Children Of The Night
By: Veronica Leigh Marquette
CHAPTER 11
"Happy Thanksgiving." Jessy smiled up at her as she woke, in the midst of
feeding from him.
She looked down at him, confused for just a second. 'Thanksgiving', god had
it been seven months, already? "Happy Thanksgiving to you too, but I think I
started mine a little early." She looked around, they were the only two in the
bed. Which was something that just never happened. "Hey, where is everyone
else?"
"Upstairs, doing what everyone else does on Thanksgiving, cooking turkey,
stuffing, mashed potato's, gravy the works. They'll sit around and eat too
much, drink too much, and smoke too much. But they will be some of the happiest
people you have ever had the opportunity to meet."
"That's going to be the hardest thing for me, The Holidays, I'm a vampire,
and I don't eat solid food anymore."
"I will have you know, cousin, that they don't start their Thanksgiving
Feast, till I cut the turkey, and I love mashed potatoes, and my girl's pumpkin
pie is simply to die for." He smirked. "I forgot, you really, don't, know
anything. You go along so well from day to day that I forget that you are just
an infant."
She laughed, punching his arm. "So wise, old, master, why don't you tell me
what is so funny, and how come you eat food."
"The legends about us, are far from accurate. Oh some of them are close
enough, but some of the others, are just so much rubbish. No we can't survive
fire, sunlight is a very bad way to die. Once it hit us, it paralyses us and we
burn slowly. But other than that, unless it is another stronger vampire,
nothing can kill us. Churches, no big thing, there are even a couple of our
folks in some of the older, pre-Christian religions, and one that is a Catholic
Priest."
Kris pulled up to lean on her elbows. "That is something else I haven't
thought about. Just how do we fit into the whole heaven and hell thing?"
"Do I believe in God?" She nodded. "Of course I do. I just don't believe
in a, God, that will never forgive, nor do to those that failed to live up to
his standard, what their doctrine says he will. Yes before the ban, I killed.
I didn't know any other way. I was a Childe. No one knew that you could feed
from a mortal and not kill him or her. That is why it is such a new thing, our
keeping mortals as feeders and 'toys'. The ban has been in effect for almost
just 3 years short of a hundred years. But, keeping mortal's we have only been
doing that for the last twenty-five years or so." He paused, "I didn't kill for
long, and you never have, and never will, if I can do anything to stop it. So
yes, I believe in God, but I also believe that his, her, its forgiveness is
infinite. So I don't worry about the theological questions."
"So what happens to the food you eat?"
"Oh it will come back up in a few hours. We can eat it, but we can't
process it. Our bodies are dead." He pulled up to stand by the bed. "Come on
baby, let's grab a quick shower, throw on a robe, and join the party."
* * *
They stepped into a whirlwind of activity. "Damn," Kris swore, watching
them move to set the table.
"My bunch pretty much have it timed."
"Happy Thanksgiving, Master, Mistress." Came the chorus of voices.
"I couldn't believe it when they got me up to start fixing a big
Thanksgiving dinner." Bobby laughed. "Forgive me but who would have ever
thought, I mean you're vampires."
"Oh, I'll grab a burger every now than then, just as quick as the next
person. I just don't make a big habit of it. But I never miss one of house big
dinners. Thanksgiving, Christmas, or if you're like me and prefer the
pre-Christian Yule, and whichever one is celebrating a birthday or anniversary."
"You two might want to sleep in late for a few hours tomorrow." Randy
suggested.
"Why? Usually by the time Jess and I do get up, you all are champing at the
bit, figuratively speaking."
"Pet started the tradition of the day after every Thanksgiving, of going out
and getting the biggest most expensive Christmas Tree he can find. Then
decorating it. That first few Christmases, he and my girl went Christmas Tree
ornament nuts. But the last fifteen years or so, it has calmed down quite a
bit. Now they only get just a few, very pretty ones, and the one that marks the
year. Now they only go even more out of their way to find the most expensive
tree that they can. Same thing with the gifts just be very, thankful, you have
the money you have. You'll be paying off credit bills for ages."
"I don't think so." She tried hard not to think about the money. "Not with
as many of them as they are now."
"Just keep telling yourself that Kris, if it helps you to sleep the day."
She groaned. "You don't understand Jess, I don't want to use that money,
it's like he bought me."
"No, maybe your forgiveness, but never a charge for the gift. He chose you,
and made you, knowing full well what would happen, so yes, I think he is trying
to buy your forgiveness, but not you." He kissed her. "Now, let's, eat."
* * *
Kris, had long since gotten used to the fact that she was almost never alone
when she made love to one of them. So she just sighed at the feel of a mouth on
her breast as she turned her head to tease Mitch with her mouth.
Danny tugged at her nipple, with mock aggression, knowing nothing he did
would ever hurt her.
"Pull to one side, Little One, your mistress fed from angel tonight, and he
wants to show her how thankful he is." Jessy stroked Bobby's hair as Danny
moved to lie at her side. "Go on, pretty boy, I'll see you taken care of."
Mitch cried out, almost going to his knees, over the loud cracking sounds of
the paddle, as suddenly, the mouth on his erection pulled hard. It felt so
good, even if it hurt. The first line of the chorus to an old Cougar/Mellencamp
song played out in his head. Because it really, did, 'hurt so good'.
Mike took a drag off the joint as it was passed to him, before handing it
back to Sally. "I just hope that neither of them want to play with me like
that." He bit out between clinched teeth, watching Bobby mindlessly, go down,
on Kris while Jessy brought the paddle down, hard, on his exposed buttocks.
Each crack of the paddle made him wince just a little.
"Nah, you and Sam were pretty much made to order, he's still very much got
mistress and Patty. And Brenda and Ryan are quite happy with where they are, so
he went out of his way, when he collected you two, to find Tracy and I
playmates.
He hit the joint one more time before laying it in the ashtray to go out.
"Well, then, honey, let's go find a bed so we can be playmates."
"You mind leaving the party? He hasn't shared his blood with you tonight
yet. I don't want to see you go through what Mitch did that time. And if I
don't you can guarantee he doesn't either."
Mike pulled her close, moving to sit on the floor with her. "Bed, floor, I
don't care, I just want to hear you scream for me again." He pushed her back,
listening to her laugh.
* * *
Hands, mouths, heated flesh, were everywhere. No matter which way she
turned, there was someone, and each one was so sweet, each so ready for her and
her hunger. It had been days since she did more than just wake hungry. She
didn't have to feel the pangs of hunger, because they were there. And not even
her constant need was a danger anymore. There were so many of them.
Like now, Brenda cried softly, her body pressed against Kris's as the young
vampire fed. Meeting her mistress in heat and passion. Soft skin, lips,
touches, both women sharing themselves with each other, in almost an innocent
gesture of love.
"Oh, god," Kris lay back, Brenda resting against her. "You okay, Sweety? I
didn't hurt you there at the end did I?"
Brenda just laughed softly, leaning up to kiss her. "No, Mistress, despite
how much I was hoping you might. You are less controlled when you are feeding
from me. I keep hoping that you will forget I'm not dead just one time."
"No,." Kris grabbed her close. "I don't dare forget that you are mortal, I
can't forget how easily I could hurt you. Because if I ever do, even for just a
minute, I could kill you." She kissed her forehead. "It is far better for you
to play the games you and butch play with him and little one. I have to always
remember how easily I could hurt one of you. So if you want to be hurt, best
you turn to someone who can't kill you in the process."
"You won't hurt me, Mistress, I know that. We all know that. Master won't
ever let any of us be hurt."
Kris shook her head. "Listen to me, Yeah Jessy is damn good at what he can
do, but he's not watching every move I make, anymore. I could hurt you, without
meaning to, before he could step in to stop me. Yes, because I don't have to
hunt for food, what with all of you just an arm length away, I have, control,
over my hunger that he says he didn't have until he was almost two. But we both
agree that for the next few months, until I am a year or so, until he is
positive that I won't lose control, we are being ultra careful with all of you."
"Besides, dear," Jessy dropped beside them both. "Butch would never forgive
me if I couldn't stop Kris from going to far with you." He leaned in and kissed
the girl. "And neither would I." He nibbled at her bottom lip before kissing
her again. "Now, Sweety, would you please go and jump one of the boys that are
all over the place. I need to talk to Kris."
"Go on, honey, go play with butch and little one. I'll be with you all soon
enough." She looked up at Jessy. "God, don't tell me you have something
important to talk to me about. Not tonight, it's Thanksgiving, and I'm so
bloated on blood right now, I can't swear I could listen."
He pressed his head against her breast, chuckling. "Actually it is
important, but I thought, with as calm as you are now, it would be something
that you would enjoy."
His hair was so soft, she loved to touch it. "Okay, I'll try to be all
ears, but I can't make any promises."
"How would you like if I showed you how to bond with them as I do? I know
that the rest wish you could. I have heard more than one, 'I wish', over the
time you have been here. And, you're coming along much better than I thought
possible, so I don't see why you can't feed them like I do. They are ours, and
not just mine. Gods know, you have pointed that out to me enough."
She nodded. She had been nagging him for the last month or so to let her
help him to take care of them. But he had kept telling her she was still too
young, she needed all the blood she got from them, to live. "But, what about, I
don't feed ten or twelve times a night anymore, but, I still feed a lot. Won't
it make me revert back to the endless feedings if I start to open a vein for
them?"
"Yes, and no, baby. Yes, if you were going to try to share blood with each
of them, bind them all to you, that would be stupid, and I am not going to be
stupid about this. But your four, if you don't try and do them all every night,
it really shouldn't be that much of a strain on you."
"What do you propose?"
He traced his fingers up her flat belly, to gently cup a breast. "Little
one, can make it three days without my blood, butch only needs me every other
night, but the others, they still are on a pretty regular diet of every night.
You won't be able to take care of them, alone, but two a night, shouldn't push
you too much. For those nights that you can't feed them, I will. Soon enough,
it will get to the point that you can handle all four, every night. But you
have got to learn to be patient."
"Mitch?"
"Same as the rest, you do what you can, and on the nights you can't, I will.
I love that boy, almost as much as you do. You know I won't let him suffer."
"I know that. I've seen you go out of your way, above and beyond the call
for them more than once. Like when Tracy fell down the stairs and broke her
hip, you were up with her, all day, continually feeding her your blood so that
her hip would heal right."
"Of course," he sounded a bit offended. "When I took her in, to save her
life, I gave her my word that I wouldn't let her get hurt. Her hip was broken,
that falls under hurt in a major way."
"Why?"
Jessy lifted his head to look down at her. "Why, what?"
"You're so, I don't know," she was trying to make him see what she was
trying to say. "Incredibly gently with them. It took you over ten years to
finally have Jake, who was always such a problem, push you into taking a stand.
Why is it that you just seem to not only expect their trust, but get it almost
at once?"
He struggled to find the words to something he never really thought about.
He never really considered how and why he was the way he was. "I don't know,
Kris, maybe it's because, as a vampire, I wasn't quite forty when the ban was
put in place. I hated bottled blood, it just wasn't the same. I never forget,
even for a minute, that keeping them here, like I do, now, means that I will
never have to go back to it. Or maybe it's because I love them."
"You know, for something that has a long standing rep for being ruthless,
soulless, bad ass killers, who lack all humanity. Vampires seem so tame."
He just laughed. "A lot of the myths about us are just that myths. But
there is a lot that comes from truth. Some of us, are just as ruthless, and I
won't say soulless, because I think I have a soul, but certainly inhumane
killers that we are reported to be. The way we keep our bunch, isn't the norm,
or so Janis tells me. Even she doesn't go to the extreme that I do to make sure
that all those she keeps are content and happy. And she is the one that, when
she gave me Randy, lectured me on what not to do to him."
"I can just imagine. We have thirteen, and it takes us both, to keep them
happy. She's got how many, twenty-five, or more? Just how the hell does she
keep up with them. Now that she knows she doesn't dare lax in feeding them?"
Jessy just chuckled. "You don't know her like I do, ladylove. Remember
that she chose me, while I was still in my most mercenary mind set. And trust
me, she damn near killed me with her demands, long before she killed me to make
me her Childe. After I warned her about what butch went through, she started to
feed more often so that she could see to her newest pretty boys. And if I know
her, like I know I do, they aren't complaining."
"So, you think I can start tonight? God knows I have blood to spare."
"Sure baby, and for tonight, you can feed all four of yours. I'm sure that
between butch and little one, you won't have any problems."
"Oh goody."
* * *
Mitch looked up as Kris's mind touched his. *Yeah, Krissy, what can I do
for you? *
*It's not what you can do for me, lover, but what I can do for you. Why
don't you and little one bring sweety and puck, and come here. * She watched as
Mitch gathered not only Brenda, who was curled up next to him, but Danny and
Ryan as well, and moved to where she lay on the bed.
"What's up, Kris?" Mitch threw himself down by her.
"Got a early Christmas present for you all." She pulled herself up into a
sitting position. "Jessy just told me that I can start sharing my blood with
all of you."
"But you aren't even a year old yet, isn't that dangerous for you?" Yes he
would love to share with her what he shared with Jessy so often, but not at her
expense.
"It's okay, Butch. Yes, she would be put in danger of having to revert back
to feeding almost constantly, if I let her try to take on everyone of you. But
for now, just you four, and then only two a night." Jessy was grateful that he
wasn't the only one who worried about her. "Little One can handle being fed
once ever three nights, and Butch, you can survive on an every other night
feeding schedule, but her other two are still feeding from me every night. So
which ever she can't handle, I will. But for tonight, with as much as she has
fed so far. I am sure between you and little one, she won't be put out. She is
going to feed you four. But hear me, just this night, I don't want to have
anymore problems out of her like I did when she first came to live with me. So
just this once."
"I have a working plan, Jess." Kris was near tears. She had so wanted to
feel the complete openness that Jessy felt every time he let one of them feed
from him. "There are four of them, and if I'm going to feed two a night, little
one is going to have to get used to living by the same feeding schedule that
butch has. And I know feeding every other day instead of every three is just
going to kill him. I will tend to them both one night, and sweety and puck the
next, and then back to butch and little one." She grinned. "Every other night,
and the night that I am taking care of butch and little one, you can still take
care of my other two, right?"
"I already told you I would, baby. You should know by now that my word is
always good. Besides, I don't like feeling a knife in my gut, and that is what
I am risking if I neglect them." He lifted Ryan's chin to kiss the boy. "You
trust me, don't you Puck?"
Ryan didn't bother to answer him, if he did, he would have to break the
kiss, and he didn't want to do that.
Kris watched patiently as Jessy teased her boy. "Come over here Mitch, you
are going to be the first." His felt so good against her. "Just as soon as
Jessy is finished playing around with puck, that is."
Jessy just pulled back, laughing. "What, you starting to be possessive of
him? No fair, cousin, I was willing to share all those that had been mine for
so long with you. Remember, this boy is one we went out and got together."
"I'm not possessive of them, I just want to get on with this, if you only
knew how much." She sank her fangs into Mitch, drinking briefly.
Jessy bent and kissed Ryan, lightly. "Run to the desk, baby. There is a
knife in the top drawer. Hurry and bring it to me." He pulled back as Ryan
moved, at once. "I'll finish losing myself in you, soon enough."
Ryan didn't understand why Jessy needed a knife. He never had before.
"Master?" He handed him the knife, blade down.
"Ssshh, Puck, wait. You trust me, right?"
"Okay, Jess, what's the knife for? I use my fangs, right?" Kris, lay
there, Mitch pulled against her.
"Yes, but, Janis mentioned the beauty of a blade, so I decided, seeing as
this is your first time feeding a mortal, that I would start as well."
"So, what do I do with it now? Cut my wrist, instead?"
He smiled at her softly. "Usually, but for tonight, I think your throat
would be a better choice."
"Why?"
He reached out and took her hand, turning. It, palm up. "This is just an
artery. Your throat is your jugular. We don't bleed for long when cut, no
matter where it is. But the jugular does give them much more than any artery."
He looked down, smiling at Ryan. "They respond much better, and it feels
wonderful. It's closer to what it feels like to feed, than a wrist feeding."
He bit his lip, to smear his blood on the blade, tempering the steel with it.
"Damn," she took the knife. "Sweety," she reached out for Brenda. "Blow
him honey. He'll return the favor when it's your turn."
Mitch turned around in her arms, pushing her back to lay flat on the bed.
"No, Krissy, if you're going to do this with me. Let's do this together." He
looked down at her, smiling, as his knee parted her thighs, and he slipped in.
"I, I don't want to lose control, to hurt you." She shuddered as he ground
his loins against hers.
*Jessy, * Mitch reached out for the older vampire.
*Yeah, Butch? *
*Don't make me have to pull away, not now. *
*Never, * he turned his attention to Kris, who was sobbing against Mitch's
lips. "I'm here honey. Go on, let him make love to you while you both feed.
Just don't go for his throat."
She pressed the point of the blade against her throat, cutting deep, hissing
at the sharp pain, but it was all forgotten as she pulled his head to the cut,
bending to sink her own fangs into her shoulder, scraping his collar bone as she
did.
The feelings that flowed through him were the closest thing to a religious
experience that he had ever had. He was completely lost, and as Kris's legs
lifted to crush his hips against her, he came, crying out in exquisite pain.
She no longer cared about anything but the delicious feeling of his blood in
her mouth as she sheathed him. It was heaven. She could die now, and never
doubt that she had felt it all.
*Enough, Kris, you have to pull back now. * Jessy had never had to use his
will to force her to pull back from Mitch, but he was having too now. *You have
to pull back, NOW! * His will forced his demand on hers, forcing her to pull
back, to stop feeding.
Kris lay there, fighting to regain some semblance of control. "Mitch?"
He looked down at her. "Damn, baby, that was . . . . . "
"I know, but we can't do that often. Not until I get a whole hell of a lot
more in-control of myself."
He looked down at her, shaking his head in denial. "Why? I'm not hurt, you
didn't do anything to me but make it oh so good."
"No, Butch, she is right. I have never had to push her with you like I just
did. Remember, love, you were her promised before she was mine." Jessy held
out his hand. "Now, why don't you pull away from her for a while. Soon enough
you can lose yourself in her again. But she has three others to tend to. Just
wait, by the time she is through with them, she will be more than able to be
with you again."
Mitch pulled away, but slowly, not at all happy about having to, but Jessy
was right, if he had to force Kris to stop with him, he really shouldn't be with
her right now. His feelings of self-preservation fighting with his want to lose
himself in her again. But finally his desire to keep living out weighted his
want to give himself to her again."
Danny wanted what Mitch had just had, but Kris didn't dare, Jessy wasn't
watching her as closely as he had been. But she smiled as Brenda went to help
her with him. And he came the moment he tasted her blood.
"She's won him forever." Mitch murmured against Bobby's cheek.
"He say's she's had him since the first time she fed from him. How does it
feel to share her love with someone other than Master?"
Mitch shrugged. "I don't know how to explain that, Bob, how does it feel to
you knowing Alex is dear to Randy?"
Bobby just laughed softly. "Touche."
"No, I'm serious. You've been with Alex longer than I have been with Kris,
and you owned him."
Bobby shrugged. "Master says I'm good at what I used to be, but now, with
him, I'm just happy to share him with master and pet. And he let's us share
each other."
"That's pretty much how I feel about Kris and Danny. Hell I feel that what
about you all. Suppose it has something to do with the fact that I was not
myself when I first came here." He reached out, cupping Bobby, "like now,
Krissy is busy taking care of the rest, Jessy is with Ryan." He had learned,
with Danny, how good kissing someone other than Kris was. And how good being
with someone else was as well.
Kris swore to herself, as, she pulled away from Ryan, to go into Jessy's
arms, mouth hot on his flesh, that she would never forget this day. It didn't
matter how long she lived, or how many times she was given this again, she would
never forget this first time. Not even the tie she was now sharing with Jessy
could, even touched what she felt when fed her mortal lovers.
*Open up to me. * He wanted to lose his identity in her for now. To, give
her everything.
Kris just screamed as she gave her whole self to him, opening up like she
never had. It was so overwhelming, so perfect, that she had to flee
consciousness to keep from staying.
* * *
*Kris, * Jessy patted her cheek, trying to wake her. *You there baby? *
"Wow." She laughed, huskily. "Damn, baby, that's the first time you ever
did that to me."
"That, beloved, is because this is the first time I have ever wanted to give
myself, fully to another. I told you once, back in the beginning that I wanted
to share eon's with you. Now, we are as close as two souls can be and not be in
one body." He sank his fangs into her flesh again, listening to her cry out
softly. *Now we can share this, always. *
*I, oh God, this, * she couldn't even think.
"Come here, Ryan, I do believe that we've been forgotten for now." Mitch
just laughed pulling the boy to him.
Ryan sighed, pressing against him. "I'm sure I will live."
* * *
The rest of the night was nothing but a haze to her. How man times had she
needed to feed, how many times had she been fed from? She didn't know, but as
she turned over slowly beginning to wake, Not hungry for the first time since
her making, she realized that it must have been a whole lot.
