Omithra

Damien stared into the milky white eyes of the woman sitting before him and wondered what color they were before. Her long chestnut brown hair was pulled back into a long loose braid that draped over a shoulder. Her pouty pink lips were slightly open but her breathing steady beneath the loose silk robe she wore.

He detested Thursday night more than any other of the week. Her sitting there staring blindly at him as his fangs sank into her wrist and he drank deeply from her. Always her wrist. The least intimate part of her with enough flesh that he wouldn’t risk cracking a delicate bone rendering her useless until the antibiotics wore off. He hated that more than anything, having to choose a new vena from unexpected illness or simply their contract running out.

He maintained a permanent vena here at Carmine Tower as a patron. It was expensive, but, it was a steady supply to feed from that he could use when he wished in a clean anonymous environment. So different than the old ways when he scrambled to drink from drunken wenches or in desperation had to drink from a blood slave. And those eyes, courtesy of the witches quarter. A temporary spell taking their sight beyond vague shapes and light to maintain the secretive identities of the vampires that roamed the halls slinking into rooms. Though it would be imminently easier and less expensive to maintain his own aspirant the thought of having a human around in the private space of his home felt invasive. Not to mention he had no desire to create more of his species that he would inevitably be responsible for.

At least here the exchange was mutual. He got what he needed in the form of fresh blood and they received what they volunteered for. If they survived the two year contract. The ones that were not lucky enough to capture a patron from the letting, or shortly thereafter, wilted slowly from the over consumption of their blood. Without a patron, a vena was at the whim of the company to be rented out at a nightly rate to anyone willing to pay the small fee. Many of them wasted to nothing within months and their contracts which were then terminated without payment as they were no longer fit to serve as the contract demanded. It was a harsh side of the business yet completely legal. The fact that some of them died to over zealous or inexperienced fangs was inevitable as well. The company guaranteed no safety and let the courts take over if there was a death, happy to walk away with another way to make almost pure profit from the body through various loopholes. Most vena were desperate souls needing the money. The businesses preyed on impoverished areas, offering what they would make in ten years at the end of a short two year contract. Medical bills, college tuition, gambling debts, adoption fees, burial expenses or simply enough money to move and start a new life; the list of what they used the money for was endless and often heartbreaking.

He released his mouth from her wrist, running his tongue over the two puncture wounds to seal them. The specialized enzyme in his saliva worked quickly, the outermost layer of skin healing almost immediately to prevent a bleed out. Sitting back on his heels he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the surge of energy coursing through his body. He listened to the rustling of her moving from the chair in front of him to the bed across the room. It was a precaution trained into her, but, he knew he never took enough that she would pass out. Her blood was appetizing though. Her preferred diet of slightly spicy foods from her region seasoned it nicely, which was why he had chosen her at the letting. She was also fastidious in her cleanliness, another necessity.

After a few moments he rose slowly, his body feeling like a live wire from the feed. “Thank you.” he said quietly.

The politeness wasn’t necessary or expected, this is what she was paid for afterall. He simply pitied her and whatever thing had driven her to choose this burden upon her body. Other vena may be servicing cruel masters if they were lucky to live at all, but, at least this one would know a simple road to whatever end the money from her contract provided.

“Thank you for your patronage, Sir.” Her almost ritualistic response came in a soft voice from the bed. Despite the drain which left her lightheaded and bound for sleep she always stayed awake until he had left. At first he thought it from fear or expectation that he would use her in other ways. As a vena you were paid for the use of your body, all of it. But, almost two years in and she was still vigilant despite him never making any aggressive move or pressing himself onto her. Maybe she was simply afraid of him. He pondered it while he felt his twitching muscles calm from the surge of feeding.

Exiting the building five minutes later he pulled his coat tight around his face fighting off the bitter chill in the winter air of Omithra and headed for home, thoughts of her reactions to him still puzzling his mind.

It was Wednesday, not Thursday. His weekly feeding should be tomorrow but, the thought of feeding right before an unexpected flight to finalize a deal in the southern Drow kingdom turned his stomach even now. Letting his body settle for a day would be better. So here he was, slinking through the doors of the Carmine Towers one day early. That’s why he’d been drinking tonight, to relieve some of the anxiety about the flight and dealing with a Drow if he were being completely honest with himself.

He had always hated flying out of their territory. The risk of delays and sun exposure were only the tip of the iceberg. Getting found out for being a vampire in some regions was still as dangerous as the old world. There were those full of hate and fear, granted he couldn’t say it was wholly undeserved on his species part. Like human serial killers or malicious witches, sadistic vamps were the only ones who made the news outside of their own territory.

He went straight to her room on the third floor, pressing his wallet where the room key was shoved to the sensor on the door. It flashed green before unlocking, swinging open quietly. Stepping inside he noticed it was unusually dark and she wasn’t there to greet him. Well, in the almost two years she’d been his he’d also never come any other day or time than his weekly feeding, for once she wasn’t expecting him. Maybe she was down at the community room or eating at the cafeteria.

He walked around the corner that opened into the large studio space, “Brenna?” Gods, her name felt strange on his tongue, he wasn’t sure he’d ever said it.

“Sir?” Her voice came from the bed, surprised and unsure.

Fuck, he’d scared her. Her blood would be tart until she calmed down. He’d have to wait before he could feed. So much for a quick in and out tonight.

“I apologize for the unexpected visit, but, I need to feed.” More unnecessary niceties that would hopefully help calm her.

“Yes,..of course Sir.” His eyes needed no adjustment to the dark once he was inside and he could now see her form crawling from between the sheets and walking toward him. “Let me just bathe quickly so that I am clean for you.”

As she passed, needing to get around him to where the bathroom door was, her scent wafted into his nose. The smell of her skin stronger than ever before, not stripped away by the soaps he asked her to use to sanitize herself for feeding. Beyond that the entire room smelled heavy and thick, an unfamiliar scent he was just now noticing too. He pulled his lips back from his teeth in an almost feline snarl and took a deep inhale to better taste the air. It was unmistakably the scent was her arousal. Mixed with the smell of her skin it made his fangs ache and his cock twitch. Letting out a low growl he turned, catching her wrist and pulling her around to him.

Those milky white eyes stared toward him and he felt the fear truly begin to wash over her. He quickly exhaled onto her face, the breath calming her as it was chemically meant to do. To assuage fear, allowing blood to flow and not be tainted by the sour taste of terror.

“You smell….”

Her voice was still slightly shaky, his breath still obviously needing time to fully work. “I’m so sorry Sir, if you just give me a minute I will...”

He took the wrist in his hand and brought it closer to his face, inhaling deeply. Gods, it was all over her fingers. He had literally walked in on her pleasuring herself. Unable to resist he pushed his body into hers, pinning her to the wall.

“You smell delicious.” The words came out in little more than a throaty murmur as he shoved the two glistening fingers into his mouth. The taste of her sent his neck arching as he groaned uncontrollably. His cock strained against his already tight pants, eager to be a part of everything. The promise of ecstasy, of mingling feeding and sex, making it throb with need.

His other hand grabbed her hip and he pressed a knee between her thighs. His mouth released her fingers, licking down her palm and to her wrist. He felt his canines lengthen and his salivary glands went into overdrive with the expectation of feeding. Pressing his rigid cock against her stomach he moved his hand from her hip and sent it directly between her thighs. Impatiently he ripped off her panties and pressed his palm and fingers to her. They were soaked immediately and he growled in approval. Just as he moved to press a wandering finger inside of her and clamp his mouth onto her wrist the heavy scent of her fear cut through everything like a scalpel.

He paused, his brain fighting against his body. What the fuck was he doing? Disgusted with himself for acting like an animal he dropped her wrist like it was a hot iron, removed himself from her body and stormed out into the hallway before the need in his body could override his senses again.

Damien, his pale face flushed and his breath ragged, wavered down the hallway toward the elevator. Removed from the overwhelming scents in the room his mind began to clear. He would deal with the hunger for the week. He wiped his hand on his pant leg, his mind reeling from the encounter he’d just had. What the hell happened in there?! Stupid question. He knew exactly what had happened: it had been far too long since he’d had anything more than his hand for release. Impatiently, he pressed the elevator button again and glanced at his watch. He had plenty of time to find a willing companion at one of the nearby bars. There was no way he was going to a business meeting hungry and horny.

Just then, Brenna appeared around the corner, her hands gripping the wall and a terrified blank stare searching the hallway.

He hissed as he marched to her, grabbed her arm and started walking her back into her room. “What are you doing out here without a chaperone? Anyone could haul you off where they please.” Her scent caught him a moment later, still aroused yet terrified, the perfect combination to drive his instincts wild. He clamped his teeth together to keep himself from groaning.

Brenna stumbled as he turned her around and forced her to walk with him. “Please, sir,” she pleaded, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what I did wrong, but please don’t take away your patronage.” Her eyes were wide with fear, and her hand gripped his forearm tightly, the first time she had ever touched him.

Damien growled at the contact that he could feel despite the layers of clothing separating her skin from his own. He shook his head, trying to clear it. One thing was certain: she seemed genuinely panicked, and her voice was louder than he wanted. Attention was the last thing he needed in a place like this. He continued to walk her back to her room, speaking as calmly as he could.

“You have done nothing wrong besides leaving the safety of your room.” They finally reached the door and he opened it quickly and pushed her over the threshold. Even from here his sensitive nose smelled too much of the room, too much of her.

“But, I can feed you now, please Sir…” Her hands reached for him.

His cock twitched in agreement but he stepped back to avoid her. “That is not necessary.”

At that her face paled and then he remembered what she had said in the hall. Running a hand over his face he sighed. “I will be back in three days. You will be ready then.”

“Oh, Sir, yes of course!” Those anxious hands finally found a place clasped in front of her, the fingers still twisting together but her expression slowly relaxing.

He grabbed the handle of the door, careful to avoid her. “Don’t come out again unchaperoned or we will have a problem Brenna.”

As she nodded blindly, he closed the door between them.

Welcome to my newest project! This is my first foray into fantasy in long form and I hope you enjoy it. This story is a labor of love of the characters so updates will vary in frequency but I hope you will come along for the journey.