After I have an awful passport photo taken and we have an insanely expensive lunch we return to the manor house for my lessons. It's like I never left school. Alex gives me the guided tour of the house whilst telling me about his country and its people, the major exports and the state of the economy. As we pass from room to room, the maids curtsy him, the servants bow and by the time we make it to the end of the second floor, my feet are aching.

"My room." He says, eyes low, a tiny smirk.

Alex opens the door to the room, which would be above the servant's quarters. In fact, I think it covers the entire servant's quarters. It is sectioned with rooms off a main lounge area, the walls covered with bookshelves filled with books.

"We can spend the afternoon here, if you like, learning from these books."

"Sure."

He gestures to the lounge and follows me to the lounge sitting on the same lounge as me, facing me, as he did last night. The afternoon's discussion had started with the topics of his country and his duties but it soon turned to me and my life. He was intrigued and listened avidly. He insisted that I join him for dinner to continue the conversation. By the time I was ready for bed, I thought that I must have spoken thousands of words and that his ears might be bleeding.

I put my hand on the door handle to the servant's quarters, feeling his warmth so close to me. This is pure hell. Turning around he's close but still at an appropriate distance.

"Good night Stephanie."

He grins his hands behind his back, watching me as I turn redder than a tomato.

"Good night Alex."

Alex turns and walks down the corridor, his hands still linked behind his back. Total and utter hell.

When I close the door to my bedroom I hear a meowing from the window. I turn on the light and see my furry friend is back. I pull open the windows.

"Hello kitty cat."

He purrs as he walks onto the bench seat.

"What have you been up to today?"

The cat flops down onto his side and rolls onto his back.

"Oh you are just the cutest." I say as I scratch his belly.

I stand up from the bench seat trying to push him to stand up.

"Kitty, I am off to bed, out you go."

The cat gets up and jumps off the bench seat and jumps up on my bed laying down, looking at me.

"Sure just make yourself comfortable." I say as I close the windows.

"You had better not have fleas, cat."

I walk into the wardrobe and get out my pyjamas, silk camisole and matching French knickers. As I wander into the bathroom and the cat follows me. His tail rises into the air, gently swaying as he walks.

"Where do you think you are going?"

I sigh as begin to remove my clothes, the cat sits and watches me.

"Cat you need to stop perving on me or I will kick you out."

He gets up and begins to wrap himself around my legs, purring the whole time. I turn on the shower and stand there shocked as the cat walks into the shower under the water.

"I thought cats didn't like water."

He continues to wrap himself around my legs as I wash myself. Then he leaves the shower, shakes the water off himself and leaves the room.

I lay in bed, as the moonlight creeps into the room. The cat lays by my side, sleeping. He purrs low as I scratch his belly.

"You are one strange kitty."

Slowly I fall asleep, hoping that the cat has enough sense to move if I roll in my sleep.

When I wake in the morning, the cat is no longer by my side, he is on my chest. His weight is heavy, almost pushing the air out of my chest. His head rests on my sternum, his body in between my breasts. As I slowly come around I realise that my camisole has fallen aside exposing my breast and the cat has his paw on me. Little perv.

"Ok cat, get off me and stop feeling me up."

The cat wakes and sits on the bed beside me, purring as he watches me pull the camisole back over my breast. I scratch him behind the ear and then get up to get dressed. He follows me into the robe and wraps his legs around me as I try to dress.

"You know; you could stop doing that so I don't trip over you."

He stops and sits, watching me.

"You are a dirty old perv, you know that cat."

I open the window and let him out.

"Off you go, go pester some pretty lady kitty."

I look up at the window above, the sheer curtain flapping outside the window catches my eye. A little lizard scurries across the wall, over the creeper plant that grows beside the window and into Alex's room.

"Hey." Alex says as he puts his head out. "What are you doing with your head out the window?"

"I was just watching the lizard run into your room."

"Great, just what I need, wildlife." He frowns.

I shrug. "It is the price you pay if you leave your windows open."

"Too true." He grins. "I was thinking of breakfast on the land this morning, what do you think?"

"Sure, sounds great."

Alex throws the blanket onto the grass, flowers bloom all around us. We sit on the side of a hill, overlooking the valley below. I put the basket of food that the maids packed for us down on the ground as Alex retrieves some books from the car. They never got opened though, we sat and ate the food, chatting and laughing.

"Tell me about the boy from the night of your birthday, boyfriend?"

I shake my head. "Just a guy from school and I was an attempt for another notch on his bed head."

"Oh." he says a little shocked.

"That's why I wasn't too concerned at not seeing him."

He grins. "Fair enough I suppose."

The trees shade us from the harsh morning sun, the valley below basking in its warmth. I look down at the valley, the hills cascading into a deep crevice. The trees line a river that meanders around the corner of one of the hills.

"There is a lake down there. It is magical, so serene, it is lovely to swim in."

He starts to pack away the food. "Did you want to go for a swim?"

"Oh, I can't, I didn't bring any swimmers."

"You don't need clothes to swim." Flashing a devilish smirk at me.

I swear I must go several shades of red as he chuckles.

"Or you could wear your underwear if you want to be a prude."

"I think I'll pass thanks. Something about swimming naked with my boss doesn't seem right."

"Suit yourself chicken."

"Oh!" I scoff. "Chicken? Maybe I don't like mud between my toes."

"It has rocks, next excuse."

"Creatures?"

"Just fish."

I huff at him. "Towels. Wouldn't want to get your upholstery wet."

"We could lay on the bank and sun ourselves."

He gets up from the blanket and grabs the books.

"Well you might not want to but I do. You can sit in the car and read the books if you like, come on."

We put everything back into the car and he drives to the bottom of the valley. I look around at the area, it is dark, the trees creating a lot of shade, the tiny pebbles create a path down to the water. I get out of the car and walk down the path looking at the lake, it is quiet, the only movement is the occasional ripple from a fish surfacing. The hills surround it creating an alcove, shading the lake. Alex walks up beside me and removes his shirt, revealing that nice body that I have been dying to see. I watch as he starts to undo his pants. Oh shit. I quickly turn on my heels, facing away from him, knowing that in seconds his pants are going to be down.

"Coming in Miss Collins?"

It sounds like he is right behind me. I swear I could feel his breath on the back of my neck but there was no sound of him walking on the little rocks.

"Uh, I don't know."

"Ok, be a prude, enjoy the books."

Then I feel him toss his pants at me, hitting me over the back of my shoulders, eventually falling to the ground. I can hear the water splash and as I turn I hope that he has sunk below the water. I breathe a sigh of relief as he sits in the water, just at shoulder height, watching me with a cheeky smirk.

"You act as if you have something that I have never seen before."

"Fine." I huff at him. "But I'm not going all the way."

He laughs. "Of course."

I pull my shirt out of the skirt and begin to undo the buttons.

"Do you go skinny dipping with all of your assistants?"

He shakes his head. "You are my first assistant."

I pull the shirt from my body and drop it to the ground.

"Why?"

"Never needed one before." He shrugs.

I flick my shoes off and unzip my skirt letting it drop to the ground. I slowly step into the water, cold at first, my body adjusts to the temperature. I shiver as I sink below the water.

"Not so bad is it?"

I grin as I shake my head. Before I know it he grabs me and lifts me out of the water tossing me into a deeper section. As I surface, I cough and splutter.

"Some warning would be nice, jerk."

As I go to splash him I realise that I can barely reach the bottom. He swims over and grabs me.

"One of the advantages of being tall I suppose."

"Your standing?"

He nods. I frown, he might be tall, but he isn't that much taller than me, and I am on my tip toes to be above the water. He pulls my arms around his neck, moving me closer to his body. Ok, this is way too personal for the kind of relationship we are supposed to have. His hands move down to my legs, lifting them around his waist. They move back to my bra strap and he undoes it, removing it from my body. My heart races as the water laps around my shoulders. I would have thought that he would let the bra float or sink but he tosses it to the water's edge, making it to the pebbles several metres away. That was unbelievable. I stare into his eyes, that seemed to have lightened, a pale grey. He pulls me in and kisses me softly as his fingers run over my breast.

"Alex, please, we have to work together."

"So?"

"What happens when they find the girl?"

"If."

I pull from his embrace. "Alex, you know that your father will find her."

He looks sad as I swim away. As I reach the shore I can hear him behind me.

"You can't be sure that he will find her."

I spin around and he is behind me. "How did you get here so quick?"

"Good swimmer."

He pulls me in and kisses me hard. Scooping me up, he carries me to a soft patch of grass just past a set of trees. He nestles himself in between my legs, as he runs his tongue over my body. As he kisses up to my neck his eyes darken, so dark that they look like it is just his pupil. His breathing rapid and heavy. He tears my panties apart as he kisses over my stomach, his nail scratches me.

"Ow."

Alex kisses the scratch site as his hand squeezes the flesh of my thigh. I gasp as he pushes himself into me.

"Alex." I whisper.

As he moves he runs one hand from my chest up to my neck scratching me again.

"Settle down." I frown at him.

He lays down onto me and licks from the chest up to my neck, passionately kissing my neck. I arch my back into him as the sensations flows through me. My nostrils flare with an unknown smell and I feel an unknown need. As Alex finishes he arcs back, groaning he slows down. Blood trickles down his chin.

"Alex?"

He looks at me his dark eyes lighten.

"You have blood; did you bite your lip?"

He nods as he wipes it away, sitting beside me he pulls his pants on. As I look at my shredded panties his head darts up and to the left.

"Back in a second."

He gets up and moves to the other side of the trees. I get up to follow him but he is gone. I look down at my stomach, the blood that has seeped from my scratch has been spread across my belly. Kneeling at the water's edge I pool water in my hands and wash it off. I look at it, such a tiny scratch, barely broken the skin. I wipe my hand over my neck search for the other one that mister rough and ready decided to put on me. I can't find the scratch but my hand is covered in blood. I freak, washing my hand, I run it over my neck again. Looking at my hand again, its covered in blood. I lean over to look at myself in the water, my neck clean, no blood. Alex's reflection appears in the rippling water, I spin around completely freaked out, he isn't there.

"What the hell is going on?" I mutter.

I hear a twig snap and out of the grouping of trees on the side of the path, Alex walks out, scooping up his shirt as he walks over.

"For someone who didn't want to go skinny dipping you certainly have a different view about post sex clothing."

I look down, completely naked. Jeez. He puts his shirt on.

"What's wrong?"

"Blood... everywhere." I whisper as I run my hand over my neck again.

Alex squats beside me and looks at my neck.

"What are you talking about? I didn't even break the skin."

He gets up and tosses my clothes at me.

"Come on, get dressed before you scare the animals."

"Where did you go?"

"I thought I heard something, so I went to check it out."

"Oh."

I open the windows to let the cat in. He meows at me, almost like he is thanking me.

"No problems, cat." I frown "You know, I don't really like calling you cat. Maybe we should name you."

He jumps up on the desk.

"What kind of cat are you?"

The cat rolls over the laptop, purring.

"Yeah ok. Maybe I should name you captain obvious."

I pick him up and put him on the desk beside the laptop. I type his distinct traits into a search engine, silver thick fur, green eyed cat. It comes up with the results for a Russian blue.

"Are you a Russian blue?"

He purrs as he rubs the top edge of the laptop.

"I guess so, you look like them. So, names... something silvery. Hmm. What about sparkles?"

He stops purring and sits looking at me.

"O...K. I guess not then."

"What about Tsar?"

He gets up onto all four paws and leans towards me, I lean forward, unsure of what he wants and then he rubs the top of his head against my chin.

"You're not a normal cat are you Tsar?"

He jumps off the desk and saunters off to the bed, curling up into a tight ball, shutting his eyes.

"I guess you are then."

I lay on the bed, feeling a little sleepy, I decide on a little nap before dinner.

"What would you like for dinner?"

"Steak."

Alex frowns at me. "Again?"

I nod.

"I suppose you still want it blue?"

I nod again. He gestures for Gerald to leave.

"How many more nights are you planning on eating the same thing? The staff are more than qualified to cook anything that you ask for."

"Steak is fine."

"I hope you are not planning on asking for steak at the dinner tomorrow night."

I look at him, his face stern and direct.

"No."

Jeez am I in trouble? Yes. You again? Ask for something different. No. Why? I don't know. It is all that I want.

The door flies open and Gerald brings in two plates, serving Alex first. The smell of the steak is intoxicating, my tongue tingles with anticipation. Alex looks at me, his face a little concerned.

"Everything ok?"

I nod. "Smells good."

I patiently wait for Alex to start. I hate the formalities. Gerald leaves the room and Alex flicks his finger at the edge of his lip, gesturing to me that I have something there. I wipe my lip, blood?

"What the hell?"

"You must have bit your lip."

"How is that possible?"

I pick up a knife and look at my teeth in the blade. It shocks me to see the reflection, my canine teeth look longer and have a sharp point.

"What the hell?"

I toss the knife onto the table and screech the chair back. I rush to the buffet behind me and look in the mirror above it. I pull at my mouth trying to look at these teeth. His hands run around my waist as he kisses my shoulder.

"It's called blood lust. That is why you want your steaks blue." Alex whispers as he continues up my neck.

My hands drop to my side as I look in the mirror. I can feel him but I cannot see him. I spin around and he grins at me.

"What am I?"

"You are a vampire."

"How do you know these things?"

As he grins at me, his canines get longer and pointier.

I wake with a fright, my chest heaving, the sweat pouring off me. The cat meows at me and starts purring as he rubs himself against my leg.

"Hey Tsar."

I lay back down onto the bed and he walks up my body and finds his usual spot in between my breasts. I scratch his belly; his purring soothes my erratic heartbeat. That was one of the weirdest dreams I have ever had. Of course it is nowhere near as scary as the shadow figure but it's pretty close.

When I wake in the morning the little silver rat has managed to fall asleep in between my breasts, paws either side, my camisole pushed down.

"Really Tsar, what kind of cat has a breast obsession?"

He gets up and wanders over to the window, wanting to be let out.

"Go you little brat, find another chest to sleep on."

I turn and sit on the bench seat with a big sigh.

"Everything ok?"

Alex scares the shit out of me and I fall to the floor as I spin around.

"Jesus Christ."

"No but pretty close." He grins.

I grip my chest as it heaves. "Do you really need to sneak up on a person like that?"

"I wasn't sneaking, I had just been out in the garden for a walk and happened past here."

"Sorry. Just had a rough night."

I get up from the floor and sit on the bench seat. He sits on the sill and kisses my shoulder making his way higher.

"Alex..."

He slips the string strap of my camisole over my shoulder letting it fall down my arm, exposing my breast. I gasp as he kisses me, skimming his lips over me. Alex climbs in through the window and closes them. As he kisses me, he moves me closer to the bed.

"Your father is going to be calling soon..."

"Well then we had better be quick."

The maid brings in a trolley with a pot of tea, she quietly serves out two cups as Alex talks to his father. She meekly scurries out of the room as I take a sip of the piping hot tea. Alex hangs up the phone.

"Well, father has taken your advice on board and has personally spoken to the locals."

"Oh, what did Lord Eliade have to say about that?"

"Father didn't say but I can assume that if you are correct he would be none too happy."

"So what did your father find out?"

"The locals were pretty tight lipped about it. I'm thinking that they have been threatened. The only clue that he has found is a young girl of about twenty-six. She is a mute. She told my father using a pen and paper that she saw a shadow figure kill the occupants of the car and remove a child."

"A shadow figure?"

"Black hooded cloak, eyes as red as the devil."

"Creepy."

"Yes. Well there is a certain level of fear within the locals of a creature that lurks the woods. You know the usual folklore crap."

"So was she imagining it?"

"She was a child at the time."

"Did she say anything else?"

"There was a car and she gave the registration details to my father."

"How could Lord Eliade not have found this information years ago?"

"That is what I am thinking. I have discussed it with father and we both agree that Lord Eliade can no longer be trusted." He taps his fingers on the desk as he thinks. "Well, my father is onto it now, so hopefully we will have results."

Is that what you want? To find her? Even now after you have had your way with me? His path is one of duty not of love. You again? Get out.

"Anyway, time moves onward. Here, take these books and have a good read while I catch up on some things."

He hands me a great stack of books and the tea cup tinkers on the saucer as I place it down beside the teapot.

"Thanks."