Renaissance’s wings beat in beautiful synergy through the midnight blue sky. She flew, with predatory accuracy, through the shrouds of clouds. Black hair pulled back into a bun for practicality, Ren squinted as wisps of escapee locks whipped in her face. She was moving fast, Belle View far behind her. Flight always served as a great way to clear the mind. It brought perspective, being so far above ground. Flying normally brought Ren a peaceful mental clarity. But now, every thought lead back to Lyselle. The huntress, like water, seeped into every mental gap and filled it to the brim. The residual electricity from their chemistry buzzed through her every fibre, humming gently as a reminder of what she’d left behind.

_______________________________

Hunting was art with a practical theme. It was essential, for survival, to feed. But there was something artful about the expert kill of a vampire. Renaissance had done this dance many times. So many times, in fact, that it had all become second nature. Often subconscious. Tonight was no different, the ancient vampires thirst had firmly taken ahold by now and it drove her hungrily onward. Once she’d surpassed a few towns, putting a healthy distance between herself and Belle View, Ren brought her wings inward to guide herself towards the town below. Roofs of buildings came clearer and clearer into view, tree lines fast approaching and the scent of fresh, warm blood was riding the breeze. Flaring her nostrils, Ren picked through the varying streams of scent, mentally filtering each one to decide which appealed to her most. Younger vampires lacked the restraint to be so choosy. They would simply smell, kill. But Renaissance had a taste acquired from many years of feeding on humans. She knew what fulfilled her most. It was the honeyed profile of a healthy, young woman. They tasted the best. Ren let out a low growl as a scent passed her by with a tempting golden bouquet. 

Innocent humans lay sleeping in the surrounding houses; Families, elderly, students… All unsuspecting that an ancient evil being circled above their rooftops. Following the trail, Ren hovered above the house where the scent had lead her back to. Analysing the red brick house, the hungry predator assessed her entry points. She tapped into her supernatural intuition, establishing that her desired victim was fast asleep. She also could feel that this particular woman’s mind was easily manipulated. This was essential. Vampires required permission to pass thresholds and not even the most idiotic human would willingly let her in without a little coercion. Reassured that she could enter mostly discreetly, Ren approached the bedroom window. The woman had butter yellow curtains, only half drawn, and a double bed atop a fluffy rug. The bedroom looked cosy, well decorated and tidy. Save for presumably yesterday’s clothes at the foot of the bed, the room was clean. This bodes well. It implies the human takes care of herself. Must be why her blood has such a clarity to its scent. A swift knock awoke the sleeping woman, whose face was angelically beautiful in slumber. Her eyes fluttered open and immediately observed Ren’s flying frame in her window. They widened in disbelief, clearly debating whether the floating winged creature just outside her bedroom was real or a nightmare. Renaissance tapped into her manipulation and infiltrated the woman’s mind. It was, as predicted, worryingly easy to gain access to her thoughts. She was open, kind. It took a simple gentle push and Ren imbedded herself within the humans psyche, quickly eradicating any fear or surprise. Cortisol polluted the bloodstream, made them taste sour. She watched the human’s facial expressions neutralise, as if brain washed. And she slowly left her bed, padding bare foot to the bedroom window. The night was silent save for the beat of Ren’s wings as she remained stationary, awaiting her invite.

[i]Lauren…[/i]

Her victims name entered her mind as she continued to manipulate the humans control board. Like a complicated control room to a space ship, meddling with minds is a series of buttons, gages, switches and dials. With speed, Ren worked her way through Lauren’s mind until she had her Will gripped tightly in a mental stronghold.

[i]“Invite me in,”[/i] came the instructional hiss. Using the Voice was always used in tandem with mental manipulation. It was to be used sparingly, as it consumed so much energy, but it was potent in power. Ren, still camping in Lauren’s mind, felt her instruction enter the humans brain. Quickly, she disparaged any doubt or confusion as to why she might do this, then pushed Lauren to obey. This part didn’t always go to plan, some human minds were less susceptible to influence. Manipulation didn’t work on everyone and the Voice couldn’t be used in isolation. It’s the combination of both mental corrosion and the Voice that really bends a human to a vampires will.

Lauren, dressed in her silk pyjamas and bed hair, unlatched the window with a satisfying “CLICK.”
She pushed it open, the window swinging to accept her unwanted guest. Lauren’s neutral, gormless expression remained over her face as she said,
[b]“Come in.”[/b]

___________________________

The humans bed was warm and soft, her body heat still haunting the mattress where she’d once laid sleeping moments ago. Renaissance Le Sang was careful not to spill a single drop as she gently parted Lauren’s blonde hair from her neck, exposing that beautiful, soft, penetrable neck. The ancient vampire’s rumble of a growl broke the silence in the bedroom as she lifted that singular lethal talon into the air before sliding it across the jugular held in her arm. The talon grazed the skin like a figure skater on ice, slicing and sliding in an elegant singular movement. As soon as the skin parted and blood began to ooze from the wound, Ren pressed her lips to the humans neck and drank hungrily. The warmth of that honeyed blood filled her mouth, careered down her throat and filled her stomach. Metallic but sweet, the blood whetted her appetite quickly and she watched Lauren slip gently back into sleep as her blood was drained by the Ancient Vampire. The quench of thirst was a satisfaction unknown to anyone but a vampire. It was the kind of relief that a warm shower gives you after a long, hard winters day. Or perhaps the after-glow of multiple orgasms. That is the serenity and release that feeding gives a vampire. It quietens the hungry frenzy that busies the vampire brain and instantly unwinds the tightly knotted pangs that plague their muscles. Ren let out a quivering moan as the continued to swallow down mouthful after mouthful of Lauren’s warming blood. Then, a voice pierced through her mind like an electric shock:

[b]“Try not to… kill. I know it’s asking a lot and—if you do, it’s… fine… just—try… please…”[/b]

As Renaissance Le Sang, Ancient Vampire, exited the still open bedroom window of her latest victim, she looked back over her shoulder. There lay Lauren, her body crumpled and hair splayed out around her like a floral arrangement. The humans limbs hung at awkward angles, one of her arms drooping over the edge of the bed. But Ren could see the humans chest rising and falling with every inhale exhale.