1The white lace was centered exactly on the table, and the chairs were spaced equally. A cup and saucer were placed at each setting, with a cloth napkin to the side. In the middle was a hot pot of tea and a tray of assorted desserts. Everything was carefully arranged for a pleasant tea party, but something was wrong. Dru frowned over her pot of tea. Her dolls were frowning, too.

"William," she cooed, "all my cakes have gone bitter. Bring me some new sweets, my love."

There was no answer. Dru frowned deeper, and pushed at her plate of desserts. One of her dolls sniggered quietly. It was the one to her left, in the pretty yellow dress. Her name was Miss Anne, and both of her eyes were poked out and replaced with bright blue buttons. She had a reputation for speaking out of turn, and spreading secrets. Dru didn't like her at all, but she said such important things.

"Naughty little girl. It's impolite not to share." Drusilla reprimanded her. She knew that, with repetition, the tiny girl would learn. Lessons must be reinforced, after all, if they were to sink in.

Miss Anne china mouth tinkled, and she spilled the words of the stars.

"I don't find that to be very nice, not inviting me," the dark vampress remarked, "Now I'm cross. I don't like when I'm cross, and it's your fault for making me such. For that, you don't get any more tea." Dru plucked up the saucer with its tiny cup and peered into it. The milkless liquid sloshed about, and for a moment, William's wide smile reflected back at her. The china shattered against the wall, and tea ran down the wall.

"It's not fair. Grandmummy will certainly be cross, as well. She'll be home soon. Willy won't stay away for long."

She glanced at her discarded tray of cakes, now littered with flies and maggots. This wasn't nice at all.