Our staredown was interrupted by sound. I turned to see that the court had started to file back into the throne room. I pulled myself from her lap and she let me return to the spot next to her throne. I looked at the little grass I had grown before. The Grass had completely eaten up the stone. I also noticed a little cluster of whitish growths. Ignoring the conversation that had begun, I leaned in close. Each of the growths had little beads of something that looked like blood. Curious I touched it and watched as the bead broke. I collected a bit of the red substance, which didn’t smell like blood but was somewhat appealing. I pushed my finger into my mouth.

Instantly, the taste made me flinch back. The bitter liquid seeming to spread across my tongue before I could do anything about it. But when I blinked the room seemed to be tinted blue. For a moment I considered being concerned, but instead I turned toward those gathered. I hissed. As though they were outlined in a black ink, I could see the heart of everyone with ease. I turned to the queen and saw that her heart was limp. I watched as the blank ink tried to wrap around her heart and I was on my feet. I reached to her, but then the black ink slipped off her heart.

“Precious?”

“Nothing... it’s nothing...” I sat back down and turned my eyes to those around her. My tails wrapped around me and in my lap. I sat there and started to brush my tails. I quickly noticed that most of those gathered were like the queen, the black ink continually trying to wrap around their limp hearts but slipping off.

I turned my attention to those with beating hearts. They were all in various stages of being devoured by the black ink. My attention was caught by one in particular. There was hardly any visible heart left. I tilted my head to get a better look. The ink moved with the heartbeats, seemingly resting on top of the muscle. I looked at their face and saw a weak looking woman. Her eyes caught mine, and I made note that she didn’t seem human. But then, the blue lighting faded and the hearts of those gathered hid from my view.

I considered saying something to the Queen. But decided against it. Not really sure why I didn’t want to tell her, but knowing that I didn’t. Instead, I turnd my attention to the other heart my magic was wrapped around. I could tell they were far away. I considered pulling on my magic to see what would happen, but the image of flames flickered at the back of mind. I had no guarantee that I wanted this person to know I was alive. In fact, this person might have been an enemy of mine at some point.

The Queen was probably right, I needed to build up my strength. I knew that my magic would recover and grow with time, but I needed energy. I knew that the bugs I had eated, as well as the meat from before weren’t enough. I needed... something richer. I licked my lips as I imagined whatever I was craving. It would be smooth and flavorful. It would be filled with anger and desperation.

I opened my eyes and turned to the Queen. She immediately lifted her hand stopping the vampire in front of her from talking. She turned to me and waited. I bit my lip looking up at her. “Food.” I told her, unable to find the word for what I wanted.

“DongGeun. Guide her to food.” The large vampire stood from the crowd and I stood walking toward him. “And Precious.” Her hand wrapped around my wrist like a vice and I whipped to look at her. “You will return here. As soon as you have eaten.” I considered for a brief moment arguing. But I had nowhere else to go so I just nodded. She released my wrist and I followed the vampire out of the doors.

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In the hallway, he glared at me from the corner of his eye but kept walking. I growled at his provocation, but before anything happened I heard someone running to us. I turned to find Jessica standing there with a grin on her face. “Hi!” The vampire hadn’t stopped and so I indicated with my head that she should walk with us. “Your little bonfire was really cool. I tried to recreate it with runic circles but only managed to create a frost fire.”

“Little witch. Quiet” The vampire said from in front of us. I turned to see that there seemed to be some sort of fight going on further down the hall. We all stopped and watched. Two of them appeared to be human men, and one of them was a vampire woman. I smelled again and realized that at least of those men was a beast. But then I smelt it. Food.

But I had the sense to turn to the Vampire first. “They are the Queen’s allies?”

He looked at me. “The woman is. The men are guests.”

I grinned at him. Guests weren’t allies. I walked forward slowly, my eyes on the human man. I could smell the anger on him. He smelled delicious. The vampire tried to stop me, but I dodged him, somehow moving faster than him. One of my tails whipped at his hand, and I heard him gasp in shock.

The sound alerted the three down the hall. The woman looked at me, a vicious grin pulled across her face and she turned to the men. “You men are not worth my time. Besides, you seem to be someone elses prey.”

The two men glanced at me and then at each other. The delicious smelling one laughed. They said something, but I no longer cared to listen. I pushed my magic into my feet and was pressing him agains the wall before he could react. His eyes widened in incredulity and fear. I wanted anger. More anger.

“Weak” I whispered at him. There was a flash of more anger, but not enough. “Pathetic.” Still not enough. I felt a pressure of something hard against my hip where I held him. So I laughed at him and whispered. “Small.” His eyes lit with rage and the timing was right.

My left hand pulled back and I plowed it into his side. He let out a screech and tried to escape me. But I pushed my hand deeper, my magic surrounding my target and cradling it. I stared down at him, grinning, excited for my meal. Finally, I used my hand and magic to rip the organ from his body. His eyes turned to see it in my hand, blood dripping from my hand down my arm and onto the floor. His breathing turned into a gasp, and grew fainter. I dropped his body, no longer interested in him.

I turned to see that the female vampire was watching the body on the floor. I stepped out of her way and she flung herself toward the body without care. The beast man must have fled, as I didnt’ see him. The vampire who had come with me was standing still but his eyes were on the organ in my hand. My meal. I snarled at him and lifted it to my mouth. I began to rip into the muscle. I couldn’t help the moan that escaped me. It was so delicious! I pressed my back to the wall so no one could approach me, and sank into my meal. My hunger which had always been at the back of my mind made itself known as I ate. And I did. I tasted his blood. I tasted his muscle. But most of all, I tasted his exquisite anger. I could taste each flavor or it. Indignation, Annoyance, Resentment. It was so complex and I felt part of who I was lock back into place.

I swallowed the last bite and began to lick the bloody remnants off my arms and where it had spilled on my tail. I looked in the dried husk and the vampire woman, who was watching me. I could see hunger in her eyes and I knew it wasn’t for blood. I licked my lips again and stepped toward her. Her pupils grew wider and I knew what I would do. I would press her up against the wall like I had the man. And she would screech too. But for entirely different reasons.

I took another step, but I felt a hand on my arm. I turned to bite at it, and saw Jessica. Her eyes were wide with fright, but her mouth was determined. “If you are done, we should continue on our way.” Her eyes tracked my tongue as I licked my lips. I considered turning my attention to her, but as I did the vampire stepped up next to her. A very faint growl came from him and I realized. He liked her. I couldn’t help but laugh and I turned and walked back toward the throne room. I had made a promise after all.