Jessica chooses Linda, and Humanity

"Jessica… If you go out that door… Don't bother coming back" Linda says tearfully. Jessica is shocked and angered by the ultimatum, but Linda's obvious distress blunts Jessica's rage.

"You could… Come with us?" Jessica offers, knowing that the suggestion will be rejected out of hand. Linda has no interest in a bloodbath with me and Sally. Why would she?. Jessica looks at Sally, then back at Linda. She loves both dearly. Yes, love she thinks. I can still love. Jessica wants both of them, but isn't sure that she can have both.

Sally leans in and whispers into Jessica's ear as Linda watches. "I haven't drained a human yet...I wanted my first time to be with you". Sally kisses Jessica on the cheek softly, and steps back.

The impact is immediate, Jessica feels a wetness between her legs. Suddenly, her thirst feels unbearable: Jessica wants blood. She wants to feel her fangs tear into human flesh, to feel blood spurt onto her face.

Jessica looks at Linda, who looks away. She reaches out to take Linda's hand but Linda steps back.

“Leave her” Sally says, and Jessica’s eyes shoot daggers at Sally. Sally is smart enough to go quiet, stepping back.

“Linda. I’ll stay. With you” Jessica says softly. Out of the corner of her eye, Jessica sees Sally’s face contorted with rage. Jessica steps forward, and embraces Linda. Linda is stiff in Jessica’s arms, but Jessica holds the human tightly against her. Gradually, Linda’s body softens, and she melts into Jessica. Jessica cradles the human’s head in her hand, softly swaying with Linda as the human cries.

“I know what you do… out there alone… I’m not stupid” Linda whispers. Jessica says nothing, shame washing over her. Jessica remembers all the times that she fed with Linda. At the mansion, she was getting off on it too Jessica thinks bitterly. She decides to hold her tongue.

Linda makes me feel human. She, and she alone, is stopping my slide into senseless barbarity. I can’t lose this link Jessica thinks tearfully. I can’t.

“Sally...you should go tonight” Jessica says dejectedly. When she sees Sally’s face, a dagger goes through her heart. The sorrow on Sally’s face hardens into hatred. Sally, her hands balled into shaking fists, tilts her head back and lets out a blood-curdling shriek. Sally lunges at Linda, fangs bared, but Jessica bats her into the wall. Sally hits the wall with a thud, sliding to the floor. Tears streak her cheeks.

“Fine” Sally says coldly, rising to her feet and nursing what looks like a broken arm. “Keep playing house with your food” Sally spits. Sally turns to Linda and continues: “Jessica only cares about Jessica. She thinks that she wants to be a human...for now. She’ll chew you up and throw you away, like she has done with everyone else in her life. I’d get out before she tires of you, and you become another one of Jessica’s unmemorable midnight snacks”

Jessica is astounded by the venom and cruelty dripping from Sally’s words words. Jessica fears they are true. She pulls Linda behind her, thankful that she doesn’t need to look the human in the eyes. She wouldn’t be able to meet Linda’s stare.

“Sally, just get out” Jessica shrieks, her fangs out. Sally runs out the door in a blur, slamming it behind herself so hard a hinge breaks. Jessica turns to Linda, kissing her companion on the forehead. Linda wraps her arms around Jessica, hugging her tightly. They both take stock of what has happened, silently, wordlessly. What is there to say?