Faline

I jerk awake, heart pounding hard and furious, flying out of the spot I'm in and stumbling away. My feet catch on something, causing me to fall. The jolt of landing and a cold hand on my face break me from the dream that doesn't want to let go.

Don't think I like this whole Vampires being able to dream crap.

My eyes finally clear enough to see that it's Lady holding me. I clutch at her arm so hard I'm leaving nail impressions. Noticing, I let go immediately, trying to pull away, knowing I'm tempting fate each time I go to her.

The fuzzy recollection that he probably already knows, has an image flashing into my brain of his nose buried in the bed next to me, confusion on his features. My breathing and heartbeat still don't want to calm when she won't let me go.

"He knows...he knows."

That's all I can say, over and over.

Then my head flies back as the dream that wouldn't let me go plays throughout my brain once again. Keening aloud as I watch the events unfold again.

Well, sort of. It doesn't play out like a movie or anything, but it does have that urgency and fear flowing through me of something happening. Or going to happen rather.

Blood, always blood. My sister's drowning in it while all I can do is watch. Not in a pool of it, but as if that's what her lungs are full of. Nicolaus is on his knees next to me, also covered in it. The meat and bone over his heart ripped away to show the barely beating organ itself is what's bleeding.

The blood of each one stains my hands as I see a wolf dead or dying. No distinguishable marks or color, no features to see as it's faced away from me. Its body is mangled and shredded, the feeling of sadness mixes with triumph, dread and fear with elation and love.

I feel a scream rising in my throat as I thrash against the woman holding me, all I can smell is blood, the essence of life draining through my fingers. Knowing that to fix it, can very well break it just as easily.

"You're safe my Pet, open your eyes. You're falling fast into your fear, if you don't come back now, you never will."

Becoming aware of my frame straining tight, a keening steadily coming from my throat, I'm able to make it stop, but it's replaced with groans. My heart is beating so fast and hard that my ribs hurt before my body suddenly goes limp, lingering images finally releasing me from their grip. Feeling the arms wrapped around me, the lap I'm cradled in, I pry my eyes open, vision doubled and waving causes me to shut them again and put a hand over them.

I just sit there while I work on slowing my heart. I still remember the dream, but it isn't in my face beating me with the emotions that go with it. Sensory overlay starts to make sense as I read what's around me while keeping my eyes closed.

Warm, nude skin enfolds me, my own just as bare but feeling cold. Can hear the crackles of flames, popping of wood as it expands and constricts. The smell of it helps to calm me even as the scent of the female Vampire holding me creates mixed feelings.

"You with me, Pet?"

"I really hate that nickname."

The sense of smiling lips are against my cheek. My voice comes out in that low pitch I now seem to have, everything within me finally getting to a manageable state that isn't overwhelming.

"I was honestly wondering there for a while if these 'episodes' of yours were a way to receive attention. Now that I've seen it myself, can feel the distress waves coming off of you, I know they are real."

I scowl and move my hand, opening my eyes slowly to glare up at her.

"I haven't done anything to get attention since I was a small child."

That produces a small smile from her as my hands rub over my eyes to relieve some of the pressure build-up feeling.

"I've come to see that. That's what makes you so alluring. Unlike those like Madaline or Max who have to peacock and preen to be the center of everyone's notice, you attempt to do the opposite. Content to stay in the back where there is more room to breathe and be yourself."

Not sure how to take that so I just ignore it. I once again try to pull away from her while trying to make sense of everything that has happened, but Lady stays wrapped around me like some kind of demonic monkey.

Giving up, I look up at her, not sure what to say or do. Her hand moves to brush hair out of my face while she looks over it. I wonder what she sees, unable to read her face since she has her stone mask on.

"Lady, he knows."

Dual-colored eyes fly to mine as her hand stills.

"Is that what happened?"

Shaking my head, I go over how to explain it, but then just start from the beginning when I was on her desk. Telling her everything but my dream. Her eyes gaze off as she pictures it or thinks over what I've said.

"I don't think he does know, or if he does he is ignoring it because he has not said anything. Even with his standoffish moods with everyone but you, he acted no different when he left your side a short time ago."

Her eyes slide back to me, a reprimand within their depths.

"Tell me the rest. I know you're afraid of him knowing, but that reaction when you awoke was not from your fear of him."

My eyes slide away, but not for long as she moves me back to face her. Sighing, I close my eyes and recall everything, repeating everything back to her before my eyes open to see her looking like she swallowed a frog.

I blink, never having seen her with this expression before. The woman schools it quickly, but it was seen. Pulling myself into a more upright position instead of on my back, my hand rises to her face, touching her cheek lightly.

"Do you know something?"

Of course she shakes her head, so I frown and try again to get up and move away. She lets me stand, only to pick me up and take me to the bed. I'd been on it when I woke and jumped, catching my foot in the blanket on the floor that led me to fall down the steps.

Takes a lot of grace to do that, you know.

Lady goes to her knees on the mattress, carrying me to the middle of it before letting me go. The whole 'letting go' part being relative considering how she has us sitting. I'm facing towards the end of the bed with my knees drawn up halfway, the Mistress is at my side, facing to the left with one leg over mine and the other underneath.

Laying back on her elbows and watching me as I grimace over our leg placements, this crazy woman is going to be the death of me.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare over at her. The smug expression she's wearing just makes me annoyed. Reading that, she raises an arched eyebrow. Her normal piercings are back, gold at her nipples and silver below.

Returning my eyes to her face, I blush at the heat written clearly there. My heart picks up all over again, but I temper it with the fact she's hiding something from me. I usually wouldn't care all that much, but this feels important.

"Why won't you tell me? I know you're lying."

Both brows now rise, her expression going to haughtiness. A queen towards a peasant. My fists clench in my frustration, anger starting to boil that I only seem to be a joke to her.

Hardening my tone, I pull my legs from hers. She clamps hers shut, but with me not caring of consequences, I push and kick her off.

"My life may not mean much to you, Ms. Lord of the Castle, but it does to me. You do not own me. If there's nothing you wish to say that's helpful, then I'm going to leave. I'm so tired of overbearing people trying to run my damn life."

With a last kick, I pull free and move away from her. Since she's allowing it, there's probably something that will keep me from leaving the room. Butt naked, I storm over to the door and sure enough find it locked. Of course.

"Let me go, Lady."

"No."

I scream against the door as I pound a fist into it, only striking the one time before I turn on her. Gold eyes flare as they meet her strange ones, defiance blazing with my fury.

"Let. Me. Go."

"No."

Taking angry steps toward her while fists ball at my sides, my hatred for this room grows as it becomes less like a refuge and more like a gilded cage.

A stone face looks back at me. If she won't let me go, then I'll make her want to be rid of me. I don't bother thinking it through as I launch myself at her, Vampire speed taking me over the floor and part of the bed. My lips pull back to bare teeth as I get closer. Body lying sideways across the bed, she watches me come at her. I recall that touching her like this can give me an instant death sentence, but better I fight wanting to live instead of withering in someone else's chains.

Her eyes are calm, which only angers me even more. Lady catches me rather easily, hands gripping my wrists, face to face on our knees in the middle of her bed, her own teeth are bared as she looks at me. Roaring my rage, I fight against her hold, snapping at her while trying to free my arms. Throwing my weight to the side and rolling, I manage to straddle her while my teeth close inches from her face. The grip she has on my wrists only lets me get so far before I'm either jerked back or thrust forward.

Something I'm just now realizing, since I'm face to face with one while fighting back, and actually aware of what I'm doing, is that both hers and my fangs are longer. Snapping at her the way I am is making a sharp click when my teeth connect.

Vampire fangs are longer than a humans canines, more pointed, but not overly noticeable unless the one with them is flashing them around purposefully. Able to hide them when you speak low, mouth barely moving, only getting exposed when one gives a smile. Which isn't too often from what I've observed. Bunch of moody sourpusses.

Right now, however, they are longer, thicker. Attack mode teeth? Weird. Her speed is much faster than mine, and she's way older. I end up on my belly, arms crossed behind me with her weight pressing me down.

Screaming again at my inability to get around her, my arms get pulled to an angle that's just a slight tug away from them both snapping like twigs. Her restraint from not having done it already is admirable, even by accident from my constant moving around and attempts to free myself.

When I hear a wet ripping sound, I stop. Close to tears in my frustration of not being able to even get near her, I stuff my face into the mattress and scream before letting my body go limp. Even my legs are tangled with hers to prevent kicking effectively. Blond and orange hair covers my face when my head is yanked back, a fistful of it gripped in her hand as she growls in my ear.

I growl right back, not at all impressed. Swear I'm going to shave it all off. Can't be pulled by anyone then. My body stiffens when I feel the scratch of her fangs, blood going cold.

"You really are no different from him, are you?"

"Whatever gave you the impression that I was?"

Screams fill my head in denial and hatred. I've been risking my life for this? Will I ever learn? The arm that had made the tearing sound is dropped at my side, my shoulder throbbing.

"Get it over with then so I can get the fuck away from you."

Her grip in my hair slackens as she retreats from my view, held arm snug to my back, it only needs a quick jerk before it's totally useless. Body stiff, preparing for the assault, I'm not disappointed as teeth sink into my throat. The bite of pain is felt before the endorphins get kicked into high gear, my eyes close as once again my body betrays me, inner walls clenching hard in a spasm.

Lady drinks deeply, pulling hard just to cause discomfort. I know that if I don't free myself from this hell soon, it will only get worse. My already cold body had been trying to heat up, but with a lack of blood, it can't do much. I can't remember when the last time I fed was, and she's draining me.

Seems she notices, since she finally stops after one last long pull, my body swimming in bliss as it descends into ice. My held arm gets released as she closes the punctures, the kiss over it makes me sick. The grip in my hair lowers my head to the bed slowly, calmly.

As soon as she gets off of me, I roll away, avoiding her outstretched hand, even manage to make it to the edge of the bed without getting molested again. Standing abruptly to get away only has me stumbling and almost falling from my balance being shot. Dizziness fights hard for control of my brain. I jerk away when I sense a hand coming towards me.

"Don't touch me. Should have known not to trust you. Can't trust a fucking Vampire."

My voice is low as I stagger to my knees, then roll away when I feel someone reaching for me again. Stumbling heart stutters at the movement, vision swimming. Closing my eyes as I stand, I have to rely on other senses to steady myself.

I get to my feet, even manage to stand for a minute before they buckle. My hunger becomes a raging beast within me as I land heavily on hands and knees, head throbbing as my teeth pierce my lip.

"When did you last feed?"

Snorting is my only reply since I don't have an answer. A heavy body falls onto my folded legs as I lean back, gold eyes opening to see that my usually pale skin is now a sheet white. Imagine that.

Through the red cloud of hunger beating in my brain, I start laughing. If I were to slit my wrists right now, barely anything would come out. Fangs are so long they're poking out of my mouth even with it closed.

So this is what it feels like for a Vampire to be starved and bled dry. I laugh again while my eyes fall on the Mistress of the house as she just stands there looking at me in surprise. Bet that's a new one for her face, too. Sluggishly, I raise a hand and salute her with a mocking grin.

"Good luck explaining to Nicolaus that you just killed his last link to reality. You'll finally get your confrontation with him."