Chapter Eight

Brief Respite

The four of us landed and made our way up to the castle’s perimeter, we were all covered head to hoof in blood with Nyx being the only minor exception, not to even mention our new appearance. Getting in and getting clean was the easy part, we just had to get to Luna’s balcony, whatever we did after that wasn't going to be so easy.

Luna informed us that she couldn't maintain the same spell that keeps her true appearance a secret on Ruby and I, because she relied on her own shadows to conceal herself. Unless we could manipulate shadows of our own, disguise wasn't an option.

Nyx had seemed to relax for the most part, well as relaxed as one could be considering the circumstances. Still, she kept a distance away from the rest of us. We were all now very aware of how lethal we could be, and though Nyx no longer acted like we were going to eat her, I could tell deep down she was still terrified of us.

She had every right to be...

I watched Ruby out of the corner of my eye as she slowed her pace to fall in line next to Nyx.

“Soooo,” Ruby began uncomfortably, “maybe don't mention to anypony that we uhh.”

Nyx stared back at her not knowing how to answer as she quickly looked away and just nodded fervently.

“Hey relax, we promised we wouldn’t hurt you.”

Nyx screwed up her face as she stopped to stare at the candy red maned bat pony. The poor lilac pegasus was barely keeping it together, and the juxtaposition of Ruby’s comment seemed to snap something in her brain.

“Relax? RELAX!?!? Are you kidding me!” Nyx stomped down in anger, “I just watched you three slaughter dozens of ponies, and you want me to relax!”

Ruby flattened her ears as she shrank back.

“Umm, yes.”

Nyx’s eye twitched and for a second, I actually feared for my immortal friend.

But as quickly as it had come, Nyx’s rage and annoyance diminished as she exhaled a strained breath.

“I just don't understand…” she murmured, “how can you all be fine, are you just all sociopaths or something?” she asked, her question seeming sincere.

Luna and I stayed silent as we continued to eavesdrop.

Ruby looked taken aback, “no, but the darkness,” she paused hesitantly, “it takes away pain, and right now… thinking about what happened is painful.”

Nyx looked down at her hooves, “must be nice.”

Ruby gave a small smile, “you know, Princess Luna could-”

“No! I respect Princess Luna but you're crazy if you think I'm going to let those weird shadowy things anywhere near my muzzle,” The lilac pegasus responded firmly with a nod.

“Your loss,” Ruby shrugged, before trotting back up to me and Luna.

“You're not going to get anywhere with that one,” Luna began as she trotted up.

“Yeah, and you can hardly blame her,” I added.

“I know but… I just hate the way she looks at me,” Ruby muttered,“like I'm a monster, like I'm going to snap and rip her apart at any moment.”

“You're not a monster Ruby, none of us are,” Luna told her gently and with a firm nod.

“Aren't we?” Ruby murmured.

Luna stopped in her tracks as she stared at her hooves.

“Luna?” I touched her shoulder, “are you alright?”

“We killed for two reasons and only two… to put down the ponies who tried to kill us, and to feed.”

The dark alicorn regained her composure.

“We had plenty of justification, we are not monsters,” she said firmly.

Ruby just hung her head as we continued to walk up towards the castle.

“Feather, stop for just a moment,” Luna spoke softly, and I did as she asked. Despite her argument I could see the pain in her eyes, she was hurting just as bad as Ruby.

“I just need to taste you again,” she whispered sweetly, clearly needing a distraction.

I felt her slowly bite into my neck. I closed my eyes and leaned into her, her venom sending waves of calming euphoric cascading down throughout my body.

“You're still hungry?” Ruby asked, shocked.

Luna’s teeth finally lifted out of my skin.

“Not particularly, I just needed to take my mind off of all of this for a moment. Besides, she has a better aftertaste than those, others…” she said while wiping off her muzzle with a grin that did little to hide her weariness.

As if aware of just that, she turned away from the others to nuzzle into my mane instead.

Ruby rolled her eyes and laughed “Stars, you two are making me jealous, and I’m not even gay!” she chuckled.

Luna and I both blushed.

I turned and noticed Nyx staring at us confused.

“So, you all just feed on one another whenever? and you're all okay with it?”

Ruby turned towards Nyx

“To be fair, Feather is the Princess’s marefriend, she’s got this weird submissive thing she does with Luna, and they are both totally into it.” she grinned, “whoopsies, did I say that out loud,” Ruby snickered.

“What! Hey, I'm not submissive!” I stammered with a little indignant stomp of my hoof.

I knew if I had a mirror the blood covering my face wouldn’t matter because my entire face would still be red.

Ruby raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?” Luna grinned, and I turned towards her.

“Well, I… I just like feeling like I belong to you is all,” I stammered trying to keep myself from blushing not that anyone could see it.

“What else do you like?” Luna whispered sweetly, nibbling on my ear.

“I... Ummm,” I paused and sighed finally relenting, I was already doomed so I put my muzzle to her ear before whispering softly, “ok Ruby’s right,” I murmured sheepishly.

“Oh? do elaborate,” she prompted seductively, lowering her voice as she guided me farther up ahead and out of earshot of the others.

I took a breath and decided to just admit it to her.

“I do like it, a lot, I love it in fact, I love feeling like I’m yours,” I nuzzled her, “I love it when you drink my blood whenever you want, I love it when you pin me down,” I paused, “Luna I would let you do anything to me because I… because I lo-”

“Are you two quite finished?” Nyx interjected with an annoyed laugh.

At least she laughed, well more like snickered.

“As entertaining as you two are, it's getting very late and I can barely keep my eyes open.”

Ruby started laughing, then Luna, I even started to giggle myself regardless if it was at my own expense, even Nyx looked amused as much as she tried to hide it. For a brief moment the horror of the events from the train station seemed like the distant past as the four of us just sat there and laughed.

Luna kissed me on the nose as she brought herself back to her hooves.

“Let’s get moving, shall we?”

I could hear Ruby’s heart rate spiking as she stared off into the distance. I trotted up to her, “Hey are you alright?” I asked, concerned.

Ruby shook her head rapidly, “what? I'm fine, let's just go.”

Weird...

With that, Luna took off into the sky once more.

__

We all followed closely behind Luna as we were led to her familiar balcony, nopony below seemed to notice our arrival as we landed. The gala had clearly ended a while ago and the only ponies that still remained in the courtyard were a few of Celestia’s guards.

“Are we sure it's even safe in there?” I prompted, “what if one of those mindless guards are in there, or they put one of those parasites under our pillows,” I fretted, making Luna reel.

“She makes a good point,” Ruby nodded in agreement.

“Well, I suppose we will just have to toss the entire room, look for anything out of place,” Luna said with a nod.

“How are we supposed to know what's out of place?” Nyx asked.

“You don’t, just wait out here and let us handle it,” I told her.

The three of us stepped inside and began to search through everything. I was mostly concerned about those parasites, as far as I knew they needed a mindless pony brain to attach to, but I wasn't going to take any chances. Those things freaked me out! Just thinking about them made me shudder.

I thoroughly checked all around and, in our bed, triple checking everything. After what felt like an eternity of searching, none of us could find anything.

“The spell I cast on the door is still intact, fortunately I don’t think anypony else was in here,” Luna let out a relieved sigh,“Ruby why don't you take a shower first, it's over there in the back. I'd imagine you'll need the extra hot water, considering.”

Ruby frowned, “yeah not having a horn is going to make this way more difficult than I'm used to,” she groaned before trotting over to the washroom door.

I heard the water kick in after a few moments and I noticed Nyx staring at the still folded open couch bed, “is anypony using this?” she asked with a yawn, “or is there some guest room I could have instead?”

Luna sighed “yes this castle has plenty of guest rooms, however I don't believe that would be a very safe option, this ‘cult’ -- for lack of a better word -- is known for taking ponies from their quarters, Ruby’s friend Sunny included.”

Wait, how did Luna know Sunny was taken during his sleep? Did Leopold tell her? I wondered.

“No, he didn't, you did when you let me in your mind remember?” Luna informed me.

I almost tripped over myself, “wait, did you just?”

“Did I just, what?” Luna asked, looking towards me.

“Never mind, I'm pretty sure I just was thinking out loud and didn't realize it,” I said sheepishly.

She looked confused but shook her head and looked back towards Nyx “to answer your other question, No nopony else is using that bed, it's all yours.”

At that, Nyx flopped down on the bed and let out a long yawn, “don't let me fall asleep until I've had a chance at the shower,” she groaned as she buried her face into my old pillows.

She was just laying over the covers, making sure not to get her bloody hooves in the sheets.

Luna looked towards me, “I'd normally drag you into my bed, however,” she looked at her own hooves, then at me, “I'd rather not turn our sheets red.”

I stifled a laugh.

Lowering her voice she whispered, “speaking of, we should probably change our sheets from last night’s sexcapades.”

I blushed, “Shouldn't we be warning your sister that her royal guard has been compromised, and tell her about Kane?” I asked worriedly.

Luna frowned, “if I know my sister, she wouldn't believe us, not without hard proof, and even if she did, her resolution most likely wouldn't be absolute. I can't afford to have my sister put our kind in jeopardy in favor of her silly little morals.”

“What are we supposed to do then?” I asked.

“We all are in desperate need of a shower and some rest, this threat can wait until tomorrow evening, at which point we will eliminate this threat, then inform my sister of her obliviousness. Better to ask forgiveness rather than permission,” she snickered.

“Understood, so what do we do in the meantime?” I yawned.

“Soon I will have to lower the moon, but for now, I suppose we do nothing,” Luna paused and regarded me for a moment, “actually, why don't we take advantage of the fact that we’re still covered in blood?” she purred before stepping towards me and tilting her head back, “go ahead,” she offered with a grin.

Understanding, I took a step forward and put a wing around her, nuzzling and slowly kissing up her neck before I softly bit down. The taste of her blood was unlike anything else, it made all the other blood I had drunken pale in comparison. I felt her relax in my wings and could hear her making cute little noises as we stood there before I finally lifted away. I tilted my head back, closing my eyes and reveling in the taste.

Suddenly she tackled me to the ground, and I felt her teeth slide into my neck. Another surge of her venom shot threw me, making it hard to move or focus on anything else. I smiled as all I could do was just lay there and enjoy every second of it. To make it even better I felt as her shadows wrapped around me and seeped into my skin.

After a while I felt Luna crawl off of me and I opened my eyes, “why'd you stop,” I asked with a little pout, “I'm still conscious.”

She rolled her eyes.

“That’s a good thing Feather,” she laughed before leaning back down to kiss me on the nose, “well, for now at least.”

I looked to my side and saw Nyx sitting up staring at us, I noticed she was biting her lip “what's it like?” she asked.

We both sat up and looked at her, “drinking blood?” Luna questioned.

Nyx shook her head, “no, I mean what’s it like to be what you are? You don’t act right, not like normal ponies I mean, I just want to know why.”

The beautifully dark alicorn grinned, “every nerve, every sense, every emotion is heightened. The world is so much more clear and calm, why do you ask?”

“Curiosity,” Nyx replied simply.

Luna seemed to catch something in her expression that I didn't as she moved closer to Nyx.

“just curiosity? Or something more?” Luna continued her advance, “Or perhaps you just can't resist the temptation?”

“Wait what! No, I…” Nyx stuttered, now seeming unsure, “no, I don't know,” she admitted.

I could hear her heart beating quickly as Luna leaned in to look directly into her eyes.

“I think you do.”

Nyx sighed, “no I don't, I've never felt this way before, since being around all of you it's like there’s something gnawing at me, clawing at my heart and it hurts.”

“So why don't you give in to it?” Luna purred, “let it in to your heart”

“What will happen to me if I do?” she asked, her calm voice betraying her terror as she struggled to understand what was happening.

“It will take away all your pain,” Luna smiled at her, “I promise”

“What will it be like?” she asked, sounding both curious and afraid.

There was the hint of desperation in her voice, the same thing I had noticed in Ruby many times before, the same desperation I felt in myself not that long ago.

I stepped forward, “Well, your body will turn nocturnal for starters, so you better get used to living in the night,” I told her,“don't worry, it feels amazing.”

Nyx took a breath, “well, I suppose I've always been a bit of a night owl anyways.” she murmured absentmindedly, almost as if in a trance as she continued to stare into Luna’s eyes.

I realized Nyx was just tethering on the edge of completely giving in, she probably had been for a long time, long before we found her.

Nyx tore her eyes away from Luna’s and rapidly shook her head, “No,” she stated firmly, “I can't believe I was even considering it!”

Fear seemed to seep back into her as she stood up, “that's how it gets you isn't it?” she demanded.

Luna and I took a step back in surprise.

“It preys on your pain, on your weakness! It claws at your heart until you let it in!” Nyx back peddled into the wall looking at us like we were monsters again.

I didn't know what to say, she was looking at it like it was a bad thing! The darkness is wonderful, it takes over every part of you and takes away all of the pain! I reiterated to myself.

Without saying a word Luna lifted up a hoof towards Nyx, shadows wrapping around it, just as she had done with Ruby. the dark misty tendrils stretched out and wrapped around Nyx gliding over her coat.

“No! I…” Nyx’s voice seemed to fade as her fear started to bleed away. She shook her head and smacked Luna’s hoof away, “I said no!”

The dark princess glared at her, “Fine, suit yourself,” she huffed before turning to trot off to her study.

Nyx took a breath before glancing up at me

“I'm sorry for being so afraid of you and Princess Luna, I had just never expected to meet her, especially the way I had, it scared me, and for a while there I had forgotten that she was my Princess,” she murmured as she bowed her head.

I smiled a little as I approached her once again.

“But!” she insisted, and I stopped, “she can’t have me, and you won’t get me to let her darkness in… not now, not ever. I'll be gone tomorrow anyways.”

I should’ve been cross with her, but I knew better, so instead I smiled at her.

“Now that it's clawing at you, you'll give in sooner or later.”

“Maybe, but I'd like to think I have some semblance of self-control.”

I narrowed my eyes, but as I was about to respond I heard the bathroom door open as Ruby came trotting back in, her coat no longer stained red. And she had discarded her torn ruined dress. She stretched out her new wings and my eyes drifted towards her flank.

I just realized that in all of the time I'd known her, I had never actually seen her cutie mark, it was always covered up. Appropriately it was a little image of a red ruby gemstone that had what looked like a few blood drops running down and dripping off the side of it.

“Well, that's a fitting cutie mark, considering what you are now,” I pointed out.

“What do you mean?” she asked as she looked back at her own flank and gasped.

“What's the matter?”

“My… my cutie mark, it's different!” she exclaimed and I saw shock and hurt all over her face.

“What do you mean it's different? Cutie marks don't just change,” Nyx pointed out.

I quickly glanced back at my own, just to make sure mine was still the same. Even under all the dried blood I could still make out the familiar dark lines and I let out a sigh of relief. Upon further inspection it did appear as though the black talon-like streaks stretched much further around my flanks than usual, though it was impossible to tell with all the blood on my coat.

“That's impossible,” Luna insisted, “what did it look like before?” she questioned.

“it used to be just a ruby with a sword behind it,” Ruby fretted.

Luna regarded her thoughtfully for a few moments.

“I suppose after you were changed, something integral to yourself, who you are, must have changed, and your cutie mark changed accordingly,” Luna offered.

Ruby sat down hard as she stared at her own flank, “I mean, I like it, but, the old one was still mine; I remember the day I had gotten it, I was so excited and Sunny had thrown me this huge party to celebrate. After that day, my career and my future had become so clear,” her voice trailed off.

She blinked and shook her head.

“I guess just like then, my future is now very clear to me.” she stood up with a smile, wiping a tear away and walked up to Luna before kneeling.

“Princess Luna,” she took a breath. “I hereby pledge my unyielding loyalty to you, from now until the day- or night- that I die.”

Luna’s eyes widened and she took a step back as Ruby continued, “I am yours to command and I would gladly trade my life for yours. I promise to- ”

“Please stop,” Luna interrupted her, her tone uneasy.

Ruby looked up at Luna confused.

“I don't require nor want to hear the same speech you gave to my sister,” Luna paused, “Ruby you are our friend, if you want to be my soldier and serve me, you can, but I am not my sister, and while I admire your sudden professionalism I’d rather if you’re going to pledge yourself to me to just say as much.”

Luna softened her tone and smiled, “there is no need to go on such a long self-degrading speech about it.”

Ruby stood up.

“Ruby, I've heard that entire pledge before, and all it does is make you describe yourself like a tool that is meant to be thrown away,” she paused lifting Ruby’s chin up with a hoof, “and you are so much more than that.”

Ruby smiled and gave a little bow, “thank you Princess,” she murmured.

“Awe, that's sweet” Nyx called out from the background and Ruby looked back at her with a raised eyebrow.

“What?” Nyx asked defensively “it was.”

Ruby scoffed before flopping down on the non bed part of the couch near where Nyx was sitting.

“I thought you hated us?”

The purple maned pegasus stared at her hooves, “I don't hate any of you,” she murmured, “I just don't know how to be okay with any of what's happened tonight.”

Ruby sighed, “you're not the only one,” she sat up and looked over at Nyx, “so I take it you're leaving first thing tomorrow evening right?”

Nyx stifled a laugh “evening... I suppose so, I would leave earlier but you three have completely destroyed my sleep schedule.”

Ruby smiled at her, “being nocturnal is better, trust me.”

I know Nyx didn't let in the darkness, but it got me thinking. I could feel the same shadows move through me and I smiled. Watching Nyx almost give in only made me want to re-experience the rush and high I got from Luna breathing them into me.

“Luna,” I began, “could you wrap me in your shadows again,” I asked, leaning into her, “please,” I asked with a little pout and a grin.

Nyx rolled her eyes before getting up and trotting off to the washroom.

Luna smiled and instead of lifting her hoof towards me, she again moved her mouth towards mine and breathed the misty shadows into my lungs. I felt more wrap around and hug me tightly.

Even though I've felt it before, Goddess, I swear it feels even better every time she does it! We stood there for quite a long while, just enjoying one another, time passed so fast Nyx was already out and trotting past us towards the couch bed.

Luna stopped and put her muzzle to my ear, “why don't we finally go get cleaned up, then I’ll lower the moon, the two of us can finally lay down and you can finish telling me about all the things you love for me to do to you.” she whispered sweetly, and I struggled to maintain my balance as I followed her into the washroom.

___

Finally, the two of us stepped out of the shower, our blood stained dresses were laying on the counter. I stepped forward and wiped the fog away from the mirror with the side of my hoof.

I admired my now clean self in the mirror, only now seeing my new appearance for the first time with my own eyes. I stretched out my new wings and looked from my sharp teeth up to my new vibrant light blue nocturnal eyes.

Luna moved up next to me and nuzzled behind my ear, “you are so beautiful Feather,” she whispered softly and I couldn't help but smile.

Everything finally feels right. I no longer felt any kind of pain, I loved my new eyes, my new wings, the teeth, I loved everything that Luna had given me.

We made our way past the archway back into the main bedroom. Nyx was passed out on the couch bed and Ruby was laying on the other normal part of the couch asleep.

Luna turned towards the balcony door, and I followed. Once outside we both stood and looked across the horizon at the moon.

“It really is beyond beautiful,” I kissed her, “your night,” Luna put a wing around me, “it's a shame you'll have to lower the moon,” I whispered as I continued to nuzzle her neck.

“Believe me Feather, if I could get away with making the night eternal, I would. Unfortunately, as much as I hate my sister's precious light, plants need it to grow, the world needs it to keep living,” she laughed dryly.

“Funny how the universe is cruel that way, however I have taken serious thought to threatening my sister with the idea, just to gain some modicum of respect, to force ponies into recognizing my night, and my authority,” Luna grinned, “Tia knows she is powerless to stop me if I ever did decide to do such a thing.”

“Why don't you?” I asked softly.

“Because I don't feel like starting a war with my sister, you would be surprised what lengths she would go to just to prove a point.”

I looked up at her with concern, “you really think Celestia would do something so rash as to start a war with you, her own sister, just for asserting yourself?”

Luna gave me a serious look ,“I know she would.”

After the moon was lowered, we returned to the bedroom and Luna’s familiar shadow spell was cast upon the room.

Obviously due to the company I knew Luna and I unfortunately couldn't do anything, too strenuous… still, when we climbed into her bed, she pinned me down as she climbed on top of me, my face was in the pillows and I relaxed as she nuzzled the back of my neck. I supposed even though she knew she wouldn't be able to move any further down than my wings, it wasn't going to stop us from enjoying one another. After nuzzling between the base of my sore wings for a few minutes she slid off to my side, I turned towards her, and she pulled me close.

“You still owe me that conversation,” she smiled, speaking quietly so as to not wake the others.

I blushed.

“So, you like it, sorry, love it,” she amended, “when I pin you down, you love it when I do whatever I want with you, you love feeling like you're mine?” she grinned and I nodded blushing even harder, “and you love feeling like you belong to me?”

“I do,” I whispered sweetly.

“Well, that's good to hear, because you do belong to me,” she said in a sweet dark tone before moving my head up with a hoof and slowly sinking her teeth into my neck. I smiled as she did so, letting the wonderful feeling of her venom consume me. What she had just said made me shiver with delight and I couldn't help myself any longer.

“I love you Luna,” I breathed.

I felt her stop and she pulled back to look at me.

I gazed up at her.

Her expression was unreadable, her eyes gave away nothing of what was going through her mind. I waited, hoping I would hear the same, but she just stared at me silently.

It just slipped out, I couldn't stop myself, Should I have waited? Was it too soon? To be fair I already almost slipped and told her when we were all outside the castle. I probably would have if Nyx hadn't cut me off.

I bit my lip, for the first time since being with Luna, I felt nervous.

Finally, she broke the seemingly endless silence.

“Why?” she breathed.

The fact that she had to ask almost broke my heart! How could she be confused as to why I would love her?

I smiled and moved her starlit mane out of her face with a hoof “because silly,” I began softly, “you saved me, you’ve saved me more than a few times now, your so kind, brilliant, beautiful, sweet, funny, strong and powerful, you’re the most incredible pony I've ever met,” I took a breath, “I love your night, I love your darkness. I love the way your shadows wrap around and flow through me. I love the way you make me feel. I love everything you represent; calm, quiet, peace, darkness and beauty under moonlight,” I nuzzled her as I continued.

“You're the only one who has ever cared about me, I was alone for so long, I had convinced myself that I didn't need anypony else. Then you found me next to that moonpool and you made me feel like I mattered, you took me back with you, gave me purpose, gave me a life.”

I smiled.

“I belong to you, you're the only one who matters to me, I would do anything for you, I would never let anything bad happen to you, I would see the entire world burn in order to protect you,” I saw she was crying, and I felt my own eyes water as I continued to pour my heart out.

“I owe you everything, more than everything, I am so grateful to be able to serve somepony so amazing, so extraordinary,” I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath, “I give all of myself to the night, to the darkness, to you…” I paused and smiled, “I belong to you,” I whispered softly.

I opened my eyes, “because I love you, I'll always love you, now and forever.”

She sniffed and wiped her tears away with a hoof only for them to be quickly replaced. “I love you too Feather!” she cried quietly as she hugged me and I started to cry too as we held each other.

She leaned back before pushing in and pressing her lips to my own, I leaned into her and let myself go limp as she kissed and nuzzled all over me.

“I love the mare you've become” she started, “beautiful, dangerous, a creature of the night like me, you love me, and your all mine,” she smiled, “I love that you've given yourself so completely to me and my night, I love the sweet taste of your blood, I love everything about you Feather,” she nibbled my ear, “I love you,” hearing her say those things caused me to lose all train of thought, with everything heightened, the euphoria of her venom on top of feeling her all over me, this was just as good if not better than sex! I couldn't do anything anymore except smile and shiver with pleasure.

I really do belong to her!

“Now that you're immortal like me, I don’t ever have to be afraid of losing you to time,” she breathed a sigh of relief, “I don't think I would have been able to watch you grow old and turn to dust Feather, not you.”

“Even though there is no such thing as true immortality, at least time will never take you from me,” she added sweetly as she continued to nuzzle my neck.

“What do you mean there is no such thing as true immortality?” I asked, curious as to what she meant.

“I mean that even though conventional weapons can't seem to kill us, and time will never touch us, there is always a loophole. That's just how it is, the universe demands balance,” she smiled before continuing, “but just because a loophole exists, doesn't mean we can’t easily avoid or deal with it,” She reassured me.

“You would really have me for all eternity?” I asked with a smile as I tilted my head back so she could sink her teeth in again if she wanted. Seeing my gesture, she leaned forward.

“I would, I will,” then I felt her teeth go back into my neck. After a few moments I was starting to feel dizzy, but in a good way. She lifted her teeth out, “you are mine forever,” she whispered and once again I felt her shadows go in through my nose and mouth, I giggled in delight as I breathed them in.

Fantasies began to fill my mind of the two of us together at the end of time, as the universe crumbled around us, reality collapsing in on itself. Everything turning to dust around us as we stand on the edge of nothingness. Holding one another in defiance of the absolute oblivion that sought to take us.

“Drink me until you can't anymore,” I whispered as her shadows retreated back into the two of us, I felt her fangs press back in and I lay there, the edges of my vision slowly darkening from the blood loss, and with a smile I closed my eyes as the world swirled away...

Author's Note

Just a short chapter, sorry my computer was in for repairs and I didn't have a ton of time to get this one out. Just a little bit of a respite chapter before things really hit the fan. I've also recently changed up my routine to make more time for writing so I'll try to start getting these out weekly rather than the current bi-weekly schedule if I can.