Chapter 2

"Let go of her! Now!" Esmera's laugh came out cruel and heartless.

Kasie's panic was quickly brushed away to be replaced by worry and planning. She had to get Pasha away quickly, before she got anymore hurt.

"She's mine. I will not let her go, she willingly offered herself." Esmera licked along Pasha's neck, which was spilling red blood all over her, luckily her dress was black, not that it mattered if she died.

"She doesn't look so willing, if she was then why are you holding her so tight. Let her go, or else." She was thinking as fast as she could, but she could only come up with one sure fire way to save Pasha, and she would have to do it.

"She is just tired from a little blood loss, nothing to worry about." Her smile was wicked and cruel.

"Look, take me. I'm a virgin, we taste better. You can have it all, just let her go." Fear came slowly creeping back.

Esmera looked at her suspiciously, but she was obviously thinking it over. They both ignored Pasha's weak "No." Esmera's smile twisted once again into one of wickedness, but with satisfaction and lust in them.

"Very well. Come to me, and I shall have you."

Pasha once again let out a weak "No" before she was forced out of the door, where she fell to the ground in exhaustion and shame. Esmera locked the door and turned to Kasie.

"Come little birdie, come sing for me." Kasie cringed inside, but forced herself to take a step toward certain doom. She had just set down her foot when Esmera was upon her, her inhuman speed startled Kasie and she let out a quick shriek before Esmera covered her mouth and gripped into her purple hair, pulling her head to the side. She felt the vampire's tongue glide along her neck, and she couldn't stop the shiver of disgust from wracking her body.

"Oh, do you like that?" Kasie didn't answer, she didn't get to, the door exploded inward and pieces of wood flew at them cutting and scratching Kasie, before the pain could hit she felt something erupt behind her and blood and viscera coated her back and more. She looked up to see Nathaniel in the doorway, and he looked pissed. He was alone, and he had murder in his eyes.

Kasie looked at him for a moment before turning to see what had happened to Esmera. All she saw a small bundle of clothes and they, as well as almost everything within 5 feet was coated in blood and stringy viscera. Red was everywhere, blood red. Kasie felt herself break out in a cold sweat, suddenly everything was moving, shaking. Her vision swam, fluttering between reality and her worst memories. She felt like she would faint or scream.

Suddenly hands were holding her. She hadn't even realized she had been falling backwards. They were such strong hands, and they felt nice, they were almost...gentle. The world started becoming too bright, and then it started to darken just as she thought she couldn't endure anymore light. Everything became shadows.

"Let s get you cleaned up before anyone comes and sees this." A soft voice, almost kind, she couldn't help but smile.

"I you're, hi, nice think." Her mind couldn't work to even say 'Hi, I think you're nice' and she couldn't figure out why. Her gaze finally focused on cold blue eyes with orange-blonde eyelashes around them. She reached out to pull them closer, they're so pretty. She noticed something red on her hand, actually a lot of red, and some chunk of something was stuck to her.

Her mind ripped clear of the fog and she clamped down her jaw to silence a scream threatening to fly free.

"What happened?" Her voice was a whisper, and she was surprised she could hear it, and that was when she realized there was no music, or chatter, or even the sound of people moving, everything was silent.

"I cleared out the club and I came for you, don't worry, your redhead friend is safe. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, but what is all over me?" She couldn't keep the fear and disgust out of her voice.

"That vampire."

Kasie had to gulp down a lot of breaths to keep from vomiting and to calm herself. It was one thing to watch this kind of stuff in a horror movie, or something, and totally different to actually be the one coated in...whatever all of this was.

"Please, get it off of me. I don't know how much longer I can hold on." She could already feel the memories coming for the umpteenth time this night, after being buried for so long.

"You'll have to trust me first, I'm going to take you to my home, and I'll have to help you undress because I can tell in your current state you can't move, especially with that rather large chunk of wood in your right leg."

Kasie looked down at her body, confused, and that's when she realized what else she had been blocking out, pain, and like that it crashed over her, pulling out a whimper. She could feel spots bleeding and others where the embedded wood held the blood in.

She looked up to see that she'd missed his unsheathed fangs he was trying valiantly to keep hidden. His cold eyes swept over her body taking in the damage. He didn't look happy when he turned back to look at her.

"You've lost a lot of blood, and you're going to lose more. If we don't hurry, you'll die, but for you to live..." He looked away, something in his eyes filled her with that all too familiar feeling of fear.

"What?" Her voice was still only a whisper.

"You must drink my blood." Kasie shivered and cringed, shutting her eyes tightly in revulsion.

"Do you want to die?" His tone commanded an answer.

"No."

"Then try to stay still."

He lifted her like she was a feather. She watched as he took her out the back, but blacked out before they were outside. She awoke again as she heard a door shut and saw a few flashes of what looked like the interior of a home. Then she was on the floor of a different bathroom, one that smelled and looked nicer.

Nathaniel held her up as he untied her corset behind her back. It fell forward to expose her small chest and the spatter of wood pieces and cuts over her torso. His thumb then hooked into her stretch waist skirt and he started to slide it down. Without thinking she grabbed a hold of his hand as tightly as she could. His hand stopped after only moving less than an inch.

"Wait." She croaked out. "I have to tell you...warn you. I- just...please don't judge me." She gently released his hand and he cautiously continued the skirt's travel down.

His eyebrows twitched up for only a moment before settling back down. Kasie couldn't help but close her eyes and look away in shame.

Crisscrossing across the top of her thighs was a myriad of scars, different lengths and widths, as well as a few recent cuts.

"Hmm, so that's why I smelled blood on you, and here I thought it was because of your period."

"Please don't tell the girls, they think I've stopped, I just stopped using my arms. Please." She was disgusted by how pitiful she sounded, but she didn't care. She couldn't allow them to know, they would get angry, or worse.

"I, unlike you, don't judge others based on appearances, whatever they may be, you obviously have your reasons."

Nathaniel slowly laid her down in the bathtub and pulled a pair of tweezers from behind the mirror/cabinet. He then began meticulously removing the small pieces as well as any larger ones that wouldn't cause a lot of blood loss faster than her eyes could follow. In less than a minute, with his vampire speed she was free of most of the wooden shrapnel. There was only a medium sized chunk in her left arm, and the large one in her leg left. He grabbed a hand towel and turned to Kasie.

"Bite down on this." she obeyed.

He then carefully pulled out the wood in her arm. She tried not to, but she screamed into the towel anyway. Then he was at her leg as her arm started pouring blood. In another swift and cautious move he had the largest piece out of her leg and the blood just started gushing.

Kasie felt panic rising in her, was he going to let her bleed out, or was he going to drink her. Then he put his wrist to his mouth and bit down. She stared transfixed as he brought it to her mouth.

"Quickly, before it heals."

She grimaced and leaned forward lapping it up and sucking in the blood of a creature she had vowed to hate, avoid, and never be close to ever again, in any way.

"That's enough." She quickly pulled away, forcing herself to swallow it down, she didn't want to show it, but the blood hadn't tasted all that bad, kind of like how standard very dry wine would taste without alcohol and more oak-flavor.

"Feel better?" Kasie could feel herself healing, but then dread took over.

"I m not going to turn into a vampire, am I?" He looked at her and chuckled.

"No, that would require an injection of my venom which can only be done by our fangs, although you'll feel a little extra energy for a while and might hallucinate a bit."

"Alright." She reached out to pull herself up, but Nathaniel stopped her.

"You need to get cleaned up. And I need to clean my mess in the bar bathroom before anyone returns. Can you manage on your own from here?"

"Yes, I feel fine, in fact I feel kinda great. Do you have color safe shampoo?"

Nathaniel's face gained a small smile and he reached into the cabinet below the sink and pulled out two bottles, both saying Color SafeGaurd, one was shampoo the other conditioner. Kasie smiled and accepted them from him.

All too quickly she remembered her nakedness and turned away. Nathaniel chuckled, and she just knew his small smile had turned into a smirk.

"Take care, I'll be back."

Kasie nodded, and heard him whip away to do what he must, and she turned to the task she had. She started up the bath, and closed the curtains, then she switched it to shower and stood up, she felt a little light headed for a moment, but it passed quickly, and in no time she had scrubbed her hair and body almost raw, twice, just to be sure it was all out.

She turned the water off and opened the curtain, only to see Nathaniel standing there in different clothing. Instead of the black silk button-up and tight black jeans he was now in a gray cotton shirt, unbuttoned, and loose black silk pajama pants.

Kasie looked away quickly as she turned her full frontal nudity away from him. She didn't turn fast enough not to notice what those pj pants held back, and the toned and sleek muscles beneath his shirt.

"Clean enough? I could hear how hard you scrubbed from across town. You sure you weren't trying to rub your skin off?" His voice lilted with amusement.

Kasie gritted her teeth. "I still feel like that stuffs on me, and I can feel your blood in me, it's weird, I feel all wrong."

"I'm sorry, it was irrational of me to blast open the door knowing there was a chance at least one shard could hit that vampire's heart." Kasie instantly felt bad for sounding so ungrateful. She turned her head to see him out of the corner of her eye.

"Thank you for saving me. I didn't want to be bitten, but I had to save Pasha." She turned a little so she could see him better, but he couldn't see her breasts, not that they were much to see.

"You are welcome, but I was just doing my job as the owner of this establishment. You didn't need to do that, I was already about to investigate, I had just caught a whiff of the redhead's blood. Then you went rushing off, and Jezzabelle asked that blond girl with eyes like yours about what was 'with' you, and then I heard a scream. I immediately had the club emptied, or at least started the process and allowed Jezzabelle to take over. Then I heard your whimper, and I was worried she had bitten you." His expression darkened dramatically at that last part, before returning to normal as he continued. "I tried the doorknob, it was locked, so I blasted the door open, better safe than sorry. That woman had already illegally fed once on my property, I was not about to let it happen twice, especially to-..." He looked away. "Anyway, you're safe. Here are some towels, dry up, and I'll try to find some clothes that will fit you. That will be hard, you are very tiny."

Kasie took the towels and looked down at her 5'3" bird framed body as she dried off.

She could just hear Nathaniel in another room rummaging through what she assumed to be wardrobes. She stepped out onto the mat and bent over. She wrapped the towel around her long purple hair and calculated how long it had been since she'd last dyed it. She looked in the mirror/cabinet and guessed at about millimeter of exposed blond roots. She made a mental note to schedule a coloring for three weeks from then.

"You might have to cut the parts that got blood on them. It can mess with color, especially ones like yours. It's hell to get out of blond hair, ask Jezzabelle, she's had to work on her...eating habits thanks to a few mishaps with her hair and why she keeps it short. It's not much easier to get out of ginger hair as light as mine either."

Kasie felt her heart sink, she had been growing her hair for so long, she had planned on donating it, but what will be, will be. She didn't bother to suppress her sigh of defeat.

"You'll survive, it's just hair. It grows back."

"Yeah, I just...I had plans for it, and it's been a long time since I've really cut it."

Nathaniel stood silent for a moment. Kasie suddenly remembered she was in nothing but a skimpy towel. As if reading her mind Nathaniel was there holding out a handful of clothes.

"I found a pair of Jezzabelle's underwear I thought suited you, since she keeps a few spare outfits on hand here for when she visits. The shirt is one of mine, since Jezzabelle would kill me for giving you one of hers, she guards her clothes like a dragon does treasure, but she'll understand about the...panties, and she has at least a hundred more were that one came from. There's also a pair of my shorts, same reason. I couldn't find a bra, uh, small enough." Kasie grabbed them and set them on the sink.

She started to unwind the towel when she realized he was still in there. She turned to him with a questioning look.

He looked surprised for a moment before barely suppressing a smile. "I wanted to stay to make sure you're still okay, you could still pass out or something." She could see mischief dancing in his eyes.

"I'll be fine, dammit. Out!" She couldn't suppress her irritation at him, and he calmly glided out, closing the door softly.

She returned her attention to the clothing and let the towel drop. She inspected her healed body without the blur of little light and lots of water.

All the spots where she had been impaled by wooden pieces were healed as well as the cuts and scratches, even those she had given herself. Her scars were still on her legs, but many of them looked very faded.

She buttoned up the black cotton shirt he gave her and found the underwear. She stared at it for a moment embarrassed that he had chosen a thong almost the exact shade of her hair. She slid them on and let out a quick smile. Then she pulled on the black running pants, they were a little snug, but comfortable. The shirt hung loosely on her tiny frame, and despite buttoning it almost completely (only the last, throat button left undone), it still exposed a bit of her, but not too much.

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror and let out another quick smile before twirling around and marching to the door. She pulled it open and almost walked into Nathaniel waiting on the other side.

He stepped back and stared at her for a moment, analyzing her appearance. She felt self-conscious, that stage-in-front-of-a-million-people feeling again, only she was in the eyes of but one, a vampire. She looked at her feet. She knew she never looked as pretty when she didn't have make-up on. In fact she tended to look only a little above plain in her opinion.

"They look good on you, I was worried the pants might be a little too long for your height, but they are just right, good thing you fit in my capris. Why do you look down?"

She turned her head to the side, too shy to look up. She didn't want this ridiculously handsome vampire to see her normality. She didn't know why, but she wanted him to think well of her. She tried to resist as he gripped her chin and forced her gaze up, but it was no use.

"There, looks like you're fine, what makes you turn away?"

Kasie turned her gaze to the side, not brave enough to meet his eyes. He just moved to follow her, forcing her to look into those blue rings.

"I'm not...pretty, so don't...look." She wanted to scream at herself for acting like such a melodramatic girly-girl, but something in this creature was destroying her control and the walls and defenses she had built against letting anyone else, especially a male, into her thoughts, mind...heart?

"Not pretty?"

"Yes. I'm basically plain."

"Really. Are we talking about the same person?"

"Who else?"

"I don t know."

Kasie could feel herself growing irritated and didn't reply.

"I only see a lovely young girl who seems to have some warped views of beauty, especially her own."

"I'm not lovely or warped...well maybe a little warped, but not that way."

Nathaniel cupped her face in his hands and forced her to look only at him. His eyes were serious and blazing.

"I do not like when people denounce my word, I only speak the truth. Do not doubt it, question it, or deny it."

Kasie just tightened her jaw and did her best to look away. She then began to feel weariness and exhaustion creeping up on her.

"I need to get back to the hotel, I'm tired and the girls are probably worried about me."

Nathaniel released her face and straightened to his full 6'2" and turned away. "I think you should stay here for the day. You are still weak, and you never know how you humans will react to different vampire's blood."

"Wait, react? How will I react?" She felt anxiety start eating away at her.

"Well, sometimes people stay awake for days at a time, others sleep for days themselves. You could get wild energy, or start to hallucinate. You might grow stronger, or it can weaken you. You will definitely feel an increase in your libido-"

"What?"

"An increase in your libido?"

"I hate to sound ignorant, but what is a libido?"

"Your sex drive, what makes you hot and bothered, and gets you horn-"

"Okay, got it." She couldn't believe she didn't know that, worse she just HAD to ask Nathaniel. On second thought, it made sense she didn't know, she had never had any interest in such things.

Nathaniel just smirked at her and folded his arms as he leaned against the door frame. "Your senses will also be heightened, but that's typically pleasant, if handled right." He gave her a naughty smile and winked.

Kasie just scowled at him. "I have no interest in any personal 'interactions' at all, not with you, or any other male...or female."

"A shame, I could show you quite the good time, I am, after all over a 1,500 years old, and I have a lot of experience."

Kasie shuddered and stepped away a bit, bumping into something. She turned to see a large dark wood chest thrown open, and saw that it was full of different types, colors and sizes of panties, bras, and other lingerie. She quickly stepped back and bumped into Nathaniel. His arms encircled her, pulling her close to him. She tried to pull away, but it was in vain, she couldn't move him even a millimeter.

"You know, those are merely the tokens of this year, about five months worth." Kasie had to stifle a gasp. There were at least thirty different pieces of clothing that she could see.

"So you're a man whore. Great, a man whore vampire."

Nathaniel let out a low growl, and it sounded almost animal to Kasie, and it kind of scared her. "I am by no means a man whore, I was kidding, I've only bedded twelve women this month, and none of them interesting or special, mostly passing entertainment, they enjoyed it more than I."

"That's still a lot of women. How many have you slept in your whole life, hmm?"

"I suppose, and I have no idea how many, I did tell you that I have been alive for over a 1,500 years, who has time to keep track of such a thing over that period of time."

"So a hell of a lot, okay."

"Hah, I see. You haven't even been close to intimate with a guy, you're still a virgin. I bet you would taste wonderful, virgins always do." Nathaniel nuzzled his nose into her neck, and she felt his lips press against her vein. She wanted to moan in ecstasy, it felt like electricity was starting there and racing through her body to settle right between her thighs.

"I have been close, and a little intimate, but I've felt no need to let any man take what belongs to me. Don't you dare bite me, I'm still weak, and tired, and you're not allowed!"

Nathaniel released her and started laughing, but not too much.

"'Not allowed'? That is cute. 'Belongs to' you, no man, oh, that is rich. You, my dear, are quite the catch."

"Catch? I am not caught by anyone, I am free and independ-" As she finished her statement the room darkened a few shades and swam for a moment, she started to fall forward, but Nathaniel caught her and picked her up into his arms, bridal style.

"Time to rest Miss Firecracker." Nathaniel gently laid her down on the bed and pulled the dark red satin sheets up around her as she lost consciousness. He left the room. In a moment he was up in the air and flying back to BloodBar. Landed at the front entrance behind three women with expectant looks on their faces. Behind them stood Jezzabelle and Lawrence (black haired, blue eyed 'muscle'), both looked bored and annoyed. There were a few stragglers beyond them, mostly lounging around the parking lot but all keeping the doors in their sight, waiting to be let back in.

"The club is going to remain closed for the night, return tomorrow." People and vampires grumbled but went on their way. Only Lawrence, Jezzabelle, Devun, a pale, but standing Pasha, and Mercede remained.

"Kasie is fine, she's safe, but she's extremely tired, so I put her to rest in a bed at my personal residence."

"How do we know you won't do anything to her?" Devun's voice was full of worry, anxiety, and fear.

"Yeah, how do we even know if you're telling the truth?" Pasha eyed him suspiciously.

Nathaniel's face remained a mask of absolute calm.

Mercede's soft voice broke the silence. "He's telling the truth, he's a businessman, he knows better than to do anything illegal or to allow harm to come to a girl like Kasie, especially since she has so many friends."

"And her big sister." Devun's voice freed of the worry, anxiety, and fear, actually sounded fairly convincing, until Pasha and Mercede started giggling.

"What?"

Mercede was the first to recover, "I'm sorry, but you have never been the 'big sister' between you two, if anything you are the older little sister. Kasie has always taken care of you for as long as I've known you."

Devun sighed, but conceded defeat.

"I suggest you three head back to that hotel of yours, it s already 3 AM." Nathaniel's tone showed that he wanted them to leave right away.

"We would, but we are without our designated driver, and we've all had our fair share of drinks."

"Very well. Jezzabelle, please escort these ladies back to their hotel."

Jezzabelle sighed in exasperation, but obeyed and started off toward the Purple Honda Accord, the only car left on the lot besides the three vampires .

In a moment they were gone, and Nathaniel looked at Lawrence and nodded. Nathaniel lifted off to head back to his home and Lawrence set about formally closing up BloodBar.