Chapter 6

The day was beginning to wane by the time they arrived at his home several miles outside of the city limits. He preferred his privacy and did not care for the prying eyes of neighbors, especially considering the life style he led. The setting sun was painting the sky crimson, in an hour twilight would descend and with it his beloved bride, Caressa, would arise from her daytime rest. She knew he had intended to appear at Janarra's wedding today, he kept no secrets from her, but neither had anticipated the outcome. Jana was at his side, silent, still dressed in her wedding finery. There was just enough time to prepare her for Caressa's awakening and to be perfectly honest, to prepare himself as well.

They were greeted by a young woman at the door, a woman that had been in his employ for quite some time and understood the delicate nature of what he was. All of his employees did, or they did not last very long. Likewise all in his employ were female and he knew them all intimately. He was careful not to let his feeding harm the humans, but it was handy having them there should he need them.

The seemingly youthful woman who approached them now and dropped into a quick curtsy knew him better than anyone and amused knowledge shone in her pale blue eyes as she looked between himself and Janarra. Though her glowing skin and glittering eyes might suggest otherwise, Tessa was not human, at least not completely. She was his concubine in many ways, was bound to him completely, and had been his lover for centuries. She also managed his household and kept the lower ranked women in his home in line. Though Caressa was his bride and had full reign in his home, even she treated Tessa with a measure of respect.

"Good evening My Lord. I am pleased to see your trip to town was ... fruitful."

Though her words and tone were beyond reproach amusement still glittered in her eyes as she lowered her gaze from Morlis and let a quick glance slide over Janarra before looking back to him. She knew of the girl he had stalked for years, of course, and plenty of questions burned in her mind at seeing her appear at his side but those questions could wait until later when they were alone.

"Instructions, My Lord?"

The amusement in her eyes and the smile she struggled to keep hidden were plainly visible to him and offering an indulgent smile of his own his gaze promised answers to the multitude of questions he could see raging through her thoughts. First things first. Caressa would arise in just over an hour's time and he wished Janarra to be presentable before then.

"Take Janarra to the large bathing chamber on the second floor. She must be prepared to greet her new Mistress with the dusk and we simply can't have her looking as she does."

Janarra, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally snapped out of the haze that had engulfed her since she had given up her life as she knew it to chase after Morlis. Finally taking a good look at the woman standing with him a flicker of concern passed through her eyes. Mistress? Caressa had been her friend before, why would that change now? Not wishing to be handed over to a stranger she turned pleading eyes upon Morlis but before even an utterance of protest could be offered his left hand rose to forestall her words.

"Do as you are told, Janarra. The right to argue ended when you left your groom behind and offered yourself to me. Now go, and do exactly as Tessa tells you."

His hand pressed to the small of her back was enough to propel her forward towards the other woman, a soft squeak of protest at the sudden manhandling the only thing that was given a chance to pass Janarra's lips. Meeting Tessa's gaze over Janarra's head he smiled slightly as she took hold of Jana's arm.

"You know what to do, Tessa. I will join you in just a moment."

With a respectful inclination of her head to acknowledge his orders Tessa firmed her grip on Janarra's arm and escorted her out of the foyer and up the stairs though to the casual observer it would appear more like she was being pulled. He didn't doubt that Tessa was urging her along, forcibly if need be. It would take Janarra time to become accustomed to the reality of the choice she made while in the heat of passion. She would adjust, as would Caressa, though it may take some time for both women to become accustomed to their new roles in life.

Until he entered their lives they had been friends, very close from what he had garnered from watching them, and in a heartbeat everything about their relationship and dynamic had changed. Caressa was the bride of a powerful incubus lord, Janarra now his concubine. As long as Caressa remained his bride she would be Janarra's Mistress though he knew Caressa had hoped he would invite Janarra into their union and make her his bride as well. For his own reasons that would not be happening and he was prepared for Caressa to struggle against the subjugation of her friend.

All this and more roiled through his thoughts as he ascended the stairs after the women, heading to the left and his own chambers as Tessa pulled the quietly protesting Janarra to the right and the bathing room. Once within his chambers he divested himself of the clothing he had worn that day before pulling on a thick robe. Folding his clothes he placed them on the bench at the foot of his bed for the serving girl to collect later, essentially dawdling just long enough to give Tessa a chance to get Jana under control and into the bath and to get his own thoughts and concerns sorted out.

After several long moments he was through brooding and leaving his bedchamber he moved through the nearly silent hallways until he reached the door of the bathing chamber. His hand was poised over the door knob when it turned beneath his fingers and opened from the inside, a pair of giggling maids drawing up short upon seeing him, their giggles increasing as a blush stained their cheeks they scooted around him and rushed down the hall way. Curious as to the cause of their amusement he stepped through the door and closed it firmly behind him, the soft click of the lock being thrown eerily loud in the steam drenched air of the bathing chamber.

The room itself was quite large and utterly decadent, as nearly everything pertaining to his lifestyle was. Smooth gray marble and a lot of glass and mirrors lent the large room a somewhat surreal quality, steam from the hot water and lit candles only added to the effect. There were no lit candles now, however, though the steam from the heat of the water Tessa had filled the large bathtub with hung heavy in the air. Through the mist he could see Janarra settled in the sunken tub. Rectangle in shape the same gray marble stone made up the five small steps that led up to the platform that surrounded the tub, a three way mirror framing it from behind.

Only her neck and shoulders were visible from where he stood but as he neared he could see the sullen expression upon her features, a red mark that looked suspiciously like a hand print staining her cheek. Tessa bustled by him, her arms filled with the clothing she had stripped from Janarra, her motions brisk enough to clue him in to her annoyed state and he wondered what had transpired in his absence. Tessa would give him a full accounting later and he trusted her judgment so he was content to let the matter rest for now. Stopping Tessa with a hand on her arm he began sifting through the garments in her arms before retrieving a single item. The white corset portion of her wedding gown, the one she had worn in the bridal store when he'd taken her on the dressing room floor.

"Save this, the rest can be thrown out. You will supervise the building of her ward robe later this week." Noticing the jewelry clutched in her hand he smiled and leaning in he pressed a quick kiss to her lips, effectively drawing her out of her annoyance. "Keep whatever jewelry you like, the rest give away."

He heard Janarra shift behind him as she listened to him dictate how her possessions would be handled and the fact that he was giving all of it away save for the corset but he was resolute in his decision. She would have only what he provided for her and would not allow anything given by her former betrothed to remain. Nodding her head in acknowledgement of his orders Tessa leaned forward and boldly pressed herself against him, fitting her body as intimately as their clothing would allow.

"As you wish My Lord. I will return shortly to see her dressed for the Mistress."

Deep blue eyes flashing with promise Tessa pulled reluctantly from him and bustled from the bathing chamber, the clothing and jewelry piled high in her arms. Watching her go he could not help the slow smile that curled his lips, Tessa was obedient to him in all things ... usually ... but she was not without temper or fire and he loved that most about her. Ever the lady in public she was a demon in the sack, literally. The sound of water sloshing with unnecessary vehemence behind him drew him from his rather lascivious thoughts, Janarra's obvious upset causing the smile to widen. She was jealous. He didn't need to see her to understand, the emotion radiated from her, saturating the air around her.

"Something bothering you Jana?"

He turned as he spoke, dark eyes locking with hers before she hastily turned her gaze away, resuming the task of bathing with single minded determination. Gently teasing laughter accompanied his approach before easing down to sit on the top of the steps leading to the extra large marble tub, easily capable of accommodating several people with ease. Once settled he watched her without comment, smiling at the way she deliberately continued bathing, hands rising from the water to massage lavender scented soap through her hair. When she had emerged from dunking beneath the water to rinse it free he finally spoke, his right hand easing down to caress the crest of her breasts just above the water line.

"This is your chance Janarra, your chance to tell me exactly what is on your mind. Tomorrow your new life begins and you will not always be given the opportunity to voice your objections."

Her eyes had settled on his caressing fingers, following the touch of his hand as it dipped below the water to pass teasingly across the nipple of her left breast. She shivered in response to his touch though she did her best to keep any reaction to him from showing. When finally she met his gaze he could see the anger in her eyes and he smiled, enjoying the rosy flush her ire brought to her pale skin.

"That's exactly it Morlis. I chose to come with you to be with you ... like Caressa is ... your Bride. Not just another whore in your stable."

Her voice had risen with each word until the final sentence was delivered in a near shout, her hands slapping into the water with enough force to send a spray right for him, soaking the front of his dressing robe. Chagrin immediately replaced her anger and she lowered her head as though waiting for his retaliation. Seeing her instinctive subservience he laughed and rose to his feet in a single fluid motion.

"Poor Janarra, always painting me with a human brush. Caressa is my bride but we were not married in the sense you seem to think. She is a vampire and though a lesser demon she is still a demon. To be my bride means she will keep faith with me for now ... not forever. She is free to do as she pleases, including taking other lovers, and when the day comes that we part ways I will not mourn the loss of our union long, I can assure you."

Forever was a very long time to immortal beings and few made eternal commitments. It was an impossible promise to make; few knew what their heart would hold a thousand years from now and demons were not exactly known for their steadfast nature. As he spoke his hands went to the belt of his dressing robe and pulled it free before sliding the robe down his arms, forgotten at his feet. Stepping down into the water he stood before her, his cock already hard with his need for her.

"You, on the other hand, belong to me. For a while I granted you your freedom to explore the world, to know other men, but no longer. I am exercising my claim on you. You will never leave my side again; never again know the touch of another man. Before we ever make the commitment we accept that some day we will part ways. You ... you will never leave me, Jana and I will never leave you."