Faline

Her voice seems to be steadily dropping in pitch, getting more and more husky. According to Orion, it had been about exposure. Nicolaus killing girls and leaving them out or something. I play ignorant though, just in case she doesn't know that the lion has talked to me about important stuff.

"Well I doubt it was from what he did to my sister and I, so why don't you enlighten me?"

I thought the reason she pulled back was that she was surprised or something, but no. I'm not so lucky. Instead, a wet line gets trailed from my ear down to my neck, her tongue raising even more gooseflesh.

"Why don't you tell me what he did to you and your sister first? Then I'll let you know if it was or not."

Unable to keep from growling in frustration, trying to pull away doesn't help as the hand at my belly splays wide while the one at my neck grips harder. Might not need oxygen, but bones still hurt when threatened to be crushed.

Soon as I stop my movements, her hand loosens. No urge or need to cough arises, so I sigh instead, turning my head away from her as I begin.

"I'm not even sure how long ago it was. I went from walking with my sister to a prisoner in what I think was an underground room, then waking here. Still a prisoner. If three blood exchanges need three days to complete, then I was in that hole for at least three days being tortured, degraded, forced to participate in acts I wanted nothing to do with or even knew existed, and fed only blood."

The thoughts of those days bring up my anger all over again, the understanding I felt towards Nicolaus earlier being totally washed away in a flood of hate as I once more live through it all. Doubt this woman even cares or is against anything he's done, since so far she seems to be just as sick as he is, enjoying the same things he put me through.

"While I was being dragged away by Nicolaus, Anthony stayed with the orders to kill her as painfully as possible. The last image I have of her is being taken to the ground by a shifting monster-dog. I had the delightful pleasure of seeing Anthony return bloodied with a broken face and ruined dick though. She's the reason Anthony only has one eye and scars covering his groin."

Her lips move back from being pressed against the thin skin of my throat.

"Your sister made those scars? I asked how he got them when he was entertaining me, but he wouldn't say. Now I know why. He was bested by a human."

I can hear the laughter in her voice, glad she is tickled pink by the misfortunes of my life. Guess someone should be.

"After he returned he was sent out again with new orders to bring her back so Nicolaus and I could bathe in her blood while fucking."

Those remembered words make my heart pound, my breathing becoming short pants. All thoughts of the pleasure she was trying to create totally gone as I go through it all in my head, keeping my eyes closed.

"When he returned he said she was gone. She had made it back to the house, leaving a heavy blood trail, getting just inside the house where he said it looked like she collapsed, a pool of blood showing she was there, but her body was gone. The next three days I spent much of my time chained to a bed much like the ones you have here."

The memories of times where I had to beg or perform some act or another just to be able to go to the bathroom has my hands clenching so hard at my sides that blood trickles from my fists. One time in defiance I had pissed right next to his bed. That didn't end well and had me never doing it again.

"I was turned there and woke up here after being knocked out from behind by that stupid dog. Having drained an innocent man and sharing his memories of a wife and two daughters. I think then was the first time I 'shared someone's mind', as you called it. The way I went after and attacked Nicolaus with a state of mind I didn't have again till I went after you."

Her roaming lower hand stops right above my dead and useless uterus. Breath ceases with her lips pressed against the back of my neck, her body becoming stiff against mine. I press on, not wanting to have to go through it all over again.

"I literally wanted to eat his heart out, so I ripped into him with that very intent, ripping a chunk of his flesh out while he was giving me the last exchange. I don't recall everything clearly with the bloodlust riding me so hard, and there was so much blood. His collarbone, I snapped it with my teeth, tried pulling it out. I had claws."

My eyes clench shut as I try to remember everything... The claws. Were they claws or my nails? Everything from that point in time is so fuzzy and filled with red. The heat images I had seen when I first went cat, it isn't like that now. I have perfect vision in both forms, more so even.

"I slashed at him, connecting with his belly. Bit hard into his neck, shredding skin that turned into an outpouring of blood."

Going to shake my head then recalling I can't, her hand tightens just as I start. Locking my eyes on her chair as I continue, her lower hand is still splayed over my pubis bone, not even registering to my brain as I'm caught in the past.

"I was hit from behind, finally able to escape to darkness. Before my mind shut off I heard him tell his dog to get a neck chain. Then I woke up here, being told I broke it even though I don't remember doing so. When I was left alone I learned to change to cat form, from then on I stayed in that form till I met Avina."

I pause to judge reaction, but there is none aside from the continual feathering of her mouth against my skin.

"You probably know everything on from that point. I found out a few days ago that Nicolaus has been sending people to kill my very alive sister. You see, each time I had an 'episode', I was sharing an experience with her. The one that resulted in a brain bleed was from going through her rape with her. The second she was in a fight and killed a Vampire."

Her lower hand freezes and stiffens as she cups me, her whole body once again going rigid before she lets go and pulls away from me altogether. I feel like jumping for joy, but I contain myself.

"It was at that time that you had mentioned a name. I saw his reaction to it, as well as heard yours through the door after it had been closed. That is why you had the reaction you did at that point."

Not sure what reaction she's referring to, so I just watch her as she paces back and forth in front of her desk. Taking the steps before I pull myself onto it, my legs cross and I sit there to watch her. Not like I need to hide my nudity or worry about getting her desk wet.

"I should probably tell you, Vampires are strong, but we do not break bones by biting them. Not in human form at least. We have the capacity to, it just isn't done."

Nodding, I flick invisible particles off my knee.

"I figured as much, and I guess I should probably tell you, the rage I went after you with was not wholly mine. Most of it was hers. I wasn't sharing her mind at that point though, so it hadn't all been intentional. You pissed me off, yes, but I don't think I would have attacked if I had been in my right mind. Guessing that's where the claws came from the first time I attacked Nicolaus."

She nods, picking up her pacing again from having stopped and looked at me. Talking as she goes back and forth, her hands constantly moving as well.

"Actually, the claws may be yours. It's a Vampire ability for some of us. Not everyone has it, but it isn't rare."

With that she turns to me, holding out her hands that are tipped in long, pale, curved claws. Much like that of a cat. I look down at my hands, brows drawing together.

"It hasn't happened since then though, I'd forgotten all about them till telling you here now."

She shrugs, the claws retreating back into her fingers, pacing one more circuit before stopping in front of the windows, relatively close to me. Memory nags at me then, I'd had them again recently, in that fight I'd had claws and had used them to slash Nicolaus up with.

"To answer your earlier question, they are wanted for threatening the secrecy of our world. Nicolaus's favorite way to play with his food is to find them online, make friends, then lure them out. He'd grow tired of them rather quickly, kill them, then leave them out to be found. We'd know they were his kills by the scars they would be covered in. If they were allowed to live long enough to scar, that is."

She turns to look at me, dual-colored eyes unfocused as her brain works fast.

"I'm guessing that is how he acquired you. Even if he hadn't been the one to bring you here, you would be known just from your skin. Curious he didn't kill you though. Do you know why?"

Sighing, I nod my head. Sadly, I do know...sort of.

"One of the times he had been tormenting me, he mentioned that others would beg for his attentions and bite, so they 'had to go'. I wasn't one of those. My fighting back only seemed to make him come at me more. If I had known how to get it to stop, I probably would have acted like I wanted him. There were many times I wished for death."

Know she won't care about that part, I just wanted to say it out loud. To taste the words. My eyes have roamed over to the shelves full of art and junk, it reminds me of the painting and what Avina had said when the Lady had returned with it.

"What made you buy her painting? I'm sure you've figured out by now that it represents me and her."

Out of the corner of my eye I can see her follow my gaze, a smirk crossing her lips.

"I had figured that out, yes, once you said that Anthony had gone for her and survived it. Curious, how long ago did she paint it?"

She seems to be avoiding part of the question but she does have a habit of circling back in her conversations. Kind of confusing. Well, not kind of, it flat out is.

"Around three years ago, back when we knew nothing of this world. We both were given a crash course it seems, and to be honest, even with all the times I had wished for Vampires to be real, I wish we could return to our relatively boring lives. I'm not thrilled with this new reality."

The woman chuckles as she comes closer to me. Her first step drawing my attention immediately towards danger. The leather she's wearing must be well broken in, for it makes no noise as she moves, not even the thigh-high boots.

Low heel, but still, no creaks, no crinkling sound. Her corset is so black the stitched in designs are almost invisible. Granted the stitches are black as well. There's a smaller bust hidden underneath it, yet still looking filled out without appearing ridiculous.

Female Vamp scent tickles my nose as she prowls closer. I've noticed all Vampires have a 'dry' odor about them, almost like a stuffiness yet not. Not very strong, it's subtle. They also smell of blood, usually from someone they'd fed on.

Like most times, I can't exactly 'smell' myself. My brain has grown accustomed to my new natural scent that I never notice it. Aside from the typical perfumes, dirt, and swe...sweat? Yes, I have smelled Vampire sweat.

Just like male Vampires need blood in order to get a stiffy, the moisture from it enables one to sweat. Not entirely sure about females yet, but it seems to be the case as well. One would assume so anyway.

Right now, the 'Mistress' smells of that subtle dryness, faint blood, some kind of cologne, and soap. The cologne is a faded smell though, as if it were put on many hours ago. The soap smells more recent than it, so it may even be cast-off from someone else who wore too much.

Even the leather, while having no sound, does have faint wafts of sweat. Her eyes are dark as she looks at me, smirk still in place as she comes to stand right in front of me. With the height of the desk, I'm closer to eye level with her. Instead of being half a foot or so taller, she's now only a few inches.

"As for your question of why I bought it, I enjoy the look of it."

For some reason I think there's more to it than that, but she's not telling me. Fine.

"Soft spot for wolves? You don't seem the type."