Faline

Awhile later, I feel a bare body next to mine. I hide my expression, already knowing who it is. Leaving my head on my knees and just turning it, I see red whirling in the water at my feet. Nicolaus presses his naked hip against mine as he watches the bloody swirl.

Feeling my eyes on him, he looks down at me, his expression unreadable.

"I am sorry I left you alone like that. As soon as she had cornered me and tried to keep my attention, I knew something was wrong. I dragged her here, the Mistress having seen us, followed. She is quite taken with you by the way. She even forgives your messing up yet another room."

He smirks, my raised brows break his smirk into a smile.

"I'm proud of you. You handled yourself really well. Although I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, you've practiced enough on me and poor Anthony."

He chuckles and I join in with my own low laugh. Tilting my head up into the water.

"I have, haven't I? The best part? You guys heal so fast that I can keep practicing."

It was my turn to smirk, gold eyes lowering to find him watching the blood stream from the side of my body. His hand reaches forward to touch on the bruises that had formed and have yet to fade. A small frown pulls his mouth down. My breath hitches at the soft touch of his fingertips.

My body automatically pulls away from what's causing it pain. His orange eyes jump to mine as he lays his palm over the darkened smudges.

"Let me do this."

He whispers it to me, I'm not sure what he's wanting to do, but surely he wouldn't be asking if it was something nefarious, right? I incline my head slowly, uncertain. Moving to his knees beside me, he has me turn so my back is to him. I do so, a bit nervously.

Nicolaus nods in encouragement, eyeing the marks. Once fully turned, he presses my upper body forward. Leaning over, stretching my back, small whimpers escape me. He stops pushing when I'm almost folded in half, so I cross my legs to make it less uncomfortable.

Confused on what he's doing, I jump at the feel of a soft tongue. My eyes close as things low in my belly clench, that small telltale burn of arousal. This is not going to end well. I try sitting back up, but his hand remains firm, holding me in place.

His tongue feels almost hot compared to the cool water as he swirls it lazily. Reaching low, a sensual heat moves over my spine. I feel so confused, unsure of what I should be doing. Knowing I should be fighting to get away, but at the same time not wanting to.

He moves closer, hot tongue pressing deeper into tender muscles. It feels really good, yet so bad. Feeling like I'm betraying both myself and my sister. One hand is firm against my upper spine, the others' fingertips tickle across my skin in small caresses.

The near-constant clenching in the center of my body causes it to weep. I feel ashamed yet thrilled. My eyes fill with tears as I become unsure of myself. The shivering from the adrenaline had stopped, but it starts up again.

His ministrations ease sore muscles, heal the bruises, and fill me with confusion. This goes on for another five or so minutes, then the hand holding me down slips up to my shoulder, carefully pulling me into an upright position. Fingertips had been roaming around my back, causing shivers and goosebumps. Deftly running them over the sides of my breasts as they roamed, which in doing so had caused my nipples to tighten, bringing both pleasure and fear.

Moving so I can clench my thighs tight together, I look everywhere but at him, standing at the first chance I get. Nicolaus also stands, if a bit slower than I had. Deciding I've been in the water long enough, I hurry out. Snatching up a towel and wrapping myself in it, the thought of a child hiding under her blankets flashes through my head.

He comes out leisurely after turning off the water. Beads of moisture fall over the soft contours of his belly, leading lower. Raising an arm and running fingers through his wet hair, the muscles in his arm and chest clench. My eyes snap away from the mirrors where I'd been watching his reflection.

The Vampire's eyes had been closed, but by the expression on his face, my guess is he saw me ogling him. So caught up in berating myself, I fail to notice him walk up behind me. He presses close, his face tucking into my neck. I close my eyes, fists clenching at my sides.

Hands touch onto my shoulders, then slide down each arm to my own. Deft fingers open mine just to twine his in them. My breathing picks up, as does my heart. Soft kisses are placed in the hollow of my throat as he has our arms wrap around my middle.

"Nicolaus..."

My voice is low, strained. Body wanting something that it shouldn't. With the way our limbs are, they hold my towel on, he, however, does not have one. His hard frame nudges me forward, closer to the sinks. Once pressed firmly into the counter, I can really feel just how hard his body is.

"I can't..."

I don't sound very convincing, even to my own ears. My hands squeeze his tight as he rubs lips up my neck, playing his fangs over the thick vein that lay underneath. A sharp intake of breath seems to urge him on. Keeping my eyes closed tightly as his tongue makes a foray up and behind my ear, I'm at a loss for what to do.

Nicolaus leans into me, bending me damn near over the sink, fear really starts to kick in now as our arms stretch towards the mirrors in front of us. His soft kisses have moved to the back of my neck under my hair. So not fair. My breath hitches, body pulsing in heat while his tongue swirls circles at my nape.

"Nicolaus, there are a few things that need your attention right now. We have a small problem."

Saved by his dog, who would have guessed.

Nicolaus sighs, his forehead laying at the top of my spine. His hand's release mine slowly, which go right to my towel and hold it as I inch out from under him. The shimmying would have been funny if it weren't me doing it.

He stands upright regretfully, judging by his face, which then starts rolling into agitation. I take a couple of steps away, holding on religiously to my towel. Orange eyes follow me, he actually reaches for me when Anthony clears his throat. My eyes fly to the Werewolf.

He's not spitting hatred at me, but he's not happy either. Wonder if my whole performance earlier earned me some respect.

Nah.

The naked man's reaching stops, dragging in a deep breath before he turns and heads out. I let out my own rush of air when they leave the room. The door in the bedroom sounds twice then quiet. Not like I have any clothes that I need to get to, so I keep the towel as I walk out. So much for being able to leave and explore, I don't dare to now. The female Vamp had actually sent someone after me.

I snort aloud. Not like it got her very far. I startle hard when I see someone by the door, but calm instantly when I see who it is. Did they really think leaving her with me was going to keep anyone else away? What's a submissive supposed to do? Bleed for me? Just gives me someone I have to protect.

The girl is sitting in the normal pose for the 'slaves'. My heart still clenches at that word. Head down and everything, black hair is pulled back, loincloth, and nipple clamps in place.

"You can relax, Avina, please. I would call us friends and friends aren't subservient to each other."

Actually, they probably are in her world, but not in mine. Even if I have to make my own, dammit. She looks up, a smile lifting her lips.

"I'm glad you're alright. The last time I had seen you, you were pretty...rough. I was frightened for you, but there was nothing I could do."

She slips me a secret sly smile as she leans forward.

"I saw what you did to Max's face, many of the female servants have, and they privately rejoice. He's known to be really rough and cruel with the women he takes to his bed. No one here mourns for him, except maybe that lady Vampire."

I nod, my lips set in grim lines.

"Yeah, he said as much that she'd sent him. Said that she was keeping Nicolaus from getting to me to 'save' me."

I snort, the words he had used still putting a bad taste in my mouth.

"I can take care of myself. Mostly. I've been practicing on both a Vampire and a Werewolf. I'm getting better all the time."

My bravado can only take me so far though, and that had been close. Looking into Avina's hazel eyes, they fairly sparkle at me.

"You practice on them? And they let you?"

I shrug and look off to the side.

"I never asked, so I wouldn't go so far as to them 'letting' me. I've made both bleed heavily though. Anthony more so lately. Ever since I was changed I feel stronger, more empowered, more able to protect myself, and not be a victim. I take advantage whenever I can. Nicolaus did teach me a bit about being a cat while in that form. Hard to do much when you can't speak."

I stop talking when she looks confused, her ivory skin having shadows play over it. Those are some pretty hearty candles.

"You don't have a mental bond with your Maker? I thought that's what was going on before was him doing some kind of punishment. I should have known he wasn't though by his face. He looked worried, almost scared."

My eyes widen at that. Scared? Nicolaus? She must have read his face wrong. Worried I can understand, not over me but what had been causing it.

"I doubt he was scared, he and I don't have that kind of relationship. Mental bond? What do you mean?"

I have an idea of what she's talking about, since it would seem my sister and I have one. Was I supposed to have one with the Vamp? I shiver lightly. He and I are on thin ice as it is, being in each other's minds would make things even worse. I'd never get any peace.

"It appeared like you were being attacked, so I just assumed. The mental bond that all Vampires share with their Makers? You should be able to talk to each other that way. That you don't is really strange."

"Is this mental bond just the ability to talk to each other or is there more to it?"

Having telepathy could be handy at some point I'm sure, but if it just works with one person then not so much. Reading minds would really be great. Her motion catches my attention from my daydreaming, shifting on her knees and looking uncomfortable talking about it.

I climb onto the middle of the bed and pat next to me for her to join me. She looks shocked, getting up slowly before she joins me. She's really gonna have to stop being so weird about my being civil. Her bird-like limbs make me nervous that she'll break, even if I barely touch her.

She sits next to me tentatively, sitting being on her knees as she sits everywhere else. I shake my head, getting more comfortable. Crossing my legs in front of me, the towel's big enough to give me the room to do so. I could wrap the darn thing around me at least twice and still have room.

"I don't know too much about it, all I've heard is that you're to have one with him once he changes you. Every person turned has different abilities, aside from the strength and senses you get almost immediately. It's said that the reason the blood exchanges are so painful is because the blood is already changing one's insides."

I nod encouragingly, kinda already knew that from personal experience, thanks. She might tell me a bit more about being undead than Nicolaus will. He's determined to make me dependent on him for everything.

The whole different abilities part, do I have any? My memory flashes on when I first woke here, the broken chain, and a shocked Nicolaus.

"I don't really know much else, I'm sorry. The patrons coming here aren't exactly looking for conversation."

Well, so much for learning anything more. Can't blame her though, I don't see the people coming here wanting to talk either. My fingers comb through my hair, getting it tamed as best I can, though not sure why I'm bothering. Won't be staying human for much longer, not safe to.

"Do you know that woman's name? She's awful, smells worse than a French whore."

Granted I don't know what a French whore smells like, but anything is better than that cloying shit.

"I do not, I've only seen her a few times since you guys showed up, actually. Don't recall seeing her before that. I've seen her walking around with Max, they're usually pawing at each other in the hallways. I'm not sure what bloodlines they come from either, I haven't seen them shift at all. I think she wears her scents like that to hide her own yet call attention to her looks."

As daft as that sounds, it actually sounds legit and has me nodding.

Eyes keep going to her neck. I don't know when the last time I fed was, my mind starts to wander to how her blood had tasted last time, and she looks over at me as if sensing a predator stalking her. Not seeming to mind at all, she cocks her head, her eyes staying on mine. I blush and try to look away, but I can smell the sweetness. It makes my mouth water. Clenching my hands into fists, I make myself look away.

"It's okay, I freely offer. You said we were friends, right? I trust you. I've fed you before, you asked me if you could again, and I'd said yes."

Don't understand why she trusts me when I'm not sure I trust myself. I have to tell myself that I should feed now while I can so I'll be strong if need be. Planning ahead is a good thing, right? I reach for her, and she comes willingly.