Carmen wore and ate quality without exception. High class was unfounded in tacky little towns by the sea. She found with difficulty one establishment that remained open after dark, a hole in the ground pub. Bars were a good place to find a meal, like shooting fish in a barrel. The last few nights the pickings had been unacceptable, the men, pathetic, sickly little fish. She was almost too hungry to care.
Almost.
“This menu makes me sad, my darling,” she said, running her fingers through his bangs. She sighed louder, “We might as well go back to the hotel, I’m not settling for any of these wretches”
Carmen gently took the tip of his donkey-like ear between her fingers, and rubbed. He squirmed a bit, nails kneading her dress. She smirked, holding him like a trophy poodle as she stood. Her leave of the establishment was halted as a drunk caught sight of her swaying hips. He ran after her, desperately leapt in front of the door. Raising a brow Carmen apathetically awaited his proposal.
“Madame,” he said, his voice slurred and wreaking of absinthe, “Don’t leave, where… h- have you been. Did you fall from the sky? Such an angel”
Carmen smirked, amused by the flattery. Amused, but not impressed. She smiled and set her hand on his warm, rosy cheek. The drunk’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed. Carmen ventured out into the night, headed toward the hotel. Aberddon gazed at Carmen, his stomach fluttering. Without a substitute he would be the one to feed her, yet again. The demon swallowed anxiously.
“What does that mean, Aberddon?” she asked coyly, fondling his ear.
Aberddon lowered his head to hide his blush. Carmen’s smile faltered.
…
The lobby was barren as they ventured up the stairs. With no one around Carmen lifted, her bare feet dangling delicately as she hovered. She had procured the finest room, meant for honeymooning, for herself and Aberddon. It was elaborately romantic. A part of her humanity smiled in the presence of the reflection of matrimony. As a child she dreamed of having a beautiful wedding. Those were nothing but childish thoughts now.
She blink herself awake as she felt Aberddon tug at the hem of her dress. If she could she’d blush for the embarrassment of being caught daydreaming. And of silly things no less. She flew to the bed and sat at the edge, looking listlessly out the window. Aberddon secured the door before he turned, sighed. Walking towards her he went from four legs to two, size expanding by five. He stood over six feet tall; broad, ram horns twisting behind his head, blue symbols marking his arm and side, short pointed teeth showing. Wings folded the demon sat besides his companion and with a side glance tried to scan her face. That luscious head of burgundy hair was a shield.
“It’s rude to stare, Aberddon,” she chuckled smugly, “Say what you need to”
“Sunrise is on it’s way.”
“And?”
“Well… um. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Am I?” she asked. Carmen turned her head, keeping her face veiled. “I didn’t realize you dictated my eating habits,” her voice was stern but playful, “I will decide when I am ready to feed.”
Aberddon walked away to the dresser like a pouting child. He looked over his shoulder after a long, silent pause. Carmen was sitting patiently, hands folded, watching the crescent moon through a space in the drawn curtains. The light reflected off her pale skin, luminescent. His eyes softened as he gazed upon her, his heart pounding. The rush of blood sharply turned her head in interest, and her eyes met his. Aberddon looked away, clacking his pointed teeth. He fluttered his wings, awaiting a snark response, but to his surprise Carmen merely turned her attentions back to the window.
It drove him mad when she acted this way, baiting him like a starving puppy. He was more a predatory jungle cat who felt she needed coddling, protecting.
She desired neither.
“Aberddon”
“Yes?” he asked, jumping to respond. “Yes,” he repeated with less eagerness.
“Come here”
He bit his lip, torn between obeying and dismissing. Obeying, he walked the few steps to the bed and stood over her. Carmen looked at him on her own time and the effect was amorous. Aberddon felt his heart pounding. He swallowed despite himself. She smiled, her elongated teeth now visible. Her desire hit his animal senses in waves, growing ever more potent with the escalation of his beating heart. Now, he was certain she was hungry.
In his silence her smile grew mischievous.
“Sit”
He sat.
“Closer”
He scooted.
Carmen removed her arm length gloves, grabbing the fabric by her fingertips and slowly pulling, inch by inch. He watched like a predator hunting dangerous game, adrenaline spiked but weary. She sat, her corset holding everything to perfection, her neck elegantly long and slender. He was no vampire, but even his mouth watered.
“Closer,” she said, locking her eyes with his.
Her voice bound him. He leaned in, lips parting. Carmen put her slender finger to his lips and he halted. His body fought his mind to press forward, but he remained obedient. Vampires preferred to have control. Carmen wanted to play her game and he wouldn’t deny her the pleasure. He obeyed, with iron will, in silence as her fingers ran up into his hair, gently moving his bangs from his face. Despite himself he leaned into her touch, closed his eyes. Carmen cupped his chin, bringing his lips to hers, the gesture soft, sensual, intimate. It drew a deep growl from the demon.
“Carmen-”
“-Shhh,” she whispered, pecking his jaw. Her teasing kisses traveled down the neck she admired, thick and strong like the trunk of a tree.
When she kissed his jugular she did so slowly, savoring the flavor of his flesh, the scent of his blood rushing beneath. She sighed as her eyes fluttered closed. Burying her fingers in his thick mane she tilted his head till she had full access. Aberddon shifted anxiously, his eyes opening as she grazed her fangs across his skin, applying pressure on the spot she favored.
“Stay still my darling,” she purred.
He held his breath, waiting. Carmen eased pressure on his neck, closing her eyes, letting her instincts take a brief hold. Her mouth watered. She savored the anticipation.
In one harsh bite she buried her teeth in his neck. Aberddon hissed, his muscles tensing. After a moment a wave of euphoria replaced the pain, he smiled and relaxed into her arms. She pulled him against her, biting down till he quietly whimpered. She took a moment to get comfortable and then began to drink.
Carmen drank in ecstasy, the richness of his demon blood filling her with power, desire, a thirst for more. Her face grew warm as the living blood rushed through her veins, making her heart bloom. Demon blood was potent, filling… her quota was filled in a matter of moments but even full, she felt compelled to continue, the feeling too wonderful to stop. Aberddon shuttered as he grew lightheaded, the euphoria fading. He limply put his hand on her knee and softly squeezed it.
“C- Carmen…”
Her response was a light moan, a harsh nibble on the wound, her grip tightening. Aberddon gasped, pulling away only to be yanked back. He growled her name, wrapped a hand around her entire shoulder, struggling to push her off. She flew onto her back, mewling. Still lost in the intensity of the feeling she jerked, wiping the blood from her face and lapping it up like a kitten. Gasping for air Aberddon attempted to stand but fell, a shuttering heap on the floor, his tail flailed and hit the bed.
ThumpThumpThump.
On her back Carmen focused on the fine ridges in the ceiling, her eyes wide. She heard Aberddon’s blood rushing through her veins, igniting her senses as it bled with her own. The sheer pleasure of it lifted her back off the bed as she arched, closing her eyes.
Thump. Thump. Thump
Aberddon’s tail was almost rhythmic as it smacked against the mattress, a pace keeper for her short pants as she writhed. His name left her lips, a wanting whisper. She waited eagerly for him to join her, hands twisting into the sheets. He did not crawl onto the bed as expected. The thumping of his tail slowed. Her eyes opened sharply as she heard it slide off the bed and hit the floor, limp.
“A- Aberddon,” she panted, chest heaving, eyes yellow and red, cat-like, “… Aberddon?”
No response came. She sat up and looked over the edge of the bed. He was huddled, shivering, his wings completely flat on the ground. She could hear his heart beating slowly, the sound of his ragged breaths.
“Aberddon… is this some kind of joke,” her voice shook as she crawled off the bed and rolled him over. His eyes were open, glassy and distant. In them she could see his panic and how helpless he was to act upon it. I drank too much, she realized, petting his hair in an attempt to sooth him. “Snap out of it,” she commanded, lightly tapping his cheek. “Abe…”
Carmen could smell is blood through the wound. She helplessly tilted her head back and inhaled, wantonly, fangs tingling. Her hand flew to her mouth, pressing tightly over it. This feeling, Carmen had known it once before… blood lust. Her eyes focused on the marks she’d left. Scolding herself she put distance between them, looking over her shoulder with every step. Halfway across the room she heard a noise and spun on her heel. Aberddon was trying to move. The paralysis kept him a trembling, panicked mess on the floor. She could hear his heart beat gaining speed as the euphoric effect faded. Her now cat-like eyes sparkled at the sight of her wounded prey, bloody and momentarily feeble.
Your urges do not command you, she repeated to herself, animals succumb to urges, not civilized people.
She closed her eyes, focused. Abe made another noise as he collapsed, his tail whipped the edge of the bed and made a single deep sound. Carmen let out a controlled breath and opened her burgundy eyes. The intensity of her sight weakened as she let go of the adrenaline, but when she stepped found the physical sensitivity remained. The soft texture of the carpet gave her goosebumps.
Aberddon was on his side, feebly spreading his wings for balance as he tried to stand. His knee buckled and he fell, his outspread appendages sending counter top objects careening to the floor. Carmen covered her ears as the porcelain lamp shattered. Wincing, she took a knee at Aberddon’s side and put her trembling hand over her bite marks. She held her breath as she felt the blood beneath rushing through his veins, called forth a single word to the surface.
More
“No,” she shook the thought away and focused on Aberddon, pulling his head into her lap. The control had to be broken or he would remain immobile. “Stay still darling,” she whispered into his hair. Softly, she kissed his forehead and focused, unwinding the influences that bound him. Soon she felt him wiggle and watched his hand flex.
He flew to his feet, a blue-gray blur that stopped crouched with a few feet’s distance between them. Carmen waited, hand clasped at her breast, then reached out, stretching so her hand slid over his cheek. He looked into her eyes and relaxed.
“What happened?”
“I…” Carmen hooked her index fingers together and twisted them nervously. She sat in silence for a long moment, transfixed on her fingers. “Aberddon-”
His hand, large enough to nearly wrap around her head gently cupped her chin and tilted it back. She didn’t look at first, but slowly her eyes migrated to his warm gaze. He smiled comfortingly, closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. He gently nudged once and then waited. Carmen stiffened, knowing the importance of such a gesture to a demon.
Carmen: *HISS* DIDN'T ANYONE TELL YOU NOT TO TOUCH THINGS THAT DON'T BELONG TO YOU? You have three seconds to get out of my sight before I rip your arm off
