Mila flexed her fingers tightly around Lisette’s throat, glaring intensely at her, but inwardly relishing the look of surprise on the other vampire’s face after she’d reversed their positions. Her strength was waning and she wasn’t any match for the younger woman at the moment, but the unexpected maneuver had still worked and she planned to milk it for all it was worth. Ever since she had first met Booker and Lisette, Mila had sensed that other female vampire was watchful of her, and she had always presumed that it was out of jealousy or distrust. But now, as she stared into the dark eyes that gazed teasingly back at her, she saw the gleam of desire and possessiveness. The lustful look had been there a lot longer than just that night, but Mila had intentionally ignored it for a long time, knowing it would be all too easy for her to slip over the edge and into Lisette’s toxic embrace. It would be a lie to say that the temptation wasn’t there. But if Charlie brought out her human sentiment, then Lisette brought out everything about herself that she hated – her monstrousness, her impulse to deceive, hurt, manipulate. She knew that Lisette would love nothing more than to see her sink down to these desires. 

The thought made Mila growled aggressively again in her ear, “Don’t you dare toy with me. I don’t think you understand how unevenly matched we are.” She let her feel the sting of her nails as she pressed them into her dark skin. 

[i]“You really know how to treat a girl, don’t you, lovie. Tell me, is this the type of charm you used on Charlie?”[/i]

Mila flinched at that, suddenly recalling the vivid memory of pinning Charlie down on the sofa. Straddling her waist. Eliciting moans with just a few easy touches. She had used her talents to play Charlie, the same way she’d played Lisette just now. The similarities made her feel sick. 

“I know what you’re doing,” she replied, working to keep her voice even, but the angry, tightening grip of her hands gave her away. “It’s none of [i]your[/i] concern. You have nothing to do with us. Or with me. Now tell me where they are before I break your neck.”

[i]“And miss this lovely chance with you? I don’t think so. Besides, you’re too weak to do anything to me.”[/i]

Mila sneered dismissively, but even as she tried to smirk at her, she could feel Lisette’s strong hands slowly peel her fingers from around her throat. Her smirk faltered as her hands came away unwillingly. She was not used to having her strength bested by someone else. Lisette’s hands were on her now, a mocking expression on her face as she shoved her backward and made her stumble to maintain her balance. Her lingering grip on Mila’s shoulders kept her stable and firmly in place. 

[i]“That’s better..”[/i]

Mila immediately had the urge to knock Lisette’s hands away, but she couldn’t endure the thought of amusing the other vampire any further by making an unsuccessful attempt. She needed to avoid any direct challenges of strength anyway, at least until she had a chance to feed. Even if resorting to manipulation was, in a way, giving in to everything she despised about Lisette, it was the only way to get herself out of this. And not by pulling anymore quick stunts either. Lisette was decidedly [i]not[/i] human, so playing on her desires would take a little more finesse. She had to make Lisette think that she was slowly giving in to younger vampire, and she had to do it convincingly…

[i]“I really don’t think you want to know where he took her anyways.”[/i] As if she knew Mila wouldn’t push her away, Lisette began playing with her hair like she was some sort of pet. Mila clenched her jaw and stared past her, ignoring the pleasant tug and tickle against her scalp and the amusement on Lisette’s face. The hand on her shoulder was stroking her skin soothingly, as if to further subdue her. 

[i]“You know how Bookie is, he likes his toys. I bet your precious Charlie would be a perfect fit in his collection.”[/i]

“You both underestimate her. She won’t be seduced by his tricks…just like I won’t be by yours,” Mila added when Lisette winked. She looked directly at her again with cold, dark eyes and raised her chin. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Her voice became soft and cruel. “Don’t you think I could have had you by now, if I’d wanted? You were still so [i]impulsive[/i] when I met you and Booker. Just like a [i]fledgling.[/i] You’re still impulsive now, aren’t you. Pathetic. ” 

She would have liked to turn away from her then, but as much as she hated to admit it, Lisette’s grip was too strong. And she was [i]loathe[/i] to have to ask to be released. Instead, she kept trying to bait her. 

“As for his junkies..” But she hesitated as an image of Charlie, weak and wasted like Bookers pets, flashed through her mind, gripping her suddenly. “I’ll…I’ll get to her before they can-..”

[i]“But enough of that talk, it’s just so dismal! Let’s go get you something real to eat and then we can... chat.”[/i]

Mila wasn’t looking at her when Lisette spoke, her mind was still reeling over the thought of getting to Charlie too late only to find her kneeling submissively at Booker’s feet like all the others, [i]his pretty new plaything[/i], like Lisette had said. Mila’s eyes were frozen and distant as she pictured it. “…Something real to eat…” she repeated faintly, refocusing her gaze on Lisette. She [i]had[/i] to get out of her power as soon as possible. The only way to do it was to pretend to let go of her pride and convince the other vampire that she was finally coming around. Then she would turn the tables for good.

“Fine,” Mila said softly, glaring coolly at her. “We’ll eat first.” She waited. She looked pointedly at the iron grip on her shoulder and back at Lisette. Finally, with gritted teeth she said, “Will you let go of me.” She pressed her tongue to her cheek and looked past her, suppressing the instinct to just shove her away. “[i]Please.[/i]”

---------------------------

The defiant look on her face was mouth watering. And [i]so different[/i] from the pathetic, hungry looks that the others gave him. Or the adoring eyes of his prey out on the streets or in the clubs. And yet, behind her steely glare, he could see a flicker of uncertainty. He could see that she wasn’t entirely convinced that she [i]didn’t[/i] want to give herself over to the pleasure of the bite. Still, she looked at him with contempt. It drove him wild with desire.

[i]“I’m not anyone’s pet... you can’t have me.”[/i]

“Not even just a little taste~?” he teased, dropping his voice to a sweet, simpering murmur. He loosened his grip her hair and lazily stroked her scalp in slow, circular motions. 

[i]“You’re sick, this is sick, I want to go back home.”[/i]

To his great surprise and amusement, Charlie stood up from the couch suddenly, bringing them even closer together. His hand slid down to cup her cheek as she glared up at him. 

“Your face is warm. Do I have that effect on you?” he asked, his voice was low and husky. His teeth had become sharp as soon as she’d stood up and now they showed a little through his parted lips. 

[i]”Let me go now”[/i]

“I’ll take you somewhere better, love,” he cooed, bending slightly to kiss her other cheek and then her neck, slowly and sensuously, as if he wanted to make this last. “Before I do, I want you to tell me how much you-..[i]ouf![/i]” 

Booker stumbled back a step or two as Charlie shoved him, completely shocked by her bold move. She was already scrambling to get to the door by the time he registered that she actually [i]pushed him away[/i]. For a split second, he felt a flash of anger and was about to pounce on her…but the look of shock on the faces around the room made him pause. Then his face broke into a smirk. 

“Can you believe that?” he said, glancing at the door as Charlie disappeared into the street. “Right in the heat of it. Am I losing my touch?” No one answered him. A few of them looked away. The blonde woman was looking at him intensely though, almost as if she knew what he was going to say next.

“Honestly, it’s too impressive for me to feel angry about.” Booker’s eyes flickered to the woman and she began trembling with anticipation. He winked at her. “But I’m guessing [i]you[/i] all aren’t too happy about it, huh. No one gets anything if I don’t have first.” There was a collective groan and agitated shuffling. Booker looked around as if sizing them up.

“First one to catch her goes next.”

Like a pack of wretched dogs, the wasted bodies in the room sprang to life, as if yanked by invisible strings. Most of the stumbled and tripped over themselves haphazardly to get to the door, cursing and shoving each other to be first. Well ahead of the rest was the blonde woman. She was already out the door and running after Charlie as if her life depended on it. The promise of another fix gave her unnatural energy and before long, she had caught up to the girl. 

“You’re [i]mine[/i],” she spat, panting heavily as she reached for her arm. Her fingers touched her hair, but she couldn’t quite get close enough to get a hold on her. Finally she lunged and caught Charlie around the middle, sending them both crashing into the pavement. She wrestled wildly to try to pin her down, scratching and pulling at whatever hold she could get. Two other managed to catch up to them and she barked at them to help her.

“Hold her down! Get her arms!”

They had her by each arm now, hoisting her up off the ground and onto her knees.

“I got you, I got you,” the woman sang gleefully, rubbing her hands together. 

“[i]We[/i] got her,” one of the others said slowly. He was in a daze but something in his tone suggested that he was still aware enough to know he wasn’t about to be cheated out of his fair share. The woman glared at him and then the other and finally her gaze settled on Charlie. 

“Shut up,” she snarled to all three of them. “It used to be only me, you know. I had him all to myself. And then he brought more, and more, and now he’s got you, hasn’t he.” Her voice broke and she looked like she might sob. “And you’re so pretty.” She rubbed her eyes sadly. Then she delivered a swift kick to Charlie’s stomach. “Beautiful.” She kicked her again. “Young. Don’t let her squirm away!” A third kick. “How about instead of bringing you back, we just kill you. And then instead of [i]you’re next[/i], it will be [i]you’re first![/i].”

She was just about to kick her again when a hand caught her by the arm and tossed her aside. The other two dropped the girl to the ground and shied away as Booker bent over her. 

“Look what you’ve done to her,” he said. He was angry, but his voice was cold. “Is she breathing? …Yes.” He looked at the blonde woman who still lay in a heap on the ground. “Lucky for you.” 

Booker carefully collected Charlie into his arms and carried her back to the house. “Who could have guessed they would do something like that to you?” he whispered with feigned innocence, not entirely sure his words were falling on unconscious ears or not. 

He reached the house and carried her up a flimsy looking set of stairs to the second level. He brought her to one of the bedrooms and lay her down on a bed with white sheets. The sun was already up and a pinkish light shone through the dusty window. “Can you hear me, Charlie?” Booker asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.