Anise Delopar's Story

Anise's eyes widened as she felt firm pressure on her shoulder, sort of waking her from her angry stare at Reiji. She peeked over her shoulder to see none other than Bishop standing behind her. She mentally cursed herself before smiling to Mirabelle and Reiji. The dark haired maid then closed her eyes and allowed herself to take a slow breath. Lately it was growing a bit harder to control her temper. Day by day it gradually added up like grains of sand inside an hourglass.

"Mind the tone. You'll get yourself into trouble, don't want to lose our heads...do we?"

She noticed that Reiji was about to give his inflated opinion, though thankfully Bishop's words silenced the dark haired demon. Reiji smiled, which sent a chill down Anise's spine. What is he putting on a face for? Then her eyes shifted toward Mirabelle. Of course.. He doesn't want to show his monstrous nature to his younger sister.. She's the only one in his corner right now..

"Ready to eat, baby brother?"

She looked to Bishop, but he merely responded by shoving her along. They came to a halt once inside the dining room and before she could scurry off towards her seat, Bishop leaned in and in a hushed tone taunted her about how she'd zoned out prior to her run in with Reiji.

"I noticed you were lingering earlier....enjoy the view?"

He let go after he had his fun, and Anise's eyes widened almost larger than the dinner plates as she spun around and shook her head, "I wasn't!" she protested, then she realized her reaction could have been taken entirely a different way, "I mean...you're not.. well.. but I don't see you... I only see you in a professional light, Lord Bishop.." Once she'd found the words she'd been looking for, Anise quickly bowed and took her seat between Jason and Castiel.

She sat there, cooling herself as she just stared down at the assortment in front of her. Bishop always twisted everything to put her in a compromising position, at least in the figurative realm. Everyone began to take their seats and Anise's head turned to those next to her. Castiel was to her left, and an unfamiliar face to her right. She assumed he was Jason, judging by his name card in front of him.

She noticed he was staring at her when her eyes raised to him, and she felt a bit of nervousness wash over her. She turned instantly, listening to Tanzy's announcement before Reiji ushered his hand. It was his signal that everyone could begin their meal. She looked over to Castiel, a weary smile on her face, "Are you certain that you're ready for such a large crowd...?" Her eyes lingered on him a bit, mostly out of concern, but also because it was the first time she'd seen him looking himself since his accident a year ago, "If you need any help with names, or otherwise, I can assist you. I hope you enjoy your meal, Lord Castiel." She gave another weak smile before returning to her food, taking a small bite and she checked everyone at the table out out after swallowing. She wasn't sure why the family chose to dine together, it wasn't common... aside from keeping the facade that they're human, having dinner together served no purpose. Do they really enjoy frightening humans this much? She was really starting to detest vampires..

After saying her piece, she bowed her head a bit and turned to Jason, who was finally beginning to eat, but still seemed to steal glances at her any chance he could. Eventually she drew up enough courage to introduce herself, "I'm Anise Delopar... It's a pleasure to meet you, ...Jason?" She asked, just in case the card was misleading. She took a sip of her wine, smiling a bit to Tanzy. Anise wasn't that familiar with alcohol still, she was glad her friend chose it. It tasted rather nice, so she took another small sip. Just enough to keep herself busy as she awaited Jason's response. She didn't wish to seem fidgety. Though honestly it was nerve wracking having him gawk at her for some unknown reason. Is something in my hair?

"Heh, I'll be lucky to tell you two apart within a month."

Demetri chuckled at this and shook his head, "You'll get the hang of it faster than you think." He then pointed to his face, finger at the right side, below his mouth "I'm the one with the freckle." He gave Jason a wink before parting ways. Demetri straightened out his suit before finding his spot next to Bishop. He couldn't help but smile at this. They always kept him close to Bishop due to 'behavioral' issues, but currently Reiji was parading around like a king stricken with madness. It was a bit biased in his opinion...

He made his way to his chair, smiling to his twin beside him, "I heard the commotion, are you going to be alright, brother?" He asked, green eyes flashing concern. He meant to keep out of family affairs, but Bishop was like his other half. Keeping out of things that involved Bishop would mean shutting down half of his brain in the process.

Demetri noticed out of the corner of his eye that Camilla and Jane hadn't taken their seats yet. He didn't mention it, but he hoped they would soon, else they receive a harsh scolding from Reiji and the family dinner would be ruined with bickering. He looked to his glass of wine, the smell taunting him in unimaginable ways as he waited for the cue to do so. He licked his lips as he stared at the glass. Demetri obviously had a drinking problem...but aside from getting blood drunk, like Tanzy and Anise had witnessed... substance never seemed to truly effect him, or Reiji for that matter, despite the amounts they consumed.

"Tonight, the appetizer is a creamy tomato bisque. For dinner, Anise and I have prepared deviled quail eggs, roast chicken, potato salad, fresh rolls, and corn on the cob. For dessert, Anise has created for you two rich cheesecakes, one apple, the other cherry. We have a chilled rosé wine for dinner, and for dessert we have a light chamomile tea."

Then Reiji's wave of a hand brought Demetri's drink into his hand with almost inhuman speed. He brought the glass to his lips far more slowly, not wishing to alarm their new guests. By then everyone was seated so he tilted his head over to Camilla, "Just in case...work your way in on the silverware. If you mess up a little no one will notice..." He whispered with a wink. Then took a sip of his wine once more. Well, perhaps it was more than a sip..

"Master Santiago, I know it is not my place, but might I speak with you after dinner for but a moment?"

Tanzy's voice rang in his head and he located her to be next to Reiji by the sound of it. What is she trying to keep so discrete..? He smiled, but decided now wasn't the time or place to reveal his sibling's acute hearing. His siblings probably had their own way of revealing their nature to their maids. He wasn't going to spoil their fun.

”Jane.”

He then took a moment to smile to his sister, whom looked as if something was bothering her. Nothing is going to happen under our watch.. He thought to himself, but he wasn't sure if that was more to reassure himself, or Mirabelle. He gave her a reassuring smile, before looking to Camilla again, "Is there anything on the table you'd like me to reach for you, little dove?" Her arms were so thin and small he doubted she could reach most of the nearby assortments.

"Are you certain that you're ready for such a large crowd...? If you need any help with names, or otherwise, I can assist you. I hope you enjoy your meal, Lord Castiel."

It seems all is going well, for now. I guess we all can have a peaceful dinner if we set our minds to it.. He closed his eyes for a minute, frowning a bit. The only thing that was missing was music... though he'd forgotten to rent a band for the night... That was his fault he supposed, but it didn't stop it's absence from spoiling his meal..

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Jane looked at those around her, taking her time to look each in the face just to see the family’s appearance. There was a variety of hair color though they all looked to be rather young. The only ones that were not questionable whatsoever were Demetri and Bishop, both with the same hair and same face.

Jane looked down at her plate, wondering how on earth she was going to figure this out. She wanted to just use one utensil for everything if she could, but didn’t know if that would pass with this family. They seemed laid back, well Demetri did, but she was still worried. She looked at the wine before her. She hadn’t really had a lot of wine in her life and was slightly curious. She looked at the others momentarily, seeing Jason was just downright staring at the girl called Anise. Taking a sip of wine, she heard Demetri whisper something Camilla about the utensils, but didn't quite catch it. Great, now she really was doomed. She couldn't very well lean forward and ask him to repeat what he said at the dinner table. That would be extremely rude and probably not something the head of the house would approve of.

Jane’s attention then turned to the most silent brother at the table. He had blonde hair and was sitting quietly, looking as if he was comfortable but not at the same time. She wondered why he was different than his brothers. She could already tell things about them. The head of the house, the one the other maids were calling Master Santiago, was definitely in charge and didn’t like anyone challenging him. Demetri was pretty comfortable with everyone, Mirabelle seemed to be considering something, and Bishop was, well he was the only one Jane hadn’t really picked anything up from. One thing was for sure though, all of them had their own looks in one way or another.

Mirabelle spoke her name and Jane smiled at her, giving her a nod of greeting. She took a sip of her wine, listening for a moment and hearing a somewhat familiar nickname. She rolled her eyes inwardly as she heard Demetri’s nickname for the maids. She smiled as she set the wine down and took up her spoon, guessing wrong on the utensil.

She wasn’t sure who to talk to since she didn’t really know the brothers and those that she did know seemed to be interacting with someone else. She didn’t want to butt in or interrupt though so she stayed quiet. She slowly brought her spoon to her mouth, amazed with the taste of the bisque. She wasn’t quite sure what was in it, but it was truly spectacular.

She looked down at her plate, not knowing what to say to anyone and certainly doubtful of whether or not she should even say anything at all. Her stomach held butterflies and she wasn’t having a good time so far, just because she felt left out and odd not knowing anyone. She didn’t tell anyone, but sat their quietly. She wasn’t entirely open at the beginning, only being open after she had at least known the people she was with for a little while.

Jane wondered what else these brothers had in store for the new help that night. She wondered whether or not all her time here would be like this, her being quiet. She hoped not, but wasn’t entirely sure.

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Jason felt broken when he heard her speak her name. He felt himself almost fall into despair and his food, almost losing everything that held him up in his disappointment. In his disbelief that she wasn’t who she looked like. He took a deep breath, his chest aching slightly. Heartache wasn’t a real problem was it? He didn’t think so, yet here it was.

”I'm Anise Delopar... It's a pleasure to meet you, ...Jason?" Jason hid his disappointment behind a mask of surprise. He looked at her with new interest that was nonexistent in reality. ”Anise Delopar? The pleasure’s mine. I’m sorry, I just… you look exactly like someone I once knew. Jason Olivander,” Jason says, reaching for his glass of water rather than the wine. As he eats, he doesn’t once reach for the wine, being extremely careful not to touch it.

”This dinner you and… Tanzy was it?” Jason checks, wanting to make sure he was getting close to getting some names, ”The dinner is really spectacular.” Jason wanted to talk to her, but at the same time was unsure. She looked like his Alice, sounded like her and everything, but wasn’t her.

He ate, copying the others choices in the utensils for the various food. He refused to be left behind in trying to catch up to his mannerisms at the dinner table. ”Anise, how long have you worked here for the Santiagos?” Jason asked, genuinely curious about this girl.

Bishop nearly chuckled aloud at Anise's protests, pleased he got her to stop looking flighty before him and simply mortified. Anything was better than her constant fear. He was fine with fear, but honestly, she should relax at least somewhat around him. He left her be for now, simply taking his seat and nodding in greeting to his siblings. He was surprised to see Castiel had joined them, and secretly hoped the older male would be alright. His twin's voice earned a half smile and a nod of the head. "I'm well enough Demetri. Nothing causing you trouble though, is there?" he asked softly, only seeming to be actually interested in anything involving his twin, Anise, Castiel or Mirabelle.

It was then that he noticed it. The faint smell of blood. Taking a moment to find the scent, he noticed it coming from Castiel's bowl. For but a moment, he was puzzled as to why he smelled such a thing from tomato bisque, until he recalled how Castiel had been given blood daily to keep up his strength and heal him. Glancing over at Tanzy as she finished describing the meal, he wondered vaguely if she was trying to get herself killed or just losing her mind. She slipped up this time, putting blood into a dish for one vampire when the whole family of vampires were dining. He'd have been no less thrown by her behavior if she had forgotten to sort the dishes.

Bishop nearly sighed in exasperation, hoping he wouldn't have to step in for her in order to keep Anise from fretting. IT was a good thing her blood held no appeal to him. It was like food that one was perfectly capable of eating and would should it be presented, but not food one would go out of their way to eat. It did however, make him wish his bisque was a nice bowl of Anise's blood.

Bishop nearly argued that Anise was his maid and shouldn't be worrying over Castiel when it was clearly Tanzy's job, when he stopped himself upon recalling the newest arrangement by the bastard. Right, Anise would be helping Castiel now. He trusted Castiel, but it was still frustrating. Shaking his head to clear it, Bishop decided he might as well eat.

Bringing a spoonful of soup to his lips, the emerald-eyed vampire caught the new butler staring quite incessantly at Anise. Waiting for it to pass, Bishop felt his irritation grow as Jason did not cease his blatant staring, interest in his features. Finally deciding he'd had enough of the male staring at his maid, the hot-headed twin addressed his butler for the first time.
"Keep staring boy, and I'll remove your eyes from your skull."

"Tonight, the appetizer is a creamy tomato bisque. For dinner, Anise and I have prepared deviled quail eggs, roast chicken, potato salad, fresh rolls, and corn on the cob. For dessert, Anise has created for you two rich cheesecakes, one apple, the other cherry. We have a chilled rosé wine for dinner, and for dessert we have a light chamomile tea."

Reiji took his seat first, followed by his siblings and the hired help, in no particular order. He glanced around the table in a bored fashion, cupping his wineglass and twirling it in his palm idly as she gave the list. It wasn't like he didn't hear her loud and clear. The occasional inconvenience of being supernatural was definitely the exceptional hearing abilities. Some things he'd heard in his lifetime just weren't worth repeating. He wished he could be more selective with what his ears registered. An off switch would definitely sweeten the deal of immortality immeasurably. Not to mention the smell of her blood invading his nostrils. She had been a very bad girl today. Feeding her blood to her former master when he strictly stated she was now his? That wouldn't do... He'd surely have to punish her for her disobedience..but he'd give her a chance to defend herself after dinner. Perhaps she could find some excuse to deter him from his pursuit of retribution.... however it was quite unlikely.

"Master Santiago, I know it is not my place, but might I speak with you after dinner for but a moment?"

He knew her attempt of secrecy was in vain, but gave no visual evidence of it. What was it to him if her efforts were in vain? It wasn't like he was the one with something to hide. His crimson eyes followed her to her seat, a small smirk crossing his lips for a fleeting moment before his flat expression returned. He took a sip of his wine finally before standing, clicking a spoon against his glass gently, "I would like to make an announcement before we all become entangled in what I am certain will be quite meaningful conversation, I want to welcome Jason Olivander, Camilla Eden, and Jane Christopher to our home. I want everyone to give them the proper Castillo de la Muerte welcome... I am Reiji Santiago, acting head of house and your new employer. I have three rules, One... Do not steal from me or my family.... Two... Obey the lord or lady you've been assigned to... and Three... Never enter my living quarters under any circumstances... if I've made myself clear, I hope each of you find your stay....." He trailed off, searching for a suitable term, but his voice was eerie and a far too sadistic for the friendly dinner's atmosphere. It left a chilling cloud over the room that was definitely more than a little hard to shake. "tolerable.. With that, I urge everyone to enjoy their meal.... converse...and by all means, have fun.." He gave the crowd a playful wink before raising his glass and taking a sip. He sat down, eyeing Jason knowingly. He knew all about his situation with alcohol. He knew everything about the poor boy's life. Out of the three, Reiji personally sought out Jason. He did so intentionally, due to his relationship with Anise's twin sister. He never met Alice, but he heard quite a bit in the past year. Apparently she was more insufferable than Anise and that was quite a feat. He couldn't stand the naive and shy act that the demon child fooled his siblings with so he intended to cause her as much discomfort as possible. Perhaps Bishop and Castiel would see her in a different light if another man came into the picture. There was no way this once drunkard wouldn't fall for her annoyingly bright smile and sickeningly clumsy charm. Anise made him want to gag. Sure she was no longer all lillies and daisies.. but she still held so much determination and will despite her obvious lack of ability. Had she not signed a lifetime contract he'd of fired her immediately. She could get the job done when cleaning was concerned and was an amazing cook, but she was clumsy and broke many priceless vases and irreplaceable decor.. compared to Tanzy however, she was a novice at her trade. She and Tanzy were derailing his family from their foundation. The only solace he found from this situation was that Tanzy was a more manageable human. She had her uses, and she was also quite entertaining to say the least. She didn't irk every fiber of his being like Miss Delopar. If Bishop and Castiel hadn't interfered he'd of ended her miserable life in the hall. It wasn't like she would mind. The past year she had been moping and crying during the daylight hours. He wasn't sure if his siblings knew, seeing as it was their natural time of rest...but due to his new obligations he discovered she was a lot more irritating than he previously knew. Her sobs weren't the worst of it, either she was having nightmares or she was going mad because several occasion she addressed her deceased sibling as if she were in the room with her alive and well.

Killing her would have been a service to everyone in his opinion. He gave out a huff and began eating his bisque, once again admiring Tanzy's meal, but inwardly pouting that it didn't contain the delectable morsel's blood in it. Favoritism? Another naughty mark, my little maid.. I do look forward to punishing you, love.

"Keep staring boy, and I'll remove your eyes from your skull."

"Dear brother, that's no way to present yourself to your new butler..." He said in a scolding manner before standing, making his way over to Bishop and placing a firm hand on his shoulder, "I hand picked him, just for you. Apologize to the boy, now. I'm sure he's prepared a reasonable explanation for why he's gawking at your former maid." Reiji denied himself the chance to smirk, Bishop for once was making the mockery of himself and Reiji was being a dutiful older brother, reprimanding his younger sibling's rudeness and squashing a possible fight that could reveal the true nature of the family to the new help far too prematurely. Such a good brother I am..

He took his seat once he made his brother's threat known to the entire table. His intention was not as pure as some would think. Reiji knew exactly what he was doing and none of it was for the human's sake. He was attempting to validate his position as soon as possible. If Castiel's memories returned, it could be taken away from him within the blink of an eye. He needed someone in his corner when that happened.

Vampires were beautiful creatures; flawless in appearance, wise in knowledge. They had the speed and strength any human would die for – the heightened senses of an animal. They were a force to be reckoned with, but Mirabelle saw it… Saw that the one thing that would bring them down was themselves. They weren’t a family at its strongest when they were together, but amidst a civil war that seemed to be a secret. Sure, they could come together in disaster, it was proven the night the wolves attacked, but Mirabelle couldn’t fight the feeling that they only fought together for the fear of losing whatever it was to someone else, other than each other. Her eyes first settled on Reiji. She studied his face while her hand idly held the spoon amongst her food, gently toying with what she couldn’t bring to her lips. She found the boyish features that she used to know. The way he held himself, the way he spoke and asserted his dominance as he took Bishop made her the slightest bit uncomfortable. Mirabelle didn’t react, didn’t move. She merely looked down to her food until the spout was over.

She thought about his rules, and then thought about the small corner she had taken over in his room. There was a spot clear just big enough to fit the girl if she sat in the Indian style position. It wasn’t all that lady like of her, but she found it more comfortable than perched on the edge of a chair. Mirabelle meant to take up the least amount of room possible, but that’s where she studied when she needed his guidance. She would leave traces of her writings behind, mostly of either practiced penmanship or notes left on paper tucked away in books. She wasn’t just learning how to read, but learning what was inside the books. It wasn’t just childish stories anymore, but deep concepts of philosophy and the questionable lies in a book meant only to be myths. Many nights before he’d wake to her presence, she’d whisper prayers of one day finding him to wake as the man he used to be, not the man that would kill her if she didn’t state her presence quickly.

Her thoughts turned to Castiel, and so did her gaze. It was strange to see him.. It was strange to see all of them amongst each other, but Cas most of all. She only knew very little of him as a vampire. She only saw what he had become the night she came home – the man that would have killed her had she not proven to him that it was her. The girls of the home had taken an extreme liking to him, constantly checking to see if he was okay, but the man that sat beside her was a complete stranger, and she was finally beginning to accept that.

And then there were the twins. Bishop and Mira never had a close bond, but they did care for one another. She loved him just as much as she loved any of her brothers, but nothing compared what he and Demetri had. She supposed she was always jealous of their relationship, but never once tried to harm or take away from it. Mirabelle had felt more alone than she had been while she was away.

Her gaze fell upon Jane. That girl was going to be her salvation. Mirabelle didn’t know it yet, but she was going to come to find the female incredibly important to her. She watched Jane in the way she moved, in the hesitance in her actions. All three of them, so innocent, so naïve. They didn’t have a clue on what they were getting themselves into, and that almost succeeded in making the female vampire feel.. guilty. Then the ache in her fangs returned and she remembered exactly why they were there. Reaching out to grasp her glass and ease the tension, Mirabelle raised it in the air.

”A toast. To new beginnings, new memories, and new relationships.” She paused and looked amongst the men at the end of the table. ”To family.” The last part was more to herself than it was to the others, but she gave them all a forced smile and took a sip of her drink, only wishing the meal would end faster.

”Anise Delopar? The pleasure’s mine. I’m sorry, I just… you look exactly like someone I once knew. Jason Olivander,”

"Really? I'm sorry to disappoint you, I know how it feels to miss someone. It's not a problem." Her tone was fluid, and she was actually thriving pretty well on her own. Talking to Jason was different than speaking with the Santiago family. He's very attractive for a human.. I feel awful now that I say it like that. How far I've fallen... She didn't have to walk on eggshells. She was beginning to anger Bishop with her constant fear of making him angry, but he was a hotheaded person, she couldn't help but worry that one day she'd slip up and he'd explode on her.

”This dinner you and… Tanzy was it?”

"Yes, her name was a bit difficult for me as well, but with time it will become second nature to pronounce." She assures him, bringing a spoonful of tomato bisque to her lips and quietly sipping it down. She wasn't really sure what to talk about, so she waited for him to say something else. She wasn't exactly good at conversation with strangers. Though he seemed a lot nicer than she first imagined. Her first impression was that Jason was going to be a creep. No one could blame her, the way he was staring anyone would have thought so.

”The dinner is really spectacular.”

"Thank you. Though I doubt you'll have to do a lot of cooking, so don't fret. I think your only household chores would be yard work and a few odd jobs.. Plus Lord Bishop is a very clean person so you'll only have to dust a few things and do his laundry. It's a fairly easy job working for him."

”Anise, how long have you worked here for the Santiagos?”

She took a drink of her wine, and blinked at the question. It's...been a long time... She thought to herself. She noticed she didn't answer aloud so she laughed a bit before speaking again, "I've worked here for a year and one week. Me and my sister both were sent here by our mother. There was a gruesome attack, rebels after the Santiago's land and my sister, among others, were consequently murdered during the madness." Her tone only shook a little as she spoke of the night, and of Alice. Though it bothered her more than words can describe.

"Keep staring boy, and I'll remove your eyes from your skull."

Bishop's tone brought a look of confusion to Anise's face. She turned to stare at her former employer. She wanted to ask what was bothering him, to ask if he was upset because he was hungry, but this wasn't the time or place. She was in charge of Castiel's care now and Bishop's well being wasn't her concern anymore, at least as far as Reiji was concerned.

"Dear brother, that's no way to present yourself to your new butler... I hand picked him, just for you. Apologize to the boy, now. I'm sure he's prepared a reasonable explanation for why he's gawking at your former maid."

She stood, bowing respectfully, "I apologize, Master Santiago.. but Jason was just telling me how he knew my sister, Alice... He never knew she had a twin so he was baffled by how well I resembled her. I was explaining that she died the night the rebels tried to murder the Santiago family." Though she left out the bit about the rebels being Werewolves...and the Santiago family were vampires.

She looked to Bishop, worried that there was a larger issue at hand than Jason's gawking, but unable to speak her mind due to Reiji's presence. She bowed again, staring down at the table. Then she looked to Castiel, "Anything I can get you, my lord?"

"I'm well enough Demetri. Nothing causing you trouble though, is there?"

"Aside from being given a new maid? Nothing... I feel pretty helpless. I couldn't protect Katerina nor Alice.. why should I be trusted with another fragile young girl? I mean...what is she fifteen at best? She's too young and I'm too useless to protect her from our enemies.. I've tried to forget, to push that night from my mind...but I just can't, brother.." He was taking Camilla's young age rather hard, but he made sure to keep his concerns quiet enough to keep them from reaching Camilla's ears. He kept his tone quiet enough that only vampire's could make out the words.

"I would like to make an announcement before we all become entangled in what I am certain will be quite meaningful conversation, I want to welcome Jason Olivander, Camilla Eden, and Jane Christopher to our home. I want everyone to give them the proper Castillo de la Muerte welcome... I am Reiji Santiago, acting head of house and your new employer. I have three rules, One... Do not steal from me or my family.... Two... Obey the lord or lady you've been assigned to... and Three... Never enter my living quarters under any circumstances... if I've made myself clear, I hope each of you find your stay.....tolerable.. With that, I urge everyone to enjoy their meal.... converse...and by all means, have fun.."

Reiji's speech despite being rather charismatic and necessary, was almost sickening to Demetri.. He knew it was simply because he knew the man behind his brother's facade, but he wished that the others were aware as well. He felt like a true monster for not telling Camilla to leave Castillo de la Muerte and never look back. She was a child and he was a monster for letting her stay here among his siblings.. He doubted half of the lot would survive the year.

”A toast. To new beginnings, new memories, and new relationships....To family.”

"To family..." Demetri added smiling to his sister before taking an extended sip from his glass. He was starting to agree with her more and more, maybe family was truly the only thing that would remain constant in their lives. Every love he'd ever taken, human or vampire had always ended rather abruptly, perhaps it was time to throw in the towel and put his heart and soul into caring for those who had no choice but to accept and love him. He hated tossing away his humanity like that, but it was just so damn painful to lose Katerina. He touched his lips, still familiar with how it felt to kiss her, even though it only happened twice. That was the best and yet somehow, also the worst part of being a vampire. Memory, you couldn't forget anything. I'll never forget... That is my punishment, but also bliss. It's so bittersweet..

"Keep staring boy, and I'll remove your eyes from your skull."

"Bishop, I doubt that's-"

"Dear brother, that's no way to present yourself to your new butler...I hand picked him, just for you. Apologize to the boy, now. I'm sure he's prepared a reasonable explanation for why he's gawking at your former maid."

Well this should be good... Demetri thought to himself, taking a drink of wine as he awaited Jason's excuse, but it never came. Instead, something more interesting unfolded. For the first time since that night, Anise spoke of her sister aloud. He thought she'd surely break into a million pieces, yet somehow she stood strong. He lost a brother that night, yet this human was handling everything she'd been through with grace. Losing her sister, being forced to serve a family of vampires, losing almost all of her former friends.. How did she do it?

"I apologize, Master Santiago.. but Jason was just telling me how he knew my sister, Alice... He never knew she had a twin so he was baffled by how well I resembled her. I was explaining that she died the night the rebels tried to murder the Santiago family."

"Tanzy, Camilla, Jane... it's time for dinner.. Please show them to their seats Tanzy."

Ohh, guess who. Camilla looked up swiftly as the voice came, willing herself not to glare at the man as he came down the stairs, the only girl of the family, Mirabelle leading him into the main hall. Of course, her obvious distaste of the man may be misdirected, but Camilla wasn’t one to bother even understanding him properly. First impressions were important, you may not get the chance to know them better. Moving to the seat marked with her name, Camilla slid in quickly, noticing that she and Jane were one of the few last ones to take their seats. Jason was already staring intently at Anise, giving her a strong urge to nudge the man. She was on tenterhooks with this family, unwilling to take any chances. Not with her employer around.

"Tonight, the appetizer is a creamy tomato bisque. For dinner, Anise and I have prepared deviled quail eggs, roast chicken, potato salad, fresh rolls, and corn on the cob. For dessert, Anise has created for you two rich cheesecakes, one apple, the other cherry. We have a chilled rosé wine for dinner, and for dessert we have a light chamomile tea."

It sounded and looked delicious, despite most of the names sounding foreign and posh to her. The layout of the utensils were confusing too, it was the first time she had seen so many forks and spoons. Which one should she use first, and where?

"Just in case...work your way in on the silverware. If you mess up a little no one will notice..."
Demetri, her “master” tilted his head toward her, whispering these words with a wink. Work your way in… Picking up the outermost spoon gingerly, she gave him a fleeting, anxious glance. Who knew eating was harder than taking on a fight. In fact, she was on the urge of crying for help, feeling rather helpless with the array of food before her, yet without any idea whatsoever of actually getting to it.
"Is there anything on the table you'd like me to reach for you, little dove?"

“I’m fine. I...guess.”
She didn’t sound very convincing, thats for sure, and with what she was feeling, she wasn’t. The atmosphere around the table was getting gradually more and more tense, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it. Perhaps all rich people do this? She had better get used to the dinners, and learn how to use everything quickly. Being in such a household was more difficult to adjust to than she thought, so she simply ignored everyone and tried her best to look composed, trying not to let anyone notice her discomfort.

"I would like to make an announcement before we all become entangled in what I am certain will be quite meaningful conversation, I want to welcome Jason Olivander, Camilla Eden, and Jane Christopher to our home. I want everyone to give them the proper Castillo de la Muerte welcome... I am Reiji Santiago, acting head of house and your new employer. I have three rules, One... Do not steal from me or my family.... Two... Obey the lord or lady you've been assigned to... and Three... Never enter my living quarters under any circumstances... if I've made myself clear, I hope each of you find your stay..... tolerable.. With that, I urge everyone to enjoy their meal.... converse...and by all means, have fun.."

Do not steal from me or my family? She tried her best to conceal the smirk that was slowly forming at the corners of her mouth. Who would notice? They had so much, surely they could spare some of it. They would never find out, no one she had nicked something from ever did.

"Keep staring boy, and I'll remove your eyes from your skull."

Her eyes moved toward the source of the voice to see another red head threaten Jason from looking at Anise. Things were just getting better and better gradually… She could hardly stand the choking atmosphere around the table, it was so different from what she had experienced. At least the man’s temper was something she had observed before.
Once more, she tuned out from the conversation, trying to remain nonchalent until...
"... she died the night the rebels tried to murder the Santiago family."
What? Her attention completely diverted, she looked toward Anise with curious eyes. Surprisingly, she wasn’t frightened by what she had heard, more curious about the incident. Murder and rebellions was’t something too foreign to the girl, and she had seen plenty of cases for both. Danger and death were two factors present in her daily life, a little more than she would have liked them to be.

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Jason watched Anise with curiosity. She had a sister and looked exactly like his Alice. He wondered briefly if it was her... If her sister was the love of his life. If the love of his life was now dead... "Keep staring boy, and I'll remove your eyes from your skull." Jason hears from down the table. He looks up to see who he thinks is Demetri's twin, Bishop, who also happened to be the one he serves. "I'm sorry sir, that was not my intention... I..." Jason began, stuttering and unsure what else to really say in such a situation. "Dear brother, that's no way to present yourself to your new butler.. I hand picked him, just for you. Apologize to the boy, now. I'm sure he's prepared a reasonable explanation for why he's gawking at your former maid," The one at the head of the table, Reiji, spoke. Jason ducked his head. Already he had stepped over some lines. This was who he served and he had been gawking at his former maid. That must not have been nice.

He was thankful when Anise spoke up, explaining the situation. Jason couldn't have said it better himself really, considering he didn't know how to say it at all... She was helping him even though they had just met, that was a good sign that people here would, or could, be nice and friendly. "I apologize, Master Santiago.. but Jason was just telling me how he knew my sister, Alice... He never knew she had a twin so he was baffled by how well I resembled her. I was explaining that she died the night the rebels tried to murder the Santiago family." Anise's words cut Jason and he knew it probably showed. So she was dead. Alice, the one he had done everything for was now dead. He eyes his wine glass now, the alcohol suddenly far more appealing now than it was moments ago. He nearly reached for it, had lifted his hand, then taken it back, tucking it under his other hand.

He didn't know what these people knew about him, but he wasn't going to let them see him go back to being an alcoholic, a bad one, when he had to make money. "Master Santiago, Lord Bishop, my apologies for causing any distress. I was really, surprised, to see Ms. Anise... Something like this won't happen again," Jason says respectfully. He really didn't like the way things were going. He really just wanted to go hide in his room for now. He knew he probably couldn't leave without permission and even worse, he probably had to go help Bishop with getting ready to sleep or something. He wondered what he'd have to do.

Jason was quiet the rest of dinner, mulling over the new discovery about Alice. He had wondered what had happened to her, had written to her over and over again and never sent the letters. They were even upstairs in his bag. He ate mechanically, and waited until dinner was over, hating every moment of sitting there with this family that seemed to be at odds ends with each other. He liked Anise, she was nice, but he didn't want to like her too much that Bishop would get mad, or overprotective, or jealous, or anything that could potentially result with Jason being out on the street the next morning with nothing but a fair back to his house.

He listened to the conversation, not speaking up as he wasn't sure if he could or not. He listened carefully, looking around at the brothers. He wondered if any of them were like Demetri who seemed abnormally different from the rest of them, excluding the twin he looked just like. Jason briefly wondered if he would be a problem with the family, causing stress and hoping that was not the case. Praying that wasn't the case as that would also be bad. Having half the household hate you? That would really be bad.

Jason's thoughts then went to the attack Anise had mentioned. Attack? Had she really said attack? What kind of attack would kill her sister. He didn't ask as he wondered what could have possibly happened. That was definitely a scary thing to think that the place he was now living at could potentially, eventually, go under attack yet again. How scary that thought was since he had only ever been in a few fights, most of which had been when he was drunk and had just gotten beaten up...

Sparing his twin a thoughtful and somewhat troubled glance, Bishop mulled over Demetri's words regarding how he was coping. Had the tragedy befallen anyone besides their family, he might have scoffed and commented on the hope of forgetting such a night. As it was, he simply thought of what he wished to say to Demetri, his words too private and gentle to be shared aloud with anyone but his twin. 'No one could forget such a night, no matter how much they may want to. It doesn't make you weak. Their fate is no fault of yours, brother...'

His scolding of the human male had an undesired effect of arousing Reiji's attention and his interference. Cursing the older vampire in his mind, Bishop was once more convinced Reiji went out of his way to piss him off and step on anyone else's toes. All while appearing like a gentleman. What an arrogant prick! About to growl at his sibling, Bishop went over the reprimand in his mind, sudden stark realization registering in his brain. Oh so that was what he was playing at? Trying to keep him on a leash and act like he gave a damn how the new hired help were treated. 'So that's your game you bastard? Fine, Two can play at that you pompous son of a bitch.' the redhead thought.

Forcing a calm, innocent smile on his face, Bishop turned to look Reiji in the eyes, fighting the powerful urge to shove the unwelcome hand from his shoulder. "You'll have to excuse me, brother. I merely wished to make it aware just how rudely the young man was behaving. After all, he seemed to forget that staring is quite impolite, and could even become disconcerning to some. After all, what if he were to stare at our dear little sister so? Or yourself? Or your new compulsive maid? Would it be any less unsightly and disrespectful were he to stare at anyone else? I may sound harsh, but I thought it might be startling enough to snap him from the habit more swiftly. Of course I'm not so deplorable that I'd punish him immediately, I merely wished to give him a warning to dissuade bad mannerisms. It'd be terribly awkward for him should he be in the presence of guests and he were to inadverdantly offend them." he explained matter of factly, only looking away to smile at Jason. "You'll have to pardon me, I meant simply to instruct you. My style is unorthodox, but I'm sure you'll become used to it eventually. I'm not heartless after all, just strict."

Satisfied with his answer, Bishop glanced over at Anise, shaking his head at her to signal her to not draw attention to herself, intent on keeping Reiji away from her. Though her words were meant to settle the situation and placate himself and Reiji, it did little to mollify the tempermental redhead. He could honestly care less why Jason was staring, it still pissed him off. Bishop turned back to look at the butler in question, watching him like a hawk. It was all he could do not to scowl at Anise and think of telling her off for not paying attention to his well being. She was his maid dammit! At least Castiel would keep her safe. Even so, it was maddening to watch what was clearly his serve another, even if it was the second-most trustworthy person in his life.

The dinner was definitely strained, but after the initial conflict was over it went much more smoothly. They went through each course and despite the new help not coming from rich backgrounds, they seemed to use most of the silverware in proper order. At least they were fast learners. He stood, bowing to his siblings and the help as everyone finished and he smiled a bit, "I excuse my siblings to depart to their rooms. Dinner is now over, but the help must care for the dishes and cleanup." He stated before pushing his chair in.

He adjusted his glasses before his eyes sternly landed on Tanzy, "After you finish your general duties here I request your presence in my study... it's in your best interest that you don't forget. You know what this is about, don't you love?" He smirked a bit before returning his attention to Anise, Jason, Camilla, and Jane. He didn't wish to meddle with the new help, so he decided that there was no one better to train them than little Anise. Well perhaps Tanzy, but she would be far too busy with him, explaining why her blood was in his brother's dish... Had anyone been rude enough to steal a sip before dinner, it could have proved disastrous for them all. What if one of the new help had escaped with the family's secret. He was almost boiling with rage, but kept his temper in check behind a frosted expression. He'd have plenty of time to see that his maid paid for her dangerous choice... one way or another.

The crimson eyed man then glared at Anise before smiling, it was so sweet that it almost made him nauseous just plastering the expression on his face, "Dear Miss. Delopar... why don't you show the new help to the rooms they will be cleaning after the dishes are done? Castiel's room is on the way after all so it only makes sense.. Besides.. you're fairly incompetent.. At least this is something that not even you can botch it up.."

He knew that his words would probably enrage Bishop, but he decided to retire to his room. He made his way past Bishop, whispering to him so no one else could hear, "At least I didn't order her to never speak to you again...or better yet... I could have erased her memory and pardoned her forever. Think on the bright side; you can still see her..." Then a sadistic look glittered in his eyes as he continued, "I do look forward to seeing your face the first time you see a bandage on her throat after leaving our brother's quarters..." He chuckled, patting his younger brother's shoulder before exiting the dining hall. He made his way to his study, removing his glasses once he made it to the desk. He'd have to make it clear to Tanzy that he would not stand for her defiance, whilst at the same time he needed to quench his own thirst. The smell of Tanzy's blood in Castiel's tomato bisque had tortured him the entire meal. He was on edge up until the moment he made it to his desk and could no longer smell the delectable scent.

He was nearly compelled to claw his nose off at the dinner table, but the fact of it growing back in mere minutes would have been hard to explain to the fresh bloods. He was quite agitated, but he'd get his anger out as soon as the young woman arrived...at least as much as he could without physically harming the girl. You'll rue the day you decided it was wise to defy me...

Somehow they made it through the dinner, and Tanzy felt a sinking dread as opposed to the tired and contented feeling one usually got when enjoying a full and fancy meal. Not even Anise's presence was enough to soothe her tonight, the compulsive female trying to gather every ounce of courage to face Reiji afterwards. No matter how mad he was, she couldn't falter and lose her nerve to bargain with the head of the house. She might not get another chance, and the consequences of not bringing it up were enough to make her sick.

Her heart felt as though it stopped for a second when Reiji's eyes landed on her, his voice demanding her attention and obedience. She was frozen like a rabbit before a fox, but somehow managed to convince her body to move once more. Swallowing hard, she nodded at his words, summoning her mind and lips to speak. "Y-yes sire. I shall be there shortly." Tanzy answered, gesturing the new help to follow her and Anise.

Picking up all the dishes and discarding of any scraps came first, followed by a dusting of the tablecloth, cleaning the dishes, and sweeping the floors. It took less time than usual with all of the help, despite Tanzy 'fixing' certain aspects of how others went about doing the chores. All too soon, the cleaning was finished, and she managed a quick hug and good night to Anise, smiling in as reassuring a manner as she could muster.

Trembling slightly in trepidation, the maid approached the study with a sick feeling of dread in her gut, almost to the point where she thought she'd lose her dinner. What had before seemed like a long distance between parts of the estate seemed like mere feet, standing before the study with fear in her heart. Lifting a hand, she knocked first as she always did, announcing her presence. "M-master Reiji....I'm here." she announced, gingerly opening the door and stepping inside what felt like a waiting death trap.

"I excuse my siblings to depart to their rooms. Dinner is now over, but the help must care for the dishes and cleanup."

The dinner felt like it had taken forever, but she spent it assisting Castiel in any way required of her, the rest of the time staring down at her food. She barely ate aside from the Tomato Bisque and some of the Roasted chicken. Honestly she didn't feel comfortable dining among the siblings. It always proved... disastrous, just like tonight.

"Dear Miss. Delopar... why don't you show the new help to the rooms they will be cleaning after the dishes are done? Castiel's room is on the way after all so it only makes sense.. Besides.. you're fairly incompetent.. At least this is something that not even you can botch it up.."

She clenched her fist keeping her eyes low, the last thing she needed was to spark any more fury from Reiji. Though his departure did little to cheer her up. Her pride as a chambermaid had been entirely lacerated in one fell swoop. Is that really what Reiji thinks of me? Am I truly an ineffectual servant? Had she not been assigned a duty, she probably would have collapsed then and there, but she nodded as Tanzy ushered the others to follow, and she bowed to Bishop, Demetri, Castiel and Mirabelle. She left without a word, afraid she'd choke on them. The tears that were demanding escape from her lashes were burning, blurring her vision, but she had a task at hand. She nearly tripped and dropped the dishes she held, but managed to rectify her balance. At least nothing broke.. She thought, possibly the most positive thought she'd had the entire day.

"Y-yes sire. I shall be there shortly."

Anise's woeful gaze landed on Tanzy and she gave the girl a weak assuring smile. She wasn't sure what Reiji wanted, but judging by his attitude since dinner began, she was sure nothing good would come from allowing Tanzy behind closed doors with that monster. She silently rushed to assist Tanzy, checking on the abilities of the other's out of the corner of her eye. She didn't expect too much, but was impressed. They were a lot more help than she'd expected. Though Tanzy and herself would have plenty of time later to aid the others in honing their skills. She pointed to the bin of waste, before forcing herself to speak, "Jason, would you mind carrying the metal bin outside and burning that? I suggest a cloth over your face.." She retrieved one, extending it to him. She avoided eye contact with the others, afraid of showing her weakness to them. They'd definitely find her sensitivity to mere words to be moronic.

She hugged Tanzy back, running a hand through the other woman's hair before releasing her, "Do be careful.." She warned her friend, sighing as she fled to her Master's request. Anise was growing to detest life as a servant. There wasn't a single perk to her job... not one.. It only brought the humans who resided here pain, suffering and possibly an invitation to an early grave. She turned her attention quickly to Jane, Camilla and Jason, after he'd been given proper time to return. Then her eyes landed on Camilla and she swept over to the wine cabinet, handing the small girl a bottle, "I nearly forgot...Lord Demetri likes a glass of wine before bed and two when he wakes. It never seems to effect his sobriety. He likes off-dry wines, with a fruity or sweet flavor... I can help you learn the types if you're unfamiliar."

Then her eyes turned to Jason, "L-Lord Bishop doesn't like a lot of questions. Do your job and hold your tongue. If he asks a question, answer it, but never forget to address him the way he tells you to." She nodded quickly, rubbing the back of her neck, a small blush forming on her face, "I was terrified when I became his maid... but he's really not as mean as he puts himself out to be..." She added, unsure of why she felt awkward saying that aloud. I'm serving Castiel now. He doesn't seem nearly as terrifying. Actually it makes me sad to see him this way..

Finally she turned her attention to Jane, "Lady Santiago is quite nice, as long as you show respect. I haven't had much time to familiarize myself with her, but she doesn't seem very strict. You should be fine. I'm regretful that I cannot give you tips on how to please her." She smiled gently, then clapped her hands together with a closed eyes, "Does anyone have questions before I show you to the rooms you'll be tending to for the duration of your stay?" She just wanted to get this all over with so she could preform her own duties and get some fresh air before bed. None of that would happen if they didn't get a move on.

As far as Bishop was concerned, dinner was far too long, and more than enough of his brother's arrogant face being thrust upon him for one week, never mind one evening. At long last, dinner had come to an end, the temperamental red head swallowing the last bite of the cherry cheesecake crafted by his maid. It didn't matter what Reiji said. As far as he was concerned, Anise was just on loan to his eldest sibling, but she still belonged to him. Not like the butler would last long anyways.

As Bishop and his siblings stood, Reiji's words buzzed in his ear like an annoying but ignorable little pest. It wasn't until Anise was brought up and he was being scorned- no, --taunted by his brother that he felt his ire return with a vengeance. Emerald eyes narrowed into slits, Bishop hissed at Reiji's retreating form, hating his every fiber at that moment. The pompous git pissed him off even more than he thought possible, and Bishop's nails dug into his palms until it stung. Damn bastard!

Were it not for Demetri, Anise, and his other siblings, Bishop would have lost it. As it was, he silently seethed as he helped Castiel up, giving his twin a look that clearly conveyed his hatred of the self proclaimed new head of house. It should have been Reiji that got attacked by the damn wolves- -not Castiel! If only Castiel was still in control..if only he could regain his power, his memories.
As much as he respected the blonde, the image conjured up by Reiji was still unacceptable to him. Anise was his food...his human! It was not in his nature to share.

It was Demetri's voice that brought him from his bitter musings, earning a nod from Bishop as he began to head off after Demetri with Castiel in toe. " Of course. I'll be in my room after I make sure our brother gets to his room without incident." he explained to his twin as he looked over at the humans. He paused to watch Anise for a moment, suspicious of Reiji even when he wasn't in sight. Before he could turn back around, Jason caught his eye, and Bishop once more cursed Reiji to hell and back, realizing he had to deal with his appointed human as well. Lovely.

"You...Jason, was it? You are to come and knock at my door as soon as you finish. No detours, no complaints. Disobedience will not be tolerated." Bishop all but barked at the poor unsuspecting human, turning his back and assisting Castiel to his room, making only small talk with Demetri for now.

Jason groaned inwardly again as he sat looking down at his food until he hear Bishop speaking to him agian, immediately turning his attention to the brother. "You'll have to pardon me, I meant simply to instruct you. My style is unorthodox, but I'm sure you'll become used to it eventually. I'm not heartless after all, just strict." Jason nodded his understanding. He could handle a strict boss, he wasn't sure how the two would get along though... Hopefully Jason didn't piss Bishop off enough that Bishop was done with the young man.

When Reiji anounced the end of dinner, Jason wondered how many eternities dinner had lasted. Jason felt bad for Anise. He had drawn too much attention to her by staring at her and he knew he probably seemed like some creep that all the brothers had to keep an eye on for now. Great. "You...Jason, was it? You are to come and knock at my door as soon as you finish. No detours, no complaints. Disobedience will not be tolerated." Jason nodded his understanding as he began to assist with clearing the table. "Yes sir," He says politely as he follows Anise and Tanzy to the kitchen.

Jason watched Tanzy without much emotion as he put the dirty dishes where he saw the others put the rest of them, not knowing whether or not he should be concerned or carefree about the girl. She did hug Anise and seemed worry, so maybe he should too be worried.

"Jason, would you mind carrying the metal bin outside and burning that? I suggest a cloth over your face..." Anise said handing him a cloth. Jason noticed that Anise seemed to be avoiding eye contact. Was she mad at him about dinner? He would ask her at a more appropriate time, when there weren't so many people around. He felt he knew her just becasue he knew her sister. He looked to the bin of waste and nodded. He didn't mind doing it and retrieved the bin as well as a nearby set of matches that must have been used to light the fires used in the kitchen. He tucked the matches into his pocket with the cloth and carried the waste bin outside, surprised slightly by the weight of the bin. He set it maybe twenty feet from the castle of a house and took out the matches. It took him two or three times to light the matches, his hands shaking slightly from all that was happening. He took a deep breath, striking the last one and smiling when it produced a flame. He tossed the flaming match onto the heap within the waste bin and proceeded to watch it burn. He forgot about the cloth until the smell and smoke hit him. He then took the cloth out and covered his nose and mouth, not wanting to have the stench so clearly.

Shortly after, he carried the empty waste bin back inside, setting it where he had gotten it earlier. "L-Lord Bishop doesn't like a lot of questions. Do your job and hold your tongue. If he asks a question, answer it, but never forget to address him the way he tells you to." She nodded quickly, rubbing the back of her neck, a small blush forming on her face, "I was terrified when I became his maid... but he's really not as mean as he puts himself out to be..." Jason nodded, somewhat terrified after hearing that though he pushes the fear away. He would try to assist this man as much as he could. He looked back to Anise upon being addressed again. His eyes wide as he listens before shaking his head no. He ran his hand across his neck, slightly nervous and uncomfortable for whatever reason. He takes a deep breath before giving a smile and looking around.

"It was a pleasure to meet you all. I suppose I'd better get upstairs to Lord Bishop. When should I come downstairs tomorrow?" Jason asks just to see. He nods in response to the answer, thanks Anise once more, says goodnight, and begins up the stairs.

He's careful to retrace his steps in his head from where his room was. He emerged on the top of the staircase and went to Bishop's room, hesitating at the door. He raised his hand, then lowered it. He took a deep breath, hoping that nobody around was watching. He took a few more deep breaths, then knocked. "Ah, sir, it's Jason," Jason says clearly but not too loudly. He didn't want to cause anyone who might have gone to bed to wake and have an excuse to yell at him.

Jane was silent for the rest of dinner. She kept sneaking glances at those around her, interested to observe those she will be working for in the coming weeks and months. The announcement made by the head of the house, Reiji, was somewhat unnerving though Jane had no fear of breaking those rules. She would help Mirabella as much as possible for the girl couldn't be more than a year or two younger than Jane. Jane figured the two could be like... sisters she supposed.

She was grateful of Tanzy trying to help with her helplessness towards dinner. She smiled at Tanzy and looked down again. She picked up the correct utensil, or at least what she thought might be, and continued pushing the food around though when it came to desert, her sweet tooth wouldn't let her skip over the delectable finale.

Jane was watching the blonde brother when she heard a voice snap. She looked around to find that one of the twins, she had no clue the difference between their appearance, and was disappointed about her inability to make such connections so quickly, had just snapped at Jason. She figured it was Bishop and not the bubbly Demetri because Demetri is much more... well, bubbly. Reiji practically called Jason out about his staring at Anise. Jane found that this dinner had gone quite awkward very quickly.

Jane smiled slightly, uncertainly and not entirely real, at the toast, still nervous about everything going on. Anise apologized and Jason looked mortified. The brothers were practically at each others throats and Jane could see it. What had she gotten herself into? What other choice did she have though?

When dinner was over, she was happy. She wasn't keen on being called "the help" but she figured it was better than "those lower than us". She caught the "love" at the end of Reiji's demand to Tanzy and wondered briefly why the family seemed keen on calling those around them "love" or "dove". She might ask Demetri if she got a chance to talk to him. The jibe at Anise was unsteadying to hear. Tanzy seemed concerned upon being called upon but Jane figured it was just because of the new arrangements that seemed to be going about.

"Jane? Do you mind meeting me after your chores are done? I’ll be in our bathing chambers. We have lots to discuss." Jane had began to clear away the table when she had felt Mirabelle's hand on her shoulder. "I'll be there," Jane says before realizing that probably wasn't what she should have said as it seemed too informal. "I mean, I'm sorry, I'll be-... yes ma'am," Jane manages after struggling to find polite words. She was never really into being formal around the farm and this was such a change in surrounding.

"Lady Santiago is quite nice, as long as you show respect. I haven't had much time to familiarize myself with her, but she doesn't seem very strict. You should be fine. I'm regretful that I cannot give you tips on how to please her." Jane nodded, not all too surprised about the lack of tips. Mirabelle seemed like an out there girl and didn't seem too much like she would have had many servants.

Jane was thankful when she was shown the room that Mirabelle was in as she was bound to have gotten lost, even in such a place as this with all the bedrooms on one floor, or at least, all the ones being used on this floor. She knocked then remembered that Mirablelle said she was going to be in the bathing room. She looked around and nearly knocked on one of the nearby doors in hope of guessing correctly before she looked around again. This was the wing for the family, maybe she shouldn't knock on any door. Demetri was likely to help, the blonde brother at dinner hadn't seemed bad or good, and... those were the ones that seemed most likely to help on this side of the house.

Jane thought back to earlier when she had wandered. Hadn't she seen a room that looked like a bathing room? She wasn't entirely sure, but hoped so. She walked back towards where her room was and was happy to see light coming from beneath the door of a nearby room that wasn't one of the other helps' rooms. She knocked and was relieved to find Mirabelle inside when she entered. "Sorry it took so long, got lost along the way. Can I help you with your hair?" Jane asked as she saw Mirablle already in the steaming tub. She guessed that was what she was supposed to do. It was wasn't it?

"I'm sorry, I really don't know what I'm doing. I've never had to work with anything like this, or be formal, or... well... anything like this. I'm... I'm rambling again... Sorry," Jane finishes, shaking her head slightly as he stands by the closed door, not sure what to do. She felt stupid not knowing what to do and hated the feeling. Maybe she could get some lessons about etiquette and stuff from someone in the house, preferably not Mirabelle just so she wouldn't know how incompetent Jane was.

“I’m sorry if its private to you, but what happened to your sister exactly?”

Jane and Jason left and seemed to find their way around the castle rather easily without her, so Anise stood with Camilla and listened to what Camilla had to ask. Anise's eyes widened a little, but she was growing accustomed to answering that question. She took a deep breath, and smiled weakly at the small girl. Camilla was a child, but she couldn't save her from this gruesome world. Lying to her would do the small girl no service, "My twin was murdered in the wine cellar along with a maid named Olivia." She finally admitted, grabbing a silver platter and a wine glass, along with a corkscrew and a cloth napkin. She placed them on the table, brushing her ebony hair out of her face, "It was in the fall, around this time of year... and we were at a ball. The siblings got each of us gorgeous gowns.. all us maids were giddy, delighted to be invited to a rich person's event. They hired temporary help so we could enjoy the night... and I lost Alice in the crowd." She informed, eyes closed as the event replayed in her head. She could feel her fingers trembling as it played in her mind like a broken record, "She was found by Demetri, he was covered in blood. When we went back for her body, after the attack.. I couldn't even recognize her, only her shoes identified the body. We lost four people that night... Lord Castiel nearly died that night, and Master Santiago has taken over his duties for the duration of the Master's recovery." She smiled a bit, confident that one day Castiel would make a full recovery. She thought there was no evil worse than Castiel the day he looked deep into her soul and practically promised to kill Alice if she didn't learn to comply to his restrictions. Though Anise was introduced to Reiji, Werewolves.. There was much worse out there than the blonde Santiago and she actually found herself missing the man he used to be. Regardless of how terrifying he was, she felt safe under his roof. She didn't feel safe in her own quarters since Reiji took power, she could barely sleep knowing that the thin thread that stood as a border between life and death for her and her coworkers was in the hands of the dark haired tyrant didn't ease her anxiety. "They're all buried in a graveyard out back.. Those...monsters who called themselves men... I'll never forget them. Lord Bishop, Lady Mirabelle and Lord Demetri let me get revenge. I killed the man that took my sister's life... but it never brought me any peace... Just more nightmares."

Then she forced a chuckle, grabbing the items she brought along for Demetri, putting the platter in Camilla's hand and balancing the bottle on top of it, "I'll walk behind you just in case you drop it. I've done it a couple times myself." She winked, hoping that the young girl wouldn't be harsh on herself. She was too young to expect herself to be perfect at the job, Anise was still learning some things herself, "You'll get the hang of things... you remind me of Alice a bit.. the facial expressions I mean. We can work on those lessons during our free time. Feel free to knock when I'm not tending to Lord Castiel."

Then she caught a glimpse of black hair sprinting down the hall. She rubbed her eyes, ignoring it. She had seen Alice many times since her death, but if she brought it up, she'd surely be put to death for insanity. Sickness of the mind was a flight risk, especially in her line of work. She couldn't afford to get caught hallucinating. She brought the small girl outside of Demetri's room, smiling a bit. "Good luck..." and she waved with a comforting smile before continuing on to Castiel's quarters. She knocked quietly, knowing the blonde could hear her words, "I'll be standing outside if you need me, Mi'lord." She crossed her arms behind her back, standing outside of the room. He'd been quiet thus far, ever since he rescued her from Reiji earlier that day. Had she angered him?

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Silence dominates Castiel’s evening as he watches foreign faces interact with one another. On occasion, they would attempt to engage him in conversation, but he merely offers a nod or a shake of his head as a response. His lack of communication does not stem from disdain nor spite. This alienation is rooted where uncertainty dwells. He simply does not know what to say, how to say it, or when to speak. Instead, he opts for everlasting silence to make it through dinner. The silverware is hot against his full lips as he sips quietly at his soup. He’s not sure why, but he’s feeling a surge of energy with every vitalizing intake. He must give his compliments to the chef of this feast because whatever ingredient they added to his dish is definitely to his liking. His tongue laps at the excess soup on the corn of his mouth.

Deep, thoughtful cerulean hues scan the table as the buzz of conversation alights the room. He’s merely a spectator; an outsider looking into this bizarre realm of power and blood. His gaze snaps to the woman he protected earlier. He’s studying her face, taking it in for the first time. She’s delicate in every sense of the word; from the natural rosiness of her cheeks to the wideness of her eyes. She’s exuding innocence and it becomes evident why his brother would want to watch this poor soul squirm. She’s weak. Castiel can only imagine how terrifying he was to her before this fiasco. If the rumors are correct, he used to be as ruthless as they come; bloodthirsty and sadistic. He can see himself cornering her just like Reiji and making her beg for mercy…a chill slides down his stiff spine at the thought of harming another. This is how he knows he’s changed. He can’t even think about murder without feeling sick.

Much like the innocent maid…Castiel has become weak.

Dinner ends faster than he expects, but he doesn’t question it. In fact, he maintains that silence even as he’s escorted into his quarters. Muttering a half-hearted thank you, Castiel ventures into his sanctuary. The moment the door shuts behind him, he deflates. The former ruthless bloodsucker crawls into his bed, eyes trained on the ceiling overhead. He’s toying with bottom lip, pressing his fangs against the supple flesh. It’s hard to believe that these same fangs tore through more epithelium than he can count.

His thoughts derail him, causing him to drift into another realm. As a result, his fang nicks his lip, allowing a thin trail of rubicund slide down the pink surface. He sighs, licking the essence away as he stares into oblivion with no purpose in his azure gaze. He doesn’t know how long he’s been laying there before he hears that familiar chime-like voice on the other side of the door.

Castiel glances at the door, brows furrowed before he decides that this is as good a chance as any to get some insight on who he used to be. He stands, briskly walking to the door before opening it. He towers over her, but offers a small smile that doesn’t reach his eyes as he leans nonchalantly against the door frame. The last thing he wants to do is scare her.

“I need you,” he says as he runs his fingers through his hair. “Won’t you come in, Anise?”

When she heard the door open, Anise spun on her heels quickly. She had her back to the door, but quickly found herself staring at a rather laid-back torso. She lifted her gaze until her eyes landed on Castiel's face. Then it dawned upon her. In this moment, she was currently standing closer to Castiel than she had ever been in the duration of her stay at Castillo de la Muerte. Her face flushed a dark shade of crimson once the situation sank in. It wasn't until this moment that Anise noticed their drastic height difference. She found herself taking a single step back, to put a relaxing distance between the two of them. He is...practically a foot taller than me... She wasn't even short for a woman, yet she felt undeniably petite standing before him. She realized that her attempt to acquire space might have offended him, but Anise's instinctive action wasn't done out of fear. She stepped back out of respect, but also due to her innocent nature. She took the step back to alleviate the constant anxiety being too close to Castiel or Bishop brought. The two of them always found ways to unnerve her. Though neither made a crude pass at her, she always felt the need to visit a confessional after an encounter. The feeling vexed her, for she had not done anything indecent.

Demetri nor Reiji activated the same feeling of sin. Demetri was overly eccentric and cadaverous.. not to mention she could never remove the image of him stumbling in, covered in foreign blood. She didn't realize the severity of his 'feast' until she caught wind of the attack on a nearby village... he slaughtered them all. She felt nothing but terror when Reiji or Demetri approached, other than nausea, perhaps. She understood this feeling, knew exactly what ailed her, but she dared not breathe it to life. If she admitted it, even for a moment, it would plague her once again, a thousand fold. When she realized Tanzy's feelings for the blonde, Alice's hatred, Anise cast her own crush aside. It wasn't until his injured form was returned to the manor that they hit her in the face like a brick wall. He was dead, or so she thought.

Now here he stood.. Pull yourself together Anise.. Breathe She felt horrible being attracted to both, especially since the two were brothers. Her only solace in the matter was knowing she wasn't stringing either of them along. Neither one seemed interested in anything about her, aside from her blood or using her as a source of amusement at times. So was she so awful for finding them both attractive? It wasn't like she acted on said attractions!

“I need you. Won’t you come in, Anise?”

To her delight she was rescued from her destructive thoughts, seeing as Castiel disrupted her mental process when he spoke. Thank god.. Please get my mind off of this.. The feeling that Bishop brought, she suddenly felt in that moment when her eyes landed on Castiel, who had been in a far slimmer proximity than she found comfortable just moments before. She could feel her heartbeats sinking to a far more subtle pace, and she let out a relieved smile, "C-certainly, Lord Castiel." she responded quickly, noticing she hesitated for several moments. She gave a quick curtsy, hoping he wouldn't mind her moment of fixation. It was a little embarrassing that her emotions seemed to constantly rest on her sleeves. Her facial expression always gave her away, regardless of her attempts.. not to mention she would often doze off into silent thought, deaf to the world around her. It didn't make her job any easier.

She waited for the blonde to allow her enough room to slip by him, without physical contact...at least she preferred it. The thought he would be able to hear even the slightest spike in her heartbeat made her feel a little reluctant to touch him. Something about his blonde hair and blue eyes. Aside from Mirabelle, Castiel was possibly one of a handful of people she'd ever met with such fair locks of hair. At first it was his appearance that she found intimidating, but it was accompanied by intelligence and maturity as well. He likely would forget more things in his lifetime than she'd ever get the chance to learn. There also was the small fact that he was once a terrifying and sadistic force to be reckoned with. He seemed much gentler now, but she wasn't sure what other traits had changed due to his loss of memory. She wanted to be...cautious. She stepped inside, standing professionally as possible, "What is it you need, my lord? I am at your service." the formalities came much smoother since Bishop had a preference of being called 'Master Bishop'.