She had never realized her capture would be so easy. Sometime during the night, she had woken to realize that she was tied at the hands and ankles. Now as sunlight slowly begins to filter in her window, she breathes a relieved breath to realize that it is her own bed she is tied to. But no one answers to her calls. And no matter how hard she tries to break free, the metal like material holding her limbs cannot be broken even by her inhuman strength.

By the time the door to her room slowly swing open, she is spitting mad. She cannot see who stands on the other side, only the outline of a feminine figure.

“Let me go.” She spits out through her teeth.

“In time.” Comes the softly accented reply.

And for a moment, Ali is confused. The presence that she feels is much like that of Morlis. In fact, she is certain she can detect a shared blood with the shadowed woman in front of her. Anger is briefly forgotten as she tries to make out who it is. The woman tosses her head, dark curls swinging over her shoulders. Then she steps into the light. It takes a moment for Ali to place that face. Then surprise lights her face. “Madalina?”

“Yes.” And she begins to circle the bed, which has been pushed out into the middle of the room. “And you are Alidia, briefly Siddali, then once again Alidia.”

“But always Ali, my dear. Care to tell me the reason someone who could practically be called one of my family members has tied me to the bed?”

“Ahh Alidia,” her tone turns sarcastic, “You let Father do it, why not me?”

Ali frowns, watching as the exotic looking woman circles her. There is definitely anger rolling off of Morlis’ daughter, but damned if she knew what the girl would be mad at her for. “Darling, your father has a certain intent when he binds me as this. Unless you have plans on beginning some sort of complicated triangle between you, your father and his lover, I’d appreciate being released.”

Madalina reaches over the head board and sinks her fingers into Ali’s hair, yanking firmly so that Ali’s face is directed up towards her. “Perhaps that is exactly what I want.”

Ali is quiet for a moment, looking at the firm line of Maddie’s lips. Then she shakes her head, as much as she can with her hair being held. “No it’s not.”

Madalina gives a half smile, half grimace. “So it’s not.” She releases her hair and resumes her stroll around the bed. “Perhaps binding you to your bed was a bit drastic, but I had to get your attention. You tend to hear what people without really –listening-. I knew you would actually listen to what I was saying if I did something off the wall.”

She perches on the edge of the bed, facing Alidia. “You have been with my father for years now. I do not understand why you hold him at arm’s length.” Alidia opens her mouth to argue, but Madalina leans forward and slaps her hand down on top of Alidia’s lips. “No talking. You knew Father as early as your first marriage. He was there to comfort you when that fell apart. Now you’ve gone through an extensive list of lovers, some of them a little more than a mere fling. Such as Erin. And Maxim.” She smirks at Alidia’s narrowed eyes. “Ahh, you and Maxim fight now… but you bore him a child. I may have never had a child, but I am a woman. I know that I would always hold the father of my child special.”

She removes her hand only to promptly gag Alidia with a rag. “It’s no time for your comments. You are listening now.” Then she stands up and begins to pace beside the bed again, her hands swaying with her words. “He practically saved your life after the loss of Erin. And through all your lovers, he has taken a place in the background, enticed by your appeal and waiting for you to return to his arms each and every time you needed something familiar and comforting. I have been absent through most of it. But I returned recently. I have not made my presence known, but as I allowed myself to become reacquainted with everyone through silent observation, your role in my family’s life kept on catching my attention. And a question keeps on repeating itself in my mind. ‘Why is Father not good enough for her?’ Why is the grass always greener for you?”

She takes a seat in a chair near the bed, her fingers steepled in front of her. “You think about that for a moment before I ungag you.”

Alidia groans, letting her head fall back. The way that Madalina had spelled it out made it sound as if she had treated Morlis as a simple fall back guy. That one guy a woman keeps that she knows will always welcome her with open arms, tell her that he still loves her. Only a cold hearted bitch actually kept her tethers in a fall back guy. What she and Morlis shared was a common love and adoration, and she understood his need for other women just as he understood his need for other men. Obviously, Madalina did not understand that. Was there a reason that she thought Morlis was unhappy with their situation? Or just unhappy at all? There had to be some more reason that Madalina had gone to this extreme.

Morlis… I need you… the summons repeats over and over in her head like a cadence as she watches his daughter’s angry glare.

Post originally by Character_Jezika

Why was it that she chose that particular day to visit Alidia. She and the woman hadn't been particularly close in some time, but she still cared about her. The woman resided in the palace and Jezika didn't go there often. Between her duties as Priestess and the drama with her daughter, she didn't have much free time to do anything.

No one stopped her as she made her way through the palace, though she got more than a few curious glances. Jezika didn't show her face often, and when she did it was generally because she needed something. Social calls weren't on her agenda, but today was an exception. Jezika felt oddly for some reason, something was amiss and she wanted to know what it was. Coming down the hall to Alidia's room, she paused and looked around.

There were voices in the room that she could hear, but they were muted enough that it didn't dop her from getting closer. Curiosity kicked in, and it wouldn't be unlike Alidia to be entertaining men. But, that didn't seem to be the case.

Her hand hesitated over the knob and she listened to the words. "Something's not right..." She murmured to herself before she let herself in. "Alidi...Whoa." Honey eyes widened as she saw the scene laid out before her. Usually, like Alidia, Jezika didn't mind being tied up. But this.. Well, this really wasn't what Jezika would see as enjoyable.

Looking between the girl and Ali who appeared to be tied to the bed. "Now, in other circumstances, this might be kinky. But seriously. Madalina.. What are you doing? What good is it doing you to tie her up?"

Of course Jezika knew Morlis' daughter. Then again, she had been married to him for quite awhile, and bound to him even longer. Their relationship now, was complicated.. Well really, it wasn't. But she didn't say anything. She was more concerned as to why she felt drawn here and what she saw when she came in the room.

This was something she never expected.

"Please, untie her. You really don't want to do this." Jezika wasn't going to wait for the girl to do it, she walked over to the bed to untie Alidia herself. "I can only imagine why you're doing this." She paused and looked up. "If it has anything to do with your father, why haven't you tried to do the same to me? Me and Ali have pretty much the same relationship with him. But you target her.." Her shoulders shrugged as she pulled out a small dagger to cut the ties that held Alidia down. Morlis often visited her, and left by morning. It suited Jezika just fine.

Madalina didn't pose much of a threat to the High Priestess, but Jezika knew that Morlis would want to know about this. But how to contact him, that was the challenge. Her first priority was to get Alidia free from the bed, and then she'd worry about the girl who seemed to be having some issues.

It was just.. odd to Jezika.

Post originally by Character_Morlis Desiderio

One of the benefits of being a succubi’s creator, or an incubi for that matter, was the eternal bond they always shared. It wasn’t as if they were constantly mind locked, but it did allow him to track his creations anywhere and hear their cry for help should they need it. Turmoil had more than descended on their house with Sabina’s arrival and the revelation that it was Antonio and Madalina’s mother who had kidnapped his youngest child at birth and done this dastardly thing. Nimue was distraught and was still under heavy sedation. Antonio was confused about how he should feel and had taken to sequestering himself with Kisa and Rain. As for Sadia. Well. She was just out of her mind. Madalina was the only one he had been unable to locate.

It was into the midst of all of this, and more, that the urgent summons reached him. ”Morlis, I need you…” began to echo in his thoughts and squinting at the sudden mental invasion he focused on the source of the urgent call and traced it back to its origins. Alidia. With a rueful smile towards Tessa who was trying to entice him back into bed he placed a hard kiss to her lips before rising to dress.

In moments he had clothed himself and was heading out of the Villa which was luckily located in the same upscale neighborhood as the Palace. The path between the villa and the Palace, more specifically Alidia’s chambers within the Palace, was one he knew by memory and could no doubt walk it in his sleep. The palace guards paid him little mind being rather used to his random appearances at the palace though usually it was at night. Still, it wasn’t as though a morning quickie had been unheard of so they just waved him on, a smirk coming to their lips. Can you blame them? They read the Chronicle.

Withdrawing the key he had been given to her chambers he let himself in only to be greeted with the sight of Alidia tied spread eagle to the bed with Jezika leaning over her as though preparing herself to release her and Madalina sitting nearby, obviously the instigator of this little tableau. Rather then come rushing in to unbind Alidia and demand an explanation a slow smile instead curved his lips, his already dark eyes darkening as the demon took a long moment to appreciate the scene before him. Closing the door firmly behind him he came to stand at the foot of the bed, his heated gaze lingering over every inch of Alidia’s exposed skin.

“Artfully done my dear Maddie…” he murmured before rounding the foot of the bed to come up behind Jezika. Grasping the woman about the waist he drew her away from the bed and her task of untying Alidia, both arms wrapping around her in an intimate embrace. Nuzzling his lips into Jezika’s neck he let his hands explore her body possessively as he spoke. “Not yet, Zika. I think we might be able to enjoy this turn of events. Unless you would prefer to be bound at her side?”

He sounded as though he would actually quite prefer that turn of events but rather then act on the idea at the moment he spun Jezika in his arms to kiss her hard and deep before releasing her. Turning his attention to the bound Alidia he eased one knee onto the bed and leaned over her, his lips slowly descending to her own as a smile curled his lips. “You always did look so good this way…” he murmured before his lips in turn claimed hers, his right hand caressing down the length of her body, fully indulging her as he had Jezika. After a long moment he drew back and sighed. “I will finish this, I promise.”

First though, he must see to his daughter. His children were the few who would always be able to soften his heart and if Madalina had done this then she was obviously upset over something. Turning his dark gaze to the daughter that resembled him so closely he approached her, his hands reaching out to take hers and draw her out of the chair she sat in to watch the scene before her. Drawing her into his arms he embraced her gently, his lips pressing a kiss to her head.

“Maddie my dearest, why have you done this? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy what you have arranged very much, but you usually don’t concern yourself with my women. Why now?”

Had she heard of what was going on at the Villa? Had she heard she had another sister? One who had been kidnapped at birth by her own mother and the family made to forget she existed until her return? Madalina and Antonio had not seen their mother Desiree since Madalina had been a toddler, she may not even remember her, but the fact that their mother had abandoned them were not lost on his two eldest children. Did this have anything to do with all of that or was there something else going on with his oldest daughter that he knew nothing about?

Drawing back enough to look down at her lovely features he smiled gently, “I’ve missed you Maddie. I’ve been searching for you for weeks now but you are quite the hard girl to find.” Just like his creations he could track his children but unless he sensed their imminent danger he gave them their freedom.

”What’s wrong Madalina? Please, tell Daddy what’s bothering you?”

The appearances of Jezika and Morlis happened closely, and quickly. She was so overwhelmingly happy to see both of them. She really had no idea what Madalina’s malfunction was at the moment but she really didn’t care to go through a therapy session with the woman to find out.

Madalina had not said a word for the full 3 minutes that Jezika was in the room before her father entered as well. Alidia had given Jezi a relived smile when she first saw her. There was a glimmer of something in Maddie’s eyes that had her drawing back from Jezika’s helping hands, as much as she could pull away in her currently bound state. Yet before she can tell Jezika that she didn’t think it was a good idea to untie her just yet, Morlis had entered the room and swept Jezika up in his arms.

Now, she did not realize it, but Madalina’s eyes were closely upon her. To see her reaction to the affection that Morlis showed Jezika perhaps? Alidia really only had eyes for Morlis in that moment. It had been a few weeks since they had enjoyed each other’s company. She had missed him in that time. That is reflected on her face, but not one certain emotion that Madalina hoped to find.

Jealousy.

Perhaps Alidia had found herself jealous of the attention that Morlis paid other women once upon a time, when she was younger and more naïve. Now she would never ask it of him to be exclusive with her, mainly because she had no intent of being exclusive with he or anyone else ever again. She had tried that once and it ended in divorce.

She merely looks fondly on as Morlis spends a moment to give Jezika attention. Then her face lights up just like it always does, bound to a bed or not, when he finally turns her way and lays his lips across hers. Her body answers his touch as always, leaning up against the palm of his hand. And when he draws away, the smallest sigh escapes across her lips to follow him.

Madalina had observed it all. And after her father greets her, she vaults to her feet, glancing at Jezika. “Yes, but you agreed to pledge yourself to him in marriage. It may have come to an end, but you attempted it.”

She circles around to look down at Alidia. “Never has she even attempted to bring up marrying you, Father. Why? Is she so much better than us? She does not use the name Desiderio, does not make an official pledge of her loyalty to you, does not even live at the villa. How many people even know that you are her creator?”

The words flow out along with agitated movements of her hands. She circles back around again to stand before her father and lays those restless hands on his chest. “I just do not understand why you pledge so much of yourself to this woman who thinks she is too good to be linked to you.” More energy than you used in contacting me… Her mouth had opened to say the words, but they do not actually come out.

She glances back at Alidia. Knowing that actually having the woman tied to the bed was a bit of an overkill, she takes a key out of her pocket and quickly undoes the cuffs that secures Alidia. “I know you are wondering why I am so upset about it. It doesn’t make much sense, I know. But I heard some of the Palace staff snickering about it. I wont repeat what they said, but I cannot stand the fact that some people can view this as… belittling to you, Father. I will not have you made a fool of.” She does not draw attention to the faint blue glow that hovers in the air as she releases the bindings, as if an enchantment is being broken with each turn of the key.

With Alidia free, she steps back and tilts her head back up at her father. “There. She is unbound. Will you set her free again like you always do?”