Trash Panda

~Bonsoir~

If Vail didn’t know better, he might have thought Victoria actually enjoyed being his prey. Though her lithe body still trembled, she didn’t act like she was afraid of what was to come. In fact, she almost seemed giddy with anticipation. Her giggle and moan didn’t escape his ears either, making him wonder if she really did like being pinned down and forced to accept that he would be using her to feed. It was a strange thought, since he’d never encountered the likes of a woman such as her before, but if it was true, it would certainly make his job a lot easier. He quite liked having a Lady beneath him who didn’t kick and scream or even lay limply after succumbing to his pheromones.

Even when he finally bit her, she only flinched a bit. This pleased him, since he was able to fully enjoy the sensation of drinking up her rich blood without worrying about holding her down. He swept his tongue over her waist, collecting the viscous liquid as it flowed steadily from the wound. Just like last time, he could feel it rejuvenate him right away, perhaps even more so since he wasn’t famished at the start. It was almost overwhelming how quickly her essence spread throughout his body, just like a strong liqueur. He shuddered involuntarily as the feeling sent a thrill up his spine. Whatever consequences he had brought upon himself by striking this deal with her were worth it. He was sure of that now. As long as he could continue to feast on her blood, he would take the rest in stride.

After a few minutes, the trickle began to slow as Victoria’s body commenced the healing process. Vail lapped up just a few more mouthfuls before he finally forced himself to pull away. He couldn’t get much more without straining the Lady’s injury to force it to bleed again, and he really didn’t need to do that, since he’d had enough to satisfy his craving. Now that he knew he could have her whenever he wanted, he didn’t feel the urgent desire to drink as much as he could either. If he desired to feed on her again, all he had to do was seek her out, and she couldn’t say no. It was, perhaps, the best trade he’d ever made.

Having finished what he came for, Vail’s eyes drifted to the door. Normally, this was the point in which he would return to the Hygrace manor and leave his victim behind. However, with the protective shelter of the summer house and the level of comfort that had formed between him and Victoria, he didn’t feel the need to hurry off into the night. It wasn’t like anyone was expecting him back home anyway. He’d left without saying a word to his family, so no one would even know he’d been gone unless he didn’t return by morning, and he had no intention of staying out that long.

He looked back at Victoria. She had been offended the last time he’d preyed on her and walked away, and she was going out of her way to hold up her end of their deal. He supposed he could treat her with some respect in return.

Shifting on the chaise lounge, Vail leaned his shoulder against the cushioned backrest and rested his hand over her still-exposed midriff to apply a gentle pressure to her open wound. “I must say, I think I’m going to enjoy this secret,” he mused with a poke at how she had referred to herself earlier. “I’ve never tasted any blood like yours before… Why is it so different?”

Match Up in Malibu [Bee & Summer]

At least Anna looked just as uncomfortable as Jett felt. That was relieving. If she had walked up to him with the same sass and swagger she’d had that morning, he wasn’t sure if he could put up with it long enough to make it through the evening. Instead, she stood defensively, and he wondered whether she was remorseful about the way she’d spoken to him or just feeling awkward because she hadn’t expected to talk to him again. It was hard to tell, and he didn’t bother to ask.

When she said they needed each other, he almost scoffed. He didn’t expect much, but it sounded like she was trying to move on without even an apology. It was pretty presumptuous of her to assume he would be fine with just letting the past go that easily. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in any position to demand an “I’m sorry,” especially since she was right that they had to rely on each other if they wanted to stay on the show. As much as he disliked it, they were going to have to cooperate—at least long enough to get through the night.

Jett turned to face the pool with a shake of his head, smiling incredulously. He really hoped the producers wouldn’t keep pairing him up with Anna just for shits and giggles, but knowing how much they loved drama, he had a feeling this was just their first unwanted matchup of the season. In fact, there were probably at least two cameras on them right now, devouring the tension.

“I’ll try,” he drawled, glancing back at her when she told him not to drop her. His gaze lingered on her for a half second too long before he looked away again. Despite his simmering annoyance, he couldn’t deny that she looked hot in her bikini. That was what made the situation even worse. He hated that he was both attracted and repelled by her at the same time. It was confusing. Why did she have to be such a fireball on the outside and inside? If she was one or the other, it would have been easier for him to decide where he stood with her.

“Look, Nina and Luke are about to square up with Adam and Traci,” Jett said suddenly, indicating toward the pool in an attempt to think about something else. “This oughta be good. Come on.” Without waiting for a reply, he waved a hand for her to follow him over to the patio lounge chairs where they could watch the tournament until it was their turn.

~Bonsoir~

[mishap send]

~Bonsoir~

Judging by the small steps she was taking, Vail could tell Victoria was uncomfortable in the darkness. It was no matter though. He could see well enough for the both of them, so he kept his hands on her waist as he led her through the room, making sure she wouldn’t bump into any of the other furniture they passed by. He had waited long enough to feed on her blood, bargaining and conversing with her until they reached a place where they could be alone, but now it was his turn to indulge in his sinful pleasures. He could already feel the saliva build up in the back of his mouth in anticipation as they got closer to the lounge chair.

“It’s just a precaution,” he explained when Victoria tried to contest his decision to leave the lights out. “Besides, I didn’t know you’d be so keen to watch…” He smiled at her teasingly, though he wasn’t sure if she could see his face or not. It was strange, but he found that he was warming up to her a bit more after they had talked for a second time. She really was a delight to be around—and not just because her blood tasted so good. If he was honest, he genuinely enjoyed spending time with her, sharp tongue and all.

As she sat down, he reclined next to her, close enough that his hip brushed against hers. Another perk of their deal, he supposed, was that the experience of feeding could be better for both of them. He didn’t like preying on his victims in filthy alleyways any more than they did. Unfortunately, it was often his only choice, since he had to take them someplace where they wouldn’t be spotted by a member of the Order. Now, with a willing human at his mercy, he could enjoy the moment in comfort. It was quite the luxury.

Finished waiting, Vail swept one hand behind Victoria’s knees to pull her legs up onto the chaise. “Lay back,” he instructed softly, his eyes wandering hungrily over her body as he leaned over her. Intending to honor her condition that he wouldn’t bite her anywhere obvious, he now had to consider where else he would feed on her aside from her neck. The skin just above the collarbone was the favorite of his kind, since the blood flowed there so easily. However, it was also visible, so he would have to choose another spot this time.

Gingerly, he leaned in to trail his hands down her torso, using both touch and smell to determine where he could coax a steady trickle out of her. Though it was mostly for him, he also hoped the motion would calm her too, since she seemed to be trembling slightly with fear. He couldn’t take away all the unpleasantness of the process, but he would still try his best to make it as bearable for her as possible. She was volunteering to be his prey, after all.

After a moment, he paused at her waist. Her skin there felt warm, and the flesh felt soft enough. He lowered his nose to her side. Though it was faint, he could smell a trace of her blood beneath the surface. It wouldn’t take much to bring it out. He licked his lips.

Having come to a decision, Vail brushed Victoria’s leather jacket aside and reached for the hem of her shirt to lift the fabric away from her middle. He didn’t bite her right away though. As he had done the last time, he swept his tongue over her fair skin, priming the area he wished to feed on and searching for the ideal spot in which to sink his teeth. He also adjusted the way he was seated to restrain her slightly better, just in case she kicked or thrashed from the pain. Unused to feeding anywhere but the neck, he didn’t want to risk getting a black eye that he would have to explain to his family.

Once he was ready, Vail reached up to take hold of her wrists, pinning them down against the seat just before he buried his fangs into the left side of her waist.

~Bonsoir~

“I don’t know that I would call it marking, per say,” Vail mused in return to Victoria’s comment. “It isn’t as intentional as you think, but I suppose it’s similar enough to be compared.” The forested area they were walking through was quite thick with trees, but he was sure they were still on the Crest family’s land since they hadn’t passed through any other gates. Offhandedly, he noticed that their estate was rather vast in comparison with the Hygraces’ manor. His own family’s mansion was just as large and ornate, since they were also members of the highest class in London, but the lot wasn’t nearly as wide as this one. He wondered how many servants were required to tend the whole sum of it.

As the Lady went on to joke with him about the talents he’d confessed, Vail casted her a sideways glance. They hadn’t known each other for very long, but she was already quite comfortable around him. He found her lightheartedness curious, especially since they were currently on their way to her summer house so he could feed on her again. He hadn’t expected his prey to be so cheery. Still, he did find her comments somewhat flattering—or, more so her interest in learning more about him. Outside of his own family, it had been a long time since anyone had asked him so much about himself out of genuine intrigue. He enjoyed answering her questions and expressing his interests to her in such a relaxed manner.

When Victoria described the various subjects she had studied, Vail was surprised to hear how much she had already covered. She didn’t look very old to him—perhaps early twenties at the latest—yet she was clearly very well read even now. He found himself impressed by her thirst for knowledge. It was an outstanding trait in someone her age when most Ladies he came across were too busy gossiping to crack open a book.

Of course, she took another opportunity to flatter him, and this time he couldn’t stop the hint of a smile that crossed his lip. He had always been quite proud of his ability to dance, and it pleased him to know that she had enjoyed the waltz they’d shared at her party. The memory was a fond one for him too. He could still hear the echo of the music and smell the mixture of perfume and blood that had intoxicated him so. Thinking about it now sent his heart racing and made him all the more eager to have her to himself again.

When they reached the house, Vail followed Victoria inside and took a moment to look around. The room was quaint with plenty of cushioned furniture to recline on. It would make a suitable place for them to meet up, since they would likely be seeing more of each other regularly. His eyes drifted back to the Lady as she asked about him once again. “Both,” he answered, stepping over to stand behind her while she searched for matches. “More landscapes than portraits though, I’d say.”

Gently, he caught hold of her hand before she could find the matchbox on the table. With a Saint sniffing around outside, he preferred not to light any lanterns, so there would be nothing to attract attention to the house they were hidden in now. “There’s no need for that,” he murmured by her ear, hovering close to her neck as he took in her feminine smell. It was time to do what he’d sought her out for in the first place.

A smile played on his lip, and he rested his other hand on the small of her back. “Just trust me… and relax,” he went on in a low voice as he guided her over to the chaise lounge.

~Bonsoir~

The deal had been struck, and Lady Victoria belonged to Lord Hygrace now. Vail circled around to her other side, keeping her in his sight like a lion sizing up its prey. He could tell that his pheromones were finally starting to affect her, though it had taken quite a while for her to give in. No matter the inconvenience, this outcome was far better than what he had been expecting when he’d first left his family’s manor that night. Before, he had thought he would just hunt her down once, perhaps with some force if she resisted. Instead, he had found himself in a position where he could come back to her as much as he wished and drink her blood to his heart’s content. He could already feel his pulse quicken in his eagerness to receive his end of the bargain.

“That will do,” Vail agreed when Victoria told him about the summer house. He didn’t much care where they went as long as it was out of sight, so the Saint she had mentioned wouldn’t catch him preying on her. Now that he was going to be using her more often, he needed to start treading more carefully. He didn’t want this trade of theirs to become the reason he fell victim to the hunters. If all went well, his encounters with the Lady would be but a small chapter in the span of his immortal life.

As she led him up to the protective gates of the Crest manor, Vail followed ardently. “They will,” he admitted when she sighed about the hindrance. “But none will approach you as long as you’re with me… Perhaps not even if you smell like me.” Though their deal hadn’t included his protection from other vampires, he supposed it was going to be part of his offer nonetheless. As long as she carried the remnants of his scent on her person, most of his kind wouldn’t dare approach her. The only clan she might have to worry about were the Wynters, who weren’t deterred by the Hygraces like all the rest.

Passing through the gates, he waited for her to drop off the boxes she’d been carting before they continued on to the summer house. Without the silver between them, he was free to stride closer to her than before, enjoying her feminine perfume as an exhilarating precursor before he would turn her into his prey behind closed doors.

At Victoria’s question, Vail shrugged. “Many things,” he said, glancing at her as he answered. “Most of the time, I read books or practice different forms of art like painting or playing instruments. Individual pastimes are the only option I have unless I can find a reason to leave the manor.” He looked away from her, letting his eyes rove over the grounds of the estate. She had asked him quite a bit about himself, but he had yet to show any interest in who she was. He decided he might as well try to get to know her better, since they were going to be spending so much time together in the near future.

“You seem more knowledgeable than other women I’ve met before,” he observed. “In what areas were you educated?”

~Bonsoir~

As Victoria pondered over what she wanted from him, Vail crossed his arms in wait. As much as he wanted her blood, he hoped she wouldn’t make any absurd demands of him. He did have some boundaries that he wouldn’t cross, after all. If she asked him to get involved in whatever she was doing with the Order, he simply couldn’t agree. It was far too dangerous for him to get closer to the Saints, and he wanted to live to see another few centuries if he was still able to. Although, considering how reckless he was being lately, he wasn’t sure if he would make it that long anymore. He obsession with the Lady was inhibiting him from being as cautious as he used to.

When Victoria finally announced her proposal, Vail nearly winced. It wasn’t much better than the one he had been worried she would offer. The last thing he wanted was to get more deeply involved with the Wynters, and the thought of going after one of his own kind was off-putting to him. Even though the rival clan had been a scourge to the Hygraces for over a century, he didn’t want to kill them. Vampires as a whole were scarce enough as it was. It would have been far better to find a way to come to a truce with them, but, then again, the Wynters had never been a reasonable group.

And there was the matter of what he would get in return for accepting the deal.

If he accepted the offer, he would get to have her whenever he wanted. As much as he disliked the terms, he couldn’t help that he was tempted by the reward. It was even better than the compromise he would have proposed, which would have been that she would let him feed on her once a week. Instead, he could come to her whenever he had a craving for her blood, and she couldn’t resist him. He lightly bit the tip of his tongue. Perhaps getting rid of Spencer was worth the trade. He was just one Wynter, after all. As long as he kept the rest of the rival family from finding out what he’d done, it wouldn’t do that much harm, right? Plus, with the other vampire out of the way, he could have his way with the Lady as much as he wanted without fearing the consequences. The deal was starting to sound better and better.

As Victoria went on to tell him her conditions, Vail wavered. She was already asking quite a lot of him by getting him involved with Spencer, and he didn’t want to agree to anything else that went against his morality. However, he relaxed again when she explained that she was just setting boundaries to keep herself safe if they went through with the bargain. The rules were easy enough to comply with. There was nothing she said that would deter him from agreeing. She wouldn’t have to worry about him betraying her either. As long as she held up her end, he would help her get rid of her fiancé.

At her final question, he grinned, his fangs reflecting sinisterly in the moonlight. “My Lady, I think you are,” he purred, taking a few steps toward her. “If these are your terms, then I gladly accept. I’ll help you get rid of Spencer in return for… you.” His wild eyes swept over her once more, and he licked his lips. “Let’s make this a blood pact… We’re close enough to your family’s manor. There must be somewhere in the courtyard we could go where we won’t be… interrupted.”

~Bonsoir~

When Victoria tried to warn him, Vail looked away from her, letting his gaze wander over the nearby alleys. He knew the risks, but he had to admit it was a little late for her advice now. Over the last week, her blood had come into his thoughts more often than he’d like to say. It was a different kind of craving, mental instead of physical. Even though he wasn’t really in a place where he felt like he needed to feed again, he wanted to bite her anyway. He was probably already a little addicted to the drug inside her veins, if he was honest. Just the thought of drawing even a trickle out of her again sent his heart racing with excitement. If that wasn’t addiction, he didn’t know what was.

When it came to Spencer, he wasn’t overly concerned either. He knew he should have been, since feeding on the rival vampire’s bride-to-be was quite taboo, but he had already landed himself in that hole after the first time he’d preyed on her. There was nothing he could do to change that, so he supposed he might as well lean into it. Was it the smartest idea? Probably not, but at the moment he cared more about satisfying his lust for her blood than he did about keeping a Wynter happy. He would just have to accept whatever consequences came with his poor decision later, if her fiancé found out.

As they got closer to the Crest manor, Vail noticed that Victoria’s arms had begun to tremble beneath the weight of the boxes. He eyed her carefully, like a wolf chasing down a tired gazelle. It was only a matter of time before she had to drop the silver, and then he would have her. However, it seemed he wouldn’t have to fight her into submission. His eyes flicked up to meet hers again as she suddenly seemed to consider his request. Her words caught him off guard though. What was in it for her? The question was amusing. He’d never had prey try to bargain with him before, as if the bite was a transaction fee necessary to acquire something more valuable. What could she want from a reclusive vampire anyway?

When she finally caved and set the boxes down, Vail slowed to a stop nearby but didn’t make any moves to touch her. He might have sought her out because he wanted to feed on her, but he wasn’t anywhere close to becoming frenzied. Now that it sounded like she was contemplating coming with him willingly, he no longer felt like he needed to pounce either. He could endure a simple conversation if it meant he would be feasting on her sweet blood at the end of it.

As Victoria explained that she wasn’t going to keep letting him indulge for free, he supposed her wager was fair. Most of the time when he was hunting, he would take a victim once and be done with them. This was the first time he was pursuing the same woman twice—at least, intentionally—and he had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last time either. Perhaps if he struck a deal with her, he could manage to persuade her to let him feed on her more regularly, so he could keep that potent drug pumping through his system all the time. His mouth watered at the thought. All that was left was to think of something the Lady might want in return.

He was just about to consider it when she spoke again, flashing him that mischievous smile of hers. Her sultry words gave him pause too. Though he was more private with his thoughts than she was, he couldn’t deny that he found it rather flattering that someone like her enjoyed his touch enough that she would desire to tell him. His gaze swept over her in a primal manner. Somehow, knowing that just made him feel drawn to her all the more.

“Which is why we’ll go somewhere else,” Vail expressed with a smile when she pointed out that their current location was too open. He was quite pleased with how the night was turning out. As long as he could make a deal with the Lady that suited her fancy, he would be able to go home full and satisfied.

“Was there something in particular you wanted from me when you asked?” he inquired, deciding she might as well tell him what she was after instead of making him guess at it. “If it’s something within my capabilities, I’m sure we could… come to an agreement.”

Match Up in Malibu [Bee & Summer]

Once he finished touring the rest of the house with Nina and finding a few interesting rooms along the way, Jett spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with Bella and David. After all the drama he’d endured that morning, he felt like he needed to relax, and the other two singers were good, laidback company. They lounged in the living room to catch up for a while before they headed to a parlor with a baby grand piano that Jett had found earlier, where they improvised some music together. With David on the keys—his country voice didn’t really mix well with either of the others—and Jett and Bella singing harmonies about whatever random thought came to mind, the three had a great time and found themselves laughing quite a bit. By the end of it, Jett had completely forgotten about both Anna and Madison and was in a much better mood than before.

The camera crew ate it up too. Jett was pretty sure there weren’t any more than a few minutes when they didn’t have a lens on them. He wasn’t surprised about that though. Celebrities hamming it up for the sake of having fun wasn’t something an audience got to see every day. He was sure the production team was elated about catching that on film. Plus, he didn’t mind the exposure. It was definitely better than getting drunk and making out with the first girl to make bedroom eyes at him on set.

He really needed to recover from that one.

Eventually, their improv band session was put to an end when a crew member swung by to tell them all to get changed for something that would be happening at the pool soon. Jett headed back to his room to dig up a pair of royal blue swim trunks from his still-packed suitcase—he hadn’t found the time to put everything away yet—and then made his way out to the deck to meet up with everyone else who had already gathered there. Right away, he noticed that the celebrities seemed to be congregating on one side, while everyone else stood on the other. The divide was weird, but he didn’t bother questioning it as he stepped up beside Bella to wait for the host to tell them what was going on.

When she announced they’d be playing chicken, Jett smiled amusedly. Production was probably hoping some of the teams would form connections through the game, since they always seemed to be pushing people to hook up. He couldn’t help but wonder who they would assign to be his partner. Which girl on the show did they think he would fall for?

As the host drew their attention to a screen that had been temporarily set up beside her, he skimmed the list curiously. Bella was paired up with a guy named Ethan, Nina was with Luke, David was Ashley… His eyes traveled down to the bottom of the screen, where he spotted his own photo. It was next to…

Anna.

Jett’s eyes widened in shock for a second before he remembered there were probably cameras on him, waiting to capture his reaction. Too late to take it back now. He had to marvel at the crew’s choice though. Of all the girls on the cast, why did they match him up with Anna? He’d thought they would have chosen Nina or maybe even Bella, since he clearly got along with them. Instead, it looked like they were hoping to stir up more drama by setting him up with the one person he’d been trying to avoid all day.

As everyone else wandered off to find their partners, Jett hesitated, suddenly reluctant to join in the game. He knew he couldn’t get out of it though. As soon as he’d signed the contract to participate in all the events, he’d lost the freedom to make that choice without being booted from the show. He glanced at Anna and then averted his gaze, forcing himself to walk over to her.

“Well, I guess we’re partners now,” he shrugged when he reached her, crossing his arms over his chest. “Looks like you do need me after all.”

~Bonsoir~

Vail frowned when Victoria laughed at him. She was quite cocky with a barrier between them, but there was nothing he could do about it as long as she refused to put down the silver she carried in her arms. It seemed there would be no convincing her to be swayed by his wishes as long as she was certain he couldn’t touch her. He cursed inwardly, frustrated to have come this far only to be thwarted by a few containers of metal. It would have been defeating to return to the Hygrace manor without feeding after all the work he’d put in to find her again. He wasn’t going to give up just yet.

As she thrusted the boxes in his direction, he quickly distanced himself from her with a grimace, put off by the stench of the silver they contained. “Very funny,” he muttered with a roll of his eyes. She really was bold when she had the upper hand. He hadn’t expected it to be this difficult to wear her down. Still, he continued to trail after her, ignoring her when she told him to go home. If he had been pursuing any other woman, he might have lost interest by now, but the thought of tasting her blood again made him stubborn.

“On any other night, perhaps,” Vail admitted when Victoria told him he should go after a whore instead. “But that’s not why I came out tonight.” He supposed there was no longer any point in hiding his intentions when she had already figured him out. His eyes followed her movements predatorily as he fell in step beside her again. Despite the tough act she was putting on, he could see that she appeared to be straining under the weight of the boxes she was carrying. All he needed to do was outlast her strength.

“I’ll make it quick for you,” he went on, keeping up with her easily even when she hastened her pace. “I’m sure you know already that I don’t need much… Just a taste.” He swept his tongue over his fangs. “You don’t have anything to be afraid of.”