In the Flesh (Destler)

[Adina Gillespie]

A cold wind blew over the body of the young maid. Claude had moved her now human form to one of the lairs after giving her back her fleshy form back. She twitched and opened her eyes… She felt cold, but-…. How?? She was a ghost, how could she feel anything of the sort? Head reeling, Adina stood up and looked around the room she was in… It was strangely beautiful with candles and a few mirrors arou-….

W-What was this she beheld?! The maid ran forward and to her shock, she saw her own reflection in the silvery glass! What sort of trickery was this?! This had to be a joke! No, NO!! She could be ali-…. Ali-……

She screamed… And screamed again and again, gasping gulpfuls of air and crying out until her voice grew hoarse. She dropped to her knees and crawled towards the mirror, eyes clouded with tears. "I-It can't be…. I-I-It can't be!" She sobbed, half in fear half in joy. The tears rolled down her face and bleeder out upon her lips… Salty?? She could taste! She reached a trembling hand out and touched the glass; it was cool and smooth. She quickly pulled back and clasped her hand to her chest…. Her chest! She was warm! She had flesh!! She had skin, she could feel, taste, touch!

Was this a blessed dream? Or a terrible nightmare?

[destler]

Wandering about the Manor like the Phantom that he was, his mood was even more morbid and malevolent than it was since he came here. And yet, he was aching. Instead of tears of longing, he was becoming a vicious animal. Seeking means of destruction to vent his welling eruption of unlikable emotions. From what? One word: Teressa.
Had he lost her? The recent denial at the hands of that half-masked foolish bastard, as he called him, had left Destler with a deeper darkness than before. And worse, Lucifer himself had gotten a hold of Destler. Wanting to make a deal but what sort of deal is a half- alive Lover that can easily be snatched away and have no means to truly love in return.

Taking a deep ragged breath then exhaled it. Love. He was beginning to loathe it. The one thing he's desired most since the dawn of his existence and yet... he's constantly denied it despite how much he never gives up.
He will NEVER give up. Christine may not be here, most likely won't come. But Teressa... she was here. She was his alabaster beauty, his marble Goddess. Aphrodite incarnate. He could only try and go to the Ballroom to await her if she dared to at least try and see him. He could only hope so he could help her further. To develop her voice to that deserving of a Goddess such as her. It wasn't that bad or far off. And he'd yet to see her dance. He hoped to see her dance for him that moonlit night in the gardens. But that half-wit ruined it all! RUINED IT!

"rrraaaaaaAARRRRGGHHHHH!!!" His arm swept wide to knock over some decor on a hall table - a couple vases with flowers, platter with a bowl, runner, etc. They all went flying or felt to the floor. Most of it shattered.
Turning to plant himself at the hall table and panted as the anger just overwhelmed him. There were no tears. How could he cry? He'd not cried in ages it seemed. If he could cry... he'd be sobbing like a baby right now. Instead, there was only overwhelming anger and pain.
He was denied love of Christine. And now denied the love of Teressa? He didn't want that! He would never give up upon her. He could offer her SO much more! More than what others could ever have planned for her. He would show them... He would show her... that he was more than anything thought possible. That he was a genius on more than one level.

Perking up with distraction now as he caught the sound of something. A voice... a little distant... screaming? Narrowing his eyes as he straightened up to listen. Yes. They were screams. Screams of torment and fear? He listened harder. No. No. Not torment. Screams of... delight?!?
He followed those screams before they fell silent. But he would continue to seek out where those screams came from. Finally he heard sobs. But sobs of joy?

Stopping a moment before he entered a room, seeing candles all around.... and a woman. A rather fetching woman, too, with lengthy hair and a figure that any woman would kill for.
His eyes somewhat widened as he realized who it was!
The woman that HE wanted him to torment!
Adina.

[Adina Gillespie]

"I'm-...  I'm alive...  But how?  How is this." That man!  It had to be that frightening priest she saw with Charles!  She remembered how he had made her weak in the knees (and not in the good way).  He was terrifying, evil, unholy.  She remembered how Charles had called him 'master'.  Who was he?  A demon?  The Devil?  Something about HIM horrified her.

Everything felt so intense: the cold air upon her skin, the deep breaths she was now forced to draw, the tightening pains in her belly from nausea after having not eaten in so many centuries...  She was hungry!

She felt hunger again!  Genuine hunger, not just her ghost mind playing tricks on her.  A rolling growl rumbled deep in the pit of her stomach.  She groaned and wrapped her arms around her stomach, stumbling back against a wall.  God, how long had it been since she ate?  A couple centuries, at least.  She was starving, cold, and alone.

The unusual place she was in looked like it was lived in.  Surely someone had to be here.  "H-Hello?" She called out, her voice still a bit strangled from all her shocked screaming earlier.  She cleared her throat and swallowed.  "Is anyone there?"

[destler]

He strode slowly further in. In his sights now was that woman that HE had 'shown' him. But... why was she here in his Lair of all places!? Well, no longer to be his 'home' as he'd been exploring and pondering of a 'normal' room above in one of the suites... like a normal person. But this could no doubt be his place of solitude to get away from it all.

That fine image of a woman in the candlelight. Though he was quite taken aback with someone in his realm, his demeanor put up the front that he was most displeased!
"What are you doing here?!" his stated to her in a soothing growl. Keeping his eyes locked upon her the whole time like a predator stalking it's prey.

[Adina Gillespie]

The woman was trembling, my stomach in terrible pangs and her heart racing madly. She felt faint; she wanted to run but couldn't. Her feet felt planted to the floor as if she were chained to the very spot. "P-Please," She managed, her voice meek and shaking. "I-I don't know how I got here. I just woke up and-.... C-Can you help me? Something isn't right, I shouldn't be-... Be alive, I suppose is the correct term for this."

She bit her lip and took a small step to steady her fleshy legs again. Such a small movement felt so strenuous after years of being without a human body. A few more steps back and she was bumped up against a wall.

"S-Surely you know what is going on," She chirped, trying to search this somehow frightening man's eyes for a hint of compassion. "How did I get here? Why is this happening to me?" Her hands wrung themselves almost unconsciously as she began to feel weak in the knees, afraid that they would give out at any moment.

[destler]

Having stopped a moment to soak it all in that he had company in his lair. This little bit of Hell that belonged to him. Those sadistic eyes did not waver but remained locked upon this fair, frightened little doe as he slowly circled wide around her along the other side of the small cavern room to a box. Lifting it as he took his eyes off her a moment to pick out some candles and a stick.

Turning away from that box, he moved about to relight candles that had gone out and replace candles that had melted down. Occasionally, he'd be looking over at her carefully. His eyes betrayed what his face could not - he was trying to figure out why and what for. Plus what to do with her. He told HIM what he wanted to hear, just to satisfy the bastard. But then again, a part of him did want to play with the pretty little thing. Maybe. He still felt a tug and desire for Teressa and that somber ache for Christine, unsure if he could ever forgive her and yet, he still wanted to see her once more.
"I might know..." replied in that usual soothing growl. "Or... I might not." Relighting the last candle. Then moved to some tin and tossed the smoldering stick into it.

Walking around her, those strange eyes watched her, as he walked to his organ. Though he should work on other things, he would not do those things in front of her. Not right now.
Coming to the large instrument and sat down with all due grace of a great musician then started to play some mellow tune.

[Adina Gillespie]

Adina's hands went straight to her chest, two delicate fists curled tightly against her skin. This couldn't be happening, it couldn't!.... But it was, no matter how much she wished this wasn't real. Her eyes quickly darted to the box which the man was now crossing to. She braced herself when she saw him open it: where there cut off fingers in it? Instruments of torture? Oh gods, she could stand thinking of it anymore, it was too dreadful!

A sigh of relief rattled from her lungs as her hands left her breast and lightly touched one side of the cave, caverns, or wherever this place was. All she could wonder was why she was here. Why?! Why was she brought back to life, which she assumed was what must have happened. Tears clouded her vision and she was forced to wipe them away.

I might know... Or... I might not. Oh gods, riddles?! This was too much! Her eyes scanned the room, desperately trying to find a way out. But she wasn't thinking clearly, her head was spinning, the blood was pounding in her ears. She tried to move away when he circled around her, feeling like a small rabbit at the mercy of a bloodthirsty wolf.

Adina's body relaxed a bit and her legs finally gave out. She dropped to her knees, her body trembling as she rubbed her arms with fear. What was he going to do to her? She kept her eyes on him, occasionally looking for an exit. But when the music started to play.... It stirred something in her. It was beautiful and soothing, making her shoulders relax even more. She started to forget about trying to escape as she felt drawn in by the seductive song.

[destler]

He continued to play on that organ against the cavern walls. By no means was it grand or opulent. Just... simple. It did it's purpose well enough.
Playing the song with passion as it rose and fell to draw on the emotions of a poor soul. Hoping it would play with her a bit.

Occasionally he watched the woman from the corner of his eye. Wondering more of what HE wanted done with her. This was by no means at all for HIM. Destler wanted a little play thing at least. Venting his tormented frustrations out on her in lieu of his losing Teressa. Such a deep ache. It was like losing Christine. He hated this feeling. It was the worst to ever feel. He cursed the being that did this to him. All he wanted was to be loved, both his music and for himself. But it seemed he was denied both.

[Adina Gillespie]

The music stirs up emotions in Adina that she thought she would never feel again: pain, sadness, and a tinge of fear. She was terribly afraid of the man but the music seemed to come straight from his soul... She felt a little pity for him now.

The small feeling of pity faded when he looked at her. Something wasn't right about him, about his face. It looked dead, like that of a corpse. She shuddered and looked away from him, her eyes still scanning for a way out She was becoming desperate, longing to get out of this place. Looking around to make sure he wasn't looking. She stood up and moved away to a small corner of the room, feeling the walls for a door, an opening, something through which she could escape!

"P-Please," She murmured, her voice trembling. "Please, just let me go. I'll give you whatever you wish, just let me leave... Please."

[destler]

He saw her reaction to his face and it cut deep. Curses to HIM that made him so undesirable. If no one loved him, how could they love his music? That bastard being had betrayed him!

Continuing to play a soft, sad and haunting melody as he watched her now and then. "I'm not holding you here. You are not my prisoner. You can come and go as you wish. But then again.." turning to look at her with a strangely curious gaze, "where would you go?" He didn't skip a beat or note as he played.

Turning back to the organ while playing. "There's nothing I want from you that you wouldn't give me willingly." Perhaps it was a riddle, perhaps it was a means to egg her on to at least open up to him. He had no true plan of what to do with her. Perhaps he will torment her as HE requested or perhaps he will try and at least save her. Now there's something interesting! Either way, by the time her existence was up, she will no doubt feel pained in many ways. And he... could do the same. After all, he was quite pained over Teressa. Lenoir ruined his hopes. He wasn't sure how to continue to try when Lenoir was always there to damage what he tried to establish!

"You sing?"

[Adina Gillespie]

She flinched when he addressed her as she tried to feel the cavern for an opening. She blushed and looked down, nervously twisting a lock of her hair around her finger. But she quickly came to realize that.... He wasn't so ugly; that is was his very soul which seemed cursed. Why else would he be so frightful?

That pause he gave before turning towards her sent shooting pangs through her stomach. ...where would you go? He was right. Where would she go? She had not an inkling of where she was or how to get back to the manor! Her heart began to hammer against her ribs almost painfully as she drew in quick, shuddering breaths. As he finished his sentence before continuing to play the organ, Adina felt her parched lips part ever so slightly. Give?? What could she give him willingly? Her heart? Her mind?.... Her body? No! She would do no such thing! Her head spun again and felt near fainting.

"Please," She managed, a hand over her pounding heart. "I thirst greatly. W-Would you be so gracious as to give me some water? Or even tea?" She swallowed hard, her throat dry like the desert as her face twisted in a small grimace of pain. She thought she saw a way out and began to move towards it, but something stopped her... You sing?

... Sing? Sing?! What sort of question was that? Adina blinked a moment and then shook her head. "Er, um," She stammered, taken aback by the unusual inquiry. "A little. My father would make me sing for him sometimes..." But that was only a half-truth. Yes, her father used to want her to sing, but he would often abuse her if she got a single note wrong. He loved when her mother sang for him but after she died giving birth to Adina, he often told her that she took away his angel...

His angel of music.

[destler]

Wrapping up the music within a measure as she asked for something to quench her thirst. He stood and walked to a little alcove where a little wooden cabinet rested. Listening to her as she spoke about her singing.

Holding a bottle and a glass, he walked over to her pouring some water into the glass. Once he reached her, he held out the glass of water to her. Most likely HE wouldn't appreciate it, but... if she died before her allotted time, what fun would it be then?

Looking her over carefully. She looked a fright. Pondering what he should do with her next. "I would very much like to hear you sing," he said in his usual soothing growl pouring more water into her glass when ever it was low. Water could be treated like wine. Did not Jesus turn water into wine? Miracles can happen.

He continued to ponder what to do with her at the moment. "You look frightful. No doubt you wish to... freshen up."

[Adina Gillespie]

Adina cleared her throat almost painfully as she sat down on a small rock ledge against the cavern wall. She watched Erik go over to a small cabinet and take out a glass bottle, licking her parched lips as her stomach ached.

She quickly took the glass and gulped its contents down within seconds, not caring to act lady-like. She had just come to life after- how many years was it? It seemed like a millennium or perhaps longer. She sighed and licked her lips again; smooth and rehydrated, the color of a fresh rose... Much better. "Thank-you." She paused as he refilled her glass, gulping it down a second time.

"Adina," She finally said after a somewhat long pause. She looked up at the strange man and gave a timid smile. "My name is Adina Gillespie." Her hands almost automatically extended the cup held between them as she was offered more water.

He wanted to hear her sing? She was now only sipping on the water, her stomach still in small pangs. Was she nervous? Or perhaps she was a little hungry? Yes, that had to be it. Although she did not like to sing in front of anyone, she gave him a gentle nod. "You flatter me, monsieur. But if you wish me to sing for you, then I shall."

Freshen up?..... She looked around. Where could she do so? There were no showers or bathing tubs, or so she thought. Perhaps there were? She nervously gave another nod and set the cup down. "I would like to freshen up very muchly, yes. Is there a washroom here?"

[destler]

Barely raising his brows as he watched her. Stunned when she said 'thank you' and even more stunned when she gave him her name. He wasn't even pondering about her name at all. And here she was, opening up to him. Good. It was a start. Gain her trust... go from there.

Offering her water until she finished or the bottle was empty, which ever came first.
"Perhaps... I can hear you sing after you have freshened up." Ans offers a rather devilish smile. "No point in trying to sound like a song bird if you look like a muddy catfish." He moved to set the bottle down on a small, old wooden end table then offered his hand to her. "I know of a place where you can."

[Adina Gillespie]

She was still a bit afraid, but she was determined to overcome her fear. Her stomach no longer in pangs, she continued to accept more water until the last drop was gone... Yet she wanted more. It was almost as if she were drinking saltwater; not quite quenched, always wanting just a bit more.

The maid blushed a bit as his biting words stung just a little. A muddy catfish, indeed! How crude! How callous! She looked down at her dress... She was, in fact, covered in mud from where she had lain upon the muddy shore.

"Oh, yes," She said with enthusiasm. "It would be an honor to sing for you, monsieur Destler. "Would it be much if I could ask for you to show me where it is that I may clean up?"