The master gave his servant a sweet kiss on the forehead. "I would love to watch movies with you two beautiful ladies, but there is work that has to be done. I'm afraid I have to break up the party. Michael is having an impromptu art show in the gallery tomorrow night, and he wants me to take care of the preparations. I'm going to need some help."

"But we were catching up on some sisterly bonding," Alyssa looked up and batted her eyes at the tall, solemn-faced man.

"I apologize, but you know how Michael can be." That was one thing that they could all agree on.

"Alright, but do you think it would be okay if Kara joined us?" Alyssa tried to make the best of the situation. She had always been the optimistic one.

Logan shook his head. "I'm afraid not. She needs to stay here unless Michael needs her." He looked away from Alyssa and caught Kara's gaze for a moment.

"I'm sorry, sis, some other time." Alyssa grabbed Logan's hand, and they walked out of the room together, leaving Kara feeling a considerable amount more worried about her sister than she'd been before. This was not how she wanted this night to go.

At the gallery, Alyssa and Logan worked hard to get everything ready for tomorrow. Logan moved to the other side of the room to hang some pieces on the wall. Whenever she thought he wasn't looking, Alyssa gave him sly lustful glances. Logan noticed every one of them, and smiled, deciding to let her play her games.

By the end of the night, they finished preparing the gallery. "It looks really beautiful," Alyssa said, placing her hands on her hips, her voice full of pride.

"Not as beautiful as you," Logan replied, putting his arms around her. She pretended to be shocked. Her pale cheeks became bright pink. "I see the way you look at me, Alyssa. I want you too."

For once she was speechless, but her mind raced. Part of her wondered how Kara would feel about having a vampire for a brother-in-law, but a larger part of her didn't care at that moment. She'd been waiting for this for so long.

Logan gently picked her up and laid her on the floor. Alyssa's gaze fluttered around the room at the beautiful paintings, but as soon as Logan began undressing, her gaze fell only on him. The glow of the candles on his skin made him look angelic. He leaned down to undress her, and night melted away as they made love.

*********************************

The following morning, Kara was awakened by distant whispers. Amy sat in a bathrobe on Kate's bed. Both of them had looks of concern on their faces. "Is something wrong?" Kara asked as she entered Kate's room, feet dragging.

Amy looked at Kate as if she needed permission to answer. The dark-skinned girl nodded. "It's been three days since Michael has called any servants to his room. He usually feeds every night."

"I'm sure he's just busy because of the art show today." Kara yawned.

The two girls looked at each other in confusion. "What art show?" Kate asked. Kara could sense the suspicion in her question.

Just then, Henry appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. "Michael requests that Kara accompany him to the gallery tonight," he said in his thick Irish accent.

Kate glared at Kara, hating her for knowing about the art show before she did and for being requested by Michael. She stormed off into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. Amy slowly rose and headed for her closet, looking for something to wear.

"Tell him thanks for the offer," Kara replied, as she walked past Henry out to sit on the couch. "But he should consider taking Kate or Amy instead," she said, still upset that Michael's little art show interrupted her sister time with Alyssa.

Henry laughed nervously. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

Kara sighed. She knew he'd say that. She had no choice but to go. "Alright, Henry. Don't get your panties in a bunch."

Henry smiled at her, bowed, and then left the room as quickly as he had entered it, probably afraid she would suddenly change her mind again and demand he tell Michael to go stuff it.

Amy approached her. "Are you crazy? You can't refuse an offer from Michael. It seems like you would have learned that lesson by now." She didn't speak in an accusing or mocking voice like Kate would have. It came from pure concern for Kara.

Still, it irritated Kara, and she chose to ignore her comment. "Would you mind helping me get ready?"

Amy hesitated a moment before replying. "Sure."

The day passed quickly, and before she knew it, Kara was ready for the art show. Amy had again worked magic on her, making Kara look more beautiful than usual. She wore a red lace gown from Amy's closet and a matching corset. The bright red lipstick matched the dress perfectly. Amy curled and pinned up her hair, allowing a few small ringlets to hang loose on Kara's neck and shoulders.

"You picked out a good dress," Amy said, smiling.

"Thanks," Kara said. She chose it because she remembered how much Michael loved her in red, and she hoped it was enough to keep him in a pleasant mood. She didn't want to spend time with Michael and hoped the night would speed by. She looked at herself in the mirror and shivered. Maybe she looked a little too good; she prayed Michael didn't expect something more from her after the show.

Before heading to the gallery, she said goodnight to Amy. She would have said goodnight to Kate too, but she left much earlier and didn't say where she was going.

Kara stumbled down the stairs in her black heels. She'd gotten better in heels now, but she still hadn't mastered it and stairs terrified her. When she reached foyer, Henry explained that Michael was waiting for her in the garden.

When she reached the garden, she watched him from a distance. His attire was more modest than usual, and Kara preferred it over his usual, over-the-top suits. He wore a simple gray suit with a solid burgundy tie. He even trimmed his hair, which allowed more of his slender face to show and caused his supernatural eyes to stand out more than ever.

In that moment, she didn't see him as a monster...