I was too late.
My mom, and most of my friends, couldn't understand my very sudden, and very passionate, decision to become strictly vegan. Only Lexi, my best friend and sister to my heart, truly understood. She tried to go vegan with me, but she loved meat too much. At least she supported my decision wholeheartedly.
Even now, she understood my struggle as no one ever would.
'What happens when you finally lose control? When you can no longer deny your needs, and you take the first opportunity to satisfy them? What happens when you snap, and someone gets hurt because the situation gets out of control? Can you live with the consequences, Teagan?" Pierce said gently.
I sighed heavily as my shoulders drooped in defeat. Pierce had been hounding me, ever since my unfortunate accident, begging me to embrace my new reality. Neither he, nor any of our coven, could understand why something so simple was giving me so much trouble. I was very grateful that they put forth as much effort to support me as they did. Other covens would have forced the issue by now, but Pierce was adamant that I was to have as many choices as he could give me in my new life.
After all, I didn't really have much of a choice entering this life.
Unfortunately, my body wasn't agreeing with my new lifestyle so well. I hadn't eaten meat for seventeen years prior to the accident, and now my only dietary requirement was blood. In the past few months, I had tried supplements, magic concoctions, artificial blood, and now reluctantly used animal blood, but nothing other than live feeding on humanoid blood would meet all my needs. I was losing this battle with my new body, and we both knew it.
Still, I shook my head stubbornly.
"Then we won't go." Pierce crossed his arms over his chest, fixing me with a steady glare. "I will not allow any child of mine to behave so irresponsibly, or put innocent people at risk. You may be able to control yourself around the people you know, but I cannot in good conscience allow you to be around so many humans in an enclosed space in the state you are in now. All it takes is one mistake, Teagan."
"Are you calling me a child?" I asked flatly.
Pierce sighed heavily. "I did not mean it that way. You know what I meant. My 'sired' offspring, my progeny, if you want the politically correct term. No matter what our relationship is behind closed doors, I am still responsible for you as your sire in the eyes of the Council."
I raised my chin, staring him down despite his eight inches of height over me. He wisely decided to drop that line of conversation. Pierce ran his hand over his smoothly shaved head, pinning me with his emerald eyes. "We cannot go to this party tonight, love. If you were to lose control, the Council will not be lenient with you any longer. They would put you to death as surely as any other rogue."
"I won't lose control." I said stubbornly, but my voice wavered.
"We aren't going."
"But, Lexi needs our help! She can't get too close to Devon without raising his suspicions. We need to be her ears, watch who he talks to, and alert her if he leaves early. Besides, if we don't keep an eye out for her, she will just get into trouble, and Ian isn't here to get her out of it tonight."
"Why can't she just learn some spell and listen in on him herself?" Pierce grumbled, albeit good naturedly. He had a soft spot for my Fae friend.
I smiled a bit, flashing that little hint of fang that drove him crazy, watching the for tell-tale signs that he was slowly caving in. As long as I didn't overdo it, I would have him right where I wanted him in no time. I leaned in and kissed him lightly, teasing.
"You know that Devon will have wards around him to warn him of any spells she might cast, not to mention those nasty traps of his that strip them away. Lexi found that out the hard way at the last time she tried to spy on him like that. Remember, I had to hold her hair back in the bathroom most of the night as she fought that nasty counter-spell he cast on her?" We both smiled at the memory.
"He won't be stupid enough to let anything slip tonight. He knows there will be people in attendance with exceptional hearing, and he won't take any risks. What does Lexi think he will do, give a full confession of his involvement with the rebels? I know Lexi blames him for everything that happened last spring, but her reckless pursuit of someone so powerful is only going to get her killed."
Pierce argued, but I was sure he had already caved; he just didn't want to admit it. In his own way, Pierce cared for Lexi as much as I did. In the months since I had had this new life forced upon me, Lexi, Pierce and I had become nearly inseparable. Lexi was practically part of the coven, though she wasn't a vampire. Pierce had supported us both through the changes in our lives. With me, he helped to deal with a whole new existence and dietary issues. With Lexi, Pierce helped her deal with her guilt, since she had indirectly caused my transformation. In those first few weeks, as the bloodlust took control, I had blamed them both for my torment. I had long since forgiven them, but Lexi had trouble letting go of the guilt.
Pierce was gearing up for another argument, but I cut him off with a kiss. "You know how bent she is on catching him. If he so much as shows a hint of deception, or leans in to another party to whisper a secret, or whatever, it could help her find the link she needs to bring down the Quorum. Besides, she needs us to watch him so she can slip away. She seems to think she can find some evidence in his penthouse, and she won't get a better opportunity to snoop around unnoticed."
"I can't let you loose around all those people, not like this. What if someone gets an injury? A paper cut could send you into a blood frenzy. It's too dangerous, love."
"That's why you're there. To keep me in line if things get bad. Just stay with me, and I will be fine."
"Teagan..." He steeled himself, and I knew he wasn't going to back down as easily as I had hoped.
I turned away from him, considering my options. If I inhaled deeply enough, I could still smell the lingering scent of the server, and the faded hint of blood from the maid that had cleaned our room earlier. Pierce wasn't touching me now, and my senses were heightened again. Even that slight aroma of blood, several hours old, caused my fangs to ache with need, and neither of them had been bleeding. I didn't want to give in, I really didn't. But I was so thirsty… and my best friend needed me. She was always making sacrifices for me, and she needed me now.
"If we go tonight, I will feed after the party." I whispered. "I can't let Lexi down."
I fought the shame that washed over me even as my pulse quickened. My mind may not want the blood, but my body? Oh, it wanted it all right. Pierce studied my face in the mirror for a moment, judging my sincerity. Finally, he smiled, pulling me into a hug. The wave of relief I sensed from him hit me hard, and my guilt burned through me. I wiped away a tear as I held him close, ashamed of the worry I had caused him. I truly loved him, or I would have accepted death over this existence. I never wanted him to hurt, and to know that I was the one causing his pain tore at me.
Pierce pulled away slowly, wiped away a stray tear, and kissed me gently. The kiss shifted from comforting to passionate within seconds, and Pierce set me back reluctantly. He chuckled; a slow, husky sound that melted me to my toes. The sensations that reached out to me through our link were quite naughty.
"If we don't stop now, we won't make it to the party. Go get dressed."
I giggled as he spun me around and gently shoved me in the direction of the closet. I slithered into the green sequined dress that I had picked out for the party, and quickly swept my short hair into a funky twist with a section in the front hanging free over one eye. I ran the straightening iron through the lopsided bob cut, admiring the recent golden blonde dye job as I turned my head. It complimented my gown perfectly, as intended. When I exited the bathroom, Pierce held up one finger, in the universal sign for silence, as he finished a phone call in hushed tones. Even with my sensitive hearing, I couldn't make out the conversation.
With Christmas over, I could only assume he was cooking up some surprise for tonight's New Year's party. I smiled at him, questioning him with
my eyes when he ended his call abruptly. He made a show of looking at me, walking around me slowly as his eyes took me in from head to toe. He ignored my silent request for an explanation. I knew from past experience that he wouldn't tell me until he was good and ready. Plus, his surprises were always worth it.
"You are more beautiful every day. I almost don't want to let you out of my sight." He whispered against my neck.
"What? Worried I might find another sexy vampire to take me home?" I teased.
Pierce growled low in his throat, and I smiled at him saucily, thrilled by his possessiveness. As I sauntered around him, I straightened his tie with a tug, channeling my inner sexy actress. "Don't worry, Pierce. I love you. And only you. No one else will do."
He nuzzled my neck, gently scraping his fangs over my pulse without breaking the skin, sending shivers down my spine to settle somewhere south in anticipation. The chime of the doorbell interrupted us, and we slipped apart ruefully. I hadn't heard anyone approach our room, so our visitor had to be one of the Others. I caught a familiar scent before Pierce opened the door, and smiled as I recognized Vincent; Pierce's oldest progeny. Another scent followed him as he entered the room, and I froze.
Human blood.
Fresh, and far too much to be the remnants of Vincent's recent feeding, though I detected that as well. I swallowed convulsively as my fangs began to throb. Vincent silently handed the two large bags of blood to Pierce, refusing to meet my eyes. I could sense relief from him as he made his delivery, and another prickle of guilt washed over me. My adopted family was worried about me, and I was letting them down, too. Vincent left without saying a word, as was his habit. The black-haired Italian rarely spoke, but he was dependable and fully devoted to his coven.
Pierce approached me warily, holding the bags loosely in his hands. From the intensity of the scent, the blood was fresh, still warm from its host. I swallowed again, and my entire body trembled with the strain of holding myself back from pouncing. He passed me, leading me toward the kitchenette. Like a bloodhound, I followed him closely, led by my nose. He gently set the pouches down on the counter, keeping his eyes on mine as he grabbed two plastic wine glasses from the cupboard.
I was sorely tempted to snatch the bag nearest me and tear into the plastic with my fangs like the beast I was inside. My throat burned with my desire to feed, and I closed my eyes in torment. I could tell myself that I didn't want it. I could try to convince myself that the animal blood was satisfying me. But it was all lies. My body knew what it needed, and this time, I knew I was powerless to stop it.
At this point, I wasn't even sure why I had fought it this long.
Pierce tore open one of the bags, and the scent intensified exponentially. My senses told me many things about the donor. The woman was young, and fit. Her last couple of meals had contained no meat, so maybe she was a vegetarian, which was a plus. I didn't pick up any hint of adrenaline, so she hadn't been afraid when she'd donated. Vincent had been particularly careful selecting this donor, knowing from past experience that I would turn down the human blood for one reason or another. I couldn't think clearly enough to find any fault in the offering, other than its source.
Most likely, the coven had brought the donor with us to Seattle specifically for me. Pierce knew exactly how to manipulate me into feeding from a human. He had taken away any arguments I might have found with the donated blood in the past, leaving me vulnerable. And thirsty.
So very thirsty.
As the blood slid into the second wineglass, I trembled with both anticipation and revulsion. I met Pierce's eyes, and he lifted his eyebrow in challenge. This wasn't the first time he had tried to tempt me with donated blood. So far, I had been able to deny my base urges. We both knew I wouldn't walk away this time. But just to make sure, he threw down the gauntlet.
"If you feed properly right now, we will go to the party. If not, we stay. Vincent will keep an eye out on Devon for Lexi if you are indisposed. I will not compromise the safety of others over this."
The glass shook as I lifted it to my lips in answer. The scent was heady, and a feeling of euphoria washed over me as the first drop hit my tongue. Drinking from a glass distanced me from the act, as Pierce no doubt knew it would, though an indirect feeding wouldn't supply all my dietary needs. According to Pierce, there was another aspect to live feeding that involved siphoning a bit of aura while taking the donor's blood. Even without the aura, I could already feel the difference between animal and human blood as its vitality spread through my limbs.
I finished both bags in minutes, hating myself for enjoying every second of it.
***
I spotted Lexi across the room and felt an immediate sense of relief. She had the annoying habit of getting into trouble, so it was a relief to find her relatively unscathed. So far. At least we had arrived before she managed to slip away, as planned.
She turned to me, and by the scrunched look between her eyes I could tell she was looking at my aura. Vampires can't see auras, not as Lexi describes them, but we can sense them. I knew mine was pretty rough, even with my recent feeding. I pulled a face at her, but she ignored me. Lexi exchanged a slight glance with Pierce and visibly relaxed. I rolled my eyes at their exchange. It was one thing for them to worry about me, and another entirely for them to gang up on me.
But I had to admit that I felt loved, even if it suffocated me at times.
As soon as we met in the center of the room, I caught her in a tight hug. We had practically grown up together, and we were almost closer to sisters than best friends.
"Hey girl. You look great." I whispered.
As her auburn hair brushed my cheek, I immediately realized my mistake. The heady scent of her Fae blood burned my throat painfully. What was worse was that I could feel her aura calling to me, tempting me to relieve my hunger. It wasn't blood my body was demanding right now, though that was part of it. As my fangs descended, I struggled to pull away until Pierce realized what was happening and yanked me into his arms to center me.
I looked at Lexi apologetically, and she had a similar expression on her face. I was ashamed of my reaction, and she was blaming herself for my situation in the first place. We both peeked a look at each other, and then laughed aloud at the same time. Just like that, the tension dissipated.
Lexi leaned in slightly, addressing both Pierce and me quietly. "Are you sure you won't drink from me? Your aura is sickly, Teagan. Positively wretched to look at. I promise I don't mind."
What she said with her eyes was, 'I owe you this much'. For the briefest moment, I was tempted to see what Fae blood tasted like; compare it to the human blood I consumed earlier. Pierce had often told me how different each type of blood was in taste. Even individuals among species had their own unique vintage. Lexi's aura twirled around me in a seductive haze, but I fought the urge to devour my best friend with a shiver.
"Nah, girl. I'm good." I cringed at how strangled my voice sounded.
She looked at me disbelievingly as Pierce held me close. "She has promised me that she will feed properly after the party, and I intend to hold her to it." He said firmly.
Of course, I was already trying to find a way out of it, but after the little taste I had had earlier I wasn't sure if I could resist any longer. Drinking from a blood bag didn't transfer that tiny portion of aura from victim to vampire that my body craved. Vampires could not regenerate their own blood or aura, and needed both to thrive. I was barely surviving now.
Lexi's eyes followed Devon as he worked the room. Devon gave us a nod as he passed, with a slightly mysterious smile for Lexi. Pierce and I exchanged a worried glance. Devon might not have meant to show it, but he had been keeping an eye on Lexi since we arrived, and there was more than a hint of male appreciation in that look. I would have to talk to her about it later. It was too late for us to change our plans now. As soon as Devon turned his head, Lexi shimmered, using her Fae magic to glamour herself into a completely new image. She was markedly less attractive now,
almost matronly in the new understated dress and heavier features. Pierce and I quickly moved her toward a cluster of Others to help her blend in before Devon turned again. His eyes moved over her without stopping as he searched the crowd. The tiny frown at the corner of his lips was the only indication that he was aware of Lexi's absence.
"Ok, Tee. I'm off. Only contact me if he leaves before midnight. I should have time to scout his building before then, and I'll be ready when he arrives later."
"Are you sure about this plan, Lexi?" Pierce asked quietly. My heart melted again as his concern for my best friend sizzled along the coven bond. I could never have loved any man who didn't also love Lexi. We were a package deal.
Lexi shrugged. "If anything goes wrong, at least you know where I am this time. I doubt he will kill me if he catches me. And if I don't show up in two days, you can send Ian after me. He promised to return by then."
Lexi drifted away, preparing to slip out of the party to go snoop at Devon's penthouse while he was tied up here. Pierce led me around the room. He flowed from one group to another seamlessly, and I nodded and smiled at intervals as appropriate. I was struggling to contain my increasing discomfort among so many strangers. The luscious sound of so many beating hearts pulled at me, and I began identifying people by their unique flavors. I felt my aura reach out to caress each person as we passed, practically sampling those around me. Thankfully, the transfer of aura only occurred during feeding, or I would have embarrassed myself by now.
I should have been disturbed by my psychic and physical hunger, but the beast inside was overcoming my senses.
I attempted to distract myself by looking at the various costumes of the creatures in attendance. There was a subtle dress code among the various types of supernatural creatures. Despite popular myth, most vampires tended to dress casually. Being associated with death in human myth had driven many of them to favor colorful clothes, in direct protest against the goth set humans preferred to cast us into. The males had colorful ties and flashy cufflinks. Since this was a semi-formal affair, they weren't dressed in their normally casual styles, though most had opted for suits in any color other than black. The females wore sequins, shimmering gossamer, taffeta and silken creations from some of the more prominent designers of the era, all in every color of the rainbow. Each color was selected carefully to accentuate the pale features of the wearer. Certain colors simply didn't flatter those with ultra-pale skin.
The Stroke of Midnight: A Supernatural New Year's Anthology Page 24