Chapter 5 – “Sunrise”

Aside from the small detour for a new blouse and brassiere and the subsequent discussion on how Casey wouldn’t go into the department store with a hood up like a criminal, Sylvie managed to get the couple safely back to her house within a few hours of dawn. Unlike earlier in the evening, Sylvie let her motorcycle coast beyond the front door and followed the remainder of her driveway then came to a stop inside a small detached garage hidden by the house. Kicking down the metal stand, Sylvie shut down the heavily thudding engine and pulled the keys from the ignition.

When Sylvie didn’t feel Casey move, she twisted and rapped lightly on the helmet her companion wore. “Hey, Dreamgirl.” Sylvie smiled and hopped off the bike, “We’re…home.”

Unbuckling the tight fitting headgear, Casey pulled it free and her curly auburn hair fell down over her shoulders. “Dreamgirl?” She raised one of her eyebrows and held onto Sylvie’s hand as she slowly climbed down. “Was I that lost in my head?”

“You didn’t say a word all the way back, and gripped my waist so tight that I thought I was going to bleed.” Sylvie tried to be a little playful. “So I figured you were night-dreaming.” She snapped her fingers playfully, “Dreamgirl just popped into my head as something funny to say.”

Stretching for a few seconds, Casey shook off the sleepy feeling in her legs and followed Sylvie out of the small garage and gazed around. “You live here?” Casey questioned and turned to see Sylvie frozen in place, with the sliding door half closed. “Oh boy, I know that blank stare.” Casey softly spoke and picked a piece of mud from her hair while she waited.

Sparked just after she’d said night-dream, Sylvie saw a bright light with human-shaped shadows bouncing from tree to tree as though they were doing some macabre dance without music. Within seconds of seeing about a dozen coupled shadows dancing, the small area became clouded in a blended darkness that left a small light ring.

-Eclipse. But what does it mean?-

Quickly as the feeling came over Sylvie, the images left and she blinked free of the sudden vision. “Sorry, I can’t control when that happens. Sudden ones are so unnerving.” Sylvie finished pulling the door down into place and locked it. “Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.” She laughed and plucked another bit of mud from the auburn beauty’s head. “There is plenty of time to talk once we get you taken care of.” Sylvie winked and opened the side door to her house.

Casey walked past Sylvie and into the kitchen, “This looks so..” She paused to absorb the normalcy of it all. “..I didn’t expect to feel at home, it’s comfortable.” Casey looked over her shoulder as Sylvie walked in behind her and closed the door. “Vivienne’s places are always a little off. Gives a creepy feeling.” She laughed and walked to the other end and peeked down the hallway. “Faye is helping with that, but you know what I mean right?”

Nodding in agreement, Sylvie tossed her keys on the table and helped Casey out of the leather coat then hung it on the back of a chair. “Makes sense. I don’t think she’d ever tried to fit in until you and Faye came along.” Sylvie laughed, “Hard to fake something when you know nothing about it.” She shrugged, “All she did was hunt, rest and hunt again.” She opened the refrigerator, “The girls have a bunch of things to eat and drink in here if you are interested. I could make you something while you shower.” Sylvie spotted a folded piece of yellow legal paper on the table. “How cute, it’s addressed to us both.” She held up the note with their names in lovely script.

“I can’t write like that.” Casey laughed, “Strangely I was never taught cursive in school.” She shrugged and turned to face Sylvie. “Well, what’s in it?”

Sylvie flipped the note open and scanned the contents briefly. Noticing the intense look on Casey’s face, Sylvie crumpled the paper and folded her arms. “You look like a cat about ready to pounce on a ball of string.” She laughed and held out the ball of paper. “Are you quick enough to get it?” Sylvie chuckled and saw the unamused look in Casey’s brown eyes. “You’re no fun.”

“My night has sucked.” Casey countered and raised her eyebrow, “Present company excluded.”

Sylvie tossed the little ball in the garbage, “It would appear we have the house to ourselves, so you can get settled in. Veronica is with her new friend, Alan.” She wiggled her eyebrows, “Remind me to tell you that vision later.” She continued, “Amber and Jessica are staying with a couple of other friends.”

“I didn’t know that the bunnies lived with you.” Casey leaned on the door frame. “I just assumed that they would have stayed at the manor.”

Shrugging, Sylvie walked over and leaned against her black ceramic sink. “We’ve been together for quite a few years. While they did enjoy living the big life at the manor, without Vivienne there it felt a little strange.” She paused for a breath, “To be honest, most of the leftovers have gone. Some stayed on to work the grounds and live in the small set of homes at the edge of the property, but for the most part they all went their separate ways.” Sylvie pointed behind Casey. “Veronica assured us that your room is ready and that there are towels, along with a change of clothes for us both.”

“Where?” Casey questioned and looked down the hallway.

Moving her fingers like a little stick man, Sylvie smiled. “Left and the first door. That is the bathroom. Take your time.” She sighed, “They know I like to get a shower and get the smell of beer off me after a night at the bar.” Sylvie saw the confused look on Casey’s face, then walked over. “Come on.” She pushed her friend a few steps down the hall and then turned her left in front of the door to the bathroom. “I didn’t work much tonight, so I don’t need a shower.”

Casey turned to face Sylvie, “Yeah, I’m a fucking disaster on feet.” She took a deep breath, “The hot shower will be nice though.”

“We’ve sat in silence through both necessity and desire for the last few hours. I’ll look at the stuff the guys did to you after you are cleaned up. We can talk about whatever you want while I do it.” Sylvie winked and closed the door to the bathroom. “Take your time. I will be in my room, it's seriously one left turn and a few steps, and another left turn.”

“Where’s the room I’m using?” Casey asked while stripping out of her clothes.

“It’s your room, you aren’t using it.” Sylvie corrected, “It’s right across from mine.” Seconds later Sylvie heard the shower start.

-Why can’t I have a vision of what to say to her?-

Walking into her room, Sylvie shook off the thought and saw that Veronica had laid out a small ivory-colored nightgown with a matching robe on her bed. Rolling her eyes, Sylvie sighed and breezed back to the kitchen and grabbed the lens case from her coat pocket and pulled ‘Cody’ free from her eyes. Thinking to keep the little computer system close, Sylvie hustled back to her room and put the case in her dresser for safekeeping.

Noting that it was a little past 3 am, Sylvie took off her watch and looked down at the short gown. Shaking her head, she knew that the little silk garment would barely cover her body and that the added robe was just for decoration. Unwilling to dig through her closet for something else to wear, Sylvie undressed to her panties and slid the gown over her small frame, adjusting the crossed spaghetti straps so that it covered her body and provided a measure of comfort while she meditated. Surrounded by her pile of clothes, Sylvie started kicking the pile to the corner of the room when she heard a light laugh coming from the door.

Suddenly conscious that her attire barely hid her chest and showed off most of her thighs, Sylvie stopped messing with the ball of clothing and quickly donned the matching robe and tied the sash loosely around her waist. “Sorry, Veronica was being cute with my evening wear.” She pointed to the pile, “My clothes were kinda in my way.”

Dressed in an oversized man’s plaid workshirt, Casey finished drying her curly hair and tossed the towel back in the bathroom. “She knows you pretty well, I think.” Casey walked to the edge of the bed and pointed. “May I?”

“Go right ahead.” Sylvie offered and grabbed a small brush from her dresser. “Want me to?” She questioned softly. “I did promise to make sure you were patched up.” With a quick sniff of the air, Sylvie smiled. “You took care of it yourself.”

Climbing onto Sylvie’s queen-sized bed and bounced with a smile on her face. “Memory foam. I love this stuff.” Casey laid flat and let herself partly sink into the bed and closed her eyes, “Yeah, uh…I didn’t want to have you get hungry or anything” She paused, “I mean make you suffer..” She sighed and turned to face Sylvie, “I was trying to consider what you might be going through.”

When Casey flopped on the bed, Sylvie laughed and tossed the brush back where it was. “We won’t need that.” Lightly waving her hand, Sylvie sat on the edge of her bed and grinned. “You were fine before. I should be alright for a couple days, to be honest.” She watched Casey turn on her side and look at her questioningly. “Oh, She must not have told you.” Sylvie swung her legs onto her bed and leaned against one of her pillows. “Vampire blood is more filling. Though obtaining it is frowned upon and can get you hunted by a troupe.”

“Makes sense, I suppose.” Casey added, “I guess the troupe thing doesn’t apply to Viv, huh?”

Shaking her head slowly, Sylvie caught herself staring at Casey’s exposed thighs. “I-um, No, not really. When you have that kind of power, you make the rules.” Her eyes shifted to full moons, “You don’t obey them.” Sylvie poked Casey on the shoulder, “You really want to talk about her?”

“No, not really. Just making a connection is all.” Casey playfully batted at Sylvie’s finger. “You know, I felt pretty useless this evening. It was sheer luck that the one made me mad enough to do something.” Casey stared into the dual crescent moons before her, “That was the first time I had felt anything beyond being sad in a few days.”

“Thrall withdrawal.” Sylvie countered. “The others in the manor went through it as well. Cut off from their masters, they were desperate to find another vampire to serve.” She shrugged, “Some even got turned into vampires to get rid of the feeling.” Leaning over to pick up her phone, Sylvie tapped on the screen and then set it down when music started playing. “I usually listen to music to concentrate when I meditate, I hope you don’t mind.”

Rolling on her back once more, Casey rubbed her face and thought about what her friend had just explained. “Did any of them get over the withdrawal? I’m telling you now that it’s fucking terrible. I can’t seem to get the worst things I have done out of my head.” Clutching around her tummy, Casey dug her nails into her tanned flesh. “It’s like fighting a demon every minute of every day.”

Scooting a little closer to Casey, Sylvie ran her hand slowly through the auburn curls. “Sounds like our darkness.” Watching as Casey suddenly focused on her eyes again, Sylvie resumed. “Yep, being a vampire isn’t always immortal blood fun. We all have a darkness that can take us over if we aren’t careful.” She sighed, “It’s a constant battle. Mine doesn’t speak, but fucks with my visions. It took me years to determine the truth from its fiction.” Angling herself so that her rose tattoo was visible, Sylvie confided in her friend, “I get an eclipse to tell me when something is true.” Enjoying that Casey had settled down and had a light smile on her face, Sylvie kept stroking Casey’s hair. “The confusing part is when there are multiple parts to one and I don’t get the eclipse until way…later.” She hesitated as the vision of the lake blinked in her memory.

“Mmm, I..” Casey paused almost in a dream state, “..I never knew.”

“It isn’t something that most of us like to discuss, that darkness is very personal and knows us almost better than we know ourselves.” When a quick shiver went down her spine, Sylvie gasped. “So..so I know the feeling of battling a demon.” Clearing the uncertainty from her mind, Sylvie added, “No, I didn’t see one of them recover.” Sylvie’s eyes shifted to blank new moons, “I wish I had better news.”

Exhaustion combined with Sylvie’s fingers, Casey felt the world slip away. Initially satisfied with the idea of falling quietly through a quiet darkness, the pleasant feeling disappeared when Brian’s face materialized and started mocking her. ‘Peach tea, drink with me and we can be together, you belong with meeee…’ Almost as though chains were pulling her into Brian’s visage, Casey thought only to fight back the best she could. Screaming and bouncing on the bed, Casey shook herself awake and rolled against Sylvie hugging her friend tightly. “Help me, please..”

“Shhh, Casey.” Sylvie felt a cool streak of blood careen down her cheek, “I’m here, though I wish I could do more.”

Savoring the feelings of both being held by another person and a vampire, Casey squished herself tighter into Sylvie’s grip and took a shaky and slow breath. “Why, why can’t you help?” When the warm scent of baked apples permeated her senses, Casey felt as though nothing else mattered. “Are you..you…ch-charming me?” Casey worriedly asked.

“Casey, you are swapping emotions so fast, I can barely keep up.” Sylvie wiped the blood tear from her cheek and kissed the top of Casey’s head. “First, I wouldn’t charm you. Couldn’t is the more appropriate word.” Sylvie added, “I think you are like the other bloody bunnies.”

Mildly insulted, Casey sniffled once and stayed as close to Sylvie as she could. “Thanks.” She muttered sarcastically.

“Let me finish.” Sylvie pulled Casey up without any effort and looked into her brown eyes. “I don’t believe that you can be charmed. They can’t. They’ve been around vampires so much, they have, I think, adapted.” Watching as Casey’s eyes filled with tears, Sylvie tenderly brushed the drops from her friend’s face as they streamed out. “Yes, the apples are me.” She chuckled, “I somehow emanate the feeling and scent. Pheromones I guess. I can’t control it and it isn’t me trying to enthrall you.”

Given that Casey was used to how she got information from Vivienne in the past, She was content to sit there and listen to Sylvie as she went through and addressed the few things that had been said in desperation. When Sylvie’s hand relaxed, Casey plunged herself into Sylvie’s fairly large chest and once more gripped the vampire. “Wh-Why can’t you help me?” Casey found that she was strangely comfortable and happy to be nestled between Sylvie’s breasts. “All you have to do is..” She closed her eyes and saw the flash dream, “..kiss me. I’ll be healed, I don’t mind serving you.” She paused for another deep breath, “You are making me lose focus with the apples, it smells so wonderful.”

Aware that her body was about to betray her, Sylvie closed her eyes and felt her nipples stiffen in her creamy nightgown.

-Damn it. Which is it? Is this just attention, the need or really me? Does it matter? Ached for this night and it’s here, what do I do?-

Clearing her throat, Sylvie pushed the emotional questions aside and focused on the real issue. “Casey.” Her tone shifted to almost sorrow. “I want to help you, but I physically can’t. You see, I am the only vampire I know that fails in making other vampires or thralls..excuse me wards.”

-Please just one hand under my breast. Touch me. I’ll crumble for you.-

Arching her back slightly to allow Casey the ability to hug her tighter, Sylvie took a deep breath. “I have tried many times. Failure means death.”

“But, Martin?” Casey offered and opened her eyes, finally witnessing Sylvie’s aroused chest. “I-um..he’s a ward? You kissed him and it worked.” She lightly stammered and bit down on her lower lip in an attempt to ignore Sylvie’s body signals.

“Oh, Casey.” Sylvie sounded truly regretful as she kept talking, “Viv never told you, did she?” She sighed and shook her head, “Making a ward or progeny is never without risk. We can fail. Think about like having kids. You have the capability, you have the chance but it's never guaranteed.” Finally able to concentrate, Sylvie kept talking in the effort to ignore the hot touch of Casey’s hands squeezing her waist. “Younger you are as a vampire, the higher the chance of failure. I can only imagine Vivienne didn’t mention it because she’s so old she can’t possibly fail.” Sylvie chuckled, “She’s the anomaly, along with myself.”

While the answers Sylvie provided to Casey seemed to make sense, she found herself in a losing battle to the warm scent of apples. “W-why Martin? Wh-what makes you so different.” Casey intentionally turned so her cheek would lightly brush one of Sylvie’s taut buds, sending a light tingle of desire down her own back. “I’ve missed being so close..to..to..” She didn’t finish the confession, “..I hope you don’t mind.”

Unsure at first about what to do with her hands, Sylvie finally opted to focus on Casey’s curly hair. “I don’t mind.”

-What are you doing?-

Sylvie used her fingers and used them to both caress and gently pull the knots out of her friend’s partially wet and tangled hair. Moments after Sylvie felt her nipple get tweaked, she closed her legs tightly in the vain effort to stop the rush of blood-infused vampiric sexual heat. “Um..right, Martin.” Sylvie crushed her moon-shifting eyes closed and took a deep breath, “He-he was an exception.”

-Get control of your body, you can’t hide this long.-

Catching a light whiff of her own sexuality, Sylvie silently prayed to herself and finished her explanation. “Martin was..was...t-terminal. Um, there was no downside to trying. Making him a ward saved his life, you-you know how it was. I simply got lucky.”

Without thinking about how close the two of them were, Casey scooted up Sylvie’s smaller frame until they were face to face, breast to breast. Pressing large boobs into as much of Sylvie’s body as she could, Casey laid her head on Sylvie’s shoulder and wrapped her arms loosely around the vampire’s tummy, scratching the silk softly. “Why did you get lucky? You are old enough to ensure success, right?” Casey finally caught a light scent of ginger mixing with the apples and sighed. “Thank you for this, Sylvie.” Casey gave her friend a light kiss on the neck. “I have avoided being close to anyone for months, since the wedding.” Mildly confused about her own actions, Casey slowed her advances and looked into Sylvie’s new moon eyes. “Afraid of intimacy I suppose.”

“I am old enough, yes.” Sylvie slowly confirmed.

-Keep that up and luck won’t be a factor, Casey. I will lose control.-

Knowing that the thought she had was closer than she really wanted, Sylvie reached down and grabbed Casey’s hand and held it firmly in her own. “It’s my visions Casey. I think that the use of my third eye and precognitive ability that stops it. Martin is the only success I have had in two hundred and seventy years.” Sylvie’s eyes shifted to their full moon brightness. “All of the others I have tried to create have died, horribly and in immense pain.” Sylvie instinctively reached up to her chest and rubbed the tattoo of her magical eye. “Sometimes there’s a price to be paid.”

“Ow.” Casey pulled her hand free and wiggled her fingers to get the needle feeling out of them. “Can you let me decide if the price is too high?” Raising one of her sculpted eyebrows, Casey smiled and pointed between Sylvie’s legs. “You could make me..you know. Just one little kiss?”

Suddenly thinking that the entire conversation was a ruse, Sylvie slipped Casey’s shirt up and saw her friend’s bald pussy poking out. “No, what?” Sylvie unwrapped herself from around the auburn-haired fox. “You think that is how…” She stood up and placed her hands on her hips. “We went over this before.” Sylvie pointed at Casey sternly. “You said no, you did.” She huffed and shook her head, “Was all that you trying to use me? Use your body, like you always do?” Her eyes floated into half moons, “I don’t operate like that, at all. Look around, Casey.” Sylvie paced back and forth, “I give and give. I don’t demand anything. Even if you were my ward, You think I would use you for sex? Force you into sex? How would that make me any better than the guys that you have been with?”

Taking the time to push down her shirt and cover her sex, Casey looked humbly at her friend. “I know what I said before and you’re right.” She sighed defeatedly.

-Now you’ve done it Rivers. Pushed the last person in your life over a cliff.-

Apples in the air reminded Casey that while her intention in the beginning wasn’t exactly honest, it was the sensations that occurred after that she did in fact enjoy. “Okay.” She held up her hands, “I admit it, I told you ten months ago that I wasn’t interested.” She patted the bed, “True, I wanted you to kiss me and remove all this bullshit in my head.” Crawling onto her knees and looking up at the disapproving woman before her, Casey let out the last of her concern. “What we had just a few minutes ago, was completely real, Sylvie.” She went for broke. “I don’t know how or why, but I really liked it.” Casey felt the weight in her mind and body lift. “If nothing else, I am questioning where I wasn’t before.” She paused, “Please, I didn’t lie about wanting to be held.” She shrugged, “I have always used my body to get my way.” She looked down at her shirt and moved it so she could see her tanned thighs. “Sex is almost automatic for me.” Looking pleadingly into Sylvie’s eyes, “Please don’t hate me.”

“I don’t hate you, Casey.” Sylvie softly confessed. “I have been drawn to you since I touched your arm that first night. Even had a vision.”

Mirroring the vampire, Casey placed her hands on her hips and raised both her eyebrows. “Now who’s being dishonest?” Her humbled look suddenly replaced with concern. “What vision, Sylvie?”

“It’s not even about you, Casey!” Sylvie exclaimed and pointed at her friend with her index finger. “I thought it was you, I wished it was you. Nothing about it is you.” She flicked Casey’s auburn hair. “Everything is wrong.” She paused, “That fucking vision has wrecked a few relationships now. The last girl was named Rose.” Sylvie shook her head, “I just broke up with her tonight. Hours before I picked you up.”

Holding out her hand, Casey waved Sylvie back to her. “Why? Why did you leave Rose?” Comforted when Sylvie took her hand and climbed back on the bed, Casey tilted her head slightly. “Something about the vision didn’t match, did it?”

“No.” Sylvie fell back into Casey’s arms and hugged her friend tight. “I used my glamor ability and erased her memories of us, I didn’t want her to go through life wishing.”

Returning the hug in kind, Casey wrapped her arms tightly around Sylvie. “That was sweet, and thoughtful of you.” Casey bent down and kissed Sylvie on her neck again. “I wish I could have the same happen.” She looked into Sylvie’s bright white eyes and found the will to stop holding her friend close and instead cup the vampiresses cheeks. “I stole the kiss from Vivienne, drunk and after she saved me from another vampire.” Casey ran her fingers over Sylvie’s cheeks slowly. “I won’t do that to you. Although, I really want to kiss you and see what it’s like.”

Sensing the shift in the music, Sylvie looked over to her phone when Pat Benatar started singing the song “Shadow’s of the Night”.

‘You said, "Oh, girl, it's a cold world when you keep it all to yourself",
I said, "You can't hide on the inside, all the pain you've ever felt",
Ransom my heart, but baby, don't look back 'cause we got nobody else,
We're running with the shadows of the night,
So baby, take my hand, you'll be alright,
Surrender all your dreams to me tonight,
They'll come true in the end..’

Unable to fight the events of the evening any longer, Sylvie combined the vision she’d had when they arrived to the music playing from her phone. “Lay back, Casey. You haven’t been held in months, and I don’t want to do this without you having some fulfillment to offset what could happen.” Sylvie guided Casey so that she was lying flat with her head propped up by a few pillows. “Let’s make a dream come true.” Sylvie brushed the loose and curly auburn strands from Casey’s face.

Nodding with a grin on her face, Casey started to unbutton her shirt when she felt Sylvie’s hand close lightly over her own. “I-I don’t understand.” She lifted her head slightly and peered into her friend’s eyes. “I thought this was..”

Sylvie held up her finger and winked. “Shhhhh…” She whispered and cupped one of Casey’s feet. “No, it’s not about sex.” She shrugged, “..at least not at this point.” Sylvie slipped one of her long nails lightly over Casey’s big toe. “Lay back and relax.” Sylvie flicked her tongue over the same toe she’d been playing with. “When was the last time anyone looked out for you? Answered your needs?” Sylvie playfully asked as she lightly kissed the tops of Casey’s toes one at a time.

“N-never.” Casey groaned softly, “It-i-it’s sweet load Sylvie..what are…” She rolled her brown eyes up briefly when she felt her large toe get enveloped in Sylvie’s warm mouth. “...you..Oh god!” Casey screamed and dug her fingers into the bedspread.

Blood sprang from the tiny hole that Sylvie opened with two of her fangs at the base of Casey’s toe. Supple little squirts of the crimson fluid sprayed lightly over the vampiress's tongue and briefly cooled her throat, “Mmmhmm, I knew that sound was you in the manor.” Sylvie licked the twin holes closed with a swift lick. “Biting is in your blood, my friend.” Sylvie playfully laughed and suckled on another two of Casey’s toes. “Admit..it.” Sylvie purred and used all four fangs to send more blood shooting down her throat.

“Okay..okay…okay.” Casey panted and found herself unable to stop squirming with pleasure. “B-b-b-been this way since Viv..” Heavily sucking air through her teeth, Casey lost her train of thought when the tingle of excitement ran the length of her spine and settled between her bare legs. “..Before she-she-she met…Oh goddd…” Slipping one of her shaky hands between her legs, Casey sought to offset the building tension with careful swirls on her clit.

Sampling Casey’s blood from all five toes, Sylvie moved her trail of kisses and nibbles along the arch of Casey’s foot. “Look at all these lovely veins.” Sylvie purred lightly as she dragged her fangs lightly over the bluish blood-filled seams. “You wanted more of this didn’t you?” Sylvie kissed the same spot then bit through the light layer of skin, letting the blood dance once more over her tongue. Savoring the sweet iron taste a little more than she should, the vampire licked each hole closed. “Casey…” Sylvie cooed softly, “Did either of them t-tell you how your blood..” Sylvie wiped her forehead of a few beads of red-tinged sweat. “..it’s nothing I have ever experienced.” Sylvie found herself drawn back to Casey’s foot once more, not to kiss, but to slide her ruby red lips lightly over Casey’s ankle and to her Achilles tendon. “It’s like you somehow..” Kissing the lump of Casey’s calf, Sylvie kept her hand on the foot she’d been paying attention to and raked her nails over Casey’s skin until she felt her toes once more. “..I think it explains so much..” Sylvie twisted and fondled Casey’s toes once again.

Unable to reason why she was holding back, Casey dipped into herself and caressed the inside of her cunny and kept up the pressure on her soft pearl. “I..Mmm, I…” Casey sputtered and lifted her hips to meet her middle finger. “..don’t know what..else..oh my god…” Biting down hard on her lower lip, Casey felt her own blood spread into her mouth and down her throat. Through the sexual haze and orgasmic mountain she was steadily climbing, Casey heard the echo in her mind.

-It isn’t about sex. Your needs, Rivers.-

Attempting to stop herself, Casey pulled her fingers free of herself and twisted the blanket in her hands again for about five seconds.

-Fuck that, this is my need.-

When a giggle lightly escaped her lips over the thought, Casey resumed her self-satisfaction. Plunging wildly into herself once more, Casey resumed her easy climb to what she knew would be a wonderful release in a few moments.

Nodding to herself, Sylvie knew that Casey was beyond the point of listening or even feeling anything except her own body.

-Time is now. If you are going to do this.-

Weighing the heavy fact she’d never successfully made a progeny, Sylvie let the hesitant thought leave her mind. Spreading herself along Casey’s quivering body, Sylvie helped her friend reach the high she was looking for by gliding her nails from her feet and up her bare legs. Scooting until she was flush with Casey’s neck, Sylvie finished her gentle trail with her fingernails with a light caress on Casey’s cheek. “May fate shine its gentle rays on you, Casey.” Sylvie whispered as she felt Casey reach her climax.

Summoning all the strength she could, Sylvie plunged her four fangs into the heavy pulse on Casey’s neck. Aided by the former ward’s heartbeat, Sylvie took in the thick streams of blood and kept drinking well past the seconds that would have allowed Casey to recover. Reaching a thirty count, Sylvie felt Casey’s pulse begin to fade. Quickly licking the four holes closed Sylvie ripped open her own wrist and pressed it quickly to Casey’s ashen lips. “Drink, quickly. Please hear me Casey. Drink, Let my blood replenish your body.” Watching as the blood from her wrist filled Casey’s mouth, but not go down her throat, Sylvie grabbed a handful of the curly auburn locks and yanked. “Casey!”

Pain rippled down Casey’s spine and she opened her eyes and reflexively swallowed the bitter and rust-flavored blood so she could speak. “Ow! Fuck! What the hell…” She grabbed the back of Sylvie’s hand and shook until the vampire let go. “What a way to mess up a perfectly good…” Casey felt her words get cut short as Sylvie had her wrist pressed against her lips once again. Reality hit the former ward as she realized what was happening, and she settled down letting the blood flow down her throat without any resistance.

-Thank you.-

Was the last thought Casey had before a cloud of peaceful dark washed out her vision and her chest rose a couple more times before stopping.

Relieved that Casey had awakened long enough to take the blood being offered, Sylvie kept her wrist pressed against Casey’s lips until she’d gone completely still. Licking her wrist closed, Sylvie looked down at herself. “Lovely. Covered in blood.” She looked at her wrist and then back to the stained nightgown she was wearing. “Probably should have thought about that before grabbing a head full of your hair.” She leaned down and kissed Casey’s forehead. “Hey, I haven’t tried this in roughly fifty years, give or take.” Sylvie spoke softly to her unmoving friend.

Climbing off of the bed, Sylvie kept talking aloud. “I think it would be best to get changed, then maybe get you in something more appropriate.” She walked over to her dresser and pulled out an oversized blue and gray tee, slipped out of the thin silk gown and donned the comfy tee. “Much better and more my style.” Sylvie did a little twirl for Casey, “The least you can do is open your eyes when I attempt to dance.” Knowing that she wasn’t going to get a reaction just yet, Sylvie sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I know that it can take a bit for your body and mind to decide if you want to be a vampire.” Sylvie dug out a small pair of loose-fitting shorts that matched her tee, and slipped them over her panties. “I like to think of it like you are in a coma and can hear what’s going on.” She walked to the door. “I will be right back.”

Quickly going through Casey’s clothing, Sylvie found a full-length nightgown. “Perfect. Here I thought you just wore sexy things.” She held up the long beige garment with little oranges and suns imprinted on the cotton. “This is certainly not sexy.” She snickered and took a bit longer to find a pair of underwear that wasn’t a thong. “However.” Holding up a set of normal white panties with a little pink bow on them, Sylvie sucked on her lip for a second. “These can’t be yours. One normal thing in a drawer of thongs.” Pausing to fold the underwear, Sylvie nodded to herself. “It is what you are getting all the same.”

Within minutes, Sylvie had easily stripped off the bloody garment that Casey wore and had her in the two items she’d picked out from her room. Positioning her friend so that she was lying naturally on the bed, Sylvie grabbed the brush she’d tossed before and started to lightly get the knots out of the curly hair. “What to do?” Sylvie hummed lightly and pursed her lips thinking. “Humm, I don’t have much to say beyond what you should already know.” Looking up at her swirled painted ceiling, Sylvie struggled to figure out how to pass the nervous minutes. “Okay, this is going to probably bore you to death, but it is all I have. How’s a story sound?” She paused and looked at Casey’s fingernails as they turned from normal and clear to black and sharp. “That is a good sign, Casey. So it's story time.” Sylvie commented then kept brushing, “Although the others did the same. Hope, right?” Not waiting for a response, Sylvie resumed. “A story. We have a few options.” Sylvie held up one finger, “First we have current events, boring but passes the time.” Popping up her second finger, she continued, “We could go into what happens next with us, but honestly, I would prefer that to be something you are awake for.” Third finger went up, “I could tell you about how I became a vampire.” Sylvie paused and shook her head and wiped a tear away, “That is emotional too, I would prefer to have you awake to respond.” Sniffling, she dropped her fingers. “So current events it is. Something mindless to discuss, Let’s start with something that concerns us both. Jester.”

Climbing over Casey, Sylvie got to the empty side of the bed and knelt so she could finish brushing Casey’s hair. “His real name is Jason Roderick, He just likes everything to do with jesters, so he picked up the nickname. He runs a small troupe named Sanguine Spark.” Sylvie thought about the vampires she’d taken apart earlier in the evening. “Smaller now thanks to the two of us.” She lightly nudged Casey’s body, “You did great by the way.” Pausing in thought, Sylvie took a few seconds to study Casey’s features. “Nothing visible yet. Right, Jester.” Swiping a few strands of her blue and gray striped hairs from her eyes, Sylvie resumed. “Ultimately, it is a tattoo parlor. He set up shop for himself in Williamsburg and is pretty much the one that knows the news for that area since Vivienne left. With the fact Oscar and Owen were that far east, is almost problematic. It means he is seeking to expand his reach into Virginia Beach.” Once Casey’s hair had been untangled and brushed into a light sheen, Sylvie placed the brush beside her phone and held her friend’s hand. “What you don’t understand is that Virginia Beach has been off-limits thanks to Viv. With her gone, it is a new source of both brethren and blood.” Sylvie sighed, “You probably don’t know the vacuum that was left behind when she left for France.” She laughed, “Face it, our kind doctor is a gravity well, a force that is unbending and can’t be negotiated around. We’ve simply had to make due with what she allowed.”

Sylvie stopped talking and quickly double-checked the house to make sure all of the doors were secure and all of her heavy curtains were in place, then went back to Casey’s side. “Sunrise is in a bit, I needed to make sure we’d make it through the day.” Curling up beside her lifeless friend, Sylvie sniffed the air and smiled. “Good, I can still smell my blood, I can also still taste yours. Better signs than I expected.” Swearing that she saw Casey’s lips move for a split second, She raised one of her thin eyebrows and kept talking, “You already know that the regional council that keeps the veil in operation, was obliterated. My friend Alan is hoping to get a seat and given what I saw tonight, it looks like Jester is looking to occupy the seat for the eastern part of the region.” Wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her, Sylvie studied Casey for a couple minutes in silence before speaking, “Jester is a decent enough guy, he did the tat’s on both shoulders and the third eye.” She scratched the tiny-eyed tattoo lightly, “He’s more heavy-handed than I am, likes structure.” She paused for a breath, “What is concerning is that he was willing to take on Viv’s wrath by letting his minions try and take you down.” She lightly ran her hand over Casey’s unmoving tummy. “It could just be hubris.”

-That you felt. Could it really be? Come on, where is the vision this time?-

Sylvie chastised herself when she felt Casey’s stomach tighten to her touch. “Casey?” Sylvie asked just in time to see Casey’s lips and body barely moving to the beat of a silent song. “Is it true?”

When Casey felt the peaceful cloud leave her, she found herself standing in a well-lit circle with what appeared to be a wooden dance floor under her feet. Tapping her foot a couple times to confirm what she was visualizing, Casey looked up to see the source of the yellowish light.

-Ow, that was stupid Rivers.-

Quickly squinting to avoid any more shooting pain into her mind, Casey stopped worrying about the light overhead and saw what she wore. Laughing quietly to herself, Casey deduced that somehow she was ready for a summer evening on the town. Inspecting her clothing, Casey smiled to herself and a sense of relief came over her knowing that even in this place she was still true to herself. Wearing a set of black calf-length boots, Casey lifted one of her feet and nodded in approval when she saw the little crimson bats embedded in the leather.

-I must be dreaming.-

Casey quipped to herself as she took in the fact she was wearing faded jeans and a gold bodysuit that had a square neckline and held her huge chest in with a set of spaghetti straps tight to her shoulders.

-Looks like something I’d wear.-

Confirming the look to herself, She flexed and took a couple dance steps to get a feel for her body and happened to see her fingernails glint under the bright light. Not only were they painted in a light blue and gold to match her outfit, Casey saw that her hands were more clawlike than before. Making a fist a couple times, she loved how she’d adapted to the extensions without really thinking about it.

-I’m not sure about these colors though. It matches, so I’ll go with it. Now what?-

Barely getting the question through her mind, Casey heard upbeat pop music start playing that reminded her of Ava Max. Figuring it couldn’t hurt to pass the time, Casey began with a few little dance steps and started shaking her head to the beat. Comforted when her thick curls lightly bounced off her cheeks, Casey heard and felt the intensity of the music pick up. Swiveling her hips and holding her arms just above her shoulders, Casey let herself get carried into the lyrics being chanted.

Dancing the way she was, Casey lost track of how many songs passed and steadily enjoyed the freedom of her fluid and sexy moves. Comfort and safety seemed to falter when Casey felt the cool touch of a hand come from behind her. Twisting to see the disturbance, Casey turned in time to feel a guy slip his arms around her waist and begin grinding against her. While there was something familiar about the guy's touch, Casey didn’t care for the chill that accompanied his presence. Shoving herself away from the man and breaking free of his grip, she held up a finger and shook her head ‘no’ as the heat and light above her radiated enough to feel all doubt dissipate.

Pleased that she’d fended off the cold man, Casey once more whipped her head side to side with the beat of the music. Much like before Casey felt her hair hit her cheeks with one exception, no curls. Mildly concerned, she flipped her hair forward so she could see what had changed. Auburn hair had been replaced with copper-strawberry blonde and the curls gone in favor of a length that touched the tops of her heavy breasts.

-I love it!-

Pleased beyond her wildest dreams, Casey spun in a few circles and loved the way her lighter-colored hair glowed with yellow highlights within the light she danced in. Mere seconds passed before another set of heavy hands clutched her from behind and unceremoniously ran his cold hands from her waist to squeeze both of her breasts. Given that Casey was used to guys doing a myriad of stupid shit to touch her chest, she was unsurprised by the advances of this particular dark figure. While it was simple enough for Casey to twist herself free of the man’s grasp, it wasn’t getting free that was the issue. This guy had appeared out of the unseen crowd with such confidence and overbearance that Casey knew the issue would be how she handled the fear that tugged at her heart.

‘The woman I raised isn’t full of fear. She doesn’t fear what is beyond her sight. You are better than this Casey. You can’t run forever.’ Casey heard her mother clear as a bell while sitting on her stool, and pointing the end of a paintbrush at her.

-No more running.-

Rather than being cute and twisting away from the man who gripped her, She clutched his hands and squeezed them until she felt the bones snap in his hands. Filled with confidence, Casey pulled the man closer and whispered in his ear. “I used to run from people like you.” Moving to the beat of the music, Casey danced behind the man and resumed. “It was polite and fake, getting water and excusing myself to not cause a scene, when I’d been the one insulted or treated like shit.” Flicking her claw across the vile man’s ear, Casey resumed. “I was the prey. You were the predator and I was scared.” Four soft clicks and Casey felt her fangs lock in place. “Your turn.” Anger swelled within Casey and she tore a huge hunk of the man-monster’s neck out and watched as he fell to the floor spraying hot and black blood all over the floor.

Seconds after the man disintegrated within her light, Casey felt a rush of ecstasy as fear left her body. “Hell yeah!” Casey screamed and spun on her heels still jamming to the music that pulsed in from all directions. Reaching up to feel her four new teeth, Casey happily played with her fangs until she noticed her hands weren’t as tanned as they used to be.

-Huh?-

Holding up her arms while she still bounced her hips side to side, Casey shrugged off the fact that her cultivated tan had been replaced by pale skin.

-One step closer. Sylvie… it's working.-

Happiness and glee filled Casey’s mind for a split second before she spun her way into another man. Only this man wasn’t unknown. Face to face with the soft goatee and loving green eyes. “Brian.”

“Casey. What are you doing?” He folded his arms over his huge muscular chest.

Frozen in place even with the heavenly pop beats going off in her head, Casey reached up with her clawed hand and felt the soft hair on Brian’s face. Devoid of fear for the man before her, she tilted her head and let her new copper-strawberry blonde hair fall over her shoulder. “I’m being myself, for the first time in a very long time.” Resolved to bury this nightmare once and for all, Casey felt the heat and light above her reinforce her will. “Brian. It is time for you to go. I held onto your memory way too long.” Slowly, the music penetrated her soul again and she started moving her head lightly. “La-la-la-lalala..” She quietly sang to the big man. “..la-la-lalalala.”

“You can’t live without me, Casey.” Brian winked and opened his arms. “Come on, let’s make this right.”

Fueled by her resolution and the need to keep dancing, Casey shook her head and spun away from the man she once loved. “This is right, Brian. Our fight is over, there is just your memory that haunts me.” Grinding her hips and curling around the fading image, Casey blew him a kiss. “Rest in Peace, Brian.”

-You did it, Rivers!-

Jumping wildly in the air and landing on her knees, Casey fell backwards on the wooden floor and began laughing as loud as she could. “It’s really over..” Squirming the best she could to the music, Casey felt three pairs of hands lifting her up. Seeing that the hands belonged to her blood bunny friends, Casey let herself get pulled up and began dancing with them in her bright circle.

“Casey, you should see yourself.” Amber spoke up while grinding herself into Casey’s new and nearly perfect form. “I am in love with the red of your lips.” She laughed, “I could kiss you.”

Holding Amber with one arm, Casey pulled the bunny tight to her body. “So, I am..I am?” Casey leaned in and kissed Amber on the cheek and waited until her friend nodded. “Does Sylvie know it worked?”

“Not yet. When is up to you.” Amber confirmed and returned the kiss in kind.

Casey danced with the other two for a few minutes, enjoying the bliss and freedom that came with it. Finally with beads of red sweat pouring from her body making her glisten with a red hue, Casey stepped away from her three dance partners and looked up once more into the bright light that protected her. “Ready when you are.”

Slightly concerned when her three friends disappeared back into the crowd, Casey saw a short-haired woman appear and walk into her light, Casting a shadow as she did so. Happy to see the blue-gray hair, Casey smiled and whispered, “Sylvie. You..we did it.” She looked at the floor and made the connection. “We are the eclipse.”

—

Opening her eyes, Casey found herself nestled deep within Sylvie’s arms and still lying flat on the bed. “Sylvie..” Her voice cracked and she embraced her creator. “I-I saw the eclipse.” Casey ran her hand through the blue-gray hair, desperate to feel something real. “I don’t know how, but it was..like a test.”

“Your eyes, Casey.” Sylvie felt the link between them lock into place, confirming that Casey was indeed her progeny. “They…they…I.” Sylvie gulped and pulled Casey into a tight hug, “They are like looking into the sun.”

Suddenly aware of Sylvie’s presence far beyond holding the vampiress, Casey felt something click into place and she could almost read the woman’s mind. “Oh, that’s wild.” Casey laughed and returned the hug, lightly kissing Sylvie on her neck. “What, what do you mean about the sun?” Casey pulled back and stared into the full moon eyes of her creator. “I must still be waking up, did you say my eyes..were..”

“..Yes, like the sun.” Sylvie cupped Casey’s cheeks and swirled her finger gently. “They are golden like the sun. It is like seeing a sunset..or..” Sylvie smiled and returned Casey’s kiss with one on her progeny’s cheek. “..a sunrise.”