It was different, among the crowds of humans with Merrick, she had been holding her breath, and the overwhelming amount of sounds assaulting her newly enhanced senses. When she had finally begun to inhale, the smell of blood was not a surprise, she had been expecting it, prepared for it. Her mindset was in the mode for her hunt. She also had the powerful aid of her sire by her side, his guidance and powerful control over her, kept her thirst in check.
Cara turned her head slowly, examining her face in the mirror, as soon as she saw them, she recoiled from the mirror, horror-struck.
"I'm—I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice a rasp. "I didn't mean—I—"
The maids fell to their knees at once, heads bowed low.
"It is not your fault, Your Majesty," the elder said gently. "Please, do not be distressed. It is natural for a fledgling." She gave Caralee a comforting smile before turning to one of the other maids. "Sylvia, a feeder, quickly."
Another younger maid sprang to her feet, she had brown hair carefully braided and pinned back, away from her face. She moved with calculated urgency, bobbing a curtsy before darting to the door.
"We shall send for a feeder immediately," The head maid promised.
"A feeder?" Cara whispered, stricken.
The elder maid smiled kindly. "A willing donor, Your Majesty. Carefully selected. You need not fear."
Why do they keep calling me your Majesty? Is it because Merrick is there King? We aren't married though.
"You're Majesty—?" Her insides writhed in pain suddenly and she did not hear if the head maid responded to her. Not could she focus on her face at that moment. Many thoughts flew around inside her head, so many questions. As she started to ask a question of the head maid she realized something. "What do I call you"?"
The elder woman looked startled. Glancing around she blushed a little and averted her gaze down. "My name, is Lydia your Majesty. But people call me Lydie." She must not have been asked that very often because the woman looked almost embarrassed, continuously glancing around as if worried somebody else might overhear.
Caralee felt dizzy as she sat there thinking of all the questions she had and in the end, decided against asking any for now. All she said was "Thank you Lydie." At her words the old maid blushed again and smiled softly.
"No, miss you do not need to thank anybody, we are simply doing our job." She bowed deeply. Still blushing slightly.
"Still," Cara struggled to get the words out, the thirst still racking her throat, "I appreciate it." She managed a weak smile for her attendants.
Still reeling, Cara sagged back against the vanity stool, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples with the palms of her hands. Before too long, the young girl named Sylvia slipped back into the room, and quickly walked over to Lydie. Leaning down she whispered something into the old maids ear.
"If that is all we have, then so be it, this is urgent, but let me ask the lady." Lydia walked over to Cara and in a low voice she leaned in close and explained. "Your Majesty, I apologize, but it seems our feeders are all already with other lords and Ladies. All we have available, is a slave miss." A couple of the other maids behind her gasped, but when they received a sharp glare from Lydie the quickly regained their composure.
"What— what is wrong? Is that bad? I don't understand ma'am." Caralee blurted out while she held her head in her hand. Another gasp came from one of the maids, followed by a few inaudible murmurs from comments made between them.
Lydia gave them another intense glare. "That's it, out, all of you. You're dismissed until after her Majesty feeds, everyone but Sylvia go." Lydia waited for the last maid to exit before turning back to Cara. "Blood is most nutritious from a willing host my lady, taking it from a slave will not nourish you fully, but it will at least keep the thirst at bay, satiate the need, and curb your hunger."
Caralee felt her stomach lurch, the idea of biting into a scared human, probably terrified and crying, it honestly made her whole body shake from disgust. She would rather starve. However just then her insides writhed in pain once more, and she was unsure what to do.
Noticing her apprehension and the look of horror in her face Lydia smiled softly, and gave Cara a reassuring pat on the back. "The slave is compelled my lady, they will be entranced and should not give any indication they are feeling discomfort. Your venom will numb any paid and heal the wound. Once the hypnotic state is released they won't even know what has happened. I assure you."
Caralee was shocked. So much went into something as simple as feeding, it was overwhelming. The pain in her body and the dry itch in her throat combined with Lydia's words finally pushed her over the line. She simply looked Lydia in the eyes and nodded. The head maid waved to Sylvia, and the girl opened the door beckoning a human inside.
Caralee could not face them she waited with her back to the door. She heard feet shuffling as Sylvia guided the slave to the center of the room. And returned to her spot by the door as it closed behind them. Cara heard a man grunt lightly as he kneeled to the floor.
Lydia placed a hand on her back, "My lady, the slave is ready."
With a deep breath, Caralee turned to face the slave and froze. Both of her hands flew to her mouth. She held back a tear, trying not to let her raging emotions show.
Knealt on the floor in front of her, in all his muscular splendor, was none other than Donovan.
The fever dream was far from over. In fact, It felt more like it had only just begun.