Things that go Bump in the Night

Things that go Bump in the Night

Vladimir sat alone at a table sipping a glass of red wine. He had been there for hours, but yet had only taken one sip in all that time. For Vladimir could not truly drink the wine, it served merely to keep up appearances. He could barely remember the true feeling of tasting such a drink, could barely remember what it meant to be intoxicated by alcohol. He rotated the glass slowly in his fingers as his eyes watched the bars patrons biding his time. He knew that his pray would appear shortly. This night he hunted not human pray, but he hunted his own kind.

This was Vladimir’s position in life, his duty. He was one of the sentinels for his dark race. Set forth to enforce their people’s laws. These laws changed over time, but certain ones stayed the same. “Stay invisible to humans.” This was the largest rule, and the one that was most often broken. Vladimir’s existence was dominated by crushing upstart vampires who thought it would be fun to start killing humans indiscriminately.

However, there were other rules that were enforced and broken as well. As he watched the room, he thought of some of these. Times were changing, and vampire kind realized this fact. They were aware it was only a matter of time before they were forced to come out to the humans, to admit that they were a separate race living among them and had been since the beginning of time. Where humans ruled the day, vampires ruled the night.

In preparation for this great revelation, the council of blackstone, the high vampire council, had put in play several new edicts, making it the edict of the sentinels to enforce these decrees. First and foremost among the changes, was no conversion of a vampire under the age of 21? Previously to this there was no limit. One might ask, why 21 rather than 19, which was legal adulthood in the United States. The answer of course became that 18 was considered too young. Humans of 18 were still often seen as children; after all they could not even drink alcohol at 18. Therefore why would they be ready for the power rush, the intoxication of power that becoming a vampire granted?

Vladimir drew his thoughts away from their current line of reasoning. He had to focus on the job at hand. The age issue was not the issue at stake here. There had been allegations of such here, but Vladimir’s research had showed that there was no evidence of under aged conversion in this town. No the only crime that Alan, his target had committed, was the excessive killing of humans. Human killing was expected in their society of course; however... it was only typically approved of if it was in conjunction with territorial war. This meant if the vampires of Cincinnati went to war against the vampires based in Lexington, and human servants and the like died, the sentinels would not be called out.

No, Alan was the vampire equivalent of a serial killer. Killing was even accepted in the context of feeding, although it was frowned upon, even if it was not outlawed yet. The council was working to that point though; Vladimir knew this, making the switch towards the eventual mainstreaming he knew would come eventually.

Vladimir’s attention suddenly snapped from his inner reverie and he became fully alert. He saw the approach of his target. Alan entered the bar with a swagger, a woman on his arm. He led the woman to the bar. Alan had been a portly fellow before he had died, and Vladimir snorted to himself. His thoughts revolved around the thought that the man could have at least looked like a serial killer. No instead, he looked like an overweight businessman who should be smoking a pipe 200 years ago.

Vladimir watched Alan for many long minutes. His black eyes taking him in from the corner. He waited for his chance. That chance presented itself to Vladimir as Alan lead his lady friend onto the dance floor.

Dropping some money on the table for the barely touched wine, Vladimir rose to his feet. He approached the other vampire quickly. He tapped Alan on the shoulder, his eyes meeting with the startled woman’s gaze, his glamour holding the woman immobilized as he spoke to Alan his voice a low menacing growl of sound, “May I cut in?” Alan turned slowly towards the voice startled. When his eyes fell on Vladimir, all in black, and radiating the power he did, he began to tremble. The sentinels were the boogie men of the vampire race, and he knew that death had come calling for him. He also realized as he looked down at the silver knife Vladimir was twisting through his heart, that he was dead and hadn’t been able to do anything to stop his fate.

Vladimir left the club moments later, the dead body having discintegrated moments after its final death. Vladimir’s work was done here, but he knew there would be other places other times for him to practice his duty.

Before he found rest for the Day, Vladimir knew he had one more duty to do this night. He had to pay a visit to this one’s master. When the targets were rogues, or of low rank and they were eliminated the sentinel did not have to inform anyone of their death. However it was common courtacy for the sentinel who took the life of a high ranked vampire, to inform that vampire’s master of the reason for the final judgment. He knew that Lucius, the master of the city, would have felt Alan’s death. He would have felt the drain on his power. It would not be long until he would receive a visit from Vladimir explaining why one of his lieutenants had been judged. Vladimir also had the duty, in situations like this, to investigate the master, even if as now, he had no reason to suspect Lucius, who cultivated the immage of a heavyhanded yet fare, all be it shrude businessman. He hoped things would prove to end the way he expected them too.

He thought of all this and more as he arrived at Pleasures of the Night, Lucius’s famous strip club, and secret base of operations.

(Notes:
This thread is closed to EclipseValeska and The_Gladiator. Please do not post without permission.
However, reading is certainly welcomed as is feedback via PM.

Historians Note: this story takes place during modern times, in a world of fantasy. The vampires here in are not taken from any preexisting world, although certain rules and aspects may be borrowed.

As always this is a work of fiction, and we hope you enjoy our story. Please join us on this trip through love and hate, pain and intrigue, Romance and lust.

Lila Warren sat on the left of her Master, her maker. She studied him as she conducted business in the dark club. He looked visibly drained. As though he had been awake for all the centuries he’d been alive. The music pulsed through the club, thumping, bumping, grinding; the rhythm of sex. The girls on the stage kept time with the music, feeding off of the catcalls and howls of the patrons of the club. Lucious was shaken and for good reason, one of his children had met the final death only a hour before. But, as they say, the show must go on.

One of Lucious’ associates, sipped from his drink, scotch and water as he ogled the women around him. Lucious spoke, his accent thick with time. “You know that we have been raided three times in the last two months.” he spoke earnestly to the mortal, a man that either one of them could break with only a flick of their wrist. “Someone…someone has got to be informing the police of the activities of the club.” His eyes, chestnut brown were the same shade as his hair. When he had been alive he had been turned at a middle age of his life. His hair was thinning, his eyes and lips had signs of his age.

“Any ideas?” the plump man asked as the ice clinked in his glass. His hands were shaking slightly. Lila turned her attention back to him. Carson Peters had been in business with Lucious for the past fifteen years. He was unaware of what they were, as much of the human race was. He did, however, have his suspicions that there was something more to Lucious and Lila. He was, also, a greedy son of a bitch. He had been the one tipping the cops off. Lila knew this, she could read his thoughts clearly. He was a very good projector. His wore the guilt like a banner.

Lucious looked to Lila, his brows raising. He had found her when she was living on the streets of Paris. Her changed at 19 years old had been an accident. He had never intended on turning her from a beautiful, vibrant woman to one of the walk dead. For a long time she hated him, felt like a prisoner, a captive of his madness. He had taken her, yes from the streets, but it was the only life she had ever known. She had been thrust into a perpetual night and a life she had never wanted.

Yet, after two centuries, she still remained by his side. It was not that she couldn’t now make it on her own. It was the loyalty she had for him that kept her by his side. Lucious reached his hand toward her, caressing her cheek. “My most precious child.” he said softly in a voice only she could hear. “We shall soon have company.”

“Company?” Lila asked taking a mock sip of her drink.

“Yes, my child, company. A sentinel will soon be paying a visit. We must take out the trash and prepare our home for his arrival.” He glanced to Carson who was studying the exchange between them. His face was taking on a green hue, he looked as if he was going to be sick.

Not only was Lucious her maker, but he was the governing body of all vampires in the area. Nothing happened in the area without his knowledge or his say so. At least that was the way it was supposed to be. Lila knew that he would and often did turn his back on a few of the newer mandates. He was an ancient, alive for more than 2000 years. He did not feel the need to follow all the rules to the letter, there were shades of grey. But a visit from the sentinel was never a good thing. More often than not, it was a catasophre. Sentinels were pompous assassins. They had a oversized head complex, but with good reason.

“Is he guilty?” Lucious asked her. She nodded, her eyes lowering, then shifting back to Carson. “I was afraid as much. Dispose of him.” he said softly. He rose, sliding from the booth. Directing his attention to Carson he said. “Lila was some papers in the office for you to sign.” His voice held to animosity, nothing you would expect it to hold for a man who had just discovered his business partner of 15 years had betrayed him.

Lila slid from the booth. She was dressed in head to toe black leather. A red corset cinched her waist, over top of the black leather cat suit she wore. It looked as though she had been melted down and poured into the leather. Her long red hair was plaited down the center of her back. Her green eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as she took Carson’s hand. “Come with me.” She said as she turned walking through the club. All the dancers and the majority of the staff were humans. The bouncer was a werewolf, the bartender a vampire. Humans were unaware, as they were able to blend in with them so flawlessly.

She led him down the hall, she could feel the apprehension, the confusion sliding off of him. She held the door to the club’s office for him. Once inside, she was on him before he could even blink. Her arm noosed around his neck, her hand pulling his head to the side, exposing the pulsing vein. Her fangs ran out, diving into his jugular before he could even draw a breath to scream.

The warm crimson blood splashed across her tongue and down her throat. She drank deeply, consuming the life’s blood that thundered through his heart. She drank deeply, feeling him, with each sip, grow weaker. Within a few moments, she was finished, he lay face down, dead. Pressing a button on the intercom, she buzzed the bouncer. Within seconds he was at the door. “Take care of him, would you?” she asked.

Leaving the office, she returned to the loud club. Lucious still sat in the booth, his back to her. Sliding in beside him, she turned to him, speaking softly. “It’s done, Carson will no longer be a problem. He had a bit of an accident.”

Vladimir did not relish this meeting. He did not desire it at all, but he owed it to Lucius to pay him a visit. He had sent word on ahead of himself announcing his arrival, even if Lucius probably already knew he was on his way. Although there were things that could threaten a vampire, they were uncommon enough that most killings with that type of suddenness were chalked up to a sentinel kill. Not to mention, Vladimir had made no secret of his presence in the area.

A sentinel was not obligated to seek a master’s permission to move across his territory, although if the master was not being hunted personally, they were often notified. Such was the case when Vladimir entered Lucius’s territory 3 nights previously. He had informed Lucius, however he had had no reason to pay him a visit before now.

It had been a simple kill for him, but he knew it would have greatly weakened Lucius. Both politically, and physically. Some masters never recovered if their children were too much a part of the master. Vladimir knew he had to tread lightly here. Lucius would not be pleased by this turn of events, but Vladimir also suspected that Lucius would accept his justice. This was one of those times when Vladimir wished he knew more about the vampire in question. He knew of Lucius by reputation, but had never met him personally so did not know exactly how he would react.

Lucius sat at the table still as stone, his eyes were cold. “I can feel his approach. He has not dampened his power; he lets it flow out in front of him announcing his arrival.” Lucius sounded irritated at this obvious display of power and unspoken threat from the Sentinel who hadn’t even arrived yet. Although the unspoken thought behind his griping was of course that the sentinel could also do the opposite of what he was doing now, and shield his power almost perfectly. It was one skill that made them such supreme assassins of other vampires; they could be almost undetectable when they wished it.

Lucius tasted the feel of the power, and got the feeling of ancient, but did not recognize the particular flavor. He did not figure this was one of the sentinels he had had run ins with in the past. This could equally be a good or bad thing.

“I wish we had more information.” Lucius muttered to Lila. He still showed the strain the loss of Alan had caused him. His hand closed over Lila’s, his muscles tightening squeezing her seemingly delicate hand in his. His normally calm facade slipping for a second and his eyes flashing red with his anger. Lila of course being the target for that frustrated rage as he squeezed her hand and wrist mercilessly. They were in the middle of a club; it was not like he could vent his rage any other way. He could not perform the dark fantasies in his head. If they were alone, he knew of many inventive ways he could take out his frustration on Lila, who would take it without complaint.

He seemed to calm for a moment before he caught sight of the vibrant glow of her eyes, “You fool.” He said almost screeching. He got ahold of himself and lowered his voice, trying to regain his menacing growl, to not sound as already intimidated as he was. “You dared to make a feeding kill with a sentinel on his way?” he said, “Do you hope that he will not notice the signs?” Killing while feeding provided the vampire with an extra power boost, and a sort of temporary high, that’s why many got out of hand, and also why the blackstone council was having such a hard time preparing the vampires for mainstreaming, too many did not want to give up that addiction.

“I said that we needed to take out our trash, not make things worse for our position.” His words trailed off, but his glare promised punishment for that slight blunder. It was obvious that Lucius’s cool confidence was on thin ice, and Lila like ever, was a convenient target.

Lila felt the change in him, the shift almost instantaneously. The loss of his child, one that was so close, it was bringing out the darkness in him. She tried to recoil, to pull her hand back, but his grip was like a vice. She could actually feel the fractures splintering her thin wrists. “I’m sorry, Master.” she whispered her voice trembling with the fear that was beginning to bubble within her. This was not a new feeling she had, she had feared before. Rage and violence, unfortunately, were apart of her upbringing. “I did not even…” her voice trailed off as she tugged at her arm.

His eyes were icy as he turned to face her completely. “That’s the problem, you stupid whore, you do not stop to think.” His eyes held hers for a long moment. “The Sentinel is on the way here, can you not feel his power. And you do something so stupid, so dangerous as to drain a human.” The music thundered around them, the lights were low. Anonymity was the name of the game at Pleasures of the Night. Men came here for high class tail and not to be recognized.

She trembled beside him, as he released her arm. His hand coiled around the long braid pulling her to face him fully. His grip was merciless. To any onlookers it may have looked as though they were about to share an intimate embrace. But she knew better. He wanted to hurt her, make her feel pain and he was the only one who truly could. They shared blood, he was her creator. He knew better than anyone how to torture her. “Ramone is taking care of Carson.” she whispered, panic choking her words.

He pulled her closer, she could feel the anger, the rage, the violence bubbling inside him. “Please.” she whimpered as she felt his lips graze her collar bone. She had seen him like this before. He had lost a child not long before creating her. The circumstances had been different, but the loss just the same. He had abused her and hurt her so much in those early years. She didn’t know if she could take it again. She had feared and hated him. Over time, she had grown to love him, but what if the loss of Alan, his oldest son, the first he had ever created…what if that drove him back to the brink of madness. She didn’t know if she could do that again, she didn’t know if she could even survive.

He drove his fangs down into the tender flesh just above her collar bone. Agony blossomed in her, she felt his hurt, his anger, his sorrow flooding and overloading her system. In that moment, she felt the torment that she had endured at his hand the moment he had first taken her life. She bit her lip, willing herself not to scream. Her hand moved up, cradling the back of his head, knotting in his hair. To an onlooker, it might have appeared that they were making out, nothing new in a place like this. In reality she was trying to detach him.

Lucious drank deeply from her. He loved Lila, but she was still very young and immature. She could cost him his very life, this night. If he did not meet the true death, she would be punished. Now, however, he had to take his rage out on someone. Unfortunately, she was the only vampire he could truly make ache. Yes, some vampires felt pain. Most did. The pain would lessen over the years to the point of mere sensations. Unless that pain was inflicted by their creator, their Master. Lucious could torture Lila and make her feel every ounce of it. She needed to be taught a lesson.

Most of the time, feeding from one another was very sexual and pleasurable. But he had chosen an area that was sure to cause the most pain. On top of the physically agony that she now experienced, she also could feel his emotions. He felt stronger with each passing second. Alan’s loss was very raw, very new. He would have to vent somehow.

He released her just as quickly as he had taken her. Already the twin marks on her shoulder were healing over. The glow from her eyes was gone, as was the euphoric sense that came with it. The pain was still there, a dull ache all the way down her arm. His taking of her blood had served two purposes. She splintering fractures in her wrists would take much longer to heal as well as exacerbate the pain of the process.

Tears had streaked her lovely face, twin trails of crimson lined her face. Taking the handkerchief from the breast pocket of his Armani suit, he thrust the silk fabric toward her. “Go clean yourself up.” he said, the indignant rage still coating his voice. “Be quick about it.”
She rose on trembling legs, feeling weak. With her head bent she moved quickly to the hall and into the ladies restroom, quickly locking the door behind her. Running water in the sink, she wetted the handkerchief. She wiped the bloody streaks from her face. Wondering what else he could have in store for her.

Lucius watched Lila’s departure, and couldn’t help watching the involuntary sway of her hips, the flex of the muscles in her heart shaped ass. The sight turned these thoughts ever so slightly from violence to sex. Although, these were often topics that found themselves intertwined in Lucius’s mind. They were not one in the same to him as they were to some older vampires, but they were highly correlated in his mind. He enjoyed inflicting pain, enjoyed the rush having someone at his mercy gave him. He also enjoyed sex; therefore combining the two... was an intoxicating proposition.

Lucius dragged his mind off that line of thoughts. Feeding from Lila had served many purposes. Yes it was to cause her pain for her failure, but in addition to that, he gained some of her strength. Strength that he sorely would to engage in a battle of wills and wits with this Sentinel. His feeding also of course had the aide benefit of erasing all signs that she had killed while feeding recently. There was no glow to her eyes, no signs she was on a power high from the kill. The adrenalin saturated blood from his former partner was now in his vanes, but it was somewhat diluted now, he would not show signs that a human had been drained either. This was all to the good.

A light smirk played along Lucius’s lips, for he knew that Lila would feel the hunger pangs soon. She would need to find pray, and if he caught his guess, if he felt her orah correctly she would need to feed soon. Poor poor Lila that he had taken so much from her. His smile widened. He always did enjoy watching Lila hunt, especially when she used her skills at seduction, rather than simply mesmerizing the human with her eyes. Perhaps watching her would improve his mood somewhat. Briefly he toyed with the notion of not allowing her to feed, but dismissed it almost as quickly. His lieutenant’s hunger would probably arouse just as much suspicion from the Sentinel as her high would have.

Vladimir moved quickly towards pleasures of the night. He faded from shadow to shadow, easily evading the sentries set on neighboring rooftops. They did not even see him, although one of them, from Vladimir’s guess probably a shape shifter shivered at his passing, probably picking up his unearthly energy. Vladimir was projecting that energy like a wave in front of himself, indeed making it an unspoken threat, a display of his power. He knew it was a little unnecessary, Alan’s quick death being no small testament to his skill. Even so, he thought it prudent to go into this meeting from a position of strength.

Vladimir walked openly over the last few dozen feet. Startling some of the sentries who had not even seen the newcomer until he was already past them. None made a move to stop him, or even challenge him. The non-human guards could feel his power and wanted nothing to do with it, and the humans seemed to be taking their cues from the shape shifters and vampires around them.

Even the vampire sentries were simply cannon fatter, not powerful by any means. They seemed to instinctually know that they could not handle this threat, and one turned quickly rushing into the club to find Lucius, rushing up to him, interrupting the master, who was busy watching Lila who had long since reemerged from the lady’s room.

“Sir, there seems to be someone approaching... I don’t know who he is boss, should I stop him?” the young vampire asked. This one was not even 10 years dead, but every vampire had his prized children, and the rest were just necessary evils. This creature was just that, a useful tool to further Lucius’s ends.

Lucious rubbed his chin absently, as if in deep contemplation. His eyes flicked to Lila and then back to that of the young vampire. His mocha complexion had been lighted a bit since the change, his eyes were an intriguing hazel. His head shone, bald in the dim lighting. A large tattoo of black flames licked up his neck, curling around the back of his neck and partially up his skull. “No.” he said, sitting back in the booth, looking bored and irritated. “I know who he is. He is a welcome guest here, I expect him to be treated as such.”

The young man nodded, then using a radio on his hip called to the other guards. “No Harm.” a crackle of static and then one by one was the “10-4.” from the detail. The man nodded and headed back to his post. His eyes moving to the young woman on the stage, a hint of lust and need surfacing on his face for only a second before being obliterated. The last thing Lucious needed this night was for another of his children to die. He wasn’t sure even a small loss like Shawn, the guard who was now returning to his post, would not be a breaking point.

Lila looked over her shoulder to Lucious, she could feel his eyes on her. She met his gaze, then cast her large green eyes down. She returned her attention to Kami, the young woman who had just finished her routine. Her bare breasts glistened with sweat and glitter as she moved from the limelight to the darkness. Kami was 19 and had been working for them for about six weeks. “Great set.” Lila said above the noise of the crowd and music.

“Thanks!” Kami said as she walked out onto the floor. Kami was a student at the University, studying nutrition. She wasn’t like the majority of the other dancers, she didn’t turn tricks. She only danced. Lila respected her for that. She did not bend her morals or her conscience for a buck. At only five foot tall, she was a good six inches shorter than Lila. Her hair was solid black with hot pink streaks accenting it. She wore her make-up very dark, her eyes were brown, but covered by bright blue contacts.

Lila felt the hunger beginning to gnaw at her. Her hands shook slightly as she raised one to curl a stray hair back over Kami’s ear. “Why don’t you get dressed and join father and I?” Everyone at the club assumed that Lila was really Lucious’ daughter and in a way that was true. He had created her, just not in the way every thought.. Kami would be good for a snack.

“Really?” Kami cast a glance over to Lucious, his attention elsewhere. It was apparent from the wistful glance she gave him, that she apparently had a crush on the elder. “Do you think it would be okay?” she asked as she looked back to Lila.

“Of course.” she said with a smile. Although, she really didn’t know if it would be okay or not. And for the moment, she didn’t really care. Lucious was already pissed off at her, she could see from the look in his eyes that he was already tallying up her punishment for being so negligent earlier. What did it really matter now? Besides, maybe this would prove to the Sentinel that they were okay with the general human population. That they were not all fuck-ups like her kin Alan had been.

“Cool.” the young woman said. “I’ve got another set in about half an hour, but I’ll come chill until they’re ready for me.”

“That will be fine.” she said. “I’ll get you a bottle of water.” she told Kami as the young woman turned heading backstage. She returned to the booth, sliding in beside Lucious. “I feel him, the Sentinel will be here soon, Lucious.”

Lucius seemed distracted but his eyes still never left Lila, after he’d sent that fool Sean away. The man was too stupid to realize what was approaching them. He should have let the fool go up against the sentinel; he figured it would be fun to watch the upstart put in his place. Not like it would be much of a fight, if the sentinel had dispatched Alan so easily.

That was something that troubled Lucius, Alan was no novice vampire. He was of master vampire power levels; even if he still served another master he technically hadn’t needed to. That meant that he should not have been so easy to kill. What did that suggest about the sentinel’s power level?

Behind Alan was Lila, although she had not reached master vampire power levels. It was the rare vampire that reached master vampire status before the age of 500, although some never reached that level. Some just did not have that kind of power potential. He had known an ancient Viking vampire who was as old as he, and would never be a master. He could tell that Lila would become a master vampire with time; her power was already great for her age. Alan had chosen to stay with Lucius even when he’d achieved master status, even though he no longer required the bond to a master to cause him to wake each day, he had stayed out of loyalty. He was not so sure that Lila would stay. He suspected that through his own actions he had pushed her towards leaving once she no longer required a bond to a master vampire to survive. He knew her loyalty to him went so far as for her to not seek out another master for the time being, but he suspected that this would not always be the case.

Lucius clenched his fists, Lila was His, and he would not let her go.

Seeing her approach, he tried to smooth his expression, but he was still irritated with her. He jerked his chin at the retreating girl, “What were you doing with her, playing with your food again? You work so hard to protect the poor human’s feelings. We have little time for you to play your little games. Taking a deep breath he tried to relax, He realized then that she had not fed without his permission and that pleased him, “Do you seek permission to feed?” he asked an almost sly tone coming into his voice his mind flashing onto a new path. “What will you do for the right to feed, my child?” he said a slightly lascivious tone edging into his voice. Lucius knew he really did not have time to do the things he really wanted to with Lila, but he thought to make her squirm just a little.

Lila shrank back from him a bit. Had she not already been on very thin ice with Lucius she may have told him to go fuck himself. But she was on very dangerous ground and not for the first time. Her hand came to rest on his thigh, her head laying on his shoulder. She inhaled deeply, she was intoxicated by him, her Master, her Maker, her Lover, her world. Yet, she despised him, everything he was…yet she was trapped. She knew that he was her heroin. She was not strong enough to not be with him.

Once, fifty years previously, she had attempted to leave, to run away. She had nearly died, unaware that the bond between a Master and his creation was so strong. She was like a tiny ant tossed onto an angry sea. Lila was foolish, thinking herself strong enough to leave and become her own Master. She had been wrong and it had nearly cost her her very existence. It was by his grace alone that she was still walking the earth.

“You do not want to raise the suspicion of Sentinel, Luscius.” she said as her lips pressed to the cool skin of his neck. She felt the muscles flex responsively under her kiss. Her cool breath tickled across his flesh as she spoke. “What will he think when he sees me in my weakened condition? He will know that something more than we are grieving the loss of Alan is afoot.” She pressed her lips once more to his neck, her hand moving up his thigh a bit more. “I will accept my punishment for my wrong doing, but I need to feed.” she said softly. Her voice was quiet, almost pleading with him.

“We shall see.” Lucius said quietly.

Lila raised her hand, looking to the bartender. Sam, the bartender came over to the table. His blonde hair was slung into a low pony tail. His blue eyes looked cold and dangerous in the dim lighting. “Bring a bottle of water over for Kami.” she said above the roar of the noise. “Also freshen our drinks.” Sam only nodded and within a moment had returned with a bottle of water and drinks for the two vampires.

Kami smiled at Sam as she came up to the table. She wore a school girl’s outfit. Short plaid skirt, knee highs, a button up shirt tied just above her navel and unbuttoned exposing the black push up bra she wore. Black heels completed the look, her black hair pulled into twin pigtails on either side of her head. “Hi guys.” she said quietly. Lucius gave her a sidelong glance, then scooted more to the middle of the round corner booth.

Lila smiled at the young woman, sliding out of the booth, letting her move between she and Lucius. Kami seemed thrilled at the prospect of sitting close to Lucius. She slid into the booth beside him, her hair bouncing playfully as she did so. “You dance wonderfully, Kami.” Lucius said in mock admiration. He admired her body, she was definitely something to look at, maybe even to fuck.

Lila opened the bottle handing it to Kami. She could feel the waves of nervous energy rolling off the young woman. Using her power, she dipped into her mind. She was awestruck by the handsome Lucius. She kept having a reoccurring fantasy of him bending her over the desk in his office. His cock repeatedly slamming into her pussy, her begging for more, calling him daddy. Lila shuddered at the vision. She was just the kind of girl Lucius liked.

Lucius found himself growing irritated at Lila’s continuing antics with the human. Why would she not just feed and get it over with. They had not the time for this flirtatious game. He also took note of how her actions had put the human between them, affording her some distance from him. He fumed inwardly his cold eyes on Lila, promising her much hurt for her behavior.

“We are glad to have you as a valued employee.” Lucius said to Cami, trying to keep his irritation with Lila out of his tone of voice. He might not care anything for the, in his estimation, young girl, at least not at this time. However, he had to pretend that he did.

In another time and place things might have been different; Lucius often liked his women young, his eyes flicking to Lila again, who physically did not appear much older than Cami. On another night he might have even seduced and taken the girl, perhaps even sharing her with Lila. The image of both of them feeding on either side of the woman’s neck as their other hands pleasured her flashed through his mind, and he again squashed that thought not having the time to entertain such fantasies.

A noise at the door caused him to look up, and in that instant he knew their time had run out.

Vladimir found his process hindered by several sentries, who seemingly just wanted to make friends with him. He recognized this as a delaying tactic on the part of Lucius. He was half tempted to destroy these cat’s paws, for troubling him. However, reason stayed his hand. More than likely their master had not even told them what they were up against.

Growing frustrated with the overwhelming wave of politeness, Vlad finally placed the back of one of his hands against the bald vampire, Sean’s shoulder and swept him aside, and in a few short strides was at the door to Pleasures of the night.

Vladimir stood in the doorway silhouetted against the night beyond, as if a shadow spawned by the greater shadow beyond. His eyes found Lucius in his corner even before the master of the city even waved for his attention. It was like their power were magnets drawing his attention. Vladimir leaned almost casually against the doorway for a long heartbeat before beginning to glide forward.

As he approached, he seemed to melt from shadow to the true shape he was. He was dressed in an outfit that seemed to be trying to find the middle ground between formal and casual. He wore high black boots. His tight black jeans which cupped and moved with his every leg muscle disappeared into the tops of those boots. His legs were long, like that of a runner, or in this case, predator. Atop that he wore a tight black dress shirt that again was tucked into the jeans; although how he had managed it was anyone’s guess. When he smiled, it showed no real humor. Nor did it show any hint of fang. The older vampires could do that, it took years of practice, but it could be mastered. Even though the fangs of most vampires retracted when not feeding and only extended to full length during feeding, they could still give a vampire away if they were not careful, for they never retracted fully.

Lucius seemed frozen in place as the Sentinel approached. He had originally planned to not rise and greet the sentinel formally as a small sign of disrespect, but now he seemed frozen. It would almost seem to the perceptive Lila, that Lucius was afraid. He had known the Sentinel that would approach them was powerful, but unable to identify the flavor of the power’s approach, he had not known which Sentinel came to them. Although he had never met this one personally, the stories about him were legendary. Not only was he a sentinel, but to all intents and purposes, he was “The Sentinel” their leader, the oldest of them. All this and more flooded through Lucius’s mind. This was one of those times when he wished that Lila could read his thoughts as easily as she could scan most humans. Alas she could not.

Clearing his throat Lucius spoke, “Lord Vladimir, it is an unexpected pleasure to have you in my humble establishment.” He had to be careful of what he said with Cami sitting right beside him. If he was not careful what he said, Vladimir could very well kill him right now for exposing their world to her. Suddenly Lila’s decision to have the human close did not seem such a bad idea, for the sentinel was bound to the same rules he held others to.

Vladimir slowly flicked his attention from Lucius to the others at the table. His eyes brushed over Cami, but lingered on Lila, sweeping her from head to foot, reading her orah as well as her looks. He felt drawn to her power too. He could instinctively tell that she was the most powerful being in the room behind himself and Lucius, and he recognized, perhaps a force to be reckoned with. His gaze was probing, almost invasive, as black eyes studied her.

“Yes,” Lucius continued, “And this is my associate and Child Lila, she was just going to take young Cami here to sign the papers approving Cami’s raise,” Weren’t you M’dear?” he said quickly, thinking on his feet, knowing that if he did not dismiss the human Vladimir would become suspicious that he was using the girl for a shield. The dismissal would also Allow Lila to feed and return to him at full strength.

“She will return of course then?” Vlad said, for the first time speaking, his voice low in volume, and deep in tone, lightly accented, a rich baritone. Vladimir sensed something out of place here, and wanted this female close too; for he instinctively knew she was mixed up in all this too. Despite his voice’s low volume, no one at the table could miss it, his voice almost made people want to listen. Almost as if he was seducing the listener with his voice alone.

Lucius rapidly nodded his head in agreement to Vladimir’s half request half order, for what real choice did he have against that demand. He did not wish a fight with one such as Vladimir, not yet anyway.

“Do Hurry Lila.” He said waving them off, signaling her to Take Cami who seemed totally ignorant of the deadly undertones to the byplay going on around her.

Lila kept her eyes averted, sitting quietly on the other side of the young woman. Had she ever been like that, so carefree, so casual with every aspect of her life, her body? Here she was, only 19 years old, dressed scantily in the middle of a club. She seemed as at ease as a librarian in amongst the stacks of literature. How could she be so nonchalant? Lila had never been that way. She had never been that comfortable in her own skin, not as a human. She had never been truly comfortable until the night that Lucius had taken her, created her anew in his likeness.

She had been the age that Kami now was. Her life had been difficult and at 19, nearly 20, she was already middle aged. People did not live long in those days. Children died at birth, mothers were only children themselves. Marriages took place to those only in their Mid-Teens, starting families to work the fields. But she had been born and raised in the city to a poor servant girl, her mother, Claire. At the ripe old age of fourteen, her mother had given birth to her. Life had been difficult for Claire before the unfortunate birth of her daughter, afterwards it was nearly impossible.

For a time, the man that Claire worked for allowed her to both care for her daughter and care for the manor house in which they resided. But soon the exchange of sex for a roof over their head became to much. Lila was seven when they had started living on the streets and her mother had died by the time she was 10 from pneumonia. There was no time for Lila to grieve the loss of her mother, she had to survive. Begging, stealing and sleeping in the streets and in churches on especially cold nights. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to survive.

Years later, Lucius came to save her, but at the time, it had seemed like he had damned her. A life of eternal night. He abused her and from time to time, she was his personal punching bag. At other times, she was his most precious and cherished possession...but that’s what she always was, a possession. Alan had been there, always loyal to his Master, never openly rebelling against him. But Alan had been kind to her, at times. At other times he could be a complete bastard. It was a like father, like son mentality.

Even now, as she sat here, remembering Alan as he had been, as he was before the Sentinel had been dispatched to eradicate him; her heart ached for her lost kindred. Yes, there were times when he treated her poorly, like Lucius whore, not like his child, she hated him. But there were other times, like when she had ran away and he had helped nurse her, so compassionately, back to health. That was the Alan she missed, the one she loved like a brother. He had his flaws, a thirst for young blood, which of course was highly illegal, even among vampires. But why should one man be judge, jury and executioner? It seemed unfair that only one person would should hold all the cards and judge only on what they knew to be a black and white evil. There were shades of grey.

The first thing she felt was the surge of energy from the vicinity of the door. It rolled over her like a tidal wave. There was a darkness there, a percussion of movement without sound. It was like the rumble of the bass from a stereo speaker. You can feel the energy, even if you can’t see it. She could feel the power before she could see him and it was awe inspiring. Lucius was the oldest and most powerful vampire she’d ever known, ever been around. But she had never in her life known anything like this.


She smirked as she watched him lean causally against the door frame. It was as if he owned the place. The action seemed as natural as breathing to a mortal. He had a casual grace that no only radiated true power, but a confidence that was addictive. She wished that she could be that sure of herself, that she could have that air. No wonder Lucius was scared nearly to death, this one possessed what he didn’t. He was self assured that no one could match him. Kami was chattering away, ignored by both the vampires that flanked her, other than the occasional nod.

As he approached the table, she could make him out more clearly. He was tall, lean and muscular. His hair was long and ebony, tied in a leather thong at the base of his skull. He seemed to melt and rematerialize as the lights changed in the club. He was eerie apparition, a ghost of flesh and blood, slinking in the shadows only to reform in the light. Like all vampires, he was graced with supernatural speed and grace. He was not using this gift, perhaps in an attempt to divert attention. But she thought the real reason was to add to the suspense of the moment. All eyes seemed to be on him from the grand entrance he’d already made.

He stopped in front of the table and her eyes inched up his torso, taking in the chiseled physique. He was, at the very least, nice to look at. She lifted her eyes to meet his, holding a air of confidence that was not usual to her. Lucius stammered a greeting to him, obviously made very nervous by the Sentinel. But Lila could understand why this one made her Master so nervous. She wondered if he was an ancient, one even older than her Master? It was an intriguing thought. She’d never met anyone who was more powerful that Lucius, but here he was.

Her attention was drawn by the sudden bouncing movement in the booth beside her. She looked, just in time to see Kami throw her arms around Lucius and emit a high pitched squeal of delight. She searched the girls thoughts for the reason for this strange reaction and instantly picked the words “a raise” and “more money”. She raised and eyebrow to Lucius was completely ignoring her. She watched as he pried the arms from around his neck, looking worriedly to Vlad and then to Lila.

“Yes.” She said quickly, taking Kami’s hand. “A raise.” She slid from the booth still holding onto the young girls hand. She gave Vlad a cool glare, driving daggers at him with her vibrant green eyes. She disliked him, hated him. If not for Vlad, she would not have to worry about the consequences of her earlier mistake. Lucius would not be thinking of new and unusual forms of torture for her to endure. Kami pulled her close for a hug and had Lila been breathing, the wind would have been knocked from her by the fierce embrace. Pushing the girl back gently, she lead her away from the table and back to the long hallway.

The office was empty now of the body that she had left earlier. She was quietly relieved that she would not have to expend more of her waning energy not to wipe the girls memory. She waited until the door quietly clicked close behind them. She turned to Kami, a sly smile curving her lips as cupped Kami’s cheek. She held Kami’s eyes with her own, pushing her power forward and into the young woman. “You will return to your set after you leave the office. Lucius didn’t mention a raise, he said that you were to help me.” Her voice was low and husky as she leaned into the woman, her lips brushing along her jaw.


There was a soft whimpering noise from Kami, then the soft sighed, “Yes.” Her eyes closed in that moment, as she gently tilted her head to the side, exposing the creamy line of her throat. Her power radiated into the woman, compelling her to comply completely. Her lips moved down as Lila held the young woman close, pressing them against the pulsing vein just below the surface of her skin.

She gently sank her fangs into the tender throat of the woman. A small gasp escaped her, replaced by a purring sigh. The ambrosia that flowed freely from the young girl into her waiting mouth instantly revitalized her. This would not be a kill, there would not be the usual glow of her vivid green eyes that accompanied the killing of a mortal. She controled her urge, the darkness that beaconed for more as she broke her lock that she had on the woman. Biting into her own tongue, she let her blood drip onto the open wounds, closing them instantly.

She righted Kami, kissing her cheek softly. “Thank you, my dear. You have been a tremendous help.” Kami, still in a dreamlike trance touched her hand. She nodded, turning and leaving the office quietly. Wiping her mouth with a tissue she retrieved from Lucius’ desk, she reapplied her lipstick, checking for tell-tale stains on her white teeth. Nothing showed. She returned to the table, hoping that all was well between the two men whom she had left behind.

Vladimir’s gaze appraised the female vampire, the one they called Lila. He could sense her enmity and figured it was to be expected, even if at the same time it was unexpected. His eyes followed her as she rose. She would bear watching or so he thought to himself. Some instinct told him that she had the potential to be more dangerous than Lucius. Oh by all means, Lucius had more power than her by far. However, her potential was greater than Lucius’s would ever be. In essence she showed the hints that she would one day far outshine her creator in power levels.

He took a moment as well to admire her beauty. Vladimir did not often trouble himself with such concerns, often considering pleasures of the flesh to be a weakness. However, he also was still male, and could afford to appreciate the sight before him. Lila was beautiful, in such a dark and deadly way. Yet, her orah was mixed, she radiated strength, yet he could read that much of that was bravado. Perhaps her confidence masked a deeper fear or some other form of emotional turmoil.

As she stepped away he redirected his attention back to Lucius. “Alan is dead.” He said softly his tone devoid of emotion. He did not sit at the table, merely stood before it. The display of power was not missed by Lucius, for the position forced him to look up at the Sentinel.

Realizing that he was engaging in somewhat petty displays of one –upmanship, Vladimir took the seat that sat across from Lucius. The clever city master had positioned himself so his sentinel guest would have his back to the club. Vladimir did not hesitate to sit there though. He did not fear any attack from anything or anyone else in that room. He had assessed the barkeep as a minor threat only. That left only Lucius and Lila as the primary threats, and he was confident that he could sense her return.

Lucius nodded to his words, playing along with the sentinel’s statement of the obvious. “I trust there was a good reason?” Lucius dared to say.

Vladimir was surprised by Lucius’s boldness. Not many were brave or foolish enough to question the judgment of a sentinel. He raised a hand and made a chopping motion in the air cutting off Lucius’s sentence cleanly. “You can trust that he was judged fairly and executed in all accordance with the laws of Blackstone.”

Lucius did not really have anything to say to that. For what could he honestly say, especially when Vladimir invoked that all too important name. The sentinels were not the council themselves, but were its enforcers. No one knew exactly all the members of Blackstone, for they were often shifting, their number not even set. Therefore the possibility that Vladimir could have been a part of it was not completely beyond the realm of the plausible. However, it was highly unlikely. This was especially so, due to Vladimir’s openness about his duties as Sentinel, as the oldest Sentinel in fact.

Before he could respond, Lucius saw Lila’s approach. He waved her over, as if she was not already returning to his side, his confidence growing with the return and proximity of his child.

Vladimir did not turn to face the return of Lila, merely turned his head, flicking his black eyes over her and then back to Lucius. Curiously he could tell from the rosiness to her cheeks that she had just fed. He found that curious that she had not fed earlier in the night, as it was nearing dawn. If she had not fed upon rising, then why had he not sensed more of her hunger? Surely it would have beaten at him in that case. On the other hand, if she had fed this evening upon rising, then what need did she have to feed again so soon? Vladimir filed it along with the many other unanswered questions about this whole situation.

Vlad returned his attention to the present situation as Lila slid into the seat beside him, to his left, and to Lucius’s right, on the edge of the semi-circular booth, which Lucius sat in the middle of. Vladimir held the chair directly opposite the leader. The booth had room to seat at least 4 if not 5 or 6, but it held for now only their three.

“Vladimir was just informing us of how Alan died, and the reasons for which judgment was rendered.” Lucius said filling Lila in on the present situation, and it was telling on the tenseness between the two males, that in the time of her absence, no more had been said. That Vladimir had not even gotten to the reason for the judgment suggested the amount of male territorial pissings as it were had been quite high. Even if she had not been gone long, one would have thought they would have been further along by now.

Vladimir nodded curtly, “As you should have been aware, your child Alan had become an indiscriminate killer.” Lucius actually bristled at those words and seemed ready to protest but Vladimir again made the chopping motion in the air cutting him off. “The needless killing of over 20 humans.” Vladimir said his tone low, purposeful, striking through any possible rebuttal like a knife through butter. “And those 20 being only the ones that the human law enforcement are aware of. “The descriptions from some of those crime scenes suggested he was not only a serial killer but a sexual sadist, who combined his two loves in an orgy of killing.” He said, his firm tone never wavering, the words absolutely chilling and quite graphic.

Vladimir’s eyes even flicked to Lila at the words “Sexual Sadist” and then back to Lucius. Seeing how close many vampire Kisses were, that look was indicative of Vladimirs curiosity if either had first hand experience with this form of Alan’s nature. Did either have carnal knowledge of Alan, did either know of his nature, of his threat to the humans?

“Since when is it our problem to care what is done to humans.” Lucius dared to ask Vladimir.

If possible Vladimir’s eyes darkened even further, “Arousing the suspicion of human law enforcement could potentially expose us all.”

“But if they were killed as any human serial killer would.” Lucius dared to continue down his folly.
Where Vladimir got them was unimportant in light of what they showed. “Here and here.” He said pointing at two in particular. As a whole they showed the various victims, graphically and with detail that was already burned into Vladimir’s mind. However the two he pointed out were the most interesting to the Sentinel. For it showed close-ups of what were obviously vampire bites on a dead victim’s neck. “More than one of the victims were found drained thusly, before or after they were mutilated is unknown, but the evidence speaks for itself.” And indeed the evidence was damning. It was outlawed to kill this needlessly of humans; it was highly frowned upon to kill while feeding, even if not totally outlawed. However the combination in this case, in such a sloppy public manner, showed that there had been no choice regarding Alan’s fait. Vladimir’s entire delivery was done devoid of all surface emotion, however the intensity with which he presented the facts to them suggested there were strong emotions buried under that facade.

Vladimir let the words the facts hang in the air for a long moment before he spoke again this time his words cutting through the silence like a whip crack, “How is it that neither of you knew about this? Or did you know and did nothing?” he asked his voice cold. “Should I assume you were all apart of this and call for the extermination of your entire kiss?"

She could feel the tension between the two older vampires, not only feel it, but see it. There was a standoff between the two males, one trying to best the other one in a show of dominance. If the circumstances hadn’t been so dire, she might have laughed aloud. But with the current pissing process taking place, she knew that it was not a smart move. It might very well be that last thing that she did.

Lila slid into the booth beside Lucius, her hand instantly moving to cover his. It was a sure display of stability, of a solid front. Yes, right now, at this moment things were strained between the two of them; but that was no reason by Vlad needed to know that. “I see.” she said quietly, after Lucius had informed her what was going on between the two.

She gave a compassionate hand squeeze to her Master. “As you are well aware, Lord Vladamir, the link between the creator and his prodigy is very strong. We all felt the loss when our Alan met the final death.” She looked from Lucius to Vlad and then back again. “But I assure you” her voice hinted on anger “we were in the dark about Alan’s extra-curricular activities.”

Her eyes lifted back to hold Lucius. They were black like tar, an inky darkness that held her entranced. She felt his power crash over her once more like a tidal wave, pounding across her flesh. How old was he? Was the fact that he was a Sentinel make him so powerful? The power made her skin crawl, made her heart race, made her feel alive; more alive than she had felt in centuries.

Lila looked away from Vlad. Her loyalty to her Maker was undeniable. Yes, she was in for a severe punishment, but he was all she had. And she was all he had. “I can assure you, Lord Vladamir, had we been aware of Alan’s fondness for violence, then we would have taken actions to stop him.”

Lucius looked fondly at Lila. There was a barely perceptible glow to her now. A inner light was shinning, that had not been there before. He could feel the warmth of her touch, the smoothness of her hand. He knew that she had fed once more, but not killed this time. He could feel her strength returning, feel her wholeness returning to her where he had taken from her.

“Yes, Lord Vladamir.” he spoke indignantly. “I do hope that you’re not insinuating that we could keep anything from the Blackstone.” His hand slid from Lila’s, laying his own across the photos and pushing them back toward the Sentinel. In truth he knew and did hide Alan from the group, protected his child from the Madness that had overcome him. And how could he not, the sickness had infected him, as it did some Vampires. There had been no cure, only an attempt to control. Each indiscretion had been dealt with and taken care of. The crimes had been made to look like gang attacks, like random acts of violence, robberies gone wrong and the like. No would ever be traced back to the anyone in the Vampire community.

Alan had been his first creation, Lila his second. He would protect them like a lion protecting the Pride. He would not allow someone else to clean up the mess that his child had made. He had righted the problem, controlling Alan as best he could. But of course, there were mistakes. There were always slip-ups. Alan could not help that he had been sick, that his mind was lost in a sea of insanity.

Vladimir was well aware of the fact they could have felt Alan’s death, even so Lila’s first words came as a surprise to Vladimir. Was this one not aware that when a powerful vampire was put down, the master was formally informed of his death and the circumstances surrounding it? He arched an eyebrow at her. Unsure if she was insinuating that he was stupid for stating the obvious, or else just that ignorant of the higher vampire customs. He immediately revised his mental assessment of her age. He had assumed by her power levels that she was close to master vampire status, which would make her at least 4 to 5 hundred years old. Yet her ignorance of custom suggested either a younger age, or terrible education by her master. His eyes flicked back to Lucius and his mind conceded that this was likely, seeing who her master was.

This meant though, if he was to assume she was younger, her power levels were staggering for anyone younger. Of course all that speculation would be null if she had just meant her words as insult of that custom rather than ignorance. He mentally schooled his thoughts, this line of reasoning only raising more questions than it answered.

His eyes went back to Lila as she spoke yet again. His respect for her went up and inversely, his respect for Lucius went down that his second was talking for him. He highly doubted that neither had been completely ignorant of their associate’s behavior. However, he was unsure which of them had known of his actions, which had been working to cover it up.

Vladimir’s eyes held Lila’s for a long moment, both measuring each other. She looked away first, but to turn her attention to Lucius as he spoke, rather than in submission to the Sentinel. Even if one of them did know, Vlad was unsure if either would have taken actions to stop him.

As Lucius spoke, sounding almost defensive where Lila seemed outwardly calm, Vladimir began to suspect which of the two had known the most about Alan’s behavior, and helped to facilitate the cover-ups. He strongly suspected that Lila had known at least some of it, but his instinct told him that Lucius had known much more. Vladimir gathered up the photos making them disappear into the pouch once again.

“You will of course accommodate me for my stay.” He said recognizing that was truly as far as the conversation would logically go at this point. He after all was not there to debate the rightness of his judgment against Alan. He asked for hospitality for two major reasons. The first being the dawn approached and he was unsure if he could make it back to where he was staying. The second being that Lucius did not dare refuse one such as him. There were edicts set down by Blackstone mandating Vladimir’s right to demand hospitality, and Lucius’s responsibility to provide it.

Lucius stiffened at the request, even though he knew he should have seen it coming. His hand visibly tightened on his wine glass and he wanted to give into his rage and throw it in the sentinel’s face like a petulant child, angry with its mother’s demand. He almost seemed ready to do just that when he felt Lila’s cool hand on his arm, gently squeezing and rubbing his tense muscles. That simple touch reminded Lucius where he was and just who he was dealing with.

Lucius nodded stiffly to Vladimir, “Of course “Lord” Vladimir.” He said emphasizing the man’s title, with an almost snide tone. His displeasure dripping from his almost sarcastic tone, “We certainly will be most pleased to accommodate such an honored guest as you.” He almost smirked at Lila, the beginnings of her punishment running through his head, his thoughts already moving beyond this meeting even if it had not formally ended yet. “Will you require companionship?” he asked, fake sincerity dripping from his tone, showing that he was mocking him yes but the offer could be sincere if Vlad so desired. “You will find our club full of fine beautiful dancers, or I could offer you the services of Lila herself it please you. She is quite skilled in the art of pleasing, be it man or woman... you would not be disappointed I assure you.” Lucius’s evil smile growing ever wider with each sentence he uttered.

Although not truly even tempted by Lucius’s offer, especially when offered in such a mocking derogatory manner, he still found his eyes drawn to again scrutinize Lila as Lucius mentioned her. She did indeed look like she was made for sex, painting almost the image of a dominatrix in her outfit. His green eyes searched hers trying to gage her reaction to Lucius’s words. It was a mark of her loyalty that she as yet had not objected. Finally Vlad spoke once again.

“I thank you for your overly generous offer.” He said his own tone reflecting more than a bit of sarcasm there. “And although I find your ladies beautiful, and Lila especially so.” This sentence surprisingly enough lacked no sarcasm. “I will have to decline your offer...at this time.” He knew that etiquette sort of required him to ad that last bit as a caveat, lest he insult Lucius’s offer. It did not matter whether the offer was genuine or not, Vladimir had to refuse in such a way that he did not insult the leader for making the offer.

Lucius could admit to himself that he was a bit disappointed at Vladimir’s polite refusal. He of course had expected that answer, however if he had accepted he would have loved to See Lila squirm a little. If he had said yes, would she have defied his orders? Would he have wanted her to so he could punish her further. All interesting questions to the manipulative leader. “Well if you change your mind we will be all too happy to accommodate you, won’t we Lila?” he said twisting the figurative knife a little deeper into his child.

Turning his attention to Lila fully he spoke, “You will show Vladimir to suitable guest chambers.” He knew well that she knew what chambers to take him to, “And not one of the working chambers, the rest chambers.” Almost insulting her intelligence, all part of his degradation of her intelligence due to his anger. “Do make sure he is comfortable; offer him any and every accommodation, perhaps you can convince him to partake of our full hospitality.” He said smirking at her before waving his hand dismissively indicating that he was done with her.

Vladimir was intrigued by this display of power interaction between parent and child, but said nothing, just letting it play out. He was a judge jury and executioner, but his jurisdiction did not cover something like this, much as he disapproved of it to himself. For all his outward acknowledgement of the conversation he might not have even heard it, although that was just the image he cultivated. In truth his perceptive senses missed none of the entire exchange.

Lila clenched her jaw tightly as Lucius offered her to the Sentinel. She held her tongue, angry with Lucius. He was, of course, trying to humiliate her; trying to distinguish and show their ranks to Vlad. She lifted an eyebrow as he offer of her company was declined. She felt a small pang of hurt as the Vlad spoke. What was wrong with her? She had been told on more than one occasion that she was extremely desirable. Was he gay? Did he not like women? And why the hell did she care?

She sat there, embarrassed and hurt. Here she was, trying to protect him, her Master. She was trying to portray a solid wall of defense. Instead he was undermining everything that she was trying to do. She dug her nails into the palms of her delicate hands, rage boiling within her. She felt blood seeping out around her fingernails as she tightened her fists. What was the old adage about airing dirty laundry? That’s exactly what he was doing? Normally, Lucius would have died before offering her to another. He would have only done so under duress. But his anger at her was causing him to want to twist the knife a little deeper. He wanted Vlad to believe Lila meant little to him.

“Of course, Lucius.” she said softly as she slid out of the booth. He infuriated her like no other. She would happily have staked him right there, had the Sentinel not returned the favor. Her gaze was cold as she looked at Vlad. “If you would please, follow me. I will take you to our guest quarters.” She lead him back through the hallway and into the office, not speaking. She could feel him behind her, pulsating with the power that was solely his. Her nerves were completely on edge, it truly bothered her that the man that had killed her would be older brother. To know that he might plant that very same stake into her back. His proximity to her made her ivory skin crawl.

Once they were both inside, Lila closed the door behind them. She touched an electronic panel to the left of the door face. The panel instantly outlined her hand instantly, then a whisper of sound accompanied the side wall sliding back revealing the stainless steel doors of an elevator. She thumbed the button with a small down arrow. Crossing her arms over her chest tapping the toe of her heeled boot impatiently. She cast a sidelong glance to Vlad, then quickly averted her eyes. She didn’t trust him, didn’t like him. It was his fault that she was going to get punished by Lucius, his fault that Lucius was acting crazy, his fault that Alan was even dead. Why the fuck did that have to be hospitable?

The doors before her slid open, taking with it their reflections on the shiny metal. She stepped forward, and pressed the button on the control panel for the basement. The doors slid shut behind them and the elevator made its way down. There was noticeable, deafening silence between them. Only the sound of their heartbeats resonated in the small space.

Their home lay directly beneath the club and the adjacent two buildings, all created in the bomb shelters from the a holdover from the days of war and fear. The space was vast, a subterranean mansion, all below street level. Lucius owned all three buildings, one housing the strip club, the next a low rent apartment complex and the third a storefront for a comic book store. Each provided them with a healthy income. Humans thought they were father and daughter, Lila handled much of the business portion of each, the bookkeeping and accounting. Lucius was more the figurehead. She controlled all three buildings, he looked pretty while she did it. It bothered her, because everyone assumed he was in charge. But every decision was hers to make, they were all just delivered through him.

Once more the doors slid open opening on a large marbled foyer. Two vampire guards stood on either side of the doors. “Welcome to our humble home, Lord Vladamir.” she said as she cast a hand around the room. Large columns rose to the ceiling, holding up the floor above. Intricate carvings were across the top of the ceiling and down the hall that was directly before them. She lead him from room to room, each very similar. They did not have a kitchen, the bathroom consisted of a large, enclosed glass shower and a sunken roman tub. There were seven guest room, along with quarters for the servants. Lila gave him a brief history on the artwork that was in each room, expensive originals, a few that had been “borrowed” from art museums.

She finally swung a door inward, flipping the switch on the wall. It was a simple room with a plain, pine casket in the middle. Protocol insisted they provide him a place to stay, no one said it had to be five star accommodations. The room was plain to say the least. She entered. “Here is your room, Lord Vldamir.” It was custom for a vampire to sleep in a bed, as long as during the day they were protected. All the other guest rooms had beds, as he had seen. This one was for unwelcome guests. She hoped that he was clued into that fact that she was not happy with his presence. “My suite is just down the hall and to the left.” She smirked, turning and grasping hold of the door knob. “Please, make yourself at home.”

Moments later, she was in her suite of rooms. Lucius and she did not share a room, each had their own. She preferred it that way, not that she had any other lovers than he. She just enjoyed her privacy. She quickly undressed, tossing her clothing into a hamper in the corner. Her hand moved to her shoulder, it was still tender to the touch, but completely healed over. Adjusting the water, she stepped under the cascaded of water, the heat instantly melting away her tension. The water licked at her skin, warming her from the outside in. All she had to do now was wait for Lucius, she had to wait for him to come to her and deliver his punishment.

Vladimir Followed behind Lila, as she led him through the club and into the back office. There were things the sentinel wished to ask this female when she was finally separated from her master, but did not think the time to do so was right. He was uncertain what to ask her. Why are you so loyal to him when he seems to have so little regard for you? Such was something he could ask, and yet he knew too that things were more than the way they seemed in this minute. Engaging in thin slicing, taking one aspect of a person and assuming they were always that way, could be folly here.

Therefore, he watched and listened as she told of the place and how it came to be. Her sentences short and clipped. He realized as the time went on that she saw him as the enemy. Justice, even when honestly and fairly dispensed as in this case, could be very hard to swallow. Even if she had known the extent of Alan’s crimes, he had been family, after a fashion. Vlad had seen similar occurrences before. He wasn’t exactly a stranger to hostile welcomes. It galled him to even need to ask for accommodations during this time, he could recognize that he was not welcome here. Yet it was in his rights to demand hospitality, and theirs to grant it.

When shown the room he was to sleep in his nostrils actually flared. He wanted to say something, to chastise her for her impertinence, her insolence and disrespect. He merely smirked, accepting she had won this round of one-upmanship they were playing. However he would certainly not let more than that instant flash of annoyance show on his face. This was politics, and he had just been thoroughly outfoxed, and he respected her for her spirit. His smirk growing wider he spoke, “Just like home, looks cozy.” He said his tone veritably dripping with sarcasm. In all honesty Vladimir was old, he had been forced to sleep in everything from caves, and to hole’s he dug in the ground, so this could have been worse. “At least there are no places I can be ambushed from.” He said looking at the bare walls. However he doubted she heard him for she was already leaving. “It will be nice to know where your rooms are, encase I change my mind about Lucius’s offer.” He said even as the door closed. Vladimir, petty as it seemed, felt vindicated that he had had the last word, even if she had not heard him. Dropping into a cross-legged posture, Vladimir began to meditate. He centered himself, beginning to mentally work through the kill he had made that night, and the situation he found himself in now.


Lucius watched Lila lead Vlad away, his thoughts already turning to other matters. He did not totally dismiss the sentinel from his thoughts, but there was little could do about the meddler this night.

Lucius could feel the dawns approach and knew it would be almost two hours before sunrise. This would give him plenty of time for his fun.

For although his thoughts had shifted away from Vladimir and his meddling, they still focused on Lila. She had slightly redeemed her earlier error with his business associate, by how well she had handled the sentinel upon his arrival. However, Lucius still wished to put the defiant slut in her place. This night had been hard on Lucius, and the thought of losing himself in Lila’s body sounded quite appealing. A dark smirk creased his features as he left the table in the bar a while later, his steps leading him to Lila’s chambers.

He came upon her stepping from the shower, her voluptuous form rapped securely in a towel, her deft hands using a second to dry the long red waves, which looked even darker in the dim light and being wet. Lucius’s eyes were already full of a dark lust as he stood there in the doorway. He leaned against it, almost like Vladimir had earlier that night. However, he couldn’t pull it off as easily as Vlad did. Nevertheless he still looked angry and threatening.

Seeming to realize that he didn’t look quite as intimidating as he wanted, he stood up straight looming over the smaller vampiress, who lost about 4 inches without her boots on, making him almost a head taller than her. Although he was no where as physically imposing as vlad, something he was consciously aware of, the sentinel still in his mind, he still both outmatched her in height and weight.

Lucius spoke not a word but he moved with that preternatural speed of the vampire. He might not have the grace of Vladimir, but he was just as fast. He caught her by her long red hair, yanking her back from the mirror she was using to see her reflection, and also look at his approach behind her. His tug bent her neck back at an awkward angle, forcing her back to bow back even as he hauled her body against him. The sudden jerk causing her towel to fall away, her full breasts jutting out obscenely now due to the angle he held her.

His mouth was close to her ear as he held her head back at that punishing angle, her shoulders pressed to his chest. Lucius pulled even harder, actually bring her up onto her toes, the incredible angle meant to cause the most amount of unbalance and muscle strain.

Lucius’s now extended fangs scraped along the porcelain skin of her now very exposed throat, as he held her in this position of total submission and helplessness. So far back had he pulled her that he watched her hands flail at the air trying to find something for stability.

He did not strike, did not drink from her, that would merely maker too weak, and he needed her to have some energy left. His eyes traveled hungrily down her now exposed body. He could see her body silhouetted perfectly in the mirror and when he looked down at her.

He re angled her head slightly, letting the pressure off her hair enough for her head to come down far enough to see the two of them in the mirror. He still held her back arched but he wanted her to watch this. His free hand came up his darker skinned hand covering her breast, squeezing it. Finding her nipple, he pinched and twisted it roughly, wanting to hear her whimper in pleasure.

He loved this about her, she pretended to hate this, but long familiarity with her told him if he were to slide his hand down her stomach to that shaven mound, he would find her soaking.

“Your body betrays you.” He growled in her ear, “Look at how your body reacts to my touch, to the fear.” He said, his fingers twisting her very hard nipple brutally, trying to elicit yet another whimper of pain.

Lucius loved that she enjoyed the pain he gave to her, he always had, however it always pushed him to greater and greater heights, especially when he was angry with her, for he did not want her to enjoy this, he wanted her to hurt. Abruptly, he stepped back no longer supporting her, his foot casually kicking her legs out from under her, causing her to fall backwards to the ground onto her butt, however, he never let go of her hair, the sudden fall yanking her hair hard, jerking her head up.

“On your knees my child.” He sneered, “You know you’re only good for one thing, show me what it is.” He pulled down on her hair making her look up at him as he bent over slightly his eyes meeting hers, “Please me, and maybe I won’t make it worse on you.” He said his voice low and dark.

Lila wrapped the plush town around her lush form before stepping from the glass enclosure. The air was cool, however she didn’t feel it. Unless the temperature change were drastic, she wouldn’t notice or even be effected. Retrieving another towel she began to dry the locks of her hair, tilting her head to the side, rubbing through the thick mass. She wondered absently how Vlad was doing, not that she really cared. She hoped he was uncomfortable and cramped in the pine coffin.

She felt Lucius’ eyes on her. She knew what was coming and knew as well that she was powerless to stop it. She watched as he stood awkwardly in the door, leaning against the frame, just as Vlad had upon entering the club upstairs. He did not have the same confident air as Vlad did. Lord Vladamir had a over blown sense of self, he was arrogant and self-assured. Anger flared in her as she thought of his pompous nature. However her anger was short lived as within the blink of an eye Lucius was looming behind her.

She didn’t even have time to open her mouth to speak before his hand was knotted into her wet hair. Jerking hard, he had her on her tip toes, the towel falling away. She gasped at the sudden pain in her scalp. Tingling heat coursed a line through her stomach to the suddenly aching sex nestled between her shapely thighs. She whimpered as she felt the soft graze of his fangs against her throat; the precarious position causing the muscles in her neck and upper back to ache.

This was nothing new to either of them. Lucius had always been one for darker tastes, as were many vampires. If he wasn’t making her scream in pleasure, pain filled howls would do just fine. But this was the life she had always lived, even as a mortal woman, men who were into pain often visited her. She had been conditioned to enjoy the pain that men would inflict upon her.

Lucius knew this about her, after all, he had discovered her very near death, tied to a bed. The man with whom she had been had decided he liked it when she turned red as he choked her. She could remember the feel of his thick fingers around her throat, the feel of his hard cock driving into her over and over as he squeezed her airway closed. She fought against him, riding him harder in her struggles. Darkness had begun to creep just as she had seen the flurry of movement behind him. His screams of pain and agony were the last thing she had heard as a mortal.

She had awakened three nights later lying in Lucius’ arms. His hands were in her hair, like now, but so much more gentle. He had kissed her forehead, telling her over and over again that there had been no other way. That she was safe and would be forever more. His kindness had been short lived, but in those first few days, she had both loved and loathed Lucius.

His fingers found her already hard nipples as she watched him in the mirror. Her full breast heaved as she groaned. The feel of her nipples hardening further as he twisted and pulled at the sensitive budding flesh caused liquid heat to spill from her sex. She moaned louder, her knees nearly buckling as he twisted her nipple harder. Her thighs were already slick with desire.

She flailed as he stepped back and before she knew what had happened, she had busted her ass on the hard tiled floor. She cried out in shock, pain and anger. His hand was still wound tightly in her hair as he pulled her forward. Lila looked up at him as he spoke, her eyes narrowed and cold as she reached for his belt. He knew that she enjoyed this, almost as much as making love; the darkness of these acts had been instilled and cultivated in her, this was who she was, who she chose to be.

Her hand quickly slid this dress slacks down over his hips, along with the silk boxers he wore. His thick cock was already hard as she wrapped her delicate red tip fingers around the pulsing shaft. She could see a thin sheen of precum coating the head of his cock. Her mouth watered at the sight. Tentatively her skilled tongue jutted forward, caressing the head of his hard cock. She looked up at him as she slowly pulled the head past her full lips. She moaned softly around him as her hand curled around him, stroking his cock in a slow, circular motion. Her other hand moving down to caress his balls.

Lucius stood there as Lila quickly began to undress him. He smirked just a little. Despite the anger he could see in her eyes, she still rushed to do what he had bid her to do. He knew she enjoyed this. She enjoyed his cruelty. In his mind he could not understand the demons within her. He could not understand the twin natures of her that both loved and hated him. So, to him it was all a game. He thought that she merely pretended to dislike these things. He would have thought she pretended to like them, but he could easily see her body’s physical excitement, when he forced her like this.

He felt her hand on his newly exposed cock. He could feel the sensations of her smooth skinned fingers and palm sliding the length of his shaft. He had a less than averaged length cock, but it was decently thick. Thick enough that her lips were slightly stretched out as she slowly engulfed the head of him.

He could feel her skilled tongue circle his head in her mouth as she slowly slid forward. Her hand moved slowly stroking him in tandem with her mouth, as her free hand stroked over his balls. He loved the feeling of those hands, her nails teasing his sensitive flesh. Over 200 years of experience had given her the skill and knowledge to turn this simple act into an art form. Each and every small touch could seduce and tantalize, making Lucius want even more.

As much as he loved watching her have that little bit of control over her situation. As good as it felt to let her do things her way, for it indeed felt beyond amazing, this was supposed to be about control. In this case, she was not to be the one with any control. This was supposed to be a punishment, not a simple act of sharing pleasure. He slowly began to take control again, reminding her who was the one in charge here. His hand tugged on her hair again, using it as a way to remind her the entire time that she was being punished. Her hair still curled around his hand, he placed the palm of that hand against the back of her head. He did not shove her down roughly. He did it slowly, not really to give her time to prepare for what was to come, but rather to let her fear of what was to come build. He knew one of her greatest fears was breath control, as she had died as a mortal during asphyxia play. She technically did not need to breathe, but Lucius loved to torture her by putting her in positions that would be reminiscent of choking or breathlessness. What he sought to do now was one of his favorites. Although at times it was more fun to do it to a human, who would actually be deprived of breath, the fear it instilled in Lila was almost the same affect.

He pushed her inexorably down. Inch by inch. He pressed her down until her hand met her hand and kept pressing. She soon had to move her hand so she could take more. He pressed until he hit her gag reflex. He could feel her trying to relax. He wondered if she was afraid yet. His lips twisted into a dark smile, as he felt her throat working around him as she consciously tried to relax her muscles. She had control over it normally, and was skilled at deep throating. He loved stealing that control from her. Make her afraid that once he got all the way in that he would stay there, make her think she was suffocating all over again. Just as he felt her relax a little, he pushed in more, not letting her adjust fully.

“Take it all you little whore.” He said in a low dangerous tone. “Know that I made you, and I can do what ever I want to you.” This next step in her punishment was meant to be psychologically damaging more than physically. And Lucius loved how it contrasted with the physical violence he had shown earlier.

Lila moaned softly around his cock as she slid him through her crimson colored lips. She looked up at him, her emerald green eyes holding his as her skilled tongue tasted and teased the hard cock in her mouth. She knew he loved her mouth, loved the feel of her tongue sliding across his hard flesh, loved the teasing suction on her tightly stretched lips. She held his balls, then slipped a finger behind them, lightly playing her fingers across the sensitive area behind them.

A sharp tug at the back of her skull and then the slow progression of him forcing her head forward, his thick cock filling her mouth. Panic flooded her, even as the tiny voice in the back of her head reminded her that she didn’t need to breath. She instantly tensed, trying in vain to pull away, to halt progress, but his hand was insistent. Her death had come 250 years previous, but the circumstances still haunted her.

She released his cock as he pushed her head forward. Her hands came up to either thigh, attempting to push him back, but he took much pleasure in her fear. His thick shaft slide into and nestled into her throat. She gagged, fighting against him. She heard him speak and her blood ran cold. She whimpered as her the muscles of her throat convulsed around him. Panic surged through her as the realization that she couldn’t breath washed over her.

Her nose was pressed against his pelvis, her chin rubbing his balls as she tried to free herself from the vice like grip of his hand. “That’s right, my little whore, you like that don’t you.” he asked her, a note of cruelty in his voice. He could see the fear in her eyes, feel it radiating from her as she pushed furiously against his legs. He loved the look in her eyes, he had seen it the night he had created her. She had only been seconds away from death, the ruffian was pounding away at her, blood was seeping from her nose, her face a violet color as she struggled to get away. Fear saturated her eyes as she fought, her fingernail gouging her own flesh as she tied to pry his hands away.

Lucius had originally come to drain both of them. But the moment he saw Lila, he had been lost in the helpless terror in her eyes. The panic that she would soon meet her final judgment. He relished the look in her eyes, because at that moment, she had been truly owned by the man. Her life, her very existence had rested in his hands. The feel of her throat convulsing around him, the feel of her tongue working the sensitive spot on the underside of his cock; the look of the unrelenting fear in her eyes all were to much for him. With a loud groan he filled her throat with his seed, she swallowed without a choice.

He released the back of her head, as she crumbled to the floor. She lay her face against the cold tile floor as he stepped out of his pants. He knelt down beside her, pulling her up by her hair. “Such a good girl I have.” he said, his hand tight in her hair.

Lila pulled away from him, moving quickly. “Have I been punished sufficiently?” she asked, her voice cold as she glared at him.

Lucius felt her struggles, indeed felt fueled on by her panic. He could not hold back his release and finished in her throat, long before he wanted to. He then knelt beside her, intending to help her up.

Lucius was like that, he would hurt her and then would let himself be plagued by remorse for his cruelty, and would then seek to show her a little gentleness to make up for his crimes. They went like that back and forth often, in a twisted cycle of violence. He had intended to pick her crumpled form up and lay her gently on the bed and then leave. Of course he would not have pleasured her, but at least for her he wouldn’t have been hurting her anymore, but his seemingly gentler designs were not to be.

His face, which had gone soft, with his release, and the look of her lying helpless there, abruptly hardened again as she pulled away from him. She opened her smart mouth and his glare returned full force once more.

“Stupid whore, never know when to shut up do you?” he snarled backhanding her across that mouth of hers, cutting her lip on her own teeth. “I was done until you opened your mouth again. You like all this so much you wanted more didn’t you?” he asked backing her against the wall as he spoke, almost spitting each word into her face. Suddenly a dark smirk came over his lips. His hand plunging between her shapely thighs, worming between them, his strength forcing her to spread them to lessen the pain. His fingers plunged into her body roughly and came back out dripping her moisture. He held them up under her nose near her mouth, “Do you see this?” he said almost laughing with triumph, “You act all indignant, but you’re still a whore at heart. You enjoy what things I do to you.” His fingers pressed against her lips, and she knew if she did not open her mouth and take them in, he had no compunctions about breaking her teeth, something he’d done before, as a vampire they could and did grow back. He smiled as he forced her to take his fingers into her mouth, forced her to taste her glistening fluids, clear evidence of her arousal. Stepping back he grabbed her and threw her the 5 feet to the bed, and stalked towards her. “I think you should show me how much you enjoyed what I did to you.” He said that note of cruelty back in his voice. Although it sounded like a suggestion, it was clearly an order. She would know what he wanted, yet another fetish of his, was to make her prove how wanton she was, to watch her pleasure herself against her will. He waited to see if she would obey him, or if she would continue to defy him. He was betting she would not defy him again so soon, knowing that he could make things much worse for her.

“Be a good girl, show daddy what a little slut you really are.” This last was said mockingly. He did this to torment her. He knew that although she looked upon him as her creator, which was almost like a parent child relationship, she hated when he made her call him daddy Most of the time he saved that play for other girls he dominated, but did it to Lila on occasion, especially when he was particularly angry with her, or in a cruel mood.

She tasted the blood from her split lip, feeling it knitting together almost instantly. Her vision blurred and wavered for a second before she realized what was happening. She bit back a cry of pain as he forced her thighs apart. His fingers filled her, stretching her open. Lila had not worked the street long as a prostitute before her mortal death. She had retained the almost virginal tightness of her sex throughout the centuries. She knew that she had crossed the line. And he was right, she didn’t know when to back off and just let things lie. She always felt like she had to have the last word.

Her lips parted, accepting his fingers. She tasted her own arousal on them as she cleaned them. Her sweet ambrosia the forbidden fruit of her desire. She hated herself, hated him, hated everyone. She longed for it just to be over, but she could see by the gleam in his eyes he was just getting started. His ire was up, he now had something to prove. She was trembling with fear as he withdrew his fingers from her mouth. She tried to rise, but he picked her up, tossing her onto the bed before she could even blink.

She backed toward the headboard, pressing herself into it, slipping on the silk bed covers. “Please Lucius…”she began, her voice catching as she saw the darkness in his eyes. She cut her words off, knowing all to well that it was hopeless. That if she did not comply, if she did not do as he ordered, she would pay dearly.

Her trembling hands moved down to part her thighs. Her left hand moved up, caressing her breast as she looked at him. Her nipples hardened instantly as her plucked at the sensitive nipples, an involuntary moan escaped her. She hated this, humiliated as she slid the delicate fingers of her right hand between the engorged lips of her sex. She whimpered as her deft fingers found the hard nub of pleasure.

Lila’s legs fell open exposing her pussy fully to him. She twisted her nipple hard, sending another river of heat down through the pleasure center of her body. Her legs were trembling as she slowly thrust her fingers deep into her pussy. Another moan escaped her parted lips as she rolled her nipple between her fingers, the fingers inside her curling rubbing along the inside of her body.

The wave was building in her, the desire the want, the need. She was a wanton whore, just like he wanted. She felt the urge to cum building, her legs were trembling as she caught his eyes. “Please, daddy.” she whimpered, her eyes begging. “Please your slut wants to cum. May I cum for you?”

The look of humiliation and fear on her face was intoxicating to Lucius as he watched her start to comply with his orders. “For someone who professes to hate this you sure seem excited you little whore.” He murmured, his eyes fixated on her now spread legs. Those slender fingered hands, that seemed so delicate, working to excite herself.

He listened to her moans relishing her wanton desire, as he watched her push herself up higher and higher. “That’s a good girl, play with your little pussy for daddy.” He taunted her. He used the word daddy again with her, knowing that she hated it. As someone who in life had never known her father, she was predisposed to hate the word; it was a reminder of everything she never had. So he used it to dig the knife in a little deeper.

A dark smile crossed his lips as he heard her whimpers, and then her begging soon followed. Even though the whole thing was exciting to him, he was a bit disappointed that she did not resist more. There was a part of him that wanted to do worse to her. Yet, there was a small part of him that disliked what he did to her. He shoved that small voice back down, wanting to revel in this moment, wanted to draw dark pleasure from her fear, pain, and unwilling pleasure.

He made her wait a whole 30 seconds before he answered her plea. She knew if she came without his permission, he would make it worse on her. He liked doing this to her too, making her hold herself right on the edge. He could tell by her face that she was close, and he still held back, made her wait. He finally spoke, “You may cum my little girl. You have pleased daddy, come for me.” He said watching her face twist with her pleasure. That dark smile never left his lips as he watched her writhe in pleasure. He only watched her with half of his attention, getting dressed as he watched. That was just another way to psychologically torture her. He made her do all of this, and then at the end he acted like he did not care. He loved leaving her abruptly, leaving her alone with the shame of what she had done. The guilt that she had enjoyed the dark things he had done to her. Enjoyed them, and often done things like back talking him, that spurred him on to greater acts.

Pulling up his pants he walked out of the room without a word. He was headed for his own room, as it was close to dawn, and he needed his rest this day. He had thought briefly of staying with Lila, thought of sleeping beside her, so she would be confronted with him first thing in the morning. However, he had decided on leaving her to her shame instead.



Vladimir searched his innermost thoughts and feelings. The sentinel sought to realign his mental and physical beings. Although outwardly he seemed like a confident collected, even heartless, killer, he was not. Killing took a toll on him, just as it did for anyone that considered killing a duty, not a pleasure. He did not enjoy his work, but felt that he was helping a greater good with his actions.

Vlad meditated for close to an hour, before rising. He stood before the door, and began to weave his safeguards. Weaving his hands in the air, he assured he would not be disturbed while he took his rest. He moved to the coffin and lay down, allowing himself to go to sleep, confident that if anyone did somehow breach his wards, it would rouse him. He was also confident that the vampires here were not particularly unusual, and would wake in order of power the next morning. This hopefully should give him some time before Lucius and then Lila rose, to perhaps do some investigating.

The next morning Vladimir rose early, just after the sun set. He was unsure when the others would rise, but confident he had at least a little time before they did. He decided to afford himself the luxury of a shower.

Vladimir crossed the hall, his eyes flicking to where Lila had indicated her suite was located. He still wished to speak more with her. He felt drawn to her, something he did not understand, and even though he did not know what he would say to her, he still felt the pull.

He let the warm water run over his muscles, heating his cool skin. He always bathed, but rarely let himself enjoy it, as he was at that moment. Was he over confident? He did not feel that he was. He washed slowly, letting the warm water briefly give his body some warmth. He knew his body would not truly be warm, nor would he have a heartbeat until he fed. Vampires could function for a time without feeding, the stronger one was the longer they could go. However, the longer one went the less human he appeared, and the less controllable it got. Vladimir as a very powerful sentinel could go quite a while without feeding, however he did not like to. Especially since the lack of a heartbeat tended to unnerve humans, when he had not fed.

Lila closed her eyes as she began to writhe on the bed, her pussy convulsed around her fingers as she ground her clit against the heel of her hand. She was humiliated by the prospect that he was watching her pleasure herself. That, too, served to excite her more. She twisted her nipple, pulling at the hard nub of flesh as she writhed. The wave crashed around her as she came, she felt helpless, riding the wave of bliss as it crashed over her. Her back arched as the moans rose to a crescendo of sound, filling her suite of rooms with the sounds of her passion. When she reopened her eyes, she saw that he was already dressed.

A pang on hurt resentment flooded her. She panted as she fell back against the bed, her body trembling. He enjoyed her torment, the embarrassment of using words like “Daddy” to further humiliate her. She had never known her father, her mother had never mentioned him. Lila had often wondered if it had been the owner of the house that she had worked for at the time of her birth. The man had a wife and three young sons of his own. Had her father been that long dead man, providing a roof for his bastard child so long as her mother still pleased him.

Her eyes closed once more as he left her room. She tried to fight them, but the hateful tears flooded her vision. The tightness in her chest released as the dam on her sadness burst. She sobbed quietly, covering her face with her hand. He treated her like a toy, like a piece of meat. The moment he got bored with her, he would toss her to the side. She hated him in moments like this. She had wished to please him. How could he profess his love and devotion to her in one breath and treat her like a common whore in the next? Part of her wished that he would crawl into bed with her, forgive her for her sassy mouth. She wished that he would pull her into his arms and make slow, gentle love to her until the sun rose and they would both fall into the euphoric sleep that they both needed.

That was not to be the case. She rose slowly, going to the bathroom. She washed her face, leaving the water their tinged light pink from her bloody tears. She also washed her hands, the hot water turning her skin red as she held them beneath the scalding water. She looked at her own reflection in the mirror. It was the same face that that mocked her for more than two centuries. A strong, powerful vampire, yet behind her eyes was the same lost child that she had always been. A child, a young woman needing, wanting, craving acceptance; she longed to please Lucius but seemed to always fail.

She turned away, disgusted by her own visage. No wonder Lucius didn’t desire her, she was a vile creature. Who would want her? Lila moved into her room, going to her bed, turning back the silk bedclothes. Such beautiful things for a monster to have, she thought to herself as she slid beneath the coverlet. She turned the lamp off by her bed, sinking into the lavish African Cherry wood bed, the rich red brown deeply contrasted with the white silk coverlet. She closed her eyes in the darkness, revealing in the feel of the sun rising in the east.

Lila rose with the sound of a door down the hall closing. It was unusual to hear anything in the hall, but the sound had attracted her attention. Sitting up, the sleep slid from her slowly, her mind focused. Vladamir was up and about, most likely making use of the shower. Lucius, too, was also awake, but he was either still in his suite or already up in the club; as it was already open and had been so for the last hour or so. Her eyes scanned the darkness, feeling with her extra sense. There was a mortal in their home. This was not unusual. They had servants, mortal servants who were paid handsomely to keep their mouths shut about the underground mansion. If, on occasion, they did see things that would disturb them; they would just succumb to the charms of the vampire and forget it.

Lila raised her brow as evil thoughts flooded into her mind. She rose quickly, pulling on green silk robe, knotting the sash at her waist quickly. Stepping into the hall, she saw Mrs. Sanchez dusting one of the statues that filled the long hallway. The woman was a squat Hispanic woman. Her long black hair, streaked with gray was pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head. She wore black slacks and a white button down shirt. She couldn’t have been over five foot, as Lila was tall compared to her.

Stepping up behind her, Lila spoke softly. The woman look startled as she turned, “Miss Lila.” she said, her voice thick with a Spanish accent. “You need something?” Lila made her nervous, she read in her thoughts, Lucius made her more so. There was something strange about them. But they paid well, very well. But she didn’t like either of them. The girl…Miss Lila, something always made her uneasy. It was her eyes. They seemed to intense for a woman so young.

“Yes, Mrs. Sanchez.” Lila said as she ran her hands through her long red locks. She had went to bed with it wet and now it was untamed. “We have a guest, I would like you to make sure there are plenty of towels in the guest bathroom.”

“Yes, Miss Lila.” she said calmly. “Right away.” The woman scurried off, not looking back at her. Lila returned to her suite, hoping the plans she was forming in her mind would come to fruition.

Mrs. Sanchez entered the laundry room, taking a stack of thick white towels from the shelf in the linen closet. A guest, she thought to herself. Who would want to come and be a guest in this crazy house. Mr. Lucius was crazy and his daughter was well on her way there too. They both freaked her out, but she made such good money; she had to keep the job. She provided a good life for her children and grandchildren. That was all that really mattered. But there was something that was off about the two of them. It was not like they were father and daughter, more like husband and wife. Their relationship creeped her out.

Mrs. Sanchez returned to the guest bathroom, not bothering to knock. She pushed in on the door, the stack of towels obscuring her view. Closing the door behind her, she had stepped a few feet into the room when she realized, much to her embarrassment, there was someone in the shower.

Vladimir was in the shower when he started to sense movement outside the room. This surprised him; he had not expected Lucius or Lila to have risen so quickly. Had he spent too much time in the shower? He was about to turn the word off when the door to the bathroom flew open. Vladimir in his confidence had not bothered to either lock, or ward the door. Through the fogged up glass, he saw a feminine form, carrying a stack of towels. However, surely no one would just simply be bringing him towels, especially as he did not sense Lila’s presence in the figure.

All this and more he thought in the span of heartbeats, and before he could clamp down on the warrior instinct, He was out of the show and on the woman. Water splashed and flew as he hit her. The towels cascading in all directions. He came to the conclusion that it was not Lila, about the same time the older woman hit the ground, Vlad’s hard muscular form pressed atop her. The sentinel did not even notice that he was fully naked as he realized his error in judgment.

Vlad pulled back slowly, quickly using his magic to hide from her the fact that he had no heartbeat and was cold to the touch. “My deepest apologies my lady.” He said as he stood up in his full glory before her, completely without modesty. He reached down and pulled the woman to her feet. His eyes locking with her dark brown ones, already seeking to erase this incident from her mind. He gave her the image that she had set down the towels and left the room. It would not due to have her report to her masters that she had been assaulted by their guest. A guest who was decidedly unwelcome there in.

He stood there trying to figure what to do with the woman. He knew he should dismiss her letting her leave, but the hunger beat at him. She could prove a convenient food source, if he just let himself take from her. Lucius had granted him hospitality, which if one was real technically could include food as well. However he knew not their policy of feeding from employees. Vlad suspected that Lila had fed from the dancer the night before, but without knowing for sure, he knew he should control himself.

“You will continue on your way and forget this incident ever happened.” He soothed the woman opening the door and letting her exit. Closing the door once again, Vladimir wound a towel around his waste and stepped into the hall. This time being much more diligent about scanning his surroundings. Had that just been a coincidence? Had there been the hand of another behind it? His eyes swept to the right to the suite of rooms that was Lila’s. Vlad didn’t even seem to notice he was just in a towel, so great was his confidence and lack of modesty, as his eyes board holes in that door. What was it about her that drew him so?

Up above Lucius sat with a detective. The master of the local vampire Kiss tugged at his collar as he listened to the man before him. It was questions concerning the disappearance of one Alan Luther. Lucius swore to himself, he had thought that he had covered that up the night before. Had he neglected to make Lila see to the matter? How could he have been so careless?

Rubbing his chin, he wished not for the first time that Vladimir had never come into their city, and that he had cleaned up his mess. True it was Lucius’s responsibility as Alan’s creator to clean up after his death, but still the thought, the wish that the sentinel could have done at least that much still plagued him.

“Are you denying that you were a business associate to Mr. Luther?” the detective inquired, nervously fiddling with his tie. Something about this bar owner did not sit right with him. “If you are I have the financial records proving that you...”

Lucius raised a hand cutting the man off, “No I am not denying my connections to Alan.” Lucius said, if the man only knew the truth of things. “I merely stated that I do not know where He is at this time. I have not heard from him since early last evening.” All of which happened to be true. It pleased Lucius when he could actually tell the truth to a law enforcement officer.

“What about the where abouts of one Carson...” Lucius sighed as the inevitable came up, tuning the man out half way through his ex associate’s name. He cursed Lila once again for her carelessness in handling that situation. The least she could have done was stab the man, so Lucius could have reported a knife fight. No, she had killed with her bite, and the lack of any blood had caused the bouncer to need to dispose of the body rather than have it turn up somewhere. Lucius’s anger grew. He would kill her. He decided. He knew he would not kill her he knew, but his displeasure with her and this situation in general grew with each and every beat of his heart. A heart that beat because he had fed that rising already. The privilege of his status. He had simply called up to the club and requested a private dance, for; none of his dancers would refuse their boss a free and private dance. He almost smirked, hell the woman had even offered to turn a trick for him. Lucius had refused though, at least this time, knowing this particularly prickly officer was waiting. As he thought of what to say to the officer about Carson, he thought of how he might continue to punish Lila for her transgressions. Perhaps he would make her dance. Would that not embarrass her, to have her employees, all the girls that looked up to her, see her forced to dance, by her own father no less. The idea certainly had Merit.

Lila sat at her vanity, adding the finishing touches to her hair and make-up. Her lips were a glossy ruby red, her emerald green eyes were surrounded by thick black lashes. Her skin was marble white, some might have thought her appearance to be gothic. She didn’t mind the pallor of her flesh. She thought it only enhanced her looks. Her red hair was now tame, spilling down her back and shoulders, straight as a arrow. She felt Mrs. Sanchez retreat down the hall away from the guest bathroom.

She could feel Lucius as well, his anger was palpable to her. As his blood bonded child, she could feel his emotions, as well as those who she would consider family. Alan had once been that, she had felt his life energy snuffed out when Vlad had killed him. It was, now, as if there was huge hole where the life force of Alan had once been. It was an odd sensation not to feel him. She wondered what it would feel like if Lucius ever met his final death. Would it be a hole? Or would it be an all consuming abyss?

Would that be something she would ever have to endure? The thought of Lucius being gone, of being no more. There was a sudden surge of adrenaline; what would her life be like? Would she be happy? Would she even be able to survive? Would she have to find a new Master, a new protector? There would be so much that she wouldn’t have to fear anymore. But, in the same instant that she wanted him gone, she knew she would miss him. She could already feel the throbbing ache of what a life without Lucius would mean.

She rose slowly, going to the door. She still wore the silk robe, not having changed into her clothing for the evening yet. Pulling the door open, Vlad stood before her, his eyes dark and dangerous, wearing nothing but a towel. Her eyes moved over the plains of his stomach and chest. The towel was wrapped around his hips, his long black hair hung loose around his shoulders as he stood framed in her doorway. His power beat at her, radiated into her; the energy he exuded was intoxicating.

“Lord Vladmir,” She said stiffly as she stepped tightened her grip on the door. “what a pleasant surprise.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “I thought that with Alan out of the way that you would have been gone with the setting of the sun.” She crossed her arms over her chest, just under her large breasts. “I hope that Mrs. Sanchez was to your liking. Have you come to take my Master up on his offer? Do you wish for me to please you?” Her green eyes bored into him, moving over the hard defined lines of his handsome face.

Vladimir was absorbed in his thoughts. He read the currents of energy surrounding him. There were high levels of dark emotions radiating from this entire place. Some came from Lila, more from Lucius. He could feel them both with his heightened sense of awareness. It troubled him that both had risen that early. Had he misjudged their ages. No he did not think this was the case. More than likely their location so far underground was to account for their uncharacteristic rising. They were far from the sun’s light after all.

Vladimir was unaware that he had taken light footed steps towards Lila’s room. There was something about this place, about Lila herself perhaps, that made the typically stoic Sentinel, lose his focus. He did not understand his uncharacteristic attraction to he. She of course was beautiful, almost stunningly so. She was every inch the curvaceous woman, not by any means a girl, despite the fact she had died young. He did not know her exact age in human years, however he knew that she predated the 21 years of age law. He had to guess she was at least a couple of years shy of 21.

Vladimir had been so fixated on the mystery of Lila, that he had not realized that his steps had taken him to her door, nor did he realize that he had been projecting his power, his interest in her. He apparently had, for within seconds the door swung open and Lila stood there in just a robe. His own eyes scanned her form, her robe exposed no more flesh than her outfit the night before had, however the image she presented now was softer, more of a delicate beauty, rather than the harsher almost at times cruel beauty of the night before. He felt her eyes on him in turn, crawling up his almost naked form, and that little tiny part of him that cared about such things, wondered if she liked what she saw. His abs were flat, chiseled even. He was defined most of his muscles clear to see, though none of them were overly bulky. His was not the body of today’s weight lifters. No, Vladimir had died a warrior and hunter in the prime of his life. His body’s muscles formed in real life tasks such as running and swimming, climbing and fighting. Even though unarmed, Vladimir still exuded an air of confidence and fluid grace. Almost as if he were a great cat prepared to spring.

He listened to her words, “I will leave when my business with the Kiss is concluded.” He said flatly, his tone broke no argument.

He raised an eyebrow at her comment about Mrs. Sanchez, “So you did send the woman to me.” He said, his voice almost filled with a chuckle. “You can trust that she was unharmed, I even reframed from feeding upon her without my lady’s permission.” He said offering her a slight bow. However, with Vlad’s very dry humor, and almost deadpan expressions, it was difficult to tell if he was being genuine or mocking.

At her next words one dark eyebrow actually raised, and one corner of his mouth twitched as if he wished to smile. His eyes taking a longer more thorough scan of her body as he did so. Although again, whether he did it to truly admire what he saw because she brought his attention to it, or whether he was playing along with her sarcasm was again unclear to her. He spoke after a long pause, his voice even deeper, almost seductive. “What would you do if I said yes?” he said. Vlad was glad of this distraction, this moment of almost levity between them, for it distracted the both of them from the very real and dark matters surrounding them. “Am I so unappealing to your eyes?” he asked, and this time he let her see that he truly was teasing this time, actually showing the first hint of a self deprecating smile. Suggesting that perhaps there was more to this sentinel than the image he cultivated.