Craving-First Thirst

by Claudy Conn

  “Oh, you mean now—so soon?” I was instantly dismayed. I had thought I would have a day to myself, to look around the grounds and get my bearings, and set up a plan to offer him before our meeting.

  “Indeed, he said it was important, though he didn’t tell me why,” she said primly, and pursed her lips. “Aye, then, if ye wish to freshen up, yer room is in readiness.” Her voice, like the way she held herself, was aloof and definitely displayed an unwillingness to do more than she was required.

  “Thanks, okay,” I said, ignoring her tone and her demeanor. “Want to point me in the right direction and I’ll find my room on my own?”

  “Nae. I will show ye the way,” she said, looking a bit surprised.

  “Okay, then,” I said, wondering why Davis and Mrs. Tunny didn’t seem to be happy about my being here. Ah well, maybe they thought I would get in the way of their routines? Just what were their routines? Who had been giving them routines? Perhaps all it needed was a bit of time to win them over?

  We took the wide, highly polished stairway. The railings were beautifully carved and although the posts at the top, as well as on the bottom, were adorned with ferocious open-mouthed gargoyles, the carvings were impressive.

  At the top, I patted one of the gargoyles’ heads and giggled. “I suppose these guys guard the upper floors?” I only meant a bit of levity.

  Mrs. Tunny said, “As a matter of fact, MacLeod legend says they do.”

  I felt my eyebrows rise. Was she teasing me right back and with a straight face? I wasn’t sure what to make of her.

  I glanced down the long wide corridor, surprised at how bright it was without any lights being turned on. At each end of the hall was an arched lead-paned cathedral styled window. Ah, hence the bright hallway.

  As it turned out, my door was the third from the staircase and on the right side. Mrs. Tunny opened it wide and stepped inside, with a wave of her hand for me to follow.

  She handed me the antique styled key and folded her hands in one another.

  “I think ye will find everything ye need here. Ye have a suite of rooms, as Mr. Ascot requested, and of course have the freedom to move about the castle and its grounds.”

  “A suite of rooms—I’ll say.” I laughed and looked around. We were standing in an enormous bedroom. The large four poster bed facing us was covered in a glorious display of mauves and soft lavender flowers and variegated shades of green fronds. The wide, long windows on either side of the bed were adorned with drapes of the same design and colors, and held back with green roping. A huge TV rested on a wall table in front of the bed.

  French glass doors opened onto a balcony from a sitting room at the far end of the bed where a desk was neatly situated. The desk faced a wall of bookshelves.

  “Indeed,” she said, and led the way past the bed, in the opposite direction of the sitting room and opened another door. “Here, ye will find yer bathroom.”

  I looked inside. “Holy cow!” It was nearly as large as the bedroom, with a whirlpool tub, a large tiled shower, and marble everywhere. A long vanity with amenities spread out on a decorative tray, and flowers, with an enormous window above it.

  A long window brought in the light. I just stared.

  She turned and started to leave, saying over her shoulder, “As promised, a computer and printer have been set up for ye in the library, where ye will be meeting with Mr. Ascot soon.”

  I turned and rushed her. I am a hugger and that was just what I did. I hugged Mrs. Tunny. She looked taken aback.

  “Thank you, I love this room. Thank you so much,” I told her enthusiastically. With the enormous salary I was getting, plus free room and board, I had expected to find myself in ‘servant quarters’ somewhere out of the way.

  She didn’t smile, though her lashes flickered. “I am only complying with Mr. Ascot’s wishes.” She started out of the room and stopped. “Miss Skye, I am not certain if Mr. Ascot advised ye that ye will be here alone in the evenings. There is a large staff that comes in to do gardening and cleaning here at MacLeod, but none that lives here, ye know.”

  “Oh? I didn’t know that. I simply assumed most or some of the staff…” My voice trailed off as I thought of myself alone in this huge castle. I was surprised he had not told me. “Not even the butler, Davis?”

  She made a face. “Not even Davis. And…meaning ye no disrespect, but I dinnae think this is a place for a young woman…at least, not at night. Ye might want to see if he—Mr. Ascot, can make other living arrangements for ye. I wouldn’t like m’daughter to be here alone at night and I dinnae like to see a sweet lass like yerself in that position.”

  She surprised me again. She did like me, just not here. “You are very kind. Thank you, Mrs. Tunny, is that because of the ghost?” Getting to the point is another one of the things I do that startles some people. “Because if a ghost comes knocking at my door, I don’t mean to let it in.” I only meant to tease and make light of it.

  “’Tis no joking matter, child, and look at ye…no more than a slip of a girl, by yerself here at night. I dinnae like it and that is a fact,” she answered on a frown.

  “Okay, I’ll lock all the doors and I won’t wander around the castle at night. How is that?” I answered, hoping to allay her concerns.

  “Not good enough, child. Ye have no idea what has happened here in this castle…” She shook her head. “Well, then, in the end, ye’ll remember that I warned ye. I didn’t mean to scare ye, though, just keep ye alert. Davis said we should stay out of it. He said it wasn’t fair to frighten ye and put notions in yer head, and perhaps he is in the right of it, but…ye are such a chipper young thing, and I wouldn’t want to see ye hurt.”

  I sank into myself. Had their initial aloofness been triggered by concern for my situation? How dear that was. “How kind. Thank you. I won’t forget this, Mrs. Tunny, and if I find anything amiss at night, I will revisit the subject of my living arrangements with Mr. Ascot.” I patted her hand. (I am also a toucher). “When we spoke about my contract, he did make it clear that one of the requirements was that I take up residence here at MacLeod, but I am certain if anything wasn’t quite right, he would totally understand if I wanted to live elsewhere…especially since he didn’t mention that I would be alone here in this enormous place.”

  Her lips already tightly set got tighter. She said, “I’m thinking his loyalties lie elsewhere, seeing as his relationship to the present Lord MacLeod, who no one has seen in over twenty years, is a bond of…well, never mind. Ye just watch yerself.”

  Apparently, that was all she meant to say on the subject because with that, she turned sharply and marched out of my room.

  She left me in deep thought. Mr. Ascot and the present lord had a bond? Well, they must be friends then after all. The two must be nearly the same age—probably near fifty, no doubt?

  Well, this was all really interesting, but I had better hurry and freshen up.

  I turned to my opened suitcases where they lay on the bed and picked out a simple outfit that would be both personable and business-like for my first meeting with my new boss. I changed my mind and picked out another outfit, something I could wear for a quick dash about the grounds and the lower levels of the house after our meeting. Right, black and white silk sweater with fitted sleeves, black jeans, and my ankle high, black hiking boots. I pulled out a denim jacket as well, even in late spring it was cool in the Highlands.

  I hurriedly threw off the clothes that had served my travel and made a mental note to find out if we had a washing machine and dryer on the premises.

  I gave myself a quick whore’s bath over the sink, dried myself off, a spritz of perfume and a brush through my tangled hair left it shining. I hesitated with my hair. Should I put it up or leave it long for this business meeting?

  I left my hair down and threw on my clothes and pulled on my boots, thinking I probably should change my socks, but didn’t.

  Catching my breath through this whirlwind, I stopped and stared at myself i
n the long mirror on the bathroom door. I turned this way and that. My black jeans were low waisted, so I inspected my rear…no skin showing. Good. Couldn’t do anything about the size of my breasts, they were large, and even with my denim blazer on, they weren’t easy to hide. I didn’t want to give any wrong impressions. Right. I took my five foot five self out of the bathroom and headed for the door, and stopped to the sound of a faraway voice calling my name. What the hell?

  ~ Three ~

  Devin

  I COULDNAE TAKE M’EYES off the lass. I watched her get out of the limo and something moved inside of me. I dinnae know what or why, but she intrigued me.

  This witch was remarkable in every single way.

  Aye, she might be the answer to m’problems, but the affect she had on m’system, on m’body, told me, here was trouble.

  Her magic was stronger than anything I have ever seen. It glowed gold all around her. Gold particles sparkled off her creamy cheeks and the glitter of her violet eyes was mesmerizing. Such eyes. Never have I seen their like.

  And then it happened, the thirst.

  I have nae felt such a thirst in years.

  Here in my banished realm—Trinity, I have all the nourishment I need. This realm is made up of many parts and here in its jungle are animals enough. I dinnae kill. I take what I need, only what I need.

  Bloody hell, but her scent wafted over me as she passed within inches of me. How can this be? I haven’t been able to touch or smell anything on the other side…in twenty-two years. How is this possible? And her blood…I can feel its pulse and it pinches m’thirst.

  I can see everything on the other side of my present world, but I can’t smell or touch anything in the Human Realm, which I nae longer inhabit. Was this her magic getting through?

  I studied her, this unusual lass, this Roberta Skye.

  She was, och aye, quite a ravishing creature and I couldna take m’eyes off her lips, lush and rosy, pursed as she allowed her thoughts to take her expressions. I watched her as she entered the Keep.

  I followed her, listened to her, och aye, but the sound of her voice shimmered in m’mind. I watched her mannerisms, light and quixotic, and when she came close to the invisible wall between this realm and hers, I felt desire so deep I took a step back.

  What was happening? Over the years, I have the curse and the blessing of being able to look on m’castle and immediate grounds here from the jungle of Trinity.

  The jungle holds the wall between our two worlds, but never before have I been able to pick up on the scent of someone in the human world.

  I watched as Bobbie Skye tried to win a smile from Davis and then Mrs. Tunny. They didn’t want her there. They both made that fact obvious, but it did nae deter her.

  And it occurred to me that I brought this young lass into danger…what have I done? Damn, bloody damn, but I hated Allora.

  She was the curse of m’existence.

  At first, rumors have made it difficult for Ascot to keep people on at MacLeod, though finally, he was able to get the employees to work during the daylight hours.

  Fuck me, but this witch’s flaming long locks cascaded and framed an exquisitely piquant face and her body was driving me mad with hunger. As she moved upstairs, I wanted to grab hold and bring her up against m’self, hold her, touch her…bloody hell!

  It was in that moment that I looked into those violet eyes of hers and realized the lass was an…innocent. Aye, there was an air of innocence about her that caught and held m’interest.

  She went in to wash up and I let her be. I wouldna spy on her when she should be private. I wouldna sink so low, even though I was sorely tempted.

  She came out dressed and looking ravishing. She made me hungry for a taste of her lips. Aye, but her flame colored hair swayed as she moved and it touched her ass, such an ass. I wanted to grab hold and ram m’self into her and please her over and over…

  She played with stray strands of flame over her forehead and she blew them away and said out loud, though she was alone, “Hair, red and messy…hmmm.” She glanced at the clock and said, “Well, I don’t like to use magic for such simple things, but I’m out of time.”

  With a twirl of her finger, she was downstairs and looking for the library.

  Och aye, but her magic was like a white light, full of beauty…as she was.

  Bloody hell, I wanted to fuck her, right there in the Great Hall, m’Great Hall. I wanted to fuck her and then fuck her again. I have never wanted a woman with the intensity that I want this one…

  M’hands ached to touch her and suddenly, I realized I was fantasying about sinking m’fangs into her neck…hell…nae…never!

  What was I thinking? I don’t taste human blood…nae since that first time, that first awful time when Allora had turned me.

  Allora had killed me and made me into a monster.

  But I had regained myself. I was in control of the blood lust. I will never give up that control.

  Allora cursed me with the thirst, and I hated her for it.

  But after that night, that first monstrous night, I knew I would never again give in to the craving. I knew I would beat the thirst…aye, and I did.

  I wouldna be the beast she had wanted me to be.

  That fateful night I walked a lass home. A lass called Allora Brently. How could I have known she was a vampire?

  How could I have known she had decided to turn me?

  I would soon learn that Allora always got what she wanted. I would learn many things about Allora…the first of which, she didn’t care if I hated her or nae, as long as I was hers.

  That night, she sucked just enough blood out of m’veins to put me at the brink of death, and then forced her blood down m’throat.

  I still remember how I gagged, but she wouldna stop until enough of her diseased blood found its way into m’system. She then suffocated and killed me.

  When I awoke to her hateful, gloating smile, I was in a frenzy of confusion. She was naked and straddling me. I was naked beneath her.

  “What…what happened?” I stupidly asked. I knew. We had heard about vampires, even in our out of the way Highlands village. Some believed in their existence. Until then, I had nae. But dying had nae wiped the memory of her fangs sinking into me.

  Of course, Allora taught me the truth of it all.

  She ran her hand over my chest. “You are mine now. I gave you eternal life.”

  “I dinnae want eternal life…”

  She ignored my response and asked, “Are you thirsty?”

  Thirsty? Holy hell, I was…I was so thirsty. That first need, that first thirst is like a man dying in the desert, crawling towards an oasis. He sees naught but that pool of clear cool water. All I saw was blood.

  That first thirst made me want to die for real and never wake up.

  I dinnae answer her.

  She slapped me across m’face and shouted, “Are you thirsty?”

  I heard my voice, hoarse and hungry, “Aye.”

  “Come here!” she snapped.

  I was confused. She wasn’t talking to me. She was looking over her shoulder. I saw then a young, naked, and deliciously pretty lass with perfect little tits, walking as though in a daze towards us from the corner of the room.

  Allora touched the woman’s perky breast and fondled her for a moment. I felt sick and disgusted with m’self as I watched her because m’dick was hard and twitching, but the thirst made me want to sink m’teeth into the woman’s neck where I could see the vein already opened by Allora’s fangs.

  I was suddenly starving, and needing unspeakable things. I wanted the poor lass in every imaginable way, but most of all, I could hear her heartbeat and that pounding drove me insane. I was clutched by madness. It is the only excuse I have ever given m’self for what happened next.

  She took the girl’s wrist and put it to m’lips.

  “Drink!”

  “No!” I resisted, but m’head was beating a drum to do just that. I needed to quench the thirst, tha
t first all-consuming thirst for blood. Ye can’t think of anything else. I dinnae see anything but a way to the blood.

  “Drink!” she demanded.

  And that first time…that only time, I became a monster.

  I sank m’vampire fangs into that poor lass’s wrist. Her eyes were vacant, but her blood was warm, so warm…

  It was a feeding frenzy that I had no control over. I took and took and pulled her beneath me. I ravaged her body, pumping m’self into her while I drank, and until she lay lifeless beneath me.

  Even after all these years of repentance—over one hundred, I feel sick at the memory.

  I was evil that night. Evil beyond m’worst nightmare.

  Allora mounted me after she threw the dead girl’s body off the bed.

  I saw the girl lying lifeless on the floor, but before I could contemplate the horror of it all, Allora mounted and rode me hard and fast and when I heard her go off, I threw her down on the bed and rammed m’self into her with a force I didn’t know I was capable of until then. I told m’self later, it wasn’t me, and I swore it never would be again.

  Allora screamed m’name over and over and as I sank m’fangs into her neck. All at once, I again saw the lifeless lass on the floor and I froze.

  I had been fucking Allora harder than I had ever fucked before, but the sight of the girl, the knowledge that I had done that to her, made me push Allora away so that I could jump from the bed and run.

  “No!” I shouted as I scrambled to get m’clothes from a nearby chair and dressed in the blink of an eye. Vampires own speed and mine was out of control. I had to get away from Allora, and from what I had done.

  I had no idea where I was in that moment…and then I remembered. I was at her home. She had taken me to her manor—Brently Manor!

  I made it home to MacLeod and sped upstairs to m’chambers. I was a vampire. I would never again be able to look into the sun or walk in the daylight. I was a beast with a bloodlust.