Chapter 9: Withdrawal

...

Content warnings: Self-inflicted harm, borderline domestic violence.

...

The following week was strange. Vandal didn't feel any different, he had nothing to report to Anna. His strength, his reflexes, his ability to handle pain and heal, they all seemed completely unaltered. His state of mind was nothing out of the ordinary either. He didn't feel the violent love for Therese pulsing through his veins that he usually felt after drinking, but he still worshipped Therese as much as he despised her. No, day after day passed uneventfully and not a single significant change.

Anna had changed though. Her behaviour was decidedly different. She had, after him having taken the first dose of vitae, gone back to her playful behaviour, but she didn't come on to him like she had done before. She teased and joked, touched him to get his attention, but no longer hinted at going home with him and never tried to kiss him. She did ask him a lot of questions though and Vandal was certain that whenever she had been to see him, she made notes. She was no less interested in him than before, it was just that now she was interested in him as an experiment. Then again, maybe that had always been the source of her interest. Vandal didn't care. He didn't care about anything. He was disappointed. No, he was angry. Angry that he felt no change. Angry that Therese decided to leave town for some stupid Malkavian gathering. Angry that Anna had stopped working nights and only ever visited at the beginning of his shift. He was angry that he was angry at all.

By the time Saturday had come around again, Vandal was in such a bad mood he decided to go get someone new for the chair tomorrow. He needed to hurt someone. That would make him feel better. But when tomorrow came he didn't even feel like doing that. He just felt…dull. Empty. When it was time to go to the blood bank, he didn't want to. He just wanted to sleep. None of it mattered anyway. Therese had come back last night and hadn't even sent for him. Not even to replenish her supply of blood. She didn't care. So why should he care? He might as well sleep…

.

Vandal woke up in the middle of the night feeling sick. He was trembling all over and felt hot and cold at the same time. Sweat dripped down his face when he sat up. What was wrong with him? His mouth was dry and his hands were shaking. He wanted… He wanted Therese. He needed Therese. Before he knew what he was doing, he had gotten out of bed and was already halfway dressed. He had to be with Therese. Taste her again. He needed to- Vandal forced himself to stand still and struck himself hard in the face. He cried out in pain.

He had felt like this once before. When Therese had been away on business and he hadn't gotten his blood fix on time. But that time he had also felt terribly weak. His body had ached and he had felt so tired and sore. It wasn't like that this time. He did feel weak, but not sore.

Vandal swore. He was having withdrawal symptoms. Psychological ones. His body was being supported by Anna's formula, but Therese's blood was ebbing away and with it her presence. So something was changing. He'd be free of her soon. The triumph he felt at that realization was strangled immediately by a wild and panicked desire. He needed her. He missed her. Vandal hit himself again, furious at his own thoughts. Nevertheless, he was almost out of the door and on his way to the Asylum before he managed to stop himself.

If he went to Therese, she would know what he had done. She'd kill him. Choked thoughts drowned out his own reason. He could beg for forgiveness. He'd do anything to be with her. He had to taste her again. Feel her inside him again. Vandal felt sick. He dug his fingernails deep into his arm and focussed on the pain. He would not go to Therese. He wouldn't. He wanted to be free of the Bitch forever. He wanted her out of his veins. Out of his head. He wanted her so badly. He needed her. Going to Therese meant death. Death was better than this. Therese would find out about Anna and… Anna. For a moment the trembling stopped and then it came back. Therese, Therese's eyes in the dark. No, Vandal thought gritting his teeth, think of Anna. Anything to supplant Therese in his mind. Anna's eyes, Anna's hair, Anna's skin, Anna's scent. His own thoughts snarled at him. Why Anna? Why was she different? She used him just like Therese. Therese… No. Not Therese. Not Therese. Anyone but Therese. Anna wouldn't care. Anna had to care.

Vandal was in a bad way by the time he reached Anna's apartment. Blindly he found the way to her door and slammed his fist against it until his hand ached. It seemed an age before he heard movement inside.

"Anna, let me in," he demanded.

"Vandal?" he heard her shocked voice.

The door opened and he stumbled inside.

"Good God," Anna gasped and she rushed forward to support him.

The moment she touched him Vandal shivered. Those were the wrong hands. He pushed her away and groaned.

"What's wrong?" Anna asked, closing the front door hastily.

"I want Therese," Vandal panted. "I need her." He cursed loudly and struck himself in the face so violently that Anna rushed forward to try and stop him.

"Vandal stop," she said urgently, grabbing at his hands. "It's alright."

He shook her off violently, but held still, breathing heavily and with his eyes half-closed. Nothing about this was right.

Anna pressed her fingers against the artery in his neck to feel his racing heartbeat. "Some withdrawal symptoms were to be expected," she said soothingly. "I'll get you something to drink."

She withdrew her hand but as soon as she did he grabbed it and pulled her back.

"What do you want?" she asked, startled and concerned.

Vandal opened his eyes and looked at her with a feverish glow in his eyes. "I want Therese," he growled.

Her eyes were darting from his clammy face to his trembling limbs. The spasms, that had stopped for a moment, came back and Anna let out a breath. Suddenly she drew towards him. Vandal was still holding on to her right hand forcefully, but she made no attempt to break free and instead started stroking him with her left hand. "You can have whatever you want," she cooed. "I'll be your Therese."

Vandal pushed her away with such violence Anna stumbled into a chair and fell.

"Don't you dare compare yourself to her!" he spat. "You can never be her! Fucking bitch…I want her…I want her out of my head!"

Anna had gotten back to her feet and her eyes were flashing with anger. "You ever do that again and I'll make you regret it," she threatened.

Vandal gave a scornful laugh. "There's nothing you can do to me worse than this," he cried, writhing in agony.

Anna walked up to him with a few long strides and pinned him against the nearest wall. She was nowhere near strong enough to control him, but Vandal was too busy fighting the tremors to fight her.

"Why are you here?" she demanded.

"What?" he growled.

"Why are you here?" she repeated.

He stared at her, his hair and face damp with sweat.

"Say my name," she ordered.

"Wh-"

"Say my name," she repeated and she pressed her body against his. She hadn't done that since he had brought her Therese's blood.

Vandal felt the fabric of her nightgown against his damp skin. He could smell her. She was warm, not cold like Therese. But Therese… "Therese," he mumbled.

Anna grabbed his chin and roughly turned his face towards her and pressed her hips against his. "Anna," she said forcefully.

"Anna," he repeated, staring at her.

She smoothed his forehead with her cool hands and ran her fingers through his hair. "Anna," she said again.

"Anna," he echoed.

She pressed her mouth against his again and kissed him. Her tongue was warm and wet in his dry mouth. Her lips were soft and moved against his. She drew back and said: "Again."

"Anna," he said mindlessly.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck and throat. Vandal sighed and started to repeat her name over and over, pushing Therese further away with each time he said it:

"Anna… Anna… Anna…"

Anna took him by the hand and led him to her bedroom. He followed, dazed and docile. She took off his shoes and most of his clothes. She turned around with his clothes in her arms, but he pulled her back, so she dropped them on the floor and gently pushed him down onto the bed.

"No," he muttered. "No sleep-" Therese would come for him if he slept. She'd find him in the dark of his dreams.

"Lie down," Anna ordered.

He complied and she lay down next to him, pressing her body against his, stroking him. Vandal struggled to turn his head so he could look at her. "I hate her," he said.

She kissed him.

"I fucking hate her," he growled, starting to shake again.

Anna held him tighter and the shaking stopped.

He inhaled lungfuls of her scent and pulled at her nightgown. "Skin," he muttered.

She pulled her nightgown over her head and pressed her naked torso against his. Vandal touched and smelled her skin. It was so soft. So warm. He wrapped his shaking arms around her and buried his face in her neck. Anna silently freed one of her arms and pulled her duvet over them both. Vandal's head was swimming. It was full of Anna and Therese. He still wanted Therese, but he could feel Anna's heartbeat and her arms were tight around him. She wouldn't let him go. Not now. He didn't want to hurt her like he did Therese. He didn't hate her like he did Therese. He didn't trust her, but he didn't hate her.

"It's going to be fine, Vandal," Anna said. "It's going to be okay."

Vandal let out a strangled laugh. Her voice wasn't gentle, it was determined. Anna was not accustomed to failure and if he was not fine that would mean her experiment had failed. He was an experiment, Vandal tried to remind himself. He was her experiment and she was his ticket to freedom. Freedom. He tried to hold on to that. But what he held onto instead was Anna and she hugged him tighter in response. Finally Vandal closed his eyes and let himself go limp in her arms, just breathing her scent in the darkness, until he slept.

.

Anna's arms ached from lying still and holding Vandal in an awkward position, but she didn't move. He was finally asleep and she would not wake him. He lay in her arms like a child, too weak to even hold onto her anymore. This had very nearly gone completely wrong, she realized. He had been on his way to Therese. That would have been the end of them. The filthy parasite would have used him to find her and then gotten rid of them both. Or worse…Therese might have decided that she might be useful to her. Anna felt her stomach churn, but she held it together. None of that had happened. Vandal had not run to Therese. He had come to her and she had managed him. For a moment she felt a flash of triumph. Her formula was working. All his symptoms had been purely psychosomatic. His spasms stopped when he was focussed and now, asleep in her arms, he no longer trembled and the cold sweats were gone. Silently a thought trickled down into her mind. He had come to her… Hurt and helpless and he had come to her. Firmly Anna waved those thoughts away. None of this had been part of the plan. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. This was cutting it far too close. How the hell had she not seen this coming? He must have lied to her about not feeling any difference. Or had this episode really come out of nowhere? She had left him to himself too much. She shouldn't have done that. But it was for the best. Why? She hadn't liked leaving him to himself. Why should she do anything she didn't like? Her shoulder began to cramp and she tried to move it without changing her position too much. This was terribly uncomfortable. She should have just sedated him. Anna stared up at the ceiling and tried to empty her mind. It wouldn't be long until morning, she would bear it until then.

.

Vandal was woken up by the sound of something falling over in an adjacent room. He sat up and looked around. He was lying in Anna's bed in his socks and boxers. Daylight was coming through the closed curtains. He had slept here? Actually slept here? And Anna too? He could hear a shower running.

Vandal tried to remember last night. He couldn't remember all of it. A lot of it was hazy. He sat on the edge of the bed. He felt normal now. Rather good actually. Perhaps Therese was finally out of his system. The thought alone made him glow with triumph. He'd be able to see her and not be her fucking slave. Of course he'd still have to play at being under her control, but it would finally not be true anymore.

He heard the shower turn off and after a short amount of shuffling noises Anna walked into the room wrapped in a towel and with another one wound round her head.

"Good morning," she said when she saw him awake. "You look…better."

He didn't answer her, he was looking at her half-dried body. The towel didn't cover her very well and she was not making an effort to make it do so. This was weird, he had never woken up with her around. Anna didn't seem to mind it though.

"You're not going to do the shy act?" he asked with a sneer.

"Why?" Anna said. "You've seen me."

He got out of bed and saw that she had folded his clothes. How long had she been awake? "I thought you didn't sleep with people you slept with," he reminded her snarkily.

"Well, we didn't sleep together last night," she pointed out.

"What was last night then?" he snorted. "First aid?"

"In a way, yes," she said archly.

"You should open your own hospital then," he said.

She looked at him with a look of sarcastic amusement on her face. "You want breakfast?" she asked.

"If you're serving," he said. Now she mentioned it he felt how hungry he was.

Anna put on a robe and disappeared to the kitchen while he got dressed. When he sat down at the table she had made eggs and bacon with toast. They were a lot better than Vandal had expected.

"You didn't strike me as the cooking type," he said, holding out his plate for a second helping. He was starving.

"I'm not," Anna said, pushing the pan towards him with a 'serve yourself'-scoff. "But I'm good at breakfast."

He remembered her wolfing down pancakes drowning in syrup and snorted.

"Hey," Anna said with narrowed eyes. "I am a damn good cook when it comes to breakfast food. It's the only meal I'm home for, usually."

Vandal ate in silence while Anna talked. He listened to the sound of her voice, but not to what she was actually saying. Suddenly her chatter ceased and he looked up to find her studying him earnestly.

"What?" he asked.

"You said you never felt any different," she said. "Did you lie?"

She didn't sound hurt. Just suspicious, he thought. "I didn't lie, princess," he said. "You think I wouldn't have said something if I had felt this shit coming?"

"Do you feel different now?" she asked.

He sat back and grimaced at her expression, pushing his empty plate away. "You're desperate for me to say yes, aren't you?"

"No," she said, narrowing her eyes. "I just need to know. This is both our lives we are talking about here. Your literal life and my life's work."

Vandal made a nondescript humming sound. 'Her life's work'…

"So?" Anna prompted. "Do you feel…good?"

He did feel good. At least he thought so. When he thought of Therese there was still a thrill inside him, but it was muffled. He felt like getting on Anna's nerves some more though, so he answered sarcastically: "Compared to last night I feel fucking great. Maybe you should make some notes on that."

Anna looked annoyed. "If you're not going to say anything helpful," she said, walking around the table and prodding a finger against his chest. "You might as well shut your ghoul mouth."

Vandal smirked, but before he could reply she suddenly grabbed a handful of his shirt and kissed him. He kissed back, opening his mouth eagerly and pulling her towards him until she was standing between his knees. Anna leaned into him some more and kissed him a little more forcefully before breaking away and giving him a look of reluctant satisfaction.

"What was it I needed to do with my ghoul mouth again?" Vandal asked with a grin.

"Shut up," Anna hissed.

He laughed, grabbed her hips and made her sit down on his lap, facing him. He still sensed a little resistance in her, but that only lasted until he pulled the towel off her hair and twisted a hand into her wet locks. If she also had rules about sleeping with people after she had slept with them, she was clearly willing to ignore them.

...

Whatever had made Anna keep her distance before, it was over now. Her interrogations of him once more moved to the bedroom and that suited Vandal just fine. Therese had come back from her travels in a very good mood and it seemed nobody had bothered to report to her that the blood bank had been closed for a night. At least she didn't mention it when she summoned him to deliver her usual supply of blood.

Vandal felt remarkably free of fear as he knocked on the door, but when he stepped inside he felt a knot tighten in his stomach.

"Ah, Vandal," Therese said, getting to her feet.

Why did she say his name? She hardly ever used his name. "Exactly as you ordered, Miss Voerman," he said, placing the carrier on her desk.

"Excellent," she said. He had not seen her in this good a mood since before Jeanette had disappeared.

Therese looked at him with some sort of expectancy and Vandal wondered what she wanted. Because he didn't know. He wanted to know what she wanted. He even wanted to do it, if only to still the panic bubbling in his mind, but he just didn't know. Had he not always known what she wanted? Just known?

"Did the gathering go well for you, ma'am?" he asked, his mouth dry.

Therese's face shone with self-satisfaction and Vandal could breathe again.

"It certainly did," she said smugly. "Hardly remarkable, considering." She smiled. "There might well be a change in situation sometime soon. I shall certainly need to find someone to run the club for me, I will have more important matters to attend to."

Vandal watched her with a fascination that might well have passed for his old admiration. He could feel something inside him focus on Therese with a thirst and hunger that he could not quite repress, but even this struggling longing was doubtful. He could not smell her like he used to do. When she looked at him the knot in his stomach tightened, but there was no frantic tug at his heart.

"This will not affect you, however," Therese said. "Our arrangement will not change."

"No, ma'am," he simpered, bowing his head. She had no idea…

Therese looked him up and down and suddenly he felt small. "The blood bank is causing you no trouble?" she asked. "You have been running it on your own for quite a while now. Do I need to send you an assistant?"

Vandal stared at her. How soft and gentle she was… Wanting to know if he was well. Asking him for his opinion. Trusting him... Trusting himto do her bidding. Expecting her wishes to be his wishes also. He blinked. "Thank you, Miss Voerman," he breathed. "But it's no trouble at all."

"You are certain?" she pressed critically.

Vandal tensed up. She could not force another person into his world right now. Some moron of a new-made ghoul sticking his nose in everything that was his. Someone he would have to control and deceive, and keep away from Anna. For a moment the vision of Anna working alongside him, with him, for Therese, flashed in his mind again. But it was an old fantasy, already tainted and faded.

"Certain, ma'am," he said hoarsely. "Pleasing you is no effort at all."

She seemed satisfied with that and after a few more questions she dismissed him. "You may go now," she said. "Come back in a couple of days to get your portion."

"Yes, ma'am," he said. "Shall I bring the equipment, like last time?"

"I thought we already agreed on that," she said impatiently, waving him away.

"Yes, ma'am," he bowed. "Forgive me."

Slowly he left the room, feeling the tension in his stomach and shoulders lessen with every step. It still cost him some effort to breathe normally though and that was not any easier downstairs. The club was incredibly busy and the noise and heat pressed down on him. As he pushed through the crowd towards the door, he ran into the bartender. Vandal never really spoke to him, but it suddenly occurred to him that the man, big and rough as he was, looked unsteady. Vandal stopped for a moment and so did the bartender.

"Therese is happy, isn't she?" he said and Vandal could hear the blind happiness that came from this fact, but also his uncertainty.

"Ecstatic," he replied flatly.

The bartender had been Jeanette's ghoul, but since he was still here he must be Therese's now.

"Busy tonight," Vandal remarked, just to have something to say.

"It's always like this lately," the bartender said, glancing round. "Good for business. But it sure is hard to run the club with the boss away so much."

"Yeah," Vandal said absentmindedly, staring into the bartender's anxious eyes. "Well… Anything for the missus."

"Yes," he replied. "As long as she's happy, right?" And he lumbered away, leaving Vandal staring at his tattooed shoulders.

Slowly his face contorted into a disgusted grimace. He didn't even know the guy's name. He never bothered to learn it, and why should he? He wasn't a person, he was a thing. First he had belonged to Jeanette and now he belonged to Therese. He would adore and obey either, because he had no choice. Vandal wavered between disgust and anger, but as he hurried to the door there was a third feeling. Surprise. He could think and feel so clearly. He wasn't even out of the door of the Asylum and his mind was all his own. Grinning widely Vandal walked back to the hospital, breathing in the cold night air. He had hardly felt a pang as he left Therese behind. His heart, that used to pound at the thought of going to see her, had barely skipped a beat. He really was changing. It wouldn't be long now… Soon he'd really be free. He could barely comprehend it. He'd be free. He would no longer have to answer to her, he would no longer be a slave. The Bitch wouldn't be a Goddess to him anymore. As Vandal walked into the blood bank his mood sobered a little. Even if he did manage to get her out of his head and his veins, that didn't mean he was free. Therese controlled Santa Monica. One false step and she'd catch on to what was happening. The thought of her incredulity and sense of utter betrayal made him smile for a moment. That would be a glorious sight to see… He wouldn't be alive long enough to properly enjoy it though, he was sure of that.

Glumly he sat down at the counter at the blood bank. Wouldn't it be nice... Wouldn't it be glorious if…if Therese just died. A thrill ran down his spine. He had thought about it before, but never had he been able to think of it without wanting to physically hurt himself in punishment. He could kill Therese. He could kill her. Yes. Yes. Slit her wrists and throat. Stake her heart. Tear her cold, rotting heart from her…her beautiful, flawless, marble body. Vandal closed his eyes. He couldn't harm Therese. What use would it be anyway? If he got rid of Therese…how long would it take before some other bloodsucker tried to take her place? Would they kill him, or just take him? The sensation of foreign blood being forced down his throat sprang forth vividly from his imagination and he retched. Fury burned in his chest. He would have liked to say it was all anger over the thought of being passed along like a mindless thing, but it was just as much a revolt at the possibility of belonging to anyone other than Therese. He was not free of her yet. Perhaps he would never be. Perhaps her blood had seeped into his tissue, into his very bones.

His phone beeped and distractedly Vandal dug it out of his pocket. It was a text from Anna:

*How did it go? X*

He didn't answer right away, but stared at his phone, deep in thought. If he asked…would Anna help him get rid of Therese? Would she want to? He was pretty sure she would like to kill any vampire whose unlife she got the chance of ending. But would she be able to? She was only a human. Only a human with a very specific agenda. Perhaps she wouldn't consider killing Therese worth her while. He shook his head to dispel the thoughts and texted back:

*Fine. Where are you?*

*Home. Needed rest,* she replied immediately.

*Meet me tomorrow,* he sent back.

*Only because you ask so nicely.*

He smirked.

...

"The Bitch wants me back in two days for another blood collection," Vandal told Anna the following day.

Anna perked up, but then looked thoughtful. "So soon?" she said.

"Ghouls need a fix every month or they start to weaken," Vandal reminded her.

"Right," Anna hummed.

"What are you scheming, princess?" Vandal asked with a grin.

"I was just wondering…" she mused. "Can T- the Bitch tell how your strength is waning and waxing?"

"When I haven't drunk for a while you mean? No idea. We don't exactly discuss my feelings," he scoffed. "Why?"

"Well, if she doesn't notice I could just give you a shot of vitae before you go to see her," Anna said. "That might make it easier to bear, don't you think?"

"Hm…" he mused. "It might. But better not risk it." He grimaced. "It'd be a shame to be found out now."

"Rather," Anna agreed. She gave him a curious look. "So, how did it go? How was it to see her again?"

"Questions, questions," Vandal shook his head and he leaned back in his chair.

"Come on…" Anna teased. "What kind of man doesn't like to talk about himself?"

He let out a sharp laugh and started talking. With every description of his increased independence from Therese Anna grew more excited. She had to make an effort not to interrupt him. When he was done, she said, with a wide smile: "Excellent."

"It's a start," Vandal grinned.

"I suppose we'll find out how strong you've grown when you collect the Bitch's blood again," Anna said thoughtfully.

"Suppose we will," he agreed.

.

Much stronger, was his conclusion. Compared to the first time he had taken Therese's blood this was effortless. The sight of her blood still affected him, but he did not think he had ever been this calm while he was near enough to touch her.

Therese's face twitched when he changed one of the tubes and Vandal smirked. "I'm not hurting you, am I, Miss Voerman?" It slipped out before he could help himself.

"Don't be ridiculous," Therese snapped.

Vandal bowed his head and shut up. He needed to watch his mouth. She'd be angry with him. He could not make her angry with him! True, true. But only because he needed her compliance… Yes, compliance. He repressed a frantic smile. How quiet these new voices were, how easily persuadable.

"There we are, ma'am," he said, putting away the last vial of blood. "All done."

"Good," Therese said approvingly. "That was faster than last time."

He had been clumsy last time, Vandal thought, but not anymore. It was still a strange, exhilarating feeling, to be in charge of something concerning Therese. When he drank from her he was not in control, quite the opposite. It was her ultimate control over him. Now, no matter how much he needed her permission, he was doing things to her, instead of her doing things to him. He was almost out of the door, when Therese suddenly turned around at her desk.

"Vandal," she said sharply.

To his mortification his body turned around on its own accord to face her. He glanced at her, fury burning inside of him. "Yes, ma'am?" he muttered.

"I have decided to temporarily lower my prices," Therese informed him. "Ten percent seems reasonable to me. See to it that you adhere to this."

He blinked. "Yes…of course…" he answered. Why the hell was she doing this? Because of politics? Did she want to be liked all of a sudden?

"Good," Therese said. "Now go."

He turned around and left, reminding himself not to get overzealous. Even the part of him that was able to think and act freely was not yet safe. He needed to practice being in control of his own mind again. He couldn't go around saying whatever words jumped to his lips. Still, he had never felt this normal after a visit to Therese. He was carrying a pint of her blood and he didn't even want to drink it. He still thought about drinking it, but he didn't want to. Grinning widely, he got out his phone and texted Anna:

*On my way back.*

*Meet me at the lab,* she replied.

The door to her lab was unlocked when he arrived and he went in straight away.

"Would it kill you to knock?" Anna asked, but she didn't look really concerned.

Vandal handed her the case and glanced around. This time the lab wasn't as pristine and tidy. She had some equipment laid on one of the counters and in a corner something stood covered under a sheet. He could hear scuttling and movement underneath.

"Mice?" he asked.

"Mice," Anna confirmed, putting all the blood in the cooler.

Vandal moved towards what he now knew to be a cage, but Anna looked round with a frown.

"Don't touch anything," she said sternly.

"Tsk," Vandal snorted. She was obsessive about her work, he respected that, but it was also a tad annoying. "Are you going to disappear off the face of the earth again while you're working?" he asked, repressing a scornful smile.

"I have to keep the blood here," Anna explained with narrowed eyes. "The vitae I can store safely at my house, so yes. I'm willing to work some extra hours to ensure the safety of my research."

"Hm," Vandal hummed.

Anna closed the cooler and turned around. "You want your shot, now?" she asked.

"Please," he smirked. He felt a thrill of excitement, but couldn't quite tell whether that was brought on by the thought of getting his fix or the idea of Anna giving it to him.

She smiled and walked to the cupboard. "You know, you could do this yourself," Anna said while she took out the bottle of vitae. "I could just give you a dose or two to take home, now we know that it works and that it isn't addictive."

"Didn't want to give it to me before because you were afraid I'd use it all at once and turn into a murderous monster?" he grinned.

"Something like that," Anna said amusedly. She held the syringe out to him.

"You do it," Vandal said. "I like a woman that knows how to use a needle."

Anna laughed softly and filled the syringe with vitae. Vandal watched her intently as she worked and looked at her face rather than at the needle when she inserted it. He could read nothing on her face but concentration. When she pushed the plunger and he felt the vitae spreading through his arms he closed his eyes. He leaned back in his chair and breathed deeply. There was that ecstatic warmth, reminding him what he was capable of. Filling him with fire and determination. The vitae flowed through him, completing him. It belonged in his blood. It was meant to be in his body. Nothing in him fought or revolted, this wasn't enslavement, this was perfection.

Vandal opened his eyes and looked into Anna's face. She was standing over him, gazing earnestly at him. Impulsively he reached out to touch her, but she moved away from him as soon as her eyes met his. There was a snarl of dissatisfaction in the back of his mind, but he managed to repress it.

"You are a lot calmer than last time," Anna observed. "Did it feel that way?"

"Less overwhelming, yeah," he said. "But still fucking amazing. Forget your mice, you'll make a fortune selling this to stupid kids."

"If I felt like wasting it, I would," Anna scoffed. She turned, glancing around at her equipment and Vandal felt the tension in her.

"I guess that's my cue to leave," he said, getting to his feet. He felt fantastic. "Hey," he grinned, turning to her in the doorway. "All work and no play makes the princess a dull girl…"

"Mmm," Anna smiled, eyes lighting up for a second. "Well, I'll be working for two days straight at least, so you better think of some games to play on Monday."

Vandal chuckled and left her to her work. What had she said about taking the vitae home? She had basically offered to give him some to use himself. That meant she'd probably be willing to give him some herself outside of the lab. Maybe then she'd be more open to letting him work off a little of the steam that stuff of hers filled him with. For now he would wait till Monday, though. She was lucky he was so damn patient.

...

"What do those idiots at the clinic think you do all day, or night?" Vandal asked Anna on the way to his house that Monday.

"Oh, I do lots of stuff for the clinic," Anna replied. "Doctor Roberts is doing some drug trials. I help with those. And I'm gathering data on blood-borne diseases and defects. They just don't know I have plenty of time to spare to do my own work."

Vandal chuckled.

"Yes, that's the advantage of having bosses that can't see inside your head," Anna winked.

"Therese doesn't know what the fuck I do at the clinic," Vandal scoffed. "Doesn't care either as long as I keep the red sauce flowing and the cash rolling in."

Anna stared at him. She looked excited.

"Hm?" Vandal grunted.

"You said her name," she said excitedly. "The Queen Bitch's name! You never say her name!"

Vandal gave her a strange look. He said her name a million times a day, sometimes with every breath he took. Just not out loud. Still…Anna was right, he hadn't even noticed he had spoken it out loud. As if it didn't matter. But Therese always mattered. Didn't she?

"Huh," he hummed thoughtfully.

Anna made a joyful sound and bounced up in her seat. "You don't care," she exclaimed. "You don't! Tell me about Therese!"

No hiss at the back of his brain in response to the name. No sigh of devotion in his heart. Nothing but a vague memory and the taste of contempt.

Anna made a triumphant noise and moved in restless ecstasy. Suddenly she flung her arms around him and tried to kiss him.

"Get off me!" Vandal snapped, taking his foot off the gas. "Crazy woman. I'm driving."

Anna let go and Vandal glared at her. She looked smug and her eyes positively shone.

"Do you want me to drive into a deserted alley or something?" he offered darkly, enjoying the spike of adrenaline now the scare was over.

"There's no need for that," Anna said coyly. "Just drive quickly."

"I don't know," Vandal said, turning a corner. "You'd probably look pretty good squirming against a back alley wall…"

"No doubt," Anna replied with a slight look of distaste. "But not very compliant."

"I did say squirming," Vandal smirked.

She didn't answer that and he chuckled. The mix of disapproval and excitement on her face whenever he said something inappropriate looked so good on her. When they arrived at his building, Anna was slow in getting out of the car. Vandal pulled her upstairs with impatient energy.

"Well," Anna laughed when the door closed behind them. "Therese may be losing her hold over you, but you haven't lost your strength."

"Was that a medical observation, Miss Deering?" Vandal growled, picking her up and putting her down on the nearest flat piece of furniture of an appropriate height.

"No," Anna said, wrapping her legs around his waist. "That was a prayer of thanks."

...

A/N: Well, that very nearly went very wrong didn't it?

I know the bartender of the Asylum isn't a confirmed ghoul in the game, but considering what a control freak Therese is I think he must be. He does have a name by the way, he introduces himself as "Big Cal", but Vandal doesn't care.

Another song for Vandal, Haddonfield 15 Years Later, as sung by Jared Weiss.

This is one of my favourite chapters. I hope you guys liked it too!

Thanks to my friend Crow the Mad for reading and reviewing and thanks to redwave166 for following this story! I hope you'll enjoy it :)