Lord Castiel..? She thought in bewilderment, unable to keep that tragic night's events off her mind. She kept wracking her brain, wondering where Castiel could have run off to. Whom could have saved his life. A werewolf bite was incurable by all human and vampiric means. What kind of entity could have saved the blonde standing in front of her...and why?

"Excellent. It's not in my nature to play nice, but you speak the truth. Know this, I will stand behind you for all your days brother, and Demetri as well."

It sounds like war again.. I only hope we'll survive it again.. this time preferably unscathed. Her eyes switched to Reiji's office. Tanzy was the demon's maid now, regardless of how this fight ended, she was terrified that Tanzy would suffer at Reiji's hand. Her fists turned white as she gripped at her dress, and she was starting to tremble in a mixture of raw anger and fear. She understood her inferiority, but part of her wanted to kill Reiji on her own. She just couldn't watch brother killing brother..

"Fine, fine. I won't kill the bastard. But you're too damn nice."

"It gladdens my heart to hear you say that M-" She began, but stopped. Bishop wasn't the Santiago brother she served anymore.. She now served Castiel. Her eyes shifted nervously, unsure how she should address Bishop from here on out. He chose "Master Bishop" as his title long ago, but now Castiel was the man she served. It was up to him what he wished to be called. Lord Bishop..? Yes.. I think that is what's socially acceptable. She finally corrected herself after a couple moments of inner turmoil,
"Lord Bishop I mean.." She wasn't sure how the red haired man would accept it, but it was the facts.. He had a new servant and there was little that could be done.

"What did you two make tonight?"

Anise bowed to Castiel, "Speaking of food, I must check on that.. It should be done shortly.. Tanzy and myself really should get to preparing that.." Then she looked to Bishop, "If you'd follow me to the kitchens the two of you can sample some of tonight's dinner... I-I just have to make sure it isn't burnt... P-please excuse me, Master Castiel, Lord Bishop!"

She then made her way hastily down the stairs. She nearly tripped, but caught her balance and continued to run as gracefully as possible towards the kitchens. She looked to the chicken, pleased with it's nice and dark outcome, and was glad it didn't burn.. Then she removed the potatoes from where their pot was hanging and placed the container down carefully. She stirred the concoction and took in a wiff, smiling to herself. It smells so good~ Tanzy really does make the best Potato salad~

She watched the girl prepare them earlier that day.. but still Anise wasn't as skilled at the brew. Tanzy boiled a few dozen potatoes, and when they were done she peeled them with almost expert precision. She then sliced the hot potatoes into a deep dish and cut in very small pieces of onions and mixed them among the slices. Now it was Anise's turn. She had to season the food. Tanzy was better at setting the table anyhow.. The pink haired woman came in shortly before Camilla, whom Anise was entirely unfamiliar with. She gathered the materials she needed and distributed a little pepper and salt. She then approached the vinegar that she had placed to heat over the fire and pulled the pot of scalding hot vinegar off the hook it was on. She returned to the potato salad and poured it over the whole mixture. Done..

“Hey, whatcha making? Can I try some?”

"Tanzy, can you take your masterpiece and then the roasted chicken to the dining room? I still have a bit to do with the desserts.." She asked pleasantly, then noticed the small girl before her. The girl's behavior reminded her a bit of her late sister, which caused Anise to smile. She then took a small spoonful of the potato salad and blew on it until it was cool enough to eat and extended the spoon towards Camilla, "Of course you can, though we can't make a habit of this, Master Reiji might get angry. Professionalism is important here. I'm Anise, what's your name?"

She removed the cherry cakes from the oven first, then she retrieved the Apple cheese cakes. Anise did most of the baking, while Tanzy cooked most of the other foods.. it worked out pretty well. She decorated the cakes with cute designs of fruit as she waited to see if Castiel or Bishop accepted her offer, she wanted a few opinions on the dessert she'd made.

The temperamental redhead folded his arms across his chest, arching a brow as Anise expressed her happiness at his assurance he'd not kill the son of a bitch Reiji who dared to call himself head of the house. She was too nice. But still, he found her admission of pleasure wasn't necessarily unwelcome. He rolled his eyes, only to scowl as she hesitated again upon addressing him. Back to the little mouse huh? He felt himself twitch at her wavering, uncertain expression. After all this time, he couldn't believe she had failed to notice he wasn't going to hurt her for no reason. She never did anything to truly upset him, and she had many favorable qualities. It was exasperating.

"Dammit, stop looking at me like that!" Bishop snapped, shaking his head and tossing his arms up in frustration as he continued. "I'm not gonna just grab you and eat you! Calm down, save your self preservation for dealing with the prick." Bishop let out a huff, glancing over at Castiel with a 'what am I gonna do with her' expression before returning his gaze to the maid. "I still want a drink when you can give it, but I'm not some weakling vampire or a fledgeling that needs copious amounts of blood every day."

Sighing in exasperation, Bishop's tirade ended for the time being. Her answer earned a slight arch of his head, lips twitching as they threatened to smirk. Oh he could imagine the maids fretting over food. Poor Anise would be apologizing profusely,and Tanzy, well, he supposed she'd be trying to fix things. It had been a while since he had actually sat down to eat a full human meal. It didn't sustain them in any way, it was more for pleasure or to blend in. Food thankfully had taste. He never actually checked to see who did most of the cooking in the house. Was it his little Anise, or the obsessive clean freak? HE did assume both helped each other and combined chores, but he knew they each had to have their set tasks they were best at and designated in doing. He wondered which tasks Anise was in charge of in the kitchen?

"You left something in the oven?" Bishop asked, truthfully a bit surprised. Usually the humans were very good in their chores. It wasn't common practice, or at least as far as he knew, for a cook to leave cooking food unattended. Granted, ovens and the like took a while, but one would think they'd not leave the first floor where the kitchen and dining hall were located. He wasn't particularly upset, the stoney castle walls not liable to burn down. The only concern to him would be a lingering burnt smell should something perish in the oven or over the fire.
"Well then, best run along." Bishop mused even as Anise made her leave, scuttling down the stairs as quickly as she could. Glancing over at Castiel, Bishop allowed his older brother a friendly smirk, opting to follow downstairs and sample Anise's food. He had nothing better to do, and besides, dinner was to be served within the hour at latest.

The hot-heated male took his time to stalk down to the kitchen, arriving just after Tanzy and who he assumed was a new maid. He all but ignored Tanzy, hovering in the doorway as Anise offered the newcomer a bite of what looked to be potato salad. He noticed appetizers of tomato bisque, sides of deviled quail eggs, corn, and the potato salad. Chicken and some fresh dinner rolls, and then dessert. It was a generous spread, and he almost wondered if the girls had hidden any more up their sleeves.

Bishop looked skeptically at the girl asking for a sample, deeming her not worth his interest for the time being. He leaned over to inspect the simply but elegantly decorated cakes, inwardly admitting they did look quite appetizing and decadent. Kind of Like Anise's blood. He licked his lips at the thought, eyes with a hungry look in them for a second before he motioned to Anise.
"I believe you offered me a sample..." Bishop mused, leaning against the wall casually.