4 Feeding Time

<p>Jack's master noticed him struggling with a book when he visited one day and had Jack sit in his lap as he worked through an easier novel with him. He was always there for Jack but never asked for much of anything and over time, Jack forgot why he was there. His master granted him access to other parts of the house, namely the library where he could exchange the books he was given for new ones. As he reached maturity, his master- Duke Antonio- visited him more often until one night, he was reminded of the fact that Antonio was his master not his friend when he was ordered to strip down. Antonio inspected him then told him to stay put and retrieved a healer to confirm his suspicions. Exams were always terrible in Jack's opinion, healers or doctors or whatever they called themselves didn't care about humans and it showed. He had read in his books about something called a bedside manner which was apparently something these people strove for before the Revolution. Once the healer confirmed Jack had reached physical maturity, he remembered why his master had been so patient and wanted to cry. He had grown soft since he was last bought. Antonio sent the healer away and told Jack to get dressed, confusion and surprise erasing his despair. Antonio snatched his shirt away so he could only put his pants back on before he was led out of the room. Antonio took him to a well lit room where a table was laid out with various snack foods and a couple of juice boxes. Sitting Jack in his lap, Antonio took his wrist in one. "The food will help you recover," he said before biting down and drinking. Wait, Antonio wanted him as a feeder? He could have his blood anytime. Oh- Antonio's bite felt really nice. He released Jack's wrist and wrapped it in some bandages before hand feeding the human.<br/>As he was carrying the young man back to his room, Jack asked, "What was that?"<br/>Putting him to bed, Antonio answered shortly, "Blood loss, you're delirious."<br/>Antonio was a strange vampire, Jack was sure, but even after all this time, he remembered his place was not to question his master. Jack enjoyed learning to read, enjoyed all of the strange benefits that being Antonio's came with. Still, he suspected that Antonio was preparing him for something.<br/>After that first feeding, Jack never did get his shirt back. He was already free to leave his room to go to a few other rooms in the house, such as the library, but he never spent much time in the other rooms. When he woke up after that first feeding, Jack went back to the room he had been bitten in. Antonio was not there but another vampire was and she stalked up to him with a big smile on her face. Seeing his wrist was wrapped in bandages, she reached for it. Then suddenly, Antonio was there. Judging by her expression, she was not happy he had interrupted her. Jack wondered if she outranked his master.<br/>All humans needed to know about how the world worked was that they were to obey their masters and vampires were on top of the food chain. They did not need to know how vampire rankings worked, they did not need to know how anything worked, they only needed to know that they were at the bottom. While working for a previous master, Jack heard about people trying to take the vampires' place on top. He also heard that humans used to be on top but before he started reading, he did not believe either of these things. He knew his place as a human was beneath everyone who was not human.<br/>Antonio's hand on his shoulder brought Jack out of his thoughts, he watched a silent exchange between the two vampires. The woman did not back down and from reading stories that were written before the Revolution, Jack found he could sort of see how she was feeling or thinking. She was offended by the notion that Antonio would dare interrupt her and she saw both of them as lesser. Surely this meant she outranked him. Looking at his master, Jack saw the man's eyes were glowing red as his jaw lowered in what seemed like slow motion, revealing a normal human mouth with two fangs. Looking between the vampires, Jack was startled by the difference and thankful for his master's steadying hand. He had never realized how different his master was from other vampires. The woman had dark hair and eyes, Jack wasn't sure if her eyes were black or lacked the part that gave human eyes color. She was pale and her expression fit her face, like she was always upset about something. When she opened her mouth a little, her fangs looked huge compared to Antonio's. Did vampires have different fang sizes?<br/>The silent exchange continued for a while and Jack was amazed by the difference between the two before the woman finally backed down and Antonio took Jack to another new room. "Did I tell you that room was open to you?"<br/>"No."<br/>"That is because it's not. That is a feeding room, vampires go there to drink blood. A human walking in there is assumed to be food." Jack nodded, Master Antonio did not like to hear apologies. He was a strange man indeed. Compared to the other vampire, his skin had a lot of color. "You should wait for your wound to heal before leaving your room."<br/>"I have a question to ask."<br/>"Ask."<br/>"Did you buy me as a feeder?"<br/>"No. I don't keep feeders, there is no need for one sired by the king since we can use any feeding room we like. Ask your real question."<br/>"Why did you buy me?"<br/>"You're pretty." Antonio seemed to realize that did not answer the question and only made Jack uncomfortable. "I bought you as a consort."<br/>"Consort, you mean-"<br/>Antonio held his hand up. "Not yet. Any other questions?"<br/>"Why did your bite feel so good?"<br/>Antonio smiled at him and Jack realized the Duke's fangs must retract because they were now shorter than they had been when confronting the woman. Answering his question, Antonio said, "Because you are used to me. Exposure, it's the reason the humans in those vampire romance novels from before enjoy being bitten. Do you remember how those stories go?"<br/>"A woman unknowingly encounters a vampire and over time, they develop mutual feelings of love."<br/>Antonio shook his head. "Not love, lust. The important thing, however, is the over time part. Exposure to a vampire over time trains the human brain, makes the bite enjoyable for both of us. Those novels dress it up as some great profound thing but it's not." Antonio said, "Vampires should be kind to their consorts in order to take advantage of exposure."<br/>"Where are we?"<br/>"My room. During the Revolution, vampires picked up a few things from werewolves. Those of us who survived the war aren't just possessive, we're territorial." Antonio took Jack back to his room. "I am going to go back to locking the door until you get used to feedings." He did as he said he would. Jack adjusted with ease, his master trading out books for him when putting him to bed after each feeding. Eventually, things went back to normal with the addition of weekly feedings once Jack got used to them.</p>