Blood Lust

Crimson sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, painting the opulent chamber in a mosaic of jewel tones. Dust motes danced in the air, catching the last rays of the dying sun and swirling like embers in a dying fire. 

The groan from Theo, muffled by the velvet gag, vibrated against the plush chaise where Athena reclined. His blood, a metallic tang compared to the memory of sun-kissed human nectar, pulsed with a raw power that couldn't mask its dullness. Even as the familiar heat coursed through her, an emptiness gnawed at her soul. He was her only source without… consequences, but the charade of prince and monster felt like cobwebs clinging to her skin.

Pulling away, she wiped the blood from her lips.

"Thank you," she murmured, the words hollow even to her own ears. Not looking back, she slipped the blindfold off him, the sight of his desire-filled gaze even more unbearable. 

Love? No, never love. Not from him, not from anyone. Love was the enemy, the weakness that threatened to expose her, to shatter the carefully constructed facade. 

It was time for a change. 

There was a lingering unease, sparked by the new arrival – Astra Elite. The girl's quiet confidence, her crimson eyes like frozen fire, they tugged at something deep within Athena. A forgotten memory, a whisper of recognition, a phantom agony she couldn't understand.

Theo appeared beside her, concern etching lines on his youthful face. "Barely touched your drink," he said, his voice laced with a plea she couldn't answer. His presence, once a comfort, now felt like the gilded cage she herself had built.

"Let's get coffee," she said, her voice clipped. "This one... lukewarm. My treat."

Theo chuckled, his loyalty unwavering, a devoted pup following his mistress. But the playful banter couldn't mask the unease that coiled in Athena's chest. Something was shifting. She could feel it in her bones, taste it on the tip of her tongue. 

The hunt was on. But this time, she wasn't sure who the prey was. 

The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the opulent chamber, a stark reminder of the hunt that had just ended. Moonlight bled through the stained glass windows, its vibrant colours fractured and muted, painting macabre murals on the blood-soaked floor. Five bodies lay sprawled amidst the spilled crimson, their emptiness a stark contrast to the vibrant life that had once coursed through them.

Eydis, sprawled on a plush velvet couch beneath the window, her own figure draped in darkness, slowly stirred. Her golden eyes, heavy-lidded and glazed with the afterglow of power, flickered open, shifting from slumberous gold to a predatory amber.

A sharp click of heels cut through the silence. Eydis swiftly draped a silken robe over her bare form as the sound drew closer, coalescing into a figure: Adrian, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement that seemed to border on mockery.

"Well, well, Your Majesty," he drawled, his voice smooth as honey dripping with venom. "Five tonight? You seem rather…indulgent."

Eydis' lips curved into a languid smile, a predator acknowledging its kill. "Who said you could grace me with your presence, Adrian?" The question held the weight of a threat, barely veiled beneath the silken tone.

Adrian chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "It's about time you returned to the academy, and..." He paused, his foot nudging a lifeless hand with a studied nonchalance. "...it seems I've become your janitor, my Queen."

Eydis pushed herself up, her body still buzzing with the fading echoes of ecstasy, yet power hummed beneath her skin like a caged beast. As she rose, she glided towards him, each step a silent accusation. Her movements were predatory, graceful yet laced with a barely contained threat.

"Janitor?" she purred, her voice a silken caress laced with steel. "Or perhaps... uninvited guest?" Her eyes, amber flames in the muted light, locked with his, a silent duel of power and hunger.

Adrian met her gaze unflinchingly, his own golden eyes glinting with a challenge. "Perhaps both, Your Majesty. But surely you wouldn't deny your loyal Prince the pleasure of witnessing your...prowess?"

Eydis' smile widened, a hint of cruelty dancing in its depths. "Pleasure is a subjective term, Adrian. I assure you, the only one truly savouring this moment is I."

She brushed past him, her fingertips trailing across his arm, sending a jolt of electricity through his body. He licked his lips in anticipation, expecting the familiar pleasure of her bite, but instead, a sickening crack echoed through the chamber. Adrian's arm, twisted at an unnatural angle, hung limply at his side. He choked out a pained gasp, the amusement in his eyes replaced by raw fear.

"Next time, Prince," she whispered over her shoulder, her voice a sultry purr laced with venom, "ask permission before you intrude on my private hunting grounds."

She vanished into the shadows, leaving him alone with the silent accusation of the dead and the chilling reminder of his Queen's ruthless power. The cool night air whipped at his face as he cradled his broken arm, the metallic scent of blood mingling with the lingering echo of her cruelty.

The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, a grim counterpoint to Callista's frustration. She stood in the doorway of her dorm room, eyes locked on Natalia, who swivelled around, crimson stained around her lips, the telltale slurp of a drink still echoing in the air.

"Look," Callista hissed, repulsion twisting her features, "take that outside! No...feeding...in our room."

Natalia froze, the blood dripping from her lips a stark contrast to her playful grin. "Ah, right, sorry. Not everyone's thing, I get it. But hey," she leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "wanna try a sip? Female's blood, rich, bold, tangy...kinda like... aged wine, maybe?"

Callista's stomach churned, and the analogy only made it worse. "Not interested," she deadpanned, the grin failing to reach her eyes. "And you're drooling."

Natalia flushed, hastily grabbing a tissue. "Well, speaking of feasts," she said, her voice morphing into a conspiratorial whisper, "how about joining my lunch table tomorrow? There's a feast...but not the kind you think."

Callista sat up, curiosity flickering through her fear. "You can eat human food?" she asked, surprised.

Natalia grinned, tossing the empty blood bag into the bin with a nonchalant flick. "Of course! Our hunger for...blood is different, though."

"Different how?"

"It's...physical, like a withdrawal," Natalia explained, her voice dropping to a hushed tone. "Like you need your coffee in the morning, you know?"

Callista had never really thought about it before, always too focused on dusting vampires, not understanding them. Indigo had mentioned something similar, but this was different, coming from a vampire herself. "So it's like an addiction?"

"Exactly! And denying it can be... dangerous," Natalia said, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper. "Like what happened to Queen Eydis."

Callista's heart lurched. This was the kind of information she needed. "What happened to her?" she pressed, her voice barely above a breath.

Natalia frowned, her eyes flitting nervously around the room. "Five years ago, she vanished without a trace. Found a year later, starved, barely alive."

"Kidnapped?" Callista whispered, surprised. "Wasn't she the most powerful vampire?"

Natalia nodded, the worry etched on her face deepening. "No one knows for sure. But ever since, her appetite... it's insatiable. I can control myself, but the Queen..." she trailed off, a tremor running through her voice. "...she won't stop until they're... drained."

Callista's crimson eyes narrowed, a spark of determination igniting within them. "Have you ever... met her?"

Just as Natalia started to speak, a piercing scream ripped through the room. She clutched her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Callista shot to her feet, adrenaline surging. "Are you okay?"

"F-Fine," Natalia gasped, her voice shaky. "L-Let's not talk about this anymore, okay? I...don't think the Queen likes it."

Understanding dawned on Callista's face, mixed with a surge of strange fascination. "She can...hear us?"

"Only when she's near," Natalia confirmed, her voice barely a whisper.

A shiver of excitement ran down Callista's spine. This was dangerous, exhilarating even. Indigo was right. The Queen was here. And she, Callista, was about to meet her.