"The Ties That Bind" (A Vampire Story, closed to Jenn1982)

[Jenn1982]

"I came into the Mistress's service in 1946 when I was a 14-year-old war refugee."

Wanda pulled back from Iris, giving her a smile and Iris thought, oh it was a joke, she’s about to start laughing.

"It wasn't sexual, of course ... not yet ... not until I came off age."

Iris’s mind tried to find the punchline in that statement before finally realizing Wanda was being serious. She would have blamed the champagne thinking it was spiked but she’d had a glass too and wasn’t feeling weird or even buzzed. Maybe she’s crazy, Iris thought. The next thought that filled her mind caused goosebumps to raise along her arms, maybe Rose was telling the truth. The thought was ridiculous and though she wouldn't admit it to herself, it filled her with fear.

“That would make you 90-something…and Delilah even older. How would that be possible considering how young you two look…,” she asked, still hoping this was some bizarre attempt at a joke.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

“That would make you 90-something," Iris pointed out, adding, "and Delilah even older."

"Yes," Wanda confirmed, not yet realizing that she'd messed up.

"How would that be possible," Iris continued, finishing, "considering how young you two look."

Wanda stopped dancing, casually pulled her hands back from the other woman, and showed her surprise. "I am ... sorry, Iris. I seem to have spoken out of turn. I thought ... I thought you had been told what we are."

She looked about for anyone she might not want to see what she did next, then parted her lips in a way that flashed her fangs; they were where normal people had canine teeth but twice as long.

Wanda closed her lips again, then shrugged casually.

 

[Jenn1982]

Wanda stopped dancing after Iris spoke. She pulled away and the expression on her face as she eyed Iris was one of bewilderment.

"I am ... sorry, Iris. I seem to have spoken out of turn. I thought ... I thought you had been told what we are."

Iris didn’t want to ask what Wanda meant by “what we are.” It turned out she didn’t need to though because Wanda surreptitiously looked around before looking at Iris and opening her mouth. There was no way Iris could pretend she didn’t see the two long fangs in the woman’s upper row of teeth. After a few seconds Wanda closed her mouth again and shrugged at Iris as if it was no big deal.

Iris wasn’t sure what she should do or think. Despite the things Rose had told her and despite what Wanda had just shown her she couldn’t get her brain to take that next step to “vampires are real.” Instead she was thinking that this was indeed a cult and they portrayed themselves as vampires but clearly they were just people who couldn’t separate reality from fiction. How they would have convinced Evan to want to be a part of this cult she had no idea.

She didn’t know if all of the people here were in the cult or thought they were vampires but she was definitely much more wary now. She would have suggested they go somewhere quiet but she wasn’t really sure she wanted to be alone with Wanda either. There were glass doors at the far end of the room leading out to some kind of patio and probably yard beyond that. There were still people out there but not quite as many and it would be quieter.

“I think I need some fresh air.”

Iris began heading to the doors, figuring Wanda would follow but if she didn’t Iris would be okay with that too. She opened the door and walked out into the cool night air. It did feel better out here, less crowded and stuffy. She tried not to stare at the people scattered around the patio in various degrees of nudity and debauchery. She found a little bench near a flowerbed and took a seat.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

"I am sorry if I have upset you, Iris," Wanda said when she, too, sat on the bench. "My Mistress does not typically bring guests here unless they have been informed."

 

[Jenn1982]

"I am sorry if I have upset you, my Mistress does not typically bring guests here unless they have been informed."

Wanda had taken a seat next to her on the bench. Iris wasn't sure if she should just go along with the delusion or question it. She couldn’t see how trying to confront Wanda about it would do anything but probably upset the other woman.

"It's okay, Wanda. I was just caught off guard. So... do you live at this house or just come for the...parties?"

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

"It's okay, Wanda," Iris responded. "I was just caught off guard."

"Yes, I can understand that," the vampire told her with a sincere tone. "It is a lot to take in."

Iris moved on, asking, "So... do you live at this house or just come for the...parties?"

Wanda looked about herself with a smile. "This has been my home for quite some time." Then looking back to Iris, she smiled almost wide enough for the woman to again see the top pair of fangs, adding, "Since before you were born."

Her eyes shifted beyond Iris, the approaching person leading Wanda to stand quickly. She bowed her head to Delilah, saying respectfully, "Mistress, I ... seem to have spoken out of turn to Miss Iris regarding--"

She ceased when Delilah idly lifted a hand in a gentle stop gesture. The Mistress directed, "Please leave us to speak."

Wanda again bowed her head, then looked to Iris, saying, "I hope to spend time with you again in the near future, Miss Iris ... if you wish it."

She backed a step, turned, and departed, with Delilah circling around to take her place next to Iris. She didn't hesitate to begin explaining, "Wanda should not have told you what she did ... not because I did not want you to know ... but because I wanted to explain who and what we are myself.

"It is true," she continued, "We are in fact vampires. But ... not like the vampires of television or movies ... at least, not in the more horrific ways. Yes, we do survive by ... feeding on the blood of Human donors. But this act is entirely consensual ... voluntary on the donors' part."

 

[Jenn1982]

"This has been my home for quite some time. Since before you were born."

Wanda smiled so big Iris was sure she was going to see her fangs again but Wanda kept them hidden. Even though Iris still thought this was a case of delusion and not reality she still found it weird to hear the woman who looked barely older than she did say she’d been living here since before Iris was born. Iris was about to ask her how many other people lived here but Wanda’s gaze went past Iris and after a moment she quickly stood up.

"Mistress, I ... seem to have spoken out of turn to Miss Iris regarding--"

Iris turned to see Delilah standing there. The woman was gesturing to Wanda to stop but she didn’t look angry.

"Please leave us to speak."

"I hope to spend time with you again in the near future, Miss Iris ... if you wish it."

Iris smiled and nodded at Wanda before she left. Once she had Delilah came around and sat down next to Iris on the bench.

"Wanda should not have told you what she did ... not because I did not want you to know ... but because I wanted to explain who and what we are myself.”

Iris had been hoping that Delilah was going to tell her that Wanda and Rose and anyone else who said anything about vampires was just a little nuts.

"It is true. We are in fact vampires. But ... not like the vampires of television or movies ... at least, not in the more horrific ways. Yes, we do survive by ... feeding on the blood of Human donors. But this act is entirely consensual ... voluntary on the donors' part."

Iris nodded along as Delilah spoke because she wasn’t sure what else to do. When Delilah finished Iris tried to figure out what to say. She didn’t want to offend Delilah by saying she didn’t believe her but that was her main thought. After a few moments she finally spoke.

“So people just volunteer to be…donors, why? Is that what you got my brother to do?”

Even if she didn’t believe they were real vampires that didn’t mean they didn’t actually take blood from these volunteers. She couldn’t imagine why they would want to do that unless they also liked pretending in this group vampire roleplay that was going on. That wouldn’t explain why Evan would agree to something like that and she was worried what they might have done to him to get him to want to volunteer for this.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

“So people just volunteer to be…donors, why? Is that what you got my brother to do?”

Delilah chucked softly, quickly correcting, "I did not get Evan to do anything, dear. Evan asked, without any form of prodding or pressure from me."

Delilah hesitated and became more serious as she continued. "Iris, your brother was ill. I know you were unaware of this as Evan informed me. Shortly after he began university, he was exposed to a deadly strain of Hepatitis. His doctor put him on a treatment regimen that was helping with the symptoms ... but it was not a cure."

She moved closer to Iris, taking her hands -- if she did not resist -- and continued, "When I learned of this, I offered your brother a treatment that no one else could, and he is recovering ... nearly recovered."

She paused as another couple passed within ear shot, then finished, "I did this for Evan because he is a wonderful young man who did not deserve such a fate as this. Would you not agree?"

 

[Jenn1982]

"I did not get Evan to do anything, dear. Evan asked, without any form of prodding or pressure from me."

Iris had a hard time believing that Evan would volunteer for something like that, especially since he had also disappeared on her. She couldn’t imagine anything that would make Evan abandon her without telling her something at least.

"Iris, your brother was ill. I know you were unaware of this as Evan informed me. Shortly after he began university, he was exposed to a deadly strain of Hepatitis. His doctor put him on a treatment regimen that was helping with the symptoms ... but it was not a cure."

She felt her heart drop at this information. How could her brother have not told her something like that? On some level she understood he didn’t want to worry or upset her but still, she would never want him to go through something like that alone. Delilah leaned in closer and took Iris’s hands.

"When I learned of this, I offered your brother a treatment that no one else could, and he is recovering ... nearly recovered."

Iris understood what Delilah was saying…Evan wasn’t just some donor…she was implying he was a vampire now. Even though she couldn’t make herself believe vampires were real, a part of her was happy that he would be okay.

"I did this for Evan because he is a wonderful young man who did not deserve such a fate as this. Would you not agree?"

Iris of course agreed with Delilah. There wasn’t anything she would not have done for Evan but she knew that she couldn’t have done anything in this situation other than offer him support. According to Delilah she had apparently cured him. If this was all real and that was actually the case then Iris would forever be in her debt. But Iris didn’t believe in any of that so all she could really think was that they had convinced her brother, who was sick with something that couldn’t be cured, that they could heal him.

“Of course I agree, my brother is an amazing person. I just…I’m sorry, Delilah, I don’t believe in vampires.”

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

“Of course I agree, my brother is an amazing person," Iris responded. "I just…I’m sorry, Delilah, I don’t believe in vampires.”

Delilah's lips spread in a smile. She chuckled softly, saying, "Sometimes, I wish I did not believe in vampires either, dear."

She stood and offered out a hand. With a sincere but soft tone, Delilah said, "It might be a shock to see evidence of what I am saying, but ... if you wished, Iris ... I could show you."

If Iris took her up on her offer, Delilah would lead the beauty back into the mansion and up a grand staircase to the third floor. There, she would lead her through the doors of a guarded room ... where the evidence Iris wanted -- or did not want -- would be found.

 

[Jenn1982]

"Sometimes, I wish I did not believe in vampires either, dear."

Even though Delilah said it with a smile the statement struck Iris as sad. Iris might not believe in vampires but Delilah obviously did and so it seemed depressing to think she wished they didn’t. Delilah stood and extended her hand to Iris.

"It might be a shock to see evidence of what I am saying, but ... if you wished, Iris ... I could show you."

While she didn’t believe they existed a small part of her was screaming at her to say no and leave. She ignored the voice, thinking how there was nothing to worry about. She returned the woman’s smile and took her hand as she stood up.

“Please show me.”

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

"Please show me,” Iris responded to Delilah's offer to provide her with proof that vampires really did exist.

Delilah took hold of Iris's hand and would maintain a soft grip of it throughout their walk unless the other woman indicated a desire not to be walking hand in hand with another woman, let alone a possible vampire. They reentered the mansion, walking casually past one sexual display after another to a grand staircase. Couples and thruples were ascending and descending the wide stairwell, as well as getting busy to one side of the steps.

She gave each coupling a glance but otherwise seemed to not pay them much heed; on the other hand, those on the steps who saw Delilah took a moment to show her the respect she deserved as the hostess and, when applicable, their Mistress with a polite head nod or a kind greeting.

Delilah continued upwards to the top, third floor of the mansion. At the top of the stairs, a pair of big, muscular men flanked the steps; they were there to ensure that only the Family members and their donors rose to this level. They greeted their Mistress with polite head nods, their gazes then moving to the guest they'd never seen before.

She continued leading Iris down a darkened hallway. There were no sexual interactions taking place here as in the rest of the home. Delilah approached yet another pair of big men, asking in her native language, "Začali už?"

The man understood Czech but responded in English, "No, Mistress, they have not yet begun. But shortly."

Delilah looked to her guest as she reached stepped to the door and took hold of the handle. She said with a smile and soft voice, "Do not fear anything you see herein. It can appear frightening ... but I assure you, Iris ... no one is under duress ... and no one is being harmed permanently."

She opened the door, leading Iris into a large bedroom suite illuminated by dozens of candles. In the center of the room, away from the walls, was a super-king, four-poster bed with lacy draperies hanging about it. Beyond the drapes were the silhouettes of three people intimately close to one another.

Delilah continued leading Iris forward, gesturing her to a comfortable love seat near the end of the bed; it faced the bed, barely an arm's length from the drapery. Delilah pulled back the drapes, one to each side, and tied them back, exposing the three on the bed; they included an older male sandwiched between two younger females, the women passionately kissing at and fondling and caressing the man. Even though the females each made eye contact with both Delilah and Iris at some point, the man seemed oblivious to the presence of the audience

Delilah sat next to Iris, leaning closer to whisper, "This is George Willis. He has been suffering the ravages of prostate cancer for a few years now. His doctors had given him six months to live ... eleven months ago ... when I offered him an alternative treatment, which he accepted."

As Delilah and Iris watched, the two beauties laid George back onto the bed and went to work on him. The blonde woman, with her knees pressing into the mattress near George's chest, lowered her head to his groin and took his cock into her mouth, energetically deep throating him while the brunette woman's mouth just as eagerly kissed his mouth and neck.

Delilah continued whispering, "George's pain has ceased to bother him, and his strength and energy have increased to levels he hasn't enjoyed since he was younger than either of those women."

George's enjoyment of what the women were doing to him began showing in louder moans and writhing of his body. Then, the blonde lifted her mouth from the man's cock, grasped his shaft, and stroked it hard and fast as it began firing large wads of cum into the air and down onto his chest and belly.

"Prepare yourself, dear," Delilah whispered, taking one of Iris's hands in hers; it was a soft, intimate touch meant to imply an almost motherly caring for her.

Suddenly, after looking up to Delilah and receiving a soft nod of her head, the blonde's mouth opened wide, revealing the long fangs in the top of her mouth. She dropped her mouth to George's inner thigh, sinking the fangs into his flesh. Even though her lips hid what was truly happening, those two dagger-like teeth had punctured George's femoral artery, instantly filling her mouth with blood being sprayed into it by his excitement created high blood pressure.

The brunette attacked as well, pulling George's chin upwards and sinking her own fangs into his neck, puncturing his carotid. Even though each of the vampires attempted to keep a tight suction on the man's flesh, enough blood leaked out beyond their mouths to reveal quite certainly what was happening.

Delilah continued, "The euphoria of orgasm acts as a sort of camouflage to the initial pain, but to further reduce the discomfort of the bite, their saliva includes a form of local anesthetic which will cause George to cease feeling the bite within seconds. In addition, much like those of a venomous snake, the fangs inject chemicals into the donor's blood stream, only rather than being a venom that would harm or possibly even kill George, this is a psychedelic euphoria-inducing chemical that leaves him not only ignorant of the initial pain but floating on a cloud of delight and joy that he's never enjoyed before.

"And there is the health benefit, too, obviously," Delilah began her finish. "The girls take blood from George as you would expect from vampires ... but near the end of the feeding, they infuse him with yet another chemical ... through the same vessels from which they are feeding. That chemical is what has not only saved George's life ... but has made him healthier and stronger than he has been since his teens."

The two women would continue to feed on George for another ten minutes or so, each swallowing a pint and a half of blood from him before putting about a quarter of that amount back into him again via their fangs.

 

[Jenn1982]

Delilah took Iris’s hand and they walked back into the mansion. The people having sex throughout the mansion was still an odd sight for her but she realized she was just ever so slightly less shocked by it as they passed each debauched act.

They reached the stairs and started up them until they reached the top which had two burly men standing there. The whole time they’d been walking through the mansion people had acknowledged Delilah in various levels of formality and these men were no different, nodding at her before turning their gaze on Iris. Unlike most men, at least most men she’d been around, they didn’t leer at her, just looked at her with curiosity. She gave them a small smile, unsure what else to do and continued letting Delilah pull her forward into a hallway that was cast in shadows. They reached two more muscular men and Delilah said something to them but it was in a language Iris didn’t recognize.

"No, Mistress, they have not yet begun. But shortly,” said one of the men, who apparently did know the language Delilah had spoken.

At the man’s response Delilah continued on, stopping at a closed door.

"Do not fear anything you see herein. It can appear frightening ... but I assure you, Iris ... no one is under duress ... and no one is being harmed permanently.”

Despite the woman’s gentle tone and smile Iris’s heart began beating twice as fast as it had been. She tried to remind herself that vampires weren’t real and whatever she was about to see was replica of vampires performed by delusional people. Delilah opened the door and led Iris inside.

It was a large bedroom that was lit only by candles. She saw a large canopy bed and through the sheer drapes she could make out three people on the bed. Iris swallowed hard as they continued towards the bed until they reached a loveseat. Delilah gestured towards it and Iris obediently took a seat. Once she had Delilah pulled the drapes closest to them back and securing them to each side of the bed frame.

Iris was able to finally fully see the three people on the bed. The one in the middle was an older man and he was flanked by two young, beautiful women, one blonde and one brunette. They were running their hands and mouths on different parts of his body. He seemed to be oblivious to anything other than the two women touching him, not even looking up as she and Delilah had sat down. The two women both glanced at them but quickly went back to giving the man their full attention.

"This is George Willis. He has been suffering the ravages of prostate cancer for a few years now. His doctors had given him six months to live ... eleven months ago ... when I offered him an alternative treatment, which he accepted,” Delilah said softly.

A few moments later the blonde moved down and began sucking the man’s cock. The other woman was kissing along his neck and up to his mouth. The woman who was going down on him was very good at it and was deep-throating him enthusiastically.

"George's pain has ceased to bother him, and his strength and energy have increased to levels he hasn't enjoyed since he was younger than either of those women."

Iris could definitely see that this man, despite being advanced in years, did not seem weak or sick. He was clearly enjoying the women' s attention going by his moans. Soon the blonde replaced her mouth with her hand and it wasn’t long before George came.

"Prepare yourself, dear,”

Iris was almost startled by Delilah’s words, she had been so absorbed in watching what was going on in front of her she’d forgotten everything else around her. Delilah’s hand encased Iris’s as Iris tried to figure out what Delilah meant.

She didn’t have to spend long trying to figure things out because after glancing at Delilah the blonde opened her mouth wide exposing her fangs before biting down on George’s inner thigh. Iris couldn’t help but make a sound of distress as her mind battled to rationalize what she was seeing.

The brunette lunged next, her mouth affixing to the man’s neck. Iris could see trails of blood flowing down from each woman’s mouth along the man’s skin. She was positive she heard soft, suckling sounds from the women but at this point her mind was struggling with everything she was witnessing.

"The euphoria of orgasm acts as a sort of camouflage to the initial pain, but to further reduce the discomfort of the bite, their saliva includes a form of local anesthetic which will cause George to cease feeling the bite within seconds. In addition, much like those of a venomous snake, the fangs inject chemicals into the donor's blood stream, only rather than being a venom that would harm or possibly even kill George, this is a psychedelic euphoria-inducing chemical that leaves him not only ignorant of the initial pain but floating on a cloud of delight and joy that he's never enjoyed before.”

Delilah paused and Iris realized she should be paying attention to what she was saying but she couldn’t seem to focus on anything other than the scene in front of her.

“And there is the health benefit, too, obviously. The girls take blood from George as you would expect from vampires ... but near the end of the feeding, they infuse him with yet another chemical ... through the same vessels from which they are feeding. That chemical is what has not only saved George's life ... but has made him healthier and stronger than he has been since his teens."

Iris hoped some part of her brain was absorbing Delilah’s words. Her attention continued to remain solely on what she was watching. The women continued to suck George’s blood and he didn’t have any kind of negative reaction, instead he seemed to be lost in pleasure as did the women. Iris on the other hand was unsure what she felt. It seemed like all the feelings that were warring inside of her had left her feeling numb.

“I…uh…can we go somewhere else,” Iris asked, a thread of desperation in her voice.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

Delilah felt Iris’s reaction to seeing the vampires' fangs penetrate the man; the hand which Delilah held tightened and her body flinched, accompanied by a gasp of distress that didn't at all surprise the Mistress. The two women continued to suck on their donor for a full minute before Iris asked with a desperate voice, “I…uh…can we go somewhere else.”

"Of course, dear," Delilah said, immediately standing, stepping forward, and releasing the drapes that hid the feeding beyond them. Again, she reached for Iris hand, unsure whether the woman would give it, before leading her guest back to the hallway. They turned left, the opposite way from which they'd come from the grand stairway, walking down the hallway to yet another guarded entrance, this one a pair of doors that were already being opened by the guards there before the pair arrived. Delilah explained, "These are my private chambers."

The room was large, similar in size to the downtown penthouse atop Nightstalkers, but whereas the latter had been decorated with art and furniture from across the ages, this room could have easily been mistaken for the bed chambers of a 16th century member of a European Royal family.

As with the room from which they'd just come, this one was also illuminated by dozens of candles set in single candlesticks, candelabras, and overhead chandeliers. The room they were standing in now featured a sitting area with comfortable armchairs and sofas surrounding a low-lying table on which was an array of foods from cheeses and crackers to chocolates and dried fruits; an impressive desk positioned in one corner with a chair behind it and two guest chairs in front; and all of this was surrounded by walls filled with books and manuscripts which looked as ancient as anything else in the space.

"Can I get you anything, Iris?" Delilah asked politely as she headed for a wet bar. She said plainly in an effort to have to refuse Iris the luxury, "I do not have ice. Sorry."

To Delilah's right in the middle of one of the walls was a pair of opened doors, beyond which was a grand canopy bed that was even larger than the one on which George had been getting his treatment. That room, too, had walls filled with ancient books, as well as multiple pedestals bearing busts of both male and females. Each had a name plate beneath them, though, not all of the identifiers were in English. If Iris was to get an opportunity to look at them at some point, she might recognize the names, faces, or both as famous people from Europe's and America's histories dating from as early as the 14th century for the former to as late as the 19th for the latter. If she was to wonder whether or not these people had been vampires, she wouldn't be wrong.)

 

[Jenn1982]

"Of course, dear.”

Delilah undid the ties holding the curtains letting them fall back in place making the scene on the bed hazy through the curtains. She offered her hand to Iris once again and Iris only hesitated for a second before taking it.

As Delilah led her out of the room and further down the hall Iris tried to figure out why she still found herself so trusting of Delilah, especially after what she had just seen. She thought perhaps it was because she hadn’t seen Delilah feed but she wasn’t sure if that was really it. There was just something about her that had left Iris trusting her as soon as they met. She hadn’t believed her about vampires being real but she had trusted she would be safe with Delilah. She would have thought that would have changed now that she knew vampires were in fact real and this woman seemed to be in charge of them. Iris was pulled from her thoughts as she heard a door open and looked up to see two more guards opening double doors.

"These are my private chambers,” Delilah said as they walked inside.

They stood in a spacious living area with plush chairs and couches. Iris saw an elegant desk off to the side of the room as well. The walls seemed to be almost all floor to ceiling bookcases full of books. Outside of a library or bookstore Iris didn’t think she’d ever seen so many books. Like the penthouse Delilah was letting her stay in, all the furniture here looked ornate and expensive but none of it seemed to be in a modern style.

She could see another set of open doors that led to what must be the bedroom based on the huge bed she could see inside. The other difference between this place and the penthouse was that all of the light came from candles spread out all over. There had to be hundreds of them and Iris couldn’t help but think of what a fire hazard it must be.

"Can I get you anything, Iris? I do not have ice. Sorry."

Iris’s mind was processing more serious things and she didn’t bother trying to figure out what she might want to drink.

“Oh, thank you. I’ll just have whatever you’re having, if you’re having something I mean.”

“Your place is beautiful. You have so many books, do you like to read?”

Iris had other things she wanted to ask about but she wasn’t sure if she was ready for the answers yet.

 

[MarieDavisRPs]

“Oh, thank you," Iris said to the offer of a drink.

Delilah poured two shot glasses of a clear liquid, explaining as she moved slowly Iris's way, "This is
Slivovitz. It is a plum brandy from my homeland."

She offered the glass to Iris, adding, "It is strong. Sip, do not gulp." She chuckled. "It is strong."

Delilah lifted her own shot glass to her lips, sipping slowly as she watched the other woman. When Iris complimented her on her home and its library, asking if she liked to read, Delilah answered proudly, "I have read every book that you see ... at least once." She gestured Iris to an antique couch that had recently been reupholstered, asking, "Will you sit with me, dear, so that I can explain what you saw in a way that might settle your nerves a bit?"

When they were sitting again, Delilah pulled back the hood that had, until now, covered her head during the entire time Iris had been in her presence. She ran her fingers with their long, sharpened nails through her raven hair and gave her mane a shake, letting out a relaxing sigh before taking another sip of the plum brandy.

"I was born in a little, unnamed village located outside the city of Brno in what is today the Czech Republic," Delilah began. With a serious, sincere tone, she continued, "The year on your calendar would be 1214 AD." She paused a moment for the other woman's reaction is there was one, then went on, "When I was still young, just 12 years of age, my mother -- recently widowed and without means of feeding her six children -- sold my three sisters and me to a local nobleman who promised to care for us as if we were his daughters, until a time at which we were of a suitable age to be given away in marriage to men of means.

"This did not happen, unfortunately," Delilah said, finishing the last of her drink before rising to go fill her shot glass again and, if needed, Iris's glass, too. She continued, "This nobleman was a piják krve ... a drinker of blood ... what you would call a vampire. He incorporated my older sisters into his Family, first as dárci krve ... donors, to both him and his fellow vampires ... then, when they'd reached an older, more appropriate age, turned them into piják krve.

"As the youngest, I was the last to be fed upon," Delilah said, again sitting next to Iris, "For a donor's blood to possess the životní síla ... the life force which sustains a vampire ... the donor must experience the euphoria of sexual satisfaction within seconds of being fed upon. Without this pleasure, this euforie ... the blood is ... unsatisfying might be a good way to describe it. More blood is required to provide the same life force ... typically so much so ... that the donor could very well perish soon after the feeding."

Looking into Iris eyes with a serious expression, Delilah stressed, "We do not kill people, my dear ... the members of my Family. There ... there are vampire Families out there that do fatally feed on humans. But these ... animals ... well, they are uncivilized, and I will have nothing to do with them ... and I will not have the members of my Family involved with them."

Delilah sipped at her drink again before asking, "Can you see, my dear, that we mean no harm to those who serve us? We are not the animals you see in television and films or about whom you read in print."