Feral Bonds

Chapter 9

Natania stood stock still as Vincent took her blood the next morning. She was still extremely sore from Ray's bites. He had bitten both sides of her neck so hard they bruised, then declined to heal them. On top of using the mental connection to feed pain and fear directly into her mind. The vampires' mind tampering quickly became the most terrifying thing she had ever experienced, and she was extremely grateful that the other two didn't use it against her.

She had been too much of a mess to find Lily afterwards, and by the time the pink haired vampire had found her, it was too close to sunrise to risk the outside. On the bright side, watching Lily punch Ray in the nose when she passed him on the way to their rooms, had been brilliant.

Apparently, Ray wasn't allowed to lay hands on either of them without express permission, but the same couldn't be said for him. He had snapped and snarled at them both, but had eventually stormed off.

Natania had laughed until her chest ached, and Lily was content with that.

"Lily likes you," Vincent said when he was done, still standing behind her.

Natania shrugged. It seemed like it, most of the time, when the vampire wasn't trying to beat her into a pulp during their training sessions. Natania didn't think she did it on purpose, but sometimes the vampire got lost in a daze and Vincent had to stop Lily from killing her.

"You've been frightening the staff," he continued, "but only when Lily is there to stand between you."

Natania shrugged again.

"Lily tells me the staff aren't scurrying away from her in the hallways lately." Vincent finally spun her around to meet his gaze.

Natania gave him a half smile. So it had been working, at least a little bit.

"Care to explain?" he finally asked.

Natania glanced at the ground. "Their fear hurts her," she muttered.

Vincent put a finger under her jaw, raising her head. "So you've set her up as a protector instead."

"Something like that."

Vincent scoffed and released her. "Lily has been alone for a long time," he said, tilting his head in contemplation. "Sometimes, she loses track of what is reality, and what is just a vision that may or may not yet happen. It makes her a tad unstable. Usually, she turns rather playful in those states, or acts without thinking, but sometimes, she turns vicious instead. The staff and my bonded have learned to fear her because of this."

Natania held his gaze, unsure where he was going. "She likes you," he said. "She may become more playful towards you." He shrugged. "You may accept or reject her advances as you prefer, she is well versed on the meaning of 'no'."

Natania cocked her head. "Isn't she yours?" She had seen the two of them together on more than one occasion.

Vincent laughed. "Heavens no. I indulge her, that is all." He shook his head. "I avoid romantic entanglements with those who serve me. It is not an equal relationship. Anyway," he continued, "she enjoys you, and while I wouldn't ask you to indulge her as I do, I would ask that you be her friend. She has no one else, and while I enjoy her, I am her master, not her friend." He glanced over her shoulder. "Just know if you accept her flirtations, she may become...possessive."

Natania frowned at him. "You don't need to ask. Her company is not unwelcome to me." Whether she wanted to do anything else... was a little up in the air.

Vincent searched her gaze, then nodded, satisfied. "Good. I'm glad."

"Can I go now?" she said.

"Hmm? Yes, go ahead."