The last rays of the falling sun streams through the large windows of the villa's sizable sitting room. The orange light casts oddly shaped shadows around the room, the bizarre old gadgets and trinkets scattered tactfully here and there making the back wall look much like a shadow puppet back drop. The fireplace crackles softly as the fire burns low behind the short grate. Standing still in front of the grand window Alexi waves casually down at his brother's retreating back, soaking up the sunlight while he can. In his other hand is a glass half full of a rich dark wine which he swirls absentmindedly, almost as a reflex at this point. He's never been one for wine, but when his bother is over he makes due with a single glass so Mois isn't the only one drinking. With a sigh the sun finally falls completely out of sight and he raises a hand to the rope at the right of the window. With a long tug the thick red curtains cover the window, making it safe for his night dwelling slaves to care for the room now that it's no longer working in a hosting capacity.

Alexi makes his way over to the antique couch laid out before the dying fire and takes a seat. As he pulls up his legs to rest on the couch beside him so he reclined on his side a few servants shuffle in and begin tidying up the room. 'I can't believe my luck. This will be perfect. Mois has never let me down, and this time will be no exception' He chuckles lightly, earning a few odd looks from his newer acquisitions, bot those who have been working for him for a while simply motion that they should keep working. Alexi sets his glass on the old ornate oak coffee table and watches with a smile as it's quickly scooped up by one of the poshly dressed servants. 'I still can't believe some folk out there. I mean really, some of the things they make their slaves wear! That's nothing compared to those who make them run around in the buff, but still. . . .' With another sigh Alexi rolls on to his back, a faint smile on his lips as he stretches his arms out in front of him. “I can't wait.” He murmurs to himself, dropping his arms down to res on his chest. “I just can't.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I want two units on the roof, but make sure they aren't in gear so they don't make too much noise. And for god's sake, have them check twice this time for anything hanging loose. We lost two guys lat time because someone's cell clip wasn't fastened correctly.” Mois glares down a t a few men who make 'Yes mom' comments but decides it's too late in the game to really do anything about their disrespectful behavior. 'I only have one chance at this, so I gotta make do with what I got. I suppose I'm lucky. There are guys been on the force three times as long as me and not had a break like this, or anything close to it for that matter' Looking over his teams again the eldest brother of the Vandros family narrows his gaze and begins his calculations. Around him many men are strapping into close fitting armor and other gear while the two roof teams check and double check their holsters and weaponry.

This is the big night. They have a solid tip in the whereabouts of the mother load, the central figure to the rebellion. If they pull this off, each man involved, who survives at least, will reap the benefits for many years to come. 'But none more so than my brother I suppose. If he can pull of his plan, things will start actually looking up. I mean, the rebels can always get a new rebel leader, but. . . .' Shaking out of his musing Mois takes one last look around the room before doing his own double check of his gear and the like. Patting the case to his sniper rifle he whispers a silent apology that he can't take him with this time. Instead he straps on dual holsters and slides in a couple high powered dart guns. It's his job to get to the leader first and tranque him if at all possible. Everyone else will be using live rounds, but he has a goal of his own, and he will not allow himself to fail.

Smiling happily as his favorite servant enters with his after meeting tea Alexi stretches once, his whole body tensing for a moment. With a sigh he relaxes, a hand drifting out to scoop up the fragrant cup of liquid. 'Once the new one arrives, Joseph may get bumped down to second place, but I'm sure he won't mind. Not that he really seems to mind anything. He's like a dad who never seems to disapprove of his son, or at least never shows it' Even after the other male addresses him the lord of the estate continues to simply stare at him lost in thought. 'It had been a while since any of the servants needed breaking. And this will be only the second I have broken myself, and only the third vampire to serve this family. I wasn't around for the other two. I wonder if Joseph will be willing to help out in his limited capacity'

Alexi gives the old vampire a fond smile, motioning his gaze upwards so he can see it. Even with his ingrained subservient attitude, a direct command could not be ignored by the well broken elder. “Thank you Joseph. That will be all for my needs at the moment.” He pauses, batting a few things around in his head before adding on, “However I will need you to make some arrangements for me.” He takes a long sip of tea, shifting into a sitting position as he does so. Setting the cup down he rises and walks over to the fireplace which a young female servant had just stoked. Standing to the side of the actual mouth of the brick fireplace he leans back against the mantle and glances over at Joseph with a focused look on his face. The servants know better than to leave when being addressed until they are dismissed formally.

When at last he gets the list sorted out his face breaks into a smile once again, this one purely from the delightful feeling he gets when thinking about his soon-to-be newest acquisition. With a faint hum he runs his hand over the back of his neck before bringing it down to tug on his bangs. “I need a bed from one of the guest rooms to be brought into my bedroom and placed near one of the studier walls near a support beam. After that I need the breaking chains, the strongest ones we have, to be mounted in the support beam. They should be long enough for one to walk to the end of the bed and no further, and rigged so they can be shortened easily.” As he talks, his giddiness comes through in his voice. “Make sure our stock of blood is fresh, and I need you to hunt down that potion used for hard breaking that was used on you all those years ago.”

He pauses for a moment, his smile fading into a rather fond soft look at the older male before, he turns to look towards the covered windows. “I'm getting a new slave soon. A completely wild vampire and I will need every advantage in breaking this one. He will be the greatest challenge this house has ever seen. Perhaps the greatest challenge in the history of non-human slavery. . .”A chill runs up his spine and his face lights up with the thought of the difficulties ahead. “This will be. . . Amazing. . .” In a distant voice he adds, “Make sure this is all done properly, and before the sun rises tomorrow. Use as many as you need, and do not forget that if there are any mistakes it may mean my life.” With that he waves his hand in dismissal and turns to face the fire. “Dismissed.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mois watches from the safety of an abandoned truck bed as the rebels matriculate around the building in the shadows. His own men wait several meters further back beneath scent dispelling cloth used fro such undercover situations. One such cloth stretches over the truck bed like a waterproof covering so it blends in perfectly in the darkness. From beneath it Mois stares at his little display screen attaches to a small snake camera peeking out from beneath the covering. He rotates it slowly until he spots his target. True guerrilla fashion he isn't really distinguishable from the other rebels, however frequent glances in his direction is enough to convince the man that he's the one he's after. 'It's almost time' As if on cue his scope catches a new kind of movement and he zooms in on a group of people entering the building.

The people are actually decoys, meant to look and act like the slavers so that the rebels would not get suspicious. They are obviously talking rather loud, pretending to be oblivious to the non-humans surrounding the building in the dark. Since new slaves and be dangerous the weaponry strapped to their sides doesn't look at all out of place and Mois nods almost proudly at their passable acting skills. They enter through a small side door and as soon as the light pouring out from inside vanishes from sight Mois watches the rebels begin taking action. As soon as he deems it safe enough he climbs silently out of the truck and begins stalking silently after them at a safe distance. 'Once the bullets start flying I should be in position to take down the leader. Once good thing about growing up being raised by a vampire, it's become almost second nature when it comes to avoiding detection by one'

As instructed, the slave looked up so that he could fully see his master's face, and he smiled in return, preparing to leave the room.

But then Joseph tensed up at his owner's instructions, keeping his face mostly impassive. His mind could not help but flash back over five centuries when he had been “broken” on these very grounds, in the now-demolished castle dungeon. Even though that castle had been torn down two centuries ago to make way for the mansion that Alexi now inhabited, Joseph could remember the hard breaking process like it was yesterday. He could remember the utter pain he experienced as he lay there, trying to resist the urge to feed. He could remember the humiliation he felt when he finally gave in and drank the blood, that sated his hunger but worsened his pain. And he could remember the way his mind had slowly become docile, and how he would suddenly feel depressed, unmotivated, and somewhat nauseous whenever he thought about rebelling or escape. “Soft breaking” trapped your body, but “hard breaking” was horrifying mind control, and Joseph would not wish it upon anyone.

Despite his objections, however, it was not really Joseph's place to object, so as he listened to Alexi explain, he tried to think of an appropriate concern apart from his own moral issues. He almost lost his nerve when Alexi dismissed him, but he held his ground. Naturally, he bowed deeply before beginning to speak.

“Master Alexi, why do you desire such a dangerous servant? This household already has as many servants as it needs, and surely it is not worth endangering your life to gain another one,” Joseph replied, his tone subservient but not afraid. But somehow he was sure that his objection would make little difference, because he could see the look in his master's eyes. This was not about a need, but a desire to have something unique. Actually, he was not entirely sure what it was about, what produced that strange excitement in his master's eyes. But he could only hope for an explanation as he awaited an answer.

~ ~ ~

Erik watched as the slavers made their way into the warehouse, leading a band of chained werewolves and vampires. He signaled for the rebels to enter through the side doors, and to make their way through the myriad rooms and hallways in this gigantic building until they reached the room where the prisoners were being held. As they went, they took out the slaver guards patrolling each of the hallways, shooting tranquilizing dart where they could. That way if anyone hit the slaves, it would not be fatal. Besides, the Xani cell did not exist to kill humans, merely to free their slaves. They did not always use such non-lethal force, but in this case Erik had decided that it would be the best course of action. Of course, they did have alternate guns with them that shot real bullets, just in case things turned ugly.
Finally they reached the doors of the largest area of the building. A part of him wanted to give a warning, to allow these men to surrender, but he knew that would only give away their position. So he nodded and signaled everyone to fire in ten seconds.
Ten seconds later, the first shots with the rifle fired in succession, over three-fourths of them landing on the slavers, and none hitting the bodies of the soon-to-be slaves. Like every one of his men, Erik stayed hidden as he continued firing his tranquilizing rifle, watching the enemy drop one by one. This was going well. The enemy was surrounded, and with any luck the firefight would be out of the way soon, with few to no casualties.

Still turned away from his servants Alexi raises and eyebrow when Joseph speaks up. 'I suppose it isn't that unusual. He was broken quite some time ago, so the hold must be waning. . . Not only that, I think he may actually have a level of concern for me, despite his position as a slave' Turning slowly around he keeps his face neutral to not frighten the male. Behind him the last of the cleaning servants are leaving the room. Several look in their direction, looks of unease and in some cases fear apparent on their faces. While Master Alexi has never been a cruel man, on occasion he will do something on accident that will drive home the fact they are slaves. Most such occasions were following his orders being questioned.

However the master of the house is a rather sentimental man, and when he looks upon the creature that helped raise him he feels no real resentment at being second guessed by him. 'The guy did raise my brother and me. Heh, I remember when he could still take the switch to us when we did something particularly stupid. Yes, I think he may actually be concerned for my safety' With a light sigh he watches the last few slaves leave before turning his full attention to Joseph. He thinks for a little while exactly what to say until at last he settles on something simple, if cryptic. “Joseph, I ask for these things because they are what is needed. Not only for my sake, but for the sake of all. I am going to undertake something dangerous, but the gain will far outweigh the danger should I succeed.” With another smile he again motions for the male to go. “I thank you for your concern, my old friend. . .” The last three words are whispered so only Joseph's ears would catch them.

~*~*~*~*~*~

With expert stealth Mois follows the rebels through the building, his eyes never loosing track of his target. He watches carefully how the vampires moves, studying him as he does his snipe targets. 'I have to know how he will move, possible motions that may disrupt my shot. Vampires do not have beating hearts so my target area is particularly small' His thumbs run smoothly over his holsters to make sure the guns are free and easily drawn. 'This stuff has an almost explosive dispersion through the body, so as long as I hit the right spot he should drop like a rock after being hit'

His eyes shift from side to side, taking in those closest to the rebel leader. 'Two more vampires, I can drop them too, but given their reaction time they will not provide as clean a shot as my main target' With an internal sigh Mois stops when those in front of him do. 'Bro owes me big for this one' He watches carefully as the rebels disperse about the area, getting ready for the attack. He stills his breathing, his body primed and ready. 'I only have a few seconds after the bullets start flying to down him and get him out of the way. My men will attack soon after the rebels do. They brought too small a force for these. My men will have them down in no time. But then again, this guy thought he was just dealing with slavers, so I can not fault him'

And then it begins. The sound of weapons clearing their projectiles fills the air and in one smooth motion Mois pulls his guns and takes a bead on the leader. With a final exhale he fires. Both needles fly true and an instant after striking the leader falls to the ground. Those closest to him pause, and lucky for the elder bother they are more confused than he could have hoped for and he drops them. Not a second later his own men begins storming the place, having followed the rebels in as he did but from different parts of the building. From above men come dropping down on lines and Mois takes that as his cue to move.

Rushing forward he scoops up the unconscious vampire and backtracks out of the building with haste. In the dim light he can not see the man clearly but as he steps out under the moonlight he glances down as his brother’s prize. 'He seems rather small for once his age. Perhaps he was made young' Mois has no real opinions on the non-human populace, and other than his family's slaves he's never even spoken to them on purpose. 'Brother on the other hand. . .' Mois rolls his eyes and leaves his men to clean up. He carries the unconscious creature to his own personal vehicle he took to the attack and after placing him in the back seat, the elder Vandros heads for his homestead.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alexi practically dances around with glee as his brother pulls up the long driveway. Bouncing on the balls of his feet he waits impatiently for Mois to shut the vehicle down and step out into the night. Rushing down to his brother he tries to see past him only to have the elder give him a stern look. “Alexi, you do know you are crazy, right brother? The things I have risked tonight. . .” Mois tries to keep a stern tone to his voice, however one look from his brother lets him know that his worries fall on deaf ears.

With a sigh he turns to the large four door and pulls open the back door. Grumbling lightly as Alexi tries to get a glimpse at the vampire he pulls the man carefully out and presents him to the delighted younger man. For the first time Alexi stills and his eyes grow soft. His hand moves slowly forward and stops, hovering over the vampire's forehead. “This is my dream my dear brother. This is the key to it all.” Mois simply nods. He does not know if his brother's plan will work, but he will not deny that it has strong merits. Drawing his hand back Alexi turns on his heel and strides swiftly inside. 'We can not have many of the servants seeing him. I know some of them would get it back to the rebellion that we have him, and we can not have that' The brothers walk silently through the house, the halls eerily silent.

Before Mois had arrived Alexi had ordered all the slaves to stay in their rooms until dawn, and for the most part he knows that they will listen However since most are either soft broken or simply collared there are no guaranties. Luck is on their side this night though, and all of them have listened. They reach the bedroom of the master of the house without incident. Mois raises and eyebrow at his brother, having not personally studied the binding rituals he is openly confused about the proximity of such a dangerous creature to his little brother. Alexi spots the look and simply smiles and motions for the vampire to be placed on the bed. Once that is done Alexi takes up the chains, tugs them a few times to make sure they are secured properly, and with his teeth clenched snaps on the first manacle.

His breath hisses out between his teeth as the sealing spikes pierce almost through to the nail. Picking up the second one carefully he repeats the process then steps back. His smile is still soft and full of admiration. Mois rolls his eyes again and snatches up some prepared bandages sitting on his small side table and binds his brother's thumbs carefully. “Well, you've done it. He's your now. Wha-” He is stopped by Alexi shaking his head.

Standing upright the elder Vandros raises an eyebrow once more. “Not yet, dear brother. . .” Alexi murmurs. “Not just yet. . .” Mois stand still for a few minutes, just watching his younger brother admire the sleeping figure. Then silently he walks over and takes hold of the back of the taller male's head. Leaning his own head in he pulls his brother forward to press their foreheads together.

“I don't, I. . .” His voice fails him,but Alexi smiles in understanding.

“I know, I am sorry.” With that he kisses his brother's forehead and Mois leaves silently. Turning he slowly steps backwards until his knees hit his bed. Sitting upon the mattress he scoots slowly back across the fine covers, his eyes never leaving his prize, until at last he comes to settle back against the headboard. There he waits, a smile on his lips, and a twinkle in his eye.

Joseph could practically smell the fear in the room as the other servants looked upon him and Master Alexi. In a sense, he might have been setting a bad example for some of the newer slaves, questioning the master in front of them, but he always made it clear to the other servants that he was the only one who was allowed to ever do that. As the head butler, he instructed the other workers to come to him with any questions, concerns, or complaints, and he would either address them himself or approach Alexi with them. There were some minor advantages that came with having raised the man you now called 'Master,' and the ability to occasionally question, even on rare occasions, was one of them.

But he had needed to speak up in this case. The moral implications of 'hard breaking' were not to be ignored, and in truth, he was concerned for his master's safety. After all, he was practically a father to the boy. Unfortunately, Alexi's cryptic response left much to be desired, like a real explanation of what the human meant to accomplish with all of this, apart from simply having another servant. He wanted to know, to understand, to protect Alexi from his own insanity. However, something about the tone of his master's voice, kind and gentle as it was, made it quite clear that no more argument would be acceptable.

So, just as he had done for over five centuries, he bowed low and replied, “Yes, Master Alexi. It will be done,” and exited the room.

These days, most of the “tools” Alexi wanted were easy enough to come by. Joseph made a few calls to the mansions “personal” suppliers and had the chains, potion, and both (donated) human and animal blood delivered to the mansion within the next few hours The speed required made these implements considerably more expensive, but Joseph knew that Alexi would care little about that. He simply added it to the financial spreadsheet for the household for the month of April and uploaded the updates into the household cloud storage.

Then for the next few hours, he requested the help of two other slaves, Gerald and Irina, a werewolf and a nymph, respectively, and moved the requested furniture into Alexi's room, set up the rigging for the chains, and then proceeded with the rest of his usual chores for the evening. When the items were delivered, he merely rigged the chains as his master had requested, and then set the potion and the blood inside Alexi's bedside table. Given the size of the room, this was well outside of the reach of any chained person on the other bed, and he would gladly move them if the prisoner was left unchained and unsupervised.

And just like that, all was ready for the arrival of this “completely wild vampire.”

~*~*~*~

The tranquilizer that took Erik out worked quickly enough that he hardly noticed the prick before he had fallen to the ground unconscious. He had no idea that the mission had fallen apart and only five of the ten men and women with him had gotten away cleanly. The humans in the Resistance would be comparatively fine, but the other creatures would be likely tried and executed for their crimes, or sold into servitude by the state.

All Erik knew when he awoke was that the mission had gone horribly wrong, and that he was in some kind of opulent looking mansion. The bed he was chained on was the most comfortable bed he had slept on in his life, but the fact that he was chained to the wall, with a human leering at him... well that put a damper on things.

“What the hell am I doing here?! What happened to my people?! Why am I chained like this?” he demanded, looking up at Alexi for answers. He recognized the chains as binding chains, and it was not difficult to surmise that he was in someone's house to be broken as a slave; he had certainly heard enough horror stories. He struggled against the chains, but that only seemed to make him weaker, quite apart from the fact that it was beyond useless. So the clank of the chains finally stopped, and he looked up at his captor, seething and demanding an explanation.

His heart skips a beat as the other man stirs. He can not suppress the smile curling across his face at the sight of it's burning gaze. 'Even just waking, and being drugged as well, it has such passion' A soft flutter begins in his stomach as the vampire's glare settles upon the master of the house and Alexi shifts ever so slightly under it's fury. 'I knew he would be nothing like my other slaves, having broken none of them myself, but the light I see there is inspiring to say the least. I can see why so many have chosen to follow him. I bet they were all more than willing to die for him a hundred times over' His body practically writhes on the bed beneath Alexi's gaze as he tries to fight his bindings and the human swallows hard.

'Well, may as well get started' As the figure settles once again, still laying upon the bed's plush surface, Alexi sits up a little straighter and shifts his fond smile to a more commanding one. His eyes grow cold, the eyes he gets when a slave disobeys him and needs reminding of it's place in the world. Alexi is not a cruel man, but he can not help how he has been raised. “I admire you fire, and your accomplishments are not to be disregarded, so I will not be foolish enough to tell you not to fight me.” His voice is smooth, just loud enough o be heard in the near silent room. The only other noise in the room, and the only source of light, is the fire crackling in the tall fireplace. “However until you begin to learn you place I feel no need to answer you inquiries, especially when they are barked at me like an angry mutt at the end of his. . . . .Chains. . . . .” Alexi chuckles lightly and shifts so his legs are dangling off the edge of the bed.

“I would normally give my new acquisition a speech about how if one just does as they are told and does not question me, how easy life here on my estate can be.” He stands slowly and begins moving closer to the vampire. “However, again, I am no fool. I expect you to fight. In fact, I look forward to it.” He stops, just far enough away that the other could not reach him no matter how he may try. “However I will tell you I do not plan on bringing you to harm. Though a hard break can never be completely without harm, it is never the less how things must be.” His eyes soften for an instant, his voice sounding wistful. “We will do great things, you and I. . .” His visage becomes once more cold and distant as he continues to look down upon his most marvelous challenge.

~*~*~*~*~

A few odd looks are thrown his way however Mois simply makes his way to the briefing room. His quick strides carry him through the crowded squad room into the back hallway where the elevator stands alone at the end. Behind him a low level of murmurs seem to redouble as he moves out of sight, and a few phrases catch his attention.

“They say he walked out in the middle of a mission.”

“I guess flying to the top on the wings of you money makes you think you can do whatever you want!”

“With his history, I'm surprised he didn't do it earlier. Pampered brat.”

These words however pass right over him, and he soon finds himself out of earshot of the office gossip. 'Next time, I should just tell him no. As if I really could. My brother may be insane, but when he asks something insane of me, it means it's important' He lets out a sigh and steps into the elevator. Punching the number pad he finishes sorting out his story quickly and prepares to talk his way out of the mess his brother conned him into. As the doors slide open his usual distant stoic expression is firmly in place. The conference room lays at the other end of the hallway and by the time he reaches the thick cherry oak doors he is as confident on the inside as he seems on the outside that his plan will work.

~~Time Skip~~

'A part of me still can not believe that worked' Mois smiles inside as he recalls the look on his superior's face as he laid out a well thought out lie about using the fight to gather vital information and how said information is now being processed by an outside expert. 'Well, technically it isn't a lie. The vampire is a great source of information, and if my brother succeeds in breaking him we'll have access to all of it' Plopping down on a bench in the men's locker room he begins stripping off his gear for a post-op shower. His lips press into a thin line as he recalls once asking Joseph about being hard broken. The then Governor of the two children had tried to dance around the issue, not meeting their curious gazes.

However Alexi, use to getting his way, had put his foot down and demanded an explanation. 'One does have to admire his spunk though. He managed to finds ways around telling us too much about the specifics, but still enough to satisfy my dear overbearing little brother Joseph had told them how it had taken around a year for the final stage of breaking, the true eradication of his free will. Mois pauses, furrowing his eyebrows. 'However, it can't really been an eradication. He, though many years later, still has his will, and more as each generation passes. I would not doubt that is exactly how it felt though. . . .' A faint pain passes through his chest. Partially about what Joseph must have gone through, but mostly at the thought that his brother would be doing that very thing soon. 'Should this take as long, if not longer, than it did for Joseph, I fear the damage it may do to Alexi. He is. . . .Kind, for an aristocrat'

Stripping off the last bit of cloth he wanders into the shower area. The area is deserted but the floor is still wet and a bit grimy from his men doing their own post-ops earlier that evening. Mois wrinkles his nose at the filth. Neither he nor he brother can deny their upbringing and despite his years on the force Mois still feel his stomach turn at the state of the showers after a full team uses it. Moving all the way to the back area he turns the nob on the shower and a cold stream of water begins pouring down from the shower head. He watches it patiently until steam begins to rise from the droplets and without testing the temperature he steps under the near scalding spray. He's always had a high tolerance for heat, and the hot shower does wonders for relaxing his tense muscles.

“I am not your slave, and never will be,” Erik retorted coldly, his gray eyes glowering up at the man who dared consider himself his owner. Despite the fact that he had just woken from a drugged state, he was completely alert, though breathing deeply to keep the fear and anger from consuming him. Given the strength and weight of these chains, brute force alone was not going to get him out of this place. Becoming consumed by his emotions would cloud his rational thought and judgment, only making his predicament worse. But despite his best efforts, his vampiric eyes literally glowed red as he stared into those of his captor. The man's thinly veiled insults, his calmly superior demeanor, somehow threatened to infuriate him even further. His tone continued to be caustic, with just a note of righteous fury, as he sat up on the plush bed and continued his rant.

“My place is with my men, not here in this tacky room, being talked down to by some damned slaver. I will not let you hard break me, and I will not be yours. I'll rot here first. And 'We'll do great things together'? What the hell do you think you have in mind? You're a slave owner. As far as I'm concerned, you're part of the problem in this world. No one deserves to belong to another, and I will die before I allow you to take away my free will,” the vampire leader declared boldly.

Curious as he was for information, he would rather rot here than dare allow the other man's threats to hold any sway upon him. The room around him was lush, opulent, and enormous. A larger canopied bed, made of the finest wood and adorned with sheets of the finest cloth, filled a small portion of it. There was an adjoining bathroom that also looked huge. Clearly this was a man of money. But why the hell did his captor want him? Maybe after he had been taken out, slavers had sold him to this rich guy. So many questions, but which was more important, proving his defiance or acquiescing just enough, acting just polite enough to find out what was going on?

Alexi watches in mild fascination as the vampire lashes back at him. 'He's breathing hard, he's definitely agitated, but with the drugs in his system he shouldn't be able to get so physically worked up. I guess that could have something to do with his age' He tilts his head, listening carefully to the man's ranting. 'He is so passionate. I wish I could see that more in my own servants. I know most are slaves, but the few humans even act like tortured little puppies. I'm not cruel, I never punish without a reason. Is ti so much to ask to see a little more backbone?' Letting out a sigh Alexi tilts a little, leaning back against one of the foot posts on his four poster bed.

His little smile is still in place and even as the vampire falls silent he feels no need to respond right away. The daggers flying from the man's eyes are almost soothing. 'He has just what I need, and he will give it to me whether he knows it or not. He will do what I need him to do, but not by submitting, by defying. He is, perfect' His tongue darts out to lick his lips before he finally speaks up once more. “I agree, slavers are a huge part of the problem. But every problem has a solution, and if you want to be around to see it all you have to do is what needs to be done.” He chuckles lightly. “When we reach the end of this, I'll tell you the solution, but until then, just keep being yourself.” Turning on his heel Alexi strides toward the open door to his bathroom. He pauses in the doorway, one hand on the frame. Turning to look over his shoulder he adds one final note, “I may be everything you hate in humans, and I don't expect you to believe me, but I just wanted to let you know one thing. I never lie. I may not tell the whole truth, I may dance around it, but I never lie.” His voice trails off and with a light smile he vanishes into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After finishing the last bit of his paperwork from the night's events Mois hosp in his car and heads home. The sun is till high in the sky, and traffic make the trip an hour longer than it has to be. By the time he pulls into the family's large garage he is thoroughly sick and tired of dealing with other human beings. Slamming the door to his SUV he rolls his eyes at the sight of some of the morning staff buffing his brother's collection of antique cars. 'If he ever actually drives any of those in public, people are going to think he's crazier than they already do. But still, the MUST remain in working order and look all shiny' Shaking his head with a sigh he waves to one of the servants. The mousey young girl comes over quickly, her eyes on her shoes as she stops in front of the elder Vandros. “Send Joseph to my house with a bottle of the old Tullian, an 86 if we still have it, and a sandwich, he'll know which one.”

The servant nods and scurries away to deliver the order. Mois watches her go for a few seconds then turns and heads out the garage's side door. There is a good stretch of lawn between the garage and his small house on the grounds and he enjoys the walk in the fresh air. The lawn is well manicured, a little longer than one would expect, but that's all thanks to the younger Vandros. He's always enjoyed thick plush grass and even to this day can be found laying on it from time to time when he needs a break from “being an adult”. A smile flashes briefly over Mois's face as he recalls how many times he'd been sent out to find his brother after a particularly bad turn with the parents. At the thought of his brother though he pauses, turning back to look at the mansion. His eyes narrow as his gaze travels up the side wall towards the upper floors. The sun's glare turns his back on to the lawn quickly and with a sigh he makes his way the last hundred feet to his house.

Once inside he sheds all of his outer gear quickly and slips into a comfortable pair of sweats waiting by the door. The servants do not come to his house unless he asks for them, so instead of leaving his clothes in a pile as his brother would Mois dumps them into an air chute that would take them to the manor to be cleaned. They would be returned later via another chute, plastic wrapped and folded neatly be morning. Even as an old servant's house, the interior is rather lovely, and well furnished. A fireplace stands cold along one wall with a plush two seater couch in front of it and small coffee table between the two. With a sigh Mois moves over to the opposite wall and unlocks a door on the opposite wall. Years ago the door had been installed as a way to connect the main house to Mois's so that the vampire and other night dwelling servants can traverse the pace between the two safely. The tunnel connecting the two building looks very midevil, as his brother wished it, and often times Mois would send for Joseph for updates on his brother. Taking a seat in a high backed chair beside the fireplace Mois groans as the stress of the day begins to take their toll. 'I may need to ask Joseph for a massage. The stress of all this is really starting to make my body regret loving my brother so much. . . .'

Erik was downright confused. If he had not known better, he would have thought that perhaps his new “master” was simply crazy. But no, this strange little man had a plan, it's just Erik had absolutely no idea what it was, and his infuriating references to it made no sense. This wealthy man was already an enigma, and he had disappeared into the restroom before even bothering to tell Erik his damned name.

The idea of just sitting here, staring at the walls, and doing nothing threatened to drive him mad. So he moved to sit on the edge of the bed, just at the end of the reach of the chains. Carefully, he positioned himself so that he had leverage on the side of the bed, and then pulled on the weighted chains holding his wrists. It was less because he thought he would break free, and more as something to keep his mind and body working on strength training. This continued for about ten minutes, as he simply wanted to keep himself occupied. He had to keep his strength up if he was ever going to get out of here.

But finally Erik stopped and lay back down on the bed. He was tired much sooner than he should have been. What had that tranquilizer done to him? He had drank some animal blood before the mission, so it would be a few hours yet before he was in need of more sustenance, but then why was he so weak?

~*~*~

Joseph had been working with three other slaves, tending to starting Alexi's and Mois' supper in the main kitchen, when he received word requesting his presence in the elder brother's cottage. Immediately upon hearing the call, he himself called another slave to take over his role in cooking.

“Veroni, take over for me here. As always, make enough for all of the creatures who eat or enjoy human food. There's nothing wrong with leftovers, and Master Alexi want his servants to be well-fed.”

Working quickly, he prepared a delectable turkey salad sandwich just as Mois had enjoyed since he was a child, wrapped it up, and traversed the tunnel to the cottage out on the grounds. It was a useful addition for those creatures who could not stand sunlight. The daylight would not kill Vampires, but it did burn their skin, giving them something similar to a bad sunburn with only a few minutes of exposure, and second degree burns within an hour. All of this was treatable, but it was unpleasant. It had been one of Joseph's few requests in his time with Alexi for him to add this underground entrance.

Sighing, the vampire butler rang the doorbell attached to the cottage door at the end of the tunnel. It was connected to the doorbell system, but the chime was a slightly different pitch. Ingenious really.

A soft sigh leaves his lips as Alexi lowers himself into the steaming bath. He can feel a tingle of excitement as the warmth envelops him, ripples covering the pool sized bath as he chuckles lightly. After his parents had passed Alexi refurbished the house many times over, giving many parts of it an old world feel. The bath has high ceilings, pillars surrounding the three bathing pools, and the décor reminiscent of old Greece. Along the walls are frescoes of the Greek gods, the pillars gleaming marble with gold inlay in intricate design. He had hired winged servants just so that this room could be cleaned thoroughly, and safely. With another sigh he sinks lower into the water, dropping his head back as he gazes at the ceiling high above. 'I could feel the passion rolling off of him. He is so fierce and committed, and even bound, so strong. . . .' He smiles softly, letting the scalding water ease his aching muscles.

He didn't realize until this moment just how tense all the waiting and planning had made him. But now, under the soft glow of the fake wall torches, he lets himself relax for a few moment before the next phase of his plan begins. 'I have him now, and that was the easy part. Well, for me at least. I never doubted that Bro would disappoint me. He has never failed to live up to my selfish demands and foolish whims' He sits up a little straighter before pushing off the wall. He begins swimming languidly across the small pool, the water making his pale skin glisten. 'This is no whim though. This must be done, and even if it costs me what I hold most precious, second only to one, then so be it' Gritting his teeth he strikes out harder, his years of practice showing through his speed and accuracy. After a few laps around the rounded basin he steps out and charges for the next pool over.

With a rather child like grin he leaps high into the air before plunging feet first into the middle pool. The shock of icy cold refreshes him in a way nothing else ever has and when he comes to the surface he lets out a hearty laugh. 'It is time. . .' Shaking some of the water from his hair Alexi makes his way to the side of the bath and climbs out. A line of bath robes line the wall, all from different ancient cultures in color and design. Scooping up one of the many towels sitting on the bench beside them he begins drying off while pacing back and forth in front of the robes. The decision takes him several minutes, by then he is almost completely dry save for his hair, but eventually he grabs a shortish red one. The fabric is silken, gleaming slightly, with a large Chinese dragon embroidered on the back in black thread. The hems too are black, and as he slips in one and ties it shit with the black belt he smiles as he recalls how he came into possession of the robe.

'But that is a story for another time. I must focus' His smile fades, morphing into more of a smirk as he dries his hair best he can. 'This will not work if he sees me as beneath him, however I can not act better than he too much or I am sure I will just frustrate him. We need to begin talking. We must communicate' With that thoguht in mind he moves to the door leading to his bedrrom and after a calming breath he pulls the door open and enters the darker room. Towel draped about his shoulders he is careful to keep his gaze steady as he walks over to his bed. The door clicks as it closes behind him and almost as if it was a cue Alexi's eyes find those of his new acquisition’s. His smirk still in place he limbs on the the bed carefully, laying on his stomach so he can face the vampire. Propping up his head on his hands his smirk widens.

“Forgive the lateness of this, I was a bit over excited before to remember my manners. I am Alexi Vandros, feel free to call me what you like, however I will not tolerate vulgarities. I know you are far to clever to fall to such a low brow tactic.” He raises an eyebrow goodnaturedly. “I am sure you will find better ways to try and gain your freedom than upsetting me. Not that it is easy to do so.” Dropping his arms down so the lay atop one another beneath his chest he tilts his head to the side, waiting to see how the other responds.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mois sits quietly in the silence as he waits for the family's oldest servant to appear. Many servants had come and gone from the Vandros estate, most of them gone during one rough patch a couple hundred years ago, but Joseph has always been as far as the boys are concerned. 'The manny of all mannies. No human could have kept up with us in our younger years, not with how we conspired so closely and skillfully. I swear, he could coordinate a capture strike with the servants faster than I can find someone to get me a cup of coffee at work, and there I am the boss! Well, one of the bosses' A smirk finds it's way to his lips once again as a soft chime goes off over head. 'I've told him a thousand times he can just walk right in. . .' “Come in.” he calls out.

As Joseph comes inside Mois rolls his eyes at the memory of just why he still continues to use the bell. Mois had though it was a joke at first, something offhanded that his broth mentioned. However after the fifth or sixth time the elder vampire had rung the bell he'd asked out right why. It was then that Joseph had revealed that his brother was serious when he said Mois needs a lover and that the servants should be careful when entering the small cottage. 'I can not believe Alexi actually gave that order. He does know that that was basically an announcement that I don't have one' His eyes follow Joseph's movements as he goes about his normal routine when summoned and an honest smile comes to his lips. 'Though, I don't really mind Joseph knowing, not that he didn't already. I mean, I talk to him about everything that's relevant. Sometimes I find his presence so comforting I wonder why my brother has any need of a lover'

Shaking his head slightly as the train of thought leads him to a darker chapter of Joseph's past he'd rather not think about Mois reaches out and scoops up half of his sandwich. Biting the tip off the triangle in his hand he motions fro Joseph to take a seat. Once he is seated on the two-seater he lets out a sigh and looks into the old creature's eyes. “I know I left only hours ago, but, how is he? What is happening, how is the household?” His tone while asking of his brother is honestly worried, but as he continues his tone shifts to curious.

Erik had never been a patient man. Sure, he could wait if he had to, but he preferred to be up and around while doing so. He would pace, listen to music, read, something to keep his mind occupied. But right now, the nervous energy and the fear from having been captured had his mind practically vibrating in a restless state. But at the same time, his body felt tired and weak, as his energy was being sapped away by the binding chains.

It seemed that this strange new owner had been in his restroom for ages. The door was soundproof, and he had not seen the inside when the human had opened it, so he had no way of knowing that there were a few large pools inside, or that the strange human was swimming.

After what seemed like an eternity, Erik heard the man emerge and begin to speak. He noticed the elegant bathrobe, but in his mind it was just overly extravagant clothing. Alexi Vandros. CEO of that horrible slave control device company? EleCon, I think? Why the heck would someone like him want little old me? Being a cell Leader doesn't make me THAT valuable. He took a deep breath to try and remain calm, knowing that pure anger was not going to help him escape this situation.

“Thanks for the introduction, Alexi. Though it is customary to mention your name to your victim prior to abducting and chaining him to a bed. Or, you know, to just skip that latter part altogether. You still have not told me what your purpose is in abducting me. I want specifics, not vague descriptions that are meaningless to me. What 'great things'? What 'solution'? I'm not lashing out at you any more, so tell me what I need to do to be out of these chains, or preferably out of this house,” the vampire leader requested. His tone had begun as casually sarcastic and indignant, but as he continued, it morphed into one that was more curious and concerned. But at no point did he sound desperate, and though he was still angry, it was a far more controlled and less hostile anger, seeming to simmer underneath the surface rather than to lash out at Alexi. At no point did had the vampire even raised his voice. After Erik's initial panic, he had found a measure of calm within himself that had served him so well as a rebel soldier and leader.

~*~*~*~

Joseph entered the small cottage and presented the sandwich to Master Mois before sitting down as directed. Unfortunately, he was quickly confused and rather embarrassed by the question, as he did not fully understand what Mois meant.

“As far as I can tell, everything is going smoothly. The servants are working at the usual efficiency, no major problems have arisen -” Then it hit him, and with a look of comprehension dawning across his pale visage, he spoke with a greater understanding. “The completely wild vampire. He's here isn't he?” He had become quite skilled at controlling and concealing his emotions, but for a moment his eyes glowed a dark red for a moment, showing that he was more than a little angry that Master Alexi had not seen fit to inform him of the other creature's arrival. How was he to keep the household safe if he was not informed of these developments?!

But he would never criticize either of his Masters. For years he had been unable, and now he was simply unwilling. Even though he was no longer “hard” broken, the submission was still very much a part of his psyche. So he simply said, “I was not informed of the vampire's arrival until just now, so I do not know how Master Alexi is faring with the captive. The other servants, even those that assisted me in setting up the bedroom, are unaware of the truth, and I can ensure that it remains that way for as long as you and Master Alexi require.” Of course, I could have done so more easily if Master Alexi had kept me informed, but it is not too late now.

A tingle rushes through his stomach as the male seems to take a calming breath before responding. His legs come up and begin kicking back and forth much like a teen girl's would as he listens to the other speak. 'So controlled. So calm sounding. He has recovered quickly. It's impressive. The only other guy I have ever seen recovering that quickly is my brother after one of my more insane stunts. But then again, it was in both our best interests for him to do so' He tilts his head as he listens, legs still swaying as he contemplates the other's words. 'Ah, diving right into the meat of the matter I see. I can respect the fact that he wants strait answers, it is the fastest way to reach an end. However, telling him would lead us away from the end I am aiming for'

Feeling actually a little bad about not being able to give Erik a strait answer he looks away with a sigh, his legs slowing. “I am sorry, but I can not reveal my plan to you yet. Perhaps, in time,” his gaze returns to his captive, “I will be able to trust you with it. However until then I can only hope you will come to believe me when I say I am working for the best of all of us, your kind, and mine.” His legs fall back into a steady rhythm as he motions to the place where the chains are attached to the wall. “As for getting out of the chains, around the fifth dose you will be tame enough for me to not have to worry about being strangled in my sleep. However you will have to stay in this room until the seventh dose. After that I may allow you to take trips outside the house. As soon as I'm sure it's taken.”

An earnest shine comes to his eyes as he adds, “I am sure this will be unpleasant for you. Joseph still gets a dark look when he thinks about it, and he was broken centuries ago.” Alexi averts his eyes for a moment before returning his gaze to the chained man. 'Though, if my plan works, we will not get past the fourth dose. . .' He lets out a sigh and smiles at Erik. “Any more questions?”

~*~*~*~*~

Joseph's obvious initial confusion makes Mois's stomach clench. He sets down the slick of sandwich without even taking a bite. His stomach rebels at the action however his concerns outweigh his need to feed. Propping his head up on laced fingers, elbows on his knees, Mois grinds his teeth at Joseph's near panic over the realization of the rebel's presence. 'Alexi didn't even tell him just who he brought in. I know it's his plan that no one from the rebellion finds out about this, however I would have thought that he would at least tell Joseph. . . .' He watches in mild fascination as the vampire visibly calms down and his tone returns to normal in only a few seconds. With a sigh he looks to his old caretaker and says, “I'm sure he just forgot in all the excitement of the arrival.”

Shaking his head he sits back, his hands gripping the arms of the chair lightly. “Alexi will be most appreciative if you would keep any of the servants from finding out about the, um, wild vampire. . .” He hesitates for a moment, but then concern for his brother overrides caution. Leaning closer to Joseph he lowers his voice, though he knows there is no one around to overhear him. “This is not just some wild vampire Joseph. This guy is the leader of the rebellion.” Shaking his head again he brings a hand up and presses it against his forehead. His eyes close as he whispers, “Brother tells me that he has some plan for bringing peace, but in order for it to work he has to hard break this guy.” His eyes open, hands falling to his knees where they take a white knuckled grip.

Looking deep into Joseph's eyes his tone becomes openly worried. “I have no idea what the whole plan is, but the fact that he refuses to tell it all to me give me enough reason to feel on edge.” He lets out a sigh, leaning back into the chair his eyes fall closed again. “I have tried over and over to figure out what he's up to. I know that after the breaking there is no way for him to even rejoin the rebellion, let alone regain his old post. . .” His voice tapers off and he sits silently for a few seconds before his eyes open and seek out once more those of the vampire.

The way this wealthy nobleman acted with such immaturity was incredibly strange, and practically offensive, to the vampiric rebel leader. But he tried to remain calm, even while the bastard mentioned the breaking potion treatments, and how he was “working for the good of both their kinds.”

“That is such complete bullshit. Slavery never benefits anyone but the oppressor, so don't act like you are doing anything to help magical creatures by doing this. I will die before taking even the first dose of that blasted potion. I will not be turned into chattel. You have no right to do this, Alexi, and I will not allow it,” Erik replied coldly, his eyes changing into a dark red. Though it was obvious that his anger still simmered below the surface, his tone held restraint. It was calmer now, as though his mouth were barely containing the storm inside him that threatened to rage back at this arrogant human.

~*~*~

The elder vampire listened carefully, for he understood that all of the information Master Mois provided was given in complete confidence and would be important in protecting the household and Master Alexi's interests. He did not 'just forget.' For some reason Master Alexi does not want me to know. I am surprised he does not trust me after all these years. But he would not meet the elder brother's eyes.

“Peace can never come from further oppression,” Joseph replied almost automatically, before realizing what he had just said. Immediately he slid off his chair and knelt on the floor before Master Mois. “Please forgive me. I did not intend such disrespect,” he implored, staring at the older Master's feet. But the elder Vandros had always been less harsh with the slaves even than Alexi, and subconsciously, Joseph suspected that he would not be punished. Still, he was apologizing in the extremely submissive manner that was expected of slaves. He was unable to do anything else.

The apparent anger expressed by the vampire seems to only serve as an excitement for the wealthy lord. His eyes glaze over a bit as his smile slides into a dreamy expression. He even ignores his curse for now just so he can feel the waves of righteous anger rolling off of the bound man. 'Ah, so beautiful. The only other being I have seen with such passion. . .is me' He chuckles at the thought, letting his focus slip back into reality. Rolling over he stretches out, his robe splitting to expose one leg as he brings it up, toes pointing towards the ceiling. “Believe me or not, it is your choice. I put great stock in the right to make one's own decisions, despite what I am going to do to you over the next few months.” Swinging his leg down he uses the momentum to sit up, his back facing the vampire.

Sliding off the bed he grabs one of the posters at the end of his bed, causing his body to swing around so he can face Erik. A different kind of fire ripples behind his eyes, but no less strong that the vampire's own. “Keep that flame you beautiful creature.” he murmurs softly. With that he turns to his wardrobe and throws the doors wide open. Stripping down, the doors blocking him from view, he quickly changes into one of his more comfortable but respectable outfits as quickly as possible. As he closes the doors he calls over to Erik. “Sorry, but I must go now. I have a meeting with one of my contractors. I'm having some additions made tot he servant's quarters.” Then almost to himself he adds, “The drackl don' seem to have enough headroom. . .” He seems to drift off into his own little world and without another word he slips out of his room, locking the door behind him.

The patterned carpet beneath his feet make his steps all but silent. However many of his servants still hear him coming, their hearing very acute. Still thinking to himself he waves over the first one he spots out of the corner of his eye. The boy rushes to his side as fast as he can, bowing deep. When he does not reply right away the servant returns to an upright position and waits patiently. The servants learn early on in their time at the mansion that Lord Alexi will often times be too deep in thought to address you right away, and some have even had to wait up to ten minutes, following at his heels before he'll tell them what he called them over for. Luckily this is not the case this time and after less than half a minute he looks to the young looking lad with a small smile. “Sorry, but could you bring me Joseph. Bring him to my first floor lounge, by the front hall.”

The boy stands up a little straighter and bows with a muttered, “Yes sir.” before taking off down the hall. Alexi watches him go, and even after he vanishes around a corner he continues staring off towards where he last saw him. His gaze however is focused inwards and after a few seconds of this he drops his head down and begins wandering towards the lounge he named. Once there he wanders over to the fireplace, already crackling with cheery warmth, and simply leans against the side of it while lost deep in thought.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Mois blinks as the sudden and rather uncalculated response from the vampire. His eyes follow the man to his subservient position on the ground, but it takes his a few second to gather his thoughts. 'Joseph has always had free reign around Alexi and I to express himself since our parent's passed, however this is the first time that I recall that he has done so in such a manner. He's normally more smooth and subtle about it' Before his thoughts go any further though his attention snaps to the kneeling servant and he chides himself for making him wait. Not wanting Joseph to think Mois actually took offense to the statement he slides off his own chair to kneel beside him. His hands slide out to grip his shoulders gently as he murmurs, “Sorry Joseph, you did nothing wrong, I am glad for your honesty.”

His right hand slides off the servant's shoulder so he can tilt the other's head up, endeavoring to meet the elder vampire's eye. The look in his own eyes holds no small amount of confusion. “I agree with your assessment, and from living my life with the man, I don't believe Alexi thinks any different than we do. Which is why I am afraid for him.” Standing he pulls the other to his feet with him, still holding his arms as his gaze drops to the floor. “Whatever he is doing, what it appears to be is far from what I believe the truth of his goals are. He likes the non-humans too much for him to be really wanting to do such a thing to one. Especially one he admires so much. . .” Mois's musing is cut short by the sound of his doorbell. Cocking his head to the noise he releases Joseph and walks over to the door leading to the underground tunnel.

When the door swings open to reveal a young male servant with his head bowed Mois cocks an eyebrow down at the lad in question. “Forgive the intrusion m'lord, but I was told that I could find the servant Joseph here.” His voice is strong but mild and as he finishes speaking his head comes up, his eyes seeking out the one he was sent to retrieve. “Lord Alexi wishes to speak with him immediately.” Turning back to the room Mois gives the elder vampire a nod, motioning that he should do as requested and steps aside so Joseph can pass. There is a slight plea in his eyes, some part of him begging Joseph to find out what Alexi is up to, and more over, to keep his precious bother safe.

Alexi's seemingly dismissive, and even excited, manner did nothing to dispel the vampire captive's simmering fury. Furthermore, the sheer hypocrisy of his claiming to support free will while blatantly curtailing Erik's own made his blood boil at the thought. He even acted as though he cared for his slaves! Except that if he cared for them, he would let them be free. It was all he could do not to try and strike the man where he stood, though surely that would have only led to a tightening of his chains.

Once Alexi had left, the vampire captive looked around his opulently decorated cell. The sheer ostentatiousness made him want to vomit. He stood up from the bed, and tested the length of his chains. They had been extended to allow a ten foot radius, though compared to the the size of the room, that hardly let him get out of the bed, and certainly did not allow him to even get as far as the restroom. He would have asked what he was expected to do, as there was a chamber pot set on the bedside table. Unfortunately, no food or water accompanied it, however. Unbeknown to Erik, Joseph had held enough sympathy for the captive-to-be to at least provide that basic necessity. But he could never step so far out of Alexi's wishes as to provide him with anything resembling food or water, as much as he had wanted to. Erik would also find not a single weapon in the room, nor anything that could be turned into a weapon in any reasonable amount of time, as in before the prisoner would be caught.

Besides, already the lack of blood and the after-effects of the tranquilizer were beginning to get to the vampire. So, with a frustrated growl, he settled down to sleep.

~*~*~

Joseph forced himself to meet Master Mois' eyes from his spot on the ground. He found it difficult despite being given little choice with the way the elder brother took his face. Forgiveness he had anticipated, but for the elder brother to actually lower himself to meet the slave? That was quite moving. Still, he could never reveal such emotion. It was simply not done. Proper servants were supposed to be invisible, and part of that was repressing any outward displays of emotion.

He understood too well Master Mois' confusion, and he would have replied, respectfully of course. But then the moment was interrupted by the knock on the passageway door.

”I am over six centuries old, and I am capable of using text messages, email alerts, and cell phone calls. Sending an actual person to fetch me is beyond inefficient. Then again, Master Alexi is terribly old fashioned. Perhaps he enjoys the romanticism of it, and well, with as much wealth as the Vandros family has, he can afford to be inefficient at times,” the vampire butler thought, a small smile involuntarily crossing his visage. He bowed low and respectfully the the elder brother, and dared to meet his eye for one last time, when the servant messenger was not paying attention. The look conveyed the reply, “I shall try, and I will protect him.”

As they traversed the passageway, Joseph was silent, simply pondering the conversation he had had with Master Mois. He was rather doubtful about his ability to wring the truth from Master Alexi, however. ”If that eccentric master will not tell his own brother, than who says he will tell me?!” he thought worriedly, becoming increasingly exasperated when he considered the younger brother's strange actions.

“Thank you for delivering the message, Sindrus. Please return to your chores,” he commented to the younger servant when they reached the main mansion. The lad scampered off with no problem, and the head servant walked purposefully to the first floor lounge, by the front hall.

He arrived in only five minutes, and bowed low as he crossed the entryway into the room.

“You requested my presence, Master Alexi?”

As he waits Alexi begins humming a little tune, his foot tapping in time to the beat. He relaxes his thoughts for a time, preparing himself for the upcoming conversation. It wasn't until he had begun getting ready for the day that he realized that he had as of yet to fill Joseph in, and with as much as he values the elder vampire he felt like perhaps this time he should be a little more cautious. 'Joseph would never betray me, I know this. There isn't a doubt in my mind about this, however. . . Would it hurt him more to know my intentions or to be kept in the dark?' Alexi knows full well that the old slave has no rights, and as such he doesn't have to tell him anything. However deep down he can feel it approaching. That all important moment in his life that most people die without knowing. That one thing that will make their life worth living.

Finally the door opens to reveal the focus of his deep musings. His foot stops and he turns to gaze at the vampire waiting respectfully for his response. He remains silent as he move before the fireplace slowly. The flames leaping at his back casts his front in shadows hiding his expressions. He lets out a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest so he's gripping his elbows in opposite hands. A thoughtful expression crosses his face, still hidden by the shadows and he says quietly, “You were with Mois.” There is no question in his tone, just a simple statement of fact. Alexi would often send for one servant or another, forcing the message delivered on foot. His reasoning rather simple but one he feels no desire to reveal. 'If he had been in the house it would not have taken that long to get to this room. Joseph takes my summons seriously, and I know his walking speed very well from having spent days doing the math' Despite the pride he feels from the accomplishment, Alexi is ready to take it to his grave, or to award any who figure it out. It has always given him an air of mystery.

Motioning to one of the tall backed chairs before the fire he waits for the slave to take a seat before speaking up again. “I'm curious. I have no doubt why he called you.” He shifts to the side, tilting his head with a faint smile. He knows Joseph may have a hard time seeing the smile itself, but it is a common stance he's sure the other recognizes as non-threatening. “I have not told him much, so I am curious what of that he's told you.” He shifts again, leaning back against the top shelf of the mantle. “I'd also like to know, what you think of the situation, with what you know so far. Come, be honest with me. I know it's bothering you as I have never seen you bothered before. . .” He waits quietly for a response from the other, making no motions to rush the elder.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Letting out a sigh as he closes the door behind the two slaves Mois covers his eyes with the palms of both hands and presses down. 'Alexi, you are insane, and if I have to lock you in a little box to keep you alive at the end of this, I will. Without hesitation little brother' Throwing his arms wide he lets out a little groan and stretches. The events of the day have exhausted him, so after consuming the rest of the sandwich and drinking a couple glasses of the wine, Mois retires to his bedroom to get some sleep. His bed, while large, is dwarfed be the size of his brother's up in the manor. However Mois has never felt the need for a bigger one. 'It's big enough for me, and that's just fine. I don't need room for two, or ten like Alexi' On occasion his own reasoning threatens to depress him, but then normally he drifts off to sleep comfortably and he avoids thinking of it for another day. This time however he lay awake for a long time simply staring at the blank ceiling, as if somehow the dark blue paint could give him the answers he seeks.

To Master Alexi's initial comment about Joseph having been with Mois, the vampire merely nodded deeply in assent, the nod nearly turning into a bow. There was no reason to refute or affirm the statement, as they both knew it to be true. Nor was there a reason to make excuses. Joseph was not the type to make excuses for his behavior; he had never had to do so. Even if he were, there was nothing inherently wrong with answering a summons from the elder brother. As requested, he took a seat across from his Master, awaiting his questions.

But when those questions came, Joseph mentally tensed up, though outwardly he still retained his respectfully relaxed position. Master Alexi requested his honesty, and the truth was, he was terrified thatif he was honest on this particular issue, his master would never trust him again. But even though the tone had been that of a request, it had in fact been phrased as an order. Joseph was still soft-broken, and that still meant that he had to follow any direct order given to him, it was just that he was merely able to have his own thoughts about them now. On occasion, he could even find a few loopholes to the orders, though he rarely tried. Now though, he wondered if his breaking would force “complete” honesty on him, or if he could still conceal his more dangerous thoughts. But he had to say something, even now, the spell would not allow for much more hesitation. He could already feel the all-too-familiar migraine beginning to form in his head, and the compulsion to obey beginning to tickle at his body, though it only took about twenty seconds for him to begin his response.

“I am concerned for your safety, Master Alexi. I want to protect this household and to protect you. The more I understand of your plans, the easier that becomes. Any opinions I may accidentally possess on your plans are irrelevant, as I am, after all, merely property. I exist only to serve you, and I wish to do that to the best of my ability,” the head slave replied calmly, his tone sincere.

There, the compulsion and headache were both gone, and though everything he had said had been absolutely truthful, he had managed to avoid revealing his almost rebellious misgivings. Sure, he had always been free to express himself around Masters Alexi and Mois, but thankfully, his true opinions had never been so important to the conversation. He could only secretly hope that Master Alexi would not press further into them now, for he feared reprisal if he expressed them. At the very least, his master would surely never trust him again.