Faline

Avina figures out how to hold and carry me, but then has to put me down to open the door. I'm starting to feel like one of those balls on the end of a string connected to a paddle and someone is having a heyday with it. Soon as the door opens, I almost bolt through it, but control the urge, especially when I see the expression on the girl's face.

She'd been expecting me to do just that, proving to her that I'm the same as every other bloodsucker here. I take a couple of steps forward but then wait for her to lift me. The smile she gives me lights up her whole face so much that it warms my heart just to see it.

Closing the door, she then lifts me once more and we go on our way. At least as far as a few steps before we realize neither of us thought of how I was going to show her which way I wanted to go. Remembering I'd mentioned the kitchen, I look at her and lick my lips, hoping she understands. Luckily she seems to, giving a nod then picking a direction.

We go up and down so many stairs and corridors that I'm lost instantly. I think we're on the ground floor when we walk into a very large room, a mix of both modern-day equipment mixed with very old-world. It's mostly open, several island counters and tables set around. Up to date modern appliances line the left side wall, from the refrigerator to dishwasher, not to mention a few smaller ones on the counters.

A large square area directly across from this doorway is a made of brick and has an old-time fire pit. The two dishwashers are closest to it. I don't understand the setup, but it's not my kitchen.

To the right side of the room is another doorway, several more counters and cabinets line the walls, a few of them open to show pantry-like shelving space while others hold cleaning supplies. As we walk in, I see that there's another door tucked around the brick wall that looks promising.

I try not to be obvious about looking at it, which isn't that hard really as I see a lot of the artwork hanging around the room randomly. Many are made to look like windows, since the actual ones are shuttered closed, meaning either the sun's up or they're stuck shut and never opened.

Can't very well have your patrons bursting into flame. Bad for business. One of the paintings catches my eye because I recognize it. Seeing it has me wriggling till she drops me and I run to it.

Against the wall across from the doorway we came through, situated higher up, is a rather large canvas painting that I've always loved. It's one my sister had done of her and I a few years ago. When it had been seen at an art show, there had been a really big offer for it. Seeing it here gives me an idea of who wanted it.

It wasn't of me and her as humans, that's part of what makes it so creepy now. She'd painted herself as a large pale-colored wolf sitting back to back with a small dark shaded feline that represented me. They're painted as almost ghostly figures, green fire as her eyes while mine are a gold flame.

When it had been finished and shown to me, she'd said she saw it in a dream. Since we had always seen ourselves as those very animals, I never really thought about it. But now? It's just plain eerie.

Really makes you wonder about that whole 'destiny' or 'fate' thing. Never really liked the thought of either since it's basically saying that there's no choice and that everything is already known and nothing can be changed. Looking at the painting just really nails it into me.

Going up on hind feet and pawing towards the canvas, I meow at it. Even standing I'm nowhere near tall enough to even think of touching it, probably why it's hung so high.

The background behind the ghostly animals is a mix of reds and blacks. As she put it; 'Blood and Darkness', I can't recall the original name she'd given it. Really makes me wonder about her other dreams though, she was constantly having deja vu moments.

My chaperone comes up behind me, looking at the picture. My sister's name is tagged in a lower corner and I try pointing to it and meowing, but I don't think she understands, just smiling as she looks up at it.

"One of the times the Mistress had gone to an art showing, she came back with that. Said it spoke to her. She had said the name of it was 'Shy Walking Shadows'."

I start purring and rub against the wall beneath it, meowing again as I reach for it. Avina looks at me as if she's trying to understand. I turn and sit the same way the cat is in the painting, then go to her and reach up, tapping her chest with a forepaw.

Her eyes narrow before she looks up at it again. The dozen or so people walking and working around us keep looking at me as if I've lost my mind. I really don't want to go human, so I look around.

Most of the tables are bench-like, so the seats are attached, but I do spy a couple of tall barstool-like ones. I run over to one, pushing against it till one of the random males takes it. I look up at him for a moment then go back to Avina. He follows with the stool, such a good human.

Setting it down in front of her, I move it till it's under the painting. They both start looking nervous but stay silent as they watch me. Jumping onto it carefully, since it's wood and therefore slippery for furry feet, I reach up. Plenty of room.

Very carefully, I reach and tap towards the signature on it, then look down at her. To my dismay, she still looks confused, but the male seems to be catching on as he motions me down so he can go up. Thinking about it now, I'm not sure if the girl can read since she's been here since she was a child.

The kind man gets up on the stool and looks. I look away since I don't care to see up the loincloth he's wearing. Tanned, average height, short dark hair. Just an average every other day looking guy to me, till you really see his eyes.

They're so pale he could be blind, but clearly isn't. Looking out of a tanned face, it's a bit startling. As he jumps off the stool, I look back at him expectantly.

"The artist's name is what she's been motioning at. By the way she's acting, I'm guessing she knows them. Hard to read, but the name is interesting, it's Kierra McHone.

I meow and try to nod, jumping back up on the stool. I position myself to sit on it and look at them, tail curled around my feet as I look at the submissive female. It seems to finally click together by the look on her face as she looks at me.

"Your sister?"

I meow at her and give her the feline version of a smile, which is basically a lifting of my lips and raising my head. Watching them both as they look back up at it, I'm not really expecting a reaction, I just wanted to point it out.

I'm not disappointed, as the male shrugs and walks away. The dark-haired girl just keeps looking at it as if she's lost within it. While she stares, I look around better. The current crowd seems to be dispersing as a different group comes in.

Several of the women I see smile and bow their heads to me, which is really awkward, so I do nothing. Doesn't hurt me none for them to show their...whatever emotion they're conveying. At least a dozen women and half a dozen men come in, so I gather this is like the mess hall or cafeteria.

The smells coming from over by the stoves make me mourn food even more. Jumping down from the stool and going over seems to break my chaperone's communing of paint. Looking around the walls, I do spy a couple of aprons.

Score!

Granted my ass will be hanging out, but I can ask for a loincloth or something. Walking over to them, I shift and stand, drawing a few gasps from the humans standing around. A couple of them drop to their knees and assume the position. I take it they didn't realize I'm one of the Vamps?

I look at them in pity, but pull on an apron, tying it behind me as I look to Avina and ask her if she could get me one of their loincloth thingies. Nodding, she sends another girl off for one. While waiting, I wash my hands and clean off one of the floating counters. Each one having its own sink is very helpful.

Just as I finish wiping it down is when the girl comes back with a scrap of cloth that I look at disparagingly. The small girl is just as tiny as Avina and looks as if she's about to bolt from my expression. I smile at her with what I hope is a warm smile and reach out for it. She hands it over very tentatively, expecting to be hit or yelled at.

Thanking her, I take and set about equipping it. The back cover is a lot thinner than the front, so I put it on backwards. My black-haired friend laughs lightly as she tells me so, but I just smile and say that I'm aware.

She nods, catching my reason and hands me a hair tie to which I put in. Many of the others watch us curiously, looking almost amazed when Avina tentatively pokes fun and doesn't get shot down. The small girl from earlier is still standing there with a dumbfounded look.

Oops, I used manners.

Shooing her away with my hands waving the air in front of me, she takes off and I go to a fridge. Biting my lip as I look into it, there is a lot of food. The inside of this thing might as well be a small produce shop.

"Can I use this?"

The room damn near goes silent when I ask. My cheeks tinge pink, but I look at Avina. She inclines her head slowly, looking a bit shocked and confused herself.

"Have to remember, I haven't been a Vampire long. I miss food, even if I can't eat it, I still like cooking. Now, where are the eggs?"

I set up everything I need, and for the next several hours I busy myself with cooking different things. Many of the 'house slaves', human and animal alike, are drawn by the different smells. Apparently even with all that is available, the menu isn't that amazing normally.

At first, I get real nervous when the animals start showing up, but they're more interested in the food, so I relax a bit. To my surprise, many of the servants are Shifters and Were-animals as well. Those who'd wanted a home and were naturally submissive and on their own, or were already working the streets.

I begin wondering if the reason everyone is so damn skinny is that they get screwed on meals. I have many of the usual ones who do the cooking watch me make some of the dishes. A few catch on, but the others just look lost.

Sad pouty faces are made when I have to have someone else try something since I don't even want to attempt it going wrong in my system. I try to get them to laugh if not at least smile. Several breakfast meals of eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, and fruits are set out, making good use of all the spices stashed in one of the many cupboards.

When many start trading places with new ones coming in, I figure it's around lunchtime, so I change the menu accordingly. Light vegetables, sliced meats, and cheeses. A bunch of them give me a weird look when I slice the meat real thin and the cheese into cubes. I can't help but laugh, trying to explain that it's mostly for looks and easier usage.

I teach them to make subs, sandwiches, salads, and even macaroni and cheese, which was a real shock to learn that several had never had. Telling them that since they tend to be blood donors quite often, they need to be eating more meat and drinking more juices.

All of them take that to heart, especially when I tell them they'll feel better for doing so. It's then that I learn the Weres and Shifters get requested often because their blood has more 'kick'. Them already being animals I figured they'd already know they'd need to eat a lot of meat. Most did, but not all.

A lot of them being cast outs, street urchins, and abused prostitutes explains why none seem to know about many things, so much so that I get saddened by it. All of them say they're happy here though, where they have safe shelter and food they don't have to beg or debase themselves for. Depending on who they're serving at any given point they may be treated as if on the street, but they have the comfort in knowing they aren't.

I'm sure they're saying they're so happy because of what I am and they don't wish to be punished, but I let it go. There's nothing I can do, as I am just as much a prisoner as they are. Several Vampires show up over the course of my cooking lessons, but they stay against the far walls and just watch.

When a male Vamp starts approaching me with intent, one of the female Shifters that had been around me for awhile also sees him and goes off to sidetrack him. I look at her with regret, but she just shakes her head behind his back and takes him elsewhere. I have to stop for a while after that, feeling like shit for letting her take a hit for me.

Avina does her best to cheer me up, saying that we should probably start back for the room. At the first mention of it though, I shoot up and walk away from her. I know I agreed to go back if it started looking too dangerous, but for the last several hours I've felt better than I have in a very long time.

Going back and pulling her off to a corner, I talk to her and try to get her to understand. She doesn't, but she sees the need for this in my eyes and caves. Not like she can demand me to go back anyway, and she knows it. I think that's why she caved so fast since she didn't want me to push my 'rank'.