Faline

I go back to my counter and clean up all the scraps that didn't get used. Trying to turn my mood around, I go for making desserts where several more hours are spent making cakes and pies. My attempt at making jalapeno cheesecake ice cream becomes an epic fail. I had only made it once before and it was surprisingly good when I could taste test it.

Not even thinking, I had stuck a pepper in my mouth. Not only did I do some horrible gagging, but my mouth was on fire. I used to be able to handle them with no problem, not finding them hot. But my taste buds have been majorly altered.

I'm doing a mixture of tearing up, laughing, and trying not to vomit. A few of the servants are looking on in horror and fear, not knowing what to do. I try to calm them, but I don't think it's working. Not even an ice cube on my tongue helps, I just make myself look more a fool.

Getting tired of having my tongue hanging out and having several people trying to hide laughing at me, I motion Avina over, who's also hiding behind her hand. Tapping at her neck since I can't really talk, she smiles and tilts her head. To my relief, the first rush of blood soothes my poor burned tongue, one more pull has it gone completely.

Oh, sweet relief.

Licking over the holes, I pull away and start laughing some more, unable to stop as I bend over and lean against one of the fridge doors. Hands on my knees, I try closing my mouth tight, but that doesn't work at all, lips bursting forward as a gasp of laughing air flies from me.

"What is going on here?"

The familiar voice comes from a woman, and now that I listen, it had gone really quiet. Lifting my head with the back of one hand pressed to my mouth and the other to my gut, I look over at the Mistress of the house, who's standing next to the counter I'd been using. Her expression has me bending down again and trying not to pass out.

Laughing so hard that I lose my legs and fall forward to my knees, I lean back and raise my eyes to the ceiling, hands waving at my eyes. The urge slowly fades, but I keep from looking at her till it's all gone. Laughing in her face probably isn't a very good idea.

Once finally under control, I look over to her as she looks at me with a raised brow. I have to bite my tongue as I smile, a giggle escaping me. Taking a deep breath, I try to answer her coherently.

"I had an accident with a pepper."

I burst out laughing again, Avina stands off to one side, unsure if she's wanting to join me or look afraid. All the people who had been around me have either left or are on their knees. That sobers me better than trying to hold it in.

Clearing my throat, I raise my head back up and work on standing. That's easy enough. Talking my way out of this, on the other hand, may prove to be a bit more difficult since I now see Nicolaus standing a few feet behind her. Shit.

"It really was nothing, just a new experience from being in an altered state of being."

She cocks her head, looking at me curiously. Her dual-colored eyes are really pretty when you really pay attention. One's a deep, dark green, while the other's an ice blue. Short black hair is shaved on her left side, yet both sides show streaks of red.

The woman's skin is really pale, and I think she's darkened her face a bit. Features very androgynous, leading to very much the same in clothing. Black jeans, boots, and a suit jacket cover her otherwise naked top, judging by the nude strip of pale skin down the middle.

My eyes flick to Nicolaus behind her as he moves up. She raises her hand, causing him to stop, but he doesn't look too happy about having to do so. The Lady of the house eyes my current wardrobe with a look of amusement.

I'm covered in all sorts of things from wiping my hands on the cloth covering me. It's what the darn thing is made for, so what the hell. She moves the hand she had told him to halt with to tell me to spin around.

My face hardens, but I do so. Keeping my back to her for a minute before I turn around to face the room, my arms crossing over my chest. A smile alights her face as she looks over me, a finely arched brow raising.

"Your Kitten is quite amusing, Nicolaus. At least this time she wasn't redecorating one of my rooms with bodily fluids."

I have to bite my lip before becoming too smug at that. I know my eyes are dancing as I look over her shoulder, his orange orbs are glittering at me so I raise my chin in defiance. My gaze returns to the lead Vampire as she looks over the mess I have yet to clean up when the incident happened.

"I plan on cleaning up, don't worry. Something just...came up before I could."

I feel my face going into a smirk.

"Apparently jalapenos don't like Vampire tongues, but good news! I have found out blood soothes the burn. I don't recommend the ice cubes, they just make it worse."

My eyes go to the ice container on my table with a scowl as if blaming them for not doing their job. She surprises everyone by chuckling, I just smile with her.

"My slaves tell me that you've been causing quite the commotion in here, giving them tips on how to eat since they are food."

I scowl at her choice of words, catching Nicolaus' shaking head to warn me to shut up. Yeah... I don't listen.

"If you're going to be using those that you actually depend on for sustenance, then they need to be taken care of. Blood doesn't suddenly appear back in the body, it takes time. Time and a decent meal as well as movement."

I gesture an arm out over the crouching people around us.

"They've told me they're happy here, and that's all well and dandy, but they need a bit more than just happiness. You give them a home, great. You give them safety, awesome. But they are all skin and bone. They have access to food, yes, but you have no one who seems to know how to really make good meals. A cow needs more than just grass if you're wanting decent milk."

Not sure if that's the right metaphor I'm going for, but it works. From the look on her face, I don't know if I went overboard or not. Nicolaus tries to speak up, but he's silenced once more, which is just going to suck for me later.

"You are right. So while you are here, you shall teach them. That will be my price for continued sanctuary, as well as payment from the destruction of my rooms. If anything is needed, just tell Avina, she knows what to do."

I nod as she turns and leaves, but I call out for her to wait and she actually stops and turns, expression unreadable.

"Several hours ago, a Vamp was sidetracked by one of yours to keep him away from me. She did it of her own will. I wish to know she's alright since she never returned."

Dual eyes slip over to Avina, who goes to her immediately and confirms, explaining all that happened. The Lady's brows draw together for a moment, then she whispers something to Avina and leaves. Taking my eyes from them, I turn to Nicolaus, who's walked right up and hovering over me.

"I don't know what you're being so pissy about, everything is fine, and as you can see I didn't run away."

My bravado in his face in front of so many others probably isn't a good idea, so I wait for the hit. Even prepared though, I still flinch when his hand comes up and knuckles brush down my cheek. I'm sure my face shows surprise as I look up at him, his tangerine-colored eyes still blaze at me however, so something is coming, just not right now.

Great. Try to do some good and you get punished for it. Well fuck that, he wants to go toe to toe, then bring it on. I may get beaten down, but I will come right back up swinging.

The time here in the kitchen helped me get my head in a good place, a refill to my tank. Looking back at him defiantly, his brow rises as he walks me back against the fridge. My hands go flat against the door as I'm pressed into it by his body.

"I haven't seen that look on you in a while, it's not going to cause problems, is it?"

So he does recognize it, good. I just give him a sardonic grin, his return look of amusement not boding well for me. Oh well. I direct my gaze to the painting, drawing strength from it before I turn back to him.

"If you don't mind, it appears I have a job to do, and you're in my way."

My grin returns as he looks irritated, slit eyes narrowing at me. I bite my lip and look away. Should really try to not rile him, but I can't help myself, I'm a glutton for punishment it seems. His hand goes around my neck as he leans into me, breathing warm air next to my ear as he whispers.

"Remember who you belong to, dear Faline. It would be a shame if someone were to get hurt because you forget your place."

My ire spikes, a growl rising in my throat, vibrating against his hand as it steadily tightens.

"I belong to myself, and my place is wherever I make it. Your dog may bow and scrape at your feet, but I won't. If you wanted someone who wants to belong to you, you should have chosen someone else. Remember Nicolaus, I've been sharpening my claws lately and I'm no longer afraid to fight. Push me, and you'll regret it."

His hand squeezes around my neck. It hurts, but it's not like I need to breathe, it's just a human habit that won't die. He stayed pressed to me even when I whispered back.

Slit eyes blaze at me as he pulls back, baring his teeth when he sees no fear on my face. He thrusts his body hard into mine as he strikes. Teeth sinking deep into the vein, ripping a small sound from me.

To my shame, the sound isn't from pain. Now I know why Nicolaus rarely ever pulled away whenever I bit him. The time I tried killing him aside, he'd always pull me closer. A Vampire biting into another is highly pleasurable. Call it endorphins or pheromones, either way, it's very erotic.

The tiny gasp coming from me is one of pleasure. My hands had gone to his chest when he thrust forward, he's wearing a shirt surprisingly. His body is very happy to be pressed into mine, my hands slide up a hard chest to tangle into dark hair. The hand that had been at my throat now grips my rear end. My small gasp turns into harder breathing as my body burns, weeping low, and scenting the air.

The mouth drawing from me seems to return liquid desire as it flows through me. Greedy hands pull at his hair as low keens come from me, not wanting to but needing to pull him away. Self-preservation finally kicks in, which is helped along by the sound of a clearing throat.

Amazingly, considering the circumstances, my legs have stayed down, feet firmly on the floor. Sort of. I'm being pulled up into his body, so I'm more on tiptoe than flat-footed. My eyes open, but I can't see anything from this angle.

Nicolaus growls, the vibrations doing to me what sitting on washing machines does for other females. Another rush wets my thighs, that more than anything else right now really gets my attention. Making a cry of denial, I push him away.

I don't get very far, seeing as how my ass is in his hands and his fangs are still planted deep. He starts pulling back though, my neck throbbing where I'm sure I'll have one hell of a hickey if his saliva doesn't heal it instantly. My heart pounds against his chest.

After laving his tongue across the pinpricks, he kisses the spot. Expecting it to be Anthony, once I see who it is, I wish it had been. My body stiffens, all happy feelings gone instantly. It's my reaction that makes Nicolaus stiffen as well.