Sylvie

Chapter 7 – “Relations”

Adrift in the heated moments of her trembling body and shallow breaths, Veronica managed to spot the meshed shadow of her and Alan combined as one. Sending another shiver of excitement down her spine, Veronica saw the smooth edges of her elbow reaching to touch her lover’s neck as if it were almost a movie set. “Ohhh..” She gasped lightly when the silhouette of Alan’s hands gently cupped under her breasts a fraction of a second before the couple on the wall cast their romantic dark reflection. “I-I can’t bel..” Veronica huffed lightly when Alan’s shade hips pushed once more between her legs, giving her a brief teasing moment of her body being filled once more. “..You…mmm..” She bit her lip and forgot about the couple on the wall. “..held b-back.”

Kissing and piercing Veronica’s silky skin on the back of her shoulders, Alan mumbled as he ground himself slowly into his lover, “…Forced..ugh…” He let out a matching sigh after once more tasting the iron-rich blood that flowed over his tongue. “..P-hone..” Lover didn’t seem to fit right in his mind, given the way Veronica’s blood seemed to nourish him beyond what he’d experienced in his hundred years. Rocking and moving deep within the woman he held tight, there was a familiarity with Veronica that transcended the idea of lover and locked the idea of partner within his mind. Leaving a trail of little kisses and bites along her collarbone, Alan knew that his partner loved the little streaks of blood that flowed down her back given how hard she’d gripped his hips. “..Th..that’s it..heaven sent.” Alan crooned wildly.

Sex was something that had become almost automatic within Veronica’s world. Living with the other two blood bunnies and her mistress, the subject and need had been breached many times and ended up the exact same way. Veronica in a cuddle ball with her fellow bunnies or alone with Sylvie and an afterglow of an intense orgasm. Unlike the time spent with the girls, Alan seemed to know exactly what was needed to bring her body to life for more than a few pleasant moments. Allowing her blood to flow in small rivulets down the curves of her back sent waves of scorching heat over her skin while he created a molten furnace inside. “God yes Alan!” Veronica felt something within her break free sending little shivers across her body with little bumps erupting across her arms and legs, then tightening her small yet pointy nipples. Twisting herself to kiss Alan the best she could on his neck, Veronica lightly licked his cool skin and pressed her teeth into his neck briefly. “Mmhmm..make your fangs part of my skin, A-alan..I want to feel them burning into me for days, my dear…” Veronica cooed softly as her breath tickled Alan’s ear.

-Such strong hands..come on grip a bit more…harder.-

Lost in the delicious feeling of her firm and heavy chest being squeezed, Veronica began to giggle when the first wave of her internal pleasure rocked her body. Clutching her cunny tightly around Alan’s firmness, Veronica bounced her feet uncontrolled until she was able to speak. “Aaaa…alan…yes, baby..oh fuck..fffff…” Veronica trailed off as the second and third waves claimed her senses. Unable to hold herself up any longer, the tapped blood bunny tenderly kissed her man one last time before collapsing on her tummy, still trying to catch her breath. Slightly confused when he backed off and allowed her to settle, Veronica giggled and raised her ass to his hardness. “No, no…We both…” Lacking the time to complete the sentence, Veronica felt her guy slip back into his groove and grab her hips.

-That’s it, use those big hands.-

Veronica told herself as he drove himself home within her without hesitation. Taking a few minutes longer, Veronica knew what was coming when the smooth strokes that she could match with her arched back and hips began to get wild and almost stiff enough to be robotic. When she heard a swift intake of air from the vampire, Veronica wiggled herself in a small circle until she felt a set of powerful bursts releasing deep within her. Slowly easing herself to the mattress with Alan still pulsing, Veronica grabbed his hand and kissed the top of it lightly. “That’s it..yes baby, Just let go. I have you.” She silkily whispered and pulled Alan around her.

Unable to do much more than follow Veronica’s lead, Alan’s head spun with the aftermath of the encounter. “What..” He paused and gently moved the sweaty strands of dirty-blonde hair from Veronica’s neck then nibbled lightly. “..can I say after that?” He shook his head and knew that he was speaking foolishly.

Curling up as she giggled, Veronica pushed her neck into Alan’s fangs. “I know you will need a bit, feel free.” She purred lightly. “You don’t need to say anything, Alan.” She took a satisfying deep breath just before she felt her neck get pierced. “Oh…that speaks…oh god…speaks volumes.” Rolling her eyes up, Veronica sank into the brief euphoria that came with the gentle tugs of blood from her body. Shivering lightly when Alan finished up his quick meal, Veronica wiggled her shoulders excitedly. “I knew I was right about you.” Turning to look at Alan, Veronica giggled and kissed the man’s cheek. “I will give you a little hint.” Veronica happily pulled Alan’s hand to her lips and kissed it again. “You made me quiver when I saw you at the bar.” Pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts, “I asked Sylvie about you. I was right, you’re a nibbler.”

With his orgasm fading to a lovely memory, Alan kissed Veronica’s shoulder. “What is a nibbler?” He questioned happily. “You seem to know more about vampires than I do, and I am one.” He chuckled lightly.

“To be specific, I called you a brown-eyed nibbler.” Veronica slipped her sex free of Alan’s and rolled over to face her partner. “Are you sure you want to know this? I’ll be admitting how many other vampires I have been with.”

Pushing a twinge of jealousy back from his mind, Alan resisted the urge to kiss Veronica and claim her as his own thrall. “We all have a past.” He paused and kissed her on the forehead, “I’m not fond of thinking about other guys while I am basking in our lovemaking.”

“So formal.” Veronica commented and cupped his cheek warmly. “When I say been with, I mean allowed to have my blood.” Covering his mouth with her hand, Veronica winked and softly kissed her own hand. “That’s the best kiss I can give you, my dear.” Pleased by the sudden rush of blood in his cheeks, Veronica took pride in knowing that he both used blood to make himself flush and that it was her blood. “Love wise? I don’t think I have been in love with anyone except Sylvie.” Veronica sighed, “She can’t love me though.”

-God, I want to kiss her so badly. Her lips are so perfect, I love the little dimple at the top.-

Alan internally groaned and quickly covered his slight disappointment, “She can’t?” While he couldn’t kiss her directly, Alan took the moment to drive his fangs into the round of her shoulder, drawing in the blood he’d just used. Licking the four holes closed, Alan waited until he felt his blood bunny shiver in his arms and added, “Nibbler? Was that it?”

Nodding happily, Veronica took a moment to run her fingers through Alan’s hair, parting it to the left. “Yes, you nibble. Little cute bites and never draw too much blood at once.” Staring into his dreamlike brown eyes, Veronica played, “It is like you have had lots of blood bunnies.”

Slowly shaking his head, Alan let the grin on his face slip away for a few seconds. “I suppose you’d be surprised. I don’t think about relationships much.” Trailing his finger along Veronica’s cheek and to her chin, Alan professed, “I spend most of my time trying to survive and not much time for things like this.” Alan leaned down and blew light cool air over one of Veronica’s nipples before lightly suckling it. “It feels good to be able to do that.”

Shooing Alan’s advances away so her muddled mind could clear completely, Veronica playfully covered her bare chest. “Doing things like that will make you use lots of blood.” She winked. “Let me get to my mistress before you cloud my mind with those four fangs of heaven again.” Clearing her throat and covering her nude body with the maroon sateen sheet that they’d flung back when their lovemaking started, Veronica reiterated, “My Mistress.” Veronica looked a touch sad thinking about what she was about to confess. “She’s had a vision that hasn’t come true for roughly a year. Her signs have said it will, but she’s been almost trying to force it.”

“That is a long time, back when she worked with the local entertainment venues, she could almost give a fortune in minutes with clarity.” Alan tucked the sheet around Veronica’s backside when he saw her lightly shiver. “Sorry. I’m used to not keeping my temperature normal.” He winked. “So what is this vision?”

Unsure if she was betraying Sylvie, Veronica hesitated. “Sorry, I am not sure that I should say everything.” She sat up, keeping the sheet tightly around her fair-sized chest. “There was a time in the last few months that I told her that I loved her.” Veronica sighed, “She told me she loved me as well, just not in the way I wanted or needed.” Absentmindedly twirling her own brown hair, Veronica stared blankly at one of the tan walls in the bedroom. “My hair isn’t copper-strawberry blonde.”

Scooting closer to Veronica, Alan waved his hand in front of her luscious brown eyes. “So she’s looking for someone specific based on this vision.” Alan guessed and kissed Veronica’s ear. “That must be tough.”

Coming back to her reality and blinking out of her temporary daze, Veronica offered Alan a smile before crawling into his lap. “It was.” She kissed the man on both cheeks lightly. “I still have feelings for her, but they have changed.” Veronica poked Alan’s nose gently. “Lucky for you.” Waiting until the older gentleman vampire began to grin once more, Veronica clasped his fingers with her own. “So tell me more about yourself. How did you end up..” Knowing that some stories of vampiric change were very horrific, Veronica meekly finished her question. “..a vampire, if you don’t mind sharing.”

“Sure. How about you tell me why you aren’t yet a vampire?” Alan countered and deftly wrapped Veronica’s legs around his waist, and relished the sexual musk coming from her core. “We have all day to lounge around here.”

Suddenly concerned for Alan, Veronica perked up. “Do we have to sunproof anything?”

“No, my dear. We are quite safe. Unlike your mistress, I have a couple thralls that help me out.” Alan smiled and slid his hands up and down Veronica’s thighs. “So who goes…”

Interrupting the start of the conversation, Veronica half grimaced. “Thanks to Vivienne, we don’t call them thralls, but wards.” She poked at Alan, “They are more friends and companions than slaves, right?”

Alan shrugged, “I don’t think about it.” He paused after he saw the sour look on Veronica’s face. “It’s not personal, I mean they serve willingly and I have always called them thralls.” Sensing that he wasn’t about to win this conversation, Alan nodded and smiled. “Very well, they are now wards and I will be nicer.” He winked, “How’s that?”

Locking her feet around Alan, Veronica nodded in approval. “So, you go first. Tell me how you turned into this fine specimen of vampirism.”

“There isn’t really much to tell you.” Alan traced his finger along the smooth curve of Veronica’s neck. “You probably already know that a hundred years ago, things socially were drastically different.” He stated cooly and watched Veronica nod in agreement. “I was with my girlfriend at the time.” He paused and closed his eyes, “Sometimes the fog is still around my memory, give me a second.” A few seconds later, Alan patted Veronica on her bare thigh lightly. “Got it, her name was Julia Abbot. Had the prettiest hazel eyes, almost like a smoky quartz.” He sighed. “I had just dropped her off at home from a lovely evening at the movies.” Gleaning a bit of memory, Alan laughed. “Thank you! I remember the movie. Scaramouche, oh wow. I guess it has been a long time.”

Laying her head on the vampire's bare chest, Veronica traced little circles around his well-proportioned tummy. “I don’t know much other than the word, and that is from the song by Queen.” Gazing up, Veronica pleaded with her eyes for Alan to keep talking.

“Oh, right.” Alan affirmed, “I suppose that is the reference.” Stunned into silence by the innocent look peering up at him from Veronica, It took Alan nearly a minute to keep talking. “Unlike you and I right now, my dear, I didn’t even ask for a hug. I made sure to shake her father’s hand and headed home.”

“A proper gentleman, like I suspected.” Veronica kissed Alan’s chest lightly.

Unable to control himself Alan leaned over to kiss the lovely woman in his lap, when he was blocked by a thin hand. “T..thank you. That…was my..my..” When a single finger slipped over his lips, Alan humbly grinned at Veronica. “You know about that too?” Relieved that he didn’t have to explain the dark side that infected all vampires, Alan focused enough to keep the story going. “The finer details still linger in the back of what I can remember, but I know I took a little break and sat down on a stone bench while on my way home.” Shaking his head, Alan raised one eyebrow. “Maybe if I’d owned a car, then Viktoria wouldn’t have bothered with me.”

“Your maker was a woman?” Veronica softly inquired.

Overcome with a range of tingly itches along his neck, Alan affirmed, “A fairly big vampiress, yes. With a very thick Russian accent to match.” Bringing the full image of his creator forward sent a chill down Alan’s spine even though he was using blood to keep Veronica warm. “I still have the nightmare to this day. My change was not the least bit good. I didn’t have a choice.”

“I’ve asked Sylvie and she says much the same thing.” Veronica paused in order to rub the tension from Alan’s neck and shoulders. “No need to be nervous.” She coaxed Alan out of his little stasis. “If you can’t talk about it, I get it.” Veronica tightened her legs, “Alan, sweet. Look into my eyes and feel me around you.” Pulling herself away from Alan’s chest, Veronica focused on the concerned look in his eyes.

Struggling with the shade within him, Alan refreshed his senses with Veronica’s scent and calm voice. Light seemed to brighten within his mind when he recalled that there was a little more than love between them. Armed with his partner's words, Alan pushed the taunting darkness from the front of his mind then hugged Veronica tight as he dared. “I think I have it, thank you though.” Pausing for a quick breath, Alan kissed Veronica on her cheek. “Sometimes the thing just isn’t easy to control.”

“The dark?” Veronica slowly added as she ran her hands over his chest. “My mistress says her’s doesn’t speak, but will alter her visions.”

Grinning widely, Alan held up his hands. “You are inquisitive, aren’t you? I can’t keep you on one topic.” Spotting the excitement in her eyes, Alan decided against trying to use his charm in order to keep the conversation in one direction. “Let me finish with Viktoria.”

Resuming his intimate and warm hug, Alan’s voice lowered enough to create the sensation of dread. “Let me begin with the fact Viktoria was not a lovely lady in the slightest. If there are any tales of a vampire that was gross in every way, she was the unliving embodiment of that legend.” Alan shivered, “Stringy hair that somehow seemed to radiate vomit, shaded pantone. It hung down over her face and most of the way down her back.” Taking a moment so Veronica could snuggle closer, Alan restarted once she stopped moving. “She glared at every one of her servants through those strands of hair. Eyes that had no affection within them.” Alan stopped to gather his thoughts, “Wells of yellow, that reminded me of alligators or snakes. Rimmed with blood red of her kills.”

“Sounds lovely so far.” Veronica shivered.

Using a bit more blood, Alan warmed himself a little more. “There, that should be more comfortable for you.” He paused, “I haven’t pulled too much blood from you have I?” When Veronica shook her head Alan smiled, “Good. I don’t know your limit yet. I’ll figure it out.” He winked and added more to his little story. “When it came to her skin, I can only say it was as gray and lifeless as a shark.” He curled his nose with the thought, “I think she even radiated a slime from it. She made the idea of a twisted and ugly witch from fairytales appear lovely.”

“It is just strange to hear about vampires that aren’t in some way beautiful, I mean even Drake had a handsome presence when he wanted to.” Veronica wiggled her nose, “Though most of the time he stayed a disgusting ass for his image.”

Briefly chuckling at his partner, Alan nodded and kissed the top of Veronica’s lovely brown hair. “I remember Drake. Oddly, there are many of us left that think The Raven did us a favor there.” Thinking about his creator once more, Alan resumed his account of Viktoria. “Now that you have a more clear picture of this blood-witch, understand that when she spoke it sounded just as vile as she looked. All of her consonants had a thick accent and were over-enunciated.” He paused, “I cannot stress enough that there was nothing redeeming about her.”

“Gotcha.” Veronica laughed and patted Alan’s chest. “I didn’t think it was possible to be more sickening than Drake, but I will take your word for it.” Veronica gazed into her lover’s eyes and watched a thin red ring appear around his brown irises. “Alan?” She inquired and moved her hair to one side, leaving her neck close enough for him to feed.

Impressed that Veronica could anticipate his needs, Alan felt a little tingle of bonding with the little blood bunny. Plunging his fangs into her thin flesh where her neck and shoulder met, Alan drew enough of the fragrant plasma from the four holes to douse the flames that had started to rise in this throat. When his partner let out an approving mewl, Alan swirled his tongue across the holes one at a time until the flow stopped. “Veronica, I could listen to you do that non-stop.”

“Two peas in a pod, dear.” Veronica added and kissed Alan’s chin lightly. “I could enjoy you doing it almost non-stop.” She lightly poked his arm, “Keep going with Viktoria.”

Wiping the small excess of blood from his lips and licking his finger clean, Alan resumed where he left off. “Completing this lovely specimen of vampirism, She also had a goddess complex.” He paused, “Yeah, she wanted to be worshiped and called goddess.” Visions of his creator flashed in his eyes and the vampire jolted with surprise. “I can’t believe I can see her this clear even now.” Alan rolled his eyes and forced himself to purge his beastly creator's face from his vision. “I guess I got lucky in the fact she wanted worshipers by the time she caught me on the bench. She dragged me kicking and screaming to this wet and musty cave. I guess you could call it an actual lair.” Curling his lip in disgust, Alan pushed on. “Her brood, all sat there like hungry birds waiting for a meal.” Scratching at his chest from the memory, Alan added, “Using me as nothing more than a chew toy, she taught them how to create and feed. I even recall her telling them that it was her divine grace that allowed them the gift of afterlife.”

Disturbed by the details of the ongoing story, Veronica unwrapped herself from around Alan’s waist and spread out across his lap and took his hand into hers. “I guess I have been fortunate to know the vampires I have.” She pressed one of his knuckles to her lips lightly. “I have a pretty good picture of what happened. I take it she created lots of vampires to worship her, a coven.” She shrugged, “I have heard old stories about vampire covens from Sylvie. She said they were more common when she was younger.”

“Yes and no, my dear.” Alan gently brought Veronica’s hand to his own lips, “My scant hundred years have made it where I think it was more or less a transition to how things are today. The more modern that your lovely human counterparts got, the harder it must have been to maintain huge groups.” He shrugged. “All the same, Viktoria didn’t create for a coven, she created for a congregation.” He paused and rubbed his temples, “She didn’t care who or what was going on out there in the real world.” Alan waved his hand towards the outside. “Dozens of people were being killed every night. She’d have living fountains that we were forced to drink from, people strung up over large basins.” He watched Veronica turn away from him. “Dearest, it wasn’t anything that I wanted to do. She had complete command and we didn’t know there was another way to survive. We were barbaric.”

Slowly turning to look into Alan’s gentle brown eyes, Veronica nodded and wiped a few tears from her eyes. “How-how did it go unnoticed in the twenties? I mean the police should have had reports all the time.”

“The real answer is, that it didn’t go unnoticed. Viktoria didn’t care either, a goddess will not be questioned by some lowly peon from the street, right?” Alan waited for Veronica to nod, “So, trust me when I say that it came to light. The others just didn’t know how to handle a coven of that size.” He held up a finger, “Viktoria didn’t factor in The Raven.”

“So Vivienne stopped her?” Veronica inquired and thought about the piercing blue eyes of her former mistress. “I knew her reputation from Franco when I first came to him.”

Alan nodded and half smiled, “Stopped is an understatement.” Amused by the grin on Veronica’s face, he raised one eyebrow. “Is she really that nice? All I see are the devil blue eyes of hate.” Figuring that he’d said all that was necessary about his creator, Alan lingered on the fear and dread of The Raven’s eyes a touch longer. “Short story, most of the coven was destroyed that night. I knew when Viktoria died because my will became my own. Her commands and servitude ended immediately.”

“You didn’t see Vivienne kill them?” Veronica quickly asked.

Hearing the panicked screams of his brethren echoing in his head, Alan froze in place. “I-I, no. I didn’t see her do anything.” Alan’s lips quivered with unnerving fear, “..but..but, I did see her. The Angel of Death. I sw-swear mig-ght have even had a wicked black halo and matching wings.” Cobalt pitiless eyes bore into Alan once more. “I-I-S-She walked past me without so much as a glance, blood dripping from her as though the cave had rained it down and blessed her coming.”

Leaning up from her comfortable position, Veronica wrapped herself tightly around Alan’s trembling form and warmly kissed his neck. “It’s alright, it’s over. A memory.” Veronica felt Alan slowly return to normal before easing her hug. “I wish I had a more compelling story for you.” She laughed and took his hand into her own. “You asked why I’m not a vampire?”

“Yes.” Alan humbly asked as his normal personality returned. “It’s lovely that you and your bunny sisters all allow us to feed from you, but it seems almost too symbiotic.”

Patting Alan’s hand lightly, Veronica took a breath and looked into his easy brown eyes. “Picture yourself not understanding why your body goes into euphoria after one of you lovely vampires do their thing. Imagine still meeting others that do the same thing you do.” She paused, “It is both frightening and exciting in the beginning.” Veronica squeezed Alan’s hand, “Along the way you get into a rhythm and develop almost a ruleset for how you and your vampire master or mistress will be.” Veronica cupped Alan’s cheeks, “Franco was a great master, Sylvie a lovely mistress. Vivienne..” Veronica stopped when Alan tensed up again, “..Never fed from us. She just put us in charge of the others who came to the manor.” Veronica winked and kissed Alan’s nose. “It is kind of an unwritten rule that we don’t ask. You and your kind make the offer.” Veronica laughed. “Then we decide if we want to.” She poked at Alan’s bare chest. “It still has to come from the vampire, my dear. Given how many vampires get turned, I think it’s for the best that one should offer..I mean it is difficult to do something so hard when your own past was so tragic. Right?”

Running his finger under the dark circles that formed under Veronica’s eyes, Alan smiled. “You look sleepy, dearest. I can get up and let you rest.” He paused, “I have plenty to consider when I see your mistress this evening.”

“Don’t you dare leave.” Veronica muttered and yawned at the same time. “I like it here, if you don’t mind.” Shutting her eyes for a brief moment, Veronica peeked open one eye, “I don’t have to wear a mask or anything do I? I would prefer to wake up with my mind as my own.” She smiled.

Relieved to finally laugh once more, Alan let the few chuckles subside before answering. “I am in control. You are perfectly safe here for the day. Sleep well.” He leaned over and gave her a final quick kiss on the cheek before he watched Veronica drift off.

“Did you just say that my eyes looked like the sun?” Casey hopped up and down on the bed. “Really?” She started laughing and grabbed Sylvie, pulling the elder vampiress into a hug. “I feel so much..what’s the word I am looking for, free. It feels like the rain has stopped in my head or something silly like that.” Casey rambled.

Mildly concerned for her one and only progeny, Sylvie waited for the round of excitement to slow before pulling from Casey’s arms. “That’s what I said, depending on how you view it they are setting or rising.” Slipping off the bed, Sylvie glanced over at the clock to confirm what she’d already been sensing. “Good thing that it took most of the day for you to transform. It means you can go out hunting before I tell you more.” Finding herself staring at Casey’s hair more than anything, Sylvie felt a little twinge of guilt about having to explain the darkness that was sure to try and take Casey’s mind at the first opportunity. “I see a little ring of red around your irises, which I think is normal?” Sylvie posed it as a question to herself, given she’d never successfully made another vampire. “Wait another ten to fifteen minutes and you can go feed off the jerk next door.”

“Wow, oh wow.” Casey exclaimed and jumped off the bed to hug Sylvie from behind. “I felt that. I don’t know how, but I felt that annoyance or anger.” Cackling lightly Casey twirled once on her new feet. “My little Luna actually gets angry.” Pursing her lips briefly, Casey perked one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows, “Humm, I don’t have many of my memories left. I see my mom pretty well, but I can’t even remember what my dad looks like.” She paused and closed her eyes. “It’s like seeing a sun glare..no wait..” Casey snapped her fingers impatiently, “..What is it when there is snow everywhere and you see the sun in like two or three places at once?”

Thankful that Casey couldn’t see relief cross over her face when the new vampire hugged her tightly, It took Sylvie a moment to register everything that Casey was talking about. “I…um..they are called Sundogs…that’s it, sundogs.” Sylvie nibbled on her lower lip for a second. “Wait, did you call me your little Luna?”

“Yep.” Casey kissed Sylvie on the shoulder, “I admit that claiming you mine was odd, but it worked for what I wanted to say, so I said it.”

Ever since the events that transpired in Phantasmagoria, Sylvie tried to avoid hearing people call her Luna due to the bad memories that lingered from the brutal holy water attack. However, hearing the playful name come from Casey sent a little pulse of joy into her mind. “Most people don’t call me Luna anymore.” Reaching behind her, Sylvie found a lock of copper-strawberry hair and twirled it. “From you, it isn’t so bad.” She hesitated, “You can also call me..Taini.” Sylvie turned and saw Casey’s calming bright and brilliant eyes. “It..was my birth name.” Sylvie swallowed hard, “It’s yours to use if you’d like.”

Accidentally curling her toes into the floor, Casey backed away and looked down. “Oops.” Watching as Sylvie waved her hand and chuckled, Casey immediately perked up. “Thanks for telling me your real name..but I would like to almost earn the right to use it.” Casey grabbed Sylvie’s hand, “I mean, you know. A respect thing, I suppose. Don’t be upset?”

“I’m not.” Internally wishing that Casey would hug her again, Sylvie smiled warmly. “I just thought you should know.” Going back to what Casey mentioned before, She added, “I was under the impression that you were there when Vivienne saved Faye.” Clasping her hands behind her back as she witnessed the confused look in Casey’s bright eyes, Sylvie took a shallow breath, “Sorry she didn’t tell you, but you could have memory issues for quite a while.” Sylvie nervously rocked on her heels, “There are times where I see the same fog when it comes to my brothers and sisters.”

Smoothing out her nightgown imprinted with oranges and suns, Casey hummed lightly and then pointed to the suns, “Fitting for the current situation. I couldn’t tell you if I hated this nightie or not.” She chuckled, “I know it's ugly to me now.” She took Sylvie’s hand into her own, “When it came to Vivienne, I might have said it before, but when she met Faye..” Casey felt the intensity of rejection swimming to the surface of her mind. “..It..it was like no one else really existed.” Refusing to give into the disparity, Casey locked onto the fact that she and Sylvie were bonded in a way that no one else could understand. “So, no. She didn’t explain anything to me really.” Soothed by a few bars of a song she couldn’t quite remember echoing in her mind, Casey continued. “I mean why would she tell me all the fascinating vampire secrets?” Casey reached for Sylvie’s hand, “Isn’t that what my lovely creator supposed to do?”

Hesitant to tell Casey the inevitable, Sylvie took a few steps back and paced the floor nervously. “I don’t know exactly how to explain this.” Nibbling lightly on her lip with the tip of one of her fangs, Sylvie faced the inevitable and formulated in her mind how to explain the dark that taunted every vampire. “There are quite a few drawbacks to being a, well, vampire.” Clearing her throat, Sylvie articulated further. “You know about the blood and the burning in your throat. You should also know that the sunlight is a killer.” Sylvie watched as Casey laughed and shook her head, making her copper-strawberry hair move like a small wave. “Good. You also can and probably will go into a frenzy on your first hunt. Just expect it.” Sylvie stopped pacing and looked intently at Casey. “Accept that you are a predator. You can’t avoid it.” Holding up a single finger, Sylvie smiled. “However, with time you can temper it.”

“I saw what Faye did at times, so I think I get it?” Casey half questioned, and sat down on the bed. “Frenzy as in what?” Casey peered at Sylvie puzzled. “I can see it in your lovely half-moon eyes. You’re hiding something.”

Taking the opportunity to follow up, Sylvie clapped her hands lightly. “Not so much hiding, rather going in order.” She paused and sighed, “Alright. This is the big one.” Sitting down beside Casey, Sylvie turned her progeny to face her. “We all have it. There is a dark..darkness, that haunts all of us. I have pictured mine without a mouth and bright white eyes.” Sylvie gulped. “Shadelike. Whatever it is, you can’t get rid of it, and it will try to pull you into madness.”

“Am I supposed to feel something?” Casey inquired while hearing another familiar song beat in her head. “Because I don’t feel anything.” She shrugged and widened her gold eyes. “What does that mean?”

“For me? It was immediate. It’s a deep-rooted hate and emotion-driven wisp..Almost out of reach, if that makes sense.” Sylvie stood up once more, “Mine doesn’t speak, it tries to make me believe in different visions.” Noticing the confused look on Casey’s face, Sylvie raised one of her shapely eyebrows. “You know I see visions. So my dark-thing-within or whatever changes them, tries to hide or in some way change the outcome.” Sylvie paused, “For reasons I can’t explain, if I see an eclipse then I know it's a real vision, I actively seek one out as the vision comes to me.”

Pursing her lips, Casey concentrated and didn’t feel or sense anything beyond the music that tended to play on occasion. “Honestly? I hear a piano right now playing a version of..” Casey laughed as the name came out of her foggy memory. “I was made for lovin’ you, by Kiss. It’s like a concert hall in my head.” Squishing her eyes shut, Casey looked for something dark and vile in her, without success. Sitting in silence until the music stopped, Casey opened her eyes. “I simply don’t feel anything bad, in fact, even if I can’t recall the name of the song, it uplifts me.” Waving her hand up much like a conductor, Casey rocked on the bed. “Should I be worried?”

“No?” Sylvie answered with a question and patted Casey on the knee. “Let’s just take this a day at a time.” Pulling Casey off the bed, Sylvie pointed across the hallway, “What is more impressive is that you haven’t tried to tear out of here and go hunting.” Feeling the pull for blood within herself, Sylvie advised, “Let’s not take any chances, get dressed and..” Sylvie saw the look of hunger suddenly appear on her progeny’s face a split second before she smelled human blood. “Oh shit.”

Irises of molten gold faded and went nearly black, mirroring a solar eclipse. “I smell him.” Casey spoke and licked the saliva from her mouth. “His blood smells like heaven even if he smells like dank sweat.” Willing her fangs to lock in place, Casey stood up and walked towards the front of the house.

Overwhelmed by the piercing scents of grease and butane, Casey knew instantly that the man was some kind of blue-collar worker and had somehow broken into the house. Able to once again detect sounds on a deeper level, Casey could tell the guy had crouched down and opened the door to the room where the blood bunnies typically stayed.

Protective of Sylvie’s home and hungry almost beyond thought, Casey’s black razor-sharp claws extended from her fingers to mirror her predatory nature.

-That’s right, keep coming.-

Sensing that the man was at the foyer and moving slowly towards the hallway, Casey happened to look up. With a quick crouch and light push from the floor, Casey silently gripped the ceiling and crawled along the dark more silent than a black widow. Casey felt her spine tingling and her throat turning into a raging inferno the closer she got to the man sneaking inside the house. Without warning, a deep-sounding organ began playing in her mind, Sweet Dreams. Tonally the old song changed from a synthesizer beat to that of a gothic sound, helping her hunt.

While able to hear his heartbeat before, Casey could also feel the excitement emanating from his quickened pulse and was completely unaware of her looming presence. “Caaarrrlll…” Casey lightly whispered from her position, taking a chance that the brazen man was the one Sylvie mentioned before.

Where there was a thrill, Casey’s simple action made Carl jump and his heart race like a frightened rabbit. Frozen in place, Carl held as still as he could and strained to hear beyond his own heavy beating pulse. “Imagining things.” He nervously whispered and found the nerve to step further into the hallway. “Just a few more feet to the bathroom.” He quietly assured himself and pulled a small camera from his cargo pocket.

Acting much like the spider she imagined herself, Casey dug the claws on her feet into the ceiling’s drywall for anchor and released her handhold. Almost curling her way down, Casey reached out with her hands and dug her talons into Carl’s shoulders and yanked the man into the air.

A shrill and despairing howl came from Carl as his flesh was pierced by Casey’s knifelike claws. Dropping the small camera, Carl tried to wiggle free much like a fly trapped in a web. “This…this….Aarrgghhhh….isn’t….happen….ing…” Shrieking wildly, Carl felt his twin collar bones break and the ligaments snap, temporarily freeing him from Casey’s clutches. Crumpling on the ground, Carl barely found the ability to use his legs and heaved himself from the floor through the waves of pain and look up in time to see a nightgown flutter past his vision and land softly on the plush carpet. Partly mesmerized by the new vampire's beautiful nude form, Carl stood in place as he watched his attacker gracefully land on the floor without a sound. Pulsing agony shot through Carl’s body and forced him to come to his senses, and through his resumed screaming managed to find the strength to run for the front door. Luck seemed to be on the fat man’s side when he saw that he’d left the door ajar. Kicking the door wide so he could get through, Carl stumbled his way across the leaf-covered driveway while trailing blood behind him.

Licking Carl’s blood from her fingers, Casey pursued her meal easily as he ran with his arms dangling useless beside him. Mildly aware that every word Sylvie uttered was coming true before her golden eyes, Casey calmly pursued Carl back to his house and grabbed one of his feet as he climbed up the stairs. “Mmmm, turbulent and viscous. Your blood is going to taste too damned good.” Casey crooned and dragged Carl into the tightly packed trees that surrounded the property.

Reaching her front door with Casey’s nightgown in hand, Sylvie swiped one of her fingers where a line of blood had spurted from Carl. “I agree.” Sylvie quietly affirmed. Moment’s later the elder vampire heard more crunching bones and a few squishy noises from the trees before the area went completely silent once more. “Drain him completely and there won’t be anything left. Waste not.”

Unable to do anything but keep drinking from Carl’s neck, Casey soon heard the man gurgle one final time and then turned to dust in the wind. “Got anyone else you want dealt with, Sylvie?” Casey appeared from the trees almost glowing from the moonlight. “I could take down another dozen people without thinking about it.” Only after seeing Sylvie holding her gown, Casey felt her breasts swaying with every step she took back toward the house. “I guess modesty isn’t part of the vampire experience?” Reaching for her clothing, Casey slipped the garment back over her and smiled at Sylvie. “How’d I do?”

“A little messy, but that’s expected.” Sylvie pointed to the blood trail leading to Carl’s house. “Then there’s the pool of blood where you pounced on him.” Escorting her new vampire back indoors, Sylvie grabbed Casey’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen and handed her a bottle of blood. “Eating another dozen or so will prove to be problematic. You already know about the veil, so I don’t need to explain it.”

Swigging the contents of the bottle, Casey leaned against the sink and wiped her mouth. “Yeah, I know what that is.” She laughed, “I thought you’d be impressed with my hunting skill.”

“I was.” Sylvie winked and headed to her room, “Inventive for your first fang. Now finish that and get dressed. I have something to tell you and I don’t want to do it here.” Sylvie giggled, “Be sure that you are waiting for me at the front door in a few minutes…Oh, and be sure to grab the raincoat hanging up.”

Doing as she was told, Casey enjoyed the use of her newfound speed and reflexes to get dressed as somewhat ordered by Sylvie.

-Your mistress now, Rivers.-

Giggling to herself again with the thought of being so tightly bound to Sylvie, Casey heeded the warning and grabbed a short rain slicker and stood by the front door. Thinking that Sylvie would come from her room, Casey was a little surprised when she heard the engine of the motorcycle outside. Stepping out onto the porch, Casey instantly noticed that a light rain had started. “Amazing, Sylvie. You can tell the weather too?” Casey hopped through a couple small puddles before climbing on the back of the bike once more. “Where to?”

“You’ll see.” Sylvie revved the engine and waited for Casey to hold her around the waist. “No, I can’t predict the weather.” She laughed, “Not exactly. Hold tight now.”

-Perfect.-

That one simple word passed through Sylvie’s thoughts as she navigated her motorcycle to a stop in front of what she knew as Lakeview Reservoir.

Years past, the City of Colonial Heights had taken the opportunity to create a dam and had laid plans for adding in a hydroelectric facility to allow the people to have a co-op source of power that was renewable. Unfortunately, the dam created a unique ecosystem that allowed for a huge source of fishing and it attracted a unique butterfly. A little creature with red-orange wings outlined in black, massed with others of its kind and drinking the nectar from the mostly closed flowers that dotted the circumference of the man-made lake. Within weeks of their nocturnal discovery, protesters from all over the surrounding cities demonstrated and blocked any vote to continue building the plant.

Currently, the calm soft blue water had red and gold maple leaves floating on its surface and with the mixture of a light wind, created a few charming ripples that spread out like tiny waves that gently patted the pebble-laden shoreline. Nearly identical to the vision she’d been pursuing for a year, Sylvie lightly smiled to herself when she spotted the identifiers that marked the moment.

-Lilypads. Bright green frogs. Spotted red fish swimming all over. Even the fog on the water. This has to be it.-

Sylvie pulled off her helmet and turned the key to shut off the engine. Following what she’d seen, the elder vampire walked to the shoreline and tossed a smooth stone across the water, making it skip through the water as foretold. Moments after the rock hit the opposite shoreline, a drop of rain bounced on Sylvie’s small nose.

-The moon. The rain.-

Closing her eyes, the blue-gray-haired vampire waited for the final act to reveal itself. Standing quietly on the rocky beach, Sylvie felt a soft hand on her shoulder. “Casey.” Sylvie sighed and opened her eyes to see the vampiric eclipse bathing across the calm water. “Finally.” Feeling a light pulse of energy coming from her third-eye tattoo, Sylvie turned her head and kissed Casey’s hand.

“Are you alright? You seemed to go into a trance until I touched your shoulder.” Casey warmly offered. “Should I get back on the bike and leave you to think?”

“No.” Sylvie confidently reassured and turned to face her progeny. “These events..” Sylvie waved her hand towards the lake, “..include you as well.” Sylvie took a step closer to Casey and lowered the hood on the raincoat, freeing Casey’s luxurious coppery-red hair to bounce lightly on the new vampire's shoulders.

“I’m sure you are about to explain it to me?” Casey gently questioned and wrapped her arms around Sylvie. “We’ve shared so much. I’m pretty sure you can tell me anything.” Casey tapped on her chest, “Besides we are part of each other now, I think I feel you are nervous.”

Gathering her strength to face what she’d almost dreamed wouldn’t happen, Sylvie pushed the completed vision from her mind and grabbed Casey into a warm hug. “The vision, Casey. All of this came true for me.” She sighed and began shaking, “I have never had a vision that told me so completely that this would be my moment to..love.”

“Is that why you became my friend?” Casey lightly cooed. “You had a vision about us? A year ago?”

Nodding while buried in Casey’s shoulder, Sylvie took in a heavy breath and took a step back. “You have to understand that I can’t control what I see.” She nervously bit her lip, “I didn’t know you at the time, Casey. I..I…It was one t-touch.”

Blinking her soulful sunlight eyes softly, Casey reached up and plucked a half-red tear from under her mistress’s eye. “Tell me, are you under the impression that I am angry with you, Sylvie?” Casey smiled when the shorter vampire shrugged her shoulder. “No. I’m fine.” She raised one carefully shaped eyebrow, “I don’t think you are forcing this. I feel free, other than the connection itself..”

“Not in a million y-hears.” Sylvie stammered as her eyes shifted to full moons. “I know..I know I seem so in control of this..” Sylvie hesitantly reached for Casey’s cheek and was pleasantly surprised when her progeny leaned into the touch. “..but..I have been plodding along since..since..” She gulped, “..you left.”

Music from the piano in Casey’s head began once again, with a tune she knew but couldn’t quite place. The soft melody added to the moment between creator and progeny. “Sylvie, I wasn’t in any shape to stay here..” She paused and pulled Sylvie into a hug, then began lightly swaying as though the two were dancing. “..in this area. It had nothing to do with you.” Casey’s voice lowered to a gentle whisper, “I couldn’t face what had happened, V-V…” She stammered and without trying, felt her blood ignite and flush her body. “..Vivienne kept all that anger and disparity in check..I asked her to.” Finishing her tiny encouraging speech, Casey added, “I needed somewhere I belonged..that is here, with you.” Casey lightly kissed Sylvie on the neck and stepped back.

-Belonging. It could be the connection.-

Sylvie stood silently and gazed at the moon for a couple seconds, reliving the bond between her and Amos. While she knew she did like the man, she somehow knew that his bond wasn’t remotely as close as she had with Casey. “My master and I were close, but I didn’t feel the same way.” Sylvie confessed her thought, “I might subconsciously be holding you here with our..bond. I could free you, Casey.”

Shaking her head so that the light autumn breeze caught it and spread the strands in her face, Casey adamantly refused, “No, not a chance. I can tell, Sylvie. I can tell.” Wanting to reassure her creator, Casey nearly jumped back into Sylvie’s arms. “You wouldn’t do that unless I asked. You…you..” She poked lightly at Sylvie’s chest. “You can’t just ditch me.”

“I would never ditch you, Casey. I came running when I knew you were missing.” Sylvie stopped and knew that she had no other choice except to just say how she felt. “I don’t just love you, Casey..” Going for all the marbles, Sylvie pressed her point. “I’m in love with you. I think I have been since I saw your lovely brown eyes.” She lightly laughed, “I used to see pools of rich chocolate that seemed so deep..I wanted to swim in them.”

Within the depths of her being, Casey knew that she loved Sylvie for everything the lovely vampire lady had done for her in the last year without an expectation of anything in return. Slowly it dawned on the young vampire that Sylvie had responded when Casey made the first intimate gesture. All of the hugs and light kisses were returned, not initiated. Conceptually, Casey knew that she could love Sylvie as she never thought about love on a gender basis due to her mother’s open lifestyle.

-Rivers, don’t just stand here. Answer her. Tell her something. Do you love this woman? Yes. Are you in love with her? Not sure, maybe?-

Clearing her burning throat, Casey shook off the indecisive thoughts and answered Sylvie the best she could. “You’re the only person living or undead..” Casey giggled, “..that hasn’t treated me as something to possess or use as a sex toy in some way.” Casey felt herself warm up inside as she spoke, “Yes, I do love you, Sylvie.” Casey pressed her blood-red lips to Sylvie’s soft purplish ones, “I’ve never found myself in a position to be in love with a woman.” Casey twirled one of Sylvie’s blue locks in her hair and heard the music in her head change to a more romantic tone, “You’d think I would have noticed the signs you gave me months ago, all of the gestures.”

“Love has a funny way of staying hidden.” Sylvie added nervously and returned the light kiss.

An energetic pulse ripped through Casey as Sylvie planted her lips on hers. “I..I..” Casey stammered and giggled like a teenager, “..Yes, I am willing to find out. I’m sure that I am in love, I just don’t know what that means, Sylvie.”

Elated beyond her wildest dreams, Sylvie felt her third eye stop pulsing and in its place a rush of excitement made the elder hop in place much like Casey had. “We can take our time and see what happens.” She looked into the rays of sunshine emanating from Casey’s eyes, “We move at your pace. We have no time limit.”

“Maybe this is a good time for me to tell you something intimate.” Casey leaned forward to whisper in Sylvie’s ear. “I am glad it’s you.” She breathed a little stream of hot air, “I like the fact I … am yours.”

“All mine?” Sylvie felt her blood race, “All too tempting.” Sylvie gently pulled away. “Casey, if I wanted sex, I would have done it before I turned you.”

Feeling the first set of words slam into her heart and mind, Casey hurriedly turned and pulled Sylvie’s arms around her and laid her head back against Sylvie’s shoulder, purring lightly. “Yes, all yours. Let’s find out what that truly means.” Casey put her finger over her ruby red lips, “I know we aren’t about sex, I remember the moments before your lovely fangs took my blood, crystal clear.” Casey took a satisfying breath, “I love that my blood is yours. Take more if you’d like..” Casey flipped her hair to the side and heard the soft beat of the song Magic playing in her head. Unable to hold back the inspiring lyrics, Casey sang along with Olvia-Newton John so Sylvie could hear.

“..The planets align so rare,
There's promise in the air,
And I'm guiding you,
Through every turn I'll be near you,
I'll come anytime you call,
I'll catch you when you fall,
I'll be guiding you,
You have to believe we are magic,
Nothin' can stand in our way,
You have to believe we are magic..”

“Magic.” Sylvie confirmed and kissed Casey on the cheek. “There is one more little thing, Magicmaiden..” Sylvie cutely nicknamed Casey, “..No lying, no cheating. It’s monogamy or nothing.” She sighed and finished, “..It opens too many strained emotions otherwise.”

Twisting herself free of Sylvie’s light grip, Casey knelt on both her knees and pulled her mistress's hands into her own before kissing each. “Sylvie.” Casey shivered lightly, “I vaguely recall how I came into Vivienne’s clutch, so I know I wasn’t the most promising, or faithful.” Feeling her skin begin to prickle, Casey knew that what she was about to say was absolutely right. “I agree. I am yours..Taini.” Unsure if she’d earned the right to use that name, Casey internally knew that this was the right time. “No lying, No Cheating, monogamy.” She kissed both of Sylvie’s hands again. “Plus one more?” Witnessing how the two lined up as a natural eclipse, Casey crooned, “No more hiding secrets or visions from each other. Open book.”

Unwilling to allow Casey to be alone on the ground, Sylvie also got down on her knees. “Open book, Casey.” Spotting a green and red spotted bloodstone in the smooth rocks, Sylvie picked it up and pressed it into her partner’s hand. “This marks our moment..it also is said to promote emotional balance..” Sylvie smiled and lightly kissed Casey’s cheeks. “It is also a ward against evil spirits.”

Digging around in the stones, Casey picked up a yellow-orange stone with hints of red through it. “What’s this?” Casey pressed it into Sylvie’s hand.

“A sunstone.” Sylvie laughed, “Everything about you seems to emanate the sun.”

Laughing, Casey tapped the stone. “I don’t know what it means, but it was pretty and caught my eye. It makes sense that it is a sunstone so no matter where you are, I’m with you.”

“Emotional well-being, Protection from dark realms, promotes vitality and reduces fear.” Sylvie pulled Casey into her arms. “Heightens intuition. You picked a stone that matches perfectly.”

“Fate.” Casey whispered confidently.

“Fate.” Sylvie affirmed lovingly.