"Guests? Who would visit you here?"

The question rolled off my lips before I had much of a chance to think about it. It was odd... Daffney the cleaner? For a moment I thought about making a rather sarcastic retort such as "of course Daffney works as the cleaner. Womans place and all" But I really wasn't feeling entirely suicidal.

The mad thought flashed through my mind, and another followed one it, one that I found profoundly troubling. That thought felt as natural as breathing to me... it was tinged with years of bitterness and other emotions that I had no idea where they came from.

Troubled, I followed the rest of the way in silence.

“Oh, you'd be surprised. 'Guests' of the Master, his Master and his minions and servants. A wide mix though it has been some time since we last had visitors.”

Gustav had been unaware of what she was thinking as they walked on though. He had tried to fathom what she was considering though they arrived at the Master bedroom before he had a chance to work this out of course.

He knocked softly on the door before him before opening it and escorting her into the room with a sweeping gesture. He left her alone in the chamber with the well dressed Sabin. His white porcellian mask coverin his features as his back had been to her initially as he was standing out on the balcony. The sun had set though it was not full dark yet it was neither light either being more of a dark twilight.

He looked back over his shoulder at her.

“Yes?”

Looking at him in his impassive white mask I wondered why he wore it. I didn't have the opportunity to ask him before, but unfortunately now wasn't a good time. Briefly I mused if it was merely an affectation from an earlier life, or perhaps it served an intimidation purpose. After all, it certainly was hard to read how someone was taking your words when you couldn't see their face... and it was equally as unnerving!

But, that wasn't why I was here.

"Sabin" I greeted him with a small smile "Thank you for letting me see you" The politeness came easily to me and once again I wondered what I was beyond my lost memories. I was starting to doubt what Kurt told me was entirely true.. although I had no intention of disregarding it, after all... it was all I had. A little annoyed at myself I shook off the thought and continued.

"You have someone called Kurt in the basement... And I thought you might want to know a few things that might help you out with your own plans"

I had a vague idea of the risk I was taking here, but it seemed the only way of getting Kurt out of this with his head still attached to his shoulders, and his blood still in his veins.

As she addressed him he turned his back to the balcony then strolled into the room. He regarded her from beyond that mask of his then nodded.

“I have heard that there is new guest in our midst. Of course I did not know his name or anything else about him at the moment but if you enlighten me on matters than it makes it easier to know the whole of the situation.

I smiled again.

"He is called Kurt. And apparently he is my brother in law. He came here to find his wife who also happens to be my sister."

Again, that odd nothingness enveloped me, reminding me rather uncomfortably that I was talking about my own blood-kin but I had no emotional attachment at all to the words. I really was beginning to hate that feeling!

"From what I understand he was seeking revenge for his loss, and has some ideas as to why I was there, although i'm not convinced they are true. However, he is willing to put that all aside for me. I understand he may have certain skills that you will find helpful in your own desire. You and I struck a deal for me to help you with your own little problem, and because of that deal I think that he could help you... and thus myself aswell. Talk to him, as I think he will help you in exchange for his own freedom, of course undamged."

It was a bit of a speech, but it was all true, and I tried not to hold my breath while i waited for his answer.

Sabin considered her words carefully. He was silent for a moment as he analyzed what she had revealed to him then moved further into the room.

“Normally I don't dirty my hands with such trival things leaving it up to Gustav or in the rare case where more convincing is need, Sig. But if this woman was kin, I believe I know of who you speak of.

“I will speak to him in a bit to whatever end that brings. Of course, that may not change things if he were here out of revenge then that bodes ill too him in the end. He is not protected by the deal that we have already made, unless you are telling me that you would like to amend it.”

My eyes narrowed at that ominous turn of phrase. I had a damned good idea exactly what kind of "amendments" he had in mind and I wasn't exactly thrilled at any of them.

"Bear in mind that if someone killed your love then you would no doubt seek revenge too. You can't judge someone for acting out of loss, out of their minds..."

My jaw clenched thinking about this. Out of their mind? Like me...

"What amendments are you thinking about?" I asked, my eyes still narrow.

“Perhaps,” Sabin considered. He was much older than her and mortal loves came and went. Rarely had he been inspired enough to turn someone, usually that was since he tended to use them up and loose interest in most of them before he even considered it.

But he followed her train of thought considering this prisoner that had been here to kill him and how best to use that situation to an advantage.

But her eyes were narrowed, suspicious of what he wanted or at least assuming that she had already kjnown. Such a front, he knew she liked what they had done even if the thought of it repulsed her. He considered the matter carefully though.

“I'm not the one making the amendment or ments so it's entirely up to you. And of course what you offer in return to make it worthwhile for me to consider. Wealth, secrets, or ...” he paused and considered for a moment leaving that unsaid. She had come here with nothing and so had little to offer in return save for herself though that might have changed if she herself remembered something that they could not just dominate Kurt about, something she knew but he didn't for instance night be worth something.

But Sabin only explained the basics so far, it was still up to her to consider how she woul seek to change things and of course how important it was to her.

I gritted my teeth, knowing exactly what he wanted. Possibly even more than that! If he could find an excuse to hold me here I didn't doubt that he would... He had gotten what he wanted and now he still wanted more...

The thought made me want to just slap him, but I kept my cool, letting my face and jaw relax a little.

"First of all I think you need to talk to Kurt... After all, I would think you would find a deal with him more beneficial to one with me... Since I can't hold him to a promise."

I hoped I was reading the character of Sabin correctly and that he did enjoy making and keeping with his promises. He hadn't let me down so far (after all... I was still alive wasn't I?). This one should be Kurts deal and I had no real interest in paying another "price" with this vampire. The fact that I had enjoyed it I pushed /firmly/ away from my mind.

Sabin did not express any regret or anger he simply nodded slightly as she spoke. It was regretful that she wasn't trying to make little amendments to her deal of course and he realized after dealing with her thus far that she was shrewd when it came to thinking things through.

Her life depended on it he supposed though there ware many others that had not managed to keep their wits about them in their situations. Of course she had a special gift working on her behalf too and he nodded firmly.

“I can't say such a deal is as agreeable but you are right of course.”

He turned to cast his eyes out over the balcony before looking back over his shoulder at her. He held out a hand for her to take, drawing her closer if she expected though it had not mattered as he pointed her attention out to the moon.

“It is already making an appearance. So lovely, so full. What must I know about this Kurt fellow?” He questioned though his eyes never left the moon as he spoke. Had he been truly pondering that issue or something else entirely? It was hard to get a read on him with that mask though she could still see his eyes gazing out at the darkening sky.

I was jubilant inside as I seemed to come out on top of another conversation with the ancient vampire! So overjoyed that as he held out his hand to me I took it without thinking and allowed him to draw me to his side without any resistance.

I stood by his side and looked over the moondrenched feilds that surrounded the castle. It was beautiful. Truely, truely beautiful and I stood there drinking in the sight for what seemed like an age, just gazing out into the milky-pale landscape.

Eventually though, I had to reply to his question.

"I've told you all I really know. You know that I can't remember anything before i found myself in that clearing. Without knowledge of my past... well... unfortunately you know as much as me. He is my brother in law, married to my sister. As such I would rather nothing bad happened to him... But... Without my memories I feel nothing. No spark of recognition. Whatever took my memories has taken any connection aswell."

I fell into silence for a moment, letting my thoughts move of their own accord. When I spoke next I turned slightly, looking at him full in his eyes.

"Allow me a question? - What do you know of my sister? What happened to her?"

She did not resist any as he drew her close to his side enjoying the sights with him. She was smart in her dealings and while he would have truly enjpyed having her again he knew the folly of forcing her into that. Though he nodded as she spoke of her past or the fact that she did not recall it.

He looked at her, really looked at her when she asked him her question. Of course, she did not know, she had no memory of it …

“It would have been wise to drain her dry, to consume her but … welll I did find that her blood was not as strong as yours indicating that she may be a half sister or the like. Anyway, she was not so shrewd with her dealings and indeed was turned. In fact you've already seen Daffney ...”

I blinked, shocked. Of all the replies that one was not one that i had even contemplated! Daffney was my sister? Or at least, half sister? The thought affected me more than I would have cared to admit although I couldn't quite say why. I had no emotional connection, no love for her but at the same time it tugged at something inside of me, a odd sort of longing that I hadn't noticed before.

If I didn't know better it felt like I had always wanted a sister but...

I turned away from Sabin, back to the moon, trying to hide my face as I struggled with the stange thought. The thought was a tendril from my memories, I culd feel it but it was twisted in a way I couldn't identify. It all felt right but at the same time wrong and I simply couldn't wrap my way around it.

"Why did you turn her?" I asked, while still looking out at the moon.

Sabin could tell that this had shocked her, surprised her even. He grinned beneath his mask as Anne looked away knowing that at least it was somethint, that he could still rattle and surprise her though he had not sought to do so intentionally. She had asked, he had answered.

Just as she asked another question now. He turned his head to gaze at her.

“For the same reasons I would have turned you though her giftings were weaker if she had mated with someone stronger, someone like a full blooded member of Vlad's bloodline for instance then her children would be stronger. She had not entered into an agreement such as you did.

“While there was the option of killing her, and I must say it was tempting to contemplate that I drain her entirely, even if I let rumors surface that she was another one that I had 'claimed'. I found it best to simple control her in a way. Oh, now she cannot bare children and no longer a threat as she faithfully serves me.”

I shivered at Sabins words. They were cold. Cold beyond belief. I was suddenly both incredibly glad that I had managed to pursuade him that he didn't want to turn me, and also sad for my sister. Part of me wanted to turn around and hit him as hard as I could, but I supressed that emotion as hard as I could. It wouldn't have done me any good and I needed this vampires good graces, however unappealing that idea might have been at that moment.

To cover my shift in emotions I asked another question.

"Why? How many people that get sent here do you turn? What are you trying to do?"