The secret of the woods

​1725 France
The Past
24. Domenico 
When Dante brought word of Lilith’s two great-granddaughters, I was pleased. So many years waiting, so many years to decide what action needed to be taken.
I had planned on stealing Annabel’s child, and simply keeping her until Lilith noticed she was missing. It would be easy to bring her to me, using the child—she watched over her I was sure, and I knew this because my men could never get close enough. She had wards, and protection spells around the girl, and the girl even began to practice witchcraft herself.
It wasn’t until I received word that the girl ran away that I began to send the men after her, to no avail. She was enamored with a wolf-man who tore apart men as if they were pieces of paper. 
“The couple has two daughters, and one is refusing to leave. She will remain behind alone. I think the time is now.”
I steepled my hands as I sat behind the old oak desk that was once my grandfather’s, watching Dante’s scarred face. He was weakening every day, and it wasn’t uncommon that a vampire who no longer had a will to live would crumble into ash the day the last shred of hope in him dies. 
“There are wards, I am sure. They have no come this far without them. No, we need to take her in a way that isn’t quite so…primal.”
Dante nodded, but I was the brains behind it all, he was merely the errand boy, he knew his place. This was exactly what we needed…an errand boy who looked like a handsome prince…someone innocent and pure.
Instantly, my thought was drawn to Charles, his blue eyes and floppy hair, the way his grin slanted, and his skin shined.
“Fetch me Charles, I think I have an idea.”
There was plenty of followers whom I could puppeteer easily, and one would be happy to relocate for the Grace of God. Thomas, Annabel’s husband.
It was an easy task, getting Charles and Thomas to the small town of Bethlehem near the witch’s cabin. I was certain that Charles would be able to breech the wards, but Thomas was also a loose cannon, and slightly insane. Perhaps he could teach Charles about the importance of skepticism and a man’s iron fist. They really could go a long way if applied—and I wanted Charles to be the one to bring the witch to me. 
It wouldn’t be an easy sell…the boy had become slightly…attached to me. 
I would just have to be as vague as possible and remind him of the rewards he loved so much.
I wanted to tell him that I promised Melody that he would be hers someday. She was a healthy vampire with a hefty appetite for blood…and intimacy. Lust and blood went hand in hand for a vampire, and Charles was the perfect one to meet her desires. 
A boy raised in a brothel, what better student could she have? It would happen, even if I had to force it a little.
 
 
***
 
“How long will I be gone?”
“As long as it takes, the first step is to gain the family’s trust. Thomas must marry, insert himself into the community, by the way of God, of course.”
Charles ran a hand through his messy hair, sighing and looking at the stone floor. 
“But this is home. I belong here…with you.”
We are seated at the dining table in the middle of the common room at the center of the castle. This was where I saw most of my visitors, followers.
I cut into a blood red steak surrounded by grilled carrots and sprouts; I had become accustomed to eating over the years. It brought me great comfort, besides, humans needed to eat. 
“If you insist…” He pushed the food around on his plate, looking somber and so irresistible.
“I need you to do this for me…”
We locked eyes, and he nodded. I softened my face as much as possible, and smiled, satisfied with his response. 
He nodded, a smiling creeping up one side of his dimpled cheek.
“Perfect. You will leave first thing in the morning. I will tell Thomas, and I will reward you tonight.”
Charle’s eyes shined.
 
 
 
***
 
 
When I came to his quarters, he was waiting for me naked, atop his sheets with a grin stretched on his face.
“Did you bathe?” I asked softly, shutting the door behind me.
He propped himself up on his hand, elbow bent, nodding.
He looked like a child on the morning of Christmas. Awaiting the one gift he had always wanted…begged for even. 
Me.
I never took him the way he begged me too; I couldn’t bare it if I hurt him, and I had never been inside a man before. The ultimate sin. If I did this…I was accepting my un-holiness, my disbelief in everything I ever preached. I would be committing as act so dirty, that I was removing any link I ever had to the holy word.
Good…perhaps it was time.
I held a flask of anointing oil, often used in baptism, the only lubricant aside from the oil used for baking bread. 
And that just wouldn’t do.
“On your knees.”
He does as he’s told, standing from the bed, his long, lean body enviable. The tight muscles of his abs make my cock twitch, and I imagine them bunching before he took his release…
He knelt, his head just past my own abdomen, and I tangled my hands in his hair, pulling his head back, “such a good submissive. I will miss this…”
He doesn’t say a word, he just looked up at me from under those full lashes, so feminine and soft. I wanted to stroke his cheek, but I don’t want to give him sweetness tonight. I would give him the safety of my rules, my directions.
I brought his cheek to my cock instead, pushing against my dolman, rubbing it until his face is as red as a rose.
He was nearly breathless, and my cock is hard and angry, and I reach under to release it.
My pants fell to the floor, and Charle’s lips were already wet. 
“I am going to give you a safe word, I do not want to hurt you, but I will push you.”
He nodded, eagerness in his bright eyes.
“What do you think, my soft boy…”
He thought for a moment, and with heat he replied, “Rapture.”
I closed my eyes at this, he was pushing the limits already.
“Yes.”
I walked around him, to his back, gathering his wrists into one hand, pulling him to stand. 
I pulled him to me, and kissed his neck gently, tasting the salt on his skin. I felt him shiver, and I reached around the front, finding his cock like steel against his belly, dripping from the tip. I lazily gave him one stroke and cupped his balls. He gasped, and I led him backward to the bed.
I laid on top of him, our muscular bodies pressed together. Looking down, I make sure our shafts were lined up perfectly. Charles looked down as well, the heads kissing like two lost lovers. Their crowns shiny and red. 
I slowly moved my hips against his, his cock against mine.
“Tell me what it is you want…”
He was gasping now, his eyes locked on my face. Licking his lips, he tried to speak but was overcome, closing his eyes again. 
“More…I want more…”
“So greedy for a boy so lost.”
I reached for the Chrism; in a small glass vile in the pile of clothes at the foot of the bed.
Kneeling between his muscular thighs, I poured the holy oil on my fingers and ran them up and down my cock, “I shall bless you with my cock, and I know you will make me proud once you return.”
His eyes watched me intently as I lifted his legs onto my shoulders. I dribbled oil on his taught sack, and down his crevice to his tight hole. He hissed, and I begin with a gentle tug on his balls, expertly swirling my index and middle finger into his puckered entrance. 
With my other hand, I jerk him off slowly, as I press inside.
“Yes…please…”
His groans sounded like a holy hymn to my ears, and my own arousal was mounting as I work him with two hands. 
I had been with men and women alike, but always promised myself that I would never give myself to another after Lilith. 
But I wanted this, I wanted him, and I wanted to claim him as mine just as much as I did with her. Charles was so compliant, and so submissive, I struggled against taking him daily. He was nothing like her… always asking softly, pleading with me, and I wanted to give him just that, changing his life forever. It was a guarantee that he would do what I had asked of him, he wouldn’t be able resist me after this.
I leaned down, moving my hands to my own throbbing shaft, and lined myself up with the tight starburst. He squeezed the head, so deliciously tight, and I steadied myself before pushing myself inside.
His cock twitched against his belly, every inch I slid inside forcing a whimper from his lips. 
“Fuck,” I cursed, forcing myself to slow so I didn’t immediately come undone. 
Charles eyes are completely closed down, his mouth working into an O, and I was thankful for a moment that he could not see my face.
Keeping my eyes focused on his pleasure, I rolled my hips into him rhythmically, his heavy legs weighing down on my shoulders. 
His needy cock throbbed with each thrust, and I reached for it, stroking it gently. 
I was hitting that soft spot deeply inside of him, and I could tell he was close by the way his eyebrows lifted. He grabbed his legs, letting me in deeper. 
“This asshole is mine, and mine only…” I grunted, “do you understand?”
He as nodding his head frantically and he climaxed, white ropes of semen spilling from his cock and onto his stomach. The sight shot me over the edge as well, and I unloaded inside of him.
I howled, buried inside of him.
When our breath had slowed, and he opened his eyes again, he smiled up at me. His blue eyes sparkled, and I allowed myself to touch his face, take in his soft beauty.
I stood on shaky legs, and Charles relaxed his body, the euphoria settled on his skin.
Walking to the basin of water near the fireplace, I cleaned myself up, grabbing another towel for him. He smiled as he took it, but he didn’t meet my eyes. He was acting shy, and part of me relished in his timidness. 
I knew this may be the only time we would be together, especially if I planned on giving him to my Melody.
“Come back to me, okay?”
He replied quietly, “always.”
 
 
 
 
 
***
 
Ever since the wolf-man mangled his hand, Thomas had been reclusive and locked in his room. I took him in without argument, and he only requested that he be left in peace and allowed to attend church. Of course, I had said, and now I would call on him to return the favor after all these years. He would agree, I was sure of it. The only thing I needed to do was tell him it was God’s Will. Just one small sentence and it would be that easy. It was the very reason my grandfather chose this line of work…persuasion was all too easy. 
Charles did not take to his orders lightly, I knew he would make me proud. We had shared pillow talk, life lessons, and seed. But it was time to release my Melody of the sleeping curse, so we could be together again.
I stood from my chair, a young servant girl quickly clearing the plates as I stood. I walked to the far wall where the tapestry of Lilith was hung, pulling it back and looking over my shoulder before disappearing behind it. 
Her room was the last, after many turns inside the pitch-black corridors. I felt along the walls as I went, but part of my abilities was perfect sight in the darkness. 
Moonlight washed over the bed where she slept, a single rose bud in the vase beside of her. The flower never bloomed, and I feared that the prophecy wasn’t true. Once the flower bloomed—she would awaken. For years, I had faith that it would, and she would awaken, only it never did. The day she fell into the slumber, the day that Lilith left, I vowed to do whatever it took to bring her back. I often bit my own wrist and trickled the blood into her mouth, hoping it would be enough to sustain her. I held on to faith, and day after day, I was not given anything more than that. 
The Witch of the Woods was the key. She had to be; she was Lilith’s kin. Magic be damned, I would make sure Melody was brought back to me.
I stoked her soft cheek, which was sharp, and her blonde ringlets still shined with youth, locked in that state forever once she was turned. 
If her foolish parents didn’t do what they did—she never would have needed to be turned. It was the only choice I had, and once she was orphaned, she became mine. 
“We will be together again, ange.”