Hiss, Rattle and Bite

Sunset on December 24th | Part 5

Mari watched Dex's final moment of life. She was allowed to leave when the feeding started. Any other mortal being would have fled from the sights and sounds of a human being bitten and drained of blood. Dex didn't die willingly. Shocked and outmatched, he still fought his attacker with all the human strength he could muster. It wasn't enough to save him. It never was.

Mari served Rhett faithfully for about eighteen months now. She hoped that she didn't have to wait much longer for the ultimate reward. Her mission remained to get promoted in under two years. Even vampire servants can have career ambitions. It was a pity that there wasn't anyone in Mari's life to cheer her on. Her parents, very much alive and happily married, stopped talking to her four years ago. Her brother... She still couldn't let herself think about him. With her boyfriend mad at her, she had no one in her corner now. No one, except her master.

Some subconscious part of her still sympathized with blood bags, a vamp term for those deemed only useful as a food source. It was the only explanation for the errant tears that escaped Marigold's brown eyes each time she witnessed the death of a human by a supernatural being. Even though she never delivered a killing blow, Mari had no delusions about how deeply red-stained her hands had become.

The jostling men in front of her stilled. Dex's grip on her master's clothes loosened and then slipped away. His limp hand fell to the ground. Rhett stopped slurping and licking. He dropped his prey and Dex's lifeless body hit the floor. It made a louder sound than when his hand fell.

Master and servant stared down at the corpse on the floor and shared a single thought.

Vampires promised to feed without killing humans.

Mari never moved from her cushioned seat against the far wall, but Rhett did. Abruptly, she was faced with the curiosity of a well-fed, eighteen century vampire. Rhett ignored her personal space and lifted her by her shoulders. Standing toe-to-toe, Rhett was so close to her that his foul breath moistened her face.

"Marigold, my dear. Always feeding me and watching me feed. I've had servants that fled the building when I needed to replenish myself and some that vomited at the sight of me dining. But not you," Rhett said, allowing his now supple lips to graze Mari's cheek. "You remain by my side, hoping that one day I'll let you share a meal with me."

Mari turned her face upward. Their lips separated by a mere inch. She made eye contact with her master. His too dark eyes lured her in as always. She found his look pleasing, his voice hypnotic, and his touch exhilarating.

"Master," Mari said.

It was all she said, but that one word was loaded with longing, admiration, and desire.

Rhett's feral features receded—fangs retracted and brows unfurrowed. Hardened and dulled skin the color of gray pebbles transformed into glowing white marble now that he refueled. Then that inhuman marble stone gave way to skin in a healthy shade of pink and peach. Rhett could now pass for human.

With a rapidly cooling body in the room with them, Rhett kissed Mari lightly on the lips. A small amount of blood transferred from his lips to hers, and Mari's mauve pink lipstick turned dark red. She shivered. Her heart raced. Was this it? Would Rhett give her an early Christmas gift?

"Please," she begged, unbothered by the transferred blood on her lips.

While still in his tight embrace, she tugged at the collar of her grey dress until she exposed her neck.

"Such a needy little thing you are," Rhett said, releasing her.

He stepped away, seeking the standing mirror in another corner of the former dressing room. Content with his clothes being in place and not a drop of blood in sight, Rhett turned back to look at Mari. She stood there, hugging herself tightly. He frowned, disliking the rare moments when she appeared vulnerable. He trained her to be strong and capable. Dependent on him, yes, but very much capable of navigating the human and supernatural world with purpose.

"How was he?" Rhett asked casually, drying his wet lips with a handkerchief.

I wouldn't know, was her first answer. It lived and died as an unspoken, surly thought. She wondered why he would ask about the corpse in the room when he did not let her participate in his feeding.

Rhett's expectant look made her think of a suitable answer and that's when she realized that he was asking about another man.

"I delivered the gift successfully." Marigold looked away, trying not to lie to her master. His silence informed her that he expected more. "He's good. I mean, he's obviously miserable without you, but he still looks good."

Then she added, "He didn't open the package in front of me, so I don't know what his reaction was or will be."

The rest of the night proceeded as usual: up-and-coming comedians graced the stage, healthy people laughed and drank liberally, Rhett walked through the room, stopping to greet familiar patrons and welcome new ones. Supernatural beings were rare and only a few lived out in the open. People flocked to Die Laughing for the chance to meet a being once thought of a superstition, myth and nightmare-inducing folly. All while Mari stood three feet behind him on his right side. She observed, discreetly took notes, and occasionally left his side to run an errand for him.

The life of a vampire's servant was not a glamorous one. Considered more than just a food source, they weren't called blood bags or treated as a ready meal. They were treated like expendable employees. Servants had daily responsibilities and received a monthly paycheck.

Romantic relationships with the supernatural were complicated and brief. Invitations to monster balls were rare. Daylight tasks were tedious. The few people willing to talk to Marigold questioned her life choices, often asking why she would forsake humans. She had only to look at her empty life to be reminded that a vampire's transformative bite would make everything she's done disappear. It would give her the fresh start she craved.

Tired and hoping to be dismissed, Mari couldn't help but replay Rhett's reply to her fib over and over again.

"When he opens his gift, we'll know."

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