Unwelcomed Guest (Vladimir/Simon/Syerren/Mildred)

Vladimir and Mildred with haste, made their way towards the Old House with little to say to each other. While unsure at all how he is going to explain his change in behavior towards Mildred, Vlad put the worried aside as he opened the door and gestured Mildred inside. Soon enough, Syerren approached them having not left the couch after Vlad left questioned with slight worry, “What . . .  what is all of this?” “Brother, Mildred will be staying with the family for a short time,” Vlad responded putting her things down.

Glaring at him knowing there was something going on between him and Mildred, Syerren sighed seeing a smirk on her face. Turning around to her, Vladimir then spoke, “I’ll show you to your room then.”  Feeling dumb founded having never seen his brother so nice to Mildred before, turned around as the two departed upstairs.  Prepared to investigate the reason behind this, he then saw Simon appear from the hall. “Simon . . .” seeing he caught a glimpse of Mildred, Syerren pulled him aside and whispered, “Apparently she’s staying here.”

'Oh really? That's great," Simon smiled. "It's about time someone else around here showed Mildred some respect and I know she was really wanting to stay here for a bit before going back home because according to her, she really hoped to build a friendship with all of you instead of remaining in this dislike. Don't tell me you're still completely against it all are you, Syerren?"

Feeling he should have known Simon would have approved the idea, Syerren glanced back towards the stairs then shrugged, “No, I guess not, especially if Vladimir now approves of her staying. I see no reason in putting the past behind us.” Sighing deeply Syerren moved past Simon staring out the window. Feeling as if something still wasn’t completely right about all of this Syerren shook his head, “I should go have a word with Vlad about all of this before something chaotic happens.”

Inside the guest room, Vlad closed the door behind him after dropping Mildred's belongings, Scowling at her he questioned, "Alright Miss. Attenburgh, you're a guest and as you saw Simon and Syerren too were cooperative. Now . . ." he moved in closer towards her, "What is this . . . final task that afterwards will grant me my mortality?"

Grinning by Vladimir's forwardness, Mildred gazed into his eyes a moment, then swiftly maneuvered around him as she walked towards the window. Turning then, she looked back at him; "my final request, Vladimir, will come as quite a nuisance to you. In fact, it will be interesting to find out if you'll even stick to it, knowing that your brother's life is at risk if you decide to not do it." Stepping closer to him, she then put her hands on his arms. "You are to go gather your entire family and friends downstairs, all five of you, and then you are to tell them that for the next hour they are to not disturb you. They are not to disturb you because you will be engaging in adultery." Seeing him turn away from the idea, Mildred grabbed him tighter. "If you say no to this or don't do this exactly as I say, then the deal is off. You see, I don't want to just have sex with you; I want to make sure that everyone knows what a pig you are to risk your entire marriage just to see the sunlight again."

Having known, the deal would come down to this; however never expecting it to be so vile, Vladimir grasped the bedpost, arching over as Mildred ridiculed him. Feeling he was going to erupt, he turned swiftly and slapped her across the face, as she fell to the ground. “You demon serpent!” he snapped. “You should know Mildred I am not the sort of man that would be so willing to give up his marriage so easily!  You can keep your black magic.  For I would rather continue on surviving as I am for all eternity and enjoy what I have now than carry on living with the guilt that I had an affair with someone the likes of you merely to make me human again!”  Seeing she was getting up, Vlad moved towards the door and glared back at her, “The deal is off!”

"You cannot walk out of this now Vladimir!" Mildred screamed, causing the door to snap shut in Vlad's face as she then appeared behind him, putting a powerful grip around his neck as she then clawed her fingernails deep into his skin. "Tell your fucking brother he had better go enjoy his last few hours with his lover, because when he least expects it, he will crumple over, and erupt into a pile of ash." Laughing, Mildred stepped away. "It was so brotherly of you to gamble with your own brother's life; it just sucks for him that you're walking home a looser."

Wondering if Mildred would actually commit to such an act against Syerren, Vladimir tried to ignore the concept knowing what she wanted wasn’t worth anything to gamble against. Collapsing to the ground, grasping his throat as he still felt a strong hold of pressure even while Mildred walked away from him, Vlad coughed constantly trying to free himself until he wheezed out managing to focus on her. “And . . . then what? You’re . . . still loveless. Only seeking revenge and in return you get nothing!”

"I was never out for anything to begin with you ignorant fool!" Mildred laughed. "Don't you understand? You made a deal with a witch, thinking that just because of our history that I had something to do with the problems you were facing. The way I see it, getting a free fuck from you is worth my time any day," she smirked, winking as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "But there are no turning back now without consequences. You agreed to this deal and you are now bound by your envy."

Feeling at last he was able to breathe easier, Vladimir raised his head taking in deep breaths and looked at her. “I admit it was a mistake coming to you and letting my envy and wants get in the way; however, I think it best . . .” he paused then stood, “If we put all of this behind us.  You know well Mildred where my heart lies, no matter how much time may pass.” Clenching his throat once more for comfort, Vlad spoke with a glare, “I’ll leave you with the fate that may come.” Not a second more, Vlad  instantly vanished from the room.

"If that's the way you want it to be, then alright," Mildred said out loud to herself, then walked over to the fire place as she gazed in, then turned away and vanished downstairs. Peering out into the drawing room, finding Vladimir and Syerren alone, conversing, she grinned with power as she sunk away into the shadows and concentrated on Syerren. Imagining the one fate most dreaded by humans, choking, she then concentrated deeply on Syerren, then opened her eyes as she suddenly heard a thump on the floor and faint gasping and coughing. Knowing this wasn't enough, knowing that Vladimir would still not get the picture, she further concentrated on the man in distress as she then caused a sharp pain in his chest as well as the sudden onset of blindness. Finally satisfied with her work, knowing that if the hypoxia didn't kill him then the heart attack would, Mildred grinned as she then vanished back to her room, and waited in the shadows for Vladimir.

While letting his temper cool from Mildred’s affairs, Vladimir sought to tell everything to Syerren knowing if he was aware of what was going on, it would better his chances of survival during the day. After speaking with him a moment, he saw he immediately collapsed choking to death by a strange force, “Syerren! God no!” “Vlad . . . I can’t breathe!” Loosening his collar while trying to massage the pain hoping it would help, Vlad realized it wasn’t working. Looking up, he called for Simon hoping he could appear. “Don’t die on me, brother.” Unable to think knowing Mildred was behind this, he felt tears form in his eyes as he looked around for Simon but didn’t see him. Feeling it to be only a matter of minutes before Syerren would die, Vlad brought him to the couch then vanished upstairs bursting open the doors. “Mildred stop this at once!” Dropping down the floor, he pleaded, “Please for the love of God don’t do this! I’ll do whatever you want! You have my word! Please Mildred, release Syerren!”

Looking down at the pathetic man, Mildred shook her head. "I knew you wouldn't be able to live with the consequences of your actions," she spoke, going to him and pulling him up from the floor by the crotch of his pants. "You will know next time to never bargain with the devil," she muttered, releasing Syerren at a snap of her fingers as she then ran her hand up Vladimir's chest and to his face. "Now run along and go tattle on yourself and then meet me back up here within an hour. Show up a minute late and the deal is off."

Unable to grasp what he got himself into, Vladimir sighed deeply as his worry for Syerren decreased; however, leaving himself a fool and humiliated. Doing his best to keep his spirits high, he nodded to her then spoke deeply as he grasped her hands and bringing them down. “I’m never late.” Disappearing once more before her, Vlad appeared on the top of the stairs, not at all wanting to know what will happen however knowing if he went back on the bargain again someone if not everyone he cherished would die. Sighing deeply, Vlad moved downstairs seeing Syerren on the couch where he left him but appearing more comfortable than before. As he approached him, he smiled as Syerren awoke then smiled. “Are you alright,” he questioned, “yeah . . . I think so.” “Syerr . . .” Vlad spoke hesitantly, “there is something that is going to happen.”

~End Scene~