Chapter Two:: The Bathhouse.

Per Usual, ignore any errors. Someone once said that girls don't have as big of imaginations as boys... that someone might have been full of shit...:-) Enjoy, chapter 3 is coming. Thanks for the inspiration.

Chapter 2 – The Bathhouse
We arrived at a place I didn't know. It seemed to be made of vines and great mounds of rock. But by now I was too sad, too tired to care. Serene led me through passages of stone and finally through a firm oak door, into a small bedchamber. Despite it's small size, it was the most elegant room I had ever been in. The sheets on the bed were green satin and the comforter was stuffed with goose feathers, and covered with delicate egg-shell colored material. I fell into it without exploring further and slept deeply, dreaming of home.
I awoke in late afternoon. The sun hung at a sleepy slant. There were garments laid out for me, but they were too complex for me to put on by myself, so I chose a green silk robe, and slipping quietly out the door went for a walk. I snaked through many corridors, solid rock walls, decorated with what I could only assume was the work of great artists. Finally, I found a door to the outside. The sun hit me startlingly, and though its warmth meant nothing to me I was glad for its presence.
I was in a beautiful garden. It was full of vibrant colors and flowers that I couldn't even name. My heart was suddenly filled with happiness. My knees buckled and I feel to the ground, and unbearable heaviness on my chest. So this was what too much happiness was. I gasped for breath, and got to my feet and staggered toward a stone-paved path between two trees. Once in the shade I felt better, more at home. I found a stone bench, off the beaten path, nestled neatly in an alcove of shrubs and vines. I rested there, turning my eyes to the canopy above me, enjoying the sun dappled view. This was much better, I could bear this. It was simply contentedness. I pressed my hands into the folds of my robe, loving the sweetness of the silk, allowing the sensations to seep into my skin. I could feel things, enjoy them. It was just slow going. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to break apart some the tangles that had come from days of disregard. I gave up and the curls snaked around each other, with unending twists, turns and snares. I closed my eyes, leaning back on the bench.
I came to consciousness aware that there was a presence near me. I didn't want company, I didn't want to meet any more of these strange people. I tried to fight my way back into dreamland, to remain asleep, perhaps it would leave. It was impossible though, like Serene, the presence had known I was awake, nearly before I did. I sighed and heard a tinkly giggle. Like a thousand little bells chiming together, dancing in the wind. I opened my eyes.
“Ah good, I thought perhaps you were going to continue pretending.” The girl sitting next to me was petite of frame and fair of skin. She had fiery hair that reached her shoulders and spun out about her like the rays of the sun. Her eyes were green and cat-like, peering at me with intelligence and humor.
“Marguerite.” She held her hand out to me and I took it, shocked once again by how cool her skin was. “You're the new girl Serene brought in, aren't you? What was your name... ah yes, Aerveta, pretty name. Anyway, you're lucky that Serene took you under her wing... you might have ended up with one of the other sisters, and they're not nearly as nice.” She giggled again and her little nose scrunched up with mirth. She was wearing a dark green dress that matched the dusk-clad foliage all around us. It was a simple dress, unlike the dress Serene had left for me back in the room. It was long, and had a yellow sash at the waist. I eyed it with envy.
“Ah yes, you have to create your own style. Serene will try to dress us up all like perfect little dolls if she can, but if you tell her you'd like simpler clothing, she will provide.” Marguerite laughed again, “Come along then, you're going to be hungry, and I can help you feed in the easiest of ways.” She pulled on my hand.
“But how... how are you so happy?” I asked, shocked. I remembered what Serene had said about happiness and how unattainable it was.
“Oh, love, you know. I was just lucky enough to fall for one of us...” she trailed off and looked away, and then pulled me along the path, “come on now, you need to feed before you go crazy.”
She led me into what looked like a bath house, there were deep pools ,steaming gently, and beautiful floral scents. Everything was done up in white and green and gold. There were lounging couches and piles of silky robes, like my own, scattered about. But what really struck me was the smell of warm human flesh. My tongue ran along my teeth and my hands clenched and unclenched.
“Now, Aerveta, I'm going to teach you about the bath house and you must listen carefully, we don't want anything bad to happen.” She stepped forward and drew one of the naked women who had been wandering about forward. The woman had long, shining brown hair, and on her arms she wore golden armlets depicting serpents, her legs had simple gold anklets. Her eyelids, too were painted in gold. She came toward me and smiled before taking my hand and drawing me toward the pool. Marguerite drifted along beside us. I wanted nothing more than to drain this beautiful woman dry... and smell of blood was overpowering me now and I felt my resistance weakening.
“Ah, no, you mustn't hurry through it, it will ruin the enjoyment of the experience. I know it's going to be hard, but once you start feeding, you must stop when I tell you to stop, or you will be severely punished by Serene, and it's never pleasant when she punishes you.” We had reached the edge of one of the scented, steaming pools. Another attendant came and helped Marguerite out of her dress. The brown haired woman undid the sash on my robe and pulled it back over my shoulders. I stood very still, I feared that one little movement would send me at her throat, or worse, her heart, ruining her beautiful life force. She then drew me into the pool, Marguerite was next to me, receiving the same treatment from her attendant. She smiled at me and the attendant ran her fingers over Marguerite's arms.
“Now, Josephine, “ Marguerite leaned over toward my attendant, “I will watch her, I won't let her hurt you.” Josephine nodded, rubbing my shoulders. Her eyes stayed at her business, and she showed no concern. I wanted to shake her and remind her that I wanted to drain her blood. At that moment though, she smiled knowingly at me and bared her neck. Marguerite smiled at me.
“Go ahead, Aerveta, gently though, like you were kissing a lover. It is against our code to take willing blood for granted. Sip gently, as though this were the finest of wines, you will never go hungry while in this house, you have no need to gorge yourself.” She gestured with her long slender fingers toward Josephine's throat. Josephine sighed gently and although I hated myself for wanting it so badly, I pressed my lips against her skin. I sucked gently, letting my teeth pierce the skin. The first taste of her blood was exquisite, and I wanted more. I tasted again, and beautiful fantasies danced through my mind. I could feel the new blood rushing to my cheeks in a blush. Such things I had never thought! I sucked harder and Josephine gasped gently but didn't pull away. Marguerite's hand pulled gently at my shoulders.
“That will do for now, young one.” She smiled and handed Josephine a glass of wine from the side of the pool. Josephine drank it down and then smiled at me and took my hand pulling me to the other side of the pool. Marguerite was now feeding on her attendant, slipping through the water like lovers. Josephine leaned my head back, and poured a dipper of water over it, then she slowly began cleaning my hair with a sweet smelling herbal water, gently pulling out the knots. I sighed and relaxed. Once she had finished, she washed the rest of my down, massaging my shoulders.
Once I was relaxed, and Marguerite had undergone the same treatment, the two attendants led us out of the water and wrapped us in warm robes. I was startled to find myself enjoying the warmth. Marguerite winked at me.
“Serene has a gift...” she said sleepily and we were escorted to two lounging couches where we lulled about, eyes half closed.
“Will I be here forever then?” I asked Marguerite.
“After you've been initiated, you may choose to stay or leave. You may choose to renounce us, or to always choose this as your home base. Most travel but return here eventually. We've only lost 3 to the other Sisters.” She yawned. I wondered who these sisters she kept referring to were, but I was too tired to ask.
“When we wake, you may feed again, and then there will be dancing in the great hall...” She trailed off and I felt myself getting sucked away into a dream.
I dreamt of my mother, holding my hand and leading me through the forest. We were running and laughing like little girls, but then it started to get dark. She looked up at the sky worriedly.
“I have to leave you here now Aerveta, the forest is where you belong, you are its child.” Then she turned and disappeared among the trees. I tried to call out to her, to follow her, but my voice was lost and the woods were changing on me. Then, in the distance I heard a scream and I was running toward it and arrived just in time to see a great wolf loping off through the woods, with my mother in his mouth. I opened my mouth and screamed.
Someone grabbed my arm, shaking me gently. I opened my eyes and looked into Serene's night-blue eyes. She lifted me as though I weighed nothing and held me in her arms, rocking.
“It wasn't true. Your mother is fine, I've made sure of that. No harm shall come to your family. The dreams will continue though.” She sighed. “Aerveta, do you know who the wolf in your dream is?” I shook my head, trembling, tears pricking my eyes.
“It was you. We are all plagued with the fear of hurting our families now. We are the predators, just as the wolf and the tiger, the bear and the hawk. You have to learn to accept it as part of yourself, and control it.” She hugged me close again and then let go.
“Now, we have a dance to attend.” She held up a white dress, not so simple as Marguerite's earlier, but simpler that Serene's own garment. “Marguerite told me that perhaps you might not wish to have such elaborate clothing.” She then helped me dress, finally tying my hair up in a red ribbon that matched the red sash on the dress. She kissed me on both cheeks and then walked out of the door.
“Seth will be up shortly so that you might feed and he will escort you to the dance.”
Seth turned out to be a boy, not much older than me. He was robustly built, and carried with him a decanter of wine. I eyed it longingly, but knew it wasn't for me. He bowed to me.
“At your service, mistress. Serene says you are new to the feeding game, so I will make sure that you don't loose yourself.” He wrapped his arms around me gently and bared his neck, I followed the same procedure I had with Josephine earlier. I drunk deeply, again awed by the feelings I hadn't felt before. Then his arms tightened around me, and twining his hand in my hair, he gently pulled my head back. At first a bright anger bloomed in my mind, but then my eyes cleared and I saw him smiling gently at me. When he saw that I had returned to sanity, he handed me a square of silk to wipe my mouth.
“Still a little messy.” He laughed, “You'll get the hang of it soon enough.” Then he opened the decanter of wine and poured himself a glass. “Now, my lady, I must escort you to the ball.” He helped me slip smooth red satin slippers on my feet and then led me through a maze of halls to a great ballroom. There, he turned and bowed.
“But, where are you going?” I asked. The room was full of beautiful people but I didn't know them and I was afraid.
“I am going to the servant's quarters to have dine.” He patted my arm gently. “You'll do fine.” With that, he turned and disappeared down the corridor.
I entered the ball room tentatively, as people swirled around me, but before I knew it, Marguerite was at my side.
“Don't be afraid, little Aerveta, you're going to have a grand time.” She smiled slyly and led me further in.
(C) Clair Smith

Coming soon... Chapter 3::And Unexpected Dance...