Cosima drifted in and out of conscience all day, the early morning leaving a clinging laziness aided by the strong blunt she'd smoked. She had tried to stay awake with the help of a book after lunch, but she had barely finished a chapter before her eyes began to droop, and she was struggling to register what she was reading.
The images come to her first as if in a dream, out of focus and confusing, as if a thick fog is preventing her from seeing clearly. The evening is waning, and warm, human bodies move around her in the large street, paying no attention as her small frame passes between them. Her mind is cluttered with indistinct whispers coming from every direction; dark thoughts that don't belong to her. It's the taste of fresh blood on her tongue that snaps her awake, the beast inside her hissing at the memory of the nectar she has denied for so long.
She gets to her feet instantly, and blinks a few times as her small apartment recedes once more, and she concentrates. She sees the street, and recognizes it instantly as Delphine's. Like a silent, artistic film, the images sharpen, and the blonde doctor comes into view, walking a path that Cosima has become familiar with. Then suddenly, as if fast forwarding, Cosima sees the blonde being thrown into the air, eyes wide in shock, mouth agape, letting out a soundless, surprised scream that the vampire, still inside her own apartment, can't hear. In Cosima's mind thoughts of blood and violence shut down her own thoughts, but around her all is quiet, the only sound she hears is the loud buzz of the old refrigerator.
It's a trap, her internal voice rages above the din. She watches Delphine being lifted from the ground by a hand around her neck; both of the doctor's hands clasping the wrist of the attacker in a futile attempt to free herself.
Cosima knows who it is, only one person has the ability to tap into her mind like that and invade her senses. Since Cosima's rebirth, her sire could intrude upon the younger vampire's mind, sending her images, thoughts, sounds and even tastes. In the early years, before Cosima trained her mind, it had been futile to resist her sire, and it had taken nearly half a century to guard her own mind from Shay. Until then, whenever her sire had desired, Cosima's mind was an open book that she could read whenever she pleased.
Now, it is the only way Shay has to control her. Cosima had hoped that distancing herself would have weakened the link, lessening her capacity to apply such tricks. She had even dared to hope since Shay had been conspicuously absent the moment she'd left her family without looking back.
Foolish!
As she quickly puts on her shoes and races to the door, Cosima can't stop berating herself for being so foolish. Felix's warning had come too late and she only had herself to blame. She should've predicted this, Cosima thinks for what has to be the hundredth time since her old friend had come to her with his message. She was even more foolish to believe that Delphine would be safe once she'd stepped back after showing such keen interest in her. Cosima should've known that Shay wouldn't let it go so easily. During the more than two centuries Cosima had spent by her sire's side, she was more than aware of the other woman's determination, of her obsessive tendencies.
Outside, the streets are still packed with humans heading home for the day and Cosima does her best not to attract too much attention. She walks fast, but she doesn't run. Had it been fully dark she would've used the supernatural speed that remains within her from the days when her abilities haven't been dulled from the treatment.
It's irrelevant either way. Shay will wait for her, that's the whole point of this exercise. Delphine isn't prey. She's the bait.
Shay smiles, a pleased grin that raises a corner of her lips.
"Maybe you're not as important as I thought, she surely is taking her sweet time."
The vampire intentionally keeps her voice low, but the result isn't what she expected. This weak human has yet to show any sign of real fear... but, then again, she hasn't yet experienced the old vampire's real strength.
"You can never count on her to show up on time, right?" She comments, releasing a small chuckle, amused by her own joke.
The human doesn't respond or show any sort of reaction. The hazel eyes are dulled, almost bored as if this is nothing but a nuisance. This spikes Shay's anger; there's no fun when she can't smell the fear in her victims, the sweet scent invading her nostrils, or when she can't read the terror in their eyes. She has to resist the temptation of snapping the woman's neck, eager to see the life drain out of the insolent stare.
"In your position, I wouldn't be feeling so calm," Shay says good-naturedly, swallowing her fury. "After all, you will die today... is just a matter of time."
"If you were to kill me, you'd have done it already." The human doesn't flinch, giving no credence to the vampire's threat.
It increases her anger, the rage of the dangerous beast inside her sky rockets. She curls her left hand in a fist and sinks a dry blow to the doctor's stomach, not with all her strength, but enough to knock the wind out of her.
"You think I'm joking here? You think this is a game?!" Shay loosens her temper, as her eyes flush brightly with the promise of blood, her fangs fully exposed, ready for the kill.
The human tries to fold into herself, her breathing strained, hungry pulls of air made more difficult by the hand constricting her airways more firmly to keep her upright. She will lose consciousness soon and Shay no longer cares about her initial plan. Cosima will come to her just the same, even if the good doctor perishes.
Cosima abandons her calmer pace and begins to run. The vision of the events has stopped, her sire's anger burning inside Cosima's own chest indicates that the human still lurking inside Shay has been completely replaced by the beast eager for blood. And Cosima knows that the only thing predictable about the other vampire is her rage. Shay doesn't like to be challenged and it seems that the doctor, indifferent to this, is doing exactly that.
When Cosima finally reaches the dark alley, she's faced with the sight of the human floating above the ground, a hand choking her neck, weakly clutching at the strong arm of her assailant.
Shay has a sinister smile, the animal in full control of the situation, toying with her prey the way Shay enjoys before she applies the final, deadly blow.
"Took you long enough. No matter though, you're just in time..."
The low voice travels like an easy breeze until it reaches Cosima at the entry to the alley, her mind assessing the degree of danger the doctor is in. The hold must've relaxed when she arrived, since Delphine is able to turn her head slightly to see Cosima. The doctor's expression hardens at the sight of her patient, the eyes no longer dull, but glaring at the new arrival.
"What do you think you're doing, Shay?" Cosima asks with a calmness that she doesn't feel, ignoring Delphine's hostile stare along with its unexpectedness.
"What does it look like?" Shay responds in a singsong manner, entertained by the situation she created.
She's bluffing, Cosima knows this, but she decides to be safe. "Why don't you let her go so we can talk..." she coaxes maintaining her voice calm.
Shay smiles widely, but instead of assuaging Cosima's uneasiness, it only increases. Losing interest in Delphine for the moment, she shoves her against the iron fence and the doctor falls to the dirty pavement. Landing on her hand and knees, she coughs as her starved lungs bring air to her system.
Cosima takes a few steps in their direction, her eyes moving between the two women.
"Okay," she nods as she walks, "you have my attention. What do you..?"
Cosima stops abruptly as the smell of blood hits her, overpowering the smell of garbage emanating from the trash containers. She hisses and takes a step back. It's been too long since she last had contact with fresh blood and the scent immediately sparks the vampire's pleasure center. Her canines unsheathe and her vision blurs, only to focus on Shay's forearm, smudged crimson. Cosima knows instantly that it's Delphine's blood, but something is off. Even, if she's never smelled it before, she knows it's tainted, but the tartness is not enough to ease the craving. Whether it's due to her years of abstaining, or if it's the fact that it's Delphine's blood, she's unsure, but it takes every ounce of her considerable strength to keep from jumping the doctor who is still struggling to her feet.
"Curious, isn't it?" Shay's voice sounds distant, as if they're separated by a wall. "I was wondering if you were aware of this, but your reaction is answer enough."
Cosima refocuses her attention on her sire. "What do you want?" She asks between clenched jaws.
"Now, now..." Shay teases, wiggling an index finger from side to side. "That's not how we greet an old friend, is it?' she scorns playfully. "Have you forgotten your manners in so little time?"
"We're not exactly friends, are we?" Cosima says with an edge, her feet planted, unable to approach them.
"No, I guess we're not," the other vampire agrees amused, stepping closer to Cosima, her bait left, seemingly forgotten. "We are family, which is why it's time for you to come home."
Cosima laughs humorlessly. "If that's what you came here for, I'm afraid it was a wasted trip."
"C'mon now, Cosima. I gave you more than enough time to experiment," Shay sounds condescending. "I let you do your little thing. Socialize with these..." she glances over her shoulder at the human still recovering with a look of disgust on her face, "these pathetic humans long enough."
Cosima's attention is redirected to Delphine, finally on her feet but still supporting herself against the fence behind her, the healthy hand gently rubbing the sore flesh on her neck.
"What does she have to do with this?" Cosima asks, her chin tilting at the doctor.
"A means to an end." Shay shrugs. "I thought it was the best way to get your attention. I really don't know what you see in this weak thing, but it seemed like a good way to bring you to me," she continues, jabbing a finger over her shoulder.
"Leave her out if this, Shay!" Cosima makes her voice sound as threatening as possible. "If I see you near her again..."
Shay's laughter cuts her off. "Oh please... You were never a fighter Cosima and I doubt you'll start now."
"Stay away, Shay, I'm warning you!" Cosima snarls, fangs fully exposed, and musters her most menacing expression as she steps closer to the other vampire.
It doesn't stop Shay from continuing to laugh, if nothing else it only increases her amusement. "I doubt you'd want to start a war over this wretched...human, but okay." Shay raises both hands and walks around Cosima. "I'll leave you to it... for now."
Cosima's stare follows the smaller form until she reaches the end of the alley, not trusting her word.
"But, unless you've become stupid as well as housebroken," Shay throws out as if an afterthought, "you really should start to wonder where your owner comes from."
Cosima frowns, watching her sire turn the corner and disappears. The vampire's expression softens as she turns her attention back to the doctor, who was eerily quiet during the entire exchange. Delphine's hardened expression meets Cosima's eyes, but it's a brief connection as she quickly drops her gaze to search for her discarded bag. She grabs it and roughly loops the strap over her shoulder as she begins to walk away without a word, avoiding Cosima and the confused expression on her face.
"Delphine..." Cosima calls as the doctor walks by her.
The blonde doesn't react, as if she hasn't heard the vampire, completely ignoring her. Cosima hesitates before reaching for Delphine's arm, the blood still pouring from the cut on the palm of Delphine's hand captures the vampire's attention for a brief moment, just enough to make her clench her jaw, her fangs achingly eager to satisfy the hunger building inside her. With a strong tug, Delphine pulls herself free and turns glares at the smaller woman.
"I'm sorry," Cosima tries in the softest voice she can muster, averting her eyes from the source of her lust. "This is..."
"This is on you!" Delphine retorts quickly, stopping only to point an accusing finger at the vampire.
"Hey! I came here to help you," Cosima replies, the annoyance caused by the effort to keep her hunger under control and the doctor's accusation apparent in her voice.
"I wouldn't need your help in the first place if you hadn't decided to stalk me." Anger flashes in Delphine's voice and she turns to leave again.
Cosima sighs, her irritation deflating with the truth of the other woman's words. "At least let me walk you home," she says, taking a few steps to follow. "I want to make sure you get home safely."
"I think you've done quite enough!" Delphine snaps at her, quickening her pace.
Cosima lets her go, deciding not to push, but only allows her to go a block or so before she quietly follows at a reasonable distance. Delphine might be upset and craving separation, but that doesn't mean she's safe. So Cosima observes her from afar as the doctor enters her building and stands there, watching to see if any of the windows light up, but five minutes pass without a change. Eventually she walks away, certain that if anything bad had happened she'd be able to at least hear. Besides, it's not likely Shay will return.
Not today.
Delphine enters her home, making sure the door is safely locked behind her. She ignores the light switch, the glow from the street lamps coming through the windows is enough for her to see as she places the bag on the couch on her way to the window. She's careful not to get too close to the window, and looks to the street and sure enough, she spots the vampire on the sidewalk, looking up at her building.
She watches as Cosima appears to be losing her patience, walking back and forth a few times. She's unsure whether she should be pleased or disturbed at the vampire's persistence to keep her safe. After all that's happened today, it might not be such a bad idea to keep her close, even if Cosima is responsible for the difficult position in which Delphine finds herself. Cosima's sire won't give up, they never do, unless you disrupt your entire life, and disappear without a trace. Perhaps this time will be different, she thinks, worrying her lip as her eyes follow the vampire's steps up and down the street. This creature's interest is not Delphine; it's Cosima she wants.
She releases a deep sigh when she sees Cosima finally walk away and pulls the curtain shut before she moves further into the apartment, and flips the switch to illuminate the room. She moves to the kitchen and grabs a washcloth that she uses to wrap around her wounded hand, the white fabric immediately turning bright red as it becomes soaked with blood.
Over the years, Delphine has become an expert in ignoring the thoughts that flood her mind. She's had to to keep herself sane. Delphine shuts down the voices screaming in her mind and walks to the bathroom. There she strips out of her clothes, carelessly leaving them scattered on the floor.
The water is as hot as she can stand, the stream almost painfully peppering her skin. Finally her mind is empty as she blankly stares at the water, pink with the blood from her slashed hand, circling around the drain before it disappears. The several scars marring her back protest angrily, but it's just another thing she's learned to ignore, knowing it's all in her head. They are too old to cause any real pain. Most of them are shapeless; the attack too frenzied, the attacker set loose on her too young - merely a newborn - to be able to really sink the fangs into flesh. Still, they ache and the memory of the attack comes back to her, a confusion of whimpers and cries for help that were unanswered for what felt like an eternity.
Delphine turns off the shower head and towels herself. Not bothering with clothes, she drops to the bed, the same washcloth wrapped around her hand still bleeding but much less, and she pulls the covers over her head.
She's too afraid to close her eyes.
Delphine doesn't sleep.