Blood as Red

Daenerys sat in the large dining room in her old castle, the only one she had won. She leaned back on her wooden chair and closed her eyes. She had traveled on a great body of water and it had finally brought her to this island. At first, she thought it was empty. She couldn't see why anyone would want to live here. There was a great big castle on the left side, high grass grew around it. As far as she could see, there were no other houses. It was not until she peeked more closely and walked the shore that she saw there were caves. But how did they eat? She couldn't guess why anyway would want to live here. It was perfect for the likes of her: dark and deserted. Just as I am. It took her years to get here and now she just wanted to rest for awhile, or maybe forever. She knew that she would have to move on eventually. Even if she had killed most, people would talk. Someone from some distant land would come to hunt her and her dogs. Eager to chase the myth. She could never stay put for long.

It seemed like forever since she had been bitten. She didn't remember who bit her, only that he was a large man who towered above her. Sometimes he came to her in dreams. On lonely nights, which there had been many, she would turn her stranger into a passionate lover. She knew it wasn't true, but it did comfort her. She had been lost ever since, always running and feeding. Maybe she had been lost before that. She opened her eyes. The echoes of those she had slain seemed to haunt this castle. Their blood ran down its walls. She didn't mean to kill. It was only after one of her dogs brought corpses back that she grew hungry again. She had, then, prowled the shoreline in the night and waited. The first one she fed on had been a woman, a young woman. She stayed away from children as a rule. They tasted too young. The young woman, black of hair, had been singing of a long forgotten lover - maybe he had left, or maybe he had died. Daenerys came out of the shadows, her skin glowed like the silver of her hair, "Hello." The girl had only tried to back away, but Daenerys had speed and took her in her arms. "You'll be with your lamented lover soon." Daenerys had fed off her, feeling her life force die completely away. She shut herself off for days. By the time, she woke up, corpses littered the castle. Her dogs had fed for her. She had fed on some more. She did hate to feed on her pet's seconds and the dead. The blood had gone sour by then. She left others survive. Certainly only keeping the weak, the young, and those of gentle heart - less likely to revolt against her or kill her. The island was hers now. Her banners were not her name, but her victims' blood. Time had passed. Her hold on the place was surely fading.

"My dear." Stannis, the man she had spared came in. She didn't know why she had but her heart told her not to. She laughed at the thought. She didn't have a heart, nor brain, she only had animal instinct. Whatever it was, she had let him live. He had been useful. Though she had killed most, many heard of her arrival and hid on the caves near the water. He went hunting for her, most of the time and brought her back those that used to be his friends and enemies. He beat them to the point where they couldn't fight back. He knew how she liked her victims alive, even if he left them barely that. He never seemed disgusted. He must have a cold heart. She hadn't even turned him yet. She couldn't remember turning anybody, only killing. Killing was easy, the pain was quickly over. She was proof of the pain of turning someone. She thought she must kill him in time. That's all she ever did. He kept her in good supply of nourishment, so she hadn't tried yet.

"Yes?" Dany looked straight ahead, zoning out into her own world.

"I couldn't find anything for you tonight."

"What?" She said sharply. She felt gloomy tonight. She didn't know why, but she needed what she craved.

"I-I found nothing. I'm sorry."

She slammed the table hard.

"It's okay. I'll have to move on soon." She sighed. Could she never have a home? Hers was a story of survival, not of contentment. "Stannis, come here."

"You won't kill me?" He said this with a laugh. Did he not fear anything?

"No." She got up and came towards him instead. She bit his ear lobe, then went down his neck, placing small kisses on his neck. She wanted to suck and bite into him, but she was so starved for what she craved and she didn't want to hurt him anymore - so she just kissed gently. "Will you leave me?" she whispered in his ear.

"No."

"Good." She smiled, reaching her hand down, going beneath his pants. When she couldn't feed, sex was a good substitute. She was sick of the fantasies that she created with the one who had bit her.

"Daenerys," he whispered, the pleasure shown in his face. He was trying to resist, but she had charmed enough men and women to know that he couldn't.

"Please, my love." she said. "Be my nourishment tonight. I need it." Stannis smiled, slipping his hand into her. She felt his heart beat as he leaned closer into her. Something I will never have. She smiled. She watched him as he put her fingers deeper inside her, saw the pleasure on his own face as she moaned lightly. He doesn't want what he has, he wants me. He'll never crave for anything again. She bit into him.