**Warning**

This one's going to get pretty twisted. If you're not into the macabre, you might want to skip this chapter.

It's going to be hot & heavy in some parts, and I've had to drop a few 'F' bombs to make the scene feel right.

How about we just consider this an 'M' rated chapter & plunge in!

4 . The Twelve Days of Christmas

(Blood Promise)

I could feel my body growing more eager with each step I took closer to her room. Pushing past a cowering human slave at the first security door, I keyed in the code for the secured apartment at the end of the corridor and stepped inside.

Desire stirred in me as I drank in the sight of the woman asleep on the bed.

Roza. My prisoner. My conquest. My mate.

No matter how much I'd changed, she was still perfect in every way - except for the unfortunate fact she remained trapped inside that pathetic excuse of a dhampir body.

I admired her figure, of course. In fact, I planned to admire every inch of it before I left her room tonight; with my eyes, my hands, and most of all my mouth. But it was not yet everything that it could be. It lacked the strength and stamina to do all the things a body aught to do. Kill. Feast. Fuck. Make love? Yes, that too. Once my Roza was reborn, we would have all eternity to express our carnal desires - in any and every way that pleased us.

She had only to accept me for the god that I truly was - not that feeble sack of dhampir-flesh I used to be - and I would make her a goddess.

Resisting the overwhelming temptation to claim my prize at once, I moved to the leather armchair across the room and selected a book to keep me company while I waited for the prisoner to wake.

'What are you doing here?'

There was the sound of sheets rustling as Rose quickly shifted away from the bed.

I stopped reading, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply to savour her scent. I couldn't get enough of that smell; a delectable combination of sweat and terror leftover from the scuffle when I'd captured her, and the musky feminine aroma still clinging to her skin and clothing from the kiss we'd shared afterwards. The dhampir's natural fragrance had such a strong aphrodisiac effect on me that I was surprised my progenitor, Nathan, didn't attempt to fight me for her when he stopped by yesterday.

'Waiting for you to wake up,' I replied calmly.

We'd already established on my last visit that Rose was too weak to defeat me. Perhaps, today she would stop trying to attack me with every bit of furniture that wasn't nailed down, and give us a chance to talk about her future.

Fortunately, Roza's nap had put her in a more co-operative mood. True, her conversation and body language were guarded at first, and she resisted passionately when I offered her the choice to turn strigoi and bind herself to me for all eternity, but I gradually wore her down - countering all her suspicions and accusations until her will slowly bent to mine.

By the time I made my move, she was ripe and ready for the taking. Laying claim to the pleasure I'd denied myself too many times before, my mouth locked greedily onto hers and in the very next breath she belonged to me.

I was so caught up in the feeling of Roza's body arching beneath me and intoxicated by the sounds and scents of her growing arousal, that I somehow missed the moment she'd pulled away from our kiss.

'We can't do this.'

She was trying to wriggle out from under me - her expression warring between lust and horror as she felt my straining erection pressing hard against her core.

Defiant to the end. Very good, Roza. I would have been disappointed if she'd made it too easy for me.

'What about this, then?' I whispered, delighting in her weak cries of resistance as I trailed a path of nips and kisses down her neck. 'Do you want this?'

A lifetime ago - when I was a dhampir - I thought Roza and I had a strong physical connection. As a strigoi, I felt that pull towards her a thousand times more strongly than before. But the instant my fangs sank into her neck and I tasted her for the first time, that connection intensified to a raw and burning need for completion, and I abandoned myself completely to the pleasures of her body and her blood.

Soaring on the bliss of my bite, my mate responded with the same desperate urgency, and only when every part of her body had been worshiped by every part of mine, did I pause to discuss my plans for our future.

'When you agree to let me turn you...'

'Who said I was going to agree?' Rose challenged groggily, holding her arms up so I could pull a silk chemise over her head.

Bold words for a woman with so much venom pumping through her bloodstream she could barely stay upright.

'Let's just call it a hunch,' I suggested, smoothing the fabric down over her firm, rounded backside then carrying her back to the bed.

Laying her out on the mattress, I hooked my arm under her shoulders and ran my fingers in feather-light trails over her hips and stomach as I resumed my speech.

'When you let me turn you, it will be the greatest moment of your life... Better than birthdays or Christmas, better than graduation or your first molnija ceremony. My turning happened during battle - too quick to truly appreciate it when it was happening - but for you?... I want to make your transition into strigoi life a proper celebration - something we can look back on fondly for centuries to come.

Rose shifted onto her side, reaching out idly to play with the hair on my chest.

'I like celebrations,' she smiled, her eyes glassy and unfocused.

'Then a celebration you shall have,' I declared, propping myself up a little higher so I could lean over my mate. 'It will start with the main event, of course,' I pushed her hair back from her face and dropped my mouth to her neck. 'Sharing the first and greatest gift of all. Our blood.'

I pressed my fangs against her freshly-bruised skin but refrained from actually puncturing the flesh. She wouldn't have minded if I did, but I didn't want to push it too far tonight. It wouldn't do to accidentally drain her when our perfect future was almost within my grasp.

'First, I will drink from you, and then you will drink from me,' I murmured against her throat.

While I continued teasing Roza's neck, I held my wrist to her lips and she acted out her part; running her tongue over the veins that ridged the surface of my skin then suckling rhythmically.

'When the change comes, I will join myself to you in body as well as blood.' I drew my weight over her so I could position myself between her legs, and the heat of her caused me to swell and tighten so severely we both groaned for want of relief. 'All I want you to remember of that first day is being full of me and taking your fill of me - over and over until our souls become one.'

She whimpered needily, rolling her hips against mine. 'Only for one day?' she slurred.

'And every day after that as well,' my lips curved upwards - her eagerness filling me with a sense of euphoria. 'But I want to give you more. So much more.'

I ground into her one last time then forced myself to remain still. Rose was too fatigued to do anything more tonight so I was only teasing myself by persisting.

'On the second day, I will reward you with the sweetest luxury our life can afford. Two moroi - caught fresh for us to share.'

Rose frowned a little. 'But I don't want to drink from anybody but you.'

I chucked. 'Trust me, you won't feel that way once you've tasted the blood of a moroi. I've only had the pleasure a handful of times so far and let me tell you, it's fucki-...'

She pinched me. Hard.

'Don't be jealous, Roza,' I covered her face in kisses, delighted by the glare she was giving me. It reminded me of the scowl she used to pull whenever I mentioned Natasha Ozera. 'No matter how delicious moroi blood tastes, I will always prefer yours.'

If it was a choice between Rose or a moroi I would choose Rose, no question, but I privately wondered how the two might taste mixed together. I couldn't wait to try it.

Appeased, my mate snuggled in a little closer to my chest.

'And are there more presents on the third day?' she asked hopefully.

'Of course,' I grinned, then fell serious. 'On the third day I will give you the gift of our future. As much as I am grateful to Galina for accepting me onto her estate and into her alliance, I don't want us to live the rest of our days beholden to her laws and wishes. If we kill Galina, we can become the rulers of our own fate. Defeating her will show our rivals that we are worthy of fear and respect. We can claim this estate and its assets for ourselves, and defend our position by eliminating anybody who questions our authority.'

Rose's eyes were gleaming, though I couldn't be sure if it was a side-effect of my venom or because she was excited about my plan.

'After Galina, there are two more executions that must be carried out immediately to confirm our intentions to the wider strigoi community; Nathan-...'

'You'd kill your own creator?' the dhampir looked surprised.

'I'd kill anyone that is a threat to you,' I declared, kissing her roughly to remind her she was mine now, and nobody else's. 'And after Nathan, I will hunt and destroy whichever strigoi was responsible for the death of Ivan Zeklos.'

'Do you still miss him?' Rose seemed unsure. 'But I thought...'

I frowned. 'Don't be so foolish. Why would I miss a dead moroi?'

Seeing her flinch at my harsh reply, I dropped my lips to the valley between her breasts as atonement for my quick temper.

'The point is,' I explained between kisses, 'Ivan was a royal. Do you realise the street-value of a vial of royal moroi blood? We need to send a message to our subjects. Wastefulness will not be tolerated.'

'Our subjects?' the woman beneath me repeated stupidly.

'Yes, my love,' I moved up higher so we were face to face. 'Our subjects. I will be their ruler...,' I rolled swiftly onto my back and dragged her with me so she was straddling my hips, 'and you will be my queen.'

I left soon after our talk, and when I returned again late the next day, it was clear that the effect of my bite had begun to wear off. Rose was on the defensive again, but when I came to her bed she gave in to me quicker than the last time, and when I grazed my fangs along her shoulder she turned her head - exposing her neck and practically begging me to drink.

I did, and afterwards we fell into the same pattern as before; spooning closely while we spun our dreams and plans for the future.

'On the fourth day, we will make preparations to expand our base of power. Galina's estate is only one of many strigoi communes in this region. If we want to rule on a wider stage, we need experts to advise us on the threats and opportunities that face us. It may be difficult finding skilled advisers who are willing to help our cause, but I'm certain a period of imprisonment will quickly change their minds... As for who to recruit, my first pick would be Abe Mazur.'

Rose had been tracing circles on my leg but stopped abruptly. I thought that perhaps she'd had a run in with Abe already, but whatever thought had distracted her flew away within moments.

'The head guardian at St. Basil's Academy would be my next choice,' I went on. 'Given his contacts at the other academies and at Court, he would be a useful addition to our team... And then there's that alchemist you were travelling around with. She could be-...''

'Sydney?' Rose had a rare moment of lucidity. 'You can't turn her!'

Can't? Anger bristled inside me at the suggestion, but I calmed myself - remembering that Roza was only speaking out of ignorance, not open rebellion.

'No, my love. What point would there be in turning her? Our advisers are only useful to us as long as they maintain their regular employment and lines of contact. Sydney can keep her human body, just as Abe will remain moroi and Guardian Yenotov will remain dhampir. You can think of them as your pets, if you like.'

Her brows were still drawn, but I saw a smirk dancing at the corner of her mouth.

'And perhaps a fourth?' I suggested. 'A spirit user may be a powerful asset. Vasilisa would be ideal, but I'm not sure about the practicalities of retrieving her... Adrian Ivashkov is out of the question...'

Considering Adrian's sick fascination with Rose, I would probably end up breaking his neck on his first day of service.

'...But perhaps we can track down another spirit user closer to home?'

When Rose didn't answer, I realised she was so drowsy from my bite that she was unable to respond. Shifting closer, I nipped lightly at my mate's collarbone to coax her back into consciousness.

'Don't fall asleep, Roza. The fifth day is the best.'

'Oh yeah?' she giggled softly. ' What's so great about day-...' she moaned when I bit down just hard enough for two red pin-pricks to spring up from her shoulder, '...five?'

I took her face in my hands and gazed intently into her chocolate-brown eyes. 'Because that's the day you will give me our children.'

She froze stiff and I was surprised to see tears welling in her eyes.

'But we can't Dimitri. We're both dhampir.'

It was such an unexpected response I nearly laughed out loud, but her confusion was so genuine I chose to hold her instead.

'We won't be dhampir, my darling,' I cradled her in my arms, stroking her hair tenderly. 'Once you are strigoi like me, we will hunt and capture five dhampir to become our progeny - one to represent our interests in each major vampire centre across Europe and the U.S. I have no wish to sire any newborns except for you,' I paused to kiss her temple, 'so you must be the one to turn them, and the next day you will be the one to train them. Just imagine it... A sparring session between my Roza and our newborns,' I felt myself hardening at the thought.

Rose seemed to be taken with the idea as well. 'Who will we choose for our children?'

'Our family should be experienced fighters,' I mused, '...highly motived, fearless and loyal. What about the unpromised you've been fighting alongside in Novosibirsk? Can you vouch for them?'

Something appeared to be troubling her.

'What is it, dear one?'

'When I turn them...,' she struggled to meet my gaze, '...will I have to share my body with them as well as my blood?'

I raised an eyebrow, amused by her innocence. 'Only if you want to... But as your true mate, I reserve the right to watch.'

The next time I visited Roza's apartment she was already waiting for me on the bed, and I simply sunk down beside her and drank freely.

'What happens on the seventh day?' she lay atop me, her head resting on my chest as she listened to the steady beating of my cold, dead heart.

I combed my fingers through her hair and down her back. 'We do as God did. We rest.'

She smirked. 'And the eighth?'

'On the eighth day we take our children on their first hunt. It's not too far from here to Saint Basil's, and I'm sure my family would like their first taste of virgin blood. We might even bring back a dhampir for Abe Mazur if he's proving co-operative.'

Rose wasn't as excited by the virgin feast as I was. Perhaps she was thinking of her classmates back at St Vladimir's.

'Day nine is ladies' choice,' I changed the topic to distract her. 'Whatever you desire, I will give to you.'

I grinned when Rose responded by swirling her hips in a slow circle over mine.

'You can get more creative than that,' I challenged her. 'I certainly will when it's my turn on day ten.'

'Day ten?' the dhampir lifted her head to look at me.

'When I get to play out my deepest desires with you.'

'Which are?' Rose bit her lip and I sensed her breathing quicken.

'You'll just have to wait and see,' I teased.

She groaned impatiently and flopped her head back down on my chest.

Taking pity on her, I rolled us over so I could hold her close in my arms - lying on our sides, one curve tucked inside the other.

'I can let you in on the secret for day eleven, though,' I whispered in her ear. 'I'm going to throw a party.'

She whipped her head around to look at me, her face lighting up like Christmas morning. 'A party? For me?'

'For us. Music, dancing... dinner,' I grazed my teeth on her neck and she wiggled back against me, hoping for more. 'We'll gather all of our allies together and announce our plan for a new world order.'

'New world order?' she turned in towards me with a searching expression and I gazed back at my beautiful mate - imagining her glassy brown eyes ringed with a rich and glorious crimson.

'Day twelve - we infiltrate the twelve royal families,' I explained, a feeling of quiet excitement rising in my chest as I revealed the final part of my plan to the woman I loved.

'Are we going to kill them?' Rose whispered in morbid fascination.

We. I couldn't have been more pleased.

'No, Roza,' I instructed my student. 'It's that kind of thinking that's forced our kind into the shadows; squabbling over territorial rights and turning to inferior food sources for survival. If we want to build a future worth living, we shouldn't be killing royals. Their blood is a commodity too valuable to waste.'

'Then what are we going to do?' she pressed me for an answer.

I smiled, lining up my fangs against her throat to take a final night-cap.

'We're going to breed them.'

.

Author's Note:

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkk!. That was so wrong it almost felt right. Not my usual genre, but hey, that's what one-shots are great for.

If it worked for you, yay. (Black Roses by SirenLuna is a fantastic take on the horror-Romitri theme, so check if out if you haven't already!)

If it wasn't your thing, don't stress - I'm not planning any more red-eyed Dimitri fics in the near future!

Look below for the lyrics to Dimitri's 12 Days of Christmas vs. the original gifts in the song. WARNING: You can't un-sing it, so only continue on if you have a dark sense of humour!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true-love gave to me;

12 royal leaders (12 drummers drumming)

11 party dances (11 pipers piping)

10 a god's desire (10 lords a'leaping)

9 his goddess wishes (9 ladies dancing)

8 student virgins (8 maids a'milking)

7 a day of rest (7 swans a'swimming)

6 newborns sparring (6 geese a'laying)

5 progeny (5 golden rings)

4 prisoners (4 calling birds)

3 executions (3 French 'Russian' hens)

2 fresh moroi (2 turtledoves)

Joined as 1 blood and body (And a partridge in a pear tree)