Despite the beam of sunshine that was currently hitting her face, Santana closed her eyes tightly, willing herself to get some sleep. She didn't know much about vampires, but she did understand that they were nocturnal for the most part. Though, if she was being honest with herself, she knew that her current predicament had more to do with the fact that she had been terrified of sleeping through the night. She was surrounded by blood sucking vampires, and she knew that her situation was tenuous at best.

So, sleeping hadn't truly been a thing for her. She knew the second she let down her guard the fangers would be right there to suck her dry or even worse. The thought of that sent shudders up her spine. But it's late—or early or something and she's hungry—she can't remember the last time that she had anything to eat and she wasn't sure where the kitchen was or how they planned to feed her. She would draw the line at eating from a food bowl though.

Wallowing wasn't getting her anywhere and it was time to take action. She slips out of bed, feeling the cool marble floor under her feet. She didn't have slippers or anything of the sort and she was far too lazy to put on the only shoes that she had brought over. She bites her lip and slowly makes her way towards the door, hoping that they hadn't locked her inside. There is no resistance in the door handle and she pulls the door open, praying and hoping that there weren't any vampires around. She slowly pokes her head out of the door to her room and relaxes when she sees that the hallway is empty.

She takes a cautious step outside, half-expecting Blaine or some other vampire to inform her that she was to stay in her room, but no one shows up. There was a stunning lack of security in this area. Which was both stunning and terrifying at the same time. She takes a few steps trying to remember how to get toward the staircase. This entire floor was like a maze and she—

'Here he comes

Here comes Speed Racer

He's a demon on wheels

He's a demon and he's gonna be chasin' after someone.'

Santana blinks remembering the old cartoon that came on Saturday mornings that aired on the channels in the area. They didn't get a lot of new content—it was probably because creativity was squashed and everything they watched was some form of propaganda. She follows the sound of the tune till she comes to a room with an open door and lights flashing on the cool marble floor. Probably a reflection from the television that's playing.

She takes a deep breath and waits for any sound or signal that she might not be alone. But it's just the sound of the television, and she decides to take a quick look, only to nearly gasp and pull back hoping that she hadn't been seen. She hadn't expected to run into one of the Regents, this early in the morning—eating candy and drinking a glass of what appeared to be blood.

She hadn't managed to discern which of the twins it was, she had only looked for a split second. But based on the fact that she was still alive and no one was chasing after her, she guessed that no one had seen her. She takes a couple of deep breaths and feels herself relax a little. Peeking around the corner one more time, she frowns when the figure she had expected to see is no longer there.

Emboldened by the Regent's absence, she leans forward further, completely losing her vantage point. But there isn't anyone close to being able to detect her.

"Where the hell did she go?" Santana muses to herself. She looks around the room, maybe it had been an illusion of sorts. Anything was possible it's not like she understood vampires. Her stomach growls and she feels a pang of hunger, they hadn't starved her in prison but it's not like the food had been that great either let alone bountiful. She sighs and turns around to go and find the kitchen when she hears a sharp tapping sound coming from behind her.

Santana whips around and stumbles back in shock as one of the Regents waves at her from where she was hanging upside down. That was scary enough, she had always been an easy scare but this—the Regent's fangs were out and she had known that this was what was going to happen. She winces as her tailbone hits the marble floor but scrambles a few feet backwards, just to be safe.

The smile on the regent's face fades for a moment and for a moment Santana could swear she saw concern or something similar on the vampire's face. It's only when the vampire reaches for her that she immediately places this one. Charlie. The one that had killed Hunter with her bare hands in a flashy entrance. The one that had spared her life and yet made her into a pet. She wasn't quite sure she knew how she felt about the silent regent.

It takes a moment for her to realize that Charlie is petting her head like she's some sort of puppy and it's only then that she makes a move swatting the vampires hand away. "I'm a human. I'm not a pet and I'm not a plaything for you and—" Santana stares at Charlie who hadn't seemed particularly perturbed by the swat, instead the vampire had simply gone back to petting her head. It was humiliating and there was a condescending look on the vampire's face. "Will you stop I—" Santana begins attempting to swat the silent vampire away again only to feel a hand encircle her wrist and tug her to her feet.

This was it. She was sure she was either going to be tortured or bleed for the precious fluid within her veins. Instead the vampire walks her through the hallway, her hand still wrapped firmly around her wrist and into a kitchen area. It's only then when the vampire lets go of her wrist and points to the island, indicating that she wanted Santana to sit.

Santana swallows and does as she asks only to have a bowl appear in front of her, which was quickly filled with a brown cereal. A spoon appeared and Santana's eyes widened at the milk that also appeared in front of her. Milk was expensive, it was generally far out of her means and her parents had only bought it for special occasions. Yet here it was a jug of milk. Just sitting there. She looks at the vampire who was just watching her like she was the most fascinating thing on the planet, and has an internal debate on whether she should pour the milk on her cereal.

"Charlie, what are you doing?"

Santana's body froze, her muscles tensing debating whether she should attempt to flee or stand her ground. She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. Quinn sounded irritated, and she was quickly coming to the realization that it was probably Quinn's default tone. She flicked her eyes over to Charlie who was moving her hands at a quick pace.

"Words." Quinn barked at her twin, and rolled her eyes when Charlie directed a very rude gesture at her. She rubs her temples and points at Santana, "Yes, I'm aware that you're feeding her, I'm more concerned with what you're feeding her. Sugary cereal, when I explicitly informed the staff that you're not to have anymore—and worse you're feeding it to our pet."

"I'm not a—" Santana watched as Charlie made a few more gestures.

"Yes, well, I realized that I'm the one that's going to be taking care of it when you eventually get bored since this one isn't a giant ball of fluff like Sam was. She doesn't turn into an animal she's just a human."

"Who is sitting right—"

Quinn ignored her, instead focusing on her twin who was moving her hands rapidly. "This would be remarkably easier if you used your damn words," she interrupts flatly. "Look, I don't want a morbidly obese pet."

Charlie's smirk grows into a wide broad grin and Santana can't help but agree with Quinn. "No. I'm not letting you just fatten me up."

Charlie seemed to deflate at the fact that she wasn't getting her way, and takes the bowl of cereal from Santana and pours some milk into it before taking the spoon and eating it.

Quinn frowned, at her twin's choice in breakfast food, sugary snacks. She didn't quite notice the awe that was on Santana's face. "You're going to rot out your fangs. Do you know how not terrifying a fangless vampire is?"

Charlie took another bite of the cereal flicking her eyes to Quinn, an open invitation to attempt to stop her.

Quinn merely rolls her eyes, "Go watch your cartoons, I'll make breakfast for the pet and come join you. Perhaps we can actually have a day to ourselves without the world ending." Charlie smiles at that thought before nodding and disappearing, though not before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Santana watches the interaction with interest. It would be almost sweet if they weren't murderous sociopaths. But Santana couldn't think of that right now because she was still hung up on the fact that fangers were eating Count Chocula cereal like it was the most normal thing in the world. "You guys can eat something other than blood?" She sputters.

This time, Quinn seems to finally have deemed the question worth answering. "Yes. I wish my twin would eat something other than ironic processed sugar. But suffice it to say that we aren't like other members of the Red Court."

Santana frowned, "If you don't need blood—"

"All because we can eat normal food, doesn't mean that we don't need blood or that we don't feel the thirst like any other vampire." Quinn interrupts, not truly wanting to have a conversation about their eating habits. Quinn makes her way to the fridge and pulls it open studying it carefully. "Santana, was it?" Quinn asks throwing her a look before shrugging, she didn't actually care what her name was if she was being honest. "You seem to be under the impression that we are nothing more than parasites, that take and offer very little in return, when the reality of the matter is that this is a symbiotic relationship. It's give and take."

Santana swallowed, "Of course you think that—"

Quinn holds up her hand as she gets some ingredients, "If you wanted representation, if you wanted to have a say in how the state was run, then why haven't the humans had elections? The shifter community has elections and each of the various clans meets with us once a week where we have meetings to discuss their agenda. Then they go back and govern their communities."

This was news to her, though she shouldn't be surprised that the shifters were close to the vampires. "The humans are afraid of you."

Quinn scoffed at this, "The humans tortured anyone who was different for centuries. You're part of a fragmented group that can't even agree on what they want. Most want representation only for themselves so they can find another group to disenfranchise. Those who are disenfranchised will find someone else so that they can feel better about themselves, someone with even less power and resources and who looks different."

"No system is perfect but we were evolving—"

"Slower than other Western nations. Though, to be completely honest, some of those Western nations were regressing. I'm sure eventually you would have gotten it right." Quinn interrupts and shrugs again. "If you hadn't been foolish, I would have lived to see it."

Santana scowled at this, gripping her hands tightly, "People are disappearing, Hunter—that vampire that you killed, he murdered people in the streets and nothing was ever done. So, people have every right to be afraid. It might be an act of terrorism to you but to them—" Santana stops when Quinn turns to her and stares at her. "It was justified, he was a threat. They tried to eliminate him."

Quinn studied Santana for a long moment before a sardonic smile, "Except Hunter wasn't an active threat to them at the moment. No one reported him, and thankfully we are not omniscient. Had this come to our attention before then we would have dealt with the situation."

Santana watches quietly as Quinn moves around the kitchen gracefully. This conversation had not gone the way that she had expected. In fact, none of this was as she expected. The Regents didn't seem like thugs—they didn't seem anything like Hunter. They didn't seem as sadistic and as cruel as she had thought they would be—though she had witnessed one of them murdering one of their own openly. She didn't feel sorry for Hunter and personally she was thrilled that he was dead, but it's not what she wanted.

Quinn works quickly, chopping vegetables with an experienced hand. Santana's sure that she can see a smirk behind Quinn's concentration, but she can't figure out why it would be there. "What are you making?"

Quinn shrugs and continues with her task with the skill of a seasoned professional. Santana tracks the ingredients, baffled over how so much can be used all at once. Cheese, spices, and more that Santana doesn't even know how to identify—each ingredient used carefully but with little regard to their scarcity in the human neighborhoods. Finally, Quinn looks up and narrows her eyes directly at Santana. "You don't have allergies, do you?"

Santana nods. "Peanuts—any nuts, mostly." Nuts are moderately more accessible than dairy products, but she remembers being rushed to the healers and doctors after a birthday treat when she was seven. It was an experience she never wants to repeat.

Quinn frowns but glances around the kitchen to confirm that she hadn't added anything that might harm their pet. "I'll make sure the entire staff knows."

"Why?"

"Why?" Quinn furrows her brow, putting down her knife and resting her hands flat against the counter. "I'm guessing that telling you that we want to make sure you're well taken care of isn't going to be answer enough?" She shrugs after a moment and studies Santana carefully, "To put this in terms that you understand. I don't want a morbidly obese pet, I don't want a sick pet."

Santana's eyes narrow, "I'm not a pet—" she begins only to feel a hand on the top of her head petting her. She looks up despite already knowing who it was. She sighs inwardly when she sees Charlie standing there with an empty bowl of cereal in her hand. She swallows and continues, "I'm a human—people already think that you see us as nothing more than cattle."

Quinn doesn't respond to that immediately turning to her twin, who continued to pet Santana as if trying to soothe her. "She can't have anything with nuts in it. Which means that you need to be careful." Quinn instructed her despite knowing that Charlie had probably been listening in. She moves to the stove turning it on and watching the flames flicker on. "Does it matter?"

"Of course, it matters," Santana insists, and pauses when Charlie begins to move her hands at her and she frowns not following it. "I—"

"Charlie, the only person who understands you is me and I make it up as I go," Quinn interrupts her twin. "If you want her to know something, use your words."

Charlie stomps her foot and scowls at Quinn who merely raises her brow in a silent challenge.

Quinn rolled her eyes once again and Charlie begins to make wild gestures once again this time pausing to point to Santana and look back at her. "Fine, I'll tell her." Turning to Santana, she nods her head towards her sister. "You can tell a lot by how someone treats their animals. You might think it's degrading and dehumanizing and perhaps we could do better, but as of right now, you're not afraid." Quinn plates the food and pushes it towards Santana. "So, either you're brave or you're stupid, there is a fine line and I—we wonder which side you fall on."

Santana stared at the food in front of her as Charlie set down a fork and knife and her eyes widened at the orange liquid that was poured into a cup. It looked like it was made from actual oranges. She'd never had them before, she wasn't even sure if the super wealthy had a real orange before. She glances up at both vampires finally realizing that they're watching her, and she hesitates, not quite sure what to say. "I—thank-you," she finally manages.

Quinn nods studying the pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice before looking at her twin, who seemed content to watch Santana eat. "Come along Charlie, you have a busy day today."

Charlie turned to Quinn a quizzical look on her face.

Quinn raised a brow and waited for Charlie to finally realize what was getting at. She rolls her eyes, "You're free to explore if you wish, but for now you are not to leave the grounds. We may be the Regents of this area, but not all the vampires under our command are loyal to us. Hunter had quite the following and they are not pleased with the actions that my twin took. They might look to even the score."

Santana shivered, she had almost gotten comfortable, with this discussion, she had almost gotten taken in by the delicious smelling food and the expensive ingredients. But she needed to remember where she was and more importantly she needed to stay alive. It would be best to simply stick to her room. It was close enough to the Regents room.