Bishop J. Santiago's Story

Bishop glanced down at the human in his arms, not expecting to hear such a vehement denial of being in any sort of meaningful relationship with the so called Derek fellow. While it was pleasing to hear her deny having feelings for the human, the vampire lord wondered if she wasn't just trying to protect him. Her nervous combing of her ebony locks, coupled with the soft voice explaining how she treated her childhood friend, made Bishop frown. Why was she so fidgety around him? Sure, some anxiety was amusing, and seeing his maid flustered was entertaining, but he hated the thought that she might actually fear him. How many times did he have to assure her she was safe with him? It was more than just mildly frustrating.

Not to mention, obviously his little Anise cared enough about this Derek fellow to send correspondence and money. Not exactly the actions of someone who hated another. That, coupled with her warm, thoughtful smile earned an agitated twitch. Whatever this feeling was, he didn't care for it. Jealousy began to burn, but it would be a cold day in hell before he'd acknowledge the feeling for what it was. Instead, he scowled at her even as she sighed, her nostalgia far more irksome than he'd like to admit. She should be looking at HIM with that warm smile. "Childhood friends huh? Still a pathetic excuse of a man to not be concerned about his friend enough to at least try to find out what happened. Besides, he obviously liked you more than a friend." he retorted a little harsher than he had intended. Bishop clenched his jaw tightly, feeling her anxiety as well as hearing her heartbeat fluctuate accordingly to said anxiety. He glanced away from her with what could only be properly categorized as a pout. An angry one, but a pout none the less.

What brought him from his bitter and brooding thoughts was Anise's revelation that she had never been with a man, nor had she even shared a first kiss. That got his attention.

Eyes fixing upon the young woman once more, the redhead's initial look of surprise soon morphed into a pleased and slightly mischievous smirk. Her realization of what she had just confessed nearly elicited a chuckle, her flushed cheeks a rewarding sight to behold. Cute. "Is that so...?" he mused thoughtfully, about to continue probing into this most interesting confession, only to be interrupted by her silly concerns. Was she really that afraid of social constructs, or did she dislike the idea of dancing with him that much? The only logical point she made was the reaction of the vampires in attendance.

"None of them would be stupid enough to reveal what they are in a room full of people, and only the prick is foolish enough to drink from someone who is clearly the human of another. Besides, it's easy enough to remedy your wounds. Take a drink of my blood, or I can wash you up in a more traditional sense..." Bishop reasoned, the sound of clapping reaching his sensitive ears. Someone was the center of attention on the dance floor it would seem- most likely Demetri with his charms and skillful dancing if he were to guess. His twin always got at least one ovation during these types of parties.

Bishop found himself scowling once more at the thought of dancing with the simpering idiots inside his home. None of those women wanted him for him. They wanted what he was, what he could offer them. They were bred to be pretty, poised, pleasing, and all of them were as fragile as they were entitled. "Again, do I give a damn? There is no rule that says I must dance with them. The norm may be to socialize, but I have no interest in dealing with simpering idiots all night. Our reputation will survive me not dancing with them. Angelo would usually hide from these events, at least I bother to attend." Bishop paused, going silent in a moment of remembrance for his elder sibling. The quiet brother would always have to be dragged out, and he would often be the one to help Demetri entice the older vampire out into the public. Those were good times...

Shaking away his nostalgia, Bishop huffed at the idea of dancing with the noble ladies once more. "They don't care about me, why the hell should I care about them?" he muttered irritably, only to reach the entrance of the castle. Debating a moment, he finally relented and gently placed Anise on her feet, but he made no move to let her go. One arm was laced around her middle, keeping her at his side. With his free hand, Bishop reached out, tilting Anise's chin up with his thumb and forefinger so she had to meet his gaze. "Why does it bother you so? Are you really that opposed to a single dance with me? Do you find me repulsive?" he asked, eyes boring intently into hers for a few long seconds before pulling back ever so slightly- still keeping her close and her chin in his hand.

It took a few deep breaths to calm him down, the vampire lord replaying her most interesting confession in his mind. That's right, he never did address that little gold nugget of information, did he? The corner of his lips twitched in the beginnings of an amused smirk.

"Back to your most intriguing revelation...you have never been with a man? Truly? None has touched these lips of yours..." Bishop's voice lowered to a sultry tone, releasing her chin and slowly tracing her lips with the pad of his finger. Looking down at his human, Bishop felt an increasing desire to drink from that pretty neck of hers. What else could he do to make her cheeks flush such a fair pink once more? What else would make her cling to him and allow herself to not resist his hold?

The redhead licked his lips, leaning close to her neck and allowing his breath to caress her skin from a mere inch away. Feeling rather bold and mischievous, he flicked his tongue out to taste her fair skin, right where the blood pulsed in her neck. A bit of a mistake, as his fangs only ached all the more, but he resisted the urge. "Tell me, how would you feel if I decided I wanted to have a taste of your lips? If I wanted to be the one to steal your first kiss?" he purred, eager to see how she'd respond.




Tanzy dared to glance up as her master continued to lead her in the dance, the music pleasing to her ears and not unduly difficult to move with. For a moment, Reiji seemed calm and peaceful, neither his smirk nor his teasing grin evident upon his features. She almost found herself lost in her own little world, just looking up at the contented look upon her usually intimidating master, surrounded by beautiful music and actually dancing like a noble lady. The applause further added to the fantastical feeling, amazed people would actually be clapping for her. Well, Reiji deserved most of the credit for being a perfect lead, but it was reassuring to know she wasn't screwing up too bad- that she was passing as at the very least an adequate partner.
She allowed her gaze to remain on the vampire's face, relaxing slightly as she marveled at his - dare she say- happy expression? It was a nice look on him to be sure...

Soon enough, he was grinning at her again, and Tanzy's heart began to pound furiously in embarrassment. She knew her cheeks were beginning to heat up again, nearly stumbling and letting out another squeak- though she caught it just in time. She never got a chance to reply to his teasing before she felt his skin just grazing her neck along with his breath. Her voice caught in her throat, cheeks burning a cherry red. This time she had to bite her lip to hold back a mortified squeak, suddenly remembering her utterly embarrassing situation the day before. Why oh why was she thinking about his looks?! "I-I never meant that m'lord!" she managed to say, shaking her head to emphasize she wasn't suggesting he was not the ideal specimen. Even though she was fairly certain he was still just screwing with her, she didn't want him to misunderstand her.

Tanzy got little chance to try and explain herself or avoid further abashment, Reiji releasing his hold slightly and letting out a sigh. She immediately stiffened slightly, wondering if she had crossed a line or upset him. Instead of a warning or a calm scolding as she expected, he urged her to not dwell on her mistakes of the evening, and he would let it go without incident. His only warning was that she might risk his fangs by stirring him up. Before she could sink into darker thoughts and mull over her friend's bite, her partner flashed her a wink, prompting her to go back to enjoying the music. Already flustered and swimming in a whirlwind of emotions, she simply nodded mutely. The sudden dip was less of a shock the second time around, but it was no less effective at making her cheeks heat up at the closeness, and the feel of him cradling her body with his arm.

Soon enough, Reiji's amused gaze was back on her, and Tanzy felt her heart skip at the sudden tickle of his breath on her ear, a perplexed look crossing her features. So he wanted a kiss, not in public, but would seek to improve her family's stations in exchange would she be bold enough to kiss him out in the open? She flushed at his chuckle, trying to ponder his intentions. His tone further messed with her, his sultry voice eliciting a shiver as it tickled her sensitive ear. The maid could practically feel the heat in her cheeks as he pulled her close once more. Tanzy glanced up at Reiji, searching for his meaning. "But you said...I mean, you don't want me to be brazen, surely? That would be too scandalous." she asked tentatively, tilting her head slightly in a question.

"Childhood friends huh? Still, a pathetic excuse of a man to not be concerned about his friend enough to at least try to find out what happened. Besides, he obviously liked you more than a friend."

Biting her bottom lip, Anise remained quiet for a moment. She wasn't sure what was going on with Bishop, but his tone was a little more hostile than she was used to, "I.... I am aware, but what does it matter now, Mi'lord...? Am I no longer needed..? Is that why he should have come..?" Anise stammered wondering why he seemed to care so much about something as trivial as who had been smitten with her over a year ago. It no longer mattered, as Derrek was married and she was contracted to remain in the castle with nowhere else to go. When he glanced away she was able to relax a bit, curious about Bishop's sudden irritation. Why did he care so much? Or perhaps he was hinting that her presence was not wanted here after all? Anise was left with so many questions that it left her head spinning. Her tone of voice was soft but very confused and questioning.

"Is that so...?"

That smirk unnerved her, and a shiver ran up her spine. Her cheeks were red hot. She could have cooked an egg on her cheeks she was so flustered by her slip of the tongue, "U-Uhm... I... It's not worth talking about, Mi'lord. I assure you it is inconsequential....and boring, very boring!" she softly muttered, hoping he would just forget that she had said anything. Anise attempting to shield her blush from his view by clasping one of her slender hands over her face. Every second felt like minutes now that she was so embarrassed. Was the walk to the castle normally this long? Suddenly she found herself praying for the topic to change.

"None of them would be stupid enough to reveal what they are in a room full of people, and only the prick is foolish enough to drink from someone who is clearly the human of another. Besides, it's easy enough to remedy your wounds. Take a drink of my blood, or I can wash you up in a more traditional sense..."

The last thing she wanted to do was drink blood of any sort, but vampire blood even less. She was sure that had something to do with being turned into one of his kind... The last thing she wanted to do was risk being turned. She enjoyed being human. She enjoyed daylight and she wanted to one day be reunited with Alice, and she had to stay dead for that to ever become possible, "I don't want to risk... becoming a vampire... If something were to happen, if I were poisoned again... I'll never see Alice again that way." Anise responded in a genuine tone, keeping her voice soft. Anise had overheard Demetri talking about it once, so she was fairly confident that the human had to ingest vampire blood to become one. She only hoped it was not another one of Bishop's twin's tricks. Though she began to wonder what he meant by him washing her, "W-Wait what..?"

"Again, do I give a damn? There is no rule that says I must dance with them. The norm may be to socialize, but I have no interest in dealing with simpering idiots all night. Our reputation will survive me not dancing with them. Angelo would usually hide from these events, at least I bother to attend."

To his question, she shook her head, knowing very well Bishop did not follow rules very well. At the mention of Angelo, that only further verified that she did not wish to become like Bishop and his siblings. She did not want to spend hundreds of years living, missing her sister. When he mentioned bothering to attend, like his presence was the grace of god, Anise couldn't help giggling a bit. His arrogance was very amusing at times like this, but most of the time it kept her too nervous to even eat a full meal afterward. He had a way of getting under her skin. She knew that she was attracted to him, but saying such things aloud, that could never be taken back... Also, as a maid, it was not her place to have feelings for a Lord. It was forbidden. Such relationships were scandalous, and scandal was not good for a noble family.

"They don't care about me, why the hell should I care about them?"

Those words struck a chord within her. He disliked them because they did not care about him? Just how lonely is Lord Bishop? Anise asked herself, her eyes softening. Just what had he been through? How many women had damaged him? She couldn't help but wonder such things, but just thinking about how many women Bishop had 'experienced' only made her insanely jealous. Now Anise was the one glancing away simmering with jealousy. However, it was far from Bishop's fault. It was her own thoughts that soured her mood. He had likely been with hundreds, if not thousands over the centuries... and she had just admitted she had been with no one. He probably thinks I'm pathetic... Some kind of defect product... Anise thought to herself, then she remembered that's exactly what she was. After her mother scarred her arm, Anise's 'worth' dropped drastically in the eyes of suitors. Not to mention she came from a poor family with no dowry..?

As her feet met cold concrete, Anise glanced up at Bishop for the first time since she had managed to make herself insecure and immeasurably jealous. His arm around her kept her from stepping away. Then he tipped her chin upward. Anise let out a gasp, rattled beyond belief. She knew what was coming, more teasing and confusing statements. He was definitely going to mess with her. Meeting his gaze only made her more embarrassed, but she did not have much of a choice.

"Why does it bother you so? Are you really that opposed to a single dance with me? Do you find me repulsive?"

Biting the inside of her cheek, Anise realized she would definitely have to respond or risk insulting him further, "N-No it's nothing like that... You're far from repulsive mi'lord... I just wish to look presentable in front of guests...." Realization hit Anise and she realized what her words sounded like. She closed her eyes, mentally cursing herself, and him for putting her in a situation where she would be forced to say such things, "I mean... None of your siblings... All of you are appealing to the public eye... as I'm sure you're all aware.." Anise's voice lowered to a whisper, steam practically rolling off her skin. Though when he slightly withdrew, Anise opened her eyes and took in a deep breath. She snatched the moment to relax, unsure if she would get another. Her blush dying down quite a bit, Anise couldn't help peeking to the doors, hoping no one would see them in this controversial position. Public displays of romance were frowned upon, and even if he felt nothing for her, Anise was well aware that no one would understand, even if she tried her best to explain.

"Back to your most intriguing revelation...you have never been with a man? Truly? None has touched these lips of yours..."

Surprise overwhelmed Anise, promptly reacting to defend her honor, "O-Of course not! I... I do not just... Not with just anyone.. W-What kind of girl do you take me for exactly..?" Anise was struggling to speak, a dark blush painted upon her cheeks. This topic was one she would rather avoid if possible, and his tone sent chills down her spine. However, her question was laced with a somewhat offended tone. Left wondering what his opinion of her truly was. Did he honestly think she was brave enough or had time for romances? She had grown up poor, most of her life was spent working, and that rang true even today. His finger that lingered across her lips brought a shiver through her entire body. She wanted to ask him what he was planning to do, but her voice was not functioning, at all. All she could manage was to gaze up at him in confusion with a distinct shade of red splayed across her cheeks.

Anise whimpered softly as Bishop's tongue tickled her sensitive neck, eyes closing tightly. The bite mark Reiji left was no longer on her skin thanks to Ashlyn's healing, but she knew what Bishop's actions meant. His would soon replace it if he did not change his mind. Her fingers gripped at his sleeves, preparing herself for what she deemed to be the inevitable. If she didn't clutch onto him, Anise knew her knees would give out shortly after his fangs sank in. The venom that gave the bite it's euphoric effect also made her feel weak in the knees.

"Tell me, how would you feel if I decided I wanted to have a taste of your lips? If I wanted to be the one to steal your first kiss?"

Amethyst eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure if she heard him correctly, but the way he spoke assured her that she had. Anise was left completely flustered, unable to meet his gaze, "I... Uhm....Here..? Now...? I'm just a maid, mi'lord...." She stuttered, her cheeks red hot as she attempted to avoid the question. It felt like her heart would burst of she admitted she was curious. He had to be joking right.? He was a lord and she was merely a servant. Anise bit her bottom lip gently, unsure of what to do. She had never been in a situation like this, "...I.. Are you serious, Mi'lord..?" Anise asked in a bewildered tone, looking to him for answers, but also attempting to ease her own mind. How was she to accept something like this? One year ago he was whispering in her twin's ear threatening to kill her and now he wanted to kiss her? Anise could not deny her attraction, but it was difficult, to be honest as well. To say she had never wondered what it would feel like, would be a complete lie. She often had dreams about him like this, but those were personal, private. There was no way he knew about them, was there?!

Bishop nearly sighed, not yet able to enjoy playing with his maid when she was obviously so anxious and fretting over insignificant things. As Anise bit her lower lip and dared to think he wanted her gone, Bishop felt his agitation at the boy from her past grow. Like hell he wanted the little shit to come and take his Anise! And as far as why it mattered, he loathed the thought that she cared enough about someone else to send them a letter and money. Why wouldn't it matter?! "Of course you're needed! Don't think such nonsense!" he countered, letting out a huff. Why oh why did his little maid downplay herself? Why was she so flighty around him? Surely she could tell that he wasn't going to lash out at her like he would at anyone else?

Thankfully, her flushed cheeks were charming and adorable enough to bring his mind from his frustrations, looking upon her pink complexion with an amused half smile. He arched a brow as she nervously tried to insist that her experiences- or lack thereof, were unimportant and dull. He had half a mind to tell her he thought otherwise, but her expression swiftly changed again. Bishop had a moment to marvel at how smoothly and quickly her moods could shift from one moment to the next, even a few words enough to draw her mind into a different train of thought (or so it seemed anyway.) When she spoke again, Bishop noticed her voice became quiet once more, Anise's expression not one he liked. Aside from her usual quiet and careful demeanor, she almost seemed wary. No, more disquieted if anything. Her worries only confirmed his suspicions- and added on his own more somber thoughts. She was that concerned with being turned into a vampire? While the redhead could understand her desire and even felt sympathetic, he was more so affronted. He was selfish, and the thought of not having his twin or his maid to keep him company for the entirety of his existence was unbearable.

Shoving such thoughts aside, Bishop shook his head at the ebony haired young woman, deciding he may as well clarify. "While you do have to drink blood to become like me, it isn't quite so simple. You only turn if you are at death's door. If you are within death's grasp and you are given a drink from a vampire, then you will turn. It also works best when both feed from each other, but the main requirement is you'd have to be actively dying." Bishop watched Anise's face to see how she'd react to the information. Well, it wasn't important now at least, so if she wasn't ok with the idea, he'd discuss it later.

Fortunately, Anise soon took on a far more acceptable expression and demeanor as they strayed from the topic of vampirism. He nearly chuckled at her delayed response to his offer to clean her up, seriously contemplating making good on the offer. Before he could tease her more, a giggle met his sensitive ears, her soft voice not escaping him as she seemed to find his words amusing. Bishop quirked a brow, ready to ask why she was snickering at him when her eyes softened, her gaze slowly making it's way to his face, her own flustered.

As subtle as the movement was, Bishop noticed easily that she was once more becoming tense and on edge, her pink cheeks and nervous movements nearly enough to make him begin questioning her again. She answered him however, and he found an amused smile beginning to tug at the corner of his lips. It was swiftly replaced with a sigh as she continued, praising the rest of his family as well. And fretting about some stupid guests. "You could've stopped with saying I'm not repulsive..." he muttered, only half admitting it to her that he wanted to be her focus right now. It took considerable effort not to pout.

He was bemused at how quick she was to defend her honor, those rosy cheeks a pleasant color on her, even if indignation was part of the reason for becoming so flustered. Anise sputtered through her words, obviously insulted as well as embarrassed. Adorable. The red head smiled at her defensive retort, already knowing she was telling the truth before he heard her answer.

She was quiet as he touched her, his hands easily able to feel her body shiver at his finger upon her lips, his breath near her neck. He was pleased he could do that to her. Anise's hands clutched at him, nearly making him grumble and ask why she was so damn nervous, so scared at his movements.

He inwardly berated himself upon hearing her heart hammer in her chest, her cheeks a satisfying crimson as she looked upon him in bewilderment. It vexed him to think he hadn't realized she thought he was going to bite her (not that he wasn't tempted to, but still). He assuaged his inner folly by deciding he must have simply been in the process of reaching said conclusion- he had figured it out as she was speaking- so she interrupted his thought process. Yes, that was the answer he was going with...

Bishop arched a brow before rolling his emerald eyes at her fretting over her station. Really? That was her concern? "And? What's your point?" he asked, completely unfazed by the thought of being cozy with a common girl, -specifically, this one. He allowed her a chance to speak, noting with satisfaction how flustered and bewildered she seemed. Silly girl. Her fretting and innocent uncertainty were admittedly charming to see, though he quickly took on a more serious expression as she questioned his sincerity.

"Obviously. Why on earth wouldn't I be?" he questioned, shaking his head slightly before taking her hand in his own. "In any case, we may as well dance since Demetri went through all this trouble. Come, you owe me a dance, we can discuss this later." with this, the temperamental red head wasted no time in leading Anise inside, ignoring the stares of the noble ladies in attendance as they stopped in their tracks to try and get a dance from him. Surprisingly, he didn't see or smell Demetri anywhere in the vicinity. Odd for a party goer like him. But then again, Demetri was a fan of the ladies, and was known to flirt and canoodle with many a willing partner. Bishop dismissed his twin's absence for the time being. After all, it wouldn't be the first time the charmer had retreated midway through a party for personal time with a woman who caught his fancy. 'Found yourself a companion for the evening have you, brother?' he thought wryly, hoping his twin was at least enjoying himself. It had been a while since his vivacious brother had entertained female company- and it had almost been to the point of worry. Bishop was more than eager to see Demetri's usual enthusiasm and outgoing nature return to normal.



When the song ended, Tanzy took the cue from her master (and the other dancers around them) and dipped into a curtsy as he presented her with a bow. Thinking this was enough for Reiji and he'd be off attending to other guests, he surprised her by leading her off for refreshments- by the hand no less! Her cheeks burned a light pink, thanking him softly as he handed her a drink. The taste was better than she had anticipated, her particular preferences only favoring about half of the usual alcoholic beverages the family tended towards.

Reiji's unconcerned reply earned a look of surprise, the young woman tilting her head as he spoke. She had thought he'd care very much, so to hear him say otherwise was most unexpected. She wondered if that meant he wanted her to actually dare give him his request- a thought that further caused her cheeks to redden. Before she could ask, he finished his thoughts, telling her to forget such a notion and wait- though he almost sounded...disappointed? Perhaps she was imagining his sigh. Tanzy nodded to convey her attention to his words as well as her understanding, not wanting him to think she was ignoring him. "As you wish sire. So I'll...I'll give you a k-kiss later..." she whispered softly so as not to be overheard, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks as she said it.

As the next song began, people once more began to dance with their chosen partner, while others sought to find one. Tanzy glanced over at Reiji, remaining silent as he closed his eyes to listen. As hard as it was to read the vampire lord, she was at least clearly able to see he enjoyed music. The male looked most content when music was playing, and she kept as quiet as she could lest she interrupt him as he listened.
It wasn't long until he opened his eyes again, the ruby orbs landing on her no-longer flushed face.

The moment didn't last, her cheeks coloring a bright rosy red at his question- the situation more embarrassing due to his close proximity and the momentary feel of his voice on her ear before he pulled away. She noticed his smirk was back, and she wondered for what was surely the hundredth time if he was simply screwing with her head.

Tanzy bit her lip, daring to glance over at her master even though her face was bright pink. Why he cared to know what she thought of him she wasn't entirely sure, and while he had said she fascinated him, she still wondered. He called her pretty, beautiful even, but surely he didn't mean anything by it. And now he was amusing himself with asking for her opinion of his physical attributes. Surely he knew already how aesthetically pleasing he was? She had no doubt women told him readily, and frequently, that he was the perfect image of nobility and looks.

What part was her favorite? How was she to have a favorite? Why would she have a favorite? The maid managed to keep her gaze towards Reiji as she contemplated how to answer. What did he want to hear? What did he think she liked? What part of him stood out to her?
She knew the answer already, she never had to think about it. It was what she envisioned any time the opposing sex's looks were brought up.

"Your face, sire...your eyes, your hair..." the words slipped past her lips before she could stop or think about how to answer. But in the end, it was the truth. She felt the heat rise in her own face even more as she admitted to him being handsome. "Y-y-your face and it's features...are the best..." she confirmed, voice a soft, embarrassed squeak now. Unable to keep her eyes on him, Tanzy looked away to hide her cherry red face, hoping against hope to calm her nerves.

Anise's fingers came to her lips, unable to shake her gut feeling. Perhaps it was that she didn't seem to have good luck with royal parties, or perhaps it was simple paranoia... but she had a nagging feeling that tonight was going to end terribly. With no proof, she had to ignore her intuition, but it didn't stop the feeling from clawing at her every now and then, reminding her that it was still there and preventing her from fully focusing on anything.

"While you do have to drink blood to become like me, it isn't quite so simple. You only turn if you are at death's door. If you are within death's grasp and you are given a drink from a vampire, then you will turn. It also works best when both
feed from each other, but the main requirement is you'd have to be actively dying."

Violet eyes flickered, taking in the information. So she would have to be killed by him or dying... Well, she kind of knew she would have to die to become a vampire given they aren't actually 'alive' by biological standards. However, hearing it actually spoken out loud, it was just bone chilling. In an attempt to keep her face from giving her away, Anise bit the inside of her cheek. Her eyes often showed more than enough emotion anyway. Anise took a breath in softly, "Wasn't your family turned through magic by the late Lady Elizabeth and your father Lord Edward...? To think there is more than one way to become a vampire..." Anise whispered, trying to wrap her head around the knowledge she had just been given. Then her brows furrowed as a curious thought crossed her mind, "Excuse me if I'm completely off on this, but...no one sired any of you... Wouldn't that mean... Wouldn't that mean that you are purebloods?" Anise questioned, tilting her head at him. If she could distract Bishop from the discussion of being turned, she definitely would. It was the last thing she wanted to think about, because eventually, she wanted to be reunited with her sister Alice.

"You could've stopped with saying I'm not repulsive..."

Blinking in surprise, Anise struggled to form words. She wasn't entirely sure, but she was starting to gather that he was fishing for compliments from her. Why? What does my opinion matter...? I know how I feel... but there is no chance the lord would reciprocate. Her expression was bewildered, but she eventually showed signs of catching on, her blush going somewhat darker as she understood what he wanted her to do, "Apologies my lord. It's a bit difficult to give compliments to..." Anise trailed off, catching herself before she said something embarrassing. Her breath hitched for a moment, and she reminded herself that saying it aloud would be the point of no return. With a calming breath, she finished her sentence, albeit not using the words she originally intended, "to someone of royal blood... It's nerve-wracking, even now." She lightly giggled, albeit just the nervousness in her laughter made it apparent that she was still hiding something.

"And? What's your point? Obviously. Why on earth wouldn't I be?"

Mouth agape, Anise could not fathom why Bishop did not understand what she meant. There were a million reasons why a lord would not kiss a common maid at the entrance way of his family castle on Saint Valentines Day. Decency, Scandal, not to mention most Lords considered the common folk to be beneath them. If he was caught, their family name might be tarnished for centuries. Perhaps for a vampire that seemed to be a short time, but honestly Anise did not even want to imagine the damage.

"In any case, we may as well dance since Demetri went through all this trouble. Come, you owe me a dance, we can discuss this later."

Though the change of subject worked wonders on easing the intense beating of her heart, Anise was even more nervous about his topic change. As eyes landed on them, whispering began and Anise's form stiffened immediately, "Mi'lord. Please give me a chance to freshen up first.... My pride as a woman is at stake... If I go out there like this in front of everyone....then I'll forever be known as the Santiago family's realeza la puta.." Anise whispered, but she was well aware that doing so in the company of vampires was extremely useless. They would likely hear every single word along with her heartbeat hammering away inside of her chest cavity. Once away from prying eyes, Anise gently tore from his hold, no longer asking for permission. She could not bare the thought of being seen so dirty. Perhaps there was a time she might not have cared about her personal image, but the past year had given her a set of standards, and Demetri could easily be blamed for her view on what 'acceptable' forms of dressing in public were....well....somewhat. Not all of Demetri's designs were 'public' friendly. Many of his designs, specifically the maid uniforms were not suitable, in fact, they were highly controversial and Anise was glad that Castillo de la Muerte never received unexpected visitors. She would have been mortified if outsiders saw her in such clothes. They were...so revealing. Scandalously so. She doubted real prostitutes wore such short garments, but Anise being so innocent of mind, she really had nothing to compare the dresses to nor did she actually understand even ten percent of what took place inside of a whorehouse.

Once she made it to her living quarters, Anise slammed the door shut and began to undress. The corset was fine without damage or discolorment, as were her underclothes. She simply had to switch dresses and wash up. Anise poured water into the basin on the night stand and began scrubbing the dirt off her skin, gently cleaning as she got closer to her cuts and bruises. When Anise considered herself to be presentable and decent she rushed over to the mirror to do some quick primping to her hair. Still in what was considered to be underwear to 18th century standards, Anise adjusted her askew hair to a satisfactory measure. She removed as much dirt and leaves as possible before pinning her hair back up in a somewhat stylish updo. Sighing in contentment, Anise approached her closet barefoot, retrieving a white dress, one of many that he had given each of the girls before the first ball. She knew Bishop would likely complain that it wasn't one he chose, but the previous had been ripped to shreds by thorns. She was upset as well, as it had been chosen specifically for her, but she could not restore the dress in time. It would have to wait for a later date. Anise returned to the bed and cleaned her feet, putting on basic black heels and slipped on the dress, but without help, she could not seem to tie the strings in the back tight enough. Slipping on the dress and holding it firmly to her body, Anise peeked outside to see if Bishop had actually followed her. Anise felt he might be angry due to her defiance, but if he wanted a dance, was her feeling comfortable in her attire too much to ask? She was about to find out. With a sigh, she asked aloud, "Lord Bishop..? I can't seem to tie the back of my gown... If it isn't too much to ask.... C-Could.... Could I have some assistance?" Her voice was timid, but she was doing her best. Confidence was not something someone like her could gain overnight, but she was testing the waters a little at a time.

Bishop's eyes lingered on the ebony-haired maid as she contemplated his words, her anxiety all too easy to detect. Though why she was so nervous was beyond him, and it made any teasing far less enjoyable. He didn't want her to be so damn timid all the time. He had seen her resolve, seen her strength, so why did she insist on hiding it from him? He cared little for the current topic of conversation, resisting a frown at the thought of Elizabeth and Edward. Why did his little maid care one way or the other how a vampire was made? Despite not particularly enjoying the current path of conversation, he nodded in response to her question, shrugging indifferently. "Correct. We are one of the few pure blooded families."

He was more than glad to have changed the topic, her sudden surprise and renewed blush reviving his mood considerably. She reacted adorably as he complained, beginning to explain herself. Despite his words however, she once more didn't specify him as she admitted to being shy about giving compliments to someone in his station. Her nervous giggle, cute though it was- still hid some underlying worry. Bishop arched a brow, scrutinizing her even as he began to lead her towards the ballroom.

Her stunned expression did not escape his notice, the redhead noting how she all but sputtered in astonishment at his assurance he was serious. Silly human thought he was joking. Or was her station still making her fret unnecessarily? He would most assuredly have to remedy such thinking soon.

Even as he led her by the hand and bemoaned her current skittishness, Bishop was swiftly caught off guard by the sudden change in Anise's demeanor. The nervous drumming of her heart was still present, but she was asserting herself with what courage she could muster. Bishop stared in bewilderment as she insisted upon going and getting herself fixed up first. Pride as a woman?

She gave him no chance to argue or even respond before scurrying off to her quarters to change and freshen up. Shoving his hands into his coat pockets, Bishop followed her with a roll of his eyes. Women. So flustered by their own appearances. She didn't look that bad! He kept his complaints to himself, hovering outside her door and shaking his head. Since when did being disheveled and slightly bloody mean a lady was a royal whore? Her logic was eluding him, and it earned another roll of his eyes as he thought about it.

Bishop folded his arms across his chest, drumming his fingers along his upper arm as he waited, trying to keep from getting too impatient. He supposed her refreshing herself wasn't so bad an idea. After all, he didn't want the idiot butler being nosy (where was that idiot anyway?), nor did he want to receive some bullshit from the prick or admonishment from Ashlyn.

About ready to rap on the door and ask her how long she was going to keep him waiting, Bishop was met with the soft voice of his human, her stammering more adorable sounding than usual. The request was more than enough to shake any disapproval or impatience from his mind, an amused smirk forming upon his lips. This was turning out to be much better than he originally thought.

Glancing up at the creak of the door, the redhead stepped inside without hesitation, eyes scanning Anise from head to toe in silent approval. He liked color on her, but the white suited her just as well. Leading her to stand in front of her vanity, Bishop took the laces in his hands with a mock innocent tilt of his head. "Why, having some trouble with these?" Bishop began to lace them up, tugging them so they were snug, but being careful not to make them tight or constricting. Leaning closer, he rested his chin on her shoulder, letting his breath caress her ear as he worked.

"There, how's the fit?" he all but purred, flicking his tongue out to gently tease the back of her ear, nipping it lightly with a smile, making sure she could see it from the mirror. Hands going to her waist, Bishop tugged Anise so her back was pressed against him, simply holding her still for a few moments. "You're no whore, so erase such absurdity from your mind." he admonished with a frown, only to smile once more and raise a hand to her cheek, stroking it gently before playing with a lock of her hair. "Now, shall we go and enjoy a dance or two? Then...well, we'll see how the evening goes after that..." he invited in a silken and sultry tone, allowing her imagination to fill in the blanks with whatever thoughts (lascivious or otherwise,) might run through her mind.



Sipping at her wine in an attempt to seem calm and not completely out of place, Tanzy was brought to reality as the touch of her employer's gloved hand prompted her to look up at him. His touch elicited a slight blush and a questioning gaze, wondering what it was he was thinking. His smirk only deepened her blush, the sultry, teasing tone resounding in her mind as he spoke, once more using a term of endearment to further confuse her. He looked forward to the kiss, though she was nervous just contemplating it. If he didn't like it, he wouldn't amend the agreement!

A momentary silence met her reply, the maid now wondering if he was somehow unsatisfied with the answer. But it was the truth. His features truly were striking, and while his eyes were unusual, they commanded her attention all the same. His face was undoubtedly well shaped, the family's good looks not lost on him. And his dark hair looked silken and soft to the touch (not that she'd dare think to touch it and find out for herself). All in all, he was the epitome of a handsome Spanish gentleman. But surely he didn't need to hear it from her.

Before she could try and change the subject or look for an opportunity to politely let him go and mingle with his guests, Tanzy was greeted by his mischievous eyes and all too familiar smirk. Her pulse began to quicken ever so slightly as her cheeks flushed with color, this time more or less prepared for his teasing. Even so, she squeaked slightly in protest as he tugged her rosy cheeks, all but pouting at him as he did so. She wasn't a child! Though being called adorable certainly flustered her enough to silence any further objections. Why did he like messing with her so much?

Her cheeks burned brighter as he coaxed her chin, and consequently- her head, up so her eyes would meet his. Heart drumming just a bit faster, Tanzy was caught in that ruby gaze of his, and powerless to ignore the noble before her. His question earned a brief reprieve from her flustered state, her gaze uncertain for just a moment. Ashamed? Did she seem so? She didn't have a reason to be ashamed, did she?

"I'm not 'ashamed' sire..." she said softly, trying to think on her words before speaking them in haste. She had let her mouth run far too much this evening already. Being flustered did not help in her being calm and collected!
"I'm...embarrassed, I suppose. And, I cannot see why you are so intent on knowing my thoughts. I am not used to such attentions." Feeling her cheeks grow hotter, she managed to gently pull her chin away from his hold, staring down at her feet as if they would provide some miraculous insight. She only hoped she hadn't offended her master.

A young noblewoman finally approached the Santiago lord once he was no longer holding the chin of what was apparently his maid. Adjusting herself once more, she inched through the clusters of guests to stand before Reiji, smiling in a coquettish manner.

"Signore, it is an honor to be invited to your party. And may I say, you are far more remarkable in person." Tucking an errant strand of copper hair from her face, the more than just slightly buxom woman made an effort to appear demure and charming. "Forgive me signore, I- I don't mean to be so brash! I just had to meet you for myself. And..." Looking up at him with doe eyes, the noble lady cocked her head to ever so slightly avert her gaze in a show of shy innocence.
"I was wondering, if perhaps you might grant me a dance? Just a single dance with you would be an honor enough, signore."

Tanzy marveled at the lavish dress the noble woman was wearing, thinking the woman a rather fetching young thing. Probably had plenty of suitors of her own. Taking a step back from Reiji, the maid wondered if he would accept the offer. Not really much reason not to, and she was sure many a guest would jump at the chance to socialize with any of the Santiagos. No sense in interrupting him. She had almost felt like a noble herself for a brief time, but now reality was back. Tanzy felt a little dismayed, but shook it off; she had danced more than she ever had already. It was admittedly nice while it lasted. How many other common girls could say they ever got to experience dressing up and dancing at a ball? Even so, she found herself more than just a tad out of place and lonely. Tanzy glanced around, anxious and wondering where Anise was. Surely seeing her friend would soothe her and brighten her spirits. Besides, she had yet to make sure the ebony haired girl was alright (a fact she was once again internally berating herself for.)

After her question left her lips, Anise immediately regretted speaking and felt an intense urge to crawl under a rock and hide. The embarrassment of asking was enough, but the worst was yet to come. Bishop actually zipping up her dress, it was something that Anise had not entirely thought through. He was constantly teasing and flirting with her for whatever reason... so she felt that he would not waste the opportunity to do so now. Why do I even open my mouth? I'm really reconsidering speaking. I don't believe I should be allowed to do so when I put myself in these situations so often. My words are hazardous to my health..... Anise bit the inside of her cheek, realizing that the only one to blame was herself. She had all but literally left him an open invitation to tease her.

Following his silent instruction she followed him over to the vanity, though a look of confusion crossed her features. Why did it matter where he assisted her? She kept her concerns to herself, biting her bottom lip as she gazed into the mirror. The laces to her dress were laying in his palms and the innocent tilt of his head brought a light shade of pink to her cheeks. Her better judgement assured her it was a trick, but the aesthetics of an innocent Bishop were quite convincing, and pleasant to look at, leaving Anise defenseless. He's far too good looking.. Bishop is hazardous to my health. Anise thought to herself, taking in a short quiet breath in attempt to ground herself.

"Why, having some trouble with these?"

Feeling Bishop's breath dance across her sensitive skin, a shiver ran down her spine. She bit down harder on her bottom lip, doing her best to relax, but her heart was pounding. His chin resting atop her shoulder, the fact that no one else was upstairs, there were many factors contributing to her nervousness, and she was very sure that every single thing Bishop was doing was all to gain an entertaining response. Even so, she could not seem to contain her reactions.

"There, how's the fit?"

Shy lips parted as she attempted to answer, but only a squeak left her lips as she felt something wet softly run against her skin. It only took her a second to realize what happened, her eyes landing on Bishop in the mirror just as he nipped at her ear. Both of her eyes closed, the warmth of her cheeks brightening considerably. Thoughts flooded her head, and she felt her heart hammering in her chest, but Anise was at a loss of words. Despite wanting to say something, she could not form words in her mind to actually say. Nothing intelligible at least. However, Anise found herself within another of Bishop's embraces, tilting her head back against his chest so that she could look up at him face to face.

"You're no whore, so erase such absurdity from your mind."

Surprise, embarrassment and a pinch of nervousness laid upon her features but predominantly, it was clear that his response gave her a sense of relief, and her lips curled into a gentle smile. She looked down for a moment, then back into the mirror at Bishop. He was not exactly the same person she had met when she first came here, but neither was she. A lot had happened in the short span of a year and somewhere along the lines, Anise had fallen in love with him, even if she would not allow herself to fully accept it. Anise shivered as Bishop caressed her cheek. His hand was cool against her heated up cheeks, but at that point she felt that anyone's hand would have felt colder than her face, vampire or otherwise, "Thank you." was the only thing she could manage to say.

"Now, shall we go and enjoy a dance or two? Then...well, we'll see how the evening goes after that..."

His tone alone was enough to send chills down her spine, but his words finished her off. As inexperienced as Anise was, she realized that what he was implicating often meant... She could barely think straight given the images that came to her mind. Her innocent brain could barely handle the risqué path that her mind was on, "You're quite right mi'lord. We should probably go now.." Anise trailed off, realizing that if anyone saw them alone in her quarters, they would surely misunderstand and assume that the two had already committed naughty acts and fled to her room to escape from prying eyes in order to continue. Anise gently removed herself from Bishop's embrace and entered the hall, waiting for him outside. They had been away from the party far too long and the night was nearly over.