#cybird comte

I sighed. “I’m sorry, if I am not more enthused.” I replied.

“Oh, come now, dearest, you’ve always wanted to see Paris.” Mother reminded me.

“Yes…but not like this.” I remarked.

“You knew this would happen someday, Colette.” Thomas reminded me. “You’re moving up in station through this. I mean look at this carriage le Comte sent for us.”

“Yes, this will raise up the whole family.” Mother reminded me. “And it will help your younger sister find a suitable match as well.”

I sighed. There was no point in arguing. My brother had already completely agreed to this match on my behalf. As of this moment, there really was nothing I could do. On paper, it all did make sense. A French nobleman wanting to marry me, the eldest daughter of a merchant family. My father had only just recently been able to purchase the title of Baron before passing away suddenly, Thomas inheriting the title from him.

Mother’s hand came to rest on mine. “Colette, my dear, I promise you an arranged marriage isn’t the end of the world. Had I not had one, you and your siblings wouldn’t be here.” She gently reminded me.

I nodded. “I know…but at least you and Father grew up together. I don’t even know what my fiance looks like…let alone if he is kind or cruel. And I am to marry him in three days.”

“Just remember, Colette, our family needs this.” Thomas reminded me. “You’re marrying into the French nobility. Old money. It will look favorably for everyone.”

“Not to mention, we really did luck out. At your age…” Mother began.

“I know.” I replied. And how I knew. I was an old maid now, being unwed and in my early thirties. Practically ancient by the marriage market standards…and I had liked it that way.

I decided to look out the window and focus on the scenery. Fresh air and solid ground had already settled my stomach from the seasickness. Now all that remained was how I felt about meeting my fiance.

The carriage ride seemed to take forever. The city-scape gave way to a scenic countryside full of beautiful and vibrant flowers and lush trees. We finally arrived at the gates of a large country estate. The carriage took us all the way up to the front of a large mansion.

Thomas exited the carriage first, reaching his hand back to help my mother and then myself. I couldn’t help but to find myself in awe of the mansion. It was ENORMOUS! Yes we’d had a large house, but it was nothing compared to this place.

A young man with dark hair and wearing a butler’s suit and gloves came to greet us, giving us a bow. “Welcome, Baron Wells. Madame Wells.” He greeted them. “And you must be Mademoiselle Colette. I am Sebastian, Monsieur le Comte de Saint-Germain’s butler.”

“Oh, how delightful. Where is the master of the house?” Thomas asked.

“He is in town attending to some business. He will be back later this evening for the small dinner party planned to welcome you and to celebrate the engagement.” Sebastian explained.

I could feel the knots of anxiety twisting further in my stomach. I had hoped that the man would be here so that I could at least meet him. Sebastian led us inside, giving a casual tour of the mansion as we made our way to our rooms.

“The parlor is there. The dining room there. A game room through there.” Sebastian gestured.

“A game room?” I found myself asking.

“Yes. We have billiards and chess, for example.” Sebastian answered.

“Oh, your fiance enjoys a good game now and then. That sounds just like your father.” Mother told me. Clearly trying to talk the man up…even though she was just as clueless on how he really was as I was.

Sebastian finished showing us around, taking Thomas to his room first, followed by my mother, and then showing me to my room last. The coachman had helped him to carry our things in, meager as our luggage was compared to the guests I was sure le Comte usually entertained.

“And here is your room Mademoiselle.” Sebastian said as he opened the door for me.

I stepped inside, seeing a room decorated in warm soft tones. Whites and creams and golds. The curtains were even light and airy. There was also a balcony that overlooked the garden in the backyard of the mansion. A rather large and gorgeous garden full of colorful flowers blooming.

If it had been under any other circumstances, I would have been in complete awe of this place. It was beautiful, there was no doubt. Grand, for certain. A home most girls I knew back home would kill for. Here it was to be mine. I the lady of such a grand estate…yet I couldn’t help but to feel the anxiety tightening in my gut.

“Should you need anything, Mademoiselle, do not hesitate to ask.” Sebastian told me. “Le thermae is just down the hall should you wish to take a bath to freshen up. Monsuier le Comte has also left a present for you in the closet. I believe he would like for you to wear it to the dinner tonight.”

“I see…thank you.” I replied.

“Pardon me for asking, but is there anything I can assist you with?” Sebastian asked.

“Could…could you tell me about le Comte?” I asked after only a moment of hesitation.

“Ah, you are nervous about marrying a man you haven’t yet met.”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.” I replied. “What is he like?”

“He is a good man. A generous man.” Sebastian answered. “Though, I am sure nothing will assuage your fears as much as meeting him will. You shall see him tonight, fret not.”

Sebastian gave me no chance to ask any further questions and then he was gone. I sighed as I walked over to the closet and opened it up. Inside there was a rather beautiful dress, of gold silk with cream-colored flowers adorning it in places. On the vanity in the room there was a pair of long elegant white gloves. There was a jewelry box and I walked over to it, opening it…earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet to match the dress.

Just then there was a knock on the door and my mother was peeking her head in. “Ah, my dearest, it seems Monsuier le Comte is pulling out all of the stops for you.” She said, her eyes lighting up as she looked around the room and took notice of the dress and jewelry.

“Yes…it seems he wants a doll to dress up.”

Mother frowned. “Come, come. Let’s go freshen up. Those baths the butler mentioned sounded nice. That should help you relax a bit.”

I nodded. “Sure.” Though I knew a bath wouldn’t help me. Nothing would.

I was so anxious that I couldn’t even bring myself to take in the beauty of the bath. How elegant the room was and how warm the water was. Mother made sure that she helped me to scrub, something about getting the stink of travel off of me.

After the bath, we went right back to my room to get ready for the evening. Mother helped me to get ready, putting on the dress and accessories le Comte had gifted me. There must have been a king’s ransom in the diamonds and pearls that now adorned me.

“You look beautiful, dearest.” Mother told me, smiling warmly as she looked at me. “This le Comte has good taste.”

“It is lovely.” I replied as I looked at myself in the mirror. Though I could hardly recognize myself. Yes, we’d done our best to have nice things, but even with the fortune our family business had amassed, there were still some things out of reach.We were new money and generally looked down upon by those of old money.

Just then there was a knock on the door. “Are you ready, Mother? Sister?”

“Yes, we are. You can come in Thomas.” Mother called.

“Sebastian said that dinner isn’t quite ready yet, but we are permitted in the parlor where there are drinks waiting.” Thomas told us. “Perhaps some wine might help to calm you nerves, Sister.”

“Wine can be good for the nerves.” Mother agreed, looping her arm through mine.

“Right.”

The three of us left my room and headed down the stairs. We went to the parlor, where there were indeed drinks awaiting us. There were also some ordesvours. There were no signs however, of my fiance. “Here Sister, have some wine.” Thomas told me as he handed me a glass of wine.

“Thank you…” I replied, taking the glass, though I really wasn’t sure it would help me at all.

Just then Sebastian was coming into the room followed by a group of three men. One had jade eyes and the strangest hair color…it was a mixture of…black or dark blue and gray…? There was also a man with blue eyes and blond hair and a warm smile. The third man had a kind of bluish hair and bright blue eyes. Who were these men? Was one of them my fiance?

Sebastian bows to us. “Monsuier le Comte has only just returned. He has gone to freshen up.” Sebastian told us. “Though he didn’t want you to be bored, so he wanted some of his closest friends to greet you and keep you company. These are Monsuiers Napoleone, Vincent, and Arthur.”

With those introductions out of the way, Sebastian left the room. The three men came over my family and I. “Welcome, it is nice to meet you all.” Napoleone greeted us.

Vincent smiled and I swear I thought I heard angels singing. “And we are happy to welcome you here. Especially you, Madamouselle Colette.”

“Yes, it’s great to meet the bird who could get old Comte to settle down.” Arthur added.

I was surprised when I heard each of the men speak. I couldn’t quite place Napleone’s accent, it almost seemed somewhere between Italian and French? Vincent had a Dutch accent? I think it was anyways.

“Ah, another Englishman!” Thomas declared immediately latching onto Arthur.

“Yes, Comte has quite the collection of us.” Arthur replied.

“A collection?” Mother asked.

“Don’t listen to this idiot.” Napoleone said, shooting a look at Arthur. “Monsuier le Comte likes to support the arts. Arthur here is a writer and Vincent is a painter.”

“Oh, so he’s charitable and a patron of the arts!” Mother declared, turning to look at me. “That sounds like a good man.”

“He’s something.” Napoleone agreed.

We all stood or sat in the parlor together then, Mother and Thomas easily starting conversation with the three men. I would speak up every so often, trying to find out more information on le Comte…yet I kept getting very little…it may as well have been nothing. Arthur would say a bit more than the others, but something about his demeanor told me he wasn’t entirely serious.

I could feel my anxiety getting to me and that parlor suddenly felt very tiny and warm. “Excuse me a moment.” I muttered. “I…need some air.”

I didn’t give anyone time to stop me. I exited the parlor and started wandering through the mansion, looking for an exit. I wasn’t even sure where I was going, but I soon found myself out in the garden I had seen from my balcony. Little did I know, I was being watched.

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“Like what?” I asked.

“Relaxed and happy.” He answered.

I felt my cheeks flushing. “Well…I do find spending time with you makes me feel those things.”

His own smile brightened. “I am glad to hear that.” He said. “Of course you also look quite relaxed and happy when you’re asleep in my arms.”

I flushed further and looked away. “You…”

“Can a man not be happy that his wife feels so comfortable with him?”

“I suppose he can.” I replied.

Abel chuckled. “I do have something for you.” He said, reaching into the picnic basket.

“Another gift?” I asked in disbelief.

“This one is special.” He replied. He then pulled out a leather bound journal and handed it to me. “For you to write in again.”

I looked at the book, opening it up to see the blank parchment. “You…”

He lifted a hand to caress my cheek. “I want to support you in whatever you do.”

I felt so happy at the sincerity of his words and the earnestness of his gift. It was so sweet and so thoughtful. “Thank you.” I told him leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

His eyes widened in surprise a moment before he broke out into a wide happy smile. “Perhaps I should buy you a library of blank journals, if I can receive a kiss for each one.”

“You don’t have to buy me anything…really.” I told him, looking into his eyes. I felt as though I could get lost in those golden depths.

“You can’t blame me, ma cherie for having such thoughts.” He teased.

“What if I told you…you didn’t have to do anything other than ask?”

His hand cupped my cheek once more. “May I kiss you, Colette?”

“Oui.” 

His lips were on mine. The kiss started gentle, just a brush of the lips, much like the kiss he gave me on our wedding day. Yet it soon turned deeper, lips opening and moving together. I could feel my heart picking up its pace. Soon his tongue prodded at my lips before slipping past them, tracing the inside of my mouth.

I found myself thankful we were sitting because I knew my knees would be giving out on me. My entire body tingled from the kiss. I felt hyper aware of every move of his lips against mine. The way his tongue caressed mine.

We were both panting and breathless by the time we broke the kiss. “Forgive me…ma cherie…I got a little carried…away…” He said, giving me a sheepish look.

I shook my head. “I do not…forgive you…because there’s nothing to forgive.” 

His breath seemed to catch for a moment and his eyes darkened a bit. “When you say things like that, ma cherie…it truly tests my control.”

My breath hitched in my throat. Images of our bodies entwining flashed through my mind, my body flushing at the thought of it. We had grown closer over this last week. I enjoyed our time together. I enjoyed his every touch…and I had very much enjoyed that kiss just now. Was I ready for more?

“May I kiss you again?” Abel asked, his eyes staring into mine.

I didn’t answer. Instead I just pressed my lips to his. He reacted instantly, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me close. I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to completely share myself with him…but I was more than happy to indulge in these kisses.

Inside the chateau…

Amelie came into the kitchen, a frown on her face. “This isn’t right, Bernard.”

“Mon coeur, what are you talking about?” Bernard asked his wife.

“Le Comte and the Comtesse.” She hissed. “I just saw them by the lake in a rather impassioned embrace.”

“They are married, I believe a passionate embrace is normal for married couples.” Bernard pointed out.

“You know what he is.” She hissed at him.

“Yes and I’ve never seen him harm anyone.” Bernard said.

“It is not natural, Bernard.” She gestured to the cupboard where the rouge and blanc were kept. “You know what is in that cabinet.”

“Yes. And I know how it is retrieved. No one is harmed. It is all voluntary.” Bernard reminded her. “And the blanc comes from a plant.”

“I’ve noticed that as they grow closer, he consumes more.” Amelie said. “What do you think that means?”

“It means he is thirsty.”

“Yes. He must want to drain her.”

“Amelie, le Comte has not hurt anyone. Has he not always been in control of himself? Has he not always provided well for everyone?” Bernard pointed out. “When you cut yourself that one time, he didn’t even react. He even treated your wound.”

Amelie huffed. “I still don’t like it.”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at her. He would sooner cut off his own arm than harm the Comtesse.” Bernard told his wife.

“How do you know?”

“Because that is the way I look at you, mon coeur.” 

Amelie’s dark eyes softened a bit. “Do you think she knows?”

“I…don’t know.” He answered honestly.

She sighed. “I don’t think she does. Else she would be afraid and run far away.”

“Or she might know exactly and love him regardless.” Bernard said. “Either way, it is not our business. Nor is it reason to worry as le Comte has no ill intentions for her.”

Amelie huffed. “I will keep silent…for now. But if I think she is in danger, I will tell her.” She then turned to head back out to finish doing some cleaning.

Later that night…

Abel and I were sitting at the table, having dinner together. I was using my knife to cut my food when my hand slipped. “Ouch…”

Abel was instantly on alert. “Ma Cherie…”

I grabbed my napkin and pressed it to the small gash in my hand. “I’ll be alright…”

Abel took my hand in his. His golden eyes seemed to be transfixed on the red coming from my hand. “That definitely looks like it hurts.” He murmured. “Allow me to take care of you, ma cherie.”

“It’s a small cut. It’s not even bleeding that badly.” I said, not wanting him to worry or fuss over me. I could just take care of it.

His eyes remained locked on my cut hand. Slowly he lifted my hand, bringing it to his lips, which parted and took the bleeding cut in between them. I felt a shiver run through me as his tongue snaked out and raked over the cut.

My eyes were locked on the way his lips were wrapped around the cut on my hand. The way his tongue moved sent shiver and shiver through me. And something stirred deep within me….all the while something pricked at the back of my memory as the strangest feeling of deja vu washed over me.

“Abel…” I said, my voice sounding surprisingly sultry to my own ears.

He looked up at me then and slowly released my hand from his mouth. He grabbed the napkin and pressed it to the wound once more. “I apologize…I was just trying to stop the bleeding…” He murmured.

“I…it’s alright…”

We rose from the table and headed to properly clean and bandage my hand. Through the process, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he had licked my wound, nor the way it had made me feel. Even as his hands now moved to bandage me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that…I didn’t mind it all…nor that this was something that hadn’t happened before.

“Are you alright, ma cherie?” He asked me.

“Yes.” I answered. “I just…have the strangest feeling of deja vu. Silly, I know.”

“I don’t think it’s silly.” Abel replied as he finished tying the bandage on my hand.

Just then, Amelie was coming into the room, carrying the dishes from dinner. “Oh, is everything alright?” She asked, looking at us in concern.

“Everything is fine.” I answered. “I just had a little accident at dinner.” I held up my bandaged hand.

Amelie looked toward Abel. “And you were bandaging her wound?”

“Yes. I wanted to take care of my dear wife.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I see.”

“You know, it’s getting late and I’m getting tired.” I said. “I think I’ll go take a bath and get ready for bed.”

Abel kissed me on top of the head. “If that is what you wish, ma cherie.”

I nodded and gave him a peck on the cheek before heading upstairs. I drew myself a bath and stripped down and climbed inside the tub. I sank back into the warm waters, trying to relax myself…though perhaps I should have gotten into cold water after the way I now felt.

I let out a sigh as I leaned back and closed my eyes. As I began to relax, I felt myself being drawn into my own mind, wondering why I had felt deja vu while Abel was…licking my cut. It was then a flash image came to my mind.

A pink tongue licking a stripe across my cut palm. Golden eyes staring into mine. Something warm and dark stirring within me. It was then I saw Abel’s face staring at me as he licked my palm…but we weren’t in the dining room of the chateau…we were in the kitchen of my childhood home.

I sat up in the rub, my eyes popping open. “Could…could that have actually happened?” I muttered to myself. “Could that…have not been a dream?”

I sat there in the tub, playing that image in my mind over and over again. I then shook my head. “That’s…that’s madness.” I told myself. “I…I’m probably just confusing my dream with what happened downstairs because they were so similar. My mind probably just put his face there just now so that I could make the connection.”

There was a knock on the door then and Amelie was coming in, carrying some towels. “Are you alright, Comtesse?” She asked me.

“Yes.” I answered.

She then looked at me, concern in her eyes.

“It was just a small cut, I promise. Nothing to worry about.” I told her.

“Did anything..strange happen with le Comte when it did happen?” She asked.

“Strange?” I asked.

“You should be careful, Comtesse.”

“Why would you say that?” I asked her.

Amelie looked around. “Bernard thinks I shouldn’t say anything…but I can’t not tell you. You should know.”

“Know what?” I asked.

“Comte…he is a creature of the night…a vampire.”

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