Candidate

Miss Ericka had clear image in her mind of this woman. Then had not spoken, but Laide Ingrid of Seven-Stars was one of them. She had crossed the path of the woman a few times in social occasions, looked at her from distance during those five years since the Disclosure. Besides, this was their house; ratter a fortress and castle, inside was a palace, call it mansion would be euphemism. Anyway, this was their place, and there was portraits of family members in every direction. Specially those like Laide Ingrid. Who are part of the immortal, vampire, core of the family.

In the portraits, the woman was a beautiful 30 years old brunet. The piercing green eyes were still in her face, but the mouth was an inhuman nightmare of sharp shark teeth now. Lady Ingrid’s six arms surrounded her by all sides. And the noble woman’s mouth caressed her right nipple on the same time it threatened to caress her lips. Wile the mouth talked soft and casually on Miss Ericka’s ear. In a voice that was as casual and feminine as anyone would expect from the noble laide in those paintings.

Ericka was already nervous for being naked, but those were the rules. She didn’t knew what she expected, but that was not it.

“What is your name, girl?”

“Ericka, Laide Seven-Star”

“Laide Seven-Star is my uncle’s wife, Ericka. The nice vampire woman who rules this family by his side, graciously, since I was a human child half your age. You call me mistress”.

“…I don’t…”

“You are uncomfortable”

“I can’t say I am not, Laide. Mistress!”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted to became? You signed to the selection to be turned into a vampire. You knew when you did that we are supernatural, post-human, predators of the night.”

“I…, yes! How, however, but, if you allow me, mistress. You don’t have to look that way. Do you?”

“No, I don’t. I just like to feel comfortable in my home, very human of me, isn’t it? I have cultivated the power to change my shape, and I am still expanding my control over that particular potential. That is irrelevant, regardless of appearances no vampire is any less alien, or any less dangerous, than me. To humans, like you. That is what you want to yourself. To be alien, and dangerous, to your siblings”.

“I don’t know, I don’t think that way. Mistress. I wanted…”

“Eternal youth, immortality, pleasure and power. For all times.”

“…yes”

“Do you know why we demand that all blood donners who enter our homes leave their clothes at the door and stay completely naked, Er-ick.cat?”

“I suppose, it is for…”

“Nah! Has nothing to do with “security measures” kitten. There is practically nothing a human could carry hidden in a pocket that would harm the weakest vampire. Our own kin are certainly far more dangerous than you in any case. Still, we do not demand our vampire visitors to undress. We threat them with respect and dignity, because they are our equals.

Some more than others, but still, the principle applies.

We demand you expose your skin to us, because we like to have you like this. Exposed, ****. You are my food, Miss Ericka, a delicious desert that I like to look and smell before I bit, to feel it harm in my tong.

If you are here, naked as you are, any vampire in this family can enjoy you. Anytime, as they please. They know that. You are kept naked to easy your mind in this wisdom.”

“I…”

“Is not in my power to make you a vampire, Ericka. Your application was rejected, only the head of this house could chance that now. Not even his wife has that power.

If pleases me, I can do the next best thing. My status allow me to do that without even ask for permission. I could make you eternally young. Perfectly heath, immune to all human diseases, as long as I choose to keep you. You would not need to hide from sunlight like vampires do, but you would only have a tiny fraction of some of my powers. Also, you would be my ****, my little kitten, forever. You would have to live only to please my whims, as my blood-thrall. Would you want that, little kitten? If you had the opportunity.”

“I. Yes, mistress. You could **** me, could you not?”

“Oh, but I am not about to use any ****, or any malicious supernatural power, to lure you, Miss Ericka! Temper with your thought, taint your will. No! Why would I? I am not even sure if I want you as my blood-thrall yet. That’s a serious decision, since I only have one open position available. You would have to show me you are the right option.”

“What if I don’t?”

“I like you girl, you remind me someone and I cannot remember who, but must be someone I enjoy. Because of that, I will accompany you personally to our door. So, nothing accidentally happens. You have my word, you will leave our property alive, intact. With all your belongings. You will never be accepted here again. You may always apply to another vampire family, in another part of the world, just not in this Nocturnal Court. You know your chances well by now, I believe”

“What I would have to do, mistress?”

“For starts, stop flinching. Can you dance, Ericka?”

“I am an accountant, madam!”

“Oh, but I do my own taxes since Caligula was Prime Minister of Italy, kitten. A woman needs a hobby. If I am not in the mood, the family has enough people to cover that. You will have to cover more than one task, show versatility. Are you a dancer, kitten?”

“I have, done, some dancing. In college.”

“Belly dance?”

“No. But I can learn, mistress!”

“Then dance for me, Er-ick. Show me you are my kitten”

“There is no music, Laide Ingrid. Mistress.”

“You start the dance now, show me your conviction, show me faith. The music comes latter. It aways do.”