Julia and her mother

Julia lies back on her bed, full of the girl's blood, content. She runs her hands over her body, her skin feels tighter, smoother. Her hair has thickened.

I lost control and killed... It felt good... But that's not me. I wasn't myself, I was in withdrawal. If I feed more consistently this won't happen Julia tells herself.

She remembers the disdainful look on Francesca's face when she brought Julia her dinner. She couldn't even bear to watch me feed Julia thinks sadly.

She gets up to shower in the basement's bathroom, absorbing the warmth from the hot water while scrubbing the grime off. She finds herself touching her sex, fantasizing about drinking more blood. About killing. It's only fantasies...I won't do it again she rationalizes. She comes, and then leaves the shower. Julia dresses in a pair of jeans and a sweater, and decides to go upstairs for the first time in Kane days.

Upstairs, Julia finds Maria sitting in the living room watching TV.

"Julia! You're upstairs!" Maria says excitedly jumping off the couch to hug her daughter. "You feel warm, you have color in your face. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, much better, thanks". Julia debates her next step in her mind and then makes a choice.

"Mom, there's something I need to tell you" Julia says, taking Maria by the hand to the couch.

Julia confesses everything to her mother. Her attack. The hospital. The park. The policeman. Francesca's friend downstairs. Her constant cravings. The "nursing" that Julia always had made fuzzy in Maria's mind. Maria sobs as she processes the information, but clutches Julia for a hug.

"Mom... I'm so sorry..." Julia says sadly.

"I know, honey. You didn't choose this...life. I don't blame you for what has happened. But we can control this together going forward" Maria says soberly. Julia and her mother sit in silence, both processing what has just transpired.

Maria breaks the silence. "Would you like to...feed from me?" she asks. Julia gets the sense that Maria enjoyed their "nursing" sessions but can't be sure. Julia nods. Maria smiles at Julia, removes her t-shirt, and lays back on the couch. She is wearing no bra. She closes her eyes. Julia moves to lay on top of her mom on the couch, and gently kisses her mother on the cheek. She moves down, holding Maria's breast in her hand. Julia kisses the breast, and then bites down. Maria moans, her mouth parted in an 'o' as her daughter drinks from her. Julia reaches up to cup her mother's other breast. She withdraws her fangs and licks the wound closed. Julia begins to lightly suckle on her mother's nipple as her mother moans louder, squirming beneath her. Maria kisses the top of Julia's head as Julia licks and sucks at her breast.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jessica sees her sister Francesca coming down the stairs. Her sister looks at Julia's intimacy with their mother and frowns.

"You are a fiend!" she spits at Julia, running down the stairs and towards the front door. "I don't know why I helped you!" She yells tearfully. Julia jumps off her mother, are Maria pulls a blanket to cover her exposed breasts, her face bright red with embarrassment.

"Wait... Don't go" Julia says, reaching for her sister, but Francesca is already out the door, walking briskly down the street, tears welling in her eyes.