Hunters

Something warm was tickling Dani's nose and she impatiently swiped at it, turned over and  buried her face in the pillow.

"Wake up Miss." Maria, the servant girl said.

Dani sensed her standing near the bed where she was sprawled out, still clad in Victoria's secret lingerie.

The fire had obviously burned down because the room was stone cold and a shivering Dani pulled the thick blanket over her half naked body.

"What do you want?" She mumbled crossly.

"I've brought your breakfast." Maria said. "And the maestru is expecting you to join him in the sufragerie after you've finished your meal."

"It's too cold to get up. Leave me alone...please." Dani said and then folding back a corner of the blanket, she peered at Maria through one bleary eye.

"Maestru? Sufragerie?"

"I'm sorry....
My English is not too good." Maria said, blushing.

Sighing, Dani reluctantly propped herself up in the bed and when Maria placed a silver tray on her lap, Dani noticed the antique cutlery and linen napkins.

"Is this real silver?" She murmured holding up a spoon and examining it speculatively. 

She wondered if Stefan shared the same allergic reaction to pure silver like a full blood vampire.

"The maestru doesn't keep silver in the lodge." Maria said.

A disappointed Dani set the spoon down and then lifted the cover from the tray.

"What is this?" She asked.

"It is the traditional breakfast." Maria said. "I hope you enjoy."

Dani suspiciously eyed the dish of stew and small loaf of bread before tasting the stew.

"This is good." She sounded surprised.

"Well, I must lay out your clothes now and make sure the bathroom is clean." Maria said and left her.

When she returned, a few minutes later, it was to show Dani to the "sufragerie" which was a long and rectangular room with a massive

fireplace, paneled walls and  functional furnishings in masculine colors of browns and deep hunter's green.

Stefan was posed before a tall, oak bookshelf holding a bottle of Timisreana beer.

Dani couldn't deny that Stefan was attractive and her cheeks colored as she remembered the muscular body beneath those clothes.

Stefan's eyes darkened as he  examined her from across the room.

"I see that the clothes fit." He said.

Dani nervously ran her hands down the sides of the burgundy,  wool dress which fit perfectly and
even the sepia hued, calfskin Zara boots were her exact shoe size.

"How did you know my dress size?" She asked.

"I checked the labels on your clothes." Stefan said.

Dani was annoyed, "While I was knocked out from whatever was in that shot you gave me?"

Nodding, Stefan gestured at the sofa, "Please...sit down and may I offer you a drink?"

"I'm not thirsty." Dani said.

"I was hoping that we could spend some time together." He said. "To get to know each other better."

"Listen Stefan, I'm not interested in ...getting to know each other." She said as patiently as possible. "I want to go home."