Faline

The laugh falling from my lips sounds thin as my strength fades, heart stopping for several moments before it beats again.

"What happens to a Vampire's body when they die?"

My voice is so low even I can barely hear it. The woman is gone when I look up. Go figure. My hunger rages at me to find sustenance, but even if I did, I don't think I'd have the strength to feed from them.

The only reason my body is staying upright is because of the way I'm slumped, my center of gravity aligned. Not very comfortable, but I guess dying isn't supposed to be. Never thought I'd go out this way though.

The only thing I can hear is the meaty thump of the remaining blood trying to be circulated, so I don't hear who comes into the room. Too much work to open my eyes, can't even be bothered to pull in air for scent. I remember hearing once that death is quiet, whoever said that needs to be shot.

It isn't quiet. Your heartbeat thunders through your brain, making your eardrums rattle as if someone is blaring bass in your ear. What's death called when you're already dead? Do Vampires make the grim reaper feel cheated?

Sweet copper gets poured over my tongue to fall down my throat, the roar of hunger picks up to be just as loud in my head. I don't know where it's coming from, but it hits my system like a fireball.

The blood actually hurts as it pushes through my system, reopening collapsed veins and arteries, filling tissues. I can feel my brows draw together, but that's it before more hot fluid is forced through. It feels a lot like liquid fire getting pushed through my body. I really need to stop doing this whole dying thing, each time it feels worse when I come back.

I don't understand what's going on, don't feel as if I have control over my own starving body. More and more energy-filled blood gets moved past my throat, the taste on my tongue reminds me of skin and sweat. My fangs are digging into something, the warmth of it draws me more and more. I'm so cold and it promises to warm me. The rush of sweetness makes my Vampire insides dance as they soak it all in.

Gold eyes snap open as I come to myself, a scream welling up as I pull away from the warm neck beneath me. The racing images going through my head are all mixed up and confusing as my brain tries to read several different lines. The gush of blood draws me back to close it. I don't know who it is that I'm wrapped around, but I release them immediately.

A male falls back. We're already on the floor so it's not like he has far to go, and I manage to get a hand under his head before it hits, whispering over and over that I'm sorry as I check him for life. His heart is beating, a strong heart. It skips a few times, then evens out. Eyes are closed so I take the time to pull back and see who he is. A small cry comes from me when I see Maii in my arms.

I fed on a child, an innocent.

Laying my hand over his chest as I press my forehead to his, I tell him how sorry I am while feeling for his pulse. It's going steady now, sure, but it could very well have gone very bad. Throwing my head back with teeth bared, I look for who gave him to me to feed on when I could have easily killed him. The healer, two other submissives, and Kerry back away quickly. Upon seeing them, I stop, looking at them in confusion.

"Why?"

I recognize one submissive as the WereBobcat, Joey, from the kitchen crew. The other is also from the crew, one of the female Werewolves, Salem. Each looks pale and a little drawn, both have been drunk heavily from. My eyes widen as a whispered 'no' comes from under my breath. I look to Kerry, who's moved closer.

"Why?"

"Don't worry, we all volunteered freely."

I look back down to the boy in my arms, angry all over again. Head shakes hard as I clench my eyes shut.

"I could have killed all of you. Never do that again! I am not worth your lives."

The old healer woman steps forward, drawing my sad gaze.

"They were chosen for that very reason. My Lady had realized that you would stop before you killed someone who you're fond of, she's seen you do it before. Salem, Joey, Kerry, and Maii all wanted to do this."

My head is shaking before Kerry stops it, making me look at her. Her skin is pale, but not deathly so. She's donated more than a pint at least. Same with Joey and Salem. Pale, but still at a relative safe pallor.

Maii stirs in my lap, so I move back quickly, seeing as how my chest is almost in his face. His blinking baby blues focus on me with a smile. It gets wider as I scowl at him, eyes twinkling with happiness.

"Please don't take it as me being ungrateful, but I could have killed all of you. I don't want that for you guys."

Salem and Joey move closer, hearing the distress in my voice. They both give smiles and small touches to my arms.

"No other Vampire have I heard of, could do what you just did, or always chose not to. The bite was hard, but you would pull back just as our hearts would start to labor, still having the presence of mind to close the wound you made."

Joey sounds awed, I just feel horrible. My body is singing, so hyped up on Shifter and Were blood that I could probably fly right now if I tried.

I curb the urge.

The torn muscle in my arm has healed perfectly.

"We were nearby when you'd gone after the Mistress. We'd seen you stop your rage just as Maii had been hurt. I've never seen a Werewolf able to curb its own rage like that before, let alone a Vampire in bloodlust."

They all nod, but I still feel like shit, giving them each a touch in turn, not only comforting them but me as well. Laying a hand over all of their hearts to feel for myself that they continue to beat strong and steady.

Maii wiggles, looking for all the world a puppy trying to get comfortable. I laugh softly then tap his leg to let him know I want up. I'm nude, but I don't even notice it since no one else does. Even the boy who had my boobs in his face.

Once upright, I look around. We're at the foot of Lady's bed at the bottom of the stairs. The healer is holding out a bundle to me, I give her a look of confusion.

"My Lady wishes for you to return to the kitchen and thought you would want these."

"Considering she's the one who killed me, I'm surprised she even bothered."

They all blink at me before the old woman ushers them all out, staying behind to talk to me. I wonder if she even realizes that they can still hear her even as she leans in to whisper. Oh well.

"Mistress sends her apologies, she was in deep distress when she called aid in for you. She only left when you pulled back from the boy. I was given a message to tell you that she will deal with your Maker and not to have any fear."

I snort rudely.

"Seeing as how she was the one who snuffed me this time, I have more fear of her than I do of him. Can tell her for me that I never wish to see her again, that I'm done risking my life for her when it clearly means so little to her."

The old woman looks as confused as ever when I'd said 'this time', then afraid when I give her my message.

"If you don't wish to tell her, get me a piece of paper and something to write with and I will tell her myself."

She has no qualms whatsoever about rushing away to retrieve the items. Can't really blame her, so I write down what was said word for word. Plan to leave it on her desk as I leave.

I almost don't put on whatever the articles are, but the thought of being absolutely naked in the wide-open kitchen sobers that thought right up. Looking over them, they're red and black. Does she even own anything not these colors? Come to think of it, last Vamp I seen in pink gave me the willies. I'll take black and red over that any day.

The skirt is really flowy; a gypsy skirt. Multiple thin layers with slits up both sides, almost ruffly but not quite. Top is the same almost, spaghetti straps leading down in a low cut.

The same type of material as the skirt, also slit all the way up on the sides. There's a small hook on each side that a single little strip of leather hooks onto to keep the sides from gaping all the way open, it's also a few layers that flow around easily. Black and red oriental type designs are on the panels.

Both are really light, almost feeling as if I'm not wearing anything. There's a pair of heels that go with it, but I ignore them, opting for bare feet. Good enough for the animals, then it's good enough for me. Seems almost quirky that I'd rather be considered an animal over a Vampire, but it's true.

After getting a hair-tie from the old woman, I'm ready to go, tossing the letter onto the big desk then exiting, the ones having fed me right outside as I come out. Smiling at them all, we start our trek through the massive place, my goal completed when I get each of them to laugh. Once we get there, I sit them all down with tall glasses of juice and some cookies someone had made. The other members of the crew, when I see them, are all on their knees at their stations.

When I look to Kerry, she talks to them and comes back, glancing over them again before she tells me why they're doing it.

"They feel ashamed that they did not come to help you, even after being told you were dying."

I blink at her for a moment before I look back to them. Going to each and raising them up, the last one is the other female Werewolf, who looks at me with moist eyes, her voice soft.

"We were all conflicted, it isn't that we didn't want to help, we were afraid. We've seen how others feed when they haven't for a while, and with your...fading, we knew it would take much."

Shaking my head at her, I give her and the others a smile.

"I don't blame you for a single moment. I wouldn't have wanted to go either. I may not know Vamps as well as you guys, but I seem to be getting a crash course. I'm not treated any better than any of you."

Even Kerry and Maii startle at that, looking at me in shock. I shrug, giving a sad smile.

"I'm a prisoner here, so I'm viewed the same as any of you. Who told you I was dying, by the way?"

Seems weird to me that Nicolaus hadn't been near while it was happening, makes me wonder what he's planning. They all look from one to the other, saying that they were all pulled aside and told in confidence by the Mistress herself.

If any of them were to speak about it to anyone, they would all be killed. Maii, Kerry, Salem, and Joey were the ones who had stepped forward right away. Apparently she'd sneered at those who hadn't come forward, asking them how they could turn their back on one who has been nothing but decent to them.

That startles me slightly, but then I scowl.

"That sure is rich coming from her..."

I bite my tongue before I say anymore and shake my head. The headshake goes down into my hands then my whole body as I try ridding myself of it, telling them all once again that I don't blame them and hold no grudge. After their insistence of them taking some punishment, they get told to clean out the big cauldron, replace the grease in the fryers, and clean the rotisserie ovens.

After I list them off, they just blink at me. I clap my hands.

"Chop chop. They won't clean themselves, they didn't come with that feature."

After trading looks with each other, they share smiles and get to work. I catch the females looking at me every now and then with tears in their eyes. Bit creepy, that, but whatever. Once I open my fridge's doors, I just stand there and look inside.

"Uh, guys? Around what time do you think it is? Breakfast? Second breakfast? Elevenses? Lunch? Dinner? Supper? Midnight snack? I think there's a tea time in there somewhere."

None of them get my Hobbit reference, which saddens me, but in reality, nothing's perfect. They don't get it, but a deep chuckle from behind me lets me know someone does. I smile as I turn towards the giant cat, actually glad to see him.

"Well well well, if it isn't my favorite ass-burr. I'm guessing you get it, when is tea time?"

"It's 'afternoon tea', and it comes after lunch."