I tried looking at her, but I was too dazed and couldn't get out a word.
She held me in place for a long time, and when finally I could focus, her brow was furrowed as she looked at me with concern.
"I'm taking too much from you," she said. "I can't help it."
I reached for her with my arms, loose, but I managed to throw them over her shoulders, and I draped myself over her, my face against her neck. "It feels so good."
"I'm definitely doing this too often," she said. "You need weeks to recover."
"Please don't stop, m'lady."
"You're drunk from it, too," she said. "Scheisse." I didn't understand the last word, and it was spoken in an accent.
"What was that?"
"Never mind. Can you walk?"
"Who wants to walk? Bite me again."
I tried to pull her head against my neck.
"Stop it!" she said. "I'll kill you!"
"What a way to go," I said dreamily.
Instead of biting me, she carefully lowered me to the floor. I curled up in a ball around her feet. A moment later I heard her voice.
"Call Edie. Get her here with a transfusion kit. Tell her to drive safely. Have two units of A-positive ready by the time she gets here. Send her to my slave's room."
Then my mistress picked me up from the floor, cradling me in her arms.
"Are you going to bite me again?"
"No."
I started to cry.
"Stop that."
"You don't like me!"
"You're so drunk," she said. She began carrying me out of the room, moving very quickly.
"My tablet-"
"Later," she said. "Stop crying."
"Will you bite me if I stop?" I sniffled.
"No."
She moved swiftly through the house, finally arriving at the bedroom. I was a little calmer by the time we arrived.
"Don't put me in the bed. I'm all sweaty."
"Are you thinking straight yet?"
"I don't know. Take a shower with me?"
She carried me into the bathroom and leaned me against the wall next to the shower propping me into place. She removed the leash then reached into the shower and turned it on.
"You have to test the water," she said. "I can't."
I reached in languidly, tested the water, then adjusted it.
"Come on," I said. "You don't have to bite me."
"Still drunk." Instead of climbing into the shower with me, she pushed me in, holding me upright against the back corner of the shower with one arm while she adjusted the spray of the shower.
"I'm going to lose control if I bathe you, Melissa," she said. "You have to stand and do it yourself."
I worked at it, slowly growing steady. She handed me the soap, and I began washing, but I was so tired. I almost slipped down the wall twice. Finally she took the soap from me and said, "It's going to have to be good enough." She shut off the water, pulled me from the shower, and wrapped a towel from me. She brushed me down then half carried me to the bed, pulling the covers back and helping me into bed.
I closed my eyes.
"Please don't leave me," I whispered.
"I'm not going anywhere," she replied, and then she was holding my hand.
"Sleepy."
"No! Talk to me, Melissa."
"Can't I sleep?"
"No. Tell me the earliest memory you have."
"Sleepy."
"Tell me or I will hurt you," she said. "You can't sleep."
"Mean," I said. I sighed. "I remember drawing with crayons on my mother's bedroom wall one day while she was napping." I paused. "I don't remember if she was angry."
"Did you like school?"
"No. The kids thought I was weird and picked on me."
"Why would they do that?"
"Cause I was weird. I was constantly zoning out looking at things I thought were pretty. Sometimes it would be a blank wall, but in my mind, I could see shapes from the subtle differences." I looked up at the ceiling. "Spider's web." I pointed. "Or you."
"You see me in the ceiling."
"Yes, but you won't see it. No one sees them."
I turned to look at her. "Are you killing me?"
"You taste too good," she explained. "I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to hurt you."
"Why do I taste too good?"
"A very, very old memory."
"Do I remind you of someone?"
"Maybe. Maybe you smell like something from my childhood."
"Especially in the gym?"
There were rapid footsteps in the hallway, and then a slender, black woman appeared. She was wearing a nurse's uniform. Maria appeared behind her.
"Two in two days, Lady Dunn?" the nurse asked.
"I know," she said. "She needs at least two units, and she's intoxicated."
"From one."
"My saliva."
"How long ago?"
"Fifteen minutes."
The nurse stepped into the room and to the other side of the bed. Maria brought the chair around for her, and the nurse sat down. She reached into her bag and pulled out a portable blood pressure kit and stethoscope. She wrapped it around my arm and pumped it up, then listened as she released it.
"She's definitely low," the nurse said. "Heart rate elevated. Breathing shallow and rapid." She looked at Lady Dunn. "What's wrong with you? It's not like you, even if she's a blood slave."
"Just fill her up and save the lecture, Edie," Lady Dunn replied. "It doesn't matter to the supply if I drink it straight from the bag or let you pour it into her first."
The nurse shook her head, but she worked efficiently, and a moment later, she inserted an I.V. into my arm. Maria stepped forward with a bag of blood. The nurse read it off and asked Lady Dunn, "Are you sure? Do I need to type her?"
"Oh please," the vampire said. "A-positive."
"You can tell?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "And I have your medical records."
The nurse hooked up the blood, and I watched it begin to disappear into my arm. She held it over my head, then Lady Dunn took it from her and clipped it to one of the rings in the wall over my head. I stared up at it then looked at her. "I know that's not what those are for."
"Hush."
"She bites me, you know," I said earnestly to the nurse. "Does she ever bite you?"
"No," the nurse replied. "Vampires don't usually let other vampires feed from them."
I stared at her. "Oh. I didn't know. Why are you a nurse if you're a vampire?"
"I'm not a nurse. I'm a psychiatrist." She looked at Lady Dunn. "She has a lot of questions for a blood slave."
"I told you she was intoxicated."
"From one little bite on the neck."
"I was obligated to punish her for a lack of discretion, and then I needed to heal the resulting wounds."
"And then you lost control and bit her besides." The woman tsked several times. "Not like you. And what are you doing with a blood slave?"
"Long story. I'll tell you sometime over a pint."
"You drink beer?" I asked. "What kind."
"A pint of blood," the nurse -- psychiatrist -- corrected.
I lay quietly for a few moments.
"May I go to sleep now?" I asked.
The two vampires communed, and then my mistress said, "Yes."
But my eyes were already closed.
* * * *
"Wake up, sleepyhead." A finger caressed my face.
"Oh, bad dream," I said. I opened my eyes, and Lady Dunn was looking down on me. "Damn it, not a dream."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm sorry!" I said quickly.
"Shhh," she said. "Understandable. Tell the truth. What did you think was the dream?"
I didn't want to answer, but her eyes narrowed again. "The truth," she repeated.
"My sentence," I said.
She caressed my face. "I don't expect you to be pleased with your situation."
I smiled tentatively. "Some if it isn't so bad. Um. Did I make a fool of myself?"
"Maybe a little, but not as badly as I did. Are you strong enough to sit up?"
She moved away from her perch on the side of my bed, and I slowly sat up, clutching the covers to my chest. She looked down at my hands holding the bedding in place.
"Is that because you are chilled?"
I released the covers, letting them fall about my waist and stared down where my feet would be.
"I have not told you this, but I do not want you covering yourself. If I wanted you covered, I would offer clothing. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, m'lady. It was a natural reaction. I am sorry, but if it is the last time, I will be surprised. Will I be punished?"
"Only if it becomes excessive or survives past a gentle reminder."
"How are you feeling?"
"Okay," I said after a moment. I swung my feet over the edge of the bed. She put out a hand to steady me as I stood, but I didn't need her help. "I'm fine, but I'm probably a fright." I gestured to the bathroom.
"Go ahead, then your dinner is here."
I smiled shyly at her. "And is your dinner here as well?"
"I have eaten, and you have bled enough for a few days."
"You said-"
"I will taste daily, but only a lick or two."
I used the bathroom and cleaned up. I was right; I looked a fright. There was only so much I could do with a hairbrush, but I did what I could, then brushed my teeth as well. When I stepped out, Lady Dunn was still waiting patiently.
While I ate, she sat on the chair watching me.
"M'lady, am I being rude by not offering you anything? There is more than enough."
She laughed. "No."
I looked at the amount of food. "May I comment without punishment?"
"Will you be polite?"
"Yes, m'lady. The amount of food you require I eat is far more than I would normally eat."
"Perhaps you should inquire why that is."
"I do not believe you are trying to fatten me up, or you wouldn't have stressed that I am to exercise. Nor do I believe you are trying to force me to exercise even more than I normally would."
"You are correct on both counts. You will need to exercise more, but that is aside effect. Did you wish to puzzle this out or ask?"
"M'lady, why?"
She smiled for a moment. "Beans, whole grains, shellfish, poultry and even red meat help to replenish your red blood cells. The leafy vegetables are good sources of iron. More seafood for B-12."
"Oh." I stared at the food.
"Are you about to make me angry?"
"Not intentionally, m'lady," I replied. "In the. Um. Processing center?"
"Yes?"
"They made me lick my plates clean. I would have been punished leaving so much as a few crumbs on the plate."
"You will be thorough, but I do not believe you need to be quite that thorough. I presume you will not give me cause to regret."
"No, m'lady," I said quickly. "Thank you for explaining."
I actually was a little upset about it. She was making sure I would be a good blood supply for her. It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with her needs.
But what did I expect? I was a blood slave. I had no rights and only one reason to exist: to please her. She had whipped me for commenting on the amount before, so I knew she was prepared to punish me far worse for a real offense, such as expressing anger at my treatment.
I ate quietly.
"You are normally more communicative," she observed.
It wasn't a question, so I didn't respond.
She leaned forward and captured my face by the hoops and lifted my face. I whimpered. When I looked at her, she appeared angry, her brow furrowed and her lips tight.
"Are you sullen because of your punishment earlier?"
"What?" I ran her question over in my head twice. "No, m'lady. I was not trying to be sullen. My thoughts were full of things I did not believe I should voice."
She released me.
"I see."
"I am still coming to grips with my situation. I-" I looked down at the food, and now I didn't know how I was going to eat the rest of it. "I don't know what you want. I don't know what will anger you. I don't know what is going to upset me. I am pretty sure you will grow angry if I act in a dreary fashion."
I looked back up. "I don't understand why you whipped me for a fairly innocent comment to Maria that was largely born of my own ignorance, but you didn't punish me at all for my behavior two mornings ago."
"Did you want me to punish you for that?"
"At the time, I was trying to get you to kill me," I said. "Perhaps to bleed me dry. It didn't occur to me it would be so pleasant. I had only hoped for quick."
"It is pleasant when I feed from you because I wish it to be, Melissa," she told me. "It can be exceedingly unpleasant as well, which is why being bled can be a severe punishment. Haven't you ever been punished that way?"
"A few times for a poor test grade," I said. "It hurt, but it wasn't horrible. It wasn't like when you feed from me though, either. Is that because it was on the wrist?"
"No, it is because the vampire wasn't being intentionally cruel, but also wasn't choosing to reward you, either."
I looked down at the food and picked at the salad.
"I did not punish you two days ago because I couldn't possibly have punished you sufficiently without killing you. I talked to Edie instead, and she offered insight. That is why we had the conversation we had in the evening."
"Is that why you were so on edge? Because you are still angry with me?"
"I wasn't angry. I was unsettled and needed to be far more of a vampire than I wanted to be with you. I would have left you deeply convinced of the worst, which would not have taken us in a good direction. A few months from now, I will not hold myself so deeply in check."
"Do you anticipate me angering you so thoroughly again?"
"Oh, I have no doubt you will anger me, but you are not the only influence over my needs, my little blood slave. My needs may have nothing to do with you, but you will serve to fill the needs."
I looked at the food.
"You are stalling. Eat."
"Are you familiar with young human children presented with a meal they are struggling to eat, and then a parent orders her to hurry?"
"No."
"The child's throat closes up, and she begins crying as she chokes the food down."
"You are perilously close to fresh punishment."
"I am approaching a point that I do not believe should earn me punishment." I looked up at her. "Can we talk about something pleasant for a few minutes? Only a few, and then I will be able to eat properly."
"Oh," she said. "I see. I will point out you led us into unpleasant conversations."
"I was not blaming you. I am asking you if you can cure my folly."
She smiled. "Do you know what you would like to discuss, or should I pick something?"
"Maria said you like to play racquetball and suggested you may like to play with me. I do not understand."
"Ah. I would enjoy playing with you very much."
I looked away, unsure how to say this without offending her. She wanted such an easy win, another way to dominate me?
"Look at me," she ordered.
I turned back to face her.
"It is not what you think. Of course, you couldn't beat me, but that's not what it's about. It's about, well, having fun. I can give you a good game. I can make you work to improve. That is the challenge to me, to play in a fashion that you play at your best, and to push you so you improve. I would not be competing with you, I would be competing with your ability, and I would feel I had won every time you played well."
"Oh." I felt myself smile. "Really?" She nodded slowly. "Would you allow me to dress appropriately?"
"You are dressed appropriately as you are."
"I do not believe that bouncing
breasts, while perhaps entertaining to you, are conducive to my playing well."
She returned my smile. "Perhaps you are right." She sighed dramatically. "I suppose I should allow you to wear the sports clothing I had purchased for you. There is a dressing room in the gym. There will be a locker with your name on it by tomorrow. You may use the gym as often as you like, provided it is for exercise. You may change into whatever clothing suits you for your exercise, but when you are done, you will change back out of the clothing, and you will do so in the dressing room in the gym."
"Yes, m'lady," I said. "Thank you."
"Do not abuse the privilege."
"Do not exercise too often?"
"Do not use the gym as an excuse to wear clothing."
"No, m'lady," I agreed.
I lowered my head and began eating, finishing the meal while she watched. When I was done, I looked back up. "I would like to play racquetball whenever you have time for me, but I am a very poor player, and I may remain poor. I have never succeeded at athletics. I do not know if you wish me to ask you at specific times or if you will invite me when you are in the mood."
"For this, I would like to be asked."
"Perhaps we could begin tomorrow, m'lady, in the afternoon, if it pleases you."
She leaned forward and caressed my cheek. "I would enjoy that. How are you feeling?"
I set the tray aside and stood. "Good," I said. "Not good enough for a run, and my thoughts are a little muddled. Maybe a little weak still. Are we spending the evening together?"
"Are you inviting me?"
"Yes, m'lady, but I would not presume."
"Then I would love to spend the evening with you. Do you know what you would like to do?"
"May we start with a walk?"
"You will be leashed."
"I know."
She stood. I took the tray and set it near the door. "M'lady, I am not about to ask for a privilege. This is an observation."
"All right."
"If there were a table here, it might be better than the floor."
"I am not sure that is true. If there were a table there, I would not have had the delight of watching you bend over to set down the tray."
I turned, and she was smirking at me.
"Come here."
I walked to her and knelt before her, not waiting for her to prompt me, and lowered my head, but she lifted my chin and she had the chain waiting. She attached it to the hoops then pulled lightly upward. "Come."
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