It was intoxicating and incredibly painful. Having slipped into the cold room, Alice rubbed her arms under the pathetic excuse for a gown. But the smell was all around, she had seen a nurse slip out of the room just mere minutes before she approached. Covering her mouth, Alice stiffled a whimper. Blood. Like that night, that terrifying night. The pain that filled her then, filling her now. Blood was everywhere and it's beautiful scent filled her. A slow shimmering on the floor was the puddle of [i]red[/i], Alice stared at the horrifying beauty. Why was it beautiful? The pain that coursed through her made the night before seem like nothing as she fell to her knees before the spilled bag. Something urging her towards the red. This- this is what Liam was talking about? The ambrosia of life? She wanted to weep as her slim fingers dipped into the red and she brought it to her lips. As she suckled the blood from her fingers. A throbbing pulse broke through her as the pain ebbed, as she leaned down and trailed her tongue through the blood. Drinking the puddle. Like some piece of the puzzle finally fit.

But she was aware. Oh, Alice was very aware. She did not touch the fallen bag. No, that would leave a trace. She must not leave a trace. She must not give anyone any reason to suspect anything. It was that thought that pulled her from the blood her throat sated for the time. The puddle of red smaller. Hobbling back to her room, Alice felt better than she had in days. But she also felt something else stirring. Fear. Why had she drank the blood? Smelt the blood so far away? It still called to her. Urging her to return and feast. But the tailor set her will against it. No- no, she had to wait. Hold out. The blood would still be there. But what if they thought she was crazy? There would be problems then. Problems Alice knew would cause the collapse of everything. So she slid back into bed, her mouth dry and clean and her fingers clean as well. A good scrub in the restroom had fixed that. Closing her eyes Alice gave a low sigh. The beauty was all around, and the pain had stopped at last. Finally, she could rest.