Endangered Ch. 03

Their suite was quite spacious, one of only two abodes on the entire floor. Elaborately furnished, the dark heartwood accents contrasted nicely with the gentle pastel interiors. There were pieces of tasteful local art throughout, including some clearly made by Beings. All of the windows, which were extensive along one side, were installed with retractable shades currently pulled down, effectively blocking out all sunlight. They could open them if they desired, but Lillian cautioned them to please tell her beforehand; she was a vampire after all.

While Chris and Annabel made themselves comfortable in the master bedroom, Susan took one of the spare rooms. Lillian set up shop in another: while on duty she would live with them. When asked about taking time out from what sounded like exhaustive surveillance duties, Lillian explained that she didn't expect to do so. Frankly, she rarely slept anymore.

Lunch was delivered via room service: burgers for Chris and Annabel and an omelette for Susan. Lillian ordered a 'blood box' – the vampire equivalent of a juice box – a concept Annabel initially found immensely funny until the implications of harvesting human blood sunk in. All four of them sat at the dining room table, Annabel next to Chris, opposite Lillian. While they ate, Susan remained quiet, sizing Lillian up; trying to figure out what hidden games might be in store. Lillian must be powerful, she knew, and highly trusted to be assigned to protect Chris; but what exactly would the vampire be reporting to Lady Narlakis, she wondered.

"So your aspect is the Ether. How does that work?" Lillian asked, sipping her blood while they finished off their fries.

"I don't know," Chris answered honestly. He'd begun to warm to the seemingly-friendly vampire. "I used to dream in the Ether some nights. This is all very new to me." He explained about his father's enchantment. "Yesterday, I fell into the Ether when I had a nap, woke up, and had a walk around in there. I actually ended up scaring the hell out of Mom."

"Very interesting," Lillian mused, "you know, it's a unique aspect among dragons. There hasn't been an Ether dragon before. I imagine you will grow to be quite formidable. Dragons always are, but if you can learn to phase, and to harness the energy of the Ether for magic, you would become very powerful."

Everyone seemed to be obsessed with how powerful he would become. "I just want an uncomplicated life."

Lillian's guffaw echoed in the room and Susan had to smile a little too. "You certainly won't have an uncomplicated life. No one does." Perhaps because he was young, he didn't yet understand the world. She was finding it a little easier to relax around him, especially after her blood meal; perhaps she was just getting accustomed to his scent. The girl, however, still eyed her warily, while the witch silently studied her.

"Well. Let's go get her the tattoo," Lillian announced, once they had all finished eating.

"Me?!" Annabel squeaked. She hated all things 'needle'.

"Is that really necessary?" Chris knew it was, but asked anyway.

"Absolutely," Susan replied out of the blue from the head of the table. "Without it, you won't be legally protected against the actions of other Beings. You'll be a regular human. Nowadays, they tattoo the owner's ID number on each familiar. They used to brand humans, like cattle."

"Yes, and without your master's tattoo I could come gobble you up in the night," was Lillian's light-hearted rejoinder. Chris hissed. "Relax," the vampire eased, "I meant it as a joke. Although it's true, you know."

"Do you really hunt people? Kill them to drink their blood?" Annabel asked.

"Well of course I do, I'm a vampire. Most of us try not to kill our victims. It's greedy, you know; messy, too." Damping down her sharp wit, she continued, "We each have an allotment of humans we are allowed to kill each year; some vampires get off on it, but they usually don't last long. We are allowed as many non-fatal feedings as we need, provided we leave no trace behind, keep the Secret, and all that. Human familiars of other Beings are off-limits, though," she added kindly. "A lot of vampires just keep their own human familiars, or feed from another willing Being."

"That's sick, how can you just treat people like that?" Annabel whined. Chris hugged her across the small gap between their chairs; still, she felt a little nauseous at the idea.

Lillian wasn't at all offended by the girl's accusations. "It's just nature Annabel, it isn't pretty," she explained patiently, meeting the girl's bright eyes. This was a serious subject, the human needed to understand that the Being world wasn't some idealised fantasy. "Vampires aren't even the worst; true demons used to go on absolute bloodbaths before they got stopped. That hasn't happened in several hundred years. And it's been very rare since the Devines put a barrier around our dimension millennia ago, saying it was unfair that demons still influenced our lives, even after the ban." She had embraced her nature long ago. A hungry vampire was a dead vampire, after all.

Susan looked on approvingly, it wasn't the most gentle of lessons in the uglier side, but it would be good for both Annabel and Chris.

Slumping sideways back into Chris's body with a slight sigh, Annabel was rocked. "Demons? Holy shit ... what, what about God? The Devil? At least tell me you don't go around killing people. I mean you're a good vampire, right?" Magical Beings were one thing but she'd lost faith once she realised that people did all manner of things in the name of their gods.

Across the table Lillian laughed huskily, watching the dynamic between the two, they certainly seemed to take a lot of comfort in physical contact with each other. The girl was as delightfully innocent as the dragon. "Well. I don't know that there's such a thing as a 'good' vampire, darling. Perhaps I am. I did kill a man last year, but then again he was a rapist; that was more of a murder than a feeding. Demons and Devines certainly exist, perhaps not as you've thought of them. One thing's for sure though," Lillian leaned forward, speaking thoughtfully as she twirled some of her lustrous brown hair out of habit with a finger. "They hate each other. What do they fight about? The fate of our souls: who knows?" she mused aloud. "As for God, or gods, or the Devil: who knows? I have no more proof of their existence than you. Mightn't an entity powerful beyond our comprehension appear to be a god? We would have no way to know if it was a god or just some small fry in the scheme of the universe and all its dimensions." She paused and leaned back, stretching in an unintentional display of her impressive breasts, signalling her withdrawal from further philosophical discussion. "Anyway, all this is besides the point. You need to get a tattoo in order to be his familiar."

"Fine. Okay," Annabel agreed. The vampire's talk and her piercing gaze had managed to intimidate her more than did the idea of getting a tattoo. "Do I have to do anything else?"

"You'll repeat some rights like Chris did today. Then he'll do the same and put some energy into your binding. Other Beings will then be able to sense it and know you're a familiar. That part will be painless." To Lillian, it felt like overseeing a wedding. In a way, she was.

They rode the elevator back down below-ground, popping up in a shaded back alley. Behind a door, a suitably surprised, heavily-tattooed wizard greeted them, introducing himself as Garry. He had heard rumours earlier that day that a dragon was in town, but had dismissed them as bullshit. Now, he was stoked. A scenario began playing out in his head as he ushered them in and set up his tools: tattooing the dragon's familiar was going to give him a story to tell at the bar tonight. Women would be pawing all over him just to hear it....

***

Her left shoulder fucking throbbed! At least it was over now and she could suffer quietly, lying on the hotel bed. She'd put on a brave face, trying to show the hot vampire that she had toughs. Now she just wanted Chris, maybe some ice cream too; but he was out in the living room fussing over his new laptop and smartphone with Tosh, the Japanese spider guy. He was such a sweet nerd sometimes, getting excited about his new stuff. She hoped they would still have time to play an occasional video game together once everything settled down. Drifting a little, her mind wandered over the last 24 hours, the most eventful of her young life.

Before she had detected any sign of his approach, Chris was back in the room, picking her up off the bed. "Are you okay, Dee?" he soothed, holding her so as not to bump her sore shoulder. She could walk just fine, yet he took some satisfaction from treating her like an invalid, trying to comfort her.

"I'll be fine. It hurt like a bitch but it's not so bad now," Annabel fibbed. He'd carried her gently and then lowered her onto one of the rich leather couches where she now reclined, her legs bent and tucked neatly underneath her.

"Well, Susan reminded me that I might be able to help with that," he replied, gently lifting the material along one shoulder of her light blue dress and easing down her bra-strap to reveal a bandage. It covered the string of black numerals, about a half inch high, imprinted along her tender left shoulder blade, her dyed skin raised up and inflamed, like stinging Braille. Removing it carefully, he examined the exposed tattoo. 053 59413. Annabel winced a little as the bandage came off, but let him shuffle around her until he knelt, settling behind her, on the couch. He guided her down and forward a little, holding her upper arms gently. Then he started licking across the fevered numerals, hoping his saliva would provide some relief.

Initially, his purple, semi-forked, reptilian tongue felt hot on her sore skin; but as he continued, it seemed to have a cooling effect. Before she knew it, the pain was easing away. "Ohhh, it's working Chris. Keep going, it feels so good," she murmured.

He lapped until the irritated red colour faded back into flawlessness. Only, it wasn't entirely flawless: the string of numbers contrasted sharply against her milky skin. She shouldn't have had to mark her body like that.

Susan and Lillian watched the unintentionally erotic display from the kitchen. Given the position and his movements, he might almost be screwing her gently from behind. His larger, draconian body arched to lick and nip her shoulder while holding her in place. That he was in fact gently healing her, added something pure and loving to the pose.

"That's fucking hot. He's going to be a lady-killer," Lillian murmured distractedly, in danger of revisiting her initial evaluation of Chris's suitability as a lover.

"Mm hm," Susan agreed, unable to take her eyes off the lovebirds, instantly aroused, and finding herself less and less willing to hold back. Just being near the dragon and his scent was whittling down her power to resist him at an alarming rate.

Annabel opened her eyes and saw the two women in the kitchen, watching them. She quickly pulled her shoulder strap up, embarrassed about almost showing tit. Chris, who had been enjoying tonguing her smooth, slightly salty skin and giving her little kisses, stopped too; he had been fully caught up in the moment. His Mom and Lillian had been watching. He blushed a deeper purple. Perhaps the couch wasn't the best place.... And yet he hadn't intended it to become sexual.

"Ooh! That was so cute," Lillian exclaimed, breaking the spell. This assignment was turning out to be fun; a far cry from being cooped up with a prissy, self indulgent, Drow bitch. She hated feigning civility and obedience. The blood pact continually forced her to do as Lady Narlakis ordered; she could resist, but doing so left her weak and therefore vulnerable. Watching two young things, desperately in love but so unsure of themselves, was so much better. Now the purple dragon was all flustered and embarrassed, so uncharacteristic in a Class 1 Being.

"Okay, let's do the ceremony." Lillian approached the couch. "I've written down what you need to say. I'll be your witness." She handed them each a scrap of paper.

"What do I have to do, Mom?" Chris asked, unsure. "I've never even used magic."

"It'll be fine Chris," Susan assured, walking over. "It's not really a spell so much as a pact. Just hold Annabel in your mind and say the words. Some Beings give their familiars a more personal, magical marking in the process but don't worry about that. It's just a ceremony." She didn't actually have experience with wielding the magic involved in taking a familiar ... but it couldn't be that complicated. Most Beings could do this; even those who didn't practice traditional magic, like Weres or vampires.

Chris and Annabel faced each other on the couch and looked down at the scribbled words.

"Ready, Dee?" Chris asked tentatively, "You know you don't have to..."

"Oh, shush," Annabel teased. "So eager to get rid of me?"

"No."

"Good, I love you babe," she replied, leaning up to give him a chaste kiss, still mindful of their audience. "Let's do this. I go first, right?"

"Yes. Just say the words ... and mean them," Susan added.

One last time Annabel glanced at the note, memorising the words, before looking into his loving eyes, grasping his taloned hand, and promising her life to him. It was so dramatic. "Being, I give myself freely to you, bind myself to you. I vow to serve, place you above all others, and uphold the Secret. I'm yours." She meant it all. As the final syllable left her lips she felt an involuntary tremble course through her body. This wasn't just about saying some words anymore; something of herself had left her and now reached out, tendril-like, toward the dragon.

Chris felt it too, nudging against his aura, seeking acceptance. He and the dragon accepted her and enveloped her in return. Gently pulling her close, he held her against his neck so he could say the words in her ear. Holding a pristine vision of Annabel in his mind's eye, he saw her protected, secure, and loved. He spoke aloud in his deep, slightly hissing voice. "Human, I accept you, place you under my protection. I share the Secret and mark you as one of us. Serve me well. I love you."

Those last three words were his own. He hugged her tighter. Blood roared in his ears: a staggering drain of energy poured out of himself and into her. Energy, mixed with magic, flowed out of him at an alarming rate. Scared, he opened his eyes for several seconds. The seconds multiplied, and it still hadn't stopped; his vision was darkening and he couldn't release his grip. He let out a strangled gasp just before blacking out.

Annabel felt something enormously powerful wrap around her as he squeezed the air from her lungs. Searing heat streamed over her tattoo where one of his hands gripped her, his claws digging through the thin fabric of her dress. She struggled, whimpering. Something rushed into her, her body stiffened as if electrified, and just as quickly it was over. She fell back, stunned, with Chris's limp body crumpled on top of hers.

Susan was at their side in an instant. Something had gone terribly wrong; as soon as Chris had begun speaking, an overabundance of energy had tainted the air. With its sudden release, she had been bowled backward by the wave and slumped heavily against the coffee table. Momentarily she regained her senses and saw Chris's human body smothering Annabel.

"The fuck was that!?" Lillian spat. The dragon's body had twitched and shuddered before shrinking back into his human form, his wings grotesquely sucked into his back, collapsing on themselves, the purple membranes dissolving back into the finger-like support bones. The bones crumpled sequentially inwards as the rest of his colour and scales faded until there was no trace of the dragon left.

"I don't know, help me!" Susan shrieked, stumbling over and rolling his limp body off of Annabel onto the other side of couch. Feeling his neck for a pulse and listening for breath, she felt and heard them, faint and barely audible. "Check her!"

"He's human again," the vampire noted, glancing over at him as she knelt by the unconscious human girl. She reached to shake her gently. "Aaaagh ahh!" No sooner had she touched Annabel's skin, when she suddenly reared up and backed against the far wall in a flash of inhuman speed, clutching her blackened hand and slumping down the wall in agony. An acrid, burnt flesh smell filled the room.

Susan swivelled to see the vampire wailing helplessly, fangs extended as bloody tears streaked her pretty face. She stared; it was the worst burn she had ever even heard of, let alone seen. Snapping back to her son, she quickly assured that he was indeed breathing. Somehow, he had put far too much energy into the familiar bond, driving the dragon far back into hiding.

Lillian cried piteously while next Susan quickly examined Annabel albeit from a safe distance. "What have you done, Chris?" she murmured to herself, feeling out toward Annabel with magical senses. What her sensations felt made her draw right back. Something had rushed out at her, sensing intrusion: it was powerful, intelligent, and felt like ... the dragon. Power literally oozed; Susan could 'see' it soaking into Annabel's skin, merging with her. Raw, magical power, burned bright purple in her mind's eye. What the hell did it mean?

Lillian's sobs brought Susan back from observation and into action. She got up and approached cautiously, getting close enough for a good look at the vampire's damaged hand. Across the palm and fingers the skin was charred to the bone, bubbled and blackened. Some streaks of healthy skin remained in places on the back.

An injured vampire was a very dangerous creature. Had Lillian still maintained control? "Lillian," she called gently. "I'm so sorry. Can you hear me? Is it safe to come closer?"

Lillian heard the witch but god it hurt so much. Worse than the time long ago when her leg had been crushed. She self-assessed, and found that her vampiric nature had retreated, shocked, into the background. Usually, when injured it was next to impossible for her to refrain from sucking the nearest living thing dry. "I... I think so. Please help me," she groaned.

"Hang in there Lillian; what can I do?" Susan rushed forward the last few feet, kneeling beside her.

"Blood," Lillian whimpered. "Help me to the kitchen." They pulled each other up, Lillian cradling her useless hand gently with the other. "In the fridge. All of it, get all of it!" Drained by the magical burn, she could barely stand, and allowed Susan to support her as they stumbled over to one of the big silver fridges.

Susan grabbed an armful of blood bags and dumped the first load on the bench alongside the sink.

"More!" Lillian hissed, fangs flashing as she pulled a bag from Susan's grip and sunk her teeth into it, messily splattering her chin and neck, dripping onto her turtleneck and staining it an even deeper red. Her previously light brown irises dilated to all-black as Susan returned with a second round.

"In the sink, cut them into the sink!" Lillian spluttered before ripping into another. Susan plugged the sink, grabbed a knife, and slit bag after bag, draining the contents into the stainless steel basin until Lillian told her to stop.