Thicker Than Water

Blood of the Covenant

He couldn't help but smile to himself. A sense of pride and accomplishment bubbled up in his blood, causing goosebumps to cover his skin. It had been some days since he made his mother smile. But tonight, he meant to. He met her intimidating stare. She sat in her chair, wearing a long black dress that draped the floor even when she wore high heels. Her lips and eyelids were painted black, which made her golden eyes stand out even more. Her long hair, as black as night, fell over her shoulders and down to her waist in waves. While he smiled, she looked onward with an expression of curiosity.

"I brought a gift for you, mother." Casius indicated to the girl next to him. She wore a dirty and torn dress that should have been white. Although, it had turned a dingy tan in some places, covered with dirt and blood. She wore a black hood over her head with her hands tied tightly behind her back. She trembled in her fear and wept under the sack.

He yanked the hood off sharply causing the girl's dirty brown hair to fly back. The room was dim. Only lit by candles. But it was bright enough to the girl that she had to wince in the sudden light. Her face was bruised and swollen in some areas. She had dried blood by her scalp and running from her lip, down her chin.

She whimpered more, her chin wrinkling in a voiceless cry. She wouldn't look at the man, only the pale woman sitting in the chair. As if silently pleading for her understanding and protection.

"You brought me a snack?" The woman looked confused as she eyed the whimpering girl. How was this anything new? He children brought her meals often.

"Even better." Casius could hide the thrill in his voice, "I brought you a virgin! Your favorite!"

The woman stood now, a regal display, causing the girl to jump and try to crawl backwards on her bound hands. The man caught the girl by her shoulder and held her tightly into place.

The woman's heels clicked against the stone floor slowly as she approached the girl. She stood above her, looking down at her, still under the claws of the man. After a moment, the woman spoke, "Stand."

"Get up." Casius yanked on the shoulder of her thin dress to pull her to her feet himself.

The girl shook, her legs barely able to hold her own weight. She was sore and bruised all over.

The woman placed the tip of her finger between her own teeth, exposing her fangs. She closed her teeth on the tip of her black glove to pull her hand from it. Taking her glove in her other hand, she used her exposed hand to touch the girl's face. Her long, black nails pressing into her cheek. She turned the girl's head left and right, observing her in more detail. She still sounded disappointed, "You know that I don't like my fruit bruised."

"She put up quite a fight." He defended himself. "But I knew I had to have her. That you had to have her. She is perfect for you."

"She is young." The woman said. "Young enough that parents will come looking for her."

"Parents that are no longer an issue." Casius assured his mother proudly. "I took her from The Grime. No one will come looking for such trash."

"Please..." The girl fought the tears in her eyes but couldn't help the one that escaped down her cheek and onto the woman's long, black nail.

The woman retracted her hand and tasted of the tear from her nail. She looked back to her son, "Fear spoils the flavor." She reminded him. "As does your... tenderizing."

"My apologies, mother." He dipped his head. "Had I any other way to possess her, I would have. But she is here now, and she is all yours."

"Clean her up." The woman said to his surprise. The girl hadn't even hit maturity yet. The woman loved the taste of virgins. But not one so young. She couldn't bring herself to take the life from the girl's eyes. She was already quite offended that her son would bring her in so badly beaten. He was an overzealous one. He was always willing to please her. Although, sometimes, she wondered just how far he would go.