Debut

I groaned from where I sprawled on my lounge. The Pures watched me from the side. My breathing was heavy. "You are starving," the short one said.

I growled at him, "But why am I starving? I am a Higher Vampire now." Alaric had gotten me my last Human donor. It had given my a boost to my Race. Surprisingly I had not become a Fledgling but a Higher. Royal, Prime, Noble, Origin, Original, Psychic, and more. The Vampire race was diverse.

"You were born Human?" I turned to look at the group. The scared male is Logan. The short tattooed male is Cory. The tall one with dark blue tattoos is Victor. Last was red swirl tattoos, Luke.

"Yes," I growled out. My birth race caused more than a few to assume certain things.

"That's why. Your body is trying to adjust and like most you went on a blood spree when you first changed over."

I laughed, "Wrong." I delighted in tell them that. "I turned when I was ten. So if I had gone on a 'blood spree' I would have killed my family. Or more likely my two lord fathers would have killed me. They are still alive by the way. Along with my two brothers. According to Alaric and my condition stats I have been starving that entire time. That's why I worked so hard to upgrade my race. So let me ask again. Why am I still starving?"

They stared at me as I flopped back down.

"You aren't drinking enough blood."

I stood up and glared at them, "No shit. Why do I need so much?"

They looked between eachother. Seeming to share a silent conversation. "Your donors... they are Human?" Logan asked.

"Yeah," I sighed. I could imagine where this was going.

He came over to me. He took my hand and led me back to the lounge where he had me sit. There he kneeled before me and tilted his head to the side. "This is must be why our God gave us to you. We are to feed you. You need safe Donors who can..."

I cut him off, "No! It's not safe." I reared back. Trying to get away from the pluse I could hear. My fangs fully decended.

"It is," he said. "We feed eachother all the time. We can feed you. If you need more one of us will send for more Pures."

"It's not safe!" I said again. "I... there's a skill." I released a shaky breath. "My bite has a chance to tie someone to me... permanently. Humans are safe. Vampires... Vampires definitely are not."

The other three moved to close in around me. "We are already tied to you. You are blessed by our God. Pures can feel the blessings of their Gods. He gave us to you. Your Debut is tonight. You need to feed before then. Really feed," Victor said. He stared me down. They all did as I looked between them.

"I... I have never fed from the neck," I said as I looked at that pluse. Logan pulled me down. Guided my head to his neck. The smell hit me on the way down and instinct did the rest. I gripped him as I bit down. My moan sounded while my eyes fell closed. He growled. He pulled me closer. Held me close as I fed.

<Intelligence +8, Dexterity +5, Strength +6, Vitality +10>

I didn't let go even when I got the alert. I was too hungry and he tasted to good.

<Dexterity +6, Stamina +9>

A finger was shoved into my mouth. "Time to let go Mistress. You got three more of us to feed off. I did just that. While I did Logan called in more. By the time I saw my condition read 'Satisfied' I had gone through close to a dozen of them. There were more waiting.

"Does this count?" I asked. "Is this my 'Blood Spree'?"

Logan came over to me, "No. You would have killed at least one of us in a Blood Spree.or fought when we detached you. You have exceptional control. Luke and Cory will be at your Debut. There's always a few Pures from each God as a representative. Are you full? It's almost time for the handmaids to come help you get ready."

"Satisfied. I could drink more..."

"Then you should." He gestured over another man. I was quick to bite this time. A knock sounded so I pulled back. The Pures opened the door and made no move to cover their bites. Apparently as Mistress my bite mark was an honor. The handmaids looked concerned by the number of men in my room but they were Pures. They existed for their God. Their God and the Master and or Mistress.

"Leave us," I said. I wiped my lip with my thumb. A single drop of blood. I licked at it. The Pures filed out of the room. It was nice having some actual respect for a change. "Well? Let's get started."

They bathed me, dressed me, and adorned me. When I looked in the mirror I was reminded of before. Before I had died. Mother used to do this. To herself. To us.

<Skill Acquired! Beautiful Actor> I smiled gently as I stood up. Alaric was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs. The look he gave me... I wanted to rip his throat out. <Affection- 70%> Oops. I chuckled a bit. Ten percent was a huge change. He helped me onto the carriage. Ever the gentleman.

I could hear other carriages. Alaric looked like he wanted to ask questions but seemed to think better of it. Tonight was not a night for arguing. Afterall I was his Beloved. We needed to present a united front. Even when we weren't.

Alaric got out first. Then he helped me down. Other females glanced at me as I glanced at them. Some were older. Clearly enjoying the return of the season. From 14 to 20 female vampires enjoyed protection. As did their male counterparts. Fledglings. Most of them were turned. Only about one in every twenty were born. If that. I was placed in a room the rest of the first timers. It was clear who was born. One other girl. She stood apart from the others like me.

Born Vampires had a higher rank from the start. Since they were so rare. There were maybe... 15? Females in the room. All of us were freshly 14. Within the last six months. No one debuted during the winter season. It wasn't as easy to look good.

We were led from the room to the main hall one by one. My long skirts whispered as I walked. I hated these puffy skirts. So big and wide. Even so I put on a smile and waited for my que.

"Lady Aurora NightLeaf. Beloved of Alaric Stella!" I stepped into the hall and kept going. I looked at the raised dias. The royal family. The Emperor and Empress sat at the very top. They both had pitch black hair. Their eyes were like amber brandy. They looked at me with boredom. Beside them was their twins. The heirs. Whichever found their Pure Bred Beloved first would take the throne. Around them sat Queens and Kings. The children that had come from Consorts or before they had found eachother. Close enough to be pure bloods in their own right but no where near the power. Then the Princes and Princesses.

My eyes landed on the twins and I felt my breath hitch. Slivery haired with a red tint. Hard to believe they came from pitch black hair parents. Their eyes were a mix of amber and blood. They watched me as I made my way before their parents. There I looked down with a small smile. My body moved with every bit of grace I had practiced. A low curtsy. I went as low as I dared. That was where I waited. "I think she is my favorite this season," I heard a Queen say.

I could imagine the Empress shooting her a look. "You may join your Beloved," the Emperor said. His tone clearly telling me how tedious he found this whole process. I moved to Alaric where I stood throughout the rest of the proceedings. I held onto his arm. Made a show of how close we were. What had happened to us? Where was the man who carried me into the woods and had me clear a Dungeon on my own?

He led me out onto the floor as floor as the music started. Of course he would want the first dance with me. Before sending me off to dance with other males close to my age. Males who would no doubt come knocking on our door when I turned 20. When I would start looking for a Husband. I would marry Umbriel before that.

Umbriel... I missed him. My trainer. My teacher. He never tried to lock me away. Never told me not to fight. Never faulted me for wanting to.

Alaric had been like that in the beginning. When had he changed? Why had he changed? He always seemed worried. Not controlling. As if there was something he did not want to tell me. Maybe I should talk to Dads. They would tell me.

My eyes went back to the Royal twins. They were watching me still. Why? I wasn't sure I wanted to know. Time would tell though. The two of them were hundreds if not thousands of years old.