Unlocking the double doors from inside her office, Darla stepped into her private garden with a soft smile, instantly relaxing. Leaving the doors open so that her manservants would know she was in there, even if they knew better than to come in, and could call to her from her office if she was needed.

She needed to stop and be still a moment, to just have some peace and quiet on her own where she could do as she wished without being disturbed. A lot of things had happened in the past few weeks and now here was an oportunity to muse on them, and music always helped her with this.

Having decided against using the piano tonight, in the mood for her violin, she deposited the case she carried gently onto a marble bench and unlocked it, staring down at the masterpiece of craftsmanship that she now owned. Gerard's gift to her sat gleaming scarlet in its case, taking each bit of light from the softly glowing lights in the fountains and reflecting it back out with a crimson hue. It was a beautiful thing, and had fast become one of her highly treasured posessions.

Not giving any thought to the things Gerard would say if he could see her using his gift, she instead picked it up and cradled it in her arm, the other reaching out and taking the bow. She never needed to tune the instrument, and so instantly put it onto her shoulder and put the bow to the strings. After a few moments the first notes of the violin piece for Nothing Else Matters started to flow through the garden, and as Darla closed her eyes she listened to the music, the soft gurgling of the fountains, and her own musings. She was relaxed and alone at last.

Natasha was rearranging the furniture she had delivered to the Manor from the damage done a few weeks ago by the wolf. It was better that she hadn't seen him again, better for the both of them, she would have to hate to kill him.

After hours of arranging and rearranging the room, she was finally happy with the location, she walked into the bathroom to shower and dress for the rest of the evening. Tonight she let her hair hang free, it was so long she did not want to fool with it. Walking over to her closet, she opened the doors revealing the rows and rows of clothing. Reaching in for a dress she had not yet worn, she found a dress that caught her eye.

Slipping the dress on, she hung her scarlet red robe in the bathroom and took another look at the bedroom with a smile before closing the door and walking down the stairs.

Natasha looked around the Manor for Darla, she did not want to be alone tonight and thought her Mistress would be excellent company. Over these last weeks they had spent a lot of time together, Natasha had become very fond of Darla enjoying the time not only practicing and growing her power, but being in her company.

After gliding around the manor and not finding her in any of her usual places, Natasha decided that she must be in her office. As she made her way into the office she heard the soft tones of her violin. Darla was in her garden. Looking out of the doors that led to her private garden, Natasha leaned against the door frame and listened to her Mistress play not wanting to interrupt the beautiful song.

Natasha watched the grace with which Darla played the violin, seemingly at peace with her surroundings. Natasha then closed her eyes and listened to the playing instead of watching the player. She played very well, Natasha thought.

Not sensing Natasha moving around the estate until she reached her office, so immersed as she was in her playing, Darla continued to play despite knowing that Natsha was now observing her, though she did give a slight smile without opening her eyes to show Natasha that she knew she was there. Although being alone was a welcome prospect tonight, Natasha's company was always pleasing and Darla would never turn her away unless it was a matter of importance.

Finishing the song and pulling the violin away from her shoulder, the last notes still vibrating through the air even as she did so, Darla opened her eyes and looked at Natasha, observing the new dress and then the vampire it contained, all the while keeping her smile at the sight of the other woman so obviously enjoying her playing. Addressing Natasha in Greek as always unless she saught to practice her English further, Darla patted the bench on which she was sitting gently.

"Good evening Natasha, please, come join me."

Since the events with Rose not too long ago, Darla had been seeking a way of showing her pleasure at Natasha's flawless handling of the situation, and sensed that this was an opportunity for all her Kiss and manservants knew that her garden was a place that few earned the priviledge to enter.

As Natasha watched Darla, she saw the smile on her face. She knows I am here, she smiled back knowing the woman couldn't see her, but felt the want anyway. As Natasha opened her own eyes close to the end of the song, she saw Darla gazing at her. Her smile widened and the merest hint of fang showed.

She loved the fact that Darla spoke in Greek when around her, it made her all the more comfortable around her. Walking toward Darla, she took her seat next to her Mistress. "Good Evening Mistress Darla" she said with a smile as she took her seat. "You play absolutely beautifully" she answered in Greek as well.

"I hope I am not interrupting you, if you would like for me to leave you I will" she said almost rising in case she said so. "But I would much enjoy your company tonight. I have finished rearranging my bedroom. The furniture had been delivered earlier today, the staff saw it up to my room and it looks wonderful. You should see the new arrangement."

Seeing in the way she held herself that Natasha had almost risen to leave at her own words, Darla gave a slightly softer smile and placed one hand over Natasha's on the bench. Seeing as Natasha continued in Greek so did Darla, as she always did until Natasha switched to another language.

"Natasha, I would not of invited you to me if I had not wanted you present. I did hear the..commotion..shall we say, when you had your wolven guest present and was hoping you would be able to restore your rooms. I am glad to hear you enjoy the rearrangement."

Looking away from Natasha and out at her garden for a moment, Darla relaxed into the company and the sounds, reaching beside her to replace the violin and close the lid to avoid any damp from the fountains reaching it, but did not lock it.

"Natasha, tell me do you play any instruments?"

Natasha immediately sat herself back down as Darla touched her hand. She smiled as she did so listening to her Mistress talk. Natasha actually blushed as she spoke of the wolf, now Natasha was wishing she hadn't fed earlier so she wouldn't be able to blush.

"I am sorry you had to hear that. I promise it won't happen again." She nodded about the room getting fixed, "Yes every piece is replaced, I truly did not mean to ruin anything in your home. I apologize."

Natasha followed her gaze toward the garden and smiled. It was lovely out here. This was the first time Natasha had seen the garden, it usually was a place that was reserved for Darla and anytime she had come here, Natasha had left her alone to her own devises. But tonight, Natasha wanted to be near Darla, especially after the previous night's events with Rose.

Natasha smiled, "I do. I play the piano as well as the Habioli*. My mother taught me the Habioli and I learned to play the Piano when I was in New York City. The Habioli is one of my only personal artifacts that I have taken with me to every city and survived" she said with a weak smile.

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Habioli - in case you wanted to know what it was.

Patting Natasha's hand to discourage the blush, Darla turned and waved a hand in a dismissal of her apologies.

"Natasha, it is your room. It simply happens to be hosted by my estate."

Smiling at the mention of piano, and then an instrument Darla had heard of but never seen, Darla turned and stood so that she was facing Natasha and smiled down at her, extending a hand to help Natasha rise.

"Well you have heard me play, it is only fair I hear you, is it not? You may of course choose your instrument."

Natasha's blush faded away, but she still felt as if she was caught red handed doing something she shouldn't have. She nodded anyway at what Darla said, it was her room, but it was Darla's home.

Taking the offered hand, she smiled looking into her Mistress' blue eyes. So many humans would never get the full effect of her beautiful eyes, what a pity she thought.

"I think I will play the more exotic of the two. Plus it is in my room and you can see the new furniture as well." Following her Mistress up to her room, she went into the closet and found the Habioli in its Olivewood case. The instrument itself was also made of Olivewood.

Turning to Darla as she plucked it from the case, she offered it to Darla so she could inspect it, smiling as she did so. Taking it back, she straightened herself and bowed to her Mistress, showing her the trunk at the foot of the bed which doubled as a chair so she could have a seat.

Without an introduction, Natasha placed the instrument to her lips and began playing an old folk song her mother sang to her. It was a soft sound, very slow and melodic that most would think a lullaby. Natasha closed her eyes and concentrated on her fingers and the air moving in and out. With out even thinking, she began to sway with the song, her long hair trailing behind her.

Returning Natasha's gaze, sensing the weight of the younger vampire's thoughts being directed to her eyes for some reason, Darla smiled and nodded to Natasha so that she could look away and lead Darla to wherever she wanted to play.

Moving up to Natasha's rooms, Darla took in the new decor with an approving gaze, turning to smile warmly at Natasha and then watch her as she fetched the instrument. Taking it when it was offered to her, Darla ran her long fingers over the wood of the piece and inspected it, admiring the workmanship despite so simple a tool. Even simple tools were capable of making sweet music, and so it was not to be considered inferior.

Handing it back to Natasha, she took a seat on the trunk and folded her hands in her lap, closing her eyes not long after the music started, but not so soon as to be unable to see the way in which Natasha lost herself to the music, so similarly to herself, with a smile.

As Natasha finished her song, she opened her eyes which she just realized she had closed with a smile. Her gaze settled on her Mistress and she saw the pleased smile on her face as well. "I hope you enjoyed it."

As she walked back over to store the instrument, she decided against putting it back in the closet, but placed it on her dressed instead with the box top opened.

Turning back to her Mistress, she smiled again and went to sit beside her. "I don't think I have mentioned to you how at home you have made me feel. You make me so very comfortable and this is the least homesick I have been. It has been many many years since I have felt the sand of Greece's shores underneath my feet, but I miss it as I am sure you miss your home as if you had been there yesterday."

Natasha gave a weak smile, "But I have grown to truly love it here, with you and your Kiss, in your city." Her smile strengthened as she continued. "I can say that when I think of home now, I do not think of her lady Greece, but of Miami."

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OOC: Natasha's bedroom furniture
Natasha's bed set

"I always enjoy the sight and sound of music being played Natasha, especially one who does such with grace and beauty."

Smiling and shifting slightly to make more room for Natasha beside her, Darla gestured to the room at large and nodded her approval as she spoke. She had noticed that the room was very similar to her own, save for the color of the wood and bedsheets, and found it flattering. There is no such compliment as high as imitation.

"I do indeed like what you did with this room, you have made it your home. I played but a minor role in making it so Natasha, but I am honoured to feel that I have been able to replace Greece and all her beauties within my city for you."

Smiling more softly at the mention of being homesick herself, Darla looked away from Natasha a moment then took one of Natasha's hands with both of hers and stroked the other vampire's thumb gently as she made eye contact.

"Would you permit me to show you something Natasha? It would involve me entering your mind a moment."

If she did not have more control over herself, Natasha may have blushed once again at Darla's words. She did seem to loose herself in the music, just as she watched Darla do in her garden with the violin.

She had passed bu many rooms in the manor, including Darla's own, and they seemed to have a running theme with their style. Though the room was personalized with a touch of Natash's style, it fit into the home quite nicely.

Natasha's breath would have caught in her throat if she had been breathing when Darla took her hand. But the words to follow were one made of her nightmares.

Natasha could not help but let the fear roll off her like a second skin. It was not that she did not trust her Mistress, no that was not it at all. She had vowed to not let someone take over a part of her or all of her if she could help it.

Natasha did trust Darla and now she would show her. Natasha could only manage a nod for she did not trust her voice. Natasha sat a little straighter and waited for what her Mistress wanted to show her.

Feeling Natasha's fear beating against her skin, Darla's thumb continued to gently stroke Natasha's thumb, soothing her as best as she could. She knew Natasha's fear of such things, but this had two purposes. One, she wished to give Natasha a gift worthy of her actions with Rose, and two she wished to show Natasha that she had nothing to fear for Darla would not hurt her or attempt to use her for anything Natasha was not willing to do on her own.

"Thank you Natasha."

Smiling and making eye contact with Natasha, Darla placed one hand on Natasha's cheek and let her eyes bleed to her ice blue, twin pools into which Natasha could slowly slip rather than be jarred into the scene. When Natasha was open to her, Darla steadily and gently recreated a moment she had personally experienced within Natasha's mind, showing her a living memory of Greece on a beach as the last rays of the sun died, making it safe for vampires once more. Darla let Natasha see the walk Darla had taken, the scents she had taken in, the feel of ocean air over skin, and planted it in a way that left if easy to access at any time for Natasha. The scene faded into a similar one but through the woods of Romania near Darla's castle, this time Darla being younger and the walk during the evening sun. Now Natasha would carry home within her whenever she wished it, and could see Darla's home too, could feel the pride of such a home that Darla had felt as a human.

This took but a few moments to recreate and store for Natasha, and Darla slowly pulled out of Natasha's mind and decided to test her theory of Natasha's attraction. Darla bought her out of her trance with a kiss, one hand still on the other vampire's cheek.

Natasha grew a little more clam with the feel of Darla’s thumb gently stroking her hand; she even managed a small smile though it was soon gone. She could only hope that Darla did get a chance to see it before it vanished. A small nod was all she could do to let her Mistress know she heard the thank you, still not able to trust her voice.

Natasha looked into her eyes and felt the hand on her cheek. The ice blue of her Mistress’ eyes was staring back at her, a most beautiful blue that very few got to view under such circumstances. Natasha found herself falling into the pools of blue; it was much easier when you are willing than fighting tooth and nail. Suddenly she saw Greece and Darla walking on the beach, she felt the sea breeze and smelled the salt on the wind. Though she didn’t know if it reflected on her face, Natasha was taken aback at the beauty of the scenery and Darla.

Soon Natasha was somewhere she had never been. A small thought crossed her mind, Romania. Darla’s home, just as they had been speaking of. She was looking around at the woods and a castle. This time it was not nightfall, but in the evening before the sun set. Before Darla had become a vampire. She looked younger wandering around her castle in the sunlight.

Natasha felt as if she had been there just moments ago in the flesh, the memories so vivid. She was coming back from the trance and before she was completely out, she was immersed in the feelings of Darla’s lips on her own. The weight of Darla’s hand was still felt and welcome as Natasha brought herself out of the small stupor caused by her Mistress’ actions and returned the kiss, gently at first not wanting to push for too much too soon.

At times like this Darla was all the more glad for that part of her that enabled her to control emotion. She had not missed a heartbeat's worth of emotion from Natasha as she had watched the twin scenes, stored the way Natasha felt when looking at Darla as both a vampire and a human. Seeing Darla as a human was something only two currenlty living had seen, Gerard and now Natasha. And she knew Natasha would know how big a thing that was, just as she knew that Natasha would know what it was in reward of, and what it was opening Darla for.

Since Rowan's departure from her life due to that..unfortunate..slip in control the wolf had exhibited, Darla had found herself strangely impassive as to her absence, and had indeed found herself viewing Natasha in a greater semblance of the appreciation of her beauty from their first meeting.

The moment Natasha returned her kiss Darla was convinced Natasha desired her, and it was both an interesting study for the colder part of her and a fantastic prospect for those parts that desired and needed. Natasha would not break, she wouldn't betray, she wouldn't have weakness thanks to Darla's teachings. Keeping the kiss, the lack of a need for breath enabled Darla to kiss Natasha had she had never been able to kiss Rowan, Darla moved herself closer to Natasha on the trunk, a sign that Natasha was not experiencing something unreturned and was allowed to be equal in this moment.

Natasha's mind seemed in a whirlwind, apparently she did not have as great of a poker face when it came to her emotions as she thought. It was not only that, but her feelings for her Mistress were so sudden and here she was in her embrace, it was a little mind blowing.

As Darla moved closer Natasha smiled against Darla's lips. One of the best parts about being the living dead was no need for breath which made kissing all the more fun.

Her hands which had been lifeless at her sides when she was dumbfounded by the kiss had suddenly found life again as one hand trailed up her Mistress to caress her cheek as the other stayed on her waist, her fingers running along the waist line where the dress and corset top met. Truly she wanted to remove the dress from the equation, but not now. She was enjoying the sheer pleasure from this moment that she had wondered would ever happen.

At the touch on her cheek and waistline Darla broke the kiss slowly and gently, pulling back and resting her forehead slightly against Natasha's a moment, staring into her eyes, her own still blue from the images she had given Natasha. The hand against the other woman's cheek rubbed the skin slightly, one thumb moving to caress the silky softness of the lips her own had just vacated.

"Where do you want this to go, Natasha? Do not fear, this is not a trick question."

If she didn't have a better hold of herself, Natasha would have whimpered as Darla pulled away. She held her tongue and gazed into her still blue eyes with a bit of a smile.

Natasha closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek into the hand that was caressing her. A shiver went down her spine as her fingers moved to her lips, caressing them as well.

Her eyes opened at the words of her Mistress. She was asking where she wanted this to go and suddenly Natasha was trying to find the words, but couldn't.

She opened her mouth and closed it again. Usually she had no problem telling anyone what she thought, but it was her Mistress and these were not just any feelings.

Finally finding the words she smiled at Darla. "If I may be so bold Mistress Darla..." she looked away for a moment and then back into Darla's eyes. Rather than finishing the sentence, Natasha reached back to the tie that held her dress up and pulled it with one smooth motion, disrobing herself in front of Darla hoping this answered her question.

Continued in the Mature Section..muahahahaha :ph43r: