The Heir

Chapter 8

Quinn was the only thing on Rachel's mind as she barged out of Incision. Her mother and grandmother had dropped a huge bombshell on her.

Her mind was racing. And she couldn't seem to catch her breath. All she knew was that she needed to see Quinn. She needed to hold her lover and feel that connection only Quinn seemed to satisfy.

Twenty minutes later, when Quinn opened her apartment door, Rachel rushed in and pulled Quinn into her arms, holding her tight. She buried her nose in soft blonde hair and inhaled, trying to ground herself.

As for Quinn, she wasn't sure what in the world was going on. So she just held her obviously upset girlfriend, knowing Rachel would tell her when she was ready.

"He's evil," came Rachel's muffled voice.

Quinn raised her eyebrows in confusion. "What? Who's evil, baby?"

Rachel pulled back and looked into Quinn's eyes. "My father. He's evil."

Stunned, Quinn stared at her. "What? I don't understand, Rachel. How did you find out about your father? I didn't think you knew who he was."

"Something happened tonight. At Incision. It was horrible. Then my mother and grandmother told me about my father," the words came out in a rush. "A bastard surprised me. Stabbed me. But then I—"

"Stabbed?!" Quinn shrieked, taking a step back, but keeping hold of Rachel's hands.

Rachel looked at her. "I killed him. But not just…" She shook her head. "I inhaled his soul, Quinn."

Silence hung heavy in the air as the two women stared at each other.

Seeing the pain and confusion in her lover's eyes, Quinn cupped her cheeks. "I'm confused, Rachel. You need to tell me what happened." She pulled Rachel over to the couch and sat down, giving her her undivided attention.

So Rachel proceeded to explain what had happened with the attack and then the conversation with her mother and grandmother. Quinn didn't say a word the entire time, dread settling in her gut the longer Rachel talked. Each word was as shocking as the last.

"He's a demon. He's an evil, manipulative demon, Quinn." Rachel stood and walked to the other side of the room. "I'm a damn demon!" she yelled.

Quinn went over and stepped in front of Rachel, pulling her frantic hands into her own. "Rachel, look at me." She waited until her girlfriend's brown eyes met hers. "I don't care who your father is. I don't care that you're part demon. Hell, I don't care that you're a vampire. You are Rachel Berry. I care about you… the you deep in here," she laid her hand over Rachel's heart. "The you that is noble and protects those in your care. The you that laughs with your family and friends. The you that loves me."

A warmth spread over Rachel as she fell into those soft hazel eyes. How did she deserve a woman like Quinn in her life?

Quinn leaned in and pressed their lips together, pouring all her love and support into the kiss.

Rachel moaned and wrapped her arms around Quinn's waist, losing herself in the tenderness of her lover's mouth.

The soft strokes of Quinn's tongue against hers melted away the pain, the fear, the frustration. There was nothing more powerful than this—than them.

Suddenly desperate for the feel of Rachel's skin, Quinn slipped her hand under Rachel's shirt to rest her palm in the hollow of her lower back. The tone of the kiss changed immediately. Rachel groaned into Quinn's mouth and used her hand at the back of the blonde's neck to urge her closer. The moment wasn't about desire. It was about comfort and the support they wanted to give to each other.

They might never have stopped if Quinn hadn't felt the drop of moisture on Rachel's cheek. She tried to pull back, but Rachel wouldn't let her. Quinn held her gently but firmly, lifting her head just enough to take in Rachel's anxious expression and the tears that streamed from her eyes. She wouldn't look at Quinn and Quinn thought about what she would feel like if their places were reversed, if she'd just found out her father was this powerful and manipulative entity. Even the hypothetical terror was enough to steal the breath from her lungs.

"I'm sorry," Rachel whispered. "I know this isn't what you need from me right now. I'm sorry."

She was wrong. There wasn't much Quinn could do except hold her, but she could do that. She wanted to be strong, and in this one small way, she could be. She wanted Rachel to know she was loved.

"Don't you dare apologize," Quinn breathed into her hair and let the words bubble up from the well of emotion inside her soul. "I need you to need me. When I imagine how you must have felt…, baby, it would have destroyed me. You've been so strong. But you can't be that all the time. It's okay. I love you. It's going to be okay."

Gradually, Rachel's quick, hitching breaths became slow and deep, and her body softened against Quinn's.

"I know you're exhausted. Why don't we go lay down and rest," Quinn tugged her toward the bedroom. "I want to be in your arms."

They stripped down to their underwear in silence and when they crawled under the sheets, Quinn immediately curled into Rachel's embrace. She let the strong, steady beat of Rachel's heart lull her toward sleep.

Just as Quinn skirted the edge of unconsciousness Rachel spoke, so softly Quinn could have dreamed it. "What if I ever need more than you can give?"

Quinn continued to breathe deeply and evenly, not knowing what to say. Eventually, Rachel relaxed against her, surrendering to her exhaustion.

Quinn stayed still, listening to the even breathing of her lover. Even though sleep eluded her, it was calming just to feel Rachel's breath against her neck and her comforting body pressed along her back. But as the hours ticked by, Quinn couldn't stop her mind from racing and her muscles were starting to cramp from holding still for so long. The glaring red lights of her alarm clock told her that it was half past two in the morning.

She didn't know what tomorrow would bring. All she knew was that Rachel was the love of her life and she would be there for her in whatever way she could be.

~~o~~

The thirst consumed me.

It was a bottomless abyss, the eternity of deep space. Essence of need.

In the dead of night, it demanded that I fill myself with Quinn. It compelled me to reach for her—to claim her. To make her mine. She was soft and yielding, yet the craving remained.

The need was bright and hot. It crawled down my spine, making me desperate to possess her. Wild in the throes of urgency, I thrust into her, forcing her back to arch perfectly off the bed. When I twisted my hand, she screamed out my name. Sweat beaded up along my hairline and dripped into my eyes as I fucked her mercilessly. Her head thrashed, golden hair fanning across the pillow. I gave her everything I had.

It should have been enough for me.

But it wasn't.

I needed more. I needed to take more. The impulse was undeniable, irresistible. Inevitable. It rode me hard, forcing my mouth against her neck. She smelled sweet, like the memory of sunlight. Beneath my tongue, her pulse raced. It sang to me.

My teeth sank through the layers of her skin, cutting through the blood vessels below. She screamed, her wetness covering my hand as her blood burst across my lips and dribbled down my chin. I raised my head, spattering droplets of red across the crisp, white sheets.

But I still craved more.

I still needed more.

I needed her. Every part of her. Her body, her mind, her heart.

Her soul.

I gazed down into bright hazel green eyes that were begging me to consume her, to take her. A low animalistic growl built from deep inside me and I lunged, devouring her sweet lips like they were the only oxygen left in the world.

I opened my mouth and began to feast.

White mist, as pure as the snow, flowed from her mouth into mine. I drank and consumed. Breathing in every ounce of her soul.

Her nails were sharp as they dug into the flesh of my back, causing my blood to mix with hers on the bed sheet. Her eyes were wide, beautiful like the greenest grass. They called to me. Wanting me to take more.

Then the mist stopped. Her arms fell limply to the bed. Her eyes closed. Her skin gray.

I'd taken everything.

And it made me stronger.

Rachel awoke with a start, the horror of the dream jerking her up into a sitting position.

She was panting and could feel her heart about to burst out of her chest. Her eyes darted around her dark bedroom, trying to ground herself to reality.

She reached for the glass on the nightstand, only to find it empty.

"Rachel?" Quinn's voice was soft and gritty with sleep. "What's wrong?"

Rachel looked down at her lover, the sheet only covering her stomach. Her skin glowed in the predawn light.

Rachel remembered the sensation of her teeth ripping into Quinn's throat—and of how right it had felt to drink her fill of that pure white mist. But it warred with her terror and disgust at the impulse.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Quinn pushed herself up, sitting as close as she could and placing her hand on Rachel's bare shoulder.

Rachel could only thrust her empty glass toward her. "Please."

Quinn frowned in confusion, but took the glass and went into the kitchen to grant the brunette's request.

Rachel sat on the side of the bed, trembling. The disturbing thing was the pulse of arousal that beat between her thighs. Just how messed up was she? What kind of person got aroused by a dream of tearing out her lover's throat then taking her soul?

She closed her eyes, taking slow breaths until Quinn returned. When Quinn handed her the full glass, she unclenched one of her fists and gulped the water down.

"Please, Rachel." Quinn's voice was higher than usual. She was on the edge of panic. "Tell me what's wrong. Do I need to call someone? Santana? Your mom?"

Rachel shook her head, still afraid to touch her lover. "It was just a nightmare."

Quinn sat down next to her, wrapping her arms around the brunette's torso, wanting to give her comfort. "Do you get them often?"

Rachel shook her head. It had been a week since her mom had told her about her father, and since then Rachel had had this same dream twice already. Her brain was still imprinted with the delicious, horrifying memory of her teeth slicing through skin, her body consuming everything Quinn had. "No," she lied.

"Tell me?"

"I can't," she whispered, battered by confusion and exhaustion. She rested her head on Quinn's shoulder and relaxed in her embrace.

"Let's go back to sleep," Quinn murmured. "I'll hold you in my arms and keep the nightmares away."

They laid back down and when Quinn snuggled in close, Rachel didn't try to stop her.

The blonde fell into sleep immediately, her even breaths puffing against Rachel's shoulder. But Rachel stayed awake for a long time, watching the daylight creep closer, until fatigue overwhelmed the sharp ache in her soul.

~~o~~

The free weight fell to the floor with a bang. Rachel stared down at it in disgust. What was happening to her?

She stretched her arms out, feeling the muscles pull in a soothing burn. For the past few days, she'd been unable to maintain the extent of her daily exercises. Exercises that normally barely caused her to sweat were now taking a toll on her.

But she knew exactly why that was the case: she hadn't fed from Quinn for several days.

Ever since she'd first had that horrific nightmare. Ever since she had felt that level of devastation… seeing Quinn's lifeless body lying beneath her.

But by gods, the energy she had felt flowing through her body. The amount of power filling her to her very core. She shivered, adrenaline pumping hard, her body heating by just remembering the sensations.

Rachel shook her head, scolding herself for those thoughts. She was exhausted. Her body was weak from not feeding. But she refused to let that monster—that demon—inside her hurt Quinn.

Quinn had tried cajoling, threatening, and even begging, but Rachel hadn't given in. With her growing hunger she knew that just drinking blood from her lover wouldn't be enough anymore. She needed more than Quinn could give. More than Quinn had in her body.

But Rachel knew she wasn't going to be able to hold back for much longer, though. Her thirst was becoming overwhelming. And her demon was straining to get free. But Rachel couldn't let that happen.

Maybe it would be best to go to Delirium and force herself to a buffet of supernatural women, get out her frustrations and gorge on their blood. Quinn had even told her that she could feed from others. She knew Quinn just wanted what was best for her.

She growled, throwing a solid punch into the nearest punching bag, causing the seam to split. Maybe she should go and pay a visit to the rogue assholes she and Puck had hunted down and now sat behind bars, and get her much needed fix from them. She could drain each and every one of them dry. First she would drain their blood. Then she would drain their souls.

Her eyes flared a bright scarlet at just the thought. The thought of all that energy flowing into her body… oh gods. A shiver racked through her body. Their screams, their pain. When they realized who she was and what was happening to them—their fear.

Rachel could feel the demon inside her smile. All it wanted was power, and it didn't seem to care who it hurt.

"No!" she screamed. "Stop!"

She crumbled to her knees, her fists pressing against her head. No! She would not let this monster rule her. She would not let it take control. She would not let it win.

~~o~~