Mila flexed her fingers tightly around Lisette’s throat, glaring intensely at her, but inwardly relishing the look of surprise on the other vampire’s face after she’d reversed their positions. Her strength was waning and she wasn’t any match for the younger woman at the moment, but the unexpected maneuver had still worked and she planned to milk it for all it was worth. Ever since she had first met Booker and Lisette, Mila had sensed that other female vampire was watchful of her, and she had always presumed that it was out of jealousy or distrust. But now, as she stared into the dark eyes that gazed teasingly back at her, she saw the gleam of desire and possessiveness. The lustful look had been there a lot longer than just that night, but Mila had intentionally ignored it for a long time, knowing it would be all too easy for her to slip over the edge and into Lisette’s toxic embrace. It would be a lie to say that the temptation wasn’t there. But if Charlie brought out her human sentiment, then Lisette brought out everything about herself that she hated – her monstrousness, her impulse to deceive, hurt, manipulate. She knew that Lisette would love nothing more than to see her sink down to these desires.

The thought made Mila growled aggressively again in her ear, “Don’t you dare toy with me. I don’t think you understand how unevenly matched we are.” She let her feel the sting of her nails as she pressed them into her dark skin.

“You really know how to treat a girl, don’t you, lovie. Tell me, is this the type of charm you used on Charlie?”

Mila flinched at that, suddenly recalling the vivid memory of pinning Charlie down on the sofa. Straddling her waist. Eliciting moans with just a few easy touches. She had used her talents to play Charlie, the same way she’d played Lisette just now. The similarities made her feel sick.

“I know what you’re doing,” she replied, working to keep her voice even, but the angry, tightening grip of her hands gave her away. “It’s none of your concern. You have nothing to do with us. Or with me. Now tell me where they are before I break your neck.”

“And miss this lovely chance with you? I don’t think so. Besides, you’re too weak to do anything to me.”

Mila sneered dismissively, but even as she tried to smirk at her, she could feel Lisette’s strong hands slowly peel her fingers from around her throat. Her smirk faltered as her hands came away unwillingly. She was not used to having her strength bested by someone else. Lisette’s hands were on her now, a mocking expression on her face as she shoved her backward and made her stumble to maintain her balance. Her lingering grip on Mila’s shoulders kept her stable and firmly in place.

“That’s better..”

Mila immediately had the urge to knock Lisette’s hands away, but she couldn’t endure the thought of amusing the other vampire any further by making an unsuccessful attempt. She needed to avoid any direct challenges of strength anyway, at least until she had a chance to feed. Even if resorting to manipulation was, in a way, giving in to everything she despised about Lisette, it was the only way to get herself out of this. And not by pulling anymore quick stunts either. Lisette was decidedly not human, so playing on her desires would take a little more finesse. She had to make Lisette think that she was slowly giving in to younger vampire, and she had to do it convincingly…

“I really don’t think you want to know where he took her anyways.” As if she knew Mila wouldn’t push her away, Lisette began playing with her hair like she was some sort of pet. Mila clenched her jaw and stared past her, ignoring the pleasant tug and tickle against her scalp and the amusement on Lisette’s face. The hand on her shoulder was stroking her skin soothingly, as if to further subdue her.

“You know how Bookie is, he likes his toys. I bet your precious Charlie would be a perfect fit in his collection.”

“You both underestimate her. She won’t be seduced by his tricks…just like I won’t be by yours,” Mila added when Lisette winked. She looked directly at her again with cold, dark eyes and raised her chin. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Her voice became soft and cruel. “Don’t you think I could have had you by now, if I’d wanted? You were still so impulsive when I met you and Booker. Just like a fledgling. You’re still impulsive now, aren’t you. Pathetic. ”

She would have liked to turn away from her then, but as much as she hated to admit it, Lisette’s grip was too strong. And she was loathe to have to ask to be released. Instead, she kept trying to bait her.

“As for his junkies..” But she hesitated as an image of Charlie, weak and wasted like Bookers pets, flashed through her mind, gripping her suddenly. “I’ll…I’ll get to her before they can-..”

“But enough of that talk, it’s just so dismal! Let’s go get you something real to eat and then we can... chat.”

Mila wasn’t looking at her when Lisette spoke, her mind was still reeling over the thought of getting to Charlie too late only to find her kneeling submissively at Booker’s feet like all the others, his pretty new plaything, like Lisette had said. Mila’s eyes were frozen and distant as she pictured it. “…Something real to eat…” she repeated faintly, refocusing her gaze on Lisette. She had to get out of her power as soon as possible. The only way to do it was to pretend to let go of her pride and convince the other vampire that she was finally coming around. Then she would turn the tables for good.

“Fine,” Mila said softly, glaring coolly at her. “We’ll eat first.” She waited. She looked pointedly at the iron grip on her shoulder and back at Lisette. Finally, with gritted teeth she said, “Will you let go of me.” She pressed her tongue to her cheek and looked past her, suppressing the instinct to just shove her away. “Please.”

---

The defiant look on her face was mouth watering. And so different from the pathetic, hungry looks that the others gave him. Or the adoring eyes of his prey out on the streets or in the clubs. And yet, behind her steely glare, he could see a flicker of uncertainty. He could see that she wasn’t entirely convinced that she didn’t want to give herself over to the pleasure of the bite. Still, she looked at him with contempt. It drove him wild with desire.

“I’m not anyone’s pet... you can’t have me.”

“Not even just a little taste~?” he teased, dropping his voice to a sweet, simpering murmur. He loosened his grip her hair and lazily stroked her scalp in slow, circular motions.

“You’re sick, this is sick, I want to go back home.”

To his great surprise and amusement, Charlie stood up from the couch suddenly, bringing them even closer together. His hand slid down to cup her cheek as she glared up at him.

“Your face is warm. Do I have that effect on you?” he asked, his voice was low and husky. His teeth had become sharp as soon as she’d stood up and now they showed a little through his parted lips.

”Let me go now”

“I’ll take you somewhere better, love,” he cooed, bending slightly to kiss her other cheek and then her neck, slowly and sensuously, as if he wanted to make this last. “Before I do, I want you to tell me how much you-..ouf!”

Booker stumbled back a step or two as Charlie shoved him, completely shocked by her bold move. She was already scrambling to get to the door by the time he registered that she actually pushed him away. For a split second, he felt a flash of anger and was about to pounce on her…but the look of shock on the faces around the room made him pause. Then his face broke into a smirk.

“Can you believe that?” he said, glancing at the door as Charlie disappeared into the street. “Right in the heat of it. Am I losing my touch?” No one answered him. A few of them looked away. The blonde woman was looking at him intensely though, almost as if she knew what he was going to say next.

“Honestly, it’s too impressive for me to feel angry about.” Booker’s eyes flickered to the woman and she began trembling with anticipation. He winked at her. “But I’m guessing you all aren’t too happy about it, huh. No one gets anything if I don’t have first.” There was a collective groan and agitated shuffling. Booker looked around as if sizing them up.

“First one to catch her goes next.”

Like a pack of wretched dogs, the wasted bodies in the room sprang to life, as if yanked by invisible strings. Most of the stumbled and tripped over themselves haphazardly to get to the door, cursing and shoving each other to be first. Well ahead of the rest was the blonde woman. She was already out the door and running after Charlie as if her life depended on it. The promise of another fix gave her unnatural energy and before long, she had caught up to the girl.

“You’re mine,” she spat, panting heavily as she reached for her arm. Her fingers touched her hair, but she couldn’t quite get close enough to get a hold on her. Finally she lunged and caught Charlie around the middle, sending them both crashing into the pavement. She wrestled wildly to try to pin her down, scratching and pulling at whatever hold she could get. Two other managed to catch up to them and she barked at them to help her.

“Hold her down! Get her arms!”

They had her by each arm now, hoisting her up off the ground and onto her knees.

“I got you, I got you,” the woman sang gleefully, rubbing her hands together.

“We got her,” one of the others said slowly. He was in a daze but something in his tone suggested that he was still aware enough to know he wasn’t about to be cheated out of his fair share. The woman glared at him and then the other and finally her gaze settled on Charlie.

“Shut up,” she snarled to all three of them. “It used to be only me, you know. I had him all to myself. And then he brought more, and more, and now he’s got you, hasn’t he.” Her voice broke and she looked like she might sob. “And you’re so pretty.” She rubbed her eyes sadly. Then she delivered a swift kick to Charlie’s stomach. “Beautiful.” She kicked her again. “Young. Don’t let her squirm away!” A third kick. “How about instead of bringing you back, we just kill you. And then instead of you’re next, it will be you’re first!.”

She was just about to kick her again when a hand caught her by the arm and tossed her aside. The other two dropped the girl to the ground and shied away as Booker bent over her.

“Look what you’ve done to her,” he said. He was angry, but his voice was cold. “Is she breathing? …Yes.” He looked at the blonde woman who still lay in a heap on the ground. “Lucky for you.”

Booker carefully collected Charlie into his arms and carried her back to the house. “Who could have guessed they would do something like that to you?” he whispered with feigned innocence, not entirely sure his words were falling on unconscious ears or not.

He reached the house and carried her up a flimsy looking set of stairs to the second level. He brought her to one of the bedrooms and lay her down on a bed with white sheets. The sun was already up and a pinkish light shone through the dusty window. “Can you hear me, Charlie?” Booker asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“You both underestimate her. She won’t be seduced by his tricks…just like I won’t be by yours,”

With widened eyes, Lisette chuckled softly. “She’s human, Mila! There is nothing to underestimate.. Are you really so blind to that?” Her voice twanged slightly as she leaned her head exasperatedly against the brick wall. “You would do so much better with someone of your own kind, don’t you think.” She sent a sarcastic wink and laughed a little at Mila’s groaned response. “Don’t flatter yourself,” A look of fictitious shock and hurt masked Lisette’s unnatural featured. “Oh, Mila!” She was ready to fling yet another satirical comment when Mila spoke up again.

“Don’t you think I could have had you by now, if I’d wanted? You were still so impulsive when I met you and Booker. Just like a fledgling. You’re still impulsive now, aren’t you. Pathetic. ”

Her smile faltered a tiny bit as her cold heart thudded with resentment. Pathetic? She really had the audacity to call her pathetic? Lisette’s jaw tightened briefly and her eyes flashed with something more sinister and deadly than her previous sardonic demeanor, before she regained her composure, just as quickly as she had lost it, and a smile pulled back over her sharpened fangs. That possessive, greedy creature that lived inside of her beautiful skin was brewing with anger, even as she tilted her head back slowly, eyebrows raised suggestively. “Do your worse, if you really think that you could of had me.” It only occurred to her for a moment that perhaps this was a bad idea, Mila was pathetically hungry. Yet, what was life without a couple risks? Besides, she was curious about whether or not she would actually attempt it. Standing there for several quiet moments, Lisette nodded and brought er head back into a normal position. “I see.” Her voice was an amused whisper as she pulled her companion closer, so that her own lips were pressed lightly against the nape of Mila’s neck. “By the way, you’d do well to remember not to call me pathetic, love.”

She pulled away then, yet still uncomfortably close. Her self-righteous heart was still clenched with enmity as her gaze swept Mila’s features. The woman was speaking again, and Lisette had to suppress a groan “As for his junkies..” It wasn’t hard to miss the slight hesitation in the older woman’s voice, it made her eyes widen, arrogantly questioning. “I’ll…I’ll get to her before they can-..”

“You’ve always wanted to be the hero.” It wasn’t a question, or even a derisive sneer this time. It was more of a pathetic comment, almost sad and disappointed. And perhaps even a hint of jealousy, not that she would ever admit it. “We really should get going.” Lisette was mentally kicking herself for losing her demeanor not once, but twice already. If she kept up, she really would be the pathetic, impulsive monster that Mila accused her of being.

“Fine,” Lisette attempted a smile, her sharp teeth pressing wickedly against her bottom lip. It didn’t take much for her to reassume her sardonic role and gaze wickedly at Mila. “We’ll eat first.”

“Oh good! Then we’ll have to find some place to bunk for the day, won’t we?” She mused slightly about this, keeping her grip tightly on Mila’s shoulders. “Will you let go of me.” She ignored the look of contempt in Mila’s eyes and instead reflected quietly, looking thoughtful and incredibly presumptuous. “Well....” She was taking that moment to reassure herself that she wasn’t weak or pathetic.

“Please.”

Lisette grinned manically, tightening her grip on Mila’s shoulders for a split second before abruptly letting her go and pushing her backwards, giving herself enough space to walk away from the wall and start down the street. “Only because you asked so nicely, love.” Her sugary voice drifted through the air as she began an eerie glide down the street. “Hurry up, now, we don’t have forever.” Lisette didn’t look behind herself to see if Mila was following, if she knew what was good for her little pet she would keep up. “Now what we were talking about? Right! I remember!” She stopped for a second and let Mila catch up with her, interlocking her arm through the other woman’s. “We need a place to stay! My, my.... I’d take you back to the house but you’d probably just cause Book and I problems, wouldn’t you?” With a mocking sigh, she continued. “Besides, I’m sure that he is enjoying himself. Oh and Charlie as well! I’m sure she isn’t too opposed. Oh!” Looking over at Mila, her dark eyes glistened. “I know! Her apartment must be close by? We’ll go there.”

By now she was just rambling, filling the space with pointless banter that she knew would get under Mila’s skin. It gave her an unnatural delight to see others squirm, especially Mila. “Now, that’s settled...” She lifted her face into the air and breathed in deeply. “Let’s find you-”

“Aha! Here that? The early bird catches the worm.” She sent a wink towards Mila as her arm slowly raised to point across the road where a middle aged woman was unlocking a small convenience store. The woman was juggling the keys to the store in one hand, and a coffee in the other. Under her arm she balanced a thick brown folder. It was pathetically amusing to watch her struggle to open the shop, especially when the keys dropped to the ground and a sharp curse wafted through towards the two lethal women. “Oh, how awful!” Lisette sighed feigning sympathy. She had moved to stand behind Mila, uncomfortably close, with her hands placed domineeringly on the woman’s hips and her lips pressed against her ear.

“Why don’t you go help her? And remember what I said before: Don’t hold back.”

She slowly pulled her face away, letting her hands slide up Mila’s sides and to her back, where she gave a small, encouraging push. “Go on, darling, do your worst... I’ve been waiting for this.” With a maniac giggle and a small, mocking wave she shooed Mila away. “And be quick about it!”

---

The wind against her cheeks was exhilarating and wildly rejuvenating. She'd done it, she'd actually made it out of the house! She hadn't even expected to make it to the door and now she felt her feet smacking against the gravel on the road and her heart thudding painfully in her chest. She didn't look behind herself and kept her gaze forwards towards the sun that was peeking over the horizon and giving her that little extra drive to move forward and get away. She would go home, and once she was there she would lock her door, shut her windows and hide in her room until she could sum up the courage to face the real world, if this could even be considered real anymore. Her heavy breaths shuddered out of her weak body as she continued at an increasing rate, accelerating away from the house and to her salvation... until a face flashed across her mind.

Mila.

Her feet stopped and she slowed. Standing in the middle of the street with a pathetic look on her face. What about Mila? She'd been left behind with that other one. Keep going, it doesn't matter now. Her inner thoughts chided her as she stumbled a couple steps forward. But it did matter, deep in her gut she knew it mattered. In her sleepless nights plagued with thoughts and memories, in her tireless musings she knew that it mattered. “Keep going..” she murmured to herself. “You can deal with this lat-” She stopped mid sentence when the sound of a person drove her forward unconsciously. How dumb had she’d been to stop in the middle of the street like that? The pounding footsteps behind her were like ice in her already stony heart.

“You’re mine!”

She thundered forward, her mind momentarily clear from all of it’s toil. Charlie could feel the entity at her back, yet it was taking them effort to catch up. She could tell in the back of her mind, as the breath from this person warmed the nape of her neck, that they were human. Human. That made her feel even more ill as the unknown person threw themself at her, hands wrapping around her midsection as the two tumbled painfully to the ground. “Get the fuck off me!” Her hands reached up to grasp a fistful of nappy hair. She felt nails scraping against her face and was momentarily taken back to high school, the memory didn’t last long, though, when she felt her own hair being tugged at painfully. “Stupid bitch, what the-” Grunting she tried to push the woman off of her in an attempt that was half efficient. Yet in her moment of conceited triumph, she hadn’t noticed the two other people who had stumblingly caught up to them.

“Hold her down! Get her arms!”

Her head whipped around, blond, matted hair hitting her face as she did so. “Shit.” She felt their grips on her upper arms, pulling her onto her knees with strength that ultimately surprised her, in their state. “Shit!” She repeated, watching with narrowed eyes as the blonde one rubbed her hands manically.. “I got you, I got you,”

“We got her.” Charlie barked out a sound that was half a laugh and half a groan. “You didn’t get shit, you stupid, stupid pets.” She muttered, her voice dripping with contempt as she struggled against the abnormally strong hands that gripped her. She met the woman’s icy glare with derision.

“Shut up,” Her voice was sharp, bitter and even a little despondent, it made Charlie ireful to say the least. She once again tried to pull out of her captor’s grasp, to no avail. “It used to be only me, you know. I had him all to myself. And then he brought more, and more, and now he’s got you, hasn’t he.” Shaking her head Charlie sighed. “No one has me. Listen, if you just let me go then you can have him to yourself again. I’ll leave, I promise.” Yet it seemed her words fell on deaf ears as the woman began to pitifully rub at her eyes.

“And you’re so pretty.”
Charlie’s gut wrenched at how pathetic that sounded. She must have been beautiful once, why else would Booker have picked her? Her life had been taken just as much as Charlie’s, probably even more, and it was sad. Sad, right up to the point when her booted foot connected with Charlie’s midsection, causing her body to double over and spit to fly from her lips. “What the he-”

“Beautiful.” Another kick in the gut would have sent her sprawling if not for the two hands that kept her firmly in place. The breath was knocked out of her and she was fighting for air, struggling like a mad man as her mind repeated a phrase that she was all too familiar with. She’s going to kill me, she’s going to kill me, she’s going to kill me.

“Young. Don’t let her squirm away!”

A third kick in her gut had Charlie’s eyes blurring, black spots in her vision that wouldn’t clear no matter how many times she blinked. “S-stop.” Her rasping voice pleaded gently. “Please...”

“How about instead of bringing you back, we just kill you. And then instead of ‘you’re next,’ it will be ‘you’re first!’.”

Charlie exhaled slowly and shut her eyes, trying to coware away from the hovering foot that threatened a fourth kick, that would certainly send her into full unconsciousness. Her lips formed words that her voice couldn’t speak. Stop... She kept her eyes firmly shut, ready to be sent into darkness at any given minute and preparing herself for the fact that she might never wake up again, until the people that held her up abruptly let her fall into a heap on the ground. Her eyelids lethargically blinked open to see Booker, standing with the woman’s arm in his hand and sneering something at her. She couldn’t hear him though, not over the sound of rushing water in her ears. But he was mad, she could tell that much.

She shut her eyes tightly when he came to hover over her, her rasping breaths fighting for life. It felt like eternity as she lie there in the cold, sodden ground with the sun slowing shying upwards, before his hands scooped her into his stony embrace. She was too tired to fight him as his voice murmured in her ear.

“Who could have guessed they would do something like that to you?”

And that hurt little girl inside of her, the one who always sought the best in people, wanted so badly to believe his innocent charade. “Home..” She murmured gently as her head lazily fell against his chest. “Take me.. home.”

She shifted in and out of consciousness as his smooth steps, this time walking at a normal human pace and not speeding blindly down the road, took them back in the direction that she had just escaped from. So they weren’t going home, she wasn’t surprised. Her chest ached like she’d been flattened by a truck. Her entire body was like lead in his arms, and she knew that even if she could find the effort to stand, there wouldn’t be any kind of chance of escape again. She was done for. This was it. A small sob came from her nearly inert body as they crossed the threshold, back into the aging house. She felt herself being carried upwards and finally being placed in an uncomfortable bed with scratchy sheets, the end of the bed sagged slightly with the weight of another person... although ‘person’ was probably a stretch.

“Can you hear me, Charlie?”

Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she licked her parched lips. “Sadly..” She rasped, the attempt to talk sending her into a coughing fit. She took a couple of moments, sitting powerlessly on the bed, to let herself come to terms with what was happening. With a couple calming breaths, that didn’t really help the growing ball of angst in the pit of her probably injured stomach, she finally spoke. “You know, she’ll come for you,” she wasn’t sure if what she was saying was a lie or not. She didn’t technically know if Mila cared enough to come looking for her... to come save her, but Charlie hoped. “If you hurt me, you’re done for. So I wouldn’t if I were you.” She could hear the bullshit in her own voice just as much as she was sure he could, but it didn’t stop her from sneering up at him.

The flash of anger in Lisette’s eyes gave Mila a callous, triumphant thrill. The younger vampire wasn’t the only one capable of getting under people’s skin. Unfortunately, Lisette was quick to counteract. Her lips pulled back into a wicked smile to reveal her sharp teeth and Mila’s confidence slipped just a bit.

“Do your worse, if you really think you could of had me.”

She stared at her with wide eyes as Lisette let her head tilt back to expose her throat. The motion made Mila suddenly overwhelmed with bloodlust and instinctively she parted her lips and exhaled. It was a daring move on Lisette’s part. Mila could feel her own eyes dilating and her head tilting forward impulsively. Her hunger made the sight of Lisette’s vulnerable neck irresistible, even though she knew it couldn’t satisfy her. She felt confused…and mesmerized. Steady.. Mila’s gaze shifted uneasily from her neck up to her teasing expression and back down again. It was a cruel trick – leaning forward would mean giving in to the other vampire’s allure. But turning away would mean submitting to her will. Either way Mila couldn’t win. After a few more agonizing seconds, she finally let this sink in and managed to tear her gaze away, grinding her teeth furiously.

“I see.”

The amusement in Lisette’s soft voice as she lowered her head made Mila bristle. She meant to turn to look at her again so she could give her a withering glare, but instead she froze as Lisette pulled her closer and pressed her own lips to her neck. She really can control herself… She had more control than Mila had at the moment,and she was flaunting it. The soft touch in such a vulnerable place sent an unwanted shiver down Mila’s spine. She wanted to feel human again…but not like this.

“By the way, you’d do well to remember not to call me pathetic, love.”

She shuddered at the sensation of her mouth moving against her throat and tried to turn away. She had to take consolation in telling herself that Lisette was just digging her own grave now. Just wait, just you wait. I’ll make you regret this ten times over...

Finally Lisette released her with a shove and sauntered down the street as if she had no doubts about Mila obediently following her.

“Only because you asked so nicely, love.”

I’ll kill her. I swear I’m going to-..

”Hurry up, now, we don’t have forever.”

Still feeling violent, Mila grudgingly followed her. What choice did she have. She desperately needed to find out where Charlie was and playing Lisette’s game, at least for a little while, was the only way at the moment. Let her think I’m being compliant. Let her tie her own noose.

“We need a place to stay!” Lisette chattered, slipping her arm around Mila’s as she waited to walk side by side with her. Mila stiffened immediately and resisted the urge to pull away. They might have looked like a couple, arm in arm, except that the older vampire’s expression was positively venomous. ”My, my.... I’d take you back to the house but you’d probably just cause Book and I problems, wouldn’t you? Besides, I’m sure that he is enjoying himself.”

Bite your tongue, Mila told herself, knowing that Lisette wanted nothing more than to agitate her.

”Oh and Charlie as well! I’m sure she isn’t too opposed.”

Her words conjured another painful image of the girl in ecstasy under Booker’s ministrations and this time, she couldn’t hold back an angry growl.

“If you make another comment about her, I really will rip out your throat.” Her voice was a snarl, but she knew it was an empty threat and immediately regretted taking the bait.

“Oh! I know! Her apartment must be close by? We’ll go there.”

“Like hell I’m going to show you were she lives,” Mila spat. “How stupid do you think I am.” She didn’t want to bunk anywhere with Lisette, least of all in Charlie’s apartment surrounded by all her things and her scent… She couldn’t imagine a more torturous scenario. But she wondered suddenly if agreeing to go there would help her chances at weaseling information out of Lisette. Maybe she shouldn’t have been refusing her anything. Still, she couldn’t bear the thought of bringing this monster into Charlie’s home. “I have a hotel room. It’s closer. We’ll go there,” she offered, making it sound like a command, hoping Lisette would go along with the idea.

“Now, that’s settled, let’s find you-.. Aha! Here that? The early bird catches the worm.”

Mila spotted the woman across the street just as Lisette raised her arm. An attractive, middle-aged woman who was juggling papers and coffee as she tried to unlock a shop door. The flare of hunger made it difficult for Mila to feel pity for her. The guilt could wait. Her only thought was that finally she could sink her teeth into someone, uninterrupted. The feel of Lisette’s possessive hands on her hips as she moved to press up behind her only seemed to stroke the flames. All of a sudden, bloodlust, desire, and thirst all mingled together and made her feel savage.

“Why don’t you go help her?” Lisette knew just how to tug the right strings. Her voice against her ear no longer made Mila furious. It was delicious and tempting. “And remember what I said before: Don’t hold back.”

A caress and push was more than Mila needed to start off across the street, fangs sharp and hidden behind her lips. It was like flipping a switch. The scowl on her face was gone. She was beautiful, charming, desirable as she sauntered over to the woman like the hero from a fairytale.

“Can I help you with that, miss?” she asked pleasantly, oozing self-assurance.

The woman gave a start, having not heard the vampire approach. As soon as she turned to look at her though, the tension in her expression melted and she gave her an appreciative smile. “Oh! Uh, yes, please. Aren’t you sweet.”

“I saw you struggling,” Mila returned, coming close to her and sliding her hand over the woman’s arm to take the folder from her.

“I…thank you, that’s really kind.” The woman blinked and looked flustered suddenly at Mila’s close proximity. She blushed at the skin contact.

“Anything I can do to help.” The folder ‘slipped’ from Mila’s hand and fell at the woman’s feet. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she apologized sweetly, kneeling to pick it up.

“It’s alri-.. ah..” The woman gasped softly as Mila touched her ankle and then dragged her fingers up along the woman’s bare leg and thigh as she stood up again.

“Do you own this store?” Mila asked casually, hooking her fingers around the hem of her skirt and tugging her forward.

“Y-Yes,” the distracted woman murmured, looking confusedly at Mila’s lips. Mila ran her tongue over them and the woman’s eyelids fluttered. The vampire smirked and touched her cheek then, relishing the way the skin turned red under her fingers.

“Can I… come inside then?”

“Mm, yeah, sure…I mean, no, wait-..” Mila had her up against the glass door now, the coffee spilt on the pavement. “What are you doing to me,” the woman whispered, eyes heavy with desire. She twisted half-heartedly away but only succeeded in pushing her body closer. She made a distressed sound but became still as the vampire tilted her head to the side and began slowly kissing her neck.

Now that she was free to take as much as she wanted, the frantic need was replaced with a desire to make it count. Mila could feel Lisette’s eyes on her the entire time and she wanted to demonstrate just how controlled she could be under the circumstances. She suddenly imagined that it was Lisette’s neck she was about to pierce. She turned with the woman in her arms and looked at the other vampire, making eye contact just as she bit down. The relief it brought was long overdue and made her quiver. Mila forgot about her rival and let herself go for a moment, unconscious even to the soft sounds of pleasure from her victim. She didn’t notice then when they stopped and the woman went limp in her arms.

She hadn’t exactly held back, but she didn’t take everything. And when she did finally pull away, she knew it would take time for the woman to recover. The woman looked paler and more sickly than when she’d taken too much from Charlie. Mila let her slump gently down to the ground and stepped back, her lips and chin covered in a scarlet film. She could stand to eat more, but she felt strong again now, back to normal. She licked slowly at her lips and the back of her hand, like some sort of predatory cat. Her gaze settled lazily on Lisette. The little welp. Feeling full changed everything for her now. Lisette thought she was a puppet master, but Mila knew she was an amateur. She would play the younger vampire like an instrument and get the information she wanted in no time.

“Admit that you missed seeing performances like that one,” she drawled, meandering over to Lisette with a curious expression on her face. She came close and draped her arms over her shoulders like it was nothing. “I know how to bring out the flavor.” She winked and then slowly pressed her lips to Lisette’s, pressing her tongue into her mouth as she kissed her to let her taste the woman’s blood. “See?”

She pulled away and her eyes seem to laugh at her. She reached to take a handful of the front of Lisette’s dress and tug her forward.

“Come on, let’s go before the streets get too crowded.”

---

“You poor thing,” Booker murmured, as Charlie’s attempt at a cheeky reply sent her into a fit of coughing. He moved to sit closer to her and gently pushed a few strands of hair from her face. “What was it that you whispered to me while I carried you just now? Take me home? You know, I think I could do that, if that’s what you really want. But first, you should rest for a bit. They really did a number on you, didn’t they..”

The look of concern on his face seemed so genuine. He studied her face for a moment longer and then glanced at her stomach.

“May I?” He touched the hem of her shirt, not waiting for a reply. Very carefully he pulled it upward to expose her stomach, letting the fabric drop at the edge of her chest. His face was expressionless as he looked at the flowering bruises on her midsection, yellow and purple, getting darker by the minute. He tilted his head and lightly placed his fingertips on her stomach, barely grazing the surface of her skin. Slowly, sensuously, he began tracing her bruises up and down her torso with his icy fingers. “Does that feel good?”

“You know, she’ll come for you.”

The corner of his lip tugged up in a smile but he didn’t stop softly tickling her skin. There was one spot just above her hip, to the left of her bellybutton that seemed especially sensitive. A bundle of nerve endings that would send her stomach quivering reflexively.

“Are you sure about that?” He glanced over at her, then back down at the blotchy pattern. He could tell she wasn’t entirely convinced. “You don’t know her like I do. You don’t know her very well at all, actually. Well, you know that she almost killed you.” He didn’t know this for a fact but he could make a guess, after watching her unpleasant reaction to seeing Mila again. “She gets obsessive about certain people, certain pets, but it’s always short lived. Trust me. The stories I could tell you about some of her exploits. She’s very good.”

“If you hurt me, you’re done for. So I wouldn’t if I were you.”

Booker shook his head and stared at the sneer on her face, a look of pity on his own. “You really think she’s coming for you don’t you?” He lay his hand flat on her stomach and began pushing down, gently at first, then a little harder. “Maybe this will speed things up then,” he whispered. “Am I hurting you?” He pressed a little more firmly. “How about now? This will make her come running.” He pinched the skin between her ribs.

Finally he let up and went back to light, playful strokes.

“The best thing you could do right now is relax. And forget about her because she’s already forgotten about you.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice to a secretive whisper, his eyes lighting up. “In fact, she has a thing for Lisette. It’s so obvious!” He raised his eyebrows at her. “A little presumptuous of you to think she would throw herself at the feet of a mortal, don’t you think? Not when she has everything.” His hand stopped and he bent close to her again. “What can you offer her?” He touched her neck. “Besides this? And for how long?”

He straightened when there was a timid knock on the door. A scrawny young man with a pitcher of water in his hand leaned hesitantly into the room, his eyes scanning the room and before latching on Booker. The vampire winked and crooked his finger at him. The boy scrambled over to him and handed him the pitcher looking down and away. He glanced at Charlie and seemed to be fascinated by her. He left quickly though, when Booker cleared his throat.
“Would you like something to drink?” Booker asked, all politeness. He brought the pitcher to her parched lips. “Now, now, don’t be reserved. I promise there are no strings attached to this. Just my way of apologizing on behalf of my guests. If I had known they would do this to you…”

He set the water aside. “You know, if you really are in pain…” he parted his lips to reveal his sharp canines. “I could make you feel a lot better. And fast.” He bent over her and whispered in her ear. “You know how good it feels. Imagine it.” He blew a stream of cool air against her neck.

“All you have to do is ask me.”

Lisette watched as Mila’s entire demeanor changed, a look of conceited pride written across her dark, marble features. The older woman sauntered forward, an air of dominance and intrigue about her as she approached the struggling woman with a charm that impressed even Lisette. A few hundred years of practice could do that for a person. Watching with growing fascination, she found herself leaning forward, hands placed imperiously on her hips. She was a woman of culture, despite her more sardonic pass times, and she could appreciate fine art when she noticed it. There was no doubt in her methodical mind that Mila’s enchanting performance was anything less then fine artistry at work. You’re going to have trouble on your hands... The thought crossed her mind briefly, causing a sly smirk to creep onto her lips. She lived for trouble.

She laughed aloud at the human’s compliancy. They were all so supine, so easily coaxed and prodded. Like toys, complacent, weak and rather amusing. “Do you own this store?” Lisette could see past the cursory act that Mila played, to the blood lust deep in her eyes. It was positively endearing, and made Lisette feel a sting of disdain and jealousy. “Y-Yes,” She couldn’t help but notice how cool Mila kept herself, her self control was rather impressive as she pushed the woman against the door and gently pressed her lips to the thin skin of the lady’s neck. Lisette shuddered a bit at the thought of it, as Mila swiftly turned with the woman in her arms and caught her eye.

Smirking, Lisette indolently waved. Yet the pleasure mixed with smug preeminence in Mila’s face made her stomach clench. Especially when Mila’s teeth finally pierced the surface of the woman’s slender neck. With the right eye, it was a beautiful thing to watch. Enjoyable, even. Her lips parted unconsciously as her head tilted slightly upwards, her gaze drifting over her nose. In her eyes was a look of eager anticipation and morbid desire, Lisette looked like a person, completely engrossed in a fascinating television show, lost in a world of fantasy and make believe. And when Mila finally drew away, letting the woman’s body drop to the ground, Lisette began to clap.

“Admit that you missed seeing performances like that one,”

The gliding older vampire threw her hand lethargically over Lisette’s shoulders, who widened her eyes in response. “And boost your ego even more? I think not.” She winked devilishly, only feeling slightly over-powered by Mila’s arm, which was heavy against her shoulders. “I know how to bring out the flavor.” Lisette laughed aloud at this one, her eyes sparkling with sinister delight. “Oh do you n-” She was interrupted by the feel of Mila’s lips on hers. Not gentle or teasing, but harsh and almost sensual. She could taste the human’s blood on her tongue and a lazy smile grew on her lips as she embraced the kiss, one hand unconsciously cupping Mila’s hip. “See?” Lisette chose to ignore the taunting look in Mila’s eyes as she pulled away. “I suppose so.” It wasn’t exactly a compliment.

Against her will, Lisette was pulled forward by her dress. It was a proprieting action on Mila’s part, that made Lisette grit her teeth although her dark eyes gleamed with beguilement. “Well hello there...” Her giggling voice held a vicious hint, yet she didn’t dare pull away. She wasn’t going to show Mila how much she hated being dominated, at least not anymore than she already knew.

“Come on, let’s go before the streets get too crowded.”

In a swift motion, Lisette pulled away from Mila’s imperious hold on her dress and instead stood next to her so that their shoulders brushed gently. She grasped the other woman’s hand, a little too tightly for it to be a friendly gesture. “I agree, darling.” Her voice drawled out the last word as her grip on Mila’s hand tightened. “Why don’t you lead the way.” She gestured with her free hand, not taking her eyes off of Mila’s features. “No detours either, please. I am rather tired. It’s been a full night, don’t you think?” She paused for a moment, letting Mila lead them down them down the street. “I wonder how Booker and Charlie are doing.” Her voice was teasing as her thumb lightly caressed Mila’s hand. “I must say, I’m curious! I wonder if they are having as much fun as you and that shopkeep did.” She was still studying Mila’s face as she said it, testing the woman’s limits.

Although she valued control so very much, the younger vampire enjoyed the exhilaration of playing with that power. Measuring how far she could push a person before they snapped, and this game had always been played best with her current opponent.

They neared a small hotel, it was a very discreet place set in a less dense part of the city. Only a few cars filled the parking lot as the two bare-footed women walked quickly towards the main doors and into a simple lobby. It was comfortable, far from the best place that Lisette had ever been in yet even farther from the worse. “Quaint.” She murmured, finally breaking her fierce gaze at Mila to take in her surroundings. “Quiet.” Her murmurs were conversationally as they meandered through the hall, still gripping hands with bone breaking strength. The two stopped before a door with slightly chipped paint and an old, metal number nailed into it.

“Aw! Perfect,” as the door was pushed open, Lisette abruptly let go of Mila’s hand and hurried into the room. She flopped onto one of the double beds that were neatly made, most certainly never used by the room’s current occupant. “My, to sleep again.” Lisette murmured, lying flat on her back and looking up at the yellowing ceiling. “That is mayhap the only thing about humanity I miss. To just be oblivious for a couple hours, unaware of the world. It’s a true gift, taken so for granted.” She rambled, uncharacteristically sentimental. “But then again, I could never miss the weakness of it all. Human’s are so frail. It’s pitiful.” She had never made it a secret to her spiteful hatred for humanity. She was no better than the common slave master, back in her day, looking down on humans like a lesser to her, the only difference? She actually was the more powerful being.

Lisette pulled herself lethargically into a sitting position and settled her almost sensuous gaze on Mila. “So tell me, darling, do you miss humanity?” Her fingers drummed against the ugly comforter while she let herself relax for just one second longer.

Languorously, she slid off the bed. Standing so that she could survey the small room that was crowded with two double beds both comforted with ugly, patchwork sheets. A small dresser was pushed against the opposing wall and several tacky pictures hung on the walls. There was even the luxury of a small television in the corner, playing a late night comedy show softly. She only glanced at the small box before turning her face away in disgust. “I never did understand the excitement over those things, they only serve to make people drooling idiots.” She sighed and shook her head turning to do one last once-over of the place before turning her attention to Mila. “I’m assuming those aren’t the only clothes you own.” She murmured, gesturing to the outfit that Mila was wearing. “I’d like to change, it feels like I’ve been in this gown forever.” She turned pulling her dark hair over her shoulder and peeking at her companion. “Unzip me, love...” It wasn’t a question, but an expectation as she grinned wickedly and winked.

---

“You poor thing,”

She tried not to stiffen when his cold fingers brushed the hair from her face, halfly because she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she was absolutely terrified and also because every time she moved, her body flared up painfully and it was hard for her to breath.

“What was it that you whispered to me while I carried you just now? Take me home? You know, I think I could do that, if that’s what you really want. But first, you should rest for a bit. They really did a number on you, didn’t they..”

Her sarcastic laugh faded into a round of soft moans as she looked up into his concerned face. She could almost believe it, she wanted to believe it. There was a part of Charlie that made sure, no matter how many times she got hurt, that she was still a willingly trusting person. And this case was no different as she gazed up at him, her eyes pleading and pathetic. “Take me to a hospital, I can rest there.” Her cracking voice murmured hopefully. “I want a doctor..” Yet she wasn’t sure if he heard that, or perhaps it was that he just didn’t care as his own gaze flickered to Char’s midsection.

“May I?”

She didn’t try and protest, mostly because it hurt too badly to move, when his hand started to drag the hem of her shirt upwards, exposing the mess of bruises. They were like a map across her belly, giving chaotic directions to nowhere. She was repulsed yet intrigued as his icy hands brushed over top of the mosaic bruising, making her shiver. It did feel good, and she murmured a low “Yes,” in response as she let her head fall back against the pillow and closed her eyes, trying to regulate her unsteady breaths. A small reverberation of pain through her body jolted her back to awareness, though, and she realized that she was falling right into his trap. Her thick voice squeaked out a pathetic, half-hearted attempt at defiance. “You know, she’ll come for you.” To which she was loath to notice the small jerk of his lips into a grin as he continued to ceaselessly caress her stomach. She gasped in surprise when his fingers brushed over the sensitive skin of her hip.

“Are you sure about that?”

No, not at all. But she didn’t say that aloud, just stared at him with glowering eyes. “You don’t know her like I do. You don’t know her very well at all, actually. Well, you know that she almost killed you.” Charlie flinched, her breath catching as she looked away from Booker and at the wall. “That was an accident...” She didn’t know why, exactly, she was defending her. Booker was right, she didn’t really know Mila, not like he did at least, and she had almost killed her. It was morally wrong for her to be coming to her defence right then, yet Charlie did anyways. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“She gets obsessive about certain people, certain pets, but it’s always short lived. Trust me. The stories I could tell you about some of her exploits. She’s very good.”

Charlie shuddered and shut her eyes tightly, trying to keep the quiver from her lip. He was right, more than right. Charlie had the tendency to attach herself to people, to concoct ideas in her head that were very loosely based off reality. There was no way that Mila was coming to save her, nobody saved her. She wasn’t a beautiful damsel in distress, and there was no hero coming to her rescue. She was all she had. These sour feelings boiled in her stomach, yet she was still reluctant to believe them.

“You really think she’s coming for you don’t you?”

She looked at him then, catching the look of pity in his eyes. It made her blush hard, her face burning a bright, hot red, she didn’t want anyone's pity, especially his. Booker’s hand was laying flat against her bruised, swollen stomach now, and he was pressing on the marks lightly. Enough to make her chest jerk upwards as she cried out in pain. “Stop it! Stop!” Tears formed in her irises as agony flashed through her body. “Maybe this will speed things up then,” another protesting cry as she tried to twist away from him, only causing herself more gut wrenching pain. “Am I hurting you?” Her breathless moan was answer enough as tears slipped onto her cheeks. Her entire body felt like it had been dunked in a pot of boiling water, and was slowly melting from the inside out. “How about now? This will make her come running.” Charlie was crying then, pitiful sobs that racked her body as she tried to push his arms away. He was pinching her skin in a way that was painful enough without the bruises.

“You’ve made your point!” She blurted, pushing against his python like arm with her hands. “Just, please stop...” This was a pathetic murmur that turned into a sigh of relief as his fingers finally released her skin and went back to gently stroking her stomach. She tried to control her sobs. “The best thing you could do right now is relax. And forget about her because she’s already forgotten about you.” Booker spoke as if they were having just a casual, everyday conversation despite the words that came out of his mouth and the fact that he was capable of inflicting unimaginable pain with just the flick of his fingers. “No big surprise there...” She hiccuped, tears streaking down her cheeks. “In fact, she has a thing for Lisette. It’s so obvious!” Charlie nodded sadly, lifting her fist to her face so that she could attempt to dry her tears. She didn’t try to talk anymore as he continued to strip away any last remnants of hope she had in her.

“A little presumptuous of you to think she would throw herself at the feet of a mortal, don’t you think? Not when she has everything. What can you offer her?”

She felt his fingers against her neck, where her pulse thudded quickly.

“Besides this? And for how long?”

Charlie looked away, pursuing her lips. “You don’t have to keep talking, I get it.” She murmured, feeling her heart break just a small bit in her chest. She just wanted to sleep then, to forget about the world for at least a little while. Glancing up at his lips, she realized that there was another way to do that. An easier way... a weaker way. Her dry lips parted slightly when a quiet knock on the door shook her from her musings. She head twisted to the side to watch a young man, just as ill looking as all of the other pets, rush towards a beckoning Booker and press a pitcher of water into his hand. Without waiting for her to respond to his ever-so-polite offering of water, Booker pressed the container of cool liquid to her lips, it felt blessed against her dry mouth.

“Now, now, don’t be reserved. I promise there are no strings attached to this. Just my way of apologizing on behalf of my guests. If I had known they would do this to you…”

She mostly ignored him as she lapped up the water eagerly, before he pulled the jug away and set it on the nearby night table. “You know, if you really are in pain…” He flashed his teeth at her, making Charlie’s gut clench because she knew exactly what was coming.

“I could make you feel a lot better. And fast.”

She shuddered slightly at the thought. Yes, she knew that he could. It was getting tiresome, fighting him off, resisting the urge to just give in and feel that ecstasy that she had so craved since that night with Mila. His voice was deep in her ear, making promises that she wanted so badly for him to fulfil. Her eyes closed instinctively and her weak hand fluttered unconsciously to gently place itself on his cool forearm, before she realized what she was doing and pulled away quickly. Her eyes shot open to stare into his dark ones. “No...” Her moaning voice was pleading with him to stop, because she didn’t trust herself anymore.

“You know how good could it feels. Imagine it.”

With another whimpering moan, Charlie tried to press herself deeper into the mattress, farther away from him. Yet there wasn’t much space for her to retreat to, and the feeling of his cold breath against her neck made her toes feel numb. She really could imagine it, especially when the throbbing in her stomach flared again for no reason. Yes, he could take her away from all of this, from both the physical and emotional pain that boiled inside of her. She could remember little bits of the way it felt, like floating and dying all at the same time. The perfect mixture of morbidity and ecstasy that made her legs shake and her heart clench in anticipation. She could almost feel Booker’s canines against the nape of her neck, pressing against her skin, breaking the surface -

No.

“All you have to do is ask me.”

She gazed up at him with wide, conflicted eyes that sparkled with tears yet at the same time told of her yearning. She wanted so badly to say the words that would most certainly give her the relief she desperately needed. “I don’t want...” But even she knew now that the words were worthless, she was going to give in eventually. Her humanity, selfish and pathetic, would force her to give in and let him bite her like the parasite he was. The worse part about it was, even though she knew just how wrong it was, she wouldn’t dislike the intoxicating feeling, in fact she would love it. Later on she would regret her decision, but now she couldn’t fight anymore. She was too tired. Her eyes fluttered shut for a few moments and a look of complex confliction made her facial features twitch before she let out a shallow breath.

“Just... do it.”

She could do this. She could play Lisette. No violent threats necessary to get the information she wanted; Mila would find a way to pluck it from her lips, like she might from a human. Of course, no human was even remotely as dangerous as Lisette could be. They lacked her deadly gifts, her twisted morality, or her sharp wit to know when she was being manipulated. But Mila also knew that the other vampire loved to play dangerous games. She was willing to bet that Lisette wouldn’t be able to resist playing this one…

“I wonder how Booker and Charlie are doing.”

…and no doubt she would put up a formidable fight.

Mila was careful to maintain the careless, confident look that her expression had taken ever since she’d finally eaten. Even as Lisette moved to walk beside her and to grip her hand with uncomfortable force, Mila remained poised. She could feel Lisette’s eyes rake over her features, trying to gauge her reaction. The older vampire pretended to be bored by her comment, as if it was too obvious she was just trying to get a rise out of her, and really she was just being tiresome now. But inwardly, Mila was coming down from the high of finally getting her fill and her cocky, self-assured attitude was sobering just a little at the thought of her precarious situation - hand in hand with someone who wanted to possess her just as much as she wanted to torture her.

“I must say, I’m curious! I wonder if they are having as much fun as you and that shopkeep did.”

“As if he could perform as beautifully as I did just now,” she replied coolly, not looking at her. “And unfortunately for him, Charlie is not desperate, like that woman was.”

As much fun as she and the shopkeep. She imagined, as Lisette probably intended, the roles replaced by Booker and Charlie and the girl gasping and moaning with pleasure for him as the woman had done for her. She suddenly felt sick, and disgusted with herself.

Now Lisette’s bone-crushing grip on her hand was beginning to feel like just as much a measure of controlling her, of keeping her in place, as it was a gesture of feigned intimacy with her. Mila’s finger’s twitched unconsciously at the thought. Like a boa constrictor, Lisette’s grip only seemed to grow tighter whenever she tried to adjust their hands. Mila would have liked to withdraw it completely, but she knew it would have looked weak. So she endured, even when Lisette’s thumb began its teasing caresses on the back of her hand.

Mila wasn’t completely immune to her tactics. Despite wanting to wring the information she needed out of Lisette, she couldn’t deny the younger vampire’s frightening ability to charm and beguile to the point that Mila had to consciously suppress the shivers she could elicit. Even when they were unwanted. I do not want you. She knew that the poor humans who had the misfortune of crossing paths with Lisette were certainly never able to resist her sinister allure. You know exactly what you’re doing to me. And you know I know it too. And that I still can’t always stop myself from-..

“Quiant.”

They had reached the hotel and now headed swiftly and quietly up to Mila’s room. There wasn’t a soul to see them, apart from a bored and tired looking teenager behind the desk who didn’t bother glancing up from his phone to look at them as they swept through the lobby. Very soon, Mila was pushing open the door to her room. Immediately Lisette skipped inside and flopped down on one of the beds like she owned the place. Mila closed the door softly behind her and locked it with a sharp click. She needed to be very careful now if she wanted coax Lisette into a more …compliant mood.

“My, to sleep again.”

Mila moved to stand in front of one of the mirrors and wipe the residual blood from her face and neck. She glanced casually at Lisette’s reflection as she spoke.

“That is mayhap the only thing about humanity I miss. To just be oblivious for a couple hours, unaware of the world. It’s a true gift, taken so for granted.”

She watched her as she lay back on the bed, miming the posture humans took to fall unconscious for a while. Mila missed it too. She thought that she imagined it being more luxurious than it probably ever really was, but it still must have been wonderful indeed. She had probably taken it for granted when she’d been human, just like Lisette said.

“Feeling nostaligic?” she teased, raising an eyebrow, still preening herself in the mirror. “You could always close your eyes and pretend to sleep, if you miss it so much. I’ll try not to laugh at you.”

“But then again, I could never miss the weakness of it all. Human’s are so frail. It’s pitiful.”

“But it’s also what makes them so appealing,” Mila pointed out, looking nonchalant as she swept her hand through her dark hair and admired herself in the mirror.

So tell me, darling, do you miss humanity?”

The question caught her off-guard and she paused for a moment.

She missed it alright. She ached for it sometimes, in a way she knew would make her peers sneer at her with amusement and disdain. It wasn’t a constant pressing desire – more like a dull throb in the back of her mind, giving her an unwanted and inconvenient feeling of guilt. Of course, there were plenty of times when she didn’t miss it at all. Not when she was about to sink her teeth into some poor soul’s veins. Nor when their blood touched her lips and satisfied her thirst. And she hadn’t been thinking about being human at all when she’d first laid eyes on Charlie and plotted how she would lure the girl into her cold embrace… But she thought about it now and she felt the melancholy ache swell up again.

“There are some things, I suppose…” Mila drawled apathetically, her face a prefect mask, concealing her inner thoughts. “Sleeping, like you said. Eating certain foods, I guess.” She gave a shrug, as if it didn’t really matter. Having a family. Being in love. Not killing people. She blinked and bent to adjust her dress…and to obscure her expression for just a moment.

When she was composed and had straightened again, she spotted Lisette slip off the bed and pace around the room for a bit before turning her attention towards her.

“I’m assuming those aren’t the only clothes you own.”

“I own quite a few clothes.”

“I’d like to change, it feels like I’ve been in this gown forever.”

“You’re welcome to borrow some of mine, although I’m not sure you’ll fill them out quite as nicely as I do-..” Mila gradually cut herself short as Lisette turned and peered at her over her shoulder with a mischievous grin.

“Unzip me, love...”

As if they had a will of their own, Mila’s eyes trailed down along her curves and back up again just in time to see her wink devilishly. The older vampire blinked. And then tightened her jaw. Here we go... Lisette was taking the first swing and Mila was determined that it should be a miss. Without another beat of hesitation, she raised her eyebrows curiously at her and sauntered forward until she stood close behind Lisette, one hand finding the zipper, the other sliding sensuously onto her hip.

“Hold still then,” she murmured in a low voice, pulling Lisette a little closer to her.

She thought of something that she didn’t miss about being human – having a telltale pulse. She was sure hers would have been giving her away at the moment. Damn her coquettish little challenges. Mila slowly pulled the zipper down to revealing more and more of the smooth, supple skin underneath. She continued down in one smooth action until the zipper stopped at the base of her spine. She lingered for just a moment longer than she needed, staring down at where the skin met fabric again. She knew should have used the moment to do something, but instead she pulled away and turned toward the closet where she had hung most of her clothes.

“You can pick something,” she said, with an air of granting her permission, though there was an edge in her voice. As Mila slid the closet door open to show her, she spotted something draped over one of the hangers. It was Charlie’s scarf, the one Mila had taken just before leaving her. She had completely forgotten she’d hung it there. The scent hit her suddenly and she snatched it without thinking and balled it up in her hands.

“Here, have a look.” Mila moved away from the closet to giver her access and sat on the edge of one of the beds, keeping the scarf out of site as inconspicuously as possible behind her back. She could stash it in the bathroom when she had the chance, on the shower hook, under the sink, some place Lisette had no need to go poking around.

“You’re a little smaller than I am, aren’t you. Hopefully you can find something that works.” Of course both of them looked stunning in anything the draped over their bodies, and Mila was only talking to distract her.

“Be a doll and toss me something too while you’re at it,” she said, more of a demand than a request. “Anything will do, I’d like to get out of these clothes too.” She crossed her legs, then uncrossed them, then glanced toward the bathroom door. She stood up, pretending to look interested in whatever Lisette was picking out.

“I’ll be right back..”

---

”No…”

Every time Charlie murmured a weak sound of protest, Booker’s grin became more and more sinister. And each time she shrunk away from him, he inched closer. He was breaking her. He could see in her eyes that already she wanted to give in, despite the conflicted look that would flicker across her face only to disappear again. Her breathless moans when he had inflicted pain with just a twitch of his fingers on her stomach had him nearly salivating with bloodlust now. She was so weak and so tantalizing and best of all he had stolen her from someone else.

“I don’t want...”

“You don’t have to deny it anymore, the game’s up isn’t it.” Her face was still warm from his earlier pitying look, which had made her turn a wonderful shade of crimson. Everything about her was overwhelmingly desirable, he was beginning to have to consciously hold himself back so that he could tease her just a little more before she gave in. He had no doubt she would now, very soon.

“Ask me,” he repeated, his voice a low, soft growl, his eyes all alight with amusement and desire as she stared up at him with those wide, doe eyes of hers. He bent to kiss her neck, to remind her of the feel of his lips and teeth on that sweet spot below her jawline.

Finally he heard the words he’d been waiting for.

“Just... do it.”

Her admission sent a delicious thrill down his spine and he smirked wickedly against her skin.

“Can you speak up a little, darling? Did I just hear you say you do want it…?” he teased, letting his teeth scrap her skin a few times. But instead he moved away from her neck abruptly and began nibbling at her ear, the better for her to hear his low, mocking voice.

“Is this how she did it too?” he whispered, snaking his hand lightly along her torso, all the way up to cup the side of her cheek. “She had you on your back, whimpering pathetically, craving release?” His fingers began gently stroking the side of her face, a stark contrast the to rough way he was working his teeth against her skin. “You can imagine her if you like, I don’t mind. Say her name even. I’m sure she would love that if she could see us now.”

He could only imagine the older vampire’s expression if she really could have seen them now. It made him giddy and breathless, as if he’d just won first place in a race. And he wanted more than just to sink his teeth into her pet a few times. He wanted Charlie to look forward to it, despite herself. He would teach her exactly how to behave in the presence of a vampire.

Booker pulled away from her ear and sat up then, smirking at her closed eyes, her expectant expression. “You know I’m still a little full from earlier, now that I really think about it.” He studied her face as he spoke. “I can’t decide if I should save you for later…” It was all a bluff of course - she made him ravenous. But he wondered if he could get her to ask again. A little begging to stroke his ego. He sat back to let her think about it for a moment and to stew in the pain from her bruises. His tongue ran back and forth over one of his canines.

Whether she begged him or not, he could only pull the act for so long before the bloodlust got the better of him. He was looming over her again with his trademark smirk and his wandering, caressing hand, finding her stomach and pressing the bruises ever so slightly as he kissed her neck. His teeth caught hold of her skin and he squeezed her side roughly just as his fangs sunk into the throbbing pulse of her throat. It was gloriously rewarding and made him shudder in his low, harsh tone. He experienced his own oblivion and savored it languorously.

He barely took anything from her, just enough to let her sink into the blissful sensation of his bite. He wanted her to associate it with all the pleasure and none of the consequences, at least this first time. Booker knew she couldn’t ask for a better pain medication than the one he’d just given her and he knew she would realize it when the pleasure finally wore off. He licked the wound on her throat a few times and then pulled away, his own chest rising and falling rapidly as he came down from the high.

He watched her lazily for a moment and then said, “I’ll come back again later.” He got up and moved to the door, closing it behind him. It wasn’t locked – he was confident it didn’t need to be.

A smile pranced wickedly across Lisette’s dark features as she noticed Mila’s eyes unwillingly trail down her body. She suppressed the urge to make a sarcastic comment, and instead made a noise of encouragement. “Come on now, you could at least try to control yourself.” So obviously her attempts to keep her sharp tongue at bay were futile. She shivered slightly as Mila’s hand closed around her hip while the other caught hold of the dress zipper.

“Hold still then,”

Lisette did as she was told, standing still as marble as Mila pulled her just slightly closer. Her grin didn’t faltered as the zipper was slowly pulled downwards with a quiet noise. There was just a moment, with Mila hesitating behind her, that Lisette wondered if she should be fearful, or at least a little cautious. She was the impulsive one, yet she had also pushed Mila pretty far that night and she couldn’t be sure how much longer she’d keep her cool. She let out an inaudible sigh of relief when the older woman pulled away leaving her to slip out of the dress.

“You can pick something,”

She let her dress drop to the ground, the action taking Lissette just long enough to miss Mila’s inconspicuous display with the scarf, but not to notice the obvious change in demeanor from her companion. She gave her a curious look as she walked towards the closet and began sorting through the clothes, almost like she were browsing through a shop. She didn’t exactly rush to pick out something to wear that would cover her almost completely naked body, and instead took her time to asses each article before dismissing it and moving on. “My, you have quite the collection here.” She murmured casually, thinking about her measly few clothes back at the house. She usually just “borrowed” what she needed and disregarded it after she finished.

“You’re a little smaller than I am, aren’t you. Hopefully you can find something that works.”

Lisette made a mumbling noise, only half listening to Mila.

“Be a doll and toss me something too while you’re at it,”

Her head bobbed slightly as she pulled out a random pair of jeans and a plain shirt, thrusting the objects towards the woman without much care. “There you go, darling.” She studied Mila for just a second longer then she needed to, suspicion written in her gaze as she watched her shift uncomfortably in her perch. “I’m sure that will do...”

“I’ll be right back..”

A curious furrow in Lisette’s brow made the otherwise smooth skin crease. “Don’t be too long!” Her voice was mocking, despite the uncertain look on her face. “I’d miss you.” Bitterly laughing, she turned back to the closet and pulled out a second pair of dark jeans and a navy t-shirt. She quickly pulled the clothing on over her under garments. Mila had been right, the jeans fit snuggly around her waist yet ran long lengthwise, sitting on the bed she cuffed the bottoms. Despite the casualness of the outfit, Lisette still looked stunningly dangerous and callous as she gazed towards the bathroom where Mila had disappeared.

What the hell would she need in there? It wasn’t like either of them had much need for personal hygiene, unnatural cleanliness was a trademark of their curse. “Not hiding anymore pets in there are you, love?” She called, not very loud, she knew that Mila would hear her. “My! Wouldn’t Charlie be jealous.” She laughed, thinking about how pathetically ignorant the human was. There hadn’t been much exchange of talk between the two, but she could see it in her body language. The girl didn’t know what the hell she had gotten herself into. Lisette could understand that, human emotion got in the way of thinking clearly. Yet another reason why she did not miss humanity at all.

“Remember that pet you kept in the ‘50s? Wasn’t she a looker!” Lisette was casual running her hand along the ugly quilt, it was rough against her palm. Not that she noticed much, her mind was in an entirely different era. “And so tasty, oh my! Remember her?” Lisette’s eyes snapped towards the closed bathroom door, they burned darkly with the compulsive need to know just what Mila was doing. “But she was just so needy. You really shouldn’t indulge them so much, Mi. I mean if you’re going to keep pets, at least teach them the proper way to act towards their master.” She loathed disrespectful humans like a school teacher did children.

“I bet Booker will help you out with that one.” Her voice was malicious as she said it, imagining the small, blonde girl who had been cowering behind Mila, compliant to Booker’s whim. It was an amusing thought, and as much as she hated the thought of keeping pets, she couldn’t say that she wouldn’t highly enjoy seeing Mila’s human so enthralled by another. “Tell me, though, what’s the attraction? Wouldn’t you much rather take it all and then not have to deal with such trivial things like their needs?” Eating, sleeping, relieving themselves. Humans really weren’t much different from children in that regard.

Sitting on the bed, Lisette went silent for a moment. She resisted the ever growing need to get up and walk into the bathroom. Obviously she was hiding something, and that controlling, domineering creature inside of Lisette ached to know just exactly what that was. She wet her lips and narrowed her eyes towards the door. “Would you hurry it up in there! My, you’re acting ever so mysterious.” Her gut clenched with her compulsion as she balled the fabric in her vice-like fist. “I would think that you were hiding something, if I didn’t know you.”

---

“Can you speak up a little, darling? Did I just hear you say you do want it…?”

Her face was ashen as she stared past him and realized how big of a mistake she had just made. “Wait... No! I-I didn’t mean.. Don’t!” But it was too late and, like always, she had been instrumental in her own destruction. “Please!” Her gasping plea went unheard, she’d made her choice and he wasn’t going to just un-hear it. “Booker...” His name tasted like acid on her tongue, which had once again betrayed her. The feeling of his sharp teeth against her earlobe, however, distracted her from what she had been going to say as his voice came, low and sultry, in her ear.

“Is this how she did it too?”

Charlie’s lips gaped slightly as his hand crept up her side to cup her cheek. She wanted to pull away, but there was something in the way that his canines glistened and her stomach throbbed that kept her locked firmly in place, tears trickling down her cheeks. “You don’t know any-”

“She had you on your back, whimpering pathetically, craving release?”

Her eyes shut tightly and she shook her head just a bit, hardly noticeable as his fingers brushed gently against her cheek, the touch almost promising and kind. If it hadn’t of been for his grating teeth against the thin flesh on her ear, Charlie could have almost believed that. “Stop,” but they could both tell that she really didn’t mean that. “You can imagine her if you like, I don’t mind. Say her name even. I’m sure she would love that if she could see us now.” Charlie’s eyes blinked open and she gazed at the ceiling with a complicated expression. “Stop talking about her.” This time there was no hesitation in her voice, no conflict or covert meaning.

Charlie’s hard eyes softened a bit as Booker pulled away, her eyebrows furrowed as if to ask what he was doing. “You know I’m still a little full from earlier, now that I really think about it.” She didn’t enjoy the feeling of disappointment in her chest, she almost hated herself for it actually. “Oh...” Her lips turned down in a frown as another shiver of pain through her body made her jerk. There wasn’t any kind of pain medication that would really help her now, not anything a doctor could prescribe at least. She watched his tongue run along his teeth almost sensuously, the action was inviting. “B-but...” There she was, doing it again. She clamped her mouth shut, biting down on her lip until she could taste metallic blood in her mouth.

His hand pressed against her stomach, sending a vibration of agony through her body. She cried out softly, not a full cry of pain but a whimper that was cut off when his teeth pressed into her soft skin. Her eyes widened in shock, her lips parted in a squeak and then she relaxed. Melting into his touch unconsciously as the warm sensation numbed her toes and she moaned in response. Despite the fact that she could still feel his hands against the bruises on her midsection, Charlie didn’t feel any pain. It was blissful, even when he pulled away. She could move slightly, enough to get herself in a sitting position and look him in the eyes.

For A few moments, Char couldn’t find the words to say what she wanted to and instead sat there like an idiot, staring at him. “I-I... That... it can’t happen again.” She sounded more assertive than before, yet still apprehensive, as if she unconsciously knew the words were a lie.

“I’ll come back again later.”

She grimaced and didn’t respond, feeling the bed sink a little as he moved swiftly towards the door, closing it with an audible click. She was all alone, sitting on the rickety old bed in the middle of the city, bruised and feeling the euphoric aftermath of a vampire bite. She laughed aloud manically, it was like one of those tragic teen love stories that were all the rage now. Her life, which had always been precariously on the edge of spinning out of control, really had spun off a cliff. To the point where she almost didn’t believe it anymore, maybe she was suffering from some kind of weird trip, or perhaps she was dead and this was her hell.

It was just all so trivial. The mundane actions that seemed so worthwhile at the time, were absolutely pointless when it came right down to it. She saw her life, then, as it had been. Safe, causal, disappointing, and then compared this life to the bold, adventurous one she should have lived. A life where she didn’t settle for a minimum wage job and shitty gigs at a run down bar. A life where she thrived, instead of barely getting by in a world that seemed to completely overlook her. Once, Charlie had heard it said that the definition of hell was the person you had become meeting the person you could have been and now she could see just how accurate that actually was. So maybe she wasn’t dead, and she wasn’t actually in hell, but this had to be close enough.

And it wasn’t like she was going to sit here and let the devil have her. Charlie pursed her lips, tugging down her t-shirt that was still uncovering her mess of bruises, and slowly set her feet on the ground. She had lost her shoes and some point and now just wore her bare feet, which felt cool against the old wooden panels. It took her a moment to get her footing enough so that she was able to shuffle along, holding the wall for support. It didn’t hurt, necessarily, her head was still reeling, but the dull ache in her body, threatening to be even worse later on, did make it harder for her to reach the door and slowly pull it open. For such an old house, the door hinges were well oiled, it was easy enough for her to slip out of the room and into the long upstairs hallway without much hassle.

Assessing the situation, Charlie pursed her lips. She couldn’t run, she was in no shape to do that, but she could sneak away and hope that no one would see her. Pray that “Soon” meant at least an hour so that she could get a good heads start.

Or you could stay here.

She flinched. Yes, she could do that too. But how long until she became just as bad as any of the other humans here. It had only been twice, and already she could feel a need in her bones that was almost inexplicable. Like a part of her was missing. She slowly let out a breath and leaned against the shut door. What could she possibly be thinking, she couldn’t stay here. No, she had to go home and leave all of this a memory, like some bad dream that eventually she would forget. Yet despite the fact that she knew this is what she wanted to do, she couldn’t bring herself to walk any further than the top of the stairs and gaze down at the front door. She could tell that soon enough her stomach would be in knots again and she might not get another opportunity, but something inside of her refused to take it. She hesitated, biting her lip and wondering what in the hell she should do next.

Mila watched distractedly as Lisette casually browsed through her clothing. Her eyes automatically swept over the other woman’s almost nude figure, stealing a few quick glances, as if she half-expected her to turn her head and catch her at it. She had a feeling that the younger vampire knew her eyes were on her anyway, since she was taking her sweet time to examine each article, seemingly in no hurry to cover her body up again. She was exquisite, of course. Irresistible to the human eye and enticing enough even to her fellow vampires. Even if Lisette knew she was staring, Mila was still tempted to take advantage of the moment anyway, to let her eyes wander freely.. But after a moment, she looked away, twisting the scarf around her fingers in agitation and glancing towards the bathroom door.

“There you go, darling.”

Mila caught the clothes that Lisette had picked out for her and moved past her into the bathroom to stash Charlie’s scarf someplace where the younger woman wouldn’t think to go poking around. She could tell by the tone in Lisette’s voice that the other vampire had become vaguely suspicious of her sudden departure.

“Not hiding anymore pets in there are you, love? My! Wouldn’t Charlie be jealous.”

“Very funny,” she replied dryly, standing still for a moment and listening to see if Lisette would follow her. She heard her sit down on the bed and felt relieved.

Now that she was out of Lisette’s sight, Mila allowed herself to look down at the scarf in her hands. She had taken it with her on an impulse the night she had left Charlie, thinking she wouldn’t see her again. Since then, she’d felt a little silly for stealing it but she’d kept it close anyways. Now it felt more precious than ever. She gently touched it to her lips as she went over her plan for rendering Lisette compliant and willing to confess Charlie’s whereabouts. Her thoughts were interrupted by an unpleasant remark..

“Remember that pet you kept in the ‘50s? Wasn’t she a looker!

Yes, she did remember. An image of the girl’s face appeared in her mind as Lisette mentioned her. Mila had inserted herself into that girl’s life in a similar way she’d done to Charlie, quietly charming her and drawing her in, all for the purpose of feasting on her in secret. She had gone much farther with this other girl though, and by the time the girl had figured out Mila’s true nature, she had not only been unafraid, but had wanted to be bitten regularly. Mila had been more than happy to oblige that request. It had been delightful to find the human snuggling up to her every night and eagerly pressing her neck to the vampire’s lips. After a while, the girl began to crave it more and more, asking too frequently, disregarding other aspects of her life. Mila had pretended not to notice. But when it became painfully obvious that the girl was wasting away, she began biting her less frequently and then not at all. It had been another time when she had been reminded of her own monstrousness. She hadn’t killed the girl, but she’d still stolen her life away. In an effort to revive her, Mila began finding her meals elsewhere. It hadn’t worked. When Mila refused to bite her, the girl had gone to both Booker and Lisette on several occasions, both of them happily assisting her need for a fix.

And so tasty, oh my! Remember her? But she was just so needy. You really shouldn’t indulge them so much, Mi. I mean if you’re going to keep pets, at least teach them the proper way to act towards their master. I bet Booker will help you out with that one.”

Mila’s knuckles were white as she clenched her fists in silent rage. There were so many reasons for her to despise Lisette with every fiber of her being. Her words echoed in her head, infuriating her. Teach them the proper way to act towards their master. Had she been in the same room, she would have had great difficulty hiding the emotion on her face that showed now, making her eyes dangerously dark, despite having just eaten. I bet Booker will help you with that one. Perhaps she would teach Lisette the proper way to behave towards her elders, even if they were only a few years apart. Give her a taste of her own medicine…

When she spoke, her voice was calm and even. “I do remember her. You won’t let me forget. It’s funny though… I don’t remember ever giving you permission to sample her…” A sinister edge had crept into her voice. “You enjoyed her several times didn’t you? Without consequence. Well, what’s done is done.” Mila began pulling off her clothes as Lisette spoke again, imaging a consequence or two she would like to impose on her later.

“Tell me, though, what’s the attraction? Wouldn’t you much rather take it all and then not have to deal with such trivial things like their needs?”

“They are quite capable of taking care of themselves, if you let them recover a little afterward. It’s purely for selfish reasons that I indulge them in that way, don’t you see.” She kept her tone light, but it was somewhat condescending, as if she were speaking to a child. “It’s all about control, Lisette. I suspect you’ll learn someday.” She stood in her underwear now, looking around the bathroom for a suitable place to stash Charlie’s scarf. “Actually, I would love to teach you a few things about control myself.” The edge was back in her voice. “If you ask me, humans are fast learners. It’s other vampires who need occasional lessons in discipline. Proper ways to behave toward their superiors. The younger ones are getting lazy and informal. They need a firm hand to remind them of their place, don’t you think?”

She was silent for a moment as she pulled back the shower curtain and hung the scarf over the shower head. She did it slowly and softly so she wouldn’t make any noise. She could sense Lisette becoming restless in he other room.

“Would you hurry it up in there! My, you’re acting ever so mysterious. I would think that you were hiding something, if I didn’t know you.”

“Hiding something?” Mila emerged from the bathroom just then, sauntering over to Lisette with a new, domineering swing in her hips. She had pulled on her jeans, still unzipped and unbuttoned, and she had yet to slip on the low-cut shirt over her dark, lacy bra. Her eyes were locked onto Lisette. “I have nothing to hide from you,” she said coyly. She had come to stand very close in front of the other woman’s seated figure on the edge of the bed, close enough that the younger vampire would need to tilt her head up if she wanted to make direct eye contact. Her legs brushed up against the younger woman’s knees. She ran her fingers along the collar of the shirt Lisette that chosen for herself and gave a sort of shrug at it, before smirking down at the cuffed legs of her jeans. There was a look of bored amusement on her face, but her eyes were too intense to match. They were bright and venomous and vengeful.

“You’re only too eager to help yourself to what is mine, aren’t you.” The fingers at her collar twisted around the material until Mila had a firm grip of her shirt. She stared down at her with dark eyes. “Don’t you think it’s my turn to help myself to something of yours for a change? Lift up your arms.” Without waiting for her to comply, Mila gave an upwards tug of her shirt, working it up and over her head and letting it drop to the floor.

“You don’t really hate me. This is what you want,” she cooed, eyes raking over her possessively, teeth sharp. She placed her hands on either side of Lisette’s face, fingers caressing her skin for a moment before suddenly gripping her firmly and tilting her head back. “My full attention.” Mila gave her a rough shove, hard enough to make her back hit the mattress. She was instantly on top of her, straddling her waist and leaning over her with smirk that had more malice than mirth behind it. “It’s adorable, this little crush you have on me. The way you were watching me with that shopkeeper earlier…” She was close to her, the ends of her dark hair tickling the sides of Lisette’s face as she peered down at her, hands gripping the sheets on either side of her head, hips rolled forward and pinning her down.

“I wonder..” she began, gaze trailing slowly down to the other woman’s neck. “What it really feels like to be bitten by one of us.” The idea seemed so taboo. She had never done it, knowing it couldn’t offer anything on her end. And of course she had never wanted to be on the receiving end. Accepting a bite from another vampire was too submissive to tolerate. “I’m suddenly curious if it has the same effect.” She flashed her teeth at her teasingly and began running her tongue back and forth along her sharp canines.

“Want to try it?”

---

Booker felt Charlie’s body relax against his while he drank, even as he continued to grip her bruised side with his large hand. Her pained whimpers had turned into soft, delectable moans that made it difficult for him to stop. When he finally did, he was pleased to see that she had enjoyed it, despite herself. He watched with lazy amusement as she sat up a little and stared at him, looking like she was struggling to find the right words.

“I-I... That... it can’t happen again.”

He laughed and licked his lips as he stood up to leave. “We’ll see. You might change your mind,” he replied, pausing at the door. “Just give it a little time.” He closed the door behind him and went downstairs, alarming the inhabitants of the living room with his sudden appearance. They knew he’d been angry earlier and scattered away from him fearfully. He looked around at them, feeling bored and hungrier than ever after he’d whet his appetite with Charlie. His gaze fell on the boy who’d brought him the water.

“Go upstairs and sit by her door,” he commanded dryly. “Make sure she doesn’t leave that room.” The boy nodded frantically and moved past him to comply. Booker took a seat in an armchair, propping his feet up on one of the arm rests and looking around him again. “I’m starving,” he said coldly. “Who’s first?”

---

“You’re… not supposed to be out here.”

The boy stared up at the top of the stairs, looking at Charlie with wide eyes. His head was tilted to one side and he looked confused to see her standing there. For a moment, it looked like he didn’t know what to do. Then he blinked and began slowly moving towards her, one stair step at a time.

“…Booker told me you have to stay in that room.” His voice was very quiet and he sounded distracted, though his gaze was fixed on her with an eerie curiosity. The sounds of his steps on the stair were almost drowned out by the string of moans coming from the living room. Evidently one of the wasted souls had been courageous enough to approach the vampire after all. The boy paused halfway up the stairs to turn his head toward the sound, a wistful look on his face. He glanced at Charlie again and began moving toward her again.

“He doesn’t want you to leave. You’re his new favorite.” He sounded bitter. “Why does he like you so much? You don’t even like him at all. I can tell.” He had reached the top of the steps now and stood in front of her, blocking her way. He was skinny and only taller than her by an inch or so. His eyes flickered to her neck where Booker’s bite marks had not quite healed.

“Don’t you like it?” he whispered, as if the two of them were sharing a secret together. “Feels really good, right?” He reached out and delicately touched the bite marks on her neck, his slender fingers almost as cold as a vampire’s. “You’re so lucky.” He sniffed sadly and fiddled with his hands, glancing away from her suddenly. “I’ve never been his favorite.”

And then, as if an idea was slowly coming to mind, the boy paused and looked up at her with different sort of expression. “You don’t…want to stay here, do you. That’s why you ran away…” He pressed the palm of his hand to his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to think. The poor circulation in his body made his mind feel muddled and slow. “If you leave…he has to get a new favorite.” He grinned at her, and his voice dropped even lower. “You should leave. I’ll help you leave! Ok? Shhh! He can hear everything!” He froze fearfully for a moment, listening. The only sounds they cold hear were the moans of a different person and the sound of bickering and chair legs scrapping across the floor.

“He gets a rush too,” the boy explained with an air of expertise, nodding his head sagely. “He gets lost in it too. This is the best time to do it. Come on! You can follow me. Shhh.” Slowly he moved down the stairs and paused at the bottom to peer around the corner. He could see Booker with a human sitting on either side of him, one nuzzling at his chest, the other’s head tilted back to allow the vampire access. Booker was completely absorbed in his meal, much rougher with his playthings than he had been with Charlie. He growled as the human on his lips fell limply forward and immediately turned to the second one to plunge his teeth in again. The boy watched him hungrily for a moment before blinking a few times and looking back at Charlie with his wide eyes. He jerked his head silently towards the front door, just a few feet down the hall, and mouthed the word, “Go!”

He quietly crept down the hall and waited for a moment before turning the lock of the heavy would door. The click sounded deafeningly loud and he froze immediately, fearful that the noise had given them away. But the sounds from the living room continued, uninterrupted and the boy gave a silent exhale of relief. He took a painstakingly long time to pull the door open, little by little until there was just enough space for he and Charlie to slip through.

“Come, come on!” he dared to whisper as he stepped into the street in front of the house. It was still early morning but the sun was a little higher in the sky and there was plenty of light to illuminate the abandoned city street.

“You better go fast,” he breathed, rubbing at his eyes as if the light were stinging them. “Do you know where to go?” He pointed down the street. “The closest bus stop is way down that way. Like way, way down. Ok?”

Her fingers trailed gently across the quilt as Lisette listened to the condescending voice of her elder. Her teeth gritted painfully and her gut clenched with a complicated mix of anger and jealousy. Jealous that Mila had every right to speak in such a callous tone because she was in fact Lisette’s elder. Yet it still didn’t sit well with the beautiful woman who fidgeted uneasily, trying to regain her composure before her acquaintance made a reappearance.

“It’s all about control, Lisette. I suspect you’ll learn someday.”

With a quivering sigh, Lisette made a noise of agreeance. “I suppose you’re right, but where’s the fun in that?” Her voice was a purr as she leaned forward to place her hands on her chin. “I pity the fool who doesn’t go at least a little mad.” She was watching the door, eyes burning into the wood like lasers, waiting for the slightest bit of movement. This was a game of wits, that the two so carelessly played, and she had to make sure not to lose focus or else she would most certainly lose. “Actually, I would love to teach you a few things about control myself.” A sensuous giggle floated through the air as Lisette raised two eyebrows. “I bet you could teach me lots of things, lover.” Her sickly voice dripped with contempt.

“If you ask me, humans are fast learners. It’s other vampires who need occasional lessons in discipline. Proper ways to behave toward their superiors. The younger ones are getting lazy and informal. They need a firm hand to remind them of their place, don’t you think?”

Lisette’s teeth grinded together and her sharp eyes flashed viciously. “Times are changing, Mila.” She fought to keep the oppression out of her voice as she twisted the bedcover in her hand. Her knuckles turned a shade paler as she did so. “Us younger ones are the new generation, don’t you agree?” After a moment of uncomfortable silence, in which Lisette used to recompose herself, she finally calmed down enough to call out with false cheer. Yet her eyes flashed and her hand continue its vice-like grip on the blanket.

The older vampire reappeared then, half naked with her hips swaying gently as she exited the bathroom.

“Hiding something?”

Lisette bit her lip slowly as her gaze eagerly drank Mila in. The other woman was undeniably beautiful, and Lisette had an uncharacteristically soft spot in her heart for beautiful things. Especially the kind that were just as ruthlessly dangerous as they were exquisite.

“I have nothing to hide from you,”

Eyebrows raised, Lisette watched Mila saunter forwards until the older vampire was standing just inches away. She took her time trailing her eyes up to Mila's face where she finally stopped with a sensuous grin. “Nothing to hide, you say?” She didn't believe that in the least, but at the moment she was far too distracted by the feeling of hands brushing against the collar of her t-shirt. “I guess I'll just have to trust you.” Her voice was muffled as Mila's hand tightened around the shirt and pulled it over Lisette's head, sending a fit of butterflies through the younger woman's stomach. “You don’t really hate me. This is what you want,” As Mila's hands held her face, Lisette's snaked around to hold the her waist, mimicking the gentle, possessive caresses that she received against her cheeks. Her lips parted as her face was tilted backwards and she pulled Mila slightly closer to her. “My full attention.”

She was surprised when she felt Mila's hands shoving her backwards, and despite the fact that it would have taken almost no energy to react and keep herself upright, Lisette let herself fall back against the sheets and be straddled by her companion. “You know nothing about what I want.” The comment was venomous, despite the flirtatious way she ran her fingers along Mila's leg.

“It’s adorable, this little crush you have on me. The way you were watching me with that shopkeeper earlier…”

“Says the one willingly pinning me to this bed,” the foolhardy tone was washed away by the dark, almost offended glimmer in the younger woman's eyes. “I wonder..” Lisette raised her eyebrows in mock curiosity as to what Mila might say next. Her hand had travelled from the other woman's leg to lock several of her fingers through one of the belt loops in her jeans, gently pulling her forwards. “What it really feels like to be bitten by one of us.” Her fingers loosened slightly and for just a split second Lisette's face assumed an expression of pure curiosity. She didn’t try to hide the gape of her lips or the widening of her eyes as she stared up at Mila, who hovered dangerously close to her. “You... you want to bite me?”

Just as quickly as the slip of exposure came, she had regained it and was now grinning venomously. “You want to bite me.” It wasn’t a question, just a bemused statement. “Oh, honey, how feral of you.” Without any pretense to what she planned on doing, Lisette grabbed hold of Mila’s waist and flipped the older vampire over so that their positions were reversed and she was the one peering downwards. Quickly she pressed her lips onto Mila’s, a peck that was teasing at the same time sensuous. “I think I might just let you try it.” Her lips were still against Mila’s skin, trailing along her jawline and pressing against the spot on her neck where her pulse should have been. Not having the feeling of rushing blood struck Lisette as a little odd as she jerkingly twisted her head so that her neck was exposed.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

---

“You’re… not supposed to be out here.”

The frail voice broke the young woman from her reverie with its perturbation. She slowly pulled her gaze, which had been glued to the splintered wooden door, and peered at the scrawny young man whose glassy eyes were almost cat-like in the darkness. She recognized him from before, he had been the one who had brought her water. She shut her eyes to try and block out the vision of his pale, shaken frame migrating towards Booker who beckoned the poor boy like a dog. When she opened her eyes again, the man had moved up the steps a bit, his feline eyes still gazing at her with mute curiosity and something that could almost have been envy. Her gut roiled and she felt tears prick in her eyes. If she stayed her, like she so longed to do, that would mean ending up like him and in what? A year? A month? She would end up like this pathetic soul, staring up at Booker’s newest plaything and wishing desperately to be her.

“…Booker told me you have to stay in that room.”

“Fuck Booker.” Her voice was like acid as she slowly backed away from the stairs in time with the man’s ascent. He was murmuring quietly and Charlie could hardly hear a word that he said, his spindly frame was eerie and she found fear creeping over her skin. She had blocked out his words until his icy hands, just as cold as Mila’s or Booker’s, gently caressed the healing bite marks on her neck. She stiffened in response, resisting the urge to shove him away and make a break for it. That would surely give her intent away and if she lost the element of surprise, there was no way she was getting out of this house alive. “Please, don’t touch me...” However her disturbed pleas fell on deaf ears as he continued to stand uncomfortably close, staring down at her neck morbidly. “You’re so lucky.” She suppressed a laugh, holding her breath until the insane urge to break into a fit of inappropriate giggles passed. “Lucky, huh?”

“I’ve never been his favorite.”

There was something about his tone that made Charlie’s chest ache with pity for him, this was the only thing he knew anymore, the only thing any of them knew. It made her curious, how had they each gotten here? Were their stories as insane as hers felt? Did they have families who missed them, or were they just alone... like her? She shut her eyes tightly and shook her head in a physical attempt to shake the thoughts from her mind. She couldn’t be thinking like that right now, she had to be thinking about how to save herself. The rest she could dwell on later. With all of this running through her head, she had barely noticed the young man’s change in emotion, from poignant to excited. Her eyes studied him. “You don’t…want to stay here, do you. That’s why you ran away…” Slowly, Charlie’s head bobbed up and down, her lips partially agape. “If you leave…he has to get a new favorite.” She watched his actions with growing empathy, the way he moved, awkward and disconcerted, was so childlike. “What are you getting at?” She questioned... unease making a knot in her stomach. “You should leave. I’ll help you leave! Ok? Shhh! He can hear everything!”

She listened to him explain Booker’s rush, how this was the best time to try to escape because he would be too distracted by his own bloodlust to realize what was happening about him. Quietly, Charlie followed her un-named companion down the stairs, peering in after him to witness the disquieting scene between Booker and two of his beloved pets. “Go!” The noise made her startle from watching the scene with sordid fascination. “Okay.” She mouthed back creeping stealthily behind him and jumping at the deafening sound of the lock snapping out of place. She felt every second that ticked by like the beat of her unsteady heart which pounded mercilessly in her chest. “Hurry up...” Her strained voice was a low whine as she watched him inch the door open little by little until there was just enough room for her to squeeze through and burst into the open air. “Oh my god..” She breathed in deeply, intoxicated from the aftermath of the bite and the way the cool night air felt against her warm flesh.

“The closest bus stop is way down that way. Like way, way down. Ok?”

She nodded, licking her lips and looking in the direction that he pointed. “Okay, thank you so much...” She paused and looked at him. “I don’t even know your name.” There was something sad about that, but also something good. It made him seem unreal, like he wasn’t a person and he didn’t live a life like something out of someones nightmares. “Thank you.” Her whisper of gratitude was paired with a tight hug, his thin frame was boney against her own, making her cringe with another round of pity. “Take care of yourself.”

She didn’t linger long, and instead made her way hastily down the road. Moving in a half run, half hobble manor that must have appeared very amusing to any of the early risers who could have looked her way. She continued faster and faster as the pain in her stomach slowly increased and the aftermath of the bite slowly faded. It was a gradual thing but after what felt like an eternity of walking, but could only have been half an hour at the most, she started to slow down. Her body shook uncontrollably and an unsettling cold crept under her skin, despite the warm morning sun that beat down on her. She knew she must have looked like a madwoman, limping around the streets at such an early hour. Rubbing her arms fiercely as she muttered profanities under her breath. She was so tired and she knew that at any given moment she would pass out from fatigue. That’s the moment her weary eyes caught sight of the quaint hotel. She wasn’t going to make it home, even if she knew what direction home would be in! Her hand instantly went to her back pocket and the small wallet she had stuck there. She’d have enough for a room and maybe some hot food and that way she could regroup and try and figure out a way out of all this. Booker would come looking for her, as would Mila, and despite the fact that she wouldn’t entirely mind the latter she didn’t want to have anything to do with this anymore. You could go home... Back to Mom and Dad That wasn’t the best idea in the world, but it was something. A tear rolled down her cheek slowly as she shoved her way into the hotel and briskly walked towards the teenage boy who barely glanced up from his phone as he gave her a room key and murmured a quick. “Enjoy your stay.”

With an appreciative noise she hobbled away, thoughts of her parents dancing wildly through her mind as she stuck the key into the chipped wooden door and entering the musty hotel bedroom, completely unaware that her problems were still just next door.

They stood in the road in front of the house, the first pale light of dawn still creeping it’s way over the city rooftops. The air was crisp and still, as if it too were holding its breath. There was something eerie in the silence around them, as if they were the only too souls left in the world. “You had better go quick,” the boy whispered, as if he was afraid to make ripple in the stillness. He watched Charlie with wide eyes as she paused to look at him, his bony arms still raised toward the direction he’d indicated.

“I don’t even know your name.”

He blinked at her slowly in surprise, as if he were confused. But then his lip quirked up in a gentle smile and he gave a half shrug. “I don’t think he knows it either.”

He stiffened when she approached him to pull him into a tight hug and looked embarrassed when she thanked him again. He didn’t return her embrace, though he did give her a few hesitant pats on the shoulder.

“I don’t know why you want to leave,” he said, looking wistfully back at the house. “I never want to leave. Not ever.”

“Take care of yourself.” He gave a curious look at that and then gave a hasty nod, but only as if he thought it would please her if he did so. With silent wave he turned back to the house and crept quietly through the door, shutting it noiselessly behind him.

It would take several hours for Booker to finish his feast and be in the mood for torturing his newest toy. When he discovered that privilege denied to him, he made do with the scrawny whelp sitting on the stairs, who seemed only too happy to have his vicious attention…

“You just let her walk right out the door, is that it.”

“No, I-I…I helped her…” the boy wheezed, finding it difficult to speak with Booker’s large hands squeezing his windpipe. He stared up at him with large, admiring eyes as he gasped for breath. “So you and I could… so we could be…a-ahh!” He made pitiful choking sound and his eyes fluttered in ecstasy. He had a knowing half-smile on his face, as if he’d predicted the glorious attention he was receiving. He didn’t seem to register the cold fury in Booker’s eyes as the vampire continued to press the life out of him with methodical increases in pressure.

“You will tell me,” he said in a soft, cruel voice, “which direction she went.” He didn’t release him until the boy’s face began turning an ugly shade of purple.

“Right. Now.”

---

“We could try it right now. A quick bite, while Booker’s not around to tease us..”

Mila’s ultimate goal might have been to lull Lisette into a state of compliance, to get her to confess Charlie’s whereabouts, but she couldn’t completely deny the fascination she had with the younger, crueler vampire. She knew Lisette was monstrous and embodied every vice she herself struggled with…and yet, a small part of her felt envious of Lisette’s total freedom from guilt and moral dilemma and although those other decidedly human emotions. How much simpler things could be if she hadn’t let herself succumb to that distant ache to be human again.

Charlie had been the one to stir the ache. When Mila pictured her under Booker’s vile ministrations and when she thought about how it was entirely her fault for getting the girl into this mess and not being able to protect her, she nearly trembled with angry frustration. She pushed more roughly against Lisette’s body and gripped the bed sheets with terrifying force. Her sharp teeth were barred and her eyes had focused intensely on the other vampire’s neck, as if she just wanted to rip the information she needed directly from her throat.

“You... you want to bite me?”

Mila’s gaze snapped up to meet Lisette’s eyes, just in time to seem them widen with astonishment and curiosity. The way the younger vampire’s lips had parted in surprise made her seem delightfully vulnerable, for just a split second. It startled Mila, though it was exactly what she was aiming for. She felt the sudden urge to bite her, overwhelmingly and entirely for selfish reasons.

“You want to bite me.”

Her stomach knotted uneasily as Lisette’s expression went from honest wonder to sinful amusement in the blink of an eye. Mila gave her a wicked smirk of her own, although it wasn’t entirely convincing since her eyes were too busy flickering down to her throat and back again. She reminded herself that she was only pretending to want to take a bite, but already she could feel her control of the situation slipping as the frenzy crept over her senses. She was acutely aware at that moment of the hands on her hips gripping her tightly. By the time she realized why, Lisette was already flipping her over. In an instant, she found herself on her back, her protest muffled by Lisette’s lips pressing heatedly to hers. But when she was free to speak again, the only sound she made was a breathless exhale as the other woman left teasing kisses along her neck.

“I think I might just let you try it.”

“Oh really?” came her reply through gritted teeth, as she felt her reach that particularly sensitive spot where her pulse had stopped throbbing so long ago. “Careful, you might just like it too much.” Her lips parted instinctively as Lisette exposed her neck.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

It felt so strange to have to crane herself up to reach it, when she was so used to having it somehow pinned beneath her. ‘Leave it to Lisette to make such a domineering act feel somehow subservient,’ Mila thought, as she lifted her head to scrap her teeth against the skin. No gentle kisses or soft nibbling. Her canines left jagged lines that might have beaded with blood had there been any for the taking. After several more deliberately painful gouges, Mila finally sunk her fangs deep into the skin, marveling at the unfamiliar lack of warmth. There was only the cool taste of her skin. Despite being unable to feed, it wasn’t entirely unsatisfying and she continued to bite harder and more viciously than she ever would a frail human. She released her for a moment and did it again with more enthusiasm, snarling her enjoyment. On the third time, she flipped the both of them back to their original positions, rocking the bed as she did so and causing the headboard to hit loudly against the wall that they shared with the neighboring room.

“I could tear your throat wide open,” she gasped, poised to bite her again. She could see the scars on Lisette’s skin from her teeth healing just as quickly as she could inflict them. It was a bluff of course; she might never see Charlie again if she tore apart her only key to finding her. But she sunk her teeth in again as if to emphasize her point. She was starting to get hungrier every time her bite was unrewarded with a lack of substance. She would want to feed soon, even though she’d eaten only a few hours ago and it was too risky to hunt down strangers in the daylight.

“This whet’s my appetite,” she mumbled, licking at her last bite instinctively just as it healed back into flawlessness. Her eyes were dark. Just as she was about to bite yet again, there was a sharp knock that made her head snap towards the door.

“Housekeeping,” came a tired voice.

“Can you come back later?” Mila called, watching the door intently. She listened as the footsteps moved away again and suddenly had a thought. A hotel was probably one of the best places to score a quick snack. The employees would probably be missed if they disappeared for a few ours, but the other patrons were sitting ducks and even had private rooms where they could be stashed for a while, out of sight.

“I’ve got to eat again soon,” she informed her, running her tongue along the point of her tooth.

Lisette wasn’t paying too much attention to the words that came out of Mila’s mouth while she egged her on. “I think I might just let you try it.” She found herself saying, almost lazily as she tilted her neck down towards Mila’s parted lips. If she had a heartbeat, it would most certainly be thudding noisily at this moment as she anticipated the bite. Her skin prickled with a mixture of excitement and a bit of fear, not that she would ever admit to the latter. She was far too proud to do that, even if she could recognize the unfamiliar emotion. She was usually the one inducing the heart pounding fear and excitement and it felt so wrong to be on the other side of the deal. So wrong, yet still so thrilling.

“Oh really?”

A smile grew across Lisette’s lips which were still gently pressed on her companions neck. Her teeth had grown sharp and they dug gently into the touch flesh of the other woman’s neck. “Careful, you might just like it too much.” Chuckling softly, Lisette murmured against Mila’s skin; “I like everything too much, love, it’s part of my charm.” She was still sinisterly laughing as she righted her head and stared down into Mila’s darkened eyes. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” Her purring, inviting voice was hushed in the darkened room with only a stream of morning light pooling in through a crack in the dusty, old curtains.

She stayed uncharacteristically silent as Mila’s neck slowly craned upwards until her lips met Lisette’s throat. There was nothing gentle or soft about it as the older vampire delved into the act with dangerous accuracy. Her sharp canines pressing into Lisette, making her gasp aloud for just a second before sinking into the bite. It was exhilarating and Lisette leaned closer to the older woman as she anomalistically tore at her throat. Moments of sharp pain interrupted the pleasure, making her jerk slightly before moaning and falling back into the ecstasy of the bite. No wonder they like this so much. She jerked and sighed, groaned and moaned all in unison of the vicious monster beneath her. But at that moment, Lisette realized that there was absolutely nothing monstrous about it. How could anything that felt so wonderful be so cruel? It was in truth almost as good as being on the other end.

Lisette gasped aloud just a bit when she felt herself being flipped involuntarily onto her back. In any normal circumstance this would have ended with Mila on the other side of the room, perhaps pinned to a wall with Lisette’s hands wrapped tightly around her marble neck. However this time she stayed put and compliantly let Mila flip her over and continue suckling her neck. She hardly noticed the headboard hitting against the wall, probably leaving an indent in the plaster. There was no thoughts that maybe they had neighbours, ones who would complain to the downstairs office. She didn’t think of the chance that perhaps they could be caught in this act of intimacy. No, none of that crossed her mind at all when Mila’s guttural voice broke the heavy silence that covered the two like a blanket.

”I could tear your throat wide open.”

Yes, yes she really could. And that thought was absolutely terrifying. Enough to make Lisette jerk away from yet another painstakingly wonderful bite from Mila. “That you could...” Her own voice was broken as she gently stiffened beneath Mila. She could feel the wounds healing quickly enough, soon there would hardly be a scratch to indicate any sort of injuries that she may have sustained. “But you wouldn’t want to kill me now would you?” She flashed a devilish smile. “I’m too cute.”

She watched hunger flicker through her companions eyes as she teased her gently. ”This whet’s my appetite.” Mila’s voice sounded more and more animal as she leaned in for yet another bite, causing Lisette to stiffen yet pull closer at the same time. Maybe there was something in the danger of having her life in someones hands that made her so inclined to this newfound activity. Yet just as the sharp teeth were about to pierce her skin once again a sharp knock caused both women to jolt and immediately looked towards the wooden door. The housekeepers voice, sounding despondent, wafting towards their acute ears and Mila’s response sent the woman, heavy set by the sound of her footsteps, hobbling away. Lisette took this moment to pull away from Mila, despite the pleasure that came with the bite, she too was starting to feel a bit peckish.

“I’ve got to eat again soon.”

Nodding Lisette rolled off the bed and hopped agilely onto her feet, catlike in her ease. “Was I not enough darling? I’m offended!” Her hands immediately went to her bosom and she pressed against where her un-beating heart. “Well if you must then I suppose we can get a bite to eat. Maybe our next door neighbour will be able to help us find a nice place to dine.” Her childish giggle rang through the air.

“Get dressed now and we can go see.”

---

She wanted to fall asleep, to sleep and sleep and sleep for days upon days and forget about all the problems that had so casually stepped into her mundane, boring life. She wanted to go home, although home brought back many unhappy memories that just reinforced the fact that she was no longer the gloomy, aspiring musician with a boring day job and a crumbling social life. Maybe home to her parents was a good idea after all. But how would they take it, their long lost gay daughter coming back into their home begging and pleading with them to forgive her. Charlie shuddered at the thought. No, she would have to ride this out on her own. Perhaps it would just go away, if she stayed in the shadows for a while, didn’t do anything to draw attention to herself. Booker and Lisette would get bored with her and move onto better things, and Mila...

Charlie flopped down onto the old, dusty mattress and sighed. Mila. Why was it that she was so infatuated with this thing. She wasn’t even human, she was a monster. Yet the thought of never seeing those beguiling eyes ever again made Char more sad then anything ever had. She had never been the one to believe in the whole “love at first sight” bullshit. However, this wasn’t normal. With her hands buried in her face, Charlie groaned loudly. She didn’t want any of this.

A thud against the wall made her startle from her pity party. Her head whipped up and she glanced around, butterflies in her stomach. This was how it would be for the rest of her life, she realized. Flinching at every noise, always with the fear that something, or someone, was out to get her. Her hands fisted as stray tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. Hot, angry tears because that couldn’t be fair. She was a good person, she deserved to have good things. Didn’t she? Another thud followed by muffled voices and some moans made Char realize that whatever was happening in the other room had nothing to do with her. Her face heated and she considered banging against the wall and telling her noisy neighbours to quiet down. However instead she decided to lay quietly and pull a pillow over her head. She was tired and a good nap would have been nice at that point.

Her body still ached from the beating and the aftermath of Booker’s bite. He would realize she was gone soon enough, and what would happen then? She would be easy enough to find. This was the closet motel to wherever he had taken her, and he was a skilled tracker. She figured she had at most until nightfall until he found her, if not before. And maybe that was the case, maybe he would bang down that door and take her by the arm. Drain her right on the spot and she wouldn’t resist, because by that point she would be too tired, too despondent to care about whether she lived or died. But maybe it wouldn’t be so cruel. Perhaps Booker would knock casually on the door. Three sharp raps, just like the ones against her door right then.

It took her a moment to realize that those three knocks weren’t from her mind and there was someone actually knocking on the door. She stayed quiet for a moment, her heart beating in her chest. “Could you come back later?” Finally she willed herself to speak, hoping that it was just the maids hoping to clean her room. After a moment she heard some muffled voices and another sharp rap against the door.

Not the maids.
Slowly, fearfully, she made her way towards the heavy door and peered out the eyehole. Her heart stopped in her chest, her eyes watered immediately. She recognized that dark skinned woman who leered gleefully up at the peek hole. She knew that Charlie was there, and her teeth sharpened just a tad. “Oh no...” She murmured out of instinct. “Oh god no...”

---

They knew that sweet, sugary voice. And as soon as the words “Could you come back later” wafted towards the two women’s ears Lisette grinned. “You have got to be kidding me...” Lisette laughed gleefully looking back at Mila and then towards again. “You have got to be kidding me.” She knocked again, sharper this time and with more enjoyment. She could hear the girls catlike footsteps and her heavy breaths as she leaned to look into the peek hole.

“Seems to me that we have found our little friend.” She didn’t look back at Mila when she addressed her, and instead grasped the handle in her hand and turned the knob quickly. It broke beneath her force and the door swung open, causing the human girl to scuttle back. “Hello Charlotte.”

‘She likes this.’

The thought was admittedly satisfying to Mila as she pierced the skin again and felt Lisette’s body writhe beneath hers in response, another breathy moan against her ear. The younger vampire was clearly enjoying herself. The sounds she made were enough to send a thrill through Mila who continued to ravage her without restraint. Lisette had even let Mila flip her onto her back without protest, although her body jerked uneasily at the mention of her vulnerable position.

“But you wouldn’t want to kill me now would you? I’m too cute.”

Mila stared down at her with lazy, half-lidded eyes, the hint of a smirk on her lips as she pretended to evaluate her claim. “Too cute? Mm, I don’t know about that.” She leaned down to graze the smooth skin of her neck with just the tips of her lower canines “Too salacious maybe..”

During the distraction with the maid, Mila felt Lisette slip out from underneath her and was surprised at her own reluctance to let her go. But rather than snatch her back into bed, the older vampire reclined against the pillows and watched her, the flicker of hunger still lingering in her gaze as she mentioned eating.

“Was I not enough darling? I’m offended!”

Mila suppressed a sarcastic smile, pretty unsuccessfully, at Lisette’s theatrics and made a non-committal sound. She was still feeling the afterglow of the bite and it seemed to soften her general attitude toward Lisette enough to find her exclamation somehow charming.

“No, not as satisfying as a human, I hate to break it to you,” she taunted, standing up from the bed and reaching for the clothes that Lisette had pulled off of her not too long ago. “But it seems like you enjoy it just as much as they do.” Her eyes flashed mischievously at her, just before they were hidden by the shirt she began pulling over her own head. The material fit flawlessly around her chest and torso, emphasizing all the right curves. “Just watch me with the human next door and you’ll see them make the same expression you made.”

In the hallway, Mila leaned casually against the opposite wall, arms crossed as Lisette knocked on the nearest door. She suddenly recalled memories of the two of them doing this same sort of thing in the past – preying on humans at their slightest whim, without any moral hang ups, all while mildly despising each others company. How easy it would be to fall back into that rhythm again and to let herself succumb to whatever sinister allure Lisette seemed to possess. She could go on with her like this for centuries, gradually sinking deeper into depravity until she became Lisette’s mirror image. The two of them could get away with anything. But just as that thought crossed her mind, she pictured Charlie’s delicate face blinking up at her, with those wide eyes and all their human sympathy. Then she imagined it twisting into an expression of pain as Booker sunk his fangs into her throat.

Mila shifted suddenly at the gruesome thought. A sense of despair was creeping over her as she tried to calculate how many hours it had been. Enough for him to bite her multiple times. Enough for him to kill her, although she knew he would drag it out. Long and painful and slow. That was his style. And what was she herself doing? Wasting time rolling around with Lisette, convincing herself it was purely to lull the other vampire into complacency when truthfully it wasn’t as selfless as she-…

“Could you come back later?”

In the blink of an eye, all those thoughts came to a screeching halt. Mila stood suddenly rooted to the spot as the sound of that sweet voice came softly from behind the hotel door. Her eyes shot up with mixture of shock and awe. She could not believe it.

“You have got to be kidding me...”

The grin on Lisette’s face as the younger vampire peered back at her made Mila’s stomach turn and suddenly everything felt wrong. She was on the wrong side of Lisette, too far from the door, not able to put herself between them before-… “Wait!!” CRACK The metal lock broke with a sickening noise, like bones breaking, as Lisette gave it a sharp twist. The door swung open and there was Charlie, scrambling to put distance between herself and the two monsters in the hallway. Mila’s metaphorical heart leapt to see her again. With speed and strength that spoke to her sudden frantic desire to shield her from Lisette, Mila instantly sprung forward, clipping the other vampire’s shoulder as she skirted past her and placed herself in between the line of fire.

“Charlie!” Her voice was breathless. “How did you-?? But how did-?”

She desperately wanted to turn and clutch Charile’s shoulders and ask her how on earth she had managed to get away from Booker, because already she could see that the girl was by herself. She wanted to examine the marks on her pale skin and know each and every bruise and scratch on her body so that she could inflict the same pain on Booker a thousand times over. If only she could have lifted her to the bed at that moment and made her go to sleep while she watched over her, until the circles under her eyes disappeared again. And above all, she wanted to kiss her cheek and stroke her hair and beg her to forgive her for the hell she’d been through, all because Mila had arbitrarily interfered with her life.

Unfortunately, she could do none of those things with Lisette standing in the doorway, looking like she’d just hit the ultimate jackpot. Mila stood facing the other vampire with a stony expression on her face. The playful taunts and innuendos from just a short while ago were completely forgotten and Lisette was nothing to her but a threat to be dealt with again.

“We’ll be leaving now. I’ll be taking Charlie with me,” she said coldly. She didn’t have a plan, but she knew they needed to get away from Lisette if they could. She had no idea if Booker was hot on the trail or not and she didn’t want to stick around to find out. “You don’t want to fight me,” Mila warned her, intentionally relaxing her stance, as if she had nothing to worry about. “It’s not two against one this time. And I’m not hungry like before.” She stared evenly at her with hard, unblinking eyes. “If you turn this into a fight, you know you’ll lose. You can’t overpower me.” Mila gestured dismissively at her. “Move away from the door.”

She felt the impact of Mila as the older vampire vaulted forward, sending an off-guard Lisette tumbling into the wall. The force would have killed any normal being, but only served to make Lisette snarl monstrously and look towards Mila with eyes flashing. The impact had popped her shoulder out of place, and it now dangled gruesomely at her side. “Watch it.” She warned, taking hold of her shoulder and gently pushing it back into place with only a glimmer of discomfort in her eyes. “You might hurt someone next time.”

Now, the older vampire stood there. Placed defensively in front of the pathetic human girl who now coward against the wall with fresh tears glistening in her eyes. The scene made Lisette sick. This child was weak, she was disposable. There was another 20 like her out there. And there was only one Lisette. Only one horrifically beautiful murderess who would live forever, leaving her bloody trail as she skipped along. So why was it that everyone was just so infatuated with the human named Charlie, when they had such a divine creature as herself right in front of them?

“Charlie!”

Lisette bared her teeth in response to Mila’s mournful cry. The human responded by staggering forward, as if to fall into the embrace of the monster who had gotten her into this position, and then falling back against the wall. Conflict caught in her sorrowful eyes as they darted between her could-be savior and Lisette. “How did you-?? But how did-?” With anger flashing in her eyes Lisette chuckled. “It’s impossible, Mila.” Despite the laugh, the words didn’t hold any of their sarcasm like before. It was more of a raw statement, spoken as if she couldn’t possibly be wrong. “This human couldn’t have possibly gotten away from Booker unless he wanted her to.” She bared her sharp canines at Charlie when the girl dared to inch slowly towards the door. As if she could make a run for it.

“He probably knows exactly where she is, wouldn’t be the first time any of us had played the cat chase mouse game, huh?”

“We’ll be leaving now. I’ll be taking Charlie with me,”

Mila had seemingly ignore Lisette’s remark all together and that made the younger vampire fume. “You can’t do that, Mila. You know that.” Her body unconsciously crouched, like a big cat ready to pounce on it’s prey. “She’s Bookers now. He took her from you fair and square, I mean you were the one who left her in the middle of the night, right?” Lisette grinned, not a scornfully delighted grin but something purely hateful. Her mask of innuendoes had dropped and all that was left was the monster. The monster who, once they had targeted what they wanted, stopped at absolutely nothing to get it.

“It’s not two against one this time. And I’m not hungry like before.”

Lisette bared her teeth again her eyes darting towards Charlie. “If you turn this into a fight, you know you’ll lose. You can’t overpower me.”

“You may be right, but you can’t protect Charlie and fight me at the same time, Mila. She’s a burden to you.” Her leering not-grin settled on Mila as she slowly advanced forward. “Were both good at this game, Mila, but there has to be a loser. Now let’s skip over the bloodshed and we can all go home in one piece. Whatta ya say?” It was really only a formality. Mila was stubborn, didn’t usually see reason in situations like so. But years from now, when they argued over this day, Lisette wanted to be able to say that she had at least tried to give Mila an out.

“Move away from the door.”

Char, who had been watching the scene in awed, terrified silence, took this moment of distraction to break for the door. In her one last ditch effort to escape she barreled past a defensive Mila and tried to dodge the terrifying creature who guarded the door. However her plan proved mute when she felt two python like arms wrap around her tight enough to suffocate. “Gotcha.” The sinister voice made the human girl shudder. “Your play now, Mila.”

Just as Mila was about make some sort of retort to Lisette’s demands, she felt the faintest brush against her shoulder. She had been so intently focused on anticipating a move from the other vampire that she’d been oblivious to Charlie’s sudden dash forward until it was too late. “No, wait-!” It was no use. Lisette had snatched up the girl as easily as anything and now held her tight in her grip.

“Charlie,” Mila weezed, her voice breaking. The girl’s attempted escape had caught her completely off-guard. Now she realized that Charlie must have considered both vampires an equal threat. She wasn’t relying on Mila to save her; perhaps she was just as afraid of her as she was of Lisette. Mila felt suddenly hopeless.

”Your play now, Mila.”

She looked from Charlie to Lisette, her mind racing to find some way out of this nightmarish situation. There had to be something, some way to stall Lisette so that she could at least have more time to think. She needed to avoid a physical fight. Mila knew that a fight with Lisette at that moment while they were both strong and well fed would be a bloodbath, with Charlie caught in the middle. There had to be another way out.

Appeal to her vanity. Lisette wasn’t physically weak, but Mila had known her long enough to find other chinks in her armor. She began formulating a desperate plan.

“My play…” Mila repeated, looking suddenly exhausted. “…my play.” She ran a hand slowly though her hair with a sigh. “No matter what I do, you’ll just turn it right back around on me. Just as you always do.” The older vampire had looked away but now she peered at Lisette with weary submission. It wasn’t difficult to play the part. After watching Charlie dash away from her for safety, she genuinely felt defeated. “I’d forgotten what it had been like to be with you, until tonight. Teasing each other, playing games, trying to get the best of you.” Mila took a hesitant step forward. “I was never as good at it as you were. As much as I hate to admit it, I could never seriously out-manipulate you.”

She was moving forward slowly now, her arms limp, her pose non-threatening. “We both know what could happen now. I could try some maneuver to free the girl, and maybe I’d be successful this time. But you’d be back on top again in no time. I just can’t beat you. Not in the long run.”

Mila was within arms reach now, but she still stood limply and kept her eyes all the time on Lisette’s. It was almost as if Charlie was invisible to her. “You keep asking me what I see in this human. I’m starting to question it myself. She’s so fragile. She can’t satisfy me. She’s practically used up already.” Mila reached out carefully to brush her fingertips along one of the arms that Lisette had wrapped around Charlie. “So different than you.”

She let her hand fall but continued gazing at her with steady, dark eyes. Her voice dropped lower. “You liked what I did to you, just a little while ago, didn’t you.” She ran the tip of her tongue along the underside of her lip and looked suddenly cheeky, as if the two of them shared a delightfully wicked secret. Whatever charm the older vampire possessed, it was turned fully toward Lisette now. “I could do it again, anytime you wanted. And now we have this one,” she jerked her head toward Charlie, “to temper our appetites whenever we please. Let’s take her with us, like one of Booker’s pets. Our own little snack and servant. That’s all I was using her for anyway. What can I say? I’m greedy and I want both of you.”

In a daring gesture, Mila leaned ever so slightly forward with the intent of kissing Lisette on the corner of her lip, with Charlie sandwiched between them.

“You liked what I did to you, just a little while ago, didn’t you.”

Lisette's face tightened and her eyes narrowed on Mila. She didn't answer, assessing the angle that the other woman was coming from suspiciously. However the flirtatious wink was enough to make her loosen just a bit as Mila advanced forward. “I could do it again, anytime you wanted. And now we have this one,” Lisette looked down at Charlie whose halfhearted squirms barely even caused the vampire to flex. “To temper our appetites whenever we please. Let’s take her with us, like one of Booker’s pets. Our own little snack and servant. That’s all I was using her for anyway. What can I say? I’m greedy and I want both of you.” The words haunted Lisette, sending a shiver through her already chilled body. "I know you are." Her voice was thick and her eyes hard as she stared at Mila, lust burning deep inside her irises. "You're a monster Mila, like me, destruction is in your blood." The two women, at this point, were inches apart, and would have been closer had there not been a third body between them. In a moment of thoughtless lust Lisette considered disregarding the girl and taking Mila into her arms. Yet her practical being didn't want to lose leverage, so she kept Charlie snuggled against her breasts and Mila leaned closer.

She felt the other woman's lips on the corner of her mouth. Tender and sweet and hesitant. Lisette let herself be kissed, still holding her captive in a tight embrace. "I'm glad you've come to your senses." She murmured against Mila's lips, ignoring the struggles of the human that suddenly became more desperate. "We would make quite the fearsome team. Imagine the carnage." Her voice was wistful as she thought of it. "And us, standing on our mound of dead. Powerful. We wouldn't have to hide anymore." Excitement flashed through Lisette's face as her lips churned into a fearful grin. "It would be just like the old days Mila, no more sulky in the shadows, picking up scraps in alleyways."

Lisette pressed her lips forcefully against Mila's, working her tongues between the older woman's lips to gently stroke her canines. "Imagine." she whispered.

Charlie felt sick.

She stared past Mila, whose body was pressed against hers, with her mouth agape. She could hardly believe the words that had just come out of the woman's mouth. That wasn't Mila, not at all. That was some alien creature so unlike the woman that Char knew. But you don't know her. Her subconscious reminded her, making the young, naive woman wince against the two stoney bodies keeping her captive. No, Charlie didn't know Mila. They were strangers... worse even Mila was a predator and Charlie her prey.

She could feel Mila’s hair brushing against her cheeks, the air came fast from her lungs as she felt Lisette’s body squish her closer into Mila as the two beautiful, exotic creatures connected. Her physical being felt this as tears started to roll from her lifeless blue eyes, down her Porcelain cheeks to drip onto Mila's shoulder. Once again Charlie bore the pain that came with trusting too much and falling too hard. It was like her chest had cracked open and her shredded heart was exposed for the world to see. And the feeling. The sinking, formidable feeling of loss and abandonment crept into her and embedded itself deep within her gut, speeding through her body like a virus and paralyzing her in that upright position.

"Stop." Her voice cracked. "Please stop. Please." Her breath came in little quips. "Just stop... just...." She broke down. Tears glistening her cheeks and chin, dripping like a waterfall of sadness pooling from her heart. "Kill me! C'mon! Just do it! Hysterical now she let her head lull forward to rest her forehead against Mila. The motion didn't seek comfort, it was more a motion of a person who knew that they had lost everything. "I'm dead anyways, so please just make it quick and painless." She struggled against Lisette's uncomfortable grip, defeatedly trying to remove herself from the steel cage. It was useless, or so she thought, until the vice like grip let loose and Charlie fell forward, through Mila, and onto the ground. A dull thud resounded as she landed on the carpeted floor, first to her hands and knees which quickly gave out so that she was curled in a ball, a puddle of tears already forming beside her. "Please kill me." Her face looked up at Mila, a pang of something in her chest as she begged the woman with her eyes. "If you ever felt anything at all."