The next night (Joshua) - Henri's Penthouse

"So you know... I know damned little about you. Since you've taken the trouble to drag me into your world, maybe I should at least know who owns me better?"

She chuckled.

"Ask away. To start with, I was born in a small town in France nearly three centuries ago."

He chuckled at that.

"You are a pretty hot piece for three hundred. Hmmm so you love the ghost of an American pioneer, are French and are involved in unsavory business. Why? What lead you into dirty work?"

She leaned back and smiled.

"When one has lived as long as I have, certain things lose their distastefulness. And when one is attached to the type of man Doc is, those morals disappear quickly in the quest to keep him alive and strong."

"So yeah? How does that work? Keeping him all ghost and floaty and stuff? Since apparently from what you just said he'd not be all ghost floaty otherwise?"

She leaned forward.

"He feeds on lust. The more forbidden the lust, the more powerful it is."

"That..." he observed dryly "Is mildly disturbing. And on the top three of creepy ass things I've encountered so far. Vampires and ghosts being the other two. Damnit Henri, you are if you will forgive me... twisted."

She laughed.

"Oh, I know. But no one else does. And that's the point."

"A way to have power over you and him? I'll keep my mouth shut about that Henri."

She leaned forward and traced a finger down his cheek.

"I know you won't."

"Is it wrong I want to tear off your clothes and fuck you like mad?" he said as he shivered under her touch

She smiled.

"No, it's expected. But not allowed."

"Another way of controlling me isn't it?" he said after a moment

"Goddamnit Henri... what have you done to me?"

"Nothing I haven't done to others. The entire staff of this tavern are mine if you need to talk to others. They've been with me for years. And you will even out. You will get used to it."

"Lust after you from afar always eh? Wonderful. Guess the bill for whores is gonna go through the roof."

Practical drunken whoring sailor was at least practical.

She chuckled.

"I'll foot that bill. It is my fault, after all."

"Never gonna happen is it?" he said sadly

She shrugged.

"It might. But you're going to have to earn it."

"Fair enough" he smiled

"Especially after last night.... want me to apologize to umm what's her name? Teddy?"

She nodded.

"Oui, that would be good."

"I'll do that tonight then. I shouldn't have gone in there like that. Fuck though... you have any idea what a skull fuck this is?"

"And if you are a slaver, find me a nice tight 20 something blonde with no inhibitions eh?"

She smiled.

"I will. And yes, I know what this is. How bad it is. And I will do all that I can to make it easier."

He smiled warmly "Trying to decide where the cold bitch ends, and the actual woman begins. You scare the shit out of me you know, but this blood in me.... "

She smiled.

"There is less room between the cold bitch and the real woman than you think. And some day, maybe soon, you'll learn the warmth I can give."

He nodded. "I believe you... really not sure I have a choice in believing you. So how many others like you in town and around here? How do I tell a vampire from someone who isn't? What's to keep someone from eating me or taking me or something?"