Curiosity Caught the Cat (Renee, Isis)

[Deleted]

"Died via vampire," Isis muttered, getting up, Renee's movements getting slightly slower, obviously tired. She grinned, not answering the second question Renee had asked. She would learn in due time, if the neko pushed the necromancer to the limits, or just plain out attacked her, which woul prove to be quite a fight indeed. The prospect of getting rid of pent up energy would fel wonderful to the necromancer, and Isis opened the door, waiting for Renee to follow. "Why don't I show you the avaiable rooms, and then I can just bring you some food, Renee?" she offered, trying to be nice, for the most part.

She led the wya down the hall, pointing out a couple of rooms, most of them slightly smaller or the same mesium size of her bedroom. There were different color schemes and styles, some gothica, others more modern, each looking pretty nice, but not overly fancy. Well provided, the slaves here were happy. Most of them were mulling about, an there were only a couple in their rooms as the duo walked the halls. "Down here is the kitchen," she pointed out, though the double doors remained shut for now. "So go ahead, find your room, and I'll get some food to you. What would you like?"

It wouldn't be hard for Isis to find the neko, for, despite having the ability to feel people's presences, she could vaguely identify them as well. An interesting talent. to say the least. Isis could cook, to a degree, or she could ask someone else, though there wasn't that many people here. And as for asking the vampires? The thought was dark, and she would either be laughed at, or hit, though the initial reaction would be good, that was for sure.

[emiko]

"Sorry to hear that," Renee said, thinking about vampires killing Isis. Vampires killed humans, it was just a fact of life. Humans were too weak to protect themselves from dangers. But what she didn't understand what had happened after death that made her into what she was now. Earlier she had said that she had been to hell. Did that have something to do with it? Renee wondered if Isis remembered it. Renee figured she wouldn't want to, if she had really been to hell. Such a strange place it had to have been. Renee hoped she would never have to do such a thing. She didn't want to die, that was for sure. She did want to know how she would end up dying, but she didn't want to find out the hard way. She didn't want to fight Isis. Doing things on her own wasn't something she enjoyed doing when there were so many people to do it for her.

She nodded her head as she moved out of the room, peering at the carpet beneath her feet. She followed Isis down the hall and wondered which bedroom she should take. She wasn't sure which would suit her best. Renee wasn't going to be picky though and it wasn't like she was going to be here for long. So she figured she would choose one of the medium ones. It was bigger and would be easier to hold her stuff. That is, if something were to happen and she had to stay here. It was almost like she was still free. Except that she had this damn collar. Renee ran her fingers over it, tugging a bit as if to see if it would come off. She honestly didn't want it. She found herself looking at the tattoo around the neck of the human. At least she didn't have one of those. Renee would be cutting her skin off every chance she got. She would rather have the collar.

"Alright," she sighed, finding herself a room. She decided on a darker one. She knew it helped her to sleep better if the room was as dark as possible. The tiny Neko snuck up into the bed and curled up in the center, sighing softly and reaching our for the emotions around her. There were so many people in this building. She wondered how they all stayed here. A lot of them were here for their job, she supposed. She should have just worked for him. But what was the fun in that? Working for him was just like being his slave. Except she had a bit more freedom and she would have been treated better. Renee just wanted to be on her own. She could get as much attention as she wanted on the streets. Her tail curled around her as she lay on the bed. She wasn't sure what she was going to do.

[Deleted]

She brought out some soup for the neko, just some simple chicken flavored-ramen. Hopefully, she would like it. And if not, Isis could always get her something else, though Renee practically had free reign, to a degree. Seeking out her presence, Isis found it easily, the necromancer knocking before entering, simply having the common courtesy that she employed everywhere, for the most part, unless set off. It was a nice room, at least the neko had good taste. She could tell that her curiosity wasn't satisfied with the necromancer though, but Isis wouldn't explain unless asked directly, or given some subtle hints.

"Here, Renee." She set it down on a table by the bed Renee occupied, sighing as she stood on the threshold, unsure if the neko wished for her to stay, or to take her leave. Hands automatically went up to her throat, clawing at the tattoo again. It was an old habit that wouldn't be stopped, and she did it when she was unsure of herself or something else,or just bored, really. As well, there was another tattoo Isis ha on her, requested actually, by the necromancer herself. It was the number 12, set in the Gothic style. And that ha a special, though somewhat sorrowful, meaning to Isis. She cast a glance at the curled up girl, smiling a bit. It wouldn't be that hard to get along with her, so long as the two of them played nice.

"Um, Renee, would you like for me to go, or do you still want some company?" Isis asked, bringing it out in the open. The neko was tired, and it was easy to see. However, she might like a bit more time with the other slave, though it wasn't that much of a choice, really. She waited for her response, either one was fine with Isis.

[emiko]

She wondered how many people were actually going to knock on the door before coming into her room. Were they all like that or was it just Isis? She didn't really care if someone just walked in or if they knocked first. Renee probably wouldn't have done it just because she hated the feeling of it. She could already smell the food through the door, but the smell hit her hard when Isis came in. Her stomach growled lowly, obviously wanting the food. She sat up and watched the woman put it on the table. There was a bit of steam coming from it and the smell was strong to her. Isis took a place on the threshold and looked a bit lost as to what to do. "Thanks," Ren said softly, not wanting to be rude. She didn't care if Isis stayed or took her leave. Renee was probably going to sleep after eating, though, and it would be strange for Isis to still be in the room.

"You can go, Isis," she replied. She wasn't sounding mean or anything, unlike before. She still wasn't sure she liked Isis. After all, the woman was technically a human. Renee wasn't sure if Isis deserved to be a slave or not. She was confused as to what to think about this woman. She was scary, for one. Renee didn't like dead bodies wandering around. It didn't seem right. She kenw she didn't want to see that ever again. So when she made her escape she would have to make sure Isis wasn't around. She didn't want to make friends with Isis, though she could get along with her for the time being. Perhaps she could use her later. The closer she seemed with Isis the easier it would be to influence her. Friends usually had a big say in what their friends did.

[Deleted]

Isis smiled, shutting the neko's door behind her softly, her steps even as she walked down the hall. The woman was hard to read, and Isis couldn't pinpoint her true personality, though it just evaded her, somehow. She sighedstepping into her room to change into something warmer. The necromancer plaaned on heading out to the graveyard tonight, just for a bit, to think things over. Odd, but that was the way she was. Isis needed to think, and she was peaceful there, when left alone.

Taking her leave from the building, knowing that every movement of hers was tracked, by a chip somewhere on her person, Isis thought things over. Well, at least Renee was frienly toward her, but she felt as though the neko didn't fully trust her. Unerstandable, but so troublesome. Isis had no grudge over her, no reason to harm her unless she was harmed, or her master ordered her to. Perhaps it was the fact that she was somewhat human. Isis wasn't completely whole, though, as though a part of her was traded for her necromancer powers. However, Isis hadn't consciously mae a deal as such, but perhaps that was simply entitled with a trip to the Realm of the Dead.

Either way, it was lonely out here on the streets, entering the outskirts. But then, if the necromancer wished for company, she would have went to a club, or perhaps the beach, if she was feeling lucky. But Isis wasn't, and thus, here she was, left to mull over the events of her day. Renee would warm up to her even more in time, and if not, well, nobody could say they didn't try.

[lucius]

{time lapse}
------------------------------------

Many hours had passed until the late morning the following day. Lucius had to rest occasionally, but he did not sleep often. He would sometimes sleep for a decade at a time, or take naps--usually when healing--during the day, but he needed no such rest now. Yes, at times he liked to sleep, but it was not always a necessity for the ancient vampire. Instead, he wished to check up on the newest addition to his household staff, Renee, and see if Isis was able to calm her at all the night before.

Descending from his penthouse into the slave quarters, the vampire elder made his way to the room she received. He treated his slaves well enough, their rooms far more generous than rooms elsewhere, as were their meals and clothing options and ability to walk places. It was something he took pride in, and something that he hoped the necromancer had got across to the neko to ease the transition into this new life somewhat for her; to make it seem not so difficult and not so horrible to live a life as a slave to Lucius Erif.

Not wanting to make a lot of noise if she was sleeping by opening the door, Lucius slowly transformed into a mist, seeping in under the crack between the door and the floor, re-materializing on the other side as himself. Once back in full physical form, his blue eyes fell among the diminutive sleeping form of the neko. He tilted a curious head; despite the ferociousness from last night still embedded in his head (as were scratches still embedded in some of his clothing), he had to say that she looked rather cute and adorable sleeping there. Lucius stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed, glancing at her and waiting for her to wake up.

[emiko]

Renee had eaten the food and left the bowl sitting on the table. She figured she could take it to the kitchen or wherever Isis got it when she woke up. The darkness had made her drowsy, not that she hadn't been before. She had used a lot of energy with the vampire and Isis. Now the cute little kitten was laying in bed curled up in the center and sleeping. She didn't bother with pillows, though. She just pulled the covers in towards her and burried herself under them to keep warm. Only her head was outside the little burrow. She was silent and sweet laying there. Like a cute little kitten, really. She wasn't sure how many hours had passed and she didn't really care. She wasn't going to be bothered here, or at least she hoped. She didn't remember the last time she had slept in a bed. Even with Kayen she hadn't slept in a bed. So this was something she was enjoying, if anything. It was quite different than living on the streets.

She was a light sleeper, though, so noises of people walking by would bring her out of her sleep. Not much, though, only enough to make sure they weren't coming in to smother her or something. Or drag her out of her comfortable sleep and beat her to death. Renee found her room to be to her liking and quite a suprise seeing as she had expected a dungeon or something. She was confused as to why she had a little bit of freedom as a slave. She could still go to the streets when she wanted, unless Lucius needed her she supposed. She got a bedroom with a comfortable bed. Quite interesting, really. But that didn't mean she wanted to be here. She would still rather be free. She didn't want to be used by this vampire at all. She wasn't born for that. She wasn't born for slavery. So, she dreamed of ways to escape that night. Some of them silly, some of them having potential.

She didn't hear the vampire coming under her door, he was quite silent. Though his footsteps had been heard in the hall, a quiet noise really. Different people had different sounds when they walked. She could almost tell who they were once she got used to the sound. She was brought out of her sleep when she heard him outside the door but fell back into a slumber when it got quiet. She felt something near her though and that made her open a curious eye and see a figure moving towards the bed. Still half asleep, she stretched and stared up at the intruder, trying to figure out who it was. The image clicked, though, and she jumped up and to the other side of the bed, her ears layed back once more. "Lucius," she hissed, though seeming a lot less hateful than before. She had no idea why he was here. Was he going to rape her while she was sleeping? Unfortunately for him she ruined that plan. Now if he wanted to do such things he would have to deal with her kicking and screaming. She was going to put up one hell of a fight if that was the plan.

[lucius]

Lucius remained sitting calmly upon the edge of the bed as Renee became startled and quickly leapt to the other side of the bed, hissing at him. He had immediately started reaching out with his empathetic capabilities, trying to get a feel of what she was feeling. Fear. And defiance. It was expected, though Lucius felt a slight change in the level of hostility sent his direction; that was a good sign, hoped the ancient vampire.

A slight twinge of disappointment welled up within him for waking and startling her so. She looked so calm and cute curled up like that in the bed. Far more docile and appealing that when she was threateningly scratching at and stabbing him. That familiar desire was felt deep within him, but all it was was a feeling. Had Lucius any desire to force himself upon her, he was sure that he could have successfully with only minor difficulty of her thrashing around violently in response. However, that was not how Lucius usually operated. He was far too sophisticated and tempered to rape anyone. Besides, there was no reason for it most of the time anyways; there were plenty of women willing to sleep with the wealthy media magnate whenever he called upon them.

Yet, he understood the fears of the neko, and tried to sooth them with a charming smile appearing on his handsome face as his blue eyes settled upon Renee. "I am sorry if I startled you," he said politely, his hands folded in his lap as he sat upon the bed. "I had no intention of that. I just wanted to come and check up on you as I said I would." It was the beginning of another attempt by him to try win her over willingly rather than forcefully; he did not like having to be cruel, even though he would be if the situation commanded it, and preferred willing or at least not-blatantly-insubordinate people doing work for him. That was why he extended to his slaves such a high level of comfort and freedom in comparison to most other creatures in their position.

[emiko]

She began to read his emotions and work her way into his mind. She knew that being seductive worked best. She figured if Luc was going to rape her he would have done it already. Her eyes danced over the room for a moment before returning to him. If she could bring about her playful side towards him maybe he would let her go. He seemed so calm and collected over there. Just like before. Though she had seen how his eyes changed when he had gotten angry with her. It was a scary look for him. She liked the calm person she was looking at now. Renee wasn't sure what she wanted to do at the moment. How dare he interrupt her sleep. Though, she assumed it was later in the morning and she had been working on waking up anyway. She would feel more energy in a few moments. Right now she was still a bit sleepy and not sure what was going on.

She studied his smile which seemed to be nice enough. He appologized, which she had not expected. She shrugged her shoulders and settled down where she was though she still looked like she was on edge and ready to attack. "I'm still miserable. Just like when you brought me here. Unwillingly," she said, stressing the last word. Usually she would have been sarcastic and told him she was enjoying herself, but that was a waste of her time. She would rather let him know right off the bat that she was having a horrible time. She wasn't going to let him know that she liked the room, though. That would just satisfy him. Or so she thought. "Isis has been kind, though I guess that could be expected." Renee rolled her eyes. Yes, it was to be expected. Isis seemed to like being here and being a slave for this man. Humans were far too kind for their own good. Most of them anyway.

Renee reached up and pulled on her right ear, a habit she had when she was feeling self-conscious about it. She wondered if Lucius planned on tattooing her. She didn't think she could live with that, or the scar that came from taking it off. She preffered the collar over that, really. She didn't want either of them to be honest but she was pretty sure Lucius wasn't going to let her go willingly. Perhaps she could stay for a bit longer. To find things she could take upon her leaving, of course. But, here was Lucius. Wanting to check up on her. "What do you want?" she asked, sitting on her knees and leaning forward on her hands. She stared into his eyes with her own pupil-less amber ones. What was he planning?

[lucius]

So, she still was not 'over' the whole thing from last night, but Lucius had not gotten his hopes up on that front. It was not something that one easily just 'got over' with; he knew it would take some time and adjusting. With time, all wounds healed, he had learned over the centuries. She would come to understand things eventually, and perhaps learn a little something about how the world worked. Or, at least that was what Lucius had hoped. Mortals creatures were so much more difficult to teach things to than immortals, who had the time and no need to fear the passing of time in the world. It made things a little easier to work with and put into perspective for the other interested parties to see clearly how things operated.

"I am sorry for that, but I did what I have to do. Besides, it can't be that bad. I'm sure this is the most comfortable thing you've slept on in ages," said Lucius, patting the bed. "And you probably ate the best meal you've had in a while too, no? I provide well for my staff." That was one way Lucius made the transition a little better; slaves tended to react more positively when not regarded as slaves or told what they were. Some odd form of self-deception that helped them get on with their enslaved lives. It worked for some; perhaps for her. "I am glad you find Isis acceptable. She's a very loyal person with a very level head on her shoulders, and a very special skill of her own, as you know," said Lucius, that warm smiling continuing to beam at the neko.

He relaxed his posture some to try make himself not seem so formal and imposing upon her, though that was precisely what he was. "I wanted to see if you were ready to talk, now. Like I said, I want to work with you and try to make this transition not too difficult for you," said Lucius. "For starters, tell me more about yourself." Though he had information on her, when people explained themselves it revealed so much more about what they were like.

[emiko]

"Sure, a nice bed and good food is enough to change my mind about being a slave," she said, allowing herself a bit of sarcasm. "Perhaps you should be a slave. You think you are too good for it? Yea, apparently not. I thought I was too. But look where I'm at," she shrugged. Her eyes narrowed into a bit of a glare as she looked at him, her ears still back and the fur on her tail stood on end. She was usually pretty quiet but she wasn't going to go without talking to him for now. She had things she wanted to know. This was the time to do it, it seemed. They were alone in her bedroom. There was no one to interrupt her. "Staff? Last time I checked, staff didn't have collars" she growled, though it sounded better than him calling her a slave. Like she worked with him instead of for him. Not like a slave, more like an employee. Right?

"Yes, it seems she does have a special skill," the kitten said thoughtfully. He was smiling at her and acting like he was her friend or something. "Sure, let's talk then," she responded. He asked her to tell him about herself and she raised an eyebrow at him. "What's there to say that you don't already know?" she asked. She decided to humor him anyway. "I'm a Neko, obviously, I'm eighteen years old. I'm a thief and I like living on the streets. I don't know my parents and I don't care to know them. I don't have friends, I hate being a slave. This is the second time I was caught," she said, eyeing him. "What do you want to know?" she sighed, tired of trying to think of things to tell him. She figured he would already know everything he wanted to about her. What more did he need? She wasn't sure she wanted to just tell him her whole life story. She lived her life the way she wanted, not the way others wanted.

"Actually," she said softly, her voice a bit manipulative. She traced her finger over the covers on the bed for a moment, staring down at her moving finger. She then crawled over to Lucius and climbed into his lap, turning to lay on her back and looking up at him. "I want to know about you," she said, her voice seductive and influencial. She would start with easy stuff he probably would have told her anyway. Then she could work her way up to other things. "I'm wondering why you want me here," she said, her eyes peering up at him, soft and innocent. Her ears were perked forward now and she was running her fingers over his chest. "Just curious," she added, shrugging a bit.

[lucius]

The vampire elder's gaze lowered some, looking off into nothingness most, a mysterious, understanding smile momentarily appearing on his handsome face. "Trust me, my dear, I know more of slavery and its toils, and the entrapment of prisons, than you will ever understand," replied Lucius softly. His memory was near-photographic, and he could remember clearly three instants in which he had suffered slavery in the prisons. One of a vampire coven he had refused to aid in a certain fight, one of a Lycan pack exacting revenge on him and his kind, and one by human vampire slayers who tried, and failed, to torture information out of him on his kind. Yes, the ancient knew well the toils of slavery, making him even more comfortable with the set up and the comforts he provided his slaves. "If you would prefer to be called slave, then by all means that is what I will call you," shot Lucius back, having a feeling she would like to stick with the name 'staff' being used by him.

Tilting his head to the side, he listened with curiosity as she explained her life to him in brief. It was certainly the type of things he preferred to hear; excuses to justify in his mind even more what he was doing with her. "Is that so? Well, then what do you have to live for? As a slave, you have so much more than what you did have," said Lucius, continuing to smile softly at her.

Now things were getting a little interesting, though Lucius as he heard the shift in her voice and watched the change in her demeanor. Sultry. Seductive. Manipulative. His blue eyes peered down at her as she laid down on his lips, tilting his head once more curiously and listening to her. She certainly could be a seductive little vixen, he noted. He chuckled lightly, realizing quite obviously what she was trying to do with his mind, but decided to go along. "About me, hm? My life has spanned millennia, and I have seen the destruction that the blood feuds wreaks about this world and the destructive foolishness of the humans," said Lucius, lifting a hand and running a finger very lightly over her arm. "I seek to protect things of beautiful or cultural importance, or to take things of a dangerous or mystical nature so that they cannot be misused. I seek to learn of things people are planning, and convince them to perhaps go a more suitable direction. I seek to keep the human public generally unaware of what it is our underworld does, so that they do not threaten our kind and so that we do not threaten them too much. Which is why you, my skilled little pet, come in. You can steal, you can get people to talk, and you can convince them to prefer certain things to others, or to forget things. You'll be most useful to my operations." It was blatant, and honest.

[emiko]

If Renee found out Lucius had been a slave before she would have been astounded. She wasn't sure what to think about what he said, though, and decided to just leave it alone. He apparently knew something she didn't. He had been alive a lot longer than her so she didn't doubt that he knew more. People who lived so long saw more and understood more. He was patient, as she had realized before. She wondered just how long he had been alive. There was a part of her that wanted to live a long life. A somewhat immortal life. Like the vampire sitting on her bed. Jealousy moved through her but she pushed it aside. This wasn't the time to want things she couldn't have. Immortality wasn't something even Renee couldn't get. It couldn't be stolen and as far she knew, it couldn't be asked for. So, it something that Renee couldn't have. She wanted to live a good life, though, even if it meant being a slave for Lucius. But that wasn't going to be the case. "No," she said, not wanting him to call her a slave.

What did she have to live for? She wasn't sure. She was waiting for the death she couldn't avoid. Eventually, she would die. There was nothing to stop that. It could be in several years, it could be today. Did she want to die? No. But she couldn't stop it. So, she waited for it. As long as she didn't drown everything would be fine. "As a slave I'm supposed to do as I'm told. To be a good little girl and not talk when it's not my place. That's not me," she replied. It wasn't like she talked much anyway, but she didn't want to have to stay silent when she had something to say. Renee wasn't afraid to tell someone what she thought about them. Usually when she felt provoked. She was quieter when feeling angry. Renee ran her fingers through her hair then down to the chain she wore around her neck. It was under the collar but the pendant was below it. Her fingers moved over it as she thought.

The little Neko had a lavender smell on her, her favorite smell. Anyone who had ever been around her would have smelled the sweet scent. It wasn't strong, though. Lavender helped to calm people down and push away anxiety. It was one of the reasons she chose it. Lavender could also be used to attract men, sleep and protection. Of course, that was if you went by those views. Renee didn't pay much attention to those, but you used what you could. She didn't mind if he knew what she was doing. She didn't know he did, though, so she continued. The change from being herself to being influential was a small one, though noticable if you paid attention. These people knew what she could do which made it a bit frustrating. She was happy to feel his finger moving over her arm, though. Such a pretty boy. But not worth it, right? She sat up, putting her hands on his thighs.

He called her his pet. Such a strange thing to hear, but fine by her for now. He knew quite a bit about what she could do. She could make people forget, yes. Well, they made themselves forget. She just helped it along. Who could resist a cute little kitten girl? "Yes, I could be useful," she said, putting a finger to her lips. She nodded as if she had thought about it long enough, placing her hand back on his thigh and looking into his eyes. "I just wonder how long I have to keep this collar," she said looking at his lips now as if debating on kissing him. "It's so bothersome," she added, looking up at him with sad eyes. She was trying to find the place in his mind that controlled whether she kept the collar or not. If she could get rid of the collar she was free to go. Something clicked in her mind. "You want me to steal things?" she asked, confused for a moment.

[lucius]

Lucius continued to feel out through his powers in an attempt to determine Renee's mood, but he had always had some difficulty reading the moods of nekos and some fairies. Both species often seemed to be quite childlike, both in manners and appearances, and subsequently their moods tended to switch around quite often, each new thought or fancy changing what they were thinking on. It was a difficult thing to get a hold of when trying to figure out their intentions. So, the vampire elder decided to try listen to the beat of her heart; it was not all that difficult to figure that she was no incredibly fearful of him at that moment, or overtly angry. But otherwise, the heartbeats of the energetic creatures were faster than usual anyways and Lucius, even in two thousand years, had not spent as substantial amount of time around nekos to notice every little intricacy in their heartbeats as he could those of other creatures.

So, he figured he would just have to settle with reading her as one normally tried to figure someone out, not focusing on her emotional state or the beating of her heart, his eyes focusing instead on the small figure as she moved about in his lap. Here words were so much more revealing anyways. "So, you would give up so much more than you have--comfort, security, and more--because you do not want to have to hold your tongue in certain situations? My dear, even free people must watch what they say in certain company, and even free people must follow rules and instructions," said the ancient vampire. He tilted his head, looking at her for her response. Perhaps he could get her to, albeit reluctantly, to see things how he viewed them.

As the creature sat up in his lap and set her hands on his thighs, he eyed her curiously, trying to feel out what she was up to. More games, most likely. The way she placed her finger on her lip was, the vampire elder had to admit, rather cute. And when she gazed at him with those saddened eyes, he had to admit that, had he been a man of lesser fortitude of mind, he may have felt compelled to give into the cute little neko's request. But, he was not so weak-minded. His mind was, rather, one of the stronger ones around, and he merely cast a calm smile down at her. Lucius trailed his finger from her arm to her neck, running it along the rim of the collar and part of her neck. "Soon enough, love, if you behave well. Service and loyalty are rewarded greatly here, as you will learn," said Lucius, not giving into the demand but letting her know the way he approved of such a removal of the collar.

When she perked up with that confused expression, Lucius chuckled. Here was the real linchpin in his arguments for the neko. Something she could have fun doing. Lucius nodded his head to her. "Yes. Documents from certain people, computers with valuable information, treasures and relics from museums in town. All things of importance to me, all things you can get a hold of," said Lucius, leaning his head in closer towards her and speaking in a whisper now. "And sometimes I'll even let you go after things of your choice, for you to keep."

[emiko]

Renee wasn't afraid of Luc at the time. She wasn't angry really, but there was still frustration in her for being here. She covered it up, though, not wanting to lose track of her influence. He spoke and she listened, narrowing her eyes. What he said was true though and made her decision seem stupid. But she knew why she was wanting her freedom back. "It's not just that. It's everything. I am not your toy. I don't deserve this. I don't want abuse," she said, stating the real reason she didn't want to be here. Well, besides the fact that she was stubborn. She just wanted to go back home. but here this man was trying to tell her it was a good thing to be his slave. How silly was that? To try and tell her it was a good thing? She wasn't going to admit that he actually had a point. After all, the bed beneath them was one thing she would miss if she left here. She didn't have a bed like this when she lived on the streets. She slept anywhere she could find.

This smart man. Why couldn't she get through to him? Her eyes moved back and forth between his, determination in them. His touch was distracting, though only slightly. She leaned forward, nibbling gently at his neck. His words made her sigh softly, something that sounded almost content. 'I don't plan to be here that long,' she thought, leaning back to look him over. "So as long as I'm good you will take the collar off?" she asked, trying to make it seem as though she wanted to make sure it would really happen. Too bad he was an old vampire. Too bad he couldn't be weak and stupid. He would have never caught her. But then, he wouldn't have needed her either. But perhaps she was here for a reason. She really didn't like how long her hit list was getting, that was for sure. Leona, Kayen, and now Lucius was working his way there. She usually didn't have more than one there.

Renee momentarily forgot what she was doing when he began to talk about the things she could steal. "I don't steal valuable things," she said. Well, she tried not to. "It's already gotten me in trouble," she whispered as if she didn't want to remember. But god, that pretty skull. She wanted it back. Could Kayen still get to her if she stole it from him now? Since she technically belonged to Lucius now, Kayen couldn't take her as his slave. He couldn't rape her either, could he? A pretty smile appeared on her face. "If you promise I won't get in trouble, I'll steal what you want," she said. There was a cute, innocent sound to her voice when she said this. A bit of fear was there, too. She made it seem like she didn't want someone to take her away while she was stealing for Lucius. To think, this powerful man was wanting to steal things. Didn't he have the money to buy what he wanted? Then again, this was a strange world.

Renee realized she had forgotten what she was doing. This wasn't the time to get sidetracked by the thought of stealing. But he was offering to let her get things she liked as well. Damn him. The little klepto felt that familiar urge creep up inside her. "It's sad that you can go out and pluck a poor, innocent woman off the street and make her your slave," she whined, tears filling her eyes but not falling yet. "How did you know about me?" she asked, her hands exploring near his waist now. She wasn't sure how he managed to know what she could do. Who knew besides her? Oh how curious. How did he know to find her in the streets? Kayen? She had no idea but she planned to find out. The very tips of her fingers slid into his pants. She knew she had to be careful. She didn't want him to throw her off now.