The trip back to our chambers was a rather quick one considering not even Silver Lance stopped us to talk. I nodded at the silent servants scurrying here and there. I began to wonder why everypony seemed terrified.

“Audrey, what is the average emotional state in the castle”, I asked as we walked.

There is a general state of fearfulness in the residents of the castle.

“Why”, I asked.

I have observed the ponies talking in whispers amongst themselves about the sounds that come from the dungeons during experimentation.

“How would anypony know what’s been going on?”

There have been three occurrences of servants eavesdropping from the halls nearest the dungeon.

“And you didn’t warn me”, I shouted.

I was not given the order to alert you of nearby servants.

“Celestia dammit, Audrey”, I shouted as I punched the wall. “It’s common fucking sense!”

I was not created with true free thought. I can only carry out orders and routines designated by authorized users.

“That’s gonna change as soon as possible”, I growled.

“Uh, Jackson”, Twilight asked hesitantly, “Are you arguing with your castle again?”

“I can’t believe it but yes, yes I am”, I replied. “Only because she’s being an idiot.”

“Jackson, you need to feed and get some sleep”, Twilight said as we walked.

I stopped in to check on Aliya and to no surprise her mattress was a pile of ashes beneath her crib. I lifted her into my arms and materialized a new mattress but added fireproof enchantments this time. I kissed her forehead and she giggled as I lay her down.

“Daddy loves his little abomination”, I cooed as I stroked her mane. Her cute little yawn brought a smile to my face.

I leaned down to kiss her forehead again before I left the room. I draped an arm around both ponies as I led them to the next room over. I flopped onto the bed face first and sighed tiredly. Two pairs of hooves unbuckled the leather boots I had designed and dropped them onto the floor.

“Jackson, get up and feed”, Twilight sighed as she shook me with her front hooves.

I groaned and slowly pulled my arms under me. I sighed again and pushed myself into a sitting position. Looking to my left I saw Twilight baring her throat to me. I stared at the pulse in her artery and pondered just how long it would take to drain her dry. I dismissed this thought as I leaned forward and slipped my fangs into her tender flesh.

The moan that instantly filled the air was one of the sexiest things I had ever heard. The sexiest had been Shadow’s moans. I drew her rich blood into my mouth and I could taste the various foods she had eaten. I felt her arousal as I gently sucked the skin of her throat. Her pheromones went haywire and her breath caught in her chest and slipped from her in gasping moans.

I could feel the life from her blood entering me and soon I had my fill. I extracted my fangs and trailed my tongue across the two punctures instantly. I licked the small trickles of deep red blood from her fur and kissed her throat before I pulled back. She panted as she flopped to the bed. I dropped back beside her and motioned to Cindra. She hopped up and cuddled against my other side and that was the last thing I remembered for a while.

I woke up hours later with a mare clinging to each side of me and to my surprise they were clasping hooves on my chest. I smiled and just stayed still allowing them to rest. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was half past eight and my stomach began growling.

The vibrations must have awakened the girls because they slowly stirred and looked at me groggily. Twilight asked what time it was and subsequently had a mini freak out over some asinine thing or another and she left in a rush. I scratched my head and shrugged.

“Hey Cindra”, I asked, “How good are you with fine object manipulation?”

“I’m pretty coordinated”, she replied slowly. “Why?”

“I want you to put a whole bunch of tiny braids in my hair”, I said.

“Okay”, she replied slowly.

For the next couple hours she used her magic to play with my hair putting tiny braids throughout my hair. She used little bits of thread to tie the braids up with a blood red bead at the end of each one. After she was done I used a single strip of leather to pull all the braids together in a ponytail.

“Why didn’t I think of this earlier”, I laughed.

“Not a clue”, Cindra smiled. “The look suits you.”

I checked myself in the mirror and had to agree. However, the outfit didn’t really go well with the hair. I let my mind drift for a moment and changed the flowing clothes into black leather armor with crimson accents. Straps crossed my chest and buckled on the left side with a few pouches strung on each strap. Straps were loosely buckled around my thighs and calves but could be tightened to prevent the clothing from making noise. Straps around my upper arms held small pouches as well.

“Fuck me”, Cindra almost moaned making me laugh. “That look is so damned sexy.”

“I was hoping for intimidating”, I mumbled.

“It is”, she replied as she wrapped her forelegs around me from behind. “That’s what makes it so sexy. I have a bit of a thing for bad colts.”

“You couldn’t have picked a worse one”, I said quietly as I turned to her and lightly gripped her throat. “Why the hell are you still with me?”

I squeezed her throat tightly making her cough before I threw her to the floor. I growled as overwhelming anger came over me for no reason.

“You know what I am”, I snarled. “You know the things I’ve done. What the hell is it that keeps you here?! Are you just here for a safe fuck without worrying about getting knocked up?! “WHY WOULD YOU STAY WITH AN ANIMAL?!”

I paced the room as I felt that damned song magic coming on. Cindra flinched as deep reverberating stringed instruments played a primal song as a reverberating drum kept a pace like a heartbeat. I approached the wardrobe and drove my fist through it.

“Jackson, what’s wrong”, Cindra asked nervously as I unfurled my wings and approached her.

I can’t escape this hell, I sang as I stroked her cheek before lightly gripping her jaw.

So many times I’ve tried. I gripped the other side of her jaw.

But I’m still caged inside! My grip shifted to her shoulders.

Somepony get me through this nightmare! I can’t control myself! I shoved her away and shuffled backward. I glared at Cindra and pointed at her.

So what if you can see the darkest side of me? I threw my arm out to the side.

No one will ever change this animal I have become! I held my hands out to her.

Help me believe it’s not the real me! I threw my hands in the air.

Somepony help me tame this animal! I covered my eyes with my hand.

I can’t escape myself. I barely raised my head.

So many times I’ve lied. I balled my hands into fists.

But there’s still rage inside. I turned my gaze back to Cindra.

Somepony help me through this nightmare! I can’t control myself!

Her heartbeat began racing as I unleashed the vampony within. I felt the adrenaline rush through me as I smelled her fear. I covered the distance between us in what felt like two steps and I lifted her against the wall by her shoulders. A snarl was plastered on my face as my fangs hovered inches from her throat.

So what if you can see the darkest side of me? I got close to her ear.

No one will ever change this animal I have become!

And we believe it’s not the real me. I pulled back and stared into her eyes.

Somepony help me tame this animal I have become. I dropped her and strode away from her before turning my eyes back to her.

And we believe it’s not the real me.

Somepony help me tame this animal! I slowly stepped toward her with outstretched arms.

Somepony help me through this nightmare!

I can’t control myself!

Somepony wake me from this nightmare!

I can’t escape this hell!

I paced around the room and ran my hands over my braids. My heavy breathing was in a perfect rhythm as I was freaking out. I meant every word I was saying… well, singing.

“Jackson”, Cindra whimpered. “You’re scaring me.”

I was at her throat in an instant. She had been particularly vexing lately, and consequences be damned, I wanted to taste changeling blood again.

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

No one will ever change this animal I have become! I eased my grip on her and backed away.

And we believe it’s not the real me. I grabbed the sides of my head.

Somepony help me tame this animal I have become!

And we believe it’s not the real me. I dropped to my knees.

Somepony help me tame this animal!

I felt my vamponic powers fading as my breathing returned to normal. I let out a single sob as a tear rolled down my cheek. The changeling princess slowly approached me and lay down beside me. She cuddled into my side and I wrapped my arms around her as I shook uncontrollably. I had felt this way for so long and it felt good to let it out. If only Shadow had been the one comforting me.

“I’m here for you, Jackson”, Cindra whispered as she held me tightly. “I’ll always be here for you.”

I held her and she held me as each of us shed our tears. After a long hour or so I heard a soft snoring on my shoulder. I glanced down and saw drool running from the corner of my confidante’s mouth.

“Well, fuck.”

Author's Note

Song: "Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace