Lights Camera Blood:

This is the sixth part of a chain story by a sextet of Literotica authors:

@Tio_Narratore

,

@StillStunned

,

@pink_silk_glove

,

@Erozetta

,

@AlinaX

and

@Omenainen

. You will be able to find all the chapters eventually in this list:

Vampire Chain Story

, kindly created by

@AlinaX

I apologize wholeheartedly for the length... well... half-heartedly as I enjoyed writing it. Hopefully it's at least up to par with the other chapters... Typos, grammatical errors and fuck-ups are all mine.

~

Chapter 5: Illusions and Revelations

Lucy

After many days of filming, Adamir had yet to get Lucy naked on film. And Lucy had yet to get Adamir to sit down for that interview with her. So, she did what any good reporter would do, and began questioning the cast and crew.

"You've worked with Adamir for years, Anna, can't you tell me something about the experience?" Lucy asked, the fifth time she'd approached the woman who wore many hats on the production.

Anna's lips quickly formed a smile. It appeared to be the tight, polite kind for when you don't want to outwardly offend, but you also want the person to whom you're speaking to know that you will not continue the conversation and they'd do well to simply walk away. "I could, but I won't. You're here to interview Adamir, he'll let you know when he wants to do the interview. Until then, stop pestering the crew. I'd hate to have to lock you in your room while you're not filming, so don't make me."

Lucy took a step back, a frown on her face as Mina snickered nearby. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to get this story, you know?" Lucy asked

Anna's smile shifted slightly, and it seemed much more genuine. "Oh, I'm certain you will." She poked Lucy's shoulder firmly with each word "Stop. Pestering. The. Crew." She then held up her other hand, a ring full of old brass keys were hooked over her index finger. "I'm not joking. I will lock your ass in your room if you don't."

"Just one more question," Lucy said with a flick of her wrist, pushing Anna's prodding finger from her shoulder.

"What?" The irritation was evident in both Anna's tone and expression. Such a scowl on her.

"He's not actually going to film me naked, right?"

Her scowl shifted to amusement and Anna looked to the floor a moment, settling her expression before lifting her eyes to Lucy and asking, "Did he say that was the cost of the interview?"

Lucy nodded.

Anna shrugged. "Then he either meant it or he's fucking with you so you maintain a stiffness in your shoots, always questioning if today will be the day. He does like mind games."

She thought that might've been the case. But this was the first time his enjoyment of playing with people had been acknowledged. Maybe that was what he needed to say to get what he wanted from Lucy—or Lucinda, as he'd taken to calling her.

Lucy considered it, then smiled. "Thank you."

He likes mind games

. That was all Lucy needed to know. She liked mind games, too.

The film was his focus, she knew that. But Lucy was becoming less interested in the film and filming process than she was in the auteur behind the lens. Not that he was charming or suave... Well, he was, but not toward her. If anything, he was a bit of an asshole toward her. Though she appreciated the directness of his attitude as it was a stark departure from Richard's covert attempts to control her, she wasn't keen to let him get her under his thumb the way her ex had.

This was her challenge, it seemed. She needed to dance with the devil in his own territory without getting burned. And, potentially, she'd be naked during that dance. She turned, spinning away on her heels, and walked away from the set, an excited bounce in her step.

Lucy caught Adamir's gaze upon leaving, a big smile on her face as she cocked her eyebrow in defiance.

Challenge accepted.

Adamir

Anna sat stiffly in her chair as Adamir paced nearby. His room at the manor was cold, despite a fire roaring in the ornate hearth across from the bed. "Her part—Genevieve—is an investigator seeking truth behind the fables and stories that have made their way to the order in England. Isn't it a little on the nose for a reporter trying to get the scoop on a mysterious horror director? But that was the inspiration; a bit of art based on life. Do you think it can work?"

"I think it was a mistake to bring them on set. Though Mircalla is certainly enjoying the brunette." Her posture didn't soften, but he smiled as he stopped and looked at Anna.

"Feeling a bit jealous?"

She started at that, her eyes widened and a scoff escaped her. "No!"

He moved over and stroked his hand beneath her jaw. His voice was tender as he spoke, "You know I'm just toying with them, right? Seeing how far she's willing to go for this interview. How many hoops do you think she'd jump through?"

"As many as you put in front of her. But the more hoops you make her jump through, the more likely she is to write you off as a loudmouthed braggart whose genius is wrapped in a sadistic and controlling bastard."

He laughed at that. "Well, it wouldn't be a lie, now, would it?"

Anna smiled, and she didn't hide the fact that it was forced. "You play the part well, but we both know it eats you up inside to be a bastard all the time."

Adamir scowled and moved over to the fireplace and let his fingers trace over the ornate design. He'd never admit it, but they both knew she was right. Ultimately, it didn't matter who

he

was as long as he fed the monster by keeping up appearances around others.

"I don't care what she says in the article. My fans will either revere her as someone who furthers my cruel genius facade, or revile her as a poser hack trying to make a name for herself by disparaging me."

"I still don't understand why you gave her a part. Why you've completely adjusted the script to include her. I know we'd just begun filming, but—"

He cut her off with a laugh. "She's not here by accident, Anna. I know her boss. He's been aching to get an interview with me and the studio demanded I do some press this time. He wanted to send his golden boy to do the job, but I read his magazine. He wanted to send a bloviating hack while keeping actual talent tucked away doing reviews."

Adamir took a deep breath and waved his hand dismissively before continuing, "Lucinda Luna was always going to play a part in my film. I just needed to see her in person to figure out where to fit her in. And she was always going to get a one on one interview with me. Now I'm just trying to hold up my end of the deal to her boss. Get back at her a little for being a tease in the office."

"Was it her boss who called her a tease?" Anna asked, the irritation in her tone easily noticed.

Adamir paused. "Yeah."

"Did you ever consider that her boss might just be pissed that she won't fuck him to get ahead at his cheap little rag?" Anna straightened her skirt, her eyebrow lifted, though she didn't look at her boss.

"I did, until she agreed to get naked on film for the interview. She's not as tight-lipped as she presents herself, Anna. There's some wisp of darkness in her that is dying to come to the surface and I'm making it my personal mission to see that happen."

"You're gonna bring out the sex starved minx in her?" Anna laughed, as though the notion were ridiculous. From anyone else, he would've been offended.

He turned to his friend and his smile bordered on sinister. "I'm going to bring the woman out of the girl she's pretending to be. She likes my voice even if she thinks I'm deplorable. I've seen her react to it a few times now, hangs onto my every word like she can't help herself. But I am going to need your help with some of this. Are you up for a little repeat of Austria?"

Anna bristled a moment, but nodded. "Jealousy and doubt?"

"And bargains," he added. "See how dedicated to this interview she is. Offer to get her out of the nude scene if she'll lie about what the movie is about. Give her some story about me wanting to take this through those shitty art house festival circuits to build credibility and rise above the horror niche."

"You love the horror niche."

"I could do without the label of inferiority that often gets slapped on us for no reason other than we can't release mainstream due to steaming hot sex."

"And buckets of blood," Anna added.

Adamir shook his head. "No. The buckets of blood are fine by their standards. We are held back because we don't placate people by helping them ignore their deviant thoughts. We are vilified for letting them indulge in a thing they are told they shouldn't like, but do. But we force no one to watch. They come of the their own volition."

Anna nodded, a smile on her scarlet lips. "They sure do."

Lucy

Within a tight corridor created for a scene, the set director anchored the last of the large, rusted, and beat up eye plates into the wall near a dislodged stone block. Lucy wasn't certain what they would've been for, but she carefully planted the balls of her feet on the ones near the base of the wall and lifted herself to the opening that was slightly out of her reach otherwise. She was curious what she was meant to see. The opening faced into the Countess's bath.

Adamir chuckled behind her and she turned to look at him. He was amused. She didn't fully understand why until the set director came back with a pail of fake blood and shooed her away before he began painting around the plates, wall and floor. He then proceeded to beat the hook and plate, working the upper plates loose, into a state that signaled violent usage.

Oh.

Lucy caught on—slowly, but she caught on. Prisoners. Lucy looked at Adamir, piecing together the intent. Prisoners about his height, spread too far for Lucy to be held comfortably, and a single opening looking into the fabled murder room of the Countess. Men forced to watch the Countess kill the cherished women in their lives, perhaps? The ones who didn't hand their loves over willingly?

That would be exceptionally cruel. And it would certainly fit the narrative she'd seen so far. The Countess seemed to get a thrill out of men falling under her spell. Of course there would be men who would resist. Forcing them to watch from within the wall would be such casual cruelty. Lucy ran her fingers over the loosened plate. Unless the chains were loose, she would be taut against the wall if she were secured to it.

Is this where he'll strip me?

"Lucinda?" Adamir said as he approached behind her.

"Yes?" She pulled her hand away and quickly turned toward the wall, trying to hide her blush by stepping on the eye plate and lifting herself back to the opening.

"In this scene you'll be reacting to the scene Valeska and Vladan filmed last week. Do you remember it?"

"Yes. She was tied up over the bath and fell free, escaped." Lucy's gaze remained on the small opening, peering intently into the room. She couldn't help but wonder what it might've been like to watch your wife, sister, or daughter tied up above the bath of such a seductive woman. Particularly with the rumors that swirled about the Countess. Would they have known their loved one's fate before she did?

The view was perfection to watch Mircalla stand and kiss the woman bound above the enameled metal bath, that was far ahead of its time with beauty and elegance in a slipper design. A lifted back to support the shoulders and head of the bather, the rolled white lip contrasting remarkably with the blackened iron outer portion of the tub. The golden decorations adorning it seemed ostentatious, but would've been appropriate to separate the luxury of the countess from that even of her guests. It wasn't period accurate, but artistic license could be forgiven for something that seemed appropriate to the aesthetic of the film.

Lucy felt her skin prickle as she drew her attention to the director. His smile unnerved her. Politely sinister, perhaps? "She did escape, right?" Lucy asked

Adamir put his finger to her lips and said, "Shh. No spoilers."

"So what exactly do you want me to do here?" She pulled away, deeply uncomfortable with the thrill she got at him touching her.

He chuckled. "Get turned on, Lucinda. Let your cheeks flush at the memory of Vladan offering his new bride up to the Countess in exchange for fulfilling his lust."

"He's still missing isn't he?" Lucy asked, making the director's normally relaxed stance stiffen.

"He is. But it doesn't change what we've filmed. And our virginal Genevieve has just watched a man succumb to temptation, surely it gets her a little excited."

Lucinda

stood her ground. "I don't think so. She was brought here to investigate Elizabeth, right? She's just seen an otherworldly display of power over a man. You've just given her reason to believe the rumors. She's not going to be turned on. She's going to be frightened of the subject of her investigation."

He huffed, but brought his hand up to his chin as he thought it over. "Shit. You're right. Okay, so we'll need a new direction for this. Alright, we'll film another scene for tonight and tomorrow we'll film a different scene for Genevieve to watch."

And what a scene it was.

Lucy wasn't in the scene but Adamir wanted her nearby. He could've hidden her in the passageway, but he didn't. To the right of the camera, sat a chair. No sooner than she'd arrived on set, he guided her to the chair.

"Your direction for tonight is to stay in this chair and, do you see that chair there?" He pointed on set to an ornate wingback sat near the fireplace.

Lucy nodded.

Adamir smiled and continued his directions, "A man is going to be sitting in that chair and you are to keep your eyes on him throughout the shoot. Understood?"

"Yes, but why? I'm not in the scene, right?"

"Because Genevieve is in the passageway during this scene and she and the man are important to each other. She can see him and she's going to have feelings about what she sees. I want you here to remember the experience within the scene. Not just the imagery, but the sounds and smells as well. You need to be able to recall how it makes you feel."

Adamir smiled as he leaned a little closer to her, his voice soft, his words only for her, "He can't see Genevieve in the passageway, but he needs a central point to stare at, near the camera but not at it. You are going to be that anchor point for his focus. While the scene unfolds, he will be focused only on you. Can you do that for me, Lucinda?"

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, of course."

"No matter what?"

"Yes. I don't see the big deal it's no dif..." she trailed off as Mina walked onto the set, her outfit decidedly skimpier than previous frocks of the servants. Her cheeks pinked and Adamir smiled. "A man is in the chair?" Lucy asked, changing her train of thought.

"A man is in the chair." Adamir repeated.

"And Mina is in the scene?"

"Kita will be with her. As will Mircalla."

"She's not into guys, you know that, right?" Lucy was slightly alarmed and Adamir chuckled.

"I'm aware. I'm not going to film your friend having sex with a man, don't worry. Kita will take on that role if I deem it necessary. Short of perhaps touching or a kiss, Mina's focus will be on Kita. Is this a problem for you?"

Lucy shook her head, but her stomach clenched. "I just have to focus on the guy?"

"Just on him. Be in the chair in half an hour, then do not move from it until I call cut."

"Alright."

Lucy puttered about. She tried to talk to Mina, but Kita had the brunette's attention and Lucy didn't want to interrupt their excited chatter. Then she lost her chance as Anna yelled out, "Alright, filming will begin soon, so get on your marks."

Lucy looked around, but Adamir was nowhere in sight.

She went to her 'mark' and sat in the chair. A moment later the clap of the slate sounded and Anna yelled out, "Action!"

Why is Anna directing?

The answer came in a laugh off screen and it chilled Lucy. She wasn't so slow to catch on this time.

Mircalla and Adamir walked into the room from a doorway, her arm hooked in his as he smiled and let her guide him into the room. "Sit, sit. Sir Hutter, I have just the thing after such long travels!"

"Wine, Countess Bathory? Oh, I could surely do with some wine."

Lucy rolled her eyes. She hoped the dialogue got better.

"Well, they'll age like wine, but are much sweeter and more delicious than even the most decadent of wines I could offer you."

Lucy watched, her disdain evident as Mircalla guided him to the chair she'd been instructed to watch.

He wrote himself a part that subjects his lowly extras to exist purely as fodder for a disgusting male fantasy

. Lucy scowled as she watched him smile and carry on with his Countess.

She watched, just as he'd instructed her, while Mina and Kita were presented to him among a bevy of young women. She knew they would be the chosen ones, but it still stung to see Mina curtsy to him after stepping forward from the lineup on indicating his choices. The other girls were dismissed and, still, Lucy watched.

Mircalla stood beside his chair and leaned over, whispering something as her gaze found Lucy's. It was curious as Adamir didn't seem to notice. His focus was on Kita as she sat on one of his legs while Mina climbed atop the other.

Lucy could see him straight on and it became quickly apparent why he wanted her there. He could keep his gaze on her as she watched Mina bring her hand up Kita's neck then lean in and kiss her. Her fingers slipped into her hair as the kiss became more intimate.

Lucy's heartbeat quickened as she watched. Evident by the pulse of her neck. She could almost feel Adamir chiding her as her gaze drifted from his and over to Mina. Kita's lips were on Mina's neck, causing Mina to moan and lean her head back. Adamir fought a smile every time Lucy lifted her gaze back to his.

Her cheeks flushed and she knew he was enjoying her embarrassment.

Damn him.

Adamir

Tempting as it would've been to scare her by having Anna bring over a new set of pages that instructed Lucy of Genevieve's arrival in the scene. He had been talked out of it.

"Let her stew on if this is the day or not. She's going to think about it as soon as you bring the girls over to play. She'll be on the edge of her seat with fear and arousal. She'll be defensive, just watch her, it'll be worth not being the one to undress her on film." Anna's appraisal of the situation was accurate, as it always was. One of the many reasons she wore so many hats on productions.

Watching Lucy try not to squirm as the girls caressed and slowly undressed one another was well worth not having her on his lap with her breasts in his face. For now, at least. He wondered if she knew she bit the corner of her lip and held her breath when Kita's lips grazed her friend's bare skin. She was truly a luscious woman and he suspected she dressed so conservatively out of an obligation toward maintaining professional standards in a non-professional setting. He'd have to work out a way to get Anna to dress herat some point. Something less severe and more casual.