Chutes and Ladders

Callie looked on as Iris collected blood from the Countess's vampire children. Iris had just finished with Wren. "Get some juice and cookies" she told the young girl. Wren got up and approached Callie, who put a bandage over the small puncture mark and handed her two chocolate chip cookies with apple juice. Wren smiled politely at Callie, who returned it with a nod and gentle pat on the back.

As the oldest, though not the first of the children to be afflicted by Elizabeth, Callie took on the role of big sister and assistant caregiver to the four children: Wren, the boys and Holden, the newest and youngest edition to the Countess's collection.

After all of the children finished giving blood, including Callie herself, she began to pack up the equipment while Iris made sure that the crystal vial contained every last drop of the precious blood.

"Callie, come play with me."

Turning towards the direction of the voice, Callie looked down to find Holden smiling up at her while sitting on the couch holding a game controller. Callie let out a small sigh as she smiled back at the little boy. "Holden, I can't right now, I'm working." Holden didn't seem phased by her response. "You can take a break." "You can ask Wren or one of the boys to play." "But I want to play with you", Holden said with a small whine.

Callie let out a small laugh, amused by the little vampire's persistence. "Please, just for a few minutes", Holden said as he looked up at Callie with his pouty lips and puppy-dog eyes. Callie smirked. Not this time kid, I know all your tricks she thought to herself. Holden then changed tactics. "We can play Super Mario Brothers." Callie raised an eyebrow at that. "You can be Yoshi." That did it. Darn it, he knows I love playing Super Mario Brothers, and being Yoshi,Callie thought to herself.

"Okay, you win I'll play, but only for fifteen minutes." "Yes!" Holden said as he scooted over to make room on the couch for Callie. Grabbing a game controller, Callie sat down next to Holden; seeing the smug smile on his face, she reached over and ruffled his long, platinum blonde hair. Holden giggled as he pushed her hand away from his head. "Okay little vamp, hit 'Start'." Callie laughed as Holden used his controller to start the game.

…

A few hours later, Callie found herself wearing a short-sleeve crimson red dress that reached the top of her knees, black high heels, and her favorite necklace: a small, gold angel pendant on a gold chain. Looking down from the hotel lobby balcony, she watched the fashion show hosted by the hotel's soon-to-be-owner Will Drake with absentmindedness.

The main reason why she was at the party in the first place was simply due to curiosity. She wanted to see who among the hotel staff and residents would show up for the party and fashion show. So far she had witnessed Sally getting kicked out, Lachlan and Scarlett sneaking off, and one male model make quite a scene on the runway.

Callie wasn't worried about Lachlan and Scarlett, knowing that they would not be harmed by the hotel. As for the male model, Tristen Duffy, Callie could smell his rage from the balcony (which unnerved her) and did not miss the brief staring contest between him and Elizabeth.

Callie's gaze shifted from Elizabeth, to Tristen, to Donovan, and back again. This could be bad she thought to herself as she turned her attention back to the fashion show.

…

About 6 hours after the party had ended, Callie was walking down the hallway towards the penthouse, carrying with both hands a bottle of the Countess's favorite liquor. As she neared the suite, she began to pick up a particular cocktail of smells she had gotten good at recognizing over the past ten years.

Smells associated with sex. Lots and lots of sex.

Not wanting to disturb her mistress, Callie decided to come back later. Just as she turned around to head back down the hall, she saw Donovan walking towards her; and he looked angry. Well, angrier than usual.

Knowing that the sight just beyond the penthouse doors would make him even more upset, Callie set down the bottle of liquor and stepped in front of Donovan. "You really don't want to go in there." "Get out of the way" Donovan scoffed as he shoved the younger vampire away from the door and went inside. Callie came in and spotted Donovan headed towards the master bedroom. "You won't like what you see" she warned; but Donovan ignored her.

"Are those guys you killed?"

"You won't last a week", Donovan sneered as he stood in the bedroom doorway; Callie standing slightly behind him. "I'm sorry about this Mistress", Callie said with a small bow as she looked down at the floor (not wanting to see the half-naked bodies of the two lovers in front of her). "That's quite alright Callie dear" the Countess replied in her eerily calm voice as she looked at Donovan.

Tristen then stood up on the bed. "You wanna say that to my face?" he challenged. "I just did" Donovan remarked as Tristen scowled at him. Callie watched with frightened eyes as she looked from Donovan to Tristen to Elizabeth.

"Tristen, would you give us a minute" the Countess said as she looked up at her new lover. Tristen turned to Elizabeth, than glanced back at Donovan. "Yeah, sure" he said with a shake of his head as he turned to gather his robe. Elizabeth and Donovan stared at each other.

"Callie." Callie's eyes shot up to look at the Countess. "Be a dear and get Tristen a drink." Callie nodded her head. "Yes Mistress", she said with a bow before hurrying out of the room and over to the bar; with Tristen slowly trailing behind her.

Glad to be away from the intense atmosphere of the master bedroom, Callie grabbed the neared crystal vial of alcohol and poured it into a crystal glass. Once the glass was about one fourth full, she turned to hand it to Tristen. Snatching the glass out of Callie's outstretched hand, he greedily drank the liquor. Callie put her arms behind her back and looked at the floor as Tristen chugged the drink. When he was finished she glanced up at him. "…So…how long have you worked in the modeling business?"

…

"Callie, watch the front desk for me" Iris said as she lead John Lowe, the hotel's newest resident, up to the bar to talk with him about the hotel's history. Callie, who had been sitting in the lobby reading one of her favorite books, The Great Gatsby, simply nodded in response to Iris's statement.

With her book in hand Callie went behind the front desk, sat down and continued to read. Having finished all of her hotel chores (which usually took a total of 4 hours to complete), Callie was glad to have some free time. She just hoped none of the residents would call to ask for her assistance at this time of night.