Magdalena, Ancille, and Liliane took turns as Bones' donors, though he still used Liliane's wrist rather than her neck. Fear was beginning to turn to unsure lust, but she startled like a rabbit if he moved too quickly. He knew what was the matter, he'd seen many other girls with the same mannerisms. Sometime, another vampire had hurt her.

Bones wondered who, and when, and briefly he had wondered why Liliane had been left alive, but that hadn't lasted long because he knew. Whomever that vampire was had been pleased with her pain and fear and wanted her to live to remember it.

That was the sort of vampire Bones had grown comfortably wealthy by killing. He hoped that he'd one day meet this as-yet unknown vamp and have the pleasure of shriveling him. Of course, before then he needed to find out who it was.

Lilaine appeared to be the youngest, but Bones wasn't sure. Élisabeth was, in fact, sixteen and distantly related to Ancille, thus her particular protectiveness of her.

Élisabeth was recovering steadily, especially after Bones insisted on another dose of his blood two days after they'd arrived. She was happy to be still, though, often found sitting quietly with her hand on her belly, but she did not enjoy being idle. She peeled vegetables, polished silver and wood, and was pleased to find the basket of mending sitting unattended in a corner, with a small wooden box containing scissors, needles, pins and thread. She showed Bones and asked if she could work on some of it.

"That must have belonged to the humans that lived here before the war," Bones said thoughtfully. "I left this home in 1920 and lived in England for a time, though a few people did remain here with my permission until the Germans started to make too much noise. I'd paid their passage to England then, and not a moment too soon." He shook his head, then nodded at the basket. "I guess that's yours now, then. They're well cared for in England and goodness knows when they'll be back."

Élisabeth's eyes grew. The basket was full, with several slips, a sheet, and a few other indiscernible darker colored items. She looked at it all, and a slow smile spread across her face. "May I use it for material?"

"Material?" Then her meaning came to him. "For baby things, you mean?"

She nodded.

"Certainly, but you know it'll be my job to provide for your infant as long as you're under my responsibility."

She lowered her eyes. "It's my baby, Bones. Truly, this baby is the first I've ever had that was truly mine."

Bones nodded, dark eyes knowing. "Use the material for whatever you wish. If you've a need for more, ask me and I'll do my best."

Élisabeth stood then, spontaneously throwing her arms around him. He hugged back, enjoying the fervor in her embrace because it was genuine. "Thank you," she said into his chest.

XXXXXXX

That night it was again Liliane's turn to give Bones her blood. He found her in the sitting room knitting with double pointed needles and grey yarn. She did not yet know he was there, and he took the opportunity to watch her.

Liliane's hands moved steadily, her voice raising and falling in a hummed tune. She seemed relaxed, a state in which Bones had very rarely seen her. Her blonde hair was tied back and she was dressed in a grey skirt and white blouse, but her feet were bare.

He knocked gently to alert her to his presence and she nearly stabbed herself with a needle.

"Careful, pet," he chided gently. He sat beside her and held out his hand, inspecting hers when she hesitantly gave it to him. He kneaded gently, pressing his thumbs into her palm, eyes on his work instead of her face but noting when her scent sweetened with the pleasure of his touch. When he finished with the one he held, he gestured for the other and massaged it as well, then turned it to inspect her wrist. "May I?" He asked quietly.

"Yes," she said, and he was pleased that he smelled no fear.

Bones bit her carefully, making sure he pushed his venom into her, filling her with the warmth and pleasure it brought. When he finished feeding, he healed the punctures and then held her hand for another moment. Her eyes were closed and he could see the remains of the pleasure on her face, though she sobered quickly once he was not biting her.

He let her take her hand away but he didn't move, instead studying her. "How old are you, Liliane?"

"Seventeen, nearly eighteen." She picked up her knitting, but her movements were very slow.

Bones was surprised, she looked much younger. "How long have you been with the other girls?"

"Eight years."

Bones' lips thinned. Girls so young were used in his day too, but he wanted to kill every one of the clients who bought them.

"How?"

"I was kidnapped, my mother was killed in front of me, my father found where I was being held, but they shot him as soon as they saw him. I'm far too pretty for them to give up. Cheyney bought me from the men who kidnapped me. I don't know if he knew where I came from, but he knew how old I was. I was a delicacy." Her tone was hollow, her eyes on the needles as it went into the stitches and formed new ones, over and over.

Bones' face was impassive. He nodded and let the silence be for a moment. Then he drew a breath. "You can stay here, Liliane, and never be touched by another man again save when I feed from you, if that is what you wish." He reached out and tipped her chin so she had to look at him. "No one will rape you again. If they try, I will kill them."

Her big blue eyes bored into his brown ones, and he knew she was searching for the tell that would let her know he was lying. She found none.

Liliane nodded, sighing. "I've been waiting for you to take me to your bed, Bones. I know you said you would not but…" She shrugged and didn't need to finish.

"I do not come in where I am not invited. I never have and I never will."

Liliane regarded him with open suspicion for a moment. "Never?"

"Never. There have been young ladies who regretted afterwards, mainly religious reasons, you know. Pesky puritanical beliefs. Those young ladies I gave a spot of my blood to heal her wound and a flash of the eyes to heal her guilt. But every woman I've shagged, wanted to shag me."

Liliane nodded after a long moment. "Thank you."

"My pleasure."