Roswell Fanatics

Winner-Round 11





Title: Eternal Ruby of Darkness
Author: Shadowlynxbehr
Disclaimer: Don't own a thing, not even Jason...
Pairings: Max and Liz
Rating: Adult, this is a very DARK EROTIC story.
Summary: Max is a 317 year old vampire. Tall, elegant, VERY intimidating and regal looking he is the Archigos (prime leader) of his coven. His coven is terrified of losing one of their greatest leaders since he has not known certain feelings such as happiness, contentment, or love for over 200 years. The only chance of his survival is to find 'the other half of his soul', but what if it turns out she's human?
Author's Note: My biggest obsession (besides Jason Behr ) is vampires. I've had this obsession for almost as long as I've been alive. LOL. This story was born out of my frustration over not being able to find a 'decent' vampire tale anymore. In my mind, vampires are not 'creatures of nightmares'. They are seductive, erotic, and 'the princes of my dreams'. All stories seem to either have them as evil horrors and the good vamps that exist seem to be turned back into humans later. Not happening here. My vamps stay vamps. There are good and bad ones. This is my fantasy from my strange little mind so if you don't like it, I understand. I also use lots of Greek words and phrases, but I'm an amateur, so I don't mean to offend anyone and if this story does, I will remove it when asked. Hopefully, I'm not as insane as I'm beginning to think I am.
Also, while all the other characters are involved in this, I am focusing solely on MAX and LIZ, so don't be disappointed if I don't go into the others too deeply. If I had years, I'd delve deeper and make this into a series. Sorry...


Banner by Behrsgirl77 Thanks chica!


Thank you to all who voted for this fic in the category of "Fic with the Best Musical Use". It means a lot to me that you all enjoy this story the way I've written it.

Part 1

Liz stumbled into the door as her captor tugged on the cuffs that held her wrists together. She was tired and emotionally drained. What had started out as a Friday night out club hopping with friends had ended in betrayal. Her emotions had run the gamut from anger at being betrayed to fear of the unknown. Now, she just wanted a place to curl up and sleep.

Oblivious to the other people in the room, she allowed her captor to lead her to a nearby wall where he lifted her cuffed wrists and attached them to a chain on the wall above her head. Once he had secured her, he motioned for her to sit down. As she curled her legs beneath her, he leaned forward and brushed a finger along her cheek.

“Rest, little one. Someone is bound to claim you for the night.” he whispered before straightening up and leaving her alone.

After he left, Liz finally took the time to let her eyes roam around the room. She knew she was still in the same building as the club, Syllogos, had been in. However, she hadn’t been aware until after she’d been in the club for a while that there were more rooms in the building.

In fact, eight hours earlier, no one could have convinced her of that. Just like no one could have convinced her that she was never going to simply be a normal twenty-two year old college student again. She closed her eyes for a moment as the finality of it hit her. She’d been only a year and a half away from graduating and she’d thought everything was going well. She should have known better than to be so trusting of these new friends of hers. She had been taught better, but the stress of school and her last relationship had propelled her into needing a night with out care.

So, she had gotten dressed in a black miniskirt and a red halter top, complete with black pumps and gone out with some of the people from her dorm. Chris had suggested they’d go to Syllogos. Liz had never been there before and had readily agreed. Inside, the club was dim and smoky, but Liz hadn’t cared as Tammy dragged her to the dance floor where she grinded and bumped her way through the dance numbers.

Liz hadn’t noticed how Chris and the other guy in the group had gone up to a door in the back of the club. It was guarded by two hugely muscular men, obviously bouncers. Chris said something to the men and motioned to where Liz, Tammy, and Amy were dancing on the floor. The bouncer looked the girls up and down, noticing how seductive their dancing was. He turned to Chris, smirked, and nodded.

Chris signaled to Tammy who smiled and tugged at both Liz and Amy, telling them they needed to go join Chris. As Liz neared Chris, she finally took in the two bouncers with a frown.

Chris grinned, “We’ve been invited into the VIP room. Come on.”

Tammy giggled and tugged on Liz and Amy’s hands. All five of them followed one of the bouncers into the room and down a hallway. The bouncer opened the door and stepped back, allowing them to enter.

As Liz walked in, she noticed that it was just an unadorned room with a huge table near the back wall. Two men dressed all in black were sitting behind this table that was piled with money. It was there that Chris and the other guy walked to.

Tammy giggled and leaned in to Liz, “Oh we are going to have so much fun!”

Liz frowned as she watched Chris whisper something to one of the men, who then turned and looked at her. A few moments later the man nodded and handed a huge wad of money to Chris. Chris beamed and held it up for Tammy to see.

She laughed and turned to Liz, “I knew you’d be great!” With that, she left Liz and Amy to join Chris.

Amy widened her eyes as the two men walked towards her and Liz, “What’s going on, Tammy?”

Tammy chuckled, “Don’t worry, you’ll be okay.”

That was the last Liz and Amy had seen of the other three as they were ushered out into the hallway again and led even farther into the building. At a junction, she was then separated from Amy who was hysterical at that point. Liz could feel herself trembling as she tried to tamp down her own fear even while hearing Amy’s screams echoing down the hallway.

She had been led into another room which contained only something resembling a table in a doctor‘s examining room. She noticed the others standing around the table as she was made to lie down on it and her wrists and ankles had begun to be strapped down. The moment she felt the straps, she panicked and began to try to escape.

As she twisted and wrestled and pleaded with them to let her go, a woman with reddish orange hair bent over her and brushed Liz’s dark locks out of the way with a tender touch. “It’s all right, lovely. We aren’t going to hurt you. You must relax. Just relax and feel us.”

As the woman continued to seduce Liz with her words and the soothing motion in her hair, Liz had finally lay back on the table. Until she had felt hands pushing her clothes out of the way.

Once more she had struggled and begged to be let go, but no one listened. For the next couple of hours, Liz was touched, stroked, and brought to orgasm so many times that she’d lost count. She had felt as if she were nothing more than a pet to them as the woman continued to talk soothingly to her.

Terrified, Liz had felt her shirt being ripped off of her and her skirt pushed up to her waist. Her red lace bra had been moved out of the way to expose her breasts and she could feel fingers pushing past her matching red panties to stroke her folds. Tears ran down her cheeks unchecked as she continued to beg them to stop.

The woman whispered again, “Don’t fight this, little one. Enjoy it, it won’t hurt a bit.” Her own hands stroked Liz’s hair, then trailed over her shoulder and down to cup her breast. “Such a soft, tender one you are.”

Liz had closed her eyes, trying to block out everything, but her body had other ideas. It was enjoying what was being done to her. She wasn’t a prude, not by a long shot, but never had she participated in something like this. She was a private person, her idea of kinky had consisted of her and her ex in various positions in a private place like her room. There had never been anyone else involved and never an audience.

Yet her body reacted to the hands that stroked her. She could feel them fondling her breasts, stroking her skin. And when she felt a tongue lick her sensitive folds, her hips bucked off the table. Soon all she could do was feel, and feel she did. Those hands and mouths were gentle, never brutal or rough. They stroked and teased, bringing her to the brink over and over again. Despite her verbal protests and the continuous trail of tears, her body still experienced pleasure she’d never dreamed of having before.

And when the hands and mouths had finally left her alone, she was exhausted and spent. Her body sore and still trembling in aftershocks. She’d felt the woman lean over her again, stroking her hair once more before cupping the back of her hair and gently lifting her head. A cup filled with warm, thick sweet liquid was placed against her lips as she heard the woman murmur, “Drink this, little one. It will help you regain your strength and heal your soreness.”

After Liz had drank, she had been lowered to the table again and once more gentle hands had replaced her bra and straightened out her panties and skirt. Her wrists and ankles were unbound and they sat her up as the woman ran her fingers through Liz’s hair, smoothing out the tangles.

The woman gave her a gentle smile before turning to a dark blonde, haired man and saying, “This one has much passion in her. She will be very responsive to the one who claims her. Take her to the chol so that she may be chosen.”

The man had nodded and cuffed her wrists together. As she had been led through the hallway again, Liz had noticed how throughout it all, no one had really been rough or violent with her. Everyone who had touched her had done so with such gentleness as if she were made of fragile glass while those who had talked to her had done so with soft, soothing voices. And in the end, her captor had even helped her to get comfortable before leaving her to her fate.

As she sat against the wall, she let her gaze roam the room, taking in all of the furniture and inhabitants. It didn’t take a genius to figure out this was a room meant for pleasure. All of the furniture consisted of various couches, lounges, and other pieces designed for a specific purpose. Several different sizes of tables were scattered about the room too. Liz wasn’t shocked to see that it wasn’t just the couches and lounges being used as she watched one woman being pleasured over a table by another woman and a man.

The woman was spread out on her back over the table, her head hanging slightly off the end of it. While the woman was completely naked, the other woman and the man were completely clothed. The man was on his knees between her thighs, faced buried in her folds while her legs were hooked over his shoulders. Liz could only see the back of the other woman as she sucked on the naked woman’s neck while her hand fondled her breasts.

Liz couldn’t help but stare at them until the woman cried out in ecstasy, making her quickly divert her eyes. Feeling like a voyeur, Liz continued to take in the sights of various other people in twos, threes, or more in various positions all around the room. Until her eyes met with a pair of bright amber eyes across the room.

TBC....should I?

Oh my goodness! I am surprised to see just how many people want to read more of this story! I honestly thought I was going to be too 'kinky' and strange. I'm so flattered that there were so many responses to this and I truly hope that I don't disappoint or freak out people as I go on.
Before I go on, there are a few things I want to explain. Max is kind of a rough character here, so he may do things that seem mean or abusive, trust me, he doesn't think he's evil and neither do I . Also, Liz was not 'kidnapped' but rather she was sold by humans who needed money to vampires who are looking for humans for several reasons. It will be explained as I go on. It's kind of like a 'selling children to the black market' kind of thing. (I did mention this wasn't going to be a nice story right? )Remember, these are vampires, so ANYTHING goes in this universe.

Erina- We will find out here.
Hotroxie- thanks
touched- thanks
kittens- you will see
candy- awww! I'm flattered. I didn't mean to confuse you. Liz went to Syllogos, a club. It's at the front of a huge building, it will be explained more in another chapter or two.
shattered- I got your point and I'm totally with ya
Erica- Glad you thought it was hot...I was worried it would scare people away.
Gaby- Really? Man and I thought I was FINALLY losing it.
believer- Yum...Nice to know I'm not alone.
Ashley- Oh, I know lots of people who don't like vampires, most of my friends and family are kind of religious and think I'm really weird, even scary . Um, well vamps do have mind control, but then again... And honey, I don't think the 'sex scenes' are ever really gonna leave this story...
urpersonal-
Em- thanks
imnotlc- Glad to see you reading this one too! Hope you like!
BehrObsession-
roswell- thanks and we find out here...
behrlyliz- thank you!
rosy- why thank you!

The song used is Redeemer by Marilyn Manson. Okay, here goes...

Part 2

The hunger inside given to me, makes me what I am
Always it is calling me, for the blood of man

Maximillian Evans couldn’t tear his eyes away from the petite dark haired beauty chained to the wall. He knew she was a human brought in by the members of his coven who dealt in the purchase of human flesh. Even from across the room he could smell her scent, could smell the fact that she’d been pleasured over and over again. He had noticed her the moment she’d stumbled through the door wearing nothing but her red lace bra and a black miniskirt and he had watched her the entire time she had been chained and then left to survey the room on her own. Now, her large liquid brown eyes stared directly into his, drawing him in even more than her scent had.

They say I cannot be this, I am jaded, hiding from the day.
I can't bare, I cannot tame the hunger in me

He was so lost in her eyes that he didn’t even realize he’d picked up his pace until the woman in front of him moaned in pleasure. Stiffening, he glanced down at the woman and grimaced before quickly pulling out of her and doing up his pants. With one last glance towards the chained beauty, he began walking in the direction of the back door.

Oh, I say I did it always searching, you can't fuck with fate.
So instead you'll taste my pain.

Liz blinked as she watched the amber eyed man walk quickly towards a back door. She wondered if he’d been upset that she had looked at him while he’d been with the other woman. She didn’t mean to offend him, but then again, if he was upset, wouldn’t he have taken that woman somewhere more private?
Liz watched as the shapely blonde woman, who had been bent over the back of a couch while the amber-eyed man had taken her from behind, stood up, pushed her skirt down and ran after the man. She grabbed his arm and began saying something to him. Liz couldn’t hear what was said, but she saw the man look down at the woman’s arm with a sneer before he said something to her, jerked his arm away and disappeared behind the door. The woman leaned into the door and began pounding on it, pleading to whoever was on the other side.

The hunger inside given to me, makes me feel alive.
Always out stalking prey, in the dark I hide.

Max ignored the woman’s pleading as he walked down the hall to his office. Inside, he walked to his desk and sat in the chair, folding his hands in an inverted ‘v’ as he rested his elbows on the edge of the desk. He frowned as he could still hear the blonde woman pleading with him from down the hall with his superb hearing. Of course, the fact that he was a 317 year old vampire helped to hone his senses into the best of the best. After all, they and his fighting skills were the reason why he was currently the Archigos of the Aristomache coven. It was also the reason why his coven was one of the most powerful and respected covens in the area. No one wanted to mess with the Aristomache coven, and no one was a fool to tangle with him in particular.

Feeling, falling, hating, feel like I am fading, hating life.

Over the years, Max had led his coven with a firm, yet fair hand. After the coven had nearly been obliterated following the death of his father, Max had single-handedly managed to gather the remaining members and slowly built the coven back up to the glory it had once been before his father’s death. Some even claimed that the Aristomache coven was stronger than it had ever been in all of the centuries that it had existed.

They say I cannot be this, I am jaded, hiding from the day.
I can't bare, I cannot tame the hunger in me...

While many praised Max for saving his coven, many of those within feared for their Archigos. They believed that in saving the Aristomache, he had made the greatest sacrifice of all. He had given up his own happiness, his own soul, for the sake of the coven and now he seemed to be paying for it. Everyone around him noticed how he never seemed to smile or laugh. He never seemed to take pleasure in the little every day things. He never seemed to enjoy time with friends or family. It was always business with him, even when dealing with family members.

Oh, I say I did it always searching, you can't fuck with fate.
So instead you'll taste my pain.

So, many members of the coven decided to try to bring back their beloved leader’s soul before it was too late. But to do that they had to find him a mate. Someone who could make him happy again. Who would bring the smiles and laughter back into his life. That was why he had been with the blonde woman. She had been the latest gift to him. Over the last few decades it had become a race to see who would be the one to find Max’s mate, as if the one who did would become the favored one of their Archigos and be a highly esteemed member of the coven.

You say your life I'm taking, always bothering me, I can't take this anymore, I'm failing, always smothering me

However, they were getting desperate. So desperate that now his gifts were human females. The blonde was human and not only was she a gift, but she was a gift who knew what he was. While the covens did live among humans, they tended to keep their species a secret. There were humans who knew about them since they needed daytime protectors and workers, but those humans were sworn to secrecy and inducted into the covens as honorary members. The covens always protected their own, but they were also quick to punish those who betrayed them too.

The woman was not an honorary member and Max knew before she left, her memories would have to be erased. It was not something he enjoyed doing. He sighed as the woman continued to plead with him.

“Please, I know I can give you what you need, my kyrios. I can. Give me a chance. I beg you. You won’t be disappointed.”

Max grimaced and looked up at Michael, his second in command as he strode through the door wearing a frown. Michael was the one who had given Max his gift.

“Maximillian, are you gonna tell me you didn’t enjoy her?”

Max stood up from his desk, glaring at Michael, “You told an uninitiated human who I am!”

Michael winced, “I had to convince her to come here somehow! You know she wouldn’t have given herself to you otherwise.”

Max just stared at Michael for a moment before turning away from him and walking towards the window behind his desk. With a wave of his hand, the curtains parted, giving him a view of the night sky. He stood there with his arms folded over his chest, staring at the sky.

Michael sighed, “My kyrios, I meant no harm. I only meant…”

“I know what you meant Michael.” Max interrupted, “I need you to make sure she remembers nothing of this night.”

Michael frowned, “But…”

You look down on me, hey what you see, take this gift from me, you will soon feed from me.

“Have Alexander remove her memories since he is better at it.” He turned his head to look over his shoulder slightly as he continued, “Then there is a human female chained to the wall in the chol. I want you to take her to my house. Have her bathed, fed, clothed, and placed in my room. I will call ahead and give these instructions to the staff.”

Max turned around and looked at a frowning Michael, “You are to make sure my instructions are followed to the letter. Do I make myself clear?”

Nothing seems exciting, always the same hiding
It's haunting me. It's haunting me.

Michael straightened up the moment he saw Max’s eyes. They glowed a molten gold, not his normal amber color. That alone told Michael not to mess with him. He simply gave Max the standard bow that one would give to their Archigos and left the room to follow his orders.

It's haunting me. It's haunting me.

Liz opened her eyes again as she heard the woman’s voice start up once more. She watched as four men walked out of the room. Two of them looked just like the bouncers she’d remembered seeing at the club. They grabbed the woman’s arms and began leading her towards the first door Liz had been brought in from. Behind them walked a tall, slender man dressed as if he’d just come from a business meeting.

It’s haunting me. It's haunting me...

The fourth man walked towards her and without saying a word, reached up and undid the cuffs from the chain on the wall. Just like all the others, he was gentle as he lowered her arms and helped her to her feet. Liz knew someone had finally chosen her and she studied her new captor. He was tall, slender, and had light brown hair that fell to his shoulders in slight waves. His eyes were also a light brown and the clothes he wore resembled those of a grunge band member. A black Metallica t-shirt, baggy jeans, and a chain running from his belt loop to his jeans pocket.

He led her through the room and out the back door into another hallway. They walked down the hallway to the left until they reached the door at the end. Her silent captor opened the door and led her out into an alley which held a long black stretch limo. There was a man dressed in a chauffeur’s outfit holding the door open for them. Her captor helped her into the limo and the door was closed behind them.

As soon as the car began to move away from the building and onto the street, her captor leaned over and removed the cuffs from her wrists. He dropped them on the floor before taking her wrists one by one and massaging some feeling back into them. Liz was amazed at how the stiffness in her wrists and arms seemed to disappear as he continued to massage from her wrists up to her shoulders. When he was done, he sat back in the seat and looked out of the window in silence.

Liz looked out the back window and saw the city fading in the distance. She frowned and looked back at the man sitting next to her wondering what he was expecting of her since he was the one to come claim her as they had told her someone would. He said nothing and didn’t even look in her direction once.

Her frown deepened, Where are we going?”

He didn’t respond.

“What are you going to do with me? Don’t you think I should know what is going to happen to me? No one has told me anything! Was I sold to you?”

He sighed and turned to look at her with emotionless eyes, “I’m taking you to the house. You’ll be taken care of there. You’ll know more soon enough.” With that he turned back to look out the window and didn’t say another word for the rest of the ride.

Liz sighed and sat back in her seat as she watched the scenery rush by. She knew they were several miles out of the city limits and wondered just how many more miles she’d be from home once they finally stopped.



It was about half an hour later when she felt the man besides her stir. Sitting up she looked out the front window to see them approaching huge wrought iron gates which seemed to go on for miles in either direction, never ending. Liz watched as the gates opened to allow them in and as she turned in her seat, they began to close once the limo was through. She swallowed as she heard a final sounding ‘clang’ as the doors closed completely and two huge black shadows began to emerge from the bushes nearby. As a chill ran down her spine, she turned in her seat and her eyes went wide at the view of the house.

The three story mansion looked more like an old gothic stone castle with the winged dragon fountain in the center of the circular driveway and the many gargoyles along the rafters of the house. The windows, balconies, and walkways were all lined with wrought iron painted black and covered in ivy. Despite those things, Liz thought the light grey stone saved it from being too creepy or scary looking.

As the car rolled to a stop her captor looked at her and nodded, “This is our stop.” He turned away and opened the door before holding out a hand to help her out. As they walked up the steps, the door opened and a tall thin man in a suit and tails bowed to them as they walked into the foyer.

Liz took in the enormous space of the foyer and its dark grey marble floors with somber maroon colored walls trimmed in gold. Glancing straight up, she saw the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling and turned to watch a buxom, elderly woman walk down the winding iron and marble staircase towards them. The woman wore her black hair that was sprinkled liberally with grey on top of her head in a messy bun and she wore an old fashioned maid’s uniform of grey with a white apron.

With a huge warm smile she looked up at Liz’s captor, “Michael! So, this is the anthropinos I am to care for.” She smiled at Liz, “Come Kyria, let us give you a warm bath and hot food, yes?”

She motioned for Liz to follow her up the staircase and Michael fell into step behind them both. They walked all the way up to the third floor and down the right hallway until they reached the last door on the left. The woman motioned for her to enter once she’d opened the door and as Liz once more widened her eyes at the size of the bedroom, she heard the woman speaking to Michael.

“And just what do you think you are doing, Dioikitis?” she asked.

“I was told to make sure you followed all of the Archigos instructions perfectly.”

The woman rolled her eyes, “I know what the instructions were, he did relay them directly to me after all. Now, out you go.”

“But Helena…” Michael started to protest.

“No, Dioikitis, I know for a fact that the Archigos will not take kindly to you watching the Kyria take her bath, so out.” She gently shoved him out of the room before shutting the door and locking it. Turning to Liz she smiled, “Now then, the bath water is almost ready, why don’t you go ahead and remove your clothes and come bath, yes?”

As the woman walked to the bath in the right portion of the room, Liz wandered around the room taking it all in. She realized that her small closet sized dorm room could fit at least six times in the master bedroom she now stood in.

To the left side of the room was a fireplace which seemed to take up most of the wall. Several feet away in front of it was a large ivory colored plush rug with several high backed chairs and end tables around it. As she walked towards the fireplace, she noticed the round dining table and four chairs, near the front door. Near the back were two floor length curtains side by side which Liz assumed was a huge window, until she walked to it and pulled one of the curtains aside. Two tall, thin glass doors opened up into one of the largest balconies Liz had ever seen.

As she stared out the doors, she saw the small table with an umbrella and two wicker chairs. There were also two chaise lounges with an end table between them. The railings of the balcony were the same wrought iron she had seen in front of the house. Liz turned back into the room as she heard the woman moving toward her, “Come Kyria, the bath water is ready for you now.”

Liz frowned, “My name is Liz.”

Helena nodded, “I know that Kyria, but I am not allowed to call you that.”

“What is it that you call me then?”

“It is a term used like Mrs. or miss from my country. Now come, we must have you all ready before the Archigos arrives.”

“Who is this Archie go that you are talking about?”

Helena chuckled, “The Archigos,” she pronounced so that Liz would get it, “is the owner of this house. My Kyrios, if you will. He gave me strict instructions, so I must follow them or he will be most displeased.”

Liz frowned as Helena led her by the arm to the sunken tub on the right side of the room. The tub was large enough to fit four people comfortably. It had a built in shelf to sit on and doubled as a Jacuzzi also.

After Liz had stripped and climbed in Helena said, “Okay, now you relax and I will return shortly with clothes for you.”

Liz watched as Helena left the room and heard the lock click once the door was closed. She let out a long sigh and went back to surveying the rest of the room.

In the center of the room on a raised dais, it’s ornate headboard containing what looked like Greek designs, was the bed. Liz briefly wondered just how many people could fit on that huge King sized bed. The bed was covered with a black suede comforter which was already pulled back to reveal the black silk sheets and the pillows that were either black or white silk. There were two rails near the ceiling, the inner one held a thick black silk curtain which would block all sight from the bed and the outer one held a sheer white curtain which would allow one to see silhouettes of the bed.

There was a door to the right of the bed and as Liz craned her neck to see into the open door, she realized it was a walk in closet that was virtually empty. As she puzzled over that, she turned to her right to see another tiny room that contained a toilet, sink, mirror, and not much else. Next to the room were two vanity tables set side by side.

Turning around to look behind her, she saw the long, low dresser in the corner and the armoire next to it. One of the doors to the armoire was open, allowing her to see the huge flat screen television and the rest of the entertainment system in it.

As Liz sat back and began bathing herself with the sponge and liquid soap Helena had left for her, she realized that whoever the owner of the place was had to be really loaded to afford place like that and everything in it. She didn’t think it was overly extravagant or tacky at all. It seemed very modern and tastefully decorated on the inside. By contrast, the outside was very old-world, yet it was well taken care of.

Helena returned just as Liz was finished rinsing the conditioner from her hair. When Liz looked up, she saw Helena setting something on the bed as another younger woman set several dishes on the round dining table. Helena walked over to her and held out a huge plush towel for Liz to wrap around herself. Once she had that towel and another wrapped around her hair, Helena guided her to the dining table to eat.

Liz’s eyebrows rose as she saw the feast laid out for her. “I can’t possibly eat all of that!”

Helena patted her arm, “That’s all right, Kyria, you just eat as much as you can for you must keep your strength up.”

Liz didn’t get a chance to ask Helena what she meant by that as she ushered the younger woman out of the room speaking in a language Liz wasn’t familiar with at all.

Once Liz was done eating, Helena helped her to the bed and called the younger woman back into the room. Together they began to get Liz dressed. They removed the towels from Liz and rubbed vanilla scented cream into her skin and strawberry scented oil into her hair. They blow-dried her hair, twisting it into loose curls which fell around her shoulders. Then they began to dress her. The moment Helena picked up the red lace thong, Liz began to shake her head.

“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly…”

Helena nodded, “I have strict instructions remember Kyria. If I don’t follow them, I will be punished.” She gave Liz a sympathetic look before going on, “And if you choose to resist, you will be punished also.” When Liz opened her mouth to protest, Helena laid a hand against her forearm, “Trust me Kyria, things will be so much simpler for you if you just do what you are asked to.”

Liz closed her eyes and swallowed her fear as Helena and the young woman helped her into the thong. Then they dressed her in a red silk spaghetti strapped top that reached down to just below her hips. A sheer red floor length gown was loosely tied around her neck and red heels were placed on her feet. A string of tiny rubies were placed around her neck and wrist while more tiny rubies dangled from her ears.

Once Helena was satisfied that Liz looked perfect, she led her to the bed and fluffed up the pillows in the center of the bed before motioning for Liz to lean back against them. When Liz was leaning back against the pillows and headboard, the younger woman crawled onto the bed with her and began arranging Liz’s limbs as if she were positioning a doll for display.

Finally the two women stood at the foot of the bed and surveyed their handiwork. Liz frowned at them. “I feel like an china doll, put on display for the world to see.”

Helena gave her a friendly smile, “No Kyria, only the Archigos will see you, no one else. Now, just lie there and rest for a bit. The Archigos will be here soon and we must finish getting everything ready.”

With that the two women began gathering up Liz’s discarded clothes and the remains of the feast, removing them from the room. Once the room was cleaned, the lights turned off, and scented candles lit around the room, the two women left the room. At the door, Helena gave Liz a final smile and said, “The Kyrios will be much pleased with you I am certain. Remember, just relax and do whatever he asks of you and all will be well.”

Liz swallowed as she heard the door close and the lock click once more. As she sat there looking around the room she wondered who this Archigos was that they kept speaking of. There was nothing in the room to give her a hint of who he was. She had thought Michael was the one to claim her, but now she realized Michael must work for this man as the two women did. She closed her eyes, “Man this guy must be really, really loaded to have all these people working for him.”

Opening her eyes again as fear began to once more creep up her spine, she turned her head to the curtains that hid the balcony and wondered if she could escape that way. Was it possible to get down three stories without breaking her legs? Just as she was about to climb out of the bed to go look, she heard the lock click.

Her gaze snapped to the door as it began to open and she could feel her heart thudding in her chest. She watched with baited breath as the man closed the door behind him and strode to the side of the bed. When the light from the candle illuminated his face, Liz let out a surprised gasp.

Amber eyes stared at her from a face she recognized. Suddenly it was clear who the owner of the house was. The Archigos was the same amber eyed man she had seen with the blonde woman while Liz had been chained to the wall in back of the club.

Liz couldn’t breathe as she watched those amber eyes trail over her from head to toe. And when he looked at her again, shivers ran up her spine at the sight of the molten gold colored eyes.

TBC...

Okay, you lucky people get another part so soon, but alas, these are the only parts I've had ready for a while. I was waiting for a banner, which Tanya made, before I started posting and well, these are the only parts I had. So, now that I've spoiled you all...I will do my darnest to post every friday, BUT if I do have more than one part ready, I'll post more than one part...okay.

Gaby- here's to turning to the next page
POM- okay, more 'kinky erotic' here. LOL. (Would you be able to resist a sexy vampire who looked like him? Certainly not me! )
Becca- Thanks
Alex- Awww...thanks.
candycane- molten = hot = lust/desire. LOL. Awww....
Lolita- sorry, but here's the next part you wanted...
behrlyliz- Glad you're enjoying this!
BehrObsession- I'll try not to. Well, Max will always seem the cold, calculating, fearless leader, EXCEPT with Liz. I'd be terrified too, but one look at a hunk like that who wants to devour me? I'm all his! LOL.
Shattered- LOL. He is old ain't he? Think cold, calculating, fearless leader.
francesca- thanks! Here's the next part.
Jamilah- next update coming right up! LOL.
Em- "The next part it's bound to be explosive." You have no idea.


Okay, people hold on to your seats, this part is all Max/Liz erotica!
And the song is Slept So Long by Jay Gordon of Orgy.


Part 3

It was him! The same man she had seen earlier in that back room. Even then there was this regal, elegant aura about him. He had seemed tall and intimidating then. Now, as he stood next to the bed, Liz realized just how tall and intimidating he could be. She watched as he began to get undressed, moving slowly and silently like a graceful cat with his glowing golden eyes. She took in the way his black hair hung slightly long, just below his ears and the way it seemed to shimmer in the candle light.

She watched as he slowly straightened up once he had removed all of his clothes, naked to her view and completely unfazed that she was looking at him. Swallowing, Liz let her eyes travel down his body. The man seemed built for pleasure. It was in every line, every plane of his body. In the full lips, the perfect jaw line, the broad shoulders. And it was in the sculpted pectorals, the washboard abs, and strong thighs.

Walking
Waiting
Alone without a care
Hoping
And hating
Things that I can't bear

Liz’s mouth went dry when she looked at his cock, at how big and thick it was. But as he began to slide onto the bed, looking as if he were stalking her, she looked back into his eyes as he moved over her. He was mesmerizing. It was the only word that went through her brain. Mesmerizing as she watched his golden eyes darken until they were almost black. Mesmerizing as she began to drown in those golden orbs, trapped there without any way to speak or breathe.

Did you think it's cool
To walk right up
To take my life
And fuck it up
Well did you?
Well did you?

Liz wasn’t aware of how time seemed to stand still as she stared into his eyes, until he reached up with a hand and touched her cheek. An electrical charge seemed to travel from his fingers into the skin of her cheek, eliciting a gasp from her. Her eyes widened as she suddenly saw something flickering deep within the depth of his eyes. Something in the back of her mind whispered that it was his soul she was seeing. Her breathing returned as she watched him move to sit near her feet.

I see hell in your eyes
Taken in by surprise(surprise)
Touching you makes me feel alive
Touching you makes me die inside

Max sat at her feet just looking at her. She was beautiful. He had known that when he’d looked at her in the chol, but now. Now he knew exactly why he had been drawn to her. That one touch of her cheek told him everything. She was not only going to be his mate, but she was his syndeo. She was the other half of his soul. As his heart beat sped up, he wondered how that could have happened. She was human.

Walking, Waiting
Alone without a care
Hoping
And hating
Things that I can't bear

If any one of his species was lucky enough to find their syndeo, it was usually one of their own. It was already a rare thing to find your syndeo, it was even rarer to find out your syndeo was human. Now, he was going to have to let his people know this, and then, he was going to have to convert her. Staring into her eyes, he knew that was probably going to be the hardest thing he would ever have to do.

Did you think it's cool
To walk right up
To take my life
And fuck it up
Well did you?

Pushing those thoughts away, he focused on what he had originally planned on doing with her. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips against the tip of her shoe. His eyes still trained on hers, he trailed kisses up her foot to her ankle and back down again.

I hate you!

Liz moaned when she felt his tongue slide between her toes. She couldn’t take her eyes away from him. She watched as he kissed his way back up her foot to her ankle, then he began to nibble the skin of her calf all the way up to the inside of her thigh.

I see hell in your eyes
Taken in by surprise
And touching you makes me feel alive
Touching you makes me die inside

As he moved up, Max gently forced her to widen her legs so he could settle between them. He nuzzled her thigh again before leaning in and taking a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of her womanhood. He closed his eyes for a moment to savor the scent of his mate.

I've slept so long without you
It's tearing me apart too

Liz shuddered as she watched him inhale her scent and saw the way he licked his lips when he noticed how much wetter she had just become. His eyes flicked to hers and she saw the way they glittered and the way one corner of his mouth lifted. Then he lowered his head again and continued to nibble and kiss his way down the other leg, until he reached her toes and once more slid his tongue between them like he had done to the other. Liz couldn’t believe how erotic that was as she felt more wetness gathering between her legs.

How'd it get this far
Playing games with this old heart

Max slid up until he was kneeling between her legs. He lifted his hands to her thighs and began to slowly glide them over her skin. He let his fingers caress her over the silk top she wore, until her reached her breasts. With a feather light touch, he grazed her nipples through the material with his palms watching as she gasped and arched up into his hands.
He could feel himself hardening even more as he watched her responding to his touch. He had been right to tell them to dress her in red. Looking at her lying there, he knew he never wanted to see her in any other color but that.
Moving once more, he began to lay his body over hers, pressing her into the bed beneath him. As he settled his weight completely over hers, he buried his face against her neck and inhaled the scent of her blood. Then he slid his tongue over the pulse in her neck and felt the slight tremors of her body beneath his before he lifted his head to nuzzle her hair, breathing in her strawberry fresh scent. Unable to stand it any more, he lowered his lips to hers and claimed her mouth.

I've killed a million petty souls
But I couldn't kill you

Liz knew she was being devoured. She could feel herself being sucked into him as his mouth continued to plunder hers. She could no longer think straight as she felt his soft lips brush over hers, but when his tongue slid into her mouth and caressed hers, that was the last coherent thought she would have for the rest of the night.

I've slept so long without you

Max shuddered as he continued to devour her mouth. He couldn’t believe just how strong their connection already seemed to be. It blew him away at just how much he was having to hold himself back to keep from mating with her immediately. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer and forced himself away from her delectable mouth.
Once more he slid down her body until he was lying between her legs again. Closing his eyes, he leaned in and kissed her wet lips over the lace of her thong before tonguing her through the lace. He heard her gasp as she widened her legs more for him. He continued to tongue her over the thong, his eyes watching her writhe above him.
Slowly he slid the thong off with his teeth, tossing it to the side before lying down again and this time sliding his tongue over her folds. As he dipped his tongue inside, her hips bucked off the bed and another gasp escaped her lips. Max continued to tongue her, lapping up her juices until he knew she was nearing the edge.
When he knew she was getting close to the brink, he replaced his tongue with two fingers and began sucking hard on her clit. Once more he watched her move, knowing she was completely oblivious to the fact that she was literally riding his mouth and fingers now. He could hear her heart beat racing and the rush of her blood and knew it was time.
As he continued to pump his fingers in and out of her, he moved his mouth slightly and sank his fangs into the flesh just above her clit. With a moan and a shudder, he felt her orgasm rush through her as he continued to drink from her until he could feel her thoughts in his mind.

I see hell in your eyes
Taken in by surprise
Touching you makes me feel alive
Touching you makes me die inside

Reluctantly pulling his fangs out, he ran his tongue over the tiny wounds to heal them before sliding up her body, removing the silk top as he went. He tossed the top away and bent his head to feast on one soft breast. As his tongue teased her nipple, he slid his hand down her side and between her legs. Sucking her breast into his mouth, he inserted his fingers inside of her again feeling her hips buck up once more.

Her fingers curled into his hair as he moved his mouth to her other breast to repeat the process. Another low moan escaped her throat as she held him to her. He suckled her breast and began to use his thumb to rub her clit while his fingers continued to stroke her. When he could feel her heart and blood racing again, he sank his fangs into her breast and sent her into another orgasm. He heard her cry out as her fingers dug into his hair, holding him to her. This time he drank her blood until he could hear her thoughts before he removed his fangs and closed the wound with a flick of his tongue.

Without wasting another second, Max rose up over her and with one swift thrust, entered her tight body. He closed his eyes in bliss at the feel of her surrounding him. He could hear her soft pants and feel her fingers digging into his sides as he began to slowly ride her. Opening his eyes, he looked down at her, watching the ecstasy he was giving her move over her facial features. He took pleasure in the way she clung to him, her legs wrapping around his, her hips lifting to meet his. He groaned as he watched her lips part, her tongue sliding over her bottom lip as her breasts bounced in time to his thrusts. He tried to take his time to savor her body, but too soon he could hear her heart and blood speeding up once more.

As he picked up the speed and depth of his thrusts, he lowered his lips to the pulse in her neck and bit deeply. She threw her head back and released a scream that matched the force of her orgasm as it washed over him. Max growled against her throat as he felt her walls shudder around him and continued to drink deeply until he could feel her mind merging completely with his.

She belonged to him now. He knew that her mind was firmly inside of his, as was her blood. Now, he had one last thing to do.

Lifting himself slightly, he slashed his chest, just over his heart and took her head in his hand to lead her to the wound. He whispered the diatasso for her to drink from his chest. His muscles clenched as he felt the first lick of her tongue against the wound. Gripping her head more firmly against his chest, he said the diatasso once more and felt her lips press against his chest. As the blood began to trickle into her mouth, instinct took over and she latched her mouth to the wound finally drinking deeply.

Max clenched his teeth as he continued to thrust into her body, feeling the tightening in his loins. As his breath came in short gasps, he clutched at the bed with one hand, his body trembling hard. With a roar, Max shut his eyes and felt the first orgasm he had ever had seize him even as he felt the snap in his head that signaled the complete merging of his mind into hers. Shaking hard, he continued to thrust into her until he felt the last of his seed leave his body.

He was barely able to whisper the diatasso for her to stop and send her to sleep before collapsing besides her on the bed. Lifting a trembling hand to his mouth, he licked it before pressing it over his wound to seal it. He let his hand fall back to the bed limply as he turned his head to stare at the sleeping woman next to him.

He lay there knowing that he had completed the ritual that made them syndeo to each other. Now there was nothing that could separate them. They were connected mind, body, and soul. Just as she belonged to him, he belonged to her.

As emotions that he hadn’t felt in hundreds of years suddenly began to overwhelm him, he realized that it was all because of her. He lay there helpless as happiness, contentment, and love came flooding back into his heart and soul. He knew without a doubt, as he watched her sleeping, that he was in love with her.



It was just before dawn when Max finally left Liz’s side. Every instinct inside of him screamed at him to take her with him, but he knew it wasn’t time yet. He may have completed the ritual making her his syndeo, but she was still human. When she woke up, he knew she would have no idea what he had done to her and she still didn’t know what he was.

He looked at her longingly, one last time before closing the door and locking it. He made his way down the stairs to his office on the first floor. Inside the office he walked over to a bookshelf and pressed the indention on the inside of a shelf level to his head. The bookshelf slid away to reveal a set of stairs leading down into the ground.

Max walked down the stairs as the bookshelf slid back into place. With a single thought, Max lit the candles in the room at the bottom of the stairs. The room was a replica of the master bedroom that Liz was currently asleep in. The only differences were that there was a floor length mirror where the balcony doors would have been and the large dining table is not there. Instead, there was a small round table for two in the corner that left room for the huge computer workstation where Max did all of his day time business from.

Max walked over to the computer and turned it on. He knew he should get some sleep, but he was too wide awake to do so. His emotions were still ricocheting around inside of him and that would never allow him to sleep. He sat down in the computer chair, hoping that working on some business would calm him down.



Three hours later, he had given up trying to concentrate on getting any work done and was now pacing the room like a caged tiger. He wanted to be back up in that bed, lying next to her or to at least have her there with him. But he knew it wasn’t time yet. She was still human. She wouldn’t understand until he told her. Max realized that that morning was the first time he ever cursed what he was. His species couldn’t go out in the day light. They didn’t have to sleep, but the day light was still fatal to them.

Max gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to roar at the injustice of it all. How could fate determine that he have a syndeo after all this time. After centuries of being alone, suddenly he was meant not only to mate, but to mate with his syndeo. But fate was truly cruel in that it made his syndeo an uninitiated human. He sat down on the edge of his bed with a sigh, wondering just how he was going to break the news to his coven.

How was he going to tell them that he, Maximillian Evans, Archigos of the Aristomache coven, had a human syndeo.

TBC...

I am sooooo sorry guys! I know I promised to have the fourth part up by friday, but a family crisis prevented me from doing that. My brother borrowed my laptop for four days and I just barely got it back. Better late than never huh?

Gaby- Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'm going to wait a bit before I decide if I'm going to send it to elloras cave.
Pheobe- LOL. Well, I think I was only good to you that day.
behrlyliz- Max is going to have to cope with it first, before the coven gets the chance to. LOL
Michelle-
Sarah- Aww! Thanks! And yes, I have Feehan's entire Dark Series to date. But it's really Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters who really make my blood heat up. Truth...her Were-Hunters are the best. Vane Kattalakis is a god! I WANT that man! LOL. (Figures I'd like the Weres 'cause unlike the Dark Hunters, they stay Weres and don't become human when they find their mates. )
believer- Hee hee, later...
roswell- Thank you
francesca- here's what happens next
Legal- Glad you like!
Em- That's what normal people do. LOL. This story isn't going to be normal. Remember, it's coming from my warped fantasy mind.
LJL- Here ya go.
candycane- LOL. I understand. I'd have been excited to read on too if it was a story I was really interested in. Good questions, btw. And they will all be answered, just not all at once.
Rosy- back.
Shattered- Oh yeah, Jealous vampire Max will show up regularly. . Sorry so late.
BehrObsession- Well, I wouldn't have a story if that happens. LOL
mlover- sorry for the wait
Corinne- Yeah, I read all of Feehan's Dark Series, but as I said to Sarah, Kenyon's Were's are the ones who have my blood.
touched- Thanks. I love Orgy too! The Q o t D soundtrack rocks!
Lu- Thanks. hee hee. We'll see... I will certainly try.
MichelleinYonkers- Just accept them. This is NOT going to be a normal relationship. You are going to have to throw out all you know about relationships in the human world. This is from my warped fantasy mind after all. LOL.
Tara- Thanks, sorry I'm late.
muse- Oh, you'll see...
Ashley- conversion explaination in about 2 or 3 more parts. Hint:world isn't like ours really, so nope. Yes about the conflict. Oh, she'll know, in more ways than one.

Okay, here we go....


Part 4

It was mid-afternoon when Liz woke up. As she slowly came awake to the feel of Helena gently shaking her, she frowned and looked around the room. Her mind was trying to remember what had happened the night before.

Helena smiled at her, “Come, Kyria, let’s get you bathed and then you’ll have a bite to eat, yes?”

As Helena helped her out of the bed and into the tub, Liz tried to remember everything that had happened the night before. Things seemed so fragmented in her mind and many memories seemed out of place. She sat in the tub and tried her hardest to remember. She remembered how she had gotten there and all of the preparations Helena had made of her. Then she remember seeing a pair of glowing amber eyes.

Closing her eyes and frowning, she tried hard to remember more. Those eyes had belonged to the man she had seen when she had been chained in that back room. She remembered the way he had looked at her as she lay on the bed waiting for him. How he had undressed and let her look at him. But as she tried to remember anything after he had crawled onto the bed, all she got were fast images. Flashes of dark hair, bronze skin, and the feeling of a mouth and hands on her body.

Helena moved to her side holding a towel out for her. Liz looked up at her as she stepped into the towel. “He came last night didn’t he?”

“Who came?”

“The Kyrios. Your boss. He came right?”

Helena gave her a huge smile, “Of course he came, and he was much pleased with you. He loved the work we all did. Now come, you must eat, then there is much we have to do before nightfall.”

Liz frowned and wondered why she couldn’t really remember much of anything. Something must have happened it, she just knew it, but why couldn’t she remember everything?

Helena wrapped her in a terry cloth robe and motioned for her to sit at the dining table. The other woman came in again with a tray that held a bowl of soup and a glass of orange juice and another glass of water. The moment the smell of the broth reached Liz’s nose, she felt her stomach lurch in protest. Grimacing, she wondered why she felt too nauseated to eat anything.

Helena pushed the bowl closer to her, “Go ahead, Kyria, eat.”
Liz shook her head, “I’m not really feeling good right now, I don’t think I can hold it down.”

The younger woman glanced up at Helena who simply shook her head and turned back to Liz, “I know you feel sick, but you must try to eat something. You must keep your strength up.” She motioned to the bowl again, “Try one sip, I promise you will be able to hold it down.”

Liz was doubtful, but picked up the spoon anyway and took a sip of the broth. Helena was right. The moment the broth flowed over her tongue, Liz was suddenly starving. In no time at all she finished that bowl and then downed both the orange juice and water as if she hadn’t had a drink in days. When she was done, she sat back and licked her lips clean, gracing Helena with a smile.

Helena nodded, “See, it wasn’t so bad after all was it?”

“It was delicious,” replied Liz.

Helena chuckled, “Good, good. Now come, we must get you ready for tonight.”

As she led Liz to the middle of the room, where a footstool was, Liz glanced at her and asked, “What’s happening tonight?”

Helena helped her up onto the footstool as she replied, “The Kyrios will be here again and you must be ready for him as always.”

With that, Helena went to the door and allowed tow seamstresses in who removed the robe from Liz and proceeded to take every conceivable measurement that was possible of Liz’s body. As soon as those two women left, two more women came in rolling in a bed and had Liz lay on it.

For the rest of the afternoon Liz was made to lie down, sit up, and stand as a steady stream of people came in to give her spa treatments, massages, and other beauty makeovers. Her hair had been cut and styled in a way that framed her face and hung in loose waves around and past her shoulders. Her finger and toe nails were painted red and permanent black eyeliner had been placed on her lower lids. She wore black mascara and her lips had been painted a bright red. No other makeup was placed on her face as she had a natural blush to her cheeks and her skin was already an even creamy color.

Just before the sun went down, the seamstresses returned with a floor length, halter top dress with matching high heels for her to wear. They helped her into it and made any adjustments to it as she stood still for them again. The dress was almost totally backless, allowing just a hint of curve to peak out from the tops. This time she wore a ruby and onyx choker connected to a string of rubies and onyx stones that ran down the length of her spine. She also had the matching earrings and bracelet to go with it.

As the women continued to flutter around her in excitement over her looks, he entered the room. Instantly, the room fell silent as he made his way over to Liz. Liz glanced up when she realized the room was quiet only to get caught up in his amber eyes. Once more the word mesmerizing seemed to float through her brain and she swallowed as she watched them turn molten gold as they roamed over her.

Liz couldn’t move as she watched him move closer. Feeling like a rabbit caught in the rattlesnake’s gaze, she stood helpless as he issued the command, “Leave us.” Then watched as the room was immediately emptied of all save the two of them.

Max waited until he heard the last one leave the room before he held a hand out to Liz, “Come, let me show you my home.”

Liz stared at his hand for a moment, hesitating. He gave her a gentle smile, “Liz, I won’t hurt you, I promise. Please, allow me to give you a tour of the place.”

Her eyes snapped up to his, “How do you know my name?”

He smiled, “The same way you know mine.”

She frowned, “I don’t know your name, no one would tell me.”

“You know it. Search inside yourself.”

As those words left his mouth, Liz could swear she heard a whisper in her mind, Max. She blinked and asked, “Max?”

“Yes.”

“But I don’t remember you ever telling me that. And no one here is answering any of my questions. They all seem to speak in riddles.”

He chuckled, “Not riddles. They just didn’t want to give anything away, leaving it up to me to give you the answers.”

Her eyes narrowed, “And will you? Give me the answers I want?”

He nodded, “Yes.” He held his hand out to her again, “Come, let me give you the tour and I will answer your questions as we go.”

Liz finally slid her hand into his and allowed him to guide her out into the hallway to begin the tour of his home.

He gave her the grand tour, starting with the third floor and working their way down. There were five rooms on the third floor. The biggest was the master bedroom Liz had been staying in since she had been taken there. Three of the others were smaller bedrooms which seemed unoccupied at the moment.

The last room, which was in the center of the third floor, dividing two bedrooms from the two others, was the domatio ilios. A name Max seemed to literally hiss out between his teeth as if it pained him to even say it. This room had one wall and most of the ceiling made of entirely glass, allowing anyone to have a remarkable view of the sky and grounds behind the house. Liz couldn’t see any reason why Max didn’t like it, she thought it was one of the most beautiful rooms she’d ever seen. Especially as she noticed how clear the night sky was and the way the moon bathed the entire room in it’s glow. She could already see how that room would look in the day time with the sun spreading it’s warmth throughout the whole area.

Max didn’t let her linger there for too long before he was gently tugging her back into the hallway and towards the stairway. They continued the tour on the second floor which consisted of six rooms. The first was a library with wall to wall and floor to ceiling books. There were several cushioned chairs, lounges, and a long table with six straight backed chairs around it spread around the room. Liz even noticed a few body sized cushions on the floor too.

The next room was a study consisting of a huge oak desk, several file cabinets, an architects desk, and a couple of chairs near the oak desk. There were plenty of papers strewn over both desks indicating this room was often used. A side door led to the next room which was a long, meeting room. This room had a long rectangular table with several swivel chairs around it, making it look as if members of the board met there. Like the study, this room looked well used also.

The next room was a den of sorts. It had a fireplace against the right wall, almost directly under the one in the master bedroom on the third floor. There was a long buffet table along the left wall and two tall cabinets with glass fronts which contained various liquors and the glasses to serve them in. Several high backed cushioned chairs with ottomans were set around the fireplace making it look like the place where the members of the board would retire to for a drink and a smoke.

Just when Liz thought the entire second floor was all about business, she stepped into the next room which turned out to be a private movie theater complete with a wall to wall screen. She noticed the equipment in the room that suggested all movies shown in the theater would be broadcast in surround sound and using the latest technology for the clearest pictures. Unlike a movie theater, this room had comfy couches and pillows arranged around the screen to give all the viewers the best sight and sound experience possible.

The last room was a game room. It consisted of two pinball machines, a pool table, a dart board, and several video arcade games ranging from classic games to the latest fad around today. Just like the study and the meeting room, this room also looked well used.

As they made their way to the stairs and down to the first floor, Liz asked Max what he did for a living.

“I own several businesses.”

“Really? Like what?”

“Different things really. I own a few clubs, warehouses, and banks.”

Her eyes went wide, “Wow! So that’s where all the money comes from then.”

He gave her a secret smile, “Actually, my family has always had money. We come from a long line of nobility in Greece.”

“Oh. So, you inherited all this then?”

He shrugged, “Most of it. But I still had to earn the right to inherit it all. And now, I have to work to make sure I don’t lose any of it.”

As they walked across the foyer, Liz said, “So that explains the strange words I keep hearing everyone use then. It’s all Greek isn’t it?”

He nodded as he led her into the living room, “Yes, my family has always had Greek helpers working for them. It is a tradition that I have kept up.”

She nodded as she looked around the living room area. There were two couches and a couple of recliners around a flat screen television and entertainment system. All the equipment was state of the art, just like the movie theater upstairs, but this seemed to be used a lot more than the theater did. There were also a couple of tall shelves which held several objects that looked like they came from the ancient Greek culture.

The room next to it was a very well used office. There were two bookshelves placed side by side against the far wall stuffed to the brim with books. A huge desk with a computer, printer, and lots of files was near the left wall. Two black leather chairs sat facing the desk and against the right wall was a long leather couch.

Liz inclined her head towards the desk, “You bring your work home with you, huh?”

“Actually, I do most of my business from home. That’s why there’s the meeting room upstairs. In this day and age, with all the wonderful technology, I can do business from my computer. Web cams, video phones, and the like have made my life incredibly easier to manage.”

Before Liz had a chance to ask him anything else about his work, Max led her into the next room which was a grand ballroom. Her eyes went wide at the sight of it. Two huge candelabras hung from the ceiling and made the slate colored marble floor sparkle as if stars were trapped in it. The ivory walls were trimmed with golden laurel leaves and several Greek scenes were in relief all around the room. It was magnificent. Liz could clearly see all the Greek gods and goddesses on the walls as scenes from several well known stories seemed to come to life in that room. Two tall glass doors opened up to lead the guests out into the grounds behind the house.

Liz walked towards those doors, but Max slid his hand around her arm to stop her. She turned to him as he said, “You haven’t seen the kitchen and dining rooms yet. I want you to have a bite to eat before I show you the grounds.”

She frowned at the mention of food and her stomach protested once more. “I’m really not hungry, Max.”

He nodded, “I know, but I must insist that you have something for dinner. I know you only had a bowl of soup for lunch and nothing else all day.”

She sighed as he led her out of the ballroom, past the dining room and into the kitchen. His kitchen was a dream come true for a master chef with all of the cabinets, state of the art stove, ovens, and other appliances. There was a man working at the elaborate island as Max and Liz entered the room. He looked up and grinned at them as he gave a slight bow. “Ah, dikos mou Archigos, merikoi zoumi kreatos gia arthro Kyria?”

Max nodded, “Nai, mesa arthro domatio gevmatizo, prosfero eycharistisi.”

As Max guided her out of the kitchen and into the dining room, Liz asked, “What did you say to each other?”

Max smiled down at her, “He asked if you wanted some broth and I told him you would have it in the dining room.”

Liz arched an eyebrow, “All that just to say I would eat broth in the dining room?”

Max laughed at that, the feel of his chest vibrating with laughter was something foreign to him. It made him pause for just a moment, until Liz’s voice intruded again, “What did you really say to each other?”

He helped her to her chair, then sat next to her. Looking into her eyes he said, “The direct translation is something like, My lord, some broth for the lady? To which I replied, Yes, in the dining room please.”

Liz looked at him for a moment trying to decide if he was really telling her the truth. She finally decided that he was since he didn’t make any move to say anything else. She nodded to show she accepted his words and began to look around the room. It was a formal dining room with the long rectangular table that could seat up to twelve people. A small candelabra hung from the center and two smaller ones were on either side of it. There was a long narrow buffet table against the far wall and two small carts against the opposite walls.

As Liz looked around the room, Max stared at her. He drank in the sight of her in the red halter dress. She was radiant. The moment he’d walked into the bedroom and seen her, he had lost his breath. The color red did wonders for her skin, making her positively glow from the inside out. Now, sitting there next to her, he could hear her heartbeat and smell her sweet fragrance. Both called out to him as they always did when she was near. He wanted nothing more than to take her back to the bed and claim her once more. But he had talked himself out of it earlier. Wanting her to know her new home and wanting her to know him, he had decided to spend the evening showing her around. He’d known it would be difficult to curb his desire for her, but he had to do this. If he was going to succeed in bringing her into his world, he knew he had to ease her into it.

Liz tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck to his view. It was an innocent gesture as she studied the mural on the opposite wall, but Max couldn’t take his eyes off of the pulse beating just beneath her skin.

Vaguely he heard her ask, “Do you know who that mural is by? It looks familiar.”

“No, Michael would know, he’s the artist.” Max replied as he began to lower his head.

Liz continued to study the mural, unaware of Max’s intent until she felt his lips against the skin of her neck. She stiffened an instant before she felt his tongue swirl over her skin, sending a shiver of desire down her spine, ending in a pool of heat between her legs. As his teeth nipped her neck, her eyes closed on their own and a soft moan escaped her lips.

Max gripped the back of her chair with one hand and curled his other hand into a fist before it had a chance to dig into her perfect flesh. Fighting the urge to take her right there, he lifted his head and stared at her. Getting himself under control, he lifted his free hand and captured her chin turning her to face him. As her eyes opened and looked into his, he lowered his lips to hers.

“Esy blepe be oraios toso,” he whispered just before his lips claimed hers.

As his kiss deepened, Liz could have sworn she heard his voice whisper again, “You are so beautiful.” But she knew that was impossible since his mouth was currently devouring hers. Just like before, she wanted to pull away, wanted to tell him he couldn’t just do those things to her, but his kiss was lethal. At least it was to her sanity, because the moment he deepened the kiss, she was no longer in her right mind. Instead, she reached up with her arms, winding them around his shoulders and leaning into him as he cradled her head with one hand. He wrapped the other around her waist, almost lifting her from her chair and depositing her into his lap.

The sound of the door opening prevented Max from doing just that. Instantly his head snapped up and he hissed at the intruder, eyes blazing red in their depths. The cook froze at the look his Archigos gave him. He didn’t move as he suddenly realized his mistake. Swallowing, he tried to speak past the fear clogging his throat, “Her broth, my Kyrios.”

Max blinked and looked down at Liz, who was slowly coming out of her daze. Sighing, he set her back into her chair and nodded to the cook to come in.

Liz grimaced once more as the smell wafted up to her nose. She turned to look at Max with a look of disgust, “I’m really not hungry right now.”

He gave her a gentle smile and caressed her cheek, “I know, but trust me, you need this.”

She rolled her eyes and picked up the spoon. It was just like before. Before she knew what had happened, she had devoured the broth as if she’d been starving and both the orange juice and water that the cook had also provided had been downed in two gulps each.

Liz stared down at the empty bowl with a frown as Max ran his fingers through her hair. Lifting her eyes to his she asked, “What’s wrong with me?”

“What do you mean?”

She shrugged, “I wasn’t hungry. I swear I wasn’t. It was the same way this afternoon. I wasn’t hungry and the smell of it made me nauseous, but I tried it and then the next thing I know, I’ve eaten all of it and drank both glasses dry.”

He smiled as he curled his fingers around her neck, “Sometimes we aren’t aware of just how much our bodies are hungry for sustenance.”

Liz suddenly had the distinct impression that he wasn’t just talking about her, but before she had a chance to ask him about that, he was helping her out of her seat and ushering her towards the door saying, “Come, akribos, there is still the grounds to see before the night is over.”

TBC...

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a notion that the broth in question may contain hints of blood. All those in favor, say Aye.
Let the record show we have a majority vote for aye.

Blood in the broth! Eeeeww! How sick can you people be! Oh wait! I'm the one who invented this kinky little ditty in the first place!

Well, folks, sorry to say the broth has no blood. LOL. However, to clear up what's going on. For those of you who are familiar with a lot of vampire culture, it is said that a human's 'diet' tends to change when they become initiated. Renfield in Dracula ate bugs While others have been known to tolerate only 'rare' meat. Still others can only handle a liquid diet which contains the essential nutrients a body needs to sustain itself. This last example is the category Liz falls under. Keep in mind there are many other ways a human's diet may change, but I'm not going into it here.

BTW...I just want to say you guys are some of the best feedbackers I've ever had! I am loving it all! And it makes it even better that this is currently my fave fan fiction story of the three I am writing! I love you guys!

And no, your eyes aren't deceiving you, I am posting another part early. That means no part on Friday. J/K! I'll try to have the next part ready for Friday, I will!

Erina- A real talk? Well I'm still trying to figure that one out myself. Yep, Max pretty much controls her mind.
francesca-
Emz- Yes.
behrly- Surprise! Here's more!
Jamilah- She's trying. Wren's . There hasn't been a Were I haven't drooled over yet. While Ash is I think the fact that he's the mysterious, almost terrifying leader, it kind of turns me off. That and his real hair color is blond. As a rule, I tend to stay away from them. So, Vane has the tall, dark, and gorgeous thing going for him in spades. The other thing is that he loves Bride, a slightly plump woman whom most drop dead gorgeous hunks don't give the time of day too. (That's me ) So, needless to say I love that man! And he gives me hope that some day that may happen to me!
Pheobe- Here's another one!
Michelle in Y- Scared, sort of but mostly angry. No free will. Lots of curiousity. Think of his molten gold eyes like that of a snake when it hypnotizes it's prey . Most vampires in this modern age love to give the appearance of being human since they tend to live and work within the human society, hence the elaborate house Max has. Liz will start to get her mind back later.
candycane- Yes, but she's still a prisoner. You are getting ahead of me chica! I can't write fast enough for you. This part is the night continued. I know Greek words, but I'm not good at stringing them together to make sentences and phrases. I'm hoping I'm not truly butchering what I have.
Legal- Thanks!
La'Shon- I love her banner! Tanya is a goddess! Hee hee, Liz'll start here...
Gin- Helping you out here.
touched- Yes. She's under his spell so to speak.
roswell- Nutrients! Hurrying back.
BehrObsession- Exactly! Oh yeah, I'm loving writing him!
Ashley- Well, I have to admit this is currently my fave fic of the 3 I'm writing, but I still have to juggle it with RL. I know, I know. It'll happen. Okay, posting.

The song used is The Perfect Drug by NIN

Part 5

Max led Liz through the ballroom and the tall glass doors that led to the outside. They were now standing in a patio area large enough to hold a company party. The patio was almost twice the size of the ballroom and had a cement floor with smooth natural stones inlaid throughout it. A three foot high wrought iron fence covered in vines with tiny white flowers served as the border of the patio. Tall poles, painted black and carrying illuminated glowing bulbs were placed at intervals along the fence to give the patio a serene atmosphere.

At the far end of the patio area, was a set of stone stairs which they walked down to the pool area. The pool was a rectangular shaped, Olympic sized one with curved steps inside the part nearest them. A small fountain made of light blue glass was set into the pool on the far side. There were several tables with umbrellas, some chaises, and wicker chairs with small end tables placed randomly around the pool deck.

To either side of the pool area was nothing but acres of gently rolling land sparsely populated with weeping willows and other shrubbery giving a southern romantic feel to the area.

As they walked past the pool, they came to the beginning of an immense garden. The hedges started out at about knee height, but the farther into the garden they went, the taller the hedges became until they rose high enough to almost block out the sky. Max guided Liz through the maze of hedges until they came to a clearing near the back of the grounds.

Liz stared in amazement at the romantic looking ivory gazebo with gauzy white curtains used as a screen around it. Tall hedges with white roses stood behind the gazebo to give some privacy to the area. Smaller hedges surrounded the bottom of the gazebo’s circumference.

To the right of the gazebo were several waist high hedges of red roses which had been designed into a squared off miniature rose garden. At the back of that garden were two tall hedges grown together and designed to seem a part of the bench that was set into them and to act as an awning for the bench. The roses in those hedges were the deepest, darkest reds Liz had ever seen. In fact, at first glance she would have thought they had been black.

It was to the gazebo that Max led her. He took her hand and helped her up the wooden steps of the gazebo, holding back a curtain as she walked inside. Liz noticed the cushioned bench that ran around the entire circumference except at the entrance. There were also two low ceiling fans with dim lights which hummed lazily and provided a slight breeze to the area.

Max watched Liz as she walked around the gazebo, her fingers trailing over the curtains, railing, and cushions. She walked to the other end and parted the curtains to look at the tall hedge of white roses. Stretching out her hand, she touched the delicate petals and smiled as the scent wafted to her nose.

The sight of Liz leaning out towards the hedges, her fingers stoking the petals which Max was certain weren’t as soft as the bare back exposed to him was more than he could take. He’d been waiting all night to have her again and now that the tour was over, he figured it was time to claim what was his again.

He made his way to her, lifting his hand to the back of her neck and letting his fingers trail over the choker she wore. As his fingers followed the line of rubies and onyx stones that ran down the length of her spine, Liz straightened up and let the curtain fall back into place. Max continued to run his fingers over the bare skin of her back as he leaned in and buried his face in her neck to take a deep breath of her scent.

As his lips touched her neck, Liz moved away from him and turned to face him with a frown. “You said you would answer my questions.”

He nodded, “Of course.”

“Okay, then where am I?”

He gave her a gentle smile, “At my home, a few miles north of the city limits.”

“I’ve been here for two nights right?”

Again he nodded and stepped towards her, lifting his hand to run through her hair.

Liz reached up and grabbed his wrist, stopping his stroking. She waited until he was looking into her eyes again before she continued, “Just how long do you intend to keep me here?”

His eyes instantly turned to molten gold as he replied, “This is your home now.”

Liz shook her head as she backed away from him, “No, I already have a home.”

“Yes, here with me.” Even as she backed away from him, he walked towards her, following her as she tried to maneuver her way out to the gazebo.

She shook her head again, “No! You don’t understand. This has all been a mistake! I’m a college student and I live in a dorm on campus. I was tricked into going out with some people that I thought were friends of mine. But they betrayed me and I think they sold me to these really scary Goth looking guys for money. See, I can’t live here. I’ve got school! I’m graduating in about a year and a half!”

“I know Liz.”

“Then you know I have to get back to my life.”

He shook his head, “No. Your life is here, with me now.”

“I can’t miss school! I’ll be thrown out!”

“Don’t worry about that. I will take care of everything. You won’t need to attend school anymore Liz. I will provide for you.”

Liz frowned, “I don’t understand! Why are you doing this? Am I a prisoner? A slave? Why can’t I go back to my life?”

Max reached out and captured her arms in his hands, pulling her towards him. Looking into her eyes he said, “You belong to me now. I will take care of you always. And I will give you whatever you need, whatever you want. You will never be without again Liz. I promise you.”

Liz struggled against his hold, shaking her head in denial, “No! I don’t want this! I want to go home.”

“You are home.”

“To my dorm room and to school! You have to let me go!”

“I cannot Liz. You belong here with me.”

“No!” She pushed at his chest and twisted away, trying to run for the stairs, but Max grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her in for a heated kiss.

Liz continued to struggle, but her arms were trapped between their chests and he was seducing her once more with his lethal kisses. As his tongue swept into her mouth and slid sensuously against her own tongue, her knees went weak and she leaned her weight into his body.

Max wrapped his arms around Liz, letting his hands caress the smooth skin of her back. He felt her hands glide up his chest and then tighten around his shoulders as she tried to keep herself upright. He swept his tongue over her lips once more before placing a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth.

Her head fell back as his mouth moved over her cheek and along her jaw before he swirled his tongue over the skin just below her ear. She moaned softly as he began to gently suck the skin just over the pulse in her neck.

Liz was vaguely aware of the words he murmured against her neck, “Oraios, you have no idea what you mean to me. What I would do for you.”

He trailed a hand up her back and undid the clasp to her halter top. Pulling back slightly, he let the top fall away to reveal her breasts.

Liz heard his groan as he leaned in and licked from her collarbone to the valley between her breasts. She could feel his hand cupping her breast as his breath made goose bumps form along her skin when he continued to whisper, “You belong to me, as I belong to you. I will give you the world, dikos mou agapo. And I will never allow anything to harm you.”

As his mouth closed over her other breast, she heard him say, “You are my life, Oraios. Dikos mou bion.”

I got my head but my head is unraveling
cant keep control can't keep track of where it's traveling
I got my heart but my heart's no good
you're the only one that's understood

In the blink of an eye, they were back in the master bedroom with Max’s naked body stretched out over Liz’s equally naked one. As he leaned down to kiss her again, he merged his mind with hers, allowing her to feel everything he was feeling.

I come along but I don't know where you're taking me
I shouldn't go but you're wrenching dragging shaking me
turn off the sun pull the stars from the sky
the more I give to you the more I die

Liz let out a gasp as she was suddenly overwhelmed by so many emotions and sensations. She wasn’t even aware that they were not all hers. All she could was let herself be swept away on the waves of sensations that kept her body in a constant state of arousal. She was surrounded by heat, silk, hardness, and softness all at once.

and I want you

Unable to wait any longer, Max slid down her body and parted her legs. Swirling his tongue over her folds, he parted them and slid his fingers inside of her at the same time he sank his fangs into her skin. As he sucked both her blood and her clit, Liz came for him with a startled cry.

And I want you

The moment her orgasm had passed, Max licked the wound, slid up her body and began to suckle her breast. He savored the way she writhed beneath him for a few moments before switching breasts and sinking his fangs into her flesh once more.

And I want you

This time he didn’t wait for her second orgasm to come to completion before he was sliding into her depths and claiming her once more. As he began to pump steadily into her tight wetness, he lowered his mouth to her neck and drank deep.

And I want you

Liz’s entire body tightened around him as she threw her head back and released a scream that shook the rails of the bed even as her body shook with the fierce orgasm that had triggered it.

you are the perfect drug
the perfect drug
the perfect drug

Max panted as he lifted his head from her neck. He licked his lips before licking the blood on her neck as he closed the wound. Rolling them over so that she lay over him, he lifted her slightly and slashed his chest with his elongated nail.

You are the perfect drug
The perfect drug
The perfect drug

Saying the diatasso to get her to drink, he moved her head and pressed it against the wound in his chest. This time she didn’t resist as her mouth immediately latched on to his wound and sucked greedily. Max shut his eyes in bliss as he felt her body moving in time to the rhythm of her sucking. Gripping her hips in his hands, he helped her to ride him even as he lifted his own hips, burying himself deeper inside of her.

you make me hard when i'm all soft inside
I see the truth when i'm all stupid-eyed
the arrow goes straight through my heart
without you everything just falls apart

Max heard a soft growl come from Liz a moment before his body exploded, bathing her insides with his seed. His hands clawed the comforter as he threw his head back and roared his ecstasy to the room.

my blood just wants to say hello to you
my fear is warm to get inside of you
my soul is so afraid to realize
how every little bit is left of me

Her body continued to ride his, but with decreasing movements until he was finally emptied. As his body relaxed against the bed, he felt her tongue lapping at his chest for a few moments before she lowered her head to his chest and closed her eyes. Within seconds, she was fast asleep and still draped over him.

and I want you

Max used his powers to darken the room and cover them with the comforter. Wrapping his arms around Liz, he shifted slightly so he could gaze at her sleeping form. Her cheeks were tinged with a rosy glow from their exertions and her hair was slightly damp and clung to her skin in enticing ringlets. He could feel her breath faintly stirring the skin of his chest and his heart swelled at the way her fingers curled into his side as if holding on to him for security.

and I want you

Closing his eyes, he reveled in the feel of her body surrounding his. He could feel the way her hips still straddled his, and the way her slick walls still held him inside of her even when he was no longer so hard.

and I want you

When Liz sighed in contentment, he smiled then bit his bottom lip as she shifted slightly allowing her breasts to brush against his ribs and her thighs to rub against his hips. He relaxed again when she had settled down once more.

and I want you

He allowed his hands to caress her skin as they roamed over her back, shoulders, and arms. As he buried his face in her hair and breathed in her scent, he let his hands roam down
her waist, hips, behind, and legs.

You are the perfect drug
The perfect drug
The perfect drug

Max continued to explore her body as she slept against his chest, taking great care not to wake her until he was certain she had gotten enough rest. When he was certain she was well rested, he inserted his will into her mind and gently woke her up.

You are the perfect drug
The perfect drug
The perfect drug

As Liz’s eyes fluttered open, he gathered her up into his arms and carried her to the sunken tub. He brushed his lips over hers while he used his powers to fill the tub with hot, sudsy water. Sitting down on the edge of the tub, he curled a hand into her hair and kissed her deeply as they waited for the tub to fill up.

You are the perfect drug
The perfect drug
The perfect drug

Once the bath was ready, Max lifted Liz up and set her down on the bench inside the tub before joining her. She let out a soft sigh as she leaned against the back of the tub. He watched her for a moment, enjoying the way her eyes rested at half mast and the way the water lapped at the edges of her breasts.

You are the perfect drug
The perfect drug
The perfect drug

Taking his eyes from her beauty, he retrieved the liquid soap and sponge sitting in the basket near the tub. He poured a generous amount of soap on the sponge and lathered it up a bit before moving back to Liz’s side. He leaned over and brushed another kiss over her lips before lifting the sponge to her neck.

take me with you
without you everything just falls apart
it's not as much fun to pick up the pieces

Max took his time bathing her. He moved the sponge over her skin in slow, circular motions as his eyes watched it’s progress. He moved the sponge down her shoulders, over her collarbone, and over her breasts. Her lips parted slightly as he spent a few moments moving the sponge over her nipples until they were hardened peaks. Then he ran the sponge along the undersides of her breasts and down over her ribs.

Sliding an arm around her and lifting her slightly out of the water, Max ran the sponge down her stomach and dipped it into her navel. Liz allowed her eyes to drift shut as the sponge moved to her hips and then down her legs. Max worked his way down one leg before moving to the other leg, careful to stay away from her core. He set her down against the tub and worked on her arms, starting from her shoulders all the way to the tips of her fingers.

Once he was certain that he’d bathed most of her body, he parted her legs and slid the sponge against her folds. Liz gasped as her head fell back against the rim of the tub and Max continued to rub the sponge against her sensitive skin. Liz whimpered as the sponge grazed her clit and she bucked her hips wanting more. Max smiled as he saw the need written all over Liz’s face. That was what he’d been waiting for.

Replacing the sponge with his fingers, he continued to move them in the same circular motion and added more pressure. Liz gripped the sides of the tub and bit her bottom lip as Max continued to heighten her pleasure. As her chest began to heave with her quickening breaths, Max removed his fingers from her body.

A sound of protest escaped her lips moments before Max lifted her up and set her down on his lap. He leaned back against the tub wall and shifted Liz until she was impaled on his shaft. Opening her eyes, she looked down at him and smiled sensuously. That smile made Max even harder. Max watched as her eyes darkened and she began to ride him slowly.

Liz slid her hands up his chest, feeling his muscles move beneath her fingertips even as she continued to pick up her pace. She slid her hands over his shoulders and behind his neck. Leaning forward, she curled her fingers into his hair and captured his lips in hers. As she devoured his mouth with hers, she leaned her body even closer until her chest rubbed his creating a heated friction that made the both of them moan in unison.

Max picked up the sponge once more and rubbed her back, from her shoulders down to her firmly rounded bottom. He let out a hiss when she leaned back again and began to ride him harder. Liz dug her fingers into his shoulders as she tilted her head back slightly and closed her eyes in bliss.

As she began to lift herself up and down his swollen shaft, Max used his hands on her hips to help her ride him. His eyes drank in the sight of her, head tilted back, eyes closed, lips parted, and breasts bouncing. She was a seductive temptress in her own right. He knew without a doubt that once she became aware of the effect she had on him, his life would never be the same again. Would she have mercy on him or would she be the death of him?

Those thoughts fled as he felt her clamp her walls around him at the same time that she dug her nails into his shoulders and slammed her hips down against his. With a cry of satisfaction, she came hard, drenching his cock with her liquid heat. Max shuttered as he watched her fall apart above him, his hands still guiding her body over his.

Liz smiled that seductive smile again and leaned down to kiss him once more. The moment her lips met his, Max felt his orgasm hit as he moaned into her mouth. Liz continued to ride him, sitting up and watching as his head fell back against the rim, eyes closing in satisfaction. Even when she’d drained the last drop from his body, she still rode him and trailed her hands over his chest.

Max couldn’t move for a long time. He could feel Liz still moving over him, but he was so sated and exhausted that his body felt completely boneless. He tried unsuccessfully to will his body to move. That alone told him Liz would one day be a force to reckon with. He just knew he was in for it.

Max finally got his body to cooperate with him when the water in the tub began to cool around them. Liz had stopped moving minutes before that and had simply sat staring at nothing. As he gathered her up in his arms, she blinked and began to frown. But before she could say anything Max kissed her lips and inserted his mind into hers again.

Lifting her out of the tub, he wrapped them both in towels and guided her back to the bed. He quickly dried her off and settled her under the covers before drying himself off and joining her.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her against his side and held her close as she caressed his chest with her fingers. Her head lay against his shoulder and he leaned down to press a kiss on the top of it. She slid her hand over his chest to his other side and hugged him close to her.

Max heard her sigh in contentment as she closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep again. Not taking the chance that she would wake up before it was time, he whispered a diatasso against her hair to make sure she slept through most of the day.

He lay there for a little bit longer waiting for the sun to rise. As he felt the tickling sensation begin on his skin, signaling the rising sun, he once more wished he could take her with him to his chambers underground. Sighing, he slid himself away from her and the bed. Watching her sleep while he dressed himself, he once again wondered what she would do when she found out what he really was.

Would she run from him or would she offer herself to him like some of the humans did in hopes that they would become immortal too? Closing his eyes, he turned away from her and made his way out of the bedroom. Would she ask him to make her immortal or would she fight her fate every step of the way?

Max shut the door to his bedroom underground and began to pace just like he’d done the night before. One part of him refused to bring a human down to his room and force her to live in darkness like him. Even if she knew what he was, that part of Max didn’t think it was fair to make Liz compromise her life to fit his.

The other part didn’t care what she felt and insisted on bending her to his will completely. It wanted to be the dominating force that it had always been over the last centuries, especially since it had all always seemed to work before. Why not just be the intimidating, commanding Archigos he was used to being? What did it matter that Liz was human and his syndeo? He was in control!

As Max curled his hands into fists and glared menacingly at the door, he was well aware that the other part was currently winning.


TBC...

Okay, so it's a little late! But I really tried. LOL. Sorry, work took up all my time on friday, but I managed to get it done.

Ashley- Love your observations about Max's inner war and what you hope Liz will do. You have more than me! I live in an apartment, so no garden whatsoever! Oh, Max was BORN jealous and a vamp, an extremely powerful one...think Liz, a mere human, can escape that?
francesca- Next part here.
roswell- Well...
La'Shon- Yes, vamps are infamous for their controlling ways. Here's what happens next...still think Liz brings out the best in him?
candycane- Yes he is. Ha ha, how'd you guess? Hmm...
tiredmuse- Thanks, I try. I was thinking the details added to the eroticism of the story...go figure.
Jess- I'm baaaack! I did say I'd try to post on fridays, you know. The soup/broth was explained in the notes at the beginning of part 5.
Gin- Ha ha! So is mine!
Shattered- Hmm... Thank you.
Michelle in Y- Liquid chocolate ! You know, I never thought of it that way! And I'm technically a night person too! Also, I suppose if all of those things would be missed if Liz was big on them, hmm.... I'm not big on chocolate myself. I like it, but I don't get those 'cravings' women supposed have for it. Yeah, I'm not normal. But I also don't crave blood in any way, so I guess that's good. I love your opinions and musings on what's going on, you definitely keep me on my toes!
touched- Well, NIN is currently my fave, so I'll be using a few more of their songs somewhere. No, but I'll check them out. Thank you.
BehrObsession- So true! Hee hee, you'll see...

Note: italics indicate words spoken in Greek.


Part 6

Liz slowly came awake as if trying to swim against the current up to the surface of the water. Forcing her eyes to open, she blinked them trying to dispel the sleepiness. Why was it so hard to wake up? And why did her body feel so heavy, she wondered.

She managed to lift her head from the pillow and survey the room. No one was there, she was all alone and she knew where she was. She was still being held hostage in Max’s house. Frowning she tried to remember everything from the night before, but her memories got hazy once the tour ended at the gazebo. Well, at least she remembered the tour of the house and it’s grounds.

She shut her eyes for a moment trying to remember what happened once they’d gotten to the gazebo. She remembered telling Max about what she thought her so called friends had done to her and Max telling her that she now belonged to him. She felt like he hadn’t really been listening to her or rather he had dismissed her protests as if they were nothing to be concerned about. As she tried to remember more, all she got were flashes of images of the bed and the tub. Shudders ran through her at those images. No doubt she’d had sex with him again, if those images were any indication.

Looking towards the bedroom door, she slid as quietly as she could out of the bed, donned the white terry cloth robe that was on the end of the bed, and headed towards the balcony doors. She had to get out of here. And if her memories of the house and it’s grounds were correct, she could climb down the side of the balcony and make her way through the gardens to the back of the property and find a way over the fence that bordered it. She just hoped she wouldn’t get lost in that garden maze.

She pushed the heavy curtains aside and let out a hiss of pain as the fading sun made her eyes sting. She blinked them rapidly as the tears began to run down her face. Ignoring the pain of her eyes and the heat of the sun on her arms, she tried to unlock the doors. She bent closer to the knobs and searched for some latch or something to unlock the doors, but there was nothing at all. Weird, she thought. How could doors not have any noticeable lock? She looked all around the doors, but couldn’t find anything that even resembled a locking mechanism. She tried turning the knobs and jiggling them once more, but still they remained stubbornly closed.

Finally giving up, she let the curtains fall back into place and wiped her face with the collar of the robe. She wondered why her eyes were tearing up so much and why her skin seemed to feel as if she had been out in the sun too long. Sighing, she looked around the room for something that would help her open the balcony doors. When she looked at the front door she gave a shrug and headed there to give it a try.

She turned the handle, but the door held tight. So she tried turning the lock this way and that, but still the door wouldn’t budge. She assumed there was a way of locking it from the outside too. It was just like she assumed, she was a prisoner in the room. Letting out a frustrated growl, she turned back into the room once more and began looking for something to open the doors with.

After several minutes of looking, Liz was completely frustrated at not finding anything good to use to open the doors. As she began to pace, she tried to think of ways to get out of her prison. There had to be a way she could escape from the room quietly enough so that no one would discover that she was running until she had gotten far enough away.

She was still pacing when she heard the lock turn. Whirling around, Liz saw Helena entering with a tray of the usual broth, juice, and water. Liz glanced behind Helena and noticed the two guards standing outside of the door. One of which closed the door as soon as Helena had entered.

Helena smiled her usual smile and said, “I see you found the robe I left for you, Kyria. Come, have a seat and eat your meal. Then we’ll get you ready for tonight.”

Liz crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at Helena, “What is going on here Helena? Why am I being kept a prisoner here? What does Max want with me?”

Helena set the tray down on the table and began preparing it for Liz as she answered her, “You are the Archigos chosen syzygos. We have all been waiting for you for a long time. You are the only one who can make him whole again. He has been alone for too long and we have all been afraid to lose him.”

“I don’t understand. What are you saying? Who is he exactly? Why would he need me to make him whole? He doesn’t seem damaged.”

Helena chuckled, “He is not damaged, Kyria. He was, shall we say, only partly there, but with you here, he is now on the way to being whole again.”

Liz frowned, “So, why me? And what are all these words you keep saying? I know Kyria, but what’s an Archie goes exactly or whatever that new one you just said, siz… something?”

“It is Archigos and syzygos,” Helena pronounced as she straightened up and turned to face Liz, “Come, eat up, Kyria.”

Liz growled, “Why won’t you answer my questions?”

Helena sighed, “I’m sorry, but it is not my place to answer them. I’m sure the Archigos will answer them for you in good time. It is only he that can do so. Now, come, you know you must eat or he will be angry that I have not taken care of you, as is my duty.”

Liz let out a sigh and walked over to the table to do as Helena said. The last thing she wanted to do was get someone else in trouble for something she did. As all the other times, she grew nauseous when she got a whiff of the broth, but she fought it down and ate it knowing she would be able to stomach it.

Once she was done with her meal, Helena had the bath prepared for her, then prepared her clothes for the evening as Liz bathed. After the bath, Liz was dressed in a red satin strapless dress that flared out from her hips to the ground. She was made to wear red satin gloves that went up past her elbows and matching satin pumps. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a lazy, yet elegant bun fastened with many pins that contained tiny rubies on the tips. She wore the same ruby necklace, earrings, and bracelet she’d worn the first night there, as well as the same mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick. Helena also rubbed vanilla scented lotion that glittered into her skin.

When Helena had made certain that she’d made Liz into perfection once more, she cleaned up the room, warned Liz not to mess up her looks, and left the room carrying the tray. Once more the guard closed the door after Helena. Liz sighed and sat in the high backed chair near the fireplace where Helena had seated her and stared into the ashes.

She nibbled her lower lip as she wondered just what was going to happen to her this time. With a puzzled look on her face, she glanced down at her arms when she felt a pricking sensation but there was nothing there. She stood up and made her way to the balcony doors and pushed aside the curtains. Her eyes went wide as she realized her instinct was right, the sun had just gone down.

Liz stood there staring in amazement when she felt fingers caressing the back of her neck. Whirling around, she let out a gasp of surprise and pressed back against the wall to stare up at Max.

Stunned, she asked, “How did you? I- I mean, I didn’t hear
you come in!”
Max smiled as he caressed her cheek, “I’ve often been told
I’m too silent for my own good.”

Liz nodded and gripped his wrist in her hand, pulling it away from her cheek, “Right. Well, I think we need to talk.”

“We can talk later, right now, we must go. They are waiting for us.”

Liz shook her head, “No! I’m not going anywhere with you until you answer my questions! Helena won’t answer them and you told me last night that you would! I still don’t know why I’m here or who you are!”

Max sighed, “I am the Archigos, owner of this house, and you are here for me.”

Liz rolled her eyes, “I know this is your house, but you haven’t told me anything about you. All I know is that you have lots of money that you either earned through business or inherited from your family, but that doesn’t tell me about you. And this ‘I’m here for you’ business. I don’t think so! I have a life I need to get back to!”

Liz watched the way Max’s jaw tensed at her heated words and swallowed when his eyes went from their normal bright amber color to that mesmerizing molten gold once more. She felt his fingers curling around her neck as he leaned in closer and spoke in a tone somewhere between a hiss and a growl, “Your life is here. With me! You are mine to care for, mine!”
As he stepped back slightly, he drew in a deep breath and let it out. When he looked into Liz’s eyes again, his eyes were back to being bright amber. He sighed, “I know you don’t know me that well yet, akribos, but in time you will. I promise you that.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb as he continued, “I have to get to know you too. You are my omologia, my other half. Just as I am yours. That is why you are here.”

Liz frowned, “O mole o, what?”

Max grinned at Liz’s attempt to pronounce the word. “Omologia. It means bond. You and I are a bonded pair.”

“What? I’m not bonded to you! I don’t even know you.”

He sighed, “Trust me, we are. I know you don’t understand it yet, but we are. And it’s unbreakable.” He paused for emphasis before stating, “Unless one of us dies.”

A tremor of fear ran up Liz’s spine at the look in his eyes. Something told her now was not the time to go into that.

Max slid an arm around her shoulders and gently guided her towards the door, “Come, we must go before Isabel sends the cavalry after us.”

As Max led her through the door, held open by one of the guards, she asked, “Isabel?”

Max nodded, “ My adelfi, my older sister.”

As they walked into the foyer, Liz noticed all of the men waiting for them. She watched as the one she remembered as Michael, opened the front door and nodded to the others. Four of the men followed Michael through the door first, then she and Max went after with four more behind them.

Michael held the door open to the same limousine Liz remembered from last time as all the other men seemed to flank them. Max helped Liz into the car then slid in besides her. Liz watched as one of the men got behind the wheel and Michael and one other man slid into the front seat with him. The other five got into a silver BMW behind the limo.

Liz watched as they approached the intimidating front gates. Once more, they slid open silently and closed as soon as the BMW was through. Liz tried to crane her neck to see if those shadows came out to patrol the gate again, but the BMW obscured her view.

Turning back around in her seat, she looked at Max out of the corner of her eye. He sat silently, looking straight ahead through the partition that separated them from the front seat. Liz took that time to study him fully. He was an incredibly handsome man, of that she had no doubt. His long black hair was brushed back from his face, slightly slicked to give him a professional look. She admired the way his perfectly straight nose and strong lined jaw gave him a confident air. She realized that while his was a youthful face, the shadow of stubble clearly marked him as a man. For a moment she even felt a stab of jealousy at the ridiculously natural black and long eyelashes he had. She wondered if he even knew how many women paid lumps of money to get eyelashes like those.

As the limo continued to wind its way through the countryside, Liz admired his long graceful neck and broad shoulders which helped give him the regal image she’d had of him before. That and the way he held himself as he sat next to her. She was well aware of the aura of power that seemed to surround him.

Max turned his head towards her as she felt the limo begin to slow down, “We have arrived at my adelfi’s house.”

Liz turned and looked out the window at the gates before them. Like the ones that surrounded Max’s home, these were tall and intimidating too. However, as they drove past them and Liz saw the house, she noticed how it was not quite as large as his.

When the limo came to a stop near the bottom of the steps, the front door opened to reveal two men similar to Max’s men who were now beginning to surround the limo. Michael opened the door, allowing Max to get out and hold a hand out for Liz. She slid her hand into Max’s and kept her eyes on the way all eight of the men seemed to flow around them effectively shielding them from everything as if it had all been rehearsed before hand. It was almost creepy the way they seemed to know exactly what her and Max’s moves would be. Michael, who remained ahead of all of them, was the first to reach the door. He inclined his head towards the two men and Liz heard him speaking in what she assumed to be Greek to the two of them. One of the two men said something back to Michael and stepped back to allow him inside. As Max and Liz passed them, they gave respectful bows until they were inside.

Liz allowed her gaze to take in the house. She had been correct in assuming that there were two floors. The foyer was carpeted in deep green and the walls were painted a lighter green to give the room a very warm, welcoming feel.

“Max! It’s about time ligos adelfos!”

Max let go of Liz’s hand and held his arms out to the tall blond woman who came out of a room to the right of them. As Max wrapped his arms around her in a hug, Liz realized that good looks obviously ran in his family. Isabel was striking to say the least. Her hair was swept back and pinned to the side with a few of the shiny golden locks hanging loose. She had one of the most perfect hour glass figures Liz had ever seen and there didn’t seem to be a tiny blemish anywhere on her skin.

Max let go of his sister and held his hand out to Liz, “Isabel, this is Liz Parker. Liz, my sister, Isabel Evans Whitman.”

Resisting the urge to curtsey, Liz held out her hand, “Nice to meet you Mrs. Whitman.”

Isabel gave an infectious laugh, “Oh please, call me Isabel. It is a pleasure to meet you, Liz.” As she continued to shine her radiant smile at Liz, she said, “Come, let’s go into the den. Alex is waiting for us there.”

Isabel led the two of them into the den while the rest of the men disappeared into another room near the back of the house. As they entered the room, Liz immediately noticed the tall, slender brown haired man standing near a picture window. He turned to them and gave a friendly smile.

“Well, well, Max do you have any idea how close my isyzygos was to sending someone to retrieve her late adelfos?” he chuckled.

Max grinned, “I know, I know. I came as quickly as I could.”

He turned to Liz as his smile grew wider, “Ah, so this must be the mysterious Liz we’ve been hearing about these last few days.”

Max nodded, “Yes, this is Liz Parker. Liz, Alexander Whitman.”

Alex walked over to Liz and took her offered hand in his. He bent down to kiss her knuckles as he said, “It is an honor to meet you Liz.”

Just as she was about to reply in kind, she heard a growl coming from Max. Turning to look at him with a puzzled frown, she heard Alex comment with a chuckle, “Relax, adelfos, I am just saying hello. I already have my very own isyzygos and have no need for more.”

Isabel rolled her eyes and took the hand Alex now held out to her and stepped to his side. “Really Max. You are going to have to curb that temper of yours you know.” She smiled at Liz once more as she said, “come, have a seat and let us all get to know one another okay?”



As the night went on, Liz got to know Isabel and Alex a little more. Granted, the conversation was kept as light as possible as they talked about things familiar to Liz. Isabel was curious about Liz’s life and asked plenty of questions about her childhood and beyond. As Liz answered their questions, she was well aware of the servants who came and went carrying trays with glasses of wine for them all. Liz also noticed how each servant would give a curtsey or bow if she said something to them.

By the end of the night, Liz had somehow managed to tell them her entire life story before she’d even realized she’d done it. They all knew that she’d had a normal childhood as the only well-loved child of Nancy and Jeff Parker. Nancy had been a loving housewife, raising her only daughter while Jeff ran the restaurant he’d inherited from his father. Liz had grown up in a nice three bedroom home in a small family oriented community until she’d graduated in the top ten percent of her class and gone off to college.

It was towards the end of her second year away at college that her parents had perished in a car accident. They had been on their way back from the movies one rainy night when a SUV had skidded across the rain slicked road and slammed into their sedan. The sedan had jumped the curb and rolled once before slamming into the side of a convenience store, pinned there by the SUV. Her parents had died instantly.

Liz had flown back to bury her parents and dealt with the stipulations of her parent’s will which said the restaurant was to be given to her father’s younger brother since it was already known Liz wouldn’t be going into the restaurant business. Liz got their home, all the money her parents had, and a share of the money that the restaurant would continue to make under her uncle’s ownership.

Once Liz had sold her parent’s home and taken everything she’d ever wanted to remind her of her parents, she’d said goodbye to her old hometown for good and gone back to continue the new life she’d started in college. She continued to miss her parents, but they had raised her to be an independent, strong girl capable of surviving on her own. They had always known their daughter would one day go on to live a great life of her own.

As she finished, Liz told them that she was now a year and a half away from graduating and becoming the woman her parents had known she would be.

Isabel smiled, “Oh but Liz, I think you already are that woman! You certainly seem that way to me and I’ve only known you for a few hours!”

Alex nodded his agreement, “She’s right. You are a very strong, independent, and intelligent young woman.” His eyes flicked to Max as he finished his statement.

Max stared into Alex’s eyes for a moment before he nodded, “Right. And on that note, it is time that Liz and I returned home before it gets any later.”

Isabel and Alex glanced at each other a moment before Isabel looked at her brother, “It’s not that late Max. Let us get to know each other more.”

Max took Liz’s hand and stood up with her, “You know her well enough for tonight. We’ll get together again sometime soon. Come, akribos, we must go.”

Liz allowed Max to lead her towards the door, but as she turned to say goodnight to Isabel and Alex, Isabel stepped forward and said something in Greek to Max.

“All we’ve done is gotten to know her, but she still doesn’t know us. When are you going to allow your mate to know the truth little brother?”

Max stiffened and turned to glare at his sister, “She will know when the time comes.”

“She is your omologia! She has a right to know and to give her consent. Max you can’t force her into this!”

He growled, “She doesn’t have a choice any more than I do! She is mine! I will not allow her to leave!”

“She’s an uninitiated human Max. And I’m willing to bet she’s angry and defensive since you are being secretive with her! You can‘t just make her do what you want, she‘s not one of your servants to command!”

“I know that! But she is mine and she will do as I ask.”

“Max…”

“Enough!” He hissed, “we are leaving, say good night, Liz.”

Liz frowned at Max, but turned to give the others a smile, “Good night Isabel, Alex. It was great meeting you both.”

“Good night Liz,” replied Alex.

“Night Liz,” replied Isabel as she continued to glare at her brother.

Max didn’t say another word as he slipped his arm around Liz’s waist and guided her out of the room.



Liz glanced at Max as they sat in the back of the limo that was returning them to his home. He sat facing the front, his jaw tense as if he were seething about something.

“Are you mad at Isabel?” she asked.

Max turned to look at her with a frown, “What?”

“You seem upset. So I’m wondering if this has anything to do with what Isabel was saying to you right before we left.”

“It is nothing.”

Liz rolled her eyes, “Fine. Don’t answer my question, it’s not like you ever do anyway. Wouldn‘t want you to do something you‘re not capable of.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, “What is that supposed to mean?”

She shrugged, “I’m just saying, don’t change on my account.”

Max reached out, curled his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to him. “It is not your concern if I am mad at Isabel. What you should be concerned about is if I am mad at you,” he said, his voice in a low, menacing whisper.

Liz swallowed, “So she was talking about me then?”

His voice still in a whisper, Max responded, “Yes.”

“What did she say?”

“It’s not your concern.”

“If it was about me, then it is my concern.”

Max stared into her eyes, watching her. Liz began to frown as she felt a faint pressure in her mind. Before that thought could go anywhere else, she realized Max’s eyes were that strange molten gold once more. Liz curled her hands into fists, digging her nails into her palms in an effort to let the brief pain distract her from Max’s gaze. It didn’t work, Max simply took her hands into his and lifted them to his mouth.

Liz watched helplessly as Max used his tongue to lick the places where her nails had left marks. A shiver traveled down her spine as she realized the pain disappeared with each lick of his tongue. His eyes never left hers as he continued to soothe her palms.

When he was done, he pulled her into his lap, pushing her dress up enough to allow her to straddle him. He took her head into his hands and pulled her down for a kiss. As his tongue swept into her mouth, he let out a hungry growl. He knew he was being forceful, but Max couldn’t help thrusting his mind into hers and taking control once more. Isabel should have known better than to over step her boundaries. He was her Archigos after all. They all knew his word was law whether they were family or not.

Liz belonged to him and that meant he could do whatever he wanted to do with her. How dare they think he would let her go! She was his.

“Dikos mou!” he growled into her mouth as he slid his hands down past her shoulders. Yanking her dress down to expose her breasts to his hungry gaze, he growled once more, “Dikos mou!”

you let me violate you, you let me desecrate you
you let me penetrate you, you let me complicate you

Tilting her back slightly, he latched his mouth to one of her breasts and sucked greedily. Liz’s hands slid into his hair to hold him there. He swirled his tongue over her nipple, eliciting a moan from Liz. As he switched to the other breast, Liz began to grind her hips against his.

help me I broke apart my insides, help me I’ve got no soul to sell
help me the only thing that works for me, help me get away from myself

With another growl, he lifted Liz up and ripped her panties off of her before setting her down again. As he slid his fingers into her tight channel, he spoke a command, “Open my trousers and take me in your hands, gynaika!”

I want to fuck you like an animal
I want to feel you from the inside
I want to fuck you like an animal
my whole existence is flawed
you get me closer to god

Liz did as he ordered and soon she was stoking his length with her tightened fists. Removing his fingers from inside of her, he lifted her up and with another growl, impaled her on his cock. Liz threw her head back with a cry as Max held her hips and guided her up and down the length of him.

you can have my isolation, you can have the hate that it brings
you can have my absence of faith, you can have my everything

Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she continued to ride him and he pulled her close to suckle her breasts once more. A whimper escaped her lips as she tried to quicken the pace. Max looked up at her face and gritted his teeth.

help me tear down my reason, help me its' your sex I can smell
help me you make me perfect, help me become somebody else

With another growl, he glanced towards the front of the limo and hissed, “I’m taking her home the other way.”

I want to fuck you like an animal
I want to feel you from the inside
I want to fuck you like an animal
my whole existence is flawed
you get me closer to god

As one, the three men in the front seat snapped to attention at the sound of their Archigos voice in their head. Michael turned and lowered the partition separating the two parts of the limo, but the back seat was empty.

through every forest, above the trees
within my stomach, scraped off my knees
I drink the honey inside your hive
you are the reason I stay alive

Max had already done what he’d said he’d do.


Song: Closer by NIN

TBC...

Emz- Hee hee, well we will all continue to be disgusted.
La'Shon- Ditto on everything you said. Find out about Isabel and Alex in the next part.
candycane- Max can't just stop being controlling. It's 317 years of conditioning.
roswell- Yes. I agree.
behrly- Not that long for the truth, but yes to his controlling ways.
Erina- He knows.
Michelle in Y- Well, I'm glad you are getting all of that from reading this story. Explanation of Greek words below. I get the songs from Morpheus.com and it's by Nine Inch Nails. The previous song was also from Nine Inch Nails and was called The Perfect Drug. You are very welcome, and I'm certainly trying to keep it up. I am finally putting you out of your misery now. Here I am!
Pheobe-
Wendy- Well, not queen just yet, but she's getting there.
Lu- Nope. Thanks and it's okay, I'm guilty of not leaving feedback for the stories I'm reading sometimes. Sorry for taking so long, but you do get a compensation! And please don't stop posting feedback.
Liz- I agree about Angel and what you said about Liz fighting. I'd offer my neck to him too. Rowrrrr. Thanks I love Tanya's banner too!
believer- Yes. He's got lots of cool tricks.
Alex- Hee hee...
BehrObsession-
Gin-
POM- Thanks.
Jessica- Here I am. Sorry!
Ashley- Well, I tried to make it seem like Liz didn't want to get anyone else in trouble for things she did, like being difficult or disobedient.

--Wow! I'm away for a long time and I get back and find two of you have left feedback three times! I really feel loved.
I'm so sorry for not posting on time, but I just worked nine days straight, then had a crisis with my brother (he got offered a job that could put him in situations like Jason's character in the new Senseless trailer. So I've been traumatized and begging him not to take the job.), then I had my monthly problems, and another crisis with my boyfriend. I've been seriously involved with him for a little over a year now and this is the first time I've ever dealt with him acting like an insensitive jerk! And here I had such high hopes! Grrrr....

--Okay, I'm gonna beg every one not to hurl tomatoes at me since I don't let you know how Liz deals with the disappearing from the car incident, 'cause she doesn't remember it, but she will find out other things.

--Another thing. Max has never, ever in his life been a sensitive soul, like the Max in the show. Granted, he knew love of family and all because he was raised by his parents, but that was oh.....almost three hundred years ago!!! So, he's had to be a tough, emotionless man to rule his coven all this time. It's NOT going to be easy for him to be a sensitive man. I wasn't really planning on it. Liz is his other half, but that doesn't mean she's his cure. She'll balance him and join him, but not cure him. If that makes any sense.

--Okay, the Greek words are really Greek. LOL. They are just the Roman transliteration because if I really used the Greek letters it'd look something like this... ^&<(), well you get the picture... That's why you can't get it on babelfish. However, if you want, you can go to http://www.kypos.org/cgi-bin/lexicon/ to get the transliteration. And like I said before, I only know Greek words, I can't put them together correctly to form sentences. So, I'm hoping I'm not really butchering it. Here's a hint: Generally, I try to put the translation in a sentence before or after I use the Greek word in my story.

--One last treat. I have two parts ready! I'm posting one now. The other should be posted in a few hours.....

Enjoy!

Part7

Liz moaned as the images began to blur into one another in her dream. Helpless to stop them, she tossed her head, damp with sweat, back and forth over her pillow.

She saw the way his skin glistened in the candle light as it slid against hers. Felt the way he seemed so hot and thick inside of her. She moaned again as she felt her body tightening up once more in expectation of the end. How many times had he taken her before that, she’d lost count. How many times had she felt herself exploding in ecstasy and he along with her? How many times had she revealed in the knowledge that she was the one to pleasure him and it was her name on his lips when he came?

Just when she’d thought he’d had enough and would let her rest, his hands would be all over her again. Caressing her, stroking her until she was burning for him all over again. She could hear the whispered words he said to her in his language flowing over her heated skin. Could see the look in his eyes as he devoured her.

She knew she was powerless to stop him, she had tried so many times and failed. Tried to find ways to resist his mesmerizing gaze and the touch of him, but a part of her, buried deep down inside of her didn’t want him to stop. That part of her craved his touch, his kisses, his body buried so deep inside of her that he’d never be able to find his way out again. That part of her clung to him and offered herself up as a sacrifice without qualm.

She knew it was that part of her that was genuinely attracted to him despite the tyrant he seemed to be. It was that part that seemed to be able to see deep inside of him to the lonely and vulnerable man he kept hidden so well. It was the part of him that made him human, a part he couldn’t afford for anyone to ever see.

She gasped in her sleep as she felt his body claim hers once again. He lifted his head and looked down into her eyes. She frowned as she saw his teeth glistening in the candle light, noticed how his canines seemed to lengthen. His eyes darkened even more before he lowered his head to her neck and she felt the pain in her neck.

With a cry of terror, Liz came awake sitting up in the bed and hugging the sheets to her naked body. As she gulped in air, she glanced around the room furtively. She was alone once more. Swallowing away her fear, she frowned at the memory of the dream. She turned to look at the place besides her. She could have sworn they’d fallen asleep together. As her eyes turned to the door, she guessed he must have left while she’d been fast asleep. She sighed and swept her hand through her hair, frowning as she felt something on her hand.

Pulling her hand up to her gaze, she narrowed her eyes at the sight of the ruby signet ring she wore on her ring finger. She noticed how there were two tiny golden swords crossed near the top of the square ruby gem. Underneath the swords was the letter A which she assumed stood for Archigos. On one side of the ring was a crown with another A underneath it and on the other side was a pair of wings with the letter E under it.

Rolling her eyes, she slid out of the bed and pulled on the robe before heading to the bathroom to refresh herself. She stopped long enough to take the ring off and dropped it on the vanity table before she entered the bathroom. As she stared into the small mirror she tried to remember her dream. She knew it wasn’t really a dream. It had all happened to her when she and Max had returned from his sister’s house. All of those images were what she’d remembered from the intense lovemaking they’d done upon arriving back to the bedroom.

She remembered trying to resist him several times, but it had been too hard. Closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead against the mirror and sighed. She should hate him for kidnapping her and making her his prisoner, but God help her she was actually craving his touch.

She shuddered as she remembered the way he kissed her, the way her name sounded on his lips. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t understand what it was about this complete stranger that had her begging for more. There was something so intriguing and mysterious about him. It was as if his soul was reaching out to hers and asking her to stay and find out all there was to know about him.

Lifting her head again, she frowned at her reflection in the mirror. Well, she would stay and find out if she had an inkling that he’d let her know him, but he didn’t seem to be the type who was willing to open up to her. Rolling her eyes, she growled under her breath, “Oh get a grip Liz. Just because he’s the sexiest, tall dark and mysterious type you’ve ever laid eyes on doesn’t mean he’s a good guy for you to get involved with.” Yeah, that’s right, and who would get involved with a guy who had kidnapped and held you as a prisoner in his home? Certainly not someone like her.

She quickly finished in the bathroom and walked back out into the bedroom, making her way to the balcony doors. She pushed the curtain aside and frowned as she realized the sun was fading fast. Turning to look at the clock on the wall over the fireplace, she realized that she’d slept the entire day away.

Great! She gritted her teeth as she looked around the room once more for something to help her open the balcony doors. Frowning, she looked back at the windows of the door and knew she’d have to knock one of them out, but the sound of breaking glass was sure to alert the guards she knew were outside. She’d never have the chance to escape them.

Frustrated she glared at the knobs of the balcony doors and wished they’d just open already. Her eyes went wide when she heard a soft click. Hesitantly she tried the knob and nearly cried out in triumph when the door opened. Without waiting and trying to figure out how it had opened, she quietly rushed outside onto the balcony. She went to the wall to her left and quickly felt the wall to see if her hunch had been right.

Yes! She mentally congratulated herself for remembering correctly that the wall itself had small grooves in it. Grooves which were just large enough for her tiny hands and feet to fit into. She climbed onto the iron railing and reached out to take a hold of the grooves with her hands. Once she had a firm grip, she slid her foot out, found a toe hold, then found another with her other foot.

With her heart thundering in her chest and ears, she began the painstakingly slow descent to the ground. She forced herself not to turn around and look down for fear she’d lose her balance or grip. Instead, she concentrating on finding each groove for her feet and her hands. She knew that once she was on the ground, she could take cover in the gardens and make her way to the back of the property. She was sure she could find an opening in the fence way back there in the most remote part of the grounds.

As her feet finally touched the ground, she let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Now, to make it through the garden maze. Turning around she started towards the garden only to run into a solid wall. Shutting her eyes, she knew exactly what she’d just run into, or more precisely, who. As hands curled around her arms, she heard the voice that confirmed her guess, growling at her.

“Do you have any idea what could have happened if you had fallen from there? What were you thinking?”

Liz glared up at Max, “Oh gee, what was I thinking? How about this? I was thinking that I need to get out of here, away from you and back to my life. You remember me telling you about that right? My life! My school! My home!” Placing her hands on his chest, she shoved him back.

Max didn’t budge. Instead, he gripped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes, “You can’t leave me. You know I won’t allow that. I told you, you belong to me.”

“I belong to no one! You can’t keep me a prisoner here! Someone’s going to notice I’m missing! They’ll look for me.”

He shook his head, “They won’t.”

“Yes they will! I haven’t gone to classes in days Max or even been home. One of my classmates, teachers, or dorm mates are going to notice I’m missing!”

Max shook his head again, “No one will think you are missing, Liz. I had it taken care of. Everyone thinks you’ve withdrawn from school.”

Liz narrowed her eyes at him, “What? How could you do that? You can’t do that!”

“It was necessary to make everyone believe you moved on to another life.”

“But it was my life! Who are you to do that! You can’t just control me like that!” She whirled away from him and stalked towards the walkway that wrapped around the house.

Max grabbed her arm to stop her, “Liz, wait.”

She whirled around and slapped him, the sound echoing through the night. Her eyes went wide as she stared at the deepening red hand print on his cheek. She swallowed as she watched his jaw clench and unclench. She knew she’d just stepped over the line.

Max’s eyes darkened with rage at her insolence. Turning to her, he growled low in his throat.

Liz gasped as she saw his golden eyes turn darker and she knew she wasn’t imagining the flickers of red she saw in them. Trembling with fear, she took a step back as he advanced.

Max reached out with his hands towards her. As his hands came into view, Liz’s eyes widened when she saw the wicked claws and a scream lodged in her throat as her eyes flicked to his face where she now could see the fangs he bared.

The way she shook her head, backing up from him with fear in her eyes was enough to reach out to Max’s humanity. Instantly taking control, he reigned the beast in.

Liz blinked and as she did, she noticed he looked normal again. All she saw were clear, bright amber eyes and no hint of claws or fangs. Frowning she wondered if she’d just imagined it.

Max looked at her with those eyes, begging her silently to understand. “I’m sorry. I know you’re confused. It’s as I’ve told you before. You belong here with me now. I will care for you. You won’t ever need to worry about anything. Every thing that I have is now yours. You are my omologia, my bonded mate. My life is yours as yours is mine.”

Liz shook her head, “That can’t be right. I’m not ready to have a relationship with anyone. I still have to finish school and…”

“You can’t finish school. I told you, I took care of it.”

“Who are you to take care of things that are my life? You can’t just go and take over someone else’s life like that!”

“I am your omologia! I have every right to your life!”

“Really? Why is that? Because I slept with you? Or is it because those people paid money for me? How much was I huh? I’ll just go get the money and pay you back so you can set me free!”

“YOU BELONG TO ME. I WILL NOT LET YOU GO!” roared Max.

Liz refused to cringe at the sound of his voice. She stood tall and looked him right in the eyes as she said, “You don’t own me and I will not stay here against my will.”

Max’s chest heaved as his fingers curled into fists, she was resisting him and he was fast losing his temper. How dare she try to resist him. She was his.

He growled under his breath, cursing his luck. Why did he have to find his mate after all this time? He really didn’t need this complication. He also didn’t need the added complication of having to deal with an uninitiated human. He gritted his teeth, he didn’t have time for this! He still had the responsibility of ruling his coven, he didn’t need to be saddled with a human omologia!

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to calm down. He should never have bonded her to him. It only complicated matters and he’d known it would, but instinct had ruled. It was something so ingrained in all of his kind. Once your omologia was found, soul cried out to soul for the bonding to be completed. It was something none of them could resist. Max hadn’t been any different. His soul had recognized Liz’s and demanded the bonding. Max had literally been helpless to the call.

Now, he was paying the consequences. Saddled with an uninitiated human omologia, she was now his responsibility to care for, whether she wanted it or not. It was the same for him. He couldn’t set her aside even if he wanted to. The bonding was permanent. He was going to have to live with this forever or until one of them died. It would only get worse when he completed the ritual to make her his syndeo.

His eyes flew open as he heard her footsteps swiftly retreating. She was running down the walkway and turning the corner to the front of the house. He took off at a run, instantly catching up to her and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her against his chest.

She began to scream, “Let go of me! Help me! Somebody, help!”

“Liz, stop this. No one is going to come help you, they know I have you.”

She squirmed in his arms, “You don’t have me! Who are you! Why are you doing this?”

“Liz, listen to me. I won’t hurt you. I said I’d take care of you.”

Her fists pounded his chest as she screamed at him, “I don’t want you to take care of me! I don’t want anything to do with you! I hate you! I hate you!”

Max tensed as he heard her sobs, muffled against his chest.
Closing his eyes, he tightened his hold on her, letting her cry. The human part of him understood how frightened she must be to have been thrust into a world so strange to her. Still, he knew she couldn’t leave him.

With a single thought, he willed them into his office on the first floor, still holding her to him. He silently prayed he wasn’t making the biggest mistake of his life.

Liz could feel the way he tenderly held her, allowing her to cry. She felt his fingers gently sliding through her hair, caressing her scalp and shoulders as they did so. How was it that this man could terrify her with his cruelty one moment and comfort her with his gentleness the next? What was it about him that made it so hard for her to want to leave him?

“Liz, there’s some things I need to tell you.” Max said, in a low voice.

Liz lifted her head and gasped as she realized they were no longer outside, but in his office. Shoving at his chest once more, she backed up and looked at him with huge eyes, “How did we get here?”

Max looked her straight in the eyes and said, “I brought us here.”

“You?”

He nodded, “I can travel from place to place in the blink of an eye if I have to. It’s one of the many things I can do.”

Liz gaped at him, “One of the many?” She paused as he nodded, “What are you?”

“I am what you would call a vampire.”

“You’re a what?”

“A vampire, or in my language, an ekmetalleftis.”

She arched an eyebrow at him, “Right. Okay,” she glanced at the door, “Um, I think it’s time for me to go.”

As she started for the door, Max held out his arm, effectively stopping her. As she stared down at his arm, he leaned in and softly pleaded, “Hear me out, Liz, please?”

Liz looked up into his eyes and saw the look there. He meant what he said, she just knew it. He wasn’t lying to her and now he was asking her with his eyes to listen and believe him. Strangely, Liz believed him. Then again, she did realize that what he was could explain all the strange things that happened to her over the last few days.

Finally she nodded and walked over to the couch. Sitting down she looked up at him, “okay, I’ll listen.”

Max sighed and sat next to her on the couch, keeping some space between them so as not to scare her. He ran a hand through his hair as he decided where to start.

Liz saved him by asking, “So, if what you say is true, then can you tell me how old you are?”

Max swallowed, “I’m 317 years old.”

Liz’s eyes went wide, “Are you serious? Of course you’re serious.” Damn, she thought, he looked really good for a 300 year old vamp. “Oo-kay, so you told me that your family was from Greece, where you born there?”

“No, I was born in England, but I spent my childhood there.”

“When did you become a vampire?”

He grinned, “I was born a vampire, Liz.”

She frowned, “But you were human once, right. Then you died and became a…”

Max shook his head, “No, it’s not like that. That’s the Hollywood version of what a vampire is. The truth is that we are a different species from humans. Our hearts beat, our lungs breathe, and our other organs function just like a human beings. We are born this way.”

“So, a human can’t become a vampire then?”

“Only those who are a syndeo of a vampire can be converted.”

Max paused for a moment, watching her as she digested the information. When she looked up at him again, he went on to tell her the whole story.

I'm over it
You see I'm falling in the vast abyss
Clouded by memories of the past
At last I see

Liz found out how similar the vampires were to humans in that they could have families and lived among the humans. Their bodies and its functions were almost the same. Max explained how the vampires formed covens which were currently spread around the world. There was a leader for every coven and that was the Archigos, which Max was for his coven, the Aristomache. He explained how the leadership was often handed down from eldest son to eldest son.

I hear it fading, I can't speak it
Or else you will dig my grave
You feel them finding, always whining
Take my hand now be alive

While vampires tended to blend into human society, living among them and giving the appearance of being human too, they still stayed with their own kind. In other words, vampires mated with other vampires. It was extremely rare to mate with a human being even though there were many humans out there who knew they existed. Many of them were helpers who took care of the vampires during the day light hours. Most of Max’s household staff, like Helena, were human. All humans were initiated, meaning vampires drank their blood to tie them to them, always knowing where they were and knowing their thoughts.

You see I cannot be forsaken
Because I'm not the only one
We walk amongst you feeding, raping
Must we hide from everyone?

Unlike humans, they were immortal and couldn’t contract any human diseases. They didn’t need food to sustain them, but they could pretend to eat if the need arose. Vampires couldn’t be out in the sun, but they didn’t sleep the stereotypical death sleep like Hollywood said. They also didn’t sleep in coffins. They aged like humans until they reached thirteen, then their aging tended to slow down, so it seemed as if they remained a certain age for about twenty years or so. Essentially, Max looked like the equivalent of a twenty seven year old.

I'm over it
Why can't we be together embrace it?
Sleeping so long taking off the mask
At last I see

Max told her how his coven had nearly been destroyed with his father’s death. There had been a civil war between several covens. It would happen every so often. Some of the leaders would become greedy and opportunistic. They’d rally others to their cause and then set out to either absorb other covens into theirs or destroy them for resisting.

My fear is fading, I can't speak it
Or else you will dig my grave
You feel them finding, always whining
Take my hand now be alive

That’s what happened about two hundred years ago. Phillip had been the Archigos of the Aristomache, one of the covens who had refused to be absorbed into another’s greed. The Aristomache and several other covens had banded together to fight for their continued freedom. Their side had been winning, but somehow assassins had managed to get in and kill several of the leaders, Phillip was one of them.

You see I cannot be forsaken
Because I'm not the only one
We walk amongst you feeding, raping
Must we hide from everyone?

Max had immediately taken over his father’s position and all the covens had managed to defeat the tyrannical ones. The greedy leaders had thought that with the death of all the Archigos of the resistant covens they would be able to take over. No such luck, Max and others had been strong enough to step up and continue the fight to keep their covens free. In the end, the tyrants had been defeated and the covens they had absorbed were set free under the rule of better Archigos.

You see I cannot be forsaken
Because I'm not the only one
We walk amongst you feeding, raping
Must we hide from everyone?

As the new Archigos of the Aristomache coven, Max had to build it back up from almost nothing. He became a great businessman and invested in several different things that he knew would help him care for his coven. Now he was the owner or shareholder of several businesses in the city and in cities that dealt with international currencies, like New York. He owned clubs, warehouses, shipping companies, internet businesses, and even toy stores. It was through those places that his people held jobs and made their own money.

Everyone

It was incredibly easy to see how they could blend in with humans, especially since they had humans who were perfectly willing to help them. Max assured her that he at least made sure all the humans who associated with his coven knew that there was absolutely no way for them to become a vampire like the Hollywood myths portrayed. The only way a human could be converted was if that human was the syndeo of a vampire. Then, and only then, could the vampire convert the human syndeo.

Everyone


TBC....
Song: Forsaken by David Draiman of Disturbed

Okay, so it's several hours later, but I still got it. Sorry, but it seems the site to get the Greek transliterations is down, so I couldn't get the word for baby, which Max tenderly calls Liz towards the end of this part, oh well.

Ashley- That's exactly what I was thinking about Max being weak!!! Yes I do get it! Me either! Not! Okay, I'll let my boyfriend slide IF he gets me flowers! Yeah, you got a point! Loved the 'business' suits he's wearing and that coat! Oh the things I wanna do to that man!
roswell- hurrying
behrly- here she goes again...
candycane- I was trying, but it keeps messing up! Still working on it though.
POM- here I am again.
La'Shon- That's soooo true! Oh I love you! That's exactly what I've been thinking of both of them all along!
Alex-
Lu- He doesn't want to 'complicate' his life. Yes. Thanks.
shattered- Nothing, she was just staring and suddenly she gets hit by all these images. Yep.

Okay, without further ado....the next part...


Part 8

Liz stared at Max as he finished explaining about vampires, covens, leaders, and his role in it all. She let the last of the information sink in, feeling the shivers going up her spine. Swallowing, she found her voice, “So, what you’re saying is that I can be converted.”

Max nodded, “Yes. Once the ritual to make you my syndeo is completed.”

“Can anybody be your syndeo?”

“No, only you.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“I mated with you.”

She frowned, “Wait. Are you saying the only way you found out I was your syndeo was to have sex with me?”

He nodded, “Yes.” At the look on her face he continued, “I know it sounds weird, but remember, we don’t get diseases like humans do. And the only way we find our syndeo is to mate with them. There’s a bond that forms between us, one that only the two omologia can feel. Once that bond forms, it allows us to complete the ritual to become connected for eternity.”

“But you said that we were bonded and the only way for it to break is if one of us dies.”

“That’s true.”

“Then why another ritual?”

“Think of it in human terms. A couple gets engaged right? That’s the omologia part. Then the marriage is the syndeo part. We are bonded right now, omologia or engaged. We can complete the ritual to be connected, syndeo or married. Understand?”

“But if we were thinking in human terms, an engagement can still be broken.”

“True. That’s where we are different. The bond we share is unbreakable because of the blood we shared.”

“We shared blood?” Liz squeaked.

Max simply looked at her as she closed her eyes and let all those images play in her mind again. All of it was beginning to make sense. She could see them clearly now. How he’d drank from her. How he’d used some sort of command to make her drink from him.

She looked at him, “And that’s why I have trouble eating right? Because I’m becoming like you.”

“There are some changes happening yes, but you won’t become like me until I convert you. What’s happening right now is essentially like a change in diet. There’s only certain things you can eat now because you have my blood in you. Just like there’s certain things that I can still eat.”

“And the reason I’m sensitive to sunlight?”

“Diet affects your body’s chemical balance. To compensate, other parts of your body may be affected. Hence the reason you are now sensitive to sunlight.”

“Okay. So if the bond is there because we shared blood, won’t it fade if we didn’t share it?”

“No. Once shared, we are bonded for life. It’s the same principle when we have to initiate a human helper. The only difference is they don’t drink our blood, we just drink theirs. It allows us to have that tie to them. A bonded pair ties each to the other. That’s why it only breaks when one of us dies.”

“What happens to the survivor?”

“They’ll still live, but it’s like being half alive. The other half is gone, so it’s not really easy. Most omologia survivors tend to survive for only a short time afterwards. The grief and loneliness eventually consumes them.”

Liz swallowed, “Suicide?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes they just fade away into nothing. Sometimes they get careless and some kind of accident happens.”

“Gee, this really doesn’t sound encouraging you know.”

Liz was surprised to see a smile appear on his face, “I know. But some of us believe the perks of being with your omologia far outweigh what happens if you lose one another. That’s why most omologia don’t stay that way for long. It’s why most tend to move on to the syndeo ritual as soon as possible that way they won’t have to go through that pain.”

“And syndeo means?”

“Connect. We would be connected.”

“So a connection could be broken?”

“No. A bond is broken when one dies, the other lives on alone and with grief. In a connection, if one dies so does the other.”

Liz’s eyes went wide, “What! How is that better than the other?”

“No one is left behind to suffer. Don’t you see? I would rather die with the one I loved than have to go on living without them. It’s less painful that way. We would die together, never alone.”

Liz stared at Max as he said that. The look on his face told her everything. In that moment she understood what he was saying. He would die for her. They didn’t really know each other all that well yet, but Max was already telling her that he loved her enough to die for her. It floored her. What was she supposed to say to that?

Max sat watching her. He could see the emotions passing over her face. She was digesting everything he’d told her and surprisingly she seemed to be taking it well. The fact that she was still sitting next to him instead of screaming and running for the door said she was trying to accept everything he was saying.

Liz stared at the desk and thought about what Max said. He was a vampire, but not the Hollywood version. A lot of what he said made sense, especially because it explained the strange things she’d noticed happening lately. It also explained why she seemed to have gaps in her memory and why she couldn’t always remember everything. Still, some things seemed too far fetched even for the new vampire myths he was telling her. Like the bond and connection thing. She found it hard to believe that if he died, she’d go on, but she’d feel like half of her was missing. So much so that she’d eventually die herself. And she found it impossible to believe that if they were connected and Max died, she’d just keel over no matter where she was or what she was doing. That sounded way to weird, especially since she wasn’t certain how she really felt about him.

Okay, even she could admit that he was incredibly good-looking and she was definitely attracted to him, but that was physical. At least she thought it was. Then again, she had liked the way it had felt when he’d held her while she’d cried. He was the one she’d been trying to get away from but she’d felt safe and comfortable in his arms. Even now as she sat next to him, she didn’t feel threatened or afraid. She knew she’d seen his darker side several times, but when he’d told her about what he did as the Archigos, she could see why he was the way he was. He’d only had to worry about his coven, never about his lover, so of course he was having trouble adjusting. Heck, even she was having trouble adjusting too.

Sighing, she looked at him once more and asked, “So, what is the ritual for becoming your syndeo?”

“It’s much like a wedding and honeymoon combined. We say vows to each other while making love. I would say them first and you would drink from me to signify your acceptance. Then you would say the words and I’d drink from you. At our climax, we’d seal the connection by saying together that we accept it.”

“And that would seal the connection?”

“Yes.”

“Somehow I thought there would be more.”

“Trust me, we would feel it. It’s not something I can explain, but I’m told that we would both feel it. I felt it when we bonded.”

She stared at him, “What did you feel?”

“You. I can feel you even now. Inside of me. And if I wanted to, I could read your mind. You can read mine too.”

Her eyes went wide, “I cannot!”

He smiled, “How did you know my name then?”

She gasped. Then decided to see if he was telling the truth. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on opening her mind and thinking of Max. When she thought she saw blurry images, she tried to form a question in her mind asking him how old his sister was.

Isabel is 423 years old. Her mate, Alex is 454.

Her eyes snapped open. “She’s 423!”

He chuckled, “Yes.”

“And Alex is her syndeo?”

“No, they are just a mated pair. Just like two humans would be if they were married. They don’t share a bond or a connection at all. But they do love each other.”

Liz frowned, “What would happen if one of them found their omologia?”

Max shrugged, “That may never happen. If it does, they could try to resist it and stay together. It’ll be up to them.”

“So you could have chosen to not bond with me.”

Max stared at her for a moment as he let those words sink in. Technically yes, but there was something about her. He lifted his hand to caress her cheek as he looked into her eyes, “I could have tried to resist. But I have been alone for centuries, Liz. Why would my soul want to continue being alone when its other half was right in front of it?”

Oh he was good. She had to give him that. But as she continued to stare into his bright amber eyes, she knew the truth of it. There hadn’t been anyone for him ever. He’d never loved anyone before her. So, who could blame him for going ahead and bonding them to each other if this was the chance he had to not be alone again. She’d had boyfriends before.

In fact, she’d only broken up with her last boyfriend a few months ago. He’d left her because she was too ambitious and head strong for him to handle. It wasn’t the first time Liz had scared off a guy because they thought she was too independent for them. She had told herself she was used to it, but she wasn’t. She had thought she was in love with Doug, but looking back, she knew it was what she’d made herself believe because like everyone else, she hadn’t wanted to be alone.

She nodded, “Fine, but can you understand that I’m not sure how I feel about you. I mean in my world, we just don’t take one look at someone and say ‘you know, I’m going to marry that person tomorrow’. We go out on dates and get to know that person. Then many, many dates and years later, we decide if marriage is right for us.”

Max nodded, “I know that, but that’s the human world, Liz. In my world it’s the bond that tells us who we will be with forever.”

Liz rolled her eyes, “That’s your world. I’m human remember. So, I have to get to know the guy I’m dating before I decide it’s going to go anywhere.”

“You’re in my world now. You feel the bond Liz, even you can’t deny that.”

“Whether I feel the bond or not Max, I can’t just accept it. My human mind won’t let me.”

He gritted his teeth, “We don’t have a choice. You can’t leave me.”

“I get that. I’m just saying you have to allow me to get to know you before we take this any further.”

Glaring at her, he hissed, “We’re already bonded. We can’t go back. Ever!”

“Max, I just want to get to know you.”

“You will. But we don’t have to wait for that to continue the ritual.”

She sighed, “I want to wait.”

“Why? We’ll be together regardless.”

“Can you just humor my human way of thinking?”

Standing up, Max growled as he began pacing in front of the couch. He’d hoped she wouldn’t do this to him. If she had been a vampire like him, he’d have already connected her to him. Once a couple found out they were bonded, they usually completed the connection immediately afterwards. Mainly because no bonded pair wanted to ever experience the pain they would if one of them died.

And being the Archigos of his coven, Max knew the dangers he faced. He also knew the dangers Liz would face if any enemy of his found out he had a human omologia. She would be the best way to defeat him. Kill her and he would be defeated. It was worse because she was human with no way of defending herself. It was why he wanted to connect her to him, then convert her. At least then she would be able to defend herself since she would have the same capabilities he had because of his blood.

Turning to face her, he said, “If I allow this, you have to agree not to leave this house unless I’ve given you permission to do so.” He held his hand up before she could protest, “No, you have to understand that it’s not because I’m keeping you prisoner. It’s because you are my omologia and I am the Archigos of my coven. I have enemies out there and you are the best way to get to me. As long as you remain human, you are defenseless against them. If you need to leave the house, you will go with me or with my guards. Never alone. And it’s not just me who is going to order this, Liz. Once my people find out about you, they will protect you with their lives. None of them will allow you to go anywhere alone. My sanity and my life depend on your safety and my people are not willing to lose me just because of your human sensibilities.”

Liz pursed her lips together in a tight line at the commanding tone he gave her. She resisted the urge to snap at him, but she knew he was right. She was in his world now and if the others were capable of doing things like he was, then she was definitely not going to survive it if one of them attacked her. She nodded, “Fine. I won’t leave without your permission.”

“Good.”

Silence fell between them as they tried to calm their tempers down. Liz was the first one to recover.

“Since I want to get to know you, tell me Max, what do you like to do in your spare time.”

Max gave her a blank stare, “Spare time?”

Liz rolled her eyes, “Gee, this is going to be so easy.”



Over the next few days Max did his best to let Liz get used to him and his world. Liz knew she couldn’t leave the house and she made no attempt to, but there were several things she had made Max agree to. One of which was they couldn’t sleep together any more until she was comfortable enough with him.

Max reacted to that just like Liz had known he would. He’d growled and raged about how it shouldn’t make a difference since they had already been intimate from the beginning and she already was his. No matter what Liz had said, he’d refused to stay away from her until Liz had told him that while she understood his life was dependant on hers, her life wasn’t dependant on his. She could leave or she’d die trying. That had made him back off. She knew he wasn’t happy about it, but he had respected her wishes.

The other thing Max had to do was to make an effort to get to know her, to court her just like most men would do if they were interested in pursuing a woman. While that wasn’t difficult for Max to do, it was difficult for him to keep his hands to himself. Liz had no idea what he was having to do to keep himself under control. She didn’t know how many times he fought the battle within himself to keep from taking control of her like he’d done in the past. She was oblivious to the fact that there were things she did that made him want to bend down and devour her regardless of the consequences.

Isabel knew what Max was going through. She knew because Max had asked her to come over and get to know Liz, in an effort to help Liz get used to her new life. She knew what sacrifices Max was making for Liz’s sake. She knew that Max was also putting his health at risk by staying away from Liz. Max wasn’t taking blood from Liz any longer since she had asked him to stay away from her, but that meant he wasn’t taking blood from anyone. Isabel knew this and asked Max to go feed from someone else. Max refused. He wanted Liz and no one else. He would be patient. She would relent soon.

Liz welcomed Isabel’s company when she wasn’t spending time getting to know Max. Liz spent many a night in her favorite room, the domatio ilios, talking to Isabel and Alex. She even finally got to meet their daughter, Vanessa, who was 106 years old, but didn’t look or act a day over seventeen. It was through them and any of the others she met that she learned more about Max besides what she learned from being with Max himself.

Liz had finally met Michael, Max’s second in command. He was in charge of security for all of them. He had been the one to explain to Liz why there were so many guards around them when Max had taken her to visit the Whitman’s. He even confirmed Liz’s suspicion that they used mind speech to be able to know exactly what positions to be in all during that night. Of them all, Michael was the most like Max, in that he didn’t show much emotion even though he was only 213.

During the day, Liz didn’t go out much since the sun light tended to bother her eyes and skin. She tended to sleep late since she was up most of the night with Max and the others. However, she did get up sometimes and she spent it talking to the humans that worked around the house. She had tried several times to go to the domatio ilios during the day, but since it was literally like a green house, she couldn’t tolerate the brightness of it. Only on overcast days could she sit in there without suffering.

It became incredibly easy for Liz to see how much Max genuinely cared for her. It was in the words everyone she met said. She saw it in the way he treated her. He allowed her to see every aspect of his life, including his work. She would sit with him in his office at times and watch as he went about conducting business, whether it be by electronic device or with physical presence.

Then he had shown her the place where he slept during the day light hours. He showed her how to access his bedroom from the office. By pressing the indention in the bookshelf and waiting for it to slide away, she walked down the stairs with him into the bedroom that looked almost identical to the one she slept in.

She saw the computer workstation he had, which he told her was where he did business during the day light hours. She also saw the smaller dining table and the mirror that was on the wall instead of balcony doors. Liz also noticed that this closet was full of his clothes, unlike the nearly empty closet upstairs. But what amazed her was the fact that the closet also housed all of the clothes that the seamstresses had made for her, every one of them in every shade of red imaginable.

Grinning she had asked Max if he had a thing for the color red. He’d simply grinned back and said he loved it on her, then he’d gotten all serious again and told her he hoped she would come stay with him soon.

It had been a week and two days since Max had told the truth to Liz. In that time, the two of them had gotten much closer. Liz was able to see how Max lived and what he was like. She also noticed how he treated her when he wasn’t being all possessive and demanding. All of the times Max seemed normal, he would treat her as if she were something precious to him. She saw the way he adored her when he would smile at the kisses she gave him or did something he knew she liked to surprise her. She saw the way he cared for her when he would ask if she was okay, if she needed anything, or simply asked how her day was.

But the most telling thing was when the two of them went out together to attend public functions for either his businesses or another coven. Sometimes the Whitman’s attended these functions with them. It was during those functions that Liz saw how sought after Max was. Isabel had explained how the Aristomache coven was considered one of the most powerful covens around, so it only stood to reason that many wanted to become a part of that coven.

What better way for a single woman to get in than to go after the most powerful of them all. At that time, Max was still considered to be single since he had not connected to Liz yet and she was still human. Max wanted to wait until he had connected to Liz before he made the announcement that he was no longer single. Liz knew it was because he wanted to keep her protected.

Since no one knew that Max wasn’t single, women tended to throw themselves at him. Liz couldn’t help but notice how he didn’t pay attention to a single one of them and tended to act as if Liz was the only woman in the room. Liz was amazed that with all the really beautiful, nice, or intelligent women that flirted with Max, he still didn’t acknowledge anyone but her.

Liz was in the domatio ilios that night, nine days after he’d told her the truth, when Isabel came in to see her. Sitting in a chair and gazing out at the night sky, she turned to smile at Isabel as she sat in the chair next to her.

“Stopped in to see Max before coming up here, Iz?”

“Yes. I wanted to see how he was doing before coming to talk to you.”

“Oh.” She looked at Isabel with a puzzled frown, “Something wrong?”

Isabel sighed, “There’s something you should know about Max. Something he doesn’t want you to know, but I’m going to tell you anyway because I don’t want him to suffer anymore.”

Now Liz was sitting up and giving Isabel all of her attention, “What is it, Isabel?”

“Max hasn’t been taking care of himself the way he should.”

“What do you mean? He seems fine.”

“I know he does, but he isn’t Liz. Did you know Max hasn’t eaten in almost 10 days.”

“I thought you didn’t…”

“I’m not talking food, Liz. He hasn’t taken blood.”

Her frown deepened, “How often is he supposed to have it?”

“He could get away with about four days, but to remain as powerful as he is supposed to, then he needs to eat every day.”

“Okay, then, did you ask him why he’s not eating?”

Isabel nodded, but didn’t say anything else.

Liz stared at her waiting for an answer until it dawned on her what Isabel was hinting at. Her eyes went wide, “Me? He’s not eating because of me?”

“Yes.”

“What? Is he waiting for me to say that I want to be his syndeo before he ever eats again? Is this his ultimatum to me?”

Isabel sighed, “Liz, he wants you. Don’t you get it. It was you. Now he won’t take from anyone else but you and since you asked him to stay away from you, he’s doing that. Even if it means he’s risking his health!”

Liz couldn’t help lifting a hand to her neck to touch the pulse resting there. She couldn’t believe what Isabel was telling her. Max was waiting for her to tell him they could be intimate again before he ever nourished himself again. From what Isabel said, Max could have gotten what he needed from another human, but even as that thought went through her head, Liz suddenly realized she didn’t want to ever think of Max with anyone else. Max wanted her, he was waiting for her! And she knew she wanted him.

She looked at Isabel and nodded, “I get it Isabel. Okay, I’ll talk to him tonight. I promise.”

Isabel sighed, “Please do. Tell him to stop being so stubborn
and take care of himself. He needs to eat, Liz. And I think you are the only one to be able to convince him to do it. You have to get him to take nourishment from someone, drag him to a human if you have to. Just make him do it soon, ten days is way too long for him to go without nourishment.”

“I know. I’ll talk to him.”



Isabel thought Liz was going to convince Max to stop waiting for her and go get his nourishment elsewhere. Liz had something else entirely different in mind.

After Isabel had left and most everyone else had retired for the night, Liz made her way down to Max’s office where she knew he would be still working. Knocking on the door, she waited until she heard his voice before going in.

Max was at his desk, working on his computer when she walked in. He looked up at her with a smile as she walked around the desk to his side. He slid his arm around her waist and she leaned down to give him a kiss on the lips before he let her go.

Liz walked to the bookcase as Max asked, “What are you still doing up, akribos?”

She turned around and leaned against the bookcase, giving him a smile, “I wanted to talk to you about something that’s on my mind.”

Max immediately saved what he was working on and shut down his computer before turning to Liz and asking, “What’s on your mind, dikos mou agapo?”

“Well, I was wondering if you would tell me how exactly you would go about converting a human into a vampire.”

Max frowned, “You want to know how you would be converted?”

“Yes. How would you do it, Max?”

Even Liz could see the hesitation in Max as he sat there trying to figure out how to tell her. She knew it was really the only thing he hadn’t just told her about his world and she had a suspicion that he hadn’t told her because he was worried that it would scare her and she wouldn’t go through with it.

“Max, just say it. I want to know the truth. What will I have to go through?”

He sighed and nodded, “Okay.” He took her hand and lead her to the couch. Sitting down and taking her hand, he looked into her eyes as he began to explain.

“First, we begin by letting you drink some of my blood, so your body can get ready to accept the change. Once you’ve drank enough, I have to drink from you. Until all of your blood is drained and your heart begins to stutter.” He paused for a moment before going on, “Then I give you more of my blood until the change begins to take place. Once it begins, you will…”

Liz watched as Max closed his eyes and swallowed. She squeezed his hand to encourage him to go on. “It’s okay, Max. Just say it.”

When he opened his eyes, Liz could see the pain there, “You will die, Liz.” His voice cracked, “And I will have to bury you. And you have to stay there for a few nights. On the fourth night, I take you out and command you to awaken. When you awaken, you will be as I am.”

Liz just sat there for a few moments looking at Max. She could still see the pain in his eyes and she wondered if Max was really afraid she wouldn’t go through with it. She couldn’t understand why he would be.

“Max, I would be dead when you buried me right? I mean, I wouldn’t be conscious when you put me in the ground, would I?”

“No, you wouldn’t know.”

“And when I die, is it going to be painful or gross in any sort of way?”

“No, I’ve heard it just feels like you are getting tired or sleepy. The worst thing would be you feeling really cold because of the loss of blood, but that’s all.”

She nodded, “Okay, then. It doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Maybe not, but Liz, once you do, you can never go back.”

“I know Max.” She looked away for a moment before looking back at him, “I would have to drink blood to survive won’t I?”

He nodded, “I would provide for you, of course.”

“And what about you Max? Who provides for you?”

“I would provide for both of us.”

Liz frowned, “So you would drink enough for both of us and I would take what I needed from you?”

“Yes.”

“Well,” she grinned, “That hardly seems fair, Max.”

“What do you mean?”

“You get to bite whoever you want to, but I’m only going to get to bite you.”

Max frowned, “Liz, I..” he stopped as he watched the way her eyes twinkled. She was teasing him and it had taken him that long to realize it. “You know you are the only one I want to bite, oraios.”

Liz chuckled, “But if you bite me, then I won’t be beautiful anymore.”

“Of course you will, I’ll make sure not to leave any marks.” With that, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Brushing his lips against hers, he whispered, “I can promise you that I’ll only feed from males and I’ll do it as quickly as I can, so I won’t have to keep you waiting, baby.”

She giggled as she slid her hands into his hair, “Max?”

“Hmm?” He asked as he dipped his head to her neck.

“Will you bite me now?”

Max jerked his head up to look into her eyes, “What?”

“I want you to feed, Max.” She caressed his cheek and said, “I want you to feed and I want to be completely aware when you do it.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, “Yes. I want to be with you again Max. I miss you.”

Max closed his eyes, letting her words wash over him. She had missed him. How he had been waiting for this. He nodded and took her hand. Helping her up, he led her to the bookshelf and then down the stairs to his room.

Once they were standing next to the bed, Max hesitated once more, so Liz took the initiative.

She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. She closed her eyes as he slid his arms around her waist, savoring the taste of him. As his tongue slid into her mouth, shivers went down her spine and she realized just how much she had missed kissing him. In fact, she knew she had missed being close to him at all.

As her hands roamed his back, then around to the front, lifting his shirt up to feel the taunt skin of his chest, she realized that she was suddenly remembering everything she had ever experienced with Max.

She pulled away to look into his eyes, her breath coming in short pants.

Max stared at her with a worried look in his eyes, “Liz? Are you okay?”

She smiled as she opened her mind to him so that he could see the images in her mind. As his eyes widened in realization, she replied, “I’m fine.”

She let go of him and Max couldn’t do anything but stand there and watch as she began to undress for him. Max’s mouth went dry when Liz crawled onto the bed and lay on her back, her legs spread slightly as if welcoming him.

Liz lay there with her eyes locked on Max’s. He waited a beat before he began to remove his clothes. Liz smiled seductively as she watched Max get undressed. When he was done, he crawled onto the bed and slid his body over Liz’s.

Liz sighed in contentment at the feel of Max’s hard body weighing hers down. She immediately wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his.

Max dipped his head and captured her lips in his, kissing her deeply.

The more Max kissed her, the more impatient Liz became. She slid her hands down his back, savoring the feel of his muscles moving beneath her hands.

His mouth moved from her mouth to her neck and she moaned as his tongue swept over her pulse.

Liz slid one hand down between their bodies and took him in her hand. She was rewarded with a growl against her collarbone as she began to stoke him.

Max cupped one breast in his hand and began to suckle the other one.

Liz arched up into his mouth, her hand picking up a faster rhythm over his thickening cock. She could feel his breathing becoming faster and quicker, matching her own.

As his mouth switched to the other breast, Max slid his hand down to test her readiness.

Still enough
Although I know you’re not begging
Still as the thoughts
Running through your mind

Liz let out a soft cry at the feel of Max’s fingers inside of her. She lifted her hips to take his fingers deeper while her free hand buried itself in his hair.

Still enough
Although I know you’re not begging
Give me a reason
To make you mine

Max heard Liz whimper, even as she rode his fingers, “Please, Max. I need you to make me yours again!”

I will devour you
Take all the pain away

Unable to resist her plea, Max rose up over her and looked down into her eyes. Liz wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him down towards her. With a swift thrust, he entered her to his hilt. Liz’s eyes went wide and she gasped as her body tightened around him.

I cannot stay my hand
From reaching out so that I can

She felt him shudder a moment before he began to slowly slide in and out of her. She smiled as her eyes went to half mast. She opened her mind to him once more, wanting him to know what she was feeling as he loved her.

Empower you
For all eternity

Now that she was fully aware of him, Liz knew it felt even better than it had when she’d been under his control.

It seems to ease my mind
To know that you’ve brought meaning to my life

Max was well aware of the fact that Liz was thoroughly enjoying the way he was pleasuring her. Not only could he feel how good he felt to her, but he could feel how good she felt.

Had enough
Although I see you’re not running
Still are the thoughts running through your mind

Liz was in Max’s mind just as he was in hers. She could feel how hot and tight she was to him. She could feel his pleasure as it increased with every stoke he gave her.

Dead to love
The path that you are now taking
Show me the reason to make you mine

She threw her head back, exposing her neck, letting him know with her mind what she wanted.

I will devour you
Take all the pain away

Max lowered his head to her neck and licked her pulse once again. As Liz tightened her hold on both his shoulders and his cock, Max sank his fangs into her neck.

I cannot stay my hand
From reaching out so that I can

Liz was totally unprepared for the earth shattering orgasm that erupted the moment he bit her. All she could do was cry out his name and cling to him, holding on for the duration of the ride. As Max continued to thrust into her, he drank her blood to the rhythm of his thrusts.

Empower you
For all eternity

Liz closed her eyes in pleasure as her orgasm began to fade and she felt like she was floating on a cloud. It was the most peaceful feeling in the world.

It seems to ease my mind
To know that you’ve brought meaning to my life

Max slowly removed his fangs from her neck and licked her wound closed. He lifted his head and watched her for a moment as he continued to slowly ride her.

Run to where the smallest ray of light will never find you

When Liz opened her eyes and smiled at him, he caressed her cheek and asked, “Will you make me yours too, akribos?”

Run to where you will not need to shield your eyes

Liz nodded without hesitation and watched as Max lengthened a nail and slid it over his heart. As the blood began to seep out, Liz lifted her head and slid her tongue over it, drawing it into her mouth.

Run away from all the soulless, heartless, fiends who hound you

Max closed his eyes with a moan as he felt Liz’s mouth latch onto his wound. As she began to suck harder, he picked up his pace once more.

Run away and let your memories go blind

Liz wrapped her arms around Max and held him close as she drank deep. She could feel him shaking, so she swiftly rolled them over and mounted him. Still drinking deeply, she picked up the pace and rode him to completion.

When I devour you
Take all the pain away

With her name on his lips, Max came hard inside of Liz. Still, she rode him until she was certain she had milked every drop. Only then did she stop and lifted her mouth from his wound. She sat up and watched as Max licked his finger and ran it over his wound to close it.

I cannot stay my hand
From reaching out so that I can

She leaned over to kiss his lips before she slid off of him and curled into his side. Max wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him.

Empower you
For all eternity

With her head against his shoulder and her fingers entwined in his, she whispered, “Goodnight, Max.”

It seems to ease my mind
To know you’ve brought meaning to my life

“Goodnight, dikos mou agapo.”


TBC...
song: Devour by Disturbed

Grrr....the site where I get the Greek words has been down for over a week and it finally got back up about two days ago. I finally broke down and got me a Greek-English dictionary just in case that happens again.

I got a promotion at work, which means I won't be posting the story on Fridays anymore, hence the reason why I'm posting it just now. I will post it on Saturdays from now on. I have every intention of finishing this one since it is currently my fave to write, so don't panic if I'm a day or two late, okay.

Pheobe- I know! I can't wait either! Wish I had more time to write it all now.
La'Shon- Yes. I was hoping they would be a HOT couple in this story. Don't worry, I plan on them. That's why she asked if she'd be CONSCIOUS because she will be fine so long as she's not aware that she's being buried. He can't....the way it works is that it renders both sides 'impotent' to anyone who is not their omologia/syndeo .
behrlyliz- hmmmm....
candycane- awww....
A. B.- Believe me, wish I could write even faster. It's all been sketched out on paper, but I'm having to flesh it out as I go. A bit, huh?
Shattered- She'll be fine so long as she's not aware of being buried. Yes, you will find out more of Max's fears here. Hee hee. More...
roswell- connection coming soon...
M in Y- Wish I could answer all your questions, but I fear it would be a whole 'nother story in itself. I do have the answers though. Like I said before, it all makes perfect sense why Liz acts the way she does and why Max is the way he is.....in my little twisted mind.
tired- Thanks. I really wanted a full story, so I've been trying. As I said in my author's note at the beginning, I'd make it into a series if I had wanted to do it the way I really wanted to.
Emz- thanks
BehrObsession- I'd adjust too if I had him as my lover...
W. C.- You humble me with your praise. I thought so too.
kittens- let's just pretend Amy is back in her own world and has no knowledge of almost being sucked into what would have been a nightmare for her. Like I said in my intro, this story focuses on ONLY Max and Liz....


Okay, folks....here's the next part...

Part 9

For what seemed the hundredth time that night, Alex noticed Max’s eyes straying to where Liz stood talking with Isabel and a small group of people. Her guards, which included Michael, were never far away from Liz as she got to know those there at the Katalaveno coven‘s party.

“Really, Max. She’s fine. Everyone here already knows not to mess with your woman.” Alex chuckled as Max raised an eyebrow in answer to his comment.

It had been four months since Liz had come to him and told him that she wanted to be his again. In that time, they had continued to become closer to each other, learning what made each other tick and even their imperfections. After that night, Liz had asked him if she could stay with him instead of the room upstairs. He had made sure she understood what she was asking since she could technically still move about in the day light. She had and she still wanted to stay with him.

Liz had come to learn all about the drawbacks of being like him. She got to see what it was like for him to be confined to his room during the day time. However, he didn’t die at sunrise like the vampire myths she knew about. He spent that time working at his computer station, unless he was occupied with her. Liz knew he was spending most of it with her lately.

That’s why she liked the time she spent with him when the sun was up, because that was the best time to talk to him without any interruptions. And Max couldn’t run from her if she started pushing his buttons. Instead, he was trapped there and forced to get to know her. She was the one who got to leave the room if things got too intense for her.

Granted, it had been uncomfortable the first month or so, but they had stuck it out and soon neither one of them seemed to want to bolt from the room. Max had still been the perfect gentleman until Liz had asked if there was something wrong since he wasn’t as aggressive as before. Finally confessing that she actually liked his aggression, since it meant that he wanted her, Max had relaxed and allowed Liz to see the real him.

Liz hadn’t complained. She knew Max would never hurt her. So when he literally pounced on her at times, she took it in stride because she knew he loved it when the roles were reversed. And they were. She hadn’t deluded herself into thinking she wasn’t attracted to him. So, since she knew she could have him, she went for it and was extremely pleased that he returned her passion equally.

Still it was more than just physical now. With each passing day that she got to know about Max, she knew her feelings for him were growing stronger and deeper.

From across the room, Liz slowly turned her head in the direction of Max and he saw the smile that spread over her face and lit up her eyes. He felt the brush in his mind that let him know she was aware of him watching her. As his heart did a strange flip, Liz turned back to the woman she was talking with and laughed at something she said.

Max was glad that she seemed to be fitting in well. The first few times he had taken her with him, he had kept her close. He had learned quickly that Liz was actually good at meeting new people and starting conversations with them.

Isabel had actually been the first one to recognize that Liz had all of the traits needed in the mate of a powerful Archigos like Max. Her power of persuasion and ability to put those around her at ease would definitely come in handy for all of them. Max couldn’t have agreed more and he found himself being proud of her ability to adapt. That was only one of the many things he was coming to love about her.

Max heard Alex greeting a newcomer to their group, “Bedros! I didn’t think I’d see you here tonight! How are you?”

A man with close cropped auburn hair, who was a head shorter than Max greeted Alex with a warm smile and a firm handshake. “I’m well Alexander, and you?”

“Oh, I’m doing great.” He turned to Max and said, “Maximillian, meet Bedros of the Euphranor coven. Bedros, this is Maximillian. The Archigos of the Aristomache coven and my brother in law.”

Bedros gave a respectful nod, “It’s an honor to meet you Maximillian.”

Max nodded, “Nice to meet you, Bedros.”

Alex grinned, “So, Bedros, how’s life treating you? Is Dessa still giving you the runaround?”

Bedros sighed, “Dessa is Dessa. I don’t think there’s anything I can do to change the way she is, especially since it’s been over seventy years since I converted her.”

Max’s attention was instantly riveted, “She was human?”

Bedros nodded, “Yes.”

Alex chuckled, “Seems you have something in common with him, Max.”

Max nodded and asked Bedros, “I’m assuming she is your syndeo.”

“Yes. I met her through one of my workers. As you may know, the bond was instantaneous, even though I didn’t let her know what I was until after we’d dated a bit and she got to know me. I converted her about a year after we met.”

“I see. So, there were no problems?”

“The conversion you mean? No, none at all.”

“Oh,” Max frowned, “Then what did you mean by there’s nothing you can do to change her?”

Max noticed the pained expression on Bedros face as he answered, “I spent a year knowing her as a human. It was then that I fell in love with her.” He paused, “Unfortunately, when she was converted, it seems her personality changed completely. She was once a sweet, kind, and patient woman. Now she is aloof, moody, and judgmental.”

Alex stared at Bedros, “Really? That doesn’t sound like Dessa at all. Granted, I knew she was acting haughty at times, but has she gotten that bad?”

Bedros nodded, “You only saw her when she was first converted. It’s been quite a while since then.”

Max couldn’t help but turn to look at Liz who was still in the midst of conversation on the other side of the room. A worried look crossed his face as he asked, “Is it common for a human’s personality to change drastically like that when converted?”

Bedros shrugged, “There’s really no evidence to say that. I’ve searched for others who had to convert their human syndeo. When I asked, they all had different answers. Some changed for the better, some for the worse, and some didn’t think there was much of a change at all.”

Max nodded as he turned once more to stare at Liz. If what Bedros said was true, then he had one more reason to dread converting Liz. He already knew that those four days without her would be hell for him, but now he had the added fear that when she woke up, she wouldn’t be the same woman he had come to love in the last few months.

What if when she woke up, she wouldn’t look at him the same way she had when she was human? What if she decided she was better off without him?



Three nights later, Liz and Max were walking through the gardens behind their home in silence. Liz had been enjoying the evening with Max. Once the sun had set, Max had gone to deal with some business at one of his warehouses, then he’d come home to whisk Liz into the ballroom.

He had the staff prepare the room with lots of vanilla scented candles and white rose petals scattered over the floor. Soft, instrumental music had been playing as the two of them had entered the room. Max had simply led her to the middle of the floor and danced with her.

They had spent a couple of hours dancing and enjoying the music there. And since Max had made sure that no one would interrupt them while they were in there, the two of them had made out a few times during their dancing breaks at one of the tables in the far corner of the room.

When Max knew they were getting too hot and heavy, he had suggested they go for a walk in the gardens to cool down for a while. Now, they were walking hand in hand towards the bench set into the rose hedges near the gazebo.

As they sat down together, Liz glanced at Max who seemed deep in thought. Turning slightly to face him, she lifted her hand to his cheek to get his attention.

When he looked into her eyes, she asked, “Is something wrong?”

Max stared at Liz for a moment, drinking her in. He saw the worry in her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile, “No. I was just thinking of some business I have to do later. It’s nothing really.” He lifted his hand to curl his fingers in her hair, pulling her closer, “I’m sorry. I’m being rude. I’m supposed to be focused on sweeping you off your feet.”

Liz chuckled at the twinkle in his eyes, “Don’t worry, you succeeded in doing that the moment I saw the ballroom.”

He leaned his forehead against hers, “Truly?”

“Yes.” she whispered.

Max leaned in and kissed her.

Liz felt her heart melt at the way Max lightly brushed his lips against hers before he added more pressure. He took his time kissing her, as if he were savoring her taste. She loved the different ways he could kiss her. This time it was soft and gentle, as if he had all the time in the world to love her. It was amazing what he could do to her with a simple kiss like the one he was giving her now.

She slid her arms around his shoulders, letting one hand curl around the nape of his neck. As his tongue slid against hers, she moaned and felt her body melt against his. Goosebumps rose over her skin as he slid his hands down her arms.

Max slowly pulled away from her lips and took her hands in his. He placed a kiss on her nose before sitting back and lifting one of her hands to his mouth, kissing his ring she had taken to wearing once more.

When he had asked her to wear it again three months ago, she had agreed to as long as he had explained what the symbols and letters on the ring meant. He had told her that the crossed swords with the letter A underneath was the crest for the Aristomache coven. The crown with the A on one side of it let others know the owner of it was the Archigos. And the wings with the E on the other side of the ring was a play on his last name and the word evangel since many of his people saw Max as a savior of his coven.

Liz smiled at Max as they sat back and got comfortable in the alcove of the rose garden. Max continued to hold her hand in his against his thigh, stroking the back of it with his thumb. As he looked out at the night, Liz studied his profile.

As always she noted the elegant, regal lines of his face. The perfectly straight nose and full lips with the bottom one a little more pouty. A strong, square jaw and high defined cheekbones. Dazzling bright amber eyes framed by thick long black eyelashes. Silky black hair swept back and curled at the nape of his long, strong neck.

He was definitely a man whom women would lust after, doubly so since he was an incredibly powerful vampire. Had he been a mere mortal, no doubt his looks would have gotten him enough attention to put him in some form of media. As it was, Liz was aware of how many women continued to vie for his attention.

But this incredibly powerful, gorgeous immortal refused to acknowledge any of them. He seemed completely unfazed by all the attention to his looks and the many women who lusted after him. Instead, he seemed to be aware of only her. He made it seem as if she were the only woman in the world and she was the most beautiful of them all. It amazed her how he went out of his way to show his affection for her.

Her heart thudded against her chest as he lifted her hand to his chest right over his heart. It was subtle things like that which stole her breath and left her in awe of his feelings for her. She leaned in to him and whispered his name.

When he turned to look at her, she said, “There’s something I want you to know Max.”

He gave her a loving smile, “What is it, omorfos?”

“I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while now, but I wanted to wait for the right time. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate that you respected my wishes and let me get to know you. In these last few months I’ve really come to know so much more about you and your world. And I’m grateful to you and your family for allowing me to fit in so easily.” She paused to run her fingers through his hair before she smiled and went on. “I don’t regret anything about my life any more Max. You’ve made it so easy for me to adjust to this life and I just want you to know that I want to be here with you. I know you now and I’m not afraid of this. And watching you these last few months has let me see the real you. It’s made me realize that I’m falling in love with you.”

Max stared at her as she said those last words. His heart flipped at her admission. But at the same time, fear gripped his insides because he knew what was coming. All he could do was sit there and wonder when he had crossed over from wanting to claim her immediately to wanting to proceed with caution.



Less than a week later, Liz and Max attended yet another ball. This one was held by the Elpizo coven in celebration of one of their members who had recently married. As Liz entered the room on Max’s arm, she heard them announce their arrival. She glanced at Max questioning the fact that they had just been introduced as Maximillian Evans and his Kyria, Elizabeth Parker. She’d noticed it because before that night, she’d never been mentioned at all.

It’s okay, Liz. I asked them to acknowledge you, Max spoke in her mind.

Is that wise? I thought you were worried about my protection.

I still am, but since most people seem to be aware of the fact that you accompany me to all the public functions, I don’t see a way to hide it anymore. Besides, Michael and my men are still covering you and the rest of my people will not allow anything to happen to you. He gave her a smile and a wink, They have come to love you as much as I do.

Liz chuckled as Isabel made her way up to them. She leaned in and kissed Max on the cheek before taking Liz’s hand, “Hope you don’t mind if I steal her for a while, adelfos. Alex said he and the others are waiting to talk to you in the meeting room.”

Max nodded, “Fine.” As he leaned to kiss Liz’s cheek he whispered, “I shouldn’t be gone long, be good akribos.”

Liz smiled at Max and watched as he nodded to Michael who flanked Liz along with three of the other guards. The other four went with Max as he walked out of the ballroom.

Liz allowed Isabel to lead her to a group of people, many of whom Liz had already met before. She said her hellos and smiled as she saw Vanessa among them.

“Well, I didn’t think I’d see you at one of these functions, Vanessa.”

She rolled her eyes, “I know, but mother insisted that I come to this one.”

Isabel frowned, “Don’t make that face, kori, it is unseemly. And I wasn’t the only one who thought you should try to get used to these things. Your father also thought it was about time you started to learn how to mingle with the adults.”

“Whatever, mitera! As if you didn’t know I’m still a teenager. I swear, you two can’t make up your mind whether I’m mature enough or not.”

“Oh, we know you are not mature enough, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start learning how to be an adult.”

Liz chuckled, “Really Vanessa. These things aren’t so bad. As a matter of fact, I know there are several people here that are close to your age.”

Vanessa’s face lighted up, “For real? Where?”

Liz indicated a group of people near the terrace doors, “I know about four of the people in that group are your age. Want me to introduce you to them?”

“Oh would you? Mitera, can I go meet them?”

Isabel nodded, “Go ahead.”



In no time at all Liz had introduced Vanessa to the group and helped to ease her way in. When she was certain that Vanessa was fine without her, she returned to Isabel’s side with Michael and the guards in tow.

Max had made his way back into the ballroom and gone to her side for a while, but was soon asked to have a word with several people in the room. He never strayed far from her side and when he did, he always seemed to have her in his sights. It wasn’t that he was keeping an eye out for her, but rather that he just wanted to be near her as much as possible.

Liz had noticed his clinginess and had helped him cope by opening her mind to his as a way of staying close to him. She immediately noticed how he’d relaxed a bit when she did that and soon they were carrying on their own silent communication while mingling with the groups.

At one point, Liz teased Max by sending him images of what she wanted to do with him when they got home and Max had retaliated with something Liz hadn’t known he could do up to that point. One moment she was smiling, listening to the conversation around her and the next her smile had faltered as she felt an invisible pair of hands caressing her cheek and running through her hair.

Recovering herself before she gave anything away, she spoke to him, Not fair! You didn’t tell me you could do that!

She heard him chuckle, That’s not the only thing I didn’t tell you about.

What! Maximillian Evans, what are you keeping from me?

If I tell you it won’t be a surprise.

So hear me, Max, you do anything to embarrass me here, I swear I’m rescinding my request from earlier!

Awww, moro, you’re no fun.

I’ll show you fun, Liz growled in his mind.

Max wisely didn’t comment on that and he stopped his invisible teasing of her, allowing her to go back to conversing with her group.



It was still early in the night when Liz noticed that Isabel had gone quiet and stiff besides her. As she turned to ask Isabel if she was all right, she noticed that she was staring daggers at someone. Liz followed her line of sight and noticed the petite buxom blond who had just entered the room. With long blond hair that fell in gentle curls to just below her shoulders, red pouty lips, and a body to die for it wasn’t any wonder why every male head in the room turned to watch her walk by.

The woman exuded confidence, poise, and sexiness as she walked through the room. Liz turned to see that Isabel was watching the woman’s every move with a frown on her face.

Curious, she asked, “Who is that?”

Without taking her eyes off of the woman, Isabel explained in a low voice, “That’s Tess. Her father is one of the nobles of the Akakios coven. She and Max have a history together.”

Liz frowned, “What sort of history?”

Isabel sighed as she finally tore her eyes away from Tess. Looking at Liz, she said, “Look, that’s in the past. Max has you now and…”

Liz shook her head, “No. Don’t brush it aside. I want to know and it’s obviously not completely in the past if you were looking at her like that. So, what is it?”

Isabel glanced in Max’s direction for a moment before she looked back at Liz. “When Max and Tess got involved, many of our people were ecstatic. Everyone was hoping that something would come of their involvement because it would unite two of the most powerful covens around. Believe me, everyone tried their hardest to push that relationship, but Max wasn’t interested in Tess for long. Tess never gave up. Even after Max called it quits, she kept on pursuing him.” Isabel grimaced, “I guess when you are alone for as long as Max was, you tend to not care if the warm body in your bed is someone you tossed out of it many times before.”

As Liz turned to stare at the woman with wide eyes, Isabel reassured her, “But Max always made certain she knew it was nothing more than sex, Liz. He always told her and everyone else that there would never be anything real between them. He was waiting for you, Liz. Somehow, I think he always knew he would find you.”

As those words hung between them, Liz couldn’t tear her eyes away from the blond. She watched helplessly as Tess made her way through the room and zeroed in on Max, who had been totally oblivious to her until he’d noticed the look on Alex’s face. Turning around, Max stiffened as Tess graced him with a smile that said she intended to have him for a late snack.

Liz’s heart began to pound in her chest as watched the two of them converse from across the room. Tess continued to smile up at Max and leaned in slightly. Liz knew she did that on purpose to give him a view of what he could have.

Max refused to take the bait. His jaw tensed as he listened to the sickly sweet words Tess spewed from her painted lips. “Hello Maximillian. How lovely to see you again. You are looking as good as ever.”

“What do you want Tess?” he muttered under his breath.

She gave him a well practiced pout, “Oh, pooh! Don’t be such a grouch.” Lifting her hand, she trailed a finger down his chest, “I’ve missed you, Max. You must know how hard it is to find someone who can compete with your prowess.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw, “Is that so? Well, can’t say the same for you. Tess, I’d like you to meet my Kyria, Liz.” He held his hand out to Liz who had made her way to his side the moment she had seen Tess’s finger on her man’s chest.

As Liz slid her hand in his, he pulled her to his side and continued, “Liz, this is Tess.”

Tess tilted her head to the side and lifted it slightly as if testing the air. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced from Liz and back to Max.

“Afti ineh anthropinos!”

Max rolled his eyes, “Yes Tess, Liz is a human.”

No one missed the look of disgust on Tess’s face as she looked at Liz and said something to Max in Greek.

Max instantly stiffened and his men crowded closer as if expecting something bad to happen. Liz felt Max wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her into his side. As he did that, he narrowed his eyes at Tess, and hissed something back at her.

Tess swallowed and took a step back, lowering her eyes to the ground. Liz allowed Max to lead her away from the woman, but she glanced over her shoulder to catch Tess glowering at Max’s retreating back.

Frowning, Liz turned to look up at Max, “What did she say?”

Max didn’t answer, but Liz saw the way his jaw tensed at her question.



Liz whirled around to face Max as he pushed her into an empty office after he’d barked orders to his men. She could see them fading into the shadows before Max shut the door and locked it. She folded her arms over her chest as he began to stalk towards her.

“So, that was Tess huh?” she asked as she began backing up from him.

“Yes.” He replied as he continued to walk towards her.

A few seconds later, Liz felt the edge of the desk against her derriere. She frowned as Max pressed up against her and put his hands on the desk on either side of her, effectively trapping her. “I see. Well, it’s easy to see why you’d be interested in her.”

Max arched an eyebrow, “Who said I was interested in her?”

Liz shrugged, trying to appear unaffected, “Isabel told me about your history with her.”

He growled, “That wasn’t for her to say!”

“Oh and I’ll bet you would have been so forthcoming had I asked you about her.” she growled right back at him.

He gripped her shoulders, “There was never anything between us.”

“Really? Well, from what I and anyone else who was paying attention saw, Tess is clearly not in agreement with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means she still wants you and I’m willing to bet that a mere anthropinos like me won’t stop her from getting what she wants. Let me guess, she probably said something like that at the end, right? Or was it more like, why stoop to fucking a hamburger when you can have filet mignon?”

Max’s silence was her answer.

She nodded, “I knew it. No doubt she wanted you to remember what it was like with her. So, guess you wish you were having filet mignon right about now huh?”

Max stepped back and looked at Liz with such a look of pain in his eyes that it made her instantly regret her words. “After everything I’ve told you about me and my world, you think I could set you aside just like that? Why haven’t you figured it out yet? You are the filet mignon!”

Liz stood there stunned at his words. She stared at him as he tried to regulate his breathing. Her eyes went wide when she saw a glistening red teardrop slowly making its way down his cheek.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. “Max, I…I’m sorry. It’s just I saw her and saw how every guy’s head turned to her and Isabel told me that the two of you…”

“Can’t we just leave that in the past where it belongs?” he asked as he gripped the back of her dress.

Liz nodded and kissed his cheek. She lifted her head and moved to kiss his other cheek before licking the falling tear from there. The moment her tongue touched the tear, she could taste his blood. A shudder moved through her body and she moved her lips to his.

Instantly the kiss turned hungry for both of them. Max didn’t hesitate to lift her up, perching her on the edge of the desk.

Liz made quick work of his shirt, undoing the buttons and opening it to rake her nails down his chest.

Max used his claws to rip her panties to shreds before pushing her back onto the desk. Liz lay there watching as Max knelt between her legs and nuzzled the inside of her thigh, his eyes locked with hers.

She smiled at him, propped herself up on one elbow and used her other hand to guide his head to his feast.

As Max dipped his head to her folds, his eyes closed in anticipation.

Liz moaned as Max took one long lick of her folds before plunging his tongue inside of her to taste more of her juices. As her fingers tightened their hold in his hair, Max gripped her hips in his hands and opened his eyes once more to look up at her.

That was the only warning she got before he bit into the skin around her sensitive mound. With a soft cry, Liz fell back on the desk as waves of pleasure rolled through her body. Her head tossed from side to side as Max continued to drink his fill of her blood and juices. Just when Liz thought she was going to combust into flames, she came so hard that her own scream was drowned out by a roaring in her ears.

She was so lost in her pleasure that she wasn’t even aware that Max had released her and stood up.

Gripping her thighs in his hands, he spread her legs wide and thrust into her hard. Liz gasped as she became aware of the hard, pounding rhythm Max was using on her body.

Growling, she forced herself to sit up and gripped him over his ribs. As her fingers dug in, she leaned in to his chest and licked the skin just over his heart.

Max moaned and tossed his head back. A hoarse plea was torn from his throat, “Liz…”

It was the only thing he needed to say. Liz closed her eyes and focused on elongating her fangs. Both of them were nearly to the point of impatience when they were finally at the length Liz knew she needed.

As Max continued to pound into her, she lowered her mouth to his chest and bit into his skin. His blood instantly flooded her mouth as she began to suck greedily. Liz was vaguely aware of Max crying out her name as his body released itself into hers.

As he began to lean into her, Liz held him in her arms and slowly stopped her feeding. Pulling her mouth from him, she ran her tongue languidly over the wounds smiling to herself as she felt Max shudder from satisfaction in her arms.

Liz lifted her head to look into his dark gold eyes. Smiling, she said, “S’agapo, omologia mou.”

Max’s eyes widened a moment before a smile spread all the way to his eyes.

“S’agapo episis.”

TBC...

Hi guys, I know I'm a few hours late, but trust me...it was worth the wait.

Just a few notes:
1. Thanks to all of you who congratulated me about the promotion. Yes, I am loving it and yes I worked hard for it. LOL, my former manager is upset about losing me to a higher position.

2. I love how the appearance of Tess has gotten some of you all riled up. If you noticed, Tess is essentially the female version of Max, she takes what she believes is hers. And she will not be the major antagonist to Liz. You'll see why later.

3. Liz has all of that time stuck with Max during the day. What do you think she does when they aren't having sex? Learning about his world of course, and that includes the language.

4. Her fangs are a gradual thing, I hope you get that here. I tried to word it in the last part about how she has to concentrate to get them out and even then it takes a while for them to lengthen. Once she converts, it'll be like breathing.

4. And the translations for all of the parts are included at the bottom of this part. After this, I will only include translations in the new parts if they are new words I haven't used before.

Okay, since most of you asked about those things I just noted, I'm going to forgo answering feedback this time especially since I am including a lengthy translation at the end and I also want to go to bed. LOL. My apologies for posting and running.

Part 10

Liz sighed in contentment as she slowly came awake amongst the warm silk sheets of Max’s bed.

After the ‘talk’ she and Max had in the empty office at the Elpizo coven’s party, Max had made certain to erase all evidence of their tryst from their bodies and the room before he and Liz had gone back out to the party. Liz was grateful for those powers of his, since she really didn’t want everyone to know how wanton she got with her omologia even though she knew she wasn’t exactly the quietest person when she was with him.

Tess had still been at the party, but whatever Max had said to her had been effective enough to get her to avoid them for the rest of the night. Granted, Liz was completely aware of the glares and looks full of disgust that Tess kept sending her way.

It had been a relief when Liz finally saw Tess leaving the party on the arm of another man who seemed to be tripping over his feet to do as she asked. The look on the man’s face let everyone know he felt like the luckiest man alive to be taking her home. It made Liz roll her eyes and when she looked at Max, she noticed he wasn’t even aware of Tess’ departure.

They had left soon after, saying their goodbyes to the others they knew. Vanessa had thanked Liz for introducing her to her new friends and Isabel had told Liz she would be stopping by the following evening to visit since Alex was going to be busy with some business.

Once Liz and Max had gotten home and gone down to his room, Liz had wasted no time at all in getting him naked and into bed so she could once again show him how much she appreciated the fact that he didn’t give any other woman the time of day. They had continued to pleasure each other until both of them felt the prickling on their skin signaling that dawn had arrived. Sated and exhausted, they had fallen asleep curled up against each other.



Liz rolled over onto her side and reached out for Max, but found the bed empty of her omologia. Opening her eyes, she lifted her head and searched for him. Max was sitting at his computer workstation, deeply engrossed with whatever he was typing on the computer.

Liz smiled to herself as she lowered her head back to the pillow and watched Max work. He was clad only in a pair of black silk pajama bottoms and his hair was slightly mussed as if he’d just pulled on the pants and gone straight to work. She admired the way he looked so handsome with his dark hair, his tanned muscular chest and his bare feet. There was something to be said about a man who looked striking even when wearing no shirt or shoes and simply a pair of pants. She watched as his fingers flew over the keyboard making the muscles in his arms and shoulders flex with each movement.

After a few moments, Max sat back and just gazed at the computer screen in deep thought. Liz continued to watch as Max ran his fingers through his hair, chewed on the inside of his cheek, and drew his eyebrows together in concentration. She resisted the urge to sigh at how sexy he looked when all he was doing was working.

As he began typing again, Liz leaned up on her elbow and perched her chin on her hand to continue watching him. She thought about all the things Max had told her about his various businesses. He had even showed her some of the information he had on the computer and showed her the web sites some of his businesses had. Max had always answered all her questions about his businesses, telling her that once she became his Archiga that she too would have to know how to handle everything.

Liz was amazed that Max wanted her to know those things, especially since Isabel had once explained her role. Isabel had likened it to how a human female married to a United States Senator would act. Liz would just be required to make all the public appearances with Max and show her support of him.

So she had been surprised when Max had taken her in his lap and explained what he was currently working on. He had gone into detail about the current business transaction he was dealing with on the computer screen making sure Liz understood everything he was talking about.

It was one of the many things they had talked about during the day light hours when Max was trapped underground. Liz was grateful that Max wanted to share his entire world with her and she was also grateful that he was so patient and thorough when explaining things to her.

As she continued to watch Max work, she realized that over the last few months with him, she had come to see an entirely different side to him. From the beginning, she had known this side existed deep inside of him. The side he allowed no one except those select few closest to him see. She was one of those lucky ones.

It was his human side, the one that showed his emotions and vulnerability. The rest of the world didn’t see that he could be sweet, caring, and gentle. They only saw his ruthless, cold, and dangerous side. The strong, commanding Archigos of the Aristomache coven.

Yet, here she was, allowed to see this side of him. And as she lay there watching him work, Liz realized that she was the only one whom Max allowed to see everything about him. She saw his public persona and his private soul. She knew without a doubt that not even his family knew some of things Liz knew about Max. She alone was allowed to know all of his secrets.

Max had never really hesitated to tell her the truth. He had been up front from the beginning. Liz knew that what she had mistook as arrogance and possessiveness in the beginning was really just Max’s way of being frankly honest. He’d never lied to her, just took his time in explaining. And when she had asked, he’d done his best to help her understand.

Still, she knew he could be the dangerous man she’d first known him to be, but she realized why it was he did that and she also realized how much it made her admire him for what he did for his people. She loved the way he could balance both sides of his persona so well. She loved how he could be gentle and passionate with her and still be able to go and be the best leader for his coven. She admired him for it and she loved him.

Slowly she sat up in bed and stared at Max with wide eyes as that finally sunk in. She was in love with him. Liz was in love with this formidable, passionate, yet tender leader of a vampire coven. How could she not be? He had gone out of his way to make her as comfortable as possible in his life. He had proven to her time and again that no one else could ever come between what he felt for her. Not even another powerful, blonde, gorgeous woman could persuade Max to set aside his feelings for her.

Liz got out of bed and slid on the sheer red robe she kept at the foot of the bed now. She made her way over to Max, sliding her fingers through his hair down to his shoulder.

Max smiled, stopped what he was typing, and slid his arm around her waist. Pulling her close, he looked up at her and said, “Did I wake you, agapo mou?”

“Not really. I just reached out for you and you weren’t there,” she replied as she slid her arm around his shoulder and settled into his lap.

He chuckled, “Sorry, I wanted to get some work done so I could have more time to spend with you this evening.”

She nodded, then looked up into his eyes. “Max?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

Max gave her the blinding smile that always made her heart pound in happiness, “I love you too, omologia mou.”

Liz smiled shyly, “No, I mean, I’m in love with you.” As Max sat there looking a little puzzled Liz continued, “I know I love you and I realized that I want to be with you always. You’ve made me happy, Max. You’ve shown me what it’s like to have someone take care of you and share their life with you. I’ve come to enjoy every moment I have with you.”

“Liz, what are you saying?” Max whispered.

“I’m saying that I want to be yours. And I want you to be mine. Forever.”

Max stared at Liz as he realized what she was saying. His breath caught in his throat as tears stung his eyes. Liz wanted to be his completely. She was ready to take the next step. She was ready to become his syndeo.

He lifted his hand to cup the back of her neck and pull her down to him, resting their foreheads together. “Are you sure, Liz?”

She smiled, “The fact that you have to ask me that tells me that you are so worth this. Yes, Max. I want to complete the ritual to make us syndeos.”

Max closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Liz, holding her tightly. They sat there in silence each thinking about what was going to happen soon.



Liz sat in the domatio ilios quietly gazing up at the sky. When the sun had gone down that evening, Max had to attend several meetings so Liz had gone to her favorite room to relax in.

Here she was able to just sit and think about things without anyone interrupting her. She knew Max didn’t like the room because he felt it was too open, exposing whoever was in it to the outside world. Max hated it because it didn’t afford any privacy. Liz loved it because it allowed her to enjoy a view of the outside without having to leave the house.

Max had told Liz that he had been thinking of having the room remodeled, taking out the entire roof and side that was made of glass and replacing it with the same material as the rest of the house’s roof and walls. Liz begged him not to change it since she loved it. Saying that he had his own room to escape to, so why couldn’t she. He grudgingly allowed the room to stay the way it was, but always complained about it every time the room was brought up. Liz knew Max didn’t like the idea of her spending so much time in there, but he couldn’t stop her from going there when he was otherwise busy.

Liz took the time in there to think about what she and Max were going to do later when they retired to their room for the night. When she had told Max she was ready for the next step, she had assumed they would do it right away. However, Max convinced her to wait until that night, when they could do it at their leisure.

She couldn’t wait for it. While they were waiting for the sun to go down, Max had told her the words they would say to each other. He had explained the entire ritual to her, step by step.

Liz had spent the rest of the time memorizing the words she would have to say. Max had first told her the words in Greek, since that was the language they were supposed to say it in, but he had translated it for her and told her to recite it in English. Liz had agreed to so long as Max recited his part in Greek.

As the words for the ritual went through her head once more, Liz heard someone entering the room.

She turned to greet Isabel as she made her way to sit next to Liz. “Hello, Isabel, I was wondering when you would arrive.”

Isabel chuckled, “Sorry, Vanessa was being a teenager as usual and I had to deal with her latest drama since Alex already left for his meetings.”

Liz nodded, “I did see him arrive earlier. But is everything okay with Vanessa now?”

“Yes, she’s out with some of those new friends she met yesterday. So, I’m hoping they are more responsible than she tends to be.”

Liz laughed, “Really Isabel, if you keep assuming Vanessa is going to do something bad, I think she will. Maybe you should just trust her more often and allow her to make her own mistakes. How else is she going to grow up and learn anything if you and Alex don’t allow her any breathing room?”

Isabel arched an eyebrow at Liz, “Are you speaking from experience?”

“What? You know how my parents raised me. I told you they always treated me with respect and taught me how to be independent and strong. They never stifled me.”

Isabel shook her head, “I’m not talking about your parents Liz.”

Liz looked at Isabel for a moment before breaking into laughter, “Oh, Max?” She shook her head, “Max doesn’t stifle me either, Is.”

“Really? Because as I recall, you can’t go anywhere without his permission.”

Liz sighed, “I know, but there’s a good reason for that.”

“Which is?”

Liz rolled her eyes, “Oh please. You know why! He’s the Archigos of his coven. Even you have emphasized just how powerful he is. He keeps me close because I’m human and therefore vulnerable to attack. I know Max would be devastated if something were to happen to me.”

“True, but he still doesn’t have to dictate your every move.”

“Isabel, Max doesn’t do that. You don’t know what it’s like for us when it’s just the two of us. Trust me, Max is a different man when we are alone. He doesn’t dictate my every move.”

“Okay, but he sure is possessive of you.”

Liz nodded, “Yes, he’s possessive and stubborn, but so am I.” She grinned at Isabel’s surprised expression. “Yes, Izzy, I’m the same way. I’m sure others would get a kick out of watching Max and I when we get into a battle of wills sometimes. But Max and I are both able to agree to disagree, so it’s not usually a problem.”

“If you say so.” Isabel shrugged, “Sorry I just can’t see my brother giving his most cherished possession any leniency at all.”

Liz chuckled, “It’s okay, I understand.”

They sat in silence for a few moments before Liz spoke up again. “Isabel, can I ask you a personal question?”

“Sure.”

“Has Max talked to you about us at all?”

Isabel frowned, “What do you mean?”

Liz shrugged, “I was just wondering if he’s told you what he wants from our relationship. I mean, I know about our bond and that we will be connected forever. I’m okay with that, but I was wondering if he’s ever talked about whether he wishes we were already connected completely or if I was a vampire like him.”

“No, Max doesn’t really talk to anyone about things like that. Although he has confided in Alex and Michael from time to time. Since Alex tells me when Max confides in him, I know he hasn’t talked to Alex. Maybe he’s talked to Michael about it.”

“Maybe.”

Isabel studied Liz for a moment before asking, “Why do you want to know?”

“No reason really. It’s just that he doesn’t really say if he wants us to move faster or not. He hasn’t really talked to me about that since he first told me all about his world and I told him I needed time to get used to all of it. Since then, he hasn’t told me how he feels.”

“How do you feel?”

Liz smiled, “I’m ready to become his syndeo.”

Isabel’s eyes widened, “Have you told him that?”

“Yes, we are going to do it later tonight. But that’s all. I mean, I didn’t tell Max that I won’t mind if he converted me too, but something tells me he’s not ready for that part yet. I think he’s ready to connect me to him, but not to make me like him.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, it’s just something I’ve been feeling. It’s almost like I feel Max is actually content with the way things are between us right now and doesn’t want to move forward just yet.”

Isabel nodded, “Well, maybe it’s for the best. I think you should wait and get used to being connected to him first before you take the next step. I mean, becoming his syndeo is a huge step Liz. You won’t be able to change your mind once it’s done. You won’t be able to survive without him, just like he won’t survive without you.”

“I know. You’re right. I’m going to do this and wait for a while. I do want to get used to this too.”

Isabel smiled and leaned in to give Liz a hug, “Well, let me be the first to congratulate you. I’m glad you want to be a part of my adelfos life. I know you and Max will benefit from your connection and make each other happy. You already do.”

Liz hugged Isabel back, “Thanks, Izzy.”



Liz walked into the bedroom after freshening up and spotted at Max standing near the fireplace. Wearing a black satin robe that was tied loosely at the waist, he turned to look at her with darkening eyes. Liz let her eyes travel over the length of him, savoring the fact that before the night was over, he would be forever connected to her.

Max walked over to the foot of the bed, meeting Liz half way. She stood in front of him wearing only her robe. Max allowed his gaze to take in her curves through the sheer material. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent as she lifted her hands and removed the robe from him.

Liz watched as Max backed away from her and lay on his back on the bed. She removed her own robe and slid onto the bed to sit besides him. Leaning over him, she ran her hands over his chest as she kissed him. Max slid his hand into her hair and held her close while she devoured his mouth.

Liz slid her leg over him to straddle his waist as she continued to plunder his mouth. Her tongue explored every inch of his mouth even as her hands roamed over his shoulders, neck, and chest. Slowly she pulled away from him and sat up to look down at him.

Max slid his hands up her thighs, his eyes locked with hers. “Liz…”

I've become impossible
holding on to when
everything seemed
to matter more

She stopped him with a finger to his lips. Smiling lovingly at him, she rose to her knees and slowly slid down over him. Her eyes closed in bliss as she took his entire length inside of her.

the two of us
all used and beaten up
watching fate as it flows
down the path we have chose

Max gripped her thighs and gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to move beneath her. He knew that she would be the one to instigate this.

you and me
we're in this together now
none of them can stop us now
we will make it through somehow

Liz didn’t hesitate to begin riding him once she was certain he was inside of her. She started slow, but steadily quickened her pace as Max slid his hands up to her waist.

you and me
if the world should break in two
until the very end of me
until the very end of you

With their eyes locked and Liz moving over him, Max began reciting the words in Greek, “Esi alos misos mou, kardia mou keh psychi. Esi aniko meh kathos ego aniko seh. To soma mou mono dikos sou, gnomi mou ya panda enono dikos sou. Ineh dasmos mou frontida ya seh, yemizo bion sas meh eftychia. Dekhomeh bion mou kathos dikos sou.”

awake to the sound
as they peel apart the skin
they pick and they pull
trying to get their fingers in

Liz moaned softly as she felt Max swell inside of her. She leaned down and willed her teeth to elongate. As usual, it took some time for them to lengthen since she was still human, but eventually they did and she bit into his neck, accepting his life as hers.

well they've got to kill what we've found
well they've got to hate what we fear
well they've got to make it go away
well they've got to make it disappear

As she drank, Max closed his eyes in bliss, letting her love and acceptance wash over him, sending him into a blissful orgasm.

the farther I fall I'm beside you
as lost as I get I will find you
the deeper the wound I'm inside you
for ever and ever I'm a part of

Liz rode him and drank until she felt him sigh beneath her. Lifting her head, she swirled her tongue over his wound and slowly sat up again. Max wrapped his arms around her and flipped them over until she was beneath him.

you and me
we're in this together now
none of them can stop us now
we will make it through somehow

As Liz wrapped her legs around his, she repeated the words back to Max, “You are my other half, my heart and soul. You belong to me as I belong to you. My body is only yours, my mind forever linked to yours. It is my duty to care for you, to fill your life with happiness. Accept my life as yours.”

you and me
if the world should break in two
until the very end of me
until the very end of you

It was now Max’s turn to lean down and drink from her. Liz tightened her arms around his shoulders as he picked up his pace inside of her until she felt herself flying over the edge. Crying out his name, she clung to Max’s body as he continued to wring her pleasure from her. When she shuddered beneath him, Max licked her wound closed and lifted up to his elbows to look down at Liz.

all that we were is gone we have to hold on
all that we were is gone we have to hold on
when all our hope is gone we have to hold on
all that we were is gone but we can hold on

She opened her eyes and watched him as he once more picked up the pace. Liz lifted her hips to meet him thrust for thrust, digging her nails into his back as their breaths grew shorter.

you and me
we're in this together now
none of them can stop us now
we will make it through somehow

Max shifted slightly, leaning into her and adding more pressure to his thrusts. It was exactly the push Liz needed as her walls gripped him and sent both of them falling over the edge once more. As they climaxed together, their voices blended with the final words that would connect them together forever. “ Syndeo edekhomeh.”

you and me
even after everything
you're the queen and I'm the king
nothing else means anything

TBC...
song: We're In This Together by NIN.

Translations:
Part 1
syllogos- club
chol- lounge

part 2
archigos- leader
aristomache- best battle
kyrios- lord
kyria- lady
dioikitis- commander

part 3
syndeo- connect
diatasso- command

part 4
domatio- room
ilios- sun
dikos mou- mine
mou- my
merikoi- some
zoumi kreatos- broth
gia- for
arthro- the
nai- yes
mesa- in
gevmatizo- dine
prosfero eycharistisi- please
esy- you
blepe be- are
oraios- beautiful
toso- so
akribos- precious, dear

part 5
agapo- love
bion- life

part 6
syzygos- spouse/mate
omologia- bond
adelfi- sister
ligos- little
adelphos- brother
isyzygos- wife
gynaika- woman

part 7
ekmetalleftis- vampire

part 8
no new words

part 9
katalaveno- Understand
euphranor-to delight
omorfos- handsome
elpizo- hope
kori- daughter
mitera- mother
moro- baby
akakios- innocent, not evil
afti- she
ineh- is
anthropinos- human
s'agapo- I love you
apisis- also

part 10
alos- other
misos- half
kardia- heart
keh- and
psychi- soul
aniko- belong
meh- me
kathos- like/as
ego- I
seh- you
to soma- body
mono- only
dikos sou- yours
gnomi- mind
ya panda- forever
enono- linked
Ineh- it is
dasmos- duty
frontida- care
ya- for
seh- you
yemizo- to fill
bion- life
sas- your
meh- with
eftychia- happiness
dekhomeh- accept
edekhomeh- accepted