The damp streaked bricks and moss laden rafters gave lie to the opulence below. Rich velvet fabrics adorned the walls, casting a reflected ruby glow from the candlelight onto the antique furniture at the centre of the room.

She cast her hand towards one of the Louis XIV chairs while she settled herself onto the purple chaise longue that dominated the far wall.

“You’ve come so far little one, from your horror at your love’s betrayal to your acceptance, in his place, of our offer.”

“I’ve not accepted anything.” I spat. “You’ve not exactly given me time to consider my options.”

She smiled, ruby lips drawing back over extended canines.

“But you are here, now. If you truly wished to deny our offer you’d be above with the dawn. Think about what we have offered, is there any price that isn’t worth paying for eternal life?”

My knuckles whitened further as I clasped my hands together on my lap.

“You haven’t exactly told me what the price will be, or how, indeed, I will have paid by the end of this.”